Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information,
Mr. Aubeck Kam, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information,
Mr. Ronnie Tay, Chief Executive, Infocomm Development Authority,
Ms Liew Woon Yin, Chairman, Data Protection Advisory Committee,
Mr Timothy Pilgrim, Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Australian Commissioner,
Members of the Commission,
Members of the Advisory Committee, 
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to the official launch of the Personal Data Protection Commission and the inaugural Personal Data Protection Seminar.


2. The Commission has been tasked to administer and enforce the Personal Data Protection Act, or PDPA in short. Since 2nd January 2013, we have ramped up many of our activities to help organisations and the public in their understanding of the new legislation, in preparation for the impending commencement of the law in 2014.


3. As the Commission carries out its work, we are mindful that we need to make our data protection regime work in our local context and at the same time, be on par with international standards. To help us achieve this, the Commission aims to adopt a balanced and pragmatic approach in administering the Act. The PDPA is a baseline and principles-based law that regulates the proper management of personal data by organisations in Singapore; gives individuals better understanding of how their personal data is used; and in the process strengthens the trust and confidence between organisations and their customers whenever personal data is transacted.


4. The Commission recognises that organisations need to collect and use data for legitimate purposes and to better serve their customers. We also understand the challenges some organisations may face in preparing to comply with the PDPA. I want to assure you that the Commission is committed to working with the industry to address the opportunities and challenges that arise with the implementation of personal data protection.


5. To this end, the Commission has and will continue to actively engage the public and organisations. Education and outreach efforts were started about a year ago, even while the Act was being developed. We have so far reached out to about 40 trade associations and close to 1,000 organisations through briefings, one-to-one consultations and seminars. Over and above such programmes, the Commission will organise an annual Personal Data Protection Seminar as an ongoing dialogue with the industry and for facilitating exchanges, sharing of emerging data protection-related issues and best practices on data protection. Today marks not only the official launch of the Personal Data Protection Commission but also the inaugural Personal Data Protection Seminar. Besides reaching out to organisations, we will be launching consumer awareness initiatives later in the year to help consumers understand how they can exercise care and rights when deciding to provide personal data.


6. In addition to public awareness and public education, the Commission will also actively seek feedback in the development of subsidiary legislations as well as advisory guidelines. In February this year, the Commission launched its first public consultation on the proposed positions to be adopted in the Regulations and Advisory Guidelines on key concepts of the PDPA, and selected topics such as use of NRIC and online activities. The public consultation, which closed on 1 April, received responses from over 50 organisations from various sectors of the economy. The Commission will take all these views into consideration when finalising the regulations and advisory guidelines. When ready in the 3rd quarter of 2013, the final Advisory Guidelines and Regulations will be added to the repository of online resources that organisations can refer to, as they implement data protection policies over the next few months.


7. The enactment of the PDPA also brings Singapore’s personal data protection law in line with international standards for data protection, putting us on par with a growing list of countries that have enacted similar laws. Working and cooperating with our counterpart agencies in foreign jurisdictions as well as in international data protection forum will be an important component of the Commission’s work. This will ensure that while we implement the law locally, the Commission continues to keep abreast of the developments in the global arena and share best practices. More importantly, such cooperation will help to facilitate cross border transfers of data and enforcements.


8. I am heartened to see a good turnout of participants from chambers of commerce and trade associations as well as organisations from key sectors. Your presence signifies the recognition of the business community in the importance of developing good corporate governance and practices to protect personal data and promote responsible use.


9. Before I conclude, I will like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, our Minister for Communications and Information for being here with us today to officially launch the Commission, the members of the Data Protection Advisory Committee who have been working very hard together with Commission members, to debate and provide valuable inputs on various policies and guidelines, the Infocomm Development Authority which is the Administrative body of the Commission, for playing an instrumental role in the creation and formation of the Commission, and the speakers for today’s inaugural seminar for agreeing to participate and share experience with the industry.


10. Last but certainly not least, I will like to thank all of you for taking time to be with us for this milestone event of the Commission. I hope this Seminar will benefit and encourage you to embark on the personal data protection journey with us. Thank you.