President's Speech

Mr Kenneth Tiong.

Mr Foo Cexiang.

Mr Kenneth Tiong.

Mr Foo Cexiang.

Mr Kenneth Tiong.

Let us move on, Ms Hazlina.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I am lucky to be born an optimist, always preferring to look on the brighter side of life. But I know it is easier said than done, especially when success seems out of reach; and the people who are in the position to make a difference seem out of touch.

I sense some among us may be feeling this way: unsure, uncertain, overwhelmed. This too, shall pass, and with hardship comes ease. But let me say this: I believe in the power of the youth, so do not give up on you. I believe in the power of family, do not give up on each other. I believe in the power of unity, so let us do this together.

Mr Speaker, I rise in support for the Motion to thank the President who spoke about unity, tenacity and inclusive mobility. Let me start by appreciating the East Coast and Fengshan residents – because of whom I have this honour of being here today, sharing my voice with fellow Singaporeans. With this same voice, I thank our families, our volunteers and Singapore's patriots who rally with us to build a Singapore we can all be proud of. One, where we belong.

The privilege, expectations and "amanah", or responsibility, standing right here right now, is not lost on me. Mr Speaker, I seek the guidance of your good self, honourable, learned and experienced Members of this House as well as our community leaders and private sector leaders to join hands and build an ecosystem of support so every one of us Singaporeans, dare to dream, to be our best.

Today, I will take you on a journey to envision the Singapore I hope to build in three parts, using three proverbs, and in three other languages.

First, in our National Language, Mr Speaker, in Malay, please.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The strength of the people, is in its unity.

A Singapore that is strong, united and cohesive.

A Singapore that supports one another during difficult times.

A Singapore that celebrates each other's successes.

That is my hope for Singapore and for our community.

For 15 years, I reported the stories of our community as an editor and presenter for Mediacorp News. I was fortunate because through my career, I had the privilege of preserving our culture and language and connecting with our community.

I also served for more than a decade in charitable organisations, such as PPIS (Singapore Muslim Women's Association) – helping those in need amongst us and in several national councils and associations – representing the voice and aspirations of our community. I have never missed any opportunity to contribute because I truly believe that success, values, and aspirations; all begin at home.

Therefore, I hope the Government continues to work hand in hand with Malay/Muslim organisations, social service agencies, as well as the private sector, making holistic efforts to strengthen and empower our families, so that no one is left behind.

Mr Speaker, every family's situation is different. Similar but not quite the same. Sometimes, when tackling complex problems, there seems to be no clear solutions, no examples, no templates. For instance, a Fengshan resident, Mr O, is a father with a heart condition. He is no longer working and must care for two children – one studying at MINDS and another who has eczema, a type of skin ailment. Additionally, his wife is receiving long-term treatment in hospital due to stroke. When he came to us, Mr O was quite at a loss. Our team worked to address his challenges step by step.

We began by ensuring that he receives assistance from ComCare and also MUIS. We then addressed his financial difficulties by guiding him in planning his family's monthly expenses. We also provided grocery vouchers and made appeals for outstanding bills. Essentially, our team used a holistic approach that took into account the specific characteristics of each family, which is providing assistance while empowering them.

Mr Speaker, Singapore's success and strength are not only subject to economic sustainability. Family and community stability, as well as a united people, are also important indicators of success – especially in uncertain times, when tensions between nations are escalating.

We must take care of our own.

Recently, I had the opportunity to join President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's delegation for his State Visit to Egypt – for the very first time. Singapore's reputation as a trusted, respected and forward-looking country was clearly evident. The President's visit demonstrated both the importance of expanding our networks and Singapore's significant role on the world stage. The President presented a $1.2 million contribution from the Singapore Red Cross to the Egyptian Red Crescent. These funds will be used for medical services that will benefit 4,000 Gaza residents as well as educational services for around 2,000 Palestinian children.

During the visit, I had the chance to meet four Gaza residents who were receiving medical treatment in Egypt, together with a team of Singaporean doctors and nurses who were specially flown in to provide treatment – the first foreign team given permission to work in an Egyptian hospital.

Mr Speaker, I believe this effort is welcomed by all Singaporeans. Therefore, Singapore must remain steadfast and firm in helping victims of war and continue to speak up for the oppressed. Singaporeans harbour hope that Singapore will assume a greater role and take a clearer stance on the Gaza conflict. While in Egypt, I was also deeply moved after meeting Singaporean students studying at the Al-Azhar University. They possess tremendous spirit and are committed to flying the Singapore flag high. I applaud and congratulate them for that.

Mr Speaker, solidarity does not mean uniformity, without any differences. Solidarity is the harmony of different voices, with varying tones and rhythms flowing together, united for the same purpose. A nurturing environment is important for someone to flourish. The family is like a garden that must be carefully tended, so that life's resources are shared as fairly as possible, and nothing is hidden in the shadows. We can be anchors of progress and beacons of unity. I will strive to ensure that our children grow up with confidence, our youth receive opportunities and our families believe in a brighter future.

(In English): Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please, especially, for my Fengshan residents.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] "Care for our own elderly and extend that care to the elderly of others" – what a beautiful saying! Many of our elderly shy from asking their families for help, fearing they might trouble others. I hope we can proactively extend a helping hand and do our part for our elders, so they can enjoy a meaningful and dignified life.

(In English): Mr Speaker, we are where we are because of the giants before us. Trail blazers who cleared the path, smashed ceilings and cleaned sticky floors. Singapore must be a safe space for our elderlies who have done so much to build the Singapore we are privileged to live in now.

During the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, shared a photo of my Fengshan resident, Mdm Wong celebrating her 100th birthday. I met her the same week, to show her how many Singaporeans celebrated with her. She was in high-spirits, all smiles and said, "阿嬤开心!" or Grandma is happy.

Joy keeps Mdm Wong going and many super-aged seniors too. I hope for our seniors to truly age well, on site and with dignity. I hope for a Singapore where our elderlies know they can depend on their families for support. I hope for the Government to better support families with elderly, especially the ones who also have young children as well.

On my house visits, I often meet seniors who live alone. At Fengshan, we take note of these homes. Our grassroots leader and I make time to engage and stay in touch. We organise luncheons and gatherings and encourage them to have an active social life. The work of the Active Ageing Centres, the Active Ageing Centre befrienders and the Silver Generation Office is becoming more important, to ensure our seniors living alone are not isolated. Perhaps it is time to consider a national level initiative together with coordination and partnership with social service agencies to have a more structured approach in caring for the ones who have no one else.

I also recently met a community of caregivers in Fengshan who are looking after seniors with dementia. Their challenges are real. I welcome the new dementia programmes at our Active Ageing Centres which would benefit this growing, big-hearted community of carers who deserve better support. And I look forward to greater synergies among all our initiatives so seniors have one single point of contact for community care, so they can focus on living their golden years meaningfully and with dignity.

Next, very briefly in Tamil, please, Mr Speaker.

(In Tamil): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The continuous crawling of ants can wear out even a rock. Do not give up hope. Keep on trying. There is so much we can learn from this saying. My grandfather and grandmother spoke Tamil. I have not learnt enough of it, but one day, I will.

(In English): The proverb, even ants can wear out a rock, speaks of the perseverance and resilience I hope for Singapore and our youths to possess. A Singapore where our young feel heard, seen and where they matter. A Singapore where our young are motivated and do not give up. A Singapore where our young feel like they belong.

Economic uncertainty and social pressures are on the up and up. One of the concerns of young Singaporeans is employment. It is unfortunate that the pressure to get a job meant young people are racing to stack internships. I worry for the vulnerable ones whose social capital is limited. I hope Government initiatives, such as the GRIT programme, truly evens the playing field of opportunities, and for the Government to keep a close eye that they are not misused for cost savings.

Perhaps the Government can also consider better supporting companies who successfully upskill and coach a trainee for full-time employment upon the completion of their traineeship. I believe it is important for the young to discover themselves. I started my career as a journalist, crossed over to public affairs, found meaning in social impact and embraced a new opportunity in advisory consulting.

For Singaporeans to embody lifelong learning, there must also be a mindset shift of embracing lifelong support. I shared the anxiety of our young, but also their drive for making the world a better place for the next generation. I share their purpose on being good and doing right. I will continue to listen to our young and give them space to untangle, deconstruct and undo what does not quite work.

I recently met some youths based in Cairo, having just returned from a State Visit with the President to Egypt and I am filled with immense pride at how our youths are flying our flag, determined to do Singapore, their families and themselves proud in their campuses. Egypt, like Singapore, values inter-faith harmony; upholding the values of peace and mutual respect is essential in continuing to build a peaceful and harmonious Singapore.

The recent incident at Al-Istiqamah mosque is deeply concerning. Such acts threaten the values that Singapore revere, peace and harmony. We must move upstream in our interventions. We must ensure our places of worship for all faiths remain safe spaces like the rest of Singapore. To do so, we must embrace unity in diversity.

Mr Speaker, Sir. Our mighty red dot shines bright beyond the water’s edge. Think about how Singaporeans make our mark and add value overseas and how Singapore makes a difference in a world that we care about. We must carry that same pride, here on this island.

Sir, I conclude with the recap of the three proverbs that exemplifies my kind of Singapore.

"Kuat lilit kerana simpulnya". The strength of the people is in its unity.

"老吾老，以及人之老". Care for the elders, our own and others.

"Yerumbu Ora Kalluum Theiyum". Persistence never fails.

The Singapore name is our pride. We must protect it. We must build it, we must move forward with it, together. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion.

Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim, I think you have joined the rare group of Members who used all four languages in her speech. Senior Minister of State Sun Xueling.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion. Housing policies are often discussed in this House. It is a topic that is important to many. Homes are where our children grow up, develop a sense of self and identify a space that they call their own. Homes can be a source of pride and joy for young working adults – something that they worked hard for and something that they continue to build their dreams and aspirations on.

For seniors, a home can be a sanctuary giving them peace of mind in their golden years. In land scarce Singapore, the Government takes active steps to ensure that there is housing to meet the different needs of our people. But there are also competing uses for land – to generate economic growth, for environment sustainability and sometimes for cultural and historical conservation.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) takes its development and stewardship role over land use seriously and undertakes this in partnership with our people. In June this year, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) released the Draft Master Plan 2025. It was developed through URA's most extensive public engagement exercise to date with 200,000 people engaged. We laid out our urban planning vision for the next decade.

We want to bring jobs closer to homes and strengthen three economic gateways in the north, east and west. We want to develop exciting and attractive neighbourhoods for both public and private housing, for example, in central locations, like Berlayar: regional job centres, like Woodlands; and sites closer to nature, like Kranji. We will also set aside more spaces for recreation with the development of new integrated developments, new parks and park connectors. Singapore will continue to be an exciting and endearing place to work, live and play.

As we develop these plans, we will not lose sight of our fundamental commitment to our people, that the Government will continue to provide affordable and accessible housing to our people. This was the founding ethos for HDB, which was established in 1960, five years before Singapore's Independence. This continues to be its mission today. Our home ownership policies give our citizens a stake in our nation, foster a sense of rootedness and a shared sense of identity.

I will now speak about, one, how we will continue to meet the housing aspirations of Singaporeans through affordable and accessible housing; how we will plan major new estates so that new residents can move in with greater convenience and comfort; and three, how we will rejuvenate our homes and estates to make them safe, liveable and vibrant for residents of all ages.

In the last term of Government, the pandemic impacted construction and led to delays in the completion of housing projects. Application rates for BTO flats were high, waiting times were longer and resale prices increased as more buyers turned to resale flats. Together with industry partners, the Government responded swiftly to the situation. We completed the flats delayed by COVID-19, ramped up supply of new flats, brought down waiting times and introduced multiple rounds of cooling measures to moderate the resale market.

After COVID-19, there continues to be strong broad-based housing demand. Singaporeans want to start their own families with most young people getting married at about 30 years old and they want to have their own flats then. There are also singles who want to live independently, though near their family. There are also seniors who want to age-in-place or right-size their housing for retirement needs.

In this term of Government, HDB will continue to build more, build faster and build better. We want to help more Singaporeans meet their housing aspirations. There will be a variety of public housing options in different locations to suit diverse income groups and family needs. We have exceeded our commitment of launching 100,000 new flats from 2021 to 2025. And from 2025 to 2027, we will launch 55,000 BTO flats, 10% more than the earlier commitment of 50,000. We will launch at least 4,500 flats with shorter waiting times this year, and over the next two years, we will launch about 4,000 annually, an increase of more than 20% compared to our earlier plans.

We will also sustain a steady private housing supply. From 2025 to 2027, we plan to launch more than 25,000 private residential units through the Government Land Sales programme. New estates will be developed in more central locations, such as Newton and Pearl's Hill.

As we build more, build faster and build better, there will be greater capacity to meet the aspirations of more Singaporeans. Mr Henry Kwek spoke for some of these groups, like young Singaporeans doing well at work and earning more but are afraid that they will bust the HDB income ceiling and end up not being eligible for a HDB flat.

The current BTO income ceiling is $14,000. This was last revised in 2019. We recognise that incomes have gone up over the years. We will, therefore, review the income ceiling to keep pace with economic trends and ensure that the majority of Singaporean households remain eligible for HDB flats.

Another group of Singaporeans who desire to own their HDB flats are singles who can only apply for a BTO flat after reaching the age of 35. In recent years, we have made significant moves to enhance singles' access to HDB flats. These include expanding access to two-room flexi BTO flats island-wide, increasing the housing grant for singles and giving priority to singles when they apply to live with or near their parents for mutual care and support.

We understand that there is still unmet demand from some singles who wish to apply for a BTO flat before reaching the age of 35. To make further policy moves, we need policy space and a higher supply of BTO flats. We are continuing with a robust supply of public housing and when the right conditions are in place, we will be able to raise the income eligibility threshold for BTO flat buyers and lower the eligibility age for singles.

Besides improving accessibility, we will also ensure that HDB flats remain affordable for Singaporeans. The Government will continue to price BTO flats so that they are affordable for buyers with different income levels. This includes first-time buyers who may also be eligible for additional housing grants.

Unlike other countries where public housing is targeted at the lower-income, almost 80% of Singapore residents stay in HDB flats. We must, therefore, provide a range of BTO flats at different locations and price levels to cater to buyers with different incomes and aspirations.

Let me share two examples using the recent July BTO exercise. Take a young couple earning around $5,000 monthly adding up to our median household income of $10,000. The average price for a standard four-room flat in a July exercise was around $460,000. With a 25-year HDB loan, the couple's mortgage servicing ratio would be 16%, meaning their monthly loan instalments would be fully covered by their CPF contributions. No need to pay cash.

If they opted for a four-room flat in Prime areas in this particular July exercise, given the additional subsidies for Prime flats, the couple will still be able to afford such flats with up to $350 payable in cash per month. Their mortgage servicing ratio would increase to 27% but this is still below international benchmarks of 30%-35% for affordable housing. To add, as the couple only starts paying their loan when the flat is completed, their incomes will likely have increased in those three or four years when they are waiting for the flat, so their actual mortgage servicing ratio and monthly cash outlay would be even lower.

Let us consider another couple with a lower combined income of $6,000 which places them in the lower-third of households by income. In the same July BTO exercise, three-room flats were going from $267,000 up to $389,000. This couple would be able to afford any three-room flat only using CPF, without any cash outlay. That gives them some buffer to cover their daily expenses and build up their finances. In fact, because of the additional grants they receive, this couple would also be able to afford the average standard four-room flat in this exercise without any cash outlay.

I have taken the July launch as an example, as this is the nearest launch to date. The exact prices and locations will vary across launches but our commitment is to ensure a range of options to meet diverse budgets and diverse needs.

We will also ensure that standard flats continue to form a significant portion of our annual supply to provide sufficient options for buyers with tighter budgets. And across flat types, BTOs will be priced well below comparable resale flats. On top of that, we provide further means-tested grants. Because of this, nine in 10 first-time home buyers can pay their loan using their CPF with little or no cash outlay. This is a good gauge of their lived experience of affordability, as this captures how they can manage their mortgage and daily living expenses relative to their disposable income.

I will now touch on the resale market. As we all know, resale prices are agreed between buyers and sellers, influenced by supply and demand. Behind every resale flat transaction, there is a willing buyer and a willing seller. Buyers pay a higher price compared to BTO flats, but they get the resale flat immediately and can choose their preferred flat attributes, like location and size.

There will be resale flats with attractive attributes that allow them to command higher prices, such as being in Prime locations, on a high floor, facing a good view, near amenities and transport nodes. But there are also resale flats available at lower prices in many locations. A four-room resale flat with at least 40 years remaining on the lease can go for less than $700,000 in locations, like Tampines and Punggol; less than $600,000 in Sembawang and Yishun; and less than $550,000 in Jurong West and Woodlands. [Please refer to clarification later in the debate.] First-time buyers pay even less because they qualify for grants of up to $230,000.

The resale market is cyclical. Before COVID-19, resale prices fell for six consecutive years. When prices rose in the COVID-19 years, we had to implement four rounds of cooling measures, such as reducing the Loan-to-Value limit for HDB housing loans and the wait-out periods for private property owners wishing to purchase HDB flats. We are now seeing moderation in resale price growth. The quarter-on-quarter resale price index Resale Price Index growth for the last quarter at 0.9% is the lowest since the second quarter of 2020.

There are signs to point towards continued moderation in resale prices. More BTO flats will reach their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) from 2026 onwards. The number of BTO flats reaching MOP will increase from 8,000 flats this year to 13,500 in 2026, 15,000 in 2027 and 19,500 in 2028. The increase in the supply of resale flats will help to moderate resale prices. At the same time, the ramp-up in BTO supply that I spoke about earlier will also help to reduce demand in the resale market, as more buyers turn to BTO flats. Together, these trends of increased supply and reduced demand will help support a more balanced and sustainable resale market.

To sum up this section of my speech, we will keep public housing affordable and accessible for buyers with diverse needs and budgets. The robust supply of public housing will enable us to expand access to more groups.

Ramping up housing supply also means that we will be developing in new areas, such as Tengah in the West, and Kranji in the North. These areas present opportunities to design thoughtful and beautiful towns. We did this with "Punggol 21" since the 1990s, and we are doing this again with Tengah – our first large-scale smart and sustainable town.

At the same time, we hear feedback from residents that amenities such as cooked food options and childcare centres were not available when they first moved in. Having been in Punggol for the past decade, I can understand how residents feel. To review how we can be more resident-centric in our planning for such large-scale BTO estates, we set up the inter-agency BTO Coordination Committee last year, which I now chair.

The committee has studied the experience of residents in new large-scale BTO estates, such as Punggol and Tengah. I will share more in the months to come, but today, I would like to give you a broad overview of the improvements that we are looking into, to prepare for other large-scale BTO projects we are building.

The inter-agency committee is looking into a wide variety of issues, such as transport accessibility, construction disamenities and also, mobile signal strength. In the interest of time, I will highlight three areas that HDB is working on: sheltered linkways, childcare and food options.

First, sheltered linkways. Residents desire shelter to connect them on their commute and journeys around the neighbourhood. For new estates, from the onset, we will see how we can connect our residents to more bus stops and shop clusters. This can potentially be implemented at the BTO construction stage, especially if there are cost savings.

Next, on childcare. For our young parents, it is crucial to minimise the gap between the first residents moving in and the commencement of childcare services. We are refining our planning approach, so that the childcare centres are built earlier in the development of the estate and handed over to operators in a smoother and faster manner.

Finally, when residents move into a new area, more often than not, food is the first thing that everyone looks out for. However, we know through experience that operators are hesitant to open their shops or stalls when footfall may be low in the initial period. Currently, we already provide a rent-free period to tide operators through this period. We are studying how to enhance such measures while studying alternatives for residents. We will work with the food and retail industry to see how residents can be better served during the move-in period and the town's early years.

At the National Day Rally this year, the Prime Minister had shared our vision for the new BTO estates in places like Kranji, Sembawang and Woodlands. They are to be well-connected to job centres in the northern region. This is an opportunity to apply this resident-centric planning approach and build a new generation of heartlands.

Across Government agencies, we will plan and coordinate much more closely so that new residents enjoy greater convenience from the time they move in. We will continue to gather feedback from residents, grassroots leaders and community leaders, and adopt a resident-centric approach in planning, development and execution.

Our commitment is not just to new homes. We are equally focused on rejuvenating our mature heartlands where many Singaporeans have lived for decades. We often hear residents asking what will happen to their flats and estates as the infrastructure, and they themselves, get older. I assure residents that we will continue to work with you and your Town Councils to keep your homes and neighbourhoods safe, liveable and well-maintained.

Many residents of flats aged around 30 years have already benefited from programmes, such as the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), covering essentials like toilets, doors and spalling concrete. As flats age further, HIP II will offer a second round of upgrading when flats reach 60 years and above. Works will be more comprehensive, using updated technology.

We will announce more details about HIP II next year, but I will share one example today. As buildings age, the problem of water seepage becomes more common and this damages concrete. HDB is testing a scanning technology which can see beyond the surface of the concrete, trace the root cause and make more timely repairs. I have seen the use of this technology and how it can help to resolve more complex water seepage cases. HDB is currently exploring how to scale up its use in a cost-effective manner.

Beyond individual flats, we will continue to refresh the whole estate, through programmes such as Remaking Our Heartlands and the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. For example, under Remaking Our Heartlands in Choa Chu Kang, the Teck Whye and Keat Hong Shopping Centres are getting a fresh revamp, so that residents do not have to travel into town, but can enjoy themselves at the nearby malls. Outside the town centres, there will be new pocket parks, playgrounds and linkways, down to simple improvements to the lighting and seating.

Residents of private housing estates, including seniors, will not be left out. We are extending these upgrading efforts to selected private housing estates, under the Estate Upgrading Programme. Mr Speaker, Sir, may I be allowed to continue in Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As society ages, we have to make HDB flats and neighbourhoods more senior-friendly, to support seniors to age-in-place and remain active. We believe that our whole society benefits when seniors live joyful, healthy and active lives.

The Government provides the Enhancement for Active Seniors programme for seniors which includes senior-friendly fixtures that allow seniors to move about safely within their homes. This includes grab bars and handrails, slip-resistant flooring, wall-mounted shower seats and widened bathroom entrances.

At the neighbourhood level, we have launched the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, adding senior-friendly facilities in our public housing estates such as barrier-free ramps, therapeutic gardens, and fitness areas. All this will support seniors who wish to age-in-place, surrounded by familiar faces and places. But there will also be seniors who wish to monetise their flats, and find a smaller flat that suits their retirement needs. We will ensure they have ample options.

Two-room Flexi units continue to be a popular choice among seniors who want a smaller home that is easier to maintain, especially in their later years. We are maintaining a steady supply of two-room Flexi units in every BTO exercise, with the majority of these flats set aside for seniors.

We will also launch more Community Care Apartments for seniors who wish to live independently, with access to care and support. Community Care Apartments combine senior-friendly design, eldercare services and activity spaces. We have seen positive response and feedback, and we are expanding this model to more sites.

The Prime Minister recently announced the new Age Well Neighbourhood concept. We will work with MOH to provide more details when ready.

I would like to assure seniors that regardless of whether you choose to remain in your current home, move to a smaller one for retirement, or live somewhere with more care support, we will provide safe and convenient housing options. We will continue to make Singapore an endearing home for all ages.

(In English): Sir, during this debate, we have seen many MPs speak passionately about issues concerning national development – their estates, residents, our social fabric and the environment.

I sincerely thank our Members for raising concerns and proposals on behalf of your residents. We hear you and we will continue to engage you and work with you to further improve our policies and schemes.

To our residents, we hear your hopes and concerns, whether you are a young couple planning to start a family, a homeowner wondering what is next for your estate, or a senior thinking about retirement.

We will build more homes across the island, with a range of housing options to cater to different needs and budgets. We will plan for infrastructure and amenities in new estates, so that residents can move in with greater comfort and convenience. We will rejuvenate mature homes and estates, keeping them safe, liveable and vibrant.

Over six decades, we have moved from the urgent task of housing a young nation to a nation of homeowners, proud of our quality homes, well-designed towns and strong communities. We will carry this spirit and legacy, meet the needs of today and fulfil our aspirations for the future. Together, let us build a Singapore that is home for all, for today and for generations to come. [Applause.]

Mr Louis Chua, you have a clarification to make.

Order. I propose to take a break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 3.35 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 3.14 pm until 3.35 pm.

Sitting resumed at 3.35 pm.

[Deputy Speaker (Mr Christopher de Souza) in the Chair]

(Debate on the Address of Thanks – fifth allotted day)

Debate resumed.

Minister of State Sun Xueling, you have a clarification?

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Earlier in my speech, when I was giving an example of resale flats being available at lower prices in many locations, I had said "a four-room resale flat with at least 40 years remaining". That is inaccurate.

It should read, a four-room resale flat with at least 70 years remaining on the lease can go for less than $700,000 in locations like Tampines and Punggol, less than $600,000 in Sembawang and Yishun and less than $550,000 in Jurong-West and Woodlands. Thank you.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa.

Mr Deputy Speaker, today we live in a changed world, just at the time where the fresh team, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has taken over the leadership of the nation. But I can sense the new resolve to tackle the challenges ahead, come what may, and to keep this miracle of Singapore going.

Sir, in the new global landscape, we need a new playbook to grow our economy, which will inevitably come with its disruptions and risks. There will be new stresses and anxieties and Singaporeans will need to adjust and adapt in a fast-changing and more unsettling environment. The Government has committed to supporting Singaporeans to ride through this new "disordered" world. At the same time, we must double down in our efforts to sustain social mobility as well as protecting the vulnerable among us. And through it all, we can build a stronger social compact and a truly "we" mindset. These are among the areas of priorities outlined by the President on behalf of the Government, which I fully support.

Much has been said in the last five days and so for my speech today, I would just focus on two sticky perennial issues, which I would like to add my voice to.

Firstly, how do we moderate cost increases? Secondly, how do we reduce job matching friction?

I raise both these issues, not because I feel that the Government has not done enough but rather these two issues: cost and jobs, are and will be an unending challenge for Singapore and would, therefore, require continued resolves to tackle them.

Firstly, on costs. How can we better moderate cost increases in Singapore? As a tiny resource-scarce city state, where we import almost everything that we need and where our economy is constantly on an overdrive mode, Singapore is inherently more susceptible to price increases than other economies. It is a circumstance that we have to constantly manage and live with. Like almost every economy in the world, the universal approach is to let market forces determine allocations with the use of price as a way to sort out demand and supply.

This is by far the most sensible way and it has worked this way for centuries. However, in Singapore's circumstances, prices tend to be more upside elastic because of our greater scarcity, as we do not readily have excess capacity to just ramp up supply where demand are high to moderate price increases. At the same time, due to our remarkable economic progress over the decades, there is a wider disparity now in purchasing power among our consumers. There are people or businesses who are prepared to pay up a lot more or bid higher than others and some in the range of extreme outliers. We see some of that in the Certificate of Entitlement bidding, where supply is limited and hence, prices is the key determinant to allocate the limited number of certificates.

To the Government's credit, there are extensive and comprehensive range of subsidies and policy schemes to keep things affordable for Singaporeans. Among them the core areas that the Government has committed heavy subsidies are housing, healthcare, education, transport and others. These direct subsidies require substantial and continual fiscal resource to fund and, hence, we must be able to keep generating revenue on a sustainable basis to pay for these items. Since COVID-19, the global inflation has raised prices, underpinned by higher energy, food and commodity prices, and the effects are being felt though the imports that Singaporeans consume daily.

Fortunately, our strong economic and fiscal fundamentals avail us the Singapore dollar as a broad-base tool to mitigate inflation. But there is a limit as to how much the strong Singapore dollar can strengthen without impacting our export competitiveness. So, we do have to count on other supporting measures.

At the same time, domestically, we are also in this necessary transition to uplift wages of fellow Singaporeans, especially the lower-wage workers. This has added cost pressures to businesses and some of which show up in the form of higher prices in products and services.

Also, we have also seen land costs increasing fairly steeply in recent years as Singapore continues to command premiums as a business destination and also a much sought-after residential home. The Government has introduced a series of property cooling measures like Additional Buyers Stamp Duties, among others. These are all necessary to cool the market.

But besides the indirect measures, we would also need both broad-base and targeted direct measures to assist Singaporeans. The Government has enhanced and upsized a series of cost mitigating measures, like the Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers, among others. But we know that such direct assistances cannot be a norm and sometime down the road it has to taper down and wind down, and the pace will depend on the inflationary situation and our fiscal headroom.

We, therefore, need to look into more supply-side measures to lower our overall cost structure in Singapore, both through administrative means as well as through improving efficiency as an economic system. I will attempt to share some illustrative examples, not exhaustive by any means.

Mr Deputy Speaker, ensuring that we have a competitive business ecosystem is one of the Government’s cost management strategies and a sound way to keep costs and prices in check. While we largely leave to the spontaneity of businesses to evolve the ecosystem, it will also require the Government’s hand, from time to time, to curate, monitor and call out unfair market behaviour to protect consumers' interest.

Besides the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore, the Consumers Association of Singapore and other consumers’ advocacy groups, MPs have also played a part in the past to call out anti-competitive practices. For example, Parliamentary Questions were raised in the past when we saw retail petrol prices lagging on the downside but quicker to rise on the upside.

One area where I would like to use this opportunity to raise and to get some attention from the Government is the escalating costs in the building maintenance and repair area. The cost of, for example, repairing seepages in HDB flats has increased significantly. The problem with seepages in buildings is that you cannot really see where the source of leak is with the naked eye. So, there is often some amount of guesswork by the repair contractor.

The process usually goes this way. When a seepage is reported during a raining day, the contractor would wait for a dry day to carry out the repair. After the repair, the contractor would wait for the next rainy day to determine if the seepage repair has been effective. If it is not, they would find another dry day to repair on another suspected spot. So, for more difficult and complex seepage situations, the process may go on for a few rounds to the frustrations of residents, who has to bear the inconveniences of multiple appointments and continued seepages. All these would mean costs escalating.

Typically, what the contractors would do is to carry out what they call "PU injection", injecting high pressure liquid, polyurethane (PU) chemical, into the suspected cracks in concrete structures hoping that these PUs will plug the gaps and source of the leaks. Sir, these seepage repair contractors are SMEs, they are typically capital-light, they run on very tight cashflows in their business. It would be too much to ask for these companies to invest in costly sophisticated technology to more precisely diagnosed the root causes of seepages, not knowing that they can still win the next contract or next tender.

Sir, seepages in older flats is a common wicked problem across HDB estates especially the older flats and I believe the problem requires an industry-wide solution. So, I hope HDB or Building Construction Authority can intervene to find an industry solution. We almost need an Industry Transformation Map of sorts to invest in the research, technology, training so as to improve on the way we can diagnose the source of the seepage. This would help contractors to better able and more accurately repair the seepages in older flats and hence, costing less.

Another cause of concern that I would like to raise is the extreme high bids we saw in heartland shop spaces. A case in point is the $52,000 bid for a heartland medical clinic at Tampines. Such record-high bids, though not the norm, nevertheless, has the effect of setting new reference benchmarks and may influence future would-be bidders to submit higher bids, leading to upside stickiness in pricing. Other private HDB shops landlord may use this new higher benchmark reference to price up when they renew the rental.

While we leave it to markets forces to determine prices, we must drill down if such outlier bids are sustainable in business, and the impact to healthcare costs at the neighbourhood. There must also be a so-called price reasonableness assessment.

In response to media queries on the high rental bid at Tampines, HDB said that the bid of $52,188 is significantly higher than the average tendered rent of around $9,800 per month for similar-sized clinics rented out by HDB in 2024. And at that rental, $52,000, it is by far the highest per sq ft rent that HDB has received for general practitioner and dental clinics.

I am glad that HDB later announced that it will move to the Price Quality Method (PQM) and as was further elaborated by MND's Senior Minister of State Sun Xueling three days ago in the Parliamentary Question reply. Hopefully that will help reduce future occurrences of overly high rental bids.

Another case in point is the high rental bid for hawker centres. The National Environment Agency (NEA) received a bid of $10,158 last year in Marine Parade. This is way higher than the $1,800 median successful tender price for cooked food stalls in 2023. Again, this may not be the norm, but it could create upside headroom for rental prices to escalate.

NEA has since implemented the new rental model to deter overly high tender bids, where the rental adjustment will be staggered when renewed. Let us see if this new model works, but I hope that NEA can, in addition, also consider the PQM approach that HDB has adopted.

Mr Deputy Speaker, we must be watchful of extreme high bids for retail spaces in the heartland as, in aggregate, it can add more upside cost pressures. Another measure that I hope HDB can consider and look into is to increase the supply of rental spaces in locations where rental bids tend to be high, as the high rental bids may well be due to inadequate retail spaces in high population-density residential town.

Prior to the Government's decision to resume building of hawker centres, coffee shops were at one point changing hands in the tens of millions of dollars. But with the hawker centres being built and new supply of retail stalls, we have seen transaction prices of coffeeshops stabilised. So, this is something that if we supply, it can make a difference.

I have noticed that in Hong Kong, among the most expensive commercial real estate area, like Central and the Admiralty areas, there will always be side lanes in between the top-grade office properties, where low costs budget retail shops can co-exist. These are the small retail shops when we can find, among the buildings, where you see Hong Kong cafes, or "cha chan teng", selling affordable meal sets, small sundry shops selling low-cost daily grocery items and so on.

If the prices or rents of these spaces at these small lanes are to be benchmarked against the valuations of the adjacent premium office buildings, the retail shops would not be able to survive at the affordable prices that they provide. So, perhaps, URA and the Singapore Land Authority can study what administrative measures do the Hong Kong land authority has to allow such dispensation.

I know we do have such similar dispensation of sorts where we set aside office spaces in commercial buildings for non-profit use that are for social and community good. But we should expand this programme. I always thought it would be a great idea for Marina Bay to also have a social enterprise-run hawker centre. That would be helpful to the office workers there who wish to have an affordable meal.

Sir, let me now move to my second concern, which is, how do we reduce job-matching friction? In this year’s National Day Rally speech, the Prime Minister mentioned jobs as a main focus. At one juncture, he repeated “jobs, jobs, jobs” three times in succession.

Despite Singapore having among the lowest unemployment rate in the world and, in fact, we have to count on foreign labour to fill up many of jobs not taken up by Singaporeans, it is very heartening to hear this from the top-of-the-house leadership. It demonstrates once again that when it comes to unemployment, we set very low thresholds of tolerance and we are determined not to leave any jobseekers behind.

And that determination is manifested in the whole gamut of policies and the resources the Government has put in place to create jobs to sustain employability. On the demand side, the priority is to grow the economy. On the supply side, the unrelenting endeavor to equip and upskill Singaporeans to take on job opportunities across life stages, starting in schools, during their career life span and even during their senior years.

There are literally countless policies, initiatives and schemes in place to support Singaporeans to stay employed and to be employable. We have agencies, like the Workforce Singapore (WSG), SkillsFuture Singapore and e2i, and now the five CDCs will be also roped in to help with local job matching.

We have done much on either side, the demand and the supply. The part that I hope we do better is how we can match the demand to supply, so that we can see more meaningful employment outcomes. Matching jobs remains an arduous task, more so for workers disrupted by technologies or jobs obsolescence.

I have come across displaced mid-career PMETs who took more than one year to find the next job. Imagine the stresses and anxieties, as well as the emotional toil and frustrations having to send countless CVs, going for interviews, awaiting outcomes, only to be disappointed again. It saddens me when I see middle-aged PMETs with good work experience, still able, still capable, but having to retire early or to be not meaningfully employed. This is especially so, when now, today, we have our life expectancies, health expectancies are also all increasing.

Very often, the skills and experiences that these mid-career PMETs have are actually the skills that the companies are looking for. But, somehow, the match just does not occur. Some of these available jobs are quite general in nature. Some administrative, it could be support roles; some are managerial, which we have no shortage of experienced managers.

So, it is not due to the lack of jobs or not lack of skills or experiences, then what are the impediments? I can think of a few. Mismatched expectations; bias, whether is it age or others; inability of the jobseekers to impress the hirers. Singaporeans, some of us may tend to undersell ourselves.

Here, I would just want to focus on one particular impediment and, that is, the jobseekers are not being plugged into the employers' hiring network. Job search platforms and agencies, like MyCareerFutures, e2i, WSG, has done a great job, matching jobs for many Singaporeans.

But for matching jobs in more senior position where many mid-career PMET jobseekers are looking for, it can be less effective. In such more senior roles, the hirers tend to depend on their own channels to find the candidates, often by way of HR search firms or by their own internal or external referrals. The companies may still advertise the jobs on public platforms if they are opening their search to include foreign candidates, as part of MOM requirements. So, they do that too.

How do we better match jobs, especially for more senior PMET positions? Firstly, we must help jobseekers plug into the job search network by encouraging companies to open up their search beyond the usual network and genuinely work with agencies, like e2i, WSG and NTUC, to source a wider pool of candidates, and as another source of referrals.

Secondly, jobs counsellors, besides helping jobseekers with career advice, CVs and interview preparations, can also show the jobseekers how they can put forward the candidacy more effectively and directly to the companies, as well as right set the expectations.

Thirdly, HR managers and HR search firms are the critical conduits, and they must be similarly aligned as well in terms of giving candidates that come from outside their network a chance to be interviewed, for example, and to help the company grow the local core. Sir, in this regard, I would like to revisit a suggestion that I made a couple years ago, which is to increase the Fair Consideration Framework job advertisement period for EPs, from 14 days to 28 days, to allow for sufficient time for companies to consider all candidates fairly.

Sir, I do understand that, at the end of the day, job search is a personal undertaking. The jobseekers must have the adaptive and positive mindset to ride through the job search journey and be well-aware and realistic of the changing market landscape. At the policy level, we must resolve to leave no jobseekers behind and help every Singaporeans who wish to be gainfully employed, find their livelihoods.

Sir, in conclusion, I have worked in the financial markets sector for all my career life, very much living and breathing markets. I have seen extreme volatilities in markets, very often to the detriment of economies and societies. And I know too well that markets do misbehave from time to time. It may not always bring us to the right place that we desire and that is why often we see central banks and governments intervene to steer the markets to the right pricing.

Similarly, in the areas of cost and employment, the Government should not take our eyes off the market forces that are in play and, where necessary, intervene in the best interest of Singapore and Singaporeans. We must endeavour to keep cost and prices stable for reasons of our economic competitiveness and affordability, and also to do our best to help every jobseeker find the best opportunity so that they can also live fulfilled lives and take care of their families. Sir, I support the Motion. [Applause.]

Senior Minister of State Desmond Tan.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I will be speaking on two areas from President Tharman's address: supporting our seniors and artificial intelligence. In the past few months at NTUC, I have focused my work on these two areas.

On supporting our senior workers, let me put on record, a big thanks to brother Heng Chee How, who has been supporting and championing our senior workers for the last two decades on behalf of NTUC. Now that he has retired as the most senior labour MP by age, or maybe not the most senior, other than the Secretary-General, I thought I should step in to continue the good work he has done by championing our senior workers for Singapore. Personally, I have also hit two senior milestones very recently: one, becoming eligible to withdraw from my CPF; and two, most proudly welcoming a new daughter-in-law into our family.

More importantly, I have always cared deeply about our seniors. I have advocated for many senior residents in Pasir Ris and now I feel very honoured to have the chance to engage a wider and broader segment of senior workers. Listening to their stories, understanding their struggles and also sharing in their aspirations inspire me to do more for them.

On the AI front, I have spent the last year diving into this technological wonderland, taking many courses, experimenting with the 10-over AI tools that I have downloaded on my mobile phone. My mission: to learn as fast as I can to drive NTUC's digitalisation efforts and to support business' transformation.

I have been visiting many technology companies and attending AI events, which felt like an intense SkillsFuture boot camp, in the last couple of months. So, initially, I planned to speak on these two tech topics separately, but as I reflected more deeply, it dawned on me. Ageing and AI should not be mutually exclusive or stand alone. In fact, they could form a powerful partnership, and that is the idea I want to explore with us here today.

Singapore is being shaped by two major shifts. I refer to them as the two AIs.

AI, number one, we are familiar, it is artificial intelligence; and AI, number two, ageing individuals. One generates rapid knowledge, the other brings accumulated wisdom. And as the saying goes, knowledge can inform us what is the quickest path up a mountain, but it is wisdom. Wisdom is knowing if the mountain is even worth climbing.

AI number one gives us answers very quickly; but wisdom from AI number two helps us to ask the right questions.

These two waves are rising quickly. We can either learn to ride them or risk being swept away. For many senior workers, let us face it. Productivity slows, knowledge and technology kept on evolving. But AI can complement our senior workers by giving very updated information and analysis at lightning speed.

On the other hand, AI may be game changing, but we also know that it can hallucinate and lead to information overload. Our seniors with years of experience and wisdom can guide the use of AI. The real opportunity lies in bringing these two AIs together, to redefine the future of Singapore's workforce as one that is smarter, more inclusive and future-ready.

So, let us take a look at what are the challenges that our senior workers face today and what more can we do to support them? Thankfully, we are not starting from scratch. The tripartite partners have made good progress over the last few decades. We have raised CPF contribution rates and boosted retirement adequacy. We also raised retirement and re-employment ages, so that those who prefer and wish to work longer can do so. But as our workforce ages rapidly, we must do more.

In our focus group discussions, some of the common issues raised included ageism in hiring practices and selection for training and promotion; affordability of medical costs, coupled with concerns over adequacy of existing medical subsidies; lack of flexible work arrangements to accommodate, especially caregiving; heightened anxiety about job displacements by AI and also, offshoring; and insufficient support for targeted placements and training.

NTUC's 2025 Survey on Economic Sentiments revealed that only 43% of senior workers aged 55 and above believed that there were sufficient good jobs for them in the market. This compared to 66% for younger workers. Senior workers also face a longer period of unemployment and job search duration of 6.2 months, compared to 4.9 months for the workers on average, and even when they are willing to change vocation and at a lower pay.

These numbers speak for themselves.

That is why in last year’s Budget speech, I urged employers to see mid-career workers beyond their age; to hire more of them; to pay them fairly, based on their skills and experience; to give protected time for their training; and recognise their acquired skillsets. If left unaddressed, age-related bias could discourage labour force participation among senior workers, resulting in a loss of valuable experience in our workforce and institutional knowledge, and worsening Singapore’s manpower challenges.

Yet, amid these challenges lies a powerful opportunity. Ageing should not be seen as a liability but as a source of strength. Research, including findings from Harvard Health, shows that older workers often make more rational decisions and demonstrate better judgement. Employers must recognise that this kind of expertise, accumulated from years of experience, is essential for navigating uncertainty and making better business decisions.

It is timely for us now to take a fresh look at how we can better support our senior workers.

From our engagements, broadly, there are three archetypes of senior workers who need further support. There are those who wish to extend their retirement age and to work for as long as they are healthy and possible. There are those who would like to slow down, maybe have some flexibility to contribute back meaningfully to the workplace and to society. There is also a group who finds it very difficult to re-enter the workforce when they lose their jobs and they need targeted support.

So, let me share two real-life encounters that I had over the last couple of weeks. At one of the Tripartite Work Group dialogues, I met a gentleman in his 50s. Despite a strong track record in various multinational companies, he was retrenched, twice, within four years. While actively looking for a job, he is also having to look after his elderly parents-in-law and support their children through their tertiary education. Even after lowering his salary expectations, his applications have not been successful, and we are still supporting him.

The second story has a better ending. Recently, I met Ms Lim Kai Ning, the young co-founder of Courage Chapter, a startup that helps senior professionals transition into their next chapter through meaningful projects and roles that tap into their skills and experience. Her journey began not with a business plan, but with a rather deep, personal experience.

Her father retired nine years ago in his 50s and like many, he looked forward to a well-deserved rest. But just six months into retirement, he felt less engaged and contemplating a strong desire to contribute back to the society. He wanted more balance in his life and decided to work part-time while pursuing his hobbies, and today, he teaches three days a week at a local university and advises on operations for a friend’s F&B business and is more fulfilled than ever.

This experience inspired Kai Ning to start Courage Chapter, to help other seniors tap into their wealth of experience while enjoying flexible work arrangements. The courage to work should be celebrated and we can do more to scale these efforts.

NTUC is working with our tripartite partners to ensure that our senior workers have the options, the flexibility and the dignity at work, as we navigate the future of work shaped by AI. As industries transform, our senior workers should be given fair access to training and upskilling opportunities so they can adapt and continue contributing meaningfully.

The Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment, which I co-chair alongside MOM and the Singapore National Employers' Federation, are working closely to identify some practical solutions. And from the problem statements I have stated and the stories I have told, Members have an idea, we have some plans in mind. But we will share the findings and plans next year.

Let me turn to AI. We have heard a lot from Members in this Chamber and we are also hearing concerns from workers, particularly in white-collar professions across sectors in ICT, in finance and media, and even freelancers about their anxiety over job security. Globally, we witnessed labour disputes arising from the adoption of AI. Last year, I spoke about the Hollywood Writers’ Guild Association and this year, in fact, the SAG-Aftra video games actors were on strike that only ended in July 2025 after a year-long protest against AI.

At NTUC, our response to AI is not to protect jobs from disruptions. Instead, our vision is to help our workers to thrive in the AI economy, by ensuring a just transition, supporting business transformation and upskilling our workforce. Just as we lifted workers through the computer revolution in the 1980s, the rise of Internet in the 2000s, we will ensure that no worker will be left behind, including and especially, all our senior workers.

The NTUC Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant has been a valuable resource for companies to implement AI initiatives. For example, SBS Transit used the CTC Grant to implement an AI-powered tyre management system, turning a manual process into a digitalised, predictive one. This significantly reduced man-hours and enabled technicians to do higher-value jobs, improving their wages and job prospects.

Brother Mazri bin Masrah, a 52-year-old technician, successfully transitioned through this AI transformation in SBS Transit. After spending about 18 years as a driver, he became a bus technician and completed a work-study diploma sponsored by SBS Transit. He was then selected to be a diagnostic expert, a new career scheme developed by SBS Transit to upskill their technician workforce. With structured training, he now uses AI-powered tools, like the automated Tyre Management System, to boost productivity and sharpen his technical skills. His journey shows how older workers can thrive in a tech-enabled environment with the right support and opportunities.

Let me cite another example within the NTUC family.

At the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute, we are piloting an AI research assistant to streamline research and in future, maybe even curriculum design. One affected key staff is Ms Ng Yuen Jiuan, or we know her affectionately as Jiuan. With over 30 years of service in the Labour Movement, Jiuan is widely respected for her deep institutional knowledge and resourcefulness in extracting and presenting historical data. Even in her late-60s, instead of resisting the AI tool that might potentially replace her job, Jiuan continues to embrace lifelong learning and took the initiative to upskill herself with the latest tech skills.

Working alongside younger teammates, Jiuan leveraged her experience to identify gaps, accuracy of AI results and propose improvements to the system. Through her quiet resilience and collaborative spirit, she not only contributes valuable insights in the process, but also mentors and inspires her younger colleagues. Jiuan’s story highlights how multi-generational collaboration efforts fuels innovation and stronger team outcomes. It is a reminder that experience, adaptability and willingness to learn are strategic assets in building a future-ready workforce.

Before I conclude, let me leave Members with three calls to action.

First, to employers, let us invest in older workers. Do not choose between AI and age. Choose both. Together, they can bring great value to your business. To our Government, I hope you continue to support NTUC, particularly in our "AI-Ready SG" movement, which is a one-stop initiative that integrates resources from tripartite partners and the ecosystem to help our workers and businesses bridge the AI gap. To our senior workers, let us be bold to embrace technology and AI, learn and apply ourselves, so that we can be ready for the new AI economy. Mr Deputy Speaker, I will now speak in Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, I just mentioned in my English speech that AI represents two key topics, "Artificial Intelligence" and "Ageing Individuals". Can ageing individuals keep up with artificial intelligence? The answer is, with AI and with love, we definitely can do it! As long as everyone: has a love for learning, a love for asking questions and a fighting spirit.

First, love for learning. All AI tools are becoming increasingly simple. By using mobile phones, voice commands and taking photos, we can ask questions and learn. Language is not a barrier; AI can communicate in most of the world's languages. With a love for learning, we can make meaningful progress and enhance work efficiency.

Second, love for asking questions. Curiosity matters – regardless of age. AI is not afraid of your questions. It is only fears that you would not ask. AI is like an encyclopaedia in your hands, ready to provide answers anytime. This also proves that technology is making knowledge more accessible, no longer a privilege reserved for a select few. Technology will help more workers improve both in their work and lives.

Third, a fighting spirit. AI provides information but critical thinking depends on ourselves, especially the experience and judgement of our senior workers. Innovation is not a miracle, but the commitment to doing better tomorrow. As long as we are willing to work hard, willing to think and willing to do better, I believe we will thrive in the AI economy.

Deputy Speaker, fellow Parliamentarians and fellow workers, AI is not the exclusive domain of young people; it is a tool for all of us. On this journey of learning and transformation, NTUC will be everyone's steadfast partner, providing practical support and companionship.

We will approach this from three areas. First, ensure all workers have fair opportunities for transition. Second, provide all workers with the necessary training to acquire new skills. Third, support businesses in their AI transformation to enhance competitiveness.

Finally, let us embrace AI and also honour our older selves. With AI and love, the future is ours.

(In English): Let me end by sharing an article I came across in Forbes that got me thinking. It is titled "How Gen AI could give us back at least 40% of our time". The article went on to explain a growing reality that AI can increase productivity by automating administrative processes, research and even content creation. I can imagine the time savings, but I am not sure about the 40%, although I wished it is the case.

The question for us to ponder is if AI can give us X% of time, say 20%, 30% or 40%. What will we do with it?

Brother Arvin Tang from the Tech Talent Assembly also asked a similar question last week at the Amazon Web Services Fireside Chat. If you think about it, we could reinvest this time to grow our business, to work even harder to pursue our career goals, or we could spend time volunteering doing something meaningful, serving our community. But deep down, I hope we, and especially our seniors, could live a more balanced life. Cherishing time with family and friends, learning something new and pursuing our passions.

This is the true purpose and promise of technology when paired with human intelligence, not just doing more but doing better, together. Sir, I support the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Vikram Nair.

Ms Hany Soh.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to thank President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and speak in support of His Excellency’s address. As we look back in our nation’s formation journey, Singapore has indeed been on a "remarkable journey". To me, ours is also a never-ending journey because this House can, and will always strive to do better for our Singaporeans.

I pause at this juncture, to register my utmost gratitude towards all who have given me the opportunity and support to continue in this journey as a Member of this 15th Parliament. Especially to my Woodgrove residents. Thank you for entrusting me with this honour to renew my commitment of service.

Five years ago in my maiden Parliamentary speech, I shared with this House my GEL mission to co-create a brighter future for Woodgrove, where "G" pertains to green living initiatives to sustain our environment; "E" for embracing parenthood to support our families; and "L" for law awareness to empower our community. With the support of our residents and working hand in hand with our ever-supportive community partners, we turned those missions into reality and built an active, vibrant Woodgrove where residents are proud to call home.

Today, I want to build on this foundation, drawing inspiration from the Draft Master Plan 2025 and the Prime Minister’s recent National Day Rally to transform the northern parts of Singapore, where Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC is situated, into a more family-friendly and senior-friendly, live, work, learn and play hub, while ensuring our residents can realise their Singapore dreams through determination, passion and lifelong learning.

During the National Day Rally, Prime Minister dispelled the myth that the North is "ulu". As Prime Minister's fellow Marsiling-Yew Tee MP, I, too, seek to assure fellow Singaporeans, that not only is the North not "ulu", but the planned developments will further transform the north "into a modern and vibrant regional centre."

We will be welcome many exhilarating projects in the pipeline, such as the commencement of Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link operation next year, which will be an additional land link to Malaysia; the expansion of the Woodlands Checkpoint to shorten clearance waiting times, reducing traffic congestion, yet enhancing security; including also the redevelopment of Kranji race course into a new major housing development project, just to name a few. But I want to take this opportunity to share a few additional ideas and suggestions which I have received from my Woodgrove residents to transform our north even further.

With the Sports School relocating as part of the Kallang Alive Masterplan, many of the residents have expressed a pity if the site is converted to be yet another housing project. Instead, we should try our best to retain as many of the state-of-the-art facilities there as possible, and convert the facility into a recreational hub for the benefit of the residents. One resident even remarked, "If we have a Downtown East Singapore, why can we not have an "Uptown North" here?"

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

I further suggest that the premises can be enhanced further to incorporate green and sustainable solutions, supporting family health and bonding, including ageing-in-place. Additionally, Yishun Innova junior college will be relocated back to its permanent site in Woodgrove and open its doors at the newly upgraded campus in 2028. It would be an opportune juncture for MOE to also consider whether an ITE can be built in the near future in the new Kranji town, offering an even broader variety of tertiary education options for the youths living in the north.

Mr Speaker, I turn now to the topic on fertility support, an embracing parenthood cause close to my heart. In 2022, I filed an Adjournment Motion titled "Celebrating SG Families: Embracing Parenthood through Live, Work and Play". In November 2024, I participated in the debate of the Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill during its Second Reading. In February earlier this year, I moved a Motion with my Parliamentary colleague Mr Zhulkarnain titled "Supporting Singaporeans in Starting and Raising Families". This Motion was passed successfully. During the Committee of Supply in April this year, I spoke on fertility support for first-time parents.

Today, I wish to highlight the need for more support for aspiring parents at the workplace. As highlighted repeatedly, the total fertility rate (TFR) fell to a historic low in 2023. In 2024, the TFR remained at 0.97. This existential crisis we face is not over. I refer to the 2025 study conducted by Fertility Support Singapore with Milieu, "Findings revealed that when it comes to facing fertility struggles in the workplace, stigma forces employees into silence, fertility treatments come at a career cost, and workplaces remain lacking in fertility support measures and benefits."

As a matter of policy, surely, we can do more. From the perspective of the existential crisis we face, definitely, we must do more.

The fertility journey is tough, beginning with the first stage of trying to conceive naturally, which, if unsuccessful, leads to seeking medical advice, and only where suitable can couples embark on initial treatment options, such as in vitro fertilisation. The journey does not end there, as pregnancy may still elude the couple, or in the case of successful conception would then require the couple to take extreme care to minimise the risk of pregnancy loss.

Along this journey, couples face a gamut of challenges – physical, emotional, financial and career wise. Crucially, the employee’s experience at work can make or break their dedication to work, fertility treatment, or both.

It saddens me when I read some of the comments submitted to Fertility Support Singapore’s sensing poll. My boss joked, "Maybe you're just not meant to be a parent", and my boss demanded two weeks' notice for follicle scans."

Mr Speaker, not only are such comments insensitive and unsupportive to an employee who is undergoing a challenging journey, they can feel like personal attacks. On the other hand, there are examples that are positive that we can follow from. Fortunate employees have also shared and reported that fertility benefits are a talent magnet. I quote some of their comments: “When my CEO shared her IVF story, I knew I’d stay; Egg freezing benefits showed they get it; Emotional and mental support to make the journey less lonely and hard to bear.”

This need not be a zero-sum situation. Indeed, with the right mindset and support, I am certain that everybody can and will "win".

To be clear, I am not at all saying that work exigencies ought to always be deprioritised at the workplace. However, the starting point cannot be the trivialisation or dismissal of an employee’s legitimate fertility efforts, and especially not by responding with insensitive remarks or personal attacks.

On this note, I assure all aspiring parents who are on your fertility journey or going to embark on the same, that my fellow PAP Women’s Wing Members of Parliament and I will never stop advocating for greater support for all of you. I take this opportunity to also exhort employers to review your existing fertility support policies, or if none exists at this juncture, please urgently implement one. For example, Fertility Support Singapore's Guidebook for Employers to Support Employees Facing Fertility Challenges could be a viable resource to begin with.

As Deputy Chairperson of the Education GPC, I am committed to ensuring access to education at all life stages. I shared with this House previously that the late E W Barker once said, "Education should always seek to find and nurture the best in every student, inspiring him to contribute confidently and fully in the area of his own capabilities, rather than made to feel useless and ashamed for not having made it to the top of the school."

The intent behind the "generational shift" away from competition based on grades, such as by revising the Primary School Leaving Examination scoring system and those as shared by Minister Desmond Lee in his speech yesterday is laudable. Notwithstanding this, we ought to keenly observe and assess whether the policy objectives have been met, or will be met. Along the way, we will make the policy and legislative refinements in furtherance of those objectives.

I say this because the policy intent cannot be met solely by MOE’s efforts alone. It will take every stakeholder's hands to clap. As a society, and especially by parents of school-going children, the change in mindset must follow. Otherwise, we risk reducing the policy improvements to merely changes in labelling, which would result in a distinction without a difference.

On this front, some of my residents have confided in me and shared that despite MOE’s efforts, the practical experience and effects have not or at least do not feel like they have changed much, if at all. Generation after generation, parents, children, and employers have participated in a race defined by academic achievements.

The change in mindset will not be engendered overnight, not least because a shift in mindset could mean dropping out of the “arms race”, as mentioned by the Prime Minister in his speech two days ago.

Should we encourage our children to pursue their passions and dreams, even if these are unconventional or may not lead to what are perceived as the best employment prospects or best jobs? Does this mean we should do away with or reduce the number of tuition as well as enrichment classes now, or when? What if nobody else does so, and my child ends up having to return to the race with a handicap?

These are some of the questions that naturally and frequently arise in many Singaporean parents’ minds.

In a society that has become more frenetic, and competition more toxic, as Singaporeans seek to outdo one another, we have become more anxious and stressed, and worse, we pass this on to our children. But I share the same sentiment with the Prime Minister that families, should not feel they are stuck on a treadmill running harder and harder in a bid to avoid falling behind. There needs to be a broader definition of success in Singapore that goes beyond narrow metrics of academic and material.

Mr Speaker, this vision of a broader definition of success, where we encourage our children to pursue their passions, brings me to my next point: ensuring that education financing supports this shift by enabling access to a wider range of courses that reflect diverse aspirations. In Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Presently, the CPF Education Loan Scheme allows an Ordinary Account owner to use his or her savings to pay for tuition fees for full-time MOE-subsidised courses.

The other option comes in the form of MOE's Tuition Fee Loan. Loan coverage is up to 75% for eligible diploma courses, and up to 90% for undergraduate programmes.

However, as we encourage our children to pursue their passions, be it in fields like performing arts, environmental design, or emerging technologies like AI and digital media – the current scope of eligible courses under these schemes is too restrictive. Many passion-driven programs, such as those offered by private institutions or specialized academies, fall outside MOE-subsidised categories, leaving several parents I met in Woodgrove sharing their concerns with me of their struggle to finance these aspirations of their children.

I urge the Government to broaden the scope of eligible courses under the CPF Education Loan Scheme and Tuition Fee Loan and for more banks to likewise follow suit, to include programs that nurture diverse talents – whether in the arts, vocational trades, or innovative fields. We could consider accrediting high-quality courses from private institutions or expanding subsidies for lifelong learning modules.

By doing this, we can truly help learners at different stages, supporting the youth to pursue their dreams and older people to continue learning, hence building a more inclusive education system that support Singaporeans to follow their passion without financial worries.

(In English): Mr Speaker, I now turn to public health, a pressing concern for Woodgrove and Singapore. Persistent issues, like pigeon feeding, rat infestations and mosquito-borne diseases, continue to challenge our communities, particularly affecting households with young children, seniors and even those with immunocompromised individuals.

Pigeons, carriers of diseases, like salmonella and ornithosis, create nuisances through droppings. On land, NEA reported that over 1,000 enforcement actions against rat infestations took place in 2024, nearly double the 670 actions in 2023, as rats pose risks through their urine, droppings and fleas. Meanwhile, notwithstanding that dengue cases have reduced significantly over the years, the Communicable Diseases Agency noted a rise in Chikungunya cases: 21 by August 2025, compared to 10 in 2024, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, the same vector for dengue.

During my house visits and community events in Woodgrove, residents repeatedly shared their concerns about these issues despite intensified preventive and enforcement efforts by the community and agencies. While these efforts are commendable, they often address symptoms rather than root causes, leaving families worried about health risks.

To tackle these challenges more effectively, I urge the Government to explore innovative solutions, particularly putting in more resources to leverage on technology to identify and address the root causes of these public health issues swiftly. For instance, deploying more AI-powered surveillance systems, such as smart cameras or sensors, that could map pigeon and rat activity in real-time, pinpointing breeding hotspots or food sources, like improper waste disposal.

Earlier this month, Singapore University of Technology and Design announced that it has developed Singapore’s first robot that can detect mosquito breeding sites and spray repellents. We should encourage and support our town councils to roll out more innovative ideas aiming to significantly reduce manpower, time and safety risks to resolve these challenging municipal issues and I, for one, certainly hope that in the near future one day, we can have a robot rat catcher.

Moreover, technology should enhance community engagement. Over the years, we have been encouraging residents to use OneService App to report municipal issues, such as pest sightings, instantly for the relevant agency’s rapid follow up. However, we often receive residents’ feedback that while the platform appears to update that the matter has been followed up and, thus, the case is marked as closed, these issues continue to recur. It will be helpful if we can continue to look into reviewing how such interactive apps can be better enhanced and allowing opportunities for the residents to be kept regularly updated on the efforts made by the agencies in resolving the issue and how each of us can contribute towards resolving such issues.

Mr Speaker, OneService App should provide a "one stop" solution to ensure that feedback is promptly followed up and municipal problems can be properly resolved expeditiously. By addressing root causes proactively as a community, we can create safer, healthier environments for our families and seniors. As a member of the Sustainability and Environment GPC and Action for Green Town Champion for Marsiling-Yew Tee Town Council, I will continue to engage our residents, relevant agencies and partners to drive these innovations and improve public health conditions, ensuring our communities thrive in line with our collective vision.

Mr Speaker, I conclude my speech by appealing to our Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC residents, particularly my Woodgrove residents and fellow Singaporeans, please never hesitate to reach out to me to share your thoughts, your ideas and your aspirations. You will always have a friend in me.