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Straits Times
11-08-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
New government review committee in talks with firms to broaden and deepen AI adoption
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo (second from right) and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan (left) looking at live demonstrations of AI technologies transforming finance and supply chain management at PwC's flagship AI Hub on Aug 11. SINGAPORE – A new government committee set up to harness technology to drive economic growth has begun talking to businesses here on how artificial intelligence (AI) use can be broadened and deepened. Such talks will help to ascertain the critical mass of AI users that Singapore needs to cultivate to turbocharge the entire business ecosystem, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said on Aug 11. 'One of the areas that I believe the review committee will specifically look at is how AI adoption can be broadened and deepened,' she said, during a visit to professional services firm PwC's AI Hub at Marina One on Aug 11. 'And what that means is how many companies (are needed) in order for us to get that critical mass for the ecosystem to be turbocharged.' The Committee on Technology and Innovation is one of five committees under the Economic Strategy Review announced by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Aug 4 to chart a forward-looking blueprint to secure quality opportunities for Singapore businesses and workers. The review is part of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT), formed earlier in 2025 to help affected businesses and workers navigate uncertainties sparked by US tariffs on Singapore goods. The Committee on Technology and Innovation – led by Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Digital Development and Information, and Ms Goh Hanyan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, and Sustainability and the Environment – will also look at the number of people gaining fluency in and being meaningful users of AI in their specific domains, Mrs Teo said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Lower-wage retail workers to receive up to 6% pay bump from Sept 1 Singapore Keppel to sell M1's telco business to Simba for $1.43b, says deal expected to benefit consumers Singapore ST Explains: Who owns Simba, the company that is buying M1? Singapore Telco price undercutting expected to subside after sale of M1 to Simba: Analysts Singapore ST Explains: What is Vers and which HDB estates could it be rolled out in? Singapore For Vers to work, compensation should account for varied needs of HDB flat owners: Observers World US military is preparing to deploy National Guard in Washington, DC, official says Singapore Ong Ye Kung rebuts complaints about treatment of stallholders at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre 'One very important question is: Are there skills that the broader workforce will be able to acquire to become even more future-ready than they are today? 'So, I think the specific target, the specific areas of work (the committee) will certainly look at (is) the number of companies that will adopt AI meaningfully,' she said, adding that the committee will also look at expanding the pool of AI practitioners. When asked about concerns people may have of AI affecting jobs, Mrs Teo said that based on her observations during company visits, it is people with AI skills who are more likely to edge out those without them, rather than AI replacing workers. She said businesses that integrate AI applications into the way they work are more likely to be able to serve their customers better and improve their productivity and bottom line. 'When you think about the fact that the economy is made up of enterprises, then the national-level competition is also quite clear... A country that is able to adopt AI in a broader and deeper manner stands a better chance of providing its citizens with more opportunities for growth in their work lives,' she said. Mrs Teo, who co-leads one of the SERT work streams focused on establishing regular communication between the Government, businesses and workers, noted that the work of the Committee on Technology and Innovation builds on existing initiatives such as Smart Nation 2.0 and the National AI Strategy. During their Aug 11 visit to PwC's AI Hub – which opened in January – Mrs Teo and Ms Goh observed how AI technologies are used in areas such as shipping operations and tax filing. Ms Goh, who was previously a director in the Smart Nation Strategy Office and the national AI group for policy and strategy at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information before joining politics, said the benefits of technology cannot just be for those with resources, but for a broad swathe of businesses, both big and small. 'It is important for us to meet the companies where they are, what their different contexts are, what their pain points are, and figure out ways to support them,' she said. Noting that companies with more resources have the potential to develop in-house solutions, Ms Goh said smaller firms could be given access to ready-made and affordable solutions. She added that strategies for helping these firms with AI can be adapted from past initiatives such as SMEs Go Digital, which encourages such companies to adopt digital solutions and technologies to enhance their capabilities.
Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
S'pore's ‘most ambitious' volunteerism, philanthropy campaign to mark SG60
From right: Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan, Colonel Chong Shi Hao – chairman of NDP 2025's executive committee – and National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre CEO Tony Soh.. PHOTO: TARYN NG SINGAPORE – A national campaign to encourage volunteerism and philanthropy to commemorate Singapore's 60th birthday is its most ambitious edition yet, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan. The third edition of the #GiveAsOneSG campaign will be longer, running for 60 days, and features more charities and causes than previously, said Ms Goh, who is also Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Speaking at the launch event on June 19, she said: 'Whether you are passionate about supporting persons with disabilities, engaging seniors, promoting our arts and sports or protecting the environment, there are meaningful opportunities for everyone.' The campaign, which is themed 60 Days of Giving to mark Singapore's 60th year of independence and runs until Aug 10, is jointly organised by the National Day Parade (NDP) committee and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). Singaporeans can support a variety of causes such as people with disabilities, the elderly, animals and the environment listed at through donations or volunteering. One of the new initiatives introduced in 2025 is NVPC's Flexi Volunteering Programme (FVP), designed to help companies kick-start regular volunteering efforts, with opportunities that require lower frequency and hours. NVPC aims to get 60 companies by December to contribute at least 60 volunteer hours in at least two volunteering sessions each – adding up to a collective target of 3,600 hours – with 10 community partners, including the Autism Association (Singapore) and the Caregiving Welfare Association. Addressing company representatives at the launch event, NVPC chief executive Tony Soh noted that business can be a positive force for good in society. 'It does not matter where you sit in the corporate hierarchy or what role you play because there are diverse opportunities where everyone can give and everyone can contribute,' he said. 'It is not just about how much money you can give, but also about rallying your colleagues, business partners and friends to contribute in whatever ways they can, towards building a more caring, inclusive and compassionate society.' The FVP builds on insights from Project V, a 2023 pilot initiative by NVPC and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) that matched companies with social service agencies that need ongoing support. This ensured reliable volunteer support for the agencies to improve their services and ensure they are able to make a difference to their causes consistently. Ms Goh called on Singaporeans to find a cause close to their heart to champion. PHOTO: TARYN NG Under Project V, over 2,400 corporate volunteers contributed more than 6,000 volunteer hours in 2024, touching the lives of over 10,000 service users, Ms Goh said. Among them were 48 volunteers from global agri-commodity firm Agrocorp International, who partnered with Bartley Community Care Services to promote mental and physical wellness among elderly residents. The #GiveAsOneSG campaign aligns closely with the broader theme of Majulah Singapura for NDP 2025, which honours 60 years of nation-building and looks ahead to the future, said Colonel Chong Shi Hao, chairman of the parade's executive committee and commander of the 3rd Singapore Division. 'The spirit of giving is synonymous with the spirit of celebrating as one Singapore. It strengthens the sense of belonging and unity among all Singaporeans... It reminds us that even as we progress, we are a nation that leaves no man behind,' he said. Mr Soh and Ms Goh playing with an assistant dog from charity K9Assistance. PHOTO: TARYN NG At the launch event held at the Devan Nair Institute For Employment And Employability in Jurong East, Ms Goh and Mr Soh also visited booths by various charities, including the Kidney Dialysis Foundation, Lions Home for the Elderly and K9Assistance. Among the community partners present was the Caregiving Welfare Association, whose executive director Steven Yeo welcomed the FVP, saying that he hopes the association can collaborate with companies to better support seniors and caregivers. 'As a community partner, we are excited to offer tailored volunteering opportunities that align with our mission of uplifting our beneficiaries, while engaging the corporate sector in ways that have a lasting impact,' he said. 'This initiative allows us to create stronger, more diverse partnerships that benefit both our cause and the volunteers who get involved, in support of SG60.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
New mentoring programme for S'pore youth to develop solutions for social issues
Mr Josiah Cheng (right) from NUS presenting the university's initiative to bring digital access and digital literacy to disadvantaged groups to Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan at Gen2025 on June 5. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN SINGAPORE – Under a new mentoring programme, Singapore's young people are encouraged to come up with solutions to social issues such climate change and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs. The Gen2050 youth action programme, launched on June 5, will provide mentoring through structured modules to the first batch of 100 students from i nstitutes of higher learning. In one of the modules, participants can receive up to $5,000 in funding for each project from the National Youth Council (NYC), which will run the programme with KPMG in Singapore and the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore. At the launch event, NYC chief executive David Chua said that even if the projects do not come to fruition, 'just the fact that (the youth) take action and go halfway is also a good outcome. That seeds something for the future that they can come to again, to take action in other ways and forms'. 'They will still gain invaluable lessons, connections and insights that will shore up their confidence,' he added. Gen2050 has four modules, where experts will cover identifying pressing social issues and analysing the scope of the problem; creating proposals and measuring the effectiveness of potential solutions; managing stakeholders; and creating compelling pitches. The module on crafting compelling pitches includes a practical section where teams can receive up to $5,000 from NYC to fund a project and pitch their ideas to industry partners. Dialogues will be held as part of a second track of the programme, giving young people an opportunity to hold conversations with policymakers and industry professionals on topics concerning youth. The dialogues and modules are collectively expected to reach more than 1,000 young people. After the participants have completed the four modules, they will develop ideas and solutions to social issues, and pitch their projects to different organisations. Seed funding will be given to selected teams, and their ideas will be piloted if they are feasible. Those who have completed the modules may be considered for other national youth leadership programmes. The programme aims to reach youth from all backgrounds, and will tap institutes of higher learning to find suitable participants. NYC will also use its links with social service agencies to find youth facing adversity who may be interested to join the programme. The team will conduct outreach events to recruit prospective applicants. (From left) President of the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore Ross Gan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan and managing partner from KPMG Singapore Lee Sze Yeng at Gen2050 on June 5. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan, who attended the launch event, said that youth today have enjoyed stronger education and greater exposure. Addressing the young people in the audience, she said during a dialogue session: 'Being connected globally gives greater awareness and understanding of what is happening around the world, to know what problems you want to solve and what has been done out there. 'I think there is a lot of power in your hands that you can wield if you find something that you are truly passionate about.' Policymaking in the past could have seemed like a black box as the Government would roll out policies on its own, but this is no longer the case, she added. 'Now within the Government, they are giving space to bring in voices of the citizens and youth to better inform how our policies should look like,' she said. 'We have come a long way as a society – we are genuinely interested in co-creation and it is not just lip-service. .. There is funding out there, there is support. The question is, what are you interested in? And how are you intending to come up with a solution for it? ' Managing partner of KPMG in Singapore Lee Sze Yeng said that young people have the passion and energy to address pressing challenges like social sustainability and climate change. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan taking a wefie with participants at Gen2050. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN National University of Singapore (NUS) undergraduate Josiah Chieng, 22, is part of a team of communications and new media (CNM) students running a programme on digital literacy. He shared his project with event attendees on June 5. CNM Connects was launched in 2020 to improve digital literacy among disadvantaged groups in Singapore. It was among projects showcased at the event as examples of student-led initiatives looking into social issues. The programme has worked with social service agencies like Allkin Singapore and Morning Star to teach children coding and AI skills. Mr Chieng, a first-year student, said: 'We hope that since Singapore is continuing to invest in AI to be a Smart Nation, no one is getting left behind.' CNM Connects plans to reach 200 people in 2025. Mr Chieng said programmes like Gen2050 are important as the youth can easily get confused or overwhelmed by the resources that are available to make their projects a reality. 'It is also in part due to our need to be perfect, as we really want our projects to be successful and make real impact, so we worry about failing because we did not make the right choices,' he said. 'Having such support from experienced professionals gives us the assurance and confidence in making mistakes, and innovating and executing our projects, as we have a safety net to fall back on for support.' More on this Topic No fixed pathways to success as education system continues to evolve: Desmond Lee Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
23-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: PAP takes on RDU in Nee Soon GRC
SINGAPORE: A refreshed People's Action Party (PAP) slate will take on Red Dot United's (RDU) top leadership in Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the May 3 General Election. The candidates' nominations were confirmed on Wednesday (Apr 23). Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, 66, anchors the PAP's team that includes four newcomers. They are Ms Goh Hanyan, 39, a former director at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information; Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, 40, a psychiatrist and former Nominated Member of Parliament; Mr Jackson Lam, 40, a director of a cleaning and pest control company; and Ms Lee Hui Ying, 36, a communications director. RDU's secretary-general Ravi Philemon, 56, and chairman David Foo, 60, lead three first-timers in their fight for the constituency. They are Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad, 57, a teacher and theoretical physicist; Mr Pang Heng Chuan, 56, a director at an international company based in China; and Ms Sharon Lin, 40, a senior consultant in the IT sector. Nee Soon GRC has 151,634 voters and will return five MPs. Its boundaries remain unchanged from GE2020. It is the third-largest constituency behind Ang Mo Kio and West Coast-Jurong West GRCs. In GE2020, the PAP went up against the Progress Singapore Party in Nee Soon GRC and won with 61.9 per cent of the vote.
Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: With its new slate, PAP looks to form 5G with more diversity, minorities
The new PAP candidates include (clockwise from top left) Ms Goh Hanyan, Dr Hamid Razak, Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, Mr David Neo, Ms Jasmin Lau, Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Mr Jeffrey Siow and Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash. PHOTOS: SHINTARO TAY, BRIAN TEO, LIM YAOHUI, KEVIN LIM, MARK CHEONG, JASON QUAH, BERITA HARIAN, THE BUSINESS TIMES News analysis GE2025: With its new slate, PAP looks to form 5G with more diversity, minorities SINGAPORE – Three elections ago, the PAP brought in a slate of candidates who would eventually form the core of the party's fourth-generation leadership. This 2011 group included Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and National Development Minister Desmond Lee. That year, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was also fielded but lost in Aljunied GRC. Fast forward to 2025, and the party is set to field a group of young candidates pulled from the public service who could form the core of its nascent 5G if elected. It has also moved to fill potential gaps by bringing in more minority candidates tipped for political office, and recruited beyond the usual professions to flesh out its slate. PM Wong said when introducing them: 'If elected, a number of our new candidates can become more than backbenchers. 'They will help to strengthen my team, and some of the younger ones will form the core of the next 5G team – they will make sure Singapore continues to be in good hands.' The party's slate is younger on average, with more women. Some have professional backgrounds that mirror those of current office-holders, said Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan. These individuals could be tapped to be junior office-holders after the general election, he added. Top civil servants who have left their jobs to don party whites this election include permanent secretary for trade and industry and manpower Jeffrey Siow, Health Ministry deputy secretary Jasmin Lau, Finance Ministry director Shawn Loh, Digital Development and Information Ministry director Goh Hanyan and Transport Ministry director Foo Cexiang. Also in the mix are former army chief David Neo, former chief of staff – joint staff Goh Pei Ming and former Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) chief executive Dinesh Vasu Dash. The group is relatively young. The oldest is Mr Dinesh at 50, while the rest are in their 40s, and the youngest are Mr Loh at 38 and Ms Goh at 39. The professional journeys of these new faces, a mixture of top public servants and high-ranking military men, closely mirror those of the current Cabinet. Mr Siow was principal private secretary to then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong – a role also previously held by PM Wong and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat. Mr Chee and DPM Heng were also permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Trade and Industry – Mr Siow's last held role. Mr Neo's career trajectory mirrors that of Mr Chan, who was also chief of army before retiring to stand under the PAP banner. Mr Chan was 41 when he left the armed forces – Mr Neo is slightly older at 47. Training for Cabinet has to start now The move to renewal comes later than expected. The party's transition to its 4G leader was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and DPM Heng stepping away from being PM-designate in 2021. Bringing in a slate of ministerial-calibre candidates is not a new strategy for the PAP. It has done so in cycles over its 66-year rule. Before the 2011 batch, there was the 2001 cohort which yielded a group later dubbed the 'super seven'. This included President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and former transport minister Khaw Boon Wan. They also entered politics in their 40s, and quickly rose up the ranks into Cabinet. Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Social Lab research fellow Teo Kay Key said of the current crop: 'The lowered age does send a signal that these individuals are likely to have a longer runway in politics.' She added that this helps to give assurance about the sustainability of the party in the longer term. IPS senior research fellow Gillian Koh said succession planning is essential for parties that are serious about their long-term national impact, and preparation for political office should start sooner rather than later. She said: 'Because voters are demanding, the policy space is getting more complex, the more time the younger generation of leaders have to pick up some key skills for political engagement and policymaking expertise, the better.' PM Wong was part of the 2011 class of the PAP recruits. The length of time it took to have him and his peers come into positions to lead the party and country was almost 15 years, she noted. For this reason, early exposure to being an MP for key roles in government is important as it takes a decade to do it and ensure that it is done right, she said. 'For the PAP, it is not too early to groom 5G leaders who would be in their late 30s and early 40s. 'They will already be in their early or mid-50s by the time they are ready, if they have not already been very senior civil servants or leaders in the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces).' SMU's Associate Professor Tan said the process to establish the party's next generation will take at least two to three elections. He said: 'The sooner the process is started, the better it is for renewal and succession.' Rounding out the slate with greater diversity The party will also field more minority candidates and individuals beyond the usual professions and sectors. There are four new Malay candidates – Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz and Dr Elmie Nekmat – and three new Indian candidates – Mr Dinesh, Dr Hamid Razak and Mr Jagathishwaran Rajo. Of this crop, at least two could eventually become political office-holders if elected, based on their current trajectories. Mr Dinesh, who is slightly older than the rest and has a background in the SAF and the Health Ministry, and in helming the AIC , could find himself in government relatively quickly. The Tamil speaker has also spoken of his intent to champion issues and work on integration in the Indian community. The additions are needed by the party, which fielded no Indian new faces in 2020 and two in 2015. Since then, Mr Murali Pillai, who first contested in 2015 in Aljunied GRC and later won in Bukit Batok SMC in 2016, has been appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport. The other Indian political office-holders are Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, 66, who has been in Cabinet since 2008, and Foreign Minister Balakrishnan , 64, who became a full minister in 2005. Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah, 62, became a minister in 2018. Among the Malay candidates, Dr Syed Harun was tipped by Mr Shanmugam as someone who can 'easily be an office-holder'. While there were six new Malay MPs elected in 2020, none of them has risen from the backbenches. The youngest Malay officer-holder is Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam, who entered politics in 2015. Dr Maliki Osman announced his retirement on April 21, while Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli and Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad will seek re-election. Outside of its future leadership, the party also appears to have brought in more candidates from outside established routes into politics . Dr Teo said: 'This time, we seem to be seeing more individuals from a community background, such as Cai Yinzhou, Hazlina Abdul Halim, David Hoe, and Elysa Chen. 'There seems to be efforts to reach beyond the usual industry choices like civil service, law and entrepreneurs.' What is for sure is that the party and its secretary-general are putting it to the electorate that voting for this slate is also a vote for the country's future leadership. How much water this argument will hold with Singaporeans will be tested on May 3. Ng Wei Kai is a journalist at The Straits Times, where he covers politics. He writes Unpacked, a weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy. Goh Yan Han is political correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes Unpacked, a weekly newsletter on Singapore politics and policy. 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