預算辯論 · 2022-03-04 · 屆國會 14

數字轉型與包容性平衡

AI 治理與監管 AI 經濟與產業 AI 與國家安全 AI 基礎設施與研究 爭議度 3 · 實質辯論

議員質詢政府如何在推動數字基礎設施和技術創新（如6G、Web 4.0）的同時，保障弱勢群體數字包容，防止數字鴻溝擴大。關注數字監管的及時性與適度性，尤其是加密貨幣和元宇宙等新興領域的風險與機遇。政府需在經濟活力與社會凝聚力之間尋求平衡，確保全民賦能與安全防護。

關鍵要點

  • • 數字基礎設施領先佈局
  • • 數字包容防止邊緣化
  • • 數字監管需及時適度
政府立場

推動技術創新與包容發展並重

政策訊號

強化數字包容與監管創新

“Singapore has to continually invest in next bound infrastructure and our people.”

參與人員 (21)

完整譯文（中文）

Hansard 原始記錄 · 2026-05-02

主席：通訊及資訊部Q項。田佩玲女士。

平衡多重考量

田佩玲女士（麥波申選區）：主席先生，我請求動議：“將估算案中通訊及資訊部Q項的總撥款減少100元。”

新加坡在數字化轉型方面穩步前進。隨之而來的是我們需要平衡的多重考量。

一方面，為了生存並保持相關性，新加坡必須持續投資於下一代基礎設施和人才。當別人關注5G時，我們必須著眼6G；當別人關注Web 3.0時，我們必須設想Web 4.0。我們的人民必須具備技能和多樣性，以抓住新機遇。

然而，為了維護社會凝聚力和包容性增長，新加坡也必須確保數字技能較弱的人群不會被無意間落下或排除在數字化的參與和受益之外，否則這可能加大知情者與不知情者之間的差距。

還有其他考量——如何在更大範圍內利用數字解決方案解決實際問題，同時防範網路攻擊；如何激勵企業數字化，並在此過程中確保問責制，而又不使流程繁瑣到令企業“失去動力”。

這些考量不一定互相排斥，但需要謹慎平衡和調整。

以我的一位長者居民為例。她想申請CareShield Life，但唯一的申請方式是通過電子服務，需要Singpass。對數字熟練者來說，這無疑省時省力。但她沒有手機，也沒有Singpass。

最終，她的女兒幫她申請了Singpass，並將其繫結到女兒的手機上。如果我的這位長者是獨居老人呢？

我想問政府如何在維護經濟活力和新加坡競爭力的同時，保持社會凝聚力。政府如何確保公私部門在數字化過程中以賦權和包容為前提？政府將如何保護我們的人民——無論老少，以及企業——無論大小，免受這一快速發展領域中新威脅的影響？

相關問題是數字監管。隨著技術快速發展，新的解決方案和用例不斷湧現，現有法規需要演進，或需制定新法規。但時效性和找到最佳平衡點似乎頗具挑戰。

以加密貨幣和非同質化代幣（NFT）為例。這些屬於高風險和投機性資產，且常被視為非法活動工具。因此，在正式出臺法規和政策前，需要充分研究和審議。但與此同時，我們是否會因行動遲緩而錯失潛在機會？

隨著元宇宙迅速興起，我們的政策和法規是否能足夠快速，以利用其發展機遇，同時解決交易、個人資料和使用者互動等問題？

在通過貨幣激勵鼓勵企業或個人數字化或提升技能時，流程是否可能繁瑣到令他們選擇停留在舒適區，僅滿足於“夠用”，從而完全避免數字化轉型？

因此，我想問政府如何確保監管變革跟上技術進步步伐。我們如何確保提供足夠的護欄，同時不扼殺創新？主席，我可以繼續提出下一項削減嗎？

主席：你可以繼續提出第二項削減。

防範網路傷害

田佩玲女士：主席，網路上的事情會對現實世界產生溢位效應。關於因“欺凌自殺”失去寶貴生命的報道和因網路詐騙失去積蓄的案例屢見不鮮。雖然無人能完全免疫，但兒童、青少年、婦女和長者尤其容易受到網路傷害。

多年前，我一位居民的未婚夫成為“報復色情”受害者。她的前男友將親密材料上傳至“報復色情”等網站，引來認識和不認識的人的惡意評論。幸好，當時資訊通訊媒體發展局（IMDA）封鎖了這些內容，但傷害已造成。

一般而言，女性和女孩往往成為網路身體羞辱和過度性化的受害者。

2020年，一位長者居民陷入網路投資詐騙。他被誤導相信該計劃得到了資深部長沈丹桂的認可，當然這不屬實。由於缺乏知識，他洩露了一次性密碼（OTP），導致信用卡債務巨大，無法償還。

雖然經歷過生活磨難的成年人可能應對能力較強，但青少年和兒童仍處於純真階段，需要更多保護。2020年首份兒童網路安全指數報告顯示，在30個國家中，近60%的8至12歲兒童至少遭遇一種網路風險，其中45%受到網路欺凌影響。

網路傷害帶來痛苦，並在現實生活中產生長期不良後果。我們必須保護人民免受此類傷害，使他們能夠自由生活併發揮潛能。政府有哪些支援措施和資源，用以提高意識、防範和干預，減少網路傷害？

[（程式文本）提案提出。（程式文本）]

主席：亞歷克斯·嚴先生。不在場。魏先生。

保護人民免受網路傷害

魏先生（蔡厝港選區）：主席，網路詐騙猖獗、假網站氾濫以及社交媒體上虛假資訊無處不在，嚴重影響社會。辛苦賺來的錢財損失、對官方和傳統資訊來源的信任喪失，以及虛假資訊帶來的混亂和傷害，干擾國家正常運作，破壞社會結構。

數字世界無國界，入侵者可能從任何地方進入，若我們不築起防線，普通民眾難以跟上最新網路詐騙和新型數字欺騙手法。

通訊及資訊部採取了哪些措施保護人民免受網路傷害？

保護人民免受網路傷害

萬立駿博士（惹蘭勿剎選區）：主席，新加坡人現在花更多時間上網，這意味著他們更容易接觸到網路內容——其中一些內容可能包含極端甚至極端主義觀點——網路遊戲和可能的賭博，以及參與無法完全監管內容的社交媒體。

社群不同群體可能面臨不同程度的網路傷害。例如，青少年最易受網路欺凌、仇恨言論甚至網路羞辱等負面影響。長者也未能倖免，成為網路受害者。

我歡迎針對女性和女孩的網路傷害成立的行動聯盟。

通訊及資訊部將採取哪些針對性措施，保護新加坡不同群體免受多樣化網路傷害？

防範網路傷害

沙希拉·阿卜杜拉博士（提名議員）：主席，數字化是許多國家的優先事項，新加坡亦然。然而，正如所述，數字化增加了網路傷害的風險。社群所有群體都易受網路傷害。我們都知道最近華僑銀行（OCBC）釣魚詐騙事件，790名客戶損失了137億新元。這是一種網路傷害。

另一種是網路內容相關的傷害，例如網路性誘導、個人資訊曝光、網路欺凌、網路騷擾或跟蹤，以及錯誤資訊或非法內容的傳播。

下午1時15分

眾所周知，OnlyFans等平臺被用於展示非法內容。在元宇宙中，也有報告稱虛擬化身遭受欺凌及言語和性騷擾。我必須讚揚部委在教育公眾如何安全上網方面所做的努力。

然而，我們如何確保始終領先於所有網路變化？我們能否在法規方面做得更多？我關注英國《網路安全法案》的發展，該法案將決定網路平臺如何處理內容及防止非法內容傳播。澳大利亞也最近頒佈了電子安全立法。部委是否考慮在本地引入法規以監管網路內容？

主席：顏添寶先生。不在場。德·蘇扎先生，你可以合併提出兩個削減。

商業領域的數字化

德·蘇扎先生（荷蘭-武吉知馬選區）：主席先生，尤其是中小企業，雖然承認數字化是未來趨勢，但在初期成本、技術專長缺乏以及幫助員工，特別是長期在現有系統工作的資深員工轉型方面存在諸多實際困難。資訊通訊媒體發展局推出的“更佳資料驅動業務”（BDDB）、“數字領袖計劃”（DLP）和“技術長即服務”（CTO-as-a-Service）等計劃，為許多實體店鋪轉向線上線下混合模式提供了平臺，深受歡迎。通訊及資訊部將如何繼續支援企業建設或提升數字能力，以利用後疫情經濟復甦階段的機遇？

數字化與新加坡韌性

隨著我們為後疫情時代做準備，技術可以徹底變革和重塑商業運作方式。隨著超大規模雲服務提供商主導雲基礎設施，更多行業雲出現，雲端計算已發生變革，改變了數字化程序。量子計算、元宇宙和數字貨幣等技術持續湧現，似乎釋放更多潛力。政府如何利用新數字技術的潛力並進行投資，同時防範潛在風險？這將提升新加坡的競爭力和韌性。

消費者和小企業利益

沙拉爾·塔哈先生（巴西立-榜鵝選區）：主席，為使新加坡成為全球競爭力數字大都會的先驅，數字空間必須對所有人經濟活躍、社會穩定且數字安全。大型企業通常擁有資源保護其在數字空間的利益。通訊及資訊部如何確保消費者和小企業的利益在數字時代持續受到保護？

主席：蘇慧玲女士。你可以合併提出兩個削減。

廣播：方言新聞播報

蘇慧玲女士（馬西嶺-裕廊西選區）：主席，請允許我用普通話發言。

（普通話）：[請參閱方言發言。] 在疫情前，我每月會去一次新傳媒，主持Capital 95.8FM的法律意識廣播節目。節目間隙，我會坐在一角，聽年長的新聞播音員用福建話或廣東話播報新聞。這些播音員通常年過五十；有時他們會等我節目結束後，用普通話或福建話與我聊天，有時還會諮詢遺產規劃的法律建議。

我一直很喜歡這些時光，因為它讓我想起小時候與阿嬤聊天的回憶。像她們一樣，大多數長者只會用方言交流，依賴方言新聞廣播瞭解時事。

最近，我與一位DJ聊天時瞭解到，由於疫情，這些方言新聞播音員現在必須在家錄製新聞廣播。這段時間很艱難；有些人不幸去世，有些人因跟不上技術選擇退休。

部委將如何確保廣播電臺繼續培訓和留住這方面的人才，以延續這一特色？作為新加坡廣播員工工會（SUBE）顧問，我也希望能給予這些方言新聞播音員更多福利支援。

綠色生活倡議吉祥物

（英文）：我的下一項削減是關於是否會與新傳媒合作，推出類似“Baby Shark”或“CoComelon”YouTube頻道歌曲的節奏內容動畫系列，利用“綠色隊長”、“水娃娃”等吉祥物，吸引並教育年輕觀眾成為綠色小冠軍。

新加坡報業控股媒體信託

梁文韜先生（非選區議員）：主席，我在二月議會會議上驚訝地得知，納稅人未來五年可能需支付高達9億新元支援新加坡報業控股（SPH）媒體信託——政府擁有的大多數主流報紙出版機構。鑑於本預算中稅收大幅增加，我們應謹慎對待如此大額的新納稅人資金流出。

首先，有無計劃逐步收回這9億資金？是否有退出計劃，還是會在五年後繼續資助SPH媒體信託多年？

其次，政府為何未在同意將虧損業務剝離SPH前，向上市母公司SPH索取更多資金？多年來，SPH資產因其幾乎壟斷的媒體業務而增長。儘管近年來印刷業務因網際網路而虧損，SPH依靠龐大地產組合保持整體盈利。

因此，合理預期SPH應繼續資助媒體業務轉型。政府與SPH的安排顯然是糟糕交易，納稅人至少未來五年要承擔SPH媒體信託的費用，而SPH價值至少39億新元、據一經紀估計年現金流達3億的新加坡地產資產，可能被賣給本地地產大亨王永成擁有的Cuscaden Peak公司，惠及現有及未來股東。部長能否解釋政府接受此交易的理由？

抵禦數字風險

謝耀權先生（裕廊選區）：主席，隨著邁向數字包容社會，我們不僅需促進數字素養和技能，還需支援所有企業，尤其是中小企業，以及所有個人防範網路和資料威脅。這將增強我們對惡意行為者的集體防禦和韌性，維護對數字未來的整體信心。對此，通訊及資訊部有何計劃支援企業和市民？

網路和資料威脅

黃偉中先生（裕廊選區）：先進的數字基礎設施和網路安全技術固然重要，但我們也需加強基礎工作。要獲得資料保護信託標誌（DPTM），IMDA有五個評估機構可對組織進行評估。目前，組織可能需排隊等待，整個認證過程最長達一年。認證要求嚴格，理應如此。截至2022年3月2日，共有81個組織獲得DPTM認證。ACRA記錄顯示，我們約有50萬個註冊實體。

實際上，我們不需要所有組織都獲得認證。但同時，我們必須提升對基本資料保護法律的理解，強調關鍵資料保護要求的重要性。三個問題：

目前新加坡的資料保護諮詢機構如何監管？我們如何確保資料保護生態系統具備必要的能力和專家？我們如何更好地建設和加速可信、安全和韌性數字基礎設施及技術？如何更好地支援企業和個人防範網路和資料威脅？

主席：何亭如女士。不在場。蘇慧玲女士。

應對網路和資料威脅

蘇慧玲女士：隨著網路和資料威脅日益增長，通訊及資訊部將如何更好地保護個人和企業，防範這些風險，幫助他們保持信心，繼續在數字領域蓬勃發展？是否有補助鼓勵企業採用經批准的網路安全解決方案？

加強數字接入和素養

梅業成先生（淡濱尼選區）：主席，我們的社會和生活正在被數字技術轉變。無論生活、工作還是娛樂環境，我們每天都在使用數字技術。我們在網路空間花費的時間越來越多。

然而，並非人人都能接入數字資源。首次推出的個人移動裝置（PMD）和助力腳踏車騎士的線上強制理論測試僅能通過筆記型電腦完成。諷刺的是，如今更多人擁有智慧手機而非筆記型電腦。因此，我們建議沒有筆記型電腦的人使用國家圖書館的設施。

過去，人們去圖書館借書或閱讀報紙和雜誌。如今，閱讀或獲取知識資訊不再侷限於實體印刷版本。遺憾的是，閱讀率下降已成全球趨勢。

在這方面，我們的圖書館角色需要演變。它們可以在支援新加坡人導航數字世界、培養終身學習精神和凝聚社群方面發揮不可或缺的作用。

過去，圖書館的使用者必須首先具備閱讀能力，否則圖書館的藏書對他們來說毫無用處。如今，數字素養與識字能力同等重要。那麼，信息通信媒體發展部（MCI）將如何確保數字化的益處惠及社會各階層？有哪些措施來彌合技能和知識差距，確保個人具備使用數字技術的知識、信心和動力？

上世紀90年代末，我們的圖書館從功能性空間、排列整齊的書架，轉變為充滿活力的社群節點，年輕人和老人們在這裡探索文字的奇妙。我們的圖書館如何進行更新，以滿足新加坡人不斷變化的需求和興趣，並繼續培養他們對閱讀、學習和探索的熱愛？

我看到新加坡數字辦公室（SG Digital Office）的志願者在社群教導長者如何使用智慧手機，並鼓勵社群商店接受數字社群發展理事會（CDC）代金券。地面資源的部署效果顯著，但這種做法的可持續性如何？我們如何利用更廣泛社群的多樣性、洞察力和能力，賦能自下而上的努力？

先生，我們需要做更多工作以推動數字包容。讓我們多做些工作，歡迎更多移民進入數字世界，並幫助他們融入，成為真正的數字公民。

下午1時30分

數字化與數字經濟

謝健鵬議員（海洋坊）：主席先生，隨著數字化日益普及併成為社會不可分割的一部分，部委如何與私營部門和民間團體合作，讓數字技術惠及新加坡人，併為他們準備數字未來？

如今，數字經濟在各行業提供了一些最令人興奮和高質量的就業機會，因此我們越來越需要關注數字經濟的生計方面。

在智慧國戰略下，我們已明確建設數字經濟、數字政府和數字社會的目標。部長能否介紹該計劃的進展，特別是全國範圍的數字化努力？

其次，新加坡已規劃資金和目標，開發面向產業的高科技數字解決方案，包括作為新技術解決方案的試驗場。部長能否介紹我們在將新技術轉化為商業產品和服務方面的表現？

最後，新加坡的優勢之一一直是跨學科合作的能力。這種創新的跨學科技術解決方案使我們能夠應對複雜挑戰，也使我們成為值得信賴的數字創新中心。

部長能否介紹新加坡在成為數字信任的誠實代理方面的進展？最後，MCI將如何裝備新加坡人，賦予他們必要技能，以抓住數字經濟中湧現的機會？

數字包容

沙拉爾·塔哈議員：主席，過去兩年，我們看到數字實踐在社會中的加速採用。企業和個人迅速轉向數字解決方案。2021年，PayNow移動使用者增長至307萬人，440萬人使用Singpass，TechSkills Accelerator（TeSA）培訓了11.8萬人，2020年74%的企業至少採用了一項數字解決方案。

然而，仍有部分新加坡人和企業未能採用數字解決方案。MCI如何支援那些數字技能較弱、尚未擁抱數字化並從中受益的群體？

特別是“長者數字化”和“攤販數字化”計劃已執行兩年，但仍有長者和攤販對數字化持謹慎態度。我們還能做些什麼來讓他們加入？

對於青年，我們如何確保數字“有”和“無”之間的差距不擴大？我們還能做些什麼支援較弱勢的青年？如何確保所有青年都能獲得數字裝置、連線和必要技能，從而更好地為數字經濟做好準備？

數字原生代面臨的挑戰

蔡艾立議員（丹戎巴葛）：先生，新加坡人是全球數字連線最緊密的人群之一，而且從小開始。2019年一項調查顯示，新加坡兒童首次擁有聯網裝置的平均年齡為8歲，比全球平均早兩年，是全球最年輕的群體之一。

我們似乎非常喜愛裝置。平均每人擁有3.3臺聯網裝置，91%的人擁有智慧手機，有時甚至兩部，且我們的寬頻網速位居亞洲前列。

自1990年代以來，這些趨勢不斷加速，再加上過去兩年疫情帶來的生活方式變化——居家辦公、居家學習、安全管理措施——意味著我們渴望的人際連線往往只能通過技術媒介實現。簡言之，今天我們無法離開數字連線生活。

技術既可為福，也可為禍。通過社交網路，人們可重新聯絡失散多年的朋友，分享小眾愛好的技巧，聚集志同道合、熱衷社會事業的人。

但同樣，這些平臺也讓世界偏遠角落的恐怖組織得以聯絡。因此，技術的用途和使用者動機等因素決定了其影響。

大多數人使用網際網路和社交網路是為了工作、學習和娛樂等正當目的，但也有人無意中陷入網路空間的弊端。

首先是色情內容。社群戒癮中心WE CARE報告，尋求強迫性性行為幫助的人數增加，包括過度觀看網路色情。2019年有50例，2020年增至100例，增長100%。其中70例為新病例，許多是20多歲的青年。

許多情況下，首次接觸色情內容往往是同齡人間好奇的對話，或因隨機彈窗廣告偶然進入色情網站。但在我們這樣的亞洲社會，家長往往回避尷尬的敏感話題，年輕易受影響的心靈常常獨自消化接觸到的內容。雖然多數人未陷入成癮，但事實是部分人確實如此，尤其當色情內容成為壓力管理手段時。問題是：我們是否足夠了解這一常被忽視的問題，以設計適當干預？

其次是遊戲。遊戲本身不一定是壞事，它可提供娛樂、減壓甚至塑造品格。但部分玩家過度沉迷，影響日常生活，家庭和朋友關係緊張，遊戲成癮時，限制遊戲會導致焦躁易怒。

當我們得知一名因遊戲成癮而殺父的青少年時，感到震驚，部分原因是父親限制了他的遊戲時間。相關問題還有遊戲內的“戰利品箱”或《海峽時報》稱之為“隨機獎勵的虛擬禮包”。某些戰利品箱中獎機率低至0.00005%——小數點後有四個零，極其罕見，因此獎品極具吸引力。

令人擔憂的是戰利品箱的成癮性。專家警告，這些箱子的魅力在於未知獎勵的刺激，就像《阿甘正傳》中巧克力盒的比喻。這會刺激多巴胺的產生，多巴胺是一種提升情緒的生化物質，通常在運動、充足睡眠或冥想時產生，但這也讓玩家不斷迴歸遊戲。

我談及了對色情內容和遊戲的擔憂，但還有許多其他問題需要解決——網路欺凌、錯誤資訊和虛假資訊、極端主義等。我再次強調，我並非反對網際網路、遊戲或任何線上平臺。

雖然我只是觸及了我們需要應對的網路問題的表面，部委在動員資源、引導社會關注新興問題方面的策略是什麼？我們作為社會需要開展哪些對話？家庭和家長能發揮什麼作用？我們如何共同努力，使網路世界——實際上可以成為建設性的人際網路、知識共享和內容創作空間——對所有人更安全？

保護弱勢群體免受網路傷害

莫哈末·法米·阿里曼議員（海洋坊）：先生，去年，MCI啟動了“新加坡共同行動聯盟”（Singapore Together Alliances for Action，AfA），以應對網路傷害，特別是針對女性和女孩的傷害。AfA的啟動是在諮詢了300名來自不同背景的利益相關者後進行的。其核心目標是打擊網路傷害，尤其是針對女性和女孩的。

重要的是，MCI強調AfA將聚焦於縮小數字安全差距，採取行動提升女性和女孩在數字未來中的自由與安全。

據MCI介紹，AfA將從人民、公共和私營部門的48名成員開始，圍繞參與者建議的五個關鍵工作領域開展工作，即公眾教育、研究、受害者支援、青年參與和志願服務群組。因此，AfA將採取全國一體化的方法，彌合數字安全差距。

我對AfA的啟動感到鼓舞，這表明我們致力於應對日益嚴峻的網路傷害問題。因此，我想請通訊及資訊部長分享自去年啟動以來AfA的進展情況。此外，MCI能否說明自啟動以來已吸納了多少利益相關者加入AfA？最後，MCI能否介紹AfA已實施和即將推出的針對網路傷害，尤其是針對女性和女孩的舉措？

主席：蘇涵妮女士，您可以一併回答這兩個問題。

數字機遇

蘇涵妮女士：MCI如何彌合新加坡人之間的數字技能和知識差距，鼓勵他們尋求數字機遇，追求終身學習，豐富生活？除了數字大使提供的幫助外，我們是否考慮為高等院校（IHLs）提供更多支援，使其能為公眾開設更多數字技術培訓課程？這些課程可以類似於SkillsFuture課程，或與人民協會合作，由高等院校的講師和學生通過居民社群中心、長者活動中心等接觸社群弱勢群體，開展培訓。

圖書館

疫情期間，許多小朋友通過閱讀尋求安慰，在父母忙於線上會議時自我娛樂。閱讀不僅是一種健康的娛樂方式，也有助於親子關係，因為它幫助孩子們迴歸根源，學習傳統故事和童謠。

有哪些正在進行和即將開展的努力，以增加中文、馬來文和泰米爾文書籍及電子資源的數量和種類，鼓勵年輕讀者掌握母語？

議長：陳潔儀女士，您可以一併回答這兩個問題。

未來圖書館

陳潔儀女士（東海岸）：主席先生，圖書館在激發閱讀樂趣、培養好奇心和探究精神方面扮演特殊角色。閱讀能力是獲取資訊和鼓勵年輕人及長者終身學習的基礎。閱讀有助於發展想象力、創造力、口語和溝通能力。我的居民，無論老少，都表達了對社群圖書館的喜愛和需求。

隨著數字化普及，數字素養與閱讀同樣重要，以便獲取資訊和終身學習。我們的公共圖書館網路持續創新和轉型，保持相關性，包括提供數字服務。

MCI如何利用圖書館鼓勵公眾自我導向學習文化，激發好奇心，提高數字技能和素養？

數字訪問雖能提供內容和專案，但實體圖書館提供社群和社交空間，供人們聚集學習。國家圖書館局（NLB）的LAB25專案亮點之一是“節點”裝置，作為進入NLB豐富內容的新入口。NLB是否考慮在如四美（Simei）等無圖書館的社群安裝“節點”？鑑於圖書館的重要作用，四美若能建館更佳。

提升企業數字能力

為幫助中小企業（SMEs）保持競爭力、創新並抓住數字經濟機遇，政府推出多項舉措和資源，使數字化變得簡單易行。

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這些包括：（a）行業數字計劃（IDP），為各行業提供逐步數字化指南；（b）InvoiceNow，幫助企業數字化交易方式；（c）更佳資料驅動業務（BDDB）或商業智慧（BI）工具，幫助中小企業通過視覺化儀表盤深入分析業務資料；（d）新加坡貿易資料交換平臺（SGTraDex），開放數字基礎設施，促進供應鏈生態夥伴間可信資料共享。請問這些計劃已有多少企業參與和利用？

作為2022年預算的一部分，將額外撥款2億新元，強化企業和員工數字能力建設計劃。有哪些新舉措？它們如何在現有計劃基礎上發揮作用？

此外，我建議MCI及相關機構考慮培育數字和科技人才的“學習與實踐社群”，以促進技術人才分享觀點、經驗和相互學習，增強新加坡科技社群活力。

跨國公司（MNCs）和本地大型企業（LLEs）可在培養數字和科技人才方面發揮更大作用。我們如何鼓勵這些公司孵化小型企業和員工，發展數字/科技人才？這些公司擁有人才培養計劃和專業知識，能提供學習和商業環境，助力數字能力建設和擴充套件，我相信它們能在人才庫建設中發揮重要作用。

中小企業數字技能

瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士（實裡達望）：先生，我宣告本人為一家從事技能發展領域諮詢公司的董事總經理。

政府提供了多種計劃幫助中小企業數字化，如生產力解決方案補助金和技術長（CTO）即服務。許多中小企業已利用這些補助金，但仍有不少企業尚未真正開始數字化轉型。數字化轉型要可持續，不僅要採用數字解決方案，員工也需數字化，重新培訓和提升技能，且必須有機會在日常工作中應用這些技能。

然而，我們常聽說在中小企業工作的新加坡人相比大型企業和跨國公司的同事，獲得新數字技能的機會較少，這將影響他們未來的職業選擇。雖然擴大SkillsFuture企業信貸資格將幫助更多公司支援員工，但已有資格的企業中，參與率仍有很大提升空間。

政府還能做些什麼，鼓勵更多中小企業為員工提供再培訓和技能提升，以可持續方式抓住數字經濟機遇？如何實現大規模再培訓？大型企業和行業協會（TACs）如何支援中小企業？如何鼓勵並確保員工，尤其是那些未參與再培訓的員工，能自主抓住機會，考慮到他們資源有限且可能無法在工作中應用這些技能？

充滿活力的科技人才生態

陳佩玲女士：先生，在我與新加坡科技公司和科技領導者的交流中，無論公司規模和本地或外資，普遍反饋是新加坡存在技能短缺問題。

一些人表示他們需要技術專長，以便能夠在本地進行研究和產品開發。另一些人則表示他們在新加坡設立了國際或區域總部。對於這些公司來說，他們不僅需要技術人才，還需要市場專才。例如，一家大型軟體服務公司告訴我，他們需要熟悉越南和印度尼西亞市場的人才，從這裡服務這些市場。這些對他們來說是巨大的市場。擔憂在於，如果像這樣的公司無法在新加坡招聘或獲得這些人才，那麼他們可能被迫將某些部門或全部業務遷出新加坡，這將對新加坡人和新加坡造成不利影響。我們的人民將失去工作和向世界頂尖人才學習的機會。

因此，我想了解一下新加坡當前的科技與創新人力狀況。存在哪些技能和人力缺口？在未來三到五年內，我們是否有足夠的新加坡人填補這些缺口？還將採取哪些措施來彌補這些缺口，以確保優秀的科技公司繼續投資新加坡並持續培養我們的人才？

為此，我想分享一些想法、觀察和建議。

首先，從年輕時開始繼續培養本地人才。許多新加坡人認識到擁有科技技能的價值和潛力，家長送孩子參加程式設計和機器人課程，主流學校為所有高年級小學生提供程式設計作為“拓展課程”。這是一個良好的開端，但我們應當借勢而上，考慮在學校引入計算機語言，或許作為第二語言，以及在課堂上介紹新技術的關鍵概念和應用。目的不是讓每個人都成為程式設計專家，而是培養對邏輯和應用的直觀理解。

我們還需要提升年輕人的全球視野。擴大現有的市場內專案，如新加坡-中國青年實習交流計劃（YES）和亞洲準備體驗計劃（AEP），並積極推動我們的學生充分利用這些專案。

第二是關於人才生態系統。我們需要確保新加坡核心人才的穩步增長。我知道已有鼓勵年輕人選擇STEM課程和專業的努力；這有助於增加人才供應以滿足需求。

同時，我們需要認識到，並非所有科技公司或科技相關工作都需要硬科技技能。一位本地科技領袖告訴我，她遇到一位理工學院畢業生，學的是科技專業，但因為不喜歡程式設計，決定成為一名咖啡師。選擇不同職業本無可厚非，但這位科技領袖想知道，如果這位年輕咖啡師意識到科技職業有廣泛的選擇，結果是否會不同。

雖然公共和私營部門可以做更多工作來提高對科技職業多樣性的認識並培養本地人才，政府也可以識別新加坡需求但缺乏的具體技能，並與企業共同資助獎學金，從年輕時開始培養本地人才。

一些更具前瞻性的科技公司正從純競爭或單打獨鬥轉向合作伙伴關係。因此，我們是否可以建立一個支援系統，為受過培訓且熟悉不同作業系統和軟體的技能型零工工作者提供支援，使他們成為本地企業可利用的強大人才庫？從某種意義上說，這些是“互操作性”人才。

我們還需要繼續對能夠且願意貢獻的優秀全球人才保持開放態度。他們填補人力缺口，同時也是交流知識、技能和理念的良好夥伴，助力共同成長。

第三點是關於樹立更多榜樣。健康的多樣性有利於提升人才供應和商業成果。因此，我們必須繼續推動女孩和女性參與科技領域。足夠數量的女性從業者可以影響女孩對科技職業的看法——這不僅僅是男孩的領域——並給予她們信心去嘗試。那麼，新加坡科技崗位和科技領導職位中的女性比例是多少？2021年高等教育機構STEM相關課程中的女性比例以及IMDA人才專案中的女性比例是多少？這些數字是穩定、下降還是上升？

同樣，我們需要更多成功的新加坡科技領袖故事，作為榜樣激勵更多人加入他們的行列。政府是否積極記錄新加坡及海外的科技領導人才？能否分享他們的故事，並邀請他們通過新加坡全球高管專案等方式提供指導？

數字能力與創新

謝耀權先生：主席，數字經濟讓我們超越地理限制，為世界創造價值。我們的數字能力必須成為戰略競爭優勢。我們不能停步，因為競爭不會停止。實際上，我們必須走得更快更遠，因為競爭只會加速。在這方面，MCI有哪些策略來打造一支具備深厚專業知識且為新加坡人提供更多激動人心機會的ICT勞動力？

更廣泛地說，MCI有哪些計劃培養一支數字化能力強大的勞動力，使其能夠抓住數字技術帶來的經濟機會？

在生態系統層面，MCI如何推動新技術投資及其應用轉化，以增強新加坡的長期競爭優勢？

主席：Jessica Tan女士，你可以回答這兩個問題。

勞動力數字能力

Jessica Tan Soon Neo女士：在我的預算辯論發言中，我提到，除了專業的科技崗位外，更廣泛的勞動力需要具備使用技術的知識和能力，因為越來越多非ICT行業的工作受到數字化衝擊，需要使用技術。

早在新冠疫情之前，工作場所就開始利用技術實現虛擬工作安排。如果有效實施，數字化工作場所，包括實體與虛擬工作的混合模式，可以提高生產力和業務成果。

但要實現數字工作場所的機遇和益處，勞動力需要掌握新技能。這不是培養深厚的技術技能，而是能夠自信地使用不斷變化的新技術完成工作。勞動力有效使用虛擬和雲技術、分析工具以及社交和增強現實工具的能力，將使他們更高效、更快速地完成工作，並更好地表達想法。

MCI將如何支援提升更廣泛勞動力的數字能力？

數字基礎設施韌性

隨著數字化步伐加快，我們的工作、生活和娛樂日益數字化。因此，值得信賴、安全且韌性的數字架構和技術對新加坡及其人民至關重要。數字連線發揮關鍵作用。隨著我們投資未來技術以提升訪問和速度，也需加強數字基礎設施建設，應對需求激增、網路安全風險及數字基礎設施韌性威脅。網路安全風險會危及資料安全，威脅服務的訪問和可用性。

為了維持我們的數字經濟和生活方式，新加坡如何確保這些基礎設施和技術的安全可靠使用？我們的數字基礎設施如何最大限度減少中斷影響，使企業持續運營？隨著數字交易和運營增多，關鍵業務資訊和個人資訊頻繁交換，我們如何加強數字基礎設施安全以保護資料？

主席：Tin Pei Ling女士，請你回答這兩個問題。

下一階段發展

Tin Pei Ling女士：主席，新加坡在技術基礎設施和採用方面位居前列。我們擁有亞洲最高的平均網際網路連線速度，4G訂閱數幾乎是人口的1.5倍。政府持續大量投資，5G網路部署正在順利推進。但即便如此，其他國家也在積極行動。當前的S曲線已趨飽和，我們需要邁向下一階段。

因此，為建設和維持充滿活力的數字經濟，新加坡可以期待哪些下一階段的數字基礎設施發展？

國際合作

鑑於數字空間和數字威脅的無國界特性，僅依賴國內槓桿和專案保護新加坡網路空間是不夠的。

此外，關鍵基礎設施高度互聯，隨著國家和市場數字化連線日益緊密，我們變得極易受到惡意網路活動的干擾和利用。一處攻擊可能產生廣泛影響。

因此，MCI在國際舞臺上採取了哪些措施應對這些挑戰？

主席：Alex Yam先生。不在場。通訊及資訊部長Josephine Teo女士。

通訊及資訊部長（Josephine Teo女士）：主席，感謝議員們的提問和關注。

在早前的供應委員會辯論中，我向議員們彙報了智慧國計劃的進展。數字技術已深刻融入我們的日常生活，帶來了便利，為人民創造了新型和更好的就業機會，也為企業帶來了增長機遇。

但數字未來也可能令人畏懼。企業難以獲得合適的技術和人才。員工擔心被取代。長者可能感到被排除。家長擔憂對孩子的影響。

下午2點

MCI理解這些擔憂。我們的使命是確保人民能夠享受技術帶來的利益，同時保障安全。我們對新加坡數字未來的願景是經濟充滿活力、社會穩定且網路安全。

今年供應委員會的主題是“攜手共建充滿活力且安全的數字未來”。

數字領域的經濟機遇帶來了新加坡的巨大轉型和增長。自2016年以來，資訊與通訊行業年均增長9.4%，遠高於GDP增長率。全經濟範圍內，ICT專業人員數量從2016年的約18萬人增加到2020年的21.6萬人。對更廣泛經濟的積極影響顯而易見。高階國務部長Janil Puthucheary和國務部長Tan Kiat How稍後將詳細介紹。

這種活力在社會中同樣明顯。國會議員Rahayu Mahzam將更新我們在推動數字賦能和健康方面的努力。

為了充分發揮數字領域潛力，我將重點談兩個日益重要的方面。

首先，我們將如何加強數字領域的監管，更好地保護自己和親人，強化數字安全和韌性。其次，我們將如何持續並深化每位新加坡人在數字時代的參與，維護和增強社會凝聚力。

根據MCI的調查，76%的新加坡人表示他們使用數字技術感到舒適，但只有40%安裝了網路安全應用。在60歲及以上的長者中，67%使用即時通訊，超過一半線上搜尋資訊，但只有40%能識別並避免網路釣魚。

顯然，僅使用技術是不夠的；這只是故事的一半。我們還需更好地保護自己和親人免受風險和威脅。

MCI有三大優先事項來管理和保障我們的數字空間。

第一，更好地保護新加坡人免受有害網路內容，尤其是年輕人和弱勢群體。近期《海峽時報》調查發現，7至9歲兒童中有三分之二每天使用智慧手機，但三分之一家長不知道孩子在社交媒體上與誰互動。

去年，國家青年理事會調查發現，三分之二的青少年經歷過網路傷害，如騷擾和不受歡迎的接觸。許多人因此產生不信任感，經歷壓力和焦慮。去年，一名10歲義大利女孩在參與TikTok直播的“懸掛挑戰”時不幸身亡。使用者被鼓勵在直播時勒緊自己直至昏厥。

傷害不僅限於兒童。2019年，社交媒體公司難以刪除紐西蘭清真寺槍擊案影片的轉發。2021年，美國國會山暴亂者利用社交媒體組織和擴大資訊傳播。

全球各國政府已通過新法律應對網路傷害。

2017年，德國頒佈《網路執行法》，要求平臺對使用者舉報的非法內容採取行動。去年7月，澳大利亞頒佈《網路安全法》，為線上服務提供商設定基本安全期望。英國的《網路安全法案》草案將為線上平臺設立使用者照護義務，包括對有害內容採取行動的要求。

Shahira Abdullah博士、Tin Pei Ling女士、Wan Rizal博士和Don Wee先生提出的新加坡還能做什麼的問題非常正確。一些措施已在實施。

網際網路內容提供者必須遵守網際網路行為準則。IMDA有權刪除違反“公共利益、公共道德、公共秩序和國家和諧”的內容。IMDA還可指示網際網路服務提供商遮蔽禁止訪問的網站。

為管理兒童訪問網站和線上服務，IMDA要求網際網路服務提供商提供家長可訂閱的過濾服務。

為減少接觸不適齡娛樂內容，提供NC16及以上評級內容的OTT和影片點播服務必須提供家長控制功能。

在2020年針對30個國家兒童網路安全的研究中，國際智庫DQ Institute將新加坡排名第四。這讓我們感到些許安慰。但隨著網路傷害風險增加，我們必須加大力度，尤其是為兒童營造安全的網路空間。

新加坡可訪問的線上平臺必須承擔更大責任保障使用者安全。它們應努力保持網路空間無有害內容，包括暴力、血腥及宣揚性暴力的內容。

為提升網路安全基線標準，我們計劃在三個新領域引入行為準則。

第一個領域是兒童安全。要求平臺建立健全系統，最大限度減少兒童和青少年接觸有害內容，包括為兒童賬戶設定內容過濾和為家長提供監督指導機制。

第二個領域是使用者舉報。去年，MCI成立了陽光聯盟，致力於應對網路傷害。聯盟成員希望網際網路平臺認真評估舉報內容，及時刪除有害內容。但許多社交媒體平臺表示無法全面掌握所有需稽核的內容，因其多為使用者生成且數量龐大。

因此，使用者舉報是彌補認知差距、促進及時跟進的重要方式。準則將要求平臺設立便捷舉報機制，及時響應並告知使用者處理結果，賦予使用者權力舉報有害內容，防止其擴散。

第三個領域是平臺問責。要求平臺公開其保障使用者安全的措施，包括平臺上有害內容的普遍程度、收到並處理的使用者舉報數量，以及應對有害內容的系統和流程。使用者可據此比較平臺做法，做出明智的參與或退出決定。

與IMDA現行行為準則類似，這些新準則將具有法律效力，要求相關線上平臺採取更多措施營造更安全的網路環境。我們將研究如何有效執行這些準則，包括適當的立法更新。

我們還與內政部合作，為新加坡人提供更多保護，打擊網路詐騙及其他網路犯罪，如兒童色情、恐怖主義和煽動暴力內容。

MCI與國際及行業夥伴就使用者安全問題保持頻繁交流。我們將繼續廣泛諮詢，制定這些新準則。

但正如Tin Pei Ling女士指出，數字領域的不斷演變將持續考驗我們設計監管的方式。我們需明確且無歧義地維護安全與信任，同時避免過度規定或扼殺創新。覆蓋範圍需足夠廣泛但不過度擴張。簡潔不能以犧牲有效性為代價。

在許多方面，我們對數字領域的監管方法將類似於當今技術服務的推出方式，即作為最小可行產品（Minimum Viable Products），通過迭代不斷改進。換句話說，完美不應成為良好的敵人。相反，我們必須準備定期更新這些守則，推出新的守則或簡化過時的守則，以應對新出現的問題和新技術。只有這樣，我們才能利用令人興奮的新技術的豐富潛力，同時防範其伴隨的風險。

主席先生，信息通信媒體部（MCI）的另一個重要優先事項是加強我們的網路安全。

黃少恩先生、蘇翰妮女士和謝耀權先生詢問我們為防範網路威脅還做了哪些工作。

自2018年以來，《網路安全法》為網路安全域性（CSA）監督和維護我國國家網路安全提供了法律框架。該法目前重點保障和保護我們的關鍵基礎資訊設施。這些計算機系統為現實世界提供重要服務，如供水和供電。

鑑於烏克蘭局勢的發展，我們必須警覺風險的加劇。新加坡對針對烏克蘭政府網站和國家銀行的網路攻擊深感關切。這說明重要服務可以被遠端且相當容易地中斷。新加坡地理位置雖遠離衝突現場，但我們不能忽視潛在的連鎖反應可能波及本地。這就是為什麼本週早些時候，我們建議本地機構加強網路安全防護。

但即使在烏克蘭當前局勢之前，網路威脅已日益普遍。2020年至2021年間，新加坡報告的資料洩露和勒索軟體事件增長了73%。隨著我們的數字領域擴充套件，威脅面也隨之擴大。

其他地方此類攻擊的規模和影響也變得更為嚴重。針對執行物理基礎設施的系統的攻擊，如能源電網和燃油管道，具有真實且具體的影響。例如，去年美國殖民地管道遭受的勒索軟體攻擊，導致美國東海岸燃料短缺。

網路安全域性一直在審查《網路安全法》。為了加強防禦，我們需要解決三個關鍵問題。

第一，我們如何提升對新加坡網路空間的態勢感知？

攻擊者不斷尋找嚴重漏洞，就像竊賊尋找損壞的鎖和敞開的窗戶。網路安全域性必須以某種方式做同樣的事情，但出於完全不同的原因——以便我們能及時建議相關人員修復漏洞和關閉窗戶。在網路空間，這意味著在惡意行為者入侵系統並竊取資料之前，修補已知的軟體漏洞。

第二，什麼應被視為關鍵基礎資訊設施（CII）？該法目前認可物理網路和系統為CII。隨著向虛擬化的轉變，我們也必須能夠識別虛擬資產為CII，例如託管在雲端的系統。我們需要確保這些虛擬資產也得到妥善保護，包括那些可能不在新加坡託管的資產。

第三，我們如何保障關鍵數字基礎設施和服務，超出CII範疇？

數字基礎設施和服務是我們連線、計算和資料儲存需求的支柱。如果被中斷或受損，可能產生嚴重的連鎖反應。想象一下無法訪問電子郵件、網站和應用程式的混亂場景。

我們將考慮如何採用基於風險的方法保護這些基礎設施和服務，並確保它們在遭受攻擊時能迅速恢復。我們計劃在2023年前完成此項審查，期間將考慮利益相關者和公眾的意見。隨後將更新該法。

下午2時15分

主席先生，沙拉爾·塔哈先生詢問我們如何在保障消費者及其個人資料的同時，促進企業創新和發展。這也是一項優先事項。資料是數字經濟的關鍵資源。

2012年，我們頒佈了《個人資料保護法》（PDPA）。該法在允許組織利用資料進行創新和增長與確保適當保障和問責之間取得了謹慎平衡。2020年，為適應不斷變化的數字環境，我們修訂了PDPA。在多項修訂中，我們明確承認業務改進是資料的合法用途。

正在進行的調查初步結果令人鼓舞。近90%的企業認為PDPA幫助他們為數字經濟做好準備。超過80%的消費者表示PDPA幫助他們相信個人資料受到組織的保護，不被濫用。

為了維護這種信任，組織必須繼續承擔責任並被追究責任，尤其是那些持有大量個人資料的組織。這就是為什麼2020年PDPA修訂將資料洩露的最高罰款提高至100萬新元，或本地年營業額的10%，以較高者為準，適用於營業額超過1000萬新元的組織。

由於疫情引發的經濟不確定性，新罰款的實施曾被暫緩。給予企業充足的準備時間後，罰款將於2022年10月1日起生效。

我們還將在其他領域加強保障措施。

目前，消費者和小企業嘗試直接或通過現有爭議解決選項與其電信或媒體服務提供商解決合同糾紛。這些方式可能成本高且對消費者不夠友好。

為補充這些選項，信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）將推出一項替代爭議解決（ADR）計劃，旨在提供經濟實惠且有效的解決途徑。當案件提交至ADR時，服務提供商必須參與解決過程。

從4月起，這將為解決此類糾紛提供一個新的有益渠道。

主席先生，我剛才描述的治理和保障我們數字空間的三項優先事項，將構成充滿活力且安全的數字未來的基石。

但，先生，技術也改變了我們彼此、社群和世界的互動方式。全球媒體和資訊環境變得更加分散，存在競爭敘事和回聲室，新聞來源多得令人難以跟上。

黃俊賢先生正確指出需要可信的資訊來源、真誠的互動以及整體方法來遏制錯誤資訊的傳播。事實上，這些在抗擊新冠疫情中至關重要。如果公眾不信任衛生當局或不相信所接收的資訊，我們無法應對公共衛生危機。這正是為什麼從一開始，我們就決心儘可能全面和迅速地向公眾通報情況。我們決心實事求是，絕不掩飾或粉飾，絕不隱瞞。

正如總理最近所觀察，如果我們是一個低信任社會，人們不會理解安全管理措施（SMMs）的必要性，也不會遵守。我們的感染率會更高，接種疫苗的人會少得多，死亡人數會更多。為了維護這種信任，我們還必須有適當的法律。例如，《防止網路虛假資訊和操縱法》（POFMA）使我們能夠迅速採取行動，20次遏制與新冠相關的錯誤資訊，防止謠言紮根。

[副議長（Christopher de Souza先生）主持]

因此，新冠疫情凸顯了保持公眾信任和維護可信資訊來源的重要性。

信息通信媒體部通過擴充套件和更新我們的傳播渠道，推出針對性活動如VacciNationSG支援疫苗接種。Gov.sg的10個平臺訂閱者比疫情前增加了近200萬。我們委託製作的長者電子歌臺節目觀看次數超過750萬，網路上流行的音樂影片觀看次數超過900萬。

為了更好地與各行各業的新加坡人互動並瞭解他們的關切，REACH通過電子傾聽點和虛擬對話擴大了數字觸達。2021年，超過7萬新加坡人向REACH提供反饋，高於2020年的5.9萬。

通過這些共同努力，民調顯示四分之三的公眾認為政府在最近幾個月提供了足夠的新冠資訊。超過86%的人同意這些資訊幫助他們決定接種疫苗。

在我們努力從新冠疫情中恢復並共同應對未來危機的過程中，保持這種高度信任至關重要。

我們的本地媒體公司在這一使命中發揮重要作用，幫助新加坡人團結一致，通過新加坡視角理解全球事件；提供權威資訊來源，穿透充斥點選誘餌和錯誤資訊的網路空間噪音；用官方語言製作內容，慶祝多元文化，創造所有新加坡人共享的體驗。

顯然，我們的本地媒體公司承擔著超越商業成功的更廣泛使命。這就是政府支援SPH傳媒信託的原因。我們已在2021年5月和2022年2月的議會會議中詳細說明背景，但我將重申兩點。

第一，我們的本地媒體，像世界各地的媒體一樣，廣告和訂閱收入大幅減少，受到數字內容平臺和免費內容新渠道的衝擊。

第二，雖然我們的本地媒體覆蓋面良好——如今，Mediacorp和SPH傳媒覆蓋了96%的新加坡人——但如何將這種覆蓋轉化為收入沒有簡單答案。我們希望他們能實現自給自足，但是否以及何時能實現尚未可知。

梁文韜先生說SPH是政府擁有的。這不正確。如果是，就不會有今天公共資金的問題。他隨後問上市的SPH公司是否可以向新的SPH傳媒信託貢獻更多資金。股東投票同意了向SPH傳媒信託注入8000萬現金和價值3000萬的股份。

如果重組方案要求更高的貢獻，股東可能會退出。擔保有限公司（CLG）可能不會成立，SPH媒體業務可能會繼續走下坡路，幾乎沒有復興希望。屆時將無可挽留的價值。

議會已充分了解重組的必要性，並接受我們的本地主流媒體值得公共資金支援。

與世界其他地方的投資相比，支援本地媒體轉型的資金必須有意義，才能讓他們的努力有成功的機會。我們不能半心半意。我也詳細說明了政府如何保持他們的問責。

現在讓我們關注未來的方向，比如蘇翰妮女士提出的媒體如何更好地滿足不同群體需求。

例如，Mediacorp正與其新聞廣播員及宗親會合作，發掘新人才以維持方言廣播。Mediacorp製作了關於可持續發展和環境意識的動畫系列，讓家長和孩子瞭解其重要性及如何為國家優先事項做貢獻。

如果完全依賴自由市場，這類節目不太可能有生存空間。因此，我呼籲議員們給予本地媒體和記者最大支援，因為他們值得。

隨著媒體行業適應數字化興起，也出現了令人興奮的新機遇。全球內容市場預計到2025年將增長至超過5000億美元，其中一半來自亞太地區。新加坡憑藉穩健的智慧財產權和法律框架，以及作為市場和文化連線者的角色，處於有利位置。

全球知名企業如華特迪士尼、愛奇藝、華納傳媒和Netflix已在此設有業務，伴隨本土企業如亞洲最大獨立製作公司之一的Beach House Pictures。

我們將繼續支援這些公司和人才：(a) 探索與創作者網路如Titan Digital Media、平臺如YouTube、TikTok和Twitch及網路創作者的新合作；(b) 與業界合作，通過資料、人工智慧（AI）和虛擬製作提升內容質量，更好理解觀眾偏好。

這些努力將使我們成為“新加坡製造”和“與新加坡共創”內容的樞紐。主席先生，請用中文。

（中文）：[請參閱方言發言。] 對許多新加坡人來說，網際網路接入已成為基本生活必需品，就像水和電一樣。

在當今世界，建設充滿活力且安全的數字未來對一個國家的生存和繁榮至關重要。

新加坡將繼續面臨未知挑戰，但我們不會放棄。

政府致力於通過多項措施幫助每位新加坡人在數字時代取得成功。

處於數字旅程各階段的中小企業將有機會進步並開拓新領域，儘管面臨各種壓力。

各行業的工人將有機會深化技能。每個人都將獲得支援，提升數字技能，改善生活水平。

長者將有機會擁抱終身學習，掌握技術，保持社交聯絡。

兒童將得到更好的保護，免受不良內容和網路傷害。

我們也在努力加強數字基礎設施的安全，提升人民和企業對數字未來的信心。

在政府、業界和新加坡人共同努力下，我相信新加坡能夠建設一個安全且充滿活力的數字未來；我們深愛的小紅點將在國際舞臺上繼續閃耀光芒！

（英文）：主席先生，我已概述信息通信媒體部治理和保障數字空間、以及在數字化世界中與新加坡人互動的優先事項。這些是新加坡持續生存和成功的關鍵基石。

我們期待與所有新加坡人攜手，共建充滿活力且安全的數字未來！[掌聲]

主席：通訊及資訊部長助理拉哈尤·馬哈贊。

通訊及資訊部長助理（拉哈尤·馬哈贊女士）：主席先生，首先感謝各位議員提出的問題和對信息通信媒體部工作的關注。我將詳細說明信息通信媒體部建設一個持續包容、相關且為數字未來做好準備的社會的計劃。

正如張玉娟部長所言，數字技術已深深融入我們的日常生活。數字化開啟了無數可能——從促進與家人朋友的日常互動，到在生活各方面帶來新的便利。這就是為什麼數字接入和有意義的技術參與已成為我們今天生活質量的關鍵。

下午2時30分

信息通信媒體部將繼續加強數字素養和健康，緊密與社群夥伴和志願者合作，實現三大目標。首先，確保人人享有數字接入和數字採納；其次，人人學習並掌握數字技能，抓住數字經濟中的新機遇；同樣重要的是，使我們的人民具備識別和應對網路危險的能力。

為確保新加坡人無論年齡、背景或技能水平，都能掌控自己的數字未來，我們的首要目標是數字接入和採納，這是每個人應享有的基本權益，包括網際網路連線、技術裝置及使用能力。我知道這是許多議員關心的問題，包括資深議員貝潤慶、謝健鵬、沙拉爾·塔哈和蘇翰妮。

我們的寬頻連線和基本裝置對人民至關重要。新加坡是高度互聯的社會——98%的家庭擁有寬頻接入，99%有15歲以下兒童的家庭擁有電腦。但我們認識到，每位新加坡人都必須擁有這種接入。

目前，我們有數字接入專案，如NEU PC Plus和Home Access。自2020年以來，這些專案已幫助超過3.4萬個低收入家庭滿足數字接入需求，幾乎是疫情前受助人數的兩倍。

未來，我們計劃加強數字接入專案，覆蓋更多低收入家庭，幫助他們更便捷地獲得負擔得起的數字接入。這將包括與社會及家庭發展部（MSF）和社會服務組織合作，接觸並協助低收入家庭申請。

確保人民擁有數字領域接入後，我們還關注特定個人和企業群體的需求，幫助他們採納——即使用並從數字中受益。

沙拉爾·塔哈先生指出，社群中可能有些人對數字領域不熟悉，包括長者和部分小販。

疫情高峰期，SG數字辦公室（SDO）成立，專門接觸這些可能需要額外和定製支援的群體。自2020年以來，SDO的數字大使已培訓超過13萬名長者掌握基本數字技能，如使用智慧手機，並賦能1.1萬名小販採納電子支付解決方案。

新加坡數字辦公室（SDO）將繼續與社群合作伙伴攜手合作，保持其課程內容與數字環境同步，繼續成為新加坡人尋求數字幫助的重要接觸點。

一個很好的例子是SDO與Rahmatan Lil Alamin基金會（RLAF）的合作。如今，RLAF與20個清真寺合作，組織培訓課程，教授老年人實用的數字技能，例如通過Facebook、WhatsApp和Zoom保持聯絡。我在其中一場培訓中與參與者交談，他們非常欣賞這種在朋友之間安全空間內的實踐學習環境。該基金會計劃擴大其覆蓋範圍，進入更多清真寺，並深化已經掌握基礎智慧手機技能的老年人的學習。

RLAF還計劃與其他社群合作伙伴合作，如和平之玫瑰（Roses of Peace），通過補充志願者力量、策劃課程和推出認證體系，擴大其工作規模，以獎勵老年人的學習成果。

許多其他合作伙伴也積極支援我們的老年人。SDO與合作伙伴的共同努力使84%的老年人報告稱他們擁有並在日常生活中使用智慧手機。

接下來談第二個目標。信息通信媒體部（MCI）將繼續彌合數字知識和技能差距，幫助公民跟上數字化的步伐。數字環境不斷變化，伴隨著新技術和新應用的出現。

我們的目標是讓新加坡人樹立信心，持續適應這一變化的環境，積極參與數字領域，並自信地抓住新的數字機遇。

我們計劃通過兩種方式實現這一目標。

首先，通過數字生活運動（Digital for Life movement）利用社群的影響力、活力和資源。去年，數字生活基金（Digital for Life Fund）成立，為基層數字包容計劃提供資金支援。自那時起，該基金已支援22個專案，預計將惠及社會上超過10萬人。

其中一個例子是Byte.SG，該組織開展“空地科技實驗室計劃”（Void Deck Technology Labs Initiative）。通過培養兒童在科學和技術領域的技能和熟悉度，Byte.SG旨在提高租賃組屋兒童的科技意識。

在Byte.SG最近的一次活動中，我看到團隊如何利用增強現實（AR）和互動線上工具讓水下世界栩栩如生。孩子們對此非常興奮，我本人也被演示深深吸引！

在數字生活基金的支援下，Byte.SG將把該計劃推廣到南洋、勿洛、丹戎巴葛和淡濱尼等地，幫助更多兒童以有趣且賦能的方式建立數字自信。

我們將與3P合作伙伴共同推動數字生活運動，繼續在基層動員力量，未來幾個月將組織一系列活動，最終在年中舉辦數字生活節。

其次，MCI通過圖書館幫助民眾深化數字技能。我們的圖書館和檔案館是重要的學習市場，激發新加坡人在各個生命階段的好奇心和探索慾望。

儘管受到疫情相關限制，國家圖書館局（NLB）的借閱量穩定，數字覆蓋面不斷擴大，體現了其關鍵作用。去年，至少64%的新加坡居民訪問了圖書館或使用了NLB的線上內容，迄今已有超過98,000人受益於NLB的數字準備計劃。

面對數字化，我們的圖書館必須與時俱進，繼續為公民提供豐富多樣的學習機會，正如譚潔辛女士所指出的。為此，我們將根據《圖書館與檔案藍圖2025》（LAB25）對圖書館進行更新。

許多議員已參觀了NLB在主大廳的LAB25展示，我鼓勵尚未參觀的議員前往一看。

該展示生動展現了LAB25的四個重點領域：打造學習市場、培養知情公民、激勵新加坡故事講述者以及成為社會平等的推動者。

為實現LAB25願景，NLB將推出“ExperienceIT”，與創新和技術領域的領導者合作，如亞馬遜網路服務（Amazon Web Services），以激發對新興技術更深入學習的興趣和信心，並與社群合作，將更多新加坡故事帶入NLB的圖書館網路，使更多藏書向公眾開放。

經過改造後，中央公共圖書館將設立一個新的新加坡角，展示新加坡故事和文學。這將成為新加坡藏書的“家”，定期舉辦本地作家的活動，配備沉浸式和體驗式展覽。

今年晚些時候，榜鵝區域圖書館的開幕標誌著在促進、賦能和平等數字訪問方面邁出新步伐。

基於NLB持續確保其實體空間的無障礙性，NLB將在榜鵝區域圖書館啟動一套全面的無障礙服務，專為殘障人士設計。這包括感官和盲文書籍的無障礙藏書、帶文字的手語，以及對照顧者有用的社會和生活技能書籍及輔助技術，如“沉浸式閱讀器”，以滿足新加坡人不同語言需求。

同時，NLB持續改善圖書館的物理空間。中央公共圖書館和海濱公園公共圖書館將在今年晚些時候進行改造。

為了鼓勵新加坡人積極掌控自己的學習，NLB將向更廣泛的受眾提供更多資源和內容。

譚潔辛女士會高興地知道，NLB將在辦公場所、餐飲場所和新加坡各地公園等日常空間推出“節點”，為公民提供新的數字資源入口。作為實體圖書館的延伸，這些節點將展示NLB的數字藏書，激發新加坡人在任何地方閱讀和學習的興趣。

蘇翰妮女士詢問我們如何鼓勵年輕讀者掌握母語。NLB持續尋找、甄選並開拓新的渠道以豐富母語內容。過去三年，NLB兒童母語藏書增長了11%。最近，NLB開始提供獲獎的英文兒童書籍的母語翻譯版本。NLB還積極鼓勵本地出版社以印刷和電子格式出版母語書籍，以擴大獲取渠道。主席先生，請允許我用馬來語繼續我的發言。

（馬來語）：[請參見母語發言。]數字化以多種方式影響了我們的生活，帶來了許多機遇和可能性。

隨著數字化日益普及，政府也必須加大力度，提升社群的數字能力和福祉。

政府將與3P合作伙伴共同提供數字接入，提升數字準備度，通過圖書館促進數字技能的學習和掌握，並裝備民眾，尤其是弱勢群體，識別和應對網路風險和威脅。

在加強賦能社群的努力中，我欣慰地看到許多新加坡人勇敢學習新數字技能併為此貢獻力量。一個例子是一個由300多人組成的網路，他們分享科技行業的職業機會和工作坊。

事實上，該網路中一些成員來自非科技行業。例如，有人來自醫療行政領域，現在成為增強現實（AR）和虛擬現實（VR）技術開發者。這一轉變源於他們目睹疫情如何影響線下實踐學習，開始意識到數字技術應用的價值。

我有機會與該網路成員Mohd Afiq先生交談。他是Playtours的創始人，這是一款線上工具，允許使用者建立獨特且有意義的虛擬體驗，包括“密室逃脫”遊戲和即時多人遊戲。

從零開發產品絕非易事，但Afiq對“Playtours”在當今數字世界的價值充滿信心，這激勵他堅持不懈，繼續發展業務。

顯然，像Afiq這樣的人激勵著我們所有人。讓我們也受到啟發，共同抓住數字化帶來的機遇。

（英語）：主席先生，MCI正在努力實現的第三個關鍵目標是確保我們的民眾具備識別和應對網路危險的能力。

數字生活方式對許多人來說仍然充滿挑戰、新穎且陌生。近期的網路釣魚詐騙事件可能讓我們對數字化心存戒備。但我們不能讓恐懼阻礙我們開啟新機遇。相反，我們必須積極裝備相關知識和技能，擁抱技術進步，具備識別和應對數字領域風險的能力。

我贊同議員蔡恩銘、莎希拉·阿卜杜拉博士、陳佩玲女士、萬瑞扎爾博士和黃俊偉先生的看法，確保民眾網路安全尤為重要。

事實上，隨著更多互動和活動轉移到線上，個人和企業不可避免地面臨數字風險、網路傷害和潛在的不健康成癮。如今，家長們擔憂青少年輕鬆上網導致有害和不當內容（如色情）的廣泛傳播。

張玉娟部長在發言中提到，MCI將推出新的行為準則以提升網路使用者安全。立法提供了關鍵的安全保障，但我們每個人也有責任。除了具備數字“書本智慧”，我們還必須培養“街頭智慧”，識別並避免網路世界的新風險。

為了更深入瞭解公民的數字準備度，MCI正在完善數字準備調查中的指標和測量標準。

除了現有的數字採用和使用測量外，我們還希望更好地瞭解新加坡人執行基本數字任務的能力，瞭解公民的數字習慣及態度與行為之間的差距。這將為制定更有針對性的干預措施提供依據，以提升數字採用率並滿足弱勢群體的需求。

新的網路傷害日益複雜。幫助使用者保護自己免受有害網路內容侵害的解決方案需要法律專業人士、技術專家、監管者、教育者和社群合作伙伴等多方專家的參與。

因此，MCI正與社群合作伙伴緊密合作，促進安全、負責任和積極的技術使用。

配合2月8日的安全上網日，媒體素養理事會（MLC）與蘋果新加坡合作，為小學教師舉辦網路健康網路研討會，併發起有趣且貼近生活的影片製作挑戰，鼓勵學生分享網路健康資訊。

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除了該網路研討會，MLC還製作了資源，幫助個人避免成為技術促成的詐騙、性誘導、色情和網路騷擾等傷害的受害者。理事會還推廣數字素養資源，教育公眾在網路上更加明辨是非和富有同理心，共同營造一個更安全、更智慧、更友善的網際網路環境。

去年9月，TOUCH網路健康推出了“家庭電子對話”專案，配備工具包指導家長與孩子談論色情及其危害。

MCI還推出了Sunlight AfA專案，我與高階國務部長沈穎共同擔任聯合主席。該專案旨在提高對網路性騷擾的認識，賦能受害者應對和處理此類事件。

感謝Fahmi Aliman先生認可Sunlight AfA的積極影響。自啟動以來，AfA一直研究新加坡網路傷害的發生情況及其對個人，尤其是女性和女孩的影響。相關關鍵見解將適時釋出。AfA還與其他利益相關者合作擴大影響力，包括與星展銀行和新加坡司法機構合作舉辦社群駭客馬拉松，尋找創造更安全、更友善網路空間的解決方案，以及最近結束的青年行動挑戰賽，AfA支援了心理健康賽道。我們還通過網路研討會紀念安全上網日，專業小組討論家長和家庭如何幫助兒童和青少年安全上網。

未來，AfA將繼續與家長和青少年互動，支援可能遭受網路傷害的人士。這包括未來幾個月舉辦的第二場網路傷害網路研討會，以及一個包含AfA活動更新和應對網路危險資源的網站。

我們特別感謝48個聯盟成員的支援，其中一些成員熱衷於長期開展應對網路傷害的專案。MCI將繼續與這些合作伙伴攜手應對網路傷害。我們歡迎更多利益相關者加入，共同確保所有使用者都能自信地駕馭數字未來。

正如我們建設了世界上最安全、最清潔、最宜居的城市之一，我們每個人都有責任塑造新加坡的網路空間。我們必須通過尊重他人，維護周圍人的積極和充實的數字體驗。

最後，我想將這些努力置於背景中。根據MCI 2021年數字準備調查，76%的新加坡人對使用數字技術感到舒適，80%的新加坡人承認數字技術讓他們的生活更便捷。這令人鼓舞，但我們可以做得更多，也將繼續努力。

我們準備與個人、企業及人民部門的合作伙伴攜手，實現數字準備和包容社會的願景，讓所有新加坡人都能以探索和成長的精神，共享激動人心的數字未來機遇。

主席：通訊及資訊部國務部長陳杰輝。

通訊及資訊部國務部長（陳杰輝先生）：主席，陳佩玲女士和譚潔辛女士談到了數字經濟中的機遇。確實，我們見證了數字化的益處，尤其是在過去幾年中，企業和勞動力應對新冠疫情的過程中。

我欣慰地看到許多企業正在擁抱數字技術。信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）的數字加速指數（Digital Acceleration Index）是一項涵蓋23個行業、超過2000家企業的年度調查，顯示數字化正在加速滲透我們的經濟。自2017年以來，超過8萬家企業受益於“中小企業數字化計劃”（SMEs Go Digital），其中僅2021年就有四分之一的新企業加入。現在，四分之三的企業至少採用了一項數字解決方案。

隨著我們走出疫情，我們將通過兩種方式保持這一勢頭。首先，為企業，特別是中小企業，提供數字轉型的工具和支援。其次，培養具備資格和技能、能夠進入科技行業並在職業生涯中取得進步的未來準備型勞動力。

讓我詳細說明第一方面。

我們的企業希望採用數字技術並實現轉型。這是我們與行業協會和企業交流時的一致反饋，也是我們進行的各種調查的結果。然而，正如Christopher de Souza先生指出的，中小企業在提升數字水平時面臨實際問題。中小企業向我們反映，他們難以組建具備經驗和專業知識的內部IT團隊；難以選擇符合需求的解決方案和供應商；同時需要建立系統和流程，保護客戶和運營免受網路威脅和資料洩露。我對此深表同情。

我們必須利用網路效應，充分利用數字經濟中的機遇。中小企業佔企業總數的九成以上，貢獻了近半數GDP，僱傭了七成本地勞動力，是國家數字推動的重要組成部分。

我們的策略有三方面。第一，推動全經濟範圍內安全無縫的數字交易。第二，支援各行業的數字轉型。第三，為企業提供資源和工具，促進數字化。

首先，關於全經濟數字基礎設施或數字公用設施。就像模擬世界中的水和電一樣，我們可以設想一套基礎系統或標準，促進數字經濟中無縫且安全的交易。電子發票和電子支付就是兩個例子。回應譚潔辛女士的問題，自2019年推出InvoiceNow以來，已有超過5萬家企業採用，超過90%的企業採用了PayNow。我們將繼續建立此類數字公用設施，支援企業將運營和交易轉移到線上。

第二，我們將支援各行業部門的轉型，建立在這些數字公用事業的基礎上。我們認識到每個行業面臨獨特的挑戰和運營環境。我們已推出行業數字化計劃（IDP），這些IDP為企業提供了針對其成長各階段、量身定製的數字解決方案和技能培訓的分步指南，適合其所屬行業。自2017年以來，我們已推出20個IDP，指導會計、物流和安保等多樣化行業的數字化。我們將擴大IDP的覆蓋範圍，下一個推出的IDP將針對法律行業。我們將持續更新這些IDP，納入新的數字公用事業、相關技術進步和最佳實踐。

接下來讓我談談個別中小企業如何受益。

去年，我們宣佈了兩個計劃——技術長即服務（CTO-as-a-Service）和數字領袖計劃（Digital Leaders' Programme）——以賦能企業的數字化旅程。今年，我們的改進將幫助中小企業提升數字成熟度，開拓海外市場，並在數字市場中保持信任。

在數字成熟度方面，我們將通過針對行業需求精心策劃的先進技術能力提升中小企業的數字成熟度。

2020年啟動的先進數字解決方案（ADS）計劃，幫助中小企業獲取先進技術和整合數字解決方案，如機器人技術和聚合資料分析。我們將擴大30個解決方案的列表，重點是人工智慧驅動和雲端解決方案。

我們還將擴充套件“成長數字”計劃。通過“成長數字”專案，我們與新加坡企業發展局合作，策劃了一批電子商務平臺，幫助企業開拓國際市場。自2020年啟動以來，“成長數字”已幫助超過2500家企業進入10個國家市場，同時提升數字營銷、業務匹配和門到門履約能力。今年，“成長數字”將通過更廣泛的電子商務平臺群，帶領更多企業進入全球市場。

蘇翰妮女士、謝耀權先生和黃翔先生談到了幫助企業防範網路攻擊和資料洩露。我們將推出網路信任標誌（Cyber Trustmark）和網路基礎標誌（Cyber Essentials mark），以及資料保護基礎專案（Data Protection Essentials Programme）。獲得這些信任標誌將使企業及其客戶有信心，表明已達到一定的網路安全和資料保護標準。我鼓勵企業將這些信任標誌視為投資和競爭優勢。

我們的數字經濟由資訊通訊行業驅動。去年，該行業為經濟貢獻了284億新元，佔GDP的5.6%，增長率為12.2%，遠超其他行業。

田佩玲女士和謝健鵬先生談到了幫助我們的人民抓住數字經濟中的機遇。確實，日益增長且充滿活力的科技行業創造了許多優質工作崗位，為新加坡人開啟了許多激動人心的機會。我們的數字經濟僱傭了約216,000名資訊通訊技術（ICT）專業人士，其中一半在ICT行業，另一半支援金融、製造和零售等非ICT行業的數字轉型。

近年來，每年新增約10,000名ICT專業人士。然而，整個經濟中仍有19,000個科技職位空缺，尤其是軟體工程和開發崗位，同時涵蓋整個科技價值鏈，從深度技術技能如人工智慧和網路安全，到面向創新的產品開發崗位，以及雲遷移和資料分析等應用業務崗位。我們的優先任務是培養強大的本地科技人才儲備，包括應屆畢業生和中途轉職者，同時確保我們的科技勞動力在這個快速變化的數字領域保持相關性和競爭力。未來三年，約有23,000名本地學生將從我們的高等院校畢業，主修資訊與數字技術（IDT）課程。

在這方面，請允許我概述我們正在採取的兩項重要舉措。

首先，我們將加強大學ICT畢業生的培養管道。2010年至2021年，本地IDT學位名額從800個增加到3,300個，增長了四倍。作為所有學位名額的比例，IDT名額從2010年的7%增至2021年的18%，接近五分之一。我們還將設立新課程和專業方向，以支援不同行業的新興技術需求。例如，新加坡理工學院今年將推出應用計算理學士學位，專注於金融科技，合作伙伴包括信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）和金融管理局（MAS），並得到包括友邦保險和渣打銀行在內的金融機構支援。我們期待與其他行業領導合作，針對其行業的特定技能需求開發不同的培訓模式。

其次，我們將通過更有結構的路徑，幫助理工學院和工藝教育學院（ITE）畢業生進入科技崗位。一些理工學院和ITE的IDT畢業生向我們反映，他們難以找到與所學專業相符的入門級崗位，另一些則遇到僱主偏好大學畢業生的情況，儘管理工學院和ITE畢業生完全有能力勝任這些工作。

結構化支援和明確的職業路徑框架可以帶來巨大不同。我最近會見了穆罕默德·舒爾漢·賓·賈法爾先生，他畢業於我們的資料中心基礎設施與運營工作學習文憑課程。舒爾漢在ITE獲得了資訊通訊技術（雲端計算）Nitec證書，並通過在NCS的實習獲得了科技行業的第一手經驗。然而，由於家庭經濟狀況，他不得不放棄攻讀文憑的計劃。後來，在班主任的鼓勵下，他申請了工作學習專案，並獲得了Racks Central資料中心的贊助。舒爾漢告訴我，公司支援和結構化的職業路徑讓他有信心完成課程。

為了幫助像舒爾漢一樣的人追求熱情，實現抱負，我們將建立一個結構化的端到端支援體系，更好地支援理工學院和ITE學生，未來三年內提供1,000個名額。我們將成立理工學院和ITE科技技能加速器（TeSA）聯盟，匯聚全球領先科技公司、本地領先企業和主要僱主，凝聚行業支援。

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我們將提升理工學院和ITE學生的實習機會質量，使他們能在課堂外應用所學知識。畢業後，他們可在參與企業參加“安置與培訓”計劃，擔任學徒，學習ICT崗位技能。參與企業還將為這些畢業生設立以技能為導向的培訓計劃和職業路徑，包括認證和專業培訓。有意繼續深造的畢業生將獲得工作學習文憑或學位課程支援，涵蓋人工智慧、雲端計算和網路安全等增長領域。

我很欣慰，埃森哲、GovTech、IBM、NCS和PSA集團等公司已作出重大承諾，提供實習、學徒或安置機會，我呼籲更多行業領導者加入這一有意義的努力。

除了應屆畢業生，許多中途轉職者也進入該行業，如通過TeSA計劃。許多新加入者希望在職業生涯中晉升，承擔更高價值的崗位，如產品經理、軟體工程師或解決方案架構師。我們希望支援科技專業人士的這些職業抱負。

我們將與谷歌、微軟和Grab等行業領導者，以及大型終端使用者公司如星展銀行合作，培養產品工程人才。參與專業軌道者將接受軟體和應用開發、資料分析、人工智慧和雲端計算等高階技術技能培訓，採用講師授課和實踐相結合的方式。這些科技專業人士未來可望在公司擔任高階技術崗位。

信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）今年晚些時候還將推出ICT職位轉型圖譜（JTM），幫助ICT行業的僱主和員工識別高影響領域及相關的再培訓或提升技能機會和培訓需求。

主席先生，最後，我們幫助企業在數字經濟中蓬勃發展，培養未來準備好的數字勞動力的舉措，將確保數字浪潮惠及所有人。我期待您繼續支援我們，共同邁向共享的數字未來。

主席：通訊及資訊高階國務部長賈尼爾·普圖切裡。

通訊及資訊高階國務部長（賈尼爾·普圖切裡博士）：先生，感謝各位議員的發言和提問，希望在我的回應中解答其中若干問題。我的同事們已分享了通訊及資訊部（MCI）為準備我們的生態系統、企業和人民迎接數字未來所做的不同努力。

張玉娟部長談到了MCI將如何加強數字法規，保障數字安全、安保和韌性；並深化與新加坡人的互動，增強社會凝聚力。國會秘書拉哈尤·馬哈贊分享了我們持續建設數字準備和包容性社會的工作，例如通過國家圖書館局（NLB）的圖書館與檔案藍圖2025，該藍圖在國會主大廳展出。國務部長陳杰豪談到了我們為裝備勞動力和企業以抓住數字及後疫情經濟機遇所做的努力。

我將重點介紹我們為未來投資的三個領域，以確立新加坡在數字世界中的地位。第一，建設滿足未來需求的數字基礎設施。第二，通過領先的創新和研究推動技術邊界。第三，促進國際合作，推動數字經濟發展，加強數字安全，超越國界。

黃翔先生和田佩玲女士詢問了MCI為迎接下一波數字化浪潮準備基礎設施的計劃。數字流量的數量和複雜性持續快速增長。我們將越來越依賴資料和資料驅動的服務，尤其是隨著雲服務和物聯網（IoT）日益普及。預計到2025年，全球產生的資料量約為463艾位元組，即4630億千兆位元組，約等於每人每天觀看60小時Netflix電影。我們將如何升級數字基礎設施以適應資料時代，確保其適用且持續滿足需求？

首先，我們必須關注國內電信基礎設施。這些構成我們的連線骨幹。無線和有線網路元件，如基站和光纖電纜，使網際網路流量能夠大規模無縫流動，為新加坡每個角落提供高速服務。

我們持續升級本地電信能力，例如向5G的轉型。5G技術實現了前所未有的速度並降低了延遲，因此更多資料可以以更高速度傳輸。5G網路響應更快，更能應對資料流量激增。

在新加坡，我們繼續處於5G部署的前沿。我們的電信公司表示，2022年初已實現全國戶外覆蓋率50%，提前完成2022年底目標。我們有望在2025年前實現全國5G覆蓋。

5G的特性和優勢支援新用例，如先進製造業。信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）與IBM、三星和M1合作，開展新加坡首個5G工業4.0試驗。該試驗開發了5G增強現實（AR）解決方案，即人工智慧驅動的“智慧眼鏡”。這些“智慧眼鏡”協助工廠操作員進行裝配和檢驗，並提高新員工培訓效率50%。今年下半年將部署於IBM全球製造基地。

傳統上，工廠操作員需手動檢測缺陷，過程耗時，依賴人眼且易疲勞。該5G解決方案通過疊加影像和文本於實物上，輔助檢查員即時識別缺陷，增強檢測效果。操作員還可拍照並利用深度學習演算法快速識別工廠缺陷。

除了無線網路，我們還將升級有線網路。根據網際網路測評公司Ookla的資料，新加坡目前擁有全球最快的寬頻速度之一，未來還將更快。

正如黃循財部長在預算演講中提到的，我們將投資建設基礎設施，實現比現有速度快約10倍的寬頻速度，開啟數字體驗和工具的新可能。

第二類基礎設施連線我們與世界。這包括衛星和海底光纜，提供與國際合作夥伴的關鍵連線，使我們參與國際資料流和數字貿易。

新加坡已是數字連線樞紐和全球海底光纜運營商的首選登陸點，得益於我們的穩定治理和先進經濟。這種連線促進了多種產品和服務的發展，支援眾多企業選擇在新加坡設立重要運營。

它還使我們蓬勃發展的研究社群能夠訪問全球計算資源，使我們的資料中心和超級計算機服務國際合作夥伴。我們將繼續爭取新的登陸點，強化國際連線。例如，新加坡海事公司BW集團計劃開發一條連線新加坡至美國，經印尼、澳大利亞和紐西蘭的新海底光纜通道。

第三類基礎設施是資料中心。這些是數字流量流動的重要節點。資料中心為企業和日常生活提供多種應用和服務，從複雜資料管理到電子商務交易。然而，資料中心是水和電的高強度使用者。鑑於資源限制，我們需要可持續管理資料中心的發展。

IMDA和經濟發展局（EDB）將試點申請徵集，促進具備最佳節能和脫碳技術、工藝和實踐的資料中心的有序增長。新加坡承諾履行2015年《巴黎協定》下的環境義務。更綠色的資料中心將使我們在支援數字經濟增長的同時，實現環保目標。該申請徵集將於2022年第二季度啟動。

我所描述的這些綜合數字基礎設施及其各組成部分，使數字公用事業的提供成為可能。數字公用事業是建立在連線層之上的服務，已成為必需且普遍，使人們和企業能夠無縫且安全地使用數字服務和進行交易。陳杰豪國務部長之前分享瞭如PayNow和InvoiceNow等例子。其他例子包括國家數字身份、Singpass和TradeTrust。我們將繼續投資其他關鍵數字工具和服務，並將其發展為數字公用事業。

另一數字公用事業是新加坡貿易資料交換平臺（SGTraDex）。目前，全球供應鏈生態系統中的資料分散。通過SGTraDex，供應鏈生態系統夥伴，如託運人和物流提供商，能夠無縫且安全地共享貿易資料。Jessica Tan女士詢問了SGTraDex的進展。進展良好，許多來自各行業的公司已加入。政府和供應鏈數字化行動聯盟（AfA）正與這些公司合作開發最小可行產品（MVP），以實現更廣泛的資料共享和活躍的商業環境，預計今年晚些時候推出。

我們先進的基礎設施和高度使用的數字公用事業可能面臨攻擊或故障風險。我完全同意Jessica Tan女士的觀點，我們應確保基礎設施安全且具韌性，以應對不斷演變的威脅和風險。

張玉娟部長早前分享了MCI通過《網路安全法》保障重要數字基礎設施和服務的努力。MCI還採用設計原則，將安全特性和運營實踐嵌入系統架構，而非事後新增。

先生，Christopher de Souza先生、謝健鵬先生和謝耀權先生詢問了政府在新數字技術上的投資。作為250億新元研究、創新與企業（RIE）2025計劃的一部分，我們的智慧國與數字經濟（SNDE）領域計劃基於過去投資，推動具有變革潛力的數字技術研究。

其中一項技術是量子通訊，承諾革新我們資訊和基礎設施的安全。現有加密方法基於數學。駭客利用複雜技術和強大計算硬體“破解密碼”。隨著量子計算機的發展，預計對手最終將能夠通過不斷增強計算能力，解密資料並突破現有技術保護的系統。

量子通訊通過基於物理的方法來保障安全，例如量子金鑰分發（QKD）。這有可能幫助未來保障我們的資料庫、關鍵系統和通訊的安全。這項技術允許建立成對的秘密加密金鑰，這些金鑰僅由傳送方和授權接收方持有，任何試圖在中間擷取或複製金鑰的行為都會引入可檢測的異常，這表明金鑰已被篡改，知道這一點後我們可以即時重新傳輸新的安全金鑰。

如果有效，這項技術意味著無論計算能力多強，都無法破解量子安全通訊。聽起來有點像科幻，但新加坡的量子技術已經發展了十多年。自2007年新加坡國立大學（NUS）成立量子技術中心（CQT）以來，其研究人員已發表了5000篇科學論文，參與了約1億新元外部資助的專案，並在本地創立了多家初創企業。

政府繼續與CQT緊密合作，將量子技術應用於現實世界。兩週前，國家量子安全網路宣佈成立。這是一個公私合營的聯盟，將在新加坡部署支援QKD的無線網路。

CQT的衍生公司SpeQtral正在商業化一顆基於QKD技術實現安全通訊的衛星，獲得經濟發展局（EDB）的支援。當衛星發射並進入軌道後，SpeQtral將成為全球首批展示完整商業規模解決方案的公司之一。

我上個月會見了執行長林俊揚及其團隊，對他們如何從開創性的研究和實驗出發，聯合已合作的眾多商業夥伴，如東芝，將技術轉化為可商業部署的解決方案印象深刻。

下午3時15分

量子技術只是我們正在開發的未來通訊領域之一。信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）和國家研究基金會投資7000萬新元，啟動首個國家未來通訊研發計劃（FCP）。該計劃將加速下一代通訊和連線技術的研究，例如6G。

國際研究界認可新加坡強大的創新能力。作為FCP的一部分，我們於去年7月與芬蘭科學院資助的全球首個領先6G研發專案——6G旗艦計劃簽署了諒解備忘錄（MOU）。雙方將深化6G研發合作，如舉辦研討會、開展聯合研究和教育專案。

就在兩個月前，我們又與韓國通訊資訊科學研究院簽署了另一份諒解備忘錄。

除了投資研究，我們還加強研究成果的轉化，使企業和公眾今天就能從這些技術中獲得切實利益。

新加坡網路安全域性（CSA）發起的網路安全創新徵集活動，鼓勵企業用創新方案解決網路安全問題。

在此徵集下，本地網路安全公司Flexxon於2021年開發了X-PHY，這是全球首款搭載人工智慧網路安全防禦的固態硬碟（SSD）。該硬碟由AI協處理器和專用韌體驅動，能即時防護軟體攻擊（如惡意軟體、勒索軟體和病毒）及物理攻擊（如未經授權的克隆）。

X-PHY SSD在不讀取儲存檔案的情況下持續自我監控。一旦檢測到篡改，硬碟會自動鎖定並提醒使用者。該使用者友好方案無需複雜配置或頻繁更新。聯想已與Flexxon合作，在部分筆記型電腦中採用該SSD。

先生，我已詳細說明了新加坡在未來數字基礎設施上的投資及創新突破。現在讓我談談我們如何與國際夥伴共同努力，建設一個安全且充滿活力的數字經濟，連線全球。

陳佩玲女士和任偉林先生關注數字領域的新全球機遇及挑戰風險。網路安全、資料保護和人工智慧倫理等問題複雜且跨越地理邊界，我們無法單獨解決。

我們需要建立國際共識，制定規則、規範和標準，確保數字生態系統可持續、互操作且免受意外和故意的傷害。

各位議員應熟悉我們的數字經濟協議（DEA），這體現了我們的做法。新加坡已與四國簽署DEA，最近一次是上個月與英國簽署。我們還於2021年12月基本完成與韓國的DEA。

謝健鵬先生會高興知道，新加坡與國際利益相關者的合作成效顯著，提升了我們作為可信數字樞紐的全球品牌。

在國際上，我們也為網路安全社群做出了重要貢獻。我們依託運營能力、技術專長和網路安全創新，結合平衡的政策和監管視角，實現了這些成果。

關鍵在於代表我們參與多項國際討論的技術嫻熟且經驗豐富的網路安全人員。網路安全標準是我們積極推進的領域之一。

CSA於2020年10月推出了亞太地區首個消費物聯網裝置網路安全標籤計劃（CLS），引起國際夥伴關注，促成與芬蘭簽署網路安全標籤互認諒解備忘錄。

CSA與新加坡標準理事會還發布了首個國家標準——消費物聯網網路安全標籤技術參考（TR 91），供製造商、開發者、測試機構和供應商廣泛採用。

自2021年12月起，新加坡擔任聯合國資訊通訊技術（ICT）安全開放式工作組（OEWG）主席國。該工作組是國際網路安全政策討論的主要平臺。我們推動達成規範、規則和原則的共識，促進安全互操作的網路空間，鼓勵負責任的國家行為。鑑於全球形勢，這些努力尤為重要。

先生，請允許我接近發言結束。

主席：我們時間充裕，請繼續。

鄭俊烈博士：謝謝主席。新加坡也在積極發展互聯資料和人工智慧生態系統，平衡資料保護、安全與創新。

我們牽頭制定了東盟跨境資料流模型合同條款（MCCs），幫助企業在監管確定性下跨境傳輸個人資料。我們正推動在東盟以外地區擴大該條款的認可。

同時，我們推動全球負責任的人工智慧部署。基於新加坡的人工智慧治理模型框架，我們與美國、英國等國合作，借鑑國際最佳實踐，協調人工智慧治理原則。

我們還與東盟成員國合作，協調變定《東盟人工智慧治理與倫理指南》，為負責任部署人工智慧提供實用指導，增強消費者信心，促進區域內人工智慧服務的廣泛應用。

先生，我想總結強調政府致力於建設一個經濟充滿活力、社會穩定、安全可靠的新加坡數字未來。

把握數字領域機遇，同時管理風險，是我們成功和生存的關鍵。政府通過合作伙伴關係，與利益相關者共同構建數字能力、基礎設施、法規、安全和投資等多項基礎，為未來奠定基石。

我們努力的核心是人民，他們的潛力和福祉。我們目標是讓所有新加坡人都能在數字領域獲得賦能和滿足感。我們將攜手共建一個充滿活力且安全的數字未來。[掌聲]

主席：我們還有時間進行澄清。陳佩玲女士。

陳佩玲女士：我有三個澄清問題。第一，新的行為準則將針對兒童面臨的哪些傷害型別？第二，是否會徵求家長和社群的意見，以便在新準則中涵蓋兒童可能遭受的傷害型別？第三，關於女性和女孩在科技領域的進展和代表性，包括學校、行業及IMDA專案中，能否提供最新情況？我們迄今取得了哪些進展？

張玉娟女士：主席先生，感謝陳佩玲女士的三個問題。我將回答前兩個問題，不是因為第三個不重要——它對我非常重要。但今天為了撥款委員會辯論的目的，我們希望將女性在科技領域的問題與整體科技人才發展一起討論。因此，國務部長陳杰豪將回答第三個問題。

關於我們希望納入準則的傷害型別，我們的目標是確保兒童享有身體安全和情感健康。那麼，在線上，什麼會傷害他們？或者什麼可能導致他們受到身體和情感上的傷害？家長告訴我們，是網路欺凌、性騷擾、性誘導和接觸不當內容，主要分為三類：性、暴力和自殘或其他危險行為。

這些傷害具有普遍性，全球家長都不希望孩子接觸這些內容。因此，我認為這些內容可以且應該納入我們計劃制定的準則中。

但也存在因社會規範和家庭規範不同而產生的差異。例如，某些型別內容在什麼年齡以下被視為不適當，這會有所不同。還有毒品使用問題，有些社會對此更寬容，我們也需考慮這些差異。

正因如此，我認為讓家長和更廣泛的社群參與準則的制定和設計非常有價值，未來也應參與準則的更新，以保持其相關性。

信息通信媒體發展部（MCI）在這方面有一定經驗，我們可以借鑑其在電影和出版物諮詢中採用的類似方法。

同時，我們將繼續支援家長保護孩子的線上安全，這將通過媒體素養理事會和國家圖書館局（NLB）推出的專案實現，正如議員馬哈佔早前所述。

主席：國務部長陳杰豪。

陳杰豪先生：主席先生，感謝陳佩玲女士提出關於女性和女孩在科技領域的重要問題。

分享一些統計資料和最新情況，我們IDT課程中約有三成學生為女性。根據波士頓諮詢集團（BCG）研究，四成科技專業人士為女性，遠高於全球平均水平，我們對此感到自豪。

“新加坡女性科技運動”由IMDA於2019年發起，獲得社群和行業夥伴支援。近年來，他們在提升多元包容意識方面取得顯著進展，開展多項專案培養更多女性科技人才，確立新加坡作為支援女性科技人才的全球領導者地位。

自2019年10月啟動以來，該計劃通過多項活動接觸超過12萬人，藉助“學生提問”系列影片連線超過11.5萬名學校女生與女性科技領袖，舉辦了600多場女性科技人才的網路和導師活動，並在2020和2021年收到超過1400份“新加坡100女性科技榜”提名，識別出科技領域的女性領袖和榜樣。

針對陳女士早前提及的“導師連線”專案，這是一個跨公司導師計劃，女性專業人士和領導者指導有志於科技職業的學生和女性。該專案表現良好，覆蓋更多學校，吸引更多公司參與。我鼓勵女性科技領袖和企業加入我們的行列。

下午3時30分

沙拉爾·塔哈先生：主席，感謝張玉娟部長、高階國務部長鄭俊烈、國務部長陳杰豪和議員馬哈佔的回覆。人工智慧具有巨大變革潛力，根本改變經濟和社會運作，包括就業。政府有何計劃幫助企業和個人抓住人工智慧帶來的機遇？隨著人工智慧部署日益普及，政府如何確保負責任地部署人工智慧，同時不抑制創新？

張玉娟女士：主席先生，沙拉爾·塔哈提出了關於人工智慧的重要問題。此話題內容豐富，完全可以開設專題研討會，但在有限時間內，我分享政府的一些思考。

政府認識到人工智慧等新興技術帶來的經濟利益和改善民生的潛力。因此，2019年我們釋出了國家人工智慧戰略，明確新加坡願景：成為開發和部署可擴充套件、具影響力的人工智慧解決方案的領導者，重點覆蓋對企業和民眾高度相關的關鍵領域。

在總理辦公室下，國家人工智慧辦公室（NAIO）啟動了首批五個國家人工智慧專案，涵蓋物流、智慧地產、教育、醫療和邊境管控。去年11月，副總理又新增政府和金融領域的國家人工智慧專案。

迄今為止，我們取得了哪些進展？這裡需說明，我們談論的努力不僅限於過去三年，也包括之前的工作。

在研究能力方面，我們取得了進展。以領域加權引用影響力（FWCI）為指標——這是評估研究能力的常用指標——新加坡排名世界第一。科技公司與高等院校及其聯合設立的企業實驗室的合作，也證明了我們的研究實力。

但在行業和企業的應用方面，情況較為不均衡，且不同型別的人工智慧應用也存在差異。例如，金融服務業中，機器學習應用較為普遍，尤其在金融科技公司中。交通領域則開始更多部署自動駕駛系統，部分採用計算機視覺技術。

值得一提的是，在各行業中，通常不是大公司更擅長應用人工智慧，反而新進入者更願意嘗試新方案，因為他們不受傳統系統和業務流程束縛。

沙拉爾·塔哈的第二個問題非常重要，涉及治理。話題龐大，但我應說明，IMDA不僅推動人工智慧採用，還致力於確保人工智慧在新加坡的安全和問責。

我們如何實現？簡要來說，我們較早釋出了人工智慧治理模型框架，可能是全球最早之一，隨後針對不同領域進行本地化，明確原則和實踐，轉化為具體可行的措施。

我們還在開發人工智慧治理測試框架及相應工具包，幫助人工智慧系統所有者和開發者提高透明度，說明其人工智慧的工作原理。

所以，我想說，我們正在做所有這些努力，希望我們的企業和人民能夠真正受益於人工智慧的巨大潛力。

主席：我們的截止時間是下午3點55分。我想我們還有時間進行兩到三個澄清。我先請譚潔西卡女士發言，然後梁文偉先生；如果還有進一步的澄清且時間允許，再進行第三個澄清。譚潔西卡女士。

譚潔西卡·順妮娥女士：感謝國務部長分享關於培養人才和科技人才的正式專案，以及將機構和公司聚集在一起的做法。我在發言中提出並呼籲，文化、社區及青年部（MCI）及相關機構應考慮建立學習社群和實踐社群，讓科技人才聚集在一起。你可以說他們今天可以自行聚集，但我認為如果MCI能在促進和支援這些方面發揮關鍵作用，將有助於新加坡現有豐富的科技和數字人才基礎之間的廣泛學習。我希望能得到一些回應。

主席：國務部長譚傑豪。

譚傑豪先生：主席，感謝譚潔西卡女士的建議和想法。她的建議實質上是讓科技人才，基本上是科技專業人士，聚集在一起分享最佳實踐，互相更新該領域的技術進展，尤其是在快速發展的數字領域。每天都會出現新的威脅，如網路安全資料洩露，以及我們如何應用技術的新做法，來自全球及新加坡的技術進步和創新。我認為這種精神是我們會考慮和研究的。

更重要的是，我們與行業協會合作，包括資訊通訊技術（ICT）公司和行業協會SGTech，以及科技專業人士協會——新加坡計算機學會（SCS）。今天，我們已經與他們合作舉辦許多培訓和技能提升課程，聚集科技專業人士討論問題。例如，Web 3.0是真實還是炒作？NFT是否會成為主流？加密貨幣的未來如何？我們如何看待網路攻擊和網路防護？這些都是我們與行業合作伙伴、行業協會SGTech和SCS密切合作的議題。因此，我們肯定會採納譚潔西卡女士的建議，繼續在這些領域擴充套件。

主席：梁文偉先生。

梁文偉先生：主席，我有兩個澄清問題要問部長。

但在此之前，我想澄清我沒有說新加坡報業控股（SPH）是政府擁有的公司，我說的是SPH媒體信託（SPH Media Trust）。希望部長能承認這一點。

我的第一個問題是，雖然SPH不是政府擁有的公司，但政府多年來對這家上市公司有相當大的影響力。SPH從過去幾乎壟斷的印刷業務中積累了大量房地產資產。因此，政府做出的決定意味著政府同意讓股東帶走所有資產，留下9億新元的負擔給納稅人承擔。這是第一個觀點。

第二個澄清是，當石耀華部長在國會介紹這筆交易或結構時，他也說SPH媒體信託將會有私人捐助者。因此，我想問部長，吸引這些私人捐助者為SPH媒體信託提供資金的進展如何？目前的股東和未來的SPH上市公司股東是否有可能享受鉅額暴利，而這些利潤將流向一些捐助者，幫助我們資助SPH媒體信託？

主席：張玉娟部長。

張玉娟女士：議長，梁文偉先生說了什麼或沒說什麼是議會記錄的事，我認為我們不必對此進行猜測。簡單核查即可確認他是說SPH還是SPH媒體信託。如果我聽錯了，我向他道歉。

但無論如何，他的問題相當奇怪，因為如果他堅持認為SPH媒體信託是政府擁有的，為什麼資金會成為問題？這不需要我們來國會向議員解釋。這將是政府其他部門的資金安排，基本上會在部門預算中規劃好。

但我們今天向議員解釋需要為SPH媒體信託提供公共資金，正是因為它不是政府擁有的。它是一家保證有限公司（CLG）。政府不擁有這家保證有限公司，也不擁有SPH這家上市實體。因此，SPH作為上市實體的決策必須依賴其董事會，最終取決於股東。

所以，梁文偉先生暗示，或者他似乎認為，媒體業務可以繼續作為上市實體的一部分。我認為事實說明了一切。我們已經多次解釋——2021年5月、今年2月，甚至就在一兩個小時前——為什麼媒體業務的經濟狀況發生了巨大變化，已不再適合繼續作為上市實體的一部分，與其他業務共存，因為媒體業務轉型所需的投資相當龐大，而上市實體無法投入同樣資源，維持其作為一個可信賴機構的地位。

下午3點45分

因此，我們基本上有兩個選擇。如果可以，請允許我再闡述一次。

一個選擇是冒險，接受媒體業務繼續存在於上市實體中可能會衰退，並承擔後果。另一種選擇是全力以赴，幫助其轉型，使SPH媒體信託能夠繼續作為一個服務公共利益的可信機構。

如果我們拒絕前者，選擇後者，那麼我們必須看看世界其他地方的投資情況，因為我們不是唯一一個媒體業務被顛覆的國家。我們談論的資金，我承認數額不小，這也是為什麼要向國會全面問責。但這與其他國家的投資規模相當，這些國家的媒體業務也必須進行類似投資。

所以，在我看來，根本的分歧在於梁文偉先生或人民行動黨（PSP）並不如政府那樣重視我們的本地主流媒體。因為每年高達1.8億新元支援可信賴的本地媒體，對於我們經濟規模而言，這是否過高？為了讓我們的人民和企業能夠通過我們獨特的視角看世界，讓我們的聲音不受阻礙地傳播，讓我們的文化和傳統以我們希望的方式表達，這樣的投入是否合理？我希望我錯了，但如果梁文偉先生或PSP不同意支援本地媒體，我真誠地勸他重新考慮這一立場，是否符合新加坡的利益。我就說到這裡。

主席：蘇涵妮女士。

蘇涵妮女士：主席，我有一個關於圖書館的澄清。目前，國家圖書館局（NLB）有一個名為“Libby”的應用程式，使用者可以通過它查詢和借閱書籍及電子資料。

我想澄清或詢問該應用程式是否可以進一步改進，增加更多互動和使用者友好功能。例如，NLB可以考慮與相關機構如“家庭為生活”（Families for Life）或國家環境局（NEA）合作，建立特殊主題過濾器。讀者類別可以進一步細分為更廣泛的群體，以推薦適合不同人生階段的書籍，例如孕婦和不同年齡段的兒童。

主席：拉哈尤·馬哈贊女士。

拉哈尤·馬哈贊女士：感謝議員的澄清問題。這確實是一個非常有意義的建議。圖書館已經與各種合作伙伴合作，因為策劃和激發人們興趣的工作需要依靠社群提供豐富多樣的有趣內容，供圖書館訪客選擇。這項工作已經在進行中。至於技術方面，我們也與不同合作伙伴合作，開發和使用針對不同人群的平臺。我們還與社群人士合作，在圖書館內建立學習社群。因此，議員的建議絕對值得采納和考慮。

但我想建議，如果您還沒有去過，歡迎去展示區看看，還有哪些其他機會，我們可以與合作伙伴一起開展。

主席：瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士。我想如果您能簡短澄清，因為我剛看到普里塔姆·辛格先生舉手。如果時間允許，我會給普里塔姆·辛格先生髮言時間。

瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士：簡短澄清，因為我沒聽到太多關於中小企業（SME）再培訓的內容。只是想確認他們也有機會。

主席：國務部長譚傑豪。

譚傑豪先生：主席，瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士問到幫助我們的中小企業在數字化轉型時為員工和勞動力進行數字技能再培訓。

這確實是一個重要領域。如果議員們還記得，去年12月，技能未來新加坡（SkillsFuture Singapore）釋出了數字經濟技能未來報告。數字經濟中需求最高的技能是技術應用，即如何應用技能使用中小企業或公司在組織中部署的技術工具。擁有工具很重要，但能有效使用以實現業務成果，才是中小企業需要考慮的重要投資回報（ROI）。

在這方面，我們與其他機構合作了幾個領域。首先，作為“中小企業數字化”（SMEs Go Digital）計劃的一部分，我們之前提到的行業數字計劃，設計時考慮了這些技能需求。因為不同工具在不同部門和不同數字成熟度的公司中，所需技能會有所不同。這些技能計劃和培訓路線圖將針對不同型別的公司定製，作為行業數字計劃的一部分。

因此，當中小企業制定數字計劃、實施計劃、選擇工具和解決方案時，會有相應的技能培訓供他們考慮派員工參加。這與不同部門的技能框架（如果有）相銜接。

展望未來，我們將繼續擴大與其他高等院校（IHLs）的繼續教育培訓（CET）合作，為經濟中較小的企業提供培訓，因為中小企業可能在派員工參加此類技能培訓時面臨資源限制。這將納入“中小企業數字化”整體努力中協調推進。

我們還與技能未來新加坡（SSG）密切合作，思考如何彌補數字經濟中的技能差距，配合他們釋出的數字經濟技能未來報告。我們與科技行業協會SGTech、科技專業人士協會新加坡計算機學會（SCS）合作，正如我之前提到的，聯合他們與其他行業協會合作，識別並推廣適合各行業的數字技能提升機會。

正如簡妮特·昂女士昨天建議的，我們採用行業支援行業、行業培訓行業的方法，培訓諮詢委員會（TACs）發揮重要作用。請向瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士保證，我們正在努力推進此事。更多細節將在教育部供應委員會會議上分享。

主席：最後一個澄清。普里塔姆·辛格先生。

普里塔姆·辛格先生（阿裕尼）：主席，我有一點澄清。我從2022年通知單B003瞭解到，今天的修訂“截止”時間是下午4點15分，而不是下午3點55分。

主席：根據書記員的通知，截止時間已修訂為下午3點55分。

普里塔姆·辛格先生：我大約五到十分鐘前離開議事廳去檢視，仍顯示為下午4點15分。但我注意到主席的說法。

主席：這是因為茶歇時間未計入，所以截止時間是下午3點55分。

普里塔姆·辛格先生：明白了。

主席：如果我之前休了茶歇，截止時間會是你建議的。你現在建議休茶歇嗎？

普里塔姆·辛格先生：如果意味著我們多20分鐘時間？

主席：還是你想直接進行最後澄清？

普里塔姆·辛格先生：我覺得沒什麼選擇，主席先生。

主席：無論如何，請繼續。

普里塔姆·辛格先生：無論如何，這不會延長我們的時間。我就提問。

主席：請講。

普里塔姆·辛格先生：首先感謝部長澄清問題。我想就SPH媒體信託的問題尋求一些明確。

當石耀華部長談到此安排時，因媒體環境變化，他說SPH將首先成立新子公司，將媒體相關業務、物業、部分現金、SPH股份和房地產投資信託單位轉移至該子公司。隨後，如果股東批准，子公司將轉移至保證有限公司（CLG）。

我認為梁文偉先生關注的實質是利潤私有化，成本社會化給納稅人承擔。

所以，我的問題或澄清是：當政府審議SPH的提案時，政府在多大程度上要求SPH轉移其業務部分，使CLG儘可能實現自我融資？考慮到SPH集團擁有的資產範圍，相關討論的性質如何？政府在多大程度上推動此事，以限制納稅人的負擔？

主席：張玉娟部長。

張玉娟女士：議長，我簡短回答。我已說明股東在重組方案提交特別股東大會時投票同意的金額。股東投票同意向SPH媒體信託注入8000萬新元現金和價值3000萬新元的股份。詳細方案中也列出了將轉移的所有實物資產。

我認為這不是政府推動股東多少的問題。畢竟，SPH媒體信託是上市公司內媒體業務的重組。因此，管理層向股東提出的方案必須獲得通過。這就是通過的方案。是否可以通過更高出資的方案純屬猜測。如果未通過，整個重組就無法進行，屆時我們將面臨更大問題。我只是想說明這一背景。

主席：陳佩玲女士，您是否願意撤回您的修正案？

陳佩玲女士：感謝部長、高階國務部長、國務部長和議會秘書的全面答覆。我認為很清楚未來充滿可能性，需要建設很多，也需要平衡很多。非常感謝文化、社區及青年部所有官員、所有法定機構以及國家數字政府局。基於此，我請求撤回我的修正案。

[(程式文本) 修正案，經許可，撤回。 (程式文本)]

[(程式文本) 頭Q項下1,549,888,000新元列入主要預算。 (程式文本)]

[(程式文本) 頭Q項下60,645,700新元列入發展預算。 (程式文本)]

主席：秩序。我建議現在休息。

[(程式文本) 副議長離開委員會主席席，轉而主持議會。 (程式文本)]

副議長：秩序。我宣佈休會，下午4點15分繼續主持。

會議休會

下午4點至4點15分。

會議於下午4點15分恢復。

[副議長（克里斯托弗·德索薩先生）主持]

英文原文

SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-05-02

The Chairman : Head Q, Ministry of Communications and Information. Ms Tin Pei Ling.

Balancing Competing Considerations

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

Singapore is progressing surely and steadily in our digital transformation. With this comes several competing considerations that we need to balance.

On the one hand, for survival and to keep relevant, Singapore has to continually invest in next bound infrastructure and our people. When others look at 5G, we must look at 6G and when others look at Web 3.0, we must imagine Web 4.0. Our people must have the skills and versatility to take advantage of the new opportunities.

Yet, to preserve social cohesion and inclusive growth, Singapore also must ensure that the less digitally savvy amongst us are not inadvertently left behind or excluded from participating and benefiting from digitalisation, which could widen the gap between those who know and know‐not.

There are other considerations as well – how to leverage digital solutions on a larger scale to solve real problems yet guarding against cyberattacks, how to incentivise businesses to go digital and, in doing so, how to ensure accountability without making the process so cumbersome that businesses "lose steam".

These are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but they require careful balancing and calibration.

Take my elderly resident as an example. She wanted to apply for CareShield Life. But the only mode of application was through the e‐service and thus requires Singpass. For the digitally‐savvy, this would be fuss free and save time. But she has no mobile phone or Singpass.

Eventually, her daughter managed to apply for Singpass and linked it to her daughter's phone. What if my elderly resident was a single elderly?

I would like to ask how will the Government uphold economic vibrancy and Singapore's competitiveness while preserving social cohesion. How will the Government ensure that the public and private sectors will go digital with empowerment and inclusion as prerequisites? What will the Government do to protect our people, young and old, and businesses – small and big, from new threats that emerge from this fast-evolving space?

A related point is about digital regulations. As technology advances rapidly and new solutions with new use cases emerge, existing regulations need to evolve, or new ones have to be formulated. But timeliness and finding the sweet spot seem to be challenging.

Consider cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These are high‐risk and speculative and often seen as a tool for illicit activities. Hence, sufficient research and deliberation are needed before formal regulations and policies can be introduced. But meanwhile, will we risk becoming too slow and lose potential opportunities?

With metaverse fast becoming a thing, will our policies and regulations be fast enough to capitalise on its development while addressing transactions, personal data and user interaction issues?

In encouraging enterprises or individuals to digitalise or upskill through monetary incentives, might the process be so tedious such that they decide to remain in their comfort zones and stick to just being good enough and avoid digital transformation altogether?

Hence, I would like to ask how will the Government ensure regulatory changes keep pace with tech advancement. How do we ensure that we provide sufficient guardrails, yet not suffocate innovation? Chairman, do I continue with my next cut?

The Chairman : You can carry on with your second cut.

Protection against Online Harm

Ms Tin Pei Ling : Sir, what happens online can have spillover effects in the real world. Reports of precious lives lost to "bullycides" and life savings lost to online scams are aplenty. While nobody is immune, children, youths, women and elderly are especially vulnerable to online harms.

Years ago, my resident's fiancée was a victim of "revenge porn". Her ex‐boyfriend uploaded intimate material onto websites such as Revenge Porn, attracting unsavoury comments from people she knew and did not know. Thankfully, the then-IMDA blocked it. But the damage was done.

In general, women and girls tend to be victims of body shaming and hyper-sexualisation online.

In 2020, an elderly resident fell prey to an online investment scam. He was misled to believe that the scheme was endorsed by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, which is, of course, not true. Due to his lack of knowledge, he gave his one-time password (OTP) away and racked up a huge credit card debt that he could not afford.

While adults having gone through a few hard knocks in life can arguably cope better, youths and children are still in their innocence and need a lot more protection. The inaugural 2020 Child Online Safety Index report found that almost 60% of children aged between eight and 12 in 30 countries were exposed to at least one form of cyber risk, of which 45% were affected by cyberbullying.

Online harms cause distress and have long-term adverse consequences in real life. We must protect our people from such harms, so that they can live freely and fulfill their potential. What are the support measures and resources available to raise awareness, prevent and intervene to reduce online harm?

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

The Chairman : Mr Alex Yam. Not here. Mr Don Wee.

Protect our People from Online Harm

Mr Don Wee (Chua Chu Kang) : Chairman, the onslaught of online scams, the prevalence of fake websites and the ubiquity of misinformation on social media are having a severe detrimental impact on our society. The loss of hard-earned money, loss of trust in official and traditional sources of information and the confusion and harm caused by false information interferes with how a nation can function and operate normally and damages our social fabric.

The digital universe has no border and invaders can potentially enter from anywhere if we do not put up our defences. It is not easy for the man in the street to keep abreast of the latest online scams and newly-evolved digital deceptions.

What measures does MCI have in place to help protect our people from online harm?

Protecting our People from Online Harms

Dr Wan Rizal (Jalan Besar) : Chairman, Singaporeans are now spending more time online, which means they are more open to online content – and some content may hold extreme or even extremist views – online gaming and possible gambling as well as engaging in social media that may not be able to regulate all of its contents.

Different segments of the community may be exposed to varied levels of online harms. The youths, for example, are most susceptible to negative influences like cyberbullying, hate comments or even online shaming. The elderly, too, are not spared from being cyber victims.

I welcome the Alliance for Action to tackle online harms, especially those targeted at women and girls.

What are some targeted measures that MCI will put in place to protect the different segments of Singaporeans from varied forms of online harm?

Protection from Online Harms

Dr Shahira Abdullah (Nominated Member) : Mr Chairman, digitalisation is a priority for many countries, Singapore included. However, as mentioned, with increased digitalisation comes exposure to online harms. All segments of the community are vulnerable to online harms. We all know the recent OCBC phishing scam where 790 customers lost $13.7 billion. That is one type of online harm.

Another type relates to content found online, for example, online sexual grooming, doxing, cyberbullying, online harassment or stalking and the sharing of misinformation or unlawful content.

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As we know, platforms, such as OnlyFans, have been used to show unlawful content. On the metaverse, there have been reports of avatars being bullied and verbally and sexually harassed virtually. I must commend the Ministry for doing much in educating the public on how to navigate the Internet safely.

However, what can we do to always make sure that we keep ahead of all the online changes and can we do more in terms of regulations? I watch with interest the developments of the Online Safety Bill in the UK which would determine how online platforms should deal with content and how to prevent the propagation of illegal content. Australia also recently promulgated its e-safety legislation. Would the Ministry consider introducing legislation to regulate online content here as well?

The Chairman : Mr Gan Thiam Poh. Not here. Mr Christopher de Souza, you can take both your cuts.

Digitalisation in the Business World

Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah) : Mr Chairman, Sir, for SMEs, in particular, while the reality of digitalisation as the future is acknowledged, there is much practical difficulty in terms of initial costs, lack of technical expertise and assisting employees in making that transition, particularly senior employees who have worked for years within the existing system. The launch by IMDA of schemes, such as Better Data-Driven Business (BDDB), the Digital Leaders Programme (DLP) and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO)-as-a-Service, have created platforms to help many brick-and-mortar businesses pivot towards hybrid online-offline models and are, certainly, welcomed. How will MCI continue supporting businesses to build or enhance their digital capabilities, so as to take advantage of the post-COVID-19 phase of economic recovery?

Digitalisation and Singapore's Resilience

As we prepare for a post-pandemic future, technology can revolutionise and reinvent much of the way business is done. With hyperscale cloud providers dominating the cloud infrastructure and more industry clouds appearing, cloud computing has transformed in a way that has changed digitalisation. Other technologies, such as quantum computing, the metaverse and digital currencies, are continuing to take over the landscape and seemingly unlock more potential. How can the Government take advantage of the potential of new digital technologies and invest into it, while at the same time, watching against any potential pitfalls? This then, can enhance Singapore's competitiveness and resilience.

Interest of Consumers and Small Business

Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol) : Mr Chairman, for Singapore to pioneer the model for a globally competitive digital metropolis, the digital space must be economically vibrant, socially stable and digitally secure for all. Larger businesses tend to have the resources to protect their interests in this digital space. How will MCI ensure that the interests of consumers and small businesses continue to be protected in this digital age?

The Chairman : Ms Hany Soh. You can take both cuts together.

Radio: Vernacular News Broadcast

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

( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] During the pre-COVID-19 days, I used to visit Mediacorp once a month to give law awareness radio talk shows on Capital 95.8FM. During the intervals, I would sit at a corner and listen to the senior radio news presenter presenting dialect news, like in Hokkien or Cantonese. These presenters are usually over 50 years old; occasionally, they would stay behind to wait for me to finish my talk show to have a chat with me in Mandarin or Hokkien, sometimes about getting some legal advice on estate planning.

I have always enjoyed these sessions as they bring back childhood memories of chatting with my Ah Ma. Like her, most of the seniors only know how to communicate with people in dialects and rely on the vernacular radio news broadcasts to stay updated on current affairs.

Recently, in my catch-up with one of the DJs, I came to understand that due to the COVID-19 situation, these dialect news presenters are now required to record their radio news broadcasts from home. It has been a challenging time; some of them have sadly passed away, while some have chosen to retire as they found themselves unable to keep up with technology.

How will the Ministry ensure that radio stations continue to train and retain talents in this aspect in order to continue on with this feature? In my capacity as the Advisor to Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees (SUBE), I also hope that more welfare support can be given to taking care of these dialect news radio presenters.

Green Living Initiative Mascot

(In English): My next cut is on whether a collaboration with Mediacorp will be explored to introduce a cartoon series using rhythmic content akin to Baby Shark or CoComelon YouTube channel songs involving mascots like Captain Green, Water Wally to attract and educate young audiences to become our young budding green champions.

SPH Media Trust

Mr Leong Mun Wai (Non-Constituency Member) : Mr Chairman, I was surprised to learn at the February Sitting that taxpayers may have to pay up to $900 million over five years to support Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) Media Trust, the Government-owned publisher of most of Singapore's mainstream newspapers. Since we are raising a lot of taxes in this Budget, we should be careful about such a new and big outflow of taxpayers' money.

Firstly, where is the plan to recoup the $900 million over time? Do we have an exit plan, or will we keep funding SPH Media Trust for many more years beyond the first five years?

Secondly, why did the Government not ask for more money from SPH, the listed parent, before it agreed to taking the loss-making business out of SPH? SPH assets have grown over the years, thanks to the hefty profits of the near-monopoly media business it previously enjoyed. Although in recent years the print business has become a loss-making business due to the Internet, SPH has maintained overall profitability because of its huge property portfolio.

Thus, it is reasonable to expect SPH to continue to fund the transformation of the media business. Hence, the Government's arrangement with SPH is evidently a bad deal as taxpayers have to foot the bill of SPH Media Trust at least for the next five years while the property assets of SPH, which are worth at least $3.9 billion and expected to generate an annual cash flow of $300 million, according to one broker's estimate, are likely to be sold to Cuscaden Peak, a company owned by our local property magnate Ong Beng Seng, for the benefit of existing and future shareholders. Can the Minister explain what is the rationale behind the Government's acceptance of such a deal?

Resilience against Digital Risks

Mr Xie Yao Quan (Jurong) : Chairman, as we move towards a digitally-inclusive society, we will not only need to focus on promoting digital literacy and skills, but also on supporting all businesses, especially small and medium‐sized enterprises, and all individuals to guard against both cyber and data threats. This will strengthen our collective defences and resilience against bad actors and preserve overall confidence in our digital future. In this regard, what plans does MCI have to support our businesses and citizens?

Cyber and Data Threats

Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong (Jurong) : Advanced digital infrastructure and cybersecurity technologies are important, but we also need to enhance our fundamentals. To get a Data Protection Trust Mark (DPTM), there are five assessment bodies with IMDA which can assess an organisation. Today, an organisation can take up to one year to get the certification, with a queue to start assessment. The certification is demanding and rightfully so. As of 2 March 2022, there is a total of 81 organisations which have attained DPTM certification. ACRA records state that we have about half a million registered entities.

In practice, we do not need every organisation to be certified. But, in parallel, we must enhance our understanding of basic data protection law and emphasise the importance of critical data protection requirements. Three questions.

How are data protection consultancies regulated in Singapore today? How do we ensure that our data protection ecosystem has the competencies and subject matter experts required to be secure? How can we better build and accelerate our efforts to build trusted, secure and resilient digital infrastructure and technologies? How can we better support businesses and individuals to guard against cyber and data threats?

The Chairman : Ms He Ting Ru. Not here. Ms Hany Soh.

Combating Cyber and Data Threats

Ms Hany Soh : With the growing cyber and data threats, how will MCI better protect individuals and businesses and guard against these risks, helping to ensure that they remain confident enough to continue thriving in the digital realm? Are there any grants that can be provided to encourage companies to adopt approved cybersecurity solutions that can help these businesses?

Strengthen Digital Access and Literacy

Mr Baey Yam Keng (Tampines) : Mr Chairman, our society and lives are being transformed. We use digital technologies every day, whether in a lived, work or play environment. We spend so much more time in the online space.

However, not everyone has digital access. When the online mandatory theory test for PMD and Power Assisted Bicycle riders was first launched, it was only available via a laptop. Ironically, more people nowadays have a smart phone but not a laptop. Hence, we recommended those without a laptop to use the facilities in our national libraries.

In the past, people go to the libraries to borrow books or to read newspapers and magazines. In today's world, reading or acquiring knowledge and information is no longer restricted to the physical print version. Sadly, the falling rate of reading is a global trend.

In this respect, the role of our libraries needs to evolve. They could play an indispensable role in supporting Singaporeans to navigate this digital world while cultivating a spirit of lifelong learning and bringing the community together.

In the past, library users must first be able to read. Otherwise, the library collection is useless to them. Today, digital literacy is as important as knowing our ABCs. So, how will MCI ensure that the benefits of digitalisation extend to all segments of our society? What measures are in place to bridge skills and knowledge gaps and ensure that individuals have the know-how, confidence and motivation to use digital technology?

In the late 1990s, our libraries were transformed from functional spaces with rows of bookshelves to vibrant community nodes, where the young and old explore wonders of the written word. How are our libraries being refreshed to meet the changing needs and interests of Singaporeans and continue to nurture a love of reading, learning and discovery?

I see SG Digital Office ambassadors in the neighbourhood teaching our seniors how to use their smart phones and encouraging heartland shops to come on board and accept digital CDC Vouchers. The deployment of resources on the ground has been effective, but how sustainable is it? How can we tap on the diversity, insights and capabilities of the wider community and empower ground-up efforts?

Sir, we need to do more to advance digital inclusion. Let us do more to welcome more immigrants to the digital world and integrate them well to be truly digital citizens.

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Digitisation and Digital Economy

Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade) : Mr Chairman, with digitalisation becoming more pervasive and an integral part of our society, how is the Ministry working with the private and people sectors to bring digital to life for Singaporeans and prepare them for the digital future?

Today there is a growing need to pay attention to the livelihood aspect of the digital economy which offers some of the most exciting and high-quality jobs across the different sectors.

Under the Smart Nation strategy, we have outlined our ambitions to build a digital economy, a digital Government and a digital society. Can the Minister let us know the progress of this initiative, especially in terms of the whole-of-nation digitalisation effort?

Second, Singapore had outlined funding and aims to develop high-tech digital solutions for industry, including being a lab for deploying new technology solutions. Can the Minister let us know how we are doing in terms of translating novel technologies into commercial products and services?

Last, part of Singapore's advantage has always been our ability to work across disciplines. Such innovative inter-disciplinary technology solutions give us the power to address complex challenges. It also allows us a special position as a trusted digital innovation hub.

Can the Minister give us an idea how Singapore is doing in terms of its ambition to become as honest agent in digital trust? Finally, how will MCI equip Singaporeans with the necessary skills to access the emerging opportunities in the digital economy?

Digital Inclusion

Mr Sharael Taha : Chairman, in the last two years, we see the accelerated adoption of digital practices in our society. Businesses and individuals have transformed quickly to adopt digital solutions. PayNow mobile users grew to 3.07 million people in 2021, 4.4 million people use Singpass, 118,000 people have been trained under TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) and 74% of firms have adopted at least one digital solution in 2020.

However, there are still some Singaporeans and businesses that have not been able to adopt digital solutions. How is MCI supporting Singaporeans who are less digitally savvy and have not embraced digital and benefit from its use in their daily lives?

In particular, the seniors and Hawkers Go Digital programme have been running for the past two years. However, there are still seniors and hawkers who are apprehensive about going digital. What more can we do to bring them onboard?

For our youths, how do we ensure that the gap between the digital "haves" and the digital "have-nots" do not widen? What more can we do to support our less privileged youths? How can we ensure all youths have access to digital devices, connectivity and the required skillsets so that they are better prepared for the digital economy?

Challenges Facing Digital-native Generations

Mr Eric Chua (Tanjong Pagar) : Sir, Singaporeans are one of the most digitally connected people in the world and we start young. According to a survey in 2019, Singaporean children get their first Internet-enabled device at the tender age of eight. That is two years younger than the global average and is amongst the youngest worldwide.

And we seem to love our devices. On average, Singaporeans own 3.3 connected devices per person. Amongst us, 91% own a smartphone, sometimes two, and our broadband Internet speed is amongst the highest in Asia.

Couple these trends that have been gathering pace since the 1990s with changes in our lifestyle due to the pandemic in the past two years – work-from-home, home-based learning arrangements, safe management measures, all those have meant that the human connection that each of us yearn for could often only be achieved through technology-mediated means. Simply put, we cannot live without being digitally connected today.

Technology can either be a boon or a bane through social networking sites, people all over the world can reconnect with long-lost friends, share tips on niche hobbies and rally like-minded individuals passionate about various social causes.

In the same vein, however, these platforms have also allowed terrorist cells from remote corners of the world to link up. Much, therefore, depends on factors, such as the purpose that technologies are harnessed for and the motivations of individual tech users, amongst others.

While most people use the Internet and social networking sites for gainful posted purposes, for work, learning and leisure, some, inadvertently fall prey to ills that lurk in our online spaces.

First, sexually explicit materials. WE CARE Community Services, a community-based addiction recovery centre reported an increase in the number of people seeking help for compulsive sexual behaviour, including excessive online pornography consumption. From 50 cases in 2019, WE CARE handled 100 cases in 2020. That is a 100% increase. Seventy cases were new and many were youths in their 20s.

In many cases, first encounters with sexually explicit materials online start off quite innocuously as a curious conversation between peers or a chance encounter with a sexually explicit site due to random pop-up advertisements. But in Asian societies like ours, where parents tend to avoid awkward conversations on such sensitive topics, young impressionable minds are often left on their own to make sense of the material that they come into contact with. While many do not find themselves mired in addiction, the fact remains, some do. Especially when the consumption of sexually explicit material serves as a stress management mechanism. The question then is: do we know this often invisible issue well enough to design appropriate interventions?

Second, gaming. Gaming itself is not necessarily a bad activity. It can be a good source of entertainment, stress relief or even character building. But things can go south with a small group of gamers when excessive online gaming interferes with one's routines. Relationships with family and friends can become strained and when gaming becomes a compulsion, one becomes restless and irritable when access to gaming is curbed.

We all reeled in shock here in Singapore when we learnt that a teenager with a gaming addiction killed his father, partly because the father had limited his access to his games. The related issue is that of in-game loot boxes or "virtual goodie bags with random rewards" as The Straits Times called it. The odds for some of these loot boxes are sometimes as low as 0.00005% – and that is four zeros behind the decimal point, for the record. Of course, this means that prizes are extremely coveted.

But what is concerning is how addictive loot boxes can become. Experts have warned that the allure of these loot boxes lie exactly in the excitement of not knowing what one is going to get, much like what Forrest Gump says in the box of chocolates. This stimulates the production of dopamine, a mood-lifting biochemical typically produced when we exercise, get sufficient sleep or meditate. But this keeps the gamer coming back for more.

I have talked about my concerns on sexually explicit materials and gaming. But there remain many other issues that needs working through – cyberbullying, misinformation and disinformation, extremism – amongst many others. I stress again for the record here that I am not making a case against the Internet or gaming or any online platforms.

But, while I had scratched the surface in terms of these online deals we need to tackle, what is the Ministry's strategy in mobilising resources, channelling societies attention to developing issues? And what are the conversations we need to have as a society? What roles can families and parents play? How can we all do our part to make the online world – which actually can be a constructive space for networking, knowledge sharing and content creation – one that is safer for everyone?

Protect Vulnerable from Online Harm

Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman (Marine Parade) : Sir, last year, MCI launched the Singapore Together Alliances for Action (AfA) to tackle online harms, especially those targeted at women and girls. The launch of AfA came after 300 stakeholders from diverse backgrounds were consulted. Essentially, the launch of AfA is underpinned by the desire to combat online harms, especially those targeted at women and girls.

Importantly, MCI underscores that the AfA would focus on closing the digital safety gap and on taking actions to enhance the freedom and safety of our women and girls in the digital future.

According to MCI, the AfA will start with 48 members across the people, public and private sectors to address the issue of online harms in five key work streams as suggested by participants from the earlier conversations. Namely, they include public education, research, victim support, youth engagement and volunteerism clusters. As such, the AfA will adopt a whole-of-nation approach to close the digital safety gaps.

I am encouraged by the launch of the AfA as it signifies our commitment to addressing online harms in an increasingly lethal society. I would thus like to ask the Minister for Communication and Information if she could share any updates on the progress of the AfA since its launch last year. Additionally, could MCI also elaborate on the number of stakeholders it has managed to get on board the AfA since its launch? Finally, can MCI also delineate some of the AfA's implemented and upcoming initiatives to address online harms, especially those targeted at women and girls?

The Chairman : Ms Hany Soh, you can take both cuts together.

Digital Opportunities

Ms Hany Soh : How does MCI bridge the digital skills and knowledge gap among Singaporeans and encourage them to seek out digital opportunities to pursue lifelong learning and enrich their lives? Apart from the assistance provided by our digital ambassadors, can we consider providing more support to IHLs for the latter to conduct more digital technology training courses for the public? It can either be run in a manner similar to SkillsFuture courses or a collaboration with the People's Association whereby IHLs' lecturers and students reach out to vulnerable groups in the community through the residents' community centres, senior activity centres, in order to run these courses.

Library

During this pandemic period, many of our little ones seek comfort in reading, keeping themselves occupied while their parents are busy with online zoom conferences. Besides being a healthy form of entertainment, it can also be a form of bonding as it helps the children to return to their roots by learning traditional stories and rhymes.

What are the ongoing and upcoming efforts to increase the availability and variety of books and e-resources in Chinese, Malay and Tamil so as to encourage our young readers to master their mother tongue languages?

Mr Speaker : Ms Jessica Tan. You can take both cuts together.

Libraries of the Future

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo (East Coast) : Mr Chairman, libraries play a special role in igniting the joy of reading and nurturing curiosity and enquiring minds. The ability to read is fundamental to enable access to information and encouraging lifelong learning in the young and old. Reading helps develop imagination, creativity, speaking and communication skills. My residents, young and old, shared with me their fondness and desire for a library in our estate.

With the pervasiveness of digitalisation, digital literacy is as important as reading for access to information and lifelong learning. Our network of public libraries has continued to innovate and transform to stay relevant, including offering digital services.

How is MCI leveraging our libraries to encourage a self-directed learning culture and spark curiosity among the public to improve their proficiency in digital skills and literacy?

While digital access allows access to content and programmes, beyond that, the physical libraries do provide community and social spaces for people to come together to learn. A highlight of National Library Board's (NLB) LAB25 are installations called Nodes, to serve as new entry points into NLB's wide array of content. Will NLB consider the installation of Nodes in estates like Simei that do not have a library? Actually, given the important role that libraries play, it would be even better to have a library in Simei.

Building Business Digital Capability

To help our SMEs stay competitive, innovate and seize opportunities in the digital economy, there are a host of initiatives and resources to make going digital simple and easy for all.

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These include schemes like: (a) the Industry Digital Plans (IDP), which are industry-specific, step-by-step guides to digitalisation; (b) InvoiceNow, which enables businesses to digitalise the way they transact; (c) Better Data Driven Business (BDDB) or Business Intelligence (BI) tools, help SMEs gain deeper insights by converting business data into visual dashboards for easier data analysis; and (d) the Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex) – which is an open digital infrastructure that facilitates trusted sharing of data between supply chain ecosystem partners. Can we have an update of how many businesses have participated and utilised these initiatives?

As part of Budget 2022, an additional $200 million will be allocated to enhance schemes that build digital capabilities in businesses and workers. What are these new initiatives? And how will they build on and complement the current initiatives?

Apart from these initiatives, I urge MCI and related agencies to consider nurturing "communities of learning and practice" for digital and tech talent. I believe that this will catalyse an ecosystem for tech talent to share perspectives, experiences and to learn from each other and this will build the vibrancy of the tech community here in Singapore.

MNCs and Local Large Enterprises (LLEs) can play a bigger role in developing digital and tech talent in Singapore. How can we encourage these companies to incubate smaller companies and workers to develop digital/tech talent? These companies have the talent development programme as well as expertise to provide learning and the business environment to build and to scale digital capabilities and I believe that these companies can play a very big role in building a bigger pool of talent base than they need and they should play that role.

SME Digital Skills

Ms Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang) : Sir, I would like to declare my interest as the Managing Director of a consultant firm that does work in the area of skills development.

The Government has made available a wide range of programmes available to help SMEs to go digital, such as the Productivity Solutions Grant and CTO as a Service. Many SMEs have taken advantage of these grants. Yet, there are still many SMEs which have not started down the digitalisation path in a meaningful way. But for a digital transformation to be sustainable, it is not enough to adopt some digital solutions. To ensure sustained performance, the employees need to go digital, be reskilled and upskilled, and, importantly, must have the opportunity to use these digital skills in their daily work.

Yet, we often hear that Singaporeans who work in SMEs find that they have fewer opportunities to acquire these new digital skills, compared to their peers working in LLEs and MNCs. This will impact their future career options. While the expansion of SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit eligibility will help more companies provide these employees, there is a lot of room to increase the take-up amongst those already eligible.

What more can the Government do to encourage the long tail of SMEs to reskill and upskill their employees now in order to capture opportunities in the digital economy in a sustainable way? How can this reskilling be done at scale? How can larger enterprises and TACs support the SME base? And how can we encourage and ensure that employees, in particular, who do not invest in such reskilling can go after those opportunities on their own, given that they have more limited resources to do this on their own and may not get the opportunity to put these skills to work in their day jobs?

Vibrant Tech Talent Ecosystem

Ms Tin Pei Ling : Sir, in my interactions with tech companies and tech leaders in Singapore, regardless of the company size and local or otherwise, the one common feedback I receive is skills shortage in Singapore.

Some shared that they need technical expertise, so that they can conduct research and product development here. Others shared that they set up their International or Regional Headquarters in Singapore. For these firms, they need not only technical talents but also market expertise. For instance, a large software service firm told me that they need talents well-versed in Vietnam and Indonesia to serve the markets there from here. These are large markets for them. The concern is that if firms like this cannot hire or access these talents in Singapore, then they may be compelled to move certain departments or wholly out of Singapore and leave Singaporeans and Singapore for the worse. Our people will lose jobs and opportunities to learn from some of the best around the world.

As such, I would like to ask for an update on the tech and innovation manpower situation in Singapore now. What are the skills and manpower gaps? Over the next three to five years, will we have enough Singaporeans to fill those gaps? What else will be done to address the gaps so that good tech firms remain invested in Singapore and continue investing in our people?

To this end, I would like to share some thoughts, observations and suggestions.

First, continue building up our local talents from young. Many Singaporeans recognise the value and potential of having tech skills, with parents sending their children to coding and robotics classes and mainstream schools offering coding as an "enrichment" for all upper Primary students. This is a good start, but we should build on the momentum and consider introducing computer language as, perhaps, a second language in schools, as well as introducing key concepts and uses of new technology in class. The idea is not so much to train everyone to become coding experts, but to inculcate an intuitive understanding of the logic and applications.

We also need to enhance the global quotient of our young. Expand existing in‐market programmes, such as the Singapore‐China Youth Interns Exchange Scheme (YES) and Asia-Ready Exposure Programme (AEP), and actively push our students to take full advantage of these programmes.

The second is on ecosystem of talents. We need to ensure steady growth of a skilled and versatile Singaporean Core. I am aware that there are efforts to encourage our young to choose STEM courses and majors; this helps to increase supply to meet the talent demand.

At the same time, we need to recognise that not all tech firms or tech‐related jobs need hard tech skills. A local tech leader told me that she met a Polytechnic graduate who studied tech but decided to become a barista because she did not like coding. While there is nothing wrong in choosing a different career, the tech leader wondered if the outcome would have been different if the young barista realised that there was a wide range of options for a career in tech.

While the public and private sectors could do more to increase awareness on the wide range of career options and groom local talents, the Government could also identify specific skills in demand but lacking in Singapore and co‐sponsor scholarships with companies to train local talents from young.

Some of the more progressive tech firms are shifting from pure competition or working solo to partnerships. Could we, therefore, put in place a support system for skilled gig workers who are trained and well-versed in different operating systems and software, so that they form a formidable talent pool for companies here to tap on? In a way, these are "interoperable" talents.

And we also need to continue to be open to good global talents who can and want to contribute. They fill manpower gaps, but are also good people to exchange knowledge, skills and ideas with so that we can grow together.

And the third point is on having more role models. Healthy diversity is beneficial to boosting talent supply and business outcomes. Therefore, we must continue to promote girls and women in tech. Having enough women in tech can shape how girls think of a career in tech – that it is not just for the boys – and give them confidence to give it a shot. Hence, what is the female representation in tech jobs and tech leadership positions in Singapore? What is the female representation in STEM‐related courses in IHLs in 2021 and across IMDA's talent programmes? Is the figure stable, decreasing or increasing?

Similarly, we need more stories of successful Singaporean tech leaders who could be role models to inspire more to join their ranks. Could the Government share whether it actively keeps a record of Singaporeans in tech leadership positions in Singapore and overseas? Could the Government share their stories and invite them to provide mentorship through the likes of the Singapore Global Executive Programme?

Digital Capabilities and Innovation

Mr Xie Yao Quan : Chairman, the digital economy allows us to transcend our geographical constraints and create value for the world. Our digital capabilities must become a strategic competitive advantage for us. We cannot stop, for competition will not stop. And, indeed, we have to go even faster and further, as competition will only accelerate. In this regard, what are MCI's strategies to build up an ICT workforce in Singapore with deep expertise and with ever more and exciting opportunities for Singaporeans?

More broadly, what are MCI's plans to nurture a digitally-enabled workforce at large that can access opportunities brought about by digital technologies across the economy?

At the ecosystem level, how is MCI driving investments in new technologies and their translation into applications to enhance Singapore's long‐term competitive advantage?

The Chairman : Ms Jessica Tan, you can take both cuts.

Workforce Digital Capability

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo : In my Budget debate speech, I spoke about the fact that, beyond specialised tech roles, the broader workforce will need to be equipped with the knowledge and ability to use technologies in the workplace as an increasing number of jobs in non-ICT sectors are disrupted, digitalised and require the use of technologies.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces were starting to transform to leverage technology to enable virtual work arrangements. If implemented effectively, digital workplaces, including a hybrid of physical and virtual work arrangements, can benefit from increased productivity and improved business results.

But to realise the opportunities and benefits of the digital workplace, it will require the workforce to be proficient with new skills. This is not about developing deep tech skills but rather how to use with confidence new and ever-changing technologies to be able to do their work. The ability of the workforce to effectively use virtual and cloud technology, analytics and social and augmented reality tools will enable workers to do their work more effectively, faster and enable them to better communicate their ideas.

How will MCI support the uplifting of the broader workforce's digital capabilities?

Digital Infrastructure Resilience

With the pace of digitalisation, how we work, live and play is increasingly digital. Hence, trusted, secure and resilient digital architecture and technologies are essential for Singapore and Singaporeans. Digital connectivity plays a critical role. As we invest in future technologies for increased access and speed, we need to also invest to strengthen our digital infrastructures to address unexpected surges in demand against cyber security risks, as well as threats to the resilience of our digital infrastructures. Cyber security risks will compromise data security and threaten access and availability of services.

To sustain our digital economy and way of life, how can Singapore ensure safe and reliable use of such infrastructures and technologies? How are our digital infrastructures able to minimise the impact of disruptions to enable businesses to continue to operate and with more digital transactions and operations, business critical information and personal information are exchanged? How are we strengthening the security of our digital infrastructures in Singapore to protect our data?

The Chairman : Ms Tin Pei Ling, take both cuts.

Next Bound Development

Ms Tin Pei Ling : Chairman, Singapore ranks among the top countries for technology infrastructure and adoption. We have the highest average Internet connection speed in Asia and the number of 4G subscriptions in Singapore is almost one and a half times that of our population. Our Government continues to invest heavily and our 5G network deployment is well underway. But even as we do so, other countries are not idling. The current S‐curve is saturated and we need to get onto the next.

Hence, to build and sustain a vibrant Digital Economy, what are the next‐bound digital infrastructure developments that Singapore can expect?

International Cooperation

Given the borderless nature of the digital space and digital threats, it is not enough to rely on domestic levers and programmes to protect Singapore's cyberspace.

Moreover, as critical infrastructures are very much interlinked and, as countries and markets become increasingly connected digitally, we have become highly vulnerable to disruptions and exploitations by malicious cyber activities. An attack in one area can have widespread ramifications.

Therefore, what is MCI doing in the international arena to address these challenges?

The Chairman : Mr Alex Yam. Not here. Minister Josephine Teo.

The Minister for Communications and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo) : Mr Chairman, I thank Members for their questions and interest.

Earlier in the Committee of Supply (COS) debate, I updated Members about the progress of our Smart Nation initiative. Digital technologies are very much a part of our daily lives. They have brought day-to-day conveniences, new and improved jobs for our people, and growth opportunities for our businesses.

But a digital future can be daunting as well. Enterprises struggle to get the right technologies and talents. Workers worry about being replaced. Seniors may feel left out. Parents are concerned about the impact on their children.

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MCI understands all these concerns. Our mission is to ensure our people can reap the benefits and rewards of technology, while safeguarding our safety and security. Our vision of Singapore's digital future is one that is economically vibrant, socially stable and cyber-secure.

MCI's theme for this year's Committee of Supply is "Building a Vibrant and Secure Digital Future Together".

The economic opportunities of the digital domain have brought about tremendous transformation and growth in Singapore. Since 2016, the Information and Communications Sector has grown by an average of 9.4%, well above the GDP growth rate. Across the economy, the number of ICT professionals has risen from around 180,000 in 2016 to 216,000 in 2020. The positive impact on the wider economy is evident. Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and Minister of State Tan Kiat How will say more about these later.

This dynamism is equally evident in our society. Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam will provide an update on our efforts to promote digital empowerment and wellness.

To harness the full potential of the digital domain, I will focus on two aspects of growing importance.

First, how we will enhance regulations in the digital domain to better protect ourselves and our loved ones, and to strengthen digital security and resilience. Second, how we will sustain and deepen engagement of every Singaporean in the digital era, to preserve and enhance social cohesion.

According to surveys carried out by MCI, 76% of Singaporeans said they feel comfortable using digital technologies, but only 40% have installed cybersecurity apps on their mobile phones. Among seniors aged 60 and above, 67% use instant messaging and over half search for information online. But only 40% could recognise and avoid phishing attempts.

Clearly, using technology alone is not enough; it is only half the story. We also need to better protect ourselves and our loved ones from its risks and threats.

MCI has three priorities to govern and secure our digital spaces.

The first is to better protect Singaporeans from harmful online content, especially the young and vulnerable. A recent Straits Times survey found that among children aged seven to nine, two-thirds use a smartphone daily, and, yet, a third of the parents do not know who their children interact with on social media.

Last year, a National Youth Council poll found that two-thirds of youths had experienced online harms, such as harassment and unwanted advances. Many developed distrust towards others and experienced stress and anxiety. Last year, a 10-year-old Italian girl lost her life while participating in an online "Hanging Challenge". Users were encouraged to choke themselves until they passed out while live-streaming on TikTok.

Harm can be caused not only to children. In 2019, social media companies struggled to remove reshares of the video showing a gunman firing on Muslims in a New Zealand mosque. In 2021, rioters who stormed Capitol Hill in the US used social media to organise and amplify their messages.

Governments worldwide have responded to online harms with new laws.

In 2017, Germany enacted its Network Enforcement Act, which requires platforms to act on unlawful content reported by users. Last July, Australia enacted an Online Safety Act, which introduces basic safety expectations for online service providers. The UK's draft Online Safety Bill will create a duty of care for online platforms towards their users, including requirements to take action against harmful content.

Dr Shahira Abdullah, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Dr Wan Rizal and Mr Don Wee are right to ask what more can be done in Singapore. Some measures are already in place.

Internet content providers must comply with the Internet Code of Practice. IMDA has powers to take down content that goes against "public interest, public morality, public order and national harmony". IMDA can also direct Internet Service Providers to block access to prohibited websites.

To manage children's access to websites and online services, IMDA requires Internet Service Providers to offer filtering services for parents to subscribe to.

To reduce exposure to age-inappropriate entertainment content, over-the-top and video-on-demand streaming services with content rated NC16 or higher must provide parental controls.

In a 2020 study of online safety for children in 30 countries, international think-tank DQ Institute ranked Singapore fourth. This gives us some comfort. But with the growing risks of online harms, we must step up efforts to keep online spaces safe, especially for our children.

Online platforms accessible by users in Singapore can and must take greater responsibility for user safety. They should endeavour to keep online spaces free from harmful content, including age-inappropriate content, such as violent and graphic content, and content that promotes sexual violence.

To raise the baseline standard for online safety, we plan to introduce Codes of Practice in three new areas.

The first area is child safety. It will require platforms to have robust systems in place to minimise exposure of children and young persons to harmful content. These include content filters for child accounts and mechanisms for parents to supervise and guide their children online.

The second area is user reporting. Last year, MCI formed the Sunlight Alliance for Action to tackle online harms. Members of the Alliance want Internet platforms to be diligent in assessing flagged content and remove harmful content without delay. But many social media platforms tell us that they cannot be fully aware of all the content that needs moderation. Much of it is user-generated and the quantity, voluminous.

User reporting is, therefore, an important way to close the awareness gap and promote prompt follow-up action. It will require platforms to set up easy-to-access mechanisms for users to report harmful content, to be responsive in evaluating and acting on these reports and to apprise their users in a timely manner of the actions taken. This will empower users to highlight harmful content they come across and prevent further spread.

The third area is platform accountability. It will require platforms to provide information on what they are doing to keep users safe. This includes the prevalence of harmful online content on their platforms, the user reports they have received and acted upon, and the systems and processes they have in place to address harmful online content. Users can then compare the approaches taken by platforms and make informed decisions about which to engage or disengage.

Similar to existing Codes of Practice administered by IMDA, these new Codes will have the force of law. They will require relevant online platforms to take more actions to create a safer online environment. We will study how the Codes can be effectively enforced, including through appropriate legislative updates.

We are also working with MHA to provide Singaporeans with more protection from illegal activities carried out online. This includes strengthening our levers to tackle online scams, as well as a broader suite of criminal activities taking place online, such as child pornography, terrorism and content that incites violence.

MCI has frequent engagements with our international and industry partners on issues relating to user safety. We will continue to consult extensively as we develop these new Codes.

But the evolving nature of the digital domain will always test the way we design our regulations, as pointed out by Ms Tin Pei Ling. We need to be clear and unambiguous to uphold security and trust, while not being overly prescriptive or stifling innovation. The scope of coverage must be wide enough without being excessively expansive. Simplicity must not be achieved at the expense of effectiveness.

In many ways, our regulatory approach for the digital domain will be similar to how technology services are launched these days, as Minimum Viable Products that will be improved iteratively. Put another way, perfect must not become the enemy of good. Instead, we must be prepared to regularly update these Codes, introduce new ones or streamline outdated ones, to deal with emerging issues and new technologies. Only by doing so can we harness the rich potential of exciting new technologies while guarding against their attendant risks.

Mr Chairman, another important priority of MCI is to strengthen our cybersecurity.

Mr Shawn Huang, Ms Hany Soh and Mr Xie Yao Quan asked what more we are doing to guard against cyber threats.

Since 2018, the Cybersecurity Act has provided a legal framework for CSA to oversee and maintain our national cybersecurity. The Act is currently focused on securing and protecting our Critical Information Infrastructure. These computer systems deliver essential services in the physical world, such as water and power.

Given the unfolding situation in Ukraine, we must be alive to the heightened risks. Singapore is gravely concerned over the cyberattacks against Ukraine's government websites and national banks. It illustrates how essential services can be disrupted remotely and quite easily. Singapore may be geographically distant from the theatre of action. But we cannot disregard the potential knock-on effects arriving on our shores. This is why, earlier this week, we advised local organisations to beef up their cybersecurity posture.

But even before the current situation in Ukraine, cyber threats have become more prevalent. Between 2020 and 2021, Singapore observed a 73% increase in reported data breach and ransomware incidents. As our digital realm expands, so, too, the threat surface.

The scale and impact of such attacks elsewhere have also become more serious. Attacks on systems that run physical infrastructure, such as energy grids and fuel pipelines, have real, tangible impact. The ransomware attack on US Colonial Pipeline last year, for example, caused fuel shortages across the US East Coast.

CSA has been reviewing the Cybersecurity Act. To strengthen our defences, we need to address three key questions.

First, how do we raise our situational awareness over Singapore's cyberspace?

Attackers are constantly on the lookout for serious vulnerabilities, like burglars looking for faulty locks and open windows. CSA must, in some way, do the same, but for a very different reason – so that we can advise people to fix their faulty locks and close their windows quickly. In cyberspace, this means to patch known software vulnerabilities, before malicious actors compromise our systems and steal our data.

Second, what should be considered as Critical Information Infrastructure, or CII? The Act currently recognises physical networks and systems as CII. With the shift to virtualisation, we must be able to recognise virtual assets as CII, too, such as systems hosted on the cloud. We need to ensure these virtual assets are properly protected, too, including those that may not be hosted in Singapore.

Third, how do we secure important digital infrastructure and services beyond CIIs?

Digital infrastructure and services are the backbone of our connectivity, computing and data storage needs. If disrupted or compromised, there could be serious knock-on effects. Imagine the chaos of not having access to emails, websites and apps.

We will consider how to apply a risk-based approach to protect these infrastructure and services and for them to recover quickly when attacked. We intend to complete this review by 2023, factoring in stakeholder and public consultations. The Act will be updated thereafter.

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Mr Chairman, Mr Sharael Taha asked how we could enable businesses to innovate and grow while safeguarding consumers and their personal data. This is also a priority. Data is a critical resource for the digital economy.

In 2012, we enacted the Personal Data Protection Act, or PDPA. It strikes a careful balance between allowing organisations to harness data for innovation and growth and ensuring proper safeguards and accountability. In 2020, to adapt to the evolving digital landscape, we amended the PDPA. Among several amendments, we explicitly recognised business improvement as a legitimate use of data.

Early results from ongoing surveys are encouraging. Close to 90% of businesses agreed that the PDPA helped them prepare for the digital economy. More than 80% of consumers said that the PDPA helped them trust that their personal data is protected from misuse by organisations.

To uphold this trust, organisations must continue to take ownership and be held accountable, especially those that hold sizeable volumes of personal data. This is why the PDPA amendments in 2020 raised the maximum financial penalty for data breaches to $1 million, or 10% of local annual turnover, for organisations whose turnover exceeds $10 million, whichever is higher.

As a result of the pandemic-induced economic uncertainty, the implementation of the new penalties was temporarily held back. With sufficient lead time given to businesses, the penalties will now take effect from 1 October 2022.

We will also strengthen safeguards in other areas.

Currently, consumers and small businesses try to resolve contractual disputes with their telco, or media service providers, directly or through existing dispute resolution options. These can be costly and less consumer-friendly.

To supplement these options, IMDA will launch an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Scheme which is designed to be affordable and effective. When a case is brought to the ADR, it will be mandatory for the service providers to participate in the resolution process.

From April, this will provide a new helpful channel to resolve such disputes.

Mr Chairman, the three priorities I have described to govern and secure our digital spaces will form the building blocks of a vibrant and secure digital future.

But, Sir, technology has also changed the way we interact with one another, our communities and the world. The global media and information landscape have become more diffused, with competing narratives and echo chambers, and more news sources than anyone can keep up with.

Mr Don Wee rightly pointed out the need for trusted information sources and genuine engagement and a holistic approach to target the spread of misinformation. Indeed, these have been critical in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. We could not have handled a public health crisis if the public did not trust the health authorities or did not believe the information they were receiving. That is precisely why, from the very outset, we resolved to keep the public informed as fully and expeditiously as possible. We were determined to tell it as it is, never fudge or sugarcoat, never hide.

As the Prime Minister observed recently, if we had been a low-trust society, people would not have understood the need for safe management measures (SMMs) or abided by them. Our infection rates would be higher, far fewer people would be vaccinated, and many more people would have died. To preserve this trust, we must also have appropriate laws. For example, POFMA allowed us to take swift action on 20 occasions to curb COVID-19-related misinformation and prevent falsehoods from taking root.

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

The COVID-19 pandemic has, therefore, underlined the crucial importance of retaining public trust and maintaining trusted sources of information.

MCI has done this by expanding and refreshing our communications channels and launching targeted campaigns like VacciNationSG to support our vaccination drive. Gov.sg's 10 platforms have close to two million more subscribers, compared to before the pandemic. We commissioned e-getai shows for seniors that received over 7.5 million views and catchy music videos with over nine million views online.

To better engage Singaporeans from all walks of life and understand their concerns, REACH expanded its digital outreach through e-Listening Points and virtual dialogues. In 2021, more than 70,000 Singaporeans contributed feedback to REACH, up from 59,000 in 2020.

Through these concerted efforts, polls show that three in four members of the public think that the Government has provided sufficient information on COVID-19 in recent months. Over 86% agreed that these messages helped in their decision to get vaccinated.

It is critical that we maintain these high levels of trust as we strive to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic and see through future crises as Singapore Together.

Our local media companies play an important role in this mission to inform and engage our citizens. They help to keep Singaporeans united by providing a Singapore lens through which citizens can make sense of global events; presenting an authoritative source of information that cuts through the noise of an online space chock-full of clickbait content and misinformation; and producing content in our official languages that celebrates our diverse culture and creates shared experiences for all Singaporeans.

Clearly, our local media companies serve a broader mission beyond commercial success. This is why the Government put our support behind SPH Media Trust. We have explained the background extensively during the Parliament Sittings in May 2021 and February 2022, but I will reiterate two key points.

First, our local media, like media outlets across the world, have seen their advertising and subscription revenue drastically reduced, buffeted by the rise of digital content platforms and new avenues for free content.

Second, while our local media enjoys good reach – today, Mediacorp and SPH Media reach 96% of Singaporeans – there are no easy answers on how they monetise this reach. We hope they can become self-sustaining, but it remains to be seen whether or when this can happen.

Mr Leong Mun Wai said SPH is Government-owned. That is incorrect. If it was, there would be no question today of public funding. He then asked if the SPH listed company could be made to contribute more to the new SPH Media Trust. The shareholders voted and agreed to an initial injection of $80 million in cash and $30 million worth of shares for SPH Media Trust.

If the restructuring proposal involved an even higher contribution, the shareholders could have walked away. The Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) might not have been formed and the SPH media business could have remained on its trajectory of decline with scant hope for revival. In time to come, there would be nothing worthwhile to preserve.

Parliament has been fully briefed on the need for the restructuring and accepted that our local mainstream media is worthy of public funding.

When compared to the investments seen elsewhere in the world, the amount of funding to support our local media's transformation must be meaningful, in order for their efforts to have a chance to succeed. We cannot be half-hearted about it. I have also explained in detail how the Government will keep them accountable.

Let us now direct our attention on charting the way forward, such as those highlighted by Ms Hany Soh on how the media can better meet the needs of different demographics.

For example, Mediacorp is working with their news broadcasters, as well as clan associations to identify new talent to sustain dialect radio news broadcasts. Mediacorp produces an animation series on sustainability and environmental awareness, so that parents and their children know why this is important and how they can contribute to this national priority.

Left to the free market, such programmes are unlikely to be viable. I, therefore, urge Members to give our local media and journalists the fullest support, because they deserve it.

As the media industry adapts to the rise of digital, exciting new opportunities have also emerged. The global market for content is set to grow to more than $500 billion by 2025, half of which is in the Asia Pacific. Singapore is well-positioned to benefit because of our robust intellectual property and legal frameworks and our role as a connector between markets and cultures.

Global names like Walt Disney, iQIYI, WarnerMedia and Netflix already have a presence here, alongside homegrown players like Beach House Pictures, one of Asia's largest independent production companies.

We will continue to support these companies and our talents by: (a) exploring new partnerships with creator networks like Titan Digital Media, platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Twitch and online creators; (b) and partnering industry to improve content quality and better understand viewer preferences through data, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual production.

These efforts will position us as a hub for content that is both "Made in Singapore" and "Made with Singapore". Mr Chairman, in Mandarin, please.

( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] For many Singaporeans, Internet access has become a basic necessity, just like water and electricity.

In today's world, building a vibrant and secure digital future is critical for a country's survival and prosperity.

Singapore will continue to face unknown challenges, but we will not give up.

The Government is committed to helping every Singaporean succeed in the digital age through various measures.

SMEs at all stages of the digital journey will have the opportunity to progress and open up new frontiers, even as they face various pressures.

Workers in various sectors will have the opportunity to deepen their skills. Everyone will receive support to level up their digital skills and improve their livelihoods.

Seniors will have the opportunity to embrace lifelong learning, so that they master technology and maintain social ties.

Children will be better protected from undesirable content and online harms.

We are also working hard to strengthen the security of our digital infrastructure to boost our people's and businesses' confidence in the digital future.

With the concerted efforts of the Government, industry and Singaporeans, I am confident that Singapore will be able to build a secure and vibrant digital future; and that the Little Red Dot that we all love will continue to shine brightly on the international stage!

(In English): Mr Chairman, I have outlined MCI's priorities to govern and secure our digital space and to engage Singaporeans in a digitalised world. These are critical building blocks for Singapore's continued survival and success.

We look forward to partnering all Singaporeans to build a vibrant and secure digital future together! [ Applause. ]

The Chairman : Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) : Mr Chairman, let me first start by thanking Members for their questions and interest in MCI's work. I will elaborate on MCI's plans to build a society which continues to be inclusive, relevant and prepared for a digital future.

As Minister Josephine Teo mentioned, digital technologies are very much a part of our daily lives. Going digital has opened numerous possibilities – from facilitating daily interactions with family and friends to engendering new conveniences in many aspects of our lives. This is why digital access and meaningful engagement with technologies have become key to our quality of life today.

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MCI will continue strengthening digital literacy and wellness, by working closely with community partners and volunteers to achieve three key goals. First, digital access and digital adoption for all; next, learning and mastery of digital skills, for all to seize new opportunities in the digital economy; and equally important, for our people to be equipped to recognise and respond to dangers online.

To ensure that Singaporeans, regardless of age, background or skill level are empowered to take charge of their own digital future, our first goal of digital access and adoption is a basic good that everyone should have, comprising Internet connectivity, tech devices and the ability to make use of them. I recognise that this is an issue close to the hearts of many Members, including Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng, Mr Seah Kian Peng, Mr Sharael Taha and Ms Hany Soh.

Our broadband connectivity and basic devices are important to our people. Singapore is a highly-connected society – 98% of households have access to broadband and 99% of households with children under 15 have access to computers. Still, we recognise that every Singaporean must have this access.

Today, we have digital access programmes, such as NEU PC Plus and Home Access. Since 2020, these initiatives have assisted more than 34,000 low-income households with their digital access needs. Almost double the number, as compared to those assisted before the pandemic.

Moving forward, we are looking to enhance our digital access programmes to reach more low-income households and help them more conveniently receive affordable digital access. This will include working with MSF and social service organisations to engage and assist low-income households in their applications.

Having ensured that our people have access to the digital realm, we also look at addressing the needs of particular segments of individuals and businesses so that they can adopt – that is, to use and benefit from – digital.

Mr Sharael Taha highlighted that there may be some in the community who are less familiar with the digital space, including seniors and some hawkers.

At the height of the pandemic, the SG Digital Office (SDO) was set up to engage precisely these groups that may need additional and tailored support. Since 2020, SDO's digital ambassadors have trained more than 130,000 seniors to adopt basic digital skills like using smartphones and empowered 11,000 hawkers to adopt e-payment solutions.

Working together with community partners, the SDO will continue to keep its curriculum aligned with the digital landscape and remain a key touchpoint for Singaporeans needing digital assistance.

One good example is the SDO's collaboration with the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF). Today, RLAF partners 20 mosques to organise training sessions that equip seniors with applicable digital skills, such as staying connected through Facebook, WhatsApp and Zoom. The participants I spoke with at one of the sessions greatly appreciated the hands-on learning environment, in a safe space amongst friends. The Foundation intends to expand their outreach to more mosques and deepen learning for seniors who have already picked up basic smartphone skills.

RLAF also plans to work with other community partners, like Roses of Peace, to scale their efforts by supplementing volunteers, curating curriculum and launching a certification system to reward the seniors for their learning.

Many other partners have stepped forward to support our seniors. The combined efforts of SDO and our partners have resulted in 84% of seniors reporting that they own and use a smartphone in their daily lives.

Moving on to the second goal. MCI will continue to bridge digital knowledge and skills gaps, to help citizens keep pace with digitalisation. The digital landscape is continually changing, with new technologies and new apps.

We aim to imbue in Singaporeans, a sense of confidence to continue to adapt to this changing space, to actively participate in the digital domain and confidently take on new digital opportunities.

We plan to achieve this in two ways.

First, by harnessing the community's reach, energy and resources through the Digital for Life movement. Last year, the Digital for Life Fund was established to provide funding assistance for ground-up digital inclusion initiatives. Since then, 22 projects have been supported under the fund and are expected to benefit over 100,000 individuals across society.

One example is Byte.SG, which runs the "Void Deck Technology Labs Initiative". Through building skills and familiarity in science and technology topics, Byte.SG aims to bring technology awareness to children living in rental flats.

At one of Byte.SG's recent sessions, I saw how the team used augmented reality (AR) and interactive online tools to bring the underwater world to life. Not only were the children excited by this, I was also fascinated by the demonstration!

Supported by the Digital for Life Fund, Byte.SG will scale their initiative to locations, such as Nanyang, Bedok, Tanjong Pagar and Tampines, to help more children build digital confidence in a fun, empowering manner.

With our 3P partners, we will build on the Digital for Life movement and continue mobilising efforts on the ground by organising a series of events and activities in the coming months. This will culminate in a Digital for Life Festival, which will take place in the middle of the year.

Second, MCI is helping our people deepen digital skills through our libraries. Our libraries and archives are important learning marketplaces to pique Singaporeans' curiosity and inspire discovery, at every stage of our lives.

Despite pandemic-related restrictions, NLB's steady loan numbers and growing digital reach exemplify the key role that they play, with at least 64% of Singapore's residents visiting a library or accessing NLB's online content last year and over 98,000 individuals benefiting from NLB's digital readiness programmes so far.

In the face of digitalisation, our libraries must keep up with the times, to continue bringing citizens a wide array of learning opportunities, as pointed out by Ms Jessica Tan. To this end, our libraries will be refreshed under the Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025, or LAB25.

Many Members have visited NLB's LAB25 showcase in the main lobby and I encourage the rest to drop by if you have not done so.

The showcase brings to life LAB25's four focus areas: building a learning marketplace, nurturing an informed citizenry, inspiring Singapore storytellers and being an equaliser in society.

To realise the LAB25 vision, NLB will launch "ExperienceIT", in collaboration with leaders in innovation and technology, such as Amazon Web Services, to drive interest and confidence in more in-depth learning about emerging technology and partner the community to bring more Singapore stories to NLB's network of libraries and make more collections accessible to the public.

A new Singapore Alcove showcasing Singapore stories and literature will be part of the Central Public Library after its revamp. It will be a "home" for the Singapore collection with regular programming by local authors, featuring immersive and experiential exhibits.

The opening of Punggol Regional Library later this year marks another step towards enabling, empowering and equalising digital access.

Building on NLB's ongoing efforts to ensure accessibility of its physical spaces, NLB will do more through a comprehensive suite of accessibility services for persons with disabilities, starting at Punggol Regional Library. This includes accessible collections comprising sensory and Braille books, sign language with text, and books that are useful for caregivers on social and life skills and assistive technologies, such as "Immersive Readers" to cater to Singaporeans with different language needs.

At the same time, NLB is continually working to improve the physical spaces in our libraries. The Central Public Library and Marine Parade Public Library will be revamped later this year.

To encourage Singaporeans to actively take charge of their learning, NLB will make more resources and content available to wider audiences.

Ms Jessica Tan will be pleased to note that NLB will roll out Nodes in everyday spaces, such as offices, food and beverage outlets and parks around Singapore to provide new entry points for citizens to access digital resources. As extensions of physical libraries, these Nodes will showcase NLB's digital collections, to interest Singaporeans to read and learn wherever they can.

Ms Hany Soh asked about our efforts to encourage young readers to master their mother tongue languages. NLB continues to source for, select and identify new avenues to grow their mother tongue language content. Over the past three years, NLB's mother tongue language collections for children have increased by 11%. Recently, NLB has begun offering award-winning English children's books translated into the vernacular. NLB also proactively encourages local publishers to publish their mother tongue language titles in both print and electronic formats to help widen access. Mr Chairman, allow me to deliver the next segment of my speech in Malay, please.

( In Malay ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Digitalisation has impacted our lives in many ways and it has brought many opportunities and possibilities.

As digitalisation becomes more prevalent, it is also important that the Government scale up efforts to empower the community in terms of their digital capabilities and well-being.

Together with the 3P partners, the Government will provide digital access and enhance digital readiness, promote the learning and mastery of digital skills through our libraries, and equip our people, especially the vulnerable, to identify and deal with online risks and threats.

As we step up efforts to empower the community, I am heartened to see that many Singaporeans have taken the bold step to learn new digital skills and contribute to this development. One example is a network comprising more than 300 individuals. They share career opportunities and workshops that are available in the technology sector.

In fact, some individuals in this network came from non-technology sectors. For example, one is from the healthcare administration sector and has now become a technology developer of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). This transition took place after they witnessed how the pandemic had affected hands-on learning conducted physically and they began to realise the value of applying digital technology.

I had the opportunity to speak to one of the network members, Mr Mohd Afiq. He is the founder of Playtours, an online tool that allows users to create unique and meaningful virtual experiences. These include "escape room" games and real-time multi-player games.

Developing a product from scratch is certainly not an easy task. However, Afiq is confident of the value that "Playtours" will bring to today's digital world and this has encouraged him to persevere and carry on in order to develop his business.

It is clear that individuals like Afiq serve as an inspiration to all of us. Let us be inspired as well, so that we can, together, seize the digitalisation opportunities that await us.

(In English): Mr Chairman, the third key goal that MCI is working towards is to ensure that our people are equipped to recognise and respond to dangers online.

The digital way of life often remains challenging, novel and unfamiliar to many of us. Recent events, such as phishing scams, may have also caused us to be wary of going digital. But we cannot let these fears hold us back from unlocking new opportunities. Rather, we must actively equip ourselves with the relevant knowledge and skills to embrace technological advancements, with the ability to recognise and respond to the risks in the digital domain.

I agree with Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, Dr Shahira Abdullah, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Dr Wan Rizal and Mr Don Wee that it is ever more important to ensure online safety for our people.

Indeed, as more of our interactions and activities shift online, individuals and businesses will inevitably be exposed to digital risks, online harms and potentially unhealthy addictions. Parents today are concerned that easy access to Internet among our youths has made widespread dissemination of harmful and inappropriate content, such as pornography, quick and effortless.

In her speech, Minister Josephine Teo shared that MCI will be introducing new Codes of Practice to enhance online user safety. Legislation provides a critical safety net. But we all have a role to play, too. Beyond being digitally "book smart", we must also build "street smarts" to identify and avoid new risks in the online world.

To gain more in-depth understanding of our citizens' digital readiness, MCI is refining metrics and indicators to be tracked in the Digital Readiness Survey.

In addition to existing measurements of digital adoption and usage, we intend to better understand the extent to which Singaporeans are able to perform essential digital tasks. We are also looking to understand citizens' digital habits and gaps between attitudes and behaviours. This will inform the development of more targeted interventions to improve digital adoption and address the needs of vulnerable segments.

New online harms are growing increasingly complex. Finding solutions to help users protect themselves from harmful online content requires the expertise of diverse stakeholders, such as legal professionals, tech specialists, regulators, educators and community partners.

MCI is, therefore, working closely with our community partners to promote safe, responsible and positive use of technology.

In conjunction with Safer Internet Day on 8 February, the Media Literacy Council (MLC) partnered Apple Singapore to organise a cyber wellness webinar for Primary school teachers and launched a fun and relatable video-making challenge for students to encourage the sharing of cyber wellness messages.

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Beyond this webinar, MLC has also produced resources to help individuals avoid falling victim to technology-facilitated harms, such as scams, sexual grooming, pornography and online harassment. The council also promotes digital literacy resources to educate the public on being more discerning and empathetic online to create a safer, smarter and kinder Internet for all.

In September last year, TOUCH Cyber Wellness launched a programme entitled "e-Conversations for the Family", with a toolkit to guide parents in having conversations with their children about pornography and its dangers.

MCI also launched Sunlight AfA, which I co-chair with Senior Minister of State Sim Ann. The AfA aims to raise awareness of online sexual harassment and empower victims to address and deal with such incidents.

I thank Mr Fahmi Aliman for recognising the positive impact of Sunlight AfA. Since its launch, the AfA has been studying the incidence of online harms in Singapore and how they impact individuals, especially women and girls. Key insights will be released in due course. The AfA has also partnered other stakeholders for greater outreach. This includes a collaboration with DBS and the Singapore Judiciary on a community hackathon to generate solutions on creating safer and kinder online spaces, and the recently concluded Youth Action Challenge, where the AfA supported the mental well-being track. We also marked Safer Internet Day with a webinar, where a panel of professionals discussed how parents and families can help our children and young stay safe online.

Moving ahead, the AfA will continue engaging and equipping parents and youths to support those who may be experiencing online harm. This includes a second online harms webinar which will take place in the coming months, as well as a website containing updates on the AfA's events and resources to address online dangers and risks.

We are especially grateful for the support of our 48 Alliance members, some of whom are keen to run initiatives to tackle online harms in the longer term. MCI will continue to work with these partners to tackle online harms. We welcome more stakeholders to join us in ensuring that all users are empowered to navigate the digital future with confidence.

Just as we have built one of the world's safest, cleanest and most liveable cities, all of us have a role to play in shaping Singapore's online space. We must preserve positive and enriching digital experiences for those around us by being respectful users online.

In closing, I would like to put these various efforts in context. According to MCI's 2021 Digital Readiness Survey, 76% of Singaporeans feel comfortable using digital technologies, while 80% of Singaporeans acknowledge that digital technologies have made their lives easier. This is encouraging, but we can and will do more.

We stand ready to work with individuals, companies and partners in the people sector to realise the vision of a digitally-ready and inclusive society. This will allow all Singaporeans to partake in exciting opportunities with a spirit of discovery and growth in our shared digital future.

The Chairman : Minister of State Tan Kiat How.

The Minister of State for Communications and Information (Mr Tan Kiat How) : Mr Chairman, Ms Tin Pei Ling and Ms Jessica Tan spoke about the opportunities in our Digital Economy. Indeed, we saw the benefits of digitalisation, particularly over the last couple of years where firms and our workforce had to deal with COVID-19.

I am heartened that many firms are embracing digital technology. IMDA's Digital Acceleration Index, an annual survey of more than 2,000 firms across 23 sectors, showed that digitalisation is picking up pace across our economy. More than 80,000 firms have benefited from the SMEs Go Digital programme since 2017, including a quarter of them coming on board in 2021 alone. Three in four firms now adopt at least one digital solution.

And as we emerge from COVID-19, we will sustain this momentum in two ways. First, providing businesses, particularly our Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with the tools and support to transform digitally. Second, by nurturing a future-ready workforce with the qualifications and skills to get into good jobs in the tech sector and progress well in their careers.

Let me elaborate on the first prong.

Our firms want to adopt digital and transform. This is the consistent feedback when we engage industry associations and firms, as well as from various surveys that we conduct. However, as Mr Christopher de Souza pointed out, SMEs face practical issues in raising their digital game. SMEs share with us their difficulty in building up their in-house IT team with the right experience and expertise; in helping them select solutions and vendors that meet their needs, while putting in place system and processes to protect their clients and operations from cyber threats and data breaches. I empathise with these sentiments.

We must harness network effects to fully benefit from opportunities in the digital economy. SMEs, which comprise more than nine in 10 of our enterprises, account for almost half of our GDP and hires seven in 10 of our local workforce, are an important constituent in our national digital push.

Our approach is threefold. First, enabling secure and seamless digital transactions across the economy. Second, supporting digital transformation of our industry sectors; and third, equipping firms with resources and tools to facilitate digitalisation.

First, on economy-wide digital enablers, or digital utilities. Just like water or electricity in the analogue world, we can envisage a foundational set of systems or standards to facilitate seamless and secure transactions in the Digital Economy. E-invoicing and e-payment are two examples. To Ms Jessica Tan's question, more than 50,000 businesses have adopted InvoiceNow since it was launched in 2019, and more than 90% of our businesses have adopted PayNow. We will continue to put in place such digital utilities to support our businesses as they shift their operations and transactions online.

Second, we will support the transformation of our industry sectors, building on these digital utilities. We recognise that each sector faces unique challenges and operating contexts. We have launched Industry Digital Plans (IDP) and these IDPs provide firms with a step-by-step guide on digital solutions and skills training curated for each stage of their growth, tailored to their sector. Since 2017, we have launched 20 IDPs to guide digitalisation across sectors as diverse as accountancy, logistics and security. We will expand the coverage of the IDPs, and the next IDP to be launched will be for the legal industry. We will continue to refresh these IDPs to incorporate new digital utilities, relevant technological advances and best practices.

Let me next touch on how individual SMEs can benefit.

Last year, we announced two schemes – CTO-as-a-Service and the Digital Leaders' Programme – to empower businesses on their digitalisation journeys. This year, our enhancements will help SMEs raise their digital maturity, reach markets abroad and retain trust in the digital marketplace.

On digital maturity, we will raise SMEs' digital maturity with advanced technological capabilities that are curated to meet their sectors' needs.

Launched in 2020, the Advanced Digital Solutions, or ADS scheme, helps SMEs access advanced technology and integrated digital solutions, such as robotics and aggregated data analysis. We will grow our list of 30 solutions, with an emphasis on AI-enabled and cloud-based solutions.

We will also expand our Grow Digital scheme. Through the Grow Digital programme, we have worked with Enterprise Singapore to curate a group of e-commerce platforms that can help our firms reach international markets. Since launching in 2020, Grow Digital has helped more than 2,500 firms access markets in 10 countries, while building capabilities in digital marketing, business matching and door-to-door fulfilment. This year, Grow Digital will bring more firms to global markets through a broader group of e-commerce platforms.

Ms Hany Soh, Mr Xie Yao Quan and Mr Shawn Huang spoke about helping businesses protect themselves against cyberattacks and data breaches. We will launch the Cyber Trustmark and Cyber Essentials mark, and the Data Protection Essentials Programme. Obtaining the trustmarks would give businesses and their customers the confidence that certain cybersecurity and data protection standards have been met. I encourage businesses to view these trustmarks as investments and a competitive advantage.

Our Digital Economy efforts are powered by the Infocomm sector. Last year, the sector contributed $28.4 billion to the economy, accounting for 5.6% of our GDP and grew by 12.2%, far outpacing other sectors.

Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Seah Kian Peng spoke about helping our people seize opportunities in this digital economy. Indeed, the growing and vibrant tech sector creates many good jobs and opens up many exciting opportunities for Singaporeans. Our Digital Economy employs around 216,000 ICT professionals, with half of them in the ICT sector and the other half supporting digital transformation in non-ICT sectors like finance, manufacturing and retail.

Around 10,000 more ICT professionals have been added each year in recent years. Yet, 19,000 tech roles remain unfilled across the economy, particularly in roles like software engineering and development, but also across the entire tech value chain, from deep technical skills like AI and cybersecurity, to innovation-oriented roles in product development, and applied business roles like cloud migration and data analytics. Our priority is to nurture a strong pipeline of local tech talent, including fresh graduates and mid-career workers, while ensuring our tech workforce remains relevant and competitive in this fast-changing digital space. In the next three years, around 23,000 local students will graduate from our IHLs in Information and Digital Technologies, or IDT, courses.

In this regard, let me outline two important moves we are making.

First, we will strengthen our pipeline of ICT graduates from our Universities. The number of local IDT degree places has risen four-fold from 800 in 2010, to 3,300 in 2021. As a proportion of all degree places, the number of IDT places increased from 7% in 2010 to 18% in 2021, close to one in five. We will also establish new programmes and specialisations to support emerging tech needs in different sectors. An example is the new Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing, with specialisation in fintech that will be launched this year by the Singapore Institute of Technology, in partnership with IMDA and MAS, and supported by financial institutions, including AIA and Standard Chartered Bank. We look forward to working with other sector leads on different training modalities for specific skills needs for their sectors.

Second, we will help our Polytechnic and ITE graduates enter tech roles through more structured pathways. Some Polytechnics and ITE IDT graduates shared with us that they cannot find suitable entry-level roles in their areas of study, while others encountered employers who preferred University graduates, even though our Polytechnic and ITE graduates are capable of doing these jobs.

Structured support and clearly defined scaffolding in their career pathways can make a world of difference. I recently met Mr Muhammad Syurhan Bin Ja'afar, who graduated from our Work-Study Diploma programme in Data Centre Infrastructure & Operation. Syurhan graduated from ITE with a Nitec in ICT (Cloud Computing) and gained first-hand experience of the tech sector through his internship at NCS. However, his family's financial situation meant that he had to forgo his plans to take up a diploma. It was only later, with the encouragement of his Class Advisor, that he applied for the Work-Study programme and gained a place with the sponsorship of Racks Central Data Centre. Syurhan shared with me that his company's support and a structured career pathway gave him the confidence to complete the course.

To help others like Syurhan pursue their passion and realise their ambitions, we will put in place a structured end-to-end approach to better support our Polytechnic and ITE students, starting with 1,000 places over the next three years. We will establish a TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) for ITE and Polytechnics (TIP) Alliance, comprising leading global tech companies, leading companies here and major hirers to galvanise industry support for this effort.

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We will enhance the quality of internship opportunities for Polytechnic and ITE students, to apply their knowledge outside the classroom. After graduation, they will be able to take up apprenticeships at participating companies under place-and-train programmes, to learn the ropes of the ICT roles. Participating companies will also establish skills-oriented training plans and pathways for tech roles for these graduates, including certifications and specialist training. These graduates interested in further studies will be supported through Work-Study Diploma or Degree programmes, spanning growth areas like AI, Cloud and cybersecurity.

I am heartened that companies like Accenture, GovTech, IBM, NCS and PSA Corporation have made significant commitments to provide internship, apprenticeship or placement opportunities and I urge more industry leaders to join this meaningful effort.

In addition to fresh graduates, many enter the industry as mid-career workers, such as through the TeSA initiative. Many joining the sector aim to progress in their careers, taking on higher value roles, such as product managers, software engineers or solution architects. We want to support these aspirations of our tech professionals.

We will partner industry leaders like Google, Microsoft and Grab, as well as large end-user companies like DBS, to groom product engineering talents for these roles. Those on this specialist track will be trained in advanced technical skillsets like software and application development, data analytics, AI and Cloud, through both instructor-led and hands-on programmes. These tech professionals can look forward to taking on senior technical roles in their companies over time.

IMDA will also launch the ICT Jobs Transformation Map (JTM) later this year, to help employers and employees across the ICT sector identify areas of high impact and the relevant reskilling or upskilling opportunities and training as needed.

Mr Chairman, in closing, our moves to help businesses thrive in a digital economy and nurture a future-ready digital workforce will help us ensure that the digital wave is one that lifts all boats. I look forward to your continued support as we journey towards our shared digital future.

The Chairman : Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary.

The Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (Dr Janil Puthucheary) : Sir, I thank the various Members for their cuts and questions and hope to address several of them in my response. My colleagues have shared different facets of MCI's efforts to ready our ecosystems, businesses and people for a digital future.

Minister Josephine Teo spoke about how MCI will enhance digital regulations for digital safety, security and resilience; and deepen engagement with Singaporeans to strengthen social cohesion. Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam shared about our continuing work to build a digitally-ready and inclusive society, such as through NLB's Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025, which is showcased at the main lobby of Parliament. Minister of State Tan Kiat How spoke about our efforts to equip our workforce and enterprises with capabilities to seize opportunities in a digital and post-COVID-19 economy.

I will focus on three areas where we are investing for the future, to mark Singapore's place in the digital world. First, building digital infrastructure to meet our future needs. Second, pushing technological boundaries with leading edge innovation and research. And third, fostering international partnerships to advance the digital economy and strengthen digital security beyond our shores.

Mr Shawn Huang and Ms Tin Pei Ling asked about MCI's plans to ready our infrastructure for the next wave of digitalisation. The volume and complexity of digital traffic continue to grow very, very quickly. We will increasingly rely on data and data-powered services, especially as cloud services and the Internet of Things (IoT) become more commonplace. By 2025, the estimated amount of data generated globally is about 463 exabytes. That means 463 billion gigabytes, which is equivalent roughly 60 hours of Netflix movies per person per day. How will we upgrade our digital infrastructure for a data age, so that it is fit-for-purpose and continues to support our needs?

To begin with, we must pay attention to our domestic telecommunications infrastructure. These form our connectivity backbone. Wireless and wired network components, such as base stations and fibre optic cables, allow Internet traffic to flow seamlessly in large volumes, providing a high-speed service to every corner of Singapore.

We have continued to upgrade our local telecommunications capability, for example, through the shift to 5G. 5G technology enables unprecedented speeds and reduces the latency. So, more data can be transferred at higher speeds. 5G networks are also more responsive and better able to cope with surges in data traffic.

Here in Singapore, we continue to be at the forefront of 5G deployment. Our telcos have stated that they have achieved 50% nationwide outdoor coverage at the start of 2022, ahead of their end-2022 target. And we are on track for nationwide 5G coverage in Singapore by 2025.

The characteristics and advantages of 5G allow for new use cases, such as in advanced manufacturing. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has been partnering IBM, Samsung and M1 in Singapore's first 5G Industry 4.0 trial. The trial developed a 5G-enabled augmented reality (AR) solution in the form of AI-powered "Smart Glasses". These "Smart Glasses" assist factory operators in assembly and inspection, and also improve training efficiency for new hires by 50%. They will be deployed across IBM's global manufacturing sites from the second half of this year.

Traditionally, the factory operators manually detect defects. This is a time-consuming process. It relies on the human eye and it is subject to fatigue. This 5G-enabled solution mitigates this. It overlays images and text onto physical objects, allowing inspectors to identify defects in real time, augmented by this technological solution. It also allows the operator to take photos and use deep learning algorithms that identify images to quickly detect factory defects.

Apart from these wireless networks, we will also upgrade our wired networks. Already, today, according to Internet metrics company Ookla, Singapore has one of the fastest broadband speeds in the world and we can look forward to more.

As mentioned by Minister Lawrence Wong in the Budget speech, we will invest in developing infrastructure to deliver broadband speeds around 10 times faster, compared to today, unlocking new possibilities for digital experiences and tools.

The second category of infrastructure connects us to the world. This includes satellites and subsea cables. These provide critical connectivity with international partners and allow us to be part of international data flows and digital trade.

Singapore is already a digital connectivity hub and a preferred landing site for global submarine cable operators, due to our stable governance and advanced economy. This connectivity enables the development of many different products and services and supports many businesses that choose to locate important operations here in Singapore.

It also allows our thriving research community to access computing resources from around the world and for our data centres and supercomputers to serve international partners. We will continue to secure new landings to strengthen our international connectivity. For example, Singapore-based maritime company, BW Group, plans to develop a new submarine cable pathway connecting Singapore to the US via Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

The third category of infrastructure are data centres. These are vital nodes in the flow of digital traffic. Data centres power many applications and services for businesses and everyday life, from complex data management to e-commerce transactions. However, the data centres are intensive users of water and electricity. Given our resource constraints, we need to manage the development of data centres sustainably.

IMDA and the Economic Development Board (EDB) will pilot a Call for Application to facilitate the calibrated growth of data centres that possess the best-in-class techniques, technologies and practices for energy efficiency and decarbonisation. Singapore is committed to fulfilling our environmental obligations under the 2015 Paris Agreement. Greener data centres will allow us to do so while, at the same time, supporting the growing needs of our digital economy. This Call for Application will be launched by the second quarter of 2022.

This comprehensive digital infrastructure, the various components that I have described, makes possible the provision of digital utilities. These are the services that ride atop the connectivity layers that have become essential and commonplace, allowing people and businesses to use digital services and transact seamlessly and safely. Minister of State Tan Kiat How shared examples earlier, such as PayNow and InvoiceNow. Other examples include the National Digital Identity, Singpass and TradeTrust. We will continue to invest in other essential digital tools and services and develop them as digital utilities.

Another digital utility is the Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex). Today, data is fragmented across the global supply chain ecosystem. With SGTraDex, supply chain ecosystem partners, such as shippers and logistics providers, are able to share trade data in a seamless and secure manner. Ms Jessica Tan asked about SGTraDex's progress. It has been good with many companies across various sectors coming on board. The Government and the Alliance for Action (AfA) for supply chain digitalisation are working with these companies on a Minimum Viable Product to allow more extensive data sharing and alive business environment, which will be launched later this year.

Our advanced infrastructure and highly used digital utilities can be vulnerable to attacks or risks of failure. I agree wholeheartedly with Ms Jessica Tan that we should ensure that our infrastructure is secure and resilient to address evolving threats and risks.

Minister Josephine Teo had earlier shared on MCI's efforts to secure important digital infrastructure and services through our Cybersecurity Act. MCI also adopts design principles to embed security features and operational practices within the system architecture, rather than to add these at a later stage.

Sir, Mr Christopher de Souza, Mr Seah Kian Peng and Mr Xie Yao Quan asked about the Government's investments in new digital technologies. As part of the $25 billion Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 Plan, our plans for the Smart Nation and Digital Economy (SNDE) domain build on past investments to drive research in digital technologies with transformative potential.

One such technology is quantum communication, which promises to revolutionise the security of our information and infrastructure. Today's encryption methods are mathematics-based. Hackers leverage sophisticated techniques and powerful computing hardware to "crack the code". As quantum computers mature, we can expect that adversaries will eventually be able to decrypt data and penetrate systems secured with today's technology simply by applying more and more computing power.

Quantum communication is secured by physics-based methods, such as quantum key distribution (QKD). Potentially, this could help future-proof the security of our databases, critical systems and communications. This technique allows the creation of paired secret cryptographic keys, which are only held by the sender and the authorised receiver, anyone trying to intercept or copy the keys in between would introduce a detectable anomaly and this signals that the keys have been tampered with and then knowing that we can retransmit a new secure key in real time.

If effective, this technique means that no amount of computational power would be able to break quantum-secured communications. It sounds a bit like science fiction, but quantum technologies have been developed in Singapore for over a decade. Since the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) was established at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2007, its researchers have contributed to 5,000 scientific papers, participated in projects supported by about $100 million in external grants and established several startups here.

The Government continues to work closely with CQT to deploy quantum technologies in real-world applications. Two weeks ago, the National Quantum-Safe Network was announced. It is a public-private consortium that will deploy QKD-enabled wireless networks across Singapore.

One of the spin-offs from CQT, SpeQtral, is commercialising a satellite that will allow for secure communication based on QKD technology, with support from EDB. When the satellite is launched and deployed into orbit, SpeQtral will be one of the first companies in the world to demonstrate a full commercial-scale solution.

I met the CEO, Lum Chune Yang, and his team last month and was very impressed by how they have followed through from their pioneering research and experiments, and together with the many commercial partners they have already lined up, such as Toshiba, to then bring this to life and come up with a commercially deployable solution.

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Quantum technology is just one area of future communications which we are developing. IMDA and the National Research Foundation are investing $70 million in our first national Future Communications Research and Development Programme (FCP). This programme will accelerate the next bound of communications and connectivity research, such as in 6G.

The international research community recognises Singapore's strong innovation capabilities. As part of FCP, we signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 6G Flagship in July last year. This is the world's first and leading 6G research and development programme funded by the Academy of Finland. Through this, parties will deepen research and development collaboration on 6G, such as through organising workshops, and conducting joint research and educational projects between the researchers of both institutes.

And just two months ago, we signed another MOU with the Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences in the Republic of Korea.

Other than investing in research, we are also strengthening the translation of research, so that companies and citizens can reap tangible benefits from these technologies today.

The Cybersecurity Industry Call for Innovation by the Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore (CSA) enables companies to solve cybersecurity problem statements with innovative solutions.

Under this call, a local cybersecurity company, Flexxon, developed X-PHY in 2021. It is the world's first solid state drive (SSD) enabled with an AI cybersecurity defence. The drive is powered by an AI co-processor and a special firmware that provides real-time data protection against software-based attacks, such as malware, ransomware and viruses, and physical attacks, such as unauthorised cloning.

The X-PHY SSD continuously monitors itself without reading the stored files. When the drive detects tampering, it locks itself and alerts the owner. This user-friendly solution does not require complex configuration or constant updating. Lenovo has already teamed up with Flexxon to use these SSDs in some of its laptops.

Sir, I have elaborated on Singapore's investment in future-ready digital infrastructure and how we are breaking new ground with innovation. Let me turn now to how we are building on these efforts, together with international partners, for a secure and vibrant digital economy connected to the world.

Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Alex Yam were interested in the new global opportunities as well as challenges and risks in the digital domain. Issues such as cybersecurity, data protection and AI ethics, are complex issues that transcend geographical borders. We cannot solve these problems alone.

We need to build an international consensus on rules, norms and standards, so that the digital ecosystem is sustainable, interoperable and protected against both accidental and intended harms.

Members would be familiar with our Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) that exemplify this approach. Singapore has signed DEAs with four countries, most recently, with the UK last month. We have also substantially concluded a DEA with the Republic of Korea in December 2021.

Mr Seah Kian Peng will be glad to know that Singapore's work with international stakeholders has been impactful and builds our global brand to be a trusted digital hub.

Internationally, we have made significant contributions to the cybersecurity community as well. We have been able to do so by drawing on our operational capabilities, technical expertise and innovation in cybersecurity and bringing these together with balanced policy and regulatory perspectives.

Critical to these efforts are the skilled and experienced cybersecurity personnel that represent us at many international discussions. Cybersecurity standards are one area where we are pushing ahead.

CSA launched the Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme (CLS) for consumer IoT devices in October 2020, the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific at that time. It has garnered interest amongst international partners, leading to an MOU with Finland for mutual recognition of cybersecurity labels.

CSA and the Singapore Standards Council have also launched the first national standard, the Technical Reference (TR) 91, on Cybersecurity Labelling for consumer IoT. This can be adopted across the board by manufacturers, developers, testing bodies and suppliers of consumer IoT devices.

Since December 2021, Singapore has assumed the chairmanship of the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). This is the main international platform charged with international cybersecurity policy discussions. We are facilitating discussions to achieve consensus on norms, rules and principles to advance a secure and interoperable cyberspace and encourage responsible state behaviour. Such efforts are all the more crucial, given the circumstances around the world.

Sir, I beg your indulgence as I move towards the close of my speech.

The Chairman : We are ahead of time; so, you can have the time.

Dr Janil Puthucheary : Thank you, Sir. Singapore has also made strong efforts to develop the interconnected data and AI ecosystems, striking a balance between data protection, data security and data innovation.

We took the lead to develop the ASEAN Model Contractual Clauses for Cross Border Data Flows (MCCs) to enable enterprises to transfer personal data for business transactions across borders with regulatory certainty. We are pushing to expand the recognition of these clauses in jurisdictions outside of ASEAN.

In parallel, we are working to advance responsible AI deployment globally. Building on Singapore's Model AI Governance Framework, we are partnering countries, such as the US and the UK to learn from international best practices and align AI governance principles.

We are also working with ASEAN member states to coordinate the development of an ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics. This will provide practical and implementable guidance to deploy AI responsibly and foster consumer confidence to use AI-enabled services in the region more widely.

Sir, I would like to conclude by emphasising the Government's commitment to building a digital future for Singapore that is economically vibrant, socially stable, safe and secure.

Harnessing opportunities in the digital space while managing the risks will be critical to our success and our survival. The Government and, through our partnerships, is putting in place various building blocks, with stakeholders, including digital capabilities, infrastructure, regulations, security and investments, for the future.

At the heart of our efforts lies our people, their potential and well-being. We have to aim for all Singaporeans to be empowered and to find fulfilment through their participation in the digital domain. And, together, we will build a vibrant and secure digital future. [ Applause. ]

The Chairman : We have some time for clarifications. Ms Tin Pei Ling.

Ms Tin Pei Ling : I have three clarifications. First, I would like to ask what are the types of harms to children that the new code of practice will be addressing. Second, will views from parents and the community be sought so that the types of harms that children are exposed to can also be addressed in the new code? And third, an update on girls and women in technology, their progress and representation from schools, within the industry and even within the IMDA programmes. Can there be an update on how we have progressed and how we have fared so far?

Mrs Josephine Teo : Mr Chairman, I thank Ms Tin Pei Ling for her three questions. I will take the first two questions, not because the third one is unimportant – it is very close to my heart. But today, for the purposes of the Committee of Supply debate, we would like to discuss the question of women in tech, together with how we are developing tech talent in general. So, Minister of State Tan Kiat How will address that.

On the question of what kinds of harm we are seeking to include in the codes, our aim is to ensure that our children can enjoy physical safety and emotional well-being. And so, the question is, online – what harms them? Or what could lead to them to be harmed, physically and emotionally? And parents have told us it is cyberbullying, sexual harassment, sexual grooming and exposure to inappropriate content – and there are three main categories: sex, violence and self-harm or other dangerous acts.

These harms are quite universal. Parents all around the world will agree that they do not wish their children to be exposed to them. So, I think they could be and should be included in the codes that we are planning.

But there are also differences that depend on societal norms as well as family norms. For example, below what age are certain types of content considered to be inappropriate? This would vary. Then there is, for example, the question of drug use. Some societies will find this more acceptable than others and we will have to cater for that.

Because of these differences, in particular, I see great value in us involving parents as well as the broader community in developing and designing the codes in the first instance and, in future, in updating the codes so that they stay relevant.

MCI has some experience in dealing with this and we can take, broadly, the same approach that we take with other advisory councils that we have consulted on a regular basis for films, for publications.

At the same time, we will continue to provide support to parents to help them protect their children online. This would be through the programmes that the Media Literacy Council, as well as the NLB, put forward and these were described by Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam earlier.

The Chairman : Minister of State Tan Kiat How.

Mr Tan Kiat How : Mr Chairman, I thank Ms Tin Pei Ling for a very important question, about women and girls in the tech sector.

Just to share some statistics and some updates, close to three in 10 of our students in our IDT courses, which I mentioned earlier, in our IHLs are female. And according to a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study, four in 10 of our tech professionals are women. This is well above the global average and we are very proud of it.

The SG Women in Tech movement, which was mentioned by Ms Tin Pei Ling, was started and driven by IMDA in 2019. It is supported by the community and, importantly, our industry partners. Over the last few years, they have made very good progress in terms of raising the awareness that diversity and inclusion are better for business. They have done many programmes to raise awareness and try and develop more girls and women in technology and established Singapore as a global leader in creating a supportive environment for women in tech.

Just to share some statistics with Ms Tin, since its launch in October 2019, the programme has reached out to more than 120,000 people through its initiatives and connecting over 115,000 girls in schools with female tech leaders through a series of Students Ask videos. It brought together over 600 women in the tech workforce for networking and mentoring events and, having received over 1,400 nominations for the Singapore 100 Women in Tech List in 2020 and 2021, they have identified the women leaders in our technology space who are role models and mentors.

To a point that Ms Tin asked earlier in her cut, which I did not manage to reply to fully, I will just provide updates on Mentor Connect, which is a cross-company mentorship programme in which women professionals and leaders in those companies mentor students and other girls and women who are interested in a career in technology. In fact, they have done well and reached out to many more schools. Many more companies are coming on board. I encourage women tech leaders and companies to join us in this effort.

3.30 pm

Mr Sharael Taha : Chairman, I thank Minister Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary, Minister of State Tan Kiat How and Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam for their replies. AI is an area with great transformative potential, fundamentally changing how our economy and society function, including jobs. What are the Government's plans to enable businesses and individuals to tap on the opportunities brought about by AI? And as AI deployment becomes more pervasive, how will the Government ensure responsible deployment of AI without stifling innovation?

Mrs Josephine Teo : Mr Chairman, Mr Sharael Taha has asked a really important question on AI and, for a topic of this nature, we can actually have a full seminar on it and we would not run out of things to talk about. But in the time that we have, perhaps let me just share with him some of the thinking that we have in the Government.

The Government recognises the rich potential of emerging technologies, like AI, to generate economic gains as well as to improve the lives of our people. This is why, in 2019, we launched the National AI Strategy and articulated the vision for Singapore to be a leader in developing and deploying scalable, impactful AI solutions in key sectors that are of high value and relevance to our businesses and our people. So, this vision was articulated.

Under the Prime Minister's Office, the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) launched an initial tranche of five national AI programmes. These covered the areas of logistics, smart estates, education, healthcare and border control. In November last year, the Deputy Prime Minister added two more. These are the National AI programmes for Government and for the finance sector.

How have we done thus far? Here, I want to caveat, we are not just talking about efforts in the last three years. We will be talking about efforts that preceded that.

In terms of research capabilities, we are making headway. If we base it on Field-weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) – it is an indicator that is commonly used to assess research capabilities – Singapore is actually first in the world, ranks number one. And if we look at the kind of research collaborations that tech companies have with our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) as well as the corporate labs that they have set up together, this attests to our research capabilities.

But in terms of the deployment into industries and businesses, I would say that it is quite uneven and also, I should add, there can be different types of AI being put to use. In the financial services sector, for example, machine learning is quite common today. You would find it particularly amongst the fintech companies. In the transport sector, we are beginning to see more and more deployment of autonomous systems. Of course, some using computer vision technologies. So, that is another area.

I would say that within each sector, the beauty of it is that it is not always the case – in fact, it is often not the case – that the bigger companies are better at it. New entrants are frequently more likely to experiment with new solutions provided by AI, because they are likely to be unencumbered by legacy systems and business processes.

Mr Sharael Taha had a second part of his question which is very important and that has got to do with the governance of it. It is a big topic but I should say that IMDA not just has programmes to promote AI adoption, it also seeks to ensure that AI is used in Singapore with a degree of security as well as accountability.

And how are we seeking to do so? In quick summary, quite early on, in fact, probably being one of the earliest countries to put out a Model AI Governance Framework, which has since been contextualised for different sectors in order to bring out the principles and practices and translate them into real actionable items in the sector.

We are also developing an AI Governance Testing Framework and a corresponding testing tool kit to help AI systems owners and developers become more transparent about how their AI works.

So, I would say that we are making all of these efforts in the hope that, truly, our businesses and our people can benefit from the rich potential of AI.

The Chairman : Our guillotine time is 3.55 pm. I think we have time for two or three more clarifications. I will call on Ms Jessica Tan first and then Mr Leong Mun Wai; and if there is any further clarification and we have time, then a third clarification. Ms Jessica Tan.

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo : I thank the Minister of State for sharing about the formal programmes to develop talent and tech talent and also to bring institutions as well as companies together. What I did suggest in my cut – and I did appeal – was for MCI and related agencies to look at communities of learning and communities of practice of tech talent coming together. You can say that they can come together today on their own. But I think that if MCI can play a key role in facilitating that and supporting those, it would allow for a lot of learning amongst a very rich base of tech talent and digital talent that already exists in Singapore. I hope that I can get some response to that.

The Chairman : Minister of State Tan Kiat How.

Mr Tan Kiat How : Mr Chairman, I thank Ms Jessica Tan for her suggestion and idea. Behind the suggestion was really about having tech talent, basically tech professionals, coming together to share best practices, update one another on technological advances in this space, especially in this digital space which is evolving so quickly. New threats appear every day, cybersecurity data breaches as well as new practices in terms of how we apply technology, the kind of technical advances and innovation coming out from all over the world as well as Singapore. And I think the spirit of that, is something that we will consider and look at.

More importantly, I think it is working together with our industry associations, both the ICT companies and industry associations, SGTech, as well as the tech professionals' association, Singapore Computer Society, or SCS. Today, we already work together with them to mount many training and upskilling courses for our tech professionals, bringing tech professionals together to discuss issues. For example, is Web 3.0 reality or hype, whether NFTs are something that will be mainstream, what is the future for cryptocurrency, how we are thinking about cyber-attacks and cyber protection? These are topics and issues that we work very closely on with our industry partners, our industry association partners, SGTech and SCS, on many of these causes. So, certainly, we will take Ms Jessica Tan's suggestion and continue to expand on these areas.

The Chairman : Mr Leong Mun Wai.

Mr Leong Mun Wai : Chairman, I have two clarifications for the Minister.

But before that, I would like to clarify that I did not say SPH is a Government-owned company. I say SPH Media Trust. So, I hope the Minister will acknowledge that.

My first question is while SPH is not a Government-owned company, but the Government has considerable influence over SPH, the listed company, over the years. SPH has accumulated a huge amount of property assets from the profits generated from the near-monopoly print business in the past. So, the decision that the Government has made, means that the Government is okay to allow the shareholders to take away all the assets and leave behind a $900 million baby for the taxpayer to be burdened with. That is the first point.

The second clarification is when Minister S Iswaran presented this deal or this structure in Parliament some time ago, he also said that SPH Media Trust is going to have private donors. So, may I ask the Minister what is the progress in getting these private donors to also fund SPH Media Trust? Are the current shareholders and the future shareholders of SPH, the listed company, in a position to enjoy huge windfall profits going to some of those donors, that will help us out in the funding of SPH Media Trust?

The Chairman : Minister Josephine Teo.

Mrs Josephine Teo : Mr Speaker, what Mr Leong said or did not say is a matter of Parliamentary record, I do not think we need to speculate on that. A quick check would confirm whether he said it was SPH or whether it was SPH Media Trust. And if I heard wrongly, I apologise to him.

But, in any case, his questions are quite strange because, if he insists that SPH Media Trust is Government-owned, why would funding even be an issue? It is not something that we would have to come to Parliament and explain to Members about. It would be part of how other arms of the Government are funded and you would basically plan for it within the Ministry's block budget and be done with it.

But the fact that we are here explaining to Members the need to provide public funding to SPH Media Trust is precisely because it is not Government-owned. It is a company limited by guarantee (CLG). The Government does not own this company limited by guarantee and it did not own SPH, the listed entity. And so, the decisions of SPH, as a listed entity, must depend on its board and must, ultimately, depend on its shareholders.

So, Mr Leong suggests, or he seems to think, that it was an option for the media business to continue as part of the listed entity. I think the evidence speaks for itself. We have explained on several occasions by now – in May 2021, in February this year and, indeed, just an hour or so ago – why the economics of the media business have changed so much that it is no longer tenable for them to remain in the previous structure, part of a listed entity, with other businesses because the investments that are going to be needed for the media part of the business to transform are going to be quite involved. And a listed entity could not have invested the same kind of resources to keep it a viable, trusted institution that it is today.

3.45 pm

And so, we have basically two choices to make. If I could seek Members' indulgence to articulate them again.

One choice is to take our chances. Accept that this media business existing within a listed entity could decline and we live with the consequences. Alternatively, we mount a serious effort, do everything we can to help it to transform so that SPH Media Trust can remain a trusted institution serving the public good.

If we reject the former and we say it is the latter, then we have to just look at the kind of investments that are being made elsewhere in the world because we are not the only country in the world where the media business has been disrupted. And the funding that we are talking about, I recognise it is not a small amount, and that is why there has been full accountability to Parliament. But it is just into the ballpark that we see elsewhere in the world. These are not figures that are out of whack when we look at other countries' investments, the kind of media businesses having to make the investments.

So, it would appear to me that the fundamental difference is that Mr Leong, or the PSP, simply does not value our local mainstream media as much as the Government. Because, is up to $180 million a year to support trusted local media an excessive amount given the size of our economy – for our people and our businesses to be able to see the world through our own unique lens, for our voice to be projected without impediment, for our cultures and our traditions to be expressed in the way we want it to be expressed? So, I hope I am wrong but if Mr Leong or the PSP does not agree with supporting our local media, then I would really urge him to reconsider the position, whether it is wise for Singapore to do so. I would just stop right there.

The Chairman : Ms Hany Soh.

Ms Hany Soh : Chairman, I have a clarification in relation to the library. Currently, the National Library Board (NLB) has an app titled "Libby" which enables users to locate and borrow books and e-materials.

I just want to clarify or enquire whether the app can be further improved with more interactive and user-friendly features. For example, NLB can consider working with relevant agencies like Families for Life or NEA to create special thematic filters. The categories of readers can be further segregated to wider groups to recommend books to suit different stages in life, for example, expecting mothers and children of different age groups.

The Chairman : Ms Rahayu Mahzam.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam : I thank the Member for the clarification question. Indeed, it is a very meaningful suggestion. The libraries are already working with various partners because this effort of curating and encouraging, piquing people's interest is something we need to tap on the community to provide that whole array and buffet of interesting content for library goers. So, that is already something that is being done. And as far as the technology is concerned, we have been working with different partners to develop and use the different platforms for different demographics. We are also working with people in the community to create learning communities within the library. So, the Member's suggestion is definitely something that can be taken in and something that we can consider.

But I would like to just make a pitch, if you have not already, to go to the showcase and explore what are some of the other opportunities and we can work with partners on this.

The Chairman : Ms Mariam Jaafar. I think if you can make that clarification a quick one because I just saw Mr Pritam Singh's hand. So, if we have the time, I will give the time to Mr Pritam Singh.

Ms Mariam Jaafar : A quick clarification because I did not hear much about SME reskilling. Just to make sure that they have opportunities too.

The Chairman : Minister of State Tan Kiat How.

Mr Tan Kiat How : Chairman, Ms Mariam Jaafar asked about helping our SMEs reskill their staff and workforce in terms of digital skills when they transform digitally.

Indeed, this is an important area. If Members recall, last year, in December, if I recall correctly, SkillsFuture Singapore came up with the Future of Skills for the digital economy. And the number one skill that is in demand in the digital economy is really around technological application, that is, how to apply the skills to use the technology tool that an SME or a firm has put in place in its organisation. Having a tool is important, but to be able to use it effectively to achieve business outcomes is something that is really an important return on investment (ROI) that the SMEs need to think about.

In this regard, we have worked together with other agencies on a few areas. First, as part of our SMEs Go Digital, our industry digital plan, which I spoke about earlier, they are designed to account for these skills needs in the digital plan. Because the skill needs for different tools – applied in different sectors and different firms at different levels of digital maturity – will vary. These skills plan and training roadmap will have to be customised for that archetype of firms. And that will be as part of the industry digital plans.

So, when SMEs go through a process, develop digital plans, implement them, select the tools, select the solutions, that is a corresponding set of skills training that they can consider sending their employees to. It is linked up with the different skills frameworks, if available, across the different sectors.

Looking ahead, we will continue to expand the Continuing Education Training (CET) efforts with other Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to provide training for smaller firms across the economy as smaller firms like SMEs may face resource constraints in sending their employees for this sort of skills training. This will be coordinated under the overall effort under SMEs Go Digital.

We are also working together very closely with our counterparts, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), in thinking about how to meet the skill gaps in the digital economy, aligned with the SkillsFuture Report that they came up with around the digital economy. We work together with our tech sector industry association, SG Tech, tech professional association, Singapore Computer Society (SCS) which I mentioned earlier, so that, together, alongside their industry counterparts, SCS, SG Tech with their counterparts in other sectors, like industry associations, to work with them to identify and promote suitable digital upskilling opportunities for each sector.

As Ms Janet Ang suggested yesterday, we are adopting an industry supporting industry approach, an industry training industry approach with TACs playing an important role. Just to assure Ms Mariam Jaafar that it is something we are working on. More details will be shared at MOE's Committee of Supply.

The Chairman : Final clarification. Mr Pritam Singh.

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied) : Mr Chairman, just a point of clarification. I understand from Notice Paper B003 of 2022 the revised "guillotine" time for today is listed as 4.15 pm and not 3.55 pm.

The Chairman : It was revised to 3.55 pm as I have been advised by the Clerks.

Mr Pritam Singh : I just went out of the Chamber about five to 10 minutes ago to check and it is still listed as 4.15 pm. But I note the Chairman's point.

The Chairman : This is the result of the tea break which has not been factored in. So, the cut-off is 3.55 pm.

Mr Pritam Singh : I see.

The Chairman : It would have been what you had suggested if I had taken a tea break before. Are you suggesting you want a tea break now?

Mr Pritam Singh : If it means we have 20 more minutes?

The Chairman : Or would you rather have the final clarification?

Mr Pritam Singh : I do not think that is much of a choice, Mr Chairman.

The Chairman : Either way, just go ahead.

Mr Pritam Singh : Either way, it does not extend our time. So, I will just put my question.

The Chairman : Please.

Mr Pritam Singh : Thank you, first, to the Minister for clarifying the question. I seek some clarity on the question on SPH Media Trust.

When Minister S Iswaran spoke of this arrangement because of the changing nature of the media landscape, the Minister said that SPH will, first, form a new subsidiary and transfer the media-related businesses, properties and some cash and SPH shares and REIT units to the subsidiary. And then, subsequently, if the shareholders give their approval, the subsidiary will be transferred to the CLG.

I think the substance of what Mr Leong is getting at is about the privatisation of profits and the socialisation of costs to the taxpayer.

So, my question or clarification is: when SPH's proposal was considered by the Government, how far did the Government go to require SPH to transfer segments of its business which would allow the CLG to be self-funded as far as possible in view of the range of assets owned by the SPH group? And what was the nature of those discussions and how much did the Government push, so as to limit the burden on the taxpayer?

The Chairman : Minister Josephine Teo.

Mrs Josephine Teo : Mr Chairman, I will be brief. I have covered the amounts that the shareholders voted and agreed to when the restructuring was tabled to the Extraordinary General Meeting. The shareholders voted and agreed to an initial injection of $80 million cash and $30 million worth of shares for SPH Media Trust. And in the detailed proposal, they also outlined all of the physical assets that would be transferred.

I think it is not a case of how much the Government pushes the shareholders. Ultimately, SPH Media Trust is a restructuring of a media business that existed within a listed company. And so, as things go, it is the proposal that is made by the management to the shareholders that must pass muster. And this was the proposal that passed muster. It is a matter of speculation whether the restructuring proposal could have gone through with an even higher contribution. And if it had not gone through, then this whole restructuring exercise would not have been able to proceed. In which case, then, I think we are stuck with an even bigger problem. So, I just wanted to put that in context.

The Chairman : Ms Tin Pei Ling, would you like to withdraw your amendment.

Ms Tin Pei Ling : Thank you, Minister, Senior Minister of State, Minister of State and Parliamentary Secretary for a very comprehensive reply. I think it is quite clear that the future holds many possibilities, much needs to be built, a lot of balancing to do. And a big thanks to all the officers from MCI, all the Statutory Boards, as well as SNDGG. With that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

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

[(proc text) The sum of $1,549,888,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)]

[(proc text) The sum of $60,645,700 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]

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

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

Mr Deputy Speaker : Order. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 4.15 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 4.00 pm until 4.15 pm.

Sitting resumed at 4.15 pm.

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

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