Singapore promotes new mindset in public communications

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has pledged to hold more press conferences so that the government can better communicate its "thinking and considerations" to the public.

Wong was quoted by the local media as saying after announcing his new Cabinet line-up on Monday – two days before he is to be sworn in as the next Prime Minister – that the Singaporean Government held press conferences frequently during the Covid-19 pandemic to communicate to the public.

At one point, weekly press conferences were held to give the public frequent updates about the Covid-19 situation and the latest measures to control the pandemic.

Wong said that he found such sessions "useful", though he has no plans to hold press conferences at such a level of frequency.

He also explained the rationale for renaming the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), which, he said, was "not just a renaming exercise".

Regarding the establishment of the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) and the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) under the Prime Minister's Office, he said that SNDGO and GovTech have taken the lead in some digitalisation initiatives, but so, too, has the existing MCI.

Rather than do it separately, it was better administratively to bring these efforts together as part of a coherent national digital strategy, Wong stated. The strategy will also cover new areas like artificial intelligence and other digital technologies, he added, affirming that the new name reflects this new mindset and this new orientation.

Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo said that the renaming to MDDI is a meaningful and timely move to reflect the ministry's broader digital portfolio and acknowledge the new opportunities and challenges in the digital era.

She added that the newly-named ministry will oversee cybersecurity and the regulation of digital infrastructure, data protection and online content as well as drive the development and application of digital technologies and capabilities.

The renaming of MCI to MDDI will take effect from July 8.