SG's Smart Nation agency and MCI to merge digital functions

The Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG) will merge with the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI)’s digital development functions to form an enlarged Smart Nation group from October this year.

According to a joint statement, this merged entity will better position the government to "advance the full range of the digital agenda". It added that the merged entity will be part of the Prime Minister’s Office and administered by MCI.

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Today, SNDGG oversees the Smart Nation strategy, digitalisation of government services, and the development and application of digital technologies and capabilities across Singapore. MCI, on the other hand, has been leading the development of the digital economy, digital readiness and inclusion, regulation of digital infrastructure and data, online regulation, and digital and cyber security. This is in addition to MCI’s role of coordinating Whole-of-Government information policy and public communications efforts.

Given the cross-cutting nature of digital developments, SNDGG and MCI have already been working closely together to design and implement our national and government digital strategies., it said. "The merged entity strengthens our capabilities and better positions Singapore to respond effectively to new opportunities and challenges in digital developments."

Despite the merger, the status and structures of the statutory boards and agencies under MCI and SNDGG remain unchanged. There will be also no change to the political office holders and Josephine Teo will continue to serve as the minister for communications and information.

Meanwhile, minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity Janil Puthucheary and Tan Kiat How will remain as the Senior Ministers of State for Communications and Information, with Puthucheary continuing as minister-in-charge of GovTech.

Likewise, there is no change to appointments to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), the National Library Board Singapore (NLB), and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech), it said. 

The merger will be effected in phases, with MCI commencing the administration of the Smart Nation group from 23 October 2023. Other details will be worked out over the coming months and shared when ready, it explained. 

News of the merger comes shortly after MCI issued a warning to The Economist Singapore’s bureau chief, Dominic Ziegler for actions that interfered in Singapore’s domestic politics. The aforementioned actions refer to Ziegler’s decision to publicly endorse writing in a local online publication called Jom, where he compared Singapore to an illiberal state and encouraged Singaporeans to embrace an alternative vision. He also referred to what Singapore’s media as “allegedly captive”.

“Ziegler’s action clearly crossed the line from reporting on Singapore to participating in Singapore’s domestic affairs. Ziegler has exploited his status in Singapore as a journalist in a prestigious international publication to advocate to Singaporeans for his viewpoint on domestic politics in Singapore, a country which he is not a citizen of,” MCI's statement said. The statement went on to refer to Singapore’s politics as being reserved only for Singaporeans, adding that it the ministry has expressed a clear expectation to Ziegler that he not interfere in domestic matters again.

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