Acknowledgement to the Chair

1.49 pm

The Leader of the House (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien): Mr Speaker, it has been an eventful start of the year, with Singapore battling the COVID-19 outbreak. It is through such difficult times that we prove our mettle as a nation and as a people.

The Government's response to the crisis has been swift. Deputy Prime Minister Heng announced a $4 billion package to cushion the near-term uncertainties caused by COVID-19. Various Ministries have detailed how they are introducing measures to mitigate the impact to their respective sectors. It has been a defining element in the Budget 2020 debate. The fact that this Government has sufficient financial resources, accumulated through financial prudence, was not lost on the Members. Neither was the call for all segments of the society to play an active part as Team Singapore in riding out the challenge.

Indeed, many stakeholders came together to deliver help. For instance, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) acted quickly to form the Tourism Recovery Action Task Force, comprising tourism leaders from the private and public sectors to map out recovery strategies. MOM, MOT, MTI, NTUC and MCCY will roll out measures to help self-employed persons of multiple sectors, including allowance for training.

The COVID-19 outbreak may have generated fear and anxiety among Singaporeans but it has also shown our community at its best. We have heard about the numerous ground-up, spontaneous acts of care. Mr Liang Eng Hwa shared how larger businesses are stepping up to help smaller ones tide through this crisis, while the SG Cares Volunteer Centres brought community groups and resourceful corporations along to reach out to vulnerable groups. These efforts exemplify the strong community spirit in Singapore today.

Dr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Teo Ser Luck rightly pointed out that in times of crisis, come opportunity. Some Members, such as Prof Yaacob Ibrahim, have called for Singapore to take stock and reflect on how we can be better versions of ourselves as a response to the challenge. Many of our industries and businesses appreciate the need to transform so they are better prepared to deal with the next disruption. Members like Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap and Miss Cheng Li Hui asked that we also build up Singapore's civic spirit, psychological defence and social cohesion so that we emerge from this crisis stronger as a nation.

Even as we are occupied with the challenges of the present, we have our eyes firmly on the long-term issues. Many Members spoke passionately on ensuring Singapore's competitiveness and relevance in a fast-changing world. Mr Lim Swee Say reminded us that our common goal is to generate sufficient resources to improve the lives of all our people. This is evidenced by the large number of questions received by MOE and MOM on education and training for Singaporeans, pipping even MOH despite the current public health situation.

Singapore's current and future challenges will be increasingly complex and unexpected. If we harness the diverse strengths of Singaporeans and work together as one, just as we are doing with COVID-19, we can turn our challenges into opportunities, our problems into possibilities. We can build a future Singapore that we and those after us can be proud of. This is the essence of Singapore Together. The debates in the past few days have presented us with long-term challenges – how to age well, how to uplift the disadvantaged, how to build a climate resilient nation and so on. To tackle them, we must partner to build our Singapore together.

So, I am heartened to hear the theme of partnerships come through strongly in our debates. The momentum is clear. Singaporeans can and want to play a bigger role in shaping Singapore. Government agencies will be opening up many more opportunities for Singaporeans from all walks of life and all segments of the society. We will co-create and co-deliver initiatives to make Singapore a resilient nation, a city of possibilities, a society with opportunities for all and a caring and cohesive community. Let me review each of them.

First, a resilient nation in the face of global disruptions. Members agree that it is critical we remain nimble. Mr Cedric Foo and Mr Ong Teng Koon spoke about the opportunities and challenges caused by the rise of the digital economy. To this end, MCI shared how its community partners are helping Singaporeans and our SMEs build digital skills. Mr Dennis Tan and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah highlighted the dangers of climate change. As part of its response, MEWR is catalysing citizen-led initiatives to address our sustainability challenges through its two Citizens' Workgroups. And might I say, the youths are also very passionate about this aspect.

Second, a city of possibilities. Singapore should continue to be an attractive place to live, work and play. Mr Douglas Foo and Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar highlighted more can be done to ensure Singaporeans' continued employability and relevance for the future. Ms Jessica Tan, Ms Foo Mee Har and Mr Zainal Sapari spoke passionately on harnessing the resources of our mid-career workers – those in their 40s and 50s. To give Singaporeans a good head start and realise their full potential through their careers, MOE and MOM are working with industry leaders, private training providers and professionals to scale up their respective SkillsFuture programmes and Mid-Career Support Package.

Responding to Mr Arasu Duraisamy's and Mr Saktiandi Supaat's queries on the future of our cityscape, MND spoke about plans to partner Singaporeans to re-design, redevelop and rejuvenate Singapore. In the digital realm, Mr Vikram Nair and Ms Tin Pei Ling painted a vision of a Smart Nation with citizens at its centre and PMO shared how Singaporeans can be involved in the entire process of building our Smart Nation, from conceptualising to deploying digital products and services.

Third, a society with opportunities for all. Members like Mr Ang Wei Neng, Assoc Prof Daniel Goh, Miss Cheryl Chan and Ms Rahayu Mahzam agree that we want to create a society with more opportunities for all, whether for children and youths in disadvantaged families, persons with special needs, or working mothers who shoulder a disproportionate amount of care-taking responsibilities. As Ms Denise Phua put it, our social challenges need to be tackled together, and the community's role is crucial in ensuring no one falls through the cracks. MOE and MSF shared how they are working with corporates, individuals and community stakeholders to co-create and deliver services that will strengthen our social support for disadvantaged groups through the UPLIFT programme, and allow all Singaporeans to participate fully as contributing members of society.

Fourth, a caring and cohesive community. In light of growing polarisation around the world, we need to show regard and respect for one another regardless of our differences and build a cohesive community with a shared identity. The Government will work with Singaporeans on this journey. Ms Anthea Ong's and Mr Murali Pillai's calls to focus on mental health were answered by MSF, which is working with interested Singaporeans in the Youth Mental Well-being Action Group. My Ministry also agrees with Mr Pritam Singh that more can be done for the integration of new citizens, and we will be partnering citizens to co-create content for the Singapore Citizenship Journey, so that new citizens share the same understanding of what it means to be Singaporean.

Mr Speaker, I wish to conclude the debate by thanking all Members for their active participation over the past weeks. On behalf of the House, I would also like to thank you, Mr Speaker, and your deputies for your able stewardship of the debate proceedings. I also thank the Parliament Secretariat and staff for their dedicated assistance and responses to our requests and queries, particularly those who took our temperatures and kept our premises clean, and the interpreters who were with us every step of this debate. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. [Applause.]

1.58 pm

Mr Speaker: A year ago, we had an extensive conversation about cows, and a particular sacred cow, to be precise. We debated till the cows came home, we milked the issue to death and we slayed the creature good and proper. You would have thought that, that was done.

But, guess what? I do not know if you have noticed but the cow is back again this year.

This time, it sneaked into the MEWR's Committee of Supply (COS) in the guise of a "fake cow". Minister Masagos Zulkifli brought it in. We learnt from him – Minister Masagos Zulkifli, not the cow – about how critical it is to have food sustainability amidst climate change and why novel foods may play a big part in this effort.

Last year's cow was called "PSLE Streaming". This time, it is called "Impossible Meat" – and we even sampled it in the form of satay and gyoza, which was really quite delicious. But did we stop at cows? No. We had the whole Mandai Zoo, River Safari and Jurong Bird Park here as well. MEWR introduced us to cell-cultured shrimps from the local start-up, Shiok Meats. We learnt about barramundis from Barramundi Asia, Singapore's first and only deep sea fish farm. But could all these be our future source of protein?

MEWR then talked about mosquitoes with names like Aedes mosquitoes and Wolbachia as we are reminded to stay vigilant in our war against dengue. Then, came the cats, and the pet birds and dogs during MND's Committee of Supply (COS).

And then, MOT came on board as well, addressed the concerns about the Raffles Banded Langurs – not just any monkeys but Langurs named Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael. So, in an indirect way, turtles of the Ninja genus were also dragged into the conversation as well.

All these creatures were raised not for any trivial reasons. Some revolved around our survival in a time of possible food disruption. Some were about disease management and its sometimes fatal impact on our people. Some were discussed in terms of our common space with pets and how we treat animals in our society. And some were discussed in the context of how we must try to be sensitive to our environment and nature, amidst development. Langurs may not mean very much to many Singaporeans – perhaps it should – but it means a great deal to Dr Andie Ang and her team who are working closely with LTA on the local habitat concerned.

All these are just small slivers of a bigger whole. So very much goes on without many of us realising it. I think an opportunity to debate and discuss this in Parliament reminds us of how much goes on out there, every day. Nothing is too trivial not to be addressed. My Deputy Speakers and I had the privilege of enduring all your speeches in the last few weeks. I make no apologies for the use of that term. Why? Because it can be substantive and heavy; and it represents an even larger body of work that exists out there in the Ministries and agencies as they seek to make life better for all of us.

People often ask me to view this video clip or other from other parliaments. Some are the fighting ones which are very exciting. You can go and watch it but do not get ideas. Others are most eloquent, humorous, sharply satirical – impressive. But I then ask myself, after watching then, "So, therefore... and what is next? So, what then do we do?"

Words can flow like honey, music to the ears but they must be real. They set in motion the journey from words to deeds. For that to happen, we need processes, specific initiatives, mechanisms, effective delivery for good to take place. It is really quite some distance to travel from ideas and rhetoric to reality.

Today, we are often seized by form and style. But how to get things done way less exciting, much less glamorous.

So, it is challenging to sit through all these, but it is the least we can do to honour the effort and hard work put in by so many.

The Budget is the blueprint from which we build our future.

To be honest, many do not actually watch the clips of every speaker here, read their speeches and the responses but we are definitely very quick to comment! So, do give it a shot because they can be quite educational and give us a sense of how we intend to address the concerns that are out there. They also show us how we can realise our vision of the kind of Singapore we want to build together.

It is true, perhaps we could do with a little more flair, a little more panache but never, never give up the way we do business here in Singapore – solid, down-to-earth ideas, plans and execution. And not just creating beautiful castles in the air.

For obvious reasons, COVID-19 situation featured significantly. Let me use it to illustrate some themes that are relevant to what we need to think about during our annual Budgets.

We read of some Singaporeans shunning our nurses. Rather than cheering them on and honouring them as many have done, these Singaporeans are concerned about themselves. Why is there a rush for masks or groceries or toilet paper? Individuals are anxious for their own well-being. That is logical.

But these actions impact society's common good.

In many countries and we read of this today, this is severely affecting the frontline healthcare workers who face problems being properly equipped. Ultimately, our individual actions affect society and it comes back round. The tragedy of the commons is happening right before our eyes.

Can we, in Singapore, rise above ourselves and be different from others? As Leader said, can we be better versions of ourselves?

In our annual Budget as well, do we not also grapple with the individual and society? As I had shared in previous years' summations, this is what we need to trade off: me versus we, today versus tomorrow. We cannot always have the cake and eat it because that is real life. If we, as a people, are prepared to think about the collective and the future, we can sit down, we can discuss business and talk about what to do. But if it is just about me and myself, today and now, then, honestly there would not be much of a Singapore or future to aspire towards.

From the COVID-19 situation, we also realise how inter-connected we are, both within Singapore and also with the world. We are part of a common humanity and we cannot turn our backs on that. You can see how easy it is to infect each other. You can see how easy it is to blame each other. But are we also not sometimes guilty here in Singapore as we blame others as well? But do we not also realise that in other people's eyes, we are "the others"? Sadly, we read recently of one of our young Singaporeans being beaten up by YOBS in England simply because he is Asian, because he is Chinese. Simply put, the racists.

We see these tensions amidst globalisation. There is the good that comes with globalisation but there are also disamenities and we know that. Some politicians use it to stir a visceral anger that comes from the nationalism that is within all of us. Sometimes, it will be about race and religion. We see it in our discourse here in Singapore sometimes. We need to remain plugged in so that Singaporeans can benefit. We maximise the positive outcomes while mitigating the negatives.

Our present abilities to manage COVID-19 are totally reflective of lifelong learning. Because of SARS, we resolved to make sure that the 33 who lost their lives did not do so in vain. We learnt – we learnt from others, we practised, we learned again – during H1N1. And all these allowed us to put up a good solid response today. And our team is still learning and adjusting, even as we speak, and the real payoffs are in the lives saved. And this did not happen by chance.

And we did not just learn, we spent and invested for the future. We stockpiled masks, we kept replenishing and refreshing our stock. We have also been doing so for food for the longest time. When we spend for the future, in any Budgets, we have less to spend on the present. No average person is seized by these long-term issues that may or may not happen and we all know the common complaint that Singaporeans may have: why do you not care for me today? I have problems today.

But you see, the truth is we do. Suddenly, yesterday's tomorrow just became our today.

That is why we are able to do what we do during this crisis. With our prudence and savings, we are able to fund and deal with this event that just dropped on our laps. We did the same in all the major crises that came by our way in the past. The economic impact will affect more people detrimentally than those who may be infected. That is why the economy is important. That is why we pay attention to the economy, we budget for the present, but we continue to budget for future uncertainties as well. Imagine if we were short-termed in outlook? I think many countries are guilty of that. Imagine if we were short term. Imagine if we decided to spend more, save less. It is far easier to be popular than to be prepared.

But I am grateful to this Parliament, to all of us here, both Government and Opposition, for supporting these moves. When you look past all the political bluster, there is actually strong unity in approach, not only for this Budget, but for the Budgets past. Parliament is able to do this only because the people of Singapore are prepared to support it. Yet, I know every one of us will still grumble about why we did not get more of this or did not get more of that. But our people's support allows Parliament to have the courage to take the more difficult but yet perhaps the more correct path.

This support will not exist and does not exist if there is no sense of unity and no sense of togetherness, which is why the idea of Singapore Together is really, really, so precious. It is not just a slogan, something that we just mouth off in Parliament. They are actually things that we can do. SG Cares, for example, helps us to reach out, volunteer, connect with others. It allows us to practise our empathy and compassion and to bring out the innate good that is in all of us. Our community efforts on the ground bring neighbours together to forge bonds that can bind. Our emphasis on family seeks to help strengthen family bonds because that is where it all starts. Even our NS journey allows many to come together despite the differences in backgrounds. We all can do our part.

It now leaves me to thank all Singaporeans – everyone here, those at the frontline, all those behind the scenes – who made this all possible.

Passing Budget 2020 is only the first step.

Let us go forth and translate these words into deeds.

Because this is what our Democracy is all about.

Because this is Singapore and because we are Singapore.

Thank you. [Applause.]