Speech by Senior Minister of State for Transport, Ms Sun Xueling at Ministry of Transport’s Committee of Supply Debate 2026

Introduction

1.          Mr Chairman, I will respond to Members on air and land transport issues. We are focused on building a globally oriented, future focused and people-centric transport system. 

Building a Future-Ready Aviation Workforce  

2.          Singapore’s aviation story is one of constant evolution.  

a.          From a small island nation, we’ve built one of the world’s most interconnected air hubs. 

b.          We are now linked to over 170 cities around the world. 

c.           However, being a hub also means we are not immune to global disruptions.  

d.          We are monitoring the Middle East conflict closely. The safety of flights and passengers remain our top priority. 

i.            Singapore Airlines and Scoot have suspended their flights to affected Middle Eastern destinations until 7 March, and we will continue to monitor the situation. Other airlines that fly to Middle Eastern destinations from Changi have also cancelled or delayed their flights. 

3.          But even as we navigate the global climate of uncertainty, we never lose sight of the longer-term horizon.  

4.          Over the next decade, we expect Changi to continue to grow. 

a.          Our growth thus far has also created over 60,000 quality jobs directly in aviation. From air traffic controllers managing our busy skies to engineers managing our aircrafts.  

b.          By 2040, global air travel demand is set to double, and Asia-Pacific will be driving two-thirds of this growth.  

c.           We are already preparing our infrastructure to support this by building Terminal 5

d.          Just as important is our OneAviation workforce. 

e.           The growth of Changi will bring about more opportunities for all, including good, well-paying jobs for Singaporeans.  

5.          Mr Sharael Taha asked how we are investing in our aviation workforce.  

6.          The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has committed $200 million towards the OneAviation Manpower Fund to attract, develop and retain the OneAviation workforce. 

7.          Over the past six months, CAAS has consulted extensively with aviation companies, schools, unions, and workers to understand how to help Singaporeans access quality jobs in the aviation industry and progress in their careers.  

8.          Three priorities have emerged. 

9.          First, CAAS will work with our Institutes of Higher Learning, or IHLs, to integrate professional training and undergraduate education.  

a.          The aviation industry offers many rewarding and well-paying careers, such as in air traffic control and aircraft engineering. We have a good pipeline of IHL students who are training for such roles. 

b.          This includes Wong Rui Qi, who is currently pursuing a Diploma in Aerospace Engineering at Temasek Polytechnic. 

c.           I met Rui Qi last year. Rui Qi shared with me about his interest in aerospace engineering, and his eagerness to start a career as a Licensed Aircraft Engineer as soon as possible.  

d.          Today, upon graduation, Rui Qi will still need to undergo up to 44 months of professional training before attaining a professional license from CAAS to become a Licensed Aircraft Engineer. 

e.           By embedding industry-recognised skills training into the IHL curriculum, students like Rui Qi will be able to graduate more job-ready, and embark on their aviation careers quickly.  

10.        Second, CAAS will enhance the workplace environment and experience for the Changi workforce.  

a.          This could include enhancing our infrastructure, improving transport accessibility to and from the airport particularly during late and early hours, and also providing better rest facilities for workers. 

11.        Third, CAAS will work with NTUC to develop a sector-wide mentorship scheme.  

a.          This will support the career development of new entrants to the aviation workforce in key operational roles.

b.          This will enable us to build a future-ready and resilient next generation of aviation professionals. 

12.        CAAS will share more details of each of these three new areas in the coming year.  

13.        To complement these efforts, we are also strengthening our outreach to bring aviation opportunities closer to Singaporeans. 

a.          Last Saturday, I attended the East Side OneAviation Careers Fair at Heartbeat @ Bedok. There were over 2,000 job vacancies available in the aviation and aerospace sector, and 18 participating organisations. 

b.          I look forward to working with interested CDCs to bring aviation and aerospace careers to more local communities in Singapore.  

14.        Ms Poh Li San asked about how we are attracting women to join the aviation sector. 

15.        I recently met Ms Megan Zheng, who has been an air traffic control officer, or ATCO, for the past 12 years. 

a.          She shared that it is a job like no other. Other than it being deeply fulfilling, she knows that every instruction that she gives helps guide an aircraft safely to land and that she is responsible for the lives of all the passengers and crew on board. 

b.          And while ATCOs work shifts, Megan explained that her rosters are planned well in advance, up to a year ahead! This allows officers like herself with two young children to plan their family commitments and personal time with confidence. 

c.           About 40% of our ATCO workforce are women today, and this has been growing steadily.

16.        As our air traffic continues to grow, we look forward to having more ATCOs join us.  

17.        Beyond the skies, the way that we run our airport is also evolving. Airport operations and planning is an exciting discipline that will become increasingly technologically driven as we prepare for Terminal 5. 

a.          We deployed the first driverless autonomous baggage tractors at Changi just two months ago, which will help to enhance worker safety, reduce physical workload and allow operations to continue in all weather conditions. 

b.          Autonomous wheelchairs are also being trialled in Terminal 2 to help us meet the changing mobility needs of our passengers in the future.

18.        This is the exciting future that draws in our students like Ms Ng Yu Jing from Temasek Polytechnic. 

a.          Yu Jing and her course mates shared with me their enthusiasm to be a part of Terminal 5, and chart the next chapter of Singapore’s aviation story.  

19.        Efforts to attract women into aviation do not just rest with the Government.  

20.        When I attended the Women In Aviation Singapore Chapter, or WAI-SG, Gala last year, I was heartened to see women and companies leaning forward to provide opportunities for women at every level in aviation. 

a.          This includes the WAI-SG mentorship programme, which gives young mentees access to valuable perspectives beyond their organisation.  

b.          WAI-SG’s mentorship programme has supported over 100 mentees over the past 4 years. 

c.           CAAS has also been working closely with WAI-SG to conduct outreach efforts to girls in schools and young women just starting out on their careers. 

21.        We are excited for more women to join our aviation sector, especially as we continue to face manpower shortages and there are many well-paying jobs available. 

22.        The OneAviation workforce will continue to remain at the forefront as our aviation sector continues to grow. 

Autonomous Vehicle Deployment  

23.        Let me now turn to the land transport sector. 

24.        We are ensuring that our public transport network remains accessible and convenient. But manpower remains a binding constraint. The sustainable, long-term solution is to leverage technology, such as autonomous vehicles, or AVs. 

25.        Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked for an update on the autonomous shuttle operations in Punggol, the AV regulatory framework and support for the manpower transition.  

26.        In Punggol, around 740 people have tried the shuttles on Route 1 and Route 3.  

a.          Many commented that the rides were smooth and comfortable, and 99% said that they would recommend the service to others.  

b.          The shuttles provide last-mile connections not previously provided by direct transport links and reduce travel durations by up to 15 minutes. 

27.        Punggol residents have seen the shuttles making their rounds, and told me that they are excited to try it soon. Given the positive feedback, we will open up the rides on Routes 1 and 3 to the public from 1^st of April. The rides will be accompanied with a commentary on features of the AV, and will be free for an initial period.  

a.          This will allow more people to experience the technology and provide feedback for the operator to improve its service. Grab, the operator, will share more details on how to register for the rides. 

28.        From the middle of this year, commuters may board and alight at any stop along Routes 1 and 3, at a flat fare of $4 per passenger.  

29.        ComfortDelGro’s autonomous shuttles on Route 2 in Punggol are making good progress in familiarisation, and we look forward to commencing by-invite rides for Route 2 soon. 

30.        On my rounds in Punggol, I spoke with safety operators on board our autonomous shuttles.  

a.          Mr Victor Tan has been a taxi driver and a driving instructor with CDG for the past 15 years. He shared that training to be a safety operator on board the autonomous shuttle allowed him to augment his driving experience so that man and machine operate seamlessly as one.  

b.          Mr Vincent Teo and Ms Sarah Binte Ahmad wanted to try something new after driving for several years, and see the new technology in action. They worked hard for their safety operator training with GrabAcademy and WeRide, which required a 90% passing score! I hear that Sarah’s four children are incredibly proud of their ‘cool mom’, and Vincent will be progressing to an AV remote operator course soon.  

31.        These are examples of fellow taxi and private hire vehicle drivers who are giving autonomous technology a try. And new jobs will not just be in the area of safety operators.  

a.          There will be new jobs for more individualised in-person customer service which cannot be provided by a machine.  

b.          There will be new jobs in maintenance and operations of autonomous fleets.  

c.           New jobs in software and engineering.  

d.          These are better paying jobs of the future that not only our current drivers can consider, but also our younger generation who may be interested in the future of autonomy. 

32.        This is an evolving space and many other countries like China, Japan, the UAE and US are deploying AVs. Our best strategy is to prepare our people, our infrastructure and our laws. As PM mentioned, we will make sure that autonomous technology and AI works for us.  

33.        Together with our unions, we are developing training and conversion programmes for our drivers. We are mapping out new job roles and opportunities for our drivers. I understand that NTUC is having engagement sessions on AVs – so a shoutout, if you are curious to find out more, please sign up! 

34.        We are also developing a more holistic legal framework for AVs, which will specify clearly the responsibilities and accountability of key parties in the ecosystem. This will provide clarity for our workers, industry and the public – and we will consult each of these groups in the coming year. 

Fast Charging Hubs for Electric Vehicles 

35.        We are also leveraging technology for a cleaner living environment.   

a.          EVs, or electric vehicles, have zero tailpipe emissions. Our air quality will improve, and our children no longer have to breathe in harmful fumes from vehicles.  

b.          EVs are also quiet. We often receive feedback on traffic noise – EVs will improve this. 

36.        In January 2026, EV adoption grew to a record 55% of new car registrations. Mr Louis Chua and Ms Tin Pei Ling asked whether our EV charger network is adequate to support the growing EV fleet. I am pleased to share that there are more than 29,000 charging points islandwide. 

37.        We have achieved our target to provide all HDB residents with convenient access to a charger, with more than 90% of HDB carparks equipped with slow chargers. This addresses the needs of residents who want to charge their cars overnight.  

38.        Mr Ang Wei Neng and Mr Dennis Tan suggested deploying more fast chargers. We have already deployed 150 fast charging points at 70 carparks at HDB town centres and JTC’s premises. 

39.        Technology continues to evolve rapidly.  

a.          There are more EV models that can now support faster charging.  

b.          New ultra-fast chargers can add hundreds of kilometres of range to EVs in under 10 minutes.  

c.           And there are also more sophisticated grid management solutions allow us to reduce costly infrastructure upgrades. 

40.        We envision a mix of charging options to serve different preferences. 

a.          EV owners who prefer overnight charging can continue to use the slow charging points near your homes.  

b.          Those who prefer to charge while running errands for one to two hours can do so at a fast charging hub, with multiple fast charging points of power ratings of around 50kW.  

c.           And those who would like a quick charge of 10 to 20 minutes, similar to the experience at petrol kiosks today, can do so at ultra-fast charging points above 150 kW. 

41.        Currently, there are fast charging hubs in commercial and industrial premises such as Pasir Ris Mall, Suntec City, and Corporation Place in Jurong West. 

42.        We will deploy more fast charging hubs so that there will be at least one fast charging hub per HDB town by the end of next year.  

a.          Each hub will be equipped with at least six fast charging points.  

b.          We will start in areas with higher EV charging demand and adequate electrical capacity, such as carparks near Compass One in Sengkang, Macpherson market, and Plantation Plaza in Tengah.

43.        We are also working with industry to explore ultra-fast charging options, and agencies to optimise our electrical grid for our growing charging needs. 

Skills Pathway for EV Technical Specialists 

44.        Mr Ang Wei Neng and Ms Yeo Wan Ling highlighted the importance of equipping our workforce for the EV transition. We launched the National EV Safety Specialist Certification (NESS) in 2022, which has provided more than 2,000 people with foundational safety training in EV maintenance. 

45.        We will build on this effort.  

46.        MOT’s National Transport Academy, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) will launch a Skills Pathway for EV Technical Specialists.  

a.          This charts out the progression roadmap for a career in EV maintenance, including the training available from IHLs, Singapore Bus Academy and NTUC LearningHub. Major automotive employers such as Borneo Motors, BYD, Cycle & Carriage and Komoco, and our public bus operators will also support with employment opportunities. 

b.          Eligible individuals and employees will enjoy at least 50% course fee subsidies for SSG-approved courses. 

Strengthening our Public Bus Workforce. 

47.        I will now touch on public buses and its workforce. 

 48.       The Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme was introduced in July 2024 to enhance bus connectivity, especially in newer estates located further from MRT stations, and to also offer alternative travel modes along rail lines with high ridership. 

49.        Specifically for the Northeast Region, we have introduced 12 new bus services over the past 1.5 years, including 11 peak period services, and extended the routes of 2 existing bus services.  

50.        Residents have expressed appreciation for the new bus services but they often ask if there can be more bus connections to other destinations. 

51.        Mr Chairman, the binding constraint to more bus services is not the number of buses but rather the number of bus captains. 

52.        The job of a bus captain is not easy, as described by Ms Yeo Wan Ling.  

53.        We have worked with bus operators and the National Transport Workers’ Union to improve the working conditions for bus drivers over the years, such as longer breaks during shifts and caps on shift lengths. But this has not arrested the decline in local recruitment.

54.        As mentioned by Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow, we will do more to encourage locals to join the bus sector, including mid-career entrants. This would include working with bus operators and the union to raise (starting) salaries, and improving working conditions and career progression for bus captains. 

55.        Ms Yeo also asked how we are preparing our bus captains for the AV transition. We are commencing our AV bus trials on public bus services 191 and 400 later this year. The Government, led by LTA’s Singapore Bus Academy is working closely with Public Transport Operators like SBST, our unions and AV tech solution providers to prepare our bus captains.  

a.          Through the support and training programmes, we will upskill these bus captains and ensure that they are equipped with the required skills to take on new roles such as safety and remote operators, fleet managers, and other positions in the technical and passenger service functions.  

b.          Our priority is to ensure that our bus captains are well equipped with the required skills to take on new and meaningful roles in this AV transition as we pilot the AV services in a safe and responsible manner.  

Improving Safety of Worker Transport  

56.        Now, I would like to touch on improving safety of worker transport. Government agencies have also worked closely with industry and non-Governmental organisations, or NGOs, to improve the safety of worker transport.  

57.        We have made good progress, introducing requirements for lorries ferrying workers to be fitted with canopies and higher protective side railings, have lower speed limits, and meet minimum space requirements.  

58.        In close consultation with our tripartite partners, we will take a further step. From 1 Jan 2027, we will no longer allow the ferrying of workers in caged lorries.  

a.          Caged lorry decks present additional safety risks to rear deck passengers. For example, if a lorry with a cage door that is latched or locked from the outside is involved in an accident or fire, workers may not be able to escape.    

b.          Companies may still use their caged lorries to transport goods. If companies need the flexibility to transport either workers or goods on their rear decks, they can choose to replace the cage structure with a canopy, side railings and rain covers.   

c.           I thank the NGOs for this suggestion and their patience while we assessed the risks.    

Friendly Streets 

59.        To Mr Jackson Lam’s query about MOT’s approach to road safety, we continuously enhance road safety through both infrastructure improvements and community engagement. 

60.        Our Friendly Streets initiative exemplifies this, where LTA constructs new signalised crossings, barrier free crossings and wider centre islands for safe crossing. There are also reduced speed limits and other traffic calming measures.  

a.          In the 5 pilot sites with Friendly Streets, we have seen average vehicular speeds reducing by up to 25%. More residents are also walking or cycling along these Friendly Streets. 

61.        25 more sites are in the works, such as in Holland/Buona Vista and Punggol.  

62.        Given the positive feedback, we will roll out another 20 new Friendly Streets over the next few years. Some of the new sites include Pandan Gardens and Kampong Gelam. Residents can look forward to being engaged on road infrastructure improvements to improve safety, convenience and comfort. 

63.        By 2030, every town will have at least one Friendly Street. This will mean at least 50 Friendly Streets islandwide. 

Conclusion 

64.        Chairman, transport connects us all – to family, to work, and to the world. Our investments into infrastructure, people and technology will ensure that these connections continue to remain strong, safe, and sustainable, for Singapore and Singaporeans.