A wrap of the debates in Parliament on Tuesday (Oct 15).

Singapore's national health insurance will see higher premiums of up to 35%, starting April. The increase in MediShield Life premiums will be spread out over the next three years. The Health Ministry said this will better protect Singaporeans against major health episodes that lead to large bills. It will also enable people to afford new types of care. Claim limits for inpatient stays and day surgeries will be increased. Daily claim limits for in

The Land Transport Authority will impose penalties on train operator SMRT, if investigations into a six-day disruption last month reveal lapses. Over 2.5km of tracks on the East-West Line were severely damaged and had to be replaced. This affected more than one in six passenger journeys every day. It was the longest-ever service disruption on a major train line. In parliament on Oct 15, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat addressed more than 30 ques

The defence lawyer for Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh is seeking to impeach former MP Raeesah Khan as a witness. Grilling Ms Khan on Day Two of Singh's trial, Mr Andre Jumabhoy called her a "non-stop" liar and poked holes in her testimonies. Singh is accused of lying to a parliamentary committee over a case involving Ms Khan. Earlier in the day,  Ms Khan told the court how she felt defeated and betrayed by the people she looked up to and t

CPF Special Accounts for those aged 55 and up will close from the second half of January next year, after the law was amended on Monday. Other changes include expanding the Home Protection Scheme, with a hundred more members set to benefit each year. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng shared more about the changes and discussed with CNA about retirement adequacy. 

Higher premiums for MediShield Life will kick in from next April. It will allow expanded coverage to protect Singaporeans against major health episodes. Professor Eric Finkelstein from the Health Services and Systems Research Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School shared more about Singapore's public health priorities and the country's goals towards personalised healthcare. 

Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo said AI-generated misinformation can seriously harm Singapore's democratic foundation, and this demands an equally serious response. She was speaking during the debate on a law that bans the publication of digitally manipulated online election content created using AI technology. While MPs expressed their support for the bill, several of them brought up suggestions. These include expandin

From joining a gang as a youngster to being in prison before finally turning his life around, Triad Trails tour guide Alvin Chiong tells CNA Lifestyle his inspiring life story.

The Public Transport Council (PTC) aims to keep fares affordable for commuters while ensuring that the public transport system remains financially sustainable. In deciding on the fare adjustment to implement each year, it is guided by the fare adjustment formula while also taking into consideration economic and social factors. Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, who highlighted this in reply to Parliamentary questions on Wednesday (Oct 16), said th

Singapore has to carefully steward its limited land resources and balance various competing needs and will integrate elements of heritage significance into its plans and explore creative ways to recall and commemorate the heritage and identity of an area wherever feasible. These include urban design, heritage storyboards and walking trails. Its agencies will continue to engage local communities and stakeholders to ensure that developments are car

Government agencies must decide how best to deliver services to the public, which may include using customer touchpoints through private sector entities like SingPost. The arrangements made by public agencies to provide Government services at post offices are bound by contractual agreements rather than availability standards. Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How said this in reply to an MP’s question in Pa

Given the wide range of possible weather conditions and the way they can affect a diverse range of worksite situations, it is not practical for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to specify the thresholds for companies to stop work, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad. Instead, companies must implement measures that are specific to their business and safety needs, he said in reply to an MP’s question in Parliament on Wednesday (Oc

The Ministry of Health actively works with the public healthcare clusters and community care organisations to ensure that they are able to recruit and retain sufficient staff to meet their needs. These include competitive salaries, career development opportunities and safe working environments. For administrative and support healthcare workers, they pay special attention to redesign their roles to provide more career and progression opportunities

First-stop touchpoints will be rolled out to support individuals early and facilitate access to higher-tier mental health services when needed. One of them is a new national mental health helpline and textline service. It will be introduced in mid-2025 to offer psychological first aid for those facing mental distress. Another new initiative is a "positive use guide" on technology and social media, which will be ready in the first half of 2025. It

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) uses various design strategies to mitigate the extent of rainwater splashing into flats and common areas even as it designs for natural ventilation and ample lighting. In view of increasingly volatile weather patterns brought about by climate change, HDB has conducted wind-driven rain simulations for all new public housing developments since 2021 to put in place mitigating measures early. These include rain

Where lifts are provided in a building, at least one must be made accessible to wheelchair users. This means having enough manoeuvring space and accessible features such as buttons and grab bars that would also benefit other users including those using personal mobility aids (PMAs) and prams. Building owners and developers are encouraged to tailor their facilities to the profile of users and go beyond baseline standards where needed. Second Minis

Schools work with the relevant Government agencies and foster parents to share all relevant education information about a child or young person in foster care, including information available on the Parents Gateway app. Where possible, foster parents are given access to all such information through the app, but in some cases, such information will be relayed through other means including meetings, e-mails or hardcopy letters. There may be a need

Seniors who need hearing aids can tap the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) which provides eligible Singaporeans with means-tested subsidies of up to 90 per cent. Those with severe hearing loss requiring hearing implants can tap subsidies, MediSave and MediShield Life. The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) can also offer additional support. Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam said this in Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 16) in reply to

The Public Transport Council (PTC) aims to keep fares affordable for commuters while ensuring that the public transport system remains financially sustainable. In deciding on the fare adjustment to implement each year, it is guided by the fare adjustment formula while also taking into consideration economic and social factors. Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, who highlighted this in reply to Parliamentary questions on Wednesday (Oct 16), said th

Singapore has to carefully steward its limited land resources and balance various competing needs and will integrate elements of heritage significance into its plans and explore creative ways to recall and commemorate the heritage and identity of an area wherever feasible. These include urban design, heritage storyboards and walking trails. Its agencies will continue to engage local communities and stakeholders to ensure that developments are car

Vehicle manufacturers or dealers must notify the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and affected vehicle owners of any safety-related defects in vehicles manufactured or sold by them. BYD Singapore has informed LTA that those sold in Singapore are not affected by the recent recall of about 97,000 vehicles manufactured in China. LTA will continue to monitor the situation and will take appropriate action if any safety concerns are identified. Minister

Electric vehicle (EV) charging operators are required to maintain a public liability insurance policy which covers personal injury, death or damage to property or third parties arising from EV charging operations, including fire. The minimum coverage is S$2 million per incident. Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai said this in Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 16). As the incidence of EV fires is currently low, the authorities will monitor t

The Government aims to make the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) inclusive and accessible to all Singaporeans by ensuring broad access to AI tools and offering tailored support for different skill levels, said Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam. Replying to a Parliamentary question on Wednesday (Oct 16), she noted that studies have highlighted a gender disparity in the adoption of AI globally, reflecti

There are seven transitional shelters for homeless people and families in need of temporary residential support, with a total capacity about 720 beds. From 2021 to 2023, the shelters had an average occupancy rate of about 60 per cent. Individuals stay in a transitional shelter for an average of about nine months. Social workers help to address their needs and support them in securing stable long-term housing. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for So