Written Answers to WP's Oral Questions and Written Questions on 14 Oct 2025
DISCREPANCY BETWEEN AMOUNT BUDGETED FOR VOUCHER SCHEMES AND ACTUAL AMOUNT DISBURSED
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance for each of the fiscal years 2019 to 2024, what was the discrepancy between the amount budgeted for nationwide vouchers (e.g. CDC, Climate, SG60) and the amount eventually disbursed.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The voucher schemes introduced by the Government over the past few years serve different policy objectives.
To assess the take-up of our voucher schemes, it is more meaningful to look at the overall utilisation of the schemes across their validity periods, rather than the budget utilisation for each Financial Year (FY). The overall utilisation varies from 23% for the Climate Friendly Households Programme Vouchers in Phase 1, 56% for the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers, to over 90% for Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers issued up to 2024. SG60 vouchers were only issued this year.
TACKLING RISK OF AGENTIC AI CAPABLE OF AUTONOMOUS ACTIONS AND UNFORESEEN EMERGENT BEHAVIOURS
Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information regarding the risk of agentic AI capable of autonomous actions and unforeseen emergent behaviours (a) what is the Government’s specific plan to regulate these high-risk capabilities; and (b) whether this plan will include legislative empowerment to govern both AI actions and the content that AI generates.
Mrs Josephine Teo: In our current AI governance approach, many AI risks are covered by broad legislation such as the Personal Data Protection Act, the Workplace Fairness Act and the Broadcasting Act, and sector-specific guidelines in the healthcare, finance and legal sectors. For specific risks, there are also targeted interventions, e.g. Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act, and the upcoming Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill.
Human and organisational accountability is central to Singapore’s AI governance approach. The Government’s Model AI Governance Framework sets out guidelines for AI systems to be explainable, transparent, and fair. Organisations deploying AI should establish clear governance structures with designated oversight roles. They should ensure meaningful human accountability in AI-augmented decision-making. Organisations should also implement risk management processes to monitor and mitigate risks, such as algorithmic bias.
Agentic AI presents new opportunities and risks. These systems can execute actions, interact with external systems, and adapt their behaviour with reduced human oversight. Our response focuses on two areas.
First, we recognise that many risks arising from agentic AI are extensions of existing challenges. Existing guidelines and regulations, including risk management processes and oversight, apply to agentic AI systems. The principle of maintaining human accountability and putting in place sufficient controls and guardrails also applies. In addition, our long-standing efforts to strengthen data protection, cybersecurity and resilience help protect the systems that AI agents interact with. We are reviewing how to adapt and strengthen these frameworks and systems to account for the increased autonomy of agentic systems, while monitoring international developments in this emerging field.
Second, we are developing capabilities to go beyond existing frameworks and approaches. We are running trials and experiments to stay abreast of the evolving technology and to understand what it takes to implement agentic systems responsibly. For example, GovTech has been experimenting with agentic AI in public sector use cases. We are doing this with care. This approach will deepen our understanding of how to interact with these systems, build confidence, and harness their value for the public good.
CASES WHERE STUDENTS PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED TEACHERS OR SCHOOL STAFF
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Education (a) in each year over the last five years, what is the number of cases where students have abused or physically assaulted teachers or school staff; and (b) what framework for preventive and corrective measures is being used in schools to address such behaviour.
Mr Desmond Lee: From time to time, teachers deal with inappropriate student behaviour including rudeness and defiance, which are addressed through established disciplinary processes. Of these incidents, cases involving physical abuse or assault of school staff remain rare. These cases may also include incidents where teachers are struck while intervening to break up fights between students or while managing students with Special Educational Needs.
Through Character and Citizenship Education, students learn prosocial behaviour and relationship management skills. These efforts help students develop appropriate behaviour and respect for others. Our school staff are also trained to de-escalate situations and prioritise the safety and well-being of all students and staff.
Verbal abuse and physical aggression towards teachers and school staff are serious disciplinary offences under school rules. When such incidents occur, schools will take strong disciplinary actions, including suspension and caning (for boys). Where necessary, schools will file a police report, and perpetrators may face legal consequences. As part of corrective measures, schools also help students understand why their behaviour is inappropriate through counselling, and work with both students and parents to rebuild respectful relationships.
ADVERTISEMENT CAMPAIGN DESCRIBING OBESITY AS CHRONIC DISEASE
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health with regard to a pharmaceutical company’s campaign website and advertisements at One-North MRT station and other public locations stating that obesity is a chronic disease (a) whether the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has received any feedback about the campaign; (b) whether the HSA has investigated it for contravention of any regulations; and (c) if so, can HSA share the findings.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Advertisements of medicines must comply with Health Sciences Authority’s (HSA) legislation. The advertisements should not contain information that may lead to the promotion of specific medicines. However, campaigns or materials intended for educating consumers on diseases or medical conditions are permissible as they serve a public health purpose, such as advertisements to encourage vaccination to prevent disease outbreaks, without naming any specific medicines.
As such, HSA did not identify any non-compliance with this said campaign on obesity. Consumers are advised to consult healthcare professionals if they need help in the management of obesity and related conditions.
ASSURANCES THAT SINGTEL'S SINGAPORE OPERATIONS ARE NOT EXPOSED TO SYSTEMIC RISKS FROM PROCEDURAL LAPSES FOLLOWING NETWORK FAILURE AT AUSTRALIAN SUBSIDIARY OPTUS
Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information following the major network failure at Singtel's Australian subsidiary Optus (a) what assurances has the Government sought from Singtel that its Singapore operations are not exposed to similar systemic risks from procedural lapses, especially with regard to contacting emergency services; and (b) whether the Ministry is satisfied that our critical telecommunications infrastructure remains resilient.
Mrs Josephine Teo: Singapore’s 999 or 995 emergency calls are designed and set up differently than the 000 service in Australia. We thus do not experience the same challenges.
We take the continued availability of our telecommunication networks very seriously. Telecommunications service providers must meet resilience requirements. These include meeting minimum coverage and Quality of Service (QoS) standards, and conducting regular audits. Should a disruption occur, they are expected to expeditiously restore network services and undertake rectification measures to prevent re-occurrence. The incidents will also be investigated, and firm enforcement action will be taken where necessary.
PUBLISHING GUIDELINES ON TACKLING BULLYING IN SCHOOLS
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry assesses there to be a robust legal regulatory framework in place that is sufficient to address incidents of bullying or violence in schools; and (b) whether the Ministry will publish its guidelines or regulations available to schools to tackle the problem for better understanding by the public.
Mr Desmond Lee: My response will address the questions on bullying raised by Member Ms He Ting Ru and related question from Member Mr Cai Yinzhou who filed an oral PQ for a subsequent sitting. I invite Mr Cai to seek clarifications if needed and thereafter withdraw your question for that sitting.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) works within Singapore's legal framework to address bullying in schools. Schools communicate rules and disciplinary frameworks to staff, parents and students through platforms such as student handbooks, student briefings and parent engagement sessions. After establishing facts, schools impose disciplinary consequences and educate students to restore relationships and change their behaviours. Severe cases are reported to the police.
When bullying incidents occur, schools engage parents or guardians to inform them about the facts of the incident, work with them on the safety plan, and provide them with resources to support the children at home. When families have other more complex issues that may affect the children’s behaviours in school, schools will support the student while referring the family to community agencies for appropriate support.
UPDATE ON STATISTICS FOR CHILDMINDING PILOT SCHEME
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Social and Family Development under the Early Childhood Development Agency childminding pilot scheme (a) what is the breakdown of infants cared for in childminders' homes and community premises respectively; and (b) out of the 160 families who have indicated interest to enrol in the next six months, what is the average waiting time for the families to be matched to a childminder.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Around 60% of infants enrolled under the Early Childhood Development Agency’s (ECDA) Childminding Pilot for Infants are cared for in the childminders’ home, with the other 40% of infants in the two existing community premises. To meet demand from parents and childminders, ECDA will continue to work with operators to explore more community premises.Operators work closely with parents to ensure that they are suitably matched to childminders, which can include interview sessions between parents and childminders and even visits to childminders’ homes. Depending on when families require the service as well as their needs and preferences, waiting time for a match generally ranges from a few days to a few months.
LONG-TERM IMPACT OF MOE KINDERGARTEN EXPANSION ON ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND DIVERSITY OF KINDERGARTEN SECTOR
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what assessment has the Ministry made of the long-term impact of MOE Kindergarten expansion on the economic viability and diversity of Singapore’s kindergarten sector; and (b) what is the current status of the Kindergarten Partner Operator scheme.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Government’s priority is to ensure access to affordable and quality preschools to give every child a good start in life. Today, around 9 in 10 Singaporean children aged 3 to 6 are enrolled in preschool.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) currently operates 56 MOE Kindergartens (MKs) and has plans to open 60 MKs by 2029 to supplement other government supported preschools. MKs have helped to uplift the preschool sector, by putting MOE’s Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) Framework into practice and sharing quality preschool teaching and learning practices with other preschool operators. MKs have also complemented sector efforts to support children from lower-income families, through priority enrolment as well as targeted attendance and learning support. Additionally, MKs have encouraged bilingualism from young by offering all three official Mother Tongue Languages (MTLs).
The Government also regularly calibrates our policies to be responsive to changes in the preschool landscape. In 2019, we had shared our intent to expand the Partner Operator (POP) scheme to a small number of quality kindergartens, where they would have to meet conditions to ensure accessibility, affordability, and quality of care and education for children. However, we have observed falling demand for half-day kindergarten services due to growing demand for full-day care with more dual-income families over the past five years. With the changing preschool landscape, the Early Childhood Development Agency’s (ECDA’s) priority is to meet the growing demand for full-day childcare, including through the POP scheme. ECDA will therefore not be extending the POP scheme to kindergartens, as there are already sufficient kindergarten places for children, including affordable kindergarten services offered by Anchor Operator (AOP) or MOE kindergartens. Parents who prefer half-day service may also opt for half-day childcare services offered by the childcare operators, including the AOP and POP childcare centres.
PRIVATE AGENCIES CONTRACTED FOR E-VAPE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what is the number of private enforcement agencies that Health Sciences Authority (HSA) subcontracts for e-vaporiser enforcement activities; (b) what is the total number of staff in those agencies; and (c) in view of the harsher stance on e-vaporisers, whether there are plans for the Police to conduct e-vaporiser enforcement instead of HSA and its subcontractors.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Enforcement against e-vaporisers offences is a whole-of Government effort. Today, over 10,000 officers from various agencies, including the Singapore Police Force (SPF), are involved in enforcement against e-vaporisers. In addition, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) contracts about 100 staff from an external enforcement vendor to reinforce its own team for e-vaporiser enforcement activities.
NUMBER OF SELF-EMPLOYED PERSON INCOME RELIEF SCHEME RECIPIENTS WHO REMAIN SUBJECTED TO PAYOUT CLAWBACK
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether an update can be provided on the number of Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) recipients who remain subject to payout clawback; (b) what are the reasons for such uncompleted refunds of SIRS payouts; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider providing a one-time waiver or financial support for such recipients who demonstrate that they are unable to refund their SIRS payouts.
Dr Tan See Leng: Around 700 ineligible recipients of the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) remain subject to clawback. The processing of these refunds is still ongoing for a few reasons. First, some recipients have not yet responded to Ministry of Manpower's (MOM's) requests for repayment. Second, some recipients have appealed for assistance in making the repayment, which MOM is in the process of assessing. Third, some recipients have been given more time to refund, through instalments or extended deadlines. For those who experience difficulties in making repayments, MOM considers the circumstances of each individual case upon appeal.
SUPPORT PROVIDED TO SWEDISH CAR MAKER TO SET UP R&D OFFICE IN SINGAPORE AND CLAWBACK PENALTIES IMPOSED FOLLOWING CLOSURE EIGHT MONTHS AFTER LAUNCH
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what are the various forms of financial and non-financial support provided by the Economic Development Board for the establishment of a Swedish car R&D office in Singapore; and (b) whether there are clawback provisions and penalties imposed on the company for the closure eight months after its launch.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Companies that receive support from the Government must meet certain economic outcomes, such as job creation and local employment, business spending, or fixed asset investment. The Government has mechanisms to claw back subsidies from companies that fail to meet these outcomes.
We are unable to share specific details of individual companies due to commercial sensitivities and confidentiality requirements.
EXPANSION OF "RELEVANT INDIVIDUALS" UNDER SECTION 18(1)(A) OF CPF ACT 1953 TO INCLUDE UNCLES AND AUNTS
Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Manpower whether the definition of "relevant individuals" who may benefit from voluntary transfers of CPF funds under section 18(1)(a) of the Central Provident Fund Act 1953 can be expanded to include uncles and aunts, so that seniors who are without children may benefit.
Dr Tan See Leng: The CPF system is designed to primarily provide for and safeguard an individual’s retirement adequacy. Nonetheless, CPF members have the flexibility to make voluntary CPF transfers to immediate family members, such as their spouse, parents, grandparents, siblings, parents-in-law and grandparents-in-law. Limiting CPF transfers to immediate family members strikes a balance between encouraging members to support their closest dependents whilst ensuring that they do not compromise their own retirement adequacy.
There are existing flexibilities within the CPF system for members to provide support to their extended family members, including uncles and aunts. Members can make cash top-ups to their extended family members’ CPF accounts. Should their extended family members be eligible for the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, their extended family members will benefit from the dollar-for-dollar matching grant in addition to the cash top-ups.
DIFFERENTIATED DISCOUNT RATE FOR TRAVEL DURING PEAK AND OFF-PEAK PERIODS FOR PWD CONCESSION SCHEME
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Acting Minister for Transport whether the Government will consider implementing a differentiated discount rate for travel during peak and off-peak periods for the existing Persons With Disabilities (PWD) concession scheme.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Today, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) enjoy up to 55% off adult per-journey fares. Like all commuters, if they travel before 7.45am on weekdays, they can save an additional 50 cents on the MRT. They can also purchase monthly concession passes currently priced at $58 for unlimited travel on train and basic bus services.
UPDATE ON ESTATE UPGRADING PROGRAMME FOR JALAN NAUNG AND REALTY PARK PRIVATE ESTATES
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for National Development (a) following the Ministry's announcement in February 2025, when is the Estate Upgrading Programme for Jalan Naung and Realty Park private estates expected to commence within the next five years; and (b) what specific works will be undertaken for these estates.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) for Jalan Naung & Realty Park Estate is targeted to commence by the middle of 2026, starting with the design and planning of the project. Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will call a tender by end 2025 to appoint the consultants. Enhancements under the EUP may include (i) recreational spaces such as community gardens, playgrounds and fitness corners; (ii) features to improve connectivity and accessibility such as footpaths, barrier-free ramps and wayfinding markers; and (iii) estate markers.
GRASSROOTS LEADERS SECURING PRIORITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN UNDER PHASE 2B OF PRIMARY 1 REGISTRATION EXERCISE
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) how many People's Association grassroots leaders (GRLs) in the last 10 years have utilised their privileges under Phase 2B of the Primary 1 registration process to apply for priority registration of their children; (b) how many GRLs have been successful (i) with ballot and (ii) without ballot; and (c) how many GRLs were unsuccessful.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: Mr Speaker, I am answering in my capacity as the Minister charged with the responsibility for the People’s Association. Under the Primary One (P1) Registration Framework, current serving committee members of the Residents’ Network (RN), Residents’ Committee (RC), Neighbourhood Committee (NC), Citizen's Consultative Committee (CCC), Community Club Management Committee (CCMC) and the Community Development Council (CDC) are eligible to register their child under Phase 2B as active community leaders in schools within 2 kilometres of their residence. This is not exclusive to grassroots leaders (GRLs) and is also extended to other volunteers who have served or are connected to the school in one way or another.
To qualify as active community leaders, the People's Association (PA) requires the grassroots leaders (GRLs) to serve actively in these Committees for at least two years continuously prior to the P1 registration exercise. GRLs who meet the qualifying criteria may submit their applications to PA for assessment and endorsement.
On average, less than 1.5% of GRLs, seek to register their child under Phase 2B yearly, and out of this pool, not all are successful. The outcome still depends on factors such as demand and vacancies, which can vary year to year. Regardless of the outcome, many volunteers continue serving in the grassroots.
PA does not have the data on the number of GRLs who have been successful or unsuccessful in registering their child with ballot and without ballot.
PERMANENT RESIDENTS WITH MORE THAN 180 DAYS OF STAY OUTSIDE SINGAPORE
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs what is the number and percentage of Permanent Residents who have been (i) outside Singapore for more than 180 days as of 1 October 2025 and (ii) had a total period of stay of less than 183 days in 2024.
Mr K Shanmugam: As of end September 2025, there were about 42,000 Permanent Residents (PR) who have been outside of Singapore for a continuous period of more than 180 days. This is about 8% of the total PR population.
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) does not track the number of PRs who have been in Singapore for fewer than 183 days, or any number of days for that matter, in any given period.
ACTIONS AGAINST SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL FOR LAPSES REPORTED BY TRANSPORT SAFETY INVESTIGATION BUREAU FOR SEPTEMBER 2024 TRAIN INCIDENT
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Acting Minister for Transport in light of the report of the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau on the SMRT train fault in September 2024 finding that SMRT extended the overhaul interval of the affected train without a detailed engineering risk assessment, what specific actions have been taken against the senior management and technical personnel responsible for these lapses.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The sole objective of the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB)’s rail safety investigations is the prevention of rail accidents and incidents. The safety investigations do not seek to apportion blame or liability.
For the September 2024 East-West Line disruption, Land Transport Authority (LTA) imposed a financial penalty of $2.4 million on SMRT for breach of licence under the Rapid Transit Systems Act. LTA also issued a direction to SMRT to invest a minimum of $600,000 to strengthen its capabilities, and address areas of improvement from the incident so as to improve service reliability for commuters. As neither TSIB nor LTA’s investigation found any criminal wrongdoing on the part of any individual, there are no grounds for Government to take further action against specific individuals. LTA does not interfere in human resource decisions that rail operators may take in response to our investigation findings.
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TAKING ON MULTIPLE INTERNSHIPS SIMULTANEOUSLY
Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Education in each of the last three years (a) what proportion of students enrolled in autonomous universities have taken on (i) internships and (ii) multiple internships simultaneously; (b) what has been the average number of internships per student who participated in internship programmes; (c) what has been the average internship duration; and (d) what proportion of these internships have been unpaid.
Mr Desmond Lee: Almost all undergraduate courses in our Autonomous Universities (AUs) require the completion of an internship for graduation. Credit bearing internships may take between 2 weeks to 12 months, depending on the institution and course.
Based on the 2024 AU Graduate Employment Survey, about 9 in 10 graduates participated in at least one internship during their course of study. This is comparable to that of 2022 and 2023. Among those who participated in internships, the average number of internships completed per graduate has remained roughly stable at around two in the last three years.
Ministry of Education (MOE) and the AUs do not track the number of students taking multiple internships simultaneously or unpaid internships. The AUs have provided feedback that such cases are uncommon.
META'S COMPLIANCE WITH IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTIVE ISSUED BY ONLINE CRIMINAL HARMS ACT COMPETENT AUTHORITY AND ENHANCED MEASURES THAT FOLLOWED
Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether Meta has complied with the Implementation Directive issued by the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) Competent Authority by the 30 September 2025 deadline; (b) what specific enhanced measures have been implemented by Meta as a result; and (c) whether similar directives are being considered for other platforms where scams are prevalent.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Implementation Directive requires Meta to strengthen Facebook’s measures against impersonation scams. This includes enhancing measures to stop and/or prevent the publication of photos and videos of key Government office holders used in scam advertisements, remove accounts, profiles, and/or business pages that impersonate these office holders, and prioritise the review of end user reports from Singapore on such advertisements, accounts, profiles and/or pages. The OCHA Competent Authority will assess Meta’s compliance after it submits the relevant documentation by 31 October 2025.
We will consider imposing similar requirements on other online platforms depending on the scam situation.
OVERSIGHT OF DEVIATIONS MADE BY RAIL OPERATORS FROM TRAIN MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) what regulations are rail operators subjected to when they deviate from a train manufacturer’s recommended train maintenance schedule; and (b) whether the Ministry will review SMRT’s waiver approval system after the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) report of 31 May 2025 has found that waivers are granted without proper engineering justification or meticulous documentation.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: This question has been addressed in the written reply issued for Parliamentary Question 58 for Written Answer for the 24 September 2025 Parliament sitting.
SOVEREIGN LIMITS ON FOREIGN-SOURCED MILITARY EQUIPMENT USED BY SAF
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) whether there are any sovereign limits that are placed on foreign-sourced military equipment used by the SAF; (b) if so, what measures are in place to ensure that these limits do not infringe on Singapore’s ability to act independently and defend itself; and (c) whether the government aims to reduce its dependence on foreign-sourced military equipment over time.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: We procure both overseas and locally made defence equipment, based on what best meet the Singapore Armed Force's (SAF’s) operational needs in a cost-effective way. It is common for defence equipment to come with end user obligations, such as conditions related to the protection of proprietary technology and third-party equipment transfers. Before making any acquisition, we would have assessed that the SAF can deploy the equipment to meet our operational needs, while complying with the obligations. In many instances, certain elements of the foreign defence equipment purchased by us are also localised, through technology transfers and building up of local maintenance capabilities, giving us added assurance.
RATIONALE FOR PLANS TO EASE TAX FRAMEWORK REQUIREMENTS FOR SINGLE FAMILY OFFICES
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) what is the rationale for the Monetary Authority of Singapore's recently announced plans to ease requirements on the tax framework for single family offices; (b) whether it has seen an outflow of family offices in the last three quarters; and (c) what is the latest assessment of the industry's impact on our economy and social fabric.
Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Prime Minister) : MAS is reviewing the tax schemes for Single Family Offices (SFO)1to reduce operational friction and ensuring that the schemes continue to generate economic benefits for Singapore.
Taking into account industry feedback, MAS is looking to (i) streamline application documentation, (ii) simplify reporting obligations, and (iii) expand the types of investments eligible under the tax schemes.
MAS has not observed a net outflow of SFOs, but it regularly reviews its schemes so that they remain relevant and competitive. Other jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, have similarly announced reviews of their family office frameworks.
When families set up and maintain SFOs in Singapore, they use financial products and services offered by external service providers such as private banks, fund managers, legal and tax advisors, fund administrators and accounting firms. This generates business revenue and creates jobs.
As SFOs continue to grow in Singapore, there are now more platforms available for them to interact with and support local communities, including through the Wealth Management Institute’s Family Office Discovery Series, the Global-Asia Family Office Circle, as well as other philanthropic organisations and networks, such as Philanthropy Asia Alliance and ImpactSG. There are several examples of families giving back to the community here, including: the Ishk Tolaram Foundation which has supported the education and skills training for dyslexic pre-schoolers since 2021 and autistic talent to pursue engineering careers since 2022; and the James Dyson Foundation which supports engineering and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education in Singapore for students aged 6 to 25, across primary to tertiary levels.
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO MRT NETWORK’S RELIABILITY FALLING TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 2020
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) what is the Ministry's assessment of the MRT network’s reliability over the 12 months ending June 2025 falling to its lowest level since 2020; and (b) whether the Ministry is satisfied that the maintenance regime for these ageing MRT lines is proactive enough to prevent further deterioration and major disruptions.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: This question has been addressed in the oral response issued for Parliamentary Questions 19-24 for Oral Answer for the 22 September 2025 Parliament sitting.
INSTALLATION OF ANTI-BIRD NETTING ON TOWN COUNCIL BUILDING FACADES
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether any request to install anti-bird netting in Town Council building facades is subject to SCDF approval, and that any request to SCDF must be accompanied with a plan submission by a Qualified Person; and (b) whether the Ministry has issued guidance on what materials for anti-bird netting are Fire Code-compliant.
Mr K Shanmugam: The installation of anti-bird netting on building facades does not require Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF’s) approval nor a submission by a Qualified Person. However, the Fire Code does require the anti-bird netting to be made using materials of limited combustibility and its installation must not contravene Fire Code requirements. The prevailing industry standards for materials of limited combustibility are stated in the Fire Code.
UPDATE ON STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF MANDATING AGE LIMITS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCESS
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information whether the Ministry can provide an update on the study on the effectiveness of mandating age limits for social media access.
Mrs Josephine Teo: There is a wide range of age assurance solutions on the market, including age verification, age estimation, and age inference solutions. However, none of these measures are foolproof. A child can still circumvent these measures, such as through using an adult’s account to access age-inappropriate content.
Nonetheless, Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) has taken the first step to require designated App Distribution Services, also known as app stores, to implement age assurance measures as part of the Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services. The age assurance measures seek to reduce the likelihood of young users accessing and downloading age-inappropriate apps of all types, beyond just social media apps. Designated app stores are expected to implement these age assurance measures by 31 March 2026. At the outset, they are required to be able to minimally ascertain whether users are under 18.
Later this year, we will also begin to engage designated Social Media Services on similar age assurance requirements. This comes on top of existing protective measures for children under the current Code of Practice for Online Safety for Social Media Services.
Like many parents, we believe it is important to protect children and youth from inappropriate content when they go online. Age assurance measures are useful but insufficient. This is why MDDI will also work with MOH, MOE and MSF, as well as community partners, to better support parents with information resources and actionable tips.
OLD VOTING DISTRICT REFLECTED WITH CHANGE OF PHYSICAL IDENTITY CARD
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance why does a change of the physical NRIC effected after the cut-off date for the inspection of voter rolls result in a reversion of the voting district to the old district.
Mr Chan Chun Sing (for the Prime Minister): A change in the personal particulars of a voter’s National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) does not automatically result in a change in the constituency where the voter is registered to vote. Instead, voter addresses are updated from time to time via an exercise to revise the Registers of Electors (REs), based on the Government’s records as of a date prescribed in legislation (The current date for voters who are eligible to be included in the REs for an election is 1 February 2025). This approach balances the need to safeguard the integrity of voter rolls and to ensure that the REs used for an election are updated, while providing certainty to prospective candidates on the number of Singaporeans who are qualified to vote at the election in each constituency.
DATA ON APPLICATIONS FOR MAS' FINTECH REGULATORY SANDBOX FRAMEWORK
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) since 2016, how many entities have joined one of MAS' regulatory sandboxes, broken down by the three sandbox categories; (b) what is the median processing time for applications; (c) how many entities obtained a relevant licence after graduation; and (d) how many have ceased operations in Singapore at the end of September.
Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Prime Minister): The breakdown across each of the three categories is as follows:
Some applicants were not accepted into the Sandbox as existing regulatory frameworks already allowed for their business models to operate. For Sandbox Plus, there were no approvals so far as most applications received were based on technologies and solutions that already exist in Singapore.
The median processing time for Sandbox applications, from submission to outcome notification, is around three months. This includes the time taken for applicants to respond to the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s clarifications. Of the 19 firms accepted into the Sandbox, 15 firms have successfully graduated from the Sandbox and obtained relevant licences to operate as fully regulated financial services providers in Singapore. One firm that had graduated from the Sandbox ceased operations.
PROPOSAL TO PUBLISH DATA ON COMMISSION FEES AND CONTRACTUAL CLAUSES OF DELIVERY PLATFORMS
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) is monitoring and publishing data on commission fees and clauses of dominant e-commerce and online food-delivery platforms; and (b) whether CCCS will conduct a fresh market study and issue remedies or guidance, building on its 2020 inquiries, to prevent excessive costs associated with online trading that harm SMEs.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) does not ordinarily collect and publish commercially sensitive data such as commission fees or contractual clauses applied by e-commerce platforms. Instead, CCS actively monitors market developments and intervenes where there are concerns relating to competition and consumer protection. For example, CCS has conducted multiple investigations into potentially anti-competitive practices in the online food delivery sector since 2016. Recently, CCS has also intervened in a merger involving food delivery platforms.
Beyond market surveillance and enforcement, CCS also works with businesses to raise industry standards and address competition and consumer protection issues in the digital space. Most recently, CCS, together with the Singapore Standards Council under Enterprise Singapore, collaborated with e-commerce platforms and industry players to enhance the Technical Reference 76 on e-commerce transactions (TR 76). The enhanced TR 76 builds on earlier updates to CCS’s competition guidelines arising from the 2020 market study, to provide further guidance to e-commerce platforms on best practices to ensure fair treatment of merchants, promote an open and competitive e-commerce market, as well as enhance consumer protection and trust.
Ultimately, the best approach to safeguard the interests of merchants and consumers is to ensure competitive markets so that prices are fair. The Government will investigate and intervene where there are market failures, and we welcome feedback from businesses and consumers to help us do so effectively.
IMPACT OF SINGAPORE'S DEPENDENCY ON NATURAL GAS MARKET ON ELECTRICITY TARIFFS FOR CONSUMERS
Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) to what extent has Singapore’s dependency on the volatile global natural gas market contributed to the recent electricity tariff hike for consumers; and (b) what is the Ministry’s assessment of the potential long-term impact of stabilising household electricity prices from an accelerated transition to renewable energy sources.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The regulated electricity tariff in the fourth quarter of 2025 increased slightly by 0.3% from the preceding quarter. As a small country, Singapore is a price-taker for energy and more than 95% of our energy needs are currently met by imported natural gas. Hence, changes in the tariff generally reflects movements in imported fuel costs which constitute the largest component of the tariff. Electricity tariffs have been on a general downtrend, decreasing by about 9% since prices peaked in the third quarter of 2022.
Increasing the share of renewable energy in our energy mix may reduce our exposure to movements in fuel cost. We will continue to deploy renewable energy domestically wherever possible, particularly solar energy which is the most cost effective type of renewable energy available in Singapore today. As of the first quarter of 2025, we have deployed 1.64 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of domestic solar, surpassing our 2025 target of 1.5 GWp. While we will continue to press on with solar deployment, Singapore is alternative energy-disadvantaged owing to our small size. This limits our domestic deployment of renewable energy. Hence, natural gas will remain a major part of our fuel mix while we continue to explore other low-carbon energy sources. The overall impact of transitioning to low-carbon energy sources on electricity prices remains uncertain at this juncture. It will depend on which low-carbon energy sources we introduce into our energy mix, as well as when we do so.
REVIEW OF CLEMENCY PROCEDURE TO PROVIDE DEATH ROW PRISONERS AND FAMILIES ADVANCE INFORMATION OF PETITION OUTCOMES
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Ministry has completed its review of the clemency procedure to provide death row prisoners and their families with outcomes of clemency petitions some time in advance of any notification on the execution date and time; and (b) if so, what is the outcome of the review.
Mr K Shanmugam: A prisoner awaiting capital punishment (PACP) will be scheduled for execution when he has exhausted all legal channels in relation to his conviction and sentence.
Previously, if a petition for clemency is submitted, the PACP and his family would receive both the notification of the outcome of the petition from the President's Office, and the notification of the execution date from the Singapore Prison Service, at the same time.
Since the completion of the review, the Ministry of Home Affairs has ensured that as long as the clemency petition is received in a timely manner following the conclusion of all legal proceedings in relation to his conviction and sentence, the PACP will receive notification of the outcome of the consideration for clemency some time prior to the notification of the execution date if the petition is unsuccessful.
EVALUATING RISKY AND INEFFECTIVE AIRDROPS OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO INTENDED RECIPIENTS
Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence whether the Ministry has evaluated the value of conducting airdrops of humanitarian aid, in the light of concerns that such airdrops into the Gaza strip have been ineffective, dangerous and risky to intended recipients.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The preferred and most effective model of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza is via land transfer. Airdrops, which entail higher risk and cost, are a last resort when land transfer becomes restricted and the humanitarian situation is dire.
To reduce the risk to the intended recipients, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) worked with the Royal Jordanian Air Force to select suitable drop zones, taking into consideration the safety of civilians in Gaza. Checks were conducted to ensure that the parachutes and loads were rigged in accordance to established safety standards and practices. The RSAF crew also carried out detailed planning to ensure the aid loads would land within the identified drop zones safely.
If needed and tasked to conduct airdrops in Gaza as a last resort, the RSAF will continue to take similar precautions.
AVERAGE POPULATION-TO-FACILITY SIZE RATIO FOR POLYCLINICS AND RATIO FOR POLYCLINICS IN SENGKANG AND PUNGGOL
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what is the average population-to-facility size ratio for polyclinics serving a town, and (b) what is the ratio for the polyclinics in Sengkang and Punggol.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Ministry of Health (MOH) does not plan the development of polyclinics using a population-to-facility size ratio. This is because factors such as the age profile of residents, the availability of private clinics, and accessibility of other polyclinics nearby, all affect demand for polyclinic services. Instead, MOH projects the demand for polyclinic services across various parts of Singapore using various factors, and uses this as a basis to develop polyclinic development plans.
MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME LEVELS OF FAMILIES ENROLLED IN ECDA CHILDMINDING PILOT SCHEME
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Social and Family Development how many families enrolled in the Early Childhood Development Agency childminding pilot scheme have either a gross monthly household income of below $12,000, or a per capita income of below $3,000 for households with five or more members.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: As the fees charged under the childminding pilot are not means-tested, the Early Childhood Development Agency does not collect income information from parents utilising these services.
COMPARISON OF INFANTS ENROLLED IN ECDA CHILDMINDING PILOT SCHEME VERSUS CENTRE-BASED INFACT CARE SERVICES
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what proportion of the enrolled infants in the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) childminding pilot are in (i) half-day care and (ii) full day care; (b) how does this compare to the average enrolment proportions for half-day and full-day care in centre-based infant care services; and (c) how many families have used their Child Development Accounts to pay for childminding services under this pilot.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: More than 80% of infants enrolled in the Early Childhood Development Agency’s (ECDA) Childminding Pilot for Infants utilise the full-day service, while almost all infants are enrolled in full-day centre-based infant care.
Of all families enrolled, more than 80% have used their child’s Child Development Account (CDA) monies to defray the cost of childminding services under this pilot.
USAGE STATISTICS BY AGE GROUP FOR BORROW-N-DELIVER PILOT PROGRAMME AND PLANS TO FURTHER PROMOTE SCHEME
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) how many (i) book loans and (ii) book deliveries have been made since the launch of Borrow-n-Deliver pilot; (b) what was the breakdown of borrowers by age group; and (c) what will the National Library Board be doing to promote greater use of this scheme.
Mrs Josephine Teo: The National Library Board (NLB) launched Borrow-n Deliver as a pilot service in 2023. Since then, it has fulfilled more than 5,000 orders, which involved more than 11,000 books loaned out. The largest percentage of borrowers are in the 40 to 49 years age group, followed by 30 to 39 years. NLB is exploring collaborations with partners to create more awareness for the services. As part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, NLB has also extended a one time complimentary Borrow-n-Deliver service for eligible patrons.
SUBSCRIPTION NUMBERS FOR LITTLE BOOK BOX SERVICE AND PLANS TO IMPROVE SCHEME
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what is the current number of subscribers to the National Library Board's 'Little Book Box' service; (b) how many have opted for the mother tongue option; (c) whether the numbers are in line with the target or below expectations; and (d) if below expectations, what are the plans to improve the scheme.
Mrs Josephine Teo: Subscriptions for the National Library Board’s (NLB’s) “The Little Book Box” service are based on a quarterly cycle, with each subscription period lasting three months. In the current October to December 2025 cycle, 870 subscribers have signed up for the service. Of these, 85 per cent have opted to receive books in both English and their selected Mother Tongue Language. NLB has received positive feedback on the service.
STANDARDISING BULLYING INCIDENTS MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS SCHOOLS
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the Ministry's operational definition of bullying, distinct from hurtful behaviour, fights or one-off comments; (b) whether this definition is standardised and implemented across all schools; and (c) if so, how are incidents consistently classified, recorded, and addressed.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education (MOE) and schools take a firm stance against all forms of hurtful behaviours. Bullying involves persistent and intentional hurtful acts, while other hurtful behaviours include once-off insensitive comments and physical fights. Bullying can take on various forms, including verbal, social, physical and cyber. This understanding guides schools in managing different forms of hurtful behaviours.
MOE provides schools with guidelines to formulate their discipline policies and school rules based on the student profile and needs. Schools adopt a tiered approach for disciplinary measures based on the severity of each case. Such measures range from reflection for careless remarks to detention or suspension for more serious cases, and to caning for boys in egregious cases.
TAKE-UP RATE OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY AND POTENTIAL FOR CLUSTER-BASED PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT
Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the take up rate for the Strategic Partnership Co-Curricular Activity (SP-CCA) in this year and the last; (b) whether the Ministry is considering adding more training locations, similar to how SP-CCA Athletics has two training locations; and (c) whether the Ministry is also encouraging cluster-based CCAs.
Mr Desmond Lee: Jointly offered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Strategic Partnership Co Curricular Activity (SP-CCA) allows secondary students from different schools to come together to pursue their interest in sports beyond what is offered at their schools.
In 2025, there are 232 students from 86 schools in the three SP-CCAs: Athletics, Water Polo and Canoeing. In 2024, Athletics and Water Polo were the only available SP-CCAs and they had in total 139 students from 64 schools. The SP-CCA will expand to include Hockey next year.
The current training venues are adequate for the number of participating students. MOE will work with MCCY and SportSG to explore additional training venues if needed.
Schools may also initiate cluster-based CCAs to offer students access to a wider range of CCAs. MOE is supportive of these school-initiated partnerships, which cater to students’ diverse strengths and interests while providing opportunities to forge new friendships.
DATA ON NEIGHBOUR DISPUTE CASES IN TAMPINES HDB TOWN AND EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT SINCE APRIL 2025
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many neighbour dispute cases have been reported in Tampines HDB town since April 2025; (b) how effective has the Community Relations Unit (CRU) been since its pilot launch in April 2025; (c) what is the criteria used to determine whether a case is taken up by CRU; and (d) whether the nationwide rollout of CRU can be brought forward.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: This question was addressed in the reply to the questions asked by Mr Kenneth Tiong and Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik on 14 October 2025.
BREAKDOWN OF BTO AND SALES OF BALANCE FLATS BY APPLICANT CATEGORY OVER PAST 10 YEARS
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for National Development for BTO flats and Sale of Balance flats that have been launched in each year over the last 10 years, whether a breakdown can be provided of the number of flats allocated to (i) seniors (ii) first-timer families (iii) first-timer singles and (iv) second-timer families, categorised by 2-room flexi flats, 3-room flats and larger flats.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Tables 1 and 2 show the number of successful Build-To Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) applicants respectively, from 2015 to 2024.
Note: Data as of 8 October 2025. Number of successful applicants is based on the number of applicants invited to book a flat. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.
DATA ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON SINGAPORE'S AERODROMES OVER PAST SIX YEARS AND IMPACT ON NATIONAL SECURITY
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) in each of the past six years, how many drone incursions have occurred at Singapore's aerodromes; (b) how many resulted in flight disruptions or diversions; (c) whether any were found to be national security threats; (d) what actions were taken to counter these incursions; and (e) how effective are Singapore's current counter-drone capabilities in preventing and countering such incursions.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: To date, two drone incursions have occurred at Changi Airport – both took place in 2019, and resulted in flight delays and diversions. There was no evidence to suggest that these drone incursions were national security threats. There were no drone incursions at Seletar Airport over the past six years.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) adopts a multi-layered approach comprising regulations, education, and enforcement, to ensure the safe and responsible use of drones. For example, to ensure aviation safety around the aerodromes, CAAS has imposed a 5km no-fly zone for drones around each of Singapore’s aerodromes, and works with the Citizens' Consultative Committees in nearby areas to educate residents on the no-fly zones. CAAS also works closely with the airport operator and other Government agencies such as the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Armed Forces, Defence Science and Technology Agency and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to promptly detect, identify and neutralise unlawful drones.
