Beyond the hype: Will AI eat Singapore's lunch or provide it in the future?
It is not just about driving gross domestic product growth, but creating a nation where technology empowers us and creates meaningful jobs that provide for families, says the writer.
As Singaporeans celebrate SG60, let us take a moment to appreciate how far Singapore has come – from a swampy outpost with typewriters and transistor radios, to a slick digital dynamo where a robot might some day help your grandma remember to take her meds. You see, if countries had tech resumes, Singapore's would stand out to most hiring committees. 'Early adopter of mainframes.' Check. 'Built a national broadband network before some cities had stable electricity.' Check. 'One of the most digitalised cities in the world with an internet penetration rate of around 96 per cent and ranked second globally in the IMD Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025.' Double check.
Yet, as we commemorate this milestone, the tides are turning. Tariffs and geopolitical tensions have stirred up uncertainty and volatility. It is timely then, that on Aug 4, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong announced
the launch of the Economic Strategy Review (ESR) , aimed at strengthening Singapore's competitiveness. Five committees will be tasked to do a comprehensive review of Singapore's economic strategy, one of which will look at harnessing technology and innovation, such as artificial intelligence (AI), to drive economic growth and competitiveness. The other committees will focus on areas such as entrepreneurship, human capital, and the impact of restructuring the economy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Online Citizen
20 hours ago
- Online Citizen
Singapore at 60: The secret talks and political risks behind separation from Malaysia
On the morning of 9 August 1965, Singaporeans woke to news that would change their history. At 9.30am, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman told Parliament that Singapore was leaving the Federation of Malaysia. Barely three hours later, in Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew appeared on television. His voice broke, his eyes brimmed with tears, and he called it 'a moment of anguish' — the end of the merger he had fought for just two years earlier. For decades, the story would be told as a sudden expulsion. Yet, archival records, memoirs, and even a 1965 U.S. Embassy telegram reveal a more complex truth: the separation was the outcome of secret talks, calculated risks, and decisions made by a handful of leaders under intense political pressure. The road to merger The Malaysia Agreement, signed on 9 July 1963, was meant to reunite Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Malaya. For Lee Kuan Yew and the PAP, merger was both a nationalist goal and a political necessity. As historian Dr Thum Ping Tjin explained in a 2015 interview, 'In 1957, a survey found 90% of Singaporeans in favour of merger. It wasn't just an ideal — if you wanted to win elections, you had to be openly for reunification with Malaya.' Lee himself saw merger as a platform to influence politics in Kuala Lumpur and perhaps rise to lead a united Malaysia. But the terms of merger were not equal. Singaporeans could only vote in Singapore. PAP politicians could not contest mainland seats. These restrictions limited Lee's ambitions from the start. Early rifts On 31 August 1963 — just over two weeks before Malaysia's formal formation — Lee declared Singapore's unilateral independence and called a general election. This blindsided Tunku Abdul Rahman. The September 1963 elections pitted PAP against Malaysia's ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN). BN lost every seat it contested, including three Malay-majority constituencies in Singapore. For Tunku, it was a warning: Malay voters on the island were not reliably UMNO supporters. In 1964, PAP broke another informal pledge by contesting 11 mainland seats in Malaysia's general election. Only Devan Nair won — in Bangsar — but the move was seen as a direct challenge to UMNO's political dominance. 1964: Riots and mistrust Relations soured further with the 21 July 1964 racial riots in Singapore. Scores were killed, hundreds injured, and mutual trust eroded. Dr Thum notes that Lee, who had once used racial arguments to push for merger, now began championing a 'Malaysian Malaysia' — equal rights regardless of race. For UMNO leaders, this reversal appeared opportunistic and threatening. In December 1964, during a golf game, Tunku proposed to Goh Keng Swee a looser federation: Singapore would leave Malaysia's Parliament but still pay for defence and surrender control over Malay affairs on the island. Goh rejected the terms as politically unacceptable. 1965: A choice takes shape By mid-1965, the political relationship was beyond repair. In June, Lee delivered his 'Malaysia for Malaysians' speech at the Malaysian Solidarity Convention, earning his wife Kwa Geok Choo's praise but further alienating UMNO. In July, while recovering from illness in London, Tunku decided Singapore must leave. On 15 July, Malaysian ministers Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman and Ja'afar Albar met Goh in Kuala Lumpur. The meeting began as a criticism of Lee but turned into a proposal for separation. Goh agreed in principle, warning that delay would only strengthen Lee's position. Only Lee, Goh, Law Minister E.W. Barker, and Finance Minister Lim Kim San were aware. On 26 July, Goh arrived with a handwritten note from Lee authorising him to negotiate. Barker began drafting the separation agreement. Risk and secrecy The talks carried enormous personal risk. If they failed, Goh and Barker could be charged with sedition under Malaysia's constitution. One telephone conversation between Goh and Lee was conducted in halting Mandarin to keep the operator from understanding. On 3 August, Tun Abdul Razak presented Tunku's conditions: Singapore must contribute to Malaysia's defence budget and avoid foreign defence pacts. Goh sidestepped these points, saying Singapore lacked resources to build a military. By 6 August, the draft was nearly final. That night, Goh and Barker travelled to Kuala Lumpur to complete the deal. They negotiated late into the night. When Barker returned, Lee reportedly thanked him for delivering 'a bloodless coup'. Cabinet resistance On 7 August, Lee revealed the plan to the PAP Cabinet. Opposition came from Foreign Minister S. Rajaratnam and Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye, who saw separation as a betrayal of Sabah and Sarawak allies. They even considered contacting communist militants to resist a Malaysian takeover — an idea Lee rejected. By 8 August, preparations moved quickly. PAP leaders spread the news to party activists across Malaysia. That night, the separation documents were printed in secrecy in Serangoon. The British were informed only after signatures were secured. 9 August 1965: Announcements in two capitals At 9.30am, Tunku told the Malaysian Parliament that Singapore was leaving. The constitutional amendment passed, but only after Tunku warned Alliance MPs he would resign if they refused. According to the U.S. Embassy telegram, this ultimatum damaged Tunku's image as a unifier but cemented his dominance over the Alliance. Only one senior figure — UMNO Secretary-General Ja'afar Albar — defied him, and was forced to resign. At noon, Lee addressed Singaporeans in an emotional broadcast. Behind the public grief was a political reality: by leaving Malaysia, Lee secured unchallenged leadership in Singapore. Shockwaves in Malaysian politics The separation left no one fully satisfied. The U.S. Embassy reported that only the communist-influenced Socialist Front and some far-right Malay nationalists appeared pleased. Malay extremists in UMNO were bitter. Some younger members might have followed Albar in a revolt, but he publicly pledged loyalty to Tunku while quietly working to strengthen his position. Among the Chinese political class, the reaction was sharp. MCA youth were furious that their leaders had allowed what they saw as the 'ejection' of 1.5 million Chinese from Malaysia, weakening their bargaining power. MCA leader Tan Siew Sin told party youth that separation was a tragedy but unavoidable, placing blame on Lee and urging unity. Economic calculations On paper, Malaysia lost significant resources with Singapore's departure. The loss of promised development funds for Borneo was cited as a blow, but cooperation had already been minimal. Singapore's commitment to a M$150 million loan was conditional on labour access for Borneo — a point never agreed. Economic ties, however, could not be severed easily. While tariffs and quotas on Malaysian goods caused initial animosity, both governments recognised their interdependence. A 'common market' remained possible, and many businessmen were optimistic trade relations could be repaired if politics stayed out of the way. Nation-building in Singapore For Lee, independence meant both a political victory and a new challenge. Dr Thum notes that Lee had to abandon the Malayan identity he had championed since 1959 and instead emphasise a distinct Singaporean identity. Policies shifted towards English and Chinese as dominant languages, while Malay remained the national language in name. Economically, Singapore moved towards an open, export-driven model, free from Kuala Lumpur's protectionist policies. Sixty years later Today, Singapore marks its 60th National Day with a clearer understanding of 1965's events. The separation was not a sudden ejection but the outcome of covert manoeuvres, calculated risks, and political trade-offs. It was, in Lee's words, a 'bloodless coup' — and one that set both nations on divergent but enduringly connected paths.
AsiaOne
a day ago
- AsiaOne
Malaysia's border control agency gives ICA cake to mark SG60, Singapore News
Singapore received an early birthday present from its neighbours up north on Thursday (Aug 7). The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) welcomed the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) to Woodlands Checkpoint, where our Malaysian counterparts presented a cake for Singapore's 60th birthday. ICA took to Facebook on Aug 8 to commemorate the visit. The caption read: "ICA looks forward to strengthening our partnership, continuing our collaboration, and ensuring smooth trade and safe travels at our land borders." Multiple photos of the visit accompanied the post, including a few displaying the SG60 cake. The cake featured Singapore's red and white flag colours, along with four characters holding up the national flag. Each character seems to represent one of the country's four major ethnic groups: Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian. A special message was also on the cake, "Unity beyond borders". According to an AKPS Facebook post on Aug 7, this visit has become something of a tradition as both agencies would meet up for this annual exchange programme. Objectives of the programme include maintaining bilateral cooperation, improving operational efficiency and strengthening border security. [[nid:713143]] amierul@
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Marc-Andre ter Stegen back as Barcelona captain after signing La Liga medical authorisation
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BARCELONA – Barcelona have reinstated Marc-Andre ter Stegen as first-team captain after announcing on Friday that the goalkeeper has authorised the club to send his medical report to La Liga. The announcement comes after the German hit back at suggestions he is to blame for Barcelona's inability to register new players, insisting that his back surgery and recovery timeline were fully approved by the club. His three-month rehabilitation created an unexpected headache for Barcelona, who had asked him to sign a long-term medical leave that would allow them to clear 80 per cent of his wages until mid-season and comply with La Liga's Financial Fair Play rules, thereby allowing them to register new players. But ter Stegen's announcement on social media that he would be sidelined for only three months irked the club management as La Liga rules require a player to remain out of action for at least four months to be considered a long-term injury. The disagreement led to the 33-year-old being stripped of the club's captaincy on Thursday. 'The club announces that the player Marc-Andre ter Stegen has signed the authorisation necessary for the club to send La Liga the medical report relating to his surgery,' Barcelona said in a statement. 'The disciplinary case has been closed and the player is captain of the first team once again with immediate effect.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump says he will meet Putin on Aug 15 in Alaska Opinion This US-India spat is going from bad to worse Asia Chinese villagers hit by worst floods in generations say they had no warning Singapore 'This is home', for retired shop owner putting up 11th flag display in Toa Payoh to mark SG60 Singapore Nation building is every Singaporean's responsibility, not the work of one party alone: Pritam Asia 'Very nerdy' hobby of doujinshi self-publishing is a growing billion-dollar market in Japan Business Are you set to retire comfortably in Singapore? Business When a couple's two-home dream turns into nightmare Ter Stegen was adamant that club officials had always been kept in the loop about his treatment and rehabilitation. 'The decision to undergo surgery was made after consultation with medical professionals and fully approved by the club,' he said earlier on Friday in a statement on Instagram. 'Moreover, I announced publicly the minimum recovery timing that I shall need after that, which had been communicated to me by most reputed experts and always in coordination with the club.' Barca signed 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol last month, while Marcus Rashford was signed on loan from Manchester United. However, both players are yet to be registered with the new La Liga season kicking off on August 15. Despite ter Stegen signing the authorisation, La Liga's Medical Committee must still rule on his case, with their estimated recovery time for the goalkeeper determining whether Barcelona can use part of his salary to register new signings. The controversy highlights Barcelona's financial struggles as they battle to register new signings once again. Last season, the club approached Spain's National Sports Council to allow them to field Dani Olmo and Pau Victor until the end of the season after La Liga said they did not have the capacity to register the two players based on their accounts. REUTERS
