Hansard, 2009-05-18

Under the provisions of clause 2(d) of Article 46 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the following Members have been granted permission to be or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any Committee of Parliament to which they have been appointed) for the periods stated: Name From (2009) To (2009) Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed 14 Apr 15 Apr Dr Ahmad Mohd Magad 16 Apr 17 Apr 28 Apr 01 May 11 May 12 May 20 May 22 May 29 May 11 Jun Mr Teo Ser Luck 16 Apr 21 Apr 24 Apr 27 Apr Dr Lim Wee Kiak 19 Apr 23 Apr 15 May 18 May Mr S Iswaran 20 Apr 25 Apr 13 May 16 May 02 Jun 08 Jun Mr Seng Han Thong 21 Apr 30 Apr Mrs Josephine Teo 22 Apr 27 Apr Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam 23 Apr 28 Apr 02 May 04 May 06 May 08 May 22 May 24 May Mr Zainudin Nordin 23 Apr 28 Apr 06 May 08 May Er Lee Bee Wah 24 Apr 25 Apr Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman 24 Apr 26 Apr Mr Lee Yi Shyan 25 Apr 27 Apr 09 May 12 May Column: 7 17 May 18 May 20 May 26 May Mr George Yong-Boon Yeo 26 Apr 02 May 10 May 16 May 22 May 28 May 31 May 04 Jun Dr Ng Eng Hen 27 Apr 07 May Mr Sin Boon Ann 27 Apr 29 Apr 06 May 06 May Mr Abdullah Tarmugi 28 Apr 02 May 01 Jun 04 Jun Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee 28 Apr 28 Apr Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim 28 Apr 30 Apr Mr Baey Yam Keng 01 May 03 May Dr Balaji Sadasivan 01 May 04 May 07 May 08 May 17 May 23 May Mdm Halimah Yacob 01 May 05 May Mr Lim Hng Kiang 04 May 06 May 31 May 15 Jun Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat 04 May 06 May 08 Jun 17 Jun Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng 06 May 10 May Mr Ang Mong Seng 07 May 09 May Mr Mah Bow Tan 08 May 12 May 02 Jun 04 Jun Mr Charles Chong 09 May 16 May Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien 09 May 16 May 02 Jun 05 Jun Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M 09 May 16 May Mr Seah Kian Peng 09 May 16 May 27 May 27 May Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan 10 May 10 May 29 May 07 Jun Mr Lim Biow Chuan 10 May 14 May 01 Jun 04 Jun 11 Jun 14 Jun Miss Penny Low 13 May 18 May Mr Hawazi Daipi 19 May 23 May Mr Lee Kuan Yew 19 May 27 May 01 Jun 15 Jun Dr Lily Neo 19 May 18 Nov Er Edwin Khew Teck Fook 20 May 27 May Column: 8Mr Teo Chee Hean 20 May 26 May 31 May 02 Jun 04 Jun 19 Jun Mr Chan Soo Sen 22 May 28 May Mr Wong Kan Seng 24 May 26 May Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon 26 May 28 May Mr Yeo Cheow Tong 27 May 17 Jun Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta 28 May 31 May Dr Lee Boon Yang 29 May 03 Jun Prof. S Jayakumar 29 May 08 Jun Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee 30 May 10 Jun 17 Jun 20 Jun Mr Inderjit Singh 31 May 02 Jun 04 Jun 09 Jun 16 Jun 18 Jun Mr Lee Hsien Loong 31 May 07 Jun 14 Jun 20 Jun Mrs Lim Hwee Hua 07 Jun 14 Jun 18 Jun 20 Jun Mdm Cynthia Phua 19 Jun 26 Jun Mr Heng Chee How 20 Jun 28 Jun

ABDULLAH TARMUGI Speaker Parliament of Singapore

The following Bills were assented to by the President of the Republic of Singapore on the date stated:

28th April,2009 (1) Public Order Bill (2) Preservation of Monuments Bill (3) Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Bill ABDULLAH TARMUGI Speaker Parliament of Singapore

Sitting commenced 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 Deputy Clerk, the Senior Assistant Clerk and the Clerk.

On the Clerk announcing "The President", the President delivered his Opening Speech.

Singapore in an Uncertain World

Honourable Members, since Parliament last opened in November 2006, our economy has gone through a roller-coaster ride. 2006 and 2007 were very good years, with growth averaging 8%. But then the global financial crisis hit us and last year growth fell to 1%. This year will be worse. Our GDP is expected to decline by 6%-9%, with rising unemployment.

Fortunately, we did not slacken when conditions were favourable earlier. We restructured the economy, upgraded our workforce and attracted many new investments and high-value jobs. We also strengthened our social safety nets. We introduced the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme to help low-income workers, and launched CPF LIFE to provide Singaporeans a lifelong income into old age. We invested in our health system and enhanced our 3Ms financing framework to assure every Singaporean access to high quality healthcare.

More importantly, we steered clear of excesses during the boom years. We strengthened our revenue base, budgeted within our means and accumulated reserves for a rainy day. We supervised our banks to be prudent, and avoided a

credit bubble. When the financial crisis struck, we were in a strong position. We could take decisive measures - like the SPUR scheme and the Resilience Package - to help companies and workers to save jobs. We did not have to borrow. Having steadily built up reserves, we could draw on them, and with my approval, to fund the Jobs Credit scheme and the Special Risk-Sharing Initiative.

In this crisis, our immediate priority is to see Singapore through. Our best strategy is still to help companies to stay viable and continue employing workers. We must keep up the effort to up-skill and re-skill our workers to become more employable and productive, in a changing economy. NTUC is at the forefront of these efforts, working shoulder to shoulder with Government and employers. Meanwhile, our economic agencies are continuing to draw in new investments and jobs. Our response to the crisis has strengthened Singapore's reputation, is yielding results, and will put us in a strong position for the future.

Emerging in a different world

When the storm clears, we cannot expect the world to be as before. A consensus is growing that the world is in for an extended period of slow growth. The problem of bad banking assets in many countries, especially the United States and Europe, will take several years to unwind. Asian demand will grow, but not enough to make up for the drop from developed countries. Meanwhile developing countries will be upgrading their infrastructure and workforce, and also acquiring new capabilities. China and India will emerge as stronger competitors, though they will also offer new opportunities.

All these economic problems will put pressure on governments to shield domestic industries and markets from foreign competition and imports. If

governments succumb, international trade will be damaged and globalisation which has benefited many countries will be disrupted. Fortunately, so far the back-sliding on free trade has been limited. Hopefully, the major economies will recognise the dangers of protectionism, and cooperate to keep markets open and trade flowing.

Economic troubles can have social and political consequences too. There have been large demonstrations and strikes in Europe. So far the economic woes have not led to serious tensions between countries, but this could happen. In our region, relations among ASEAN countries remain good, though several ASEAN members are preoccupied with domestic problems and priorities.

Singapore is a small country, highly integrated into the world economy. For our security and prosperity, we rely on global trade and regional stability. But in the aftermath of the crisis, the redrawn global landscape will be less benign and predictable. It will be a challenging environment for Singapore.

Building our future Singapore

We must prepare ourselves for these challenges. We rightly worry about the difficulties ahead. But, remember that all countries are also facing serious challenges of their own in this environment, and we are better equipped and prepared than most countries to tackle ours. We enjoy high international standing, and our success and capabilities are widely admired. If any country can surmount these problems and turn adversity into advantage, Singapore can. We must take steps to emerge from this global crisis stronger economically, socially, and politically.

Enhancing our economic competitiveness

Sustaining economic growth will always be a high priority. Our basic

approach to promoting growth has been to stay competitive, upgrade our people, develop new capabilities, and create an outstanding pro-business environment. Then we can rely on free markets, free trade and entrepreneurship to create wealth for individuals and the country. This is how Singapore has consistently developed year after year, and over time totally transformed our economy and our people's lives.

This basic approach remains sound. For example, our R&D efforts are making headway. We are not only doing high quality scientific work, but also attracting investments that exploit our growing R&D capabilities, for example, in pharmaceuticals, solar energy, and new media. Many of these investments are world-class projects, where a single plant in Singapore produces a large share of world output. More Singapore companies are taking advantage of markets abroad. This is what globalisation means, in practical terms, for Singapore.

However, we need to review our specific strategies for growing different sectors of our economy, to adapt to the changed environment. We will have to develop new markets, adapt to changing trends and master new capabilities in manufacturing, services and other emerging industries.

Once we start growing again, we will face increasing constraints of our limited land and labour. We must make well-judged trade-offs to optimise our potential. We must also consider new factors, such as reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions to achieve sustainable development and stay ahead as an Asian city with a high quality of life.

How can we capitalise on new markets and emerging industries for growth and diversification? How can we build new capabilities and anchor value in

Singapore for the long term? How can we deploy our finite resources to maximum effect? And how can we create good, high-value jobs for Singaporeans? These questions need fresh rethinking, and creative answers. If all of us in the public and private sectors put our minds together, I am confident we will develop new ideas to help Singapore transform, advance and prosper in its next phase of growth.

Strengthening social cohesion

Even as we promote economic growth, we must also strengthen our social cohesion. The challenging times will put stresses on our society and our families, but we must manage these stresses and meet the challenges as one people. We will then emerge from the current crisis stronger.

Globalisation benefits Singapore tremendously, but it also widens income gaps and will continue to put pressure on lower-skilled, less-educated workers. The Government has done much to help this group upgrade, and to supplement their wages. In this downturn, lower-income Singaporeans will not be left to fend for themselves. We must help every worker train and prepare for new jobs, and especially ensure that children from vulnerable families enjoy every opportunity to reach their full potential in education. Only when all of us share the benefits of globalisation and growth, can we stay united regardless of rich or poor.

We must also bring new people with diverse skills and experiences into Singapore, to contribute to our economy and society and help grow our population over the long term. But new arrivals and foreign workers may cause concern because of our unfamiliarity with their different accents and habits, and because of competition in workplaces. I hope that Singaporeans will appreciate how we benefit from the contributions of non-

citizens and new citizens, and welcome them into our midst. It is equally important that the newcomers make the effort to adjust and integrate into our society, and have their children grow up side by side with the children of earlier Singaporeans. Then the next generation will be indistinguishable and will collectively build Singapore's future. That is how our immigrant society became what we are today.

New infectious diseases are another test of our social cohesion. The SARS outbreak in the year 2003 taught us the critical importance of responding as one people to a new and frightening disease. Influenza A(H1N1) is a different threat - more easily transmitted, but so far less lethal. We must respond to this new health threat just as rationally, vigorously and cohesively as we did to SARS. We must take sensible precautions, safeguarding public health, and keeping up confidence and morale as together we fight a shared danger.

The escape and recent recapture of Mas Selamat reminds us of the threat of extremist terrorism, not only to our security but also to our racial and religious harmony. Mas Selamat’s recapture is not the end of the terrorism threat. This episode is a sharp reminder of the cost of complacency and the need for constant vigilance. But it also reminds us to continue building trust and confidence between the different communities, for example through the Community Engagement Programme.

The recent AWARE episode highlighted another aspect of social harmony - the need for all groups to practise tolerance, restraint and mutual respect in order to live peacefully in a multi-racial, multi-religious society. This applies not just to religious groups venturing into the secular domain, but also to secular groups which want to strongly push their views and change our social norms.

Our diversity is what makes our society lively, outward looking and innovative. Our diversity also helps us to get on with people from all around the world, and makes us uniquely suited to being a global hub. But Singapore cannot just be a collection of different communities. We must remain cohesive and continue to build our common Singaporean identity with each new generation. Then we can become a more vibrant and cosmopolitan city, while strengthening our unique Singaporean values and character.

Upgrading education

Whether it is to promote economic growth, narrow the income gap or bond the next generation, education is key. Education is our best investment in Singapore's future. Our education system is designed to give each and every child the best opportunity to stretch his abilities. All our schools maintain high standards, and prepare our young to seize their own opportunities in a complex, dynamic and uncertain world. We will do better, by building more peaks of excellence, and establishing new pathways and programmes to cater to students with different aptitudes, interests and learning styles.

We are also strengthening higher education to meet growing aspirations and train the skilled professional and creative manpower we will need. Our aim is to have 30% of our students admitted to state-supported universities. Having studied many alternative ways to achieve this, we have decided to create not one, but two new institutions. The first will be a new institute which will partner foreign universities that offer degrees, to open more direct routes for polytechnic graduates to obtain degrees. The second will be a new university, which will be set up in close partnership with one leading university each from the United States and China. These two institutions will

open up more opportunities for students to upgrade themselves.

Ensuring security and enlarging our external space

Maintaining a safe and secure Singapore is a basic precondition for our people to pursue their dreams. As a small state, we must understand and influence our environment in order to enlarge our external space. Post crisis, the United States will remain the leading power in the world, and the key to a coherent and stable global system. But in Asia, China and India will play growing roles. Stable relations between the United States and China will be vital to solving many international issues, and to integrating an emerging Asia into the global community.

Our diplomacy must adjust to these new realities. Small as we are, we must participate actively at international forums like the United Nations and IMF, among others, and do our modest part in international efforts to further the common interests of nations, for example by participating in UN anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. We must work with our partners in ASEAN, APEC and other regional forums, to foster regional cooperation and economic integration. Thus, we help to keep our region peaceful, safeguard our interests, and make friends around the world.

Effective diplomacy depends on our ability to protect ourselves. Therefore, we will continue to build the 3rd Generation SAF, to defend Singapore and contribute to regional security. We will also maintain an effective Home Team, working closely with the community to keep Singapore safe and secure.

Creating a first class home

With a cohesive society and stable external environment, we can build a first class home in Singapore, where all

citizens have full opportunities to achieve their aspirations.

Over the next few years, Singapore will be transformed physically. A new skyline will emerge around the Marina Bay. We are rejuvenating our housing estates: the Home Improvement Programme and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme are ramping up, and the Lift Upgrading Programme will be completed by 2014. We will double our rail network to 280 km by 2010. We are building park connectors, and new sports and leisure facilities all over the island. Our reservoirs, canals and drains are being transformed into recreational spaces through the Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters programmes. We are protecting nature and greenery even as we grow as a dense, urbanised city.

But it is not enough to have a first-world infrastructure and environment. We must match this with a gracious people who are courteous to one another, welcoming to visitors and new citizens, and worthy ambassadors for Singapore when we travel abroad. We must raise our standards of social behaviour, so that Singapore becomes a more pleasant society to live in. We must also develop our arts and culture to be enjoyed by all citizens. This should be a city where all can feel safe and secure, living among people whom we respect and belong with, and whose cultures we share and take pride in.

Evolving our political system

We can do all this - develop our economy, strengthen our social cohesion, upgrade our education system, safeguard our security, enlarge our external space and create a first class home - because our politics is sound. Our political system encourages strong and effective government, worthy of Singaporeans, and responsive to the people's needs and aspirations. This system relies upon and

brings forward political leaders who are committed and capable, and who have the mandate to work with citizens to build the economy, strengthen our society and improve all our lives. In a more challenging and uncertain world, a sound political system and good leadership are all the more important.

However, our political system is not set in stone. Singapore politics must evolve over time, as the world and our society change. It must respond to new circumstances and goals, and continue to deliver good government to Singapore.

Our leadership team too must self-renew. We must continue to induct new leaders in touch with the new generation, who understand how Singapore works and who bring with them fresh thinking and energy to set and achieve new goals. For our political system to continue working well, we must find outstanding, younger men and women to lead Singapore.

Provided we keep our system up-to-date, and our leaders stay in close touch with new trends and a new electorate, then we can continue to deliver high quality government, and keep Singapore secure and vibrant in the years ahead.

This is the 50th year since Singapore became a self-governing state. We have come a long way since 1959. Through many vicissitudes, we have made steady progress, and built today's Singapore. Few among the dozens of other ex-colonies which became independent around the same period have done as well. Our success has been the result of right policies, good government, and a united people.

The present world situation is graver than any in our experience. We are well prepared for it. We have been through crises before, and always emerged stronger. This adversity is another

opportunity to temper and bond our people. Let us commit ourselves to building on what we have achieved, coming through with flying colours once more, and making Singapore shine as a country where we work and play together, overcome challenges

shoulder to shoulder, and build our lives as one people.

For this is Our Home, Our Future, and Our Singapore.

Adjourned accordingly at Five

Minutes to Nine o'clock pm.

DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports

MCYS is committed to supporting Singaporeans through these trying times. Our priorities are to: (i) provide hope and assurance for needy Singaporeans; (ii) boost the many helping hands that hold up our social safety net; (iii) strengthen our cohesion in the face of growing social diversity; (iv) enhance family resilience; and (v) expand services for an older population.

Providing hope and assurance for the needy

We will focus on: (a) those who are permanently unable to work and have no family support; (b) those who are usually able to cope in good times, but are thrown into distress by the economic downturn; and (c) dysfunctional families plagued by multiple and chronic problems. Our help measures are targeted and calibrated, so that we continue to encourage good work ethic and the role of the family as the first line of support, whilst aiming ultimately to achieve self reliance.

We will update the ComCare schemes so that they remain relevant and adequate. The quantum of Public Assistance has recently been increased. We will exercise greater flexibility to help those at the margins, and provide more financial support, especially to children from low-income and vulnerable families. We will facilitate the work of voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), Community Development Councils (CDCs) and grassroots organisations in reaching out and helping those in need. MCYS will provide more help for dysfunctional families through early identification of at-risk families, enhancement of the Home Ownership Plus Education (HOPE) scheme, and providing intensive case management. Training and employment opportunities will also be enhanced to help youths at risk re-integrate into society and remain crime-free.

Boosting Many Helping Hands

The Many Helping Hands is a key pillar of our social services to the needy. In the tough economic climate ahead, public donations may decline even while VWOs’ caseloads rise. MCYS has increased funding and provided a contingency fund to support the VWOs and self-help groups. Family Service Centres (FSCs) will receive more resources to improve service delivery and establish themselves as the community focal point for all families seeking help, especially the low income and needy. We are enhancing capacity and professionalising the sector through the accreditation of social workers and social service practitioners. We will encourage mid-career entrants to join the sector through the Professional Conversion Programme under SPUR. To further enhance public support for the charity sector, we will continue to strengthen the governance standards and encourage more transparency and accountability. We will implement a new programme, Singapore Cares, to offer more flexible volunteering opportunities.

Bonding the community

In times of adversity, it is even more important to guard against threats to the fault lines of nationality, ethnicity and religion. We have also set up a National Integration Council (NIC) comprising members from the public, private and people sectors, to promote mutual trust and understanding across communities, especially amongst new citizens.

Sports is a powerful medium to rally the nation and bond communities. Preparations for the Youth Olympic Games 2010 (YOG) are progressing well. We have set up the Singapore Youth Sports Development Committee to provide more opportunities for youths to play and compete in sports. The Singapore Sports School will also offer a new six-year programme to provide more flexibility and more academic options for our students. Looking ahead to the legacy of the YOG, we will continue to make prudent investments in public sports infrastructure. We will also pursue the development of strategic projects such as the Changi Motorsports Hub.

We will continue to explore more opportunities to engage our youths, and cater to their wide range of interests. We have developed common spaces, such as *scape and the Extreme Skatepark, for youth to engage in recreational activities. We plan to leverage on the excitement generated from YOG to promote youth volunteerism, and will work with the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre to facilitate youth involvement in such activities. To increase their level of civic participation, we intend to further engage youth in discussions on community and national issues.

Supporting families

MCYS will pay special attention to strengthening marriages, and ensure that the institution of family remains a cornerstone of our society. With rising divorce rates, we will help families manage issues arising from family breakdown, such as effective enforcement of maintenance payments. We will also study further ways to strengthen marriages, especially during current times when marriages are undergoing greater strain.

The Ministry will continue to implement and enhance measures to encourage marriage and parenthood. We will provide affordable and accessible childcare options to parents. We will also enhance investments in the care and early development of our children by providing more funding for the childcare sector, introducing measures to raise teacher quality and curriculum standards, and building research capabilities in early childhood development. We plan to facilitate the development of 200 more childcare centres in the next five years, and grow employment opportunities in this sector.

Preparing for older population

Given our rapidly ageing population, we will help individuals prepare for their later years, and assist families to provide care and support to their seniors. More daycare centres and seniors activity centres will be set up over the next five years. We will work with the Ministry of Health to ensure that long-term care services are available to seniors and their caregivers in the community and in their homes. For the large majority of elders who remain healthy in mind and body, they should have the opportunity to lead active, purposeful, and socially connected lives. The Council for Third Age will continue to champion active ageing.

We will also ensure that vulnerable seniors receive adequate protection. The Mental Capacity Act will come into effect later this year with the setting up of the Office of Public Guardian. We will ensure that the Tribunal for Maintenance of Parents remains an effective deterrent against children who do not support financially needy parents.

MR TEO CHEE HEAN

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence

Security is the bedrock of Singapore's survival and the foundation of a successful and prosperous Singapore. A strong defence gives us the political space to chart our own destiny, and the assurance that our sovereignty and vital interests are secure. In times of difficulties, it gives us the confidence to build a better future for all Singaporeans.

Security challenges do not go away during a recession. The global economic crisis creates new uncertainties that could lead to social and political instability. In today’s inter-connected world, we continue to face a spectrum of threats, including terrorism, piracy, natural disasters, pandemics and others that we have not yet foreseen. The SAF will continue to work closely with home-front agencies to support our national counter-terrorism strategy.

A re-balancing of global power is also underway. While the US remains pre-eminent, the rise of China and India’s economic and political influence has accelerated. These developments will shape our future security environment.

Defence diplomacy

To promote regional security amidst these geopolitical changes, we encourage the development of an open and inclusive regional architecture. With a united and strong ASEAN at the core, countries in the region and beyond can come together to address common security challenges and cooperate for mutual benefit. We will continue to build strong bilateral relationships with friendly countries while also engaging multilaterally at fora such as the Shangri-La Dialogue, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM-Plus initiative.

Steady and prudent investment for a strong SAF

The primary mission of the SAF is to defend Singapore. Our prudent and steady investment in defence provides us with a ready, strong and capable SAF with a full spectrum of capabilities to deter aggression and respond flexibly in peacetime through to full-scale combat operations should the need arise.

The transformation to the 3rd Generation SAF enables us to meet the demands of an increasingly complex security environment. The SAF will continue to take an integrated and networked approach to doctrine development, upgrading and acquisition, operations and planning. New platforms like the Air Force's G-550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft

and F-15SG fighter, the Navy's stealth frigates, and the Army’s Leopard 2A4 tanks will enhance the SAF's ability to see and strike to win the battle. The SAF is also restructuring to be more mission effective and resource efficient in meeting the security challenges. The new Maritime Security Task Force will promote national coordination and international cooperation to secure our waters and sea lanes.

MINDEF will continue to invest in research and development to harness cutting-edge technology especially in the areas of information networks, unmanned platforms and precision weapons to support the transformation of the SAF.

People

People are the decisive edge of the SAF. We must continue to attract and retain, develop and deploy able and committed people for the defence of Singapore. We are enhancing the SAF military career schemes to better address the operational needs of the 3rd Generation SAF, as well as the changing profile and aspirations of our servicemen and young Singaporeans. The careers of our combat military officers will be extended from age 45 today to 50, so that they have more time to acquire the necessary knowledge and experience to operate in a more complex environment, and can contribute to the SAF longer. We will enhance the career proposition for our warrant officers and provide more opportunities for academic upgrading. We will introduce a new SAF uniformed scheme, called the Military Domain Experts Scheme, to develop deep military expertise in technical, engineering, intelligence and other specialised areas. This scheme will provide a career up to age 60, with extensive professional upgrading opportunities. These changes will be implemented in the first quarter of 2010.

International contributions

Singapore is committed to doing its part in international security operations. Our deployments to the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Iraq since 2001 have now drawn to an end. We have also contributed to the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan since 2007. We currently have a 6-man construction engineering team and a 20-man medical team deployed there. We will continue to support this effort. The deployment of a KC-135 tanker refuelling aircraft and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle task group is being considered. These operations are not without risk. Improvised explosive devices and rocket attacks are commonplace in Afghanistan. To mitigate the risks we make sure that our servicemen are well prepared with equipment and training.

To show our support for international efforts to counter-piracy, the SAF has deployed a Landing Ship Tank with two Super Puma helicopters in the Gulf of Aden. In our region, we will continue to work with our neighbours on the security of the Strait of Malacca through the Malacca Strait Patrols.

Commitment to Defence

Ultimately, our security depends on the collective commitment and resilience of every Singaporean. With MINDEF's Total Defence campaigns over the last 25 years, Singaporeans have internalised that the defence of Singapore is everyone's responsibility and they can play their part. MINDEF will continue to engage all Singaporeans to strengthen their personal commitment to the defence of our country through their participation in various Total Defence activities and programmes.

National Service remains the backbone of the SAF, and maintaining the motivation and morale of our National Servicemen remains a key priority. MINDEF will continue to recognise the contributions of our National Servicemen, their family members and employers, and work on enhancing their commitment to the defence of Singapore. We have just convened RECORD V, which builds on the work done by the past four committees, to recommend further ways to recognise the contributions of our National Servicemen.

MINDEF draws strength from the steadfast public support for defence, and the feedback of Singaporeans through consultation channels such as ACCORD, RECORD and the National Education Outreach programme. MINDEF will continue to work with Singaporeans to provide a defence which is strong and ready for Singapore.

DR NG ENG HEN

Minister for Education

Education is the best investment that we can make for Singapore’s future. We must build a world class education system that will equip young Singaporeans with the knowledge, skills and values to face the challenges of tomorrow, and to drive Singapore’s next phase of growth. To help our young maximise their potential through education, we must continue to uplift the quality and professionalism of our teaching force.

Preparing our children for life

To prepare young Singaporeans to succeed in a more globalised, complex and interconnected world, our education system must give due emphasis to values education, character development and soft skills training.

MOE will focus our efforts on providing a well-rounded education for all students, and developing their abilities in different areas. For the primary sector, the recommendations of the Primary Education and Implementation (PERI) Committee will guide our efforts in balancing knowledge with skills and values, like the introduction of modular CCAs, and providing the necessary resources (including infrastructure for schools to go single-session) to support quality primary education. At the secondary and pre-university levels, MOE will continue to invest resources to build up more peaks of excellence in the school landscape, to nurture future talents for Singapore. We will also explore establishing new pathways and programmes to better cater to students with different aptitudes, interests, and learning styles.

To give greater impetus to the development of soft skills and talent in non-academic areas, MOE is also exploring the setting up of Centres of Excellence for the arts, music and sports. These teaching academies will complement school-based programmes, and help to bring together expertise and resources to nurture talents in the aesthetics and sports.

Strengthening the higher education sector

Our post-secondary institutions must continue to provide high-quality, market-relevant training for all Singaporeans so as to power Singapore’s next phase of growth. MOE will make strategic investments in the post-secondary sector, to strengthen the quality of education and training provided, and expand opportunities in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), Polytechnics, Junior Colleges and Universities.

ITE will continue to strengthen their provision of practical education and training of skilled manpower, by offering industry-relevant courses. The consolidation of their smaller campuses into three regional colleges will allow them to sharpen their focus, reap synergies, and provide a quality learning environment for their students. MOE will also explore ways to enhance polytechnic upgrading opportunities for good ITE graduates.

Our five polytechnics, catering to more than 40% of each cohort, form the core of Singapore’s post-secondary education system. To improve the quality of polytechnic education, and cater to the increasing demand for polytechnic places, MOE will make further investments in the polytechnics to ensure that students can learn in a high quality educational environment and benefit from industry-relevant, cutting-edge courses. Our polytechnics, with their focus on applied and practice-oriented education, prepare their graduates well to contribute in the workforce. Polytechnic graduates are also attuned to the need to upgrade themselves to stay abreast of latest technologies and knowledge in the workplace. To facilitate this, the Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institutes (Poly-FSI) programme will be expanded to enable more polytechnic graduates to obtain industry-relevant and reputable degrees. The Poly-FSI programme and the establishment of the New University will help achieve the 30% university cohort participation rate by 2015.

The New University which will partner with a leading university from both the US and China, as well as the Poly-FSI programme, will inject further value and diversity into our tertiary landscape. MOE will also work with the Ministry of Health to study options to meet our medical manpower requirements, including the possibility of establishing another medical school.

Building a world class education service

To invest in our teachers is to invest in our children’s education, since no education system can rise above its teachers. Teacher quality will continue to be a critical factor in determining the quality of education in Singapore.

MOE will work to make the Teaching Service more attractive, and position it as a choice profession. We want to recruit and retain quality teachers with strong mastery of content and pedagogy who can deliver a new brand of education for a global economy. More importantly, they must have the passion and commitment to teach. MOE will also uplift the quality of our teachers by exploring ways to deepen the professionalism of the teaching service, catalyse a teacher-driven culture of professional excellence, and build professional capacity within the service. We will continue to make gradual improvements in our student-teacher ratios, and to build up a strong corps of school executive and administrative staff and allied educators. These initiatives will drive improvements and innovation in programming and teaching approaches to inspire and engage students.

Nurturing our next generation is a mission that involves and affects society as a whole. MOE and schools will work in partnership with parents and the community, to build a world class education system that will give young Singaporeans the best future possible.

MR THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM

Minister for Finance

Our fiscal policies aim to see Singapore through the current downturn, while pressing ahead with investments that prepare us to grow in the years ahead and maximise opportunities for every Singaporean. With a more challenging economic environment, we have to make judicious use of our resources to develop new competitive advantages for our economy and ensure the well-being of our citizens.

Sound fiscal policies give decisive advantage

We will maintain the prudent budgetary policies that have served Singapore well and allowed us to build up significant reserves.

We tapped the reserves for the first time in Budget 2009, to enable Singapore to respond decisively to the economic crisis. The justification for this draw on reserves - the unprecedented global situation, and the exceptional and temporary nature of the expenditures to be funded by the reserves - sets a high threshold for any future draw on the reserves.

We must ensure that the Government continues to spend within its means, so as to achieve a balanced budget over the medium term. Expenditures will grow in coming years, as we respond to a more competitive global environment and the needs of an ageing population. Government expenditures are likely to increase from 15% of GDP to about 17% to 19% of GDP over the next five to 10 years. This is why we have strengthened our revenue structure, by raising the GST to 7% from 2007 and implementing a new framework for spending out of Net Investment Returns (NIR) from 2009. The additional revenues have already enabled major new initiatives, such as Workfare for lower-income workers, and investments in life-long learning.

The Government will hold to a framework that enables GIC and Temasek to invest in diversified portfolios aimed at achieving long-term returns. This remains the best way to sustain the growth of our reserves over the long term, and to provide a continued stream of revenues for the Budget.

Cost-effectiveness must however remain a key priority in all Government spending. Our best-sourcing and cut-waste efforts, value management of major projects, smart procurement practices and ex-post value for money reviews will contribute to this. We will also seek to make more efficient use of land and buildings and improve cash management in statutory boards.

Preparing to seize new opportunities

We are using our fiscal strength to mitigate the impact of the global downturn on Singapore. But we are also stepping up investments to transform Singapore into a high-capability economy, and a global city that stands out for its liveability. We will invest in a significantly expanded transport network, downtown features, waterways and parks that make Singapore a distinctive home. Further, we will intensify our push into R&D, enhance efforts to commercialise research output, and make innovation more pervasive across the economy.

We will keep taxes competitive to encourage enterprises of all sorts, and improve tax administration to keep compliance costs low. We will also conclude more bilateral agreements for Avoidance of Double Taxation, which allow for exchange of information where there are proper grounds to do so, in keeping with current international norms. Further, to speed up customs clearance of Singapore exports overseas, we will work to conclude mutual recognition agreements on supply chain security with key partner countries. The Companies Act is also being thoroughly reviewed, to ensure an efficient and transparent corporate regulatory framework that supports Singapore's growth as an international hub for both businesses and investors.

Building a secure, cohesive and inclusive society

Besides a competitive economy geared to new opportunities, a key focus of fiscal policy will be to support the Government’s efforts to build an inclusive society and preserve the nation's security.

We will help every citizen keep upgrading himself, by investing heavily in education and skills upgrading, and keeping fees affordable in our publicly-funded educational institutions and workforce training schemes.

We will increase spending to build up our healthcare capabilities. Through the CPF and public housing systems, we are also better preparing citizens for their retirement and healthcare needs as the population ages. In addition, more resources will be devoted to helping families raise the next generation of Singaporeans.

We will ensure effective social safety nets, founded on the principle of self-reliance, for Singaporeans who need additional help. To complement these Government schemes, we will encourage and incentivise charitable giving and philanthropy. The Singapore Totalisator Board will itself be enhancing its contributions to the community for worthy causes.

A whole-of-Government approach

We will push ahead with integrating and coordinating Government services to provide maximum value and convenience to citizens and businesses. New internet technologies will allow for further improvements and enhance citizen engagement in this regard. We will also forge closer partnerships with the private sector to develop and test-bed innovative solutions in public sector services.

The Singapore Public Service Annual Report (SPAR), to be released annually from next year, will track whole-of-Government efforts to achieve strategic outcomes for Singapore in the face of increasingly complex and intertwined challenges, and identify areas for improvement.

MR GEORGE YEO YONG-BOON

Minister for Foreign Affairs

The global situation is changing dramatically. Some countries will respond better than others to the global economic crisis. When the world recovers, we are likely to see a more clearly defined multi-polar world with a significant shift of power from the West to the East. The US will no longer be the sole superpower but will remain the leading power in the world for the foreseeable future. Singapore must adjust to an evolving new configuration.

Singapore's foreign policy priorities

The strategic importance of ASEAN to Singapore will however remain unchanged. With the re-emergence of China and India on the global stage, we need a strong ASEAN to keep the peace in our region, enhance our competitiveness, create more opportunities for development and manage big power rivalry. The ASEAN Charter and the three Community Blueprints (political/security, economic and social/cultural) will help us establish an ASEAN Community by 2015. As an ardent supporter of ASEAN, we will work with the other member countries to achieve this goal. With ASEAN at the core, we will strengthen our relations to all the major powers through ASEAN's dialogue partnerships, ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN-Mercosur (a trade grouping comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), ASEAN-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED) and Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

Good relations with our closest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, are essential. We will continue to strengthen bilateral relations comprehensively on the basis of mutual benefit and mutual respect. We will pay particular attention to cooperation in Iskander Malaysia and the Free Trade Zones in Batam, Bintan and Karimun.

APEC is the premier regional organisation bringing economies on the two sides of the Pacific Ocean together especially the US and China. Singapore will work hard to discharge its responsibility as the Chair of APEC this year which is also APEC's 20th anniversary. We will host the APEC Leaders Summit this November. Our key objective is to work with the other members to promote economic cooperation and resist protectionism in the face of the global economic downturn.

Singapore will push for even better relations with the US, Japan, the European Union and other developed countries which are important sources of knowledge and investment

for us. We will also develop further our links to China, India, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America which provide new and growing opportunities. Through bilateral and regional FTAs, we will help to create more and better jobs for Singaporeans. As an economy which is completely dependent on the global trading system, we have a strong interest in seeing the Doha Development Agenda concluded early. We also have an abiding interest in the reform of global institutions including the UN, IMF and the World Bank. We support better international financial regulation and a global bargain on climate change.

Singapore will continue to provide technical assistance to developing countries helping them develop capabilities in areas like urban planning and development, port management, information technology, health and macroeconomic management. As a responsible global citizen, Singapore is committed to assisting developing countries in human resource development, sustainable development and the attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Supporting Singaporeans abroad

MFA will continue to provide prompt and effective consular assistance to Singaporeans in distress overseas, as we did, for example, during Cyclone Nargis, the Sichuan earthquake, the airport shutdown in Bangkok, and the Mumbai hostage crisis. As more Singaporeans travel abroad, we expect the number seeking assistance overseas to increase. MFA is expanding our capabilities, adopting a whole-of-Government approach.

We will have to be alert to stay ahead in a fast-changing environment. While there are new opportunities to seize, there are also new dangers to avoid. If we position ourselves well, once we get through the current economic crisis, Singaporeans will benefit greatly from the rise of Asia in this century. To achieve this, we need peace in the region and as many friends as possible in the world.

MR KHAW BOON WAN

Minister for Health

Our mission is to help Singaporeans live well, live long and with peace of mind. We promote preventive healthcare and champion an active, healthy lifestyle among Singaporeans.

Our healthcare system is universally accessible and of high standard. It is affordable because of the 3Ms framework: Medisave, MediShield and Medifund, plus Government subsidies.

Helping Singaporean stay healthy

Effective healthcare starts with prevention. We formulate and implement preventive programmes in schools, workplaces and the community, including wellness programmes

for the elderly. We put priority on health screening and follow-up corrective programmes, especially those tackling smoking and obesity.

We will continue to subsidise immunisations that are clinically recommended for population-wide protection. Our National Integrated Screening Programme will be expanded to cover more conditions, including colorectal cancer. We will develop better functional assessment tests to help seniors detect potential problems early, when intervention is most effective.

We will strengthen capabilities of family physicians, especially in chronic disease management, mental health, palliative and home medical care, and provide support through organising shared services to reduce their operating costs. We will promote best practice guidelines for family physicians and in our polyclinics.

We will continue to improve the management of common chronic diseases, to prevent them from developing into more serious illnesses. Medisave will be extended beyond the six chronic diseases, to include outpatient treatment of schizophrenia and major depression.

We remain vigilant to the threat of infectious disease outbreaks and will work closely with the World Health Organization and neighbouring countries to keep this region safe. We will continue efforts to control communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV.

Preparing for "Silver Tsunami"

As our population ages, we need to strengthen the long-term care sector to help meet the healthcare needs of our seniors. We need to ensure that Intermediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC) - which includes community hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, home care - is adequately funded and provided well.

We will develop, akin to the 3Ms, a 3Es (Eldersave, ElderShield and Elderfund) framework to help meet needs for ILTC. Medifund Silver plays the role of Elderfund, and we will grow it whenever the budget position allows. Basic ElderShield and ElderShield Supplements have been launched and we will expand these to provide greater coverage for those who are willing to pay more. We will look into ways to build up Medisave to play the additional role of Eldersave and help young and working Singaporeans set aside sufficient savings to meet their healthcare needs when they grow old. We will increase our subventions to ILTC providers to help them meet growing patient needs.

Enhancing capabilities and capacity for ILTC

We will enhance ILTC capacity and capabilities. We will facilitate expansion of ILTC services, including releasing land for new providers and building new community hospitals in Yishun and Jurong by 2016. We will work with private and Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) to expand nursing home capacity from 9,200 to 14,000 beds over the next decade. We expect to build five new nursing homes in the next two years, including one catering to the special needs of psychiatric patients.

MOH will step up manpower training to improve ILTC and support the professional development of staff in the VWO sector. We will also build up capabilities on end-of-life

care and expand the pool of palliative care specialists. We will work with partners on education and awareness so that Singaporeans can make more informed decisions about end-of-life care.

Transforming healthcare delivery

We are expanding public healthcare infrastructure to meet growing needs. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital will open next year. We are planning to open a new general hospital in Jurong by 2014. Beds are being added in existing hospitals. Major facilities being developed include the National Heart Centre, and the Pathology and Research Centre at Outram; the second Heart Centre and the Cancer Centre at Kent Ridge; and a new Communicable Disease Centre in Novena. We also plan to expand the NUHS Dental Centre and build new capabilities in geriatrics and rehabilitation.

Manpower expansion must precede infrastructure expansion. We are stepping up the recruitment and training of 4,500 doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, administrative and other staff. We will improve the way we work, with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver effective care, including new roles for Advanced Practice Nurses, Nurse Educators and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). We will also strengthen the training and deployment of healthcare staff in the public sector.

MOH and MOE will study the need to expand local training of healthcare professionals, including the setting up of a third medical school and a degree programme for AHPs. We will provide scholarships for scarce skillsets, such as clinical psychology, biostatistics, bioinformatics and healthcare management. We will also continue to recruit suitable foreign healthcare professionals to augment the local manpower pool.

Facilitating integrated care

We will facilitate integration of care services so that patients can be cared for at the most appropriate settings. Otherwise patients may end up in the inappropriate acute setting, and incur unnecessarily higher costs. We will expand the Agency for Integrated Care to facilitate this and advise patients on options. We are developing a National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) system, so that patient medical information can be shared across healthcare providers nationwide. The NEHR will be supported by legislation with robust safeguards to ensure patient confidentiality.

Pursuing medical excellence

We will continue to invest in clinical and translational research. Outram and Kent Ridge Campuses will transform into academic health sciences centres and translate research into better and more cost-effective treatment. We will redevelop the Communicable Disease Centre, as the current H1N1 outbreak has reaffirmed the need for strong capabilities in infectious diseases research and treatment. We will grow new capabilities through upgrading, and set up new specialty centres of excellence when needed.

We will regularly review and enhance our healthcare regulatory framework, to ensure that it remains robust and relevant. MOH and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will work actively with partners to build up surveillance, investigation and enforcement capabilities. These efforts will help to maintain continued trust and excellence in Singapore’s healthcare system.

MR WONG KAN SENG

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs

Safety and security are key pillars of Singapore's success. They provide the stability that underpins our economic development and the order that ensures our social and communal harmony. How we achieve safety and security will change over time as our operating realities and society change.

The operating environment today is complex and challenging. Our society has grown more diverse as new citizens and foreign residents augment our population and workforce. Today, we also have a younger adult generation of citizens with different Singaporean life experiences from the generations before them. These developments have an impact on our values which in turn are potentially significant to the continued efficacy of the Home Team (HT). The HT’s success has in no small measure depended on strong public support for law and order. For example, it would not be possible to heighten our vigilance against terrorism effectively if not for the support and cooperation by Singaporeans with the security measures put in place at our checkpoints despite the inconveniences.

Technology has also changed social realities everywhere. Even as cyberspace makes a globally connected public a fact of modern life, it also brings new security and societal challenges. In cyberspace, all national borders are porous. With the good of a liberalised exchange in ideas comes the bane of increasing trans-national crime and the export of extremist ideologies. With the empowerment of the individual through social networking and autonomous collaborative action also comes the facilitation of criminals, terrorists and extremists. The challenge for society is how we harness the good that comes with cyberspace and new technologies while dealing effectively with the bad, by remaining committed to the values and fundamentals which have made Singapore what it is today.

Developing the Home Team for the future

On its part, the HT will strengthen its professional capabilities to address increasingly sophisticated and demanding challenges. We will increase our manpower even as we continue to harness technology to cater for the increased volume and complexity of demand. Over the next year or two, we target to recruit 1,500 more HT Officers into HT Departments, including the Singapore Police Force and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

We will explore new and creative options to recruit and retain talent, offering such individuals career possibilities across the entire HT family of departments regardless of the department they might have joined in the first instance. Even within each department, we will develop specialist schemes to significantly enhance the range and depth of domain specialisation.

We will strengthen our legal regime to support the HT. For instance, to address trans-national and criminal organisations, MHA is studying how overseas jurisdictions deal with organised crime, with a view to introducing legislation. MHA will also strengthen the legal

regime and put in place more comprehensive measures to deal with the persistent loanshark menace. Apart from the foot-soldiers of such syndicates who vandalise and harass, we will also look at measures against the syndicate bosses who profit from and the borrowers who feed the loanshark industry.

To maximise our resources and use officers appropriately for the jobs they have been trained to do, we will review and distinguish between the core and non-core professional functions of the HT in achieving its mission to keep Singapore safe and secure. There will be scope for more outsourcing of less critical functions to private-sector partners. The SCDF has for instance already begun the process of partnering the private sector in the delivery of its ambulance services. Functions that were historically parked with HT agencies for practical convenience at a time when the appropriate public authorities were new and had limited operational resources, will be restored to these agencies.

Strengthening community-based solutions

MHA will work with relevant agencies in and outside Government to develop community-based solutions to community-related problems. As individuals enjoy greater autonomy, they must also accept greater responsibility for their actions. Problems arising from anti-social behaviour, for instance, should be resolved through community-based conflict resolution and mediation arrangements. Differences should be mediated within their communities, and solutions arrived at should be accepted as authoritative. Police will begin by referring disputes between neighbours to the Community Mediation Centres (CMC) for mediation by trained professionals. MHA will also explore with the community more streamlined and structured processes for dealing with the growing number and diversity of issues arising on the ground to ensure that Police resources are deployed effectively and efficiently.

We will need to also invest in and develop community-based structures for the supervision of offenders as we move towards more community-based sentencing options. Even as the Singapore Prisons Service continues to develop its rehabilitative expertise and keep our recidivism rates among the lowest in the world, we need to pay attention to specific categories or groups which have higher re-offending rates. Youth offenders, especially those with gang affiliations, are one such category.

Existing partnerships with the community remain vital and will be nurtured. No amount of home team resources deployed will be as effective as four million pairs of vigilant eyes. Police will continue to work closely with various community partners through the Community Safety and Security Programmes (CSSP), the Safety and Security Watch Group (SSWG) scheme and other related schemes.

The Community Engagement Programme (CEP) carries significant value in the face of rapid change and increasing diversity. The CEP must be sustained and its reach broadened - its activities not only develop preparedness and community resilience but also socialise the younger generations, new citizens and residents to share the values on communal harmony and social cohesion. We will need to revitalise old routes and explore new routes for public engagement to strengthen integration within our society. The CEP as well as other Home Team community programmes to keep Singapore safe and secure for our people and their families are valuable engagement platforms in this regard.

The Home Team will continue to expand its capabilities, and grow its community partnership. The safe and secure Singapore we enjoy today would not have been possible without public trust and support for the Home Team and its mission. The Home Team must ensure that this vital social capital is not lost, and the Home Team’s positive relationship with the public is strengthened rather than eroded over time in the face of changes in the social and operating landscape.

RADM LUI TUCK YEW

Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts

MICA is committed to making Singapore the best home for Singaporeans and those who choose Singapore as their home, where our quality of life in a vibrant global city is enriched by arts, heritage and learning. Besides providing the cultural ballast that fosters a united and rooted society, MICA will continue to spearhead the development of new career and business opportunities in the creative and infocomm technology sectors.

A vibrant global city

We will continue to raise the visibility of Singapore's arts and culture internationally through performing, visual and literary arts festivals, residency and exchange programmes, and travelling exhibitions from our national museums. At home, we will develop world-class cultural infrastructure for artistic creation and the enjoyment of Singaporeans. The Arts Housing Scheme will be enhanced to provide more spaces for artistic collaboration, and to develop clusters for the arts community to interact and realise new ideas and projects. The Civic District, anchored by the iconic National Art Gallery, will be revitalised as a must-go destination for arts and culture in Asia with distinctive, world-class institutions and events. The Bras Basah-Bugis precinct will be developed as a dynamic hothouse of young talents and cutting edge ideas.

Through acquisitions and donations, MICA will grow the National Collection of artworks and artefacts as our national patrimony for the appreciation and enrichment of all Singaporeans. Between 2003 and 2008, we received $149 million worth of artefacts and in-kind donations. Going forward, we will encourage individuals and organisations to donate their collections for the public's enjoyment in special exhibitions and dedicated galleries.

Despite the economic downturn, MICA will continue to invest in the creative minds and skills of our people. We will upgrade our libraries to provide Singaporeans with lifelong access to learning resources and opportunities. The National Library Board (NLB) will open a new library in Clementi and relocate the Orchard library to the new Specialist Shopping Centre. NLB will also develop a repository of Singapore’s digital content that Singaporeans can access on-the-go through their mobile devices.

MICA will do more to facilitate easier access and encourage greater involvement in our shared heritage, even in cyberspace. The National Heritage Board will launch a Cyber

Museum in 2010 and invite users to virtually "curate" their own exhibitions based on the artworks and artefacts from our national collection. The Community Heritage Trails will be expanded and brought online to encourage people to share social memories and build communities by creating their own trails.

The media landscape has changed dramatically since the last Censorship Review Committee was convened in 2002, with the Internet and new media providing diverse sources and modes of content for Singaporeans. Government will reconvene the Censorship Review Committee to undertake a mid-term review and make recommendations on updating our content regulations and policies to give our citizens more choices in content without compromising Singapore’s racial harmony, social cohesion and strong family values.

New economic opportunities

MICA will continue to develop the creative industries and infocomm sector to contribute to the growth of Singapore and make Singapore a city of opportunities for enterprises and services. We will continue to sharpen our focus on capability development efforts such as the Techno-Strategist programme by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to deepen infocomm professionals’ domain knowledge of key growth sectors, Media Training and Attachment by the Media Development Authority, and DesignStudios by DesignSingapore Council. These initiatives will better prepare our workforce to exploit future opportunities. By providing advanced infocomm and media infrastructure, and nurturing innovation and growth of local companies, we will strengthen Singapore's overall competitiveness.

The rollout of the Next Generation National Broadband Network (NGNBN) will enhance business competitiveness and help us to exploit emerging growth opportunities. For companies to fully leverage on the potential of NGNBN to transform business processes and deliver innovative services, MICA will facilitate the adoption of emerging trends such as cloud and grid computing, develop next-generation data centres, and establish a neutral platform for the efficient exchange of internet traffic. IDA will support private enterprises in the creation of new services such as the Digital Concierge, which will enable local and foreign mobile users to access information and services in Singapore anywhere and anytime. Consumers can expect a wide range of services over ultra-fast broadband at attractive prices.

Finally, through the Singapore Media Fusion Plan (SMFP), MICA, with our public and private sector partners, will build a vibrant media ecosystem for our companies to create attractive content, media applications and services for the local and international markets. The focus on digital media technologies and transition to digital broadcasting will enable Singapore to keep pace with global developments, invigorate the local media space and allow consumers to enjoy higher quality content and interactive TV features. To complement the SMFP’s investment in software, MICA will work closely with the private sector to develop cutting-edge specialised infrastructure at Mediapolis@one-north.

MR K SHANMUGAM

Minister for Law

We will strengthen Singapore's legal infrastructure in support of Singapore's social and economic progress. We will also optimise the management of state land; and promote a conducive climate for the creation and protection of intellectual property in support of our knowledge-based economy.

Legal

We will work closely with the Attorney-General's Chambers to continue improving our legal infrastructure, ensuring a modern and robust framework of laws.

We will continue to introduce changes in our criminal justice system and processes, to secure fair and transparent outcomes. To this end, we will review our Criminal Procedure Code and provisions.

We will improve the quality and depth of legal services in Singapore to support the development of key economic sectors. We will also capitalize on the increasing amount of cross-border legal work to promote the legal services sector as an engine of growth. We had liberalised the legal services sector with the introduction of the Qualifying Foreign Law Practice Scheme. We will review the Scheme's implementation with a view to further liberalising the legal services sector.

We will continue to actively promote Singapore as a venue of choice for international arbitration in the Asian region, an area which has large potential for growth. We have secured the commitment of world-class arbitration institutions to conduct work in Maxwell Chambers, a dedicated facility for arbitration. We will continue to work with local and foreign institutions and law firms to attract more international arbitration work to Singapore.

We will put in place a robust framework to ensure that enough lawyers of the requisite calibre are admitted to the Singapore Bar to meet the demand for legal services in Singapore. We will revamp the criteria for admission to the Singapore Bar and training requirements to allow for a more holistic and meaningful system of post-graduate professional training for local and overseas law graduates seeking to practise Singapore law.

We will promote Singapore as a regional hub for legal education. We will work with local universities to expand both undergraduate and graduate legal education programmes. Together with stakeholders in the legal community, we will introduce a programme for mandatory continuing legal education. We will establish a new institution to co-ordinate, administer and oversee all these initiatives relating to legal education and training.

We will ensure that legal aid remains available and accessible to the needy and deserving. We will review the Legal Aid and Advice Act to refine the framework for provision of legal aid. We will work with the Law Society to encourage and facilitate pro bono activities that complement our legal aid and assistance schemes.

We have introduced the Debt Repayment Scheme to help individuals with lower levels of debt avoid bankruptcy. We will carefully balance the interests of debtors and creditors, and introduce any necessary refinements to the Scheme to ensure that it is fair and effective. We will also review corporate insolvency provisions to improve the options available to companies in financial difficulty, and work towards the introduction of omnibus insolvency legislation for both individuals and companies.

We will promote the use of mediation to resolve community disputes. We will introduce legislative changes to further strengthen the use of mediation. We will increase public awareness of the advantages and workings of the mediation process, and encourage youths to be open to amicable dispute resolution. We will introduce training to equip community mediators with advanced skills, and maintain the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of the community.

Land

We will review our legislative framework and policies to ensure optimal use of Singapore's scarce land resources. We will manage State land and properties to enhance their value and make them available to the public and business users. We will also leverage on new technologies to enhance the delivery of land administration, registration and surveying services.

We will work with other Government agencies to develop a national spatial data infrastructure. The infrastructure will allow greater sharing of and access to geospatial data for both the Government agencies and the private sector. This will not only reduce duplication of effort and improve efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector; it will also offer potential for new business opportunities.

Intellectual Property (IP)

In support of our development as a knowledge-based economy, we will review and strengthen our IP legislation and regime, attract relevant IP services firms and encourage the development of skilled IP professionals. We will promote awareness of IP in the business community, especially among small and medium enterprises, to encourage the appropriate protection and exploitation of their intellectual assets.

We will monitor how other countries implement arrangements to process patent applications more expeditiously, to facilitate the protection of the interests of overseas businesses. We will also support and nurture Singapore’s standing as a centre of excellence for IP education and training.

MR GAN KIM YONG

Minister for Manpower

MOM will focus on developing a globally competitive workforce that is better skilled, more resilient and more productive. We will build workplaces with leading standards in workplace safety and health, and human capital management practices. We will strengthen further our unique brand of tripartism and make Singapore an even more attractive place for talent, businesses and investments. Through Workfare and the CPF system, our people will benefit from the fruits of economic growth and build up savings for a more secure retirement. Singapore will be a global city where our people can benefit from growth in Asia and in the world and build good careers.

Developing a globally competitive workforce

We will develop a highly productive workforce that is adaptable and flexible. The skills of our workforce will be a key competitive advantage. The Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) aims to upgrade the skills of our workforce during this downturn and build capability for the long term.

To achieve this, we will continue to strengthen our CET system. We will expand our national CET infrastructure of CET Centres and National CET Institutes, and strengthen recognition of our CET qualifications by employers and workers. We will provide more CET opportunities at all levels, from certificate to degree and postgraduate qualifications. We will establish and deepen a core skills base of local workers in key industries as an important competitive advantage, and entrench the mindset of lifelong learning.

We must step up our efforts to raise productivity and encourage our enterprises to innovate. This will ensure sustainable economic growth in the long term.

Foreigners complement our local workforce, enabling us to grow beyond our constraints. However, we need to continuously calibrate the balance between foreign and local workforce to ensure it is sustainable in the long run. As we raise the skills and productivity of our local workforce, we must also improve the quality of our foreign workforce by ensuring that those who are coming here are better qualified and better skilled.

We will do more to position Singapore as a home for talent, both local and foreign, with a compelling proposition of fulfilling career opportunities and high quality of life.

Enhancing income security and lifelong employability

With our ageing population and increasing life expectancies, we will implement measures to enable Singaporeans to work longer and build up their savings for their retirement needs. We will enact re-employment legislation by 2012. We will implement CPF LIFE starting from 2009 to provide CPF members with an income for life.

To ensure that low-wage workers also benefit from the nation's progress, we will continue to help them through Workfare. We will encourage them to work and provide them with the opportunities and resources to upgrade their skills, so that they can progress to better jobs. To assist low-wage workers during the current economic downturn, we have implemented the one-off Workfare Special Payment this year. We will review the Workfare Income Supplement scheme in 2010.

We will step up enforcement and promotional efforts to ensure that basic employment rights, CPF contributions and workers' well-being are respected.

Building globally leading workplaces

The resilience and productivity of our workforce will also depend on the quality of our workplaces. Moving forward, we will further develop our workplaces to become an important competitive strength for Singapore. We aim to establish Singapore as a globally attractive business location with harmonious labour relations, good employment practices and human capital management, high standards of workplace safety and health as well as a well-managed foreign workforce. These attributes will attract and anchor more investments and talent in Singapore.

The character and profile of our workforce will continue to evolve over time, with increasingly diverse and better quality workers. We should harness the strengths of this diversity. MOM will work towards building a cohesive and integrated work community that brings out the best in all workers and facilitate their working together as one harmonious community.

MR MAH BOW TAN

Minister for National Development

MND's vision is to make Singapore an endearing home and a distinctive global city. As we help Singaporeans tide over the current economic uncertainty, we will press on with our long-term plans to make Singapore an attractive and highly liveable city, characterized by its vibrancy, greenery and sustainability.

Tackling the economic crisis

Public housing will remain a key pillar of our social security system. For HDB households affected by the economic downturn, we will assist them in managing their immediate mortgage repayments and in working out longer term, sustainable solutions, such as switching to smaller flats. We will increase the supply of new 2-room and 3-room flats. We will also increase the supply of rental flats and safeguard them for those who are unable to own a flat and have no alternative housing options.

MND will continue to monitor the property and construction markets and if necessary, adopt additional measures to support their efficient functioning and stability. MND will

also put in place measures to build up the capabilities and productivity of our construction firms. For example, we will redesign jobs, step up the training effort and make construction an attractive career option for Singaporeans.

An endearing home, an asset for retirement

For most of us, the HDB flat is where we grow up, raise our children and enjoy our silver years. It provides us a tangible stake in our country. At the same time, it is an asset which can provide for our retirement. We will strengthen housing support for families, while encouraging prudence and financial adequacy. We will continue to build a range of flats to meet the varying budgets of households. To help young families buy and keep their flats, we have increased the Additional Housing Grant quantum and expanded the Scheme to benefit more families. We will continue to review our housing subsidy framework so that it is equitable and targeted.

To enhance the living environment, we will invest another $5 billion on HDB estate and flat upgrading. We will expand the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme to cover other towns, beyond Punggol, Yishun, and Dawson. We will complete the Lift Upgrading Programme for all eligible blocks by 2014. We will also accelerate the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP).

To meet the needs of an ageing population, we will continue to offer options for senior citizens to monetise their flats. Some of these will allow the elderly to continue living in their flats in familiar surroundings, among their friends. For example, we will raise the awareness of the newly introduced Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) among eligible lessees and will consider expanding it to other groups. We will also step up the construction of Studio Apartments.

My New Singapore

Singapore is fast transforming itself into an exciting and modern metropolis. We will soon see a new iconic skyline at Marina Bay. The Integrated Resort, Art Park, Business and Financial Centre, and a new waterfront promenade will be progressively completed by 2010. Beyond Marina Bay, we will invest in infrastructure to support new regional growth areas at Jurong Lake District, Kallang Riverside and Paya Lebar.

Singaporeans can look forward to more leisure and recreation options. We will complete the first phase of the Gardens by the Bay by 2011. We will triple our park connector network to 300 km over the next five-10 years and join it up to form a continuous loop around the island. There will be new scenic walks along our coast, such as the Punggol Coastal Promenade and Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk. There will be new tourism attractions, such as a new River Safari at Mandai, and the Integrated Resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa.

MND will implement a programme called "My New Singapore" to encourage Singaporeans to rediscover Singapore, through a series of events and activities as well as organised visits to the various new developments and leisure destinations.

We will commence the Concept Plan 2011 exercise this year to draw up long-term plans for Singapore. This comprehensive planning exercise ensures that we will set aside

sufficient land and develop adequate infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing economy and population, whilst maintaining a high standard of living for Singaporeans.

At the same time, we will invest in new efforts to make future growth more sustainable. For example, MND will intensify efforts to promote the adoption of energy efficient technologies in buildings. MND will also embark on a large-scale solar test-bed within HDB estates.

To support the high quality living environment, MND will ensure that we maintain high food safety standards and supply resilience. We will continue to strengthen our food supply diversification efforts, such as supporting our companies in investing in agriculture businesses overseas. We will also maintain a high level of vigilance against the introduction of Avian Influenza and other food-borne diseases.

DR YAACOB IBRAHIM

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources

The clean and green environment that Singaporeans enjoy today is the result of careful, coordinated and consistent policies over many years. Our high-quality living environment will always be our pride and joy. It is also key to attracting international friends, investors and global talent.

Our vision is to create a Sustainable Singapore where we use our limited resources efficiently and innovatively; pro-actively develop capabilities to deal with emerging challenges; uphold our high quality of life; and foster shared ownership of the environment.

Boosting resource efficiency

Our environment will remain an integral part of Singapore's growth. We will step up efforts to use energy and water more efficiently; to recycle more and waste less. Doing so will not only see us play our role in the global issue of climate change, but will also help us reduce costs, improve our energy security, and enhance our economic competitiveness.

The robust and sustainable water supply we have developed will meet our long-term needs. To manage demand, we will sustain our efforts in water conservation through public education and working with community and businesses.

High quality living environment

The Active, Beautiful, and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme will transform our reservoirs and waterways into new and aesthetically pleasing community spaces. We will expand this programme to more water bodies, adding vibrancy to the living environment and enhancing the quality of life.

We will guard our air quality. We will control pollution from industry and vehicles to ensure that Singapore's air quality remains among the best in Asia, and comparable with major cities around the world.

To uphold high standards of public health, we will ensure good hygiene at food establishments and step up efforts to keep public premises litter-free. We will continue with surveillance, research and community engagement efforts to reduce mosquito breeding and lower the incidence of vector-borne diseases.

Building environment capabilities

Technology and innovation will help us meet new and emerging environmental challenges. We will invest in new capabilities to reduce waste and control pollution to add to existing expertise in clean water and energy. As environment and water issues come to the fore on the global agenda, such capabilities can help us position Singapore as a global hub for environment and water solutions, providing economic opportunities and jobs for Singaporeans and helping humanity beyond Singapore.

Fostering community action

Building a sustainable living environment requires the support of the community. We will reinforce our close partnerships with the People, Private and Public (3P) sectors to strengthen shared ownership of our environment. We will advance the environmental agenda by reaching out to promote exemplary behaviour and best practices.

Together, we will make Singapore a city that is vibrant and environmentally sustainable - a Singapore which we and future generations will cherish and are proud to call Our Home.

MR LIM HNG KIANG

Minister for Trade and Industry

We will foster economic growth, to help create good jobs and support rising incomes for Singaporeans. We will strengthen the economy to ride out the difficult global economic environment, and gear up to seize new growth opportunities in the post-crisis landscape. Our vision remains: Singapore as a leading global city in the heart of Asia, where talent and enterprise can grow and succeed.

Weathering the crisis

The world is facing an extraordinary economic crisis, and Singapore has been adversely affected. We will help viable businesses weather the economic downturn, by facilitating access to financing and alleviating business costs. We will work with industry associations and companies to identify and address key pressure points.

We will ensure that Singapore's economic fundamentals remain sound. Investors continue to have confidence in Singapore despite the current downturn. We have the

resources to ride out the global economic crisis and continue to strengthen the capabilities of our companies and improve the skills of our workers to prepare for the upturn.

Strengthening our companies, investing in our workers

We have a diversified economy. Through the years, companies based in Singapore have moved up the value chain through innovation and upgrading, and are able to generate new products and services. We have seeded new growth areas such as Biomedical Sciences, Clean Technology, Interactive Digital Media, and Water and Environment Technologies.

SPRING will work with SMEs to raise their productivity by deepening their corporate capabilities in branding, design, service excellence, customer-centric initiatives and technological innovation. IE Singapore will help companies strengthen their export capabilities. EDB will facilitate companies to conduct more R&D, develop new capabilities, and test new products and services here in Singapore. A*STAR will strengthen the connections between our research organisations and industry, so that our companies can leverage on the latest technologies to create new products and services.

We will invest even more in our workers. As companies respond to new demands, we will re-skill our workers with the necessary proficiencies and skills to meet the talent demands of our enterprises.

Expanding our markets, extending our networks

We will continue to reach out to new markets overseas, and deepen our presence in existing markets.

We remain committed to free and open trade, as protectionist measures hurt consumers and businesses and hinder economic recovery and growth. We have intensified efforts toward an ASEAN Economic Community that will open up opportunities to businesses and consumers as trade, services, and investment flows increase in our region. Through ASEAN, APEC, and other regional fora, we will continue working to enhance regional economic integration, deepen economic linkages, and keep trade and investments flowing across borders.

We will continue to build on our strong network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to enhance existing linkages as well as develop new ones. We will step up efforts to assist companies to utilise these FTAs to enhance their access to overseas markets.

We will step up efforts to help our companies expand in key markets such as China, India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. We will enhance efforts to engage and understand emerging markets with potential, such as in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Home for business, home for talent

Even in the midst of the global crisis, Singapore remains open for business. We offer a first-class business environment and infrastructure, and a skilled and flexible workforce. We remain committed to ensuring that Singapore is an attractive home for business and talent.

We will continue to review our regulations and remove red tape, making it easier, faster and cheaper for businesses to operate in Singapore. The Competition Commission of Singapore will continue to promote competitive markets, which will spur innovation and efficiency in our businesses.

We will continue to invest in our physical infrastructure. JTC Corporation will master-plan sector-specific industrial parks to develop dedicated infrastructure ahead of time to support the growth of our economic clusters. Energy Market Authority will enhance Singapore’s energy security by diversifying into liquefied natural gas; and promote greater retail contestability in our electricity market.

We will continue to build Singapore as a destination of choice. In the next few years, Singapore's tourism landscape will be enhanced with a stream of new offerings, including the Integrated Resorts, Gardens by the Bay and the River Safari. These offerings will engage local residents and foreign visitors with fresh, authentic and unique experiences.

We will embark on a more concerted effort to deepen the capabilities of our companies so that they can compete on the global stage. At the same time, we will encourage more foreign MNCs and high-growth companies to anchor their key functions here, and to work in partnership with Singapore-based companies so that they can be part of the Asian growth story.

Singapore will be a home for talent - a city that welcomes global talents and nurtures home-grown talents to maximise their full potential. Singapore will be the location of choice for scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals and creative individuals - where they exchange ideas, build their careers and homes, and pursue their aspirations.

MR RAYMOND LIM SIANG KEAT

Minister for Transport

We will help Singapore to be a vibrant, global city by strengthening our position as a leading transport and logistics hub. We will also help to create an attractive living environment and meet the diverse transport needs of our people by providing Singaporeans with an integrated, efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable urban transport system.

Singapore as a leading maritime city

We will continue to enhance Singapore's position as a leading maritime city, both as a top hub port, and as a centre for the full range of maritime businesses.

Singapore has been the world’s busiest container port since 2005. We will continue to make timely investments in our port infrastructure to prepare for an even busier port in the future. Despite the current economic downturn, the expansion of Pasir Panjang Terminal is proceeding without delay. Plans to construct a new port operations control centre and to deepen our port approaches are also underway. Singapore-based businesses will continue to enjoy the competitive advantage conferred by the superior international connectivity and service levels of our port.

As an international centre for maritime businesses, Singapore also has a vibrant ecosystem of ship owners and operators, ship managers and brokers, shipping banks, maritime insurers and lawyers, and more. We will continue our industry development efforts and grow Singapore into an even more vibrant focal point where the international maritime community congregates to network and exchange ideas.

Keeping Changi ahead

Although the current economic downturn has badly affected the global aviation industry, we will continue to enhance the competitiveness and dynamism of Singapore as an aviation hub so that we can emerge stronger from this crisis and extend our lead over our competitors.

The corporatisation of Changi Airport will enable us to make a strategic shift from a position of strength. This will ensure that Changi has the flexibility to respond quickly to changes in the industry and that passengers will continue to enjoy the superior Changi Experience that is associated with the airport. The corporate entity will be better able to attract and retain talent, and to pursue overseas ventures and investment opportunities more aggressively. In this way, Changi will continue to enhance Singapore's position as an aviation hub in the years ahead.

We will continue to enhance our air connectivity through a liberal aviation policy so that both Singapore and foreign carriers can expand their network and services at Changi. To tap the potential of the Southeast Asia market, we will push for further air services liberalisation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and her key regional partners such as China and India.

The region has seen an impressive growth of Low Cost Carriers (LCC). We will continue to nurture and help these carriers grow their operations out of Changi Airport, to strengthen our hub connectivity.

Providing a people-centred land transport system

In 2008, we launched the Land Transport Masterplan to guide the development of land transport over the next 10 to 15 years.

Many of the proposals in the Masterplan represent significant changes. They require close partnership with many stakeholders, and heavy investment on the part of the Government, before they can be realised. Despite the current difficult economic conditions, we will continue to take a long-term view, to provide a high-quality and affordable land transport system that meets the diverse needs of our people and contributes to making Singapore a liveable, vibrant global city.

The majority of Singaporeans today make use of public transport as their principal mode of travel. The role of public transport would have to become even more important if we are to meet the transport needs of a growing population and economy within our land constraints while being sensitive to environmental concerns. One strategic thrust of our land transport policy is therefore to develop a public transport system that is an attractive and viable alternative to the car.

In the year since the Masterplan was released, we have made several improvements to the public transport system including higher bus and train frequencies and faster journey times through bus priority measures. We will continue to roll out new initiatives to further improve efficiency and service levels, guided by the central idea of adopting a people-centred approach.

Over the next few years, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will take on the role of a central bus network planner, so that the entire transport infrastructure - bus routes, rail corridors and roads - can be planned as a whole. We will improve the integration of bus and rail systems, so that travel on the public transport system is more seamless. We will continue to invest in our rail network, to serve new areas and further reduce journey times. We will drive service improvements by introducing greater contestability in the bus and rail industry, building more infrastructure and raising service quality standards. In all these initiatives, the overarching principle is to put the commuter at the centre - to focus on commuters’ key priorities such as speed, reliability, convenience, and affordability.

We will continue to invest in expanding the road network, and make use of technology to optimise the capacity of our roads. To ensure that traffic remains smooth, we will continue to refine the various car ownership and usage restraint measures, to encourage Singaporeans to reduce their reliance on cars, and to consider public transport as a choice mode of travel.

We will continue to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of our transport system, to cater to increasingly diverse needs. Our MRT stations and public buses will be elderly- and disabled-friendly. Pedestrian walkways and bus stops will also be upgraded to make it easier for the less-mobile to move around. To improve the pedestrian walking experience, we will have more sheltered walkways as well as more extensive underground pedestrian networks and better connectivity of our transport nodes to nearby buildings, especially in the city. As cycling becomes an increasingly popular mode of transport, we will facilitate cycling, including building more cycling paths where possible.

Our land transport policies will continue to be sensitive to environmental considerations. We will strive for cost-effective measures for cleaner and greener transport, and do our part in reducing air pollutants as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

MR LIM BOON HENG

Minister (Prime Minister's Office) and Minister-in-charge of Ageing Issues

Established in March 2007, the Ministerial Committee on Ageing is committed to achieving the vision of "Successful Ageing for Singapore". The Committee takes a whole-of-Government approach to pursue the strategic thrusts of enhancing financial security and employability; enabling ageing-in-place; providing holistic and affordable healthcare and eldercare; and promoting active ageing.

Through these efforts, Singaporeans should have the fullest opportunity to lead happy, healthy and active lives as they age. Families should remain the bedrock of care and support for our elders. We will forge an inclusive society for young and old.

Enhancing employability and financial security

As we live longer, we also need to work longer to fund our expenses. The Ministry of Manpower, with its tripartite partners, will press on to implement re-employment legislation in 2012. Re-employment will be complemented by continuous education and training, and schemes to promote age-friendly workplaces and flexible work practices. Low-income older workers also enjoy added incentives to work through the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme.

To help Singaporeans save for old age, the CPF has undergone a series of reforms. From 2013, the CPF LIFE scheme will be implemented to provide CPF members with a regular stream of income for the rest of their lives. We will raise awareness of the recently introduced Lease Buyback Scheme to enable lower-income elderly release equity from their HDB housing.

Enabling ageing-in-place

Our physical environment should be accessible and safe for all Singaporeans, even those who are less mobile. All HDB housing estates will be barrier-free by 2011. The Lift Upgrading Programme, which provides lift access to all floors of eligible HDB blocks, will be completed by 2014. A $60 million programme to make pedestrian walkways, access to MRT stations, taxi and bus shelters and public roads, barrier-free will be completed by 2010.

Singaporeans will also have more choices to live in housing which is appropriate to their life stage and finances. HDB will build more studio apartments and smaller flats to facilitate right-sizing options. Over the next two years, about 2,000 units of Studio Apartments, 2- and 3-room flats will be launched each year. We will also look into different models of housing and services to facilitate ageing-in-place.

Providing holistic and affordable healthcare and eldercare

The Government is committed to a substantial expansion of the healthcare sector. We will boost capabilities to treat and manage chronic diseases including dementia. More intermediate and long-term care services such as community hospitals, nursing homes, day care and home-help services will be introduced. We will develop more services and support schemes for family members and caregivers.

All around the world, countries are grappling with how to finance long-term care. Our existing 3Ms framework for acute hospitalisation – Medisave, Medishield and Medifund – provides a good basis from which to develop sustainable solutions. We already have the basic long-term care insurance (Eldershield) and safety net (Medifund Silver) components in place. The Government will study how to enhance these two components and help Singaporeans set aside sufficient savings for their care needs.

Promoting active ageing

The Government is committed to promoting a positive and active mindset towards ageing. The Council for Third Age, funded by the Ministry of Community Development,

Youth and Sports, will champion active ageing and promote new programmes for seniors. We are studying how the Wellness Programme, currently piloted in 12 constituencies to help older residents better manage their health and be socially connected, can be introduced to other constituencies.

Singapore is well placed to seize the economic and social opportunities that come with ageing. Asia is the fastest ageing region in the world. We will develop Singapore as a thriving business and research centre on ageing.

SINGAPORE)

MR GOH CHOK TONG

Senior Minister and Chairman, MAS

The past year has witnessed a period of extraordinary stress in the global financial system and a deep economic recession worldwide. Although the global financial condition has stabilised, the situation is fragile and we need to remain vigilant.

The Singapore economy weakened considerably from the second half of 2008. Meanwhile, headline inflation came down significantly from its peak in mid-2008. MAS' monetary policy objective is sustainable, non-inflationary economic growth over the medium term. This will underpin confidence in the Singapore Dollar. In light of increased uncertainties in the economic environment, MAS will bolster our surveillance and analytical framework to incorporate more real-time information and enhance our assessment of industry and corporate level developments to complement macroeconomic projections. We have also strengthened our ability to ensure adequate market liquidity in Singapore's banking system even during periods of heightened volatility and general risk aversion in global financial markets.

The financial crisis has highlighted the importance of prudent supervision of financial activities. Although not directly affected, financial institutions (FIs) in Singapore can be susceptible to risks of contagion from developments elsewhere and to second round effects of the economic slowdown. MAS will continue to work with FIs to strengthen their risk management systems and processes. We will embark on thematic reviews and stress tests to assess the risks of FIs, and fine-tune measures for FIs to mitigate financial stresses such as increasing prudential buffers. We will also intensify our ongoing dialogues with the home regulators of foreign FIs which operate here, so as to share information about the safety and soundness of these institutions. Furthermore, we will enhance our crisis management capabilities to minimise fallout in the event of FI failure.

To complement the supervision of individual FIs, MAS will step up our macro-prudential surveillance. This entails enhancing our gathering of market intelligence, and analysing broader systemic risks including the mechanisms through which risks in one segment of our financial system can be transmitted to another.

Concurrently, MAS will position Singapore's financial centre to emerge stronger post-crisis. MAS will study the revisions being proposed internationally to existing capital adequacy frameworks, and make appropriate amendments to our rules. In addition, we will finalise enhancements to the regulatory framework for the sale and marketing of investment products. This is to promote more effective disclosure and fair-dealing in the

sales and advisory process. We will continue to work with our stakeholders to strengthen the corporate governance of listed companies and to deliver relevant financial education programmes under MoneySENSE.

Emerging stronger from the crisis entails efforts to develop our financial centre as well. Singapore's sound regulatory framework and well-respected judicial system will enhance our proposition as a trusted centre for asset management and risk management. Whilst growth momentum may moderate in the next few years, the Asian growth story remains intact over the longer term and Asia will continue to be an important region for asset management opportunities. Next, the risk appetite of global banks will remain muted for some time. Companies in Asia are therefore turning to domestic loan and regional capital markets for their funding needs. We can ride on this by positioning Singapore as a leading international marketplace for fund-raising, risk management and trading of local currency securities. MAS will continue to support the development of market infrastructure and products that are relevant to players based in Asia. Finally, we will work on initiatives to encourage FIs to continue investing in manpower retention and talent development, so as to ready themselves for the upturn.

MR WONG KAN SENG

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs

Singapore needs a sustainable, connected and integrated population in order to survive and thrive. We must press on with our efforts to build a strong core of committed and dedicated citizens, who will ride through these trying times together, and emerge as a more resilient, cohesive and integrated society.

First priority to citizens

Citizens will always remain the Government's first priority, and citizen interests will always be accorded a higher priority over those of Permanent Residents and foreigners.

The Marriage and Parenthood Package was enhanced in August 2008 in order to provide a more pro-family environment in terms of financial, work-life and childcare support in Singapore. It is premature to assess if the package has worked in encouraging couples to marry and have more children. We will continue to monitor its effectiveness. Although some couples may delay their family plans in this current economic crisis, we hope that they will not do so for too long.

We will also continue to engage the estimated 180,000 Singaporeans overseas even in these hard times. They are a part of our Singaporean family and we must not neglect them. We will continue to extend the outreach of our programmes to engage a wider spectrum of Overseas Singaporeans, and strengthen their connection with Singapore.

An integrated community

Even as we do all we can to help Singaporeans in this economic crisis, we must also re-position ourselves to ensure that we are ready to ride on the next wave of economic growth. We can only do so if all Singaporeans stand united as one.

All Singaporeans, native or new, have a significant role to play in forging an integrated community, by strengthening community and social bonds in Singapore. The National Integration Council will harness the collective efforts from the private, people and public sectors, and encourage more ground-up initiatives to integrate Singaporeans where they live, in the workplace, in schools, and through social and community involvement. We will also expand efforts to help those who are interested to sink roots and set up home in Singapore through their naturalisation and integration journey, including making information available to them online at www.home-in-singapore.sg. We will also reach out to them and facilitate their becoming active members of the Singapore community.

The Singapore Promise

Singaporeans have contributed much to Singapore's transformation over the past 40 years. Our forefathers and, more recently, the new immigrants have come here because of the promise and potential of Singapore: the promise that any individual who has made Singapore home could realise his or her aspirations, and the promise that Singapore will be a good home for them. It is through our ability to understand, appreciate and respect one another that we can have a Singapore for Singaporeans. All of us have a duty today to contribute to and deliver the "Singapore Promise" for ourselves and our descendants.

MR LEE HSIEN LOONG

Prime Minister

The mission of the National Research Foundation (NRF) is to help transform Singapore into a knowledge-intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial economy. The NRF seeks to deepen Singapore's R&D capabilities and capacity, encourage greater innovation and the growth of technology-based enterprises in Singapore. This will help Singapore remain competitive and offer opportunities to our people to better their living.

Developing excellence in use-inspired research

Great scientific breakthroughs are often not made by a single brilliant researcher working in isolation, but by teams of scientists working across disciplines. Recognising this trend, the NRF seeks to develop research excellence in multi-disciplinary areas in our local universities, by jointly establishing with MOE, a small number of world class Research Centres of Excellence (RCEs).

Four RCEs have been approved so far. They are the Centre of Quantum Technologies, Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and the Mechanobiology RCE at the NUS; and the Earth Observatory of Singapore at NTU. When fully operational, they will train some 580 PhD students and post-doctoral fellows, adding significantly to the local talent pool in multi-disciplinary research. They will contribute to generating knowledge and innovation that could be commercialised.

Under the NRF Research Fellowship programmes, we will attract and root top research talent in Singapore by providing brilliant young scientists the opportunity to direct independent research teams. These NRF Research Fellows will be encouraged to take up appointments at the local universities and offered tenure-track positions. They will provide not just the resources and talent to generate breakthrough ideas, but help create an environment and culture for our people to do the same.

The NRF is establishing an international Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise (CREATE), to bring together in one physical location, research centres from some of the world’s top research universities. The concentration of diverse talents doing cutting edge research in CREATE would act as a magnet for attracting more research talent locally and from all over the world, making Singapore perhaps the first R&D hub that congregates the best of research talent from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

We will continue to invest in strategic research areas where Singapore has a competitive edge to gain a leadership position or create new industries. The Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Translational and Clinical Research programme (BMS-TCR) has a clear intent to translate basic research into treatments for patients.

The Environment and Water Technologies (EWT) Programme seeks to develop a new water industry supported by strong R&D, as well as position Singapore as a Clean Energy Hub.

The Interactive and Digital Media (IDM) Programme leverages on Singapore's strong foundation in ICT and education to create new innovative niches with a focus on games and edutainment.

Strengthening research, growing innovation and enterprise

Innovation is key to sustainable economic growth, and hi-tech start-ups are responsible for most breakthrough innovations, job and wealth creation. The NRF has developed the National Framework of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NFIE). Going forward, this will help Singapore better boost innovation and academic entrepreneurship to translate the treasure trove of knowledge from our tertiary and research institutions into applications and products.

All of NRF's programmes are directed at strengthening research, growing innovation and enterprise. Working with other agencies, the NRF seeks to create a self-reinforcing innovation eco-system in the country, which will provide the basis for sustainable economic growth into the future.

PROF. S. JAYAKUMAR

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security

It is during times when no terror has struck that the danger of fatigue and complacency increases. Recent terror attacks in India and Pakistan, and arrests in the UK,

remind us that the threat from trans-national terrorism persists. Continued vigilance and resilience are essential if we are to achieve safety and security for Singapore and Singaporeans. In Singapore, our security agencies have remained vigilant. Although we have made good progress, we cannot afford to be complacent. A well co-ordinated Government structure to deal with the threat of trans-national terrorism can only be effective with the participation of all Singaporeans. Our national security must be a collective effort of the Government, the people of Singapore and the business community. The National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS) will therefore continue to organise and coordinate national security awareness programmes, such as education and outreach activities to engage all stakeholders. While aiming for the best outcomes, we must be prepared for the worst.

Whole-of-Government coordination

Trans-national terrorism is a complex and constantly evolving threat. To deal with it effectively demands a whole-of-Government approach that emphasises coordination and collaboration. This approach leverages on the resources and capabilities of individual Ministries and Government agencies, creating synergies without placing an undue burden on budget and manpower.

Leveraging on technology

Terrorists are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods. We will correspondingly have to harness advanced technologies to deter, detect, protect and respond. Given Singapore's limited resources, technology is an effective force multiplier. Therefore, a National Security Engineering Centre (NSEC) has been created within the Defence Science Technology Agency to support the national security effort. A national security technology roadmap has also been developed to guide the exploitation and development of technology.

Horizon scanning and risk management

NSCS has developed a prototype Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning (RAHS) capability. This is being deployed across various domains and has raised Singapore's strategic anticipation capability. The RAHS system will also facilitate inter-agency collaboration and horizontal communication among the various security agencies, reflecting the whole-of-Government approach that underpins that national security effort in Singapore.

MR TEO CHEE HEAN

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence

The Public Service has contributed to Singapore's hard-won reputation as a vibrant, safe and attractive country to live, work and play in. Maintaining this reputation requires continuing efforts to relentlessly pursue improvements, guided by the Public Service’s core values of Integrity, Service and Excellence.

Singapore is now experiencing its deepest recession since independence. The Public Service is critically aware that the immediate measures needed to mitigate the effects of the downturn on Singapore and Singaporeans have to be carried out effectively and with empathy.

At the same time, the Public Service will continue to keep its eye to the future, to anticipate and manage the rapid changes in Singapore’s external environment, and to seek emerging opportunities as the global economic situation evolves. The Public Service will develop our human resources, enhance our policy making capability, and improve our service delivery to the public.

Investing in talent to improve Public Service

The Public Service is stepping up efforts to bring in capable and committed people to raise the quality of public services and to build up new capacity. The current recession has provided us with good opportunities to do so.

We need bold and visionary Public Service leaders who can operate as one Government, and are adaptable to changing environments. They must also serve the people of Singapore with humility, integrity and empathy. We will therefore enhance the quality of Public Service leaders by giving them varying and challenging job assignments, including overseas postings, cross-agency projects and attachments to non-Government and community organisations. The Civil Service College will also enhance its existing slate of leadership training programmes.

As a responsible employer, the public sector will provide our employees with opportunities to acquire new skills and competencies to take on more challenging work. We will continue with our efforts to re-design jobs, especially for our support staff, and equip them with employable skills.

To address Singapore's ageing society and the resultant shifts in the manpower landscape, the Government has committed to enacting re-employment legislation. The Public Service plans to take the lead by introducing its re-employment policy ahead of national legislation.

Anticipating, embracing and executing change

The Public Service needs to constantly think ahead and improve. This is only sustainable if every officer is involved.

The PS21 (Public Service for the 21st Century) movement was launched 14 years ago. Since then, many new officers have joined the Public Service. We will work with all public sector agencies to re-energise the PS21 movement so that public officers understand the need to embrace change, and are equipped with the mindset and tools to effect change.

Being responsive in serving the public

As we cultivate a Public Service that is more open to change, it is equally important to inculcate a stronger service ethos across all levels in the Public Service. Although we have done well in international surveys, public expectations of service standards have increased, and issues are more complex.

It is important for the Public Service to keep in close touch with ground concerns in order to formulate policies that are relevant to the needs of all Singaporeans. Where possible, public officers are strongly encouraged to seek the views of constituents who will be affected by the policies. Under our Community Attachment Programmes, senior officers are attached to grassroots organisations like Resident Committees and Community Development Councils (CDCs), while the Community Involvement Programme provides opportunities for officers to work directly with the less privileged in our society. Through such programmes, our officers gain deeper insights into the needs and concerns of Singaporeans, and will be better able to draw on their first-hand experiences to develop effective policies for fellow Singaporeans.

We will continue to work with Quality Service Managers to improve the implementation of the 'No Wrong Door' policy. We are also working with the Civil Service College to improve training for public officers to develop greater empathy for issues faced by the public. At the same time, the Public Service will also recognise members of the public who are 'role model customers' so that the Public Service and the public it serves can work in partnership to improve service quality and standards.

Looking forward and seizing opportunities

As the Public Service braces itself to help Singaporeans deal with a recession, the duration of which is still uncertain, we will not lose sight of the opportunities that will arise, both during and after the current crisis. We will continue to improve our capacity to serve the public by recruiting, training and developing public officers, so that the Public Service can continue to work with Singaporeans to build our nation's future.