SINGAPORE
Today Online-May 10
Amid a rapidly changing world and an economy increasingly disrupted by technology, the Government will have to work more closely together, and with citizens, in the next phase of nation-building.
This “whole-of-nation” approach was the key theme in the addenda tabled by the Finance Ministry, Law Ministry (MinLaw), and three agencies under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Wednesday (May 9).
Laying out their plans for the upcoming term of Parliament following the President’s Address on Monday, the various ministers touched on efforts to create a sound fiscal and judicial system, engage Singaporeans in crafting population and manpower policies, while making strides in its smart nation goals at the same time.
The work of the Public Service Division (PSD) and all public agencies is to “serve from people’s perspective, not from agencies’ perspective”, while strengthening the “trust and bond” with Singaporeans, noted Mr Chan Chun Sing, who heads PSD in PMO.
To that end, government agencies are testing methods to deliver integrated services and information that citizens need, when they need it.
One example is through the Moments-of-Life for families app. Set to be piloted in June this year, the app integrates information on services provided by various agencies into a one-stop platform, to better inform new families of various Government schemes.
And while the ministries and statutory boards will “actively reach out” to garner views and learn from the successes and failures of Singaporeans who are overseas or in the private sector, Mr Chan added they will also seek ways to better communicate their policies to the public and get their feedback more efficiently.
With human capital as Singapore’s key national resource, in responding to disruptions brought on by new technology and business models, various ministries will have to work together to ensure that workers are prepared for jobs of the future.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, who oversees the smart nation drive in the PMO, said the Government will ensure that every Singaporean has the means and skills to harness technology to take advantage of new jobs and opportunities.
As such, the Government will continue to invest in skills training and upgrading through the Techskills Accelerator and SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace program.
On the other hand, in line with the SkillsFuture movement, Mr Chan said public officers will be equipped with the skills “necessary for tomorrow’s challenges”.
Increasingly, the Government will have to cut across ministry domains to formulate policy responses to challenges that are “still emerging” and “not yet well-defined”, noted Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. who is also Minister-in-charge of the Strategy Group in the PMO.
One such “cross-cutting” issue is Singapore’s population policy, said Mr Teo, since the changing demography has wide-ranging effects on areas such as the economy, healthcare, defence planning and social cohesion.
To that end, Mr Teo said the Strategy Group division will “maintain a careful balance” in the nation’s foreign worker and immigrant flows.
At the same time, the Finance Ministry will continue to ensure that the Republic has a sound fiscal system that plans for the future through heavy investment in pre-school, education and skills upgrading, to ensure that citizens have opportunities to develop their potential throughout life.
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat added his ministry will also continue to strengthen Singapore’s revenue position through methods such as increasing the Goods and Services Tax, while keeping taxes competitive to encourage private enterprise.
In the face of evolving crime environment, MinLaw has embarked on a review of the Penal Code, looking at the adequacy of existing punishments for sexual offences, as well as laws on attempted suicide and marital rape.
Recommendations are set to be released later this year, said Law Minister K Shanmugam, who also reiterated that his ministry will continue to ensure that legal aid and representation remains affordable.
KEY INITIATIVES FOR EACH MINISTRY:
Ministry of Finance
Increase the Goods and Services Tax to strengthen Singapore’s revenue position, while ensuring that the tax rate remains competitive to encourage private enterprise
Look into new funding approaches for large-scale infrastructure investments, such as Changi Airport’s Terminal 5, through borrowing by statutory boards and Government-owned companies
Maintain heavy investments in pre-school, education and skill upgrading
Ministry of Law
Review the Penal Code to cover new offences to deal with the changing crime environment; recommendations set to be released later this year.
Review the claims limits for the Small Claims Tribunal to allow more to benefit from this quick and inexpensive forms of dispute resolution
Prepare lawyers for the future economy through the adoption of technology, capacity building, through programs like “Tech Start for Law”
Prime Minister’s Office (Public Service Division)
Transform the way the public service communicates with the public, such as through the pilot of the Moments-of-Life for Families app, which allows new families to access Government schemes more conveniently
Train public officers in new capabilities and skills, for example in data analytics and digital literacy
Prime Minister’s Office (Strategy Group)
Maintain a population policy that supports a cohesive and growing economy, while balancing foreign worker and immigrant flows
Government agencies to work more closely and across agencies to solve policy challenges like climate change
Prime Minister’s Office (Smart Nation and Digital Government Group)
Publish a Digital Government Blueprint by mid-2018, which will outline strategies for digital access, digital literacy and digital participation
Invest in key digital infrastructure such as the National Digital Identity and e-Payments, to support seamless digital transactions and digital commerce
