Zaqy Mohamad
Singapore
“Deputy Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the Question Time at this day's Sitting be exempted from Standing Order No 22(1) so as to enable questions for oral answer to continue until the completion of Question Nos 7 to 29, including relevant supplementary questions, until 12.45 pm?”
“Mr Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the proceedings on the item under discussion be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No 48(8) to remove the time limit in respect of the Minister Tan See Leng's speech, please?”
“I think on the hawker front, we keep our rentals as low as possible to sustain our hawkers. But for food prices, we continue to monitor. My colleague, Minister of State Gan mentioned about how we are monitoring food supply of food prices, and I think that we will continue to do so.”
“I thank the Member for his question. On seafood specifically, we do not see immediate risk. We have diversified our food imports. We have also got local production of seafood readily available. At this point, as both the Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister have shared, our main risk for agriculture lies in fertiliser.”
“Mr Speaker, as I shared, we are monitoring the situation. The Government is monitoring at this point. There is no need at this juncture, because we have not seen the price hikes hit the hawkers in the same way as yet. There will be downstream impact. I think that is quite sure.”
“For us to also look into buying local produce, that helps our farms to increase capacity at this point, helps them build resilience over time and should there be disruptions or should there be a need for us to divert supplies or look to ramp up local production, I think they would be in a better position if we do what we can today to supp…”
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Make (Singapore) Equities Great Again”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Rethinking Redevelopment and Green Preservation”
“Mr Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the proceedings on the item under discussion be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order 48(8) to remove the time limit in respect of Minister Indranee's speeches for this Motion?”
“Mr Speaker, on behalf of Leader, I move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Strengthening Support and Dignity for Migrant Domestic Workers and Singapore Families 6.58 pm”
“Mr Speaker, I move that, "That the debate be now adjourned." [(proc text) Resolved, "That the debate do now adjourn." – [Mr Zaqy Mohamad]. (proc text)]”
“I hope that our consumers will also be able to discern the advantages of supporting local and buying local. On our part, whether it is through procurement, whether it is through encouraging retailers, hoteliers, I think we will continue to do our part to encourage them to buy local produce, so that we can support local farmers. It is in our interest, on the record, to ensure that our local farms, our local producers thrive, progress and play a big part in our Singapore Food Story 2.”
“Speaker, I think as a principle, we go with free market principles. Ultimately, I do not think it is in the interest of consumers or the Government to fund or subsidise food products, just as we do not do it for energy costs nor petrol. What we really want is to help our local farmers connect them through organisations such as Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation Limited. We are working very hard to connect them with many of our retailers, hoteliers, restaurant caterers – and many today are already supporting our local farms. As an example, while Greenphyto was just launched last month, a year ago, they have already started to reach out and they are already selling to about 75 retailers here in Singapore. I spoke about Kok Fah Technology Farm, I spoke about Green Harvest, traditional farms, new farms. I think what is key is really to be competitive with the market to provide an offering that Singaporeans would consider. I know supermarkets such as Fairprice, for example, tell me they have got a whole section dedicated just for local produce. We can encourage Singaporeans to support. I think ultimately it is also encouraging and building awareness with our consumers that local farm produce is fresher. Today, most of them are pesticide free. So, we give you slightly different offerings for a slightly different premium. But I think for things like vegetables, even bean sprouts, the reason why they have a pretty good hold on the market is because consumers also want freshness and there is a segment of market that wish for that. We hope that with helping our businesses build new capabilities, improve yields, lower their cost of production, we hope that in the long term that helps them be more competitive in the market.”
“We also have hatcheries that improve the quality of fingerlings, so that aquaculture can be farmed and raised with higher yields and that are stronger in terms of survivability rates. These help farms in more game-changing ways than just helping to fund the operating costs, which may continue in current modes, current forms, which are not sustainable in the long term. But I think what we want to do, as I shared, is build new capability, new capacities and new ways of farming, which maximises yield, which helps overcomes our constraints in land and other weaknesses that we have in terms of manpower, for example, through automation. Today, for example, we are also encouraging some of our farms, whether it is aquaculture farms or even traditional agriculture farms, to go abroad, understand from some of these trends that can be found, agriculture or agri-tech type farming that you find overseas, whether it is in China or in other parts of Europe, and other areas in Asia, to which we can learn from too, in terms of how they have been able to scale, if they have been able to bring down cost of production. These are areas in which we want to learn from. So, we are trying to help our farms overcome our constraints here in Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to answer these questions. To the Member's questions on cost and vulnerability, I think that it is something that really depends on your mode of farming. If you are dealing with traditional land farms, of course, you have got things like soil disease, you have things like pests and other things, and farm and vegetable diseases that could spread. You have that kinds of risk. Where you have the extreme case where you have agri-tech farms in very controlled environments, I think that also provides a different sort of environment which helps to mitigate risks. We find that some of our farmers have already moved in this space. So, as I mentioned earlier on, Greenphyto is one, but you have others like Green Harvest and Yili Farms, who have also done some transformations to put their crops in greenhouses, which reduces the effects of climate. And therefore, a number of our farms that we have funded out of our schemes – so not so much invested in; let me rephrase that, we did not invest in, but we funded through our schemes – have been many of these new climate-resilient farms too, which helps in terms of yield, because you have shielded yourself from the weather, as one example. And of course, that reduces pests as well. On other areas in which Member spoke about, including whether we will fund operating costs, I think that is always a danger down a slippery slope. Ultimately, where we want to focus on is capability building, looking at new areas in which we can support. I will give you examples. We have a hatchery centre and a broodstock centre, which helps, for example, to get higher yields for our egg stock.”
“The short answer is, that is not part of this PQ, so you may want to file another PQ. Having said that, an example would be chickens. We have seen how we have coped with the supply chain disruption during COVID-19. We have gone from just Malaysia to other countries, such as Brazil. If you think about eggs, we went all the way to Ukraine. But I think you can find the whole list of diversified sources on the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) website too.”
“It is not wise for us to reveal how long we can hold out with our stockpiles. But I would like to assure the Member that this is something that we watch very closely to ensure that in times of need, in times of security, we want to attain and ensure some sort of normalcy in the short term, such that you do not feel too much of a difference, in terms of how we practise and what we eat every day. And that is where stockpiles come in. But over time, you will need to look at other options, whether it is local food security, or by hopefully then, we are able to find options through our diversification efforts. With that, thank you very much.”
“So, we now set ourselves new goals, which is 20% through leafy and fruited greens, as well as the proteins for 30%, which I think we are already somewhat there for the protein side. We have about 26% out of 30%. We have about 8% out of 20% for the leafy vegetables, which we think over time, we can grow. But overall, I would say this, that our yield production has certainly shown promise. If you look at the statistics between 2019 and 2024, the productivity of farms has increased in yield by 10% for vegetables, 17% for seafood and 50% for eggs. So, that gives very good promise in terms of whether we are able to meet the 2035 target. Certainly, it is something that we are doing more than just aspirations, we are tracking quite carefully. As I said, we are tracking the statistics, we are putting in programmes, schemes to ensure and help our farms transform to achieve those goals. If you think about the Singapore Food Story security plan, I think we got to then reframe the thought that is more than just local production supplying 30% of our nutritional needs, to one of four pillars of food security: local production, import diversification, stockpiling and putting in global partnerships. These, put together, give us a bit more options. Are we changing the goalpost? I think that is one question some people ask me all the time. I think maybe it is not so much thinking in terms of goalpost, but maybe perhaps I am giving you a better goalkeeper that can perhaps save the day with more options or more plays or more tool kits in this playbook. This is one way in which we can ensure food security in Singapore in terms of need. As for the question on how many days we can survive, I think that is something that we keep for national security. I spoke about stockpiling.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Member for her questions. Let me take us back one step. I will start with the third question first, on "30 by 30" and where we are in the Singapore Food Story. I think the Member will recall, it was in 2019 when we embarked on the "30 by 30" vision, where we wanted to grow a local food strategy to build food supply resilience. That was how we got Singaporeans to really think about food resilience, how we build this story and how we build this narrative of relying on local produce, helping local produce grow and support us in times of difficulty or challenges, when it comes to supply disruptions. And certainly, even then, we had some forms of the other pillars, which is stockpiling and others. Since 2019, we have gone through several rounds of challenges and disruptions, which has taught us that we have other options too. That gave us the confidence to look at different options as Singapore learned from various things. For example, if you recall COVID-19, we had border closures, we had supply disruptions, which got us to think about supply diversification – when it came to eggs, when it came to chickens. It also got us thinking about whether we need to strengthen stockpiling. And therefore, in the last Sitting, we had Parliamentary Questions (PQs) on stockpiling, and what we do with rice and what we do with chicken. With greater options now, I am not solely reliant on local food production only. And we also have to manage risks. So, we look at risk profiling. And therefore, in the short term, I think what is required is really to think about how we develop the Singapore Food Story in a slightly different way.”
“More importantly, I think it is really about overcoming our land constraints, but thinking about how we achieve our outputs and productions in a very different manner from where it is today.”
“And certainly, when we think about Singapore's land constraints, where only 1% of our land use is dedicated to farms and farming, I think then, we have to be really smart about how we use our farms to achieve these outputs. Having said that, I am also going to say that I think it is also important that as we look at agri-tech, agri-food, new technology, new capabilities, it also has to overcome some of our constraints. Energy use, I think, is one area in which some of our new farms are able to overcome – they are now looking at low-energy type facilities, where they can reduce energy costs. At the same time, automation helps us reduce manpower. I have spoken about Green Harvest that today already produces about three times the yield of traditional farms. On the extreme end, we also have Greenphyto which just, I think some Members may have read in the news, launched last week, at the cost of about $80 million investment. But not everyone can reach that. That is the extreme. What it claims to do is to get up to about almost 45 times yield of our traditional farms. If you can get to somewhere in between, then that, I think changes the game for our agri-food sector. I want us to imagine a very different food sector in the near future where we talk about not just food resilience in terms of local farming, but also how we use our other pillars in the Singapore Food Story 2, which has evolved our food resilience narrative. I have spoken about stockpiling at the last Sitting. There is also import diversification. There are also global partnerships, which Members would have probably noticed, some of the recent agreements which have been made.”
“I thank the Member for his questions; very important ones, especially if you are thinking of how we are supporting the local production in our farms. Over the past few years, as the Member has highlighted, the global agri-food sector has faced headwinds. We have also faced supply chain disruptions ever since COVID-19 and we have seen how those have impacted us. Of course, Singapore also faces other challenges, such as high energy costs, labour constraints, especially since farming is not exactly one of the more favoured jobs, as the Member was alluding to. And therefore, I think in terms of how we support our farms, it has to be in sustainable ways, such as capability development, providing funding and schemes through our Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund. This helps our farms build up capability in new areas such as agri-tech. So, we have seen farms such as Green Harvest, as an example, who today own several farm plots and already supply to many of our supermarkets, even wet markets as well. While they have been established over decades, they have also been able to transform. They set up a joint venture, Green Harvest, together with Team Build Construction. Today, if you compare their traditional farms, which are in Lim Chu Kang, and their new farms, I think you can see that the yields are about three times more than what they do in the traditional farms – using agri-tech, using new technologies, using new ways of doing things. We want to help our farmers transform, because with higher yields, it also means that they can be more competitive. They can provide a different suite of offerings.”
“Yes, Mr Speaker, I was answering Question Nos 3 and 4. Thank you.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Fire Safety In our Homes 8.21 pm”
“Mr Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that proceedings on the item under discussion be exempted on the provisions of Standing Order No 48(8) to remove the time limit in respect of Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How's speech, please?”
“On the food audits, as I said in my reply, SFA does regular audits on the food quality and food safety to ensure that the food, when drawn down, is safe for consumption. That is one. So, those are regular audits to ensure that our food supply is adequate and at the same time as well, safe. On the locations, I cannot disclose where they are, but I can assure the Member as well that as we pick these locations, we look into storage capability standards, making sure that they are able to stock our food stockpiles in a safe manner without having to worry about supply interruptions. But I think for Singapore, touch wood, we have been quite okay with our energy and power supplies. But I am quite sure with some of these warehouses, like the one I visited, for example, they have such measures in place because we are not the only customer that they have. They are also managing it for other multinational firms and local firms as well who require such food stockpiles. For locations that we pick, I think we have to ensure that they are of sufficient standards. And I can assure the Member that is the case.”
“I think we should separate the two. Our stockpiles are not meant to be a mechanism to influence food prices, not to find ways to flood the market so that prices of chicken or other meats come down. Ultimately, today, the main stockpile that involves private sector stocking would be just rice. Having said that, as I said, it is really about stockpiling. We churn out through the commercial players, aiming not to disrupt the market. I think that is one of the key considerations for us. And therefore, we try to do it efficiently as much as possible without having to disrupt the market. We should distinguish between stockpiling and price mechanisms for food and other supplies, because we should not then mess around with our stockpiles to try to influence food prices across Singapore. So, I just want to assure the Member that we do our best, but at the same time as well, let us keep the two separate: stockpiling and food price mechanism.”
“I thank the Member for his question and his concern about food wastage and how we manage this effectively. In my reply, I spoke about how we work with the private sector, commercial operators, where this is also quite efficient. Through them, there is offtake, there are ways in which we can minimise food wastage. As food expires, you also want to – I would not say on the very last date – but there are ways to churn them through the system. I think that is important because that is an efficient market measure, in which we churn and at the same time, not impact food supply and food prices here. There are occasions in which we may also dispose of them through food donations, but those are typically on a large scale, like humanitarian efforts, for example. So, those are things that we do sometimes. At the same time, how we dispose and how we do that, I cannot give you too much detail again because of national security concerns. But I want to assure the Member that we work towards zero waste. I am not going to say zero waste today, but we are working towards zero waste as we minimise some of the food churn.”
“Our stockpiles are in consideration of not just the disruptions that could occur in the short term, such as pandemics or other forms of disruption, but also long-drawn situations where you have decisions, such as war blockades and other matters. So, we will keep it as that. There are certain details I cannot reveal. Rest assured that the Government does its best to minimise impact to food prices, to minimise impact to the private sector, but at the same time keeping food safe in our stockpiles.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I thank the Member for her questions. I just want to assure the Member that our stockpiles provide a critical buffer, especially when you think about food resilience in Singapore and how we may need to draw down in times of crises. As Minister Grace Fu shared a few days ago, we have now embarked on the Singapore Food Story 2, in which the stockpile is just one of four pillars. We will often try to diversify and rely on our local imports first, to ensure that we are food-resilient, before drawing on the stockpiles. There is also "Grow Local", in which we want to ensure that we have enough local supply before we draw down from the food stockpiles. Lastly, we are now embarking on a new pillar, "Global Partnerships", in which we are working with other countries to ensure food resilience. Therefore, where stockpiling is concerned, we draw down only when it is most critical. As I mentioned in my reply earlier on, SFA conducts regular inspections to ensure that our food is safe, they are not expired and more importantly, that we do regular churns as well in the system to ensure that there is adequate, safe supply of food in our system. In doing do, we want to minimise food wastage, to ensure where possible, we try to get towards zero food waste. I want to assure the Member that food waste is kept to a minimum in this regard. On the stockpiling of food through the private sector, today, we have the Minimum Stockholding Requirement (MSR). But that is only just for rice. So, the rest of it is Government stockpile. I cannot reveal too much, as it involves national security concerns, as the Member may be familiar with.”
“The Government works closely with the private sector to maintain adequate stockpiles of essential food items to serve as a buffer to ensure that our basic needs can be met in times of food supply disruptions. Our stockpiles are not intended as a mechanism to influence food prices. Our national stockpiles consist of a range of items including rice, frozen protein and canned vegetables. We do not stockpile alternative protein. The Government works closely with the private sector to optimise our stockpiling operations, including to ensure proper storage conditions and conduct regular churning to ensure that the stockpiled food is safe for consumption while minimising food wastage. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) conducts regular inspections of our food stockpiles to ensure compliance with requirements. The operating cost of maintaining the Government-owned food stockpiles is borne by the Government.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Towards a Safer, Plastics-Lite Singapore”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." Question proposed. Funding Each Child: A Preschool Voucher Proposal”
“Finally, energy innovation. Singapore has achieved the 2025 solar target much earlier and by 2023 almost all suitable HDB rooftops will have solar panels installed. We also import renewable energy through the LTMS project, while supporting households with Climate Vouchers. All of this shows that we are not only resilient, but also remain competitive in the future green economy. Mr Speaker, climate change is an existential threat. But it is also an opportunity to show what makes Singapore different – we have a Government that boldly plans decades ahead, has fiscal discipline and is committed to taking care of the people beyond electoral cycles. As President Tharman underlined in the President's Address "We will nurture a "we first" society at every level." For me and my colleagues MSE, this is our commitment – to plan ahead, protect our people and ensure Singapore is always prepared to face climate challenges. This is the PAP Government's pledge – we govern not for the next election, but we govern for the next generation. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.”
“The Long Island project will protect the East Coast from sea level rise, whilst providing housing, freshwater reservoirs and recreational space. The polder at Pulau Tekong demonstrates that we can protect our coastline in a more resource-efficient manner, whilst giving the SAF a larger training space. Second, heat resilience. The Government is developing a national Heat Resilience Strategy that encompasses urban design, public health, and community support. During heat waves, we can issue warnings through the myENV application, as well as protect workers and students. But resilience is not just about infrastructure — it is about society's attitude to stand together, just like the spirit of Total Defence. Third, food and water resilience. During COVID, we saw how supplies can be easily affected. Now, we import eggs from over 10 countries, and our local farms increased their production through modern technology. We also encourage citizens to buy local products with the SG Fresh Produce label. Water will remain a strategic issue. Therefore, we developed NEWater and desalination plants. As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in 2021, water is a strategic resource and our most precious energy product – that is why the PAP Government continues to invest with fiscal discipline and foresight. Fourth, waste management. If nothing is done, Semakau Island will be completely filled by 2035. The Government did not wait for a crisis to occur. We are implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies, planning a beverage container return scheme in 2026, and also developing a circular economy with industry. This is how the PAP Government works – we do not run away from trade-offs or challenging issues, but plan boldly with a view for the long term.”
“" That is our calling today, to take the long view, to put "we before me", to protect tomorrow with resilience, steward today's resources responsibly and ensure that Singapore, our little red dot, continues to thrive in a turbulent world. This is the PAP government's promise, to govern not just for the next election, but for future generations to come. And for us, for all of us here in this Chamber, to do so with the same courage and foresight of our founding fathers, that built the Singapore that we enjoy today. Mr Speaker, can I continue in Malay, please? (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated in his National Day Speech, "We must also look ahead – anticipate what is on the horizon and prepare to ride the next wave of change." Climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation. It is not a future issue – it is already happening. Heat is increasing, rainfall is getting heavier and sea levels are rising. Singapore only contributes 0.1% of global emissions, but we will feel its full impact. Here lies the uniqueness of the PAP Government. From the beginning, we have never governed just for electoral cycles, but for the future of all Singaporeans. As demonstrated by Mr Lee Kuan Yew in the Singapore Water Story, the Government does not shy away from tough decisions, plan for decades ahead and ensure that we allocate resources to carry out the plans. This spirit has enabled Singapore to survive and this same spirit also guides us in facing climate change today. First, coastal and flood protection. The Government has made the bold decision to invest $100 billion over 100 years to protect our coastline.”
“Mr Speaker, climate change is the defining challenge of our generation. Every adaptation measure I have shared – whether it is $100 billion in coastal protection, national heat strategies, food and water resilience, or circular economy innovation – reflects more than just engineering. It reflects a philosophy of governance, a philosophy rooted in the PAP government's long-term view, passed down from our founding fathers, across generations of political leaders and to the 4G leaders of today. This is rooted in fiscal prudence, political will and the conviction that every generation must leave behind a stronger foundation for the next. As Minister Grace Fu reminded us at the V3 National Climate Change Study Symposium last year: "Climate change is an existential threat for Singapore, and the Government treats it with utmost seriousness. We are investing significantly to better understand it and starting our planning and preparatory works." In the next five years, we will develop Singapore's inaugural National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which Minister announced this year at Committee of Supply (COS) 2025. The NAP will be our living roadmap to address the physical risks and social impact of climate change. This is the commitment that my colleagues and I at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) bring to this work. We plan, we prepare, and we act early, because safeguarding Singapore is our first duty. President Tharman shared in his address at the Opening of this Session Parliament, "We will nurture a 'we first' society at every level, starting in the community.”
“Singapore imports almost all of our energy supply and it is important that Singapore raises our energy efficiency to make every joule count. As businesses improve on their energy efficiency, we will continue to calibrate the price signal through the carbon tax, which aims to enhance the business case for low-carbon solutions. The Government uses the carbon tax we collect to support businesses in the green transition and we encourage adoption of low-carbon technologies, such as solar power. The good news is that Singapore has achieved our 2025 solar deployment target of 1.5 gigawatt-peak (GWp) and is on track to meet our goal of at least two GWp by 2030. We are also partnering industry for other climate mitigation measures, such as high-quality carbon credits, as well as cross-border carbon capture and storage. As regional countries explore nuclear power, we are building capabilities in nuclear science and safety. Through the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute, we aim to grow from 50 to 100 experts by 2030. And this will allow us to assess risks prudently, and plan for long-term possibilities. Households too play their part. The Climate Friendly Households Programme supports households in switching to efficient appliances. As of August 2025, 78% of eligible HDB and 55% of private households have claimed their Climate Vouchers, of which $187 million has been utilised. This helps households save on utility bills, while helping to lower our carbon footprint. We are also making full use of our land. By 2030, nearly every HDB block with a suitable rooftop will be fitted with solar panels. These panels power common services – lifts, lights, and water pumps – directly lowering energy costs for residents and Town Councils.”
“Since 2021, we have collected over 30,000 tonnes of e-waste under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to develop a circular economy. In 2026, we will launch the Beverage Container Return Scheme to boost the recycling of plastics and metals. For food waste, large commercial and industrial food waste generators in new buildings, they must now segregate food waste for treatment, and this will be extended to more and more buildings. The industry is also stepping up. The AfA on Packaging Waste Reduction for the E-Commerce Sector, which included players like Amazon and Shopee, has developed guidelines to encourage the use of sustainable packaging. In our estates, new initiatives, such as REhub bins allow residents to deposit recyclables, scan QR codes and track recycling habits. This helps to build awareness and give families a sense of ownership in reducing waste. But we must also recognise that we have room to improve. Our overall recycling rate stands at about 50%, as compared to 63% in Australia. This comparison is a reminder that Singapore can and must do better with our collective effort. Everyone can do the 3Rs – reduce consumption, reuse what you can, recycle right. And this only works if we all commit, together. Moving on to a low carbon future. Despite the backsliding of global climate action, Singapore must stay the course in our transition to a low carbon future. There is the economic imperative to ensure that our businesses and jobs remain competitive for the long term. We will continue to support businesses with incentives to improve their energy efficiency. Based on the latest data from the International Energy Agency, Singapore's energy intensity would rank amongst the lowest one-third, if compared to all OECD countries.”
“When Singaporeans choose produce with the SG Fresh Produce branding at supermarkets or wet markets, you are directly supporting our farmers and our food security. Local produce is fresher, lasts longer, incurs lower carbon footprint to reach us and many are pesticide-free. I am glad that industry players, through SAFEF (Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation Limited), are already working on long-term contracts between farmers and buyers. These are not abstract ideas. They are already feeding Singaporeans today. Likewise, water is essential to our lives. For Singapore, water is a precious and limited resource. As then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in 2021, "Water is a strategic and scarce resource, and also a precious fruit of our labours...We are always pushing the limits of our water resources." We have over successive decades built a robust and diversified water supply, made possible by right-pricing water. We have built up our Four National Taps – local catchment, imported water, NEWater and desalination – to strengthen our water resilience. But as our population and economy grows, and as weather patterns change, we have to work harder to conserve this precious resource because water security is also national security. Singapore's waste system is so efficient to the point that it is pretty much out of sight, out of mind. The issue for Singapore is that we have very limited land for waste management and the reality is that Semakau Landfill may be full by 2035, just 10 years ahead. As Singapore becomes more affluent and develops new industries, we will produce and consume more. Hence, if we do not manage our waste well, we will face issues of disposing them within the next just 10 years.”
“Today, floods, droughts and heatwaves are affecting crops globally. COVID-19 was a stark reminder of our vulnerabilities. I recall in 2020, there were concerns that countries' COVID-19 measures would lead to food supply disruptions, such as eggs. And this led to increased demand for eggs overnight. Yet, within days, we were able to reassure the public of continued supply due to our diversified sources and stabilised demand. That experience underlined why resilience is non-negotiable. That is why we are diversifying our sources. Before COVID, eggs came mostly from one country. Today, we import from more than 10 countries, while our local farms here provide a third of our supply. Even as we increase local food production, we will work to facilitate food imports from new sources. At the industry level, we will support our local importers to nurture strong relationships with business partners through overseas sourcing and business matching trips. Our local farms and food production still matter. They are our assured source in crises. And we are helping our farms to scale by addressing key challenges of productivity, cost and demand. We want to encourage local farms to tap on technology to grow food in a more productive and climate-resilient manner. Through the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund, farms, such as Green Harvest, have invested in a hydroponics greenhouse with automated mobile gulley system. This has made them five times more productive than traditional farms. But Singaporeans must also support local produce. When we support our local farmers and buy more local produce, such as chye sim or seabass, we are building resilience for ourselves.”
“We can open cooling centres at Community Clubs (CCs) and the Resident's Committees (RCs) for vulnerable groups and monitor patients and seniors in hospitals and eldercare centres. Through the myENV app, the public can also get timely Heat Stress Advisory information on how to protect themselves according to heat stress levels. But ultimately, resilience is not just about infrastructure. It is about mindset. Just as Total Defence reminds us that every Singaporean has a role in our security, climate defence requires collective action by everyone. And the test will come during an extreme climate event. Will we stand together, support the vulnerable and act as one people? That is what will define us as Singaporeans. We are also learning from others who face extreme heat today. We are studying heatwaves in Europe, heat adaptation measures in the Middle East and exploring novel cooling methods with researchers and preparing before such extreme events reach our shores. Looking ahead, we are strengthening whole-of-Government coordination and partnering businesses, academia and the community, to develop an integrated Heat Resilience Strategy. This will create shaded walkways, green corridors and cooling zones, which will improve liveability while making our neighbourhoods healthier and more walkable. Already, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) are testing and scaling innovative measures like new wind flow modelling technologies and cooling materials in our estates. These are among new innovations that can potentially make a difference in our daily comfort in the long run. Moving on to food and water resilience. Food is part of our culture and our identity. But disruptions are becoming more common.”
“Youth and nature groups have already come forward with ideas, from marine biodiversity corridors to recreational spaces, showing how Singaporeans want to shape their future. We are also building flood resilience inland. So, this year, we launched an Alliance-for-Action (AfA) to co-create a Flood-Resilient Developments Guidebook with industry partners like the Singapore Institute of Architects. The guidebook will give property owners and developers a toolkit of flood protection measures. These measures will enhance the flood resilience of their premises, while allowing solutions that best integrate with the design. We are also working with businesses and residents in flood-prone areas. We distribute flood barriers. We run awareness campaigns. No matter how strong the storms are ahead, the Government will work with you to overcome them together. Climate resilience is not just about engineering. It is really also about mindset. I will now share our plans for heat resilience. Rising heat is changing daily lives and we are developing a whole-of-Government Heat Resilience Strategy. It covers urban planning, building design, public health and community awareness. The Government has a national heatwave response plan to protect Singaporeans. And this will require the collective effort of the Government, our employers, and our people. For workers involved in heavy physical labour, employers will keep a close watch on heat stress levels and ensure that they have sufficient hydration and rest, away from the sun. Students can dress down or switch to home-based learning if needed. Besides the efforts from the Government, the public can also play its part. Volunteers can check on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly in our community, to ensure that they are adequately protected.”
“While it was built for flood control and water supply, it is now a place where families picnic, students learn, and communities gather. That is the approach that we must take, protecting our people and our assets with a purpose, and creating greater value in adaptation. We are embarking on a generational effort to protect our coastlines. The "Long Island" project along East Coast Park will be more than just a seawall. It will include reclaimed land for homes, a freshwater reservoir and new spaces for recreation. We are creating value for our people by providing more homes, more facilities and more opportunities, while protecting our coastline. At Pulau Tekong, we have completed Singapore’s first polder. The polder used half the sand required of conventional reclamation, while increasing the training space for the SAF – the size of two Toa Payoh towns. We have launched site-specific studies for Greater Southern Waterfront, Changi, Jurong Island and more. The studies for Sentosa and the south-west coast will start by 2026. Piece by piece, we are creating a ring of resilience around Singapore. But we are not on this journey alone. The PAP government will continue to build trust with Singaporeans and bring our people with us for this journey and for the long haul. We want to engage our citizens. We will also consult nature groups like the Nature Society because resilience must also mean shared ownership. As President Tharman reminded us in his President’s Address that, "This trust has allowed us to make hard choices when needed and to plan for the future beyond current election cycles". This is precisely what adaptation demands: choices need to be made today, for risks that may arise decades ahead.”
“But extreme rainfall will only mean that flash floods in urban areas will only get more common if we do not act. The question is whether we can overcome practical constraints to engineering and costs to cater to extreme weather, given our tight landmass and highly developed urban areas. The temperature is also getting hotter. Due to global warming and the urban heat island effect, mean daily temperatures may rise by five degrees by 2100. Last year was the hottest year on record globally. And in Singapore, our coldest month today is already warmer than our warmest month in the 1960s – imagine that. Our food security is also at risk. We import more than 90% of our food. Floods, droughts and export bans can disrupt supplies overnight. We saw this during COVID and got us thinking of new approaches and strategies to develop food resilience. Water too is vulnerable. Our Four National Taps give us resilience but the changing weather patterns and rising demand means that we must work harder. These are not distant scenarios, ladies and gentlemen. They are today's lived reality and we can already feel the changes. At first glance, climate adaptation feels like setting up various defence measures across the country – sea walls, drains, polder systems, solar panels and food stockpiles. But adaptation is also about vision. It is about turning necessity into opportunity. Take Marina Barrage. History shows us why such long-term projects matter. When Marina Barrage was first proposed, there were many who doubted its feasibility and value. Today, it is one of Singapore's most iconic landmarks – a reservoir, a flood barrier, a place where families gather for recreation. What was once a bold idea has now become a national treasure.”
“As our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew once declared: "I am calculating not in terms of the next election, I am calculating in terms of the next generation; in terms of the next 100 years; in terms of eternity." This was said back in 1965 and this spirit endures in today's political leadership. Singapore's future and our survival is at the front and centre of everything that we do. Our adaptation strategy is not piecemeal. It is coordinated. It is ambitious. It is backed by long-term thinking across generations of leaders. We are looking 30, 50, even 100 years ahead. That is why we have committed about $100 billion over the next century for coastal protection. This is not an elections or political slogan. We are just four or five months out into the new term. But it is a serious financial commitment, one that we planned prudently and that we will fund sustainably through our fiscal policies and reserves. There are very, very few countries in the world that can say the same. Climate change is no longer abstract. It is affecting our daily lives. By 2100, sea levels could rise by 1.15 metres. If you add storm surges, almost 30% of our land today is at risk. Think about East Coast Park, Sentosa, Eunos-Kembangan and possibly up to Tanjong Katong, under water. Imagine Singapore without the coastlines that we are familiar with. No evening jogs or family picnics at East Coast Park. No Marina Bay waterfront skyline. These could be just memories of what we used to be, if we did nothing today. At the same time, rainfall is intensifying. We feel it. I feel it. I think you feel it too. Extreme daily rainfall could increase by 92% by 2100. Over the years, the Government has spent billions of dollars on our canals and drains to prevent floods.”
“Mr Speaker, the world today is being reshaped by powerful forces. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Gan and Members of the House spoke about geopolitical tension, economic volatility, technological disruption and the looming crisis of climate change. Today, I will focus on one of the greatest threats to our generation, that is, climate disruption. It is not tomorrow's problem. It is already here. And around the world, the pace of climate action is slowing. The spirit of global cooperation is weakening. In fact, some countries have already wavered in their Paris Agreement pledges. Even with current commitments, the world is on track for warming of two to three degrees, well beyond the 1.5 degrees that science tells us is safe. Singapore contributes just 0.1% of global emissions. But we will still feel the full force of climate change. While we cannot change the world's trajectory alone, we must be prepared to live with its consequences. As Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his National Day Rally speech, "We must look ahead, anticipate what is on the horizon and prepare to ride the next wave of change." That is the hallmark of the PAP government. We govern not just for the next election cycle, but for the future generations of Singaporeans. Throughout our history, the PAP government has made bold decisions with foresight and discipline. We invested in water resilience before others even thought about it – NEWater, desalination, local catchments. We transformed waste management with incineration and adapted Pulau Semakau. We cleaned up the Singapore River and tackled air pollution long before environmentalism was fashionable.”
“Mr Speaker, I propose that Mr Christopher de Souza and Mr Xie Yao Quan be elected as Deputy Speakers of this Parliament. I am confident that Mr de Souza and Mr Xie will bring to their roles a strong sense of duty and sound judgement. Both are deeply committed to good governance and impartiality to promote constructive, respectful debate across party lines in this House.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Understanding and Responding to Intimate Partner Violence in Singapore”
“I think for some of these remote works, unfortunately, that is the case and certainly, we will take the feedback to MPA and see how we can improve access by the medical teams. But we have to be realistic too that many of these works are also offshore, sometimes quite a distance away from land and not easily accessible. Therefore, I think one of the risk assessments has to also include that the workers out there need to be supported by their own colleagues or counterparts who have access to basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic first aid training. I think those are also important aspects, where we can help to mitigate some of the risks while waiting for the medical personnel to come.”
“I thank the Member for his questions. They are certainly very valid ones. Over the last few years, the safety records of our marine sector has fluctuated. We have had zero in 2023, five in 2024; but overall, it has been anywhere between zero and five. If we look at the situation last year, indeed, as the Member pointed out, the anchorages were the point of concern, while shipyards have improved. But over time, if we look at the last five years, for example, I would say it is about 50-50. But that does not mean that we take our eyes off our shipyards as well because if you look at the issues at the shipyards, it is not necessarily at the shipyard itself, but it could also be the ancillary activities. The one incident that we had at the shipyard was a worker being struck by a forklift. So, it is not so much shipbuilding, but ancillary activities around the shipyard. On the other activities in the anchorage, among the other things that happen, investigations aside, drowning during diving works, improper use of scuba gear instead of commercial diving gear, for example. There was another case of a worker being struck by the propeller of a boat during diving works – that was an unfortunate accident. There were others where workers fell from the vessel. If I recall correctly, a safety vest was used but still, unfortunately, perhaps due to the waters. So, there are different incidents. The numbers are quite small, therefore, you have different incidents and there is no clear pattern. But certainly, we will look to see how we can improve. As for the nature of works, compared to, say, shipyards, I think you are in a better position because you can have land-based medical personnel nearby or you can be reached by ambulances a lot quicker.”
“Together with MPA and the WSH Council, MOM will be engaging senior management of companies from the marine sector to emphasise the importance of building a strong WSH culture. MOM will also be working with MPA to strengthen safety oversight over the marine sector, including reviewing upstream measures to further tighten diving safety standards, especially on the use of proper diving equipment. I urge everyone to play our part in keeping our waters safe and befitting of Singapore’s status as a premier maritime hub.”
“Speaker, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) took corrective actions to address the increase in workplace fatalities in the marine sector last year. In October 2024, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council called on companies in the maritime industry to conduct a Safety Time-Out, with a focus on work activities carried out at anchorages and commercial diving activities. Companies were to review their WSH management systems, reiterate senior management’s focus on safety and refresh workers’ awareness of workplace safety protocols. Companies were also provided with materials on good safety practices and case studies to assist them in mitigating common WSH hazards in the marine sector, such as falling from height and working in confined spaces. For diving activities, which contributed to two out of five of the sector’s fatalities in 2024, MOM has worked with the Commercial Diving Association of Singapore to emphasise to the commercial diving community on the importance of adhering to the code of practice for diving at work. This includes ensuring dive personnel are trained and use proper diving equipment. MPA also reminds applicants seeking a diving permit for commercial diving to adhere to the code of practice, amongst other conditions. To ensure compliance, MOM and MPA conducted a joint enforcement operation from September to December 2024, and will ramp up our enforcement efforts this year. While we observe that there has been no further fatality in the marine sector in 2025 to date, we will continue to closely monitor the sector’s WSH compliance and improve its WSH performance.”
“I thank the Member for his interest. The two MOUs I spoke about, the first one with both Quantedge Foundation and Temasek Foundation, and the other one with Singapore-MIT Alliance, which is the MIT University, both relate to the use of AI in our MENDAKI Tuition Programmes. We are exploring ways in which we can allow students to access AI tools. I do not have details yet, because we are still working out the MOUs, because we are going to pilot some of these things to see how we can improve the experience for many of our students who today could leverage on AI, especially for weaker students. We can customise and tailor some of the ways that Maths is taught to them because different kids have got different problem areas. The other area we are looking at is really on the tutors, how we can help our tutors, because many of them are volunteers, and how we can help them deliver courses for the students and engage the students even better. Some of these may also involve using tools that our tutors can customise for students according to some of their needs. So, just watch this space, because it is coming and it is something that we are working on quite closely.”
“I thank the Member for her questions. I am glad that the Member asked about Tunas, because it is a very new programme. It is running into its second iteration. When we first started, traditionally, MENDAKI funds, many of our MMOs in terms of programming, but we think that it is worth investing into the MMOs so that we can develop leadership. You find many of them now in leadership positions, some of them, from the first iteration leading some of the MMOs already today. So, this is one way in which we want to not just cultivate, but also more importantly, give them leadership skills, because this provides good access, such as access to Civil Service College, in which they have certain training, understanding how Government works. This is one way in which they can also collaborate among themselves. We have seen joint projects between MMOs today, which we did not really see in the past. So, this is one way in which the leaders where we picked from the various appointment holders, come together and undergo this programme. So, that leads to the other answer, because we can only pick those who are leading today. The fact that in the second iteration, we have expanded into professional networks, that gives us even more leverage, even more diversity, to access more talent from industry. That gives us greater potential to diversify the slate even more. And with the M3@Towns involved, we look at the leadership and we hope that we can also find more women leaders too. So, certainly, that is one area in which we will work towards into encouraging the various organisations to support and develop more of our women leaders so that they, too, can lead the community in different functions. 3.00 pm”
“The second thing we are doing is, given that we now have a data platform, we are now working with the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), doing longitudinal studies on how this affects our kids and how they perform over time. And certainly, with our MTP, our kids who graduate from KMM are automatically enrolled in MTP. That helps us ensure that we continue to have touchpoints so that while they have gained the knowledge and benefits in Primary 1, they do not lose it and we continue to track them when they enter mainstream school.”