Acknowledgement to the Chair

The Leader of the House (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien): Mdm Speaker, we have come to the end of this year's Budget and Committee of Supply (COS) debates. Please allow me to round up.

The Minister for Finance said in his Budget Statement that "Budget 2017 outlines how we can thrive in an uncertain and rapidly changing world." Over the past eight days, Members in this House debated how we could do this, and many asked pertinent questions about how we can pull together and move forward in challenging times.

Budget 2017 comes at a time when we must be prepared to deal with change and adapt. Businesses are bracing themselves for difficult economic headwinds. Our workers are concerned not just about the job situation in the immediate future, but also about longer-term prospects. With the Committee on the Future Economy's (CFE's) report still fresh on all our minds, it is no surprise that the Ministry of Manpower topped the list on total speech time for the cuts filed, followed closely by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of Education. Members devoted significant amounts of time scrutinising the CFE initiatives. Some asked how we can help our workers "Adapt and Grow" better, others asked how we can support our small and medium enterprises to digitalise, innovate and scale up globally to seize new opportunities. The attention on education and national development was also not unexpected. Members in this House rightly pointed out that preparing for the future economy does not only involve our businesses and workforce, but it also requires our young and our city to be resilient and future-ready.

Some Members reminded us that Singapore's future hinges not just on our jobs, the economy and our infrastructure. It is also about our people. In tough times, will we stand united as one or will we fracture into polarised communities? Do we have the courage to dream big and scale new heights or do we just settle for getting by? Will Singaporeans pause to lend a helping hand when we can, or will we leave others behind in pursuit of our own goals? How well we respond to the challenges and opportunities of the future is not just a matter of policies and incentives, but also a matter of "heart".

Some Members worried that the Public Service might have lost its heart. I certainly do not think so. From the Committee of Supply (COS) debate, it is evident that our Public Service is bound closely to the people it serves. Across the sectors, public servants are working hard to transform our economy, safeguard our security, protect our environment and build an inclusive society.

But the Government does not have all the answers, and we cannot steer this ship alone. We need businesses, unions, community organisations and individuals to work in partnership with one another and the Government. If we all have that "heart", that desire to forge a better future for all Singaporeans, we can build a stronger, big-hearted Singapore.

Mdm Speaker, it has been an intensive eight days for this House, with Sittings lasting up to 9.00 pm on many occasions. We started the debate on three Bills, followed by Budget 2017, the Supply Bills and are doing several Bills later. It was, indeed, a full agenda. In total, Members filed 545 cuts this year. That is an increase of 9% from last year, and the highest in the past five years. This speaks to the scale of the challenges we face and the dedication of the Members.

Members on both sides of the House like Mr Patrick Tay, Mr Desmond Choo, Assoc Prof Daniel Goh, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Chen Show Mao, Mr Ang Hin Kee, Ms Foo Mee Har spoke up for our workers − the rank and file, professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs), older workers, freelancers and unemployed alike. Members on both sides of the House united behind our foreign policy goals.

Several Members − Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Ms Cheng Li Hui and Mr Zainal Sapari − highlighted the concerns and challenges faced by our youths, while others − Ms Chia Yong Yong, Ms Denise Phua, Dr Lily Neo and Ms Sylvia Lim − spoke passionately of how we can be more inclusive as a society and made heartfelt appeals on behalf of single parents, divorcees and vulnerable families as Ms Tin Pei Ling, Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin, Mr Louis Ng, Ms Rahayu Mahzam and Ms Jessica Tan have done.

The debate has been spirited and vigorous. Some took to the floor with moving anecdotes. Nominated Members like Mr Ganesh Rajaram, Mr Kok Heng Leun and Assoc Prof Randolph Tan offered fresh perspectives by drawing on their expertise and experience. Tears were shed, not once but three times.

All in all, Members stayed true to reflecting the views of their constituents and were not afraid to press the front bench for answers to difficult questions. I thank Members for undertaking their roles with dedication and for upholding the high standards of decorum in this House. Whatever their cause or conviction, there is no doubt that the hearts of all Members beat for Singapore.

This Budget comes at a particularly difficult time, no less because of the turbulent global environment that we are in. Our domestic imperatives added urgency and challenges. The Budget will put us in a good position for the future if we can implement it well with the support of the people. There is no magic formula to follow. We will need to constantly recalibrate our strategies as we prepare our economy, our people, our environment and our society for the future. Let us now get down to work. With a solid foundation, an enterprising spirit or, should I say, an entrepreneurial dare, and a heart for Singapore and our fellow Singaporeans, let us move forward confidently together as a nation.

Finally, Mdm Speaker, we would not have had such a smooth COS if not for your stewardship of the debate proceedings. Your endurance and ability to stay alert for many hours at a stretch never fail to impress us. On behalf of the House, we thank you and your Deputies for chairing the sessions and maintaining the high standards of this House. We are grateful for your accommodation of multiple requests, such as changes to the Order of Business, exemption of notice period, extension of Sitting time, all done in the name of productivity. Our appreciation also goes to the entire Parliament Secretariat for the assistance rendered and the translators who persevered along with us.

Let us also acknowledge the officers from the Ministries and agencies who have supported us in the front bench, as well as members of the media, including those behind the cameras, for bringing the debate to all Singaporeans. Thank you very much.

Mdm Speaker: Hon Members, let me first start by saying that it was, indeed, a real pleasure to have our Minister for Finance, Mr Heng Swee Keat, back in Parliament to deliver the Annual Budget Statement and also to address Members' concerns and queries in the Budget Debate. We are most thankful to him.

The Budget was delivered against the backdrop of a world in the grips of growing uncertainty in the global economy brought about by disruptive technologies and innovation and the accompanying rise of populism and protectionist sentiments in a number of countries. Besides taking stock of the local and global economies, the Budget also set out to explain the various policies and programmes in a way that could resonate with people both inside and outside the House.

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The front bench took pains to expand on their respective Ministries' plethora of programmes to prepare and assist Singaporeans to be future-ready to tackle the challenges ahead and chart the way forward, guided by the recommendations contained in the report of the CFE.

Be it digitisation or digitalisation, innovation technology, the Future@Work national training programme, 21st century competencies, nurturing the joy of learning in our students, developing entrepreneurial dare and developing deep skills and expertise, Ministers, Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries took turns to flesh out and explain at length and in detail the complexities of each of their schemes and programmes to Members, who literally left no stone unturned to make sure that Singapore and Singaporeans' best interests are served.

I note that this year I did not hear a lot of new acronyms, though. So, that I think is great progress. I would like to commend all Members, both from the front bench and the back bench, for their great effort and in doing Singapore proud.

For those in the front bench, it is always good to be reminded of what our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, had in mind when he said in Parliament on 23 October 1981, and I quote, "To be trusted by the people as the older leaders have been trusted, the young leaders must learn to translate these figures and hard-headed analyses of complex problems into warm, simple and human terms, terms which the ordinary people can understand", unquote.

What shines through very clearly in this two-week Debate is that while we look at the big picture and examine the details, Singapore and our fellow Singaporeans are never lost sight of but are always at the centre of it all. This is as it should be. There was that good mix of heart, head and the occasional humour. There was down-to-earth pragmatism as well as dashes of idealism and level-headedness, always with two feet firmly on the ground. Compassion was never far away, with mutual respect, cordiality, rationality and reasonableness being unmistakable marks.

Some Members were visibly moved as they spoke of the plight and frustrations of Singaporeans facing difficulties in their lives. It shows the heavy burden that is on the shoulders of each Member. Although schemes are available, these unfortunate Singaporeans must be helped to avail of them and thrown a lifeline if necessary. Help schemes must help.

There was also a noticeable convergence of views from both the Government and Opposition when it comes to protecting our sovereignty. This coming together, for matters touching on the country's interests, can also be seen at overseas Parliamentary meetings when Members are representing Singapore. Anyone following this Debate would have also noticed that Members, some more vehemently than others − I think you know who I am referring to − were also on the same page when it came to fighting for municipal issues in their respective constituencies.

To be fair, during the cuts, Members raised many local, regional and international issues, with direct or indirect implications for Singapore, with sharp, incisive remarks that have become a hallmark of our Parliament. We may be business-like, but in no way do we lack the cut and thrust of Parliamentary debate. I think the point is also made by the Prime Minister. If only Members could learn to do away with long preambles and go straight to the point raised in their questions and clarifications, they would not need to deliver their speeches at breakneck speeds.

My speech would not be complete without my acknowledging and thanking the following persons for their invaluable assistance and contributions to this Debate:

My two Deputy Speakers for standing in for me during the latter parts of the debates.

Leader of the House and her Deputies for their guidance and assistance in running the business of the House.

The Whip and his Deputies for ensuring the debates run smoothly and according to schedule.

The Clerk of Parliament and her staff, all the staff of Parliament − actually we have only about 50 staff; I was told each American senator has almost the same number of staff, each American senator − so, the Clerk of Parliament and her staff for their unstinting support in making sure that Sittings run smoothly and efficiently.

The many civil servants from the various Ministries who would turn our meeting rooms into their temporary office to provide crucial administrative support to their Ministers. Their behind-the-scenes work may be unobtrusive but they must be duly recognised for the important role they play in this Debate.

Needless to say, my biggest vote of thanks must go to all hon Members. It is your contributions and understanding that have made this Debate outstanding in many respects, and my job as Speaker a gratifying and fruitful one, although, at times, my Deputies and I had to intervene to remind you of your allotted time − very gently, most times. Your cooperation and forbearance have helped to make it all possible.

Thank you all for a good Debate. Thank you.