PM Lawrence Wong's Press Conference with Singapore Media on 8 Nov 2024

Singapore must work harder to find like-minded partners in less hospitable world: PM Wong

By Danson Cheong, Assistant News Editor, The Straits Times, 8 Nov 2024

Foreign policy issues might not be “top of mind” for many Singaporeans but how the Government advances Singapore’s interests abroad is critical to the country’s ability to survive and thrive.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said this on Nov 8, pointing out that as the global environment grows more fraught, Singapore needs to work even harder to strengthen its network of friends and partners. It will also need to work with like-minded countries to shape international norms and rules, and find common ground on issues of shared concern.

Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, PM Wong laid out an overview of the geopolitical challenges that Singapore is facing, including wars in Ukraine and Gaza, tensions between the US and China, and the weakening of established norms and multilateral institutions.

“That is why we see growing zones of impunity, where state and non-state actors are able to push for what they want with little or no consequences,” he said.

How the Government navigates this is critical to making life better for Singaporeans, PM Wong told reporters at the National Press Centre in Hill Street.

“Foreign policy is critical to our ability to survive and to thrive. It is about how we can stay relevant and expand our networks and ensure that our little red dot can keep shining, even in a more dangerous and turbulent world,” he said.

“In the end, everything we do, whether it is domestic or foreign, comes back to how we can make life better for Singaporeans, and that remains the focus for me and my team,” he added.

His comments come just days after US President-elect Donald Trump made a stunning political comeback, defeating Vice-President Kamala Harris to win a second term as the US’ top leader.

But Trump’s impending return to power has triggered anxiety among the US’ partners and allies over the potential security, trade and geopolitical implications of a second Trump term.

During his campaign, Trump said he would end the war in Ukraine, and he has accused President Joe Biden of giving Israel insufficient support.

He also vowed to slap tariffs of 60 per cent or more on Chinese imports and at least 10 per cent on goods from all other countries.

Asked about the implications of these potential barriers to trade, PM Wong said this is a concern, pointing also to the European Union’s recent decision to increase tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles.

“Trade is three times our GDP (gross domestic product). We are an open economy, we are a trading economy, we would be concerned in a world where there are more and more frictions to trade overall,” said PM Wong.

He pointed out that while there may be situations where countries would apply tariffs, this should be done within a proper framework, with trade disputes raised with an institution like the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

But he added that it has been difficult to get countries to support efforts to revamp and strengthen the WTO, even under the current Biden administration.

He also said this is why Singapore is also trying to “do more around Asean and other regional forums” to keep trade barriers low.

Since he became prime minister in May, PM Wong has been on a slew of overseas trips.

He has attended the Asean summits in Laos and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, and has visited South-east Asian countries including Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. He added that he hopes to visit Thailand later in 2024.

He is also expected to visit Peru and Brazil later in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Group of 20 summits, respectively, and said he could visit the remaining Asean countries and India in 2025.

When asked about the implications of the recent US presidential election, PM Wong said on Nov 8 that he believes the Government would be able to continue to work well with the new Trump administration, pointing out that both countries extended a memorandum of understanding on defence during the last Trump term.

“We continue to grow our trade and investment links between Singapore and the US in a very productive manner. So I think, bilaterally, we look forward to working closely with the new team,” he said.

PM Wong also reiterated concerns about the trajectory of the US-China relationship, pointing out that while America remains a pre-eminent power in many areas, China is rising.

“America has to decide what to do with this, to treat this as an existential threat, and therefore to contain China, or to embrace China and accept China as a major power in its own right,” he said.

On the other hand, China needs to consider the responsibilities it needs to undertake to uphold the international order now that it is the second-largest economy, he added.

The decisions these two major powers make will shape the future global order, he said, adding that, where possible, Singapore will do its part to facilitate a relationship where both sides can engage and find a way to coexist with each other.

He also said that while the American security umbrella continues to be relevant and provide stability for the region, more Americans are raising questions about why the US has to bear the cost of its international responsibilities.

“We understand that, and that’s why we do not take this for granted,” he said, adding that this is why Singapore supports not just America’s security presence in this region, but also greater American economic engagement.

The recent US presidential election also laid bare the political divisions within the country, and PM Wong was asked about whether he was concerned these tensions would spill over to Singapore.

PM Wong said in many countries, elections are leading to outcomes where society is more divided and polarised – and in a situation like this, there is no winner.

“In the end, everyone is worse off because it makes it harder to govern, and it makes it harder for countries to move forward,” he said.

Singapore has put in place guard rails for this, recently updating its laws on deepfakes and digitally manipulated content of election candidates, said PM Wong.

But he added that it is also vital for the Government, political parties and Singaporeans to work together to ensure that society is not divided and polarised.

“We try our best not to go down the path of political populism, opportunism, but find ways to keep our society strong, united and maintain that high level of trust, because that’s essential for Singapore to stay relevant and to survive in this new world,” he said.

PSA Singapore breaks ground on new $647.5 million Supply Chain Hub at Tuas Port, scheduled to be ready by 2027

PSA's new supply chain hub aims to establish Singapore as preferred port of call

By Kok Yufeng, Transport Correspondent, The Straits Times, 18 Oct 2024

Port operator PSA broke ground on a new $647.5 million Tuas warehousing facility equipped with advanced robotics and automation systems on Oct 18, as part of its efforts to sharpen Tuas Port’s competitive edge.

Construction of the new facility comes as Singapore looks set to handle a record-breaking container volume of 40 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024.

Spanning more than 185,000 sq m and located within the limits of Singapore’s new mega port, the new PSA supply chain hub is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2027.

Speaking at an event to officially mark the start of construction work, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the hub will improve the Republic’s ability to handle cargo shipments.

PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, said the new hub will have facilities to handle dangerous goods, as well as goods that require cold storage. This will allow it to process higher-value cargo, such as pharmaceuticals and chemicals that require special handling.

“Currently, businesses that want such services have to truck their cargo out of the port, incurring duties, and then truck it back to the port for shipping again. This takes time, and it adds up to additional costs,” he said.

With the new supply chain hub, companies will be able to tap these specialised cargo handling services under one roof within the same free trade zone as Tuas Port, he noted. Custom duties are not charged on goods that are stored in such free trade zones.

“We want businesses to use Tuas Port as a convenient and efficient one-stop shop, not only for their physical goods but also as a control tower to manage their inventory and global supply chain flows,” PM Wong added.

Construction of the facility comes as competition gets increasingly sharp in the shipping industry.

PM Wong said other major ports like Shanghai and Rotterdam were upgrading their infrastructure to serve larger vessels and attract “mega” shipping alliances.

He added that many ports around the world are also offering services beyond just moving containers. These include cold storage facilities and regional distribution centres.

Furthermore, unlike ports in countries with large production and consumption bases, Singapore has no hinterland of its own, he added.

In this environment, Singapore cannot afford to be complacent and has to sharpen its competitive edge to remain the “preferred port of call”, PM Wong said.

“We must continually invest not just in the Port of Singapore but also in value-added capabilities so that we can keep on adapting and staying abreast of changing trends.”

These trends include the growing scale of shipping, with ships today built to carry up to 25,000 containers, compared with 500 to 800 containers in the 1950s, he said.

Shipping alliances, which allow major container shipping lines to share vessels, port calls and trade routes, are also growing bigger, he said.

What this means is that ports will need to have the infrastructure to handle large ships and large numbers of containers efficiently. Ports will also need to add value to shipping alliances to attract the large fleets they operate.

“The major alliances today hold over 80 per cent of the world’s container shipping capacity. Changes in their service networks could significantly affect traffic to hubs like Singapore,” PM Wong added.

Singapore’s port terminals handled a record 39 million TEUs in 2023 and hope to cross 40 million TEUs in 2024, he said. Vessel arrivals and bunker volumes have also risen in the first nine months of the year.

The completion of PSA’s new supply chain hub in Tuas in 2027 will coincide with the closure of Keppel Distripark, which specialises in the consolidation and distribution of cargo.

PM Wong said the new hub will expand the capacity currently available at Keppel Distripark, allowing Singapore to attract more trade.

He added that there will also be “many more developments” in the coming years to ensure Tuas Port can continue to serve the largest container vessels.

Terror attack foiled: 17-year-old self-radicalised Singaporean arrested weeks before planned attack in Tampines

Youth shared radical materials with his social media followers

By Samuel Devaraj, The Straits Times, 18 Oct 2024

A 17-year-old Singaporean supporter of terror group ISIS was arrested just weeks before he could carry out his plan to kill non-Muslims in Tampines.

And this was a very close shave, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam on Oct 18.

The youth, who was from a mainstream school, had planned to carry out his attack during the September school holidays and practised stabbing motions with a pair of scissors.

He was arrested in August under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

He had traced his steps from his home to an open area in Tampines Street 81, near supermarkets, provision shops and coffee shops, a children’s art school and a tuition centre, where he had planned to stab non-Muslim men.

The teenager chose this HDB heartland area near Tampines West Community Club as it was crowded and near his home.In a press statement on Oct 18, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said he was issued a two-year order of detention in September.

The teen had also planned to travel to Syria to fight, said ISD. He had got in touch with an online foreign contact for travel advice and researched flight routes.

The youth saw his plan to fight in Syria as meaningful, as he would be able to fight and die with fellow ISIS fighters to establish an Islamic state in Syria, ISD added.

He knew it would be difficult to travel to Syria without arousing the suspicions of his family, ISD said. So, he decided to strike here, a plan that he felt would be easier to carry out and fulfil his aspirations to be a martyr.

Speaking to the media at the site of the planned attack, Mr Shanmugam said thousands of people walk through the area daily, and it would have been more crowded during the school holidays.

The minister said: “He knew that he would be intercepted by the agencies, the police. He had made up his mind to die in the course of the attack. He wanted to become a martyr.

“I would say this was a very close shave. It is very fortunate that ISD arrested him in time.”

Mr Shanmugam said that compared with past cases, this was one of the plans that came closest to being carried out.

He said the youth was detained because of the extent of radicalisation and how close he was to carrying out his plans.

He said: “It is very easy to attack people here. People are defenceless. They are not coming here expecting to be attacked.

“People go around in Singapore feeling safe, so you could easily have gone on a rampage and killed a lot of people around here.

“Look at the kind of people who are around. Kids are playing, senior citizens are resting. They are easy targets for such an attacker.”

ISD said the youth came across the teachings of foreign radical preachers in August 2023 while searching for religious knowledge online.

He embraced segregationist religious beliefs, including the view that Muslims should not extend festive greetings to non-Muslims.

ISD said that following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, online extremist materials by ISIS increased, and he became self-radicalised.

ISD added that he joined online groups that provided updates on ISIS activities, and believed in the use of armed violence to establish an Islamic caliphate.

By January, he aspired to die as a martyr while fighting for the group.

In May, he took a bai’ah or pledge of allegiance to ISIS in his room.

The teen was inspired by ISIS propaganda, which glorified suicide knife attacks, ISD said.

Besides the pair of scissors, he considered using a kitchen knife in his home to stab people in the neck to kill or wound them.

Said ISD: “He felt a sense of pride knowing that his planned attack, if successfully executed, would be the first terrorist attack in Singapore in recent decades.”

The teen had crafted a declaration of armed jihad against non-Muslims, which he planned to release before his attack, to inspire other Muslims to engage in armed violence.

Restoration of East-West MRT Line services a combined effort by foreign workers, contractors and volunteers

East-West Line disruption from 25 to 30 Sep 2024

By Esther Loi, The Straits Times, 6 Oct 2024

It was a race against time for Indian national Dhandapani Vignesh and his rail welding crew to finish joining new rail segments in about three days to fix a section of damaged tracks between Jurong and Clementi stations.

Originally contracted to work on depot renewal projects under the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the 36-year-old construction manager, together with 20 other foreign workers from his team, were alerted at 7pm on Sept 26 that they were being roped in to repair the damaged tracks.

The day before, a train had caused extensive track and trackside damage along a stretch of the East-West Line (EWL), halting rail services between Jurong East and Buona Vista.

The team immediately got down to work, putting in nine- to 10-hour shifts from Sept 27 to 30 to finish welding – or connecting – the new rail segments to existing ones along the westbound track so that trains could run smoothly again. The new rails replaced the ones damaged by the faulty train.

The disruption, which lasted six days till Sept 30 and affected about 2.6 million passengers, was one of the most severe rail disruptions in the 37-year history of Singapore’s MRT system. Train services resumed on Oct 1.

Despite the pressure of the task at hand, Mr Vignesh mused that he literally “did not feel the heat much” as rail welding, which involves heating rail segments placed between ceramic moulds to join them, was done in the shade in tents.

The main challenge, he added, was having only a limited working timeframe – from around 2.30pm to midnight daily. Welding was not possible at other times of the day since the rails would expand in the daytime heat and eat into the 30mm gaps required to insert welding materials.

Mr Vignesh and his team were also heartened by the steady stream of cold drinking water almost every hour and fast-food meals provided by LTA, rail operator SMRT and even members of the public.

They were among the more than 800 workers responsible for getting the EWL train services up and running again.

Former transport minister S. Iswaran’s 12-month prison term underlines intrinsic value of public trust

The integrity of our public institutions is paramount and serves as the lynchpin for our faith in governance.

By Eugene K B Tan, Published The Straits Times, 5 Oct 2024

Integrity underpins good governance. It’s a non-negotiable. When public trust erodes, the country risks descending into dysfunction, as accountability falters, and public institutions lose legitimacy.

For many in Singapore – and around the world – the high-profile case of former minister S Iswaran was seen as an anomaly here, and yet at the same time a litmus test of the integrity of our system and governance.

Last week, Iswaran pleaded guilty to four Penal Code Section 165 charges, which make it an offence for a public servant to ask for or accept gifts as a public servant from someone with whom he has an official business relationship, and one charge for the obstruction of justice. Thirty other charges under Section 165 were taken into consideration in sentencing.

On Oct 3, Justice Vincent Hoong sentenced Iswaran to 12 months’ jail – twice the six to seven months the public prosecutor had argued for and about six times what the defence had put forward.

In his view, anything else would be a “manifestly inadequate sentence”.

The message was clear.

The paramount importance of trust and confidence in public institutions was writ large and robustly reiterated in the High Court’s 94-page ruling.

Perceptions and public institutions

At one level, the sentence underscores the court’s strong stance against any offence that undermines trust and confidence in public institutions.

Even perceptions of influence peddling by gift givers or abuse of office are highly detrimental as they have an insidious effect on public trust and confidence.

Perceptions often operate as reality. In other words, the harm caused can be significant even from perceptions. This is a reasonably compelling position to take.

The public interest in the integrity and trustworthiness of public institutions, which is necessarily hard-earned, is undermined and easily dissipated by perceptions that individuals could enjoy the patronage of public servants, or that public servants are susceptible to influence by pecuniary benefits. As such, perceptions of unethical conduct or unlawful actions must be vigorously avoided.

Is this too high an expectation and standard of public servants and public institutions?

Not at all. The public sector is such a vital part of our lives and its impact significant in all that we do. Should it fall into disrepute, governance can only become awry.

Notably, the judge recognised that distrust in the public sector can arise not just from outright corruption but also where public institutions become the target of influence peddling, the lack of impartiality in decision-making, and being prone to dispensing patronage.

Justice Hoong put it well: “The swift denunciation of such offences is necessary to deter the acquisition or cultivation of the patronage, loyalty or goodwill of public servants by valuables for the perceived benefits of persons with dealings connected to the official capacities of public servants”.

Zero tolerance

But this was also a case that demonstrated the various public institutions and the rule of law at its best even though the matter was hugely embarrassing for the Government and ruling party.

The judge found that Iswaran had abused his high office.

The mitigating factors he put forth, including his public service and contributions to Singapore, the voluntary disgorgement of benefits received, and a guilty plea at the start of the trial, did not sway the sentencing in his favour.

The judge made it clear that persons in high office with the “associated power and status” should generally be regarded as having acted with more culpability in abusing their position to obtain valuable gifts.

The investigation, prosecution and outcome of this case align with the longstanding position of zero tolerance of corruption.

Any doubt that there has been a wavering of the commitment on incorruptibility across the whole of government or that preferential treatment was accorded to Iswaran should now be banished.

No one to share the load when mum and dad get sick

Unlike in larger families where caregiving load can be spread out, an only child faces immense stress and is more likely to suffer burnout

By Elizabeth Law, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 28 Sep 2024

On a Tuesday afternoon at a coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio, Mr Glenn Poh returns to his waiting mother with two drinks: one hot and one iced. She picks the iced lemon tea.

“All my life she never used to drink cold drinks but now, she always wants something iced. It’s like she’s a small kid again,” he says of his 74-year-old mother, Madam Tan Sow Meng, who has Alzheimer’s disease.

As the only son, Mr Poh took it upon himself to look after her, personally navigating the twists and turns of caring for an ailing parent.

“Whatever needs to be done needs to be done. It’s because I was raised like this,” he says. Having seen how his mother cared for his late father after a stroke, he knew he wanted to do the same for her.

In Singapore, with its rapidly ageing population and cultural norms of filial piety, many adult children find themselves thrust into the role of caregivers.

Life can be put on hold when mum or dad falls ill, and those without siblings or other home help can find themselves shouldering the whole load.

Data shows there were at least 128,800 only children with mothers above the age of 50 in 2023, more than triple the 39,800 in 2003.

In a population of 5.92 million, 1.36 million people have mothers above the age of 50. While the number of only children is just a fraction of that total, researchers and social workers warn that unlike in larger families where the caregiving load can be spread out, only children face immense stress. Among other health challenges, they are more likely to experience burnout.

A stout man with a buzz cut dressed casually in a polo shirt, shorts and sliders, Mr Poh, 44, is unfailingly polite. He says “thank you” or “pai seh” (Hokkien for “sorry to bother”) to anyone he interacts with, and thanks The Straits Times team profusely at each of our three interviews.

He talks about his days in a methodical way, ticking off each activity as if going down a list. He says drawing up lists and “standard operating procedures” helps him find structure amid the uncertainty and constantly evolving nature of his mother’s condition.

But ask him about challenging moments, and his upper lip quivers.

The week before, rather than take her shower at the usual time, his mother fussed around with throwing away rubbish and lighting the oil lamp at the family altar.

“I shouted at her, and I asked her to go and take a bath, which she did. By the time she came out of the bathroom, I apologised but she didn’t remember. I regret it when I lose my temper with her because she cannot remember,” he says, tearing up.

“So it’s not a good feeling. Because you did something wrong, but you’re not able to make up for it.”

He admits this often happened in the initial stages, especially when he had unrealistic expectations about his mother’s condition, and became frustrated that he could not do more to help her.

Political leaders, public service must work hand in glove to deliver a good government: SM Lee Hsien Loong at the Annual Public Service Leadership Ceremony 2024

To be effective, public servants must understand political context, changing environment in which Govt functions: SM Lee

Public service must stay impartial as it renew ties with new leaders

By Goh Yan Han, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 18 Sep 2024

Public servants must understand the political context in which the Government functions to be effective, but cannot get embroiled in political debates, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sept 17.

As the public service renews its relationship with a new generation of political leaders, and Singapore does its best to renew its systems amid a changing world, good policies and good politics will continue to be key, he said.

But the public service has to stay impartial and out of politics, he said, addressing more than 850 public servants at the Annual Public Service Leadership Ceremony held at The Star Theatre in Buona Vista.

He noted that the public service does not make policies in a “technocratic vacuum”, and must be aware of the external, strategic environment in which Singapore exists, the national challenges the country faces, the hopes and concerns of the people, as well as the overarching national objectives the Government is striving to achieve.

But he cautioned: “The public service has to stay out of politics. Public officers cannot get embroiled in political debates, or party politics. You need to stay impartial.”

In his speech, SM Lee sketched out the roles of Singapore’s public service and its political leaders, and the relationship between them.

The country must have a public service driven by the right values and ethos, with the capability and operational know-how to design and implement the right policies, and continuously improve and innovate.

And public servants must also work hand in glove with a political leadership that has the political courage, conviction and touch to convince and inspire people and win their mandate.

“To deliver what is very rare in the world, but what Singaporeans have shown we can do – good government and steady progress,” said SM Lee.

These factors have contributed to Singapore’s success since its early years of nationhood, he noted.

The public service is principally concerned with making and implementing policies – a very demanding task, noted SM Lee.

“Unless this hard work is done, and done well, all our goals and ambitions will remain empty slogans, and the Government will fail to deliver results to Singaporeans,” he said. “That’s why it is vital to have a competent, professional and high-quality public service.”

Ministers must master policies

Singapore’s political leadership is principally concerned with the political aspects – ministers set the overall direction for the nation, with the best interests of the country and its citizens at heart, he said.

They also make political choices on how the country should move forward, and hold their own in the political contest.

Jobseeker Support scheme to start from April 2025 for Singapore workers who earned $5,000 or less a month

SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme to benefit around 60,000 Singapore residents per year

Eligible involuntarily unemployed persons will receive up to $6,000 over six months

By Tay Hong Yi, The Straits Times, 28 Aug 2024

About 60,000 jobless Singapore residents will stand to benefit each year from a new job seeker support scheme to be rolled out next April.

To be eligible for the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support, they must have earned $5,000 or less a month on average for the duration of their previous employment within the last 12 months. They also cannot live in a property with an annual value of more than $25,000.

The annual value of property is the estimated gross annual rent if it were to be rented out, according to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

They will receive up to $6,000 over six months, starting with $1,500 in the first month, and subsequently tapering down, if they meet the requirements.

However, the monthly payouts are capped at an individual’s previous-drawn monthly salary, and they stop once the jobless person finds work.

Those who have received payouts will not be able to make another application within three years of their last scheme payout, but there is otherwise no limit on how many times they can be covered by this scheme.

They must also have worked for at least six out of the 12 months preceding their application for the scheme, which will be implemented by Workforce Singapore (WSG).

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng unveiled the scheme’s eligibility criteria during a visit to the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability in Jurong East on Aug 27 to witness a career coaching class.

This follows Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s announcement on the maximum duration and payout of the scheme during his maiden National Day Rally speech on Aug 18.

More than 60 per cent of those who are involuntarily unemployed, which broadly refers to those who did not initiate their termination from previous employment, are set to qualify. They include those who are retrenched or dismissed, or whose companies have gone bust.

The scheme will be open to Singaporeans aged 21 and above at launch, before being extended to permanent residents aged 21 and above from the first quarter of 2026.

The Government will also provide a one-off concession to Singaporean job seekers who lost their jobs on or after April 1, 2024, and remain so even when the scheme kicks off in April 2025, despite them having not worked for at least six of the 12 months before their application.

Fewer than 2,000 people are expected to fall under the concession, a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) spokeswoman told reporters at a media briefing on Aug 27.

She also said the scheme, which will be reviewed regularly, is expected to cost about $200 million a year.

The $5,000 wage threshold, at slightly above the median gross monthly income of $4,550, was set to ensure that lower- and middle-income workers would be covered, she added.

Asked if the cap on monthly payouts to an individual’s previous-drawn monthly salary would mean job seekers previously earning less than the payouts have less support despite being more in need, she said the cap is meant to ensure that workers will not try to get involuntarily unemployed to earn more than their pay.

“It’s very important to come back to the principle that we want people to bounce back into employment... So, in order to do that, what’s most important is that the person holds on to the job, and the payout quantums do need to be designed in such a way as to incentivise this,” she added.

MOM and WSG said in a joint statement issued on Aug 27 that the scheme comes with support for an individual’s job search beyond the payouts, and complements other training and social support schemes.

“The payout quantum is not sized to meet the needs of households facing financial distress as a result of a household member becoming involuntarily unemployed, as (SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support) is not a social assistance scheme,” they said.

This means job seekers can still benefit from social support schemes such as ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA).

ComCare SMTA provides temporary financial aid and other forms of help to tide recipients over tough times as they are looking for a job or are ill, among other reasons.

MOM and WSG said those who undertake reskilling or upskilling can still receive additional training allowances that they qualify for separately, such as the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance.

Those receiving payouts will also need to demonstrate that they are actively seeking a job, such as through submitting job applications, attending career coaching, or participating in eligible training courses.

Asked to elaborate on how someone can show he is doing so, a WSG spokesman said: “I think these are details that we are still working on, but very broadly speaking, we do expect applicants to submit some form of documentation, and we will check this documentation.”

He added that more details will be shared closer to the launch date.

In response to a question from The Straits Times on whether eligible job seekers would be invited to apply for the scheme, the WSG spokesman said the agency already reaches out to employers who cut jobs to tell them about the support that affected workers can tap, which would include the new scheme moving forward.

In his speech, Dr Tan said the scheme marks a paradigm shift for the Government, in providing interim support to others who may face financial pressures when involuntarily unemployed, beyond the most vulnerable in society.

Government looking into cost-of-living concerns, taking better care of seniors: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong

100 days as PM: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's press conference with local media on 23 August 2024

Govt studying how to tackle cost-of-living concerns, take better care of seniors: PM Wong

More help for larger families, needs of sandwiched group being explored

By Wong Pei Ting, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2024

Tackling cost-of-living concerns and taking better care of seniors are two key areas of focus for the Government, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Aug 23.

In a press conference five days after his maiden National Day Rally speech, PM Wong said he is looking into longer-term care for seniors and their housing needs. This is a big issue that will continue to grow as more people age, he noted while outlining what Singaporeans can expect in the months ahead.

Besides helping older seniors who are in their 70s or 80s, there will also be support for their children – younger seniors who are entering or in their 50s and feel “sandwiched” with both ageing parents and children to look after, he said.

On cost-of-living concerns, PM Wong said his Government is looking at doling out more help to specific segments of the population, including those with larger families and more young children, where “costs add up quite quickly”.

Such additional support will add to broad-based schemes such as CDC vouchers, and cost-of-living payouts and U-Save rebates that target the lower- and middle-income groups.

During the press conference at the National Press Centre in Hill Street – PM Wong’s first after he took office as Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15 – he said there are different aspects to the cost-of-living issue, which is a major concern.

There are day-to-day expenses such as groceries, food and daily essentials, as well as big-ticket items like housing, he noted.

Asked if the Government will provide more CDC vouchers, given that the $300 in vouchers to be disbursed in January 2025 is less than the $800 given to each Singaporean household in 2024, PM Wong replied: “We haven’t had the 2025 Budget yet. That’s next year.”

PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, added: “So whether or not there will be more CDC vouchers, I think everyone should just wait and see what is in the Budget announcement.”

The Government will continue to review how best to provide appropriate support, whether through broad-based or targeted measures, he added. “And we will do so in the Budget in 2025.”

At the rally on Aug 18, PM Wong had set out a major reset of policies, which included granting more paid leave for new parents, giving temporary financial help to lower- and middle-income workers who lose their jobs, and updating the Gifted Education Programme.

PM Wong said he had sought to flesh out, in more concrete terms, the aspirations and hopes that Singaporeans have shared during the Forward Singapore engagement exercise.

These are underpinned by two key pillars, he said – a renewed social compact and a refreshed Singapore Dream.

The renewed social compact relates to how all Singaporeans will get support despite their setbacks in life and get a fair shot in life, said PM Wong.

“At the same time, everyone has to do their part, work hard, make the effort to excel and uplift their families,” he said.

“If they do that, the Government will be there to support them every step of the way and help them to get ahead,” he added.

PM Wong said the refreshed Singapore Dream relates to how Singaporeans can find their own paths and not have to compare with one another.

“We can all be the best possible versions of ourselves,” he said. “In other words, we can thrive and flourish on our own terms and in ways that are less prescribed and more open.”

Realising these two shared goals requires a “major reset” of certain policies, attitudes and mindsets, he said.

Besides studying measures to help seniors and to address cost-of-living concerns, PM Wong said, his Government is also looking out for other issues that Singaporeans care about.

This is why regular engagement with Singaporeans is a very important aspect of his work, he added.

Since taking office, he has embarked on visits to several districts across the island. These are “very good opportunities for me to meet residents and to hear first-hand their perspectives and feedback”, he said.

PM Wong noted that he had previously committed to hold press conferences from time to time to share his thoughts with Singaporeans through the media.

He said he thought it useful to hold a press conference at this juncture, to take stock of what his Government has done and what is next on the agenda.

He also said he will continue to hold dialogues with different segments of society, and engage Singaporeans through social media and press conferences such as this one.

These engagements can help everyone see a common picture of why the Government is embarking on certain plans, where the nation is heading towards, and what everyone can do in big and small ways to realise a shared vision, he added.

“This is the commitment from me and my team,” he said.

“We are here to listen to you, understand first-hand your concerns, hopes and dreams, and build a stronger, more meaningful connection with every Singaporean.”

Asked if he had met his priorities after 100 days in office, PM Wong said his key priority after taking over was to think about the new directions that his Government would set to take Singapore forward in its next lap, and what that would mean for Singaporeans.

He took reference from the Forward Singapore exercise, and the rally was where he sought to “crystallise” these shared ambitions in clearer and more concrete terms, he added.

On the foreign policy front, PM Wong said he will, in the months ahead, visit more Asean countries before making trips to the country’s key partners outside of South-east Asia.

He is also set to attend a few international summits, including the Asean Summit in Laos from Oct 6 to 11, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru in November, and the Group of 20 summit in Brazil from Nov 18 to 19.

PM Wong said it is important for him to meet leaders of other countries in his new capacity to establish good personal relations with them, as this will set the tone for Singapore’s overall relationship with those countries.

PM Wong also said he will find future occasions to elaborate on Singapore’s foreign policy and the external environment.

“It’s important for me to engage Singaporeans on these issues because I think everyone needs to understand what’s at stake, especially on critical issues where our collective security and fundamental interests are involved,” he said.

“We must be able to come together as one people, despite our differences and perspectives, and take a common, pro-Singapore position to advance our national interest together.”

National Day Rally 2024: A Singapore Where We Realise Our Dreams

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong sets out major reset of policies and his vision for Singapore

By Goh Yan Han, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 19 Aug 2024

New parents will have more paid leave while lower- and middle-income workers who lose their jobs will get temporary financial help, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as he outlined his vision for a refreshed Singapore dream.

In his maiden National Day Rally speech on Aug 18, PM Wong said the nation has reached a stage where everyone wants a Singapore where people thrive on their own terms, in ways that are less prescribed and determined; and where people support one another.

“Realising our new ambitions will require a major reset – a major reset in policies, to be sure; but also a reset in our attitudes,” he said.

PM Wong also pledged to look after various groups of Singaporeans, including the elderly, families and lower-income households, while asking for the people’s support in charting a new way forward amid an uncertain geopolitical environment.

The policy shifts will unfold over several years, he said, adding: “To achieve our shared goals, I need your help. Because making the lasting changes we are aiming for will require a mindset shift in all of us.”

PM Wong, who was sworn in as Singapore’s fourth head of government in May, said he has not changed, despite the bigger responsibility.

“I may be Prime Minister. But I’m also a fellow citizen and friend, sharing the same experiences and concerns as all of you,” he said in his address to the nation in Malay, Mandarin and English at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio.

“I am here to serve you and our country and I pledge to give my all to this endeavour.”

As Singapore writes the next chapter of its story, the country will have to contend with profound changes such as the intensifying rivalry between America and China, rapid technological disruptions and climate change, he said.

Recounting how founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew had once said the country needs a government that is both prudent and bold, PM Wong said his team will adopt the same approach.

“We will be prudent. To honour and respect the past, to uphold the fundamentals that have served us well, and remain relevant to us. But we must and we will be bold.”

He added that the Government will look for fresh and better solutions, and choose the best way forward for Singapore.

One such shift is the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme to help lower- and middle-income workers who are involuntarily unemployed, for instance when they are retrenched or their companies go bust.

This scheme, first announced at the 2023 Rally, will provide temporary financial support for such workers – up to a total of $6,000 over a period of up to six months.

These workers will also have to do their part, by going for training, career coaching and job matching services, said PM Wong.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng will provide more details about the scheme later.

Another key pillar of the speech centred on support for families, through more paternity leave and shared parental leave.

While paternity leave had been doubled from two to four weeks earlier in 2024, the additional time was voluntarily offered by employers.

From April 1, 2025, this will become mandatory, said PM Wong.

He also announced that parents will get an additional 10 weeks of shared parental leave, which can be utilised by fathers or mothers.

This will replace the current arrangement where husbands can share up to four weeks of their wives’ 16 weeks of maternity leave.

The new initiative will start with six weeks for babies born from April 1, 2025, and be increased to the full 10 weeks a year later, said PM Wong, as he stressed the need for a change in mindsets.

“Some of us still believe that fathers should be the exclusive breadwinners, and mothers, the main caregivers. That has to change,” he said.

PM Wong also called for attitudinal shifts in education, noting that while Singapore has a solid education system, it is also competitive and can lead to anxiety, pressure and stress.

“It’s important to refocus on the objectives of education: it’s about sparking a joy for learning; and helping every child realise their full potential,” he said.

Moves have been made in recent years to improve the education system, such as changes to the Primary School Leaving Examination scoring system and the removal of streaming – policies once termed as “sacred cows” by observers that have since seen new approaches.

Another longstanding policy will be updated after 40 years.

PM Wong said the current form of the Gifted Education Programme in primary schools will be discontinued, and replaced with a new approach that will equip all primary schools with their own programmes to stretch their own high-ability learners.

“This is a significant change. But it is also consistent with our philosophy in education… Whatever the start points, we will help everyone to learn, develop and grow, and realise your full potential,” said PM Wong.

Harking back to one of the themes of the Forward Singapore conversations, he also stressed the Government’s commitment to providing multiple pathways to success.

PM Wong said he wants to see a Singapore “where we don’t pigeonhole, or typecast, people based on their backgrounds or the schools they go to”.

“Where everyone can strive and excel, take pride in what they do, and be recognised for their efforts and work. Together we can make this happen.”

Turning to housing, he acknowledged the concerns of many Singaporeans about housing prices.

The Government is pressing on with efforts to make flats more affordable, he said, announcing that the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant will be increased, in particular for lower-income groups. The grant currently gives eligible first-timer families up to $80,000 to buy their new or resale flat.

“This is my assurance to all young Singaporeans… we will make sure that there is an HDB flat that is within your budget, in every region. We will always keep public housing in Singapore affordable for you,” he said.

On the infrastructure front, PM Wong unveiled the Kallang Alive Masterplan that is meant to unlock the full potential of the Sports Hub and the surrounding area, and strengthen the sporting culture in Singapore.

This includes building a new indoor arena, moving the Sports School over from Woodlands, consolidating the national training centres for several key sports under one roof, and having a community boulevard with sporting facilities and programmes.

Concluding his speech, PM Wong reiterated his belief that Singapore’s best days lie ahead of it.

“We have new ambitions to pursue. We are taking bold steps to turn our hopes into reality. We can be a society where every citizen is respected, every voice is heard, every dream is nurtured,” he said.

“We can be a nation where everyone can flourish, thrive, and be the best possible version of ourselves.”