Speeches
Speech by Minister for Transport, Mr S Iswaran, at the MOT Conference
20 September 2021
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Reliable, Resilient and Ready for the Future: Connecting Singapore with People, Places and Possibilities
Members and partners of the transport family, a very good afternoon to all of you.
20th Anniversary
1. First, let me say that I am very happy to be here with everyone to commemorate MOT’s 20th anniversary. Whilst we are on the topic of recounting how long we have been in the Ministry, I’ve been in the ministry for about four months. I thought this is an opportunity for us to come together, physically as well as virtually, to:
a. recall what has been accomplished over the last two decades;
b. thank all who have been involved, the different stakeholders who have contributed, and;
c. look ahead to our priorities as a transport community.
2. Let me start by doing a bit of a recap. Much has happened since 2001.
a. Our rail network has more than doubled, from 85 stations spanning one LRT and three MRT lines, to now, 189 stations spanning three LRT and six MRT lines. And most importantly, now, 7 in 10 households are within a 10-minute walk of an MRT train station, and that compares to about 4 in 10 in 2001.
b. Secondly, in 2019 - which I know for the aviation community may seem like the distant, remote past - we had 68 million passengers who passed through Changi Airport. That was more than double the 26 million in 2001. And the number of countries and regions we were connected to also nearly doubled.
c. In 2001, we had a major move in the maritime sector, and our port commenced the transition from the City Terminals to Pasir Panjang Terminal. Today, we are poised for the next quantum leap – Tuas Port, which is a sustainable and an important smart addition to our infrastructure. When completed, it will be able to handle 65 million TEUs, which is four times that in 2001.
3. The connectivity we have today and all these accomplishments were really through the work and sheer grit of many of our predecessors. Several of whom are here with us today, both from government and from the private sector, and we owe a deep debt of gratitude to all of them.
4. More importantly, in the span of that journey, we have had to overcome many challenges – 9/11, SARS, and the global financial crisis.
5. Through it all, we have stayed the course, because we recognise that connectivity is not just essential, but it is also existential for Singapore. We can survive and thrive only if we have strong linkages within our island, and with the rest of the world.
The next 20 years
6. Ensuring that connectivity is the enduring mission of the Ministry of Transport. It is a mission that has perhaps even greater salience in the context of the two most significant challenges of our times – COVID-19 and Climate Change. And we must be prepared for the ensuing disruptions in supply chains, changes in work and travel patterns, and also shifts in technology.
7. So, for us to be able to cope with this transition, and look ahead to these future challenges, we must have a transportation system and infrastructure that is Reliable, Resilient and Ready for the future. Let me touch on each in turn.
Reliable
8. Reliability is the foundation of any transport hub or system.
a. If I can use rail as an example, we set a target of 1 million mean kilometres between failure (MKBF) in 2017. We have been fortunate to have achieved and sustained that since 2019, and that was through the tireless efforts of LTA as well as our MRT operators. We should not take this for granted, because we know how much effort and toil went through this. I have been on the ground and have seen the kind of maintenance that is done at three o’clock in the morning. I think we need to make sure that we continue to prioritise this, and work together to sustain this achievement. Because ultimately, that becomes an important undergirding factor in the way we ensure the reliability of our system.
b. In the course of the pandemic, our land, sea, air workers have also ensured reliable access to public transport, and also enabled the continued cross-border flows of people as well as goods, especially essential goods.
c. For example, MPA and its partners developed safe protocols for crew change amidst the pandemic; they were able to facilitate more than 160,000 crew changes so far. That is an important contribution to the industry globally, and to our own positioning as a global maritime hub.
9. COVID-19 will continue to challenge us. In May this year, our aviation hub partners had to respond to the so-called Changi cluster. More recently, our bus service operators have had to deal with the rise in infections among our bus captains. In each one of these cases, there was a very strong collaborative spirit, even among competitors, acting as One Transport Family in order to overcome the pressing challenges that were facing us. And that is what gives me the confidence that we can overcome future challenges that may come our way and sustain the reliability in our transportation system.
Resilient
10. Second, beyond reliability amidst the crisis, we need to be Resilient to emerge stronger – to turn this adversity into a source of competitive advantage, by developing new capabilities and seizing new opportunities.
11. We have already seen this in action. Our maritime transport sector swiftly adapted processes, and stepped up remote and contactless harbour operations, to keep supply lines intact, and our workers safe.
a. As a result, Singapore is now widely regarded as a “catch-up port” where shipping lines can make up for delays elsewhere.
b. Our efforts are also paying off when you look at the overall outcomes. Despite the pandemic, we remained the top transshipment port in the world. This year, container throughput from January to July grew 3% compared to the same period in 2019, and that means that we are now above the pre-pandemic level, which I think is a very notable achievement.
12. The aviation community has also seized new opportunities despite cross-border travel restrictions.
a. Our airport has enhanced its efficiency, to the point where now you can book a slot to uplift air cargo from Singapore 1 hour before take-off.
b. SIA was one of the first airlines to operate passenger aircraft to carry freight. In fact, cargo volume through Changi Airport has recovered to pre-COVID levels.
c. The aviation community has also worked out processes for the safe handling and transhipment of COVID-19 vaccines to our region, which has been an important role we played as part of the overall global effort against COVID-19.
13. Most importantly, we must and will take measures to revive our air hub and restore connectivity – this is critical to our economy, and our reputation as a trusted international hub.
a. Over the past year, specific schemes have been introduced to facilitate essential business travel, as well as general travel from very low risk places. But Changi is today still operating at about 3% of pre-COVID levels, and SIA at about 4%. It is a far cry from where we were.
b. So, with more than 80% of our population fully vaccinated, we launched a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) on the 8th of September, for fully vaccinated travellers from Germany and Brunei. This is the first step, but a very important step for us to understand the requirements for all those involved in the value chain, to get used to the idea of travelling, ensuring compliance and delivering the kind of safe outcomes that we seek. The outcome in the first two weeks of this scheme have been very promising – more than 900 Vaccinated Travel Lane travellers have entered Singapore, and the VTL travellers have complied with the repeated testing regime as well. So, this is a good sign.
c. Several countries and regions have expressed interest in opening Vaccinated Travel Lanes with us, and we are actively working on expanding the scheme in the coming weeks and months.
d. It may take some time for global air travel to normalise. But make no mistake that we will do our utmost to ensure Changi thrives again, and SIA soars again.
Ready for the future
14. Finally, beyond the immediate challenges, we must be Ready for the Future.
a. Climate change is one of the key long-term challenges.
b. As a small island-nation, I think we all know that sustainability has always been a focal point for Singapore’s policies. But there is scope, and indeed one could argue there is an imperative for us to do more.
15. Our transportation ecosystem, in particular, must do its part to reduce carbon emissions. Let me cite three considerations why I make that statement.
a. First, land transport accounts for about 15% of our total national carbon emissions. Of this, the largest share comes from private cars.
i. Our personal commuting choices can make a real difference. Let me illustrate - if you take as a reference, someone who is driving an internal combustion engine (ICE) car, and the emissions that that causes.
ii. Switching to an electric car reduces the carbon footprint by about half.
iii. We can do even better by taking the MRT which reduces our carbon footprint by 85%.
iv. And of course, if we decide to walk or cycle, then we eliminate the carbon footprint for that journey. The point is that there is a spectrum of choices when it comes to commuting, and we must all be aware of the consequences of the choices we make. I don’t think it is an argument for eliminating any one of those choices, but it is about right-sighting them and using them in a responsible way, understanding the consequences of those action and the trade-offs we have to make as individuals.
b. Secondly, as an international transport hub, we can lead by example and play a catalytic role in reducing international aviation and maritime transport emissions.
i. SIA has committed to net zero emissions by 2050, and PSA is aiming for the same.
ii. As a hub, we are also well-placed to drive research, test-bedding, and adoption of greener fuels for shipping and aviation.
16. Earlier this year, we established the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, with a $120 million in funding from the public and private sectors. The CEO of the Centre, Professor Lynn Loo, will be moderating the panel, quite fittingly, on sustainability later.
17. For aviation, the Government and industry partners recently concluded a study on sustainable aviation fuels at Changi Airport. We are now reviewing the findings and their implications on our policies, and what initiatives and programmes we need to take. We will announce some of those steps in due course.
18. When these fuels are commercially available, it means that all the bunkering and refuelling that take place in Singapore can also pivot to more sustainable solutions, thereby contributing to a larger outcome beyond just what we do in Singapore.
19. We also actively support the international efforts led by ICAO and IMO to reduce transport emissions and to promote sustainability.
20. And finally, sustainability will not only be a source of competitive advantage, but also of new opportunities in the green economy. Governments and businesses around the world have already recognised this. I am looking forward to the panel discussion later as I know that many of the panellists will be able to contribute far more on this topic.
Connecting Singapore: People, Places and Opportunities
21. Ultimately, a reliable, resilient, and future-ready transport system must serve the needs of all segments of our society.
22. So, it is essential that our transport network is inclusive and accessible for all.
23. Our transport ‘hardware’ is already being designed with this in mind. Take the Thomson East-Coast Line (TEL) as an example - the new stations and future rail lines will be made more accessible with more lifts and more entrances per station. There will also be connectivity with the surroundings, whether it is covered linkways, underground connections and crossings, and so on. Also, for example in the TEL2, there are features to aid the visually-impaired. Why? Because you have the Singapore Association for the Visually Impaired located near one of the stations. These measures have been well-received.
24. The ‘software’ is also very important. This includes nurturing a culture of graciousness among all who share our transport system. I often say to my colleagues at MOT that we need to regard our roads not as territory to be fought over, but as a common space that we can all share. A gracious behaviour will really help. If commuters, cyclists and motorists can be more mindful of each other’s needs and concerns, it will go a long way towards safer and more comfortable journeys for all.
25. Finally, building a sustainable transport network will create new job opportunities – in engineering, data analytics and automation; it will also change existing jobs. So we are working with the union, as well as our enterprise partners to continue to invest in upskilling and capability development so that our workers - both those who are already in the sector, and those who are thinking of entering it - will be well-prepared for the kind of skills that will be needed in the sector going forward.
Conclusion: What this all means for us
26. I have outlined some of the priorities and direction that MOT will take going forward. But it is not something that we are going to do alone. We will have to work with all of you given the very dynamic nature of the sector. Knowledge and capabilities reside in all parts of our economy, in all parts of the value chain. There is no monopoly of wisdom. So, we need to collaborate and come together, and we need the support of all our stakeholders because the challenges are quite significant.
a. To our industry partners –
i. First, I want to say thank you very much for working with MOT over the past two decades but also the past 20 months as we tackle the challenge of COVID-19.
ii. More importantly, I look forward to many more years of fruitful partnership, so that we can develop innovative and robust solutions for the dynamic needs of the transport industry.
b. To our people, –
i. We can all play a part in building a sustainable transportation eco-system. We can make a difference by being more aware of our individual commuting choices and their consequences. And acting on that knowledge and awareness.
ii. We can also help to foster a gracious transport culture, that makes commuting safer and more pleasant for everyone.
iii. And, especially for a younger generation of Singaporeans, but also those thinking about their future career, perhaps in transportation - I will urge them to consider the new and exciting opportunities emerging in the land, sea and air sectors. All of them have not just interesting challenges, but also the potential to harness technology and new business solutions in creative ways.
c. Finally, to all our transport workers, union leaders and members of the MOT Family:
i. MOT’s 20th anniversary in some way is a testament to your grit and perseverance. And I know that the past 20 months have tested us in our resolve, in ways that we have never encountered perhaps in the last 20 years.
ii. However, regardless of the uncertainties of the ups and downs, if we support one another, and work together as One Transport Family, as indeed has been the case in the past two decades, then I have no doubt that we will prevail in our mission – which is to build a transport system that serves Singapore and Singaporeans, and one that is reliable, resilient, and ready for the future.
27. Thank you very much for joining us and I look forward to the discussions later.
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Annex:
