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 [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.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 12 of 12.
“Madam, I stand in the way of the close of the Committee of Supply. I wish to have three quick clarifications and one commitment. I thank the Minister and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the commitment to preserving heritage and, yet, I hope we can do more simply than to record it because reading or viewing photos cannot take the place of experiencing it. Therefore, I ask for a clarification if more can be done and more funds can be committed to help local masters and preservers of our heritage to keep their trade going as a living heritage rather than a dead one. Secondly, Minister of State Mrs Josephine Teo spoke about this during the MOF COS. I, therefore, ask if the Ministry has any advance plans to mark the 50th anniversary of Singapore's Independence and I hope my suggestions during the MOF cut for the Singapore 50 Fund will be given due consideration. Talking about money and moving on to youths, I am happy to hear of the formation of the National Youth Fund. I ask for a quick clarification when we Page: 107 can expect details of the fund to be released. Finally, on plans for heritage trails and community museums, I offer the historic town of Yew Tee, which, incidentally, got its name from oil tanks set up by the Japanese during World War II, for the kind consideration of the Ministry.”
“Madam, Confucius, in the Analects, said in Mandarin: "后生可畏, 焉知来者之不如今也? 四十, 五十而无闻焉, 斯亦不足畏也已". Youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present? If he reaches the age of 40 or 50, and has not made himself heard of, then indeed he will not be worth being regarded with respect." Madam, the profile of our youths and the youth scene today has changed significantly over the last decade. Youths today are more entrepreneurial, connected through technology, and keen to give back to their community. Singapore has witnessed a rise in youth activism and volunteerism, in tandem with an increase in the number of youth sector organisations and social enterprises. Consequently, our youth scene is more vibrant, dynamic, and constantly energised by the diverse new ideas generated by youths. The opportunities have given them room to grow and to be respected. Page: 79 The National Youth Council has many initiatives and platforms. Notably, its flagship programmes, such as the Youth Expedition Project (YEP) and the Young ChangeMakers (YCM) have built leadership skills in our youths and encouraged them to be more actively involved in the community. I made a similar call for this last year to better develop our youth leaders. With the shift in the landscape, I ask the Ministry how better support for youth development, especially with encouraging youth ground-up initiatives, can be best given. Youths are our future, they are not just building blocks. Give them the respect so that they can have room to prove themselves worthy. Youth Engagement and Development”
“Yet, they stay the course. Because they believe that there is culture and heritage worth preserving. Therefore, I ask the Ministry what else beyond the physical that the National Heritage Board and its related agencies will be working to preserve. How will the Ministry look at involving all Singaporeans, especially with our 50th anniversary of Independence round the corner? I make a plea on behalf of those struggling on the sidelines to do their part to preserve our heritage and what can the Ministry do to support them. As we enter into our 50th year, it is opportune for us to reinforce our heritage. Heritage is essential for us, it is not just history, it is your story, my story, your future, my future. Building a Strong Cultural Core”
“The philosopher Cicero opined that, "To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child." What is heritage? Is it a building? Is it an object? Is it culture? Does displaying or restoring old things mean preserving our heritage? Madam, heritage to me is about inherited traditions, it is both the tangible and the intangible; heritage is about how we act, about who we are and about what we will be. We need to have our physical reminders to recall how far we have come. The late photographer Richard Nickel once said, "Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and short-sighted men." Many of the fond memories of our past have given way to economic progress. Yes, there may be new sights to behold, but will the Sands last? Will Universal Studios be our future historic landmark? Will we then be remembered by future generations as worshippers of the ship in the sky, and devotees of an ogre and his donkey sidekick? Perhaps as important as our historic buildings and sites, our social history is also important. It is woven intimately into the fabric of our nation. There in our language, our songs, our recipes, our culture. Many are working quietly behind the scenes to preserve it, but they face uphill tasks. 11.45 am Mr Jeffrey Eng is a tireless cultural ambassador. He runs a small cultural shop which is a landmark on 皇家山脚 which is River Valley Road. He has been regaling visitors with stories of our history and heritage for many years, at no fee. Page: 26 Mr Henry Ng is also the last Lion King of Singapore. He started as a lion dancer at 13 and in 1995, became the youngest of 10 professional lion makers. Today, he is the last remaining. Like Mr Eng, cheap and low quality products from overseas have made business difficult.”
“As for a big stick, as we say in the military, "Do anything you want, just don't get caught". This is especially so for our young job entrants. I asked for a fair deal for young job entrants in my Budget speech. In this area, I ask for a set of recommendations of fair employment guide for them so that they can spot good employers and work for them. Vitamin A also helps with night vision, and so it is all not just gloom and doom. Raising of Re-employment Age Band”
“Mdm Chair, we often take that carrot-and-stick approach to policy but, to manpower, the stick often appears far bigger and heavier than the carrot. The impressions are often stark, number of labour court cases up, the number of complaints on discrimination up, number of cases sent for arbitration also up, number of labour disputes, number of strikes went up – up by one. Stronger legislation, bigger penalties also up. Perhaps it is helpful at times for us to consider that a bigger carrot may also prove beneficial. The humble carrot is high in beta-carotene which metabolises into Vitamin A. Vitamin A, as we know, helps vision, and vision is perhaps what we need in promoting a fair employment climate. Page: 107 Madam, allow me to quote three quick examples of companies with good employment practices. Company A is a restaurant. I met the owner recently and she shared with me that the climate was tough. Yet, every worker I saw was motivated. I asked the secret and they said they were passionate about what they do and they were loyal to their employer who looked after them even in bad times. Company B is in the supply industry. I met them recently and they care for their older workers even beyond retirement, providing medical insurance coverage for them and checking up on them regularly. Company C is a hotel, consistently voted as one of the most outstanding employers. One staff I spoke to last week said she was honoured to work for a company who cares deeply for employees and makes them feel part of the family. Madam, recognising the good that companies do can be more effective than a big stick. We all need good vision and to have a better work environment and as well as better productivity.”
“Madam, thank you for your indulgence. I thank the Minister for his passionate call for action on youths-at-risk in Singapore. In my main Budget speech, I asked for a fair deal for young Singaporeans, and youths-at-risk certainly deserve our attention. The Minister has made a call for youth mentors to help our youths-at-risk. I ask the Minister for clarification on what means the Ministry is considering and how we, in the House, can help. I also take the opportunity to recognise the work of the Central Youth Guidance Office for the quiet work they have done Page: 56 behind the scenes. The second clarification is slightly related but still on a separate note. The hon Members, Dr Intan, Mr de Souza and Ms Foo spoke passionately about abortion and adoption. I echo their views on giving children facing abortion a fighting chance. I seek a clarification. Can the Minister share, if it is available, the number of local children who may be up for adoption at the moment, and the number of Singaporeans who may be registered and are in line for adoption? Will the Ministry also consider a national adoption information clearing house such as that adopted in the US, so that there is a clear line of how many people are actually looking at adoption? Finally, it leaves me to say that I echo the calls that I have made earlier in my cut, not to cut, but to increase, and I hope that the Minister will also receive additional manpower help within his Ministry to assist him.”
“However, although her case may be isolated, there are many low-income Singaporeans who face complex issues. At the current moment, there are no integrated agencies to be able to deal with all the issues at a go. Neither do we have enough officers on the ground, whether it is housing, education, employment, health, family issues, childcare – there are many more. I, therefore, welcome the introduction of the MSF's Social Service Office (SSO) scheme to provide holistic care. I, however, advocate for a whole-of-Government approach for our public assistance and social assistance schemes so that Singaporeans in need have a one-stop resource to deal with their difficulties. Sir, in closing, I hope that the MSF will be able to take on this role as the frontline Ministry. I, therefore, also advocate for more resources and funds to be allocated to this important Ministry to ensure that these holistic whole-of-Government efforts are not taken lightly.”
“Mr Chairman, Singaporeans in need often opined that they have to jump through hoops to get the assistance they require. In addition, they often complain of a financial cliff that they face should their income increase. Let me quote the example of Mdm L. Mdm L, a resident, is a divorcee without any children, she sold her matrimonial flat a number of years ago and after a struggle, managed to secure a rented unit under the joint-singles scheme. Without any education and having been unemployed for a period of time, she had received some support after a thorough search from various agencies, including job matching. She subsequently found a job as a cleaner and earned about $790 a month. Her monthly rental was about $90. Subsequently, when I met Mdm L, I suggested that she go for training to upgrade her skills. She did so and her new employer increased her pay to the Page: 187 recommended $1,000 pay for cleaners. She came to see me and shared that she was overjoyed with her increment. However, her joy was short-lived. Soon after, her rental lease was due for renewal and she found out her rent was to be readjusted to $205, an increase of $115. As such, if we use simple arithmetic, her $210 increase income became just $95. In addition, her new workplace was now located further away. Her monthly transport costs have, therefore, gone up by $12. Again, simple mathematics, her increased income has now come up to only $83. All this while, her work hours have also increased slightly. In all, without taking into consideration other costs, her pay taken as an hourly wage increase saw only an improvement of three cents in real terms for her. After writing to HDB, we managed to lower her rent.”
“Mr Chairman, the cost of juvenile delinquency can be substantial. There is the cost of juvenile justice, reduced life-time economic production and foregone life income. The impact may extend to the next generation, where children, raised in a disadvantaged family, may face more risk factors. However, juvenile delinquency and youth crime is not a big problem in Singapore, as yet. The school drop-out and unemployment rates for youths are low. The number of youth arrests has also been declining over the years. 7.15 pm But youth-at-risk has diverse needs. Currently, there is a landscape of services targeted at different issues. There are programmes for financial assistance, learning support. For youths who break the law, there is also the Guidance Programme, Probation Services, Juvenile Homes and Streetwise Programme to provide different avenues. While these programmes have largely been successful, they may still be limited in their reach. It would be important to sustain these youths until they become self-motivated and independent individuals. I, therefore, urge that these youths be better supported by the Ministry after the completion of their programmes over the long term.”
“Mdm Chair, Commander of Traffic Police, AC Cheang Keng Keong said last year, "While we will die from old age or may succumb to illnesses, we should not be dying on the roads due to traffic accidents. There is a need for road users to act responsibly." Although traffic accidents have seen a decline in 2012, the recent accidents were more emotional because they involve young children. The Traffic Police has emphasised the 3Es of Enforcement, Engagement and Education. Traffic Police are now more visible. I encourage the Ministry to consider the appointment of more Road Safety Ambassadors and I ask for an update on road safety measures in our schools. Road Safety and School Zones”
“Madam, I urge MOT to consider an overhaul of the transport regulatory system. I believe that the current system of zonal monopoly by the two main transport operators is detrimental to innovation and stands in the way of creating a more ambitious, more attractive and more customer-oriented transport system. Improvements also cannot be siloed. The Swiss experience has been to enhance allied cooperation through car-sharing, taxi enhancement, expanding of grocery delivery systems, vehicle-free estates and making walking and cycling more comfortable and attractive. In closing, unlike Ms Foo who has trunk services and no feeder service, Yew Tee, with its 82,000 residents, has two feeder services and no trunk service. So, I urge the Minister to consider the residents at the far corner of Singapore having to get up much earlier in the morning and, yet, have to contend with crowded trains and limited services. Page: 156 Elder-friendly Intra-estate Transport”
“Military and the Social Media Sir, the tremendous growth of technology has also meant a rapid reliance on social media as a means of communication. With it come advantages and equal risks. Has the Ministry kept pace with the growth of the social media? And has it used it effectively to outreach? Recently, there has been a spate of confessions online – confessions of a different kind. Across Facebook, a number of confessions starting from within tertiary institutions have now spread beyond the education sphere. SAF Confessions now has close to 23,000 followers and is growing; it is certainly a platform for many to share training stories or trade battle scars, but I seek the Ministry's reassurance that amidst the much laudable sharing and camaraderie that security discipline is not compromised. Sir, Mr Goh Keng Swee in his speech to this House also said that: "Whatever the time may be, it would be useless to only think about building up your defence forces. The time to do so is now." The work of building a credible and strong SAF is a common responsibility and we should never let up and always keep a strong focus. Page: 176”
“Mr Chairman, on 23 December 1965, when the late hon Member Mr Goh Keng Swee introduced the Singapore Army Bill before this House, he started with an old Chinese adage: 好男不当兵, 好铁不打钉. The meaning is that good men do not become soldiers nor good iron makes nails. The saying had its roots in the old imperial military, where ordinary people were press-ganged into war for the selfish gains of ambitious men. Fast forward to today's modern SAF, we no longer fight for selfish men but for our own defence – as a common responsibility of citizenship. Our citizen army has become a defining aspect of life as a Singaporean, a social leveller, a Page: 175 common joy, or perhaps, a common lament, for the Singaporean boy. As the reviewing officer for the graduation of a recent BMT batch, I was certainly heartened to hear from a number of young men and women who were passionate about the defence of our nation and considered it both a duty as well as a possible vocation. Many fellow reservists that I served with still look forward to our annual ICTs. But as our social landscape changes, so too does NS, and defence becomes caught up in the debate about being Singaporean. As we find more new citizens in our midst, within a rapidly changing geo-political landscape and the tremendous growth of technology, I ask the Ministry to relook at how defence can continue to play an important role as a social leveller, and to ensure that future generations of Singaporeans continue to remain committed to the defence of our land, to boost confidence in our capabilities and to assure Singaporeans of the paramount need for a strong cohesive military. This brings me to my second cut as well.”
“Mdm Chair, the hon Member, Mr Lee Kuan Yew once said and I quote, "The past was not pre-ordained. Nor is the future. There are as many unexpected problems ahead as there were in the past." Madam, these words hold true even today. But more so because Singapore will be marking a significant milestone in 2015 as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our nationhood. As we come to this milestone, it is perhaps important for us to recognise that we have come far as an economy, as a people and as a nation. Our people have met unexpected hardships in the past with quiet courage and production, which has allowed our nation and people to thrive and prosper together. I therefore suggest that the Government consider a one-off cash incentive to be called the Singapore 50 Fund to recognise all generations of Singaporeans who have contributed to nation-building. One way is for it to be introduced as a system, similar to the early SingTel share offer, which gives Singaporeans a stake in the nation's progress. Singaporeans should at the same time be given the option to donate the incentive back to a central pool to be called a Silver Resilience Fund to care for older Singaporeans who have contributed the most towards the early efforts of securing our nation's future. Madam, indeed, the past was not pre-ordained, nor is our future. We share not only a common history, but shoulder together the responsibility for our common future. Page: 125 Encouraging Philanthropy”
“Mdm Chair, I am happy to hear that Cinderella now lives a somewhat happier-ever-after life. But this brings me to a question that I raised earlier that has not been covered as yet. I understand that our Foreign Service Officers are paid in a separate pay scale as compared to the rest of the Administrative Service, as such, I would like to know whether or not our officers are adequately compensated for what is definitely challenging work that they are doing.”
“Lastly, on the subject of Honorary Consuls and locally-engaged staff in other countries, does the Ministry have an assessment of the roles played so far by these Honorary Consuls, and whether there is a case for more professional officers or to continue with the robust system of Honorary Consuls? All of this is especially so, with the domestic reputation of the Ministry dependent to a degree on the perceived success in meeting our citizens' expectations overseas. I urge, therefore, for a greater priority on consular services so that there is no longer just Cinderella, but that they enjoy a happy ever after! Page: 22”
“Mdm Chair, when I was studying international relations in University, we referred to consular services as the "Cinderella services of diplomacy". Just like Cinderella – much abused, much neglected and underpaid. With increasing numbers of Singaporeans living, travelling, working or studying overseas, and with the wide range of consular services now available across an increased number of countries and regions, I would like to ask the Ministry if there has been an increase in the number of requests for consular support, and what have been some of the challenges faced. In addition, would MFA, like in some foreign ministries in other countries, consider charging a call-out fee for out-of-ordinary requests or negligent claims? With consular staff increasingly being called to help an irresponsible minority whose problems may have been easily avoided through better planning or sensible behaviour when overseass, I further suggest that the Ministry increase its publicity to influence behaviour of those travelling, and also to publicise more case studies regularly to demonstrate the consequences of irresponsible behaviours overseas. Consular staff are often mistakenly perceived within the diplomatic services of having a lower status than other Foreign Service Officers. It is often shunned elsewhere as a career route. I would like to ask if the Ministry is currently understaffed in terms of consular services and perhaps, our consular and Foreign Service Officers should have their salary scales reviewed to keep in line with existing Administrative Service pay scales.”
“" Her hope is for a future Singapore with a resilient economy providing career opportunities and learning resources to groom active and thoughtful young people for a better tomorrow. Some may say idealistic, but I say we need to give more opportunities to young Singaporeans like Tay Jia, Jonathan and many others. Mdm Speaker, three years from today, I hope that we can find ourselves in a better Singapore where young Singaporeans have fair employment deal, are future-ready and, like Jonathan and Tay Jia, be given a fair chance to pursue their dreams. We must value every young job entrant but not just every young job entrant, but value every single worker in this transition and transformational process. With that, Mdm Speaker, I support the Budget. 4.48 pm”
“Firstly, Jonathan. Jonathan is 21 this year and serving with the Police K9 Unit. He had a rocky start to his education. He failed his PSLE, retook and went from EM2 to EM3. But he persevered, passed his PSLE and went on subsequently to ITE. He did well and excelled in the course of his choice, graduating with a NITEC in Community Care and Social Services. He was inspired by his late mother who passed away from cancer in October 2008. But he feels that it is a privilege to live her legacy of serving the community. As a chain smoker in his Secondary school days, he quit and, not just that, he became an "I QUIT Ambassador" for the Health Promotion Board to motivate others to quit as well. For this and his other community effort, he was awarded the Star of SHINE by the National Youth Council last year. He aspires to be a social worker and to be there for others. In addition, he also aspires to be a world-class illusionist, to use magic to motivate others. In his words, and I quote, "I want to give back to Page: 98 the community, society, nation and the world my 200%." The second young Singaporean is Tay Jia. She is 19 this year. She studies at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and is an active volunteer with the Thye Hua Kwan Moral EIPIC Centre as well as the National Library Board. She received a scholarship last year from the PCF to continue her studies in an area of interest. Because Tay Jia loves children, she aspires to be an educational psychologist eventually. In her words, and I quote, "I have a passion for interacting with children and I aspire to be able to make a difference in their lives. I feel that it is a challenging yet rewarding career.”
“However, in spite of this, this year's Budget again focuses on the traditional core of work, such as manufacturing, electronics, data analytics, finance, maritime. I urge the Government to seriously consider the aspirations of our young in shaping a future economy. Let our young Singaporeans, our young job entrants, have a fair chance at taking a chance. I also propose that a National Youth Incubator Fund be considered to be set up to allow young Singaporeans to propose ideas to better prepare Singapore for the future and allow them the funding to testbed their ideas. Mdm Speaker, before I conclude, I beg your indulgence to share some slides, to introduce two inspiring young Singaporeans I met recently who have very different aspirations.”
“In the Electronics and Precision Engineering sector, though not yet a popular choice amongst young job seekers, it is in reality a sector full of opportunities where young job entrants can make meaningful careers for themselves. So, beyond focusing on the "sexy" jobs, all jobs should be seen as good jobs for growth. As such, I call on the Government to continue to focus on new industries and at the same time rejuvenate existing core industries and ensure that all our young job entrants have fair opportunities to be part of the growth of our economy. Lastly, for young Singaporeans to have a fair chance to take chances. As our society progresses, so opens new pathways and new opportunities. Many more young job entrants are exploring new possibilities and creating waves in the process. Yet, we are perhaps still a nation stuck in a traditional mode of industry, an economy still focused on the end state of material gain and GDP growth. Young Singaporeans often relate that they feel stifled, that the values of a generation of helicopter latchkey parents have driven them to only concentrate on what is economically in their best interest. But as the experience of creativity in other countries tells us, such as in the US where pathways are created where there were none, where the expression of the young are also a major driver of local economies, we may be better placed perhaps if we encourage more options for our young job entrants to Page: 97 explore. A better Singapore should be one of vibrancy and multiple routes for young Singaporeans to take. I am glad that the SUTD and SIT have been set up to allow additional avenues especially for our Polytechnic students to go further with their aspirations.”
“The early workers in these industries have tended to be skilled foreign labour to staff these start-ups. Singaporeans, especially aspirational young job entrants, are right to feel that they have been left out of the equation. Entrenchment of skill sets within these industries also creates the impression that it is not possible to break in. As such, I urge our education, manpower and economic agencies to work closely together to chart future growth markets. This is so that we can prepare early for a future-ready workforce. So that the young potential job entrants can chart for themselves a future that they will have a hand in shaping; that they are allowed to be at the forefront of the excitement of spearheading new industries. Page: 96 I further suggest the widening of programmes jointly promoted by the NTUC and SPRING Singapore. These programmes, also mentioned by the hon Member Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, such as the Core Executives Programme and the Management Associate Partnership, for our fresh graduates from our Universities and Polytechnics for these new growth sectors. This is to institutionalise a way forward to ease their entry into these sectors. But not just future-ready for future industries. This can apply to current industries as well. In the OPEC cluster which is still a growing and vibrant one, ITE graduates are being well engaged through the NITEC course in Chemical Process Engineering as well as the Higher NITEC in Process Plant Design and other related courses. I understand that the pioneer batch of over 80 students have already gone through some of these courses and have been employed in the industry.”
“If young job entrants are not given an opportunity, then they will never get the experience Page: 95 required of them. Contract work and long-term internships are also becoming the norm. A recent article in the New York Times on 1 March was titled "The No-Limits Job". It alluded to the fact that the notion of traditional entry-level jobs are fast disappearing. In its place are longer hours and less job security. In addition, the concept of a 22-22-22 worker is emerging. And no, it is not a Toto combination, but meaning a 22-year-old who is willing to work 22 hours a day earning just $22,000 a year. This is a frightening proposition. I urge the Government to consider more measures for young job entrants to better protect them over the next three years. I agree with the hon Member Mr Patrick Tay that protecting a Singaporean Core for PMEs, especially for young PMEs, through robust labour market testing may be required. But I also urge that young job entrants get a fair deal and fair employment, that they are not taken advantage of, in terms of pay or benefits; that they are better educated of their employment terms and be work-ready even when completing their education. This brings me to the point of a future-ready workforce for future industries. I am heartened that the Budget calls for developing capabilities for new growth industries. The Future of Manufacturing and Satellite Industry Development Fund will commit close to $600 million over the next five years. Yet, I am also apprehensive. If we look back into the not-so-distant past, we have similarly welcomed new growth industries into Singapore. However, the dilemma has been one of heightened investment but little downstream positive economic impact for the average Singaporean.”
“As we aspire for a better Singapore, as this Budget calls for, as we grow qualitatively and build an inclusive society, let us not forget that our youths are not just beneficiaries of a better future Singapore but are also co-owners, co-builders and co-drivers as well. The future cannot be shaped in a vacuum; the future generations of Singaporeans must have a hand in the future success of our country. It is none more important than to ensure that they have a fair chance of being more than just building blocks, but co-creators of growth. Over the past few Budgets, little mention has been made of our youth job entrants and the challenges that they will face or to address their many varied aspirations holistically. We have, however, made some inroads in recent years, including the Max Talent scheme for young PMEs in SMEs, entrepreneurship grants for young Singaporeans who aspire to run their own businesses, progressive education and greater quality vocational training with additional pathways, such as the SIT and SUTD. But more remains to be done. The next three years will be crucial ones for Singapore. As we continue to ensure that we have a viable economic future, I hope that our young job entrants will have a fair deal. I have three main areas of focus today. Firstly, a fair employment market for our young job entrants. One of the biggest stumbling blocks for our fresh job seekers is what I call an "experience trap". A significant number of young graduates that I spoke to recently, expressed their disillusionment at a lack of opportunity. This seemingly runs counter to the employees' market that we are supposed to be experiencing. The hurdle, simply put, is that employers require minimum years of experience for applicants to get a job. It is an oxymoronic situation.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Budget. Let me first begin, Madam, by looking outside of our little red dot. The world economy as we know it is still very much in flux. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high globally. In the Euro area alone, unemployment in January of this year was 11.9%; simply put, 19 million people are out of job in Europe. The young are not immune from the impact of economic slowdowns. The International Labour Organization (ILO) projects that young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults, and, currently, over 75 million youths are looking for work. This is what the ILO calls a "scarred" generation, facing a dangerous mix of high unemployment, under-employment and high working poverty. In Singapore, we have so far avoided the pitfalls through a combination of sound economic policies and a hardworking resilient population. But is it anything to crow about? Greece and Spain, and even the UK have all seen rising discontent and pent-up anger amongst disenfranchised youths, seemingly kicked out from Page: 94 even the rat race, without any sense of ownership in the society that they live in. It all boils down to a single thought – a lack of a sense of fairness. Budget 2013 promises a better Singapore for the future. It takes into consideration the different profiles of our working demography. I echo the calls made by my fellow labour Members for our different worker segments. It again boils down to a sense of fairness for our workers, that they are valued and not just statistics. But I make an additional call, Mdm Speaker, for the young job entrants of Singapore.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his reply. The question was raised in relation to the recent tragedy in Tampines. There are few Members here who take care of residential areas quite close to major industrial estates. In particular, I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary, in relation to my first question on limiting the access because towns like Yew Tee have only one major access road to Sungei Kadut, which is in Choa Chu Kang Way. Over the past two years, we have seen monthly accidents in that area. Many people use Choa Chu Kang way to access into the camps. I have personally witnessed one accident myself. He was evacuated to Page: 29 Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital. He has recovered; unfortunately, he will live in the shadow of that accident. So, for towns like Yew Tee and other towns of similar nature, where there is only one direct route to major industrial areas and they have to pass by residential estates, would there be consideration by the Ministry for opening up additional peripheral routes for these vehicles. Again, another problem is speeding. These vehicles are definitely travelling far in excess of their speed limits. So, whether the Ministry will consider other plans and policies to help to regulate this. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank the Member for the supplementary question and also the feedback. We share the Member's concern about safety. In fact, I would be pleased to inform the Member that we would be pleased to work with the Member to see how we can further improve the safety of the area and, wherever possible, will find ways to work with the Member to see how we can inject or improve other elements to enhance the safety of the area identified by the Member.”
“Page: 80 Mdm Speaker, might I add that existing towns like our quiet Yew Tee, with our 82,000 residents not be forgotten in this growth. Mdm Speaker, in conclusion, I support the basis of the White Paper, but I urge that we all work hand in hand and engage fellow Singaporeans to formulate a dynamic Singapore. There are many stark challenges ahead of us, which the White Paper endeavours to address. But let us also not forget that a fruit devoid of its core will no longer be fruitful. This is our Singapore, our common responsibility. What we decide for the present, will impact our people and our future. 4.23 pm”
“Let us not exhaust ourselves with the arguments about language or numbers but settle first our hearts and find common ground for the good of our people, our future. Mdm Speaker, I strongly support the amendments to the Motion standing in the name of the hon Member Mr Liang Eng Hwa. Like him, I believe we must build a strong Singapore Core. It is not based simply on numbers, but on the strength of our identity. We must promote a sense of rootedness and belonging; we must cherish our heritage, our common history; we must strengthen our identity so that, as newcomers arrive on our shores, they add vibrancy to it rather than dilute it; we must uphold a sense of social justice for the needy amongst us; we must also ensure that with growth comes affordability and the stabilising of inflation; we must protect our workers, especially the most vulnerable, that they are not just collateral for growth – better jobs, better pay; Singaporeans first; we must value families, so that our young couples continue to be passionate about raising children, not because we have abundant subsidies, but because children complete us; we must recognise the sacrifices of our national servicemen in protecting our shores, in making our country what it is; we must also uplift our women, that their equal sacrifice as mothers, sisters, wives, workers are not swept under the carpet; we must provide sufficiently for our elderly, that their contributions in building up our nation are not forgotten, and again that we do not define them simply as statistics in the OASR; we must plan our infrastructure with foresight that new towns like Tengah and Bidahari will not be saddled with transport or service woes, such as those faced by towns recently, with major expressways closed by accidents.”
“But beyond our little corner of Singapore, what of the disappearing history around us, the cultural anchors that are evident in many other nations. For ours is a young country. We are still attempting to root the Singaporeaness in each of us, the importance of a shared heritage and history cannot come at the expense of growth, neither can we be prepared to welcome more newcomers if we have no firm culture or heritage of our own to speak about. The core is also not about how big or how small, but how important it is. The apple cannot function without a core, artificially modifying a fruit so that it is seedless leaves it an odd construct, an abnormality of nature. A nation such as ours will not be a nation without that core. We will not be able to produce and expand our core or spread our seeds. So even as we argue about concepts like demographic-fertility ratios, 5.9 million or 6.9 million, we may need to return to that core and define ourselves first. Let us first see ourselves as a people, as a nation. Let it not be a case that Singapore ends up like the Singapore Stone; forgotten, placed somewhere in a Page: 79 museum. Munshi Abdullah, Singapore's foremost chronicler of his time, wrote in his autobiography, the Hikayat Abdullah, about this remarkable rock. He said and I quote: "Many learned men came to try to read it. Some brought flour-paste to make a cast, others rubbed lamp-black to make the hidden lettering visible. But for all of that, they exhausted their ingenuity in trying to find out what language the letters represented, and they reached no decisions." Mdm Speaker, we are in the company of many learned men and women. It is time for us to bring our people together, to decipher a common future, a united aspiration.”
“These, our forefathers, helped a small bud to flower and strengthen that stalk which now supports the core of our fruit. As our country developed, so extended our core population, from our local Malay community added Chinese migrants and Indian settlers. Some came from even further afield: Armenians, Persians, Europeans, Indonesians, amongst others. The lustre of the young apple attracted diverse talents and people to our shores to contribute towards growth. Page: 78 This formed the solid core around which we grew; our people's collective memories and efforts sweetening the fruit of our labours. Around this, our initial identity formed; our urge for nationhood, spurred by the bloodshed of war, led us to unexpected independence. But we persevered. Almost 50 years since, we have come far. Should not it, therefore, mean an apple that is sweet and ripe? No, because our stalk has seemingly weakened, because our core is slowly being mixed up. The core, just like in an apple, must not be something to be discarded in the dustbin of a political kitchen, or a byword simply to be bandied about. The Singapore Core must, like this apple, be always held firm to develop further. The stalk holds the core of the apple together and anchors the fruit on the tree as the apple grows. Through this stalk, we are connected to our collective history and heritage, memories and identities. I, therefore, urge that the Government, even as it prepares us for growth and development, to value the physical, cultural and natural heritage of our landscape, as also mentioned by the hon Member Dr Chia Shi-Lu earlier. I am heartened in looking at the updated land use plan that much of Yew Tee is left as a green countryside.”
“Although the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices or TAFEP has taken great strides in educating employers to provide fair employment, this discriminatory problem with pregnant employees remains. I believe that this measure sends out a strong and clear deterrent message to errant employers against denying their employees their rightful maternity benefits, at the same time, providing greater peace of mind to married couples hoping to start a family without the fear for their livelihoods. But can we also not do more? The NTUC suggested boldly for longer maternity leave and more flexible work arrangements. As the hon Member Mr Patrick Tay suggested on Tuesday, flexi-work should be regarded as the norm rather than the exception. All combined, the M&P Package is a generous one, but I wonder if it is enough of a present for our present generation. It remains to be seen how this will impact TFR. My fear is that we may overly monetise our children, that again they are seen through the lens of digits, that each person has a price. It is certainly not the intention, but, unfortunately, it has become increasingly difficult for people to think otherwise, which is why the idea of a Singapore Core is an important one to define. Mdm Speaker, if you would indulge me, I will use this apple to illustrate the point. Imagine, if you will, Singapore as a bright shining apple, the proverbial little red dot. When Raffles first arrived in Singapore in 1819, there were only about 150 people on our tiny island. Just about 10 years later, the first 2,000 Chinese coolies arrived in the first wave to help kick-start development of our island. Indian migrants also started arriving at about the same time.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to join this debate. Let me first declare my interests. Firstly, as a Singaporean who hopes to still be alive in 2030 and belong to a Singapore that everyone feels proud of; and, secondly, as a young husband who hopes that my children will eventually live in a future Singapore which is even better than it is today. The White Paper takes the bold move to crystal ball gaze into the future. Perhaps, it is ahead of its time; perhaps it is not even the best of times. We have yet to conclude Our Singapore Conversation, and some young Singaporeans I spoke to recently said they felt let down despite their initial enthusiasm, because it seemed to them that the White Paper ignores the same frustrations and aspirations they have shared for a future Singapore. But we cannot wind back the clock. We have to deal with the important job at hand, and make things work. There are three areas I would like to focus on today: our present, our people and our future. The basis of the White Paper is driven by many current pressures, one of which is our declining TFR. The enhancements to the Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Package seem to be a small step in the right direction. Credit must be given where it is due. The young couples I have interacted with recently generally applaud the M&P Package. In particular, the enhanced package has gone one step further in providing greater safeguards to working pregnant women, in addition to monetary and housing incentives. The emphasis on a paternal role in parenting recognises the equal burden that each parent should bear. Page: 77 As a member of the Labour Movement, I am deeply encouraged by the introduction of the "Enhanced Maternity Protection for Pregnant Employees" measure.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his response. I am reassured that they require the work passes to be able to do their work in Singapore. However, I have a few supplementary questions. First, in light of the revelation that the employers would be taken to task, does the Senior Parliamentary Secretary have any statistics in recent years to show if there has been an increase in the number of employers who have been errant in not applying for work passes? Secondly, my understanding is that in a 2009 High Court ruling, many of the vehicles are not covered locally, in terms of insurance. Is there a particular requirement under MOM for foreign despatch riders to be able to be covered under a group insurance by their employers? In terms of work injury, if they are injured during the course of their work, would they be covered under WICA?”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Acting Minister for his comprehensive reply. I have three very quick supplementary questions. One is with regard to the requirement under ILO Convention No 94, whether the NWC guidelines should also follow part of this requirement for employers under public sector contracts to pay their workers the guidelines recommended. Secondly, based on what the Acting Minister shared earlier, whether any contractors so far have been taken to task for any lapses in the requirement to pay their workers a fair wage? Thirdly, in Germany, based on my understanding, this year, 10 out of 16 of the Federal States have introduced socially responsible procurement standards. These include tenderers having to declare that they will adhere to all arbitration contracts as well as recommendations by states for increase in wages as well as equal opportunities for workers, whether the Ministry will consider including these socially responsible procurement terms in future tender requirements.”
“I thank the Acting Minister for his response. Just two very quick supplementary questions – one, if the Acting Minister would be able to provide a quick update on the success or non-success of the pilot programmes, such as Youth Goal and Streetwise. And if the Acting Minister has any statistics on the number of children who have been referred to the children care court in the past year for parents who are filing for their kids being beyond parental control.”
“Sir, I thank the Acting Minister for the response. I would like to ask Acting Minister this. Since the NWC was first formed in 1972, and all the way through to 1985, 1986 during the major recessions, the NWC guidelines have always been quantitative rather than qualitative. But we moved towards a more flexible wage system thereafter. It is only this year that we have returned to a quantitative recommendation. Does the Acting Minister feel that this should be the way forward over the next five years, that is, for there to be more quantitative guidelines, especially for low-wage workers? Page: 1325”
“Mr Speaker, I join the House in offering condolences to the families of PTE Lee, 3SG Tan, as well as the other servicemen who have passed away this year. As an active reservist and having been on two reservist stints this year, I think there have been improvements. Drivers are now required to show their driving licence whenever they board their vehicles. I would like to ask two supplementary questions and make one observation. One, is that in 2010, there were no accidents or deaths reported; 2011, there were three; and in this year alone, there have been five fatalities. I would like to ask the Minister whether there have been any COI or BOI findings that the overall safety awareness in the SAF may have fallen? And what steps will be taken to address this? The second is: will the SAF consider making BOI and COI findings, the investigation findings, public? We are a largely citizens army, not a professional army, and so the sharing of information through the public media may be helpful for us, the wider public, to understand the lessons learnt. Page: 1259 The third observation is that based on a cursory count since 2001 till todate, 16 SAF servicemen have passed away or encountered accidents on Fridays. This is the highest daily fatality rate of any given day within the week. Is it possible that safety has become lax due to the fact that this is the last training day of the week, and whether any measures should be taken to address this?”
“I thank the Acting Minister for his comprehensive reply. With regard to the statistics given, 270 companies were approved under section 38(V), 260 employers were taken to task. How many of these 260 employers were under the exemption list? Second question is, with regard to the overtime pay being an integral part of the salary for many of our low-wage workers, what are the concrete steps that MOM would be taking up over the next course of review of the Employment Act with regard to this to ensure that low-wage workers are paid a fair wage without having to work long and excessive hours?”
“I would like to thank the Acting Minister for his reply. I look forward to hearing the statistics once we enter into the concluding period for the survey. However, if I could ask the Minister for an update for last year's NWC guidelines and recommendations. How do they compare with the previous years? Secondly, with regard to the ILO Convention No 94, there was a response given by the Ministry of Finance last month to a question raised by the hon Member Mr Zainal Sapari on contract variations by public agencies. The response was that the contracts could not be varied because of unfairness to other companies involved in the tender process. However, since we are signatory to the ILO Convention No 94, Article 2 also indicates that this labour clause should be built into all public contracts signed with service providers. As such, I would like to ask the Acting Minister if any of these clauses have been indicated in the pre-tender documents for contracts signed by public agencies, and if it is not included, is there a reason why we have not done so?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. I agree with the views of my two fellow hon Members. As Minister has said, cleaning up after ourselves is an act of consideration. However, I have personally come across a number of cleaners and seen other patrons who have been told not to clear our trays because the cleaners were fearful that they might be rebuked by their supervisors, or worse off, lose their jobs because of that. So, while promoting kindness through this process, I would like to ask if the Ministry would also have guidelines in place to ensure that our low-wage workers who, perhaps, depend on this as their sole livelihood, would have their livelihood protected, as well as ensure that operators do not use this simply as an effective cost-cutting measure by getting consumers to clean up for them.”
“Mr Speaker, with regard to the Workplace Safety and Health Act, Part IX, clause 58, there is a requirement that formwork pouring of cement be able to hold up two times the weight of cement that it is designed to hold. However, there is also an understanding within the industry that this requirement is not usually followed. If it is in the Act and if the investigations find that in this particular case the formwork factor weight is not taken into consideration, will the Ministry look into further strengthening of the Act as well as enforcement of the requirements under that? At the same time, the Institute of Engineers of Singapore had issued a statement saying that with regard to the accident, the workers should not be under the scaffolding in the first place. This is not covered under the Workplace Safety and Health Act. Would the Ministry also similarly consider strengthening the Act in this area?”