Abdullah Tarmugi
Singapore
“As I have said, in most, if not all cases, we have a multi-disciplinary team to assess. In other words, even the protector himself or herself is subject to the assessment of this team. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.”
“Sir, I think that is a convenient tack to say. But AMP and others must also realise that the new policy applies to all NGOs which are co-located at community buildings, and not only to AMP. TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE ON PORTABLE MEDICAL BENEFITS (Progress report) 5.”
“Sir, this is precisely what we are talking about, ie, it is not just a question about numbers per se, and I would like to refer to what Mr Noris Ong said, about having three or more children, if we can afford it. This means, as I mentioned just now in my speech too, that we do not want children to be a burden.”
“At present, Sir, the policy is we will support up to three children. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Abdullah Tarmugi].”
“My Ministry will continue to look into ways of removing the obstacles couples face in having children. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. Dr S. Vasoo (Tanjong Pagar): Sir, we already have had eight days of long debate. I would be concise and you would be very relieved if all other speakers after me would be concise.”
“So we would leave it as it is and we only pay for working women. It is really to compensate the loss in income. He asked about the provision in the Bill on "lawfully married to the child's natural father". This is, as I said earlier, because we want to encourage child birth within wedlock and the family remains intact.”
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“Given the importance of the early years in a child's development and in nurturing of strong parent-child bonds, families should consider whether or not both parents should work full-time during these critical years. And, of course, this will entail some material sacrifices, but families should re-examine their own priorities and consider the merits of having one or one and a half income during these important years in their children's development. Alternatively, dual income families could consider involving the extended family, ie, parents, aunties, uncles, in the care of their children while the couple is at work. And there is also the option of the childcare and student care centres. Sir, MCD agrees that having flexible work arrangement is yet another avenue to help parents balance work and family commitments. So both my Ministry and the Ministry of Manpower support the adoption of flexible working arrangements. It is inappropriate, however, for Government to compel companies to adopt prescribed measures. Work processes and worker profile vary across organisations, and employers must be given the flexibility to choose, and being prescriptive will give rise to rigidities in the labour market and add to the financial burden of the companies without necessarily meeting the needs of the employees. Sir, a better approach would be to promote awareness and recognition. MCD has introduced a Family Friendly Award (FFA) in 1998 in collaboration with MOM, SNEF and the NTUC. And we are now conducting a survey on public attitudes and preferences as well as producing publicity and education materials on family-friendly practices, among other plans. Members have also urged that we change the mindset of Singaporeans on the role of men in the family.”
“And we agree that schools are good locations for student care centres, as mentioned earlier by either Mdm Claire Chiang or Dr Jennifer Lee. And based on the survey conducted by my Ministry, indeed, about 50% of parents using student care centres share this view. There are currently 22 student care centres in schools, and we are working with MOE to encourage more schools to set up student care centres in their premises. And there is a fee subsidy scheme for children from low income families who go to such centres. Dr Lily Neo has suggested that we co-locate childcare services with social day care centres (SDCs) for the elderly. Indeed, my Ministry plans to co-locate family service centres, childcare centres, student care centres and elderly care centres together in multi-service centres (MSCs). Families would find these MSCs more convenient, as they will allow the various service providers to network and collaborate, thus bringing about synergies in service provision. Dr Neo's suggestion of "borrow a granny" scheme is indeed one innovation which can take place at the MSC. The Tampines East PCF, I am told, has tried out this concept in their three-in-one family centre with considerable success. On maid sharing, the Ministry of Manpower has considered such a scheme but found that it could create complications, because of the question of responsibility for looking after the welfare and housing of these foreign domestic workers. While many dual income families have maids, they need not necessarily be the only care providers. The full range of options should be considered first.”
“I agree totally with them that the family remains the single most important stabilising pillar of our society. It is an institution which is very important to us. As many Members have pointed out, our families are changing. They are facing stress and strains brought on by changing lifestyles and many of the social problems we now face are more complex. Dual-income families, as mentioned by Dr Lily Neo, are now quite common in Singapore, especially as our women become better educated. For women aged 25 to 34 years, the group most likely to have young children, the married female workforce participation rate has risen from 32.7% in 1979 to 52.1% in 1989, and again to 66.7% last year. Trends in developed countries are similar. So, to help families cope with the changing social and economic environment, my Ministry promotes both the "hardware" and "software" programmes for families. 1.45 pm Let me first touch on "software". My Ministry works with social service agencies and self-help groups in many public education programmes. We will continue doing this in more effective ways with a view to reaching out to as many types of audiences as possible. And our key strategy in family life education is for MCDS to provide a resource bank of messages, materials, trainers and to facilitate groups in the community and private sector to reach out to as many people as possible, particularly the so-called unconverted. As for "hardware", my Ministry promotes care centres for children, students and the elderly, family service centres and other services to create an environment which supports but does not supplant the family's nurturing and care-giving roles.”
“This is one way to establish sports excellence in schools. In fact, some of our mainstream schools already make special provisions for athletes. For example, at Anglican High School, I was told that sports persons from different sports attend classes together where their time-tables are scheduled to enable them to train and attend inter-school competitions. In the area of sports for community bonding, I am pleased to announce a new initiative mooted by the East-West Cultural Development Centre, a non-profit organisation in Singapore. Under the overall rubric of "Building Community through Sports", the proposed programmes seek to involve the community in sporting events as much as possible as participants, spectators and also as sponsors. One proposal that we are studying is a series of inter-community youth games between the CDCs. The games will have a youth and family focus and spectator involvement will be encouraged, by placing emphasis on cheer leading teams, for example. The support of local business community will be sought to further the idea that corporations have an important role to play in sports development. With these plans and priorities which I have outlined, I am confident that MCDS is on the right road to building a cohesive and resilient society. But to achieve our desired outcomes, MCDS will need the cooperation of many agencies and sectors. We need also active citizens who are prepared to do their part. I am confident that MCDS and Singapore will rise to this challenge. Let me now come to the other questions raised by Members. Dr Vasoo, Dr Lily Neo, Mdm Claire Chiang and Dr Jennifer Lee have been very passionate in their support for the family.”
“The first is for the SSC to develop a systematic programme of training for NSAs in sports management and board governance. We will start with NSAs in the core and merit sports. The second initiative is to encourage the "twinning" of key NSAs with GLCs or MNCs. Corporate sponsors will be encouraged to adopt NSAs so that the latter can benefit from the financial support and guidance on corporate governance. Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), for example, not only sponsors the FAS' S-League but provides management expertise as well. The third strategy is greater accountability in the management of resources. To optimise resources and promote better accountability, we will coordinate funding by SSC, Singapore Pools and other major funders and tie funding to plans, targets and results mutually agreed upon between the sponsors and the NSAs. Leadership effectiveness will also be taken into account as plans will remain as plans unless they are properly executed. My Ministry and SSC will work with the NSAs towards this objective. The Member for Pasir Ris, Mr Ong Kian Min, and Dr Wang Kai Yuen have raised the idea of a Sports School. This subject was also broached at the SSC@21 Sports Conference in January this year. I am glad to inform Members that MCDS will be working with the Ministry of Education to see how we can best make the idea of a Sports School a reality. MOE is prepared to consider funding such a school to a similar extent as it funds other secondary schools, provided there are competent organisations willing to provide additional funding and see to the running and management of such a school. MCDS will work closely with MOE on this. MOE has also just announced a scheme whereby autonomous schools can develop different niche areas of excellence, including sports.”
“The CDCs will also take charge of planning and siting community-based services, beginning with childcare, student care and also family service centres. We expect to delegate these functions in phases over the next few years. In fact, two CDCs, the Marine Parade and the Tanjong Pagar CDCs, will be involved in the first phase with the other CDCs coming on board later on. Let me now turn to sports. Dr Vasoo has asked for an elaboration of our policy on sports. To provide greater policy focus on sports, MCDS will, as I mentioned earlier, form a new Sports and Youth Division from 1st April 2000. Sir, since my announcement of MCD becoming MCDS, I sense rising expectation on what should be done for sports, in terms of resources, manpower and financial support and infrastructure. Members' speeches during the past two days mirror this expectation. I empathise with this. But I wish to also emphasise that the sports fraternity and the various stakeholders should also accompany this expectation with effort, commitment and changes in mindset, if necessary. Together with the Singapore Sports Council, my Ministry intends to consult various stakeholders in the sports fraternity on a new vision for sports in Singapore, as well as strategies to realise this vision. We have already started this process in February and we hope to announce our new sports vision before the end of the year. As much of the desired outcomes of sports policy include increased focus on national pride and community bonding, we recognise that sports excellence or winning medals remains a key driving force. Hence, the critical element is greater professionalism and accountability of the National Sports Associations or NSAs. For a start, we have identified three strategies to achieve this.”
“Agencies, such as the NYC, the People's Association, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and various non-governmental organisations have been doing an excellent job in running youth programmes in line with their respective organisational concerns. However, we agree with calls that it is timely for us to take a more coordinated approach. MCDS will henceforth play a more active coordinating role to ensure a more integrated approach to youth development in Singapore. My Ministry will also give increased emphasis on youth matters by incorporating such matters into a new Sports and Youth Division in MCDS. Our next pillar is a caring and active community. MCDS has been reviewing how community services can be better delivered and made more responsive to local needs. We also want to empower the community to do more for itself. We intend to delegate certain functions to CDCs, so that they can take on the role of planning and delivering social services at the local level. Apart from planning social services, the CDCs will serve as the first-stop for social assistance in the community, thus making services more accessible to those who need help. The CDCs will also be the local focal point for volunteerism and community involvement. Getting more people involved in community services and activities will promote community bonding. With this delegation of functions to CDCs, the role of MCDS will be less in direct services, but more in policy formulation, national planning, as well as in setting and regulating standards. Among the services to be delegated to the CDCs is the administration of Public Assistance (PA) and other short-term financial assistance schemes.”
“But given that the Inter-Ministry working committee is still deliberating, it would be premature for me to comment on whether a structure, similar to the high-profile IMC for the Ageing Population or a series of committees focused on specific issues, as mentioned by Mdm Claire Chiang yesterday, would be the most effective mechanism to take family issues forward. Nonetheless, I would like to assure the House that my Ministry will work to ensure that the Singapore family is given high priority on the national agenda. Let me now come to the ageing population. The IMC on the Ageing Population has been cited by Members as a good example of a multi-agency initiative and approach. The Government has accepted the Committee's recommendations in principle and I am glad to report that implementation of the recommendations is on schedule. Some recommendations have already been implemented, for example, the Ministry of Health's recent revisions to the subsidies for VWO-run nursing homes, while others are being implemented, such as the Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) announced by Dr Richard Hu. The rest of the recommendations, such as the development of multi-service centres and an elder-friendly built environment, would be part of a longer term programme. As the leading agency on the ageing issues and secretariat to the Committee, my Ministry is working with the various agencies to ensure the effective implementation of as many recommendations as possible, bearing in mind that solutions have to be feasible, sustainable and cost-effective. Let me now come to youth development. Our youths are our future.”
“For example, Italy and Spain saw their fertility rates decrease steadily from replacement levels in early 1980s to about 1.17 in 1995. Japan also reported fertility levels of only 1.42 in 1995. Japan has implemented a set of comprehensive pro-family policies, the so-called "Angel Plan", mentioned by Dr Wang yesterday, which increased childcare benefits, nursery care services, reinforced maternity and child healthcare systems, and provided help in childcare costs, besides other measures. Yet, Japan has yet to see a turnaround in their TFR. If we are to arrest declining fertility rates, our procreation policies must be targeted at the broad base of the population and not just at graduates. This subject is a very complex one which requires a multi-agency and a multi-sectoral approach. For Members' information, there is currently an Inter-Ministry working committee looking into the issues of marriage and procreation in detail. And I would like to thank Dr Vasoo, Prof. Low Seow Chay and the Member for Bukit Timah, Dr Wang Kai Yuen, for their suggestions and comments on this subject of national concern and certainly their suggestions will be conveyed to the Inter-Ministry committee. I should also like to mention that in its effort to address the problem of singlehood and under procreation, this working committee will be looking into the plethora of reasons and attitudes that discourage marriage and procreation and what we can do to encourage family formation and to provide family support. I agree with Dr Jennifer Lee, Dr Vasoo and Mdm Claire Chiang that an integrated approach is necessary in tackling wider family issues.”
“I would like to assure Dr Jennifer Lee, Mdm Claire Chiang and other Members that as lead Ministry for the family, MCDS will work with our various partners to put in place an integrated policy framework on the family. We will promote practices and services which create a family-friendly environment which is conducive to marriage and procreation and which support families in their parenting and care-giving roles. 1.30 pm Sir, a key concern, as has been alluded to by several Members, is marriage and procreation. The Prime Minister raised this issue during the debate on the President's Address last October. Although the proportion of single graduates has remained stable somewhat, there has been a dramatic increase in the proportion of single non-graduates. And as a group, there are far more non-graduate singles than graduates. For example, the singlehood rate for non-graduates between the ages of 40 and 44 years has risen from 9.2% in 1990 to 13.8% in 1998. Even for those who choose to marry and have children, the median age of mothers at birth of their first child has increased from 27.5 years in 1990 and eight years later, in 1998, to 28.5 years, a one year increment. The total fertility rate has fallen, as mentioned by other Members, from the Dragon year high of 1.96 in 1988 to 1.48 in 1999. In short, Singaporeans are not replacing themselves. The fewer babies we have, the more we will have to rely on immigrants to make up the numbers. This may have an impact on our social structure and values. Our population is also ageing rapidly partly because of this fall in the fertility rate. With increased singlehood and smaller families, the family as the primary source of care and support may also be eroded. But Singapore is not alone in this regard.”
“The social issues we face today can no longer be addressed by Government alone. Third, to make the social safety net more effective, we will increasingly work upstream to identify and deal with the root causes before they grow into social problems. MCDS is studying the problem of youths and families in distress to identify the predictors and the risks. And based on these studies, we will strengthen preventive and developmental programmes. The first pillar: we want socially responsible individuals. We want citizens who are active to serve the community. At the very least, we want Singaporeans to take responsibility for their own lives. But there will always be those who need help. And social welfare will therefore continue to be a major responsibility of my Ministry. In particular, we will strengthen our rehabilitation programmes for juvenile offenders. As family involvement is critical for the effective rehabilitation of offenders, we will increasingly seek the involvement of parents in this process. And I am happy to inform the Member for Tanjong Pagar, Dr Vasoo, that we will propose making parental involvement and counselling mandatory when we amend the Children and Young Persons Act before the end of this year. Let me move to our second pillar, which is the family. The family, as we know, is the single most important stabilising pillar of society. And MCDS will deepen its commitment to building strong and stable families. However, family values are under pressure due to changing lifestyles and rising expectations. Our young are delaying marriage and postponing having children. Both men and women are struggling to balance their work and family responsibilities. It is therefore in the national interest to ensure that Singapore has a pro-family environment.”
“First, let me thank Members who have spoken. I must admit that I am really impressed by the passion and the commitment of Members, especially on the institution of the family, and indeed this bodes well for the community. We, at MCD, have put the family at the top of our agenda. Sir, come 1st April 2000, MCD will become the Ministry of Community Development and Sports (or MCDS). This signals more than a mere change of name. I would like to take this opportunity to lay out the new policy directions and emphases that my Ministry will pursue to strengthen our social fabric and the role of sports in Singapore. MCDS' mission is to build a cohesive and resilient society, supported by four pillars: that is, socially responsible individuals, strong and stable families, a sporting people, as well as a caring and active community. And all Singaporeans must share these responsibilities. But MCDS has a special role in nurturing individuals, families and the community and in charting out the policy directions for the future of sports and social services in Singapore. To achieve this mission, Sir, MCDS will adopt the following approaches and emphasis. First, where feasible, we should take an integrated Government approach to social issues. Whether it is preparing for an ageing population or addressing the issues of family ties, values, marriage and procreation - these are highly complex issues which cut across many agencies and sectors of the community. We therefore agree with Dr Vasoo, Dr Jennifer Lee, Mdm Claire Chiang and others, who have highlighted the benefits and effectiveness of such an integrated approach. Second, we need the spirit of active citizenship in the public and private as well as people sectors.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2000/2001, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Parental involvement would be sought when deemed necessary. In extreme situations where corporal punishment needs to be meted out, as a measure of last resort, principals are empowered to do so within the guidelines set by the Ministry. Consistency of Application of Disciplinary Actions While the broad guidelines ensure a general consistency of approach and actions across schools, schools are, and must be, given the flexibility to develop their own discipline policy with regard to specific disciplinary problems. This degree of school autonomy is essential as school situations differ. Detailed guidelines on what schools can and cannot do would curtail the ability of the schools to manage its discipline situation effectively.”
“The percentages of pupils failing Mother-Tongue Languages in PSLE are very small. In the 1999 PSLE, the numbers and percentages of pupils who failed, that is, did not achieve a Grade E or better, in Chinese and Malay Language were 20 (0.07%) and 2 (0.03%) respectively. There was no failure in Tamil Language. In the GCE 'O' level examination, the grades awarded are A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6, D7, E8 and F9. In the 1998 GCE `O' level examination, the percentages of school candidates who failed, that is, getting F9, were 2.1% for CL, 2.2% for ML and 2.1% for TL. These represent 532 of CL students, 118 of ML students and 24 TL students. GUIDELINES ON DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS IN SCHOOLS 6. Mr Gerard Ee asked the Minister for Education whether there is a need to issue detailed guidelines on disciplinary actions to ensure consistency of application and to provide some comfort to those schools which face the need to take such actions on students. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Guidelines on Disciplinary Actions Schools are given broad guidelines on the approaches and actions they could adopt in managing pupil discipline. These guidelines include the development of a comprehensive system of discipline involving all teachers, the setting up of referral systems as well as the use of a variety of measures, ranging from the preventive to the corrective. The guidelines drawn up were based on the principles that punishment is only a means to an end; that it must be commensurate with the seriousness of the offence committed, and appropriate to the nature of the offence committed. Schools include counselling as an integral part of the corrective process to ensure that the punishment is meted out with care and concern and that the pupil understands the reason for his punishment.”
“of Calls 1 Job matching 1,773 2 Family matters including child and 1,080 youth concerns 3 Financial assistance including help 769 with school fees 4 Enquiries about the CDC Training 364 Sponsorship Scheme 5 HDB related (eg rents and mortgage 298 instalments) and environment matters (eg mosquitoes breeding) 6 Legal aid and disputes 293 7 Health and mental health concerns 264 8 Elderly concerns 181 9 Immigration/citizenship and CPF 93 matters 10 Concerns of the disabled and 33 handicapped 11 Miscellaneous calls to give feedback 4,142 and personal views about life 12 Enquiries about National Education 3,064 Exhibition Total 12,354 Table B Breakdown by the type of calls received by the CDCs National Helpline for 1999 No. Type of Calls No. of Calls 1 Enquiries about the CDC Training 2,067 Sponsorship Scheme 2 Job matching 1,349 3 Financial assistance including help 666 with school fees 4 Family matters including child and 471 youth concerns 5 Elderly concerns 140 6 HDB related (eg rents and mortgage 128 instalments) and environment matters (eg mosquitoes breeding) 7 Health and mental health concerns 121 8 Legal aid and disputes 104 9 Immigration/citizenship and CPF 61 matters 10 Concerns of the disabled and 22 handicapped 11 Miscellaneous calls to give feedback 1,855 and personal views about life Total 6,984 STATISTICS ON FAILURES ON MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGES 5. Mr Gerard Ee asked the Minister for Education if his Ministry will give the statistics of students failing in the second language in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and "O" level examination. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: In the PSLE, the grades awarded are the following: A*, A, B, C, D, E, and Ungraded which is considered the Failed grade.”
“The Community Development Councils' (CDCs) National Helpline, set up on 3rd January 1998, provides a one-stop referral service for members of the public. From its inception to the end of 1999, the Helpline has received about 19,400 calls. In 1998, besides enquiries about the National Education Exhibition and miscellaneous calls to air personal views about life, the Helpline also received requests for job matching as the CDCs are linked to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)'s Labournet and job banks set up by some CDCs. Other callers raised family concerns, financial needs and training sponsorship. The summary is given in Table A below. In 1999, the largest number of callers were interested in skills training and upgrading. This could be attributed to the CDCs' sponsorship of approved courses under the Skills Development Fund (SDF) and Skills Redevelopment Programme (SRP). Job matching continued to be high on the callers' list for 1999. The requests for financial assistance decreased from 769 in 1998 to 666 in 1999. The breakdown is at Table B. The PA provides the necessary training for all the staff at the CDCs so that they are able to carry out their tasks effectively and efficiently. Such training is either at the National Community Leadership Institute or by professional organisations and trainers. Table A Breakdown by the type of calls received by the National Helpline for 1998 No. Type of Calls No.”
“Sir, indeed, they have been doing these programmes incrementally. Mendaki, for example, has gone into the FSC business, as it were, together with some other institutional members. So far, I think they have opened two family service centres. In other words, they do go into these areas too. As I have said, the main concern for Mendaki, the CDAC and for the rest of the self-help groups is the educational performance of the communities. And they hope to improve the respective communities by addressing the problems upstream. BILL INTRODUCED SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY BILL "to provide for making supplementary provision to meet additional expenditure for the financial year 1st April 1999 to 31st March 2000", recommendation of President signified; presented by the Minister for Finance (Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. ANNUAL BUDGET STATEMENT Resumption of Debate on Question (25th February, 2000) "That Parliament approves the financial policy of the Government for the financial year 1st April, 2000 to 31st March, 2001.". - [Minister for Finance]. Question again proposed. 1.12 pm”
“The number of admissions of juvenile delinquents and those beyond parental control (BPC cases) to the juvenile institutions run by the voluntary welfare organisations has, in fact, decreased from 170 in 1997 to 97 in 1999. These institutions include Gracehaven, Pertapis Centre for Women and Girls, Muhammadiyah Welfare Home and Pertapis Children's Home.”
“Sir, the self-help groups have their own goals which they set for themselves, and these goals serve as benchmarks for improvements. This is because each self-help group will know what is required for their own community, and they know what is realistic. Mendaki, for example, measures the impact of its contribution against the academic performance of Malay students at PSLE and 'O' level examinations. The CDAC has committees involving independent researchers, some of whom are from the universities, and they regularly review each programme to ensure that they serve the needs of the target groups. As for juvenile problems, they are complex and there are various causes. Self-help groups cannot address these problems on their own. Together with various VWOs and Ministries, these self-help groups tackle the problems with programmes which can reach out to both the parents and guardians of these juveniles. Mendaki, for example, has a Youth Development Programme which serves both the students in schools and school leavers. The CDAC has tuition programmes which also aim to involve and interest the family in the student's progress. And by addressing the educational needs of these less advantaged members of the communities and also concentrating on the training of the workers, the self-help groups intervene at the level where intervention can have the earliest and greatest impact, ie, upstream. As for the number of juveniles being admitted to institutions, the Singapore Boys' Home and Toa Payoh Girls' Home have an average of 220 admissions per year, from 1997 to 1999. These numbers have remained fairly constant over the years.”
“These awards, viz the Outstanding Youth in Education Award, the Caring Teacher Award, the Inspiring Chinese Language Teachers award and the pinnacle award, the President's Award for Teachers - are reflective of the community's recognition and nation's regard for the important role that teachers play. There is no greater affirmation for our many dedicated teachers than when the community seeks to recognise their good work. MOE has also implemented several measures to alleviate teachers' workload. These include the creation of School Administrator and Operations Manager posts at all schools to perform administrative support functions, the streamlining of work procedures (e.g. payment of school fees by GIRO, central issuing of student identification passes), and leveraging on IT to improve work efficiency. Since 1998, MOE has allocated more than 1,500 additional teaching posts and more than 380 administrative and support posts to schools.”
“Previously, classroom teachers were only eligible for one promotion to the career grade of GEO 1A and GEO 2A. With the new intermediate GEO salary grade, they now have an additional promotion opportunity, ie, 2 promotions, before they reach the career classroom teacher grade. GEO officers can also look forward to faster and earlier first promotions. The new SEO grade was introduced to offer better salary progression in the Upper Timescale levels before officers reach the Superscale levels. The Ministry agrees that we need to provide an overall conducive environment to help attract and retain teachers. It is not salaries and promotions alone that determine retention ability. We have a strong focus on training and development. The Ministry encourages and supports its officers to upgrade themselves professionally. The National Institute of Education has recently announced a comprehensive framework for continual training of teachers. We have also implemented various schemes such as the Study Leave Scheme and the Professional Development Leave Scheme to enable officers to upgrade themselves academically through full-time graduate and postgraduate programmes. Financial assistance in the form of sponsorships, half-pay leave and interest-free study loans are available. Since 1998, an average of 230 teachers per year have been granted study leave to pursue a first degree or a Master's degree. In recent years, various awards have been instituted by several organisations and the nation to recognise outstanding teachers.”
“This Committee will look into teacher training and also review the guidelines for the accreditation of training programmes. For childcare centres, MCD has also developed guidelines for diploma courses in early childhood care and education (ECCE). The higher requirement was announced on 1st October 1999 to give the industry sufficient lead-time to prepare and upgrade. The raising of childcare personnel's qualification was widely welcomed by early childhood practitioners as it recognised the importance of childcare personnel in the lives of the young children in their care. EDUCATION SCHEME OF SERVICE 6. Mr Tay Beng Chuan asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the rationale and special justification for the recent upward salary revision for the teaching profession despite the current need for wage restraint in both the public and private sectors; and (b) whether his Ministry has introduced any new or innovative measures other than salary increases to enhance the status, working conditions and job satisfaction of the more deserving school teachers so as to attract the right individuals to join the teaching profession as a long-term career. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: The revisions made to the Education Scheme of Service since 1st January 2000 was not a general salary revision. Instead, new intermediate salary grades were added to the scheme of service. The objective was to improve the structure of the service to allow enhanced promotional opportunities and more timely promotional opportunities to improve retention. These changes were part of civil service-wide changes to the structure of Division 1 services. New salary grades were introduced for both the General Education Officer (GEO) and the Senior Education Officer (SEO) salary schemes.”
“The Ministry networks closely with other Government agencies and Community Development Councils to secure the necessary supportive assistance for families in need. Cases may be referred to family service centres to ensure that dysfunctional families receive the help they need to resolve their social or emotional difficulties and appropriate counselling and casework follow-up. PRE-SCHOOLS 5. Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the total number of children under 6 years old who are in pre-school, including those in childcare centres under the Ministry of Community Development; (b) what are the basic academic qualifications of early child educationists; (c) what is the total number of such qualified teachers in Singapore; and (d) what measures are being taken to enhance pre-school teachers' quality and classroom teaching. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: The total number of children under 6 years old in Ministry of Education registered kindergartens and Ministry of Community Development registered childcare centres is 104,000 and 43,992 respectively. The minimum academic qualifications of these kindergarten teachers and childcare teachers are 3 `O' level credits, including English or the Mother Tongue (for MT teachers). For a childcare teacher, he or she has to successfully complete training in childcare recognised by MCD at the intermediate level. There are 2050 kindergarten teachers and 3767 childcare teachers registered under MOE and MCD respectively, who have such minimum academic qualifications. A Steering Committee on pre-school education chaired by Dr Aline Wong, Senior Minister of State for Education was set up in November 1999 to oversee the necessary changes which will help to raise the quality of pre-school education in Singapore.”
“Section 10 of the MPA stipulates that the Order of Tribunal may be enforced in the same manner as maintenance orders for wives and children are enforced under the provisions of the Women's Charter. Applications for enforcement of Order of Tribunal are filed at Family Court. +++ This refers to cases in which the respondent in an enforcement proceeding heard at Family Court is sentenced to a term of imprisonment for breach of the Order of Tribunal. The Family Court does not maintain such statistics. The data for 1999 cases has been prepared by file search. Outcome of applications as at 15th February 2000 for cases registered from 1st January 1997-31st December 1999 is as follows Outcome of Number (%) applications 1997 1998 1999 Maintenance order 110 103 95 made (79.7%) (76.9%) (74.8%) Maintenance/Dismissed/ 28 31 20 Withdrawn etc (20.3%) (23.1%) (15.7%) Pending - - 12 (9.5%) Total 138 134 127 (100.0%) (100.0%) (100.0%) The Ministry makes available mediation or family counselling services, either from the Ministry or the community (such as in family service centres), to help families who cannot agree on the maintenance for their elderly parents resolve any family disputes or differences even before they approach the Tribunal for assistance, and during and after the Tribunal's proceedings. The Ministry takes a holistic approach in dealing with families who approach us for assistance. We look into the essential needs of the family, (eg. help with waiver of medical fees and school fees), provide counselling services to deal with their emotional or social difficulties as well as arrange admission to a nursing home for elderly parents who are in need of such care. If necessary, short-term financial assistance will be given to help the families get back on their feet.”
“Applicants for the various financial schemes under MCD between 1997 - 1999 are as follows: Table 1: Number Of Applications for Financial Assistance Year PA* SJF* SFIS* BTW* Total % increase 1997 1,718 116 157 8 1,999 - 1998 2,333 117 211 8 2,669 34 1999 2,615 125 190 10 2,940 10 *PA - Public Assistance Scheme SJF - Silver Jubilee Fund (Special Grant) SFIS - Small Families Improvement Scheme BTW - Back-to-Work Child Care Scheme Number of applications for maintenance under the Maintenance of Parents Act from 1997 to 1999, the number of applications for enforcement of the Order of Tribunal, and the number of convictions for breach of the Order of Tribunal are as follows: Table 2: Applications Under Tribunal For The Maintenance Of Parents Number of applications filed under MPA and at Family Court Number of Number of Number of Year applications applications convictions+++ filed under for MPA+ enforcement filed at Family Court++ 1997 138 24 - 1998 134 59 - 1999 127 78 2 Total 399 161 - + This refers to the number of applications filed by an aged person under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Parents Act (MPA) for an order that one or more of his children pay him maintenance. (These applications do not refer to "offences" filed against "unfilial children".) ++ This refers to the number of applications filed by an aged person for enforcement of the maintenance order issued by the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents. This is done when a Respondent (the child) defaults payment of the maintenance ordered against him and the aged person decides to take up enforcement proceedings against him.”
“of Offenders Offences Committed 1993 5 -- Cheating by impersonation -- Theft -- Theft in dwelling -- Fraudulent possession of property -- Lurking, trespassing or housebreaking 1994 4 -- Negligent conduct with respect to any fire or combustible matters -- Theft -- Theft in dwelling 1995 2 -- Theft -- Lurking, trespassing or housebreaking in order to commit an offence -- Fraudulent possession of property 1996 2 -- Theft in dwelling -- Voluntarily causing hurt in a robbery -- Attempt to commit robbery 1997 1 -- Theft in dwelling 1998 3 -- Theft -- Theft in dwelling -- Fraudulent possession of property 1999 2 -- Theft -- Theft in dwelling -- Housebreaking Jan 2000 Nil NA TOTAL 19 * Of the nineteen cases, fifteen were 10 years of age and only one was 7 years of age for cheating by impersonation. No data is available for earlier years. The Ministry, in its review of the Children and Young Persons Act recently, consulted various organisations and advocates on the minimum age of culpability. There are therefore no immediate plans to initiate another review. The Ministry is prepared to reopen discussions on this question in future should the need arise. FINANCIAL SCHEMES 4. Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Community Development if he will give an update on (a) the number of applicants appealing for the various financial assistance schemes under its charge between 1997 and 1999; (b) the number of offences filed under the Maintenance of Parents Act against unfilial children between 1997 and 1999 and the number of convictions; and (c) the nature and duration of follow-up programmes adopted by welfare officers in monitoring the well-being of the families in question.”
“The Penal Code has made it clear that nothing is an offence which is done by a child under 7 years of age, or committed by a child aged between 7 and 12 years who has not attained sufficient maturity of understanding to judge the nature and consequences of his/her conduct on that occasion. This minimum age of 7 years is inherited from the common law of England. This minimum age provides a safety net for young offenders and protects them from exploitation of unscrupulous adults who may want to make use of children to carry out illegal activities. It also allows for early intervention by social and other authorities before a child progresses into a hardened offender. Although the minimum age of culpability is 7 years old, children are not subject to the same justice system as adults. The juvenile justice system adopts a restorative model that emphasizes the best interests of the child. In addition, there is an inherent safeguard as children between the ages of 7 and 12 years who do not have adequate understanding of the crimes they have committed will not be held criminally responsible. Criminal sanctions can therefore be applied only to young children who are aware of the nature of their conduct, while protecting those of a similar age who have not yet reached a sufficient level of maturity, from prosecution. Not all persons arrested for committing offences will be charged in court. In many cases, Police, at the direction of the Attorney-General's Chambers, administer stern warnings to juveniles or refer them for community-based programmes to help the juveniles and their families, instead of prosecuting them. Table : Juvenile Offenders between 7 and 10 Years of Age Charged in the Juvenile Court from January 1993 to January 2000* Year No.”
“The Singapore Sports Council has inspected the site suggested by Assoc Prof Toh See Kiat and found that it requires about $120,000 to $150,000 to level and returf the ground. As it is close to the road, a high fence will need to be installed to contain stray balls. Aljunied CSC can work with SSC to approach Land Office to request the use of the field. STUDENTS ENROLLED FOR SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES 5. Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Education if he will state the number of students who have enrolled for South Asian studies. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: 26 first-year students from the National University of Singapore (NUS)'s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) have enrolled in the South Asian Studies Programme (SASP) for the academic year (AY) 1999/20001. Another 44 students from the FASS and other Faculties have also chosen to take modules offered in the SASP in the first semester of AY 1999/20002. _________________________________ 1 The 26 students who have enrolled in SASP have opted to take South Asian Studies as one of 3 subjects in their first-year of study at the FASS. They may opt to take SAS as one of their 2 subject majors in their second and third-year of undergraduate study at NUS. 2 These students, who include 2nd and 3rd year FASS students, have each opted for one module from the SASP for the first semester of AY 1999/2000.”
“Mr Tay may also be pleased to note that BRANDAS was renamed the International Brand Marketing Programme (IBMP) in 1998. LOCAL FORAL DESIGN INDUSTRY (Support for development) 18. Mr Tay Beng Chuan asked the Minister for Information and the Arts if the support that is being given from his Ministry and relevant Government agencies to developing arts and culture in Singapore will be extended to the local floral design industry. The Minister for Information and the Arts (Mr Lee Yock Suan): Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry nurtures and supports artists and arts groups in the fields of music, dance, theatre, literature, visual arts and film. These are the core areas through which we seek to heighten Singaporeans' sense of aesthetics and cultural identity. Activities such as floral arrangement, bonsai, origami, quilt-making and embroidery fall under the category of decorative arts. My Ministry has no plans to extend public funding support to these areas. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings on the business set down on the Order Paper for today be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. MOVING TO NEW CHAMBER (Motion) 2.15 pm”
“Sir, I am not too familiar with that survey. But if 65% call themselves heartlanders and 35% call themselves cosmopolitans, so? BRAND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SCHEME (BRANDAS) 17. Mr Tay Beng Chuan asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if his Ministry has collated statistics on the number of applications for the Brand Development Assistance Scheme (BRANDAS) over the past few years; how many have successfully qualified for the scheme; and how many of these brands have benefited from the scheme to distinguish themselves as brands of international renown. The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr Lim Swee Say) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): The Trade Development Board implemented the Brand Development Assistance Scheme (BRANDAS) in February 1991. Since its introduction, TDB has received 21 applications from Singapore companies. Of these, 17 were supported with a total grant of S$1.71 million. According to the 12 companies which qualified for the scheme before May this year, incremental sales turnover resulting from approved brand projects is estimated at about S$42 million for the period 1997 to 2001. One successful story of a Singapore company which has used aggressive branding to gain market share is Tat Hui Food Pte Ltd. With the assistance provided by BRANDAS, Tat Hui launched its own range of instant noodles, "Yummy Yoodles", in Australia. "Yummy Yoodles" today has become the third best-selling brand among its class of products in Australia with about 15% market share. We hope to see more success stories in time, as brand development is a time-consuming effort. Currently, 14 of the 17 approved applicants are only within their first two years of implementation.”
“Sir, I am sure when the Prime Minister made that statement, he was not referring to any proportion of the Singapore society which falls under either category.”
“We would consider applications for banking licences in Singapore by Islamic banks which meet these criteria, as with all other foreign banks. Our approach is to allow market forces to drive the development of Islamic banking in Singapore. Banks will provide a service where there is adequate demand for it to make commercial sense. That banks are already offering such products and services in the market shows that there is some demand in Singapore for Islamic banking products and services. Market demand will determine the pace at which the range of Islamic banking products and services available in Singapore grows in the future. Table - Breakdown of the 1677 Children not Registered for Admission to P1 after 1997 P1 Registration Exercise (Cols. 1985-1986)”
“PA will also be helping to form more Neighbourhood Committees (NCs) in private estates. This will promote the active citizen spirit amongst residents in private estates, like RCs have done in the HDB estates. The CDCs, the NCs, the many GROs, plus their network with Government agencies and voluntary organisations, will give our residents many channels to be active citizens. Emphasis remains community self-help and self-reliance towards a caring, gracious and resilient society. With more channels and greater awareness, more of our citizens will become more active. They will bring in new ideas and new energy, and start up new programmes that bring in even more active citizens. This would become a positive cycle towards the active citizens' ideal. INTRODUCTION OF ISLAMIC BANKING FACILITY 37. Mr Harun A Ghani asked the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give a progress report on the introduction of Islamic banking facility in Singapore and whether his Ministry has any plan to encourage local and foreign banks to provide the facility in order to attract local and foreign deposits. BG Lee Hsien Loong: MAS allows banks in Singapore to offer Islamic banking products and services as part of their banking activities. For example, one of the local banks is offering Al-Wadiah savings and current accounts. There are also unit trusts in the market which are managed in line with Islamic philosophy and laws. The MAS has not received any application from Islamic banks to set up operations in Singapore. We have embarked on a gradual programme of liberalisation, to give foreign banks with strong global track records and sound credit ratings greater access to our domestic market.”
“The ideal of Active Citizens has been an important objective of the People's Association (PA) since its establishment in 1960. PA's mission has been threefold: racial harmony, social cohesion, and communication between the people and the Government. Active citizen participation in community activities and nation building has been, and will remain, PA's modus operandi. To facilitate this, grassroots organisations (GROs) were formed. In the 1960s, Citizens' Consultative Committees and Community Centre Management Committees were formed at constituency level for local communities to meet the welfare and social needs of their constituents. Since the late 1970s, Residents' Committees were first formed to serve residents in HDB neighbourhoods. Today, about 28,000 are serving as committee members of these GROs. Another 170,000 volunteers are actively engaged in the various activity groups under the GROs. These are fine examples of active citizens. Certainly we need to, and want to, do better. In 1997, nine Community Development Councils (CDCs) were set up at district level. The CDCs are given more authority and resources to initiate and manage projects. They are given matching grants for funds raised for approved projects. Government Ministries and agencies, such as Ministry of Community Development, the Home Team, the schools, as well as voluntary organisations have organised joint projects with the CDCs. More agencies will join in. Through these joint projects, the agencies bring their services closer to the local communities. The local communities feel greater ownership of the services. More residents would help fellow residents in need through the projects, either as volunteers or donors.”
“Mr Gerard Ee asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there is any active monitoring process to prevent pyramid selling from being introduced in a disguised form.”
“Funding by the National Youth Council for projects organised by youth and youth organisations is drawn from the Youth Development Fund, or YDF in short. YDF is an endowment fund set up by a grant from the Government. The YDF works on the principle of co-funding. That is, NYC will provide only partial funds. This is to encourage youth and youth organisations to obtain corporate or community support for their projects. Each year, NYC uses interest earnings generated from its YDF deposit accounts to co-fund youth projects. The amount of funds available is determined by the interest yield on the fund. This sets the budget, and ensures that careful use is made of limited funds. With a low interest rate in 1999, there is a smaller budget to fund youth projects. NYC decided to give higher funding priority to youth community service projects. This is in line with the NYC's aim of encouraging youth to be actively involved in the community. From 1st January 1998 to June 1999, NYC received a total of 455 YDF funding requests. These requests came from about 160 youth organisations. Of these, 335 projects or 73% of the total number of requests were successful. In the same period, 18 Malay youth organisations applied for funding from YDF for 42 projects. A total of 32 projects or 76% of the total number of funding requests were successful. This success rate is comparable to the overall success rate for funding requests. NYC will continue to promote youth development to corporate and community sponsors. We hope that with their participation and support more funds and resources would be available to support meaningful and promising youth projects. MONITORING PROCESS TO PREVENT PYRAMID SELLING 28.”
“Sir, the Member may be pleased to know that the Sports Council indeed supports the activities of the Netball Association of Singapore. As Members know, the Netball Association has courts at Kallang and it will be developing a family centre which is close to the courts. That centre is partly funded by the Singapore Sports Council. We will definitely give all the support that we can to the Netball Association of Singapore and to netball as a sport. If I am not mistaken, it is one of the largest women's sports in Singapore, and we are also encouraging it in schools. SALE OF LAND 3. Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for National Development when will the Government launch the next sale of land.”
“A team of IT coordinators from the madrasahs is monitoring the implementation of MITP. THIRD LANGUAGE 8. Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Education whether his Ministry will allow students, whose mother tongue is not taught in the schools, to pursue a third language which is offered in the school curriculum. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: The Ministry of Education ensures that there is a good distribution of schools in any given zone so that students will be able to enrol in a school within reasonable distance from their home that offers their mother tongue. For those students who enrol in schools in which their mother tongue is not taught, arrangements are made to have their mother tongue lessons at a school or centre which is within reasonable distance of their school. The Ministry will consider requests from parents of a student to study one of the official mother tongue languages offered in the student's school which is not the student's own mother tongue. Each such request is considered on a case-by-case basis.”
“In November 1998, MUIS launched its $2 million Madrasah Information Technology Plan (MITP) with the following objectives: - (i) use IT as a tool for productive and efficient administration of the madrasahs; (ii) use IT as a source of Islamic academic research and information and as learning and teaching aids; (iii) equip madrasahs with IT technology hardware and software to fulfil its executive and administrative functions as an Islamic academic institution; (iv) create an IT culture within the madrasah system to include not only students and teachers but their parents as well. In the plan, IT is used not only as a tool for communication and teaching but also as a means to stimulate creative and critical thinking among the students and teachers. MUIS has already developed the basic infrastructure in some madrasahs. For example, Madrasah Aljunied has a computer laboratory with 30 PCs, teachers' and students' workbenches and personal e-mail addresses for all staff. MUIS is in the process of installing PCs, teacher and students' workbenches and email in Madrasahs Maarif, Irsyad and Arabiyah. Multi-media CD curriculum is being used at primary level education in the teaching of English and Mathematics. MUIS is looking into recommending educational programmes for other subjects. Teachers and students have IT training road maps. MUIS is also helping to develop the E-Resource Centre, homepages and computer syllabus for the madrasahs and will run IT camps for students and IT awareness programmes for parents during the June holidays. MUIS is aware of the importance of a positive IT culture in the madrasahs and is working closely with them to foster this. It has arranged for the madrasahs to visit top schools like RGS to share experience and to learn from them.”
“If the local banks can consolidate and rationalise, and continue to build up and attract outstanding management teams, they can upgrade their operations and services, earn better returns for shareholders, and become stronger players both in Singapore and the region. That is what MAS is encouraging the local banks to do. However, MAS is not in a position to compel the banks to merge, let alone dictate who is to merge with whom. That can only be decided by the shareholders of the bank. (b) Traditionally, MNCs in Singapore have chosen to bank with large international banks with which they have a global banking relationship, while our domestic banks have built a profitable franchise lending to the SMEs. Unlike some other countries, we have not maintained a protected and inefficient sector of domestic companies, insulated from the efficient, export-oriented part of the economy. Instead we have encouraged domestic companies to upgrade and compete, because that is the only way they can offer well-paying jobs to Singaporeans. Since lending by local banks has always been on a commercial basis, any merger of banks resulting from the liberalisation of the banking sector should not adversely affect credit available to SMEs. Indeed SMEs will be best served by strong local banks providing efficient and innovative services. ANSETT AUSTRALIA 2. Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Finance if Singapore Airlines had consulted Air New Zealand before making the bid for Ansett Australia.”
“Competition will encourage local banks to rationalise their operations, further exploit economies of scale and deliver efficient and innovative services comparable to the best available in other major financial centres. By taking steps to liberalise the banking industry now, we can pro-actively manage this change. But we cannot simply remove all restrictions overnight because the industry needs time to adjust to the new environment, and we must maintain confidence and stability in the banking system. The transition from the present state to the new one must be paced so as not to jeopardise this confidence and stability. MAS is, therefore, drawing up a 5-year programme to do this. The Government needs to shape the final outcome of the liberalisation, and not leave things purely to chance. Our aim is to have an open banking sector with strong local banks, not an industry from which local banks have been marginalised. We will liberalise in such a way as to allow and encourage the local banks to upgrade themselves into strong players. We are confident they will use the next five years to do so. MAS has been discussing its plans with the local banks, both to seek their feedback, and to impress on them the urgency of change. At the same time, MAS has also been meeting with foreign banks to discuss how we can encourage strong and well-managed foreign institutions to make further commitments in Singapore and take a stake in the growth and stability of our financial system. The local banks are well run for their size, and are highly rated compared with other Asian banks. But they lack the economies of scale to hold their own against foreign banks that operate globally.”
“Foreign banks are subject to limits on opening branches, setting up off-premise ATMs, participating in shared-ATM networks and offering Electronic Funds Transfer at Point-of-Sale (EFTPOS) services. Nevertheless they enjoy a larger market share in Singapore than elsewhere in Asia, or in any major financial centre. They compete freely with local banks in many banking activities ranging from wholesale domestic banking, to treasury and capital market activities. The banking system is a key component of our economy. Strong domestic banks anchored in Singapore have interests closely aligned to the interests of Singapore. They are more likely to take a long term view of the business, especially in a crisis. A financial system in which the local banks have a large market share is therefore likely to be more stable and resilient. However, globalisation and rapid technological change are transforming the banking environment globally. Inevitably, this means more foreign competition for local banks, for example, through Internet banking or non-bank institutions offering financial services. MAS could retard the process by tightening regulatory restrictions on foreign banks. But that would mean shielding the local banks from pressures to upgrade, depriving Singaporeans of quality banking services, and making the ultimate adjustment more traumatic, when change can no longer be postponed and the barriers finally come down. Competition, not protection, is the best way to upgrade the industry, and develop strong and robust local banks which measure up against the best international players.”
“This, the Syariah Court and my Ministry would certainly look into and make improvements where necessary, and members of the community are welcome to make any suggestions on how we could improve the Syariah Court or MUIS further. All said and done, Sir, the proof of the pudding will ultimately be in the eating and I hope the community would accept these changes with an open mind or, at least, give them and the Syariah Court a chance to prove themselves or, as mentioned by Mr Rai, give the Bill a chance to work. I am confident that, given time, experience and support from the community, the Syariah Court would emerge stronger, more effective and an institution worthy of the hopes, inspirations and the trust of the Muslim community in Singapore. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Adjourned accordingly at Ten Minutes to Five o'clock pm to a date to be fixed. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BANKING MERGERS 1. Mr Tay Beng Chuan asked the Deputy Prime Minister (a) whether the Government's position in determining the pace and path of banking mergers in Singapore is contradictory to the principle of adhering to free market forces in Singapore's open economy; and (b) whether the Government has assessed its impact on credit facilities which are currently extended by banks to small and medium-sized enterprises. BG Lee Hsien Loong: (a) The Government must set the pace of liberalisation in the banking sector, because we do not start from a totally laissez faire situation. While we have promoted competition in the banking industry, MAS has restricted foreign banks' activities in the domestic retail markets to protect and build up local banks.”
“As to mediation, whether it should be encouraged, I think the Member would be pleased to note that there is indeed a culture of mediation in the Syariah Court, and it is certainly an area which we will develop further. The Bill has gone through extensive consultations, study and discussions by individuals, organisations and experts and among the Malay MPs and the institutions concerned. I accept that not everyone would accept every amendment to AMLA. Indeed, I think it is unreasonable for us to expect this. But I am, Sir, comforted by the fact that almost everyone agrees that, as a whole, the amendments serve to strengthen the Syariah Court and also MUIS, the two important institutions to Muslims here. I think this is how we should look at the Bill. Each amendment is like a piece of mosaic, each fitting into each other to be built into a very fine mural which no single piece of mosaic would be able to conjure, no matter how ugly or attractive that individual piece of mosaic is. I would like to commend the Muslim community to adopt this approach. We should also consider how the Bill will serve the needs of the community in the context of our multi-racial and multi-cultural environment, as has been expressed by various Members. Ultimately, it is not the amendments alone that will make the Syariah Court stand tall and proud but also how it conducts itself after this. This depends on the quality of the principal officers, the efficiency of the staff, the effectiveness of the processes and the procedures adopted, and the adequacy of the resources, both manpower and physical.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, first, I would like to thank the Members who have expressed their widespread and strong support for the Bill. Mr Sidek and Mr Zainul, in their own inimitable way, spoke at length of the need for tolerance, understanding and mutual respect in a society like ours, especially in areas where things spiritual - faith, religion, beliefs - come into contact with the secular, the need for accommodation and the need for reconciliation between these two spheres. I share this sentiment, Sir, and it is indeed in this spirit that the amendments to AMLA are being proposed. As suggested by Mr Zainul, the Syariah Court, MUIS, and certainly my Ministry, will monitor the progress of these amendments to ensure that if things need to be reviewed or improved upon, we would certainly do so. Mr Zulkifli spoke about our multi-racial society. I can readily appreciate and emphathise with the Member's points on the sensitivities and the issues of concern in our society and the need to consider our multi-racial and multi-cultural context in anything we do. As for AMLA and MUIS to be treated separately, it is, I think, a separate issue and one which will have to be studied very closely, especially the implications of the separation. I agree with the Member on the need to monitor the progress of the amendments, and we would certainly do so. Mr Rai supported the Bill too. I am aware of the complaint from the three persons whom Mr Rai mentioned and the trio's attempts at lobbying the NMPs to pursue their cause in this Parliament. I have checked the allegations and arguments with the relevant experts and they are of the view that these allegations and arguments are misconceived and without basis.”
“If we were to compare the implementation of the administration of Muslim law in Singapore with that of the Philippines and Thailand, two other ASEAN countries with substantive Muslim minority population, I think we can be proud of our achievements. Yes, there were concerns expressed on the question of AMLA proposing to allow the Civil Courts to hear ancillary matters on divorce. True, there are areas where the Civil Courts handling ancillary divorce matters could end up unIslamic in nature, but as explained by Minister Abdullah, they are marginal and there will be sufficient safeguards to avoid such pitfalls. Meanwhile, there is a lot more to gain when Muslim Singaporeans are allowed to benefit from vast state resources available from the Civil Courts. In view of the sensitivity and the fear some may still have, despite the assurances, it is worthwhile for the Syariah Court and MUIS to closely monitor such ancillary divorce cases going to the Civil Courts so as to avoid such complications. In conclusion, Sir, this recent exercise has shown what can be done to improve the Administration of Muslim Law in Singapore. Yes, many had wished it should have been done much earlier, but more important now, progress definitely has been made. I am optimistic that there will be more progress in the future. I support the Bill, Sir.”
“There is always the need to remind ourselves about the bigger picture while we tackle the specific needs of the Muslim community, in this case the AMLA amendments. This was also achieved in the deliberations of the oral evidence, including during the sessions with the Association of Religious Teachers (Pergas), Jamiyah, Ms Noor Aisha Abdul Rahman, and a few others. The written representations, to my mind, generally also reflected a considerable level of maturity about the issues dealt with. Sir, I am glad to note that this Select Committee had attracted 31 representations. During the last Select Committee on AMLA hearing in 1966, there were 18 submissions, and that too after its closing date for submissions was extended three times. Thanks to the quality of the representations and the positive approach taken by the Committee, many amendments have subsequently been made to the earlier amendments and presented by the Minister for Community Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, just now. This again, Sir, speaks well of the system and the openness therein. The amendments, no doubt, have strengthened both the Syariah Court and the Majlis Ugama Islam (MUIS). With these amendments, I am confident that the Muslim community will be able to stand tall, as far as the administration of the Muslim law is concerned. I have no doubt too that the system is not perfect. Neither do I think there is presently a perfect system in the administration of Muslim law in countries where Muslims are a minority. Even in Muslim majority countries, systems differ. If we were to look at Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia, three of our ASEAN neighbours with Muslim majority, we will find different levels and shades of implementation of the Muslim law.”
“After a long session and serious debate about the controversial issue of allowing the Civil Courts to hear ancillary matters on divorce, the representatives of the Young Women Muslim Association, persisted with their arguments, refusing to relent. The Chairman of the Select Committee intervened, reminding gently that they were repeating the same points. The President of the YWMA, Ms Fatimah Azimullah, persisted and argued further. Then the Chairman, Mr Speaker, interjected and assured them that they had made their point and that they would be given the last word. And despite that, another member, Ms Sakina Yusof Kagda, insisted on adding a few more "last words" to reinforce their concerns and to clear their conscience. The Chairman, Mr Speaker, then heard them patiently, still giving them the last word. Similarly, Sir, I hope this exercise would also give the opportunity to all Singaporeans, particularly non-Muslims, to better appreciate what AMLA is about and what it means to Singapore Muslims and to our multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore. Equally important, I trust this exercise will also allow Muslim Singaporeans to better understand the position of Islam and Muslims in secular and multi-religious Singapore. The Muslims have their own Syariah Court and family and personal law of inheritance. They also have the Muslim Religious Council (or MUIS) as a statutory board to regulate matters of religious life, including the haj, endowment or wakaf, halal food and mosques. But the Muslims know and accept that they are still an integral part of our multi-racial Singapore. The Muslims know that they are different in some ways but they also realise that they cannot completely live in a system within a system divorced from mainstream Singapore.”
“Let us make our country a peaceful one, Darussalam, the Land of Peace. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I find the anecdote given by Encik Sidek just now very fascinating. I am still smiling, hoping that we would not only be close to God but also close to each other here. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to speak on this Bill. I rise in support of the Amendment Bill. We all know that Singapore is a secular state. But as I have said before, unlike secular states in the West, and even in the Muslim majority Turkey, ours is quite unique. I call ours "secularism with a soul". The way we handled the Administration of Muslim Law Act (or AMLA) and its current amendments in the House today, bear testimony to that feeling. This says a lot about the tolerance and the understanding that exist in our multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore today. Yes, all the Members of the Select Committee are Muslims, but it was chaired by Mr Speaker, a non-Muslim, in his capacity as the Speaker of Parliament. I do not know how Mr Speaker feels about Islam or about the Muslims, but I admire his tolerance and understanding of the issue at hand. I am confident, however, that the Select Committee sessions that we went through must have allowed Mr Speaker to better understand how the Muslims in Singapore feel about AMLA and to appreciate their aspirations. I admire, in fact, the patience of Mr Speaker. With your indulgence, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I cite one example.”