预算辩论 · 2021-03-02 · 第 14 届国会

新加坡数字人才与性别多样性

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

AI 经济与产业AI 与就业AI 基础设施与研究AI 与公共部门 争议度 2 · 温和质询

议员质询政府如何培养数字领导人才及推动女性进入科技领域，建议设立导师计划并关注性别比例失衡。政府已推出多项人才培养计划，但具体针对数字领导和女性参与的措施尚未明确。核心争议在于如何有效吸引和留住高端科技人才及缩小性别差距。

关键要点

  • • 数字人才培养
  • • 导师计划建议
  • • 女性科技参与
政府立场

已推多项人才计划，关注技能提升

质询立场

建议设立导师计划，促进女性参与

政策信号

加强数字人才培养与性别多样性

"We need data to innovate and we need people to get things done."

参与人员（25）

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组负责人。田佩玲女士。

产业能力与领导者

田佩玲女士（麦波申选区）：主席，我提议将预算中Q组的总拨款减少100元。

先生，新加坡怀有宏伟抱负，致力于实现繁荣的数字经济和智慧国。我认为，人才和数据是最基本且最重要的成功因素。我们需要数据来创新，也需要人才来完成任务。

在我2020年2月的预算辩论演讲中，我谈到了如果我们要在科技和创新领域出类拔萃，就必须拥有高度集中的技术工人和关键规模的人才，就像我们在生物科技领域所做的那样。新加坡需要提供大量不仅满足现有需求，而且能吸引来自本地区及更远地区未来独角兽企业的人才。

同样重要的是，我们需要本土独角兽。我们需要更多新加坡数字领导者和科技独角兽，以进一步巩固我们在世界上的地位。

根据波士顿咨询集团最近的一份报告，现今科技相关职位空缺数量是2010年的两倍。随着我们继续吸引大型科技公司来新加坡，并推动新加坡企业的数字化转型，对人才的需求愈发迫切。

首先，关于数字领导者和导师计划。我很高兴政府推出了许多有用的计划，如TeSa、SGUnited就业与技能计划以及PCP，这些计划有助于加强我们的人才库，具备必要的技术知识和行业技能。为了确保该领域的可持续发展和进步，我想询问政府正在采取哪些措施积极培养数字领导者。政府是否考虑正式引入一项导师计划，吸引来自全球的顶尖人才和公司创始人，或许利用TechPass持有者，来指导我们的青年和初创企业？

我去年在议会中谈过这个问题，现在再次提出。最终，我们希望打造一个充满活力的人才社区，培养下一代，提升新加坡的影响力，进一步巩固新加坡在全球舞台上的地位。

接下来谈谈女性在科技领域的情况。我特别关注如何吸引和留住女性进入这一细分的科技领域。通讯及资讯部2017年的人力统计显示，男女比例明显差异，男性占68%，女性占32%。哈佛商业评论2019年的一篇研究论文指出，投资性别多样性有助于形成积极的反馈循环，促进人才吸引和公司财务收益。借用我之前提到的波士顿咨询集团报告，拥有科技相关学位的女性比例为29%，低于整体学位中53%的女性比例。因此，我想问政府有哪些计划进一步鼓励女性进入科技领域。

第三，关于透明度框架。先生，我们应呼吁企业，尤其是大型企业，对其企业领导者的期望更加透明。福布斯的一篇文章指出，引入透明企业文化的好处之一是促进员工幸福感和人才留存。我想问政府是否会考虑建立一个框架，以增强企业透明度，特别是在科技人才发展和晋升方面。

第四，支持创新。关于创新支持，除了已公布的2025年研究、创新与企业计划（RIE2025）以促进研发外，我想问政府将采取哪些措施帮助本地初创企业或本地创新企业获得公共部门内外的重要项目，以提升其信誉。

除了拥有IMDA认证企业名单外，是否可以更有力地鼓励政府关联公司与本地科技企业合作，并带领它们参与海外项目？如果没有获得“重大突破”的机会，我们的本地初创企业可能陷入小项目的恶性循环。这无意中造成了本地初创企业只能承担小项目的错误印象。

此外，如果没有在新加坡承担过大型项目以增加资历，一些本地企业在独自开拓海外市场时可能面临相当大的挑战。由于缺乏信誉或资历，本地初创企业可能被迫降低报价以赢得合同。这又形成了一个不可持续的降价恶性循环。

我们能否减少追逐大品牌，更多支持本地企业？是否可以考虑“支持新加坡”措施，在某些公共项目招标中优先考虑有资格的本地企业，或许是那些参与规模扩大计划的企业？这样的机会可能是我们企业成为新加坡下一个科技独角兽的突破口。

最后谈谈数据收集。我理解这是一个敏感话题，但当前高度敏感的环境使本地企业难以收集数据以创新其产品或服务。有时，尽管企业保证数据将被匿名处理，但仍面临获取数据的挑战。没有数据，企业创新将非常困难，风险是创造出脱离实际的产品。

因此，我们需要在保护数据和促进数据创新之间取得平衡。我们希望成为全球数据中心。但我们如何利用数据造福社会？政府是否考虑作为合作伙伴支持企业的研究和调查？这可以提升公众信心。政府还能做些什么来实现这一平衡？先生，我提议。

【（程序文本）提案提出。（程序文本）】

支持中小微企业数字化转型

田佩玲女士：先生，数字全球化正在加速。疫情后，企业数字化已非选择，而是必然。此外，数字化打破了地理和物理限制，带来了无限的市场和机遇。

然而，中小微企业往往因不知“做什么”和“怎么做”而感到望而生畏。大多数中小微企业资源有限，既缺乏内部技术专长来扫描市场上各种数字解决方案，也缺乏聘请合格顾问协助数字化的资源。

基于此，我想提出三点建议。

第一，建立对技术的信任。“我不知道我不知道什么”，“如果被骗怎么办？”，“银行或机构会知道我的一切吗？”中小微企业对数字化益处的认同可能较弱。它们忙于日常运营，几乎无力关注通过数字化实现的渐进式生产力提升，一是每天都在为生存而战，二是数字解决方案对它们来说可能是“陌生”的。加上偶尔有些企业被骗的报道，数字化可能成为一个神秘且可怕的怪物。政府能否分享如何破除误解，帮助中小微企业理解数字化的好处，从而增强信心？

第二，解决技术难题。即使是较有前瞻性的中小微企业相信数字化，也可能无暇深入了解数字规格，更别说部署和实施解决方案。鉴于规模限制，聘请内部IT专家成本可能较高。因此，今年预算中宣布的资源共享和CTO即服务的想法非常好。

第三，展示明确收益。如果数字化能带来营收增长和成本降低，企业的动力将更强。当然，政府的“启动数字包”等计划很有用。但我建议政府关注实施细节，提升申请体验。

例如，一家本地科技解决方案提供商告诉我，许多中小微企业因“中小企业数字化”资助而有意购买其方案。但因截止日期严格且审批耗时，一些企业担心申请获批时已过截止日期而放弃申请。对我来说，这是中小微企业错失数字化机会的例子。

先生，随着数字化加速推进，现在是“成败在此一举”的时刻。我因此请问部委分享更多帮助中小微企业转型的措施。

主席：亚历克斯·严先生。

亚历克斯·严先生（马西岭-裕廊西选区）：主席，数字技术无疑与现代经济息息相关，尤其是在新冠疫情期间。

随着对创新领域需求的增长，以缓冲疫情带来的冲击并利用新机遇，新的应用和数字解决方案层出不穷。

数字技术正日益影响经济各个领域。即使是传统行业如餐饮、农业和建筑，技术投资也在快速增长，成为全球趋势。

下午3时45分

近年来，亚洲受益于新一波数字创新。国际货币基金组织观察到，亚洲在电子商务和金融科技领域领先全球。该地区的发达和发展中经济体均取得显著数字化成果。我们必须努力了解如何最大化利用这些数字机遇，惠及经济并提升生活水平。部长能否分享我们将如何加强在全球数字经济中的竞争优势？

我们在区域竞争对手中占有显著优势，科技巨头纷纷在新加坡设立总部或区域办事处。但正如早前贸易及工业部预算委员会所述，科技人才短缺仍是长期关注的问题。信息通信行业未来三年需新增6万名专业人才。

因此，政府和企业必须集中力量寻找人才，确保我们科技初创地位。由于许多职位要求数字技能专家，这并不容易。我们如何确保有足够人才满足数字经济增长的需求？我们能否真正成为亚洲的硅谷？

疫情后数字化对生活的影响

谢健平先生（海洋坊选区）：主席，过去一年，我们许多人屏幕使用时间大幅增加。我的股票经纪朋友告诉我，佣金在多年下降后有所回升。数据显示，交易次数增加，尽管金额较小。我们都知道，网上购物如今非常普遍。生活确实改变了，数字世界占据了我们更多的清醒时间。

数字化如何帮助我们适应疫情期间的新生活现实？我还想问政府在基础设施方面做了哪些投资，不仅支持数字领域扩展，还保障其免受诈骗，确保公平？

沙拉尔·塔哈先生（巴西立-榜鹅选区）：主席，先生，请允许我一并提交我的削减(e)、(f)和(g)项。

主席：请讲。

跨部委转型支持

沙拉尔·塔哈先生：新冠疫情成为企业转型的催化剂。过去，我们工作场所、商店和市场距离近，物理接触便利，无需急于数字化以弥合距离。但疫情促使组织和企业探索数字解决方案，如Zoom、电子支付和电子商务。

我们现在更理解数字化如何使运营更便捷高效。下一步是从零星数字化或试点，转向全面采用真正可持续的数字转型。这将使我们超越简单地将技术附加于现有流程，而是充分利用数字化，根本性地转变商业模式。

只有这样，我们才能充分抓住后疫情世界经济带来的机遇。

值得注意的是，麦肯锡最近报告指出，85%的东盟企业仍陷于数字化试点陷阱。通讯及资讯部、贸易及工业部和人力部如何更紧密合作，支持企业推动真正持续的数字转型？通过跨部委协调一致的计划，帮助企业构建连贯、成功的转型策略和执行，或许通过贸易及工业部提供明确的运营和技术路线图，通讯及资讯部的数字领导者计划和SGUnited就业与技能培训提供技术人才支持，利用通讯及资讯部的CTO即服务，由经验丰富的从业者指导，同时培训组织能力以更好利用数据洞察。

每个部委掌握拼图的一部分。作为业界人士，导航转型不易，因为这不仅是提升生产力，而是根本转变商业模式。

许多企业可能需要帮助来理清众多不同的支持计划。为帮助企业充分利用现有支持方案，部委是否考虑通过会员计划或陪伴式服务，提供跨部委的业务转型支持？我们需要更协调的业务转型方法，帮助企业获得动力，更好地利用多样的跨部委支持。

中小企业通过数字化释放价值

我的第二项削减关注数字鸿沟，特别是中小企业的包容性增长。数字化计划帮助许多中小企业完成数字化转型。一个例子是东部知名的鱼肉香饭餐厅Saffrons。通过采用数字点餐、第三方外卖应用、数字营销和幽默的推广，当然还有美味的食物，业主Rijal先生分享说，他显著扩大了客户群和收入。Saffrons是一个非数字原生的小企业，成功利用数字转型的例子。

然而，并非所有中小企业在数字化方面进展均衡。疫情扩大了数字化“有”和“无”之间的差距。一些中小企业仍在努力通过数字化寻找价值。面对众多计划，通讯及资讯部如何帮助数字化初学者导航支持生态系统？如何帮助企业通过数字化释放新价值，尤其是需要更多帮助的数字化初学者？随着更多家庭企业和零工经济者出现，通讯及资讯部如何帮助家庭企业释放价值？

信息通信技术行业的机遇

我赞赏持续支持SGUnited就业与技能计划。我遇到许多受益者，从中年转职者到应届毕业生。他们中许多人渴望进入不断增长的信息通信技术行业。

然而，一些人仍担心缺乏技能和行业背景，难以抓住数字机遇。许多人表示，尽管参加了多门数字课程，但尚未获得行业职业机会。他们说因缺乏经验被拒。但没有机会，他们永远无法转行并积累经验。

通讯及资讯部如何帮助这些工作者获得行业机会，确保他们在数字经济中获得好工作？部委是否考虑某种机制，平衡信息通信技术行业中有经验和无经验人才的招聘？

中小企业与数字转型

司徒义彬先生（波东巴西选区）：主席，中小企业为约70%的劳动力提供就业，贡献了新加坡近50%的GDP。中小企业业务流程数字化和电子商务增长是两个潜在领域，可帮助中小企业提升效率和业务增长。

过去一年，在新冠疫情背景下，数字转型成为一些中小企业必须紧急采取的步骤。

因此，我邀请部长与本院分享部委支持和加速中小企业数字转型的计划。

中小企业数字化

玛丽亚姆·贾法尔女士（森巴旺选区）：主席，不少同事在我之前发言。预算中对中小企业数字化的关注值得欢迎，既有新举措，也提高了现有计划的支持水平。

对中小企业而言，计划必须快速产生价值，否则报名率低，流失率高。中小企业数字化计划常因不符合中小企业需求而表现不佳。一家中小企业告诉我，这些计划就像只有一把锤子，不管我有何种钉子都一样。

弥合这一差距的一种方法是关注可扩展的用例，而不是他们必须自己摸索如何应用的广泛主题或框架。任何用例的价值往往也在于改变内部流程和推动数字文化。因此，提供有意义的变革管理支持至关重要。中小企业对支持类型和指导程度的需求和期望有很大不同。因此，项目设计可以针对不同细分市场更加有针对性和差异化。

除了融资和补助的推动方式外，政府还可以更多地与数字生态系统合作伙伴，特别是科技巨头合作，他们能够利用其广泛的网络和经验为中小企业争取支持。例如，在中国，京东的“火花”计划为贫困地区的摊位和商铺提供供应链、业务支持和信贷，同时提供灵活的就业和居家工作机会。

我希望政府能详细说明正在延长的中小企业数字化项目的采用情况和效果，以及迄今为止所吸取的经验教训。我也希望涉及该领域的不同部委能确保，例如数字实习和中小企业数字化项目能够同步发挥协同效应，以最大化我们的投资价值。否则，我常发现跨国公司比我们的中小企业更愿意接纳数字实习生。对于一个必须承担70%劳动力的行业来说，这种情况必须改变。

支持中小企业数字化转型

黄俊贤议员（蔡厝港）：主席先生，中小企业，包括小贩业，为我们三分之二的劳动力提供就业，并贡献了近一半的国内生产总值。政府已推出“中小企业数字化”和“小贩数字化”计划，支持他们的数字化努力，以转型运营、提高生产力和拓展业务。

新冠疫情冲击了许多行业，对中小企业采用数字技术产生了什么影响？部委是否观察到数字化项目的采用率有何变化？各种服务的利用率如何，如中小企业数字技术中心咨询服务、预先批准的解决方案和数字韧性奖金？

中小企业的数字化转型并不均衡。哪些行业进展较慢？政府如何支持他们克服面临的困难？

梁荣华议员（武吉班让）：先生，近年来的年度预算中，数字化是首要优先事项之一，获得了大量预算拨款以推动这项工作。我浏览了信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）网站，发现确实有一长串旨在帮助中小企业的具体计划和支持。

新冠疫情意外推动了企业和消费者对数字化的采用，消费者的使用也比以前更多。我能否了解目前的进展？我们还需走多远？未来还有哪些支持和援助？

5G部署

陈素玲议员（东海岸）：主席先生，新冠疫情凸显了连接性的重要性，使人们能够继续工作、生活和娱乐。居家办公、居家学习，甚至与家人朋友沟通，在疫情期间没有数字连接是不可能实现的。

5G网络技术能够实现显著增强的连接性和新能力。5G的关键在于规模、低延迟和高速。因此，5G可以变革并实现以前无法实现的连接，提供新的服务水平、商业模式和体验。5G可以实现基础设施、紧急、安保、医疗和卫生服务的关键任务通信。

虽然5G的好处广泛，但5G的实施复杂，涉及多个利益相关者。连接性增强和对5G网络的依赖也会增加网络安全风险。新加坡对5G的策略和计划是什么，以确保消费者、企业和社会广泛受益，同时最大限度地降低相关风险？

我们的数字创新生态系统

Christopher de Souza议员（荷兰-武吉知马）：主席先生，我们通过创新政策打造了良好的初创生态系统，吸引了许多全球企业在新加坡设立总部。谷歌、字节跳动、腾讯、微软等全球科技巨头均在新加坡设有重要业务，新加坡有望成为亚洲的硅谷。事实上，新加坡可以尝试与硅谷竞争，成为初创人才的首选地。

随着数十亿美元公司的涌入，竞争加剧，信息通信媒体发展部（MCI）如何继续发展和建设本地数字创新生态系统，以支持本土初创企业？

数据隐私与责任

物联网、人工智能、零工经济和全球科技巨头的增长，使得数据和数据中心技术的竞争将隐私问题推到了聚光灯下。我们对此高度重视，最近本议院通过了《个人数据保护修正案2020》，要求组织对其处理的数据负责。然而，我们在平衡个人隐私与创造更多连接、提升生活质量之间仍有很长的路要走。

随着数字环境快速演变，信息通信媒体发展部和个人数据保护委员会（PDPC）如何继续确保组织尊重隐私并对其处理的数据负责？

关键系统的网络安全

第三个问题，先生。2020年12月中旬，发现SolarWinds Orion的业务软件更新被植入恶意代码。由于SolarWinds作为网络管理软件在全球广泛使用，成千上万的私营和公共部门组织暴露于恶意软件更新之下。SolarWinds网络攻击凸显了供应链攻击的危险以及滥用认证机制进入受害者内部网络的风险。

为持续打击网络犯罪和网络攻击，信息通信媒体发展部如何确保新加坡的关键信息基础设施、政府系统和用户数据安全，不被未来攻击的后门所利用？

网络安全

任俊贤议员：主席先生，我们许多人的现实生活现在大部分在线上进行。这也意味着高度敏感的个人数据被频繁共享，但往往是无意识的。

过去一年，新加坡四分之一居民遭遇至少一次网络安全漏洞，未经授权访问在线账户的尝试最为常见。

对企业而言，网络安全也成为日常斗争，网络犯罪分子的技术日益复杂，持续攻击不同企业。

新冠疫情迫使企业大量依赖数字平台远程办公。这些平台因此成为有吸引力的攻击目标，如果安全维护不充分，极易遭受入侵。

变革性的5G技术使我们比以往更加互联。近期新电信（Singtel）的网络安全漏洞提醒我们，即使是资源丰富的大型企业也面临风险。

那么，政府将如何更好地保护新加坡公民和企业的网络空间安全？

加强网络安全

陈素玲议员：主席先生，政府、企业和个人对数字和技术的依赖日益加深，用于连接、信息访问与交换及运营。大量敏感的个人或商业数据以数字形式使用和存储。这增加了网络攻击的风险，可能导致个人和敏感数据的丢失和未经授权使用，以及运营和活动的中断。

新冠疫情推动了电子支付、移动应用和电子钱包的使用。智能手机实际上成为移动金融交易中心。随着电子商务交易量增加，加强供应链安全尤为重要，因为供应链网络攻击日益增多。

部长能否分享我们如何加强新加坡的网络安全？鉴于网络安全的重要性，我们如何培养本地网络安全人才？

网络空间与数据流治理

谢耀权议员（裕廊）：主席，全球数字经济现值近3万亿美元。东盟内部预计到2025年将增长至1970亿美元。数据将成为我们最宝贵的资源，全球及东盟的数据连接基础设施和推动者至关重要。新加坡有巨大机会成为思想领袖和安全、无缝跨境数据流的可信枢纽。

部委能否更新其在全球和区域层面上的工作：一是数据管理框架，包括数据分类和控制，作为数字经济各方的通用语言；二是推动业务创新的跨境数据流机制？

主席，相关地，网络空间已成为全球公域。部委能否更新新加坡如何塑造网络空间国际治理，就像我们持续塑造空域和海域治理的国际规范一样？

最后，2019年新加坡在达沃斯世界经济论坛推出了人工智能治理模型框架。该框架通过将原则转化为组织负责任部署人工智能的实用建议，为全球人工智能伦理话语做出贡献。

基于此，部委能否更新该框架及其如何继续支持我们的国家人工智能战略？

邮政行业转型

梁荣华议员：先生，政府于2007年结束了新邮（SingPost）在基础邮件服务市场的垄断，但信息通信媒体发展局继续指定新邮为公共邮政许可持有人。

新邮需履行信息通信媒体发展局确定的一系列普遍服务义务。我想问政府如何确保新邮继续提供优质邮政服务，履行其为公众服务的义务？如何保护消费者利益及邮件的完整性和安全？

近年来邮政行业格局发生了重大变化。部长能否更新当前格局及信息通信媒体发展部转型邮政行业以满足消费者需求的计划？

新加坡邮政行业

薛耀宾议员：主席先生，我记得年轻时与笔友交换信件——是的，笔友——在信封上贴邮票并亲自寄出。如今，电子邮件、电子发票及其他多种电子通信方式在数字时代普遍存在，信件邮件量急剧下降。

另一方面，电子商务的兴起导致包裹和小包裹递送数量增加。这对我们的邮政行业提出了不同的物流需求。

我预计这两种趋势在未来几年将加剧。据我了解，电子商务量预计未来五年每年增长12%至20%。鉴于2020年新冠疫情限制措施，这一趋势加速。我因此邀请部长与本院分享部委转型新加坡邮政行业以满足消费者变化需求的计划。

数字与邮政转型

谢炳辉议员（荷兰-武吉知马）：主席先生，信息通信媒体发展部及其官员在实施“心邻数字化”和“小贩数字化”帮助企业数字转型方面的努力值得称赞。我们注意到当前工作虽成效显著，但过程繁琐。

信息通信媒体发展部能否将某些数字采用，如数字支付解决方案，纳入新租约及续约的条件，并以租金减免作为数字采用的回报？对于较小企业，部委能否定期提供汇总的匿名数据，帮助中小企业了解数据如何助力业务增长？

我们还需转型邮政行业以满足消费者对电子商务包裹的需求。如今，数字化使消费者对包裹更快、更便捷的递送有更高期待。这是重大挑战。为克服挑战，需扩大非接触式递送方式的使用，如带实时追踪的取件点，以减少递送中断。这种非接触递送方式因减少逐门递送，降低经济和环境成本。

电子商务购买需求增加导致逆向物流上升，因消费者退货。若无可持续流程，将大大抵消包裹递送减少碳足迹的努力。信息通信媒体发展部是否考虑通过递送、退货和回收流程实现包裹循环经济？部委在这一物流挑战中采取了哪些措施以确保环境可持续？

在主要电子商务促销季节，我们观察到蓝色回收箱中包装废弃物回收量增加。因此，信息通信媒体发展部能否进一步在社区增设蓝色回收箱，或将包裹递送数据与蓝色回收箱收集机构共享，以便调整清运频率，最大化回收效率？

邮政行业的未来

郑兴耀议员（提名议员）：主席，电子商务因新冠疫情加速发展，将持续普及。信息通信媒体发展部如何引导邮政行业迈向更规范环境，以更好保护消费者利益？部委如何为公共和私营部门提供包裹柜基础设施及服务标准的指导框架，以促进电子商务发展并提升用户体验？

电子商务的普及也挑战了许多传统零售公司的生存能力，这些公司需审视其分销模式。新规范环境如何帮助传统零售公司顺利转型为线上业务模式？

数字时代的图书馆

苏慧燕议员（马西岭-裕廊西）：主席，请用中文发言。

（中文）：[请参阅方言发言。] 阅读有助于开阔视野，培养广泛兴趣。通过阅读，我们能更好理解个人行为，获得更多通识知识。在无法出国旅行的时期，阅读让我们无需出国即可更好了解世界其他地区的历史、文化、风俗及最新发展。

（英文）：许多居民告诉我，疫情前图书馆是他们最喜欢去的地方。

十年前在兀兰区域图书馆举办的一次阅读活动开幕词中，前信息通信及艺术部长雅各布·易卜拉欣博士说：“阅读对我们语言和沟通技能的发展至关重要。它通过开启新世界和新体验，深化我们的知识，丰富我们的生活。它还在促进家庭和朋友团聚中发挥重要作用，许多人都体验过与读友讨论或分享喜爱书籍的乐趣。因此，任何进步社会都应培养人民的阅读热爱和终身学习。”

基于此，我想问部委，在当今数字世界，如何通过便捷获取推广阅读，并确保电子书对所有人都负担得起？我们的图书馆如何在数字时代保持相关性？它们将如何继续满足新加坡人，尤其是有小孩的家庭和老年人的需求？

下午4时15分

此外，最近我访问监狱时了解到，新加坡监狱服务已开始向囚犯提供平板电脑，方便他们给家人写电子邮件。为更好促进教育、技能提升和就业能力的康复与融合，部委能否与监狱服务合作，为囚犯提供更广泛的书籍，包括电子书？

我们图书馆的未来

蔡振辉议员（丹戎巴葛）：主席先生，图书馆是社会通往知识的门户。它们在年轻一代的学习旅程中扮演核心角色，作为促进思想和文化传播交流的公共空间，也是为弱势群体提供技术支持的重要平衡器。

随着新加坡及全球因疫情被迫迅速迈向数字未来，我们如何确保公共图书馆跟上技术进步？如何确保图书馆继续通过其社会和策展角色服务新加坡居民？在谷歌搜索常成为大多数人寻求知识的第一步的世界，图书馆需要做出哪些演变以确保其在数字未来的持续相关性？相关地，图书馆员的角色如何演变，以跟上这些不可避免的变化？

跟上数字未来

主席先生，新冠肺炎疫情迫使世界在一夜之间改变了我们的运作方式。疫情以极快的速度将数字化未来强加给我们。我们的年轻人开始居家学习。家庭越来越依赖电子商务平台满足日常需求，比如购买杂货。由于安全管理措施，婚礼和守灵等人生大事通过视频会议进行。无论是哪种活动，结论都是一样的：我们已经拥抱了数字化，即使疫情最终结束，也无法回头。

鉴于疫情带来的这一意外但不可避免的后果，我们能做些什么来确保数字化不会破坏我们加强社会契约的努力？我们如何确保弱势群体不会默认成为技术落后者，因为这只会进一步加深他们的社会和经济地位？我们又如何确保我们的长者能够乘风破浪，驾驭快速发展的新数字技术？

我们如何帮助企业在维持现有传统系统的同时，合理平衡并投资于数字业务创新？我们的数字战略是什么，以支持中小企业和本地大型企业不仅保持活力，而且蓄势待发，在数字全球市场中蓬勃发展？

数字包容与安全上网

纳迪娅·艾哈迈德·萨姆丁女士（宏茂桥）：主席先生，我们的青年是数字原住民，生于互联网深度融入生活的时代。从学习、娱乐、点餐、出行、社交到公民话语，数字工具带来了巨大好处，也能成为平等化的力量。不确定某事？只需谷歌搜索即可核实。

我们需要确保各阶层的儿童都具备利用技术带来的机遇的能力。

然而，数字领域的开放性也带来了危险。从网络欺凌、不良内容暴露到网络激进化，互联网也可能造成分裂，社交媒体上的“战士”呼吁人们盲目站队，而非进行健康的讨论。

我想询问，政府有哪些计划来装备和引导各阶层的青年及其家长，建设一个更好、更安全的互联网环境，促进社会话语，并保护我们的青年，尤其是年轻女孩，免受网络欺凌和过度性化的影响？

长者数字化

西尔维娅·林女士（阿裕尼）：长者数字化计划于去年五月启动，旨在帮助长者提升数字能力。在去年六月的议会辩论中，我表示支持该计划，但也担心部分长者可能无法实现数字跨越。部长澄清，该计划旨在鼓励采用数字解决方案，但仍保留非数字方案的选项，因为有些人仍偏好或对数字部分感到不适。他还强调，网络安全将继续在长者培训项目中得到重视。

此后，该计划势头良好。据报道，计划目标是在本月覆盖10万名长者。通过名为“长者移动接入”的方案，已推出低价移动电话计划，针对低收入长者。

为了了解这些方案的影响，能否请部委澄清以下三点？第一，信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）针对10万名长者的目标覆盖范围是什么？关键绩效指标是参加课程的人数，还是必须展示一定水平的能力？第二，预计有多少人将受益于“长者移动接入”方案？第三，鉴于网络诈骗的增加，培训中的犯罪预防内容是否会加强？

数字包容

郑丽慧小姐（淡滨尼）：主席先生，信息通信媒体发展部在数字时代帮助长者方面做了很大努力。芽笼东公共图书馆的试点项目提供一站式访问200多项精选数字政府服务，如公积金提名和社区医疗援助计划（CHAS）申请，非常实用。请问这项服务会推广到所有图书馆吗？

自2020年启动“长者数字化”计划以来，已有多少长者接受了辅导？IMDA将如何扩大数字素养工作，装备更多长者掌握数字技能，以支持他们的日常需求？

数字包容且准备就绪的社会

沙希拉·阿卜杜拉博士（提名议员）：主席先生，新冠疫情加速了新加坡的数字化进程。然而，这也意味着疫情前已处于不利地位的弱势群体可能会被进一步边缘化。

新加坡政府在缩小数字鸿沟方面付出了巨大努力，尤其是在疫情背景下。通过“家庭接入”和“NEU PC Plus”计划，许多人现在拥有了数字设备。教育部目标是在2021年前为所有中学生提供一对一笔记本电脑。然而，数字设备拥有量增加也意味着维护支持需求增加。低收入家庭可能负担不起现有商店的服务。副总理 Heng 提到，非营利组织如 Engineering Good 已与社区伙伴合作提供这些服务。

因此，我想问部委，是否可以利用这些组织的网络和专业知识，这些组织可能已与社会服务机构建立联系，帮助扩大服务范围并增强数字服务套件？

数字素养在这个高度互联的世界中也非常重要。用户需要了解网络安全风险和负责任的网络行为。还需学习实用技能，如处理视频会议和解决网络连接问题。然而，低收入家庭的学生家长往往数字素养不足，难以支持孩子。

教育部已有国家数字素养计划针对学生。信息通信媒体发展部是否考虑与教育部及/或其他社会服务机构合作，将该计划推广给家长？

今年2月2日，易华仁部长向议会报告，借助“家庭接入”和“NEU PC Plus”计划，新加坡家庭宽带普及率从2014年的87%提升至2019年的98%。根据统计，新加坡有137万户居民家庭，约有2.7万户无宽带接入，这不是一个小数字。

我理解IMDA将简化公共租赁计划家庭的申请流程，确保他们自动符合援助资格，但这需要时间。

“超越社会服务”组织目前有一个免费无线网络走廊项目以应对这一问题。政府是否考虑与类似组织合作，将该项目推广到更多租赁家庭，以免延误适当的互联网接入？

黄伟中先生（裕廊）：主席先生，我们已见证新冠疫情如何加速数字创新，改变我们的生活和工作方式。许多长者通过数字手段完成重要任务——如使用SGQR码进行安全入场、电子支付等。许多小贩也拥抱数字化，提供电子解决方案，现正接入电子商务平台，利用在线市场销售产品和服务。我为长者和小贩的努力感到欣慰。

然而，每个人适应变化的速度不同。我注意到仍有许多新加坡人需要更多指导和支持以适应数字化。我们不能自满，因为数字鸿沟有扩大的风险。信息通信媒体发展部推出了“摊贩数字化”和“长者数字化”等数字包容计划。我也注意到IMDA和国家图书馆局通过提供负担得起的互联网接入、数字设备和电子书，支持低收入家庭和弱势群体。

我坚信合作伙伴关系和协作。因此，我想请信息通信媒体发展部详细说明其计划及合作伙伴，推动自下而上的举措，促进数字包容和准备就绪的社会。

数字鸿沟与诈骗上升趋势

谢健鹏先生：主席先生，新冠疫情加速了数字化进程，但也加剧了社区中的数字鸿沟。部委如何帮助低收入家庭获取数字工具或平台，并保持与更广泛社会的联系？

在我的预算主辩论中，我谈到我们需要做什么，让低收入群体获得数字基础设施——包括硬件和宽带接入。

数字接入努力的第三个重要方面是数字机敏度，类似于现实生活中的街头智慧。数字帝国中的黑暗角落和现实生活一样危险——抢劫常见，生命也可能轻易终结。电子商务诈骗是最常见的网络诈骗，且在疫情期间显著增加。

作为社会成员，我们既需要信任，也需要怀疑。在日常生活中，我们信任市场上的鱼贩不会欺骗我们，保证当天捕获的新鲜鱼货；同样，我们依赖朋友的社会资本，信任他们守诺言，也信任商业伙伴对某些事务的判断。

疫情期间，可信且易得的信息尤为重要。但网络上的真相稀缺，与疫情相关的外部事务同样重要。信息通信媒体发展部如何确保不同需求群体都能获取可信信息？

我们如何帮助构建社区，形成集体身份感，使大家都投入于相互通报信息，每个人都能访问并评估数字世界中信息的质量？

数字环境接入

沙拉尔·塔哈先生：主席先生，尽管已做出许多努力提升数字素养，但并非所有新加坡人都能平等获得数字设备或具备数字素养。疫情扩大了数字拥有者与数字缺乏者之间的差距。除了具备基本技能，个人还必须拥有设备、网络和持续沉浸于数字环境的目的。

信息通信媒体发展部如何帮助弱势群体、低收入家庭和青年获得所需数字技能？我们是否做得足够，防止这些不幸家庭被落下？

缩小数字鸿沟

萨克提安迪·苏帕特先生（碧山-大巴窑）：主席先生，疫情使互联网成为获取教育、就业和健康等关键领域机会的生活工具。许多国家都在应对数字鸿沟，新加坡也不例外。部委将推出哪些新政策以缩小这一鸿沟，减少对未来世代的影响？

为更好支持租赁家庭，我举美国“ConnectHome”计划为例。该计划为低收入住房提供负担得起的宽带接入、技术培训、数字素养课程及教育和就业相关内容。这是一个综合性数字包容计划，超越了仅允许居民申请设备和补贴。

为帮助自由职业者和居家工作的员工，我们是否可以探索某种税收抵免，个人报税时可享受，或对为员工支付宽带费用的雇主给予税收减免？

下午4点30分

疫情前，人们可在社区空间如图书馆和学校使用宽带设施，但现在这些选项被不鼓励。我敦促部委做更多工作，确保每户家庭在家中都能接入优质数字连接。

以公民为中心与准备就绪

陈佩玲女士：先生，配合我们的智慧国计划，我们的数字转型努力最终是为了提升新加坡人的生活。但我们不能无意中制造新的不平等，或加剧现有差距，即能接触并利用新数字技术的人与不能的人之间的差距。

据报道，去年已有超过16,000名长者受益于IMDA的“长者数字化”计划。我很高兴该计划对感到数字化加速带来疏离感的长者有益且受欢迎。帮助长者启程并拥抱数字化，缓解了因安全距离措施带来的孤立感，使他们能继续过上更积极、知情和充实的生活。

令人欣慰的是，青年团等志愿者团体帮助长者掌握数字技能，ST工程等企业捐款支持“长者移动接入”和为低收入学生及残障人士提供的“NEU PC Plus”计划。除了提供设备，帮助他们有效且明智地使用数字工具也很重要。

在这方面，我想请部委更新过去几个月在各项计划上所做的努力进展，帮助新加坡人跟上国家数字化步伐。特别是，采取了哪些措施弥合数字鸿沟，确保弱势群体不会因缺乏意识和资源而被遗漏？

最后，我还想问政府，在开发数字服务以满足民众需求时，有何计划更多地与新加坡人互动？已做了什么，将做什么，确保政府服务和信息以以公民为中心的方式传递？

因此，我们需要加倍努力，帮助每个人在数字化旅程中前进。在推进数字化的同时，重要的是不让任何人落后，确保我们朝着同一方向、作为一个整体前进。

母语沟通

先生，新冠疫情凸显了危机和潜在混乱时期公共服务信息传递的速度和准确性的重要性。仍有一部分长者不懂英语，因此用母语传递信息很重要。

政府采取了哪些措施，确保只能理解母语的人能够以他们能理解的方式接收政府信息？

对于文盲长者，政府计划如何通过电子方式与他们沟通？或许通过语音信息？

我们现在干预至关重要，不能让这部分新加坡人成为被快速数字化进程所掩盖的“数字弃儿”。

主席：维克拉姆·奈尔先生不在。梁荣华先生。

政府沟通

梁荣华先生：先生，保持新加坡人知情和参与的工作发生了巨大变化。除了传统的线下渠道，政府沟通中线上和数字渠道的使用日益增加，预计未来几年使用比例将呈指数增长。

同时，我们的生活也变得复杂且快速变化，需要新的方法和更有效的方式接触新加坡人。我们也需关注群体间的多样化需求，因此需要保持多种策略。

我想了解政府沟通向不同需求群体转型的最新情况。

司徒义彬先生：主席先生，新冠疫情促使我们重新思考信息传播方式，尤其是政府沟通。

需要确保所有新加坡人都能及时获得准确、相关且易于理解的信息，满足多样化需求。

在利用数字手段沟通时，政府如何确保考虑到不同需求，如年龄层、语言障碍或数字素养水平？

反过来，同样重要的是，这些数字渠道也应可供接收关于政府政策的宝贵基层反馈。政府与新加坡人之间的双向沟通一直是政策制定的基石，即使在转型政府沟通时也需保持。

因此，我邀请部长向议会分享部委在政府沟通转型方面的计划，以覆盖所有多样化需求群体。

与多样化需求群体互动

黄俊贤先生：主席，最后一点，数字沟通预计将成为人与人、政府与私营部门之间的主要互动方式。随着数字广泛应用，政府需要找到多种方法与多样化需求群体互动。部长能否分享部委的计划，确保能通过各种数字平台覆盖尽可能多的新加坡人和居民？

如何协助并覆盖可能缺乏数字技能、相关软件硬件（如网络连接、设备和合适软件）访问的弱势群体？除了英语，政府是否计划在所有平台上进一步加强以马来语、中文和泰米尔语这三种官方语言与新加坡人的数字互动？

主席：易华仁部长。

通讯及资讯部长（施经纬先生）：谢谢您，主席先生。首先，我要感谢所有发言的议员提出的问题和建议；有些议员怀念过去写信和笔友的时代，最重要的是感谢大家对通讯及资讯部工作的积极关注和支持。

主席先生，过去一年，我们的学校、工作场所、家庭和生活都经历了断裂和中断。在许多方面，这是一段深刻的学习、调整和适应的时期。2020年，数字化转型经历了数年才发生的变化，却在几个月内完成。

数字化已成为常态。数字技术可以成为深远且持久的积极力量。我们大多数人都有亲身体验——家庭与亲人保持联系，学生和教师参与虚拟课程，员工在家工作，企业和客户在线交易。

但正如几位议员所指出，更大的数字足迹也意味着新的和日益增长的风险，如网络攻击、数据泄露、错误信息的快速传播和网络欺凌。

在此背景下，我的部致力于建设一个安全、包容和繁荣的数字未来，让我们的公民和企业能够充分利用数字技术的好处，同时防范相关风险。

我们设想的数字未来基于具有竞争力的企业，这些企业利用数字技术进行创新和发展；一个包容的社会，每个成员都能实现全球化和数字化的利益；安全可靠的数字空间，免受恶意行为者和网络危害的侵害；健全的数字基础设施和适用的法规；以及与社区和企业伙伴的紧密合作。

在回应议员提出的各种问题时，我的同事资政沈颖和资政陈振声将详细介绍通讯及资讯部为实现这一愿景所做的工作。

让我先谈谈我们如何支持企业进行数字化转型。

受新冠疫情推动，许多传统实体店转向线上线下混合模式，以吸引和交易消费者。

位于武吉士的香氛零售商Scent by SIX，在“中断期”期间通过中小企业数字化计划采用了电子商务解决方案。其数字营销成效显著，收入增长了25%，其中60%来自线上。创始人Jason现正探索将增强现实技术与社交媒体和店内购物结合，打造全渠道体验。Scent by SIX的经历并非个例。

梁荣华议员和黄俊伟议员询问了帮助企业数字化转型计划的进展。

截至目前，已有超过63,000家中小企业在2017年启动的中小企业数字化计划支持下采用了数字解决方案。事实上，仅去年和2020年就有约40,000家企业加入。通过“成长数字化”计划，至少有2,000家企业通过电子商务平台进入海外市场。超过1,000家企业向中小企业数字科技中心寻求建议，现有超过35,000家企业注册电子发票，而一年前仅有1,000家。

因此，数字化的数字在增长，我们必须在此基础上继续努力，让更多企业及其员工享受数字化带来的好处。

田佩玲议员、玛丽亚姆·贾法尔议员、蔡恩铭议员和司徒义斌议员询问政府如何帮助企业数字化转型并释放经济价值。

通讯及资讯部和资讯通信媒体发展局将加大力度，扩大和深化中小企业的数字覆盖。我们将支持企业在各个成长阶段，从创业到扩展，抓住机遇，实现新兴技术和数据的潜力。

例如，许多中小企业领导者需要帮助制定符合其需求的数字化计划。因此，资讯通信媒体发展局将在今年晚些时候推出“首席技术官即服务”计划。

“首席技术官即服务”计划将包括一个一站式自助网络应用，供中小企业评估其数字需求和差距。中小企业随后可根据公司资料获得定制的数字解决方案建议及政府支持信息。

需要更深入建议的中小企业可利用共享的首席技术官等同人员或数字顾问资源，这些专家在数据分析、网络安全和人工智能等领域拥有专业知识。他们将提供数字咨询和项目管理服务，不仅识别需求和解决方案，还管理项目实施。因此，当玛丽亚姆·贾法尔议员谈到在数字化旅程中与中小企业合作时，这些措施正是我们认为能促进该过程的方式。

我想向沙拉尔·塔哈议员保证，所有注册的中小企业，包括以个体经营形式的家庭企业，都能访问这些数字资源。

[副议长（克里斯托弗·德索萨先生）主持]

除了这种广泛的方法，我们还希望通过更全面的数字化转型，提升准备好的企业的表现高峰。

在这方面，田佩玲议员关于培养下一批数字领导企业的问题，以及任俊伟议员关于加强我们全球竞争优势的提问，非常切合实际。

我们推出的新数字领导者计划（DLP）旨在为企业提供能力和人才，加速其数字化转型之路。该计划将对符合条件的费用提供高达70%的支持，帮助企业组建核心数字团队，制定和执行数字化战略。它还将连接企业与技术合作伙伴，共同开发新数字产品和服务，更好地帮助企业在国际市场竞争。

数字领导者计划初期将支持多达80家公司，优先考虑数字化进程较先进、管理团队致力于推动数字转型以实现持续增长的企业。该计划由资讯通信媒体发展局管理，与新加坡企业发展局及其他经济机构合作。

下午4时45分

针对田佩玲议员关于支持本地企业的问题，资讯通信媒体发展局的Accreditation@SGD计划认可有潜力和创新的本地科技公司，其产品在政府信息通信技术采购中优先考虑。2019年，资讯通信媒体发展局与新加坡网络安全局推出了Accreditation计划下的SecureTech轨道，帮助本地网络安全项目更好地进入政府项目。通讯及资讯部将继续研究如何提升本地企业竞争力，包括田佩玲议员提出的多项建议。

随着更多企业数字化，更多交易在线进行，数据的数量和价值也将同步增长。正如田佩玲议员和谢家辉议员所指出，数据能提供宝贵洞见，提升企业效率，改善消费者产品和服务。

然而，我们也认识到另一面。随着数据收集增多，数据泄露风险也增加。如果数据使用不负责任，信任可能被侵蚀甚至破坏。因此，我们必须谨慎平衡。一方面，必须给予个人数据和隐私应有的保护；另一方面，企业有空间负责任地利用数据促进增长和创新。

为帮助企业更好地利用数据，更好地服务客户，资讯通信媒体发展局将推出“更佳数据驱动业务”计划（BDDB）。该计划将为企业，尤其是中小企业，提供免费工具和指导，帮助其负责任地使用数据推动业务增长。该计划还将提供免费商业智能工具，将原始数据转化为可视化仪表盘，辅助业务成果，如提升销售和运营效率。它还将通过精选资源（如案例研究和视频）支持更高级的数据应用，如研发和创新。

我们也在加强企业对其处理的个人数据的责任，这是克里斯托弗·德索萨议员提出的问题。最近修订的《个人数据保护法》设有规则和处罚框架，激励组织采取积极措施减少和管理数据泄露。除此之外，新加坡个人数据保护委员会（PDPC）发布了指导方针，组织可采用以建立负责任的治理实践。

数据保护信托标志（Data Protection Trust Mark）也使企业能够展示良好的数据实践，消费者则可据此辨别。最终，我们需要培养良好的数据治理文化——使用和实践——这不仅依赖法规或处罚，还需教育和行业分享最佳实践。

除了加大帮助企业数字化的力度，我们还必须继续寻找技术解决方案，推动下一阶段经济增长，加强我们作为数字创新枢纽的地位。5G是关键，它将成为我们的数字基础设施骨干。到明年年底，新加坡将实现至少50%的5G独立户外覆盖，2025年底实现全国覆盖。

杰西卡·陈议员询问如何确保消费者和企业从5G部署中受益。关键是构建支持创新和试验新解决方案的生态系统。这不仅是提供基础设施，更是催化解决方案提供者、服务提供者和终端用户之间的合作，形成经过验证的应用案例。资讯通信媒体发展局将通过PIXEL、5G生活实验室和开放创新平台等设施促进此类试验。

根据2025年研究、创新与企业计划（RIE2025），通讯及资讯部将与合作机构共同推动知识产权的共创和商业化，促进研究机构与企业间的能力转移。

翻译将是RIE2025的重点，通讯及资讯部将与合作机构合作，推动知识产权的共创和商业化，同时促进研究机构与企业间的能力转移，实现公共部门研发与私营部门价值创造的良性互动。这是我们构建本地数字创新生态系统的方式，正如德索萨议员所提。

我们希望进一步推动自下而上的数字创新。资讯通信媒体发展局于2018年推出开放创新平台（OIP），通过众包方式将企业挑战需求与创新解决方案供给匹配。该平台已发展成拥有超过10,000名注册用户的活跃生态系统，发布了190多个挑战，成功开发了60多个解决方案。

未来五年，我们将投资5,000万新元提升该平台能力，帮助更多企业获取创新解决方案，加速数字创新大规模部署。资讯通信媒体发展局还将共同资助匹配挑战的原型开发，帮助创新科技公司拓展市场。

主席先生，尽管我们追求这些激动人心的机遇，但必须关注成熟工人、长者以及青年和应届毕业生对数字化加速的现实担忧。他们担心自己在数字未来中是否有立足之地，尤其是没有技术背景或不倾向于工程和软件开发的人。

沙拉尔·塔哈议员提出类似问题，询问如何进一步支持成熟工人或无信息通信技术背景者进入科技行业。主席先生，我们正加大力度为新加坡人创造优质就业机会，提升劳动力数字技能。根据“新加坡团结就业与技能计划”，截至去年底，信息通信行业有超过18,000个岗位机会，其中超过10,000个为职位空缺，超越了单纯的培训和学徒制。

自2016年以来，超过8,000名新加坡人，从应届毕业生到中年专业人士，通过科技技能加速器（TeSA）计划获得优质信息通信技术岗位。

我曾见过Nurul Baizura，一名兼职本科生，她被选中参加谷歌的Skills Ignition SG计划。她之前在一家数据存储公司工作，负责网络基础设施和补丁管理。如今，她学习全新领域的云技术，热衷于担任云工程师。

去年，我们还推出了TeSA中年进阶计划，培训并帮助40至50岁的工人转型进入科技岗位。我最近见过Ganapathi，他是中年项目经理，之前在教育行业。尽管缺乏技术专长，Gana于2020年加入了与我们的科技公司合作伙伴NCS的计划，正朝着成为应用顾问的方向努力。

我们将继续扩大TeSA计划，培养更多本地人才，涵盖数字营销及产品和软件开发等技术密集岗位。这些计划将为像Nurul和Gana这样的新加坡人提供更多职业发展机会，遍及整个经济领域。

多位议员强调吸引人才进入这一人才短缺行业的重要性。这是全球性挑战。在投资本地人才培养、培育未来科技领导者的同时，我们也必须确保能够吸引全球优质人才，合理补充，以支持整体发展。这是确保我们持续作为数字创新枢纽的关键。

在这方面，不仅是通讯及资讯部，整个经济机构乃至更广泛的政府部门都在开展全政府努力，吸引海外新加坡人才及其他人才，促使他们与本地大型和中型企业合作，共同推动新加坡数字生态系统的发展。

杰西卡·陈议员和田佩玲议员强调雇主必须利用STEM领域女性人才库。我完全同意。通讯及资讯部旨在扩大信息通信技术人才储备，包括吸引更多女性加入该行业。

资讯通信媒体发展局于2019年与社区和行业伙伴合作，推出“新加坡女性科技计划”，鼓励更多女性探索科技职业。该运动已取得良好势头，活动和事件覆盖超过117,000人次，如SG100女性科技活动。

迹象令人鼓舞。2017年，本地大学信息技术课程的女性入学比例为28%，2019年升至35%。势头良好，信息正在传递。我们确实需要借助女性科技领袖的力量，包括杰西卡·陈女士、洪燕女士及本院内外的许多其他人士，传播这一信息，鼓励更多女性考虑科技职业。

更广泛地说，我们希望所有新加坡人都能有意义且安全地参与线上互动。这就是为什么我们于去年6月成立了新加坡数字办公室，并推出了小贩和长者数字化计划。迄今为止，约有10,000名小贩（基数约为18,000名）和摊主采用了电子支付解决方案。从2020年6月至今，交易量和交易额增长了四倍。

郑丽慧议员和林淑仪议员询问了长者数字化计划的影响。新加坡数字办公室已培训约69,000名长者掌握数字技能及网络风险防范措施。但我要强调，并回应林淑仪议员的观点，这不仅仅是数字问题。数字固然重要，因为我们确实需要规模，但更重要的是技能。我们希望赋予长者信心和舒适感，能够驾驭技术，利用技术改善生活。

正如议员和其他人所理解的，这并非易事，但我们全力以赴，这是一段充满回报的旅程，但必须付出努力。我们欢迎议员或其他人提出任何建议，进一步强化信息传递及其对长者社区的影响。

资政沈颖将进一步阐述环境与社会治理局、资讯通信媒体发展局及其他政府机构在基层工作的相关工作。

我们的长者、小贩和基层商店是优秀的榜样。他们证明，无论年轻或年长，规模大小，无论背景如何，只要有正确的心态和积极精神，我们都能完成数字转型。

我们的图书馆在培养所有新加坡人探索和学习的精神方面发挥着关键作用。苏涵怡女士和蔡恩铭议员询问我们的图书馆如何在数字化世界中保持相关性。近年来，尤其是过去一年，国家图书馆局扩大了数字资源和藏书，引入了儿童数字故事讲述，并为各年龄层包括长者举办了线上活动。

新加坡国家图书馆局（NLB）制作了关于大流行病等主题的学习包，提供了数字报纸的家庭访问权限，并举办了一系列涵盖网络安全到健康与保健等主题的网络研讨会。因此，自去年四月以来，电子数据库的使用量增长了145%，数字借阅量增长了32%。

从长远来看，NLB将继续探索为所有新加坡人提供阅读和终身学习机会的新途径，培养知情的公民。

基于公众反馈和自身经验，NLB制定了《图书馆与档案蓝图2021-2025》，以重新构想未来图书馆和档案馆的服务模式。我们现有的资源非常宝贵，已根据消费者需求进行了适应和创新。现在，我们正在展望下一阶段，思考我们的图书馆如何继续随着需求和时代的发展而演变。高级国务部长沈颖女士将提供更多细节。

与NLB类似，随着更多互动转向数字空间，个人和企业将面临更多风险和网络危害。因此，确保我们的数字空间安全可靠，保护网络社区成员免受恶意行为者和其他危害的侵害，是我们的责任。

Christopher de Souza先生、Jessica Tan女士和Alex Yam先生询问我们如何保护关键系统免受复杂威胁和运营中断的影响。

下午5时

[议长主持]

我们的数字系统安全至关重要，因为它们是数字经济的基础。因此，我们将尽最大努力奠定坚实的数字基础——建设安全且有韧性的通信基础设施，以及制定健全且适用的立法。我们还将继续保护我们的数字空间，防止恶意威胁行为者造成的伤害，保障人民安全。

议员们应记得去年十二月曝光的SolarWinds网络攻击事件，该事件影响了约18,000个组织，包括美国政府机构和财富500强公司。

此类事件提醒我们，网络威胁是真实存在的，跨越国界且不断演变。为了享受数字化带来的好处，我们必须时刻警惕网络风险，并持续不断地加强我们的网络安全态势。高级国务部长Janil将进一步阐述。

为了建立网络空间的信任，我们还必须确保对可能伤害个人并分裂社会的有害网络内容进行防范。

我们的监管和公众教育工作帮助新加坡人应对网络上的潜在危险，如错误信息。但威胁不断变化。信息通信媒体发展局（MCI）和内政部（MHA）因此正在研究如何加强监管，以应对严重的网络危害及其对社会的现实影响。我们将在适当时候分享研究结果和建议。

最终，抵御错误信息的第一道防线是一个知情的公民群体，他们能及时从可靠来源获得准确的信息。

Seah Kian Peng先生、Sitoh Yih Pin先生、Liang Eng Hwa先生和Don Wee先生询问本部如何确保不同需求群体能够获取可靠信息。

这一直是我们抗击新冠疫情的首要传播挑战。我们的重点是通过利用传统和新兴数字平台，扩大和深化政府传播的覆盖面，确保所有群体了解疫情的关键进展、为何采取某些措施以及他们如何发挥作用，保护所有新加坡人的健康与安全。

主流媒体在这场全国性努力中发挥了重要作用。此外，Gov.sg平台扩展至包括Telegram、Instagram和TikTok在内的10个平台，目前这些平台的订阅者超过250万。Gov.sg的WhatsApp频道订阅者从2020年1月的7,000人激增至现在的120万人。我们还与人民协会和银发世代办公室合作，开展面对面宣传，帮助那些可能无法接触或使用数字媒体的人群。

这些传播工作获得了良好反响。REACH进行的民调显示，超过八成新加坡人对政府提供的新冠疫情信息表示满意。

在抗击疫情的下一阶段，我们启动了VacciNationSG运动，旨在提高疫苗接种计划的认知，纠正误解，揭穿错误信息并动员行动。高级国务部长沈颖女士将详细介绍我们的努力，包括使用多种语言和渠道，使信息惠及社会各阶层。

与业界、社区及新加坡同胞的合作，是我们克服疫情挑战并实现更强复苏的基石。

业界合作伙伴积极采取措施，重塑经济结构，创造新机遇。在科技技能加速器（TeSA）计划下，谷歌、微软、IBM、新电信、Sea和Grab等公司承诺创造超过5,000个技术和信息通信技术领域的就业及技能机会。

我们的社区伙伴和公民也自发组织起来，支持有需要的新加坡人。非营利组织Engineering Good从社区收集笔记本电脑，帮助弱势学生在居家隔离期间获取学习资源。

随着我们迈向数字未来，与利益相关者的此类合作将更加重要，确保新出现的更复杂挑战不会阻碍我们充分把握数字机遇。

Shahira Abdullah博士和Shawn Huang先生询问我们如何与利益相关者合作，推动自下而上的倡议，促进数字包容社会。这一诉求也在“更强复兴对话”中得到体现，数字化的影响及如何利用技术实现更好的社会成果是讨论最热烈的话题之一。

为此，上个月，哈莉玛·雅各布总统在2021年总统挑战活动中启动了“数字生活”运动。通过这一全国性运动，我们希望鼓励并支持自下而上的努力，共同创造解决方案，使所有新加坡人都能受益于数字技术。

该运动是更广泛的国家努力的一部分，旨在汇聚民众、私营和公共部门力量，促进所有新加坡人的数字技能、数字健康和数字接入。我们还设立了“数字生活基金”，支持有助于实现该运动目标的项目。目标是在未来三年内将基金规模扩大至1,000万新元。所有现金捐款将由政府一比一配捐。

我们邀请所有希望为新加坡人的数字成长和健康做出贡献的人士加入我们的行列。高级国务部长沈颖女士将进一步阐述。

主席先生，我想总结时强调政府坚定致力于为所有新加坡人建设一个安全、包容且繁荣的数字未来。我的部将通过投资基础设施、推动研究和数字创新、为企业提供数字工具以及支持新加坡人学习、提升技能和保持信息通畅，为这一数字未来奠定坚实基础。

在与社区和商业利益相关者合作的过程中，我坚信我们有能力建设一个共享的数字未来，让每位新加坡人都有其位置。

通讯与信息高级国务部长（Dr Janil Puthucheary） ：主席先生，感谢各位议员的发言和提问，我希望在回应中解答其中几位议员的问题，特别是Jessica Tan女士、Alex Yam先生、Seah Kian Peng先生、谢耀权先生和Christopher de Souza先生的提问。

数字空间深刻影响了我们的日常生活，这种变革效应将持续一段时间。对许多新加坡人来说，数字化意味着更多便利、更高效率和更多选择。

随着我们在线活动的增加，网络攻击、网络诈骗和数据泄露的风险也随之上升。我们需要安全可靠的数字空间。我们需要网络环境成为助力，使人民能够从数字时代的机遇中受益。

今天，我将重点介绍我们如何发展网络安全与安全——这是我们数字化计划的坚实基础。

我们的策略必须涵盖基础设施建设、法规和合作伙伴关系等广泛领域。我们需要解决各种问题，使我们的企业和人民能够信任数字系统，这些系统对我们的生活至关重要。

除了保障之外，我们希望人们能够主动行动，获得赋能，掌控自己的网络安全，自信地拥抱数字时代。

坚实的基础依赖于强健的数字基础设施。我们过去在基础设施上的投资，最近使员工在疫情期间能够相对轻松地转为远程办公，学生也能参加在线课程。

展望未来，我们需要世界级、安全且有韧性的5G网络。因此，全国5G网络采用独立组网（Standalone）成为政策重点——从端到端全程采用5G独立网络。5G独立组网释放了全部功能，包括网络切片和超可靠低延迟通信，这些对云游戏和智能工厂等应用至关重要。

5G部署已启动，到明年年底，我们将实现至少50%的5G独立组网户外覆盖。全国范围的5G独立组网覆盖将于2025年底实现。

然而，仅有强健的数字基础设施并不能保证空间安全可靠。强有力的监管体系和保持相关性、适应技术演变的策略同样关键。

数据是用于指导商业决策的重要资源，也是人工智能等新兴技术的动力。

个人数据需要强有力的保护和问责，但我们必须取得平衡。过度强调商业创新可能损害消费者保护、隐私和信任；反之，过于狭隘地追求消费者利益可能阻碍商业发展，公众最终可能遭受服务质量下降和成本上升的影响。因此，我们的坚实基础还需灵活且精准。

我们最近修订了《个人数据保护法》（PDPA）。例如，您可能订阅了某网店的邮件列表，因此可以根据您的浏览历史或过往交易收到定制推荐。这对您作为消费者来说是好处，因为您分享了数据。

根据修订后的PDPA，如果发生可能对受影响个人造成重大伤害的数据泄露，网店必须直接通知您，以便您及时采取主动措施保护数据，如更改密码。如果您选择退订邮件列表，网店需在合理期限内将您的信息从列表中删除并停止发送推荐。因此，修订后企业需遵守更高标准，实行更透明和负责任的做法。

与数据类似，电子交易也是全球经济的核心。为支持更广泛的数字化，议会今年通过了《电子交易法》修正案，采纳了联合国国际贸易法委员会（UNCITRAL）的《电子可转让记录示范法》。航运、物流和金融等行业将因此受益于比纸质交易更快、更安全的电子交易。我们预计这将带来效率、生产力提升及成本节约。

数字化推进带来的一个担忧是网络诈骗的增加。在新加坡，最常见的诈骗类型与电子商务相关，2019年以来增长了近20%。去年，诈骗受害者总损失超过2亿新元。

我们对此高度重视——这是公众关切的问题，侵蚀了他们对在线交易和活动的信任——我们正在政府内部协同应对这些诈骗。

例如，我们要求电信公司对所有来电显示“+”符号，表示海外来电。信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）也要求电信公司增强阻断常见伪装号码来电的能力。去年第四季度，共阻断了2,800万次疑似诈骗电话。

然而，网络空间动态多变，诈骗者行为不断演变，现有阻断海外诈骗电话的措施永远无法万无一失。如今，没有任何电信公司能绝对确定某来电是否为诈骗。

因此，IMDA正与电信公司合作，在其网络中构建新的分析能力，更好地识别并阻断伪装成本地号码的来电，同时不阻断合法电话。这些措施与内政部在打击诈骗方面的更广泛策略相契合。我们将通过跨部委反诈骗委员会继续密切合作。

网络安全威胁数量和复杂度均在增长。各位刚才听到关于SolarWinds事件的介绍。这次网络攻击破坏了广泛使用的网络管理软件，影响了全球主要企业和政府。该软件被信任且拥有内部网络的特权访问权限。这是一场高度复杂的攻击，数月未被发现。

在本地，新电信报告称，由于其使用的第三方文件共享系统FTA遭受攻击，一些文件被窃取。

新加坡人关心我们的系统是否安全，我们也同样关心。敏感信息必须得到充分保护。随着更多活动在线进行，公众必须信任我们用于存储、收集和传输信息的数字系统。现实是，我们无法阻止所有网络攻击——恶意行为者只需利用一个漏洞即可攻破系统，而防御者必须全天候保护系统免受所有威胁。因此，持续且有意识地加强网络安全至关重要。

下午5时15分

许多关键服务如银行和医疗依赖信息通信技术。这些系统称为关键资讯基础设施（CII）。根据《网络安全法》，所有CII所有者必须维持强制的网络安全水平。但我们也认识到，大多数组织包括CII所有者都会聘用供应商支持运营。因此，我们还需管理供应链中的网络安全风险。为此，CII所有者需更好地了解其供应商，以识别系统性风险并提升供应商的网络卫生水平。

为此，我们正在开发CII供应链计划——这是一项涵盖所有利益相关者的合作计划，包括新加坡网络安全局（CSA）、CII所有者及其供应商。该计划将为所有利益相关者提供管理供应链网络安全风险的推荐流程和良好实践。通过与利益相关者的讨论，也将帮助政府完善供应链安全政策。长期来看，CII行业及其企业还需采用零信任网络安全策略。这种思维转变对于防御高度复杂的供应链攻击（如SolarWinds事件背后的攻击者）至关重要。

具体而言，CII所有者不应无条件信任其网络中的数字活动，必须进行验证。他们还应持续进行身份认证，及时检测异常，并在网络分段间验证交易。这项工作将持续进行，且未来将更加复杂。因此，网络安全必须成为集体努力，是数字时代我们生活的核心部分——融入我们使用的产品和在线行为中。

随着更多企业数字化，我们面临的网络威胁也同步增长。针对企业的网络攻击对更广泛的经济影响深远。因此，作为“更安全网络空间”总体规划的一部分，CSA将推出“新加坡网络安全信任计划”，支持企业加强网络安全。该计划包括两部分。

首先，我们将为关键岗位提供信息资源和教育材料，包括高管、网络安全团队和一线员工，内容基于其具体角色和知识需求。我们需要通过内部培训转变态度，提高网络安全意识。

其次，我们将推出自愿参与的“新加坡网络安全信任标志”，为在网络安全方面投入适当且显著的企业提供认可。这意味着，作为消费者或寻求人力资源处理服务的企业客户，您可以通过该标志获得额外保障，确认服务提供商重视网络安全。CSA将于今年四月开始与利益相关者就该标志的具体内容进行沟通。

我们的网络安全人才基础是这些努力的关键推动力，我们正与业界合作伙伴和政府机构紧密合作，培养和壮大我们的网络安全劳动力。

首先，为满足近期需求，我们通过IMDA的“技术技能加速器”等项目，促进网络安全专业人员以及新入职和中期职业转型的非网络安全专业人员的培训和技能提升，以胜任网络安全岗位。

其次，为加强长期的人才储备，我们通过“新加坡网络人才”等网络推广活动，鼓励青年投身该领域。迄今为止，我们已吸引超过7,000名参与者。

第三，为培养世界级的网络安全领导者，我们启动了“新加坡网络领导者”计划，打造一个当前及未来网络领导者交流思想、学习全球最佳实践的社区。

我们每个人都需要发挥作用，共同营造一个更安全、更可靠的网络空间。作为个人，我们可以启用双因素认证，及时更新软件，选择短语密码而非简单密码，并保持警惕，识别网络钓鱼的迹象。但作为国家，我们的努力更具全球视野。新加坡积极参与国际讨论，制定并实施符合我们利益的网络行为规范。

鉴于网络威胁具有全球性和跨境性，我们正与联合国及东盟等国际伙伴密切合作，制定并实施负责任国家行为的网络规范。例如，我们正在制定一份实施清单，列出各国可采取的具体行动以落实网络规范。这项工作有助于构建基于规则的多边网络秩序，为所有国家，无论大小，提供信心、可预见性和稳定性，这对经济发展、就业创造和技术应用至关重要。

在人工智能治理方面，新加坡采取开放协作的方式管理人工智能的使用，既保障消费者利益，又促进创新。我们于2020年发布了第二版《人工智能治理模型框架》，吸纳了国际和本地各行业公司的反馈和案例，回应了第一版框架。该框架将以人为本等关键伦理原则转化为切实可行的措施，符合我们的国家人工智能战略。

最终，我们奠定坚实基础，使人民能够展望未来，充分享受数字经济的红利。我们将保持开放，与全球经济深度融合，助力企业最大化海外机遇。

尽管现有贸易协定满足传统货物和服务贸易需求，我们认识到支持跨境数字交易（如电子发票、数据流动、数字身份）需要新的规范和规则。因此，新加坡率先推动数字经济协定（DEA），基于现有网络和举措。这些协定促进无缝端到端数字贸易，实现可信数据流动，增强数字系统信任。

除这些数字经济协定外，企业还可期待进一步支持，实现数据跨境安全无缝传输。在区域层面，新加坡主导制定了东盟模型合同条款，可纳入具有法律约束力的个人数据跨境传输合同条款。我们还主导制定了东盟数据管理框架，指导企业建立具备适当数据保护措施的数据管理体系。借助这些现成且灵活的个人数据传输模板，东盟市场的企业可缩短数据流动合同谈判时间。

总之，主席先生，我们在数字化方面的成功也暴露了新的脆弱性。随着技术演进和复杂化，这些脆弱性只会增加。数字系统的信任是数字经济成功的关键。没有交易和创新的信任，我们发展数字生态系统、收获红利、创造机会的努力将难以实现。

我所描述的坚实基础将加强我们抵御网络威胁的防御，支持我们成长所需的信任。但这还不够。我们需要企业和民众意识到风险，警惕风险表现，并做出明智选择以保护安全。我们能够且必须让网络空间更安全、更可信，从而为所有人创造更多机会。

通讯及资讯高级国务部长（沈颖女士）：主席先生，过去一年充满挑战，我们都更加重视保持联系的重要性。数字化在我们实施安全距离措施时发挥了关键作用，使我们能够保持联系。我们正在作为一个社会进行数字转型，但必须确保转型具有包容性。我将阐述实现这一目标的四大战略。

首先，我们知道并非所有新加坡人在数字旅程中进展速度相同。无论起点如何，政府和主要利益相关者都会提供必要资源支持。第二，我们将与利益相关者建立强有力的伙伴关系。第三，我们将持续改善最后一公里的交付基础设施。第四，我们将加强沟通工作，使可信信息惠及所有人。

让我先谈谈我们如何推进包容性数字化，先从小型企业说起，回应陈佩玲女士、沙拉尔·塔哈先生和郑兴耀先生的提问。

我们加大力度帮助小企业，包括组屋区的小商店，通过“心邻数码”计划采用简单数字解决方案。劳燕玲国务部长和我共同主持“心邻数字化与振兴委员会”，她此前已介绍该委员会如何结合企业独特情况，帮助心邻企业跟上数字化步伐。

在“摊贩数码”计划下，我们根据摊主反馈持续改进。例如，IMDA和新加坡数字办公室正与NETS合作，优化NETSBiz手机应用，增加更大字体、颜色使用和明显音频提醒等功能，方便忙碌的摊主跟踪支付交易。

蔡恩华先生、沙基安迪·苏帕特先生、谢健鹏先生和莎希拉·阿卜杜拉博士询问了确保低收入家庭不落后于数字未来的努力。

新加坡是高度互联的社会，98%的家庭拥有宽带接入和互联网设备，如电脑或智能手机。我们认识到低收入家庭和弱势群体可能需要更多帮助。

资讯通信媒体发展局（IMDA）工作的核心是帮助他们获得数字工具，保持与社会的联系。去年，IMDA的“家庭接入”和“NEU PC Plus”计划为低收入家庭补贴数字连接，惠及20,000个家庭。2020年，这两项计划得到加强，提供更快的宽带速度和更多设备组合选项，包括为有上学儿童的大家庭提供第二台补贴笔记本电脑，以应对COVID-19。我们简化了受ComCare支持家庭的申请流程，方便他们参与计划。

IMDA正努力在未来几个月自动将组屋公共租赁计划受益者纳入“家庭接入”计划。MCI也与教育部密切合作，解决学生的数字接入和素养需求。

我很高兴向林瑞莲女士更新，自去年启动“低收入长者手机接入”计划以来，已有超过6,400名长者受益于补贴智能手机和移动数据计划。

我们的第二大战略是建立强有力的伙伴关系。社区中越来越多的人希望贡献力量，支持同胞。我去年11月主持了一场关于数字准备的“强韧对话”，60名参与者就弱势群体面临的数字采纳挑战进行了深入讨论。

许多人询问社会如何帮助缩小数字鸿沟。正是基于这些及类似的集体行动呼吁，我们上个月启动了“数字生活”运动，伊斯瓦兰部长也提及该运动。该运动支持促进数字技术和包容性、数字素养与健康的社区活动。它将成为企业、社区和政府机构志同道合者的平台，利用他们的技能、经验和专长，帮助需要额外支持的人群，建设包容、安全、可靠的数字空间。政府将赋能并支持他们，催化有意义的变革。

我特别关注的一个项目是保护妇女和青少年免受网络伤害。作为国会议员，我曾接到受困妇女及其亲友的求助，因为她们的私密照片未经同意被上传网络。我也听到令人不安的故事，讲述青少年遭受骚扰，收到不请自来的猥亵图片，有些甚至将此视为“正常”。纳迪亚·艾哈迈德·桑丁女士也提出了保护青少年，尤其是年轻女孩的同样关切。

我上周与一些社区伙伴会面，讨论如何应对此类网络伤害，减轻其对现实生活的影响。这些伙伴表现出强烈兴趣，愿意开展更有影响力的公共教育和资源支持，帮助潜在受害者，并提出政策建议，营造更安全的网络空间，保护妇女和女孩，当然也包括男性和男孩。

这些举措可补充其他措施，如媒体素养理事会的“更好互联网运动”、文化、社区及青年部推动的青少年网络健康工作，以及教育部在学校的相关工作。借助“数字生活”运动，我希望社区能够被赋能，开展对话，协作解决棘手复杂的社会问题。

为了帮助新加坡人掌握数字技能，我们深受喜爱的图书馆正转型为数字学习中心。正如部长所述，国家图书馆局将启动《图书馆与档案蓝图2025》。未来，我们的图书馆将提供增强体验学习的数字服务。感谢郑丽慧女士对图书馆举措的关注和鼓励。芽笼东公共图书馆为长者提供线上公共服务导航的试点项目将进行评估，待结果明朗后决定是否推广。

重新装修的蔡厝港公共图书馆预计今年晚些时候重新开放，将提供鼓励欣赏自然景观和生物多样性的数字服务。增强现实元素将允许读者通过移动设备与精选书籍互动，使内容几乎“活”起来。

上周，我访问了淡滨尼区域图书馆，与学习使用图书馆服务（如电子报纸和国家图书馆局手机应用）的长者交谈。他们赞赏数字大使的亲切指导，随时提供复习帮助。在图书馆的创客空间，各年龄段读者正享受机器人和3D打印等技术的乐趣。国家图书馆局不断丰富的数字产品，真正做到老少皆宜。

正如蔡恩华先生所提，图书馆员的角色将在数字未来演变。他们需整合跨学科知识，考虑社会趋势及人们的学习和信息获取方式。国家图书馆局无法独自完成，将与志愿者及多元兴趣伙伴合作。

我们赞同黄俊文先生和苏慧嫻女士的观点，每位新加坡人都应能使用国家图书馆局资源。因此，国家图书馆局将图书带到合作伙伴场所的阅读角，如社区中心和家庭服务中心。

多年来，国家图书馆局一直支持新加坡监狱服务。去年，国家图书馆局捐赠了7,000多本书，满足囚犯多样化的阅读需求。囚犯还可访问400本电子书。国家图书馆局将继续探索支持服务不足群体的新途径。

梁荣华先生、司徒义彬先生和郑兴耀先生询问了文化、社区及青年部转型邮政行业的计划。这涉及我们的第三大战略——持续投资数字基础设施，使数字经济的利益更易惠及新加坡人。

电子商务已成为我们生活的重要部分。去年，我曾提到将推出全国包裹柜网络，为新加坡人带来便利，提升商家和物流服务商的生产力。IMDA及其子公司Pick已在试点这些包裹柜。近10,000名居民的反馈极为正面，96%同意包裹柜将带来便利，并愿意使用邻里包裹柜站。

71岁的退休人士黄锦炎先生期待包裹柜站。黄先生和妻子网购消费电子和保健品。他担心包裹被遗弃在家门口丢失，故热切希望包裹柜投入使用。谢德华先生会高兴得知，包裹柜网络预计每日可减少44%的配送行驶距离，有助大幅降低碳排放。

Pick计划于4月推出首批最多200个包裹柜站，目标于2021年底实现全国部署。

为应对电子商务增长，惠及消费者和行业，我们今年将审查《邮政服务法》。更多细节稍后公布。

自去年12月起，新加坡邮政在金文泰试点智能信箱系统PostPal，服务约200户居民。居民喜欢通过应用程序查询是否有邮件待取的便利。新加坡邮政邮递员生产力提升了75%。94%的邮件可通过智能信箱的自动分拣功能处理，邮件投递更准确。

这些创新是我们共同努力提升效率、为消费者和居民创造更大价值，同时充分利用技术和数字化的体现。

第四大战略是加强政府沟通工作，使信息惠及不同背景和语言需求的公民。尽管受COVID-19影响，REACH去年仍与超过59,000名新加坡人保持联系。为安全互动，REACH开辟了新渠道，包括在线倾听点和在线对话，如“强韧对话”。封锁期间，REACH的WhatsApp聊天群组全天候保持活跃。

我们建立了多样化平台触达受众。例如，gov.sg已深入社区。约14,000个数字显示屏分布于组屋电梯及电梯厅，使重要政府信息触手可及。我们尽可能以四种官方语言推送内容，涵盖免费电视、广播、报纸和WhatsApp消息等平台。

针对陈佩玲女士的问题，为触达主要使用方言交流的华裔长者，政府关键信息融入了Mediacorp的方言频道节目。我们还与Mediacorp合作，为重要国家活动（如总理COVID-19讲话）提供手语翻译。此外，政府通讯在免费电视和社交媒体渠道上长期采用字幕或隐藏式字幕。

准确且具情境的翻译对有效政府沟通至关重要。去年，文化、社区及青年部推出了两项新翻译举措。第一项是“公民译者”，我们邀请志愿者共同创造最合适的译法。讲马来语和泰米尔语的志愿者表示愿意协助标准化译词，讲中文的志愿者则对后期编辑和审核机器翻译感兴趣。我们期待与公民译者合作，提升政府翻译质量。

第二项是去年10月推出的SG Translate泰米尔语引擎。公务员现可生成四种官方语言的机器翻译。SG Translate网站——“SG Translate Together”将于今年逐步向公众开放。

“长者数码通”网站和TraceTogether手机应用已支持四种官方语言。政府计划于2021年6月前翻译SingPass手机应用。政府致力于翻译更多数字政府服务，方便母语使用者更轻松访问。主席先生，请允许我用普通话继续。

（用普通话）：【请参阅方言发言。】数字化已成为趋势。但一些新加坡人仍对使用数字技术感到犹豫和不安。政府充分理解这些顾虑。为了确保所有新加坡人都能轻松自信地拥抱数字化，我们将继续推出并扩大各项举措，帮助新加坡人掌握数字化工具和技能。

对于企业，部长已宣布我们将推出数字领袖计划和“首席技术官即服务”。这些项目旨在帮助参与企业将数字技术整合到业务中。这样，企业也能在国际舞台上竞争。

在个人层面，政府已在图书馆和社区中心设立面对面接触点，由数字大使帮助数字技能较弱的新加坡人学习数字技能。我们在这些公共教育工作中注重人文关怀。数字大使一直在与长者互动，教导他们如何在网上交易时保护自己，避免成为诈骗受害者，例如使用强密码保护在线账户，不泄露一次性密码以使用数字银行服务。

为了让新加坡在数字化中取得成功，我们需要与新加坡人、社区和企业合作。通过“数字生活运动”，我们将与合作伙伴携手，倡导他们热衷的事业，利用他们的专业知识，帮助弱势新加坡人享受数字化带来的好处。

政府继续优先保证翻译质量。我们已启动“公民译者”计划，邀请志愿者共同创造最合适的翻译方案。公众对此计划的反响令人鼓舞。我们期待与他们合作，提升政府翻译水平。

（用英语）：回到英语，主席先生。数字未来为我们不同群体的公民带来许多机遇。政府将继续与来自民间和私营部门的合作伙伴携手，加强数字生态系统。这样，政府主导的项目和社区倡议可以相辅相成，为新加坡人创造更大价值。我们期待共同打造一个包容且数字化的新加坡。

主席：克里斯托弗·德·索萨先生。

克里斯托弗·德·索萨先生：我感谢部长和两位高级国务部长的深思熟虑的澄清。我特别想问部长，是否认为新冠疫情为新加坡数字化带来了机遇，使我们能够赢得“亚洲硅谷”的声誉，吸引最优秀的数字和科技人才来新加坡，实现规模经济，从而复制甚至超越“亚洲硅谷”的声誉。这是我的第一个澄清问题。

施艾斯华南部长：主席先生，感谢议员的提问。我认为议员所说的“亚洲硅谷”其实是对机遇、支持环境和人才汇聚的简化描述。在这方面，即使在新冠疫情之前，我们已经有一定的动力，推动这种汇聚，创造新加坡及通过新加坡辐射亚洲的科技生态系统繁荣机会。

针对议员的具体问题，我认为新冠疫情反而加速了这一进程。首先，疫情催生了数字创新，以应对疫情带来的挑战，同时也推动了数字技术的大规模采用，人们对更多数字解决方案的需求增加，因为其价值已被内化，大家渴望采用并扩大应用。

其次，我们也看到更多与技术相关的投资流入新加坡。事实上，议员本人在发言中提到过，其他人也有所提及。这反映了投资者对新加坡良好营商环境、人才基础以及区域机遇的认可，认为新加坡是进入这些机遇的理想地点。

因此，我们看到全球大型科技企业发起了重大投资和新项目，同时许多中型企业甚至本地企业也朝这个方向发展。

第三点是，人才的汇聚非常关键。正如我和同事们所述，我们在培养本地人才方面做了大量工作，包括大学及就业前培训教育的上游管道建设，也致力于赋能中年职场人士，使其具备转型进入科技领域的技能。

同时，我们也积极吸引能够补充本地人才的外来人才。鉴于人工智能、网络安全、数据分析等领域的技术人才普遍短缺，我们需要合理引进人才。这是我们与经济机构（包括贸工部下属机构）合作的重点。我们吸引海外新加坡人回国，也吸引其他国籍的优秀人才，合理补充我们的能力。

总之，主席先生，回答议员的问题，我们确实有机会在此基础上发展。虽然我对“亚洲硅谷”这一称号持谨慎态度，但我们有机会成为本地区乃至全球生态系统中一个繁荣、安全、充满活力的数字枢纽。

主席：黄俊贤先生。

黄俊贤先生：主席先生，我很高兴从高级国务部长沈颖欣那里了解到，新潮州港图书馆将提供非常好的服务。目前图书馆装修期间，图书自动借还机设在Lot One一楼。我想知道国家图书馆局是否考虑在装修结束后，将自动借还机移至附近的出租组屋区，该区约有500户年轻家庭，距离Lot One仅约2公里？

沈颖欣女士：感谢议员对自动借还机的支持。该设备确实是为满足装修期间的需求而设。我们会采纳他的建议，进行研究后回复他。

主席：沙拉尔·塔哈先生。

沙拉尔·塔哈先生：谢谢主席，也感谢部长和两位高级国务部长的澄清。

我有一个小问题。部长提到数字领袖计划将面向80家公司。听起来是个很好的项目，因为我们需要培养数字领袖。那么，这些公司将如何选拔？是按行业划分，还是根据他们寻求的价值主张？

施艾斯华南部长：主席先生，感谢议员提问。我们启动该计划，是因为相信其中的价值。信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）将与其他经济机构，特别是企业新加坡合作，重点与那些已开始数字化转型、系统有所进展且拥有数字人才核心团队的公司合作，作为建设基础。

因为正如我之前所说，这不仅是数字化普及的广度问题，更是高峰问题。我们希望赋能那些准备好、能够采用更先进数字技术的企业，提供能力和关键人才，帮助他们最大化效益。

因此，相关机构将与他们合作的企业识别合适对象。没有特定行业配额，主要看企业的准备度和意愿，是否能真正利用技术推动下一阶段数字化发展。

主席：娜迪娅·萨姆丁女士。

娜迪娅·艾哈迈德·萨姆丁女士：谢谢主席。我非常感谢高级国务部长回应我之前的关切。我很高兴听到有关如何保护女性和女孩在网络上的讨论。这尤其重要，因为今年是庆祝新加坡女性之年。

虽然还处于初步阶段，能否请高级国务部长分享讨论中提出的一些想法，以及参与的合作伙伴类型？我听到家长们说，他们对应对TikTok、Snapchat和OnlyFans等平台感到力不从心。但我们知道禁止和删除这些应用并不能解决问题。因此，我希望未来的努力也能包括为家长提供装备。

沈颖欣女士：感谢娜迪娅·萨姆丁女士对该议题的高度关注。讨论仍在进行中，但我可以分享几个已浮现的问题类别。

第一类问题涉及网站或在线业务，一方面可能直接违法，如提供性服务，或处于灰色地带，可能鼓励某些行为，进而滑向犯罪，尤其令人担忧的是针对年轻人，包括女孩。对此，我们关注现有法律的适用性，确保举报机制及时有效。

第二类问题涉及未经同意广泛传播受害者的图片和视频，受害者多为女性和女孩，但男性受害者也存在。这属于广义的骚扰范畴。相关讨论不仅在信息通信媒体发展部，也在内政部内部进行，重点是网络伤害及如何加强防范，并与平台合作减轻伤害。

第三类问题涉及一对一互动，例如社交媒体用户收到未经请求的猥亵图片或暗示性问题，常常不知如何应对。许多社交平台设有社区标准，但用户是否充分了解这些标准及如何保护自己是问题。比如，很多人收到此类信息后选择删除，但删除后证据消失，公众教育和支持对此非常重要，以保护下一位女性、女孩，甚至男性或男孩免受伤害。

主席：玛丽亚姆·贾法尔女士。

玛丽亚姆·贾法尔女士：感谢部长和高级国务部长的澄清。我特别感激他们采取了非常包容的方式，关注中小企业、小贩、长者及弱势女性。

我很高兴听到推出不同类型的计划，包括更多定制化和更深入的辅导，针对数字初学者。例如“首席技术官即服务”和数字领袖计划。理想情况下，我希望这些计划也能针对行业特点，解决我之前提到的内部流程和变革管理问题，这些都是采用数字解决方案时必须考虑的。

同时，我想提出一点谨慎意见，基于对早期项目的反馈，中小企业往往低估了所需辅导的程度，以及数字转型的难度。或许此时我应声明自己是该领域的顾问。

大规模定制即使借助技术也极具挑战。因此，我希望这些计划能真正获得充足资源（这涉及成本），并经常评估其效果及改进方向。我认为让中小企业参与进来非常重要。

如果涉及资助转型之路，我们不应吝啬成本，而应前瞻性、积极地思考如何支持最多中小企业。

施艾斯华南部长：主席先生，我认为议员提出了重要观点，即我们开展此类工作，本质上是大规模定制，挑战巨大，不应低估所需努力。

我们谈论的是庞大的企业基础。新加坡中小企业超过20万家，规模和复杂度差异显著，从微型、小型到中型及更大企业。

我们的目标一方面是提供基础支持，帮助中小企业起步。因此，我之前提到，我们致力于支持企业各阶段，从创业到扩展，甚至更远。这也体现在我们项目的结构上。

例如“中小企业数字化”计划提供多种选择，从支付解决方案到线上营销等，适合已有一定规模、希望数字化转型的企业。还有“启动数字”计划，针对刚创业但能采用部分数字解决方案的企业。还有扩展计划，帮助企业利用数字化走向国际。

我们新推出的举措旨在基于现有能力，提供更高定制化，但不夸大挑战。例如“首席技术官即服务”能深入提供专业诊断、需求评估、战略规划，并协助执行项目。关键是项目实施，不仅是工具引入，更是系统整合和工作流程适应，这是实现效益的关键。

同时，数字领袖计划更具定制化，针对更高层次的企业，因此参与企业数量较少。我们聚焦那些已具备一定数字化基础、准备好进一步发展的企业。

总之，我们采取因企制宜的策略。政府拥有多样化工具包，但企业也需理解数字化的含义，不仅是决定“走数字化”，更要了解所需承诺，包括技术投入及最重要的人员和系统投资，以实现可持续发展。

主席：克里斯托弗·德·索萨先生。提醒各位议员澄清发言请简短。

克里斯托弗·德·索萨先生：谢谢主席。我关于图书馆数字化的简短澄清是，希望不要过度推进数字化。因为翻阅纸质书、带家人和孩子去图书馆，按作者选书、按作者还书，保持安静，这是一个公共空间；阅读曾被他人翻阅过的书页，这种体验非常亲密和特别，是读者与纸质书独有的体验。

因此，在推动数字化阅读的同时，希望能以非常谨慎的方式进行，传承给下一代对纸质书的热爱，亲身感受故事。

主席：只要你给书消毒就行。

克里斯托弗·德·索萨先生：只要给书消毒，没问题。还有，我也应该给讲台消毒，先生。这是我的简短澄清。

主席：我相信部长会有更简短的回答。

伊斯瓦兰先生：我想我应该回应这个澄清，希望得到我的同事、国务部长沈燕女士的宽容。我想我们许多人都和这位议员一样，欣赏阅读实体书的触觉体验，也欣赏在图书馆等地的实体聚会。我认为这绝不是我们想要消除的体验。我们希望保留它。实际上，我们想做的是通过创建我们所说的全渠道策略来增强这种体验，使数字平台和数字举措能够强化你在图书馆中实体拥有的吸引力和价值。反过来，你在图书馆的体验也可以通过数字平台虚拟延续。

所以，实际上，我们设想的是实体与虚拟之间的良性循环，我们希望确保即使在数字化的道路上前进，我们也能让图书馆最优秀的传统保持生机和繁荣。

主席：田女士，您愿意撤回修正案吗？

田佩玲女士：听到所有议员的发言真是太好了。随着我们齐心迈向数字未来，我想借此机会感谢整个信息通信媒体发展部大家庭——我们的部长、高级国务部长以及在座的每一位——感谢你们的支持，也包括来自国家数字政府局的官员们。基于此，我请求撤回我的修正案。

[(程序文本) 经许可，修正案撤回。 (程序文本)]

[(程序文本) 头Q项下的13亿8021万4000元被批准列入主要预算。 (程序文本)]

[(程序文本) 头Q项下的6088万4000元被批准列入发展预算。 (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. Ms Tin Pei Ling.

Industry Capabilities and Leaders

Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) : Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Estimates be reduced by $100".

Sir, Singapore has great ambitions to achieve a thriving digital economy and Smart Nation. Talent and data are, in my opinion, the most basic yet most important success factors. We need data to innovate and we need people to get things done.

In my Budget debate speech in February 2020, I talked about the need for a high concentration of skilled workers with a critical mass of talents if we are to excel in tech and innovation, like we did in biotech. Singapore needs to offer an abundance of talents who not only meet existing demands but also attract future unicorns to Singapore from the region and beyond.

Just as importantly, we need to have homegrown unicorns. We need more Singapore digital leaders and tech unicorns to further cement our position in the world.

Today, the number of tech-related job vacancies is double that of the number in 2010, according to a recent report by the Boston Consulting Group. As we continue to attract large tech firms to Singapore and as we digitally transform our Singapore enterprises, the need for talents cannot be more pressing.

First, on digital leader and mentoring programme. I am heartened that the Government has introduced many useful schemes such as TeSa, SGUnited Jobs & Skills and the PCP, that help to strengthen our talent pool with the requisite technical knowledge and industry skillsets. To ensure sustainability and progression in this area, I would like to ask what the Government is doing to actively cultivate digital leaders. Would the Government consider formally introducing a mentorship programme that attracts top talents and company founders from around the world, perhaps to leverage the TechPass holders, to mentor our youths and start-ups?

I spoke about this in Parliament last year and I raise this again now. Ultimately, we would want to create a vibrant community of talents, groom the next generation and increase Singapore’s mindshare to further cement Singapore’s position on the global stage.

Next on women in tech. An area of keen interest to me is how we are attracting and retaining women in this niche tech space. The 2017 manpower statistics for MCI reported a distinct gender gap with male at 68% and female at 32%. In a 2019 Harvard Business Review research paper, it was reported that investing in gender diversity helps create a positive feedback loop in talent attraction and financial gains for a company. Drawing comparisons from the same Boston Consulting Group report that I mentioned earlier, the composition of women with tech-related degrees is 29% and this is less than the 53% representation in overall degrees. Hence, I would like to ask the Government what are the plans in place to further encourage the entry of women to the tech space.

Third, on transparency framework. Sir, we should call for greater transparency to what firms, especially large firms, expect of their corporate leaders. In an article by Forbes that outlined one of the benefits for introducing a transparent corporate culture is that it fosters employee happiness and talent retention. I would like to ask whether the government will consider putting in place a framework to enhance corporate transparency, especially in terms of tech talent development and progression.

Fourth, support for innovation. On the support for innovation, apart from the announced Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan (RIE2025) to boost R&D, I would like to ask the Government what plans will be put in place to help local start-ups or local companies in the innovation sector to secure significant projects within and outside the public sector that can boost their credibility.

Apart from having a list of IMDA-accredited companies, could there be a more concerted effort to encourage government-linked companies to partner local tech firms and bring them along in overseas ventures? Without the opportunity to obtain a “big break”, our local start-ups can get stuck in a vicious cycle of small projects. This inadvertently creates a false impression that our local start-ups are capable of undertaking only small projects.

Moreover, without a sizeable project in Singapore to add to their credential, some local companies may face considerable challenges when venturing overseas, if they were to do so on their own. And, because of the lack of credibility or credential, local start-ups might be pressured to reduce their fees to secure the contract. This again creates a downward spiral of giving discounts which is unsustainable in the long run.

Can we pursue big brands less and favour our local companies a bit more? Could we consider “Support Singapore” measures to prioritise deserving local companies, perhaps those in the Scale-up programme, in certain public project tenders? Such opportunities could be the break our companies need to launch themselves as Singapore’s next tech unicorn.

And on to my final point on data collection. I understand that this is a sensitive topic, but the current highly sensitised climate makes it difficult for local firms to collect data for the purpose of innovating their products or services. At times, companies face challenges obtaining data, despite offering assurance that it will be anonymised. But without data, it could be very difficult for firms to innovate and they risk creating products in a vacuum.

Hence, there is a need to strike a balance in protecting data and enabling data for innovation. We want to be a global data centre. But how could we use data for greater good? Could the Government consider lending its support as a partner to companies in their research and studies? This could boost public confidence. What else could the Government do to strike this balance? Sir, I beg to move.

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

Support MSMEs to Transform Digitally

Ms Tin Pei Ling : Sir, digital globalisation is accelerating. Digitalisation for businesses is no longer an option post-COVID-19. Moreover, going digital breaks down geographical and physical constraints and promises limitless markets and opportunities.

However, MSMEs often find it daunting to digitalise as they know not the "what" and the "how". Most of our MSMEs are resource strapped. Neither do they have the technical expertise internally to scan the horizon for the wide array of digital solutions available in the market, nor do they have the resources to engage qualified consultants just to help them digitalise.

On this note, I would like to suggest three points.

The first is to build trust in technology. “I don’t know what I don’t know”, “What if I am scammed?”, “Will the bank or agency know my everything?”. Buy-in amongst MSMEs on the benefits of digitalisation could remain weak. Absorbed in their daily operations, many MSMEs have little capacity left to care about achieving incremental productivity gain through digitalisation, when one, every day is an existential fight and two, the digital solutions are possibly “alien” to them. Compounded by the occasional stories of how some fall prey to scams, digitalisation can become a mysterious and scary monster. Could the government share how it is addressing myths and helping MSMEs understand the benefits of digitalisation, so as to engender greater confidence?

Second is to solve the know-how. Even amongst the more forward-looking MSMEs that believe in digitalisation, they may not afford the time to properly understand the digital specifications, much less to deploy and implement the solutions. Also, hiring an in-house IT expert, given their scale, could be costly. Therefore, the idea of pooling resources and having CTO-as-a-service as announced during this year’s Budget sounds like a very good idea.

And third is to demonstrate clear gains. The business imperative will be strong if digital adoption is shown to increase topline and reduce bottomline. Of course, Government schemes such as the Start Digital Pack are useful. But if I may suggest, it is for the Government to look into implementation details and how application experience can be enhanced.

For example, a local tech solution provider recently shared with me that many local MSMEs expressed interest to purchase its solutions because of the SMEs Go Digital funding. But because the deadline was strictly imposed and the application processing took a while, a number of these companies gave up for fear of missing the deadline by the time the application is approved, if it is approved. This to me an example of a missed opportunity for MSMEs to give digitalisation a shot.

Sir, with the accelerated pace of digitalisation, it is “do-or-die” now. I therefore ask the Ministry to share more about what is done to help MSMEs transform?

The Chairman : Mr Alex Yam.

Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee) : Chairman, digital technologies are indisputably relevant to the modern economy. And this has been particularly so during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the demand for new spheres of innovation grows to cushion the disruptions and to leverage on new opportunities brought about by the pandemic, new applications, new digital solutions appear on a daily basis.

Digital technologies are increasingly impacting all parts of the economy. Even in the traditional sectors like F&B, agriculture, and construction, technology investment is growing fast as a worldwide trend.

3.45 pm

Asia has been benefiting from the new wave of digital innovation in the recent years. Compared to the rest of the world, the IMF observed that Asia is leading in e-commerce and fintech. Both developing and advanced economies in the region have seen significant digital gains. We must strive to understand how best we can make the most of these digital opportunities to benefit our economy and improve our living standards. Can the Minister share how we will strengthen our competitive advantage in the global digital economy?

We have a significant foothold over our regional counterparts as tech giants flock to us to establish headquarters or regional offices in Singapore. But as we heard in the earlier MTI Committee of Supply, the technology talent crunch remains a perpetual concern. The information communications sector would need another 60,000 professionals over the next three years.

The Government and businesses must therefore focus efforts on finding talented individuals to secure our technology start-up status. It will not be easy as many of the job openings require specialists of digital skills. How do we therefore ensure that we have sufficient talent to meet the demands of our growing digital economy? Can we truly become Asia's Silicon Valley?

Digitalisation Impact on Life Post-COVID-19

Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade) : Mr Chairman, over the past one year, many of us have seen our screen-time increase by leaps and bounds. My friends in the stockbroking industry tell me that after years of decline, their commissions have gone up. Data has shown that there have been more trades done, although in small amounts. And we all know that shopping online is prevalent these days. Life has indeed changed and the digital world is occupying more of our waking hours.

How has digitalisation allowed us to ease into the new reality of life during COVID-19? I would like to also ask what investments the Government is making in terms of infrastructure, not just to enable the expansion of our digital universe but to keep it safe from scams and fair from all points of view.

Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol) : Mr Chairman, Sir, please allow me to submit my cuts (e), (f) and (g) together.

The Chairman : Please do.

Cross-Ministry Transformation Support

Mr Sharael Taha : COVID-19 has been a catalyst for business transformation. In the past, our close proximity to workplace, shops and markets meant ease of physical access. There was no burning need to digitalise to bridge physical distances. However, the pandemic has made it necessary for organisations and companies to explore digital solutions, such as the use of Zoom, e-payment and e-commerce.

We now better understand how digitalisation can help make our operations more convenient and efficient. The next step is to move from pockets of digitalisation or pilots to fully adopting real and sustainable digital transformation. This will enable us to go beyond the superficial grafting of technology onto current processes and instead, leverage fully on digitalisation and create fundamental shifts to our business models.

Only then, can we be fully poised to take full advantage of the opportunities emerging from the post-pandemic world economy.

It is noteworthy that the recent McKinsey report indicated that 85% of ASEAN companies are still stuck in this digitalisation pilot trap. How can MCI, MTI and MOM work closer together to support companies in driving real, sustained digital transformation? By stringing together cohesive programmes across Ministries to enable companies to build a coherent, successful transformation strategy and execution, possibly through a clear operation and technology roadmap from MTI, supported by skilled manpower through MCI's Digital Leaders Programme and SGUnited Jobs and Skills training guided by experienced practitioners using MCI CTO as a service while training organisational capabilities to drive insights from the better use of data.

Each Ministry holds a piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Coming from the industry, trying to navigate transformation is difficult as this is not merely improving productivity but is fundamentally transforming business models.

Many companies may need help to navigate the multitude of different schemes available. To assist companies to fully leverage on the suite of support packages available, can the Ministry consider some form of overarching business transformation support through a membership programme or handholding to help companies navigate the cross-Ministerial support for transformation? We need a more concerted approach to business transformation to help companies gain traction and better navigate the diverse cross-Ministerial support provided.

SMEs Unlock Value Through Digitalisation

My second cut is about bridging the digital divide, in particular, inclusive growth for SMEs. The Go Digital Programme has assisted a lot of SMEs through their digital journey. One example of an SME that has performed well in their digital journey is Saffrons, an eatery in the east known for its fish briyani. Through adopting digital tools such as food ordering, third party food delivery apps, digital posts, witty marketing and, of course, good food. Its owner, Mr Rijal, shared that he has grown his customer base and revenue significantly. Saffrons is an example of a small, non-digital native enterprise that has been able to leverage on digital transformation.

However, not all SMEs have made equal progress in digitalisation. This pandemic has widened the gap between the digital haves and the digital have-nots. Some SMEs are still struggling to find value through digitalisation. With a lot of schemes available, how can MCI assist digital starters to navigate the eco-system of support? How can MCI help businesses unlock new value through digitalisation, especially digital starters that need more assistance? With more home-based businesses (HBB) and Singaporeans in the gig economy, how can MCI also assist HBBs to unlock value?

Opportunities in ICT Industry

I applaud the continuous support for the SGUnited Jobs and Skills programme. I have met many residents who have benefited from the programme, from mid-career professionals to fresh graduates. Of these, many hold aspirations for joining the growing ICT industry.

However, some are still concerned that they lack the skills and industry background to seize digital opportunities. Many share that despite taking up several digital courses, they have yet to be given an opportunity for a career in the industry. They cited that they have been turned down as they lack experience. But without the opportunity, they will never be able to switch industries and gain experience in the ICT industry.

How can MCI help workers get an opportunity in the industry and secure good jobs in the digital economy? Can the Ministry consider some mechanism to balance the hiring of experienced and inexperienced talents in the growing ICT industry?

SMEs and Digital Transformation

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir) : Mr Chairman, SMEs provide employment to about 70% of our workforce and contribute almost 50% of Singapore's GDP. The digitisation of SME's business processes and the growing trend in e-commerce are two potential areas where SMEs can tap on in order to increase efficiency as well as to grow their businesses.

We have also seen, in the past year, under the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, that digital transformation has become an imperative step that some SMEs have to urgently take.

I therefore invite the Minister to share with this House the Ministry's plans to support and speed up the efforts of SMEs in the digital transformation of their businesses.

SME Digitisation

Ms Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang) : Mr Chairman, no fewer than 10 of our colleagues have spoken before me. The focus on SME digitisation in the Budget is welcome, with new initiatives as well as increased support levels for existing initiatives.

For SMEs, it is important that initiatives deliver value quickly. Otherwise, sign-up rates will be slow and dropout rates high. SME digitisation programmes often underperform because they do not meet the needs of the SMEs. As one SME told me, it is like these programmes only have one hammer and it does not matter what kind of nail I have.

One way to bridge this is to focus on scalable use cases rather than broad topics or frameworks that they have to figure out how to apply themselves. Getting value from any use case is also often about changing internal processes and driving a digital culture. It is therefore critical to provide a meaningful level of change management support. SMEs have quite different needs and expectations for the type of support and the degree of handholding. Programme designs can therefore be more targeted and differentiated for different segments.

In addition to this push approach of financing and grants, the Government can also work more with digital eco-system partners, especially tech giants, who are able to leverage their extensive networks and experience to pull support for SMEs. In China, for example, the JD "Spark" programme provides supply chain, business support and credit to bring stalls and shops online as well as flexible employment and work from home opportunities in poorer regions.

I hope the Government will elaborate on the take-up and effectiveness of the SME digitisation programmes that are being extended—and the lessons that have been learnt to date. I also hope that the different Ministries involved in this space will ensure, for example, that digital traineeships and SME digitisation can be synced to leverage each other in order for us to maximise our investment value. Otherwise, often, I find that MNCs are much more willing to accommodate digital trainees than our SMEs themselves. This will have to change for a sector that has to take 70% of our workforce.

Support for SMEs to Transform Digitally

Mr Don Wee (Chua Chu Kang) : Mr Chairman, SMEs, which include the hawkers, provide employment for two thirds of our workforce and contribute to almost half of our GDP. The Government had put in place the SMEs Go Digital and Hawkers Go Digital programmes to support their digitalisation efforts so as to transform their operations, increase productivity and expand their businesses.

With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting so many business sectors, what has been its impact on SMEs' adoption of digital technologies? Has the Ministry observed any changes in the take-up rates of the digitalisation programmes and what has been the utilisation rates of the various services such as SME Digital Tech Hub consultancy services and pre-approved solutions and the Digital Resilience Bonus?

Digital transformation has not been uniform amongst the SMEs. Which sectors are slower and how is the Government supporting them to overcome the difficulties that they face?

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang) : Sir, in the annual Budget of recent years, digitalisation is among the foremost priorities and items and have received significant budgetary allocation to drive this effort. I took a browse at the IMDA website and found that there is indeed a long list of schemes and support with the very specific purpose to help SMEs.

COVID-19 has given this unexpected boost to the adoption of digitalisation by businesses as well as consumers, who are using it more than before. Can I seek an update on the progress so far? How far more do we have to go and what are the further support and assistance in store?

5G Deployment

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo (East Coast) : Mr Chairman, COVID-19 has heightened the importance of connectivity to enable people to continue to work, live and play. Working from home arrangements, home-based learning and even communicating with family and friends would not have been possible without digital connectivity during this pandemic.

5G network technology can enable significantly enhanced connectivity and new capabilities. What is key about 5G is scale, low latency and high speed. 5G hence can transform and make possible connections previously not available, delivering new level of services, business models and experiences. 5G can make possible mission critical communication for infrastructure, emergency, security, medical and healthcare services.

While the benefits of 5G are vast, implementation of 5G is complex and involves multiple stakeholders. Increased connectivity and reliance on 5G networks will also increase cybersecurity risks. What is Singapore's approach and plans for 5G to ensure that consumers, businesses and the wider society benefit from 5G deployment while minimising the associated risks?

Our Digital Innovation Eco-system

Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah) : Mr Chairman, we have created a great start-up eco-system through innovative policies to attract many global firms to establish their headquarters in Singapore. With global tech giants like Google, Bytedance, Tencent, Microsoft, all having significant operations in Singapore, Singapore could become the Silicon Valley of Asia. In fact, Singapore could try to compete with Silicon Valley as the top place for start-up talent.

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With the influx of billion-dollar companies providing stiffer competition, how is MCI continuing to develop and build the local eco-system for digital innovation to support home-grown start-ups?

Privacy of and Accountability for Data

The growth of the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, the gig economy and global tech giants, means that the race for data and data-centric technologies firmly puts the issue of privacy in the spotlight. We have been cognisant of this and recently this House passed the Personal Data Protection Amendment Bill 2020 to hold organisations accountable for the data they handle. However, we still have a long way to go in finding that balance and calibrating between individual privacy and creating more connectivity and enhancing our quality of life.

With the digital landscape evolving rapidly, how are MCI and PDPC continuing to ensure that organisations respect privacy and are accountable for the data they handle?

Cybersecurity of our Critical Systems

My third and final cut, Sir. In mid-December 2020, it was discovered that SolarWinds Orion's business software updates had been trajonised. Due to SolarWinds' widespread global usage as a network management software, thousands of organisations, both private and public sector customers, were exposed to the malicious software update. The SolarWinds cyberattack highlighted the danger of supply chain attacks and the abuse of authentication mechanisms to gain access to a victim's internal network.

To continually combat cybercrime and cyberattacks, how is MCI working to ensure that Singapore's critical information infrastructure and government systems, and user data, are secure and not exposed to backdoors for future attacks.

Cybersecurity

Mr Alex Yam : Mr Chairman, for many of us, much of our live reality now takes place online. This also means that highly-sensitive personal data is being shared readily, but also often unknowingly.

In the past year, a quarter of Singapore residents suffered at least one cybersecurity lapse, with unauthorised attempts to access online accounts being most common.

For enterprises, cybersecurity is also becoming a day-to-day struggle, as cybercriminals, whose techniques are becoming increasingly sophisticated, continue with their attacks on different businesses.

COVID-19 has forced businesses and companies to rely heavily on digital platforms to operate remote places. These platforms are, therefore, attractive targets and are extremely vulnerable to breaches if security is not adequately maintained.

Transformative 5G technology also makes us more connected than ever. The recent cyber breach at Singtel is a stark reminder that even as we adopt new technology, major corporations with a wealth of resources are also at risk.

How then will the Government better protect Singaporeans and enterprises in cyberspace?

Strengthening Cybersecurity

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo : Mr Chairman, there is a greater reliance on digital and tech across Government, businesses and individuals for connectivity, information access and exchange, and operations. Vast amounts of sensitive and personal or commercial data are used and stored digitally. This increases the risk of cyberattacks, which could result in loss and unauthorised use of personal and sensitive data and disruptions to operations and activities.

COVID-19 has driven the increased use of e-payments, mobile apps and e-wallets. Smartphones are effectively becoming mobile financial transaction hubs. With higher volumes of e-commerce transactions, strengthening of supply chains is important as cyberattacks on supply chains are increasing.

Can the Minister share how are we strengthening Singapore’s cybersecurity? With the importance of cybersecurity, how are we growing our cybersecurity local talent base?

Cyberspace and Data Flow Governance

Mr Xie Yao Quan (Jurong) : Chairman, the global digital economy today is worth almost $3 trillion. And within ASEAN, this is expected to grow to $197 billion by 2025. Data will be our most valuable resource and data connectivity infrastructure and enablers, both globally and in ASEAN, will be critical. There is a huge opportunity for Singapore to be both a thought leader and the trusted hub for secure, seamless cross-border data flows.

Can the Ministry provide an update on its work, both globally and regionally on: number one, frameworks for data management including data categorisation and controls, as a common language for all parties in the digital economy; and, two, mechanisms for cross-border data flows to drive business innovation?

Chairman, on a related note, cyberspace has become a global common. Can the Ministry update on how Singapore is shaping the international governance of cyberspace, just as how we continue to shape international norms in the governance of air and sea spaces?

Finally, in 2019, Singapore launched the model AI governance framework at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The framework contributes to the global discourse on AI ethics by translating principles into practical recommendations for organisations to deploy AI responsibly.

On this note, can the Ministry update on the framework and how it would continue to support our national AI strategy?

Postal Sector Transformation

Mr Liang Eng Hwa : Sir, the Government ended SingPost's monopoly in the basic mail services market in 2007, but IMDA continued to designate SingPost as a public postal licensee.

SingPost is required to perform a set of universal service obligation as determined by IMDA. Can I ask how does the Government ensure that SingPost will continue to deliver good postal services and fulfil its obligations to serve the public well? How will the consumers' interests and the mail integrity and security be protected?

The postal sector landscape has changed significantly in the recent years. Can I seek the Minister's update on the current landscape and what is MCI's plan to transform the postal sector to meet changing consumers' needs?

Singapore Postal Sector

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin : Mr Chairman, I remember in my younger days exchanging letters with pen pals – yes, pen pals – pasting a stamp on the envelope and physically posting them. Today, e-mails, e-invoices and many other electronic modes of communication have proliferated in the digital age, with letter mail in a steep decline.

On the other hand, the advent of e-commerce has led to growing numbers of parcel and small packet deliveries. This has added a different logistical demand on our postal sector.

I expect both trends to intensify in the coming years. I understand that e-commerce volume is expected to grow between 12% to 20% annually for the next five years. We have seen this trend accelerate in 2020 given the COVID-19 restrictions in place. I therefore invite the Minister to share with this House the Ministry’s plans to transform Singapore’s postal sector to meet changing consumer needs.

Digital and Postal Transformation

Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui (Holland-Bukit Timah) : Mr Chairperson, Sir, it is truly commendable on the efforts of MCI and its officers in implementing Heartlands Go Digital and Hawkers Go Digital to help businesses transform digitally. We note that the current efforts are laborious despite significance in results.

Can MCI incorporate certain digital adoption like digital payment solutions as a condition into new tenancy agreements and renewals, providing rental relief measures in return for digital adoption? For smaller businesses, can MCI provide aggregated anonymised data on a regular basis so that SMEs can understand how data can help augment their businesses?

There is also a need to transform our postal sector to meet consumers’ needs such as e-commerce parcels. Today, with digitalisation, consumers have a higher expectation towards faster and more convenient delivery of their parcels. This is a major challenge. To overcome this challenge, there is a need to expand the use of non-contact delivery methods like collections points with real-time tracking to minimise delivery disruptions. This form of non-contact delivery method reduces both economic and environmental cost due to reduction in door-to-door delivery.

With a demand in e-commerce purchases, this creates a rise in reverse logistics due to consumers’ return of purchases. Without a sustainable process, this can greatly counterbalance the efforts of parcel deliveries in reducing carbon footprint. Has MCI considered a circular economy on parcels through the process of delivery, return and recycle? What efforts have MCI undertaken in this logistical challenge to ensure environmental sustainability?

During key e-commerce seasonal sales, we observe higher volumes of packaging waste recycled at our blue bins. Therefore, can MCI further integrate blue bins in our estates or can data on parcel delivery be shared with blue bin collection agency, so that removal frequencies can be calibrated accordingly to maximise yield and efficiency?

Future of the Postal Sector

Mr Cheng Hsing Yao (Nominated Member) : Chairman, the growth of e-commerce has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will continue to be more pervasive. What is MCI doing to guide the postal sector towards a better regulated environment to ensure that consumers' interests are better protected? How will MCI provide a guiding framework across public and private sectors for the provision of parcel locker infrastructure as well as service delivery standards to enable e-commerce to thrive and to enhance users' experience?

The prevalence of e-commerce is also challenging the viability of many traditional retail companies, who need to review their distribution model. How will the new regulated environment enable traditional retail companies to pivot seamlessly to an online business model?

Library in the Digital World

Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee) : Chairman, in Mandarin, please.

( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Reading helps broaden our horizons and cultivate a broad range of interests. Through reading, we can have better understanding on personal behaviour and gain more general knowledge. At a time when we are unable to travel abroad, reading allows us to better understand the history, culture and customs, as well as the latest developments of other parts of the world without going abroad.

( In English ): Many residents have shared with me that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the library was the place that they most like to frequent.

In the opening address at one of the reading events at Woodlands Regional Library 10 years ago, former Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said, "Reading is essential to the development of our language and communication skills. It deepens our knowledge and enriches our lives by opening us up to the new world and new experiences. It also plays an important role in bringing family and friends together as many of us would have experienced the joy of discussing or sharing a favourite book with fellow readers. It is therefore important for any progressive society to nurture a love of reading and lifelong learning in its people."

In this regard, I wish to ask the Ministry, in today's digital world, how can we promote reading through easy access and ensuring that the e-books remain affordable for all? How are our libraries staying relevant in today's digital world? And how will they continue to meet the needs of Singaporeans, in particular, families with young children and senior citizens?

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Further, during my recent visits to Prisons, I have come to understand that the Singapore Prison Service has begun to offer tablets to inmates for them to draft emails to their family members. To better facilitate rehabilitations and integrations for education, skills upgrading and enhance employability skills, can the Ministry work with the Singapore Prison Service to offer a wider range of books including e-books to the inmates?

Future of Our Libraries

Mr Eric Chua (Tanjong Pagar) : Mr Chairman, libraries are society’s portals to knowledge. They play a central role in our younger generations’ journeys in learning, serve as a public space facilitating the transmission and exchange of ideas and culture, and they are also a great leveller as a provider of technology for the vulnerable.

As Singapore and the rest of the world gets unceremoniously jolted into the digital future due to the pandemic, what can we do to ensure that our public libraries keep pace with technological advances? How can we ensure our libraries continue to serve Singapore residents by playing its social and curatorial roles? In a world where a Google search often forms the first step of most, if not all quests in seeking knowledge, what are the evolutions our libraries need to make in order to ensure its continued relevance in the digital future? And on a related note, how will the role of our librarians need to evolve so that they too, can keep pace with these inevitable changes?

Keeping Up with the Digital Future

Mr Chairman, COVID-19 has forced the world to change the way we operate overnight. The pandemic foisted upon us the digital future in double quick time. Home-based learning for our young ones. Families increasingly reliant on e-commerce platforms for our everyday needs such as shopping for groceries. Life events such as weddings and wakes conducted over video conferencing due to safe management measures. Whatever the activity, the conclusion is one and the same: we have embraced digitalisation and there is no turning back, even when the pandemic finally ends.

Given this unintended but inevitable consequence of the pandemic, what can we do to ensure that digitalisation does not derail our efforts in strengthening our social compact? How do we ensure that the vulnerable ones amongst us are not by default technological laggards, as this only further entrenches their social and financial positions? And how do we ensure that our seniors are able to ride the fast and furious waves of new digital technologies?

How can we help our businesses to strike a sensible balance between maintaining existing legacy systems, yet at the same time, invest in digital business innovations? And what is our digital strategy to support our SMEs and local large enterprises (LLEs) not only to remain buoyant, but coiled and ready to propel themselves to thrive in the digital global marketplace?

Digital Inclusion and Safer Internet

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin (Ang Mo Kio) : Chairman, our youths are digital natives, born into a world where the internet is deeply integrated into our lives. From learning, entertainment, grabbing food, getting around, socialisation and civic discourse, digital tools have tremendous benefits and can be an equaliser. Not sure of something? Just Google it and check.

We need to ensure that children from all walks of life are equipped to take advantage of the opportunities brought about by technology.

Still, the open nature of the digital realm presents dangers. From cyberbullying and exposure to unhealthy content to online radicalisation, the internet can also be polarising with social media warriors calling for people to blindly take sides instead of engaging in healthy discourse.

I would like to ask what the plans are to equip and guide youth from all walks of life and their parents towards a better and safer internet that enables social discourse and protect our youth, especially young girls, against online bullying and hypersexualisation.

Seniors Go Digital

Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied) : Seniors Go Digital was launched in May last year to help our seniors build digital capabilities. At the parliamentary debate last June, I stated my support for it, but was concerned about seniors who might not be able to make the digital leap. The Minister clarified that the idea was to encourage the adoption of digital solutions, but to keep open the option of using non-digital solutions because there would be some who would still prefer them, or are uncomfortable with the digital part. He also highlighted that cybersecurity was something that would continue to be emphasised in the training programmes with seniors.

Since then, this programme has gained momentum. It was reported that the programme aimed to reach out to 100,000 seniors by this month. There had been roll-outs of low cost mobile phone plans for seniors through a scheme called Mobile Access for Seniors, aimed at the low-income.

To understand the impact of these schemes, could the Ministry clarify the following three aspects? First, what is the kind of reach that IMDA wants to achieve with the targeted 100,000 seniors? Is the KPI geared at the numbers who attend the courses? Or must a certain level of competency be demonstrated? Second, what is the expected number to benefit from the Mobile Access for Seniors scheme? And third, given the escalation of online scams, will the crime prevention aspects of the training be amplified?

Digital Inclusion

Miss Cheng Li Hui (Tampines) : Mr Chairman, MCI has made a good effort to help seniors in this digital age. The pilot project at Geylang East Public Library one-stop access to over 200 selected digital government services, such as CPF nominations and CHAS applications is very useful. Will this be implemented across all libraries?

Since the Seniors Go Digital programme was launched in 2020, how many seniors have been coached? How will IMDA scale up its digital literacy efforts to equip more seniors with digital skills to support their everyday needs?

Digitally Inclusive and Ready Society

Dr Shahira Abdullah (Nominated Member) : Chairman, COVID 19 has accelerated digitalisation in Singapore. However, it also means that the vulnerable groups who were already disadvantaged before the pandemic may be left further behind.

The Singapore Government has put in tremendous effort in trying to narrow the digital divide on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Home Access and NEU PC Plus programmes, many now have a digital device. MOE has aimed for a one-to-one laptop provision for all Secondary school students by 2021. However, increased digital device ownership would also mean that access to the support for maintenance would increase. Low-income households may not be able to afford these services from existing shops. Deputy Prime Minister Heng mentioned that non-profit organisations such as Engineering Good are already working with community partners to provide these services.

Therefore, I would like to ask the Ministry if we can tap on the networks and expertise of such organisations, who may already have ties with the Social Service Agencies, to help them expand their reach and enhance the suite of digital services they offer?

Digital literacy is also very important in this hyperconnected world. Users need to be aware of issues such as cybersecurity risks and responsible online behaviours. Practical skills like handling live- conferencing and dealing with internet connection issues would also need to be learnt. Often though, the students from low-income households may have parents who are not digitally literate enough to support them in these matters.

MOE already has a National Digital Literacy Programme for students. Would MCI consider partnering MOE and/or other Social Service Agencies to offer the programme to parents as well?

On 2 February this year, Minister Iswaran informed the House that under the Home Access and NEU PC Plus Programmes, Singapore’s household-level broadband penetration rate has increased from 87% in 2014 to 98% in 2019. There are 1.37 million resident households in Singapore according to the statistics. This would translate to about 27,000 households not having broadband access – no small number.

I appreciate that IMDA will be streamlining the application for Public Rental Scheme households to ensure that they can auto-qualify for the assistance. However, this would take time.

Beyond Social Services has a free wifi void deck project currently to counter that problem. Would the Government consider working with similar organisations to roll this out to more rental households so as to not delay access to suitable internet connectivity?

Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong (Jurong) : Mr Chairman, we have seen how COVID-19 has accelerated digital innovation and transformed the way we live and work. We have seen many positive examples of our seniors carrying out essential tasks using digital means – SGQR codes for SafeEntry, e-payments just to name a few. Many of our hawkers have embraced digitalisation. Many offer e-solutions and now are on-boarding e-commerce solutions and leveraging online marketplaces to sell their products and services. I am heartened by the efforts of our seniors and hawkers.

However, everyone adapts to change differently. And I note that there are still many Singaporeans who need more guidance and support to adapt to digitalisation. We must not be complacent as there is a risk of widening the digital divide. MCI has done well to roll out digital inclusion initiatives like Hawkers Go Digital and Seniors Go Digital. I also note IMDA and National Library Board’s efforts to support low-income families and vulnerable groups via affordable internet access, and access to digital devices and eBooks.

I strongly believe in partnerships and collaborations. Hence, I would like to ask MCI to elaborate on its plans and partner stakeholders to drive ground up initiatives that will foster a digitally inclusive and ready society.

Digital Divides and Rising Trends of Scams

Mr Seah Kian Peng : Mr Chairman, COVID-19 has accentuated digital gains, but also digital divides in our communities. How is the Ministry helping low-income households to access digital tools or platforms and remain connected with the wider society?

In my main Budget debate speech, I had spoken on what we need to do to make digital basics available to the lower income – in terms of both hardware and broadband access.

A third and important plank to this effort of digital access must be the digital savviness that is akin to street smartness in real life. The dark corridors in the Digital Empire are as dangerous as those in real life – robberies are as common and lives can be ended as easily. E-commerce scams were the most common among online scams and it has increased significantly during this pandemic.

We need both trust and skepticism to survive as a social being. In our everyday life, we need to trust that the fishmonger at the market does not cheat us when he swears today’s catch is fresh, in the same way we rely on our social capital with our friends to keep their promises, and our business partners when they tell us their judgement on certain matters.

During COVID-19, the importance of trusted and accessible information was felt acutely. But truth online is a scarce commodity and as important as outside matters relating to the pandemic. How will MCI ensure that different groups with diverse needs can access trustworthy information?

How can we help build communities that will forge a collective sense of identity, so that we are all invested in keeping each other informed, each able to access and evaluate the quality of information in the digital world?

Access to Digital Environment

Mr Sharael Taha : Mr Chairman, although a lot efforts have been made to improve digital literacy, not all Singaporeans have equal access to digital devices and are digitally literate. This pandemic has widened the gap between the digital haves versus the digital have-nots. Beyond having the basic skills, individuals must also have the devices, networks and purpose to continuously immerse themselves in a digital environment.

How is MCI helping the vulnerable, or low-income families and youths gain the digital skills that they need? Are we doing enough to prevent these less fortunate families from being left behind?

Narrowing the Digital Divide

Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh) : Mr Chairman, the pandemic has made the internet a life tool to obtain full access to opportunities in a number of critical areas, including education, employment and health. Many countries are grappling with a digital divide and Singapore is no exception. What new policies will the Ministry introduce to narrow this divide and reduce the impact on future generations?

To better support our rental households, I cite the example of the ConnectHome initiative for low-income housing in the USA. It offers affordable broadband access, technical training, digital literacy programmes and educational and workfare related content. It is a comprehensive programme to boost digital inclusion that goes beyond allowing residents to apply for devices and subsidies.

To help freelancers and employees working from home, can we explore some form of tax credit for individuals when they file their taxes or a tax break can also be extended to employers who pay for their employees' broadband access?

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Before the pandemic, people could utilise broadband facilities in community spaces like libraries and schools. These options are now discouraged. I urge the Ministry to do more to ensure every household has access to quality digital connectivity within their homes.

Citizen-centricity and Readiness

Ms Tin Pei Ling : Sir, aligned to our Smart Nation drive, our digital transformation efforts are ultimately about enhancing lives of Singaporeans. But we must not inadvertently create a new inequality or widen the existing gap, between those who can access and exploit the new digital technologies, and those who cannot.

Sir, it was reported last year that more than 16,000 seniors benefited from IMDA’s Seniors Go Digital Programme. I am glad that this programme is beneficial and welcomed by seniors who felt dislocated by the accelerated pace of digitalisation. Helping seniors embark and embrace digitalisation mitigates the sense of isolation brought about by a need for safe distancing measures so that our seniors can continue to lead more engaged, informed and fulfilling lives.

It is also heartening to see volunteer groups such as the Youth Corp helping seniors gain digital skills and corporates such as the ST Engineering donating to fund Mobile Access for Seniors and the NEU PC Plus for low-income students and persons with disabilities. Beyond equipping them with the devices, it is also important to help them use the digital tools effectively and wisely.

In this regard, I would like to ask the Ministry for an update on the progress on efforts made over the past months on the various programmes to help Singaporeans keep pace with the country’s digitalisation efforts. In particular, what measures are put in place to bridge the digital gap in ensuring that the vulnerable do not fall through the gaps due to a lack of awareness and resources.

Lastly, I would also like to ask the Government what plans might there be in engaging Singaporeans more when developing digital services to meet their needs? What has been done and will be done to ensure that Government services and messages are delivered in a citizen-centric manner?

So, we need to double down on our efforts to help everyone move ahead in our digitalisation journey. While we push ahead in our digital journey, it is also important that we leave no one behind and that we advance in one direction and as one people.

Communications in Mother Tongue

Sir, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of speed and precision of public service messages in a time of crisis and potential confusion. There remains a group of seniors who cannot understand English and so, delivering messages in mother tongue is important.

What are the steps taken by the Government to ensure that those who can only understand mother tongues are able to receive Government messages in a manner they can comprehend?

And for seniors who are illiterate, how does the Government plan to electronically communicate with them? Perhaps through voice notes?

It is of utmost importance that we intervene right now so that we do not allow this segment of Singaporeans become “Digital Outcast” eclipsed by the rapid pace of digitalisation.

The Chairman : Mr Vikram Nair. Not here. Mr Liang Eng Hwa.

Government Communications

Mr Liang Eng Hwa : Sir, the business of keeping Singaporeans informed and engaged has changed drastically. In addition to the traditional offline channels, online and digital channels have seen increasing utilisation in Government communications and the share of use are expected to increase exponentially in the years to come.

At the same time, our lives have also become complex and fast changing, requiring new approaches and more effective ways of reaching out to Singaporeans. We are also to be mindful of the diverse needs among us and, hence, the need to maintain multiple strategies.

Can I seek an update on the transformation of Government communications to groups with different needs?

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin : Mr Chairman, the COVID-19 pandemic has led us to re-think the way we disseminate information, especially in Government communications.

There is a need to ensure that all Singaporeans receive timely and accurate information that is relatable and capable of being understood by everyone with diverse needs.

As we tap on digital means to communicate, how does the Government ensure that it does take into account different needs such as age groups, language barriers or level of digital literacy?

Conversely, it is important that the same digital channels are also accessible to receive valuable ground feedback on Government policies. The two-way channel between the Government and Singaporeans has always been the cornerstone of our policy making and needs to be preserved even as we transform our Government communications.

I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with this House the Ministry’s plans on the transformation of Government communications to reach all groups with diverse needs.

Engaging Groups with Diverse Needs

Mr Don Wee : Chairman, last but not least, digital communications is expected to become the dominant mode of engagement amongst people, the Government and the private sector. With this widespread digital utilisation, the Government needs to find a range of methods to engage groups with diverse needs. Would the Minister share what are the Ministry’s plans to ensure that it can reach as many Singaporeans and residents as possible on the various digital platforms?

How will it assist and reach vulnerable segments which may not have the digital skills and know-how, and access to the requisite software and hardware, such as Internet connection, devices and suitable software? In addition to English, does the Government have plans to further augment its digital engagement with Singaporeans in the other three official languages – Malay, Chinese and Tamil – on all its platforms?

The Chairman : Minister Iswaran.

The Minister for Communications and Information (Mr S Iswaran) : Thank you, Mr Chairman. Let me start by thanking all the Members who have spoken for their questions, suggestions; some for their wistful reminisces of a bygone era of letter writing and pen pals, and also above all for their active interest in and support for the work of the Ministry of Communications and Information.

Sir, the past year has been marked by discontinuities and disruption in our schools, our workplaces, our homes and our lives. In many ways, it has been a period of profound learning, adjustment and adaptation. Twenty-twenty saw years of digital transition occur in a matter of months.

Digitalisation is here to stay. And digital technologies can be a force for deep and lasting good. Most of us have experienced this first-hand – families staying in touch with loved ones, students and teachers engaged in virtual lessons, employees working from home, businesses and customers transacting online.

But as noted by several Members, a larger digital footprint also means new and growing risks such as cyber attacks, data breaches, the rapid spread of misinformation and cyber bullying.

Against this backdrop, my Ministry strives to build a safe, inclusive and thriving digital future, where our citizens and businesses can fully reap the benefits of digital technologies while keeping the associated risks at bay.

The digital future we envision is underpinned by competitive enterprises that leverage digital technologies to innovate and grow; an inclusive society where every member can realise the benefits of globalisation and digitalisation; safe and secure digital spaces protected from malicious actors and online harms; robust digital infrastructure with fit-for-purpose regulations; and close collaboration with our community and enterprise partners.

As we respond to the various issues raised by Members, my colleagues Senior Minister of State Sim Ann and Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and I will elaborate on the work of the Ministry of Communications and Information to realise this vision.

Let me start with how we are supporting businesses to transform digitally.

Impelled by COVID-19, many traditional brick-and-mortar businesses have pivoted towards hybrid online-offline models to engage and transact with their consumers.

Scent by SIX, a fragrance retailer at Bugis, took up an e-commerce solution under the SMEs Go Digital programme during the circuit breaker. Its digital marketing efforts were so effective that revenues have increased by 25%, of which 60% were online. The founder, Jason, is now exploring AR solutions that integrate social media with in-store shopping to create an omni-channel experience. Scent by SIX’s experience is not unique.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Mr Don Wee asked about the progress of schemes to help enterprises transform digitally.

Today, more than 63,000 SMEs have adopted digital solutions with the support of the SMEs Go Digital programme which was launched in 2017. About 40,000 of them, in fact, signed up just last year and 2020 alone. At least 2,000 enterprises have gained access to overseas markets through e-commerce platforms under the Grow Digital scheme. Over 1,000 enterprises have engaged the SME Digital Tech Hub for advice and over 35,000 enterprises are now registered for e-invoicing, compared to 1,000 a year ago.

So, the numbers are growing and we have to build on this progress so that more businesses and the workers they employ, can reap the benefits.

Ms Tin Pei Ling, Ms Mariam Jaafar, Mr Eric Chua and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked how the Government could aid businesses to to digitally transform and unlock economic value.

MCI and IMDA will ramp up efforts to both broaden and deepen the digital reach among our SMEs. We will support enterprises at every stage of growth, from start-up to scale up, to seize opportunities and realise the potential of emerging technologies and data.

For example, many SME leaders need help to devise a digitalisation plan to meet their needs. Therefore, IMDA will launch the Chief Technology Officer (CTO)-as-a-Service initiative later this year.

The CTO-as-a-Service initiative will include a one-stop self-help web app for SMEs to assess their digital needs and gaps. SMEs can then access customised recommendations on digital solutions based on the company profile and information on Government support.

SMEs that need more in-depth advice can tap on a shared pool of CTO-equivalents or Digital Consultants with expertise in areas such as data analytics, cyber security, and artificial intelligence. They will receive both digital consultancy and project management services to not only identify needs and solutions, but also manage project implementation. So, when Ms Mariam Jaafar talks about working with SMEs throughout the digitalisation journey, these are the kinds of measures we believe will help facilitate that.

I wanted to assure Mr Sharael Taha that all registered SMEs, including home-based businesses that are sole proprietorships, will be able to access these digital resources as well.

[Deputy Speaker (Mr Christopher de Souza) in the Chair]

Beyond this broad-based approach, we also want to raise the peaks of our SMEs’ performance through a more holistic digital transformation of enterprises who are ready for that.

In this regard, the questions raised by Ms Tin Pei Ling on grooming the next wave of companies who can be digital leaders, and Mr Alex Yam on strengthening our competitive advantage globally are most pertinent.

The new Digital Leaders Programme (DLP) that we have launched aims to equip firms with the capabilities and talent to accelerate their digital transformation journey. This programme will provide up to 70% support on qualifying costs to help companies build a core digital team to develop and execute their digitalisation strategy. It will also connect companies with tech partners to develop new digital products and services, and better position them to compete internationally.

The DLP will support up to 80 companies for a start, beginning with those more advanced in their digital journeys, with management teams that are committed to drive digital transformation for sustained growth. The DLP will be managed by IMDA, in partnership with Enterprise Singapore and other economic agencies.

4.45 pm

To Ms Tin's question about support for local companies. IMDA's Accreditation@SGD programme recognises promising and innovative local tech companies, and their products are considered first by Government agencies for ICT procurement. In 2019, IMDA and Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) launched a new SecureTech track under the Accreditation programme to help local cybersecurity programmes gain greater access to Government projects. MCI will continue to study what more can be done to raise the competitiveness of local companies, including the several suggestions offered by Ms Tin.

As more businesses go digital, and more transactions go online, the volume and value of data will grow in tandem. As noted by Ms Tin and Mr Edward Chia, data can yield valuable insights that improve business efficiencies and enhance products and services for consumers.

However, we also recognise the counterpoint. As more data is collected, the risk of data breaches also increases. If data is not used responsibly, trust can be eroded, even undermined. We therefore must strike a judicious balance. On the one hand, we must accord due protection to personal data and privacy. On the other, there is scope for businesses to use data responsibly for growth and innovation.

To help businesses better use of data and better serve their customers, IMDA will launch the Better Data-Driven Business programme, or BDDB. This programme will provide businesses, particularly SMEs, with free tools and guidance to use their data responsibly to drive business growth. The programme will also provide a free business intelligence tool that can convert raw data into visual dashboards that can aid business outcomes, such as, better sales and operational efficiency. It will also enable more advanced data uses, such as for R&D and innovation, through curated resources, like case studies and videos.

We are also strengthening the accountability of businesses for the personal data they handle, a question raised by Mr Christopher de Souza. The recently amended Personal Data Protection Act, has rules and a penalty framework to incentivise organisations to take proactive steps to minimise and manage data breaches. But, going beyond that, the Personal Data Protection Commission Singapore, or PDPC, has issued guidelines that organisations can adopt to develop accountable governance practices.

The Data Protection Trust Mark also enables businesses to signal, and for consumers to discern, good data practices. Ultimately, we need to nurture a culture of good data governance – use and practice – and that has to come from not just regulations or penalties but also from education and industry efforts to share best practices.

Beyond scaling up our efforts to help companies go digital, we must continue to search for technology solutions that can power the next bound of our economic growth and strengthen our position as hub for digital innovation. 5G is key to this as it will be the backbone of our digital infrastructure and Singapore will have at least 50% 5G standalone outdoor coverage by the end of next year, and nationwide coverage by the end of 2025.

Ms Jessica Tan asked how we can ensure that consumers and businesses will benefit from 5G deployment. The key is to build an ecosystem that supports the innovation and test-bedding of novel solutions. It is not just about providing the infrastructure, but it is in catalysing the collaboration between solution providers, service providers and end-users to come up with validated used cases. IMDA will facilitate such test-bedding through facilities such as PIXEL, the 5G Living Lab and initiatives such as the Open Innovation Platform.

Under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan, or RIE2025. MCI will work with partner agencies to drive the co-creation and commercialisation of intellectual property, and enable capability transfer between research institutes and enterprises.

Translation will be a primary focus under RIE2025, and MCI will work with partner agencies to drive the co-creation and commercialisation of intellectual property, whilst enabling capability transfer between our research institutes and enterprises, to have that virtuous interaction between our public sector R&D effort with private sector value creation. This is how we are building up our local ecosystem for digital innovation, one of the points raised by Mr de Souza.

We want to go further in driving ground-up digital innovation. IMDA's Open Innovation Platform, or OIP, was launched in 2018 to crowdsource and match the demand from business challenges to a supply of innovative solutions. It has grown into a vibrant eco-system with over 10,000 registered users. Over 190 challenges have been launched, and over 60 solutions have been successfully developed.

We will invest $50 million over the next five years to enhance the capabilities of this platform. This will help more enterprises access innovative solutions, and accelerate the deployment of digital innovation at scale. IMDA will also co-fund the prototyping of matched challenges to help innovative tech companies expand their market base.

Mr Chairman, even as we pursue these exciting opportunities, we must pay heed to the very real concerns of mature workers and seniors, and also our youth and fresh graduates, over the accelerated pace of digitalisation. They worry if they will have a place in this digital future, especially if they do not have backgrounds in tech, or an inclination for engineering and software development.

Mr Sharael Taha raised a similar point asking how we can further support mature workers or those who have no ICT background enter the tech sector. Sir, we are intensifying our efforts to create good jobs for Singaporeans and equip our workforce with digital skills. Under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills programmes, there were more than 18,000 available opportunities in the Information and Communications sector as at the end of last year; of that, more than 10,000 were for jobs openings. So, going beyond training and apprenticeships.

Since 2016, over 8,000 Singaporeans from fresh graduates to mid-career professionals, have been placed in good ICT jobs through the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) programme.

I met Nurul Baizura, a part-time undergraduate, who was selected to participate in Google's Skills Ignition SG programme. She previously worked at a data storage company, handing network infrastructure and patching. Today, she is learning skills in an entirely new area – cloud technology – and she is passionate about her role as cloud engineer.

Last year, we also launched the TeSA Mid-Career Advance programme to train and transition workers in their 40s and 50s into tech jobs. Ganapathi, whom I met recently, is a mid-career project manager who was previously from the education sector. Though he lacked the technical expertise, Gana joined the programme with NCS – one of our tech company partners – in 2020, and is well on his way to becoming an applications consultant.

We will continue to expand our TeSA programmes, to develop more local talent in areas such as digital marketing, as well as for more tech-intensive roles in product and software development. These programmes will provide a wide spectrum of Singaporeans like Nurul and Gana, with more opportunities to develop their careers in such roles across the economy.

Several Members have emphasised the importance of attracting talent to this talent-starved sector. This is a global challenge. As we invest in the development of our local pipeline of talent, nurturing the tech leaders for the future, we also have to ensure that we are able to attract quality talent from around the world to come in and have a judicious complement of them to support our overall effort. And this is how we would ensure that we sustain our position as a digital innovation hub.

In that regard, it is not just MCI but across the economic agencies and beyond, we are undertaking a whole-of-Government effort to attract Singaporean talent that is based overseas and other talent so that they can come in, working with our local companies, our large and mid-sized players in order to contribute to the evolution of the digital eco-system in Singapore.

Ms Jessica Tan and Ms Tin Pei Ling have emphasised that employers must leverage the talent pool of women in STEM. I fully agree. MCI aims to grow the ICT talent pipeline and this includes attracting more women to join the sector.

In collaboration with community and industry partners, IMDA launched the SG Women in Tech initiative in 2019 to encourage more women to explore careers in tech. There has been good momentum with the movement reaching more than 117,000 through activities and events such as SG100 Women in Tech.

The signs are promising. In 2017, 28% of the intake to Information Technology courses in our local Universities were female. This figure increased to 35% in 2019. So, the momentum is there. I think the message is getting through and certainly we need to enlist the help of some of our women tech leaders including the likes of Ms Jessica Tan and Ms Janet Ang and many others in this House and without, to get this message out and encourage more women to consider a career in tech.

More broadly, we want all Singaporeans to be able to participate meaningfully and safely in online engagements. That is why we established the SG Digital Office in June last year, and launched the Hawkers and Seniors Go Digital programmes. So far, about 10,000 hawkers – of a base of about, I think 18,000 or so – and stallholders have adopted e-payment solutions. The volume and value of transactions has grown four-fold, from June 2020 to today.

Miss Cheng Li Hui and Ms Sylvia Lim enquired about the impact of the Seniors Go Digital programme. The SG Digital Office has trained about 69,000 seniors in digital skills as well as measures to safeguard themselves against risks on the Internet. But, I want to emphasise and in response to Ms Sylvia Lim's point, it is not just about numbers. Numbers are important because we do want scale. But, we more importantly, want skill. We want to imbue our seniors with the confidence and the comfort to navigate technology and use it to derive benefits that will enhance their lives.

As the Member and others would appreciate, this is not an easy task, but one that we are fully committed to and it is a journey with rich rewards, but we have to make the effort. We would welcome any suggestions that the Member or others may have, to further strengthen the message and its impact on our community of seniors.

Senior Minister of State, Sim Ann will elaborate further on the work done by ESG, IMDA and other Government agencies, with respect to the work we are doing in the heartlands.

Our seniors, hawkers and heartland shops are excellent role models. They demonstrate that young or old, big or small, whatever our background, with the right mindset and can-do spirit, we can all make the digital transition.

Our libraries play a critical role in nurturing that spirit of exploration and learning among all Singaporeans. Ms Hany Soh and Mr Eric Chua asked how our libraries are staying relevant in a world that is digital. For some time now, but especially in the past year, NLB has expanded its digital resources and collections, introduced digital storytelling for children and conducted online programmes for all ages, including seniors.

NLB produced learning packages on subjects like pandemics, provided home access to digital newspapers and conducted a series of webinars on topics ranging from cybersecurity to health and wellness. As a result, since April last year, there has been a 145% increase in e-database usage and a 32% increase in digital loans.

For the longer term, NLB will continue to explore new ways to provide reading and lifelong learning opportunities for all Singaporeans, and nurture an informed citizenry.

Informed by public feedback and its own experience, NLB has developed the Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2021-2025 to reimagine the service models of libraries and archives of the future. What we have today is a precious resource that has adapted and innovated in response to consumer needs. And now, we are thinking ahead to the next phase and how our libraries can continue to evolve with the needs and the times. Senior Minister of State Sim Ann will provide more details.

Like NLB, as more engagement shift to the digital space, individuals and businesses will be exposed to more risks and online harms. So, it is incumbent that our digital spaces are kept safe and secure, with members of online communities protected from malicious actors and other harms.

Mr Christopher de Souza, Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Alex Yam have asked how we are safeguarding our critical systems against sophisticated threats and disruptions to operations.

5.00 pm

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

The security of our digital systems is critical because they are the very foundation of our digital economy. Hence, we will do our utmost to lay a strong digital foundation – a communications infrastructure that is secure and resilient and legislation that is robust and fit-for-purpose. We will also continue to safeguard our digital space to protect our people from the harms inflicted by malicious threat actors.

Members would recall the SolarWinds cyberattack uncovered in December last year, which affected about 18,000 organisations, including US government agencies and Fortune 500 companies.

Such incidents serve to remind us that cyber threats are real, trans-border and constantly evolving. To derive the benefits of digitalisation, we must be ever vigilant against cyber risks and we need continuous and sustained efforts to strength our cyber security posture. Senior Minister of State Janil will elaborate further.

To build trust in online spaces, we must also ensure safeguards against harmful online content that may harm individuals and divide society.

Our regulation and public education efforts have helped Singaporeans deal with potential dangers online, such as misinformation. But the threat is constantly changing. MCI and MHA are therefore studying how to enhance our regulations to deal with serious online harms and their real-world effects on society. We will share our findings and recommendations in due course.

Ultimately, the first line of defence in our fight against misinformation is a well-informed citizenry who receive accurate communications from reliable sources in a timely manner.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Mr Don Wee have asked how the Ministry is ensuring that groups with different needs can access reliable information.

This has been our foremost communications challenge in battling COVID-19. Our focus was to broaden and deepen the reach of Government communications by leveraging both traditional and newer digital platforms. This was to ensure that all segments of our population were informed of key developments of the pandemic, why certain measures were necessary and how they could play their part to protect the health and safety of all Singaporeans.

The mainstream media played an important role in this national effort. In addition, Gov.sg was expanded to 10 platforms, including Telegram, Instagram and TikTok, and we now have more than 2.5 million subscribers across these platforms. The Gov.sg WhatsApp channel grew exponentially from 7,000 subscribers in January 2020 to 1.2 million today. We also worked with the People's Association and Silver Generation Office for face-to-face outreach to those who may not have access to or use digital media.

These communications efforts have been well received. Polls conducted by REACH indicate that more than eight in 10 are satisfied with the information provided by the Government on COVID-19.

For the next phase of our fight against the pandemic, we have launched the VacciNationSG campaign to raise awareness of the vaccination programme, address misconceptions, debunk misinformation and mobilise action. Senior Minister of State Sim Ann will elaborate more on our efforts, including the use of multiple languages and channels to make information accessible to all segments of our society.

Partnership – with industry, the community and fellow Singaporeans – has been the anchor of our efforts to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic but also to emerge stronger.

Industry partners have stepped up with initiatives to re-structure our economy and create new opportunities. Under the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative, companies such as Google, Microsoft, IBM, Singtel, Sea and Grab have committed to create more than 5,000 jobs and skills opportunities in technology and ICT.

Our community partners and citizens also organised themselves to support fellow Singaporeans in need. Engineering Good, a non-profit organisation, collected laptops from the community to help less privileged students access home-based learning resources during the circuit breaker period.

As we venture into the digital future, such partnerships with our stakeholders will be even more important to ensure that new and more complex challenges do not deter us from fully seizing digital opportunities.

Dr Shahira Abdullah and Mr Shawn Huang asked how we can partner with stakeholders to drive ground-up initiatives to foster a digitally inclusive society. Such sentiments were also expressed during the Emerging Stronger Conversations, where the impact of digitalisation and how we can harness technology for better social outcomes was one of the most discussed topics.

Last month, to that end, President Halimah Yaacob launched the Digital for Life movement in conjunction with the President's Challenge 2021. Through this national movement, we want to encourage and support ground-up efforts to co-create solutions that enable all Singaporeans to benefit from digital technology.

The movement is part of a wider national effort to bring together the people, private and public sectors to foster digital skills, digital wellness and digital access among all Singaporeans. We have also established the Digital for Life Fund, which will support projects contributing to the goals of the Digital for Life movement. The target is to grow the fund to $10 million over the next three years. All cash donations will be matched, dollar for dollar, by the Government.

We invite all who wish to make a difference to the digital growth and wellness of fellow Singaporeans to join us in this journey. Senior Minister of State Sim Ann will elaborate further.

Mr Chairman, I would like to conclude by emphasising the Government's resolute commitment to build a safe, inclusive and thriving digital future for all Singaporeans. My Ministry will lay strong foundations for that digital future by investing in infrastructure, driving research and digital innovation, equipping businesses with digital tools and supporting Singaporeans to learn, upskill and stay informed.

As we work in partnership with our community and business stakeholders, I have every confidence that we are well placed to build a shared digital future with a place for every Singaporean.

The Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (Dr Janil Puthucheary) : Mr Chairman, I thank the various Members for their cuts and questions and I hope to address several of them in my response, especially those from Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Alex Yam, Mr Seah Kian Peng, Mr Xie Yao Quan and Mr Christopher de Souza.

The digital space has had a deep impact on our daily lives and this transformative effect will continue for some time. For many Singaporeans, digitalisation carries the promise of more convenience, more efficiency and more options.

As we do more online, we face an increased risk of cyberattacks, online scams and data breaches. We need safe and secure digital spaces. We need the online environment to be an enabler so that our people can benefit from the opportunities of this digital age.

Today, I will focus on how we develop online safety and security – the strong foundations of our plans for digitalisation.

Our strategies have to cover a broad range from infrastructure development, regulations and partnerships. We need to address a wide variety of issues so that our companies and our people can trust the digital systems that are so central to our lives.

Beyond assurance, we want people to step up, to be empowered, to take charge of their online safety and to embrace the digital age with confidence.

Strong foundations depend on a robust digital infrastructure. Our past investments in this infrastructure have recently enabled workers to switch to telecommuting and students to attend online lessons with relative ease during the pandemic.

Looking ahead, we will need world-class, secure and resilient 5G networks. It was thus a policy priority for our nationwide 5G networks to be standalone – new standalone networks, 5G all the way through, from end to end. 5G standalone networks unlock the full suite of capabilities, including network slicing and ultra-reliable low latency communications, necessary for applications such as cloud gaming and smart factories.

5G deployment has started and by the end of next year, we will have at least 50% standalone outdoor coverage for 5G. Nationwide 5G standalone coverage will arrive by the end of 2025.

However, robust digital infrastructure alone cannot guarantee safe and secure spaces. Other keys to a strong foundation are a robust regulatory regime and an approach to remain relevant and fit-for-purpose amidst the evolving technological landscape.

Data is a critical resource used to inform business decisions and also power emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Personal data requires strong safeguards and accountability but there is a balance we need to strike. You overcorrect for business innovation and you undermine consumer protection, privacy and trust. On the other hand, pursuing consumer interests narrowly hampers, potentially, business development. The public may ultimately suffer from poorer and more costly services. Our strong foundations therefore also need us to be agile and calibrated.

We recently amended the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). For example, you may subscribe, to the mailing list of an online shop and as a result, you can receive customised recommendations based on your browsing history or based on your prior transactions. This is a benefit to you as a customer, as the consumer, from having shared your data.

Under the amended PDPA, if there is a data breach which may cause significant harm to affected individuals, you are to be notified directly by the shop so you can take timely, proactive measures to protect your data, such as by changing your passwords. If you choose to opt out of the mailing list, the shop is required to remove your details from the list and stop sending you recommendations within a reasonable period. So, businesses, as a result of the amendment, are held to a higher standard with more transparent and accountable practices.

Like data, electronic transactions are also central to the global economy. To support wider digitalisation, the Parliament passed the amendment to the Electronic Transactions Act this year to adopt the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records from the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). The shipping, logistics and finance sectors now stand to benefit from faster and more secure electronic transactions compared to paper-based transactions. We expect to see benefits in terms of efficiency, productivity and, hopefully, cost savings as well.

One concern arising from our digital push is the rise in online scams. In Singapore the most common type of scams relates to e-commerce and these increased by almost 20% from 2019. Overall, victims to scams lost more than $200 million last year.

We take this matter very seriously – it is something that people are anxious about, it erodes trust in their transactions and their activities online – and we are working across the Government to tackle these scams.

For example, we require telcos to attach the "+" symbol for all incoming overseas calls. IMDA also requires telcos to enhance capabilities to block calls from commonly spoofed numbers. As a result, 28 million suspected scam calls were blocked in the fourth quarter of last year.

However, the space is dynamic, there is an evolving behaviour of scammers and people who try to do malice to us, so existing solutions to block scam calls from overseas will never be foolproof. Today, no telco can verify with absolute certainty that a given incoming call is fraudulent.

So, IMDA is working with the telcos to build new analytic capabilities within their networks to better identify and block spoofed calls with numbers that appear local, without blocking legitimate calls. These measures fit in with what MHA is doing in terms of their broader approach to mitigate scams. We will continue to work closely with MHA through the Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams.

Cybersecurity threats are also growing in both number and sophistication. Members have just heard about the recent SolarWinds breach. This cyberattack compromised a network management software used extensively by major companies and governments worldwide. Notably, the software that was compromised was trusted and had privileged access to internal networks. It was a very sophisticated attack that went undetected for months.

Closer to home, Singtel reported that some files were taken as a result of a breach to FTA, a third-party file sharing system that Singtel uses.

Singaporeans are concerned about whether our systems are safe; so are we. And sensitive information needs to be sufficiently protected. With more activities taking place online, it is important that people trust the digital systems we use to store, collect and transfer our information. The reality is that we will not be able to prevent every cyberattack – malicious actors only need to exploit one vulnerability to compromise our systems, while defenders must safeguard systems under their charge against all threats, all the time. Consistent and deliberate efforts to strengthen our cybersecurity are thus critical.

5.15 pm

Many essential services like banking and healthcare are powered by information and communications technology. These systems are our Critical Information Infrastructure or CIIs. Today, all CII owners must maintain a mandatory level of cybersecurity as part of the Cybersecurity Act. However, we also recognise that most organisations, including CII owners, engage vendors to support their operations. Therefore, we also need to manage cybersecurity risks across the supply chain. Doing so requires CII owners to have a better understanding of their vendors to identify systemic risks and improve the level of cyber hygiene with the vendors.

To this end, we are developing a CII Supply Chain Programme – a partnership involving all stakeholders – Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), CII owners, and their vendors. The programme will provide recommended processes and sound practices for all stakeholders to manage cybersecurity risks in the supply chain. The discussions that we will have with the stakeholders as a result of this programme will also help the Government improve our policies around supply chain security. In the longer term, our CII sectors and the companies there will also need to adopt a zero-trust cybersecurity posture. This shift in mindset is necessary to defend against supply chain attacks by highly sophisticated threat actors, such as those behind the SolarWinds breach.

In concrete terms, this means that CII owners should not trust digital activity in their networks without verification. They should also authenticate continuously, detect anomalies in a timely manner, and validate transactions across network segments. This work will continue and will become increasingly complex in the future. Cybersecurity therefore has to be a collective effort and a core part of our lives in this digital age – integrated into the products we use and the way we behave online.

As more enterprises go digital, our exposure to cyber threats grows in parallel. Cyberattacks on companies have a far reaching impact on our wider economy. So, as part of the Safer Cyberspace Masterplan, CSA will launch the SG Cyber Safe Programme to support companies in strengthening their cybersecurity. It comprises two parts.

First, we will provide informational resources and educational material for key roles including C-suite executives, cybersecurity teams and frontline employees, based on their specific roles and knowledge needs. We need to shift attitudes and raise cybersecurity awareness through in-house training.

Secondly, we will roll out a voluntary SG Cyber Safe Trustmark to provide a mark of distinction for companies that have invested appropriately and significantly in cybersecurity. This means that if you are a consumer, a business looking for an HR processing service for example, and care about the cybersecurity level of the service provider, you may look for this Trustmark for added assurance that this service provider takes cybersecurity seriously. CSA will engage stakeholders regarding the specifics of this Trustmark from April this year.

Our cybersecurity talent base is a key enabler of these efforts and we are working closely with industry partners and Government agencies to nurture and grow our cybersecurity workforce.

First, to meet near-term demand, we facilitate the training and upskilling of cybersecurity professionals, as well as fresh and mid-career non-cybersecurity professionals for cybersecurity jobs, through programmes such as IMDA’s Tech Skills Accelerator.

Second, to strengthen our talent pipeline for the longer term, we encourage youths to pursue a career in the field through cyber outreach initiatives like SG Cyber Talent. We have engaged over 7,000 participants to-date.

And thirdly, to groom world-class cybersecurity leaders, we launched the SG Cyber Leaders programme to create a community for current and developing cyber leaders to exchange ideas, and learn about global best practices.

All of us need to play our part to create a safer and more secure cyberspace. There are things that we can do as individuals. We should enable two-factor authentication, update our software in a timely manner, choose a passphrase rather than a password, and stay vigilant to spot the signs of phishing. But there are also things that we do as a country. Our effort extends globally. Singapore participates actively in international discussions to develop and implement norms in line with our interests.

As cyber threats are global and transborder, we are working closely with international partners across the UN and ASEAN to develop and implement norms for responsible state behaviour. For instance, we are producing an implementation checklist with specific actions that countries can take to implement cyber norms. This effort contributes to a rules-based multilateral order in cyberspace, and gives all states, big or small, confidence, predictability and stability, essential for economic progress, job creation and technology adoption.

In terms of AI governance, Singapore takes an open and collaborative approach to govern the use of AI, recognising that we need to safeguard consumers’ interest and facilitate innovation. We launched the second edition of the Model AI Governance Framework in 2020, which incorporates feedback and examples from international and local companies across a diverse set of sectors, in response to the first edition of the Framework. It translates key ethical AI principles such as human centricity into practical measures, in line with our National AI Strategy.

Ultimately, we lay strong foundations so that our people can look ahead, and reap the full benefits of the digital economy. We will remain open and integrated with the global economy to enable our companies to maximise opportunities beyond our shores.

While our existing trade agreements meet the needs of traditional trade in goods and services, we recognise the need for new norms and rules to support cross-border digital transactions like e-invoicing, data flows, digital identities. This is why Singapore pioneered Digital Economy Agreements, or DEAs, building on our existing networks and initiatives. These DEAs facilitate seamless end-to-end digital trade, enable trusted data flows and build trust in digital systems.

Beyond these DEAs, businesses can look forward to further support for transferring data to and from overseas seamlessly and securely. Regionally, Singapore led the development of ASEAN Model Contractual Clauses, terms and conditions that may be included in legally binding contracts for the transfer of personal data across borders. We also led the development of an ASEAN Data Management Framework – a guide for businesses to implement a data management system with appropriate data protection safeguards. With these ready-to-use and flexible templates to transfer personal data, businesses operating in ASEAN markets stand to benefit from shorter contract negotiations on data flows.

In conclusion, Mr Chairman, our success in digitalisation has also exposed new vulnerabilities. These will only grow as technologies evolve and become more complex. Trust in our digital systems is key to the success of our digital economy efforts. And without the trust to transact, or to innovate, our best efforts to develop our digital ecosystem and reap the dividends, create opportunities, will fall short.

Strong foundations such as I have described will fortify our defences against online threats, and support this trust that we need to grow. But they are not sufficient. We need our companies and people to be aware of the risks, vigilant of the manifestations of these risks, and make informed choices to protect our safety. We can and must make the online space more secure and more trusted and thus create more opportunities for all of us.

The Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (Ms Sim Ann) : Chairman, the past year has been challenging, to say the least, and we have all come to value the importance of staying connected. Digitalisation has been critical in enabling us to do so, even as we adopt safe distancing measures. We are transforming digitally as a society, but we need to ensure that the transformation is inclusive. I will elaborate on four key strategies to achieve this.

First, we know not all Singaporeans are progressing at the same pace in the digital journey. Regardless of your starting point, the Government and key stakeholders will support you with the necessary resources. Second, we will forge strong partnerships with stakeholders. Third, we will continue to improve our last-mile delivery infrastructure. Fourth, we will strengthen our communication efforts, making trusted information accessible to all.

Let me address how we will approach inclusive digitalisation, starting with small businesses, as asked by Ms Tin Pei Ling, Mr Sharael Taha and Mr Cheng Hsing Yao.

We stepped up efforts to help small companies, including mom-and-pop HDB shops, to adopt simple digital solutions through the Heartlands Go Digital initiative. Minister of State Low Yen Ling and I co-chair the Heartland Digitalisation and Revitalisation Committee, and she has earlier spoken on how the Committee is helping heartland enterprises to keep pace with digitalisation, taking into account their unique context.

Under the Hawkers Go Digital initiative, we have been acting on stallholders’ feedback to make improvements. For example, IMDA and the SG Digital Office are working with NETS to enhance the NETSBiz mobile app, with features such as a bigger font size, the use of colour and a distinct audio alert, to make it easier for busy stallholders to track their payment transactions.

Mr Eric Chua, Mr Saktiandi Supaat, Mr Seah Kian Peng and Dr Shahira Abdullah asked about the efforts made to ensure that low-income families do not lag behind in the digital future.

Singapore is a highly connected society, where 98% of all households have access to broadband and own Internet-enabled devices such as computers or smartphones. We recognise low-income households and vulnerable groups may require more help.

A central thrust of MCI’s work is helping them access digital tools and remain connected with the larger society. Last year, IMDA’s Home Access and NEU PC Plus programmes, which subsidise digital connectivity for low-income households, benefited 20,000 families. The two programmes were enhanced in 2020, providing faster broadband speeds and more bundled device options. This includes a second subsidised laptop for larger families with school-going children during COVID-19. We have streamlined the application process for households supported by ComCare, to make it easier for them to get onto the programmes.

IMDA is working to automatically include recipients of HDB’s Public Rental Scheme for the Home Access programme in the coming months. MCI also works closely with MOE to address digital access and literacy needs of students.

I am glad to update Ms Sylvia Lim that since the Mobile Access for Low-Income Seniors scheme was launched last year, more than 6,400 seniors have benefited from the subsidised smartphones and mobile data plans.

Our second strategy is building strong partnerships. There is a growing sense that many in the community would like to contribute and support fellow Singaporeans. I chaired an Emerging Stronger Conversation on Digital Readiness in November last year. The 60 participants had a robust discussion on digital adoption challenges faced by vulnerable groups.

Many asked what we, as a society, can do to help bridge the digital gap. It was this and other similar calls for collective action that led us to launch the Digital for Life movement last month, which Minister Iswaran mentioned. The movement will support community activities that promote digital technology and inclusion, as well as digital literacy and wellness. It will be a platform where like-minded individuals from corporates, community and Government agencies, can utilise their skills, experience and know-how in helping those who need a little extra assistance, and in building inclusive, safe and secure digital spaces. The Government will empower and support them to catalyse meaningful changes.

One project I feel strongly about is protecting women and youth from online harms. As a Member of Parliament, I have encountered calls for help from distressed women and their loved ones, because their intimate pictures have found their way online without their consent. I have also heard disturbing stories about how our youths are being harassed and received unsolicited lewd pictures, with some coming to view this as “normal”. Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin has raised the same concern about protecting our youths, especially young girls.

I met some community partners last week to discuss how we can tackle such online harms and mitigate the real-world damage they cause. These partners have shown strong interest to create more impactful public education and resource support for potential victims, and in offering policy ideas to shape a safer cyberspace for women and girls and, indeed, for men and boys, too.

These can complement other measures, such as the Better Internet Campaign by the Media Literacy Council, MCCY’s work on promoting youth cyberwellness, and MOE’s work in the schools. With the Digital for Life Movement, I hope that the community can be empowered to hold conversations and collaborate even on thorny and complex social issues.

To help Singaporeans pick up digital skills, our much-loved libraries have been transforming themselves into digital learning hubs. As mentioned by Minister, NLB will be embarking on the Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025. Going forward, our libraries will feature digital services that enhance experiential learning. I thank Miss Cheng Li Hui for her interest and encouragement in the initiatives of our libraries. The pilot at the Geylang East Public Library to help seniors navigate online public services will be evaluated and a further rollout will be decided upon once we see the results.

The revamped Choa Chu Kang Public Library, set to reopen later this year, will feature digital services which encourage appreciation of natural landscapes and biodiversity. Augmented Reality elements will allow library users to interact with selected books through their mobile devices, making content come alive, almost literally.

Last week, I visited the Tampines Regional Library and chatted with seniors who learnt how to use the libraries' services, such as e-newspapers and the NLB mobile app. They appreciated the human touch of having our Digital Ambassadors walk them through the steps, and having someone to turn to whenever they need a refresher. In the library's makerspace, library users of various age groups were enjoying the use of technology, such as robotics and 3D printing. There is truly something for everyone in NLB's growing suite of digital offerings.

The role of librarians, as alluded to by Mr Eric Chua, will evolve in the digital future. Librarians will need to put together inter-disciplinary knowledge, taking into account societal trends, and how people learn and acquire information. NLB cannot do this alone and will collaborate with volunteers and partners with diverse interests.

We agree with Mr Don Wee and Ms Hany Soh that every Singaporean should have access to NLB resources. This is why NLB brings library books to reading corners at partner spaces, such as community centres and Family Service Centres.

For many years, NLB has been supporting the Singapore Prison Service. Last year, NLB donated more than 7,000 books to cater to inmates’ varying reading needs. Inmates also have access to 400 e-books. NLB will continue to develop ways to support under-reached communities.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and Mr Cheng Hsing Yao asked about MCI’s plans to transform the postal sector. This is addressed by our third strategy – which is to continue investing in digital infrastructure, so as to make the benefits of the digital economy more accessible to Singaporeans.

E-commerce has become an important part of our lives. Last year, I shared that we would be rolling out a nationwide parcel locker network, to give convenience to Singaporeans and enhance productivity for merchants and logistics service providers. IMDA and its subsidiary Pick have been trialling these parcel lockers. The feedback received from close to 10,000 residents has been overwhelmingly positive. Ninety-six percent agreed that the lockers will bring them convenience and they will use the locker stations in their neighbourhoods.

Mr Ng Kum Yin, a 71-year-old retiree, looks forward to the locker stations. Mr Ng and his wife shop online for consumer electronics and health supplements. He is concerned by news of missing parcels left outside homes, so he is keen to try out the parcel lockers whenever they are ready. Mr Edward Chia would be pleased to know that the parcel locker network is expected to reduce distance travelled for delivery by 44% daily, and this will go a long way towards reducing carbon emissions.

Pick is on track to launch the first batch of up to 200 locker stations by April. We are targeting nationwide deployment by the end of 2021.

To address the growth in e-commerce and benefit both consumers and industry, we are reviewing the Postal Services Act this year. More details will be shared at a later date.

On postal delivery, since December last year, SingPost has been trialling PostPal, a smart letterbox system, at Clementi, serving about 200 households in total. Residents like the convenience of using the app to find out if there is any mail for them to retrieve. SingPost has seen an increase in productivity of 75% for their postmen. Ninety-four percent of the mail can go through the auto-sorting feature in the smart letter box, which means greater accuracy in mail delivery.

These innovations are part and parcel of our collective effort to seek efficiency improvements and better value for consumers and residents, while making good use of technology and digitalisation.

The fourth strategy is to strengthen our Government communication efforts, making information accessible to all citizens with diverse backgrounds and language needs. Despite COVID-19, REACH connected with more than 59,000 Singaporeans last year. To engage safely, REACH opened up new channels. These include online Listening Points and online dialogues, such as the Emerging Stronger Conversations. During the Circuit Breaker, the REACH WhatsApp chat group discussions were maintained 24/7.

We have established diverse platforms to reach out to our audiences. For example, gov.sg has now gone into the heartlands. Some 14,000 Digital Display Panels are found within HDB lifts and at lift landings, making important Government information accessible to Singaporeans at their doorstep. We are pushing out content in the four official languages wherever possible, across platforms like free-to-air television, radio, newspapers and WhatsApp messages.

On Ms Tin Pei Ling’s question, to reach out to members of the Chinese community who are seniors and who communicate primarily in dialects, key Government messages are weaved into programmes that run on Mediacorp’s dialect belt. We have also worked with Mediacorp to introduce sign language interpretation for key national events, such as the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 addresses. This is on top of the longstanding practice of subtitling or closed captioning, wherever possible, for Government communications on free-to-air television and Government’s social media channels.

Accurate and contextualised translation is important for effective Government communications. Last year, MCI rolled out two new translation initiatives. The first initiative is Citizen Translators, where we reach out to volunteers to co-create solutions for the most suitable renderings. Malay and Tamil-speaking volunteers have told us that they are keen to help with the standardisation of translated terms. Chinese-speaking volunteers are interested in post-editing and vetting machine-generated translations. We look forward to working with our Citizen Translators to improve Government translations.

The second initiative is the Tamil Engine for SG Translate, which was launched last October. Public officers can now generate machine translations in all four official languages. The SG Translate web portal – called SG Translate Together – will be progressively opened to members of the public this year.

The Seniors Go Digital website and the TraceTogether mobile app are already available in our four official languages. The Government also has plans to translate the SingPass mobile app by June 2021. The Government is committed to translating more Government digital services, where necessary, so that those who are more comfortable with their mother tongues can access Government digital services with greater ease. Chairman, in Mandarin please.

( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Digitalisation is here to stay. But some Singaporeans are still hesitant and uneasy about using digital technology. The Government fully understands these concerns. To ensure that all Singaporeans embrace digitalisation with ease and confidence, we will continue to rollout and expand initiatives to help Singaporeans grasp digitisation tools and skills.

For companies, the Minister has announced that we will be launching the Digital Leaders' Programme and “CTO as a service”. These programmes aim to help participating companies integrate digital technologies into their business. That way, companies can also compete on the international stage.

At the individual level, the Government has set up in-person touchpoints at libraries and in community centres where Digital Ambassadors help less digitally savvy Singaporeans pick up digital skills. We have taken care to include the human touch in these public education efforts. Digital Ambassadors have been engaging and teaching seniors how they can protect themselves when transacting online so that they do not fall victim to scams, for example, to use strong passwords for online accounts and not disclose one-time passwords when using digital banking services.

For Singapore to succeed in digitalisation, we will need to work with Singaporeans, the community and companies. Through the Digital For Life Movement, we will work with our partners to champion causes they are passionate about and to leverage on their expertise so that they will be able to help vulnerable Singaporeans enjoy benefits of digitalisation.

The Government continues to prioritise the quality of translation. We have launched the Citizen Translators initiative where we reach out to volunteers to co-create solutions for the most suitable translations. We are encouraged by the public's response to this initiative. We look forward to work them to improve Government translations.

( In English ): Back to English, Chairman. The digital future presents many opportunities for different segments of our citizens. The Government will continue to work with partners from the people and private sectors to strengthen the digital eco-system. This way, Government-led programmes and community initiatives can complement each other and create greater value for Singaporeans. We look forward to forging an inclusive and digital Singapore together.

The Chairman : Mr Christopher de Souza.

Mr Christopher de Souza : I would like to thank the Minister and the two Senior Ministers of State for their very thoughtful clarifications. I would like to ask the Minister, in particular, whether he sees opportunities arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic for digitalisation in Singapore such that we can garner a reputation for being the Silicon Valley of Asia, whether we can bring the best digital minds and the best digi-tech minds to Singapore and have economies of scale here such that we can replicate or even advance a reputation of being the Silicon Valley of Asia. That is my clarification number one.

Mr S Iswaran : Chairman, I thank the Member for his clarification. I think when the Member uses the term "Silicon Valley of Asia", it is really a kind of a shorthand to describe what is essentially a confluence of opportunity, an enabling environment and talent. I think, in that regard, even before COVID-19, we already had a certain momentum to bring that confluence about in order to create a thriving opportunity within the tech eco-system in Singapore and, through Singapore, into Asia.

And to answer the Member's specific question, I think COVID-19 has, if anything, given this further impetus. How so? First, obviously in catalysing digital innovation in order to deal with the challenges that COVID-19 has thrown up but, in the process, also triggering a larger scale of adoption of digital technologies and, in a sense, a desire for more digital solutions because the value proposition has been internalised and now there is a desire to adopt and scale.

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The second thing is we have also seen the flow into Singapore of more technology-related investments. In fact, the Member himself mentioned this in his speech and several others have alluded to this. Again, I think that is in recognition of both the business conducive environment that we have in Singapore, the talent base that we have in Singapore and the opportunity set that they see in our region, and how Singapore can be the locale from which those opportunities can be accessed.

So, we have seen significant investments and new projects initiated by the big tech players, global tech players. But we have also seen many of the mid-sized, and even our local enterprises, moving in that direction.

The third point I would make is, because it is about confluence with talent, and this is where we have been making significant efforts – as I had explained and my colleagues also elaborated – both in terms of developing our local base, which is important, investing not just in the pipeline that is upstream from our Universities and pre-employment training and education, but also in endowing our workforce, those especially in their mid-careers, with the requisite skills to make that pivot into tech.

But at the same time, we are also engaged to attract talent that can complement our local base judiciously. Because of that scarcity of tech talent across the spectrum – whether you are talking about AI, cybersecurity, data analytics and so on – we need our fair share of talent. And that is something we are purposefully going about in partnership with other economic agencies, and that includes those under MTI. And it is about attracting Singaporeans who are based overseas, who would want to come back, perhaps, and we have seen many like that. But also other talent from other nationalities, who can judiciously complement our capabilities.

So, in sum, Mr Chairman, to answer the Member's question, there is certainly an opportunity for us to build on this. Whether I would use the moniker "Silicon Valley of Asia", well, I would apply that with some restraint. But, I think, certainly, we have the opportunity to be a thriving, secured, vibrant digital hub in this part of the world and part of the global eco-system.

The Chairman : Mr Don Wee.

Mr Don Wee : Chairman, I am heartened to understand from Senior Minister of State Sim Ann that the new Choa Chu Kang library will have very good offerings. So, when the library is undergoing renovation now, there is a book dispenser, which is placed at Lot One, Level 1 currently. So, I wonder if NLB can consider shifting the book dispenser to the nearest rental block, which houses about 500 units of young families, once the renovation is over, and since the rental block is only about 2 km away from Lot One?

Ms Sim Ann : I thank the Member for his support for the book dispenser. It was placed indeed to help meet the gap, while our renovations are on-going. We will take his suggestion back and study and get back to him.

The Chairman : Mr Sharael Taha.

Mr Sharael Taha : Thank you, Chairman, and I thank the Minister and the two Senior Ministers of State for all their clarifications.

Just a minor question for me. I would like to ask the Minister, he mentioned that the Digital Leaders Programme would be for 80 companies. Sounds like a very good programme as we need to grow our digital leaders. So, how will these companies be selected? Will it be by industry or the value proposition that they are looking for?

Mr S Iswaran : Mr Chairman, I thank the Member for his question. Basically, we are starting on this because we believe that there is a value proposition here. And, so, IMDA, working with other economic agencies, in particular, Enterprise Singapore, will be focused on working with companies that had already embarked on their digital journey; somewhat progressed in the way they have evolved their systems, and they also have the kernel, the core of a digital talent team, so that this can be the foundation upon which we build this.

Because if I go back to the point I made at the start, this is about not just broad-based scale in terms of the digitalisation reach, it is also about peaks. In other words, we are now trying to empower companies that are ready and able, to move forward, adopting more advanced digital technologies, with the capabilities and, critically, the talent that will enable them to maximise.

So, this will be something where the agencies will be working with companies that they deal with, in order to identify. There is no preset quota for particular sectors. It is more a function of the readiness and willingness of these companies to adopt the technology and to really be able to leverage it for the next bound of their digital growth.

The Chairman : Ms Nadia Samdin.

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin : Thank you, Chairman. I would really like to thank the Senior Minister of State for addressing my point earlier on. I was very keen and heartened to know that there have been discussions on how we can protect our women and girls online. And this is particularly poignant as this is the year of celebrating Singapore Women.

I know it is preliminary but could the Senior Minister of State please share some of the ideas raised during the discussion and the type of partners who are involved? I have heard parents shared how they feel really ill-equipped to deal with, for example, Tik Tok, Snapchat and OnlyFans. But we know that banning and deleting these apps will not solve the issue. So, I hope that any efforts, moving forward, will involve equipping parents as well.

Ms Sim Ann : Thank you, Ms Nadia Samdin, for your strong interest in this subject. The conversations are still on-going but I can share a few clusters of issues that have already emerged from our discussions.

The first cluster of issues would concern websites or online businesses that, on one hand, may be outright illegal, in terms of proffering sexual services, or they could be part of a grey area in which, perhaps, behaviour could be encouraged, which then may move down the slippery slope towards criminal activities. This is especially of concern if youngsters, including young girls, are targeted. For this cluster of issues, there is the aspect of looking at whether or not our existing laws are applicable, and to ensure that reporting mechanisms are timely and effective.

The second cluster of issues that have emerged concern the sharing to many and without consent of images and footage of victims. Very often, these are of women and girls, but we do not rule out men being the victims as well. This would fall under, very broadly, the ambit of harassment. This is something which on-going discussions, not just within the MCI family but also within the MHA family, about online harms and how to strengthen them, and how to also work with platforms to mitigate these harms would be very pertinent.

The third cluster of issues concern one-on-one interactions. So, for instance, users of social media platforms receiving unsolicited lewd pictures or very suggestive questions. And very often, not quite knowing how to react to these unwanted advances. For many of the social media platforms, community standards do exist but it is a question of whether users are fully aware of what these standards are and what they must do in order to protect themselves. So, for instance, we hear that a very common reaction of people who receive such unwanted advances is to delete them. But once it is deleted, the proof is gone, and that is something that quite a lot of public education and support would be helpful to protect the next woman or girl or, indeed, man or boy, from becoming the next victim.

The Chairman : Ms Mariam Jaafar.

Ms Mariam Jaafar : I thank the Minister and the Senior Ministers of State for the clarifications. I particularly want to express my deep appreciation as it is very evident that the approach that has been taken is a very inclusive one, with the focus on SMEs, hawkers and the elderly and also vulnerable women.

I am very glad to hear of the move to different kinds of schemes, so including more customisation and deeper hand-holding for digital starters. For example, the CTO-as-a-Service as well as for our Digital Leaders Programme. Ideally, I hope that this will also be somewhat sector-specific, and also address – as I had said in my cut – the internal process and the change management that would need to go along with any advice on adoption of digital solutions.

At the same time, I do want to raise a little caution, having heard some feedback on earlier programmes, which is that SMEs themselves tend to under-estimate the degree of hand-holding needed, and how hard it is, actually, to make a digital transformation. Perhaps, at this point, I should probably declare my interest as a consultant in this space.

Mass customisation is notoriously difficult, even with technology. So, I hope that these schemes will truly, really, be adequately resourced, which does involve cost, and evaluated frequently on their effectiveness and what needs to be done differently. Because I really do think that it is important for SMEs to get onboard.

So, if it comes to a matter of looking at ways, for example, to fund the journey, let us not skimp on the cost but actually think forward and proactively about how we can enable the highest number of SMEs.

Mr S Iswaran : Mr Chairman, I think the Member has made an important point, which is really that when we embark on an effort like this, which is, in essence, a kind of customisation at a mass scale, mass customisation, as she puts it, the challenges are considerable and we should not under-estimate the effort that is required.

We are talking about a very large base of enterprises. When we talk about SMEs in Singapore, we are talking about north of 200,000 entities. And they vary significantly in size, scale and complexity, from the MSMEs all the way to the mid-sized players; and also those larger than that.

So, our objective is, on the one hand, to have that baseline support, so that SMEs can start the journey. Hence, my point in what I said earlier, that we are committed to supporting businesses at every stage, from start-up to scale-up, and those even further beyond. And that is also evidenced in the way we have structured our programmes.

So, if you look at the SMEs Go Digital, it has a got a suite of possibilities, offerings from payment solutions to going online for marketing and so on. And all of these are enterprises that are already at a certain scale and wanting to make this adaptation. But we have also got the Start Digital programme which is really about those who are starting up their business but they can already adopt some of the digital solutions. And then we have the other extreme, the scaling up programmes, where they can go international by using some of these.

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The newer initiatives that we have embarked on are really trying to build on that suite of capabilities that we have, to allow a greater level of customisation but without overstating the case because the challenge remains. So, for example, CTO-as-a-Service really can go a lot deeper because you now have access as an SME to people with the expertise to do the diagnostics, assess the need and more than that to work out a strategy and a plan. And as I emphasised, it is also to work with the SMEs on the execution of that plan. So, project implementation. That is key. Because it is not just about a set of tools and then putting them into the system. As we all know, it is about the integration and then, how you adapt to your work processes to that new set of tools. I think that is key to realise the full benefits. So, that is our intention around the CTO-as-a-Service idea.

At the same time, we have got something on the Digital Leaders' Programme which is even more customised; working at a higher level. Hence, the numbers are smaller; I think this point that was raised. Because we need to train our sights on those that can do this, that are ready for it because they already journeyed somewhat.

In summary, I would say it is different strokes for different folks. And we have to find that spectrum of capabilities, both in the toolkit that we have in Government but also, as the Member put it, ultimately the customer must also understand what it entails. It is not just about making a decision, "Let's go digital". It is also about understanding what it entails and the kind of commitment that is required in terms of the technology you bring into the organisation but, most importantly, how you invest in your people and your systems to take full advantage of it on a sustainable basis.

The Chairman : Mr Christopher de Souza. Can I also remind Members to keep their clarifications short?

Mr Christopher de Souza : Thank you, Mr Chairman. My short clarification is in relation to the digitalisation of libraries, my request is that we do not overdo this. Because there is something about flipping through a hardcopy book, bringing your family and your children and introducing them to the library where you go and pick a book according to the author, and return the book according to the author, keeping quiet, it is a communal space; and reading a book that has been read before and the pages have been touched before. I think that is something very intimate and special. That is something unique to the reader and unique to hardcopy books.

So, in as much as we try to digitalise the reading of books, can we do this in a very calibrated fashion so that we pass on to the next generation the love for holding a hardcopy book and taking in the story physically as it were.

The Chairman : As long as you disinfect the book.

Mr Christopher de Souza : As long as we disinfect the book, yes. And I should disinfect my rostrum, Sir. That is my short clarification.

The Chairman : I am sure there is a shorter answer. Minister.

Mr S Iswaran : I thought I should respond to this clarification, with the indulgence of my colleague Minister of State Sim Ann. I think many of us share the Member's appreciation of the tactile experience of reading a physical book and also of gathering physically in the library and so on. I think it is not an experience that we want to eliminate by any means. We want to preserve it. And actually, what we want to do is enhance it by creating what we describe as an omni-channel strategy so that the digital platform and the digital initiatives will reinforce the attractiveness and the value of what you have physically in the library. And in turn what you experience in the library can then be carried on virtually through digital platforms.

So, really, what we envisage is a virtuous cycle between the physical and the virtual, and we want to ensure that we are able to keep the finest traditions of our libraries very much alive and thriving even as we go down the path of digitalisation.

The Chairman : Ms Tin, would you like to withdraw the amendment?

Ms Tin Pei Ling : It has been wonderful hearing from all the Members. As we move as one towards the digital future, I like to take this opportunity to thank the entire MCI family – our Minister, our Senior Ministers of State, everyone here – for their support and to include also the officers from the SNDGG. With that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

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

[(proc text) The sum of $1,380,214,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)]

[(proc text) The sum of $60,884,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]

Hansard 原始记录