Acknowledgement to the Chair

Mdm Speaker, over the last nine days, from 11 am or noon, and ending past 7.30 pm for many days, Members in this House have debated extensively and finally approved the Government's fiscal plans for this year.

Four hundred and eighty three amendments were filed, an increase of 7% from last year. Even "cuts", it seems, are not immune to inflation. Through our debates, we have scrutinised the intricacies of our nation and the daily lives of our people. We have pushed hard for more help to those in need or in trouble, the less privileged, unfortunate and marginalised in our society.

This was a first Budget for the newly created Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth but the second in this term of Government. With experience, new Members and office-bearers were more assured and forceful in their speeches this year. Overall, the quality of debate, the civility and demeanour displayed speak well of our legislature. Let us maintain this high standard.

But the art of the succinct can be honed – compress our speeches for greater impact – both for the front and backbenchers.

Beyond the nitty-gritty, it is worthwhile to ask at the end of our debates, what does this Budget really mean for Singapore and Singaporeans? How did it impact their lives for a better Singapore? Where is Singapore headed? Quo vadis?

Prominent headlines and themes provide snapshot answers to these questions.

On ideas and vision – "a Robin Hood budget, wealth re-distribution, closing the income gap, hikes on social spending, economic transformation, quality growth, Singaporean Core, Singaporean identity."

On concrete provisions – "more hospitals, polyclinics, childcare and kindergartens, cycling paths and better bus services, MND's vision of cheaper, faster and better housing options for singles and married couples, less expensive healthcare and childcare, hawker rentals, the power of ‘free' – free museums and maybe even free MRT rides for some, higher levies and

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restrictions on foreign workers, higher taxes on cars and housing investments."

On fears – "SMEs squeezed, economic restructuring doubts, our ageing population, fiscal health in the future."

These preoccupations reflect a nation paying more attention inwardly, appropriately making sharp adjustments to catch up with infrastructure needs and rising cost of living, but also preparing ahead for a slowing economy and an ageing population. If in the past, our country was like that of a young man springing along with boundless energy, Singapore is now moving at a much more measured pace, a mature adult conscious of his or her limitations. Singapore has moved into a new and unchartered phase.

With speeches read, the Budget passed and directions set, what now? To work, of course, and our raison d'être. As Government and Members of Parliament, we must commit to the task of doing things well, to ensure that policies get implemented correctly to improve the lives of Singaporeans and to speak up if they are not. At the same time, we need to remain watchful that external forces do not overtake us. We must not mistake ourselves to be the centre around which the world revolves, lest we quickly and ruefully realise that we are not.

Mdm Speaker, this Budget session was also a first for you in that Chair, although no one would have guessed. You presided over this House with adroitness, attentiveness, patience and firmness delicately applied. The result was smooth proceedings and business completed on time. Madam, this House thanks you and I am sure that I speak on behalf of all Members in expressing our admiration at how quickly and assuredly you have assumed your role as Speaker.

Mdm Speaker, our thanks also go to the staff of the Secretariat for their support and assistance. We appreciate the forbearance shown by you and your Deputies in listening to hundreds of speeches these last two weeks. We trust that the withdrawal symptoms from not having to listen to any of us, at least for a while, will not be too difficult to bear.

Let me, first, thank the Leader of the House for his kind words of support and encouragement. I would also like to thank all the hon Members for your cooperation, which has enabled us to bring this Budget debate to a fruitful conclusion.

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This House agrees that the conclusion of the debate is but only a starting point. Much work has to be done to carry through the many policies and programmes that you have so robustly debated over the span of two weeks.

The focus of this Budget is on the elderly, the low-income and the young. The need to remain globally competitive is clear. Yet, this House also reaffirms the need for crafting of policies and their implementation to be done in a manner that benefits, involves and engages Singaporeans.

So, there were palpable policy shifts announced this year in many areas. The debate this year also marks quite a shift in one other respect. I have yet to sit through a debate where the word "consultation" had popped up so frequently – 33 times to be exact. This shows the strong desire on the part of policymakers to involve Singaporeans more in shaping their own destiny.

On the whole, I find your speeches to be of high quality and thoughtful, passionate and colourful even, with many real life examples. This is a serious debate and you have taken great pains to address the people's concerns. The exchange with the front bench was robust and engaging, and you made good use of the clarification time, although some succumbed to the lure of using this space to make more speeches.

Most Members kept to their allotted times, although some really stretched the limit. Some have also refined their speed reading techniques. My advice for next year is to plan your speech better. Brevity is not a sin. After all, the two most powerful words in the human vocabulary are very short – yes and no. I would also like to remind Members to use audio visual aids only as illustrations of some points in your speech, not to replace it, as the public wants to hear you and not to watch a video.

Some have also commiserated with me because I could not speak. Yes, indeed it was rather strange to be listening to you rather than to be with you to argue my points or to explain policies, but I have enjoyed presiding over this debate.

Let me conclude by thanking the Leader of the House and the Whip for their guidance and support in ensuring a smooth debate. I also thank my helpful and reliable Deputy Speakers, Mr Charles Chong and Mr Seah Kian Peng, for their assistance. I am also grateful to the staff of this House who worked tirelessly, but quietly, behind the scene to make everything run so smoothly that not many know the amount of work that they do. Once again, I thank hon Members for

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your active participation and for your cooperation in this debate. It is a pleasure to preside over a parliament where hon Members take their work seriously and with great pride for the people that they represent. The people expect no less from us.

Order. I propose to take the break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 4.00 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 3.40 pm until 4.00 pm.

Sitting resumed at 4.00 pm

[Mdm Speaker in the Chair]