Digital & technology

• The government reported a significant increase in ATM coverage, with 90% of HDB households having a local bank ATM within 500 metres, and highlighted the use of cash-back services at retailers as an additional access point.
• Officials acknowledged the need to refine accessibility metrics, such as considering walking distances rather than straight-line distances, to better understand the needs of the elderly and those with mobility challenges.
• While full interoperability between the two major ATM networks is a commercial decision for banks, the government continues to monitor the situation and promotes a holistic approach that includes digital payments for long-term strategy.
• Ministers emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate coverage for the remaining 10% of households and the necessity of integrating enhanced security measures for vulnerable users.

• Miss Cheng Li Hui asked about the expected impact of automation on the Civil Service over the next five years, current progress across ministries and agencies, and estimated productivity gains.
• The Senior Minister of State for Finance highlighted that automation since the 1980s has improved efficiency and cost savings, citing examples like the National Library Board’s AutoSorters and the Land Transport Authority’s use of drones.
• Automation is also enhancing service delivery, such as faster clearance at immigration checkpoints and trials for self-driving vehicles to improve connectivity and address driver shortages.
• The public sector’s share of the labour force has decreased, reflecting efforts to constrain manpower growth and leverage technology, though a single measure of productivity increase is difficult to quantify.

• The Bill updates regulations for autonomous vehicles (AVs), requiring safety assessments, robust accident mitigation plans, and phased trials starting on lightly used roads, while LTA retains flexibility to adjust requirements as needed.
• Private hire car drivers will need a vocational licence with the same demerit point system and conduct rules as taxi drivers, but the government maintains a light-touch approach for operators and will not impose licensing fees at this stage.
• LTA will impose general suspension orders on non-compliant private hire car operators, with drivers able to switch platforms during suspensions; concerns about COE, insurance, and liability for AVs are under ongoing study by a dedicated committee.

• Sun Xueling asked if online banking licenses will be offered to internet companies providing mobile payment solutions and about the prerequisites for such licenses.
• The Minister responded that MAS’s existing framework can accommodate internet-only banks under the same regulations as conventional banks, while most payment companies do not need a banking license unless they handle deposits or loans, and MAS is developing a new streamlined payments regulatory framework.
• The Minister also highlighted the FAST system and the upcoming Central Addressing Scheme to enable interoperability across banks, allowing payments via proxies like NRIC or mobile numbers, which will enhance consumer convenience beyond proprietary systems.

• Ms Sun Xueling questioned the Transport Minister on the progress and benchmarks for expanding nuTonomy's driverless taxi trials across Singapore.
• Khaw Boon Wan noted that nuTonomy and three other organizations are testing self-driving vehicles at one-north, with nuTonomy expanding its route from 6km to 12km and facing challenges like coexisting with human-driven traffic and adverse weather.
• The Minister highlighted that self-driving technology must handle complex scenarios before widespread deployment, with industry experts estimating readiness in 10 to 15 years.
• The Land Transport Authority will continue to work with testers to progressively expand trial areas and complexity.

• Leon Perera asked the Prime Minister about the identification, intended response, and future preventive measures regarding the October 2016 DDoS attack on StarHub.
• Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated that joint investigations by IMDA and CSA are nearing completion and findings will be released soon.
• He emphasized the importance of collective effort from the government, industry, and the public to build a resilient cyber environment.
• IMDA enforces stringent standards on ISPs, companies must ensure robust systems, and users should practice good cyber hygiene.
• The government and agencies aim to strengthen cyber resilience and minimize disruptions, though no foolproof solution exists.

• Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef requested the latest update and details on using driverless vehicles for public transport in Singapore.
• Khaw Boon Wan explained that self-driving technology could address driver shortages and improve first- and last-mile connectivity, especially for vulnerable groups.
• The Ministry of Transport has partnered with private companies and research institutes to trial self-driving buses, shuttles, and vehicles in areas like one-north and Sentosa.
• Trials are progressing, with NTU’s self-driving buses expected to begin on-road testing by mid-2018, and widespread deployment anticipated in 10 to 15 years.
• Continued trials and limited deployment are planned while the technology matures.

• The Ministry and IMDA are investigating recent telecom disruptions by Singtel and StarHub, with preliminary findings indicating a technical issue with Singtel's DHCP server, while the StarHub incident involving DDoS attacks is being addressed separately, including cybersecurity measures.
• IMDA has updated the Telecom Service Resiliency Code and implemented an Audit Framework for mobile networks, with a similar framework planned for fixed-line networks in 2017, to strengthen network resilience and ensure operators comply with standards.
• Singapore's telecom networks are generally as resilient as international counterparts, with operators meeting the 99.9% availability benchmark, though the Ministry continues to review Quality of Service standards and aims to improve recovery times during disruptions.
• The Ministry emphasizes that complete elimination of outages is unlikely due to network complexity, but operators must design resilient networks and ensure speedy recovery, while encouraging collective cybersecurity efforts involving businesses and consumers.

• The National Registration (Amendment) Bill aims to strengthen the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) operational effectiveness by introducing iris scan collection for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, enhancing identity verification and border security.
• The Bill grants ICA powers to refuse registration of inappropriate or misleading names, such as those exceeding 66 characters or containing offensive or unauthorised titles, while allowing discretionary refusal for obscene or contrary-to-public-interest names.
• The amendments enable the appointment of non-ICA employees as registration officers for specific, limited functions like iris enrolment, with safeguards to ensure data security and restrict access to personal records.
• ICA officers are empowered with new investigation and enforcement powers, including seizing suspicious documents and demanding surrender of identity cards, to improve administration of national registration matters.
• Measures for data protection and public education on iris scan collection are emphasised, with assurances that biometric data will be securely stored and encrypted, and that iris scans will complement existing identifiers without replacing them.

The Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill aims to update Singapore's telecom regulations to address increased consumer reliance on services and evolving industry needs. Key amendments include empowering IMDA to establish an Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme for consumer disputes and to regulate access to building rooftops for telecom infrastructure deployment. The Bill also clarifies existing powers and introduces measures to enhance consumer choice and industry oversight.

• Azmoon Ahmad asked if Singapore is ready to be an autonomous vehicle-ready nation, whether the legal framework is in place, and how the recent self-driving car accident will be handled.
• Khaw Boon Wan responded that self-driving technology could improve public transport but is not yet mature for widespread use, with trials underway to assess its potential.
• The Land Transport Authority has a regulatory framework for trials, requiring safety assessments and insurance, and is studying future regulations for actual deployment.
• Investigations into the recent accident are ongoing, and the involved company has paused trials to review safety and technology issues.

• The Credit Bureau Bill empowers the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to license and supervise credit bureaus to enhance data security, operational soundness, and consumer protection, aligning with international best practices.
• Key provisions include requirements for credit bureaus and approved members to safeguard customer information, ensure data accuracy, and provide consumers access to their credit reports, including free copies after credit application decisions.
• Debates highlighted concerns about data security, potential monopolies, and the need for comprehensive credit information, with the Minister affirming that MAS will enforce standards and consider expanding data coverage while balancing innovation and competition.

• The government, through the Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), has established frameworks and codes of practice to enhance the cyber resilience of critical infrastructure, including telecommunications companies, though breaches cannot be entirely eliminated.
• Measures include the Readiness Maturity Index program, regular exercises, and the Infocommunications Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (ISG-CERT) to coordinate responses and share actionable intelligence with operators.
• To support companies, especially SMEs, CSA will collaborate with trade associations to provide cyber readiness assessments and a starter kit for IT defences, while the government studies potential public exercises to improve consumer cyber hygiene.

• The Minister for National Development explained that while new buildings should have adequate mobile coverage, current practices involve installing base stations on HDB rooftops before residents move in, with potential delays due to construction issues.
• HDB, together with Town Councils, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), is working to expedite approval processes and incorporate MNO requirements early in the planning phase of new HDB developments to speed up installations.
• The Ministry of Communications and Information and IDA are considering amendments to the Telecommunications Act to allow using rooftops of one building to provide coverage for adjacent buildings, enhancing mobile coverage flexibility.
• The Ministry believes that mandating mobile coverage as a Temporary Occupation Permit condition for each building may not be necessary, as effective stakeholder cooperation is more critical for timely and adequate coverage.
• The response emphasizes ongoing efforts to improve the planning process without necessarily making mobile coverage a mandatory compliance for building permits.

• Foo Mee Har inquired about the legality of paying ransom and how to respond to internet ransom threats, with K Shanmugam stating that paying ransom for kidnapping is an offence under the Kidnapping Act, but generally not an offence for other threats like ransomware, though victims are advised not to pay due to no guarantee of file recovery and should report to police.
• Prevention is emphasized, including caution with unfamiliar emails, avoiding suspicious downloads, and using firewalls, spam filters, and updated anti-virus software, while regular data backups are recommended for both individuals and corporations.
• Victims of ransomware are urged to lodge police reports immediately as a key response, alongside preventive measures, to address cyber threats effectively.

• The Government has introduced schemes like IMDA’s i-SPRINT to subsidise SMEs in adopting proven ICT solutions, with over 8,000 SMEs having benefited.
• Additional support is provided through SPRING’s Capability Development Grant and Innovation and Capability Voucher to help SMEs adopt ICT for efficiency.
• To address cybersecurity risks, agencies have created an Employee Cyber Security Kit with the Singapore Business Federation to guide SMEs in securing their systems.
• Digital services such as the Business Grants Portal, LicenceOne, and the upcoming CorpPass aim to simplify grant applications, licence payments, and secure online transactions with the Government.

• Miss Cheng Li Hui inquired about resident response to the Elderly Monitoring System and Utilities Management System trials in Yuhua and the timeline for expanding these systems to other constituencies.
• Minister Lawrence Wong reported that initial trials in October 2015 with 10 households showed positive feedback, with residents finding the elderly monitoring system non-intrusive and useful for peace of mind, and the utilities system helping track bills and achieve savings up to 15%.
• The trial expanded in April 2016 to 3,200 households in Yuhua, offering commercial packages for the systems, with outreach efforts ongoing.
• HDB will assess the expanded trial's results before deciding on broader implementation across other constituencies.

• The Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill seeks to update the Telecommunications Act and make related changes to the Info-communications Media Development Authority Act 2016.
• The bill was presented by the Minister for Communications and Information, Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, and received its first reading in Parliament.
• The bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next available sitting of Parliament and will be printed for public reference.

• The Credit Bureau Bill aims to regulate credit bureaus, their credit reporting activities, and members who receive customer information, with provisions for related and consequential amendments to other Acts.
• The bill was presented by the Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade), Mr Lim Hng Kiang, and read for the first time, with a second reading scheduled for the next parliamentary sitting.
• The bill's objectives include establishing a regulatory framework for credit bureaus and their operations to ensure proper governance and data handling.

• The government maintains a strict prohibition on remote gambling under the Remote Gambling Act but allows a tightly controlled exempt operator regime to divert demand from illegal syndicates, applying safeguards similar to those in terrestrial gambling.
• Enforcement measures, including website and payment blocking, have been implemented, with arrests made and illegal operations targeted, though complete bans are acknowledged as unfeasible due to high internet penetration and technological circumvention like VPNs.
• The exempt operators must be not-for-profit, offer only existing terrestrial betting products (excluding casino-style games and poker), and implement social safeguards such as exclusion lists and two-factor authentication to protect vulnerable groups.
• The government stresses that this approach complements public education and law enforcement, rejects a total ban as unrealistic, and plans to monitor gambling data through the regulated regime to refine policies and interventions.