Amrin Amin
Singapore
“The Police have taken this very seriously and have taken stern measures. The law is quite strict on this and I think it is adequate deterrence for those who persist in such conduct. We have, in addition to the law, also taken complementary measures such as advisories and various other measures.”
“The Police take a serious view of all reports of falsehoods regarding the COVID-19 situation, including those that claim “partial lockdown”, as these may cause public alarm. The Police will investigate such cases and take firm action against the culprits.”
“The offences under the Miscellaneous Offences Act and POFMA while similar, involve different elements which the prosecution is required to prove. Every case of communication of false message is assessed based on the findings rising from investigations and the Public Prosecutor exercises his discretion on the most appropriate charge.”
“Police operational deployments are confidential and are driven by an assessment of the law and order situation. The Police deploy a significant number of Auxiliary Police Officers and Security Officers to patrol Little India during peak periods such as weekend nights, eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays.”
“The Government has announced legislation that will allow entities, including societies, to adopt prescribed alternative arrangements so that meetings can be conducted in a manner compliant with the safe distancing measures announced on 24 March 2020.”
“Patrol deployment plans are calibrated based on the crime trends as well as the crowd footfall. We note the Member's feedback but just to let the Member know, the patrol team does patrol common areas as well as specific areas of concern.”
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“The offences under the Miscellaneous Offences Act and POFMA while similar, involve different elements which the prosecution is required to prove. Every case of communication of false message is assessed based on the findings rising from investigations and the Public Prosecutor exercises his discretion on the most appropriate charge. The approach is on a case-by-case basis and is calibrated on what is necessary and appropriate in the circumstances. I would like to point out that offences under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act are also regarded as serious and carry an imprisonment term of up to three years or fine of a maximum of $10,000, or both.”
“The Police have taken this very seriously and have taken stern measures. The law is quite strict on this and I think it is adequate deterrence for those who persist in such conduct. We have, in addition to the law, also taken complementary measures such as advisories and various other measures. I think it is important that broader public communication efforts to clarify and rebut inaccurate information are done in tandem with legal enforcement. In this case, the Government has issued a clarification via the Gov.sg WhatsApp channel on the same day that the rumour of the partial lockdown was circulated. A clarification was also issued on the MOH website. But I think the point Mr Lim Biow Chuan made is very clear – that we will not go easy, we will not take this lightly and perpetrators, if caught, will be taken to task.”
“The Police take a serious view of all reports of falsehoods regarding the COVID-19 situation, including those that claim “partial lockdown”, as these may cause public alarm. The Police will investigate such cases and take firm action against the culprits. For instance, Police identified a 40-year-old man who allegedly circulated a false message claiming that he had "intel" that the Government would close all coffee shops and food courts, and open supermarkets only two days a week. He urged readers to go "stock up" on items. The man was charged on 27 April 2020 for an offence of communicating a false message under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act. This carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.”
“Yes, the Member is correct. It is in the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill that will be tabled today. We note the feedback; thank you very much.”
“The Government has announced legislation that will allow entities, including societies, to adopt prescribed alternative arrangements so that meetings can be conducted in a manner compliant with the safe distancing measures announced on 24 March 2020. These prescribed alternative measures can be adopted notwithstanding the requirements in the entities’ constitution. They include allowing a meeting to be held by video-conferencing or other electronic means, or to be postponed, or for the quorum of a meeting to be reduced. In view of the COVID-19 situation, the Registry of Societies (ROS) will allow societies to adopt such alternative arrangements. ROS will advise societies on the details soon.”
“Patrol deployment plans are calibrated based on the crime trends as well as the crowd footfall. We note the Member's feedback but just to let the Member know, the patrol team does patrol common areas as well as specific areas of concern. This includes the higher floors and staircase landings of HDB blocks where there is specific feedback about congregations or dis-amenities. If the Member has specific feedback in terms of the block or the areas with such congregation, he can share it with the Police and the Police will certainly look into it.”
“Police operational deployments are confidential and are driven by an assessment of the law and order situation. The Police deploy a significant number of Auxiliary Police Officers and Security Officers to patrol Little India during peak periods such as weekend nights, eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays. The APOs and SOs are augmented by Police officers from Central Police Division and the Special Operations Command. The level of deployment has not changed over the past three years. The Police have also deployed cameras within Little India to supplement the ground patrols. We have steadily increased the number of cameras, from 34 in 2016 to about 200 today. Police’s assessment is that the current deployments have kept the crime situation in Little India in check. Police will work with stakeholders to monitor the situation and will adjust its operational strategies accordingly.”
“Our prisons have remained COVID-19 free thus far. The Prison Service has taken precautionary measures to protect our staff and inmates. Prisons is closely monitoring the health and well-being of staff and inmates, and they are regularly reminded on the need to practise good personal hygiene and be socially responsible. All newly admitted inmates are housed separately from the general population and monitored for 14 days with their temperatures taken twice daily. Since 23 March 2020, inmates who fulfil the MOH case definitions or have chest x-ray findings suggestive of respiratory infection would be tested for COVID-19. Frontline prison officers are issued Personal Protective Equipment, which includes disposable masks and gloves for use when they interact with all new admissions and any suspected case of COVID-19 in the inmate population. Prisons has also implemented compulsory temperature screening for all staff and visitors at all access points into prisons facilities. From 7 April 2020 to 4 May 2020, Prisons will suspend all programmes involving external partners such as work programmes and family programmes. Essential services such as the bakery, kitchen and laundry will continue. Workshops considered essential services under MTI's guidelines will also continue. And from 7 April 2020 to 4 May 2020, Prisons will suspend family visits. This covers both face-to-face visits and tele-visits. Visits scheduled on 6 April 2020 will be allowed to continue. In lieu of visits, Prisons will allow inmates to make local phone calls to keep in touch with their families. Overseas phone calls will not be allowed. Inmates can also continue to send letters, including e-letters to their families.”
“There are no known instances of inmates contracting HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C while they are in prisons. Prison officers and medical personnel comply strictly with national healthcare standards and protocols when managing inmates. The prison medical service provider also conducts regular health talks for inmates to promote a healthy lifestyle, including education on personal hygiene and not engaging in risky behaviour. On the Member's question about whether all inmates can be vaccinated for Hepatitis B, MHA takes reference from the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS). Under the NAIS, vaccination for Hepatitis B is not mandatory. MHA will continue to regularly review the healthcare approach in our prisons through its Medical Advisory Panel.”
“] To effectively guide the Muslim community who live in a multi-cultural society, the community depends on the asatizah to dispense religious knowledge that is based on lived reality and are able to address emerging issues, such as cryptocurrency and plant-based food. It is important that the asatizah are equipped with the necessary skills to engage the community effectively. How can our asatizah further engage and contribute to the community’s needs, beyond that of a religious teacher? Will MUIS provide assistance and support so that the asatizah are better equipped to contribute in the fields mentioned earlier?”
“Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our youths play a vital role in developing our community. MENDAKI has focused its efforts on providing educational support for youths. Some of MENDAKI's programmes include the MENDAKI Tuition Scheme and the Future Ready programme. Emotional support is also important to prepare our youths for the future. How is MENDAKI supporting our youths in their emotional development? Building a Community of Success (In English): Next cut. Singaporean Muslims live in a diverse multi-racial community. We face unique challenges that are different from Muslim majority countries. Asatizah play a crucial role in guiding our community to live a rich and confident social religious life in a multi-religious Singapore. Our asatizah have a profound impact on the outlook of Singaporean Muslims including how we practise Islam and how we interact with people of different faith. Almost all our asatizah are trained overseas in Muslim majority countries. MUIS is developing Post-Graduate Certificate in Islam in Contemporary Societies to socialise our returning graduates to our local needs and context. Could the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs provide an update on this programme? How else is MUIS preparing our asatizah to guide Singaporean Muslim community to live in a multi-cultural modern society? Asatizah Development The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Minister for Social and Family Development (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“We will commence the smoking cessation pilot programme in public healthcare institutions after the COVID-19 situation subsides and normal operations resume. This programme will target 10,000 smokers and will offer counselling, nicotine replacement therapy if suitable and follow-up consultations up to a year. Do not wait until it is too late. Do not wait until you fall ill to quit smoking. We have done so much together. These include the "Kita Dah Cukup Manis" campaign to reduce sugar consumption, the "Puff for a Puff" programme to quit smoking, and the "Get Fit for Haj/Umrah" and "Move and Be Happy" programmes to invite everyone to be more active. I thank the community for their strong support. I am heartened and confident that there is a noticeable change. I have experienced it myself. When I was out for Hari Raya visits, I was often served plain water and reminded that "We are already sweet enough, aren't we?" Yes, definitely sweet enough. Let us enhance our efforts together to stay healthy and have a sweeter life. (In English): Mr Chairman, truly, health is wealth. We are reminded of how quickly things can change and how fragile life is with COVID-19. Let us support one another to stay healthy.”
“To quote a Malay proverb – bend a bamboo while it is still a bamboo shoot. We want our children to start their lives healthy. This is an on-going effort to ensure Singapore remains one of the best places to raise children and have a family. Second, subsidies for vaccinations recommended for adults. This subsidy will be given for vaccinations recommended under the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) for some groups of adult Singaporeans. First, seniors aged 65 and above; and second, those with chronic medical conditions. NAIS covers seven types of vaccines that protect against 11 diseases, including influenza and pneumococcal disease. The subsidies will be means-tested. At polyclinics, lower to middle income Singaporeans will get a 75% subsidy. In general, these are the CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders. Other Singaporeans will get a 50% subsidy. The Pioneer Generation receives an additional 50% subsidy while the Merdeka Generation receives an additional 25% off the remaining co-payment amount. I urge all Singaporeans, especially parents and seniors, to take advantage of this subsidy. Prevention is better than cure. Singaporeans can continue to pay out-of-pocket amounts using Medisave. For instance, the pneumococcal vaccination (PPSV23) now costs about $70 to $80 at polyclinics for seniors. With the subsidies, Singaporean seniors pay only about $20 to $40. It is even lesser for the Pioneer and Merdeka Generation. Singaporean adults will receive similar subsidies if they go to CHAS clinics. We will share more details next time. Third, subsidies for nicotine replacement therapies for those undergoing smoking cessation therapies. One in four Malay Singaporeans are smokers.”
“HPB's health coaches will reach out to selected individuals and invite participants to work on health goals through HPB or other programmes. Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Please allow me to put on record our highest appreciation to our frontline officers battling against COVID-19 and I would like to give a reminder on the importance of staying healthy through two poems. This first poem is an ode to our healthcare workers who are the heroes that we admire and respect. The second poem is a reminder to everyone to wash their hands with soap and to practise this good habit daily. Our primary objective is a healthy society. Regardless of income or background, we want all Singaporeans to enjoy good health and a good quality of life. I am happy to announce that MOH will introduce three new subsidies this year: first, full subsidies for nationally recommended childhood vaccinations and childhood developmental screening; second, subsidies for nationally recommended adult vaccinations; and third, subsidises for nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) for those selected at smoking cessation therapies. First, subsidies for childhood vaccinations. They will receive full subsidies. In other words, all vaccinations recommended under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS), including pneumococcal and HPV vaccines, will be provided for free to all Singaporean children. These subsidies will be available at all polyclinics and CHAS clinics in Singapore. Full subsidies will also be provided for childhood developmental screenings for Singaporean children aged six and below, at all polyclinics and CHAS clinics. Early detection and recovery will result in better outcomes.”
“Advances in technology present opportunities to better tailor programmes and messages, and engage residents and deliver effective programmes to the right person, at the right time, at the right place. In the next few years, HPB will develop a Population Health Data Hub. This will be a national data hub containing information such as demographics, lifestyle and health information. The Hub will help us better understand Singaporeans’ lifestyle, behaviour and health. Interventions and nudges may be customised to individual’s needs and lifestyle, empowering behavioural change and driving health outcomes. This will help us to better address the causes of ill health early, and reduce incidence of chronic diseases. We are developing a virtual Health Booklet (vHB) that can send personal reminders, empowering individuals to better manage health. We expect to launch the virtual Health Booklet in end-2020. We are making good progress with HPB’s National Steps Challenge. Now in its fifth season, more than 850,000 participants have taken part. Participants have grown more active with more step counts and higher intensity physical activity. Mr Chong asked about screening rates. Screening rates have gone up from 45.1% in 2010 to 66.3% in 2019. Under Screen For Life, over 62,000 individuals aged 40 years and above have gone for cardiovascular screening at CHAS GP clinics. Of those with borderline and abnormal screening results, 84.4% have gone for medical follow-up as at 9 January 2020. We want more Singaporeans to attend screening and follow up on their screening to reduce risk of developing chronic diseases. This year, we will pilot tele-coaching for people found to be at risk of cardiovascular diseases through the Screen for Life programme.”
“We are targeting to impart health tips to both parents and children in a fun and interactive way. Volunteers from HealthySG Buddies will encourage and support families to use this Healthy Living Passport and embark on a meaningful and fulfilling journey. Mr Charles Chong asked how MOH empowers and supports community care providers. We are committed to supporting community partners deliver better care to Singaporeans. One way is through funding support. An example is the Tote Board Community Healthcare Fund. This fund helps non-profit organisations pilot and scale innovative projects in preventive health and community care. The Tote Board Community Healthcare Fund has committed approximately $230 million since FY2009. The Tote Board Community Healthcare Fund funds the Wellness Support Package. This package supports nursing homes to upskill their manpower and implement senior-friendly activities such as table-top gardening and wheelchair taichi. Seniors enjoy these activities and homes reported improvement in seniors' mood, well-being and self-esteem. Twenty-five nursing homes have benefited from this. We are working more closely together. For instance, the RHS-HPB Integrated Volunteer Network and the Shared RHS-HPB Learning Hub. We recruit, train and deploy HPB Health Ambassadors and RHS volunteers together to promote health in the community. 4.00 pm Since April 2019, volunteers in the Integrated Volunteer Network reached out to over 4,000 patients and residents in areas such as rehabilitation, health screening and quit-smoking programmes. In 2020, we aim to bring volunteers from all public hospitals on board the Integrated Volunteer Network.”
“From health screenings, national step challenge roadshows to physical activity workouts. The Hindu Endowment Board, SINDA and Narpani and various places of worship partnered HPB and reached out to 5,000 people in 2019. The Hindu Endowment Board partnered National Healthcare Group to conduct health screenings for 1,500 people at Sri Perumal Temple in 2019. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng asked about helping lower income Singaporeans stay healthy. HPB will pilot the "Healthy Living Passport" in mid-2020, beginning with five sites located in Boon Lay, Woodlands, Jurong Spring, Chua Chu Kang and MacPherson. We aim to reach at least 15,000 residents, about 5,000 families, over a three-year period. Healthy Living Passport seeks to improve health literacy and promote healthy lifestyles, customised to the needs of lower income residents. Lower income residents have specific concerns. They shared with us about working shifts, not having enough sleep and missing out on various community exercise programmes. They shared that healthier food such as vitamins, vegetables and low-calorie options tend to be more expensive. They raised stress as a concern and many, unfortunately, turned to smoking to unwind. We cannot brush these concerns aside. We should try to address them and hear them out. Healthy Living Passport is a modest effort, a sincere outreach to help our fellow Singaporeans lead healthy lives. Let us work together. We are still working out the exact parameters of Healthy Living Passport. Broadly, we are focusing on equipping participants with knowledge on shopping for budget, healthier ingredients and prepare healthier, tasty meals and promote physical activity, oral health and mental wellness.”
“Smoking rate in Singapore dropped to 10.6% in 2019. We will do our best to reach that stretched target. SPS Faishal asked about community health promotion activities. Indeed, cultural connections and understanding are strengths we are tapping on to mobilise the community towards a healthy cause. HPB's Jaga Kesihatan, Jaga Ummah (JKJU), which means take care of health, take care of community is one good example. JKJU started in August 2017. JKJU brought together MUIS, 28 mosques and Malay Activity Executive Committees. I am proud that they have reached out to over 35,000 Malay participants in 2019. This is important, involving the community and powering community institutions to take ownership and mobilise people to action. Truly a healthy development. Masjid Maarof organised piloxing, zumba, a skit on coping with dementia and urged congregants to give up a cigarette puff for a less calorie curry-puff ("A Puff for a Puff"). Masjid Al-Ansar offered circuit training and stretch-band exercises for seniors. We are stretching out to involve more partners and people. Our Regional Health Systems (RHSes) will partner JKJU to bring more quality programmes and deepen outreach. This will help greatly, it is a promising partnership. Because RHSes treat patients who are residents in the area, they know the local ailments and the common problems within the community. RHSes can help local partners like JKJU shape programmes, provide targeted interventions customised to local needs and offer medical expertise to raise awareness on community trending topics. I am also proud of the excellent work of Chinese and Indian community groups, 27 churches and 10 temples have worked hard to organise health promotion programmes.”
“Parental inertia and lack of awareness are some of the reasons a small minority of children are not vaccinated. We have a two-pronged approach to increase children and adult vaccinations. The first is to make vaccinations affordable through subsidies and the second, public education. Public education has taken on renewed importance with misinformation from the anti-vaccination camps. We aim to increase vaccination coverage among adult Singaporeans to over 50% by 2025. Smokers will get more support to quit. Subsidies will be given for nicotine replacement therapy, if found suitable, in smoking cessation pilots. New smoking cessation models will be piloted in our public healthcare institutions such as hospitals, polyclinics and our national specialty centres. Singaporeans can benefit from intensive behavioural support, follow-up for up to a year and a 3-month nicotine replacement therapy, if found to be suitable. MOH is evaluating the pilot proposals. The pilots will target 10,000 smokers. We plan to start the pilots after Public Healthcare Institutions (PHIs) resume normal operations. This will depend on how the COVID-19 situation develops. Mr Charles Chong asked about existing measures to assist smokers to quit and their efficacy. Success rates for smoking cessation programmes in Singapore have ranged from 10% for telephone-based interventions to 20% for programmes that combine intensive counselling and pharmaco-therapy. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for poor health. Standardised packaging for tobacco products will start in July 2020. The minimum legal age for smoking will be raised to 21 next year. This will set a good momentum to drive down our smoking rates further. I shared in 2018 our stretched target of reducing our smoking rate to below 10% by 2020.”
“To ensure vaccination subsidies are passed to eligible Singaporeans at CHAS GP clinics, MOH will introduce fee caps for NAIS and NCIS vaccinations done at CHAS GP clinics. It is quite tongue-twisting. MOH have also worked with vaccine manufacturers so CHAS GP clinics can get these vaccines at favourable prices. We are studying ways to help those who may have difficulties going to polyclinics and CHAS GPs, such as nursing home residents, to benefit from these subsidies. I mentioned earlier about providing the subsidies in a fiscally, sustainable and targeted, effective manner. Let me explain. First, the NAIS scopes the group of people whom the Expert Committee on Immunisation (ECI) has assessed to be more vulnerable to certain diseases and are therefore recommended for the vaccinations. So, targeted group based on need. Second, our aim is to reduce the number of people who fall ill from vaccine-preventable diseases. Singaporeans with chronic medical conditions are particularly vulnerable and fall sick more easily. If diseases can be prevented, we can gain system-wide savings in the long run. Essentially, this is what we are doing: keep out vaccine-preventable diseases through vaccinations, keep our people out of hospitals and keep them healthy. Mr Perera asked about the coverage of childhood vaccinations and how we can raise adult vaccination coverage in Singapore. Coverage for childhood vaccinations in Singapore is high, with most vaccinations exceeding 95% coverage in the past five years. This is due to efforts in health promotion, comprehensive childhood immunisation services and a robust school health service. All childcare centres and kindergartens require immunisation certifications for compulsory vaccinations under NCIS before enrolment.”
“We are doing this to ensure early detection and timely intervention for developmental delays for all Singaporean children. This measure is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure Singapore remains one of the best places to raise a child. So I urge parents to take advantage of the free vaccinations to give our children the best possible start. All eligible Singaporean adults will enjoy subsidies for vaccinations under the National Adult Immunisation Schedule or NAIS at polyclinics and CHAS GP clinics. The NAIS covers seven types of vaccines that protect against 11 diseases, including influenza and pneumococcal disease. NAIS recommends vaccination to two main groups of adults: The first group, persons with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic heart diseases and chronic respiratory diseases; and the second group, seniors aged 65 and above. Subsidies will be means-tested. At polyclinics, eligible lower to middle income Singaporeans will get 75% subsidy. This corresponds to CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders at CHAS GP clinics. Other eligible Singaporeans will get 50% subsidy for the vaccinations. Pioneer Generation get an extra 50% subsidies and Merdeka Generation get an extra 25%, off the remaining co-payment amount. Let me illustrate. Now Singaporeans pay about $70 to $80 for PPSV23 pneumococcal vaccination at a polyclinic. Assuming you fall within the NAIS recommendations and qualify for the subsidies, you can expect to pay about $20 to $40, depending on means-test. Pioneer and Merdeka Generation gets additional subsidies. Singaporeans can continue to pay out-of-pocket amounts using MediSave. Singaporean adults will receive similar levels of means-tested subsidies for these vaccinations at CHAS GP clinics. We will share details when ready.”
“Beyond Healthcare to Health – going upstream and supporting healthy living. This is part of our ongoing transformation. To push this transformation, we will do three things which I will cover in my speech. First, better financial support. Second, better community partnerships. Third, better use of technology. On better financial support, we want Singaporeans, regardless of income or social background, to enjoy good health. We will do so in a fiscally sustainable, targeted and effective manner. I am happy to announce three initiatives. (a) First, full subsidies for nationally recommended childhood vaccinations and developmental screening. (b) Second, subsidies for nationally recommended adult vaccinations. (c) Third, subsidies for nicotine replacement therapies for eligible participants at smoking cessation pilots. The effective dates for the vaccinations subsidies and child developmental screenings will be before the end of 2020 – exact dates will be announced later. Today, only recommended childhood vaccinations against infectious diseases with high outbreak potential such as measles and diphtheria receive full subsidies, and this is only available at polyclinics in the primary care setting. There are currently no subsidies for adult vaccinations and smoking cessation in the primary care setting. Full subsidies will be given to Singaporean children for all vaccinations recommended under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule or NCIS. These also include pneumococcal and HPV vaccines. Subsidies will be available at polyclinics and at CHAS GP clinics across Singapore. For Singaporean children up to the age of six, full subsidies for child developmental screenings will be extended from polyclinics to include CHAS GP clinics.”
“Municipal issues concern all residents, and so each resident should have a stake in the shared living environment and be able to contribute their unique viewpoints and experiences to shape it. At the same time, the diversity of residents' perspectives and needs should be taken into account. Could the Municipal Services Office (MSO) share how it is enabling residents, at the individual level and as a community, to have a say in municipal issues? Affordable and Accessible Housing”
“In late 2018, the new management model of hawker centres came under public scrutiny. Key issues raised were high stall rentals and operating costs, including hidden costs, long working hours and harsh contractual obligations. Several improvements have been made to the Socially-Conscious Enterprise Hawker (SEHC) model to better support hawkers. These include a review of contractual terms between the operators and stallholders, regular hawkers' feedback groups, Productive Hawker Centres grant and a staggered rental scheme with lower initial costs for stallholders. MEWR previously announced a review of the SEHC model. Can MEWR provide an update on the implementation of these improvements? Have the issues been adequately addressed? Will new hawker centres continue to come under the SEHC model? Hawker Centres”
“Warmer temperatures can potentially lead to an increase in mosquito population and spread of vector-borne diseases, including dengue. How will the impact of climate change affect dengue management? This year, the number of dengue cases is concerning. There is an increasing number of dengue cases of serotype 3. Singapore needs to be vigilant and be on the alert. Can the Ministry share any new plans for dengue management? How does Project Wolbachia fit into these plans? Dengue and Vector Control”
“Increasingly, we are seeing the impact of climate change everywhere, through sea level rise, warmer temperatures and more frequent natural disasters. The 2018 Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the effects of global warming of 1.5°C concluded that at the current warming rates, this 1.5°C threshold will be breached between 2030 and 2052, and that the current ambition level of countries' climate pledges is insufficient and only consistent with a 3°C warming pathway. Despite the urgent need for the international community to work together and ratchet efforts to reduce emissions, many countries have yet to fully implement the obligations or table sufficiently ambitious climate pleasures as called for under the Paris Agreement. Some have chosen to withdraw from the Agreement entirely. In view of this, I would like to ask MFA how Singapore is fulfilling its commitments under the Paris Agreement. What role can Singapore play internationally to shore up regional and global support for the Paris Agreement. Threat of Terrorism”
“Certainly, the Member's concerns are correct, it is something that we are doing. We are also working closely with MSF to see how we can better support ex-offenders, in particular, preventing youths from joining gangs or rejoining gangs. So, there are various programmes and we are happy to invite Mr Murali to join us and we will see how we can share more about our work. Assoc Prof Walter Theseira: Thank you. Mr Chairman. I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sun for that reply. Just two clarifications for her. The first is, is there a pathway for LTVP holders to obtain permanent residency if they are in a stable marriage with a Singapore Citizen spouse? That is because there is considerable uncertainty without such a pathway, there might even be cases where a Singapore Citizen child might grow up without knowing whether one of their parents has the right to remain in Singapore. The second clarification is: would she be able to elaborate on the housing situation, maybe at the MND's Committee of Supply, for such families or, otherwise, put more information out because, again, there are a lot of uncertainties out there for such families about what are their rights for housing and how can they achieve stable housing? 1.00 pm”
“Prisons will expand its Throughcare Volunteer Framework to encourage more volunteers and support inmates pre- and post-release. Third, the offenders. Inmates will be empowered to take charge of their rehabilitation through the Prisons' Digitisation of Inmate Rehabilitation and Corrections Tool, or DIRECT. Inmates use shared tablets to learn and keep in touch with their loved ones via electronic letters. Gainful employment is another critical part. Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) prepares offenders for employment through employer engagement, skills training and employment assistance. More than 5,600 employers from various industries offer jobs to ex-offenders. Almost 6,000 offenders went for an average of four training courses each last year. Over 2,600 offenders received employment assistance, with 96% securing jobs before prison release. SCORE will further support inmates to get industry-relevant skills. SCORE will partner Singapore Precision Engineering and Technology Association (SPETA) and MediaCorp to set up precision engineering and media skills training academies this year. Mr Chairman, colleagues, the choices we make today affect tomorrow. We will keep Singapore safe and secure together.”
“Malay organisations are also ready to assist – AMP, PERGAS, JAMIYAH, PPIS, Club Heal and the Harun Ghani Education Fund. The "Dadah Itu Haram" campaign continues to receive solid support from motorcycle enthusiasts, fishing hobbyists, asatizahs as well as dikir barat and theatre activists. Forty-two mosques as well as 200 shops and organisations also have come forward to help. Currently, over 75 barber shops support the campaign by becoming informal anti-drug advisors. These barbers are learning more about the harmful nature of cannabis and share with their clients about the harms in order to counter the myths surrounding cannabis. We will look at the effectiveness of these efforts through surveys that are taking place currently. This year, we will focus on family and youth programmes. (In English): Mr Chairman, I will now speak about the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. Mr Christopher de Souza asked how the Amendments to the MDA in 2019 has affected inmates' risks of re-offending. The full suite of MDA changes took effect last August, so it is still early to make any conclusions on their impact. We will continue to monitor. Mr Murali Pillai asked how we can reduce re-offending. Prisons will strengthen support for offenders in three ways. First, family support. Family plays a critical part. Prisons has started the Family Interventions and Reintegration Support Team, or FIRST trial, and family case managers work with community partners to support inmates' families. Over 100 inmates have benefited from this trial and results are encouraging. Prisons will be enhancing collaborations with social service agencies. Second, a network of positive peers to support ex-offenders stay crime-free.”
“Surveys by MHA have shown that Singapore youths have a more open attitude towards drugs, especially cannabis. One in five youths think that cannabis should be allowed in Singapore. Three in five new drug offenders arrested are under 30 years old. This is worrying. New types of drugs like New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are the third most popular drug in Singapore, and among new drug offenders, NPS is the second most popular drug. We must not stand still or get complacent. The strategies to combat the drug menace will be strengthened. The three strategies are – tighter laws, stronger enforcement and a more effective drug prevention education. I am pleased to announce that this year, MHA will focus more efforts on two things. First, reviewing legislation to stop the threat of NPS that is becoming increasingly widespread, and second, countering the myths and misinformation about drugs and manage the increasingly open attitude towards cannabis because it is harmful. This is the Government's pledge – we will continue to work with Malay organisations, families and our young people to protect our community and our families, and prevent us from being enslaved by drugs. For those in need, we will help them to recover and continue their journey towards excellence. The M³ movement led by MUIS, MENDAKI and MESRA has focused its attention towards offenders and their families. MUIS has launched the FITRAH programme in November 2018. Over 320 volunteers supportg FITRAH. MENDAKI organised the Family Excellence Circle programme to assist care-givers, offenders and couples. MESRA will customise several courses from the SHIOK series to meet the needs of the families of ex-offenders, especially for the young.”
“Last September, Indian youths and 13 Indian community groups organised the Bothaiporulai Ethirtu Nirpom, or BEN, campaign. BEN is a short form, a Tamil phrase – "We Stand United Against Drugs". Indian celebrity, Anand K, helped as an anti-drug ambassador. We gave out envelopes and snack packets with anti-drug messages at the Deepavali bazaar. We worked with various LGBTQ groups on anti-drug campaigns, discussion forums, research and outreach activities in support of a drug-free lifestyle. Mr Chairman, I will now speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our efforts to free the community from the evil grip of drugs have become more important. The global situation is getting increasingly challenging. More countries now have a more open attitude towards drugs. Worryingly, they are unable to manage the drug problem within their own societies. It is different in Singapore. I remember attending an international drug rehabilitation conference in Argentina last October. Singapore received thunderous applause from international drug rehabilitation experts when I shared that the number of Malay drug addicts in Singapore went down by almost half – from around 3,200 in 1993 to 1,800 last year. The number of drug offenders has jumped in many countries. They feel defeated and some had to liberalise their laws against drugs because it has become unmanageable. The Malay community in Singapore stands out – we multiply the Government's effort, we do not give up and we do not shirk away from difficult tasks. But we must stay cautious. Our society is exposed to influences from abroad and in the cyber world. Myths about drugs like cannabis are widespread. The myth is cannabis is not harmful This is totally wrong. Studies after studies have proven so.”
“To counter growing misinformation about cannabis, we are making facts about cannabis accessible. We have a one-stop repository for cannabis-related information on CNB's website. Infographics on the harms of cannabis and the social costs of legalising cannabis are on social media platforms, and an anti-cannabis information booklet for educators will be ready this year. Mr Chairman, to win community support, a one-way exchange of information will not be enough. At the heart of what we do is to speak with our people frankly, give them the facts, hear them out, and involve them to co-create and deliver. We have frank conversations. The National Council Against Drug Abuse, or NCADA, will launch "HIGH", an interactive film by Royston Tan, in March. Viewers get to make choices and learn the consequences of their choices in this film. At our preview screenings, we invited youths to no-holds barred conversations on drugs, revealing its ugly, gritty realities. We co-created projects with youths from all institutes of higher learning. One-hundred and sixty youths are our Anti-Drug Abuse Advocates and they have organised four roadshows and campaigns raising awareness amongst their peers. Republic Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic students created two anti-drug games to teach about the harms of drugs. ITE students have produced anti-drug videos and Temasek Polytechnic students had a social media campaign on how drugs affect our loved ones. Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and Mr Mohamed Irshad asked about community anti-drug engagement efforts. We have been working with various groups – youths, LGBTQ+, ethnic communities, parent groups and others.”
“I am happy to announce that this year, we will enhance two areas: first, review our laws to robustly deal with the rising threat of NPS, and second, sharpen preventive drug education with a focus on correcting misinformation about drugs and addressing changing attitudes towards cannabis. On NPS, we have been proactively listing NPS to the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) since 2010. But as Mr Christopher de Souza pointed out, the difficulty is rogue chemists are able to swiftly produce new NPS variants by changing their chemical structures. This poses a challenge for drug enforcement agencies the world over. MHA is reviewing our laws to stay ahead of drug trends. Details will be announced in due course. 12.30 pm Effective preventive drug education must achieve two important aims. First, our people must know the facts about drugs. And second, the effort must garner community support. Strict laws and robust enforcement require the people's backing. Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and Mr Mohamed Irshad asked how we help our youths stand firm against drug abuse. Mr Christopher de Souza asked about our strategies against cannabis. Our preventive drug education starts from pre-school. In schools, we teach the facts about drugs through story-telling and activities. A cartoon activity book for pre-schoolers will be ready in April, an Anti-drug Ambassador Activity (AAA) booklet has been used by over 48,000 Primary school students in 2019 and 60 Secondary schools have been offered an after-school anti-drug engagement programme. Information on harms of drugs must be easily understood and put in layman terms. For instance, as suggested by Mr Christopher de Souza, we state in our press releases how many abusers have their drug addictions fed from drugs found on a trafficker.”
“Mr Chairman, I will speak on two areas: combating drug abuse and strengthening the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. The international drug situation is grim. One in 18 adults in the world used drugs at least once in a year, according to the 2019 World Drug Report. New psychoactive substances, or NPS, is a rising threat. NPS mimics the psychoactive effects of traditional drugs. In 2009, 126 NPS were detected worldwide. Within 10 years, the number has increased sevenfold to 892. We are seeing a global movement towards more liberal attitudes on drugs. More countries are legalising drug abuse or are considering to do so. The media fuels this legalisation wave. They gloss over documented harms of cannabis like mental disorders. Pro-legalisation camps also conveniently ignore the social costs – lives lost, families destroyed, increased crimes. Singapore is not immune to a worsening global drug situation. First, attitudes of young Singaporeans towards drugs are changing. Three in five new drug abusers arrested last year were below 30. An MHA survey found that youths in Singapore have more liberal views on drugs, particularly, cannabis. One in five held the view that cannabis abuse should be legal in Singapore. Second, the rising threat of NPS. A decade ago, NPS was hardly known in Singapore. Now, NPS is the third most commonly abused drug. Four-hundred and fourteen or 11.7% of drug abusers took NPS in 2019. More than ever, we need strict laws to stay ahead of drug trends, robust enforcement and effective preventive drug education. This is a multi-year effort.”
“We are studying that and we will discuss this at the Committee of Supply debate.”
“I thank the Member for the question. I do not have the exact breakdown of what are the contributing factors of diabetes with me now, but what I have is the information on the freshly prepared drinks, such as bubble teas, blended coffee and local "kopi" and "teh". This forms about a third of Singaporeans' sugar intake from drinks and our data suggests that it is a growing source of sugar intake in Singaporeans' diet. So, addressing this other source of sugar in our diet could help us to more effectively achieve our objective of helping Singaporeans reduce their overall sugar intake. We have received feedback to tackle freshly prepared drinks and we are currently considering whether to extend the labelling and advertising measures to freshly prepared drinks. We are in the process of consulting the relevant stakeholders, such as the food and beverage industry, on possible measures, and more details will be shared when ready. On the third supplementary question, I believe we have measures in Government schools. I am not sure about IHLs. If the Member can file a separate Parliamentary Question, we can provide the response.”
“We estimate that 19,000 patients are diagnosed to have diabetes each year based on our administrative data. We expect an increasing incidence of newly diagnosed diabetes in the short term with better access to health screening and as the population grows, more are aware of the importance of early detection and the potential complications of diabetes if left uncontrolled. Diabetes is a chronic condition and it takes many years before complications present themselves. Many of our War on Diabetes initiatives are aimed at reducing the risk of developing diabetes and delaying the development of complications in those who already have the disease. It will take years before we see both the overall incidence of diabetes and its complication rate decrease. One key thrust of the War on Diabetes is to promote a healthy lifestyle through a healthier diet. With this in mind, the Ministry announced in October last year that we will introduce mandatory nutrition labels and advertising prohibitions for less healthy pre-packaged sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Details of the two measures, including the implementation timeline, will be shared in the upcoming Committee of Supply debate.”
“I thank the Member for the comment. We will study his suggestion. We are in the midst of crafting the package and we will announce it when we have the details.”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) established the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) in November 2017 to provide guidance on important vaccinations for adults. These vaccinations include catch-up vaccinations and vaccinations that high-risk adults should receive. To encourage more Singaporeans to get vaccinated, MediSave may be used to pay for NAIS vaccinations. MOH does not have comprehensive data on the total number of adult Singaporeans who have taken up NAIS recommended vaccinations. However, based on MediSave claim data, MediSave use for flu vaccination in adults has almost doubled from 39,000 in 2017 to 74,000 in 2018. MediSave use for pneumococcal vaccinations increased from 9,000 to 12,000. Data from a recent National Population Health Survey indicated that the take-up rate for flu vaccinations in Singaporeans aged 65 and above was about 24%. While this increasing vaccination take-up rate is encouraging, we note that the take-up of adult vaccination is higher in countries where there are more established adult vaccination programmes. For example, the take-up rate of flu vaccinations for persons aged 65 and above in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States is about 70%. We can do more to promote adult vaccinations. In July 2019, the HealthySG Taskforce recommended that to further boost adult vaccination rates, subsidies should be provided to help Singaporeans pay for NAIS recommended vaccinations. Details of these subsidies will be announced at a later date. The subsidies are targeted to be rolled out before end-2020. MOH is also planning a series of population-level vaccination awareness campaigns to increase awareness on the importance of vaccination.”
“The intervention programmes are based on research. In certain cases, it involves families. But in most, it involves the offender having to address his or her own criminogenic needs or risks. The short answer to the Member's question is yes, there are family programmes, but not all interventions would involve the family. There are different modules, and different individuals require different types of treatment.”
“I understand. As a society, we need to look at this issue frankly, but my answer still stands. We should not draw certain conclusions based on one or two cases. But it is an important issue that we need to address together – whether you are rich or you are educated, you do not get away easily. The law applies regardless of our background or income levels. And it is important that we continue to dispel such misperceptions. And if there are specific instances or cases that the Member would like answers, perhaps the Member could file a separate Parliamentary Question (PQ) and we could give it the proper treatment.”
“The position is very clear. Regardless of income levels or backgrounds, we take every crime seriously. The differences in sentencing could be a result of individual cases and there may be specific circumstances in a case that merit a different punishment or treatment. So, it is not wise to draw conclusions based on one or two cases. It is important that we send a very strong message that the rich do not get away easily or lightly for any type of crimes, including sexual offences.”
“The Singapore Police Force (SPF) conducts crime prevention talks on sexual offences in schools and advises universities on security measures and conducts joint patrols with campus security. SPF will continue to work with schools and universities to raise awareness of sexual crimes.”
“Regardless of age, sex offenders in prison or on probation will be assessed on their criminogenic risks and needs and undergo suitable programmes to reduce their risk of re-offending. The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) runs a psychology-based programme to help sex offenders better manage their interpersonal relationships and emotions and address their negative sexual attitudes. At the end of the programme, offenders are guided to develop individualised relapse prevention plans. Sex offenders in prison also attend other programmes, such as those to build better relations with their families, which will help their overall rehabilitation and reintegration. Where the Courts have ordered probation, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will work with probationers and their families to develop intervention plans, including treatment programmes. The family and community play a key role in providing support for and monitoring the progress of the probationer. Examples of interventions include the Positive Adolescent Sexuality Treatment Programme and the Positive Psychotherapy Group. They equip the probationers with skills to improve their relationships, emotional coping and sexual regulation. MSF's research has found that for youths who are at a developmental phase of sensation-seeking and impulsivity, their likelihood of re-offending is low when they receive appropriate treatment. SPS and MSF will continue to strengthen their programmes based on research and evidence. For example, SPS has applied findings from a needs analysis of local sex offenders to enhance psychological interventions for them. There are also ongoing efforts by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to engage schools and universities to prevent sexual offences.”
“Vaccination uptake is influenced by a number of factors. It includes awareness, importance of vaccinations, accessibility and affordability. MOH does not track data on vaccination rates across the different income groups, but we recognise that cost may pose a difficulty for those in the lower-income group. Hence, we hope to reduce the barriers for vaccinations and increase its uptake by extending subsidies for NAIS vaccinations.”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) established the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) in November 2017 to provide guidance on important vaccinations for adults. These vaccinations include catch-up vaccinations and vaccinations that high-risk adults should receive. MediSave may be used to pay for NAIS vaccinations. To encourage take-up, some public healthcare institutions held vaccination awareness campaigns and conducted roadshows and talks during the annual World Immunisation Week. Information on NAIS is available on the Health Promotion Board's (HPB) HealthHub Portal. NAIS also serves as a guide for doctors on the vaccinations they should recommend their patients. MOH periodically reminds doctors to do so. We have been observing a steady increase in the take-up of NAIS vaccinations since its introduction, with more using MediSave to pay for them. Around 24% of adults between 65 and 79 take up the vaccination according to the National Health population survey 2019. In 2017, 39,000 adults use MediSave for flu vaccination. The number increased to 74,000 in 2018. In July 2019, the HealthySG Taskforce recommended that to further boost adult vaccination rates, subsidies should be provided to help Singaporeans pay for NAIS recommended vaccinations. The subsidies are targeted to be rolled out before the end of 2020 and details will be announced at a later date. MOH is also planning a series of population-level vaccination awareness campaigns to increase the public's awareness on the importance of vaccination.”
“The Ministry's position is that there is currently limited evidence on the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation product. But we will continue to monitor emerging evidence and studies like the ones mentioned by Mr Melvin Yong. Our regulation and public health policies are evidence-based and if there is robust evidence that any particular product can safely help smokers completely stop using tobacco or nicotine, we will be happy to consider these options.”
“On the first point, to step up enforcement, we will do so. We have been working closely with online platforms, such as Carousell and Instagram, to stamp out online sale of vaporisers. With regard to physical sales, we have conducted intelligence, surprise raids, but we will take into consideration the Member's suggestions. If the Member has specific leads, please do share with us. On the second question, I believe the Member is referring to the study done in UK on adults attending National Health Service's Stop Smoking Services. That study involved 900 smokers with good motivation to quit. When combined with counselling, 18% of smokers in the e-cigarette group quit smoking at 12 months post-intervention. This is compared with 10% of smokers from the NRT group. However, in the e-cigarette group, 80% of those who quit smoking continued to use e-cigarettes 12 months later. This means that, overall, less than 4% of those in the e-cigarette group quit tobacco product use and their nicotine addiction totally. As there are concerns about the potential harmful effects of the long-term use of e-cigarettes – the Member may know about the debate in the United States where e-cigarettes have been linked to lung injury – this raises the question whether they would have been better off quitting using other more proven established methods. In addition, more than 30% of those in the e-cigarette group who failed to quit ended up using both e-cigarettes and cigarettes. This actually leaves them worse off than before, as a recent large study had shown that dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes are actually exposed to more toxins than persons who only smoke cigarettes.”
“The Ministry of Health banned vaporisers to protect the public from health risks associated with such products. It is an offence under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act to sell, possess for sale, import or distribute vaporisers. Any person who is convicted is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment of up to six months or to both for the first offence, and to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment of up to 12 months or to both, for the second or subsequent offence. With effect from 1 February 2018, the use, purchase or possession of vaporisers is also an offence and is punishable with a fine of up to $2,000. From 1 January 2017 to 30 September 2019, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) handled 219 cases involving the sale of vaporisers, all of which were sold online. From 1 February 2018 to 30 September 2019, 465 people were caught for the possession of vaporisers. The enforcement actions taken against these offenders depended on the merits of each case and included prosecution, composition fines or a warning. The stiffest penalty imposed was $99,000, for a peddler who was charged on 9 September 2019 for importing and peddling e-cigarettes. HSA will continue to work with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Singapore Police Force to deter the illegal import, sale and purchase of vaporisers. Besides enforcement, the Health Promotion Board will continue to educate Singaporeans regarding the harmful effects of vaporisers and correct any misconception that vaporisers conclusively help with smoking cessation. At the same time, we will strengthen smoking cessation programmes so that smokers can access proven therapies and methods to help them quit smoking.”
“Advice is being sought from external consultants, the INVEST Board of Trustees and the Investment Committee of the Board, and they include members with relevant industry experience. Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked the Ministry to make more information about INVEST publicly available as it may be attractive to potential recruits to the Home Team and to help existing officers make informed choices. The current recruitment process informs all potential recruits about INVEST and the information is also available on the Home Team departments' websites. Officers are kept informed on the investment plans via several platforms, such as onboarding briefings, semi-annual Statement of Accounts, e-newsletters and investment deck are published on MHA's Intranet which includes an investment choice guide and the historical performance of the plans. Mr Speaker, I believe I have covered all the points raised by the Members. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Amrin Amin.] (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”