As Singapore’s Central Provident Fund (CPF) scheme expands, its computer systems have grown increasingly complex. By 2020, they contained 34 million lines of code, meaning even seemingly simple policy changes could take a long time to implement.
Speaking at the Government Technology Agency’s (GovTech) 10th anniversary dinner on Thursday (5 November), Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the government had spent several years upgrading the CPF systems. It is now also conducting a comprehensive review and upgrade of legacy computer systems across other government departments, so it can respond more quickly to Singaporeans’ needs and prevent ageing systems from slowing policy implementation.
Wong said the government had accumulated many systems over the years, continually adding functions to existing ones. Some still rely on programming languages that are no longer widely used.
As these systems age and become more complex, they become harder to maintain and modify. Adding features and fixing vulnerabilities takes longer, and even minor policy adjustments can often take months to implement.
Citing the CPF scheme as an example, Wong said it began in 1955 as a relatively simple retirement savings scheme. Over the decades, however, many new schemes and functions had been added, while other agencies had progressively connected to its data and systems.
He said modernising the CPF systems was a major undertaking requiring sustained investment over many years. The government is also reviewing legacy systems in other departments and pushing ahead with modernisation.
“It is painstaking work, and much of it will never be visible to the public. But it is essential –– to prevent the legacy systems from holding us back, and to enable the Government to respond more quickly to changing needs,” he said.
Cybersecurity must be built into systems from the outset
At the same time, as the government becomes more digitally connected and increasingly reliant on technology, it must also strengthen cybersecurity.
Wong said cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, and artificial intelligence would further heighten the risks. A serious disruption to digital systems could affect essential public services and undermine public confidence.
Security and resilience must therefore not be afterthoughts. They must be built into systems from the outset and continually strengthened as cyber threats evolve.
On developing new systems, Wong said technology and user needs were changing rapidly. The government must enable its technology teams to develop software more flexibly, letting users try it early and continually improving it based on feedback, rather than waiting until the entire system is complete before launching it.
GovTech has led the way in adopting this iterative approach. To make it easier for departments to follow suit, the government must also adjust its processes for project scoping, funding, procurement and accountability.
Once digital services are launched, teams must remain responsible for improving them and ensuring they are secure, reliable and effective. Departments should also make greater use of common components and platforms developed by GovTech, rather than each building systems from scratch.
Artificial intelligence (AI) can further drive this transformation, enabling public officers not only to draft and revise documents, but also to use AI agents and tools to solve practical problems at work. Those closest to the work are often best placed to identify its pain points and bottlenecks.
Wong said that to achieve this, the government still needed to strengthen its data infrastructure, upgrade staff skills and put the necessary safeguards in place.
“[This can] bring technology, operations and policy even closer together –– and enable officers across Government to take the initiative, develop solutions, and continuously improve the way we work and serve Singaporeans.”
