Parliamentary Speeches

From 2018-2020, I served as a Nominated Member of Parliament in the 13th Parliament of Singapore

5 June 2020
Fortitude Budget: Greater support for mid-career workers

NMP Lim Sun Sun welcomed the support offered to mid-career unemployed locals by the new SGUnited Mid-Career Traineeships Programme. During the debate on the Fortitude Budget in Parliament on Friday (Jun 5), she shared feedback from industry leaders on how to optimise outcomes for trainees and companies, such as managing expectations on both sides, giving guidelines to companies on how best to integrate and upskill trainees, and providing pointers to trainees on how to make the most of their stints.

26 May 2020
Adjournment motion on 'Closing the Digital Divide for SGUnited: Learnings from COVID-19'

The COVID-19 crisis has exposed and exacerbated Singapore's digital divide and the nation must close the gap to have a Smart Nation that is also united. NMP Anthea Ong spoke on this in an adjournment motion in Parliament on Tuesday (May 26). NMP Lim Sun Sun proposed "a significant paradigm shift" - to regard digital access as a public utility, just like electricity and water. In reply, Communications and Information Minister S Iswaran said Singapore had already made progress on digital inclusion pre-COVID, and that authorities will work with corporate and community partners to do even more.

6 April 2020
Solidarity Budget: Additional support measures in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Generate work so that businesses can continue to chug along amid the coronavirus crisis - this idea was put forward by NMP Lim Sun Sun in Parliament on Monday (Apr 6). She urged Government ministries to take the lead in proceeding with a calendar of events like conferences and training programmes, so that supporting industries can keep working while gaining valuable experience in digitalisation. Prof Lim also suggested stimulating consumer spending by giving the public shopping vouchers instead of cash assistance.

5 March 2020
Digital rights for children

Today, the digital world is ripe with opportunity but fraught with risk for children, said NMP Lim Sun Sun in Parliament on Thursday (Mar 5). She said more needs to be done to protect children from commercial and sexual exploitation on online platforms. She asked the Ministry of Social and Family Development to lead the charge in driving a whole-of-Government effort to protect the digital rights of children, especially in the areas of privacy and data protection.

3 March 2020
Microaggressions in school

NMP Lim Sun Sun cited cases of indignity students face in school to highlight the importance of psychological safety in the classroom. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 3), she asked the Government how it plans to train teachers to manage the socio-emotional aspects of teaching.

3 March 2020
Support for back-to-work women

More has to be done to support women returning to the workforce, said NMP Lim Sun Sun in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 3). Prof Lim said tool kits should be developed to help managers on-board and re-integrate returning workers and that the Government should consider raising SkillsFuture funding for returning female workers due to their longer career gaps.

3 March 2020
A robust information infrastructure

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of a robust information infrastructure, said NMP Lim Sun Sun. She asked how the Government has sharpened its ability to communicate quickly and effectively to all demographic groups in a digitalised world. She also asked if the Government could systematically assess the effects of POFMA correction directions.

27 February 2020
Budget 2020 Debate: A level playing field for big data

Singapore should consider blazing a trail to pioneer regulation on the collection and use of big data. NMP Lim Sun Sun made this call in Parliament on Thursday (Feb 27). She pointed out that the social compact between people and corporations which collect data is “riddled with inequity”. She said regulation would level the playing field between first movers and start-ups, as well as foster a vibrant pro-innovation environment.

4 February 2020
Active Mobility (Amendment) Bill and Shared Mobility Enterprises (Control and Licensing) Bill

Think big on walking in the drive for active mobility. NMP Lim Sun Sun made this call in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 4), during the debate on the Active Mobility (Amendment) Bill and the Shared Mobility Enterprises (Control and Licensing) Bill. She urged the Government to design estates that are walk-friendly and ensure that pathways are integrated into the urban landscape. Improving walkability should not be an “afterthought”, she said.

3 February 2020
Fear of failure and refining our education system

Move away from micro-aggressions in the classroom. Pay more attention to individual performance. Dispense with personal collection of results for national exams to make them less high stakes than currently perceived. These are among several suggestions by NMP Lim Sun Sun to refine Singapore's education system. In an adjournment motion in Parliament on Monday (Feb 3), she called for more to be done to lessen the achievement orientation and downplay the fear of failure.

4 September 2019
Resource Sustainability Bill

Eighteen plastic bags used in a single transaction for 13 buns - NMP Lim Sun Sun shared this story and her distress whenever she sees similar practices at bakeries, hawker centres and supermarkets. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (Sep 4) during the debate on the Resource Sustainability Bill, she blamed this on the broader norms set in place by industries, where packaging and free bags are seen as good service. Besides the three Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle - she proposed another three Rs - reinvent, recalibrate and reward - to deal with the mountains of trash generated.

4 September 2019
Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Bill

The debate on the Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Bill resumed in Parliament on Wednesday (Sep 4), with NMP Lim Sun Sun welcoming the provisions to further protect the identity of the child. With the change, this protection will be extended to children aged 17 and 18. This will insulate young people a little longer from media coverage of their offences. At the same time, efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate them will be far more effective, she said.

8 July 2019
Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill

NMP Lim Sun Sun recounted her close shave in June at a discretionary right-turn junction, where she was knocked down by a double-decker bus. “At that point, I literally saw stars,” she said in Parliament on Monday (Jul 8), during the debate on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill. She used her experience to highlight safety issues stemming from the discretionary right-turn lane.

8 May 2019
Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill

In Parliament on Wednesday (May 8), NMP Lim Sun Sun proposed the setting up of a third-party fact-checking body, called the Information Integrity Institute, to supplement the correction regimes under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill. She suggested that such an institute be funded by all media and technology companies. She believes it can play a critical fact-checking role and develop the expertise to do so swiftly and effectively.

7 May 2019
Protection from Harassment (Amendment) Bill

NMP Lim Sun Sun said in Parliament on Tuesday (May 7) that online reputations are crucial and the restoration of damaged online reputation has become a growing industry. She voiced support for the proposed changes in the Protection from Harassment (Amendment) Bill, particularly the move to make doxxing a crime.

1 April 2019
Platformed antagonism, disguising racist and nationalist views as dark humour on participatory media

NMP Lim Sun Sun highlighted two concerns in the information infrastructure that have made hate speech an increasingly lethal threat. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (April 1), she said the first concern is platform antagonism. It refers to the use of fake identities on social media platforms to discredit particular ethnic, cultural or religious groups. The second concern is the practice of disguising racist and nationalist views as dark humour on participatory media.

5 Mar 2019
Support for women in the male-dominated tech sector

Crash-test dummies based on the average male’s physique and ill-fitting armour that fail to protect policewomen - NMP Lim Sun Sun cited these examples to make the point that women need to play a bigger role in the male-dominated technology sector. She said the “needs of all, and not half of humanity” must be reflected, and urged the Government to make sure that women are given every opportunity to shape the technology and design sector. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 5), she suggested initiatives such as incubation schemes for innovators and incentives to upgrade skills.

4 Mar 2019
Artificial intelligence guidelines

In Parliament on Monday (Mar 4), NMP Lim Sun Sun welcomed the Proposed Model Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework and asked how the Ministry of Communications and Information plans to ensure the framework is effectively disseminated across all industries and how it will raise awareness on guidelines on the responsible use of AI.

4 Mar 2019
Digital Readiness Blueprint

In Parliament on Monday (Mar 4), NMP Lim Sun Sun welcomed last year's launch of the Digital Readiness Blueprint, but asked how it caters to the varying skill sets of Internet users. She also asked if there are plans to regularly refresh the Basic Digital Skills curriculum, taking into account shifting technological trends as well as changing needs in schools and workplaces.

26 Feb 2019
Budget 2019 debate: Making Singaporeans 'literate' in three key areas

In Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 26), NMP Lim Sun Sun said Budget 2019 will take Singapore forward in its Smart Nation drive. However, she said three "literacies" must be nurtured in Singaporeans - cross-cultural literacy to expand connections beyond our shores, digital literacy to ensure none are left behind, and ethical literacy to ensure that technologies are deployed in the best interests of society.

11 Feb 2019
Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) Bill

NMP Lim Sun Sun spoke on the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) Bill in Parliament on Monday (Feb 11). She highlighted what she called "insidious" campaigns by tobacco companies which capitalise on the appeal of social media influencers to circumvent restrictions on tobacco advertising. Prof Lim asked if the Government will do more to track the use of social media by tobacco and e-cigarette companies.

14 Jan 2019
Payment Services Bill

NMP Lim Sun Sun spoke in support of the Payment Services Bill in Parliament on Monday (Jan 14), in particular noting how it strengthens consumer protections. Prof Lim said Singapore has in fact not made enough progress in going cashless, and highlighted ongoing consumer concerns such as privacy and confusion over too many choices in a fragmented landscape.