LiveParliament to discuss haze, S’pore’s response to Nipah virus ahead of PM Wong’s Budget speech
13:47
S’pore will adjust health measures based on the evolving risk of Nipah virus outbreak
The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) is closely monitoring the Nipah virus situation in India and globally, and will adjust health measures here as needed, says Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon.
Ms Pereira had asked what Singapore is doing in light of the outbreak in West Bengal, India. The virus, which has no approved vaccine or known cure, was detected in two people there earlier in January.
Dr Koh says Singapore has issued clinical guidance to all medical practitioners and conducted an educational webinar for primary care doctors.
The electronic Health Declaration Card for incoming travellers has also been adjusted, such that if a traveller declares any symptoms, there will be a prompt to ask if they have been to high risk areas. The information collected will also be sent directly to the CDA, says Dr Koh.
In addition, the Ministry of Manpower has been roped in to disseminate information on precautionary health measures to migrant workers and their employers, as well as dormitory operators and employment agencies.
In a separate question, Mr Giam asked about the progress of research here into Nipah virus diagnostic kits and vaccines, and whether Singapore currently possesses or has plans to develop Biosafety Level 4 laboratory capacity for such vaccine testing.
Dr Koh says to date, Duke-NUS, NUS and A*STAR are conducting six research projects on Nipah virus covering diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines under the Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness and Response.
The projects are all in progress and do not involve the use of any live Nipah virus, which requires a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory, says Dr Koh. Such laboratories are specifically designed to study high-consequence pathogens and enforce the highest levels of precaution.
Dr Koh says that Singapore currently does not have a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory for the purposes of research and added that the Ministry of Defence is upgrading the capabilities of DSO National Laboratories to Biosafety Level 4.
Dr Koh adds that Singapore is watching the outbreak carefully, though it is still confined to a particular locality. But “it's not the same posture that should adopt as covid which has become a generalised pandemic” he adds.
As such, there is probably no urgency to look at procuring vaccine targets ahead of time in anticipation of a widespread global pandemic, he says.
13:32
Parliament opens
The MPs have taken their seats and question time has started. Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health Koh Poh Koon rises to answer the first two questions posed by Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC) and Mr Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) on Singapore’s response to the Nipah virus outbreak abroad.
13:00
More government disbursements, lower housing costs: ST street interview
Bread-and-butter issues dominated the minds of those ST spoke to ahead of Budget 2026.
They are looking forward to announcements of more government disbursements, such as CDC vouchers and MediSave top-ups, while others called for the SG Culture Pass to be continued.
Some hoped that those under 40 would also be included in the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme.
Also on the wishlist are lower housing costs and housing subsidies for young couples.
12:40
Wanted: More support to train workers and leaders
Several organisations have called for stronger support for workforce training in response to disruptions brought on by artificial intelligence (AI), the retention of older workers and the upskilling of professionals to prepare them as the next generation of business leaders.
The Singapore National Employers Federation is hoping for more structured training and certification pathways for AI-related skills to be developed. Meanwhile, KPMG and the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) support establishing job transformation road maps with co-funded training and certification initiatives to further enhance worker upskilling.
KPMG and SID also cited a need for professionals and board leaders with expertise in areas such as supply chain management, AI governance and sustainability strategy.
This could be achieved through structured upskilling and leadership development programmes led by professional international “master trainers” and mentors, who could join local companies, public agencies and training institutions under a new work pass category.
12:20
Opportunities for growth
The Singapore Business Federation and PwC Singapore have jointly put up 18 recommendations to strengthen Singapore’s economy.
One idea is to expand the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone to include Indonesia’s Riau Islands – Batam, Bintan and Karimun – to make it more attractive to global investors.
Also mooted was the creation of a digital intellectual property (IP) collateral registry, with the Government adding another boost by widening its risk-sharing schemes to cover IP-backed loans at higher ratios of 70 per cent to 80 per cent.
READ MORE: Budget 2026: SBF, PwC list out 18 recommendations to strengthen Singapore economy
12:00
Opinion: Budget 2026 is Government’s chance to invest in social capital, says NUS’ Nicholas Thomas
Factors involved in organising ground-up activities – such as booking public spaces for community events – should be simplified for residents, NUS’ Dr Nicholas Thomas said in a commentary ahead of Budget 2026.
The Institute of Policy Studies research fellow said removing small hurdles makes it easier for any resident with an idea to act on it and for others to join in. Over time, this can help rebuild connections across social and economic lines, he added.
Mixing across such lines matters because social capital – the trust and networks that make people look out for one another – does not form by accident, he argued.
Dr Thomas said Budget 2026 offers the Government a chance to invest in this social glue in the following ways:
- Simplify funding for small, ground-up ideas;
- make the booking of community spaces less confusing;
- do more to recognise those who volunteer their time.
READ MORE: Budget 2026 should make it easier to book void deck spaces and rebuild social capital
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
11:40
Alleviating the cost pressures of businesses
Several organisations have called for measures to help businesses and employers manage rising costs amid an increasingly complex and uncertain landscape.
Suggestions include support for rental and utility expenses, a moratorium on raising government fees and policies to control excessive rent increases. The Restaurant Association of Singapore said rental fees remain a major fixed cost for the industry.
Other proposals include expanding or extending initiatives such as the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme and SkillsFuture, as well as widening the list of approved source countries for work permit holders.
READ MORE: SMEs need help with costs and competitiveness as outlook weakens, says SCCCI
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
11:20
Challenges and opportunities of AI
The number of businesses approaching the National Trades Union Congress for support has climbed amid concerns over disruptions from artificial intelligence (AI), with NTUC calling for enhanced job support for retrenched workers, among others.
The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry said many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle with the high cost of AI solutions, capability gaps and uncertainty about where to begin.
The chamber has called for an AI micro-grant scheme and the establishment of a “trusted digital business hub” to help SMEs adopt AI more effectively and strengthen their competitiveness.
But professional services firm KPMG and the Singapore Institute of Directors said Singapore can seize the opportunity to become a regional AI leader by championing a “Trusted AI” mark, similar to the Green Mark sustainability certification.
Such a move would allow companies to deploy AI solutions across ASEAN without duplicative compliance, thereby accelerating cross-border innovation and trade.
READ MORE: AI trust mark, ‘master trainers’ to help business leaders top KPMG and SID’s Budget 2026 wish list
11:00
Opinion: Tough choices in balancing current and future needs, says NMP Terence Ho
The Government will have tough choices to make on how to utilise a likely larger budget surplus, while balancing future and current needs, Nominated MP Terence Ho noted.
Replenishing the reserves would strengthen Singapore’s ability to respond to future shocks, he said in his commentary for ST ahead of Budget 2026. “The reserves are not just a form of insurance. They also generate investment income,” he said.
But saving for future needs should not come at the expense of meeting pressing societal needs or investing in the infrastructure and capabilities required to secure Singapore’s future, Mr Ho added.
He also called for the mitigation of income and wealth inequality to be addressed in Budget 2026, in line with aspirations for an inclusive society expressed by Singaporeans in the Forward Singapore exercise.
READ MORE HERE
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
10:40
Singapore to roll out 7 strategies to secure growth, good jobs amid tariff and AI threats
In January, five committees formed to conduct Singapore’s Economic Strategy Review unveiled seven proposals – mid- to long-term measures that will help the Government plan an economic strategy that allows Singapore to embrace change while remaining competitive and relevant globally.
At the same time, the proposals are aimed at ensuring economic progress is inclusive and continues to create good jobs, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry.
The recommendations are to:
1. Extend Singapore’s global leadership in key growth areas.
2. Pursue emerging opportunities to create new economic growth engines.
3. Establish Singapore as an artificial intelligence (AI) leader with an AI-empowered economy.
4. Strengthen connectivity and linkages to global markets and support companies to internationalise.
5. Broaden the range of good jobs.
6. Make lifelong learning a practical reality.
7. Enable businesses to proactively navigate transitions.
The Government will respond to some of these recommendations during Budget 2026 and when it is debated.
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
