Hansard, 2011-10-10

At 3.30 pm, the Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms laid the Mace below the Table.

stood up, and addressing himself to the Clerk of Parliament, said: Ms Ng, I propose, that Mr Michael Palmer do take the Chair of this Parliament as Speaker.

stood up, and addressing himself to the Clerk of Parliament, said: Ms Ng, I support the proposal.

There being only one proposal, the Clerk then declared Mr Michael Palmer to have been duly elected as Speaker of this Parliament. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker, standing at the Table, took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance.

Mr Speaker went to the Chair and sat down.

Then the Mace (which before laid below the Table) was placed on the Table.

Hon. Members will now proceed to take the Oath of Allegiance at the Table, commencing with the Prime Minister and thereafter in the order as arranged.

Members took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance, or made Affirmation of Allegiance, in the order below:

Mr Lee Hsien Loong (Ang Mo Kio)

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Jurong)

Mr Teo Chee Hean (Pasir Ris-Punggol)

Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh)

Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon)

Mr Hri Kumar Nair (Bishan-Toa Payoh)

Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade)

Mr Charles Chong (Joo Chiat)

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang)

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat (East Coast)

Mr Mah Bow Tan (Tampines)

Mr Wong Kan Seng (Bishan-Toa Payoh)

Mr Goh Chok Tong (Marine Parade)

Mr Lee Kuan Yew (Tanjong Pagar)

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan (Hong Kah North)

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman (East Coast)

Mr Teo Ser Luck (Pasir Ris-Punggol)

Mr Lee Yi Shyan (East Coast)

Mr Heng Chee How (Whampoa)

Mrs Josephine Teo (Bishan-Toa Payoh)

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo (East Coast)

Ms Indranee Rajah (Tanjong Pagar)

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer)

Dr Lam Pin Min (Sengkang West)

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon)

Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten)

BG(NS) Tan Chuan-Jin (Marine Parade)

Mr Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad (Tampines)

Ms Grace Fu Hia Yien (Yuhua)

Mr Lawrence Wong (West Coast)

Mr Hawazi Daipi (Sembawang)

Mdm Halimah Yacob (Jurong)

Dr Janil Arusha Puthucheary (Pasir Ris-Punggol)

Ms Ellen Lee (Sembawang)

Dr Lily Neo (Tanjong Pagar)

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Moulmein-Kallang)

Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio)

Mr Ang Hin Kee (Ang Mo Kio)

Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong (Radin Mas)

Mr Arthur Fong (West Coast)

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir)

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah)

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Sembawang)

Mr Yaw Shin Leong (Hougang)

Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied)

Mr Christopher De Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah)

Mdm Foo Mee Har (West Coast)

Mr Desmond Lee Ti-Seng (Jurong)

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong (Tampines)

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade)

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Nee Soon)

Dr Intan Azura Bte Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio)

Mr Zainal Bin Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol)

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (Aljunied)

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang)

Ms Sim Ann (Holland-Bukit Timah)

Ms Tin Pei Ling (Marine Parade)

Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol)

Mr Seng Han Thong (Ang Mo Kio)

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied)

Mr Baey Yam Keng (Tampines)

Mr Chen Show Mao (Aljunied)

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang)

Mr Yee Jenn Jong (Non-Constituency)

Mrs Lina Chiam (Non-Constituency)

Mr Gerald Giam (Non-Constituency)

Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the House, I extend to you our warmest congratulations on your election as the Speaker of the Twelfth Parliament of Singapore.

Sir, apart from your legal training, you also have an abiding passion for sports, having been a rugby player in your student days. You have served in the Singapore Olympic Foundation and Singapore Disability Sports Council. This House can, therefore, expect a Speaker who is used to robust interchanges to spur the others to greater heights, but always within the gentlemanly rules of fair play. Indeed, since your election to this House in 2006, you had participated actively in the debates of the House, moving and supporting motions on many issues and presenting the concerns of those who elected you to this House. Together with your chairmanship of two Government Parliamentary Committees, you bring much parliamentary and legal expertise to your role.

Mr Speaker, as the eighth Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore, you join an illustrious line of distinguished persons who have occupied the Chair of the House since our beginning as a Legislative Assembly in 1955. In electing you, this House places its full confidence in your ability to preside over its proceedings with dignity, fairness and impartiality. I am sure all Members will join me in pledging our full support and cooperation as you seek to improve this institution further, to uphold the standards of this Chamber and maintain the decorum by which our debates are conducted.

Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the House, I wish also to pay a tribute to your immediate predecessor, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, who is with us in our Gallery. [Applause.] Mr Abdullah Tarmugi was first elected as the seventh Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore at its Tenth Parliament and re-elected for the Eleventh Parliament, in all, nine-and-a-half years, from 2002 to 2011. On his election as Speaker, Mr Abdullah declared, "I shall do my utmost to fulfil the trust and confidence that Members have put in me to preside over the proceedings of this House and to preserve the dignity and role of this august institution. I shall be impartial as Members expect me to be." Further, he urged Members to "speak honestly, speak sincerely and without fear and let your conscience be your guide."

His wise exhortations guided Members as they wrestled over significant pieces of legislation and motions across the spectrum of social, moral and political issues that would test conventional norms in Singapore's Tenth and Eleventh Parliaments. These debates, many contentious, reflected the challenges that confronted Singaporeans through a turbulent decade.

Among others they included:

the Motion on the Ministry of Home Affairs' White Paper on The Jemaah Islamiyah Arrests and the Threat of Terrorism in 2003 as Singapore grappled with the homegrown threat of terrorism. It was a seminal paper that has kept us safe till now.

in March that same year, 2003, invoking a Certificate of Urgency, this House expeditiously amended the Infectious Diseases Act to tackle the global SARS crisis. In effect, we doubled jail terms and fines for those who breach quarantine orders or expose the community to the infection by other means of wilful action or sheer neglect. With these new powers for quarantine, SARS was contained.

in 2005, the House debated the Government's proposal to allow for casinos to be built in Singapore, a first in Singapore's history, followed by the passing of the Casino Control Bill.

in 2006 and thereafter, this House debated and approved significant changes to our CPF system and extended employment through the Retirement Age (Amendment) Bill to improve the retirement adequacy for Singaporeans. In tandem, the fourth pillar of our social support system was added through Workfare.

in 2007, there was intense debate on the retention of section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises acts of gross indecency between two male adults. Views and positions were polarised. Public petitions from both camps were received, as were hate mails by NMPs who argued their convictions. After two days of debate, Parliament concluded that legislation has to reflect both the societal norms and the views of the majority and opted to keep section 377A. Prime Minister Lee also spoke on the issue and expressed that the social norms in Singapore call for heterosexual and stable family units, but that the Government acknowledged homosexuals' contributions in society and assured that section 377A will not be actively enforced. He highlighted that people on both sides hold strong fundamental views on the matter and discussions will not bring the views of the two groups any closer, and hence it is better to stay status quo for now.

in February 2009, in response to the global financial crisis, Parliament passed the Supply Bill and the Supplementary Supply (FY 2008) Bill. The President gave his assent to the corresponding Acts, effectively giving his formal approval for the drawdown of past reserves, for the first time ever, amounting to S$4.9 billion.

last year, the House deliberated on a backbencher's Bill, the Maintenance of Parents (Amendment) Bill, to reinforce the social responsibility of parental maintenance.

recently, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill was also debated and passed which raised the minimum number of opposition seats in the House to nine.

I would also remind everyone that in the midst of this turbulent period, we had a change of Prime Minister in 2004. Singaporeans have been through a lot and have shown resilience. Mr Speaker, greater nations have stumbled, if not fractured, over lesser crises we have had to face in the last decade. Through it all, this Parliament has guided Singapore through these momentous changes in the political and social landscape and played its vital and positive role in Singapore's nation building.

Mr Abdullah, as Speaker, has delivered on his promise to be impartial and to preserve the dignity of this House. He did this with quiet patience and firmness in the conduct of House proceedings and ensured that the standards of behaviour and debate in this House were maintained. Mr Abdullah also sought to improve on our efficiency, yet never sacrificing our ability to make adequate representation on behalf of Singaporeans. And he reminded Members, "But be as concise as you can and try hard to avoid repetition. Long and rambling speeches are also subject to the laws of diminishing returns!"

To this end, he proposed changes to the Standing Orders in 2004 and 2010 which were supported by all Members that provided for more efficient business rules. Revised speech times gave Members more opportunities to speak in Budget debates, allowed the use of multiple languages in a single speech, and provided greater flexibility in the extension of sitting times. Mr Abdullah also spearheaded initiatives to improve the physical facilities of this Chamber. These included the installation of security glass panels, LCD screens, adjustable lecterns, better acoustic walls and an improved ventilation system. He ably chaired various Select Committees of the House and in particular the Special Select Committee that nominated four batches of Nominated Members of Parliament.

During his tenure, Mr Abdullah had the distinction of serving as the President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) from 2007 to 2008 and the President of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) from 2009 to 2010, which culminated in Singapore hosting the 29th AIPA General Assembly in August 2008 and the 18th Meeting of the APPF in January 2010. Mr Speaker, Mr Abdullah's long career spanning some 26 years in Parliament is an outstanding record of distinguished service and this House puts on record its appreciation and gratitude to him. We hope he will enjoy a long, deserved and happy retirement and wish him the very best for the years ahead. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker, Sir, this Twelfth Parliament has an increased number of Members, with 87 elected Members and three Non-Constituency Members. With nine Opposition Members, this House has the largest number of Members on its Opposition benches since 1967. Of the 90 Members that we now have, 30 are new Members, forming one-third of the House. I welcome all Members to this Twelfth Parliament. Old or new, let us Members all resolve to conduct ourselves in a manner that maintains the high esteem of our Parliament. To this honourable elected position, let us never betray the trust or degrade the respect won from Singaporeans. Front or back bench, pro-Government or Opposition, let us each resolve to find the wisdom through rigorous debate and impartial scrutiny on issues that affect the lives of our people. Let us, above all, have the courage of our convictions to speak out and do what is the best for our nation. On this raison d'etre, Mr Speaker, we entrust ourselves to your impartial and guiding hand and the mercy and finality of your judicious guillotine.

Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the members of the Workers' Party, I extend to you our congratulations on your election as Speaker of Parliament. I would also like to thank the Leader of the House for welcoming the elected Opposition MPs and NCMPs.

Sir, with six elected Members and two NCMPs, the Workers' Party is now represented in Parliament by a total of eight Members. Singaporeans have not been represented by such a relatively large number of Opposition Members in Parliament since 1966. This is the mandate our people expressed through the watershed election in May. Singaporeans want Members of the Opposition to speak on their behalf without fear or favour. Our people are pragmatic but, at the same time, they also understand the importance of democracy and good governance to their lives today, and the hopes and dreams of their children tomorrow. In this regard, they expect the Government to be responsive and accountable. They expect a responsible Parliament in which policies and issues that affect them are seriously debated and rigorously scrutinised. They want clear and transparent explanations from the Ministers at all times. In this respect, I trust that Mr Speaker, Sir, you will allow sufficient opportunity for Members of the Opposition to express our views and voice the concerns and needs of the people.

I would like to thank all Singaporeans who have supported the Workers' Party. In particular, I would like to pay tribute to voters in the Aljunied GRC and express my deep gratitude to Hougang voters for their unwavering support. Together, Sir, let us move towards a First World Parliament. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, I want to thank the voters of Ang Mo Kio for giving us the overwhelming support that has elected us in Parliament, and we promise to do our best to serve our residents as best as possible. Mr Speaker, Sir, I like to also take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election as Speaker of Parliament. Given your legal background, I am sure that you will do well to guide the House as we do our work in Parliament. Sir, my best wishes to you.

Sir, I like to take this opportunity to thank our previous Speaker, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, who is also present here, for what he has done as the Speaker of Parliament during his term of office. Sir, I have known Mr Abdullah Tarmugi for longer than many Members in this House, and most Members may not know that I was a grassroots leader and a branch activist in Siglap since the day he entered politics. Mr Abdullah, I recall helping you fight your first election in 1984 when you first came to Siglap and, subsequently, I stayed on as a volunteer in your constituency till I left to join Ang Mo Kio in 1993. In fact, you are the one who inducted me into politics and got me to agree to stand as a PAP candidate when you persuaded me to go for one of the PAP tea parties. And, today, 27 years later, as you leave politics, I want to thank you for the mentorship that you provided me in my early years as a volunteer. I stayed in Siglap for 13 years before moving to Ang Mo Kio for two reasons. First, it was the fact that I wanted to contribute back to society and provided my services as a volunteer to the community around me; and, second, because I enjoyed working with you and the fact that you were serving your constituency sincerely to improve the lives of your residents. It is your unassuming and humble approach to things which kept me at Siglap and allowed me to enjoy my time as a volunteer in your constituency.

Sir, as Speaker of the House, I have seen you helped smoothen the proceedings so that we could get our business done efficiently. Notable changes included the time limit that you instituted for the total speaking time during the Committee of Supply every year and the amount of time an MP has to speak each time, from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. While initially some of us who made longer speeches were apprehensive about these changes that they would curtail debate, we finally realised that it was better to focus and be concise than to make lengthy speeches and not necessarily deliver the messages that we wanted to deliver effectively. I think I speak for most Members of the House to say that it was far better to have the time limit than to stretch the Committee of Supply to more number of days. I, for one, benefited by learning to make sharper and concise speeches although I know I tested your patience at times by hitting close to the time limit. In most cases, I won the race for time before you could cut me off.

I made some trips with Mr Abdullah for the AIPA meetings and want to say that, as Leader of the delegation, he went out of his way to ensure that all the delegation members were well taken care of and he was very flexible to accommodate the individual needs of the members. At each of these AIPA meetings, when delegations of each country had to present items during the closing dinners, we were fortunate to have a Speaker who sang very well and this allowed those of us who could not sing, like me, to get by, by being background singers, singing softly.

I remember during the 1988 General Election, your second election, Mr Abdullah, when we were waiting for the results at Temasek Junior College, you mentioned to me that your son told you that he had hoped that you would lose that election so that you could spend more time with him and the family. It just showed that you had spent time serving the community in your constituency, leaving little time for your family. Well, Mr Abdullah, you finally have left politics and you can have more time for your family now. But I am not sure if this brings comfort to you, now that time has passed and your children have grown up. Hirman, I think, was only a teenager at that time. But I do hope that you will now be able to smell the roses, spend more time with your family and do the things that you enjoy most. You can proudly say that you have done more than many for the country and deserve to spend more time doing things for yourself.

Mr Abdullah, I would like to thank you for the opportunity for me to have worked with you and for creating the opportunity for me to serve the nation. Thank you for being a friend and a mentor. We all thank you for your sterling service to the nation. On behalf of our colleagues in this House, I would like to wish you good health, happiness and a meaningful and fulfilling life ahead. My best wishes to you, Sir. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to join the Leader of the House to congratulate you on your election as Speaker. Young, energetic and with varied parliamentary experiences in this House, including as Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee since you were first elected as an MP in 2006, I am sure you will be able to preside over parliamentary debates and proceedings in this Chamber that are dignified and with propriety. I know some people think that the Speaker of this Twelfth Parliament will have to work hard at being fair to now a larger number of Opposition Members following the General Election in May this year. I, however, have no doubt that you will conduct our parliamentary proceedings fairly, not only to Opposition Members, but also to Members of the People's Action Party. Indeed, all our Speakers of Parliament had been fair to all MPs and I am sure you will uphold this fine tradition. It is with this faith in you that I have the honour of proposing you to be the Speaker of Parliament. I am sure other Members of this House are with me in expressing our support and cooperation to you.

Sir, like the Leader of the House and Mr Inderjit Singh, with your indulgence, may I also take the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, your immediate predecessor. As the Speaker of Parliament for nine-and-a-half years since 2002, Mr Abdullah had gained the reputation of being strict with time. He would not hesitate to tick off Members who tried to make a speech during a Question for Oral Answer session or apply the guillotine when Members went beyond the allotted time during debates. Mr Abdullah might seem to have some favourite targets, but I would say that he applied the guillotine fairly, irrespective of age or party affiliation, or even gender. After being cut off once in my reply during the Committee of Supply debates some years back, I learned how to repackage my replies within the constraints of time. I am sure Members of this House have also learned to be succinct and impactful even in a short speech. Under his chairmanship, the House heard a wide spectrum of views from many MPs and cleared a lot of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) in each sitting. Despite his no-nonsense image, Mr Abdullah has been a fair and pleasant Speaker. Many MPs observed this during the Speaker's official overseas visits or when they joined the delegations to conferences that Mr Abdullah led. More importantly, he had led our delegations well, representing the Singapore Parliament with dignity and effectively.

I have known Mr Abdullah since his days as a journalist in The Straits Times and through his active involvement in the community organisation in the early 1980s. He was a concerned man for the well-being of fellow Singaporeans and did not shy away from using his multiple talents in sports and in singing to help Singaporeans through community organisations. In particular, he has been noted for using his vocal prowess to croon for money, raising funds for charitable organisations. Indeed, many Singaporeans have benefited from his singing talents. I wish Mr Abdullah all the very best in his next phase of life.

Mr Speaker, Sir, you too have been known to possess sporting, dancing and singing talents. I am not sure whether you will take the same path as your immediate predecessor, in fact, two predecessors, but I am just raising the precedence. I am certain that you will use your oratorical and legal talents to preside over proceedings in this House with fairness and dignity. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker, Sir, tempted as I am to make a political speech and thank all my supporters, I think I will refrain from doing that till a later time as now may not be the right time. With your kind indulgence, please allow me to extend my congratulations to you, Mr Speaker, Sir, on your election. Having worked with you in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC from 2006 to 2011, I am very confident that you will be able to discharge your duties as Speaker with distinction and that you are extremely well-placed to perform the functions of this office. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like also to inform you that it is no longer a requirement for you to call me "uncle" from now on. It is I who will address you as "Sir".

Sir, allow me to take this opportunity also to say a few words to record my appreciation and, indeed, if I may be a bit presumptuous, the House's appreciation to the retiring Speaker. Speaker Abdullah served this House as Speaker from 2002 and did much to keep parliamentary procedures up to date and relevant to a larger number of Singaporeans. Speaker Abdullah also did much to promote interaction and goodwill with parliamentarians within ASEAN and beyond. Indeed, up to last month, Speaker Abdullah continued to lead delegations of MPs to meetings with parliamentarians from other countries, and I had the privilege of being a member of the team that he led to the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Association's General Assembly (AIPA) in Phnom Penh just a few weeks ago. As mentioned by various speakers before me, Speaker Abdullah saved the Singapore delegation with his rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon".

Sir, our interactions with parliamentarians from neighbouring countries confirmed my view that Speaker Abdullah is held in high esteem, and many of the parliamentarians in our regional countries congratulated him for his achievements and wished him well for his retirement. Speaker Abdullah carried with him many years of experience with the grassroots as an MP, before he assumed office as Speaker, and continued to remain close to the ground even after he was elected as Speaker. I mentioned the grassroots because I am of the view that it is vitally important that the Speaker continues to be connected with the ground so that he is able to appreciate the concerns of ordinary Singaporeans and to allow MPs sufficient latitude to raise and thoroughly debate issues that are of concern to all Singaporeans. While the debates we participate in and the business that is transacted in this House have wide-ranging effects for all Singaporeans, few outside the House fully understand how we function. Under his leadership as Speaker, Parliament was demystified and made more relevant through, for example, the provision of more information about parliamentary processes on the Parliament website, details of Members as well as the encouragement of educational tours to Parliament House. The Prime Minister had previously highlighted that one of the changes that Speaker Abdullah made was to allow Members to speak in any combination or all four of the official languages during a single speech. This may not seem like much on the surface but, as a multi-lingual and multi-racial Singapore, it is yet another move to keep Parliament closer to the people.

As Speaker Abdullah steps away from the front and centre of public life, he will be missed by many of us in this House, although I am sure he will continue to contribute to Singapore in other ways. I would like to thank him for his many years of distinguished service to Singapore and to this House. I wish him good health as he starts in his new phase of life. [Applause.]

Hon. Members, please allow me to thank Mr Hawazi Daipi and Mr Hri Kumar for respectively proposing and supporting my election as Speaker. My heartfelt thanks to the Leader of the House, Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Inderjit Singh, Mr Hawazi Daipi and Mr Charles Chong for their generous words and felicitations as well as to the many of you who have approached me these past weeks to express your support and good wishes. I am grateful to you all.

I am deeply honoured and humbled by the confidence that you have shown in me by electing me as Speaker. It is a great privilege for me to serve this august House and I would strive to do so to the best of my ability. I am committed to discharging my duties fairly, impartially and conscientiously.

I have been entrusted with the solemn duty of presiding over the sittings of this House and ensuring that the best traditions of honour and dignity that are the hallmark of this Chamber are respected and preserved. As a guardian of parliamentary privileges, I trust that hon. Members will be mindful that those privileges should be exercised responsibly. I expect debate to be both vigorous and rigorous. A robust and thorough examination of issues is desirable when it leads to greater clarity and refinement of policy and law, which will better meet the needs and aspirations of our society. Yet, I am confident that even in the course of the most spirited debate, hon. Members will adhere to the high standards of decorum and conduct befitting this House.

I bid a warm welcome to our new Members. With each new Parliament, new voices inject a different energy to the proceedings and add to the dynamism of this House. As a new Member, it is natural to take time to get used to the manner in which business is conducted in this Chamber. I know that your more experienced colleagues would be happy to help you should you require any assistance. I am sure that you have very much to contribute and I look forward to your maiden speeches.

The new Parliament that sits today is one that is noticeably different in composition, feel and character. Our fellow Singaporeans have placed their trust in us by electing us to represent them and to look after their best interests. They also look to this House for leadership and guidance. Our views may at times differ on issues both big and small. Yet, in the face of global economic uncertainty and a rapidly changing world, I believe that all Members can aspire to a common purpose of uniting and strengthening our society so that as one nation, we can take on all challenges and prevail. I believe that we are, all of us, first and foremost committed to the same cause - Singapore. It is my sincere hope that proceedings in this Twelfth Parliament would be conducted in this positive spirit. With that, I wish hon. Members the very best in the performance of their duties in this House. [Applause.]

I wish to inform hon. Members that the President will be present in the Chamber at 8.30 pm to deliver his speech at the Opening of Parliament. I, therefore, suspend the sitting until 8.30 pm this evening.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 4.26 pm until 8.30 pm.

Sitting resumed at 8.30 pm

The President (accompanied by two A.D.C.s) entered the Chamber, accompanied by Mr Speaker, who was preceded by the Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms (without the Mace), the Principal Assistant Clerk, the Deputy Clerk and the Clerk.

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

The President (Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam): Hon. Members, the opening of the Twelfth Parliament marks a new phase of Singapore's development. Over the last 46 years, we have overcome the basic challenges of development and transformed our society. Working as one people, we have grown a diversified economy and created good jobs for Singaporeans. We have built education and healthcare systems that take care of our people, homes for all our families, an outstanding living environment and a strong SAF and Home Team to keep ourselves safe. Together, we made Singapore a home we share and a nation we are proud of.

We must now build our future in a new environment. Our society is changing: a younger generation brings new expectations, while older Singaporeans stay healthier and live longer. Our economy is changing, as we upgrade ourselves to find our niche in the new global economy. Our politics is changing too, in response to these social and economic trends. But one thing stays the same – we seek to do our very best for our country and make it the best home for all Singaporeans.

Our shared goal is to create a better life for all. We want every Singaporean worker to hold a skilled, well-paid job; every family to live in an affordable, comfortable home; every young person to develop himself fully and pursue his dreams; every senior citizen to stay active and to live with dignity.

To achieve this, our economy must grow. This is basic to improving our lives. High rates of growth will become more challenging as we grapple with the limits of our land area and population size, and as our income level reaches that of developed countries. But we should still make 3%-5% growth per year, and bring everyone along, provided we work together closely and wisely.

Growth is not an end in itself. We seek quality growth, by improving every job, raising the productivity of every worker, and helping companies innovate. We seek inclusive growth that benefits all citizens, not just a lucky few. With high quality, inclusive growth, we can afford to invest in our people, our country and our future.

Our success is defined not just by material progress but also by our values and ideals. We want a fair and just society that ensures the well-being of every citizen; a gracious and compassionate community whose members care for one another; and a truly special Singapore, where our children can grow to be the best that they can be.

What does all this mean for Singaporeans? For lower-income Singaporeans, Singapore will continue to be a country where you can improve yourselves, and do well as the country progresses. You will get more support to upgrade your skills. The vulnerable and unfortunate can rely on our social safety nets such as Workfare, ComCare and Medifund. You will not be left to fend for yourself. We will help you to help yourself, and especially your children.

For the majority in the middle, Singapore will always be a country where you can enjoy the fruits of your labour and have ample opportunities to move ahead. You have worked hard to provide for yourselves and your families. We will help you to cope with the rapid changes and growing competition in the world. There will be more skills upgrading programmes for workers, including PMETs; more pathways to educate your children, especially at the tertiary level; and every opportunity to own a home for your family. Singapore will always be where you can settle down, raise your family, and enjoy meaningful and fulfilling lives.

For those who do exceptionally well, Singapore will continue to offer many opportunities to excel – a secure, nurturing base camp from which you can scale the heights of the world. At the same time, we hope that you will feel a sense of responsibility to your fellow citizens, and will contribute much to the society which helped you blossom. By helping others, whether through public service, volunteerism or philanthropy, you will strengthen our social compact.

For our senior citizens, Singapore will always be your home, where you can spend your silver years with peace of mind. Your generation did much to build today's Singapore. Your experience remains precious. You deserve our full support. Your CPF savings and HDB flat will help to take care of your basic needs. We will help you to remain active and healthy, keep healthcare affordable and ease the burden on your families who are caring for you.

For the young, Singapore will be the place to pursue your dreams and fulfil your promise. We will do our utmost to help you develop yourself and succeed in life. Our heavy investments in education are meant for you. We hope you will absorb the sound values which have helped Singapore succeed – hard work, perseverance, cohesion and a sense of mutual obligation – and which remain relevant today. Beyond your own families and careers, you have the opportunity and responsibility to work with other citizens, young and old, to improve on what you have inherited, and keep on transforming our nation for the better.

For all citizens, you will always have a place in Singapore, regardless of your background, race or religion. Singapore will be your home where you and your families belong; where we are all anchored by our shared sense of history and common destiny; where we dare to dream, because we can make our dreams come true.

The Government has a comprehensive programme to work towards these goals over the next five years. There are no short cuts or easy solutions, and no way to keep out global competition. We have to work hard to upgrade ourselves and our country. We will face tough choices which will be unsettling and sometimes painful. But so long as we are united in engaging our hearts and minds in this shared endeavour, we will succeed.

To carry out this programme, the Government will work closely with our people. It will reach out to all Singaporeans. It will engage citizens more extensively on issues, tap ideas and foster a greater sense of shared ownership. Singaporeans are active partners in our shared future, not passive bystanders as we progress. Citizens need to make the effort to think through the issues, weigh the options, and make the compromises and choices.

One important platform for engagement is the new media. The Internet is a tremendous tool to empower individuals, link us up with one another and mobilise people for social causes. But the new media also creates real challenges. On the Internet, truth is not easily distinguished from misinformation. Anonymity is often abused. Harsh, intemperate voices often drown out moderate, considered views. Other countries struggle with this problem too. We must find ways to use the new media constructively, to connect with the digital generation and sustain fruitful conversations on issues concerning us all.

Our politics is becoming more diverse and open. This is not just because of the new media, but because of changing generations, and more diverse expectations of Singaporeans as basic needs are increasingly met. More voices want to be heard; more people are contending to represent different groups and interests. The composition of Parliament reflects this. We can expect more diverse views and vigorous debates in the House. This is positive for Singapore. But in the heat of the political tussle, we must not forget that we all share the same goal, namely serving the people. Hence all sides must take a long-term, national perspective, put society's interests above their own, and find the right way forward together despite different views and preferences. Only by getting our politics right and keeping it constructive and responsible will Singapore make progress.

I call on all Singaporeans to do their part and work with one another to shape our nation's future.

The Government will help all Singaporeans to find good jobs, own their homes, and see their children gain confidence and blossom. But the Government cannot, and should not, try to do everything by itself. Singaporeans play an equally important role.

Strong families are the building blocks of a resilient society. Whether it is supporting fellow family members, looking after elderly parents, or nurturing the next generation, families provide the best care, warmed by the bonds of kinship and love.

Beyond their own families, I hope that Singaporeans will get together to create a more vibrant civil society. We want to harness the energies and ideas of our people, be it to tackle social issues, promote the arts, or protect the environment. Singaporeans should participate actively, develop their own solutions, and do their part for the community. Volunteerism, supported by the Government where necessary, will strengthen our society and our sense of shared ownership.

Even as we pursue our different interests, we must also deepen our sense of common purpose. Our diversity must not divide us. Fault lines in our society have to be carefully managed. We have done well in strengthening racial and religious harmony. Now we must try hard to prevent a new fault line from forming between local-born Singaporeans and recent immigrants. The Government is slowing the inflow to ensure that new arrivals not only contribute economically, but also embrace our values and integrate into our society. Singaporeans, for our part, should help them become part of our Singapore family, just as our forefathers settled here in earlier generations.

Ultimately, Singapore belongs to all of us. Each one shares in Singapore's progress and future, and each has a contribution to make. We must continue to strengthen our bonds and build an inclusive nation that we can all be proud of.

While focusing on our domestic concerns, we must not lose sight of our external environment. The world economy is going through a very difficult period. The serious fiscal problems in the US will not be solved soon. Nor will the European debt crisis, and the problems with the Euro currency. These troubles will affect the world economy, which will likely be sluggish for an extended period, and could well dip into another recession. This will inevitably affect Asia and definitely Singapore.

Fortunately, Singapore has built strong foundations. We have a well-diversified, financially sound and competitive economy. We have adequate reserves to help see us through tough times. We have a well educated, hardworking workforce – the best in the world – and a strong tripartite partnership.

As a responsible member of the global community, we work with the United Nations and other international organisations on trans-border issues which concern us all. We enjoy good relations with our ASEAN partners. The SAF and Home Team are vigilant in protecting our country and our security.

Nobody knows what surprises the coming years will bring. We must stay strong, cohesive and alert, especially to potential threats to our unity, prosperity and security. This is how we have overcome difficult challenges before, be it Separation, terrorism, SARS, or the global economic crisis. These shared trials have strengthened our bonds and helped us to mature as a nation.

What Singapore has achieved, very few others have done. Here we have created something unique – a global city at the heart of emerging Asia; a multi-racial society living harmoniously in a tropical garden city; an exceptional nation, defying the odds of history. Let us build on this strong foundation together, to give all Singaporeans a better life and a brighter tomorrow.

Adjourned accordingly at 8.54 pm.

MCYS seeks to build a cohesive and resilient society – one that is inclusive and united, and underpinned by strong families and active and caring communities. With rising economic volatility and industry restructuring, MCYS will strengthen the social safety net to help those in need so that no one is left behind. We have recently enhanced the Public Assistance scheme and the ComCare financial assistance schemes for childcare and kindergarten. We will also review our policies, programmes and services to keep in step with emerging needs arising from social and demographic changes.

We will also work with partners, such as the Community Development Councils and Voluntary Welfare Organisations, to improve the delivery of social assistance through better service integration and coordination. This is achieved through greater sharing of information, training and capability building. We will also study the needs of emerging groups who need support and develop appropriate programmes. Together, these measures will contribute towards a more client-centric and flexible approach to help those in need.

MCYS will work with partners such as Family Service Centres to expand early intervention efforts for individuals and families at risk. We will reinforce social safeguards to reduce harm arising from problem gambling. We will also enhance efforts to help at-risk youth stay on the right path. For youth offenders, effective rehabilitation and re-integration into society will be our priority.

MCYS will develop and implement the Enabling Masterplan 2012-2016 to support persons with disabilities. We will enhance programmes and services for early intervention, expand education and employment opportunities, develop more care options, and provide better support for caregivers so that persons with disabilities are supported in different life-stages.

The family is the basic building block of our society. MCYS will continue to review policies and spearhead education programmes to promote strong families. We will work hand-in-hand with the people sector to promote pro-family values and create a pro-family environment. We will also expand support for caregivers who have to take care of their family members.

Better support will be provided to families with young children. To ensure that quality child care services remain accessible and affordable, we will expand the number of child care centres, and invest more resources in training and career development for child care professionals. Standards of care and development in child care centres will be improved.

As our population ages, we will provide more support to Singaporeans to prepare for their later years. We will promote active ageing and encourage citizens to stay healthy, active and engaged. We will also work with the Ministry of Health to expand community and home-based eldercare services, and step up investment in infrastructure and manpower for the eldercare sector.

In recent years, MCYS had enacted the Mental Capacity Act, established the Office of the Public Guardian and amended the Maintenance of Parents Act. We will continue to ensure that seniors who are vulnerable receive adequate protection and support.

The community and Voluntary Welfare Organisations play an important role in reaching out and providing social services to Singaporeans under our "Many Helping Hands" approach. To uplift professional standards in the social service sector, MCYS will provide more resources to enhance the sector's capacity and capability. Together with the National Council of Social Service, we will expand manpower and organisational capability building efforts to nurture "stronger hands", and also enhance career pathways to better attract and retain social workers and other professionals in the sector.

MCYS will continue to promote volunteerism and philanthropy as avenues for successful Singaporeans to contribute back to society. Besides enhancing standards of governance in the charity sector to sustain public confidence, MCYS also partners the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre to make it easier for more people to give back and be involved in the community. We also recognise the unique contributions women have made to society and will continue to engage relevant organisations to facilitate their participation and contributions in different spheres of society.

MCYS will continue to promote communal harmony and strengthen community bonds. The building of friendship, understanding and trust amidst increasing diversity will be supported through organisations such as the People's Association and grassroots platforms such as the Inter-racial and Religious Confidence Circles. We will also step up integration efforts to build stronger bonds between locals and newer members of our society.

Sports has the ability to build character and resilience, and to foster community bonds and national pride. Together with the Singapore Sports Council, MCYS is engaging Singaporeans from all walks of life to develop and to put into action Vision 2030, a national initiative to better leverage on sports in the development of our people, our communities and our country.

MCYS will also work towards building a comprehensive sports infrastructure, ranging from world-class sports facilities to conveniently-located regional and community-based facilities. To provide more opportunities for Singaporeans to engage in sports, we will also introduce sports programmes for the community, such as the Singapore National Games.

Every young Singaporean can step forward to play a part in shaping the future of our society and make a difference in the lives of others. Together with the National Youth Council, MCYS will nurture more youth leaders who can to contribute at the national and community levels.

Through initiatives such as Project Youth Empowerment, we will create more opportunities for our youth to maximise their potential and broaden their horizons. They will be able to apply their energy and idealism to improving the community, and be actively engaged in shaping and realising their aspirations for Singapore.

A secure environment lays the foundation for peace and progress in Singapore. A strong defence safeguards our sovereignty and vital interests and enlarges our political space in the pursuit of a better future for Singaporeans. This need for stability is especially pertinent given the uncertainties in the regional environment driven by global strategic shifts. The aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis is still unfolding as the US and Europe face considerable economic difficulties. There have been dramatic changes in the Middle East but the ramifications of this "Arab Spring" remain uncertain. The fight against terrorism has not ended even though Osama bin Laden is dead. In our region, we continue to see flashes of tension in the Korean Peninsula and over the South China Sea. The interplay of relations between US and China will continue to have an impact on ASEAN and our region.

Singapore works closely with our friends and like-minded partners through bilateral and multilateral platforms. Our efforts seek to strengthen relationships with individual partners, while actively encouraging an open and inclusive regional security architecture with ASEAN at the centre. We have pushed for greater regional cooperation through fora such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus. The Shangri-la Dialogue will continue to be an important and useful platform for security leaders to meet and share perspectives.

Beyond our shores, Singapore will continue to play our role judiciously as a responsible member of the global community to ensure peace and stability in our region. The SAF makes niche contributions to international security operations and participates in the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. We currently have a team of 10 Military Institutional Trainers, a 13-strong medical team and a six-man Imagery Analysis Team in Afghanistan. We will continue to play our part in the international efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden, as part of Combined Task Force 151.

The SAF is respected as a credible and professional armed forces, ready to defend the interests of our country. Our prudent and steady investment in defence will enable us to build an SAF with capabilities for a wide spectrum of operations, primarily to protect our nation against direct threats and also respond flexibly in peacetime to transnational security challenges posed by terrorism, piracy, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and natural disasters.

The SAF will continue to modernise and upgrade its capabilities into an integrated, network-centric force, with the ability to sense quicker, manoeuvre forces effectively, and strike targets precisely. In our transformation efforts, we will continue to rely on the dynamism, will and professionalism of our people. As our systems and operations become more complex, our people will need to build deep professional expertise, and engage in knowledge creation and continuous learning. We will continue to enhance our training methods, curriculum and learning environment, and provide fulfilling careers and opportunities for professional development. There will also be more opportunities for continuing education and training as part of our servicemen's professional development.

National Service remains a crucial and indispensible element of Singapore's defence. National servicemen form the backbone of the SAF. We must ensure that training is realistic and effective to raise a potent fighting force. At the same time, we will do the utmost to ensure the well-being and safety of our National Servicemen, and work on enhancing their motivation and morale. We will continue our efforts to engender pride in Singaporeans for the institution of National Service and enhance their commitment to defence.

MINDEF continues to actively engage the public. Our Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence, or ACCORD, draws members from a wide spectrum of society. Their inputs and expertise allow MINDEF to strengthen our awareness of public sentiment and respond to the concerns of the public.

We will continue to work towards strengthening national resilience and collective commitment to defence through our annual Total Defence campaign. MINDEF will continue to adopt a personal, inclusive and ground-up approach to our engagement efforts. We will also tap on new channels in social media to connect with the public. In partnership with all Singaporeans, MINDEF will stand steadfast and alert in our task to ensure that Singapore remains safe and secure for all.

Our goal is to develop lifelong learners and active contributors, confident in meeting the challenges in life and committed to making a positive difference to Singapore. We have significantly increased our investments in education over the past decade, across levels and institutions. We will continue to invest more to better cater to the strengths and interests of each child, and to allow every child to find his or her own path to success.

We are implementing a more holistic curriculum, aimed at inculcating strong values, a good knowledge and skills base, and 21st century competencies. To support this, we are investing in better infrastructure like single-session primary schools, and the development of indoor sports halls and other facilities

At the primary level, we are enhancing teaching in the classrooms, and implementing meaningful enrichment and co-curricular activities (CCAs). These will help our children develop crucial competencies like expression, confidence and teamwork. At the secondary level, we will help our teenagers further develop their character and citizenship, by increasing learning opportunities through CCAs, sports programmes, community involvement programmes, and learning journeys.

Twinning and exchange programmes will prepare our students for an increasingly globalised world. As our students access global opportunities, rootedness to Singapore becomes even more important. We want all Singaporeans to carry the Singapore Spirit in our hearts, no matter where we may be. Our children must feel a deep sense of belonging and commitment to Singapore. Our schools share the responsibility of nurturing our children with parents and the community, who in turn support and reinforce the efforts of educators. We need a strong consensus on how we bring up the next generation.

Through our investment in education, we ensure that every child, regardless of family circumstances and background, has access to opportunities. Singaporeans enjoy highly subsidised education. We have topped up Edusave accounts and extended more Edusave grants to schools to support enrichment programmes. Bursaries at the various levels have also been enhanced. We will continue to make every school a good school. Schools have different student profiles and needs. But all will help their students grow in confidence through exposure to new ideas, experiences and possibilities; equip them with the competencies to work purposefully towards their goals; and nurture a community of friends for life.

Schools will do so in their different ways. We will help them develop their areas of strength, be it in aesthetics, character and citizenship education, leadership development, sports and physical education, or teaching and learning, to bring out the best in their students. By giving every Singaporean child a positive school experience, we can nurture a multiplicity of talents, each different from the other and everyone quietly confident about himself. More customised programmes and teaching methods will help students with different starting points and abilities learn their mother tongue languages effectively, and connect to our rich cultural heritage and other communities in Asia. We will also stretch those with the ability and interest to acquire a deeper grasp of the language and culture.

We are committed to improving the quality of provisions for special needs children in mainstream schools and special education schools. We have rebuilt or refurbished almost all the VWO-run special education schools over the past five years and will expand capacity in areas of need.

Over the past five years, our outreach efforts have improved preschool enrolment to 99% of the cohort. MOE will continue to work with MCYS to improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of preschool. We will accredit good quality preschools, and invest more in building preschool teacher capacity.

We aim to create more pathways to match the interests and aptitudes of every student. For students with special talents in Sports, Arts, Mathematics and Science and Applied Learning, we have set up specialised schools to help them scale greater heights. Two new Specialised Schools for Normal (Technical) students will cater to experiential learners. Normal (Academic) students will have the option of joining the polytechnics via the Polytechnic Foundation Programme. In addition, Express students can choose from a greater variety of Integrated Programmes.

We will complete the consolidation of ITE into three regional colleges to enable more multi-disciplinary training, provide state-of-the-art teaching facilities and modern amenities to enhance campus life. The polytechnics will expand to admit up to 45% of each Primary One cohort. They will have better facilities and offer industry-relevant courses in new growth areas.

Over the next few years, students will have more options to earn publicly-funded degrees, with the expansion of existing institutions and the establishment of new institutions and programmes. By 2015, there will be 14,000 publicly-funded university places for Singapore students. Beyond 2015, we will expand university intakes further to create even more opportunities for Singaporeans to benefit from university education. A committee has been set up to study how to do this, so that we can continue to meet the aspirations of Singaporeans and long-term needs of our economy.

Under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2015 plan, our universities will continue to strengthen their research capabilities in collaboration with the private sector and research institutes. Learning opportunities for Singaporeans will continue throughout life. We will enhance Continuing Education and Training (CET) through subsidised part-time programmes, advanced and specialist diplomas and short courses and certificates at our post-secondary educational institutions.

We will expand the size of our teaching force from 31,000 today, to 33,000 within five years. We will support our teachers with more allied educators, and a stronger administrative team in schools. We will also retain our best educators, through attractive career options and developmental opportunities. The teaching fraternity, working through the Academy of Singapore Teachers, will set high standards for all its members in their sense of mission, personal conduct and quest for professional excellence. All our teachers must aspire to lead, care and inspire.

Working in partnership with stakeholders, we will provide our children with the best education, and nurture them into confident persons, self-directed learners, concerned citizens and active contributors. United, they will live out the Singapore Spirit and create a brighter future for all.

Our macro-economic policies aim to help Singapore achieve inclusive growth, an enhanced quality of life and better, sustainable social safety nets for our citizens. The environment has shifted, compared to even five years ago. Domestically, tighter land and population constraints will shape future growth prospects. Externally, slow growth in the developed economies, with periodic debt shocks and economic setbacks, may be the norm for several years to come. We must steer a path that enables Singapore to respond to these challenges, transform the nation's capabilities and help our citizens achieve higher standards of living.

We must maintain a sound and sustainable fiscal system. Our plans to significantly enhance the transport infrastructure, quality and opportunities in education, healthcare and housing will lead to Government expenditure rising as a percentage of GDP in the next five years. We have put in place a resilient revenue structure to enable us to meet these higher spending needs. Nevertheless, the overall burden of taxes on Singaporeans remains low by international standards, and will remain so.

We will ensure that our fiscal system remains fair and equitable. We have re-shaped our property tax and personal income tax schedules to make our tax system more progressive. Government transfers schemes will provide targeted and effective assistance to lower and middle-income households in need. They will also provide full incentive and support for individuals to work and upgrade in their jobs.

Our reserves provide Singapore the confidence to deal with crises. Under the Constitutional rules, they also provide a regular stream of income from investments, for spending on the Government Budget. In a more volatile and challenging investment environment, we must hold to a framework that enables GIC and Temasek to focus on the long term and pursue investment strategies that generate sustainable portfolio returns.

We will play an active and constructive role in international fora such as the Group of 20 (G-20), the IMF and the World Bank, to promote a stable financial system and sustainable global growth. We will also continue to work with our regional partners to advance schemes that enhance market-based financing for regional infrastructure needs and help to deepen regional capital markets.

Our fundamental economic challenge is to improve productivity, as the way to increase Singaporeans' incomes on a sustainable basis. We will support and catalyse efforts to raise skills and improve the quality of jobs in every sector. The Productivity and Innovation Credit that was introduced in 2010 and the $2 billion that we have set aside in the National Productivity Fund are major incentives for this upgrading. We are working to enhance support for Singapore companies venturing into overseas markets, by improving the availability of long-term project finance and trade finance.

We will uphold Singapore's reputation as one of the world's most supportive business environments by simplifying tax administration and enhancing tax certainty. We are also strengthening Singapore as an international financial and business hub, including the development of our accountancy sector. The Companies Act and Business Registration Act will be updated to ensure that they remain relevant and conducive to both investors and operating businesses. We will also continue to facilitate trade by fostering international customs partnerships.

Greater resources will be invested into strengthening our social safety nets, in particular by helping lower and middle-income Singaporeans own homes and improving support for the healthcare of older Singaporeans. We are encouraging charitable giving through significantly enhanced tax deductions and Government matching grants for donations to various schemes that improve citizens' welfare, including long-term care for the elderly and services for the disabled. The Singapore Totalisator Board will also be increasing its contributions to the community for worthy causes.

We are investing in a city where young and old feel at home. We are making major investments to enhance our transport capacity and reach. We will also bring greenery into the city, and nurture active sports and vibrant arts scenes. As we face greater constraints in land, energy and carbon, we will optimise our resources through forward-looking planning and fiscal measures to encourage environment sustainability. We will catalyse the development of more e-services and delivery channels by the people and private sectors. We will also continue to promote collaboration among government agencies to work towards Whole-of-Government outcomes, and greater integration in the delivery of services to Singaporeans.

The international environment is becoming more unpredictable and fluid. Major shifts of global power and ideas are underway and are both symptoms and causes of the continuing economic and political uncertainties. Few countries are as exposed to the world as we are. As a small country we have no choice but to engage the world. It is therefore vital that Singapore remains cohesive, alert and nimble, both in order to take advantage of the opportunities and to get out of harm's way if necessary. We will cooperate with all countries and institutions that wish to cooperate with us, while always doing what we must to protect and promote Singapore's national interests in this increasingly challenging international environment.

ASEAN remains our core interest and the cornerstone of our foreign policy. Building a more integrated and cohesive ASEAN is an overriding strategic imperative. It enhances our economic competitiveness and gives our region a strong platform to engage key international players, especially the US and China. We should not be distracted from our goal of building an ASEAN Community by 2015 through the implementation of the three Community Blueprints (political-security, economic and socio-cultural) and preserving ASEAN's centrality in a balanced and open regional architecture. This is the necessary condition for strengthening ASEAN's relations with the major powers through ASEAN's dialogue partnerships, the ASEAN Plus Three, the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Relations with our closest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, are good. Strengthening these relationships on the basis of mutual benefit and mutual respect remains a key interest. With Malaysia, the resolution of the railway land issue and the handing over of the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement to the Johor water authorities were milestones in the bilateral relationship. With these issues settled and upcoming projects like the joint development in Iskandar Malaysia and the Rapid Transit System link between Johor Baru and Singapore, there is strong impetus for closer cooperation between Singapore and Malaysia. Relations with Indonesia are anchored by robust trade and investment links and cooperation in sectors such as health, environment and counter-terrorism. Cooperation with the Riau Islands (KEPRI), especially our partnership in the Batam, Bintan and Karimun Special Economic Zone, will remain a priority. Bilateral relations with the other ASEAN member states are strong and anchored in the bedrock of shared interests. They will be further strengthened through regular bilateral exchanges and institutionalised linkages, including technical assistance through the Singapore Cooperation Programme and Initiative for ASEAN Integration.

Despite its economic and political challenges, the US remains the only truly global power. The US military presence in our region continues to be the vital and irreplaceable foundation of the stability that is the necessary condition for growth. The US remains our key strategic and economic partner. At the same time, we will continue to build on our excellent relations with China, sustaining the expansion of our cooperation beyond the economic and political spheres to areas such as education, culture and human resource development. Japan, the Republic of Korea and Australia will continue to be important political and economic partners. We will also enhance our ongoing engagement of developing countries and regions, such as India, the Gulf states in the Middle East, Africa and Brazil and other Latin American countries, so as to grow economic opportunities for Singapore.

At the multilateral level, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) remains the over-arching forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, and trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific. In the uncertain and volatile global economic climate, it will be even more important to work closely with APEC member economies on concrete initiatives that can help support the global trade agenda and deal with global challenges. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is of particular strategic significance and great economic potential. As a trade-dependent country with a core interest in a robust multilateral trading system, Singapore will also continue to work with like-minded countries to strengthen the World Trade Organization (WTO). We will work to secure more bilateral and regional FTAs, such as the one currently being negotiated with the EU.

As a responsible member of the international community with an intrinsic interest in promoting a rules-based international system, we support efforts to reform global institutions, such as the UN, the IMF and World Bank, so as to enable them to deal more effectively with global issues such as climate change, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and international financial regulation. The G20 has a significant role to play in coordinating financial and macro-economic policies to address global imbalances. As a major financial centre and a member of the Global Governance Group (3G), Singapore will continue to encourage more dialogue between the G20 and non-G20 members.

Within our means, we will continue to provide technical assistance to developing countries through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, bilaterally or in collaboration with other countries and international organisations. We are committed to helping developing countries attain the Millennium Development Goals, by building their human resources, in particular, their capabilities in public administration and sustainable development.

MFA will continue to work closely with the Overseas Singaporean Unit to keep Singaporeans abroad connected to Singapore. We will continue to provide prompt and effective consular assistance to Singaporeans in distress overseas as, for example, during the Queensland floods, the Christchurch earthquake, the earthquake-tsunami in Japan, and political unrest in the Middle East. The number of Singaporeans seeking assistance overseas will increase as more Singaporeans travel for work, leisure and education. MFA will accordingly expand our capacity and work closely with other agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of Singaporeans overseas.

Our vision is to enable all Singaporeans to live well, live long and enjoy peace of mind. We will continue to invest in developing our healthcare system and continually fine-tune our health policies to meet Singaporeans' needs. Over the past five years, MOH has added more than 700 public acute and community hospital beds, including the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, and increased the number of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals by more than 50%. This allowed us to maintain good public satisfaction ratings and contain waiting times despite expanding patient loads.

To facilitate seamless care for patients, acute hospitals have started working in close partnership with other healthcare providers. The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) was restructured to better help patients transit from acute hospitals to community care settings. The first phase of the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) was launched, allowing flow of medical records across public sector entities.

To promote medical excellence, two academic medical centres were established, and support for translational and clinical research expanded. The Alice Lee School of Nursing and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School produced their first graduates.

To ensure health care remains affordable, MOH expanded subsidies for medication and for aged care, especially for the needy elderly. The coverage and payouts for MediShield and ElderShield were improved, and Medifund's capital sum topped-up from S$1.1 billion to S$2.5 billion. Medisave use was extended to outpatient care for major chronic diseases, integrated screening and new vaccinations.

We will step up efforts to encourage Singaporeans to make healthier choices. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) will adopt a more ground-up approach to promote healthy living in schools, work places and the community. We will work with local communities to tackle obesity, smoking and HIV, while reviewing the effectiveness of our controls against harmful substances such as tobacco. We will expand the coverage and reach of our national health screening and follow-up care programmes.

We will remain vigilant against public health threats. The healthcare sector responded well when the H1N1 outbreak in 2009 and Japan's nuclear radiation leak in 2011 tested the system. Nonetheless, we will strengthen our knowledge and capabilities against a range of potential threats, including through the establishment of a School for Public Health at the National University of Singapore.

We will extend the range and coverage of healthcare services required to tackle the problems of cancer and chronic conditions (in particular cardiovascular diseases and diabetes), and conditions impacting the elderly by:

building new acute hospitals, community hospitals and nursing homes, and upgrading existing ones. This includes the development of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong Community Hospital, Yishun Community Hospital and a new acute hospital and community hospital in Sengkang;

introducing new models for primary care and rehabilitative care, and developing new capabilities in community care, mental health, and home care, so that Singaporeans can age-in-place in the community. We will build new family medicine clinics, medical centres and community care infrastructure and extend subsidies for these new care models;

integrating care for the elderly and people with chronic conditions so that their treatment is managed on an ongoing rather than episodic basis, and they can move seamlessly between providers, whether public, private or community, to get appropriate care;

raising the standard and quality of pre-hospital emergency care by better integrating ambulance services with the national health system.

To support these new care models, we will:

draw upon providers nationwide to deliver care to Singaporeans, through expanded portable subsidy schemes for the private primary care and charity-based long-term care sectors, supported by partnerships with the public sector entities. Private acute hospitals will have a greater role in serving the subsidised healthcare needs of Singaporeans;

enhance capabilities and capacity of the Intermediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC) sector, by strengthening the governance and regulation of healthcare providers, and supporting them to attract, recruit and retain capable staff. We will also facilitate the development of primary care providers, including general practitioners, to deliver integrated and team-based care;

continue to invest in training and upgrading our healthcare workforce and address recruitment and retention issues. Together with MOE, we are expanding the local medical intakes through the new Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and working on a new degree programme to upgrade our diploma-level allied health professionals at the Singapore Institute of Technology. We will increase scholarships for healthcare-related occupations and bring more overseas Singaporean professionals home;

help build organisational and systems-level capabilities to improve processes, quality and safety frameworks, and team-based care. We will exploit technology to facilitate cost-effective home and community-based care. This includes expanding call centre services, and implementing the next phase of the NEHR, which will include non-public sector providers, and allow Singaporeans access to their key medical information;

strengthen regulations, to ensure Singaporeans receive reliably high standards of care. The Health Sciences Authority will expand its scope of regulatory coverage to ensure that products and treatments are safe and effective.

We will assess our healthcare financing framework to ensure Singaporeans can afford the medical care they require, at the appropriate and cost-effective setting, while striking a balance with fiscal sustainability.

To strengthen the social safety net, we will look into:

expanding subsidies for outpatient care and for medication, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the low-income households, needy elderly with limited Medisave, amongst others. While continuing to target subsidies, we will rationalise and streamline the means-testing approaches. We will consider how to contain exceptionally high bills to give patients peace of mind;

further improving affordability of ILTC services, through enhancements to ElderShield and expansion of subsidies;

bringing more Singaporeans under MediShield, including the very old, the very young with congenital conditions, and those with psychiatric conditions;

facilitating a better understanding and control of medical inflation, by promoting transparency of billing and performance;

improving financial counselling and education on healthcare treatment options so that patients can make informed choices.

To raise our capabilities in the healthcare system, we will invest more in areas that will reap benefits in the longer term, such as geriatrics, rehabilitation and organ transplants. We will encourage biomedical research and innovations, to develop better and more cost-effective diagnoses and treatments for our patients.

Our population is ageing rapidly. We need to prepare our infrastructure, systems and workplaces so that Singaporeans can age-in-place within the community. Led by the Ministerial Committee on Ageing, the key strategies will include:

supporting Active Ageing, so that older Singaporeans remain active and engaged in society and the community;

significantly stepping up investments in the continuum of healthcare and social care facilities, including the development of home care and family support services;

recruiting and training manpower for the sector;

consulting and engaging local communities, so that ageing-in-place is a shared goal for the public and Government.

Safety and security are the foundation of Singapore's social well-being and economic growth. Over the past term of Parliament, our low crime rate was maintained and threats to our security were kept at bay. However, many challenges remain, and some new ones have emerged.

At the global level, extremist violence continues to be a serious concern. While the leadership of Al-Qaeda has been severely disrupted, it remains a potent force, and its franchisees are active in many parts of the world. Within our region, although there have been some successes against extremist groups, terrorist violence remains a very real phenomenon. In the digital age, terrorist groups continue to leverage on the internet, not only to propagate their virulent ideologies but also to broadcast operational tactics and techniques. Recent events in Norway remind us that the threats are multi-faceted and do not necessarily emanate from known adversaries.

In recent years, non-traditional security issues, such as infectious disease pandemics and the Fukushima nuclear incident have come to the fore. Dealing with these incidents has challenged our response capabilities at the whole-of-government level, and tested the level of preparedness of our communities.

On the law and order front, crime remains under control. However, there are issues we must address. Youth gangs remain a serious concern. Loansharking syndicates have grown bolder and are employing more dangerous tactics. Drug abuse is rising, due in part to the greater supply of drugs in the region, and also to changes in attitudes towards drugs among segments of the younger generation. Advances in technology are enabling and encouraging new types of criminality, such as cross-border telecommunications fraud.

The current crime and security landscape is set against a societal backdrop of global economic uncertainty, rapid demographic change and rising public expectations. In many parts of the world, the balance between rights and duties, and the relationship between the individual and state are shifting. Some of these changes are being mirrored in our society, influencing the attitudes, lifestyle and modes of expression of our population.

Over the next term of Parliament, the Ministry of Home Affairs will expand and deepen the capabilities and competencies of the Home Team. We will pursue five main strategies to ensure that we are prepared for the future.

First, we will augment our physical infrastructure and manpower resources to cope with increasing demands from a larger and more diverse population, and a more connected world. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) will establish a new Land Division Headquarters in Woodlands New Town and two Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) at Punggol and Woodlands West. The Police's investigation resources will also be enhanced significantly, with investment in additional forensics capabilities.

To meet the needs of the increasing number of travellers passing through our borders, the manpower resources of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will be increased. We will also expand the operational capabilities of the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA), to ensure that our casinos remain free of criminal influence, and that gaming is conducted fairly and honestly.

Second, we will update our operating models. The SPF will revamp its community policing model, deepening its engagement with the community to ensure that a strong sense of safety and security is maintained. Special attention will also be paid to detecting, disrupting and dismantling organised criminal groups.

The Singapore Prisons Service (SPS) will expand its aftercare and rehabilitation efforts beyond the prison gates, calibrated to the inmate's risk of re-offending. It will also seek to develop targeted programmes to address the rehabilitation needs of those specific categories of inmates whose recidivism rates have been consistently poorer than the general mainstream inmate population. These include repeat drug offenders who also pose a contaminating influence to more vulnerable persons, especially the young, in our society. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) will strengthen its cooperation with regional counterparts to disrupt the inflow of drugs into Singapore. CNB will also study how to better engage repeat and potential drug users with different profiles and backgrounds. CNB will be guided by an Inter-Ministry Task Force chaired by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of State for Home Affairs.

Third, we will build on our strong community networks and high levels of public trust. Over the years, our dedicated volunteers have worked alongside Home Team officers in policing, fire fighting, preventive drug education, rehabilitation of ex-offenders, and many other roles. We have built a 16,000-strong group of volunteers, and will engage even more people through the newly established Home Team Volunteers' Network.

The Community Engagement Programme (CEP), which celebrated its 5th Anniversary this year, will be expanded and deepened to reach a wider audience, including youths and new immigrants. We will empower communities to take greater ownership of their own safety, through self-help initiatives such as the Civil Defence Ready Home programme.

To help prisoners re-integrate into society, the SPS and the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) will partner community groups to enhance in-care and after-care efforts. They will mobilise grassroots volunteers to help families of inmates living in their district, and tap on community resources to act as role models for younger offenders.

We will continue to engage the private and people sectors through the Threat-Oriented Passenger Screening Integrated System Programme (TOPSIS), which brings together security and non-security personnel to improve the screening processes at our checkpoints against terrorist and other threats.

Fourth, we will increase investments in new technologies, and integrate the work of the Home Team departments more closely. We have created a geo-spatial "Operations Terrain Mapping" information sharing platform, which allows officers to have access to the combined terrain knowledge of all Home Team departments within each of their operational domains. The Police will introduce more CCTVs in local neighbourhoods to help prevent and solve crime. The ICA will test new screening devices and explore innovative clearance modes to clear travellers and cargo more efficiently, which will be implemented at new checkpoints in the coming years, including the International Cruise Terminal.

Fifth, we will continue to invest heavily in our people. We will significantly increase training in core areas, and create more opportunities for junior Home Team officers to pursue full-time academic upgrading programmes. To widen the pool of talent available and develop deep specialist expertise, MHA recently introduced the Home Team Specialist Scheme. We will create more specialist tracks in addition to the current areas of protective security, criminal intelligence and forensics.

The Home Team will continue to upgrade and re-invent itself, developing new and integrated ways of operating which leverage on the unique strengths of each department, and also on the collective energies of our community and external partners. With the support of Singaporeans and all our friends, we will continue to make Singapore our safe and secure best home.

The Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts (Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim): MICA's mission is to build a Creative People, a Gracious Community and a Connected Singapore. Singapore will be celebrating its 50th year of independence in 2015. We have achieved much economically and become a vibrant global city with world-class living environment and infrastructure. We need to focus equally on making Singapore an endearing home for our people and foster a strong sense of belonging and national identity.

Arts and culture serve as an important platform for us to celebrate our heritage and shared values. With this objective, MICA embarked on the Arts and Culture Strategic Review (ACSR) last year. One of the recommendations of the People Sector-led ACSR committee is to strengthen arts and cultural offerings, making it an integral part of everyday life for all.

In the next few years, we can expect more distinctive cultural icons. These include the refurbished Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall when they re-open in 2013 and the National Art Gallery in 2015 which will be the largest visual art institution in the region.

Under the Library 2020 Plan, National Library Board (NLB) will tap on public libraries as spaces for learning and knowledge sharing, as well as social touch-points for community engagement. NLB has embarked on the Singapore Memory Project to collect, preserve and provide access to the memory of our nation through the collection of memory contributions from different eras.

Infocomm has become an integral and indispensable part of everyday life. MICA will continue to leverage on infocomm as a social enabler to ensure that the benefits of technology percolate into different segments of society. The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) launched the People Sector Programme in 2010 to increase the awareness and savviness of the population in using infocomm. IDA works with strategic partners such as the PA, NTUC and NCSS to reach out to the community.

In particular, IDA is actively engaging communities that are less technologically savvy. Under the Silver Infocomm Programme, IDA has provided affordable infocomm training and customised curriculum for senior citizens. Nearly 45,000 elderly have benefited from this programme since its inception in 2007. IDA is also working closely with Special Education Schools to leverage social media and mobile applications as assistive learning tools for children with special needs.

The media landscape has evolved considerably, presenting new opportunities as well as challenges. New innovative Internet Protocol TV services will be enabled by the bandwidth of the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network. Singapore will also move from analogue to digital broadcasting. On the flipside, some unlawful and undesirable behaviour in the physical world have also spilled onto cyberspace. Cyber-bullying, anti-social behaviour and racially insensitive comments have made their way onto the Internet. Operating under a cloak of anonymity, some content creators also resort to lies and misinformation. It is crucial that community support for cyber wellness literacy is further enhanced. The cyber ecosystem can flourish into a constructive and civil engagement platform if a code of responsible conduct is observed by all.

As media choices proliferate with easy access to global content, MICA and the Media Development Authority will continue to refine our regulatory framework to safeguard community values and public interests. The production and delivery of Public Service Broadcasting programmes will be improved to better engage and serve the diverse viewing interests of our local audiences.

MICA plays an important role in driving and coordinating the whole-of government efforts in fostering an informed and engaged citizenry. MICA is working closely with government agencies to explore, develop and make greater use of social media platforms and mobile technologies to enhance communication and engagement with our people.

We will find innovative ways to connect with our citizens. The emphasis will be on building bonds and strengthening bridges around shared values so that Singaporeans can come together to discuss and deliberate on issues of concern and contribute constructive ideas to help improve Singapore. The objective is to ensure that our citizens' concerns and aspirations are heard, understood and considered in policy formulation. In this process, we hope to strengthen active citizenry and tap on the diversity of ideas to co-create better policies and programmes.

MICA will continue its capability development efforts to ensure that Singapore's talent in the Infocomm, Media and Design sectors remain competitive and relevant. MICA is committed to building enabling infrastructure to enhance Singapore's competitiveness and productivity.

A National Design Centre will be opened in 2013 to serve as an integrated hub to provide enterprises with the resources and opportunities to innovate through good design.

Singapore's Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure will be fully developed by 2012. This will position Singapore to offer new opportunities and attract new investments. To support the fast growth of data, the IDA is developing a Data Centre Park to offer a secure, efficient and cost-competitive environment for data centre operations.

The National Authentication Framework will be rolled out in 2012 to boost online trust and confidence against fraudulent access to online services. Singapore will also establish a general consumer data protection regime to safeguard individuals' personal data against misuse.

MinLaw will continue to strengthen Singapore's legal infrastructure and the vibrancy of its legal services sector, optimise the use of State land, and develop an Intellectual Property (IP) infrastructure that will ensure robust protection for IP and grow Singapore's IP services sector.

We are committed to ensuring that Singapore's legal system remains world-class and provides our citizens fair and efficient access to justice. We will continue to work closely with the Attorney-General's Chambers and other Government agencies to strengthen and invigorate the legal system, keeping it relevant and responsive to economic developments and the evolving needs of our society.

As part of these efforts, MinLaw introduced the new Criminal Procedure Code Bill to strengthen Singapore's criminal justice framework, and the new Coroners Bill to modernise the legal framework for coroners' inquiries and enhance the fact-finding process, in 2011. MinLaw will continue to regularly review our criminal and civil justice systems to ensure that these provide a foundation facilitative of fair and effective outcomes. Amongst others, the proliferation of new media has brought about new challenges to the rule of law. MinLaw will review legislation to deal with harmful and unlawful online conduct.

Another key component of a world-class rule of law framework is the provision of high quality legal services. MinLaw will ensure that Singapore's regulatory framework for the legal services industry responds to the needs of our growing, and increasingly cosmopolitan and sophisticated, economy.

We will continue to work with legal industry stakeholders and economic agencies to position Singapore as a key hub for the provision of legal services. We will introduce and develop initiatives and measures to deepen and broaden the range and quality of legal services in Singapore. Following the successful introduction of the Qualifying Foreign Law Practice Scheme in 2009, we will continue with the measured liberalisation of the legal services sector, including the issuing of further licences.

We will continue to promote Singapore as a venue of choice for international dispute resolution, particularly for Asia with its tremendous growth potential. We have brought in world-class arbitration institutions to operate in Maxwell Chambers, a dedicated, highly-regarded facility for alternate dispute resolution. We will work with these institutions and law firms – both local and foreign – to further enhance Singapore's attractiveness as an international arbitration venue. We will continue to ensure that the arbitration infrastructure in Singapore, in particular the legislation and facilities, remains world-class, is continually improved and keeps ahead of international developments.

As the demand for legal services in Singapore continues to grow, we will put in place measures to ensure that the supply of legal talent meets the demands of our economy. Professional standards will be raised, through initiatives such as mandatory continuing professional development, to be implemented by the newly established Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) in cooperation with the legal fraternity. We will also continue to promote Singapore as a regional hub for legal education, in collaboration with our local universities, the SILE and key economic agencies.

MinLaw will ensure that legal aid remains accessible to the needy. We will review the legal aid framework regularly to ensure that it is relevant and effective, including the funding that we are channelling to organisations providing civil and criminal legal aid to the public. We will also work closely with the Law Society and other partners to encourage pro-bono activities and grow the pool of volunteers from the legal profession.

To cultivate a more harmonious, civil and gracious society, we will continue to promote mediation as the first and preferred recourse for resolving social and community disputes. We will increase public awareness of community mediation. We will equip our community leaders with mediation skills and encourage youths to embrace mediation as a means to resolve disputes. We will improve the training framework to sharpen the skills of our volunteer mediators.

In the administration of bankrupts and debtors under the Debt Repayment Scheme, we have introduced various initiatives, such as financial counselling, job referral services and skills upgrading programmes. These initiatives will help bankrupts and debtors better meet their repayment obligations and expedite their discharge.

We will, in consultation with the industry, comprehensively review the corporate insolvency regime to incorporate relevant and useful developments in corporate insolvency law and widen the options available to businesses facing financial difficulty. These changes will be brought about with the introduction of a single piece of insolvency legislation governing both individuals and companies.

In the regulation of moneylenders and pawnbrokers, we have instituted more rigorous requirements for prospective entrants to the two industries and stepped up enforcement activities against errant licensees, to continue raising the standards of professionalism in the industries.

We will review our legislative framework and policies to ensure continued optimal use of Singapore's scarce land resources. In particular, we will optimise the use of State land and buildings to support the economic and social development of Singapore. We will rejuvenate State properties and open up suitable State land for use by businesses and the community.

We have implemented the central infrastructure for the Singapore Geospatial Collaborative Environment (SG-SPACE), and will continue to drive the development of SG-SPACE to enable the public, private and people sectors to share geospatial information and co-create innovative applications, thus encouraging the development of the local geospatial industry.

With IP becoming an increasingly valuable business asset in the global knowledge economy, MinLaw will develop Singapore as an IP services hub for the region, by reviewing our policies and programmes and attracting global IP service providers to Singapore. We will forge stronger partnerships with international IP bodies that will facilitate the global filing and protection of IP through Singapore. At the same time, we will groom a deeper pool of IP professionals with the requisite competencies, and work closely with the industry to support their efforts in creating, protecting and managing IP. Our IP legislation, including the enforcement regime, will be kept up to date with global developments, and be conducive to businesses and research and development investments, even as it continues to ensure the robust protection of IP in Singapore.

Our manpower policies aim to help Singaporeans secure good jobs, raise their skills and expertise, and enjoy sustained increases in their incomes in the coming decade. We are putting full effort into helping vulnerable workers improve their livelihoods. We will also ensure fair employment practices and safety at the workplace, and harmonious industrial relations.

We are shifting to quality, rather than increases in the workforce, as the basis of growth. Our resident workforce will grow more slowly, and the proportion of younger workers too will decline. We therefore have to focus our efforts on improving quality, in every job and for every age, as the basis for Singapore's economic dynamism and for sustained increases in Singaporeans' incomes.

We must tread a balanced path in our manpower policies. Our economy must remain welcoming to both businesses and talent from abroad, so as to create and sustain good jobs and meet the rising aspirations and capabilities of our people. We will at the same time seek to keep the overall share of foreigners in the workforce at no higher than one-third over the long term, and help businesses to adjust to the reality of a tight labour market. We will also work with our tripartite partners to ensure that Singaporeans have ample opportunities to develop their careers, and remain at the core of a diverse, globally competitive workforce.

With the concerted efforts of our tripartite partners, we are striving to achieve 2%-3% per annum growth in productivity over the decade. This is essential if we are to increase real incomes for Singaporeans broadly, including those with low incomes. The National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC) will coordinate and provide strong support for this national productivity effort. The $2 billion National Productivity Fund is helping industries implement specific roadmaps to improve productivity through market and business development, automation, better use of IT, job and process re-design and training.

We must promote a passion for lifelong learning. We will strengthen our Continuing Education and Training (CET) system to ensure the skills of our workers remain current and lay the foundation for further career progression. When completed in 2013, the two national CET campuses will provide opportunities for training and upgrading in all types of jobs, and comprehensive career services. We will also progressively raise the quality and standards of CET courses and trainers.

We will extend the coverage of our CET system to address the learning needs of all segments of our workforce, including those of Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs), who comprise slightly over half our resident workforce and will increase further in importance. Through the Skills Training for Excellence Programme (STEP), we will equip PMETs with both specialised and broad-based horizontal skills so as to enhance their career prospects and competitiveness.

Helping our more vulnerable workers contribute to and share in Singapore's progress will remain a key priority. We will take further measures to help them upgrade, secure good jobs and achieve higher incomes. We will review our Workfare schemes, which are central to helping lower income, older Singaporeans stay at work and enjoy better wages. We will also encourage companies to adopt responsible outsourcing practices, so as to ensure that the basic employment rights of low-wage workers are protected.

Singaporeans are enjoying better health. Most desire to stay active and work longer if they can. With longer life expectancy too, the prospect of outliving one's savings is a worry. We are addressing both these challenges.

To help older workers better prepare for their retirement years, the Retirement and Re-employment Act will come into force in January 2012. We will also assist companies to recruit, retain and re-employ older workers, with outreach and incentives to redesign jobs and work arrangements to suit the needs and preferences of an older workforce.

Together with our tripartite partners, we will review CPF contribution rates of older workers. CPF LIFE, which is mandatory for cohorts turning 55 in and after 2013, will provide members with an income for life. We will continue to improve the product features in CPF LIFE to ensure that it meets Singaporeans' retirement needs.

Tripartism is a key competitive advantage for Singapore, providing the basis for long-term investments, growth and job creation. We will renew and strengthen trust and co-operation amongst the tripartite partners and work together to effectively address the manpower challenges described above.

We will also work with our tripartite partners to develop guidelines that promote fair merit-based opportunities for Singaporeans, both in hiring practices and career development.

We will ensure that our system of enforcement and penalties provides sufficient deterrence to any attempt to circumvent our foreign manpower policies. We will be amending the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA) to strengthen enforcement, and hold employers and other stakeholders more accountable for the basic employment standards and well-being of foreign workers.

We are also conducting a holistic review of our foreign domestic worker (FDW) policies to improve the entry and recruitment of FDWs, and the experience of both employers and FDWs. We will also press on with our efforts to raise overall safety and health standards and reduce workplace fatality rate to less than 1.8 per 100,000 workers by 2018.

Our goal is to create an outstanding living environment, a City in a Garden, and a vibrant, thriving home for all Singaporeans. We commit to house all Singaporeans and to help them own their homes. Our home ownership programme is world renowned: 90% of Singaporeans own their homes, the vast majority in public housing. Unlike public housing elsewhere, our new HDB towns are comparable to, and often surpass, private housing in quality and amenities.

However, a sudden rise in housing prices following a sharp economic recovery amidst global liquidity has worried many Singaporeans. We are taking active measures to address the temporary imbalance in supply and demand, even as we keep a close watch on global uncertainties.

We are building more HDB flats and speeding up their completion. We have adjusted the income ceilings, so that higher income couples and singles can also qualify for public housing. Where possible, some of the new flats will be built in mature estates to widen choices and meet aspirations.

Some vulnerable families are unable to afford their own homes and will need subsidised rental housing. We are building more flats to meet such demand. However, building more rental housing is not the long-term solution as many of these families have deeper social problems. We will collaborate with social agencies to render holistic help.

For higher income Singaporeans, there is a thriving private property market to meet their aspirations. We are releasing more land for private housing and will calibrate our measures to ensure that prices move sustainably with the economy. We will amend the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Act to enhance transparency and accuracy of information on housing projects for buyers to make informed decisions. We have licensed estate agents and the Council for Estate Agencies will regulate and raise their professional standards.

In the next phase of public housing, HDB will strive for even better-designed and sustainable towns that have ample public spaces and community facilities so that residents can enjoy cleaner, greener and better living. HDB will tap on private sector expertise and public feedback to develop such sustainable towns.

For the mature estates, we will upgrade and rejuvenate them. As we complete the Lift Upgrading Programme, we are accelerating the Home Improvement Programme and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. We will also identify suitable sites for more intensified redevelopment so as to inject more housing in mature towns.

Beyond physical development, we will build stronger communities in HDB towns. Residents can take greater ownership of their living environment, for example in spearheading community gardening, taking care of community facilities such as the Punggol Waterway, promoting neighbourliness and practising responsible pet ownership. We are reviewing the Town Council Management Report so that it can better encourage and reflect how residents are participating in the daily affairs of their Town Council.

We cannot be certain what the future will bring. For example, food security and global warming may impact us in dramatic ways. But we can maximise the opportunities for our future generations by preparing well ahead. Through Concept Plan 2011 and the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint, we will adopt integrated and comprehensive land use and urban solutions to safeguard our quality of life.

To secure our food supply, we will further diversify our overseas food sources and raise local production, where feasible.

We will balance competing land demands to achieve sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes. We will create underground space and reclaim from the sea, wherever viable. We will also build infrastructure ahead of demand and start to prepare for new towns at Tengah and Bidadari. They will not be needed soon, but we are planning ahead so as to retain flexibility.

Our population will continue to grow and age. We will need new infrastructure to make Singapore a City for All Ages, friendly to both the old and the young. We will bring jobs closer to homes as new growth areas such as Jurong Lake District, Paya Lebar and Kallang take off. Housing will be gradually intensified, especially around MRT stations and in mature towns such as Queenstown and Bishan, to take full advantage of their excellent amenities.

As we undertake more complex construction and infrastructure projects in a denser Singapore, we will need to raise the capabilities and productivity of our construction industry. This is also to reduce our reliance on foreign workers. We will step up efforts in greening our buildings to make them more energy efficient and environmentally-friendly.

As we push on with new developments, we will collaborate with the community to preserve our key physical and social markers. These will anchor our treasured memories, and make Singapore an endearing home.

Even as we intensify land use, we commit to keeping Singapore a Garden City. In fact, we are raising our ambition as we strive to transform our Garden City into a City in a Garden. This is not a mere play of words. Besides the Singapore Botanic Gardens, we will soon have another world-class green icon in the Gardens by the Bay. We will create an extensive network of regional and neighbourhood parks, streetscape and skyrise greenery. We will embed greenery into our city and HDB towns. Our park connectors will link up parks and green spaces within neighbourhoods. We will introduce more native plant species and add biodiversity such as butterflies and hornbills to our urban habitats. Daily close encounters with nature will be Singaporeans' way of life.

We will realise this vision together. The Rail Corridor is one example where Singaporeans are coming together to co-create a green spine along the former KTM rail tracks. Such an approach of public involvement will be the MND way. Together, let us build a world-class city and a better home that Singaporeans are proud and passionate about. A place where our shared memories are celebrated and new spectacular memories are created.

Our careful environmental stewardship over the years has enabled us to build a high quality environment in Singapore for people to live, work and play in. It has been a source of competitive advantage. Looking ahead, to improve our resilience and responsiveness to a changing landscape, we will enhance resource efficiency, improve infrastructure, strengthen capabilities, elevate standards and empower the community.

It is a strategic imperative that we use energy, water and materials more efficiently to both reduce pollution and bolster Singapore's economic resilience. Energy efficiency is one of our key strategies to achieve environmental sustainability, energy security and economic competitiveness. For the industry sector, the Ministry will implement the Energy Conservation Act in 2013. Large energy users will be required to formulate energy efficiency improvement plans, appoint energy managers and to submit energy consumption data.

We must also extract greater value from waste as a resource. We will encourage businesses and households to optimise resource management by promoting new recycling initiatives and incentivising businesses to minimise waste. We are also undertaking a comprehensive review of our public waste collection system to encourage recycling and waste reduction, while continuing to ensure good service standards and affordability of disposal fees.

We will continue to invest in infrastructure to ensure a safe and vibrant living environment. We take a serious view of flooding and will make all necessary efforts to alleviate future incidents. With the help of a panel of local and overseas experts, the Ministry is conducting an in-depth review of all flood protection measures that will be implemented in Singapore over the next decade. In the meantime, we are continuing to enhance the drainage system and working with the public to ensure adequate flood protection for their properties.

We will continue to expand the Active, Beautiful and Clean or ABC Waters Programme to open up more opportunities for the public to take ownership of their environment and enjoy the beauty of clean waterways.

Hawker centres play important roles of providing affordable food and common social spaces for all Singaporeans to interact. Over the next few years, new hawker centres will be built to cater to higher demand from the growing population in our housing estates. We will improve cleanliness and hygiene standards across hawker centres and review our management approach to ensure the continued provision of good affordable food.

Working with the National Climate Change Secretariat, the Ministry and its partner agencies are committed to enhancing Singapore's resilience against the potential impacts of climate change. Based on preliminary studies, we will need to raise minimum levels for land reclamation by at least 1 m to create an adequate buffer against a potential rise in sea level.

However, achieving resilience is not a once-off effort. Climate science is dynamic and climate conditions in our region are challenging to forecast. To improve our understanding of future localised climatic conditions, we will develop capabilities in climate science and modelling within the Government. We will also form networks with relevant experts and institutions at the forefront of climate research.

Clean and liveable spaces have become part of life in Singapore and we must not take this for granted. We can and should elevate our standards of public cleanliness and hygiene.

We will be strengthening the cleansing regime and improving our standards of service and accountability to the public. However, public cleanliness will need to be sustained by the combined efforts of both Government and the community. We will partner Singaporeans by supporting community action and nurturing social graces.

We will review our noise standards and guidelines to protect public health and minimise nuisance respectively and will work with agencies to meet these levels in their respective sectors.

To stem the incidence of vector breeding, NEA's ground officers will complement their ongoing source reduction efforts with greater community engagement. In the case of dengue, where the most common site of infection is inside homes, we aim to raise awareness within the community of simple steps to reduce the likelihood of breeding sites and break the further transmission of dengue virus if infected.

In recent years, we have tightened our food hygiene regulatory and inspection framework for food operators. We will uphold the robustness of these efforts to ensure stringent levels of food hygiene are maintained. We are also exploring an extension of the smoking ban to reduce the impact of second-hand smoke on non-smokers.

Sustaining a quality living environment relies on more than tighter standards and infrastructure improvements – ultimately it is people who make a city sustainable.

We will explore how we can develop a more robust framework for environmental reporting by businesses and make environmental information more open to the public. We will consult more closely with the public on our policies, by developing more channels of communication. We will also continue to encourage good work by the community through our annual campaigns, cultivating strong environmental advocates and working closely with 3P (People, Private, Public) stakeholders to nurture environmentally-consciousness in our citizens.

Through our shared efforts, we hope to build a city where resources are managed with care and people, businesses and the environment can thrive. Together, we can build a lasting and liveable future for our children.

MTI will promote sustained and inclusive economic growth, to create good quality jobs and support higher standards of living for Singaporeans. Singapore will be a city of opportunities, where people and enterprises can grow and succeed.

Our sound economic fundamentals enabled us to successfully weather the global financial crisis in 2008. However, the external business and financial environment has taken a turn and become more complex and uncertain. Economic recovery remains fragile in key developed economies such as the EU and the US. This will weigh down global economic recovery. Some support will come from Asia, where opportunities for growth remain strong. Propelled by rising domestic demand, Asia is set to be a major growth driver for the global economy over the next few decades. Singapore is well positioned to ride on this growth. We sit at the heart of this dynamic region. Our strong economic fundamentals, wide network of trade agreements and reputation of being a trusted hub are strengths we will leverage on.

We will continue to re-position our economy to tap on new growth opportunities, strengthen it to weather greater volatility and build up capacity in our businesses to capture new market demands. Our people will need to upskill and our labour market needs to be flexible.

We will foster economic growth that is inclusive, by creating desirable quality jobs so that Singaporeans can enjoy higher salaries and living standards. We will invest more in our workers and equip them to take on higher skilled jobs through training and upgrading.

Our companies will also need to build capabilities to compete effectively in the new operating environment. SPRING Singapore (SPRING) will help SMEs raise their productivity and competitiveness. International Enterprise (IE) Singapore will continue to help our companies broaden their access to trade and investment opportunities in existing and new markets abroad. Together, SPRING and IE will help our companies grow into globally competitive companies.

We will step up our efforts to restructure our economy towards higher value-added and more productive sectors. We will continue to move up the value chain within existing major manufacturing clusters such as electronics, biomedical sciences and chemicals. In the services sector, we will expand the range of offerings in our key exportable sectors such as logistics and professional services. Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) will help our tourism enterprises raise the standard of their offerings, allowing them to offer value-added experiences and attract better yield.

We will continue to diversify our industrial portfolio to enhance the resilience of our economy. We will work with industries to leverage on innovation, technology and training as the basis for competitiveness and growth. The Economic Development Board (EDB) will grow emerging clusters such as clean technology, media, urban solutions and biotechnology, and seed new growth areas.

We will continue to transform Singapore into a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy where companies are at the cutting edge in their products, design, processes and services. The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will continue to build on Singapore's significant base of R&D capabilities, which companies can tap to enhance innovation and technology development. Through the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2015 plan, we will create a more conducive R&D environment, promote world-class scientific research and nurture talent to support our industries.

We will work to sustain our growth by putting in place the necessary infrastructure and improving on our enterprise-friendly business environment. The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) will continue to promote healthy and competitive markets for businesses. Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) will spearhead innovative industrial infrastructure solutions to overcome our land constraints and support economic diversification. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) will continue to enhance Singapore's energy security and competitiveness.

To help our companies access global markets, we will continue to extend our international networks. We will work within the World Trade Organization and regional platforms such as ASEAN and APEC to allow local companies to enjoy lower trade barriers, better connectivity with global supply chains and an enhanced environment for doing business.

We will continue to advocate free and open trade by expanding our network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). We will review our existing FTAs, especially those with key Asian economies, to ensure their relevance and accessibility to SMEs. We will also strengthen trade linkages to enable more companies to explore and seize opportunities in emerging markets such as South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Central Asia.

We will reinforce Singapore's position as the gateway to Asia and the best location for headquarters of global companies. Sitting at the crossroads of Asia, we have good connectivity, sound infrastructure, an Asia-ready talent pool, and an open and business-friendly environment. Singapore will be the preferred location for companies to deepen their understanding of the Asian consumer, and test-bed new products and services for the region. At the same time, we will make Singapore an attractive base for emerging Asian companies seeking to expand internationally. Together, this confluence of business activities will add to Singapore's economic vibrancy and provide opportunities for all.

We will create an attractive living environment for Singapore with a people-centred land transport system, and strengthen our position as a leading transport and logistics hub by enhancing our global connectivity. Over the next five years, we will see the realisation of substantial investments in our public transport infrastructure and significantly enhance the capacity and service levels of our rail and bus systems.

We are making steady progress in implementing the Land Transport Masterplan (LTMP). We will strive to achieve our mode share target of 70% for public transport by 2020 by delivering a high quality and integrated public transport system that is an attractive and viable alternative to the car for regular commutes.

The Government will continue to invest heavily to expand our rail network. Beyond the $20 billion invested in our existing rail lines and the $60 billion for the new rail lines committed under the LTMP, we are also finalising plans for additional lines and extensions beyond 2020 to improve the network and serve new areas.

We will develop a five-year action plan to improve bus capacity, service and connectivity. To improve bus service reliability, we will upgrade major bus stops and implement more bus priority measures. More integrated transport hubs will also be built to enhance bus-rail transfers and provide commuters with better real-time bus information.

To enhance commuter experience and the accessibility of our transport nodes, we will improve last mile connectivity, with more sheltered walkways, underground pedestrian networks and linkages to nearby buildings, especially in the city. There will also be more cycling paths and bicycle parking facilities at transport nodes.

To make our transport system more barrier-free and elderly-friendly, more MRT stations will have additional barrier-free routes through additional lifts inside stations or at overhead bridges near stations. Today, one in three bus services is wheel-chair accessible. In five years, this will grow to some eight in 10 services.

We will review both rail and bus financing frameworks to keep fares affordable even as services improve. The Public Transport Fare Adjustment Formula will be reviewed to balance affordable fares with an efficient and sustainable public transport industry. We will also ensure that public transport remains accessible to low-income groups.

We will continue to fine-tune our car ownership and usage measures. We will have to reduce the vehicle population growth rate further given the constraints we face in expanding the road network.

We will study measures to make Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) more effective and targeted. There is scope to fine-tune ERP application where trips are predominantly home-bound and some congestion is tolerable. We are looking into the possible implementation of a next generation ERP system based on Global Navigation Satellite System technology. Such a system will address the limitations of the current gantry-based system and increase the scope for real-time intelligent traffic management systems that can improve the driving experience.

The transport sector will do its part to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, and new schemes will be implemented to encourage the take-up of low-emission vehicles. After the 2011 Concept Plan Review is completed, it will be timely to review the LTMP and our rail and road infrastructure plans. We will work with key stakeholders over the next one to two years to develop an updated LTMP to guide key land transport developments over the next 10 to 15 years.

Our maritime and aviation sectors continue to be key pillars of our economy. We will continue to strengthen our maritime and air links and create a pro-business environment to grow these sectors.

The expansion of Pasir Panjang Terminal is proceeding on schedule. We will build ahead of demand to cater for future growth and ensure that our port continues to deliver a high level of service and operational efficiency. We will also continue to attract and anchor a core group of ship owners and operators in Singapore. This will in turn drive the growth of a comprehensive suite of maritime services and contribute to our growth as an international maritime centre. Greater efforts will also be made to align maritime research and education to build our expertise and intellectual capital in the sector.

The Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) is our economic lifeline. Keeping the SOMS safe and open to international shipping is critical. We will thus continue to work with the international community to enhance the safety in this important waterway.

Singapore's liberal aviation policy remains a cornerstone of our strategy. We will continue to pursue air services liberalisation at both bilateral and multilateral levels, including working through ASEAN.

Following the corporatisation of Changi Airport in 2009, we have seen the airport operator demonstrating greater focus and nimbleness in meeting the needs of airlines and passengers and growing air traffic. We will ensure that Changi Airport continues to meet high service standards by expanding and enhancing airport infrastructure ahead of demand, and remains a hub of choice. We will also continue to pursue initiatives to enhance aviation safety and security for the travelling public, addressing evolving challenges in these areas.

To develop the wider aviation industry, we will continue to roll out programmes and initiatives that enhance productivity and innovation, and work to ensure a ready pool of talent for the sector.

The global economic environment has become more uncertain. There is a general lack of confidence that the major advanced countries have the will to address the structural problems that underpin their weak economic growth and unsustainable fiscal positions. In this environment of heightened risk and volatility, MAS will continue to provide the basis for economic and financial stability in Singapore.

The headwinds from slower global growth will mean slower growth in Singapore in the next few years. Headline inflation has been rising in recent months, although the core inflation rate which better reflects increases in costs of living for most Singaporeans has risen more slowly. Core inflation, excluding the imputed costs of existing owner-occupied homes and costs of private transport, has been lower at 2%-3%. Both headline inflation and core inflation are expected to moderate towards the end of the year. But we must remain vigilant against a resurgence of cost pressures.

A stable Singapore dollar is an anchor of stability for our small, open economy. Continued judicious management of the effective exchange rate of the Singapore dollar against a trade-weighted basket of currencies will help dampen inflationary pressures while supporting economic growth in an uncertain and volatile external environment.

Financial markets globally have remained fragile since the crisis of 2008, amplifying the effects of both financial and non-financial shocks. The dynamics of contagion can affect all markets. MAS will stay vigilant against emerging risks, and enhance surveillance of the financial system. We will conduct regular stress tests on our financial sector, and work with MOF and other agencies to secure overall financial stability.

We will continue to strengthen the resilience of financial institutions in Singapore, including banks and insurance companies, and ensure the proper functioning of our capital markets and financial market infrastructures. Banks will be required to maintain prudent capital buffers, in line with, and in addition to Basel III minimum requirements. The risk-based capital framework for insurance companies will be enhanced.

New liquidity standards will be introduced and we will evaluate how best to strengthen our bank resolution regime. We will implement G20/FSB mandated regulatory reforms in the trading of OTC derivatives.

For retail investors, safeguards in the sale of investment products will be strengthened. We will also step up financial education efforts to empower investors to make informed decisions.

We need stronger policy coordination and cooperation among countries to address global challenges to economic and financial stability. We will continue to participate actively in international organisations, such as the International Monetary Fund and international policy-making forums, such as the G20, Financial Stability Board (FSB) and policy committees under the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Singapore's engagement and repute internationally will serve us well in times of uncertainty and stress.

The economic centre of gravity continues to shift towards the East. The rise of Asian conglomerates will increase the demand for financing, treasury and risk management services. The region's infrastructure demands will drive capital market funding needs. Wealth accumulation in emerging Asia will create demand for investment management.

Singapore is well placed to shape and contribute to these shifts, and grow as one of the leading financial centres in the region. The financial industry will remain a key growth engine for the Singapore economy, creating good jobs and meaningful careers. As global financial institutions seek to expand and hire in Asia, we will continue to deepen our talent pool and build strong and distinctive capabilities in finance.

Climate change is a major challenge for all countries, including Singapore. As an island state, we must stand ready to deal with the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels. As a responsible member of the global community, we will also play our part to lower carbon emissions. We must work to achieve these goals while safeguarding our standard of living and our economic competitiveness.

We will enhance our understanding and expertise in climate science, and build up Singapore's resilience and adaptability to climate change in key areas such as coastal protection, water resources and drainage, biodiversity, public health as well as urban infrastructure.

We will reduce our carbon emissions in two main ways: first, greater use of less carbon intensive fuels, and, secondly, improved energy conservation and efficiency. This will require us to promote energy efficient design, equipment and processes in industries, transport, buildings and homes. To support this, the Government will invest in infrastructure as well as in research and development of low carbon technologies for deployment in Singapore. Businesses and households will also have to change their practices and lifestyles respectively to be more environmentally sustainable.

Singapore's experience and expertise in addressing the challenges of climate change will generate new economic opportunities in emerging industries, such as clean energy, carbon services and energy services, as well as in existing industries. We will work with the business community to seek out and capitalise on such opportunities locally and abroad.

We need a national effort to address climate change. The people, private and public sectors need to work closely together. The Government will continue to adopt a consultative and inclusive approach with all stakeholders. Together, we will strengthen our readiness to address climate change and grow Singapore along a sustainable, low-carbon pathway for ourselves and our future generations.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Teo Chee Hean):

The National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) will work with other Government agencies to address the challenge of shaping a sustainable population for a dynamic country. In doing so, NPTD will ensure that Singaporeans' interests come first, and that our society remains resilient, cohesive and integrated.

Singapore is a small but open economy that operates in a globalised environment. To remain successful, we must continue to tap on a global blend of people and ideas to move Singapore ahead and in doing so, create more opportunities for Singaporeans. We will adopt the twin strategy of welcoming talent to augment our economic vitality, while emphasising education and training to equip Singaporeans to advance confidently in the global economy.

Immigration has helped to address our declining fertility and inject vibrancy in our economy and society. At the same time, we must ensure that Singaporeans' sense of belonging and national identity remain strong. We will continue to manage the pace of immigration to ensure that immigrants are assimilable, of good quality and can be well integrated into Singapore society.

We will also work with other Government agencies to plan in an integrated manner for social and physical infrastructure that will match the needs of the population.

Getting married, starting a family and having children remain important life goals for many Singaporeans. We will continue to promote a pro-family environment to support Singaporeans in realising these life goals. We will continue to engage Singaporeans who are overseas so that they stay connected to Singapore and fellow Singaporeans.

The Government is committed to looking after the interests of every Singaporean. Building a resilient, cohesive and integrated society will require our collective efforts and commitment. Together, we can build a better and distinctly Singaporean home for ourselves and generations to come.

The National Research Foundation (NRF) seeks to strengthen Singapore's R&D capabilities, encourage greater innovation and nurture the growth of technology-based enterprises in Singapore. This will help Singapore to remain competitive and create high value jobs and prosperity for Singaporeans.

Since the establishment of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC) and the NRF in 2006, Government Ministries and agencies have been actively engaged in R&D and innovation to enhance service delivery and foster stronger economic growth. Our universities have raised their international profiles for research excellence and academic entrepreneurship, attracting more partnerships and providing more opportunities to their students. Renowned foreign institutions have set up a significant R&D presence in Singapore, helping Singapore to establish herself as a global R&D hub. This will help us to attract talent and generate intellectual property, and enhance our international competitiveness.

There are two major thrusts for the next five years under the NRF2015 Strategic Plan. Thrust 1 aims to strengthen the research, innovation and enterprise foundation that was built up in the first five years. Thrust 2 seeks to bring together the considerable R&D expertise in diverse areas in Singapore built up over the years to develop solutions to major national challenges that would have global applicability.

Singapore's long-term aim is to be among the most research-intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial economies in the world in order to create high value jobs and prosperity for Singaporeans. Increasingly, intellectual capital will be critical for our next phase of economic development.

The NRF adopts both a "top-down" and a "bottom-up" approach. In the top-down approach, three strategic areas of research were identified. These are areas in which Singapore has a unique competitive edge to seek a leadership position.

The Biomedical Sciences Translational and Clinical Research (BMS-TCR) programme to translate basic research into treatments for patients.

The Environment and Water Technologies (EWT) Programme 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 to leverage on Singapore's strong foundation in ICT and education to create innovative niches with a focus on games and edutainment.

To complement the "top-down" approach, NRF also encourages the best ideas to surface "bottom-up" for Singapore to identify new areas of research and pre-position ourselves for new industries. Some specific programmes are enumerated in the following paragraphs.

The five Research Centres of Excellence (RCE) supported by NRF and MOE are expected to be among the top research centres worldwide in their respective fields within a decade of establishment. They help to orientate our universities from teaching universities to internationally competitive research-intensive universities that are attractive to researchers and students. They will train some 800 PhD students and post-docs, adding significantly to the local talent pool in multi-disciplinary research. They will contribute to generating knowledge and innovation that could be commercialised.

The NRF Fellowship programme supports top young scientists, local and foreign, to undertake research in universities and research institutes in Singapore. These NRF Fellows will not just generate breakthrough ideas, but will serve as role-models and catalysts to develop an environment and culture that spawns new knowledge and innovation. Since 2007, 38 fellowships have been awarded.

The Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise (CREATE) is a research hub where some of the world's best universities have set up research centres here, drawing together the best of research talent from around the world to work with our own. CREATE will house some 1,000 researchers of diverse cultures and backgrounds from top research institutions, universities and corporate labs.

The Competitive Research Programme (CRP) provides opportunities for local researchers from the universities and industry to obtain substantial research grants. Thirty-one projects in diverse fields have been awarded. Some projects have made significant scientific discoveries which could lead to the creation of novel applications.

Innovation is key to sustainable economic growth, and hi-tech start-ups are responsible for most breakthrough innovations, jobs and wealth creation. The National Framework of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NFIE) will help Singapore translate the treasure trove of knowledge from our tertiary and research institutions into applications and products.

Singapore's size, well-developed infrastructure and a highly efficient and integrated government enable our country to effectively tackle large, complex problems. Our solutions will also be useful to other cities facing similar challenges. One example is our water industry, which has been able to deploy their expertise globally.

A major new R&D thrust for the next five years is the "National Innovation Challenge" which harnesses our multi-disciplinary research capabilities to address complex national challenges in innovative and cost- competitive ways. This would not only help solve Singapore's own problems and make life better for Singaporeans, but also spawn new businesses to exploit opportunities abroad.

The first National Innovation Challenge is "Energy Resilience for Sustainable Growth" which aims to develop cost-competitive energy solutions for deployment within 20 years to help Singapore improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and increase energy options. Two more such challenges are expected to be identified in the near future.

Research and innovation underpin the competitiveness of our industries, catalyse new growth areas and transform our economy. Working with other agencies, the NRF seeks to create a self-reinforcing innovation eco-system in Singapore, which will provide the basis for sustainable economic growth into the future.

Terrorism remains a persistent threat. Recent terror attacks in Indonesia, India and Norway are clear reminders that acts of terrorism are not exclusively associated with any one sector of the ideological spectrum. "Lone Wolf" terrorists, who act without formal links to an established terrorist organisation, aided by easily available tools and methods propagated by the Internet, are much more difficult to prevent. Besides terrorism, the incidence of cyber attacks has escalated over the years and the consequences are becoming increasingly significant.

Our security agencies have remained vigilant but we cannot be complacent. The National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS) promotes collaboration across Government agencies to mitigate threats in a holistic manner across domains such as aviation, maritime, land transport, critical infrastructure and cyberspace. A collaborative approach creates synergies between agencies and optimises the use of scarce resources.

A well coordinated Government response has to be complemented with the participation of all Singaporeans. NSCS continues to organise and coordinate national security awareness and outreach programmes to engage all segments of our society. Collectively, we must be able to withstand an attack, bounce back and recover quickly should the worst come to pass.

Technology is an effective force multiplier. Given Singapore's limited resources, we need to harness advanced technologies to address threats to our national security. The National Security Engineering Centre (NSEC), set up in partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), supports this through a national security technology roadmap that prioritises and develops technological applications.

NSCS has developed a Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning (RAHS) capability to raise Singapore's strategic anticipation capability, and to promote cross-domain and cross-agency sharing of perspectives on national security.

The Public Service Division (PSD) aims to build a first class Public Service that is efficient, empathetic and effective to help Singapore be a cohesive, vibrant and exceptional country.

Even as we tackle current challenges, we are keeping an eye on the future. The Centre for Strategic Futures, set up in 2009, conducts research on emerging risks and opportunities. This helps the Public Service think long-term and strategically, to respond quickly to fast changing circumstances.

The Public Service must remain open to ideas and our officers empowered to effect change and improvement. PSD is experimenting with new tools such as Design Thinking, to reframe issues and design policies and services from the perspective of citizens and customers.

The rapidly changing environment means that public officers need new competencies. PSD and the Civil Service College will systematically prepare our officers so that they possess the right experience, instincts and competencies to engage and build partnerships, in economic regulation and operating in the international environment. We will send more officers on attachments and secondments to community-based agencies such as the Community Development Councils so that they learn to develop and implement effective policies with both the head and the heart.

PSD will work with MICA to prepare our officers to be more active and adept at understanding, engaging and connecting with a more active and engaged public to foster win-win partnerships.

PSD will strengthen our leadership development programmes to grow bold, inspiring and transformational public sector leaders to spearhead dynamic and effective organisations that are adaptable to changes in the local and global environment.

PSD will work with public sector agencies to attract and retain people with the passion to serve and build Singapore through a career in the Public Service. We will work with the Public Service Commission to attract and develop a fair share of the brightest and most committed young people through scholarships. Our internship programmes have grown in popularity, attracting Singaporeans studying locally and abroad.

Annually, about 1,200 officers will benefit from public sector re-employment guidelines, which have been in place since 1 July 2011 ahead of the national legislation.

We will continue to imbue in our officers a sense of pride in the Public Service so that they always serve with integrity, service and excellence. We will promote the formation of communities of practice, and a Service-wide Intranet to encourage our officers to better connect and share good practices.

PSD will help our public officers to work hand-in-glove with the community to harness their ideas for solutions, thereby creating greater public value and better outcomes. This will help develop a society with greater citizen and stakeholder ownership through a constructive partnership between the Public Service and the public we serve.