預算辯論 · 2021-03-02 · 屆國會 14

新加坡數字人才與性別多樣性

AI 經濟與產業 AI 與就業 AI 基礎設施與研究 AI 與公共部門 爭議度 2 · 溫和質詢

議員質詢政府如何培養數字領導人才及推動女性進入科技領域，建議設立導師計劃並關注性別比例失衡。政府已推出多項人才培養計劃，但具體針對數字領導和女性參與的措施尚未明確。核心爭議在於如何有效吸引和留住高階科技人才及縮小性別差距。

關鍵要點

  • • 數字人才培養
  • • 導師計劃建議
  • • 女性科技參與
政府立場

已推多項人才計劃，關注技能提升

質詢立場

建議設立導師計劃，促進女性參與

政策訊號

加強數字人才培養與性別多樣性

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

參與人員 (25)

完整譯文（中文）

Hansard 原始記錄 · 2026-05-02

主席：通訊及資訊部Q組負責人。田佩玲女士。

產業能力與領導者

田佩玲女士（麥波申選區）：主席，我提議將預算中Q組的總撥款減少100元。

先生，新加坡懷有宏偉抱負，致力於實現繁榮的數字經濟和智慧國。我認為，人才和資料是最基本且最重要的成功因素。我們需要資料來創新，也需要人才來完成任務。

在我2020年2月的預算辯論演講中，我談到了如果我們要在科技和創新領域出類拔萃，就必須擁有高度集中的技術工人和關鍵規模的人才，就像我們在生物科技領域所做的那樣。新加坡需要提供大量不僅滿足現有需求，而且能吸引來自本地區及更遠地區未來獨角獸企業的人才。

同樣重要的是，我們需要本土獨角獸。我們需要更多新加坡數字領導者和科技獨角獸，以進一步鞏固我們在世界上的地位。

根據波士頓諮詢集團最近的一份報告，現今科技相關職位空缺數量是2010年的兩倍。隨著我們繼續吸引大型科技公司來新加坡，並推動新加坡企業的數字化轉型，對人才的需求愈發迫切。

首先，關於數字領導者和導師計劃。我很高興政府推出了許多有用的計劃，如TeSa、SGUnited就業與技能計劃以及PCP，這些計劃有助於加強我們的人才庫，具備必要的技術知識和行業技能。為了確保該領域的可持續發展和進步，我想詢問政府正在採取哪些措施積極培養數字領導者。政府是否考慮正式引入一項導師計劃，吸引來自全球的頂尖人才和公司創始人，或許利用TechPass持有者，來指導我們的青年和初創企業？

我去年在議會中談過這個問題，現在再次提出。最終，我們希望打造一個充滿活力的人才社群，培養下一代，提升新加坡的影響力，進一步鞏固新加坡在全球舞臺上的地位。

接下來談談女性在科技領域的情況。我特別關注如何吸引和留住女性進入這一細分的科技領域。通訊及資訊部2017年的人力統計顯示，男女比例明顯差異，男性佔68%，女性佔32%。哈佛商業評論2019年的一篇研究論文指出，投資性別多樣性有助於形成積極的反饋迴圈，促進人才吸引和公司財務收益。借用我之前提到的波士頓諮詢集團報告，擁有科技相關學位的女性比例為29%，低於整體學位中53%的女性比例。因此，我想問政府有哪些計劃進一步鼓勵女性進入科技領域。

第三，關於透明度框架。先生，我們應呼籲企業，尤其是大型企業，對其企業領導者的期望更加透明。福布斯的一篇文章指出，引入透明企業文化的好處之一是促進員工幸福感和人才留存。我想問政府是否會考慮建立一個框架，以增強企業透明度，特別是在科技人才發展和晉升方面。

第四，支援創新。關於創新支援，除了已公佈的2025年研究、創新與企業計劃（RIE2025）以促進研發外，我想問政府將採取哪些措施幫助本地初創企業或本地創新企業獲得公共部門內外的重要專案，以提升其信譽。

除了擁有IMDA認證企業名單外，是否可以更有力地鼓勵政府關聯公司與本地科技企業合作，並帶領它們參與海外專案？如果沒有獲得“重大突破”的機會，我們的本地初創企業可能陷入小專案的惡性迴圈。這無意中造成了本地初創企業只能承擔小專案的錯誤印象。

此外，如果沒有在新加坡承擔過大型專案以增加資歷，一些本地企業在獨自開拓海外市場時可能面臨相當大的挑戰。由於缺乏信譽或資歷，本地初創企業可能被迫降低報價以贏得合同。這又形成了一個不可持續的降價惡性迴圈。

我們能否減少追逐大品牌，更多支援本地企業？是否可以考慮“支援新加坡”措施，在某些公共專案招標中優先考慮有資格的本地企業，或許是那些參與規模擴大計劃的企業？這樣的機會可能是我們企業成為新加坡下一個科技獨角獸的突破口。

最後談談資料收集。我理解這是一個敏感話題，但當前高度敏感的環境使本地企業難以收集資料以創新其產品或服務。有時，儘管企業保證資料將被匿名處理，但仍面臨獲取資料的挑戰。沒有資料，企業創新將非常困難，風險是創造出脫離實際的產品。

因此，我們需要在保護資料和促進資料創新之間取得平衡。我們希望成為全球資料中心。但我們如何利用資料造福社會？政府是否考慮作為合作伙伴支援企業的研究和調查？這可以提升公眾信心。政府還能做些什麼來實現這一平衡？先生，我提議。

【（程式文本）提案提出。（程式文本）】

支援中小微企業數字化轉型

田佩玲女士：先生，數字全球化正在加速。疫情後，企業數字化已非選擇，而是必然。此外，數字化打破了地理和物理限制，帶來了無限的市場和機遇。

然而，中小微企業往往因不知“做什麼”和“怎麼做”而感到望而生畏。大多數中小微企業資源有限，既缺乏內部技術專長來掃描市場上各種數字解決方案，也缺乏聘請合格顧問協助數字化的資源。

基於此，我想提出三點建議。

第一，建立對技術的信任。“我不知道我不知道什麼”，“如果被騙怎麼辦？”，“銀行或機構會知道我的一切嗎？”中小微企業對數字化益處的認同可能較弱。它們忙於日常運營，幾乎無力關注通過數字化實現的漸進式生產力提升，一是每天都在為生存而戰，二是數字解決方案對它們來說可能是“陌生”的。加上偶爾有些企業被騙的報道，數字化可能成為一個神秘且可怕的怪物。政府能否分享如何破除誤解，幫助中小微企業理解數字化的好處，從而增強信心？

第二，解決技術難題。即使是較有前瞻性的中小微企業相信數字化，也可能無暇深入瞭解數字規格，更別說部署和實施解決方案。鑑於規模限制，聘請內部IT專家成本可能較高。因此，今年預算中宣佈的資源共享和CTO即服務的想法非常好。

第三，展示明確收益。如果數字化能帶來營收增長和成本降低，企業的動力將更強。當然，政府的“啟動數字包”等計劃很有用。但我建議政府關注實施細節，提升申請體驗。

例如，一家本地科技解決方案提供商告訴我，許多中小微企業因“中小企業數字化”資助而有意購買其方案。但因截止日期嚴格且審批耗時，一些企業擔心申請獲批時已過截止日期而放棄申請。對我來說，這是中小微企業錯失數字化機會的例子。

先生，隨著數字化加速推進，現在是“成敗在此一舉”的時刻。我因此請問部委分享更多幫助中小微企業轉型的措施。

主席：亞歷克斯·嚴先生。

亞歷克斯·嚴先生（馬西嶺-裕廊西選區）：主席，數字技術無疑與現代經濟息息相關，尤其是在新冠疫情期間。

隨著對創新領域需求的增長，以緩衝疫情帶來的衝擊並利用新機遇，新的應用和數字解決方案層出不窮。

數字技術正日益影響經濟各個領域。即使是傳統行業如餐飲、農業和建築，技術投資也在快速增長，成為全球趨勢。

下午3時45分

近年來，亞洲受益於新一波數字創新。國際貨幣基金組織觀察到，亞洲在電子商務和金融科技領域領先全球。該地區的發達和發展中經濟體均取得顯著數字化成果。我們必須努力瞭解如何最大化利用這些數字機遇，惠及經濟並提升生活水平。部長能否分享我們將如何加強在全球數字經濟中的競爭優勢？

我們在區域競爭對手中佔有顯著優勢，科技巨頭紛紛在新加坡設立總部或區域辦事處。但正如早前貿易及工業部預算委員會所述，科技人才短缺仍是長期關注的問題。資訊通訊行業未來三年需新增6萬名專業人才。

因此，政府和企業必須集中力量尋找人才，確保我們科技初創地位。由於許多職位要求數字技能專家，這並不容易。我們如何確保有足夠人才滿足數字經濟增長的需求？我們能否真正成為亞洲的矽谷？

疫情後數字化對生活的影響

謝健平先生（海洋坊選區）：主席，過去一年，我們許多人螢幕使用時間大幅增加。我的股票經紀朋友告訴我，佣金在多年下降後有所回升。資料顯示，交易次數增加，儘管金額較小。我們都知道，網上購物如今非常普遍。生活確實改變了，數字世界佔據了我們更多的清醒時間。

數字化如何幫助我們適應疫情期間的新生活現實？我還想問政府在基礎設施方面做了哪些投資，不僅支援數字領域擴充套件，還保障其免受詐騙，確保公平？

沙拉爾·塔哈先生（巴西立-榜鵝選區）：主席，先生，請允許我一併提交我的削減(e)、(f)和(g)項。

主席：請講。

跨部委轉型支援

沙拉爾·塔哈先生：新冠疫情成為企業轉型的催化劑。過去，我們工作場所、商店和市場距離近，物理接觸便利，無需急於數字化以彌合距離。但疫情促使組織和企業探索數字解決方案，如Zoom、電子支付和電子商務。

我們現在更理解數字化如何使運營更便捷高效。下一步是從零星數字化或試點，轉向全面採用真正可持續的數字轉型。這將使我們超越簡單地將技術附加於現有流程，而是充分利用數字化，根本性地轉變商業模式。

只有這樣，我們才能充分抓住後疫情世界經濟帶來的機遇。

值得注意的是，麥肯錫最近報告指出，85%的東盟企業仍陷於數字化試點陷阱。通訊及資訊部、貿易及工業部和人力部如何更緊密合作，支援企業推動真正持續的數字轉型？通過跨部委協調一致的計劃，幫助企業構建連貫、成功的轉型策略和執行，或許通過貿易及工業部提供明確的運營和技術路線圖，通訊及資訊部的數字領導者計劃和SGUnited就業與技能培訓提供技術人才支援，利用通訊及資訊部的CTO即服務，由經驗豐富的從業者指導，同時培訓組織能力以更好利用資料洞察。

每個部委掌握拼圖的一部分。作為業界人士，導航轉型不易，因為這不僅是提升生產力，而是根本轉變商業模式。

許多企業可能需要幫助來理清眾多不同的支援計劃。為幫助企業充分利用現有支援方案，部委是否考慮通過會員計劃或陪伴式服務，提供跨部委的業務轉型支援？我們需要更協調的業務轉型方法，幫助企業獲得動力，更好地利用多樣的跨部委支援。

中小企業通過數字化釋放價值

我的第二項削減關注數字鴻溝，特別是中小企業的包容性增長。數字化計劃幫助許多中小企業完成數字化轉型。一個例子是東部知名的魚肉香飯餐廳Saffrons。通過採用數字點餐、第三方外賣應用、數字營銷和幽默的推廣，當然還有美味的食物，業主Rijal先生分享說，他顯著擴大了客戶群和收入。Saffrons是一個非數字原生的小企業，成功利用數字轉型的例子。

然而，並非所有中小企業在數字化方面進展均衡。疫情擴大了數字化“有”和“無”之間的差距。一些中小企業仍在努力通過數字化尋找價值。面對眾多計劃，通訊及資訊部如何幫助數字化初學者導航支援生態系統？如何幫助企業通過數字化釋放新價值，尤其是需要更多幫助的數字化初學者？隨著更多家庭企業和零工經濟者出現，通訊及資訊部如何幫助家庭企業釋放價值？

資訊通訊技術行業的機遇

我讚賞持續支援SGUnited就業與技能計劃。我遇到許多受益者，從中年轉職者到應屆畢業生。他們中許多人渴望進入不斷增長的資訊通訊技術行業。

然而，一些人仍擔心缺乏技能和行業背景，難以抓住數字機遇。許多人表示，儘管參加了多門數字課程，但尚未獲得行業職業機會。他們說因缺乏經驗被拒。但沒有機會，他們永遠無法轉行並積累經驗。

通訊及資訊部如何幫助這些工作者獲得行業機會，確保他們在數字經濟中獲得好工作？部委是否考慮某種機制，平衡資訊通訊技術行業中有經驗和無經驗人才的招聘？

中小企業與數字轉型

司徒義彬先生（波東巴西選區）：主席，中小企業為約70%的勞動力提供就業，貢獻了新加坡近50%的GDP。中小企業業務流程數字化和電子商務增長是兩個潛在領域，可幫助中小企業提升效率和業務增長。

過去一年，在新冠疫情背景下，數字轉型成為一些中小企業必須緊急採取的步驟。

因此，我邀請部長與本院分享部委支援和加速中小企業數字轉型的計劃。

中小企業數字化

瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士（森巴旺選區）：主席，不少同事在我之前發言。預算中對中小企業數字化的關注值得歡迎，既有新舉措，也提高了現有計劃的支援水平。

對中小企業而言，計劃必須快速產生價值，否則報名率低，流失率高。中小企業數字化計劃常因不符合中小企業需求而表現不佳。一家中小企業告訴我，這些計劃就像只有一把錘子，不管我有何種釘子都一樣。

彌合這一差距的一種方法是關注可擴充套件的用例，而不是他們必須自己摸索如何應用的廣泛主題或框架。任何用例的價值往往也在於改變內部流程和推動數字文化。因此，提供有意義的變革管理支援至關重要。中小企業對支援型別和指導程度的需求和期望有很大不同。因此，專案設計可以針對不同細分市場更加有針對性和差異化。

除了融資和補助的推動方式外，政府還可以更多地與數字生態系統合作伙伴，特別是科技巨頭合作，他們能夠利用其廣泛的網路和經驗為中小企業爭取支援。例如，在中國，京東的“火花”計劃為貧困地區的攤位和商鋪提供供應鏈、業務支援和信貸，同時提供靈活的就業和居家工作機會。

我希望政府能詳細說明正在延長的中小企業數字化專案的採用情況和效果，以及迄今為止所吸取的經驗教訓。我也希望涉及該領域的不同部委能確保，例如數字實習和中小企業數字化專案能夠同步發揮協同效應，以最大化我們的投資價值。否則，我常發現跨國公司比我們的中小企業更願意接納數字實習生。對於一個必須承擔70%勞動力的行業來說，這種情況必須改變。

支援中小企業數字化轉型

黃俊賢議員（蔡厝港）：主席先生，中小企業，包括小販業，為我們三分之二的勞動力提供就業，並貢獻了近一半的國內生產總值。政府已推出“中小企業數字化”和“小販數字化”計劃，支援他們的數字化努力，以轉型運營、提高生產力和拓展業務。

新冠疫情衝擊了許多行業，對中小企業採用數字技術產生了什麼影響？部委是否觀察到數字化專案的採用率有何變化？各種服務的利用率如何，如中小企業數字技術中心諮詢服務、預先批准的解決方案和數字韌性獎金？

中小企業的數字化轉型並不均衡。哪些行業進展較慢？政府如何支援他們克服面臨的困難？

梁榮華議員（武吉班讓）：先生，近年來的年度預算中，數字化是首要優先事項之一，獲得了大量預算撥款以推動這項工作。我瀏覽了信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）網站，發現確實有一長串旨在幫助中小企業的具體計劃和支援。

新冠疫情意外推動了企業和消費者對數字化的採用，消費者的使用也比以前更多。我能否瞭解目前的進展？我們還需走多遠？未來還有哪些支援和援助？

5G部署

陳素玲議員（東海岸）：主席先生，新冠疫情凸顯了連線性的重要性，使人們能夠繼續工作、生活和娛樂。居家辦公、居家學習，甚至與家人朋友溝通，在疫情期間沒有數字連線是不可能實現的。

5G網路技術能夠實現顯著增強的連線性和新能力。5G的關鍵在於規模、低延遲和高速。因此，5G可以變革並實現以前無法實現的連線，提供新的服務水平、商業模式和體驗。5G可以實現基礎設施、緊急、安保、醫療和衛生服務的關鍵任務通訊。

雖然5G的好處廣泛，但5G的實施複雜，涉及多個利益相關者。連線性增強和對5G網路的依賴也會增加網路安全風險。新加坡對5G的策略和計劃是什麼，以確保消費者、企業和社會廣泛受益，同時最大限度地降低相關風險？

我們的數字創新生態系統

Christopher de Souza議員（荷蘭-武吉知馬）：主席先生，我們通過創新政策打造了良好的初創生態系統，吸引了許多全球企業在新加坡設立總部。谷歌、字節跳動、騰訊、微軟等全球科技巨頭均在新加坡設有重要業務，新加坡有望成為亞洲的矽谷。事實上，新加坡可以嘗試與矽谷競爭，成為初創人才的首選地。

隨著數十億美元公司的湧入，競爭加劇，信息通信媒體發展部（MCI）如何繼續發展和建設本地數字創新生態系統，以支援本土初創企業？

資料隱私與責任

物聯網、人工智慧、零工經濟和全球科技巨頭的增長，使得資料和資料中心技術的競爭將隱私問題推到了聚光燈下。我們對此高度重視，最近本議院通過了《個人資料保護修正案2020》，要求組織對其處理的資料負責。然而，我們在平衡個人隱私與創造更多連線、提升生活質量之間仍有很長的路要走。

隨著數字環境快速演變，信息通信媒體發展部和個人資料保護委員會（PDPC）如何繼續確保組織尊重隱私並對其處理的資料負責？

關鍵系統的網路安全

第三個問題，先生。2020年12月中旬，發現SolarWinds Orion的業務軟體更新被植入惡意程式碼。由於SolarWinds作為網路管理軟體在全球廣泛使用，成千上萬的私營和公共部門組織暴露於惡意軟體更新之下。SolarWinds網路攻擊凸顯了供應鏈攻擊的危險以及濫用認證機制進入受害者內部網路的風險。

為持續打擊網路犯罪和網路攻擊，信息通信媒體發展部如何確保新加坡的關鍵資訊基礎設施、政府系統和使用者資料安全，不被未來攻擊的後門所利用？

網路安全

任俊賢議員：主席先生，我們許多人的現實生活現在大部分在線上進行。這也意味著高度敏感的個人資料被頻繁共享，但往往是無意識的。

過去一年，新加坡四分之一居民遭遇至少一次網路安全漏洞，未經授權訪問線上賬戶的嘗試最為常見。

對企業而言，網路安全也成為日常鬥爭，網路犯罪分子的技術日益複雜，持續攻擊不同企業。

新冠疫情迫使企業大量依賴數字平臺遠端辦公。這些平臺因此成為有吸引力的攻擊目標，如果安全維護不充分，極易遭受入侵。

變革性的5G技術使我們比以往更加互聯。近期新電信（Singtel）的網路安全漏洞提醒我們，即使是資源豐富的大型企業也面臨風險。

那麼，政府將如何更好地保護新加坡公民和企業的網路空間安全？

加強網路安全

陳素玲議員：主席先生，政府、企業和個人對數字和技術的依賴日益加深，用於連線、資訊訪問與交換及運營。大量敏感的個人或商業資料以數字形式使用和儲存。這增加了網路攻擊的風險，可能導致個人和敏感資料的丟失和未經授權使用，以及運營和活動的中斷。

新冠疫情推動了電子支付、移動應用和電子錢包的使用。智慧手機實際上成為移動金融交易中心。隨著電子商務交易量增加，加強供應鏈安全尤為重要，因為供應鏈網路攻擊日益增多。

部長能否分享我們如何加強新加坡的網路安全？鑑於網路安全的重要性，我們如何培養本地網路安全人才？

網路空間與資料流治理

謝耀權議員（裕廊）：主席，全球數字經濟現值近3萬億美元。東盟內部預計到2025年將增長至1970億美元。資料將成為我們最寶貴的資源，全球及東盟的資料連線基礎設施和推動者至關重要。新加坡有巨大機會成為思想領袖和安全、無縫跨境資料流的可信樞紐。

部委能否更新其在全球和區域層面上的工作：一是資料管理框架，包括資料分類和控制，作為數字經濟各方的通用語言；二是推動業務創新的跨境資料流機制？

主席，相關地，網路空間已成為全球公域。部委能否更新新加坡如何塑造網路空間國際治理，就像我們持續塑造空域和海域治理的國際規範一樣？

最後，2019年新加坡在達沃斯世界經濟論壇推出了人工智慧治理模型框架。該框架通過將原則轉化為組織負責任部署人工智慧的實用建議，為全球人工智慧倫理話語做出貢獻。

基於此，部委能否更新該框架及其如何繼續支援我們的國家人工智慧戰略？

郵政行業轉型

梁榮華議員：先生，政府於2007年結束了新郵（SingPost）在基礎郵件服務市場的壟斷，但信息通信媒體發展局繼續指定新郵為公共郵政許可持有人。

新郵需履行信息通信媒體發展局確定的一系列普遍服務義務。我想問政府如何確保新郵繼續提供優質郵政服務，履行其為公眾服務的義務？如何保護消費者利益及郵件的完整性和安全？

近年來郵政行業格局發生了重大變化。部長能否更新當前格局及信息通信媒體發展部轉型郵政行業以滿足消費者需求的計劃？

新加坡郵政行業

薛耀賓議員：主席先生，我記得年輕時與筆友交換信件——是的，筆友——在信封上貼郵票並親自寄出。如今，電子郵件、電子發票及其他多種電子通訊方式在數字時代普遍存在，信件郵件量急劇下降。

另一方面，電子商務的興起導致包裹和小包裹遞送數量增加。這對我們的郵政行業提出了不同的物流需求。

我預計這兩種趨勢在未來幾年將加劇。據我瞭解，電子商務量預計未來五年每年增長12%至20%。鑑於2020年新冠疫情限制措施，這一趨勢加速。我因此邀請部長與本院分享部委轉型新加坡郵政行業以滿足消費者變化需求的計劃。

數字與郵政轉型

謝炳輝議員（荷蘭-武吉知馬）：主席先生，信息通信媒體發展部及其官員在實施“心鄰數字化”和“小販數字化”幫助企業數字轉型方面的努力值得稱讚。我們注意到當前工作雖成效顯著，但過程繁瑣。

信息通信媒體發展部能否將某些數字採用，如數字支付解決方案，納入新租約及續約的條件，並以租金減免作為數字採用的回報？對於較小企業，部委能否定期提供彙總的匿名資料，幫助中小企業瞭解資料如何助力業務增長？

我們還需轉型郵政行業以滿足消費者對電子商務包裹的需求。如今，數字化使消費者對包裹更快、更便捷的遞送有更高期待。這是重大挑戰。為克服挑戰，需擴大非接觸式遞送方式的使用，如帶即時追蹤的取件點，以減少遞送中斷。這種非接觸遞送方式因減少逐門遞送，降低經濟和環境成本。

電子商務購買需求增加導致逆向物流上升，因消費者退貨。若無可持續流程，將大大抵消包裹遞送減少碳足跡的努力。信息通信媒體發展部是否考慮通過遞送、退貨和回收流程實現包裹迴圈經濟？部委在這一物流挑戰中採取了哪些措施以確保環境可持續？

在主要電子商務促銷季節，我們觀察到藍色回收箱中包裝廢棄物回收量增加。因此，信息通信媒體發展部能否進一步在社群增設藍色回收箱，或將包裹遞送資料與藍色回收箱收集機構共享，以便調整清運頻率，最大化回收效率？

郵政行業的未來

鄭興耀議員（提名議員）：主席，電子商務因新冠疫情加速發展，將持續普及。信息通信媒體發展部如何引導郵政行業邁向更規範環境，以更好保護消費者利益？部委如何為公共和私營部門提供包裹櫃基礎設施及服務標準的指導框架，以促進電子商務發展並提升使用者體驗？

電子商務的普及也挑戰了許多傳統零售公司的生存能力，這些公司需審視其分銷模式。新規範環境如何幫助傳統零售公司順利轉型為線上業務模式？

數字時代的圖書館

蘇慧燕議員（馬西嶺-裕廊西）：主席，請用中文發言。

（中文）：[請參閱方言發言。] 閱讀有助於開闊視野，培養廣泛興趣。通過閱讀，我們能更好理解個人行為，獲得更多通識知識。在無法出國旅行的時期，閱讀讓我們無需出國即可更好了解世界其他地區的歷史、文化、風俗及最新發展。

（英文）：許多居民告訴我，疫情前圖書館是他們最喜歡去的地方。

十年前在兀蘭區域圖書館舉辦的一次閱讀活動開幕詞中，前信息通信及藝術部長雅各布·易卜拉欣博士說：“閱讀對我們語言和溝通技能的發展至關重要。它通過開啟新世界和新體驗，深化我們的知識，豐富我們的生活。它還在促進家庭和朋友團聚中發揮重要作用，許多人都體驗過與讀友討論或分享喜愛書籍的樂趣。因此，任何進步社會都應培養人民的閱讀熱愛和終身學習。”

基於此，我想問部委，在當今數字世界，如何通過便捷獲取推廣閱讀，並確保電子書對所有人都負擔得起？我們的圖書館如何在數字時代保持相關性？它們將如何繼續滿足新加坡人，尤其是有小孩的家庭和老年人的需求？

下午4時15分

此外，最近我訪問監獄時瞭解到，新加坡監獄服務已開始向囚犯提供平板電腦，方便他們給家人寫電子郵件。為更好促進教育、技能提升和就業能力的康復與融合，部委能否與監獄服務合作，為囚犯提供更廣泛的書籍，包括電子書？

我們圖書館的未來

蔡振輝議員（丹戎巴葛）：主席先生，圖書館是社會通往知識的門戶。它們在年輕一代的學習旅程中扮演核心角色，作為促進思想和文化傳播交流的公共空間，也是為弱勢群體提供技術支援的重要平衡器。

隨著新加坡及全球因疫情被迫迅速邁向數字未來，我們如何確保公共圖書館跟上技術進步？如何確保圖書館繼續通過其社會和策展角色服務新加坡居民？在谷歌搜尋常成為大多數人尋求知識的第一步的世界，圖書館需要做出哪些演變以確保其在數字未來的持續相關性？相關地，圖書館員的角色如何演變，以跟上這些不可避免的變化？

跟上數字未來

主席先生，新冠肺炎疫情迫使世界在一夜之間改變了我們的運作方式。疫情以極快的速度將數字化未來強加給我們。我們的年輕人開始居家學習。家庭越來越依賴電子商務平臺滿足日常需求，比如購買雜貨。由於安全管理措施，婚禮和守靈等人生大事通過視訊會議進行。無論是哪種活動，結論都是一樣的：我們已經擁抱了數字化，即使疫情最終結束，也無法回頭。

鑑於疫情帶來的這一意外但不可避免的後果，我們能做些什麼來確保數字化不會破壞我們加強社會契約的努力？我們如何確保弱勢群體不會預設成為技術落後者，因為這隻會進一步加深他們的社會和經濟地位？我們又如何確保我們的長者能夠乘風破浪，駕馭快速發展的新數字技術？

我們如何幫助企業在維持現有傳統系統的同時，合理平衡並投資於數字業務創新？我們的數字戰略是什麼，以支援中小企業和本地大型企業不僅保持活力，而且蓄勢待發，在數字全球市場中蓬勃發展？

數字包容與安全上網

納迪婭·艾哈邁德·薩姆丁女士（宏茂橋）：主席先生，我們的青年是數字原住民，生於網際網路深度融入生活的時代。從學習、娛樂、點餐、出行、社交到公民話語，數字工具帶來了巨大好處，也能成為平等化的力量。不確定某事？只需谷歌搜尋即可核實。

我們需要確保各階層的兒童都具備利用技術帶來的機遇的能力。

然而，數字領域的開放性也帶來了危險。從網路欺凌、不良內容暴露到網路激進化，網際網路也可能造成分裂，社交媒體上的“戰士”呼籲人們盲目站隊，而非進行健康的討論。

我想詢問，政府有哪些計劃來裝備和引導各階層的青年及其家長，建設一個更好、更安全的網際網路環境，促進社會話語，並保護我們的青年，尤其是年輕女孩，免受網路欺凌和過度性化的影響？

長者數字化

西爾維婭·林女士（阿裕尼）：長者數字化計劃於去年五月啟動，旨在幫助長者提升數字能力。在去年六月的議會辯論中，我表示支援該計劃，但也擔心部分長者可能無法實現數字跨越。部長澄清，該計劃旨在鼓勵採用數字解決方案，但仍保留非數字方案的選項，因為有些人仍偏好或對數字部分感到不適。他還強調，網路安全將繼續在長者培訓專案中得到重視。

此後，該計劃勢頭良好。據報道，計劃目標是在本月覆蓋10萬名長者。通過名為“長者移動接入”的方案，已推出低價行動電話計劃，針對低收入長者。

為了瞭解這些方案的影響，能否請部委澄清以下三點？第一，信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）針對10萬名長者的目標覆蓋範圍是什麼？關鍵績效指標是參加課程的人數，還是必須展示一定水平的能力？第二，預計有多少人將受益於“長者移動接入”方案？第三，鑑於網路詐騙的增加，培訓中的犯罪預防內容是否會加強？

數字包容

鄭麗慧小姐（淡濱尼）：主席先生，信息通信媒體發展部在數字時代幫助長者方面做了很大努力。芽籠東公共圖書館的試點專案提供一站式訪問200多項精選數字政府服務，如公積金提名和社群醫療援助計劃（CHAS）申請，非常實用。請問這項服務會推廣到所有圖書館嗎？

自2020年啟動“長者數字化”計劃以來，已有多少長者接受了輔導？IMDA將如何擴大數字素養工作，裝備更多長者掌握數字技能，以支援他們的日常需求？

數字包容且準備就緒的社會

沙希拉·阿卜杜拉博士（提名議員）：主席先生，新冠疫情加速了新加坡的數字化程序。然而，這也意味著疫情前已處於不利地位的弱勢群體可能會被進一步邊緣化。

新加坡政府在縮小數字鴻溝方面付出了巨大努力，尤其是在疫情背景下。通過“家庭接入”和“NEU PC Plus”計劃，許多人現在擁有了數字裝置。教育部目標是在2021年前為所有中學生提供一對一筆記型電腦。然而，數字裝置擁有量增加也意味著維護支援需求增加。低收入家庭可能負擔不起現有商店的服務。副總理 Heng 提到，非營利組織如 Engineering Good 已與社群夥伴合作提供這些服務。

因此，我想問部委，是否可以利用這些組織的網路和專業知識，這些組織可能已與社會服務機構建立聯絡，幫助擴大服務範圍並增強數字服務套件？

數字素養在這個高度互聯的世界中也非常重要。使用者需要了解網路安全風險和負責任的網路行為。還需學習實用技能，如處理視訊會議和解決網路連線問題。然而，低收入家庭的學生家長往往數字素養不足，難以支援孩子。

教育部已有國家數字素養計劃針對學生。信息通信媒體發展部是否考慮與教育部及/或其他社會服務機構合作，將該計劃推廣給家長？

今年2月2日，易華仁部長向議會報告，藉助“家庭接入”和“NEU PC Plus”計劃，新加坡家庭寬頻普及率從2014年的87%提升至2019年的98%。根據統計，新加坡有137萬戶居民家庭，約有2.7萬戶無寬頻接入，這不是一個小數字。

我理解IMDA將簡化公共租賃計劃家庭的申請流程，確保他們自動符合援助資格，但這需要時間。

“超越社會服務”組織目前有一個免費無線網路走廊專案以應對這一問題。政府是否考慮與類似組織合作，將該專案推廣到更多租賃家庭，以免延誤適當的網際網路接入？

黃偉中先生（裕廊）：主席先生，我們已見證新冠疫情如何加速數字創新，改變我們的生活和工作方式。許多長者通過數字手段完成重要任務——如使用SGQR碼進行安全入場、電子支付等。許多小販也擁抱數字化，提供電子解決方案，現正接入電子商務平臺，利用線上市場銷售產品和服務。我為長者和小販的努力感到欣慰。

然而，每個人適應變化的速度不同。我注意到仍有許多新加坡人需要更多指導和支援以適應數字化。我們不能自滿，因為數字鴻溝有擴大的風險。信息通信媒體發展部推出了“攤販數字化”和“長者數字化”等數字包容計劃。我也注意到IMDA和國家圖書館局通過提供負擔得起的網際網路接入、數字裝置和電子書，支援低收入家庭和弱勢群體。

我堅信合作伙伴關係和協作。因此，我想請信息通信媒體發展部詳細說明其計劃及合作伙伴，推動自下而上的舉措，促進數字包容和準備就緒的社會。

數字鴻溝與詐騙上升趨勢

謝健鵬先生：主席先生，新冠疫情加速了數字化程序，但也加劇了社群中的數字鴻溝。部委如何幫助低收入家庭獲取數字工具或平臺，並保持與更廣泛社會的聯絡？

在我的預算主辯論中，我談到我們需要做什麼，讓低收入群體獲得數字基礎設施——包括硬體和寬頻接入。

數字接入努力的第三個重要方面是數字機敏度，類似於現實生活中的街頭智慧。數字帝國中的黑暗角落和現實生活一樣危險——搶劫常見，生命也可能輕易終結。電子商務詐騙是最常見的網路詐騙，且在疫情期間顯著增加。

作為社會成員，我們既需要信任，也需要懷疑。在日常生活中，我們信任市場上的魚販不會欺騙我們，保證當天捕獲的新鮮魚貨；同樣，我們依賴朋友的社會資本，信任他們守諾言，也信任商業夥伴對某些事務的判斷。

疫情期間，可信且易得的資訊尤為重要。但網路上的真相稀缺，與疫情相關的外部事務同樣重要。信息通信媒體發展部如何確保不同需求群體都能獲取可信資訊？

我們如何幫助構建社群，形成集體身份感，使大家都投入於相互通報資訊，每個人都能訪問並評估數字世界中資訊的質量？

數字環境接入

沙拉爾·塔哈先生：主席先生，儘管已做出許多努力提升數字素養，但並非所有新加坡人都能平等獲得數字裝置或具備數字素養。疫情擴大了數字擁有者與數字缺乏者之間的差距。除了具備基本技能，個人還必須擁有裝置、網路和持續沉浸於數字環境的目的。

信息通信媒體發展部如何幫助弱勢群體、低收入家庭和青年獲得所需數字技能？我們是否做得足夠，防止這些不幸家庭被落下？

縮小數字鴻溝

薩克提安迪·蘇帕特先生（碧山-大巴窯）：主席先生，疫情使網際網路成為獲取教育、就業和健康等關鍵領域機會的生活工具。許多國家都在應對數字鴻溝，新加坡也不例外。部委將推出哪些新政策以縮小這一鴻溝，減少對未來世代的影響？

為更好支援租賃家庭，我舉美國“ConnectHome”計劃為例。該計劃為低收入住房提供負擔得起的寬頻接入、技術培訓、數字素養課程及教育和就業相關內容。這是一個綜合性數字包容計劃，超越了僅允許居民申請裝置和補貼。

為幫助自由職業者和居家工作的員工，我們是否可以探索某種稅收抵免，個人報稅時可享受，或對為員工支付寬頻費用的僱主給予稅收減免？

下午4點30分

疫情前，人們可在社群空間如圖書館和學校使用寬頻設施，但現在這些選項被不鼓勵。我敦促部委做更多工作，確保每戶家庭在家中都能接入優質數字連線。

以公民為中心與準備就緒

陳佩玲女士：先生，配合我們的智慧國計劃，我們的數字轉型努力最終是為了提升新加坡人的生活。但我們不能無意中製造新的不平等，或加劇現有差距，即能接觸並利用新數字技術的人與不能的人之間的差距。

據報道，去年已有超過16,000名長者受益於IMDA的“長者數字化”計劃。我很高興該計劃對感到數字化加速帶來疏離感的長者有益且受歡迎。幫助長者啟程並擁抱數字化，緩解了因安全距離措施帶來的孤立感，使他們能繼續過上更積極、知情和充實的生活。

令人欣慰的是，青年團等志願者團體幫助長者掌握數字技能，ST工程等企業捐款支援“長者移動接入”和為低收入學生及殘障人士提供的“NEU PC Plus”計劃。除了提供裝置，幫助他們有效且明智地使用數字工具也很重要。

在這方面，我想請部委更新過去幾個月在各項計劃上所做的努力進展，幫助新加坡人跟上國家數字化步伐。特別是，採取了哪些措施彌合數字鴻溝，確保弱勢群體不會因缺乏意識和資源而被遺漏？

最後，我還想問政府，在開發數字服務以滿足民眾需求時，有何計劃更多地與新加坡人互動？已做了什麼，將做什麼，確保政府服務和資訊以以公民為中心的方式傳遞？

因此，我們需要加倍努力，幫助每個人在數字化旅程中前進。在推進數字化的同時，重要的是不讓任何人落後，確保我們朝著同一方向、作為一個整體前進。

母語溝通

先生，新冠疫情凸顯了危機和潛在混亂時期公共服務資訊傳遞的速度和準確性的重要性。仍有一部分長者不懂英語，因此用母語傳遞資訊很重要。

政府採取了哪些措施，確保只能理解母語的人能夠以他們能理解的方式接收政府資訊？

對於文盲長者，政府計劃如何通過電子方式與他們溝通？或許通過語音資訊？

我們現在干預至關重要，不能讓這部分新加坡人成為被快速數字化程序所掩蓋的“數字棄兒”。

主席：維克拉姆·奈爾先生不在。梁榮華先生。

政府溝通

梁榮華先生：先生，保持新加坡人知情和參與的工作發生了巨大變化。除了傳統的線下渠道，政府溝通中線上和數字渠道的使用日益增加，預計未來幾年使用比例將呈指數增長。

同時，我們的生活也變得複雜且快速變化，需要新的方法和更有效的方式接觸新加坡人。我們也需關注群體間的多樣化需求，因此需要保持多種策略。

我想了解政府溝通向不同需求群體轉型的最新情況。

司徒義彬先生：主席先生，新冠疫情促使我們重新思考資訊傳播方式，尤其是政府溝通。

需要確保所有新加坡人都能及時獲得準確、相關且易於理解的資訊，滿足多樣化需求。

在利用數字手段溝通時，政府如何確保考慮到不同需求，如年齡層、語言障礙或數字素養水平？

反過來，同樣重要的是，這些數字渠道也應可供接收關於政府政策的寶貴基層反饋。政府與新加坡人之間的雙向溝通一直是政策制定的基石，即使在轉型政府溝通時也需保持。

因此，我邀請部長向議會分享部委在政府溝通轉型方面的計劃，以覆蓋所有多樣化需求群體。

與多樣化需求群體互動

黃俊賢先生：主席，最後一點，數字溝通預計將成為人與人、政府與私營部門之間的主要互動方式。隨著數字廣泛應用，政府需要找到多種方法與多樣化需求群體互動。部長能否分享部委的計劃，確保能通過各種數字平臺覆蓋儘可能多的新加坡人和居民？

如何協助並覆蓋可能缺乏數字技能、相關軟體硬體（如網路連線、裝置和合適軟體）訪問的弱勢群體？除了英語，政府是否計劃在所有平臺上進一步加強以馬來語、中文和泰米爾語這三種官方語言與新加坡人的數字互動？

主席：易華仁部長。

通訊及資訊部長（施經緯先生）：謝謝您，主席先生。首先，我要感謝所有發言的議員提出的問題和建議；有些議員懷念過去寫信和筆友的時代，最重要的是感謝大家對通訊及資訊部工作的積極關注和支援。

主席先生，過去一年，我們的學校、工作場所、家庭和生活都經歷了斷裂和中斷。在許多方面，這是一段深刻的學習、調整和適應的時期。2020年，數字化轉型經歷了數年才發生的變化，卻在幾個月內完成。

數字化已成為常態。數字技術可以成為深遠且持久的積極力量。我們大多數人都有親身體驗——家庭與親人保持聯絡，學生和教師參與虛擬課程，員工在家工作，企業和客戶線上交易。

但正如幾位議員所指出，更大的數字足跡也意味著新的和日益增長的風險，如網路攻擊、資料洩露、錯誤資訊的快速傳播和網路欺凌。

在此背景下，我的部致力於建設一個安全、包容和繁榮的數字未來，讓我們的公民和企業能夠充分利用數字技術的好處，同時防範相關風險。

我們設想的數字未來基於具有競爭力的企業，這些企業利用數字技術進行創新和發展；一個包容的社會，每個成員都能實現全球化和數字化的利益；安全可靠的數字空間，免受惡意行為者和網路危害的侵害；健全的數字基礎設施和適用的法規；以及與社群和企業夥伴的緊密合作。

在回應議員提出的各種問題時，我的同事資政沈穎和資政陳振聲將詳細介紹通訊及資訊部為實現這一願景所做的工作。

讓我先談談我們如何支援企業進行數字化轉型。

受新冠疫情推動，許多傳統實體店轉向線上線下混合模式，以吸引和交易消費者。

位於武吉士的香氛零售商Scent by SIX，在“中斷期”期間通過中小企業數字化計劃採用了電子商務解決方案。其數字營銷成效顯著，收入增長了25%，其中60%來自線上。創始人Jason現正探索將增強現實技術與社交媒體和店內購物結合，打造全渠道體驗。Scent by SIX的經歷並非個例。

梁榮華議員和黃俊偉議員詢問了幫助企業數字化轉型計劃的進展。

截至目前，已有超過63,000家中小企業在2017年啟動的中小企業數字化計劃支援下采用了數字解決方案。事實上，僅去年和2020年就有約40,000家企業加入。通過“成長數字化”計劃，至少有2,000家企業通過電子商務平臺進入海外市場。超過1,000家企業向中小企業數字科技中心尋求建議，現有超過35,000家企業註冊電子發票，而一年前僅有1,000家。

因此，數字化的數字在增長，我們必須在此基礎上繼續努力，讓更多企業及其員工享受數字化帶來的好處。

田佩玲議員、瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾議員、蔡恩銘議員和司徒義斌議員詢問政府如何幫助企業數字化轉型並釋放經濟價值。

通訊及資訊部和資訊通訊媒體發展局將加大力度，擴大和深化中小企業的數字覆蓋。我們將支援企業在各個成長階段，從創業到擴充套件，抓住機遇，實現新興技術和資料的潛力。

例如，許多中小企業領導者需要幫助制定符合其需求的數字化計劃。因此，資訊通訊媒體發展局將在今年晚些時候推出“技術長即服務”計劃。

“技術長即服務”計劃將包括一個一站式自助網路應用，供中小企業評估其數字需求和差距。中小企業隨後可根據公司資料獲得定製的數字解決方案建議及政府支援資訊。

需要更深入建議的中小企業可利用共享的技術長等同人員或數字顧問資源，這些專家在資料分析、網路安全和人工智慧等領域擁有專業知識。他們將提供數字諮詢和專案管理服務，不僅識別需求和解決方案，還管理專案實施。因此，當瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾議員談到在數字化旅程中與中小企業合作時，這些措施正是我們認為能促進該過程的方式。

我想向沙拉爾·塔哈議員保證，所有註冊的中小企業，包括以個體經營形式的家庭企業，都能訪問這些數字資源。

[副議長（克里斯托弗·德索薩先生）主持]

除了這種廣泛的方法，我們還希望通過更全面的數字化轉型，提升準備好的企業的表現高峰。

在這方面，田佩玲議員關於培養下一批數字領導企業的問題，以及任俊偉議員關於加強我們全球競爭優勢的提問，非常切合實際。

我們推出的新數字領導者計劃（DLP）旨在為企業提供能力和人才，加速其數字化轉型之路。該計劃將對符合條件的費用提供高達70%的支援，幫助企業組建核心數字團隊，制定和執行數字化戰略。它還將連線企業與技術合作夥伴，共同開發新數字產品和服務，更好地幫助企業在國際市場競爭。

數字領導者計劃初期將支援多達80家公司，優先考慮數字化程序較先進、管理團隊致力於推動數字轉型以實現持續增長的企業。該計劃由資訊通訊媒體發展局管理，與新加坡企業發展局及其他經濟機構合作。

下午4時45分

針對田佩玲議員關於支援本地企業的問題，資訊通訊媒體發展局的Accreditation@SGD計劃認可有潛力和創新的本地科技公司，其產品在政府資訊通訊技術採購中優先考慮。2019年，資訊通訊媒體發展局與新加坡網路安全域性推出了Accreditation計劃下的SecureTech軌道，幫助本地網路安全專案更好地進入政府專案。通訊及資訊部將繼續研究如何提升本地企業競爭力，包括田佩玲議員提出的多項建議。

隨著更多企業數字化，更多交易線上進行，資料的數量和價值也將同步增長。正如田佩玲議員和謝家輝議員所指出，資料能提供寶貴洞見，提升企業效率，改善消費者產品和服務。

然而，我們也認識到另一面。隨著資料收集增多，資料洩露風險也增加。如果資料使用不負責任，信任可能被侵蝕甚至破壞。因此，我們必須謹慎平衡。一方面，必須給予個人資料和隱私應有的保護；另一方面，企業有空間負責任地利用資料促進增長和創新。

為幫助企業更好地利用資料，更好地服務客戶，資訊通訊媒體發展局將推出“更佳資料驅動業務”計劃（BDDB）。該計劃將為企業，尤其是中小企業，提供免費工具和指導，幫助其負責任地使用資料推動業務增長。該計劃還將提供免費商業智慧工具，將原始資料轉化為視覺化儀表盤，輔助業務成果，如提升銷售和運營效率。它還將通過精選資源（如案例研究和影片）支援更高階的資料應用，如研發和創新。

我們也在加強企業對其處理的個人資料的責任，這是克里斯托弗·德索薩議員提出的問題。最近修訂的《個人資料保護法》設有規則和處罰框架，激勵組織採取積極措施減少和管理資料洩露。除此之外，新加坡個人資料保護委員會（PDPC）釋出了指導方針，組織可採用以建立負責任的治理實踐。

資料保護信託標誌（Data Protection Trust Mark）也使企業能夠展示良好的資料實踐，消費者則可據此辨別。最終，我們需要培養良好的資料治理文化——使用和實踐——這不僅依賴法規或處罰，還需教育和行業分享最佳實踐。

除了加大幫助企業數字化的力度，我們還必須繼續尋找技術解決方案，推動下一階段經濟增長，加強我們作為數字創新樞紐的地位。5G是關鍵，它將成為我們的數字基礎設施骨幹。到明年年底，新加坡將實現至少50%的5G獨立戶外覆蓋，2025年底實現全國覆蓋。

傑西卡·陳議員詢問如何確保消費者和企業從5G部署中受益。關鍵是構建支援創新和試驗新解決方案的生態系統。這不僅是提供基礎設施，更是催化解決方案提供者、服務提供者和終端使用者之間的合作，形成經過驗證的應用案例。資訊通訊媒體發展局將通過PIXEL、5G生活實驗室和開放創新平臺等設施促進此類試驗。

根據2025年研究、創新與企業計劃（RIE2025），通訊及資訊部將與合作機構共同推動智慧財產權的共創和商業化，促進研究機構與企業間的能力轉移。

翻譯將是RIE2025的重點，通訊及資訊部將與合作機構合作，推動智慧財產權的共創和商業化，同時促進研究機構與企業間的能力轉移，實現公共部門研發與私營部門價值創造的良性互動。這是我們構建本地數字創新生態系統的方式，正如德索薩議員所提。

我們希望進一步推動自下而上的數字創新。資訊通訊媒體發展局於2018年推出開放創新平臺（OIP），通過眾包方式將企業挑戰需求與創新解決方案供給匹配。該平臺已發展成擁有超過10,000名註冊使用者的活躍生態系統，釋出了190多個挑戰，成功開發了60多個解決方案。

未來五年，我們將投資5,000萬新元提升該平臺能力，幫助更多企業獲取創新解決方案，加速數字創新大規模部署。資訊通訊媒體發展局還將共同資助匹配挑戰的原型開發，幫助創新科技公司拓展市場。

主席先生，儘管我們追求這些激動人心的機遇，但必須關注成熟工人、長者以及青年和應屆畢業生對數字化加速的現實擔憂。他們擔心自己在數字未來中是否有立足之地，尤其是沒有技術背景或不傾向於工程和軟體開發的人。

沙拉爾·塔哈議員提出類似問題，詢問如何進一步支援成熟工人或無資訊通訊技術背景者進入科技行業。主席先生，我們正加大力度為新加坡人創造優質就業機會，提升勞動力數字技能。根據“新加坡團結就業與技能計劃”，截至去年底，資訊通訊行業有超過18,000個崗位機會，其中超過10,000個為職位空缺，超越了單純的培訓和學徒制。

自2016年以來，超過8,000名新加坡人，從應屆畢業生到中年專業人士，通過科技技能加速器（TeSA）計劃獲得優質資訊通訊技術崗位。

我曾見過Nurul Baizura，一名兼職本科生，她被選中參加谷歌的Skills Ignition SG計劃。她之前在一家資料儲存公司工作，負責網路基礎設施和補丁管理。如今，她學習全新領域的雲技術，熱衷於擔任雲工程師。

去年，我們還推出了TeSA中年進階計劃，培訓並幫助40至50歲的工人轉型進入科技崗位。我最近見過Ganapathi，他是中年專案經理，之前在教育行業。儘管缺乏技術專長，Gana於2020年加入了與我們的科技公司合作伙伴NCS的計劃，正朝著成為應用顧問的方向努力。

我們將繼續擴大TeSA計劃，培養更多本地人才，涵蓋數字營銷及產品和軟體開發等技術密集崗位。這些計劃將為像Nurul和Gana這樣的新加坡人提供更多職業發展機會，遍及整個經濟領域。

多位議員強調吸引人才進入這一人才短缺行業的重要性。這是全球性挑戰。在投資本地人才培養、培育未來科技領導者的同時，我們也必須確保能夠吸引全球優質人才，合理補充，以支援整體發展。這是確保我們持續作為數字創新樞紐的關鍵。

在這方面，不僅是通訊及資訊部，整個經濟機構乃至更廣泛的政府部門都在開展全政府努力，吸引海外新加坡人才及其他人才，促使他們與本地大型和中型企業合作，共同推動新加坡數字生態系統的發展。

傑西卡·陳議員和田佩玲議員強調僱主必須利用STEM領域女性人才庫。我完全同意。通訊及資訊部旨在擴大資訊通訊技術人才儲備，包括吸引更多女性加入該行業。

資訊通訊媒體發展局於2019年與社群和行業夥伴合作，推出“新加坡女性科技計劃”，鼓勵更多女性探索科技職業。該運動已取得良好勢頭，活動和事件覆蓋超過117,000人次，如SG100女性科技活動。

跡象令人鼓舞。2017年，本地大學資訊科技課程的女性入學比例為28%，2019年升至35%。勢頭良好，資訊正在傳遞。我們確實需要藉助女性科技領袖的力量，包括傑西卡·陳女士、洪燕女士及本院內外的許多其他人士，傳播這一資訊，鼓勵更多女性考慮科技職業。

更廣泛地說，我們希望所有新加坡人都能有意義且安全地參與線上互動。這就是為什麼我們於去年6月成立了新加坡數字辦公室，並推出了小販和長者數字化計劃。迄今為止，約有10,000名小販（基數約為18,000名）和攤主採用了電子支付解決方案。從2020年6月至今，交易量和交易額增長了四倍。

鄭麗慧議員和林淑儀議員詢問了長者數字化計劃的影響。新加坡數字辦公室已培訓約69,000名長者掌握數字技能及網路風險防範措施。但我要強調，並回應林淑儀議員的觀點，這不僅僅是數字問題。數字固然重要，因為我們確實需要規模，但更重要的是技能。我們希望賦予長者信心和舒適感，能夠駕馭技術，利用技術改善生活。

正如議員和其他人所理解的，這並非易事，但我們全力以赴，這是一段充滿回報的旅程，但必須付出努力。我們歡迎議員或其他人提出任何建議，進一步強化資訊傳遞及其對長者社群的影響。

資政沈穎將進一步闡述環境與社會治理局、資訊通訊媒體發展局及其他政府機構在基層工作的相關工作。

我們的長者、小販和基層商店是優秀的榜樣。他們證明，無論年輕或年長，規模大小，無論背景如何，只要有正確的心態和積極精神，我們都能完成數字轉型。

我們的圖書館在培養所有新加坡人探索和學習的精神方面發揮著關鍵作用。蘇涵怡女士和蔡恩銘議員詢問我們的圖書館如何在數字化世界中保持相關性。近年來，尤其是過去一年，國家圖書館局擴大了數字資源和藏書，引入了兒童數字故事講述，併為各年齡層包括長者舉辦了線上活動。

新加坡國家圖書館局（NLB）製作了關於大流行病等主題的學習包，提供了數字報紙的家庭訪問許可權，並舉辦了一系列涵蓋網路安全到健康與保健等主題的網路研討會。因此，自去年四月以來，電子資料庫的使用量增長了145%，數字借閱量增長了32%。

從長遠來看，NLB將繼續探索為所有新加坡人提供閱讀和終身學習機會的新途徑，培養知情的公民。

基於公眾反饋和自身經驗，NLB制定了《圖書館與檔案藍圖2021-2025》，以重新構想未來圖書館和檔案館的服務模式。我們現有的資源非常寶貴，已根據消費者需求進行了適應和創新。現在，我們正在展望下一階段，思考我們的圖書館如何繼續隨著需求和時代的發展而演變。高階國務部長沈穎女士將提供更多細節。

與NLB類似，隨著更多互動轉向數字空間，個人和企業將面臨更多風險和網路危害。因此，確保我們的數字空間安全可靠，保護網路社群成員免受惡意行為者和其他危害的侵害，是我們的責任。

Christopher de Souza先生、Jessica Tan女士和Alex Yam先生詢問我們如何保護關鍵系統免受複雜威脅和運營中斷的影響。

下午5時

[議長主持]

我們的數字系統安全至關重要，因為它們是數字經濟的基礎。因此，我們將盡最大努力奠定堅實的數字基礎——建設安全且有韌性的通訊基礎設施，以及制定健全且適用的立法。我們還將繼續保護我們的數字空間，防止惡意威脅行為者造成的傷害，保障人民安全。

議員們應記得去年十二月曝光的SolarWinds網路攻擊事件，該事件影響了約18,000個組織，包括美國政府機構和財富500強公司。

此類事件提醒我們，網路威脅是真實存在的，跨越國界且不斷演變。為了享受數字化帶來的好處，我們必須時刻警惕網路風險，並持續不斷地加強我們的網路安全態勢。高階國務部長Janil將進一步闡述。

為了建立網路空間的信任，我們還必須確保對可能傷害個人並分裂社會的有害網路內容進行防範。

我們的監管和公眾教育工作幫助新加坡人應對網路上的潛在危險，如錯誤資訊。但威脅不斷變化。信息通信媒體發展局（MCI）和內政部（MHA）因此正在研究如何加強監管，以應對嚴重的網路危害及其對社會的現實影響。我們將在適當時候分享研究結果和建議。

最終，抵禦錯誤資訊的第一道防線是一個知情的公民群體，他們能及時從可靠來源獲得準確的資訊。

Seah Kian Peng先生、Sitoh Yih Pin先生、Liang Eng Hwa先生和Don Wee先生詢問本部如何確保不同需求群體能夠獲取可靠資訊。

這一直是我們抗擊新冠疫情的首要傳播挑戰。我們的重點是通過利用傳統和新興數字平臺，擴大和深化政府傳播的覆蓋面，確保所有群體瞭解疫情的關鍵進展、為何採取某些措施以及他們如何發揮作用，保護所有新加坡人的健康與安全。

主流媒體在這場全國性努力中發揮了重要作用。此外，Gov.sg平臺擴充套件至包括Telegram、Instagram和TikTok在內的10個平臺，目前這些平臺的訂閱者超過250萬。Gov.sg的WhatsApp頻道訂閱者從2020年1月的7,000人激增至現在的120萬人。我們還與人民協會和銀髮世代辦公室合作，開展面對面宣傳，幫助那些可能無法接觸或使用數字媒體的人群。

這些傳播工作獲得了良好反響。REACH進行的民調顯示，超過八成新加坡人對政府提供的新冠疫情資訊表示滿意。

在抗擊疫情的下一階段，我們啟動了VacciNationSG運動，旨在提高疫苗接種計劃的認知，糾正誤解，揭穿錯誤資訊並動員行動。高階國務部長沈穎女士將詳細介紹我們的努力，包括使用多種語言和渠道，使資訊惠及社會各階層。

與業界、社群及新加坡同胞的合作，是我們克服疫情挑戰並實現更強復甦的基石。

業界合作伙伴積極採取措施，重塑經濟結構，創造新機遇。在科技技能加速器（TeSA）計劃下，谷歌、微軟、IBM、新電信、Sea和Grab等公司承諾創造超過5,000個技術和資訊通訊技術領域的就業及技能機會。

我們的社群夥伴和公民也自發組織起來，支援有需要的新加坡人。非營利組織Engineering Good從社群收集筆記型電腦，幫助弱勢學生在居家隔離期間獲取學習資源。

隨著我們邁向數字未來，與利益相關者的此類合作將更加重要，確保新出現的更復雜挑戰不會阻礙我們充分把握數字機遇。

Shahira Abdullah博士和Shawn Huang先生詢問我們如何與利益相關者合作，推動自下而上的倡議，促進數字包容社會。這一訴求也在“更強復興對話”中得到體現，數字化的影響及如何利用技術實現更好的社會成果是討論最熱烈的話題之一。

為此，上個月，哈莉瑪·雅各布總統在2021年總統挑戰活動中啟動了“數字生活”運動。通過這一全國性運動，我們希望鼓勵並支援自下而上的努力，共同創造解決方案，使所有新加坡人都能受益於數字技術。

該運動是更廣泛的國家努力的一部分，旨在匯聚民眾、私營和公共部門力量，促進所有新加坡人的數字技能、數字健康和數字接入。我們還設立了“數字生活基金”，支援有助於實現該運動目標的專案。目標是在未來三年內將基金規模擴大至1,000萬新元。所有現金捐款將由政府一比一配捐。

我們邀請所有希望為新加坡人的數字成長和健康做出貢獻的人士加入我們的行列。高階國務部長沈穎女士將進一步闡述。

主席先生，我想總結時強調政府堅定致力於為所有新加坡人建設一個安全、包容且繁榮的數字未來。我的部將通過投資基礎設施、推動研究和數字創新、為企業提供數字工具以及支援新加坡人學習、提升技能和保持資訊通暢，為這一數字未來奠定堅實基礎。

在與社群和商業利益相關者合作的過程中，我堅信我們有能力建設一個共享的數字未來，讓每位新加坡人都有其位置。

通訊與資訊高階國務部長（Dr Janil Puthucheary） ：主席先生，感謝各位議員的發言和提問，我希望在回應中解答其中幾位議員的問題，特別是Jessica Tan女士、Alex Yam先生、Seah Kian Peng先生、謝耀權先生和Christopher de Souza先生的提問。

數字空間深刻影響了我們的日常生活，這種變革效應將持續一段時間。對許多新加坡人來說，數字化意味著更多便利、更高效率和更多選擇。

隨著我們線上活動的增加，網路攻擊、網路詐騙和資料洩露的風險也隨之上升。我們需要安全可靠的數字空間。我們需要網路環境成為助力，使人民能夠從數字時代的機遇中受益。

今天，我將重點介紹我們如何發展網路安全與安全——這是我們數字化計劃的堅實基礎。

我們的策略必須涵蓋基礎設施建設、法規和合作夥伴關係等廣泛領域。我們需要解決各種問題，使我們的企業和人民能夠信任數字系統，這些系統對我們的生活至關重要。

除了保障之外，我們希望人們能夠主動行動，獲得賦能，掌控自己的網路安全，自信地擁抱數字時代。

堅實的基礎依賴於強健的數字基礎設施。我們過去在基礎設施上的投資，最近使員工在疫情期間能夠相對輕鬆地轉為遠端辦公，學生也能參加線上課程。

展望未來，我們需要世界級、安全且有韌性的5G網路。因此，全國5G網路採用獨立組網（Standalone）成為政策重點——從端到端全程採用5G獨立網路。5G獨立組網釋放了全部功能，包括網路切片和超可靠低延遲通訊，這些對雲遊戲和智慧工廠等應用至關重要。

5G部署已啟動，到明年年底，我們將實現至少50%的5G獨立組網戶外覆蓋。全國範圍的5G獨立組網覆蓋將於2025年底實現。

然而，僅有強健的數字基礎設施並不能保證空間安全可靠。強有力的監管體系和保持相關性、適應技術演變的策略同樣關鍵。

資料是用於指導商業決策的重要資源，也是人工智慧等新興技術的動力。

個人資料需要強有力的保護和問責，但我們必須取得平衡。過度強調商業創新可能損害消費者保護、隱私和信任；反之，過於狹隘地追求消費者利益可能阻礙商業發展，公眾最終可能遭受服務質量下降和成本上升的影響。因此，我們的堅實基礎還需靈活且精準。

我們最近修訂了《個人資料保護法》（PDPA）。例如，您可能訂閱了某網店的郵件列表，因此可以根據您的瀏覽歷史或過往交易收到定製推薦。這對您作為消費者來說是好處，因為您分享了資料。

根據修訂後的PDPA，如果發生可能對受影響個人造成重大傷害的資料洩露，網店必須直接通知您，以便您及時採取主動措施保護資料，如更改密碼。如果您選擇退訂郵件列表，網店需在合理期限內將您的資訊從列表中刪除並停止傳送推薦。因此，修訂後企業需遵守更高標準，實行更透明和負責任的做法。

與資料類似，電子交易也是全球經濟的核心。為支援更廣泛的數字化，議會今年通過了《電子交易法》修正案，採納了聯合國國際貿易法委員會（UNCITRAL）的《電子可轉讓記錄示範法》。航運、物流和金融等行業將因此受益於比紙質交易更快、更安全的電子交易。我們預計這將帶來效率、生產力提升及成本節約。

數字化推進帶來的一個擔憂是網路詐騙的增加。在新加坡，最常見的詐騙型別與電子商務相關，2019年以來增長了近20%。去年，詐騙受害者總損失超過2億新元。

我們對此高度重視——這是公眾關切的問題，侵蝕了他們對線上交易和活動的信任——我們正在政府內部協同應對這些詐騙。

例如，我們要求電信公司對所有來電顯示“+”符號，表示海外來電。信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）也要求電信公司增強阻斷常見偽裝號碼來電的能力。去年第四季度，共阻斷了2,800萬次疑似詐騙電話。

然而，網路空間動態多變，詐騙者行為不斷演變，現有阻斷海外詐騙電話的措施永遠無法萬無一失。如今，沒有任何電信公司能絕對確定某來電是否為詐騙。

因此，IMDA正與電信公司合作，在其網路中構建新的分析能力，更好地識別並阻斷偽裝成本地號碼的來電，同時不阻斷合法電話。這些措施與內政部在打擊詐騙方面的更廣泛策略相契合。我們將通過跨部委反詐騙委員會繼續密切合作。

網路安全威脅數量和複雜度均在增長。各位剛才聽到關於SolarWinds事件的介紹。這次網路攻擊破壞了廣泛使用的網路管理軟體，影響了全球主要企業和政府。該軟體被信任且擁有內部網路的特權訪問許可權。這是一場高度複雜的攻擊，數月未被發現。

在本地，新電信報告稱，由於其使用的第三方檔案共享系統FTA遭受攻擊，一些檔案被竊取。

新加坡人關心我們的系統是否安全，我們也同樣關心。敏感資訊必須得到充分保護。隨著更多活動線上進行，公眾必須信任我們用於儲存、收集和傳輸資訊的數字系統。現實是，我們無法阻止所有網路攻擊——惡意行為者只需利用一個漏洞即可攻破系統，而防禦者必須全天候保護系統免受所有威脅。因此，持續且有意識地加強網路安全至關重要。

下午5時15分

許多關鍵服務如銀行和醫療依賴資訊通訊技術。這些系統稱為關鍵資訊基礎設施（CII）。根據《網路安全法》，所有CII所有者必須維持強制的網路安全水平。但我們也認識到，大多陣列織包括CII所有者都會聘用供應商支援運營。因此，我們還需管理供應鏈中的網路安全風險。為此，CII所有者需更好地瞭解其供應商，以識別系統性風險並提升供應商的網路衛生水平。

為此，我們正在開發CII供應鏈計劃——這是一項涵蓋所有利益相關者的合作計劃，包括新加坡網路安全域性（CSA）、CII所有者及其供應商。該計劃將為所有利益相關者提供管理供應鏈網路安全風險的推薦流程和良好實踐。通過與利益相關者的討論，也將幫助政府完善供應鏈安全政策。長期來看，CII行業及其企業還需採用零信任網路安全策略。這種思維轉變對於防禦高度複雜的供應鏈攻擊（如SolarWinds事件背後的攻擊者）至關重要。

具體而言，CII所有者不應無條件信任其網路中的數字活動，必須進行驗證。他們還應持續進行身份認證，及時檢測異常，並在網路分段間驗證交易。這項工作將持續進行，且未來將更加複雜。因此，網路安全必須成為集體努力，是數字時代我們生活的核心部分——融入我們使用的產品和線上行為中。

隨著更多企業數字化，我們面臨的網路威脅也同步增長。針對企業的網路攻擊對更廣泛的經濟影響深遠。因此，作為“更安全網路空間”總體規劃的一部分，CSA將推出“新加坡網路安全信任計劃”，支援企業加強網路安全。該計劃包括兩部分。

首先，我們將為關鍵崗位提供資訊資源和教育材料，包括高管、網路安全團隊和一線員工，內容基於其具體角色和知識需求。我們需要通過內部培訓轉變態度，提高網路安全意識。

其次，我們將推出自願參與的“新加坡網路安全信任標誌”，為在網路安全方面投入適當且顯著的企業提供認可。這意味著，作為消費者或尋求人力資源處理服務的企業客戶，您可以通過該標誌獲得額外保障，確認服務提供商重視網路安全。CSA將於今年四月開始與利益相關者就該標誌的具體內容進行溝通。

我們的網路安全人才基礎是這些努力的關鍵推動力，我們正與業界合作伙伴和政府機構緊密合作，培養和壯大我們的網路安全勞動力。

首先，為滿足近期需求，我們通過IMDA的“技術技能加速器”等專案，促進網路安全專業人員以及新入職和中期職業轉型的非網路安全專業人員的培訓和技能提升，以勝任網路安全崗位。

其次，為加強長期的人才儲備，我們通過“新加坡網路人才”等網路推廣活動，鼓勵青年投身該領域。迄今為止，我們已吸引超過7,000名參與者。

第三，為培養世界級的網路安全領導者，我們啟動了“新加坡網路領導者”計劃，打造一個當前及未來網路領導者交流思想、學習全球最佳實踐的社群。

我們每個人都需要發揮作用，共同營造一個更安全、更可靠的網路空間。作為個人，我們可以啟用雙因素認證，及時更新軟體，選擇短語密碼而非簡單密碼，並保持警惕，識別網路釣魚的跡象。但作為國家，我們的努力更具全球視野。新加坡積極參與國際討論，制定並實施符合我們利益的網路行為規範。

鑑於網路威脅具有全球性和跨境性，我們正與聯合國及東盟等國際夥伴密切合作，制定並實施負責任國家行為的網路規範。例如，我們正在制定一份實施清單，列出各國可採取的具體行動以落實網路規範。這項工作有助於構建基於規則的多邊網路秩序，為所有國家，無論大小，提供信心、可預見性和穩定性，這對經濟發展、就業創造和技術應用至關重要。

在人工智慧治理方面，新加坡採取開放協作的方式管理人工智慧的使用，既保障消費者利益，又促進創新。我們於2020年釋出了第二版《人工智慧治理模型框架》，吸納了國際和本地各行業公司的反饋和案例，回應了第一版框架。該框架將以人為本等關鍵倫理原則轉化為切實可行的措施，符合我們的國家人工智慧戰略。

最終，我們奠定堅實基礎，使人民能夠展望未來，充分享受數字經濟的紅利。我們將保持開放，與全球經濟深度融合，助力企業最大化海外機遇。

儘管現有貿易協定滿足傳統貨物和服務貿易需求，我們認識到支援跨境數字交易（如電子發票、資料流動、數字身份）需要新的規範和規則。因此，新加坡率先推動數字經濟協定（DEA），基於現有網路和舉措。這些協定促進無縫端到端數字貿易，實現可信資料流動，增強數字系統信任。

除這些數字經濟協定外，企業還可期待進一步支援，實現資料跨境安全無縫傳輸。在區域層面，新加坡主導制定了東盟模型合同條款，可納入具有法律約束力的個人資料跨境傳輸合同條款。我們還主導制定了東盟資料管理框架，指導企業建立具備適當資料保護措施的資料管理體系。藉助這些現成且靈活的個人資料傳輸模板，東盟市場的企業可縮短資料流動合同談判時間。

總之，主席先生，我們在數字化方面的成功也暴露了新的脆弱性。隨著技術演進和複雜化，這些脆弱性只會增加。數字系統的信任是數字經濟成功的關鍵。沒有交易和創新的信任，我們發展數字生態系統、收穫紅利、創造機會的努力將難以實現。

我所描述的堅實基礎將加強我們抵禦網路威脅的防禦，支援我們成長所需的信任。但這還不夠。我們需要企業和民眾意識到風險，警惕風險表現，並做出明智選擇以保護安全。我們能夠且必須讓網路空間更安全、更可信，從而為所有人創造更多機會。

通訊及資訊高階國務部長（沈穎女士）：主席先生，過去一年充滿挑戰，我們都更加重視保持聯絡的重要性。數字化在我們實施安全距離措施時發揮了關鍵作用，使我們能夠保持聯絡。我們正在作為一個社會進行數字轉型，但必須確保轉型具有包容性。我將闡述實現這一目標的四大戰略。

首先，我們知道並非所有新加坡人在數字旅程中進展速度相同。無論起點如何，政府和主要利益相關者都會提供必要資源支援。第二，我們將與利益相關者建立強有力的夥伴關係。第三，我們將持續改善最後一公里的交付基礎設施。第四，我們將加強溝通工作，使可信資訊惠及所有人。

讓我先談談我們如何推進包容性數字化，先從小型企業說起，回應陳佩玲女士、沙拉爾·塔哈先生和鄭興耀先生的提問。

我們加大力度幫助小企業，包括組屋區的小商店，通過“心鄰數碼”計劃採用簡單數字解決方案。勞燕玲國務部長和我共同主持“心鄰數字化與振興委員會”，她此前已介紹該委員會如何結合企業獨特情況，幫助心鄰企業跟上數字化步伐。

在“攤販數碼”計劃下，我們根據攤主反饋持續改進。例如，IMDA和新加坡數字辦公室正與NETS合作，最佳化NETSBiz手機應用，增加更大字型、顏色使用和明顯音訊提醒等功能，方便忙碌的攤主跟蹤支付交易。

蔡恩華先生、沙基安迪·蘇帕特先生、謝健鵬先生和莎希拉·阿卜杜拉博士詢問了確保低收入家庭不落後於數字未來的努力。

新加坡是高度互聯的社會，98%的家庭擁有寬頻接入和網際網路裝置，如電腦或智慧手機。我們認識到低收入家庭和弱勢群體可能需要更多幫助。

資訊通訊媒體發展局（IMDA）工作的核心是幫助他們獲得數字工具，保持與社會的聯絡。去年，IMDA的“家庭接入”和“NEU PC Plus”計劃為低收入家庭補貼數字連線，惠及20,000個家庭。2020年，這兩項計劃得到加強，提供更快的寬頻速度和更多裝置組合選項，包括為有上學兒童的大家庭提供第二臺補貼筆記型電腦，以應對COVID-19。我們簡化了受ComCare支援家庭的申請流程，方便他們參與計劃。

IMDA正努力在未來幾個月自動將組屋公共租賃計劃受益者納入“家庭接入”計劃。MCI也與教育部密切合作，解決學生的數字接入和素養需求。

我很高興向林瑞蓮女士更新，自去年啟動“低收入長者手機接入”計劃以來，已有超過6,400名長者受益於補貼智慧手機和行動數據計劃。

我們的第二大戰略是建立強有力的夥伴關係。社群中越來越多的人希望貢獻力量，支援同胞。我去年11月主持了一場關於數字準備的“強韌對話”，60名參與者就弱勢群體面臨的數字採納挑戰進行了深入討論。

許多人詢問社會如何幫助縮小數字鴻溝。正是基於這些及類似的集體行動呼籲，我們上個月啟動了“數字生活”運動，伊斯瓦蘭部長也提及該運動。該運動支援促進數字技術和包容性、數字素養與健康的社群活動。它將成為企業、社群和政府機構志同道合者的平臺，利用他們的技能、經驗和專長，幫助需要額外支援的人群，建設包容、安全、可靠的數字空間。政府將賦能並支援他們，催化有意義的變革。

我特別關注的一個專案是保護婦女和青少年免受網路傷害。作為國會議員，我曾接到受困婦女及其親友的求助，因為她們的私密照片未經同意被上傳網路。我也聽到令人不安的故事，講述青少年遭受騷擾，收到不請自來的猥褻圖片，有些甚至將此視為“正常”。納迪亞·艾哈邁德·桑丁女士也提出了保護青少年，尤其是年輕女孩的同樣關切。

我上週與一些社群夥伴會面，討論如何應對此類網路傷害，減輕其對現實生活的影響。這些夥伴表現出強烈興趣，願意開展更有影響力的公共教育和資源支援，幫助潛在受害者，並提出政策建議，營造更安全的網路空間，保護婦女和女孩，當然也包括男性和男孩。

這些舉措可補充其他措施，如媒體素養理事會的“更好網際網路運動”、文化、社區及青年部推動的青少年網路健康工作，以及教育部在學校的相關工作。藉助“數字生活”運動，我希望社群能夠被賦能，開展對話，協作解決棘手複雜的社會問題。

為了幫助新加坡人掌握數字技能，我們深受喜愛的圖書館正轉型為數字學習中心。正如部長所述，國家圖書館局將啟動《圖書館與檔案藍圖2025》。未來，我們的圖書館將提供增強體驗學習的數字服務。感謝鄭麗慧女士對圖書館舉措的關注和鼓勵。芽籠東公共圖書館為長者提供線上公共服務導航的試點專案將進行評估，待結果明朗後決定是否推廣。

重新裝修的蔡厝港公共圖書館預計今年晚些時候重新開放，將提供鼓勵欣賞自然景觀和生物多樣性的數字服務。增強現實元素將允許讀者通過移動裝置與精選書籍互動，使內容幾乎“活”起來。

上週，我訪問了淡濱尼區域圖書館，與學習使用圖書館服務（如電子報紙和國家圖書館局手機應用）的長者交談。他們讚賞數字大使的親切指導，隨時提供複習幫助。在圖書館的創客空間，各年齡段讀者正享受機器人和3D列印等技術的樂趣。國家圖書館局不斷豐富的數字產品，真正做到老少皆宜。

正如蔡恩華先生所提，圖書館員的角色將在數字未來演變。他們需整合跨學科知識，考慮社會趨勢及人們的學習和資訊獲取方式。國家圖書館局無法獨自完成，將與志願者及多元興趣夥伴合作。

我們贊同黃俊文先生和蘇慧嫻女士的觀點，每位新加坡人都應能使用國家圖書館局資源。因此，國家圖書館局將圖書帶到合作伙伴場所的閱讀角，如社群中心和家庭服務中心。

多年來，國家圖書館局一直支援新加坡監獄服務。去年，國家圖書館局捐贈了7,000多本書，滿足囚犯多樣化的閱讀需求。囚犯還可訪問400本電子書。國家圖書館局將繼續探索支援服務不足群體的新途徑。

梁榮華先生、司徒義彬先生和鄭興耀先生詢問了文化、社區及青年部轉型郵政行業的計劃。這涉及我們的第三大戰略——持續投資數字基礎設施，使數字經濟的利益更易惠及新加坡人。

電子商務已成為我們生活的重要部分。去年，我曾提到將推出全國包裹櫃網路，為新加坡人帶來便利，提升商家和物流服務商的生產力。IMDA及其子公司Pick已在試點這些包裹櫃。近10,000名居民的反饋極為正面，96%同意包裹櫃將帶來便利，並願意使用鄰里包裹櫃站。

71歲的退休人士黃錦炎先生期待包裹櫃站。黃先生和妻子網購消費電子和保健品。他擔心包裹被遺棄在家門口丟失，故熱切希望包裹櫃投入使用。謝德華先生會高興得知，包裹櫃網路預計每日可減少44%的配送行駛距離，有助大幅降低碳排放。

Pick計劃於4月推出首批最多200個包裹櫃站，目標於2021年底實現全國部署。

為應對電子商務增長，惠及消費者和行業，我們今年將審查《郵政服務法》。更多細節稍後公佈。

自去年12月起，新加坡郵政在金文泰試點智慧信箱系統PostPal，服務約200戶居民。居民喜歡通過應用程式查詢是否有郵件待取的便利。新加坡郵政郵遞員生產力提升了75%。94%的郵件可通過智慧信箱的自動分揀功能處理，郵件投遞更準確。

這些創新是我們共同努力提升效率、為消費者和居民創造更大價值，同時充分利用技術和數字化的體現。

第四大戰略是加強政府溝通工作，使資訊惠及不同背景和語言需求的公民。儘管受COVID-19影響，REACH去年仍與超過59,000名新加坡人保持聯絡。為安全互動，REACH開闢了新渠道，包括線上傾聽點和線上對話，如“強韌對話”。封鎖期間，REACH的WhatsApp聊天群組全天候保持活躍。

我們建立了多樣化平臺觸達受眾。例如，gov.sg已深入社群。約14,000個數字顯示屏分佈於組屋電梯及電梯廳，使重要政府資訊觸手可及。我們儘可能以四種官方語言推送內容，涵蓋免費電視、廣播、報紙和WhatsApp訊息等平臺。

針對陳佩玲女士的問題，為觸達主要使用方言交流的華裔長者，政府關鍵資訊融入了Mediacorp的方言頻道節目。我們還與Mediacorp合作，為重要國家活動（如總理COVID-19講話）提供手語翻譯。此外，政府通訊在免費電視和社交媒體渠道上長期採用字幕或隱藏式字幕。

準確且具情境的翻譯對有效政府溝通至關重要。去年，文化、社區及青年部推出了兩項新翻譯舉措。第一項是“公民譯者”，我們邀請志願者共同創造最合適的譯法。講馬來語和泰米爾語的志願者表示願意協助標準化譯詞，講中文的志願者則對後期編輯和稽核機器翻譯感興趣。我們期待與公民譯者合作，提升政府翻譯質量。

第二項是去年10月推出的SG Translate泰米爾語引擎。公務員現可生成四種官方語言的機器翻譯。SG Translate網站——“SG Translate Together”將於今年逐步向公眾開放。

“長者數碼通”網站和TraceTogether手機應用已支援四種官方語言。政府計劃於2021年6月前翻譯SingPass手機應用。政府致力於翻譯更多數字政府服務，方便母語使用者更輕鬆訪問。主席先生，請允許我用普通話繼續。

（用普通話）：【請參閱方言發言。】數字化已成為趨勢。但一些新加坡人仍對使用數字技術感到猶豫和不安。政府充分理解這些顧慮。為了確保所有新加坡人都能輕鬆自信地擁抱數字化，我們將繼續推出並擴大各項舉措，幫助新加坡人掌握數字化工具和技能。

對於企業，部長已宣佈我們將推出數字領袖計劃和“技術長即服務”。這些專案旨在幫助參與企業將數字技術整合到業務中。這樣，企業也能在國際舞臺上競爭。

在個人層面，政府已在圖書館和社群中心設立面對面接觸點，由數字大使幫助數字技能較弱的新加坡人學習數字技能。我們在這些公共教育工作中注重人文關懷。數字大使一直在與長者互動，教導他們如何在網上交易時保護自己，避免成為詐騙受害者，例如使用強密碼保護線上賬戶，不洩露一次性密碼以使用數字銀行服務。

為了讓新加坡在數字化中取得成功，我們需要與新加坡人、社群和企業合作。通過“數字生活運動”，我們將與合作伙伴攜手，倡導他們熱衷的事業，利用他們的專業知識，幫助弱勢新加坡人享受數字化帶來的好處。

政府繼續優先保證翻譯質量。我們已啟動“公民譯者”計劃，邀請志願者共同創造最合適的翻譯方案。公眾對此計劃的反響令人鼓舞。我們期待與他們合作，提升政府翻譯水平。

（用英語）：回到英語，主席先生。數字未來為我們不同群體的公民帶來許多機遇。政府將繼續與來自民間和私營部門的合作伙伴攜手，加強數字生態系統。這樣，政府主導的專案和社群倡議可以相輔相成，為新加坡人創造更大價值。我們期待共同打造一個包容且數字化的新加坡。

主席：克里斯托弗·德·索薩先生。

克里斯托弗·德·索薩先生：我感謝部長和兩位高階國務部長的深思熟慮的澄清。我特別想問部長，是否認為新冠疫情為新加坡數字化帶來了機遇，使我們能夠贏得“亞洲矽谷”的聲譽，吸引最優秀的數字和科技人才來新加坡，實現規模經濟，從而複製甚至超越“亞洲矽谷”的聲譽。這是我的第一個澄清問題。

施艾斯華南部長：主席先生，感謝議員的提問。我認為議員所說的“亞洲矽谷”其實是對機遇、支援環境和人才匯聚的簡化描述。在這方面，即使在新冠疫情之前，我們已經有一定的動力，推動這種匯聚，創造新加坡及通過新加坡輻射亞洲的科技生態系統繁榮機會。

針對議員的具體問題，我認為新冠疫情反而加速了這一程序。首先，疫情催生了數字創新，以應對疫情帶來的挑戰，同時也推動了數字技術的大規模採用，人們對更多數字解決方案的需求增加，因為其價值已被內化，大家渴望採用並擴大應用。

其次，我們也看到更多與技術相關的投資流入新加坡。事實上，議員本人在發言中提到過，其他人也有所提及。這反映了投資者對新加坡良好營商環境、人才基礎以及區域機遇的認可，認為新加坡是進入這些機遇的理想地點。

因此，我們看到全球大型科技企業發起了重大投資和新專案，同時許多中型企業甚至本地企業也朝這個方向發展。

第三點是，人才的匯聚非常關鍵。正如我和同事們所述，我們在培養本地人才方面做了大量工作，包括大學及就業前培訓教育的上游管道建設，也致力於賦能中年職場人士，使其具備轉型進入科技領域的技能。

同時，我們也積極吸引能夠補充本地人才的外來人才。鑑於人工智慧、網路安全、資料分析等領域的技術人才普遍短缺，我們需要合理引進人才。這是我們與經濟機構（包括貿工部下屬機構）合作的重點。我們吸引海外新加坡人回國，也吸引其他國籍的優秀人才，合理補充我們的能力。

總之，主席先生，回答議員的問題，我們確實有機會在此基礎上發展。雖然我對“亞洲矽谷”這一稱號持謹慎態度，但我們有機會成為本地區乃至全球生態系統中一個繁榮、安全、充滿活力的數字樞紐。

主席：黃俊賢先生。

黃俊賢先生：主席先生，我很高興從高階國務部長沈穎欣那裡瞭解到，新潮州港圖書館將提供非常好的服務。目前圖書館裝修期間，圖書自動借還機設在Lot One一樓。我想知道國家圖書館局是否考慮在裝修結束後，將自動借還機移至附近的出租組屋區，該區約有500戶年輕家庭，距離Lot One僅約2公里？

沈穎欣女士：感謝議員對自動借還機的支援。該裝置確實是為滿足裝修期間的需求而設。我們會採納他的建議，進行研究後回覆他。

主席：沙拉爾·塔哈先生。

沙拉爾·塔哈先生：謝謝主席，也感謝部長和兩位高階國務部長的澄清。

我有一個小問題。部長提到數字領袖計劃將面向80家公司。聽起來是個很好的專案，因為我們需要培養數字領袖。那麼，這些公司將如何選拔？是按行業劃分，還是根據他們尋求的價值主張？

施艾斯華南部長：主席先生，感謝議員提問。我們啟動該計劃，是因為相信其中的價值。信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）將與其他經濟機構，特別是企業新加坡合作，重點與那些已開始數字化轉型、系統有所進展且擁有數字人才核心團隊的公司合作，作為建設基礎。

因為正如我之前所說，這不僅是數字化普及的廣度問題，更是高峰問題。我們希望賦能那些準備好、能夠採用更先進數字技術的企業，提供能力和關鍵人才，幫助他們最大化效益。

因此，相關機構將與他們合作的企業識別合適物件。沒有特定行業配額，主要看企業的準備度和意願，是否能真正利用技術推動下一階段數字化發展。

主席：娜迪婭·薩姆丁女士。

娜迪婭·艾哈邁德·薩姆丁女士：謝謝主席。我非常感謝高階國務部長回應我之前的關切。我很高興聽到有關如何保護女性和女孩在網路上的討論。這尤其重要，因為今年是慶祝新加坡女性之年。

雖然還處於初步階段，能否請高階國務部長分享討論中提出的一些想法，以及參與的合作伙伴型別？我聽到家長們說，他們對應對TikTok、Snapchat和OnlyFans等平臺感到力不從心。但我們知道禁止和刪除這些應用並不能解決問題。因此，我希望未來的努力也能包括為家長提供裝備。

沈穎欣女士：感謝娜迪婭·薩姆丁女士對該議題的高度關注。討論仍在進行中，但我可以分享幾個已浮現的問題類別。

第一類問題涉及網站或線上業務，一方面可能直接違法，如提供性服務，或處於灰色地帶，可能鼓勵某些行為，進而滑向犯罪，尤其令人擔憂的是針對年輕人，包括女孩。對此，我們關注現有法律的適用性，確保舉報機制及時有效。

第二類問題涉及未經同意廣泛傳播受害者的圖片和影片，受害者多為女性和女孩，但男性受害者也存在。這屬於廣義的騷擾範疇。相關討論不僅在信息通信媒體發展部，也在內政部內部進行，重點是網路傷害及如何加強防範，並與平臺合作減輕傷害。

第三類問題涉及一對一互動，例如社交媒體使用者收到未經請求的猥褻圖片或暗示性問題，常常不知如何應對。許多社交平臺設有社群標準，但使用者是否充分了解這些標準及如何保護自己是問題。比如，很多人收到此類資訊後選擇刪除，但刪除後證據消失，公眾教育和支援對此非常重要，以保護下一位女性、女孩，甚至男性或男孩免受傷害。

主席：瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士。

瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士：感謝部長和高階國務部長的澄清。我特別感激他們採取了非常包容的方式，關注中小企業、小販、長者及弱勢女性。

我很高興聽到推出不同型別的計劃，包括更多定製化和更深入的輔導，針對數字初學者。例如“技術長即服務”和數字領袖計劃。理想情況下，我希望這些計劃也能針對行業特點，解決我之前提到的內部流程和變革管理問題，這些都是採用數字解決方案時必須考慮的。

同時，我想提出一點謹慎意見，基於對早期專案的反饋，中小企業往往低估了所需輔導的程度，以及數字轉型的難度。或許此時我應宣告自己是該領域的顧問。

大規模定製即使藉助技術也極具挑戰。因此，我希望這些計劃能真正獲得充足資源（這涉及成本），並經常評估其效果及改進方向。我認為讓中小企業參與進來非常重要。

如果涉及資助轉型之路，我們不應吝嗇成本，而應前瞻性、積極地思考如何支援最多中小企業。

施艾斯華南部長：主席先生，我認為議員提出了重要觀點，即我們開展此類工作，本質上是大規模定製，挑戰巨大，不應低估所需努力。

我們談論的是龐大的企業基礎。新加坡中小企業超過20萬家，規模和複雜度差異顯著，從微型、小型到中型及更大企業。

我們的目標一方面是提供基礎支援，幫助中小企業起步。因此，我之前提到，我們致力於支援企業各階段，從創業到擴充套件，甚至更遠。這也體現在我們專案的結構上。

例如“中小企業數字化”計劃提供多種選擇，從支付解決方案到線上營銷等，適合已有一定規模、希望數字化轉型的企業。還有“啟動數字”計劃，針對剛創業但能採用部分數字解決方案的企業。還有擴充套件計劃，幫助企業利用數字化走向國際。

我們新推出的舉措旨在基於現有能力，提供更高定製化，但不誇大挑戰。例如“技術長即服務”能深入提供專業診斷、需求評估、戰略規劃，並協助執行專案。關鍵是專案實施，不僅是工具引入，更是系統整合和工作流程適應，這是實現效益的關鍵。

同時，數字領袖計劃更具定製化，針對更高層次的企業，因此參與企業數量較少。我們聚焦那些已具備一定數字化基礎、準備好進一步發展的企業。

總之，我們採取因企制宜的策略。政府擁有多樣化工具包，但企業也需理解數字化的含義，不僅是決定“走數字化”，更要了解所需承諾，包括技術投入及最重要的人員和系統投資，以實現可持續發展。

主席：克里斯托弗·德·索薩先生。提醒各位議員澄清發言請簡短。

克里斯托弗·德·索薩先生：謝謝主席。我關於圖書館數字化的簡短澄清是，希望不要過度推進數字化。因為翻閱紙質書、帶家人和孩子去圖書館，按作者選書、按作者還書，保持安靜，這是一個公共空間；閱讀曾被他人翻閱過的書頁，這種體驗非常親密和特別，是讀者與紙質書獨有的體驗。

因此，在推動數字化閱讀的同時，希望能以非常謹慎的方式進行，傳承給下一代對紙質書的熱愛，親身感受故事。

主席：只要你給書消毒就行。

克里斯托弗·德·索薩先生：只要給書消毒，沒問題。還有，我也應該給講臺消毒，先生。這是我的簡短澄清。

主席：我相信部長會有更簡短的回答。

伊斯瓦蘭先生：我想我應該回應這個澄清，希望得到我的同事、國務部長沈燕女士的寬容。我想我們許多人都和這位議員一樣，欣賞閱讀實體書的觸覺體驗，也欣賞在圖書館等地的實體聚會。我認為這絕不是我們想要消除的體驗。我們希望保留它。實際上，我們想做的是通過建立我們所說的全渠道策略來增強這種體驗，使數字平臺和數字舉措能夠強化你在圖書館中實體擁有的吸引力和價值。反過來，你在圖書館的體驗也可以通過數字平臺虛擬延續。

所以，實際上，我們設想的是實體與虛擬之間的良性迴圈，我們希望確保即使在數字化的道路上前進，我們也能讓圖書館最優秀的傳統保持生機和繁榮。

主席：田女士，您願意撤回修正案嗎？

田佩玲女士：聽到所有議員的發言真是太好了。隨著我們齊心邁向數字未來，我想借此機會感謝整個信息通信媒體發展部大家庭——我們的部長、高階國務部長以及在座的每一位——感謝你們的支援，也包括來自國家數字政府局的官員們。基於此，我請求撤回我的修正案。

[(程式文本) 經許可，修正案撤回。 (程式文本)]

[(程式文本) 頭Q項下的13億8021萬4000元被批准列入主要預算。 (程式文本)]

[(程式文本) 頭Q項下的6088萬4000元被批准列入發展預算。 (程式文本)]

英文原文

SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 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.

4.00 pm

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.

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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.

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[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)]

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