Committee of Supply – Head Q (Ministry of Communications and Information)

Gearing the Economy for a Digital Future

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang): Sir, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Estimates be reduced by $100".

Thank you, Sir, for allowing me to speak on the Digital Economy, which presents many opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans.

We are living in a world where industries and businesses are swarmed by digital disruption. Yet, the infocomm industry and technology-based startups that have emerged could form a key growth sector of our future economy, as it provides good jobs, stronger businesses and a better quality of life in general.

The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) anticipates that this sector will create more than 13,000 professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET) level jobs and have more than 210,000 infocomm media (ICM) workers by 2020. These projections provide us with an idea of the magnitude of digital disruption in the future.

Given our small and open economy, our businesses need to be nimble and embrace the transformation required to adapt to the new digital world. What is the Government doing to ensure that Singapore's businesses and workforce are able to thrive in the digital future?

The Ministry has launched several initiatives to help the various industries transform and thrive in the digital era. Examples include the industry digital plans launched for the logistics and retail sectors in 2017, while at the small and medium enterprises (SME) level, the SME digital tech hub and solutions for SMEs have been set up. Can the Ministry update us on how these initiatives have performed? Perhaps we can also learn on what more can be done to help our SMEs go digital? Besides logistics and retail, what other sectors will be considered for digital transformation?

However, for the ICM sector specifically, how do we help it grow and realise its full potential? What are the Ministry’s areas of focus in helping Singapore companies to develop the ICM subsectors?

For these companies to be successful, we must help them internationalise. In particular, we need to help drive innovation in the sector and help our local ICM companies productise solutions and enable them to achieve greater commercialisation, especially in deep technology, in areas, such as artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology (fintech), urban solutions and cybersecurity.

We must help our local companies go international and leverage one another. How is the Infocomm Media Development Authority's (IMDA’s) internationalisation effort progressing? How is IMDA's approach for the internationalisation of ICM companies differentiated for the ICM sector, compared to that of International Enterprise (IE) Singapore for companies across other sectors?

Chairman, we recently passed the Cybersecurity Bill in Parliament. The Bill aims to strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity defences, especially those involving critical information infrastructure (CII). But our defences will only be as good as the ecosystem that we can build here, that is the CII providers, technology solution providers, manpower, startups and research and development (R&D).

How can the Government help promote the development of a sustainable and vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem, including cybersecurity startups?

Singapore, as an international hub and global business and tourist destination, has been successful because of our connectivity. How can the Government ensure that Singapore continues to maintain its lead in digital connectivity, given the environment around where all our competitors are also linking up?

Since ICM separates itself − it is a vibrant and growing sector for us and also one that has impact on other industries and our overall business and SME landscape – we should help aim to grow it to the best of our resources and provide opportunities at various levels for Singapore and Singaporeans. Mr Chairman, please allow me to continue my speech in Malay.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Digital skills have become a fundamental and important asset in today’s economy and for the future. Many careers and businesses depend not only on digital technology but also relevant skills, like data analysis, in order to compete. Without digital knowledge and skills, career progression will be hampered and the way businesses are done will also be limited. We have no other choice and must undergo this transformation to survive in the future.

In the business world, we saw a trend of more Malay entrepreneurs moving to online platforms to conduct their business as well as grow their companies, not only for the local market but also regionally and globally. However, much more can be done for them to progress and be identified as a regional and global player.

The same goes for businessmen in areas, such as food and beverage (F&B), retail and logistics, who need to utilise digital technology and data analysis skills. Such digital skills, at least at the basic level, must be acquired by workers at all levels, including professionals. This is also important for those who are entering the workforce, regardless of industry. Every job, be it technicians or professionals, needs digital skills in order to perform their roles more effectively and productively in this digital era.

In terms of info-comm careers, many opportunities have been made available currently to help prepare for a digital future. In fact, MCI estimated that this sector requires thousands of info-comm workers in a few years’ time.

Apart from workers, businessmen will also need to look at this trend and how it can affect their businesses, if they fail to make immediate preparations for this digital world. Some of them have to engage in partnerships, for instance, when entering the global market, in order to become more effective. In this regard, what are the Ministry's plans and efforts to help, especially SMEs, so that they can move quicker to join the digital wave?

For workers, what ways are being done and will be done to encourage them so that they will not miss out on the possibilities and opportunities that may come?

Question proposed.

The Chairman: Dr Teo Ho Pin.

Artificial Intelligence

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang): Sir, AI has promising applications in many areas, such as expert systems, robotics, speech recognition or gaming. With the improvements in machine learning, AI can enhance its accuracy in diagnostic work, facilitate intelligent surveillance round the clock, and improve productivity through the reduction of manpower and the streamlining of work processes.

Sir, given the applications of AI being explored and the ethical questions that may arise, such as personal data protection, are there plans by the Ministry to introduce regulatory frameworks to guide AI deployments and ensure that Singaporean society is ready to accept the effects of the adoption of cutting-edge AI?

Digital Economy

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer): Mr Chairman, my cut today is on the digital economy as well. Over the last two decades, digital computing technologies have rapidly changed the world, with far-ranging implications on businesses and consumers. Particularly, the pace of adoption of digital technologies has accelerated over the recent years. Adoption of digital technologies has resulted in a very connected world, empowering individuals and transforming how businesses and governments operate.

There are many benefits to a digital economy. Higher productivity, enhanced quality of life, better jobs, and the list goes on. There are many reasons to be optimistic about Singapore’s future in such an economy if we get a few core strategies right. This is a subject which I will return to discuss later.

First, why am I optimistic? Traditional factors of production like land, labour and capital will no longer constrain the economic expansion of a small island state like Singapore.

The Worldwide Web will be our land. Goods can be produced and can be sold anywhere through e-commerce. Through the Internet, we can also access labour anywhere. American high school teachers are teaching English Language to primary school students in China through the Internet. This has become a thriving business for companies like VIPKID, which provides international elementary school experience to half a million registered Chinese students online.

Capital can be raised in any stock exchanges through angel investors, venture capitalists or even through crowdfunding. All one needs is a sound business idea and persuasive skills.

So, instead of land, labour and capital as traditional factors of production, we are now seeing a new factor of production. And this is data.

For machine learning and AI to thrive, one would need datasets. And lots of them. Here, Singapore is currently at a disadvantage. We have a small population and our privacy laws, as they currently stand, do not make for easy access to data. Data are also collected and stored separately even within different branches of Government and not freely shared. They are compartmentalised and do not lend themselves to analyses or deep insights which can help reduce pain points, improve asset utilisation or provide for a more tailored and customised service. And the list goes on.

Could the Minister lay out his plans to revisit our privacy laws to strike the right balance against data abuse even as we allow for datasets to be used for analysis for legitimate enterprise or Government applications?

Infocomm and Media Convergence

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Marsiling-Yew Tee): Chairman, knowledge convergence has been a key trend in the media for a number of years. The blurring of the line between content creation and content distribution has profoundly changed the challenge that regulators face.

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In the "good old days", film and television (TV) students made content; broadcasters and cinemas distributed them; and the average man on the street consumed the content.

Nowadays, everybody is both a consumer and the producer of content, using platforms like Facebook, Instagram or YouTube to share the content they create with the entire world.

It is in some ways amazing that these open platforms give each individual so much power to communicate with the world. Anybody, even a young child, can go viral if they create good content. However, this openness creates its own challenges, since the platforms do not own the content that they carry. If objectionable content is found on YouTube or Facebook, it is not always easy to assign responsibility and have it removed.

We have continued advances in AI, and additional complication arises in the form of bots. They are programs which masquerade as real humans, adding to the noise on the Internet. These can have serious consequences, as the recent revelations about the impact of Russian bots on the US elections show.

As technology continues to advance, we can only imagine that such threats will continue to grow. It was, therefore, a forward-looking move to merge the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and the Media Development Authority (MDA) to better position the joint entity to deal with the fast-changing environment.

I would like to ask the Minister what does MCI see as the main regulatory challenges in the converged infocomm and media environment and how will IMDA address them.

The Chairman: Ms Sun Xueling, you have three cuts. Can you take all three together?

Cybersecurity for All

Ms Sun Xueling (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Chairman, we recently debated the Cybersecurity Bill in Parliament which looks at 11 CII systems. But Singapore’s cybersecurity is more than that. Our regular businesses and individuals also need to practise cybersecurity.

Given how plugged in we are as a country and as a people, every computer in our system can become a conduit in which to launch cyberattacks.

The Cyber Security Agency (CSA) commissioned a survey last year to find out Singaporean attitudes to cybersecurity. It was discovered that one in three respondents did not manage their passwords securely. They store them on computers, write them down or use the same password for multiple accounts. For almost half the survey respondents, they did not conduct virus scans on their devices and files and used open, non-password protected wi-fi networks in public places.

The risks to us as a country is thus large as there are many open gateways through which we can be hacked. How then can the Government work with businesses and educate the public on how to prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents?

As we work with SMEs to encourage them to leverage digitalisation to increase productivity, can we also take the opportunity to educate them on cybersecurity and encourage them to take appropriate precautions? Can the SME Centres set up to help SMEs embrace digitalisation also be equipped to provide cybersecurity awareness training to SMEs?

For the public, can we work on two groups of individuals in particular? To the elderly who may give out personal details freely when asked, can we work through grassroots organisations to provide fundamental cybersecurity awareness to them? And to our young who will use online resources increasingly in schools, can we include cybersecurity training as part of their school curriculum?

CSA launched the "Live Savvy with Cybersecurity" campaign last year. Such general awareness campaigns are useful to inculcate awareness of cyber threats to mass audiences. Awareness is the first step. Then we can discuss the steps we can take collectively to avoid being victims of cyberattacks.

Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises

The benefits of digitalisation to the economy are apparent. However, when we look at the rate of adoption of digitalisation by SMEs in Singapore, since the SMEs Go Digital Programme was launched last year, only a few hundred SMEs have adopted digital technology using 30 out of the 56 pre-approved solutions by IMDA. Given the close to 180,000 SMEs we have in Singapore, how can we promote wider adoption of digital technologies?

SMEs employ two-thirds of our workforce. If we can encourage the adoption of digital technologies effectively by our SMEs, the training our workers can receive in the process will be a huge plus.

The Government has worked with the trade associations and chambers (TACs) to establish Digital Tech Hubs. Based on our knowledge of the most frequent queries SMEs have when they approach the Digital Tech Hubs, are we able to put together learning points, customise solutions and push out to a larger group of SMEs?

Digitalisation across Sectors

IMDA has highlighted that it would develop sector-specific Industry Digital Plans (IDP) for six priority sectors, namely, Retail, Logistics, Food Services, Wholesale Trade, Cleaning and Security.

The Logistics IDP and the Retail IDP have been rolled out. What is helpful with the IDPs is that they include a self-assessment category which allows SMEs to know where the skill gaps are and then it directs the SMEs to look for help from Business Advisors at SME Centres or, in the case of needing advanced digital advisory, that they meet with principal consultants at SME Digital Tech Hub.

On paper, the IDPs would give management consultants a run for their money and truly showcase the professionalism and high standards of the Civil Service. However, I am concerned with the rollout on the ground as many SME business owners may not read or understand the IDPs. How would the Government go about pushing out the IDPs on a broad scale? Are there plans to go to the ground level to push the message out rather than wait for the SMEs to show up at the SME Centres or Digital Tech Hubs?

Further, I would like to enquire how the six priority sectors were arrived at and what is the envisaged timeline of the rollout? Would the Ministry be looking to roll out with certain Queen Bee companies in each sector to seed the digital plan and have it permeate through the supply chain?

Digitisation of SMEs

Mr Teo Ser Luck (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Mr Chairman, for many SMEs, going digital is a very difficult decision to make but it is a very critical one. For some, they look at it as a disruption but, for others who are successful, it is an opportunity.

The SMEs Go Digital Programme that is under MCI has certainly made some headway but there are more that we can do. SMEs can implement information technology (IT) in two different ways: (a) internal, which is a process change in order to become leaner and save on manpower and become more cost-efficient; (b) external, which is to really change their business model, so that their products and services can be sold or marketed more efficiently. It is an important part for them to shift their mindset, not just on process change.

I would like to ask the Ministry how we can help these SMEs, especially the smaller ones that are traditional businesses, to reap the benefits of digitisation and, secondly, how such programmes can be enhanced.

The Chairman: Mr Saktiandi, you have two cuts.

Sectoral Transformation

Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh): If there was one buzz word that has been hogging the news, it is the efforts of our Government to go digital. We went from transport to financial sector, then down to the grassroots from buying groceries to buying food at the hawker centres and wet markets, and we have also been pushing very hard to get everyone on board.

Since the last Budget, the Government has also launched SMEs Go Digital to help them build stronger digital capabilities so as to secure growth in the digital economy. The aim is to enhance productivity through tools, such as digital ordering and payment and fleet management, as well as cybersecurity, data protection and data analytics.

The Government has also offered consultants at the SME Digital Tech Hub who will go beyond providing basic advice on proven digital solutions that are pre-approved for funding support. Can the Minister provide the House an update on the SMEs Go Digital programme so far and how has it been meeting its objectives?

TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) 2.0

The TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) is a SkillsFuture initiative driven by IMDA and other partners. Its aim is to offer various programmes to support current information and communications technology (ICT) professionals and non-ICT professionals to upgrade and acquire new skills and domain knowledge. It also allows employers in ICT and non-ICT companies who want to leverage TeSA programmes to attract fresh or mid-career professionals to their companies. It can also help develop the number of ICM professionals which is prevalent in many sectors and can eventually empower traditional companies to improve performance.

Can the Minister provide an update on the TeSA Accelerator? Is it achieving its objectives and what are the next steps in the evolution of the programme?

National Translation Committee

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied): Sir, in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, it has been four years since the National Translation Committee (NTC) was established in 2014. I would like the Minister to provide an update on the work of the Committee.

In order to encourage Singaporeans to pay more attention to translation, Government agencies should take the lead. Take Chinese, for example. Currently, the media and members of the public can check the standard translation of official terms from MCI's database. However, this glossary page was hidden in a remote corner of the MCI website, and people who are not aware of this service cannot find it at all. This database does not contain names of buildings and the streets either.

A reader from Lianhe Zaobao recently pointed out that there were many translation errors with regard to the Chinese street names in the pamphlet distributed by a certain Town Council. There used to be standardised Chinese translation of street names, and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has published a Chinese version of the street directory before.

Currently, if the public wants to find the Chinese name of a certain street, they can go to the website of Street and Building Names Board (SBNB) under the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to check. However, there were few people who are aware of such a service.

To standardise the official translated names is the job of the Committee. However, after standardisation, if the public is still unaware of its existence, it would be such a waste. For the convenience of the media and the public, and to signal the Government's commitment in maintaining the standard of translation, I suggest an independent portal be set up, so that the public can check the official translated Government terms easily, including Chinese street names.

If there are enough visits to the website, we will be able to collect enough data to develop this website into a machine translation system. This will help improve Singapore's translation standard.

Tackling Cyberbullying

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong (Non-Constituency Member): Chairman, Sir, a 2014 study done by the Singapore Children's Society and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) found that one in nine adolescents said they have been victims of cyberbullying. As social media and messaging application platforms become more prevalent, the Ministry must tackle this problem head-on, and fast.

Last year, the Media Literacy Council organised the "Better Internet" campaign to promote responsible online habits and safe Internet use. However, the resources available on the Council website are limited. There is no dedicated helpline, no support network or resources for parents and teachers and no channels for victims to submit cyberbullying reports.

There is much we can learn from Australia, where the Office of the eSafety Commissioner is responsible for promoting online safety. The Office provides extensive resources on reporting of cyberbullying, helplines, online safety programmes and resources for schools and classrooms. The first step we can take is to organise a centralised resource bank, as well as to create a safe space, for victims to take refuge in. I urge the Ministry to consider this to tackle cyberbullying.

Support Workers for Digital Economy

Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines): Chairman, people are at the heart of the digital transformation. Their skills, knowledge and mindset determine if Singapore can succeed in the new digital economy.

Our digital transformation is also only as meaningful as how it could make the lives of Singaporeans better. This is also the heart of the digital transformation.

The challenge is how we can help our workers to thrive in this new digital economy. A worker in his mid-50s and has started working in 1980s has survived the typewriter, the pager, browsing using Netscape, emails on UNIX in the 1990s, rise of the mobile devices in the 2000s, the ongoing third industrial revolution on digital manufacturing, while trying to make sense of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT) and data exchange. Some workers will make the transition fairly seamlessly, but a fair number, especially the mature workers, will need assistance.

How can MCI work with the tripartite partners to retrain and reskill workers and, in fact, also the employers, to take advantage of the opportunities brought forth by the digital economy?

For there to be good jobs empowered by technology, there must be good companies similarly empowered. For SMEs, they need to develop a digital strategy and access competent manpower to execute the strategy. However, SMEs might find it difficult to adequately resource this change. The longer-term impact is impeded by digital growth and uneven development.

Can the Ministry develop a common pool of such technologies and manpower that these companies can tap on to accelerate participation in the digital economy?

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When I visited the Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) Workers' Union members two weeks ago, I am convinced that technology will generally help our workers work longer and more productively. Most of those I have met were in their 50s. The backbreaking work of hauling luggage can never be fully eliminated because there are just too many different shapes of suitcases for automation. But automated luggage drop-off can take away much of the physical work. Part of the work now is to help passengers navigate and troubleshoot check-ins and drop-offs. The crux is early training and preparation, including for the subcontractors.

Will the Ministry assist in ITMs to coordinate digital and technology preparation for workers and companies? How will MCI work with and incentivise employers to identify needed skills and train the workers ahead of digital transformation in the workplace?

Automation and the growth of the digital economy are inevitable. This does not sound the death knell for the human worker. Throughout history, mankind has weathered technological disruptions to find new jobs when there used to be none. Human ingenuity was key. But we have to be prepared to adapt and train even though history appears firmly on our side. The consequence otherwise is a digital economy without a heart.

Digitalisation

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang): Chairman, the future is in digitalisation, as many of my colleagues have been pointing out.

The Government is taking the lead in going digital and, thanks to the efforts of the Government Technology Agency (GovTech), more and more Government functions are going online and getting tailored to our needs, making it easier and easier for us to use. Everything, from tax returns to customs clearance, is amongst the easiest and most user-friendly in the world.

The Government is also providing extensive encouragement and support for SMEs to digitalise. It is likely that more and more will do so, both to provide better services for consumers and also to improve productivity for the shrinking workforce.

However, the reality of digitalisation is that not everyone will be comfortable with the changes or able to adapt. Many of us here may have already gone to the trouble of forgetting passwords and having 40 to 50 to remember. But these problems are minor, compared to those who may not have education, English in particular, and those who may not even be able to work on a computer. There are many, particularly the older and less educated, who have difficulty accessing some digital services.

Singapore has one of the highest mobile and Internet penetration rates. However, while the penetration is high, it is still not complete and there are many who are impecunious who do not have Internet access or mobile phones maybe because they have not paid their bills. So, this, too, may impede some of their access to mobile services.

How can we ensure that Singaporeans of all ages and backgrounds are not left behind as the economy digitalises?

Preparing the Elderly for Digital TV

Mr Yee Chia Hsing (Chua Chu Kang): Chairman, free-to-air TV channels in Singapore are now broadcast in both analogue and digital formats. The existing analogue TV channels will be switched off on 31 December 2018 and all Mediacorp TV channels will be broadcast in digital format only.

I would like to ask the Ministry how many households are still on analogue TV signal. Of these, I suspect quite a lot of them are the elderly. As such, I urge the Ministry to put in more efforts to highlight the importance of getting ready for the ending of analogue TV signal broadcasting.

To increase awareness, is it possible for blank screens to be broadcast on the analogue TV signals followed by the necessary info-commercial messages to teach users what needs to be done to receive the digital TV signals?

I would also like to know if it is possible for the Ministry to work with the Silver Generation ambassadors for them to educate the elderly about the need to have a digital TV set-top box and maybe assist elderly residents to set up the TV set-top box.

Sir, in conclusion, I hope that more can be done to help our elderly prepare for the Digital Only TV signals and let us hope that New Year’s Day in 2019 will not bring blank screens to them.

Helping Citizens to be Digitally Ready

Mr Saktiandi Supaat: In August 2017, there is the 3P Workgroup to study the issues of digital readiness. The aim is to deliver a blueprint of strategies to help Singaporeans, especially the more vulnerable, understand and enjoy the benefits of technology. This workgroup, comprising representatives from the public and private sectors, is to propose strategies to improve digital readiness among Singaporeans.

It is important that we get our senior citizens to tap on technology to make their lives better. The Silver Infocomm Initiative is one good example, which has reached out to more than 130,000 senior citizens to promote IT awareness and literacy. So, as we go on the Smart Nation drive, we must not forget to help our seniors to get ready for it, as Member Mr Yee Chia Hsing mentioned just now.

In addition, may I also suggest that more be done for low-income families beyond what is being done now, in particular those with young children at home?

Can I ask the Minster when will the blueprint be ready? What can we expect in terms of the recommendations? How will the Government work with businesses and the community to take this effort forward to help all, not just seniors, as well as low-income families and their children?

The Need for Quality and Partnerships

Mr Ganesh Rajaram (Nominated Member): Chairman, firstly, let me declare my interests as I run the Asian business of a multinational media company, Fremantlemedia International.

Sir, over the last few years, MCI has been spearheading Singapore’s digital transformation – from AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, immersive media and IoT – within a short span of time. I would like to commend MCI for its foresight, and its multi-prong approach to digital disruption and transformation.

Sir, I would like to focus my speech today on the mainstream media. The mainstream media, to me, has perhaps the biggest and most important role to play in combating fake news in Singapore. They also have a crucial role to play in strengthening social cohesion. These can be achieved through two pathways: enhancing the quality of journalism and building a network of partnerships.

I am pleased that both Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Mediacorp are heading in these directions. Editor-in-Chief of the SPH English/Malay and Tamil media group, Warren Fernandez, said recently that good journalism and news organisations that are credible and reliable play a vital role in combating fake news. This emphasis on quality journalism and credibility will ultimately also have important consequences for the company's bottom line as print circulation and advertising revenues continue to decline at SPH.

Sir, The New York Times faced a similar predicament just a couple of years ago but managed to turn things around. Indeed, it has just announced that it made more than US$1 billion in overall subscription revenue in 2017. While other media companies are struggling, The New York Times saw its circulation surge, adding 157,000 digital subscriptions in just the fourth quarter of 2017 alone.

One of the reasons for this turnaround was a focus on quality, in-depth journalism. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Thompson said, and I quote, "We believe that more and more people are prepared to pay for high-quality in-depth journalism that helps them make sense of the world."

An emphasis on balanced quality reporting and commentary will inevitably bring more subscribers and readers, be it for print or online. While reporting news quickly and accurately is important, Singaporeans would benefit from reading varied, considered commentaries that provide a deeper and sometimes alternative view of pressing national issues. Mature, cogent and well-argued commentaries can deepen the level of debate and discussion among Singaporeans and also broaden the consciousness of the impact of certain arguments.

I would like to suggest, Sir, that this is not a question about funding. It is about talent, and about nurturing and developing quality talent in the newsrooms. To me, the country needs more of quality commentators, such as The Straits Times Opinion Editor Chua Mui Hoong and Mediacorp journalist Barathi Jagdish. Their commentaries are thoughtful, considered and balanced. They raise questions like good journalists, but they do so constructively. Their arguments are backed by facts and not just emotions.

Sir, the digital revolution has removed barriers to information. Singaporeans today are bombarded by tidal waves of fake news and agenda-led emotional reactions of online bloggers and pseudo-journalists. Many Singaporeans reading the personal ramblings of these so-called political-social commentators are not fully aware of the backstory and agendas of these sites and their contributors: online commentators who are more than happy to make inflammatory and controversial remarks to grow their readership for advertising revenues; commentators who insinuate without fear of any organisational sanction, and who are not bound by any code of ethics or journalistic ethos.

Sir, in the competition for eyeballs, newsrooms are getting younger. While the actual effectiveness of using young journalists to attract young readers warrants an in-depth study, I would like to suggest that newsrooms consider a structured and coordinated mentoring scheme to help develop and guide the younger journalists.

When I was a rookie Malaysia Cup reporter in the early 1990s, the mentorship that I received from veteran football writer Jeffrey Low was invaluable. It played a key role in my development as a journalist and the stories I broke. That uncanny eye for detail, relationship building and the art of learning how to ask the right questions, these are things that cannot be learnt in the newsroom. They are learnt on the ground, on the job. There is a rich wealth of talent among veteran journalists in the newsrooms at SPH and Mediacorp, and we must encourage our newsrooms to tap on these senior journalists.

Old-school journalists can be terrifying to those who skate on the wrong side of law and ethics because they relied on investigative journalism and not Internet journalism. They did not have Google to help them look for information, nor did they report off stories posted on social media. Instead, they spoke to people face-to-face, on the telephone, and developed their own network of contacts. They also checked their facts and corroborated news breaks.

A renewed focus on quality journalism – which was the strategy of the New York Times – will reinforce the credibility of our mainstream media and result in growing readership. In a sea of emotional and sometimes irrational online commentaries, we must ensure that people are also provided with mature, well-argued opinions.

We are beginning to see this renewed commitment to quality journalism by SPH and Mediacorp. Programming on Channel NewsAsia consistently stands out because of a focus on quality.

Last year, we saw the documentary, "Regardless of Religion", the follow-up to the previous year’s hit, "Regardless of Race". Yet again, the producers treated a very difficult subject with sensitivity and made it entertaining and interesting. It helped that they had a natural talent to front the show. Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary's ease in front of the camera was pivotal in the success of the programme. It is programmes like these that go a long way in setting the platform and developing social cohesion. Programmes, such as "Insight", also deserve mention for their investigative journalism.

But while Mediacorp is putting the emphasis on quality and seeing positive results, it also needs to foster more partnerships to thrive.

Sir, partnerships are becoming the norm in the media industry among companies big and small. We have already seen some major mergers in the broadcast and film arena: the Disney and Fox merger is among the biggest.

And the recent changes at the Board and management level at Mediacorp have begun to show positive effects, with the company embarking on partnerships and looking to cement more. One recent partnership was the Channel 5 drama "Missing", a first-ever co-production with Thailand.

Mediacorp will also have to look at partnering pay television platforms across the region and locally to elevate the quality and increase the footprint of its content. Perhaps, the Government can look at incentive programmes for Mediacorp to achieve this.

Lastly, Sir, my favourite topic – the broadcast rights for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. I thank Minister Yaacob Ibrahim for his comprehensive replies to my Parliamentary Questions a few weeks ago on this issue. I agree with the Minister that sports rights are getting more expensive, particularly for marquee events like the Olympics. And I also agree that as important as these events are for the viewing public, we cannot be held to ransom to any ridiculous fee being asked for by rights holders. But as someone who has been on both sides of the fence – a rights holder and a buyer – I would like to suggest that the 2020 Olympics should be seen with a special lens.

Firstly, the Tokyo Olympics will be telecast on prime time in Singapore. Secondly, we have the prospect of watching our Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling win more medals. Other athletes, such as Quah Zheng Wen, will also be in their prime. Thirdly, while Singaporeans were grateful for the last-minute deal to telecast the Rio Olympics two years ago, the hurried rescheduling of programming is not ideal. It must have been difficult for Mediacorp to garner sponsorship and advertising, given the last-minute deal. If the deal had been brokered earlier, it would have given them more time to approach global sponsors of the Games, who are, as I speak, already planning their media spend for the Tokyo Olympics.

Perhaps this could be the opportunity for Mediacorp to embark on a long-term partnership with pay platforms StarHub and Singtel to go after these rights together. In today’s world, content is platform-agnostic. Nobody cares where they watch content. If it is quality content, they will find a way to watch it.

Sir, given the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on public service broadcast (PSB) content every year, surely a small portion of that spent on Olympics rights is justified, as these could have a far more lasting and tangible public service effect than any PSB programme. In fact, the halo effect of Schooling’s win is still being felt two years after his feat. Some things, as they say, are priceless.

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Public Service Broadcast Programmes

Mr Vikram Nair: Chairman, let me pick up on PSB programming. The PSB contestable funds scheme has been very important in developing quality local content across different languages – English, Malay, Tamil or Mandarin. Shows that may not have been otherwise economically viable have been developed in Singapore and much appreciated by our own audience.

Many of these PSB programmes have been part of our television and have developed a very strong audience. While television remains a dominant medium, changing media consumption patterns have many viewers going online. I must confess that I watch most of my own local programmes on Toggle. Besides free-to-air TV, what other platforms is the Government working with to extend the reach of PSB programmes to engage Singaporeans?

The Chairman: Mr Darryl David, you can take both your cuts together.

Media Industry Talent Development

Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio): Thank you, Mr Chairman. The ICM ITM is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of around 6% for the industry and create more than 13,000 PMET jobs by 2020.

Media companies in Singapore include content creators in the film and/or television industries, 3D animation, cutting-edge video games, trans-media storytelling and new media initiatives. Leading digital media companies, such as Lucasfilm, Tecmo-Koei, Double Negative, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft have also opened offices in Singapore.

But what part can smaller media companies play in Singapore’s quest to be a global media hub? If it is crucial to create a digitally-enabled media environment, what measures are there to help smaller media industry players take that digital journey of transformation?

Could the Government share how it is helping to build digital media capabilities needed for continued growth in the long term?

Libraries and the Future Economy

Mr Chairman, we would all agree that the library is and should always remain an important social and educational institution and that it has an important role to play in our new evolving economy.

How can we ensure that libraries remain viable and relevant in this new economy? Can libraries better support the nationwide effort to promote and prepare all Singaporeans for the future economy so that jobseekers and entrepreneurs alike have access to ever-changing knowledge? Beyond the computerisation of services and the development of technology to support reading, what can libraries do to make reading, whether it is traditional or digital, delightful and engaging for its users in all languages?

Libraries and Reading

Dr Teo Ho Pin: Sir, a survey conducted by the National Arts Council in 2015 indicates that there is an inverse correlation between the age and the tendency to read. With a fast-ageing population, our libraries will face an uphill task to encourage reading among our seniors in the future. This challenge is further compounded by the fast pace of life and high-tech society in Singapore.

Sir, Singaporeans spend many hours reading phone messages, using social media applications or watching videos through various media. All these factors may have reduced the motivation for people to read in print, especially in the library. More 26 million people visit our 26 libraries yearly. I wish to commend the efforts of the libraries in adopting many initiatives, such as mobile apps, reading clubs and e-books, to encourage reading. Despite that, the number of adults who visit the library and borrow books for their own reading and learning has not been increasing.

We need to transform our 26 libraries into "active lifelong learning centres" to further encourage reading and learning among Singaporeans. We must redesign our libraries to create more conducive learning corners for children and provide a more comfortable reading environment for adults, especially seniors. We must also make our libraries friendlier for the elderly and organise more regular activities, such as talks, to support active ageing.

Sir, the libraries in Japan have introduced various innovative ideas to make their libraries more elderly-friendly. For example, Chiba Prefecture organises seminars on a regular basis for seniors on various topics that are relevant to the elderly. Hokkaido's libraries have partnered various senior welfare-related organisations, and provide many senior-friendly library services, such as book delivery services, "dementia café" and recitation services for those who are visually impaired.

Sir, I hope that the Minister can update the House on initiatives that the National Library Board (NLB) has undertaken to promote reading, especially in regard to library and digital content services.

The Chairman: Ms Sun Xueling, you have half a minute.

Our National Archives

Ms Sun Xueling: Chairman, to tell the full story of a nation's history, it is not just the voices of important players which matter, but those of ordinary Singaporeans, too. I would like to ask the Ministry how the National Library and the National Archives intend to reach out to ordinary Singaporeans to include their oral histories and capture footage of daily living. This will help preserve our heritage and also enrich the quality of our collections. Further, how are we increasing access to archival resources in our libraries to encourage greater understanding of our history and culture?

The Chairman: Minister Yaacob.