SINGAPORE – Making sure workers are not left behind amid a technological surge in the transport sector and setting up integrated regional transport systems were among the key issues raised in Parliament on July 7.

Twenty-four MPs spoke during a six-hour debate on a motion on the Future of Transport, tabled by Tin Pei Ling (Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC).

The motion focused on ways to improve Singapore’s role as a global transport hub, including creating a seamless way to travel across different transport modes in Singapore, deploying autonomous vehicles in areas with transport gaps, as well as building digital infrastructure in the maritime sector.

Tin, who chairs the Transport Government Parliamentary Committee, outlined three key planks – frontier technologies, international cooperation and infrastructure – that are critical in ensuring Singapore’s global connectivity.

Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow, Minister of State for Transport Baey Yam Keng and Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling also joined the debate.

Better integration of transport ecosystem

Valerie Lee (Pasir Ris-Changi GRC) touched on better maximising opportunities in the east of Singapore – including Changi Airport’s Terminal 5, Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Changi Airfreight Centre, Changi Business Park and Loyang Industrial Park – with stronger air-sea transport connections.

The area is close to the Batam-Bintan-Karimun free trade zone, and there is a chance that the east of Singapore has the potential to become an “integrated gateway” for aviation and maritime connectivity, in addition to becoming logistics, business and tourism hubs.

Echoing this, Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Changi GRC) proposed transforming Singapore’s eastern corridor into an integrated economic powerhouse.

Edward Chia (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), deputy chairman of the Transport GPC, proposed a unified sea, air and logistics control tower in Singapore – to provide a ...