Reinforcing Singapore's Position as a Global Transport Hub

Senior Minister of State Sun Xueling.

Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion.

Members have affirmed the strategic importance of transport and connectivity and shared their suggestions on how we can strengthen Singapore's long-term economic competitiveness. I value their suggestions.

Technology is key to realising these ambitions. If we harness technology early and well to create opportunities and improve lives for our residents and our workers, we can thrive in an increasingly uncertain world.

Several Members have highlighted that transformation must create good jobs for Singaporeans. We agree.

The use of technology helps us solve problems, but people will always remain at the heart of transport. Experience, judgement, professionalism and care are not replaceable. Our transport workforce will always be at the core of our transport services. As Mr Sanjeev Kumar and Mr Wan Rizal have highlighted, we will work closely with tripartite partners to ensure that Singaporeans are well-positioned to seize these new opportunities.

Last July, I launched the $200 million OneAviation Manpower Fund to support employers, unions and workers. CAAS and NTUC have also announced a partnership to co-design an AI training roadmap for aviation union leaders.

Autonomy and AI are at work across our Transport sector. In Tuas port, automation has been built in from the ground up. Automated guided vehicles move containers and cranes are operated remotely, making it one of the most advanced container terminals in the world. Trials for autonomous prime movers are also underway in Pasir Panjang terminal.

I spoke to Mr Faiz who works at PSA in Pasir Panjang. He used to drive a prime mover but has now transited to work in the control room as a remote operator for autonomous prime movers. He said that the workplace is now more comfortable and he is happier with the shift arrangements.

We are investing in our maritime workforce just as deliberately across different stages of their career. Seafarers remain the backbone of the industry. The Sail Milestone Achievement Programme provides up to $50,000 for local seafarers. Together with our unions and partners, we have also enhanced the Tripartite Maritime Training Award for individuals seeking a seafaring career.

On shore, the Career Conversion Programme for the Sea Transport sector reskilled close to 200 mid-career entrants and existing employees last year, equipping them for roles in digitalisation, decarbonisation and cybersecurity. New pathways into shore-based roles are opening, such as Singapore Management University's Industry Graduate Diploma in Maritime for mid-career transitions.

Additionally, as Mr Dennis Tan mentioned, we want to prepare Singaporeans to take on leadership roles in the maritime sector. As maritime is global in nature, maritime leaders will need to have experience and capabilities running international operations and managing cross-cultural teams. And this is why we have launched a new Maritime Cluster Fund Global Rotation Scheme. The scheme provides grants to companies to co-fund the overseas deployments of local middle-managers to equip them with the competencies to take on supervisory roles.

On our roads, the deployment of AVs can help us meet our connectivity needs, ease manpower constraints in public transport and improve safety.

Grab and ComfortDelGro currently operate 16 fixed route autonomous shuttles in Punggol. Safety operators are on board to ensure safety in this initial deployment phase. As of June this year, close to 10,000 unique riders have taken the shuttles and 99% of them surveyed said they felt safe and they would recommend the ride to others. Riders provided feedback that they would like more destinations, direct connections and flexible bookings. We will work with the operators to improve the service.

We agree with Mr Ang Wei Neng's suggestion that AVs should first be deployed to serve underserved areas. We will progressively extend AVs to new areas with clear transport needs and are considering areas, such as Sentosa, Tuas and Mandai as possibilities.

We are also expanding AV trials to other modes of transport, including public buses. We will begin piloting autonomous buses on two public bus services, Service 400 in Marina Bay and Service 191 in One-North. However, in response to Mr Ang Wei Neng's and Mr Fadli Fawzi's points, further deployment must be realistic. The technology for AV buses is not as mature compared to that of AV cars.

Current autonomous bus models also have a smaller passenger capacity compared to our public buses. Public buses also have to meet the needs of different commuters – such as the elderly, parents with children in strollers and persons with disabilities. Hence, the operational aspects of autonomous public buses have to be worked through to meet the needs of different commuters.

That said, we agree that there are good use cases for autonomous buses, such as night bus services, and we will consider it when the technology is more mature.

As autonomy grows across our airport, seaport and roads, new job opportunities will emerge in areas such as fleet management and remote operations, autonomous EV engineering as well as business development.

We recognise that autonomy and AI, if not managed well, can bring disruption to existing jobs, industries and business models. The ultimate purpose of using technology is to benefit people – our residents and our workers. We will not adopt technology blindly. Technology's worth lies in the problems it solves and the lives it improves. We will roll out the use of autonomy and AI at a pace acceptable to residents, commuters and drivers.

As the Acting Minister has mentioned, the introduction of AVs will be a gradual process to give our commuters and drivers time to adapt. Widespread adoption is still some time away. We have been engaging taxi and private hire drivers early as we want to ensure that our drivers are well-equipped to seize job opportunities from this transition and that they can stay ahead of this change.

I recently met leaders from the NTA and NPHVA again, together with Ms Yeo Wan Ling. The union leaders ask what they can do to equip themselves and their members. Together with our tripartite partners, we have put together a manpower transition package to empower our taxi and private hire car drivers to stay ahead of industry developments and to explore new career options with confidence.

This package has three parts.

First, Place-and-Train Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs). This is for drivers looking to transition into new roles that come with up to 90% salary support. The CCPs will be launched in third quarter of this year.

We will introduce a CCP for drivers keen to pivot to the AVs sector, known as the "CCP for Autonomous Vehicle specialists". Like all CCPs, participants will be offered employment prior to the commencement of the programme and training supported by the SWDA. GrabAcademy, Grab's training arm, has been onboarded as a registered training provider with SWDA to deliver AV-related training.

For drivers who wish to pivot to other transport related jobs such as Bus captains, we will introduce a new pathway under the "CCP for Public Transport Professionals". This follows recent announcements we have made regarding increasing salaries and sign on bonuses for new bus captains. Drivers who are keen to move into other sectors can tap on existing programmes offered by the SWDA.

Second, we will pilot a new training incentive scheme from January 2027, focusing on short-form courses. Drivers do not just forego some income when they go for training. They also incur other costs such as car rental expenses. Hence, under this scheme, eligible drivers will get a training incentive of $20 per hour for attending any of over 2,000 curated SWDA-supported courses, up to a cap of 80 hours of training. This training incentive amount is significantly higher than any other training allowances currently offered as we understand that drivers have additional expenditure like car rentals to manage. Drivers can tap on this incentive to acquire new skills before committing to longer-term programmes, such as the CCPs.

Third, we will launch a new one-stop webpage with relevant information and resources curated for drivers and to raise awareness of the new support measures available.

Some of our drivers are already taking steps to thrive in this future of mobility. Ms Ang Li Wei used to drive a taxi with ComfortDelGro, but she seized the opportunity to train as a safety operator for AVs. She believes AVs will change the scene of driving worldwide, and she also sees new and more specialised roles emerging for drivers, such as helping wheelchair users, families with young children and others who need extra care on their journeys.

Another driver is Mr Raymond Tong. Mr Tong is actually here with us today in the Gallery. Mr Tong has spent over a decade behind the wheel. He qualified as a safety operator and he has gone on to get certification as a remote operator. In his words, he wants a front-row seat as to where the industry is heading. Mr Tong says he wants to support our efforts towards the future of mobility, about the future of AVs, so he is here with us today, despite his very busy schedule. Thank you, Mr Tong!

The Government will take a proactive approach to help workers adapt, support job transitions and to equip Singaporeans with the skills and capabilities needed in the age of autonomy and AI. The manpower transition package is one of more upcoming moves we are putting in place for our P2P drivers. We will continue to work closely with the unions and support our workers as jobs evolve. Mr Speaker, in Chinese, please.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Times are constantly changing. The advancement of technology and the application of AI have given rise to cause for concern. For instance, whether people's livelihoods might be affected.

Our taxi and private-hire drivers are no exception. Some of you have worked with taxi companies for many years; some found flexible work with Grab after a career transition; some are very familiar with the streets of Singapore and have excellent driving skills.

Regardless of your background, you share one thing in common: you work hard every day to earn a living for your families and shoulder your responsibilities at home. Each day, you race against time to make it easier and more convenient for Singaporeans to get around. For that, we are deeply grateful.

In the face of innovations such as AI and AVs, I believe we must always keep the interests of our transport workers in mind and be people-centric. I have always believed that the ultimate purpose of technology is to benefit people – residents and workers alike.

Based on the current situation, AVs will introduced gradually and progressively. MOT will roll out new technologies and AI at a pace that residents, passengers and drivers are comfortable with.

At the same time, our tripartite partners are actively working together. We will be introducing a Manpower Transition Package to support taxi and private-hire drivers through career transition, skills training and career guidance. We hope this will help our drivers seize the employment opportunities that this technological transformation brings.

I believe that technology is not an end in itself. The well-being of Singaporeans is the objective behind all our efforts. As we work to enhance Singapore's transport efficiency and technological edge, we remain committed to protecting the livelihoods and well-being of our people.

I am confident that as long as the Government, businesses, and workers strive together towards this common goal, we will not only be able to navigate this new wave of technological change, but also seize the opportunities that it brings to build a better future together.

(In English): Mr Speaker, Sir, in English please. Our air hub is one of Singapore's crown jewels. Changi Airport's story is one of deliberate ambition, constant reinvention and an unwavering commitment to connect us to the world.

The Changi East Development, including T5, positions Changi Airport for the future of air travel, anchoring good jobs and a significant part of our economy.

To address Mr Edward Chia's, Mr Sharael Taha's and Ms Valerie Lee's suggestion on strengthening Changi's connectivity to other parts of Singapore and the region, we are studying how to best enable seamless air-sea transfers between Changi Airport and Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, and synergise future developments in the wider Changi region including Changi Business Park, Changi Village and Loyang.

We agree with Mr Fadli Fawzi's suggestion, that infrastructure should also improve Singaporeans' lived experience. The Changi East Urban district will be a new lifestyle and business hub for Singaporeans and visitors to connect, work and play.

Expanding Changi Airport gives us an opportunity to rethink existing processes, increase productivity and transform jobs. Ms Poh Li San has rightly highlighted that many roles in ground-handling and facilities management are physically demanding and will increasingly take its toll on our ageing workforce. We agree with Mr Gerald Giam's point that digital tools should benefit workers.

Changi Airport has been deploying automation, robotics and AI to improve the safety and productivity of our workers. Since January 2026, autonomous baggage tractors are used to move passenger bags between terminals. They spare workers from repetitive driving, reduces fatigue and frees them up for complex and safety-critical last mile services. From driving a single tractor, a worker can now oversee and coordinate a fleet of vehicles or be trained to maintain the vehicles. The new job role is more sustainable and offers a higher pay. In time, autonomous tractors can be used to move cargo and airside equipment.

Technology tools can also be used to optimise work planning. OpsAssist is an AI Tool that SATS uses to enable better manpower and equipment allocation for each aircraft turnaround. OpsAssist also schedules in breaks for workers to ensure that their well-being is well taken care of.

Beyond our air and sea gateways, Mr Liang Eng Hwa raised the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR project. Such bilateral projects can only proceed if there are mutual interests and benefits. We remain open to discussing new proposals with Malaysia in good faith, starting from a clean slate.

Mr Dennis Tan, Mr Edward Chia and Ms Poh Li San have highlighted the importance of greening our aviation and maritime sectors. We agree.

For aviation, our Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint sets the direction. Sustainability aviation fuel will remain our primary lever for cutting emissions across the bulk of our air traffic. Our goal is to start with a 1% sustainability aviation fuel uplift, rising to 3% to 5% by 2030, subject to global developments and the wider availability of sustainability aviation fuel.

For maritime, the MPA is working closely with the industry to prepare for a multi-fuel future, by investing in infrastructure, developing technical standards and licensing frameworks to ensure that we can handle these fuels safely. These efforts reflect our commitment to position our port to meet the evolving needs of international shipping as it decarbonises.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa raised suggestions to support the electrification of heavy vehicles. This is indeed our direction. With the adoption and charger incentives for heavy vehicles, registrations of electric heavy vehicles rose from less than 1% of all heavy vehicle registrations last year to around 20% as of May this year. We will continue to monitor take-up and see how best to achieve our electrification targets. We will also continue to study new EV technologies adapted around the world, including smart charging technologies to better optimise the grid as well as battery energy storage solutions to manage grid capacity constraints during peak hours.

Ms Poh Li San and Dr Neo Kok Beng have highlighted the opportunities in electric and hybrid-electric aircraft for short-haul routes and drones. I have extensively addressed this topic in my response speech during the Adjournment Motion on “Low Altitude-Economy: Building the Flying Car, Air Tourism and Drone Logistics Industry” during the 8 April Parliamentary Sitting.

Electric and hybrid-electric aircraft is an emerging technology but in the short term, they can only complement aircrafts powered by sustainable aviation fuel as hybrid-electric aircraft technology may take time to commercialise and are not yet suitable for deployment. We will be ambitious but pragmatic, and keep our options open.

There is potential for Singapore to go further as a centre of excellence for research into cleaner and greener aircraft, working with partners, such as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research and our IHLs, with funding set under RIE2030. We will study the Member's proposal carefully and work with industry partners to take it forward where it plays to our strengths.

On drones, they are used across Singapore for a wide variety of functions, from ship-to-shore deliveries at our port to inspections of our rail and road infrastructure and high-rise cleaning.

Many of these use cases improve productivity and worker safety, allowing workers to focus on tasks that call for human judgement and expertise. We are carefully studying how drones can be deployed while being mindful of Singapore's dense urban environment, complex airspace and security needs. We will continue to support responsible innovation through trials, testbeds and regulatory refinement.

Sir, I thank the GPC for raising this Motion. Our best chance at delivering a good life for our people is to strengthen Singapore’s long-term economic competitiveness and anchor good jobs in Singapore. This can be achieved through international cooperation, appropriate use of frontier technologies and establishing world-class infrastructure to reinforce our position as a globally connected aviation, maritime and logistics hub. This is how Singapore stays relevant and secures our competitiveness in an uncertain world. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion. [Applause.]

Ms Tin Pei Ling.

Mr Speaker, Sir, it has been my great privilege to move this debate on how we can reinforce Singapore's position as a globally connected aviation, maritime and logistics hub so as to strengthen Singapore's long-term economic competitiveness and ultimately, create and anchor good jobs in Singapore.

My transport GPC colleagues, Mr Edward Chia, Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Ms Poh Li San, Mr Jackson Lam, Mr Liang Eng Wah, Mr Ang Wei Neng and Mr Sharael Taha, have taken turns to explain the different tenets of the Motion statement and together with other hon Members of this House, including Dr Choo Pei Ling, Ms Gho Sze Kee, Ms Lee Hui Ying, Ms Valerie Lee, Mr Yip Hon Weng, Dr Wan Rizal, Mr Lee Hong Chuang and Dr Hamid Razak, put forth many thoughtful recommendations for the Government's consideration. Many thanks to my PAP Parliamentary colleagues for working on this debate and for making these recommendations.

I also sincerely appreciate the interest and support from the WP – Mr Dennis Tan, Ms He Ting Ru, Mr Fadli Fawzi, Mr Kenneth Tiong, Mr Gerald Giam and Assoc Prof Jamus Lim – as well as Nominated MPs, Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari and Dr Neo Kok Beng. I hope I did not miss anyone.

I am also especially appreciative of the receptiveness and positive responses from Minister Jeffrey Siow, Senior Minister of State Sun Xueling and Minister of State Baey Yam Keng. Thank you for listening to us. We are very excited that some of our suggestions will be accepted by the Ministry and we are also very heartened by the efforts made past and present.

Past Sittings have seen colleagues from both sides of the aisle raising questions and putting forth suggestions on issues pertaining to Singapore's logistics, maritime and aviation sectors. I am heartened, therefore, that we have such a robust debate on this Motion today and most of all, I am heartened by the support from both sides of this House that the transport GPC has put forth.

The big direction is clear. We all want to do good for Singaporeans, creating good job opportunities for them by advancing Singapore's long-term economic interest. And we all agree that Singapore, being a global logistics, maritime and aviation hub, is key to that goal.

Across this debate, several threads ran consistently through nearly every speech, regardless of who from which party was speaking. Members agreed that we are facing an increasingly turbulent world and geopolitics. That shared recognition makes the rule of law and our ability to work closely with one another all the more important.

I am heartened in this regard by hon Member from the WP, Ms He Ting Ru's point that Singapore should not be an instrument of other countries' strategic goals. I agree, and this is why this Motion matters.

When Singapore builds strong capabilities of our own, when we have options to who we connect with and when we deepen international cooperation so that other countries come to share a genuine stake in our shared success, Singapore will be able to assert our independence with confidence. We do not stay independent by standing alone. We stay independent by standing strong enough so that no one else's strategy needs to become ours.

On frontier technology, Members spoke of AI, AVs, digital twins and smart hubs. From my GPC colleagues' proposals on AI orchestration and autonomous systems to other Members' calls for Singapore to lead in electric aviation and green shipping technology, technology must be a tool that makes Singapore harder to replace, not just harder to keep up with.

On international cooperation and infrastructure, Members return again and again to the idea that our infrastructure is only as valuable as the trust the world places in it, whether framed through ASEAN chairmanship priorities, regional connectivity with Johor and the Riau Islands or Singapore's role in shaping international rules, rather than merely following them.

I am also encouraged that there was support from some Members from both sides to export Singapore innovations and systems to other countries. Doing so would help set new standards and drive interoperability to drive greater flows of goods, people, information and value seamlessly, yet also strengthen Singapore's standing in the region and in the world. We are, in essence, exporting the Singapore model, our special brand of trust.

And on our people, nearly every speaker insisted that none of this matters unless it translates into good, better and more inclusive jobs for Singaporean workers with real training pathways and real protection for those whose roles will change. Our tripartite model must therefore continue to prevail.

So, yes, we need to embrace technology, but we must not vibe code the humans out of a job. Rather to make sure that every job that we redesign or create beat to the rhythm of real heart beats.

One Member, hon Mr Fadli Fawzi, had understandably raised his concerns about day-to-day public transport matters. These issues matter to Singaporeans' daily lives. As mentioned in my opening, day-to-day land transport issues remain important and a priority to the transport GPC and indeed, for the entire Government. We had and we will continue to discuss these issues in and out of this House, but I would like to reiterate that today's Motion was deliberately framed to look further out at the strategic long-term question of how Singapore secures our place in the world through global connectivity and logistics, maritime and aviation. The Member would agree that we need these connections for our food, medicine and other essential supplies to enter Singapore, so that Singaporeans can access them easily. Attending to the everyday public transport issues and building for Singapore's global connectivity and future are not competing priorities.

Sir, in closing, the big direction remains clear, clearer, in fact, than when we began. We agree that the world has grown more uncertain and that Singapore's independence must be built, not assumed. We agree that technology should make us harder to replace, not just harder to keep pace with. We agree that our infrastructure, physical and digital, poured in concrete and written in code, must be built as one so that it can keep pace with a future that will wait for no one. And we agree that our people must remain at the centre of everything we build.

When a House this diverse agrees completely on the big one, that is not a coincidence. It is Singapore's direction spoken with one voice across party lines and with that, thank you all. [Applause.]

Are there any clarifications that Members would like to seek?

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, "That this House affirms the importance of strengthening Singapore’s long-term economic competitiveness by leveraging international cooperation, frontier technologies and world-class infrastructure to reinforce Singapore’s position as a globally connected aviation, maritime and logistics hub, and to anchor good jobs in Singapore." – [Ms Tin Pei Ling]