Ahmad Mohd Magad
Singapore
“The participants were proudly spoilt and present their national attires, the mainland Chinese would tell stories about the differences in their culture and practices from ours and the Indians would cook their best sumptuous dishes for us.”
“Sir, anecdotal data suggest that there is an increasing number of families who have sold their flats twice but are unable to afford another flat from the open market due to cash flow or other financial problems. There are also others, for one reason or another, who are no longer eligible to purchase another subsidised flat.”
“I would also like to know whether HDB could process applications for sales of balance flats faster as feedback received suggests that applicants are frustrated by the long waiting time and the uncertainty of whether or not they are going to get their flats allocated. Income ceiling for HDB flats”
“Furthermore, for single mothers who are working, many of them are possibly unaware of the childcare schemes that they can make use of. I hope that MCYS, with the cooperation of Malay/Muslim organisations, can spread the message about the choices available to fulfil this need.”
“Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing industries face challenges in sending their workers for training and skills upgrading.”
“Sir, 2009 also saw quite a significant shrinkage in maritime activities in Singapore. With the economy on the mend, could the Minister provide an update of MOT's efforts to prepare and capitalise on the economic upturn and enhance Singapore's position as a global maritime hub?”
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“One way is for the Government to more regularly communicate with overseas Singaporeans to keep them informed of changes in living conditions in Singapore to keep the Singapore heartbeat pounding. For those who are thinking of leaving Singapore, have them tell us our "shortcomings". Be with us to build a better Singapore. Make this our homeland, a country we are proud to call our home. The Government can create an abundance of opportunities for all but if the sense of belonging of Singaporeans to Singapore begins to falter, then the future of the nation will be at stake. Keeping Singaporeans Healthy I would like to touch briefly on keeping Singaporeans healthy. Is Singapore a sickly nation? I am particularly disturbed by the heading of the publication "Today" dated 23rd February which implied that we are a nation of sick people. Our greatest resource is our people. Everyone in Singapore is important, no matter how old he or she is. Undoubtedly, a healthy individual can contribute more than an unhealthy one. Thus, leading a healthy life should be the norm for every Singaporean and each should be encouraged to do so. It is a known fact that the competitive environment we live in contributes to stress in many people. We therefore need to and can do more to encourage and motivate every Singaporean to stay healthy and fit. I would like to urge the Government to consider: (i) Building more health clubs or exercise facilities in HDB and industrial estates to encourage people to exercise more so that they can stay fit. Wherever possible, the facilities should be free, but if charges are levied the fees charged must be reasonable.”
“On the same token, Sir, the Government should be pleased to note that many mid-career workers have responded well to the call for lifelong learning by upgrading themselves through enrolment in professional and degree courses. A recent Straits Times' report noted that about 25,400 people are doing this based on 1999 data. The course fees are not low and can amount to tens of thousands of dollars. As such, I would like to ask the Finance Minister to review and consider doubling the current course fee relief from $2,500 to $5,000. This should be done not only in appreciation of the peoples' positive response to the call for lifelong learning but also to encourage more to do so. Investment in education will go a long way in increasing each citizen's contribution to Singapore's economy. Attracting Back Singaporeans and Retaining Singaporean Talent My next point, Sir, is on attracting back Singaporeans and retaining Singaporean talent. An estimated 200,000 Singaporeans are currently living abroad. Many, I believe, are professionals who could make a meaningful contribution to Singapore. Therefore, in addition to our endeavour to attract foreign talent to work in Singapore, we should also intensify efforts to create more opportunities for talented Singaporeans living abroad to return home. We need to continually re-examine our environment to understand the factors why many Singaporeans choose to live and work abroad. For one, the Government is now much more receptive to get feedback and ideas from Singaporeans. This may not be known to fellow Singaporeans living abroad who felt that Singapore lacks the space for them to express themselves.”
“In view of the imminent threat of another round of unemployment, I would urge the Government to harness and take advantage of all existing infrastructure, including creating new avenues, if necessary, to retrain and reskill older workers. This includes tapping into the vast resources of our unions, working with grassroots and community organisations and employer groups. Besides individuals, many of our small SMEs are also struggling to survive as a result of the rapidly restructuring economy. In spite of the sterling economic growth last year, it is not uncommon to hear groans of our small businesses that they have not benefited that much from last year's 9.9% economic growth. Sir, it is common for owners of SMEs to pledge their properties against bank borrowings. Prices of properties today are subject to wild swings and when these diminish substantially, such as the case during the financial crisis years, banks unhesitatingly demand for immediate top-ups to make up for the difference if the outstanding loan amounts are above the diminished collateral value. Those who could not pay had to declare bankruptcy. Sir, there are signs of similar trends emerging as a result of the economic slowdown. I would like to therefore ask the Government to consider the exploration and facilitation of some form of an insurance mechanism to be in place for such cases if none currently exists. This will help prevent viable SMEs from having to wind up just because of a temporary downturn situation. Tax Relief for Knowledge Upgrading I move on to tax relief for knowledge upgrading.”
“Manufacturers are starting to scramble to trim their sails in response to the slowdown in the United States and in case the US market drought is prolonged. In Singapore, our MNCs and high-tech manufacturers are the pumping chambers of our economic heart, with electronic manufacturing making up 64% of our total exports and accounting for more than half of our industrial production. Thus, a slowdown in world demand for electronics products will have a significant impact on jobs related to the electronic industry. This is the reality of the sweeping forces of globalisation affecting Singaporeans, and this will continue to affect our lives even more so in this new millennium. My worry, Sir, is particularly for our older and lower income workers. Apart from the uncontrollable global economic cycles, faster technological changes would also affect these workers' ability to hold jobs due to more aggressive regional and global competition. I am not as concerned about our young Singaporeans as I believe they are more adaptable to high-tech life and rapid changes in the environment. However, it is this ready acceptance and adaptation by the younger generation that will propel our transition into a knowledge-based economy and correspondingly make the digital divide more pronounced. As such, Sir, I would like to call on the Government to continue to intensify its efforts and to act decisively and quickly to help our older adult population in retraining and reskilling them. Equipping them with knowledge of IT should also be a priority, as most industrial jobs today require IT familiarisation. I therefore urge the Finance Minister to support this urgent and worthwhile cause to minimise the threat of a digitally divided society.”
“I feel that having a known and shared formula would enable us to have rationalisation in the manner our surpluses are distributed. The Government should first conduct a detailed study of what the appropriate formula should be. For example, if we can say that 30% or 40% of each year's budget surplus is returned to the people with the rest going into reserves, considering that the growth of our reserves is generally higher than our annual GDP growth each year, this will represent an added incentive for our people and stakeholders to work harder, knowing that a bigger surplus would translate into higher potential incentives for them. Such a formula will make it clear that with a guaranteed commitment of part of the surpluses being returned to the people, the Government cares and is prepared to share its annual wealth creation, while comfort of mind is also built that there is continued set aside for rainy days. Mr Chay Wai Chuen, the Member for Tanjong Pagar GRC, who spoke last Monday, also noted that excessive budget surpluses can result in unnecessary deflationary pull on the private sector economy through taxes and statutory cost and fees, whereas a more rationalised tax infrastructure, such as returning part of surpluses to the stakeholders, as undertaken in this Budget, can promote a more dynamic and entrepreneurial economy with lesser debt burden. This was further reinforced by Dr Wang Kai Yuen who also spoke on this issue earlier. Next, allow me to touch on globalisation impact on the lower income group and small SMEs. Sir, while the Finance Minister's Budget should give us good reason to cheer about, the rapidly deteriorating global economic environment certainly does not.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for permitting me to join in this debate. As noted by many Members who have spoken before me, the Budget has indeed been very well received, as there is evidently something for almost everyone. I congratulate our Government for its astute handling of Singapore's economic well-being, which has enabled us to emerge not only almost unscathed from the Asian financial crisis but has placed Singapore several steps ahead of our competitors. As a result, we are now in this happy and enviable situation of how to manage our surplus and redistribute the created wealth from our prudent but successful economic management. I am certainly most supportive of budget surpluses, especially when part of the wealth created is redistributed in the fashion and extraordinary generosity of this very pro-Singaporean Budget. It is highly motivating and, I believe, will spur people to work harder, as it represents a win-win formula for both the country as well as its people. Every party benefits from it. We have to strengthen the virtuous cycle of effort, growth and wealth creation in order for us to maintain this win-win formula. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to join the many others who have spoken earlier, and also in expressing my admiration for the creative manner in how part of this year's Budget is being returned back to Singapore's stakeholders. There is benefit to be derived by Singaporeans from all walks of life as well as, particularly, our small SMEs and new and budding businesses. This is why I referred to it earlier as a pro-Singaporean Budget. In this regard, Sir, I would like to suggest that the Government consider some form of a formula for the management and redistribution of our annual budget surpluses, as and when we have them.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister what is the prospect of our three pilots facing prosecution by the Taiwanese government?”
“Investment in education leads to enhanced productivity and paves the way for individuals to become more responsible citizens and parents, apart from being better workers. Once again, Sir, I wholeheartedly support the Compulsory Education Bill.”
“It is clearly noted in the Bill that one of the key objectives is to equip our children with a strong educational foundation that will enable them to pursue life long learning in a knowledge-based economy. My concern is for madrasah students who will be given exemption from Compulsory Education. While I truly appreciate the Government's sensitivity in accommodating the needs of the Muslim community to exempt madrasah students from Compulsory Education, I am worried of the madrasah's readiness to evolve an infrastructure that can adequately prepare Muslim children to confront the KBE environment. Passing the PSLE is one thing but whether madrasahs can bring about a learning environment that can simulate national primary schools, which incorporate the latest in teaching and learning techniques, is another. This is a choice that the community has made and as such, it must take responsibility to ensure that the madrasah system is reviewed and revamped so that they produce students who are not only religiously inclined but also can comfortably co-exist in a rapidly changing economic and global environment. Other concerns I have, such as the need to have religious teachers who are also proficient in science and mathematics and who could relate with a globalised world, have already been addressed by the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and prior speakers in this House or in other forums. In conclusion, Sir, investment in human capital enables individuals to increase their future earnings and enhance their employability in the job market. In the information-driven and knowledge-based economy of the 21st century, education is of paramount importance.”
“The World Wide Web, in particular, is proving to be a transformative medium, as important as electricity was first discovered more than a century ago. Most noticeable is the fact that the Web is two-way, in contrast with the one-way media we have all been familiar with - from books to newspapers to television. It combines the one-way reach of broadcast with the two-way reciprocity of a mid-cast. Its user can at once be a receiver and sender of "broadcast". This will present a new set of dimensions and shifts along with them. The first has to do with literacy and how it is evolving. Literacy today is not only concerned with text but also image and screen literacy. This new literacy, beyond text and image, is concerned with information navigation. The real literacy of tomorrow entails the ability to be one's own personal reference librarian - to know how to navigate through complex and confusing data and information, and feeling comfortable about doing so. "Navigation", Sir, may be the main form of literacy in this new 21st century we are in. The next dimension concerns learning. We are all accustomed to formal learning in a lecture-oriented classroom setting. Now, with large amounts of information available through the Web, we are finding a new kind of learning that is assuming pre-eminence - learning that is discovery-based. We are constantly discovering new things, new information as we surf and browse through the emergent digital libraries. Sir, I know the Minister for Education and his Ministry are doing everything within their means to prepare our children for these new dimensions. This Bill is therefore, important and I cannot imagine anyone not supporting it.”
“Apart from increased earnings, individuals with higher educational qualifications also tend to look after their health better than those with lower education. They tend to protect the investment in themselves by taking greater preventive measures to increase the probability of better health. Individual initiatives such as regular annual medical check-ups, proper eating habits and regular exercise can also be looked upon as investments in the maintenance of human capital. The effect of education is usually also extended to their loved ones. There is generally a positive association between an individual's level of schooling and his family's health status and overall well-being. The emphasis on education of the last several decades has enabled Singaporeans to be better fathers, mothers, children, citizens and responsible voters. Investment in education has also generated positive "neighbourhood effects", ie, outcomes that yield significant benefits to others. As Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman puts it, "a stable and democratic society is impossible without a minimum degree of literacy and knowledge on the part of the citizens and without widespread acceptance of some common set of values. Education can contribute to both." There is also strong correlation between educational attainment and items associated with a stable and democratic society, ie, informed and interested voters. The better people are educated, the more they want to be kept informed about the issues and the environment surrounding them, and the more active will be their interest in public affairs. Sir, the advent of the new knowledge-based economy is rapidly evolving a new kind of information fabric in which learning, working and playing co-mingle with each other.”
“It is inevitable that income gaps will widen, but we must ensure that a quality education is secured for all children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to prevent the emergence of an underclass in our society. It has been proven in advanced economies that the more education individuals acquire, the better will be their likelihood to absorb new information, acquire new knowledge and skills and familiarise themselves with new technologies. By investing in human capital, workers are able to increase their labour productivity and that of other capital they employ at their workplace. If increased productivity reflects higher levels of human capital, which are primarily a result of increased education, it follows that a positive relationship is likely between educational attainment and earnings. The United States Census Bureau, in its 1998 study of individuals aged 25 and older by educational attainment, reported that a bachelor's degree holder tends to earn US$20,000 more per annum compared to the average high school graduate. In terms of the investment costs of education, evidence in the US again indicates that a tremendous increase in the value of schooling has occurred since 1979. According to a private study by two researchers at Princeton University, the return to an additional year of education rose from 6.2% in 1979 to about 10% as far back as 1993. Recent trends in the new economy clearly show that the demand for high levels of human capital is steadily rising, which correspondingly increase the future financial returns to education. Sir, there are also other intangible benefits tied to the effect of better and higher quality education.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Compulsory Education Bill moved by the Minister for Education. First and foremost, it is my belief that this Bill is quite overdue, considering that we are already plugged to the globalised world and also the fact that we are reasonably aware of the dramatic changes in education happening in the United States and other advanced economies. But as the saying goes, it is better late and, in our case, perhaps slightly late, than never. Sir, the importance of providing an increasingly higher quality of education that could enable all children to succeed in their future careers is becoming increasingly apparent. The amount and quality of education an individual receives not only affects his earnings but, increasingly evident, the quality of his employment as well. According to Jacob Mincer in his book Studies in Human Capital, educated workers have three advantages relative to less educated workers. These are higher wages, greater employment stability and greater upward mobility in income. There are two factors which contribute to increased earnings of workers with higher education levels - first, increased human capital results in higher productivity that allows workers to earn higher wages. Second, higher education levels in turn increase labour force participation, decrease the probability of unemployment, and also decrease job turnover. It follows, therefore, that highly educated workers put in a greater number of hours annually for higher hourly wages in comparison to less educated labour market competitors. In other words, higher wages for better quality jobs. As Singapore transforms into a knowledge-based and information-driven economy, it is imperative that high quality education ranks high in our priorities.”
“And it depends on the Japanese economy, whether it will continue to pick up or whether the beginnings of a recovery which we have seen will peter out again. I see today Mr Miyazawa has said that the first quarter was good, but the second quarter is a little uncertain. Plus, it depends on what happens in our region, Malaysia and Indonesia particularly, which is a matter of considerable concern to us, and what happens in Singapore, whether we are able to sustain the productivity growth and generate the higher output without our own economy overheating. So there are some uncertainties, but I think that, overall, we feel much more optimistic now than we felt a year ago and, certainly, even six months ago. And so I look forward to the NWC making some constructive recommendations in this respect.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in consideration of much stronger than expected economic growth, I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it would be reasonable to expect another round of partial restoration of CPF within the year. BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I will await with bated breath the report of the National Wages Council. I have no doubt that this will be a hotly discussed subject in the NWC because we have published our first quarter economic results last Friday and they have been good. There is a basis and I am sure the unions will argue that we should bring forward the restoration, maybe not the full restoration, but certainly to bring forward the restoration to some degree. The question is what we see for the rest of this year, whether it will continue as strong as it is now, or whether there will be any clouds on the horizon. Traditionally, MTI's view in the first half of the year has always been that the second half of the year would be a little bit slower. That is a cautious approach. We do not wish to raise unjustified euphoria and we always want to be a little bit on the cautious side. If you ask me now whether there is a basis to say definitely that the economy will slow down, I would say no, we cannot say. But are there uncertainties? Yes, there are some uncertainties, because it depends on the US economy, whether it is showing signs of overheating, whether the Federal Reserve Board will be able to moderate its growth without precipitating a recession, which is a very delicate balancing act. It depends on whether the European economy will continue to grow strongly. It is showing signs of doing so now and we hope it continues. We trade considerably with them.”
“Sir, as a matter of policy, the Government has encouraged companies to regionalise and hive-off their lower value-added activities to lower labour cost countries. Many companies have done so but some are facing obstacles in terms of the slow approval process to bring in their foreign manpower for short-term training attachments in Singapore. I have learnt of cases where the approval process has taken as long as three months. In an aggressive global business environment where speed matters a lot, this imposes constraints to businesses headquartered in Singapore with support subsidiaries elsewhere in the region. In many cases also, products manufactured in regional subsidiaries are semi-finished and have to be brought back to Singapore for further value-added operations to be performed on the products. The lack of trained workers in the companies' off-shore subsidiaries will therefore affect the performance and reputation of Singapore companies. I would like to ask the Minister for Manpower to review what causes the delay in approving training attachment requests of foreign manpower, and to assist in facilitating and streamlining the approval process so that companies do not have to wait very long to bring their foreign manpower for training to Singapore.”
“Sir, beyond tertiary education in Singapore's institutions of higher learning, I would like to propose that CPF funds usage be selectively permitted at least for accredited courses of study, both local as well as foreign. The Ministry of Manpower in conjunction with the Ministry of Education could perhaps issue some guidelines on the types of accredited courses permitted.”
“Sir, I am speaking to reinforce the point which Mr Thomas just made on the usage of CPF for education. There have been strong arguments both for and against opening up the use of CPF funds for educational purposes. While it is laudable that the Government has set aside funds for training and skills redevelopment, this does not extend sufficient flexibility to employees and workers to freely choose the new skills or courses they would like to pursue. Also, in the case of parents wanting to use their CPF funds for their children's education, CPF funds usage is permissible only for courses at our local universities. However, quite a large number of students do not qualify for admission into the National University of Singapore or the Nanyang Technological University. Sir, in an age where a first degree is quickly becoming the norm for entry level jobs, parents whose children do not qualify for local university admission are forced to admit their children into foreign universities which, in most cases, cost much more. The denial of CPF funds usage means that the education has to be financed from savings or the parents have to work doubly hard to raise the money for their children's overseas education. Sir, this imposes undue strain on the family as parents have to work overtime or hold two jobs to pay overseas tuition fees and lodging costs for their children. In a KBE environment where all Singaporeans are encouraged to pursue life-long learning to remain relevant and employable in a fast changing business environment, our people should be given maximum flexibility to various sources of funds, including those statutorily held on their behalf. After all, pursuit of life-long learning is a worthwhile investment to keep them relevant with the needs of the economy.”
“Sir, the points I wish to raise have already been raised by both Mr Leong Horn Kee and Mr Inderjit Singh.”
“Sir, much has been spoken in the last several days and today about the importance of promoting entrepreneurship and technopreneurship as one of the key activities for Singapore to focus on. We need a new generation of home-bred wealth and value creators who could play a meaningful role in continually improving the standard of living of Singaporeans as we hop on the global stage. The awareness created and the many schemes we have put in place have encouraged many younger Singaporeans to want to jump on the bandwagon. However, as adrenalin begins to flow and ideas begin to sparkle, many are discovering to their dismay that funds availability represents a major stumbling block to execute and market their ideas. I would like to suggest that we consider setting up an agency where technopreneurs and high-tech aspirants could readily come to and meet with venture capitalists and interested angel investors who, at the same time, are also looking for investment opportunities. The agency's primary activity is to marry ideas which could potentially strike big, with funds to bring the ideas into reality. I envision an agency, Sir, where the technopreneur aspirants present their ideas and business plans to interested investors where technopreneur marriages are solemnised and hopefully live happily ever after. Seriously, Sir, I believe the availability of such an agency would help to increase the momentum of entrepreneurial activities. To widen its scope, such an agency could simultaneously act as a one-stop agency for SMEs to obtain information on the multitude of Government's assistance schemes and other forms of help available for both new start-ups and existing entrepreneurs to grow their business.”
“I would therefore like to urge the Minister for Trade and Industry to consider putting in place a barometer to benchmark ourselves against what some of the best in the world are doing to promote SMEs.”
“Sir, the recent launch of SME 21 and its broad range of strategies and programmes appear poised to well position our SMEs in the 21st century. In fact, the SME 21 document distributed during the launch is so well regarded that I understand it is officially requested by many countries worldwide. However, Sir, I believe, while the ideas and strategies have been well conceived, there was no reference whosoever being made to benchmarking or learning from the experience of others. I am not suggesting that this is not already being done, but I am sure we are aware of the merits of benchmarking against others, in this case, against other countries which are more experienced and are ahead of us in promoting SMEs. In the United Kingdom, for example, where there are more than 3.7 million enterprises, of which only 7,000 are large establishments, the government acts as catalyst to encourage collaboration for corrective competitiveness. As a result, one in 10 SMEs is able to set aside 10% or more of their sales turnover on new products and process development. Australia is quite ahead in government-led strategies to tap the vast potential of e-commerce by creating a dynamic business environment, promoting transactions via the Internet, and also conducting regular dialogues with the business community to discuss on-line business issues. Taiwan and Korea, while having a more liberalised business environment, implement policies which are designed to strengthen the quality framework and technological competitiveness of their SMEs. Sir, although some strategies adopted by these countries may be unique to their local and specific situations, I believe many are also generic and applicable as well to us.”
“Second, to facilitate speedy development and implementation, several Government agencies such as the IDA, EDB, PSB, NSTB, etc, should be identified to play catalytic and lead roles in strategic e-commerce development projects, such as the grooming of selected promising SMEs and the promotion of adoption of locally available portals. Their roles and activities should be coordinated to ensure efficient deployment of resources and no duplication of efforts. Third, recognising that only 4-5% of our local SMEs currently adopt e-commerce, we should get more SMEs to e-invent themselves, and also set a target for a reasonable number of SMEs to be using e-commerce in their business activities by a certain period, say, about five years from now. The goal should be not only for our business entities to use e-commerce as a tool, but also to get them to embrace e-commerce as an integral part of their business strategy.”
“Sir, whether we like it or not, employment of e-commerce as a means of doing business in the Internet economy is increasing with each passing day. To be a global player, Singapore has no choice but to embrace its widespread use. I am happy to note that the acceleration of the e-commerce usage has been identified as a key strategy under one of the three pronged approach to SME development in the recent SME 21 launch. While I am encouraged that the Minister for Communications and Information Technology has spoken in this House about swift liberalisation of the telecommunications industry and keener competition which will benefit consumers, I am concerned about the preparedness of businesses to face this dramatic change expected in the near future. 6.15 pm Sir, several of my MP colleagues yesterday, and Mr Inderjit Singh a moment ago, also spoke at length about the rapidly increasing e-commerce trends and the urgent need to educate and reach out to various constituent groups of this impending change. My primary concern is the urgent need to get Singapore SMEs to exploit e-commerce to enable them to effectively compete in the global marketplace. We need to quickly plug them on to existing B-to-B and B-to-C portals and, wherever necessary, facilitate the development of more portals for various sectors. First, I would like to propose that e-commerce development initiatives undertaken by SMEs are strongly supported by the Government, and that such support be incorporated in current Government assistance schemes such as VTAS and LEFS.”
“As we discuss the amendments to the Factories Act today, I would like to urge the Ministry of Manpower to accelerate the implementation of its Occupational Safety and Health 21 programme, which aims at transforming the work environment and propelling as many Singapore companies as possible to achieve world class OSH standards in the new millennium. An enhanced and transformed work environment will help to instill a new national OSH culture, which not only will raise productivity and participation rates of our workforce, but will also increase the competitiveness of businesses and provide for a better quality of life for the workforce. On that note, once again, Sir, I support the Factories (Amendment) Bill. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings on the remaining items 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]. FACTORIES (AMENDMENT) BILL Debate resumed.”
“Sir, another question that comes to mind is whether the amended Act sufficiently addresses the safety and health issues in new industries in Singapore, such as the wafer fabrication and the bio-technology industries. The safety of foreign domestic workers engaged in window cleaning has been given much public airing lately. My GPC Chairman, Mr Charles Chong, has spoken at length on this topic earlier. I hope the Ministry of Manpower could also consider introducing legislation to provide for the safety of such employees either under the Factories Act or the impending Occupational Safety and Health Act. As a whole, the Act should ideally aim at making all workplaces safe instead of confining it to specifically defined work places. Its ultimate aim should be such that all constituents responsible for bringing about safety at the workplace - be it the Government, employers or employees - are motivated to work together to do their best to bring about the highest level of safety at the workplace. Sir, as I have mentioned earlier, we are rapidly transiting into a knowledge-based economy. It will be a world in which economic value is derived from the active generation and application of knowledge, a world where human capital forms the new basis for wealth. Safeguarding the safety and health of our workforce should therefore become more important than ever. It is essential not only to train our workforce in new technical skills and knowledge, but also to cultivate the humanistic respect for human lives and dignity. There is no excuse whatsoever for any worker to lose his life or become permanently disabled in an industrial accident.”
“The Ministry of Manpower should clearly communicate this major challenge that our organisations and employers need to shoulder in dealing with OSH issues in the 21st century. The Annual Safety Performance Awards (ASPA) scheme which was introduced in 1986 to give recognition to companies that have achieved excellent safety performance should be given expanded coverage and used as an education platform to propagate the importance of OSH. OSH Excellence and Gold award winners should share their experiences and successful implementation of their safety management systems (SMS) in the light of the proposed framework for self-regulation by industries. Since there is a requirement for the safety management systems of companies to be gradually audited, my concern is for smaller establishments which need guidance and time to prepare themselves to comply with the requirements of the revised Act. How will the Ministry of Manpower deal with this issue? Apart from recognition at the Annual Safety Performance Award ceremonies, the Ministry of Manpower should also consider devising incentives to encourage best practices and recognise companies that have consistently put in good efforts to improve work environment and prevent injuries at the work place. Similarly, workers who have shown exemplary safety consciousness and responsibility at the work place should also be made role models and accorded proper recognition to motivate others. It must be made a requirement for workers to make safety at their work place a part of their daily routine and priority, and continually reinforce in them the importance of adopting safe work procedures at all times.”
“Sir, I think paramount to instilling proper sense of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at the workplace is continuous education of employers and workers. It is a widely known fact that we are now moving into a knowledge-based economy in which people will be the key competitive factor. Safeguarding the safety and health of our workforce will, therefore, become even more critical. To motivate our workers to perform at their best at all times, we must continually accord priority consideration to their safety, health and general well being. They must feel good and safe knowing that great care has been taken to ensure that they are in the best work place. Manpower 21 has introduced bold and exciting initiatives geared to place Singapore in a strategic position as we emerge from the economic crisis into the new millennium. I am glad to note that one of the key aspects of Manpower 21 is Occupational Safety and Health 21 (OSH 21) and that the programme has considered various improvements to the current OSH system, in addition to identifying strategies and areas of focus to propel Singapore towards realising our vision of having the best OSH standards. It is imperative that future OSH activities must not just be about preventing accidents but also take on a more developmental and proactive approach in tackling safety and health issues so as to maximise our overall potential. It should lead to a new national OSH culture. Responsibility for OSH hazards must be placed on the shoulders of those who create the risk, such as architects and developers of buildings, as well as designers and manufacturers of machinery and equipment, who must ensure that the safety and health of the workers will be adequately safeguarded.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Factories (Amendment) Bill moved by the Minister for Manpower. It is my belief that this Factories (Amendment) Bill is long overdue considering the fact that some of the items in the current Act has not been revised as far back as 1973, or about 27 long years. One of such items is defying a stop work order which carries, among other stipulations, a maximum fine of $10,000. The amendment Bill seeks to increase the penalty for such an offence to $200,000 and also double the imprisonment term to a year. There are several other provisions to increase penalties ranging from approximately a 40% increase from the current quantum to a three or four-fold increase. Sir, while I support the increased penalties in view of the increased number of fatal accidents over the last several years, particularly involving errant contractors failing to take adequate measures to protect workers' safety, I would appreciate it if the Minister could explain why the proposed penalty for defying a "stop work" order has been raised by 20 times, and also why it took 27 long years for this penalty to be revised rather than raising it incrementally as the need arises. For repeat offenders, especially those who have caused deaths due to deliberate safety negligence at work sites, a mandatory jail sentence should also be considered in addition to the proposed higher penalties. While the enhancement of penalties generally serve well as a deterrent, I personally believe that such measures may not necessarily go a long way in preventing accidents at the work place. This view is also that of several of my colleagues in the GPC for Manpower.”
“Sir, what is important is the fact that the elitists, whether academic or economic, need to understand that their position, while deserved, depends ultimately on how they carry, conduct and position themselves. Elitists inevitably exist in every society, but elitism - the idea that the elitists do the rest of society a favour through their existence - can be damaging, even lethal, especially in a small crowded country like Singapore, where social visibility is high. For the Singapore 21 Vision to work and for Singapore to make it in the future, diverse voices must be allowed to participate in, or even celebrate the reality, mystery and vibrancy of Singapore, not necessarily to register their specific interests but as a beneficent, collective and protective reach they belong to. Even if some voices may be out of tune, but if they are sincere and honest, they will ultimately synchronise with the grand orchestra whose proudest song is none other than Majulah Singapura.”
“Sir, the recent financial crisis, if its effect were prolonged on us, could have provided a clearer barometer, but unfortunately or fortunately, we got out of it sooner rather than later. The absence of a serious crisis makes a sense of shared destiny harder to develop and gauge. Yet, it is that bond, and not only economic success, that can provide an enduring perspective on personal achievement and ensure social divisiveness is kept at bay. No legislation can generate that bond; no campaigns can sustain it. It can only emanate from a people who see Singapore as a country where the legitimate and necessary pursuit of material interests concurrently provides space for inhaling patches of cultural, artistic and spiritual green. It is a fact that no one owes Singapore a living but that does not mean that Singaporeans owe the country no more than just doing National Service and taxes as payment for making a livelihood here. We owe it to one another, the recognition that we are fellow citizens of this enviable little island republic, called Singapore. That recognition holds within itself the social glue that Singapore needs today. Will it stick? That depends on whether people, especially our young, are willing to look beyond their immediate interests. That depends on whether people are willing to act to realise the Singapore 21 Vision and become involved. The Member for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Mr Inderjit Singh, yesterday warned of the danger of over-emphasising academic performance being carried into the workplace, especially in the uniformed services. He said such emphasis could run the risk of creating an elitist class system.”
“Can we expect the emanation of a sense of community in them that will lead to the much desired community bonding and ultimately, the togetherness as a nation? The Government has laid the ground work by emphasising the sharing of wealth, building and preserving of ties, care for the young and aged, and the Singapore heartbeat as part of Singapore 21. Are young Singaporeans aware of the problem and, more importantly, will they respond to the call? Or will they become just armchair critics, as Minister of State for Defence, Mr David Lim, has put it? What makes a people a nation is their sense of being implicated in a common destiny. Unity is sought in diversity. It is also the same sense that makes it possible that the unity will prevail in conditions of adversity too. To some extent, the latter has been demonstrated by a generation of Singaporeans who threw their weight behind policies and programmes that turned a looming debacle into a synonym for success. But as the moment of danger appeared to have passed, so did the urgency for collective action, which was replaced by the desire to derive the maximum benefit for oneself or his immediate family. While such an outlook is understandable, it may be seen as quite dangerously incomplete. On the premise that happiness cannot be bought, greater personal affluence, therefore, need not necessarily translate into satisfaction that comes from being at ease with oneself. And, since not all can do equally well in a competitive society open to the effects of international economic forces, the relationship between those thriving and those labouring to keep up could not but emerge as an issue over time.”
“We must compete based on knowledge - on the generation and application of ideas, innovation and information. To do this, we must develop our human capital. Singaporeans must realise that this is the reality in an area of intense global competition and rapid technological changes. They must constantly upgrade themselves to prepare for the new competition. The challenge is adequately preparing Singaporeans from all walks of life for this inevitable change. I have little doubt that our better educated young, and being better endowed, will be able to live up to the challenge. My worry is for the older workers, as was also earlier expressed by the Member for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Dr Vasoo. Several hundred thousands of them have between 10 and 20 years yet of economic life to look up to. I applaud what the Government and the NTUC have done by way of the multitude of programmes in Manpower 21 and NTUC 21 to prepare them for the inevitable KBE transition. This is a clear demonstration that we care for our people The lingering fear is how far these programmes - many of them are already in place, and I am sure many yet in the pipeline - have reached the people, especially the truly vulnerable ones. I fear, Sir, if this is not aggressively pursued, we may run the risk of creating an underclass where a segment of society loses hope. If every Singaporean truly matters, then we must be prepared to go that extra mile or kilometre to reach out to the bottom strata. Second, Sir, while I am comfortable that our young are adequately prepared, I have a different concern for this group. Can we expect that they stick through thick and thin with Singapore as our seniors and we have done? Or will their patriotism be just skin deep and a function of the peaks and valleys of the economic cycle?”
“It is incumbent upon all of us that if conditions were difficult in the early years, all indications are, we are potentially confronted with an even tougher future. First, is the inevitable fact that we have no other choice but to transit to a knowledge-based economy in due course, the sooner we are ready, the better. The rapid changes in the global economy and technology have already led to a feeling among some Singaporeans that they have to run even faster just to keep pace with the changes. As a small open nation, we are inextricably tied to the global trading system and have little choice but to meet the challenges of competing within the constraints of the new global arena, or perish. Thus, Singapore has no choice, and the economics of survival is, and will always be, Singapore's priority. In addition, as we enter the new millennium, it is apparent that the accelerating pace of technological change will be a key defining characteristic of the new millennium. It will be a world in which economic value is derived from the active generation and application of knowledge, a world where human capital forms the new basis for wealth. It will also be a world where the rapid pace of change puts the social fabric in all countries under strain. Competition for trade, talent and investments will become increasingly tense as it takes on a global dimension and as people and investments become more mobile. Singapore has to remain economically competitive. To achieve this, we must continuously develop capabilities in key areas in which our competitors are lacking and finding it difficult to emulate. In addition to our cost structures, the quality of our human capital is key. It is a known fact that we can no longer compete in industries that are land and labour intensive.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the motion, moved by the Member for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, in expressing our thanks to the President for his Address at the Opening of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament. Although the President's Speech, in essence, substantially hovered over Singapore 21 which was debated intensely in this House fairly recently, I believe it serves as a staunch reminder to Singaporeans of the emphasis and weight the Government is attaching to the Singapore 21 vision. People, the President clarified, will be the focus of our Government, as we brace ourselves for the next century. Although this current emphasis appears to be stronger than ever, I recall that this represents a continuation of a trend which was first mooted by Prime Minister Goh in 1997 when he suggested the need for a "people-centred" vision which transcends material achievements to a society which places people first. As Singaporeans, we have demonstrated ourselves to be pragmatic and realistic. Our leaders have brought us thus far, that we can stand tall and walk with our heads high, having faced the severest of any conceivable adversity during the separation days, and turning obstacles into opportunities for the future, in the more recent regional economic crisis. Against the odds, Singapore has not only survived but also flourished to be a nation envied by many from any nook and corner of this world. For what we have today, we owe it to our early leaders for all their untiring efforts, sacrifices and all they have done for the present generation's betterment. However, what we have today - be it material wealth, racial or social harmony - as has been mentioned in this House countless numbers of times - these can never be taken for granted.”
“It would require the earthwork contractors and PowerGrid Limited which owns the electricity cable network to work together to proactively prevent damage to the electricity cables. On that note, Sir, I support this Amendment Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to express my support for the Public Utilities (Amendment) Bill presented by the Minister for Trade and Industry. Allow me first to declare my interest that I am a board member of the Public Utilities Board. One of the main objectives of the proposed amendments is to minimise the number of incidents of damage to underground high voltage electricity cables. It is my understanding that the damages to the cables in the past have been largely caused by earthwork contractors in the course of construction work. Damage to these cables would cause voltage dips to be felt over large areas and the effect is felt island-wide when the damage is to 230 kv cables. The extent of the impact is evidenced by the disproportionately large number of voltage dip complaints received relative to the incidents which give rise to the voltage dips. As the Minister has explained at length, the impact on high-tech industries due to such voltage fluctuations is particularly severe. Feedback from industry indicates that the production facilities of high-tech companies such as wafer fab companies, sensitive micro-electronics component manufacturers and others are highly susceptible to voltage dips caused by damage to underground cables. The interruptions of electricity supply upset these companies' production schedules and delivery commitments and result in costly losses in production time and work in progress items which often have to be discarded. Sir, for us to be able to continue to attract high technology and high value-added investments into Singapore, we have to ensure that the quality of our electricity supply remains consistently high. The proposed legislation as presented by the Minister is therefore necessary and timely.”
“This is where we need to construct a new model to harmonise the three sectors in such a way that we pull and involve each and every Singaporean so that each and every one of us could make the difference. Together, we have forged the new Vision for the 21st Century but to make the difference we must now act on it. In conclusion, allow me to quote Joel Arthur Barker, a renowned futurist. He said, "Vision without action will remain a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with Action can change the world." Let us together make the difference for Singapore. ADJOURNMENT OF DEBATE Resolved, "That the debate be now adjourned." - [RAdm Teo Chee Hean].”
“Passion which is akin to "intense interest" paves the way for "true expertise" to eventually emerge, as Prime Minister Goh puts it. Being the best we can be then comes quite naturally. This is what we need in our pursuit of a knowledge-based economy. Along with this, if our society could begin appreciating unconventional accomplishments, such as those who successfully climbed Everest or become a renowned violinist, and if our Government helps lead the way in propagating the message that talents and abilities are not just confined to top-notch scholars or bankers, and if we begin to readily accept that failure opens doors to successes and there is room for second chances in our pursuits, then there is hope that we can get individuals to unleash the best in whatever areas their potential leads to. There is hope that everyone could believe that each has a role and part to play and their contribution, no matter how small, is valued. Then there is hope for Singaporeans to accept that "Every Singaporean truly Matters". Sir, I have just briefly spoken on one of the key ideas of the Singapore 21 Vision - Every Singaporean Matters. I am sure my other counterparts from the Singapore 21 Committee will elaborate on the other four. As the Prime Minister stressed during its launch about two weeks ago, unlike Vision 1999, this is the people's vision and not one crafted by the Government. It is forceful, comprehensive and inspiring, motivated for change forged by 6,000 serious Singaporeans who have gone beyond material and academic pursuits to emotional, spiritual, cultural and social fulfilment. As Asad Latiff puts it, it is a product of social tripartism - a partnership between the public, private and people sectors, what if I may call, a new tripartism formula for the 21st century.”
“As individuals, we need to realise that stress and drive are not at opposite ends. After all, not all stress is bad. Like cholesterol, we should optimise good stress and get rid of the bad. We need to learn to de-stress and not succumb to distress. We have to be passionate in the pursuit of our own goals and have the courage to choose our own path, even if it is one which is not frequently travelled. I recall being fascinated by Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to conquer Mount Everest, when I was a student. By coincidence, his achievement is being disputed in the papers today. His passion, dedication and obsession to his pursuits - which included climbing the highest mountain in the world at 28,028 feet, the height at which modern jetliners today typically cruise - often struck awe and admiration in me. Today, of course, we have our very own Khoo Swee Chiow who, as if conquering Everest was not enough, is now intent on leading a team of Singaporeans to the South Pole. Then, there was David Bellamy, the botanist. I used to enjoy watching him on television, either picking up some worms or fingering some leaves in some off-the-beaten-track places. It was evident that both had natural passion for what they were doing. Because of that, watching them at work became enjoyable too. Like Sir Hillary and Bellamy, having a sense of passion for what we do is now a quality which we need to cultivate, as the new millennium draws near. Our country's dependence on human resources makes the need for passion even more pertinent. If we couple working hard with a strong passion in whatever work we undertake, the result can be astounding. Because with passion comes not only dedication but also creativity and the desire to innovate, and be different from others.”
“There is a general consensus that success is defined too narrowly in Singapore, based on academic and material benchmarks. And as individuals derive their sense of self-worth from these benchmarks, the resultant effect is stress. The narrow boundaries of these benchmarks unfortunately cannot accommodate many people. While on the positive side, this narrow definition has helped to maintain our country's competitive edge by the pursuit of excellence in the academic sphere and at the workplace, it has also led to some undesirable social consequences. Some of these ill effects include being an unforgiving society, a culture of risk aversion, under-utilisation of talent and the loss of buzz. It results in people unconsciously applying a narrow view of the achievements of others by virtue of they themselves being narrowly judged of their own success in life by others. There is a lack of diversity and a tolerance for second chances. As a result, passion in what one likes or enjoys doing is compromised for something which is accepted as a conventional norm. A potentially first rate violinist becomes a second-rate, say, economist instead! People become afraid to take risk because of fear of failure. Now, in our pursuit of a knowledge-based economy where creativity, innovation and technopreneurship are encouraged, the old way we look at success is no longer relevant nor healthy for Singapore. We need a new mindset in how we look at success. It must extend beyond material and academic success to embrace achievements in all fields of human endeavour, so that people do not treat the pursuit of material life as an end in itself. No job, whether it is a cleaner or a gardener, should be viewed as too low where one cannot apply knowledge and excellence to it.”
“Adults too are subject to stress both as a worker and as a parent. Added stress comes from having to juggle these roles within time and energy constraints. Stress also comes from what some people term "the system" in Singapore. These include a preference for paper qualifications over work experience, the equating of staying late with working hard and older workers feeling threatened by younger ones. The policy on attracting foreign talent is also felt as a source of stress. While Singaporeans appreciate the need for talent at the national level, they cannot help but feel threatened at the individual level. Lower educated Singaporeans fear their jobs may be lost to lower-priced, better educated foreigners. For those who took heed of the Government's encouragement to go regional, added stress comes from the need to re-align family commitments and schedules, and adapting to an alien culture. At home, the pressure faced by school-going children translates into pressure on the parent, especially during examination times. Adults also face the pressure of keeping up with the Joneses, for instance, making sure that their children keep up with the rest, matching Reebok with Reebok and Montessori with Montessori. As a citizen of this country, Singaporeans subject themselves to high expectations from the State itself. Regular exhortations by leaders to excel are cited as sources of stress. Then, there is also the feeling that the individual Singaporean is being forced into prescribed moulds, which in a way reinforces the sense of helplessness among some Singaporeans. A survey conducted by the Singapore 21 Committee indeed found that more than half of Singaporeans feel keenly and were anxious about the rapid pace of change here.”
“Sir, I rise to register my strong and wholehearted support to the motion standing in the name of the Minister for Education and the Chairman of the Singapore 21 Committee, RAdm Teo Chee Hean. As Co-Chairman of the subject committee on Less Stressful Life versus Retaining the Drive, I have had the benefit of being part of the Singapore 21 process. It has undoubtedly been a very rewarding and enriching process as the dozen or so members of the committee deliberated and argued passionately with one another over the dilemma. Discussions held with focus groups of people from a wide range of backgrounds were also intense and sometimes even heated, but at the end of the day, it was always all smiles for everyone. Why? Because all participants knew it was for Singapore and its future. The key idea that came out of our discussion was "Every Singaporean Matters". Let me briefly share with this House what led to this idea. Our Committee recognised that Singapore, as a small nation, is inextricably tied to the global economic system and, therefore, has to meet the challenges of competing within the constraints of the new global arena, or perish. Thus, Singapore has no choice and the economics of survival is, and will always be, Singapore's key priority. That Singapore has not only survived economically, but also actually flourished against the odds, is a legitimate source of pride for Singaporeans. Singapore can now look beyond survival and aspire towards being a world-class city. This phenomenal success, however, has come with a cost - stress. Singaporeans complain about information overload, pressures on time and the sense that they are losing control. Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, my co-chair in this Committee, has earlier spoken about stress faced by children and students in school.”
“I would like to thank the Minister for the very comprehensive answer. I would just like to know whether this would include the beneficiaries who are resident overseas.”
“The question now is, with the legalisation of the S-League football betting, are we indirectly encouraging more people to gamble? Or by not introducing this, will football betting be eliminated altogether? In my view, the choice depends on ourselves. Just like other things, the individual has the choice. With regard to this, whether to stay away from gambling or to be involved in it, it is up to us. For Muslims, we play the role of educating our children to stay away from gambling, in whatever form altogether. As a Muslim society in a secular, multi-racial and multi-religious country, this is a dilemma. And this requires that every community seeks its own solution. I believe that no matter what we do, only an effective education can overcome it.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, football sweepstakes will be introduced here soon. A number of reasons have been offered why this has to be provided for. Singapore Pools, which conducts the football sweepstakes, says that the Singapore Football League (S-League) is a national project which deserves to be supported. There is also a need to increase the funds of the football clubs involved to attract more supporters and to eliminate illegal football betting. Although the S-League football clubs are very supportive of the introduction of football betting, there are others who have expressed their concern and even some who are against the idea altogether. I do not deny and indeed believe that betting in any form is a value that we should not encourage and should be deterred. I also believe that, besides Islam, gambling is also against the major religions in this country, such as Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Taoism. However, in regard to the Singapore Pools S-League football sweepstakes, I would like to see this in a wider perspective, in the context of a secular country. There are already various forms of betting such as Big Sweep, 4D and Toto, as mentioned by the Finance Minister just now. Football betting has also been around for some time, although it has been going on illegally. I also believe that the Government certainly does not have the intention to encourage gambling with the introduction of the S-League football betting. Besides, with more effective control and supervision, I believe that the introduction of this Bill will also strengthen the football funds so as to develop this game further to a higher level and to attain our vision to enter the finals of the World Cup football competition in 2010.”
“Therefore, I would like to, once again, reiterate and echo what Dr Vasoo had earlier on advocated, that is, the formation of a centralised body, who could devise schemes to build, encourage and support a strong volunteer movement. This body's primary objective should be to promote and inculcate the spirit of volunteerism that is resilient and that will complement Government's and other civic organisations' effort so as to develop a more cohesive and gracious society in 21st Singapore.”
“Sir, the point that I wish to actually speak about has, in fact, been advocated by the MP for Tanjong Pagar, Dr S Vasoo, and that is the creation of a centralised body to promote volunteerism. It is a recognised fact that in spite of vigorous upliftment efforts by the Government and the respective ethnic communities in Singapore, there would always be people who have difficulty to cope. I believe it is therefore important that we cast the net wider to help the less fortunate improve themselves. This is especially important as we continue to push towards a knowledge-based economy. There would be emerging social problems, contributed primarily by structural unemployment. If these problems are not properly identified and strategies carried out at an advanced stage, these problems could multiply, sap our resources and limit our capacity for further progress. I am glad that Singapore 21 was launched to cast new ideals for the 21st Century Singapore, consistent with Prime Minister Goh's desire to have all Singaporeans join hands to make Singapore our best home. To make his vision a reality, I believe that a strong spirit of volunteerism must also prevail, and what is more important is that it must transcend good and difficult economic times. The strong and the successful must be prepared to come forward to assist the weak and the less fortunate. Beyond Singapore 21, we need to also ensure that there is always a dedicated pool of volunteers who are committed to the cause of the community and who will readily be around, no matter what the economic conditions may be.”
“Sir, the Skills Redevelopment Programme administered by the NTUC by and large addresses retraining of workers who are still gainfully employed. The programme primarily supports employers who are sponsoring their workers to upgrade their current skills or learn new skills so that the workers can contribute towards productivity improvements in the company. However, it is my understanding that workers who are retrenched and who have lost their jobs are not covered by this programme. The Government, through the Ministry of Manpower, should consider extending the surrogate employer's programme to accommodate workers in this category so that they could be retrained to learn new skills and find their relevance in an increasingly sophisticated economy. To make training programmes more accessible, could I suggest to the Minister for Manpower to consider the setting up of neighbourhood information centres in the HDB heartlands for workers, especially unemployed ones, to have easy access to training and retraining information and how they can benefit from it, if this is not already being planned or done. Wherever feasible, the Ministry of Manpower should also consider setting up training facilities in HDB neighbourhoods to make training more easily accessible, especially for the unemployed.”
“Employers who fail to recognise the importance of this imminent business landscape risk losing their best and valuable employees. This could contribute to a stifling of business growth which, in turn, could translate into slower economic growth. This is where I believe that the tripartite parties could work together through regular meetings and interactions to anticipate future trends and devise strategies to stablise the employment of knowledge workers. I am glad to note the announcement made by the Minister for Manpower yesterday about the consideration of an annual national Manpower Summit as a potential platform for the tripartite partners to get together and jointly focus on strategic issues relating to manpower development and training needs. Apart from life-long learning, life-long partnership between workers and caring employers who invest heavily in the education and training of their workers should also be seriously explored. At the opposite end of this, it is also my belief that structural unemployment will be one of our greatest challenges in our pursuit of a knowledge-based economy. It will be a short and long-term problem for us. An annual forum will also be useful in enabling us to regularly re-visit and re-strategise what needs to be done to minimise its impact. Hence, I would urge the Minister to seriously consider the strong merit of staging an annual forum to regularly review manpower issues facing Singapore.”