Written Answers to WP's Oral Questions
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik
Commercial And Sectoral Opportunities For Singapore SMEs Following Timor-Leste’s Accession To ASEAN
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry following Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN (a) what commercial and sectoral opportunities has Enterprise Singapore identified for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to launch operations; and (b) what support mechanisms are being deployed to facilitate SME market entry in Timor Leste.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Timor Leste is in the early stages of implementing the Roadmap for Timor-Leste’s Full Membership in ASEAN, following its accession to ASEAN on 26 October 2025. It is undertaking the necessary domestic reforms towards a more accessible, transparent and predictable economic environment.
While it is premature to identify specific commercial and sectoral opportunities for Singapore companies in the country, Enterprise Singapore will extend facilitation support to companies with interest to set up or expand in Timor-Leste.
SMEs looking to expand their operations overseas, including in Timor-Leste, can access government schemes such as the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) and Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS).
Uptake Of Hawkers’ Productivity Grant For Adoption Of Automation And Digital Solutions
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what is the current uptake of the Hawkers’ Productivity Grant; (b) whether NEA tracks the number of hawkers who have adopted automation and/or digital solutions; and (c) what plans are in place to increase the adoption of technological solutions that can help hawkers reduce overhead costs.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The National Environment Agency’s (NEA) Hawkers’ Productivity Grant (HPG) provides co-funding to stallholders at hawker centres for automation equipment and digital service solutions. As of 31 December 2025, around 1100 cooked food and 50 market stallholders have benefitted from the HPG. About two-thirds of all stalls now accept e-payment solutions.
In addition to the HPG, NEA’s Productive Hawker Centres (PHC) programme facilitates stallholders’ transition to automated solutions that raise productivity, such as centralised dishwashing. The programme provides stallholders with funding support of up to 70% of centralised dishwashing fees for four years in existing hawker centres, and up to 50% for two years in new hawker centres. As of 31 December 2025, all 16 new hawker centres built after 2011 and 10 existing hawker centres have implemented centralised dishwashing under the PHC programme. NEA will continue to review its programmes to support stallholders in adopting technological solutions.
Measures To Monitor And Carry Out Enforcement On Littering In Public Parks
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what measures are currently in place to monitor littering in public parks; and (b) whether the Ministry plans to increase enforcement patrols in public parks to deter littering.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The National Environment Agency (NEA) and National Parks Board (NParks) monitor the cleanliness situation in public parks through ground surveillance and public feedback. To address littering issues, agencies take a targeted approach, focusing on hotspots with persistent cleanliness issues and repeated feedback. Measures taken include stepping up the frequency and visibility of enforcement patrols and deploying additional surveillance cameras at hotspots. Educational banners and standees with anti-littering messages are also put up to remind park users to exercise social responsibility.
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim
Penalties For Those Caught In Possession Of, Producing, Or Disseminating Explicit Images Of Actual Children Versus AI-Generated Material
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs whether the Government will legislate differential penalties for those caught in possession of, producing, or disseminating sexually explicit images of actual children versus AI-generated material.
Mr K Shanmugam: Possession, production, and dissemination of sexually explicit images of children are offences under the Penal Code. Offenders are liable for mandatory imprisonment and discretionary caning upon conviction.
These offences cover computer-generated child abuse material, including AI generated images of children. In 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) amended the Penal Code to make clear that the Prosecution need not prove that an actual child was used in the production of the computer-generated material. It is an offence so long as the image resembles a real child.
MHA does not intend to amend the offences in relation to child abuse material, as the Member seems to propose, to make the penalties for AI-generated child abuse material less severe than those using real children. This expresses our society’s strong stance on protecting children from sexual predation.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat
Simulated Total Defence Exercise For Complete Communications Blackout Affecting Internet, Cellular And Broadband Networks
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) whether Total Defence exercises have simulated a complete communications blackout affecting Internet, cellular and broadband networks simultaneously; (b) what contingency channels exist for Government-to population messaging if all digital networks are disabled; and (c) whether the Ministry will provide battery-powered transistor radios to every household as a civil defence measure, given that analogue radio does not depend on internet or cellular infrastructure.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: One of the aims of Exercise SG Ready, is to get Singaporean organisations and individuals to plan for disruptions. This year’s exercise focused on disruptions to power and digital connectivity. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) worked with government agencies and participating organisations to decide on the extent of simulated disruptions. This year, we simulated a partial disruption. We assessed this was sufficient to get participants to be more aware of potential disruptions, and to plan and prepare for such occurrences, without overly affecting businesses and daily life.
For resilience against a total blackout of all digital and communications channels, there must be different communications channels with different layers of redundancies. This minimises the chance of a total communications blackout where all channels are knocked out at the same time. This year’s exercise provided a platform for agencies to test contingency communications channels. The Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF’s) public warning system and the ERP2.0 On-Board Unit notification were activated to alert Singaporeans to the broadcast of an important message. The message was then broadcast on free-to-air TV channels, local radio
broadcasts, and digital channels such as the Gov.sg WhatsApp. We also reminded the public that they could tune in to FM radio broadcasts if free-to-air TV channels and digital channels become unavailable. Those who do not have access to an FM radio and are unable to obtain the information through other means can receive updates at community nodes such as community centres. There are currently no plans to distribute battery-powered FM radios to every household.
We will continue to review and improve our emergency preparedness exercises and systems for crises and disruptions. The scenarios and extent of disruption for future exercises will continue to evolve based on different scenarios, our needs and potential challenges.
Official Data Collection For Traffic Accidents Involving Workers Transported In Course Of Employment
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what processes exist to notify the Ministry of traffic accidents involving workers transported in the course of employment, where no work injury compensation claim is filed; (b) whether such incidents are assessed as workplace accidents; and (c) whether the Ministry accounts for potential under-counting of work-related transport injuries and fatalities to the extent its data collection methodology relies on claims-based notifications.
Dr Tan See Leng: The Ministry of Manpower's (MOM’s) workplace injury statistics do not cover employees who were not performing work duties at the time of accident, such as while being transported to work or between workplaces. This ensures that our workplace injury statistics accurately reflect risks that are directly related to the work activity.
Notwithstanding this, for the purposes of work injury compensation, employers are also required to report to MOM all injuries from traffic accidents involving workers travelling between workplaces or using company-provided transport for commuting to work. This is to ensure that workers’ livelihoods are protected from the impact of such accidents. A claim is automatically initiated once the employer is aware of the accident and submits the report, ensuring timely compensation for workers.
Status Of Joint Multi-Mission Ship Programme That Was To Replace Endurance-Class Landing Platform Docks
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) what is the current status of the Joint Multi Mission Ship (JMMS) programme announced by then-Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen in 2014 to replace the Endurance-class landing platform docks; (b) whether the RSN’s Endurance-class vessels remain operationally safe given they are approaching end-of life; and (c) when will the Ministry provide the next substantive update on the progress of the JMMS programme.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The RSN has various programmes to ensure the safety and operational readiness of its ships. These include comprehensive and regular maintenance regimes that are in line with industry standards and best practices, and life-extension programmes for refurbishment and modernisation.
Our Endurance-class Landing Ships Tank (LSTs) remain operationally safe and fit-for-mission. We believe that they will continue to serve Singapore well into the 2030s. We will provide further updates on the LSTs’ replacement, closer to the date when they are due to be replaced.
Mr Fadli Fawzi
POFMA Action On Allegedly AI-Generated Youtube Video On 17 January 2026 About Prime Minister Wong
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) why no correction direction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 (POFMA) was issued in respect of an allegedly AI-generated YouTube video on 17 January 2026 that made claims that "Singapore's Lawrence Wong's resignation is a foregone conclusion"; and (b) whether the source of such videos will be investigated.
Mrs Josephine Teo: The member is likely referring to YouTube accounts that recently published a large volume of AI-generated videos containing fabricated claims about Singapore’s foreign policy and domestic politics.
It would be clear to Singaporeans, and those who live here, that the videos contain entirely made-up storylines about Singapore’s current affairs. The Government’s statement on this issue was reported by Lianhe Zaobao and Channel NewsAsia. Additionally, most of the videos and accounts that we were aware of have been removed by YouTube for contravening the platform’s own community guidelines against misinformation and spam. Given this context, we did not issue POFMA correction directions for these videos.
As is typical of such disinformation campaigns, similar videos and accounts have resurfaced. The Government will work with platforms to review and investigate these videos.
POFMA is an important tool against online falsehoods, but a well-informed and vigilant public remains our first line of defence. Public education is crucial in equipping Singaporeans with skills to verify online content. We urge Singaporeans to check official sources for accurate information, and not to forward content from unknown or unverified sources.
Framework For Determining When Economic Conditions Warrant Broad-Based Payouts To Households
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether the Government has a formal framework for determining when economic conditions warrant broad-based payouts to households; (b) if so, what key indicators are considered; and (c) if not, whether the Ministry will consider publishing such a framework to improve transparency and predictability.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: For broad-based payouts, the Government considers various factors, including the latest economic and inflation outlook, the overall size of fiscal injections, whether certain groups of households need more help, and fiscal sustainability. This allows the Government to take both a quantitative and qualitative approach and be more responsive to prevailing conditions, while sharing with Singaporeans the benefits of our economic growth.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song
Cooling-Off Period For Re-Polling In HDB Blocks That Failed HIP Voting
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether HDB will formalise a standard cooling-off period and timeline for re-polling in HDB blocks that fail the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) threshold by a margin of three votes or fewer; and (b) what are the reasons for not adopting a simple majority threshold for such essential upgrading works.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The review of the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) voting process is ongoing and will be done in such a way that balances between helping older estates to benefit from the HIP, while respecting the decision of flat owners.
Currently, a minimum of 75% support is required from flat owners for HIP to proceed for their block. This is because many of the essential improvement works, such as the replacement of waste pipes, require the works to be carried out within the resident's flat and also affect other residents in the block.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong
Update On Heavy Vehicle Zero Emissions Scheme, Including Public Trials Of Hydrogen-Powered Heavy Vehicles And Developing Refuelling Infrastructure
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Acting Minister for Transport for an update on the Heavy Vehicle Zero Emissions Scheme launched in January 2026, including the timeline for public trials of hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles and the development of the necessary refueling infrastructure to support them.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: As of end-February 2026, two months since the launch on 1 January, 119 electric heavy vehicles have been registered under the Heavy Vehicle Zero Emissions Scheme.
Electrification remains the most commercially and technologically viable decarbonisation pathway for the land transport sector. We will continue to monitor technological developments and study the feasibility of adopting hydrogen and other cleaner energy technologies.
Purchase Incentives To Encourage Adoption Of Electric Motorcycles
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Acting Minister for Transport given that electric motorcycle adoption remains stagnant at 0.2%, whether the Ministry will introduce upfront purchase incentives similar to the EV Early Adoption Incentive for cars to address the significant price gap between electric and internal combustion engine motorcycles.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: We have no plans to introduce purchase incentives for electric motorcycles as there are electric motorcycles that are of comparable pricing to the mass-market ICE equivalents in the market today. The low adoption of electric motorcycles could be due to their shorter driving range compared to their ICE equivalents, and other factors like the lack of an adequate fast-charging or battery charging and swap station network.
Written Questions
Mr Fadli Fawzi
Statistics On Part 9 Of AMLA Police Reports, Investigated Cases And Investigation Outcomes In Past Decade
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in the past 10 years (a) how many police reports have been filed for suspected offences under Part 9 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act 1966; (b) how many have been investigated; and (c) what have been the investigation outcomes, as broken down by the number classified for (i) no further action (ii) issued with police warning and (iii) referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Mr K Shanmugam: From 2016 to 2025, there were four police reports made for suspected offences under Part 9 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA). In one case, the Police, in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), administered a warning to the person involved. In another case, the person was prosecuted and convicted in court.
Investigations are ongoing for the other two cases.
Top 10 Peak Hour Traffic Congestion Junctions In Singapore And Measures Towards Congestion Relief
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Acting Minister for Transport as of January 2026 (a) what are the top 10 traffic junctions with the highest volume of peak hour traffic and congestion in Singapore; and (b) whether any steps will be taken to relieve congestion at these traffic junctions, such as reviewing traffic light timings.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Major junctions near expressways or major arterial roads leading to and from key commercial and industrial zones typically have the highest peak hour traffic volume.
Our adaptive traffic light system, Green Link Determining System (GLIDE), adjusts traffic light signals based on prevailing traffic conditions to improve traffic flow. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will continue to leverage on technology, such as predictive artificial intelligence, to enhance traffic management.
Ms He Ting Ru
Ministry's Plans For New Or Updated Mental Health Studies Across All Demographic Groups Since 2016
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether there are plans to conduct new or updated studies on mental health across all demographic groups, given that the last published national study was in 2016; and (b) if so, what the plans are.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Plans to conduct another national mental health study are already underway. More details will be announced soon.
Progress On Achieving Social Service Sector Manpower Targets And Impact Of S Pass And Employment Pass Changes On Hiring
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the social service sector is currently on track to meet its projected manpower needs of an additional 2,000 professionals between 2024 and 2029; and (b) whether this will be affected by the increase in the qualifying salary for S-Pass and Employment Pass holders.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The social service sector is on track to meet our projected manpower needs. This has been supported by several key initiatives, including new scholarships and training sponsorships to attract new talent and upskill in-service staff, regular reviews of the Skills and Salary Guidelines to ensure that sector salaries remain competitive, and campaigns such as the Year of Celebrating Social Service Professionals to raise awareness of social service careers and enhance recognition of our professionals.
We do not expect the increase in the qualifying salary for S-Pass and Employment Pass holders to have significant impact on manpower growth in the social service sector.
Support Framework For Schools And Teachers On Addressing Manosphere-Related Online Content Exposure Among Students
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Education what support and guidance are provided to schools and teachers to address the issues and potential harms arising from students' exposure to online content associated with the manosphere.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education (MOE) takes a holistic, values based approach to promote gender equality and respect for others in our curriculum through subjects like Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), Social Studies and History.
Across Primary, Secondary and Pre-university levels, students learn about the importance of not stereotyping. They also develop critical thinking skills to evaluate online content and media messages.
Through classroom discussions, teachers guide students to reflect on how gender equality contributes to respectful personal relationships and societal well-being. Students learn to navigate different viewpoints based on mutual respect, understanding and empathy.
Students also learn discernment by developing critical thinking and digital literacy skills to recognise manipulation techniques and bias in online spaces. For instance, in CCE, students learn about the risks of social media and echo chambers and how they can be a positive influence both offline and online. They also learn to recognise and counter gender-based violence.
MOE provides teachers with training and resources to help them stay abreast of issues and developments such as manosphere and hone their ability to guide students.
Updated School Protocols For Suicide Postvention Response And Trauma Management
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Education (a) what are the specific updated protocols developed or implemented in schools when suicide situations arise; and (b) what are the postvention procedures that have been developed to ensure timely, sustained and trauma-informed support are available for affected students and staff after the occurrence of a death by suicide.
Mr Desmond Lee: Every suicide case is a tragedy and we take suicide prevention, intervention and postvention support very seriously. Following a student death where suicide is suspected, the school’s CARE (Caring Actions in Support of an Emergency) teams identify and help affected staff and students cope with the psychological distress. These CARE teams comprise specially-trained teachers, school counsellors and Ministry of Education (MOE) HQ personnel.
When students close to the deceased are informed of the death, they are given emotional support and guided to seek help from trusted adults. Parents of the affected students are informed about the passing of the student, but this is done sensitively and
without details. These parents are provided with relevant resources to monitor and support their children. To protect the bereaved families’ privacy, we do not disclose details of the passing. We urge students and staff not to speculate on the cause of death. Schools monitor affected students for potential contagion, and intervene where necessary.
School staff who are affected can access MOE counselling services by trained professionals.
Support System Adequacy Indicators For Assessments And Interventions Of Students Who Are At Suicide-Risk
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Education whether the Ministry can provide updates on what are the key performance indicators used to ensure that education institutions have adequate support systems and trained staff to conduct suicide-risk assessments and interventions for students, including training staff to identify and assist at-risk students, safeguarding help-seeking from reprisal and providing continued support for staff and students involved in such interventions.
Mr Desmond Lee: Rather than relying on key performance indicators, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has baseline requirements for every educational institution to maintain essential capabilities for suicide support. Schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) have processes that enhance early detection and intervention for cases of self-harm, including suicide. Educators and staff are trained to look out for signs of distress and provide initial guidance and support. Teachers are also trained in basic counselling skills. All school and IHLs have also set up peer support structures for students to look out for one another and encourage peers in distress to seek help from trusted adults. This creates multiple touchpoints of support and ways to identify students in distress.
Students requiring further support are referred to counsellors in schools and IHLs who are trained to conduct suicide risk assessments, support students with suicide risk, and work with their parents to ensure their safety. These counsellors abide by professional standards and organisational protocols for ethical practices. They also refresh their capabilities through case consultation and regular clinical supervision.
Students assessed to be at high risk of suicide and who need additional assessment and clinical support will be referred to multi-disciplinary community mental health teams such as Response, Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health (REACH) and Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT), or emergency services in hospitals for further intervention. Parental consent will be sought if necessary.
We will continually strengthen our support system and collaboration with community partners, so that students can receive the necessary support, in school or in other settings as appropriate.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik
Statistics On Public Park Littering Enforcement And Recalcitrant Offenders, And Public Identification Practices As Deterrent Measure
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in 2025 (a) how many individuals were caught littering in public parks; (b) of these individuals, how many were classified as recalcitrant litterbugs; and (c) whether any images of individuals caught littering in public parks have been displayed publicly to aid in identification.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: In 2025, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and National Parks Board (NParks) took enforcement actions against 48 offenders for littering in public parks and nature areas, of which two were repeat offenders.
NEA and NParks may deploy surveillance cameras to monitor cleanliness hotspots. Where there is a need to seek support from the community to identify egregious offenders, NEA may also publicly display CCTV footage of individuals caught littering. NEA has not done so to date.
Borrowing Patterns Of Nlb Physical And E-Books By Language And Age Categories In Past 10 Years
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information for NLB library users in the past 10 years and for both physical and e-books, what is the percentage of (i) English-language books borrowed compared to Chinese, Malay, and Tamil-language books and (ii) adult books borrowed compared to teenage and children books.
Mrs Josephine Teo: Over the ten-year period from January 2016 to December 2025, there were a total of about 330 million physical and e-books borrowed including renewals.
Breakdown of loans by language: (a) 76% of total loans were for English language books; (b) 21% of total loans were for Chinese-language books; (c) 2% of total loans were for Malay-language books; and (d) 1% of total loans were for Tamil language books.
Breakdown of loans by age group: (a) 60% of total loans were for adult books; (b) 4% of total loans were for teenage books; and (c) 36% of total loans were for children’s books.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat
Impact Of Physical Disconnection On Cross-Institutional Research Collaboration Between Autonomous Universities
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the impact of physical disconnection between Singapore's autonomous universities on cross-institutional research collaboration; (b) why does no direct transit link exist between major research campuses despite Singapore being less than 50 kilometres across; and (c) whether this fragmentation undermines the Government's stated ambition to build a globally competitive research ecosystem.
Mr Desmond Lee: In our compact city, our Autonomous Universities (AUs) are able to collaborate meaningfully and effectively without direct transit links between campuses. For example, the AUs have joint research programmes and projects, and also share high-value research equipment and facilities. These collaborations support Singapore’s efforts to build a globally competitive research ecosystem.
Spousal Employment As Barrier To Retaining Foreign Academic Talent At Autonomous Universities
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the extent to which difficulties in securing spousal employment contribute to attrition of foreign academics and researchers at autonomous universities; (b) whether the Ministry considers this a barrier to achieving its stated ambition of a globally competitive research ecosystem; and (c) what policy measures are being considered to address spousal employment as a factor in talent retention.
Mr Desmond Lee: Singapore's Autonomous Universities (AUs) aim to attract and retain the best academic talents, both Singaporean and from overseas, to deliver world-class education and conduct high-quality research for Singapore’s benefit.
Spouses of foreign academics and researchers are welcome to work in Singapore, and have access to a wide range of work passes. These include Employment Pass, S Pass, and Work Permit. Spouses who are Dependant’s Pass holders can also work in Singapore with a Letter of Consent if they are business owners, or spouses of Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass holders.
The AUs also provide various forms of support for spouses seeking employment in Singapore. This support includes sharing information about job openings within respective AUs, guidance on job search platforms, and offering advice on work pass requirements.
