Info-communications Media Development Authority Bill

Order for Second Reading read.

6.26 pm

The Minister for Communications and Information (Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim): Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Let me, first, explain the context behind this Bill. In January this year, I announced that we will restructure the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) into two new organisations ‒ the Info-communications Media Development Authority, or IMDA for short, and the Government Technology Agency, or GovTech for short.

Both IDA and MDA have contributed significantly to the development of Singapore's infocomm and media sectors since their formation in 1999 and 2003 respectively.

As the infocomm regulator and developer, IDA has contributed significantly to Singapore's position as a dynamic, competitive and innovative global infocomm capital. IDA fully liberalised Singapore's telecommunications market in 2000, two years ahead of schedule, and ensured that we are the only country in the world that has nationwide fibre in our homes and businesses. That is why Singapore is consistently ranked among the world's top in telecommunications infrastructure, thus giving our consumers and businesses access to competitively priced, high-speed connections. IDA has also fostered a vibrant infocomm startup community and a growing pool of successful infocomm small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and enterprises that have flown the Singapore flag high around the world.

MDA has also been instrumental in growing Singapore's media sector through the implementation of the Media21 Master Plan and the Singapore Media Fusion Plan. It has actively promoted the creation of high-quality local content for public service broadcasting, and nurtured generations of filmmakers, directors, games developers and writers with its scholarships. In addition, MDA has put in place co-regulation and content classification frameworks to uphold our community norms, while helping Singaporeans make more informed decisions about the media content they wish to consume.

Sir, the pace of technological change has significantly increased in recent years. More and more disruptive technologies and new business models that are enabled by infocomm media technologies have sprouted up. Rapid convergence between Singapore's infocomm and media sectors has been seen in recent years, blurring the traditional divide between these previously distinct industries.

Our traditional media, telecommunications companies (telcos) and technology (tech) companies have expanded into content creation and new media businesses and vice versa. For example, our media broadcasters have developed online platforms that can stream content around the world and are partnering overseas players to bring in fresh content for our viewers. Several, like StarHub, are even developing their own content, through the Public Service Broadcast (PSB) Contestable Funds Scheme. With convergence, the delivery of content and services is no longer restricted to traditional platforms. We can see this in the mobile market where there are mobile handsets capable of receiving video and television broadcast streams. Thus, content developers now have the opportunity to sell their content to a larger spectrum of service providers.

My Ministry has been closely monitoring these trends. We have begun to bring IDA and MDA's industry plans closer together through the development of Infocomm Media 2025, which was launched last year. The process has confirmed our view that the time is right to set up a converged infocomm media developer and regulator.

IMDA will build on the successes of IDA and MDA and help develop Singapore as a future-ready infocomm media hub. Consumers will also be a key focus for IMDA, ensuring that they continue enjoying a variety of infocomm media services at good service standards and competitive prices. I have reminded the staff of IMDA that, ultimately, what they do to harness the power of infocomm media must have a positive impact on the lives of Singaporeans.

The Bill before this House will legally establish IMDA. After the creation of IMDA, I expect to put forward more specific legislative proposals to bring about a converged perspective on consumer protection, infocomm media regulations and industry development efforts.

On the industry development front, IMDA will help Singapore harness the opportunities in the converged infocomm media landscape by equipping Singaporeans with the skills to thrive in a digital future and driving our economy through promoting digital connectivity and creativity.

The Infocomm Media 2025 Plan which I launched last year sets out broad directions to guide the development of the infocomm media sector. Having a single agency implement the plan will provide greater clarity to industry partners and deliver more impactful outcomes.

For example, one of IMDA's priorities will be to build a future-ready Singaporean Core for infocomm media. As a converged organisation, IMDA will be better poised to address the talent needs, and develop professional skills for the infocomm media sector. It will do this by building interest and cultivating talents from young and introducing our students and young adults to the exciting world of infocomm media. IMDA will also build on the initiatives and programmes that IDA and MDA currently have for students and professionals, to help them build and strengthen the core infocomm media skills that they need to seize opportunities and compete both locally and internationally.

IMDA will also enhance support for our infocomm media companies. For example, IMDA will have three innovation facilities under its wing, inherited from IDA and MDA. These are the IDA Labs, the Games Solution Centre, and Creators' Space. The new IMDA team will be studying how best to bring these facilities together as an integrated network that will better support the ideas and aspirations of companies in the converged infocomm media space, such as tech and online content creators. In particular, SMEs and startups will be able to leverage these facilities for prototyping and content creation, and bring their innovative products, services and content to fruition. This opens up interesting opportunities for collaboration and learning.

For example, a film animation company may be interested to venture into product merchandising. It can use the IDA Labs facilities to learn more about coding, and tinker around with robotics to prototype "toys" that can be launched in conjunction with their films. Conversely, an IDA Labs tech startup can leverage the Creators' Space to work with a community of online content creators to develop a compelling narrative for a crowd-funding campaign.

IMDA will also encourage greater sectoral innovation and transformation using infocomm media technologies in order to benefit Singaporeans and create greater economic and social value for our companies. For example, IDA has introduced the "Internet of Things" to some schools to enable authentic, inquiry-based learning. Students can use the sensors to capture data and upload them onto an online platform for data exchange and sharing. IMDA will also work with industries to explore ways to bring virtual reality and augmented reality technologies into the classrooms.

Sir, while the formation of IMDA is prompted by the rapid convergence of the infocomm and media sectors, there are areas which IMDA will oversee where convergence may not feature so prominently, such as our postal services, and the registration and coordination of satellite orbital slots. These remain important areas of work. For example, as the Postal Authority, IMDA will continue to ensure the smooth operation of postal services in Singapore and that it continues to innovate to meet changing consumer needs.

Regulatory certainty and clarity are highly critical in a converging sector. As we move to a connected and digital world, we need to grow trust between businesses and consumers. Regulatory frameworks must, hence, be sufficiently robust and holistic to ensure that our policy objectives are met in this new converged environment and avoid having regulatory lacunas with regards to convergent services. At the same time, we need to enable fair competition and further the interests of businesses and consumers and, most importantly, Singapore. This is important as we move to a more connected and digital world.

Today, IDA's regulatory powers for the telecommunications and postal sector are spelt out in the subject-matter legislations, namely, the Telecommunications Act and the Postal Services Act. However, MDA's regulatory powers to manage market competition for the media sector are contained in the MDA Act. With the formation of IMDA, subject-specific legislation for the telecommunications, media and postal sectors will continue and will be implemented by IMDA. For expediency, the market competition provisions in the MDA Act will be carried forward into Part 7 of the IMDA Bill as an interim measure. The longer-term plan is for IMDA to develop a holistic approach to regulation and competition management for the infocomm media sector through streamlined rules and regulations. This will make it easier for businesses to grow.

On the content regulation front, MDA currently enforces sector-specific Acts such as the Broadcasting Act and Films Act. Moving forward, IMDA will take over these subject-specific legislation and continue to ensure that content guidelines reflect community standards. With convergence, the same content can be carried over traditional as well as non-traditional media platforms. It is, hence, important for IMDA, as a converged regulator, to keep pace with technological developments that change the way media content is delivered and consumed and ensure that such content is consistent with our community norms and values.

IMDA will also oversee the personal data protection regulation. Today, the Personal Data Protection Act, or PDPA for short is enforced by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC). When IMDA is formed, the Commission will be a unit under IMDA to enforce data protection regulation in the private sector. The synergies between infocomm media and personal data protection have led to our decision to site the Commission within IMDA. For example, companies often set up websites that collect, process and provide access to personal data of their customers. Many of the solutions to enhance personal data protection, hence, leverage on infocomm media technologies. The Commission, under IMDA, will continue to ensure that all private sector companies comply with the PDPA. As companies make more use of data to improve their offerings, IMDA will also ensure that our personal data regulations and policies promote public trust and confidence in our companies.

As a converged regulator, IMDA will now have the opportunity to improve consumer protection policies across the infocomm media sector. Moving forward, IMDA will study how such consumer protection policies can be further developed.

Sir, having explained the rationale for the Bill and the roles that IMDA will play, I will now describe the main elements of the Bill. The Bill comprises 11 Parts.

Parts 1 and 2 of the Bill provide for the key concepts used in the Bill and to establish the IMDA. Part 2 also sets out IMDA's functions and powers, which are drawn from the existing provisions in the IDA and MDA Acts. These cover industry development and regulatory functions that IDA and MDA currently play in the infocomm and media sectors. IMDA will not have any additional functions and powers beyond what IDA and MDA currently have. Any difference in the exact wordings of the clauses is to simplify the language. The substance and meaning of the provisions remain unchanged. Parts 3 to 6 are on matters regarding IMDA's Board members, their decision-making procedures, IMDA's own employees and its financial provisions.

Sir, as I mentioned earlier, Part 7 of the Bill empowers IMDA to regulate competition matters in the media sector. These provisions were ported over from the MDA Act and are essential to give IMDA the legislative powers to intervene in competition-related matters that have an impact on the industry and consumers, including mergers and consolidations that involve media companies, and potential abuse of market powers by dominant media companies.

Part 8 of the Bill sets out the administration and enforcement powers of IMDA. These apply to offences under the IMDA Bill and do not replace the enforcement powers that are in IMDA's subject-specific legislation, like the Telecommunications Act and the Broadcasting Act.

Parts 9 and 10 contain provisions that transfer the relevant undertakings and personnel to IMDA, to repeal the IDA and MDA Acts and provide for saving and transitional arrangements.

Finally, Part 11 of the Bill makes consequential and related amendments to other Acts, including to incorporate PDPC into IMDA, as I earlier mentioned.

Sir, as a single infocomm media authority, IMDA will have many opportunities before it to reshape and strategise industry development so as to bring greater value. I am confident that IMDA will build on the successes of IDA and MDA to create a vibrant and dynamic infocomm-media hub and discover new economic opportunities for Singapore and our people. Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Zaqy Mohamad.

6.40 pm

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang): Thank you, Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to speak on this Bill which changes the way the Government approaches infocomm and media.

The restructuring of IDA and MDA is both relevant and timely and will support the development of the Infocomm Media 2025 plan. Both infocomm and media around the world are converging and this presents both opportunities and challenges. From both the Government and corporate point of view, the restructuring also made sense, so as to be able to better deal with the challenges and the huge potential that the new digital world offers.

Before this, in Singapore, the lines between pay television and telecoms operators had become blurred as regulatory and competition issues had straddled both IDA and MDA. The introduction of over-the-top services, such as Netflix, further illustrates the need for a converged regulator and industry development agency. Hence, businesses that offered the bundled services of both telecoms and media had to work with both IDA and MDA.

Under the newly formed IMDA though, these companies need only to work with one agency guided by the converged policy framework. This will promote industry development as it facilitates business planning and creates a more conducive regulatory environment.

However, there are some areas that the new IMDA must make clear with respect to regulation since these have not been discussed in the public domain yet. With the new IMDA in charge of content regulation – I know the Minister spoke about Acts that will come under IMDA – will there be further changes in (a) laws and regulations in the near future to simplify business operations in the industry, and (b) regulations on content that can be carried across different multiple platforms?

In this respect, I would also like to ask IMDA to review the possible market failure or issues with lack of competition which results in Singaporeans being taken hostage to pay for expensive, exclusive sports content. The English Premier League saga has gone on for some time, and cross-carriage does not address high costs for content. We were very lucky with the last-minute agreement for Mediacorp to screen the Olympics. The sentiments evoked by Joseph Schooling's win would not have been the same if Singaporeans did not have access to the "live" screening.

As older sectors, such as marine and oil and gas start to slow down, we must identify and cultivate new engines of growth. And I am confident that the infocomm media sector has the potential to be one of them.

I am heartened that industry development will be a focus for IMDA because this will bring great benefit to Singapore, as it emphasises on talent, research, innovation and enterprise. To begin with, IMDA aims to equip Singaporeans with the skills to thrive in a digital future and drive the domestic economy by promoting digital connectivity and creativity.

It is important to note that in terms of its industry development focus, the priorities of IMDA are to grow the infocomm media sector, foster a stronger culture of creating and building, building a future-ready Singapore Core for infocomm and media, strengthening Singapore's connectivity and harnessing data as a competitive advantage. I believe that these priorities will, in part, help to create a stronger pipeline of Singapore content. And we recently saw with the right dedication and nurturing of talent, Singapore was placed on the global sporting map at the Olympics. And I am confident that with the right development of local talent and content in the infocomm media sector, IMDA can nurture a world-class talent pool for the global media landscape.

In terms of opportunities that this convergence creates, I look forward to hearing what plans IMDA has in rolling out some of the projects that leverage synergies across the infocomm and media sectors.

Having the right regulatory environment alone is not enough. To develop the industry in-depth and to allow Singapore to leverage all of the opportunities that the convergence of infocomm and media presents, we must also have the right supply of resources, that is, talent and human capital, to help create a specialised sector and to support its expansion.

At the moment, we do not have a critical mass of professionals in this sector to support this scale of industry development, and I would like to hear from the Minister how IMDA plans to grow more infocomm media professionals for future demand. For those with the potential to switch to this field, how can we attract them and develop their skills and competencies in this area? How will these be done differently under IMDA as compared to the times when IDA and MDA were separate entities? Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to continue in Malay.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The restructuring efforts being done by the Government in the infocomm and media sectors as well as in the application of technology towards the creation of a Smart Nation are essential steps to not only adapt to a changing world but also for us to prepare for the future. They clearly show a change in the Government's approach to achieve outcomes that would further benefit Singapore.

The establishment of IMDA is a welcome move, in view of the many changes that have occurred in the global technology landscape. IMDA is a new agency resulting from the restructuring of IDA and MDA in order to support the development of the Infocomm Media 2025 Plan. Both sectors, infocomm and media, are increasingly converging at the global level into one huge platform. Therefore, this amalgamation will definitely open new opportunities and, at the same time, present new challenges.

We are aware that, just like the more traditional sectors, for instance marine, oil and gas, which are among the pillars of Singapore's economy, we need to identify and develop new growth sectors. In this aspect, I am confident that the infocomm media sector is one of the sectors with a bright future for Singapore. This sector promises a huge potential that can contribute towards Singapore's economy and provide our people with better job opportunities and attractive career prospects.

One clear benefit is that service providers and companies that previously dealt with IDA and MDA separately can now deal with a single agency only. This will further facilitate the development of this industry because it will make dealings easier and provide a more conducive enforcement environment.

Nonetheless, the overall functions of IMDA need to be explained more clearly. For instance, will it supervise the regulation of media content and will changes be made to the regulations since the same content can be published on various platforms?

Even so, I believe that IMDA's priorities are to focus on the growth of the infocomm media sector and to develop a Singaporean culture that is more prepared to deal with changes in this sector. It will prepare our citizens with relevant skills for the digital future, including in terms of appropriate media and digital content.

In terms of prospects and opportunities arising from this amalgamation of agencies, I look forward to the details of IMDA's plans for projects that will make the sector flourish further. In terms of expertise and talent, it is also important to let us know about the plans to develop suitable manpower and the strategies that will be adopted, through IMDA.

(In English): I look forward to hearing from IMDA about their exciting plans and evolution in policy to bring Singapore in line with the latest developments in due time. I am certain that this streamlining and convergence will bring about a bright future for the infocomm media sector in Singapore. This is a sector that, if well-developed and managed, could become a key enabler of Singapore's growth moving forward. Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill.

Debate resumed.

6.48 pm

Mr Png Eng Huat (Hougang): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Digital Age has certainly arrived. The convergence of infocomm and media sectors in the digital realm has transformed the way we live, interact, learn, teach, travel, shop and more.

When I first dabbled in digital technology more than a quarter century ago, I would have not imagined that the painfully slow 14.4-kilobit dial-up modem that I had could transform the Internet to be so pervasive years later, and that the clunky cellular phone in my hand could stream "live" video and do so much more now.

The author of the article, "The Dawning of the Digital Age", wrote, "We are no longer on the cusp of it. We have all – to a greater or lesser degree – become Digital Citizens, which means we are both witnessing and participating in seismic change which permeates every aspect of our daily lives from work to play, education to commerce."

If we look around us today, we are certainly experiencing a seismic change in the way we live our lives with the advent of the digital age. Information, media, and services are readily available anytime, anywhere and on demand.

The formation of the IMDA, as stated in its press release, is to recognise the importance of the digital economy and seize new opportunities. The authority will regulate a converged infocomm media sector and safeguard the interests of consumers as well.

The digital world moves at an unprecedented speed. Indeed, we must seize new opportunities lest we be left behind. But we must also regulate the digital economy with a light touch so that innovations and creativity can thrive and grow in a fast moving and ever-changing environment.

I wish to seek some clarifications and make some suggestions on the Bill.

Although section 12(1) of the Bill does not preclude the Minister from appointing suitable candidates from the information, communications and media industry to be members of the authority, I am of the opinion that such appointments should be seriously considered. This is important because the authority must possess the depth to understand the opportunities lurking in the converged infocomm media sector, and to enact laws and regulations not just to accommodate the evolving sector, but to accelerate the development of the sector as well. IMDA has regulatory and promotional functions. How the authority intends to carry out both functions in a converged infocomm media sector, where change is the new normal, will depend on the members it appoints.

The Infocomm Media 2025 plan states that it wishes to "nurture an infocomm media ecosystem that encourages risk-taking and continuous experimentation". Perhaps, IMDA should also take some risk and experiment with the composition of its members, so that the voices of practitioners in sectors like publishing, video and film production and online news media, are not just heard but represented in the regulatory decision-making process.

Next, in terms of support for local content creators and to promote Singapore as a place to create content, I would like to seek clarification on whether the funding model for these initiatives would be different under the merged and enlarged entity as opposed to when MDA was a separate agency.

Last, I urge IMDA to look into enabling more public-private partnerships (PPPs) so as to encourage and ensure contents with little or no viable commercial values, but of immense public interest, are made available for the benefits of the masses. An example of such contents will be the "live" broadcast of the Olympics.

Under sections 5 and 6 of the Bill, the authority has to facilitate "the provision of an adequate range of media services that serves the interests of the general public" and has the power to "collaborate with other organisations, in or outside Singapore, for the purpose of promoting information and communications services and media services".

Singaporeans almost missed out watching history being made "live" from Rio de Janeiro last Saturday, when Joseph Schooling won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the country, had the impasse in the broadcast rights for the Rio Olympics not been resolved at the very last minute.

The reality is that Singapore has a small domestic market. The decision to have "live" broadcast of events like the Olympics cannot be solely based on commercial consideration. This Government has continued to support Formula One year after year. Can it not do something for events that happen only once in every four years, and of which Singaporean athletes are participating, and winning as well?

I urge IMDA to look into facilitating more PPPs in bringing services and contents that may not attract viable commercial interests but may bring immeasurable benefits to the nation as a whole. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Thomas Chua.

6.53 pm

Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng (Nominated Member): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Deputy Speaker, IDA and MDA will be re-organised as IMDA and GovTech, and I support this restructuring which aligns with the development of the environment. Moving ahead, the two agencies will have two distinct roles. IMDA will serve the public at large and the private sector, while the GovTech will focus on the public sector.

The restructuring of these two agencies reflects the industry developments. Emerging technologies are promoting cross-border collaboration; the interaction between different areas and different industries opens up new opportunities and business models. Businesses should pay attention to these trends and break out of traditional mindsets and concept in order to be more aligned with clients and markets.

Singapore's e-Government capabilities have been consistently ranked among the top in the world. However, the development of e-commerce lags far behind that of e-Government. According to the Global Information Technology Report 2016, our e-Government services rank No 2 globally, but we only rank 24 in business-to-consumer Internet use, with capacity for innovation ranking 19.

The disparity in these statistics evidently show us that Singapore's IT standards are unquestionable, and that e-Government applications have become very successful, but somehow the development of e-business did not keep up with that of e-Government. Actually, Singapore has already achieved very high standards of infrastructure and application frameworks in the e-Government space. The challenges we need to overcome are how to bring this into the business arena and let businesses leverage existing Government resources. Through restructuring the Government agencies, getting IMDA to coordinate the infocommunications for the public and private sectors and digital media applications, this could hopefully be an instrumental change to improve Singapore's overall information and communications (ICT) applications for business.

Getting one Government agency to handle overall coordination in a particular area to improve efficiency and delivery levels has seen successful precedents. I sincerely hope that IMDA could drive the entire industry development. At the same time, I hope that IMDA and GovTech could work closely together, sharing resources, thereby bringing the advancements and experience of e-Government into the business arena. They should not work in silos just because they are different Government agencies. In the eyes of the people, there is only one Government, bound together for good or ill. It is essential to strengthen mutual coordination and synergies in order to achieve prosperity for the nation and for society.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Kok Heng Leun.

6.57 pm

Mr Kok Heng Leun (Nominated Member): Mr Deputy Speaker, as we move forward with the Media 2025 plan, it is heartening to note that the new IMDA aims to develop these sectors through, I quote from the Ministry of Communications and Information's (MCI's) press release, "an emphasis on talent, research, innovation and enterprise". The infocomm and media sectors are highly dependent on creative talent. I believe we can all agree that creativity requires the desire to question and to go beyond comfort zones and tried and tested methods. MDA has recognised this and, as such, its functions, as stipulated in its Act, chapter 172, clause 11(b) states that it is to encourage, promote and facilitate the industry.

Mr Deputy Speaker, with regard to the new IMDA, my question to the Ministry is whether the new entity will be continuing this nurturing role of promoting creativity. I ask this because I noted that the new Bill states in clause 5(1) that the authority's function includes, I quote, "to promote the efficiency, competitiveness (including internationally) and the development of its information, communications and media industry in Singapore". The omission of the term "to encourage" differs from MDA's stated function. As such, I would like the Ministry to clarify if the new IMDA will take a step back on encouraging the industry's creativity and will focus instead on its regulatory functions in a bid to promote efficiency and competitiveness. Will regulatory and economic concerns override the need to protect the creative space and instead of encouraging creative development may potentially hamper it for market purposes? It will be beneficial for all industry players, audiences and this House alike if the Ministry can clarify how IMDA will regulate and encourage self-regulation, whereas encouraging industry development is predicated on creativity and content creation.

Deputy Speaker, as MDA has done, I have no doubt that the newly merged IMDA will work towards ensuring that infocomm and media services are maintained at an impeccable standard and present high-quality, balanced and diverse subject matters, inline with public interest and good taste.

At the same time, as a creative maker, I am concerned as to how responses to creative works can be subjective, as evidenced by cases, such as the recent Les Miserables, a comic moment could be misconstrued by a few complainants as offensive.

A minority group's complaint could thus easily override and overrule the silent majority who were not offended. In such a situation, a clear and transparent procedure within IMDA for dealing with such disputes is so important to ensure that all voices are heard and identified so that the content provider can adequately respond. Therefore, I would like the Ministry to elaborate on these operating procedures, such that creative work is protected and both content providers and complainers can openly dialogue and find common ground in a transparent way.

Deputy Speaker, I believe we all acknowledge the importance of positive engagement between the Government and the public. Constant open dialogue between stakeholders help to ensure accountability and transparency as well as to encourage mediation and negotiation. This entails that a clear procedure of appeal be set in place. As this will be under the purview of the new IMDA, I would like to seek clarification from the Ministry on this process of appeal so that content providers have ample time to respond and negotiate.

To take a recent example, the case in point was Newsha Tavakolian's exhibition "I Know Why the Rebel Sings" presented under the open programme of the Singapore International Festival of Arts. The application for an Arts Entertainment Licence was submitted within the application period and yet it was only three days prior to the show that the organisers were told to remove a number of photographs found to be objectionable. Clearly, a three-day lead time gave little room for negotiation and appeal. And is it turned out, such missed opportunities for engagement and dialogue ended in media furore and subsequent unhappiness, both of which could have been avoided.

Given that creative work would undoubtedly illicit subjective responses, I believe that the clarity of the procedures of negotiation and appeal would go a long way in preventing such situations and I urge the Ministry to relook the procedures as part of shaping the roles and responsibilities of the new IMDA.

Deputy Speaker, as a nation, we are encountering new sets of challenges and opportunities with media convergence. IMDA is well-placed to spur the development of our infocomm and media industries so that Singapore can continue to be a media hub and creative city. Yet, as IMDA focuses on its regulatory functions, I believe it is also essential for the newly merged entity to ensure that the space for creativity is not stifled. It would, hence, be important for the Ministry to clarify how it aims to do both regulation and promotion as well as provide a transparent, accountable procedure where regulations and appeals are concerned. With that, Deputy Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Darryl David.

7.04 pm

Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio): Deputy Speaker, in early 2012, the then Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, or MICA, appointed the Media Convergence Review panel to study how a converged media space would impact Singapore as a whole and the type of regulatory framework that would be best suited in the new converged media space.

One of the key factors then that led to the appointment of the panel was the increasing speed of how previously distinct media platforms were being merged and how the merger of these platforms was changing the way that content was being distributed and consumed.

Four years later, in 2016, this convergence has only intensified, and the setting up of IMDA is thus timely as the proliferation of Internet-enabled devices and the digitisation of media have enabled content to be consumed in novel and innovative ways.

Take, for example, the latest mobile app, Pokemon Go!, that has taken the world by storm and was launched recently in Singapore. I am sure many Members here have their own encounters in their constituencies, of groups of people coming together almost in a zombie-like daze; and even some Members here might have evolved into pretty good Pokemon hunters themselves. But my point is this. Pokemon Go's augmented reality engine allows players to interact with in-game characters based on their geographical location in real time, which further blurs the line between digital content and real life.

With Pokemon Go! being a massive global hit now, more app developers will emulate the likeness of that app and create more digital content that uses what we call augmented reality. So, would IMDA consider extending its regulatory framework to cover these mobile apps so that we could avoid the possible downsides of some of these apps? Or should we encourage and support our homegrown mobile app developers to tap on augmented reality technology to create the next Pokemon Go! even as we are aware of the potential issues that such apps might cause?

Sir, this somewhat illustrates the paradoxical and complex role that IMDA has to play, which is balancing between regulating infocomm and media content and fostering the creative development of local infocomm and media companies.

From an ontological perspective, having a regulator which is also supposed to encourage the flourishing and development of what it regulates is inherently contradictory. So, how can IMDA ensure that it will play these dual roles impartially?

I am sure that the regulation department would be a separate entity from the department that looks after the creative development of infocomm and media. However, how can we ensure that there will be no self-censorship from the creative department when they would or could be subconsciously toeing the line set by their regulation colleagues? I think these are important details that IMDA needs to flesh out.

Sir, the next area I would like to speak on is the development of infocomm and media talent, and before I continue, I would like to declare my interest as part of the management team in the School of Design of Temasek Polytechnic.

Having spent a substantial amount of my career in the media and education industries, I am of the opinion that the best way to foster creative infocomm and media industry development is to ensure a pipeline of high-calibre talent supply. As the agency now responsible for developing the infocomm and media landscape of Singapore, it is thus paramount that IMDA has a comprehensive roadmap in place to attract and develop talent.

Sir, the infocomm and media industries typically reward skills-mastery over academic qualifications. The notion of college dropouts who go on to create successful multi-million-dollar Internet companies might seem like a cliche but, in truth, there are many such stories. Likewise, there are also many infocomm and media professionals who have succeeded with a diploma, and not a degree.

Teaching and training talent are as important as attracting talent to enter the industry and I believe that we need to ensure that our schools and training providers recruit good educators from the field to train the next generation of infocomm and media professionals.

Although our post-secondary educational institutions, or PSEIs, are increasingly working closely with industry experts to bring their knowledge to the classrooms, they continue to use academic qualifications as one of the primary employment criteria for lecturers and educators.

As mentioned earlier, the infocomm and media industries reward talent based on abilities and skills, and not academic qualifications. So, using academic qualifications as a key evaluation tool to decide on whether a particular talent would be employed, and which scheme or career track they would enter into is counter to what is valued by these industries.

Sir, in March 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean announced that there would be a common career track in Government Ministries for degree and non-degree holders. While many Ministries and Government agencies have combined their two tracks, I believe that this has yet to be the case in some of our PSEIs in terms of hiring educators.

During the earlier debate on the SkillsFuture Singapore Agency Bill, Acting Minister Ong Ye Kung talked about how competencies and skills matter and how organisations should hire based on competencies and skills, and not just academic results. I wholeheartedly agree with the Acting Minister.

So, I hope therefore, that MCI can work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to expedite the process of combining the career paths and compensation packages of the two tracks in these PSEIs to facilitate the hiring of talented and capable infocomm and media professionals who actually display competencies and skills. This hiring right will boost the quality and training and education of infocomm and media students, which will, in turn, help strengthen the output in the infocomm and media industries. With that, Sir, I conclude my speech in support of the Bill.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Ganesh Rajaram.

7.10 pm

Mr Ganesh Rajaram (Nominated Member): Deputy Speaker, Sir, firstly, let me declare my interests as a Board Member of MDA. I also run the Asian business of a multinational media company, FremantleMedia.

Sir, I speak in support of the Info-Communications Media Development of Singapore Bill and its related amendments as we live in a converged world and standalone charters governing linear and digital environments are no longer relevant. This Bill and related amendments will be crucial in the evolution of our media landscape and our collective Smart Nation ambitions.

It is also an opportune time to relook and enhance the functions and powers of IMDA to better suit the converged media landscape of today and the future and review the areas where we are found wanting. Sir, in light of this, I would like to make a few suggestions and observations which I hope the Ministry will take into consideration when fine-tuning the details of the Bill.

Firstly, as a regulator, IMDA will have to contend with a plethora of new media entities, some existing but many that are still on drawing boards and others that do not yet exist. This will require IMDA to have the capability to react and regulate with increased speed and efficiency. Let me illustrate this point with a recent example which I feel should be a benchmark of sorts when approaching similar scenarios.

In January this year, global online content giant Netflix launched in Singapore. As an aspiring Smart Nation and arguably one of the world's most connected cities, it was important to attract online leaders like Netflix, not just to launch their service here, but also to set up their Asian base on our shores. With Netflix, the biggest issue facing regulators all across Asia has been the issue of censorship. Netflix's biggest attractions are its critically-acclaimed original productions. Titles like "Orange is the New Black", "Narco" and "Marco Polo" are meant for mature audiences; and under local censorship guidelines, would be restricted to Restricted 21 (R21), or audiences over 21 years of age. Some of our neighbours like Indonesia and Vietnam had initially banned Netflix from operating in their territories and would only issue an operating licence if their censorship fears are allayed.

In my view, MDA's stand on Netflix should be commended. Early last month, MDA introduced a new regulation which said that online content providers – the likes of Netflix and others like Viu, which offers Korean content, and even Singapore's very own Toggle, just to name a few – must provide age check firewalls for R21 content. This marks a watershed in media regulations in Singapore as it acknowledges the fact that, in this new digital world, you cannot have blanket censorship laws to govern the on-demand world. The on-demand universe is very much a "lean forward" as opposed to a "lean back" experience, where much of the responsibility and choice lie solely with the consumer.

The response of MDA was a measured one in that it not only allowed Netflix to offer the programmes that were most sought after, but also created a level playing field with the rest of the pay television market by instituting the same age check firewalls that it already has for R21 content on our pay platforms like Starhub and Singtel MIO.

This is the new normal. More platforms like Netflix will be hitting our shores before we know it. The likes of Amazon have already launched in many markets across the globe. IMDA will be faced with these imminent launches and similar pragmatic approaches would be needed.

Another more recent example is the Pokemon Go! game, which my colleague Darryl David alluded to. I think most of us in this House are familiar with this interactive augmented reality game that has taken Singapore and the rest of the world by storm. While personally I have yet to try the game – for fear that I would get addicted to it – in my household, the game is a hit not just with my 16-year-old son but with my wife, who has never been a fan of any game, virtual or physical.

From a regulatory standpoint, again, MDA has approached the phenomenon in a calibrated, prudent manner. Despite the initial furore in some quarters predicting that the game would be banned by authorities because of safety concerns, the game was launched with advice from the Police on personal safety and issues like trespass. This is not any different from the approach taken in most countries or even the alerts built in within the game itself. Again, and increasingly, consumers have to accept responsibility for playing the game. The reality is that more games like Pokemon Go! will be coming on stream, and much of the responsibility has to fall on the consumers and not the regulators like MDA.

I, for one, have already seen positives from the latest Pokemon craze. Over the last couple of weeks, I have never seen as many people gathering together or walking around playgrounds, parks and shopping malls. The game has made people get out of their homes, interact with others, particularly when they are exchanging tips on where and how to catch a Snorlax or Exeggutor ‒ forgive me, I do not know what it is, my wife put it there ‒ and it is clearly contributing to a healthier, outdoor lifestyle which can only be good for Singapore. These examples clearly illustrate that IMDA has to be equipped and prepared to deal with these issues in a fast and expedient manner.

However, Sir, there are also areas where I feel IMDA can take a more proactive role. One example is the recent issue over the securing of television broadcast rights for the Olympics that are currently being held in Rio. I am sure most of us in this House have been cheering on our Team Singapore athletes, such as Feng Tian Wei in table tennis, Quah Zheng Wen and Joseph Schooling in swimming, or Jasmine Ser in shooting, just to name a few.

Last week, the family and I stayed up to watch Schooling go head-to-head against Michael Phelps in the heats of the 100-metre Butterfly, and I was watching him again on Mediacorp's Toggle in the office when he clocked the fastest time in the semi-finals. We also watched Joseph make history in the pool by claiming our first-ever Olympic Gold!

For those of us who watched the race, seeing a Singaporean from our tiny nation take on and beat the world's best brought about such great pride and joy and unity in spirit as Singaporeans. These are emotions you cannot put a value to. This is not just about sport at the highest level. This is about bringing people together, building national pride and identity among both sport and non-sport fans.

Now, imagine what would have happened if we were deprived of watching this "live". We would have missed seeing a Singaporean beat the world's best swimmer and greatest Olympian of all time, missed seeing him touch the wall for a new Olympic record, missed seeing him receive the Gold medal, missed seeing our flag flying high, ahead of others, at the world's greatest sporting games, and missed hearing our National Anthem being played for the first time in Olympic history.

It is extremely puzzling to me that a deal to broadcast the Olympics in Singapore could not be reached over almost a three-year period, and this was achieved only at the eleventh hour. Many of us watched Joseph's dad, Colin Schooling's emotional interview right after watching his son win the Olympic Gold on "live" TV. As did hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans all across the island, the raw pride and joy were heard and felt across the island, not just among Singaporeans, but by many others, too, who live and work in Singapore.

So, why were we just hours away from not having access to a "live" telecast in a country that positions itself to the world as a modern, connected city, a "Smart Nation"? High content costs were cited as the main reason. "It's a commercial decision", some said. As someone who works in the industry and who has had the experience of being both a buyer and a seller of such content and rights, I would like to very politely disagree with the reasoning put out, and the manner and approach to securing the 2016 Rio Olympics television rights.

Content costs, particularly sports rights, are expensive and have been for a while now. This is a global trend, and one that is not unique to Singapore. But the Rio Olympics, or any Olympics for that matter, carry a significance beyond a commercial price point. Its value lies in that cloud of pride and joy that still hovers over the island. We felt it in this House even yesterday. This is a sense of unity and spirit of invincibility of superhero proportions – that you can do anything if you work hard enough and persevere; that you could be the only person in the world to outswim your childhood hero and the most bemedalled Olympian in history. Why else do we really spend millions on world-class sporting facilities? Why bother funding sporting associations, sportsmen and sportswomen? Why do we hire the best coaches and sporting administrators in the world?

If we say that we support Team Singapore and that we have built world-class facilities in support of our sporting dream, does this not extend to creating access to their moment of reckoning and glory for Singaporeans to support and celebrate? What if we had missed out on arguably Singapore's most significant 50 seconds of sporting history as it unfolded? So, when there was almost a three-year impasse between the negotiating parties, why did MDA not step in in the interest of the nation?

Singapore broadcasters have spent hundreds of millions of dollars so that we can watch Manchester United on TV, week-in, week-out. The rights to watch the Rio Olympics was a miniscule fraction of that amount for Singapore's fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters to watch their family members – the nation's best sportsmen and women on the world stage. Perhaps, we can learn from our immediate neighbour, Malaysia, and how they approached securing the rights for the Olympics.

Radio Televisyen Malaysia, Malaysia's national free-to-air broadcaster; ASTRO, Malaysia's biggest cable broadcaster; and Telekom Malaysia – not just a telco but they also run an Internet platform – all came together to create a TV pool. Each of these parties paid an equal one-third share of the costs. I am told that even with the split, it would be difficult for them to recoup their investment. But it was done in the spirit of national interest and they secured the rights in good time to be able to publish schedules in advance, as well as sell sponsorship and airtime around the Olympics to help recoup part of the cost.

But after what happened with the TV rights for the Rio Olympics in Singapore, it is obvious that this cannot be left to chance. If Singapore broadcasters will not work together in the spirit of national interest, then this Bill must include safeguards to ensure that this never happens again. It is the very least the Government can do to honour the years of sacrifices made by our national sportsmen and women and their families.

In fact, a strong case can be made for the Olympic Games' telecast rights in Singapore to be funded by IMDA as part of the PSB funds that are disbursed annually. The Olympics will certainly generate far more ratings and viewership numbers than most of our current PSB programmes. And, more importantly, create a sense of unity and national pride that is not tangible, and these values more than qualify as being of public service.

The next summer Olympic Games in 2020 will be held in Tokyo, in four years' time. With Tokyo just an hour ahead of us, most of the events will be telecast during our prime time, making it even more accessible to a bigger audience in Singapore. Having witnessed the impact of the Rio Olympics on Singaporeans of all walks of life, I would urge IMDA to secure these rights as soon as possible.

Sir, that brings me to an issue that I have raised before – transparency in public service-funded initiatives. Our national free-to-air broadcaster, Mediacorp, today outsources 40% of public service-funded projects to independent production companies in the private sector. There is also the contestable funding initiative that is open to all platforms in Singapore, as long as they make available their content to the public for free.

In a recent dialogue session with independent producers, some of the feedback centred on inconsistencies in commissioning policies, particularly with cable operator StarHub. There have also been calls from the industry for several years now, asking for more transparency with regard to the quantum and projects. There is much expectation that with the establishment of IMDA, the agency can now finally make public, projects that are commissioned under the PSB framework, as well as the contestable fund initiative. This should include details like genres, durations and production budgets.

This is a move in the right direction and will create more transparency and trust between broadcasters and production entities and build a more balanced and robust competitive environment that can only be good for the marketplace. It will definitely put paid to nagging rumours about broadcasters and their perceived favouring of inhouse producers vis-a-vis independent production entities. With more players entering the market because of digital platforms, transparency and openness are essential to creating more quality content and a more market-friendly Government positioning.

This brings me to my final point on the high-value freelance community in the media industry, and the role IMDA can play to regulate and foster growth. The media manpower sector has an extremely large pool of freelance talents. There are thousands of freelances employed in the media sector with most companies employing them, as many of our SMEs are not capable of carrying big overheads. These talents span the gamut of the media sector, from film and video, broadcasting, publishing, online media to games.

Beyond supporting local platforms, the freelance community is also very involved in big-scale regional and global productions, such as Amazing Race Asia and Masterchef Asia, as well as several feature films. We expect to see this pool grow as many of the new generation of media practitioners prefer to work on their own schedules on a project-by-project basis.

MDA and the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) have made much progress in working with the freelance community. Programmes, such as the Attach-and-Train programme, which subsidises employers to pay 70% of freelancers' pay for six months, have helped provide some stability to the community.

There are still, however, serious issues confronting the community, such as insurance coverage for freelancers. I am heartened to hear that a few of my colleagues in this House have been working tirelessly with the freelance community, as well as agencies like MDA, WDA and the NTUC to find viable solutions.

Sir, there is a pressing need for these issues to be fast-tracked and to be dealt with in a holistic manner. I would like to suggest that IMDA facilitate the setting up of a guild that would champion the interests of the freelance community. Singapore is too small, in my view, to have separate bodies representing writers, producers or camera crew. A media freelancers' guild would address issues, such as insurance, talent standards, payment, pipelines and structure. These have all been the bane of the freelance community for many years now, and IMDA has to urgently help find solutions. Resolution of these issues would also help Singapore as a regional and global production hub, as international productions need a vibrant and quality freelance community to help support their projects.

Sir, in summary, the establishment of IMDA is a timely move and will help Singapore better address the many challenges that convergence throws up. However, it is also an opportune time to relook and address some of the issues that have been around for a while now, as I have stated in my speech. I would like to end my speech, Sir, by reaffirming my support for this Bill.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Louis Ng.

7.28 pm

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): Sir, I welcome this move to better regulate the infocomm media sector, spur growth in the sector and, ultimately, create a globally-competitive infocomm media ecosystem for Singapore.

I am particularly keen on IMDA's mandate to strengthen safeguards for consumers, highlighted in clause 61, as ordinary users are exposed to greater risks with the increasing use of infocomm platforms.

I recall 15 years ago, when Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) was first started, we bought a 56-kilobit dial-up modem and struggled to get connected to the Internet. Little did I anticipate that 15 years later, I can use a smartphone to take high definition videos and, within seconds, send it to anyone anywhere in the world. Indeed, it is an understatement that the Internet has transformed our lives for the better.

However, technology is a double-edged sword and I hope that while the agency promotes the use of the Internet and e-commerce, it can be accompanied by an equal measure of education on the risks they present. It should inform consumers on the rise in phishing and malware attacks.

A case emerged in June this year involving a phishing email which pretended to be sent from the Development Bank of Singapore. When the attached zip file was opened, the malware it contains would immediately infect the customer's computer or device and steal its login and authorisation details.

For many Singaporeans, they may fall prey to this tactic. I have heard many stories from my residents who have been misled by fraudsters to share sensitive personal data or unwittingly clicked on links which downloaded malware. With the pervasive use of data, I welcome efforts to continue promoting and regulating data protection through PDPC.

In this regard, could the Minister clarify what further efforts will be put in place by the new agency with regard to the protection of personal data? Will the Minister step up outreach efforts to the public and provide details on the methods it will employ?

Lastly, some of the functions of the agency include facilitating an adequate range of media services that serve the interest of the general public, ensuring that media services are provided at a high standard in all respects, particularly in respect of the quality, balance and range of subject matter of their content and ensuring that the content of media services is not against public interest, public order or national harmony, and does not offend against good taste or decency. In essence, the authority will decide on behalf of the public, amongst others, the range, quality and content of media services.

Can the Minister clarify how the authority will make these decisions and whether more public consultations can be conducted to ensure we better understand the interest of the general public? Sir, these concerns notwithstanding, I stand in support of the Bill.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Minister Yaacob Ibrahim.

7.30 pm

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, let me thank all the hon Members who have spoken in support of the Bill and for their questions and comments.

First, Mr Darryl David asked about the dual role of IMDA in terms of infocomm media industry development and regulation. Sir, regulation and industry development are often two sides of the same coin. There can be significant synergies when a single organisation undertakes both regulation and industry development roles, as many of the policy trade-offs and discussions can take place concurrently.

Today, IDA and MDA are both regulators and developers of the infocomm and media sectors respectively, and we have found that this approach works well and allows us to achieve an appropriate balance between development and regulation. We do in fact have a process in place for appointing diverse representatives from the industry, so that their perspectives are incorporated into decisions, while at the same time being mindful of potential conflicts of interest. A good example is Mr Ganesh Rajaram himself who is from the private sector sitting on the MDA Board. So we remain open to the representatives that we will seek to sit on our boards so that our boards can be dynamic and timely in terms of their response.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad has asked for further elaboration and examples of how IMDA will develop the infocomm media industry. IDA and MDA are already working together to look into possible initiatives that will build on IDA's and MDA's strengths and will benefit the infocomm media industry as a whole.

Mr Darryl David asked about our approach to Pokemon Go! and other cutting-edge mobile apps. I think we would be quite circumspect about expanding IMDA's regulatory ambit without being clear about our real concerns, and whether there are other levers to manage these disamenities or undesirable outcomes. So, the advisory from the Police is about the right response at this point in time.

We must be mindful about not unnecessarily dampening the spirit of innovation that is so critical to the development of innovative products and services in this sector. The integration of IDA Labs, the Games Solution Centre and Creators' Space that I mentioned in my earlier speech is precisely intended to help develop exciting new ideas, such as the next Pokemon Go!. There are many more projects in the pipeline. IDA's iSPRINT is today a very successful programme that helps SMEs raise their productivity through investments in infocomm. We can extend iSPRINT to the media SMEs to help them use infocomm technologies to raise productivity and grow faster. We will share more details of these efforts in the coming months.

I echo Mr Ganesh Rajaram's comments that freelancers are very important in the media industry. That is why MDA has been with the Association of Independent Producers to encourage the adoption of industry best practices, such as including freelancers' insurance as a qualifying cost item in all PSB-funded productions in MDA's master agreement with Mediacorp. Moving forward, IMDA will also look into ways to support freelancers better, including the Member's suggestion of setting up a freelancers' guild.

Besides developing talent, amidst changing media consumption habits, we must continue to have good quality local programmes for Singaporeans to enjoy, build strong capabilities in the production of these local content, and develop effective channels that stay relevant. IMDA will continue to encourage this through PSB. PSB funds do not just fund Mediacorp programmes, but also support the growth of the independent media sector through outsourcing.

Mr Ganesh Rajaram commented on the importance of transparency in PSB funding. Sir, MDA has in place today a framework to ensure that the PSB funds are well-spent. We conduct regular audits of PSB funding expenditure to ensure that the funding agreements are adhered to, and that proper processes and internal controls are in place. Since 2013, we have set aside some PSB funding for independent producers. The PSB Contestable Fund Scheme, which was mentioned by Mr Ganesh Rajaram, is also open to all local production companies to enable the commissioning and development of innovative content with public service value.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked how IMDA will encourage infocomm media professionals to develop their skills and competencies. Sir, I announced the new TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) at this year's Committee of Supply to develop the infocomm manpower capabilities. Through TeSA, which is an initiative under SkillsFuture, we can better plan, coordinate and enable the development of ICT professionals. We have made it a point to partner major employers for TeSA, because employers must buy into our efforts to build a strong Singaporean Core. There has been considerable progress since my announcement of TeSA in April this year. In fact, earlier this month, IDA launched an industry consultation for its first draft of the ICT Skills Framework under TeSA. IDA has also been engaging key industry players at the senior management level and they have expressed strong support for TeSA.

Besides TeSA, IMDA will also launch several exciting projects to nurture a generation of digital natives in time to come. For example, the existing ICT Learning Roadmap will be augmented to include key media domains, such as storytelling, into an Infocomm Media Learning Roadmap. This roadmap will encourage Singaporeans to develop skills that are valuable in today's digital age.

IMDA will also be developing the Media Skills Framework for key job roles, which include current and emerging skills maps that indicate competencies for each occupational level and career progression pathways. This will help to encourage employers to hire talent based on skills and competencies, rather than academic qualifications.

On this point, I thank Mr Darryl David for his suggestion to look into harmonising degree and non-degree employment practices for infocomm media professionals. We will work closely with the relevant agencies, such as MOM and MOE, as was suggested.

Sir, I would also like to thank Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Mr Ganesh Rajaram, Mr Louis Ng and Mr Kok Heng Leun for their questions and comments about arts and content regulation, including content classification policy. Our regulatory framework in this area has always been guided by three fundamental principles: protect the young while providing more choices for adults; reflect community values and support racial and religious harmony; and safeguard national and public interest.

These principles still remain relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape. IMDA will continue to regulate content, while ensuring that guidelines are in line with community values and social norms. The relevant regulatory provisions will be found in subject-specific legislation, such as the Broadcasting Act, the Films Act, the Undesirable Publications Act and the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.

I would like to make a few points on suggestions raised by the Nominated Member Mr Kok Heng Leun. I wish to assure Mr Kok that IMDA will continue to take seriously its role in promoting creativity and content creation, as has been done by MDA thus far. As a content regulator, MDA will take into account community values before deciding on the classification, in order to strike a balance between the artistic merits of the performance and broader social norms. In so doing, IMDA will be as transparent as possible.

For the Les Miserables example raised, I have already given my written response to the Nominated Member Mr Kok Heng Leun's Parliamentary Question. In short, MDA reviewed the feedback and established that the organiser had failed to inform MDA of a particular scene that had an impact on the classification rating. This was conveyed to the organiser, who decided to remove the scene on its own volition.

MDA also strives to inform organisers of its decision early, once all the supporting information and materials are received and processed. In a small number of cases, more time may be needed to assess the content due to its sensitive or controversial nature. In the photography exhibition "I Know Why The Rebel Sings", MDA informed the organiser of its concerns as soon as MDA determined, after consultation, that the exhibition contained photographs of members from a terrorist-linked organisation who had committed acts of violence to further their cause, such as suicide bombing. MDA then conveyed clearly to the organiser that Singapore takes a firm stand against extremism and would not allow photographs that undermine public order or national interest or security to be displayed.

Mr Louis Ng shared his concerns on the protection of personal data. We recognise that many companies collect and hold personal data, and it is important that they put in place measures to protect their customers' personal data. PDPC has undertaken many outreach activities to promote awareness of personal data protection in Singapore. PDPC has also released a number of advisory guidelines, such as on securing personal data on electronic medium, so that companies have practical tips and resources to help them adopt better ICT security measures.

Moving ahead, PDPC will update their existing guidelines and also issue new guidelines and resources to help our companies, so that they can put in place better measures to protect their customers' personal data.

Mr Louis Ng also raised an important point about instances of Singaporeans falling prey to phishing and malware attacks. Raising awareness of cybersecurity and heightening Singaporeans' vigilance against online cybercrime is something that all of us have to work together to achieve. IMDA will play a role as part of its outreach efforts, alongside partners, such as the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, schools, and our law enforcement agencies.

Finally, I thank Mr Zaqy Mohamad and Mr Ganesh Rajaram for commenting on the process of securing coverage of major sporting events, the Olympic Games being the topical case in point.

Sir, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth has stated that the decision on whether and how to broadcast the Olympic Games should remain a commercial one. I agree that the parties should aim to conclude their negotiations early, especially given the significant interest by our public. However, we cannot compel parties to reach a deal that does not make commercial sense, or which results in escalating content prices in the long run. And I take Mr Ganesh Rajaram's point that content prices will go up because it is in demand. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and MCI will continue to monitor the content market developments closely. Nevertheless, I am glad that, in the end, the parties eventually reached a deal that allowed Singaporeans to watch the Olympics "live", cheer our Team Singapore athletes on, and join in celebrating Joseph Schooling's historic achievement.

Sir, I mentioned in my earlier speech that IMDA will encourage greater sectoral innovation and transformation through leveraging infocomm media technologies. Logistics is one such industry that can greatly benefit from this effort. IMDA, together with SPRING Singapore, has started to explore ways to leverage technology to help streamline delivery schedules, thus reducing truck congestion at loading bays of retail malls and increasing the productivity of logistics service providers. This is currently being deployed at Tampines Mall, and initial results have been encouraging.

IMDA is also working with the Housing and Development Board to deploy federated parcel lockers in residential areas, to make it more convenient for consumers to receive their packages, and to improve productivity for last-mile delivery services. In addition, IMDA will also work with other agencies, including GovTech, to help businesses better leverage infocomm media technologies to transform – and I thank Mr Thomas Chua for raising this point.

Sir, I believe I have addressed the issues that have been raised by Members. I would like to thank them for their support. I am confident that IMDA will be a forward-looking organisation that will help Singapore and Singaporeans seize the exciting opportunities in the infocomm media sector through dynamic industry and manpower development initiatives, while safeguarding the interests of consumers and fostering pro-enterprise regulations.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.