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.”
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“On top of regular surveillance checks, NEA and the other land agencies carry out additional combing checks or "intensive source reduction exercises" (ISREs) to further suppress the mosquito population ahead of anticipated warm months. Two successful ISREs were carried out in April to May and in July to September last year. They pre-empted the increase in dengue cases that traditionally happened during the warmer months of June to September. NEA will be carrying out similar exercises this year. My Ministry greatly appreciates the commitment and ownership shown by the various land agencies towards this collective effort. As more than 80% of our population stay in HDB flats, strict mosquito control in HDB estates is very important. Town Councils, which are responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of the HDB housing estates, have the responsibility to keep mosquito breeding at bay within the common areas under their purview. Since September 2005, NEA has helped the Town Councils put in place dedicated mosquito control programmes in their estates by providing technical advice and seed funding to kick-start these programmes. Results have been very encouraging. Aedes breeding in TC-maintained areas for 2006 has reduced by 60% compared to 2005, despite 30% more inspections carried out by NEA in the same period. The number of dengue cases for 2006 in estates maintained by Town Councils is also 83% lower than in 2005. Dr Teo Ho Pin and Mdm Cynthia Phua have asked whether my Ministry will provide funding to Town Councils for their dengue prevention programmes. The good efforts put in by the Town Councils on mosquito control in their estates have contributed significantly to our ability to continue to suppress mosquito population.”
“Sir, through the combined efforts of grassroots, volunteers, residents, Town Councils, CDCs and other stakeholders, we have succeeded in keeping dengue fever under control. Here, I would like to reiterate again - if it is still not clear from Dr Teo Ho Pin's earlier comments - the good work of the Town Councils in helping us in the fight against dengue. In 2006, there were slightly more than 3,000 dengue cases in Singapore, significantly lower than the 14,209 cases for 2005, or about one-fifth of the cases for 2005, and the lowest since 2002. This is despite a continued rise and spread of dengue cases in the region. WHO has also reported an increasing trend in dengue incidence worldwide, from about 293,000 per year in 1980-1989, to about 780,000 per year in 2000-2005. Currently, there is no vaccine against the virus. So it would be difficult for us to totally eradicate dengue from Singapore or the region. What we have done is to put in place a rigorous dengue control regime to maintain a low incidence of dengue and to minimise the likelihood and impact of dengue outbreaks. We do this through a four-pronged approach of surveillance checks, public outreach, enforcement and research. 1.15 pm Since the dengue outbreak in 2005, NEA has doubled the number of vector control officers to 500. These officers carry out regular surveillance checks islandwide to systematically uncover and destroy mosquito breeding habitats - search and destroy. Through an Inter-Agency Dengue Task Force, NEA also leads other Government agencies to similarly enhance their mosquito control programmes so as to remove all possible mosquito breeding sites.”
“NEA also partners the Restroom Association of Singapore (RAS) in implementing the Happy Toilet Programme to recognise the efforts put in by owners of public toilets in improving their cleanliness standards. Participation in this rating programme is voluntary and we are very happy to see that some 400 toilets from commercial buildings, schools, hawker centres and petrol kiosks have participated in this programme which includes the design of toilets and not just the cleaning aspect, since its implementation in 2003. I would like to assure Members of the House that my Ministry is committed to sustaining a high standard of public cleanliness for the benefit of all. However, we need the cooperation of the community to do their part to keep our public areas clean as well, and not take clean public places and cleaners for granted. And I do agree with Mrs Josephine Teo that for a first-class city, you need not just have first-class cleaners but also, I would like to add, a first-class community with first-class toilet habits. Dengue Prevention”
“As Ms Indranee Rajah has mentioned in this House, in order to have a "first-class" living environment, Singaporeans must cultivate "first-class" habits to match, and creating "waterworks" in lifts is definitely not. As responsible members of our society, we should maintain the cleanliness of public places as we do for our homes. I could not agree more with Mrs Josephine Teo that we should take active steps to improve on the cleanliness and hygiene of public facilities, such as public toilets so that they look and smell okay. Many would agree that we have come a long way from having night soil collectors - I wonder how many know about this or remember this - to having themed toilets like those in large shopping malls and our parks. However, having better hardware only forms part of the equation. It is just as important to focus on the "software" aspects of keeping public toilets clean. NEA therefore actively engages the community to promote good toilet behaviour through various community campaigns and projects. Such projects include the "My Coffeeshop Shines Programme @ South West" and the "Clean, Dry & Sparkling Toilets @ Yuhua" in which the grassroots and the community work with coffeeshop operators and cleaners to improve the hygiene and cleanliness of coffeeshop toilets. Cleaners also play an important role in the upkeeping and maintenance of public toilets. We therefore encourage toilet cleaners to undertake training and skills upgrading under the National Skills Recognition Scheme (NSRS), so that they can perform their tasks more efficiently and effectively. Outstanding toilet cleaners who show a high level of service performance and dedication to their jobs are also recognised through awards presented at the annual "Clean and Green" Week.”
“Under the initiative, members are to undertake projects such as "Adopt-a-Neighbourhood" to improve the public health standards of the estate they choose to adopt. Another initiative, supported by NEA, is that by the North-East CDC termed "SCAN" - Schools and Community Anti-littering Network, which encourages schools and Residents’ Committees to adopt and improve cleanliness of littered areas within the GRC. To address the littering problem involving youths, which include those aged 35 and below, we have also recently formed a Committee on Youths for Clean and Sustainable Environment. This consists of representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, People’s Association Youth Movement, Singapore Environment Council, National Youth Council and educational institutions, to jointly develop strategies and educational programmes targeted at our youths. At the same time, NEA has intensified enforcement action against litterbugs by carrying out more inspections at public places which are frequently littered. NEA will also continue to enforce the Corrective Work Order (CWO) against recalcitrant litterbugs and those who commit serious littering offences. Students below the age of 18 who are caught littering will continue to be referred to their schools for counselling, to give them a chance to mend their ways. We hope that the various measures would bring about positive changes in mindset and behaviour among the litterbugs, while we continue to ensure a balance between educational efforts and enforcement.”
“Sir, our first anti-littering campaign was the "Keep Singapore Clean" public education campaign in 1968. Since then, we have come a long way to achieve high standards of public health and a quality living environment. But littering remains a key challenge today, especially in the heartlands, as noted by Members, Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Mr Charles Chong and Mr Masagos. If left unchecked, the littering problem will seriously tarnish Singapore’s reputation as a clean city and degrade our quality of life. We have recently completed a survey on littering behaviour. The survey showed that those who litter tend to be males below 30 years of age. Commonly littered items include cigarette butts, tissue papers and plastic wrappers. I see some smiles on my female fellow parliamentary colleagues. The survey results also showed that only a small minority, about 5% of the people, think that littering is a socially acceptable behaviour. The way to keep our environment "litter-free", however, should not be to employ an ever-increasing army of cleaners to clean up after the people who litter, as has been alluded again by Mr Chong, Mr Masagos Zulkifli and Mr Liang Eng Hwa. Instead, Singaporeans, in particular our youths, need to have a greater sense of ownership and care of the environment and refrain from littering. My Ministry believes that environmental ownership can be strengthened further. NEA has therefore been working closely with the community to encourage residents, young people in particular, to participate in initiatives towards a cleaner and healthier environment. For instance, NEA has worked with the Central CDC on an initiative for students called "Youth Environmental Guardians".”
“With regard to housing for a city of up to six million, I would like to ask the Minister what is the mix of low-rise and high-rise dwelling units the planners are considering and what will be the intended housing density for high-rise living. How can we ensure that we still have sufficient public and green spaces for communal interaction and bonding which are even more critical with an increasingly diverse population? Land Use Planning”
“In fact, there is already evidence of filtering effects of the high-end boom into the lower to mid-tier segments. I also understand from property professionals that the primary market rather than the secondary market is all the rage now. This is no longer value investing. I urge the Government to monitor the situation carefully and stand ready to introduce measures to curb excessive price increase which, left unchecked, could only end in grief. The stock market correction we have witnessed in recent days is a grim reminder of the market's self-correcting mechanism and how much chaos it can create not just to computer trading systems but to the savings of people as well. The euphoria has also seeped into the public housing segment, evident by recent press reports of public outrage at people who seemed to have prior notice of upcoming walk-in selection exercises. Sir, looking at it positively, this is but a reflection of the strong demand underpinned by solid economic gains over the past few years. But we should not dismiss the risks of faulty markets creating the conditions for a painful correction. While HDB exercises strong influence because of its ability to set new flat prices, it should not neglect the pressures that may build up in the resale market. After all, the prices of new HDB flats are influenced by resale flat prices. I urge the Government to keep a close watch on affordability so that public housing flats will not be out of reach to ordinary folks who may already feel envious of the millions some people are reported to have made in their property trading.”
“Sir, high-end property prices have risen dramatically over the past 12 months. Nary a day passes without the press reporting a story of how new price records are being broken, how queues formed outside choice show flats, queue numbers swapped for an astronomical sums of money, blank cheques only are taken at popular launches, and units are flipped at profits of $100,000 or more. These scenes are eerily similar to the heydays of speculation in the mid-1990s. 3.00 pm The Minister has repeatedly assured Singaporeans that the problem is confined to the luxury segment of the market and that the masses need not worry of being outpriced. The Government has gradually resumed its land sales programme and reintroduced payment of stamp duty upfront, instead of upon completion of sale, presumably to discourage speculation. We have also read about returned units from options left unexercised because the original purchaser is unable to find a buyer to flip the property and wants to cut losses. Sir, the situation is worth monitoring closely for its potentially debilitating effects on the quality of banks' housing loans portfolio in the event of a price correction. Equally disconcerting is the manner in which sky-rocketing prices dampen aspirations and create middle-class anxiety. I understand the logic that, so long as speculation does not extend to the mass market, the Government has no business to intervene. After all, those who choose to punt on Marina Bay residences or One Shenton are best left to their own devices. If they suffer a loss, it is their problem. My fear, Sir, is that the mass and luxury segments of the market, seemingly decoupled now, may rejoin once again.”
“Sir, currently, there are two levels of checks, as I have noted earlier. Firstly, the cleaning companies deploy their ground supervisors to monitor the performance of these workmen for the areas under their care. On top of this, the NEA officers also conduct daily audits to monitor the performance of these cleaning companies to ensure that they keep to the cleaning schedules and their workmen deliver the service satisfactorily. In fact, our NEA ground officers also regularly review how frequently an area needs to be cleaned taking into account, of course, the volume of pedestrian traffic, how heavily littered the area is as well as the volume of leaf fall. So, if necessary, they can require the cleaning contractors to clean the area more frequently. Normally, as I said, it is cleaned twice a week but they could ask the cleaning contractors to clean three times or even every day. This is how we actually monitor. In fact, we have also asked the cleaning contractors to inform the residents of their cleaning schedules as well as cleaning frequency and to update the residents of this information once every six months, so that the residents can give us more meaningful and timely feedback.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry employs contractors to clean private housing estates. The cleaning contractors sweep the roads and remove litter from the pavements, footpaths, grass verges, bus-stops and other open public areas in the estates. Cleaning is carried out at least twice a week. Some estates which are more heavily littered are cleaned more frequently, including everyday if necessary. In addition, litter bins are emptied daily. Contractors are also engaged to remove litter and leaves from drains in private housing estates. All drains are cleaned at least once a week, with the more heavily littered drains cleaned up to three times a week. In addition to checks by ground supervisors of the cleaning contractors, NEA and PUB officers conduct regular audit checks to ensure that the cleaning works are carried out satisfactorily according to schedule. Residents with feedback may contact NEA or PUB. They may also contact the cleaning contractor in charge of their estates. Cleaning contractors for private estates have also informed residents of the cleaning schedules for their estates. Other than the cleaning contractors, NEA's workmen also clean some of the private estates in Singapore. These workmen are supervised by NEA environmental health officers.”
“I would like to think that, with the budgetary measures we have put in place to ensure Singapore's long-term prosperity, we should see the "golden" preface to the coming years of the Chinese calendar occurring much more frequently. And, hopefully, we will also be getting “hongbao” Budgets more frequently. Sir, I support the Budget. 4.32 pm”
“Hence, a greater need to draw more on investment income from accumulated reserves to make up for any shortfall. PM Lee had, during the Opening of Parliament, highlighted this and noted that the definition of Net Investment Income contribution would be broadened to include realised capital gains as part of the total returns earned from the investment of reserves. This has been welcomed by tax consultants and analysts as it would come closer to international accounting standards and also because capital gains are a crucial part of the total returns on investments. However, depending on what investment is taken into account in the new definition, one downside would be greater volatility of our budgetary income. I would thus like to ask the Minister to give us a better idea of the types of investments from which the capital gains would likely be taken into account in the new definition. Too much reliance on NIIC for our budgetary requirements against a higher risk profile of our investments - most clearly demonstrated by the troubled Shin transaction - could mean that we may have difficulties implementing long-term policies through our budgets. What would be the other implications of a more volatile budgetary income and would this mean that we could see GST being raised again in the not too distant future? Conclusion Sir, in conclusion, this Budget has given confidence to many Singaporeans of a very able Government with a sound head, clear vision, functioning ears and a good heart. Sir, this is the year of the "golden" pig. In the Chinese Almanac, such a year occurs only once in every 60 years!”
“For instance, as has been suggested, allow couples the option of taking the last four weeks of the maternity leave either as maternity or paternity leave so that this is not seen purely as a liability against women employees. Moreover, this also sends a strong signal that looking after children is a shared responsibility, thus making the environment more amenable for women to have children. Many stay-at-home-mums - and I only need to say it is only stay-at-home-mums in this instance to my colleague Dr Lim Wee Kiak who is not in the House at the moment - are the ones that have consistently lamented to me that they are left out of benefits such as the Workfare bonus and subsidies targeted at working mothers, just because they have chosen to look after their children full-time. In fact, this is among the top feedback received by REACH during its pre-Budget wish list feedback exercise. A s tay-at-home-mum does not have regular working hours, annual leave or even allowance bonuses from the husband. Maybe some do! Hence, I feel that it is important to recognise the efforts and contribution of SAHMs and this, I submit, would also include the few enlightened stay-at-home-dads, just to be gender neutral. I would thus like to urge the Government to consider giving SAHMs a bonus, similar to the Senior Citizens' bonus and NSmen bonus, from time to time. The fourth B: Buffer for Budgetary Demands To entrench Singapore's global competitiveness, strengthen its economic resilience as well as its social fabric, the Government would have to continue to invest heavily - in education, R&D, job creation and offset packages - to deal with the persistent and widening income gap. The demands on Government revenue are thus likely to increase.”
“Some also feel that there are simply not enough part-time work or flexi-work arrangements available for women to have children and to remain in the workforce. In 2006, part-time employment, as a proportion of total employment, stood at only 6.3%, which is less than one quarter of the rate found in countries like Japan and the UK. Having part-time and flexi-work more widely available will make it easier for couples, and in particular the women, to come to a decision to start a family or have more children. We should redouble our efforts to encourage companies and organisations to provide for part-time and family-friendly flexi-work arrangements, starting with the Government organisations. Many have also consistently noted that some employers still discriminate against pregnant women. The number of pregnant women employees seeking redress through MOM for unfair dismissal has been on the rise - from 36 in 2004, to 71 in 2006. In 90% of these cases, where the worker pursued her claim, MOM investigations “substantiated the complainant, who received redress.” This is evidence that such unfair practices still exist, albeit in small numbers. Such discriminatory practices clearly undermine the morale of female employees and work against our social objective of promoting procreation. More can and should be done to protect the rights of pregnant employees, such as a tightening of the existing legislation. Another step that could be taken to alleviate the problem of discrimination against pregnant employees would be to provide for some paternity leave.”
“However, accommodating such a population could raise a host of issues, such as environmental sustainability which my colleague has already referred to, and threats to our social stability. In fact, it is the latter that is potentially the most troublesome. Whilst we clearly want to attract talent from all over the world, how will having an even more diverse population affect our social fabric? Could the presence of a large pool of a younger, hungrier and more educated foreign population cause Singaporeans to be more resentful and lead to greater social divide? Hence, even as we continue to welcome foreign talents, we must look at ways to help them integrate into our local population, whilst assuring Singapore citizens that citizenship does have its privileges and that every Singaporean matters. At the same time, we should also continue to promote our marriage and procreation policies. As one feedback participant highlighted, a noticeable absence in this year’s Budget is the lack of any incentives to further push along the procreation policy. We need to review our procreation package that was launched in 2004. The package could have averted a further decline in birth rates as the number of babies born last year increased marginally by 557. However, we need to evaluate the impact of the various measures under the package to see how to improve its effectiveness. Other barriers to procreation need fresh attention. At my dialogue sessions with women groups, the subject of women facing the difficulty of juggling multiple roles inevitably crops up. The same complaints surface - insufficient infant care and child care facilities, especially near their workplaces, and the hefty costs of such facilities even with Government subsidies. So more subsidies are welcome.”
“Let me highlight another problem. MOM’s recent study on older workers has found that with the strong economic growth and tight labour market, the employment of older workers aged 55 years and above has increased in 2006. However, whilst the employment rates for men aged 55-59 years and 60-64 years are higher than those of the OECD countries, the corresponding rates for the women are significantly lower at 42.9% and 25.2% compared to 51.7% and 30.3% respectively for the OECD countries. Moreover, most of the rise in employment rates appeared to have taken place last year and more than two thirds (68%) of the older workers are employed in lower-skilled jobs such as cleaners and labourers. These clearly show that there remains significant room to enhance the employment of older workers, both in terms of employment rate and better pay, and especially among the women. These objectives should be vigorously pursued. The third B: Beyond Foreign Talent - Babies still wanted In the global race for capital and talent, it is not enough to have a good economic infrastructure. A first-rate living environment is equally important. However, this requires more than the hardware which Singapore has excelled in and will no doubt continue to do so. It also requires first-rate software - a driven committed people in-built with social responsibility, civic consciousness, graciousness - to give the city its vibrancy, soul and spirit. Hence, the need for us to be inclusive. In line with this vision of a first-world top-rate city, MND recently announced plans to cater for a population of up to 6.5 million from the current 4.5 million. This will provide the human capital without which the vision cannot be realised.”
“Furthermore, we also need to get rid of any biases against older workers. In fact, the plight of the older workers may be even harder to tackle than that of the lower-income group. It is estimated that as at the end of last year more than 8,000 or 2.5% of all PMETs aged 40 to 55 are still jobless. A recent MOM study on the profile of older workers in Singapore also revealed that only 10% of those working as professionals or associate professionals and technicians were aged 50 and over. One suspects that the perception of a middle income squeeze has persisted due to the fact that many who are middle-income and middle-aged worry that they may lose their job anytime and would have difficulty getting another job that affords them a comparable standard of living. This is a real problem as the next wave of globalisation could render many jobs, which are currently held by the middle income, obsolete. Hence, with each restructuring and retrenchment recycle, more PMETs may find themselves redundant. We need to change the attitudes of employers to see them as a ready pool of employees with a wealth of experience to tap on, instead of seeing them as people who may lack energy and are difficult to retrain. Drawing on this pool of older workers could also help reduce our dependency on foreign labour. MOM could, for instance, incentivise employers to hire older workers, and employers who do not discriminate against age should be held up as role models. At the same time, many of these older workers would also need to have realistic expectations and be willing to take on new jobs. For instance, in the South West CDC, we encounter many mature job seekers who do not feel confident to take on jobs which are different from what they were used to in the past.”
“As the incentive of the WIS to the casual worker is not immediately tangible, there is clearly a need to convince casual workers to get on the scheme. The second B: Barriers to Employment It is also commendable that the Government, through this Budget, will be allocating more training funds directly to workers instead of through employers to allow them to upgrade their skills. This would make training and skills upgrading portable, and help to mitigate the problem of older workers being overlooked for training opportunities as against their younger colleagues. Nonetheless, such measures are insufficient if there are still employers and employees who are resistant to change. For instance, as Labour Movement Minister Lim Swee Say has noted, we need to change the cheap source mentality of many customers and employers to a best source mentality. As an example, some cleaning contractors bid for jobs at very low rates and, hence, can only pay very low salaries of about $500 for each cleaner in order to maintain their profit margin. With such pay, it would be very difficult to motivate our local workers to take on such jobs. One wonders if this is why there is an insatiable demand for foreign workers who have much lower expectations. Even if they managed to hire local workers, these workers may not be motivated to give of their best and job retention is likely to suffer. It is a vicious cycle. To break this cycle, besides enforcement and whistle blowing, the clients of these contractors themselves should also not possess this cheapest source mindset. The tenders should not be awarded solely based on price, but also on past performance and some minimum standards. The Government, as a major outsourcing client using the tender system, should take the lead in this respect.”
“In the US, for instance, many on the workfare scheme are found to be in non-productive, community service work which were probably created to get these people off welfare and into workfare. There could also be a moral hazard issue as some workers might have no incentive to upgrade since they can continue to get wage supplement, as indeed has been the experience in some countries. Workfare thus cannot be seen as the panacea for the problems of the low-income workers. At best, it can only be an interim measure. The long-term solution must be to upgrade the skills of these workers and educate their young so that they can get better-paying jobs, get out, and stay out of the poverty trap. Sir, whilst WIS may have become a permanent fixture of our social safety net, those who are on workfare should be given as much help as possible to transcend the scheme and not themselves become a permanent fixture of the scheme. For the estimated 100,000 casual workers without CPF accounts, all of the Workfare Income Supplements they are entitled to, if they contribute to Medisave, will be paid into their Medisave accounts. The aim is to get these workers to join the CPF network and save for their future needs. However, some of these casual workers, who earn very low incomes and are already cash-strapped, may not join the scheme as this means forgoing the already precious little they have. Their immediate needs overshadow any lofty talk of long term-savings. Hence, the Government should monitor the response of this segment closely and assess if the proportion that opts out is significant. If so, the Government could perhaps consider giving a small part of the Workfare in cash to offset part or the entire amount they have to put into Medisave to qualify for the scheme.”
“In the same vein, many also feel that it is about time for us to see - pardon the pun - death of the death duty, which can deter wealthy foreigners from relocating and keeping their wealth here. Aside from some of these unfulfilled wishes, there have been dissenting voices, including an audio clip by Mr Brown – he of the bak chor mee fame - of the GST increase cast in the form of a Valentine love story, which, to me at least, comes across as neither humorous nor constructive. I now wish to highlight a number of challenges under the four headings where attention is warranted. Let me call them the 4 Bs. The first B: Beyond Workfare Mr Speaker, Sir, a key plank of this year’s Budget is making the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme a permanent feature of Singapore’s Budget framework. Coupling Workfare together with a restructuring of the CPF for low-wage workers, makes Singapore’s wage supplementation scheme unique. It provides the Government with the flexibility to channel more of the income augmentation under WIS to CPF as a form of compulsory long-term savings for the low-wage worker, and yet allows him to have a higher take-home pay. Nonetheless, Workfare, which has been implemented in the US and in the UK for many years, works well in a tight labour market, since it will be easier for the unemployed to get jobs. However, in a downturn, the less educated and skilled are likely to be retrenched first, and would also have greater difficulty securing a job. There could then be pressure for the Government to create jobs for this group so that they can get back on the Workfare scheme.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, by most accounts, this year's Budget is a generous one. Arguably too generous. Which government in the world would provide a GST offset package of up to 19 years? Does the Government have to go this far? Contributors to REACH generally found it to be a “receptive” and “good and well-intentioned” Budget. It showed that the Government has listened compassionately and that concrete steps have been aken to address Singaporeans' concerns of the widening income gap and the rise in the cost of living. Indeed, to quote the gleeful boss of an SME, he said: "It’s a budget made in heaven!" Many of the measures in this Budget, such as the two percentage point reduction in the corporate tax rate and other tax exemptions and rebates, are bold and designed to enhance Singapore’s long-term competitiveness in the global economy. But, Sir, what is sorely missed this year is a widely anticipated cut in personal income tax. As the corporate tax rate is now lower than the top personal income tax bracket of 20%, there may be some incentives for sole proprietorships and partnerships to incorporate their businesses to avoid paying higher personal taxes. Whilst only about 40% of the resident population pay income tax, a reduction in personal income tax rate would be welcome by the tax-paying middle income segment, many of whom lament that they contribute substantially to the state coffers and yet always seem to get the least benefits from any “hongbao” Budget. Making the personal income tax rate even more competitive would also be an added attraction to draw high net worth foreign talent to Singapore. They are just as important to attract companies to locate here.”
“Like many other nations coming to terms with the forces of globalisation, one enormous challenge is the widening income gap and the stresses that may be caused by an influx of foreigners. The poor we will always have with us. Likewise, as a nation of immigrants, Singapore will always have, and need our foreigners in our midst. More can and should be done to help ensure the less fortunate among us, but this must be carefully calibrated so that we do not unwittingly go down the slippery slope of welfarism. Likewise, as we open our doors wider to foreign talent, we need to do more to assimilate them while, at the same time, discern and strengthen the roots that tie our own people to this country we call home. Sir, I support the motion. 4.35 pm”
“This, coupled with the fact that our younger Singaporeans are more mobile, the efforts of governments in other countries to attract our own talent and the perceived better quality of life in more advanced economies are likely to make our young feel less rooted and less hesitant to migrate. A survey done by the Singapore Press Holdings in July this year seems to bear this out. It found that more than half (53%) of our young would consider migrating. In comparison, only 39% of their counterparts in India and 28% in Malaysia would consider leaving their homeland. This is a very telling and worrisome statistic. Even as we try to entice more foreigners to settle in Singapore and help them assimilate into our community, we must also make special effort to retain Singaporeans, or at least ensure that they will eventually return to Singapore. In Scotland, for instance, the move to attract foreign talent is coupled with measures to cater to talent from within the country. We need to seriously examine the issues affecting rootedness of Singaporeans, especially younger Singaporeans, and do more to strengthen their sense of belonging. Sir, I know that this is an evergreen subject, one that has inspired many speeches and caused much anguish. But perhaps, as a nation that started with immigrants, this could well be our karma, our constant thorn in the flesh. Sir, I believe that Singaporeans will have no hesitation to welcome foreigners with open arms if they feel that the Government and other stakeholders are doing all they can to ensure that locals are not disadvantaged, but in fact benefit from the presence of foreigners. As we strive to become a little but shining and brilliant red dot by embracing change, there are inevitable challenges that we need to grapple with.”
“Employers claim that they need retail assistants, laboratory technicians, digital media specialists and even draughtsmen from the Philippines, India, China and even Myanmar, as there are not enough Singaporeans who can or are willing to do these jobs. However, many locals are suspicious that employers actually prefer foreigners as they are cheaper. In fact, as recently reported in the press, Mr Nickson Fong, the CEO and co-founder of local digital animation company, Egg Story Creative Production, confirms this observation to some extent. He pointed out that the nascent digital media industry needs lots of workers who are prepared to work for less than $1,600 per month. Discounting management, only 20% of his staff are Singaporeans, whilst the rest are Malaysians or Indonesians. Why? He said, "Because Singaporeans want higher pay even when they do not have the relevant experience and Singaporeans have poorer work attitude." Notwithstanding the current buoyant job market, industry redevelopment to help redesign and reclaim jobs for our locals, as proposed by the NTUC, must be done in earnest and tangible results reported to allay the fears of Singaporeans that they are being displaced by foreigners. MOM must work with employers and the unions to change the mindsets of both employers and employees in order to close the expectations gap. Younger Singaporeans too question if such immigration policies which seem to favour foreigners may displace them. They fear that employers may prize foreign talent above locals. They wonder if they can have a bright future in Singapore in the face of a more relaxed immigration policy.”
“This will facilitate more help to be given without putting undue pressure on the Government to raise funds through taxation and/or budget cuts in some equally vital areas. Knowing that one can obtain timely and effective help from the Government when one is in genuine difficulties shows up the Government as having a heart and builds up one’s trust in it. I submit that this would invariably also lead to feelings of goodwill, pride and rootedness to the country. This leads me to my third and final point on integration and rootedness in the context of the divide between local and foreign talent. Continuing with the prevailing motif, we need to - close the gap (my third point). Close the gap Feedback to REACH, of which I am Chairman, on PM Lee’s recent National Day Rally Speech, indicated that the area of greatest concern to Singaporeans was immigration. Whilst most Singaporeans understand the necessity of attracting more foreigners onto our shores to prop up our population and ensure our economic vitality, they are apprehensive about the increased competition for jobs, places in educational institutions and the impact on social cohesion. The latest push to open up Singapore to foreigners with a broader range of skills and to give them portable employment passes, not pegged to specific employers, is likely to have caused more anxiety than even the foreign talent policy of the 1990s. It is not just the low income but also the lower middle and middle income that worry about their jobs being taken and their wages depressed by foreigners.”
“Yet, it is difficult to hire locals even after there have been some attempts to raise the level of competence of the cleaners, such as through automation. One reason could be that some cleaning contractors are paying cleaners too low wages. I am aware of a cleaning contractor who pays the cleaners $250 per HDB block per month. As the cleaners are largely only able to handle about two blocks per day, their monthly wage will only be about $500 per month. I understand that these cleaning contractors are only able to pay such wages as their successful bids are so low that they are unable to pay higher wages. One wonders if the bids were made on the basis of what are acceptable wages for foreign workers, with no thought for the locals! Although the employment rate for older workers, for instance, those aged 55 to 59 years has increased from 51.7% in 2000 to 56.9% in 2005, it is still lower than that of many developed countries. Improving the employment rate of older workers would also help to narrow the income divide. There is thus clearly a need to actively promote the employability of older workers through public education and monetary incentives, as well as through legislation to facilitate the re-employment of older workers beyond the current statutory retirement age of 62 years. In the same vein, actively promoting the employment of the disabled through public education and monetary incentives to employers would also help to improve the employment rate of people with disabilities. To encourage the many-helping-hands approach and allow the more able to help the less able among us, the Government could allow tax-free and matching grant donations to be made by the public into the ComCare fund.”
“As the school may only consider the case as a dropout after the student AWOLs from school for several weeks or months, I understand that sometimes the dropout cannot even be traced if he or she moves away from the parents’ house, such as after the parents divorce. On the job front, Minister Lim Swee Say, while acknowledging the contributions of foreign workers, wondered aloud if too liberal a policy on low-skilled foreign workers impedes the restructuring of various sectors of the economy and depresses the wages of low-skilled workers. I agree that the best way to help raise the income of our low-wage workers - get them out of their poverty cycle - is to raise their productivity through skills upgrading and redesigning jobs. However, there may be little incentive for employers to redesign jobs as long as they have easy access to cheap labour. Hence, MOM should study this issue carefully in the context of the Inter-Ministerial Committee’s objectives and see if there is a need to recalibrate the ratio between local and foreign workers in less skilled jobs in the different industries. Indeed, the labour movement’s latest attempt to help low-wage workers through industry redevelopment alludes to the need to gradually tighten quotas for hiring low-skilled foreign workers, if the scheme to overhaul industries that depend too heavily on low-skilled foreign workers is to succeed. There need to be enough jobs reclaimed at reasonable wages to entice Singaporeans to work, of course with a concurrent increase in productivity so that costs do not have to escalate. For instance, there are many vacancies in the cleaning sector.”
“As Mayor, I can provide many, many more heart-warming examples of such success stories. Finding the right balance, where more is done without breeding the entitlement mentality, is a Herculean task requiring a clear understanding of the problems and mindsets of the needy, and the operating environment. Hence, Sir, before launching yet another series of programmes to mitigate this problem, I implore the Government to set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee and undertake a comprehensive study and consultation exercise, together with all stakeholders, on our existing social safety nets, the areas of improvements that can be made to render it even more robust and responsive. A whole of government approach is needed. Inter-Ministerial Committees have been set up before to tackle, among others, SARS, the marriage and procreation issue, ageing issue and the plight of low wage workers. As the income gap issue is a reality facing us and is set to plague us for some time to come, it clearly warrants the setting up of such a top level Committee to tackle the issue holistically. The consultation exercise can be used to calibrate the appropriate level of assistance that can be given without tilting the balance to welfarism, as well as identify the target groups to help, which could even include the sandwich class in some circumstances. It can also recommend how to streamline the different programmes administered by the various Ministries and other stakeholders so that there is clearly a no-wrong-door policy. Furthermore, cross-referrals of clients for closing the loop is assured. For instance, in the case of school dropouts, there is currently no structured system where the dropout would be referred to a VWO or self-help group to follow up after he leaves the school.”
“He also lamented that because of Denmark’s very generous welfare benefits, there are young people who are not motivated to work since they can always turn to the state. But, despite these pitfalls, he remarked that most Danes understand that they cannot leave their underclass in the lurch and need to extend a helping hand to this segment of the population, which leads me to my second point - bridge the gap. Bridge the gap At the CDC, we have many successful stories - which, unfortunately, very often, we were unable to entice the press to cover - where clients have been helped to become self-reliant again. A fundamental requirement for success is the willingness and sincerity of the client to be assisted. Indeed, individuals themselves must want to be helped and make the effort to help themselves. An example of this - which would also illustrate to my colleague Mr Low Thia Khiang that CDC officers go out of their way to help clients, are mindful of sensitivity, and careful not to hurt their pride - is the case of a 43-year old female client who only had primary 6 education, but had experience in the tourism industry where she previously worked for many years till she was retrenched. The CDC officer found that she had many barriers that hindered her from getting employment and had to guide her on crafting a resume, and also how to succeed in job interviews. Subsequently, the CDC officer even had to negotiate with prospective employers to give her a chance, and ask them to assess her based on her skills and working experience, rather than her lack of qualifications. I am happy to say that these efforts eventually helped her to secure a job as a front desk clerk earning $1,100 per month.”
“In fact, under the ComCare fund, Citizens Consultative Committees have been allocated a sum of money each year to dispense interim financial assistance to any resident who is genuinely in need of urgent help. Sir, even so, there is persistent perception on the ground that more can and should be done to level up the less fortunate among us. The President has in his Address affirmed that the Government will strengthen our social safety nets and do more to meet the growing needs of the lower income and older Singaporeans, at the same time avoiding the pitfalls that other countries have met in pursuing welfare schemes that are unsustainable and which have led to increased dependency and higher unemployment. Sir, indeed as an MP for the last five years and Mayor for the last two-odd years, I strongly agree that even as we pursue a policy of inclusiveness leaving no one behind, we must be careful not to go down the slippery slope of welfarism that inevitably requires a high rate of taxation and breeds a dependency syndrome. Already, at my MPS, I am seeing a number of able-bodied residents coming in regularly to ask for food and utility vouchers as well as financial assistance, and giving many untenable excuses as to why they are unable to work. Recently, in Denmark, the driver of a taxi I was travelling in told me when we passed one of their social welfare offices that very often the drug addicts will take a taxi to get their unemployment benefits as they are too weak to get there by public transport. They then use a substantial portion of their welfare benefits for the taxi fare, leaving them with insufficient money for the rest of the week.”
“Firstly, the trend of a more pronounced social divide with a widening wage gap, exacerbated by an ageing population and, secondly, how our social cohesion would be affected by more liberal immigration policies together with the generational shifts in values of our post-65ers. These concerns are not new, but I think we need to address them more fully. It is my belief that insufficient attention to them could undo the many gains we have made over the past 40 years. In fact, they would hinder us from achieving the objective of a highly competitive but compassionate society. Sir, to address the gaps in our society, we need to: (1) mind the gap; (2) bridge the gap; and (3) close the gap. Mind the gap The London Underground PA system announces whenever a train approaches – “Mind the gap!” Sir, that is sound advice indeed. There are potentially many gaps in our society that could show up if we are not vigilant – rich versus poor; foreign versus local; able versus disabled; young versus old; gifted versus normal. Of particular concern is the growing income divide which could fracture our social cohesion. This phenomenon is not unique to Singapore and is experienced not just by advanced economies like Canada and the US but also countries like India and China. Recognising this problem, the Government has, especially in recent years, put in place a broad array of assistance schemes to help needy Singaporeans through the CDC, welfare and grassroots organisations. These include work support schemes, ComCare, Medifund, Utilities Save, Workfare Bonus and Progress Package, just to name a few.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I look back at our development over the last 40 years, I cannot help but feel immense satisfaction at how far Singapore has come in economic terms. We have meticulously put in place many things that will ensure our long term prosperity. Our economy is now well diversified; we have new growth engines in the form of pharmaceuticals and the biomedical sector. We are developing new capabilities in nanotechnology, media, water and environmental technology. We have established FTAs with a host of countries. We have grown second and third wings, and many Singaporean companies are now active in far-flung countries like Russia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Our education system is being reshaped to develop a diversity of talents, not just academic. Our healthcare system is also being tweaked to become more robust as our society ages rapidly. Various sectors have been liberalised – telecommunications, power, transport. Jobs are being re-tooled. Talent is welcome from around the world. Orchard Road is being re-made. Economists and businessmen alike are excited about the prospects of having not one, but two world-class iconic integrated resorts on our tiny island with a possibility of even more to come in the future. Clearly, we must have done many things right, not least in the last few years, because “straight laced” Singapore, as still perceived by many, has just been ranked second in the world, after Italy, for, if you do not already know, the quality of its nightlife and dining. Last year, we did not even make the Top 10 in this hip quotient! Yet, Sir, with all these exciting developments, I feel unease over the gaps in our society, and two in particular.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether protocols are actually in place or will be developed together with the other relevant Ministries to disseminate information to the public on the proper response if they were to find dead birds. If so, what are they and what will be the responsibilities of the different agencies, like the AVA and NEA, because I understand that NEA is in charge of certain birds and AVA may be in charge of others? Which is the agency to contact? I would also like to ask the Minister whether there are plans among the different agencies to launch a continuous public education effort, using both print and broadcast media, regarding bird flu and the precautions we should take against bird flu, so that Singaporeans will not become complacent whilst we still remain free of bird flu.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether the Ministry could review this MC policy. Whilst I understand the confidentiality involved, for a contagious disease like hand, foot and mouth disease, though it may not be that deadly, especially for younger children, could the doctors be required, especially for young children, to state the cause for the MC, so that the childcare centres and kindergartens can take the necessary remedial action? Because this has happened in one of my centres where they were not aware of it. They could not do anything till they found out later that the child actually had hand, foot and mouth disease.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister if GPs are required to inform MOH if a child or a patient comes down with HFMD and whether they are required to state in their medical certificates (MCs) that a patient has got HFMD, the reason being that I understand that some parents, for various reasons, are actually not informing the schools, and the MCs do not state that the child has HFMD. Also, I would like to ask the Minister, in view of the fact that this is a recurrent kind of sickness every year, whether the Ministry will consider mounting some kind of public education effort to make sure that every individual knows how to protect himself and the children from HFMD as well as not spreading it to others.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister two supplementary questions. The Malaysian DPM Datuk Seri Najib has been quoted in the press as saying that it is within Malaysia's right to build the bridge within their territory. What is Singapore's position regarding this? I would also like to ask the Minister what is the impact or implication for Singapore if Malaysia were to go ahead to build the so-called "scenic" half-bridge within its territory.”
“Sir, I want to thank the Minister, the Minister of State and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their detailed responses. I would also like to thank them for the new initiative to further enhance students' learning experience and to develop the talent and ability of every student. Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $6,357,008,690 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $609,161,400 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Column No : 1425 Head S - Ministry of Manpower”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister on the point that students can be admitted to VTC. Sir, I understand that we should not rush into this. We should take this cautiously. I welcome the changes that will be made with regard to VTC programme, but the Minister noted earlier that students may now be allowed to enter VTC prior to reaching 14 years old, ie, if they fail twice in the PSLE. I would like to ask the Minister if MOE would consider, further down the road, allowing students to be admitted to VTC even before they fail the PSLE twice, because after six years of education, it may be quite clear to the teachers and parents if the student would benefit more from the VTC-type of education experience than in mainstream schools. I am asking the Minister if that would be considered, either they fail once or even not having taken the PSLE, but subject to the teacher's and parent's advice and consent to actually send the student to VTC prior to taking the PSLE.”
“So, why can such methods not be used for all mainstream students instead, so as to benefit a larger pool of students? Instead of having dedicated programmes and classes for these GEP students, they could be intermingled with mainstream students and be allowed to take additional enrichment programmes to stretch them. 5.45 pm Pre-school”
“The GEP was launched in 1984, more than 20 years ago, to develop talents. About 1% of each year's cohort is selected for the GEP every year. The GEP provides a different curriculum and teaching methods for exceptionally bright students. Over the years, there have been many complaints about the perceived inequality of treatment by the schools for GEP and non-GEP students, in terms of provision of resources and attention given to these two groups of students. There have also been comments of how GEP students either keep to themselves or are ostracised by the non-GEP students. In their bid to promote interaction between GEP and non-GEP students, the MOE recently announced that mainstream secondary school students will be allowed to take some GEP enrichment subjects. Additionally, to increase interaction from a younger age, the MOE is also looking into letting primary school GEP students take subjects like PE and arts with their mainstream counterparts. Sir, with the introduction of the through-train integrated programme for secondary schools and GEPs, many schools such as Raffles Girls School, which used to offer GEP are now offering just the IP programme as it, in fact, provides a more customised and flexible approach to developing talent. It is envisaged that most GEP students would choose the IP, making the GEP at secondary schools quite redundant. This being the case, the GEP at secondary schools could eventually be phased out. Given this scenario, one wonders if there is really a need to continue with the GEP programme in primary schools with all the attendant problems of perceived discrimination and alleged elitism, especially from such a young age. Many of the teaching methodologies offered for the GEP would definitely prove to be useful for mainstream students.”
“Additionally, exposing secondary school students early to polytechnic education may give them a good idea of where their educational inclination and career preferences lie. I urge the Ministry to apply this different pathways approach all the way up and down the educational ladder. More diversity and richness could be incorporated into our secondary school landscape to allow for more exploratory and creative learning, by offering not just applied and practice-oriented options but also subjects like art, design and even gaming.”
“Sir, the thrust of our education system is now to offer choice, flexibility and recognition of different learning preferences and pace. This has been hailed as something of a revolution in our education system, an enlightened approach that is sympathetic to the wide range of abilities of our generation of pupils. This recognition that one size cannot fit all is largely welcome. The key plank of the changes thus far is the Integrated Programme for secondary schools and JCs. As a Straits Times' report dated 28th December 2005 noted, there are now at least five different ways of getting a university degree, not counting the traditional route of taking the 'O' and 'A' levels. However, the changes so far still tend to concentrate on the academic route leading to a university degree. Not much change and diversity has been incorporated for students who prefer the more applied route of going from secondary schools to the polytechnics. There have been calls from some students themselves that it will be beneficial to allow them to take more applied modules with real life practical applications, instead of purely academic subjects, even at secondary schools. Such subjects could be offered in conjunction with the polytechnics at secondary schools, much like NUS offering some Science and Mathematics subjects to the NUS High School. This could enhance students' learning experience, making learning more interesting and relevant, and spur greater creativity and innovation. It would also help students discover their interests and talent early and prevent the less academically inclined from becoming disinterested in their studies.”
“To ensure that no one is left behind as Singapore progresses and develops, MOE should attempt to further minimise the drop-out rates, especially from our primary schools, or channel them to the VTCs. This can be done if MOE adopts an early-intervention approach by identifying students who are at risk of dropping out of the education system and giving them appropriate help. It can do this by having more counsellors to work with the teachers to identify such at-risk children at the primary and secondary schools. It should also enhance its Learning Support Programme, extending this beyond Primary 1 and 2, as many of these children remain unable to cope with their studies in the upper primaries due to their family circumstance and lack of support. Finally, MOE should work with MCYS and other community and self help groups to encourage all parents to send their children to pre-school, regardless of their financial position. This is to prevent the children from lagging behind in their studies and, as a consequence, feel frustrated and become disengaged when they start mainstream school. School Bags”
“In enhancing our VTC education, I would like to suggest that the VTC work closely with the industry and WDA to ensure that students acquire the relevant skills needed by the industry, and their VTC programme is compatible with WDA's Workforce Skills Qualification System, such that there could be mutual recognition for the two programmes. It would be useful for the VTC to offer apprenticeship programmes as this will allow students to have hands-on experience of what they are learning and also help them earn some income which they may sorely need. Vocational education should not be seen or marketed as a last resort for those who fail their PSLE repeatedly. In fact, in Germany, after completing primary school, students are given a choice to opt for a vocational education. Depending on the states, teachers could advise parents as to the best course of education for their children. 4.30 pm Hence, teachers here could also advise parents on the inclinations or preferences of their children for a more hands-on education at the VTC. They should be allowed to opt for a VTC education for their children right after Primary 6, instead of going the N level or ITE route. VTC education must be seen as yet another educational pathway which parents, together with their children, can choose, and not as a dumping ground. I would like to ask the Minister if the MOE would allow more students who can benefit from the hands-on, practice-oriented curriculum offered to join the VTC. In addition to technical skills, the VTC curriculum should also incorporate the full range of learning experiences available in mainstream schools, including sports, arts and character development to provide these students with a holistic education that equips them not only with job ready but also life skills.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head K of the Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, over the last few years, MOE has implemented many changes to our educational system to allow for more customisation and flexibility to cater to students with different learning aptitudes and talents. The aim is to help every student realise his or her full potential. In fact, the nature of our education system now appears to be choice, choice and more choice. Sir, these new initiatives are largely welcomed. However, on balance, many of these changes are still biased towards the academically-inclined. I am, therefore, pleased that the MOE has announced its intention to, amongst others, enhance our current vocational training programme. Sir, our education system is one that is respected by many countries in the world and has produced high literacy rate and a capable workforce. But there remains a group of students, albeit a small group, who are unable to thrive or perhaps even survive in our current education system which is academically biased. This group who dropped out of the education system would likely form the underclass of our society if they are not given an opportunity to acquire job-ready and life-long learning skills. Moreover, as Singapore develops and becomes more affluent there is some concern that the education system, which is supposed to be based purely on meritocracy may, in fact, polarise our society by inadvertently offering greater benefits to the more educated and well-off Singaporeans. Hence, more attention should be paid to children who do poorly in schools as many may be from the lower income families. Without education as an income leveller, they may remain stuck in the poverty trap.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister and his Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their very comprehensive replies. I would also like to thank the Minister for bringing us many good news today regarding the conservation and protection of the environment and improving the quality of the environment, including our very own and very unique Singaporean-style hawker centres. Sir, I am pleased to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $440,608,750 for Head L ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $613,,946,500 for Head L ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head O - Ministry of Health”
“I would like to ask the Minister regarding our Singapore OK programme. It does not seem to be very okay now for many toilets. Is the Ministry going to review the whole initiative to see what else we can do because many of the toilets have really deteriorated in cleanliness? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I apologise to Dr Khor for not answering that. I agree with her that after the campaign we noticed a slight deterioration. My officers have stepped up efforts and we are going to work very closely with the operators. I mentioned in my reply that we are going to work with coffeeshops and places where people gather, for litter-free premises and we will extend this to looking into toilets and how best we can maintain the standard. So it is an important part of our work and I thank her for raising it up and we will continue to review this.”
“I am pleased that the environmental and water technology development has been identified as one of two key areas of focus for the $5 billion R&D Trust Fund under the NRF. I understand that the environmental and water technology sector is forecast to grow by 10%-12% a year in the area of water technologies. Since 2001, 10 groups under the PUB have been studying areas like membrane technology, water and used water treatment. PUB also provides facilities and on-site support to private companies for testbeding initiatives. In line with the key thrust of the NRF, I would like to ask what the Ministry's plans are for R&D into environmental and water technologies and what other aspects it would be looking into. How would the Ministry encourage private sector participation in this area of research and will collaborate with them so that the private sector can also benefit from this growth sector? How can the Ministry encourage and help our environmental and water sector develop and expand abroad?”
“Sir, I commend the great strides the Government has made in the area of water technology, extracting every drop of water out of the very little we have from every conceivable source towards sustainable water management. Sir, now that we have already turned on our fourth national tap, which is desalination, I would like to ask the Minister to comment whether we can one day be truly self-sufficient for our water needs and no longer need to import water from elsewhere. In addition, to help ensure that Singapore has sufficient water and at affordable cost, I would like to ask the Minister if there are any initiatives to further reduce our domestic consumption of water on a per capita basis. Would the Government make it mandatory for all flush systems to be switched to the water saving dual-flush low-capacity cisterns? Furthermore, with some low-income households being unable to pay their water bills, how can the Ministry help particularly such households, to reduce their water consumption and, hence, their water bills?”