Alex Yam
Singapore
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I know the Minister of State indicated that while it is still undergoing investigation, we should not speculate. I know also from her reply that they have removed the wrong classification of our trade deficit with the US.”
“Thank you, Speaker. Building on the point that the Minister-in-charge of energy had raised earlier about fixed rates. There is concern amongst consumers that the gencos and the electricity suppliers may, at some point, invoke a force majeure, and that would affect the supply contracts that are signed with consumers.”
“Chairman, therefore, I look forward to hearing how MCCY intends to further embed the ethos of "we first" across multiple aspects of society so that our national identity is formed through participation, not just persuasion.”
“Thank you, Chairman, 41 questions and 330 minutes later, I certainly think the Ministry deserves the $100 back. So, I seek leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $2,407,711,100 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.”
“Thank you, Chairman. The Minister updated the House earlier about the importance of keeping pace with technological advancements as well as hybrid threats, especially in the cyber domain.”
“If we are intentional in leveraging the reach and influence of institutions like SAFRA, we can ensure that Total Defence can remain a lived national commitment and not confined to the uniformed services or to our schools.”
The complete record
Every one of 592 lines we hold for Alex Yam, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 11 of 12.
“Madam, I start again [Laughter]. Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion of thanks to the President for his Address to Parliament. Our progress and prosperity depend on our safety and security as a country and, therefore, our armed forces remains the ultimate safeguard for our nation. This, the President had re-emphasised in his Address to this House. There is a drill command that goes, "Tukar langkah masa berjalan, TUKAR!" Those of us who dreaded army foot drills will recall that it means – "Change step in quick time. Change Step!" The same command perhaps embodies the spirit of the recommendations of the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) announced by Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen last week. Page: 87 A strong, dependable and credible national defence force is successful only because of the people's continued support for it. This is especially true for a small nation like ours. So, it is not just about the infrastructure and the equipment upgrades that we are getting but, more importantly, the people that make up the institution. For a venerable institution like National Service, which has been part of our national landscape since 1967, the CSNS proposals signify a "tukar langkah" – getting back in step, strengthening and streamlining the movement. Yet, they also emphasise that we continue to move forward, maintain a quick and neat pace and upholding the importance of the institution of National Service and the defence of Singapore. In fact, a recent IPS survey showed that a majority of Singaporeans see National Service as an important part of our "Singaporean-ness". In this light, I, therefore, welcome the recommendations of the CSNS. These are major changes following the last major reform in 2004.”
“Mdm Chair, it is never easy to be last. Perhaps, it is both a pleasure and honour to deliver the last cut for this fruitful Budget. Madam, first let me declare my interest as a member of the National Committee on Youth Guidance and Rehabilitation to which the Central Youth Guidance Office serves as the Secretariat. CYGO, for short, as an inter-Ministry setup comprising officers seconded from MOE, MHA and MSF, has been looking at early intervention strategies to prevent youth at-risk from committing crime. Over the last few years, CYGO has implemented a number of programmes and pilots, including Youth Go!, YES, YIS, and the YEARS programmes. They have been aimed at re-engaging youths who are at risk. I would therefore like to enquire how these programmes have progressed and what has been the result of the efforts. What more can the Ministry do to further reach out to vulnerable youths? A Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega Gasset once said, "There may be as much nobility in being last as in being first, because the two are mutually Page: 11 necessary… one to complement the other." So, with this last cut for 2014, I thank you for your indulgence.”
“Sir, in the course of my work in the community, there are many moments of joy in seeing happy families. But there are also heart-wrenching encounters with families broken by divorce. The impact on children is often the worst. The trend of divorce is alarming. In 2012, although the number of marriages rose slightly to just under 28,000, there were 7,237 divorces in the same year. A crude statistical calculation would, therefore, mean that 25% of marriages end in divorce. More importantly, the median duration of marriage at divorce is about 10 years, at the critical time when children are just beginning to fully comprehend the dynamics in a family. As we continue to promote a pro-family society, I would like to ask the Ministry how it intends to ensure that the unit of the family is safeguarded. Would the Ministry consider better pre-marriage counselling and perhaps, more importantly, dedicate more resources to address the concerns of couples facing separation or divorce so that there is a better focus on the children? Page: 169 A family is like musical notes, some high, some low, but the important thing is how to make the notes come together to form a beautiful song. The strains of society often add to the challenges of keeping a family together. We, therefore, need concerted efforts to protect the family and do all we can to ensure we have more beautiful songs. Home Ownership Plus Education (HOPE) Scheme”
“Sir, allow me to move on to children who are a little bit older. With changing demography, leading to smaller family sizes and the rising trend of dual-income families, the phenomenon of latchkey kids has once again become an area of concern. There has, therefore, been a corresponding increase in demand for care arrangements for school-going children as both parents are in the workforce. Page: 165 The transit from childcare to kindergarten now has another element, that of preschool to primary school. Childcare afforded the flexibility to parents to have a formalised care-giving arrangement while they are at work. Similarly, families using full-day childcare services today will likely also require student care for their children, to provide for homework supervision, as well as before and after-school care. The current 407 Student Care Centres (SCCs) across the island cater to this growing need. However, I would like to know if the Ministry deems this to be sufficient capacity and if there are plans to further boost available places. How are standards being upheld as the industry is not required to be licensed? MOE has increased the number of school-based SCCs from 50 to 80, with 14 of the centres set up in January of this year. How does the Ministry and MOE plan to better engage the industry to provide for more SCCs and ensure that the majority of operators outside of schools continue to provide affordable services?”
“Madam, curries, flower pots, music, children running, incense and even alarm clocks – all seemingly innocuous, but it is often the simple things that serve as the spark for neighbour disputes. I often cite the case of two gentlemen that I have met previously, who have been neighbours for 15 years and had feuded for 13 of those years. When I met the first neighbour on my house visit, he complained about this neighbour. I also spotted a pencil line on the wall. I asked the second neighbour and realised it was the border, the de facto no man's land that no orchid or hydrangea should ever cross. They have known each other for many years, by names too flowery for parliamentary decorum, but with the help of our volunteers, we formally introduced them to each other. To our surprise, the curse was broken. Learning each other's names perhaps made the issue now too human. So, now there is peace, there is embarrassment, too, but largely peace. This is perhaps one miraculous resolution that we have had. I joined fellow parliamentary colleagues in calling for a review of the legislation over the last year. Madam, I am heartened to hear that the tribunal has been announced and it will have additional powers proposed that will help to resolve long-standing cases. However, I wish to ask the Minister how soon we can expect the tribunal to be in place, what are the exact powers vested with the tribunal. More importantly, I hope it does not become the first port of call. What other means have the Ministry considered to build stronger community ties, further encourage mediation and reduce the surge in neighbour disputes?”
“Mdm Chair, again, our condolences to Minister of State Dr Maliki in this time of bereavement. Two questions for the Second Minister. One is in response to my question on the safety regime. The Minister stated that there was a 60% increase in near misses. Just to clarify whether this was because we now have a stricter regime and not because there are more incidences of being careless during training. The second is with regard to the SAF Volunteer Corps and other CSNS proposals. Would the Second Minister be able to share with us when more specific details will be made available?”
“Madam, in my Budget speech, I asked if we could all remember what we were doing when we were 16. Being 16 in 1942 at the fall of Singapore was perhaps the worst of times. In the decades after, being 16 has gotten easier and much less fraught with danger and uncertainty. But perhaps for some, we have become soft, unaware of the dangers of unstable geopolitical winds. But, at the same time, NS, as a key institution, continues to play a key role in rooting our people to the defence of our nation. Yet, defence can be a vague concept. And as we mark 30 years of Total Defence, how do we plan to further strengthen this message that all of us, in and out of uniform, play a crucial role? With recent incidents in the region, including the naming of an Indonesian navy vessel, it is perhaps no better time than this to do so. Being 16 in the decades to come should still be filled with carefree joy and security. Yet, we must remain cognisant of the constant need to be united. The theme for this year's Total Defence is "Because You Played a Part". Let us not revisit anytime that being 16 could be the last year of life amidst conflict and suffering. Singapore's Evolving Defence Needs”
“Mdm Chairman, at the Committee of Supply in 2013, the Minister for Defence made mention on the creation of additional posts for full-time safety officers in the SAF to ensure better compliance with training safety regulations. A Directorate for Safety and Systems Review (DSSR) has also been formed. The House was informed that the DSSR would also set up external review panels which will submit recommendations to the Minister for Defence. The SAF is the port of call and a rite of passage for a vast majority of Singaporean men. Families send their sons and, now, also some of their daughters, to serve and defend this land we call home. It is, therefore, imperative that, in doing so, the utmost is done to ensure that they have a safe and secure training environment. While there have not been major incidents in 2013, I hope that the Minister will be able to provide and update as to the number of near-misses and serious injuries that occurred during the last year and whether this has seen a downward trend with the introduction of more safety measures. The external review panel for SAF safety, one of the review panels of the DSSR, was set up in September last year. While the visits have commenced, they will only conclude their report in 2016. Could this be accelerated? What other systems have been put in place to address safety lapses? All of us owe it to our men and women in the SAF that they train with one of the best-equipped and best-trained forces in the region. It is therefore important that they have peace of mind, knowing that we do all we can to ensure their safety. 11.45 am”
“Mr Chairman, one key area of interest for many Singaporeans, when it comes to defence, has to do with that key institution of NS. It was, therefore, timely that at last year's COS, the Minister for Defence announced the formation of the Committee to Strengthen National Service. The two working groups looking at support for NS as well as recognition of benefits for National Servicemen have held a number of townhall consultations over the last one year and they have gained many proposals on how to further strengthen the key institutions. The suggestions have been varied and I am quite certain that a good many may not be possible to be introduced. However, I am heartened that the Committee has adopted an open mind on views and ideas throughout the consultation process. The key thing spelt out by the Minister last year was to strengthen Singapore, strengthen NS and the SAF and serve all Singaporeans in that order. After a long period of consultations as well as fruitful visits overseas, I hope that the CSNS is now ready with its formal proposals to be presented to Singaporeans. I do hope that some of the suggestions will look into further enhancing the contributions of our Servicemen as well as volunteers in areas Page: 160 where they can excel and that their efforts will also be well recognised. The strengthening of NS is, in itself, important but the positive side effects of also engendering a strong and more united Singapore cannot be ignored. CSNS”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. I have two questions for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. Sir, you mentioned that a large part of the Singapore Cooperation Programme has been focused on ASEAN. Could you share with us how much specifically and whether there are some key examples of success? Secondly, on consular services, I read recently that the Australian MFA, in a recent review, is considering charging Australians for the use of consular assistance. Is this something, with the growing number of consular assistance requests, that MFA would also be considering?”
“A diplomat once shared during a recent conversation that consular officers are sometimes unfairly described as foreign service officers without the glamour. Yet, the work that our consular officers perform on the ground is equally important as that our foreign service officers perform in safeguarding our diplomatic relations. The rising demand for global travel has made consular services even more taxed. With Singaporeans journeying to far-flung exotic locales, the need for help can sometimes come from the most surprising places and for the most unexpected reasons. What are some of the challenges that we continue to face in this area and do we have sufficient manpower to cater to this growing need? Do we also have plans for a greater presence in other countries in the setting up of new consulates and embassies perhaps? More importantly is that I ask if our officers in the Ministry are adequately compensated for their important work. Beyond remuneration, I do hope that the morale of our officers continue to remain high and that we are retaining good officers for the long term.”
“How do we plan to capitalise on these ties and to further strengthen our bilateral relations with these economies who may well be key partners for the future? Of course, diplomacy is not without its pitfalls and the diplomacy of small states is often buffeted by the changing tides of big power dynamics. Recent tensions between Russia and EU over Ukraine are a case in point. Amidst a world of fast changing international relations, are we, as a small nation, prepared to catch those sails at the right moment and not be swept away? Therefore, our membership of key international fora, such as the United Nations and Arctic Council, are important ones. Of growing interest as well are our relations with the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. As mentioned earlier, some of the states in these regions will have the potential to play key roles in the future. Yet again, the unstable geopolitical climate of these regions does not make it easy for us. Therefore, how do we ensure that our interests are best represented in these regions as well? I hope that as the world continues to evolve politically and diplomatically, Singapore is well placed to continue to play a role well above our physical limitations. International Development”
“Mr Lee Kuan Yew once said in 2009 that "Small countries have little power to alter the region, let alone the world. But a small country must seek a maximum number of friends, while maintaining the freedom to be itself as a sovereign and independent nation." Through our short 50 years of history, the one thing that has stood out most often is our size and our size. Why two sizes you may ask? Well, we are after all a small nation, our geographical spread of just over 700 square kilometres equates to less than half of Delhi. But our size and our influence internationally is disproportionate to our physical size. Our turbulent beginnings have perhaps shaped our psyche and we have made it a point to practise good diplomacy to maintain good relations with as many of our neighbours as possible. While the focus of many during this COS has been on big power relations in the early part of other parliamentary colleagues' speeches, Singapore's standing in the world has also been because of our relations with other key partners further afield. In just 10 years, our trade with Japan, Korea and the EU has grown tremendously. For example, with the EU, it rose over the last 10 years from $18.02 billion to $45.64 billion in terms of exports alone. While trade alone cannot underscore the importance of bilateral relations, it is certainly a key Page: 128 cornerstone. The economist Jim O'Neill has in the recent decade coined the terms BRICS and MINT, referring to the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as the new growth economies of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey. We, too, have had long years of relationships with many of these countries.”
“In introducing the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), it is written that it shall be the goal of regional economic integration for ASEAN by 2015. AEC envisages a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development and a region fully integrated into the global economy. When I was in university, my international relations professor once referred to international affairs jargon as "broad enough to be generally acceptable but deep enough to be utterly unintelligible." Perhaps that be true of the vision for AEC2015 as well. We are now just a year away from 2015. The region is still facing its fair share of political turmoil, so therefore how engaged are we in this process and what is the reality of achieving the aims of AEC2015 and its goals? Perhaps, more importantly, from the example of the EU's integration and the troubles of recent bailouts for the EU region, what are the true benefits for our own economy and are there any sacrifices that we may have to make? ASEAN continues to feature broadly in the world economy as a competitive region to do business in. The markets of many ASEAN members continue to boom and rightly so. But the problems of integration are manifold, how much more the plethora of issues for us to achieve economic integration. Therefore, can we continue to hold together ASEAN for the long term and do we have Page: 125 ASEAN 2015 in sight?”
“The poet Robert Frost in his 1914 poem Mending Walls uttered the immortal lines: "I let my neighbor know beyond the hill; And on a day we will walk the line together; And to each the boulders that have fallen to each." The poem quotes an oft repeated adage that "good fences make good neighbours". Over the last few years, we have built good relations with many Page: 123 of our neighbours and mending our fences, especially with our northern neighbour. Relations have improved and the personal connection between Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Razak has perhaps played a significant role as well. It is perhaps opportune at this point for us to take stock of where we are in our relationship with Malaysia and the rest of our ASEAN neighbours. What has gone right for us? What should we continue to maintain? But as the narrator also said, "I built a wall but I wish to ask." Are we simply mending a cosmetic fence? From conversations with many, there is a sense of foreboding in our relations with many of our neighbours. For Malaysia, for example, investments in Iskandar, overstretching ourselves in terms of our overall investments and, of course, the recent talk of the rising water prices. What safeguards do we have to ensure that we continue to have good relations with all our neighbours and that our relationship continues to grow warmer and not hotter?”
“Because if we truly wish to honour them, let them not be forgotten and consigned to the back annals of history. Let us, as an entire country, do whatever we can to remember them and give them their rightful place in society. In ending, at the end of January, the PAP.sg, the seniors group, made a recommendation and released a paper. I am glad that many of the recommendations have been addressed in the Budget and I certainly look forward to the Committee of Supply where more of the details, such as MediShield Life, would be made available. But more importantly, there was a final recommendation in the paper put forth by PAP.sg which was for the non-tangible factors to be remembered and focused on: that not just our pioneers, but our seniors and our elders in our society should be valued through our collective love, care and concern, of all of us around them, and that we continue to respect them and to give them the dignity of their place in our society. With that, Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Budget. 5.59 pm Page: 131”
“I also echo the calls of Members like Mr Heng Chee How and Mr David Ong in reconsidering the hidden costs of ageism. I add my voice to the call by Mr David Ong to consider the eventual abolishment of the retirement age. This was done in the United Kingdom in 2011. To me, work should not be considered a privilege. It is a right. And age, in itself, is not a determinant of worth in our Page: 130 workplaces. For if truly meritocracy was what helped our pioneers to build a fair and just society that we have today, then age in itself should not be a barrier to meritocracy. So, I urge MOM to consider this and, with it, naturally, the differentiated CPF rates will become a topic of the past because work has become a right. And so we speak of honouring our pioneers. Let us not put artificial barriers where none should exist. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman, in his Budget speech, has urged us to rethink our social norms and perhaps there is no time better than now. I also hope that the details of the panel to review PGP appeals be announced quickly and that it will have a gentle hand in reviewing the appeals. I hope that while so many stand to benefit, that they also know that they are benefiting and can make use of them. And, so, it remains, if the PGP is not an honour or a tribute, what is it? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I see the PGP more as an overdue fulfilment of our filial duty towards our pioneers as a society. We owe it to them that we have the Singapore of today. Our safety, our progress, our growth and our success were due to their early sacrifices. So, let it not just be a simple "Thank you" and "Thank you very much", but a lingering handshake and a warm embrace for an entire generation of Singaporeans.”
“And my mother shared with me how in the early days when things were expensive for them, that she would spend time studying, doing her homework under a dim light and had to rock her baby brother with her toe while he was sleeping in his little 摇篮 or cradle. They did not have much. Sharing a little ice-ball at that time among four siblings came naturally. But they, again, like so many in their generation, persevered and did their best despite their circumstances. These are just some of the stories of the generations before us, of their efforts in building a better life for their families. It is again through their efforts that we have arrived at where we are today. And so, like many of my parliamentary colleagues before me, I applaud this Budget for its comprehensiveness in ensuring that as many people benefit as possible. But most of all, I applaud it for what the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) sets out to achieve. However, I would prefer that we see it less as a tribute to our pioneers, less as an effort to honour them. That is, in my mind, what we should not be doing through the PGP. To honour our pioneers, I urge more, so that their stories do not fade away. Not the stories of revolutionaries or the great men of the generations before us. That is the job of historians. But the simple heartfelt stories of ordinary men and women who made extraordinary sacrifices to help Singaporeans and their families succeed. I, therefore, call on MOE/MCCY to preserve and showcase these memories, lest we forget and allow them to fade from our collective memory as the years go by. That pioneering spirit cannot die with them. We can all continue to be pioneers in our own right. To allow a future generation to continue to be hungry for progress is, in itself, a tribute.”
“But they were of a tough and stoic generation. I became a new father just one day shy of six weeks ago and I have come to the realisation that parenthood comes with a seemingly impossible set of responsibilities. But most of all, I think for most parents, the hope is our children will continue to have the opportunities as they grow up, that their generation will continue to benefit from the hard work and efforts of the generations before them. But perhaps, more importantly, it is that they remember that it is upon the blood, sweat and tears of the pioneers before us that we have come thus far, that we are able to reap those same benefits. My grandfather was born in 1910. At 16, he came to Singapore and became a printing apprentice. Like so many of his generation, he gave his all and persevered. He raised a large family and eventually managed to set up his own printing press. He made efforts to give back to society, representing the clans, helping to build schools, funding hospitals. But yet he was to suddenly leave behind a large family to fend for themselves when he passed away in an accident. Like many other families of the time, health was not the best. For many of them, nutrition was a problem and so many families faced the same situation. Page: 129 I remember my eldest aunt reminding me always that my grandmother, who was a Cantonese opera singer, fought very hard against the banks of the day to save the family home and to support the children, and through little efforts building up, she gave her all and managed to send almost all her children to University. My maternal grandmother was a seamstress. She raised a family of six in a small flat in Whampoa. My youngest uncle still stays there.”
“He was a Private and he was all of 19 years when he gave his life in defence of this land, not a nation as yet. That was the reality of the 1940s. The 1950s gave way to perhaps just slightly less instability than during the Occupation years, but it was not any easier. Pre-Independence struggles were aplenty, the battle of ideologies. But on the human level, a 16-year-old in the Page: 128 1950s was certainly no walk in the park as well. Many families were large, meaning that there were many mouths to feed and an early start in maturity. Sixteen and working was certainly not out of the ordinary: helping parents to run a stall, doing the odd errands, starting out formal employment was all part and parcel of being 16. Education? Yes, many families regarded it as important. But could it feed a family immediately? And so, during the 1950s, many tough choices had to be made by families. Then, came the 1960s – fast and furious, "swinging 60s", as many regard it now. But, again, for the average 16-year-old of the 1960s, the tunes on the radio may have attracted attention and so did the glitz and glamour of the era. But, again, the reality of the decade of our Independence still meant tough choices. There were racial tensions, Konfrontasi, joblessness, crime, gangs, all, again, not exactly what we would expect of the idyllic teenage years that we have today. So, when we became independent, student activism was still rife, but so was poverty, so was crime. At our Independence, we were given just three years to come crawling back. But look at where we are today. It was upon the shoulders of generations of 16-year-olds that have gone before us that we have a society that is safe, secure and full of opportunities that the generations before would have craved for.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak. Being one of the last remaining speakers, it is, indeed, a challenge. So, please allow me to begin with a question. How many of us remember what we were doing when we were 16? Where were we, what were we doing, what is our abiding memory of that time of our life? For the average teenager today, at 16, most would be in Secondary 4. It will be perhaps a little bit mundane: a daily schedule of school, home, homework, rest, school, the occasional berating by parents and weekends of enrichment classes or co-curricular activities. There may be evenings of being on the basketball court, or meeting with friends at the movies, hoping to get home in time before curfew and, again, not getting a telling-off from parents. The environment would generally be a safe and cocooned one. One where opportunities are before us, waiting to be seized. But let us, for the moment, toss our mind back to when being 16 was a totally different ball game – our pioneers, our forefathers, the men and women who saw us through the early days. Being 16 in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s was acutely different from what we have today. For many, there was not the opportunity to be an average teenager. No such things as iPhones or even colour TV, no shopping centres to window shop at. At 16 in the 1940s, times were beyond tough. The war was continuing, people struggled to survive at the whims and fancies of a foreign occupier. Rather than the burgers that we have today, tapioca, sweet potatoes and a large serving of hardship were on the dinner table. I visit the Kranji War Cemetary often as it is quite near to my constituency. On a recent walk, I spent time at the Chinese Memorial and one name stood out – Lim Hood Tong.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the two Ministers for their response. We can all agree that the robustness of our response to the Indonesians is important. I have two supplementary questions for the Minister Page: 14 for Defence. First, I would like to ask whether the withdrawal of our formal invitation to the TNI-AL chief to our Air Show has any significant impact on our relations as well as on the Air Show itself. Secondly, the Minister has spoken about our stance on bilateral military exercises. However, our two navies are involved in a significant number of multilateral exercises, such as Exercise CARAT, and our ADMM-Plus arrangements. If the TNI-AL should send this warship to these multilateral exercises, what would be our stance?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Just two supplementary questions. One, in terms of communications, it is not the first time that we have had disruptions over the last three to four years. However, it seems that every time something happens, the transport operators are reacting to remedial situations that are happening when they could easily have projected them. Is there any reassurance from the Minister's meeting with higher management that they will take this into serious consideration? Two, the Minister mentioned the condition monitoring system that the companies are to introduce. Is there a timeline that we can see this put in place so that we can reduce further disruptions in the transport network?”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank the Deputy Prime Minister and the Acting Minister for Manpower for their comprehensive Ministerial Statements. First, for Deputy Prime Minister, I have three supplementary questions and one for the Acting Minister for Manpower. I am firstly reassured that the SPF and the SCDF are reviewing the security provisions for our HomeTeam men and women on duty. I would like to enquire if there is a timeline for the said review to be completed. Secondly, on a more general note, if the Deputy Prime Minister could share with us his reading of the current morale of our men and women within the Home Team. And lastly, on a broader perspective of drinking in public areas, whether the review of the legislation would also consider similar open container laws that are already in place in countries like Canada, Finland, Hungary and I think most recently in Spain. My supplementary question for the Acting Minister for Manpower is with regard to communicating information to our foreign workers. What are the main means of the communication at the moment and how do we ensure that all of them receive timely information as well as updates on laws or regulations? Page: 69 And last of all, as a point of note, I think it is appropriate for us to also put on record the recognition of our men and women in the Home Team for their bravery and their reaction to this very unfortunate incident during the riot”
“Therefore, enforcement is crucial, making sure that the system works is crucial, not just in ensuring that employees have access to basic employment rights, but also in bringing low-wage workers into the CPF system so they are able to benefit from the range of Government assistance provided through these schemes. We will, therefore, continue with our efforts in engagement and outreach. We are open to ideas on how best to do it to inform employees about their basic rights and educate employers about their legal obligations. Madam, I beg to move.”
“First, Mr Zainudin's concern on education loan scheme repayments. Most students repay their loans on time. However, in the case of default, CPF Board may take recovery action against students to ensure that loans are repaid so as to safeguard the retirement savings of the lender and in most cases, this will be the parents. It will not be fair to the rest of the CPF members if the Board were to bear these recovery expenses, although the Board has the flexibility to waive the repayment of expenses, depending on the circumstances of each case. Secondly, Mr Yam's concern was that permanently disabled members should have access to their CPF savings quickly. I assure the Member that my colleagues at the CPF Board try their best to process applications for withdrawals of CPF savings on medical grounds expediently to ensure that eligible CPF members can get access to their savings as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, we are open to suggestions on how processes can further be improved on this and in other areas. Finally, let me assure Members of the House that we do our best to assess each appeal case on its own merits. Ultimately, I would agree with Assoc Prof Page: 61 Tan and Mr Zainudin in this regard – we have to balance flexibility with ensuring that members have sufficient retirement and healthcare savings to last them through their retirement years. Madam, in summary, let me emphasise that the CPF for us in Singapore is a vital component of our social security system, not only because it builds up retirement savings, but also that the Government provides much of its assistance through the CPF system as well.”
“Over time, these efforts, in tandem with other forms of assistance that are being provided on a targeted basis to the lower-income and vulnerable workers across the board, should improve the financial security of Singaporeans and provide them with better peace of mind and assurance in retirement. Mr Alex Yam, Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Mr Png Eng Huat also commented about flexibility in the use of CPF monies. In fact, what we are moving towards Page: 60 is not less flexibility. The changes in this Bill are to allow CPF Board to have some added flexibility to allow some individuals to withdraw their monies. Let me clarify that the changes to the Bill are for additional withdrawals and refer to the monies that are in excess of a member's CPF Minimum Sum (MS) and the prevailing Medisave Required Amount. This refers to a very specific set of cases, where the member has already set aside monies for his retirement and medical needs after turning 55. I note that Mr Yam and Mr Gan have suggested that we exercise more flexibility with regard to the use of CPF monies for housing. As I had explained in Parliament last month, where the case merits, we do exercise flexibility and have allowed CPF members to use more of their CPF savings for housing. Part of the changes in this Bill is to enable us to allow some of that flexibility to take place. Nevertheless, it is important to reiterate again that it is important for us to be prudent with our CPF monies, especially as we are going to live longer, and also, be prudent with regard to using it for property purchases, so that we do – apart from meeting our housing needs – have adequate savings to last through our retirement as well. Let me acknowledge two other points on withdrawals.”
“Through the CPF, Singaporeans gain access to a range of schemes targeted at benefiting lower-income Singaporeans, such as the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS), Workfare Training Support (WTS) and the 1% Extra Interest paid on the first $60,000 of their CPF balances. Hence, in order for the lower-income Singaporeans to benefit from many of the Government assistance schemes, not all, but many of the Government assistance schemes, we need them to be in the CPF structure. That is why our enforcement and education efforts are so important, as Assoc Prof Tan also pointed out. That is something that we are enforcing through the WorkRight campaign, which is targeted not just at CPF alone but also adherence to the Employment Act. It is also targeted especially at lower-income workers who need it most. Besides educating employers about their obligations, our education efforts will also reach out to employees to help them understand that CPF contributions are part of their basic employment rights, and that they also stand to lose out on benefiting from the assistance schemes if they are not paid CPF contributions. We need to do this. We do urge the public to help others who may not fully understand this. For some individuals, they may feel that they would rather have more cash and may decide to forgo their CPF, not realising that they are actually losing out a lot more in the long term. The education effort is particularly important, not just for them, but for all of us, so that we can, in turn, help those who may not be quite so aware.”
“In more general terms, I would agree with the emphasis that is provided by Assoc Prof Eugene Tan, Dr Chia Shi-Lu, Mr Zainudin Nordin and Mr Laurence Lien on the importance of employers making timely CPF contributions for their employees. As I have mentioned, in response to issues with regard to the WorkRight campaign, workers who particularly need the CPF contributions are the low-income workers. They are the ones that are probably more vulnerable and they are the ones that need the CPF most. Some employees do rely on the CPF contributions to make their monthly housing loan payments from their CPF Ordinary Accounts. We will also only be able to provide Workfare payments to low-income employees who receive the contributions. So, the CPF, as an institution, is important. However, I would like to reassure Assoc Prof Tan that our statistics show that the percentage of households in arrears on their mortgage payments is generally very low. Only about 5% of households with an outstanding HDB loan are in arrears of three months or more. There are a variety of factors that may cause households to fall into arrears on their housing loans, and given high employer CPF compliance rates, it is unlikely that CPF non-compliance is a key Page: 59 factor. However, when individuals do not receive their rightful CPF contributions from their employers, they should come forward and report the cases, and we will rectify it. The CPF is a key component of our social security system and helps Singaporeans save for their retirement, housing and healthcare needs. It is also a key avenue through which the Government provides assistance to low-wage workers.”
“We do recognise, especially for the Small and Medium Enterprises and the small companies, that despite the fact that CPF is an established practice in the employment realm, some employers are not necessarily very clear of their responsibilities. We take a calibrated approach in dealing with non-compliant cases. Before prosecution action is taken against employers in Court, CPF Board will provide Page: 58 opportunities – and that is a key priority – for the employers to pay up their CPF arrears. Prosecution is not meant to be the first resort in recovering CPF. As we all know, prosecution in court would take time and is laborious. And when prosecution is taking place, you might end up with the companies disputing that and delaying the payment altogether. Most employers, by and large, are cooperative upon notification by CPF Board on their non-compliance. Nevertheless, defaulting employers are still required to pay late payment interest for violating the CPF Act and composition sums which will be doubled from $500 to $1,000 on a per charge basis. And this will be imposed. Therefore, it is really for the recalcitrant employers and those that are egregious in nature that we will take prosecutorial action against these employers. This is to help set the stage in terms of understanding the approach that we are taking. The priority really is to make sure that the monies are recovered for the individual, and that composition sums are put in place. For those who are recalcitrant, that is where prosecution will take place. We will track the situation as it evolves over the next couple of years.”
“Under our investigations, we have uncovered about 4,000 employers who did not contribute or have underpaid the CPF for their employees. This is for those who have not contributed or underpaid the CPF. There are also figures for those who, for example, have paid the CPF late, that is, made late payments. The numbers are about 3,100 per month and the total amount of CPF contributions recovered for this late payment category amounts to about $283 million. If we add this to the $9 million-plus of CPF contributions recovered from employers in the non-payment and underpayment category, that effectively adds up to the figures that we shared earlier. However, in the main, what we find is that most employers are keeping to their responsibilities and, for the minority that are not, that is where we will take action. The degree of compliance has remained fairly stable over the years, at about 3% of total active employers in the CPF Board's database in a given year – 3% have displayed non-compliance and that has remained stable. Total contributions recovered from non-payment, underpayment and late payment have also remained fairly stable at about 1% of total amount of contributions collected by CPF Board in a given year. However, as I mentioned earlier, we are stepping up enforcement and inspections tenfold. What we will expect, as a result of that, is that we would find possibly an increase in numbers. We will see how that pans out in the next couple of years. Now, in the course of investigations, let me just briefly explain the approach we take and this will, in part, address the issue of negligence.”
“We will not hesitate to take actions necessary to recover contributions owed and impose penalties to ensure sufficient deterrence against future offences. Let me also assure Dr Chia that we have dedicated the necessary manpower resources and training to these efforts and will continue to do so. On this note, I agree with Dr Chia's point that CPF contributions are part of the overall wage package and employees should not be shortchanged. We have introduced a minimum fine under the CPF Act, and introduced a jail term for non-compliance, in alignment with the Employment Act. These measures, combined with the doubling of penalties under the CPF Act, mean that penalties under the CPF Act have been enhanced significantly and are not trivial as they apply on a per charge basis. We will monitor the non-compliance situation closely to see if further increases in penalties are required. I would also like to thank Assoc Prof Tan and Mr Zainudin Nordin for supporting our move to increase inspector powers. Under the CPF Act, our inspectors are only allowed to request for documents and records related to the investigation, and must be able to justify how such information will assist in the investigation. Our inspectors also receive professional training in using any Page: 57 information obtained only for the purposes of their investigation and, in addition, are bounded by the Official Secrets Act and have to follow a strict internal code of conduct. Mr Laurence Lien raised the issue of employers who may be negligent but not necessarily wilful or egregious. That is an important point. Allow me to just briefly explain that, in general, employers are keeping to their responsibilities under the CPF Act.”
“There are still the healthcare, housing and other different measures that have been put in place, as explained by my colleague Minister Chan Chun Sing yesterday as to how we address different people in different categories who are in different circumstances. While the CPF covers a vast majority of Singaporeans, it does not catch everyone because, as rightfully pointed out, not everyone works. Some have dropped out of the workforce for various reasons. How then do we provide for Page: 56 them? There are other measures that we have put in place to address this. But I think that is a valid point. I would add that for many countries, ageing demographics is a serious issue – providing for healthcare and especially retirement needs through pension systems is something that all countries are grappling with. What we do have in place is a very solid, stable platform and that is something we will continue to build on and improve. I will now address the comments that have been made on the various aspects of the Bill. Firstly, on Enhanced Enforcement: allow me to first elaborate briefly on the rationale of the changes to enhance enforcement of the CPF Act. Let me assure the Members of Parliament, specifically Assoc Prof Eugene Tan and Dr Chia Shi-Lu, that compliance with the CPF Act is high and the number of non-compliant employers remains low, relative to the total number of employers. I will give some of these details later. It is not unexpected that as we step up enforcement and education efforts, we will discover more cases of non-compliance in the near term. The increase in penalties under the CPF Act is to support our enhanced enforcement and outreach efforts.”
“The CPF's importance will grow in the years ahead with an ageing population. I hope the Government will do more to ensure that the three key needs of retirement expenditure, healthcare and home ownership will continue to be met, to a large extent, by one's CPF savings. While they constitute the basis of financial security in retirement, the CPF is a vital institution in our stakeholding society. In this regard, I hope that the Government will also articulate the circumstances and the conditions by which it would return the employers' CPF contribution rate to be on par with that of the employees' contribution. Madam, I warmly support this Bill. I sincerely hope that the passing of this Bill will also have the necessary signalling effects I discussed earlier to both employers and CPF members. 3.34 pm The Acting Minister for Manpower (Mr Tan Chuan-Jin): Mdm Speaker, let me thank the various Members of Parliament who spoke through their thoughtful speeches and who have extended their support for the Bill. Obviously, some of the issues that have been raised pertain to general CPF policy and not to the Bill itself, amongst them, CPF contribution rates, CPF returns, housing withdrawal limits and so on. These are important concerns and we are looking into how best we can address them and we will take these up separately at other forums as appropriate. But if I may just briefly talk about the adequacy issue raised by Mr Laurence Lien: I fully agree and the Government shares his concerns – in fact, many Singaporeans' concern – about providing for all Singaporeans in terms of their retirement needs. It is important to also look at it from a holistic perspective. The CPF is a very important pillar of our social security system but it is part of a larger whole.”
“Madam, some Singaporeans see the CPF as a "Curi ("steal" in the Malay language) People's Fund": that the enforced savings deny them the opportunity to spend their hard-earned money. Some see it as a levy of sorts imposed on employers, making Singaporeans more expensive to employ. Some Singaporeans would rather not have to make CPF contributions so that they can have a higher take-home pay. We also have employers who view CPF payments as an additional and unnecessary cost of doing business. Could it be that in our quest to make the CPF relevant, given the longer life spans of Singaporeans and the concern with retirement adequacy, has resulted in our seeing CPF contributions by employers and employees alike as mere transactions where compliance with the law is primarily due to the fear of sanctions? How can we view the CPF as a pivotal institution, one which helps Singaporeans, employers and the Singaporean state to create a stakeholding society? We should remember that an employer's CPF contribution is not just a mere legal obligation. Embedded within that legal obligation is a social obligation, a social responsibility, which helps to maintain the social compact as well as keep industrial relations on an even keel. There is a tendency to look at the social compact as something that exists merely between the state and the citizenry. But that would, in my view, be too narrow a conception of the social compact. Our social compact is not merely about the fundamentals of governance but it also embraces the rights and responsibilities of the key stakeholders and, here, we are talking about the Government, citizens, civil society, the corporate sector and the trade unions. Page: 55 Self-reliance is a core value that pervades the CPF system.”
“It is likely that sometimes employees may not even be aware of who their real employer is. I, therefore, welcome the provision to enhance the powers of the CPF Board's inspectors. My only query here is: what are the safeguards in place to ensure that the documents and records obtained by the CPF Board from a third-party source are only used for the sole purpose of enforcing the payment of CPF contributions? Clause 5 of the Bill, which will give the CPF Board added flexibility to allow members to make more than one withdrawal per year, will be welcomed by CPF members. This flexibility – through empowering the CPF Board to assess each case on its own merits – is timely and necessary. While CPF funds are primarily meant for retirement use, there may be extenuating circumstances in which an additional drawdown is necessary to tide over a challenging period – in this case, of allowing more than one withdrawal a year for members above 55 years of age where retirement Page: 54 adequacy is not affected, since the withdrawn amounts must be in excess of the CPF Minimum Sum and the prevailing MediSave required amount. However, we should be prudent not to create too many exceptions such that they would collectively undermine the purpose of the CPF. In two years' time, the CPF will celebrate its diamond jubilee. Despite close to 60 years of existence, many of us tend to too often misunderstand the purpose of the CPF and underestimate the role of the CPF system. Can the CPF Board do more outreach so that its role as the comprehensive social security savings system addressing not just retirement adequacy, but also healthcare, home-ownership, family protection and asset enhancement is better appreciated?”
“Non-payment, under-payment, or late payment of an employer's CPF contributions is an assault on the dignity of work. Workers are entitled to get what is provided for under the law for the work they put in. The asymmetry of power and information between the employer and employee means that punitive sanctions should be the order of the day where there is flagrant Page: 53 disregard for the law and the employment contract. I hope the Ministry and the CPF Board will beef up the enforcement efforts as well as public education efforts. A Singaporean worker's ignorance or misapprehension of the law should not be preyed upon by the employer. The better employees know their rights under the CPF Act, the less likely would employers try to circumvent the law. Madam, besides the affront to the dignity of work, non-payment of employers' CPF contributions can have other repercussions, such as affecting a CPF member's ability to service his housing loans. For the lower-income workers, if employers connive to have their employees fall outside the CPF system, such employees will not be able to receive Workfare Income Supplements as well as top-ups to their CPF Medisave accounts. Does the Ministry have any data on how CPF members have been impacted by such consequential repercussions flowing from the non-payment of an employer's CPF contributions? The Bill also provides for the CPF Board to have greater powers in the conduct of investigations relating to an employer's obligation to make CPF contributions. Such powers in clause 3 of the Bill, enabling the CPF Board to obtain information, documents or records from third parties, are necessary, given the variety of employment arrangements in today's labour market, including subcontracting and outsourcing of employees.”
“It is a noble thing to help someone to save for their future, but we must all be alert to the chorus of feedback that is coming from the ground. Therefore, I sincerely hope that the proposals can and will be considered at some point. I do not hold out the hope that it will be adopted at this sitting, but I can certainly count on the listening ear of the Minister and his compassion in coming down easy on my suggestions. Therefore, Mdm Speaker, I reiterate my support for the CPF system and support the amendments. 3.26 pm Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene (Nominated Member): Mdm Speaker, the Central Provident Fund (CPF) is a key institution in Singapore. I warmly welcome the proposed amendments in this Bill to safeguard and strengthen the CPF system, especially in light of the changes in the employment landscape and the changing demographic realities. The amendments will also provide for greater clarity to the CPF Act. Keeping the CPF relevant, consistent and sensitive to the needs of members is essential. In this regard, I welcome the proposed amendment in clause 18 of the Bill to provide for an increase in penalties, including imprisonment terms, for offences under the CPF Act. The enhancement of penalties for CPF offences, hopefully, will be a stronger deterrent against non-compliance. Could the Minister inform the House whether there have been more employers defaulting in their CPF contributions in the last few years? What is the total quantum involved and is the amount involved increasing as well? And what were the recovery rates like? Errant employers should not be let off lightly and I hope that the Ministry will not hesitate to titrate upwards the sanctions if the circumstances warrant it.”
“The second issue that I will mention quickly is with flexibility and implementation. The Home Protection Scheme (HPS) and the Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS) are two cornerstone schemes for families whose insured members unfortunately become permanently incapacitated or die suddenly. HPS pays out the outstanding housing loan while the DPS helps the family tide over the first few years. Yet, there appears to be some inconsistencies with the definition of permanent incapacitation. I have received feedback during my house visits that some of my residents have had to jump through hoops because of permanent incapacitation. Under the DPS and HPS, as defined by section 28 of the CPF Act, "Permanent Incapacity" refers to someone who is physically or mentally incapacitated from ever continuing in any employment. However, a sole breadwinner losing two limbs is a major challenge for any family. The capability to earn a normal living is, of course, heavily diminished because of these and, in many cases, the family will have to face multiple other issues as well. And therefore the current situation, in the words of one of my residents, is akin to saying that better for me to die than to lose a limb because at least it guarantees a payout! So, this is somewhat incomprehensible. As such, I hope the Ministry will consider loosening the definition of permanent incapacitation to indicate any form of impediment to continuing in Page: 52 formal employment as previously held by the insured member. We have here in the CPF, a good retirement savings plan that cannot be denied. The DPS and the HPS are two good schemes. So, let us ensure that it is a compassionate and accessible one.”
“If we compare this generation with the generation just before us, the hope of an early retirement with kids already well settled in their education, graduated and probably starting their own families, was somewhat a possibility 20 years ago but is very much a pipe dream today. Cost of living has also gone up, education is becoming comparatively more expensive, and housing is also becoming a bigger part of household expenditure. In just 10 years between 1998 and 2008, expenditure on housing has gone up 4.2%. So, while CPF has been around since 1955 and it is a part of everyone's working life, the complexities of the system mean that some are still not fully Page: 51 aware of the different schemes as well as different requirements. People may not remember the importance of the 55-year-old gateway. Yes, the system allows for a property pledge, as mentioned by the hon Member Mr Gan Thiam Poh earlier, and the Board does practise some flexibility when the case extraordinarily warrants. However, it is still somewhat troubling for many ordinary Singaporeans to understand the full complexity of the issues. It is, therefore, my view that a staggered or tiered transfer of the Minimum Sum over a course of five years may just be a change that could benefit many future families. It helps families better prepare for cash payments for any outstanding housing loans and also better plan their purchases. The staggered end state is that the Minimum Sum will still be committed to the Retirement Account and that continued employment will mean that the Ordinary Account will still be topped up subsequently. The change may not be felt by most, but I am certain that it will be appreciated by the many who may benefit with its introduction.”
“To the layman, the current system presumes a somewhat perfect scenario, where issues only occur in silo. In Chinese, we have a saying: "祸不单行" or trouble rarely visits alone. For those families finding themselves suddenly cash-strapped when the sole or primary breadwinner has to transfer his/her Minimum Sum to the Retirement Account, they often face other issues that compound their problems. In one case, Mr L, who I just saw yesterday, has had almost all his Ordinary Account transferred to his Retirement Account. He is currently left with $896 in his Ordinary Account. He has over $70,000 left in his housing loan and, unfortunately, he has just been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. He is struggling. In another recent case, Ms H's father just turned 55 and they were unaware that the Ordinary Account had been transferred to his Retirement Account until a letter came from HDB. He, of course, was deeply troubled by this. He approached HDB and was told that he needed CPF's approval to transfer money back from his Retirement Account to his Ordinary Account. Not entirely conversant in English, he found the process hard to comprehend and it went on for a period of time. That was not the end. After he made his appeal to the CPF, he was reassured that it would be taken care of very shortly. However, he received not one, but two reminders from HDB and, therefore, resulted in him being in months of arrears. Thankfully, the matter has been resolved, but these are just some of the many examples. We may, therefore, need to be cogent of the reality that Singaporeans are now: one, marrying later, yet making their first home purchase much earlier, and then having children much later. This has, therefore, changed the spending patterns of our citizens quite significantly.”
“Mdm Speaker, much of the feedback on the amended Bill has already been passionately articulated by my parliamentary colleagues. The CPF is an integral part of our retirement scheme and the recent reinstatement of the CPF contribution rates that was hard-fought by the Labour Movement is a case in point. I, therefore, welcome the tougher penalties for defaults on CPF contributions, especially by recalcitrant employers. The move to introduce a jail term of up to six months will definitely align the CPF and Employment Acts. However, while the compliance of the CPF Act will now be strengthened and contributions made more constant with the enforcement of payments from employers, the withdrawal of funds by members is still perceived to be somewhat a challenge. As pointed out by the hon Member, Mr Laurence Lien, sometimes perceptions have become a reality for the public. As such, I will focus my attention on two elements that I think are not within the system at the moment and are not covered in the amendments this round. Firstly, in my Parliamentary Question on 21 October 2013, I made an appeal to the Ministry to consider a tiered approach to the transfer of funds from CPF members' Ordinary Account to their Retirement Account, especially when they have outstanding housing loans. In the reply, the Ministry indicated that this was likely to be unnecessary as a vast majority of current CPF members have sufficient savings for housing or have completed their housing loan repayments. However, there is no smoke without fire. I have come across a number of cases recently where the Ordinary Account to Retirement Account Minimum Sum Page: 50 transfer has turned some families' lives topsy-turvy.”
“Just one final supplementary question. I am not sure if the Ministry has the statistics, but for those who have gone through mandatory counselling, are there figures for people who have reconsidered their decisions after going through counselling?”
“I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State for the response. I note with some sadness that only less 4% was for medical reasons. I have three supplementary questions. First, overall, are we seeing a trend towards more abortions at a younger age? Secondly, if we look at our Termination of Pregnancy Act, we have one of the more liberal laws within our area. With changing social norms as well as the rising number of Page: 8 foreigners seeking abortions, would it therefore be apt for the Act to be renewed or reviewed so that we do not become a regional abortion hub? Thirdly, in March 2013, I understand the Ministry commenced a review on the mandatory counselling criteria. Could the Senior Minister of State also provide an update to the House on how far along the process has gone and when public consultations will begin?”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister for his reply. Two supplementary questions, please. One, is this the first time such an incident has occurred and whether there were previous examples of these? The second is that section 49 of the Parliamentary Elections Act has a list of required steps for the disposal of items. Of course this does not include the non-controlled items at the moment. I am wondering if the Ministry would consider the inclusion of additional items under this schedule.”
“Madam, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his response. I have four quick supplementary questions. Firstly, is the Ministry satisfied with the current rate of adoption based on the Master Plan? Secondly, I quote an interesting example that made it to the press – The Straits Times, January 2010, called "A Bridge Too Short". Iluma at Bugis had a bridge that did not link. There was about a 2-metre gap. But, surprisingly, when Bugis Junction bought over Iluma, magically the bridge joined up. Is there something that the Ministry can do, since it is encouraging new projects to take on these so that they are not a loss? Thirdly, will the GFA exemptions that are currently provided for elevated pedestrian walkways for places like Jurong Gateway and the cash grants be made more attractive so that more business owners may want to come onboard on the scheme? Lastly, in response to part (c) of my parliamentary question, will the Ministry therefore consider introducing legislation to make this a compulsory part of development?”
“Thank you once again, Mdm Speaker. Another point of clarification for the Acting Minister: it is interesting to note that there has been a low rate of cases over the past few years that have been reported to the Tribunal. I would like to ask the Acting Minister whether this is a reflection of the general family-friendly environment that we now have in Singapore or the success of mediation at Family Services Centres or, perhaps, because of the societal shame of wanting to bring a family issue into a public sphere. And my second supplementary question would be whether the Ministry would be considering more educational efforts to educate older Singaporeans about their rights under the Maintenance of Parents Act.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I would like to ask the Acting Minister for a quick clarification. My understanding is that many of these crisis shelters do allow the children of abused women to be housed with them, with the exception of older boys within the family. I am wondering if this is something that the Ministry is looking at addressing and whether there is a downstream impact on the family unit if these older boys within the family are not allowed to be housed together with their mothers. Page: 19”
“Sure. The price was $75. Last Wednesday, the same distributor, price went down but it was $35. We want to ensure that there is some price stability, especially for essentials. My question is whether MTI would consider a set of advisories on what would be a fair price for certain essential items in cases of emergencies.”
“Mdm Speaker, a question directed back to MTI. I thank the Senior Minister of State for his responses earlier. We are an open economy and most of our prices are decided by demand and supply. But I am wondering if the MTI or related agencies would consider issuing an advisory on fair prices for certain essential items. For example, for the N95 mask, just to quickly paint a chronology of the prices. On Wednesday, in our constituency, we made an advance purchase for our cleaners as well as our People's Association staff. We found that the lowest price at an established Page: 59 pharmacy at wholesale rate was $49. From the distributor, it was only $25. On Thursday, when we saw the second spike, the distributor was already sold out, established pharmacies were also starting to run out of stock and only supplying limited demand. A separate distributor was located for our low-income families in our rental flats —”