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Recap: S’pore enters new era with considerable strength, says PM Wong in Budget round-up speech

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He addressed concerns and suggestions raised over the last three days by MPs during the Budget debate.

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Ng Wei Kai, Gabrielle Andres, Gabrielle Chan, Raul Dancel, Daniel Lai, Isabelle Liew

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Published: Feb 25, 2026

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Get key updates at straitstimes.com.","ogDescription":"He addressed concerns and suggestions raised over the last three days by MPs during the Budget debate. Get key updates at straitstimes.com.","jsonLd":"{\"@context\":\"https:\\/\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"LiveBlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/live-singapore-budget-cos-debate-2026\",\"headline\":\"Live: Parliament to debate Budget 2026\",\"description\":\"Get key updates as Parliament debates Budget 2026. Read more at straitstimes.com.\",\"coverageStartTime\":\"2026-02-24T07:00:00+08:00\",\"coverageEndTime\":\"2026-02-26T23:59:00+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\":\"AI-ready Singapore: Extend personal learning devices to primary school pupils, says Darryl David\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T19:13:40+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-25T09:52:12+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"As Singapore positions itself as an AI-ready nation, every pupil should have equitable access to digital hardware like personal learning devices (PLDs), says Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC), repeating a call that he made previously during the Budget debate in 2024. This would \\u201clay the groundwork for future AI literacy, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, can engage fully with digital and AI-enabled learning\\u201d, says Mr David, who also chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education.These devices are school-sanctioned tablets or laptops \\u2013 largely iPads or Chromebooks \\u2013 that are already given to all secondary school students. They come installed with a device management application that allows schools to block access to undesirable internet content like gambling.Before there can be talk about mastering AI software and advanced tools, Mr David, who is also an educator, says every pupil should start from the same baseline. He also notes that digital inequality will translate into opportunity gaps in the future, including the risk that pupils fall behind in learning and have lower confidence in handling technology-based tasks.\\u201cNo student would be disadvantaged by relying on shared or outdated devices, reinforcing meritocracy in a digital age,\\u201d he says, adding that there are benefits to exposing pupils to PLDs, such as encouraging them to take greater responsibility for their own learning.In the bigger picture, this is a \\u201cstrategic investment\\u201d in Singapore\\u2019s future human capital, he adds.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Parliament has ended for the day\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T19:55:27+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-25T09:50:59+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Day 1 is done and dusted. Thirty-one MPs spoke. We start again tomorrow at 10.30am.Here are some highlights from today:Budget surplus: The large unexpected surplus from the last financial year ($15.1 billion, more than twice initial projections) drew discussion and suggestions from MPs from both parties. Opposition WP MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) said the surplus raises questions on whether the Government is \\u201cunnecessarily hoarding\\u201d funds, while PAP\\u2019s Ang Wei Neng (West Coast-Jurong West GRC) and Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) said the surplus gives the country extra space to navigate challenges and unexpected crises.Others, like Mr Shawn Loh (Jalan Besar GRC), suggested that Singapore use unexpected windfalls to beef up programmes to combat inequality, and return surpluses over 2 per cent of gross domestic product to Singaporeans the next year in CDC vouchers, CPF top-ups or rebates. We expect more on this when the debate resumes tomorrow.All about AI: MPs debated the Government\\u2019s national artificial intelligence push outlined by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the Feb 12 Budget statement. Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Education Jasmin Lau gave assurances that the Government will create structured and less risky ways for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to experiment with the technology, as she is doing, having made a dinosaur game-generating app for her kids. Ms Lau, who is also Minister-in-charge of GovTech, also outlined areas like ethics and creativity that the Government will work on in education so that Singapore\\u2019s children grow up confident and remain the masters of AI \\u2013 rather than the other way around.Meanwhile, MPs across the board advocated for the fruits of the technology\\u2019s promised growth to be shared equally across all segments of society. Ms Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang GRC) said Singaporeans need sustained coaching and structured programmes to learn to use the technology, while WP Non-Constituency MP Eileen Chong asked that Singapore consider how AI can enable not just better productivity, but better lives.Small businesses a key concern: MPs emphasised repeatedly that small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of Singapore\\u2019s economy, hiring the majority of its people, and called for more help for large swathes of them. Mr Jackson Lam (Nee Soon GRC) called for more help for hawkers to digitalise and make full use of grants available, while Nominated MP Mark Lee noted that SMEs do not lack awareness of technological advances \\u2013 they lack integration capacity. He added that in some sectors, such as logistics, F&B and manufacturing, robotics may deliver more immediate productivity gains than abstract AI tools.\\u201cIf we want AI and robotics to meaningfully raise productivity and preserve competitiveness, the investment signal must decisively shift behaviour at scale,\\u201d he said, adding that this suggests a different incentive logic \\u2013 one that reduces risk at the point of adoption and rewards firms that deliver measurable productivity gains.See you tomorrow. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Improve ageing estates over age 30 and expand lift access to all HDB flats, says Ang Wei Neng\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T19:27:48+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-25T09:47:19+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Ageing flats require more than cosmetic upgrades, and residents need practical improvements, says Mr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast-Jurong West GRC), the last speaker for the day.For example, they need more covered linkways, wastewater leakage solutions, wheelchair-friendly access and stronger first- and last-mile connectivity, he says.The Government can enhance funding for neighbourhood renewal programmes and estate upgrading programmes, as well as for commuter first- and last-mile infrastructure, he says.\\u201cThis is also an investment for the dignity of seniors and families,\\u201d says Mr Ang, speaking in Mandarin.He also urges the Government to expand lift access to all Housing Board flats.\\u201cCurrently, approximately 100 HDB blocks still do not have direct lift access to every floor due to high costs.\\u201dMany residents were still mobile and valued privacy when they purchased their flats more than 30 years ago, he says.Now, as they age and have mobility issues, they still need to climb stairs daily to access their flats \\u2013 which is very arduous, he adds.\\u201cThe civilisation of a society is reflected in how we treat our elderly.\\u201dST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Offer dedicated SkillsFuture courses to help parents returning to workforce: Lee Hui Ying\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T19:17:06+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T19:38:30+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Parents can find it daunting to return to the workforce after taking a few years off to focus on their children, says Ms Lee Hui Ying (Nee Soon GRC), suggesting that there should be a dedicated set of SkillsFuture courses targeted at them.She also suggests flexible work arrangements in the form of flexible hours, part-time professional roles and phased return-to-work options to allow parents to rebuild their careers while meeting caregiving responsibilities.These measures will help attract, retain and empower workers in every life stage, she says, adding: \\u201cIt will be a waste if parents feel the door is closed once they slow down for a few years.\\u201dMs Lee says helping parents \\u201creturn with confidence and dignity\\u201d not only strengthens families, but also helps to retain valuable skills, experience and talent in Singapore\\u2019s workforce.She also puts forward suggestions to help first-time job seekers navigate the job market.While most students complete internships, many find these stints lack the technical depth or clear conversion pathways needed to secure full-time employment in a competitive market.Ms Lee says traineeships should be expanded to include the newly announced focus sectors in Singapore\\u2019s AI strategy, as well as people-centric industries such as social service sectors and retail.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabriellea\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Align youth training with SME AI adoption to prevent structural brain drain: Cassandra Lee\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T19:02:42+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T19:14:56+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Government must ensure that the pace of AI adoption within local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) matches the skills of young Singaporeans joining the workforce to prevent a structural drain of talent towards global giants, says Ms Cassandra Lee (West Coast-Jurong West GRC).Noting that 64 per cent of Singapore\\u2019s employed residents are in knowledge-intensive professional, managerial, executive and technical roles, Ms Lee warns of an emerging gap between AI-native youth and local firms. \\u201cThe pace of AI adoption across enterprises, especially SMEs, remains uneven,\\u201d she says. This may make it harder for SMEs to attract and retain young talent if they cannot offer comparable opportunities. To address this, Ms Lee proposes aligning career pathways between how youth are trained for the AI economy and how enterprises adopt AI, so that Singapore remains competitive and accessible across firms of different sizes. Job redesign must also take into account the impact of AI on mid-career professionals, she says, while ensuring roles remain suitable and allow individuals who did not grow up with such technologies to maximise their strengths and access training. For SMEs, Ms Lee suggests tailoring support by marrying the new Champions of AI programme with existing grants like the Productivity Solutions Grant \\u2013 funding that helps local SMEs adopt IT solutions and equipment to boost productivity. Beyond technology, Ms Lee notes that the take-up of family-related support remains uneven because of workplace culture, calling on the Government to place more emphasis on consistent and fair implementation of family-friendly practices. This is critical because day-to-day HR decisions, like how a manager responds to a caregiving emergency or pregnancy, determines whether an employee remains engaged or exits the workforce, she says.\\u201cYoung Singaporeans who otherwise desire to start their own families may be discouraged from doing so in fear that their careers will suffer,\\u201d Ms Lee adds. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabchan\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Return any Budget surplus above 2 per cent of GDP to Singaporeans as CDC vouchers, CPF top-ups or rebates: Shawn Loh\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T18:48:11+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T19:02:43+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Any fiscal surpluses above 2 per cent of gross domestic product should be given back to all Singaporeans in the following year through extra CDC vouchers, says Mr Loh.If there are concerns that CDC vouchers may increase inflation, Singapore could also redistribute the monies through universal CPF top-ups or other rebates for government services such as transport and utilities, he suggests.\\u201cWe should assure Singaporeans that when Singapore does well, all Singaporeans will benefit. This can be achieved through a longer-term commitment from the Government on a surplus-sharing mechanism.\\u201dThe Budget surplus from the 2025 financial year was revealed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at his Budget speech on Feb 12 to be $15.1 billion, or 1.9 per cent of GDP. It was the largest surplus ever by volume, though the 2017 surplus was higher as a proportion of GDP at 2.3 per cent.Mr Loh also suggests greater and longer support for companies, saying that short-term support measures are \\u201cband-aids\\u201d for companies, many of whom have been taking the hit year after year with escalating manpower costs.The Government should also give Singaporean workers the confidence that it has their backs, and that anyone who is earnestly looking for a job will be strongly supported.He calls for a \\u201cmore ambitious\\u201d job-seeker support scheme \\u2013 for example, the Government could give employers time-limited salary support to hire any job seeker who has been looking for a job for at least six months.He also calls for the Government to commit to not making any major revenue-raising moves up to 2035, barring any material adverse circumstances. \\u201cThus far, it has said only that it would not raise (the) goods and services tax until 2030. Surely the Government can do better than that.\\u201dSingapore should continue to use tax policies to achieve other objectives, such as reducing wealth inequality, he says. This can be achieved by making the property tax system more progressive, by being more aggressive with taxes for investment properties and by imposing progressive stamp duties on properties at the point of inheritance, he says.\\u201cBut that is another speech for another day.\\\"ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Shawn Loh describes how \\u2018trickle-down\\u2019 effect of economic growth has been \\u2018just a trickle\\u2019 for some\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T18:40:34+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T19:02:04+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The \\u201ctrickle-down\\u201d effect of economic growth Singapore had hoped for has indeed for some \\u201cbeen just a trickle\\u201d, says Mr Shawn Loh (Jalan Besar GRC).Singapore grew by 5 per cent last year in terms of gross domestic product, and so by all measures of hard data, the country has done really well, he says.\\u201cBut the question is: Do you feel that your standard of living has improved by 5 per cent compared with the year before? Do businesses feel they have done 5 per cent better? I reckon that many would say no \\u2013 these economic figures seem theoretical.\\u201dThe likely reason is that the direct benefits of economic growth are captured by a decreasing proportion of Singaporeans, who are earning higher wages in sectors that are globally competitive, says the former Budget director.For the growing number of retirees who do not earn salaries, economic growth may mean only higher prices, and for workers who are used to working in the same company for a long time, economic growth may mean only a greater sense of job risk amid technological disruptions, he adds.\\u201cTo make matters more complicated for this generation, wealth inequality will also be an issue,\\u201d says Mr Loh, who is now group managing director at Commonwealth Capital Group.A modest level of wealth inequality is not in itself a bad thing, as it incentivises and rewards capability and effort, he adds. \\u201cThis is the meritocratic approach that has made Singapore successful and uplifted generations and generations of Singaporeans.\\u201dHowever, there are concerns that birth circumstances are increasingly determining life outcomes, he says.It is natural for parents to want the best for their children, and to spend time, money and effort to give them advantages in an increasingly competitive world, he adds.But this parental help must not be determinative, he says. \\u201cAll Singaporeans must continue to be able to aspire to success and to a better life, regardless of the situation they were born into.\\u201dHe adds that he sees a need to \\u201csystematically lean\\u201d against the natural tendency in any economy for wealth inequality to become entrenched across generations. He also emphasises a need to tackle the falling birth rate, which he says is an existential threat to the country. PHOTO: MDDI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Gerald Giam emphasises that large surpluses mean inaccurate budgeting, but agrees with Shawn Loh that extra surpluses should be returned to S\\u2019poreans\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T18:48:40+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T18:57:59+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"After Mr Loh speaks, WP\\u2019s Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) rises to ask for a clarification.He asks if Mr Loh was suggesting that he was asking for Singapore to run a Budget deficit in his earlier speech, when he said a pattern of underestimating surpluses raises questions about whether the Government is \\u201cunnecessarily hoarding funds\\u201d.In response, Mr Loh says his takeaway from Mr Giam\\u2019s speech was that Singapore should run less conservative fiscal projections.\\u201cMy suggestion and my view is that we should still be conservative with our fiscal projections, along with my idea that if we run unexpected Budget surpluses, we should have that as a systematic surplus-sharing mechanism in the next year with all Singaporeans.\\u201dMr Giam says that he thinks the pair are on the same page, but he believes that Singapore should run a small surplus when possible, and that is different from running a surplus $8.29 billion more than estimated, which happened in the 2025 financial year.\\u201cHe himself suggested that surpluses over 2 per cent should be given back the following year. I have no disagreement with that, as long as it\\u2019s put to good use.\\u201dHe adds that what he was focusing on was the Government\\u2019s Budget marksmanship, \\u201cor perhaps the lack thereof\\u201d.\\u201cI think overly conservative budgeting is actually inaccurate budgeting and something we should avoid.\\u201d\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Collaboration between tertiary institutions and SMEs can reduce AI adoption risks: Lee Hong Chuang\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T18:35:43+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T18:35:43+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Businesses in Singapore are not unwilling to take the AI plunge, but are wary of the uncertainty that comes along with it, says Mr Lee Hong Chuang (Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC).To help reduce risks for businesses and give them more confidence, he asks if there is scope to support structured collaborations on AI adoption between tertiary institutions and SMEs.This way, SMEs will not have to shoulder the full burden of high AI implementation costs up front, while students can be exposed to real-world business challenges before they graduate and apply what they have learnt in a practical setting, he says.SMEs can also benefit from fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and prototype solutions that can be refined and scaled.This creates a \\u201cwin-win ecosystem\\u201d, Mr Lee says, adding that it can support enterprise transformation while strengthening workforce readiness.He also suggests that NTUC can help bridge SMEs with tertiary institutions, and ensure that training, innovation and job-readiness efforts are better aligned with industry transformation needs.Mr Lee says for businesses to do well, a stable environment is crucial. Diplomacy and a good diplomatic network can provide the space and predictability that businesses need to venture abroad, he adds.PHOTO: ST FILE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabriellea\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Budget temporarily eases pressure on \\u2018sandwiched class\\u2019, but gaps remain: Jessica Tan\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T18:01:45+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T18:07:39+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Government should pilot integrated family support hubs, which can be a one-stop touchpoint for families to coordinate different services, such as childcare, eldercare, respite services and employment support, says Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC).Currently, information sits across various portals and agencies, and families still experience the system as fragmented, she notes.The Budget 2026 measures will temporarily ease pressure, but gaps remain for the asset-rich but cash-poor \\u201csandwiched class\\u201d, especially with rising caregiving costs, she says.Ms Tan suggests a \\u201cmore nuanced\\u201d means-testing approach for eldercare \\u2013 one that recognises liquidity constraints \\u2013 to prevent families from being unable to afford essential care.Daycare and short-notice respite capacity should be expanded to give caregivers the \\u201cbreathing space\\u201d they need, she says.And for workers to benefit from AI transformation, Ms Tan says that Singapore must expand modular, employer-recognised micro-credentials to enable quicker deployment, and scale up employer-led training and apprenticeships.More can be done to shorten unemployment transitions for displaced workers, she adds. This includes earlier notifications to placement hubs, as well as sector-specific placement packs with skills-mapping, bridging courses and job fairs.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Tie AI support for firms to mandatory workforce transition plans: Denise Phua\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T17:57:11+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T17:57:57+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Productivity gains through the adoption of AI must not come at the expense of workers, says Ms Denise Phua (Jalan Besar GRC).She suggests making it mandatory for firms to have a workforce plan if they want to receive significant support from the Government to adopt AI.These plans should outline the tasks that will be automated, the human roles that remain accountable, the workers that will be redeployed or upgraded, and how wages will be supported in this transition, she adds, as she speaks about how Singapore can pursue AI adoption \\u201cwithout regret\\u201d.\\u201cIf we are not careful, AI transformation could become a story of the few who benefit while the many absorb the disruption,\\u201d she warns.Besides protecting workers from displacement, Ms Phua says small and medium-sized enterprises also need support in this transformation, and notes that in 2024, only 14.5 per cent of SMEs adopted AI, while that figure was 62.5 per cent for larger firms.\\u201cSome firms are sprinting, many are walking, too many have not even started,\\u201d she adds.She says true AI transformation \\u201crequires clean data, disciplined processes, systems integration and leadership commitment\\u201d, without which, productivity gains remain purely cosmetic.To help SMEs in this regard, Ms Phua calls for a national diagnostic that classifies firms into foundational, emerging or advanced stages of AI-readiness so support can be tailored to their various levels. This ensures \\u201ctargeted transformation pathways\\u201d in place of \\u201cone-size-fits-all grants\\u201d.She adds that SMEs should have access to government-funded AI coaches, and that intermediaries like NTUC and Enterprise Singapore must be equipped with deeper technical capabilities, diagnostic tools and specialised talent and funding so they can better guide SMEs through AI transformation.\\u201cAmbition is necessary,\\u201d Ms Phua acknowledges. \\u201cBut execution determines whether progress is shared.\\u201d\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabchan\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Clay jars, bowls and family dinners: Shawn Huang on keeping Singapore\\u2019s \\u2018iron will\\u2019 and pioneering spirit\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T15:32:00+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T17:50:19+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The first political office-holder to join the debate, Mr Shawn Huang (West Coast-Jurong West GRC) kicks off his speech using the symbolism of the \\u201crooster bowl\\u201d to call for the preservation of Singapore\\u2019s core values of sacrifice and prudence amid a changing world.Reflecting on the iconic bowl, Mr Huang, who is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Manpower, notes that Singapore did not have the necessary \\u201cfine clay\\u201d to make the bowl, and instead had \\u201ciron-rich, rugged earth\\u201d.\\u201cAnd from that rugged earth, we forged an iron-willed, rugged people,\\u201d he says, citing founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew\\u2019s famous quote.\\u201cThat iron is not just in our soil. It is in our collective spirit, the character, the mettle, the verve in every Singaporean and in every Singaporean family,\\u201d Mr Huang says.He highlights that this iron is visible in the everyday lives of Singaporeans, and this Singapore spirit \\u2013 one of sacrifice, saving for the future \\u2013 is what sets the country apart.Mr Huang acknowledges the prudence, stewardship and iron will possessed by past generations that have made Singapore successful today.\\u201cIt is a stark reminder for our current and future generations,\\u201d he says. \\u201cWe fear our worst fate is to drift into a culture that is frivolous, thinking that we have arrived with easy effort.\\u201d\\u201cEven with a rich inheritance, we must develop our own abilities and keep the pioneering spirit alive, and to remain united against all odds, however complex external environment may be,\\u201d Mr Huang says. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Jasmin Lau used AI to build an app to play dinosaur games with her kids\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T17:14:07+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T17:41:20+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Ms Lau says she usually uses AI for work but recently used it to build an app called Family Fun Time.The app is designed to give her one activity a night to do with her kids. She gave it three criteria: The activity must be dinosaur-themed, take less than 15 minutes and should not require any equipment.\\u201cYesterday\\u2019s activity was about dinosaurs\\u2019 feelings and letting the kids suggest what to do when their favourite dinosaurs are hungry, scared, lonely, happy or angry.\\u201cUnfortunately, I only get to try it with them tonight, because I had to work on this speech last night.\\u201dBut the real fun and learning do not come from the app or from AI. \\u201cIt comes from the minutes we share as a family, the conversations and laughter and correcting each other's silly responses to our dinosaur\\u2019s feelings,\\u201d she says.She did not know it was so easy to build an app. But it is only in doing and trying, and experimenting will Singaporeans find the true value of AI and shape their relationships with it, she says.And \\u201conly in doing, trying and experimenting will we find out the real value of ourselves as humans and understand what AI cannot and should not replace in the years ahead\\u201d, she adds.As AI continues to evolve, Singapore must review what education means for its children. AI will force Singapore and Singaporeans to sharpen the focus of education on what truly matters \\u2013 judgment, values and the ability to work with AI, rather than to compete with it, she says.\\u201cHow do we teach our children about AI \\u2013 in particular, its limits, biases and blind spots? How do we balance the weightage of our education to emphasise character and social development beyond content recall? What higher-order thinking do we want to equip our children with?\\u201dThese are all areas that the Government will work on so that Singapore\\u2019s children grow up confident and remain the masters of AI, and not the other way around, she says. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Valerie Lee calls for more support for \\u2018sandwich generation\\u2019\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T17:18:58+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T17:31:13+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Many middle-income Singaporeans \\u2013 especially those caring for both their children and ageing parents \\u2013 are suffering from the \\u201cmidlife squeeze\\u201d, with smaller family sizes meaning there are fewer siblings to share the load, says Ms Valerie Lee (Pasir Ris-Changi GRC).While the Government has provided broad-based support, many structural family schemes are still designed to provide additional benefits only from the third child onwards, she says. Yet having the first two children can already place \\u201csignificant demand on household resources\\u201d.Consider stepping up support even for smaller families, she says, especially those who are in the middle-income bracket, who do not qualify for the highest tiers of assistance but feel the squeeze most acutely.Support must also extend to eldercare, she says.Caregiving is not only about subsidies and CPF top-ups, but also about setting aside time and nurturing a supportive ecosystem of care, she adds.Highlighting the need for further study on eldercare leave, just as childcare responsibilities are recognised, she says that accompanying an elderly parent to a specialist appointment or arranging post-hospital care is a duty for many.She also calls for more support for those who are on the margins \\u2013 including residents in areas that have limited connectivity, those living in Pulau Ubin and families with special needs children.PHOTO: ST FILE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabriellea\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Give families who commit to having more children larger flats through more subsidies: David Hoe\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T14:40:00+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T17:14:17+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"If Singapore is serious about supporting large families, it should make it easier for families planning to have children \\u2013 or more children \\u2013 to secure homes that are \\u201cconducively sized\\u201d for them, says Mr David Hoe (Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC).One idea is to give such families flats with extra bedroom space, or \\u201cjumbo Build-To-Order flats\\u201d, which could be priced similarly to smaller units through additional subsidies, he suggests.But these flats should come with clear conditions, like eligibility being linked to couples committing to having two or more children within the first five to seven years of the flat\\u2019s minimum occupation period, he says.\\u201cIf they do not meet such conditions, then there should be a clear and fair downsizing pathway with subsidy clawbacks.\\u201dThere should be reasonable exceptions, such as fertility issues, but such a scheme will give families a \\u201cgood nudge\\u201d in their decision-making before marriage, he says.The Government should also give families more flexibility to upgrade their flats when a new child arrives, and relax existing rules around minimum occupancy periods for these families.\\u201cI'm sure many of us here as MPs have received such requests, and what I'm about to share is not uncommon.\\u201cSome families live in smaller HDB flats, and they find that space becomes too tight after having the second or third child.\\u201d \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Jasmin Lau pledges lower-risk ways for SMEs to experiment with AI\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T17:10:08+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T17:13:39+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Singapore will create structured and less risky ways for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to experiment with artificial intelligence, says Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Jasmin Lau.Over the past year, the country has created hackathons for business leaders, SMEs and students to collaborate, and in those sessions, SMEs got access to low-cost AI prototyping.Students gained domain experience, and business leaders spotted talent and went on to hire, she adds.\\u201cWe will systematise this to ensure that more SMEs and students benefit,\\u201d says Ms Lau, who is also the minister-in-charge of GovTech, the government\\u2019s technology agency.SMEs have many experiences of trying out new technologies before realising that they become outdated quickly. They are right to be cautious, Ms Lau says.The Government is also refining its funding schemes, and will shift funding support towards implementation, business process redesign and the \\u201cmuch harder work of changing how an organisation actually operates\\u201d, she adds.\\u201cWe will make sure we are accountable, but we must also make sure that our SMEs, most of whom are genuine and often already tight on resources, do not get turned away too early by onerous and cumbersome paperwork.\\u201dThis is one way Singapore must move forward to ensure it masters AI, and as Singaporeans develop their personal relationships with the technology, she says.AI is already reshaping industries and changing how some tasks are being done, and it is moving faster than most forecasts predicted, she notes.When young Singaporeans and workers in their 40s and 50s express their worries about AI, \\u201call their anxieties are rational\\u201d, she says. \\u201cBut what matters more is what we do with it.\\u201d\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"To ensure productivity, resilience must be part of Singapore\\u2019s economic strategy: Dr Charlene Chen\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T17:07:03+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T17:08:27+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The ideal Budget prioritises productivity, but not in the narrow sense of gross domestic product or output, Dr Charlene Chen (Tampines GRC) says.True productivity is about enabling people \\u2013 the young, mid-career workers, seniors and persons with disabilities \\u2013 to realise their full potential, she adds.For young people to see credible and coordinated pathways ahead, she says, the Government must continue investing in strong school-to-work transitions, better skills-job matching, predictable housing supply, mid-career mobility support and accessible lifelong learning frameworks.This will ensure long-term productivity, says Dr Chen, who teaches at Nanyang Technological University.If productivity depends on human capacity, resilience must be part of Singapore\\u2019s economic strategy, she says.This means the Republic must invest in school-based mental health support and workplace mental wellness frameworks, she adds.She also suggests more investment in community sports and physical activity, a curriculum that builds emotional regulation and \\u201cbounce-back ability\\u201d and soft skills that help navigate setbacks.PHOTO: ST FILE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Consider more pathways to support people with disabilities after formal schooling: NMP Kenneth Poon\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T16:50:41+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T17:01:04+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"For families and caregivers of people with disabilities, a significant transition occurs when their child exits the formal education system at 18, says Nominated MP Kenneth Poon, who is dean of research and centre director for the National Institute of Education Centre for Research in Child Development.This transition often entails a loss of structured routines, peer networks, and community participation, while families must navigate a new landscape of adult services, he adds.To support participation in everyday institutional life over time, the Budget\\u2019s planned expansion of day activity centre capacity needs to be anchored in community-based employment partnerships, shared-use facilities, or organisations within the neighbourhood, he says.Professor Poon says in his speech, which covers the spirit of what a \\u201cwe first\\u201d society entails, that budget initiatives should be evaluated through the lens of how much they enable Singaporeans to participate meaningfully in shared institutions such as schools, workplaces and community networks.Research in human development suggests that positive long-term outcomes are influenced not only by access to programmes, he adds, but by the extent to which individuals remain embedded in these common social institutions through key transitions in life.Besides people with disabilities, Prof Poon notes that young children are vulnerable to family stressors such as housing instability or caregiver fatigue. He calls for stronger links between pre-schools and family services to enable caregivers to sustain their child\\u2019s development within the home and community environments where they spend the most time.On youth development, he characterises platforms like youth panels as opportunities for \\u201cco-production\\u201d that strengthen the alignment between institutions and the developmental needs of young people.Prof Poon also argues that policies should empower families as partners in navigating supports across education, healthcare, and employment, to reduce strain and distribute coordination responsibilities more equitably. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"yuenc\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Mariam Jaafar suggests using milestones to ensure S\\u2019poreans are equipped with AI literacy and skills\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T16:27:19+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T16:50:47+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"AI literacy cannot be delivered as a one-off workshop, and must be coached, contextualised and sustained, says Ms Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang GRC), who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health.She suggests introducing AI capability milestones, like those used in the national scheme ComLink+, which provides payouts to motivate lower-income families to work towards goals in employment and education, for instance.Milestones could include parents completing a foundational AI literacy module and children demonstrating safe and effective use of AI for schoolwork.Along with the support of community AI coaches, this approach would ensure every Singaporean has the skills to supervise AI, the tools to deploy it, the confidence to question it and also equal access to opportunities in AI, she says.\\u201cThat is the type of inclusion that ensures national multiplication, not division,\\u201d she adds.Pointing to the potential of agentic AI, which can multiply cognitive capacity on a national scale, Ms Mariam says this presents an opportunity \\u2013 for AI to handle complexity at speed while humans exercise wisdom.If done right, agentic AI will not replace Singaporeans, but multiply the country\\u2019s capabilities, she adds.The Government must teach Singaporeans not just to use AI, but how to think with it, challenge it and govern it, she says.This means there must be serious investment in mid-career reskilling and professional certifications in AI supervision and operations, mentorship and applied learning, as well as building a culture of collaboration with AI.There must also be meaningful pathways into work for graduates and tertiary students, she says.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabriellea\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Singapore\\u2019s AI push must not sideline its green transition, says Dennis Tan\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T16:45:30+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T16:45:30+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Do not allow Singapore\\u2019s artificial intelligence push to sideline the country\\u2019s green transition with its energy demands, says WP\\u2019s Dennis Tan (Hougang).As Singapore doubles down on AI adoption, it must not lose sight of the unseen costs, he says.He cites a previous speech he made in the House where he cautioned against an \\u201cindiscriminate rush\\u201d to integrate large-scale language models \\u2013 the basis for contemporary AI chatbot technology \\u2013 into every minor task as \\u201ca luxury our carbon-constrained nation cannot afford\\u201d.While the Government has introduced a roadmap towards greening data centres, the current pace of AI adoption may risk outstripping its efficiency gains, he says.\\u201cWe are seeing a rebound effect where more efficient hardware is being used as a rationale for allowing exponentially higher usage.\\u201dTrue leadership in AI is not about the number of AI champions the country can produce, but about how sustainably Singapore can grow this sector, Mr Tan adds.If Singapore is to achieve its net-zero commitments, the new National AI Council must bridge the gap between digital ambitions and environmental reality, he says.\\u201cWe need more than just incentives. We need a clear regulatory framework that mandates energy disclosures for large-scale AI developers.\\u201d\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Give more help to hawkers, who are small business owners operating on tight margins: Jackson Lam\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T16:11:16+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T16:15:03+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Talk about hawkers often focuses on heritage and culture, Mr Jackson Lam (Nee Soon GRC) says, but it is also important to remember that they are small business owners operating on tight margins.Rising rental pressures, volatile input costs and manpower constraints are putting real strain on many hawkers. If these costs continue to outpace revenue, Singapore risks the loss of a layer of its social fabric provided by the shared space of hawker centres, he adds.He suggests the publication of periodic rental sustainability indicators to ensure that rental frameworks remain aligned with operating reality. This can reassure hawkers even if the indicators are only made available at an aggregate level, he says. More can also be done to help hawkers adopt digitalisation and make full use of the grants available, he says, and the Hawker Association can do so by giving stallholders practical guidance and structured advisory support in areas of cost control, inventory management and digital payments.Succession is another area in which hawkers can get more support, he adds. He suggests pairing retiring hawkers with aspiring hawkers to provide structured mentorship and phased handovers, which will reduce newcomers\\u2019 entry risk.He says the resilience in Singapore\\u2019s fiscal numbers and economic forecasts must also be felt on the ground by hawkers, seniors and SMEs.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"NMP Mark Lee urges Government to help SMEs execute business innovation\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T15:22:55+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T15:41:55+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Nominated MP Mark Lee uses the analogy of a chess game to highlight the importance of foresight and discipline in Budget 2026, in an increasingly fragmented and less predictable world economy.\\u201cIt is not a defensive budget. It is a positioning budget,\\u201d he says, adding that the business community welcomes the measures to mitigate rising business costs.This includes the 40 per cent corporate income tax rebate, expanded financing and the expansion of the Productivity Solutions Grant to cover a wide range of digital and AI-enabled solutions.However, he points out that enabling transformation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be the real test, noting that while they do not lack awareness of technological advances, they lack integration capacity.He adds that in some sectors \\u2013 such as logistics, F&B and manufacturing \\u2013 robotics may deliver more immediate productivity gains than abstract AI tools.\\u201cIf we want AI and robotics to meaningfully raise productivity and preserve competitiveness, the investment signal must decisively shift behaviour at scale,\\u201d he says, adding that this suggests a different incentive logic \\u2013 one that reduces risk at the point of adoption and rewards firms that deliver measurable productivity gains.Ending his speech, Mr Lee says that Budget 2026 gives Singapore the tools and sets the direction, but forcing the move forward cannot be done by the Government alone \\u2013 businesses must invest, management must redesign and workers must upskill.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ateng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"The debate resumes\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T15:33:03+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T15:33:03+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Parliament returns from its 20-minute break with Deputy Speaker Christopher de Souza in the Speaker\\u2019s chair.Mr Jackson Lam (Nee Soon GRC) speaks first.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Consider not only how AI can push productivity, but also how it can free up time for friends and family, says Eileen Chong\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T15:32:26+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T15:32:26+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"While Singapore embraces artificial intelligence, it should not also forget to face the potential risks the technology brings, says WP Non-Constituency MP Eileen Chong.This is not just about AI possibly eliminating jobs, but also potentially increasing work intensity and causing workplace burnout, says Ms Chong in English and Mandarin.\\u201cI urge the Government and Singaporeans to consider, not only how AI can help us improve productivity, but also think about how these emerging technologies can help us free up more time and be with family and friends.\\u201dInternational research is beginning to show that using AI tools has not only failed to reduce employees\\u2019 workloads but has actually made them busier, she says.This is because it has accelerated their pace of work, and their workscopes have unconsciously expanded and lengthened working hours, she adds.She supports the measures introduced by the Budget to reduce the burden on families, but hopes the Government can provide Singaporeans with other measures, like childcare leave based on the number of children.She also suggests a pilot for a 10-year through-train programme from primary to secondary school with an optional PSLE to allow younger Singaporeans more space to grow and explore.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Singapore should create a \\u2018special path\\u2019 for technology ventures: NMP Neo Kok Beng\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T14:49:46+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T15:29:22+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Noting Singapore\\u2019s shift from a labour-intensive to a technology-intensive industry, Nominated MP Neo Kok Beng \\u2013 a technology entrepreneur himself \\u2013 says the Republic should create a special path to grow and anchor technology ventures here.Dr Neo highlights the National University of Singapore\\u2019s efforts, starting with technology commercialisation in 2000. This is later followed by its graduate research innovation programme, which produced about 250 companies in its first phase.The issue is how these companies can be brought to commercialisation, Dr Neo says, adding that there is a mismatch of expectations. Companies that want to move on from the seeding stage to the pre-commercialisation or pilot stage require funding.Venture capitalists are waiting to see if there is a liquidity event before funding these companies, Dr Neo says. A liquidity event is when private company equity can be converted into cash.To solve this \\u201cchicken and egg\\u201d issue, Singapore should create a special path for technology ventures, with special listing rules to see if these companies can be fast-tracked, he says.Moving on to the theme of a caring society, Dr Neo says he was saddened to read from a recent ST article that the deaths of at least 33 seniors went undetected in 2025.To bring back the \\u201ckampung spirit\\u201d, he suggests holding block parties for neighbours to get to know each other.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Government investment entities should ensure a share in start-ups\\u2019 success for long-term revenue growth: Gho Sze Kee\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T14:58:40+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T15:17:03+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Make sure that when start-ups succeed, Singapore shares in their success, says Ms Gho Sze Kee (Mountbatten).She suggests government investment vehicles evolve their approach to become strategic partners and long-term shareholders, as one way for Singapore to grow more revenue taps.They currently provide the early capital \\u2013 and absorb early risks \\u2013 for start-ups and then exit to fund the next big thing, she notes.She brings up two successful Singapore firms \\u2013 Advanced Micro Foundry and Mirxes \\u2013 as examples. The Government no longer has any share in AMF while the Economic Development Board has a less than 2 per cent stake in Mirxes, she notes.However, there should be no illusions that this approach will produce quick returns.\\u201cIt will require generational thinking. The returns would be substantial only if we can grow a few more unicorns.\\u201cBut if we succeed, we will do more than just create high-value jobs or strengthen our global relevance. We will generate enduring national value, create a new and sustainable revenue tap and provide long-term economic benefits for our future generations.\\u201d\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"The House welcomes a visitor\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T14:45:51+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T14:49:03+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng pauses the debate to extend a warm welcome to Dr Estephan Salameh, who is the Palestinian Authority\\u2019s Minister of Finance and Planning.Together with his delegation, he entered the chamber\\u2019s gallery to observe the debate.Dr Salameh is in Singapore from Feb 22 to 25 for an official visit at the invitation of Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.PHOTO: MDDI\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Redefine CDC vouchers as a \\u2018social dividend\\u2019: NMP Terence Ho\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T14:32:47+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T14:32:47+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"CDC vouchers should be redefined as a \\u201csocial dividend\\u201d, an annual sum given to citizens that signifies they have a stake in the country and its collective wealth, says Nominated MP and public policy academic Terence Ho.He suggests this repositioning of the vouchers as he speaks about how Singapore should leverage its strong fiscal position to address gaps at the margins, in the areas of future readiness, empowerment, assurance and togetherness.CDC vouchers, which have been given out yearly since 2021, go some way to strengthening assurance, he adds, but are seen by some as \\u201cmere band aid for the cost of living, something that is neither sustainable nor targeted\\u201d.His view is that the vouchers play a useful role in the social support system, complementing structural or permanent transfers, and can be sized according to need, he adds.He proposes reframing the vouchers as a social dividend so that they can be better appreciated by Singaporeans as a form of support that is anchored in the shared ownership of Singapore's success.The Government can determine the size of the dividend each year depending on prevailing fiscal and economic conditions, and should be \\u201cuniversal and progressive\\u201d, he says.Beyond vouchers, the Government can also give lower-income families part of this social dividend in income-generating assets, such as mutual funds, he suggests.This can foster a shift in mindset from short-term spending to long-term wealth building and stewardship, he says, adding that it can be designed so that recipients would not be allowed to sell these assets within a certain investing period.He also calls for the publication of a concise set of indicators covering housing, healthcare, and essential consumption to deepen public understanding of cost pressures and support evidence-based adjustments when needed. \\u201cUltimately, what matters most is how we care for the vulnerable among us, how we relate to people whose views are different from ours, and how we equip future generations with confidence and opportunity,\\u201d he says.\\u201cSuccess will depend not only on policies and spending, but on the collective actions of citizens and stakeholders. It is up to each of us as Singaporeans to exercise agency and influence to help mould our shared future.\\u201d\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"yuenc\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Delink GDP from ministers\\u2019 bonuses if economic growth may no longer generate jobs, says Pritam\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T12:26:55+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T14:23:10+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The WP chief goes on to ask if gross domestic product (GDP) growth should remain a criterion for calculating ministerial bonuses if growth may no longer translate into jobs for Singaporeans.Mr Singh cites a statement by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong earlier this year where he said GDP growth may no longer translate into jobs, and argues that the national bonus political office-holders receive should be anchored in one outcome: good jobs for Singaporeans in the age of artificial intelligence.GDP growth rate is one of four indicators that determine the national bonus, which makes up a part of the salaries of political office-holders. The Government earlier announced it is reviewing political salaries in Singapore. Mr Singh also questioned the continued usefulness of two other indicators: the unemployment rate and the real growth rates of the incomes of the bottom 20th percentile of Singaporeans.Responding to the Budget statement, which laid out plans for a national push for AI adoption, Mr Singh adds: \\u201cMore so than before, Singaporeans deserve a well-publicised and detailed report card, one that distinguishes rhetoric about promises kept with measurable outcomes subject to parliamentary and public scrutiny.\\u201dAI dominated this year's Budget, and yet, more than three years after generative AI chatbot ChatGPT changed the world, AI remains an enigma for much of Singapore\\u2019s workforce and many of its businesses, he says.The Budget outlined plans for AI to facilitate business transformation, but while large companies like DBS and Grab have the resources to experiment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not necessarily in the same position, he adds.He adds that he is looking forward to actionable plans from the Government on how SMEs will benefit from AI-related subsidies.AI-related grants and subsidies must be ring-fenced for \\u201ctruly transformative productivity gains\\u201d, so that these taxpayers' subsidies are not gamed or abused, he says.He also asks for a report card on how skills-related agencies are bridging the gap between industry needs, training providers and workers.Mr Singh also questions the distribution of CDC vouchers which are given out on a per household basis, regardless of household size. \\u201cThat is not equitable.\\u201dHe proposed an adjustment to the system to give more money to larger households.He adds that aside from his critiques, the WP supports Budget 2026.PHOTO: ST FILE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ngweikai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Yip Hon Weng suggests avoiding further tax increases in near term, proposes ways to deal with AI transition \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T14:04:37+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T14:12:26+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Given the current surplus position, Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang) suggests that the Government can signal stability by avoiding further tax increases in the near term.While the Government will need to raise revenue when necessary, he says that new measures should be calibrated carefully and remain progressive, with no additional effective burden on lower-income households and revenue adjustments designed with cost pressures in mind.\\u201cWhere space exists, we should use it to cushion households and strengthen trust,\\u201d he says, adding that trust must also underpin Singapore\\u2019s AI transition.He offers three proposals, amid the uncertainty and pressures of automation felt by mid-career workers.First, labour outcomes must be measured, he says. This should include data readiness, genuine process redesign, measurable productivity gains and meaningful workforce upgrading.Next, protect and redesign pathways, so that young Singaporeans can still get a \\u201creal first job\\u201d even as AI takes over routine tasks. Junior workers must learn to be \\u201cAI conductors\\u201d \\u2013 asking the right questions and judging the answers \\u2013 rather than being merely AI users.Lastly, build shared capability and trust, so that there is no AI divide.The newly announced AI Council\\u2019s speed-with-safety model should include tiered risk categories, standardised evaluation and fast-track approvals for low-risk use, he adds.\\u201cWill Government lead by example? Will the public sector pair AI adoption with systematic job redesign and publish measurable outcomes?\\u201d he asks.PHOTO: ST FILE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trust is Singapore\\u2019s competitive advantage in age of global fragmentation, says Victor Lye\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T13:54:40+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T14:07:35+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"In an age of global fragmentation and artificial intelligence development, trust has become a new factor of production which gives Singapore a competitive advantage, says Mr Victor Lye (Ang Mo Kio GRC).With no hinterland to rely on, Singapore\\u2019s hinterland is in how deeply it connects with the rest of the world, he says.To this end, trust will be the connective tissue that allows a small, \\u201cnetwork economy\\u201d like Singapore to orchestrate value across a much larger space, he adds.Mr Lye says the Budget\\u2019s AI missions \\u2013 in the sectors of advanced manufacturing, connectivity, finance and healthcare \\u2013 are strategic growth pathways in which Singaporeans can become a \\u201chuman layer of trust\\u201d that provides the empathy, compassion, credibility and judgment that AI cannot.He proposes three areas that Singapore can leverage, including, firstly, the institutionalisation of trust infrastructure.He suggests that Singapore can develop regulatory sandboxes where AI innovations can be tested, using the nation\\u2019s trusted governance frameworks.Secondly, Singapore can create global trust credentials to enable firms \\u2013 Singaporean or otherwise \\u2013 to carry trusted Singapore-verified credentials.Thirdly, the Republic can develop trusted connectivity standards in important sectors such as maritime, aviation and digital trade, he said. ST PHOTO: JASEL POH\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"yuenc\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Govt must adequately fund local media to counter misinformation in age of AI: Henry Kwek\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T13:13:33+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T13:41:06+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"In the age of AI-generated misinformation, Mr Henry Kwek (Kebun Baru) says local media, such as The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao and CNA, stands between Singaporeans and a manipulated information space.Mr Kwek, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development, says that public service media is \\u201cnot just Singapore's truth infrastructure, but also our trust infrastructure\\u201d.\\u201cI urge the Government to make sure that they are adequately and sustainably funded and our media professionals find a compelling future in them, because our media is a source of our trust and is a key voice of Singapore's soft power,\\u201d he adds.Focusing on AI, Mr Kwek says the technology is now reshaping lives in ways that felt theoretical just a few years ago, and the Budget acknowledges this.He suggests a few areas in which Singapore can move even faster, including supporting AI-centric development for government e-services, IT services and small and medium-sized enterprises.Government e-services are still largely procured through traditional IT methods, says Mr Kwek, who calls for the use of AI as the \\u201cdefault methodology\\u201d instead. He says the Government should work with large technology companies like Google and Microsoft, which have set up AI Centres of Excellence here, to develop a sovereign national AI system anchored on Singapore\\u2019s values.To speed up AI adoption among Singapore\\u2019s IT services industry, the Government should also mandate that its IT contracts require AI-centric development methods, he says.He also urges the Government to offer innovation grants traditionally reserved for larger companies to tech-capable SMEs, and support those that need help adopting AI in day-to-day operations in Singapore. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabchan\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Consistent underestimation of budget surpluses raises questions on whether Government is \\u2018unnecessarily hoarding funds\\u2019: Gerald Giam\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T13:30:26+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T13:40:56+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The House should examine the Government's \\u201crecurring pattern of overly conservative fiscal projections\\u201d, says WP\\u2019s Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC).The revised budget surplus of $15.1 billion is more than double the original estimate of $6.8 billion, he noted. And the discrepancy is not an isolated incident, says Mr Giam.While the Government points to the volatility of tax revenue, this consistent underestimation raises fundamental questions about whether it is \\u201cunnecessarily hoarding funds\\u201d, he says.\\u201cWe need more accurate forecasting that ensures our nation's abundance benefits current generations as much as future generations,\\u201d he adds.This fiscal abundance also raises questions about the Government's tax strategy, with surpluses of well over a billion dollars in all but one of the last five years.Mr Giam asks if Singapore should re-evaluate the necessity of the 2 percentage point goods and services tax hike over two years between 2023 and 2024.\\u201cThe Government said that the GST hike was meant to fund increased healthcare spending in an ageing society, but the Ministry of Health's revised 2025 operating expenditure was $305 million lower than estimated, mainly due to lower than projected funding needs for public healthcare institutions.\\u201cWill the Government be revising its projections for future increases in healthcare expenditure?\\u201dTrue prudence is not just about amassing \\u201cvast fiscal buffers\\u201d, but is about balancing future security with the current needs of Singaporeans, he adds.\\u201cUnnecessary taxation drains liquidity from households up front, creating a dependency on government handouts rather than fostering genuine financial independence.\\u201dSingapore must put its huge fiscal surpluses to use to support and empower the workers in sectors that find themselves stuck in a \\u201cslow growth track\\u201d, he says. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"What to expect from the Budget debate\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T11:31:29+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T13:17:32+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Over the next three days, MPs will debate the Budget statement, which laid out the Government's spending plans for the year. The statement, delivered by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Feb 12, outlined where the record $154.7 billion government expenditure will go.In his speech, PM Wong also laid out plans for a national push for artificial intelligence adoption, as well as pumping more money into support schemes for Singapore businesses and lower-wage workers. The Budget also made a case for more upskilling for working adults and announced the merger of two agencies involved in this task: Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore.We expect MPs to raise their views on these issues. PAP Government Parliamentary Committee chairs (the heads of groups of PAP backbenchers meant to scrutinise government policy) told ST that they will be asking the Government to clarify the guardrails around its AI push. They will also be asking about how it intends to ensure policy reaches workers and businesses on the ground and benefits them in real terms.The Budget statement also revealed the latest estimates for how the Government performed in fiscal terms for the last financial year, and PM Wong announced a surplus of $15.1 billion. This was more than twice the projected $6.8 billion. We expect MPs to query this as well.The missing piece is what the opposition Workers\\u2019 Party will say about the statement. We can expect it to query the surplus, which it did at the last Budget debate when Singapore also announced a larger-than-expected surplus for the 2024 financial year. Its other lines of argument are likely to centre on ensuring proper oversight and accountability for the Government\\u2019s new spending plans.After MPs make their points, the PM will return on the third day (usually) to wrap up the debate. He will address their concerns before the House moves on to debate each individual ministry\\u2019s spending plans at what is called the Committee of Supply debates. PHOTO: ST FILE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Singapore must be prepared, stay vigilant amid changing world order: Vikram Nair\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T12:55:59+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T13:10:33+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Supporting the Budget, Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang GRC) speaks on the changes in the international world order that has provided a stable backdrop for Singapore\\u2019s success since independence.But the global environment is rapidly evolving, he adds, amid heightened geopolitical rivalry, economic fragmentation and a growing willingness by some states to prioritise what they believe to be national interests over collective commitments.Mr Nair, who is the Government Parliamentary Chair for Home Affairs and Law, cites the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as that in Gaza, as examples. Closer to home, tensions in the South China Sea continue to test the strength of international maritime law.\\u201cThe most dramatic changes in the last two years have probably been the position of the United States,\\u201d he says. Last year\\u2019s concerns were the imposition of tariffs on allies and competitors alike. This year, the capture of the Venezuelan President was contrary to peremptory norms against the use of force.Singapore must stay vigilant and be prepared to deal with emerging threats and challenges, he says, welcoming the Government's continued commitment to invest in Singapore's defence. This includes boosting capacity in emerging domains of competition, including cyberdefence capabilities and building trusted AI governance frameworks.Singapore can play a bridging role in this new world order, he adds, citing the country\\u2019s strong defence and economic ties with the US, constructive engagement with China and firm ties with ASEAN.But the Republic\\u2019s role is not to choose sides in power competition, but to \\u201cmaintain open channels with all\\u201d while staying firmly grounded in principles of sovereignty, peaceful dispute resolution, open trade and international law, says Mr Nair. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabriellea\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Budget surplus gives Singapore more \\u2018ammunition\\u2019 to face storms ahead: Alex Yam\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T12:44:01+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T12:53:09+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Because Singapore has a budget surplus, Singapore has more \\u201cammunition\\u201d to face storms ahead amid an uncertain world, says Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC), who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Culture, Community and Youth.Citing intensifying great power rivalry and how supply chains and financial systems can shift overnight, Mr Yam, speaking in Mandarin, describes the surplus as insurance and not a luxury. Still, a fiscal surplus \\u2013 such as the $15.1 billion surplus revealed by PM Lawrence Wong in his Budget speech \\u2013 does not mean that people feel no pressure, he adds. They have worries such as whether artificial intelligence will replace their jobs, or whether prices will continue to rise, for instance.Mr Yam \\u2013 who is also Mayor of North West District \\u2013 says he has heard the Government being criticised as fiscally irresponsible when it runs a deficit, or said to have miscalculated when it runs a surplus.National finances are not month-end accounts, but are an intergenerational responsibility, he says, noting that in recent years, Singapore\\u2019s budgets have not only met fiscal targets, but have also won a larger battle.A surplus does not mean over-taxation, Mr Yam says. It means that in an uncertain world, Singapore planned using conservative assumptions, and reality has turned out better than expected.The goods and services tax \\u2013 which was raised from 7 per cent to 9 per cent over two years, in 2023 and 2024 \\u2013 is a long-term structural revenue source that is different from a fiscal surplus, which is largely cyclical, he says. Long-term responsibilities cannot be funded by short-term fortune, he adds.He cites examples, such as how ageing does not disappear with economic cycles. Using cyclical revenue to fund permanent obligations is akin to using one\\u2019s bonus to pay a mortgage, he says.As great power rivalry intensifies and international law and trade rules come under strain, small and middle powers must cooperate more closely, Mr Yam says, adding that \\u201cSingapore has never grown amidst an environment of certainty\\u201d.Ending his speech, Mr Yam says he supports the Budget.PHOTO: ST FILE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Look beyond SkillsFuture to help PMETs, suggests Christopher de Souza\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T11:29:19+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T12:49:10+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Professionals, managers, engineers and technicians (PMETs) \\u2013 in particular those in the IT and engineering sectors \\u2013 are finding it \\u201cextremely difficult\\u201d to get alternative jobs, says Deputy Speaker Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC).He says residents have raised this issue to him during house visits, and asks the Government to consider going beyond SkillsFuture to look at mentorship programmes and lateral hires to help such workers.Responding, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon says the unions have already been working to place workers who have lost their jobs in related sectors where there are job openings, and the Government will continue to support this.Dr Koh adds that the Government is \\u201cgoing upstream\\u201d to look at how workers can be helped earlier in their careers to ensure they can stay in their jobs in the first place and also prepare to pivot when there are shifts in their industries. This involves helping workers when they are in their early 40s, instead of waiting until they are near retirement or in danger of retrenchment and also making available services for people to be \\u201cheadhunted\\u201d if they are open to other opportunities while employed.Structural unemployment risks for PMETs remain \\u201clow and stable,\\u201d he adds.But rapid technological change and shifts in the external economic environment mean that workers should regularly upskill. PHOTO: ST FILE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ngweikai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Broaden asset building with \\u2018Singapore Opportunity Account\\u2019: Saktiandi Supaat\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T12:00:46+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T12:48:15+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) is calling for a more explicit life cycle mobility framework and the introduction of a \\u201cSingapore Opportunity Account\\u201d to help lower-income households build assets over time.He notes that while real income has grown and inequality declined, two structural realities remain: wealth inequality remains higher than income inequality, and relative mobility may moderate as our economy matures.\\u201cThe challenge is that wealth compounds faster than wages, and wealth generates optionality\\u2026 over time, opportunity can become linked to starting point,\\u201d Mr Saktiandi says.He suggests broadening capital participation through making the CPF life investment scheme simple and keeping its fees low, as well as a \\u201cSingapore Opportunity Account\\u201d with a modest asset-building element that compounds over time.With the Government providing a modest starting stake and progressive top-ups for low-income households, such an account can provide a \\u201csafe, low-cost investment structure\\u201d and be used to support education, skills upgrading, housing support enhancements or CPF top ups, he adds.\\u201cThis is not redistribution. It is structured participation in asset building,\\u201d he says.\\u201cIn this way, we are not just supporting income, we are enabling mobility across the life cycle.\\u201d \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabchan\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Increase income tax exemption threshold and make adjustments for those in higher-income tiers, suggests PAP's Saktiandi Supaat\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T11:34:13+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T12:48:11+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Trade and Industry, kicks off the debate, calling on the Government to raise the $20,000 personal income tax exemption threshold to address \\u201cbracket creep\\u201d and ensure the tax structure remains fair for lower- and middle-income earners.He notes that the $20,000 threshold has remained unchanged since 2002, despite median incomes doubling and the GST increasing over the last two decades.\\u201cIn real terms, its value has eroded\\u2026 More low- and middle-income earners enter the tax base not because they are significantly better off, but because the system has not been recalibrated,\\u201d he says.Mr Saktiandi, who is also an economist, suggests raising the threshold to $25,000 or $30,000 so that more lower- and middle-income families can be exempt from paying taxes.He adds that this can be paired with calibrated adjustments at higher income tiers, so overall revenue sustainability can be preserved without undermining fiscal discipline.By doing so, the Government can strengthen progressivity while ensuring the low end of the income tax structure also remains appropriately calibrated given the \\u201chigh reliance on indirect taxation and evolving cost of living realities\\u201d.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"\\u2018Political timing\\u2019 of GE2025 put PAP in most advantageous position, \\u2018remarkably little information\\u2019 on tariffs since then: Pritam Singh\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T12:19:51+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T12:43:45+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The political timing of the 2025 General Election was calculated to put the PAP in the most advantageous position, says WP chief Pritam Singh \\u2013 who did not speak first in the debate unlike last year, when he was still officially Leader of the Opposition. Rising to speak in the debate on Budget 2026 \\u2013 the first Budget since the election \\u2013 Mr Singh says the announcement of global tariffs by US President Donald Trump served as a rallying call for voters to \\u201cback the tried and tested\\u201d.\\u201cThe spectre of the Liberation Day tariffs loomed large over Singapore in April last year, the PAP government dissolved Parliament just days after the Trump administration's announcement.\\u201dBut since then, there has been \\\"remarkably little information\\u201d of the sectoral tariffs and their actual impact on Singapore, he says.He adds that despite all this, the Government has begun its new term with the largest fiscal surplus any PAP government has seen in decades. This was $15.1 billion, announced by PM Wong in his Budget speech on Feb 12.Mr Singh\\u2019s speech will cover the broader geo-strategic environment and its implications for Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong\\u2019s earlier statement that economic growth may no longer translate into jobs, and the Budget announcements. He will also touch on the fiscal position and call for more cost-of-living support measures for low- and middle-income Singaporeans, and for families with children.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Differentiated approach needed to support workers with chronic illnesses: Shawn Huang\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T11:30:38+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T12:02:28+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Those with chronic illnesses are a diverse group, and a differentiated approach is needed to support them, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Shawn Huang says, in response to Nominated MP Terence Ho's question on whether the ministry will consider extending wage offsets or other forms of support to encourage employers to hire them.For example, Mr Huang says that those who require time for treatment, such as dialysis patients, may request flexible work schedules to accommodate their treatment regimen. The Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests support such requests, he adds.Others might need workplace adjustments or modified duties to ease physical strain and workloads, which employers would need to work out on a case-by-case basis, he adds. Those who are on longer-term immunosuppressives may need the understanding and support of employers to provide less crowded workplaces and personal protective equipment.To find roles that fit their needs, individuals can tap a broader suite of employment support, including job matching and career advisory services provided by Workforce Singapore and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute, says Mr Huang.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabriellea\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"End of question time\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T11:30:58+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T11:30:58+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"We wrap the 30 minutes of question time for today and proceed with the debate on the Budget statement that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered on Feb 12.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"More work to be done despite lower cancer mortality in Singapore: Rahayu Mahzam\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T11:12:28+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T11:26:41+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Advances in healthcare have led to earlier cancer detection and better treatment, lowering cancer mortality, Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam says in response to a question from Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang).Mr Yip asked what specific policy decisions or healthcare investments the Ministry of Health credits the improvement with, as well as how it ensures these benefits reach lower-income and less health-literate Singaporeans equally.Data from the Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2023, published in January 2026, showed that the cancer death rate in Singapore has fallen by 21 per cent since 2012.According to the report, there were 72 cancer deaths for every 100,000 people for the period between 2019 and 2023, down from 91 between 2008 and 2012. Meanwhile, the five-year survival rate rose from 53 per cent to 61 per cent.Ms Rahayu says that more work needs to be done, especially in cancer prevention. This includes modifying risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and alcohol consumption, as well as encouraging vaccinations that reduce the risk of specific cancers and detect the onset of cancer early through screening.When asked by Mr Yip if there is a gap in access to cancer drugs for those from different income brackets, Ms Rahayu says that while there is \\u201cnothing stopping\\u201d those with higher incomes from buying more expensive insurance plans that cover all drugs, the ministry ensures that the most clinically effective and cost-effective drugs are available to all.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"gabriellea\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Over 160,000 frontline personnel, volunteers trained to identify people in mental distress\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T11:14:20+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T11:20:22+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Under the National Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy, more than 160,000 frontline personnel and volunteers have been trained to identify people in mental distress and guide them to get necessary support, Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health Koh Poh Koon says in response to a query from WP\\u2019s He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC).Ms He had asked for an update on key initiatives under the strategy since its launch in 2023. The strategy adopts a tiered model of care, with support catered to the severity of individuals\\u2019 needs across health, social and education settings.In 2023, there was an existing pool of more than 90,000 volunteers and frontline personnel trained in mental health awareness.On Ms He\\u2019s question on how the Government assesses whether the strategy is on track, Dr Koh says the National Mental Health Office \\u2013 set up in 2024 \\u2013 sets and tracks population-level and programme-specific indicators that broadly cover mental health outcomes, accessibility to appropriate care, mental health literacy and attitudes towards individuals with mental health conditions.The performances and targets are regularly reviewed, he adds.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"MOE still reviewing measures to discourage undesirable advertising behaviours by tuition centres\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T11:04:00+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T11:18:38+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Ministry of Education is reviewing measures needed to discourage undesirable advertising practices by tuition and private education providers, says Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Syed Harun Alhabsyi.He is responding to Dr Hamid Razak (West Coast-Jurong West GRC) who had asked for a progress update on the development and enforcement of new advertising guidelines and a code of conduct for tuition and private education services \\u2013 a review first announced by then Minister of State for Education Gan Siow Huang in February 2025.He had also asked how the ministry will monitor and enforce compliance of these guidelines to protect parents and students from fear-based marketing.Currently, all advertisements in Singapore are subject to the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice, and tuition and other private education providers should comply with the quote, Dr Syed Harun says.\\u201cThe code requires advertisements to be legal, decent, honest and truthful, and be prepared with a sense of responsibility to the consumer and society,\\u201d he says, and adds that advertisements should not capitalise on anxieties to induce demand for tuition services.Acknowledging the anxiety that stems from the \\u201cperceived stakes of academic grades\\u201d, Dr Syed Harun says MOE will engage parents, students and educators in the coming months to see how the ministry can reduce the \\\"arms race\\\" in education.These engagements were previously announced by Education Minister Desmond Lee in January, in an interview with local media. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Parliament begins\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T11:00:56+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T11:00:56+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The MPs are in the House and . We start with a question from Dr Hamid Razak (West Coast-Jurong West GRC) \\u2013 he is asking for an update on the Education Ministry\\u2019s new guidelines for tuition agency advertisements. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"ngweikai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Welcome to our Parliament live blog \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T10:00:09+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T10:42:18+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Hi everyone. Hold on to your seats, it\\u2019s the Budget debate. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"What to watch out for today\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T10:11:49+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T10:35:55+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"We\\u2019ll start with the usual parliamentary questions before moving on to the debate proper. Here\\u2019s what\\u2019s on the menu for the Government to answer:Guidelines for tuition ads: Dr Hamid Razak (West-Coast Jurong West GRC) has asked the Government on its progress in developing and implementing guidelines for tuition and private education ads. The Education Ministry had in February 2025 said it was studying how to discourage tuition centres from using \\u201cundesirable advertising practices\\u201d like appealing to parents\\u2019 anxieties and fear of missing out.Cancer and mental health: Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang) has asked the Government what policy or investment accounts for new stats that a 21 per cent decline in cancer mortality since 2012 despite rising diagnoses, and how the ministry will ensure these benefits reach lower-income Singaporeans equally. Meanwhile, WP\\u2019s He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC) has asked for an update on initiatives under a national mental health strategy launched in 2023, and about how the Government assesses whether the strategy is on track to achieve its intended outcomes. Support for PMETs: Deputy Speaker Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) has asked two questions regarding support for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs), including on the Government\\u2019s assessment of the structural unemployment risks they face and if it will consider reviewing how SkillsFuture works for them.After a shorter-than-usual question time (half an hour has been scheduled), Parliament will start its debate on the record $154.7 billion Budget delivered by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Feb 12.Over the next three days or so, some 60-plus MPs (out of a total of 108 MPs, NCMPs and NMPs) are expected to speak in the debate on the Budget statement.Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Trade and Industry, is slated to kick off the debate, followed by Workers\\u2019 Party chief Pritam Singh.Overall, we expect the speeches to largely be on three big themes: AI, income and wealth inequality, and the fiscal position. Read our Unpacked newsletter for more on what to expect.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Goh Yan Han\"}}]}","keywords":"Budget 2026, Singapore, Singapore Budget, Budget Live, Lawrence Wong, Ministry of Finance, AI, COS debate","robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1","image":"https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/articles/2026/02/26/aflawrencewong2602.jpg?VersionId=CtXIUh1dXLeNl7PDch7vfxKZNtesvyje"},"gaData":{"level2":"23","chapter1":"","chapter2":"","title":"Live:_MPs_to_query_Govt_on_AI_guardrails,_inequality_and_fiscal_strategy_in_Budget_2026_debate","title_ga":"Live: MPs to query Govt on AI guardrails, inequality and fiscal strategy in Budget 2026 debate","pagination":"1","contenttype":"live blog"}},"dependentPaths":[]}}},"actionData":null,"errors":null}