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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“However, building flats, particularly to house over 80% of the whole population, is exceedingly onerous since the HDB, like everybody else, can never perfectly forecast the market. There are constant risks of the HDB over-building, such as the 17,500 unsold flats in non-mature estates reported at the beginning of the year, and under-building, such as in 1997 when the queue swelled to 146,000. Moreover, HDB currently has a labyrinth of rules and regulations, such as the single scheme, extended family scheme, walk-in selection, BTO, resale levies, contra rules, and so on and so forth. It would probably not be an exaggeration to say that the HDB rule book must be about two inches thick! As at 2nd March 2001, the HDB has more than 8,000 employees. Such a large bureaucratic organisation may not be ideally suited for the rapidly shifting economic and social landscape. Hence, it would be appropriate for HDB to re-look at its role and streamline its operations. While HDB's role as a provider of affordable mass housing remains relevant, it should perhaps shrink its target market at the higher end. It could, for instance, sell more Executive Condominium sites as a step towards increasing the proportion of this housing type. It can then re-focus its mission and efforts on low-income housing. It could also extend the qualifying criteria for renting its flats so that the needy do not fall through the gaps. To redress the current imbalance of over investment in housing and complaints about high accommodation costs, it could perhaps also look at offering flats with shorter lease tenure, not unlike the granny HDB flats. This leads me to my next recommendation, which is tenure choice. The tenure of public housing has an effect on the concept of the home as an investment.”
“Sir, in view of concerns that many Singaporeans are over-investing in housing and the already high percentage of public home ownership, there is a need to re-evaluate some aspects of our housing policy which may have become less relevant. The increasing recognition that an entrepreneurial culture is needed for the new economy would also make it desirable to separate the investment component of home ownership from the utility component of a dwelling house. While home ownership helps to give a sense of rootedness, asset enhancement policies, which emphasise the investment component of home ownership, may encourage speculation. Put differently, why bother to work hard and take risk in business when one can potentially make more money punting on properties, like punting on stocks and shares? This was a phenomenon we witnessed in the run-up to the 1996 boom when even HDB flat owners sold their flats to unlock cash and then purchased another flat with CPF monies. I would thus like to propose two specific recommendations for the Minister to consider. Firstly, the role of HDB. The role of HDB needs to be reviewed. Towards this end, I am pleased to note that the Ministry has already announced that it would be undertaking this. I would thus like to urge the Ministry to undertake a comprehensive and thorough review of the role of the Board. HDB was created in the sixties with the noble aim of housing the masses. Indeed, it has more than fulfilled this mission, with some 86% of the population living in public housing. Since its inception, its reach and influence have grown. In fact, it has scope-crept from low cost housing to middle income housing.”
“I would like to suggest that as a first step towards more transparency and efficiency, as well as avoid unnecessary waste of resources, the Ministry could consider having and publishing reserve prices for the sites under the GLS programme when the sites are launched for sale. After all, developers would already have an indication of the reserve price of a site under a Reserve List when it is launched for sale upon a successful application. Moreover, as noted earlier, reserve prices are also largely in place for private land tenders and auctions. 4.00 pm Additionally, the Minister could also adopt a more flexible policy and widen the band around the reserve prices, say, from 15-25% particularly for sites which serve strategic objectives and where there is more than one bidder so that actual supply will not be stifled and developers will not be denied the opportunity to earn their rewards for taking on risks. I am pleased to note that this has already been done in the case of the two sites at Marina South that have been sold by tender. I would therefore urge the Minister to adopt this as a more sustained policy.”
“My fellow MP, Mr Inderjit Singh, had on Monday identified the Government's land sales policy and the approach of reserve pricing as one of the three Government policy levers that has created a vicious cost circle, with the high cost of owning properties driving the need for higher wages, which add to business costs. This is also a common refrain among many businessmen, especially SMEs, who feel that the recent tax measures do not help them if they are not making a profit and that they are being squeezed out by high costs, including land costs. Sir, I do not fully subscribe to Mr Singh's argument but, nevertheless, think that the Government's land pricing policy formula should be revised. Under the Government's land tender system with reserve prices, the land is generally not awarded unless it hits the predetermined minimum threshold price, which the URA has said is 15% below the reserve price. This reserve price implies that the Government is setting a benchmark for land prices. Businessmen often question why the land cannot be awarded to the highest bidder as long as there is more than one bidder. The reply, as I understand it, has been that the State land, being a scarce resource, should be optimally utilised and awarding the site at less than reserve price (within the 15% margin) is fiscally impossible. Why should the Government let the private sector gain at the expense of the State because he gets it for a "song"? Additionally, developers and investors have also commented that the Government should be more transparent and reveal the reserve price at the outset, which is already in place for many private land tender and auctions. I would thus like to ask the Ministry if it would be refining its land tender system in response to these concerns.”
“Additionally, in determining the form that the GLS programme will take when it is re-launched, I would like to suggest to the Ministry to consider enlarging the role of the Reserve List system. In effect, the Reserve List should rightly be considered as actual land supply since the sites on the list are available for sale at any time as long as there is at least one interested party willing to pay at or above the reserve price. The Reserve List is useful as it injects flexibility into the GLS programme by allowing demand to be directed by the market. The Reserve List should thus remain and complement the GLS programme. Being the largest land owner in Singapore, the Government is for good or ill the single most dominant player in the property market. The GLS programme is the key means by which the Government supplies land to the private sector and thus must be managed carefully, so that volatility in the property market can be reduced. I will go on to my second cut, Sir. Before I forget, which I did earlier, let me, first, declare my interest, because I am actually in the property industry. Sir, the Government's system of selling land via tender or auction, with a minimum reserve price, has always attracted much attention from investors, developers, businessmen and the public alike, and has been the brunt of much criticism. This is not surprising, given that the Government is the single largest land owner in Singapore and also the key supplier of land, as I had noted earlier. Of late, much attention has again been given in the press and in this House on the Government's land sale and pricing policies. These policies have been much maligned as the ultimate cause of high costs.”
“In determining the supply of State land for various uses, it is important for the Government to take into account all land and real estate that will be put into the market by the various Government agencies, such as JTC, HDB, SLA and LTA, besides URA. The "infamous" Turf City project, which drew much flak from developers and retailers in the area, as well as the One North project and most recently the Ang Mo Kio Centre site which was directly allocated to the SLF, are examples of major projects launched or announced recently that are outside the GLS programme, but which constitute a very significant supply. There is a need to coordinate such releases and include such projects into the URA's published statistics to give an accurate picture of supply conditions. These numbers should also be taken into account in the GLS programme. The Turf City project, for instance, added approximately one million square feet of retail space into the market. As noted by the Prime Minister recently in a press interview with Asian editors, there is a need for a more and even better statistics on real estate so that investors and developers do not overbid for property thinking that there is strong demand and/or lack of supply, and then contribute towards not just inflation but over-inflation in property prices. Towards this end, I would like to suggest that all land supply allocation policies be coordinated by a single Government body, at least for each major property sub-market, for instance, URA for housing and commercial, and JTC for industrial. This will yield a more coherent policy for each property sector, better accountability, more certainty and transparency on total supply from both private and public sectors and allow for quicker responses to changes in the specific markets.”
“Sir, the Government owns an estimated 90% of land in Singapore and this proportion is set to grow due to reclamation and acquisition. In this light, the Government's Land Sales (GLS) programme has been a crucial tool of the macro-economic management of Singapore's property market. The GLS has been frozen for the past one year in recognition of weak market conditions. When announcing the freeze in GLS last year, the Ministry also implemented the Reserve List system which allows developers to apply for a site on the list by indicating a price. If this price meets the URA's reserve price, then the land would be released for tender. The Ministry should be commended for the Reserve List which has proven to be a very effective and efficient tool, where the market dictates when a site is to be released, not unlike the HDB's build-to-order system. The Reserve List allows supply to be triggered by demand and is thus a more responsive system of land allocation. It thus injects flexibility into the GLS programme which hitherto has been largely rigid and lags behind fluctuations in the market because the programme is underpinned by prior assumptions about market demand which may not materialise. The consequences of a demand and supply mismatch are most clearly illustrated in the more than 16,000 private residential units which have been launched or are ready to be launched and have not been sold. I would like to ask the Minister how the Ministry intends to determine the supply of land for each use in the immediate future when it resumes its GLS programme next year and in the medium and long term. I would also like to ask the Minister what form the GLS is likely to take.”
“More recently, with the downturn in the property market and suggestions that changes would be made to the CPF scheme, many have lamented that they are now asset poor and cash poor, and some may perhaps even find themselves assetless and cashless!”
“Furthermore, for this group of workers who are supposedly in the prime of their working lives, cutting their employers' CPF contribution is viewed by many as an indictment of their economic worth. Many experts have also expressed doubt that this would spur employers to engage more older workers since the key issue with most of these people who have lost their jobs is that they suffer from outdated skills. For this category of workers, it would be better to focus on skills upgrading and job retraining and changing the mindsets of both the employers and employees. Since the Minister for Finance has announced that the CPF rate will eventually be restored to 40%, may I therefore suggest that one way to start mitigating the problem of inadequate retirement savings would be to consider channelling the yet to be restored remaining 4% of employers' contribution to the Special Account, leaving the Ordinary Account intact when the rate is restored to 40%. Additionally, the Minimum Sum could also be increased in the future beyond the targeted $80,000 to keep pace with the cost of living. Admittedly, there appears to be a problem and we should fix it. However, we should avoid breaking a host of other things in the process. I would thus again like to appeal to the Ministry to carefully consider the ramifications of any proposed changes to the CPF, as instead of the Singapore Dream, many Singaporeans are now nervous about the prospect of a possible Singapore Nightmare. During the heady asset enhancement days in the early 1990s, many Singaporeans then believed that they would become asset rich and cash rich. Since then, many Singaporeans have realised that they are asset rich but cash poor.”
“Like my colleagues before me, I also know from feedback that many Singaporeans, especially those above 40 years, are very apprehensive ever since the Government raised concerns that Singaporeans are putting too much CPF money into housing, and subsequently, also suggested that CPF contribution rates for those above 40 years may have to be reduced to make them more employable. This is despite the assurances that have been subsequently given. It is thus good that the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry has said that changes to the CPF system will be announced next month. This will put to rest unhelpful speculation and uncertainty. However, I would like to ask the Minister, if his Ministry, together with the ERC's Sub-Committee on CPF, could endeavour to seek the views of a wide cross-section of the community and comprehensively assess the impact of the proposed changes before finalising and announcing the proposals. This is because the issues involved are complex and changing the CPF rates may not be the only, or the best, way to resolve the problems. 5.15 pm While many Singaporeans may now realise and agree that too much CPF money has been ploughed into housing, they worry that any reduction in the amount of CPF that can be used for housing will impact on their ability to service their outstanding mortgages. This is in addition to the fact that many have suffered pay cuts, which have yet to be restored. Cutting employers' CPF contribution rate for those above 40 but below 55 is an even greater cause for concern as many of them still have heavy financial liabilities. In fact, the 40s are also likely to be the years when housing consumption is at its maximum in the family life cycle, and hence any tinkering with the CPF would impact them most severely.”
“I would like to ask the Minister of State, in the case of project work in primary school, if the Ministry has studied whether enough time is allocated within school hours to do the project work because, although it is a social rather than an educational issue, the temptation would be that when the project work is brought home, the parents will come into the picture. Another question relates to Mathematics problem sums in primary school. My understanding is that, presently, the teachers require the students to tackle the problem in a certain manner. They have to have models, and it seems that if the students can get the answer without the models, marks are deducted. I would like to ask the Minister if this could be studied carefully, because if you want to foster creativity, then it should be a matter of getting the right answers based on the child's manner of thinking and rationalising, instead of a fixed mode of solving the problem.”
“It was reported in the Business Times yesterday that there were 19,400 mortgage loan deferment cases. I would like to ask the Minister of State if the 19,400 cases refer to the arrears and if some of the loan deferment cases are also included in the 19,400 cases. The other question I would like to ask the Minister is whether there are many applications for extension of the deferment cases after the expiry of the initial six months allowed. And if so, how would such deferment be given or extended?”
“No more. I am sorry. Then I do not have a vested interest. I am pleading for the female civil servants whom I think deserve our plea. In addition to the fact that they work full time and work as hard as their male counterparts, they also have to take on many other roles as a wife and as a mother in many instances. So I would also like to join the plea of my female parliamentarians that the reasons for not giving medical benefit to female civil servants are getting murkier. Budget 2002 spells a brave new vision for the future Singapore economy and takes the first few steps forward. The marathon, or more accurately the "ironman race", has also just begun. There is still a long distance to cover and many obstacles to overcome. The Government has clearly shown its resolve and set the tone for change, including the willingness to slaughter what were previously thought as scared cows in the tax system, such as the Group Tax Relief. No doubt, more scared cows may have to be slaughtered, whilst some others may have to be given a strong dose of medicine when the ERC and the Remaking Singapore Committee submit their recommendations. Indeed, to restructure Singapore, so that it is able to compete effectively in the major league, truly requires a mindset change and cooperation of all players including businesses, Government and society. Many other issues have to be grappled with and carefully considered. These include CPF issues, portable medical and retrenchment benefits, dual citizenship and changing attitudes about success and education. The task to remake Singapore thus has only just begun. On this note, Sir, I support the Budget.”
“The Government must avoid the temptation of finding "quick fixes" for problems which touch on the very fabric of society, as just like surgery, a botched operation could, instead of curing the sickness, cause even more harm. Before I conclude, I would also like to join the choruses of my female parliamentarians here regarding the medical benefit for female civil servants. Sir, I must profess and say that I have a vested interest because if you are a male MP, you are entitled to medical benefits for your dependants. Some hon. Members: No more!”
“These Singaporeans are bewildered and fearful, even feeling a sense of hopelessness with the sea change that is taking place. Some, particularly the above 40s, who have found themselves unemployed due to restructuring exercises are frustrated. What use is a reduction in income tax as they are now unable to earn any income? On the other hand, those who remain employed are now worried about how any change in the CPF system would affect them. Many are also feeling indignant that the proposal to cut employer's CPF contribution for those above 40 - supposedly the prime years of a person's working life - is an indictment of their economic worth. Some are also concerned that they may become redundant soon and lose their jobs. I therefore would like to urge the Government to continue to be sensitive to the many Singaporeans, including professionals and other white-collar workers, who may feel left behind and hopeless as a result of the many changes that are being implemented or considered. I am relieved, for instance, that the Minister for Finance has taken pains to mention in his Budget Statement that the issues related to the CPF contribution for older workers and allocation amongst the different uses are recognised to be complex and sensitive. He has assured Singaporeans that any change will be done very carefully, after full consultations and without causing disruptions either to CPF members or the property market. Sir, I would therefore like to urge the Government to commit sufficient resources to consult and educate the public and carefully consider the possible impact on individuals and the economy before slaughtering any scared cow.”
“Sometimes, the companies at risk are the SMEs who are, at times, aggrieved by the zeal of GLCs in their quest for higher EVAs. The working out of a charter for Temasek Holdings to spell out its mission and responsibilities, and make it clear how the Government sees the role of the Temasek stable of companies in the Singapore economy is therefore timely and welcomed. It is also heartening to note that the Minister for Finance has categorically stated that the Government will divest or dilute its shareholdings in a controlled manner in GLCs that are no longer relevant to the Government or Temasek's objectives. In this respect, I am pleased to note that the ERC sub-committee headed by the Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Foreign Affairs, Mr Raymond Lim, is working out a set of guiding principles for Government's involvement in business. This is to ensure that private sector initiative will not be stifled by the pervasive role of GLCs with deep pockets and abundance of scholarly talent, or even statutory boards offering services to the public that are already being offered by private entities. Instead, GLCs could facilitate the internationalisation of SMEs by working jointly with them on overseas projects. Sir, I hope that clarifying the role of GLCs would help define business areas where GLCs could contribute strategically to the development of the economy without treading into areas where the private sector is fully capable of handling. Sir, my third concern relates to helping stragglers cope. Even as the Government embarks in earnest to put in place changes that will help Singapore survive in an increasingly competitive and hostile environment, there are many in the marathon race that are straggling behind.”
“There should also be a thorough review of all Government rules and regulations which affect SMEs with a view to rationalising these rules and regulations to remove any barriers to doing business. Many businessmen have expressed frustration over the labyrinth of rules and regulations they must negotiate. More recently, for instance, Mr Simon Lim, a Director at Wong San's pub in Mohamed Sultan Road was quoted in the press as saying that setting up a pub could involve "onerous" applications to at least seven separate Government agencies! Also, I support some of the ERC's recommendations on taxes and incentives that would help SMEs. These include the broadening of the Technopreneur Investment Incentive to an Entrepreneur Investment Incentive to be made available to a wider group of entrepreneurs, and not just the high-tech sector. My third concern relates to rationalising the role of GLCs. Again, there has been considerable debate about the role of GLCs in Singapore's economic development, and their "crowding out" effects. Sir, it is recognised that GLCs, such as SIA and PSA, have played critical roles in the economic development of Singapore. Indeed, I have no doubt that GLCs will continue to play important roles in the economy, specifically in areas where the private sector does not have the resources or the will to enter. Sir, I submit that, important as GLCs have been in the past, the time has come for them to re-look at their own backyards. Recapping a now familiar criticism, an unidentified businessman was quoted in the Straits Times, 4th May 2002, that there is a perception among many, even till now, that GLCs have intruded into every profitable business there is, often at the expense of the private sector.”
“Although the generous income and corporate tax rate cuts and group tax relief are welcomed by manufacturers, a frequent complaint has been that this Budget does little to help SMEs faced with shrinking markets, high costs and domestic competition from multi-nationals and GLCs. This is the oft-repeated refrain of what use is the reduction in corporate taxes if there is no profit to tax. Worse still, the shift from direct taxes to indirect consumption and usage-based taxes will exacerbate their difficulties. While consumers can turn to the GST offset package and the economic restructuring shares, SMEs continue to face daunting cost structures. Sir, I appreciate that Singapore's limitations will always mean that we cannot compete with the low cost base of China or India and, hence, are at risk of more hollowing out. While the policy of moving up the value chain and promoting entrepreneurial start-ups that could become the next Creative Technology is, I believe, correct. SMEs are also our constituents. They do have a role to play in the economy and should not be left to struggle on their own. I would thus like to echo the calls of the SMEs and urge the Government to undertake a comprehensive review of all Government administered charges and levies and reduce them where possible, so that operating costs could be kept as low as possible. Whilst I have no quarrel with the view held by the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, that the lasting solution for economic competitiveness is not lower costs, but stronger capabilities, streamlining and reducing costs, where possible, would clearly allow the ship to be run more tightly, and thus making it more profitable without losing its seaworthiness.”
“In particular, I am delighted to note that the Budget represents the beginnings of a sea change in the way industrial policy is being pursued, from trying to pick and groom winners, including GLCs, to creating an environment, an ecosystem, in which winners can emerge. Borrowing an analogy from the stock market, the efficient market hypothesis postulates that one cannot perpetually outperform the market by intelligent stock picks. Neither can we do so for industrial sectors, no matter how "sexy" they may be. Hence, as Harvard academic Rosabeth Moss Kanter recently remarked, it will be better not to place your bets only on a few key industries, but to cast the net wider and bet on more sectors, including the social services or people sector. In fact, this is exactly the comment of a volunteer social worker for autistic children whom I recently met. She observed that every time they organise a seminar or course on autism, it is over-subscribed with many participants from the region. She feels that there is scope for Singapore to become a regional hub for special education, and the Government should also take a bet in this sector, and not just in mainstream education. Budget 2002, as my other parliamentary colleagues have noted, is clearly only one part of a very large jigsaw that is still being put together to remake Singapore for the new uncertain and volatile world. It initiates the process of restructuring Singapore, but a lot more work needs to be done. There are some areas of concern that need to be addressed to ensure that Singapore can play confidently in the major league - share in the pie and not just pick up the crumbs. And I wish to highlight three. First, the plight of the SMEs.”
“This Government needs to build up the resources to help the weaker members of our society - the aged, the underclass, the physically and mentally challenged - who feel increasingly bewildered by the profound changes affecting us. Our economic base is being challenged by the rise of China and India. Around us too, there are also voices of suppressed anger and envy. We are a little red dot, and a cat waiting to be skinned. Sir, we are indeed under siege. Hence, the very small budget deficit of $190 million after implementing the proposed tax changes and GST offset package is understandable. A budget should not be viewed, like in some quarters, as a well-conceived plan to spend beyond one's means. Our years of prudent budgeting have given us fiscal surpluses that have enabled us to implement off-Budget measures, including immediate significant tax cuts, without undermining our fiscal position. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am very pleased that the tenor of this Budget shows a sensible approach to balancing the competing claims that confront us and yet, retains the prudence of past budgets, belying our siege mentality. Future budgets of this Government will undoubtedly follow the spirit of this Budget. The second key tenet I would like to highlight is one of letting winners emerge. Sir, this Budget can be rightly called a New Singapore Budget, a watershed Budget, one in which due recognition is given to the markedly changed circumstances, precipitated by the onslaught of global competition and heightened nationalism.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the new economic landscape created by a sea change over the last few years warrants a new budgeting paradigm. Budget 2002 manifests this as it represents more than a carefully thought revenue and expenditure plan with its broad policy and strategic thrusts. Beyond the cyclical measures and the short-term budgetary goodies, more importantly, the 2002 Budget embodies two key tenets which I would like to highlight. The first tenet refers to an "under siege" Budget. There have been criticisms aplenty about this Government's overly cautious approach to budgeting. The debates in this House accompanying last year's second set of off-Budget measures amply illustrate this point. Interestingly, a journalist commented in a recent story in Streats that he knows of no other government that is planning to give hand-outs just after general elections, and in the midst of a recession. This remarkable ability to do so stems from our previous healthy budget surpluses and prudent fiscal management. Sir, underlying this conservative budgetary approach is what critics have described as a siege mentality, bordering on paranoia, a general reluctance to loosen up, to being a tad more generous. This is borne of fear that baser human instincts may take over and lead to the squander of precious resources, like the prodigal son in the Bible. Such a mindset, however unpopular, is nonetheless not completely at odds with the New Singapore we are trying to create. While we push ahead with giving our citizens more economic, social and political space, the forces of globalisation will create winners and losers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my supplementary question is actually similar to Mr Gan's. Following the question from the Member for Jalan Besar, the decision to discharge should be based on totality, that means, he may be medically fit but there may be social problems, so we should involve the medical social worker.”
“Sir, regarding the allocation of the medical social worker to a case where step-down care is needed, when does the medical social worker come into the picture?”
“May I seek a point of clarification, Sir? With due respect to the Member for Bukit Timah, I understand that the definition of feedback at this point in time is what the eminent Member has stated. But I think feedback is also an iterative process because after the feedback is given, the people giving the feedback will expect some reactions so it becomes feedback begets feedback.”
“While we want to narrow the divide between the poor and the rich, we also want Singaporeans to be self-reliant and independent. While we want to be more open and allow opportunities for dialogue and consultation, we also want to ensure constructive and useful debates. While we want to provide more space for individual communities to grow, we also want to build consensus and common grounds. These are some of the S21 dilemmas which continue to challenge each generation afresh. Nonetheless, Sir, the healthy constitution we have built, in terms of our social, economic and political capital, should serve us well in these turbulent times. I am sure with consultation, cooperation and commitment, we can overcome the obstacles ahead and advance as a nation. Sir, I therefore unequivocally support the motion.”
“Sir, when we stand side by side, hands held high with that of our neighbours, the colour of our skin, the language we speak at home, the type of cars we drive, the houses we live in, the country clubs we belong to and the things we do on Friday or Sunday, do not seem to matter anymore. Sir, I would like to suggest that we could have much more of such national events - to re-enact our history, to celebrate our shared destiny - to instill this sense of our common humanity and, more importantly, our "Singaporean-ness". If there are those who think such activities are propaganda, let them be. We must think of ways of bringing such events to reach adults in their communities, homes and workplaces. Perhaps, we need to form a National Unity Committee to coordinate all efforts to this end. Sir, I echo the words of the President that "we must move beyond mere tolerance, in order to enhance appreciation and build confidence among the different groups." The national events I propose should, hopefully, "widen the common ground that all Singaporeans share". Sir, I have dwelt at some length on these three critical stress points, which could become more acute over the next few years as Singapore operates in a changed environment. These stress points, in addition to others, need to be managed so that they do not fester and affect our political, economic and social health. A little stress helps to keep the adrenaline pumping and thus sharpen our competitive edge, but too much stress could pose serious health hazards for Singapore. Sir, the world today is not the same as before. It has become competitive, complicated and even controversial. We need to adjust and innovate in order to progress and advance.”
“Sir, as a nation, we should re-affirm multi-racialism as a creed, as the only way forward. Efforts continue to be made in schools with the formation of the IRCCs and Harmony Circles at the community level. I applaud such moves. But let us not forget the adults, especially those in their early 20s and 30s, and the middle income groups who tend to participate less in grassroots activities. Adulthood and, sometimes, affluence, rob us of our innocence. How often, as adults, do we sing the national anthem or say the pledge? Sometimes, we grow sceptical of the civic lessons we learn in school and need to relearn them. I remember some years ago, watching on TV a memorial service for the victims of the SilkAir MI185 crash. The nation had already grieved for the victims and their families. The service was a grim reminder to the rest of us who are not victims or their family members. While we will perhaps never fully understand the depth of pain they felt, the presence of other Singaporeans was an act of solidarity with fellow Singaporeans and fellow human beings. It showed that other Singaporeans understand, care and, most of all, share in that grief. I picture in my mind similar services the Americans held in their own country and throughout the world, commemorating the victims of the World Trade Centre collapse. There is a binding power to such "rituals". One needs to think only of the National Day parades that in recent years have taken on a rather nationalistic tone. While some may be sceptical, many others I know, including middle income and successful professionals who have watched these parades "live", often speak of how proud they felt to be Singaporeans.”
“Sir, notwithstanding all this, I do not forget that we have done very well indeed over the past few decades in building racial harmony among the major ethnic groups. We need only to recall the major strides we have made. Elsewhere, racial tensions are often resolved violently - in India, the Balkan republics and in Africa. We are blessed to have an enlightened leadership that lived through tumultuous times in our history and appreciates from bitter experience how racial fault lines can ruin everything we have so painfully built up over the years. We now have racially integrated schools, racial limits in public housing to prevent the formation of enclaves, minority representation in politics through GRCs and community-level activities to bind people together, in the words of our pledge, "regardless of race, language or religion". But, as the President has put it in his Address, "The task is never complete." The issue continues to haunt us after decades and continues to morph into new forms, whether it be madrasahs, tudung or something else. If we are not vigilant, the cracks will widen and undo everything. We must never allow that to happen. This is more important than ever before not merely due to recent events but also due to the international talents we are trying to attract who are also from diverse ethnic groups and religious persuasions. Indeed, the concept of a multi-racial, multi-religious society may be foreign to our foreign talent, some of whom hail from ethnically more homogeneous societies. The issue of social integration and cohesion could take on an added dimension when the number of foreign talent in Singapore becomes significant. Hence, we must never let up on efforts to foster greater cohesion among the people.”
“Over time, the provision of a wide variety of lifelong learning opportunities will help maintain a highly skilled and knowledgeable labour force which is able to adapt to the changing job market and adjust to economic restructuring and downturns, such as what we have just experienced. In this respect, I am pleased to note that the MOM, with the cooperation of MOE, has mounted many schemes to promote and encourage lifelong learning. To allow more to benefit from these lifelong learning opportunities, subsidised fees could be considered even for houswives preparing to return to work and low-income earners. More Singaporeans, and not just the best and brightest, would benefit from such lifelong educational opportunities. Those who miss the boat the first time can at least have another chance to reach their desired destination, and this is important since human capital is our most valuable asset. Mr Speaker, Sir, my third point is the need to manage ethnic polarisation in our society. This has always been a thorny issue in domestic politics. One needs to bear in mind the context of race relations. The reality, whether we like it or not, is this: Singapore as a Chinese dominated society in a region comprising ethnic majorities. There are sometimes unspoken concerns that centre on where the stronger pull lies: (1) blood and kin and, increasingly, one's religious faith; or (2) loyalty to one's country. Sometimes, the problems are compounded by the socio-economic distinctions that exist among ethnic groups that have led to the, at one time, controversial formation of self-help groups like MENDAKI and SINDA. These issues are not confined to our Malay compatriots, although they have, quite unfortunately, borne the brunt of the most intense scrutiny because of recent events.”
“" Another way to mitigate the income divide would be to ensure that ample avenues are given to all to maximise their potential and level up. Allowing the brightest and the best to excel economically and the worst off to receive assistance will address the top and the lowest echelons of society. But there is a growing number of those who are just "getting by" based on our current pragmatic economic definition of success. These people might be frustrated by the income squeeze and become envious of the successes of the heroes of capitalism. Sir, a tangible way to address this issue would be to provide them with ample avenues to level up. Mr Speaker, Sir, in relation to this, I subscribe to the President's argument that the key means to uplift the population is to redouble our emphasis on education and training. With the need to cope with the demands of the new economy, constant restructuring and, therefore, higher obsolescence of existing jobs, opportunities for lifelong learning should be created to cater to diverse groups of people. These include those who need to prepare for a new area of employment, are planning mid-career moves, are interested to return to the workforce, particularly the women, are interested to upgrade their qualifications or are just purely looking for intellectual satisfaction. The courses could be offered by tertiary and recognised professional institutions in cooperation with the industries. They need not be confined to new growth industries but also staple old economy sectors which will continue to need employees, like teaching and even in the field of property management. Such staple old economy sectors could hire mid-level middle-aged managers whose jobs have been made obsolete by restructuring or the changed economy.”
“Existing financial assistance schemes for the low income groups, the handicapped, the sick and at risk families administered by grassroots organisations, the CDCs and MCDS are to be applauded. However, there is a need for constant review of such schemes as regards, say, the qualifying income ceiling and the quantum of such financial assistance as well as the criteria and conditions under which assistance is dispensed in order to ensure their adequacy and appropriateness. Feedback from some constituents is that the financial assistance rendered by the Government, while very much appreciated, is paltry at times and, in some instances, not commensurate with the stringent requirements imposed. I am not advocating increased social benefits or an enhanced welfare system per se. Far from it, as I wholeheartedly support the promotion of self-help and the dignity of work, a point which the Minister of State for Manpower expounded so poetically yesterday. However, there will always be a group of people where no amount of resolve on their part is enough. They need help due to their circumstances. Let me cite an example. A resident in my constituency is an able-bodied odd job labourer. He is now unable to work as his wife is suffering from terminal liver cancer and he is looking after her and their two sons who are still schooling. It is this class of people that we must continue to acknowledge, remember and render help appropriately. As a volunteer worker recently remarked to me, "While it is right for the Government to promote self-reliance and the dignity of work to avoid the development of a crutch mentality, our means test must also not be so stringent that it is considered a mean test rather than a means test.”
“However, more can be done, so that our civil service would be known not only for its incorruptibility and efficiency but also for being in-tune with the people and the needs of the time. Mr Speaker, Sir, my second point relates to the need for us to manage the imbalances arising from an inevitable widening income divide among the have-nots, the haves, and the have-lots, as a result of the inexorable forces of globalisation and IT. As we promote entrepreneurship and risk-taking, there will be fabulous successes but there will also be spectacular losses. To quote the New York Times journalist, Thomas Friedman, there is no longer a First World, a Second World or a Third World. Only a Fast World where the forces of globalisation are embraced and a Slow World, where nations and communities who fail to do so are left behind. Singapore could become more and more a winner-takes-all society. The rich are likely to get richer while the poor will have increasing difficulty to play catch-up. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to venture two proposals to address the needs and concerns arising from this tendency towards greater income disparity. Firstly, as income disparity becomes more pronounced and as job insecurity increases, our meritocratic system upon which much of Singapore's success lies must be peppered with a lot more compassion in its execution. While we celebrate the icons, the phoenixes, and the heroes of capitalism, we must never forget those who are left behind. A group is only as strong as its weakest member. In a 4 x 100 metre relay, a slow start by one runner, or a poor baton change by another, can cost the team a medal. We thus need to temper capitalism with compassion.”
“Otherwise, many Singaporeans would continue to feel that dialogue and debate are mere tokenism. By way of anecdotal evidence of this sentiment, even the CEO of an established private company in Singapore who has taken part in many feedback sessions and sits on the Board of a GLC, told me recently that he himself is still very sceptical about the Government listening to concerns about the impact of its policies. So this is not just the sentiment of the MP for Sembawang GRC's daughter or young friends. So what more the average man-in-the-street, most of whom have chosen to be the silent majority! Indeed, Sir, as the President has so rightly pointed out, no policy is so cast in stone that it can never be changed. To ensure that policies remain relevant and enhance rather than impede stakeholders' welfare, as the MP for Sembawang GRC has so robustly argued, it is important to remind civil servants who are the face of the Government and facilitators of Government policies, that they must show compassion, be less rule-book bound and listen with a heart, not just with the mind. In other words, be customer-centric, in form and substance. Otherwise, they will not live up to their title of "civil servant" and will be considered neither civil nor servant. It is acknowledged that the civil service and statutory boards have over the last few years improved tremendously in the delivery of its services to the public. My recent experience as a private sector representative on the JTC's Customer Services Panel and URA Concept Plan Review Committee 2001 have been positive. In these instances, the Government organisations concerned have been responsive to feedback and have made the effort to take into account some of the suggestions as well as explain why others cannot be implemented.”
“Out-of-bound markers must be widened in order to engage Singaporeans, harness their energy and ideas and help them take ownership of the policies that will shape Singapore's future, thus increasing their sense of rootedness. I therefore welcome the President's call for opening up more space for Singaporeans to debate on national policies and issues. However, the engagement between the Government and the people must go beyond mere rhetoric. The Government must show that it values and takes its citizens' views seriously. It must not be too quick to dismiss or put down ideas and feedback for, after all, no one can claim a monopoly on knowledge, experience or wisdom. Wherever possible, debates on policies should precede their implementation so that there will be maximum buy-in and support when these policies are put into practice. The Government must take a proactive stance and respond quickly to feedback and suggestions. Feedback should be a two-way, not a one-way street. Otherwise, the citizens will view the Government feedback mechanism - however elaborate or sophisticated - as a black hole, where under the force of gravity, no light emerges. As a constituent once cynically remarked to me "Where is the Government's feedback to my feedback?" After public consultation and debate, the Government should take pains to indicate the changes or refinements made to its policies arising from feedback as well as the reasons for rejecting other proposals. It must show that it will not hesitate to take concrete action and change its policies, where it benefits the majority of Singaporeans, even if it involves an about change or about face of an existing policy, such as in the Chek Jawa case.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the motion of thanks for the President's Address. Sir, I concur with the President's sentiments that we are standing at the crossroads, and for the next few years will be confronted with the most severe challenges in Singapore's history. Due to the changed environment we are in, there are several critical stress points that could become more pronounced in the future. I would like to elaborate on three of these stress points and the need to provide relief for them so that they do not manifest themselves into more serious ailments. The first stress point relates to the people-Government relationship. There is a danger of an increasing chasm between the Government and its people which the President in his Address identifies broadly as the need for political renewal. It is undeniable that the political leadership has over the last 36-37 years done much good for Singapore. Most Singaporeans have a tacit understanding that Government policies have good intentions. It is just like the boy in Jack Neo's show "I Not Stupid" who said, "My mother is like the Government. Everything she does is - for our own good." Singapore's past successes have hinged on meritocracy and pragmatism. Hitherto, economic issues drive Singapore and rightly so in view of her limited resources, smallness and thus vulnerability. Feedback from constituents suggests that Singaporeans, especially the younger generation, increasingly want to have a say in Government policies. While there has been more consultation and dialogue with the citizenry over the last few years, there is still a feeling that there is some way to go with the new consultative approach.”