Amy Khor Lean Suan
Singapore
“Sir, NEA does conduct inspections of these premises from time to time. For this particular premises, they actually did six inspections since 2021.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) conducts enforcement actions against drivers who are found to have provided illegal car-pooling services. An individual who provides an illegal car-pooling service may face a fine of up to $3,000, up to six months' imprisonment, or both.”
“We will also provide the first 500 private heavy vehicle chargers co-funding of up to 50% of the charger installation cost, capped at $30,000 per charger. These measures will narrow the lifecycle cost gap between an electric and internal combustion engine heavy vehicle and spur adoption of electric heavy vehicles.”
“With regard to the extension of the lower speed limit to school zones for full day, we will work with the relevant agencies on the enhanced enforcements.”
“They will provide a certain amount of protection to the pedestrians because, as I have said, the bollards will absorb the impact of the collision from the vehicles. So, there is a protection. But ultimately, of course, road safety really depends on a multitude of factors, including road user behaviour.”
“The bollards installed at pedestrian crossings by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) are not of the K4, K8 or K12 standards stated by the Member. Bollards of these standards are typically security bollards. They are installed to protect critical infrastructure or at high security areas, such as Changi Airport, to be unyielding.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,285 lines we hold for Amy Khor Lean Suan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 29 of 46.
“Sir, the statistics on suicide make for grim reading. According to a press report, more people in Singapore die from suicides than in road accidents. Between 2000 and 2004, of the more than 1,700 suicides, up to seven in 10 had some form of mental illness. This compares to the 212 fatal accidents in 2003. On 20th February this year, one of my residents, a 37-year old IMH outpatient committed suicide by jumping from the HDB block she was living in. Her father, who was also an IMH patient, passed away last year. The deceased has a brother who is institutionalised at IMH. She also has one other brother who is mentally sound but is lowly educated. He is the sole breadwinner of what remains of her family, earning some $500 per month. The family has been assisted by my grassroots and the Southwest CDC for years. After her father passed away, her mentally sound brother had asked me to appeal to IMH to institutionalise her as he was unable to take care of her. She was then still an inpatient of IMH. IMH subsequently replied that she was assessed to be no longer suicidal and had asked to be discharged everyday. IMH had informed her brother that if their medical social worker could not contact him to explore alternative accommodation, such as a nursing home, for his sister or he was unable to place her in a nursing home, they would have to discharge her once she is assessed to be mentally stable and no longer a danger to herself or others. IMH said that they would then put her under close community supervision and follow-up by members of the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). Sadly, she committed suicide in February this year. This incident begs several questions.”
“Sir, indeed, we empathise with these needy elderly and we want to applaud them for wanting to be self-reliant. In fact, it is really because we have the interest of these needy elderly at heart that we are proposing that the first port of call is not NEA but the CDC or MCYS, so that the CDC can assess the situation they are in and the type of help they need in order to provide adequate and appropriate help. If they are physically fit for employment, CDC would refer them for employment assistance or put them on job preparatory training or skills upgrading in order that they would be eligible for employment. If they are not fit for employment, CDC will have to assess the situation and perhaps provide financial assistance. In fact, for NEA's Street Hawking Licence, there are several criteria that they have to comply with. Firstly, of course, they have to be 45 years and above, that is, elderly – so I am considered elderly. They also have to be physically fit to conduct business. If, as what the Member is saying, they are not physically fit, then really they would not even be eligible for the Street Hawking Licence. But notwithstanding that, let me say that NEA continues to review its policies on Street Hawking Licence all the time, and we will take the Member's views into account.”
“We would also like to urge everyone to maintain high vigilance and continue to play their part to keep their homes and premises, offices, work sites and so on, mosquito-free. Get rid of potential mosquito breeding sites as a source reduction, ie, removal of stagnant water, etc. I think there is another question on co-funding of PCOs – the dedicated pest control operators for Town Councils. I think the dedicated pest control regime for all the 14 PAP Town Councils has worked very well and NEA is looking into the possibility and feasibility of extending this funding. 6.45 pm”
“Firstly, with regard to the question about the rubbish chute and rubbish compacter, I think we will have to bring the Member's suggestion and request to the HDB. HDB will need to work with the Town Councils because this is really a question of infrastructure. Regarding the dengue situation, I am pleased to inform the House that the dengue incidence in the first two months of this year was 35% lower than that in the same period last year. But notwithstanding this, we need to continue to be watchful this year for several reasons, two of which are, firstly, the expected warmer ambient temperature due to the return of the El Nino effect. This may increase the rate of dengue transmission as mosquitoes reproduce faster and the dengue virus replicates faster and remains infective for a longer period of time. So, if the dry spell continues the impact would possibly be double-edged – increased local transmission and increased importation of viruses if we are not careful, and if we do not remain vigilant. Secondly, the risk of a switch in predominant circulating serotype. Historically, the predominant circulating dengue sereotype switches every two or three years and such switches are often associated with an increased intensity of outbreaks. So, we are currently into our fourth year with Dengue II as the predominant serotype and the probability of a switch taking place is growing. Any switch in predominant serotype this year may see more outbreaks occurring again if we are not vigilant. To mitigate this risk, NEA has embarked on a island-wide source reduction exercise earlier this year. NEA will also alert the public of the start of the traditional season for dengue transmission.”
“NTU's green club, Earthlink, also plans to engage the athletes on issues such as climate change and biodiversity in collaboration with UNEP. Sir, our attitudes and actions will determine a sustainable future for Singapore. Let us start doing our part now to grow our economy sustainably and keep Singapore clean and green. Together, we can ensure Singapore remains a lively and liveable city for our children and generations to come.”
“Sir, it is heartening to see that the ABC Waters Programme has been well-received so far, with many community events held at the completed sites. As PUB continues to implement more projects island-wide, we hope to encourage Singaporeans to get closer to and interact with water and, in the process, develop a sense of ownership towards our water resources and help to keep them clean. Sir, we have a shared responsibility to ensure sustainable development. The Sustainable Singapore Blueprint highlighted the need to build a culture of environmental responsibility in Singapore. I notice Ms Sylvia Lim smiled when my Senior Parliamentary Secretary Amy Khor mentioned about the sociological study on littering, I hope she supports that. Sir, I am encouraged to see that there are already efforts by some groups to encourage the community to take ownership and do their part for the environment. For instance, more than 6,000 residents in the South East District took part in quizzes on energy conservation in exchange for energy-saving light bulbs for needy households. In the North West District, a programme to educate residents on energy-saving habits related to computer usage is being rolled out to some 196,000 households and 70 schools. Sir, our youths are also playing an active role. The National Youth Achievement Award Council has built up a strong network of NYAA Gold Award Holders' Alumni, many of whom are involved in efforts to encourage other youths to look after the environment. Many youth and visitors will be gathering in Singapore for the Youth Olympic Games this August. The organisers of the Games have taken pains to green the game venues.”
“Sir, allow me now to give an update on the ABC Waters Programme. More than 20 projects are in the pipeline. So far, projects at Kolam Ayer, Bedok Reservoir, and the first phase of MacRitchie Reservoir have been completed. For the second phase of MacRitchie Reservoir, visitors can now expect a new food and beverage outlet and improvements to the bandstand and footpaths. Works have also begun to transform the concrete canal along Bishan Park into a natural, meandering river that is seamlessly integrated into the park. Other interesting features include a water playground and a river promenade. Sir, by the end of this year, we can look forward to the completion of another seven projects at Lower Seletar, Sungei Punggol, Pandan Reservoir, Jurong Lake, Sungei Whampoa, Sungei Kallang and Pang Sua Diversion Canal. Sir, the Marina Reservoir hosted some 30 events in 2009, including the National Day Parade. Later this year, it will be one of the competition venues for the Youth Olympic Games. The PUB will continue to work with the STB and URA to bring in more exciting events and introduce more recreational water activities such as rowing. But, Sir, looking beyond our reservoirs, the PUB launched the ABC Waters Design Guidelines last year to encourage developers to integrate innovative waterscapes into their developments. These features such as rain gardens, bio-retention swales, and wetlands act as natural purification systems to remove pollutants and improve water quality, while enhancing the aesthetics and biodiversity of our landscape. So far, more than 10 projects have been initiated. The PUB also intends to launch a certification programme later this year to recognise organisations that incorporate ABC Waters elements into their developments.”
“30 pm To provide the public with an additional avenue to highlight any lapses in cleanliness or hygiene standards, NEAhas launched a dedicated website for hawker centres. We hope this will further encourage stallholders to maintain a high standard of hygiene and cleanliness at all times. Sir, we are also helping the industry to build up its capabilities to manage food hygiene and cleanliness. Since January this year, all school canteens are required to employ at least one trained Food Hygiene Officer to carry out checks on cleanliness and food hygiene practices. This requirement, Sir, will be extended progressively to other canteens, food courts and coffeeshops. NEA will also require all food handlers to attend a food hygiene refresher course once every three years. Finally, Sir, NEA will progressively build up its capabilities to better assess and mitigate the risks presented at the different stages of food preparation and storage. This information will be used to educate food handlers and guide the inspection regimes. Mr Liang Eng Hwa has a specific question on the rodent situation at our hawker centres. I would like to report that the rodent situation is generally not a problem. Over the past three years, only 3% to 8% of rodent sightings were in hawker centres. Our hawker centres have rodent control programmes to keep the situation in check. However, we are seeing an overall increase in rodent complaints over the past three years, including in areas at our bin centres, refuse chutes, construction sites and other places. As these are areas managed by the Town Councils, NEA has requested our Town Councils to tighten their refuse management and put in place rat control programme to address this problem and we will monitor this situation closely.”
“NEA has since tightened its internal system to ensure that gradings are done in a timely manner and there are no delays in the issuing of grading decals. NEA’s management has also reprimanded officers responsible for not carrying out the gradings on time. We are tightening the penalty regime. From April this year, NEA will raise the minimum composition sum for food hygiene offences from $100 to between $200 and $400, depending on the severity of the offence. Licensees of food establishments are currently issued demerit points for public health lapses, and will have their licences suspended or revoked if they accumulate 12 or more demerit points within 12 months. As an additional measure, NEA will require food handlers working for licensees suspended from 1st April 2010 to re-take and pass the Basic Food Hygiene Course before they can resume practice. We would also like operators of food establishments to place greater emphasis on the overall hygiene standards of their premises. NEA is introducing a Points Demerit System (PDS) for the main licensees of canteens, coffeeshops and food courts. Licensees who chalk up 24 demerit points for cleanliness-related offences within 12 months will be required to suspend their operation for up to three days to carry out thorough cleaning of their premises. The PDS will be implemented by the end of this year. As for hawker centres, stallholders are currently required to conduct quarterly spring-cleaning of their centres. This regime has worked well and NEA will continue to work with the hawkers associations and Town Councils to ensure that it is carried out effectively. NEA will order a temporary closure of any hawker centre with poor standards of cleanliness for thorough cleaning. 6.”
“These outlets are subject to licensing conditions, including limits on noise. In cases where persistent noise complaints are received, the Police work with NEA to conduct noise measurements and will impose penalties such as fines and demerit points if noise levels exceed the allowable limits. Singapore is a highly urbanised city with vibrant economic activities, so noise nuisances cannot be avoided completely. My Ministry will continue to work with key stakeholders to regularly review the management of noise, taking into account public feedback and international best practices. Sir, let me now move on to the issue of food hygiene. NEA has a comprehensive regime to regulate food hygiene standards in Singapore. As a result, the annual incidence of food poisoning outbreaks is low, with an average of four incidents per 1,000 food retail outlets between 2006 and 2009. Notwithstanding this, as Mr Liang Eng Hwa pointed out, we must continue to strengthen the regime. Last year, the number of tickets issued for food hygiene-related offences was 2,650. This was about 14% lower than the 3,080 issued in 2008, but higher than the 2,212 tickets issued in 2007. Since January, NEA has been beefing up the number of food hygiene inspectors. We aim to improve the ratio of inspectors to food establishments from the current one per 800 to one per 400 outlets. The additional manpower will enable us to carry out more frequent inspections, which together with efforts by licensees and food handlers will help ensure good hygiene standards are observed at foodstalls and foodshops. We have also taken a serious view of the administrative lapses involving the delays in the grading of foodstalls, which surfaced following the Geylang Serai food poisoning incident.”
“In 2008 and 2009, NEA received about 14,000 and 12,000 complaints on construction noise respectively, up from about 9,000 in 2007 and 6,000 in 2006. NEA consulted the industry and other stakeholders on measures to minimise construction noise nuisance, while allowing construction to keep pace with development. Following these discussions, our long-term goal is to prohibit construction work at sites within 150 metres of residential areas and noise sensitive developments on Sundays and Public Holidays. We will implement the changes progressively to give the construction industry sufficient time to adjust. Sites starting work from 1st September this year will not be allowed to carry out construction activities from 10 pm on the night before a Sunday or a Public Holiday to 10 am on the day itself. NEA will extend this prohibition to the rest of the day on Sundays and Public Holidays for sites starting work from 1st September 2011. Sir, NEA is also tightening the noise standards for new and in-use vehicles. The revised standards for new vehicles, which are based on those currently implemented in Japan and the EU, will take effect from 1st October 2010. NEA’s consultation with motor traders indicates that there will be no significant impact on the availability of vehicle models as new vehicles currently in the market already comply with these standards. The revised standards for in-use vehicles will ensure that the exhaust systems on these vehicles continue to be well-maintained throughout their lifespan and will be effective from 1st April 2011. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked about noise from entertainment outlets. The Police currently regulate the provision of public entertainment at entertainment outlets such as pubs, bars, KTVs and nightspots.”
“This is the only sustainable way for us to keep Singapore clean. On another note, Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked if we would launch another anti-littering campaign. Let me say that indeed NEA is looking into launching a new anti-littering campaign in 2010, focus on action-oriented initiatives, such as getting the NGOs and community to do clean-up activities within the neighbourhood. NEA currently issues licences for street hawking from fixed locations, subject to the approval of the relevant Town Council or land agency. However, as tissue paper peddling is a very uncertain livelihood, we encourage elderly folk in need of financial assistance to instead tap on the employment and social assistance schemes which MCYS and the Community Development Councils (CDCs) have in place. When NEA officers come across such elderly persons in need of assistance, they refer them to the CDCs for follow-up. I would therefore like to urge Mr Ang and other Members of this House as well as members of the public to do the same, that is refer them to the CDCs. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, Mr Hri Kumar and Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked about construction noise. NEA, as we all know, prescribes noise limits for construction sites, which vary according to the time of the day and by the types of premises nearby. Under the current limits, only quiet activities like painting and plastering are allowed at construction sites near residential areas after 10.00 pm. And Mr Lim Biow Chuan is smiling. [Laughter]. The current construction noise limits already protect residents from any adverse health impacts. However, Sir, we note that construction noise, especially on Sundays and Public Holidays, remains a concern to many residents, including myself.”
“Preliminary findings suggest that people litter because they perceive it as “harmless”, or are too lazy to walk to the nearest bin. When the study is completed, NEA will use the findings to fine-tune its programmes against littering. For a start, we will review the number and placement of litter bins in public areas and the effectiveness of our anti-littering messages. NEA is also proceeding with other measures to improve public cleanliness. As I mentioned, an effective cleaning regime is part of our strategy. NEA will introduce a voluntary accreditation scheme for the cleaning industry. This is aimed at both raising cleaning standards and helping us to upgrade the professionalism and productivity of the industry, in line with the national efforts to boost productivity. NEA is consulting the cleaning industry on the proposed scheme and expects to complete consultations by the end of the year. We will encourage Government agencies to engage accredited cleaning companies when the scheme is rolled out. NEA will also study whether to introduce compulsory licensing for the cleaning industry in the longer term. Maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene requires the efforts of all stakeholders. NEA is therefore studying the feasibility of establishing a Public Hygiene Council, with representatives from the people, private and public sectors. The aim is for the Council to support the Government’s efforts to improve the consistency of standards in the cleaning industry, promote the improvement of hygiene standards in the community and recognise and share best practices. Our long-term goal is to build greater community ownership of the environment so that people will not litter, even in the absence of enforcement.”
“Sir, several Members, Mdm Ho Geok Choo, Mr Ong Kian Min and Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked about efforts to sustain public cleanliness and deter littering. NEA adopts an integrated approach, comprising an effective cleaning regime, outreach programmes for the community, strict enforcement and penalties to deter litterbugs. Notwithstanding this, littering remains a concern. NEA increased enforcement from 54 man-hours per day in 2006 to 442 man-hours per day last year. This resulted in an increase in the number of littering offenders caught from about 7,000 in 2006 to close to 41,400 last year. We also increased the penalty for first-time littering offenders from $200 to $300 last year. Mr Ong Kian Min asked about the effectiveness of enforcement in Little India. As he pointed out, NEA has stepped up enforcement and education efforts targeted at foreign workers. Since the presence of enforcement officers also deters potential litter-bugs, the effectiveness of these efforts should not just be measured based on the number of tickets issued. I also wish to take this opportunity to point out that the majority of litter-bugs caught – over 70% last year – are locals. Littering is not a problem caused primarily by foreign workers. We will continue to focus our enforcement efforts on littering hotspots for maximum effectiveness. However, relying on enforcement alone is not sustainable, because it is highly resource-intensive. There is also a limit to increasing the frequency of cleaning, which NEA is already doing in areas with high human traffic and litter, such as Orchard Road. NEA therefore commissioned a sociological study to deepen our understanding of why people litter.”
“I am pleased to inform Mr Masagos and Mdm Ho Geok Choo that we reduced dengue incidence by 36% last year compared to 2008. This is an encouraging achievement since many countries continued to see increases in dengue last year. Our results in the last two years show that our integrated approach to dengue control has been successful. The key thrust of this approach is pre-emptive source reduction, which denies mosquitoes the place to breed. To this end, NEA enlists the participation of the community to ensure that everyone plays a part to prevent mosquito breeding. Through its Environmental Health Institute (EHI), NEA also leverages research to guide its dengue control strategies. EHI has a dengue virus surveillance programme that gives us early warning of possible outbreaks and allows us to respond to these threats rapidly. The circulating dengue serotypes are also tracked closely, and this enabled us to avert several potentially serious outbreaks that are typically associated with serotype switches. In addition, NEA is working closely with the World Health Organization to build up the capability of member countries to prevent and control dengue. Last year, NEA successfully hosted the first Asia-Pacific Dengue Workshop for government officials from 28 countries. Although we had a good year in 2009, our fight against vector-borne diseases is a continuing one and the public has a key role to play. We must continue to take ownership and ensure that our living environment is free from mosquito breeding. We cannot afford to be complacent because any lapse will give dengue the chance to harm us and our loved ones, as Mr Masagos Zulkifli has alluded to earlier.”
“However, if overall economic growth and property prices continue to diverge for a prolonged period, we run the risk of blowing a real estate bubble, just like that in the US. The Government’s recent interventions to cool the housing market albeit in a calibrated manner to avert a property bubble is thus welcome. Coming down with a sledge hammer could lead to a property market crash which is equally, if not, even more unwelcome as this would also have a domino effect on the rest of the economy. The Government would have to continue to vigilantly monitor the market and act to remove any speculative tendencies. I would like to highlight one trend which I consider unhealthy – the proliferation of Mickey Mouse housing units. Profit-maximising developers want to push dollars per-square-feet of every unit up. The way to do so without hurting sales is to reduce unit sizes to make them "affordable" on a lump sum basis. Touting such high dollar per-square-feet prices can also influence buyers in the highly sentiment driven market and give the perception that property prices are experiencing steep price rises. The headline screams, "$1,634 per-square-foot for a unit in leafy Siglap." I would like to ask the Ministry to guard against and/or calibrate the proliferation of such units. Property prices”
“Sir, Minister Mah gave a robust and immaculate defence of HDB’s housing policies last week despite the controversial and divisive nature of the topic. He has also shown flexibility in adjusting those policies to plug gaps that have emerged, such as the HDB concessionary loans for second purchase. I have one point to add to the cash-over-valuation (COV) issue. COV is "uniquely Singapore". No other jurisdiction has anything like it. As an ex-practising valuer, I am puzzled by it. If there is widespread occurrence of COVs for particular flat types or locations, the COVs should form part of the evidence that constitute the basis of the valuation. In other words, unless the market goes totally ballistic, valuations should move up and reduce the COVs. It would therefore be an anomaly if COV persists. I urge the HDB to review the entire COV issue. I also have a point to add to the issue of speculation in the HDB market. Based on anecdotal evidence, there are HDB flat owners who sublet their entire flat in contravention of HDB rules. I have come to know of an estate agent who owns five private properties, who bought a resale flat and promptly sublet the entire flat. His daughter and grandmother were also found to have done the same thing. Such "unnatural" demand also helps to fuel price rises. For the rules to be effective, HDB must enforce them vigilantly. Let me now turn to the subject of private property, though I must add that the public and private housing markets are not distinct but interrelated and interacts with each other. The complaints aired in recent months – rising property prices, project sell-outs – are symptomatic of short-term dislocations between the housing market and the overall economy.”
“The road ahead would no doubt be bumpy and the concerted efforts and commitment of all stakeholders – the Government, businesses, unions and workers – is vital to attaining this goal. But if we succeed, and succeed we must, the dream of the lady in this final comic strip of being a model employee, super-mum and another Kim Yu Na with the perfect body proportions of a "hot bod babe" – all at the same time – would become reality. Indeed, better jobs, better wages and better quality of life could make us even more productive both at work and at home or, more specifically, in the bedroom as well! Sir, I support the Budget. 5.31 pm”
“Although it might be difficult to form a clear picture of the sector because of the disparate nature of such entities, the Government should consider creating platforms – working with ASME or private investment banks, for example, for suitable SMEs to be "match-made". Unlike MNCs or listed companies, smaller SMEs have limited resources to seek out companies for merger. Furthermore, many entrepreneurs and SME bosses are reluctant to cede even partial control of their companies. Singaporeans generally welcome the revised property tax structure and higher income tax reliefs for those caring for the elderly and handicapped. However, many tax paying individuals, especially those from the middle income, are disappointed that the 20% rebate on personal income tax, capped at $2,000, has been removed. We are only coming out of a recession which has seen the real incomes of Singaporeans decline. It would have been helpful if the income tax rebate was extended for another year. As we embark on a concerted productivity and innovation drive, some companies would inadvertently fall by the wayside leading to the probability of re-structuring job losses. It would be helpful especially to the PMETs, who lose their jobs, if they could be provided with absentee payroll or course fee subsidies for training for a fixed period of time under the enhanced CET, much like the SPUR programme, whilst they are looking for another job. Budget 2010 is not about instant fixes or short-term gratification – hongbaos, goodies or freebies. We needed some of that to tide us through the difficulties of 2009. Now that the economy has begun its climb again we need to chart a different course, one that brings sustainable, long term and real benefits for all.”
“For sectors that provide vital social support such as step down heath care, the Government may have to extend subsidies to the sector to keep fees affordable, especially for the low-income, if their reliance on foreign workers cannot be sufficiently offset by productivity improvements. Additionally, for the change in foreign worker levies to achieve its goal of inducing firm specific productivity measures and reducing reliance on foreign workers to be effective, it must be complemented by tightening of the loopholes to prevent the phenomena of phantom employees, kickbacks to employers and the exploitation of workers by workforce agencies and even employers. Many of this year’s Budget measures to help SMEs grow and become globally competitive require the Government to play an active role such as: deciding which private sector projects it will co-invest in, determining the quantum of financial support for different skills sets in the CET, identifying companies and sectors with the most potential for productivity gains and deciding if the expenditures incurred qualify for the productivity and innovation credit. These are clearly no easy tasks. The civil servants administering them would thus have to sharpen their business skills, gain appropriate industry knowledge and a good appreciation of how the private sector works as well as adopt an open and flexible mindset. Whilst the tax incentives accorded to mergers and acquisitions are welcome, it would be even more helpful if the Government can also act as an intermediary and link up SMEs that have potential synergies with each other.”
“Moreover, this income ceiling should be reviewed periodically to keep pace with wage increases and inflation. The WTS could also be tweaked to make it easier for casual and contract workers to go for skills upgrading, such as by directly offering them absentee payroll or course fee subsidies, and making the training courses more accessible to them by customising the training hours and course contents to suit their needs. Reducing Reliance on Foreign Workers. The move to raise foreign workers’ levies, even if in a calibrated manner, have raised the strongest reactions among Singaporeans. On one hand, there are Singaporean workers who feel that increasing the levies without changing the dependency ratio will not sufficiently deter employers from hiring foreigners. They want more to be done. On the other hand, unhappy employers, especially those from sectors who rely heavily on foreign workers, say that this could lead to cost increases as they have difficulty replacing the foreign workers with locals who shun the physically demanding jobs and that there is very little scope for productivity improvements to offset the cost increase. Already, there are predictions from some quarters – such as the food and beverages, construction and even nursing homes – that ultimately such cost increases would be passed on to consumers. The Government should closely monitor developments in this area. It needs to help companies, especially those which are too small to benefit from investments to boost productivity on their own, to see how they can utilise the slew of measures announced in the Budget to get onto the productivity bandwagon and remain viable.”
“It was also reported by Ministry of Manpower that the training adoption rates for sectors dominated by SMEs have been low. In the ubiquitous retail sector, for instance, the training adoption rate is only 5%. The major obstacles to attending training for this group include the lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills, inability to stop work for training as they are the sole breadwinners in their families, and their fear of, or resistance to, training. Some companies may also not place priority on upgrading the skills of these low-skilled workers as they feel that the marginal productivity is less than the marginal cost of their training investment. There is also less incentive to send these workers for training as they tend to be casual or contract workers who may not be with the firm for long. Put simply, they will not get the most bang for the buck from training these older and low-skilled workers. The WTS and enhanced WIS would go some way in overcoming these training challenges. However, to make the schemes more effective in motivating the workers to attend training, the cash component of the WIS, which now stands at one part cash to 2.5 parts CPF, should be increased. The frequency of the payouts which is currently half yearly should also be increased, say, to every quarter. This would make the WIS more attractive to the low-wage worker who often faces cash flow problems. Increasing the qualifying income ceiling to $1,700 per month for WIS would benefit more low-wage workers. Nonetheless, the qualifying criteria could be further relaxed such as by not taking into account overtime work, which is irregular, so that more workers would benefit, and they are not inadvertently penalised for being industrious.”
“The lay understanding or, more correctly, misunderstanding of productivity will crush the average Singaporean worker already slogging away for many hours. It is thus important for the Government to win over employers, workers and the unions to promulgate the right understanding of productivity and, in particular, that higher productivity will translate into better jobs and higher wages without necessarily having to work longer hours. Supporting SMEs. SMEs vary significantly in size and competencies. The more progressive local companies that are thinking of, or have already embarked on innovation, automation and research and development (R&D) to improve efficiency will welcome measures like the Productivity and Innovation Credit, which will hasten the pace of their productivity drive. Nonetheless, there are some smaller firms which may find it difficult to be weaned off foreign workers because there is genuinely limited scope to automate processes or they are not aware of the technologies available, or else they are cash-constrained. Hence, it would be useful for the National Productivity and Continuing Education Council to work with SPRING to set up a dedicated one-stop department or centre to help SMEs. There can be no one-size-fits-all solution to improving productivity. Sector specific analysis of productivity drivers for each industry and customised solutions to improve productivity and innovation for each sector and each company needs to be devised under the facilitation of the Council and the use of the National Productivity Fund. Tackling Training. Based on my experience at the South West Community Development Council, low-wage and especially older workers in this group face particularly severe barriers to training.”
“Sir, as they say, a picture speaks a thousand words. I would like to share with the House three cartoons which depict, in a light-hearted fashion, the three weighty areas for which REACH, the Government feedback unit, has received feedback in the last week on Budget 2010. Even as I am speaking, these comic strips are being uploaded on the REACH website for netizens’ viewing pleasure. Firstly, on "Raising Productivity". Secondly, on "Growing Globally Competitive Local Companies". Thirdly, on "The Lack of Goodies". By way of background, the REACH microsite has accumulated more than 34,000 page views since last Monday evening. Thus far, we have received close to 1,000 feedback inputs through the various engagement channels. Most feedback contributors support the broad thrust of the Budget to raise productivity and grow globally competitive companies for sustainable economic growth. Not surprisingly, there are concerns among many of our contributors as to the effectiveness of some of the Budget measures announced in attaining the desired goals. I would like to highlight three such concerns, thematically mirrored by each of the three cartoons. Firstly, Raising Productivity. I have four subpoints. Winning Workers. During a webchat session, one REACH contributor lamented, "I am wondering where the root of our low productivity problem lies? It seems that people are working really hard these days and even harder than before. Have our efforts been fruitless? What can we as individuals do differently to improve productivity?" Such comments demonstrate the misconception for the layman that productivity means doing more work over longer hours when, in fact, it means doing more but in the same time span or less.”
“With regard to rodents, between 2005 and 2008, the number of rodent sighting complaints in HDB estates reported to NEA was 368, 176, 153 and 383 respectively. The 58% reduction between 2005 and 2007 was largely due to a two-year intensive rodent control programme introduced by NEA and the Town Councils in 2005. NEA adopts a risk-based approach to rodent control by targeting efforts on areas that could be conducive to rat infestation. The key strategy is to ensure that estate managers and premise owners practise good housekeeping and effective waste management, and this is complemented by rodent trappings. With the rise in the number of rodent sightings over the past two years, NEA is assessing the need for rodent control efforts in HDB estates to be stepped up. While the vector situation has generally improved over the past few years, we can do better. I wish to assure the Member that we will continue to take all necessary measures to control vectors and prevent the transmission of vector-borne diseases. However, controlling the vector population downstream is not the most sustainable approach in the long-term. Each of us must also play our part in keeping our premises clean and tidy, thus depriving the vectors of potential breeding grounds and food sources and limiting their population in the first place. 3.00 pm”
“Sir, the National Environment Agency (NEA) exercises stringent monitoring and control operations on vectors which pose a significant risk from the public health perspective. Currently, mosquitoes and rodents are the vector populations being targeted as they can spread diseases like dengue and murine typhus respectively. Crows and pigeons caught locally have so far not been found to carry infectious agents. Nonetheless, we have put in place programmes to manage their populations so as to minimise public nuisance and to mitigate any potential health risks. Between 2006 and 2008, NEA detected 1,473, 1,773 and 2,290 mosquito breeding habitats in the common areas of HDB housing estates respectively. Although the numbers are on the rise, they are lower than the 3,688 breedings detected in 2005. The increase in breedings detected can partly be attributed to increased checks by NEA. The annual number of day-biting mosquito complaints, which largely comprise dengue-transmitting Aedes mosquitoes, received by NEA between 2005 and 2008 were 3,732, 1,855, 2,588 and 2,038 respectively. We will have to sustain our efforts to control the mosquito population. NEA will continue to coordinate national efforts to locate and remove mosquito breeding grounds and potential habitats. At the constituency level, the Town Councils are engaging professional pest control operators to carry out regular inspections of the common areas in HDB estates for mosquito breeding. NEA will also continue to support these source reduction efforts with its outreach programmes that encourage the community to prevent mosquito breeding in their homes and surroundings.”
“In fact, there are many stalls that do not actually raise the prices of their food even after rental revisions, say, due to upgrading. I can cite the Member a very good example at Yuhua Hawker Centre where you can still find nasi lemak, bak chor mee, etc, at $2 per plate. Column No : 1143 VECTOR CONTROL IN HDB ESTATES 13. Ms Ellen Lee asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what is the state of the vector control problem (including rodents, crows and pigeons) across HDB housing estates; (b) what is the number of such complaints received in the past two years; and (c) what is being done to contain the problem at the national and constituency levels.”
“I would like to inform the Member that rental revision of these cooked food stalls does not necessarily imply rental increases. In fact, in the most recent rental revision exercise of about 150 stalls, between January and June this year, rentals of 49% of these stalls actually remained unchanged whilst another 18%, in fact, saw rental reduction. Furthermore, as part of the Government's efforts to help cushion the effects of the economic downturn, NEA is giving a 15% rental rebate for all stallholders paying market rental for a period of one year, from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009. With this rental rebate, the proportion of stalls that actually experience rental increase is 20%, and the median rental increase is brought down from some 20% to 11%. With respect to the particular stall in question, we will need more details from the Member if she wishes to have a more specific and detailed explanation. But the quantum of increase really depends on why there was a rental revision. Was it due to the expiration of the lease or is it due to an assignment from, say, a subsidised stallholder to a non-subsidised stallholder, in which case the quantum would be higher? But all things being said, the market rentals of these stalls would, by and large, be much lower than those of food courts and coffeeshops. I would also like to assure the Member that we are committed to helping residents access affordable food at hawker centres in a pleasant environment, and we do keep tabs on the food prices charged at hawker centres. As I have noted, the price of hawker food depends on a host of other factors, including cost of utilities, salaries, and so on.”
“That assumption remains untested. In fact, history has shown this to be otherwise in Singapore whereby any accounts the PAP has governed ably and brought growth and progress to Singapore over the last 50 years. Identifying each generation of leaders and developing its own checks and balances. From a historical perspective, the many variations that Singapore's parliamentary system has undergone - from elected presidency, to GRCs, to NMPs, etc. - indicate that we will continue to experiment, but in a cautious way. The limitations of our population and size imply that, unlike USA, we do not have the maneuver room to embark on bold political experimentation without risking everything that has been painstakingly built up over the past few decades. As SM Goh noted over the weekend, any changes to our political system must not end up after the election with a weak, hung Parliament resulting in an unstable coalition Government that Singapore with all its inherent challenges can ill afford. I mentioned at the beginning of my speech that policy planning has its own inherent blindspot. Any plan is premised on assumptions and the assumptions may turn out to be badly wrong. In the final analysis, we need to have built-in flexibility to change course if there is a need to. Sir, I support the motion.”
“The discussion forum of our REACH website has seen active and vigorous debates on diverse topics ranging from the mundane electricity prices to the YOG, Budget 2009 and, most recently, the NMP nominations. We are heartened that Singaporeans are increasingly demonstrating that they are not an apathetic lot, are willing to engage the Government and do want their voices to be heard. We certainly do want to encourage such active citizenry among many more Singaporeans both via new media and conventional platforms, out of which could emerge young men and women to lead Singapore. The second issue of robustness of our political system is perhaps best represented, in the extreme, and as brought up by an ST Forum contributor Poh Lee Heng, by the difference between India and China. India is perceived to be messy, but democratic. China is viewed as less tolerant of dissent, but efficient. He notes that he personally would rather live with a certain amount of instability due to political differences, in exchange for political robustness. Indeed, he seems to favour the Indian model as against the Chinese model. But two recent incidents indicate that both seem to be starting on tentative steps in the opposite directions. India's elections was a resounding win for the Congress Party and PM Manmoham Singh's reforms and support for more decisive leadership, while the release of the late Zhao Zhiyang's Memoirs seem to indicate that there is a growing dissent movement in China's top echelons. Where will these trends lead? It is hard to say, but we need to be cognisant of them, as we chart the path ahead for ourselves. There is also an implicit assumption in Poh Lee Heng's comment that a system of political robustness cannot be put in place within a single party.”
“Sir, I appeal for members of the public to practise restraint and decency in cyberspace which has become the new battleground in our society. Whether it is the AWARE saga, or the issue of NMPs, we should not allow such debate to turn into a crusade against others who are different or hold different views. These can easily deepen divisions and be taken advantage of by various groups for their own selfish ends. On issues where we can find no common ground, Singaporeans must learn to look beyond these issues to the common good of the community as we have done so in the past. As an old saying goes, "In things essential, unity; in things doubtful, liberty; in all things, charity." President Nathan has also hinted at a process of political evolution which Singapore will go through. Some are speculating that this could relate among others, to the size of the GRCs or the number of NMPs. Regardless of the form of change, and whether this will satisfy those in our midst with a more liberal bent, the overarching issue that keeps cropping up is how politically aware we as a nation are, and related to that, how robust is our system of politics. Granted, there will always be the perennial bread and butter issues that occupy the attention of most people, but what of our young? To them belongs the future of our society. I daresay, in my role as REACH chairman, that I have seen a growing political maturity and vigorous and no holds barred debate on issues of the day. Perhaps in cyberspace, such a debate is easier to achieve because of the perceived safety of anonymity. But it was as though the political awareness lay dormant until unleashed by a topic that sparks it life.”
“Already, there are concerns that with the drastic reduction in the expected intake of undergraduates at the fourth University from an estimated full capacity of 12,000 in previous reports to just 4,000, the 30% university admission target for each cohort by 2025 cannot be met. As per MOE, some of the shortfall could be met by the degree programmes secured by the SIAT. But this is only estimated to be about 3,500 per year for both full time and part time students by 2013. Senior Writer, Sandra Davie even questioned in this morning’s ST, if this targeted intake, which will raise the poly cohort participation rate in universities from the current 15% to 20%, is adequate to cater to the university aspirations of the polytechnic students themselves. Indeed, this has to be monitored closely to allow as many deserving students as possible to gain admission into a state funded university. So long as academic standards are rigorously maintained, we should not fear an oversupply of graduates although that could occur at low points of the employment cycle. More importantly, having a more educated populace will raise the overall tone of our society. The recent AWARE saga also brought to mind that for everyone to feel that they have a place in Singapore, all groups need to practice tolerance, restraint and mutual respect in order to preserve national harmony. Given Singapore's openness to values, ideas and lifestyles from abroad and the influence of the new media, the AWARE saga is but a foretaste of the increasingly complex and pronounced challenges to social cohesion that we will be confronted with and which needs to be managed dexterously.”
“The irony is that many of these who did not make the cut for our local universities did very well in overseas universities with a number being offered jobs and staying put in these countries. Meanwhile, our hospitals employ foreign trained medical doctors to plug the gap. Every year, we have top quality students with impeccable results that fail to make the grade into our local medical school and seek admission into foreign universities if their families can afford the overseas education. I had a resident, a divorcee, whose daughter had straight As in her GCE "A" levels but could not get into our local medical school. She sought and subsequently gained admission into a UK university but could not get a student visa as she did not have the requisite deposit to show that she could afford the university fees and living expenses. Mother and daughter had sought my advice as to whether they could appeal to the British High Commission for approval of the student visa on the grounds that the mother will be turning 55 years soon and would be able to pledge the CPF she can withdraw then for her daughter’s school fees. It cannot be denied that such experiences can lead to disenchantment and disgruntled citizens who feel that there is no place for them in Singapore. Whilst these latest announcement to our education landscape are indeed welcome, I would urge the Ministry to exercise more responsiveness to the needs and aspirations of our Singaporean youths for higher education and for more pathways to upgrade themselves. The Ministry should constantly review the appropriateness and the adequacy of the programmes offered.”
“-- to formulate new growth strategies in the totally different world order. 2) A PLACE for All In the latest Worldwide Quality of Living Survey by human resource consultancy Mercer, Singapore is rated as Asia’s most liveable city. It is also rated to have the best infrastructure in the world. But for Singapore to be a first class home that allows all citizens full opportunities to achieve their aspirations, for it to be a PLACE FOR ALL,--- it is not just about the physical environment. As Singaporeans become more affluent and plugged into the global community, they would like to know if Singapore has a place for them, regardless of their economic status, educational, social or demographic profile. Singapore needs to have the “bigness of heart” that tolerates, embraces and even celebrates differences. In this light, MOE’s announcement that it will be setting up the Singapore Institute of Applied Technology to offer more foreign degree programmes for Polytechnic students and a fourth university as well as the possibility of a third medical school to provide more opportunities for Singaporeans to realize their aspirations is clearly another step forward to making Singapore a PLACE FOR ALL. In fact, this announcement has come none too soon, having been discussed and debated for more than a decade since 2000 and with the MOE blowing hot and cold over the idea of a 4th university. In the meantime, many polytechnic students and aspiring doctors have flocked to overseas universities each year because of the limited number of places in our three publicly funded universities.”
“Consequently, it will have to be accepted that SME’s will always occupy a lower tier in the economic hierarchy. Nevertheless, we need to put in even more effort to grow the SME sector which, with some exceptions, still remains largely uncompetitive and weak, but otherwise employ almost 60% of our labour force. I am pleased that the Ministry of Trade and Industry has, in the Addendum to the President’s Address, stated that the Ministry will step up efforts to help our companies expand in key markets such as China, India and the Middle East and that SPRING will work with SMEs to raise their productivity. In line with this, Temasek may need to withdraw some of its reach in domestic TLC’s and take on a more catalytic role in seeding promising SME’s to help them grow. This could be a useful way to deploy some of the 30% spelled out in its new “10:20:30:40” strategy. As an aside, perhaps, it is timely to consider the setting up of another Economic Review Committee (ERC) similar to the one in 2001 that plotted the current economic strategy in the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis, Sept 11 and the dot com bust. Perhaps, the same old issues may be dug up, but it is still a worthwhile exercise to have a broad based dialogue with stakeholders to think through and plan ahead in this highly uncertain world. While I understand SM Goh’s perspective that the present crisis has its roots in the west, and does not negate Singapore’s proven economic strategy, I do believe that the landscape may shift dramatically in a form that is hard to predict, and we need, not just civil servants, but also, the participation of a broad swathe of society – private sector industrialists, academics, etc.”
“There are protectionist pressures building up. Globalization and competitive markets remain the best way forward to enrich societies and better the lives of millions, despite all its faults which the current crisis has made amply clear. I believe that Singapore will never capitulate or turn its back on market-oriented global economic system. Nor should we. But other countries may, and this begs the question of how we should respond to such protectionist messures or anti-market moves. I support the clear statement in the Addendum to the President’s Address by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that we will continue to engage in multilateral and bilateral relations to promote economic cooperation and resist protectionism in the face of the global economic downturn. One aspect of this globalization issue is the economic model that has served Singapore well for the past 3 decades. I am talking about the role of MNC’s. Singapore’s economic growth strategy has been underpinned by luring MNCs to create jobs, and it has indeed been a resounding success thus far. Even Opposition Member of Parliament, Mr Low Thia Khiang agrees with this. But growing protectionist tendencies -- such as President Obama’s revocation of tax deferment of offshore income for American companies – and over-dependence on MNCs which are often at the mercy of global demand and priorities of their HQs makes our labour market volatile. It is still a valid growth model, but needs to be tweaked. By the law of large numbers, it is difficult, statistically speaking, to grow our own Singapore MNC’s (except perhaps GLC’s or TLC’s) that can successfully compete in the global arena.”
“Sir, the momentous events of the past 12 to 18 months in the economic, political, military and public health spheres have been unprecedented in scale and ferocity. What shape will the post crisis world take when all these events are “over,” if one can conceive of a time when all this is well and truly “over?” The business consultancy McKinsey describes the emerging future as the “new normal.” Whatever clever term one uses, the idea is the same – business, society, political life will no longer be “as usual” in the aftermath of these events. As a statement of priorities and focus for the new parliament term, I applaud the government’s effort to navigate the treacherous waters of the new world to ensure that we will survive and thrive. But one key element of the new world is its heightened level of uncertainty. The financial crisis and H1N1 emerged unexpectedly as much as the good fortune, coupled, of course with the determination in the re-capture of fugitive Mas Selamat in Johor after a lengthy quest. Planning can only go so far, because long tail risks and black swans always spring surprises. Therefore, government’s policy initiatives must always have a dimension of equipping the country and the population with the skills, tools & flexibility to be nimble and open – nimble to change strategy if circumstances so warrant, and openness to embark on new directions. With this backdrop, Sir, I wish to mention three things, each prefaced with a “P”, that is the three "Ps", but not the private, public and the people sectors that we know of. 1) Stay PLUGGED into globalization Globalization has been stymied by events. Circuit breakers will be in place to prevent another contagion.”
“Let me say that as far as our policy forum members are concerned, we have actually seen an increase in the number of policy forum members over the years and now, we have about close to 10,000 policy forum members who are relatively active in the various feedback channels. After we were designated as the key E-engagement channel for the Government after 9 January, we have actually seen a 62% increase in the page views of our discussion forum and an 85% increase in the hits for our website. And we hope to do more to engage Singaporeans.”
“In addition to that, from time to time we have also undertaken, to a limited extent, publicity through the mass media, to again raise awareness about the activities of REACH. As far as E-engagement is concerned, I think what we feel is to sell our value proposition now because we have been designated as the key E-engagement channel for the Government. So, our value proposition really is that anybody who has a view, an opinion, an idea that they want to contribute to policy-making; they want to make a difference; they are assured that if they come to the REACH portal, their views will be viewed, will be considered. There is a good chance that it will be responded to and if their ideas are good, they will be taken on board. The other value proposition, of course, is that as a one-stop portal, if they come into the website now, they actually will have a very good idea of what concerns Singaporeans - what are the key issues concerning Singaporeans, the diversity of views on these issues as well as what concerns the Government, what the Government is mulling over in terms of policy-making; in terms of their policies that they are looking into, and they can then contribute to this policy-making by engaging the Government online. We are also trying to facilitate more direct interaction between policy-makers and netizens, by encouraging more of our Government agencies to respond to feedback online where it is deemed useful to do so and to try and better close the loop. So, we will continue to look at ways to reach out to the population.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for his question. I think it is a very valid question. It is really not just about the tools but really about the outreach because our objective really is to engage the Singaporeans so that they feel that they have a role to play in policy making, and they feel rooted to Singapore. So, in terms of outreach, we are first of all, very mindful that we are wanting to reach out to a very diverse population. We are not just talking about the netizens. Therefore, in addition to looking at different channels of e-Engagement - because increasingly more Singaporeans are of course wired up, and they want to engage online - we have also not forsaken the conventional medium of feedback which is our face-to-face dialogue sessions. In fact, we have also introduced SMS because that is one easy way to get people to engage us without having to come to a dialogue session and they can do this at their convenience, any time and from any place. They have found that to be very useful. In addition to that, in order to reach out to more Singaporeans, what we have done is initiated roving exhibitions of Reach activities in the heartland itself, at schools, various institutions and agencies. In order to raise awareness about the activities of REACH to motivate and encourage people to engage us, using the different channels of feedback that we have. We have also appointed feedback facilitators in the heartlands. We hope that they will be able to then raise awareness and influence their peers to engage us. We have also the JRA programme which I have actually mentioned earlier. And that is really to reach the youths, get them through peer influence, to encourage more youths to come on board and we are hoping to expand this programme.”
“To conclude, REACH will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach of using existing methods that have served us well, as well as experimenting with new channels and media to proactively reach out and engage citizens and close the loop. As Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports said recently at the REACH Contributors' Appreciation Lunch, the true measure of involvement is not the number of policies changed, but the degree of participation and ownership which Singaporeans possess in nation building, problem solving and in shaping the future. Echoing the Minister, REACH will work with Government agencies and use whatever means at its disposal to encourage and facilitate active citizen participation in policy making and shaping Singapore's future. And may I add that, as Chairman of REACH, I assure Mr Banerjee that his other feedback regarding Learning Journey would be forwarded to the relevant agencies, including MOE. Helping Malay/Muslim Community Cope with the Recession”
“In September last year, REACH also intrdocued a new online initiative, Talk Abuzz, on our website, specifically to acknowledge the feedback from our contributors, and assure them that their feedback is valued and considered. Talk Abuzz poses summaries of current hot issues which are attracting public attention and comments from some of our contributors on these issues which are directly attributed to them. There is also a comments box feature to allow contributors to post further views on the topics and have discussions among themselves. The webpage also featured replies from Government agencies as well as summaries of Government response to feedback on key issues. Examples include the Marriage and Parenthood Package, the Serangoon Gardens Foreign Workers' Dormitory issue and Budget 2009. Going forward, REACH is working with MICA to further strengthen its capacity and capabilities to facilitate effective Government-citizen engagement, particularly through the online channels. Recognising that the whole process of engagement and consultation is as important as the outcome itself, REACH will continue to work with Government agencies to act on and respond to feedback in a timely manner and keep feedback contributors apprised of the status of their feedback. Towards this end, Government agencies could, where it is deemed useful, respond to feedback on our discussion forums, as suggested by Mr Baey Yam Keng. For future policy consultations, Government agencies could also engage and respond to feedback contributors on a dedicated discussion forum for a designated policy consultation period.”
“The JRAs also attended a training programme at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy to facilitate their understanding of the policy-making process. REACH is looking to extend the JRA programme to more schools and tertiary institutions to enhance our outreach to the youths. In addition, REACH introduced Youth Vibes, an interactive page for youths on our website in early January 2009. This webpage, which comprises discussion forums, blogs, chatroom and other web 2.0 features, aims to raise the level of awareness of, and discourse on, national issues in youths, and create an online avenue for youths to reflect and express their opinions on issues, through a medium they are comfortable with. The site was developed in consultation with our JRAs and other youths, while the content is provided by an editorial board comprising JRAs, so as to encourage them to take ownership of the website. Mr Baey Yam Keng has highlighted the importance of closing the loop with our feedback contributors. Mr Banerjee has also suggested that more youths would be motivated to express their views if there is more visible and frequent recognition of their contributions. In encouraging active citizenry, we agree it is paramount that we continually demonstrate that we recognise and value feedback, and debunk the mistaken notion that feedback goes into a "black hole". REACH's efforts to close the loop and reinforce the message that feedback does factor in policy making is manifold. This includes our monthly newsletters, both in print and online, which highlights various policy changes due to feedback. Summaries of feedback received and Government responses to the feedback are sent to participants of our dialogue sessions and are also posted on our website.”
“We also recently introduced a podcast/vodcast section on the site, which showcases clips of our activities, as well as important policy announcements. Currently, the site includes snippets of the Finance Minister's Budget 2009 speech. Singaporeans are encouraged to view the clips and leave their comments. Our e-Townhall webchats, which are chaired by political appointment holders and MPs are also a popular engagement tool in our public consultations on key policy issues. The recent appointment of REACH as the Government's key e-engagement platform for national policies and issues further underscores the role of REACH in facilitating Government-citizen engagement. With increasing desire, especially among netizens, for more interactive exchange and even contest of ideas between citizens and the Government, we are working with key Ministries to explore possible further collaborations for e-engagement on pertinent issues. The Government's foray into e-engagement has not gone unnoticed by our contributors, who have applauded it as an encouraging step forward. 5.30 pm But how does this relate to the young? We agree with Mr Banerjee that young Singaporeans are indeed a key stakeholder in our future. From youths actively contributing ideas for our winning bid to host the first-ever Youth Olympic Games in 2010 to the recent Inter-School Budget Debate Challenge organised by the Ministry of Finance, our youths have demonstrated that they have an interest in helping to shape Singapore. We want to reach out to them, and tap their energy, idealism and perspectives. To this end, we appointed 70 Junior REACH Ambassadors (JRAs) in February 2008 under a pilot programme, which offers opportunities for the JRAs to initiate and drive engagement efforts among their peers.”
“Madam, I would like first to thank Minister, MCYS for giving me this opportunity to address some of the issues Members have raised about REACH at this COS debate in my capacity as Chairman of REACH. The Government is cognisant of the importance of engaging citizens to facilitate their understanding of the rationale of policies, and to provide the opportunities for them to voice their concerns and contribute towards policy-making and nation-building. The Feedback Unit was set-up in 1985, as part of a consultative Government to solicit public views to shape and fine-tune policies. Just over 20 years later, in October 2006, the Feedback Unit was restructured to become REACH with a renewed vision of moving beyond merely gathering public feedback, to become the agency that drives citizen engagement and promotes active citizenry. In this vein, we heartedly agree with Mr Gautam Banerjee that the Government's engagement of Singaporeans, particularly the young, is important, and should be stepped up. In the broadest sense, REACH is in a unique position to serve as the bridge to enhance engagement between citizens, young and old, whatever the gender or race, and the Government. That is why, in addition to our conventional feedback channels such as face-to-face dialogues and SMSes, REACH is also constantly tapping into new media platforms, which have special appeal to the young, such as Internet discussion forums, blogs, e-Townhall webchats, and even Facebook, to engage netizens. Mr Banerjee has suggested that key policy announcements be posted on the REACH website for discussion. We are pleased to share that this is already the case.”
“No doubt, this approach is resource-intensive, but I think it is worth the price if one more child can be helped and his or her future better safeguarded. 12.15 pm”
“Sir, MOE has done well in reducing our school dropout rate to 1.6% as of last year. The setting up of Northlight School and, more recently, Assumption Pathway School, and relaxing the re-admission criteria for school dropouts, are among the key measures that have undoubtedly helped to reduce the number of such dropouts. Notwithstanding this, it is noted that the largest number of school dropouts come, in fact, from secondary schools. They number about 400 per year and make up more than 60% of the total number of dropouts each year. I have met a few such dropouts at my MPS. By the time the families come to the MPS to appeal for financial and other assistance, the teenage child might have already dropped out of school for a year or more. These children often come from dysfunctional families and may be disinterested in studies not for lack of academic ability, but due to a lack of family support and financial difficulties faced by the family. I understand that many schools now have programmes to identify, counsel and help potential school dropouts as well as try to persuade those who drop out to go back to school. Nonetheless, I feel that such efforts to reach out and help dropouts and get them to go back to school could be further enhanced if the school could also get the community involved. I would like to recommend that the school counsellors or the principals refer appropriate cases to grassroots organisations and perhaps even the Member of Parliament for the area. To begin with, we may be able to offer some financial help to the family if this is one of the root causes. The grassroots might also be familiar with the parents and are in a better position to persuade them to take an interest in the child's education and welfare.”
“If the school is unable to provide the assistance because it has already expended its resources and the students need additional help, then the school could refer the students to other agencies including the CDCs, grassroots organisations, self-help groups, etc, in the interim, so that no one who needs help is left in the lurch. This, in essence, is the many-helping-hands approach, but it has to be effectively operationalised. Financial Assistance for All Levels (Primary, Seconday, Tertiary)”
“With the recession expected to deepen further, even the more than the doubling of the budget now for financial aid programmes may prove inadequate. At the same time, under the Government's many-helping-hands philosophy, besides MOE and the schools, there are many other organisations, including the CDCs, grassroots organisations and self-help groups, that provide various forms of financial assistance to students at different levels. Each of them, however, has different income qualifying and other criteria for their respective financial assistance schemes. Currently, there is no designated central agency to act as coordinator for the many help agencies to ensure that every student who needs assistance is identified and adequately helped. Some may get proportionately more help than others, whilst others could fall through the cracks. Because of a fixed pool of funds, whatever the source, collectively speaking, all agencies will need to administer the funds more smartly to ensure "more bank for the buck". I would like to ask MOE to look into how it can ensure that every student who needs assistance is helped holistically, using all available funding sources based on the many-helping-hands approach. For a start, as the schools would be better placed to identify needy students and assess their needs, they should act as the central coordinating body to identify and channel assistance. I would therefore like to suggest that the schools themselves undertake to ensure that every child who needs assistance receives help.”
“Sir, Budget 2009 has announced that MOE will enhance its financial assistance schemes for students and introduce a Short-Term Study Assistance Scheme (SSAS) for students in ITEs, polytechnics and autonomous universities. This is timely and greatly needed. 0n the ground, we are already seeing more residents coming to apply for our CCC and CDC bursaries and scholarships for students from schools and tertiary institutions. This is on top of the Edusave bursaries and scholarships given by MOE and the CCCs. I am also seeing more financially strapped residents coming to appeal for waiver of school fees, free textbooks, school uniforms and school pocket money and even for paying the GCE "O" and "A" level examination fees. Sir, I note that there are two avenues of financial assistance provided by the schools, namely, the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) and various school-based financial assistance schemes. The latter can be extended to students who do not meet the qualifying criteria for MOE's FAS as well as to those already on the FAS but need more help. Despite the availability of these schemes at the school level, I still see a sizable number of families appealing for financial assistance for their children at my MPS. Sir, I infer from this that the current economic downturn is stretching resources allocated by the MOE and the schools to assist every student who genuinely needs financial help. Hence, the announcement that more money would be pumped in to help poor students is welcome. Nonetheless, Sir, I would like to ask the Ministry how it determines the size of the budget to be allocated for providing financial assistance to needy students to ensure that no student is deprived of at least a basic education.”