1 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the recent magnitude and speed of adjustments in diesel and petrol prices are in line with refined wholesale prices; and (b) whether the Government is considering temporary or permanent diesel and petrol pump price adjustment mechanisms to mitigate the impact of pump prices on consumers and businesses.
2 Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the Government's projections on electricity price increases over the next six to 12 months in light of rising global oil and gas prices; and (b) what measures are in place to shield households from sudden spikes in electricity prices.
3 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry given Australia's 2025 review of the Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct Act found retailers systematically raise prices faster than they lower them, and recommended symmetrical cost-pass-through obligations requiring retailers to both pass on cost decreases and justify price increases against underlying costs, whether the Government will adopt similar safeguards to protect energy consumers during and after the Strait of Hormuz disruption.
4 Ms Diana Pang Li Yen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what factors explain differences in effective petrol prices across retailers after discounts and promotions amid recent global oil price volatility and regional supply disruptions; and (b) whether the Ministry will review whether existing measures on petrol price transparency and current market conditions are sufficient to support fair competition and allow consumers to make informed choices.
5 Mr Foo Cexiang asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government has observed significant impact to sectors other than oil and gas due to the Middle East situation; and (b) what are the support measures to be implemented in order to mitigate adverse impact and assist businesses facing price and supply challenges.
6 Mr Foo Cexiang asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) is actively monitoring the price increases by petrol companies; and (b) how will the CCCS ensure that the Middle East situation is not used as a convenient excuse for anti-competitive behaviour amongst petrol companies.
7 Dr Choo Pei Ling asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how does the Government assess whether global trade disruptions are temporary or indicative of longer-term shifts; (b) what factors inform such assessments; and (c) how do these assessments shape adjustments to Singapore’s economic strategy.
8 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of damage to key liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Qatar (a) what is the estimated impact on household expenditure in Singapore over the next three years; (b) what measures will the Government roll out to help businesses and households manage price shocks; and (c) what thresholds will necessitate fiscal intervention.
9 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry what is the scope of the Government’s contingency plans in the event of a disruption in energy supplies or a prolonged period of high energy prices.
10 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether a severe shortage of fuel supply for electricity generation will trigger a declaration of a High-Risk Operating State under the Singapore Electricity Market Rules; (b) how many months can current national fuel reserves sustain electricity generation if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed; and (c) under what conditions will the Standby LNG Facility reserves be released to power generation companies.
11 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry given Singapore’s reliance on global energy markets (a) what is our quantified exposure to prolonged Strait of Hormuz disruption; (b) what is the projected pass-through of rising oil prices into household costs over the next six to 12 months; and (c) beyond energy, what critical imports such as food, logistics, aviation are most at risk, and what diversification strategies are in place.
12 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of rising global energy prices and resulting increases in fuel, utilities and logistics costs (a) what is the Government’s assessment of how such costs are passed through to businesses and consumers; (b) whether price adjustments are justified and proportionate; and (c) what measures are in place to ensure fair and timely pass-through of cost reductions and prevent unjustified price increases.
13 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption to global crude oil and feedstock flows (a) what is the Government’s assessment of the impact on supply into Singapore’s refineries; and (b) how will this affect refinery utilisation rates, downstream output including fuels and petrochemicals, and Singapore’s overall position as a refining and trading hub.
14 Mr Lee Hong Chuang asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of the current economic climate, how can the Government ensure that energy support measures like subsidies or grants are precisely targeted to help to most vulnerable small and medium enterprises (SMEs) without creating market distortions or giving unfair competitive advantages across sectors.
15 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of disruptions arising from the conflict involving Iran (a) whether the Government has reassessed the balance between efficiency and resilience in Singapore’s energy and supply chain strategy; and (b) if so, how is the reassessment being operationalised across industries.
16 Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how the Government is monitoring food price movements in response to the Middle East conflict; and (b) whether more frequent reporting on such movements will be shared publicly to help consumers understand price changes and prepare earlier accordingly.
17 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the Government's assessment of the impact of the USA, Israel and Iran war on Singapore's energy supply and costs for the next 12 months; and (b) what is the Government's strategy to mitigate the risks and impact of supply disruption and sharp rises in prices.
18 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether damages to Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities have material impacts on Singapore’s short and medium term LNG supply; (b) whether alternative sources and procurement arrangements are sufficient to offset any shortfall; and (c) whether the declarations of force majeure arising from these disruptions will have significant impacts on Singapore’s downstream industries, including electricity generation and industrial users.
19 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry weather the current energy supply shocks arising from conflicts in the Middle East are expected to accelerate Singapore’s efforts to diversify its energy mix, including increased investments in alternative energy sources such as nuclear energy.
20 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the current Middle East conflict has highlighted risks to Singapore from supply fragmentation and energy nationalism, including export restrictions by producer countries; and (b) how Singapore is strengthening its long-term energy security strategy in response.
21 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry whether the Government can provide a holistic assessment of the macroeconomic impact of the Middle East conflict thus far on Singapore, including (i) inflation pass-through (ii) growth risks (iii) household cost pressures and (iv) policy responses, under both baseline and adverse energy shock scenarios.
22 Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of recent impact of the Middle East conflict on global energy supply (a) what national-level measures are in place or being considered to encourage energy conservation; and (b) what immediate interim support or adjustments can households, workers and businesses expect at this time.
23 Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the status of Singapore's helium supplies following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz; and (b) whether the Government has contingency plans to help the semiconductor industry access sufficient helium supplies for production.
24 Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government will consider further regulating petrol station operators to ensure that changes in petrol prices, especially increases, are linked to actual market conditions; and (b) if not, why not.
25 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the escalating conflicts in the Middle East (a) what is the potential impact of the disruptions in supply chains on Singapore; and (b) what are the mitigating measures to maintain stability in our prices and access to supplies.
26 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry given the possibility of a prolonged Middle East conflict (a) what is the Ministry’s latest assessment of the risks to Singapore’s long-term economic stability and job security in trade-dependent sectors; and (b) what specific progress has been made in diversifying energy imports and boosting the national stockpile to buffer against protracted supply chain disruptions.
27 Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the Government’s assessment of the impact of the Iran war on the (i) rising price of oil and (ii) cost of business, especially energy businesses; and (b) whether there are measures the Government will be taking to address these concerns.
28 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how has the Middle East conflict impacted Singapore’s trade volume and GDP growth forecasts for 2026; and (b) what specific measures are being implemented to support local businesses, particularly SMEs, facing the consequences of the disruption of energy supplies and global trade routes.
29 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the Middle East conflict (a) how is the Ministry monitoring the impact of fuel price volatility on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with high transport and energy costs; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider targeted temporary support, including energy grants or enhancements to the Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG), to help businesses manage cost spikes and mitigate downstream impact on consumers.
30 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the Ministry’s assessment of Singapore’s ability to withstand current oil price shocks arising from the Middle East conflict; and (b) how the Government will support households and businesses facing cost-of-living pressures arising from the conflict in the short, medium and longer term.
31 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of recent disruptions to global liquefied natural gas supply chains arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East (a) whether the Government can assure Singaporeans that backup plans are in place to maintain energy security; and (b) whether households and businesses should expect any increase in energy prices in the coming months.
32 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what proportion of Singapore’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports currently transit through the Strait of Hormuz; (b) how many days of national consumption can our existing oil and LNG stockpiles sustain; and (c) what contingency plans are in place to mitigate prolonged Middle East supply disruptions.
33 Assoc Prof Terence Ho asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the risks of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East affecting oil prices, whether the Ministry plans to review (i) its targets for renewable energy and (ii) its approach or timeframe for the deployment of other alternative energy sources including nuclear power.
34 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry what lessons can be drawn from the current oil crisis to inform Singapore’s long-term energy-security strategy.
35 Mr Lee Hong Chuang asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the current conflict in Iran affecting energy prices (a) what is the outlook and strategy for ensuring Singapore’s energy security; and (b) what intervention measures will the Ministry be prepared to take if oil prices continue to spiral as a result of a prolonged conflict.
36 Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the Government’s assessment of how rising fuel prices are affecting SMEs and Singaporeans who depend on their vehicles for daily income, including private hire drivers and delivery riders; (b) what support is available to these segments; and (c) what safeguards are in place to ensure that fuel price increases do not disproportionately burden consumers through excessive pass-through.
37 Mr Ng Shi Xuan asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry whether there are plans to accelerate (i) the review of applications for or (ii) expand the scope of the Energy Efficiency Grant, to help businesses navigate recent volatility in energy costs and ensure energy stability.
38 Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Ministry will ensure that increases in global oil and gas prices do not disproportionately impact domestic electricity tariffs; (b) if so, what are its plans; and (c) what mechanisms are in place to moderate cost pass-through to consumers, if any.
39 Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry what are the Ministry’s plans to ensure that industries disproportionately affected by rising energy costs receive targeted and timely support, if any.
40 Ms Lee Hui Ying asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in view of rising energy prices, whether the Government will consider (a) lowering the fuel excise duty; and (b) introducing interim measures to help households and businesses cope with the impact of current rising fuel costs.
41 Ms Poh Li San asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the increase in petrol and diesel prices due to the Middle East conflict, whether the Government will consider support measures for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are heavy users of petrol and diesel, especially those in the construction and transportation sectors.
42 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry given elevated oil prices and a potential for significant increases in electricity prices, whether the Ministry is making plans to help (i) small and medium enterprises to cope with the sudden shock and (ii) consumers, especially those who have to rely on fuel and electricity to make a living.
43 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in view of the conflicts in the Middle East and disruptions to global trade routes (a) what is the potential impact on Singapore's cost of living, especially for the lower-income groups; and (b) whether support measures will be considered.
44 Mr Alex Yam asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in light of rising oil prices arising from the conflict in the Middle East and the possible knock-on effects on inflation and business costs (a) what measures are in place to cushion the impact on households and businesses; and (b) whether the Government is prepared to provide further targeted assistance should prices rise significantly.
45 Dr Hamid Razak asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the impact of current fuel excise duties on consumers amid recent global fuel price increases; (b) whether temporary adjustments to fuel duties have been considered as a stabilisation measure; and (c) if so, what criteria or thresholds would guide such a policy review.
46 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance given rising fuel prices and their knock-on effects on food, transport and utilities (a) how does the Government assess the adequacy of existing support measures for middle- and lower-income households; and (b) whether additional targeted assistance will be considered if inflationary pressures persist.
47 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether the Government has assessed how external shocks such as the conflict involving Iran might propagate through the economy in uneven ways across sectors and income groups; and (b) how support measures, if any, will be adapted to these differentiated impacts.
48 Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) what is the Government’s assessment of the impact of the Iran war and the worsening geopolitical environment on (i) businesses (ii) livelihoods and (iii) overall rising costs of living; and (b) whether there are measures the Government will be taking to address these concerns.
49 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in view of the recent escalation in oil prices and the potential downstream impact on food prices (a) whether the Government is prepared to bring forward U-Save rebate benefits and CDC vouchers meant for the later part of this year and January 2027; and (b) what additional measures can the Government provide to mitigate the impact of any sudden spike in inflation.
50 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) what has been the increase in electricity prices to households charged by electricity retailers over the past month; and (b) in view of expected increases in electricity tariffs, whether the Government is considering increasing household support measures to mitigate the impact of higher utilities costs in Singapore.
51 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether the Ministry will consider a temporary reduction in fuel excise duties to alleviate the impact of the current energy price surge on the net earnings of transport-dependent businesses and individuals; and (b) what specific measures are being implemented to assist such businesses and individuals.
52 Mr Ng Chee Meng asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance given the rising fuel prices and expected increases in electricity prices in Singapore (a) whether the current U-Save rebates are likely to remain adequate to offset HDB households’ utilities expenses and cushion the impact on middle- and lower-income households; and (b) whether the Government will consider providing some support to taxi, private hire car drivers and delivery platform riders.
53 Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment how Singapore is strengthening its position as a resilient global hub amid ongoing geopolitical instability and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including in areas such as supply chain reliability, food security innovation and energy transition.
54 Ms Poh Li San asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in view of the Iran war potentially affecting food production in certain parts of the world, will SFA be stepping up its stockpiling and adjusting its food import diversification strategy in case of a prolonged conflict and longer-term impact on global food supplies and food prices.
55 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) whether Singapore's strategic food reserves meet the Government's adequacy targets; (b) given that nearly half of globally traded urea and sulphur transit the Strait of Hormuz, whether the Ministry has assessed the impact on Singapore's food import prices; and (c) what measures have been taken since the closure on 2 March 2026 to buffer possible future food price increases.
56 Dr Choo Pei Ling asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in light of recent global developments affecting food supply chains (a) what mechanisms are in place to stabilise or moderate the impact on food prices for consumers if disruptions occur across multiple import sources simultaneously; (b) whether the Ministry has tested its contingency plans to address such disruptions under simulated conditions; and (c) if so, what are the findings from such tests.
57 Ms Lee Hui Ying asked the Acting Minister for Transport in light of recent fare adjustments by Grab and ComfortDelGro (a) whether the Ministry was consulted prior to the implementation; and (b) what regulatory oversights and concrete safeguards are in place to prevent private hire and taxi operators from passing down the burden of rising fuel costs to commuters.
58 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Acting Minister for Transport in light of recent global energy price volatility (a) what is the estimated impact of higher petrol and diesel prices on the monthly operating costs of private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers, taxi drivers and delivery riders; and (b) whether there are contingency measures to provide targeted relief should prices remain elevated.
59 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Acting Minister for Transport in view of high energy prices arising from the latest conflict in the Middle East, whether the Ministry will announce (i) road tax rebates for motorcycles, private hire vehicles, taxis and commercial vehicles and (ii) petrol duty rebates for private hire and taxi drivers.
60 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) what is the Ministry's assessment of the prolonged Middle East conflict’s impact on (i) Singapore’s sea and air freight reliability and (ii) our transport hubs; and (b) what specific measures are being taken to help affected Singapore-flagged vessels, Singapore carriers and shipping companies including mitigating surging transportation and other associated costs.
61 Mr Foo Cexiang asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Singapore has been engaging with other countries, especially ASEAN nations, to foster closer cohesion and forge stability in the face of the ongoing global conflicts.
62 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government assesses that global inflation dynamics have shifted from a cyclical to a more structurally volatile regime, in light of repeated geopolitical shocks; and (b) if so, what is the Government's plan to ensure that its policy adapts beyond short-term stabilisation.
\tThe Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Gan Kim Yong): Mr Speaker, as I will be delivering a Ministerial Statement together with my colleagues later on, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 1 to 62 in my Ministerial Statement.
\tMr Speaker: Yes, you may.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Thank you, Sir.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Constraints Limiting Conversion of Under-utilised HDB Multi-storey Car Park Spaces for Community Uses","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"63 Mr David Hoe asked the Minister for National Development (a) aside from demand, potential disamenities, fire safety, exit capacity and structural loading, what other constraints may limit the conversion of unde-rutilised HDB multi-storey car park (MSCP) spaces for community uses; and (b) whether such constraints apply to the MSCP at Clementi Peaks.
\tThe Senior Minister of State for National Development (Ms Sun Xueling) (for the Minister for National Development): The Housing and Development Board (HDB) periodically receives requests to repurpose multi-storey car parks (MSCPs) for alternative uses. This matter was also raised by the Member for Sengkang Group Representation Constituency (GRC), Assoc Prof Jamus Lim, during the Committee of Supply (COS) 2026 debate for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth last month.
As MSCPs are built for vehicle parking, HDB would need to carefully evaluate proposals to repurpose these MSCPs. They have to bear in mind considerations, such as residents' needs and safety. The assessment also includes the factors cited by Mr David Hoe, such as having enough lots to meet the demand for parking over time, potential disamenities to residents and technical considerations including fire safety requirements, exit capacity and structural loading.
Revenue considerations, including opportunity costs from forgone income that Assoc Prof Jamus Lim mentioned at the COS debate last month, are not a factor in HDB's assessment. It is important for me to clarify this point, so that members of the public have the correct set of facts and do not form the wrong impression based on what Assoc Prof Lim said.
In the case of Clementi Peaks, the project was completed less than four years ago in July 2022. Parking needs have not yet fully stabilised and it is too early to consider converting the parking spaces to other uses at this juncture.
\tMr Speaker: Mr David Hoe.
\tMr David Hoe (Jurong East-Bukit Batok): Thank you, Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for her response. I would like to seek clarification on how the Ministry assesses what it means when parking needs have been stabilised? What criteria or benchmark are we looking at? And how did we arrive at these criteria and benchmark?
Secondly, I would like to ask also, as a Member of Parliament to Clementi Division, at Block 463 MSCP, on my numerous visits to this carpark, I have noticed that it has been severely under-utilised to a point that there are no cars on Level 7. And oftentimes, I see that residents are doing their jogs, children are cycling, parents are teaching their children how to cycle. I understand that in the current situation, current circumstance, that it is not ready to be repurposed. I would like to seek the Senior Minister of State on what alternatives can I then give to my residents? Because when they look at me, they are just asking for space and we do have space at Level 7 of the MSCP, but it is severely under-utilised with no cars at Level 7 on occasional visits.
\tMs Sun Xueling: On Mr Hoe's first question, parking demand can change and evolve over time, especially in a new estate. You could have changes in household sizes and with that, changing in parking needs. That is why it can take quite a number of years before parking demand in a new estate stabilises. That is the case for Clementi Peaks, which I mentioned was completed less than four years ago.
So, HDB does not recommend conversion of parking spaces into alternative uses during the early years of developments, because with premature conversion where the parking spaces are removed permanently, this could lead to parking shortages in the later years should the parking demand grow.
On Mr Hoe's second question, our HDB estates are designed with playgrounds, with community spaces, with open lawns. And residents can use these places for leisure. For under-utilised space in MSCPs, these are incidental spaces, and they are not designed and intended for community activities and gatherings. But where the opportunity arises, HDB can consider repurposing suitable carparks into alternative uses, subject to meeting the parking needs of residents, which I mentioned earlier, as well as technical feasibility.
Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Jamus Lim.
\tAssoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): I thank the Senior Minister of State for her clarification on how revenue considerations are not critical. I am very gratified to hear this. And yet, in my experience, HDB has seemed very reticent to appeals for change of use. Perhaps the Senior Minister of State could clarify a clear set of criteria for appeals of change of use that HDB takes into consideration, that Town Councils can submit to ensure that such requests will be taken into account seriously.
\tMs Sun Xueling: I thank Assoc Prof Lim for raising the questions. Could I first ask the basis for the statement that the Member made on 5 March, last month? Because, and I quote, the Member had mentioned that, \"One objection is that there is an opportunity cost to foregone income, since such lots could generate potential revenue and this has sometimes been MND's response to requests for converting car park spaces to other uses, such as community gardens\".
Could I first clarify if there was correspondence with the Ministry of National Development (MND) that suggests that this is why the Member thinks that the MND is not allowing the conversion of the MSCPs?
\tAssoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim: Thank you for the request. This was conveyed to me by Town Council staff. If I was mistaken in this statement, I will retract that request. But nevertheless, I think the general spirit of my question remains, which is that in prior requests that the Town Council has made requesting a change of use, MND has cited various reasons for not permitting this change of use. And hence, my request for asking for a clear set of criteria.
\tMs Sun Xueling: Thank you, Assoc Prof Lim. The Member might want to check with his Town Council staff, because I have a copy of correspondence between the Member as well as the HDB staff. The Town Council staff might have been copied. This was in relation to a request that the Member made in 2021. The HDB staff, and I quote the email that was sent back to the Member, it says, \"We refer to your request to install playgrounds and cloud kitchens on multi-storey car parks in Sengkang\". The email then goes on to say, \"HDB provides residential car parks primarily to meet the parking needs of HDB residents\". Then, it goes on to say that \"HDB does look into requests for conversion of car park lots into alternative non-parking uses at suitable sites, if the carparks are assessed to be sufficient to meet parking needs after the conversion of the lots. In addition, as MSCPs are not designed upfront to support non-parking facilities in terms of their structural loading, we also have to assess if it is technically feasible to support other non-parking uses. Aside from this, there are other considerations, such as regulatory requirements, fire and safety, building safety standards, for instance, suitability of location and potential disamenities to residents that the non-parking uses may create\".
So, I think by citing these four reasons and considerations in the email between HDB and the Member, I think it quite amply explains what are the considerations that HDB has, and in the Member's proposal to repurpose those MSCPs for community use, if the Member is able to address the considerations that HDB has, I think we would be happy to facilitate those requests.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Assessment of Tariff-impact on Singapore's Trade Sectors following US' Section 301 Investigations","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"64 Mr Alex Yam asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of the US launching a Section 301 investigation into excess industrial capacity that includes Singapore on the grounds of global semiconductor capacity despite Singapore running a trade deficit with the US (a) what is the Government’s assessment of the basis for Singapore’s inclusion; (b) whether Singapore sectors may face tariffs; and (c) what engagements are underway to safeguard Singapore’s trade interests.
65 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what assessment has the Government made of the potential economic impact on Singapore arising from the US Section 301 investigation into alleged excess industrial capacity among several economies including Singapore; and (b) whether this could affect key export sectors such as electronics, semiconductors and precision engineering.
66 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry following the US Section 301 investigation into Singapore’s semiconductor capacity (a) how is the Ministry addressing US concerns and highlighting Singapore’s bilateral trade deficit with the US; and (b) what strategies are being deployed to diversify Singapore’s trade relations and mitigate the economic impact of potential US punitive tariffs.
67 Mr Mark Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of the expanding Section 301 investigations by the US into forced labour risks across global supply chains (a) how does the Government assess potential implications for Singapore-based companies and our foreign workforce framework; (b) whether domestic sectors reliant on migrant workers may face increased scrutiny; and (c) what guidance will be provided to local companies for compliance and supply-chain due diligence.
68 Mr Mark Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of the US initiating Section 301 investigations into structural excess industrial capacity in manufacturing sectors across several economies including Singapore (a) what is the Government’s assessment of potential implications for Singapore’s trade-oriented industries; (b) which sectors may face heightened scrutiny or trade risks; and (c) what guidance will be provided to help businesses prepare for possible actions arising from such investigations.
69 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in consultations with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to correct the significant discrepancy between the reported US$27 billion bilateral trade surplus in the USTR Federal Register Notice and the US$27 billion deficit recorded by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.
\tThe Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Gan Siow Huang) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to answer oral Question Nos 64 to 69 and written Question Nos 67 and 68 in today's Order Paper, and the oral question filed by hon Member Mr Victor Lye for the 8 April Sitting, as they all relate to the United States' (US') Section 301 investigations?
\tMr Speaker: Please proceed.
Ms Gan Siow Huang: On 11 and 12 March 2026, the Office of the US Trade Representative initiated two investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The first investigation involves 16 economies for structural excess capacity and production in certain manufacturing sectors, while the second investigation involves 60 economies for not adopting or effectively enforcing a ban on the importation of goods produced wholly or in part with forced labour. Singapore and all the other 15 economies involved in the first investigation are subject to both investigations.
The US Trade Representative's Federal Register Notice on the investigation into structural excess capacity had highlighted that Singapore enjoyed a bilateral trade surplus with the US in both goods and services amounting to US$27 billion in 2024. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has clarified that it was the US which ran a trade surplus of US$27 billion with Singapore in 2024. The US Trade Representative has since removed this inaccurate statement from its Federal Register Notice.
As the US Trade Representative's investigations are ongoing, we should not speculate on the basis for or outcomes of these investigations. It would also be premature to comment on the potential impact on our export sectors or workers at this juncture, as the details are not yet available.
The Singapore Government will continue to engage the US constructively in the course of these investigations and will provide further updates when ready.
In the meantime, the Section 122 tariff of 10% imposed on Singapore's exports to the US since 24 February 2026 remains unchanged.
The Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce will continue to gather feedback on how businesses are affected and address specific concerns as they arise. The Government will also strengthen resilience of our trade-exposed sectors by helping companies diversify the markets that they serve and deepening Singapore's trade and investment linkages with like-minded partners.
\tMr Speaker: Mr Yam.
\tMr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I know the Minister of State indicated that while it is still undergoing investigation, we should not speculate. I know also from her reply that they have removed the wrong classification of our trade deficit with the US. Having done so, has the trade team on the US side provided any indications to MTI on the reasons for our inclusion?
The second question is, moving beyond the particular issue of Section 301, beyond our existing agreements with actors like the US, are there plans for MTI to also accelerate diversification into emerging markets or strengthening our regional supply chain so that we reduce our exposure to unilateral trade actions such as this?
My last supplementary question is, given Singapore's inclusion despite the trade deficit, does the Ministry assess that the traditional indicators of trade imbalance are no longer the primary basis for such investigations? And what precedent does this set for future act actions against economies, such as ours, which are small and open?
\tMs Gan Siow Huang: To the first and also the third question, the US has not given us reasons on why they have included Singapore under the Section 301 investigations and neither do we know if other countries might have similar perspective. It is, I think, too early for us to speculate on the reasons as well as the outcomes of the investigations.
To the Member's second question, indeed, Singapore has been and will continue to strengthen the diversification of our trade linkages. This was covered at great length at the recent Committee of Supply debate under MTI.
Mr Speaker: Mr Saktiandi Supaat.
\tMr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Three questions.
First, given that the Section 301 actions can sometimes be broad-based, how is Singapore engaging with our US counterparts to ensure that our firms are not inadvertently affected by measures aimed at other economies?
\t
The second clarification is, given Singapore's role as a regional base for multinational corporations, has the Government observed any early shifts in investment decisions or supply chain strategies arising from these developments?
And lastly, beyond tariffs, could the Minister of State comment whether firms in Singapore actually face increased compliance costs or increased administrative burdens arising from such investigations now or going forward? And how are we supporting them, possibly in the future, in navigating these complexities?
\tMs Gan Siow Huang: It is actually premature for us to give any meaningful and useful advice to companies that may potentially be affected by the Section 301 investigations. We are following up with the US authorities to try to better understand the reasons as well as the coverage of these Section 301 investigations.
And in the meantime, for firms that require support, we ask that they give the feedback direct to MTI or through the trade associations and chambers, the Singapore Business Federation, for example. We have been keeping in touch with them. Also, there is a Business Adaptation Grant, which remains available to help companies understand the implications of the US tariffs on their businesses.
Mr Speaker: Mr Yip Hon Weng.
\tMr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I declare I work in a global investment firm that has investments in semiconductors and manufacturing companies.
Given the US Section 301 investigations reflect a more unilateral approach to trade enforcement, could the Minister of State elaborate on how Singapore is safeguarding its interest within a rules-based trading system that appears to be under strain? What considerations shape our current approach in engaging with the US, and how does this protect Singaporean jobs and economic stability, particularly in sectors such as semiconductors?
\tMs Gan Siow Huang: This has been covered extensively at the recent Committee of Supply. It is still very relevant and current. In the interest of time, I ask that the Member refer to the details that were covered back then.
Mr Speaker: Mr Mark Lee.
\tMr Mark Lee (Nominated Member): I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. I think there are many times that she has mentioned that investigations are still underway and details are still unclear. But I would still like to ask the Minister of State to comment on whether the Government has assessed the extent that Singapore exports and also our re-exports into the US are exposed to heightened forced labour scrutiny, particularly where upstream inputs are originating from higher-risk jurisdictions.
\tMs Gan Siow Huang: On Singapore being investigated for import of goods passing through Singapore made for wholly or partially with forced labour, I would like to emphasise a few points. First, Singapore takes a strong stance – we also criminalise forced labour in Singapore under various laws, including the Penal Code and the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act. Forced labour is also prohibited under the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore. Relevant Government Ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Singapore Police Force, play their part in investigating complaints of suspected breaches in these domestic laws.
Preventing the importation of goods produced with forced labour requires an effective international regulatory framework to investigate and positively identify such goods. This issue is transnational in nature, and there is no international agreed available framework for such investigations at the moment. Singapore will continue to work with international communities through appropriate international platforms like the International Labour Organization, as well as bilaterally with like-minded partners, including the US, to address this issue.
Mr Speaker: Mr Dennis Tan.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. In light of the Minister of State's reply just now, can I ask whether the Government is able to reply to my written Question No 67, and update on whether the Government will be represented at the upcoming public hearings for the US Trade Representative's investigations into overcapacity and forced labour under Section 301?
\tMs Gan Siow Huang: Economies that are subject to Section 301 investigations may choose to submit written comments, participate in public hearings and engage in bilateral consultation with the US Trade Representative. We also note the deadline for submission of written comments and requests to appear at public hearings for both the investigations will be coming up soon.
To the question of whether companies will be attending or participating: no, they are not required to participate in the hearings. But we do encourage companies who have feedback or inputs to provide that to MTI so that we can represent them sufficiently.
Mr Speaker: Mr Dennis Tan.
\tMr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: Thank you, Speaker. Just a clarification. Will the Government be represented at the upcoming hearing, bearing in mind the submission deadlines?
\tMs Gan Siow Huang: The answer is yes; we will be attending the hearings.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Recognition for Contributions of SAF Personnel Involved in Recent Repatriation Flights from Middle East","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"70 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence whether the Ministry will consider (i) formally recognising the contributions of SAF personnel involved in recent repatriation flights from the Middle East and (ii) developing exhibitions or public education initiatives to highlight the choices and personal courage required to organise such repatriation efforts from active warzones.
\tThe Minister for Defence (Mr Chan Chun Sing): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has a framework to recognise all our units and personnel who have participated in operations. We will similarly do so for the recent mission undertaken by the SAF in service of our nation.
Within the bounds of operational security, the SAF will profile the mission planning, execution and the background training that enabled the SAF to execute this mission. All missions involve risks. All missions are enabled by the consistent investment in training and equipping over the years.
We thank Singaporeans for their support of our SAF. Our SAF remains ready to execute our missions in service of our nation.
Mr Speaker, Sir, this mission was made possible by the collective efforts of many across the SAF and other agencies, including those beyond the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). Besides the air crew who mounted the flights, there was also a team of headquarter planners, intelligence analysts and policy staff, some of whom are non-uniform officers, who worked at short notice to develop a safe flight plan, obtain diplomatic clearances and formulate various contingency scenarios and responses. We had a military medical team deployed to ensure the safety and well-being of those on board, commercial personnel from our defence partners, including ST Engineering Defence Aviation Services and ST Airport Services, deployed alongside our uniform engineers to support aircraft maintenance and cargo management. Locally, our Full-time National Servicemen ensure that the aircraft was prepared and equipped in a timely manner for the two flights.
Mr Speaker: Mr Christopher de Souza.
\tMr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah): I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. My supplementary question arises out of our deployment of our Multi-Role Tankers Transport. I think our airmen and soldiers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and MINDEF should be commended. It was a complex high-altitude mission, and it was successful.
My supplementary question is borne out of my request that an exhibition be included, of this exercise, in the syllabus of the Officer Cadet School's Air Wing or Specialist Command School, so that NSmen and our soldiers, both men and women, can learn from the courage and the complexity of these successful multi-faceted rescue operations and evacuation operations.
So, would the Minister for Defence consider providing an inclusion of syllabus in the teaching of the commanders in our National Service, where we can glean extremely good lessons from successful missions such as these. And I state on record again, these men and women should be immensely commended.
\tMr Chan Chun Sing: Mr Speaker, Sir, we thank Mr Christopher de Souza for his support of our men and women in service. The answer to both questions is yes. We intend, like in any operation, to debrief the team thoroughly and then we will share the relevant lessons with our servicemen, including those that may not be made publicly available.
On his other question about sharing some of these facets of the work with the wider public, we will certainly do so as we have done so in the first tranche with the media, including our local newspapers and broadcast media, to highlight some of the work that is done behind the scenes to enable this mission.
And finally, I would just like to thank all Members for your support, because as the Chinese saying goes, \"台上一分钟，台下十年功\". For the SAF to be able to mount an operation successfully, even if it is one minute on the stage, it requires 10 years of hard work behind the stage. [Applause.]
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Causes and Follow-up Actions for March 2026 Disruptions on Singtel’s Mobile Network","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"
71 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what lessons have the Ministry learnt from network disruptions experienced by a major telecommunications company in Singapore for three consecutive days; (b) whether the Ministry is aware of any disruptions of emergency or essential services contributed by the network disruptions; and (c) what steps are being considered by IMDA to prevent or minimise similar occurrences in the future.
72 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information arising from the recent service disruptions affecting Singtel customers over three consecutive days, whether IMDA will review and strengthen its requirements on telecommunications network resilience, including ensuring that failover systems are robust and effective under real-world conditions.
73 Dr Neo Kok Beng asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information in view of the recent Singtel mobile service outage on 16 March 2026 which caused much business and personal disruption, whether the Ministry will consider introducing regulations to require telecommunications networks to facilitate temporary mobile service switches to subscribers affected by disruptions.
74 Ms Poh Li San asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what are the causes of the 16 March 2026 disruption on Singtel’s mobile network; (b) how many users were affected; and (c) whether IMDA has any plan to review the minimum level of redundancy required for telecommunications networks, given increasing reliance for mobile services.
\tThe Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): Mr Speaker, my response will cover the questions raised by Ms Poh Li San, Dr Neo Kok Beng, Mr Ang Wei Neng, Mr Melvin Yong and Ms Elysa Chen in today’s Order Paper, as well as related questions filed by Ms Joan Pereira1, Mr Gerald Giam2 and Mr Alex Yeo3 for tomorrow's Sitting. If Members are satisfied with the response, they may wish to withdraw their questions after this session.
Sir, between 16 and 18 March 2026, Singtel experienced difficulties with its mobile service network. Based on preliminary reports, an incident on 16 March affected more than 600,000 Singtel mobile customers. While services were progressively recovered, the disruption lasted for about nine hours. The cause of the incident was attributed to a mechanical fault at one of Singtel’s network facilities.
A separate incident reported on 17 March affected about 2,000 Singtel mobile customers and was attributed to a software bug from a planned IT system update.
On 18 March, some Singtel mobile customers experienced intermittent connectivity issues during peak network traffic in the late afternoon. Singtel indicated that these issues were resolved within an hour.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is investigating the incidents. Thus far, there is no evidence that the incidents were due to cyberattacks. IMDA is also investigating whether calls to emergency services were affected by the incidents, even though there are no such reports thus far.
I would like to assure Members that the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and IMDA take all service disruptions seriously, and we recognise the concerns raised. Service providers are held to high service standards through the Telecommunications Act and the Telecom Service Resiliency Code. For example, service providers are required to ensure that service incidents are resolved within one hour, failing which IMDA may take enforcement actions and impose financial penalties. Among other measures, service providers are required to conduct regular audits on key telecom infrastructure for resilience. They are also required to uphold stringent quality of service standards, such as ensuring more than 99% nation-wide outdoor mobile service coverage at all times.
While disruptions cannot always be prevented, IMDA requires key service providers, like Singtel, to put in place robust measures to contain their impact and ensure speedy recovery. This includes providing redundancies and failover systems for core network functions.
IMDA also regularly reviews its regulatory frameworks to ensure that they remain relevant. This includes updating regulations to protect our submarine cables in 2022 and to enhance the cybersecurity of key telecom operators in 2023. IMDA is reviewing telecom service resilience regulations to ensure they remain effective.
It has been about three weeks since the incidents. We note that Singtel has provided one-time rebates for affected mobile subscribers as part of their service recovery. In the meantime, IMDA’s investigations are ongoing. It will publish its findings after investigations are completed and will not hesitate to take strong regulatory action should any lapses be identified.
We also thank Members for their suggestions. These will be assessed for the ongoing review of telecom service resilience regulations, together with other suggestions that IMDA or the industry have put forward.
\t
\tMr Speaker: Minister Teo, I assume that your response covers Parliamentary Question Nos 71 to 74 in today's Order Paper?
\tMrs Josephine Teo: Yes, Sir.
\tMr Speaker: Thank you. Mr Ang Wei Neng.
\tMr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast-Jurong West): Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply. Can I just ask for clarification on the three incidents of Singtel disruption? It was reported by the press that they were totally unrelated. What was the preliminary investigation based on the finding of IMDA? Secondly, did IMDA or MDDI require Singtel to do the compensation as what they had done in service recovery or is it purely their own effort? And thirdly, will the service recovery be part of the requirement by IMDA or MDDI for other telecom companies (telcos) with similar incidents?
\tMrs Josephine Teo: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his questions. Because investigations are still ongoing, I will not want to prejudge the outcome. We do not rule out entirely that the incidents are related in some way, but the extent of the relations is yet to be firmly established, so it is better to let the investigators complete their work. It is clear, however, that, for now, there is no evidence to suggest that any of the incidents that have been reported were cyber-related.
As to the question that the Member raised about the compensation, this was done on Singtel's own volition. Around the world, if we look at various jurisdictions, we do not know of anyone that require telcos to make compensation for service disruptions. [Please refer to \"Clarification by Minister for Digital Development and Information\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Correction By Written Statement section.]
Part of the reason is because in most markets, telecom services are quite competitive. Meaning that from the provider standpoint, there is an interest on their part to maintain goodwill with their customers. And so, in this instance, Singtel has decided that the service disruption lasted long enough. It impacted a wide swath of people. Many of their customers were inconvenienced. And they decided that they would offer a one-time rebate as part of their own service recovery.
\tMr Speaker: Mr Melvin Yong.
\tMr Melvin Yong Yik Chye (Radin Mas): Sir, I thank the Minister for her answers. I have two questions.
First, whether IMDA currently mandates stress testing or simulation of failover systems under peak or adverse conditions and if not, whether such requirements will be introduced following IMDA's review. Second, even if such continuous incidents are infrequent, the impact of such disruptions on both consumers and businesses is significant, and I feel there should be greater safeguards. So, will IMDA consider introducing more stringent resilience benchmarks on the telcos?
\tMrs Josephine Teo: Mr Speaker, the short answer to the Member's question is yes. The stress testing obviously has to take place, but as we complete the investigations, we may find that there are parts of a system where the stress testing is not as good as it needs to be. So, this will then inform our understanding of the extent to which we need to then strengthen the regulations and put in place the right set of obligations and expectations.
I can assure the Member that we will take this very seriously.
Just to say that our telecom networks have become much more complex. We continuously introduce new service enhancements. From 3G to 4G to 5G and of course, in today's context, the system is also needing to respond to greater user needs, for example, in AI-enabled tools. We fully appreciate what the Member has said. Members of the public, whether businesses or individuals, are depending on these services, so in terms of their reliability, the expectation is certainly rightly high.
I would like to provide some context to assure the Member that we track these performance issues very carefully. If we look at telecom incidents and look at the period 2016 to 2020, compared to 2021 to 2025 – two big blocks, because annual numbers may not be fully reflective. If we look at five-year blocks, it was an average of eight incidents in the period 2016 to 2020. In the more recent five-year period, 2021 to 2025, that has come down to an average of six incidents per year. The average duration of the incidents has also come down from eight hours to six-and-a-half hours.
Is there room for improvement? The answer is yes. And part of the purpose of investigations is to arrive at a better understanding of how the system components are interacting with one another and where we need to strengthen the measures.
\tMr Speaker: Dr Neo Kok Beng.
\tDr Neo Kok Beng (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for the reply on the telcos, especially on the stress tests and the redundancies. I would like to ask whether the telcos network exist independently, by themselves, or are interconnected with other telcos operators'. If IMDA in view of resiliency of our telephone network, would they consider regulations for them to work together, such that if there is any outage, there will be automatic switch-over from one telco to another telco, so that services to the subscribers are not disrupted? A simple example would be like we move to another country or we visit another country, and then we auto roam. I am a telco engineer, so I know a little bit.
\tMrs Josephine Teo: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his suggestion, and we will continue to study it. But preliminarily, I would say that, even if there was mobile switching available. It would not be able to respond to all kinds of service disruptions. It depends on which part of the network has gone down. And maybe some parts of the network can be switchable between telcos, some parts of the network will not be able to do so.
There maybe other kinds of mobile switching options available, but they will inevitably involve some cost, and it is not clear that subscribers are willing to pay for these additional features. That is something that we also have to keep in mind.
I should add that in the Singapore context, wireless services are readily available. So, looking at the issue from the point of view of a user, if you are able to get to a wireless network, there are also messaging services that you can rely on. That is the option that many people currently rely on and remains something that is quite viable.
\tMr Speaker: Mr Alex Yeo.
\tMr Alex Yeo (Potong Pasir): Sir, I thank the Minister for her answers. I just wanted to ask the Minister, for outages, as we have spoken in this House, consumers and businesses are most affected. One of the things that, if we hear from the ground, is that there is no real-time live information on how long the outages are going to be, what is the reasons for it and so on.
I understand, like in Australia, they have a live outage register. Would the IMDA consider mandating telcos to provide real-time live information whenever any of these outages occur, rather than for consumers and businesses to wait for them to issue a press statement before finding out more information about these issues?
\tMrs Josephine Teo: Mr Speaker, I think service providers can certainly improve the timeliness of their updates to their subscribers as well as to members of the public. Today, quite a lot of the information on outages is crowdsourced. There is something called \"Downdetector\" that people very frequently refer to. By and large, it is quite reliable and it gives a very good sense of what is going on.
But I take the Member's point. In terms of our investigations, in terms of how we assess the incident response by the service providers, we will also look at how well they have done in terms of communicating with their subscribers and members of the public.
\tMr Speaker: Last supplementary question, Mr Gerald Giam.
\tMr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): I thank the Minister for the replies. Sir, the fines paid by telcos for service disruptions go into the consolidated fund, so they do not directly benefit affected consumers and businesses. The $5 to $10 goodwill rebates given out by Singtel and GOMO are not legally mandated, and these amounts may be small compared to the losses suffered by customers.
I understand that in some European countries, consumers actually do have a legal right to compensation in the event of service failures.
If the Ministry will not mandate compensation, what accessible recourse is available to consumers and small businesses to recover financial losses due to these network failures, given that legal action may be prohibitive? How will the Ministry ensure that financial penalties for service lapses are high enough to act as a genuine deterrent, rather than a cheaper alternative to investing in network reliability, especially at the higher end of the reliability range?
And next, given the recent history of state-sponsored cyberattacks on our telcos, did IMDA and the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) conduct their own independent and thorough cybersecurity investigations beyond Singtel's internal investigations to arrive at their own conclusions and if so, did they uncover anything new?
\tMrs Josephine Teo: Mr Speaker, the telco service providers have different commercial arrangements. In some instances, with bigger customers, they may indeed have built into their contracts conditions upon which compensation would be due. We are not privy to all the details of these arrangements. But I can say to the Member that they do exist. Some customers may already be seeking damages from the telco service providers when an incident of this nature happens.
He may be referring to individual consumers. And when he talks about some European jurisdictions, we are only aware of the United Kingdom and Germany having in place arrangements that he may be referring to. In these two countries, the regulators require compensation, but the scope is quite limited, such as for loss of service for broadband or landline only, which the incidents that took place in March for Singtel, would also not have qualified. [Please refer to \"Clarification by Minister for Digital Development and Information\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Correction By Written Statement section.]
Nonetheless, it is not a common requirement. We are prepared to look at the suggestion.
I would just add two points. One is that on their own volition, because of competitive reasons and the need to maintain customer goodwill, in this instance, Singtel has decided to pay a one-time rebate to their customers. I think a competitive market does have this effect on the service providers. They know not to assume that the customers cannot change providers. That is one feature of the way the market works that gives the consumers some assurance that the service providers need to be up to mark in terms of service resilience and reliability.
The other thing is that in response to the earlier question by Mr Melvin Yong, I had cited how the regulations have also helped to reduce the number of incidents as well as the average duration per incident. And we will continue to look at how regulations can be strengthened in support of such improvements.
Finally, to the question posed by the Member regarding state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat actors, whether IMDA does its own investigations. The short answer is that IMDA, together with CSA, will have to look very seriously into these issues. We have, on previous occasions, updated the public about findings that could be made known. Of course, the work continues.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":["1 : Question subsequently withdrawn: To ask the Minister for Digital Development and Information in light of recent Singtel network disruptions connectivity problems (a) whether the Ministry has any plan to introduce further measures to prevent such occurrences for all telecommunication providers, including regulations requiring telecommunication providers to compensate affected users; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider imposing market share limits to avoid over-reliance on any one telecommunication provider.","2 : Question subsequently withdrawn: To ask the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what are the root causes of Singtel’s mobile service outage on 16 March 2026; (b) whether the Ministry will mandate a systemic review of the telco’s infrastructure; and (c) whether the Government will implement a mandatory compensation framework for local businesses and point-of-sale operators that suffer direct financial losses due to such service lapses.","3 : Question subsequently withdrawn: To ask the Minister for Digital Development and Information in light of the recent Singtel outages (a) whether the Ministry will require telcos to provide interim remedies such as the tapping on shared infrastructure with other telcos to minimise disruptions to consumers and businesses; and (b) whether the Ministry will require the publication of investigation reports by such telcos for transparency and to evaluate lessons learnt from such incidents."],"footNoteQuestions":["71","72","73","74"],"questionNo":"71-74"},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Reviewing Requirement for Advance Medical Directives to be Signed in Doctor's Presence","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"75 Ms Kuah Boon Theng asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) how many Advance Medical Directives (AMDs) have been registered to date; and (b) to make it easier to sign an AMD, whether the Ministry will consider removing the requirement that AMDs must always be signed before a doctor, even when there are no concerns that the individual may lack mental capacity.
76 Ms Kuah Boon Theng asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health whether the Ministry will reassess the need to continue prohibiting doctors from asking their patients if they have an AMD, especially as the Registrar of AMDs is contactable during office or clinic hours, and doctors may otherwise experience difficulties ascertaining their patient's AMD status if the certification of terminal illness occurs after the Registrar's regular office hours.
\tThe Minister of State for Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (for the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to answer Question Nos 75 and 76 together?
Mr Speaker: Please go ahead.
\tMs Rahayu Mahzam: Thank you. As of February 2026, more than 84,500 individuals have signed the Advance Medical Directive (AMD). The decision to make an AMD must be taken seriously as it is a legal document stating that an individual does not want to use any life-sustaining treatment to prolong his life in the event that he is terminally ill, unconscious or requires life-sustaining treatment. Hence, safeguards are in place to protect the interests of individuals. For example, a witnessing doctor ensures that the individual understands the medical implications of making an AMD, is not being coerced and is of sound mind.
Strict confidentiality of AMDs are maintained to ensure that the knowledge of an AMD does not inappropriately influence treatment decisions before a patient is certified terminally ill. We have established operational processes to ensure that AMD search requests made by doctors receive prompt attention, including after regular office hours.
Mr Speaker: Ms Kuah.
\tMs Kuah Boon Theng (Nominated Member): I thank the Minister of State for the information she has provided. By way of supplementary question, I would like to ask if the Minister of State will agree that, in general, the take-up rate for AMDs has been quite slow compared to Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs). I am glad to see that the numbers have now been boosted to 84,000, but I know it is had a very, very long roll-out, bearing in mind that this legislation is now 30 years old.
I accept that what the Minister of State has said, that it is good for those who want to sign an AMD to get advice from their doctors on the implications. But I will make the argument that lawyers, too, are able to give the same advice, of course, provided that the individual has mental capacity and there is no issue of their lack of understanding.
The advantage of being able to remove this requirement that one of the witnesses must be a doctor will mean that those who are interested to make end-of-life decision-making will have a one-stop shop, they will be able to see the lawyers, and have both their LPAs and their AMDs signed at the same time and have access to the advice to make informed decisions.
So, I hope this is something that the Ministry is open to doing – to remove the requirement that one of the witnesses must be a doctor, so long as there is no issue of lack of mental capacity.
And I believe that for Question No 76, which I have raised, it is about the fact that doctors are not allowed to ask their patient, \"Have you signed the AMD?\". I hope to receive the Minister of State's reply to that.
\tMs Rahayu Mahzam: I thank the Member for the questions. In relation to the first matter, as I have explained, and I think the Member is fully aware, the reason we require that a doctor be present for the purposes of this is, because there are clinical implications, there are clinical treatments that may require some explanation from the medical perspective, as well as the fact that you need to also ensure the soundness of mind of the individual.
I note the points raised, and actually, we are reviewing the whole AMD process to increase uptake and awareness on this; and also to streamline the processes to make it a lot simpler and accessible to the public.
On the second point, actually, I did mention it. It is really a function of confidentiality. It is an important safeguard. You would appreciate the seriousness of the implications of an AMD. Firstly, because with an AMD, you want to make sure that it is only triggered at the point where the patient is certified to be terminally ill. We want to ensure that this does not get raised inappropriately. This is governed by the AMD Act and within the Act, there are exceptions, safeguards that say that the doctor can talk about this as a concept, to describe and explain the process, with a view to protect against the inappropriate use of this matter.
Also, in our assessment, in terms of how the protocols are put in place, we are very conscious that this is a very time-sensitive process in a directive. And from our records, it does appear that it has been properly exercised. But if there is any further feedback in specific circumstances, feel free to raise it to us and we can look at how we can continue to improve the process as we are reviewing this.
Mr Speaker: Ms Kuah.
\tMs Kuah Boon Theng: I thank the Minister of State. I just want to assure you that I fully agree that there is a time and place to ask that question, whether an AMD has been executed and it should not be done at insensitive junctures where the circumstances have not arisen for an AMD to be relied upon.
But to the question of confidentiality, I do think that when you are in a position to ask the patient himself or herself, there should not be a concern that there is an issue of confidentiality, because you are asking that information from the patient. But currently, the doctors are not even allowed to do that.
And in my question, the scenario I painted is that, very often, those conditions where an AMD may be triggered often arrives in very inconvenient moments, like in the middle of the night. And the feedback I have obtained from doctors is that they literally have to wait because they are not allowed to ask the patient, they are not allowed to ask family members who have that information, and they have to wait until they have the opportunity to call the Registrar to obtain the information.
So, I hope there would be some interest in trying to remove that requirement, but of course, re-affirm that it must still be information that is sought at the appropriate time and place.
\tMs Rahayu Mahzam: I will just reiterate the point I mentioned earlier. From our assessment, there have been very prompt responses, even outside office hours, in terms of following through with a request for the search. So, in terms of the process, it is something that we have been monitoring and it is something that is done very promptly. So, it is not something that causes any inordinate delay. But like I said, if there are some specific circumstances, please let us know.
I would also highlight that in discussions with patient, when the patient is still very conscious and lucid, clearly nothing stops the doctor from having conversations. And in fact, as I highlighted, the exception in section 15(2), I believe, of the AMD Act allows for the doctor to have a conversation about AMD broadly, to explain the concept, to explain the directive.
So, this is something that I think does not stop the doctor from having that robust discussion, especially as they also discuss things, like Advanced Care Planning and LPA. They can, indeed, talk about the concept, so that the patient is aware of it and may want to choose it. But I think there are some concerns about it.
I note the point, however, and this is feedback that I will take back to my colleagues to see if there are some other areas for which we can sharpen this further.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Reasons for Low Uptake by Couples for Genetic Screening","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"77 Dr Choo Pei Ling asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health in view of the target of 40,000 married couples between 2024 and 2027 against 674 screened at end 2025 under the regarding the PaREnthood genetic DIsease Carrier Test (PREDICT) Programme (a) what are the reasons for the low screening rate; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider including couples planning to get married, like those already on the HDB Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme.
\tThe Minister for Health (Mr Ong Ye Kung): The Parenthood Genetic Disease Carrier Test (PREDICT) programme is a pilot project to enhance prenatal screening of carriers of recessive genetic disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy and Pompe disease. While it is offered to almost all couples that KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) is attending to, fewer than 1,300 couples showed interest and wish to participate in the pilot programme.
These couples were then invited to undergo genetic counselling so that they understand how to interpret the results and potential implications. Many couples did not complete the mandatory genetic counselling or decide not to proceed after the genetic counselling. So, today, about 800 couples have gone through the tests. The earlier target set was obviously too ambitious, and we will review both the target and the pilot with KKH and Temasek Foundation, which is funding the programme.
Mr Speaker: Dr Choo.
\tDr Choo Pei Ling (Chua Chu Kang): Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Minister for the reply. I have three supplementary questions.
The first one, beyond awareness, what does the Ministry see as the key reasons why couples are not taking up PREDICT?
Second, whether the Ministry has considered if earlier touchpoints, such as at the point of the Registry of Marriage or Registry of Muslim Marriages applications may be more effective in reaching couples? And if not, whether this is something the Ministry would consider?
Third, whether the Ministry has considered what role incentives could play in improving uptake?
\tMr Ong Ye Kung: Okay, the key reasons for not taking up. Because this is a preconception test, KKH does not really come into contact with preconception couples. They come into contact with pregnant couples. So, therefore, the only contact points they have are the fertility clinics and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics. The couples there, I believe, just want to get pregnant. So, if you tell them about genetic tests and possible illnesses their child may have, I think they are probably not in the frame of mind to process the information. And for many of them, I would think, love children and they will say, \"Regardless of the situation, I am going to love the kid\", and good for them.
The second reason, I strongly suspect – we have not done any study about the reasons – is actually insurance. That if you are tested positive for a genetic condition, couples will ask, \"Then what happens to my insurance?\"
And thirdly, I think PREDICT covers just too many diseases, 80 diseases. May be more than 80. And for about 100 genetic conditions. It is just too much for couples to digest.
This programme was designed between the Temasek Foundation, the sponsor, and KKH. As the Member may know, I take a particular interest in genomics because I think it has the potential to transform and improve our healthcare system. This Parliamentary Question has piqued my interest. I think the Ministry of Health (MOH) will want to dive into this PREDICT programme. I think it has the potential.
Members might be aware of some of the protocols that we have set up – one for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), and recently, for BReast CAncer genes (BRCA) 1 and 2 – and there are certain principles that we adopt when we implement genomics in healthcare.
Number one, you have to address the issue of insurance – and Members might know, we are in the process of drafting a new Act that will come to this Chamber to approve – so that genetic data cannot be used for insurance underwriting. And that will provide the assurance to many couples.
Number two, we think it is more likely to be successful if you take a disease-specific approach, like FH or breast cancer, that is clearly linked to certain genetic conditions, and if tested positive, we know what the treatment pathway is, what the implications are, and the doctor can advise the patient what exactly to do or not to do. But to lump 80 diseases into one test, I think, it may be too much.
So, MOH will take an interest in this. We will study how to implement this better because I think there is great potential for us to improve this.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Schools Tackling Impact of Posting Group Banding to Promote Inclusivity and Friendships","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"The following question stood in the name of Ms Gho Sze Kee –
78 To ask the Minister for Education whether schools are resourced and equipped to (i) deal with any possible negative impact of posting group (PG) banding and (ii) promote inclusivity, interaction and friendships across different PGs in the same class.
\tMr David Hoe (Jurong East-Bukit Batok): Question No 78, please.
\tThe Minister of State for Education (Ms Jasmin Lau) (for the Minister for Education): Posting Groups (PGs) are used to facilitate students' entry into secondary schools and guide students to take subjects at appropriate levels at the start of Secondary 1. Students admitted through different PGs may take subjects at similar levels, depending on their individual strengths.
Under our Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB), our secondary school students are placed in mixed form classes, where they spend around a third of their curriculum time taking common subjects, such as Art and Character Citizenship Education with peers from different subject levels and combinations. This approach gives students more opportunities than under the previous streaming system to interact with and to learn with classmates with different strengths and interests.
Outside the formal curriculum, there are other group settings, such as co-curricular activities (CCAs) and Values-in-Action projects, for our students to interact with peers within and across schools.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is mindful of potential challenges that some students may face, including with social interactions in a more diverse classroom setting. And this is why we provide teachers with resources and professional development opportunities to support students in Full SBB schools. For example, our teachers use termly check-in surveys to understand their students' interests, emotional well-being and peer support networks, which in turn, help them to foster a positive classroom culture.
Mr Speaker: Mr Hoe.
\tMr David Hoe (Jurong East-Bukit Batok): Thank you, Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for her response. I have two supplementary questions.
\t
First, whether there are any specific guidance or professional developments to teachers managing a mixed PG classroom. Specifically, I ask this because prior to mixed PG classroom, teachers would teach a class with similar profile, specifically in subjects like Character and Citizenship Education and Design and Technology. Given a mixed PG classroom now, teachers then would have to engage in a classroom with wider student profiles.
Second, if there is professional development or guidance given, what is the current take-up rate and training that teachers have gone through and have we gotten any feedback from teachers about the usefulness of such training in helping them to manage a mixed PG classroom with students of different learning profiles?
\tMs Jasmin Lau: I thank the Member for his question. I will try and answer both questions in just one answer.
One of the concerns for mixed form classes is the emotional well-being and support systems for all of our students, because they come from different backgrounds and may have different life experiences. So, a lot of our focus in terms of supporting our teachers is in providing them with tools and strategies to understand and monitor our students' emotional well-being. As I mentioned, the termly check-ins do focus on their emotional well-being and peer support systems, and we also provide teachers with tools to help map out their students' peer support networks.
Every student, every child and therefore every mixed form class will be unique. We are also observing how many of our teachers are coming up and developing their own approaches in managing more of these mixed form classes. MOE will help to share these best practices across the teaching profession, so that across the board, our teachers are more equipped in future to deal with and manage mixed form classes, regardless of how every mixed form class looks like in future.\t
\t
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Community Support for Individuals and Society to Understand Global Conflicts","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"79 Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked the Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) what are some community support mechanisms available to help individuals process the impact of international conflicts; and (b) how are global conflicts abroad being unpacked domestically to maintain social harmony and cohesion in Singapore.
\tThe Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Mr Speaker, Singapore is a diverse society, and we understand that some Singaporeans relate strongly to events abroad, including international conflicts. Our approach has been to foster better understanding of these developments and to explain the implications for Singapore and Singaporeans. The Government strives to make such information available in a timely manner, including through Statements to this House.
It is also important to provide space for civil dialogue on these issues and to allow Singaporeans to contribute in constructive ways. This can deepen mutual understanding between communities and promote social cohesion. Our Racial and Religious Harmony Circles organise inter-ethnic and interfaith initiatives to build trust across communities, such as the Peace and Harmony Dialogue in October 2024 that discussed the Gaza situation; and more recently, a youth seminar in January 2026 that sought to empower youths to act against extremism in the digital age. The Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF), established by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura or MUIS), provides channels for all Singaporeans to help. In 2024, our Harmony Circles organised the Harmony-in-Action fundraising campaign supporting RLAF's Gaza efforts, raising half a million dollars.
For those in our Muslim community who need a listening ear or someone to discuss these issues with, they can approach our asatizah, who are trained to provide counselling and appropriate guidance. One example is Asatizah Solace Care, a service initiated by the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS), which provides a free, safe and confidential platform for individuals and families seeking emotional and spiritual support to talk about any concerns.
Mr Speaker: Ms Hazlina.
\tMs Hazlina Abdul Halim (East Coast): Thank you, Speaker. I also thank the Acting Minister. I have two supplementary questions, one in English.
Thank you for acknowledging the need for space and to unpack complex situations. We all process things differently. One clarification to ask is, is this service that the Acting Minister has mentioned also available to communities beyond the Malay/Muslim community, given that it cuts across different groups?
And in Malay, please, Speaker.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker and Acting Minister, the whole of Singapore remains concerned, as mentioned, with many feeling confused, worried and also troubled by this multi-faceted Middle East conflict.
My first question – what are the Government's observations on the impact of this Middle East conflict so far, particularly on our Malay and Muslim communities, whether emotionally, spiritually or mentally?
Secondly, besides the plans that have already been shared as well as the platforms mentioned earlier, what are the further plans perhaps to collaborate with bodies such as Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMOs) and Indian Muslim Organisations (IMOs), as well as the support given to them to jointly address the effects of this situation?
\tAssoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. Yes, indeed, the Asatizah Solace Care is open to all. In fact, they have been very supportive all these years and I am thankful to all the asatizah for playing this role. This is where we see our asatizah go down to the ground. They really roll up their sleeves and also try to share perspectives from what they know and how we can journey through together. And I am happy to share that they are very well aware and really plugged into the context of Singapore, as well as having a deep understanding of Islamic principles and what we ought to do in our lives as Muslims.
And also, with this in mind, they are also connected to the multiracial setting. Many of them are in settings like the Harmony Circles or even in some of the aspects of how we build our community together. So, anyone can approach them. If any fellow Singaporeans or any community leaders need their support, we welcome you to seek some guidance and opinion from the asatizah in the Asatizah Solace Care.
With regard to the second supplementary question, let me answer in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We do not see every issue in isolation, but we look at them holistically in terms of how we can continue our country's development. We understand that this conflict can bring about a profound impact. There are conflicts that do not affect us as severely and there are others that are more complex for us to handle as a society. So, we do not take lightly the impact of any conflict on our country, our people, including the minority groups, even though they may not experience the impact or receive more detailed insights in this aspect.
How can we provide support to those who are affected as well as community organisations, including IMOs, MMOs and also our asatizah or religious teachers?
As I mentioned, we have a multi-level approach. Firstly, in Parliament, if we look at it, we have already discussed these issues in Parliament. We also have approaches like conducting dialogues at various levels. Some are conducted in safe spaces and others are organised with community organisations and their members. If the issue is more complex and requires a more customised approach, we will also design it as such, where we see each issue as important and how we as a society can address it.
But I am also heartened to see the maturity in the thinking and the stance of Singaporeans. They prioritise national interest when dealing with these issues. We may have different positions and opinions, but when we discuss issues of national interest, many in our community agree that we should put our national interest first.
So, when we look at the support provided – for example, to our asatizah – we provide them with training through continuing education and training, which is CET. Under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme, they undergo programmes to improve and prepare themselves in engaging our community. This includes how they can provide emotional and spiritual support to the community, including issues related to the current conflict. We also have engagements through PERGAS and MUIS, where our religious teachers share their views and experiences, and how we can relate these to our national interest, as well as life as a Muslim in our country.
At the grassroots level, we also have Harmony Circles, where our religious teachers and other community or religious organisations come together to discuss relevant issues, including the ongoing conflict, and think about how we can prioritise harmony and our life as a cohesive society.
Therefore, this is the journey that we have charted over past decades until today. We will continue to improve it and develop relevant networks and approaches, because we can see that the world today has changed and we need support from all our people to develop our country, so that we can continue our efforts to build a cohesive and harmonious nation.
\t
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Take-up Rate of Enhanced Shared Parental Leave","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"80 Mr Ng Shi Xuan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether an update can be provided on the take-up rate of the new Shared Parental Leave since 1 April 2025.
\tThe Minister of State for Social and Family Development (Mr Goh Pei Ming) (for the Minister for Social and Family Development): The take-up rate for the new Shared Parental Leave scheme is not yet available. The Shared Parental Leave scheme was introduced on 1 April 2025. Following their Maternity or Paternity Leave, parents have up to a year after their child's birth to utilise their Shared Parental Leave. Thereafter, their employers have an additional three months to submit their claims to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). MSF will be able to provide an update on the Shared Parental Leave take-up rate for the 2025 birth cohort in mid-2027.
\tMr Speaker: Mr Ng.
\tMr Ng Shi Xuan (Sembawang): I thank the Minister of State for his reply. But is there any inkling on what is the take-up rate among new fathers? And at the same time, are there any considerations that the Government can put in to encourage or to support new fathers in applying for Shared Parental Leave?
\t
Mr Goh Pei Ming: Speaker, I thank the Member for his questions. As I said in my main reply, we do not really have the data in terms of the claims yet. It is still early days. In fact, on 1 April this year, we have just introduced the 10-week Shared Parental Leave. So, we do not really have the data to be able to speak definitively on that yet.
But having said so, I think the key message that we want to send through the Shared Parental Leave is that parenthood is a shared journey. It is a shared responsibility between both the father and the mother. More importantly, we do want to encourage fathers to take a more active role, in terms of taking care of not just the children in the first year, but beyond that, throughout our children's growth stage.
I think that is something that is very important. MSF continuously works with our partners, including partners such as the Centre for Fathering, to develop programmes and do public outreach to encourage our fathers to do more in terms of playing an active role in our children's development.
I also want to take the opportunity to say that beyond the Shared Parental Leave scheme, to encourage our fathers to do more, we do need to look beyond, perhaps at a societal reset in terms of how our workplace norms need to change, to balance more of family needs. I think these are some of the objectives that the work group chaired by Minister Indranee looking at marriage and parenthood will be looking at.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Medical Consultations due to Haze-induced Symptoms","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"81 Ms Hany Soh asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health whether the Ministry has observed an increase in medical consultations due to haze-induced symptoms from year to date.
\tThe Minister of State for Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (for the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, for this year, to date, there has been no significant increase in attendances for haze-relevant conditions at the public hospital Emergency Departments and polyclinics.
\tMr Speaker: Ms Soh.
\tMs Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee): I thank the Minister of State for her response. I understand from a few seniors whom I have interacted with in Woodgrove recently that a number of their peers were unable to join them for their regular outdoor qigong and brisk walking activities due to respiratory-related health conditions lately. In this regard, I wish to ask, has the Ministry noticed that seniors have been particularly more prone to exacerbations of respiratory conditions during the haze period lately, given their higher vulnerability to air pollutants?
Also, how can initiatives, such as the Community Health Posts, which are intended to bring healthcare closer to residents, especially our seniors, be further enhanced to better support them during the haze periods? Some examples which I wish to recommend are through proactive respiratory health monitoring, targeted education on haze precautions, expanded onsite support services or integrating with telehealth and frailty screenings at the Community Health Posts.
\t
\tMs Rahayu Mahzam: Indeed, for haze and a lot of the other conditions, there may be different vulnerable groups. It may be because of their age; it may be because of their existing medical conditions. We do try and keep an eye out for some of these things and see if there is a need to give special attention or some support.
I thank the Member for raising the Community Health Posts. The Community Health Posts have been put in place for a broader approach to healthcare, especially for seniors, so that they can have immediate access within the community at the Active Ageing Centres, for example. It is an \"always on\" sort of setting. We are intending to make sure that there are regular engagements, and this includes services, such as telemedicine, as well as the delivery of medical services and also perhaps medication. Indeed, in situations where there are more immediate or sudden crises or events, they will definitely be meaningful platforms to be additional touchpoints for seniors.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Safeguards to Ensure Citizen Data Is Not Disclosed to or Processed by Foreign-headquartered Vendors","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"82 Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) whether the whole-of-Government data architecture permits proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) or data analytics platforms from foreign-headquartered vendors to process citizen data; and (b) if so, what legal and technical safeguards ensure that such data cannot be compelled for disclosure by a foreign government under that government's domestic laws.
\tThe Minister of State for Digital Development and Information (Ms Jasmin Lau) (for the Minister for Digital Development and Information): Mr Speaker, the Government uses best-in-class technology solutions, including those from international vendors, to deliver effective digital services for citizens and to support our public officers' work.
We have established comprehensive safeguards to protect citizen data when working with any vendor. Our risk-based approach ensures that data access is granted strictly on a \"needs-basis\" following the principle of least privilege. Vendors are expected to implement robust technical safeguards such as non-retention of data, encryption as well as access and identity management. Data residency may also be required, depending on the sensitivity of the data. This is coupled with proper governance frameworks and contractual agreements on how the data can be accessed, used, stored and retained.
These help to prevent vendors from accessing, using or disclosing government data where they are not permitted to do so, including in response to demands from foreign governments.
Our approach combines global expertise, technical safeguards, legal protections and ongoing oversight to ensure that citizen data remains secure. We continuously monitor vendor compliance, conduct regular security assessments and update our frameworks to address emerging risks and maintain public trust.
\tMr Speaker: Mr Low.
\tMr Low Wu Yang Andre (Non-Constituency Member): I thank the Minister of State for the response. I would like to share that the primary reason for me to ask this Parliamentary Question was driven by concerns I have over a specific vendor, which is Palantir Technologies, which, over the last five years or so, has become the preeminent supplier to governments around the globe of artificial intelligence, data and security solutions.
I am not sure if the Minister of State is at the liberty to disclose if we do have any ongoing contracts with Palantir, but I think even if the answer is no, the broader concern remains that overseas legislation like the United States' Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act compels these US-based companies to disclose data in their legal system from foreign countries. Even with data residency in mind, the Act still compels them to disclose this data.
What assurances can the Minister of State give that we will not be subject to such compulsions?
\t
\tMs Jasmin Lau: I thank the Member for the question. I understand that the Member may have filed a separate Parliamentary Question on Palantir for the Ministry of Finance (MOF), which I will leave for MOF to answer.
I would like to add that he is right. Legal and contractual agreements aside, the reality is that no matter what legal provisions the contracts may contain, some jurisdictions like, as he mentioned, the US, may have legislation or regulations, including with extraterritorial reach, that empower government agencies to require companies or entities within their jurisdictions to provide certain information. This could include Singapore Government data.
Such legislation or regulations can override contractual obligations. This is why the Government's approach is to rely not solely on contractual provisions, but also on other risk mitigation measures, which I have mentioned, such as technical controls and safeguards as well as governance frameworks, which limit what use cases and categories of information may be used with non-government provided tools and platforms.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Gross Monthly Income Data of Full-time PMETs in Different Percentiles","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"83 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Manpower what is the current 10th, 20th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 80th percentile of the gross monthly income from work (excluding employer CPF) of full-time employed Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs), excluding Associate Professionals & Technicians (APTs).
\tThe Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Manpower (Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong) (for the Minister for Manpower): In 2025, the gross monthly income from employment, excluding employer Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions, of full-time employed resident professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) was about $4,500 at the 10th percentile, $5,400 at the 20th percentile and $6,000 at the 25th percentile. The median income was $8,400. At the higher end, incomes were about $12,100 at the 75th percentile and $13,900 at the 80th percentile.
\tMr Speaker: Mr Tay.
\tMr Patrick Tay Teck Guan (Pioneer): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the response. I have just one supplementary question for the Ministry of Manpower that in the light of these wage levels of our PMEs, in the course of reviewing some of our existing employment labour laws as well as regulations to factor this in, so that such PMEs are adequately represented, protected and covered.\t
\tMr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong: I thank the Member for the question. The short answer is yes, we constantly monitor the wage levels, including our operating environment and make sure that our laws and regulations are fit for purpose and relevant.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Impact of Industrial Activities and Developments in Loyang and Changi North Industrial Estates on Nearby Residents","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"84 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government is coordinating planning efforts across industrial activities and development in the Loyang and Changi North Industrial estates and the Changi aviation sector in order to minimise congestion and disamenities to nearby residents and impact on the environment; and (b) if so, what is the scope and timeline of such coordination efforts.
\tThe Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Gan Siow Huang) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, the Government coordinates planning efforts across all land uses to minimise disamenities and environmental impact to the area. For example, JTC works with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to carry out Transport Impact Assessments for major industrial developments to support transport demand from companies, their workers and nearby residents.
JTC has no plans to develop new industrial estates in Loyang and Changi North in the near term.
The Member may refer to the Ministry of Transport's reply to oral Question No 35 at the 3 March 2026 Sitting, which outlines the Government's efforts to mitigate the impact of congestion in the area. [Please refer to \"Efforts to Alleviate Traffic Congestion During Peak Hours along Loyang Avenue and Adjacent Roads\", Official Report, 3 March 2026, Vol 96, Issue 23, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]
\tMr Speaker: Ms Lee.
\tMs Valerie Lee (Pasir Ris-Changi): Thank you, Speaker and the Minister of State. First, I would like to thank LTA for partnering closely with me as I represent concerns and frustrations of residents in Pasir Ris and Changi, particularly on the ground where the impact of increased industrial and aviation activities is most keenly felt.
I have one supplementary question. In terms of future planning, not just for the Loyang and Changi North industrial estates, will the Government review, and strengthen buffer zones and land and road use strategies to ensure that further industrial expansion does not come at the expense of residents' liveability?
\t
\tMs Gan Siow Huang: I wish to give assurance to the Member that the Government, whether it is JTC, LTA or other organisations and entities that develop different parts of Singapore for industrial, residential and commercial purposes, will always look holistically at the impact not just on businesses and industrial land users, but also the residents around.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Concern Over Surge in Million-dollar HDB Resale Flat Transactions","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OA","content":"85 Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Ministry is concerned that million-dollar HDB resale flat transactions have surged by 54.7% to 1,594 units in 2025, even as overall price growth moderated to 2.9%; and (b) what measures is the Government considering to moderate such transactions and to safeguard public confidence in public housing affordability.
\tThe Minister for National Development (Mr Chee Hong Tat): Mr Speaker, resale flat prices are set by the open market at prices agreed between buyers and sellers, depending on the flat's location and attributes.
In 2025, about 6% of resale flats transacted above $1 million.
The resale market continues to provide a wide range of flats at different price points, catering to different budgets and needs. In 2025, there were 4-room resale flats with leases of 70 years or longer in Tampines and Punggol going for around $650,000 to $700,000. In Sembawang and Yishun, such flats were available below $600,000. In Jurong West and Woodlands, there were options below $550,000. For eligible first-time resale buyers, HDB provides housing grants of up to $230,000, further reducing the amounts they need to pay.
Sir, based on the flash estimate for the first quarter of 2026, resale prices declined slightly by 0.1%. We expect the resale market to continue to moderate due to a robust supply of new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, including Shorter Waiting Time flats, and a larger number of flats finishing their minimum occupation period (MOP) and entering the resale market from this year 2026, and we will see further increases in 2027 and 2028.
\tMr Speaker: Mr Muhaimin Abdul Malik.
\tMr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik (Sengkang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for the reply. I have two supplementary questions.
First, with over 13,500 flats reaching MOP in 2026 located in mature estates, is the Ministry concerned that this could paradoxically increase the number of million-dollar transactions rather than moderate prices, given that these newer flats in desirable locations are precisely the type commanding such prices?
Second, several Members of Parliament have spoken about the income ceiling for BTO eligibility, which has remained at $14,000 since 2019. Could the Minister share whether the ongoing review on income ceiling is also examining whether households that exceed the ceiling are being pushed into the resale market and contributing to price inflation there?
\t
\t
\tMr Chee Hong Tat: Mr Speaker, if we look at the resale flats that have reached MOP and are entering the market for this year and also in 2027 and 2028, there is a spread. Not all the flats are in mature estates. Some are in different parts of Singapore. Some are nearer to MRT stations. Some are further away. So, I think there is a good spread of different flats with different locations, different attributes that buyers can look for, depending on their needs and their budgets. So, that was my point made earlier. We provide a range of options that cater to different groups of buyers.
Sir, the second question, I think we have discussed this during the recent Committee of Supply, and I have responded to cuts from Members that we are reviewing the income eligibility criteria, not just for BTO flats but also for executive condominiums.
Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time. Introduction of Government Bills. Minister for Manpower.
[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Central Provident Fund (Amendment) Bill","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"BI","content":"[(proc text) \"to amend the Central Provident Fund Act 1953\", (proc text)]
[(proc text) presented by the Minister of State for Manpower (Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash) on behalf of the Minister for Manpower; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)]
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Securities and Futures (Amendment) Bill","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"BI","content":"[(proc text) \"to amend the Securities and Futures Act 2001\", (proc text)]
[(proc text) presented by the Minister for National Development (Mr Chee Hong Tat) on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)]
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[(proc text) recommendation of President signified; presented by the Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)]
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The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Gan Kim Yong): Mr Speaker, Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam, Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow and I will deliver a Ministerial Statement each on the impact of the Middle East situation on Singapore.
Our Ministerial Statements will address Parliamentary Question Nos 1 to 62 in today's Order Paper, as well as written Parliamentary Question Nos 1 to 12, and related Parliamentary Questions (PQs) filed for subsequent Sittings. May I have your permission to take clarification at the end of the three Statements? And as this is a whole-of-Government approach, may I also seek your permission to allow relevant political officeholders to respond to clarifications pertaining to their respective areas of responsibilities?
Mr Speaker: Yes, you may proceed.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Sir, the conflict between the United States (US)/ Israel and Iran has entered its sixth week and spread across the wider Middle East. Within days of the conflict, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. It has also attacked close to 20 vessels. Last month, only about six vessels on average passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day, compared to around 135 in normal times. President Trump has said recently that the US has almost accomplished its goals in Iran, but it is still not clear when the conflict will end and when the Strait will be reopened.
In the near term, the closure of the Strait has caused a global shortage of energy supplies, including crude oil and gas.
Before the conflict, one quarter of the world's supply of seaborne oil and one-fifth of its gas transited through the Strait. More than 80% of these flows were bound for Asia. Such a severe choking off of supply is unprecedented. It is the worst disruption since the 1973 oil embargo.
The fuel shortages have caused a surge in global energy prices. Since the onset of the conflict, Brent crude oil prices have doubled from US$71 per barrel just before the conflict, to a peak of US$141. Similarly, spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices have also doubled, from US$11 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu) to as high as US$22/MMBtu.
The disruption extends to other key products too, particularly those that use oil and natural gas as feedstock or starting materials. One example is fertilisers.
Most fertilisers are made using natural gas – and the Middle East is a key global producer of fertilisers, second only to Russia. Nearly a third of the world's fertiliser trade is shipped through the Strait. The supply disruption has led to soaring fertiliser costs. If farmers reduce or stop fertiliser use, crop yields will fall, raising global food prices.
Other industries are also affected. This includes aluminium, which is used to manufacture cars, airplanes and many other products, as well as helium, which is needed for producing semiconductor chips and cooling magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
These disruptions are cascading through the global economy.
Higher fuel and raw material costs will raise business costs, some of which will pass through to consumers through higher prices. Higher energy prices have also increased transport and shipping costs. Airfreight rates between Asia and Europe have almost doubled since the conflict began. This will eventually push up costs of other items including food and grocery supplies.
Rising business costs and consumer prices will, in turn, dampen demand and slow down the global economy. Many Asian currencies have weakened against a stronger US dollar, compounding inflation and growth risks in these countries. All of these pressures could intensify further in the coming weeks.
As a small and highly open economy, Singapore will not be able to insulate ourselves completely from this crisis. We must respond with a coordinated, multi-agency effort to cushion the impact on our people and our economy.
This is why we have convened the Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee (HCMC), chaired by Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam and comprising several Ministers.
We will focus on the following areas. First, securing our supplies, such as LNG and diesel for power, as well as other essential fuel products like jet fuel and motor gasoline; strengthening our economic resilience, by helping businesses to preserve their productive capacity and capability, and facilitating their transformation where necessary; providing targeted help for those most affected by the crisis, including businesses in the energy and chemicals cluster, platform workers and low-income families; and helping workers with training and employment support, as well as providing households with broad-based help to address cost-of-living concerns. Minister Shanmugam will share more later on how we are organising ourselves to coordinate our national response.
Mr Speaker, Sir, what do these developments mean for our economy?
In February this year, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) upgraded Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2026 to 2.0% to 4.0%, on the back of the strong growth momentum seen in the fourth quarter of 2025, supported by robust artificial intelligence (AI)-related demand. Early data indicates that economic activity continued to be resilient in the first quarter of 2026. However, growth in the coming quarters is likely to be affected by the ongoing conflict.
While the conflict impacts many sectors, some sectors will feel it more than others.
In manufacturing, the most direct impact will be on industries that rely on natural gas, crude oil and crude oil derivatives as feedstock. Our refineries have adjusted by reducing their run rates and brought in shipments from sources outside of the Middle East. Downstream chemical firms will also be affected. Some firms, such as PCS have already declared force majeure due to upstream supply disruptions.
Beyond the energy and chemicals cluster, higher fuel and electricity prices will also affect a wider range of industries, including electronics, precision engineering and other energy-intensive clusters.
In services, outward-oriented sectors like air and sea transport, as well as tourism, will be affected by higher costs and weaker demand. On the other hand, domestically-oriented sectors, such as retail, food services and private land transport will face higher operating costs, including utilities and fuel.
Taken together, these sectoral impacts will weigh on economic activities in the coming quarters, although the extent remains uncertain as the conflict is still unfolding. MTI will continue to monitor developments closely and will update our GDP forecast in May.
Let me now move to the impact on Singaporeans. As we import nearly all our energy, the spike in global oil and natural gas prices will inevitably raise fuel and electricity costs for Singapore. About 95% of Singapore's electricity is generated from natural gas, whose price is mostly pegged to market prices.
The regulated electricity tariff, which most Singapore households pay, increased by 2.1% to about 27.27 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the second quarter of 2026. The increase is modest relative to the spike in fuel prices. But that is because the tariff is based on fuel prices from the first 10 weeks of the preceding quarter, from January to the middle of March. That means only a small portion of the recent surge in fuel prices has been captured in this tariff adjustment. Fuel makes up about half of the tariff, so higher fuel prices will flow through to electricity prices. We should therefore expect a much sharper increase in the next tariff adjustment, which will fully reflect the higher costs of fuel.
These cost increases will feed through to broader inflation in Singapore. We had earlier forecast Consumer Price Index (CPI)-All Items and Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS') Core Inflation to come in at 1.0% to 2.0% in 2026, after inflation broadly eased in 2025. However, the Middle East situation has driven up global energy and commodity prices, which will drive up global inflation. Consequently, we now expect Singapore's overall inflation for 2026 to be higher than earlier projected.
If the conflict is protracted, higher inflation in our source markets could also lead to further increases in import prices over time. These pressures will be felt by households in more expensive electricity, transport and daily necessities. Lower-income households will be more affected, as a larger share of their spending goes towards essentials. MAS will take these developments into account in its upcoming assessment of the inflation outlook, which it will release on 14 April 2026.
Mr Speaker, the crisis is unlikely to be over anytime soon, and we must be prepared for its effects to persist for some time. Even more worrying is the risk of escalation, including further damage to energy infrastructure, or a prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This could trigger a global energy crunch – slowing global growth and pushing up inflation worldwide.
This crisis has reminded us again of how interconnected and how fragile the global system is. We need to be prepared for more frequent inflation shocks and supply chain disruptions in a world of heightened geopolitical contestation.
We will strengthen our resilience by building up inventories and diversifying our sources of supply, but Singapore will always remain dependent on imports for our supplies. It is therefore critical that we continue to strengthen our partnerships with like-minded countries and uphold an open and rules-based trading system. As a trading nation, keeping faith with our partners and maintaining our credibility is crucial. We must foster the free flow of energy and goods as far as possible.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has spoken to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. They jointly affirmed our commitment to support the flow of essential goods, including petroleum oils, such as diesel, and LNG between our two countries. Prime Minister Wong has also spoken to New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to reaffirm our commitment to strengthen supply resilience and mitigate disruptions. Singapore and New Zealand concluded an Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies last October, which is a timely framework to ensure the continued flow of critical goods between our two countries.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers and Economic Ministers have discussed and underscored the importance of maintaining stable, open and reliable global energy supply chains, as well as the importance of minimising disruptions to the flow of essential supplies, including food. Singapore and 10 fellow members of the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership also issued a Joint Statement last week, reaffirming the importance of not imposing restrictive trade measures, including ex port restrictions, tariffs and non-tariff barriers, on essential goods.
Mr Speaker, may I now say a few words in Mandarin, please.
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, this crisis will not end in the short term, and Singapore must prepare early and not be complacent. As a small open economy, we cannot be completely unaffected. Rising external costs will ultimately impact businesses, households and prices.
We will strive to ensure stable energy and food supplies, strengthen economic resilience to cope with the crisis and provide necessary assistance to the most severely affected businesses, platform workers and low-income families. We will also provide training and employment support for workers and help families cope with cost-of-living concerns. Most importantly, whether businesses or individuals, all must respond calmly to changes.
The Government will strengthen inter-agency coordination to safeguard supplies, stabilise the economy and mitigate the impact. As we have done before, let us stay resilient and united, as we weather this crisis together.
(In English): Sir, the Government recognises that the impact of this crisis will be felt by households and businesses. We will do what is necessary to support them through this period. Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow will share more on our support measures.
At the same time, all of us – Government, businesses and households – will need to do our part.
Households can do our best to conserve electricity, use climate vouchers to purchase more energy efficient appliances and adopt simple measures, such as using fans instead of air-conditioning and taking public transport instead of driving. Businesses can also conserve energy by tapping on schemes, such as the Energy Efficiency Grant, and investing in more efficient equipment.
Periods of disruption, such as this, will test the resilience of countries and economies, but they also create impetus for firms to transform, diversify and deepen their capabilities.
We must press on with the recommendations of the Economic Strategy Review – including building global leadership in key growth sectors, such as advanced manufacturing and modern services, supporting firms to diversify and internationalise, and accelerating enterprise transformation through technology and innovation, so that our economy remains resilient and competitive in a more challenging global environment.
This also means making our energy and supply chains more resilient, deepening partnerships with like-minded countries and staying open and connected to the global economy. If we stay disciplined, deepen our trust in each other, preserve our capabilities and use this period to sharpen our competitive edge, Singapore will be well placed not only to weather this crisis, but to emerge from it stronger. [Applause.]
Mr Speaker: The Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister for Finance, and the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, will also be making related Ministerial Statements. I will allow Members to raise points of clarifications on all Statements after Minister Shanmugam's Statement.
Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister for Finance.
The Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance (Mr Jeffrey Siow): Mr Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister has set out how the Middle East conflict will affect Singapore's economy. I will now explain what the Government is doing to support our businesses, our workers and our households through this period.
On 12 February 2026, the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance presented our largest Budget on record, at $155 billion. We could not know about the conflict that would break out in Iran, but we could see many uncertainties ahead and therefore, the need to provide greater reassurance and support in this Budget.
Hence, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced substantial broad-based support measures, including a Corporate Income Tax rebate, Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers and the Cost-of-Living Special Payment. We provided more support for lower-wage workers and households, such as enhancements to the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme, and better support for lower-income families through ComLink+.
We also enhanced U-Save rebates, giving 1.5 times the regular amount – or up to $570 this financial year. The first tranche of U-Save rebates will be disbursed in April. This will help defray the increase in utility bills from April to June. A second tranche of U-Save rebates will be disbursed in July. This should help to defray the much sharper increase in utility bills from July to September that we expect with the spike in oil prices.
Sixteen days after the Budget, the US and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran. This current situation in the Middle East remains highly uncertain. We cannot predict how exactly events will unfold or when the conflict will end.
What we do know is that Singaporeans are already feeling some of the effects on the ground. In Singapore, petrol and diesel prices have already risen sharply in tandem with global oil prices and are likely to remain elevated for some time. And while the impact has not yet fully filtered through for items, such as electricity and food, we have to brace ourselves because we know, from experience, that this will come.
The Government is not waiting to act. We will supplement what was announced at the Budget with a further package of support measures. These provide targeted support to those who are the most heavily and directly affected. We will also provide broad-based support for businesses and households.
Let me go through each of these in turn.
First, support for the domestic transport sector. The sharp increase in fuel prices had an immediate effect on the earnings of platform workers, private hire car drivers and taxi drivers. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has worked with platform and taxi operators on fuel vouchers and fare adjustments, which have helped to cushion the impact. To provide further relief, the Government will disburse $200 in cash to active platform workers, private hire car drivers and taxi drivers from the end of the month.
For certain essential bus services, such as those for school students, seniors and persons with disabilities, the Government will provide temporary assistance to co-fund cost increases, to enable these services to continue operating without disruption. The respective Government agencies will provide more details.
Several Members have asked if the Government will consider reducing fuel or diesel subsidies across the board. [Please refer to clarification later in the debate.]
We do not think this is the right move. It is too blunt an approach and it could also be regressive. At the same time, we want to preserve the price signals for consumers to use energy more efficiently.
More fundamentally, as an open economy, we must allow fuel prices to reflect market realities. If prices are artificially suppressed, importers may choose to divert fuel to where prices are higher and over time, this can tighten supply and leave us worse off. Instead, our targeted approach provides direct support to those who are directly affected and this allows us to channel more help to those who need it most.
Second, let me talk about support for businesses.
Higher energy and logistics costs will continue to be felt by businesses across the economy for some time. Our small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in particular, are more vulnerable to sudden cost increases.
To help businesses manage cashflow, we will enhance the Corporate Income Tax rebate announced at Budget from 40% to 50% for the Year of Assessment 2026. We will also raise the minimum benefit that a company with at least one local employee will receive, from $1,500 to $2,000. The total benefits cap for each company will be raised from $30,000 to $40,000. We will disburse this enhancement quickly, as early as the end of this month.
Even as we roll out immediate relief, this challenging period is also a timely reminder for all our businesses to build longer-term resilience against high and sustained energy prices. We will support them to do so.
Businesses that invest in energy efficiency will reduce their exposure to volatile energy prices and lower their long-run operating costs. We currently have an Energy Efficiency Grant which applies to six designated sectors, for example, food services, retail, manufacturing and construction. Companies in these sectors can make use of the Grant to invest in new, energy-efficient equipment.
We will now expand the base tier of this grant to all sectors and extend this support for another year, to 31 March 2028, so that more companies can benefit.
Additionally, some companies in the Energy and Chemicals sector have been badly affected by feedstock supply disruptions. Our agencies are engaging these firms and assessing how best to provide targeted support to preserve critical capabilities for our economy.
Finally, as a responsible buyer, the Government is prepared to share the cost increases directly related to fuel costs, for critical Government projects where any delays or stoppages would clearly affect the public interest. This includes major Government infrastructure projects, such as the Cross Island Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line and new Housing and Development Board (HDB) Build-To-Order (BTO) projects. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will issue a circular with more details shortly.
Third, let me talk about support for households.
We are tracking the prices of food and other essential goods and services very closely. So far, rising fuel prices have not yet fully percolated into wider price increases across the economy. But given the uncertainty in the Middle East, it is still too early to update our projections of inflation in Singapore, or to quantify the full impact on households.
But we know the situation has amplified cost of living anxieties for Singaporeans. Therefore, to reassure Singaporeans that the cost increases in the impending months can be managed, we will bring forward the disbursement of the $500 CDC vouchers announced in Budget this year from January 2027 to June 2026.
We will also increase the Budget 2026 Cost-of-Living Special Payment by $200 for all eligible Singaporeans. This will bring the total quantum of the Special Payment to between $400 and $600 per person. About 2.4 million Singaporeans will receive this additional payment in cash, which will be disbursed in September. Mr Speaker, may I now say a few words in Mandarin, please.
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] With tensions in the Middle East and rising energy prices, we understand Singaporeans' concerns.
The Government announced several support measures today to provide timely help for our people. We will also strengthen assistance for those most directly affected. For example, taxi drivers and platform workers will receive a cash relief of $200 from the end of April.
The Government will also provide more help for businesses and households, including by bringing forward the disbursement of the $500 CDC Vouchers from January 2027 to June this year. The Cost-of-Living Special Payment assistance to be distributed in September will also be increased by $200.
We still do not know how long this crisis will last nor do we know how big the impact will be. But the Government will continue to closely monitor the situation and take additional measures when necessary to help Singaporeans.
The Government has always managed national resources prudently and responsibly, building up Reserves first. Therefore, when crises arise, the Government has the capability to help our people, ensuring no one is left behind.
Regardless of what kind of crisis we encounter, as long as everyone unites and works together, we will be able to overcome the difficulties.
(In English): Mr Speaker, the Government has put together a substantial first response to the energy crisis caused by the Middle East conflict. We do not know how long the conflict and its economic impact will last. But the Government is alive to the situation. We have drawer plans, and as events develop, we can put them into action and do more if the situation calls for it.
This package adds up to close to $1 billion in additional measures, on top of what has previously been committed in Budget 2026. It is much larger than our immediate response in 2022, after war broke out in Ukraine and caused a similar surge in oil and gas prices. To fund these measures, the Government will work within the amount approved in the Supply Act last month in the first instance, and seek Parliament's approval for the supplementary budget later on.
Mr Speaker, this is neither the first crisis we have weathered, nor will it be the last. What Singaporeans can count on is a Government that is well-prepared, builds sufficient buffers, anticipates problems and thus is ready and able to respond swiftly with solutions. We will always make sure that no Singaporean is left to bear his or her burden alone. [Applause.]
Mr Speaker: Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs.
The Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (Mr K Shanmugam): Thank you, Sir. Mr Speaker, as the Prime Minister said last Thursday, we stood up the HCMC, soon after hostilities started.
At the Civil Service level, there is the Homefront Crisis Executive Group (HCEG). The HCEG coordinates across Government agencies, to anticipate potential emergency scenarios, ensure the necessary contingency plans are prepared and respond to the impact of any homefront crisis or emergency. The HCEG reports to and receives directions from the HCMC.
The HCMC is a structure that was formalised after the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003. Its role was set out and explained in Parliament in 2004 by then-Minister for Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng. Structurally, and organisationally, from the time it was set up, the Minister for Home Affairs has been designated as the chair of the HCMC.
The Prime Minister asked that the HCMC be stood up some weeks ago to deal with the current crisis. Deputy Prime Minister Gan is the Advisor to this HCMC. The key Ministries and their Ministers all play an important role. We have also brought in newer officeholders to complement the team. They will bring additional perspectives as they deal with specific issues related to the ongoing situation.
With your permission, Mr Speaker, may I ask the Clerks to distribute an Annex, which shows the composition of this HCMC? Members may also access these materials through the MP@SGPARL App.
Mr Speaker: Please proceed. [A handout was distributed to hon Members. Please refer to Annex 1.]
Mr K Shanmugam: There are 13 members in this HCMC and their names are in the Annex.
Over the past month, both the HCMC and the HCEG have met several times. The HCMC has been looking at a broad range of issues, including energy and food resilience, including supply chain resilience; resilience for other essentials; security developments, both domestic and external; support measures for Singaporeans and public communications; and foreign affairs and our diplomatic relations.
In response to the heightened threat environment, from the security perspective, we have put in place additional measures. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has increased checks at our checkpoints upon the escalation of the conflict, and Police have also stepped up patrols at areas of concern.
We also activated contingency plans to repatriate Singaporeans in the Middle East affected by the conflict. Flights were organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). They were executed at short notice and required close coordination between the Ministries.
MFA began assessing evacuation routes upon the escalation of hostilities, given the possibility of prolonged airport or airspace closures in the region. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura or MUIS) have also been engaging Singaporean residents in the Middle East, as well as key partners, such as the Association of Muslim Travel Agents Singapore, for Umrah and Haj arrangements in the light of this conflict.
You have heard about the impact of the conflict from Deputy Prime Minister. I will highlight a few points.
More than half of our total crude oil imports comes from the Middle East. Prior to the crisis, about 9% of our natural gas would have been imported from Qatar, if it had carried on as per normal through the year. Many other critical supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, including helium and aluminium. We can no longer rely on such supplies in the same way.
I will speak in a little more detail about two key sectors: first, fuel and energy; and second, food supplies.
First, on fuel and energy security. Since the start of the conflict, several countries have announced export restrictions on fuel or implemented fuel rationing measures. We have not done so. So far, there has been no need to do so. Global energy majors and trading companies have a sizeable presence in Singapore. We are the world's third largest oil trading hub and the sixth largest refinery export hub. These capabilities were built up over decades. It is the result of a deliberate long-term strategy.
Today, they underpin our energy and fuel resilience. Because of this, we are deeply connected to global flows of energy. That gives us access to diverse sources of energy and fuel supplies. So, we are able to respond to disruptions more flexibly.
We continue, so far, to have access to crude oil. And we have been meeting our domestic needs and international obligations for fuels. However, we do not know how long the disruptions will last. As Minister Tan See Leng said a fortnight ago, we need to brace ourselves for a bumpy ride ahead. No one can say what the situation will look like, or will be like if there are more serious disruptions and if they last longer.
We have secured crude oil supplies from alternative sources. But we have to pay prevailing prices, which are much higher.
Brent crude has surged as high as 70% since the increase in hostilities on 28 February. Singaporeans are feeling the impact in higher prices as fuel and energy costs rise.
Prices are likely to remain high even after hostilities cease. Damage to infrastructure in the Middle East will take time to repair. We have already seen damage to large oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other places. Even if the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens tomorrow, global oil and gas export capacity will not return to pre-conflict levels quickly.
In the broader term, we are concerned about broader disruptions to global supply chains which can affect goods critical to Singapore's economy and essential services. MTI is monitoring the situation closely and working with the industries.
As for electricity, we have taken steps to reduce risks to disruption of our supplies, to meet our electricity needs. And there are four aspects to this.
First, our sources are diversified. Apart from the Middle East, we also import LNG from Australia, one of our key suppliers; the US; and Mozambique. GasCo was set up last year to centralise gas procurement for the power sector. GasCo has begun buying replacement natural gas to replace the disrupted supply from Qatar.
Second, while 95% of our electricity is generated from natural gas, our power plants can switch from natural gas to diesel when needed.
Third, and relatedly, we have fuel reserves. These reserves comprise a mixture of natural gas and diesel. Some are owned by the Government. Some are owned by power generation companies.
We are also planning to increase our fuel reserves. It will be costly, but we think it necessary. We have so far not tapped on our fuel reserves nor have we implemented fuel rationing.
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) also requires power generation companies to have pre-arranged contractual access to additional fuel.
Fuel suppliers are required to deliver the fuel to the power generation companies within a set number of days upon activation. And we are prepared, if necessary, to direct the power generation companies to exercise their legal rights to secure the additional fuel. That said, securing the additional fuel by the power generation companies may be subject to force majeure events. Some of the additional fuel may be sourced from overseas and may be subject to supply disruptions again.
Fourth, EMA has strengthened regulatory requirements on electricity retailers in 2023. This ensures that they are sufficiently hedged and will be better able to handle an extended period of gas price volatility.
The position we put ourselves in before the crisis and the steps we have taken since the crisis have helped us remain relatively stable. Nevertheless, if the supply disruptions increase and if more suppliers are unable to supply fuel or gas, then potential disruptions to our domestic energy and electricity supply cannot be ruled out. However, this remains a low-probability scenario for now, though we continue to monitor developments closely.
But prices will go up. The Deputy Prime Minister spoke earlier on the regulated electricity tariff. Even though the cost of gas accounts for almost half of the regulated tariff, this has so far only partially transmitted to the tariff price. If the conflict is prolonged, then we have to expect much sharper increases in electricity prices.
The situation has caused many countries to take a closer look at their energy security. I will make two points on our situation.
First, on refineries. As I said earlier, we are a major refining centre. When countries began imposing controls on their export of fuel, many asked us if we would still be able to supply them with refined fuel products. Some of these countries supply crude oil and other essential products to us. In turn, we supply them with refined products, which they need. This creates a mutual interdependence. It keeps Singapore relevant in the international energy trade. And this has enabled us to have continued access to crude oil.
Some have also questioned the role of refineries over the medium term, given our green transition.
We remain committed to de-carbonising our economy. But as stated before, our path to net zero will depend on technological breakthroughs and sustained international cooperation.
For now, the priority worldwide is energy security. Countries everywhere need to keep the lights on. Fossil fuels remain part of the global energy mix. Because renewable energy is not yet able to meet all of the demand.
In that context, Singapore will continue to play a role as a refining hub. And we will continue to work with our refineries to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint.
Second, we must continue to press on with our efforts to diversify our sources of energy. We have made good progress on domestic solar energy deployment. We have already achieved our 2030 target of two gigawatt-peak in 2025. At the Committee of Supply debate in March, the Government announced that it would raise the target to three gigawatt-peak.
In the near term, we will continue to deploy solar energy domestically and pursue electricity imports from the region. In the medium to long term, we are assessing other sources of energy to diversify our fuel mix.
One potential source is nuclear energy. Advanced nuclear energy technologies have the potential to provide safe, reliable and clean baseload power. Nuclear fuel is energy dense and can be efficiently stockpiled. Five uranium pellets one-inch-tall can generate the same amount of electricity as one Olympic-sized swimming pool of natural gas.
But adopting nuclear energy requires very serious consideration. It needs to be studied very carefully to ensure that it is safe for deployment in or around Singapore.
We have been building up the technical expertise to evaluate the technology as it develops. And we are partnering overseas governments and companies who are leaders in this field. We really need the best expertise on this. We will continue to study this very carefully and rigorously. And there are dedicated teams in the Government that are doing this.
Let me now turn to food security.
Our primary concern is with inflationary pressures on our food products. Natural gas is a key feedstock for fertilisers. With disruptions to gas supply, fertiliser prices will go up. Food crops and animal feed will therefore cost more, and the price of our imported food products will rise. As fuel costs go up, it will also cost more to transport and store food products.
Singapore maintains strategic food stockpiles. That will help us mitigate the impact of any unforeseen supply disruptions. Meanwhile, we are relooking at our supply chains with a view towards strengthening them.
However, we are only able to maintain stockpiles of essential food types. Singaporeans should be prepared for supplies of some foods from some countries to be unavailable and will have to exercise flexibility in choosing alternatives.
There have been questions about the extent of Singapore's fuel reserves and food stockpiles. As a policy, we do not disclose these. That is deliberate. Disclosing such details would reveal where our limits lie and that could be used against Singapore in times of crisis.
What matters is that we have sufficient buffers and contingency plans in place. And we regularly review and strengthen these arrangements to ensure that they remain robust.
Sir, in conclusion, the HCMC will continue to closely monitor the situation. We will respond as a whole-of-Government to take care of Singapore and Singaporeans. We will work together to get through the crisis and emerge stronger – as we always have. [Applause.]
Sir, the questions will be taken by the Ministers who deal with their respective areas.
Mr Speaker: Senior Minister of State Jeffrey Siow.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, I would like to make a clarification for my speech. I earlier said that several Members have asked if the Government will consider reducing fuel or diesel subsidies.
I misread. What I meant to say was that several Members have asked if the Government will consider reducing fuel or diesel duties. It is the exact opposite of what I actually said, so I thought I should clarify.
Mr Speaker: That is an important clarification.
Before I call on hon Members for clarifications, I just wish to point out that pursuant to Standing Order No 23, Members may seek clarification on the Ministerial Statements, but no debate shall be allowed thereon.
Members can seek your clarifications by way of asking questions. So, I seek Members' understanding to keep your clarifications clear and concise so that the Ministers can answer as many clarifications as possible. Likewise, I will ask the Ministers to also keep your answers clear and concise.
To make our discussions clearer, more focus and efficient, I propose to structure our clarifications as follows.
Firstly, clarifications on energy and trade-related matters. These could include petrol, electricity and their impact on trade and the economy.
The second group of clarifications will include the impact on local businesses and households and the support measures for them.
And the third group of clarifications will be on general security issues and related matters.
So, I ask for Members' cooperation to group your clarifications according to the subject matters I have listed. This will give clarity to our discussions, make it easier to follow and understand the answers provided, and allow for deeper and more focused examination of the issues and suggestions from Members.
I assure Members that I will give you sufficient opportunity to make your clarifications on the different topics. There is no need to make all your clarifications at once.
Once again, the first basket of clarifications will be energy and trade-related matters. I will then move on to the second group of clarifications on the impact on local businesses and households and the support measures for them. And finally the third group of clarifications will be more security issues and related matters. I thank Members for your cooperation.
The first group of clarifications. Mr Saktiandi Supaat.
Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have three clarifications related to the first set of questions, Mr Speaker.
My first supplementary question: Singapore is a price-taker. I am very concerned about inflation pass-through. With the Middle East situation, there are unknowns. I would like to ask the committee and Government for their view about the risk of export restrictions of energy supplied by our partners, especially in the region.
Second, can the Government share its view on food resilience, especially with some concerns about seafood and fish supply, with the risk that diesel shortages for fishermen in the region may affect supply? The concern is whether seafood is regarded also as an essential in the Government's definition.
Third, I noticed that our measures, as the Senior Minister of State has shared earlier, are calibrated in some ways. For now, it looks very sound. It is also a testament to our long-term focus in terms of macro policy mix. My question is, our macro policy mix to address this supply shock is very clear, but what is the likelihood of the inflation pass-through continuing into 2027 and even into 2028, and if there is a need for off-Budget measures where further tranches are needed? I think the Senior Minister of State mentioned there is always a possibility and ability to do that, but what is the possibility of off-Budget measures coming?
Lastly, on our ability to maintain our strong Singapore dollar policy to mitigate imported inflation. That has always been the case, but I think going forward, I am aware that MAS will be releasing its policy statement in April later on. But I think it is very important for us to continue to maintain our strong Singapore dollar policy to control inflation pass-through. As I have stated earlier, inflation pass-through is of utmost importance.
Mr Speaker: Minister Tan See Leng.
The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): Speaker, given the brevity of time, I will dispense with the thanking. I will take the first question on energy and his point about the fact that we are price-takers and how we are thinking of the possibility of the risks of export restrictions by some of our partners.
Perhaps to curate the point more, I think you are referring specifically to natural gas, because that is how we are powering up our entire country and our economy.
As everyone knows, 95% of our electricity comes from natural gas. We import natural gas primarily through piped natural gas from our immediate neighbours like Malaysia, as well as LNG from around the world.
At this particular point in time, there is no upstream disruption from the piped natural gas supply. For LNG, we continue to source the whole world through GasCo, which, if Members recall, it was the previous Government, in this Chamber, that we pass an amendment to our Electricity Act, allowing us to form GasCo and then to centralise the procurement of gas. So, this has come in quite presciently, so that today, we are able to, through GasCo, source for supplies of LNG from all over the world.
We have now diversified our LNG supplies beyond the Middle East. We source them from Australia, from the US, from Mozambique and even as we speak, we continue to look for new markets.
For us, diversification has always been one of the key strategies. Of course, we also now look for alternative sources, renewable energy or otherwise, but that will take a bit more time.
Having said that, we have also ensured that our generation system, our generation companies (gencos) can run both on natural gas and on diesel. So, in the event that we do not have enough natural gas, the gencos will be required to switch to diesel to run and power up. We have conducted regular audits every quarter on these gencos to ensure that the advanced combined cycle gas turbine can switch to diesel. Thus far, our audit statistics have shown that we are 99.9% ready in switching. [Please refer to \"Clarification by Minister for Manpower\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Correction By Written Statement section.]
We have also established stockpiles, but as I have also shared before, given the constraint of land that we have within our country, there is a fiscal limit as to how much stockpiling we can do. Of course, we have also explored whether we could put it on the waters, get these very large crude carriers or use the floating storage regasification units. But then again, space and the cost to maintain these very large crude carriers would not be, at this particular point in time, that economically feasible.
But I want to assure the Member and all Members of the House that we constantly establish close relationships, dialogues, conversations with like-minded partners.
The key in point, as the Deputy Prime Minister shared, our Prime Minister has also issued a joint statement with the Prime Minister of Australia, Prime Minister Albanese, to establish ties and to ensure that we can continue to get supply of LNG from Australia. I hope that reassures the Member.
Mr Speaker: On resilience, Senior Minister of State Zaqy.
The Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Mr Zaqy Mohamad): I thank the Member for his question. On seafood specifically, we do not see immediate risk. We have diversified our food imports. We have also got local production of seafood readily available.
At this point, as both the Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister have shared, our main risk for agriculture lies in fertiliser. And in the short term, no impact, but we think there could be secondary impact, as the Member has shared with diesel and other energy prices, just with other sectors. So, we are monitoring the situation and we will keep everyone posted as things happen.
Mr Speaker: Mr Supaat, your question on the support measures, I will defer it to the next bucket for Acting Minister Siow to respond. Mr Pritam Singh.
Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Mr Speaker, for this first part of questions, I have two clarifications, which are directed at Ministers who are dealing with questions pertaining to energy security.
In a Facebook post about a week ago, the Minister-in-charge of Energy, Science and Technology warned about the possibility of fuel shortages that could not be ruled out in the medium to long term, and that Singaporeans and businesses should prepare for significant turbulence in the months to come; and the Minister also projected up to a five-year repair time for Qatar's LNG facilities.
My first clarification, notwithstanding the expiry of LNG contracts with Indonesia in 2028, is the Government in touch with both Indonesia and Malaysia, which supply close to half of our piped LNG, to potentially increase supplies, and have there been any deliberations in this regard?
The second question pertains to energy security more generally. Does the war in the Middle East present an opportunity to potentially bring forward Singapore's plans of acquiring more renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity from our neighbours and in larger quantities than had been previously planned?
Dr Tan See Leng: I mentioned the fuel shortages potentially ahead, because the threat of the escalation of the crisis in the Middle East is very real. If we follow the tweets, if we follow all of the news that is coming out, whether it is from the US or from Iran, from Israel, we can pretty much come to that same conclusion.
So, it is important for us as a country that while we can take some calm, but we should also be very pragmatic and very real about what the challenges are. And the fact is that because we do not produce any of these natural resources on our shores, we therefore have to be prepared for a possible worse-case scenario, not worst case, but a worse-case scenario compared to what it is today.
And to that end, we constantly reach out to our immediate neighbours to talk about piped natural gas (PNG), the continuous supply of PNG. Some of them are expiring in 2028. But at the same time we also establish a more diversified source country strategy so that it strengthens our position in terms of our resilience.
Some of the existing fields that we are drawing from, inherently, are also faced with dwindling reserves, within those reservoirs that we are tapping from. Of course, we are also discussing with our neighbours about the potential of exploring new areas for us to tap into.
Those conversations happen contemporaneously with our discussions on renewable energy imports. And to that end, if the Member recall, we have already awarded both conditional approval or conditional licensing of up to about 8.35 gigawatts of renewable energy. Our original target was six gigawatts – we have exceeded that.
Today, given this uncertainty, we are indeed ramping up the negotiations, the discussions with our counterparts to see how we can expedite both the completion of the feasibility studies as well as the commercial feasibility of laying of the subsea cables. Those are happening in progress.
So, I hope to give some positive news, but we are stepping up. Today, I am not at liberty to share that first.
Where we are, I cannot predict how long more this war will take. And what I think we should be sure about is that because we are open, we are connected. While this is an advantage for us, given the 150 oil majors that we have here, the third largest oil trading hub in the world, the sixth largest refinery complex in the world, but upstream, the crude still has to come from somewhere. [Please refer to \"Clarification by Minister for Manpower\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Correction By Written Statement section.]
And if the Middle East as a source is choked, we will still not necessarily have that significant impact, but the impact downstream is that it will take a longer time for crude from other parts of the world to bypass the Middle East to come to us.
The quality of the crude, they are also different. And because of the differences in the quality of the crude, the run rates of our refinery complexes would also therefore have to be optimised. So, it is this whole cascade of the different refinery processes that we also have to take into account that is contributing, in some cases, amplifying this crisis.
But our modus operandi has always been, we do not impose export restrictions and we will still abide by the rules-based global trading framework.
Mr Speaker: Mr Edward Chia.
Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui (Holland-Bukit Timah): Thank you, Speaker. Given that the current energy crunch is disproportionately impacting Asia, does the Minister see this as opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in energy resilience, including exploring ASEAN collaboration in nuclear energy, such as joint investments and joint operations in the nuclear power plant?
Dr Tan See Leng: We certainly see an opportunity in every crisis. It is precisely what all of us do. Our entire team, fellow political officeholders, Government Parliamentary Committee members, that we constantly outreach to our like-minded partners to work even more closely with them.
The most recent visit two weeks ago to Japan with the Prime Minister, last week's visit to Australia and there will be many more of such outreach to many of our like-minded partners.
On the nuclear energy collaboration, it is not for want of or lack of trying. I think the Member will appreciate the fact that because we are so small and as the Coordinating Minister for National Security alluded to just now, we have to ensure that these advanced nuclear energy technologies are safe. They indeed are today. The physics work, the engineering work. It is just that there has not been a single site of deployment yet. I mean, there are some that is in the process of being commissioned, for instance, in China, and there are some coming up in the US. But we have not seen a single modular reactor site being put up and operating commercially.
And the Member will appreciate the fact that regardless of how we collaborate with the rest of the ASEAN member states, we will never put our population at risk of adopting a first-of-a-kind technology. We can be a fast adopter, but we cannot be the first-of-a-kind mover. I hope that gives the Member the context of what we are doing.
Mr Speaker: Mr Liang Eng Hwa.
Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang): Sir, my questions relate to the sharp spike in the diesel prices. Diesel prices are now north of $4 per litre, even more expensive than petrol, very unusual phenomenon, and it is severely impacting many of the transport, logistical business, construction business sectors as well. So, can I ask the Minister if he can share about why this phenomenon of diesel is being more expensive than petrol?
The Minister earlier shared that the Government's gencos can actually switch from gas to diesel. So, is that the reason why diesel has gone up because of the Government procurement of diesel?
More importantly, what can the Government do to help businesses that depend on diesel, which is a low cost fuel for the businesses to do their deliveries, including construction sectors. So, I am particularly happy that the Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow has just said about this construction sector, for the critical public sector projects, we will be co-sharing the cost increases for diesel. So, how can we enable or incentivise our other businesses to do that to help companies that are impacted by the cost increases of diesel?
Dr Tan See Leng: Our diesel prices have risen mainly due to global factors. I mean the ongoing tensions involving Iran, as I have said a few times already, significantly increase the uncertainty and, of course, the risk to oil supply. And it pushes up the crude oil all over the world.
If you compare diesel, diesel is a very versatile fuel mix, because the strong demand from transport, from the shipping industry, and there is also some limited refining capacity that is possible using diesel. And as I have shared with you, even our combined cycle gas turbines, which the gencos use, can use diesel as a back-up. So, it is a very versatile use.
You will appreciate the fact that it is also easier to store diesel compared to natural gas, because the boiling point of natural gas, I think it is probably about minus 150 over degrees Celsius. So, to keep natural gas, you need that energy to keep it at that level. And if you put it in a floating storage regasification unit, there is a lot of boil-off of that gas. So, you got to use it.
LNG is not an easy fuel for you to store unlike diesel. When you talk about stockpiling, of course, a significant proportion of that amount is in diesel. So, you can appreciate that because of the versatility and in farm tractors in many of the agrarian countries around, that emphasis has always been on diesel.
That is why it has risen faster compared to petrol.
As far as the roll-out of support measures, Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow has already shared what are the measures. MTI will continue to keep a close watch on this space and if need be, the Government will not hesitate to come in, to act, to help.
Mr Speaker: Mr Fadli Fawzi.
Mr Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied): I have several clarifications to make. Firstly, is the Government engaging the Iranian authorities to secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz for Singapore-flagged vessels similar to what other countries like Malaysia has done and will Singapore be open to paying a toll to pass through the Strait of Hormuz?
Secondly, is the Government considering further regulating petrol station operators to ensure that changes in petrol prices, especially increases, are linked to actual market conditions, and if not, why not?
And thirdly, what is the status of Singapore's helium supplies following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and whether the Government has contingency plans to help the semiconductor industry access sufficient helium supplies for production and also, does the Government foresee any delays in MRI procedures or increases in the price of MRIs for the rest of the year as a result of shortages in helium?
Mr Speaker: Minister Ong.
The Minister for Health (Mr Ong Ye Kung): Let me address the issue on helium on MRI machines. Helium is used in small quantities as a cooling agent in MRI machines. They do not get topped up very frequently. So, our consumption of helium is actually small, and our supply of helium is largely not from the Middle East. So, MRI operations will not be affected for now.
Mr Speaker: Minister of State Gan Siow Huang.
The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Gan Siow Huang): I will take the question on helium for semiconductor. For the semiconductor sector, helium is used mainly in wafer fabrication for heat management, cooling and process stability. By and large, the wafer fabs here have a multi-source strategy for helium supplies. And wafer fabs in Singapore, in particular, they have, so far, not expressed immediate operational impact, but have started to activate more alternative supplies. We will continue to work closely with the industry to monitor their needs.
Mr Speaker: The question on security, the part about Strait of Hormuz and Iranian authorities, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, do you want to answer now or do you want to do it at the last part? I suggest we do at the last part.
Mr Fadli Fawzi, I will direct the question to Minister Vivian Balakrishnan later. Mr Foo Cexiang.
Mr Foo Cexiang (Tanjong Pagar): I declare that I work in the logistics arm of the port. I have two clarifications.
First, will the measures to support the domestic transport and critical sector extend to the logistics and supply chain sector, such as the hauliers, as well as the port, because this is certainly a critical sector during this period?
Second supplementary question: the war accelerates a fundamental global supply chain shift that has been happening for several years, away from cheapest, fastest and the leanest to safest, most resilient, as well as the most trusted. So, the Economic Strategy Review recommendations are timely and should be implemented swiftly. But my question is, are they bold enough and do they go far enough in view of what has just happened in the Middle East? Will Singapore be able to not just survive disruption, but thrive because of it as a reliability hub for our region?
Ms Gan Siow Huang: Speaker, I would like to respond to Mr Fadli Fawzi's earlier question on petrol prices at the petrol stations. Singapore has a competitive and open economy, and prices naturally would fluctuate in response to various factors, including changes in global supply and global demand. The Government does not dictate the prices or price changes of businesses, so long as the prices are set independently. Instead, the Government's approach is to ensure that the market remains competitive.
For the petrol stations, we also know that there are several players in the market. At present, there is no evidence to suggest that the market structure is not competitive. The entry of Cnergy operated by Union Gas is also an encouraging sign, as it provides more choices to consumers. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore will continue to watch closely the pump prices to make sure there is no anti-competitive behaviour by the businesses.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, let me respond to Mr Foo Cexiang's two questions. The first is on the port and port services, and whether they can be considered as critical services. As I mentioned in my speech, what the Government agencies will do is to assess whether or not such services are critical parts of what we have to do and whether the direct impact of these services is due to the rise in prices. So, in this case, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will assess that and make a case to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) for support.
On the Economic Strategy Review, indeed, I agree with the Member that there are opportunities for us to look at. The Economic Strategy Review is a plan for us to remake our economy for the next five to 10 years. It is a long-term strategy. One of the key things that we are looking at through the Economic Strategy Review is how to strengthen Singapore as a hub of flows. I think the energy crisis reiterates for us how important that strategy is. It is precisely because that Singapore is in the middle of energy flows that we are able to have energy security and to be able to be in the position that we are in.
Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh.
Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh (Nominated Member): I thank the Ministers for their responses. I just wanted to clarify, in modelling some of these scenarios regarding our fuel sufficiency, I was wondering if these assessments include more materially longer or more severe kinds of scenarios than we typically model. And whether or not, the price reflects supply and demand, whether there is a price threshold and the duration for which the price of the commodities are sustained for that we are monitoring, before we implement more rationing measures.
Dr Tan See Leng: We simulate models across chronological parameters as well as geographical parameters. So, our simulations run, particularly for power generation, our scenarios run on if one region is completely choked versus two regions versus multiple regions. And we build that simulation accordingly. I am not at liberty to share because it is a function of our own national security.
For the other simulation, we have simulated based on a three-month, five-month, one-year window. The parameters go into a lot of details, in terms of which are the sectors that are most exposed and then which are the sectors that get indirectly influenced by the cascading effect, and then to the more domestic sectors getting influenced.
So, there are multiple simulation scenarios. One of the key things is that our civil servants are very, very well adapt in managing all of these different scenarios. Like I said, I cannot go into the details because it is a matter of our own security.
Mr Speaker: Ms Poh Li San.
Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West): Speaker, I have three supplementary questions.
Supplementary question one: what is the Government's assessment of the overall food supply situation and how the does Government stabilise the prices of essential food items and curb profiteering, so that seniors and also low-income families can still afford their meals and food expenses?
Supplementary question two: the local bus transport companies are badly affected by the surge in diesel prices, and they are running diesel cost increases of more than $1 million per month for some of them. However, they are also bound by the prices locked in their contracts and are not able to increase their prices. These local transport companies are essential to ensure our workers can get to work on time. Other than transportation for school children and people with disabilities, how would the measures help such local transport companies tide through this crisis, especially if the war prolongs?
Supplementary question three: jet fuel supply has been severely affected and fuel prices have surged dramatically. The sustainable aviation fuel levy has been postponed to apply for flights from first January 2027 onwards. How will the impact on fuel supply and fuel prices impact Singapore as an air hub, especially if the war prolongs?
Ms Gan Siow Huang: Speaker, I would like to respond to Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh's question regarding price threshold.
First, in the context of a petrol, which I mentioned earlier on, regulating or capping petrol or diesel pump prices will distort the market and actually will serve to benefit vehicle users and owners that consume more, and possibly people who are more well-to-do. This may not be a fair way of distributing our limited resources. It will also reduce the incentive for Singaporeans, as well as businesses to switch to more energy efficient modes of transport.
Instead, the Government's approach is to ensure that our fuel market remains well-functioning and competitive, so that fuel companies are incentivised to compete, innovate and become more efficient.
On electricity prices, on whether it is a price threshold, the electricity prices is something that the Government will continue to watch closely because it affects households and businesses directly. Again, our priority is to make sure that there are enough support measures, such as U-Save, CDC vouchers and targeted support measures for businesses that are more affected by the electricity price increase.
Mr Speaker: Senior Minister of State Murali Pillai.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport (Mr Murali Pillai): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to respond to the hon Member Ms Poh's third question on jet fuel. We are working with the aviation stakeholders to monitor the fuel supply for aviation hubs carefully to ensure that it remains stable.
There are no significant supply shortages for now as we have adequate fuel supply from the diversified sources. But if higher fuel prices persist, this will lead to increased cost pressures, which may filter to passengers and consumers in various sectors. We note that some airlines have made commercial decisions to raise ticket prices in response to the soaring cost of fuel. These remain commercial decisions which we do not intervene in. However, we will continue to work closely with the industry to monitor the situation and assess whether there is a need for the Government to take further measures.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad: Speaker, our Singapore Food Story 2 mitigates the impact of food supply disruptions on Singapore through its four pillars working together, which is diversification, global partnerships, stockpiling and local production.
Due to our efforts in partnership with other governments, for example, Thailand and Vietnam for rice cooperation, New Zealand and Australia for other food areas, as well as working with the industry to diversify our food sources over the years, importers can now pivot more readily to alternative sources, if needed.
If the situation worsens and food imports are severely disrupted, the stockpile of essential food items, as shared by the Coordinating Minister, that we have been maintaining and expanding will provide us time to restore food flows and sustain our population.
Finally, local farms can increase their production and provide us with a regenerative source of fresh food that is maintained during prolonged disruption.
This multi-pillar approach ensures that Singapore is able to meet our food needs and Singaporeans can continue to experience reasonable normalcy during disruptions. However, we also have to recognise that in a crisis, we will have to prioritise our efforts. It will not always be possible to have everyone's favourite food or favourite brand in every disruption, but what we can do is to provide the assurance of food supply where it matters most.
The Government is monitoring the developments in the Middle East and its impact on Singapore's food supply closely. Singapore imports most of our food and from many different sources – we have 180 countries and regions that we import from. The Middle East accounts for less than 1% of our total food imports. And food coming from major ports, such as the Strait of Hormuz, accounts for even less, at less than 0.5%.
In the near term, there is no imminent risk of food supply disruption to Singapore. However, as global food supply chains are interconnected, we cannot rule out eventual disruptions to our food supply if the conflict persists.
In his Ministerial Statement, the Deputy Prime Minister mentioned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would have an impact on other key products, including fertilisers. This, in turn, could translate to lower agricultural yield down the line and potential supply disruptions.
So, we are monitoring this and the food supply situation very closely. We will keep up our diversification, global partnerships, local production and stockpiling efforts as required. Since the start of the Middle East conflict, the Singapore Food Agency has also stepped up our engagements with importers and retailers to share information on possible risks to food supply, so that they may activate alternative sources early and when needed.
We stand ready to activate our existing arrangements with partner countries to ensure that food continues to flow as needed too.
We want to support our local farmers, especially now, to weather this crisis, and we will help them to increase their market share for certain food types, which will strengthen Singapore's food resilience in the long term. And as they say, never waste a good crisis.
Mr Speaker: Senior Minister of State Zaqy, have you finished?
Mr Zaqy Mohamad: Mr Speaker, allow me to speak in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] With regards to food, we do not expect a risk of food supply disruptions in the near term for Singapore. However, there is an impact today on fertilisers because fertiliser is a by-product of oil and supply has been affected due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, fertiliser costs have increased, and this will impact food prices.
For now, the Government will help citizens through support measures, such as CDC vouchers and also the Cost-of-Living Special Payment. However, we need to be prepared for what happens next. It may begin as an energy crisis, but it could develop into larger supply disruptions across many sectors, including the food sector.
Our cooperation with other governments as well as industries has given us the opportunity to further diversify our food sources, and this means that food importers can pivot to other sources easily. If the situation worsens, we have food supplies – our stockpile – to sustain our population. Local farms can also increase their production further and provide fresh food supply to us. So, we still have food supply to meet our needs.
As the Government increases our diversification efforts, global partnerships, local production and stockpiling efforts as needed, we will get ready to try to diversify our sources and make adjustments to our habits and lifestyle.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, I would like to just quickly respond to Ms Poh Li San's question on local bus services. We have received feedback from transport associations on the impact on local bus services and we are working very closely with them to smoothen out the impact on these bus services.
As I mentioned, where the bus services are critical, we will co-share the cost of these services, but for others that are more general, we will work with them to smoothen out the impact. We will expect some pass-through of the cost to the consumers, just like my colleague Senior Minister of State Murali mentioned, through airfares. And broadly, we will support the bus companies through the business measures, for instance, like the Corporate Income Tax rebates that I had talked about in my speech.
And on the consumer side, we are also supporting through the payments like the Cost-of-Living Special Payment, which can be used to defray some of these costs.
Mr Speaker: There are still many Members who have raised their hands. Can I again request Members for this first bucket, keep it to the energy, trade and industry matters? We will move on to support measures after this. Mr Gerald Giam.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Sir, the International Energy Agency (IEA) requires its members to ensure oil stock levels equivalent to no less than 90 days of net imports. While we are not an IEA member state, this is a widely recognised global benchmark for an emergency on energy resilience. Could the Minister confirm if Singapore's oil stock levels meet this international standard to provide greater assurance for Singaporeans and businesses? And I will note that I am not asking for us to reveal all our cards, but just our adherence to this international standard.
Dr Tan See Leng: I am very glad that the Member recognises an issue of our national security. I think suffice to say, I have put it on record that we have supplies to last for months. And we will keep it as that.
Mr Speaker, Sir, if I may, in Mandarin: \"能源取之不易, 我们一定要好好珍惜\". (In English): \"Energy is not easy to obtain. We must treasure it.\"
Mr Speaker: Mr Yip Hon Weng.
Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given the war in the Middle East, there is also the possibility of simultaneous disruptions both at the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait of the Red Sea. Could the Government elaborate whether such a double chokehold situation is explicitly considered and what are the consequences? How do these scenarios translate into pre-emptive measures that safeguard both supply continuity and household affordability?
Dr Tan See Leng: On the Strait of Hormuz, it impacts about 9% to 10% of our LNG supplies from Qatar. We think that a simultaneous choke or blockade of the Red Sea near the Gulf of Aden, where the Houthis from South Yemen – which is also something that I did highlight in my Facebook posts about a week ago – would not have a significant impact, because it primarily impacts supplies coming from Europe through the Suez Canal. Many of them are pharmaceuticals. They actually come in through air.
Mr Speaker: Mr Vikram Nair.
Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I note that amongst the different sources of energy, diesel prices have risen much higher than electricity prices. And diesel fuels many commercial operators, including buses and lorries, which feeds into many other sectors. So, does the Minister think that this is a good time for operators of commercial businesses to switch from diesel trucks and lorries to friendlier, electric vehicle (EV) versions? And if so, would any incentives be given for such switches to make it easier to change capital, which is, of course, a long-term investment?
Dr Tan See Leng: A function of why the electricity tariffs seem to have risen slower compared to diesel is, as I have shared, in fact, Deputy Prime Minister shared early on, how the regulated tariff is calculated – based on last quarter's prices of natural gas, which is benchmark to the Brent crude benchmark index.
From January to February, the war broke out on 28 February, so we have only factored in, at most, about half a month of that price increase. That is why that has not actually come into impact for the regulated tariff for electricity.
I have also given everyone a warning that the next quarter's tariff will see significantly sharper increases.
While I thank the Member for that supplementary question, because I am going to leverage on this supplementary question to let everyone know, and I have put up a harbinger – it is not insider trading, because I think it is an open secret that the prices have gone up significantly – for household consumers, for domestic consumers, if they want to hedge, they may want to switch to a fixed price contract moving forward. I think, suffice for me to say.
For businesses, how they are going to convert the diesel trucks, the diesel vehicles to EVs, I think for them to perhaps move out of their trucks today to convert it physically, I think it would take a lot of time. I am not an engineer, so I would not know what is involved in that. Of course, if they want to trade it off and buy an EV instead, I think that is an option that is available.
As far as any subsidies and so on are concerned, I think this is not something that I can comment on. Suffice to say that for some of the businesses, if they want to convert to more energy efficient measures and so on, there is the Energy Efficiency Grant. For the larger ones, there is also the Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions as well. I would think that these businesses can find out more about which are the ones that they are eligible for and make the applications accordingly.
Mr Speaker: Mr Alex Yam. Mr Yam, hang on. I think Acting Minister Siow would like to respond as well.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I just want to take the opportunity to do a plug for the Singapore's EV scheme for heavy vehicles. We have a grant of $40,000, which we announced, I think in March last year. There are companies that have already made use of the grant. The scheme also covers the provision of funding for chargers, which actually is the chief constraint behind why the adoption of electric heavy vehicles is not as prevalent as say, passenger vehicles. But we have this grant and we will encourage companies to make use of it, to switch to more energy efficient vehicles.
Mr Speaker: Mr Yam.
Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee): Thank you, Speaker. Building on the point that the Minister-in-charge of energy had raised earlier about fixed rates. There is concern amongst consumers that the gencos and the electricity suppliers may, at some point, invoke a force majeure, and that would affect the supply contracts that are signed with consumers.
Therefore, I seek clarification, what safeguards there are in place to protect consumers and businesses from disruptions and the dramatic price spikes, and how will the Government ensure continuity of supply and fair contractual outcomes for consumers as well as the gencos?
Dr Tan See Leng: Indeed, I think that is a valid concern. EMA has been constantly engaging all the gencos.
Today, supply at this point in time, is not an issue because we have got GasCo, which has sourced for supplies and diversified the various sources of supplies quite broadly.
If anything at all, I think the force majeure portion comes because the pricing of these LNG cargoes coming in, has gone up significantly, compared to pre-crisis times. So, many of the contracts that they were locked in, they can no longer supply, because obviously, the feedstock has gone up significantly. And this is where EMA has stepped in to form the bridge between these large consumers, together with the gencos.
Our sense today is that the domestic consumers, because they form not a very big part of the gencos' exposure, if I am not mistaken, I have to check this, but I think they use less than four megawatts for the entire year. So, I do not think they will be affected that much. [Please refer to \"Clarification by Minister for Manpower\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Correction By Written Statement section.]
Nevertheless, my exhortation still stays. That is, the next few quarters will see significant increase in the tariffs. It is something that all of us collectively will have to take note of. We should not expect that for the 2.1% increase in tariffs for this quarter, I am able to hold it. This is something that is food for thought for everyone.
Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Jamus Lim.
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): Sir, my clarification actually segues very nicely from the prior one by Mr Alex Yam. Not long after the electricity market liberalisation in the early 2000s, the Government actually favoured vesting contracts as a regulatory safeguard for price spikes over price caps or a capacity market. I believe such contracts were eventually expected to be phased out, once sufficient competition was assured. And I understand that this tool is meant to regulate competitive marketing and not crisis-related shocks.
Nevertheless, given the current development, I wonder if the Minister would be willing to share: if the mechanism is still in play today; whether it covers a full extent of electricity demand in Singapore; if this mechanism is indeed active for the current Strait of Hormuz crisis, and if so, what the current gap between the vesting and wholesale market prices is; and finally, how much he believes the safeguard has passed through to the open retail market, given that price increases observed in February were about 10%?
Dr Tan See Leng: As I have shared earlier on, for those gencos which have entered into very long vesting contracts, I think some of their clients and customers would already find it hard to keep and maintain those kind of pricings. Hence, these are the ones that we are currently managing to try and understand the impact. I do not have the full details. It is actually this group, potentially, that may invoke the force majeure clause.
Having said that, today, a lot of the cargoes that we are buying in are on spot price. That accounts for that huge spike. Because of the Strait of Hormuz, Qatar has invoked force majeure. I think on one or two of the cargoes, Shell has also invoked force majeure. So, for us, for the GasCo, we have to make sure that we can get the replacement cargo. And we have succeeded. We have been successful in getting the replacement cargo. It is just that we are not able to get it at the earlier pricing.
To your question as to how this would impact, we do not have all the necessary details at this point in time. Perhaps, at the next Parliamentary Sitting, I would invite you to file a Parliamentary Question. We can get into a more robust presentation at that point in time.
Mr Speaker: Mr Shawn Loh.
Mr Shawn Loh (Jalan Besar): Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question pertains to early signals.
One, does the Government detect any early signals of job losses arising from the new disruption? Two, does the Government detect any early signals in terms of wealth inflows into Singapore, given our status as a wealth hub? And three, does the Government detect any early signals with regard to Singapore's status as an aviation hub? If the answer is yes, what is the Government's position and what is the Government's response?
Dr Tan See Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I can just talk about jobs. In case you are wondering, I am still the Minister for Manpower, notwithstanding, the entire discussion was just on energy.
What we have done is to work very closely with MTI and the Economic Development Board for the affected power generation refinery and the energy-intensive emission sector to ensure that there is no permanent scarring. We will continue to help workers in those particular sectors.
We have not completely ironed out the plans. Again, if the Member is interested, he can file a Parliamentary Question and we can elaborate on that more.
For the rest of the signals, perhaps I can invite my other colleagues to take on the questions.
Mr Murali Pillai: Sir, I would like to answer the hon Member Shawn Loh's question on the status of the aviation hub.
There have been some flight disruptions. Apart from the disruptions, most of Changi Airport's flights have been operating normally. The disruptions have been limited to some Singapore-Middle East passenger and cargo services. Airlines have also added flights between Singapore and other regions, such as Europe, to cater to demand in the wake of the reduction in flights to the Middle East.
The situation now still remains fluid and uncertain. It is too early to determine if longer-term network reconfigurations will take place. We will continue to work closely with the industry to monitor the situation.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Sir, let me just give a quick answer on the wealth hub.
Singapore has been a financial centre and we have been a centre to receive capital and wealth investment from all over the world. There has been increased interest and enquiries with regard to wealth coming into Singapore. We are happy to see that trend and we are also happy that we are able to provide services to these investors and this capital, that we can allow them to have an alternative location to be able to continue to safekeep their wealth and also, use Singapore as a gateway to invest in this region.
I think we will continue to monitor the situation, and we will continue to ensure that we operate efficiently and reliably as a financial centre.
Mr Speaker: We are still on the first bucket. Quite a lot of the questions that are being asked are rather similar and I can see the answers are also getting rather similar. Can I request that unless you have something really specific which have not been addressed before, please raise your hand? Otherwise, please do not raise your hand.
Mr Christopher de Souza.
Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah): Much obliged, Sir. My supplementary questions draw from the fact that the situation displays: one, how Singapore has agency; and two, how Singapore can use the situation as a catalyst.
On agency, how can Singapore use its sterling status as an oil trading hub and a critical oil refinery centre to create agency, to trade with Australia, for example, for enhanced LNG, or New Zealand for food supplies?
Here, I declare that I am a lawyer in private practice who represents oil companies and oil refineries in Singapore.
On the second point, as for us being able to use the situation as a catalyst, how can the crisis offer itself as a catalyst for Singapore to seriously explore nuclear civil energy, provided it is safe?
Dr Tan See Leng: I have answered in quite different parts, but perhaps to just curate it for the Member's utility. First, indeed, this crisis is also an opportunity for us to build even closer ties, with our reputation, our credibility, our consistency, our predictability and our transparency. Our relationship with Australia will hopefully be up a few notches when we reassure them that we will abide by a rules-based multilateral trading system, we will not impose export restrictions, and depending on the upstream feedstock that we are able to get and our refineries continue to refine, notwithstanding the fact that there are different types of crude nowadays, but we still try to optimise the refineries' complex operational capabilities to make sure that the downstream supply of essential fuel products – the diesel, the motor gas, together with the naphtha – they continue to get the supply.
Likewise, they are a major supplier, they are the third largest supplier of LNG, that they would also not in any way curtail their exports to us. I think that is a start.
At the same time, we will expand that to food resilience and food supply. Our Prime Minister has raised the ambition. We have substantively concluded the negotiations on the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies. I think Minister Vivian may know that better. At the same time, we are trying to see how we can accelerate the same discussions with Australia and other countries.
On nuclear, I have also shared that it is not a question of us not wanting to do it, we want to make sure that it is safe. The small modular reactors for advanced nuclear energies have proven to be very safe. We just want to ensure that there is a site that has been planted, is operational and that we can use that as a reference site or model.
Mr Speaker: Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin.
Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin (Ang Mo Kio): Thank you, Speaker. On food price monitoring, given that we import more than 90% of our food supply, could the Government share more – whether there are ways for data on the monitoring dashboard that is used by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment to be shared more proactively so that households and businesses have more timely visibility of emerging price trends for scenario planning and whether more forward-looking indicators can be included to help Singaporeans better cope with potential price fluctuations.
As a second point, I thank Minister Tan for some of his sharing in response to questions earlier on contingency scenario planning as well as the stockpile for LNG and diesel. I understand the need to not disclose sensitive details around our national food stockpile. However, could the Government consider whether there is merit to provide some general indicators of adequacy for certain food items and essentials, such as broad coverage, ranges or scenario readiness, so as to give Singaporeans greater assurance in light of the current uncertainties, similar to the two to three months' data which was shared during COVID-19.
Where I am coming from is while many appreciate these broader updates, there is room to build understanding and make the impact clearer at an individual and household level so that our people have a better understanding how prepared we are but not immune and also a sense of agency that they can still do something amidst this uncertainty.
Ms Gan Siow Huang: Mr Speaker, I will answer the part about monitoring food prices.
The Department of Statistics publishes monthly indices on the import prices of food products. This allows us to assess imported food cost pressures that may in turn feed through some of our domestic food inflation and food and beverage services inflation. The indices cover the non-cooked food price index as well as the food and beverage services price index.
On whether we can have forward-looking indices, I think we will have to continue to monitor the situation and as best as we can, provide timely information to businesses as well as to local households.
Mr Speaker: Minister of State Zaqy, do you want to respond?
Mr Zaqy Mohamad: Mr Speaker, I think Minister of State Gan has covered food prices.
Mr Speaker: Mr Lee Hong Chuang.
Mr Lee Hong Chuang (Jurong East-Bukit Batok): Mr Speaker, I would like to pose my supplementary question in Mandarin.
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Singapore is highly dependent on energy import. Can Minister tell us whether we will set up and expand our strategic fuel stockpile, and whether our current fuel stockpile is adequate if supply disruption is prolonged?
Dr Tan See Leng: Let me just summarise and translate in a broad gist. The Member is asking whether we can increase our stockpile, whether we have plans to increase the reserves.
As Coordinating Minister for National Security stated, the HCMC together with the HCEG are currently not resting on our laurels. We are studying how to increase the current stockpile provisions.
I want to reassure everyone that if I had the benefit of space, I would stockpile significantly higher amounts. Our very real constraint is the space we have here. If we stockpile in a foreign country, then I do not think that that is really stockpiling for our own needs if the situation gets very, very severe.
I hope that we can understand that these are real constraints that we have here in our country, and hence, my original exhortation is energy is existential for us; energy is precious; let us try to conserve it.
For the scenario planning, as I have shared with Prof Koh earlier on, we have different contingency, different scenario planning, for single-country chokepoints to multi-country chokepoints. I am not at liberty to share that because this is our national security, and I beg for your understanding and your indulgence.
Mr Speaker: Mr Dennis Tan.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Thank you, Speaker. I would like to ask a Ministry of Transport (MOT) officeholder to answer my Question No 60. Essentially, my question relates to what is the impact of the Middle East conflict on Singapore's air and sea freight, and our transport hubs; we being key maritime and air hubs. I am grateful that Minister of State Murali has given some answers on the air hub.
I wish to declare my interest as a consultant in a shipping law firm. I have one supplementary question relating to the air hub and this refers to the deferral of the sustainable aviation fuel levy. While the pragmatic pause responds to current geopolitical volatility, how is the Ministry working with our SAFCo to secure a long-term fixed-price sustainable aviation fuel supply contracts that might insulate our aviation hub's decarbonisation timeline from fossil fuel price spikes and regional instabilities?
Mr Murali Pillai: Mr Speaker, Sir, in response to the hon Member Dennis Tan's question on maritime hub, I just want to say that for the now, for the current, port operations have been stable. There are no significant fuel supply shortages, and we have adequate fuel and bunker supply.
We expect, however, tanker arrivals may decline the coming months, given the disruption to global energy flows.
In relation to sustainable aviation fuel, at this point in time, it is a bit too early to disclose what our strategies would be. We have made the announcement that the sustainable aviation fuel levy would kick in come 1 January 2027 for contracts entered from October 2026 onwards at this point in time. And as soon as we are able to make further announcements, we will do so.
Mr Speaker: Mr Sharael Taha.
Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Changi): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank Minister Tan for sharing the dual fuel nature of our power plants. My supplementary question is how quick is this switching? Can it manage the volatility, especially this unprecedented volatility? And do we need to re-optimise our power plants to manage our energy generation resilience?
My second supplementary question is on our refining capability and the feedstock flexibility. How adaptable are our refineries to alternative crude grades? In a prolonged disruption scenario, do we foresee any erosion of Singapore's competitiveness relative to other refining hubs? And similar to what Member Christopher de Souza mentioned, is this an opportunity to strengthen our refining competitiveness beyond the relationships with other countries, but also in our capability to take other feedstock to diversify the source?
Dr Tan See Leng: Our gencos comprise a combination of different combined cycle gas turbines. Some are existing combined cycle gas turbines that would require time for that conversion. Others, for instance, are using the new J-class and H-class type of combined cycle gas turbines, which can also be at least 30% hydrogen ready.
So, because of that spectrum of the number of gencos and the combined cycle gas turbines that we have here, it is not a one size fits all.
If you recall, the Member was part of the same group of Parliamentarians who passed the Bill. What we have done is to effectively strengthen our entire framework since five years ago, where EMA would require the different gencos to show and to indicate to us ahead of time their gas, their supplies, their access to gas supplies, their vesting contracts, and so on. We, holding the stockpile, would then work with them to work out the time that would be required for that switch from gas to diesel, so as to ensure that there is no outage or unnecessary downtime when they switch over. So, that part of it is something that we work very closely with them on.
On your second point, what was the second point? On the refineries? Yes. This is something that I have also learnt over the last fortnight. I think those of you who are in the oil and gas industry may know it better than I do. But we now primarily have access to two types of crude: the sweet crude and the sour crude. Sour crude means that there is a lot more sulphur and it comes mainly from the Middle East. It is more favoured because the downstream products you get, whether it is diesel, naphtha to bitumen, seems to be more versatile compared to the other types of crude.
So, what we have done is that there will be some compromise in the refinery capabilities. There is some percentage loss when you have one predominant fuel, to now, at least two different fuel types, because you then need the space, the caverns, for you to rebalance between sour and sweet crude. So, there is some compromise, but not to the extent that it would impact our competitiveness as a refinery complex and as a refinery hub, at least within the region.
And your third point, which is on?
Mr Sharael Taha: Is this an opportunity to strengthen our refining competitiveness beyond the relationships with other countries?
Dr Tan See Leng: Yes, with our team and myself, we have been working to see how we can strengthen this. I think it also calls for a fundamental pivot in terms of the thinking because we do also at the same time want to decarbonise and work towards a zero-emission target by 2050. So long as you have the energy-intensive sector, we need to think about how, while we build up, at the same time, we need to have a clear pathway towards decarbonisation.
Having said that, actually our refineries are probably one of the most efficient in terms of carbon emissions. But as you step up the refinery, you have to keep up with that level of carbon emissions. It is a balance and a trade-off that we will have to consider over the medium to longer term.
Mr Speaker: I am going to move on to the next group of clarifications. This should cover the impact on local businesses and households, and also the support measures for them. Mr Ng Chee Meng.
Mr Ng Chee Meng (Jalan Kayu): Mr Speaker, I thank the Government for responding to NTUC's and our Platform Work Association's calls to support sectors most affected by the recent fuel price increases. The measures announced for platform drivers and riders will go some way in easing the pressures on their livelihoods. I have two clarifications.
May I clarify if similar support is being considered for other self-employed groups who are significantly impacted likewise, such as Combi bus drivers and limousine drivers? I believe they are currently not covered in the announcement. NTUC will stand ready to partner the Government as a stakeholder to ensure that these workers are not left behind.
Second, may I ask if the Government will encourage service buyers to take a fair and practical approach in reviewing existing contracts where sustained fuel cost increases materially affects the viability of our workers' livelihoods.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Thank you, Mr Speaker. On self-employed groups, specifically the Combi bus and limousine drivers, in 2002, the Government worked very closely with the NTUC to work out the support measures for this particular group. I think we will be happy to work with NTUC again to see how that can be done. [Please refer to \"Clarification by Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Correction By Written Statement section.]
As for service buyers, and whether or not we can help them with the contracts, the Government has already stated its position as a responsible buyer for its own contracts. We hope that we can also encourage private sector service buyers, as well as service providers, to also come to reasonable accommodations for these purposes.
Mr Speaker: Mr Ng Shi Xuan.
Mr Ng Shi Xuan (Sembawang): Thank you, Speaker. I thank Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow on sharing the support given to local businesses, especially on the extension of the Energy Efficiency Grant, which I have been asking for in my Parliamentary Question. I have two more clarifications on this point as to who may be excluded, and what may be excluded.
On my first point, for SMEs, some of these energy efficiency machines or equipment may be considered large-ticket items for them. So, has the Government considered schemes that can help to co-pay upon purchase orders, or even to pay direct to vendors upon installation of such equipment?
My second point is, as Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow mentioned, it is for base-tier equipment. These are largely pre-approved equipment and machines. My point is, for some SMEs buying, they may have different sources from the pre-approved vendors and equipment. Can the submissions of new models or new equipment be concurrently considered with the application of the Energy Efficiency Grant, especially in this time when we want to scale up adoption of energy efficiency equipment?
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his question. In terms of large ticket items, and whether the Government can co-pay through better financing, that is something we can consider. But I think overall the approach we have for the Energy Efficiency Grant is that we want to first extend the coverage. Second, we want to get the support out there as soon as possible. So, without having to change the scheme parameters significantly, I think what we want to do is just extend the current parameters. But we will certainly consider at a later stage whether there are other things that we can do to enhance this in terms of financing.
Similarly, for pre-approved, the reason why it is pre-approved is because we want to make sure that we get the support to the companies as soon as possible, which is why we have worked very closely with trade associations and business associations to understand which are the types of equipment that businesses use most frequently and are most energy saving. And we are happy to take in inputs together with the applications. I think today's application process is fairly automatic, but I will check with the economic agency to see whether there is room for us to give room for people to give suggestions on what type of equipment.
Mr Speaker: Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim.
Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim (East Coast): Thank you, Speaker, I have two clarifications in English and one in Malay.
In light of wanting more Singaporeans to also be a part of the movement to manage energy consumption and usage, what are some national initiatives that can be brought back, for example, guidelines on lighting usage in public places or even in commercial buildings in terms of managing energy uses?
Second is, what is some of the Government's plan to partner with community organisations to help some residents or Singaporeans who fall through the crack and need a little bit more assistance due to the impact of the crisis in the Middle East? Mr Speaker, in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Earlier, I asked about the support that can specifically be given to communities that are more affected by the outcomes or impact of the Middle East conflict, and we have already heard details about emotional, spiritual and mental support.
Now, what about the economic perspective? Are there specific platforms or additional support that can be expected, perhaps from self-help bodies as well as MUIS or mosques?
The Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Sir, I thank the Member for the clarification. I will reply in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, as shared earlier, the Government is dealing with this Middle East conflict through a whole-of-Government effort. We realise that this conflict has raised deep concerns among our community. Many may feel alarmed, not just at the human suffering but also about the impact on their families and daily lives, including rising costs.
As a small and open economy, Singapore cannot escape the impact of this crisis. The Straits of Hormuz blockade has resulted in global energy supply shortages, including crude oil and gas, and will impact other essential products, such as raw materials.
In response, Singapore is taking steps to strengthen our resilience. We have diversified our energy sources beyond the Middle East region and maintained strategic food reserves to reduce supply disruptions.
The effects of these increases are already being felt in daily life. This conflict will also be felt by Singaporeans, with higher energy and food prices, leading to increased cost of living. We must be prepared for the possibility that these pressures will continue in the months ahead.
We will closely monitor the prices of food and goods as well as other essential services. Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow has provided details on the support that will be given. We will launch immediate assistance to businesses through enhanced corporate income tax rebates and expand the Energy Efficiency Grant to all sectors.
For individuals, we will issue CDC vouchers earlier and provide an additional $200 via the Cost-of-Living Special Payment from Budget 2026 for eligible Singaporeans to ease daily expenses. The Government is prepared to provide further support if necessary.
For our Muslim community, MUIS is in contact with Singaporean students in the Middle East and providing necessary support. MUIS is also working with partners, such as the Association of Muslim Travel Agents Singapore (AMTAS), regarding umrah and hajj arrangements. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary measures.
Most importantly, the safety and well-being of Singaporeans remain our priority. As Deputy Prime Minister Gan said earlier, all of us can play our part. We should do what we can to conserve energy, avoid wastage and be more prudent when using resources. If every household practises these measures, it will make a difference, especially during these uncertain times.
Sir, like previous crises, I encourage our people to come together and support one another, based on our strong spirit of mutual support and unity. Let us strengthen our solidarity and remain resilient through these challenging times.
We must ensure that global tensions do not create divisions in our society. This is an opportunity for us to draw closer to one another and exemplify the shared values that guide us as a society, to be the best versions of ourselves and for the common good of all Singaporeans.
Mr Speaker: Mr Pritam Singh.
Mr Pritam Singh: Thank you, Speaker. Moving to the second bucket of questions. Sir, in Budget 2021, support was extended to Singaporeans who rely on vehicles for their livelihoods. This extended to taxis, taxi drivers, private hire car drivers and motorcyclists. The support rendered included road tax rebates and petrol duty rebates. Given the elevated prices of fuel, specifically diesel, now by up to 70%, what thresholds will determine the extension of similar measures today, to assist Singaporeans who rely on vehicles for their livelihoods?
The second question covers a subject that was discussed in the earlier bucket of questions, and this pertains to electricity prices for the upcoming quarters. Given that it is really certain that these prices would be elevated and perhaps significantly elevated, does the Government intend to extend further support to households and businesses in anticipation of these higher electricity prices?
And finally, I would like to make a point with regard to bus drivers and some small operators of transport businesses who are significantly affected by the diesel price hike and who are not included in this tranche of the Government support measures. When can these individuals expect support? Because for some of them, the situation is incredibly dire.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Thank you, Mr Speaker. We very much understand the concerns of drivers and SMEs who are reliant on diesel fuel and may not have ready alternatives. The suggestion of whether or not to give a road tax rebate or reduction, it is too blunt a measure. We have, as I said in my speech earlier, aside from being a revenue measure, actually, road tax works in tandem with our other vehicle policies to achieve other longer-term outcomes, for instance, pricing in externalities related to public health and pollution, influencing vehicle buyers to choose more fuel-efficient vehicles. These objectives remain relevant and we do not want to go in the opposite direction.
So, therefore, a reduction of road tax is too blunt a tool. And so, what we want to do is be more focused and targeted in who we support, and our approach therefore is to provide directed support to SMEs, companies, drivers – people who are more directly affected by the fuel prices. And the overall package provides that support – whether it is through the Corporate Income Tax rebate, as I mentioned earlier, as well as other targeted support, like the $200, that we are giving to the taxi drivers, the platform workers, which includes the private hire car drivers.
We will continue to assess the situation closely, and if there is a need for us to provide further support, we can consider that at the later juncture.
On the U-Save rebates we had initially sized them, as I mentioned, at 1.5 times the regular rate of what we normally give. It is to indeed cover the immediate tranche of both April to June and also subsequently from July to September, and the tranches will be disbursed in April and July respectively.
At the moment we do not know exactly how much the fuel tariff is going to be. We know it is going to increase. If there is a need for us to do more later, we can look at doing that as well.
We spoke about the bus drivers earlier in relation to the earlier question by Mr Ng Chee Meng. Where there are bus drivers that indeed are not part of the existing package, we will work through the unions as soon as possible to provide support for this group.
Mr Speaker: Mr Ang Wei Neng.
Mr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast-Jurong West): I thank the Deputy Prime Minister for announcing the good news to give targeted help to Singaporeans who are most affected by the Middle East crisis, especially for the escalating fuel prices. I would first like to declare my interest as head of a company that leases out taxis, limousines and private cars, before asking clarification questions.
In particular, I am glad the Government is giving $200 to platform workers, such as food delivery personnel, taxi drivers and private hire drivers. But we note that this $200 is given to all platform workers regardless of their driving hours. There is a full-time driver who drives more than 400 kilometres a day, who apparently will get the same $200 as compared to those who drive part-time or do not drive.
Thus, I would like to ask if MOF and MOT will consider giving additional $100 or appropriate amount to drivers who drive more than eight hours a day on average, for example?
I have a second clarification question for the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Many Singaporeans who receive financial assistance from a social service office will face the full brunt of the price increases and inflation. I would therefore ask whether MSF would review the quantum of financial assistance provided to mitigate the expected sharp rise in food inflation in the next few months?
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, let me take the first question by Mr Ang on the $200. We sized the $200 based on the average increase in fuel cost that full-time taxi drivers as well as full-time private hire car drivers experienced in a month. The average is about $150 to $250, so we have chosen a number that is in the middle of that range.
Of course, there are many drivers in the private hire car community that are not full-time drivers. They drive part time for various reasons and so, in some ways, the $200 is sized at the higher end of the range. In addition, we also note that NTUC as well as the Land Transport Authority, have been in discussions with the platform operators to provide support for these drivers and platform operators have given fuel vouchers in the last few weeks to the drivers that are affected. We have also allowed for the fares of these services to also rise to accommodate some of these cost pressures.
So, overall, there is a holistic cost sharing. I think that is reasonable for now. We will continue to observe the situation and if there is a need for us to do more for this group, particularly the vulnerable ones, we will do so.
Mr Speaker: Minister of State Goh Pei Ming.
The Minister of State for Social and Family Development (Mr Goh Pei Ming): Mr Speaker, responding to the Member's question on ComCare, let me enlarge the question to address all lower-income families.
I think the overall broad-based measures announced by MOF, be it the Cost-of-Living Special Payment or the U-Save rebates, although they benefit all households, but actually, they more than proportionately advantage and benefit the lower-income families. On this note, we think that is adequate support on that front.
In terms of the overall ComCare, be it the Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance rates, we have revised the assistance rates about a year ago, in April 2025. During that last review, we have built in projected inflation. Based on what we have observed so far, we are still within the buffer. And therefore, we think the ComCare assistance rates for now suffice.
In addition to that, earlier during the Committee of Supply debates, we also announced enhancements to ComLink+ support. We have also pushed out the Partnership Payout, and through which we do want to encourage many of our lower-income families or ComLink+ families to come onboard the ComLink+ programme. With that, there is also a certain payout that can benefit our lower-income families.
Having said so, I just want to say we are cognisant that our lower-income families are affected by cost of living increases disproportionately. And therefore, we are watching the situation very closely and will be ready to respond should there be a need to in the next few tranches.
Perhaps, also allow me to respond to a question that the Member Hazlina mentioned earlier. I think she was alluding to the fact that many of our social service agencies have very close feelers on the ground and therefore, they understand the challenges on the ground most acutely where the needs are. Indeed, we agree that we want to better support our social service agencies in terms of their work, because they are best able to deliver very targeted support to the households who need those support. We are working closely with the social service agencies and if there is a need to reinforce their work, reinforce the support that they get, we will do so.
Mr Speaker: Mr Mark Lee.
Mr Mark Lee (Nominated Member): I thank the Ministers for their very encouraging response. It is heartening to actually know that the Government has the resources and ability to manoeuvre and assist, as compared to many countries.
Sir, I have four supplementary questions. The first, many SMEs, particular, those with fixed price or longer-term contracts, lack the bargaining power to reprice quickly, even as energy, freight and material costs rise. I am glad to hear that Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow said the Government is taking steps to adjust pricing in major infrastructure and BTO projects. This is an important signal to the private sector.
Building on this approach and as a businessman, with the importance of preserving contract sanctity, if the conflict continues to indefinitely and oil prices remain elevated, whether the Government can work with and support trade associations and chambers by providing guidance, reference frameworks or industry signals that facilitate fair and timely commercial re-negotiation in exceptional circumstances.
Second, many businesses should make use of this time to accelerate their shift to energy efficient equipment. I am glad to hear that the Energy Efficient Grant is expanded to all sectors, and this is the right direction. By increasing the Energy Efficient Grant quantum will help businesses move further as pricing on the ground has changed significantly. Also, can we expand the Business Adaptation Grant to include advisory services that can help businesses rethink and replan their business and processes to be more energy efficient?
My third supplementary question is in relation to tightening credit conditions and rising working capital needs. Will the Government consider recalibrating existing financing schemes, such as the Enterprise Financing Scheme and where relevant, the Long-Term Investment Fund and the Private Credit Growth Fund to better support SMEs facing such short-term liquidity pressures, particularly those managing volatility driven costs, or even firms that want to take this chance to basically do more mergers and acquisitions?
Finally, if U-Save helps household manage unavoidable utility costs, can the Government consider a targeted equivalent for energy-exposed SMEs where utilities are similarly non-discretionary?
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, I thank Mr Mark Lee for his questions. First of all, we really understand the cashflow concerns of SMEs that are caught in this current energy crisis and the price spike. It is important, therefore, for us to get support to the SMEs as soon as possible. And that is the reason why we have decided, the best way and the fastest way to get support to them is through the Corporate Income Tax rebates and through the cash grant, to provide them support in terms of cashflow considerations. And we are able to disburse and start doing that from April onwards, which should help, even in those cases that the Member mentioned about the contracts being locked in at fixed prices.
Very much appreciative of the suggestion to involve the trade associations and chambers to support and guide businesses to get through this difficult period. Certainly, on behalf of the economic agencies, we will work very closely with the trade associations and chambers to do this.
On the Energy Efficiency Grant, as I mentioned earlier, in response to another Parliamentary Question, what we do want to do is to really get out the support soon. So, we did not want to make significant changes to the parameters. But increasing the quantum of the support is something we can consider at a later juncture. And similarly, we will look at also the Business Adaptation Grant, which Mr Lee suggested.
On financing support, there are not a lot of signs today that the financing ecosystem has severely tightened up. But we will watch this very closely, and if that is the case, indeed, we will then leverage on the existing schemes that we have to provide support to our companies.
Finally, on the suggestions to have a U-Save scheme for companies, what we want to do is to again provide support to our companies broadly and quickly. We do not want to subsidise them necessarily too much on energy, because that will blunt the price signals and slow down the process of encouraging these companies to continue to be energy efficient, at a stage where it is very important for us to reinforce this message. We need to help companies in fact, move through this transition phase quickly, continue to be energy efficient; in fact, to be more energy efficient if they can, and through some of our schemes to encourage them to do so through buying more equipment and things like that, like for example, through the Energy Efficiency Grant.
Mr Speaker: Ms Elysa Chen.
Ms Elysa Chen (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Thank you, Speaker. I am glad to know that we have put together a substantial first response and that the Government has drawer plans to be deployed in the mid to long term to support Singaporeans.
Beyond shorter-term measures, many in the broad middle are concerned about whether their wages can keep pace with the more volatile and uncertain economic and inflationary environment. Could the Government share its plans to work with employers and unions to support sustainable wage growth and job security for mid-career and middle-income workers so that they do not slowly slip towards vulnerability over time?
Going further, will the Government keep track of economic stress indicators among the broad middle, such as rising unsecured debt, mortgage strain or increased reliance on informal help? And how will these signals inform whether more calibrated support for this group is needed if the current Middle East situation drags on for longer than expected?
Before my next clarification, I would like to declare that I am the executive director of a social service agency that serves children from lower-income families.
Passengers, such as lower-income shift workers, caregivers and those in essential services often have the least flexibility to change their travel patterns when global events occur and fuel-linked costs rise, not just for public transport, but also for private hire transport. In its medium- and longer-term plans for navigating this crisis and designing any transport-related interventions, how will MOT and the Government ensure long-term affordability for lower-income or vulnerable transport relief to those with no realistic ability to substitute or reduce usage?
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, I think the Member's questions are very broad – they go beyond the scope of this current discussion that we are having on the crisis and it goes beyond the Ministerial Statement a little bit.
What I will just say is that these are important concerns for our Government, and from a government's point of view, we will continue to work on these issues to make sure that we have a society that is well-supported and that their needs are well met.
Specifically, on her question on transport affordability especially for families, we do have a comprehensive system to support lower-income Singaporeans, in terms of their transport needs. Today, public transport is very affordable. It is, I believe, about 2% of the average household income for the P30, if I am not mistaken. But more importantly, if there are people who cannot afford transport, we will find ways to support them. Even for large families who need to take private hire vehicles, we have additional subsidies that we have worked in through the Large Family LifeSG Credits.
Overall, we will continue to make sure that transportation is affordable for our Singaporeans.
Mr Speaker: Mr Louis Chua.
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis (Sengkang): Thank you, Speaker. Two sets of clarifications.
First, if we look at the fuel prices, petrol prices have gone up by 20% and diesel 70%. And for the diesel vehicles, most are actually commercial vehicles. In this this regard, if you look at the impact to sole proprietorships or micro and SMEs, the impact could be quite hard. In the spirit of not using blunt tools, I was wondering if there are specific measures to small businesses that have diesel vehicles to mitigate the impact of higher fuel costs. I do note the point about the enhanced Corporate Income Tax rebate. And if you look at the cash run component, it has been increased to about $2,000, basically an increase of $500. But some estimates have it that just the monthly fuel cost increase for one diesel van alone is already $172 a month.
Second, Minister Tan last month encouraged all of us to conserve energy. Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister have also said the same. But if I look at the electricity demand in Singapore, households represent just about 6% of electricity demand based on the latest numbers. In this regard, in terms of looking at the industrial and commercial uses, which is the overwhelming use of energy demand, what specific measures are there to have targeted measures to encourage these companies to step up on their minimum energy efficiency standards or energy conservation measures?
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, I had spoken earlier about doing something about the diesel tax expenses. So, I will just add a little bit more to the answer. I think that even if we do cut diesel tax duties, it might not necessarily pass through fully to the end consumer. Therefore, it is not really the best way to try to convey help directly to the people who need it the most.
More importantly, as I said earlier, we do not want to blunt the price signals and reduce the incentive for the longer-term objective, which is to encourage actually businesses to switch to more energy efficient modes of transport, as well as to be more efficient in how they use their vehicles.
Mr Speaker: Mr Patrick Tay.
Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan (Pioneer): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two questions for the Minister for Health. Firstly, the rise in energy and related costs will impact our public healthcare clusters. How would the Ministry of Health (MOH) be mitigating this, so that some of these costs are not passed on to consumers, therefore inflating and exacerbating healthcare prices and costs?
The second question is whether in in light of the current situation, is there any impact on whether it is our stockpile or supply of critical medicines, or maybe certain specialty areas?
Mr Ong Ye Kung: We are back to the first bucket. On the impact of the disruption, there is an immediate impact, which is supply we procure that comes through the Strait of Hormuz.
One ingredient is helium, and I explained earlier, the impact is not big because we do not take our helium from there. Second is medical supplies. Our medical supplies that come through the Strait of Hormuz are very low, well below 1% of our medical supplies, and medical supplies in turn, is about 12% of our total healthcare costs. So, the impact is not significant and there is no tap on our stockpiles.
But I think what we need to watch out for is the secondary domino effect. Because if petrochemical products are disrupted, then the raw materials to make gloves, syringes will be affected. Korea is affected because they make their own syringes. We import from suppliers, so, for now, we are not affected.
If chemicals used to make drug substances are impacted, then drug suppliers will be impacted.
The global supply chain is actually not a chain, it is a very intricate web. We need to monitor those downstream domino effects.
As of now, because the immediate impact is not significant, our response should be to maintain our stockpile, especially for essential supplies, watch our usage, minimise wastage, work with our trusted suppliers – and we have very good relationships with them – and then, judge the moment to activate other contingency plans, if and when they are needed.
Mr Speaker: Ms Denise Phua.
Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Jalan Besar): I think Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow has mentioned that temporary assistance will be provided for those who need them for essential services. Co-funding will be given as well.
For many of these vulnerable groups, for example, the elderly, the disabled, the younger disabled, those who are in special education schools and so forth, they have very few alternatives in terms of transport mode. I worry that if the measures are too blunt or too low even after co-funding, the service providers who chose to provide essential transport services for this group might choose to exit. That is something that we do not want to see because it does create more hardship.
So, I want to ask if the relevant Ministries, for example, the Ministry of Education (MOE), MSF and MOH, who are supporting this group, before they make their final decision and announce them, can you do a more detailed study in terms of the impact and perhaps look at tiering some of these measures before announcing them, and provide a space to have flexibility for those who are truly undergoing hardship or will create hardship, to protect the vulnerable who have few alternatives and also to preserve those service providers who have other alternatives to make money but choose to serve this group of vulnerable people? For your consideration, please.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, I think we fully agree with Ms Denise Phua's exhortation. Indeed, we want to absolutely ensure that these critical services continue to be operated for the vulnerable. And on behalf of those agencies that she mentioned, we will make sure that we take care of the vulnerable and the services continue to be run. And we will consult all relevant stakeholders to make sure that this is so.
Mr Speaker: Mr Kenneth Tiong. I am sorry, Minister of State Goh.
Mr Goh Pei Ming: I just wanted to add that at this current juncture, as we speak, MOF, together with MOE, MSF as well as MOH, are working on the details following up from what has been disseminated today. If you have any feedback, you can relay to us and we can perhaps work that into the details.
I just want to share it that, especially for some of our persons with disabilities, in addition to what has been announced today, earlier at the Committee of Supply last year, we announced enhanced Enabling Transport Subsidy provisions. These provisions will commence in July this year. I think the timeliness of it should allow us to provide increased subsidy rates as well as expanded coverage for families.
My understanding is there for those with per capita household incomes up to $4,800, from July onwards, they will be covered. This, hopefully, will come at a good time whereby it provides additional support for some of these families that we are speaking about.
Mr Speaker: Mr Kenneth Tiong.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat (Aljunied): Thank you, Speaker. The Singapore Department of Statistics publishes retail prices and what consumers pay at the end. I am not sure we track the full cost structure behind the prices – domestic supply chain margins, domestic transport, wholesale margins, retail margins and so on. If you do not have a baseline understanding of the cost structure before the prices rise further, you will not be able to tell later whether a price increase was done by genuine cost pressures or by margin expansion.
Will the Government establish baseline cost structure data now for key categories such as food, transport and energy companies, especially the retail-facing ones?
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Thank you, Speaker. I just want to explain that we operate our economy in a very competitive manner. We just want to make sure that in our retail market and wholesale market, we have sufficient competition to allow businesses to operate in a competitive way. This way is the best way to ensure that our prices are reasonable.
For those who are taking advantage of the market to try to raise the prices, there will be competitors, they will compete to offer alternatives. This is the best way to ensure that our prices are always reasonable and competitive.
Our Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore will continue to monitor and carry out surveillance in the market to ensure that the market in different areas, whether it is retail or wholesale, whether it is food or energy or any other commodity, we will make sure that there is sufficient competition. If there is a lack of competition, then the Commission will intervene where necessary.
Mr Speaker: Mr Victor Lye.
Mr Victor Lye (Ang Mo Kio): Thank you, Speaker. I am sure many Singaporean vulnerable households and businesses are grateful for the short-term measures that we have announced and brought forward. But as we know, it will never be enough and there will always be opportunities to do more.
At a recent residents' dialogue, I came across some opinions that the crisis is not that severe, having seen other countries where they have had fuel shortages and even electricity supply cuts.
This is something that we need to be mindful of. I am very heartened that among the residents, the younger generation made some very interesting suggestions – that perhaps the Government can go beyond a crisis and a money solution, to go beyond money to rally our people.
This is a crisis that falls not just on Singapore, but across the whole world. Perhaps the Government can consider some measures to bring out people together nationally so that they feel they can also do their part to contribute. For example, to conserve electricity in a more objective way. So, can the Government consider a campaign to bring our Singaporeans together to contribute to this solution, over and above just money being given out?
Mr Gan Kim Yong: I want to thank Mr Victor Lye for his suggestion. Indeed, communication and engagement are an important part of the work of the committee. We do want to reach out to take this opportunity to re-emphasise the importance of conservation and to share with Singaporeans the situation regularly so that they are updated on the situation that we are facing.
This is indeed a crisis and it is a crisis serious enough for us to set up the HCMC to oversee this whole-of-Government effort to manage the crisis. Today, we have three Ministerial Statements, which also signifies the importance of this crisis situation. This is something that we hope to be able to reach out to our people.
The Member's suggestions about campaigns and exercises are something that we will consider. Where practical and where it is meaningful, we will be happy to work with the community or community organisations, we will work with schools, we will work with trade associations to see how we can continue to re-emphasise this message of a crisis situation and that we need to do our part to continue to conserve all our resources – energy, food, water and all the important resources.
Mr Speaker: Ms Lee Hui Ying.
Ms Lee Hui Ying (Nee Soon): Thank you, Mr Speaker. In Budget 2016, there was a one-year freeze in foreign worker levies for the marine and process sectors due to the oil price's downturn. Ten years on, we now face a global oil price surge. Many sectors, especially the construction sector, that rely heavily on diesel for logistics and transport, now face doubling or even tripling of their business operating costs.
Will the Government consider a temporary freeze of foreign worker levies to affected sectors, especially the construction sector? This will directly help to offset the impact of rising costs.
And if the crisis prolongs, were there be alternative support measures to help these businesses manage this cost as well? This include businesses who manage private contracts who will not be able to benefit from BCA's co-sharing of fuel calls for key Government projects.
Dr Tan See Leng: At this particular point in time, we are monitoring the situation very closely. Our first priority would be to support all of our fresh graduates who are graduating. We are also concerned about the potential of AI disruptions on fresh graduates looking and landing jobs.
What we hope to be able to achieve in our graduated tiering of the worker levies is to drive productivity and drive value-add in many of these construction companies and many of the SMEs and companies that are employing these foreign workers. Just by cutting away the levy completely, without any concomitant tie-backs to increase productivity and value-add, I think we are going to set ourselves back.
Mr Speaker: Mr Azhar Othman.
Mr Azhar Othman (Nominated Member): Thank you, Speaker. A couple of clarifications and suggestions, if I may.
Looking at the critical nature of this situation, will the Government be imposing a curb on private transportation use as what other countries have been deploying, in Malaysia and Indonesia? The whole idea is to reduce our consumption and plan further when the urgency is needed. That is number one.
Number two is that if you look at the Energy Efficiency Grant and if we are relying on households to reduce their consumption, if I may recommend that we reward reduced consumption? Because only then will the value of using energy more efficiently be taken into account. If typically, their consumption is $100 a month and they manage to reduce it by $20, a percentage of that can be returned to them as a reward. I think that puts Singaporeans in a mindset of using energy wisely, in terms of how we can encourage the efficiency of consumption.
Thirdly, looking at this situation of energy dependency, it is important to ensure we are energy independent. If I can ask the Ministry, how serious this situation is and how this situation expedites the possibility of deployment of small modular reactor or nuclear energy in the context of being independent?
Mr Speaker: Minister Tan first, then Acting Minister Siow.
Dr Tan See Leng: On the acceleration, the last point from the Member about the deployment of small modular reactors, I believe I have answered it quite extensively. Perhaps just to reiterate: we are doing everything we can. We have shared with everyone here about the four switches in terms of the diversification of our energy sources to achieve some measure of energy independence.
First, natural gas. Second, solarisation. We have exceeded our targets five years ahead of time. We hit the two gigawatt-peak last year, ahead of the 2030 target that we set for ourselves. So, now, we are going to raise the ambition to three gigawatt-peak by 2030 – 50% more – and we are hoping to drive and accelerate solar power adoption here, to double that from last year to four gigawatt-peak by the second half of the 2030s.
We have gone on this Decarbonisation Grand Challenge, which was announced at the Committee of Supply this year to look for low-carbon technologies. And to try to see how we can use biomethane as a sandbox. So, we are trying everything there is, including exploring geothermal.
And the last bit is a question of waiting for the first of a kind to be operational and to be deployed and to be safe before we start to adopt. We want to be the fastest adopter. We have sent our teams to learn from the US. Our teams have gone to the US multiple times to look at the different centres in Idaho, in Oak Ridge and in Boston as well.
At the same time, we have tie-ups with the United Arab Emirates. Of course, at this particular point in time, no one is there from our side.
We have also signed agreements with the Koreans, with the Japanese, with the United Kingdom and the French to learn from them on some of these advanced nuclear technologies. And we are also working very closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency to see how we can self-evaluate through the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review. And we will keep this House posted very regularly on the accelerated pathways that we have adopted to reach that energy independence. Those are the measures that I have articulated many, many times.
To the Member's point about whether we should consider rationing power use, for instance. We are contemplating. These are very early days. We do not want to cause panic because we are actually stable. We also do not want to cause panic to investors, to the world economy, to our downstream partner countries whom we export refined products to. But at some point in time, as part and parcel of Total Defence Day, we may do an exercise to test out the readiness when it comes to power rationing.
If I may borrow your time, since we are here. You are all respectively advisors of your constituencies, your Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and so on. If you can adopt energy saving measures across the entire GRC, we would really welcome that. And I want to make a shout-out to the Senior Parliamentary Secretary Shawn Huang. I think in his constituency he adopted energy-saving motion sensor lighting in the HDB blocks.
To also address the Member Louis Chua's point about the fact that domestic use is a very small amount, but it hits the pocket. And we are starting a multi-pronged approach, not just to domestic users that we are encouraging to conserve energy, we are also working with big businesses to get them, to incentivise them to switch, whether it is the Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions, the Energy Efficiency Grant, to get them to take on these things. We are encouraging contemporaneously our domestic users to use the climate vouchers if they have not used, to switch the aircon appliances, from the three-tick to the five-tick ones, which saves them considerable amount of money every year – about $300.
So, we are trying on multiple prongs to get our population, our businesses, our country, our society as a whole to adopt energy conservation as its core, as its foundation.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, just to reply very quickly to the Member's suggestion on curbing private transport use. And in fact, that is the very reason why we do not want to reduce diesel or fuel taxes and duties.
But our context is quite different from other countries. We, as Dr Tan explained, are not facing a shortage of fuel. What we are facing are high fuel prices and that in itself, should be an incentive for people to drive less, and maybe, hopefully to use public transport more.
I would just want to just add very quickly that the situation that we have is a position of strength. It is not by accident. We are here, fortunate that we are discussing how to cope with higher fuel prices, rather than discussing whether we are running out of fuel. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Shanmugam explained, we built our position as an energy trading hub over decades, that was a long-term move. We maintain strategic fuel reserves precisely because we anticipated supply disruptions and we do not control prices. We allow the price mechanism to function, so that energy is priced properly in Singapore and used efficiently.
And all these are deliberate. They allow us to be in a strong position to act, not just react, so that we are able to cope with these crises. And it is all because we have a good Government that is prepared, anticipates problems and plans ahead for the future.
Mr Speaker: Acting Minister Siow, I recall earlier, there was a question by Mr Saktiandi Supaat. We agreed to defer it. You might want to respond to his earlier question.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Yes, Mr Speaker, let me do that. Mr Saktiandi asked two things. One is whether or not the inflationary impact can be mitigated with our use of our monetary policies. And to that end, indeed, MAS will look at this as part of its regular review of monetary policies. I think we will see what they will intend to do in the coming months.
I think his other question was about off-Budget measures and whether or not we have plans to do that. As I have explained in my speech, we do have drawer plans. If the situation changes and if needed, we will indeed activate them and bring them together as off-Budget measures if needed.
Mr Speaker: Ms Nadia Samdin.
Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin: Thank you, Speaker. On assurances to households, I would like to appeal for my second question earlier on national food stockpile to please be answered.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad: I thank the Member for her question. This was in the earlier bucket. And on national food stockpile, I think this is important, because I just want to assure Singaporeans that we do have sufficient stockpiles. We are constantly calibrating and assessing the current situation. Certainly, at this point in time, there is no need to activate the stockpiles. I am not at liberty to give too much details on what it is, because this is as part of national security; I think we want to keep that on our own books.
Having said that, I think we are in a better position today, having had learnt from COVID-19, from the last energy crisis, to be able to diversify our sources. Today, we have about 180 countries and regions that we have, among our agreements today where we import food sources, so that enables us to diversify and divert food imports when necessary.
Earlier, I also shared that the amount of food imports through the Strait of Hormuz was just less than 0.5%. So, hence, today, while we are not impacted, while we are not likely to see food disruptions in the short term, we cannot fully insulate ourselves from increases in food prices; as a result of increases, such as fertilisers and other food inputs.
So, I think this is where a lot of the measures as covered by MOF earlier, provide assurance in the short term that the Government is looking into this. We are monitoring the situation.
And if I can assure Members too, that perhaps, like Mr Victor Lye had suggested earlier, make this a learning moment. If I can also pitch for our local farmers and local production, this is also a time for us to build our local capabilities, our local farming resilience. For us to also look into buying local produce, that helps our farms to increase capacity at this point, helps them build resilience over time and should there be disruptions or should there be a need for us to divert supplies or look to ramp up local production, I think they would be in a better position if we do what we can today to support them too.
So, this is, I think, one learning moment that we can do. And I hope that the community can come forth and support our local farmers this round.
Mr Speaker: Ms Joan Pereira.
Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar): Speaker, one clarification. Will there be any plans to provide targeted support like rental or utility rebates for our hawkers and our stallholders as they strive to continue providing affordable meals for Singaporeans?
Mr Speaker: Who is going to respond to this? Senior Minister of State Zaqy.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad: I think on the hawker front, we keep our rentals as low as possible to sustain our hawkers. But for food prices, we continue to monitor. My colleague, Minister of State Gan mentioned about how we are monitoring food supply of food prices, and I think that we will continue to do so. The current measures are what we look at, in terms of CDC vouchers and special payments. I think that is where we look to support households in the meantime and we will keep everyone posted should there be changes.
But rest assured we are monitoring, we are engaging our hawkers. We will try to keep prices as competitive and low as possible, but I cannot guarantee that there will not be food price increases as a result of, what I shared earlier. We are importing most of our food supply and so, we are not insulated against food hikes or food prices as a result of the global situation right now.
Mr Speaker: Ms Pereira.
Ms Joan Pereira: I was wondering whether there could be some support, like rental or utility rebates for them.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad: Mr Speaker, as I shared, we are monitoring the situation. The Government is monitoring at this point. There is no need at this juncture, because we have not seen the price hikes hit the hawkers in the same way as yet. There will be downstream impact. I think that is quite sure. I think we have already had enough explanations and elaborations from MTI colleagues on energy price hikes at this point. I think we are still in stable mode. So, if the need arises, rest assured that the Ministry will provide the necessary assistance as required.
Mr Speaker: Mr David Hoe.
Mr David Hoe (Jurong East-Bukit Batok): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have two cluster of questions and one suggestion.
The first is directed to MOE. With rising input costs, how might this translate into food prices in our school canteens? Will MOE work with stallholders to monitor and manage price increase? And should there be any price adjustment, would this be communicated to parents, because what I hear from parents, this is so that they are able to make informed decisions to adjust pocket money for their children.
The second cluster of question relates to MOT. In my interaction with private hires with Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam recently, many of them raised concerns about their fuel costs. And with this $200 support, it will help to cushion these pressures. I would like to clarify whether if this is intended as a one-off measure, or would we be seeing this at a more sustained periodic support until fuel prices are stabilised at an acceptable amount?
Third, it is a suggestion. One thing I have learnt in my role and caring for Clementi residents, is that, in times of need and time of fear and crises, scammers will leverage on this to tell our residents to do things that will put them in a vulnerable position. So, my suggestion is, could we also in this period of time, increase our advisory on scams and also for all of us, as we interact with our residents to let them know to be mindful for any advisories that come to them that they should always double check and also dial 1799 for any clarification.
Mr Speaker: From MOE, who is going to respond? Minister of State Lau.
The Minister of State for Education (Ms Jasmin Lau): I thank the Member for the question. On the question for MOE on canteen stallholders, we are monitoring the utility costs for them. And if need be, we will take a look at how we can come in to support some of them. I think we are also mindful that currently, there are fee guidelines for the prices of the food in our school canteens and therefore, any increases in the utilities or ingredients costs, would have to be borne by many of our students and their families as well.
But as Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow has mentioned, we will do our part to provide financial assistance to the students who need them most.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Mr Speaker, on private hire car drivers, the $200 is currently a one-off, but we will watch how things develop and if there is a need for us to do more, we can come in again. But more importantly, if fuel prices continue to remain elevated at this price for a long period of time, actually, the market ought to accommodate it in the form of higher fares, which then, consumers will have to adjust their behaviours, including consumption. I think that is the best way to do it, rather than try to blunt the price signals by giving them a long-term fuel subsidy.
Mr Speaker: Senior Minister of State Sun Xueling.
The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Ms Sun Xueling): Mr Speaker, earlier, Member Ms Joan Pereira had a question with regard to rental cost and hawker food prices. That was addressed by Senior Minister of State Zaqy. But I also thought that in relation to what she asked, another area where people might be concerned about could be the HDB coffee shops, because that is also where they buy their meals.
I would like to share that during COVID-19, HDB had provided additional assistance, such as rental waivers for HDB rental shops. HDB had also considered appeals from tenants who are facing financial hardship or poor business conditions by granting instalment payment plans.
So, if like what Senior Minister of State Zaqy said, we would monitor the situation, and if there is a need for us to sync up what we do with regard to rental costs to help with how hawkers or coffeeshop operators are doing, then we will do so.
Mr Speaker: I am going to move to the third bucket, on security and related matters. Ms Mariam Jaafar.
Ms Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang): Thank you, Speaker. I wanted to follow up on the thrust of my Parliamentary Question Nos 15 and 62. First clarification, could the Minister please clarify whether the Government is planning on the basis that the current disruptions are temporary, or are we entering into a period of structurally more permanent and more volatile global environment?
Secondly, in adapting to the shifts, what are the key trade-offs that the Government is managing? For example, between resilience and cost competitiveness, someone has to pay for resilience, or between targeted support and more broad-based coverage. Could the Minister provide specific indications on the thresholds that the Government is monitoring, not in the context of price caps, as Minister of State Gan addressed earlier, but in energy prices, duration of disruptions, cost increases in certain sectors? So, what would trigger a shift in the policy response?
And lastly, beyond the tactical immediate stabilisation measures, what are the longer-term structural changes that the Government is considering, taking into account that we do have the restructuring committee's recommendations that are also coming out, but what are the current assessments on the biggest gaps or limitations that the Government may have, in terms of policies, as we shift to a more permanently volatile environment? And I ask this in the context of both being resilient in a defensive way, but also in an offensive way. So, the current policies are great at making it easy to do business, but do we need to shift more to, for example, thinking about how we assess risks, or how we share risks, as well as rewards, in a more volatile environment?
Mr Speaker: Deputy Prime Minister Gan. Although it is back to the first bucket.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Not quite. I think this is regarding security and long-term strategy. I will be happy to answer. First and foremost, I think this crisis is temporary – in a sense, and all crises are temporary, But I think the impact of this crisis will be quite long lasting.
First, it reminds us that the geopolitical situation landscape has changed and it is important for us to understand the implications of that.
And that also relates to your second question, with regard to a trade-off between resilience and cost. I think many years ago, our focus has been efficiency. Our focus has been in cost effectiveness, just-in-time delivery and production. But I think over the last few years, with the multiple crises that we have been confronted with, including COVID-19 and now, this oil crisis, energy crisis, it reminds us that it is not just about \"just in time\", it is also \"just in case\".
So, therefore, it is important for us to review our policy, our strategy, our approach, to ensure carefully calibrated balance between resilience and at the same time, competitiveness. There will always be trade-offs in terms of cost, if you want to have a greater security. I think even in today's world, when we talk about energy security, we talk about stockpile for our energy requirement, stockpile will cost money. And even if we enter into long-term contracts, long-term contracts will also have a premium versus a spot market in situations when there is a volatility.
At the same time, when we look at the cost increase, as a result of disruptions in supply chain, it is something that we also have to always bear in mind. And if we talk about the security for our oil dependent sectors, particularly our refineries, we talk about the access to crude and the need for us to explore alternative sources, and we talk about supplies from outside the Middle East, which will be more costly and take longer to deliver – all these are balances that we need to recalibrate, in response to the changing environment in the geopolitical outlook.
At the same time, we talk about the long-term strategy: what should we do? We have already set up the Economic Strategy Review Committee and they are finishing their work, and the report will be released shortly. And in that work, we focus on how we can strengthen Singapore's economic resilience, so that is not only to respond to crisis, but to respond to long-term changes in the global economic structure. This will include our emphasis on AI, to give us that edge and that leg-up against our competitors. If we are able to move fast, decisively, into embracing AI and adopting AI, and becoming an AI leader, I think that will give us an added competitive edge versus our competition.
At the same time, I also talked about, in my speech earlier, that we need to continue to strengthen our partnership with our like-minded partners – other countries, other economies – to see how we can cooperate and create more space for us, and by international cooperation, that would also strengthen our economic resilience.
So, I think it is a multi-pronged approach, it is not a single strategy. But all these, what we are putting in place, I also need to remind all of us that these strategies must continue to evolve and change, because the global environment is changing all the time. So, we cannot stay static. The Economic Strategy Review Committee report will not be the final review of our economy; I think it is an ongoing process. We just have to keep running. Hopefully, we run slightly faster than our competitors.
Mr Speaker: Mr Gerald Giam.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: Sir, in light of the conflict since 28 February, has the Government detected any uptake in opportunistic or geopolitically-motivated cyberattacks targeting our critical energy or information infrastructure? And will it be stepping up our cyber defence stance above the baseline level during this period?
Secondly, during the Prime Minister's recent meeting with his Australian and New Zealand counterparts, the focus was on securing long-term LNG supplies. Given that 43% of our gas still comes via regional pipelines, has there been a similar high profile public Ministerial level mission to Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, to specifically secure these essential energy lifelines? And if so, has Singapore received formal assurances that existing piped natural gas export contracts will be fully honoured, despite escalating domestic industrial demands?
Dr Tan See Leng: We constantly engage our counterparts for piped natural gas, Malaysia and Singapore. I believe you would have read in the news that both our Prime Ministers, Prime Minister Wong and Prime Minister Anwar, they have been in phone calls as well. I make trips. I meet them at the international fora. And every opportunity that we have, we discuss how to collaborate more – between the whole ASEAN member state framework and also, the fact that we are the closest neighbours.
For Australia, just like the ASEAN member states, because of the interdependence, given our position as a global hub and particularly, a Southeast Asia hub for refineries, our downstream products are equally in demand, just like their natural gas is also equally in demand by us.
So, I think that mutual dependency serves both on a multilateral basis well; and we continue to build on those.
Of course, to further expand that collaboration, to further expand the uptake, I think that is also a function of the amount of private sector investments that we need to bring alongside with us, because typically, when it comes to the actual negotiation for the pricing, we typically do not get involved and we leave it to the business-to-business sector to be involved in the direct negotiation.
Those are the measures that we have today and I believe that they have served us well all these decades. Like what Deputy Prime Minister has just shared, the world is also changing rapidly. Right now, everyone is looking at \"just in case\". I believe that as a result of this particular crisis, some degree of scarring is bound to happen and there will be countries who will start to hoard as well.
But I think for us, we continue to remain clear-headed, consistent in the way we deal with all of our neighbours and with all of our partners. We continue to be transparent and maintain our credibility. I believe that it is not just working within the ASEAN framework, it is also working with Northeast Asia partners – Japan, Republic of Korea, China; working with Oceania, which is Australia, New Zealand; working with the Middle East. Because at some point in time, this crisis will also abate, and of course, opening up new markets. That has always been what we have been carrying out all this while.
Mr Speaker: Minister Josephine Teo.
The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): Mr Speaker, the Member asked a question about Singapore's cyber defence posture. When a conflict of this nature takes place, naturally, we have to watch out for potential vectors of attack, even if Singapore is not directly involved in the theatre of action.
Having said that, I think there is another type of risk that we have to watch out for even more. That is the risk of misinformation and disinformation that could threaten our social cohesion, when narratives are being put forward that polarise not only the countries that are directly involved in a conflict, but also have a spillover effect on Singapore.
So, with regard to what we are watching out for, yes, cyber defence, but at the same time, misinformation and disinformation that could also give rise to tensions within our society.
Mr Speaker: Minister Balakrishnan, would you like to respond to Mr Fadli Fauzi's earlier question?
The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dr Vivian Balakrishnan): Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thank you for the question.
Singapore's position on straits used for international navigation is long-standing and consistent. The Strait of Hormuz, just like the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, are examples of straits used for international navigation. No \"ifs\", no \"buts\", no questions – as far as we are concerned, it is so.
What is the international law position on these types of straits? And the position is quite clear. There is a right of transit passage. It is not a privilege to be granted by the bordering state. It is not a licence to be supplicated for. It is not a toll to be paid. It is a right of all nations' ships, to traverse. This right is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which Singapore is a signatory and has ratified.
Article 44 of UNCLOS imposes a direct and an unambiguous obligation on states bordering these international straits. And let me quote, it states \"states bordering straits shall not hamper transit passage.\" It also goes on to state there shall be no suspension of transit passage. There is no exception for security. There is no exception for environment. There is no exception for war.
Singapore also takes the position that this right of transit passage, is also part of customary international law. And in case you are wondering why I am nitpicking about \"customary international law\", it is because there are some other states that may have signed but have not ratified UNCLOS, and I am stating that, so that I am telling you this is not a \"get out of jail free\" card for states that have not ratified UNCLOS.
So, we have been closely monitoring the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore remains in close contact with the ship owners, as well as the operators of Singapore-flagged or Singapore-registered ships in the Persian Gulf.
At both the international and regional levels, our agencies are engaging with the stakeholders to explore potential opportunities to facilitate safe transit of the ships.
And do not forget, there is also a humanitarian issue for the workers, for the maritime sailors onboard these ships. This includes engaging the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the member states on the potential establishment of a safe maritime corridor following the 36th Extraordinary Session of the IMO Council. In addition, we are also engaging regional counterparts on other possible arrangements that may be explored.
You may be wondering why I am taking such a legal and strict definition. It is not because I am particularly obsessed with law but because the Straits of Malacca and Singapore is, in fact, another critical chokepoint. The Member may be aware that, in fact, if you add up all the maritime oil, crude and refined, you might be surprised that actually, more flows through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore than even the Strait of Hormuz.
If we think about global trade, container trade – there has far more flowing through this place. And the most important geographical fact, which most people are not aware of, the narrowest point in the Strait of Hormuz is 21 nautical miles. Guess what the narrowest point in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore is? It is less than two nautical miles.
So, do you understand now why we have to take a categorical position that international law and the UNCLOS is the constitution of the oceans, and this is a right – freedom of navigation as a right and not a privilege for ships and planes. And this is of profound importance to Singapore.
So, to the Member's specific question, yes, I have engaged with the Iranian Foreign Minister before the war. And yes, I am sure I will engage him in the near future. But as a matter of principle, and not because we are taking sides, I cannot engage in negotiations for safe passage of ships or negotiate on toll rates. Because to do so would be implicitly eroding this legal principle.
So, again, this is another example of Singapore upholding principle, not taking sides.
The larger geostrategic backdrop to this is, whether we realise it or not, the world has become more violent and more volatile, and there is a price to be paid for that.
Second, what the Strait of Hormuz has shown is that even in this digital age, chokepoints and physical delivery still matter.
And the third point which we need to register in Singapore is that it is not enough to be an oasis of safety, security, cohesion, wealth and even having the military ability to protect ourselves – because if our region is aflame and with war and missiles flying, no oasis can be safe.
The upshot of these three observations is that there is an insurance premium to be paid. So, let us be upfront with our people, explain the dangers, no sugar-coating, explain what needs to be done, including paying that insurance premium.
We need to alert our people, but not be alarmist. And we have to walk that fine tight rope.
Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh.
Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh: Speaker, I just have a question to the Government about medical supplies. How vulnerable are our supply chains for like medical products and pharmaceuticals, and how price-sensitive are these products, given the current crisis?
Mr Speaker: Looks like we are going back to the second bucket. I thought this was actually answered by Minister Ong earlier. But Deputy Prime Minister Gan, if you wish to —
Mr Gan Kim Yong: That is why I was just standing up to say that that question has been answered by Minister Ong already.
Mr Speaker: So, please, Members, if it has already been asked, please do not ask again. It is your duty to stay in the Chamber throughout the Ministerial Statement. Mr Azhar Othman.
Mr Azhar Othman: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to ask a question regarding security. Looking at our situation right now is not that dire, but taking a worst-case scenario, every country tends to look at itself, tends to look inwards. What is the possibility of a country that agreed to supply gas to us suddenly saying it cannot and that it has to supply to their side first? What is the institution we are taking, in terms of MFA's relations with them, in terms of our position of supporting our supply to our own Singaporeans? Maybe I can get some clarification on that, please.
Dr Tan See Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, in a crisis like this, I understand the angst, the apprehension of everyone, not just in this Chamber, but outside. There are actually many, many different \"ifs\". I cannot possibly cover every perceivable permutation or conceivable combination that can come up.
As I said, that is why we maintain the stockpile the way we have maintained. We have taken it upon ourselves to make sure that we have provided contingencies for different scenarios – from single geographical chokepoints to multiple geographical chokepoints. And we have sized up, based on the constraints of our own land size, whether it is single geographical chokepoint to multiple geographical chokepoints, that length of time that is required. And as what the Coordinating Minister for National Security opened up earlier on, we are going to increase that stockpile some more.
I think for us, we have done every possible measure. We have taken it upon ourselves to open up every single diversification measure possible and available to us today.
To the Member's point on what if these countries decide to curtail back the gas supply? Today, there are legal provisions that are enshrined. Of course, people can renege everything. I mean, you are talking about a sort of a \"Z\" scenario where everything happens and there are burning platforms everywhere. I assure you that even at that point in time, we have made provisions. Of course, how long can we survive if everything is taken away, I think that is something that I cannot share with you. And everyone here would understand why I am not at liberty to share this with you.
I hope that the House can appreciate the very delicate balance we are all in today and how we should all be working closely together as one united nation.
Mr Speaker: Mr Lee Hong Chuang.
Mr Lee Hong Chuang: Mr Speaker, indeed, I have two questions: one question in the second bucket and one question the third bucket. But in view of time, I will send the question in bucket two to Minister of State Jeffrey. So, he will look at it. It is more for the logistics sector.
My question in the third bucket is regarding what Minister Vivian has just mentioned. The Strait of Hormuz is undeniably important to Singapore and the wider region due to its role in the global energy flow. I believe the Strait of Malacca is even more critical to us, as one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and a key artery for trade, any disruption there would have immediate and far-reaching consequences for Singapore's economics and supply chains.
This raises an important question for all of us. Has our Government fully internalise the lesson from potential vulnerability in such strategic chokepoints? In particular, are we sufficiently prepared for a scenario where the Strait of Malacca is disrupted, whether through geopolitical tension, blockages or other crises? And do we have robust contingency plans to mitigate the impact?
Dr Tan See Leng: The answer is yes.
Mr Speaker: With that, we have had almost three-and-a-half hours of debate on the Ministerial Statements. I think all clarifications have been sought and answered, sometimes more than once.
With that, Order. End of Ministerial Statements. I propose to take a break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 5.30 pm. Order. Order.
Sitting accordingly suspended
at 5.11 pm until 5.30 pm.
Sitting resumed at 5.30 pm.
[Deputy Speaker (Mr Christopher de Souza) in the Chair]
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Mr Deputy Speaker: The Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.
The Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Dr Janil Puthucheary) (for the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment): Sir, on behalf of the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, I move, \"That the Bill be now read a Second time.\"
Sir, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill seeks to introduce Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS) to Regulated Goods that are imported by end users for their own use.
Sir, Singapore remains committed to meet our 2050 net zero target to secure long-term competitiveness and climate resilience. We were among just 13 countries to submit our 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on time in February 2025, where we pledged to reduce our emissions to between 45 and 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035.
Today, about 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to electricity consumption. Through long-term planning, Singapore has built up a resilient and diversified energy supply through our \"four switches\" approach to facilitate our net zero and energy transitions – solar energy, regional power grids, low-carbon alternatives and natural gas – whilst decarbonising our energy mix.
We are accelerating our energy transition and have achieved two gigawatt-peak of installed solar capacity in 2025. We have raised our 2030 solar deployment target to three gigawatt-peak, as announced at Budget 2026. To date, we have also awarded around 8.4 gigawatts of conditional approvals for low-carbon electricity imports.
Even as we pursue low-carbon alternatives, natural gas will remain Singapore's primary energy source for the foreseeable future. We will deploy advanced combined cycle gas turbine facilities to improve generation efficiency, lower our carbon footprint and support energy resilience.
Energy efficiency continues to be a key enabler of our energy transition and an important way to strengthen energy security and cost competitiveness. As a small and alternative-energy disadvantaged country, Singapore imports nearly all our energy supply and we must make every joule of energy count.
We are making good progress. According to the International Energy Agency, Singapore's energy intensity, which is the ratio of energy consumption to economic output, improved by 39% between 2000 and 2023.
The Middle East conflict has further reinforced the critical importance of energy resilience amid economic uncertainty, trade frictions and geopolitical conflicts. As Deputy Prime Minister Gan highlighted in his Ministerial Statement on the Middle East Conflict earlier today, this crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in global energy supply chains and underscored the importance of a diversified and resilient power supply for our economy and our society.
With rising energy demands and disrupted energy supplies, we must seize opportunities to decarbonise, reduce energy usage and conserve electricity by adopting more energy efficient practices and equipment. This allows households, businesses and industries to reap cost savings and to do more with less.
The MEPS, the performance standards, and MELS, the energy labelling, under the Energy Conservation Act are key regulatory tools to enhance the energy efficiency of common, energy-intensive equipment, such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, motors and commercial storage refrigerators. These regulations were introduced in 2009 to regulate the local supply of such regulated goods.
The MEPS aim to raise the average energy efficiency of regulated goods in Singapore by removing the least energy efficient models. Under the MELS, local suppliers are required to affix energy labels on regulated goods, which enable customers to compare energy efficiencies and savings across models and make more informed purchasing decisions. These two go together. One is a set of performance standards for the equipment, the other is a mandatory labelling scheme to make sure consumers are informed about the performance standards of the equipment.
To enhance energy efficiencies across sectors, regulatory coverage has progressively expanded from three types of regulated goods in 2009 to eight today. Commercial storage refrigerators and water heaters were the most recent additions in April 2025.
This approach has significantly increased the market share of more energy-efficient appliances. For example, the average energy efficiency of air-conditioners and refrigerators has improved by 61% and 45% respectively since 2009. This translates to annual energy savings of more than $560 million.
The Energy Conservation Act currently regulates importers, manufacturers and suppliers that provide the local sale and supply of regulated goods, with non-compliance carrying fines of up to $10,000. However, similar goods that are directly imported by end users, such as businesses and households, for their own use are not covered under the Energy Conservation Act today.
The current volume of such imports may be small, but this could increase over time as online marketplaces have made it increasingly easy for consumers to import such goods. Some businesses are already directly importing commercial storage refrigerators for their own use.
This regulatory gap raises two concerns.
First, this leads to the uneven application of MEPS and MELS regulations on regulated goods. Currently, only regulated goods from local suppliers face compliance requirements while those imported for own use are not covered.
Second, the purchase of imported regulated goods that are energy inefficient and do not comply with MEPS and MELS could lock businesses and households into higher life-cycle energy costs. Energy efficient appliances might have a higher upfront cost but typically offer lower life-cycle costs through energy savings. For example, the life-cycle costs of MEPS-compliant commercial storage refrigerators are on average 30% lower than non-compliant models. The adoption of energy inefficient equipment reduces cost savings for consumers and leads to lower abatement outcomes.
We have already taken some administrative steps to address this regulatory gap. Since 2023, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has collaborated with online platforms, like Lazada and Shopee, to voluntarily remove listings of non-compliant regulated goods. Nonetheless, given growing trends of importing regulated goods for one's own use, regulatory levers are needed to ensure such goods comply with MEPS and MELS requirements.
Sir, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill aims to ensure a level application of MEPS and MELS requirements for all regulated goods in Singapore and further improve energy efficiency. Specifically, regulated goods imported for own use will be subjected to similar MEPS and MELS compliance requirements as those intended for supply in Singapore. End users would be required to ensure that regulated goods brought into Singapore for own use are registered with NEA, meet MEPS in accordance with prescribed international test standards and test conditions, and are labelled with the required energy labels under MELS.
The proposed regulations exclude second-hand or used regulated goods where it is impractical to assess MEPS compliance.
These compliance requirements are not expected to be onerous for end users. While local suppliers pay a one-time registration fee of approximately $70 per model of regulated good, this will be waived for end users who typically cannot spread registration costs across multiple units. To demonstrate MEPS and MELS compliance, end users can rely on test reports from overseas suppliers and manufacturers. This would achieve a comparable cost of compliance between end users and local suppliers at approximately $1 per unit of regulated good.
The compliance requirements will extend to all regulated goods imported for own use, except regulated lamps. We will prioritise regulating the import of more energy intensive goods, such as commercial storage refrigerators for own use, compared to less energy intensive goods, such as lamps.
We intend to effect the enforcement regime from 1 July 2026 to deter end users from importing non-compliant regulated goods for own use and ensure compliance to the new requirements.
End users who import regulated goods that do not comply with MEPS and MELS requirements will face penalties of up to $10,000 in fines per import. This is consistent with existing penalties in the Energy Conservation Act for the local supply of non-compliant regulated goods and the import of non-compliant greenhouse gas goods for own use in the Environmental Protection and Management Act 1999.
The proposed amendments to the Energy Conservation Act will also empower the Minister to make regulations to compel online platforms in Singapore or with a business establishment in Singapore to remove non-compliant listings. This will ensure that non-compliant products are not offered to end users in Singapore.
NEA will conduct systematic monitoring of online platforms and spot checks for non-compliance as needed. NEA will also conduct investigations in response to whistle-blowing reports or complaints and leverage existing powers in the Energy Conservation Act to enforce compliance with the new regulations.
To adjust to these regulatory changes, businesses and households can continue to leverage existing Government schemes to offset higher upfront costs of energy efficient regulated goods and realise energy savings.
For example, small and medium-sized enterprises in the food services and manufacturing sectors that meet prescribed criteria, such as the 30% local shareholding, can tap Enterprise Singapore's Energy Efficiency Grant, which has been expanded to all sectors and extended for one more year to 31 March 2028, as announced by the Senior Minister of State for Finance. This Grant covers up to 70% of costs for pre-approved energy efficient regulated goods, such as three-tick refrigerators and five-tick air-conditioning units to help businesses improve energy efficiency outcomes.
Singaporean and Permanent Resident Housing and Development Board (HDB) Households as well as Singapore Citizen households living in private residential properties can use $400 of Climate Vouchers under the enhanced Climate Friendly Households Programme to purchase eligible energy efficient regulated goods.
Sir, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill will ensure that energy efficiency remains a cornerstone of our net zero and energy transition, create a level playing field for regulated goods in Singapore and improve energy efficiency for our industries, businesses and households. With that, Sir, I seek to move.
[(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]
Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Poh Li San.
Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West): Mr Deputy Speaker, this Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill could not have been more timely. The Iran War is affecting our energy supply and our daily lives – rising petrol and diesel prices and higher electricity prices. In fact, if the war prolongs, the supply of fuel and electricity may have to be rationed too, which is already happening in our neighbouring countries. We must be prepared for the worst.
This is a stark reminder that we must conserve energy to the best we can and use energy-efficient equipment and appliances in our industries, in our factories and in our homes.
Sir, this is not a new effort. The MEPS and MELS for local supply of regulated goods were first introduced back in 2012. However, there was a gap as the Act did not cover regulated goods imported by end users for own use.
Over the years, as business practices evolved and consumers import equipment and appliances direct from foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or wholesalers, there is a growing volume of imported electrical appliances being used by end users in businesses and in households which may be non-energy efficient.
These direct imports are usually significantly cheaper than regulated goods sold by local suppliers, because of the removal of a layer of middleman cost. Most end users buy these imported goods to save money upfront – they may not care about energy efficiency or longer-term higher electricity prices.
A local catering business owner told me that he imports refrigerators, chillers and freezers directly from OEMs because of the lower prices, which can be 60% to 70% cheaper than similar models sold by local suppliers. But there is a trade-off. These appliances typically last only around 1.5 to two years, while reputable brands with higher energy efficiency from local supplies may last longer, around two to 2.5 years.
Despite the poorer efficiency and lifespan, many food business owners would still rather take advantage of the substantial upfront cost savings by importing these electrical appliances directly from the OEMs and wholesalers.
The amendment Bill will address this. It will place the onus on end users, to register the imported regulated goods with NEA and demonstrate evidence of compliance with the MEPS and MELS. NEA will also be empowered to take enforcement action against businesses and households that import non-compliant regulated goods for own use.
Overall, we will see more efficient appliances on the market soon – not because of this amendment Bill but because of the global energy crisis. OEMs will be motivated to produce energy efficient models because end users will care about both upfront capital expenses and recurring electricity costs.
The outcome of this amendment is that end users will have more choices of energy-efficient models as well as savings both in capital expenses and recurring electricity costs.
Singaporean households can use the $400 Climate Vouchers for purchases of energy-efficient models from local suppliers as well as importing energy-efficient electrical appliances directly from foreign suppliers.
I do have two questions for the Minister.
The amendment Bill would empower NEA to take action against businesses and households which import non-compliant regulated goods. In the food and beverage (F&B) sector alone, there were 6,355 registered restaurants as of 2023. This figure would be a lot higher if we include the broader F&B sector, such as cafes, bars, food courts, hawker stalls and other specialised food services. Also, there is a high churn in this industry. In 2024, close to 3,000 restaurants closed down while nearly 3,800 new food and restaurant businesses opened.
Given the large number of F&B businesses, coupled with the short average lifespan of two to three years for refrigerators, chillers and freezers, does NEA have an estimate of the total number of electrical appliances and equipment that may be procured annually, as well as the total annual energy consumption? With the amendment Bill, what is the projected reduction in energy consumption, should all F&B businesses deploy MEPS- and MELS-compliant appliances and equipment?
Secondly, given the large number of end users, how does NEA intend to police and enforce this new requirement? I hope the process and requirements will not be too onerous both for the NEA enforcement team and on the part of end users. We should not want to conserve energy in one form, only to expend it in another form. Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a few points in Mandarin.
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Deputy Speaker, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill requires end users who import regulated electrical products for personal or commercial use to register these appliances with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and demonstrate compliance with Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), thereby closing the regulatory gap where such imports were previously unregulated. NEA will be granted enforcement powers to take action against non-compliance.
The global energy crisis will drive manufacturers to produce more energy-efficient models, thereby benefiting end users who can save on both initial costs and ongoing electricity expenses.
Singapore households can achieve dual savings by combining Government-provided climate vouchers with the direct import of efficient appliances from overseas suppliers, whilst business operators, particularly those in the food and beverage industry who need to purchase multiple appliances, can also avoid excessive energy costs by using energy-efficient models. This amendment aims to strike a balance between cost savings and environmental responsibility.
However, the key to achieving energy conservation lies in implementing these new regulations in an efficient and effective manner. Otherwise, we would merely be conserving energy in one form whilst consuming more human resources in another.
(In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, it is important that we do what is right for the environment, especially at this time of threatened energy supplies. I support the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Dennis Tan.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Mr Deputy Speaker, the Workers' Party supports the intents of this Bill. Climate change is an existential threat to our island nation. As I argued during the Budget debate in February, our transition to net zero must be backed by rigorous effective action that is both technically sound and socially just. We must ensure that our green ambitions do not inevitably place an unfair burden on our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and lower-income citizens.
Addressing the digital removal of SME listings. Mr Deputy Speaker, I would first like to turn to the new provisions regarding the digital removal of non-compliant products from online platforms. While we must prevent the entry of energy-guzzling appliances into our market, we must consider the SME squeeze in the e-commerce space.
Unlike large multinational corporations with dedicated compliance departments, our local SME retailers often lack the resources to navigate complex technical test reports for every niche product they list. If a listing is flagged and digitally removed due to a documentation error or a delay in NEA registration, the loss of sales momentum and search algorithm ranking can be devastating for a small business.
How will the Ministry ensure that these digital enforcement powers do not unfairly penalise local SMEs, who may inevitably fall victim to automated take-down algorithms? Will there be a grace period or a simplified verification pathway for local micro-enterprises to ensure they are not crowded out of the digital marketplace by larger players with deeper pockets for compliance?
Next, ambiguity in the circumvention threshold for consumers. Mr Deputy Speaker, I would also like to raise a concern regarding the new section 78, which targets the circumvention of registration requirements. This Bill expends the act to cover goods imported for own use. While this certainly closes a loophole for traders, it creates a grey area for individual consumers.
Many Singaporeans often sell items on online platforms, like Carousell, that are almost brand new, perhaps a gift they cannot use, or a high-end appliance bought for a renovation that was later aborted. Under this Bill, if a resident imports a non-compliant appliance for own use, but later decides to sell it because they have a change of mind, will they suddenly become an unregistered supplier subject to prosecution?
I have three specific clarifications for the Senior Minister of State.
First, the scope of marketplaces. Are all listings on peer-to-peer sites, like Carousell, now subject to these digital removal laws? If so, how will the NEA distinguish between a genuine second-hand sale by a resident and a commercial trader masquerading as individual to offload non-compliant stock?
Second, the evidentiary threshold. What criteria will NEA officers use to prove deliberate evasion versus a genuine change of mind? Without clear guidelines, we risk a situation where an innocent individual selling a gift is caught under the same heavy penalty framework as a rogue trader.
Third, protecting the gift economy. How does the Bill apply to those who receive an imported appliance as a gift and wish to sell it? We must ensure that our drive for energy efficiency does not inevitably criminalise the legitimate second-hand gift economy.
Addressing the software defined energy gap. Mr Deputy Speaker, while this Bill focuses heavily on regulated goods as physical hardware, we must acknowledge that in 2026, energy efficiency is increasingly governed by software. We are certifying the physical engine but ignoring the digital driver. I am concerned that the Bill remains silent on software-driven energy degradation. There is a growing risk that a product's registered efficiency, the very basis of its NEA approval, can be remotely altered post-purchase.
This may happen in three ways. First, firmware throttling. Manufacturers can push over-the-air updates that cap performance to protect hardware longevity at the expense of efficiency. In a Tesla battery litigation in the United States, linked to the 2019 Hong Kong incident, Rasmussen against Tesla 2021 and the 2024 Norwegian Court of Appeal case, we saw disputes over allegations that over-the-air updates throttled capacity and charging speeds to manage hardware longevity post-sale.
If an industrial battery or EV charger is registered at a certain efficiency, but a firmware update throttles it six months later, the original registration becomes a moot point.
Second, the SaaS trap-enforced dilemmitry. Companies, like ABB, now offer an energy optimisation as a service. These AI-driven systems predict load demands for industrial motors. However, how do we prevent the possible scenario that the hardware may revert to a high consumption baseline mode if a local SME stop paying the subscription, even though the physical hardware is perfectly capable of running efficiently? We must ensure that energy efficiency is not held hostage by software subscriptions.
Third software bloatware. The US Department of Energy found that heating ventilation and air conditioning systems often prioritise warranty protection over energy savings. If a chiller software detects a minor sensor error, it may default to a mechanical safety mode that consumes 30% to 40% more energy without alerting the owner. This silent degradation means a building's energy audit may look good on paper, but the software is secretly wasting power.
I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State: one, does the definition of regulated goods under the act extend to the firmware and software that control energy consumption? Two, how does the NEA intend to monitor and regulate software driven energy degradation once an item has been registered and cleared for use? Three, will the Government consider a software integrity requirement where manufacturers must declare if their hardware requires a paid subscription to maintain its registered MEPS rating?
Next, quantitative, transparency and impact accountability. The proposed amendment in this Bill seeks to encompass own use, imports and digital advertising within the regulatory framework. However, the absence of specific projections regarding expected energy savings or carbon abatement from these suggested additions prevent Parliament and Singaporeans from being able to value the efficacy of these measures or account for their performance.
Furthermore, there is a lack of clarity regarding whether the administrative burdens and cost placed upon the public and SMEs are truly proportionate to the actual carbon reductions achieved. While the Bill closes existing regulatory gaps, could the Senior Minister of State provide the specific annual energy conservation targets the Government expects to meet through these new own-use and advertising measures? Specifically, how will these regulations contribute to our national target of peaking emissions at 60,000 kilotonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030? And what methodology will the NEA employ to track and report these savings to the public?
Next, impact on lower-income families. Mr Deputy Speaker. I am also concerned that the Bill's restrictions on own use e-commerce imports may inadvertently raise the entry price for essential appliances. While high efficiency models offer long-term savings, the upfront green premium may potentially create a financial barrier for lower-income households. We must ensure that these regulations do not unfairly burden those who are currently relying on budget-friendly direct imports. Will the Ministry consider top-ups to the Climate Friendly Households Programme or other social equity measures to ensure lower-income families are not priced out of the appliance market by these stricter import controls?
Next, technical and financial barriers of SME compliance. Mr Deputy Speaker, for an SME importing a single piece of specialised industrial equipment for own use, the administrative process of mapping foreign laboratory data to NEA specific registrations can be a significant hurdle.
Unlike large retailers who spread these costs over thousands of units, small enterprises face a \"compliance tax\" that creates a literal barrier to modernisation as such. Without a simplified registration pathway, the potentially high cost and complexity of compliance may pervert the Bill's intent. Local firms may find it cheaper to keep older, less efficient machinery in operation longer, rather than navigating the new regulatory hurdles to import updated high efficiency technology.
While the NEA recognises test report for Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)-accredited labs, the actual data submission for single unit imports remains administratively heavy for SMEs. In the spirit of Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement, and our Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) commitments, will the Minister consider a fast track or deemed compliant registration pathway for own use imports? Such a move would ensure that compliance costs do not inevitably discourage our local enterprises from adopting the latest energy-saving technologies.
Next, addressing the exclusion of high frequency goods like lighting. While the Ministry has prioritised larger appliances like refrigerators and chillers for the own-use import regime, it has specifically excluded lighting for the time being. However, the cumulative energy footprint of inefficient lighting imported via direct e-commerce remains significant. A phased approach that leaves out these high frequency items may allow a continued influx of sub-standard bulbs and tubes, which may undermine our overarching goal of reducing aggregate household demand. What is the specific data driven justification for excluding lighting from own-use import regulations at this stage?
Furthermore, can the Senior Minister of State provide a definitive timeline or road map for when these and other low consumption but high frequency goods will be included to prevent a prolonged regulatory vacuum?
Next, Mr Deputy Speaker, while this Bill closes necessary retail loopholes, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture. Since 2013, our most energy-intensive facilities have been tracking data under this Act, yet for a number of years, the needle on actual efficiency may not have moved much.
At the debate for the second reading of the 2017 amendments for the Energy Conservation Act, the then-Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, noted that while Energy Conservation Act companies saw efficiency gains of 0.4% and 0.6% in 2014 and 2015 respectively, meeting our climate pledge requires doubling or tripling these rates to 1% to 2% annually, in order to match then-leaders like Belgium and the Netherlands.
While the 2017 amendments introduced mandatory management systems and audits, they seem to have stopped short of requiring companies to actually implement these energy saving opportunities they identified, provided they met the MEPS for their equipment. The 2024 amendments mandated the MEPS, which are more prescriptive regarding actual performance levels.
So, can I ask the Senior Minister of State to provide an update, for facilities under this regime for over the last decade, what is the actual aggregate energy reduction achieved to date? And is the Ministry confident that the incremental system-by-system mandates will hit our 2030 targets in time? Mr Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin, please.
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Deputy Speaker, the Workers' Party supports the intent of this Bill. Climate change is an existential threat to Singapore, but in pursuing net-zero goals, we must also balance policy fairness and transparency.
Firstly, I am concerned about the burden on small and medium enterprises. I worry that the new \"digital deletion\" requirements and complex registration procedures will be a \"compliance tax\" for small businesses with limited resources. The Government should provide a \"fast track\" or simplified procedures and not let cumbersome paperwork hinder businesses from adopting energy-efficient technology.
Secondly, the grey areas in the second-hand market. Many residents sell unused appliances or gifts on websites like Carousell. If the legal definitions are unclear, might ordinary citizens become \"illegal suppliers\" for selling a \"non-compliant\" gift? We must protect the legitimate second-hand economy.
Thirdly, energy wastage caused by software. Many appliances today have their efficiency controlled by software. If manufacturers reduce energy-saving effectiveness through remote updates after selling products or revert devices to high-energy consumption mode because users have not paid software subscription fees, then the original energy-saving registration becomes meaningless. The Government must regulate this \"hidden\" energy wastage.
Fourthly, caring for low-income families. Restricting online purchases of cheap electrical appliances may increase living costs. The Government should increase subsidies under the Climate Friendly Households Programme (CFHP) to ensure vulnerable groups are not excluded because they cannot afford expensive energy-efficient appliances.
Deputy Speaker, whilst I have the above concerns, I still support this Bill.
(In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, the Workers' Party believes in a green transition defined by transparency and accountability. We must implement changes in this Bill with operational integrity and adjust transition protections that our people and our SMEs deserve. Notwithstanding the clarifications that I have sought, I support the Bill.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Ng Shi Xuan.
Mr Ng Shi Xuan (Sembawang): Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill. This amendment comes at a time of volatility in global energy markets and where energy efficiency remains one of our first lines of defence against rising fuel costs.
I support the Bill because it closes a gap in our energy efficiency framework. While regulating local supply has been effective, global procurement channels now allow individuals and SMEs to access non-compliant goods directly.
To ensure this amendment works in practice, there are three areas that we must get right. First, ensuring clarity on who bears responsibility and how the requisite standards can be met. In practice, end-users, such as SMEs, often operate through layered procurement arrangements and may not realise they are legally treated as the importer, even when they did not control the purchase. Second, ensuring adequate support for SMEs to transition. Compliance can be costly for SMEs, given that upfront costs for non-compliance are often lower. And third, taking a calibrated approach to enforcement and compliance.
Sir, this Bill addresses the gap in the current landscape by extending the MEPS framework to goods imported for personal use. This Bill will affect both individuals and businesses importing regulated goods for their own use, including SME owners purchasing equipment for shops, offices, clinics, enrichment centres or F&B outlets.
In many cases, household purchases are occasional and more straightforward, as consumers often turn to trusted local suppliers who have already registered these appliances and ensured that they meet prevailing standards. The compliance risks are likely to be more acute for businesses, in particular SMEs. Unlike larger corporations, many SMEs do not have dedicated procurement, legal or compliance teams to check whether the goods they are bringing in meet Singapore's regulatory requirements. Their decisions are often driven by cost, speed and availability, and are frequently made through contractors, franchisors, fit-out firms or overseas suppliers.
There are at least three scenarios where an SME may inadvertently fall foul of the rules.
First, an SME setting up a new outlet may engage a contractor to source the necessary appliances. In trying to keep costs low and meet timelines, the contractor may purchase these goods from an overseas online platform without checking whether they comply with Singapore's MEPS and MELS requirements.
Second, a franchisee may purchase equipment specified by the brand owner, in order to maintain consistency with the wider franchise network or may have a contractual obligation to purchase such equipment. A franchisee may assume that because the equipment is approved or offered by the franchisor, it is also compliant with Singapore's regulatory standards.
Third, many SMEs rely on interior designers or contractors to deliver a unit on a turnkey basis. Appliances, such as refrigeration units, water heaters or air-conditioning systems may be imported as part of the fit-out package, and the SME owner may not even realise that they are also, in legal terms, treated as the importer responsible for compliance.
In each of these scenarios, the SMEs may not have controlled the procurement decision, but may still bear the responsibility as the importer. Unlike larger corporations, the SMEs may not have the bargaining power to either transfer compliance obligations or enforce standards on third-party vendors.
For that reason, while this Bill affects both individuals and businesses, it has greater practical impact on local businesses, and I would like to focus my remarks mainly on SMEs and on how importer liability will be determined in practice.
It is perhaps helpful to start by understanding the scale of the problem that the new laws seek to address. In particular, it would be useful to understand how significant this gap has become and why it is important to address it at this point in time.
Could the Senior Minister of State share the Government's assessment of the percentage of regulated goods currently entering Singapore, through direct imports or other channels, that may previously have fallen outside of the MEPS and MELS frameworks? And what factors drove the need for the amendment at this point in time?
It is also helpful to understand the feedback that went into shaping the proposed new laws. Sir, my second question relates to the public consultation, where NEA received feedback from 15 respondents, most of which were from local suppliers of regulated goods. Could the Ministry clarify whether SMEs, platform operators and other intermediaries in the procurement chain were also consulted, and how their views were taken into account?
This brings me to my concerns about compliance and enforcement – that is, whether and how SMEs will comply with the Act, and whether and how NEA will actively enforce this new offence.
In principle, I appreciate that businesses operating in Singapore should know that they must comply with Singapore laws. In an ideal world, all consumers and businesses would check before purchasing and importing regulated goods. However, as explained earlier, that is not how many SMEs actually buy equipment.
Take the example of a franchisee in the F&B sector who is told to purchase a standard set of equipment from the franchisor. Where the franchisee chooses to move ahead with the purchase, it could be a case of reasonably assuming or relying on third-party assurances that the equipment is compliant; not having enough bargaining power to convince the franchisor to switch; or making an informed, commercial decision that this may fall foul of the regulations. If it makes more commercial sense for SMEs to risk non-compliance with the Act, then the amendment may not achieve its intended deterrent effect.
First, there are the cost-savings of imported versus non-imported goods. Importing an approved single-phase air-conditioning costs about $3,299 online, while it costs $3,999 when bought locally. That is a substantial difference for a single unit, and even more so for bulk purchases. In many cases, the headline cost of regulated goods from overseas sources or parallel imports can be significantly lower.
Second, there are also further indirect costs which may accompany compliance. Where a company or person intends to import a regulated good for their own use, they must still produce test reports to demonstrate that the goods are compliant with the relevant standards. However, where the brand is less known or where the manufacturer's in-house laboratory testing is not to the required standards, the business owner would bear the responsibility of sourcing private lab testing, which can be very costly, both in terms of time and costs.
A simple search on NEA's website shows that for new registrants to be a supplier of regulated goods, the application takes seven working days, and for a Variable Refrigerant Flow air-conditioner a new registration fee costs $85 with renewal fees of $55 yearly. Lab tests lead time and costs could potentially result in commercial delays of months, and cost businesses thousands of dollars.
Whether one is a contractor, fit-out firm or end-user, there is often little immediate incentive to choose the more expensive piece of equipment. Yet, these appliances also have long operating lives, which means that once a non-compliant equipment enters the market, it may remain in use for many years. This makes the NEA's task of education and enforcement significantly more challenging.
One may argue that the long-term energy savings from more efficient equipment should make commercial sense. But that is not always immediately apparent to SMEs that are managing day-to-day operational pressures, cashflow constraints and tight set-up budgets.
While larger firms may be able to absorb these compliance costs, SMEs may instead treat the risk of non-compliance as part of their start-up considerations. In that case, the amendment may not achieve its intended deterrent effects.
So, I would ask the Ministry whether NEA has assessed the average lead time and total compliance cost for SMEs importing regulated goods for their own use. More importantly, has NEA considered how these factors may shape business behaviour, including whether some SMEs may treat the risk of non-compliance as part of their set-up considerations?
In addition, will the NEA consider publishing a public list of commonly used equipment that are compliant, their cost relative to non-compliant equipment and the estimated lifetime energy cost savings? This serves two purposes: empowering and educating the public to make informed decisions and incentivising upstream suppliers to ensure that their equipment are compliant.
Moving on from compliance, I would like to ask about NEA's plans for enforcement.
The issue of who bears responsibility as the importer is particularly important when we consider how enforcement will operate in practice. If penalties are to shape behaviour, they must be understood in practice and calibrated relative to the upfront savings from non-compliant equipment. Enforcement should follow a clear sequence – closing the information gap, supporting compliance and then applying firm penalties.
Sir, I understand that clause 17 of the Bill empowers the Minister to make further transitional regulations that are necessary and expedient. I also note that the current saving and transitional provisions do not appear to provide any relief for SMEs which are facing new registration costs. Therefore, I would like to ask the Ministry to consider a transition period with fee support or waivers, especially for SMEs, consumers and first-time applicants.
Given that much of the current risk appears to arise from information gaps and layered procurement arrangements, I hope the Government will consider a stronger transition approach. This could include broader consultation and outreach, a temporary transition or regularisation window, and where appropriate, expedited support for SMEs that are willing to switch to compliant and more energy-efficient equipment.
In this regard, schemes, such as the Energy Efficiency Grant play an important role in supporting SMEs in this transition. In practice, an SME's decision may change when the support quantum and scope are taken into account, particularly if audit and reimbursement processes do not place pressure on immediate cash flows.
I would therefore suggest that such schemes can be further streamlined or enhanced to support affected SMEs. I note that Senior Minister of State, Finance, has already expanded this Energy Efficiency Grant to all sectors today. I would encourage the Ministry to consider further expanding Energy Efficiency Grant's scope to cover all regulated goods.
Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill serves Singapore’s goals of meeting our climate targets and paves our path for sustainable growth.
Energy efficiency is a quiet but important part of energy policy. It goes beyond regulating appliances. It is about managing Singapore’s electricity demand and strengthening our resilience to external energy shocks. Amidst ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and volatility in global energy markets, improving energy efficiency becomes even more important. Every unit of electricity we save reduces exposure to external energy shocks and builds towards our energy resilience.
However, I believe that this must also be balanced against the impact of regulations on the people. It is not sufficient for us to rely on regulations and expect the people to meet our energy efficiency goals. The Government and the people must work hand-in-hand in order to ensure that not only our climate targets and energy goals are met, but our economy continues to grow on a model of sustainable energy.
With this in mind, I support the Bill and look forward to the Senior Minister of State's clarifications, particularly on how we can ensure that SMEs are supported to comply, even as we strengthen our energy resilience.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik (Sengkang): Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the objectives of this Bill. Extending our energy efficiency framework to cover goods imported for personal use is a logical and necessary step. This Bill will align all imported electronic goods with the energy efficiency standards and labelling requirements that already applied to goods supplied commercially in Singapore, ensuring a level playing field and giving consumers a consistent basis for informed purchasing decisions.
However, I wish to seek several clarifications from the Senior Minister of State on the enforcement architecture, the scope of Director-General's new powers and the question of interagency coordination, particularly between the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), which oversees the industry and household sectors under this Act and the Ministry of Transport (MOT), which oversees the transport sector.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the Bill creates a new prohibition on importing non-compliant regulated goods for personal use, but it is entirely silent on how this prohibition will be enforced at the border. This is not a minor operational detail. It goes to the heart of whether these amendments will have practical effect.
For commercial shipments, our existing regulatory infrastructure is well established. TradeNet declarations, licensed warehouses and customs checkpoints provide natural interception points, but the own use imports targeted by this Bill arrive through very different channels.
Consider the practical scenarios: a person orders a portable air-conditioning unit from an overseas e-commerce platform, and it arrives via international parcel post. A business owner drives across the Causeway with a piece of industrial equipment in the back of a van; a traveller returns from a trip with a new kitchen appliance in checked baggage. In none of these cases is there an obvious regulatory checkpoint at which compliance can be verified.
I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State to address the following.
First, rather than building a new declaration regime from scratch, will the Ministry consider leveraging the trade information certificate framework under the regulation of Imports and Exports Act? That framework already provides the certifying matters relating to the import of goods and includes a provision allowing the Minister to prescribe additional certifiable methods. Energy efficiency compliance could be prescribed as one such matter, allowing importers of regulated goods to declare compliance through an existing system that Singapore Customs and traders are already familiar with.
Second, for goods arriving by post or courier, will the Ministry be working with Singapore Customs and Singapore Post to establish screening protocols. Will parcel manifest or trade description be used to flag potential non-compliant imports?
Third, for goods brought in by land through the checkpoints, what role will the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) play? Is it realistic to expect ICA officers, whose primary focus is immigration and security, to also screen for energy efficiency compliance?
Fourth, will enforcement be proactive through inspections and spot checks or reactive, relying on complaints and tip-offs. If the latter, the Bill's deterrent effect may be significantly limited. Without a credible enforcement framework, we risk creating a prohibition that exists on paper but is widely disregarded in practice. That outcome would undermine public confidence in the regulatory regime and create unfairness within compliant importers who bear the cost of registration and those who simply do not bother.
Mr Deputy Speaker, this Bill significantly expands the discretionary powers of the Director-General of Environmental Protection. Under the new sections 13(2A) and 15(5), the Director-General may, at any time after registration or renewal, impose new conditions on or modify or revoke existing conditions of a registration. The Bill also grants the Director-General broad discretion under section 31B to grant or refuse waivers, based on whether there are good reasons to do so.
I acknowledge that the Bill includes procedural safeguards. The Director-General must give written notice of proposed conditions or modifications and allow registration holder to make written representations before a decision is made. There is also an appeal mechanism to the Minister under section 17. However, I wish to raise several points on the adequacy of these safeguards.
First, the powers to impose or modify conditions at any time is very broad. There is no requirement that conditions be related to the original purpose of the registration, no cap on the frequency of modifications and no requirement that conditions be proportionate.
Second, the Bill does not specify any timeframe within which the registration holder must be given to make representations. This is left entirely to the Director-General's discretion. In other legislation, the Healthcare Services Act, the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, and the Workplace Safety and Health Act, to name three, Parliament has seen fit to prescribe a minimum period, typically 14 days within which affected person may make representations or appeal. This Bill, by contrast, sets no such minimum.
Third, on a waiver mechanism under section 31B. The criterion of good reason is inherently subjective. I will ask the Senior Minister of State whether the Ministry intends to publish guidelines, setting out the circumstances in which waivers will typically be considered, so that applicants have reasonably certainty and the regime is applied consistently across cases.
Fourth, will decisions of the Director-General, particularly refusals of waivers and impositions of conditions, be published or reported in any aggregated form. Transparency in decision making is essential to maintaining public and industry confidence in the regulatory regime.
Mr Deputy Speaker, my final point concerns the practical coordination required to make this Bill work.
The Energy Conservation Act is jointly administered by MSE, which oversees the industry and household sectors, and MOT, which oversees the transport sector. The Act is primarily enforced by NEA. This Bill's expansion to cover own use imports will necessarily engage many more Government agencies beyond this existing arrangement.
Enforcement at the border will require the active cooperation of Singapore Customs for commercial and postal shipments, the ICA for goods brought in at the land and air checkpoints and potentially, the Info-communications Media Development Authority for enforcement against online platforms and digital advertisements. For the industrial sector, there will also be a need for coordination with the Economic Development Board, which promotes industrial investment and the Energy Market Authority, which oversees broader energy sector.
Where a regulated good falls under both the household and transport sectors, for example, an electric vehicle charger imported for personal use, it is not immediately clear whether the importers' obligations fall under MSE's or MOT's purview, or both. The Bill does not address this. The Bill itself does not address inter-agency coordination. This is not unusual. Such matters are typically handled through administrative arrangements.
But given the breadth of the new regime, I would ask the Senior Minister of State to assure this Chamber that, first, there is a clear interagency coordination framework between MSE and MOT, as well as between NEA and other enforcement agencies with defined roles and responsibilities for each agency involved.
Second, that NEA will have adequate resources, both in terms of manpower and technical capabilities to administer the new registration, inspection and waiver processes for personal imports, which will be a significant expansion of its current workload. I note, however, that the Bill's closing statement declares that it will not involve the Government in any extra financial expenditure. That is difficult to comprehend with the substantial new administrative functions these amendments introduce.
Third, there will be a single point of contact on one stop service for importers, so that individuals and businesses are not shuttled between MSE, MOT, NEA, Singapore Customs and ICA, when trying to comply with the new requirements.
Fourth, for goods that may fall within the jurisdiction of both MSE and MOT, such as transport-related equipment imported for personal use, the Ministry will clarify which regime applies to avoid regulatory ambiguity or duplication.
Mr Deputy Speaker, to conclude, closing the regulatory gap for personal imports is the right thing to do for our energy conservation goals and for fair competition. My concerns are not with the Bill's objectives but with the practical details that will determine whether these amendments work on the ground, how we enforce at the border and how we safeguard against unchecked discretionary powers and how we coordinate across the many agencies involved.
I look forward to the Senior Minister of State's response to these points. Notwithstanding my queries and clarifications, I support the Bill.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr David Hoe.
Mr David Hoe (Jurong East-Bukit Batok): Mr Deputy Speaker, I am speaking in support of the amendment to the Energy Conservation Bill.
Strengthening energy efficiency remains an important pillar in Singapore's energy transition. This is not new, because since 2012, our approach rested on two sensible ideas. First, to set minimum standards for energy performance; and second, to help consumers, like you and I, with clearer information through energy labelling so that households and businesses can make better purchasing decisions.
This Bill now takes the next step in this journey. It closes an increasingly important gap by extending the regime to regulated goods imported by end users for their own use, and it also gives the Government stronger tools to deal with non-compliant advertisement of regulated goods that are accessible in Singapore, including the online space. Hence, I support that direction. However, I would like to raise four broad concerns.
First, the ordinary layperson does not think of himself or herself as an importer when they purchase goods from overseas to Singapore. Second, the current user journey to register makes it difficult for those who are not confident in English. Third, I wonder whether if it is time to review the volume of information on the energy label. Lastly, the challenges in online platform implementation.
My first point is about how we secure support and buy-in of individual customers or consumers. Under this Bill, a person who imports certain regulated goods for his or her own use will have to grapple with the framework that was previously once used for commercial supply lines into Singapore's market. I note that during a public consultation, one suggestion was to require end users, which is consumers, like myself, to buy goods only from local suppliers since local suppliers may be better place to handle compliance requirements.
The Government did not take that route, and I think that is sensible. We should preserve consumer choice so long as compliance framework applies consistently. In the same vein, my remarks pertain mainly to ensure that reporting and compliance regime is workable and understandable for the ordinary consumer. Let me explain why.
The ordinary layperson does not think of himself or herself as an importer, in any formal sense. To many, they are simply just thinking they are making a purchase. This is especially so because some Singaporeans do cross over the Causeway to buy household appliances because of lower prices. Some might even organise trips with their friends across the causeway to shop for items for their Build-To-Order flats. In such cases, such consumers are unlikely to perceive themselves as importing a regulated goods, subjecting to registration or compliance requirement in the first instance.
So, in this regard, I would like to ask how the Ministry intends to communicate these requirements to the public. In responding to how, I am keen to understand how various personas have been considered. As a matter of fact, not every Singapore resident will be following this view, or even looking at this response that I am making, and many might not even realise that if they make purchase of certain regulated goods from overseas for their own use, there might be a need for registration or compliance requirement that applies to them. So, public education matters a great deal.
Related to this, it might be helpful if the Ministry can also publicly clarify upfront the compliance cost implication, for instance, the waiving of cost for end users and $80 cost per model of regulated goods applied to local suppliers. I note that the Bill also extends waiver mechanism to persons who intends to import for his or her own use and is unable to comply with a requirement in a particular case, which is reflected in a proposed amendment to section 31B. But again, such mechanism only helps if a person knows that it exists, understands what it may be applied to and knows how to register.
This brings me to my second point, which is the accessibility of user journey. I know this may sound operational, but operational details matter because they shape whether people comply easily or give up along the way. If the registration journey is mainly online, then we should think carefully about who are likely the users. When I tried to visit the registration page, my experience is one that the information on that registration page today, it is mainly in English.
While some might be comfortable using their smartphones, not all will be fully comfortable navigating an English-only or English-heavy website. There are those who are not deterred by the policy itself, but because of the number of steps they have to go through, they give up halfway. And I am sure most of us at some point in our life would have experienced this because you have to fin so many steps or do many things. Halfway, you decide you do not want to continue that journey of application.
In short, what I am really trying to say is that have we designed this portal with various personas in mind? I would like to ask whether the Ministry can review the user journey through that lens that I mentioned earlier, and with the understanding that what was once primarily business-centric is now something expected to impact certain individual consumers, households, to some extent?
So, questions worth asking: can the process be made simpler? Can there be clearer step-by-step guidance? Can more language support be provided? Can there be automatic reminders or notification if renewal is required for certain registration? Furthermore, some of our residents who are not digitally savvy, might purchase non-bulky instantaneous water heater or mini refrigerator from overseas as part of their shopping. Would there be a possibility that they can register in person simply because they are not digitally confident? If so, could MSE or NEA share what would the process look like? This will go a long way in enabling businesses and individuals to comply with more robust reporting more seamlessly.
You see, in policy design, reducing friction is not a soft issue. It is part of what makes policy workable. If we want wider compliance, then the process must be intuitive and low friction as possible.
My third point is on the mandatory energy labelling scheme or easily known as the sticker that you see on the fridge that you need to buy from Best Denki. When you buy the fridge from Best Denki, that sticker that you see. This familiar tick has served important purpose by making energy efficiency more visible to consumers. But I think it is also fair to ask whether the current presentation remains useful and usable as it should be, and whether there should be further improvement moving forward. I understand in my observation of various stickers, there are at least 10 sets of information in practice and what consumers first notice are the ticks.
Other information might be valuable, for example, annual energy consumption or estimated cost. But I also wonder for those that have very small font size, whether these information are equally important in influencing purchasing decision?
So, against this backdrop, I would like to ask the Ministry whether it has reviewed how consumers actually interpret such labelling and perhaps consider a more robust means of understanding what people focus on when they look at the label.
So, questions to ask ourselves would be these: what information do they notice? What do they understand? What influence their choice? More broadly, what is the behavioural objective of the label today? Is it to mainly to help the uncle and auntie who is wondering around Best Denki or Gain City, to nudge them towards a higher efficiency option within that compliant range? If so, do we really need at least 10 sets of information on that sticker? This matters because the label is only effective, it is not only just rich in information, but it should be useful in helping to shape decision.
My last point is about online advertising provision. I understand the need for stronger powers in this space as purchaser shifts online, it will make little sense to just only tighten offline while leaving major loopholes in the digital market space.
This is why I also appreciate that NEA has started its clarification with some of the online platforms on the implementation concerns, but there are additional pointers that I would like to raise.
First, will there be a transition period for platforms to review and update their listing? Second, what type of platforms would likely be covered? Will the framework focus mainly on largely e-commerce operators or could it also extend to peer-to-peer market spaces, like Carousell, where individual users upload listings directly. Third, in the case where a platform holds large volumes of listing, what level of what levels of monitoring and due diligence will be expected of them, and what guidance or support might be provided for them so that they would comply easily?
These question matters because the line between platform responsibility, seller's responsibility and practical enforceability can be complex. We should want a regime that is effective, but also clear and proportionate.
Mr Deputy Speaker, to conclude, I support this Bill both as a member of the MSE Government Parliamentary Committee and also as a regular consumer, because it strengthens an important part of Singapore's energy efficiency framework. But if we want this framework to work well, we must pay attention to the last mile.
We should not only set sound legal rules, but also make compliance straightforward and simple for ordinary users. We should not only raise standards, but we should also make it easy for people to understand and what is expected of them. We should not only regulate for digital age, but also must ensure that implementation is practical for consumers, businesses and platforms alike.
If we get this balance right, we will make it easier for people to support Singapore's energy transition.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Leader of the House.
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","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"BP","content":"[(proc text) Debate resumed. (proc text)]
Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Valerie Lee.
Ms Valerie Lee (Pasir Ris-Changi): Mr Deputy Speaker, recent global developments remind us of a simple truth: energy is not just an economic input, it is matter of national resilience and survival. Conflicts, such as the Iran War, shows how quickly supply and prices can be disrupted.
For Singapore, with no natural resources and heavy reliance on energy imports, that risk is real and immediate. I also speak from experience working in an energy generation firm. Every day, we push to produce energy more efficiently and in ways that are cleaner and more cost effective. But supply is only half the equation. Demand matters just as much.
Previously in this House, I raised concerns about water loss, because every drop counts. The same applies here: every electron counts. Energy efficiency is not a technical detail. It is a national imperative.
Against this backdrop, this Bill is timely and necessary. It strengthens one of the most practical levers we have – using less energy and using it more efficiently.
Sir, I will highlight three strengths of the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill.
First, clause 5. This is a significant shift. Instead of focusing only on traditional suppliers, the Bill targets the party making the prohibited supply and this matters.
Today, purchasing patterns are changing. More goods are being imported directly by end users, especially through e-commerce. If left unaddressed, this creates a loophole where suppliers are regulated, but end users are not. This is not sustainable. Clause 5 closes the gap. It ensures that rules apply across the board. It prevents regulatory arbitrage and it creates a fairer, more level playing field while achieving the end goal.
Second, clause 7. This strengthens the regulatory regime by giving the Director-General powers to impose or modify conditions. In a fast-moving technological landscape, this flexibility is important. Standards must evolve and new evidence must be acted upon. A rigid system quickly becomes outdated. A flexible one stays relevant. This is a practical and forward-looking move.
Third, clause 16 on advertisements. Rules shape behaviour, but so does information. If advertisements mislead, consumers cannot make informed choices. If they are accurate, they reinforce the policy intent. Clear and consistent messaging matters. This provision helps align consumer behaviour with our energy goals.
Mr Deputy Speaker, as such, I support the direction of the Bill, but I have several clarifications.
First, on business impact. Compliance is not cost-free. Firms, especially SMEs, may need to upgrade equipment or change processes. While I appreciate that the overall life-cycle cost is potentially lower, there are real, upfront costs. Can the Ministry elaborate on whether there will be more targeted support, transitional assistance, or differentiated timelines beyond the current scheme for smaller firms? We should avoid a situation where the burden falls disproportionately on those least able to bear it, especially in this business climate.
Second, on cost pass-through. Higher compliance costs may be passed on to consumers, and this is a real risk. At a time of cost pressures, households will feel this. Has the Ministry sized this impact? And if substantial, how does the Ministry intend to mitigate this and ensure that the transition remains fair and inclusive?
Third, on regulatory certainty. Yes, clause 7 gives flexibility, but flexibility can also create uncertainty. Businesses need clarity to plan investments. Can the Ministry provide greater clarity as to when will conditions be modified, and will there be notice periods or consultation? Greater predictability will give businesses the confidence to invest and comply.
Fourth, on import trends. The Bill addresses direct imports, currently estimated at less than 10%. But if we do nothing, what does that number become? And what would that mean for our overall energy efficiency outcomes? Understanding this trajectory will help us assess the scale and urgency of the problem.
Mr Deputy Speaker, this Bill is a necessary step forward. It closes gaps. It strengthens enforcement and it reinforces the importance of efficiency. But the transition will not be costless. We must manage the short-term impact on businesses. We must cushion households. And we must provide clarity to those affected. If we get this balance right, we will do more than just improve efficiency. We will build trust. And we will move forward together towards a more sustainable future where everyone plays a part because in the end, this is not just about regulation. It is about resilience. It is about using what we have wisely, efficiently and responsibly. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support this Bill.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Lee Hong Chuang.
Mr Lee Hong Chuang (Jurong East-Bukit Batok): Mr Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin, please.
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I support the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2026.
Recently, I spoke with a SME owner in the logistics industry about the impact of recent energy price fluctuations on business operations. He told me that whilst rising fuel prices do indeed increase costs, he was more concerned about something else – if energy supply becomes unstable, businesses might not even be able to obtain the energy needed for basic operations.
In other words, in an era full of geopolitical uncertainty, the greatest risk businesses face is often not merely price increases, but the possibility that operations could be forced to halt once supply is disrupted.
This reminds us that, for Singapore, energy issues are not merely about pricing but are fundamentally related to national resilience, stable business operations and long-term economic competitiveness.
As an old saying goes: \"Prepare for rainy days to ensure steady progress.\" In today's constantly changing global energy landscape, improving energy efficiency is itself an important way to strengthen national resilience.
Energy efficiency remains one of Singapore's most pragmatic and cost-effective approaches to strengthening energy security and fulfilling climate commitments. As a highly urbanised country with limited land and resources, Singapore depends on imports for over 95% of its energy. At the same time, energy-related activities are also the main source of our nation's carbon emissions.
This means that every unit of energy we save not only reduces emissions, but also reduces dependence on imported energy, thereby enhancing overall national resilience.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the focus of this Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill is to further refine our existing energy efficiency regulatory framework, particularly in the regulation of regulated goods. Simply put, the core purpose of this Bill is to ensure that all relevant equipment, whether for sale or imported by businesses for their own use, must comply with energy efficiency standards.
First, closing regulatory gaps to ensure consistent rules.
Previously, if businesses sell equipment, they have to comply with energy efficiency standards but if they directly import equipment for their own use, in certain circumstances, they might not necessarily be fully covered by the original regulatory system. This is like a competition where some people enter through the main gate whilst others slip in through a side entrance. Ultimately, those who follow the rules end up at a disadvantage and the system loses credibility.
Through this amendment, regardless of whether equipment is for sale or own use, as long as it falls under regulated products, it must comply with the same energy efficiency standards. This helps ensure all companies compete under the same rules and maintains market fairness.
Second, strengthening registration and compliance mechanisms.
This Bill further refines the registration system for regulated products. Importers or manufacturers must complete registration procedures when supplying or importing relevant equipment and ensure products meet energy efficiency requirements.
If we compare the energy efficiency system to traffic rules, then the registration system is like vehicle registration. Only by clearly knowing what equipment is in use and who introduced it to the market can regulatory authorities ensure rules are implemented. Otherwise, even the best standards would be difficult to enforce without clear registration and regulatory mechanisms.
Third, driving businesses to continuously improve energy efficiency.
Energy technology is developing rapidly. Equipment considered efficient 10 years ago may no longer be the best choice today. For example, some older air conditioning systems or industrial equipment can often significantly reduce energy consumption whilst lowering operating costs through technological updates or operational optimisation.
From a business point of view, this is quite easy to understand. For the same type of equipment, some operate more efficiently whilst others are clearly more power-hungry. Over time, the difference becomes not just a technical issue but a real cost difference. By strengthening the regulatory framework, this Bill encourages businesses to regularly review equipment and systems and gradually adopt more efficient technologies.
Deputy Speaker, energy efficiency is not merely an environmental responsibility but also an economic opportunity.
For businesses, energy is often one of the important operating costs. Improving energy efficiency can reduce costs, enhance productivity and reduce enterprise risk when facing international energy price fluctuations.
With the world gradually moving towards a low-carbon economy, energy efficiency will also become an important factor in companies’ international competitiveness. Therefore, improving energy efficiency both aligns with sustainable development goals and helps strengthen economic competitiveness.
Deputy Speaker, whilst I support the direction of this Bill, I would also like to raise three questions and suggestions for the government's consideration.
First, regarding implementation and regulatory mechanisms.
The effectiveness of regulations depends on implementation. Since this Bill expands the regulatory scope of regulated products, may I ask the Minister how the Government will ensure enterprises truly comply with these requirements when importing and using relevant equipment?
For example, if two companies use similar equipment, one completes registration according to regulations and ensures compliance with energy efficiency standards whilst another imports equipment through different channels without truly being covered by regulation, then the rule-abiding company actually bears higher compliance costs. In the long run, this not only undermines system credibility but also affects market fairness.
Therefore, I suggest the Government consider strengthening spot checks and independent assessment mechanisms to ensure energy efficiency standards can be implemented in real operations.
Second, regarding assistance to enterprises, particularly SMEs, in equipment upgrades.
Many energy-saving measures require companies to make upfront investments in equipment updates or system optimisation. Large enterprises usually have the resources to carry out these upgrades, but SMEs may face financial and technical constraints. For example, even if a SME knows that old equipment consumes more energy, it may not be able to replace it immediately. The reason is not that it is unwilling to improve efficiency but that equipment updates often involve one-time investment.
Therefore, may I ask the Minister whether the Government plans to further strengthen support programmes or financing mechanisms to assist businesses in adopting more efficient equipment?
Third, regarding cultivating energy management professional capabilities.
As energy systems become increasingly complex, energy management is gradually becoming a field requiring professional skills, including capabilities in data analysis, system optimisation and industrial process management. In other words, even if businesses purchase efficient equipment, without professional personnel to analyse energy consumption data and optimise operating methods, the equipment's efficiency may not be fully realised.
Therefore, I suggest the Government strengthen cooperation between industry and higher education institutions to develop more professional courses in energy efficiency and energy management, to ensure businesses can obtain the talent they need.
Deputy Speaker, energy efficiency may not be as eye-catching as new energy technologies, but it remains one of our most direct and cost-effective solutions. Every unit of energy we save means reduced imports, reduced power generation demand, lower costs and reduced carbon emissions. This not only enhances national resilience but also improves overall economic efficiency.
Therefore, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill is pragmatic and necessary progress. It refines the regulatory framework, strengthens system implementation, and drives businesses to continuously improve energy efficiency. For these reasons, I support this Bill.
(In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill strengthens Singapore's energy efficiency framework by closing regulatory gaps and ensuring that regulated goods, whether supplied in the market or imported for own use, meet the required energy efficiency standards.
By enhancing product registration, strengthening compliance mechanisms and encouraging continuous improvements in energy systems, the Bill helps ensure that energy efficiency standards are applied more consistently across industries.
Energy efficiency remains one of the most practical and cost-effective ways for Singapore to enhance energy security, reduce emissions and strengthen long-term economic competitiveness. For these reasons, I support the Bill.
Mr Deputy Speaker: That was a very strong and passionate speech in Chinese. Mr Edward Chia.
Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui (Holland-Bukit Timah): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill.
This amendment is both timely and necessary. Around 40% of Singapore's greenhouse gas emissions are linked to electricity consumption. With the ongoing Middle East conflict driving volatility in global energy supply and prices, energy efficiency is not just about sustainability. It is a critical pillar of Singapore's energy resilience. If we are serious about our net-zero ambitions and resilience, then energy efficiency must remain a foundational pillar of our strategy.
This Bill strengthens the Energy Conservation Act by closing an important gap. Today, MEPS and labelling requirements apply mainly to goods supplied locally. The amendment now extends these requirements to goods imported for a person's own use.
I support the intent of the Bill but would like to raise several implementation considerations.
First, on enforcement. A key question is how enforcement will work in practice, particularly for small-scale imports. Increasingly, individuals and small businesses procure equipment through e-commerce platforms and parcel shipments. While each import may be small, the cumulative impact could be significant. Given the scale and speed of online commerce, could the Minister clarify whether NEA has sufficient enforcement capacity, and how it intends to prioritise and operationalise these expanded responsibilities?
Could the Senior Minister of State clarify how enforcement will be carried out for imports intended for a person's own use, particularly through online marketplaces or small parcel deliveries? Will there be thresholds below which enforcement becomes impractical and, if so, how do we ensure that this does not create loopholes?
Related to this, there may be scope to integrate enforcement across agencies. For example, in sectors, such as F&B, where businesses import equipment directly, could existing inspection regimes, such as Singapore Food Agency's inspections for licensing, also incorporate checks on energy efficiency compliance and registration? This would reduce duplication of enforcement resources and strengthen on-the-ground compliance.
Second, on regulatory burden and impact on businesses. Under the proposed framework, each importer is required to register regulated goods, even if the same product has already been registered by another importer. Could this create unnecessary duplication and administrative burden, particularly for SMEs importing small quantities? Would the Ministry consider a shared product registry that allows for product-level registration, while still maintaining accountability at the importer level?
More broadly, many SMEs import specialised equipment for their own operations. Will there be a simplified compliance pathway for low-volume importers or SMEs, so that compliance costs remain proportionate and do not become a barrier to business operations?
Third, on consumer awareness and the digital marketplace. As more consumers purchase appliances online, they may unknowingly buy non-compliant products. Will the Government consider strengthening consumer education and requiring clear visibility of energy efficiency labelling on online marketplaces, for example, by mandating the display of Singapore energy labels in listings?
Fourth, on waivers and safeguards. The Bill allows for waivers where compliance with requirements may not be possible in specific cases. Could the Minister clarify the criteria and safeguards for granting such waivers, and how consistency will be ensured? It would be important to avoid unintended circumvention or uneven application across businesses.
Finally, on transition and unintended behaviours. I note that there will be a transition period before full implementation. Could the Senior Minister of State share how the Government intends to mitigate any potential surge in imports of non-compliant equipment ahead of the enforcement date? Without appropriate safeguards, there may be a risk of front-loading less efficient equipment into the system.
Mr Deputy Speaker, this amendment is a necessary step to strengthen the integrity of our energy efficiency framework. It closes an emerging gap, reinforces fairness and supports our broader energy transition. With the right attention to implementation, enforcement and business impact, I believe it will achieve its intended outcomes.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim.
Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim (East Coast): Mr Deputy Speaker, energy efficiency remains a cornerstone of Singapore's sustainability and energy security strategy. As a resource-constrained nation that imports almost all of its energy, we must continue to treat efficiency not as an option, but as a necessity, both to manage costs and to meet our climate commitments.
Earlier, Members also touched on MEPS and MELS. In this regard, both MEPS and MELS are effective policy tools. MEPS play a critical role in removing less efficient products from the market. It sets the minimum level of energy efficiency that appliances must meet before they can even be sold in Singapore. In other words, if it wastes too much energy, it does not make the cut. As for MELS, as earlier mentioned by another Member, Best Denki was his choice, it is that that familiar \"tick label\" we see on our appliances. The more ticks, the more energy-efficient the product and the more we save on electricity bill. It helps us make smarter and more energy-efficient purchasing decisions.
Together, both MEPS and MELS have shaped market behaviour and raised overall energy performance standards.
The proposed extension of these frameworks to end-user imports is a logical and a necessary step. By ensuring that even goods imported for own use meet baseline efficiency standards, we strengthen the integrity of our regulatory regime and promote more responsible energy consumption across the board.
Sir, while I support the intent of these amendments, I am seeking clarification on several aspects relating to implementation and enforcement.
First, on the compliance framework and its practical implications. Under the proposed amendments, regulated goods imported for own use must be registered with NEA, meet MEPS requirements based on prescribed tests and, where applicable, be affixed with an energy label.
These are reasonable safeguards. However, they will inevitably introduce additional compliance steps for businesses and individuals. It is therefore important that implementation remains practical and proportionate. In particular, I would like to ask whether simplified or streamlined processes will be made available for SMEs as well as for individuals or businesses importing goods in small volumes.
Additionally, I urge the Government to consider creating a priority processing lane perhaps for SMEs that register products with energy ratings exceeding the current MEPS. By fast-tracking high-efficiency products, the Government would provide SMEs with a competitive edge over larger competitors. Without such accommodations, we risk placing a disproportionate burden on smaller players.
I would also appreciate clarification on how the Government intends to ensure compliance in respect of online marketplaces, where many such transactions increasingly take place.
This brings me to my second point: the role of online platforms and enforcement. Given the significant presence of e-commerce in our daily lives, enforcement cannot rely solely on downstream checks. I urge the Government to consider placing clear obligations on platform operators to prevent the listing of non-compliant products in the first place. In addition, stronger communication mechanisms between regulators and platform providers will be necessary to ensure that non-compliant listings are swiftly identified and removed. Without such upstream measures, enforcement risks becoming reactive rather than preventive.
Third, on balancing sustainability with cost considerations. For these measures to gain broad-based support, we must recognise that higher-efficiency products often come with higher upfront costs. While such products typically deliver long-term savings through reduced energy consumption, the initial price difference will still pose a barrier, particularly for households and SMEs. To address this, the Government could consider targeted support measures, increase targeted support measures, such as rebates, grants or co-funding schemes to help defray upfront costs and make energy-efficient appliances more accessible.
In addition, bulk procurement programmes and partnerships with retailers could help lower prices and encourage wider adoption, especially among SMEs. At the same time, public education remains key. Continued efforts to raise awareness of the long-term cost savings and environmental benefits of energy efficiency will help shift mindsets and strengthen public support. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Malay, please.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I fully support this amendment which is important for the long term and the current situation we are experiencing clearly demonstrates its importance.
However, to ensure that these measures receive broad support, the Government must acknowledge that energy-saving products that are highly efficient typically come with higher upfront costs. While such products will result in long-term savings through lower energy consumption, the initial price difference can still be a barrier and obstacle, especially for the low-income as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Therefore, to address this matter, the Government should consider support measures, such as rebates, grants or co-financing schemes, to help reduce upfront costs, which are essentially efforts to ensure energy-efficient equipment is more accessible to Singaporeans and businesses.
Additionally, collaboration with businesses can also help lower prices and encourage wider adoption, particularly among SMEs.
At the same time, public education is also very important. Continuous efforts to increase awareness and understanding about long-term cost savings and environmental benefits as well as prioritising energy efficiency will help change mindsets and strengthen community support.
Therefore, it is important for the Government to expand its awareness campaigns by partnering with schools, social media as well as community organisations in various languages, to educate consumers from the young ones to senior citizens. Training for businesses can also play a role in providing clear explanations and instil confidence in consumers, and this should be conducted more frequently and thoroughly. With a more comprehensive and consistent approach, the level of public awareness can be enhanced.
(In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, the intention behind this Bill is sound and forward-looking. It reinforces Singapore's commitment to sustainability while safeguarding our energy security. Notwithstanding the clarifications, I support the Bill.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary, would you like to adjourn the debate?
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Adjournment of Debate","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"OS","content":"The Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Dr Janil Puthucheary): Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that, \"That the debate be now adjourned.\"
[(proc text) Resolved, \"That the debate do now adjourn.\" – [Dr Janil Puthucheary]. (proc text)]
Mr Deputy Speaker: Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary, resumption of debate what day?
Dr Janil Puthucheary: Tomorrow, Sir.
Mr Deputy Speaker: So be it. Leader of the House.
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[(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]
Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Melvin Yong.
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye (Radin Mas): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to speak on a matter close to my heart – how we can do more to support our injured workers in returning to work with dignity.
Sir, this is not just about recovery. It is about whether every worker gets a fair chance to stand back up after a fall.
Over the years, I have spoken in this House about preventing workplace fatalities, strengthening safety culture and improving near-miss reporting. These remain critical. But while we have invested heavily in preventing injuries, we must now invest just as seriously in what happens after.
Because for many workers, that is when the real struggle begins.
In 2025, Singapore recorded 660 major workplace injuries. Behind each number is a worker and a family, relieved that a life was not lost, but with deep anxiety about recovery, about income and whether life can return to normal. And this challenge is not limited to workplace injuries.
We are seeing more serious health conditions affecting working-age Singaporeans. A recent report highlighted rising stroke cases among those in their 30s – people who are in the prime of their working lives.
Whether from injury or illness, the pattern is the same. The longer a worker stays away from work, the harder it becomes to return. Savings run down. Confidence drops. Stress builds. Recovery slows.
Mr Deputy Speaker, work is more than a pay cheque. It is dignity, purpose and a sense of belonging.
That is why return-to-work must be treated as a core pillar of our workforce system, not a secondary consideration. If we look at leading jurisdictions, there is a clear lesson for us. The most effective systems do not wait for full recovery. They support recovery through work.
In the Netherlands, employers and injured workers have clear duties, where such workers are actively reintegrated through structured plans, medical support and suitable work arrangements.
In Australia and New Zealand, return-to-work is embedded early, with work capacity assessments and coordinated rehabilitation support involving employers, insurers, public agencies and healthcare professionals to support workplace reintegration.
In Ontario, Canada, nine in 10 injured workers supported by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board return to work within a year through customised support and clear employer obligations to provide suitable work and accommodations.
In Germany, employers are required to offer structured reintegration processes for workers who have been absent for more than six weeks within a 12-month period.
In Sweden, the Social Insurance Agency coordinates support for workers returning to employment after prolonged illness. Employers ensure workplace adaptation and plan for return-to-work, while workers who cannot return to their previous jobs are further supported by various agencies through skills training, vocational rehabilitation and job matching aligned with their work capacity.
Across these systems, three principles stand out: early intervention, shared responsibility and workplace-centred solutions. Singapore has made good progress in this area. But we can and we should take the next step forward.
First, we must intervene earlier and more systematically. Studies show that having structured systems in place to deliver return-to-work sooner is a strong determinant of whether a worker successfully reintegrates at their workplace to contribute productively and without feeling excluded. International evidence shows that the first few weeks after an injury or illness are critical. In return-to-work, timing is everything. If we miss the window, we lose the worker. If support comes too late, workers risk drifting into long-term absence from the workforce.
Today, while Singapore has return-to-work programmes, activation may not always happen early enough or consistently across sectors. This is because participation is voluntary and largely dependent on employer willingness.
We should therefore strengthen early intervention by encouraging earlier referral into return-to-work support; establishing clearer expectations for employer engagement; and promoting early coordination between employers, workers, insurers and healthcare practitioners.
If we act earlier, we can significantly improve outcomes for our workers. I am therefore glad that the forthcoming Alliance for Action on Safety and Health for Employment Longevity intends to explore industry-led solutions to promote return-to-work. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) stands ready to support this effort.
Second, we must strengthen employer capability, especially amongst small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs employ around 70% of our local workforce today. If they are not equipped to support return-to-work, many workers will fall through the cracks. In short, if return-to-work does not work for SMEs, it does not work for Singapore.
Many employers want to help but may not know how. In leading jurisdictions, employers are supported with clear frameworks, practical tools and access to return-to-work coordinators.
In Singapore, NTUC, together with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), is developing the Tripartite Advisory on Providing Reasonable Accommodations to Persons with Disabilities.
This is a positive step. I urge the Ministry to consider expanding this advisory or, perhaps, introducing a complementary one – to explicitly cover workers recovering from injuries and serious health conditions. This should include practical guidance on job redesign and phased return; workplace adjustments and assistive solutions; and managing productivity during recovery.
We should also explore a shared return-to-work support model and increase awareness and access for SMEs to trained coordinators or centralised expertise. This will ensure that smaller firms are not disadvantaged in supporting their workers.
Third, we must support workers who are unable to return to their previous roles. For some workers, especially after serious injury or illness, returning to the same job may no longer be possible. Without structured support, these workers risk long-term unemployment and loss of livelihood. A worker who cannot return to the same job should not be left without a future.
In Canada and parts of Europe, workers are supported through vocational rehabilitation, retraining and job matching based on their work capacities, post-injury. This ensures they remain active contributors to the workforce.
In Singapore, we have strong foundations. For example, SG Enable offers both job placement and job support services, which provide coaching, job matching and workplace support to help persons with disabilities enter and remain in employment. But we can go further.
By drawing inspiration from these programmes, I propose that we develop a dedicated Back-to-Work pathway that supports workers who are unable to return to their previous jobs due to illness or injury. Facilitated transition into suitable new roles will provide stricken family breadwinners with much needed assurance and hope of reskilling, that is aligned with their new health conditions. This pathway should include: targeted skills training aligned with medical capacity; career coaching and confidence rebuilding, job matching with supportive employers; and transitional employment opportunities. This will ensure that a health setback does not become a permanent setback.
Finally, we must take a forward-looking step – to broaden support beyond workplace injuries. Today, support pathways are strongest for work-related injuries. But for workers recovering from serious non-work-related conditions, support remains uneven today. From the worker's perspective, there is no difference between a workplace injury and a serious illness – only the question of whether they can return to work. The impact is the same: loss of income, reduced work capacity and uncertainty about the future.
In countries, like New Zealand, support is structured around recovery and work capacity – not just the cause of injury. This is a direction I hope Singapore should aspire to move towards. I therefore suggest that the Government consider introducing a time-bound wage support scheme to help employers reintegrate workers recovering from serious health conditions.
Unlike support for persons with disabilities, there is currently no dedicated funding mechanism to incentivise employers to provide workplace accommodations for workers returning to work after serious non-work-related illnesses or medical conditions. Therefore, such a time-bound scheme could help to offset productivity adjustments and accommodation costs as workers gradually regain work capacity.
At the same time, we should reduce financial barriers for our workers. Allowing MediSave to be used for return-to-work-related expenses, such as assessments and evaluations of a worker's condition and fitness for work. These would ease out-of-pocket costs and support the worker's recovery. Fairness must not depend on how a worker fell ill or got injured. It must depend on our commitment to help them recover.
Mr Deputy Speaker, for a worker recovering from injury or illness, the journey is fought on three fronts: physical recovery, mental resilience and financial survival. A strong return-to-work system can make the difference between recovery and long-term exclusion. As our workforce ages and working lives lengthen, such challenges will become more commonplace. We must therefore act with urgency and with purpose.
Sir, I call on the Government to take the next step in strengthening Singapore's return-to-work ecosystem: to strengthen early intervention, equip our employers, build clear pathways back to work and ensure no worker is left behind. A fair society is not judged only by how it protects our workers from harm – but by how we help them recover when harm occurs. Let us build a system where recovery does not end at discharge, but leads back to work, to dignity and a second chance. Because at NTUC, we strongly believe that Every Worker Matters. [Applause.]
Mr Deputy Speaker: Minister of State Dinesh Vasu Dash.
The Minister of State for Manpower (Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash): I thank the Member, Mr Melvin Yong, for his continued passion in championing safety and well-being for workers across their diverse life circumstances.
Indeed, efforts to strengthen workplace safety and health are not limited to prevention and enforcement. They include helping workers to maintain or re-enter employment after a serious injury or health episode. Notwithstanding Singapore's record low fatal and major injury rates, MOM is keenly aware that there are also workers who experience health-related setbacks or other types of injuries that impact their functional capacity.
As people live longer and have longer working lives, it will become increasingly important to support individuals through their careers, including during periods of recovery from injury or ill health.
Our survey data shows that on average, over the past five years, there were about 3,800 unemployed residents who had left their previous jobs due to health-related reasons. These jobseekers have the potential to regain meaningful employment, if given appropriate and adequate support.
MOM therefore shares Mr Yong's interest in strengthening return-to-work pathways, which can contribute to workforce well-being and productivity. When implemented effectively, all stakeholders stand to gain.
Return-to-work services aim to support individuals as they resume employment after illness or injury, in a safe and sustainable manner. This requires vocational rehabilitation and coordination across healthcare providers, employers and workers, and involves personalised plans based on functional ability and job requirements.
For workers, this reduces the risk of re-injury or relapse and facilitates psychological readiness to work. It also provides income security and prevents early attrition from the workforce. For employers, effective return-to-work policies not only demonstrate a genuine commitment to employee well-being but also safeguards valuable human capital by retaining trained and experienced workers.
There are different pathways to return to employment. One could return to the same role with the same employer, and with modifications to support the recovery process. Alternatively, the worker could return to the same employer but undertake a different role more suited to his or her current capabilities. Or, as the Member had mentioned, some workers may need to be matched with a different organisation or consider a new career path.
Beyond medical treatment and rehabilitative therapy, MOM recognises that workplaces play a crucial role too. Success hinges on having workplaces that are committed to facilitating workers' reintegration – recognising workers' strengths and enabling them to fulfil their potential at work. This means fostering a supportive workplace culture and implementing practical accommodations, so that workers can perform their roles effectively despite their limitations.
Over the years, MOM had worked with our partners to strengthen the spectrum of return-to-work pathways in Singapore. To support workers returning to their previous employment after a work injury, MOM conducted a pilot with the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) from 2017 to 2021 to establish return-to-work capabilities in seven public hospitals. Back then, MOM observed that return-to-work services were typically limited to multinational corporations with in-house capabilities. We worked with hospitals to develop workflows and to train coordinators to support injured workers in navigating them back to work.
Besides undergoing occupational therapy and rehabilitation, workers received support from coordinators who engaged their employers on implementing a customised return-to-work plan. The pilot enrolled a total of 3,700 workers whose employers were committed to supporting their participation in the programme. It was found that the workflows managed by the coordinators and their orchestration of support enabled 95% of these workers to successfully return to work.
With the experience from the pilot, hospitals continue to offer return-to-work services today. For work-related injuries, such return-to-work expenses are claimable under the Work Injury Compensation Act.
We agree with the Member that beyond this group of workers resuming their previous employment after a workplace injury, return-to-work pathways should be made more available to other workers facing non-work-related conditions or who cannot return to their previous jobs.
To this end, the Ministry of Health rolled out an inter-agency pilot called the \"Bounce Back Lab\" from 2023 to 2025. The pilot involved a partnership between Workforce Singapore and the Public Health Institutions, targeting workers who were recovering from a recent health setback and had been assessed as fit to re-enter the workforce. Participating workers received personalised career coaching services, alongside targeted health advisory and emotional support from medical and community social workers. Coordination between career coaches and social workers was facilitated through a shared case management platform.
Following the Bounce Back Lab pilot, healthcare clusters have implemented processes to strengthen integrated healthcare and employment support. Additionally, the healthcare clusters have fostered partnerships with organisations beyond Workforce Singapore to provide a wider range of referral options for patients seeking employment support.
The pilots I have highlighted set forth our initial efforts to lay the foundation for return-to-work ecosystem in Singapore. Even so, MOM recognises that more can be done, including through learning from best practices in other countries, as suggested by Mr Yong.
First, we can do more to raise awareness and utilisation of existing return-to-work services. For example, the hospitals' return-to-work programmes provide an established and proven pathway to support workers in returning to their former employment post-injury. Greater awareness of these programmes among healthcare professionals, workers and employers would facilitate early intervention, which is important for workers to return to work.
Second, to remain effective, return-to-work service providers must strengthen their competencies to better integrate workers' safety and health needs with employment support, especially as our workforce composition and working conditions evolve. For example, familiarity with industry-specific job tasks and new assistive technologies would enable service providers to better engage employers on job redesign and modification.
Third, we can better encourage and equip employers, especially SMEs, to implement practical work accommodations for recovering workers to support their gradual resumption of work responsibilities.
The Ministry will be conducting a review of the return-to-work landscape in Singapore and will consider the Member's suggestions carefully.
As a first step, MOM is looking to partner with the industry and crowdsource innovative ideas to improve return-to-work outcomes. As announced at the Committee of Supply debate last month, we will be launching an Alliance for Action on Safety and Health for Employment Longevity (AfA-SHEL) together with NTUC and SNEF in the second half of 2026.
The AfA-SHEL will catalyse ground-up solutions to common workplace safety risks and concerns, and facilitating injured workers back to work is one of our focus areas.
Drawing from the lessons from the previous pilots with hospitals, as well as the Bounce Back Lab pilot, proposals could include innovative job redesign approaches for common injuries or health conditions, initiatives to build SMEs' capabilities in supporting return-to-work, or new partnership models that better match workers to jobs, based on their functional abilities.
We encourage the public to participate in these ground-up solutions later in the year. Promising prototypes can be scaled for wider adoption, while insights from the AfA process will also inform our policy reviews.
While there are areas for improvement, I would like to acknowledge the current return-to-work efforts of our healthcare professionals, career and employment agencies, employers, unions and workers themselves, who have contributed to helping workers overcome health-related setbacks, so that they can continue on their career journeys.
Ultimately, further strengthening return-to-work pathways will require the commitment of all relevant stakeholders in the ecosystem. Let us continue working together to maximise the employment potential and longevity of all workers, a thriving economy and an inclusive Singapore.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Any further clarifications, Mr Melvin Yong? No?
[(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)]
[(proc text) Resolved, \"That Parliament do now adjourn.\" (proc text)]
Mr Deputy Speaker: Pursuant to Standing Order 2(3)(a), I wish to inform hon Members that the Sitting tomorrow will commence at 12.00 pm. Order. Order.
Adjourned accordingly at 7.37 pm.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":"Matter Raised On Adjournment Motion","questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Detection of Organised Criminal Activity in Recent Illegal Wildlife Trade Enforcement Operations","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"88 Ms Lee Hui Ying asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether any organised criminal activity in Singapore was detected in recent illegal wildlife trade enforcement operations, such as Interpol's Operation Thunder; and (b) if so, what are the implications of these activities on Singapore's ports, companies and financial systems.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The National Parks Board carried out a series of coordinated raids across Singapore as part of Interpol's Operation Thunder in 2025, resulting in the seizure of 16 wildlife specimens. No evidence of organised criminal activity in Singapore was found during this operation or in other recent illegal wildlife trade enforcement operations.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Effectiveness of KidSTART Programme in Key Child and Family Outcomes","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"90 Mr David Hoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Development since the nationwide rollout of KidSTART in 2025 (a) what follow-up assessment has the Ministry conducted on the programme's effectiveness including key child and family outcomes; and (b) whether these findings have prompted any review of the programme's reach.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: KidSTART was only rolled out nationwide in 2025, and more time is needed to observe its impact.
Previously, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) had partnered the Centre for Evidence and Implementation to conduct an evaluation study of KidSTART from 2017 to 2022. The study found that KidSTART children showed improved child development outcomes and more pro-social behaviours by three years old. These findings were presented at the 2024 Asian Family Conference organised by MSF. The promising findings contributed to the decision to scale the revised KidSTART service model nationwide.
We will continue to monitor outcomes and assess KidSTART's effectiveness following the nationwide rollout.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Preventing Identities of Children Involved in Child Protection Cases from Being Publicised or Disclosed","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"91 Mr Lee Hong Chuang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what are the existing safeguards to protect the identities of children involved in child protection cases from being publicised or disclosed by their own parents; (b) what specific challenges does the Ministry face in implementing and enforcing these safeguards; and (c) what more can be done to better protect the identities of children in such cases.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: There are existing safeguards under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) to protect the identities of children involved in child protection cases. Under Section 111(1), any person, including parents, is prohibited from publishing or broadcasting any information or picture that identifies, or is likely to lead to the identification of, a child who is or had been the subject of a CYPA investigation.
In practice, where such content is posted, the Ministry of Social and Family Development will first advise parents and seek their cooperation to remove it. Most comply. Where they do not, we may notify the relevant platforms, apply to the Court under Section 111(2) for removal and, as a last resort, refer the matter to the Police.
Parents involved in CYPA investigations often have to deal with many issues happening in their family and may not be in the best emotional state. They may not fully appreciate the risks of online disclosure. This can compromise the child's privacy, safety and emotional well-being. It can also undermine the work of professionals and affect ongoing interventions for the family. Parents should raise feedback or concerns through appropriate and confidential channels, where they can be addressed with the child's interest as a priority.
We will continue to strengthen public education and work with parents to better safeguard the identities of children.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Inclusion of Data of Households in Monthly Income Band of More Than $20,000","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"92 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) why the data for current bands for household market income starts at below $1,000 and stops at $20,000; (b) whether the Department of Statistics Singapore will consider expanding the \"$20,000 & Over\" category into additional bands.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The income bands for the new household market income series published by the Department of Statistics (DOS) follow that adopted for the earlier household employment income series to facilitate comparison across series.
DOS regularly reviews the household income statistics it publishes to ensure that they remain relevant and meet user needs. Following a recent review, DOS will be expanding the income bands in its upcoming releases of household income statistics.
93 Mr Gabriel Lam asked the Acting Minister for Transport given that 52% of road accidents in 2025 are attributed to failure to keep a proper lookout (a) how many of these involved vehicles turning into minor roads and striking pedestrians at zebra crossings; (b) whether junction design contributes to such risks; and (c) what infrastructure adjustments are being considered to reduce turning-related pedestrian collisions.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The Traffic Police does not specifically track the number of road accidents attributed to vehicles turning into minor roads and striking pedestrians at zebra crossings.
Our roads are designed in accordance with international safety standards and requirements. For example, junctions are designed to enable both pedestrians and motorists to see each other clearly. Red-Amber-Green (RAG) arrows are implemented at almost all signalised junctions to enable safer turning. The remaining junctions where it is not feasible to install RAG arrows mostly have a single right-turn lane with only one oncoming traffic lane. The Land Transport Authority will consider other features, such as prominent turning pockets and signage, to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow at these junctions. Traffic calming infrastructure, such as centre dividers or road humps, are also added to slow down motorists at certain road sections.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Quantum of Expenditure on Government Contracts with Palantir Technologies or Subsidiaries","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"94 Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance what is the quantum of expenditure across all Ministries, Statutory Boards and Organs of State on procurement contracts, software licences or consultancy services provided by Palantir Technologies or its subsidiaries over the past five years.
Ms Indranee Rajah: Over the past five years, the Government has procured $250,000 of software services from Palantir Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Palantir Technologies Inc.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Annual Grading Framework for Student Care Centres","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"95 Mr Ng Shi Xuan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the relevant Government agencies will consider (i) implementing a mandatory annual grading framework for student care centres and (ii) mandating that the grades be displayed prominently at such centres.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Only Student Care Centres that administer the Student Care Fee Assistance are audited at least once every two years. The audit covers areas, such as the physical environment, operating hours, supervision, safety, health and hygiene, meals, emergency preparedness and records-keeping. The audit grades are available on the Ministry of Social and Family Development website.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Help for Delivery Riders Affected by Recent Exit of Food Delivery Platform Company","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"97 Mr Jackson Lam asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how many delivery riders may be affected by the recent exit of a food delivery platform company in Singapore; (b) what support measures are available for riders facing income disruption; and (c) whether platform worker protections adequately address such sudden market exits by platform companies.\n
Dr Tan See Leng: Regarding the number of riders affected, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not release company-level information, as such data is collected under the Statistics Act for the compilation of official statistics and is subject to confidentiality requirements.
As the nature of platform work is different from employment, not all support measures for employees affected by business closures are applicable for platform workers. For example, platform workers can decide whether and when to take on the next delivery job so the concept of employment termination notice period would not be applicable.
For employees, employers must provide them with the requisite notice period as stipulated in their employment contracts upon termination or follow the minimum notice period prescribed under the Employment Act if the contract is silent. Companies that employ at least 10 employees are required to submit a mandatory retrenchment notification so that Workforce Singapore (WSG) and the National Trades Union Congress' Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) can provide employment facilitation support.
For platform workers, they can take on jobs from other platform operators or approach WSG, e2i and relevant platform work associations for career matching services and training programmes.
In the case of the said food delivery platform operator, WSG and e2i stepped in to offer job matching support and career coaching to both affected employees and platform workers. The platform operator also worked with the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union and National Delivery Champions Association to facilitate their outreach and assistance to union members.
Workers from lower-income households, regardless of the employment type, may also approach their Social Service Office to seek financial assistance if needed.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Data for Number of Calls to and Full-time Counsellors Manning National Mindline 1771","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"99 Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) since inception in June 2025 (i) how many calls have been made to the national mindline 1771 and (ii) how many calls were unanswered; (b) whether there are plans to expand the pool of full-time counsellors manning the national mindline 1771; and (c) how many volunteers have been trained in the pilot launched by national mindline 1771 in late 2025.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Since the launch of the national mindline 1771 in June 2025, the service has received more than 47,000 calls, messages and webchats. As of December 2025, the dropped-calls rate was approximately 12% but help-seekers can access help immediately via WhatsApp messaging and webchat 24/7.
The national mindline 1771 is manned mainly by full-time counsellors and has plans to hire more to meet the demand. The service is also augmented by volunteers. As of December 2025, more than 25 volunteers have been trained and can be deployed when needed.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Proposal for Partial Home-based Learning to Reduce Transport Use amid Petrol Price Hikes","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"100 Ms Hany Soh asked the Minister for Education whether the Ministry will consider temporarily implementing partial home-based learning in order to reduce transport use amid petrol hikes due to the Middle East situation.
Mr Desmond Lee: Secondary schools and pre-university institutions currently conduct Home-Based Learning (HBL) about once a fortnight. Primary schools do not conduct regular HBL. There is currently no plan to implement additional HBL arrangements because of the increase in petrol prices.
We will continue to monitor the broader economic situation and its impact on families.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Grants or Subsidies to Support Local Law Firms in Adopting AI Tools","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"102 Ms Hany Soh asked the Minister for Law whether the Ministry will consider establishing grants or subsidies to support local law firms in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools according to each firm's needs.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: There are already grant programmes in place to support law firms to adopt technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
Since 2022, the Ministry of Law has provided funding support via the Productivity Solutions Grant for the Legal Sector (PSG-Legal) to help law firms to digitalise. PSG-Legal today defrays 50% of firms' first-year cost of adopting pre-approved legaltech solutions, capped at $45,000 per year. Supported solution categories include AI tools, such as legal chatbots and document review software.
Law firms can also tap on Enterprise Singapore's Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) to upgrade and innovate, or the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) for non-legaltech solutions to improve their productivity and automate their processes.
Enabling AI adoption is not only about addressing cost but also providing support for change management, especially for smaller law firms. We recognise that many lawyers are kept busy by their daily work and may not have the capacity to dedicate additional hours to researching and implementing solutions.
We therefore launched the pilot of the Legal Innovation and Future-Readiness Transformation (LIFT) initiative in June 2025. Under LIFT, the Ministry of Law deploys legaltech consultants to law firms to oversee the end-to-end change process. The legaltech consultants will help law firms diagnose their technology needs, recommend suitable legaltech solutions and implement the chosen solution.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Enforcement Actions Taken for Fraudulent GIRO Transactions","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"103 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in the past three years, how many enforcement actions have been taken against individuals or company directors for fraudulent GIRO transactions.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Police do not track the number of cases involving fraudulent GIRO transactions.
Erroneous GIRO transactions may sometimes stem from administrative mistakes rather than criminal intent. The Police will assess each reported case based on its facts and circumstances. If a criminal offence is established, the Police will investigate accordingly.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Findings from Trial Deployment of Traffic Violation Enforcement Cameras","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"104 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the key insights from the trial deployment of the Traffic Violation Enforcement Cameras (TVECs); (b) what are the statistics on offences detected by the TVECs during the trial period; and (c) what plans are in place to scale up their implementation nationwide going forward beyond the nine TVECs currently operationalised.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Traffic Violation Enforcement Cameras (TVECs) use video analytics and automatic number plate recognition technology to detect and capture selected traffic offences in real time. TVECs are mobile and can be redeployed according to enforcement needs.
During the trial period from April 2025 to February 2026, TVECs detected over 67,000 traffic violations, such as red-light running, illegal U-turns and crossing double white lines. TVECs enhance enforcement as they automatically detect violations that are enforced manually by officers today and operate round-the-clock.
Following the trial, the Traffic Police has deployed nine TVECs on our roads from March 2026. Traffic Police is also developing plans to increase the number of TVECs on our roads in the future.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Factors Contributing to Weaker Full-time Permanent Employment Outcomes in Selected Courses for 2025 Graduates","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"105 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry can provide an update on the key factors contributing to weaker full-time permanent employment outcomes in selected course clusters in the 2025 Graduate Employment Survey for autonomous universities; and (b) whether the Ministry has plans to review targeted interventions to help affected fresh graduates secure suitable jobs in light of the survey findings.
106 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Education in view of the reduction in full-time permanent employment based on the 2025 Graduate Employment Survey (a) whether the Government is considering providing (i) further employment assistance to recent graduates and (ii) in particular, targeted assistance for graduates of degrees with lower full-time permanent employment levels; and (b) if not, why not.
Mr Desmond Lee: My response will address the matters raised in the questions by Dr Wan Rizal and Mr Louis Chua as well as a related Parliamentary Question by Mr Pritam Singh, which is scheduled for 8 April. [Please refer to \"Response to Decline in Percentage of Graduates Securing Full-time Employment in 2025 Graduate Employment Survey\", Official Report, 8 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 28, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]
Let me start by acknowledging what the 2025 Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey shows. I will then explain what we are doing about it.
The survey found that 88.9% of graduates in the labour force secured employment within six months of completing their final examinations, with 74.4% of them in full-time permanent employment. Both measures have seen a decline since 2023, but I would like to explain the context. The higher employment rates of 2022 and 2023 reflected the post-pandemic hiring surge – a unique period that was always going to moderate. The proportion of graduates who have secured employment in 2025 is closer to the pre-COVID-19 level.
The number of job vacancies has moderated since 2022 and 2023, reflecting more cautious hiring sentiments by companies amid significant economic and geopolitical uncertainties. This may, in part, also be driven by developments in how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how work is done. However, the specific impact of AI on the demand for entry-level jobs remains uncertain at this point and we will continue to monitor the impact with the Ministry of Manpower and the sector agencies.
Graduates of the arts, design and media course cluster saw the largest decline in full time permanent employment of 12 percentage points compared to 2024. However, when we look at all graduates who had secured employment, including freelance, project-based and contract work, the decline was much smaller at 4.1 percentage points. This could reflect how creative industries are evolving, with many professionals choosing self-employment or flexible work arrangements that suit the nature of their craft. Between 2024 and 2025, the proportion of graduates in voluntary part-time temporary employment increased by 5.5 percentage points. This is not necessarily a step backwards, but we will continue to monitor the changes closely.
I want to speak directly to our fresh graduates and their families who may be feeling anxious about these numbers. Your concerns are important and we hear you. While the job market has become more selective, opportunities still exist. The fundamentals of our economy remain strong and Singapore continues to be a hub for innovation and growth across multiple sectors. Looking at the longer-term trend, graduate outcomes have remained broadly stable in the last 10 years, with around nine in 10 graduates securing employment within six months of graduation.
We are not standing still. Our institutes of higher learning have ramped up their career support systems for graduating students and fresh graduates. They are hosting more career fairs, facilitating more connections with employers and proactively reaching out and providing personalised career counselling for students who need extra support. Beyond our campuses, fresh graduates can access comprehensive career services through Workforce Singapore, including one-on-one coaching to help match skills with emerging opportunities. We encourage graduates to use these resources to understand how their skillsets can enable them to seize job opportunities, even if these opportunities are not directly related to their area of study.
In October 2025, we launched the Graduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT) and GRIT@Gov Programmes. These are temporary measures designed precisely to bridge the gap between graduation and full-time employment amid uncertainties in the economy. They support structured traineeships that provide real industry experience and skills development. We have already extended these programmes to the 2026 graduating cohort and we are prepared to expand capacity if needed.
We will continue to watch the trends in our graduate employment outcomes closely and provide more support to our fresh graduates where needed. Our graduates are among the most talented and well-prepared in the world. The current market conditions are temporary, but the quality of our education and the resilience of our graduates are enduring strengths.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Converting Zebra Crossings to Signalised Crossings to Enhance Safety for Elderly Pedestrians","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"108 Mr Gabriel Lam asked the Acting Minister for Transport in view of the 145.5% increase in elderly pedestrian fatalities in 2025 reported in the Police's Annual Road Traffic Situation (a) what criteria are used to determine whether zebra crossings shall be upgraded to signalised crossings; (b) whether elderly population density is factored into these decisions; and (c) whether more signalised crossings will be installed in estates with higher proportions of seniors.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Conversion of zebra crossings into signalised crossings is assessed holistically based on site-specific conditions, such as traffic pattern, road width, nearby amenities and proportion of elderly. Signalised crossings are typically considered in busier or more complex traffic environments.
For example, elderly pedestrians may require additional crossing time. Hence, in estates with higher proportions of elderly, we have Silver Zones and Friendly Streets – featuring signalised crossings with longer crossing time and narrowed road sections to encourage motorists to slow down and stop for pedestrians to cross more safely. The Land Transport Authority will continue to expand the Friendly Streets initiative to all the Housing and Development Board towns by 2030.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Tracking Career Progression Outcomes for Persons with Disabilities","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"109 Mr Ng Chee Meng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry tracks career progression outcomes for persons with disabilities, such as training participation rates and wage growth, including for those supported under the Enabling Employment Credit and the Open Door Programme; and (b) if not, whether the Ministry will consider doing so.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: At the national level, based on data collected from the Ministry of Manpower's Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, the median gross monthly income among employed residents with disabilities aged 15 to 64 has continued to grow over the years, rising from over $2,500 in 2019 to more than $4,000 in 2025. This is partly due to the increase in the proportion of employed residents with disabilities taking on professionals, managers, executives and technicians' jobs from 34% to 54% in the same period.
Based on the National Council of Social Service's Disability Inclusion Panel Study in 2023, 21.6% of persons with disabilities, aged 18 and above, participated in training programmes in the past year.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Capacity Enhancements at Sengkang HDB Branch Office to Handle Workload with Closure of Hougang Branch Office","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"112 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for National Development (a) what capacity enhancements has HDB's Sengkang Branch Office made to handle the workload taken over from HDB's Hougang Branch which closed on 1 September 2025; and (b) how are service levels for residents who previously used HDB's Hougang Branch being tracked to ensure they are not prejudiced by its closure.\n
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) Hougang branch was closed on 1 September 2025 to facilitate the development of the mixed commercial and residential site at Hougang Ave 10 and Hougang Central. Prior to its closure, staff from Hougang branch were redeployed to Sengkang branch to ensure more appointment slots were available for booking.
To ensure continued service for Hougang residents, HDB has opened a 24-hour e-Lobby on 1 September 2025, on the same day the branch closed. The e-Lobby is located at Block 806 Hougang Central, close to the previous Hougang branch. It is equipped with self-help machines, such as HDB e-Service kiosks, for residents to access HDB services and complete transactions. To assist residents with HDB's e-Services, HDB has stationed a service ambassador at the e-Lobby until June 2026 and may extend the duration of the service ambassador if necessary.
HDB actively monitors frontline service standards through various service indicators, including waiting time and customer satisfaction scores. The service standards at Sengkang branch have met HDB's targets and are on par with other HDB branches.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Help for Employees Who Face Difficulty in Recovering Unpaid Salaries Due To Required Court Enforcement","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"113 Ms Diana Pang Li Yen asked the Minister for Manpower of the 10% of employees who are unable to recover their salaries even with assistance from Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) (a) what proportion of these employees continue to face difficulties in recovering unpaid salaries due to the requirement of further Court enforcement; and (b) whether the Ministry has available mechanisms to expedite the recovery process.
Dr Tan See Leng: As reported in the Employment Standards Report 2024, 94% of employees who lodged salary claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) fully recovered their salaries, while 4% recovered their salaries partially through security bond insurers and main contractors or were assisted through financial assistance. The remaining 2% did not recover their salaries and were mainly higher income earners.
Once a worker registers a settlement agreement with the District Court, it becomes enforceable as a Court order. If a worker did not receive payment by the due date, he or she can seek TADM's assistance to engage the employer on the payment obligation and advise the worker on the process to apply to the Courts to enforce the Court order. In serious cases, the Ministry of Manpower will investigate the employer for possible offences under the Employment Act. Penalties, such as warnings, debarment from applying for work passes and prosecution in Court, may be imposed on errant employers who do not pay salaries. Upon conviction, employers could be fined up to $15,000 and/or imprisoned for up to six months for the first offence; and up to $30,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 12 months for repeat offenders.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Timeline for Ongoing Review of Possible Ban on Flavoured Tobacco Products","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"115 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what is the timeline for the Ministry's ongoing review of a possible ban on flavoured tobacco products, including menthol and fruit flavoured cigarettes; and (b) what findings would influence or add impetus to a decision to institute a ban.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Government has taken various measures to curb smoking. These include public education, supporting smokers to quit, bans on tobacco advertising, tobacco taxes, restrictions on smoking in certain public spaces, standardised packaging with graphic health warnings and raising the minimum legal age. These measures, combined with Singaporeans exercising greater responsibility over their health, have brought smoking prevalence to an all-time low of 8.4%.
There are other policy moves being suggested, such as banning flavoured tobacco products and implementing a nicotine-free generation policy. We will consider these options.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Outcomes of Pupils Placed in Learning Support Programme for English in Primary 1 and 2","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"116 Mr David Hoe asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry tracks outcomes of pupils emplaced on the Learning Support Programme for English in Primary 1 and 2, including the proportions later emplaced on the Reading Remediation Programme in Primary 3 to 5 or recommended Foundation English at Primary 5; and (b) if so, what these outcomes indicate.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Learning Support Programme is a specialised early intervention programme which provides support to students who need additional help with English language at Primary 1 and 2. Students on the programme are monitored for their progress. Students who need continued support at the end of Primary 2 can then join the Reading Remediation Programme (RRP) at Primary 3 and 4, or the School-based Dyslexia Remediation programme if they have been diagnosed with dyslexia.
Students who progress to Primary 5 and take English at the standard level can continue receiving RRP support if needed. Students who need a less demanding curriculum can offer English at the foundation level at Primary 5 and 6.
The Ministry's monitoring indicates that the targeted literacy strategies employed across the different stages of support help to progressively narrow students' learning gaps, enabling them to better access the curriculum according to their abilities and progress.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Update on Fraudulent Transactions of Dealer Who Took Vehicles Without Payment","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"117 Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs with reference to the case reported on 28 July 2024 involving a dealer taking vehicles without payment (a) whether the Ministry can provide an update on the police investigations into the alleged fraudulent vehicle transactions; and (b) whether legal safeguards or interim measures were adequate to prevent the persons under investigation from engaging in similar transactions while investigations were ongoing.
Mr K Shanmugam: The alleged car dealer has been charged in Court on 8 November 2024 and 2 April 2026 for a total of 12 counts of cheating under section 420 of the Penal Code. He has been remanded and prosecution is in progress.
Investigations into cases of alleged fraud, especially cases like this, are typically complex and may take time. The Police would need to gather sufficient evidence to prove that there is a fraudulent intent to cheat and not a case of genuine business failure.
While the case is ongoing, there are levers to prevent the accused from reoffending. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, the Police can freeze any bank accounts that are suspected to contain funds from illicit activities. If any arrestable offences are disclosed, the Police may also arrest the suspects. Prior to the release of arrested persons from the Police's custody, or if the person has been brought before the Court, bail conditions would be set. This would include a condition to not commit any offence while on bail. If bail conditions are breached, it may lead to the forfeiture of bail money or revocation of bail, and the accused would be remanded in custody.
For this case, the Police had also worked with other relevant Government agencies and private companies, to ensure that the dealer and his companies would not be able to perform motoring transactions or post advertisements on motoring platforms.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Protection against Unfair Business Practices for Small Retail Subtenants in Commercial Properties","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"118 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what measures are in place to protect the rights and deposits of small retail subtenants in commercial properties; and (b) whether regulations can be enhanced to prevent unfair practices.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Government has worked with the industry to develop the Fair Tenancy Industry Committee's (FTIC) Code of Conduct for Leasing of Retail Premises in Singapore. The FTIC sets out key leasing principles to facilitate fair and balanced lease negotiations between tenants and landlords. Since February 2024, all qualifying retail lease agreements must comply with the Code under the Lease Agreements for Retail Premises Act (LARPA). In the event of disagreements over lease negotiations or terms, the parties may bring their cases to the Singapore Mediation Centre for low-cost mediation or adjudication under LARPA.
The Code stipulates a cap of three months on the security deposits of gross rent that subtenants of small retail commercial properties are required to provide for retail premises of up to 5,000 square feet floor area and a lease term of up to three years. This principle aims to strike a balance between avoiding undue strain on tenants' cash flow and protecting landlords from the cost of reinstating the unit.
The FTIC is undertaking a review of the Code which is expected to be completed later this year.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Extending SG Enable Training Course Fee Subsidies for Persons With Disabilities to SkillsFuture-eligible Programmes","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"121 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Government will consider extending the up to 95% course fee subsidies for persons with disabilities, under the SG Enable Training Grant, to SkillsFuture-eligible programmes offered by mainstream training providers to broaden access to industry-relevant skills development; and (b) if not, what are the reasons for limiting the scope of programmes.
Mr Desmond Lee: The inter-Ministry Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities is studying ways to better support persons with disabilities in accessing training, which could include both funding and non-financial support measures. More details will be announced when ready.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Proposal for Childcare Subsidies To Be Raised to Match Infant Care Subsidy Levels","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"122 Ms Diana Pang Li Yen asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the impact on young families when the basic subsidy drops from $600 a month for infant care to $300 a month for childcare once a child turns 18 months old; and (b) whether childcare subsidies will be raised to match infant care subsidy levels, or otherwise enhanced, so support remains strong throughout early childhood.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Infant care requires higher staff-to-child ratios and more specialised facilities. This results in higher operation costs and therefore higher infant care fees than childcare. In 2025, the median infant care fee was $1,235, around double that of childcare at $680. Hence, the Government provides higher subsidies to infant care to keep it affordable for families.
With these subsidies, a median-income working family with a child enrolled in an anchor operator preschool in 2025 would spend around 3.1% of their income on full-day childcare compared to 5.8% of their income on full-day infant care. Since the start of 2026, full-day childcare fees have been further reduced by $30 to a maximum of $610 at anchor operator preschools and $650 at partner operator preschools. The affordability of both childcare and infant care will also be further enhanced from 1 January 2027, when the income ceiling for preschool subsidies will increase from $12,000 to $15,000 and income thresholds for all subsidy tiers will be increased.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Encouraging More Graduates to Enter Sea-based Farming Sector","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"123 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) why the Ministry does not track whether graduates from institutes of higher learning (IHLs) and Continuing Education and Training (CET) aquaculture programmes enter sea-based farms; (b) whether the Ministry will work with IHLs to establish a graduate-to-sector tracking mechanism similar to those in healthcare and teaching; and (c) what projected workforce demand figures are used to calibrate aquaculture training intake across IHLs.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The Singapore Food Agency's (SFA's) focus has been on tracking farm productivity and helping farmers achieve higher levels of productivity, rather than specifically tracking whether graduates from aquaculture programmes join farms.
While we do not track graduates' employment outcomes, SFA works with local institutes of higher learning (IHLs), such as Temasek Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic, to develop aquaculture capability within our local farming workforce. This includes shaping programme curricula and facilitating industry internships. SFA also projects manpower needs based on industry developments, such as farm openings, potential scale-ups and recruitment plans of existing farms and provides regular inputs to IHLs and relevant Government agencies, such as the Ministry of Education, to inform adjustments to programme intakes for related fields of studies.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Penalties for Companies that Contravene Mandatory Retrenchment Notification Requirement","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"124 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider raising and actively enforcing penalties for companies that contravene the Mandatory Retrenchment Notification requirement under the Employment Act 1968.
Dr Tan See Leng: Companies with 10 or more employees are required to submit a Mandatory Retrenchment Notification (MRN) to the Ministry of Manpower within five working days of informing any employee of their retrenchment. The penalty for non-compliance is an administrative penalty of $1,000 for the first contravention and $2,000 for subsequent contraventions.
The majority of employers comply with the MRN requirement. In 2025, 81% of MRNs were submitted within the five working day deadline, which is an improvement from 67% in 2024. Late submissions were often due to administrative oversight. Companies who submit MRN late are issued with caution letters, and most have been remorseful and compliant thereafter. For recalcitrant employers, we will impose administrative penalties.
As the MRN compliance rate has been high, we do not see a need to raise the penalties at this time. We will continue to monitor employers' compliance with MRN requirements and review our enforcement framework from time to time.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Correlation between Closure of High-profile Retail Stores and Rental Trends","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"125 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of higher-profile retail store closures recently, how does the Ministry reconcile official data suggesting that rent has declined as a proportion of business costs with the lived experiences of local retailers.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: At the macro level, rent increases for retail spaces have broadly tracked economic fundamentals, trending below nominal gross domestic product growth and inflation in the last few years. Between 2019 and 2024, rental costs as a share of total business costs declined from 26% to 17% for the food and beverage sector and from 30% to 26% for the retail sector.
But at the local level, rental costs can vary for retailers due to attributes, such as proximity to key transport nodes or estates with high population density. They can also vary based on factors, such as the property type, unit level and demand.
Different retailers face different cost structures and business circumstances. Aside from rent, retailers may also face other cost pressures, such as raw materials and labour. Businesses may decide that it may be more viable to restructure, scale down or exit their operations.
Nonetheless, we continue to strive to support local retailers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in strengthening their capabilities and competitiveness. This includes providing schemes, such as the Enterprise Development Grant and Productivity Solutions Grant, which help SMEs transform and enhance their productivity. The Government also offers targeted programmes that encourage local retailers to innovate and provide differentiated offerings. An example is the Retail Maverick Challenge, which enables local retailers to pilot innovative and experiential retail concepts.
The Government is continuing to engage and work closely with industry stakeholders and key trade associations, such as the Singapore Retailers Association, to assess and enhance our support for Singapore enterprises through these transitions.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Difference between Non-combat and Prohibited Involvement with Foreign Militaries","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"126 Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how were the authorities made aware in 2025 of the blog post which included a hyperlink to a website that redirected users to the website of the Sar-El Volunteer Corps (Singapore); (b) whether the authorities advised the individual to take down the blog and on what basis; and (c) why were these events not made public immediately.
127 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in light of reports that two Singaporeans who volunteered with an Israeli military-linked organisation in 2016 were uninvolved in combat (a) how does the Ministry determine whether involvement with a foreign military constitutes participation in a foreign armed conflict; and (b) where is the line drawn between permissible non-combat roles, such as logistics, supply support or private consultancy and prohibited involvement.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) issued a joint statement on 24 March 2026 pertaining to two individuals A and B who had volunteered with Sar-El in December 2016. Members may refer to the joint statement for the facts.
In 2024, the Internal Security Department (ISD) learned about the blog post made by A, which included a hyperlink to his website that in turn redirected users to the Sar-El Volunteer Corps (Singapore) website. For operational reasons, we do not discuss the ISD's methodologies or sources.
At that time, A was based overseas pursuing his undergraduate studies. ISD subsequently engaged A, along with his father B, when A returned to Singapore in 2025. ISD's investigations concluded that A and B were not involved in any military activities with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Nevertheless, ISD advised A and B that A's blog post was inappropriate in the context of the conflict in Gaza. Following ISD's engagement, A voluntarily took down the blog post. A and B are no longer involved with Sar-El.
Many such conversations take place with individuals who wish to go to Israel, Gaza, Ukraine or other conflict zones. We do not make these conversations public when the individuals comply and there are no security issues. When the events involving A and B were re-surfaced recently, MHA and MINDEF provided an account of the facts known to the Government.
In general, we do not want Singaporean citizens to be involved in foreign militaries. When the conduct is linked with entities which are not strictly speaking military outfits, but the entities are nevertheless associated with foreign militaries, then whether that is objectionable depends on the facts of each case. We have to look at what the entity does and its relationship with the military.
In A and B's case, they were not involved in any military activities in 2016 and no action needed to be taken. However, based on what is currently known about Sar-El and its activities today in support of the IDF, involvement in the group as well as other organisations with similar objectives, would not be acceptable and Singaporeans should not volunteer with Sar-El. We will consider taking action under our laws, including the Internal Security Act, against any person who still plans to or does proceed to volunteer under these circumstances, or who is otherwise involved in activities found to be prejudicial to Singapore's national security and interests.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Effect of Rising Energy Prices on Cost of Singapore's Water Production","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"128 Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in view of rising energy costs (a) how these may affect the cost of water production, particularly desalination and NEWater; and (b) how the Ministry will ensure that water prices remain stable and affordable for households and businesses.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: While rising energy prices increase the Public Utilities Board's (PUB's) operating costs to produce and supply water, particularly for desalinated water and NEWater which are more energy-intensive, the near-term cost impact is moderated as PUB has fixed-rate contracts for part of its electricity supply.
We regularly review the water price to ensure that it reflects the cost of supplying the next drop of water, while exploring technologies to bring down the energy intensity of our processes.
The Government also provides targeted support for eligible households in the form of U-Save rebates to help offset utilities expenses.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Local Employee Headcount, Salary and Seniority Distribution Measurements for Foreign Companies Receiving Tax Incentives","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"129 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether foreign companies receiving tax incentives are required to establish baseline measurements of their Singaporean employee headcount, salary levels and seniority distribution at the point of incentive approval; and (b) what specific numerical targets or percentage increases in Singaporean employment these companies must achieve annually.
130 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what penalties, including claw-back provisions, are imposed on foreign companies receiving tax incentives that fail to meet their job creation targets for Singaporean employees within the stipulated timeframe; (b) how many have had their tax incentives reduced or terminated in the past five years for failing to meet Singaporean employment commitments; and (c) what is the monetary amount recovered from enforcement actions.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Like many jurisdictions, Singapore uses a range of grants and tax incentives to compete for investments. These incentives are not automatically granted to all companies looking to invest in Singapore. They are offered judiciously and only if our economic agencies assess that the incentives are necessary to secure the investment in Singapore and if the companies would generate a net benefit for our economy.
Companies receiving tax incentives are required to achieve specified economic outcomes, such as job creation, local employment, business spending or fixed asset investment. Specific targets are calibrated and set according to the nature and scope of each project.
The Government has mechanisms to revoke tax incentives and recover benefits from tax-incentivised companies that fail to achieve their commitments, but the vast majority have managed to do so.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Assessing Aggregate Exposure of Singapore-domiciled Financial Institutions to US Private Credit","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"131 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance given US private credit defaults reached a record 9.2% in 2025 and the Bank of England, European Central Bank (ECB) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have each initiated supervisory reviews of private credit risk exposure (a) whether MAS has assessed the aggregate exposure of Singapore-domiciled financial institutions to US private credit; (b) whether MAS has conducted or plans to conduct equivalent stress tests; and (c) if not, why not.
Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Prime Minister): Singapore financial institutions have very small exposure to private credit.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore regularly monitors the risk exposures of Singapore financial institutions as part of our supervisory oversight. This includes engaging financial institutions on stress testing their balance sheets, which features global financial stress scenarios, such as defaults on private credit assets.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Access to Essential Banking Services by Individuals under Police Investigation for Scams","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"132 Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how effective are current arrangements in ensuring that individuals under police investigation for scams with frozen accounts can access funds for daily living needs; and (b) what recourse is available for those who continue to face challenges in receiving income or accessing essential banking services, beyond appealing to the Police.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Police only freeze bank accounts when there is reason to suspect that the funds within the accounts are involved in illicit activities, such as scams. Under section 35(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code, individuals whose bank accounts are frozen can apply to the Courts for the release of funds to pay for basic living expenses or other essential spending. Those who face difficulties in applying to the Courts can approach the Investigation Officer responsible for their case or seek legal advice.
The Police do not restrict these individuals from receiving income or accessing essential banking services. Individuals whose accounts have been frozen by the Police can continue to use other non-frozen accounts if available or apply for a new bank account, subject to the bank's own due diligence and risk assessment.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Help for Singaporeans Staying or Travelling in Affected Areas amid Conflict Escalation in Middle East","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"133 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in view of the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, whether the Ministry can provide an update of the measures to assist Singaporeans there, including consular outreach, personal safety guidance and potential evacuation assistance.
134 Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in light of the escalating conflict in the Middle East (a) how many Singaporeans are currently registered as residing in or travelling within affected countries in the region; (b) what contingency plans are in place for a possible mass evacuation should the situation worsen; and (c) how is the Ministry supporting Singaporeans who have chosen to remain there.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: When the conflict in the Middle East deteriorated and commercial flights were halted in March 2026, the Singapore Government mounted four repatriation flights from Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah to bring stranded Singaporeans home. Our overseas Missions organised 13 overland bus journeys to ferry Singaporeans in the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait to the repatriation flights. In total, 618 Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and their dependants were repatriated. The spare seats on the flights were offered to 84 foreign nationals from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
More than 2,000 Singaporeans who eRegistered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) remain in the Middle East currently. Our overseas Missions remain in close contact with them and provide updates on the local situation. With the resumption of commercial flights, there are no current plans to mount additional repatriation flights.
MFA's Travel Advisory for the Middle East remains valid. We urge Singaporeans to defer all travel to the region.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Keeping Public Transport Fares Affordable Beyond Vouchers and Concession Passes for Commuters","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WANA","content":"135 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Acting Minister for Transport beyond public transport vouchers and concession passes (a) whether structural approaches are being explored to ensure public transport affordability; and (b) what further targeted support for public transport costs is planned for vulnerable groups, such as Progressive Wage Model workers, single-parent households, seniors without CPF and persons with disabilities.
136 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Acting Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will consider introducing a published affordability threshold, such as a cap on the proportion of monthly household income spent on public transport, as a binding parameter in the Public Transport Council's fare review framework, so that commuter affordability is structurally and transparently embedded in fare adjustment decisions balanced against operator recovery.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The Public Transport Council (PTC) considers the affordability of public transport, as measured by the proportion of household income spent on public transport, in determining the fare adjustments every year. It also has the discretion to defer part of the fare formula output to ensure that fares remain affordable for most households. For lower-income households, the proportion of household income spent on public transport has fallen from 3.1% in 2015 to 2.4% in 2024. For average public transport users, the figure has also fallen from 2.2% in 2015 to 1.7% in 2024.
The existing concession pass schemes and Public Transport Vouchers (PTVs) already provide significant levels of support for vulnerable groups. Seniors, lower-wage workers and persons with disabilities enjoy discounts of up to 55% off adult per-journey fares. Heavy public transport users can purchase monthly passes which cap their monthly public transport expenditure. PTVs cover roughly half a year of fare increases for a typical household of two adults and two concession cardholders. Households who require more support can request for additional vouchers through their community centres or clubs.
The Government provides more than $2 billion in annual subsidies to keep bus and train services running and provided an additional $200 million of subsidies to cover the cost of PTC deferring part of the fare increase during the 2025 Fare Review Exercise. Introducing an affordability cap in the fare review exercise that is unrelated to the cost of providing public transport may cause fares to diverge further from costs over time. This will mean additional subsidies to be borne by all taxpayers.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Comprehensive Energy Policy Response to Geopolitical Crisis Including Conservation, Diversification, Strategic Reserves and Targeted Household Assistance","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"1 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether Singapore maintains sufficient strategic stockpiles of key energy and essential inputs to buffer against supply disruptions arising from the Middle East conflict; and (b) how long such buffers can sustain domestic needs under adverse scenarios.
2 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how Singapore’s petrochemical and refining sectors are affected by higher feedstock costs and potential supply disruptions arising from the Middle East conflict; and (b) whether there are risks to the output, margins and competitiveness given Singapore’s role as a regional energy and chemicals hub.
3 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how the messages asking households to conserve energy are tailored for lower income households living in smaller, already energy efficient homes; and (b) what is the assessment on whether asking such households to do more on conservation is realistic given their current baseline consumption.
4 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government is considering any mandatory energy-saving measures to cope with rising energy prices and possible energy shortage scenarios; and (b) if so, what specific initiatives are being evaluated or implemented.
5 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the scope of the Committee Against Profiteering (CAP) can be expanded to investigate feedback on disproportionate increases in utility and petrol prices attributed to the Middle East conflict; and (b) what measures are in place to ensure that businesses do not increase prices excessively with global volatility as a pretext.
6 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry under the joint statement with Australia on energy security on 23 March 2026 (a) whether quantitative targets have been set for the flow of petroleum oils such as diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG) between Singapore and Australia; and (b) whether LNG supply commitments have been secured from Australia and if so, at what prices.
7 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the economic uncertainty due to the war in Iran (a) what are the specific triggers that the Government uses to determine whether to introduce additional support for lower and middle-income families; and (b) how does the Government assess whether the level of support given to families are adequate.
8 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what progress has been made in diversifying Singapore’s sources of energy, food, and other critical imports in light of the Iran war; and (b) whether any further stockpiling or diversification measures are being considered.
9 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in light of developments in the Strait of Hormuz (a) whether the Ministry expects rising gas prices to be passed through to electricity prices in Singapore; (b) what range of price increases is anticipated; (c) whether financial support will be provided to households not receiving U-Save rebates; and (d) what gas price levels will trigger such support.
10 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how does the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0 enhance Singapore's energy security against high energy prices; and (b) under the Partnership, what specific measures have been implemented to compensate for the disruption of LNG supplies from Qatar to Singapore.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: These questions were addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, the Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, and the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, in their Ministerial Statements on the Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore at the Parliamentary Sitting on 7 April 2026.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Temporary Targeted Support for Lower-income Ride-hail Drivers and Delivery Riders Without Access to Subsidised or Discounted Fuel","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"11 Mr David Hoe asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance given fuel prices have risen significantly because of the Middle East conflict, whether the Government will consider temporary targeted support such as time-limited fuel rebates or equivalent cash offsets for lower-income ride-hail drivers and delivery riders without access to subsidised fuel or company-negotiated fuel discounts with petrol pump operators.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: \tThis question was addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, the Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, and the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, in their Ministerial Statements on the Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore at the Parliamentary Sitting on 7 April 2026.
12 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) what is Singapore's stake in providing marine war-risk insurance for shipping in the Arabian Gulf; (b) what strategies ensure we remain the region's preferred marine insurance hub against cheaper competitors; and (c) whether our tax concessions for ship-leasing, marine insurance and shipping management remain globally competitive.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: This question was addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, the Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, and the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, in their Ministerial Statements on the Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore at the Parliamentary Sitting on 7 April 2026.
13 Mr David Hoe asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) how does the Government determine the locations of heartland sites for major national celebrations, such as Chingay@Heartlands and National Day Parade Heartland Celebrations; and (b) whether the Government will consider a clearer multi-year rotational framework so that access to such celebrations is more evenly spread across all towns.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: I am answering in my capacity as the Minister charged with the responsibility for the People's Association (PA).
The PA's mission is to promote social cohesion and racial harmony. One of the ways we achieve this is by bringing national celebrations like Chingay@Heartlands and National Day Heartland Celebrations closer to residents in their neighbourhoods, thereby fostering community bonds.
When organising these celebrations, PA works with various stakeholders and local Grassroots Organisations (GROs) to identify suitable locations.
Key considerations for heartland celebrations sites include site capacity to maximise outreach and cost-effectiveness, accessibility and whether venues can meet operational requirements. For example, the National Day Heartland Celebrations in 2025 required sites with appropriate terrain and suitable roads that could be closed for the deployment of mobile columns.
Given these considerations, PA does not employ a rigid multi-year rotational framework to determine the locations of heartland celebration sites. Instead, site selection takes into account the local needs and operational context, year on year. Generally, there is one heartland celebration per district, so that all our residents can conveniently access a celebration near them.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Time Allocation Between Active Training and Waiting During In-camp Training for Reservists and Measures to Improve Time Management and Training Effectiveness","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"14 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) what is the proportion of time that reservists spend on active training or assigned duties versus waiting between activities during in-camp training (ICT); (b) whether the Ministry has studied feedback on any perceived inefficiencies during ICT; and (c) what steps are being taken to improve time management and training effectiveness.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: In operations and training involving NSmen, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) ensures adequate time for the safe and effective preparation and conduct of the activities as well as sufficient rest and recuperation across different phases, even as it seeks to minimise the overall time imposition on the NSmen.
The SAF actively monitors NSmen's experiences and gathers feedback from them through various means, including post-ICT surveys. Over the years, the SAF has acted on the monitoring and feedback to make operations and training involving NSmen more efficient.
For example, the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) for NSmen has been decoupled from their ICTs, allowing them to complete their fitness requirements at their own convenience. The IPPT experience has been redesigned to reduce the time spent by NSmen. The conduct of ICTs has been made more efficient through digital tools, such as the OneNS app, which allows NSmen to carry out various ICT administrative functions digitally. Waiting time between training activities has also been reduced where feasible, through efforts such as better pre-ICT planning and resource allocation, and decoupling of small group and commanders' training to reduce waiting time for the majority of soldiers. The SAF has also enhanced its facilities, such as the Multi-Mission Range Complex, for more efficient conduct of training.
The SAF will continue to monitor and improve operational, training and administrative efficiencies for NSmen while ensuring the safe and effective conduct of activities as well as sufficient rest and recuperation for them.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Integrating Government Digital Systems to Ensure Effective Implementation of Court Orders for Sole Custody Care","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"15 Mr Victor Lye asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information whether Government digital systems across Ministries and Statutory Boards recognise and operationalise Family Justice Courts' orders granting sole custody, care and control of children.
Mrs Josephine Teo: Agencies will take into account Court orders relating to the custody, care\tand control of children, where such information is relevant to the administration of their policies or services. How they do so, including in digital systems, depends on their specific contexts and requirements.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Obligations on Licensed Telecommunications Operators Under Current Service and Resiliency Frameworks after Major Unplanned Disruption","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"16 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information what explicit standards or expectations currently apply to licensed telecommunications operators in Singapore, under Infocomm Media Development Authority’s quality of service and resiliency frameworks, on how quickly they must restore mobile or broadband services after a major unplanned disruption, including any targets by duration or percentage of services restored.
Mrs Josephine Teo: My response will cover the questions raised by Ms Poh Li San, Dr Neo Kok Beng, Mr Ang Wei Neng, Mr Melvin Yong, and Ms Elysa Chen in today's Order Paper, as well as the questions filed by Ms Joan Pereira, Mr Gerald Giam, and Mr Alex Yeo for tomorrow's Sitting, relating to the recent Singtel service incidents and resilience of our telecommunication services. If the MPs are satisfied with the response, they may wish to withdraw their questions after this session.
Between 16 and 18 March 2026, Singtel experienced difficulties with its mobile service network. Based on preliminary reports, an incident on 16 March 2026 affected more than 600,000 Singtel mobile customers. While services were progressively recovered, the disruption lasted for about nine hours. The cause of the incident was attributed to a mechanical fault at one of Singtel's network facilities.
A separate incident reported on 17 March 2026 affected about 2,000 Singtel mobile customers and was attributed to a software bug from a planned IT system update.
On 18 March 2026, some Singtel mobile customers experienced intermittent connectivity issues during peak network traffic in the late afternoon. Singtel indicated that these issues were resolved within an hour.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is investigating the incidents. Thus far, there is no evidence that the incidents were due to cyber-attacks. IMDA is also investigating whether calls to emergency services were affected by the incidents, even though there are no such reports thus far.
I would like to assure Members that the Ministry of Digital Development and Information and IMDA take all service disruptions seriously and we recognise the concerns raised. Service providers are held to high service standards through the Telecommunications Act and the Telecom Service Resiliency Code. For example, service providers are required to ensure that service incidents are resolved within one hour, failing which IMDA may take enforcement actions and impose financial penalties. Among other measures, service providers are required to conduct regular audits on key telecom infrastructure for resilience. They are also required to uphold stringent quality of service standards, such as ensuring more than 99% nationwide outdoor mobile service coverage at all times.
While disruptions cannot always be prevented, IMDA requires key service providers, like Singtel, to put in place robust measures to contain their impact and ensure speedy recovery. This includes providing redundancies and failover systems for core network functions.
IMDA also regularly reviews its regulatory frameworks to ensure that they remain relevant. This includes updating regulations to protect our submarine cables in 2022 and to enhance the cyber security of key telecom operators in 2023. IMDA is reviewing telecom service resilience regulations to ensure they remain effective.
It has been about three weeks since the incidents. We note that Singtel has provided one-time rebates for affected mobile subscribers as part of their service recovery. In the meantime, IMDA's investigations are ongoing. It will publish its findings after investigations are completed and will not hesitate to take strong regulatory action should any lapses be identified. We also thank Members for their suggestions. These will be assessed for the ongoing review of telecom service resilience regulations, together with other suggestions that IMDA or the industry have put forward.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Outcomes of Archival Documentation Declassification Requests in Past 10 Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"17 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information for each of the last 10 years, (a) how many requests for archival document declassification were made annually; (b) how many were approved; and (c) what were there top five reasons for rejection.
Mrs Josephine Teo: As the custodian of Government records of national or historical significance, the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) works with Government agencies to facilitate access to Government records that have been transferred to the NAS.
The Member may wish to refer to a Parliamentary Question by Mr Leong Mun Wai at the sitting on 1 March 2023, where he asked about requests to view Government records yet to be declassified. [Please refer to \"Requests to View Government Records Yet to be Declassified\", Official Report, 1 March 2023, Vol 95, Issue 89, Written Answers to Questions section.]
In my response, I shared that Government agencies had reviewed more than 5,000 Government records in response to 2,130 requests by members of the public between 2016 and 2022.
Between 2023 and 2025, more than 4,000 Government records were reviewed by Government agencies in response to 2,361 new requests by members of the public.
In total, 72% of the Government records reviewed between 2016 and 2025 have been approved for access. The main reasons for rejection were national security, confidentiality obligations and personal privacy. Today, over 74,000 Government records have been declassified and are available for access.
From time to time, the Government may also release documents even if they have not been requested. We do this so the record of some key milestones in our history can be as full as possible. The recently released Albatross File is one example. Next year, NAS will also be releasing Mr Lee Kuan Yew's Oral History.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Assessing Adequacy of Current Cybersecurity Readiness against Evolving Threats while Ensuring Operational Security","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"18 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information in light of rising geopolitical tensions and the increasing use of cyber operations as part of hybrid conflict (a) whether the Government assesses that Singapore's cyber threat exposure has heightened; and (b) how the Government assesses Singapore's current overall cybersecurity readiness in safeguarding critical information infrastructure, Government systems, businesses and individual residents against evolving threats, including AI-enabled attacks, without compromising operational security.
Mrs Josephine Teo: Singapore's position as a major financial hub and digital economy makes us an attractive target for malicious actors. The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) regularly updates the public on cybersecurity threats, such as through SingCERT advisories and the Singapore Cyber Landscape publication.
Over the years, the Government has taken steps to strengthen our cyber defenses.
Critical systems are held to higher cybersecurity standards and obligations under the Cybersecurity Act. We have also invested heavily in capability development. Initiatives like CSA's Cybersecurity Development Programme have helped to strengthen our talent pipeline while national exercises, such as Exercise Cyber Star, help enhance the operational readiness of cyber defenders across both public and private sectors.
As the threat evolves, so must our response. CSA will be reviewing and updating our cybersecurity standards and obligations to strengthen security controls. The Government will also be helping owners of critical systems better detect threats, including those from advanced threat actors and AI-enabled threats. This includes equipping them with proprietary threat detection systems. We will also partner the industry to deepen the capabilities of our cyber defenders so they can better protect Singapore.
For Government systems, GovTech has existing internal guidelines to safeguard systems that hold sensitive data and provide important Government services. Moving forward, GovTech will be introducing more stringent cybersecurity and data protection obligations for Government vendors, such as requiring Government vendors that manage critical systems and sensitive Government data to meet Cyber Trust Mark requirements.
For businesses, CSA has rolled out various initiatives to assist organisations in raising their defenses. For example, CSA's CISO-as-a-Service programme provides small and medium enterprises with access to cybersecurity consultants who can work with them to raise their cyber hygiene.
The Government has also put in place measures to protect our citizens against malicious actors, such as by introducing mandatory cybersecurity requirements for gateway devices (i.e., home routers). Home routers are currently required to meet minimum cybersecurity requirements in the form of the Cyber Labelling Scheme Level 1. This requirement will be raised to a higher standard (i.e., Cyber Labelling Scheme Level 2). We will also explore introducing similar standards for IP cameras. These will make digital products harder to compromise.
In summary, Singapore maintains a robust and adaptive cybersecurity posture. However, even with the best of defenses, we must remain vigilant and alert to evolving threats including AI-enabled cyber threats. The Government will continue to review our policies and initiatives to ensure that Singaporeans remain well protected in cyberspace.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Outcomes and Effectiveness of AI-related SkillsFuture Programmes","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"19 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Education regarding participants in AI-related SkillsFuture programmes, whether the Ministry tracks (i) employment in AI-related roles within six months and (ii) median wage change within 12 months of completion.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) adopt a variety of quality and outcome metrics to assess the effectiveness of SkillsFuture-funded Continuing Education and Training (CET) programmes, including programmes that equip learners with AI-related skills.
For placement programmes, such as the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programmes (SCTPs), SSG tracks the placement rates. Of the 8,000 learners who completed their ICT-related SCTP between June 2022 and March 2025, 44% found new roles or employment within six months of SCTP completion (as of 30 September 2025). We have not tracked the wage outcomes of these SCTP learners, as there can be multiple factors that affect their wages.
We generally do not track the placement outcomes of shorter courses, which are intended to equip learners with up-to-date skills to keep up with technological advancements, remain relevant and perform better in their current roles.
Beyond placement outcomes, SSG also tracks learner feedback through the Training Quality and Outcomes Measurement (TRAQOM) survey. This includes feedback on programme quality and perceived outcomes, including whether the training has helped individuals to be more effective at their jobs, improve their work performance or allow them to take on enhanced responsibilities at work. The TRAQOM ratings of each course, including AI-related courses, are published on MySkillsFuture portal to guide learners in selecting suitable training programmes.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Effectiveness of Protected Non-teaching Time for TSNs on Student Interventions and Support in Mainstream Schools","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"20 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Minister for Education following the 2024 refresh of the Teacher Work Management Framework (a) what proportion of mainstream schools have implemented protected non-teaching time for Teachers Trained in Special Needs (TSNs) to conduct student interventions; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider mandating a minimum intervention to administration time ratio for TSNs and Special Educational Needs officers.
Mr Desmond Lee: Teachers Trained in Special Needs (TSNs) adopt inclusive pedagogy in their classrooms to better support students with Special Educational Needs (SEN). By sharing best practices, they also strengthen the capacity of other educators in their school to support these students. They do not conduct separate intervention sessions, which are primarily delivered by SEN officers and school counsellors.
Schools calibrate the duties and workload of their TSNs and SEN officers based on their school contexts and student needs. Schools that have a higher number of students with SEN also receive more manpower resourcing in the form of SEN officers and teachers.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Effectiveness of SwimSafer Programme in Developing Essential Swimming and Water Survival Skills for All Students","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"21 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the target percentage of students expected to achieve SwimSafer Stage 1, 2 and 3 proficiency levels respectively by the end of Primary 3; (b) whether the Ministry tracks the proficiency levels of students beyond the compulsory Primary 3 programme; and (c) how does the Ministry ensure that students who remain non-swimmers after Primary 3 attain basic water survival skills.
Mr Desmond Lee: The SwimSafer 2.0 programme is the national water safety programme offered to students as part of the Physical Education (PE) curriculum. Primary schools typically offer it at the Primary 3 level.
Most students take up Stage 1 lessons as part of the school PE programme, while those who have already attained basic proficiency take up lessons at a higher level. Beyond the school programme, students may also choose to continue their learning through SwimSafer 2.0 or other aquatic programmes under the broader SwimSingapore framework.
The Ministry does not set a target percentage of students achieving the different stages of proficiency or track the proficiency levels of students beyond the school programme. Students who do not meet the requirements of the Ministry of Education SwimSafer 2.0 Stage 1 programme in schools may attend a fully funded remediation programme with Sport Singapore.
22 Prof Kenneth Poon asked the Minister for Education in each of the past 10 years, (a) what is the number and proportion of students, with breakdown by primary and secondary levels, respectively, transferring from (i) mainstream schools to Special Education (SPED) schools, (ii) SPED schools to mainstream schools; and (b) what are the broad primary needs profiles of these students at the point of transfer.
Mr Desmond Lee: In 2023, the Ministry of Education introduced a central application process for transfers between mainstream and SPED schools to facilitate students' access to more suitable educational settings.
From 2023, an average of 200 students moved from mainstream to SPED schools annually. About 90% moved at the primary level and 70% of those who moved were diagnosed with Intellectual Disability.
A total of 159 students moved from SPED schools to mainstream schools. About 90% moved at the secondary level and 70% of those who moved were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and can access the national curriculum.
We do not have data prior to 2023 as such transfers were decentralised to schools.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"School-based Support and Intervention Strategies for Students with Chronic Absenteeism and Academic Decline Linked to Excessive Gaming","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"
23 Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Education (a) how the schools identify students with gaming concerns; and (b) how the schools support students whose chronic absenteeism or academic decline is found to be linked to excessive gaming or screen use.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education's Cyber Wellness lessons emphasise the importance of maintaining a healthy balance of online and offline activities. This includes helping students recognise the signs of excessive gaming, the risks involved as well as ways to manage time spent on gaming.
Schools use a number of early indicators to identify students with gaming concerns. Besides referrals from teachers and peers, schools also regularly monitor their students' well-being, such as through termly check-in sessions to identify those requiring support.
To support students with attendance or academic issues arising from gaming, school counsellors and student welfare officers will intervene to address the underlying issues.
Parents play a key role in guiding and monitoring their child's online activities. Schools work closely with parents by sharing resources, expert insights and strategies to help them guide their child in the use of technology and devices.
When additional support is needed, schools work with parents to refer students to Social Service Agencies for early intervention or to the National Addiction Management Service under the Institute of Mental Health for specialised treatment. Community partners, like TOUCH Community Services, also provide counselling and intervention programmes for affected students.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Inclusion of Wealth Mobility Trend Analysis in Occasional Paper on Income Growth, Inequality and Social Mobility Trends","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"24 Assoc Prof Terence Ho asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether the Ministry plans to study wealth mobility trends in Singapore, in addition to the income mobility trends reported in the Ministry's Occasional Paper on Income Growth, Inequality and Social Mobility Trends; and (b) if not, why not.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The wealth statistics published in the Occasional Paper is the Government's first compilation of household wealth estimates, based on data collected from the Household Expenditure Survey 2023.
Studying wealth mobility requires longitudinal wealth data over time and over generations, which is not yet available. We will continue to collect wealth data and strengthen collection to support further analysis.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Secondment of Singaporean Public Officers to ASEAN Secretariat in Past Five Years and Plans to Increase Secondments Before, During and After Chairmanship","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"25 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) how many Singaporean public officers have been seconded to the ASEAN Secretariat in each of the last five years; (b) what roles have they been working in; and (c) whether there are plans to increase the number of Singaporean secondments at the Secretariat before, during and after Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Most of the positions in the ASEAN Secretariat are filled via open recruitment. ASEAN Member States can nominate officers to fill leadership positions. These are the ASEAN Secretary-General, which is appointed by ASEAN Member States on a rotational basis, and the four Deputy Secretaries-General (DSGs), which are similarly appointed or openly recruited based on merit, depending on the specific position. Singaporean public sector officers who fill such leadership positions would be considered secondees from the Government. Over the last five years, there has been one such secondee, Mr Satvinder Singh, whom Singapore successfully nominated as the DSG for the ASEAN Economic Community for two consecutive terms through an open and competitive recruitment process. It will be Singapore's turn to appoint the DSG for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community in 2027.
Beyond leadership positions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is exploring additional secondment opportunities for our officers and public officers from other Ministries to the ASEAN Secretariat in the lead-up to, during and beyond Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027. Such secondments allow us to broaden our experience and knowledge base of international diplomacy and ASEAN tradecraft more widely across the Public Service.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Assessing Effectiveness of Foreign Policy Public Education Efforts in Understanding Singapore's Strategic Interests","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"26 Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) what specific outcome metrics does the Ministry use to assess whether its foreign policy public education engagements have improved participants' understanding of Singapore's strategic interests; (b) whether any longitudinal tracking of comprehension or attitude change has been conducted; and (c) if not, whether the Ministry intends to establish such metrics.\n
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: The Government has stepped up public engagement to explain our foreign policy fundamentals and responses to key international developments to Singaporeans and to hear their views. We do this through dialogue sessions across segments of society, including students, youths, businesses and community leaders. We collect post-engagement feedback to ensure our content remains current and relevant and to improve our engagement methods. Responses from the public engagement sessions have been positive, with an overwhelming majority of participants indicating that the sessions enhanced their understanding of Singapore's foreign policy.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Medical Records Access Rights for Non-custodial Parents and Court-ordered Custody Protections","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"27 Mr Victor Lye asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether a non-custodial parent is currently able to access or modify a child’s medical records through platforms such as HealthHub; and (b) if so, what safeguards exist where the other parent has been granted sole custody by the Courts.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Medical records are provided and updated by healthcare professionals only. HealthHub displays selected medical information from a patient's medical records. Parents will be able to access, but not modify, their child's medical records reflected in HealthHub. They may write to contact_us@healthhub.sg with information on special circumstances that may affect access to their child's records. The Ministry of Health will assess such requests on a case-by-case basis.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Review of Nutri-Grade Framework to Appropriately Reflect Nutritional Value of Plain Milk and Distinguish Natural Dairy Fats from Unhealthy Additives","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"28 Mr Gabriel Lam asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether the Nutri-Grade framework appropriately reflects the nutritional value of plain milk for young children; (b) why certain schools are unable to sell milk due to its fat content or absence of the Healthier Choice Symbol; and (c) whether the policy will be reviewed to distinguish between natural dairy fats and unhealthy additives.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Nutri-Grade grade sugar and saturated fat levels within a beverage category. So, within the category, say milk, we encourage the public to consume those with A and B ratings, instead of those with C and D ratings. The Nutri-Grade measures spur industry reformulation and enable consumers to make healthier, informed choices.
Specifically for milk, full cream versions contain more saturated fat, the excessive consumption of which contributes to higher risk of childhood obesity, which can persist into adulthood. In line with dietary recommendations for young children aged one to two years, full-fat plain milk is still served in preschools. For older children, we encourage them to consume reduced-fat milk that is either Nutri-Grade A or B or meet the Healthier Choice Symbol guidelines and has the same beneficial nutrients as full-fat milk but with less saturated fat.
Beverages containing unhealthy additives, such as non-nutritive sweeteners, are not served in schools even if they are Nutri-Grade B, as they may condition palates to sweet foods.
Some members of the public have provided feedback that notwithstanding full-fat milk contains more saturated fat, we should make them available in school and allow students to make the choice. There are also underweight students who prefer full-fat milk. The Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board noted this feedback and will continue to review our nutrition policies to ensure they remain relevant and evidence based.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Procedures for Contacting Next-of-kin and Management of Unaccompanied Accident and Emergency Patients","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"29 Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) in the case of a person who is admitted to public hospitals, how long on average does it take for the hospital to contact the next-of-kin; and (b) what are the standard operating procedures in cases where the person admitted to the accident and emergency (A&E) department is not accompanied by a family member.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Hospitals deal with a wide range of patient cases, where judgement matters greatly, so it all depends on the situation. In an accident and emergency (A&E) department, clinicians need to provide appropriate medical care, including life-saving interventions, based on the urgency of the patient's condition. Hospitals will therefore generally contact next-of-kins (NOK) as soon as possible.
In cases where patients are not communicative, hospitals will try to establish the patient's identity and NOK's contact information through various means, such as hospital records. As a last resort, hospitals may work with the police to establish the patient's identity and contact the NOK accordingly.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Completion Rate of Cognitive Behavioural Training of Allied Health Professionals in COMIT and Targeted Timeline for Full Training Coverage","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"30 Dr Hamid Razak asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what proportion of allied health professionals and senior allied health professionals in Community Intervention Teams (COMIT) have completed training in cognitive behavioural therapy; and (b) whether the Ministry has set a target timeline for full training coverage across all COMIT professionals.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: All healthcare professionals employed by the Community Intervention Teams (COMIT) are required to be competent in managing mental health needs. They commenced additional training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at institutes of higher learning in 2024. To date, approximately 45% of COMIT healthcare professionals have completed CBT training, with the remainder expected to complete their training within the next two years.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Assessing Out-of-pocket Costs for Outpatient Mental Health Treatment Across Public and Private Settings","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"31 Dr Hamid Razak asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the typical out-of-pocket costs borne by patients for outpatient mental health treatment, including medication and psychotherapy, across public and private settings; and (b) whether these findings are being used to inform ongoing reviews of outpatient healthcare financing.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: In 2023, subsidised patients seeking outpatient treatment for mental health conditions under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) incurred annual post-subsidy bills of around $300 to $500 at public and selected private settings on average, depending on the complexity of their condition. Out-of-pocket costs can be further offset through the MediSave 500/700 and Flexi-MediSave schemes.
The Ministry routinely reviews our mainstream financing schemes based on such data. The Ministry recently announced an increase of MediSave withdrawal limits for CDMP treatments from $500 and $700 to $700 and $1,000 to better cover the post-subsidy bills for simple and complex chronic patients respectively, including those with chronic mental health conditions.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Reviewing Shingles Vaccination Subsidy Frameworks Across Polyclinics and Private GP Clinics for Merdeka Generation Cardholders","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"32 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health whether the Ministry will review subsidy frameworks for shingles vaccination to ensure greater consistency in out-of-pocket costs for Merdeka Generation cardholders across polyclinics and private general practitioner (GP) clinics, given feedback that current means-testing arrangements may result in higher charges at polyclinics compared to private clinics.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: It is challenging to achieve consistency because the subsidy frameworks at polyclinics and general practitioner (GP) clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) are different.
For example, vaccination subsidies for the Pioneer Generation (PG) and the Merdeka Generation (MG) cardholders are means-tested at public healthcare institutions, while at CHAS GP clinics, the subsidy framework is kept simple, with all PG and MG cardholders enjoy a fixed dollar subsidy.
Regardless, even if one is cheaper than the other, it is still due to Government subsidies.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Collaborating with Nephrologists to Implement Peritoneal Dialysis-first Policy and Measures to Accelerate Adoption","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"33 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry will collaborate with nephrologists to implement a “peritoneal dialysis-first” policy for clinically suitable patients, discouraging premature arteriovenous fistula creations for haemodialysis; and (b) whether the Ministry will introduce targeted financial or operational incentives for hospitals and patients to accelerate the adoption of peritoneal dialysis.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Ministry of Health (MOH) already has a Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)-preferred strategy. As for the timing of arteriovenous fistula creation for haemodialysis (HD), this is a clinical decision. In line with this, our financing policies keep dialysis affordable, regardless of whether patients undergo PD or HD.
PD enables patients to lead a more active life and should rightly be preferred. However, there are operational impediments, such as worry of equipment breakdown at home and concern about lack of storage space at home. MOH will continue advancing our PD-preferred strategy through the National PD Home Support Programme.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Singapore Prison Service Inmate's Daily Allowance for Full-time Work and Post-release Housing Affordability","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"34 Mr Victor Lye asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the average daily allowance for inmates engaged in full-time work within the Singapore Prison Service; and (b) how does this correlate with the minimum savings required for a downpayment on a 2-room or 3-room HDB flat upon release.
Mr K Shanmugam: A similar question was answered in this House in 2022. [Please refer to \"Average Wage Earned by Prison Inmates Per Hour of Work in Prison Jobs in Past Three Years and Plans for Wage Framework\", Official Report, 8 March 2022, Vol 95, Issue 56, Written Answers to Questions section.]
The allowance is reviewed periodically.
Imprisonment serves the purposes of punishment, deterrence and to prevent the offender from causing further harm to society. Hence, the prison regime and conditions are kept intentionally austere.
That said, the sentence should also encourage the rehabilitation of the offender. The Singapore Prison Service has taken a progressive approach, such as through work programmes. The objectives of these work programmes are to: (a) keep inmates gainfully engaged; (b) inculcate positive work ethics – this is necessary, as a key reason why many relapse is that they cannot keep a job and drift into crime; and (c) equip them with useful skills that would enhance their employability upon release.
The primary purpose of work programmes in prison is not financial remuneration. Earnings from such programmes have no co-relation to the accumulation of assets, such as a HDB flat. Making it financially remunerative would defeat some of the purposes of imprisonment.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also shared at various platforms on how Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) provides skills training and assists inmates in securing jobs before their release.1 For example, YRSG provides job matching and career coaching services for inmates, ensuring that they are matched to suitable jobs based on their skills and interests. YRSG may also assign a career coach to provide support on work-related issues for up to 12 months after release.
All in, the cost of housing, training, and running programmes aimed at rehabilitating an inmate far exceed a salary such an inmate would earn outside prison in a full-time job.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":["1 : Link to Yellow Ribbon Singapore’s Corporate Website can be found here: https://www.yellowribbon.gov.sg/what-we-do/long-term-career-development-and-mobility"],"footNoteQuestions":["34"],"questionNo":"34"},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Local Recruitment Patterns for Scam Money Mule Networks and Measures to Disrupt Recruiter Pipelines","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"35 Mr Jackson Lam asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in respect of the 167 individuals under Police investigation for suspected involvement in scams as scammers or money mules (a) how many are believed to be acting independently versus being part of organised syndicates; (b) how many are recruited locally; and (c) what measures are in place to disrupt recruiter pipelines rather than only money mule endpoints.
Mr K Shanmugam: Police are unable to comment on the cases involving the 167 individuals as investigations are ongoing.
From past concluded cases, it has been difficult to secure sufficient evidence to conclusively prove whether money mules are members of scam syndicates. That said, the Police’s observation is that most money mules facilitate the activities of scam syndicates and these syndicates typically conduct mule recruitment through online messaging and social media platforms.
The Police issue directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) to take down scam-related accounts and advertisements, including those used to recruit money mules. Online platforms are also subject to ex ante requirements under the OCHA Codes of Practice, which are intended to reduce the prevalence of scam accounts and advertisements. The Police and the National Crime Prevention Council also conduct regular public education campaigns to raise awareness of the tactics of scam syndicates when recruiting mules and the penalties of being a mule.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Data on Applications for and Approval Rates of Permanent Residency by Singapore Citizens for Aged Parents from 2020 to 2025","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"36 Ms Lee Hui Ying asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what has been the annual number of applications for Permanent Residence by a Singapore citizen for an aged parent; and (b) the respective approval rate for such applications from 2020 to 2025.
Mr K Shanmugam: From 2020 to 2025, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) processed an annual average of 1,900 applications for Permanent Residence (PR) from Singapore Citizens for their aged parents. An average of 1% were approved.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Breakdown of Licence Violation Cases by Citizenship Status in Past Five Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"37 Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in each of the past five years (a) how many individuals have been caught for driving or riding without a valid licence; and (b) of these, how many have been (i) Singapore Citizens (ii) Permanent Residents and (iii) foreigners.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Traffic Police detected about 1,300 individuals driving or riding without a valid licence on average annually between 2021 to 2025.
About 53% were Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, with the rest being foreigners.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Legal Disclosure Frameworks for Lawyers to Access Police Investigations for Civil Proceedings","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"38 Ms Diana Pang Li Yen asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether there is any framework under which lawyers may obtain from the Police information or documents arising from investigations for use in related civil proceedings; and (b) if not, whether the Ministry will consider a framework for limited disclosure for such purposes, subject to safeguards such as redaction, confidentiality undertakings, Court oversight, and protection of ongoing investigations and witnesses.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Police may, upon application, provide information or documents arising from investigations to persons or their legal representatives, for use in civil proceedings if the persons are directly involved in the investigations. All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and in consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers where necessary.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Product Design Requirements for Trading Card Box Designs to Mitigate Gambling Risks","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"39 Dr Hamid Razak asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Ministry has considered product design approaches, such as requiring minimum guaranteed rarity distributions within sealed trading card boxes, as part of its regulatory framework; and (b) if so, how such standards compare with disclosure-based measures in reducing gambling-like risk.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Ministry of Home Affairs will share the specifics of the blind box regulations when we are ready, around mid-2026. Additional safeguards, such as probability disclosure and minimum guaranteed rarity distributions, may be considered subsequently as we need more time to study them. The safeguards will need to be proportionate to the gambling inducement risk of the product.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Enhanced Traffic Enforcements Against Speeding Motorcyclists on BKE and SLE Following Accidents Involving Malaysian Motorcyclists in 2025","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"40 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in view of the number of Malaysian motorcyclists involved in accidents in 2025, whether enforcement action against speeding motorcyclists along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) and the Seletar Expressway (SLE) will be increased, given their regular use by Malaysian motorists.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Traffic Police (TP) deploys enforcement resources based on accident and traffic violation patterns and has intensified enforcement at accident-prone stretches along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) and the Seletar Expressway. TP and the Land Transport Authority have also introduced targeted road calming measures, such as speed-regulating strips along the BKE, and will continue to review the necessity of additional measures.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Retention of Face-to-face Services at Neighbourhood Police Centres and Inclusive Accessibility of Online Police Services for Elderly and Non-English Speakers","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"41 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what thresholds or benchmark considerations does the Ministry apply when determining if the concentration of the elderly population in geographic areas necessitates the retention of face-to-face services at Neighbourhood Police Centres; and (b) how does the Ministry track the accessibility of online Police services to the elderly and non-English speaking population.
Mr K Shanmugam: Decisions on the deployment of unmanned Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) or Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) take into consideration multiple factors, such as the Police's operational needs and infrastructure plans. These deployments are necessary to allow the Police to focus their limited resources on their crime-fighting mandate, without affecting Police presence or incident response.
Tracking the accessibility of online Police services to the elderly and non-English speaking population is challenging because tracking indicators cannot easily differentiate between assisted and unassisted access. That said, the Police engage these communities through various channels and are sensitive to their need to access essential policing services.
While more than 70% of all Police reports are already lodged through self-help options, those who require face-to-face assistance can be assisted at any of the 33 NPCs and 64 NPPs islandwide. Those who visit unmanned NPCs or NPPs can still speak with a Police officer through videocall if necessary, who can help guide the member of public through the process. The officer can also remotely lodge a Police report on behalf of the individual.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Independent Audits and Verification of Algorithms Used in Third-party Predictive Analytics or Data-fusion Software Utilised by Government Security Agencies","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"42 Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether Government security agencies that use third-party predictive analytics or data-fusion software conduct independent audits of the underlying algorithms; and (b) whether the Government is satisfied that it can independently verify the methodology of such software before relying on it for operational decisions.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has an AI governance framework on the development and use of AI tools. All predictive analytics and data-fusion software, including underlying algorithms from third-party vendors, are evaluated on this framework. Risk assessment and mitigation measures are applied to manage risks in use cases as well. Independent assessments and audits are performed before and after deployment of the AI application to ensure compliance.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Data on Cases of Wrongful Trading Investigated under Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act and Enforcement Outcomes in Past Three Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"43 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Law in the past three years (a) how many cases of wrongful trading under the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act have been investigated by ACRA; and (b) of these, how many resulted in prosecution, civil action or other enforcement outcome.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: Investigations for the offence of wrongful trading1 under section 239(6) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 fall under the purview of the Official Receiver and not the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.
Such investigations are carried out when reports of suspected wrongful trading are made to the Official Receiver, either by insolvency professionals or creditors. In the past three years, there have been no reports of suspected wrongful trading made to the Official Receiver. A person found guilty of wrongful trading may be punished with a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
Civil claims for wrongful trading can be pursued to seek compensation, independent of such investigations. Creditors, contributories or the judicial manager or liquidator of a company2 may apply to the Court to declare that a person who knows a company is trading wrongfully or who as an officer of the company ought to have known that the company was trading wrongfully, be personally responsible for some or all of the company's debts or other liabilities. If the Court makes such a declaration, the Court may also make the appropriate consequential directions, including that monies recovered from the person be paid to the company’s creditors.
The Ministry of Law does not have statistics on the number of civil actions for wrongful trading in the past three years.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":["1 : Under section 239(12) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018, a company trades wrongfully if, when insolvent, it incurs debts or other liabilities without reasonable prospect of meeting them in full, or if it becomes insolvent as a result of incurring such debts or liabilities.","2 : Such an application under section 239(1) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 can also be brought by any creditor or contributory with the leave of either the insolvency officeholder or the Court."],"footNoteQuestions":["43"],"questionNo":"43"},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"ASEAN Extradition Treaty Ratification Status and Singapore's Preparatory Steps for Implementation of Ratification","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"44 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Law (a) how many ASEAN Member States have ratified the ASEAN Treaty on Extradition signed in November 2025; (b) what are the preparatory steps Singapore needs to undertake before being able to ratify the Treaty; and (c) whether there is an agreed timeframe within which the Treaty is to be brought into effect.\n
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: The ASEAN Extradition Treaty was adopted on 14 November 2025. No ASEAN Member State has ratified the Treaty to date, and there is no agreed timeframe among ASEAN Member States on when to bring the Treaty into force.
To be able to ratify the ASEAN Treaty on Extradition, Singapore must update the Extradition Act notifications to extend its application to the ASEAN Treaty on Extradition, upon the entry into force of the Treaty.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Work-from-home Contingency Plans for Businesses and Companies Amid Rising Global Energy Costs","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"45 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Manpower arising from the spike in global energy prices, whether the Government plans to direct businesses and companies in Singapore to review work-from-home contingency plans.
Dr Tan See Leng: The Government will elaborate on the fuel situation in the Ministerial Statements on 7 April 2026. We currently do not have plans to direct businesses and companies to review work-from-home requirements.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Career Conversion Programme Employment Bond Requirements, Bond Termination and Participant Numbers for Past Five Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"46 Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Manpower regarding Career Conversion Programmes (CCP) over the past five years (a) what proportion of CCP programmes require employment bonds; (b) how many participants were subject to such bonds; and (c) what is the breakdown of bond requirements by sector or programme type.
47 Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Manpower regarding Career Conversion Programmes with employment bonds over the past five years (a) how many participants terminated their bonds during (i) the training period and (ii) service at the sponsoring organisation; (b) what is the average bond termination cost; and (c) breakdown of reasons for bond termination.
Dr Tan See Leng: Workforce Singapore does not impose employment bond requirements on Career Conversion Programme participants.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Establishment of Nutritional Benchmarks for Migrant Workers' Catered Meals and Compliance Assessment Framework","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"48 Dr Hamid Razak asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry will consider establishing nutritional benchmarks or dietary guidelines for catered meals provided to migrant workers in dormitories or worksites; (b) if so, how the Ministry plans to implement and assess compliance with these benchmarks; and (c) whether the Ministry tracks indicators or complaints relating to meal adequacy.
Dr Tan See Leng: According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM's) Migrant Worker Experience Survey in 2024, only about 13% of workers have their meals catered by employers. The survey also revealed that eight in 10 migrant workers either cook or purchase their own meals. Hence, there are no plans to establish nutritional benchmarks or dietary guidelines targeting catered meals for migrant workers.
Notwithstanding this, MOM has been educating workers on healthier meal choices when purchasing cooked meals or cooking their own. Together with the anchor operators of MOM’s primary healthcare system and non-governmental organisations, we educate migrant workers through the dissemination of videos, posters, roadshows and consults at the primary care clinics.
Migrant workers with food-related issues can approach MOM's Forward Assurance and Support Team officers or make a report via the FWMOMCare mobile application. MOM will follow up with the employer and/or dormitory operator to resolve the issues.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Effect of Deliveroo's Exit on Platform Work Economy, and Worker Earnings, Conditions and Welfare","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"
49 Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry is assessing whether Deliveroo's exit from Singapore has reduced platform workers' choice of operators; and (b) if so, whether this has affected their bargaining power, earnings, incentives or working conditions.
Dr Tan See Leng: With the exit of Deliveroo from Singapore, platform workers can take jobs from the remaining 17 platform operators (POs) currently providing delivery services in Singapore.
The National Trades Union Congress, platform work associations (PWAs) and POs had jointly developed a set of industry-wide principles in 2025 that cover fair earnings and safe incentives schemes for platform work. Platform workers who have concerns on payment rates, benefits and terms of service can directly raise their concerns with their POs or their PWAs, which can take the lead in discussions with POs on their behalf, taking reference from the industry principles.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Recognition of In-prison Employment History in HDB Housing Applications for Former Inmates and Data on Ex-offenders Denied HDB Grants in Last Three Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"50 Mr Victor Lye asked the Minister for National Development whether an inter-ministry pilot with the Ministry of Home Affairs can be set up to recognise work programme completed in prison as valid employment history for the purposes of HDB grant and loan eligibility.
51 Mr Victor Lye asked the Minister for National Development in the last three years, what is the number of ex-offenders who are denied HDB housing grants specifically due to failing to meet the criteria for 12 months of continuous employment despite having worked full-time within the prison system prior to release.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Purchasing a flat is a long-term financial commitment. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) assesses a household’s eligibility for housing subsidy and loans based on the household’s income from employment. This requirement for a formal employment relationship is to assess a buyer’s long-term ability to service the housing loan. If the household wishes to apply for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG), at least one member of the core family nucleus must be in continuous employment for at least 12 months. This continuous employment condition (CEC) provides a proxy of a household’s financial situation, so that the corresponding means-tested grant amount can be determined fairly.
The primary purpose of work programmes in prison is not financial remuneration, but to support the rehabilitation of the offender. It is different from formal employment. Hence, the renumeration from these programmes could not be included when assessing the HDB housing loan eligibility or fulfilment of the CEC.
HDB does not have data on the number of ex-offenders who did not fulfil the CEC, as ex-offenders are not required to declare records of their prior offences in their flat application.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Checking for Illegal Marine Species at Seafood Wholesale Markets and Border Checkpoints and Illegal Trade Prevention Measures","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"52 Ms Gho Sze Kee asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether there are measures in place at seafood wholesale markets including Jurong Fishery Port and border checkpoints to check for illegal or protected marine species, such as certain sharks and rays, requiring CITES permits; and (b) if so, what these measures are and how they are enforced to prevent illegal trade from entering our food supply chain.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: To enforce against the illegal trade of marine species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the National Parks Board works closely with the Singapore Food Agency, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and international partners to assess tip-offs and identify shipments for further checks at our borders, carry out periodic market surveillance at seafood wholesale markets and regularly engage the seafood industry on CITES regulations.
Those who are found to have engaged in illegal trading of CITES Appendix II and III species will be prosecuted under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act. For example, corporate offenders may be subject to a fine of up to the higher of $1 million or the market value of all specimens comprised in the offence or imprisonment of up to six years, or both.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Community-based Interventions and Alternative Penalties for Illegal Bird-feeding Cases Involving Seniors","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"53 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Minister for National Development in view that seniors aged 65 and above account for approximately half of the 320 annual cases of illegal bird-feeding reported to National Parks Board between 2023 and 2025, whether the Ministry will expand community-based interventions and consider alternative penalties that address the underlying social and health factors driving this behaviour among vulnerable elderly residents.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The National Parks Board (NParks) adopts a multi-pronged approach to manage illegal bird feeding. To complement enforcement efforts, NParks partners with the Agency for Integrated Care, Town Councils and other agencies to engage elderly offenders and offenders with mental health needs to understand their underlying motivations, address misconceptions and raise awareness on the negative impacts of bird feeding.
Besides expanding these community support programmes, NParks also plans to revise the penalties for illegal wildlife feeding to increase the range of sentencing options available to the Court to include community-based orders.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Proportion of Repeat Bird-Feeding Offenders Issued with Fines in Past Three Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"54 Ms Lee Hui Ying asked the Minister for National Development (a) what percentage of illegal bird-feeding cases involve repeat offenders in the past three years; and (b) what is the proportion of repeat offenders who were issued with fines.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Around 30% of illegal bird-feeding cases in the past three years involved repeat offenders. All repeat offenders were issued with fines, except for one case which is pending Court proceedings.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Factors Triggering Active Population Control of Otter Population and Measures to Safeguard Broader Ecosystem","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"55 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many of the over 600 otter-related feedback cases received annually in 2024 and 2025 involved direct human-wildlife conflict; (b) what criteria and thresholds will trigger active population control including sterilisation; (c) what pilot studies or international case studies inform these considerations; and (d) what safeguards ensure such measures do not adversely affect the broader ecosystem.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The volume of otter-related feedback cases has increased in recent years. In 2024 and 2025, about half of the otter-related feedback cases received by the National Parks Board (NParks) involved human-otter conflicts.
NParks partners stakeholders such as the Otter Working Group to develop and implement its otter management measures, which includes the use of sterilisation as a long-term population control measure, as well as stepping up outreach and public education efforts by installing advisory signages at identified conflict areas. NParks will continue to monitor the otter population and the ecological impact of measures implemented.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Redeployment of Children Affected by Centre Closures to Nearby Centres and Proportion of Unresolved Cases","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"56 Mr Shawn Loh asked the Minister for Social and Family Development with regard to pre-school centres closing without giving the sufficient six months' closure notice (a) what is the average or typical time taken for the Early Childhood Development Agency to successfully redeploy affected children to surrounding centres; and (b) what is the average or typical proportion of cases that remain unresolved by the time the original centre closes.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: In the event of a cessation, preschools are required to assist parents in securing alternative care arrangements. The Early Childhood Development Agency may also assist affected parents who require help with alternative preschool placement, such as in cases where the preschool had ceased operations at short notice.
The vast majority of parents of affected children, including those affected by cessations at short notice, were able to find alternative arrangements before the last day of operations of their existing preschool. Some parents may prefer not to enrol their children in a new preschool immediately due to personal reasons, such as a preference to wait for vacancies at a specific preschool of choice.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Data on Preschool Centre Closures without Six-months' Notice over Past Three Years and Enforcement Actions Taken against Operators","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"57 Mr Shawn Loh asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the number of pre-school centres closing without giving the sufficient six months' closure notice has been increasing annually over the past three years; and (b) how many of such preschool operators were subject to (i) warning letters, (ii) financial penalties and (iii) barring of future preschool licences, respectively.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Under the Early Childhood Development Centres Act, Regulations and Code of Practice, licensees are required to provide at least six months' notice prior to cessation to parents and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). There has been an increase in the number of preschools that have failed to give at least six months' notice before cessation, from 26 preschools in 2023 to 44 preschools in 2025.
ECDA takes such regulatory breaches seriously and errant operators may face regulatory actions. ECDA will consider various factors, including the specific facts of each case and principles of proportionality and deterrence, before meting out the necessary regulatory action or combination of actions.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Enforcement Actions Taken for Failure to Display Preschool Licences Prominently and Publicly in Past Five Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"58 Mr Ng Shi Xuan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) in the past five years, whether enforcement action was taken against preschools which failed to prominently and publicly display their licences; and (b) if so, what steps were taken in the enforcement action.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Under the Early Childhood Development Centres Act, Regulations and Code of Practice, preschools are required to display their licence at a prominent location that is accessible to parents. Parents may also find the licence tenure of all preschools on LifeSG platforms.
Preschools have been generally compliant and there has been no need for the Early Childhood Development Agency to take enforcement action. Preschools that did not display their licence or displayed an outdated one had complied once the issue was brought to their attention.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Data on Participation Rates for Future Care Planning Programmes in Past Five Years and Measures to Encourage Participation","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"59 Prof Kenneth Poon asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how many families caring for persons with significant disabilities have, in the past five years, participated in formal future care planning programmes; and (b) what measures are in place to support families who may not yet have made such plans.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Future care planning support is available to families caring for persons with disabilities through SG Enable or social service agencies providing disability services.
Between 2021 and 2025, 1,975 care plans have been developed for families caring for persons with disabilities.
SG Enable launched the Future Care Planning Resource Centre in December 2025. The Ministry of Social and Family Development and SG Enable are working on strengthening sector capabilities in future care planning to enable more caregivers of persons with disabilities to access future care planning support.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Breakdown of Uptake of Caregiver Support Schemes in Past Five Years by Household Income and Age Groups","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"60 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry can provide data on the uptake of caregiver support schemes, including respite care, financial assistance and training programmes, over the past five years, broken down by caregiver household income and age group.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Government provides a range of support for caregivers, such as: (a) respite services across home, community and institutional settings; (b) the Caregivers Training Grant which provides a grant of up to $400 per year to new qualifying care recipients, for caregivers to attend approved caregiving training courses; and (c) the Home Caregiving Grant, which provides cash payouts of up to $600 per month to individuals with permanent moderate disability living in the community, to defray costs of caregiving.
From 2023 to 2025, on average, every year: (a) about 17,700 caregivers utilised respite services; (b) about 3,200 caregivers utilised the Caregivers Training Grant and (c) about 72,300 caregivers who care for their loved ones with permanent moderate disability in the community received the Home Caregiving Grant.
Upcoming subsidy enhancements for long-term care services will also help to offset caregiving costs.
We do not track caregivers' household income or age group as the schemes are tagged to their care recipients.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Criteria for Immediate Mid-tenure Licence Shortening and Median Time Taken Between Investigation and Issuance of Corresponding Enforcement Actions in Past Three Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"61 Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in respect of the Early Childhood Development Agency's licensing of preschools (a) what criteria determine whether a safety violation triggers immediate mid-tenure licence shortening as opposed to other enforcement measures; and (b) for each of the past three years, what was the median time elapsed between determination of a safety violation and the issuance of any corresponding enforcement action.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: To determine the appropriate enforcement action to take when a breach has occurred, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) comprehensively reviews all relevant factors, including the severity of the breach, whether the breaches were systemic in nature, and whether there were any aggravating or mitigating factors. ECDA will then determine the penalties to be meted out, which can range from financial penalties, shortening or revocation of the preschool's license. Depending on the complexity and nature of the case in the question, the time taken for ECDA to investigate and impose any enforcement action also tends to vary.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Adequacy of Adult Disability Residential Services and Support Programmes","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"62 Prof Kenneth Poon asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) over the past five years, what has been the annual number of places of (i) adult disability homes (ii) adult disability hostels (iii) supported living arrangements, and (iv) the Enabling Living Programme, respectively; and\n(b) whether the Ministry can also provide any available data on utilisation rates or waiting lists for these services over the same period.\n
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Adult Disability Homes (ADHs) provide residential care for adults with disabilities who have no alternative accommodation. As of December 2025, there are 11 Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)-funded ADHs with a total capacity of about 1,500 places, most of which operate at utilisation rates of over 80%, and 100 individuals on the waitlist. ADH capacity increased by about 300 places in 2022, and MSF will be adding a new facility by 2030.
Adult Disability Hostels (ADHLs) provide accommodation and residential-based training for adults with disabilities who do not require institutional care but are unable to live with their families. As of December 2025, there are three MSF-funded ADHLs with a total capacity of about 130 places, with utilisation rates of 80% to 90%, and 75 individuals on the waitlist.
We are piloting community-based support services to provide alternatives to residential care, such as the Enabled Living Programme, which commenced in December 2025, and the Home Support Programme pilot, which will commence in the second half of 2026. Together, these pilots are expected to support up to 250 persons with disabilities.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Vehicular Noise Reduction Measures for Residential Buildings Adjacent to Expressways","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"63 Mr Shawn Loh asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment whether the Ministry will consider (a) setting vehicle noise thresholds at the receptor (i.e. at the facade of the nearest residential building) next to expressways, such as at HDB flats at Whampoa adjacent to the CTE; and (b) installing noise reducing vegetation or panels, should such thresholds be breached.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Since July 2016, the National Environment Agency has required Land Traffic Noise Impact Assessments to be conducted for: (a) new residential and noise-sensitive developments located near existing land traffic noise hotspots, such as new hospitals near existing expressways, as well as (b) new major land transport infrastructure located near existing residential and noise-sensitive developments, such as new above-ground MRT tracks near existing residential premises. This ensures that vehicle noise affecting nearby residential receptors is appropriately mitigated at the land use planning and design stage.
To reduce noise disamenities to residents near major roads and expressways in existing developments, the Land Transport Authority works with relevant agencies to implement appropriate noise mitigation measures, such as low-noise pavement mix, noise barriers and vegetation, where feasible.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Enforcement Measures against Loud Vehicles and Adjusting Night-time Noise Thresholds for Residential Areas","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"64 Mr Shawn Loh asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what are the Government’s plans, if any, to improve enforcement actions against vehicles, foreign or otherwise, which cause short but extremely loud noise near residential areas; and (b) whether the Government will consider lowering vehicle noise thresholds for residential areas at nighttime.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Singapore sets maximum exhaust noise levels for both new and in-use vehicles which are aligned with international standards, such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Standards. These levels have been progressively tightened over time. Setting different limits for day- and night-time may not be practical, as vehicle noise characteristics are independent of time of day.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) takes action against noisy vehicles through joint enforcement blitzes with other Agencies at or near our checkpoints, and targeted enforcement operations on our roads based on public feedback. Since 2023, the coverage and frequency of these efforts have increased. NEA will continue to monitor public feedback to assess whether standards should be adjusted or foreseen enforcement action is required. We will also explore the use of technologies to facilitate enforcement against noisy vehicles.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Contamination Rates at Household Recycling Bins and Chutes and Measures to Reduce Contamination","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"65 Mr Ng Chee Meng asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) how long has the average contamination rates of household recycling bins and chutes remained at about 40%; (b) what efforts are being considered to reduce these contamination rates; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider setting a target to reduce the contamination rates.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The aggregated contamination rate for recycling bins and chutes under the National Recycling Programme has remained at about 40% since 2018.
The National Environment Agency has implemented a range of efforts to address the issue of contaminated recyclables. These include sustained public education and outreach efforts, such as the Recycle Right campaign. We have also expanded the collection of clean stream recyclables through the extended producer responsibility schemes for e-waste and beverage containers. We welcome ground-up initiatives by community partners to explore alternative approaches to recycling and will review the effectiveness of such measures.
We aim to reduce the contamination rate as much as possible. We are monitoring the results of ongoing efforts to improve recycling outcomes and ask that everyone exercise collective responsibility to minimise contamination in our recycling bins and chutes.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Assessment of Improvements and Productivity Gains in Sea-based Fish Farms and Seafood Production","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"66 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) with 24.5% sea-based fish farms exited and seafood production declining 14% whilst productivity rose from 38.6 to 40.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024, whether this productivity increase reflects genuine improvement or is driven by farm exits; (b) how many sea-based fish farms closed in 2025; and (c) what is the median productivity of the seafood sector per year from 2023 to 2025.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The improvement in productivity of Singapore's aquaculture sector reflects both farm exits and gains in farm productivity. The 2025 data will be published later this year as part of the Singapore Food Statistics 2025.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Singapore's Comprehensive Response to US Section 301 Investigations on Overcapacity and Forced Labour","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"67 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government will be represented at the upcoming public hearings for the United States Trade Representative's investigations into overcapacity and forced labour under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974; (b) whether any Singapore companies will be attending these hearings, and if so, what guidance is provided to such companies for the 15 April 2026 submission deadline.
68 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry following the initiation of investigation into forced labour by the Office of the United States Trade Representative under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on 12 March 2026, what specific steps the Ministry is taking to demonstrate the adequacy of Singapore's existing legal frameworks for prohibiting the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: These questions are addressed by the reply to Questions No 64 to 69 for oral answers during the 7 April 2026 Parliament Sitting.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Local Industries Affected by Increase in US Tariffs and Measures to Help Affected SMEs","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"69 Assoc Prof Terence Ho asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) which industries have the greatest dependence on United States (US) for final demand and are likely to be affected by the increase in US tariffs from 10% to 15% under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974; and (b) what steps will be taken to help firms in these industries, particularly small and medium enterprises to cope.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: This question was addressed by the reply to Questions No 5 to 7 for oral response during the Parliament Sitting on 5 March 2026. [Please refer to \"Updated Assessment on Impact on Singapore's Economy and Businesses from New 15% Tariffs\", Official Report, 5 March 2026, Vol 96, Issue 25, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
On 20 February 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States (US) struck down the US' \"reciprocal\" tariffs that were imposed on the US' trading partners under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act. On the same day, the US announced a tariff of 10% under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 on all US imports for 150 days. The US Customs and Border Protection started collecting this 10% tariff from 12.01am on 24 February 2026, US time. While US President Donald Trump announced via a Truth Social post on 21 February 2026 that the tariff rate would be raised to 15%, the US has yet to issue an official directive on this increase.
The immediate direct impact of these tariff developments on Singapore's economy is not expected to be significant, given that the current Section 122 tariff of 10% is broadly unchanged from the previous 10% \"reciprocal\" tariff that had been imposed on Singapore's exports to the US since April 2025.
Those with a greater dependence on the US for final demand and whose exports are covered by the Section 122 tariff, such as the precision engineering cluster and some segments under the general manufacturing cluster, could see a greater impact from any tariff increase.
We will continue to work with our tripartite and industry partners through the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT) to gather feedback on how businesses and workers are affected. For instance, SERT convened last week to discuss the tariff developments and preliminary sentiments of businesses and workers.
The Government is committed to helping our businesses and workers navigate the challenges arising from these tariff developments. In October 2025, SERT launched the Business Adaptation Grant (BizAdapt) to help businesses affected by the tariffs to evaluate the impact, optimise their supply chains and reconfigure their operations. The Graduate Industry Traineeship was also launched as a temporary scheme to provide traineeships for fresh graduates to gain industry-relevant experience and skills amid economic uncertainty, so that they are better equipped to transition into full-time employment. At Budget 2026, the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance announced that support levels under BizAdapt would be raised from up to 50% to up to 70%. We stand ready to provide further support, as needed.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Data of Rental Costs for Retail and F&B Sectors, and Firms Experiencing Rental Increases Upon Lease Renewal from 2019 to 2024","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"70 Mr Mark Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry for the retail trade and food and beverage services sectors from 2019 to 2024, whether the Government has data on (a) the median and interquartile ranges of rental costs as a share of total business costs for each year; and (b) the proportion of firms which experienced rental increases exceeding (i)10% (ii) 20% and (iii) 30% upon lease renewal during this period.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Between 2019 and 2024, rental costs as a share of total business costs declined from 26% to 17% for the food and beverage services sector, and from 30% to 26% for the retail trade sector. Data on (a) the median and interquartile ranges of rental cost as a share of total business costs, and (b) the proportion of firms which experienced rental increases exceeding 10%, 20% and 30% upon lease renewal over this period are not available.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Comparison of Rental Costs Relative to Revenue and Gross Operating Surplus in Retail and F&B Sectors between SMEs and Non-SMEs from 2019 to 2024","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"71 Mr Mark Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry for the retail trade and food and beverage sectors from 2019 to 2024, whether the Government has data on (a) how rental costs compare relative to revenue and gross operating surplus; (b) whether these indicators differ materially between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and non-SMEs; and (c) whether rental pressures are assessed to be concentrated in specific property types or locations.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Tables 1, 2 and 3 below present data on the total annual rental cost, operating revenue and gross operating surplus of the retail trade and food & beverage (F&B) services sectors from 2019 to 2024. A breakdown of the data by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and non-SMEs is not available.
Retail trade and F&B services firms located in properties with attributes, such as proximity to key transport nodes or estates with high population density may face higher rents.
72 Mr Jackson Lam asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the recent exit of a food delivery platform company from Singapore market (a) what assessment has the Government made of market concentration in the food delivery sector;\n(b) whether reduced competition may lead to higher commissions or fees; and (c) whether any regulatory review by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore is planned to ensure fair competition.\n\n
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Following the recent exit of Deliveroo in March 2026, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) has been closely monitoring Singapore's food delivery market for anti-competitive concerns, including the conduct and pricing behaviour of the remaining players.
To date, CCS has not observed any systematic shifts in commissions or fees. Nonetheless, CCS will not hesitate to investigate evidence of any anti-competitive practices under the Competition Act 2004. Parties with relevant feedback are encouraged to approach CCS.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Detection and Identification of Unsafe Children's Products Sold on E-commerce Platforms","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"73 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry arising from reports in South Korea that several children's products sold on overseas e-commerce platforms were found to contain hazardous substances exceeding safety limits, how does the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore detect and identify similar unsafe products being sold to consumers in Singapore.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Under the Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods Safety Requirements) Regulations 2011, all children's products and toys supplied in Singapore must comply with applicable international safety standards.
The Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) under the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore conducts regular market surveillance on children's products and toys by testing selected products against international safety standards, including for the presence of hazardous substances. The CPSO works with both online and physical suppliers on an ongoing basis to ensure regulatory compliance, including with e-commerce platforms to detect and take down any non-compliant products. Where harmful substances exceeding safety limits are detected, suppliers are directed to cease supply of the product. Failure to comply with the CPSO's directions may result in fines or imprisonment.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Effectiveness of Tax Incentives Provided to Foreign Companies on Job Creation and Wage Enhancement in Past Five Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"74 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the quantum of tax incentives provided to foreign companies in the past five years; (b) what methodology is used to calculate return on investment of the incentives with regard to job creation and wage enhancement; (c) what is the cost per Singaporean job created through tax incentives versus other schemes; and (d) whether cost effectiveness reviews are performed on alternative approaches.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The value of incentives awarded is a fraction of the projected total value of the investment and incentive recipients are required to achieve economic outcomes, such as job creation, local employment, business spending or fixed asset investment. For example, the Economic Development Board's investment commitments in 2025 are expected to create 15,700 new jobs when realised over the next five years, with about two-thirds paying a gross monthly wage above $5,000. Majority of these jobs are expected to go to locals.
The Government adopts a multi-pronged approach to create good jobs for Singaporeans. In addition to incentives to anchor foreign investments, we have various enterprise development grants to support local companies to transform, grow their business and move into higher-value activities. When companies become more productive and competitive, they will be better able to create quality jobs and pay higher wages.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"GLCs' R&D Contributions and Activities under RIE2025/RIE2030 and Assessment of Singapore's National Innovation Performance","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"75 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what proportion of Business Expenditure on R&D (BERD) is attributable to Government-linked companies (GLCs); (b) whether any GLCs currently undertake significant R&D activities aligned with strategic domains identified under RIE2025 or RIE2030; (c) what is the Government's assessment of the implications for Singapore's innovation output when large domestic enterprises account for a relatively small share of national R&D activity.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The research and development (R&D) capacity of our firms has increased significantly over the years, with Business Expenditure on R&D (BERD) growing by a compound annual growth rate of 7.8% from 2016 to 2023, reaching $9 billion. Within the same period, the BERD from local enterprises, including Government-linked Companies (GLCs), grew to $1.7 billion, contributing to about 20% of total BERD.
GLCs have undertaken R&D investments and innovation activities that are aligned with the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) Domains. They are in line with Singapore's decarbonisation goals, artificial intelligence (AI) push and advanced manufacturing priorities. For example, ST Engineering will intensify its AI R&D efforts through its Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI CoE) to scale up its core of AI-ready modules and solutions. With the AI CoE in Singapore, ST Engineering aims to grow its existing AI talent pool from 2,000 to 5,000 over the next five years, creating new high-value jobs for Singaporeans. Industry R&D collaborations in strategic areas, such as healthcare and semiconductors are also fostered by our Research Institutes and National Platforms like the Diagnostics Development Hub and the National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre.
We welcome innovation activities from both local and foreign enterprises as they lead to the creation of good jobs and strengthen Singapore's competitiveness in technologically intensive sectors. Between 2016 and 2023, R&D jobs in the private sector grew by 36%, reaching more than 30,000, with locals filling more than 70% of these roles. Today, Singapore is the sixth largest exporter of high-tech goods globally, according to the World Bank Group. We will continue supporting the innovation journey of local enterprises, including GLCs.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Proportion of Singapore's Inflation over Past Five Years Attributable to External Factors","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"76 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry what is the proportion of Singapore's inflation over the past five years that can be attributed to external factors, such as energy and import prices, versus domestic factors.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Energy1- and food-related components account for around 24% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-All Items basket2. These components are directly affected by higher global energy and food commodity prices.
Over the last five years from 2020 to 2025, CPI-All Items rose by 3.3% per annum, with energy- and food-related components contributing approximately 0.9 percentage-point to the increase.
Higher global energy prices could also potentially affect the costs of a broader range of consumer items in the economy, including through raising the costs of imported intermediate inputs and imported final goods. This broader impact reflects Singapore's heavy reliance on imports for economic activity and domestic consumption as a small and open economy. Accordingly, imported inflation plays a significant contributing role in overall inflation outcomes in Singapore.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":["1 : Energy-related components include (a) electricity; (b) gas; (c) petrol; and (d) other fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment.","2 : Based on Department of Statistics' 2024 Consumer Price Index weights."],"footNoteQuestions":["76"],"questionNo":"76"},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Retention Rate of Permanent Residents in Global Investor Programme Over Past 10 Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"77 Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry over the past 10 years (a) what is the retention rate of Permanent Residents admitted under the Global Investor Programme (GIP); (b) how many GIP Permanent Residents had their re-entry permits not renewed due to failure to meet the requisite business milestones; and (c) how many GIP Permanent Residents have subsequently applied for and been granted Singapore citizenship.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Global Investor Programme (GIP) accords Permanent Resident (PR) status to eligible global investors who make significant investments to drive business growth in Singapore.
From 2016 to 2025, around 85% of the individuals accorded permanent residency through the GIP remained a PR as of 31 December 2025. Fewer than 25 individuals did not have their re-entry permits renewed as they did not meet the prevailing criteria, such as economic contribution and length of residency. Fewer than 20 individuals were granted Singapore citizenship.
78 Mr Shawn Loh asked the Acting Minister for Transport whether the Government will consider providing more Express bus services to nearby MRT stations and common workplaces in areas that are underserved by MRT lines, such as at Whampoa, as the implementation of the proposed Seletar Line continues to be studied.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been improving bus services, especially for residents in areas further away from major transport nodes and town centres. For residents in Whampoa, LTA has introduced MRT Direct Service 21X on 28 April 2025 to Novena MRT station. Service 21X was renumbered 456 on 24 November 2025.
LTA will continue to review whether additional bus services are needed in Whampoa, taking into account other requests for bus services elsewhere and overall resource constraints.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Effectiveness of Cyclist Safety Measures Along Tanah Merah Coast Road and Further Infrastructure Improvements","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"79 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) what measures are currently in place to ensure the safety of cyclists along Tanah Merah Coast Road; (b) whether these measures have been effective in reducing accidents or improving road safety; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider implementing a physical separator to better protect cyclists.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The cycling lane at Tanah Merah Coast Road has signs, coloured road markings and other design elements to enhance safety. For example, road markings differentiate the lane from the road carriageway and facilitate interactions at junctions. Bus stops are also built on raised islands with the cycling lane running behind them.
To address safety concerns of cyclists arising from illegal parking of vehicles and debris falling from heavy vehicles, enforcement has been stepped up. Clear signages have also been installed to remind drivers not to wait or park on the cycling lane. Daily road cleaning operations are conducted, and construction companies are reminded to secure loads and prevent material spillage. These efforts have reduced overloading offences by 74% and illegal parking offences by 5% at Tanah Merah Coast Road in 2H2025 compared to 1H2025, improving road safety.
A physical separator could constrain the manoeuvring space for cyclists and would need to allow for breaks at intersections. Instead, raised chevron markings serve as a separator for the lane, alerting motorists when they veer into the cycling lane. Cyclists who prefer not to cycle on the road can use the Park Connector Network, which is physically separated from vehicular traffic and runs alongside the road.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Review of Implementation Timeline for and Quantum of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Levy Amid Rising Fuel Prices","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"80 Mr Ng Shi Xuan asked the Acting Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will review the (a) implementation timeline for and (b) quantum of the sustainable aviation fuel levy, in light of rising conventional and sustainable aviation fuel prices.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has deferred the implementation of the sustainable aviation fuel levy, in view of the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on airlines and passengers. The levy will now apply to tickets and services sold from 1 October 2026, for flights departing from 1 January 2027.
There is no change to the levy quantum announced by the CAAS in November 2025 which was designed based on a fixed-cost envelope model, so that the cost to air transport users is kept stable.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Review of Requirements for Window Tints in Motor Vehicles while Accounting for Heat Reduction, Visibility and Road Safety","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"81 Ms Diana Pang Li Yen asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) whether the Land Transport Authority will review current requirements for window tints in motor vehicles in light of newer film technologies that can reduce cabin heat while ensuring visibility; and (b) whether any review will take into account road safety, enforcement considerations and the increasingly hot weather conditions in Singapore.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Vehicle owners may use tinted films with heat-reduction technologies, provided they: (a) allow at least 70% of visible light to pass through the front windscreen and front side windows, and at least 25% for the rear windscreen and rear side windows, (b) are non-reflective and (c) do not interfere with any signal transmission between the Electronic Road Pricing gantry and In-Vehicle/On-Board Unit.
These requirements ensure drivers have sufficient visibility of the roads and environment around them, and that vehicle occupants can be identified for enforcement purposes. The Land Transport Authority will continue to review the requirements with the Singapore Police Force to ensure they remain fit for purpose.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Assessment of Expected Fare Range for Upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link and Measures to Ensure Fare Affordability for Commuters","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"82 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) what is the Government's assessment of the expected fare range for the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link; and (b) what arrangements are being made to ensure fare affordability for Singaporeans.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Fares for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link will be determined commercially by the operator, RTS Operations Pte Ltd. The operator will announce the fares in due course.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Data on Appeals from Car Buyers Affected by Recent PARF Rebate Cuts and Transitional Support Offered to Affected Buyers","subTitle":"Affected Car Buyers' Appeal Statistics and Government Support on PARF Rebate Cut Transition ","sectionType":"WA","content":"83 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) what is the number of appeals received from car buyers with committed purchases that are estimated to be affected by the recent Preferential Additional Registration Fee rebate cuts; and (b) whether the Ministry is considering a transitional provision to support affected buyers.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The recent changes to the Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebate were implemented with immediate effect to avoid distorting the Certificate of Entitlement market. This is in line with our general approach on market sensitive tax changes and was the same approach taken in 2023 when the PARF rebate cap was implemented and the Additional Registration Fee was raised.
Fewer than 2,000 car buyers with committed purchases are estimated to be affected. We have received under 30 appeals from car buyers with committed purchases who might be affected by the PARF changes.
The purchase of a car is a commercial arrangement between the dealer and buyer. We understand some dealers have already made alternative arrangements with affected buyers.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Reviewing Implementation of Increase in ERP Rates Amid Rising Petrol and Fuel Costs","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"84 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) whether the Government will review the timing of the announced S$1 increase of Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates at several expressway gantries from 23 March 2026, in view of the recent rise in petrol prices; and (b) what are the considerations that led to the implementing of higher ERP charges at this juncture when motorists are already facing higher fuel costs.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The objective of Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is to manage road congestion. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) reviews ERP rates and operational hours based on traffic conditions on a quarterly basis.
LTA increased ERP rates at four locations in March 2026 as speeds at various stretches of the Ayer Rajah Expressway, Central Expressway and Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway were persistently lower than optimal. This is to encourage motorists to consider travelling at different times or using alternative routes so as to relieve congestion.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Adjusting Implementation Timeline of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Levy to Mitigate Cost Pressures on Airlines and Passengers","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"85 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Acting Minister for Transport in light of the Middle East conflict which has led to increased fuel costs and disruptions to key aviation routes between Asia, Middle East and Europe, whether the Government has considered delaying, phasing or adjusting the implementation of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel levy to mitigate near-term cost pressures on airlines and passengers, while balancing Singapore's longer-term decarbonisation objectives.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has deferred the implementation of the sustainable aviation fuel levy in view of the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on airlines and passengers. The levy will now apply to tickets and services sold from 1 October 2026, for flights departing from 1 January 2027.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Study of Affordability Levels in Punggol for Autonomous Vehicle Trial Pricing","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"86 Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Acting Minister for Transport with regard to the $4 per ride fare for the autonomous vehicle trials in Punggol (a) how did the Ministry arrive at the $4 fare; (b) whether the Ministry has studied the affordability levels for the population in Punggol; and (c) if so, what percentage of the target ridership will find this fare affordable.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The starting fares of the Punggol autonomous shuttles in this pilot phase were determined by the operators in consultation with the Ministry of Transport and/or the Land Transport Authority. We expect the fares to be adjusted over time depending on ridership demand.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Quantum Research Coordination Between A*STAR and NUS and Combined Annual Funding","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"87 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in view that both A*STAR's Quantum Innovation Centre and the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) at the National University of Singapore claim alignment with the National Quantum Strategy, which designated CQT as the national flagship centre (a) what specific capabilities does the Quantum Innovation Centre provide that CQT does not; (b) what is their combined annual funding; and (c) what mechanisms prevent duplication between them.
Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Prime Minister): The National Quantum Strategy (NQS) sets out the strategic framework to enable Singapore to strengthen its position as a leading hub in the development and deployment of quantum technologies, including through building our national quantum capabilities.
Under the NQS, the Centre for Quantum Technology (CQT) was designated as a flagship national research centre to coordinate research talent nationally and support investigator-led research and capability-building training schemes. These research efforts are carried out in a coordinated manner through a network of nodes in the universities and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). A*STAR's Quantum Innovation Centre (Q.InC) develops next-generation quantum technologies in strategic research pillars, such as quantum sensing and materials, with its researchers jointly appointed with CQT, and their research agendas coordinated by the CQT Director to ensure alignment and synergy with the broader CQT research programme.
In Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025, $295 million was set aside to fund quantum research efforts under the NQS, with implementation overseen by the National Quantum Steering Committee.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Breakdown of Scholarship Recipients by Country of Study over Past Decade and Minimum Annual Targets for Non-English-speaking Countries","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"88 Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance regarding the various scholarship schemes offered by Government agencies over the past decade (a) what is the annual breakdown by country of study for scholarship recipients; and (b) whether there are minimum annual targets for scholars to study in non-English speaking countries and/or regions.\n\n
Mr Chan Chun Sing (for the Prime Minister): The breakdown by country of study for the Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship recipients in the last decade since 2016 is in the following table:
Taking into account all Government scholarships (including PSC) over the last three years (i.e. 2023-2025), on an annual average basis, 49% of the recipients studied at our local Autonomous Universities, 30% in the United Kingdom, 15% in the United States of America and 6% in other countries.
PSC does not set annual targets for scholarship awards by country, as the numbers are dynamic and depend on the assessment of the scholarship recipients' aptitude, the courses offered by various countries and scholarship recipients' areas of interest and course of studies. Scholarship recipients studying locally are also encouraged to participate in overseas exchanges and internships/work attachments and to pursue their postgraduate studies in a different country. Overall, we aim for a diversified portfolio over the mid- to long term, with our scholarship recipients bringing back a diversity of perspectives and connections from the various countries they go to.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Pre-emptive Adjustments in Monetary Policy to Curb Energy Cost-driven Inflation","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"89 Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the MAS has any plans to make pre-emptive adjustments in its monetary policy to curb inflation driven by higher energy costs.
Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Prime Minister): The Monetary Authority of Singapore is currently assessing its monetary policy stance and will release its upcoming Monetary Policy Statement next week as scheduled, on 14 April 2026. The inflation outlook for 2026 will be updated.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Consumer Payment Protection through Legislation of Mandatory Cash Acceptance during Digital Banking Service Failures","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"90 Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether there is a timeline for Government to decide on making cash acceptance mandatory by law to ensure that consumers are not left without payment options when digital banking services fail; and (b) if so, what is the timeline.
Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Prime Minister): I refer the Member to Minister Chee Hong Tat's reply to Mr Louis Chua's Committee of Supply cut (Mandating Acceptance of Cash) on 26 February 2026. [Please refer to \"Committee of Supply – Head U (Prime Minister's Office)\", Official Report, 26 February 2026, Vol 96, Issue 20, Budget section.]
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Salary Arrangements for Political Office Holders Seconded to NTUC in Last 10 Years","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WA","content":"91 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in relation to political office holders (POHs) seconded to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) (a) what is the average percentage of wages borne by the Government relative to NTUC in the last 10 years; and (b) for each of the last 10 years, what was the total dollar amount borne by the Government for salaries of all POHs seconded to NTUC.
Mr Chan Chun Sing (for the Prime Minister): Political office holders (POHs) are seconded to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to reinforce the Government's longstanding partnership with the labour unions and facilitate collaboration with the unions in shaping policies that address workers' concerns in Singapore.
In general, the Government and NTUC will co-fund portions of the POHs' salary. This cost-sharing arrangement is intended to ensure that both organisations have a mutual stake and shared responsibility for the outcomes of the secondment. In the last 10 years, the Government has generally funded about 50% of the fixed component of the salaries, which include the basic monthly and 13th month components.
Regardless, POHs who are seconded to NTUC receive only one pay package as an appointment holder, and the current annual package of all POHs is as set out in the 2012 White Paper on \"Salaries for a Capable and Committed Government\". The budgeted expenditure on manpower for POHs in each Ministry is published in the Budget book annually.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Clarification by Minister for Digital Development and Information","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WS","content":"[(proc text) The following statements were made by the Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo) in reply to Question Nos 71 to 74 during Question Time at the Sitting of 7 April 2026: (proc text)]
(a) The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): Around the world, if we look at various jurisdictions, we do not know of anyone that require telcos to make compensation for service disruptions. [Please refer to \"Causes and Follow-up Actions for March 2026 Disruptions on Singtel’s Mobile Network\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
(b) The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): He may be referring to individual consumers and when he talks about some European jurisdictions, we are only aware of the United Kingdom and Germany having in place arrangements that he may be referring to. In these two countries, the regulators require compensation, but the scope is quite limited, such as for loss of service for broadband or landline only, which the incidents that took place in March for Singtel would also not have qualified. \t[\tPlease refer to \"Causes and Follow-up Actions for March 2026 Disruptions on Singtel’s Mobile Network\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
[(proc text) Written statement by Mrs Josephine Teo circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5): (proc text)]
I wish to make the following factual corrections to my statements made during Question Time at the Sitting on 7 April 2026. My statements should read as follows:
(a) The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): Around the world, if we look at various jurisdictions, we know of a few that require telcos to make compensation for service disruptions.
(b) The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): He may be referring to individual consumers and when he talks about some European jurisdictions, we are aware of some countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany having in place arrangements that he may be referring to. In these two countries, the regulators require compensation, but the scope is quite limited. In the United Kingdom, it is for loss of service for broadband or landline only, which the incidents that took place in March for Singtel would also not have qualified
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Clarification by Minister for Manpower","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WS","content":"[(proc text) The following statements were made in replies provided by the Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng) in his capacity as the Minister charged with the responsibility for Energy and Energy Supplies, during the Ministerial Statements on “Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore” at the Sitting of 7 April 2026: (proc text)]
(a) The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): [I]n the event that we do not have enough natural gas, the gencos will be required to switch to diesel to run and power up. We have conducted regular audits every quarter on these gencos to ensure that the advanced combined cycle gas turbine can switch to diesel. Thus far, our audit statistics have shown that we are 99.9% ready in switching. [Please refer to \"Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Ministerial Statements section.]
(b) Dr Tan See Leng: [W]e are connected. While this is an advantage for us, given the 150 oil majors that we have here, the third largest oil trading hub in the world, the sixth largest refinery complex in the world, but upstream, the crude still has to come from somewhere. [Please refer to \"Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Ministerial Statements section.]
(c) Dr Tan See Leng: Our sense today is that the domestic consumers, because they form not a very big part of the gencos' exposure, if I am not mistaken, I have to check this, but I think they use less than four megawatts for the entire year. So, I do not think they will be affected that much. [Please refer to \"Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Ministerial Statements section.]
[(proc text) Written statement by Dr Tan See Leng circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5): (proc text)]
I wish to make the following factual corrections to the replies given during the Ministerial Statements on “Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore” at the Sitting of 7 April 2026. My replies should read as follows:
(a) The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): [I]n the event that we do not have enough natural gas, the gencos will be required to switch to diesel to run and power up. We have conducted regular audits every quarter on these gencos to ensure that the advanced combined cycle gas turbine can switch to diesel. Thus far, our audit statistics have shown that we are 99% successful in switching.
(b) Dr Tan See Leng: [W]e are connected. While this is an advantage for us, given the 150 energy traders that we have here, the third largest oil trading hub in the world, the sixth largest refinery export hub in the world, but upstream, the crude still has to come from somewhere.
(c) Dr Tan See Leng: Our sense today is that the domestic household consumers, because they form not a very big part of the gencos' exposure, if I am not mistaken, I have to check this, but I think they each use less than six megawatt-hours for the entire year. So, I do not think they will be affected that much.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null},{"startPgNo":0,"endPgNo":0,"title":"Clarification by Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance","subTitle":null,"sectionType":"WS","content":"[(proc text) The following statement was made in a reply by the Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance (Mr Jeffrey Siow) during the Ministerial Statements on Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore at the Sitting of 7 April 2026: (proc text)]
The Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance (Mr Jeffrey Siow): Thank you, Mr Speaker. On self-employed groups, specifically the Combi bus and limousine drivers, in 2002, our Government worked very closely with the NTUC to work out the support measures for this particular group. I think we will be happy to work with NTUC again to see how that can be done. [Please refer to \"Impact of the Middle East Situation on Singapore\", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Ministerial Statements section.]
[(proc text) Written statement by Mr Jeffrey Siow circulated with the leave of the Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order No. 29(5): (proc text)]
I wish to make the following factual correction to my reply given during the Sitting of 7 April 2026. My statement should read as follows:
The Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance (Mr Jeffrey Siow): Thank you, Mr Speaker. On self-employed groups, specifically the Combi bus and limousine drivers, in 2022, our Government worked very closely with the NTUC to work out the support measures for this particular group. I think we will be happy to work with NTUC again to see how that can be done.
","clarificationText":null,"clarificationTitle":null,"clarificationSubTitle":null,"reportType":null,"questionCount":null,"footNotes":null,"footNoteQuestions":null,"questionNo":null}],"writtenAnswersVOList":[],"writtenAnsNAVOList":[],"annexureList":[{"annexureID":2915,"sittingDate":null,"annexureTitle":"Annex 1","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/annex-Annex 1.pdf","fileName":"Annex 1.pdf","sectionType":"OS","file":null}],"vernacularList":[{"vernacularID":7053,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-7 Apr 2026 - Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim - SQ to PQ79.pdf","fileName":"7 Apr 2026 - Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim - SQ to PQ79.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7054,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-7 Apr 2026 - Ag Min Faishal Ibrahim - Reply to SQ_PQ79_MCCY edit.pdf","fileName":"7 Apr 2026 - Ag Min Faishal Ibrahim - Reply to SQ_PQ79_MCCY edit.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7055,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-Gan Kim Yong MS 7April2026-Chinese (MTI).pdf","fileName":"Gan Kim Yong MS 7April2026-Chinese (MTI).pdf"},{"vernacularID":7056,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Mr Jeffrey Siow","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-Jeffrey Siow MS 7April2026-Chinese_MOF.pdf","fileName":"Jeffrey Siow MS 7April2026-Chinese_MOF.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7057,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Mr Zaqy Mohamad","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-7 April 2026 - SMS Zaqy - Reply to Clarification_MinStatement_MSE.pdf","fileName":"7 April 2026 - SMS Zaqy - Reply to Clarification_MinStatement_MSE.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7058,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Mr Lee Hong Chuang","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-Lee Hong Chuang SQ 7April2026-Chinese.pdf","fileName":"Lee Hong Chuang SQ 7April2026-Chinese.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7059,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-7 Apr 2026 - Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim - Clarification_MinStatement.pdf","fileName":"7 Apr 2026 - Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim - Clarification_MinStatement.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7060,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-7 Apr 2026 - Ag Min Faishal Ibrahim - Reply to Clarification_MinStatement_MCCY edit.pdf","fileName":"7 Apr 2026 - Ag Min Faishal Ibrahim - Reply to Clarification_MinStatement_MCCY edit.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7061,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Ms Poh Li San","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-Poh Li San Energy 7 April2026 -Chinese.pdf","fileName":"Poh Li San Energy 7 April2026 -Chinese.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7062,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-Dennis Tan Energy 7April2026-Chinese.pdf","fileName":"Dennis Tan Energy 7April2026-Chinese.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7063,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Mr Lee Hong Chuang","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-Lee Hong Chuang Energy 7April2026-Chinese.pdf","fileName":"Lee Hong Chuang Energy 7April2026-Chinese.pdf"},{"vernacularID":7064,"sittingDate":null,"vernacularTitle":"Vernacular Speech by Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim","filePath":"d:/apps/reports/solr_files/20260407/vernacular-7 Apr 2026 - Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim - Energy Conserve Bill.pdf","fileName":"7 Apr 2026 - Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim - Energy Conserve Bill.pdf"}],"onlinePDFFileName":""}