预算辩论 · 2019-03-04 · 第 13 届国会

推动企业数字化转型

Committee of Supply - Head Q (Ministry of Communications and Information)

AI 安全与伦理AI 经济与产业AI 与就业AI 基础设施与研究 争议度 2 · 温和质询

议员质询新加坡企业，尤其是中小企业在数字化转型中的挑战，关注如何帮助企业克服资金、技术和人才适应等问题。政府强调数字经济对提升生产力和应对人口老龄化的重要性，支持企业创新与能力建设。核心争议点在于中小企业数字化的实际困难及政府支持的有效性。

关键要点

  • • 数字经济促进生产力
  • • 中小企业数字化难题
  • • 人口老龄化带来压力
政府立场

支持企业数字化转型，提供资金与技术援助

政策信号

推动中小企业数字化升级

"Digitalisation is transforming companies, economies and our very way of life."

参与人员（22）

完整译文（中文）

Hansard 英文原文译文 · 翻译日期：2026-05-02

主席：通讯及资讯部Q项。傅志坚先生。

数字经济——面向企业

傅志坚先生（先锋选区）：主席先生，我提议将估算表中Q项的总拨款减少100元。

一个强大国家的基本基石之一是充满活力的经济。一个由具竞争力的企业、技术熟练且富有创造力的员工驱动，并以高效基础设施为支撑的经济。强劲的企业和生产力增长是提高工人工资的先决条件。因此，政府支持我们的企业——无论是大型企业还是中小企业（SMEs）——保持相关性、创新并建立深厚能力以持续增长至关重要。

数字化正在改变企业、经济乃至我们的生活方式。数字经济为企业带来诸多好处。提高生产力、降低运营成本和提升资产利用率只是其中显而易见的部分。此外，技术还能帮助我们应对诸如新加坡人口老龄化和人力资源限制等问题。如今，我们劳动力中有四分之一年龄在55岁及以上。随着出生率下降、预期寿命延长以及更多老年人选择继续工作，这一比例将随时间增加。劳动力老龄化迫使大型本地企业（LLEs）和中小企业拥抱数字化，抓住数字经济的机遇，否则将面临落后风险。

在许多行业中，新技术正在颠覆现有商业模式。借助数字平台，创新企业通过提升价值交付的质量、速度或价格，侵蚀甚至取代了传统企业的市场份额。此类颠覆的例子不胜枚举，包括被网约车颠覆的公司、被全天候在线商店颠覆的实体零售店、被社交媒体平台颠覆的传统印刷媒体等。

新加坡表现良好，拥有快速且可靠的宽带接入以及高渗透率的活跃移动用户。然而，我们仍面临一些挑战。

尽管企业渴望采用技术，许多公司，尤其是中小企业，发现难以实现。他们确实需要帮助。首先，中小企业的股东和管理者常有以下疑问：“我如何开始数字化之旅？哪些数字化领域的投资回报率最高？谁能协助我资助这些投资？我的员工能适应这些变化吗？这会导致短期亏损吗？”这些只是中小企业在踏上数字化之路前面临的众多问题之一。

企业数字化的关键成功因素包括规模、大数据集、财务实力以赢得市场份额并创造网络效应。新加坡的中小企业规模本就小，本地市场也有限。因此，中小企业踏上数字化之路面临巨大挑战。

我们的领先企业（LLEs）也需要支持。它们规模更大，业务遍及更多市场，挑战相对较小。为加快数字化步伐，政府可制定互操作性标准，促使本地数字基础设施生态系统可靠、韧性强、可访问且安全，从而扎根并繁荣。我们的LLEs可借助此类共享基础设施转型业务，紧跟数字技术的快速发展。LLEs还能成为创新载体，成为我们的全球冠军，引领中小企业和初创企业走向海外。

部长能否向本院阐述协助大大小小企业采用技术并在数字经济中创新的计划？

（程序文本）提案提出。（程序文本）

主席：傅志坚先生，您可以将接下来的两项提案合并发言。

数字经济——面向工人

傅志坚先生：谢谢主席。继我之前关于企业采用数字技术的提案后，我的下一项提案关注我们的工人及确保我们拥有足够人才支持数字经济增长的措施。

支持企业可视为让公民拥有良好工作和高薪资的手段，从而提升新加坡的生活水平。与此同时，为了企业繁荣发展，他们需要具备数字技能、知识和正确态度的足够工人，以适应不断变化的数字环境。这种共生关系是数字经济成功的关键。

然而，包括新加坡在内的许多国家正面临具备数字技能的工人短缺问题。为培养青年，必须在更早阶段引入基础数字技能和技术素养。他们还应被鼓励挑战现状，而非接受传统规范，持续审视工作方式，广泛思考创新产品和解决方案。更重要的是，工人必须接受持续学习已成常态，职业生涯中需多次获取新能力和技能，因为就业市场绝非静态。

近年来，政府已推出多项支持工人的措施。技能未来（SkillsFuture）和适应与成长（Adapt and Grow）计划便是良好范例。

企业也必须加强培训和通过专业转换计划重新设计岗位。通常，受影响需技能再培训的员工是多年来忠诚的员工。提升他们的技能可帮助企业保留组织价值观和文化。这些员工往往还拥有深厚的客户关系，值得保留。技术创新历来会摧毁部分岗位，同时创造新岗位。对许多工人，尤其是年长者而言，“智慧国”、“数字化”、“机器学习”、“人工智能”和“机器人”等流行词汇可能令人不安和畏惧。我们必须做更多工作，鼓励工人拥抱变革，享受技能提升带来的切实利益。

我在想，或许可以为某些机器人（如清洁行业）开发“自然语言编程”，支持用“新加坡式英语”发出口头指令。

投资数字人才对确保新加坡保持竞争力至关重要。投资于人民，社会将更美好。

我想请部长介绍未来几年我们实施的计划和举措，以确保我们拥有足够人才支持数字经济。

下午2时15分

法规与基础设施

主席，我的下一项提案关注法规与基础设施。根据贝恩公司（Bain & Co）的研究，充分利用该地区数字经济的集体潜力可加速区域内贸易，并预计到2025年，东盟GDP将提升1万亿美元。如果东盟国家能携手发展成为单一一体化的区域数字经济，东盟公民将享受显著利益，提升生活水平。

例如，共用电子支付平台将促进东盟数字经济，确保跨州界的互操作性，并利用庞大的东盟电子商务市场。然而，开发共用电子支付系统需要跨境密切协调和数据流通。

但越来越多国家制定法律和设置障碍，使数据跨境传输变得更昂贵、耗时甚至非法。政府以隐私和网络安全为由，不愿允许他国企业访问本国公民数据。尽管如此，我们之前谈及的经济利益依然显著。

为降低网络威胁风险，东盟需通过建立和强化在线安全框架，打造安全的网络空间。共享关键信息、制定应对黑客攻击的协议、协调东盟成员的网络机构及建立区域争端解决机制，都是建设安全网络空间的途径。

我想请部长分享如何促进更大跨境数据流动的看法。

主席：张世乐先生，您有两项提案，请合并发言。

数字经济中的本地企业

张世乐先生（巴西立-榜鹅）：许多公司尚未准备好在新世界和未来实现数字化。政府一直在做出巨大且专注的努力，推出多项方案和重大计划帮助他们数字化。

但许多公司由于业务性质和经营时间较长，仍在摸索哪些环节可以数字化。因此，不仅是何时开始、从哪里开始的问题，我认为有几种情况使这些企业看不到变革的必要。他们在业务中根深蒂固，可能拥有成功的商业模式；他们积累了深厚的领域知识，未见变革必要。有些事情依赖人工操作，不是因为成本更低，而是可能带来他们所需的效率和利润。因此，他们不觉得需要变革，也缺乏数字化的动力。

业务性质及其生态系统多年形成的利润空间使现状有助于生存，而数字化则被视为风险。

第三，是公司内部缺乏技能和知识——老板、创业者、创始人、员工、工人。虽然有意愿和真实意图变革，但他们不愿意引进人才或变革者，因为这意味着放弃部分决策权。我们如何促使他们数字化？从某种意义上说，如果他们不数字化，我们是否准备允许部分企业整合甚至消失？

政府推出了许多方案和计划帮助本地企业应对数字经济新潮流。但这些方案效果如何？我们是否真的看到越来越多企业参与？新加坡约有20万家中小企业，但有多少真正数字化了？

新加坡人在数字经济中

过去几个周末，我在基层和社区层面组织了多场小型聚会，地点各异，邀请居民参加。随着时间推移，越来越多居民加入，我们发现用手工方式处理事务越来越困难，包括报名参加活动、确认出席与否以及进行居民调查。

我们认为应数字化流程，使其更在线化，便于居民访问，同时更易收集数据。包括我的志愿者和居民，并非所有人都接受数字化。当然，一些老人觉得很难，我们仍需保留手工流程。

但这是让新加坡人准备迎接数字世界的重要过程，因为这不仅影响他们近期的日常生活和活动，也关系到寻找新工作、新机会及获取新技能。

我认为，在帮助新加坡人适应数字世界的过程中，我们仍有很长路要走。那么，新加坡人如何更好准备？政府能做些什么帮助他们在日常生活、找工作、学习新技能方面适应数字时代？

培养数字未来人才

田佩玲女士（麦波申）：自动化、数字化和人工智能正在颠覆我们的生活和工作方式。旧岗位被取代，新岗位产生，要求具备正确态度和新能力。若要抓住新经济机遇并创造价值，我们必须“去学习”和“再学习”。

根据2018年10月麦肯锡关于瑞士未来工作的报告，预计对基础认知或体力手工技能的需求将下降20%。相反，对社交情感技能和技术技能的需求将分别增长约20%和高达50%。技能转变速度预计将超过劳动力和技能的正常流失率。

这些发现同样适用于新加坡。因此，我们必须继续投资人力资本，帮助人民转型，并加快转型速度。政府必须与企业合作，确保培训内容相关且有实操机会，最终带来真实就业机会。

我了解资讯传媒发展局（IMDA）在人力资本项目上的努力。请问迄今取得了哪些成果？部门如何衡量项目的短期和长期成功？新岗位与培训技能匹配度如何？

对于没有资讯通信技术（ICT）背景的个人，有无帮助他们转行的项目？若有，成功率如何？

主席：傅志坚先生，您可以将接下来的两项提案合并发言。

中小企业数字化

傅志坚先生（提名议员）：主席先生，自2017年预算推出“中小企业数字化”计划以来，该计划已开发多项举措，旨在帮助本地中小企业采用数字技术、提升能力并参与数字经济。

通过与行业能力中心（TACs）如新加坡制造联合会（SMF）合作，计划为中小企业提供咨询服务，由专业数字项目经理协助实施预先批准的数字解决方案，助力企业转型。

正如财政部长恒健在2019年预算中宣布，该计划已有约4000家中小企业采用了计划下的预先批准数字解决方案。虽然这一数字令人鼓舞，但相较新加坡近20万家中小企业而言仍是沧海一粟。

因此，能否请部门提供“中小企业数字化”计划的最新进展，特别是计划预期覆盖的最低中小企业数量，以及部门如何推动中小企业加速采用数字解决方案？

人才发展

随着制造业迈向工业4.0，行业对资讯传媒（ICM）专业人才的需求日益增长，以利用前沿技术助力行业尽早达到工业4.0标准。资讯传媒产业转型图（ITM）于2017年11月发布，目标是到2020年雇佣超过21万名ICM员工，创造逾1.3万个专业、管理、执行及技术（PMET）岗位。

请问部门迄今在实现ITM就业目标方面的进展如何？此外，通讯及资讯部的长期计划是什么，以吸引人才成为ICM专业人士？

主席：翁丁坤先生，您可以将接下来的两项提案合并发言。

数字基础设施

翁丁坤先生（马西岭-裕廊西）：先生，作为基础设施提供者的挑战之一是容易被视为理所当然。人们认为服务随时可用，未曾考虑提供服务所需的努力和规划。

然而，一旦出现中断，大家立刻反应强烈。例如，去年7月新电信（Singtel）宽带服务中断3.5小时，11月又发生类似中断，消费者均感愤怒。

数字经济——流媒体服务、电子商务、云计算——建立在不间断互联网接入的假设上。但无论服务商如何投资确保99.999%的正常运行时间，基础设施层面的故障都可能导致连接中断。连接丧失可能带来灾难性商业后果，企业无法访问客户或关键服务如银行、支付等。

先生，我们有哪些计划确保数字基础设施能支持不断增长的数字经济？

前沿技术

先生，技术快速发展势头不减。几年前看似科幻的概念，如今开始影响我们的日常生活。

自动驾驶汽车、智能家居自动化、基于自然语言处理的机器人能进行近似人类对话——这些已成现实。它们对日常生活的影响尚未完全明了，但必将深远，塑造我们的生活、工作和娱乐方式。

新加坡已投入数十亿资金支持相关领域研究。当前的研究、创新与企业计划（RIE 2020）已拨款190亿新元，重点支持先进制造和城市解决方案等领域。

先生，展望未来十年，部门将如何进一步投资前沿技术，提升新加坡竞争优势？

个人数据保护委员会

穆罕默德·伊尔沙德先生（提名议员）：主席先生，新加坡健康集团（SingHealth）遭受的网络攻击是迄今为止新加坡最大规模的数据泄露事件。2019年1月15日，个人数据保护委员会（PDPC）对新加坡健康集团罚款25万新元，对综合健康信息系统私人有限公司（IHiS）罚款75万新元。

这些惩罚性罚款凸显了此次泄露事件的规模之大以及患者数据的敏感和机密性质，同时也向其他组织发出信号，要求它们采取必要措施保护个人数据。

然而，似乎没有任何补救措施或赔偿可供数据泄露的实际受害者使用。那些个人数据被盗的人没有明显的申诉途径。

除了罚款之外，我们能否为数据泄露的受害者提供一种索赔个人数据损失的途径？

2017年12月，优步（Uber）延迟报告其新加坡38万用户的个人信息在前一年遭泄露。泄露发生后且优步承认该泄露之前，据报道，数据泄露的受害者被黑客利用被盗的个人数据进一步加害。尚不清楚有多少受害者因此遭受了进一步损失。

是否可能设立一个法庭，让受害者就数据泄露可能遭受的任何损失寻求赔偿？

个人数据保护制度

林秀雅女士（阿裕尼）：主席，个人数据保护委员会（PDPC）于2013年成立，作为《个人数据保护法》（PDP法案）的执行机构。根据PDPC网站，过去四年其收到的咨询和投诉数量每年介于2200至3300之间。我有几个问题。

首先，主要的投诉类别是与“拒绝来电登记册”相关，还是关于组织未尽合理注意义务保护个人数据免遭未经授权披露的投诉？

其次，PDPC的资源和人员配备情况如何，以便处理其面临的案件？部长最近指出，在新加坡健康集团的数据泄露事件中，PDPC利用了政府召开的调查委员会（COI）的调查结果。如果发生另一重大泄露且未成立调查委员会，PDPC是否有资源自行调查重大案件？

下午2时30分

接下来，我想问一下对投诉人的处理结果。PDPC已将其决定有益地公布在线。若PDPC发现组织未履行保护个人数据的义务，通常会对其处以罚款，并指示组织如何改进数据安全措施。PDPC是否曾协助数据泄露受害者获得赔偿，例如调解与组织的财务和解？

最后，PDP法案的适用范围仍包括被定义为公共机构的实体。当数据由受PDPA义务约束的实体收集后再传输给政府时，这种排除似乎不合理。虽然我接受政府机构有许多关于数据义务的法律法规，但排除公共机构适用PDPA是否有令人信服的理由？

人工智能（AI）的伦理使用

维克拉姆·奈尔先生（森巴旺）：主席先生，上周供应委员会辩论智能国议题时，维文·巴拉克里希南部长提到新加坡将“加倍投入”人工智能（AI）。他指出，AI，尤其是深度机器学习，已革新许多服务，包括提供语音助手、语言翻译、GPS优化和帮助检测欺诈。

这些是革命性的发展，我认为新加坡必须继续走这条路。然而，人们担心AI被不当使用。机器像人类一样需要被教导和训练，这需要访问数据。我担心人们可能未充分意识到其个人数据被收集和使用的程度。

其次，当然是数据被收集和技术被开发后，若落入错误之手，可能导致麻烦，包括落入外国行为者、黑客和诈骗者手中。政府是否考虑过社会对AI使用的担忧？如果有，我们如何应对？

拟议的人工智能治理模型框架

林顺顺教授（提名议员）：主席先生，随着我们坚定迈向智能国目标，我非常欢迎拟议的人工智能治理模型框架的公布。虽然大数据、深度学习和神经网络听起来抽象，但它们日益广泛的应用对社会有实际影响。AI驱动的自动决策越来越多地用于决定产品价格、保险费率和招聘等系统和流程。这些领域确实引发了算法偏见的警示。数据正义、算法公平和可解释AI等问题必须密切监控，以确保我们在有效管理意外不利后果的同时，充分利用技术优势。拟议的人工智能治理模型框架因此尤为及时。它将确保我们的创新驱动不会忽视伦理性。

通过阐明统一的AI治理方法并提供一套关于负责任使用AI的统一定义和原则，我们为业界提供更大确定性。信息通信媒体发展局（MCI）能否分享其计划，确保该框架有效传播至所有相关行业？如何提高对负责任使用AI指南的认识并鼓励其应用？是否也计划将该框架纳入高等院校AI相关课程的教学大纲？

关键基础信息设施

张浩斌博士（武吉班让）：主席先生，阁下，我了解到关键基础信息设施（CII）部门的设立，旨在提升网络安全，确保新加坡关键服务的持续提供。

我赞赏政府保护数字领域的努力。这至关重要，因为我们正迈向智能国。近期国内外事件，如新加坡健康集团的网络攻击和澳大利亚议会计算机网络的黑客事件，凸显了我们面临的威胁，以及迅速果断采取行动以减轻或消除这些威胁的必要性。

话虽如此，我想在三个方面寻求澄清：第一，CII下已确定的关键公共服务有哪些？第二，如何建立或调整这些部门的基础设施以确保强健的网络安全？第三，政府在发生网络攻击或关键服务中断时将采取哪些应急措施？

企业网络安全

张世乐先生（巴西立-榜鹅）：最近，我在选区的工作空间与许多创业者交谈，他们中的许多人利用互联网或社交媒体平台开展业务。我与一位用户交谈，他经营一家电子商务公司。他告诉我，有一天醒来发现系统内没有销售额，后来发现系统被黑客攻击，客户数据库和整个网站均被入侵。结果他不得不关闭业务数天，几乎面临关闭整个公司的风险。

许多企业可能对网络安全掉以轻心。如果可能，我们应加强对更多企业，尤其是通过互联网建立业务的小型企业和初创企业的网络安全教育。我想知道政府是否有计划在不久的将来帮助提升网络安全知识及其重要性。

吴培祥副教授（非选区议员）：主席，2019年预算将数字防御纳入全面防御战略，聚焦网络安全。这在新加坡健康集团攻击和艾滋病登记泄露事件后尤为适当。现在有一个关键漏洞需要解决。在新加坡，私营和公共部门广泛交互，使企业网络安全成为关键漏洞。国防部也依赖私营企业推动技术创新和适应。

政府是否考虑实施针对性举措，紧急加强企业，尤其是本地中小企业的网络安全能力？有人建议政府应为中小企业提供培训员工和提升网络防御的补助金，也建议设立政府热线，供企业获得建议和报告网络安全事件，且不受政府对立对待。

网络安全

维克拉姆·奈尔先生：主席先生，随着越来越多系统上线，网络安全成为特别关注的问题。今年的两起高调事件凸显了我们的脆弱性。

第一起是外国国家行为者未经授权访问新加坡健康集团记录，显示有资金充足的组织和国家可能故意试图入侵我们的系统。

第二起是卫生部艾滋病患者登记册的不当泄露，显示一名被信任访问系统的个人的失误，加上另一人的恶意，可能导致灾难性后果。

这些事件显示政府系统的两方面脆弱性，且可预见外部威胁和受信任人员的人为错误是几乎无法根除的永恒问题。在此背景下，有无方法评估并改进政府系统的网络安全？

傅国强先生：主席先生，根据2017年全球网络安全指数，新加坡在防范网络攻击方面排名第一，超过美国。尽管我们的网络安全策略强健，卫生部遭受的攻击要求我们继续保持警惕和坚定防御。数字防御像全面防御的其他支柱一样，涉及个人、企业和政府。因此，能否请部委说明如何鼓励业界合作，利用本地网络安全专长，开发安全、高质量产品，为新加坡营造安全可信的网络空间？

拉哈尤·马哈赞女士（裕廊）：科技带来了新的生态系统和互动方式。互联网改变了我们的社交、工作和商业方式。这些变化通过连接人们、提升效率和生产力带来了巨大改进。然而，也有人试图在这些新平台上滥用并伤害他人。

去年，新加坡整体犯罪率上升1.4%，主要由网络相关诈骗激增推动。计算机滥用法下的犯罪案件也增加了40.3%。我们还见证了多起公共领域的网络攻击事件，如最近影响150万患者的新加坡健康集团高调网络攻击。私营实体也是数字攻击的主要目标。2017年，优步宣布5700万用户和60万司机的个人信息被黑客泄露。2018年11月，万豪国际宣布约5亿客户数据被网络犯罪分子窃取。

随着政府加强国家网络安全基础设施和法律框架应对数字犯罪，社区必须具备足够知识和技能保护自己免受网络伤害。个人用户、企业和组织需要做好准备。

随着数字防御成为新加坡全面防御的第六支柱，我们必须记住，在大多数情况下，人类或计算机用户是网络安全的薄弱环节。即使是最强大的网络防御，也可能因单个用户的行为被攻破，无论是密码松懈、无意泄露机密数据，还是被钓鱼攻击欺骗交出敏感信息。

在这方面，我们如何提升公民和企业的网络安全意识，以便继续利用技术带来的机遇，同时最大限度减少网络威胁？

网络安全局

刘亚仁先生（阿裕尼）：主席先生，调查新加坡健康集团网络攻击的调查委员会建议大幅提升网络安全人员的能力。

人力规划和人才发展战略是加强国家网络安全战略的关键。2012年，经济发展局报告有1200名网络安全专家，而IT专业人员有14万人。七年后，我们在网络安全专家数量和比例方面处于何种水平？还需要多少，目标是多少？

国家网络安全总体规划2018的关键方向之一是培养新加坡的网络安全专长。信息通信发展局（IDA）与高等院校合作扩展网络安全课程。理工学院与业界合作建立网络安全中心。IDA还与FireEye合作提升网络安全专业人员技能。经济发展局与NEC公司合作，通过海外实习发展战略能力。ST工程成立DigiSAFE网络安全中心，帮助有意中途转行者再培训。

随着家庭队科学技术局和国防部网络防御组织的成立，以及公共部门网络安全专业计划和国防部网络国服职业，我们现在拥有多样化的网络安全人力和人才发展格局。

这些不同努力是否由网络安全局（CSA）和信息通信发展局（IDA）根据国家战略协调？这些努力是相互竞争争夺有限人才，还是互补以产生协同效应？

故意网络虚假信息

达里尔·大卫先生（宏茂桥）：主席先生，互联网的匿名性导致“去抑制效应”，人们在网络上表现出与现实生活不同的形象。研究人员广泛研究了去抑制效应，以理解网络欺凌和其他不良网络行为，如网络喷子和钓鱼。虽然这些行为令人反感，但其影响相对有限。

令人担忧的是故意网络虚假信息的出现，这类虚假信息的传播范围和潜在影响广泛。互联网为虚假信息制造者提供了匿名面纱，去抑制效应使他们胆大妄为，编造明显虚假的信息，恶意混淆事实。网络虚假信息的恶意可能导致社区和种族暴力、对体制的不信任，并影响公众对重要社会议题的看法。

新加坡也未能幸免于故意网络虚假信息的恶意。一些国家行为者和个人发起虚假信息运动，诋毁我们的机构，抹黑政府和体制。这些有组织的运动需要迅速果断处理，防止其壮大。

下午2时45分

然而，应对故意网络虚假信息需要多机构合作，包括用事实反击虚假信息，教育新加坡人辨别真伪，以及媒体公司发挥作用，清除假帖和虚假宣传。

政府采取了哪些具体措施，帮助新加坡人在日益复杂的数字和媒体环境中防范故意网络虚假信息？

维克拉姆·奈尔先生：主席，本院成立了一个特别委员会，调查故意网络虚假信息问题。我应声明，我作为人民行动党政策论坛成员，参与了特别委员会的公众咨询。

提出的关键问题包括：第一，假新闻通常看似合理且有趣，易于广泛传播；第二，真相往往不够吸引人，纠正信息难获同等关注；第三，社交媒体和WhatsApp等通讯平台使假新闻传播更远；第四，有证据显示外国行为者利用假新闻干预选举，如美国总统选举和英国脱欧公投；第五，私人组织常从假新闻中获利，包括故意制造假新闻的如淡马锡评论，以及从传播中获益的平台如Facebook，其广告收入丰厚。

主席：维克拉姆先生，请总结发言。

维克拉姆·奈尔先生：是的。选定委员会审议后，是否有计划引入新的措施来应对选定委员会所建议的故意传播网络虚假信息的威胁？

数字准备蓝图

林顺顺教授：主席先生，我赞赏数字准备蓝图的建立，但想问它如何满足不同互联网用户的技能需求。

虽然幸运的是，新加坡没有数字接入鸿沟，但全球研究显示，关于在线技能的“第二层数字鸿沟”会显著影响人们从网络体验中获益的程度。此外，鉴于我们智能手机的高普及率，我们需要特别关注通过手机使用互联网的情况。

由于移动互联网以应用程序为中心，完全依赖移动设备的“移动专用用户”与主要使用移动设备但同时使用其他设备的“移动优先用户”有明显区别。这些不同的使用模式会导致不同的在线体验，反映出在线能力和内容接触范围的差异。这些差异又会影响个人的世界观和对影响其个人生活的关键社会问题的理解。

那么，我们如何将基础数字技能课程涵盖的技能与新加坡现有的互联网使用趋势相匹配？此外，有哪些计划定期更新课程，以考虑（a）技术趋势的变化和（b）学校及职场需求的变化？

数字准备

傅志坚先生：主席先生，我下一项发言是关于数字准备。数字鸿沟存在多种原因。主要原因是缺乏对电脑、智能手机和互联网的便捷访问。值得称赞的是，诸如为低收入家庭提供的家庭接入计划和为残疾人士提供的Enable IT计划。这两个计划都很好地为所有新加坡人提供了负担得起且包容的数字接入。

数字鸿沟的另一个原因是缺乏技能，正如林教授刚才指出的，无法安全且自信地使用数字技术。除了能够操作设备外，良好的网络卫生习惯也很重要，包括意识到技术的负面影响，如假新闻、网络欺凌和社会孤立。

数字鸿沟的另一个原因是部分公民缺乏参与数字经济的意愿。去年新加坡卫生集团的数据泄露等高调网络攻击使部分公民对使用数字技术感到恐惧。还有一些人在听闻有人遭遇网络诈骗后被吓退。

鉴于数字包容存在诸多障碍，我想请部长分享其弥合数字鸿沟的策略和计划，以便人人都能从数字经济中受益。

负担得起的数字连接

王鼎坤先生（马西岭-裕廸选区）：主席先生，数字服务已成为我们生活中越来越核心的一部分。我们每天多次使用手机应用程序。从游戏到健康追踪再到股市信息，我们几乎不再注意它们。它们已成为我们生活的基础，联合国甚至将保护互联网接入视为保护个人权利的关键要素。

然而，人们对“数字鸿沟”的担忧也在增加。低收入群体如果因负担能力问题缺乏数字世界的接触，将处于不利地位。除了缺乏更实惠的实体服务替代品外，他们可能还无法获得在数字时代高效工作的必要技能。如果低收入家庭的孩子错过数字体验，我们可能会制造一个永久的底层阶级。

已经采取了重要措施来解决这一问题，例如为符合条件的家庭提供两年补贴光纤宽带的家庭接入计划。免费WiFi热点也越来越普遍。

我们还能做些什么，确保数字连接对社会中弱势和不利群体负担得起？

智慧长者，智慧国度

田佩玲女士（麦波申选区）：主席先生，随着我们为数字经济做准备，必须确保人民能够从这场转型中受益，而不是被落下。我们不能无意中制造新的不平等或加剧现有差距，即那些能够接触和利用新数字技术的人与不能的人之间的差距。

虽然未来几代老年人将受教育程度更高且更懂技术，但我们不能忽视当前这一代长者。我们需要智慧长者来建设智慧国度。我们需要利用技术来补充老年护理人力短缺，帮助更多长者在自己家中和社区中独立生活。我们需要利用技术帮助他们保持与新闻和信息、支持网络、朋友和家人的联系。为此，确保他们具备数字准备非常重要。数字准备是长者充分利用技术益处的第一步和关键推动力。

在麦波申，我们去年对315名公共租赁居民进行了简单调查，发现数字化的最大障碍是缺乏知识、智能手机和数据计划。因此，我和基层团队积极寻找有资源的合作伙伴，帮助我们的长者和数字弱势居民克服这些障碍。我要感谢信息通信媒体发展局和文化、社区及青年部的支持。

凭借监督能力和更大资源网络的访问，我想请问部委针对帮助长者和数字弱势群体学习、接触和使用数字技术以提升生活质量方面做了哪些工作？

图书馆的技能未来

张浩斌博士：主席先生，阁下，我们的图书馆是向人民灌输知识的宝贵资源。我了解到国家图书馆局与新加坡技能未来局合作，通过在图书馆举办的“技能未来@图书馆”工作坊，提升新加坡人的技能。

我想了解图书馆如何能更积极地支持技能未来和终身学习。同时，我也想了解部委如何鼓励成人学习者利用图书馆资源的最新情况。

阁下，随着数字化的到来，我们可以探索利用技术支持终身学习。我建议通过两个渠道实现：第一，国家图书馆局的移动应用程序；第二，国家图书馆局的学习舱。

国家图书馆局的移动应用程序可以改进，在用户同意的情况下收集用户偏好和数据。随后，这些信息可用于向用户推荐图书馆资源，如书籍、电子书、有声书和视频，帮助他们自我发展和学习。

事实上，我们可以更进一步，建立新加坡技能未来局与国家图书馆局之间的数据共享平台。该平台将汇总注册技能未来的用户的职业志向、工作领域或兴趣等信息。随后，可以识别对相关用户感兴趣或有益的知识、资源和技能。相关资源将通过国家图书馆局移动应用推荐给用户。这将帮助用户识别最有助于自我提升和学习的材料，鼓励自学。实质上，这种方法将允许为新加坡人的个别学习需求定制量身打造的学习计划。

我了解到义顺北点和海港城的图书馆各有七个学习舱。这些学习舱包含从编码到商业等各种主题的视频教程。学习舱配备互动屏幕，具有极大潜力支持自学。我们应鼓励这些学习舱在新加坡各图书馆的普及。

图书馆为终身学习提供了诸多机会。我敦促部委加快将图书馆发展成为新加坡人的自学中心。

主席：达里尔·大卫先生，您能否先发言一次？我们随后休息。

图书馆

达里尔·大卫先生：谢谢主席先生。如今，图书馆面临多方面的严峻挑战：来自互联网、现代咖啡馆，甚至家中藏书。问题不在于印刷媒体和数字媒体能否共存于图书馆，而在于图书馆如何成为第三空间，让不同社会群体包容性地交流思想。

图书馆可以是实体或虚拟的社交空间，配合社交媒体应用。我们如何将图书馆转变为社区中心，让人们互动、互联、学习、创作、分享、非正式会面、讨论或组织社交活动、特别展览和展览？

图书馆也可以是通过读书会和论坛分享思想的“客厅”，是所有人的安全空间和会面场所。政府如何确保我们的图书馆继续作为包容性社交空间，服务所有年龄段的新加坡人？

主席：秩序。我建议现在休息。

[（程序文本）于是议长离开委员会主席席，回到议会主席席。 （程序文本）]

议长：秩序。我宣布休会，下午3时20分继续主持会议。

会议休会

下午2时57分至3时20分。

会议恢复，下午3时20分。

[议长在主席席]

[（程序文本）拨款委员会辩论继续。 （程序文本）]

[议长在主席席]

Q项（续）–

鼓励观点多元化

达里尔·大卫先生：谢谢主席先生，我想谈谈公民讨论和观点多样性。全球城市通常以开放和包容不同观点著称。这类充满活力社会的一个显著特征是人们能够通过多种冲突观点“对话”，而不陷入歇斯底里和伤害。心理学家认为社会生存依赖于一致性，但最新研究也表明分歧促进创造力。

斯坦福大学教授卡罗尔·德韦克对“成长型思维”概念做了大量研究。相信才能可以通过努力、良好策略和他人帮助而发展的个体拥有成长型思维。我相信尊重不同观点可以在学校培养，帮助学生冷静理性地交流，发展成长型思维。我希望政府考虑如何改善学校及更广泛范围内的公民讨论，鼓励新加坡人观点多元化。

政府民意调查

李安·佩雷拉先生（非选区议员）：主席先生，阁下，开头我声明本人为一家从事调查的研究咨询公司的首席执行官。

许多新加坡人如今都有被政府委托的民意调查机构采访的经历。针对我之前的国会质询，时任部长雅库布·易卜拉欣回应称“政府不编制各机构进行的调查统计，也不统计哪些调查被公布。”

如果公布，民意调查结果对社会许多利益相关者都很有价值。

例如，慈善机构可以通过了解公众对其关注的问题和受益人的舆论氛围，设计更好的筹款项目。学者可以利用这些调查进行研究。民间团体可以用调查数据开发更好的项目，提高对其关注问题的意识。公民可以利用这些知识更好地塑造和调整其公民行为，例如写信给媒体、在社交媒体表达观点和向咨询委员会提出意见。

我了解到部分调查结果已公布，例如REACH。我呼吁制定规则，要求所有进行民意调查的部委和政府机构公布调查报告，供社会广泛使用，前提是不涉及国家安全或敏感事项。

我想问目前是否有机制让所有政府机构或部委访问其他机构或部委未公布调查的数据？如果没有，公布此类调查甚至可通过减少调查重叠，提高政府效率和开支。

政府调查使用公共资金。这些调查结果应供所有人使用，而不仅限于政府和政府领导。

有效的政策沟通

田佩玲女士（麦波申选区）：良好意图的政策如果沟通不到位，可能变得无效并激怒民众。更糟的是，缺乏有效政策沟通时，别有用心者可能利用机会歪曲事实或传播假新闻。如果为新加坡和新加坡人利益设计的政策被误解，未能获得公众支持，将是悲剧。

相反，有效沟通的政策能获得广泛公众支持，确保成功实施。母语和国民服役政策就是极好例子。我们至今仍能看到这些政策获得强烈公众支持，因为人们理解其理由，尽管可能需要个人牺牲。因此，有效的政策沟通加强了我们的国家团结。

鉴于有效政策沟通的重要性，我想请问部委如何改善政府政策在不同年龄群体和社区间的沟通，以最大化政策影响并惠及目标受众？

主席：达里尔·大卫先生，请接下来的两项发言。

公共服务广播

达里尔·大卫先生：主席先生，我的第一项发言是关于公共服务广播（PSB）。多年来，信息通信媒体发展局支持制作公共服务广播节目，这些节目具有多项国家和社会目标。PSB节目推广新加坡、新加坡身份认同和价值观，如家庭、社区、社会包容和凝聚力。同时，它们也服务特殊兴趣群体，例如老年人和青年。它们还帮助提高多元社会的文化意识，促进宗教和谐。

这些节目多年来也帮助观众接受教育，例如通过时事节目，使我们作为全球公民了解影响我们的国际动态。

如今，一场名为“割线”的革命正在全球蔓延，人们摆脱了对有线电视的依赖。Netflix、亚马逊Prime甚至Viu等OTT服务为喜欢狂看韩剧的粉丝提供服务。政府能否分享公共服务广播在这一不断演变的媒体环境中的变化？下一项发言。

发展媒体产业

过去五年，发展媒体产业的努力迅速加快。卢卡斯影业、知名人才管理公司RGM控股、著名动画工作室BKN媒体以及印度大型电影制作公司DLM数字工作室等大牌纷纷在新加坡设立机构，提升了媒体产业的国际形象。

在媒体教育方面，南洋理工大学艺术设计与媒体学院推出了培养创意媒体专业人才的课程。新西兰南海电影电视学院也在此设立校区。这将为教室成为媒体人才培养中心提供许多机会。

然而，观察到本地制作的新加坡媒体内容市场较小，亟需创造有利的媒体环境。我们有哪些总体计划在国内发展/壮大媒体产业？是否有计划支持本地媒体公司开拓海外市场？

主席：易华仁部长。

通讯及资讯部长（易华仁先生）：谢谢主席先生。首先，请允许我在发言过程中展示一些幻灯片。

议长：可以，请展示。 [幻灯片向尊敬的议员展示。]

易华仁先生：阁下，这是我自去年五月加入文化、社区及青年部以来的第一次拨款委员会发言。感谢各位议员对文化、社区及青年部工作的支持，以及大家分享的多元观点。

在我的回应中，我将概述文化、社区及青年部确保新加坡数字时代未来的计划，作为部委更广泛使命的一部分，即连接人民与机遇、社区及政府。高级国务部长贾尼尔·普图查里将讲述网络安全和数字准备，高级国务部长沈颖将负责媒体行业和政府沟通部分。我将总结图书馆和档案的计划。

先生，我们的愿景是让新加坡拥有一个蓬勃发展的数字经济：每个企业都具备数字化能力，每个员工都具备数字技能，每个公民都能数字互联。无论企业规模大小或发展阶段，都能利用科技创新和成长。无论员工所属行业或教育水平，都能利用科技提高效率和生产力。无论公民年龄或背景，都能自信地使用科技，丰富生活。

这一愿景已经在我们经济和社会中一些意想不到的领域得以实现。传统行业中的小企业正在利用技术实现增长。我最近见到了Selvam先生，他曾是特种部队成员，现在在小印度拥有Anushia花店。这证明了我们武装部队官员的多样能力。他利用电子商务接触企业客户和新客户，收入增长了50%。

年轻人和老年人都在拥抱科技。今年一月在library@harbourfront开幕时，我看到长者们轻松阅读电子报纸，热情学习使用智能手机上的各种应用。孩子们在沉浸式故事讲述室玩得很开心，成年人则在使用国家图书馆局的移动应用。

下午3点30分

我们希望借此势头，培育一个充满活力的信息通信媒体产业，拥有深厚能力的企业、高技能员工和世界级数字基础设施。

我们首先努力提升广大企业，尤其是中小企业的数字能力。Cedric Foo先生和Douglas Foo先生询问我们如何帮助企业受益于数字技术，Teo Ser Luck先生问及我们的努力成果。两年前，我们启动了“中小企业数字化”计划，成效令人鼓舞。截至目前，约有4000家中小企业受益于该计划，计划提供逐步数字化指南，提供经过验证的数字解决方案，并提供咨询和项目管理服务。

我们一直在根据企业需求变化调整“中小企业数字化”计划。例如，今年一月，我们与银行和电信合作伙伴合作，推出了“启动数字包”，使企业从成立之初即可采用数字解决方案。这样，企业从一开始就能受益，并可在扩展时基于这些数字基础继续发展。

我们还在扩大“中小企业数字化”计划，以满足企业扩展时更复杂的需求。UNAG物流公司就是一个例子。Rhyce和Gary Chng兄弟拥有这家本地物流运输公司。他们使用预先批准的基于云的人工智能解决方案优化配送路线，并根据可用车辆的容量和位置动态重新分配司机。这使他们的配送量增加了20%，收入增长了15%。他们现在也将该平台推广给其他中小企业。到2020年，我们将向所有行业推广人工智能和云解决方案，让更多企业受益。

除了企业层面，我们还启动了系统级数字化举措，以获得更广泛的效益。

全国电子发票网络是信息通信媒体发展局今年一月推出的举措之一。发票是关键的商业功能，但手工流程繁琐且易出错。通过电子发票，企业可简化流程，提高准确性，改善现金流。政府全力支持该举措，并将在今年准备好接收电子发票。我鼓励所有企业利用这一全国网络提升效率，降低成本。

另一个系统级举措是TradeTrust，旨在简化和数字化贸易流程。贸易和物流行业面临的共同挑战是跨境贸易流程效率低下。TradeTrust旨在制定一套标准，帮助企业安全交换数字贸易文件。它将提升我们作为商业枢纽的吸引力，提高贸易和物流行业效率。信息通信媒体发展局和其他政府机构正与行业伙伴合作进行概念验证试验，稍后将提供更多细节。

企业数字化成功的前提是员工也能有效使用数字技术。多位议员——Cedric Foo先生、Teo Ser Luck先生、Tin Pei Ling女士和Douglas Foo先生——询问我们如何为员工准备并培养数字经济人才。我同意Teo Ser Luck先生的看法，这是一项挑战，既是改变心态的挑战，也是激发变革意愿的挑战。

2016年，我们启动了科技技能加速器（TeSA）计划，以满足对数字技能专业人才日益增长的需求。迄今为止，已有超过61,000个培训名额被接受或承诺，占我们信息通信技术（ICT）劳动力总数的三分之一略多。这些课程为非ICT员工转行科技职业提供机会，也为现有ICT员工承担更深层次技术角色提供培训。

谢兆彦先生是TeSA技术沉浸与安置计划的毕业生之一，该计划帮助非ICT员工进入该领域。通过该计划，他掌握了软件开发技能，成功从石油天然气行业工程师转型为Amaris AI的数据工程师，负责为客户开发应用。

TeSA还有一个公司主导培训（CLT）计划，顾名思义，由企业主导培训ICT员工。

我最近访问了Tunity Technologies，这是一家本地射频识别（RFID）解决方案提供商。该中小企业通过该计划培训并雇佣了六名员工，其中包括姚婉如女士。通过该计划，婉如学习了物联网（IoT）领域的技能，现在是一名物联网工程师。

因此，我们从这些计划中看到了良好成果，我想告诉Tin Pei Ling女士，90%的受益者继续从事ICT相关工作，许多人也留在了被安置的公司。我们还定期进行评估，并与ICT专业人才的主要雇主密切合作，评估计划成效。

像Tunity这样的科技公司在培训和培养ICT员工方面发挥着重要作用。通过本地合作伙伴Kaplan和Trent Global，我们还将引进美国METIS的数据科学知名培训课程和爱尔兰Code Institute的软件开发课程，为员工提供更多提升技能的机会，帮助更多员工和企业抓住数字经济带来的机遇。

鉴于每位员工的数字培训需求不同，我们还将推出数字学习指南，帮助雇主使用逐步指南规划员工的数字培训需求。我们将从零售和物流行业开始，逐步推广至其他行业。

我们还希望利用许多在海外关键科技领域工作的热心新加坡人才，他们渴望为新加坡的数字转型贡献力量。为促进此类科技人才流动，我高兴地通知各位议员，已启动“海外新加坡科技人才（OST）-LinkedIn社区”，这是业界与主要政府机构的合作项目。该社区将连接海外新加坡科技人才与本地科技社区，及时传递国内最新动态。自今年一月成立以来，该群已联系超过500名新加坡人。

研发投资也是帮助产业创新和保持竞争力的重要部分，尤其是在技术快速发展的背景下。

我们在研究、创新与企业2020计划（RIE 2020）中服务与数字经济（SDE）领域的研发投资，帮助我们在前沿技术领域建立能力，解决国家重点问题。例如，通过AI Singapore的重大挑战项目，我们与学术界和产业界合作，解决医疗等关键行业面临的重大问题。我们必须保持这一支撑数字经济战略的研究创新势头。因此，我高兴地宣布，将为SDE领域追加3亿新元研发资金，几乎是现有预算的两倍。这是国家研究基金会RIE 2020计划下一阶段的一部分，相关细节将很快公布。

我们还建立数字服务实验室，释放研发投资价值。该计划将与技术供应商、研究和产业伙伴合作，共同开发前沿技术，解决商业挑战。

有效的法规与世界级数字基础设施是我们数字经济愿景的基石。

为此，我们正在审查《电子交易法》，以适应新商业模式、新技术和国家项目。我们也在审查《个人数据保护法》（PDPA），确保其继续保护消费者利益，同时支持数据的创新使用。

针对Sylvia Lim女士的提问，2018年个人数据保护委员会处理了1669起数据保护投诉和1236起“请勿来电”投诉。PDPC具备调查各种数据保护违规的专业知识和资源，必要时与外部机构合作调查。由于PDPC隶属于信息通信媒体发展局，机构能承担IMDA更广泛的基础设施和管理开支，将资源集中于调查和核心工作领域。我们将继续确保PDPC资源充足，适应职责需求。

我也曾于2月12日在议会解释为何公共机构不受PDPA约束。我要告知Sylvia Lim女士，过去几周这一理由未变。PDPA与《公共部门治理法》（PSGA）中的数据保护标准大致一致。公共机构遵守的标准与私营部门相同甚至更高。它们不仅受PSGA约束，还受其他特定法律和政府指引手册约束，Sylvia Lim女士也已认可。必要时，PDPC协助个人与机构及其数据保护官沟通，解决具体数据保护问题。PDPC也可将双方引导至调解。

Mohamed Irshad先生询问数据泄露受害者的救济途径。受害者可寻求法律建议，包括直接向机构索赔或提起私人诉讼。个人也可通过新加坡消费者协会或新加坡调解中心进行调解解决数据保护纠纷。

我们也在为人工智能（AI）等新技术做准备。Vikram Nair先生询问AI伦理问题，鉴于AI技术的广泛潜力，这是我们关注的重点。为此，我最近发布了新加坡模型AI治理框架，指导私营机构安全、合伦理地部署AI解决方案。我们还成立了AI与数据伦理使用咨询委员会，启动了推进法律和伦理AI议题的研究计划。Lim Sun Sun女士会高兴地知道，我们正与咨询委员会、行业监管机构、行业协会和商会合作，推动框架的采用。我们的AI治理与伦理工作也获得了2019年世界信息社会峰会奖项的国际认可。这是国际舞台对我们工作的肯定，但我们将继续努力，因为形势在不断发展。

针对Ong Teng Koon先生关于基础设施的提问，我们致力于确保拥有面向未来、具全球竞争力的数字基础设施，这是数字经济的基石。

因此，我们计划于2020年开始部署第五代移动网络，即5G，以保持新加坡在连接性方面的竞争优势。5G将使企业和公民体验到比4G快100倍的峰值数据速率，延迟降低至1/25，并支持每平方公里多达1000倍的设备连接。5G有潜力从根本上改变企业及其运营方式，因其能同时支持多种高需求应用，如自动驾驶车辆连接、工业自动化、物联网和全国传感器网络部署。信息通信媒体发展局将很快启动公众咨询，帮助制定5G的合适监管框架和政策，包括频谱分配。

针对Cedric Foo先生的观点，我们坚决支持开放的跨境数据流动，这是充分利用AI等技术潜力的关键。

下午3点45分

在区域层面，我们通过参与制定东盟数字数据治理框架，帮助设定区域数据保护基准原则。我们还参与多边认证机制，如亚太经合组织跨境隐私规则和处理者隐私认可系统。我们在自由贸易协定中纳入促进数据流动的承诺，如《全面与进步跨太平洋伙伴关系协定》。这些举措将使企业能够无缝、安全地跨境传输数据，抓住新的数字机遇。

但这些机遇只有在安全可靠的网络空间内才能真正实现。我同意Teo Ser Luck先生和Daniel Goh副教授的看法，除了帮助中小企业受益于数字化，我们还必须帮助他们防范网络威胁。因此，网络安全局和信息通信媒体发展局将于今年晚些时候扩大预先批准解决方案范围，纳入网络安全解决方案。这将为中小企业提供采用何种解决方案的指导，强化其网络安全措施。

Teo Ho Pin博士询问我们如何保护关键资讯基础设施（CII）。去年，我们通过了《网络安全法》，授权网络安全局有效应对网络攻击和调查网络事件。所有关键资讯基础设施已于2018年底完成指定。我们的11个关键资讯基础设施行业提供交通、能源和供水等基本服务，所有CII所有者必须遵守《网络安全行为准则》。我们还定期进行渗透测试，发现并修复漏洞。此外，我们制定了增强韧性的措施，包括应急和事件响应计划，以应对网络攻击导致基本服务中断的情况。

我们上月将数字防御作为全面防卫的第六支柱推出。这体现了每位公民、企业和组织在帮助我们构建强大网络空间防御中的角色。套用一句老话，我们的网络安全强度取决于最薄弱的环节。资深国务部长Janil将分享更多网络安全工作细节。

最后，我们相信每位新加坡人都能成为数字互联和积极参与的公民。建设数字准备度是政府、企业、社区和个人共同的国家任务。这就是为什么我们推出数字参与承诺，允许组织承诺一项或多项具体行动，帮助新加坡人掌握技能并采用技术。迄今已有270多个组织承诺贡献力量，我们希望更多组织加入，共同建设更具数字准备度的新加坡。

我为众多志愿者和企业伙伴自愿参与我们的数字诊所，帮助公民使用移动设备感到欣慰。渣打银行是企业伙伴，超过200名员工参与志愿服务。志愿者Audrey Poh女士告诉我，她被参与者学习热情所激励，在教他们使用不同应用时感到很有成就感。自2017年以来，我们的数字诊所已服务超过4000人次。这一切都离不开20家企业伙伴和1000名像Poh女士这样的志愿者的支持。

为了支持更多像Poh女士一样热心助人的新加坡人，我们将启动“我们的新加坡基金”，支持促进数字准备度的社区努力。这是与文化、社区及青年部合作的项目，资深国务部长Janil将详细介绍这些举措。

主席先生，我已详细阐述了我们帮助企业和人民抓住数字经济机遇的广泛努力。这不是一项容易的任务，也不是政府的单独责任。事实上，最终每个企业、每个员工和每个公民都必须挺身而出，克服挑战，主动承担学习和数字转型的责任。主席先生，能否允许我播放一段视频，恰好反映我们面临的挑战？

主席：可以，请播放。

施艾斯瓦兰先生：谢谢。[一段视频向尊敬的议员们播放。]

这就是我在部里年轻同事们所说的“大胆”或“前卫”视频。主席先生，如果我可以总结一下。建设新加坡充满活力的数字经济是大家共同的努力。刚才我们看到的视频强调了无论是个人、员工还是小型企业，都面临着挑战——以不同的方式，我们都在应对这些挑战。它也展示了我们如何合作并取得成功。因此，让我们作为数字赋能的企业、数字技能的员工和数字互联的公民，共同努力实现这一愿景。

主席：通讯及资讯高级国务部长贾尼尔·普图切里博士。

通讯及资讯高级国务部长（贾尼尔·普图切里博士）：主席先生，随着科技成为我们生活的一部分，我们需要加强数字准备和网络安全。我们必须确保所有新加坡人都能获得利用科技的工具和知识，并确保员工和企业能在网络安全的环境中蓬勃发展。

多位议员表达了对社会某些群体可能较慢或较难从新加坡正在经历的数字转型旅程中受益的担忧。

我们必须确保数字化的利益惠及所有人。数字准备是全社会的努力，需要政府、企业和社区的共同协作。

去年，我们推出了数字准备蓝图，并成立了数字准备理事会。该理事会将提供战略方向，指导数字准备举措的实施，并审视社区在数字包容、素养和参与方面的需求。重要且令人鼓舞的是，正如部长所指出的，我们已获得更广泛社区和企业的积极支持，参与理事会及其工作委员会。

我们的努力可分为三个领域：数字参与、数字包容和数字素养。

在数字参与方面，我们将推出两项新举措，动员来自私营、民间和公共部门的组织推动数字准备工作，吸引更多公民加入数字准备运动。

部长宣布的数字参与承诺是一项自愿的在线承诺，鼓励组织促进数字参与和包容。主要针对企业。目前已有270个来自各行各业的组织——不仅仅是科技行业，也不仅是线上行业，而是任何能利用数字技术的行业——已作出承诺，致力于扩大数字准备工作。我们的目标是在2021年前吸引3,000个组织加入该承诺。

在另一个领域——同样是数字参与，但聚焦社区——我们与文化、社区及青年部合作，设立了“我们的新加坡数字准备基金”。该基金鼓励社区推动数字准备，扩大数字准备相关的非营利社会公共领域。项目可获得最高20,000新元的资助，支持最多80%的项目成本。

关于数字包容，回应傅志豪议员、陈佩玲议员和拉哈尤·马哈赞议员关于如何帮助所有人受益于科技的提问。数字包容不仅需要获得技术，还需要具备安全自信使用技术的技能和知识。

自2017年以来，我们已举办超过90场数字诊所。这些数字诊所多为预约制，或不定期、临时举办，且通常与其他活动联合举办。为向居民提供常设服务，我们于去年11月在八个社区中心启动了“科技连接”服务。该服务为居民提供个性化协助，使用他们熟悉的语言，指导如何使用数字设备和应用程序，如Facebook和WhatsApp，使他们能与亲友联系，建立更强的社交网络，并在日常生活中使用科技。他们还可获得实用问题的帮助，如如何重置密码。该服务将逐步推广至所有社区中心，成为常设服务。

通过我们的银发信息通信计划，许多长者已掌握基本数字技能，这令我们感到鼓舞。银发信息通信计划累计惠及超过27万名长者。

回应王鼎群议员关于如何确保数字连接保持负担得起的提问，“家庭上网计划”和“NEU PC Plus计划”为低收入家庭提供补贴的信息通信设备和互联网接入。迄今已有超过7万个家庭受益。这类努力并非新鲜事物，自1999年起——超过20年——公共部门就有类似计划，旨在确保弱势低收入家庭能获得连接及使用连接所需的设备。我们根据家庭中是否有在校儿童，设有不同计划。

此外，通讯及资讯部正与资讯通信媒体发展局及人民协会合作，在麦波申和拉丁马斯选区开展试点计划。计划为200名无移动设备或互联网连接的长者提供配备数据的智能手机。基层志愿者将提供指导，帮助居民建立使用技术的技能和信心。这是一次研究——实验、试点——旨在探索如何鼓励和支持数字准备较低者采用数字技术。

林顺顺教授询问如何帮助个人获得必要技能，并确定在数字经济中有效运作所需的能力。她的问题涉及数字准备的第三个组成部分，即数字素养。资讯通信媒体发展局已制定基础数字技能课程，确保公民能以结构化方式学习这些技能。

课程中确定的技能对应日常活动，重点关注当前技术趋势，如电子支付和移动应用的使用。课程为期一天。希望按自己节奏学习基础数字技能者，也可通过IM银发门户在线学习。我们将定期更新课程内容，策划适合长者的相关内容，考虑新兴趋势和利益相关者反馈。

从长远看，我们还在制定信息与媒体素养框架，整合新加坡人使用社交媒体和数字技术时所需的信息、媒体及网络素养技能。该框架将明确期望成果，并包含供项目负责人参考的内容指南。我们计划今年晚些时候推出，并定期更新。

维克拉姆·奈尔议员、达里尔·大卫议员和拉哈尤·马哈赞议员询问新加坡人如何在日益复杂的网络空间中导航，面对故意网络虚假信息（DOFs）、网络犯罪和网络攻击的威胁。科技为我们带来更大便利和连接，但在复杂的网站、应用和服务网络中导航可能令人压力倍增。网络威胁加剧焦虑，降低信任，削弱公众对机构的信心，威胁国家安全。我们已见证其他国家发生此类情况，新加坡也不例外。

下午4时

一个信息充分且有辨识力的公众是新加坡抵御网络威胁的第一道、也是最重要的防线。政府正在加强公众教育，应对严重且普遍的故意网络虚假信息问题。例如，国家图书馆局的“来源·理解·研究·评估”（S.U.R.E）计划，提高公众对危险的认识及辨别假新闻的方法。教育部的新媒体素养工具包支持教师帮助学生导航数字环境，包括学习如何识别社交媒体上的虚假信息，以及如何负责任地在线互动。过去两年，媒体素养理事会等组织也支持自发项目，通过“更好互联网 x 青年征集计划”帮助公众成为更明智的消费者。

为教育公民和企业良好网络卫生习惯，网络安全局于2018年5月启动“网络小贴士4你”网络安全宣传活动。通过讲座、会议及名为“GoSafeOnline”的在线门户等多渠道向企业推广良好网络安全实践。网络安全局和资讯通信媒体发展局也与学校合作，帮助学生掌握基本网络安全知识，从小学习有效保护自己。

我们已将数字防御纳入全面防卫的第六支柱。正如我们对抗恐怖主义一样，需要每个人发挥作用，即在网络上保持安全、警觉和负责任。

我们每个人，包括本院议员，都可以做五件事，将防范故意网络虚假信息和良好网络卫生作为个人责任。我借此机会提醒大家：第一，发布或转发可疑信息前请核实；第二，使用强密码和双因素认证；第三，安装、使用并更新杀毒软件；第四，尽快更新所有软件；第五，警惕网络钓鱼迹象。

这五项做法大大帮助我们防范假新闻，保障网络安全。

维克拉姆·奈尔议员询问我们如何评估政府系统的网络安全。安全可信的网络空间对智慧国至关重要。这包括加强政府与产业的合作，实现更高水平的集体网络安全。我们需要利益相关者——产业、学术界和社区——的共同努力。

我们通过政府漏洞赏金计划实现这一目标。去年12月至今年1月，400名“白帽”黑客——即拥有黑客技能并用于正当目的的人，与“黑帽”黑客（犯罪目的）相对——参与了由GovTech和网络安全局组织的政府漏洞赏金计划。他们对五个面向互联网的政府系统进行了“压力测试”，发现26个漏洞，均已修复。

此过程提升了我们的网络安全标准。我们获得了潜在攻击路径的洞察，更好地保护了网络应用，并改进了漏洞修补机制，确保有效且全面。前十名赏金获得者中有七名来自新加坡。我很高兴看到本地网络安全社区为提升系统安全作出贡献。未来我们将举办更多此类计划。希望部分参与者能申请加入网络安全局。

张世乐议员询问我们如何有针对性地抓住数字经济新机遇。网络安全是经济机会领域，补充了新加坡现有优势——强大的连接性、数字化熟练的劳动力以及信任与透明的声誉。强大的网络安全生态系统将提供专业知识和解决方案，助力更具韧性的数字基础设施。

我们帮助网络安全初创企业成长，并通过Block71的创新网络安全生态系统（ICE71）建立信誉，汇聚创业者、投资者和企业合作伙伴。自去年启动以来，该社区表现良好，通过各种活动接触超过5万人。我们开始看到本地网络安全初创企业的增长。

其中一家是The Cyber Assembly，一家本土初创企业，通过活跃的学习网络安全演练场、训练营项目，甚至名为“What the Hack”的手机游戏，将人们与网络安全技能连接起来。ICE71的规模计划为该公司创始人黄斌勇先生提供了与合适受众联系和业务发展的机会。

2018年9月，网络安全局发起创新产业征集，推动创新网络安全解决方案的开发和采用。网络安全局收到70多个针对10个网络安全挑战声明的提案。2019年，政府将把创新征集扩大为网络安全创新与增长计划，支持本地网络安全公司开发创新且相关的解决方案，满足行业不断变化的需求。

刘添强议员询问我们如何满足新加坡网络安全人才需求。建设强大的网络安全人才队伍非常重要，不仅对网络安全产业发展，对国家安全同样关键。

随着世界日益互联和新网络威胁出现，网络安全人才需求激增。公共和私营部门网络安全职位总数从2012年到2017年增长三倍，达到5,300个。同时，实际就业的网络安全专业人员人数增长四倍，达到4,900人，约占信息通信技术劳动力的3%。我们预计对网络安全专业人才的强劲需求将持续。

我们的机构密切合作，与网络安全生态系统协作，加强网络安全人才培养；深化技能和技术专长；改善职业发展和认可。

为满足行业需求，资讯通信媒体发展局和网络安全局在科技技能加速器（TeSA）计划下推动有针对性的努力。这包括网络安全助理及技术员计划，通过在职培训培养和提升新入职及中途转职专业人员的网络安全技能。已有八家公司承诺到2021年培养超过900名专业人才。此外，超过3,000人受益于TeSA关键信息技术资源计划支持的50门网络安全课程。

为吸引、培养和留住公共部门网络安全从业者，网络安全局与GovTech及其他机构紧密合作，建立网络安全专家核心团队，部署至各机构支持政府网络安全需求。

杜格拉斯·傅议员询问我们如何开发有助于新加坡安全可信网络空间的产品。作为通讯及资讯部确保标准和法规支持数字经济发展的工作一部分，我们在建立强大的网络安全标准体系方面取得进展。

我高兴宣布，截至2019年1月，新加坡已获得共同准则证书授权国地位。共同准则是全球网络安全产品认证的事实标准。目前包括新加坡在内的30个国家参与共同准则认可安排（CCRA），实现认证的相互认可。但并非所有国家都是授权国，即可在本国生产产品。我们已成为授权国，可在新加坡生产产品并推广至全球。这将使本地企业能在新加坡开发全球认可的产品，节省成本和时间——无需将产品送往海外评估，也无需将测试人员带到新加坡。我们可在本地完成所有工作。这是迈向成为区域产品评估和认证中心的重要一步。我们正吸引全球评估实验室在新加坡设立基地。这些发展将加速新加坡出口世界级网络安全产品，并为新加坡人创造优质就业。

为鼓励中小企业打造更安全的产品并采用共同准则认证，我们在“Accreditation@SG Digital”计划下设立了新的SecureTech轨道。该计划帮助本地中小企业改善业务实践，参与本地社区，并被政府机构考虑采购其产品。新的SecureTech轨道将同样支持网络安全中小企业及其产品的成长、规模扩大及政府采购考虑。

主席先生，数字转型不仅关乎硬件或软件，更关乎我们的公民、员工和企业，他们创新、利用并从这些技术中受益。

我们的努力涵盖数字准备和网络安全，将帮助这些重要利益相关者，共同拥抱数字未来的潜力。

主席：通讯及资讯高级国务部长沈颖。

通讯及资讯高级国务部长（沈颖女士）：主席先生，易华仁部长和高级国务部长贾尼尔·普图切里博士已分享了数字未来的激动人心机遇，以及我们如何帮助每位新加坡人分享数字红利。

数字转型也是我们图书馆、媒体和政府通讯提升的核心主题，我们重点支持新加坡人在阅读和学习方面，以及保持信息灵通。

让我先从我们的图书馆说起。正如各位议员所知，我们图书馆的转型是公共部门机构中最彻底、最戏剧性的之一，旨在更好地服务新加坡人。

我们将继续致力于这场转型之旅。除了更丰富的馆藏、更舒适的环境和更高效的客户服务外，我们还持续选址、设计和更新图书馆，以跟上新加坡人的都市生活方式。我们的目标是领先于不断变化的偏好，持续让图书馆用户感到愉悦。我们选址于人流密集的地方，并在空间和项目设计上投入额外努力。让我以今年一月开幕的harbourfront图书馆为例说明。

在我访问时，看到学生、儿童、上班族和祖父母们在同一屋檐下阅读和学习的场景让我感到欣慰。家长们正带领孩子们在儿童创客空间参与基于STEAM（科学、技术、工程、艺术和数学）概念的动手活动。几步之遥的项目区则热闹非凡，老人们一边聊天一边享受彼此的陪伴，同时学习网络安全技巧。像这样的活动，加上图书馆创新的设计和对圣淘沙及我们港口的全景视野，为每位用户带来愉快的访问和全方位体验。

我们的未来图书馆深受新加坡人欢迎。与未改造的图书馆相比，它们的借阅量提高了50%，访客量增加了约65%。尽管许多其他国家的图书馆访客量和借阅量呈下降趋势，我们依然取得了显著增长。

多年来，我们也转变了图书馆的馆藏——不仅仅提供纯粹的“书籍”，而是涵盖了丰富的学习资源。在这方面的一个重要推动是数字化，这重新定义了所有图书馆用户的便利性和阅读体验。

公众曾写信表达对2016年推出的国家图书馆局（NLB）移动应用的赞赏。Jeffery Sung先生发现，下载该应用几分钟内，他就能阅读全球报纸并浏览本地畅销书。实际上，该应用将图书馆装进了我们的口袋。自2017年以来，我们的电子书借阅量已翻倍。为满足电子书日益增长的需求，NLB已将电子书借阅配额从8本提高到16本。尚未尝试电子书和有声书的新加坡人，可以在图书馆外的eReads自助借阅机体验。NLB今年将在全岛推出8至10台此类自助机。

多年来，NLB在学校假期期间将实体借阅配额翻倍。每次活动都获得用户的高度评价，他们借此机会多读多借。我很高兴宣布，从4月1日起，用户无需再等到学校假期，实体借阅配额将永久从8本翻倍至16本。实际上，图书馆用户一次可借阅32件实体和电子资源。

图书馆馆藏演进的另一个方面是扩大本地内容。阅读是加深我们对母语和族群文化热爱的绝佳方式。NLB将增加中文、马来语和泰米尔语的本地化儿童书籍馆藏。目前正在筛选适合12岁及以下新加坡儿童阅读和产生共鸣的书籍，准备翻译成方言。

正如各位议员所知，我们面临一个快速变化的未来。在这种多变环境中，图书馆可以成为每位新加坡人的个人学习避风港，助你重新装备，提升个人和职业生活。

我最近遇见了热心学习和志愿服务者Noorjahan bte Kamaruddin女士，她以多种方式激励了我。为了实现出版食谱书的终身梦想，Noorjahan女士参加了由NLB和信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）举办的“银发数字创作者”工作坊，学习电子出版、版权、隐私和网络安全知识。课程结束后，她继续推进项目，现在已是电子书《Noor’s Just Right Recipes》的骄傲作者。但她并未止步于此，凭借所学知识，她开始培训他人。Noor的故事展示了协作学习如何丰富她和他人的生活，也展示了新加坡人如何利用科技成就伟业。

下午4时15分

张浩斌博士询问图书馆如何更积极支持SkillsFuture和终身学习。答案是，NLB以多种方式倡导持续、自主学习。我们让成年人轻松利用图书馆的学习资源。例如，NLB的数字商业图书馆提供4000多本电子书，浓缩成10分钟的精读内容，方便忙碌的成年人阅读。我也感谢张博士提出NLB应与SkillsFuture Singapore更紧密合作的建议。

NLB积极与产业界、SkillsFuture Singapore、Workforce Singapore和第三年龄理事会合作，为新加坡人提供全面的就业和技能相关项目。例如，“SkillsFuture Advice”帮助新加坡人理解职业规划和技能提升的重要性。如今的学习不仅限于信息获取，还包括在导师指导下的实践。渴望借鉴行业领军人物（如Carousell和ShopBack创始人）智慧的新加坡人，可通过“突破：与企业家和创新者对话”系列实现。NLB将做得更多，未来五年目标举办1500场工作坊，惠及超过5万人。

Darryl David先生询问图书馆如何继续作为包容性社交空间，服务各年龄层新加坡人。我很高兴地说，尽管图书馆经历了诸多转型，某些原则始终不变。图书馆汇聚不同背景的人群。29岁的Karimah Samsudin说：“图书馆让你接触不同想法，不会只待在自己的盒子或茧里，还能认识不同的人。”另一位常客Leo Yih Nah女士分享，读书会是很好的社交活动，长期有助于降低她这类老年人患痴呆症的风险。

NLB更进一步，致力于打造包容性社交空间，尤其关注需要额外支持的学习者。我们的全国性标志性项目之一是KidsREAD，推广弱势儿童的早期阅读，今年迎来15周年。为让图书馆更贴近他们，2018年推出了WondeRead。类似订阅盒服务，WondeRead每季度向无法自行到访图书馆的儿童送去二手图书。该项目与合作伙伴共同完成，合作方或赞助盒内物品，或由员工亲自挑选并包装书籍。许多受益儿童都期待下一次盒子送达。

为促进特殊需要人士就业，NLB将在2019年延续与自闭症资源中心（ARC）的就业合作。ARC客户于2018年底接受馆藏整理培训，自2019年1月起受聘于NLB，支持李光前参考图书馆的运营。

主席先生，请允许我用中文发言。

（中文）：[请参阅方言发言。]我们的图书馆是新加坡人喜爱的去处。他们喜欢在图书馆阅读书籍和报纸，在凉爽安静的环境中滋养心灵。这是快节奏都市生活的美好补充。进入数字时代，国家图书馆局将努力为读者提供更优质的服务，读者们一直非常支持我们的图书馆。

数字时代，书籍的定义发生了变化，从实体纸质书扩展到电子书。人们可以在小巧的手机或平板电脑上阅读无数书籍。

2018年，NLB将电子书借阅配额从8本提升至16本，公众反响良好。今年4月起，NLB也将实体书借阅配额提升至16本。因此，热爱阅读的人无需担心无法借到足够多的书。问题是他们是否能读完这些书。

其次，NLB将与负责推广继续教育培训（CET）和信息技术素养的政府部门合作，打造图书馆作为新加坡人学习新技能的入门课堂。其中一些课程适合长者，并将以母语授课。例如，勿洛图书馆、大巴窑图书馆和新开的Vivo City Harbourfront图书馆将提供这些课程。希望公众踊跃尝试。

第三，为鼓励儿童学习母语并增加母语阅读材料，NLB将挑选优质英文儿童书籍，内容本地化，并翻译成中文、马来语和泰米尔语。

（英文）：我们的媒体在帮助新加坡人保持信息通畅方面发挥重要作用；通过共享话语，促进归属感和身份认同。大多数新加坡人都能回忆起童年时喜欢的本地电视剧，或收看新闻和时事节目，关注国家大事的进展。

Darryl David先生询问公共服务广播（PSB）如何应对来自网络和外国平台日益激烈的观众争夺。确实，PSB必须跟上消费习惯的变化，成为观众生活的不可或缺部分。我们的国家广播机构通过多平台与新加坡人互动，让观众轻松发现并享受本地内容。以8频道“SPOP Sing!”为例——这是一场全国性的歌唱比赛，发掘并庆祝年轻歌唱人才。Mediacorp不再仅限于传统电视播出，而是在多个平台发布内容，取得了成效。除170万免费电视观众外，超过85万人在Toggle观看。表演曲目在Spotify等主流数字音乐平台上被播放超过15万次，社交媒体和线下推广活动进一步扩大了参与度。

我们的另一重要优先事项是加强本地方言内容的覆盖。

（中文）：[请参阅方言发言。]为了帮助公众获取更多中文信息，扩大数字时代的受众群，Mediacorp整合电视和广播资源，打造一个包含新闻、娱乐和生活资讯的新门户网站，预计年中上线。

（英文）：Suria将继续与社区组织合作举办大型活动，如Wisma Geylang Serai开幕。同样，Vasantham与泰米尔语言理事会及泰米尔语言学习与推广委员会合作举办社区活动，如年度泰米尔语言节。通过线下活动和互动，Suria和Vasantham能够与社区建立联系，庆祝文化和价值观，同时提升社交媒体影响力及内容和艺人曝光度。

从倾听市民意见和关切，到解释政府政策和计划，部委建立了清晰的沟通渠道，促进了一个知情且积极参与的国家。

田佩玲女士询问如何改善跨年龄层和社区的政府政策沟通。我们不采用一刀切的方法，而是针对不同新加坡群体定制内容、平台和语言。针对千禧一代，我们制作了网络剧《Ah Boys – Hidden Warfare》，涵盖他们关心的就业、经济、婚姻和育儿等话题。针对年长观众，有歌台挑战赛，我们将熟悉的本地传统小品和音乐表演改编，用以向长者传递住房、社会支持措施和糖尿病意识等实用信息。

我们不仅关注年龄多样性，也针对不同社区定制沟通。例如，我们借助屠妖节和农历新年节日气氛，向印度和华人社区分享及时且有用的内容，主题包括理财规划和健康饮食。同样，我们定制了《Abang Teksi》等节目，介绍政府援助形式，帮助新加坡人应对变革，包括“适应与成长”计划。后续调查显示，约八成受访者在观看节目后更愿意报名参与“适应与成长”计划，显示其成效。

Leon Perera先生询问政府进行的民意调查。政府机构采用多种方式更好地了解基层问题和关切，包括REACH开展的外展活动、家访和调查，帮助机构评估公众对政府政策和计划的认知及反应。

例如，2014年推出先驱一代计划后，我们进行了调查，了解目标群体——先驱一代对该计划的理解程度。基于调查结果，我们决定用中文方言向不熟悉英语或普通话的先驱一代沟通该计划。我们将在策划独立一代计划的沟通时采取类似流程。大多数由文化、社区及青年部（MCI）及其他机构进行的调查仅供内部参考，如我所述。

政府不汇总各机构进行的调查统计，也不统计哪些调查被公开发布。MCI的REACH会定期发布涉及多项议题的调查数据。近年来，REACH发布了关于年度预算、国庆演讲、中央公积金变更、公共交通及公众对财政援助计划认知等的民意调查。这些调查结果也可在REACH网站查阅。

政府不会仅凭调查结果做出政策决策或沟通策略，但调查有助确保服务交付和政策执行令人满意。政府会发布公众可能感兴趣的调查。例如，REACH发布了关于年度预算和国庆演讲、假新闻及公共交通的公众认知调查。另一个例子是文化、社区及青年部委托的社会资本研究。其他发布的调查还包括青年研究、国家安全意识及节水态度等。

关于协调，机构需要操作灵活性，针对其职责范围内的关切问题自行开展调查。有些问题因跨领域性质，可能在不同调查中重复。我们的机构会在操作可行时协调此类工作。

Darryl David先生询问如何改善学校及社会的公民讨论，鼓励新加坡人多元观点。通过公众咨询，新加坡人有机会参与公共政策制定。2017至2018年间，超过3.6万新加坡人在250多个REACH倾听点和对话中，就生活成本、就业、交通和假新闻等议题提供反馈。REACH也定期在高等院校设立倾听点和对话，吸引学生参与国家议题。其中一位大学生Alif Mohammad Hafidz向今年预算提出建议，并表示该活动激励他深入了解预算流程。我们将继续就国家未来重要议题咨询公众，邀请新加坡人参与持续对话。

主席先生，我已阐述本部如何通过阅读、学习和信息畅通，帮助新加坡人保持联系和参与，以及数字转型在这些计划中的关键作用。

主席：易华仁部长。

易华仁先生：谢谢主席先生。许多议员在本次财政预算辩论中谈及推动新加坡人更加团结的重要性，我们完全赞同。

现在让我与各位议员分享文化、社区及青年部（MCI）如何实现我们“参与和连接的新加坡”愿景。通过媒体行业，我们将以共同的家园和国家故事与新加坡人互动。通过国家图书馆和档案馆，我们将培养对过去的共同认知，使我们能够自信且坚定地迈向未来。

让我先谈谈媒体。数字时代为我们的媒体行业带来巨大机遇。全球娱乐和媒体产业预计在2017至2022年间增长4.4%。在东南亚，媒体行业预计增长超过7%。有明显趋势向亚洲及亚洲内容倾斜。

我们处于有利位置，可以抓住这些机遇。我们位于东西方的交汇处，拥有才华横溢的讲故事人才和世界级的数字基础设施。我们必须利用这些优势，培养有前途的年轻人才，深化媒体从业人员的技能，并使我们的行业做好准备，乘着全球媒体生态系统增长的浪潮前进。

下午4时30分

达瑞尔·大卫先生询问了我们发展本地媒体产业的计划。我们通过人才发展计划来实现这一目标，比如我们的媒体技能框架，该框架规划了职业路径和技能，帮助媒体专业人士保持竞争优势。我们将加强该框架，以满足行业对写作和讲故事技能的需求，以及对具备数据分析和社交媒体管理等数字技能专业人士的需求。

首先，我们将把iPrep计划扩展到高等院校的媒体学生，使他们在毕业时能更好地应对媒体行业的严峻挑战。iPrep将为每位学生提供最高8,500新元，用于支付参加行业课程、海外实习或沉浸式项目的费用。

接下来，我们将加强在职培训，使新入行的媒体专业人士熟悉最新的行业趋势和工具。信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）今年将推出故事实验室学徒计划，帮助年轻媒体专业人士在关键媒体公司获得定制培训和经验。我很高兴像Mediacorp、mm2娱乐、HBO亚洲和Turner亚太等公司已经表达了加入的兴趣。IMDA将在今年第三季度公布更多细节。

我们还将帮助媒体专业人士掌握数字技能，以便在当今环境中竞争和发展。我们的继续教育与培训（CET）课程对媒体专业人士非常有用，比如37岁的努赛巴·阿卜杜勒·拉希姆女士，她是一家媒体制作公司的创意总监。去年12月，努赛巴参加了由新加坡媒体学院组织的数据驱动内容开发工作坊，学习如何通过观众洞察分析数据，推动创意决策。IMDA将策划更多此类继续教育课程。

达瑞尔·大卫先生询问了我们帮助本地媒体公司走向全球的计划。我想举两个例子。首先，IMDA的公共服务媒体数字合作基金将帮助本地媒体公司与国际合作伙伴合作，共同制作面向数字优先的公共服务内容，面向我们的观众。换句话说，内容是数字优先的。IMDA的资金申请将于本月底截止，我强烈鼓励本地公司利用这一资源。

其次，新加坡媒体节将继续作为我们向世界展示最有潜力的人才和公司的主要平台。去年12月，媒体节吸引了超过23,000名媒体专业人士和行业思想领袖，促成了超过3.13亿美元的交易。我们将扩大新加坡媒体节，抓住科技与媒体产业日益融合带来的机遇，强化新加坡在该地区的思想领导力。IMDA将在今年第二季度分享更多细节。

我们发展媒体产业的努力将帮助我们更好地讲述我们的故事——向新加坡同胞，也向世界其他地方讲述。可以说，没有比新加坡的故事更好的故事。今年的两百周年纪念活动将帮助我们了解早期历史，了解莱佛士1819年登陆如何引领我们走到今天，并反思未来成功所需的品质。

国家图书馆和档案馆将在此次两百周年纪念活动中发挥重要而有意义的作用。

国家图书馆局（NLB）将推出一系列活动，以增强与新加坡人的互动。例如，NLB的图书馆员将主持并展示国家图书馆珍贵资料收藏，配以25段特别制作的视频。这些珍贵的早期新加坡历史宝藏亮点包括《Munajathu Thiratuu》，这是国家图书馆收藏的最古老的泰米尔语伊斯兰宗教诗歌书籍，或《Hikayat Abdullah》，这是19世纪初新加坡、马六甲及南马来王国社会政治景观的重要记录之一。

这些视频将从4月起每两周在NLB的社交媒体频道发布。我们还将国家图书馆的档案特别预展带到了议会。我邀请所有议员前往议会大厦接待厅，参观展示我们多元文化根源和早期新加坡生活的展品。

NLB还与社区团体合作，数字化珍贵的历史内容。上个月，施敏安部长启动了新加坡华人人物传记数据库，以纪念为新加坡早期发展做出重大贡献的先驱。NLB和泰米尔数字遗产小组正努力收集有关新加坡印度舞蹈的历史资料，建立新的新加坡泰米尔舞蹈数字档案。来自马来社区的戏剧从业者将与NLB合作，创建新加坡马来戏剧数字档案。这些新数据库将成为我们艺术和文化遗产的丰富资源，并将于今年12月向公众开放。

我们的国家档案馆也有许多宝贵资源。新加坡国家档案馆（NAS）去年庆祝了金禧纪念日，他们的生日愿望是鼓励每位新加坡人参与保护我们的集体记忆。代表新加坡马来、华人、印度和欧亚社区的社区口述历史委员会已有100多名志愿者记录了超过160小时的采访，纳入我们的国家口述历史收藏。其中一位志愿采访员是31岁的苏什玛·索马塞卡兰女士，她是一名审计师和印度古典音乐歌手，最近采访了她的第一位音乐老师——著名的卡纳提克歌手巴格亚·穆尔蒂博士。多亏了苏什玛女士的采访，我们获得了关于1980年代印度古典音乐场景的宝贵见解，以及它如何以独特的新加坡风格演变——因为当时，穆尔蒂博士显然还学会了用马来语和普通话唱歌，以迎合多元种族的观众。

当位于坎宁路的翻新国家档案馆建筑下个月开放时，我希望苏什玛女士和许多潜在档案员能充分利用其新设施，比如建筑内的三个新的口述历史录音室。NAS建筑内的奥尔德姆剧院将向公众开放，定期放映亚洲电影档案馆策划的影片。NAS还将推出一个在线系统，允许公众请求新加坡早期的数字图像。

我希望这些纪念活动能激发新加坡人对探索我们过去和自我的兴趣与热情。

主席先生，NLB和NAS作为新加坡遗产和记忆的守护者，做了大量卓越工作。若获允许，我想播放一段视频，展示他们的优秀工作。

主席：好的，请播放。[一段视频向尊敬的议员们播放。]

施毅华部长：我希望议员们观看这些画面时感受到一丝怀旧之情。主席先生，我的部将继续为所有新加坡人在数字经济中创造机会，帮助各年龄层的新加坡人拥抱科技。我们将努力保持网络空间的安全，提升政府沟通，促进新加坡人的参与。通过国家图书馆和档案馆的努力，我们将加深对我们从过去到现在共同旅程的理解，并立志在未来200年及更长远的时间里建设一个更美好的新加坡，我们的家园。我们期待与所有新加坡人紧密合作，推动信息通信媒体部实现其连接新加坡人与彼此及更美好未来的使命。

主席：请问有无需要澄清的问题？田佩玲女士。

田佩玲女士：（用普通话）[请参阅方言发言。]：感谢部长的回复。我有两个问题。

首先，新加坡决心实现智慧国的愿景。然而，在新加坡人中，仍有一代老年人需要我们的帮助来掌握数字技术。我想问政府是否可以实施有针对性的策略，根据目标群体面临的挑战和困难，定制提供帮助，帮助他们拥抱数字时代。这是我的第一个问题。

第二个问题是，政策沟通是一门艺术，部长早前分享了通过多媒体和电视节目向民众传达政策。对于老年人来说，电视节目可能只是一次性的活动，他们可能会错过一些重要的解释和信息。我建议我们重复这些重要信息，传播到社区的各个角落，让我们的公民，特别是老年人，了解政策制定过程和背后的考虑。这样，新加坡人将更好地理解政府决策背后的思考过程，可能会更支持我们的政策。希望部长能详细说明。

沈颖安女士：（用普通话）[请参阅方言发言。]：感谢议员的澄清。她问到如何帮助老年人拥抱数字技术。确实，我们希望所有新加坡老年人都能乘上数字时代的浪潮，熟练掌握数字技术。关于课程和培训，有两点对老年人尤为重要。首先，我们注意到许多老年人仍更习惯用母语学习，因此我们的许多课程以普通话、马来语或泰米尔语授课。另一点是课程必须为初学者量身定制，节奏不能太快。我们注意到这两点。

在此，我想介绍几个具体的培训课程和项目，比如IMDA的银发信息通信枢纽。

这些枢纽已在30多个地点设立，许多位于社区中心，一些在图书馆。它们为老年人提供在轻松舒适环境中学习数字和信息通信技术的机会。

同时，IMDA还与合作伙伴提供基础数字技能课程。我们还设立了移动数字诊所，在不同地点和时间为老年人提供一对一指导。这考虑到许多老年人更喜欢一对一教学。

此外，八个社区俱乐部设有技术接触点，人民协会柜台工作人员为居民提供一对一帮助，教他们使用电子设备和服务。图书馆还推出了新的“老年人科技与阅读”项目，教老年人借阅电子书和上网。我们希望老年人也能享受电子书的便利。

我们一直努力做好政策沟通和公众参与。借此机会，我们鼓励议会同事充分利用财政部提供的所有预算相关信息。如今，越来越多的信息以四种官方语言提供，内容更丰富。我们希望除了文字信息外，财政部提供的带语音解说的幻灯片也能帮助公众更好理解各项政策。这是持续沟通努力如何补充一次性电视或广播节目的一个例子，强化新加坡人对重要政策的印象。

下午4时45分

主席：达瑞尔·大卫先生。

达瑞尔·大卫先生：主席先生，我有两点澄清。第一点，我认为应由资政施敏安女士回答，因为涉及图书馆和电子书。我想请资政更新一下电子书或数字图书借阅的趋势。她是否认为电子书或数字图书借阅在长期内可能超过传统纸质书籍？

第二点澄清，我认为是给部长的。我参观了国家档案展览，必须称赞国家档案团队的出色工作。我想知道国家档案馆是否可以与其他政府机构合作，比如教育部，确保所有优秀工作也能与小学和中学学生分享。过去，这可能涉及到国家档案馆的实地考察，我相信部分资料仍是如此。但我看到很多资料已数字化，可以通过屏幕带入学校。部长是否考虑过让更多年轻新加坡人接触这些丰富历史？

沈颖安女士：感谢达瑞尔·大卫先生关于电子书的问题。确实，我们看到电子书使用量在图书馆用户中迅速增长。从2017年到2018年，数字借阅量几乎翻了四倍——从150万次增至580万次。然而，与2018年约3,300万次的实体借阅相比，这仍是很小的一部分。所以，电子书和数字借阅增长迅速，但实体书仍占主导地位。至于哪者会超过另一方，尚待观察。但可以肯定的是，国家图书馆应紧跟电子书趋势，既照顾喜欢实体书的读者，也不断丰富电子书、报纸和杂志的收藏。

主席：部长。

施毅华部长：谢谢主席。我认为资政施敏安女士的回复提供了非常有用的见解。数字平台确实有效触及特定人群，电子书借阅的增长主要由年轻人推动。但总体而言，正如资政所说，实体书借阅依然稳健。因此，我们处于良好状态，希望通过各种渠道鼓励阅读习惯，扩大覆盖面。

关于议员第二个问题，国家档案馆，我们完全赞同。档案馆拥有丰富的信息宝藏。今年我们正致力于数字化内容，并寻找方式向更广泛人群传播。比如NLB通过其平台发布的视频将是重要渠道。事实上，许多档案材料已数字化。我们肯定会探索更有针对性的方式，比如面向学校。同时，我也呼吁各位议员传播这一信息。我相信大家都下载并积极使用NLB应用程序，希望你们继续与选民及其他人分享使用体验。

主席：莱昂·佩雷拉先生。

莱昂·佩雷拉先生：谢谢您，主席。请允许我向资政施敏安女士澄清一点，感谢她对我关于发布民意调查的发言的详细回应。资政提到了一些已发布的民意调查例子。我想了解，政府是否有一些内部参考的民意调查未对外发布？我的澄清点是，是否可以将发布所有此类调查结果作为一般规则，除非有强烈理由不发布，比如国家安全或敏感问题，将这些信息公开供利益相关者使用？

沈颖安女士：感谢莱昂·佩雷拉先生的问题。正如我刚才在发言中提到，政府会发布可能引起公众兴趣的调查结果。至于他提到的原因，确实存在一些顾虑，比如某些调查涉及安全问题，或可能影响特定行业的市场情绪。因此，这些是部分调查结果未公开的原因。

主席：拉哈尤·马哈赞女士。

拉哈尤·马哈赞女士：谢谢您，主席。我有一个问题想问高级国务部长贾尼尔。他之前详细介绍了新加坡网络安全的现状，我想了解更多关于我们如何评估或衡量民众在网络空间中的熟练程度，因为了解一些薄弱环节会很有帮助。您之前提到过使用简单密码、网络钓鱼等问题。显然，我们在某些方面还有提升空间，我也很感谢媒体素养理事会以及国家图书馆局通过SURE计划所做的努力。但是否还有其他方面我们可以关注，我们如何衡量、评估并针对性地开展工作，以提升新加坡的网络安全？

贾尼尔·普图切里博士：主席先生，感谢拉哈尤·马哈赞女士的问题。她问我们如何评估网络安全方面的熟练程度。这是非常难以衡量的，因为技术发展非常迅速，正在开发的产品和服务今天可能还未被设想。人们在构想新的商业模式，你无法预知什么会流行起来。

在某种程度上，我们通过观察问题发生时的情况来尝试评估，比如诈骗、网络入侵或信息盗窃等。因此我们可以衡量问题发生的情况，但这并不一定能很好地反映我们有多熟练，这也是议员使用的词汇。

在国际上，人们尝试围绕知识开发这些衡量标准。例如，通过调查，无论是中学生、年轻成人还是整个群体，了解人们对网络安全的认知。然后，你也可以观察企业使用的产品和服务，或者企业社区内的知识水平，或各社区中保护性技术的使用情况。人们尝试提出这类衡量方法。根据这些指标，我们表现不错，但这并不意味着我们可以自满，认为不会有问题。实际上，我们必须不断提醒自己。

关键问题实际上是人的行为和社会因素。从某种角度看，技术是较容易衡量的，我们可以进行渗透测试，审计技术使用情况，审计流程，比如对U盘的管理、系统锁定、互联网访问隔离等。但更难衡量、评估和改变的是人的行为——不要分享密码，不要下载可疑材料，这也是我借此机会提醒议员们应做的几件事。这类似于犯罪预防、现实世界安全、道路安全，有时需要不断提醒和重复，利用学习机会强化良好行为。我认为我们必须持续沿着这条路走下去。

主席：西尔维娅·林女士。

西尔维娅·林女士：谢谢主席，我有一个关于个人数据保护问题想向部长澄清。我提出的一个点是关于个人数据保护委员会（PDPC）在帮助投诉人实现结果方面的工作。我相信部长在回应中提到案件可以被转介至调解。我们知道这在法案中有规定，PDPC也可以以其认为合适的方式指示解决投诉。因此，我想请部长确认，是否有案件通过这些替代争议解决方式，实际上达成了赔偿或支付和解金额给投诉人；他是否知道有此类案件。

伊斯瓦兰先生：主席先生，我不清楚有此类案件。

主席：张浩斌博士。

张浩斌博士：先生，我很高兴从高级国务部长沈燕了解到，图书馆计划建设8至10个学习舱。我想知道是否有计划在武吉班让图书馆建设学习舱？

沈燕女士：感谢张浩斌博士对学习舱的强力支持。我们会考虑在武吉班让图书馆设立一个学习舱。

主席：傅志坚先生，您是否愿意撤回修正案？

傅志坚先生：主席先生，虽然正如本院讨论的，随着新加坡迈向数字化转型，面临许多挑战，但潜在收益巨大，正如部长指出的，我们希望所有利益相关者——政府机构、企业、工人和公民——都能加入这段激动人心的旅程。基于此，主席先生，我请求撤回修正案。

[(程序文本) 修正案，经许可，撤回。 (程序文本)]

[(程序文本) 头Q项下9亿8754万新元列入主要预算。 (程序文本)]

[(程序文本) 头Q项下5408万新元列入发展预算。 (程序文本)]

英文原文

SPRS Hansard 原始记录 · 抓取日期：2026-05-02

The Chairman : Head Q, Ministry of Communications and Information. Mr Cedric Foo.

Digital Economy – For Businesses

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer) : Mr Chairman, Sir, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Estimates be reduced by $100".

One of the basic building blocks of a strong nation is a vibrant economy. An economy that is driven by competitive companies with skilled and creative employees, and underpinned by an efficient infrastructure. Strong business and productivity growth are pre-conditions for higher wages for our workers. Hence, it is critically important that our businesses, both Large Enterprises as well as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) receive the Government’s support to stay relevant, to innovate and to build deep capabilities to sustain growth right into the future.

Digitalisation is transforming companies, economies and our very way of life. A digital economy has many benefits for businesses. Increased productivity, reduced operating costs and higher asset utilisation are but some of these apparent benefits. In addition, technology can help us tackle issues, like an ageing population and manpower constraints in Singapore. Today, one in four of our workforce is aged 55 and above. With declining birth rates, higher life expectancy and more senior citizens opting to remain in the workforce, this ratio is poised to increase over time. Our ageing workforce compels our Large Local Enterprises (LLEs) and SMEs to embrace digitalisation to reap opportunities of the digital economy or risk falling behind.

Across many industries, new technologies are disrupting existing business models. Leveraging on digital platforms, innovative companies have been eroding the market share or even replacing established companies by improving the quality, speed or price at which value is delivered. There are numerous examples of such disruptions, ranging from companies disrupted by ride sharing, brick and mortar retail stores disrupted by online 24/7 stores, traditional print media disrupted by social media platforms and so on.

Singapore has done well as we have fast and reliable broadband access and also a high penetration rate for active mobile users. However, we do have some challenges.

Even as our businesses aspire to adopt technologies, many companies, especially our SMEs find it difficult to do so. They do need help. To begin with, SME shareholders and managers often have such questions: "How do I start the digital journey? Which areas of digitalisation will produce the best returns on investment? Who can assist me to help fund these investments? Can my employees adapt to these changes? Will it result in near-term losses?" These are but some of the many questions that our SMEs have prior to embarking on the digitalisation journey.

Some key success factors for Business Digitalisation is scale, large data-sets, financial stamina to win market share and to create network effects. By definition, SMEs in Singapore are small and our local market is also small. Therefore, the challenges for SMEs to embark on the Digitalisation Journey are formidable.

Our lead enterprises (LLEs) also need assistance. Being larger and operating in more markets, their challenges are less daunting. To accelerate the pace of digitalisation, the Government can set inter-operability standards so that a local ecosystem of digital infrastructure that is reliable, resilient, accessible and secure can take root and thrive. Our LLEs can then leverage on such shared infrastructure to transform their businesses and stay on top of rapid advances in digital technologies. Our LLEs can then be the receptacle to innovate and be our global champions, leading the way for our SMEs and start-ups to venture overseas.

Could the Minister lay out for this House his plans to assist our businesses, both large and small, to adopt technology and to innovate in this digital economy?

[(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]

The Chairman : Mr Cedric Foo, you can take your next two cuts together.

Digital Economy – For Workers

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng : Thank you, Mr Chairman. Following on my earlier cut on the need for businesses to adopt digital technologies, my next cut is on our workers and measures taken to ensure that we have sufficient talent to support a growing digital economy.

Support for our business can be seen as a means to enable our citizens to have good jobs and good wages, thereby improving living standards in Singapore. At the same time, in order for businesses to thrive, they need sufficient workers with digital skills, knowledge and the right attitudes to embrace the constantly evolving digital environment. This symbiotic relationship is key for a successful digital economy.

However, many countries including Singapore are facing a shortage of workers who are equipped with digital skills necessary for the digital workplace. To prepare our youth, basic digital skills and technology literacy have to be introduced at an earlier age. They must also be encouraged to challenge the status quo rather than accepting conventional norms, always re-looking at how everything is done, thinking expansively on innovative products and solutions. More importantly, our workers have to accept that continuous learning is now a norm and new capabilities and skillsets will have to be acquired many, many times throughout their career life, as the job market would be anything but static.

Over the last few years, the Government has put in place a range of support measures for our workers. The SkillsFuture and Adapt and Grow programmes are some good examples.

Businesses, too, must step up on the training and job redesign through professional conversion programmes for employees. Typically, the affected employees, requiring skills retooling, have been loyal employees for years. Upskilling and reskilling these employees will allow the company to retain the organisational values and culture. Such workers would also have, often times, deep customer relationships that is worth retaining. It has always been the case that technological innovation destroys some jobs and replaces them with new ones. For many of our workers, especially the older ones, buzz words like "Smart Nation", "digitalisation", "machine learning", "AI" and "Robotics" can be very dis-concerting and intimidating. We have to do more to encourage our workers to embrace such change and reap the tangible benefits of upskilling.

I am thinking that maybe "Natural Language Programming" for oral commands for certain robots, like in the cleaning industry, could be programmed in "Singlish".

Investments in digital talent will be critical to ensuring Singapore remains competitive. Society will be better off as we invest in our People.

I would like to ask the Minister to provide an update on the programmes and initiatives that we are implementing over the next few years so as to ensure that we have sufficient talent to support a digital economy?

2.15 pm

Regulations and Infrastructure

Mr Chairman, my next cut is on regulations and infrastructure. According to research by Bain & Co, harnessing the collective power potential of the region's digital economies could accelerate intra-regional trade and result in a GDP uplift of US$1 trillion across ASEAN by 2025. If ASEAN countries can come together and grow as a single integrated regional digital economy, ASEAN citizens could enjoy significant benefits and improve living standards.

For example, a common e-payment platform would facilitate the ASEAN digital economy, to ensure inter-operability across state boundaries and leverage on the large ASEAN market for e-commerce. However, developing a common e-payment system require close coordination and data flows across boundaries.

But there is a growing number of countries that are enacting laws and barriers that make it more expensive, time consuming or even illegal to transfer data overseas. Governments are citing privacy and cybersecurity concerns as they are reluctant to allow a company in another country to have access to their citizens' data. This is despite the significant economic benefits that we talked about.

To minimise the risks of cyber threats, ASEAN needs to develop a secure cyberspace through building and reinforcing the framework for online security. Sharing critical information, establishing protocols to deal with hacking, coordinating cyber agencies for ASEAN members and creating a regional dispute settlement resolution are some ways to developing a secure cyberspace.

I would like to ask the Minister to share his views on how we may facilitate greater cross-border data flows.

The Chairman: Mr Teo Ser Luck, you have two cuts. Please take them together.

Local Enterprises in the Digital Economy

Mr Teo Ser Luck (Pasir Ris-Punggol) : Many companies are still unprepared to go digital in the new world and in the future. And the Government has been making tremendous effort and focused effort to help them go digital, coming out with several schemes and major schemes.

But, for many companies, due to their business nature and the length of time they have been in business, they are still trying to figure out which part of the process can be digitised. So, it is not just knowing when to start and where to start, there are a couple of scenarios, in my sense, that these businesses cannot see the need to change. They have been entrenched in the business for too long and they possibly have a winning formula in their business; and they have built such depth in their domain knowledge that they did not see the need to change. Some things are best relied on manual labour, not because it is more cost-effective but because it could possibly give them the efficiency and the margins that they are looking for. So, they do not find the need to change and no motivation to go digital at all.

The business nature and the eco-system around the business itself creates certain margins that they had for many years. So, status quo helps them to survive and going digital is a form of risk.

Thirdly, it is the lack of the skill and knowledge within the company – the bosses, entrepreneurs, the founders, the staff, the workers. There is a lot of unwillingness and real intent to change. But at the same time, they are reluctant to hire talents or change-makers into a company because that means giving up some of the ownership for those decisions that they have to make. So, how do we get them to digitise? In a sense, are we prepared to allow some of them to consolidate or even fade away if they do not go digital?

There are many schemes and programmes rolled out for these local enterprises to help them in this new wave of the digital economy. But how effective have they been? And are we really seeing more and more companies coming forward? There are almost 200,000 SMEs around in Singapore but how many have taken up and gone digital?

Singaporeans in the Digital Economy

Over several weekends, at the grassroots and the community levels, I organised several small gatherings in different locations for residents. And over time, more and more residents would join such gatherings and we find that it is getting harder and harder to do things in a manual approach, including signing up for some activities or even knowing whether they are going to come or not, as well as conducting surveys with these residents.

We figured that we should digitise the process and then make it a little bit more online that will be more accessible for them and, at the same time, easier to collect the data. Inclusive of my volunteers and the residents, not everyone is receptive to it. Of course, there are some elderly persons who find it very hard and so we will have to keep the manual process going.

But it is an important process to prepare Singaporeans in this digital world because it is not just affecting their daily lives and everything that they do in the near future, but also in finding new jobs or new opportunities in their careers as well as acquire new skills.

My sense in this process of change is that in preparing Singaporeans to be able to adapt to this new digital world, we certainly still have a distance to go. So, how can Singaporeans be more prepared and what can the Government do to help prepare Singaporeans for this digital age in their daily lives, in finding new jobs, acquiring new skills, so that they could better adapt to this new world?

Developing our People for Digital Future

Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) : Automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence are disrupting how we live and how work is organised. As old jobs get displaced, new jobs are created that require the right attitude and new competencies. We need to unlearn and relearn if our people are to exploit the new opportunities and capture value in the new economy.

According to an October 2018 McKinsey report on the future of work in Switzerland, it is estimated that the demand for tasks requiring basic cognitive or physical and manual skills could decline by 20%. Conversely, the need for social and emotional and technological skills is to rise by about 20% and up to 50%, respectively. The skill shift is also expected to exceed the regular rate at which labour and skills drop out of the market.

These findings can well apply to Singapore. Hence, it is imperative that we continue to invest in our human capital and help our people transition. We will also need to accelerate the speed at which we do so. Government must work with businesses to ensure relevant training content and hands-on practice, culminating in real job opportunities.

I am aware of IMDA's effort in running human capital programmes. I would like to know what outcomes have we achieved so far and how does the Ministry measure the immediate and long-term success of the programmes? Do the new jobs and skills trained match well?

For individuals with no Infocomm technology (ICT) background, are there programmes in place to help them make the career switch? If there are, what is the success rate so far?

The Chairman : Mr Douglas Foo, you can take your two next cuts together.

SMEs Go Digital

Mr Douglas Foo (Nominated Member) : Mr Chairman, Sir, on SMEs Go Digital, since the launch of the SMEs Go Digital programme during Budget 2017, the programme has helped and has developed many initiatives with the aim of helping local SMEs use digital technologies, build capabilities and participate in the digital economy.

Through partnerships with TACs, such as the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), the programme provides SMEs with consultancy advice, from specialist digital project managers, to help them implement pre-approved digital solutions to transform their businesses.

As announced by Finance Minister Heng in Budget 2019, the programme has seen some 4,000 SMEs adopt pre-approved digital solutions offered under the programme. While this number is indeed encouraging, it is a drop in an ocean of nearly 200,000 SMEs in Singapore.

Therefore, can the Ministry provide a progress update on the SMEs Go Digital programme, particularly with respect to the minimum number of SMEs the programme is intended to reach and how the Ministry intends to get SMEs to accelerate the adoption of digital solutions?

Talent Development

As the manufacturing sector advances towards Industry 4.0, the sector will increasingly require the skills set of Infocomm Media (ICM) professionals to harness frontier technologies to help the sector reach Industry 4.0's standards sooner. The Info-communications Media Industry Transformation Map was launched in November 2017 with the goal of employing more than 210,000 ICM workers and create more than 13,000 PMET jobs by 2020.

Can the Ministry provide an update on ITM's employment goals so far? Also, what are MCI's long-term plans to attract talents to become ICM professionals?

The Chairman : Mr Ong Teng Koon, you can take your next two cuts together.

Digital Infrastructure

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Marsiling-Yew Tee) : Sir, one of the challenges of being an infrastructure provider is that you tend to be taken for granted. People assume that your services will always be available whenever they want it. They give no thought to the effort and planning that goes into providing such services.

However, the moment there is any disruption, everybody is instantly up in arms. For example, consumers were outraged by a 3.5 hours' outage in Singtel's broadband services in July last year, or another similar disruption in November.

The digital economy – streaming services, e-commerce, cloud computing – is built on the assumption of uninterrupted access to the Internet. But no matter how much service providers invest to ensure 99.999% uptime, it can be undone by failure at the infrastructure level. Loss of connectivity can have potentially catastrophic business consequences as businesses are unable to access customers or essential services such as banking, payments, and so on.

Sir, what are our plans to ensure that our digital infrastructure is able to support our growing digital economy?

Frontier Technology

Sir, the rapid pace of technology advancement shows no signs of slowing. Concepts that seemed like science fiction just a few years ago, are starting to impact our daily lives.

Autonomous vehicles, intelligent home automation, bots powered by natural language processing that can hold an almost human-like conversation – these things are already here. The impact that they will have on our daily lives is still not fully understood, but will surely be profound. It will shape how we live, work and play.

Singapore has invested billions of dollars to support research into such areas. The current Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE 2020) plan has allocated $19 billion to key areas, such as advanced manufacturing and urban solutions.

Sir, looking forward to the next decade, what is the Ministry doing to further invest in frontier technology and sharpen Singapore's competitive edge?

Personal Data Protection Commission

Mr Mohamed Irshad (Nominated Member) : Mr Chairman, the SingHealth's cyber attack was the largest breach in Singapore to date. On 15 January 2019, the Personal Data Protection Commission fined SingHealth S$250,000 and fined the Integrated Health Information Systems Pte Ltd (IHiS) S$750,000.

These punitive fines underscore the large scale of the breach and the sensitive and confidential nature of the patients' data that was lost and it is a signal to other organisations to take the necessary steps to safeguard personal data.

However, there does not appear to be any remedy or compensation available to the actual victims of the data breach. There is no obvious recourse for the ones who had their personal data stolen.

In addition to fines, can we provide a way for victims of data breach to claim compensation for the loss of personal data?

In December 2017, Uber delayed in reporting that personal information of 380,000 users in Singapore had been compromised in a breach the year before. After the breach had occurred and before Uber's admission of the said breach, it was reported that victims of the data breach were preyed upon by the hackers who used the stolen personal data to cause even more harm to the victims. It is unclear how many of those victims suffered further losses as a result of the actions of the hackers.

Is it possible to have a tribunal to allow the victims to seek compensation for any losses they might have suffered as a result of the data breach?

Personal Data Protection Regime

Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied) : Chairman, the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) was set up in 2013 as the implementing agency for the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Act. According to the PDPC's website, the number of enquiries and complaints received by it in the last four years ranged from between 2,200 and 3,300 annually. I have a few enquiries about this.

First, were the major classes of complaints related to the "Do Not Call" Registry or were they complaints about organisations not exercising reasonable care to protect personal data from unauthorised disclosure?

Secondly, what the resource and staffing level of the PDPC to enable it to look into the kinds of cases it is facing? The Minister recently pointed out that in the SingHealth's data breach, the PDPC had leveraged on the findings of a Committee of Inquiry (COI) called by the Government. If another major breach were to occur and a COI is not formed, does PDPC have the resources to investigate a major case on its own?

2.30 pm

Next, I would like to ask about outcomes achieved for complainants. The PDPC has usefully published its decisions online. Where the PDPC found that organisations were in breach of their obligations to safeguard personal data, it was usual that the PDPC will impose financial penalties and also give directions on how the organisations should improve its data security arrangements. Has the PDPC ever assisted a victim of a data breach to obtain redress, for example, mediating a financial settlement with the organisation?

Finally, the coverage of the PDP Act still includes what is defined as public agencies. This exclusion seems artificial when data is collected by entities under PDPA obligations and then transmitted to the Government. While I accept that Government agencies have many laws and regulations concerning data obligations, is there a convincing reason to exclude public agencies from the PDPA?

Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang) : Mr Chairman, during the Committee of Supply debate last week on the Smart Nation topic, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan mentioned that Singapore was going to "double down" on artificial intelligence (AI). He pointed out that AI, and in particular, deep machine learning has revolutionised many services, including providing voice assistants, language translations, GPS optimisation and helping to detect fraud.

These are revolutionary developments and I think Singapore must continue down this path. However, there are concerns about AI being used improperly. Machines, like humans, need to be taught and trained, and this requires access to data. I have some concerns that people may not aware of the full extent to which their personal data is being gathered and used.

The second, of course, is after this data is gathered and technology is developed, the same information in the wrong hands can lead to trouble, including in the hands of foreign actors, hackers and scammers. Has the Government considered societal concerns surrounding the use of AI, and if so, how are we addressing them?

Proposed Model AI Governance Framework

Prof Lim Sun Sun (Nominated Member) : Mr Chairman, as we make definitive strides in realising our Smart Nation ambitions, I greatly welcome the announcement of the Proposed Model Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework. While big data, deep learning and neural networks may sound abstract, their growing deployment has real consequences for society. AI-driven automated decision making is increasingly being used for systems and processes that determine product prices, insurance premiums and job recruitment, just to name a few. These are areas where alarms about algorithmic bias have indeed been raised. Issues relating to data justice, algorithmic fairness, and explainable AI must thus be closely monitored to ensure that we reap the best of technology while effectively managing unintended adverse consequences. The Proposed Model AI Governance Framework is therefore especially timely. It will help to warrant that our drive for innovation does not leave ethicality in the dust.

By enunciating a common AI governance approach and offering a set of consistent definitions and principles relating to the responsible use of AI, we provide greater certainty to industry players. Can MCI therefore share its plans for ensuring that this framework is effectively disseminated across all relevant industries? How will it raise awareness of the guidelines governing the responsible use of AI and encourage their application? Are there also plans to have this framework introduced into the curriculum of students taking AI-related courses in our institutes of higher learning?

Critical Information Infrastructure

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang) : Mr Chairman, Sir, I understand that the Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) sectors have been established with the express aim of improving the cybersecurity so as to ensure the continuous delivery of essential services in Singapore.

I applaud the Government’s efforts at safeguarding our digital sphere. This is of paramount importance as we make the transition into a Smart Nation. Recent events both domestically and internationally, such as the cyber attacks on SingHealth, and the recent hack into the Australian parliament’s computer network underscore the threats that we face, and the necessity for swift, decisive action to mitigate or neutralise these threats.

Having said this, I would like to seek some clarification in three areas: first, what are the essential public services that have been identified under the CII? Second, how will the infrastructure pertaining to these sectors be set up, or otherwise modified, to ensure robust cybersecurity? Third, what are the contingencies that the Government will employ in the event of a cyber attack, or disruption of essential services?

Cybersecurity for Businesses

Mr Teo Ser Luck (Pasir Ris-Punggol) : Recently, I had a chat at the work space in my constituency. The work space is occupied by many entrepreneurs and many of them build their business using the Internet or social media as a platform. So, I had a chat with this user. He runs a e-commerce company and he told me that one day, he woke up and he realised that there was no sale within his system. He was wondering why and actually his system was hacked. His customer database was hacked and as well as the entire website was hacked. What happened was he had to close the business for a few days and he almost had to close the entire business.

Many businesses probably take cybersecurity for granted. If we could we should educate more and more businesses, especially the smaller businesses and the start-ups who are building their businesses over the Internet, about cybersecurity. I would like to know whether the Government has any plans to help instill greater knowledge on cybersecurity and the importance of it in the near future.

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong (Non-Constituency Member) : Chairman, Budget 2019 has focused our attention on cybersecurity by adding the digital defence pillar to our total defence strategy. This is appropriate coming after the SingHealth attack and the HIV Registry leak. There is one critical vulnerability that now needs addressing. In Singapore, the extensive interface between the private and public sectors means cybersecurity for businesses is a critical vulnerability. MINDEF has also been relying on private companies to drive technological innovation and adaptations.

Will the Government thus consider implementing targeted initiatives to bolster the cybersecurity capabilities of businesses, especially our local SMEs urgently? It has been suggested that the Government should provide grants for SMEs to train employees and improve cyber defences. Yes, it has also been suggested that a Government hotline be established for businesses to obtain advice and report cybersecurity breaches without adversarial treatment from Government.

Cybersecurity

Mr Vikram Nair : Mr Chairman, as more and more of our systems go online, cybersecurity becomes a particular concern. The two high profile incidents this year highlight our vulnerability.

The first was the unauthorised access of SingHealth records by a foreign state actor. This highlighted that there are well funded organisations and countries out there that may deliberately try and break into our systems.

The second involved the improper leak of MOH’s registry of AIDS patients. This highlighted that a human lapse by one of the individuals entrusted with access to the system coupled with malicious intent by another can lead to disastrous consequences.

These incidents show two aspects of the vulnerability of our Government systems, and it is foreseeable that both of these, external threats as well as human error by trusted individuals, are timeless issues that are almost impossible to eradicate. Against this backdrop, are there ways to assess the cybersecurity of our Government systems and better improve it?

Mr Douglas Foo : Mr Chairman, Sir, according to the Global Cybersecurity Index 2017, Singapore topped the list as the country that was prepared against cyber attacks, surpassing the US. However, despite the robustness of our cybersecurity strategy, attacks such as the one on MOH demands such that we continue to be vigilant and steadfast in our defence against cyber attacks. Just like the other pillars of total defence, digital defence involves everyone, from individuals to businesses to the Government. Therefore, can the Ministry explain how it tends to encourage collaboration amongst industry partners to harness local cybersecurity expertise to develop secure, high quality products that contribute towards a safe and trusted cyber space for Singapore.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong) : The advent of technology has brought with it new eco-systems and new methods of engagement. Technology and in particular, the Internet has changed the way we socialise, work and do business. These changes have brought about massive improvements by connecting people as well as increasing efficiency and productivity. However, there are people who have sought to misuse and cause harm to others on these new platforms.

Last year, Singapore’s overall crime rate went up by 1.4%, propped up mainly by a surge in online-related scams. There was also a 40.3% increase in the number of crimes under the Computer Misuse Act. We have also seen several instances of cyber attacks in public domains, like the recent high-profile SingHealth cyber attack which affected 1.5 million patients. Private entities are also prime targets for digital attacks. In 2017, Uber announced that the personal information of over 57 million Uber users and 600,000 drivers were exposed by hackers. In November 2018, Marriot International also announced that cyber criminals stole data of approximately 500 million customers.

As the Government boosts the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure and strengthens the legal framework to deal with digital crime, it is important for the community to be equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills to protect themselves from online harm. Individual users, businesses and organisations need to be prepared.

As we introduce digital defence as the sixth pillar of Total Defence in Singapore, we must remember that in most cases, humans or computer users are the weakest link in cybersecurity. The most robust cyber defences are susceptible to breaches even by the act of that one single user, whether it is because of lax passwords, unknowingly leaking confidential data or falling prey to phishing attacks that trick users into giving up sensitive data.

In this regard, how can we improve cybersecurity awareness among citizens and businesses so that we can continue to leverage the opportunities that technology brings, while minimising the threats online?

Cyber Security Agency

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied) : Mr Chairman, Sir, the Committee of Inquiry investigating the SingHealth cyber attack recommended to significantly improve the competency of cyber security personnel.

Manpower planning and talent development strategy is critical in the national strategy to strengthen cyber security. In 2012, EDB reported that there were 1,200 cyber security specialists although there are 140,000 IT professionals. After seven years, where do we stand today in terms of number and percentage of cyber security specialists among IT professionals? How many more is needed and being targeted?

One of the key thrusts of the National Cyber Security Masterplan 2018 is to grow Singapore’s expertise in cyber security. IDA has been working with Institutes of Higher Learning to expand cyber security programmes. Polytechnics and industry have collaborated to establish cyber security centres. IDA is also collaborating with FireEye to upskill cyber security professionals. EDB and NEC corporation are collaborating to develop capabilities in strategic areas through overseas attachment. ST Engineering established the DigiSAFE Cyber Security Centre to reskill those interested in a mid-career switch.

With the establishment of the Home Team Science and Technology Agency and MINDEF’s Defence Cyber Organisation, and also the public sector Cybersecurity Professional Programme and MINDEF’s Cyber NSF Vocation, we now have a varied landscape for manpower and talent development in cybersecurity.

Are these different efforts being coordinated by the CSA and IDA in accordance with the national strategy? Are these efforts competing with each other for a small pool of talents or complementing each other for synergies?

Deliberate Online Falsehoods

Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio) : Mr Chairman, the anonymous nature of the Internet has led to a “disinhibition effect” where people take on an online persona that is different from their persona in real life. The disinhibition effect has been studied extensively by researchers to understand cyberbullying behaviour and other forms of undesirable online behaviour such as trolling and fishing. While such online behaviour is objectionable, its effect is relatively contained.

What is worrying is the emergence of deliberate online falsehoods, where the reach and potential impact of such falsehoods are widespread. The internet has provided the perpetrators of falsehoods with a veil of anonymity and the disinhibition effect has emboldened the perpetrators to craft messages that are patently false, with the malicious intentions to obfuscate the truth. The malice of online falsehood can lead to communal and racial violence, distrust in the establishment and sway public opinions on important social issues.

Singapore is not immune to the malice of deliberate online falsehoods. Some state actors and individuals have mounted falsehood campaigns to discredit our institutions, to cast aspersions on our Government and systems. These orchestrated campaigns need to be dealt with swiftly and decisively before they gain momentum.

2.45 pm

Yet, dealing with deliberate online falsehoods require a multi-agency approach that includes combating falsehoods with facts, educating Singaporeans to discern between truth and untruth, and for media companies to play their part to weed out fake posts and misinformation campaigns.

What are some concrete steps that Government is taking to help Singaporeans guard against deliberate online falsehoods in an increasingly complex digital and media environment?

Mr Vikram Nair : Chairman, this House set up a Select Committee to look into the matter of Deliberate Online Falsehoods. I should declare that I participated in the public consultation by the Select Committee as part of the PAP Policy Forum.

Some of the key issues raised included that: first, fake news is often plausible and interesting, which makes it likely to circulate very far; second, the truth is rarely as interesting so corrections and rectifications do not get the same attention; third, social media and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp have allowed fake news to go very far; fourth, there is evidence that foreign actors have used fake news to interfere in elections such as the US Presidential election and even the UK's vote on Brexit; fifth, private organisations often profit from fake news, and these include not only those who deliberately create it such as Temasek Review, but many of those who benefit from its dissemination including platform like Facebook which get monies from advertising revenues.

The Chairman : Mr Vikram, kindly wrap up.

Mr Vikram Nair : Yes. After the Select Committee's deliberation, are there any plans to introduce new measures to counter the threat of deliberate online falsehoods as recommended by the Select Committee?

Digital Readiness Blueprint

Prof Lim Sun Sun : Mr Chairman, I commend the establishment of the Digital Readiness blueprint but would like to ask how it caters to varying skills sets of Internet users.

While we fortunately do not have a digital access divide in Singapore, research around the world has shown that the "second level digital divide" pertaining to online skills can significantly influence how much people can benefit from their online experience. Furthermore, with our high smartphone penetration rates, we need to pay particular attention to Internet use via mobile phones.

Because the mobile Internet is centred around apps, mobile-only users who rely exclusively on mobile devices are quite distinct from mobile-first users who use mobile devices predominantly but in combination with other devices. These differing usage patterns can translate into different online experiences that reflect variances in online competencies and breadth of exposure to content. These can in turn shape individual worldviews and understanding of key societal issues that impact their personal lives.

How do we then map the skills covered by the Basic Digital Skills Curriculum against prevailing internet usage trends in Singapore? Also, what plans are in place to have the curriculum be regularly refreshed to take into account (a) shifting technological trends and (b) changing needs in schools and workplaces?

Digital Readiness

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng : Mr Chairman, my next cut is on digital readiness. There are several reasons for the digital divide.The primary one is a lack of ready access to computers, smart phones and the Internet. To be applauded are initiatives, such as Home Access programmes for low-income families and Enable IT for persons with disabilities. Both these programmes have done well to provide affordable and inclusive digital access for all Singaporeans.

Another reason for the digital divide is the lack of skills, as Prof Lim pointed out just now, to use digital technologies safely and confidently. Besides being able to operate a device, it is also important for good cyber hygiene habits including awareness of the negative impact of technology, such as fake news, cyberbullying and social isolation.

Yet another reason for the digital divide is the lack of willingness of some of our citizens to participate in a digital economy. High-profile cyber attacks, including the SingHealth's data breach last year have some of our citizens fearing the use of digital technologies. Yet others have been deterred when they hear of people falling victim to online scams.

Given the numerous impediments to digital inclusion, I would like to ask the Minister to share his strategies and plans to bridge the digital divide. So that everyone can benefit from the digital economy.

Affordable Digital Connectivity

Mr Ong Teng Koon (Marsiling-Yew Tee) : Chairman, digital services have become an increasingly central part of our lives. We all use mobile apps multiple times each day. From games to health tracking to stock market information, we hardly even notice them anymore. They have become so fundamental to our lives that the UN has even spoken of protecting Internet access as a key element of protecting an individual’s rights.

However, there is also increasing concern about a “digital divide”. Lower income groups are going to be disadvantaged if they lack exposure to the digital world due to affordability concerns. Apart from lack of access to more affordable substitutes for physical services, they may also fail to acquire essential skills needed to work productively in the digital age. If children from lower income households miss out on digital experiences, we risk creating a permanent underclass.

Significant steps have already been made to address this issue such as the Home Access Programme which provides eligible households with two years of subsidised fibre broadband. Free WiFi hotspots are also becoming increasingly common.

What more can we do to ensure that digital connectivity is affordable for the vulnerable and disadvantaged segments of our society?

Smart Seniors for Smart Nation

Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) : Chairman, as we gear up for a digital economy, we must make sure that our people are able to benefit from this transformation and not be left behind. We must not inadvertently create a new inequality or widen an existing gap, between those who can access and exploit the new digital technologies, and those who cannot.

Whilst future generations of elderly will be better educated and tech-savvy, we must not neglect our current generation of seniors. We need Smart Seniors for a Smart Nation. We need to harness technology to supplement our shortage of eldercare manpower and help more seniors live independently in the comfort of their own homes and community. We need to harness technology to help them stay connected to news and information, to support networks, to friends and families. To do all these, it is important to ensure that they are digitally ready. Digital readiness is the very first step and a critical enabler for our elderly to fully exploit the benefits of technology.

In MacPherson, we conducted a simple survey of 315 public rental residents last year and identified that the largest barriers with going digital are know-how, possession of smart phones and data plans. Hence, my grassroots team and I actively seek out partners with the resources to help our seniors and digitally vulnerable residents to overcome these barriers. I would like to thank IMDA and MCI for the support.

With the ability of oversight and access to a much larger network of resources, I would like to ask the Ministry what has been done to target efforts at helping seniors and the digitally vulnerable to learn, access and use digital technologies to enhance their quality of life?

SkillsFuture @ Libraries

Dr Teo Ho Pin : Mr Chairman, Sir, our libraries are a wonderful resource to instill knowledge in our people. I understand that there have been collaborative efforts between the NLB and SkillsFuture Singapore to upgrade the skills of Singaporeans. This is done mainly through SkillsFuture @ Libraries workshops held in our libraries.

I would like to seek some clarifications on how our libraries can play a more proactive role in supporting SkillsFuture and lifelong learning. Also, I would like to seek an update as to how the Ministry has encouraged adult learners to use library resources.

Sir, with the advent of digitisation, we can explore the use of technology to support lifelong learning. I would like to suggest that this be facilitated through two channels. First, the NLB mobile app. Second, NLB’s Learning Pods.

Sir, the NLB mobile app can be improved to collect user preferences and user data with the consent of users. This information can be subsequently used in the recommendation of library resources such as books, e-books, audio-books, and videos to users, to aid in their self-development and learning.

In fact, we can go one step further and create a data-sharing platform between SkillsFuture Singapore and NLB. This data-sharing platform will collate information such as the career aspirations, sector of work, or interests, of users who have registered with SkillsFuture. Subsequently, knowledge, resources, and skills which are of interest, or are beneficial, to the respective users can be identified. The relevant resources can then be recommended to users through the NLB mobile app. This will allow users to identify the materials which will best aid in their self-improvement, and learning, and encourage self-learning. In essence, this approach will allow for the customisation of tailor-made learning programmes suited to the individual learning needs of Singaporeans.

Sir, I understand that the libraries at Yishun North Point and Harbourfront have seven learning pods each. These learning pods contain video tutorials on various subjects ranging from coding to business. Sir, the learning pods with their interactive screens present tremendous potential to support self-learning. We should encourage the proliferation of these learning pods throughout libraries across Singapore.

Sir, the opportunities for lifelong learning which our libraries can provide, are many. I urge the Ministry to expedite the development of our libraries into self-learning hubs for Singaporeans.

The Chairman : Mr Darryl David, can you take one cut? We are going for tea break after this.

Libraries

Mr Darryl David : Thank you, Mr Chairman. Libraries today face critical challenges from many counts: from the Internet, modern cafes and even homes with book repositories. The question is not whether print and digital media can exist side by side in libraries. It is how the library can be a third space, for diverse social groups to exchange ideas, inclusively.

Libraries can be physical or virtual social spaces with social media applications. How we can transform our libraries into community hubs for people to interact, interconnect, learn, produce, share, meet informally, hold discussions or organise social events, special shows and exhibitions?

Libraries can also be “living rooms” for sharing of ideas via book clubs and forums, a safe space and meeting place for all. How does the Government ensure that our libraries continue to serve as an inclusive social space for Singaporeans of all ages?

The Chairman : Order. I propose to take a break now.

[(proc text) Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House. (proc text)]

Mr Speaker : Order. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 3.20 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 2.57 pm until 3.20 pm.

Sitting resumed at 3.20 pm.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

[(proc text) Debate in Committee of Supply resumed. (proc text)]

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Head Q (cont) –

Encouraging Plurality of Views

Mr Darryl David : Thank you, Mr Chairman, I would like to speak on civic discussion and diversity of views. Global cities across the world are often characterised by openness and tolerance of divergent views. One significant trait of such vibrant societies is the people's ability to "talk" through multiple, conflicting perspectives without hysteria and harm. While psychologists argue that it is social survival depends on conformity, recent research also suggests that divergence fosters creativity.

Stanford Professor Carol Dweck has done extensive work on the concept of "Growth Mindset." Individuals who believe their talents can be developed through hard work, good strategies and input from others have this growth mind set. I believe that respect for divergent views can be fostered in our schools to help students engage calmly in rational exchange to develop a growth mindset. I would like the Government to consider how we can we improve civic discussion in our schools and beyond to encourage the plurality of views among Singaporeans.

Government Public Opinion Surveys

Mr Leon Perera (Non-Constituency Member) : Mr Chairman, Sir, before I begin, I declare my interest as the CEO of a research consultancy that undertakes surveys.

Sir, many Singaporeans nowadays have the experience of being interviewed by opinion polling agencies conducting surveys on behalf of the Government. In a reply to my previous Parliamentary Question (PQ), then Minister Yacoob Ibrahim responded that "The Government does not compile statistics on the surveys conducted by various agencies, or which among them are published."

The results of opinion surveys, if published, would be valuable to many stake-holders in society.

For example, charities could design better fund-raising programs to help their beneficiaries by understanding the climate of public opinion around the issues and beneficiaries they are addressing. Academics could mine such surveys for research purposes. Civil society groups could use survey data to develop better programs to raise awareness around their focused issues. Citizens could use that knowledge to better shape and calibrate their actions as citizens, for example in writing letters to the media, expressing views on social media and making representations to consultative committees.

Sir, I understand that the results of some surveys are published, for example by REACH. I would like to call for the adoption of a rule that all Ministries and government agencies conducting opinion surveys publish the reports arising from those surveys for the use and benefit of society at large, where they do not impinge on national security or sensitive matters.

I would like to ask if there are currently mechanisms to enable all government agencies or Ministries to access data from non-published surveys conducted by other agencies or Ministries. If not, the publication of such surveys could even improve governmental efficiency and spending by reducing survey overlaps.

Government surveys are conducted using public funds. The results of those surveys should be available for all to use, not only the Government and Government leaders.

Effective Policy Communications

Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) : Well-meaning policies can become ineffective and rile people, if communications are not done well. Worse, in the absence of effective policy communications, those who wish us ill could exploit the opportunity to distort facts or spread fake news. It would be tragic if policies designed with Singapore's and Singaporeans' best interest in mind are misunderstood and fail to receive public support.

Conversely, policies that are effectively communicated can receive widespread public support, thereby ensuring their successful implementation. Mother tongue and National Service policies are excellent examples. We can observe the robust public support these policies receive till this day because people understood the rationale, despite the personal sacrifices they may have to make. Effective policy communications therefore strengthen our national solidarity.

Given the imperative of effective policy communications, I would like to ask the Ministry how it intends to improve the communication of government policies across different age groups and communities to maximise policy impact and benefit the intended audience?

The Chairman : Mr Darryl David, please take the next two cuts.

Public Service Broadcasting

Mr Darryl David : Mr Chairman, my first cut is on public service broadcasting of PSB. Over the years, the IMDA has supported the production of Public Service Broadcast (PSB) programmes, which have several national and social objectives. PSB programmes promote Singapore, the Singapore identity and values such as family, community, social inclusiveness and cohesiveness. At the same time, they cater to special interest groups, for example, the elderly and youth. They are also help to increase cultural awareness in a plural society and foster religious harmony.

Over the years such programmes have also helped to educate viewers, for example, through current affairs exposure so that we can be plugged into the world as global citizens to understand the cross currents that affect us.

Today, a revolution called cord cutting is spreading throughout the world, freeing people from the ties to cable even. With over-the-top (OTT) services offered by Netflix, Amazon Prime and even Viu for fans who want to binge-watch Korean content. Can the Government share h ow Public Service Broadcasting is changing in this ever-evolving media landscape? Next cut.

Developing the Media Industry

In the last five years, efforts to grow the media industry has rapidly accelerated. Big players like Lucasfilm; RGM Holdings, a well-known talent management company; BKN Media, an acclaimed animation studio; and DLM Digital Studios, a major Indian film production company have set up shop in Singapore, increasing the international profile of the media industry.

In the area of media education, NTU's School of Arts Design and Media have launched programmes to nurture creative media professionals. South Seas Film & Television School from New Zealand is also setting up a campus here. This will provide many opportunities for classrooms to become media hubs for media talent in the making.

However, it has been observed that the local market for made-in-Singapore media content is small, making it imperative to create an enabling media environment. What are our general plans to develop/grow the media industry domestically and are there plans to support local media firms overseas?

The Chairman : Minister Iswaran.

The Minister for Communications and Information (Mr S Iswaran) : Thank you, Mr Chairman. May I first seek your permission to display some slides in the course of my speech?

Mr Speaker : Yes, please. [ Slides were shown to hon Members. ]

Mr S Iswaran : Sir, this is my first Committee of Supply since joining MCI last May. I would like to thank all Members for their support of the work of the Ministry of Communications and Information and also for the diverse plurality of use that Members have shared with us on the work of the Ministry.

In my response, I would outline MCI's plans to secure Singapore's future in a digital age, as part of the Ministry's broader mission to connect to our people to opportunities, communities and the Government. Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary will address cybersecurity and digital readiness, while Senior Minister of State Sim Ann will do so for the media sector and Government communications. And I will conclude with our plans for the libraries and archives.

Sir, our vision is for Singapore to have a thriving Digital Economy where: every business is digitally-empowered, every worker is digitally-skilled, and every citizen is digitally-connected. Every enterprise, regardless of size or stage of development, can use technology to innovate and grow. Every worker, regardless of industry or education level, can use technology to be more effective and productive. And every citizen, regardless of age or background, can use technology confidently and enrich their lives.

This vision is already being realised, sometimes in quite unlikely quarters of our economy and society. Small enterprises in traditional sectors are harnessing technologies to grow. I recently met Mr Selvam, he was a former commando, who now owns Anushia Flower Shop in Little India. A testament to the diverse capabilities of our SAF officers. He has used e-commerce to reach corporate clients and new customers, to increase his revenue by 50%.

Young and old are embracing technology. At the opening of library@harbourfront in January, I saw seniors effortlessly reading e-newspapers, and learning enthusiastically to use the different apps on their smart phones. Children were enjoying themselves in the Immersive Storytelling Room and adults were using the NLB Mobile App.

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We want to build on this momentum by nurturing a vibrant infocomm media industry, comprising businesses with deep capabilities, workers who are highly skilled and a world-class digital infrastructure.

We start with efforts to raise the digital capabilities of our broad base of enterprises, especially our SMEs. Mr Cedric Foo and Mr Douglas Foo have asked how we are helping businesses benefit from digital technologies, and Mr Teo Ser Luck asked about the outcomes of our efforts. Two years ago, we launched the SMEs Go Digital programme and the results have been encouraging. To date, about 4,000 SMEs have benefited from this programme, which provides access to step-by-step guides to go digital. Proven digital solutions are provided and consultancy and project management services are also available.

We have been adapting the SMEs Go Digital programme to the changing needs of business. For instance, working with banks and telco partners, we launched the Start Digital Pack in January this year, so that digital solutions can be adopted by companies from the moment they are established. This way, businesses benefit from the very beginning, and they can also build on these digital foundations as they scale.

We are also expanding the SMEs Go Digital to meet the more complex needs of businesses as they scale. UNAG Logistics is an example. Rhyce and Gary Chng are brothers who own this local logistics and transportation company. They use a pre-approved cloud-based, AI solution to optimise delivery routes and dynamically re-assign drivers to new routes based on the capacity and locations of available vehicles. This has enabled them to increase their deliveries by 20% and revenue by 15%. And, they are now extending the platform to fellow SMEs as well. By 2020, we will roll out AI and cloud-based solutions to every sector so that more businesses can benefit.

Beyond the enterprise, we have also embarked on digital initiatives at the system-level so that we can derive broader benefits.

The nationwide e-invoicing network is one such initiative which IMDA launched in January this year. Invoicing is a key business function but manual processes can be tedious and error-prone. With e-invoicing, businesses can streamline processes, increase accuracy and improve cash flow. The Government, on its part, is fully committed to this initiative and will prepare our system to receive e-invoices by this year. And I want to encourage all our businesses to use this nationwide network to improve their efficiency and to reduce their costs.

Another example is a system-level initiative is TradeTrust which aims to streamline and digitalise our trade processes. A common challenge in the trade and logistics sectors is the inefficiency of manual cross-border trade processes. TradeTrust is an initiative to develop a set of standards to help businesses securely exchange digital trade documents. It will enhance our attractiveness as a business hub and improve the efficiency of our trading and logistics sectors. IMDA and other Government agencies are now working with industry partners to conduct proof-of-concept trials and we will provide more details later.

The digitalisation of our businesses can succeed only if our workers too are equipped to effectively use digital technology. Many Members – Mr Cedric Foo, Mr Teo Ser Luck , Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Douglas Foo – have asked how we are preparing workers and growing our talent for the digital economy. And I agree with Mr Teo Ser Luck it is a challenge, it is a challenge, both of changing mindsets and developing the will to make the change happen.

In 2016, we launched the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) programme to meet the growing demand for digitally-skilled professionals. Since then, over 61,000 training places have been taken up or committed, which accounts for about a third, slightly more, of our total ICT workforce. These courses provide opportunities for non-ICT workers to switch into a tech career, as well as for current ICT workers to take on deeper tech roles.

Mr Xie Zhaoyan is one of our graduates from TeSA's Tech Immersion and Placement Programme, which helps non-ICT workers move into the field. Through the programme, he acquired software development skills which helped him make the transition from being an engineer in the oil and gas industry, to a data engineer at Amaris AI where he develops applications for clients.

TeSA also has a Company Led Training (CLT) programme where, as the name suggests, companies take the lead to train ICT workers.

I recently visited Tunity Technologies, a local radio frequency ID (RFID) solutions provider. The SME has helped train and hire six workers through the programme including Ms Yeo Wan Ru. Through the programme, Wan Ru learnt skills in the Internet-of Things (or IoT) domain and is now an IoT Engineer.

So, we have seen good results from these programmes and I would like to inform Ms Tin Pei Ling that 90% of the beneficiaries continue to be in ICT roles. Many of them also stay with the same company they were placed in. We also conduct periodic reviews and work closely with key hirers of ICT professionals to assess the outcomes of our programmes.

Tech companies, like Tunity, play an important role in the training and growth of our ICT workers. Through our local partners, Kaplan and Trent Global, we will also create more upskilling opportunities for our workers by bringing in renowned training curriculum by METIS for data science from the USA, and Code Institute for software development from Ireland. These will help more workers and companies seize opportunities arising from the digital economy.

And as every worker has different digital training needs, we will also roll out the Digital Learning Guide. It will enable employers to plan for their workers' digital training needs using a step-by-step guide. We will start with the retail and logistics sectors, and progressively extend it to others.

We also want to harness the talent of the many Singaporeans who are working overseas in key tech areas and who are eager to contribute to Singapore's digital transformation. To encourage such tech talent flows, I am pleased to inform Members of the launch of the Overseas Singaporeans in Tech (OST)-LinkedIn community, which is a partnership between the industry and key Government agencies. It will connect overseas Singaporean tech talent with our local tech community, and keep them informed of the latest developments back home. Since the group was formed in January this year, it has managed to get in touch with over 500 Singaporeans.

Investment in research and development is also an essential part of our efforts to help industries innovate and stay competitive, even as the technology landscape is rapidly evolving.

Our R&D investments in the Services and Digital Economy (SDE) domain of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 Plan (RIE 2020) have helped us build capabilities in frontier tech areas and address our national priorities. For example, through AI Singapore's Grand Challenges, we are working with academia and industry to solve major problems faced in the key sectors such as healthcare. We must sustain this research and innovation momentum that underpins our Digital Economy strategies. I am therefore pleased to announce and share with Members that we will allocate a further $300 million for research in the SDE domain, almost doubling it from the current budget. This increase is part of the next phase of the National Research Foundation's RIE 2020 plan, which will be announced soon.

We are also establishing Digital Services Labs to unlock value from our R&D investments. This programme will work with technology providers, research and industry partners to co-develop cutting-edge technology to address business challenges.

Effective regulations that keep abreast of change and innovation, and world-class digital infrastructure, underpins our Digital Economy vision.

In that regard, we are reviewing our Electronic Transactions Act to cater for new business models, new technologies and national projects. We are also reviewing our Personal Data Protection Act (or PDPA) so that it continues to safeguard consumer interests while enabling the innovative use of data.

To Ms Sylvia Lim's query, in 2018, the Personal Data Protection Commission processed 1,669 complaints on data protection issues and 1,236 on Do Not Call issues. The PDPC has the expertise and resources to investigate different types of data protection breaches, and where necessary, works with external parties on investigations. Because it is cited within IMDA, the agency is also able to write on IMDA's broader infrastructure and overheads, and focus its resources on investigations and some of the core areas of work. We will continue to ensure that PDPC is adequately resourced and fit-for-purpose.

I had also explained in Parliament on 12 February why public agencies are not covered by the PDPA. I want to inform Ms Sylvia Lim that the reasons have not changed in the next past weeks. The data protection standards in the PDPA and the Public Sector Governance Act (PSGA) are broadly aligned. Public agencies are subject to the same, if not higher standards than the private sector. They are covered not only by PSGA but also other specific legislation and the Government Instruction Manual, which Ms Lim has also acknowledged. When necessary, PDPC helps to link individuals with the organisation and its data protection officers to address specific data protection concerns that have been raised. PDPC can also refer parties to mediation.

Mr Mohamed Irshad asked about recourse available for individuals affected by data breaches. Individuals who suffer loss can seek legal advice on available recourse including seeking compensation directly from the organisation or by taking private action against the organisation. Individuals may also resolve data protection disputes through mediation by the Consumer Association of Singapore or the Singapore Mediation Centre.

We are also preparing for new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Mr Vikram Nair asked about AI ethics, which is an area we are focused on, given the pervasive potential of AI technology. And to this end, I recently launched Singapore's Model AI Governance Framework, to guide private organisations in particular to deploy AI solutions safely and ethically. We have also established an Advisory Council on the Ethical Use of AI and Data, and launched a Research Programme to advance discourse on legal and ethical AI issues. Ms Lim Sun Sun will be happy to note that we are engaging partners like the Advisory Council, sector regulators, Trade Associations and Chambers to promote the adoption of the Framework. Our efforts in AI governance and ethics have also received international recognition as a World Summit on the Information Society Prizes 2019 Champion. So, this is an acknowledgment at an international fora of the work that we are doing, but we are pressing ahead because the landscape is evolving.

To Mr Ong Teng Koon's query on infrastructure, we aim to ensure that we have future-ready and globally competitive digital infrastructure, which is the bedrock of our digital economy.

So, we plan to commence the roll out of fifth generation mobile networks, or what is more commonly known as 5G, by 2020 to maintain Singapore's competitive edge in connectivity. With 5G, businesses and citizens can experience peak data rates of up to 100 times faster than 4G, with up to 25 times lower latency, and the ability to support up to 1,000 times more devices per square kilometre. 5G has a potentially to fundamentally transform our businesses and the way they operate, given its capacity to handle many high-demand applications simultaneously, such as the connectivity of autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, the deployment of IoT and nationwide sensor networks. IMDA will launch a public consultation shortly, to help us develop the right regulatory framework and policies for 5G including the allocation of spectrum.

On Mr Cedric Foo's point, we are strong advocates for open cross-border data flows, which is essential if we are to fully harness the potential of technologies like AI.

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At the regional level, we have helped set baseline data protection principles in the region by contributing to the ASEAN Framework on Digital Data Governance. We also participate in multilateral certification mechanisms like the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules and Privacy Recognition for Processors systems. We have included commitments to promote data flows in Free Trade Agreements, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Treatment for Trans-Pacific Partnership. And, collectively, these initiatives will enable businesses to transfer data across borders seamlessly and securely, and seize new digital opportunities.

But these opportunities can only be meaningfully realised within a safe and secure cyberspace. I agree with Mr Teo Ser Luck and Assoc Prof Daniel Goh that besides helping SMEs benefit from digitalisation, we must help them protect their businesses from cyber threats. So CSA and IMDA will expand the range of pre-approved solutions to include cybersecurity solutions later this year. This will give SMEs some guidance into the kind of solutions they can adopt and strengthen their cybersecurity measures.

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked how we are protecting our Critical Information Infrastructure (CII). Last year, we passed the Cybersecurity Act. It empowers CSA to effectively combat cyber-attacks and investigate cyber incidents. All CIIs have been designated by the end of 2018. Our 11 CII sectors provide essential services, such as transport, energy and water supply, and all CII owners must adhere to the Cybersecurity Code of Practice. Regular penetration tests are also conducted to identify and rectify vulnerabilities. In addition, we have in place measures to enhance resilience, including contingency and incident response plans in the event that a cyber-attack causes the disruption of essential services.

We launched Digital Defence as the sixth pillar of Total Defence last month. It was in recognition of the fact that each and every citizen, business and organisation, has a role to play in helping us develop robust defences against threats from cyberspace. To paraphrase the old saying, we are only as strong as the weakest cyber-link. Senior Minister of Stage Janil will be sharing more details on our cybersecurity efforts.

Finally, we believe that every Singaporean can be a digitally connected and engaged citizen. Building digital readiness is a national effort, involving the Government, businesses, communities and individuals. This is why we are launching the Digital Participation Pledge which allows organisations to commit to one or more actionable items that help Singaporeans acquire skills and adopt technology. So far, more than 270 organisations have pledged to do their part and we hope to see more organisations sign up, so that together we can build a more digitally ready Singapore.

I am heartened by the many volunteers and corporate partners who have come forward to volunteer at our Digital Clinics to assist citizens in using mobile devices. Standard Chartered Bank is a corporate partner with more than 200 of their staff members volunteering. One of the volunteers, Ms Audrey Poh, shared with me that she was inspired by the participants' enthusiasm to learn as she taught them to use different apps. Our Digital Clinics have reached more than 4,000 individuals since 2017. And this was only possible with the support of 20 corporate partners and 1,000 volunteers like Ms Poh.

To support many more Singaporeans like Ms Poh who are passionate about helping others, We will launch Our Singapore Fund, which will support community efforts that promote digital readiness. This is in collaboration with MCCY and Senior Minister of State Janil will be elaborating on these initiatives.

Mr Chairman, I have spoken at length on our broad range of efforts to help our enterprises and people benefit from the opportunities presented by the digital economy. This is not an easy task nor is it the sole responsibility of Government. Indeed, ultimately, every business, every worker and every citizen has to step up, overcome the challenges, and take ownership of their learning and digital transformation. Chairman, if I may have your permission to show this video which aptly captures the challenge that we are dealing with?

The Chairman : Yes, please.

Mr S Iswaran : Thank you. [ A video was shown to hon Members. ]

This is what my younger colleagues in the Ministry called a "bold" or "edgy" video. Mr Chairman, if I may conclude. The building of a vibrant digital economy in Singapore is a shared endeavour. And the video we have just seen highlights that there are challenges, whether we are individuals, workers or smaller enterprises – in different ways, we are dealing with these challenges. And it also shows how we can collaborate and succeed. So, let us work together, as digitally-empowered businesses, digitally-skilled workers and digitally-connected citizens to realise that vision.

The Chairman : Senior Ministe of State Dr Janil Puthucheary.

The Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (Dr Janil Puthucheary) : Mr Chairman, as technology becomes part of our lives, we need to strengthen our digital readiness and our cybersecurity. We must ensure that all Singaporeans have access to the tools and knowledge to benefit from technology, and that workers and businesses will thrive in a cyber-secure environment.

Several Members have expressed concerns about segments of our society that may be slower or less likely to benefit from the digital transformation journey that Singapore is undergoing.

We must ensure that the benefits of digitalisation are enjoyed by all. Digital readiness is a whole-of-nation effort. It requires the combined effort of Government, businesses and the community.

Last year, we launched the Digital Readiness Blueprint and set up a Digital Readiness Council. This Council will provide strategic direction, guide the implementation of our digital readiness initiatives, and examine the needs of the community in terms of digital inclusion, literacy and participation. Importantly, and very hearteningly, as Minister noted, we have received significant support from the wider community and businesses to serve on the Council and its working committees.

Our efforts can be categorised into these three areas: digital participation, digital inclusion and digital literacy.

For Digital Participation, we will launch two new initiatives, to mobilise organisations from the private, people and public sectors to drive our digital readiness efforts, and bring more citizens on board the digital readiness movement.

The Digital Participation Pledge, which the Minister announced, is a voluntary, online pledge, to encourage organisations to promote digital participation and inclusion. The primary focus is businesses. And already, 270 organisations from a wide range of industries – not just the tech industry, not just the online industry, but any industry that can make use of these digital technologies – have done so and pledged their commitment to expand their digital readiness efforts. Our target is to have 3,000 organisations on board this Pledge by 2021.

In another realm – also for digital participation, but focusing on the community – we have partnered with MCCY to create Our Singapore Fund for Digital Readiness. This encourages community efforts to promote digital readiness, and enlarge the social commons – the non-profit sector around digital readiness. Projects can receive up to $20,000 of funding, to support up to 80% of project costs.

Moving on to Digital Inclusion, and to answer Mr Cedric Foo, Ms Tin Pei Ling and Ms Rahayu Mahzam about how we are helping everyone benefit from technology. Digital inclusion requires access to technology, as well as the skills and knowledge to use it safely and confidently.

We have organised over 90 Digital Clinics since 2017. Those Digital Clinics were by appointment, or irregular, ad-hoc and often organised together with events. To provide this as a permanent service to residents, we launched the Tech Connect service, starting at eight community centres last November. This service provides residents with personal assistance, in a language they are comfortable with, on how to use digital devices and applications like Facebook and WhatsApp, so that they can connect with friends and family, build stronger social networks, and use technology in everyday aspects of their lives. They can also seek help for very practical issues, like how to reset a password. This service will be rolled out to all community centres progressively, as a permanent service.

We are encouraged by the large number of seniors who have picked up basic digital skills through our Silver Infocomm Initiatives. Collectively, our Silver Infocomm Initiatives have reached over 270,000 seniors.

To Mr Ong Teng Koon's query on how we are ensuring that that digital connectivity remains affordable, the Home Access Programme and the NEU PC Plus programme provide subsidised infocomm devices and Internet access to low-income households. To date, more than 70,000 households have benefitted from these programmes. This type of effort is not new. These sort of programmes have existed as public sector programmes since 1999 – more than 20 years – trying to find ways to make sure that vulnerable, lower-income households that will benefit from that type of connectivity, will have access to connectivity, as well as the devices to make use of that connectivity. We have different programmes depending on whether there are school-going children in the household.

In addition, MCI is working with IMDA and PA to run a pilot programme for elderly residents in MacPherson and Radin Mas constituencies. We plan to provide 200 residents who do not have mobile devices or Internet connectivity with data-equipped smartphones. Grassroots volunteers will provide guidance, to help residents build skills and confidence in using this technology. This is part of a study – an experiment, a pilot – to find out how we can encourage and support the adoption of digital technology, among the digitally less ready.

Prof Lim Sun Sun has asked how we can help individuals acquire the necessary skills, and ascertain what competencies are needed to function effectively in the digital economy. Her questions address the third component of digital readiness, after Participation and Inclusion, which is Digital Literacy. IMDA has developed a Basic Digital Skills Curriculum to ensure that citizens can pick up these skills in a structured manner.

The skills identified in the curriculum correspond to everyday activities, with an emphasis on prevailing technology trends, such as the use of e-payments and mobile applications. The curriculum is being offered as a one-day course. Those who are keen to pick up Basic Digital Skills at their own pace can also do so online at the IM Silver portal. We will periodically refresh the curriculum and curate relevant content for seniors, taking into account emerging trends, and feedback from stakeholders.

In the longer term, we are also developing an information and media literacy framework that pulls together relevant information, media and cyber literacy skills that Singaporeans need to use social media and digital technology responsibly and safely. This framework will spell out a set of desired outcomes, and include content guidelines for programme owners to reference. We aim to roll it out later this year, and to refresh it regularly.

Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Darryl David and Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked how Singaporeans can navigate an increasingly complex cyberspace, and given the threat of deliberate online falsehoods (DOFs), cybercrime, and cyber-attacks. Technology offers us greater convenience and greater connectivity. But it can be stressful to navigate the complex web of websites, applications and services. Online threats worsen anxiety, reduce trust and undermine public confidence in institutions. This threatens national security. We have seen this happen in other countries, and Singapore is not immune.

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A well-informed and discerning public is Singapore’s first, and most important line of defence against online threats. The Government is improving public education to tackle the serious and pervasive problem of deliberate online falsehoods. For example, the National Library Board’s "Source. Understand. Research. Evaluate" (or S.U.R.E) programme, raises awareness of the dangers, and how to discern fake news. MOE’s New Media Literacies toolkit supports teachers’ efforts to help students navigate the digital environment. This includes learning how to detect falsehoods on social media, and how to interact responsibly with others online. Over the past two years, organisations like the Media Literacy Council has also supported ground-up projects to help the public become better informed consumers through its Better Internet x Youth Call-for-Proposals.

To educate citizens and businesses on good cyber hygiene, CSA launched a cybersecurity awareness campaign in May 2018, called “Cyber Tips 4 You”. It reaches out to businesses on good cybersecurity practices through a variety of channels, such as talks, conferences, and an online portal called “GoSafeOnline”. CSA and IMDA are also working with schools, to help students pick up essential cybersecurity knowledge, and learn to effectively protect themselves from an early age.

We have launched Digital Defence as the sixth pillar of Total Defence. Like our battle against terrorism, we need everyone to play their part. This means being secure, alert and responsible online.

There are five things we can all do, including Members of this House, to make vigilance against DOFs and good cyber hygiene a matter of personal responsibility. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all: Please don’t post or forward dubious information, without checking; secondly, use a strong password and two-factor authentication; third, install, use and update your antivirus software; fourth, update all your software as soon as possible; and fifth, watch out for signs of phishing.

These five practices go a long way to help all of us guard against fake news, and stay safe online.

Mr Vikram Nair asked how we assess the cybersecurity of our Government systems. A safe and trusted cyberspace is essential for Smart Nation. This includes strengthening partnerships between the Government and industry, to achieve a higher level of collective cybersecurity. We will need the combined efforts of our stakeholders – industry, academia, and the community – to achieve this.

One of the many ways that we do this is through the Government Bug Bounty Programme. From December last year to January, 400 "white hat" hackers – "white hat" hackers are people who have hacking skills and use them for good, as compared to "black hat" hackers who do so for criminal reasons – took part in the Government Bug Bounty Programme, organised by GovTech and CSA. They have “stress-tested” the defences of five Internet-facing Government systems, and identified 26 vulnerabilities – all of which have been remediated.

This process raised our cybersecurity standards. We gained insights into potential attack vectors, better secured our web applications, and improved our mechanisms for patching vulnerabilities effectively and comprehensively. Seven out of the top ten awarded bounty participants were from Singapore. I am happy to see our local cybersecurity community contribute to improving the security of our systems. We will conduct more of such programmes in the future. I hope some of the participants apply for jobs at CSA.

Mr Teo Ser Luck asked about our targeted efforts to seize new opportunities in the digital economy. Cybersecurity is an area of economic opportunity that complements Singapore’s existing strengths – strong connectivity, a digitally savvy workforce, and a reputation for trust and transparency. A strong cybersecurity ecosystem will provide expertise and solutions that contribute to a more resilient digital infrastructure.

We are helping cybersecurity start-ups scale, and establish their credentials through the Innovation Cybersecurity Ecosystem at Block71 (ICE71), which brings together a community of entrepreneurs, investors and corporate partners. The community has done well since its launch last year, reaching out to more than 50,000 people through various events. We are starting to see a growth of local cybersecurity start-ups.

One such company is The Cyber Assembly, a home-grown start-up that connects people to cyber skills through an active learning cyber range, bootcamp programmes, and even a mobile game called “What the Hack”. ICE71’s Scale programme provided opportunities for Mr Ng Pan Yong, the company’s founder, to connect with the right audience and grow his business.

In September 2018, CSA launched an Industry Call for Innovation to catalyse the development and adoption of innovative cybersecurity solutions. CSA received more than 70 proposals to develop solutions for 10 cybersecurity challenge statements. In 2019, the Government will expand the Call for Innovation into the Cyber Security Innovation and Growth Programme to support local cybersecurity companies to create innovative and relevant cybersecurity solutions and to meet the changing needs of industry.

Mr Low Thia Kiang asked how we are meeting Singapore’s cybersecurity manpower needs. Building a strong cybersecurity workforce is important – not only for the development of our cybersecurity industry, but also for our national security.

As our world becomes more connected and new cyber threats emerge, demand for cybersecurity talent has grown exponentially. Across the public and private sectors, the total number of jobs for cybersecurity professionals tripled from 2012 to 2017, to 5,300 . At the same time, the actual number of cybersecurity professionals in employment quadrupled, to 4,900, which is about 3% of the ICT workforce. We expect the strong demand for cybersecurity professionals to continue.

Our agencies are working closely with each other, and the cybersecurity ecosystem, to strengthen the pipeline of cybersecurity professionals; deepen their skills and technical expertise; and improve the career progression and recognition for the profession.

To meet industry needs, IMDA and CSA drive targeted efforts under the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative. This includes the Cyber Security Associates and Technologists Programme, which develops and upskills fresh and mid-career professionals for cybersecurity jobs through on-the-job training. Eight companies have committed to develop more than 900 professionals by 2021. In addition, over 3,000 individuals have benefitted from 50 cybersecurity courses supported under TeSA’s Critical Information Technology Resource Programme.

To attract, develop and retain cybersecurity practitioners in the public sector, CSA works closely with GovTech and other agencies to build a core of cybersecurity specialists who will be deployed across agencies to support the Government’s cybersecurity needs.

Mr Douglas Foo asked how we are developing products that contribute toward a safe and trusted cyberspace for Singapore. As part of MCI’s work to ensure our standards and regulations support the growth of the digital economy, we have made progress in building a strong cybersecurity standards regime in Singapore.

I am pleased to announce that this has resulted in Singapore attaining the status of a Common Criteria Certificate Authorising Nation as of January 2019. This Common Criteria is the de facto standard for cybersecurity product certification around the world. Today, 30 nations, including Singapore, are part of the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA) for the mutual recognition of certifications. But not all the countries are Authorising Nations where you can produce the product. There is an ecosystem of 30 countries that recognise this, but we have now attained the status of an Authorising Nation, to produce the products and extend it globally. This will allow local companies to develop globally recognised products within Singapore, with estimated cost and time savings – because you do not have to send your product overseas for evaluation, nor bring the testers and evaluators here to Singapore. we can do it all within our economy. It is a step towards becoming a regional hub for product evaluation and certification. We are attracting global evaluation laboratories to anchor their operations in Singapore. These developments will accelerate Singapore’s exports of world-class cybersecurity products, and create good jobs for Singaporeans.

To encourage SMEs to build more secure products and adopt this Common Criteria certification, we have a new SecureTech track under the Accreditation@SG Digital programme. The Accreditation@SG Digital programme helps local SMEs to improve their business practices, engage with the local community, and be considered by Government agencies for the procurement of their products. So, this new SecureTech Track will apply the same thinking towards cybersecurity SMEs and cybersecurity products for their growth, for their scale, and for their consideration by Government agencies for the procurement of cybersecurity products.

Mr Chairman, digital transformation is not only about hardware or software. It is about our citizens, workers and businesses who innovate, utilise, and benefit from these technologies.

Our efforts span digital readiness and cybersecurity and will help these important stakeholders, so that we can embrace the potential of a common digital future together.

The Chairman : Senior Minister of State Sim Ann.

The Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (Ms Sim Ann) : Mr Chairman, Minister Iswaran and Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary have shared the exciting opportunities in a digital future and what we are doing to help every Singaporean reap the digital dividend.

Digital transformation is also the key theme of enhancements to our libraries, media and Government communications, where our focus is in supporting Singaporeans in reading and learning, and in being well-informed.

Let me start with our libraries. As Members would know, the transformation of our libraries is among the most thorough and dramatic ever experienced by our public sector agencies, in their drive to serve Singaporeans better.

We remain committed to this transformation journey. Beyond better collections, more comfortable surroundings and more efficient customer service, we continue to site, design and refresh libraries in a manner that keeps pace with Singaporeans’ urban lifestyles. Our goal is to stay ahead of changing preferences, and to continually delight library users. We site where footfall is high, and we put extra effort into space and programme design. Let me illustrate this with library@harbourfront, which opened in January this year.

During my visit, I was heartened by the scene of students, children, working adults and grandparents reading and learning under the same roof. Parents were guiding their children through hands-on activities based on STEAM or Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics concepts at the childrens’ makerspace. Just a few steps away, the programme zone was bustling with seniors chatting and enjoying each other’s company while picking up tips on cybersecurity. Offerings like these, combined with the library’s innovative design and panoramic view of Sentosa and our port, make for a delightful visit and all-round experience for every user.

Our libraries of the future have been well-received by Singaporeans. They have generated 50% higher loans and an increase of around 65% in visitorship compared with their non-revamped counterparts. This is in spite of the downward trend in visitorship and loans observed in the libraries of many other countries.

Over the years, we have also transformed our library collections – going beyond providing purely "books" to a vast array of learning resources. A major push on this front has been going digital, which has redefined convenience and the reading experience for all library users.

Members of the public have written in to express their appreciation of the NLB Mobile App, launched in 2016. Mr Jeffery Sung discovered that within minutes of downloading the app, he was able to read newspapers from around the world and browse the bestselling books in town. Essentially, the App has placed the library within our pockets. Our eBook loans have more than doubled since 2017. To meet the rising demand for eBooks, NLB had raised the eBook loan quota from eight to 16. Singaporeans who have yet to try eBooks and audiobooks can sample them outside the library at our eReads kiosks. NLB will roll out eight to 10 more of these kiosks across the island this year.

For many years, NLB has doubled the loan quota of physical items to coincide with the school holidays. Each time we run this, we consistently get great feedback from our users, who take advantage of the promotion to read and borrow more. I am pleased to announce that users need no longer wait for the school holidays; from 1 April, we will be doubling the physical loan quota from eight to 16 items permanently. In effect, library users will be able to borrow 32 physical and electronic items at any one time.

Another branch in the evolution of the libraries’ collections has been expanding our local content. Reading is a great way to deepen our love for our mother tongues and ethnic cultures. NLB will grow its collection of localised children’s books in Chinese, Malay and Tamil. It is currently shortlisting titles that Singaporean children up to the age of 12 years can enjoy and relate to, for translation into vernacular languages.

As Members are aware, we face a fast-changing future. In this fluctuating environment, our libraries can serve as every Singaporean’s personal learning retreat, where you can re-tool and enhance your personal and work life.

I recently met Ms Noorjahan bte Kamaruddin, an avid learner and volunteer who inspired me in more ways than one. To achieve her lifelong dream of publishing a recipe book, Ms Noorjahan set out to acquire skills on electronic publishing, copyright, privacy and cybersecurity matters at the "Silver Digital Creators" Workshop organised by NLB and IMDA. She continued working on the project after the course, and is now the proud author of the eBook “Noor’s Just Right Recipes”. But Ms Noorjahan did not stop there. With the knowledge she gained, she has begun training others. Noor's story demonstrates how collaborative learning has enriched her life and the lives of others. It also shows how technology can be harnessed by Singaporeans to achieve great things.

4.15 pm

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked how our libraries can play a more proactive role in supporting SkillsFuture and lifelong learning. The answer is that NLB champions continuous, self-directed learning in many ways. We are making it easy for adults to take advantage of the library’s learning resources. For example, NLB’s Digital Business Library offers more than 4,000 e-book titles condensed into 10-minute, bite-sized reads for busy adults. I would also like to thank Dr Teo for his suggestion on how NLB could work more closely with SkillsFuture Singapore.

NLB is actively partnering industries, SkillsFuture Singapore, Workforce Singapore and the Council for Third Age to deliver a comprehensive slate of job and skills-related programmes for Singaporeans. For instance, “SkillsFuture Advice” helps Singaporeans understand the importance of career planning and skills upgrading. Learning today is no longer confined to information gathering, but also actively practising in a guided environment, under the tutelage of mentors. Singaporeans who are keen to tap the brains and insights of industry game-changers, such as the founders of Carousell and ShopBack, can do so through the “Breakthrough: Conversations with Entrepreneurs and Innovators” series. NLB will do even more. Over the next five years, we target to run 1,500 workshops benefiting more than 50,000 participants.

Mr Darryl David asked how libraries can continue to serve as inclusive social spaces for Singaporeans of all ages. I am pleased to say that for all the transformation our libraries have undergone, certain principles remain constant. Libraries bring people of diverse backgrounds together. In the words of 29-year-old Karimah Samsudin, "The library allows you to expose yourself to different ideas, so you do not just stay in your own box or cocoon, and get to know different kinds of people". Another regular patron, Ms Leo Yih Nah, shared that book clubs were good social events that would help to lower the risk of dementia for seniors like her in the long run.

NLB goes one step further in its aim to cultivate inclusive social spaces. It is committed to extending the multitude of opportunities I have elaborated on to all, especially learners amongst us who could use an added boost. One of our hallmark nationwide programmes is KidsREAD, which promotes early reading for less privileged children, and which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. To bring the library even closer to them, WondeRead was launched in 2018. Similar to a subscription box delivery service, WondeRead delivers pre-loved library books quarterly to children who are not able to visit libraries on their own. WondeRead is accomplished with partner organisations, who either sponsored items in the box, or whose staff personally selected and packed books for each child. Many of the WondeRead beneficiaries look forward eagerly to their next box delivery.

To enable job creation for persons with special needs, NLB will be extending its employment partnership with the Autism Resource Centre (ARC) in 2019. ARC clients were trained on collection arrangement work in late 2018 and since January 2019, they have been employed by NLB to support the operations of the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library.

Mr Chairman, in Mandarin, please.

( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] : Our libraries are favourite go-to places for Singaporeans. They love to read books and newspapers in the library and nourish their mind in a cool and quiet environment. This is a delightful activity to complement our fast-paced urban lifestyles. Moving into the digital era, the NLB will strive to provide better services for our readers, who have been very supportive of our libraries.

In the digital era, the definition of books has changed and has expanded from physical and paper books to include e-books. People can read countless books on a small mobile phone or tablet PC.

In 2018, NLB increased the loan quota for e-books from 8 to 16, and this was well-received by the public. From April this year, NLB will increase the loan quota for physical books to 16 as well. So, avid readers need not fret about not being able to borrow as many books as they want. The question is whether they can finish reading them all.

Secondly, NLB and Government departments in charge of promoting CET and IT literacy will collaborate to develop libraries as entry level classrooms for Singaporeans to learn new skills. Some of these courses are suitable for seniors and will be conducted in their mother tongue. For example, the Bedok Library, Toa Payoh Library and the new Harbourfront Library at Vivo City will provide these classes. I hope members of the public will give them a try.

Thirdly, to encourage children to learn their mother tongue and increase their MTL reading materials, NLB will select good quality children’s books in English featuring local content, and translate them into Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

( In English ): Our media have an important role in helping Singaporeans stay well-informed; and, through shared discourse, fostering a sense of togetherness and identity. Most Singaporeans would be able to recall growing up with their favourite local drama series, or tuning into news and current affairs programmes to follow the unfolding of national events.

Mr Darryl David asked how Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) is evolving in response to increasing competition for eyeballs from online and foreign platforms. Indeed, PSB must keep pace with changing consumption habits so that it is integral to the lives of viewers. Our national broadcaster is engaging Singaporeans across a wide range of platforms so viewers can easily discover and enjoy local content. Let me illustrate with the example of Channel 8’s “SPOP Sing!” – a nationwide competition which discovers and celebrates young singing talents. Instead of the traditional approach of airing the show exclusively on TV, Mediacorp released content on an array of platforms. Its efforts had borne fruit. On top of the 1.7 million viewers who tuned in on Free-to-Air TV, more than 850,000 watched it on Toggle. Performance tracks were streamed more than 150,000 times on major digital music platforms such as Spotify, and social media and on-ground outreach events extended engagement further still.

Another important priority of ours is to strengthen the reach of local vernacular content.

( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] : In order to help the public access more information in Chinese and expand their audience base in the digital era, MediaCorp has pooled resources in TV and radio to create a new portal that includes news, entertainment and lifestyle information, and this is set to be launched in the middle of the year.

( In English ): Suria will continue to partner with community organisations in large-scale events, such as the opening of Wisma Geylang Serai. In the same vein, Vasantham is partnering the Tamil Language Council and Tamil Language Learning & Promotion Committee for community events like the annual Tamil Language Festival. Through ground events and engagement, Suria and Vasantham are able to connect with their communities and celebrate culture and values, while increasing social media outreach and the visibility of their content and artistes.

From listening to citizens’ views and concerns, to explaining Government policies and schemes, the Ministry builds clear channels for communication that foster a well-informed and engaged nation.

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked how we can improve communications of Government policies across age groups and communities. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we customise the content, platforms and languages for different groups of Singaporeans. For our millennials, we produced a web series Ah Boys – Hidden Warfare, that covered topics of concern to them, like jobs and economy, and marriage and parenthood. For older audiences, there was the Getai Challenge, where we adapted the skits and music performances of a familiar local tradition to share useful information with our seniors, such as housing, social support measures and diabetes awareness.

Age is not the only diversity we cater for; our communications are also tailored for various communities. For example, we rode on the festive cheer of the Deepavali and Chinese New Year seasons to share timely and informative content with our Indian and Chinese communities. Topics included financial planning and healthy eating. Similarly, we customised programmes such as Abang Teksi, which highlighted different forms of Government assistance to help Singaporeans tide through disruptions, including Adapt & Grow initiatives. Our post-campaign research showed about eight in 10 respondents were more keen to sign up for Adapt and Grow initiatives after watching the programme, suggesting its effectiveness.

Mr Leon Perera asked about public opinion surveys conducted by the Government. Government agencies use a variety of means to better understand ground issues and concerns. These include outreach activities conducted by REACH, house visits and surveys which help our agencies assess public sentiment on issues, and public awareness of, and response to, Government policies and programmes.

For example, after the Pioneer Generation Package was introduced in 2014, we conducted surveys to ascertain how well understood the package was by the target audience – the pioneers themselves. As a result of these studies, we decided to use Chinese dialects to communicate the package to our pioneers who are less comfortable with English or Mandarin. We will undertake a similar process in planning our communications on the Merdeka Generation Package. Most surveys that MCI and other agencies conduct are for internal reference, like the ones I have described.

The Government does not compile statistics on the surveys conducted by various agencies, or which among them are published. In MCI, REACH periodically releases survey data on a range of issues. In recent years, REACH has released surveys of public perceptions on the annual Budget and the National Day Rally Speech, CPF changes, public transport, and the public's awareness of financial assistance schemes, among other subjects. These survey findings may also be found on REACH’s website.

The Government does not make policy decisions or decide communication strategies solely on the basis of surveys. But they help ensure that service delivery and policy implementation are satisfactory. The Government releases surveys that may be of interest to the public. For example, REACH has released surveys of public perception on the Annual Budget and the National Day Rally speech, fake news and public transport. Another example would be the study of social capital commissioned by MCCY. Other surveys released include studies of youth, national security awareness as well as attitudes towards water conservation.

As for coordination, agencies need the operational flexibility to conduct their own surveys on issues of concern within their purview. Some questions may be common across different surveys because they are cross-cutting in nature. Our agencies coordinate such efforts when it is operationally feasible to do so.

Mr Darryl David asked how we can improve civic discussion in schools and beyond to encourage the plurality of views among Singaporeans. Through public consultations, Singaporeans have a say in shaping public policies. More than 36,000 Singaporeans have provided feedback on issues like cost of living, jobs, transport and fake news, at more than 250 REACH Listening Points and dialogues between 2017 and 2018. REACH regularly engages students on national issues at dedicated Listening Points and dialogues held at Institutes of Higher Learning as well. Among them was University student, Mr Alif Mohammad Hafidz, who gave his suggestions to this year’s Budget and shared that the session motivated him to find out more about the Budget process. We will continue to consult the public on issues of importance to our nation’s future, and invite Singaporeans to lend their voices to the on-going dialogue.

Mr Chairman, I have described how my Ministry plans to help Singaporeans stay connected and engaged, through reading, learning and being well-informed and how digital transformation will play a key role in these plans.

The Chairman : Minister Iswaran.

Mr S Iswaran : Thank you, Mr Chairman. Sir, many Members have spoken in this COS debate about the need to bring Singaporeans closer together as we take Singapore forward. We agree wholeheartedly with them.

Let me now share with Members how MCI is fulfilling our vision of an engaged and connected Singapore. Through the media sector, we will engage Singaporeans with shared stories of our home and nation. Through our National Library and Archives, we will cultivate a shared appreciation of our past, so that we can move into the future with confidence and a strong sense of our identity.

Let me begin with the media. The digital age offers great promise for our media sector to grow. The global entertainment and media industry is expected to grow by 4.4% from 2017 to 2022. Within Southeast Asia, the media sector is likely to grow by more than 7%. There is a discernible shift towards Asia, and towards Asian content.

We are well positioned to seize these opportunities. We are at the confluence of the East and the West. We have talented storytellers and world-class digital infrastructure. We must leverage these strengths to develop promising young talent, deepen the skills of our media workforce and prime our industry to ride the wave of growth in the global media eco-system.

4.30 pm

Mr Darryl David has asked about our plans to develop the local media industry. We are doing so through manpower development plans like our Skills Framework for Media, which maps out career pathways and skills to help media professionals stay ahead of the competition. We will enhance this Framework to meet the industry’s needs for writing and storytelling skills, as well as the demand for professionals with digital skills like data analytics and social media management.

First, we will extend the iPrep scheme to media students in tertiary schools so that they can be better prepared for the rigours of the media industry when they graduate. iPrep will provide up to $8,500 per student to cover the costs of attending industry courses, overseas internships or immersion programmes.

Next, we will strengthen on-the-job training to familiarise fresh media professionals with the latest trends and tools of the trade. IMDA will launch a Story Lab Apprenticeship this year to help young media professionals gain customised training and experience in key media companies. I am glad that companies like Mediacorp, mm2 Entertainment, HBO Asia and Turner Asia Pacific have already expressed interest to come on board. IMDA will announce more details by the third quarter of this year.

We will also help media professionals master digital skills to compete and thrive in today’s landscape. Our Continuing Education and Training (CET) courses have been very useful to media professionals like 37-year-old Ms Nusaibah Abdul Rahim, who is creative director of a media production company. Last December, Ms Nusaibah attended a data-driven content development workshop organised by the Singapore Media Academy, and learned how to analyse data from audience insights to drive creative decision making. IMDA will curate more of such CET courses.

Mr Darryl David asked about our plans to help local media companies go global. I will like give two examples. Firstly, IMDA’s Public Service Media Digital Partnership Fund will help local media companies partner international players to co-produce digital-first public service content for our audiences. In other words, content but it is digital first. IMDA’s funding call for proposals will close by the end of this month, and I strongly encourage local companies to make use of this resource.

Secondly, the Singapore Media Festival will continue to be our main platform to showcase our most promising talent and companies to the world. Last December, the Festival attracted over 23,000 media professionals and industry thought-leaders, and facilitated more than US$313 million worth of deals. We will expand the Singapore Media Festival to seize the opportunities created by the growing convergence of the tech and media industries, and strengthen Singapore's thought leadership in the region. IMDA will share more details in the second quarter of this year.

Our efforts to develop the media industry will help us tell our stories better – to our fellow Singaporeans, and to the rest of the world. And there is indeed no better story one could argue than the story of Singapore. This year’s Bicentennial commemoration will help us to understand our early history, how Raffles’ landing in 1819 set us on a path to where we are today, and reflect on the attributes we will need to succeed in the future.

The National Library and Archives will play an important and meaningful role in this Bicentennial commemoration.

The National Library Board (NLB) will roll out a series of activities to increase engagement with Singaporeans. For example, NLB’s librarians will play host and present the National Library’s rare materials collection with 25 specially produced videos. Some highlights of this valuable treasure trove of Singapore’s early history include Munajathu Thiratuu, the oldest Tamil book on Islamic religious poetry held by the National Library, or Hikayat Abdullah, one of the most important records of the socio-political landscape in Singapore, Malacca and the southern Malay kingdoms at the turn of the 19th century.

These videos will be released every fortnight from April, on NLB’s social media channels. We have also brought a special preview of the NLB’s archives to Parliament. I invite all Members to visit the Reception Hall of Parliament House to view exhibits that showcase our multicultural roots and life in early Singapore.

NLB has also worked with community groups to digitise valuable historical content. Last month, SMS Sim Ann launched the Singapore Biographical Database of Chinese Personalities to remember pioneers who contributed significantly to Singapore in its early days. The NLB and the Tamil Digital Heritage Group are already hard at work collecting historical materials on Indian dance in Singapore for a new Digital Archive of Singapore's Tamil Dance. Theatre practitioners from the Malay community will partner the NLB to create a Digital Archive of Singapore Malay Theatre. These new databases will be a rich resource of our arts and cultural heritage, and they will be publicly available from December this year.

Our National Archives also have much to offer. The National Archives Singapore (NAS) celebrated their Golden Jubilee last year, and their birthday wish is to encourage every Singaporean to play a part in preserving our collective memories. Our Community Oral History Committees, representing the Malay, Chinese, Indian and Eurasian communities in Singapore, have had more than 100 volunteers document over 160 hours of interviews for our national oral history collection. One such volunteer interviewer is 31-year-old Ms Sushma Somasekharan, an auditor and classical Indian vocalist who recently interviewed her first music teacher – the accomplished Carnatic singer Dr Bhagya Murthy. Thanks to Ms Sushma’s interview, we gained valuable insight into the Indian classical music scene in the 1980s, and how it evolved with a uniquely Singaporean twist – because in those days, Dr Murthy apparently to learn to sing in Malay and Mandarin to cater to a multi-racial audience as well.

When the revamped National Archives building at Canning Rise opens next month, I hope Ms Sushma and many other potential archivists will make good use of its new facilities, such as the three new oral history recording studios in the building. The Oldham Theatre in the NAS building will become accessible to members of the public, featuring regular screenings of curated films by the Asian Films Archive. NAS will also launch an online system that allows members of the public to request digital images of Singapore in its early days.

I hope these commemorative events will ignite the interest and passion among Singaporeans to discover more about our past, and ourselves.

Mr Chairman, the NLB and NAS have done tremendous work as custodian of Singapore’s heritage and memories. With your permission, I would like to play a video to showcase their good work.

The Chairman : Yes, please. [A video was shown to hon Members.]

Mr S Iswaran : I hope that Members felt more than a tinge of nostalgia watching those images. Mr Chairman, My Ministry will continue to create opportunities for all Singaporeans in a digital economy, and help Singaporeans of all ages embrace technology. We will endeavour to keep our cyberspace safe and secure, and enhance Government communications to foster an engaged Singapore. Through the efforts of the National Library and Archives, we will foster a deep understanding of our shared journey from the past to the present and aspire to build a better Singapore, our home, in the next 200 years and beyond. We look forward to working closely with all Singaporeans as MCI perseveres in its mission to connect Singaporeans to each other and to a better and brighter future.

The Chairman : Clarifications please. Ms Tin Pei Ling.

Ms Tin Pei Ling : ( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] : I would like to thank the Minister for the reply. I would like to ask two questions.

First, Singapore is determined to realise the vision of a Smart Nation. However, amongst Singaporeans, there is still a generation of senior citizens who need our help to pick up digital technology. I would like to ask the Government if a targeted strategy can be implemented, whereby assistance rendered is customised according to the challenges and difficulties faced by the target community, so as to help them embrace the digital era. This is my first question.

My second question is that communicating policies is an art, and the Minister had earlier shared with us that policies are being communicated to our people through multimedia and television programmes. For senior citizens, television programmes may just be a one-off event, and they may miss out on some of the important explanations and information. I suggest that we repeat these important messages and spread them to all corners of the community so that our citizens, particularly our senior citizens, will understand the policy-making process and considerations behind these policies. In this way, Singaporeans will have a better understanding of the thought process behind the Government’s decisions and may give stronger support to our policies. I hope the Minister can elaborate on that.

Ms Sim Ann: ( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] : I thank the Member for her clarification. She asked about how we can help senior citizens embrace digital technology. Indeed, it is our hope that all senior citizens in Singapore will be able to ride the wave of the digital era and become savvy in digital technology. In terms of courses and training, there are two important points to note for seniors. Firstly, we noticed that many of them are still more comfortable learning in their mother tongue, so many of our courses are conducted in Mandarin, Malay or Tamil. Another point is that the programmes must be tailored for beginners and the pace must not be too fast. We take note of these two important points.

Here, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce a few specific training courses and programmes, such as IMDA's Silver Info-comm Junction.

These have been set up at more than 30 locations, many of them are in our community centres and some are in the libraries. They offer opportunities for our senior citizens to learn digital and info-comm technology in a relaxing and comfortable environment.

At the same time, IMDA also provides a Basic Digital Skills Curriculum working with partners. We have also set up mobile digital clinics to provide one-on-one instruction for senior citizens at different locations and time slots. This takes into account the fact that many of our senior citizens prefer to learn from instructors on a one-to-one basis.

In addition, there are technology touchpoints available at eight community clubs, where our PA counter staff provide one-to-one assistance to residents and help them learn to use electronic devices and services. The libraries have also introduced a new Seniors Tech and Read programme to teach senior citizens to borrow electronic books and access the Internet. So, we hope that our senior citizens will also be able to enjoy the convenience of e-books.

We have been working hard on the communication of our policies and engagement of the public. We would like to take this opportunity to encourage parliamentary colleagues to make good use of all the budget-related information provided by MOF. Nowadays, there are more and more information available in the four official languages, with richer content. We hope that beyond textual information, powerpoint slide shows with voice-over explanations made available by MOF will help people better understand various policies. This is an example of how ongoing communication efforts can complement one-off television or radio programmes to reinforce Singaporeans’ impression of important policies.

4.45 pm

The Chairman : Mr Darryl David.

Mr Darryl David : Mr Chairman, I have two points of clarification. First point, I believe, should be for Senior Minister of State Sim Ann because it pertains to the library and digital books. I just wanted to ask the Senior Minister of State if she could update on some trends on e-books or digital book borrowing. And does she see a trend in e-book or digital book perhaps even outstripping conventional publications of books in the long run?

Second point of clarification is for, I believe, could be for the Minister. I did attend the National Archive Exhibition. And I really have to commend the National Archives team on the wonderful job that was done. I was wondering if the National Archives could perhaps engage other Government agencies, say, MOE, for example, to ensure that all the excellent work that has been work could also be shared with our students in Primary school and Secondary school. In the past, I believe this this would involve an excursion to the National Archives building and I believe that might be the case for some materials. But I believe much of what I saw as digitalised and can be brought onto screens and brought into the schools. So, is that something that perhaps the Minister could consider, in terms of exposing more of our younger Singaporeans to all of these rich history?

Ms Sim Ann : I thank Mr Darryl David, for his questions on e-books. Indeed, we have seen very rapid growth in the use of e-books amongst our library users. From 2017 to 2018, the digital loans have almost quadrupled – from 1.5 million such loans to 5.8 million loans in 2018. However, this remains a fraction when compared to the physical loans, which in 2018, stood at about 33 million. So, I think it is a situation in which e-books and e-loans are growing rapidly. But I would say that physical books are still very dominant. Now, as to whether one will outstrip the other, I think that remains to be seen. But I think what is clear is that NLB very much should be with the e-books trend to ensure that while they take care of readers who prefer physical books, at the same time, we have to ensure that our collections of e-books and newspapers and magazines continue to be enriched.

The Chairman : Minister.

Mr S Iswaran : Thank you, Mr Chairman. I think it is a very useful insight from Senior Minister of State Sim Ann's earlier reply. In fact, the digital platforms are very effective in reaching certain demographics. And the growth in e-books and the borrowings is largely being driven by a younger demographic. But I think, in general, as Senior Minister of State Sim Ann says, borrowings in physical books, also continues to hold its own. So, I think we are in a good situation and we want to encourage the reading habit through whichever channels in order to broaden the reach.

And in that vein, the Member's second question about National Archives, we agree with him fully. In fact, the Archives have a very rich treasure trove of information. And one of the things that we are doing in the course of this year, as I highlighted, is digitalising the content and then finding ways to propagate it with the larger population. So, videos, which will put out by NLB through its platforms, is going to be one important channel. In fact, much of the Archives material is already available digitally. I think we will certainly pursue the option of seeing how we can go in a more targeted way, for example, to schools. But at the same time, I would just urge all Members to also propagate the message. I am sure all of you have download the NLB app and are using it actively. And I hope then that you will also continue share that experience with all your constituents and others such as you are attracting with.

The Chairman : Mr Leon Perera.

Mr Leon Perera : Thank you, Sir. Just one point of clarification for the Senior Minister of State Ms Sim Ann, and I thank the Senior Minister of State for her detailed response to my speech on publishing opinion polls. From the Senior Minister of State's reply, she cited some examples of opinion polls that had been released. I assume that some of these Government opinion pools are for internal reference and are not released. So, my point of clarification would be what would be the concern or impediment or issue with making it a more general rule to release the results of all such surveys, unless there are strong reasons not to, such as national security, such as sensitive issues of sorts, to release that information to the public domain for stakeholders to use?

Ms Sim Ann : I thank Mr Leon Perera for his question. As I have mentioned just now the speech, the Government releases results of surveys that may be of interest to the public. As for the kind of reasons that he has shared earlier, indeed these are some concerns because some of the surveys may touch on issues with regard to security or it may affect market sentiments on specific sectors. So, these would be some of the reasons, for instance, why not all survey results would be released to the public.

The Chairman : Ms Rahayu Mahzam.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam : Thank you, Chairman. I have a question for Senior Minister of State Janil. He had earlier given a very descriptive plan of the cybersecurity state of affairs in Singapore and I wanted to just understand a little bit more about how we are assessing or measuring the savviness of our people in dealings in cyber space because it would be useful to actually understand where are some of the weak points. You have mentioned earlier about issues with regard to using lax passwords, phishing and all that. Clearly, there are some areas where we could improve on and I appreciate the efforts by the Media Literacy Council as well as with NLB with SURE. But are there some areas that we could look at and how we can measure and assess and target some of the efforts so that we can improve cybersecurity in Singapore?

Dr Janil Puthucheary : Mr Chairman, I thank Ms Rahayu Mahzam for the question. She asked about how we assess the savviness with respect to cybersecurity. It is very difficult thing to measure because the technology is moving quite rapidly and the kind of products and services that are being developed are also not thought of today. People are imaging new business models. You do not really know what would catch fire.

In a way, we try to by looking to see when things go wrong, such as scams, cyber breaches or theft of information, so on and so forth. So we can measure when things go wrong. But that is not necessarily a good example of how savvy we are, which is the word that the Member used.

Internationally, people have tried to develop these measures around knowledge. So how if you take a poll, for example, whether it is Secondary school students or early adults or across the population segment, what do people know about it. Then, you can perhaps also look and see, for example, what are the products and services that businesses would use, either knowledge within the business community or the use of protective technologies within the various community. And people have tried to come up with these types of measures. And on these types of measures, we come up very well but that is not something to pat ourselves on the back and assume that there will be no problem. Actually, we do have to keep reminding ourselves.

The key issue is really human behaviour and the social factors. In a way, technology is the easier thing to measure so we can do, for example, penetration testing, we can do audits of the use of technology, audits about processes with respect to, for example, thumb drives and locking down systems and Internet surfing separation. But the much harder thing to measure is assess and change is human behaviour – do not share your passwords, do not download suspicious materials, which is why I took the opportunity to remind Members of these few things that we should do. It is something where, like crime, like real world safety, like road safety, it is sometimes useful to remind and repeat, and remind and repeat, and use learning opportunities to reinforce good behaviour. And I think we have to just keep going down that path.

The Chairman : Ms Sylvia Lim.

Ms Sylvia Lim : Thank you, Chairman, I have one clarification for Minister on the issue of personal data protection. One of the points which I raised was about the work of the PDPC in helping to achieve outcomes for complainants. And I believe that in his response, the Minister did say that cases could be referred to mediation. We know that is provided under the Act. It is also provided that the PDPC could direct resolution of a complaint in a way that it considers fit. So, I would like to ask the Minister if he can confirm, if there have been any cases where these alternate dispute resolution methods have actually resulted in compensation or in a payment of some settlement sum to the complainants; whether he is aware if there have been such cases.

Mr S Iswaran : Mr Chairman. I am not aware of such cases.

The Chairman : Dr Teo Ho Pin.

Dr Teo Ho Pin : Sir, I am pleased to learn from Senior Minister of State Sim Ann that the library is planning to building eight to 10 learning pods. I am just wondering whether is there plan to build a learning pod in Bukit Panjang library?

Ms Sim Ann : I thank Dr Teo Ho Pin for being such a strong supporter of learning ports. We will consider putting one in the Bukit Panjang Library.

The Chairman : Mr Cedric Foo, would you like to withdraw the amendment?

Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng : Chairman, Sir, whilst there are many challenges as this House discussed, as Singapore embarks on our digital transformation, the potential benefits are massive and all of us, as the Minister pointed out, would like every stakeholder, Government agencies, businesses, workers and our citizens to join this very exciting journey. With that, Chairman, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

[(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)]

[(proc text) The sum of $987,540,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)]

[(proc text) The sum of $54,080,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]

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