[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4},"routes/Container/Container",{"_5":6,"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":12,"_13":14,"_93":-7,"_94":95},"type",0,"statusCode",200,"cacheControlMaxAge",60,"regenerateInterval",180,"payload",{"_15":16,"_17":18,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_47":48,"_65":66,"_81":82},"pageType","live-blog-landing-page","results",[19],{"_20":21,"_22":21,"_23":21,"_5":24,"_25":26,"_27":28,"_29":30},"title","","url","description","live-coverage","refCode","live:-mps-discuss-motion-on-reinforcing-singapore’s-position-as-global-transport-hub","cards",[],"liveBlogData",{"_31":32,"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40},"htmlData","

\r\n

LiveMPs discuss motion on reinforcing S’pore’s position as global transport hub

\r\n\r\n

Earlier, the Leader of the House Indranee Rajah delivered a ministerial statement on the conduct of 2 WP leaders.

\r\n\r\n

Edited by Ng Wei Kai, Aqil Hamzah, Christine Tan, Ian Cheng

\r\n\r\n

Published: July 7, 2026

\r\n

\r\n","liveBlogId","2327","isLiveBlog",true,"isMultidayLiveblog",false,"multidayLiveBlogMapping",[],"uniqueName","live-singapore-parliament-july-2026","infiniteScroll",{"_45":46},"additionalStories",[],"advertisements",[49,57,61],{"_5":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56},"lb1","page","liveblog","slot","/5908/st/lb1/liveblog","id","dfp-ad-lb1",{"_5":58,"_51":52,"_53":59,"_55":60},"catfish","/5908/st/catfish/liveblog","dfp-ad-catfish",{"_5":62,"_51":52,"_53":63,"_55":64},"prestitial","/5908/st/prestitial/liveblog","dfp-ad-prestitial","metaData",{"_20":67,"_68":67,"_69":67,"_70":42,"_23":71,"_72":71,"_73":74,"_75":76,"_77":78,"_79":80},"Live: MPs discuss motion on reinforcing Singapore’s position as global transport hub","ogTitle","twitterTitle","slug","Earlier, the Leader of the House Indranee Rajah said no further action needs to be taken by Parliament against 2 WP leaders. Follow ST's live coverage.","ogDescription","jsonLd","{\"@context\":\"https:\\/\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"LiveBlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/live-singapore-parliament-july-2026\",\"headline\":\"Live: Parliament July 7\",\"description\":\"\",\"coverageStartTime\":\"2026-07-07T08:00:00+08:00\",\"coverageEndTime\":\"2026-07-07T12:59:00+08:00\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/assets\\/ST-logo-default-aoeSLh4S.png\",\"width\":\"1228\",\"height\":\"96\"}},\"liveBlogUpdate\":[{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Discussion on motion of \\u2018Reinforcing Singapore\\u2019s position as a global transport hub\\u2019 begins\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:35:12+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T13:25:21+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Addressing the House first is Tin Pei Ling (Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC), who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Transport.Although day-to-day land transport issues remain a priority for the GPC, today\\u2019s debate focuses on the future of Singapore\\u2019s role as a global transport hub, she says.The motion is both \\u201cfuture-facing and strategic\\u201d, she adds, as transport entails connectivity across land, sea and air, and this enables economic prosperity, which in turn improves lives. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Global connectivity is existential for Singapore: Tin Pei Ling\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T13:02:52+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T13:24:33+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Citing how global geopolitical shocks \\u2013 such as the Russia-Ukraine war, US tariffs, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz \\u2013 are having an increasing impact on the Republic, Tin says Singapore needs options to remain connected regardless of any disruptions.Events surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have made the world more reliant on the Strait of Malacca, she said, which is both an opportunity and a risk.Singapore must have the capacity and capability to handle rising trade flows, and to do so requires working more closely with regional neighbours.She also outlined three factors \\u2013 frontier technologies, international cooperation and infrastructure \\u2013 that are crucial to ensure Singapore\\u2019s global connectivity.Seven members of the GPC for Transport will cover these topics, including sustainability and jobs. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"haqil\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"MHA proposes tighter road traffic laws\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:25:32+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T13:18:01+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"With Singapore's roads now at their most dangerous in years, the Ministry of Home Affairs tables the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill to provide for heavier penalties for existing offences.The proposed changes also introduce new offences for purposeful endangerment and drug driving, and will make it illegal to hold a mobile device while driving.Traffic deaths hit a 10-year high of 149 in 2025 compared with 141 in 2016. The number of people injured on the roads also increased from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025.Just holding a phone while a vehicle is moving will be an offence under the Bill, and the Traffic Police will be able to catch such offenders by using cameras, or photos and videos sent in by the public.The Bill also introduces a new offence of purposeful endangerment using a vehicle causing death or grievous hurt. Currently, such offenders cannot be convicted for murder or culpable homicide, unless it can be proven beyond reasonable doubt that they intended to kill or knew that the act was likely to cause death.If the Bill is passed, offenders can be jailed up to 15 years, fined, caned and disqualified from driving for life, or for at least 10 years if there are special reasons.For dangerous driving causing grievous hurt, the Bill will see the maximum jail time raised from five to seven years for first-time offenders, and from 10 to 13 years for repeat offenders.In both offences, additional penalties due to aggravating factors will also be raised.The alcohol limit for drivers will be lowered by more than half to deter drink-driving, with the Ministry of Home Affairs planning to recommend jail time for even first-time drink-driving offenders, if they have very high blood alcohol levels.The Bill also provides for the Traffic Police to use a new breathalyser with readings that can immediately be used for prosecution.In addition, it introduces a new offence for drug driving, which allows for drivers to be prosecuted as long as controlled drugs, or intoxicating or psychoactive substances are found in their blood.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: ST FILE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Government studying how to increase yield of clean, segregated recyclables\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T11:56:24+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T13:08:53+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Lacklustre recycling rates and a record high amount of trash produced in Singapore have spurred the Government to rethink its approach to recycling domestic and non-domestic waste.For one thing, it is studying how Singapore can increase the volume of clean recyclables recovered from households, which could include the use of source-segregated bins, and is exploring ways to better segregate waste upstream in the process, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary.For households, the blue bin network under the National Recycling Programme (NRP) has been enhanced with additional bins at around 700 locations and increased collection frequency at more than 1,100 locations.To improve the quality and yield of paper and cardboard, the National Environment Agency has worked with public waste collectors to offer dedicated collection of these materials since December 2025.Five PAP MPs filed questions on recycling rates and Singapore\\u2019s review of the Zero Waste Masterplan.Janil cites various challenges that affect Singapore\\u2019s recycling rates. These include rising logistics, freight, and energy costs, as well as increasingly stringent requirements for export markets for recyclables.Janil also highlights the other two Rs - Reducing waste at the outset and Reusing where possible.He points some progress on this front \\u2013 domestic waste generated per capita has fallen by 21 per cent over the past decade, and non-domestic waste generated per unit GDP has dropped by more than 30 per cent over the same period. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"What to look out for today\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T09:09:49+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:59:24+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"We have a busy session today that will get through a backlog of questions filed by MPs over the last two months.Here are a few highlights:Who\\u2019s behind the blocked online posts? In early June, the authorities ordered social media platforms to block access to 14 online posts targeting the Indian community. Investigations showed the content most likely originated from a China-based platform before being carried elsewhere. Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC) has asked if the posts were a coordinated and deliberate effort by any agency or organisation, and if so, what action has or will be taken against them. Nominated MP Neo Kok Beng asked about programmes to counter foreign influence.Dialect debate: PAP and WP MPs have filed 10 questions on the Speak Mandarin Campaign in the wake of controversy surrounding the Infocomm Media Development Authority\\u2019s initial decision to limit screenings of Dear You, a Chinese movie filmed mostly in the Teochew dialect. Cai Yinzhou (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) asked if the Government will review the campaign\\u2019s continued application to locally screened dialect films while WP Non-Constituency MP Eileen Chong asked for more details on the Government\\u2019s assessment of the effectiveness of the campaign.Unpaid migrant workers: Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang) and Choo Pei Ling (Chua Chu Kang GRC) asked about Government efforts to anticipate and mitigate cases where migrant workers are not paid by their employers. This follows a case which surfaced in late June where over 400 migrant workers were not paid for several months.Leader of the House Indranee Rajah will also deliver a ministerial statement around noon on the conduct of WP\\u2019s Sylvia Lim and Faisal Manap. We\\u2019ll explain more in a separate post.Most of today\\u2019s sitting will be a debate on a motion on Singapore\\u2019s position as a global transport hub. We expect a long session with many MPs slated to speak.The motion was filed by five PAP backbenchers who are led by Tin Pei Ling (Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC), who chairs the government parliamentary committee on transport.It asks the House to affirm the importance of strengthening Singapore\\u2019s long-term economic competitiveness by \\u201cleveraging international cooperation, frontier technologies and world-class infrastructure\\u201d.It asks that Singapore do this to reinforce its position as a globally connected aviation, maritime and logistics hub, and to anchor good jobs here.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Issue stems from what was said during a meeting between Khan and three WP leaders\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:12:37+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:52:06+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The focus is on the COP\\u2019s finding that Lim and Faisal were untruthful to the committee about what was said during a meeting between Khan and the three WP leaders, she says.A key issue in the COP inquiry was what was said during that meeting, and in particular, whether Ms Khan was told to suppress the fact that she had told an untruth in Parliament, i.e. that she should \\u201ctake it to the grave\\u201d.The three WP leaders all denied this but the COP found otherwise, she says.She recaps the COP\\u2019s findings that Lim and Faisal had lied about what was said during that meeting.The COP recommended that any action against the two be deferred until the conclusion of investigations and criminal proceedings against Singh, and Parliament accepted this.This was done to be fair to Lim and Faisal, she says. \\u201cIf the investigations or court proceedings produced evidence inconsistent with the Committee's findings, Parliament could take that into account before deciding what, if any, action should be taken.\\u201dPending that process, the pair were given the benefit of the doubt, she says. PHOTO: GOV.SG \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"linettel\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Court judgment against Singh confirms COP\\u2019s findings against Lim and Faisal: Indranee\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:14:06+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:51:42+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Indranee goes on to recap why the January motion dealt with Lim and Faisal\\u2019s conduct.During the COP hearings Lim denied that Singh had told Khan to take her untruth to the grave.She said there was no discussion on this point.Faisal\\u2019s evidence was that all three WP leaders did not remark on Khan\\u2019s confession that she had lied and did not discuss what to do about it.Thus at the COP hearings, both Lim and Faisal denied that Singh had advised Khan to take her lie to the grave, and said that the matter was not discussed.However, now, after a full investigation, trial and appeal dealing with this issue, the courts have expressly and conclusively found that untruth was discussed at the meeting, Indranee says.The court\\u2019s findings directly contradict Lim\\u2019s and Faisal\\u2019s evidence, she says.\\u201cIt follows logically from the court findings that their evidence to the committee was not true.\\u201dThe court\\u2019s judgment effectively confirmed the findings of the COP in relation to Lim and Faisal, she says. The question is now what is to be done in light of this, she says. PHOTO: GOV.SG\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Current 15th term of Parliament cannot deal with Sylvia and Faisal\\u2019s offences under law\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:17:12+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:50:53+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Singh was convicted by the District Court in February 2025, which was during the second session of the 14th Parliament, Indranee notes.However, Parliament deferred consideration of Lim\\u2019s and Faisal\\u2019s cases until the court process had concluded, she says.Those proceedings concluded only in December 2025, when the High Court delivered its judgment.By then, the 14th Parliament had been dissolved, a General Election had taken place and the 15th Parliament had begun, she says.Under the PPIPA, this 15th Parliament can only deal with offences committed either in this session of the 15th Parliament, or during the second session of the 14th Parliament.As Lim and Faisal\\u2019s actions in question took place during the first session of the 14th Parliament, it is no longer open to this 15th Parliament to impose any penalties under the PPIPA, Indranee says.But this does not mean that Parliament is without recourse, she says.The House could, if it wished, pass a motion to express regret at such conduct, she adds.Such a motion would serve to signal Parliament\\u2019s disapproval, as it did in Singh\\u2019s case in January this year, she says.\\u201cHowever, it should be noted that in the January motion, this House had already signalled its clear disapproval of lying to Parliament or its committees.\\u201d\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"No further action against Lim and Faisal, unless MPs object: Indranee\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:17:40+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:50:45+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Given the very specific circumstances of this case, it is her view that no further action need be taken by Parliament, says Indranee.\\u201cHad the timelines been different, I would have proposed a different course of action.\\u201dShe says this outcome has happened because even though the House was entitled to act on the COP\\u2019s findings in 2021, it decided to give Lim and Faisal the benefit of the doubt for the time being.\\u201cEven though the Committee\\u2019s findings have now been effectively confirmed by the High Court Judgement, the law, in this case the time bar provisions of PPIPA, must be observed,\\u201d she says.Unless any MP objects, Parliament can now bring this matter to a close, she adds.Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng says there should be no debate on Indranee\\u2019s statement but MPs can ask questions. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"linettel\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Sylvia Lim says she does not object to Indranee\\u2019s statement\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:19:11+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:19:11+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"WP chairwoman Sylvia Lim says she is not objecting to the Leader\\u2019s statement, and says she has made her statements during the January motion.Then, she objected to being implicated in Singh\\u2019s court case.In response, Indranee says when Lim made those statements in January, she had responded in turn, and those comments are on record.This marks the end of the ministerial statement. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Indranee rises to deliver a ministerial statement on \\u2018unfinished business\\u2019 regarding Sylvia Lim and Faisal Manap\\u2019s conduct\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:07:09+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:17:20+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Leader of the House Indranee Rajah begins by recapping a motion she filed in January.There, Parliament voted to express its regret at the conduct of WP chief Pritam Singh, though the WP\\u2019s 11 MPs in the House dissented. The resolutions in that motion relating to Singh were dealt with and concluded on that day, she says, but one matter remained outstanding.Part of that motion asked the House to note that the High Court judgment on Singh and the Committee of Privileges\\u2019 (COP) findings have implications on WP chair Sylvia Lim, an MP for Aljunied GRC, and Faisal Manap.Faisal sits on the WP\\u2019s central executive committee, but is currently not an MP. He was MP for Aljunied GRC during the last term of Parliament.The COP was convened to investigate former WP Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan\\u2019s lies to Parliament in 2021.\\u201cThat is unfinished business that has to be dealt with.\\u201d The question is what to do with the findings regarding Lim and Faisal in the COP report, says Indranee.PHOTO: MDDI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Disciplinary action must happen within the same or next session of Parliament, says Indranee\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:15:29+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:17:12+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"In principle, someone knowingly or intentionally giving untrue evidence to a committee of Parliament would be dealt with under the the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act 1962 (PPIPA), she says.\\u201cOrdinarily, if there is evidence someone has lied to a select committee, I would initiate the PPIPA process for dealing with such conduct.\\u201dBut there are certain timelines within which action must take place, Indranee says.Under the PPIPA, Parliament has the power to punish offences which have been committed in either the preceding session or the last session of the previous Parliament, she says.The previous Parliament (the 14th) was first constituted in August 2020, and was prorogued on in March 2023.It was dissolved on 15 April 2025. The 14th Parliament therefore had two sessions, she notes.In this case, the relevant conduct of Lim and Faisal took place in 2021, during the first session of the 14th Parliament.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"linettel\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"S\\u2019pore will carefully study FATF report\\u2019s recommendations: Murali\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:06:44+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:12:11+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Singapore has performed \\u201ccredibly\\u201d in the latest round of assessment by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the Government will carefully study its recommendations to develop action plans, said Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai.Murali was responding to questions from Workers\\u2019 Party MPs Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC) and Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC) about the latest FATF report on Singapore, released in May.The global financial crime watchdog rated Singapore only as \\u201cpartially compliant\\u201d in two areas: implementing technical requirements on transparency and beneficial ownership of legal persons, as well as legal arrangements.Chua asked about the Government\\u2019s plans to address these gaps.On beneficial ownership - meaning the person who ultimately owns an entity - Murali said the FATF acknowledged that Singapore has taken significant steps to prevent the misuse of legal persons and legal arrangements.For example, Singapore has a central beneficial ownership registry for all companies and limited liability partnerships. Public agencies also record ownership information, such as the Singapore Land Authority conducting checks on the identity of those who want to purchase landed residential properties in Singapore.\\u201cNevertheless, we will carefully study the FATF\\u2019s recommendations and consider... whether further enhancements will be needed to strengthen our framework, while remaining appropriate for Singapore's risk profile,\\u201d said Murali.Murali also explained Singapore\\u2019s efforts in three other areas mentioned by the MPs: international cooperation, financial penalties against financial institutions, and countering proliferation financing. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Question time ends\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T12:06:54+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:06:54+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"We wrap up one and a half hours of question time with a question from WP chief Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC) on the impact of a mandatory tuberculosis screening exercise on businesses in Bedok.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Koh Poh Koon has a new seat\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T10:31:16+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T12:00:46+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Koh Poh Koon has taken his seat in the backbenches after resigning as senior minister of state in May.Koh is now seated between WP chair Sylvia Lim and Melvin Yong. He had held political office in the ministries of manpower and health, and was previously seated next to his fellow senior ministers of state Zaqy Mohamad and Low Yen Ling. PHOTOS: MDDIREAD MORE HERE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Dennis Tan asks Government to review broadcast restrictions on dialects\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T11:15:11+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T11:38:04+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"WP\\u2019s Dennis Tan, who is MP for Hougang, asks the Government whether it has agreed to review restrictions on broadcasts in dialects.Doing so would \\u201callow meaningful dialect-rich content\\u201d that connects young Singaporeans to their grandparents, families and cultural heritage, he says.Tan\\u2019s constituency is a WP stronghold and his predecessor Low Thia Khiang was first elected on strong support from the area\\u2019s Teochew-speaking population.Singapore is reaching a \\u201ctipping point\\u201d with an ageing population and a younger generation with limited exposure to dialects, Tan adds.\\u201cOnce this culture and heritage dies off, there's no way of rebuilding, and I would therefore like to ask the government to really consider putting more effort to work with the clans and other civic groups to promote our dialect heritage,\\u201d he says.He asks that the Government consider establishing a standing arrangement between the media regulation and heritage agencies for consultation on the heritage aspects of films in dialect. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ngweikai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Scope to consider expanding space for dialects while upholding importance of Mandarin; IMDA prepared to allow more screenings of dialect films in cinemas\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T10:56:23+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T11:33:05+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Government is prepared to allow more screenings of films in Chinese dialects, says Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How.Circumstances have changed since the guidelines on the use of dialects were introduced, Tan says in response to questions from MPs on the relevance of these guidelines which were implemented in 1979.There is therefore scope to consider how the Government can expand the space for dialects, while continuing to uphold the importance of Mandarin, says Tan.In doing so, it will take into account different media platforms, he adds.For example, there are no dialect restrictions for arts performances or content available on the Internet and online streaming services.But for free-to-air television and radio, the Government believes that Mandarin should continue to be the mainstay, he says.The Infocomm and Media Development Authority, which regulates the media industry, has taken a \\u201cflexible, pragmatic approach\\u201d to regulating media in dialect, says Tan, citing local films which feature substantive use of dialect.Public debate on the guidelines, which restrict the use of dialect in broadcast media, has swirled since June when IMDA initially restricted the number of public screenings of Dear You, a Chinese film mostly shot in Teochew. PHOTO: GOLDEN VILLAGE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ngweikai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"No evidence that online posts targeting Indian community were coordinated campaign\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T10:56:04+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T10:56:55+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"MPs Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC), Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) and NMP Neo Kok Beng filed questions about the 14 online posts that targeted the Indian community, such as by suggesting that Singapore was being overrun by Indians.Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming, answering their questions, says there is currently no evidence to suggest that the posts were a coordinated campaign by any particular Government or organisation.Earlier investigations by MHA showed that the content most likely originated from a platform based in China and was subsequently carried on other platforms and websites.Goh adds that the Government has noticed an increase in such content, and carefully tracks every single case, investigating whether there are possibly state actors behind them.He says the authorities will not hesitate to take action decisively if there is a need to protect Singapore's interests, such as through legislative levers such as the Foreign Interference Counter Measures Act, Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act, Protection from Online Falsehood and Manipulation Act and Online Criminal Harms Act.\\u201cHaving these laws allows us to be very proactive going upstream to demonstrate that we not only have the laws and that we are also willing to exercise these laws to protect our citizens and our social fabric before our racial harmony is affected,\\u201d he says.He adds that ultimately a discerning population is the most important defence against attempts to influence or divide Singaporean society, urging Singaporeans to be discerning when consuming and disseminating information online, and to reject all attempts at division.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"yuenc\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Parliament begins\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T10:32:02+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T10:32:02+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"We start with questions on the social media posts blocked by the Government in June.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Good morning!\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T09:08:48+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T09:40:14+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Welcome to our Parliament live coverage. The House (and we) sit again today after taking a break in June.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"What will Indranee\\u2019s ministerial statement cover?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-07T09:10:13+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-07T09:21:20+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Indranee\\u2019s statement will cover the conduct of Workers\\u2019 Party leaders Sylvia Lim and Faisal Manap.The ministerial statement will be a \\u201cdetermination\\u201d on the findings from the Committee of Privileges (COP) relating to former Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan\\u2019s lies to Parliament in 2021, according to the order paper published yesterday.This follows a January 2026 motion where Indranee asked the House to note that the High Court\\u2019s judgment and COP findings have implications for Lim and Faisal, which have to be considered separately from WP chief Pritam Singh\\u2019s.During that motion, in which the House found Singh unfit for the role of Leader of the Opposition, Lim disputed her and Faisal being implicated.She said the pair had not been given an opportunity to defend themselves in court and its findings cannot be held against them.Indranee said that while Lim was not a witness and was not a party to court proceedings, the court had found that Lim and Faisal were around when Singh asked Khan to take her lie \\u201cto the grave\\u201d.She said that this was consistent with the COP report, and that is why the court judgment has implications for Lim and Faisal.We will unpack the statement and any subsequent exchange involving the WP MPs in our weekly politics newsletter next Monday. Subscribe here.PHOTOS: MDDI \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}}]}","keywords","Singapore Parliament, Live blog, Singapore politicians, Members of Parliament, Singapore Politics, Workers’ Party, Indranee Rajah, Sylvia Lim, Faisal Manap, WP, Speak Mandarin campaign","robots","index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1","image","https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/articles/2026/07/06/afparliament0706.jpg?VersionId=5NUgC6az1w6Awhb6ypK8ZNVAolqjszjg","gaData",{"_83":84,"_85":21,"_86":21,"_20":87,"_88":67,"_89":90,"_91":92},"level2","23","chapter1","chapter2","Live:_MPs_discuss_motion_on_reinforcing_Singapore’s_position_as_global_transport_hub","title_ga","pagination","1","contenttype","live blog","additionalVariants","dependentPaths",[],"actionData","errors"]