Singapore’s economic growth cannot be achieved through manpower growth but should be pursued based on productivity and innovation, Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung said yesterday, as he gave a preview of an upcoming government report over how the country’s economy will enter its next phase.

SIZE AND IDENTITY

Speaking at an international roundtable organised by the Singapore University of Technology and Design’s Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, Mr Ong said Singapore’s manpower growth was bound by its small size, challenging demographic trends and need to preserve a sense of identity.

The report by the Committee on the Future Economy will thus focus on figuring out how Singapore can maximise the use of its limited resources.

“We are on an irreversible journey to pursue growth based on productivity and innovation,” he said.

Mr Ong, who is also the Second Minister for Defence, said the report will go deeper into the “algorithms and mechanisms of (resource) allocation, achieving quantum leaps in optimisation”.

“In other words, we are answering the question: How do we do more with less?” he said.

This can be done by anticipating areas of future growth, deepening the skill base of employees here, encouraging people and businesses to enter regional and global markets, and nurturing an enterprising spirit.

Mr Ong said while the Government can foster an environment that facilitates enterprise, society needs to “play an even bigger role in the way it views failures, celebrates successes, and decides who it shall honour”.

“Today, our culture is to honour scholars who have good academic grades, who can rise in organisations and bureaucracies,” said Mr Ong.

“We need to put on the same pedestal the entrepreneurs who have tried, who have failed but have succeeded.

“We need to honour them.”

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This article was first published on Jan 25, 2017.
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Singapore will continue to participate in other free trade initiatives even as the major trade pact known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) hits a snag with the US’ withdrawal.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) told The Straits Times yesterday Singapore will have to “discuss the way forward” with the other TPP partners, after US President Donald Trump on Monday ended his country’s participation in the TPP.

“Each of the partners will have to carefully study the new balance of benefits,” the MTI said in a statement.

The TPP was originally signed by 12 countries, which together account for 40 per cent of world trade.

Australia and New Zealand said they hope to salvage the TPP despite the US withdrawal. But the deal cannot come into effect in its current form without US participation, the MTI said.

“Singapore is committed to pursuing a rules-based trading system and greater regional integration,” it added.

“The agreement the TPP parties negotiated is one such pathway to achieve stronger trade linkages that will promote growth opportunities and job creation in all the member countries.”

The MTI spokesman said Singapore will continue to participate in regional initiatives, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the proposal for a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.

The RCEP is an Asia-Pacific trade liberalisation initiative led by China that includes the 10 ASEAN members as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and India.

The Singapore Business Federation (SBF), meanwhile, called on the Government to join and encourage other TPP member countries to push for the implementation of the TPP.

“Without the US, the TPP continues to provide substantial benefits for businesses as the US market is already quite open,” noted SBF chief executive, Mr Ho Meng Kit.

Singapore already has a bilateral free-trade pact with the US, as well as with all of the other TPP countries except Canada and Mexico. This means the about-turn by the US “might not have much detrimental impact on Singapore”, said DBS economist Irvin Seah.

The Trump administration’s shift towards greater protectionism could hurt more, he said, adding: “This will deal a big blow to global trade liberalisation. It is negative for Singapore because we are a small, open and trade-dependent economy.”

Other TPP partners also expressed their keenness to make the deal work.

But Professor Kamel Mellahi from Warwick Business School said: “The survival of TPP is inconceivable. Plus, many Asian countries have an alternative in China’s proposals.”

– ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY GRACE LEONG

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This article was first published on Jan 25, 2017.
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Public spaces on new private properties such as malls and office blocks, which people can access round the clock, will soon be required to have ample seating, bicycle racks and shelter from bad weather.

Additional amenities such as public art, exercise equipment, water features, wireless Internet and phone-charging points will also have to be provided at larger public spaces above 500 sq m, according to a new minimum standards set for public spaces by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday.

At the entrance, a plaque with the words “Open to public 24 hours” will signal that the space is free to use.

These new rules will kick in on April 24 and apply to all new private developments that are required to have such spaces for public use, such as those under government land-sales (GLS) contracts.

One example is Asia Square at Marina Bay, a retail and office building with a dedicated public resting area that meets the new design guidelines, said a URA spokesman.

Guidelines for public spaces are not new. They were previously mandated at 120 GLS sites near major transportation nodes or pedestrian paths, according to the URA’s Parks and Waterbodies Plan.

But “not many private developments” – unless mandated to do so – have provided these covered public spaces on their own, the spokesman said in response to queries from The Straits Times.

This may change as developers willing to build public spaces, even if not required to do so, can qualify for a gross floor area (GFA) exemption if the property is frequented by the public or situated on popular routes.

As developers do not have to pay for the floor area occupied by these facilities, this translates into significant savings.

“We hope to see more private developers taking up the GFA incentives to provide such covered public spaces,” the spokesman said.

Property developers told ST that they support the new design guidelines.

CapitaLand’s Asia development deputy chief and head of design management, Mr Poon Hin Kong, said: “Even before government guidelines, we have catered for community spaces on our properties, which are considered from the start of the development process.”

Among others, he highlighted Westgate’s main courtyard and Plaza Singapura’s outdoor plaza.

Frasers Centrepoint Singapore’s chief executive officer, Mr Christopher Tang, believes this is a positive step towards promoting more good quality public spaces.

Such spaces could increase footfalls for malls, while some office buildings may gain from the GFA exemptions too.

But developers must now weigh the pros and cons of such a decision – first-storey floor space is prime real estate that could be leased out to tenants.

Said a spokesman for developer Ho Bee Land: “We would probably need to keep a balance between maximising revenue and keeping sufficient public space to give the project the necessary ambience.”

junsen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 25, 2017.
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More security officers here should be equipped with counter-terrorism skills to be “additional eyes” on the ground, said Union of Security Employees president Hareenderpal Singh yesterday.

Currently, there are about 41,000 active security officers here, including those who guard public places such as shopping malls, as well as private buildings and offices.

Speaking on the sidelines of the first counter-terrorism seminar for the security and fire safety industries, Mr Singh said at least half of the active security officers should be trained.

“It is very important for the security industry to come together to support the SGSecure movement as security officers easily outnumber police officers by 3:1 today,” he said.

Currently, only about 9,500 of them are trained, with a majority deployed to protected places where such skills are mandatory.

They are trained to identify suspicious activities and persons, as well as respond to bomb threats.

Mr Singh urged all security officers to undergo the training to prevent and detect terror attacks, as they are a “valuable asset” for the various agencies.

The training is offered by Workforce Singapore.

SEMINAR

About 300 participants attended yesterday’s seminar, held at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability.

The event is among a series of seminars organised by the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force under SGSecure.

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Desmond Lee called on participants to keep pace with the changing tactics of terrorists, by putting in place new detection and response procedures.

“Should a terrorist attack happen, many people will look to you for leadership and direction. Your emergency response training and first aid skills will help save lives,” he said.

Participants were also updated on the security situation and taught how to enhance the security of their premises.

Mr Benedict Koh, who heads the Fire Safety Managers’ Association, said that it is also crucial to beef up arson-prevention plans for buildings, as starting fires could be a possible way for terrorists to strike.

There are around 2,000 buildings here that are over 5,000 sq m and require a fire safety manager.

Mr Koh said: “”The threat is real… and every fire safety and security agency has to step up.”

nghuiwen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 25, 2017.
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