President's Speech

Order read for the Resumption of Debate on Question [22 September 2025].

"That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to:

'We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament.'." – [Mr Sharael Taha]

Question again proposed.

Mr Speaker: Mr Alex Yam.

1.02 pm

Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee): I rise to support the Motion of Thanks to the President. In Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): Today, I wish to borrow an old saying from Chinese history to reflect on Singapore's future: "In the land of Shu, there were no great generals, so Liao Hua had to serve as the vanguard." This saying is not just a historical reference – it serves as a stark warning for us today.

This phrase comes from the period of the Three Kingdoms. In its later years, the Kingdom of Shu faced a severe shortage of talent. Zhuge Liang had passed away, and Jiang Wei was struggling to hold things together. Eventually, with limited military strength, Shu had to appoint Liao Hua – an ageing and less capable officer – as its vanguard. Later generations lamented: when a nation or team lacks capable people, it will have no one to turn to at critical moments.

Although the original saying carries a tone of irony and helplessness, we should treat it today as a wake-up call. If a country fails to continually nurture talent and establish a robust leadership succession system, it risks being unprepared when crisis strikes.

Singapore must never repeat such a mistake.

The current state of the world is deeply concerning – recurring political violence in the United States, severely testing its democratic system; continuous disputes between left and right wings in Europe; frequent changes in leadership in Japan and South Korea, leading to a lack of policy continuity and stability; major electoral recalls and social divisions in Taiwan, severely damaging trust between the government and the people; ongoing political disputes following elections in several Southeast Asian countries; endless conflicts in the Middle East and the Russo-Ukrainian war, with peace nowhere in sight. All of this reminds us – political stability is not inevitable; it is a fragile asset that can easily be lost.

In stark contrast, Singapore stands out. We have just completed a smooth, stable and mature leadership transition. The Prime Minister has changed, but policies remain consistent; the nation's direction continues and public confidence remains strong.

Amid global turmoil, Singapore's institutions, culture and mutual trust have forged this hard-won stability. This is our advantage and also our responsibility.

The President emphasised the importance of unity in his address, a point that I believe is crucial.

The political atmosphere is like the air we breathe; fresh air goes unnoticed and unappreciated, but once it lacks harmony and becomes polluted, everyone feels suffocated. The concept of "harmony" or "hé", as advocated by Confucius, signifies a genuine, principled harmony, and not soulless, superficial conformity. This "hé" refers to harmonious and dedicated efforts towards the common, supreme goal of national development and the people's welfare. We must maintain a high degree of consensus on this major objective. This is the foundation upon which we can pool our strengths and accomplish great things. This is the "harmony of the gentleman", a unity stemming from shared ideals and beliefs.

In this Parliament, we encourage constructive debate. However, if the purpose is to deliberately create confrontation for political gain, while disregarding the overall national development, this closely resembles what Confucius criticised as "conformity without harmony". This is why the President and the Prime Minister have repeatedly reminded us that true democracy is not "me first," but "we first." This is the most valuable aspect of Singapore's political culture.

The greatest challenge the world faces today is not economic or military – it is the crisis of social cohesion. Individualism and a "me first" mindset are eroding the foundations of many societies. Singapore must choose a different path. To build a “we first” society, politically, all parties must prioritise the national interest, transcending partisan disputes. In policy, people should not only ask, "What is in it for me?" but also, "Is this fair for our society?" In daily life, we must care for one another, leaving no one behind.

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) has a special role to play in this. I believe the Ministry should lead this paradigm shift from "me" to "we", redefining our social compact through three key areas.

Community building must go beyond festive events and occasional activities. We need to establish deep community connectivity programmes, encouraging residents to not only to know each other as neighbours, but to become mutual support systems; develop Community Shared Spaces 2.0 – transforming them into real living labs, not just physical spaces; and create intergenerational collaboration projects, bringing the young and old together to solve community problems, facilitating the exchange of wisdom and innovation.

MCCY should lead this effort, shifting community building from activity-based projects to building a relational ecosystem.

We need not merely law-abiding citizens, but community members who actively contribute. This requires redesigning national education to emphasise that citizens are not only rights-bearers, but also responsibility-takers; developing a grassroots community service framework so that volunteerism becomes a part of life, not just an occasional activity; and creating multicultural competency programmes to equip Singaporeans with the skills to thrive in a diverse society.

Here, I must place special emphasis on the crucial role of the younger generation. The hope and impetus for building a "we first" society lie with our youth. They are not just future successors; they are a vital force in shaping the social fabric of the present.

Young people are intellectually active, full of ideals, and possess a natural affinity for fairness, justice and sustainable development. We must create greater space for them, closely integrating their energy and creativity with our shared vision for the future.

Specifically, first, we must genuinely listen to and trust our youth. Our engagement cannot be merely symbolic. We must substantively incorporate their ideas into policy considerations. When formulating long-term plans, the voices of young people must be heard and their suggestions should have the opportunity to be translated into concrete actions.

Second, we must empower our youth to be the protagonists of community innovation. MCCY should support young people in independently launching projects that solve community problems, enabling their transition from being passive recipients of policy to active co-creators. This hands-on experience in building is the most effective way to foster a sense of ownership and belonging to the nation.

Third, we must build solid bridges for intergenerational collaboration.

A "we first" society requires understanding and continuity between generations. We should encourage the formation of mentorship groups, pairing youth with experienced seniors to jointly plan community projects. The combined experience and wisdom of the older generation with the drive and fresh perspectives of the young can create powerful synergies, ensuring both societal stability and vitality. Furthermore, in this age of fragmentation, we need common stories and shared memories more than ever: support projects that document and share "Singapore Stories," focusing not only on national achievements, but also on the contributions of ordinary people, particularly stories of how the younger generation actively participates in and transforms communities.

Develop community archives and digital platforms, allowing every community to preserve and share its history, and enabling youth to become a new force in recording and disseminating these stories. Create arts and cultural programmes that explore the evolving meaning of being Singaporean, encouraging young artists to interpret and enrich our shared identity from contemporary perspectives.

These efforts, particularly through activating the proactive participation of our youth, will help us build a society that shares not just a common geographical space, but a profound sense of shared destiny.

We must return to the saying with which I began: "In the land of Shu, there were no great generals." It reminds us: to build a "we first" society, we must continuously nurture successors and encourage more young people to enter public service. We cannot rely only on a small elite – we must build a strong pipeline of talent, ensuring that there are always capable people ready to serve.

Mr Speaker, Singapore may be small, but we can be bold, visionary and responsible. Building a "we first" society is not a Government programme – it is a national endeavour. It requires the participation and commitment of every Singaporean. Let us also cherish our hard-earned political stability and protect this valuable asset. Let us work together to maintain Singapore's precious political environment, ensure our political atmosphere remains clean, and enable future generations to grow up in a more united and prosperous Singapore. I support the motion.

Mr Speaker: Mr Xie Yao Quan.

1.16 pm

Mr Xie Yao Quan (Jurong Central): Sir, I stand in support of the Motion. In Malay, please.

(In Malay): It has been an honour for me to serve the Jurong Central constituents over the past five years, and to be given the opportunity to serve the Jurong Central community once again. Over these five years, there are so many residents who I now consider friends.

So, to my friends and all residents, I wish to say, the President's speech at the Opening of Parliament reminds us that there is still much more that the Government, together with our people, must do. And in Singapore, the Government is deeply committed to working together, to do more, and to make life better.

Similarly, we want to provide the best opportunities for our children to develop and reach the peak of their God-given talents and potential. To support everyone in raising our children to be honest citizens and people of faith, to celebrate and cultivate our traditional languages and cultural arts, and to develop our society into one that is stronger, more united, more caring and more excellent.

We will do all this within our meritocracy. Our meritocracy is not perfect. It may never be perfect, but it remains a vital principle for social harmony and for achieving success as one people. For years, in fact, for decades, we have built and developed our meritocracy. And we must continue to do so, to ensure that our meritocracy continues to work for everyone and makes life better for all our people.

Above all, I wish to remind everyone that in any meritocracy, at any time, there may be some who will be ahead, and some who may be behind. But there will be progress for everyone. Everyone must be on this "Escalator of Progress". Everyone moves forward together to ensure this meritocracy works.

The President used the word "escalator" in his speech. This word was deliberately chosen.

As we continue to work on our meritocracy to make it work ever better for everyone, we must first put everyone on that same "Escalator of Progress", and we must ensure that this escalator is always moving towards progress. The Government must ensure this escalator is always moving towards progress, for everyone. It is crucial for us to ensure the success of this meritocracy, and it becomes the fundamental condition for improving our meritocracy.

May I end my speech with a Malay quatrain:

Jasmines bloom where butterflies play

Jellyfish together swimming away

Through life and death we stay together

Our meritocracy lasts forever

Let us continue to move forward together on the "Escalator of Progress"!

(In Mandarin): In 2011, my Parliamentary colleague, Ms Sim Ann, delivered a brilliant speech on Singapore's "haves and have-nots". She used a more relaxed, colloquial approach to discuss, in depth, a very important issue: what strategic advantages and opportunities Singapore possesses, what conditions and trade-offs we lack, and how Singapore should forge a path forward from this position.

At that time, I had not yet entered politics, she had just entered politics, and Singapore was 46 years old.

Today, on the occasion of Singapore's 60th anniversary, I want to revisit Singapore's "haves and have-nots" and discuss our nation's future path. What does Singapore have, and what does it not have? Let me raise three points.

Firstly, Singapore has a rapidly ageing population, with more and more elderly people. Singapore's achievements today are all due to the foundation laid by the Pioneer and Merdeka generations. Without the dedication, sacrifice and contributions of these people, there would be no glorious Singapore today. So we have an obligation to give back to them. Families, communities and the Government must all work together to better care for and support our elderly, to enable them to shine brightly in their golden years.

How should we do this? I have several suggestions, continue to expand and enhance our healthcare system.

Ideally, our elderly would not need to see doctors or seek medical care, but when they do need medical care, the elderly must be able to receive timely service without waiting too long. Therefore, we must continue to expand and enhance our healthcare system.

But we must also continue to manage healthcare costs well. Currently, one MRI scan costs $600, with a Government subsidy of $300, the elderly need to pay $300 themselves. Sometimes when their annual MediSave limit is reached, the elderly must pay the $300 in cash. The same applies to chronic diseases – the annual MediSave limit of $400 to $700 is often quickly exhausted. Hence, the elderly face too heavy a cash burden in dealing with healthcare costs.

Of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch – healthcare costs ultimately needs to be paid by Singaporeans. If we want higher healthcare subsidies, the Government may inevitably have to collect higher taxes, so I hope the Government can continue to govern wisely and maintain the political courage and responsibility to do what must be done.

The elderly should also have better retirement security. Better retirement security requires not only more resource investment, but also better resource allocation. I again call on the Government to review the eligibility criteria framework for the various benefits distributed to the elderly. Currently, when children do not live with the elderly, the elderly can receive many benefits, but when children live with the elderly, they cannot get as much. Therefore, the entire eligibility criteria framework for Government benefits to the elderly could be more reasonable.

What else does Singapore have and not have?

Secondly, in terms of economic development, Singapore has no time to slack off or relax. In this era of endless technological innovation, where regional countries are rising and using technology to develop rapidly, standing still means being left behind. Singapore cannot be content with standing still. Singapore must forge ahead courageously. We have no natural resources, only people, manpower and talent, so everyone must continue to strive and fight.

"Those who dare to fight will win." We must work very hard. Of course, some people say Singapore is under too much pressure and moving too fast. I believe we must strive hard, whilst also creating space to take care of ourselves and our loved ones around us. We want harmony between the two, not “either/or”.

How can we achieve work-life harmony? Pursue what you love, do what you are passionate about. When a person engages in their interests and does what they love, work naturally becomes not just work, but part of life. I hope the Government can increase efforts to support Singaporeans in pursuing their interests, passions and dreams at all stages of life, including entrepreneurship.

Additionally, flexible work arrangements must become the new normal in our economy and workplace. Our workforce is of high quality, and Singaporeans are capable, so if Singaporeans can have greater space to choose when, where and how to do their work well, we can certainly do good work whilst also achieving better harmony with life. I hope the Government can continue to promote flexible work arrangements and work more closely with employers, not only supporting employers in adjusting their operating models, but also helping employers change their mindset. Furthermore, our entire workforce must better embrace technology, make good use of technology and integrate technology into every position in the economy.

We have no time to slack off, no room to relax, we must fight, but we absolutely cannot rely on ourselves to fight blindly in the same place. Instead, we must rely on technology to help us fight, to fight for us. Let technology be by our side, become our most effective tools and weapons, and fight alongside us to achieve possibilities that, perhaps, even we ourselves cannot yet imagine. This is the potential brought by the integration of humans and technology, and it is also one of our nation's greatest opportunities in continued economic transformation.

Besides the pressure being too great and the pace being too fast, more and more Singaporeans are also saying: “it is not that I do not want to fight or work, but I cannot find work, cannot find employers who want to hire me.” Moreover, it is not just middle-aged workers facing this concern – perhaps more and more young graduates entering the workforce are also facing this concern. Unemployment, career changes, repeated rejections – these challenges faced by our workers deeply affect their daily living, and even their dignity.

And in an era of rapid economic transformation and re-transformation, these challenges will become increasingly frequent. We must better empathise with workers and support them with greater effort and more comprehensive systems. Helping workers find employment and change careers must become one of our major social safety nets.

(In English): Job-seeking, job matching support has to become one of our key pillars, going forward, for our social security and a new major social safety net.

(In Mandarin): We must also further reform our education system, to better nurture the next generation of workforce, to thrive in the new economic era. Besides learning how to do things from a young age, what our children need more is to learn how to behave properly from a young age. For our education system to successfully achieve this, besides continuing to reform the system, we must also reform everyone's mindset and definition of success.

What else does Singapore have and not have?

Third, Singapore has an increasingly diverse society. It also faces greater risks of social division and fragmentation. In an information age, truth and falsehood become increasingly difficult to tell. Hence, in resisting foreign interference and in promoting mutual understanding and trust domestically, we must do better and go deeper.

What else does Singapore have and not have?

Overall, Singapore has a rapidly ageing population, but also opportunities to better care for the elderly. In terms of economic development, Singapore has no time to slack off and no room to relax, but we have opportunities to integrate with technology, and opportunities to deeply reform our labour system and education system.

Singapore has an increasingly diverse society, but also stronger national identity, stronger social cohesion and resilience.

For 60 years since independence, we have achievements, but we must also have gratitude and humility, and even more importantly, we must not be content with the status quo and must strive for excellence. We have challenges, but we should also have confidence. We have no reason to feel dejected or discouraged. Different from the early days of independence, many of our current challenges have no other countries' experiences for reference, no other countries' precedents to rely on. Many of our current challenges have no answer sheets.

But we have a good Government with far-sighted vision and strategic planning. We have people, united as one. I firmly believe that as long as the Government, the people, and both ruling and opposition parties work together, there is no battle Singapore cannot win. We have strategy, resources, and even more importantly, determination, courage and capability. We will certainly be able to build on the past and open up the future, continue writing Singapore's nation-building miracle, and open a new chapter in Singapore's brilliant future!

Mr Speaker: Mr Gerald Giam.

1.34 pm

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the voters of Aljunied group representation constituency (GRC), including those in Bedok Reservoir-Punggol division, for giving my teammates and I in the Workers' Party (WP) an opportunity to serve them again. We know that each vote was a carefully considered decision and we do not hold that lightly. We are committed to honouring your trust by working tirelessly to earn your votes again in the coming years.

Mr Speaker, in his speech at the Opening of Parliament, the President spoke of the need to resist self-perpetuating inequality. This message was echoed by the Prime Minister yesterday, who pointed out how other societies have become increasingly stratified, with privilege becoming more entrenched. I share this deep concern.

While it is reassuring that income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, is declining, the Gini coefficient does not measure wealth inequality. This refers to the unequal distribution of assets like property, stocks, bonds and savings. If left unchecked, widening inequality can fracture our social compact and undermine the meritocratic system that has been the key to our nation's prosperity.

Meritocracy, in turn, relies on the public's confidence that it can deliver upward social mobility. A waning of that confidence could lead to distrust, both between different segments of society and with the Government, making it harder to forge the consensus required to navigate systemic challenges.

Inequality is, therefore, a fundamental faultline in our in our society. Narrowing this divide demands the same level of attention, resources and effort that we have dedicated to maintaining racial and religious harmony.

Confronting inequality requires more than just giving everyone the same opportunities in school, as even when public goods are equally available, private advantages remain unequally distributed. Wealth is frequently passed down from parents to children, not only through inheritances, but a combination of social, informational and financial capital from the time they were born until deep into their adulthood. This provides children of privilege the best opportunities to thrive at every stage of their lives, and a strong safety net to catch them if they fall.

These translate into a significant and enduring head start in life. They are subtle and unspoken, but they compound over time.

For a start, well-resource parents cultivate cultural capital by providing a wide range of enriching experiences to their children. This includes frequent overseas travel and exposure to the arts, which build an understanding of cultural norms in influential circles, and provides a foundation for sophisticated conversations in social and professional settings.

Etiquette lessons and public speaking from a young age equip their children with the confidence highly-valued in the workplace and in leadership roles. These parents have the resources to send their children for enrichment camps in areas, like artificial intelligence (AI), coding and robotics. They know that these courses build competence from a young age in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), a skillset that generally commands higher salaries in future careers.

This hands-on experience beyond what is taught in textbooks can spark interest and give an indirect boost to academic performance. The Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme offers an alternative route to top schools based on students' non-academic talents. For parents with resources, hiring top coaches to provide individual training on technique and fitness gives their children a significant head start.

This allows them to become high-performance athletes before their peers, giving them a distinct advantage during school trials. Furthermore, if their child does not do well in enough in local exams, their parents have the option of sending them to private schools, locally and overseas. This additional safety net ensures that a pathway to higher education is always available, a luxury that less-affluent families cannot afford.

As these young adults enter the workforce, their accumulated social capital continues to open doors. Some might lend prized internships at multinational corporations through their parents' professional networks, bypassing traditional hiring procedures. Likewise, a parent might introduce their child to an influential business contact who can give them their first professional role or provide helpful career tips. These relationships create an oft hidden job market, leading to opportunities that are not publicly advertised.

This safety net extends into significant housing and financial advantages. For instance, some well-to-do parents buy property for their children when they are still young to hedge against rising prices, ensuring they would not have to struggle to afford their first home when they get married. Others hand over their successful businesses to their children after they graduate, removing the need for them to compete with their peers in the in the job market.

To be clear, the actions of these parents are perfectly legal. They are simply doing their best to help their children in a very competitive economy, but this creates a growing chasm between those with and without these advantages. This divide will only widen as economic competition intensifies and the nature of entry-level jobs shift to AI, which demands new skills that are more accessible to the privileged.

Our challenge, then, is to bridge this gap, not by suppressing the privileged, but by levelling up everyone else. To do this, we must bolster our public institutions until they rival the private sphere, ensuring every child has the opportunity to achieve their maximal potential. I have a few suggestions in this respect.

The SkillsFuture Credit scheme has empowered adults to upskill, but the race for skills and opportunities begins much earlier in life. To truly level the playing field, I propose a junior SkillsFuture Credit scheme. This initiative would provide a dedicated skills development credit to all Singaporean children below 18 from households in the lower 40th percentile income bracket. This credit could be used for approved enrichment courses in areas, like coding, public speaking, sports and the arts.

By democratising access to the same hard and soft skills that are often the privilege of the affluent, we can ensure every child has a fair chance to build their confidence and competence from a young age. I have noted Minister of State Jasmine Lau's earlier response today to Mr David Hoe, who made a similar proposal in his Parliamentary Question (PQ). I am glad we are on the same wavelength here.

I acknowledge that schools have many in-school and out-of-school extracurricular opportunities for students, including those from low-income families. These should certainly continue. What I am asking for is a separate credit that gives parents and children the agency to choose enrichment programmes that are not available in their schools.

In today's economy, we cannot precisely predict the skills that will be in demand, or the specific passions and interests that will ignite in our young people. Therefore, by giving parents and children the autonomy and agency to choose enrichment courses, we are empowering them to explore a diverse range of opportunities and build skills in emerging areas, just as well-resourced families can.

This SG Culture Pass, which provides credits for citizens to attend arts and heritage events, is a commendable initiative. However, I am concerned that its take-up rate may be low among households from the lower-income brackets. To ensure that all citizens can benefit, the National Arts Council (NAC) would need to strengthen its outreach efforts to publicise the pass across all segments of society and address the unique challenges faced by these lower-income families, such as competing financial priorities, time constraints and the hidden cost of attendance.

We should establish a Global Horizons Fund to provide financial support for international student exchanges, internships and volunteer trips. Democratising the global exposure that is a key component of cultural capital.

The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) would be a natural partner to manage this fund, as its mission already aligns with connecting Singaporeans with global communities. Through SIF, donations for the fund could be sought from philanthropic foundations, corporate sponsors and individuals who have benefited from such international exposure. To match up the college preparation provided to higher-income students, education and career guidance services in schools could be enhanced and personalised. These services could offer comprehensive support to guide students from less-privileged backgrounds through the complex application process for local and foreign universities.

Critically, this service would make them aware of the importance of building up a competitive portfolio early and will help them strategically utilise financial support programmes designed to help them do so. At the same time, our local universities should continue to monitor their admissions process to ensure that donations do not impact how students are admitted, a problem which has occurred in other countries.

Existing professional mentorship schemes could be expanded to the National Career Mentorship programme for all young Singaporean professionals, tradespersons and workers seeking career guidance and professional networks. Crucially, this programme must conduct proactive and targeted outreach to individuals from less-privileged backgrounds who may lack the social and informational capital to access these opportunities.

To attract and retain committed mentors, the programme could offer public recognition and award continuing professional development hours. These incentives will not only reward their time but also formalise their commitment to guiding young people from all backgrounds, thus helping them to build a more equitable professional landscape.

To level up the advantage of wealthy parents providing seed capital or passing on their businesses to their children, Enterprise Singapore should adjust the Startup SG Founder Programme. The programme's recent shift to a one-to-one co-matching ratio presents a financial barrier for first-time entrepreneurs who lack personal savings or family wealth. It makes funding less accessible and favours those who are already financially well off. I urge Enterprise Singapore to revert to the previous one-to-four co-matching ratio. This would make crucial seed funding more accessible, ensuring that promising ideas are judged on their merit alone without a founder's financial means becoming an obstacle.

Sir, all these programmes can only make a national impact if they are able to reach and assist a wide section of society. The various agencies running these programmes should redouble efforts to publicise their programmes on social media and traditional advertising platforms and partners with schools, interest groups, grassroots organisations, including those linked with the opposition, to encourage participation from Singaporeans from less privileged backgrounds.

Sir, while our journey as a nation has been a remarkable one, the true measure of our success lies not in the peaks of our wealth, but in the enduring opportunities we provide to all citizens.

The proposals I have outlined today are not designed to penalise success, but to strengthen our meritocratic system, ensuring that every citizen, regardless of their family's background, has a fair shot at success. By giving every Singaporean access to the exclusive advantages that provide a head start in life, we can create a powerful equalising force, offering a clear pathway to upward mobility and a robust safety net for all.

This is how we can build a society where a child's destiny is not dictated by their birth, but by their grit and hard work. This is how we can assure those who are growing up in difficult circumstances that our society is empowering them every step of the way, and this is how we inspire the next generation to give their all for their families and the progress of our nation. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.

Mr Speaker: Mr David Hoe.

1.48 pm

Mr David Hoe (Jurong East-Bukit Batok): Mr Speaker, Sir, I stand today in support of the Motion to thank President Tharman for his address, and to air the voices and concerns of Singaporeans.

It is their aspirations, struggles and daily lives that form the very foundation of my presence here today, and I believe everyone here today here in this room. And I am also grateful to the residents of Jurong East and Bukit Batok GRC for allowing me to represent them in the 15th Parliament.

Allow me to begin by first saying that I am a product of my experiences, from growing up in a dysfunctional family, having gone through the Normal (Technical) stream, fulfilling my dream of becoming an educator, founder to a few social empowerment programmes and today, a husband and a father of two beloved children. All these experiences have shaped my worldview.

But they are not the only ones. Today, I am very fortunate to be able to represent Clementi residents and people from all walks of life and these experiences will surely influence what I will say, do inside and outside of this House.

But for now, let me to share a few thoughts on being "we first" society. Underlying the idea of a "we first" society, it is no one gets left behind. I have some thoughts on what it means to build an inclusive society, which I will continue to develop as I go along in my term and as I grow into my role as a Member of Parliament (MP).

Most of us have heard this countless number of times, that we should all have our own definition of success. And this personal definition matters, because they guide our aspirations in life.

But while having this definition of success is important, today, I want to spotlight on how can ensure that we have the sufficient building blocks to help Singaporeans to not only define but also to realise their own definition of success. Specifically, I will look into three groups – our young, our families and our seniors.

Let me first begin with our young. In 2024, the average monthly household income of the bottom 20%, or B20 households was under $4,500, according to the Department of Statistics. A beginner robotics class, guitar class or speech and drama class today would easily us $200-$300 a month.

Exposure to such classes and lessons are important because they help our children to explore their interests beyond a typical school setting. From these interests, with time and practice, they grow into strengths and from these strengths, they grow into definition of success.

But these activities are out of reach to children whose families cannot even afford such lessons. And it pains me when I learnt that such opportunities depend on family income, because if I truly want every single child to be able to define their own version of success, then should not access to such experiences not be a privilege but a given?

This is why I propose the idea of "curiosity credits". This is a scheme where every single child has credits that they can draw upon to explore new opportunities, be it in arts, sports, technology, or any other fields. The goal, really, is to nurture curiosity. It is to help children to be able to recognise their strengths and interests and perhaps, ignite a spark that could guide them in their lifelong journey. Curiosity credits, what is this?

Think of this similar to SkillsFuture, but SkillsFuture for our young. Just as SkillsFuture encourages adults to upskill and pursue lifelong learning, curiosity credits would give our children a structured but flexible way to explore, experiment and build confidence in their formative years.

Importantly, I must say this. Curiosity credits should and must be means-tested, so that families who need the most support can draw on these credits, because curiosity credits can help close a starting gap in life, by giving children that come from less advantaged background a means to access opportunities that they otherwise cannot have access to. To be clear, we already have a wide range of policies and programmes to support our young, but what I am proposing is we can do more.

A Child Development Account in our early years helps to defray preschool and healthcare expenses. But it does not allow that very child to explore enrichment classes that are beyond the preschool setting.

Let us move on to Edusave. Likewise, you cannot tap on your Edusave account to pay for a dance lesson at our Community Centre, or even a robotics class at a private provider. So, my point is this. Curiosity credits can bridge opportunity gaps early, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the foundation to shape his/her own definition of success. But while curiosity credits can help children discover their passions, this alone is not enough in shaping the outlook of success.

Today, the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) still remains the main gateway to secondary school. I urge the Ministry of Education (MOE) to consider broadening entry pathways to secondary schools. By moving beyond a single examination as the necessary condition, which is PSLE, we can redefine success more broadly as a society and allow children with different strengths to thrive.

As MOE itself has said in April 2025 in an online primer, they said, I quote: "The future of Singapore’s education system is not just about choosing to keep or eliminate PSLE." I agree. "It is about how we can customise learning pathways to meet diverse abilities, needs, interests and aspirations of future generations. It is about how we can embrace learning beyond schools and books and help students discover the joy of learning to lay the foundations for self-motivated, lifelong learning."

It is in this spirit, broadening entry pathways is not about removing rigour, but it is about right-siting students in environments where they can flourish. We already see glimpses of this through the DSA, but this remains supplementary to the PSLE rather than a truly parallel route. I urge MOE to continue to pilot or consider piloting new models.

This could take the form of a through-train programme from primary to secondary school, which we heard before, or alternative entry requirements instead of a single high stake at accumulative examinations that have substantial impact on our child's future.

The truth is, even as I say all these, as a former educator, I know the logistical challenges are real. But I also know that if we want to embrace a child-centred model of education, we should and we must find ways to make it work.

Examinations and pathways are just one part of the education system. Let me focus on something else: the learning environment. Because even with the best opportunities, a child cannot pursue his/her own aspirations if their learning environment is not conducive, and bullying has been a pressing concern.

MOE's recent announcement on 27 August regarding its plans to address bullying is timely and praiseworthy. It plans to sharpen school policies, provide more accessible reporting channels and – I like this – cultivate a culture of kindness. All these are important steps.

But on this note we should review our existing frameworks on discipline and consequences for bullying. Current measures today range from warning, counselling and suspension to more serious sanctions. These have their place, but we must ask a fundamental question: how effective are they in changing behaviour and preventing repeated harmful acts?

Take suspension, for example, which I mentioned two days ago. Previously, suspension was painful, painful because you would not have the ability to interact with your friends because you are not in school, and even if you wanted to head out to play basketball in the daytime, there is no one to play with you. That boredom was real, it is painful.

However, I also said this that if you have access to a mobile phone, because this is what a parent told me, during your suspension, I mentioned you can play Mobile Legend, but you also play Roblox, and suspension is seen as nothing more than just a holiday.

Without a structured approach, the time away from school does not build accountability. In fact, it risks trivialising the harm caused. If a child returns without genuine reflection or remorse, the underlying behaviours may continue and the victim remains unprotected. So, we must find ways to make disciplinary actions more purposeful.

This could mean compelling bullies to remain in school premises, in a separate room, even if they are suspended from class. In their suspension, they are to experience a guided reflection session where they have to confront the impact of their actions, reflect why that was not acceptable and arrive at a resolution.

Creating a safe environment for our children goes beyond tackling bullying. An equally pressing threat that I want to address today is the access to drugs and youth vaping.

I recognise that tackling both issues require a multi-pronged approach. However, I want to highlight, based on what I have heard from different Singaporeans, a key gap in our current reporting mechanisms.

Today, reporting online vaping reporting requires a Singpass login. And to have a Singpass account, you must be at least 15 years old. What this effectively means is that if you are under 15 years old, you cannot make an online report. Many of these children and students who may witness vaping in schools or even around their town neighbourhoods, are 14 years old and below.

With the response by Minister Ong Ye Kung, I am heartened to know that our young are able to call at the Tobacco Regulation Branch to report.

But can I also say this: we must understand our target audience. Today, many youths are less or not comfortable picking up that phone to call and file a report. But ask them to fill up a form, or anything online? They are a lot more comfortable. Also, the hotline operates from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm. This is why I hope the task force can consider making youth-appropriate channels to make reporting easier.

Let me share another recent example someone shared with me recently. On Telegram channel, where you can purchase drugs in Singapore, he asked me, "David, how can I report?" So, David does not know. What David did was – I was not sure, so I called the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). And follow me; I was told to go to the CNB website, scroll all the way down to e-services, click on feedback and enquiries, and file a report there. I was genuinely puzzled. How is drug reporting the same as general feedback or general enquiries? Furthermore, I tried. No Singpass login was required.

My main point is this. At the end of the day, if we want our children and youths to be able to continue to grow up in a Singapore that is drug-free, then reporting must be accessible and intuitive, beyond just vape or drugs reporting.

Even if you take my recommendation, I wonder whether we can just have a one-stop shop for reporting because today, there are just so many platforms that you can always report things – one service, one form, another form.

From children, I will move on next to our families. Let me first and foremost state the obvious. Every parent wants their child to be born healthy and be healthy. But let me also say that not every parent will always be so fortunate. Because according to a KK Women's and Children's Hospital's press release in October 2024, , they said, and I quote, "even with declining birth rates and advancement in medical care, Singapore has a relatively high premature birth rate".

And also, in the Ministry of Health's (MOH's) response to my PQ yesterday, Singapore's premature birth rate in our restructured hospitals over the last five years has grown from 10% to 11%. In other words, one in every 10 births is premature in our restructured hospitals. This is much higher than our Asian neighbours – Hong Kong at 6.5% and China at 6.9%. It is also in that very same response, my heart sank when I saw this, because MOH's response shared that the average length of a newborn in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is between 154 days and 299 days. Many of these preterm babies spend weeks, sometimes months, in hospital. This translates to significant out-of-pocket costs for parents, even when our subsidies kick in. We should consider how to help these parents better.

Truth is, parents of preterm babies will likely exhaust their leave before the child even comes home. And I know this first-hand because my son was born preterm. And yes, this is why I am asking if we could do more for parents of preterm babies because they reached out to me via Instagram after I posted about it before the General Election (GE).

One of the ways is whether we can better support them through stronger workplace arrangements at such sudden and overwhelming moments. Specifically, I wonder if the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) can consider extended or flexible leave provision accorded to parents of preterm babies beyond our current Government paid maternity and paternity leave schemes, which is great. This could take the form of a cap extension tied to the additional number of days that a preterm child spends in NICU, so that no parent has to ever worry about running out of leave before the baby comes home.

Now, supporting parents at the earliest days of a child's life is critical, but you and I know the responsibility does not stop there. As children grow, their needs change. From ensuring care in their first few fragile months of their life, we must also ensure that our children have healthy opportunities to play, stay active, develop holistically and not being glued to their phones.

This is why I turn, now, to the importance of making sports and recreation more accessible. During my house visits, several parents of primary school-going children shared their concerns with me, that in our new Built-To-Order (BTO) estates, and even in my own BTO estate that I live in, we often have playgrounds but know of few sports facilities. Some even noted that their homes were far away from the nearest basketball court and as a result, the easy option is to keep the child at home and let them use the phone.

So, I suggested, I said, "Uncle, Aunty, why not you book the basketball or badminton court in the school compound close to your home under the dual use scheme for your child to use, and spend your ActiveSG credits there while you're at it". Sounds great. But to my surprise, I learned that ActiveSG credits cannot be used for such school facility bookings, even though it is managed by ActiveSG. Instead, for those who wish to book such sports facilities in schools, they have to pay out of their own pocket with a credit card or PayNow.

Small as this might seem, but these last-mile barriers matter, and I urge a review to ensure that access to sports is affordable, simple and holistic. If it requires inter-Ministry coordination, then we must do better. In this regard, I ask whether the Minister of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Sports Singapore and MOE should consider ensuring that ActiveSG credits can be used for a broader range of sports facilities, alongside with payment gateways options that are harmonised and inclusive.

Allow me to move on to the third group, which is seniors, who I have grown to love, about how we can help seniors to thrive in the digital world today.

Mr Speaker: Mr Hoe, you have a minute and a half left. Just to let you know.

2.06 pm

Mr David Hoe: While Clementi is home to many young families, a large part of this community is made out of seniors. At a recent community event, I encourage our seniors to embrace technology at their own pace. For some, this is not easy, but I was heartened that they are willing to take the first step forward. But many shared with me their reluctance to go online because of the fear of being scammed.

Allow me to cite an example. I told them that they could dial 1799 for the ScamShield helpline if they were unsure. I tried calling the number myself. Every single thing was in English. That made me pause and I asked myself, who exactly is our target audience? If the major group of this service is our seniors, then should that very first option not be being able to choose your preferred language?

In fact, this is not just about anti-scam tools. It is about the overall direction of our digital Government services. Many websites, apps and hotlines are still mainly in English. ScamShield is just one example, but the principle is broader. If we want our seniors to live confidently in the digital world, then we must make sure our products and services must be designed with them in mind.

In closing, for our children and youths to be able to define and realise their aspirations, for our parents to be able to raise their kids well, and for our seniors to be able to thrive in a changing world, this does not happen by chance. We need to build the building blocks to make them happen. It takes all of us in this House, whether you are a PAP white or a WP blue, whether you are an officeholder or a backbencher, to build and hold these blocks together. My hope is simple – that we may join hands, set aside our differences where we can, and focus on what unites us, the aspiration of our people and the Singapore we want to build for them. I stand in support of the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik.

2.08 pm

Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik (Sengkang): Mr Speaker, I am here today with deep appreciation to the voters of Sengkang. I am honoured to have served in Sengkang as a volunteer since 2020 and now, as their elected representative. I acknowledge the President's call in his address: "Singapore must also remain a home where the vulnerable amongst us are not only cared for with compassion but also empowered to pursue their hopes and dreams." These words remind us of our fundamental duty to ensure that every Singaporean has the opportunity to thrive.

This year, Singapore celebrates our 60th year of independence. This milestone presents us with a crucial opportunity for reflection and stocktaking. It is a time to assess not only our achievements but also to honestly examine what we can do better. Most importantly, it compels us to address the emerging cracks in our foundation that threaten to leave some of our fellow Singaporeans behind.

Today, I will focus on three areas where we must extend our support: first, extending support in housing through reassessing barriers to entry; second, extending support in rehabilitation beyond punishment and enforcement; and third, extending support in education through more data sharing. While I will confine my comments to these areas for now, I look forward to raising other important issues over the course of this term, in particular, the struggles of the sandwiched generation – young parents juggling work, childcare and rising costs of living.

Mr Speaker, stable housing offers a safe harbour where individuals and families can rest and recharge. During Singapore's nation-building period in the 1960s, home ownership was prioritised as a tool for nation-building, allowing Singaporeans to have a stake in our country's development. This vision continues today.

However, we should be concerned that home ownership has become out of reach, especially for lower-income individuals and families who are unable to afford a place of their own. Many such individuals and families live precariously, in fear of slipping into a situation where they are forced to sell their homes and resort to Government rental flats.

But in recent years, even securing Government rental flats can be a challenge. While we recognise that the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has broadened their criteria for rental flats and do not rely solely on income as the main yardstick, demand often outstrips supply. Even successful applicants endure an average waiting period of five months.

Renting from the open market also poses its own challenges. Parliamentary records from 2024 show that the average rent for HDB 3-room, 4-room and 5-room flats in the open market has increased significantly by about 10% year-on-year in 2023, for example, the median rent of 3-room flats in Sengkang increased by 11% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. As a result, such individuals and families find themselves torn between increasing rental prices in the open market and long waiting times for public rental flats, additional stressors on top of the absence of stable housing.

I acknowledge that the Government has continuously worked to improve housing access for Singaporeans, including recent pilot projects, such as Single Room Shared Facilities and Joint Singles Scheme Operator-Run. However, more needs to be done to address particular groups disproportionately affected by insufficient housing supply. I will briefly touch on two groups in my speech today.

First, single unwed parents and their children. Parliamentary records from March 2024 reveal that on average, only 46% of requests from single unwed parents to rent a public rental flat have been successful each year. This means that every other single parent – usually young, stressed and limited in options – is denied by the public system, while at their most vulnerable.

Second, individuals who are unable to stay with their family members. HDB has cited availability of housing from family members as grounds for rejecting public rental requests, with a lack of clarity on whether other factors are considered, such as the nature of the relationship with family, particularly where it may be strained or abusive.

Mr Speaker, there are multitudes of reasons why someone might find themselves in desperate situations – relationship breakdowns, overcrowding, divorces and other circumstances often beyond their control. These should not be treated by our public housing system as personal insufficiency. Instead, we must build a system that empowers individuals and families with equal opportunities for safety, stability and self-sufficiency through basic stable housing.

Increasing supply of rental flats and reassessing barriers to entry will be key tasks I aim to speak up about in this term. My proposals include: first, exercising flexibility by always taking applicants' current relationship dynamics with family into consideration before rejecting applications based on availability of housing options with family, and publicly commit to upholding this approach.

Second, expanding the public rental housing market to cater to changing aspirations of Singaporeans. This may include exploring flexible and experimental models, such as introducing a universal buy-back scheme for ageing HDB flats, which can then be rented to Singaporeans at rates between commercial and HDB public rentals, offering larger homes and flexible options for those not ready for long-term leases.

Mr Speaker, I shall now move on to my next point on extending support in rehabilitation for drug abusers. First, I would like to indicate my support for the overall tough anti-drug stance, coupled with strong education and rigorous enforcement in keeping drug prevalence low. According to the 2024 Singapore Health and Lifestyle Survey, the lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use in Singapore was 2.3%, while 12-month prevalence was 0.7%. The prevalence of illicit drug consumption in Singapore was much lower than rates reported in studies from the United States (US), Europe and Australia. Yet, even with these low overall rates, troubling patterns are emerging, particularly among our youths.

In 2024, 54% of new drug abusers were under 30, and the number of those under 20 rose by 38%. This rise should not be treated as merely a law enforcement issue; it is a complex social challenge affecting individuals, families and entire communities. These trends are undeniably driven by curiosity and peer pressure, but there are also deeper structural and psychological factors that contribute to its increase. Behind every statistic is a person grappling with trauma and a family striving to rebuild.

Enforcement alone cannot break the cycle of addiction. Building on existing efforts, we should continue to foster a sustained and rehabilitative approach, one that centres on a community-anchored ecosystem supporting recovery beyond surveillance. This includes better access to counselling, community-fostered mentorship and employment support. Youths who struggle with drug abuse often face significant barriers to successfully reintegrate into society. These include social stigma, employment challenges and weak social support.

It is thus concerning that Singapore's two-year recidivism rate for inmates released from Drug Rehabilitation Centres has climbed to 30.8% for the 2022 cohort, significantly above the 21.3% rate for all offenders. Rehabilitation efforts must focus on better reintegration and breaking the revolving door between prison and society.

The Singapore Prison Service's (SPS') Reintegration Hub and CNB's Supervision 2.0 pilot are promising developments. Hair testing, community supervision sessions, and referrals for housing and employment support are steps in the right direction. As then Minister of State Faishal Ibrahim noted in 2024, hair testing has a longer detection window, allowing reporting frequency to be reduced to once every three months instead of twice weekly under the urine testing regime.

However, more must be done to ensure that recovery is not just monitored but meaningfully supported by ensuring that individuals have a strong support network that helps them rebuild their lives, not just to avoid relapse. To better tailor interventions, CNB's publicly available data on drug abusers should go beyond race and age to include other data such as education level, socio-economic status, mental health history, employment status and housing type. This allows us to grasp the complex patterns driving drug use or design appropriate interventions that truly address individuals' needs. As regard to integration of ex-offender, we recognise that Yellow Ribbon Singapore has made significant strides in supporting them, but more can be done to help ex-offenders reintegrate into the society.

In 2025, The Straits Times reported that while there seems to be more employment opportunities for former offenders after release, other issues, such as, social stigma and personal challenges can affect their retention in those jobs. The career retention rate among former offenders who got jobs with Yellow Ribbon Singapore's help has dropped over the years.

Therefore, we should examine the outcomes of initiatives like the Digital Literacy Masterplan and the Uplifting Employment Credit, including job retention rates and career progression. These metrics will help us understand the effectiveness of our rehabilitation efforts and identify areas for improvement. As we move forward, Yellow Ribbon Singapore should be empowered to play a coordinating role across agencies, ensuring that rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders is holistic, sustained and inclusive.

Mr Speaker, I now turn to extending support in education, particularly calling for a data-driven approach to better identify needs. In 2021, the Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (RIMA) published "Dreams Realised, Dreams Deferred: Understanding and Addressing the Racial Gap in Educational Achievement in Singapore." A key point raised was that the Malay students persistently face an education gap. Then Minister for Education, cited two data points that illustrate this disparity.

First, in 2021, he noted that 94% of Malay students who entered Primary 1 in 2009 progressed to post-secondary education, which is lower than the national average of 97%. More recently, in April this year, he referred to Census 2020 data showing that only about 11% of Malay residents aged 25 and above held university degrees, compared to 35% of Chinese and 41% of Indians. MENDAKI's analysis of the same census data further highlighted that Malays accounted for just 4% of all university graduates in 2020.

Mr Speaker, if we look at the historical context, then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong shared in 1999 that in 1998, 1.3% of Malay students dropped out before completing primary or secondary school, with the secondary-level dropout rate at 5.9%. Since then, there has been clear progress. According to recent CNA reporting, fewer than one in 100 students have left secondary school without completing it in the past five years.

While there has clearly been progress in reducing dropout rates, the broader educational attainment gap remains stark. There is therefore a pressing need for more comprehensive research and greater access to disaggregated data. Only then can we understand the full picture where the Malay community stands, how their challenges compare with other groups and what targeted policies are needed to close the gap meaningfully.

Mr Speaker, I call for several data-driven improvements. First, MOE should track university graduation rates annually by ethnicity to better understand educational outcomes across communities. Second, we need detailed breakdown of data to ascertain the percentage of lower-income Malays reaching university, including release of data on Malay undergraduates applying for MENDAKI Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy over the past decade. And third, MOE should release data on school dropout rates by income background and ethnicity to identify vulnerable groups requiring additional support. Mr Speaker, allow me to continue my speech in Malay.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, today I have touched on three areas where we need to continue supporting marginalised segments of society.

First, in housing, we need to reassess existing barriers to entry. This will ensure that every family, including unmarried single mothers and individuals who cannot live with their family members, gain access to stable housing.

Therefore, we call for applicants' relationships with their families to also be taken into consideration before their applications are rejected, and to expand the public rental housing market to meet the evolving aspirations of Singaporeans.

Second, in drug rehabilitation, we need an approach that is not merely punishment and enforcement alone. The recidivism rate for inmates released from the Drug Rehabilitation Centre has increased to 30.8% for the 2022 cohort. More worryingly, in 2024, Malay offenders comprised 50% of all drug abusers arrested. We need more detailed data to include education levels, socioeconomic status, mental health history, employment status and housing type. Without these details, we cannot fully understand the complex issues that drive drug use, and will thus face challenges in designing appropriate forms of intervention.

Third, in education, we need broader data sharing to identify community needs more accurately. According to the 2020 Population Census, only about 11% of Malay residents aged 25 and above held university degrees, compared to 35% of Chinese residents and 41% of Indian residents.

To better understand how to increase this percentage, we call for MOE to track and release data on university graduation rates by race, and also to release data on school dropout rates by income background and race.

Here, I want to emphasise that whilst I focus attention on challenges faced by the Malay community, assistance and support should be given to all who need it, regardless of their background. We cannot allow anyone to continue being left behind in the nation's development journey. Our approach is based on principles of social justice and robust data. We want a system that provides equal opportunities to all individuals.

MPs from the WP will strive and continue to work to be a voice for all Singaporeans, including the Malay/Muslim community.

We believe that a strongly supported society will benefit Singapore as a whole. When we help those who are marginalised amongst us, we will together advance all Singaporeans, regardless of their race or background.

(In English): Mr Speaker, I return to the President's address. A Singapore that is home to all of us cannot merely be an aspiration, but an imperative for us to achieve together. The challenges I have outlined today in housing, rehabilitation and education require not just Government action, but a whole-of-society response. They demand not just policy changes but a fundamental commitment to seeing the dignity and potential in every Singaporean.

I assure this House that the problems of those at risk of falling through the cracks, especially but not limited to Malay lower-income households, will be consistently highlighted in Parliament. The WP elected representatives will work tirelessly to be the people's voice and to continue working for all Singaporeans, regardless of race or background.

I believe strongly that when we lift the most vulnerable among us, we lift all of Singapore. When we ensure that every family has stable housing, every person struggling with addiction has a meaningful path to recovery and every student has access to quality education regardless of their background, we strengthen the very fabric of our society. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.

Mr Speaker: Mr Darryl David.

2.28 pm

Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Speaker, the 15th term of Parliament opens at a pivotal moment in our history. In his Opening address, the President reminded us that the world is entering an era of profound uncertainty, marked by shifting power balances, rapid technological disruptions and new threats to stability.

Unlike other countries, Singapore's survival is based neither on natural resources nor a hinterland, as we have neither. Rather, our greatest resource has always been, and will always remain, our people. Our forefathers have laid the foundations to transform a largely unskilled workforce into one of the most competitive in the world. In the 1960s, less than six in 10 adults were literate; today, our literacy rate is approximately 98%.

As of 2024, almost 65% of our population above age 25 have completed post-secondary education, with approximately 36% of our population above the age 25 holding a university degree, making us amongst countries that have high tertiary attainment. Our students are frequently ranked among the very best internationally in mathematics, science and problem-solving; and our universities are ranked among the best in the world.

Mr Speaker, I list these achievements, not to boast or to be proud, but to make the point that these achievements are neither accidental nor due to a stroke of luck. They are the fruit of deliberate investment in our people. And as we celebrate 60 years of independence, let us remind ourselves that what we do in this term of Government will lay the foundation for the next 40 years, in the lead up to SG100. Education must continue to be one of the most powerful instruments to unlock talent, nurture resilience and inspire Singaporeans into our next chapter.

Mr Speaker, two values or concepts have always anchored me in life. They are relevance and value-add. Simply put, you will be replaced and sidelined if you are irrelevant and do not add value in whatever you do. This is true not only for individuals or professionals, but also for nations, as President Tharman reminded us in his Opening address.

Singapore today stands at a pivotal moment of uncertainty and turbulence. For Singapore to survive and thrive, we must ask ourselves, are we relevant to the rest of the world? How can we as a nation add value to the broader conversations that are happening elsewhere? I spent almost 25 years in the education industry and at present, I am the chief executive officer at an international school, so I firmly believe that education, too, must always be seen through this dual lens of relevance and value-adding.

Everything we do for our students, our workers, our people must equip them with the relevant skills so they can plug into the regional and global economy, and education must value-add to their personal and professional growth journey to the day they become better professionals, better individuals, better citizens of Singapore. We want to prepare Singaporeans, not just for today, but for tomorrow and, in this regard, I will touch on four areas in my speech: education technology (EdTech) and AI in education; enhancing neurodiverse education; holistic education, incorporating emotional and mental wellness; and more pathways for students and adult learners.

An area where relevance and value-add intersect is Edtech. In 2020, MOE has committed to provide every secondary school student a personal learning device (PLD) under the National Digital Literacy programme to nurture future-ready digital learners.

But why stop here? If digital literacy is foundational for the future, then should we not extend this commitment to our primary school students as well? I have spoken on this before in Parliament and I believe that a common tablet-like device preloaded with essential software and learning content that are centrally managed by MOE's Edtech division can be rolled out across primary schools, or we can as a pilot programme, for example.

This initiative is aligned with both our Smart Nation push as well as our National Digital Literacy programme. I would imagine that such a platform could provide every child, every child, regardless of background, with a one stop e-learning gateway. If done at scale, the cost per device would fall significantly and standardisation would ensure that every student, teacher and even parent is working within a consistent, secure and effective digital ecosystem.

Singapore is not alone in pursuing such solutions. In 2024, South Korea announced a similar initiative to launch a multi-billion dollar programme to distribute tablets and AI digital textbooks nationwide to students. Here, I hope that MOE could work closely with the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and even private sector partners to realise this vision. I said MOE and MDDI, so I am looking at my Ang Mo Kio GRC sister, Minister of State Jasmine Lau, and we should have more conversations over coffee about this.

Mr Speaker, we cannot talk about EdTech without addressing the use of AI in education. AI is already here. It is evolving even as I am speaking right now, and it is shaping how our students learn and how our teachers teach. We cannot ignore the use of AI. When done right, AI is a legitimate tool and a very effective tool to augment teaching and learning, so we need to figure out how to guide its use so our teachers can benefit from it in a responsible manner.

We want AI to amplify learning, not diminish or detract from it. One of my biggest concerns in the use of AI in education is how we can ensure that it does not erode critical thinking and original thought. On the worst-case scenario, having our students cross into plagiarism or ripping off someone else's work unknowingly, because they do not know how to use AI responsibly.

I believe our assessment models need to be redesigned to balance between responsible use of AI and genuine value-add in learning. For instance, assessment can be designed to differentiate between AI-assisted work versus original thought. Students can use AI for research, data gathering, idea generation with interpretation analysis being in the students' own words. By redesigning our assessment methods, we can keep education relevant in the AI-age by ensuring that our students reap genuine benefit and not just replicate what machines do.

On to equality and equity in neurodiverse education. When we first design our education system, we started with ensuring that every child has equal access to opportunities, follows the same school rules and has the same classroom experience. These principles have helped us create common teaching experiences and learning experiences for all students, regardless of their aptitude and disposition.

But as we observe, as we understand our students, especially those who are neurodiverse, then fitting everyone in the same education mould is probably not the best approach. Equity recognises that not all minds work in the same way, and that some students need differentiated approaches to fully engage and thrive. A child who functions differently may need to stand and pace at the back of the classroom to think clearly. Another may need to fidget or twirl an object to focus.

Providing these allowances would not necessarily compromise the integrity of a classroom. On the contrary, these allowances might be the key to create a participative, inclusive learning environment where every child, every child can immerse himself or herself fully in learning. Equality gives every student a place in the classroom. Equity gives every student the support they need to flourish within that classroom.

I believe our goal is to design an education system that is built on the principles of inclusion, not exclusion; and integration, not segregation. So, creating an inclusive classroom requires a mental shift in how we view what participative learning is and how teachers can conduct their lessons. We, thus, need to find a middle ground by combining equality and equity so that we create classrooms that are not only fair, but also nurturing, where every student, every student, regardless of their learning profile, can develop their strengths, contribute meaningfully and reach their full potential. I believe this is how our education system can be relevant to all learners and value-add meaningfully to the learning outcomes of different learners.

Mr Speaker, in today's world, students face a myriad of pressures that are more complex and pervasive than ever before. Academic competition, performance anxiety, comparison culture on social media, personal challenges and so on. We must, thus, equip them with the emotional and mental resilience to thrive, and this is the third topic in my speech.

A step forward in this area is to, perhaps, consider providing students who are in secondary schools and above with holistic support through mandatory counselling and mental wellness services. Why secondary school students and above? Well, because it is typically in the teenage years that many issues and challenges, both mental and emotional, present themselves, and this is where students and parents could use the most help and support.

I have a 17-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter, and I am sure anyone who has teenage children or has been through the experience of teenage children, will probably sympathise with me here.

It is not enough to just increase the demand on the number of allied educators or make support available on demand. I would like to advocate for a scheme – it is pretty radical, but hear me out – where every student is required to engage with their counsellor, psychologist, therapist or other allied healthcare professional for a minimum number of hours each month, with additional sessions available for those who need more support. This is akin to how it is mandatory for students to go for regular school-based dental and medical healthcare screenings.

After all, let us think about it for a minute. If we believe in physical health screenings to avert more serious medical problems downstream, then why not apply the same principle to mental and emotional health screenings to avert serious problems downstream?

I believe there are multiple benefits to this proposal. Firstly, it normalises help-seeking behaviour and reduces the stigma around mental health. It allows students to work on challenges, such as stress, anxiety, anger or social conflicts, before they escalate into bullying and/or emotional outbursts. We just had a whole session on bullying earlier this week, so my proposal could very well pick up on the anger and the issues that potential students, who might end up bullying others, are struggling with ahead of time.

Second, it integrates holistic pastoral care into the everyday educational experience in school, reinforcing the idea that emotional and mental wellness are as important as academic achievement.

Thirdly, beyond the students themselves, such a system would create meaningful careers for counsellors, therapists, psychologists and other allied healthcare professionals, thus strengthening Singapore's ecosystem of support by facilitating access to these professionals within the community. This proposal is not as radical as it sounds, considering that some companies have in place employee support schemes for employees in high-pressure roles to undergo regular counselling.

So, why should this not be something we can consider extending to a young adult whose formative years are equally crucial? By embedding holistic wellness into education, we are preparing our students not only to succeed academically, but to develop the resilience, empathy and self-awareness they will need to thrive in life.

And my final topic is more pathways for students and adult learners, Mr Speaker. MOE has made commendable progress in expanding post-primary and post-secondary pathways through initiatives, such as the DSA and the Direct Polytechnic Admission. These schemes have opened doors for students with diverse strengths, offering them alternate routes into the next stage of their education. The challenge now is to ensure that these pathways remain relevant and responsive to the needs of a changing world.

While we look at designing better and more holistic education systems for our young, we must not forget about our adult learners and our workforce. In an economy that is becoming more dynamic and evolutionary, it is increasingly essential for us to create a T-shaped workforce that have deep expertise in functional areas, which is the vertical; yet broad enough in perspectives and skills, the horizontal; to collaborate across disciplines.

The combination of depth and breadth will make our workforce adaptable, employable and ready to thrive in a world that values both specialisation and versatility. The key here, Mr Speaker, is employability. This is why MOE must continue closely with MOM, SkillsFuture Singapore and even industry partners to ensure that continuing employment training are aligned with macro market needs. Only by doing so, we will ensure that our learners, whether they are students, who are just leaving school, or adults seeking mid-career transition can remain relevant in their skills and also add value in the future economy.

Mr Speaker, it has often been said that Singapore's only natural resource is our people. Indeed, that has always been true. And today, it is truer than ever. For decades, our progress has been built on the capability, skills, the resilience of Singaporeans. This has enabled us to grow from a vulnerable young nation to a successful and respected one, But success brings about its own challenges.

The higher we climb, the more difficult it is for us to keep innovating, evolving and climbing to the next stage. Yet we must. We must, because the world around us is shifting rapidly. We must ensure that our education continues to produce talent that are well sought after because the relevancy of their skills and how they value-add to the work they do.

Mr Speaker, many years ago I made a speech on the PSLE, where I referred to it as the mother of all exams. I think the Prime Minister was then the Education Minister and he found my comment quite amusing. But I am very heartened by what the Prime Minister has said in his speech yesterday, that focus on aspects of education in Singapore, especially the need to reduce the stakes of single examination. So, while I may not stick to my view, that it is the mother of all exams, Prime Minister, I certainly hope that his comments will be heeded and we review, we review how the PSLE stress, that is brought about by the PSLE, can, perhaps, be better-managed or be better-received by the various stakeholders.

I also wholeheartedly agree with the Prime Minister that, increasingly, in a world of today, what you can do is more important than what paper you have. MOE is the chief architect, Mr Speaker, that shapes our people and our workforce. In this upcoming term of Government, as Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Education, I look forward to working closely with our MOE leaders, our educators, our industry, our parents and other stakeholders, to ensure that we nurture not only resilient and skilled individuals, but also Singaporeans with the compassion, empathy and imagination to take Singapore to the next level and beyond. Mr Speaker, Sir, I end my speech in firm support of the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Mr Dennis Tan.

2.45 pm

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Mr Speaker, I would, first, like to start off by thanking my dear Hougang voters and residents for allowing me, once again, to represent them in this Parliament. In Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, firstly, I would like to thank my dear residents and voters in Hougang for allowing me to represent them in Parliament again.

(In English): Mr Speaker, in his address at the Opening of the 15th Parliament on 5 September 2025, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam spoke on several themes, including enhancing assurance for all Singaporeans, fostering a more compassionate "we first" society, and deepening solidarity, and strengthening our resilience and enhancing sustainable efforts in face of climate challenges. In my speech, I will be touching on issues relating to these themes.

President Tharman spoke of a Singapore where our seniors can age with dignity, purpose and joy. He specifically mentioned that Healthier SG and Age Well SG will help seniors stay healthy in body and mind and provide more choices for independent living. In his National Day Rally in August, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong spoke of the Age Well Neighbourhoods initiative, which would allow for seniors to age in the communities that they are familiar with, and which also aim to deliver assisted living support and services to seniors where they live. Such services include community health posts, access to wellness and social activities, including new activities for both women and men. And for those requiring more assistance, there is also help with daily living activities, such as washing, eating and housekeeping. Such services are currently available in HDB's Community Care Apartments, but in limited estates.

I welcome the provision of such services to our seniors who choose to remain in their own flats in the same neighbourhoods they may have lived in for a long time. Many seniors prefer to continue living in the same neighbourhoods they are familiar with for many years – the familiarity, the neighbourly friendships are important for many seniors.

I do hope that the goals of the Age Well initiative are translated into tangible underground support, including especially through our Active Ageing Centres. I see that the role of our Active Ageing Centres will become even more important. Let me touch on a few areas of concern I have on this.

The Prime Minister had highlighted Toa Payoh's impressive growth in Active Ageing Centres from six to 13 to ensure seniors who do not have to walk far to find a community. In Hougang, we have four Active Ageing Centres within the single member constituency. So, while our centres in Hougang and I am sure elsewhere in Singapore are very much in demand and well-appreciated by many residents who use their services, I do note that the size of the centres is often a limitation to the amount of activities they can organise. Many centres need to make use of the common spaces in the vicinity of their centres, requiring access via Town Councils or the local Residents' Networks.

In light of the new Age Well initiative, I urge MOH to consider increasing resources for all Active Ageing Centres, whether resources for manpower, space or for more activities, so that every senior who wants to participate actively has all the opportunity to do so with less need to wait their turns.

I hope the Government will make greater efforts to allocate a bigger space to our Active Ageing Centres at the onset, or where ground conditions may allow. In this connection, I would like to ask: how does MOH determine the number of residents assigned to each centre? Given the physical limitation of centre spaces, or even manpower shortages, perhaps, it is time to rethink the resident allocation. We may wish to consider reducing the number of residents allocated per centre. This may allow staff to improve outreach, create more meaningful connections with our seniors and enhance the quality of our seniors' time at the centres.

As indicated earlier, Active Ageing Centres may often need to rely on common spaces in our community for their activities due to space constraints. I urge the Government to assist centres to make it easier to book these spaces with other agencies, as well as helping to lower, if not, absorb the costs, if any, of using these premises. Perhaps, MOH can help to coordinate with other agencies and stakeholders in this regard.

I would also like to ask again what is the Government's strategy for reaching residents who are not currently participating in any community activities with the Active Ageing Centres? I have previously called on MOH to study this issue. With the new Age Well initiative. It is even more crucial for MOH to dedicate resources to this critical outreach challenge. There is now a greater imperative to keep more seniors in touch and engaged.

I am keen to understand what percentage of residents the Active Ageing Centres have been unable to engage and how many refuse participation after initial engagement. Does MOH track the reasons for non-engagement and non-participation, or even those who dropped off after initial contact? I hope that MOH will study these issues. While some seniors may have their own active social networks, better outreach will only help to serve more seniors and better enable the new Age Well initiative and the Healthier SG to achieve their stated goals.

Mr Speaker, President Tharman spoke of cushioning burdens and pressures of cost and daily living and ensuring that every citizen has access to life's essentials.

I have previously called for removing Annual Value as a means testing criterion for residents with zero household income. This is also in our WP manifesto, and indeed, MPs across the aisle have raised this issue in the previous Parliament. While healthcare subsidies were recently expanded, an Annual Value of over $21,000 still denies crucial medical subsidies to some of those without income, so I am reiterating this call today.

The Annual Value is an unjust metric, often outside a homeowner's control. A person's eligibility should be based on transparent person-oriented criteria, not property valuation. We should delink healthcare affordability from property values. Let us use a more accurate person-centric measures to ensure our social safety net is truly strong and fair, especially for our seniors.

Mr Speaker, President Tharman had also spoken of building a society where no one is left behind. He stressed that by strengthening assurance and keeping opportunities open, we can build a more resilient and confident society, even in an uncertain world. He also spoke of nurturing a "we first" society, one that is more open and engaged, where citizens are empowered to take initiative and lead ground-up programmes. This is about building a society with deepened solidarity.

These aspirations must surely go beyond economic metrics. They should allow Singaporeans to pursue their passions and to build a society that is not only prosperous but also rich in culture and spirit.

Former US President John F Kennedy once said, and I quote, "The life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction in the life of a nation, is very close to the centre of a nation's purpose... and is a test of the quality of a nation's civilisation". This aptly reminds us that while policies have a role to play, it is through art, culture and shared experiences that the people's values are truly shaped. It is paramount that there are spaces for artists to thrive and for our collective spirit to flourish.

The recent closure of The Projector in August this year, due to immense pressures of rising costs and changing consumer habits, is a stark and painful reminder of the challenges facing some of our creative communities. It was more than just a cinema; it was a sanctuary for independent artistic expression and a beacon for communities that struggled to find their place.

This is not an isolated tragedy. It follows the permanent closure of The Substation, our first independent art centre. Among the reasons for The Substation's closure was the changes in the way they were allowed to use the premise, which meant they could no longer operate in the same manner as before. We also witnessed the displacement of The Necessary Stage, a pillar of our theatre scene from a 17-year-old home, due to redevelopment.

These events are not just individual losses. They point to a deeper structural issue where our independent art spaces, the very heart of a ground up culture, lack the long-term stability to survive the combined forces of economic pressure, urban redevelopment and perhaps, less supportive policies. The impact on our artists and our national soul is indelible, and with every closure of such a space, our country becomes culturally poorer.

To truly become a world-class arts hub, we must ensure that our own independent and creative voices are not left behind. A vibrant culture must be nurtured from the ground up, grounded in the authenticity, diversity and the originality of our local artists and the spaces that cultivate them.

On the occasion of our nation's 60th birthday this year, we must reflect on the society that we are and the society that we hope to become. Are we content to be a society where homegrown initiatives are almost inevitably replaced by those bigger and better resource? In his National Day Rally speech, the Prime Minister spoke of the importance of the Singapore Spirit. This spirit is, of course, more than just economic progress; it must be tempered with a Singaporean soul and I submit that independent public spaces where artists can develop their craft, communities can be nurtured, and hearts and minds can be expanded, can go some way to contribute to this Singaporean soul.

It is my hope that we can reimagine the role of the arts in Singapore, not as an indulgence, but as a pillar of who we are. This means a possible two-pronged approach. First, by creating policies that offer long-term stability for independent art spaces and increasing governmental support where it is most needed for these groups. Second, and crucially, we must foster a collective mindset that sees the arts as essential to our national fabric. Together, through more supportive policies and everyday choices, we can ensure the local artists and independent spaces thrive. By doing so, we lend our hand to the ground up initiatives of our arts community and, in turn, we can strengthen our society and deepen the solidarity that defines us.

Mr Speaker, I next speak on climate action and accountability. President Tharman brightly spoke of climate change as an existential threat.

Mr Speaker, on 10 February 2025, Singapore submitted its 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which was to reduce emissions to 45-50 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) by 2035. This represents finally a downward emissions trajectory towards the path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as previously announced in 2022.

These climate change targets are important to signal Singapore's commitment to the United Nation (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement. To put into effect these climate targets, Singapore has passed several laws to address climate change, including the Carbon Pricing Act, which puts in place a carbon tax.

There are several pathways for Singapore to achieve net-zero, but not all of these are entirely clear at the moment, given global uncertainties and rollbacks in climate efforts.

In addition to decarbonisation, Singapore is already importing electricity from neighbouring countries and is exploring purchasing carbon credits, carbon captured, utilisation and storage solutions, and even thinking of building small and medium sized nuclear plants to meet our needs. Knowing more details on these pathways will help inspire trust among the Singaporeans in these options. The WP has consistently asked for clarity on the carbon tax allowances provided to emissions-intensive and trade-exposed sectors in this House, and how these transitory allowances may impact Singapore's ability to achieve its 2030 and 2025 NDCs.

The question that remains in is whether these laws and measures will be sufficient in its contribution in an era of global boiling, a term coined by former UN Secretary General in July 2023. Following a recent 10-day visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Ms Astrid Puentes Riaño, in May 2025, it was reported and there was, I quote her, "significant space for improvement" for Singapore to reduce emissions and protect nature. Notably, Ms Puentes Riaño pointed out the lack of clarity on when environmental impact assessments are done, when they are published, and what is published, and urged the Singapore Government to be more inclusive in engaging the public on environmental matters.

The transitory allowance framework provides allowances to ease the financial burden of the carbon tax. However, there is a lack of publicly available information on its implementation and success. With greater details, it will be less difficult for Singaporeans to assess whether these allowances are effective in incentivising companies to decarbonise, and to understand how does the Government ensure that businesses do not use carbon offsets to avoid the more challenging and expensive work of transitioning their operations to be more efficient and less carbon intensive.

In this regard, I think Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong for his reply to my PQ yesterday where he said that the Government will review the provision of the transitory allowances for companies in Emissions-Intensive and Trade-Exposed sectors and adjust them based on how companies have delivered on their decarbonisation plans, taking into consideration international developments and advancements in the carbonisation technologies.

I still hope that the Ministry can in due course provide more details on the Transitory Allowance Framework, including its performance metrics and a clear evaluation of its success in driving decarbonisation. I would also like to know whether the Government has an existing verification and accreditation framework in place to assess if all companies eligible for carbon tax allowances have met their criteria? If so, can the Government share more information on this in this House?

Finally, if our climate strategy relies on technologies which are still developing, such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage, we must expect these technologies must scale up as quickly and affordably as hoped, so that Singapore may not fall short of the goals.

Ultimately, the urgency of the global climate crisis may demand that we prioritise proven, impactful measures. Can the Government share more on its efforts to overcome challenges arising from the quality and integrity of carbon credits to date, including the limited supply of eligible, high-quality carbon credits that meet Singapore's stringent criteria and also the effectiveness of our current carbon-offsetting programme? Are these offsets genuinely leading to a reduction in global emissions? We must continue to ensure that our commitment to tackling climate change is reflected in a decisive and transparent plan of action that meets the urgency of this crisis.

Mr Speaker, the points I have made today on Active Ageing Centres, means-testing for healthcare, the arts and our efforts to fight climate change, all point to the goal of building a more resilient and compassionate society. We must embrace policies that are transparent, fair and grounded in community. This means providing practical, on-the-ground support for our seniors; ensuring our social safety nets are both just and effective; and fostering a vibrant arts community that strengthens our national soul. It is only by addressing these diverse challenges with unity and a renewed sense of purpose that we can build the caring and confident Singapore we all aspire to be. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.

Mr Speaker: Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan.

3.03 pm

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (Ms Goh Hanyan): Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion to thank the President for his address. Mr Speaker, Singapore has been described by some as a swan, calm and collected on the surface, but paddling hard beneath. That is what we are as a nation. That quiet, unwavering tenacity is what brought us from mudflats to metropolis.

But have we arrived? No, I believe we have just begun. Singapore is safe, stable and secure, but let us be clear that is not our pinnacle. It is our floor. For the next phase of Singapore's development, Mr Speaker, I would like us to challenge ourselves to be that swan that paddles strong in order to take flight to set our gaze beyond the waterline, to put the wind beneath our people's wings. That is how we will stay stable on the water and soar boldly into an uncertain future.

To do so, we need to tap into what truly moves us. We all know that feeling – that tug at your heartstrings, not because of sadness, but because you care about something so much, it moves you. Think back on that moment for you. Your child's first steps. Helping a friend in need. Delivering your maiden speech in Parliament. Hold on to that feeling. I hope we can build a Singapore where our youths can feel free to pursue what stirs that precise emotion in them. For us to be a nation that is not just remembered for its order and efficiency but remembered for its soul. For the dreams that it ignites, for the passion that it arouses, and for the courage it gives its young people to pursue what matters to them the most.

But for our youths to dream, we need to recognise the realities that they live in. It means little to them when we compare what they have today to our past successes because today is all they know. On many accounts, they are in a good position compared to their peers globally. Yet many feel unsupported, and some are uncertain about the future. While they may have better starting points today, they are unlikely to see as sharp an inflection in our nation's development as their parents did, and that is because we are a maturing economy. While they are more connected, they yearn for real connections.

In 2024, a poll by the Institute of Policy Studies found that those between the ages of 21 and 34 reported a higher loneliness score. More importantly, they were more comfortable interacting online than in person. While the quality of care is increasing, they will shoulder a greater burden of care. Ten years ago, there were about six working-age adults for every senior. The number today is three and a half and it is expected to shrink. So, for our youth to dream, we need to set them on the right path and address three fundamental shifts in their reality, from where they start in life, to how they experience life, and how they care for who they love. First, our youth will experience unequal starting points that they have left unchecked will likely widen with intergenerational wealth transfers.

Meritocracy has brought Singapore fairness and growth. A person is rewarded because of his effort and that remains the best organising principle for a society that is multicultural, multireligious and multiracial like Singapore. However, we need to recognise its consequences and adapt. When everyone started from zero, effort was enough. Today, children inherit their parents' advantages, and as such, starting points very greatly right at birth through no effort of the child. Let us take a simple example to illustrate.

Today, a median worker in Singapore earns about $66,000 annually. Compare this to an individual who inherits $5,000,000 in assets. He cashes it out, puts it into a fixed deposit of 1.6%. He or she then earns $80,000 in interest annually. Now this is passive income. In other words, this person is earning 20% more than your median worker. As I said, this is an extremely simplistic example but it is to say that we have to pay attention to returns to capital and returns to labour.

Furthermore, wealth accumulation is self-reinforcing. Those with more wealth tend to have higher investment returns and this is because they have better access to financial literacy and riskier financial products. These advantages are then transferred from one generation to the next, widening wealth positions. This is not a unique problem for Singapore. Countries around the world recognise this and are trying ways to address wealth inequality. For example, Spain has a net wealth tax, France has an inheritance tax. However, these instruments have their limitations. Some are prone to loopholes, while others are challenging to administer. And that is because wealth is inherently extremely mobile.

But Singapore must find our own way, one where those with more, must contribute more. One that still preserves our values of self-reliance and competitiveness, one where we raise revenues in a way that is fair and progressive. To be clear, this is not about culling tall poppies. This is about giving greater consideration to one's wealth, in addition to one's income within our tax system. This is about channelling accumulated wealth into increasing opportunity and social mobility. When we do this well and channel more resources towards youths that are less privileged, they will feel it. No youth deserves to start 10 laps behind before the race has even begun.

In the past few months at Nee Soon, I have seen this myself. Students struggling to get back on their two feet because they are from an abusive family. One where her dad just passed away and others working part-time to supplement a single parent income. These youths need to know that they can break the cycle and chart their own paths. That is how we move forward as a nation. One where every person, every young person has the chance to dream, regardless where they start in life.

Second, youths today face a rapidly transforming world because of technology especially AI. AI has helped to do things faster, better and cheaper that has freed us up from the routine tasks. At the same time, there are valid anxieties over how AI impacts our jobs and our sectors. Our youths today, wonder whether the skills they pick up will prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.

According to a LinkedIn study, professionals today, 10% of them hold roles that did not even exist in the year 2000. Imagine what that number will be 10 years from now. The reality is that no one can predict with certainty how jobs will change, and it is precisely because we cannot predict how jobs will change that we must tap into what makes us human and hone in on that.

In an everchanging world, I believe that play remains the most important skill to adapt. We must ensure that our youths have the opportunities to experiment, construct meaning from experiences and interact in real life. Because the messy and imperfect spaces where we interact is where we develop our deepest resilience. Now that, is what differentiates human intelligence from artificial.

As the phrase goes: having an education is one thing, being educated is another. Our education system must go beyond teaching people how to do economically productive things to one that teaches them how to be in the world, how to interact with others, how to think. Our agencies and other stakeholders have taken steps to address this. For example, the National Youth Council has their Youth Expedition Projects that give students overseas experiences. Stakeholders like The Astronauts Collective have expanded mentorship opportunities and career exploration to our Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnic students.

I saw first-hand how such experiences can be empowering. In June this year, I had the chance to attend the National Youth Council's Leaders Course. This is an annual three-day two-night programme where they bring students from different backgrounds – ITE, polytechnics and universities. At the closing event, a few students were invited on stage to share about their experiences. One of these experiences and sharing resonated deeply with me. He was an ITE student. He went on stage and he shared that at the start of the programme he initially felt out of place and shy. I was surprised by how vulnerable and honest he was in that moment. Then, he shared that it was through the support of his group mates and the activities over the three days that he too realised that he had something to bring to the table. And at the end of it, you could see him standing on stage smiling brightly, presenting confidently and commanding the stage. You could tell from his body language how proud he was. Something had shifted within him. He felt it.

We need more of such experiences where our youths can move into uncomfortable spaces, tap into what they had all along, and believe in themselves. It is by working through our deepest discomfort, engaging with others that we grow. It is not by sitting behind a screen alone.

Third, our youths are growing up in an ageing Singapore that will place immense pressure on them as they enter adulthood. Once a nation that cared for babies and children, we are now, a nation that cares for the old. Not everyone has children, but everyone has parents.

Supporting this generation therefore means supporting them and backing them to care for who they love. Globally, people spend a staggering 16.4 billion hours every single day on unpaid care. According to a Duke-National University of Singapore study, primary informal caregivers in Singapore spend an average of 33 hours each week on care. This scale is significant. It is staggering. It is shocking. As family sizes decrease, the balance between work and caregiving will tip, forcing our youth to choose between family or progression.

We can do better. Care is essential to dignity and social cohesion. We must create systems where care is shared more fully, recognised more strongly and supported more holistically. Progression and family should not be a binary choice. They must come hand in hand.

In Singapore, we have increased financial support for caregivers and that is a really good start. But we all know, it is the visits to the hospital, the unscheduled calls for help that that really, really strains. In other countries like Switzerland, they provide leave for caregivers. That is something we should evaluate along with similar policies that not only address financial needs, but also time and effort of our caregivers.

So, Mr Speaker, rather than looking in the rear view mirror, our youths must be able to look ahead. They must be able to chart their own paths. They must be given the room and the ability to dream.

To our youths, I am committed to meet you at your realities from where you start in life to how you experience life and when you enter adulthood, to how you care for who you love. The words of my children's favourite song, and probably some of you as well, it truly describes the future that I hope we can forge for you today: "I am done hiding, now I am shining, like I am born to be. We are dreaming hard, we came so far, now, I believe." Mr Speaker, please let me say a few lines in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): This year marks the 60th anniversary of Singapore and our society has entered a rapid changing new era.

Although our younger generation does not worry about basic necessities, like every generation of young people, they too have their own anxieties and pressures. For example, young people worry that their jobs will be replaced by AI, so they are all working hard to learn about AI.

But I hope that while young people are catching up with AI, they will also look around, spend more time with family and friends and go outdoors, participate more in group activities, experience life, strengthen their interpersonal skills and most importantly, cultivate resilience in facing failure and overcoming challenges.

Beyond this, we must provide more support programmes to help young people reduce their burden and worries. Let them pursue their aspirations with greater confidence and ability. I hope Singapore can serve as a strong foundation for the younger generation to courageously pursue their dreams.

(In English): Mr Speaker, in conclusion, let us leave behind a Singapore where our children and their children can also say, "They gave us a Singapore that was not just safe, but one where the heart, soul and wonder of its people were nurtured". [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Ms Yeo Wan Ling.

3.20 pm

Ms Yeo Wan Ling (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, time really flies. It seems only yesterday when I delivered my maiden speech in Parliament. But five years has since passed and it has certainly been a very eventful and heartwarming five years for me.

I recall my maiden speech, like many in the House, was about kindness and I shared about the childhood days I spent in the 1980s, in the Holland Drive neighbourhood where my father had his clinic. It was about the friendships we had with our neighbours, many who I still remember vividly. Uncle Mohammad and the magazine and stationery store he used to run – it was called PMS – and I remembered 8 Days picked it up as a most noteworthy name. Aunty Siew Ying, a Malaysian turned Singaporean who ran a snatzy Jantzen hairdressing salon – that wa where I got my first professional haircut after years of grandma's home bowl haircut. I still remember vividly, ooh, the excitement my sister and I had tasting our first very adult, very grown-up "XO Fishhead Bee Hoon" from Uncle Chang who opened that innovative new stall in the coffeeshop right next to my dad's clinic.

The fondness I had for the neighbourhood was all about the kindness that the community had for one another. We knew each other by name. My parents trusted our neighbours enough that my sister and I could always run around the neighbourhood unaccompanied. We shared news about our lives and families, and most importantly, we counted on each other to seek and give help openly.

I know that these values ring true in many fellow Singaporean's hearts because in the days that followed from that maiden speech, I had Punggol residents and volunteers who came up to me and ask if I was Dr Yeo's daughter, as he used to be their family doctor, and they recall that neighbourhood I grew up in and all its residents there with much fondness. One of them recalled me and my sister hanging out in my dad's clinic in our school pinafores, and honestly, that made me feel very warm. But I am particularly heart-warmed that one of our Punggol residents who remembered my father well, eventually also had her daughter, Chloe, who is now studying to be a doctor, volunteer with us, and she is now a loved young community leader. Indeed, kindness begets kindness and that is the true virtuous circle of life.

Mr Speaker, I believe that when you call out to the Universe, the Universe will answer you, and over the past five years, I have seen much kindness in our communities. It might seem to be a very distant memory, but COVID-19, DORSCON Orange, Circuit-Breaker, contact-tracing, vaccinations, isolation, PETs, swabbings only ended and went into the endemic phase just some 30 months ago.

I remember I spent the first three years of my time as an MP in a mask, dealing with COVID-19 community matters, assuaging fears, comforting distress, dispelling disinformation and getting residents who were new to me to place their trust in me, even in a mask, and to place trust in our Government policies. It was only with the kindness and fortitude of our trusty community volunteers and leaders that we were able to do what we did. My community leader, Patrick, was with me when we delivered our Care Packs in the middle of the night to residents who had COVID. Kathryn was with me when we allayed the fears of residents who saw cleaners in full PET kits cleaning up the Punggol Plaza "COVID Cluster". Cristine was with me when we identified and set up rest areas in Punggol coffeeshops to allow our delivery riders to rest and eat between their delivery rounds. Winston and Charles were with me when we set up our first counters to distribute – believe it or not hand-made face masks with care vouchers. To the Chloes, Patricks, Kathryns, Cristines, Winstons and Charles, and all our brave community leaders, this is a Motion of Thanks, and it is most appropriate that we remember what all of you did. Thank you, our grassroots, our volunteers for being the kind bedrock of our community and doing what you did for Singapore. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker, in these five years, the kindness I have seen extends too into the realm of workers, many whom I have had the honour of representing through my work at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). At this point Mr Speaker, I declare that am the Executive Secretary for the National Transport Workers' Union, Advisor to the National Taxi Association, National Private Hire Vehicles Association, National Delivery Champions Association and the Director for the NTUC's Women and Family Unit.

Mr Speaker, as I was saying, our workers keep Singapore running and they do this in unseen, quiet ways. Indeed, this is the "Secret Lives of Workers", and I believe that should more Singaporeans have a glimpse into this world, they would appreciate the kindness and sacrifices of our workers, and in turn, appreciate why we at the Labour Movement continue to fight for better protection and progress for our Singaporean workers. Sometimes, all we need is to take a short pause from our own busyness, take a look around, have a short chat and to unveil these secrets.

For most Singaporeans, taking a bus is part of their daily commute and I think it is wonderful that many commuters have made friends with our bus captains, and our bus captains told me that commuters have shared snacks and drinks with them to show their appreciation. However, did you know that for the vast majority of our bus captains, their lunch breaks are only 25 minutes and in between runs, their breaks can be as short as six minutes. In fact, an often-shared hack amongst bus captains, is not to drink water during service times, as many do not even have the chance at a toilet break. Many start their day at 4.30 am when the first bus leaves the depot and the day ends for many at 2.00 am when the last bus reaches the depot. Our captains can drive up to 16 runs in a day, with the longest uninterrupted run being two hours 45 minutes. I remain appreciative to the dedication and hard work our bus captains put in to ensure a safe and comfortable commute for all of us, and I hope that everyone can encourage our bus captains and public transport workers with an appreciative nod and a nice smile when you next see them.

Mr Speaker, our union leaders are a critical part of our workforce as they are the voice of the ordinary worker and play a unique role between workers and management, negotiating for better protection, privileges and progress while ensuring that there is reasonable sustainability for businesses. Articulate, charismatic, nerves of steel, quick on their feet and excellent mediators they are. They make for natural leaders, but did you know, that for many of our union leaders, because of the construct of their collective agreements, they choose to forego promotions, to remain in rank-and-file executive positions so that they can continue to represent fellow workers without worries of conflict of interest. Indeed, it is a calling to be a union leader, and our big brothers and sisters, 大哥大姐们, serve their working lives out in dedicated service to their fellow workers, never seeing their choices as sacrifices, but as choices of care and service.

Mr Speaker, the quiet secret work that our workers put in have undoubtedly driven me to continue to fight for our workers interest and I note with appreciation, what President Tharman said in his speech: "Progress means recognising the value in every job – in the trades, crafts, and services, no less than in offices and boardrooms – and ensuring that everyone who contributes to society earns respect, and can build a good life".

I cannot agree more. Building on this vision and our labour values, I call on the Government to continue their good work with tripartite partners to ensure that every worker is recognised and valued for their contributions at work and at home. In particular, securing fair pay and a just future for our platform workers; ensuring good jobs for our public transport workers; and supporting our women and caregivers to thrive at home and at work.

I shall speak more on platform workers today. For the past decade or so, NTUC and our Platform Work Associations (PWAs) have pushed for the Platform Workers Act to secure better protections for our platform workers. Today, thanks to the efforts and cooperation of our tripartite partners, our platform workers now have rights to full CPF contributions, mandatory work injury compensation and representation by our PWAs.

Since the Act was implemented in January 2025, our Platform Work Associations have gone on to secure critical recognition from Grab, ComfortDelGro Zig, Lalamove, GoGoX, TADA and Trans-Cab's Smile Ride. This means that recognition strengthens our PWAs' ability to negotiate with individual platforms to secure better wages, welfare and work prospects for our platform workers. Indeed, bilateral negotiations between PWAs and platform operators are an important means for us to secure better outcomes for our platform workers. Indeed, our negotiations have already started to yield success for us with Grab and we successfully negotiated for incentive changes after feedback from our drivers, as well as secured priority shift bookings for our food delivery platform workers in high-demand areas.

Most recently, NTUC and our PWAs initiated a senior-level trilateral workgroup to tackle illegal practices that unfairly undercut our platform workers' jobs and earnings. I am glad that the trilateral workgroup has yielded concrete outcomes that make a difference to our platform workers. Over 70 foreign registered vehicles have been caught offering illegal ride services with most being impounded. Four foreigners were arrested for working illegally as delivery riders without valid work passes.

Mr Speaker, the PWAs will continue to work with the relevant Government agencies to strengthen enforcement levers to better deter and detect illegal practices.

While these measures have made a difference, our work is not still far from being done. Platform workers continue to face challenges, such as unpredictable and unclear earnings, as well as variable incentives that can require them to work excessive hours to unlock targets.

Mr Speaker Sir, our platform workers deserve to earn fair pay so they can, by working hard, earn a decent living for themselves and their families. As a society, we must make progress in recognising and respecting the contributions of our platform workers where it matters most, in how they are paid and treated for work that they have done.

This is where I am heartened by the progress that our PWAs are making with our platform partners.

Our PWAs and nine platform operators, including major platforms, like Grab, Foodpanda and Deliveroo, have agreed on a set of principles to ensure fair earnings and safe incentive schemes for our platform workers. Arising from these principles, the platforms have committed to consult drivers and the PWAs on ways to ensure fair and transparent earnings, to proactively engage PWAs prior to major changes to incentive schemes, and to monitor their platform workers' online hours and adjust incentive programmes, where necessary, to ensure that they do not encourage overwork. As an update to our platform drivers and riders, do know that our PWAs are in close discussions the platform operators to operationalise these principles in the context of individual platform policies.

Beyond these immediate concerns, we must also work to ensure a just future for our private hire vehicle (PHV), taxi and bus drivers, especially amidst the planned roll-out of autonomous vehicles (AVs), the upcoming Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and discussions with Malaysia to expand cross-border transport opportunities.

The Labour Movement recognises the benefits of this technology transition for Singaporeans, especially in augmenting transport networks for travels, including across the border to Malaysia. But for our drivers, these announcements can be very concerning. They worry: what will happen to me? Will I still be able to make a living?

Mr Speaker, this is where, as the President aptly put in his address, "the trust built through many years of tripartism gives us an edge. It enables us to move faster in deploying technologies while managing disruptions to the workforce and generating new job opportunities."

This is why NTUC and PWAs are working very closely with the Ministry of Transport and through committees, such as the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on Autonomous Vehicles, to bring our drivers' concerns to the table. Amidst the roll-out of AVs, the upcoming RTS Link and discussions to expand cross-border transport, our drivers must be assured of a just future, that there will be jobs for them and they will be given the support and time they need to transit to these jobs.

Mr Speaker, the last area that I would touch on is supporting our women and caregivers to thrive at work and at home. MOM has provided that, as of 2023, close to 90% of full-time employees of working age were provided at least one scheduled flexible work arrangement (FWA) they required. We need to understand what the picture is like for FWAs since 2023. From the Labour Movement, there have been more reports of employers requiring workers to return to the office fully and to follow standard working hours.

Caregivers, through our unions, have also told us that they remain concerned that they will be overlooked or sidelined at work due to demands at home. As such, NTUC is committed to normalise FWAs in the workplace and to ensure that workers on FWAs are treated and compensated fairly in performance appraisals and promotions.

Mr Speaker, as I round up my speech, I circle back to the intrinsic value of being kind. Let us measure our progress on how we have moved as a society to improve the livelihoods of our workers and the lives of the people around us. Speaking with kindness, acting with kindness, thinking with kindness, I trust these will continue to be the foundations of our treasured Singapore values. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion with kindness. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Order. I propose to take a break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 3.55 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 3.35 pm until 3.55 pm.

Sitting resumed at 3.55 pm.

[Deputy Speaker (Mr Xie Yao Quan) in the Chair]

PRESIdent's SPEECH

(Debate on Address of Thanks – fourth allotted day)

Debate resumed.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Elysa Chen.

3.55 pm

Ms Elysa Chen (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to make two declarations. First, I would like to declare my interest as the Executive Director of CampusImpact, a charity that serves children from lower-income families. Sir, the second declaration is that making this speech is the second hardest thing I have ever had to do.

I stand in this House, knowing that the opportunity to serve is a privilege and a heavy responsibility. The words spoken in this House are not just words. They carry weight. They shape the policies and culture of our country and touch the lives of many Singaporeans. That is why, standing here, making this speech, is terrifying and difficult. But it is only the second hardest thing I have ever had to do.

The hardest? Being a mother.

For those who are parents among us, do you remember how difficult it was to wake up at 1.00 am, 4.00 am, 7.00 am for night feeds or when your children cannot stop vomiting and you have to rush them to the hospital? It takes everything you have got to care for a child. While the responsibility of caring for my fellow citizens as an MP is a weighty one, the responsibility of doing so as a parent to my child is even more so.

But as difficult as it has been, my journey as a mother has also strengthened my belief in strong, thriving families. This belief drives me, today, to speak up for caregivers, the quiet pillars of our society who hold up our families.

As President Tharman said in his speech, Singapore must remain a home where the vulnerable amongst us are not only cared for with compassion but also empowered to pursue their hopes and dreams. It is our caregivers who made this possible – mothers, fathers, children and spouses who quietly bear the weight of love and responsibility.

In the course of the last few months, I have spoken to many residents in Bishan East-Sin Ming and heard their stories. I would like to focus on three types of caregivers today.

The first is the sleep-deprived mother, struggling to navigate the complexities of a new family dynamic and the physical demands of ensuring her tiny baby is fed, changed, bathed safely and that every milk bottle is washed and sterilised, all while trying her best to recover and care for herself so that she can function well enough to take better care of her baby.

Second, caregivers for a loved one with special needs, who have faced stigma and rejection on top of the daily hurdles they have had to overcome just to lead their lives alongside the rest of us.

Third, adult children who are caring for their ageing parents, juggling between work and family, while trying to understand and accept how their parents, who used to be so strong, so dependable, are now losing their mental faculties and their physical abilities.

Mr Deputy Speaker, let me begin with the first caregivers each of us have known – our mothers and fathers.

After childbirth, a mother carries an internal wound the size of a palm, about 8.5 centimetres across, where the placenta was attached to her womb. Yet, after such a major event, a mother may be given only one postnatal check-up. In contrast, throughout the baby's first and maybe even second year, the child receives multiple milestone checks and vaccinations. Our support systems should look deeper into this imbalance. Mothers' health, physical and mental, is just as crucial as their children's.

We know that postnatal depression is on the rise. At KK Women's and Children's Hospital alone, cases increased by 47% in just three years. One in five pregnant women here faces antenatal depression. But stigma keeps most mothers silent. Over 90% do not report their symptoms and many doctors admit that they seldom raise the topic. We are relying on a reactive system, waiting for women to seek help. Too often, they suffer in silence.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I propose we make postnatal mental health check-ups a routine part of infant milestone visits. When mothers bring their babies for check-ups and vaccinations, let us also care for the mothers. A simple screening, a conversation, can make all the difference between despair and hope. And yes, fathers too – I see fathers in the Chamber nodding vigorously. They should be given space to talk about their mental well-being, because our children need both parents. I would like to encourage hospitals, clinics and community programmes to involve fathers in postnatal counselling and support. I would also like to review paternity leave and shared parental leave uptake to normalise caregiving as a joint responsibility, not one carried by mothers alone.

Beyond medical support, mothers also need community support. Every parent’s journey is different – the single mother juggling work and caregiving, the foreign parent far from family help, the unwed mother or father who faces stigma. We must ensure that parent support groups, community initiatives and counselling are open and welcoming to all.

Consider Safe Place, a ground-up group that walks with women facing unsupported pregnancies. They found that many married women, not just unwed ones, considered abortion not because of finances alone, but because they felt alone in caregiving. When Safe Place offered emotional, social and practical support, being available to support mothers even at 3.00 am at night, many of these mothers found the courage and the confidence to carry their pregnancies to full-term despite initially considering abortion. As its founder, Ms Jennifer Heng, puts it, “We are almost like family members, stepping in where support is missing.”

Mr Deputy Speaker, if we want stronger families and more babies in Singapore, we must make sure that every parent has the medical, emotional and community support they need to heal, to recover and to love.

Second, I would like to explore support for caregivers of those with special needs. There is a phenomenon that many people who have special needs face. It is called the “post-18 cliff”. I thank fellow Member, Ms Denise Phua, for also raising this in her speech. The post-18 cliff usually refers to the sharp drop-off in support and services that happens when a young person with disabilities turns 18, particularly in the context of education, healthcare or disability support. It is called a “cliff” because there is rarely a gradual transition. It is more like stepping off an edge.

Let me illustrate with an example. Last month, a resident came to me at my meet-the-people session, asking if we could appeal for his daughter to be given a chance to continue the good progress she had been making in her special education school.

His daughter, Rachelle, is 18 this year. She has cerebral palsy. This is a group of neurological disorders that affect movement and posture, resulting from brain damage or abnormal development. Rachelle cannot move her body from her neck down. Imagine not being able to move your body from the neck down. What can you do? Do you know what Rachelle can do? She has painted artwork that has been displayed in Alexandra Hospital, and one of her pieces is titled “Holding On, Lifting Up”. It shows a person carrying a bunch of balloons with sad faces, but only one happy face in the middle.

Explaining her artwork, Rachelle wrote, and I quote, “This piece shows how it feels to carry sadness, like holding a balloon filled with heavy emotions. Even when the tears come, there’s still a reason to keep holding on. Among all the frowns is one small smile, reminding us that even a little bit of hope can lift us. ‘Holding On, Lifting Up’ is about strength during hard times, and how something small, like kindness or a happy thought, can help us rise again.” Does Rachelle not have a truly resilient and kind spirit?

Rachelle’s teachers have described her as, “consistently show(ing) a strong passion for illustration and has made significant progress in using her sip-and-puff switch to produce detailed and expressive artwork. Her commitment, creativity, and ability to work with assistive technology demonstrate significant potential for continued growth in this field.”

However, Rachelle, at 18, now faces the prospect of having all her hard work go to waste as she needs to graduate from her school in Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore and therefore, will no longer get the chance to practise the skills in design using Canva that she has acquired. This is because she cannot get a space in a sheltered workshop, which has a minimum eligibility criterion of being independent in feeding, toileting and ambulation.

Rachelle also finds it difficult to be fully engaged by the activities at the Day Activity Centre (DAC) because even though she cannot move her body, she has her full mental faculties. During a visit to a DAC in Toa Payoh, I learned that the wait for a DAC can be more than a year, during which there could be significant regression in the person with disabilities. This is because there are insufficient DACs and insufficient places offered by DACs. This problem is essentially the result of insufficient funding to social service agencies operating these services, forcing DACs to limit the scale of their services as they are not able to keep up with the fundraising required to keep these services going.

Then, there is the problem of affordability for parents. DAC fees can come up to more than $2,000 a month, this excluding the bus fees that parents have to pay to ensure their children can get to the centre. So, parents may be paying more than $20,000 to $30,000 a year, for as long as their child is in the DAC.

This is compounded by the fact that most caregivers of persons with special needs have to pay more for recurring medical appointments and therapy needs, which only worsens if there are medical complications along the way. All of these typically start the moment the child is born and continues throughout his or her life.

There is also a lack of training and funding for staff in adult disability services, unlike special education, where teachers have a Diploma in Special Education. Staff in the adult disability services do not have a key milestone training. As a result, many DAC staff are not equipped to handle the challenges that come with the care of adult persons with disabilities or they may not have enough staff to deliver their services, which lead them to take in clients with less severe needs.

So, where can individuals like Rachelle go? From her story, it seems that there is a gap in our system. If so, we need stronger coordination between MOE and the Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) to increase support for people like Rachelle. Who knows how much Rachelle’s artistic potential could contribute to society if we continue to support her?

Let us close the gap for Rachelle and other post-18 persons with disabilities so that they do not step off a cliff but instead, can make the leap into the next exciting chapter of their lives, where there is still so much more to look forward to.

Third, I would like to explore ways to increase respite care options for caregivers. There are over 210,000 caregivers in Singapore supporting an increasing elderly population. Slightly more than half of care recipients are aged 80 or above; one in seven older adults is a caregiver, with nearly half still working full-time and more than half being women. What this means is that our caregivers are seniors themselves, they are still trying to work full-time and the caregiving burden tends to fall on women. Many caregivers – one in five – are also taking care of more than one care recipient at a time. Despite a steady increase in service providers, only 50% of caregivers know about respite care and more than 80% have never used it, due to lack of awareness, accessibility or social stigma attached to seeking help.

To make the situation even more serious, a significant portion of caregivers are unwell themselves. More than one in three caregivers are suffering from two or more chronic health conditions, but often neglect their own health to focus on those they care for.

Two residents I met told me they could not get respite care for just one afternoon to celebrate their daughter’s birthday with their friends because they had to care for a grandparent with dementia. I replied that I had a contact with Dementia Singapore and could link them up to explore support. Their response? It is too late. The grandparent had already passed on.

Let us not wait until it is too late. Today, services for caregivers are spread across many agencies and platforms, leaving families to piece things together on their own. We should build a national caregiver hub, both physical and digital, where caregivers can find information, book respite, access financial aid and be guided by trained navigators. Such a hub would not only streamline support for families but also help agencies identify gaps and respond more effectively.

Also, although caregivers get financial support under the Home Caregiving Grant, eligibility criteria often exclude non-family caregivers, such as friends or neighbours. However, with family sizes shrinking and caregiving configurations evolving, policies should adapt to and respond to these changing realities.

In addition, we should dedicate funding not only to care recipients, but also to the caregivers themselves. Caregiver-first grants can support respite services, peer support groups and training for caregivers to care for their loved ones and themselves. Just as we invest in healthcare to prevent illness, we must invest directly in caregivers’ well-being because when caregivers are sustained, those they care for thrive too.

Finally, I hope to see the Government working closer with ground-up organisations and social service agencies to achieve our social policy goals. The aspirations I have outlined cannot be achieved by the public service alone. It requires the partnership of other stakeholders in the care ecosystem. Existing ground-up organisations and social service agencies are small, nimble groups that are highly effective in providing the care and support needed.

How can the Government partner better with these organisations?

For starters, streamlining grant applications would enable agencies to spend less time on paperwork and more time serving those in need. The sector has also started to move beyond project-based grants to long-term funding models, thus strengthening ecosystem resilience. Let us keep moving in this direction. Beyond simple matters of funding, we should seek to expand access to skills, networks and mentorships for new and emerging initiatives to strengthen capabilities further.

A well-funded and well-equipped social service ecosystem ensures no child, parent or vulnerable person is left without timely care. Empowering changemakers enables them to reach further, respond faster and lift more lives. When we provide effective organisations and agencies the tools and resources to thrive through effective policy-making and design, Singapore’s safety nets can be strong, her communities resilient and her compassion as a nation effective.

It has once been said that the sign of a civilised society is a healed femur. The femur is a long bone that connects the hip to the knee. In the wild, wounded animals who break their legs die because they are unable to run from danger and hunt. A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilisation starts.

Caregiving is hard work. Again, I say, it is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Caregiving is risky work. If we stop to care for others, we ourselves may fall behind everyone else who is moving ahead. Yet, it is a powerful sign that Singapore is truly a civilised society.

There is a Chinese saying: “树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不待”. A tree longs for stillness, but the wind does not cease; a child longs to care for a parent, but the parent is no longer here.

Caregiving can feel like being surrounded by a howling, relentless wind that never stops. Like the trees, we bend under the strain, pushed to breaking point. We wonder, when will we get to rest again? But this proverb reminds us, caregiving is a responsibility and a privilege. From time to time, I will get asked variations of this question, "If you could have a meal with anyone in this world, who would you want to eat with?" My answer: My father.

Watching him fade in hospice care was painful, a man once strong reduced by illness. All I could do was hold his hand and sing to him and yet, even that felt hard. I was preparing for my “O” levels then, and I will be honest, there were afternoons I resented being there. But what I would not give now to have that one more day with him.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Elysa Chen, you have a minute left.

Ms Elysa Chen: Let us build a Singapore where caregivers are not left to weather the howling wind alone and can instead enjoy the "one more day" they have with their loved ones. Let us build a Singapore where every child is loved; a Singapore where every caregiver is supported; a Singapore that is compassionate, resilient and civilised. And with these efforts, hopefully, caregiving would not be so hard after all. Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Deputy Speaker: Minister Desmond Lee.

4.15 pm

The Minister for Education (Mr Desmond Lee): Mr Deputy Speaker, I want to thank Ms Elysa Chen for that very moving and heartfelt speech.

Mr Deputy Speaker, we just celebrated Singapore's 60th birthday. For a nation, 60 is young. Yet as our society matures, we face challenges on the road ahead. On the social front, we are dealing with ageing and need to guard against inequality and social stratification. Our demographics are evolving, with smaller families and more singles, and our people have higher and more diverse aspirations. We must grapple with these, even while facing strong external headwinds – geopolitical shifts, economic uncertainty, climate change and disruptions due to technology and AI.

Today, I will talk about two key shifts that we are taking to prepare Singapore for this future. First, refreshing our approach to tackling difficult social issues; and second, transforming our education system.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong spoke about how stratification can occur and gaps in social mobility can widen as our economy grows and develops. We have seen this happen in other societies where privilege gets entrenched. So, we cannot stand still and must continually work against these forces that can fragment our society. That is why, beyond doing more through policies and programmes, we have also been focusing on how we can do better.

This is especially important in our work to help lower-income families who are facing complex challenges and are seeking to break through their circumstances.

Let me illustrate this through the life story of Mr Adi and his wife, Miss Syaakirah. They have consented to us sharing their journey with Members. They live in a two-room HDB rental flat and have four children. Adi is the sole breadwinner and Syaakirah, a homemaker. The family was struggling financially and faced difficulties meeting their basic needs. Adi and Syaakirah also found it hard to supervise their children's academic progress and were concerned that the children would fall behind in school.

We want to ensure that all families, no matter their circumstances, have the opportunity to thrive. And that is where Comlink+ and KidSTART come in. When the family first joined Comlink+, they needed urgent help with their daily needs. Their family coach, Ken, coordinated with community organisations, such as Willing Hearts, to give them essential groceries and milk powder.

Seeing Adi's determination to provide for his family, Ken helped him enrol on the Comlink+ Progress package for employment, where the Government provides financial top-ups to those who take up Central Provident Fund (CPF)-paying jobs. As Syaakirah wanted to pursue full-time employment, Ken placed her on employment services, too.

A non-profit organisation, Engineering Good, gave the family a refurbished laptop. This helped Syaakirah in her job search and allowed the children to do home-based learning. The older children have also been enrolled in the MENDAKI academic coaching programme, which they enjoy, to keep them on track academically. Ken also noticed that Akid, the family's youngest son, is passionate about playing football. He enrolled Akid in the Comlink+ Community Futsal programme run by SportCares, where he makes friends through sports.

When Syaakirah was expecting her youngest child, Sofea, Ken linked her up with KidSTART. The KidSTART practitioner visited the couple at home regularly to guide them through Sofea's infancy. KidSTART equipped the family with parenting tips on health, nutrition and child development. They also shared knowledge and skills on building positive parent-child interactions and monitored Sofea closely to track her developmental milestones.

When Syaakirah had difficulties feeding Sofea, KidSTART quickly connected her with a nurse, who provided advice on appropriate feeding practices and milk quantities. KidSTART also provided books and toys for Sofea and her siblings to cultivate an early interest in reading and strengthen parent-child bonding.

As their progress shows, Comlink+ is a uniquely Singapore way of coordinating support around the family by harnessing the collective strength of the community in a much more cohesive way to empower the family. It brings together family coaches, community partners and volunteer befrienders who proactively reach out to families to gain a deeper understanding of their needs, strengths and aspirations. They journey with the families to develop customised roadmaps that evolve with their changing needs.

Our corporate partners provide valuable resources to make lasting change in the lives of families. For example, DBS Foundation has committed $30 million over three years to help fund Comlink+ Progress Packages and has also conducted financial literacy programmes for Comlink+ families. We also tap on the strengths of the community to provide Comlink+ with additional resources above and beyond what Government can provide.

Through Gift a Family (GAF), for example, we invite Singaporeans, who have done well, as well as organisations, to partner and support Comlink+ families. For example, for parents, GAF partners have sponsored courses and upskilling for them, on top of SkillsFuture, so that they can get better jobs and work towards a better future for their families. For children, GAF partners have also sponsored music and art classes to encourage children to pursue their interests. This is on top of existing school funds, like Opportunity Funds in our schools, that subsidise co-curricular development opportunities, even overseas learning trips, for students from lower-income households.

Comlink+ involves many groups collaborating as one, to organise and coordinate help for the families, putting them at the centre of our efforts. This is a much more intense approach compared to just providing more resources. Comlink+ is an important pillar of our refreshed social compact under Forward Singapore to empower families to achieve stability, self-reliance and social mobility, and we intend to provide this form of assistance to more families.

In 2019, we started piloting Comlink+ at four sites and subsequently scaled it nationwide. Currently, the programme supports around 10,000 low-income families with children and we will progressively expand this. Going forward, we will provide more comprehensive wrap-around support to uplift families. We partnered HDB to help families work towards home ownership.

We will support our children across educational stages, including improving preschool enrollment and attendance, and ensuring a healthy home environment. We will also provide dedicated employment and skills assistance that better meets the needs of families.

Mr Deputy Speaker, programmes like Comlink+ and KidSTART reflect something deeper. The shifts in how we, as a nation, tackle difficult social issues, such as inequality and social stratification. This is work-in-progress.

In the early years of nationhood, we focused on survival and economic growth. For those who were struggling, the Government provided assistance to meet their basic needs. But for this future that we are building, we must, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, continue to tilt the balance to keep opportunities open at every stage of life.

The Government, community, volunteers and corporate partners cannot afford to work on our own but must stand together as close partners. Over the years we have been moving in this direction. We formed, for example, the PEERS Network in 2019 as a collaboration among community partners, social service agencies and Government agencies to support rough sleepers and homeless individuals. During COVID-19, when the number of people sleeping rough went up and more were seeking shelter, this turned out to be critical. Today, after six years, the PEERS Network is still growing strong.

ComLink+ as well. It was something we designed after listening to our frontliners, social workers, educators and community workers, who told us that it was not just about doing more or giving more but also about trying to do better. Earlier this year, the Ministry of National Development (MND) and MSF also formed the New Environment Action Team, a network comprising social service agencies, community groups, trade associations, corporate partners and Government agencies, which seeks to address hoarding issues in people's homes in a more holistic and sustainable manner.

So, you can see we are moving away from the models of the past, where the Government and community each worked in silo. Instead, we wanted to partner Singaporeans and take a whole-of-society approach to solving problems together. Along the way, we may need to develop new structures, policies, standard operating procedures, data systems that enable greater collaboration and integration.

But more importantly, the key ingredient powering all of this is trust, which enables us to build strong networks and relationships, especially on the ground. This is not easy. It takes time and effort to build trust and mobilise the community, but it is something that we must do. As social issues become increasingly complex and inter-connected, everyone must come on board.

No one person or organisation, including the Government, has all the solutions. In our "we first" society, we must all come together to lift each person up. When we help others thrive, we grow stronger ourselves. So, we will build on this collaborative spirit with more intentionality and heart, to turn our conversations into partnerships; our partnerships into actions; and our actions into lasting meaningful change for Singapore.

Mr Deputy Speaker, the second shift we are making is transforming our education system. Even as we address the pressing social issues of today, we must also look ahead and prepare the next generation for the challenges of tomorrow. Yesterday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined some of the directions that education reform will take in this term of Government to reduce the stakes of single exams, broaden the definition of success and give children the chance to discover and develop their strengths.

Let me share more. In a rapidly changing world, it is no longer enough to equip younger Singaporeans with knowledge alone. In fact, the knowledge we impart today might well be outdated tomorrow. What is more important is for younger Singaporeans to be agile and resilient, think critically, learn continuously, so that they can navigate a more uncertain environment.

And with social issues becoming more complex, we also need to empower Singaporeans who can empathise with others and lead with kindness. Let me share the story of one of our students, Azaleagrace Teo. She also gave us her consent. Azalea's journey was not easy. She was abused by her father for years until she finally summoned the courage to confide about it in her school counsellor, who then alerted the principal and the Police.

Protective Service removed her from her home and she had to move eight times between various temporary accommodations. The instability took a toll on her studies and she had to repeat her Secondary 4 year, but she did not give up. She applied for ITE's Early Admission Exercise and managed to secure a place in ITE College East.

ITE was the first place that she felt safe enough to discover herself and imagine a future beyond survival. She became vice president of the Yoga Club and public relations (PR) director of the ITE Student Leaders' Forum. She was selected to speak at events where she and her classmates shared their personal stories and helped to raise $308,000 for the ITE Education Fund to help other students. Through her grit and dedication, and with the support of her peers and her teachers, Azalea eventually graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Today, she is a first-year student pursuing a diploma in media arts and design at Singapore Polytechnic. This year she was one of 10 recipients of the Lee Kuan Yew Model Student Award and also received the Lee Hsien Loong Award for Outstanding All-round Achievement. But among her many accomplishments at this young age, what she is proudest of is her work with Owena, the alumni association of the therapeutic group home for children that she was formerly in. As a pioneer member and leader, she organises activities and offers emotional support to current residents.

Though still a young adult herself, she is already eager to help build a better world for the generation after hers. Azalea's journey shows us that not everyone takes the same path to success, and success can mean different things to different people. It is about finding the right path for yourself.

And this is what our education system must continue to uphold: providing pathways for our children to flourish, no matter their starting point, supporting them to pursue their aspirations in their own time and cultivating strong values, so that they give back to society.

We have been moving steadily away from a narrow meritocracy that ties achievement solely to grades and paper qualifications, towards a society that recognises that success comes in many forms. Whether in the arts, technology, sports or other fields, we want to celebrate the diverse talents of every individual and respect the contribution of every worker. This shift is not something that can happen overnight. It is a multi-year effort. Fortunately, we are not starting from scratch. We are building on an education system that has continuously evolved to stay relevant.

In the past, success was largely measured in grades and paper qualifications. We focused on those in the early years because we thought they might set our children up for success. In fact, at times, the system would pit students against one another. Members would recall that the PSLE used to be graded on a bell curve. It was not enough to do well; you had to do better than your peers. And this would affect how you were streamed and posted to secondary school.

Over time, we have moved away from this. We want to ignite our students' curiosity and spark their creativity so that they develop a love for learning that will stay with them even after they complete school. We want to give our students the space to learn and grow at their own pace instead of chasing every last mark or competing with their peers.

We removed exams for Primary 1 and 2 to give young pupils two test-free years, and removed mid-year examinations from all levels. We did away with PSLE T-scores and grading on a curve, and introduced Achievement Level (AL) bands with grading based on a student's level of mastery in a subject. We introduced multiple pathways to support students with various interests and strengths. The DSA allows students to gain admission through a wide range of talents, including sports and the performing arts. We also implemented Full Subject-Based Banding in our secondary schools to give students more flexibility to learn subjects at a pace and rigour suited to their strengths and needs.

We want to cultivate in our students the right attitudes and dispositions beyond just pursuing academic excellence through our Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum and co-curricular activities (CCAs), students develop values and 21st Century Competencies. They learn to collaborate with one another, build teamwork, develop leadership.

We look out for students who may need more support. Through UPLIFT initiatives, we bring together schools, community partners, social service offices (SSOs) and other Government agencies to provide more comprehensive support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and we coordinate these efforts tightly with ComLink+.

Beyond school, we continue to encourage lifelong learning through SkillsFuture, because in a world that keeps changing ever faster, learning cannot stop once you leave school. But as Prime Minister said yesterday, the reality is that our society is not entirely moved away from seeing education as an "arms race". And while CCAs and CCE are an important part of school life, I am sure many parents and students still do not see them as equally or more important than academic grades. That is not entirely surprising, because our traditional theory of success in Singapore is still weighted towards academic achievement.

While we do want to strive for excellence, an overemphasis on academic grades can create unhealthy levels of competition, pressure and stress, rather than fostering a true love of learning on or focusing on things that matter. And in an education "arms race", those whose families have more resources are likely to start ahead and then race even further ahead, while those who fall behind may struggle to catch up. As we face new and more complex challenges on the horizon, such as AI and social inequality, we must do more to break away from this concept of an education "arms race" and provide opportunities for our students to develop their talents and interests, regardless of starting point.

We will look at many ways to refresh our education system in line with the spirit of the Forward Singapore agenda. We will study how to reduce the stakes in examinations. Examinations like the PSLE should not remain a high stakes checkpoint for students that is viewed as a determining factor for the trajectory of the rest of their lives. Instead, we will focus on the more important aspects of our children's experiences in school – developing life skills, interpersonal relationships, good character and values and more.

In the working world, we all know that grades might still get you through the door, but how you are as a person, determines how you do. We will increase our emphasis on CCE lessons and CCAs, which are just as important, if not more important, than academic grades. We must also guard against the opportunity gap in our education system where families with more resources "hot-house" their children to give them a leg up in school, while children from lower income families face an uphill battle. If we do not close these gaps, they will only widen. We will enhance resources for schools and deepen partnerships with parents and the community to better support low-income students. And in the first half of my speech, I spoke about how, through ComLink+ and other measures, we collaborate more effectively as one.

We also recognise the importance of giving our children the opportunity to interact with peers from different backgrounds from a young age to prevent divisions along lines such as race, religion or socio-economic status. Our schools and classrooms must continue to be a reflection of society, where people from different walks of life and backgrounds come together, not in cloistered communities. We will continue to enable students from different backgrounds to learn together and learn from one another. We will transform teaching and learning to prepare our students for a world transformed and disrupted by AI. AI should enhance and not supplant deep learning. We will have to equip our students with critical skills so that they can create value, leveraging on and beyond AI.

These are not easy changes and they will take time to implement. Some of them may require us to fundamentally rethink some of our approaches to assessments, curriculum, learning and how we organise our education system, but they are necessary in the long term. We will work closely with our parents, teachers, researchers, students, and the community, learn from other countries, and keep our focus on what matters most – the future of our children.

At the core of this is one fundamental question: how do we help our children succeed in life. Not by sending them to more tuition or enrichment classes, but by developing them holistically and empowering them to learn deeply, helping them to be confident about their strengths and interests, anchoring them in values, and developing them in the adaptability, resilience and determination to thrive in a world of change.

Mr Deputy Speaker, to conclude, in the face of an ever-changing world, the challenges we encounter today are not just problems to solve. They are opportunities to grow, to innovate, and to come together to define ourselves as a society. So, let us work together and build a future where every family thrives, every child can reach their fullest potential and every Singaporean has the opportunity to succeed. I support the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Deputy Speaker: Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi.

4.38 pm

Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi (Nee Soon): Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. In his address, the President spoke of nurturing our Singapore society to be a "we first" society. In his words, to put "we" before "me". I find this idea extremely profound. If "we first" is internalised as a core and innate value that all of us carry deeply as Singaporeans, if we teach "we first" early in our young and in our schools as part of their journey in education, as part of their core values and as part of our collective identity as Singaporeans, and if we echo and remind ourselves of the resonance of "we first" in all that we do, it would be a most powerful enabler for Singapore society on several fronts. I will elaborate on these in my speech.

First, through "we first", our social cohesion would strengthen and bolster our unity as a people. Second, I would argue that "we first" would make our economic competitiveness as a people and nation more potent. And third, a lived ethos of "we first" would be the cornerstone of the caring and values-driven society.

"We first", Mr Deputy Speaker, suggests a natural proclivity to look beyond ourselves for the collective good, an acknowledgement to give and take where it is needed and when it is appropriate and fair, a social milieu that must necessarily be rooted in trust and reciprocity, and a promotion of a shared sense of belonging, togetherness, safety and a common purpose. It informs us that to achieve the optimised collective potential of our society, to realise the full power of a whole that is far greater than the sum of all our parts, sometimes, the unitary parts may require some sub-optimisation and compromise.

To be clear, in "we first", it is never about a bargaining of our core identity as a people nor the erosion of our diversity, but rather about embracing the process of finding our many points of synergy as a people and nurturing our harmony in concert with one another. In putting forward the "we" before "me", we harness the scale and potential capital of the collective and maximise its multiplier effect into our equation of Singapore society.

First, as alluded to by other hon Members prior, social cohesion is a primary outcome we want to drive in putting the "we" before "me".

I have argued before in this House that in wanting to strengthen social cohesion, we must let it be experienced in our everyday and in our common spaces, in our schools, in our neighbourhoods, in our residential estates, in our work and in our play.

We must enable this by design, in our young through our education curriculum, in our neighbourhoods through how we plan for our public estates and in the gamut of programmes in our workplaces and in our community. We must allow for the social interaction across differences to always occur and encourage different opportunities to meet, interface and most importantly, mix.

Like the proverbial melting pot holding the recipe of a brew, Mr Deputy Speaker, it requires a variety of different spices and ingredients to hold, at a constant stir, and it takes a while, for a blended fragrance to emerge. Stop too early, it never quite works out. Too few of any one particular ingredient makes the attempt flat. Too long into the cooking or if we turn up the heat too soon or too late, the recipe eludes us. Change the pot and the climate for the ingredients, a new approach and recipe would be required. Each spice and ingredient in the recipe of social cohesion is unique and stands on its own different identity. We can taste each and every one of them in the final brew. No one tells us how to do our recipe because it is our kitchen.

Through "we first", we allow for a common space to hold us together across differences, whether by language, race, religion or age, to find the recipe for us and our Singapore society. We must be broad-based in our approaches, actively reach out to include everyone in our midst and work hard to keep our society close.

A little tension and some discomfort can be expected. Where there are emerging weak points to the social equilibrium over time, our natural response must be to honestly examine the issue at hand, to challenge prevailing assumptions and to ask ourselves if the policy remains relevant and what it is about this current recipe that needs tweaking moving forward. It does not mean we must agree all the time, but when we must disagree, respectful we remain in our exchanges and with an expressed mutual desire for co-collaboration or solutions that benefit all and for the greater good.

Second, Mr Deputy Speaker, we must recognise that espousing "we first" offers each and every one of us a comparative advantage economically. I know it sounds like a stretched argument but let me explain.

If we teach our young early in our schools and encourage every Singaporean to really live by the ethos of "we first", and guide them early to be comfortable in working with others different from us to achieve collaborative outcomes, to have the natural willingness and adaptability to together negotiate difficult problems and complex situations, and to recognise the power in working as a team for the greater good, surely, this is a desired trait that works to our advantage as a people.

Singaporeans are known as a competitive and hardworking lot, but through the spirit of "we first", if we are also known for our sense of community, our emotional intellect and our zeal to achieve fair consensus, the value we bring to any table becomes a potent force. Our value proposition, to the workplace, to prospective employers and to other companies navigating the emerging economic challenges of the day, will rise.

Contrast this against the backdrop of societies today looking inwardly, polarising narratives online that centre around selfish and narrow ideals and a lack of willingness, or sometimes even ability to have deep, thoughtful conversations with nuance and to be comfortable in engaging complexity.

If "we first" is personified in Singaporeans in finding solutions of tomorrow, we then become the natural team players, the future co-creators and the firm collaborators; the ones whom others can count on to look across the aisle to mediate, to discuss and to engage with comfortably. This tells others that Singaporeans make for excellent hires locally and abroad, and that our companies make for trusted and reliable partners in any market for any opportunity.

When we juxtapose that same mindset to a national level and others recognise that Singapore is a country that is willing to work with others and achieve collective outcomes and that it is in our psyche and persona as a nation to see past ourselves and bring goodness and benefit to the world, Singapore then becomes a trusted partner and facilitator in the room.

As a country, we never start with a hard-nosed view to negotiations, nor do we willy-nilly or haphazardly take positions. Taking a "we first" view, we start from the considered and deliberate approach to, first, seeking to understand the different starting positions and others can appreciate that we have a reasonable willingness to negotiate and achieve mutual benefit, so long as it is fair and just.

From dealings in foreign affairs, to trade and industry, to policy positions in the international stage and fora, this ethos of "we first" will carry us through as a nation, even in the most delicate of dealings and in the most turbulent of disagreements of the world. "We first" puts forth Singapore as a consistent, trusted, amiable and, dare I say, foremost partner and colleague of the international arena, whether in platforms such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or United Nations, or even as a diplomatic arbiter towards consensus and peace between the larger powers of the world.

Beyond domestic considerations, I argue that the ethos of "we first" keeps Singapore squarely competitive, trusted and relevant in the world as we observe and know it today.

Third, Mr Deputy Speaker, in embracing "we first", we will constantly be reminded to look to our right and to look to our left to ensure that no one is left behind. In this space, we nurture a caring and values-driven society. We will still move with strength and at a keen cadence for our needs and for our future. Others will know us as a society that is fiercely competitive but always with empathy and concern for the people who walk alongside and especially, towards those of less privilege.

"We first" speaks of us a society that does not trample on others for our own gain, that we will not be a racehorse with blinkers and leave others in the dust in order to win at all costs. If we must succeed, we only do so with dignity and justice on our side.

In schools, we must continue to emphasise values of respect, of responsibility, of integrity, care and harmony over grades. That it is more dignified to lose in fair play than to win dishonourably. In the workplace, we must be able to recognise and have a care that some of our colleagues have unique challenges and circumstances, whether in terms of mobility, mental well-being or caregiving demands. That at work, a genuine concern for others percolates rather than to consider these traits as blameworthy on the basis of output alone.

In our neighbourhoods, that we exercise some understanding and flexibility with one another, as well as a give and take in our common spaces. That, in our own actions, what we say and how we go about our day to day, we maintain a care and awareness of how others may be impacted by our own actions. That when we take the lift and we interface with our neighbours, a good morning greeting or a "how are you" helps break the ice, brings warmth to another and nurtures friendships in our midst.

And certainly, Mr Deputy Speaker, the shine of our care for situations and people, and the values driven by our ethos of "we first" knows no boundary or border. For even in our country's decisions and, as a people, we consistently and fervently care about what happens around the world, we have a care to the plight of others of less privilege, we defend against what is unjust and we lean into being part of the solution.

A "we first" society means we are not passive bystanders. We bring forth our care and values as part of who we are as a society in service for a better family, a better community, a better country and a better world. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Malay, please.

(In Malay): Mr Deputy Speaker, as we encourage and enable the adoption of "we first", it is actually very much aligned and in sync with the heartbeat of our community.

The way we care for one another is captured in a Malay saying, "When one part of the body is unwell, other parts feel it too. If the right thigh is pinched, the left thigh will also hurt". Whenever we come across someone burdened with life's challenges, financial difficulties, isolation and profound hardship, our community's instinct is to act spontaneously to help and show concern. This feeling of mutual responsibility, compassion and care towards one another comes naturally to us. Similarly, we are attuned to the values of solidarity and cooperation to achieve prosperity together.

While we call upon Singaporeans to embrace the "we first" thinking, our heritage and culture demands that we ensure success and progress should not merely celebrate personal achievements, but we must use them to benefit others. In fact, our culture which advocates giving back to society is consistent with the phrase "we first".

In this regard, "we first" is not solely the Government's responsibility. It also involves cooperation with the private sector, businesses and community organisations to collectively strengthen and expand the assistance required to meet the community's needs.

There are clear examples within our Malay/Muslim community. Project DIAN, which has long developed resilience in families living in rental flats through M³ volunteers, embodies "we first". The Community Wakaf managed by MUIS, which plans for the future needs of our community, embodies "we first". Fundraising for madrasahs and mosques, for community organisations, for those in need in Singapore and for the oppressed in Gaza – all of these also embody "we first". The Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) managed by MENDAKI for lower-income families, which provides opportunities for our children to reach the highest levels of education, embodies "we first".

In fact, the "we first" spirit advocated by the Government has resulted in progress for our community. If not for the TTFS and study loans from Yayasan MENDAKI, it would be impossible for me to stand here. I was able to obtain my medical degree and become the only psychiatrist in the Malay/Muslim community only because of community assistance and MENDAKI's aid schemes. Many others have similar stories. These are community members who feel grateful and who have gone on to have careers, and made it their life's mission and vision to continue contributing to the next generation.

"We first" is actually deeply rooted and ingrained in our community. It is part of our values and beliefs, a long-standing inclination which ensures that, as a collective, we look after one another and care about what happens around us. This is our strength as a community and it is something we must continue to nurture, strengthen and build together in Singapore.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I am confident that in responding to our President's call for "we first", this ethos is clearly evident throughout our community.

(In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, all of us are a product of the village that has added and contributed to our success. We have benefited from the work of those who have come before us and have themselves taken the ethos of "we first" for our benefit today.

In turning 60, our success as a nation stems from the effort of early Singaporeans from decades ago. Our past leaders who in their wisdom and acumen put our country first. Our teachers who sowed the first seeds of knowledge in the generation that came after. Our parents who toiled time and effort and put their children first. And what of our public sector and civil servants who continue to ensure our essential services keep going today? Of our uniformed servicemen and servicewomen who keep the peace to give us a strong base from which we can leap forward and achieve more as a country. And of the healthcare workers who save lives day in and day out and keep us well.

All their efforts, Mr Deputy Speaker, embody the spirit of "we first".

We should never let arrogance creep in and allow ourselves to assume that our success comes only as a result of our own efforts. Many have sacrificed for us to be here where we are today as a people and country. If we ponder on the term "we first", examples are well and alive around us but, perhaps, as a society, we can do better to enable, to acknowledge, to encourage and to appreciate them.

Caregiving is "we first". National Service is "we first". Philanthropy and volunteering for a community cause is "we first". Mentorship to nurture confidence in our young is "we first". Saving for a rainy day and ensuring we have sufficient Reserves for generations to come is "we first". Addressing climate change for a better tomorrow and environment is "we first". And having tough laws against the scourge of drugs to protect our families is "we first".

Mr Deputy Speaker, "we first" is the very thread that stitches, weaves and reinforces our social fabric to weather tomorrow's storm. If there is no "we first", we will, instead, be pulling from multiple polar and opposing ends, and the tension will fray and tear us apart into lonely factions and singular isolated pieces that will not stand against the wind. Worse still, instead of the beautiful societal tapestry to be admired, we could be left with tattered and torn pieces beyond repair. We must continue to passionately mend, to work on, to preserve and to double stitch our social fabric, now more than ever. Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Valerie Lee.

4.56 pm

Ms Valerie Lee (Pasir Ris-Changi): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. It is with deep humility and also with deep gratitude, that I deliver my maiden speech in this House.

When I first knocked on doors in Pasir Ris-Changi, many residents did not just share their problems or feedback; they shared their lives with me. A working mom told me how she struggled everyday juggling her job and caring for her toddler and father who now has dementia. An elderly couple on Pulau Ubin spoke about their pride in keeping the island's heritage alive, even with inconveniences that come with living on the island. And a group of youths at Changi Beach showed me the tidal pools with such wonder, reminding me how much they care about the world we live in.

These conversations left a very deep impression on me. They remind me that behind every policy, every statistics, there are real people with genuine struggles and hopes. And they are the very reason why I stand here today.

For my maiden speech, I wish to focus on three groups of people who are especially close to my heart. First, the sandwiched generation, whose burdens I personally felt as a daughter, a mother and a working professional. Second, those living at the edge of our country, whom I have come to know very fondly through my time at Pasir Ris-Changi, from the offshore island of Ubin to where the East-West line ends at Pasir Ris Town. And lastly, the younger generation, whose future depends on how we safeguard the environment we leave behind.

Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me begin with the sandwiched generation.

Singaporeans who are raising children while caring for ageing parents, often while juggling work, housing loans and rising costs. They are doing everything "right", working hard, paying taxes, supporting their families. Yet, many carry a heavy and unseen load and, at times, everything can feel so "wrong" and so overwhelming.

I have experienced a glimpse of this myself. In the same year that I welcomed my newborn, my father was diagnosed with cancer. Those days were split between baby care, work and hospital appointments.

Fast forward to just this year, whenever my toddler falls sick, I often catch the same illnesses, from the common flu to hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). And I know Minister of State Jasmin Lau and her children's book of choice is "Paw Patrol", I think there were many books being introduced in this Chamber. I will introduce my version. Mine is "Bizzy Bear" and I must have gone through the entire series more than five times throughout the entire HFMD episode.

While I am now an expert at reciting Bizzy Bear stories, this had knock-on effects on my work and my community engagements. But I was able to get through those moments with a supportive family, both at home and at work, and I am very grateful for them.

But I know of many Singaporeans do not have this safety net. For many, the load is far heavier: caring for parents with chronic illnesses, raising several children, taking on extra responsibilities at work just to keep the job and to pay the bills, and then receiving news that a loved one has dementia. Their sacrifices are greater and I feel deeply for them.

The Government has made progress, extending paternity leave, creating shared parental leave, strengthening MediSave and MediShield, expanding the Baby Bonus and introducing the Home Caregiving Grant. But, we must go further and push the boundaries of the support so that the benefits are more impactful and reach more families.

A child's vulnerable years do not end after infancy. Parents need time, flexibility and support through toddlerhood and early schooling. And when it comes to caring for ageing parents, many families shoulder equally heavy burdens, from weekly hospital visits for dialysis and chemotherapy, to providing daily supervision for parents with dementia, often while holding full-time jobs.

What I have just described is only the tip of the iceberg. That is why I call on both the Government and employers to build an ecosystem where caregiving is not just tolerated, but actively supported. Caregiving should never ever come at the cost of one's career. One should feel no fear of repercussions for choosing a hospital visit with an aged parent over a day at the office. One should feel no guilt for staying home to care of a sick child.

If we are serious about reversing declining fertility rates while also caring for an ageing society, two forces pressing on us at the same time, then we must adapt. And this could mean exploring new leave schemes that reflect modern caregiving realities. Perhaps even a distinct "Sandwich Generation Leave"; for the lack of a better name; separate from childcare or medical leave.

We can also strengthen the national mental health and support services to help families navigate the maze of dual caregiving. And it requires cultivating workplace cultures that value families as much as productivity. Because at the heart of it, strong families are the foundation of a strong Singapore.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I now turn to Singaporeans whose voices are often overlooked – "我乌敏岛的居民们", my residents from Pulau Ubin. About 20 Singaporeans still call Pulau Ubin home. They are custodians of our living heritage, yet they face higher electricity tariffs than us on mainland and at times, have difficulty accessing national schemes. But to this end, I am grateful to have agencies that have actively stepped in to explore how to close these gaps when pointed out – the National Parks Board, the Energy Market Authority, People's Association and the National Environment Agency. It gives me reassurance that I am working with partners that genuinely care for the people.

Next, Changi Village. Known to many as a leisure spot, but for many residents and business owners, it is their home and livelihood. While the rest of Singapore progresses, Changi Village often feels overlooked. Roadworks have worsened access and businesses are struggling. Its experience reminds us that progress cannot be measured only by what happens at the centre, while the edges are left behind. I am often asked, "Why do you care so much for small communities like Ubin and Changi Village? Why do you turn up there so often? There is no "political mileage" in doing that." But as Parliamentarians, our duty extends beyond representing the majority. It is to ensure that those on the margins are seen, are heard and are supported.

In Pasir Ris, for example, some residents live literally at the edge of the town along areas affected by major construction for the Cross Island Line and the Loyang viaduct. They too feel the pressures of progress; in their case, more than they bargained for. Residents in areas like Flora Estate are eager to embrace our car-lite ambition, yet insufficient bus services make car-lite more of a burden than a choice.

Mr Deputy Speaker, whether on an offshore island, in a 50-year-old or in a condominium, every Singaporean's needs are valid and every voice must count. And these "edges" are not just geographical, like what I described. In different seasons of life, many of us find ourselves on the margins, living with rare diseases, facing infertility, or struggling quietly in ways that statistics may never capture. If we focus solely on numbers, we risk forgetting what matters most – that we are all Singaporeans, with diverse needs, deserving of care, attention and inclusion.

Lastly, let me speak about our shared environment. Singapore has rightly pursued growth. But rapid urbanisation has left many feeling we live in a dense, hot, concrete city. Let us not forget: we aspired to be a City in a Garden – not just a garden in a city. Plans to reclaim 193 hectares in Changi for aviation made headlines recently and it may be necessary, but we must acknowledge the ecological cost; the possible detrimental effects on seagrass meadows, marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

But this is not a call to halt development, but a call for balance. Every hectare we reclaim, every tree we fell, comes at a cost. And this price will be paid for by generations after us.

On National Day this year, upon their invitation, I joined Julian and Xiao Yun, for an intertidal walk at Changi Beach. They were the two young Singaporeans who raised the petition, calling for HDB to scale back its plans for the Changi reclamation project. Honestly, I was half expecting them to quiz me about my stand on the project but it turns out, all they wanted was to share the magical intertidal pools with me.

So, together with dozens of youths and families who were miraculously all awake at 4.00 am, we walked through the intertidal pools for two solid hours, spotting stingrays, anemones and starfish, and ended the morning at Changi Village over a breakfast of nasi lemak, "youtiao" and wanton mee. I learnt much from the group about the unique seagrass meadow that grows along Changi Beach and we exchanged views on how the stakeholder engagement process for development projects like these can be better.

It dawned upon me – that if we want to steer our youths away from despair, or even from vaping, for them to not feel so disconnected, then we must give them causes that matter, not more rules, not more red tape, not more suspensions. Nature can be that sanctuary, that classroom and that source of resilience where they can find that purpose. Environmental protection is not a trend, it is an opportunity. An opportunity to invest in the wellbeing, identity and future of our youth.

Mr Deputy Speaker, whether it is supporting families under strain, giving a voice to those at the fringes, or preserving the environment for future generations, the principle is the same – we should measure a society not just by its growth, but by how it cares, listens and plans for the long term.

These are not isolated issues, they are strands of a single fabric that binds us as Singaporeans. And it is with this mindset that I turn to the "we first" guiding principle that must shape our collective journey forward. And I know there are many different interpretations of "we first" in this Chamber, but this is mine.

"We first" means families before systems – where caregivers in the workforce are supported and not stretched to breaking point. "We first" means those at the margins matter just as much as those in the centre, because every voice in this country, deserves to be heard. "We first" means stewardship before short-term gain, so we preserve our environment as a gift to future generations.

Ultimately, the measure of our nation is not how fast we advance, but how firmly we hold together, in the decades to come. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Deputy Speaker: Acting Minister Mr David Neo.

5.09 pm

The Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (Mr David Neo): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion. SG60 is a significant milestone for Singapore. After all, Singapore was not a nation of choice, but no choice. Our Pioneers overcame the challenges of the day and built an exceptional multicultural nation – one that we are proud of.

Today, we stand at another important crossroads in history. As President and many Members have said, the global order that Singapore has thrived in, is changing. Geopolitical tensions and tariff wars are raising prices everywhere. These difficult economic conditions have led to a rising tide of individualism and "me first" mentalities all around the world.

The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer reports that more than six in 10 global respondents feel a deep sense of grievance; that for someone to win, somebody else must lose. Each man for himself. Elsewhere, the 2024 Gallup World Poll reports significant drops in global activities that put others before self; volunteering, donating, helping strangers.

There are also strong social forces that pull us apart. Social media ironically, can drive a wedge between us, because algorithms are designed to make us stay online longer by showing us more of what we want to see. And we end up being trapped in larger echo chambers and more polarised societies, as many Members have pointed out. And we see a loss of social cohesion in many countries, fracturing societies from within.

As a small, global, hyperconnected city, we will be subjected to the harshest of these pressures. Our unity will be tested, in a changed world. We see weak signals. You heard some of these from Prime Minister. The share of Singaporeans who desire to help build a more caring society has dropped from 60% in 2019 to 42% in 2024, an almost 20-percentage-point drop.

What are we to do? As the saying goes, amidst order, look for change. Amidst change, look for order. As we stand at SG60 in a changed world, we are Pioneers once again. And we can learn from our Pioneer and Merdeka Generations, as we forge our way forward in the changed world.

Through conversations from when we first started the Pioneer Generation Office, to more recent Project Citizens, our founding generation cited multiculturalism, boldness and service to others before self, as some of the shared values that made us exceptional. And underlying it, a sense of unity. Seniors who lived through the 1964 racial riots recounted how they shared food with neighbours, regardless of race, language or religion – a reminder of the importance of our unity in a moment of darkness in our history.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I believe this unity is key if we are to stay exceptional in a changed world. And we are one of the very few places in this world where anybody can have a fair chance in life, regardless of where they start. This is something I believe strongly. We need to do more, to expand our common space, increase social mobility and build a "we first" society to strengthen our unity.

Our pledge begins with a simple word – "we". Our unity is founded on multiculturalism. We build our national identity on top of, not in place of, our individual diverse cultures. We are intentional in protecting and expanding this common space that we share as Singaporeans. Spaces where Singaporeans can come together, interact and bond across socio-economic, ability and cultural divides. Where we cultivate an inner curiosity to know more about one another. And we need to welcome people from all backgrounds, so we know what it feels like to walk a mile in their shoes. So, we can make decisions and trade-offs that are better for everyone. Our multiculturalism and openness are our strengths.

We must place a special focus on our youths, for they are the architects of a more cohesive Singapore to come. While our youths are the most digitally connected generation, they risk becoming the most socially disconnected in real life. The 2022 National Youth Survey revealed a worrying trend: the proportion of youths with no close friends doubled from 4% to 8% in the last decade. In other words, where we saw no more than one student in each classroom with no close friends, today, we see two or three. We need to tap on the universal language of sports, arts and heritage to build bonds for our youths.

In 2023, three schools formed one football team – Boon Lay, Methodist Girls' and Westwood Secondary. On their own, they did not quite have enough players, but together, they formed the team. They trained together three times a week under the School Football Academy Programme. And last month, they claimed their first National School Games title. And the girls proved that on the football field, with a common goal, school badges faded away. They became a "we", and that "we" succeeded in their pursuit of their dream.

MCCY and MOE will work together to create more cluster-level sports competitions and games, to get youths from different schools, backgrounds and abilities to play together. We will pilot a new cluster-level games, the School Sports Fiesta next month, beginning with 16 schools across three clusters at the primary and secondary levels. We want to get more students to unite through sports and to play together.

On Tuesday evening, we cheered Pin Xiu on as she won silver in the women’s 100 metres backstroke S2 final in the World Para Swimming Championships held in Singapore and Asia for the first time. Pin Xiu’s win is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of building an inclusive society. One, where every Singaporean belongs. It helps us see diversity not as a barrier but as a source of strength. MCCY will deepen our efforts to build an inclusive society across all domains. We will also do more to make the arts another platform to unite young Singaporeans, especially in multicultural art forms.

An example is the recent production of Tempest and Tranquility, by Siong Leng Musical Association, in collaboration with Young Artist Award recipient Nawaz Mirajkar, who is a renowned tabla musician. There was a perfect blend of Nanyin and Indian music and dance forms. I quote a review by Dr Chang Tou Liang, a prominent music reviewer.

"When the two musics coalesced in composer Ng Kang Kee’s sensitive arrangements, it did not matter which was Chinese or which was Indian. They simply became one in soul and spirit." And that is what we want our people to be – one in soul and spirit.

The NAC, with the support of the President’s Challenge, will introduce new initiatives that will give an added boost to the development of such cross-cultural efforts, to make us one in soul and spirit.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Member Dennis Tan talked about the importance of the arts in building the soul of our nation. I thank him for his affirmation. That is why this Government has increased the amount of arts housing and space available to our arts groups by more than 35% from 2010 to 2020. And we stand at almost 100,000 square metres of arts housing to support our vibrant arts groups. They, in turn, have doubled our performance activities to almost 13,000. [Please refer to ​"Clarification by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth", Official Report, 25 September 2025, Vol 96, Issue 5, Correction By Written Statement section.]

It is this outreach that will allow our Singaporeans to understand, appreciate and feel what it means to have the soul of the nation. And I also want to thank this House for your continued support for our arts, heritage and cultural groups, for indeed, they play a very strong role in helping us understand what it means to be Singaporean.

Beyond the arts, we also need to bring our understanding of diversity and common space from textbooks into everyday life.

Last month, Minister for Education Desmond Lee and I joined students in Mayflower Secondary School for their CCE class on racial harmony. Our students told me what was more important than classroom learning, was to take action. Practise little acts that strengthen racial harmony in their daily lives and create the positive school culture that this House spoke about. Be the change that we want to see. I was really proud of our students.

Beyond schools, the National Youth Council has also engaged more than 5,000 youths since 2023 in constructive dialogues on how to strengthen our racial harmony. Looking ahead, we will create even more of these opportunities for conversations and social mixing amongst our youths to foster mutual understanding.

Second, we must ensure that Singapore remains a place where everyone can succeed, regardless of where we start in life. This is what Singapore stands for. This is not an ideal – this is the story of Singaporeans, many seated in this House, myself included. We must do what we can to keep social mobility alive, and help every Singaporean fulfil their fullest potential. That includes giving every Singaporean opportunities, uplifting individuals and developing different pathways to success.

Like Clarence Ching. A former Normal (Academic) student, Clarence and his friends felt that barriers – invisible ones, such as a lack of networks and opportunities – held back students from disadvantaged backgrounds. So, what did he do?

Clarence founded Access Singapore. With just a handful of university volunteers, he knocked on the doors of schools and companies to initiate programmes such as career guidance and industry attachments. Because he believes that everyone should have a fair chance in life. And Access Singapore grew from a small volunteer group to an organisation with over 150 staff, volunteers and facilitators, uplifting 3,000 students across more than 30 schools. MCCY will continue to work with Access Singapore on its mission to improve social mobility. Be the change that we want to see.

And we need to broaden our definition of success. Our youths tell us they want to redefine success and be empowered to chase their dreams whether in the arts, sports, or other fields. And we will be there to support them.

In Tampines, my resident Yazrul and his childhood friends started Sporting Tampines, a community football club with a big dream. They want to build a community anchored on a shared love for football. And they started in June this year and now have 44 members who participate in both competitive and social games. They have made great strides as a new team, having played international friendly matches and also secured corporate sponsors. I arranged for the good people behind Unleash The Roar! to meet with Yazrul and his team to see how we can better support their dreams to play on a much larger stage. Who knows, one day, you will see "Welcome to Tampines" on Netflix.

Our youths are also breaking new ground in sports. This July, we saw 14-year-old diver, Ainslee Kwang, make history at the World Aquatics Championships as the first Singaporean to reach the world semi-finals of the women's 10 metres dive. Despite having mild scoliosis, Ainslee overcame the odds and showed us with belief and hard work, you can chase your dreams.

We are supporting Ainslee through the Sport Excellence Potential (spexPotential) programme, which provides financial and other support, to help her fulfil her dreams. Ainslee credits her success to the strong team behind her – the high-performance sports fraternity, her coaches, and most importantly her family and friends – and this gives her the confidence to pursue her dreams.

One question I got from Ainslee and other youths breaking new ground in sports such as diving and Tchoukball, was why they were not recognised in the Singapore Schools Sports Council Colours Award when they represented Singapore, unlike their friends in swimming or track and field. It is a question that their parents and coaches, and some of our Members in this House have asked me as well.

Since I am both in MCCY and MOE, I thought we could do better to recognise our youths like Ainslee who are breaking new ground, taking the road less travelled and chasing their dreams. Our officers worked hard, and from this year, we will more than double the number of sports eligible for the Singapore School Sports Colours Award. Students who represent Singapore in games like diving, tchoukball, sport climbing and 33 other additional sports will all now be eligible for the award. [Applause.]

So, Ainslee and Team Singapore divers and artistic swimmers who represented us in the recent World Aquatics Championships will all be recognised alongside our swimmers. MOE will share more details on this in due course. And to Member David Hoe, not to worry, ActiveSG Credits for dual-use facilities is also on my to-do list.

Similarly, in the arts, practitioners like Muhammad Muazzam, or Zam as we call him, are redefining the role of the arts in community building. Zam believes that the future of Singapore’s arts scene lies in its ability to bring value to other sectors. Together with his community engagement work, Zam explored the intersection of the arts with healthcare, social services and education sectors. He recently founded Arts for Action, a community arts organisation that expands on using the arts to build relationships and strengthen community bonds.

With a scholarship from the NAC, Zam is pursuing a Master’s in Gerontology at Singapore University of Social Sciences to further inclusive and age-affirming arts engagement in Singapore. So, to all our young people, be bold, take the road less travelled and chase your dreams. And we will be with you every step of the way.

Finally, we need to build a "we first" culture, based on a strong set of shared values that underpins what it means to be Singaporean. To be clear, it does not mean that we abandon "me". Building a strong "we first" culture means understanding that the "we" and "me" are inextricably linked. That when "me" succeeds, it is often because it got a hand up from "we". In turn, "me", must also give back and contribute to "we".

At Woodlands Regional Library, I spoke to one of our Project Citizens participants, Mr Dennis Tan, who was in primary school, during the 1964 racial riots. Dennis recalls there being a lot of misinformation and untruths spread through rumours and gossips, and he did not know what to believe or to expect. Despite this, people in the kampung put their neighbours first by housing them at night when the curfews kicked in – regardless of race, language or religion. Putting "we" before "me".

Everyone must play a part in building a "we first" Singapore, whether individuals, community groups, or corporates. We want to nurture this mindset amongst our youths. At Youth Corps Singapore, we support our youths to take tangible steps to put others before self.

I met Hannah Batrisyia, one of our youth volunteers. Her journey started with a three-day leadership camp in 2019, which kindled her passion to put others before self. Today, while pursuing her Master's degree, she leads multiple projects to benefit the community. This December, she is also leading a Youth Expedition Project to go overseas to make a difference to a community in our region. Like Hannah, many of our youths feel a sense of purpose and they resonate with the call to build a “we first” Singapore.

MCCY’s 2024 Social Pulse Survey found that three in five young people want to take action for a better Singapore and more than half want to work with the government to do so. We will continue to make it easy for our youths to step up to put "we" before "me", and my Ministry will continue to give our youths a voice, a space, a platform and a space to make a difference. To build a Singapore they will be proud to inherit. When people are empowered to make a difference, it builds a virtuous cycle of care, trust and collective responsibility. And when we all put "we" before "me", we build a better Singapore.

Mr Deputy Speaker, we are pioneers standing at an important crossroads, in a changed world. Let us move forward together with a new spirit. Or a phrase that we are more familiar with: "Marilah kita bersatu,dengan semangat yang baru". We are not alone in this journey. As Benjamin Kheng puts it – "If we just look to each other, then this house will feel like home. And the more we’re together, the further we’ll go." Let us go further, together. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): Facing a world of constant change and an unstable international situation, SG60 is like the juncture during Singapore's founding days – fraught with thorns and obstacles. Let us learn from the spirit of unity and dedication of our Pioneer and Merdeka generations. Together with the younger generation, we stride towards a new world.

(In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Mr Cai Yinzhou.

5.29 pm

Mr Cai Yinzhou (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Sir, I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. In a turbulent world, the President's address offers a renewal of faith. It calls us towards a "we first" society built on the enduring pillars of unity and trust. It is a powerful and essential vision for our nation's next bound, but let us be clear, the fulfilment of that promise does not begin here in this Chamber. It begins with us in our local communities in the enduring efforts of one Singaporean reaching out to another.

Prior to being a Member of Parliament, I was known as the "Ah Boy" of Geylang. I grew up there all my life and had a different perspective of the world, one not easily found in textbooks or policy papers. I saw the complexity of life and met neighbours known to society only by their labels – the nightlife workers, the troubled youths and ex-convicts trying to hold on. The temptation is to see their lives in black and white, a simple failure of law and order.

But as a neighbour, I saw something else. I saw single parents struggling. I saw human beings resulting to vice, often because they lack options or were escaping a reality much worse. I learned that we cannot fix what is broken until we recognise the shared humanity in every single individual. It was with that same understanding that I spent my weekends in 2014, in the back alleys of Geylang, with migrant workers playing badminton, sharing a meal and seeing their sacrifice and commitment to family thousands of miles away. When my friend, Nurul Bashar from Bangladesh, was counting his every last dollar for his father's urgent surgery, I did what any friend would. I picked up a pair of scissors, learned from YouTube and offered him a free haircut.

That small act of care grew into a volunteer movement. Today, volunteers at back-alley barbers have given over 8,000 haircuts at nursing homes, migrant worker dormitories and rental flat communities. I learned the most profound change does not need a massive budget, but sometimes a pepper of courage and a generous serving of human connection. In the lorongs in Geylang, empathy was an emotion I understood long before I ever learnt its name, and it is this fundamental truth that shared human connection that must guide our work today.

I would like to thank the residents of Bishan-Toa Payoh for the support and the opportunity to stand here today. In the recent National Day rally, our Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Toa Payoh will be one of the first models of the Age Well neighbourhood. Having managed active ageing centres, I have seen the importance of Healthier SG across Singapore and I am grateful for the inter-agency collaboration between MND on the hardware refresh and MOH on the software integration of programming.

It is not just our population that is ageing, but our flats too. Toa Payoh is the first satellite town comprehensively planned and developed in 1965 by HDB. Many of the flats are seniors in age too. Residents are anxious of their homes and worry about the uncertainty of timing, the future value of their flat and its remaining lease. Many also face the daily realities of defects and look forward to repairs and upgrades through the Home Improvement Programme.

Each resident has unique circumstances and may require different levels of support. I will echo the concerns of my residents and speak up for clarity on upgrading options as well as what an equitable Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS) offers. At the National Day Rally, the Prime Minister also shared, "Many seniors do not want to move out. They prefer to age where they are, and we will need to provide for them as they get older."

The Government's ambition to age-in-place and enhance health spend is a powerful paradigm shift. This sentiment is echoed by many seniors I have met, including two pioneers of community building in Toa Payoh Central, Mr Chia Ah Sah, aged 79; and Mr Raman, aged 75. The combined years of service to this community is a total of 96 years. Mr Chia shared, "We are poor, but some people are in even worse situations and so we help."

This simple belief of a heart-to-heart service has remained consistent over the past 40 years. The love and attachment to the community has only grown. But how do we create more Mr Ramans and Mr Chias?

Like many in the Chamber, I have joined many seniors for workouts, outings and health screenings to discover this answer. Instead, I have learned extraordinary secrets, what I describe as "non-Google-ables". Secrets about the precise herbal ingredients in a 药材汤, or herbal soup, to cure a cold for my pregnant wife; hacks to stretch their dollar, like knowing which store at the wet market, or cai png, economy rice stall offers the best value for money.

They know the latest hack of getting NTUC discounts and the ways to get CDC vouchers from task. They can also tell you the history behind a street name or the location of a building long gone much faster than ChatGPT can. And not to mention, advice on a good long-lasting marriage and how I should spend more time with my wife and two children. This is the collective wisdom of a lived experience.

In our communities, seniors rally around one another to celebrate milestones and turn to one another for support in times of grief and sadness, just as friends and family do. They exist not just as individuals in a neighbourhood, but as a living library of knowledge, and together form a powerful resilient community.

How can the narrative of growing old then be reframed, not as a liability, but as an opportunity to live again. After giving their all for decades to work and raising a family, how can we encourage the cultivation and nurturing of new passions, creative talents and entrepreneurship projects through their existing strengths and knowledge?

For our youths, we have agencies, like Youth Corps and the National Youth Council, which play a vital role in development through leadership and volunteering programmes. I propose for the formation of Elder Corps, a value for a parallel equivalent agency to leverage on skills and wisdom of our seniors to match them with our schools and youths for mentorship and guidance, to be a force for volunteering and meaningfully contribute to our society.

New friendships, shared memories and purposes. These are experiences that hold our communities together. Let us ensure our seniors live their final years with dignity, purpose and a good quality of life.

Deputy Speaker, Sir, empathy for the vulnerable must also be at the heart of what we do as Parliamentarians. I recently journeyed with Toa Payoh residents Ryan and Rae Mok, whose daughter, Rachael, was born with a rare chromosome disorder and had high-care needs. When Rachael turned five, Rae started Project GIVE, a yearly tea party where entire families of children with high-care needs would gather and participate in an inclusive carnival. At the 12th edition this year, I met 31 children with high-care needs and their families, and a village of many helping hands – from extended families to corporate volunteers and medical staff.

As a mother, Rae's journey was one of incredible resilience, and the generosity she received from others spurred her to create a community of support for what would otherwise be an isolating caregiving journey. Rachael passed away last month, shy of turning 21 in October.

As representatives, these are moments of clarity that strengthen our resolve to speak up and I will do so, for caregivers and persons with disabilities, in this House.

The resilience of a society is tested during a pandemic, a crisis, and we are only as strong as the weakest link. This was evident during the pandemic when the spotlight shone on essential workers and the vulnerable.

During the pandemic, I worked as a care staff in a nursing home, assigned to a ward of 16 males. The daily routine of care was visceral, was intimate and it was intense. This includes changing their diapers, showering, wound dressing, and managing cognitive conditions and difficult behaviour, on a 24/7 shift-work basis.

It gave me a deeper appreciation for the labour of care, and I admired my colleagues, a largely migrant workforce, but also realised the unaccounted cost of care and trade-offs that family members might make when they choose to undertake caregiving personally. With love and dedication and devotion which may undergird their decision, many may feel unprepared and helpless too.

As the saying goes, "You can't save others if you drown too."

While the Government has taken steps to support caregivers through respite services, training and grants, we must go further. We must ensure easy access to resources. We must make help visible and accessible and offer it proactively. We must better honour filial piety through stories, and those who choose to personally undertake this responsibility. We must rightfully account for the value these caregivers contribute to our society. This labour of care does not stop at caregivers to seniors or persons with disabilities.

We cannot forget our frontline workers who actively care for our people too. We need to better support our social workers, family coaches, teachers, counsellors, therapists, psychologists and nurses, so they can better serve Singapore. We must find ways to improve the coordination of our services and close help-seeking time gaps. This ensures our system can be effective in what is intended to do to deliver compassionate assistance to our people in their moments of need.

The spirit of empathy is the very fabric of our neighbourhoods. But for our communities to thrive, the systems that support them must be equally compassionate. Beyond economic calculations, we need to consider the accurate accounting of what truly makes a society strong. For too long, relational elements like the immense contributions of caregivers and the cultural values of our heritage have been hard to quantify and, thus, undervalued in our balance sheets.

Sociologist Ray Oldenburg describes the third space. The first being our home; the second being the workplace; and the third, the place which is the anchor of community life, which facilitates and fosters broader and more creative interactions.

They can be in the form of communal social nodes, places like void decks, hawker centres, coffee shops or parks. As we aspire to improve health-span and the quality of life, we must first ask ourselves what exactly is a life well lived and how do we want to age?

The World Health Organization quality of life measurement assesses a person from the physical, psychological, social relationship and environmental perspectives. It acknowledges that humans are multidimensional and, therefore, measures various domains of life, not just the absence of illness.

How do we measure the friendships between friends and neighbours? How do we quantify the psychological pain of a senior who might be leaving a familiar community due to a relocation and the cost to their health? How do we communicate with one another the sense of loss at the mergers of our schools, or the closure of our favourite youth hangout or even the place where we used to date. Third places tying closely with the sense of belonging and forms a key part of our identity.

Impact assessments provide some economic measurements towards this, and I am glad that the Government has adopted features of environmental impact assessments in redevelopment works. Heritage and social impact assessments have existed, and we must seek to incorporate more of these accounting languages in the decisions we make, and this will allow us to measure the true impact of our decisions on community and identity.

In conclusion, our total fertility rate is at a record low. Next year, Singapore attains the UN status as a superaged society with more than one in five of us over 65. In five years, that will be one in four. In 2050, it will be almost one in 2.5 Singaporeans. I am not sure how the age range of our Parliamentarians will be by then, but as the youngest male PAP Member in the 15th Parliament, by then, I will be 60.

French philosopher Auguste Comte may have coined the phrase "demography is destiny", but the President's address has provided a powerful continuum that birth does not dictate destiny, that no one is left behind and that every generation can look ahead with optimism and hope.

What will Singapore be in 2050 when we celebrate SG75? [Please refer to the clarification later on in the debate.] The country each generation inherits is determined by the actions of the previous one. I am deeply aware that the country my children inherit will be determined by the actions we take now.

The President's address has set a clear direction for our nation and it is up to us to embody that vision. Let us respond to the needs of our community with purpose and empathy. Let us build a future where every Singaporean feels seen, heard and valued, a society that truly makes efforts to care for the last, the lost and the least. And I say with conviction, let our generation respond, in optimism and hope. Mr Deputy Speaker, I end my speech in support of the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Deputy Speaker: Ms Diana Pang.

5.46 pm

Ms Diana Pang Li Yen (Marine Parade-Braddell Heights): Mr Deputy, Sir, I rise today with a deep sense of honour and gratitude to join my fellow Members in thanking our President for his thoughtful and stirring address to open this 15th Parliament. His words were not only a reflection of the past six decades but also a challenge for us to rise to the journey ahead.

The President reminded us that the Singapore story began with improbable beginnings – no natural resources, no hinterland and no credible military to defend ourselves. Yet, with unity and sacrifice, we built a nation that is secure and prosperous. He reminded us that while the world is turbulent and the seas rough, "we cannot command the tides, but neither are we a vessel adrift."

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

As I listened, I could not help and reflect on how the values of unity, resilience and trust have shaped my own journey, my own advocacy and the causes I stand for in this House. I am forever grateful to Prime Minister Wong for reminding us, in his speech yesterday, that a "we first" society is one that values solidarity even as we recognise our differences. His words resonate deeply with me, for in my own journey into politics is rooted in a simple belief: when I lift and when we lift others, we all rise together.

Mr Speaker, before 2003, politics and grassroots work were far from my mind. I had just left my role as an auditor and was fully occupied with business. Life was busy. To be frank, it was comfortable.

One day, quite by chance, a business contact around my age invited me to a meet-the-people session over in Fengshan. Out of curiosity, I accepted the invitation, thinking that it would be just an ordinary evening, a bit of letter writing, perhaps observing how MPs and the volunteers help residents. But that evening changed my life.

I remember my very first case, seated next to the interviewer with my hands on the computer all ready to type. An elderly woman walked in, distraught and sad. She spoke only in Hokkien and for some reason clutched ever so tightly to my hand, as though I was her last hope. Her son had failed to enlist into National Service. She was struggling to deal with the consequences of that mistake, on top of pressing financial difficulties. I can still recall the look in her eyes – worry, mixed with shame, a deep sense of desperation and hope that someone might listen and help her, for this burden, she cannot carry alone anymore.

That itself was my turning point. I realised then I had a heart for service which I never knew that existed. And so, week after week, I returned to serve. It became a calling. The problems were not always easy to solve. Some petitions succeeded, others did not. But every story and every one of them mattered to me. Each resident reminded me that service is not about recognition, but about presence. It is not about being served but about serving.

That elderly woman, in her quiet way, became my first teacher in politics. She taught me more in one evening about the dignity of service than any textbook or boardroom ever could.

Along the way, I was truly blessed with mentors who not only shaped my journey but also shaped the person I have become. One of them was our former Transport Minister and MP for Fengshan, Mr Raymond Lim. He showed me that leadership can be calm, rational and humble. Despite his position, he always treated the residents and volunteers as equals and never gave the impression that he was above them all.

I remember sitting beside him at Meet the People sessions. Residents would pour out their troubles. Some came in angry, very angry, some confused, some in tears. And he listened, always with patience, always with respect, never raising his voice, never hurry them along. He gave them dignity and his time.

From him, I learnt that true leadership is not about titles, but about service. It is about lifting others so that they all can stand tall together.

I was blessed with family support. My parents, in their practical way, told me: "If you choose this path, 'mai kao peh' (in Hokkien). Just do it, do not complain." [Please refer to clarification later in the debate.] My mother urged me to sign up for party membership, reminding me that Singapore had given our family much and it was only right to give back when the country asked for it. My husband, quietly yet steadfastly, shouldered more of the caregiving duties at home so that I can give my time to serving others. My daughter, in her innocence, just said: "Mom, do what you can to help others."

Their support carried me and carried me still because behind every volunteer, every MP, every Minister, there is a family that makes it possible for us to serve. For that, I remain deeply grateful to mine for the love, support and encouragement they have given unconditionally.

People ask: "Why keep going back, week after week, for more than 20 years?" My answer is always the same. It is the residents; it is the people. Each story, each struggle, each glimmer of hope reminded me why service matters.

I remember sometime in May this year, a mother walked into my meet-the-people session, completely overwhelmed. She was caring for her elderly parents, while raising one special needs daughter and three others. She was exhausted, anxious, desperate, close to despair.

That evening, together with my volunteers, we found her a simple solution, amongst a lot of other things – a rental flat to ease her immediate burden. So, what mattered more was not just the rental unit. What mattered was that she left knowing that she was not alone. She has a whole team of us behind us. Months later, she came back to me, gave me a handmade flower and that itself touches me deeply. This gesture of gratitude will stay with me far longer than any appointment or anything or any title would ever bring.

Encounters like these remind me that politics is never an abstract. It is not about paper-pushing or making grand speeches. It is people, real people, real lives, and real struggles. And when we say "we first", not "me", this is what it looks like if everyone practises it.

Since the last GE in May, I have had the privilege of joining my team at more than 140 events. Among them all, one moment stay deeply with me – it was my very first National Day Parade as an MP. Standing at the Padang among the thousands of fellow Singaporeans, I was deeply moved by the sight of our people gathering as one. In that moment, the weight of this office truly struck me. I felt the echoes of our beginnings, the unity, the sacrifice to build our nation, the solemn duty that we now have to carry to keep Singapore strong, united and moving forward.

The voices of the crowd might rise beyond not just celebration. They were testimony to resilience, the resilience of a people who refused to give up, who believed we could build something out of nothing.

In that same spirit, Mr Speaker, is what I see every week at our meet-the-people session. Ordinary Singaporeans showing extraordinary courage and strength. Volunteers staying late in the night, helping, doing their best to help strangers. Neighbours looking out for neighbours. That, to me, is the Singapore spirit at its very best.

I often remind my volunteers: this work is never about us. It is about the lives we touch, about the people. I make that point to share with them, train them, build them, be with them so that we can serve and all of them have served, with confidence, because when I leave one, I leave the whole team and together, we grow stronger.

Mr Speaker, allow me what I will champion in this House. Caregiving is both beautiful and brutal. I have met mothers in their eighties still caring for their adult children with special needs. I have met "sandwich-class" parents torn between their ageing parents and their young children in need. One mother told me; I totally agree: "I am always running but never arriving."

Even in my own life, I have witnessed the quiet strength of caregiving networks. Neighbours who notice those living alone alert my team, step in to watch over one another, offer simple acts of kindness without hesitation. I have seen parents entrusting their children to neighbours during renovations. In my own experience, I was very, very late. My neighbours helped me to pick up my daughter. They helped me to feed her before I came home. These small but selfless gestures freely given and reciprocated, are the essence of neighbourly spirit, reminded me that a true community is built not on grand words, but on everyday acts of care.

Love alone is not enough. Families need knowledge and also support. I hope we can prepare families through pre-caregiving education, so that they do not stumble blindly into the stage when the time comes. Provide pathways for post-caregiving reintegration, so that those who step away from their work to care for their loved ones can re-integrate and come back to the society. Let us strengthen our community networks so that no caregiver will ever feel abandoned or walk the journey alone.

Mr Speaker, in the same bond of solidarity is also what sustains us women. I will speak for women. Like many Singaporean women, I wear many hats. I am a daughter, wife, mother, employer, volunteer. Juggling is constant. Sometimes, we lose themselves in that intensity. Menopause, mental fatigue, caregiving stress – these are real but very often dismissed or misunderstood. I have seen it and I have lived in it.

And that is why I started the Healthy Women, Healthy Family programme together with Dr Ang Seng Bin and community partners in 2022 because when women are well, families thrive, and when families thrive, the nation stands firm.

In this House, I will champion these policies that recognise women's roles and provide holistic support: more accessible childcare, inclusive workplaces and mental wellness resources. These are not an afterthought but our foundation of what we are going to do.

Just as we must support women in balancing their many responsibilities, we too must honour our seniors, who have carried their responsibilities for a lifetime. They are not merely dependents, but wisdom-keepers whose experiences continue to hold great value. I recall meeting a resident who told me that he once served as a general manager of a company. He is now in his 60s, living alone. He struggles to find permanent work. Despite a lifetime of leadership and knowledge, he can only secure low-level jobs like security jobs. Stories like his remind us that the skills and wisdom of our seniors are often undervalued, even as they still have so much to contribute.

I also recall attending the wake of an elderly man. The two of them, the man and his sister lived together in all their lives, unmarried. When she passed on, he was suddenly adrift and alone. I connected him with support and encouraged him to come for volunteer and join our network. Over time, I began to see light coming into his eyes again, a glimmer of hope. Another time, I sat with a senior at a wake while he waited for a companion to arrive. All we did was just to keep him company. To him, that simple act mattered greatly.

These encounters remind me that what our seniors often need is not grand gestures, but dignity, presence and inclusion. Dignity in old age is not a luxury. It is a necessity. And I will champion a Singapore where every senior can live with dignity, contribute with pride, and age with confidence with dignity.

Finally, Mr Speaker, I will also champion the cause of our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For more than two decades, I have walked the journey of the SMEs myself – balancing payroll, coping with rising costs, navigating layers of compliance and carrying the weight of employees who depend on me for their livelihoods.

I have seen business owners who are my friends quietly sacrifice family holidays, forgo their own salaries, dip into their savings – just to make sure the employees are paid. These stories rarely make the headlines, but they are the quiet sacrifices that keep Singapore's economy and communities going. This is why I will continue to press for clearer, more accessible forms of support for SMEs. Support should not come hidden behind costly consultants or weighed down by red tape. What businesses need are practical tools, affordable digitalisation, fair insurance that allows older workers to be hired with confidence and genuine partnerships that nurture homegrown talent. Our SMEs are not small. They are strong – strong in heart, strong in resilience and strong in their contribution to Singapore.

Mr Speaker, I may be new to this House, but I am not new to service. For over 20 years, I have sat with residents at their lowest points, trained volunteers to serve better and built teams that believe in we, not me. I see myself as a tiger mum not a bear mum, protective of every life entrusted to me, whether within my family or in the community I serve. Just as I would never compromise on my children’s well-being, I will never compromise on protecting our heritage, our culture, our racial harmony that binds us all together.

Service, to me, is not a sacrifice. It is a joy. I want Singapore and my constituents to know that I love what I do. I enjoy what I do. They can come to me and my team, and we will be there for you. My promise is simple. I will stand with you. I speak for the voiceless. I will champion for the caregivers, the women, the seniors and small businesses. In doing so, I hope to play my part in building a "we first" society that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has called us forward. One day where every Singaporean can be the best version of ourselves and you are never left to walk alone.

Mr Speaker, as I take my seat in this House, I do so with full awareness of the responsibility entrusted to me. I may be new but I bring with me the life experiences of many Singaporeans. I look forward to working alongside all Members of this House to build a more compassionate, more cohesive, more courageous and more lovable Singapore. One that remains true to our values, confident in our future and united as one people. In Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, Singapore's racial and religious harmony, and the mutual trust and respect between families and society, are the result of 60 years of joint efforts by the PAP government, the people and religious groups. Our forefathers have passed down this spirit to us today and we must carry it forward! We must pass these important values from generation to generation. Only by nurturing strong families and a caring society can we truly achieve the goals of "SG100".

I am currently the Member of Parliament for Geylang Serai. It is a vibrant home with rich stories, traditions and history. The people here possess a strong "kampong" spirit, looking out for one another and caring for each other! This is our Singaporean "kampong" spirit, and it is also an important driving force for Singapore to continue moving forward!

Mr Speaker, during these 144 days, I feel what people feel. I remember a resident who encountered housing and financial difficulties and came to seek my help. Initially, she only told me that her husband had lost his job and the family's source of income had been cut off as a result. The family of four was staying with others, without a home of their own. Their original plans to purchase a house had to be abandoned due to her husband's unemployment. After understanding the situation, we successfully helped her apply for a rental flat, and the matter of her children's education were also properly arranged. We also contacted different religious groups, and everyone extended their help unconditionally, providing assistance, regardless of race. These efforts greatly improved their lives. Now, whenever this woman sees us, she will say "thank you".

This is the power of the "we" that the Prime Minister emphasises on. We helped her to understand the situation. Religious organisations also chipped in to help.

Mr Speaker, this is the Singapore spirit that we need, and it is also the spirit in our National Pledge – "regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation."

As the MP for Geylang Serai, in the days ahead, I will serve you diligently, improve community infrastructure to support physical and mental well-being. I will also promote Geylang Serai’s traditions and history. I will do my best to help those with difficulties in your daily life and find the most suitable solutions. I will understand your situations. I say to you: "Come to me if you have a problem, ask me if you don't understand, I'm here for big and small issues."

(In English): Mr Speaker, I support the Motion. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Mr Fadli, you have a clarification to ask.

6.07 pm

Mr Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied): Mr Speaker, I have a clarification for the Deputy Speaker, Mr Xie Yao Quan's speech. Firstly, I would like to thank the Member for his eloquent speech in Malay. If I understood it correctly, the Member acknowledged that though some people will be ahead and some will lag behind under a meritocracy, everyone will still be in the same direction of success on the escalator of progress.

While it is good that we are heading in the same direction, would the hon Member agree that the true test of meritocracy is whether it truly fosters social mobility and is he currently satisfied with the current state of social mobility in Singapore?

Mr Speaker: Mr Xie.

Mr Xie Yao Quan: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me just say a couple of things. First, I think all of us care about those who are left behind. And on this, I just want to say, I think no one has a monopoly on compassion and on those who are left behind in society. I think all of us in this House we care about those who are left behind and we have been speaking up passionately on both sides of the House about those who have been left behind, so that is the first thing I would like to point out.

The second is that as I said before, meritocracy is not perfect. The meritocracy in Singapore, in our system is not perfect. And, indeed, Members on both sides of the House as well have in the previous terms of Parliament, in this term of Parliament made critiques about our meritocracy and suggested ways to improve our meritocracy.

So, to answer Mr Fadli, am I satisfied with the state of meritocracy in Singapore? Of course, we can do better and I would just suggest to Mr Fadli that in the spirit of constructive debate in this house, let us focus on specific alternatives and suggestions on how we can improve our meritocracy to make sure that it continues to serve Singaporeans, now and in the future, and that it remains fit for purpose.

Mr Speaker: Mr Fadli, in future, wait for me to call on you to go to the stand. Yes, you can respond to Mr Xie.

Mr Fadli Fawzi: I thank Mr Xie for his clarification. I would just like to say that, although we come from different sides of the isles, I agree with the Member and many others of the House who have spoken about the need to work harder to make meritocracy fairer for everyone, especially for those left behind. Thank you.

Mr Speaker: Mr Xie.

Mr Xie Yao Quan: Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you. I thank Mr Fadli for that affirmation and indeed for an agreement. Just to make one more point of order. Mr Fadli referred to me just now as Deputy Speaker. Just want to be sure that I am speaking in my capacity as a MP now. Thank you.

Mr Speaker: Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam.

6.11 pm

The Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, and Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I stand in support of this Motion. The President's address reminds us that our success as a nation cannot be measured by economic growth alone. It is also about how we support every Singaporean, young or old, to contribute and to live with dignity. We all play a part in creating communities of care that demonstrate compassion and ability to build common ground despite our varied experiences.

This commitment to create communities of care should endure, even as our lives in Singapore become more digitalised. We must be committed to making sure that going digital helps every Singaporean. No one should be left behind. Singaporeans should feel safe and respected in the digital space, and all of us, regardless of age, can look ahead with optimism and hope.

Today, digital technology has already woven itself into almost every aspect of life. We access digital government services, use the Internet for school and work, shop online at our convenience and connect with loved ones through messaging apps and social media. This reality brings both opportunities and challenges and we know that the digital transformation is not easy. Seniors feel overwhelmed, trying to keep up with new digital functions and apps. Some families face financial pressures regarding devices and Internet plans. Parents worry about the impact of screen time and what their children might encounter online especially with cyberbullying becoming increasingly prevalent. Our young people feel anxious and stressed by the pressures and comparisons that social media can amplify in their daily lives. All of us, regardless of age, have probably been caught off guard by increasingly realistic fake content that is becoming harder to identify. These concerns are real and they matter to us. Let me share what we have been doing at MDDI and will continue to do to tackle these challenges.

We have a long-standing commitment to support our seniors and low-income families in their digitalisation journey.

For low-income families, we recognise that technology can feel like yet another financial pressure. That is why we have programmes that offer subsidies for Internet access and devices and over 20,000 households have benefited since 2023.

During COVID-19, many activities moved online, leaving some seniors overwhelmed and at a loss with the abrupt changes. So, we set up the SG Digital Office (SDO) with digital ambassadors to support the digitally less savvy with essential digital skills such as accessing government services like Singpass and health services and communicating online. Since 2020, SDO has engaged over 40,0000 seniors and they will continue to walk alongside seniors on their digital journeys.

Mdm Jeannie Chian, aged 67, from Bukit Batok East, used to feel left behind in our digital world where she saw younger people move easily through QR codes and mobile payments. She was scared that she would not be able to catch up. She also wanted to be independent. So, when she found out about the SDO's training programmes from a digital ambassador during a community event, she decided to give it a try. After attending the programmes, she gained the skills and today she can confidently use e-payments.

Mdm Chian's experience reflects what we are seeing across Singapore. More and more of our seniors are going online.

In 2024, 72% of seniors have the skill to find information online up from 53% in 2020. While it is also true that there are some seniors who are put off by the fear of being scammed online, the guidance at the SDO programmes help address the concerns. In these programmes, they are also taught how to recognise suspicious links or offers online and build healthy digital habits. It is inspiring to watch them overcome their fears, adopt a positive attitude and embrace new digital technologies.

We also understand that not everyone is ready or able to go fully digital and that is okay. This is why we have kept alternatives, like physical CDC vouchers. Residents who need assistance with Government digital transactions can continue to get in-person assistance at Government agencies' physical service touchpoints. They can also visit ServiceSG Centres for assistance with 600 frequently-used Government services and schemes. We encourage digital-first but will not be digital-only. We will continue to help citizens access Government services through whatever means they prefer.

There is so much to learn about digital and we are trying to make it easier for everyone to be part of a learning community so that we can grow together. We are thinking about our children's future in this digital world and have introduced new AI for Fun modules to our existing Code for Fun programmes in primary and secondary schools in 2025. Students now get hands-on experience with AI technology, where they can learn to use generative AI for brainstorming and creating content, while understanding how to use it safely.

And this learning journey extends beyond schools and beyond just teaching the young. Earlier this week, I spoke on how libraries serve as places where we can learn new knowledge and exchange ideas with people who have similar interests. The same goes for learning about digital.

Take Mr Ronnie Meng, for example. Two years ago, he attended a one-day workshop at MakeIT, the library makerspace in Punggol Regional Library, to learn the basics of 3D printing. The workshop sparked his interest in 3D printing as he could see his ideas brought to life. Recently, he has expanded his skills to include Gen AI tools for advanced designs. Every week, Mr Ronnie returns to the library to create puzzles and toys for his grandchildren, hoping to kindle the same creative passion in them. At MakeIT, he also met people with similar interests and enjoyed exchanging ideas and tips with fellow members. Mr Ronnie's experience captures the spirit of our libraries as places to spark curiosity, equalise access to technologies and strengthen community through learning.

Beyond libraries, learning also takes place at over 50 Digital Clubs that have been set up by People's Association Active Ageing Councils and SDO. These Digital Clubs promote peer learning and seniors are encouraged to learn from one another because, sometimes, the best teacher is the person sitting next to you who just recently figured something out and remembers how confusing it felt at first. To promote more of such learning communities, we will be collaborating with the Agency for Integrated Care to bring these clubs into Active Ageing Centres closer to where seniors normally gather.

Having access to technology and knowing how to use it is important but there is another piece of the puzzle that is equally crucial. Digital services should feel intuitive and easy to use for all users.

Take banking apps, for example. Most of us find them quite easy to use. But Mr Ng Choon Hwee, 70, who has a visual impairment, faces a very different experience. He uses the voiceover function to tell him what is on the screen but if a banking app is not properly labelled, the voiceover reads out unhelpful descriptions, like "button" or "image", that does not allow him to perform the task that he intends. A straightforward task like checking his bank balance or reviewing transactions becomes a frustrating guessing game. Beyond incorporating inclusive design features that serve users with special needs, a well-designed app enhances usability for all of us, regardless of age or ability.

That is why we are working to improve this and as Government, we are taking the lead. We recently refreshed the Digital Service Standards, which serves as a set of guidelines for designing Government digital services. The new standards guide developers in aspects of digital accessibility so that digital Government services are compatible with assistive technology and are easier to use.

We are also actively involving citizens in improving user experience of digital Government services and ensuring such services are accessible to all. A key part of this effort is our Tech Kaki community. Tech Kaki brings together citizens from all walks of life who share their experiences and insights to help us design better Government digital services. For example, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) engaged over 800 Tech Kaki members for feedback on their user experience and the useful insights shared led to refinements in the Healthy 365 app features. Such efforts contribute to ensuring the app is accessible to all Singaporeans, to support them in living healthily.

Our hope is that whether it is applying for housing, booking a doctor's appointment, or seeking social support services, the experience should be smooth and reassuring for all users. Accessible digital design is about more than just lines of code. It represents our shared commitment to building an equitable, thriving environment where everyone can take part confidently and with ease.

Now, I would address something that has been weighing on many of our minds – keeping our online spaces safe and welcoming for everyone, especially for our children.

In addition to the threat of misinformation and disinformation, we are seeing the troubling rise in online harms and negative online behaviour. According to MDDI's Online Safety Poll 2024, more than 70% of respondents indicated that they have encountered harmful online content such as cyberbullying.

To better protect Singaporeans from online harms, we have been strengthening our regulatory tools. For instance, the Broadcasting Act was amended to allow us to enhance online safety of Online Communication Services (OCSs), which, at present, comprise social media services (SMS) and app distribution services (ADS), also known as the app stores. The amended Broadcasting Act grants the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) the legal powers to issue directions to disable access by Singapore users to egregious content found on OCSs, such as content depicting child sexual exploitation. Furthermore, the amendment also provides IMDA with the legal powers to issue Codes of Practice to require designated social media platforms and app stores to put in place systems and processes to mitigate the risks of exposure to harmful content for all Singapore users, especially for children.

We are also stepping up efforts to improve support systems for those affected by online harms. We will be establishing an Online Safety Commission next year to provide timely and accessible assistance to victims who encounter online harms, such as cyberbullying and intimate image abuse.

We will continue to review our legislation and build necessary regulatory safeguards. We are already studying approaches taken in jurisdictions, like the United Kingdom, European Union (EU) and Australia. In particular, we are looking at the implementation of age assurance measures in these places to guide our own efforts. We are engaging social media platforms, think tanks, technology vendors to understand the space. We want to put in place effective legislation that can protect our children from harmful and inappropriate content online.

However, legislative levers alone cannot create the kind of safe and trusted online community we want to live in. For that to happen, we each must play our part to build a culture of respect and kindness in our shared digital space.

I am encouraged by how families are stepping up. Parenting in the digital era comes with real challenge and I see parents putting in their best efforts. Based on our recent Digital Parenting Survey, we know that the majority of parents guide children's digital use, but many have expressed little or no confidence in doing so. Beyond stronger legislation, parents wanted access to relevant resources, such as online courses, guides and workshops, that can help them manage their child's digital activities. Today, we have the Guidance on Screen Use in Children to provide clear advice on the matter; a Positive Use Guide to guide healthy and positive uses of technology and social media; and the Parenting for Wellness initiative with resources to address matters, such as cyberbullying and managing screen use.

Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole-of-society commitment to successfully support parents and youths in the digital age. We are committed to partnering with community and industry partners to make practical and accessible resources readily available for every parent. These resources will be tailored according to the various stages in the parenting journey, based on their child's developmental age range and their experiences with key digital milestones. For example, first exposure to screens, first phone. We want to support parents in cultivating healthy digital habits in their children from a young age.

However, creating a positive online culture is not just about parents and children. Every single one of us contributes to shaping our shared digital space. I would like to encourage all of us to be kind in our digital interactions and cultivate habits of care that extend to the online space. Maybe before we share that post, we can pause and consider how our words might affect someone else. When we see cyberbullying happening, perhaps we could report it instead of scrolling past silently. These might feel like small gestures, but they will shape the digital culture we are all part of.

As many in this House have alluded to, building a "we first" society starts with "me".

The Government is committed to ensuring every Singaporean can be part of our digital future. Progress in building our Smart Nation must be shared by all and no one should be excluded or left behind.

The vision of an inclusive digital society is a shared responsibility that requires us to all lean in. We would like to invite community partners to help support digital parenting in this ever-changing landscape. We encourage companies and agencies to adopt accessible digital design practices. And as individuals, we can help a neighbour or family member with picking up a new digital skill, model positive use of technology for our children and simply choosing kindness in our online interactions.

Together, we can build a Smart Nation that genuinely serves everyone, not just those who are digitally-savvy, but all of us, with our different abilities and needs. The digital future is inevitable, but the kind of digital future we create is entirely up to us. Let us make it one we can all be proud of.

Mr Speaker: Mr Cai Yinzhou, you have a clarification to make?

Mr Cai Yinzhou: Speaker, in my speech, I mentioned that Singapore will celebrate SG75 in 2050. I misspoke. It should be SG85.

Mr Speaker: Noted.

Mr Speaker: Dr Choo Pei Ling.

6.26 pm

Dr Choo Pei Ling (Chua Chu Kang): Mr Speaker, Sir, before I begin, I would like to declare that I am an Assistant Professor in imaging neuroscience at the Singapore Institute of Technology and am a registered member of the Allied Health Professions Council.

I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks for the President's address. It is a privilege for me to join this debate as a new Member.

First, I would like to thank the residents of Tengah and Chua Chu Kang for giving me the opportunity to speak in the 15th Parliament. I am also immensely grateful to my better half and my two-year-old for their unwavering love. And to my team and volunteers, thank you for being my second family.

Last week, I watched my two-year-old play with gears, and it reminded me of how healthcare and research are like the hidden gears behind a masterfully crafted clock. You do not always see them, but they keep life moving – quietly, precisely, relentlessly. Each gear must be aligned; each spring must be wound with care. If even one falters, a missed diagnosis, a delayed study, the whole system stutters.

Today, I would like to speak on two areas that are deeply intertwined with our future: healthcare and research.

First, on healthcare. Singapore's healthcare conversation is evolving. It is no longer solely about life and death. It is about how we live in old age and in sickness, and the quality of life we can sustain across the lifespan.

This shift in focus brings urgency to how we manage downstream healthcare, supporting those already living with illness, especially within our growing population of older citizens. Strategic, long-term planning is essential. Judicious allocation of resources will determine whether our healthcare standards remain sustainable and continue to improve. Importantly, downstream care is not just about ageing. It encompasses a broader spectrum of lived experiences: the young adult recovering from a stroke; the parent managing a child’s autism diagnosis; the worker coping with chronic pain; the caregiver supporting both ageing parents and young children.

To meet these diverse and increasing demands while upholding healthcare quality, we need to continually review how care is delivered. One area is manpower efficiency. Perhaps we can draw on current nurse-led models under Healthier SG and expand the autonomy of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in referrals and prescriptions. This is already standard in countries like the UK.

Outside hospitals and within our communities, engaging seniors meaningfully can be key to optimising their physical and mental health. Rather than seeing seniors as passive recipients of care, we should recognise senior volunteerism as a strategic asset. Regardless of age, mobility, or technology proficiency; whether they use a wheelchair, a tongkat, or none at all – we can all actively welcome seniors into care initiatives through volunteer networks. This unlocks a win-win: seniors gain purpose and connection, while communities benefit from their care and experience.

Yet, to truly future-proof our healthcare system, we must look upstream, well before illness sets in. Healthier SG has laid a strong foundation. We can build on this momentum by focusing on the first 1,000 days of life, perhaps through initiatives like Grow Well SG that centres on child well-being.

To enhance its impact, I suggest: moving beyond reactive screening by offering guidance on postural health and ergonomics from early school-going age; embedding early touchpoints into antenatal care to equip first-time parents with tools for building healthy routines from the start; redesigning existing spaces in HDB estates to include multi-use play corners that encourage outdoor activity, family bonding and intergenerational engagement.

Besides care recipients, caregivers are an integral part of the healthcare landscape. Singapore has laid the groundwork for caregiving support through subsidies, respite services and community programmes. But the caregiving landscape is evolving and we must elevate our approach.

Caregiving is complex. It is not one role, but many – nurse, planner, advocate, emotional anchor. Support must go beyond financial aid. To truly elevate support, we should involve caregiving-trained professionals in policy, programme design and decision-making; and individuals who understand care from the inside out. More spending does not guarantee better outcomes. If done right, caregiving support should be precise, efficient and impactful.

To better support caregivers, I propose: expanding flexible work arrangements and caregiving leave to accommodate diverse caregiving needs, starting with the public sector and extending through legislation to the private sector; supporting caregivers in regular health screenings, by integrating them into existing national programmes such as Healthier SG Screening; and incorporating mental health screening for caregivers, leveraging on existing screening providers.

Let me now move on to research. I will begin with research strategy, followed by research impact assessment. Singapore committed $28 billion under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan. But investment alone is not vision. We must ask: what are we building and who are we becoming?

We cannot simply cruise along with the flow of the waters; we need to accelerate and ride with the waves – as the Chinese saying goes, "不随波逐流，要乘风破浪". In a world of rapid innovation, drifting with the current may seem safe, but it leaves us vulnerable to external tides. If we only follow, we risk becoming dependent on others for the technologies and solutions that shape our future. So, we must define our own direction. We are not striving to be sellers of everything, but we cannot afford to be buyers of everything either.

Take the current trend of AI as an example. Instead of focusing only on applications built elsewhere, we must ask, "Can we Singapore lead in artificial intelligence on novel applications, such as, for multilingual societies, for small data environments, or for public trust and governance?" And beyond trends, what is Singapore's own version of artificial intelligence?

I appeal to the Government to define and commit to long-term strategic research domains, fields where Singapore can lead – invest in Singapore-branded technologies that enhance national resilience in essential sectors; encourage and enable researchers to pursue high-risk, long-horizon questions through targeted grants; and infrastructure support and collaboration platforms. When policy and innovation move together with clarity and courage, Singapore will not only keep pace with the waves of innovation. We will set our own direction, chart a course others can follow and build capabilities that serve our people and economy for decades to come.

And finally, on research expenditure and impact assessment. We have committed billions to support research, innovation and enterprise. But the question is not how much we spend; it is what we get from what we spend. We must ensure that funding is not merely meeting check-box criteria, but delivering real impact. Are we solving the problems we set out to solve? Are we plugging the gaps that matter most?

We often measure success by volume; papers published, grants awarded, partnerships signed. These are important, but they do not always reflect whether the work is transformative or relevant. We must also be mindful of the administrative workload on researchers. When too much time is spent on compliance and reporting, we risk shifting focus away from innovation. Accountability is essential, but it must be proportionate and purposeful. And we need research-trained professionals, not just those with degrees, but those with deep, discipline-based expertise to manage and evaluate research outcomes.

To ensure that every dollar spent delivers maximum value, I propose the following: support early-career scientists with targeted funding that promotes exploration, innovation and breakthrough thinking; shift to impact-driven evaluation by requiring grant programmes to define success upfront in terms of national outcomes, with clear plans for industry partnerships or public sector applications; streamline grant processes – consolidate duplicative calls across agencies and reduce excessive reporting requirements to allow researchers to focus on innovation; ensure funding decisions and outcome assessments are guided by domain experts with deep research expertise and relevant field experience.

Mr Speaker, Sir, "我们要把钱花在刀刃上", means spending money where it matters most. Let us continue to invest boldly but, also wisely, that our research efforts deliver not just quantity and activity, but authentic, measurable impact.

Today, I spoke on healthcare and research. But there is much more to speak on, and beneath these diverse topics, lies a common thread. Let me offer an analogy: Singapore is like a boat. We are all in it together, each with different personalities, backgrounds and perspectives. There is no right or wrong in who we are. What matters is that we row in the same direction.

In healthcare, in research, in every policy we shape, we must choose the right way, not the easy way. The right way demands courage, clarity and compassion. It asks us to listen deeply, act boldly and build patiently. And let me end with this reflection. This is inspired by the Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech and the President's Parliamentary address. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): We are not passengers — we are crew.

Each with a different rhythm, a different strength.

But the boat moves only when we row together.

Not in circles. Not apart. Forward.

Let us choose the right way, not the easy way.

Let us move as many, but sail as one.

Mr Speaker: Ms Diana Pang.

Ms Diana Pang Li Yen: Mr Speaker, earlier in my speech, I had used a Hokkien phrase, which I am given to understand may not be very appropriate to use in the Parliamentary context. I just wanted to explain that I used it in the context of a story I was relating and did not mean to be unparliamentary. Please accept my apologies.

Mr Speaker: Apologies accepted. Mr Henry Kwek.

6.41 pm

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Kebun Baru): Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion. Many colleagues here have spoken about a turbulent world; great-power contest, technological disruption. From Singapore's early days, we have known these dangers. We have always, and often been caught sometimes by ourselves, as an improbable nation, a little red dot. This labels emphasise our vulnerability, too small to matter, too exposed to survive alone, too young to develop deep roots.

Yet, these weaknesses force us to build deeper foundations. Large nations can afford divisions, we cannot. Large nations can tolerate institutional decay, we cannot. Large nations can indulge in identity politics, we cannot. Our vulnerability has became our vigilance and our constraints become our discipline. And from this foundation, something remarkable has emerged as we began a new chapter under our fourth Prime Minister, even amidst a dangerous world, we have a basis for optimism that is often overlooked. We have quietly emerged as a civilisation of states, rare among small nations born not of design, but of decisions under pressure. Like the Venetian Republic of old, small in territory, immense in influence, because Venice knew what it stood for. Venice proved that civilisational death does not require vast lands.

Singapore, too, carries this potential. We are more than a flag and anthem. Our institutions are trusted, our common purpose and values are clear. We possess the cultural maturity and sovereign worldview to set our own compass. And in this dangerous age, while others fracture, we unite. While others doubt, we build.

Therefore, let us build on a new source of strength: the quiet stature of an emerging civilisational state; small on the map, large in mind and spirit. To tap on this strength, we can tell our story better, harness technological disruption, keep life affordable and expand our capacity for care. Let me outline how we can do these four things.

One, tell our stories better. If Singapore is a ship, our media is the rudder that allows us to reflect together, to steer our collective destiny. And our culture is our ballast, keeping us steady through choppy waters. To tell our stories better, we must do four things. One, double down on investments in our newsrooms, even as media companies face declining revenues. Yes, AI can write prose and automate workflows. But journalism is fundamentally about human connection – reporters engaging in people and uncovering stories that matter.

We are not just maintaining standards; we are polishing diamonds. Zaobao is already the most respected Chinese media outlet globally. And CNA commands credibility far beyond our shores. With strategic investment, can we position Business Times as the Financial Times of Southeast Asia? In an era where great powers project, not just hard power, but influence, our media is our best vehicle for soft power; offering an authentic Singapore perspective to the world.

Two, we need to build the generational divide by connecting our youths to our media and culture, for without this connection, our cultural future dims.

Fortunately, I can see green shoots are emerging. Zaobao's recent partnership with Chinese media company, they are the creators of this web novel turned hit drama series called "Yu Qing Nian", it is a fantastic drama series. This contest a partnership has generated, I was told, tens of thousands of entries from all over the world, including from Singapore and the region. MediaCorp's “Superstar” and SPH's “Xing Kong Xin” are discovering new voices and new lyrics that speak to our people.

To accelerate this, I hope our Government can consider funding media clubs in schools, in every school, dedicate a part of our national news sections to youth journalists, so that they can shape national conversations directly. This two-way bridge helps our media feel the pulse of our younger generations while nurturing future newsmakers.

Third, we should refresh and extend the Singapore story. Past cultural icons, like Liang Wen Fu and Stefanie Sun, have shaped our identity with minimal Government support. For SG60, I hope we can launch a decade-long programme bringing together our brightest cultural minds, people like Boo Junfeng, Yeo Siew Hua and Wong Kahchun. Give them the resources and access to our ecosystem to write the next chapter of our story.

Because we should think about the consequences of letting our cultural development languish. In 10 years, will we accept our identity being shaped by the occasional Netflix drama done by a foreign content creator? Will we be comfortable if we let others, including those with an agenda, decide what to amplify or diminish about our Singapore culture?

Four, we should prepare Singaporeans for a contested information landscape. We should mandate media literacy modules in junior colleges and tertiary institutions so that all Singaporeans, before they reach adulthood, are aware of this. In my view, we should enforce MOH's guidelines on healthy social media consumption for our youths. This is not tilting at windmills. It is about giving our youths the headspace to resist the instant gratification loops.

We should also require social media to surface more societal content, helping citizens break free from filter bubbles. Because we should also count the the cost of inaction? Without further decisive action, our youths' mental health will continue to be affected. Algorithms, not us, will shape our collective consciousness.

Most of all, when one is drowning in newsfeeds personalised to the “I” and the “I” here is defined by the shortest possible attention span, what space are we leaving to build a “we first” society?

My next point is harnessing creative destruction. Yes, we all know that AI-driven disruptions are both creating opportunities and challenges. The US experience is instructive. Large media companies are shedding jobs, yes that is true, but AI is also making custom digitisation affordable for many industries and smaller companies, work that was previously too expensive.

These displaced technology talents do not just disappear. They diffuse into other industries and bring with them the skills with them to spark broader productivity and Singapore should seize these opportunities as well.

How do we start? First, the Government must lead. While private companies shed tech jobs, we should accelerate digitalisation instead. Hire young IT graduates to supercharge Ministries with AI, prototype solutions and help companies cut costs. In short, we should transform job disruption into opportunity.

Second, spread tech talents across industries. As tech giants slim down, mid-sized companies can now afford customised AI solutions. So, we should incentivise, especially mid-sized system integrators in selected industries to hire young graduates who are mastering AI to digitalise those untouched sectors.

Third, we should reskill and retool our education system. We all know that in this age, tech talent needs three things: a deep understanding of system architecture depth, business knowledge and AI coding ability. It means that our senior project managers must relearn coding to be able to harness AI effectively. Our universities and polytechnics must provide tech students with business classes and industry projects. We must try hard to create pivot programmes for tech students and recent graduates into high-demand areas, such as AI development and cybersecurity.

And finally, we must prepare for broader waves. Tech is just the beginning. AI automation will spread everywhere, be it self-driving vehicles or delivery robots. The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme is excellent because we are not just having people training but cost-of-living subsidies. For our people with limited financial buffers but are committed to reskilling, can we consider enhancing it with optional loan and insurance moratoriums, so they can plunge ahead with conviction and confidence? This will ensure that disruption does not lead to distress.

Three, keep homes and daily lives within reach. I welcome the brisk pace of BTO constructions, adding supply would moderate resale pressure. With more homes coming, we should be able to expand both access and affordability. I hope we can consider raising income ceilings for high-achieving Singaporeans with limited inter-generational wealth and also allow Singaporeans married to foreigners, older applicants from private estates and singles to access larger BTOs and not just resale flats. I hope we can also consider lowering the singles eligibility age by two years. These are not concessions; we should recognise that diverse family structures deserve equal dignity in housing.

But affordability extends beyond the flat. It is the daily cost of living in our daily lives. We all know that coffee shop prices where it is now leads to high rental rates and I hope the Government can intervene directly. Let us consider targeted purchases of surrounding shops and converting them into Government-owned Community Canteens, we can call it "⼈民⾷堂". We are talking about low-cost spaces, tendered to operators who commit to fair prices and quality meals. And I believe that we just need a limited number of them, perhaps 20 or 30 sites throughout Singapore. I believe these will do much to taper excessive coffee shop prices.

My final point is about enlarging our circle of care. Our people's capacity for compassion has grown. A good example is how global crises such as the plight of civilians in Gaza has moved Singaporeans across all races and faiths to help. One of my community volunteer is Ashik and he serves as the Executive Director of Mercy Relief. He shared with me that they raised $1 million to benefit 350,000 civilians with food, medical supplies and water. In fact, they are preparing for four more projects in Gaza and the West Bank.

And our Government also mirrors this empathy. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) airdrops supplies and convenes the Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response conference, which I have attended over the last few years and I saw how SAF brought together militaries and volunteer welfare organisations to respond faster when crises strike. So, this example shows how the hearts of Singaporeans have expanded beyond our shores.

I hope that the same expansive spirit must also transform care at home in Singapore, in three ways. I hope we can strengthen our oral care. Dental health remains an area of improvement in our otherwise excellent healthcare system. Let us consider creating a Healthier SG dental plan by working with private sector dental clinics. Two, we must accelerate a nationwide roll-out of affordable assisted living for our seniors. For many of our seniors, our current senior care model assumes binary choices, either full independence with lived-in help or institutional care. But the reality is a lot messier. Therefore, I hope we can quickly conclude our learnings from the pilot that is going on, about shared resources for assisted living and scale it nationwide.

Three, fight animal cruelty. How we treat the voiceless reveals our values. As cruelty reports rise, we must respond decisively. Strengthen penalties and give agencies resources for swift action. And I will follow up in subsequent debates with detailed proposals.

In conclusion, Mr Speaker, these four ideas show that even as a small nation, we should not be a price taker amid global currents. We can set our own course. Many countries struggle to be more than a flag and an anthem, united in name, divided in purpose. Singapore chose differently. We have developed the habits of a civilisational state, institutions that keep faith, a culture that renews, a people who hold together.

We often associate such a death of large nations like France, yet size is not destiny. Like Venice once did, Singapore shows that a small state can carry a civilisation. It is who we are. Now, let us choose it openly.

In this dangerous age, we choose not to remain quiet, not to play it safe, not to settle, but to be who we are meant to be. So, let us set our compass, build our institution and live our culture. We are more than a shining red dot, more than an economic miracle, more than the sum of all our constraints. We are a nation that knows itself, and in knowing itself, shapes our destiny. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Mr Jackson Lam.

6.55 pm

Mr Jackson Lam (Nee Soon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President for his address. This is my first time speaking in this House, and I do so with gratitude, humility and a full heart.

I treasure the chance to speak up on behalf of other regular Singaporeans, just like myself. I come to this Chamber with a commitment to listen, to care and to take action. I wish to express my appreciation to all those who have served in this House before me. Their dedication has shaped the Singapore we live in today. It is now our turn to continue that work with conviction, compassion and courage.

The President reminded us, in his address, that we are at a critical juncture in our nation’s journey. We were reminded that the world around us is changing in profound way and uncertainty is becoming the new normal. Yet, we are not a vessel adrift. By strengthening our security, transforming our economy, sustaining mobility and putting "we" before "me", we can chart our course with confidence and unity.

How do we do that? A Chinese saying has guided me in my journey as a volunteer and now as an MP, "老吾老，以及人之老; 幼吾幼，以及人之幼." To honour the elderly as we do so for our elderly at home and care for others' children as we care for our own.

Let me start with our seniors. We all know the numbers. Singapore is ageing quickly. In just five years, a quarter of our citizens will be aged 65 and above. But numbers alone do not move hearts. We all know of some aunties who live alone and almost never leave the house, or uncles sitting by themselves with their kopi at coffeeshops, watching the world move past them, growing quieter every day.

I think about my own grandmother and the older neighbours who watched me grow up. Many of them want to feel connected to the community they are in. They want to play their part in the community. They want to feel like they still matter.

I met Mdm Ho recently. She is a retiree and often organises seniors' exercise sessions in the Nee Soon community. She also encourages the group to have potluck sessions during festive celebrations. Today, the group has grown to 50 seniors. There could be many more warm-hearted elderly, just like Mdm Ho, in our community. They bring our residents and neighbours together. We should support such ground-up efforts and share them with the broader community.

Growing old should not feel like growing invisible. "家有一老，如有一宝" (elders in a family are like treasures) should not be just lip service. Our seniors are a gift, not a burden to be managed.

Government initiatives, such as the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, and the co-location of eldercare and childcare services have laid strong foundations. But we must do more to reimagine what ageing can look like; where seniors are fully present, where they mentor, share or shape their communities.

Imagine primary schools where seniors come to read to students, share stories of the olden days or simply help with co-curricular activities. Imagine void decks with community kitchens, where older folks share their family recipes with the younger residents. All these are not grand policy moves, but they build connection and connection is what keeps people going.

Let us also look at our common areas. Many are quiet during weekdays. Can we turn them into intergenerational spaces? Community gardening, music corners where young and old can perform together. These are small ideas that add a soft touch to our daily lives.

And let us not forget digital inclusion. As our services transition online, we must ensure our seniors are not locked out. I have seen elderly persons struggle to book polyclinic appointments or get flustered accessing Government services on their phones. The answer is not to tell them to catch up, but it is to walk with them, one gentle step at a time.

I would like to commend the efforts of the SG Digital Office to provide community digital clinics. I hope these can be further expanded to include peer learning, where digitally savvy seniors guide their fellow neighbours or pairing youths with seniors as an intergenerational activity. At the heart of this is a simple principle: ageing well is not just about living longer; it is about living with purpose and joy.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I now turn to our young people, specifically those who are quietly struggling and often out of sight. These are the youths who do not always show up in statistics. They may skip class, drift into the wrong company, or simply stop believing they have a future. I was one of them myself.

I did not have much family support. I did not know who to look for or where to look for help. I mixed with the wrong company and got into all kinds of trouble during my secondary school days. Essentially, I became one of those kids that parents tell their children to stay away from. Thankfully, my secondary school teachers had an abundance of patience, guidance and belief that every student can grow and succeed. Thanks to them, I managed to turn my way around.

My new friend Narish went through a similar journey. He is the first youth to receive support from IMPARTSG in 2017 after facing significant challenges through his childhood and teenage years. Some of us here may be familiar with IMPARTSG. It is a charitable organisation whose core mission is to give youths facing adversity a fighting chance. IMPARTSG supported Narish through his "N" level as a private candidate and his subsequent traineeship at ITE. Thereafter, Narish returned to intern at the organisation, driven by his passion to empower others facing similar challenges. In 2023, IMPARTSG sponsored Narish for a Work-Study Diploma programme in Community Engagement and Development. Today, he balances his studies while leading a sepak takraw initiative called GIC-APEX, which connects over 99 youths across communities like Ghim Moh, Ang Mo Kio, Woodlands and Jurong East.

One individual who has been touched by Narish's work, let us call him Albert. He is 16 years old and a survivor of an e-bike battery explosion in 2018. Due to the trauma, Albert suffered from severe anxiety, school refusal and social isolation. Narish approached him with empathy and created a safe space and developed a plan to integrate Albert's love for sepak takraw with his social reintegration. Today, Albert flourishes as a regular community volunteer working with seniors on Age Well programmes.

Narish's story reminds us of the collective potential we unlock when we invest in our youths and empower them to uplift others. This is real transformative power when we come together for common good.

There are many others like the old "me" and Narish in our community. That is why such programmes in the community matter so much. These are not short-term projects. They are long-term lifelines. We must support such programmes, not just with grants and pilots, but with sustained, long-term funding. It means building stronger bridges between schools and community groups. It means trusting our youth sector to innovate and backing them when they do.

I also believe we need to continue broadening the definition of success for our youths. Let us strengthen our vocational tracks, not as second choices, but as first-rate options. Let us expand mentorship programmes in the trades, in entrepreneurship and in the arts.

And we can all play a part too. It could be a hawker stall uncle who gives a teen a weekend job; a teacher who checks in after class; a grassroots leader who listens without judgement; when we wrap a net of care around our youth, they fall less and climb more.

A young person who feels seen, who feels believed in, will rise to the challenge. We just have to give them the room to do so. Mr Speaker, Sir, now a few words in Chinese.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, I hope Singapore can do more for our elderly, enabling them to participate in building our community cohesion. We do not necessarily need large-scale policies, but rather through some creative community programmes, such as making good use of public spaces, allowing them to enter schools and community kitchens and so forth, to build relationships with the younger generation, and live fulfilling and active lives.

I also hope we can continue our efforts to walk alongside our elderly step by step on the digitalisation journey.

Our young people, especially marginalised youth, also need more help. I hope that programmes designed for young people can be developed with more long-term stable resources, allowing them to help each other and realise their potential together. Young people should also continue to have more pathways to success, letting them know that "heaven has endowed everyone with talents for eventual use". As long as we believe in their abilities, they, too, will learn to believe in themselves.

I believe that as long as we take good care of our older generation and our young people, we can link the past with the future, and together, make Singapore not just only a more prosperous, but also more heartwarming place.

(In English): In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, the President reminded us that Singapore must uphold trust, deepen unity and ensure that progress is inclusive. I fully agree. I believe unity happens when people feel they belong.

Our seniors want to know that they are not being left behind in a fast-changing world. Our struggling youths want to believe they still have a chance. If we take care of both, we secure our past and protect our future.

I hope to see a Singapore where generations do not live apart but grow together, where community is not just a slogan, but something we feel every time we step into a lift, or a hawker centre, or a park.

I am new to this House and I promise from the onset that I will do the work, I will listen to those whose voices tremble, I will speak up when silence becomes too loud. And I will always remember why I am here, not for myself, but for those who gave me this seat.

Singapore is often praised for its efficiency. But I hope we will also be known for our empathy. That, to me, is real progress, not just being the best, but being good. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion of Thanks and I thank the House and all Singaporeans for giving me this chance to serve. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Ms Lee Hui Ying.

7.07 pm

Ms Lee Hui Ying (Nee Soon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. Thank you for staying with us and with Members of this House for this important Motion.

As we reflect on the President's address, one message rings clear. It is time that we restructure the meaning of success for Singaporeans. It is not merely by economic metrics, but by how we uplift everyone around us with dignity, care and purpose at every stage of life.

The 14th Parliament started in the middle of a COVID-19 crisis. The 15th Parliament began a new chapter with a sea of economic turbulence.

President Tharman spoke directly to our lived realities as we ride this tide of change: youths seeking meaningful jobs, families navigating rising costs and caregiving pressures, seniors hoping for joyful and fulfilling lives. The President and Prime Minister also spoke on how we must always put "we" before "me", because the strength of Singapore lies in how we care, uplift and stand together.

I believe that this starts with everyday care across all life stages, from zero to 100, is the next step in our journey to a "we first" society. We must become a society where our progress is measured, not by prosperity, but by how we care for one another, a Singapore where persons at any milestone are cared for as they grow up or grow old.

Let me share some thoughts on how we can build this "we first" society spotlighting groups that are close to my heart – our seniors, our youths, our senior youths, and our animal loving community.

First, everyday care in a "we first" society starts with caring for our seniors. As a community volunteer for more than 15 years, I have had the opportunity and privilege to journey with and witness first-hand the strength and contributions of our seniors. It is now our turn, my turn, to take care for them in their silver years.

As we adapt to an ageing population, our seniors must be able to live with dignity, security, and purpose. Accessibility is a priority for me in Nee Soon South. We can do more to make our public spaces, transport, and housing more senior-friendly.

We must also invest more in upstream preventative healthcare, encouraging independent living, healthy lifestyles, early intervention and a closely-knit community. In Nee Soon South, there is always an activity for our seniors, every day.

At my house visits, I am inspired to see our seniors doing their part to age well. One of them is 85-years-young Mdm Tay, who has been selling fishball noodles at Peiying Primary School for 62 years and counting. Or a Mr Sim who runs five kilometres at 78 years old every single day. As a government, we must not only support active seniors such as Mdm Tay and Mr Sim but also reach out to other seniors and empower them to age well too.

Second, everyday care in a "we first" society starts with caring for our young in schools. We have an amazing academic record. But, for many students, their formative years consist of a high-pressure race through the schooling system, with the end goal of getting good grades, entering a good university and finding a good job. Learning feels like an obstacle they have to overcome to achieve a narrow definition of success focused on academic grades.

As we prepare our young for a world with technology like AI, they need to be equipped with more than grades to survive. Success in school should also be defined by developing their ability to learn and grow. This cannot be learnt by memorising facts from a textbook. Instead, it must be cultivated through students' active and willing participation. So, they must enjoy the learning process. They must learn to embrace the discomfort that comes with navigating uncertain situations outside structured classrooms. An education system in which students enjoy learning does not mean lower standards or less rigorous curriculums. By evaluating students based on processes over outcomes, it encourages students to take on greater challenges. So, make learning more joyful, less stressful.

This approach should also extend to extra-curricular programmes, where students are encouraged to develop their interests in sports and arts for self-enrichment, not only for winning competitions. I am glad MOE is planning to address the issue of "green-harvesting" or the disproportionate selection of competition-ready students under their review of the DSA scheme this year.

A caring society for our schooling youths also means taking action to help them overcome challenges of mental health and bullying. A 2024 study by the Institute of Mental Health stated that about one in three 15- to 35-year-olds reported severe or extremely severe symptoms of stress, anxiety and/or depression, with causes linked to excessive social media use, cyberbullying and body image concerns. Bullying, both physical and cyber, is increasingly prevalent, with a National Institute of Education study discovering that one in four upper primary students had been bullied in 2024 and a small number stating that they had also been bullies.

These youths are not only struggling. They are struggling silently, as a sizeable group does not seek any professional help. I hope to support more safe spaces for youths to express their struggles to trusted adults and peers. One practical way to do so is to encourage training of Mental Health First Aid responders, in schools and neighbourhoods, who are trained to identify mental health symptoms and offer support in de-escalating mental health crises.

By teaching our children to support those around them, we create a culture where mental health struggles are not perceived as a diminishing of one's capabilities and value, but a challenge that can be overcome with community support to allow every person to realise their full potential.

To all our boys and girls sitting for PSLE, do your best and know that your best is good enough. We are all rooting for you. Jiayou!

Third, everyday care in a "we first" society also means caring for those who might be at the peak of their health but face less obvious challenges.

I am speaking about a group. I call them senior youths, not young seniors, but senior youths – Singaporeans in their mid-20s to mid-30s. These are young Singaporeans who are burdened with adulting responsibilities. They have just entered the workforce, just got married, just started their parenthood journey. They are finding their footing in today's uncertain world with a rapidly changing economic order but also bearing the responsibility of being caregivers to their children and/or senior parents.

In interacting with our senior youths, and being one myself, I understand how their high aspirations are met with real anxieties. Senior youths aspire to have fulfilling careers and give their families a good life and have anxiety over job security as they hear the increasing challenges for graduates to secure a job in the face of economic headwinds.

Senior youths aspire to be good parents and filial children, but face the anxiety of balancing caregiving responsibilities with work responsibility. I thank Mr President for laying out a clear agenda to support the employment of our graduates.

Measures such as the GRaduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT) Programme show our commitment and innovation to find solutions that work for employers and jobseekers. I hope the GRIT could also expand to young early-career workers – our senior youths – who may have unfortunately lost their jobs recently and are now looking to switch career paths.

Besides training, a "we first" society also needs more childcare leave and caring workplaces to support our senior youths' roles as caregivers. On workplaces, these need not come at the expense of productivity. Our tripartite framework tells us that it is never a zero-sum game between our workers and our companies. They require a Government that is willing to broker conversations and provide leadership, a union that is sensitive to the needs of workers, and companies that are willing to experiment and provide feedback. Sometimes, the process of arriving at these solutions might seem slow, but I believe that in building a truly compassionate society, it is necessary that we pause to hear one another out, and each of us in this House can play our part in ensuring that Singaporeans we care about are heard and their concerns addressed.

Fourth, everyday care in a "we first" society starts with caring for our animals too. Nee Soon has an animal-loving community. I have had the privilege to see the quiet but powerful ways animals and animal lovers bring our community together. From a Nee Soon Pets Fiesta attended by 3,000 animal lovers just over the weekend to the quiet dedication of a network of community feeders who brave rain or shine to care for our community animals, these reflect something larger: a kinder, more caring home.

Coincidentally, just as Minister of State Alvin Tan who met the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) team in July, I also had the chance to visit their Sungei Tengah premises where I met Halia, a gentle community dog and she was ready for adoption at that time. Just about two weeks ago, SPCA's Executive Director, Mr Walter Leong, shared with me that Halia had been adopted and found her forever home.

Animal welfare is not just about animals. It is about the kind of society we want to build, one that values life. SPCA and Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) recently released the White Paper on Strengthening Protections for Animal Welfare with 15 recommendations, 145 pages, and also special contributions from a special friend, Mr Louis Ng.

I thank Minister Chee for the written reply that some of these recommendations could be adopted as part of the ongoing review on The Animals and Birds Act 1965. The review ensures the Act remains effective in deterring acts of animal cruelty and abuse. I believe we now have a strong starting point to discuss and debate key animal welfare reforms, be it through more animal welfare education, better enforcement against cruelty and neglect, and raising awareness of the Five Domains of Animal Welfare. Sir, in Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, in President Tharman's Address on the Government's policies, he emphasised that our country needs to build a diverse "we first" society. I believe that to achieve this goal, we must work hard to take care of Singaporeans' needs at every stage of life.

Firstly, of course, are our elderly. In Nee Soon South, my goal is to ensure that seniors remember every day to "move their hands and speak up, move their feet and exercise their minds." We want to encourage the elderly to be more independent and healthier, able to remain active in the community, moving their hands to participate in activities and interacting to make more friends. We must also make the community more senior-friendly, allowing the elderly to move their feet to go around with friends and exercise their minds to stay mentally sharp, even initiating activities to engage more elderly friends.

Another group I particularly care about is our "Senior Youths", Singaporeans in their 20s and 30s, of which I am also a part.

Singaporeans of this age suddenly discover one day that we too have become so-called adults, facing real-world challenges. Some may have just entered the society, others may have just started families, trying to find their footing in this uncertain world. We hope to fulfil our responsibilities as children to our parents, or as new parents ourselves, whilst also hoping to advance in our careers and achieve our ideals and aspirations.

Many Senior Youths have told me that the roles of caregiver and working professional often present a difficult choice, but I do not think this is inevitable. I hope that the Government can provide more support – whether it is more childcare leave or more employers providing better work arrangements – we can do our best to help Singaporeans of this age group balance family and career.

Singapore is moving towards a “we first” society. In Nee Soon, we put "Residents First". I am very grateful to Nee Soon residents for giving our Nee Soon GRC team this opportunity to be your representatives. We will also continue to work with you to build a home with a heart in Nee Soon. I will do my utmost to continue caring for residents' various needs and to speak up in Parliament.

(In English): In conclusion, as a nation, as a "we first" society. As a Nee Soon family, it is always residents first. Once again, we are grateful to all Nee Soon residents for the opportunity to serve you and to work with you to make Nee Soon a home with a heart.

We can chart our own path, not just be an efficient and productive city, but also to be a "we first" city state with everyday care at every stage of life – a city that not only recognises the challenges that every generation faces, but also a city where its citizens are willing to work together, not being divided by lines of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, education or socioeconomic status, but joined by our common purpose of seeing one another thrive.

We are going up, up and up. This is our moment – our moment for a caring "we first" society to shine. Mr Speaker, it is in pursuit of this moment and our vision for Singapore that I support the Motion. [Applause.]

7.22 pm

Mr Speaker: Mr Sharael Taha.