Hansard, 2002-03-25

addressing himself to the Clerk of Parliament said: Mr Ram, I propose, That Mr Abdullah Tarmugi do take the Chair of this Parliament as Speaker.

himself to the Clerk of Parliament said: Mr Ram, I support the proposal. There being only one proposal, the Clerk then declared Mr Abdullah Tarmugi to have been duly elected as Speaker of this Parliament. [Applause.] Mr Speaker, standing at the Table, made an Affirmation of Allegiance. Mr Speaker went to the Chair and sat down. Then the Mace (which before lay below the Table) was placed on the Table.

Honourable Members will now proceed to take the Oath of Allegiance, commencing with the Prime Minister and thereafter in the order as arranged. Members took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance, or made Affirmation of Allegiance, in the order below: Mr Goh Chok Tong (Marine Parade) Mr Lee Kuan Yew (Tanjong Pagar) Mr Lee Hsien Loong (Ang Mo Kio) Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam (Sembawang) Prof. S. Jayakumar (East Coast) Mr Lee Yock Suan (East Coast) Mr Wong Kan Seng (Bishan-Toa Payoh) Mr Yeo Cheow Tong (Aljunied) BG George Yong-Boon Yeo (Aljunied) Dr Lee Boon Yang (Jalan Besar) Mr Mah Bow Tan (Tampines) Mr Lim Boon Heng (Jurong) Mr Lim Hng Kiang (West Coast) RAdm Teo Chee Hean (Pasir Ris-Punggol) Mr Lim Swee Say (Holland-Bukit Panjang) Mr David T. E. Lim (Holland-Bukit Panjang) Assoc. Prof. Yaacob Ibrahim (Jalan Besar) Mr Hawazi Daipi (Sembawang) Mr Matthias Yao Chih (MacPherson) Mr Chan Soo Sen (Joo Chiat) Dr Balaji Sadasivan (Ang Mo Kio) Dr Ng Eng Hen (Bishan-Toa Payoh) Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (Nee Soon East) Mr Khaw Boon Wan (Tanjong Pagar) Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Jurong) Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat (East Coast) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (Holland-Bukit Panjang) Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (West Coast). Encik Yatiman Yusof (Tampines) Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee (Tanjong Pagar) Encik Mohamad Maidin bin Packer Mohd (Marine Parade) Dr Tan Cheng Bock (Ayer Rajah) Mr Chew Heng Ching (East Coast) Mrs Lim Hwee Hua (Marine Parade) Mr Tan Soo Khoon (East Coast) Mr Seng Han Thong (Ang Mo Kio) Dr Ong Chit Chung (Jurong) Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung (Sembawang) Mr Leong Horn Kee (Bishan-Toa Payoh) Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah) Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir) Mr Charles Chong (Pasir Ris-Punggol) Mr Chay Wai Chuen (Tanjong Pagar) Dr Lily Neo (Jalan Besar) Mr Yeo Guat Kwang (Aljunied) Dr Teo Ho Pin (Holland-Bukit Panjang) Mr Othman Haron Eusofe (Marine Parade) Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed (Aljunied) Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (Jurong) Mr Heng Chee How (Jalan Besar) Mdm Cynthia Phua (Aljunied) Miss Penny Low (Pasir Ris-Punggol) Dr Tan Boon Wan (Ang Mo Kio) Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong (Tampines) Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan (Hong Kah) Mr R. Ravindran (Marine Parade) Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio) Mr Sin Boon Ann (Tampines) Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) Mr Ong Kian Min (Tampines) Mr Ahmad Mohd Magad (Pasir Ris-Punggol) Mr Gan Kim Yong (Holland-Bukit Panjang) Mr Ang Mong Seng (Hong Kah) Mr Arthur Fong (West Coast) Mdm Halimah Yacob (Jurong) Ms Indranee Rajah (Tanjong Pagar) Mr Davinder Singh (Bishan-Toa Payoh) Dr John Chen Seow Phun (Hong Kah) Dr Michael Lim Chun Leng (Pasir Ris-Punggol) Mr Ong Ah Heng (Nee Soon Central) Dr Warren Lee (Sembawang) Mr Andy Gan Lai Chiang (Marine Parade) Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay (Chua Chu Kang) Mr S. Iswaran (West Coast) Mr Loh Meng See (Jalan Besar) Mr K. Shanmugam (Sembawang) Mdm Ho Geok Choo (West Coast) Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh) Mr Ahmad Khalis Bin Abdul Ghani (Hong Kah) Dr Ong Seh Hong (Aljunied) Mr Wee Siew Kim (Ang Mo Kio) Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong (Non-Constituency Member) Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman (Sembawang) Dr Chong Weng Chiew (Tanjong Pagar)

3.57 pm

Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of all Members of this House, it is my honour and privilege to congratulate you on your election as Speaker. With your extensive experience as a Member of this House since 1984, and as a Deputy Speaker for 4 1/2 years from January 1989 to June 1993 and as a Minister thereafter, Members have no doubt that Parliamentary proceedings conducted in this Chamber, with you in the Chair, will continue to be in accordance with the best traditions of fairness, decorum and propriety. All of us, Members of this House, pledge to support you and cooperate with you in the discharge of your heavy responsibilities. Sir, on behalf of the Ministers and the Members, past and present during his tenure as Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Tan Soo Khoon, your distinguished predecessor. [Applause.] Mr Tan had served as Deputy Speaker for nearly 4 years, from March 1985, before he was elected Speaker in the Seventh Parliament, in January 1989. In my congratulatory speech at that time, I said that Members had every confidence that Mr Tan would discharge his responsibilities with great distinction. He indeed lived up to our expectations and we were delighted to re-elect him as Speaker for two more terms in the 8th and 9th Parliaments. In 1989, on his election as Speaker, Mr Tan had said that "he hoped to maintain the high standards and traditions set by his predecessor (Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng).. I found myself at times trying to unravel myself from some of the complexities of the rules of procedure." Mr Tan has amply fulfilled his pledge. He indeed upheld the dignity of this House by ensuring that order and decorum were observed. Although not legally trained, I believe he has managed to "unravel himself from some of the complexities of the rules of procedure". Under his charge as Speaker, our parliamentary debates and all other business of Parliament, including those of the Select Committees and the Committee of Privileges, proceeded most smoothly, efficiently and effectively. As some would put it, it is "like clock-work". He has guided the proceedings in this Chamber most fairly, always giving every opportunity for Members to speak. Despite some long rambling speeches made from time to time, Mr Tan was always patient in hearing them out. He was also indulgent on some Members who pressed on with repetitive questions even though the questions were already answered. He only interrupted when he thought that enough was enough. One of the key achievements during Mr Tan Soo Khoon's tenure as Speaker is the building of this new Parliament House which was officially opened on 4th October 1999. He chaired the Parliament Building Committee, formed in 1993, which planned and built this New Parliament House. He made many study visits to other parliaments and learned from them. As a result, this House has incorporated many upgraded features which will serve Parliamentarians well into the future. During his Speakership, Mr Tan also strengthened relations with and enhanced our status among ASEAN, Commonwealth and other Parliaments, through the various parliamentary delegations he led and conferences he attended. To bring Parliament closer to the people, Mr Tan initiated the Parliament Internet Homepage in May 1996. Internet-savvy readers, local and overseas, can now know more about our Parliament. In 1998, Mr Tan also set up an Education Department to educate Singaporeans about the Parliament. Thousands of Singaporeans, including students, have learned more about Parliament as a result of their educational visits to this Parliament complex. All of us here deeply appreciate Mr Tan Soo Khoon's distinguished service and achievements in this House. Mr Speaker, Sir, Mr Tan once lamented that someone had asked him why, as the Speaker, he could not speak. Now that he is no longer in the Chair, there would be no such constraint. We certainly look forward to his active participation in the debates of this House. Sir, this Parliament now has 84 elected Members and one new Non-Constituency Member. Among the 84 elected Members, 25 of them are new PAP Members of Parliament. May I welcome all of them warmly. My advice to all the new MPs is that they should make the best use of their time in Parliament, speak their minds freely on issues which are important and of concern to Singapore and our people. Let conscience be their guide and contribute actively to the debates in this House. We certainly look forward to their participation in this Chamber.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I join the Leader of the House in extending to you our congratulations on this occasion of your election as Speaker. Sir, you and I were amongst the then new Members elected to Parliament in the 1984 General Elections. There are not too many of us left. Soon thereafter, you were inducted into Cabinet and, since then, you have played a pivotal role in policy making as well as providing leadership to our nation. As we get to know you better, we have developed a high regard for your character and integrity. Your contributions all these years as Minister have earned our respect. Your election to this high office today signifies our confidence in you. And for those of us who are involved in sports, we are aware that you were a rugby player during your school years. You have developed a reputation as someone with broad shoulders, who is dependable and reliable, someone who knows when to block, when to pass and when to run. You have also developed a strong sense of team work and fair play, which you have retained to this day. I am sure you will bring these same attributes to your new capacity as Speaker. I would like to affirm that we will all give you our full support and cooperation. Sir, with your indulgence, may I take some time at this juncture to pay tribute to your predecessor, Mr Tan Soo Khoon, who had presided over the proceedings in this House for the past 13 years. When I first entered Parliament, Mr Tan had already earned a reputation for wit and clarity in giving speeches, a reputation well earned as we listened to his speeches as new MPs. His election to the Chair in January 1989 was a loss to the subsequent batches of Members, as they had one less master to learn from. Nonetheless, for those of us who travelled with him on official visits, we could attest that he is a speech maker par excellence. His discourse always puts Singapore in good light in front of Parliamentarians from all over the world. It is also well known that Mr Tan has a great singing voice when he let his hair, or whatever is left of it, down. In fact, at this very moment, the tune of Blue Suede Shoes is ringing right in my ears. As Speaker, Mr Tan had presided over the proceedings during his tenure exceedingly well. His grasp of the Standing Orders is complete and thorough. Members who stepped out of line would invariably feel his wrath. Furthermore, his handling of Mr J B Jeyaretnam, the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, who adopted a belligerent stance in this House, earned our great admiration. When it came to Members trying to catch his eye, Mr Tan had been most fair, giving equal opportunity to everyone, new and old. This is very important to us Backbenchers as a point, no matter how substantial, made a second time, would have lost its impact. We had all, at one time or another, experienced the sharp edge of the knife when he applied the "guillotine" when we rambled on past our allotted time. However, one could not complain, as Mr Tan applied the knife even-handedly, be it a Backbencher or an office holder. All in all, I think I have the support of this House when I say, "Mr Tan, we will miss you in the Chair." It would be amiss for me if I do not touch on Mr Tan's crowning achievement, and it is the construction of this new Parliament Complex. The Leader of the House has already touched on this. New Members should bear in mind when they enjoy the convenience and the comfort of this new complex. As I recall, when the new Parliament Building was first contemplated by the Government, it was indeed a very modest concept. It was Mr Tan who planted the seed that we not only should have one that embodies the principles of freedom and democracy that Singaporeans hold dear but one that is worthy of the achievements of Singapore as a modern nation. Therefore, we were all pleasantly surprised that this piece of prime land was allocated to Parliament for this new complex. To ensure that we had the best building possible, Mr Tan led several study trips to overseas parliament buildings to learn about their features as well as their shortcomings. During the construction of the building, Mr Tan was also instrumental in setting the requirements upon which the architect would flesh out the design. He was also tireless in chairing the many meetings of the building committee to ensure that future generations of Singaporeans have a great building that we could be proud of. Even though it is the Government that built this complex, we are nonetheless indebted to Mr Tan for the role he played. It would take some time to get used to the fact that Mr Tan is no longer in the Chair, Sir. Looking at the bright side, he is now back on the Backbench and we look forward to hearing from him once again. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to the two new Deputy Speakers, Mr Chew Heng Ching and Mrs Lim Hwee Hua. An hon. Member: You cannot say that, as they have not been elected.

I understand that they have not been elected yet. They are two very able Members who have earned our admiration. Sir, as reported in the papers, the Leader of the House is prepared to lift the Whip more often in future. With this change, we would expect that the debate in this House will become more vigorous and robust. We all look forward to lively sessions of the 10th Parliament with you in the Chair.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to put on record that over the years, Mr Tan Soo Khoon, as Speaker of the House, has won my respect for being fair most of the time, if not all the time. I have served in some Parliamentary Committees and also a Member of some delegations to overseas visits, in which Mr Tan Soo Khoon was the leader. Being a non-PAP Member, I have not felt discriminated, and I think this is important as he was the Speaker. Last, but not the least, I did sometimes flout the parliamentary proceedings rules and, of course, I got a public lecture from Mr Tan Soo Khoon. I think sometimes he got pek chet with me - he was irritated - but I realise that he did not take these things personally unto himself. For that, I wish to congratulate him for being professional in his conduct as the Speaker of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, let me take the opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment as the seventh Speaker of the Singapore Parliament. I have known you for the past 18 years, since 1984, when I served as a grassroots leader in Siglap, the constituency where you first got elected as a Member of Parliament. In fact, it is you who inducted me into politics and subsequently convinced me to stand for election. Sir, I have known you to be a fair person willing to listen to all views. Your track record as an MP and Minister for the past 18 years is testimony of your ability and of what you can achieve, and I am confident that you will once again excel in your new role as Speaker. Sir, today, we are seeing a changeover of a very key position and that is of the Speaker of Parliament. Since 1989, for a span of 13 years, our outgoing Speaker, Mr Tan Soo Khoon, had been at the helm and, today, the hon. Mr Tan is handing over the baton, or should I say the Mace, to you. I have known Mr Tan since 1991 when Siglap became part of Bedok GRC. Having interacted with his grassroots leaders, I have heard many good things about Mr Tan. His grassroots and community leaders hold him in very high regard, and they have always spoken of him as a very friendly, people-oriented person. The residents have also considered him a friend to everyone in the constituency he was elected in. And since I got elected into Parliament in 1997, I got to know Mr Tan personally and know him much better, having the privilege of interacting with him in the House and outside the House, especially when we went for a number of overseas parliamentary trips. Although we, Members of this House, seldom had the chance to listen to him because the Speaker seldom has the chance to speak, the few times when he spoke, he did so with very clear and thought-provoking words and, at appropriate times, adding a tinge of humour and wit to keep everyone in good spirits. I have always wondered whether the Speaker really listened to our speeches, especially to some of us who have the tendency of making long speeches. I am sure he must have heard the same arguments repeated many times over the many years. While I confirm that he was indeed listening to the speeches that we made when I read the Sunday Times' interview two Sundays ago, in the interview, Mr Tan analysed a number of MPs' speeches and the style of arguments, and I must say that he was right. Now we know that he was listening all along and not sleeping with his eyes open. But, seriously, many times after each sitting of Parliament, Mr Tan made it a point to stay back and sit around the table in the Members' Room with a number of Members each time to discuss issues. During those sessions, Mr Tan used to discuss the contents of debates and speeches with the Members present and always giving his views and, more importantly, giving pointers to Members, especially to new Members, on how we should handle debates and discussions in the House. His many years of listening to and analysing many arguments have always been a great source of knowledge which I found useful for my future speeches. Talking about pointers, one of the more significant things I remember and cherish of Mr Tan's role as Speaker is his reaching out to the new Members of Parliament. As a first-time MP during the last term, I really appreciated his friendly approach with the new Members, helping us to quickly learn the ropes of being a Member of Parliament, both inside and outside the House. He readily helped, coached and mentored many of us so that we could in a short period of time start making contributions towards the parliamentary process. With his proactive approach of connecting with the new MPs, it made all of us feel very much at home and allowed us to quickly become more effective in doing our jobs as Members of Parliament. Especially for us Backbenchers, we also picked up skills on how to handle a debate and how to make Question Time more effective in getting the answers we were looking for from the Ministers. One thing that I also cherish about Mr Tan, as Speaker, is how lively he is outside the House, especially when we go for overseas trips. One can understand the need to be lively, especially after many hours of sitting and listening to speeches. I can safely say that Mr Tan is the liveliest of all the Speakers in the ASEAN Parliaments, and I am sure this is also the opinion of all the ASEAN MPs who attended our yearly AIPO Conference. As Dr Wang mentioned earlier, entertaining everyone with his songs of the 1960s and 70s, we always enjoyed the functions held after each of his conferences. You have to know your rock-and-roll when you are with Mr Tan on one of his trips. If not, then you have to dance, maybe a Bhangra dance, which I had to do in one of those trips with him. Perhaps singing was the way Mr Tan let off his stress accumulated after listening to many speeches. Finally, Sir, I am sure that we are all looking forward to the former Speaker finally speaking up in Parliament during this current term. Now is your chance, Mr Tan, to get back at some of us for the long speeches that we made while you were in the Chair. You have earned the right to make long speeches this time round, although I hope you do not. I personally look forward to seeing you in action to contribute towards the making of a lively Parliament during this term. Now, whenever you have itch to speak, you do not have to hold back, as you did when you were sitting on the Chair. Mr Tan should know all the tricks of how to catch the Speaker's eye, and I am sure he is going to get quite a lot of attention from the new Speaker of the House. On behalf of all the former and current Members of this House, I would like to thank Mr Tan for all that he has done for the Singapore Parliament and for Singapore. I am sure all Members will join me in wishing him all the best and success in whatever he chooses to do in the future. Mr Tan, a big thank you for your excellent contributions to the country.

Sir, I would like to join the Leader of the House and the other speakers in congratulating you on your election as the Speaker of this august House. You have been a sportsman, and we have also read and known you as the Minister for Sports, and I am sure the Opposition will be very confident that you shall be a very fair person in dealing with the proceedings in this House. Sir, I have read in the papers that your advice to Members is to be "short and sweet" in their speeches, and I can assure you that the Opposition shall do that, no more six-hour speeches as in the past. So far, anyway, the Opposition has always made their speeches short and sweet. I know you shall be a very efficient and fair Speaker and we shall look forward to more fair debates in this House. I also take this opportunity to thank Mr Tan Soo Khoon for his job as Speaker. I had complained once or twice to Mr Tan Soo Khoon that I failed to catch his eye when I put up my hand. But I think he was too busy looking elsewhere. Nevertheless, I have known Mr Tan very well through our official visits to the ASEAN areas, in AIPO conferences, and, as other speakers have said, before we go to these meetings, we have to brush up on our singing, because this is one of the things that he loves to do. I was once caught unawares when he was announcing the Singapore delegates' programme in one of the ASEAN conferences - I believe it was in Bali - and he suddenly called my name to represent Singapore in a singing event. Can you imagine, I have to stand up and sing in front of an international crowd without preparation? Well, this is Mr Tan. But, anyway, we have lots of fun and we come to know each other very well. And I must say that he is not only respected in this House but he is respected in the region as well. Everywhere he went, I noticed that Members of the other Parliaments in the region all respected him. I have got to thank Mr Tan for a job well done.

May I join the other Members in congratulating you on your election as Speaker of the House. Sir, I have known you for a long time and I am confident that you will carry out the duties of Speaker with distinction and bring honour to the Chair. Sir, I have been the Speaker for the past 13 years and it has been a privilege and an honour to serve. Sir, this is your election, the moment is rightly yours. And although I have expected some words of thanks, I did not foresee the kind of tributes that Members have paid to me a while ago and I am indeed very humbled by what they have said. I think that I would not have been able to carry out my duties as Speaker for the past 13 years the way I had done if I had not enjoyed the confidence and their trust. It is the Members of this House who have made my job easy by upholding the finest traditions of Parliamentary practices, by upholding decorum and by respecting the rules of the House and the authority of the Chair. For that, I am really grateful. Sir, I am the first Speaker in our Parliament to return to the Backbench, but this is not new in other Parliaments. And I hope that in the years ahead, I will be able to humbly demonstrate that there is life after Speakership in this House. I would therefore like to assure the Leader of the House, and most certainly the Frontbench, that I, with your kind permission, Sir, will be around to make more than a few speeches and certainly to ask more than a few questions. Mr Speaker, Sir, if I may just take a few more moments to say something about the Speakership, particularly for the benefit of the newer Members of the House. The Speakership is unique in every country. It is found in all Parliaments in the Commonwealth that have adopted the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. The Speakership is as old as the history of Parliament. In England where it all started, the first designated Speaker was in the year 1377, although long before that there were others who held the position but they went by other titles. The Speaker in those early days had a different role to play. He was not the arbiter of proceedings as we know him to be now. The Speaker in those days, his primary duty, was to convey to the King the resolutions of the commons. And you can well imagine that during those times, when the ruler was the absolute monarch of the land, he was usually not too pleased to receive news from the Speaker, especially when what the Speaker had to convey impinged on the rights and privileges of the King, particularly his royal purse. Quite often, the King would know how to show his displeasure, and it was recorded in history that his displeasure was often manifested through a very simple act - the beheading of the Speaker. And between the 15th and 16th century, as many as up to 10 Speakers lost their poor heads because they delivered news that the ruler did not want to hear. The situation got so bad that in the year 1510, two Speakers lost their heads on the same day! Hence, today, in the English Parliament, we have this faint reluctance on the part of the aspirant to the post of Speaker. Because they are afraid of what will happen to them. But, Sir, today, times have changed. We do not have kings and queens, not in the other countries of the Commonwealth, but in their place we have a government, duly elected by the people. The role of the Speaker has also changed. He is now the one who conducts the proceedings of the House and he ensures its orderly conduct. The Speaker has also become known as the guardian and the protector of the privileges of the Members of the House. In this respect, Sir, I would like to recall again another event in English history which has a bearing on how Speakers conduct themselves everywhere. Sir, this took place in the year 1642. The King of the day was Charles I. The Speaker of the English Parliament was a gentleman by the name of William Lenthall. Charles I had more than his fair share of bad days with Parliament. And the occasion came when he decided to teach Parliament a lesson. He wanted to arrest himself five parliamentary leaders. So he marched to Parliament and he demanded the identification of the five members that he wanted. Of course, in those days, they had no photographs. So he asked everyone, and he was met with stony silence. Then turning to William Lenthall, he asked the Speaker to identify the five Members. And this was Lenthall's reply: "May it please Your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see, nor tongue to speak in this place, except as the House, whose servant I am directs of me, and I beg Your Majesty's pardon that I have no other answer to give except this to what Your Majesty demands of me". Sir, in those few well chosen but historic words, William Lenthall expressed unequivocally where his first duty and obligation as Speaker lay. He told everyone, and he established the principle, that his allegiance was to the cause of parliamentary liberty. And with parliamentary liberty lies the privilege for all of us in the House to make our speeches, to express freely our views and our opinions, subject to the rules of the Standing Orders and to the unwritten rules that govern our conduct as honourable gentlemen and honourable ladies. And that, Sir, is what I hope to see in this House. Sir, William Lenthall's words have become a kind of creed for Speakers of the Commonwealth. These are words that we recall whenever Speakers meet. I hope, Sir, that the principle which he has established will also guide you in the conduct of the proceedings here. During the course of time, as I have experienced, you will no doubt get many requests from Members. You will also get advice from both sides of the House, some are well-intended; some perhaps with agenda of their own. But I am hopeful, Sir, knowing you so well, as you were my Deputy for some years, that you will be able to be fair in your judgement and be very balanced in the way you conduct the proceedings of the House. Sir, I am sure that, if you do so, you too will earn the respect of all of us here and of Singaporeans in general. And I am hopeful that when the time comes when you have to leave the Chair, you too will be able to leave with your head held up high and, of course, still firmly fixed on your shoulders. Much obliged, Sir. [Applause.]

Honourable Members, I would first like to thank the Leader of the House and Dr Wang, Mr Low, Mr Chiam and Mr Inderjit Singh for their very kind words and congratulatory messages. I also like to thank Mr Tan for his discourse on the history of the Speakership and I am indeed glad that times have changed because I do intend to retain my head on my shoulders! Honourable Members, I wish to thank you for electing me to this high office. This is my 18th year as a Member of the House, and in those years I have been privileged to serve first as a member of the Backbench, then on to the Frontbench and now, with this election, on to the Chair of the House. Honourable Members have indeed done me a great honour. I shall do my utmost to fulfil the trust and confidence that Members have put in me to preside over the proceedings of this House and to preserve the dignity and role of this august institution. I shall be impartial as Members expect me to be. In these, I have the fortune of having learnt from previous Honourable Speakers, particularly from Mr Speaker Tan Soo Khoon, when I was one of his Deputies from 1989 to 1993. He had served with distinction indeed. And this House owes him a great debt of gratitude for his leadership and guidance when he was in the Chair for the past 13 years. I would like to warmly welcome the new Members of this House. With 26 new Members representing a wide variety of professions, experiences and interests and coupled with a greater willingness to articulate differing views, we can expect a livelier and more vibrant Parliament from now on. As new Members, I would urge you to acquaint yourselves with the rules of debate and conduct in this House. Speak honestly, speak sincerely and without fear and let your conscience be your guide. But be as concise as you can and try hard to avoid repetition. Long and rambling speeches, especially when short on substance, tend to receive little attention from the benches and may even evoke a subtle frown from this Chair. As in economics, such speeches are also subject to the laws of diminishing returns! So let us conduct ourselves as befits the status and dignity of this Parliament. But this does not mean that I am averse to Members including wit and good humour in your speeches, where they are appropriate. Not only will they add sparkle to what you say, but also help to lift our spirits and eyelids particularly on long drowsy afternoons! Talking of new Members, I remember Mr Speaker the late Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng lamenting that he had only the shape of the spectacle frames of Members to help him recognise them by. I am afraid that this method will help me little, given the proliferation of rimless spectacles now among Members in this House. So, if I have trouble matching names to faces, initially, please bear with me as I grapple and struggle with the whims of fashions in eyewear. Apart from this possibly small difficulty and with Members' help and cooperation, I expect our proceedings to run smoothly and our debates to be robust and meaningful. I look forward to a fruitful session and I wish Honourable Members all the best in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as Members of Parliament of the Republic of Singapore. [Applause.] I wish to inform Members that the President will be present in this Chamber at 8.30 pm to deliver his Speech at the Opening of Parliament. I therefore suspend the sitting until 8.30 pm this evening. Sitting accordingly suspended at 4.35 pm until 8.30 pm.

Sitting resumed at 8.30 pm The President (accompanied by two A.D.C.s) entered the Chamber, accompanied by Mr Speaker, who was preceded by the Serjeant at Arms (without the Mace), the Principal Assistant Clerk (2), the Principal Assistant Clerk (1) and the Clerk. On the Clerk announcing "The President", the President delivered his Opening Speech.

The President: Honourable Members, the last five years have been momentous times for Singapore. The Asian Financial Crisis overwhelmed many economies in the region. Singapore was not spared. Our economy slowed down as well. Fortunately we pulled through and recovered quickly. Then in 2001 the US economy slowed, the global electronics industry slumped, and we experienced our most severe recession since independence. We are now emerging from this recession. But we are not back to the pre-crisis days of steady, high growth. The world has changed. The next few years will present us with the most severe challenges in our nation's history. EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT Tougher Global Competition Firstly, we face much tougher competition, because of globalisation. Despite problems in the world economy, globalisation has not let up. In many industries, for example electronics and finance, competition is global. This trend is driven by technology, which is advancing faster than ever. Other Asian economies like Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, are pursuing the same opportunities as we are, growing their IT sectors, investing in life sciences and competing for global talent. New players are emerging in the world economy. As they strengthen their capabilities, they will attract more investments, and export more sophisticated products. They will increasingly compete with countries ahead of them, including Singapore. The most important new player is China. China's low costs, abundant talent, and huge domestic market are attracting MNCs to relocate plants to China. Good quality but cheaper Chinese products are flooding world markets. Adapting to China's emergence and economic transformation will pose a major challenge for many Asian countries, including Singapore. South East Asia Secondly, our own region has been fundamentally altered. For three decades, Southeast Asia was stable, with countries focussing on economic development and peaceful competition. Singapore benefited greatly from this benign environment. The Asian Financial Crisis changed this. It uncovered serious flaws in the economies which will take time to remedy. Meanwhile, growth will be slower, and investment opportunities will be fewer. In Indonesia, a country key to the stability of the region, the crisis did not just cause economic damage. It precipitated a collapse of the old order, unleashed tectonic forces in Indonesian society, and set off political changes which are still being worked out. Also, the spread of narrow, radical interpretations of Islam in the countries around us, influenced by the worldwide tide of Islamic fundamentalism, will have its effect on our multi-racial, multi-religious society. A troubled region, and an ASEAN preoccupied with internal problems, mean fewer growth opportunities for Singapore in the region. And security problems that arise in the region will inevitably spill over to Singapore. Global Terrorism A third significant external development is the war against terrorism. The Taleban and Al Qaeda may have been routed in Afghanistan, but global terrorism is far from defeated. Terrorist cells, linked to global networks, exist in many countries, including in Southeast Asia. The Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group is a stark reminder that these are not faraway problems, but immediate threats to us here and now. The danger to us is two-fold. Firstly, we are directly at risk of terrorist attacks, especially by Islamic extremist groups originating elsewhere in the region. Such attacks will cause suspicion and arouse enmity between our races. Secondly, US action against global terrorism may cause repercussions in Muslim countries, and complicate the situation in Southeast Asia. CHALLENGES FOR SINGAPORE This is the new environment that we are now in. Our future depends on how we respond to these economic, social and political changes. Economic Restructuring We must make basic changes to our economy, to stay competitive in an economically changed world, and continue to prosper. Hence we set up the Economic Review Committee to examine fundamentally all our economic policies, and propose fresh strategies to sustain growth and prosperity. The Committee is in the midst of its work. But it is clear already that one key priority is to maintain a highly conducive overall business environment. For example, our infrastructure must be first-class but their costs kept competitive, to anchor businesses here and keep Singapore a regional hub. And we must encourage effort and enterprise, as the best way of creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of Singaporeans. Our taxes must be kept as light as possible, to maximise the incentive for businesses and individuals to venture and work hard in the hope of doing well. Another priority is to strengthen the spirit of entrepreneurship and risk taking among Singaporeans as the basis for Singapore's future competitiveness. We should inculcate in the young a more inquiring and adventurous spirit, and encourage them to think up new ideas and create new opportunities. Developing arts, sports and a stronger civic society are part of the process to bring this about. Entrepreneurs not only create jobs and wealth. They make our whole economy more dynamic and vibrant, and help us adapt to changed conditions and exploit new opportunities. Strong local enterprises, both start-ups and established companies, will complement the MNCs and add depth to our economy. We must also identify new areas of growth, especially in services. We have already started liberalising the services industry, notably the telecommunications and financial sectors. We must also upgrade sectors like retail and construction, whose productivity is lagging behind. We cannot afford to shelter inefficient, protected sectors in our economy. All parts of our economy must become competitive and efficient, for that is the only way to create productive, well-paying jobs for our people. These changes will enable us to sustain growth over the next decade. But the competition is now much tougher, and our income levels are much higher than before. We can no longer expect to grow by 8 to 10%, year after year, as we did before the Asian Financial Crisis, even if we were to work as hard as or harder than before. That phase of our economic development is over. Going forward, if we can make 4 to 6% growth per year, we will be doing well. We must understand and accept this reality. Social Cohesion As we upgrade our economy, we must maintain and strengthen our social cohesion. Economic restructuring means adjustments and dislocation. It will not be easy for Singaporeans to cope with the faster pace of change, and the demands for new skills. But we must press on, or risk being overtaken by our competitors. Our income distribution will stretch out. In the globalised economy, the rewards are greatest for those with the knowledge, skills and enterprise. Those at the top will do very well. But at the lower end, those without skills will have difficulty raising their incomes, or even finding jobs. This is already happening. We should celebrate Singaporeans who do well. By their success, they will create more jobs, build up our economy, and provide role models for others. But to uplift the whole population, we must redouble our emphasis on education and training. Workers must stay employable, and find new jobs when their old jobs become obsolete. They must make the effort, to undergo retraining and to adapt to the changed job market. We must never allow an underclass to form, left out from growth, deprived of opportunities, and perpetuating poverty and despair from generation to generation. The Government will help Singaporeans to make the changes, especially those groups who will have difficulty adapting, such as older citizens. We have the programmes and the resources to do so. We have spread the fruits of Singapore's progress widely, through HDB home ownership, excellent schools, good health care, and asset enhancement schemes. We will continue to do this, to make sure that in the next phase, life improves for all Singaporeans. Next, we must attract and integrate international talent into our society. Talent is the critical success factor in the knowledge economy. We will continue to develop the abilities and skills of young Singaporeans to the full. Without capable and enterprising Singaporeans, we will not make it in the knowledge economy. But we are too small to produce, by ourselves, all the talent that we need. Even the developed countries are now actively sourcing for international talent, including from our part of the world. We must supplement our own talent with talent from abroad. Only then can we sustain exceptional performance as an economy and a country. Because of our success in attracting talent, a significant proportion of Singaporeans are first generation immigrants. These people bring with them skills, experience and drive which will enrich and strengthen us. They are, however, different from Singaporeans who have grown up, studied and worked here for many years. Our society must be open and welcoming to newcomers. We must make them feel at home and in time absorb them as one of us. We must not allow resentment and tensions to build up against newcomers. In the globalised economy, a closed and xenophobic society will not prosper. The third and most critical aspect of social cohesion is reinforcing our racial and religious harmony. We have made steady progress integrating the different races and religions, but the task is never complete. The tendency for different groups, with different customs and religious affinities, to interact and seek comfort amongst themselves will always be present. Given today's heightened religious consciousness, we must move beyond mere tolerance, in order to enhance appreciation and build confidence amongst the different groups. We must re-double our efforts to encourage more mixing and interaction between the communities, and gradually widen the common ground that all Singaporeans share. The Government will maintain its impartial, secular approach to managing religious diversity. We will protect the minority communities, their cultures and their ways of life. At the same time, all groups must be willing to adjust and compromise, in order to live harmoniously in a multi-racial, multi-religious society. The Jemaah Islamiyah arrests highlighted the fault lines in our society. Had the group succeeded in setting off multiple bombs in Singapore, it would not only have cost many innocent Singaporean lives. It would have caused distrust and enmity between Muslims and other Singaporeans, and torn our social fabric apart. The Jemaah Islamiyah group has been broken up, but the problem has not gone away. The virus of terrorism has infected our region. Other groups will form, and at some time, will try again. This is why we must strengthen inter-ethnic relations, for example, by forming Inter-Racial Confidence Circles and Harmony Circles. We must make sure that should such an attack ever occur, leaders of the different communities can work together to contain the damage, re-establish trust and confidence, and prevent further harm to our society. Political Renewal In politics, we must remake our policies to fit a new generation of Singaporeans, and adapt our style and approach to stay in tune with the times. No policy is so cast in stone that it can never be changed, whatever the circumstances. Provided we recognise the realities of survival in Southeast Asia, and remember Singapore's fundamental constraints and vulnerabilities, we can widen the out-of-bounds markers in a realistic and practical way. The life experiences of the new generation are quite different from those of their parents. With the benefit of good education, their options are wider, and their expectations higher. This is natural and positive. Each generation strives to give their children a better life and brighter future. We must engage young Singaporeans in issues which affect their future. Singaporeans are now better equipped to participate in the national debate, and more ready to discuss sensitive matters in public. We must open up more space for Singaporeans to do so. This is an important way to harness the ideas, idealism and dynamism of the young, while keeping their hearts and minds rooted in Singapore. However, more vigorous debate should not lead to more fractious and polarised politics. We enjoy a broad and strong national consensus on the direction which the country should take. This consensus is a major advantage over our competitors. We must nurture it by pursuing policies which benefit the majority of Singaporeans, and by enlisting the energies and support of all those who have Singapore's interests at heart, including those who disagree with specific Government policies. The true test of our nation building is whether Singapore's success endures beyond the founding generation. We have made one successful transition, from the first generation leaders to the second. During the term of this Parliament, we expect to make another political transition. The nucleus of the next generation of political leadership is already in place. Before the next elections in 2007, the core members of the new team must establish themselves, and take Singapore another step forward. CONCLUSION Singapore is at a turning point. The challenges are formidable, but we are well equipped to tackle them. Our system is transparent, efficient and corruption-free. We have pursued forward-looking, rational and prudent policies. We have invested heavily in our people, and built a stable and cohesive society, an oasis in a turbulent region. Let us remake Singapore together, so that despite the difficulties and dangers, we will continue to thrive and prosper in an uncertain world.

Adjourned accordingly at Eleven Minutes to Nine o'clock pm.

MR LIM HNG KIANG Minister for Health

1. The Ministry of Health strives to achieve a more cost-effective health care system to keep Singaporeans in good health. We aim to provide good quality preventive, promotive and curative health care which is affordable and accessible to all Singaporeans. Making Health Care Affordable 2. The Ministry will continue to strengthen the 3M framework (Medisave, MediShield and Medifund) so that Singaporeans are better able to pay their share of health care costs. We will study how best to extend Medisave to cover ambulatory and outpatient treatments, and review the adequacy of Medisave in meeting the health care needs of Singaporeans. 3. We will expand the role of medical insurance in financing health care costs. ElderShield, an affordable basic severe disability insurance scheme, will be implemented in the third quarter of 2002. New MediShield features such as lifetime coverage and pre-funding will be introduced by 2003 so that Singaporeans are better protected against catastrophic illnesses. We will also facilitate family coverage for MediShield so that non-working spouses are adequately protected.

4. The introduction of Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) to the public health care system in 1999 has allowed the Ministry to target more subsidies for medical conditions which require more resources to treat. We will re-set the Medisave withdrawal limits and MediShield claimable limits for inpatient and day surgery cases to be based on DRGs in 2003, to reflect the resources needed to treat the different medical conditions.

5. Despite more effective resource allocation with the introduction of DRGs, demand for health care services will still outpace the additional resources allocated. To ensure that health care subsidies are targeted at the low-income groups who deserve the most financial help, we will introduce selective means testing. Bringing Health Care Facilities Closer to Singaporeans

6. We will develop two new regional general hospitals to provide broad-based general medical care to Singaporeans. Jurong General Hospital, which will replace the current Alexandra Hospital, will be completed by 2006, while Northern General Hospital will be completed by 2008. Community hospitals will be built next to these two hospitals to provide convenient access to step-down care services for elderly Singaporeans.

7. By 2006, we will also complete the new Rehabilitation Centre (RC) and Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital campus. The RC will function as a tertiary centre providing multidisciplinary intensive rehabilitation services in specialised areas. The new CDC will serve as the national centre for diagnosis, treatment and control of infectious diseases.

8. At the primary care level, the Ministry will develop new polyclinics in Jurong West and Sengkang, and re-develop the existing Queenstown polyclinic. These three new polyclinics will be ready by 2004. Integrated Health Care for the Elderly

9. To address the needs of our rapidly ageing population, the Ministry has established the framework for integrated health services for the elderly. We will extend this to include dementia care and strengthen home medical and home nursing services so that our elderly can be cared for by the family and community. We will also raise the quality assurance standards in step-down care facilities, and enforce the requirements through the licensing and clinical audit process. In addition, we will continue to reserve and tender land parcels to the private sector to increase the proportion of private nursing home beds to 40% by 2010. Seamless Health Care Delivery

10. The Ministry has completed the restructuring of all public healthcare institutions and re-organised them into two vertically integrated health care delivery networks, namely the Singapore Health Services and National Healthcare Group. The two clusters will undertake further integration of their services to provide better seamless health care service to Singaporeans. Both clusters will also collaborate and co-operate to minimise wasteful duplication. At the same time, we will explore opportunities for greater public-private sector collaboration, in order to harness all available resources to raise standards of health care to Singaporeans. Health Promotion and Disease Control

11. To keep Singaporeans in good health, the Ministry will continue to strengthen disease control programmes against major chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and stroke, and major infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV. The Health Promotion Board will spearhead efforts to encourage a healthy and fit population. It will implement national screening programmes for breast and cervical cancers, and extend basic oral health services to all secondary schools. Pursuit of Clinical Quality

12. The Ministry is enhancing the clinical quality assurance framework to improve the standard and quality of health care. By end-2003, we would have implemented hospital-wide and speciality-specific clinical indicators to monitor and improve clinical service provision. At the same time, we will revise and issue regulations under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act, to stipulate the scope and depth of quality assurance and infection control activities required of hospitals. In addition, a system to detect and mitigate potential sources of medical errors would be put in place.

13. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will review and update the Medicines Act, Poisons Act, Sale of Drugs Act and Medicine (Advertisements and Sales) Act. One area of concern is to provide for the appropriate regulation of health products such as medical devices and health supplements to safeguard public health and safety. Enhancing Professional Competence

14. The Ministry will work with the Singapore Medical Council to introduce compulsory Continuing Medical Education for doctors in 2003. Compulsory Continuing Medical Education will ensure that our doctors maintain professional standards and stay abreast of the rapid advances in medical science and technology. We will also study the need to introduce regular re-certification of doctors, taking into consideration the trends in developed countries. Similarly, we will work with the respective Professional Boards to introduce Continuing Education Programmes for nurses, dentists and pharmacists.

15. The Ministry will enhance the career development opportunities for nurses and other health care professionals to attract Singaporeans into key paramedical professions. Opportunities for local students to pursue paramedical degree courses at overseas universities will be enhanced.

MR MAH BOW TAN Minister for National Development

1. MND will contribute to strengthening our economic competitiveness by optimising land use, adopting a lighter regulatory touch, and upgrading the construction industry. MND will play its part in keeping public housing affordable and responsive to changing needs. In addition, we will ensure that other aspects of a quality living environment like a resilient supply of safe food and sufficient avenues for green recreation will be met effectively. Land Use Policies

2. Given Singapore's size, good land use planning is critical to ensure that we can meet competing demands for land as well as put in place a quality living environment.

3. MND will strive to optimise the use of our existing land. For example, we will explore new land use zonings to give businesses more flexibility to change the use of their land to respond quickly to changing business needs and market demand. We will study introducing a greater variety of lease tenures in Government land sales, to meet changing business needs and foster experimentation with new development concepts. We are also exploring releasing a site of significant scale in the New Downtown area for the integrated development of a business and financial centre.

4. To meet the increasing demand for land, MND will also continue our land reclamation programme from our territorial waters.

5. An orderly property market is important for economic growth. MND will continue to improve our land sale process, in order to release a steady supply of state land, and avoid causing big fluctuations in property prices. Going for a Lighter Regulatory Touch

6. In keeping with our ongoing efforts to make Singapore an attractive place to do business, MND will continue to reduce and simplify our rules and regulations on development control, and allow greater flexibility in building designs. We will also move towards greater self-regulation for architects and professional engineers. Meeting our Housing Needs

7. We will maintain a high level of home ownership by a wide cross-section of Singaporean households, and build strong community ties through our public housing policies. These are cornerstones of our national strategy to foster social cohesion. MND will continue to ensure that public flats are priced affordably to enable at least 90% of Singaporean households to be homeowners.

8. MND will make public housing more responsive to the needs of the people. New flats will be built to order to enable Singaporeans to choose a flat according to their budget, preferred location and design. We will offer new flats in the more established estates to Singaporeans through regular balloting exercises. We will also make flats available on a walk-in selection basis to those who need a flat urgently. We will explore greater private sector participation in the design and development of public flats to inject competition and provide Singaporeans a wider choice of public flats in terms of designs, layout and finishes.

9. MND will also continue to rejuvenate older HDB estates through the Main, Interim and Lift Upgrading Programmes and Selective En-Bloc Redevelopment Scheme. This will help households to remain in their existing estates and help preserve the community ties built over the years. The pace of upgrading will depend on the budget surplus that the Government can generate.

10. For the longer term, MND will review the structure of the HDB so that it continues to fulfil its fundamental objective of home ownership for Singaporeans. We will review our public housing policies to keep our public housing expenditure in line with economic growth, and to take into account the need for a balance between expenditures on housing, and other areas such as health and education. Moving Construction Ahead

11. MND will review our policies to promote consolidation and raise productivity in the construction industry, as well as develop new competitive strengths in areas such as project planning and design, IT applications and pre-fabrication technology. Ensuring a Resilient Supply of Safe Food

12. Our high dependence on food imports makes Singapore vulnerable to imported food borne diseases and disruption in food supply. MND will step up efforts to diversify our food sources. We will help our food importers broaden their network of sources, stimulate the development of new sources of supply and offer consultancy services in safe food production techniques so that more sources can meet our food safety standards and supply to us.

13. MND will also continue to ensure high standards of food safety by upgrading our diagnostic capabilities and systems. We will work with the Ministry of the Environment to integrate and strengthen our food safety control system to ensure the safety of both processed and unprocessed food. Meeting Demand for Green Recreation

14. Our policy of greening Singapore will grow in importance in the years ahead as we become more urbanised and densely populated. MND will enhance our Garden City ambience creatively by promoting vertical greening, sky-rise gardens and more distinctive streetscape greenery. We will develop a variety of parks, open up selected nature areas and build up the island-wide park connector network linking our green areas, inland water bodies and the coast. We will also move from just providing green infrastructure to actively engaging the community to develop and organise park-based recreational activities for residents. To preserve our natural heritage, we will establish an inventory of nature areas, and ensure that adequate studies are done before development.

MR LIM SWEE SAY Minister for the Environment

Environmental Infrastructure and Services

1. Singapore has achieved economic and social growth despite our lack of natural resources, and without compromising the quality of our environment. Our challenge ahead is to build on this foundation and to strive for environmental sustainability in the long term. Water Supply

2. A stable, secure and adequate supply of water is critical to our survival. We will tap all possible sources of water. We will supplement traditional sources of supply with non-conventional sources, such as desalination and NEWater. Sustaining a Quality Living Environment

3. We will introduce new policies and measures to ensure that the clean environment which we enjoy now will continue to be there for future generations. We will encourage the use of cleaner energy and promote energy efficiency and conservation. We will strive to minimise the need for land-fill by promoting recycling and waste minimisation. We will explore restructuring and corporatising our waste incinerator operations, to subject them to market discipline and improve efficiency.

4. To maintain high public health standards, we will implement strategies to promote food hygiene and safety. We will also progressively upgrade our hawker centres. We will strengthen our research capability in the prevention and control of communicable diseases, in particular vector-borne diseases. Involving Our Community

5. Singaporeans should take greater ownership of the environment. We will actively engage the People, Public and Private sectors to explore innovative ideas in addressing environmental issues. We will also implement programmes to enhance environmental awareness and encourage Singaporeans to participate in environmental initiatives such as the national recycling programme. We will involve our community on issues such as upgrading public toilets and improving their cleanliness, as well as stepping up our anti-littering efforts. Doing our Part for the Global Environment

6. We will participate actively in international environmental co-operation and seek ways to contribute to global sustainable development, while at the same time, protecting our national interests. At the regional level, we will work closely with our ASEAN neighbours to tackle common environmental concerns such as the problem of trans-boundary pollution.

RAdm (NS) TEO CHEE HEAN Minister for Education

1. The continued success of Singapore depends on its people. How well we can re-make Singapore depends on how well we can prepare our people for the challenges ahead. We will continue to invest heavily in education, to equip our young with the necessary skills and knowledge, and the right values and attitudes.

2. MOE has moved toward Ability Driven Education to help each individual recognise and make use of his talents and abilities. We will build on the progress made. We will continue with efforts to improve the teaching service, update our school curriculum and upgrade our infrastructure. Pre-school Education

3. A good pre-school education (PSE) lays the foundation for subsequent learning and development. To ensure our children get the most value out of PSE, MOE will focus on helping kindergartens provide good quality yet affordable pre-school education, within the existing framework of private and community provision of such services.

4. MOE will pay particular attention to curriculum design, teacher training, and regulation. A pilot programme started in 2001 is currently underway to develop a good pre-school curriculum. A regulatory framework will also be put in place to ensure the quality of teachers and programmes in the pre-school sector. To help eligible non-profit kindergartens upgrade standards and to keep fees affordable, MOE is providing annual recurrent grants to eligible non-profit kindergartens. Lower income families will also receive financial assistance to send their children to qualifying non-profit kindergartens. Secondary and Post-Secondary Education

5. MOE will conduct a review of our Secondary and Junior College (JC) Education to provide more choices to cater to the different talents and aspirations of students. It will examine issues including: (a) the principles and outline for a revised national 2- year JC curriculum to align it more closely to the overall education philosophy and system; (b) whether some of our schools/JCs which are ready, should offer through-train secondary/JC programmes with the flexibility of adopting different terminal qualifications; (c) whether new state-funded Independent Schools that cater to students with special talents and abilities should be established; and (d) whether privately funded secondary schools are necessary and can play a useful role. 6. We expect a 20% increase in the cohort size eligible for ITE, polytechnics and junior colleges from 2005. MOE will increase the capacity of our post-secondary sector so that all those able to benefit from further education will have access to opportunities in our technical institutes, polytechnics, and junior colleges. The plans include the restructuring of the existing 10 ITE institutes into 3 regional campuses, the establishment of the 5th polytechnic, and the expansion of places in JCs. The University Sector

7. Different types of universities, with different missions and emphases, will provide the basis for a robust and diverse university sector that can support a sophisticated and evolving economy. The universities can play a key role in developing manpower at both the pre- and in-employment levels, conducting R&D to support knowledge industries, and providing educational services to the region to support the services sector as an additional engine of economic growth.

8. To ensure that the university sector meets the needs of the economy and provides more opportunities to those who can benefit from a university education, we will review the long term structure of the higher education sector, including studying setting up a fourth university, given the desired cohort participation rates at the university level. Continuing Improvements Teachers

9. Education is ultimately a human enterprise, and teachers are our most precious resource. The introduction of the Education Service Professional Development and Career Plan (EduPac) will allow MOE to attract and retain our fair share of talent, provide opportunities for their continual development, and extend the influence of our best teachers. New career and recognition structures, and enhancements to the performance management system under EduPac are being implemented progressively. Curriculum and Assessment

10. We have revised our curriculum to develop our students more holistically and equip them properly for the knowledge age. Assessment must go in tandem with new curricular emphases. The new University Admission System from 2003 will help to reinforce curricular changes, by taking into account other measures of abilities in addition to A-levels. From 2002, MOE is taking greater control over the GCE A-level. MOE will also study the possibility of establishing a statutory board, the Examinations Authority, to build up our capability and capacity in the area of assessment. IT in Education

11. Our young need to be IT savvy to do well in the future. The Masterplan for IT in Education, introduced in 1997, has equipped our schools, teachers and students with the skills and knowledge to use IT to enhance teaching and learning. MOE will unveil a second phase of its Masterplan for IT in Education for the period 2003-2007, to further facilitate the integration of IT with sound pedagogical principles in bringing about an enhanced learning environment. Single Session Primary Schools

12. Single session schools allow for better access to facilities and greater interaction between teacher and students. All our secondary schools are now single session. MOE is exploring the implementation of single session in primary schools. Continuing Education and Training

13. Our polytechnics and ITE will also expand their roles in the areas of continuing education and training, to meet the upgrading needs of our workforce. To address the demands of industry for new skills and knowledge, courses will become more multi-disciplinary, broad-based and entrepreneurial in outlook.

DR LEE BOON YANG Minister for Manpower

1. Manpower planning, manpower development, attracting international talent, occupational safety and health, and tripartite co-operation and industrial harmony remain the key components of our strategies to develop our manpower resources. Manpower Planning and Development: Managing the Present, Preparing for the Future

2. To help workers tackle the current downturn, a Jobs Task Force (JTF) has been set up. We will continue to work with the private and people sectors to give training, job assistance and counselling to those affected by economic restructuring. We will encourage employers to redesign jobs at the workplace. This will uplift the image and productivity of some industries and help such employers recruit workers by offering higher wages and better working conditions.

3. We will also prepare our workforce for jobs in new growth areas. We will revise, improve and introduce new programmes to help employers and workers meet the new demands on our workers. We will further enhance our training infrastructure. We will also continue to work with unions, employers, training providers and community organisations to nurture lifelong learning among Singaporeans. As more Singapore companies operate worldwide, we will facilitate Singaporeans to work overseas. Occupational Safety and Health

4. The well being of every working person is important and we will maintain our high standards of occupational safety and health. We will extend the coverage of the safety and health legislation to all workplaces. To establish a culture of safety and health, we will continue to provide safety and health training to all levels of personnel and promote self-regulation by the industries. Foreign Manpower

5. There is a global competition for talent. Even as we continue to develop the abilities and skills of Singaporeans, we will intensify our efforts to attract our share of international talent to contribute to our economy, and help some of them settle down in Singapore.

6. At the same time, we will continue to pursue policies that will reduce our reliance on low-skilled foreign workers. We will also step up our management and enforcement efforts to curb illegal employment and abuses of foreign workers. Tripartite Co-operation and Industrial Harmony

7. Changes arising from economic restructuring including the loss of old jobs and the development of new forms of employment relationships will be unsettling for our workers, and put our worker-employer relations to the test. MOM must continue to strengthen tripartite partnership between the government, employers and trade unions, to foster stronger teamwork and preserve our harmonious industrial relations climate and meet these new challenges. In particular, we will work closely with the unions and employers to ensure our employment regulations remain relevant to the workforce in the new economic environment. We need to accommodate a wider range of employment practices, including new work patterns and flexible work arrangements to promote work-life harmony of employees. Wage Flexibility

8. Adapting to rapid changes in the business environment requires a flexible wage system. The Ministry will work closely with employers and trade unions to speed up the implementation of the monthly variable component (MVC) as recommended by the National Wage Council (NWC), so that companies can adjust their monthly wage bill quickly when the need arises, to remain competitive and minimise job losses. We will also promote the adoption of performance-based pay structures over seniority-based wage system.

9. In addition, we will refine the components of our employment benefits system, including the implementation of medical co-payment and the adoption of a more rational approach in the payment of retrenchment benefits so that companies can have greater flexibility in managing their wage costs. Social Security

10. We will review the Central Provident Fund (CPF) scheme, to ensure it provides members with adequate savings for their housing, medical and retirement needs, without undermining business cost competitiveness.

ASSOC. PROF. YAACOB IBRAHIM Acting Minister for Community Development & Sports

1. The mission of the Ministry of Community Development and Sports (MCDS) is to build a cohesive and resilient society. Over the next 5 years, we will focus on the following areas: - Building social capital to strengthen cohesion; - Strengthening the social safety net by linking timely and appropriate assistance to those in need with job counselling, training and placement; and - Enhancing social services to help families discharge their care and support responsibilities.

Building Social Capital

2. A cornerstone of building social capital is strengthening multi-racial and multi-religious harmony. MCDS will continue to actively promote the integration of the different races and religions in Singapore, to encourage acceptance and mutual understanding across different ethnic and religious groups, and expand the common spaces where different communities can interact in harmony. We will work with communal and religious organisations to expand and strengthen Singaporeans' religious tolerance. The People's Association will press on to build up our grassroots organisations to extend their reach to more Singaporeans and bring them together to work for the betterment of our society.

3. MCDS will continue to work with the National Council of Social Service and the National Volunteer Centre to promote active citizenry and community self-help by encouraging volunteerism and philanthropy among Singaporeans. In particular, MCDS will focus on increasing the professionalism of the social service providers. We will work with the Community Development Councils to improve the training of social workers at the district level in order to increase the responsiveness of social service agencies within the community.

4. Sports can contribute towards community bonding and enhancing national pride. For the individual, it cultivates perseverance, discipline and a healthy lifestyle. MCDS will, through the Singapore Sports Council, further encourage sports participation and sports excellence among Singaporeans, and promote the sports industry in Singapore. Maintaining the Social Safety Net

5. MCDS will work with the community to provide timely and appropriate assistance and relief to Singaporeans who need help, especially those affected by the current economic downturn and economic restructuring. 6. The most effective long-term solution, however, is to continue to inculcate in Singaporeans, the values of self- reliance and the dignity of work, and ensure that Singaporeans are employable and gainfully employed. MCDS, together with other agencies, will encourage individuals on government assistance to return to work by linking short-term financial assistance closely with job counselling, job search, training and placement. Supporting Families 7. Our low fertility rate, particularly among better educated Singaporeans, continues to be an area of concern. We will continue to monitor demographic trends closely and consider new measures to address this problem.

8. The family is the basic unit of our society. MCDS will continue to drive pro-family policies and programmes, including promoting family life education, a balanced work- family environment, and improved childcare and student care arrangements. We will pay special attention to the welfare and development of children from low-income families and families at risk, to ensure that they have access to developmental and educational opportunities. In addition, we will examine the needs of various caregivers, be they caregivers to children, the elderly or the disabled, to determine how the community can offer services and support that these caregivers need. MUIS

9. MUIS will work with the community, mosques and other Malay/Muslim organisations to strengthen religious values and family units, and guide the Singapore Malay/Muslim community into a knowledge-based economy, within a multi- religious society.

MR YEO CHEOW TONG Minister for Transport 1. MOT will maintain and build on Singapore's leading position as a global transportation and logistics hub. We will also continue to provide Singaporeans with a high quality yet affordable public transport system. Maritime Sector 2. To meet the intensifying competition from neighbouring ports, MOT will continue to liberalise port and marine services where appropriate, to ensure that Singapore continues to provide high quality, cost competitive value- added services. To support activities of the maritime sector, we will develop new ancillary services, including maritime R&D. 3. We will also leverage on our excellent port, road, IT and e-commerce infrastructure to facilitate the development of an integrated logistics industry, covering the entire chain of handling, processing, storage and transportation of goods, as well as the management of information flow. 4. To consolidate our lead as a regional cruise hub, we will continue to work with other government agencies and industry players to attract fly-cruise passengers by leveraging on Changi's large foreign passenger base. Air Transport 5. Passenger traffic and airfreight through Changi have declined following the 911 attacks in the US. Singapore is also facing more intense competition from newer airports in neighbouring countries. 6. To stay the premier air hub in the region, the Government will continue its liberal air transport policy, to extend Changi's air network and connectivity especially to rapidly growing and emerging aviation markets such as China and India. We will review incentives to attract new airlines and to entrench existing ones in Singapore. CAAS will launch joint promotion and marketing activities with airlines to increase their business through Singapore. 7. CAAS will also ensure adequate capacity at Changi Airport. CAAS will soon embark on a major upgrade of Terminal 2. Development of Terminal 3 will proceed in tandem with projections in traffic growth. Changi has opened a Business Aviation Centre, offering speedy clearance for business travellers travelling in executive jets. New cargo terminals are also being built and the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS) will open in 2003 to help maintain Singapore's position as the premier integrated transport and logistics hub in the Asia-Pacific region. Land Transport 8. MOT will continue to develop our road network to increase road capacity, improve connectivity and strengthen strategic linkages between major activity and residential centres. 9. MOT will also review the vehicle restraint measures to allow more people to own cars. We will progressively shift from a reliance on ownership to usage control measures to manage the demand. The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) System together with the Vehicle Quota Scheme (VQS) have been effective in checking congestion on our roads. The ERP will be expanded further to form a second cordon beyond the Restricted Zone, and extended to other areas and times of day where traffic conditions warrant. 10. There are limits, however, to road capacity. Beyond a certain car population, congestion is inevitable. We must continue to develop our public transport system as a viable alternative. We will expand the Rapid Transit System (RTS) network into a comprehensive network to form the backbone of the public transport system. The North-East Line together with the Sengkang LRT will be completed this year. Punggol LRT will be ready in 2004. Beyond that, we are building the Circle Line, which is targeted for completion by 2010. There are also plans to build the Bukit Timah Line, the Eastern Region Line and the Jurong Region Line within the next 10 to 15 years. With the completion of these 3 new lines, the total RTS network will more than double to 240 km. 11. We will also leverage on technology. We will create a transport information hub that can provide public transport commuters and motorists with real-time information on public transport arrival times and road traffic conditions. We will review public transport quality standards to better meet the needs of the commuter population.

MR DAVID T. E. LIM Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts

1. MITA will develop Singapore as a vibrant global city for information, communications and the arts, whilst enhancing our Singaporean identity and multi-cultural heritage. This is our vision of a Creative and Connected Singapore. Information and Communications Technology

2. MITA will continue our efforts to develop the ICT sector as a key growth sector in Singapore's economy and to make Singapore a key ICT centre that is globally competitive in IT and communications. We completely liberalised the telecommunications sector in 2000. Through the Info-comm Development Authority of Singapore, we will continue to regulate the industry to ensure open competition with low entry barriers, and the availability of a wide range of high quality services at competitive prices. We will strive to be well connected to the key communication nodes in the world to support the growth of electronic commerce.

3. We will also ensure that our policy and business environment will attract IT businesses to hub their Asian, if not global operations in Singapore. We will position Singapore as Asia's "working laboratory" for the incubation, research and development of new infocomm ideas and technologies. We will take into account the rapid convergence in digital technologies, so that innovative ideas and new services can be rapidly brought to market. As ICT is a knowledge industry that hinges on talent, we will work with the industry and educational institutions to provide the sector with sufficient trained personnel.

4. We must leverage on ICT to enhance the quality of life and standard of living of Singaporeans in the Information Society. We will introduce programmes to bridge the digital divide. We will aim to have affordable and ready access to e-services through broadband Internet and other emerging communication technologies, to make Singapore a Connected Island. Arts and Culture

5. We will develop the Arts to enhance our economic competitiveness and promote our international image as a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, a Creative Singapore. Through the Arts we can nurture a more creative and adventurous spirit, and build an environment that encourages Singaporeans to explore, innovate and invent. This will deepen our cultural capital, and help Singaporeans to create value in an innovation-driven economy.

6. The opening of the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay this October will provide the facilities to attract and present world-class performing arts events as well as local and other arts performances to cater to all Singaporeans. We will continue to invest in new arts and cultural facilities. For the longer term, we are exploring the establishment of a new international museum of modern and contemporary art.

7. To bring arts closer to people and people closer to the arts, MITA will launch an "Arts Everywhere" initiative. We will work with agencies like HDB, schools and People's Association to make our arts, culture and heritage a relevant and palpable part of Singaporeans' daily lives. We will promote more public sculptures, arts performances, and arts and heritage education programmes to widen our cultural experience.

8. We will also support the development of artists by building up our Arts education institutions, and through programmes that give our artists greater international exposure. We will promote both traditional and contemporary arts so that we can maintain our heritage and identity, while keeping apace with Arts development elsewhere. We will encourage artists to fuse our rich multicultural heritage with contemporary forms to create distinctively Singaporean expressions.

9. We will enhance the contribution of Arts to business, by promoting design and other forms of applied arts with a Design Singapore initiative. We will also grow the Arts industry by strongly promoting Arts Tourism together with Singapore Tourism Board. Media

10. Our long term objective is to foster a competitive print and broadcast industry. We liberalised the media industry in June 2000, issuing new licences to SPH and MediaCorp to undertake additional broadcast and newspaper operations. MITA will continue to encourage the local media industry to restructure and improve its operations. We will revise our newspaper and broadcast laws to keep abreast of the new media and economic environment.

11. We will draw up a strategic blueprint - "Media 21" - to develop both traditional and emerging media sectors including film and digital media, to establish Singapore as a media hub. We will continue to introduce digital broadcasting technology in line with market developments.

12. The advent of the Internet and the convergence between the various media, brought about by rapid technological advances, have opened the doors for Singaporeans to the world, providing them with easier access to information, and bringing them into closer contact with western culture and world-wide trends. This will impinge on every aspect of our lives. We will continue to monitor the implications of these trends for Singapore. Library

13. MITA will continue to provide quality and affordable knowledge access for all Singaporeans. The new National Library, to be completed by 2004, will be six times larger than the existing one at Stamford Road. It will spearhead a Knowledge Singapore initiative to strengthen the nation's knowledge capacity with its extensive collections, research facilities and innovative programming. The National Library Board will also open the library@esplanade, a niche library focussing on the performing arts at the Esplanade, Bishan Community Library and Sengkang Community Library, and embark on library upgrading projects. Heritage

14. We need to strengthen our emotional and social bonds by staying connected within our community and to the nation in this rapidly changing world, as a Connected Singapore. MITA will promote and provide wider access to shared experiences of our culture and heritage, in fun and interesting ways that reach into the communities. The Asian Civilizations Museum at Empress Place Building, which showcases the ancestral cultures of Singapore, will be ready in 2003. The Singapore History Museum will undergo redevelopment in 2003 and double its exhibition space.

MR LEE HSIEN LOONG Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Finance Serving the Nation

1. A capable, forward looking and effective public service, working together with the elected government, is crucial for a dynamic, innovative and successful nation. To fulfil this vision, public officers must have the desire and capacity to contribute to and shape our society. They must be prepared to continuously improve, constantly change and be open to innovation. We will adapt our style and approaches to a better educated and better informed generation of Singaporeans, while meeting the expectations and needs of the older generation. Managing Talent

2. Managing talent in the Public Service remains our key priority. We will continue to review and improve the scholarship system to make full use of scarce resources to nurture fresh talent for the Public Service.

3. We will implement effective, rigorous and enlightened personnel management practices to attract and retain talent in the Public Service. Our officers should have an abiding sense of purpose and a fulfilling career serving the nation.

4. We will develop and stretch civil servants in challenging assignments to maximise their potential. We will set up an internal job market in the Civil Service to match the job interests of civil servants and the needs of the Public Service. We will progressively devolve responsibility for personnel management to Ministries to give them greater flexibility to better motivate their officers to achieve their specific missions.

5. We will continue to keep civil service compensation competitive with the private sector, and refine compensation policies to motivate excellent performance.

6. We have also introduced a new framework to manage Public Service Leadership (PSL) talent by identifying PSL positions to be filled by the most able and committed officers. Under the framework, a "flow-through" mechanism ensures constant talent renewal.

7. To provide better training for public officers, the Civil Service College (CSC) was restructured into a Statutory Board. The CSC now provides an integrated range of services spanning assessment, selection, training and organisational development. The CSC will continue to improve the quality of people in the public service, strengthen teamwork and esprit de corps, and improve the performance of our agencies for a first class public service. Innovation and Responsiveness

8. The Public Service will constantly seek new and better ways of doing things to remain relevant and improve its service delivery. We will continue to evolve to meet future challenges. We will ensure better and more comprehensive public services, especially through the use of technology. We will raise the efficiency and effectiveness of the Public Sector, by integrating different services and making them more accessible to the public. We will monitor expectations and tap new ideas to improve service to the public. We will also actively review rules and regulations to reduce red tape and speed up service delivery to create a more business-friendly environment, thereby enhancing Singapore's competitiveness.

9. To nurture an innovative culture in the Public Service, the Enterprise Challenge (TEC) provides a platform for promising ideas to be funded for trial testing. These projects will then be implemented by the relevant public sector agencies. We will expand the network under TEC to encourage greater collaboration between the private and public sectors.

BG GEORGE YONG-BOON YEO Minister for Trade and Industry

1. Our vision is for the Singapore economy to be entrepreneurial and knowledge-intensive, with globally competitive manufacturing and services sectors. Globally Competitive Manufacturing and Services Sectors

2. Manufacturing will continue to be a key engine of growth for Singapore. To increase manufacturing's value creation in Singapore, we will encourage companies to adopt more sophisticated products and production methods. R&D, market development and brand management will all become more important.

3. Besides strengthening electronics, chemicals and engineering, EDB will build up biomedical science as the fourth pillar of manufacturing. EDB will attract leading international companies dealing in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and healthcare services to Singapore.

4. In addition, we will develop new growth sectors in healthcare, education, infocomm and media, while continuing to promote traditional services like trading, logistics, transportation, tourism and financial services. We will promote the further deregulation of our services sectors to foster greater competition and growth. We will remake Sentosa. Developing a Vibrant Enterprise Ecosystem

5. We will foster a vibrant enterprise ecosystem that helps local businesses to flourish and internationalise, and international businesses to locate high value-added activities here. Pro-Enterprise Environment

6. To ensure that Singapore remains one of the most business-friendly places in the world for enterprises, we will continue to cut red tape and remove regulatory barriers. We will put in place a framework for competition and fair trade. We will keep our costs competitive and our taxes low to encourage and reward enterprise.

7. Land is scarce in Singapore and our industrial land costs more than in some other countries. JTC Corporation (JTC) will provide superior value to investors through excellent infrastructure and support facilities. JTC will explore new ways to intensify and optimise land use.

8. We will also keep our energy costs internationally competitive by opening up the electricity and gas markets. About 40% of electricity sales are already open to competition. We aim to increase this to 70% by the end of this year. Competition for small consumers will commence next year. To diversify fuel sources for our energy market, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) will facilitate the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Knowledge and Innovation

9. Knowledge and innovation are key drivers of the new Singapore Economy. We must create a knowledge-rich environment and nurture an innovation-driven workforce.

10. We will build up one-north, a hub for entrepreneurs, scientists and researchers to work, live, meet, exchange ideas and strike deals. The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will foster world class scientific research in selected areas and develop talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore.

11. We are working with the Ministry of Law to build a strong and dynamic intellectual property (IP) regime, so as to develop Singapore into a centre for IP and innovation, and encourage the creation and commercialisation of IP in Singapore.

12. We will also work with the Ministry of Manpower to upgrade the skills of our workforce, and to attract global talent. The Singapore Productivity and Standards Board (PSB) has been reorganised to champion total factor productivity and innovation at all levels of our society and renamed the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING Singapore). Linkages with the World

13. We will help our enterprises gain the best access to world markets. We will continue to support the WTO and a successful conclusion of the Development Agenda launched in Doha last year. We will also pursue Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with our key trading partners. Our base is the ASEAN FTA. We will continue to support the economic integration of ASEAN, and help strengthen ASEAN's competitiveness. To catalyse deeper linkages of the region with the world, we have signed FTAs with New Zealand and Japan, concluded negotiations with the European Free Trade Area, and are negotiating with the US, Canada, Australia and Mexico. We are also working toward a FTA between ASEAN and China, and closer economic partnerships between ASEAN and Japan, as well as between ASEAN and Australia and New Zealand.

14. These will help make Singapore a key node linking Asia to the rest of the world. We want Singapore to be a major hub for HQ services, R&D, product development, logistical, financial and service support for international companies operating within a 7-hour flight radius. Enterprise Development

15. We will nurture enterprises at different stages of development and promote the development of new economic activities. We will also assist start-ups by improving their access to capital, including attracting venture capitalists to Singapore and encouraging more private sector funding of venture projects.

16. To help Singapore-based companies go international, the Trade Development Board has been reorganised and renamed International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore). IE Singapore will set up business support offices in selected cities, especially in China and India, to provide on-site assistance and Singapore Centres for our companies to cluster together and share resources. We will also encourage foreign SMEs to establish operations in Singapore and partner Singapore companies in third countries. 17. In addition to promoting innovation, SPRING Singapore will continue to help local SMEs improve their productivity through a wide range of programmes. It will push for greater standardisation as a way to improve productivity.

MR LEE HSIEN LOONG Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Finance Fiscal Policy 1. The next few years will see lower GDP growth, increased demands on expenditure, and tighter budgets. Maintaining fiscal discipline and sound macro-economic policies is key. These concerns underpin our effort to restructure the economy for competitiveness in an increasingly globalised world. 2. We must keep the tax burden on the economy as light as possible, and maintain a good balance between direct and indirect taxes. This will help keep Singapore attractive to investments and assure jobs for our people. 3. We will pursue a prudent fiscal policy. We will budget for a modest surplus over the business cycle. This will yield enough resources to invest in new growth areas, and deal with the social challenges of economic restructuring and an ageing population in a sustainable way. Monetary Policy 4. We have experienced more frequent shocks as the world economy has become more inter-linked and volatile. Monetary policy, centred on the management of the exchange rate, aims for price stability while being supportive of growth. Its objective is low inflation, a stable currency and sustained economic growth. Facilitating Business and Enterprise

5. We will make Singapore "Best for Business" by simplifying business regulations and enhancing corporate governance and accounting practices. This will attract global capital and support Singapore companies in their efforts to reach world-class standards. We will set up a Council on Corporate Disclosure and Governance to set accounting standards and advocate best practices in corporate governance.

6. Government fees and charges will be set to recover costs, except where we need higher rates to deter the misuse or misallocation of resources. The Government will outsource services to the private and people sectors wherever this is cost effective.

7. The Government expects companies it holds shares in to operate commercially, without any preferential treatment. Many of these companies will contribute to Singapore's external economy by expanding into significant businesses in the region and beyond. The Government will progressively divest its commercial investments which are no longer strategic, as market conditions permit. Budgeting Wisely

8. We will incentivise Ministries to focus on obtaining the best outcomes with the resources available. We must strike a judicious balance in allocating funds among the economic, social and security sectors. Helping citizens adjust to the new economic conditions is a high priority. An ageing population also presents special demands, especially in community services and healthcare. We will make more use of means-testing to target government-financed assistance and subsidies. Excellent Public Service

9. The Government will make public services more customer-centred, through the e-government programme. "Many Agencies, One Government" will provide greater convenience to the public. We will set up more e-Citizen Help Centres, to service those who lack personal access to the internet or need help to cope with it.

10. All government agencies will aim to achieve national and international benchmarks of organisational excellence, especially the ISO-9000 series of quality management standards, the People Developer Standard, the Singapore Quality Class, and the Singapore Quality Award. They will continually review their regulations to reduce red tape, removing them altogether wherever possible.

PROF. S. JAYAKUMAR Minister for Foreign Affairs External Backdrop

1. The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 and the on-going global anti-terrorist campaign have added a key element of uncertainty to world stability. The end of the Cold War and globalisation have also fundamentally changed the external environment for Singapore. Not only are convenient distinctions between domestic and international interests blurring, but the economic, political and security interests of states can no longer be neatly compartmentalised, instead interacting and overlapping in a complicated manner in a globalised world.

2. As a small city-state plugged into the international grid, Singapore cannot be insulated from the key global trends. The conduct of Singapore's foreign policy has become an even greater challenge. Key Foreign Policy Issues For Singapore's Future

3. Southeast Asia remains in a state of flux following the Asian Financial Crisis. Some countries continue to face daunting political and economic challenges domestically. These difficulties have also provided fertile ground for terrorism and religious extremism to take root, fuelling ethnic conflicts and separatist movements. How countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines handle these problems will impact the overall security complexion of the region.

4. Singapore's future is inextricably tied to Southeast Asia. Managing bilateral relations with our neighbours, especially Malaysia and Indonesia, will remain a top priority. Occasional hiccups in our relations with our neighbours are inevitable. But we will continue to take a broad and long-term perspective of these relations, and not be side-tracked by differences over individual issues. We want stable and mutually-beneficial relations.

5. At the same time, Singapore remains firmly committed to ASEAN. The perceptions of Southeast Asia's political and economic drift, in contrast to Northeast Asia's dynamism, cannot be brushed aside. ASEAN must reinvent itself and keep pace with global changes. It needs to forge greater internal cohesion and rediscover a new direction. We will work closely with our ASEAN neighbours and Dialogue partners through the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and the Roadmap for the Integration of ASEAN to integrate the newer and older members and ensure that the region remains outward-looking. We will try, within our limits, to help restore stability and confidence in the region.

6. Beyond the region, the global anti-terrorism effort continues. Singapore is an open society, totally dependent on the globalised economy and an orderly, predictable international environment for trade and a living. Terrorism which strikes at this global system directly undermines our prosperity and security. We must take a clear stand and contribute our part to the international effort against terrorism.

7. The on-going anti-terrorism campaign in Afghanistan has also demonstrated the US' unmatched military superiority, in addition to its dominance in the economic, political and technological fields. How the US wields this influence will have profound implications for international stability.

8. Fortunately, the campaign against terrorism has impelled the major powers to emphasise their common interests. It has stabilised the US-China-Japan triangular relationship, which is crucial to Southeast Asia. But uncertainties remain. China's growth will change the balance of influence and power in the region. Its integration into the international system will require adjustments and accommodation on both sides. We will continue to engage the US to ensure that it stays in the region. We will consolidate cross-regional links and mutual understanding with Europe, particularly through ASEM.

9. We will also continue to support international organisations, particularly the United Nations. As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Singapore has supported initiatives that strengthen its role as the primary UN organ for maintaining international peace and security. In particular, we have contributed constructively to the Council's efforts in building international support for the campaign against terrorism. We will continue to be a constructive player in the UN.

10. The Singapore Cooperation Programme remains an important channel for Singapore to fulfil its international obligations by sharing our development experience with others. Within our limited resources, we will strive to maximise our reach and accommodate the changing needs of the recipient countries by seeking collaboration and partnerships with international organisations and other countries.

DR TONY TAN KENG YAM Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence

1. A strong defence is the foundation for Singapore's peace, security and prosperity. The events of September 11 and the uncovering of Al Qaeda-linked terrorist cells in Singapore are important reminders that we must not take this for granted. Defence and Deterrence

2. We must work together as a nation to deal effectively with non-conventional threats and new security challenges, including low intensity conflict and global terrorism. The SAF will broaden its capabilities and work in close coordination with other security agencies to deal with these threats. The National Security Secretariat will develop a more coherent and integrated approach to ensuring Singapore's national security.

3. We must also continue to maintain and strengthen our capabilities to defend ourselves against conventional security threats. We have built up a strong, integrated and technologically advanced armed forces. We will continue to upgrade and modernise the SAF to ensure that it continues to have the capabilities to defend Singapore against the full spectrum of potential threats: (a) Technology: The SAF will continue to harness technology as a force multiplier, so that it can maintain its strategic edge despite its manpower and resource constraints. The restructuring of MINDEF's technology arm and formation of the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has enabled MINDEF to better anticipate and exploit future trends and challenges in the technology sector. MINDEF will continue to strengthen the SAF's technological edge and invest to develop our home-grown defence research and development capability as well as deepen our collaboration with international R&D agencies. (b) Training: MINDEF will ensure that our people are trained and developed to achieve their fullest potential, and to be mentally and physically equipped to defend Singapore. The SAF will continue to improve its training procedures and methodologies to provide our servicemen with the best training available. The SAF will also continue to benchmark itself against the best armed forces in the world, and validate and refine its training system. To optimise training efficiency, the SAF will increasingly utilise simulation technology to provide realistic and cost-effective training locally. The SAF needs to train overseas given our limited local training areas and airspace. MINDEF will continue to maintain and enhance our access to traditional training areas, as well as to look for more overseas training opportunities in friendly countries. (c) People: The strength of the SAF lies in its people. To ensure that the most able and dedicated serve in the defence of our nation, MINDEF will regularly review its manpower policies to maintain its attractiveness and competitive edge in the labour market as an employer of choice. (d) National Service: Our national servicemen form the backbone of the SAF. MINDEF will continue to review its NS training and policies to ensure that our national servicemen are motivated, well trained and prepared to defend the nation. A review committee has been set up to examine how the NS system and NS policies can be improved. MINDEF will also implement the recommendations made by the 3rd Committee to Recognise the Contribution of Operationally Ready National Servicemen to Total Defence (RECORD III). Diplomacy

4. The new security challenges facing the world today transcend national borders, and need to be tackled through global and regional cooperation. MINDEF will continue to foster good defence relations with friendly countries and contribute to efforts to promote international peace and stability. 5. Bilateral Defence Relations: MINDEF will continue to deepen and widen our network of bilateral defence relations with countries both in and outside the region. We will continue to explore new ways of cooperation to enhance the security of Singapore and the region. 6. Multilateral Arrangements: MINDEF will strengthen dialogue, confidence-building and cooperation with countries in the region and beyond, by promoting multilateral defence interactions and exercises. MINDEF will also continue to participate actively in regional multilateral arrangements, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Five Power Defence Arrangements, to enhance peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. 7. UN Missions: MINDEF will support Singapore's role as a responsible member of the international community. The SAF will continue to participate in UN peacekeeping and humanitarian missions where we can make a useful contribution. MINDEF will also contribute to the role that Singapore plays in the UN Security Council. Total Defence 8. Total Defence has been a useful framework to deal with our security challenges in a unified and well-coordinated way, through the efforts of Singaporeans in every sector of society. Total Defence becomes increasingly important as Singapore prepares to meet a more diverse range of threats. MINDEF will continue to promote Total Defence through our national education efforts. Singaporeans must always remember that we can never take the peace, stability and prosperity that we now enjoy for granted.

MR WONG KAN SENG Minister for Home Affairs

1. The Home Team will strengthen its strategy of continued vigilance, tough laws, effective enforcement and community partnership to ensure the safety and security of Singaporeans. Enhancing Operational Capability

2. The Home Team will collaborate with other agencies to undertake a fundamental review of our response plans to deal with unconventional threats: (a) MHA will implement an electronic emergency information centre that will deliver up-to-date information to the public during crises, and emergency preparedness information at other times; (b) The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will strengthen its capability to respond to chemical and biological agent attacks. It will reorganise the fire stations and National Service units to handle these threats. SCDF will develop a new framework to regulate the storage and movement of hazardous materials; (c) The Singapore Police Force (SPF) will focus on improving the three main areas of homeland security, policing, and public order, and review its other services. The role of Police NSmen will be reviewed and enhanced. SPF will work with the private security industry to improve security awareness and professionalism. It will further augment the capabilities of its Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office to counter money laundering and detect terrorist monies passing through our financial systems. SPF will also continue to leverage on joint intelligence and enforcement actions to combat transnational crimes and global syndicates; and (d) The Internal Security Department (ISD) will remain vigilant against internal security threats to Singapore. We will enhance ISD's capabilities to better deal with the new threats of terrorism and subversive activities. Combating Drug Abuse 3. There will be no let up on our tough stance against drug abuse. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) will continue to take firm measures to prevent new synthetic drugs such as amphetamine-type stimulants from gaining a foothold in Singapore. CNB will also work with community organisations to develop a preventive drug education programme targeted at synthetic drug abuse. Leveraging on Technology

4. SPF will establish a DNA database to facilitate crime-solving and collaborate with industry partners to develop computer forensic capabilities.

5. Singapore Immigration and Registration (SIR) will deploy advanced biometric identification and vehicular X-ray systems to enhance security checks at immigration checkpoints. It will also enhance its service to the public by introducing more on-line applications. Responding to a Changing Singapore

6. MHA will review laws and practices under its purview and contribute to the effort to remake Singapore. Where feasible, regulatory controls will be relaxed. We will engage the community on licensing matters, through the establishment of advisory panels. SCDF will also introduce a new performance-based fire code to make compliance with fire safety regulations simpler and cheaper.

7. SPF will engage non-governmental organisations and voluntary welfare organisations more, especially in the areas of dispute resolution, family violence and juvenile delinquency. It will also draw more on community resources, such as the Community Mediation Centres, to resolve non-crime issues such as disputes between neighbours and noise complaints. Improving Our Prisons and Rehabilitation Framework

8. Our prisons will expand the use of community-based sentencing options by introducing Front-End Home Detention for selected offenders. A seamless throughcare rehabilitation system, to enable drug and criminal offenders to re-integrate into society more effectively, will be developed. Our prisons will also reach out to more employers to offer employment opportunities to match the skills and abilities of discharged offenders.

PROF. S. JAYAKUMAR Minister for Law

1. The Ministry of Law (MinLaw)'s focus will be to: (a) strengthen our legal infrastructure and expand the legal services sector; (b) formulate a comprehensive legal and policy framework for Intellectual Property (IP) and develop Singapore as a centre for IP; and (c) optimise our land resource. Legal Services 2. MinLaw will work closely with the Attorney-General's Chambers, Academy of Law, Law Society and NUS Law Faculty to accelerate the growth of the legal sector and upgrade our legal talent pool. Our lawyers must keep up to date on emerging areas such as info-communications technology (ICT), biotechnology, intellectual property (IP) and international trade laws, and continually upgrade their expertise in key areas such as corporate finance, banking, aviation and shipping laws. This will support our strategies to make Singapore a hub for high value-added activities such as ICT and financial services.

3. We will also develop international arbitration and mediation into a thriving service cluster together with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC). MinLaw will further promote community mediation as a means of resolving social and relational disputes. We will work with the Community Development Councils to create greater public awareness of community mediation. We will also raise the professional standards of our mediators through training and accreditation, and promote other forms of mediation such as peer mediation in schools and pre-bankruptcy mediation.

4. Beyond these domestic initiatives, MinLaw will enhance our training infrastructure to enable the legal fraternity to share their legal knowledge with lawyers in the region and promote the harmonisation of trade and commercial laws within ASEAN and the region. We will also explore how we can promote legal services as an export industry. Intellectual Property

5. MinLaw and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) will work with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other economic agencies to put in place a legislative and policy framework to develop Singapore as an IP hub, attractive for companies, IP professionals and other individuals to congregate, create and exploit IP. MinLaw will capitalise on Singapore's excellent legal infrastructure to position ourselves as an international arbitration and mediation centre for IP dispute resolution.

6. To achieve this, quality IP-related manpower is critical. MinLaw will set up an IP Academy for the training of IP-related skills, to increase the sophistication of our businesses in IP management and to complement the academic curriculum in the Universities. Land Branch

7. MinLaw and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) will review our land policies, including lease expiry and renewal, lease upgrading and the land charging and pricing policy, in order to optimise and intensify land use, promote the orderly renewal of Singapore's physical landscape and support the national economic restructuring effort. 8. We will also review regulations and practices to ensure effective management of state land. We will streamline our land acquisition practices so that public projects can be carried out smoothly. Land legislation including the Land Titles (Strata) Act and the Residential Property Act will also be reviewed to meet new and evolving needs and improve the management of strata development in Singapore.