Arts, culture & sports

• The debate focused on the government's plans to promote local and heritage food and beverage operators in Singapore and internationally, particularly in the context of SG60 celebrations.
• Initiatives include showcasing local food culture at events like the Chingay Parade and the Singapore Pavilion at Expo 2025, featuring various local F&B brands.
• To support hawkers, the government is providing a one-off rental support of $600 per stall and issuing SG60 vouchers to citizens for spending at local hawkers.
• The Singapore Tourism Board is actively marketing Singapore's diverse dining offerings through campaigns and events, including the Singapore Food Festival, to enhance the global profile of local cuisine.

• Singapore's partnership with Coldplay for the music video "Man In The Moon" is part of a strategy by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to enhance the country's global appeal as a tourist destination.
• The collaboration has generated significant online engagement, with over 12 million views and substantial social media interactions shortly after the video's release.
• The project provided job opportunities for over 100 local talents, facilitating skill transfer and development within the local production industry.
• STB plans to pursue more collaborations with international artists to further promote Singapore as a vibrant location for creative projects.

• Approximately 90 out of 351 schools in Singapore currently offer Malay Dance as a co-curricular activity (CCA), but around 40 schools have discontinued it in the last five years due to changing student preferences and declining cohort numbers.
• The Ministry of Education (MOE) supports Malay dance as an important art form, engaging professional groups to provide workshops and incorporating it into the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation.
• MOE promotes appreciation of Malay culture through various art forms in the curriculum, including exposure to Malay artists, community songs, and traditional music.
• Schools also implement immersive programs like the Mother Tongue Language Fortnight and collaborate with community partners to enhance students' understanding of Malay language and culture.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang inquired about the nationalities of workers issued work permits for foreign performing artistes over the past five years.
• Tan See Leng responded that the top three nationalities are Vietnamese, Chinese, and Filipino from 2020 to 2024.
• The Ministry of Manpower does not provide specific numbers for each nationality of foreign workers.

• Ms. Usha Chandradas inquired about plans for Singapore arts businesses to benefit from the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone agreement.
• Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong highlighted that the Special Economic Zone aims to enhance cross-border movement and ease of business.
• The agreement is expected to allow various sectors, including the arts, to leverage the strengths of both Singapore and Johor for growth.

Usha Chandradas questioned the inclusion of arts-related businesses in the Community Development Council Vouchers Scheme, seeking clarification on the Ministry's policy and any exclusions. Edwin Tong stated that the scheme primarily aims to support Singaporeans with cost of living issues, focusing on essential daily expenses and heartland businesses. Arts-related businesses can apply to join the scheme on a case-by-case basis, and the People's Association offers subsidized arts courses and programs for residents in the heartlands.

Saktiandi Supaat raised concerns about the National Stadium being booked for concerts during the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 semi-finals and whether the national football team would have to play at the smaller Jalan Besar Stadium if they reach the final. Edwin Tong Chun Fai explained that although the National Stadium was initially reserved for the football team based on the original competition dates, changes made by the AFF resulted in scheduling conflicts with other major events already booked. Consequently, the football matches will be held at Jalan Besar Stadium for logistical reasons. To support fans, the People's Association and HomeTeamNS organized live broadcasts of the semi-final matches at various community venues and through Mediacorp's Channel 5.

Tan Wu Meng asked about the regulation of sports facilities at private educational institutions, including their operating hours and comparisons with SportSG facilities, as well as how agencies address issues like light pollution from floodlights affecting nearby homes. Chan Chun Sing responded that the use of sports facilities should not cause undue disamenities to residents. Relevant agencies collaborate with private institutions to address specific feedback, including reducing floodlight brightness and aligning operating hours with SportSG standards.

• Pritam Singh raised concerns about the state of sports and community facilities at Petal Gardens, inquiring about renovation plans for the futsal court and other amenities.
• The Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong, confirmed that the People's Association (PA) manages the facilities and is responsible for their upkeep.
• A tender for maintenance and improvement of the facilities, including the futsal court, was published, with completion expected by Q1 2026.
• The PA's management of the site has been effective, ensuring regular community activities and accessibility for residents.
• There was a suggestion to consider returning management of the area to the Town Council for community use, as it was before 2011.

• Usha Chandradas inquired about the relocation plans for the Singapore Art Museum due to the Greater Southern Waterfront project.
• Edwin Tong Chun Fai responded that the Singapore Art Museum will remain at Tanjong Pagar Distripark for the foreseeable future.
• The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth will collaborate with the museum to maintain its operations and programming during the area's development.

• Ms. Usha Chandradas inquired about the future plans for the former St Joseph's Institution and former Catholic High School buildings.
• The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) is currently exploring potential arts and heritage uses for these sites.
• MCCY has not finalized the plans and will provide updates once the study is completed.

• Ms. Usha Chandradas inquired about the implementation of a Public Lending Rights (PLR) scheme by the National Library Board to compensate local authors for potential sales losses due to library borrowing.
• Mrs. Josephine Teo explained that while PLR schemes exist in some countries, there is no international consensus on their necessity or benefits, and the International Federation of Library Associations does not support them.
• The Singapore government has not enacted legislation for PLR due to the lack of evidence supporting the need for compensation for authors from library lending.
• The National Library Board promotes access to literature and supports local authors through various initiatives, including events and partnerships, rather than through a PLR scheme.
• The focus remains on fostering a vibrant reading culture and supporting local literature without implementing a PLR system.

Derrick Goh asked about the completion timeline for the dedicated public access route to the new Indoor Sports Hall at North View Primary School for local residents. Chan Chun Sing responded that the access route was completed in June 2024. He mentioned that Closed Circuit Televisions are being installed for safety and security, and the Indoor Sports Hall is expected to be available for public booking under the ActiveSG Dual-Use Scheme by January 2025.

Usha Chandradas asked about plans for new music festivals in Singapore. Gan Kim Yong responded that the Singapore Tourism Board and cultural institutions curate various music festivals, showcasing diverse genres. Upcoming additions include the Yuewen Music Festival in December 2024, featuring C-pop, K-pop, and J-pop artists, as well as the ambient music experience, Sessions, launched in October 2024. There is a commitment to introduce innovative music concepts unique to the region.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked about the progress of the review of Formula 1 contracts and tender processes, including any identified irregularities and the potential release of findings for public transparency. Gan Kim Yong responded that the review of the contracts is still ongoing and that the Singapore Tourism Board has completed an audit of the 2022 race, which found satisfactory internal controls with no significant issues. Minister Grace Fu previously mentioned the Government's ongoing review of the F1 contracts.

The debate highlighted the integral role of hawker centres in Singaporean culture and the need to support hawkers amid rising costs and pressures. Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon emphasized the unique character of hawker centres and outlined key objectives: maintaining affordability for consumers, ensuring decent livelihoods for hawkers, and preserving local hawker culture. There are ongoing tensions between lowering food prices and supporting hawkers' income, as well as challenges in hiring local versus foreign workers without compromising the cultural identity of hawker centres. Proposed amendments to reinforce government support for hawkers and regular reviews of related policies were agreed upon, reflecting a bipartisan commitment to sustaining this vital cultural institution.

Keith Chua emphasized the importance of hawkers in Singapore's food landscape, noting that over 80% of residents consume hawker food weekly. He discussed the affordability of hawker food despite rising costs in rentals and raw materials, highlighting the need for supportive government policies to sustain the hawker industry. Liang Eng Hwa advocated for building more hawker centers to stabilize market prices and preserve the income levels of hawkers, while addressing succession challenges as older hawkers retire. Ang Wei Neng shared experiences from supporting hawkers after a market fire, underscoring community collaboration in fostering local food options. Denise Phua stressed the necessity of upgrading hawker center infrastructure and proposed improved resource management for iconic locations, while also recognizing the societal value of hawker culture in bringing communities together.

Leong Mun Wai initiated a debate in Parliament urging the Government to review its policies on hawkers and hawker centres to better support and preserve Singapore's hawker culture. He noted that while hawker culture has received UNESCO recognition, hawkers face challenges like high rents, harsh working conditions, and a lack of sufficient support from the Government. He proposed several measures, including phasing out the social enterprise hawker centre model, implementing a fixed rental structure, allowing hawkers to employ more foreign workers, and providing targeted food discounts funded by the Government rather than the hawkers themselves. Various Members of Parliament expressed support for the motion, highlighting the importance of affordable hawker food for Singaporeans, while also noting the need to address the sustainability and future of the hawker industry amidst rising costs and an ageing workforce.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Education if Chinese dialects could be introduced as electives in current school programs, given concerns about younger generations' declining proficiency in dialects. The Minister of State for Education, Ms. Gan Siow Huang, responded that there are no current plans for such an introduction, as the focus remains on English and Mother Tongue proficiency. She acknowledged the cultural significance of dialects and encouraged interested students to explore classes through clan associations or online resources.

Usha Chandradas asked about plans for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth to provide legal and advisory support for arts entities transitioning from for-profit to non-profit status. Edwin Tong Chun Fai explained that each transition is assessed on a case-by-case basis due to varying reasons and complexities involved. The government offers support for non-profit arts organisations seeking charity registration or IPC status through the National Arts Council's stART Fund, which helps cover legal costs. In the previous financial year, five arts organisations achieved IPC status with stART Fund assistance. Registered charities and IPCs can access resources like the Charities Capability Fund to improve governance and operational capabilities.