Ang Wei Neng
Singapore
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply. Can I just ask for clarification on the three incidents of Singtel disruption? It was reported by the press that they were totally unrelated. What was the preliminary investigation based on the finding of IMDA?”
“Chairman, I have two clarifications. Firstly, we are glad that the Minister has assured us that MOT is working to establish clearer criteria for distinguishing between Cat A and Cat B COE. In the meantime, I would like to seek clarification on the reduction in the supply of Category A COE.”
“I would like to seek a clarification regarding the Lift Access Housing Grant. Could the qualifying criteria be relaxed for occupants aged 70 and above, without the need for medical certification?”
“Such an outcome would run contrary to the original intent of maintaining distinct categories within the passenger car segment. As MOT has previously stated, the primary objective of Cat A COE is to preserve a portion of the vehicle quota for mass-market cars, thereby ensuring greater accessibility and affordability for the average Singapo…”
“Under NParks' pigeon management plan, efforts remain largely focused on pigeons. I urge NParks, within MND's broader human-wildlife management framework, to evolve towards a comprehensive Pest Bird Management approach, one that also addresses other urban-adapted species, such as mynas and crows, where they cause persistent disamenities to…”
“Thank you, Chair. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to ask Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, how would she describe Singapore's current relationship with China against the backdrop of Sino-US geopolitical tensions.”
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“I totally agree with the Minister that if we do an all-bus model on the roads of Bukit Panjang, it is going to be quite difficult. But could the Minister elaborate more on why we cannot refurbish the viaduct and allow buses to run on it? Is there a kind of study to prove that it is not effective, or not cost-effective?”
“Speaker, I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. I have a supplementary question. In the United States (US), for example, Sir, for many of the decommissioned rail tracks, they use buses to run – they call it bus rapid transit. So, for Singapore's BPLRT, has the Minister considered running buses on the track if this LRT will not be useful or reliable? Sorry, I must declare my interest as I am in the management team of ComfortDelgro, which includes Singapore Bus Services (SBS) Transit.”
“We now want to build a democratic society, regardless of race, language, religion or class. With this, I support the Motion. 5.45 pm”
“Just now, in my English speech, I mentioned that educational background has become a faultline in our society; students from the elite schools and non-elite schools tend to stay within their own inner circles. This is natural as “like attracts like”. To fix this faultline, perhaps we can review the policy and allow non-Chinese students to attend SAP schools. For example, to allow non-Chinese students studying ordinary Chinese to attend SAP schools. Allowing non-Chinese students to study in SAP schools provides Chinese students with the opportunity to mix with non-Chinese students. It has shown that graduates from SAP schools, whether they go to JCs, polytechnics, universities or National Service, can generally mix well with non-Chinese Singaporeans. However, we should not refrain from promoting Chinese culture in SAP schools just because there are non-Chinese students in the school, just like the Mission schools or Buddhist schools will not reduce their religious aspect simply because there are non-believers in the school. Non-Chinese students going to SAP schools will have to accept exposure to the Chinese culture. Lowering the threshold for non-Chinese students to go to SAP schools is a complicated and sensitive issue. I hope MOE can face the issue squarely and discuss with people from all walks of life. It is not necessary to make a hasty decision. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, encouraging non-Chinese students to study at SAP schools is a sensitive topic. However, we have to face the situation squarely as we tackle the issue of class divides along educational background. Class was certainly not so much of an issue when the words of the Singapore pledge "regardless of race, language or religion" were coined. But, the situation is different today.”
“The Chinese like to celebrate the "5s” and "10s” to review the past and look into the future. I would like to take this opportunity to look into the pros and cons of SAP schools. SAP was introduced by founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew in 1979 to preserve the traditions of the Chinese schools and to cultivate effectively – bilingual and bi-cultural talents. The number of SAP schools has increased from the original nine to 11 in 2011. SAP schools are very popular and many of the SAP schools have also developed into elite schools and their success stories abound. With the success of its economic reform, China has become the second largest economy in the world. With its One Belt One Road initiative, the Chinese influence in Asia and the world is becoming more and more significant. Not only are more Singaporeans willing to learn Chinese, foreigners are also sending their children to Singapore to learn Chinese. So, learning Higher Chinese is no longer the monopoly of SAP schools. Many Secondary schools are now offering Higher Chinese and the take-up rate has been increasing over the years. Many people are asking: do we still need to have SAP schools? To learn a language is not just for examination or being able to speak and write. The important thing is to know, understand and appreciate the culture. Hence, the Chinese tradition of the SAP schools is a very important factor in cultivating bi-culturalism in Chinese and English. It is an irreplaceable channel. However, the development of SAP schools has hindered the chance of non-Chinese students entering SAP schools. Now, only those who have studied Higher Chinese can go to a SAP school. The threshold is too high. Is this a good phenomenon?”
“This is where mentorship is important. The top school may have to institute a mentorship scheme whereby the successful alumni who came from similar humble backgrounds can periodically provide guidance, encouragement and connection to this group of “nominated” students. Next, I would like to turn our attention to the Special Assistance Plan (SAP). SAP was introduced by our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1979 to preserve the best Chinese-stream schools so as to develop effectively bilingual students inculcated with traditional Chinese values. There are currently 11 SAP Secondary schools. I am from the second batch of SAP students and I have benefited from the system tremendously. So has our current Minister for Education, Mr Ong Ye Kung. Mr Ong had confided that he would not have attended Maris Stella High School if it was not a SAP school. SAP schools have existed for nearly 40 years and many people have asked to examine their relevance today. With China becoming a major global player and the second largest economy in the world, it is even more pressing and necessary for SAP schools to churn out youths who are comfortable with the Chinese language, culture and values. This has and will continue to help Singapore to deepen our relationship with China. It will help facilitate trade, business and cultural exchanges with the mainland Chinese. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, please allow me to continue my speech in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I am from the second batch of SAP students. I am able to speak in Parliament in both Chinese and English and credit must be given to the SAP system. Next year, 2019, SAP schools will be celebrating their 40th anniversary. It is also the bicentennial of Singapore.”
“The concern is that the rich, the well-connected parents have the means to “protect access” to the best schools – and perhaps even the best opportunities in life for their children, excluding those who are not so well-off. To address this issue, I would like to suggest that the principal of each “non-elite” Primary school be allowed to nominate one deserving student from their respective school to enter a top Secondary school. “Deserving” implies that the student is of the intellect, temperament and potential to go to a top school. However, such a student may come from a disadvantaged background and perhaps could not afford the enrichment or tuition that caused him or her to miss the PSLE T-score of the top school cut-off point by one or two points. Will such “nominated” students feel inferior in a top school? Will such a student continue to experience unfair disadvantage as he or she cannot afford a personal laptop or co-pay the overseas field trip? This is where additional help in terms of financial and mentorship will be useful. Perhaps, a Junior Raffles Institution Scholarship of $1,000 cash a year offered by RI can be modified to cater to this group of students. Otherwise, it will remain only a handful of successful applicants each year. However, financial assistance or scholarships may not suffice. Author Shamus Khan, who wrote “Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St Paul’s School”, makes an interesting point about how those from disadvantaged backgrounds given scholarships to the school are never quite on the same level as the entitled. Academic performance notwithstanding, they are deferential and do not have the same air of success and confidence, traits which would serve them well in later business, politics and public life.”
“MOE probably has the figures and I hope the figures can be shared publicly. At least the immediate-past principal of RI had admitted that, I quote, “RI is now a 'middle-class' school that caters to the affluent segment of Singapore’s population. Wealthier families have been able to give their children an edge through tuition and enrichment, leading to examinations, such as the PSLE, no longer being the level playing field that they were intended to be", and I agree. Similarly, most RI alumni interviewed also agreed that RI had become less diverse in its student population. The concern is that the "haves", with their connections and advantages, get more and more economic, social and cultural capital, while the "have-nots" struggle to even get a foot in the game even if they work hard from the start. Is Singapore meritocratic? Today, a good number of us in this House came from humble family backgrounds, including myself. Thirty years from now, will we see a similar composition? What can we do to address this? It is a deep and complex issue with many causes and points of approach but I would like to suggest that we start with our education policies. Much has been said about investing in pre-schools and giving all children a good start in life, which is commendable. I would like to dwell on what happens after, because socialisation continues even after the age of seven. Despite the claim that "Every School is a Good School", I am concerned that the range of students getting into the perceived “elite” schools in Singapore is narrowing in terms of family affluence.”
“The private housing built beside an MRT station often blocks the direct path between the public housing estate and the MRT station. So, the MRT station is here, the reserve land is in the middle and the public housing estate is on the right. The pavement built in between the HDB estate and MRT station often blocks the direct path and the residents cannot walk directly to the MRT station but they have to make a big round. This is very evident in Jurong. In Potong Pasir, for example, URA has tweaked the policy to mandate the developer building the condominium beside Potong Pasir MRT station to maintain a public passageway for the residents in the Potong Pasir HDB precincts to have a direct path to the MRT station. So, I urge URA, HDB and LTA to consider rectifying the past errors based on the Potong Pasir model. Next, I would like to turn our attention to bridging the gap between those from "elite" and "non-elite" school backgrounds. A 2016 study showed that children from higher socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to attend Integrated Programme (IP) Secondary schools and their affiliated Primary schools as well as those that offer the Gifted Education Programme (GEP). About 30 years ago, Raffles Institution (RI) and Raffles Girls’ School (RGS) recruited students from a large base of Primary schools, "elite" or "non-elite" Primary schools through merit, basically through the PSLE results. From my understanding, 30 years ago, students from "non-elite" Primary schools, that is, from all the different schools made up more than half of the RI, RGS students. Today, RI and RGS still take in students from roughly the same number of Primary schools. However, my estimate is that less than half are from the "non-elite" primary schools.”
“In my speech today, I would like to urge the Government to urgently tackle the issue of class-based divides with the same intent, purpose and rigour as we did in the past in ensuring racial and religious harmony, or the “CIMO” policy as it is known by ordinary Singaporeans. What do we mean by class-based divides and social divides? The IPS report has broadly categorised the social divides in two aspects: one, comprising people staying in private or public housing; and another, arising from what most Singaporeans believe to be from "elite" and "non-elite" school backgrounds. How do we encourage people staying in the private estates to make the effort to mix more with people staying in the public housing estates? Many speakers before me have made very good suggestions. Through volunteering, sports and developing common interests, we can encourage mixing of social class. For me, I just want to focus on one housing policy that may help to mitigate the social divide between people staying in public and private housing. I understand that MND has a policy of reserving land just beside MRT stations for private housing. The rationale is that the reserved land can be tendered out so that the prime land can be sold at a market rate that reflects the true value of the land beside MRT stations. If HDB were to build public housing just beside the MRT station, there is a limit to which HDB can price the HDB flats significantly higher than those further away, from a social standpoint. As a result, those who succeed in obtaining such flats through balloting would be deemed as enjoying too much of a windfall. However, such a policy has had its unintended side effects.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, during a recent business lunch, I was relating how some families in my constituency were relying on pay-as-you-use or PayU meter and could not even afford a refrigerator, a basic household item to many. One of the successful business leaders at the lunch suddenly cut me off by saying she could not believe there was a device like PayU meter in Singapore. She quickly changed topic by saying how she and her daughters from a top girls' school would only stay in Marriot Hotel when they travelled overseas. She did not come across as a person who was particularly arrogant, ignorant or heartless. Her circle of friends was mainly from the same school, the same social class as her. I do not think she is alone. Thus, it is not surprising that the IPS study on social capital in Singapore showed that those staying in private housing are more likely to have ties with people staying in private housing as compared to those staying in public housing. In fact, the IPS survey reveals that the social divide in Singapore is more likely based on class rather than race or religion. To this end, I am glad that the President acknowledged the need for the 4G leaders to deal with income inequality and social stratification seriously in her Address. During the 45th Gallen Symposium in 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam talked about our policy with regard to housing estates and ensuring a certain racial quota. He said the policy would not have come naturally: “The most intrusive social policy in Singapore has turned out to be the most important,” as it melded a nation where the people considered themselves Singaporeans first and foremost.”
“Could the Minister give us an idea whether there were previous incidents which would warrant such powers, especially the CSO, to be applied? Specifically, would the Little India riot in 2013 or the hijacking of SQ117 by four terrorists in 1991 require such special powers? On the whole, the threat of terrorism is real. We have to be prepared for such an eventual attack. I would like to ask the Minister whether MHA intends to carry out exercises which will benefit the law enforcement officers, other Government agencies, the media and the public to better understand the implications of POSSPA and send a strong signal to all terrorists or would-be terrorists not to touch Singapore because you would not succeed easily. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill.”
“Singapore’s history is encapsulated in their reports. Hence, it appears harsh to ban the media professionals from doing their jobs. We note that the Police are the only party that would be allowed to make any recordings of the scene when the special powers are exercised. I hope the Minister can direct the Police to release the full footage after the event so that it would not lead to a gap in the documentation of Singapore’s history for future generations and this would also help to counter criticism of any abuse by the Police during the Police operations. Secondly, to better balance between security and documentation, we could perhaps take a leaf from France, which adopted a Code of Conduct for Journalists covering terrorist incidents after the Hypercacher Supermarket siege incident in 2015. While not a legal instrument of force, its recommendations for journalists bear thinking about as a possible guide for journalists to be allowed to do their jobs responsibly during such incidents. These include responsible coverage of the event lest the perpetrators are watching and careful phrasing of events so as not to influence the public's perception. While I understand that not all media will cooperate and adhere to the code of conduct, but we should not give up trying and should only use the CSO as a last resort. Mr Speaker, Sir, the special powers, including the CSO given to the Police under this Bill, are wide-ranging, potent and have great implications. Let me conclude my speech in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, the special powers, including the CSO given to the Police under this Bill are wide-ranging.”
“The third group who can exercise the special powers is made of any civilian, cited as a civilian assistant. I note that Minister has clarified that they can include security guards. How are the security guards organised during peace time so that they can better assist the Police during a crisis? Fourthly, a Police Officer can close a road under section 19 of the Bill or order a curfew under section 21, for up to 24 hours, but the Commissioner of Police can extend it. For how long can the Commissioner of Police extend it? Are there any safeguards? Lastly, under the scope of the Bill, apart from obvious terrorist attacks where injuries and outright threats to public safety are apparent, it also listed an example of a sit-down demonstration where vehicles or pedestrians may be obstructed but public safety may not be threatened. Why would such incidents fall under this Bill, which has been enacted specifically for counter-terrorism purposes? Moreover, the Police already have the power to deal with a sit-down demonstration under the ambit of unlawful assembly, for example, as defined in the Penal Code. Next, on CSO. The CSO's main objective is to deprive terrorists or criminals of information. It will also deny the terrorists the opportunity to broadcast their terrorist acts "live" through the media, like the case of the Mumbai attacks in 2008. But the CSO is a very blunt instrument. Breaching a CSO carries a penalty of up to S$20,000 and/or two years’ imprisonment. In order to assure the public that the CSO would not be abused and that there are safeguards in place, I hope the Minister could address and respond to the following two points. Firstly, print and broadcast journalists exist to provide independent documentation of key events.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, recent serious terror attacks in Jakarta and Selangor have resulted in serious injuries and deaths. These underscore how the current Bill is timely, necessary and important, particularly since Singapore has been cited as a target in jihadist publications and videos, by both ISIS and other terrorist groups. Many other countries have similarly stepped up their counter-terrorism responses, such as the EU countries which have been victims of horrific attacks. Britain, for instance, under its Investigative Powers Act, is empowered to conduct mass surveillance. While we agree that the Police need to have sweeping powers under the extraordinary circumstance of a terrorist attack, we also need to have safeguards to provide a sense of balance. Thus, I will approach the Bill on two aspects. First, on the special authorisation and, next, on the CSO. On the special authorisation by the Commissioner of Police under the Bill, I would like to clarify the following issues with the Minister. “A law enforcement officer is defined in clause 2(1) to mean a Police Officer, an immigration officer, a narcotics officer, a prisons officer or a Civil Defence Service officer. The class may be expanded by the Minister”, as cited in the explanatory notes. How does the Minister envisage the class to be expanded? The second group of people who can exercise the special powers specified in the special authorisation under subsection 1(c) refers to servicemen or SAF personnel and they "do not act on the direction and in aid of the Police Officer given the authorisation". What is the rationale for this? How would the Police and SAF coordinate the operations on the ground? Would it be coordinated by Ministers or by a Ministerial Committee or by the Cabinet?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can I clarify what are the planning parameters of providing the yellow boxes both in the private estate and the public estate? Because the Senior Minister of State mentioned we will be providing yellow boxes within a five-minute walking distance to the units.”
“Hence, I hope that MOT could work with MND to mandate the bulk of the additional space arising from lower car park provisions for communal spaces like gardens, physical fitness facilities and even shared car, bicycle or PMD parking facilities. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to applaud MOT's intention to control the abuse and indiscriminate parking of shared bicycles. However, we should caution against over-correction. The chief benefit of shared bikes is that they can be parked anywhere, anytime. Many residents use them to go from HDB void decks to the MRT stations before going to work or school. If after the amendment is passed, residents have to walk several hundred metres to use the bikes, it will be taking a step backwards. How do we then find a balance? It will depend on how the Minister could shape the situation. I support LTA’s plan to designate more yellow boxes at HDB void decks, MRT stations and bus stops. However, I wonder whether the planned additional 50,000 parking places within the next two years are enough. Perhaps the Minister can consider doubling the number of bicycle parking places in two years. Providing yellow boxes incurs cost and resources, especially when there is a plan to install a unique QR code for each of the yellow boxes. Such costs should not be completely borne by the Government, Town Councils or building owners. To encourage co-responsibility, I suggest the bike-sharing companies be made to share the costs, even if it is a symbolic $1 per month per site. Only by doing this can the shared-bike operators appreciate the efforts made by the Government. With this, I support the Bill.”
“Firstly, will the new parking provisions be applicable to existing commercial buildings, especially those in Zones 1 and 2? If so, would the Minister mandate a certain percentage of the extra space to benefit the public and the community? For example, the windfall arising from having to provide fewer carpark spaces can be shared with the public by providing the additional space for bicycle parking, car sharing/electric car charging facilities, or lease extra space for use to childcare centres or eldercare centres at a cost-recovery rate. As a guide, I would like to suggest that MOT consider working with the Ministry of National Development (MND) to direct the building owners to share at least 50% of the benefits arising from the lower car park provision. The lower car park provision should also translate to facilities that can benefit members of the public. And for new commercial buildings, the lower car park provision should also translate to facilities that also benefit the public, such as promotion of healthy living, promotion of car-lite measures and provision of childcare and eldercare facilities at a cost recovery rate. Next, will the new parking provision be applicable to existing residential buildings as well? If so, would the Minister mandate a certain percentage of the newly available space for use as shared bicycle or PMD parking facilities? Or for that matter, devote space for car-sharing and electric car charging facilities? In a similar fashion, the lower car park provision for the new residential buildings should not end up benefiting the developers alone, and alone. I know that developers are capable of maximising the residential units for sale so as to maximise their profits.”
“Mr Speaker, for the longest time, provision of car park lots in the Singapore city, as compared to other major cities in the world, has been generous. The car park requirement in a Central Business District (CBD) office building is 0.2 parking lots per 100 square metres (m2). This compares to 0.1 lots in Seoul and zero in Sydney. Consequently, the car park rate in the Singapore CBD is comparatively cheaper than other major cities in the world. A Colliers International survey done in 2011 showed that Singapore's median season parking fee in the CBD was $278 per month. This was lower than $919 per month in Hong Kong and Tokyo and seven times lower than $1,338 in London for that year. However, I note that under the Range-based Car Parking Standards, developers already have the flexibility to reduce the parking provision for commercial and residential buildings by up to 20% in Zones 1 and 2. Zone 1 refers to the buildings in the CBD and Zone 2 refers to areas within 400 metres' radius from the MRT stations outside Zone 1. In view of the push for a car-lite society, it is understandable for the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to remove the minimum parking lots required for residential and commercial buildings. With the current amendment Bill, MOT is stipulating a maximum number of parking lots, instead of a minimum required for each building. While I can understand the benefits of replacing car park lots with more commercial space at office buildings and shopping centres, I am more sceptical about the benefits for the buyers of residential units, unless there is a corresponding change in the building codes. Thus, I would like to clarify a few points with the Senior Minister of State.”
“ECDA and MOE will also continue to work with sector partners to explore what other forms of professional support can be developed for our MTL teachers. Let us continue to work together and strengthen families. Let us work together to create a conducive environment for Singaporeans to start families and raise children, enjoy family life and build meaningful family ties. Let this be our investment for a better society and a brighter future for all Singaporeans. 2.15 pm (In English): With your permission, Sir, I would like to display two slides.”
“We have always encouraged Singaporeans to make family life a priority. Nonetheless, we recognise that the pressures of life can make it difficult for us to do so. We have many policies aimed at easing these pressures, like parental leave provisions and parent support networks. This is to ensure that we do not inadvertently sacrifice family for other demands. To better support young families in raising children, preschools play a key role. Research has shown that the early experiences of children provide the foundation for their future learning, behaviour and health. Thus, we will double our investment in the early childhood sector over the next five years. We will introduce 40,000 more preschool places, mainly in estates with young families. We wish to ensure that every parent who wants a preschool place for their child will be able to have one. This will give every child a good start in life. To establish a strong bilingual foundation for our children early, and to give them exposure to their own customs and culture, we will also expand the provision of quality mother tongue teaching in preschools over the next five years. There will be more MOE Kindergartens, which provide all three MTLs. The number of preschools run by five Anchor Operators (AOPs) providing Malay or Tamil, will double to 350 by 2022. To support the sector’s growth, we may need over 1,000 more MTL teachers by 2020. The Government has been supporting more locals to become MTL preschool teachers. Since 2016, polytechnic students can pursue specialised MTL tracks. Going forward, ECDA will work closely with the new National Institute of Early Childhood Development and other partners to enhance the training of MTL teachers and encourage more locals to take up MTL teaching in preschools.”
“Sir, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Enabling Masterplan 3 has been accepted by MSF for over a year. I would like to ask the Minister which recommendations have been implemented and what is the timeline to carry out those that are yet to be implemented. I would also like to ask the Minister if more Government agencies or private companies are willing to hire people with disabilities. Are there any data to show the progress in this area? Does the Government intend to take the lead in redesigning jobs so that people with disabilities can also make contributions at the public sector? I would also like to thank the Enabling Village for its efforts in this regard. Not all the graduates from special needs schools are able to find a job or work. However, even if they cannot work, it does not mean that they have to be cooped up at home all day. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister whether there are any plans to strengthen the operations of adult centres for persons with disabilities. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social and Family Development (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Chairman, I thank the Members for their continued support of my Ministry's work. I would like to start with a few words in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Over the past two weeks, Members have highlighted the importance of strengthening the foundations of our social harmony, even as we overcome the challenges ahead. I am glad that the Budget this year seeks to support individuals and families to better prepare them for the future and care for one another. MSF strongly believes that families are critical institutions to enable a harmonious society.”
“I would like to thank Minister Khaw Boon Wan for painting a bright future on land transport in Singapore and the resolution to make it happen and make it as good as Changi Airport. Before I continue, I would like to declare my interest as a part of the management team in ComfortDelGro. Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that the Government will spend about $20 billion over the next five years to improve the public transport infrastructure. Are we using the opportunity to also nurture local enterprises so that they can take part meaningfully in building the MRT tunnels, refurbish trains, as well as maintaining the signalling system? Because I noted that Second Minister Ng Chee Meng said that they are nurturing local enterprises in building airport runways, building seaport, but he did not touch on land transport.”
“On the contrary, other paths leading to transport nodes are well-used by residents but do not have shelter despite repeated requests by the residents. LTA's reluctance to build the shelter is because it is slightly out of scope based on its internal guidelines. Another example of inflexibility is with regard to the choice of passenger overhead bridges (POBs) where LTA chooses to build a passenger lift. In Jurong, LTA has decided to build a lift at the POB nearest to the Chinese Garden MRT station, although that bridge itself is under-utilised as compared to another POB that is slightly further away. The bridge that is further away is very well-utilised because it is connected to a town centre. 7.30 pm For this case, I hope LTA could consider installing a lift at the POB that is more popular with the residents. More importantly, I hope LTA can make an effort to consult more with the residents and the community before deciding which POB to build the lift. And when it adds more sheltered walkways, they should also consult the residents more.”
“Chairman, it is quite rare that both sides of the House are united on one issue. That is, speak up against the negative externalities of bike-sharing schemes and the use of PMDs. And I want to add another step on this issue as well. During my house visits, a sizeable number of residents have related horrific experiences with irresponsible PMD users. There were many near-misses and, in some cases, there were injuries and the injuries were quite serious. In one case, one of my residents' toes were fractured by a passing e-scooter in the Chinese Garden. The user of the e-scooter was in uniform and was wearing a big bag belonging to a food delivery company. There were closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the area and this resident made a complaint to the company that provides food delivery, made a Police report and also requested the National Parks Board (NParks) for the CCTV images. But all his requests were ignored. Sir, I do not think this is an isolated case. This could be the tip of the iceberg. As we promote the use of PMDs, we can expect more of such incidents and I would like to urge MOT to work with the Police and related agencies to devise a framework to better regulate the use of PMDs and consider setting up a dedicated unit to prosecute irresponsible PMD users. I think the Parking Places (Amendment) Bill which also seeks to regulate e-scooters is a step in the right direction. Walk2Ride Programme Sheltered walkways linking neighbourhoods to MRT stations and other transport nodes are well-received by the residents. More are walking to the MRT station instead of taking shuttle service or feeder buses. However, many residents feel that certain shelters built by LTA are under-utilised.”
“Drones are popular for recreation and work purposes. The former provides an exciting opportunity for amateurs to take pictures from a bird's eye view while the latter provides new business opportunities. However, CAAS has imposed many rules and restrictions to make it quite impossible for drones to take off, thereby limiting many exciting opportunities. To this end, I am glad that MOT has designated one-north as the first drone estate. 7.00 pm I have two suggestions for MOT to consider. Firstly, can the boundary of the "drone estate" be extended to include the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Science Parks 1 and 2? This would encourage the use of drones for R&D in these tertiary and research institutions. Secondly, I hope that MOT could allow amateur drone enthusiasts to practise, play and experiment with their drones in the drone estate. This would help to promote interest in drones in a safe and controlled environment and, maybe one day, we can produce the "Bill Gates of drones". Worldwide, people are coming up with new ways in which drones can be used. In the United Kingdom (UK), drones inspect bridges for safety, saving thousands of pounds. United Parcel Service (UPS) has started using drones for residential deliveries. British Telecoms (BT) has been experimenting with using drones to provide temporary Internet coverage to battlefields, disaster zones and hard-to-reach areas. Even drone taxis, which can carry passengers, are in the works. Third-party Ride Booking Apps”
“NUS Alumni can study up to a maximum of two modules over a three-year period until 2020, and the first year of study is free. Similarly, NTU runs a College of Professional and Continuing Education, where alumni are entitled to 20% discount on courses. What has the take-up rate been like? How do IHLs ensure the courses offered are relevant to emerging trends and future needs? How are they working with industrial players to ensure that courses are useful and future-ready? SkillsFuture and Impact on Singaporeans”
“Chairman, many ITE students and graduates are good with their hands and less brilliant in paper-and-pen examinations. Singapore is far behind some parts of the world in nurturing technical skills. For example, in the UK, apprenticeship programmes offer work-based learning which can lead to a bachelor's or master's degree. In Germany, its vocational training programmes cater to 60% of the country's young people. These dual-training programmes are a mix of theory and hands-on training in areas like advanced Manufacturing, IT, Banking and Hospitality. Trainees do not pay for the training. In fact, they are paid for the time they take for the training. As a result of this programme, the youth jobless rate in Germany is very low. Similarly, in Finland, more than 50% of the Finnish youths apply for technical and vocational education in training. So, like Mr Edwin Tong, I would like MOE to give an update on WLTD, as well as the Work-Study Degree programme. IHLs to Better Support Lifelong Learning The rapid development of technology has benefited lives and also disrupted lives at the same time. Many skillsets learnt during an undergraduate course a decade ago can turn obsolete in just one year. Gone are the days where a graduate degree can last for life. We need to relearn, retool, re-energise throughout our working lives. What roles do our oldest public universities like the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) play in promoting lifelong learning? Are these IHLs adequately funded to provide courses for lifelong learning? Currently, NUS has a School of Continuing and Lifelong Learning offering Bachelor of Technology programmes, specialised certificate courses and courses for Executives and Professionals.”
“Perhaps, MOE could consider using contemporary issues to reflect the reality, constraints and limitations of being a small country. For instance, the detention of nine Terrex infantry vehicles by the Hong Kong government could be used as a case study to reflect how Singapore could react in a crisis. Another possibility is to create milestone experiences where youths can feel proud to be a Singaporean. For example, we could have activities to celebrate the issuing of the pink identity card (IC) to our 15-year-olds. Our Mother Tongue”
“Chairman, values are best taught through experiences. Thus, I applaud getting students to volunteer in a community through the Values in Action Programmes. Many schools send their students overseas to do volunteer work and it is an eye-opener for many students when they visit the villages of neighbouring countries. However, could schools also explore with voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) in the school vicinity so as to directly serve their community? Schools could work with grassroots organisations to identify problems in the community and help to solve them. I hope MOE could dedicate more resources in this respect. Maybe even work with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to come up with a joint registry of VWOs which is open to volunteers from the schools. Nurturing the Singapore Spirit Many students cringe when they attend National Education (NE) classes which could be known as different names in different schools but have similar results. Many feel that it is propaganda. The only good thing, in the eyes of the students, is that there is no examination. However, it is important that our students appreciate the sweat, blood and hardship of our Pioneers in the early days of nation-building and understand and feel proud of how Singapore has transformed from Third-World to First. Some schools have tried to make NE more interesting. For example, Evergreen Secondary School has just been given facilities for NE sharing and teaching, including an NE learning centre, political leadership corridors, movers and shakers' gallery. Students can follow any trail by downloading an app. And this is an example of a school-based effort. But how do we, as a whole, make any class more interesting and relevant?”
“Mr Chairman, in 2017, there appeared to be a number of vulnerable Singaporeans who were victims of abuse and the culprits managed to escape with relatively light sentences. Notable instances include the intellectually disabled Annie Ee who was tortured to death; and martial art instructor Joshua Robinson who was only jailed for four years after committing the offence of statutory rape. The abuse of vulnerable adults, including the elderly, disabled and infirm, are a growing phenomenon. A unit set up by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) in May 2015 dealt with over 100 such cases in its first year. There was an announcement in 2014 to introduce a Vulnerable Adults Act, but there has been not much news thereafter. The Annie Ee and Robinson cases have caused much public outrage, and rightly so. Thus, I would like to ask the Minister on the progress of the Vulnerable Adults Act. Does MHA intend to enhance our current laws to better protect the vulnerable groups in the society? 1.00 pm In some other countries, these groups are protected by specific laws. In New Zealand, for example, the Protection of Personal and Property Rights (3PR) Act allows vulnerable people, defined as those who are old, sick or mentally-impaired, to appoint one or more people to be their enduring power of attorney, if they feel that they will be at risk of ill-treatment. In New York, the state Senate in 2015 passed a sweeping package of 10 Bills to protect vulnerable senior citizens from predatory financial schemes, physical and emotional abuse. It is time to enhance the protection for the vulnerable groups, to better protect those who cannot speak and to fend for those who are weak. Violence against Women”
“I thank the Member for the clarification. She was at first saying that the Government is not doing enough but now say that these are the schemes that are available. But I also agree with her that we could do a longitudinal study and both can come together.”
“If the income level is less than $2,500, which applies to all the rental flat residents because the criterion to qualify for the Housing and Development Board (HDB) Rental scheme is household income of $1,500 and below, so they are able to qualify for the $3 co-payment for the childcare centres' fee, which is very affordable. We have been helping a lot of the children to go into childcare centres. In addition, all Members of Parliament who have rental flats also work very hard with different voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to help the residents to upgrade. There is a kidsREAD Programme, for example, which is spearheaded by the National Library Board (NLB), and we have capitalised on it and have volunteers to help the children from the low-income background to read better, so that when they go to Primary 1, they can do better. In my division, we also have this project "Hand-in-Hand", where we get many volunteers and donors to give food to our residents every month or every other month. We also set up, for example, a provision care corner to help the rental flat residents in the primary school to learn piano, guitar and robotics, so that they can have more confidence and, subsequently, do better in school. We also have a youth centre for vulnerable teenagers in my division. All these probably are not confined to my own division. Many other Members of Parliament who are hardworking on the ground will be able to take advantage of the Government's policies and grants to help rental flat residents to do better in life. With this, I support the Budget.”
“For the next 180 km, I hope our local companies can play a significant role in building, supplying and upgrading our Singapore MRT system that we can be proud of. The same goes for other industries where we think that it is important to acquire our own expertise, build on it and compete globally. Finance Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat had said that ITMs have "to prepare our companies for a new phase of growth". ITMs have to help companies and Singaporeans "A" adapt to the new reality of digital transformation, "B" regulators need to blur the boundaries when regulating companies in the digital economy, and "C", ultimately, ITMs have to nurture local companies to be competitive not just locally but also to win contracts and business in the region and the world. Perhaps, the ABC for ITMs could be seen as part of the foundation to propel us into the future. Mr Speaker, Sir, before I end my speech, I would like to comment on what Ms Sylvia Lim said about inequality in society. She noted that the income gap of the rich and the poor is increasing and asked what the Government has done to narrow the gap. I just want to explain to her that I also have 462 units of 1- to 2-room rental flats in my division, and we have been taking advantage of some of the Government's policies to help our rental flat residents. For example, there is the Fresh Start Housing Scheme that helps the rental flat residents to buy a new flat. I always tell them it will be a success if I can help them move out of the rental flats. There is another scheme on childcare subsidy that helps co-pay the childcare centres' fee.”
“Similarly, for rolling stock, such as the physical train itself, and the signalling system which is the brain of the train system, they are primarily provided by foreign firms, such as Thales from France, Alstom or Siemens from Germany, Bombardier from Canada and Kawasaki from Japan. From the inception of our MRT system until today, 30 years has passed, we have to rely on these foreign companies to replenish our rolling stock, upgrade our train or upgrade our signalling system. In fact, the current signalling system in many MRT lines is like a black box to us. In 12 years' time, when we double our train network length, will we face the same problem. Many of these large international companies grew with government support. Thales, for example, formerly known as Thomson CSF and Thomson SA, had the support of its government to privatise in 1998. The move had helped the company to expand globally. For Alstom and Siemens, they are competitors, but they merged the train building business recently with the support of their governments in order to compete better with China. Bombardier was founded in 1942 and, as recently as last year, the Canadian government provided interest-free loans worth over $370 million to the company to support its projects. How about Singapore? Given our size and our market, we may not be able to nurture a local company to be as big as Bombardier overnight. However, could the Government require overseas firms involved in future train projects to form joint ventures with our local companies? Of course, this would be advantageous, as working with these MNCs will allow us to learn their expertise, technologies and processes. For the first 180 km of MRT lines, our local firms played a supplementary role in building, supplying and upgrading the MRT system.”
“This is an example of how the incumbent industry players are over-regulated while the new players, disguised as "technology companies" are under-regulated. The reverse could be true in other industries. What it means is that regulators need to keep up with the times. Indeed, an article in The Financial Times suggests that traditional rule-making is unable to keep up with digital businesses. One suggestion put forth for greater flexibility is that the Government can monitor the achievement of established targets, for example, accident rate, but it should not prescribe the means of achieving such targets. Instead, the regulator could consider allowing the industry players to design their own approach. "C" for competitive. One of the ultimate outcomes of the ITMs ought to be making our local companies more competitive not just locally but also regionally and perhaps even globally. Coming back to the transport industry, we note that the Minister for Finance has set aside $5 billion from the 2017 Budget surplus to set up a new Rail Infrastructure Fund. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is also planning to double the rail network length to 360 kilometres (km) by 2030. However, are there efforts being made to nurture local firms as we expand the rail network? Can local firms eventually construct Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) tunnels? Can homegrown technology companies eventually build trains or provide the signalling systems? Let us look at train tunnels alone. Most of the tunnelling works in Singapore are undertaken by foreign contractors like Japan-based Nishimatsu Construction, China-based Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co, and German-based Zublin. Local construction companies typically take on the role of a sub-contractor to these foreign companies.”
“It is important to strike a balance between over-regulation which would stifle creativity, and under-regulation which might create unfair competition to existing players. We have some way to go. Let me cite an example in the taxi industry. Given the onslaught of cheap money under the guise of ride-hailing technology, all the taxi companies in Singapore have no choice, but to form an alliance with the two dominant ride-hailing companies. For commuters, it means more choices as they can now hail taxis from the taxi stands, on the roads, on the streets and from the taxi company's call centre or app, as well as through the ride-hailing companies, under different pricing mechanisms. This is pleasing to the commuters, but it puts taxi companies in a tight spot. This is because taxi companies are regulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) under its Quality of Service (QoS) framework, and one of the criteria to demonstrate good quality of service is that at least 92% of taxi requests made by commuters through the phone have to be matched with taxis. Out of 100 calls, 92 calls must be matched with taxis. However, with a good proportion of taxis responding to third-party ride-hailing app, it means that there are fewer taxis on the road to take on requests coming in through the taxi companies' app or call centre, which is what LTA looks at only. This means that the taxi companies are more susceptible to failing QoS because of the effort to provide more choices to the commuters. Ideally, LTA needs to consider taxi booking data from both the taxi companies and third-party ride hailing companies that dispatch taxis collectively.”
“At the same time, the Government needs to be flexible and even-handed in their regulatory framework in managing the digital economy, which is the topic of my next section. Regulators need to "B" blur the boundaries when it comes to regulating industry players, which no longer operate in industry-specific silos, but extend their tentacles into the provision of all sorts of conveniences for the consumers. The most successful companies are those providing services across different industries, building an ecosystem. Take Alibaba as an example. Starting out as an e-commerce marketplace in 1999 in the form of Taobao, it now also operates Tmall, search engine eTao and, more famously, Alipay, which is China’s biggest online payment system. It has further ventured into finance and banking with its Ant Financial Group. Between 2016 and 2017, in one single year, Alibaba enjoyed a stunning 56% increase in revenue to over US$22 billion. Closer to home, we have an Indonesian ride-hailing company Go-Jek. It started off as a modest motorcycle-hailing company in 2010. Today, it offers private cars and cabs, as well as on-demand services, from beauty treatments and massages to home cleaning and food and cargo deliveries. Like Alibaba, Go-Jek also launched an e-wallet called Go-Pay. Go-Pay even facilitates mobile transfers between accounts and cash withdrawals from automated teller machines (ATMs) at partnering banks. Go-Jek is now worth US$2.5 billion. We need to encourage such creative diversification from our own entrepreneurs. Hence, regulatory bodies need to rethink how to regulate such multimodal industries or "ecosystems" differently.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would, first, like to declare my interest as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ComfortDelGro Taxi business. As a stakeholder in the private sector and a Member of this House, I am particularly interested in the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) that are supposed to pave the way for 23 industries to be future-ready. Sir, I would like to offer my take on ITMs, which can be distilled into a simple ABC: "A" is to adapt to digital disruption; "B" is to blur the boundaries, and "C" is to be competitive beyond Singapore. Industry players and Singaporeans need to "A" adapt to the reality of technology disruptions and embrace the benefits of digital transformation. Many industries are experiencing digital disruption, from print newspapers to television (TV) broadcasts, to brick-and-mortar shops, and traditional taxi services. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said during the 2016 National Day Rally that digital disruption is the "defining challenge" facing Singapore's growth. A few months later, the inaugural Asian Digital Transformation Index found that Singapore was top among Asian countries, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, for its ability to transform itself amid digital disruptions. However, a Microsoft Asia Digital Transformation Study published in April 2017 found that while 75% of Singapore business leaders believed that they needed to transform to a digital business to enable future growth, only 34% had a full digital strategy in place. There is no doubt that companies need to embrace digital technology, otherwise, their expiry date is near. You either embrace it or be erased. We also need to help the workers to adapt.”
“Of course, the Minister's decision to appoint a senior judge as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee would enhance the standing of the Advisory Committee. However, the process is also important. Could the Minister elaborate more on the process of the hearing by the Advisory Committee? If a detainee cannot afford to hire a lawyer to defend himself, would MHA consider assigning him a defending lawyer? Yesterday, the Minister said that even a child rapist is entitled to his day in Court and to be defended. So, what more can we deny a CLTPA detainee a lawyer just because he could not afford to pay? Can the family members attend the hearing? How long does it take for the detainee and family members to be informed of the outcome of the hearing? I understand from the family member of the detainee that they may take up to six months before the hearing is made known to them. It is a pretty long period, given that the order is 12 months. In addition, will MHA consider publishing the names of the esteemed Advisory Committee members for better transparency? In order for Singaporeans to trust the CLTPA processes and legalities, it is important that Singaporeans are kept well-informed. The CLTPA is a tool which has clearly helped us to ensure the safety, peace and security of Singaporeans over the years. This five-year Parliamentary review is a check and balance for us to periodically ask ourselves if the Act is still relevant, and I support the extension of the CLTPA for another five years. However, it is necessary for us to reassure Singaporeans that safeguards are in place that the amended CLTPA is not abused. With this, I support the Bill.”
“What are the additional principles that will guide MHA to decide when to prosecute the accused persons in open Court or dealt with under CLTPA? Taking the example of the high-profile murder of Kim Jong Nam in Kuala Lumpur, would this be an instance when CLTPA would be used, rather than an open Court trial? I also note that under section 28 of CLTPA, the Minister has the power to amend any schedule, and correct me if I am wrong, that the Minister also has the power to amend the new Fourth Schedule by notification in the Gazette without going through Parliament. Does MHA have plans to amend the Fourth Schedule from time to time? For better accountability, could the Minister consider providing an explanation and rationale as and when the Fourth Schedule is amended? In my early days with the Singapore Police Force, I had investigated a gang rape case involving teenagers, which would today fall under the CLTPA if the Bill is passed. There were challenges in gathering evidence as some of the accused persons and witnesses went into hiding outside of Singapore. Eventually, the case was resolved and the culprits pleaded guilty in Court. If they had been detained under CLTPA, the investigator would have an easier time, but it might have led to concerns by their parents and others over the lack of transparency. According to the Singapore Prison Annual Report 2016, the number of detainees under CLTPA who were less than 21 years of age were two in 2016, five in 2015 and seven in 2014. Given the declining birth rate in Singapore, each child is getting more precious. Hence, would the Minister be able to clarify why was CLTPA used against such youths rather than charging them in Court? Do these youths have the means, influence and connection to intimidate the witnesses?”
“Third, can MHA consider strengthening the power, influence and responsibility of the Advisory Committee and publish the names of the Committee Members to increase transparency? Please allow me to continue in English. (In English): Mr Speaker, Sir, we note that MHA has been judicious in exercising the powers under the CLTPA. There were 1,260 detainees in 1988 and it dropped more than half 10 years later in 1998 to 463, and, by 2008, the number has gone down to 290. In 2013, MHA kindly accepted my suggestion to publish the number of CLTPA detainees and the type of criminal activities the detainees were associated with on an annual basis. In 2013, the figure dropped to 200 and it has been dropping yearly since then and reaching a record low of 109 in 2016. In 2017, it was even lower. The declining numbers reflect what former MHA Minister Wong Kan Seng said in 2009 that CLTPA is "only used as a last resort when a serious crime has been committed and a Court prosecution is not possible because witnesses are not willing or afraid to testify in Court." And a while ago, Minister Shanmugam has also given the same assurance. As observed in the annual report of the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) between 2013 and 2016, the types of criminal activities associated with CLTPA detainees were mainly drug trafficking, secret societies, unlicensed moneylending and a few others. However, the current CTPLA amendment Bill, amongst others, adopted a Fourth Schedule where a sizeable list of other crimes was also added. I would like to clarify with the Minister whether MHA has the intention to use CLTPA for crimes like murder, gang rape, kidnapping, robbery with arms and other organised crimes. Is MHA observing that more and more witnesses are not willing or afraid to testify in open Court?”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The CLTPA should be, going by its name, a temporary one. However, in reality, the Act is not temporary at all. It has lasted for 63 years. Hence, many so-called human rights activists and organisations have called for repealing of the Act. Just last week, I received one such email. However, I do not think we should be influenced by these human rights organisations. We should objectively study the benefits and shortcomings of this Act. Detention without trial is not unique to Singapore. After 9/11, the UK introduced the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act to allow the Government to arrest people who are suspected of international terrorism and to detain them indefinitely without trial or sentencing by the Court. In fact, according to a 2014 study by the International Centre for Prison Studies, globally, there are as many as 2.5 million people who are detained without trial. There are more than 200 countries involved, including western countries, such as the United States (US), France, Denmark and Italy. In other words, the practice of detention without trial is not yet ready to be repealed completely at the moment. It is a bit sad. I am not trying to put in good words for bad guys. If the Act is still useful, we have the duty to provide certain safeguards for Singaporeans who are detained without trial. First, I would like to ask the Minister whether MHA has observed a trend that there are more and more people who are unwilling to come forward to testify in today’s Singapore. Second, can MHA consider publishing the number of Singaporeans detained under the Act, the reason, the length of detention, and how many have been detained repeatedly.”
“The first question is: are there primary schools with MKs that have become more popular because of MKs? If such primary schools become more popular because of MK, it is a good impact. The second question is: what is the timeframe to realise the 50 MKs? MOE is increasing the number from 15 to 50, right? So, what is the timeframe to do so? The third question is: when certain MKs become so popular where the demand outstrips supply, then what will be the admission criteria for such popular MKs?”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, we really welcome the introduction of MKs in Singapore. Are there primary schools that are co-located with MKs that have become more popular because of MKs? This is my first question. The second question is: what is the timeframe to realise the 50 MKs in Singapore? My third supplementary question is: if one or a few MKs become so popular that the demand outstrips the supply, then what will be the admission criteria for such popular MKs?”
“Firstly, I want to declare my interest as part of the ComfortDelGro Group that operates the North-East Line and Downtown Line. Secondly, I would like to testify that Minister has been trying very hard to build a collaborative culture between operators and also has exercised strong leadership, particularly with his almost weekly meetings with the top management of the two train operators to improve the MKBF and also to learn from past disruptions, as well as to help other lines not to repeat the same mistakes and improve train reliability. Thirdly, I would like to clarify with the Minister, what are the main learning points for the project of re-signalling the North-South Line and how can it apply to the East-West Line in reducing the timeframe of project completion, reducing disruptions and making the commuters happy? I would like to emphasise that, if there is, touchwood, a East-West Line disruption, the residents now in the East at least have the Downtown Line to fall back on, but the residents in the West beyond Jurong Point, will have no other lines to fall back on.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to thank the Minister for the clarification. According to the newspaper report, it seems that as early as one year ago, NTU has started to ban Chinese characters on the signboard at their food court even though the stalls are selling Chinese food. During the Chinese New Year, NTU also prohibits playing of Chinese New Year songs. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister whether the particular NTU staff was the only one responsible for this episode or was he just the scapegoat. We know Rome was not built in a day. Similarly, this situation did not appear to arise within a short timeframe. I would like to ask the Minister whether this is a systemic problem or just a standalone case caused by the mistake of a particular staff.”
“Mr Speaker, congratulations as well. I thank the Senior Minister of State for the comprehensive replies. I have three supplementary questions. First, I understand that, right now, commuters have to pay 25 cents if you do an EZ-Link reload using credit card or GIRO, or they even have to pay 50 cents if they go to 7-Eleven to top up the card. All these are costs and I hope MOT can work with their partners to reduce the cost of the EZ-Link top-ups. For the second question, will MOT explore allowing commuters to pay MRT and bus fares using Apple or Android Pay via their mobile phone? The third supplementary question: for existing means of cashless top-ups, commuters typically need to have a bank account but some Singaporeans do not have bank accounts. Even if they have a bank account, they do not have enough money to maintain a minimum cash balance of $500 or $1,000. As a result, they have to pay $2 admission fee to the banks when the banks are earning billions of dollars a year. So, I hope MOT can work with MAS to ensure that every Singaporean can have a savings account that does not need to maintain a minimum balance without attracting any bank charges.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I have two supplementary questions for the Minister. We note that the recent attacks in London involved terrorists driving a truck and ramming into pedestrians along a pedestrian crossing. Similar attacks could also happen in Orchard Road, which can be quite scary. While some say that it is healthy to see a crowd crossing a pedestrian crossing, it is also posing a threat. So, would MHA consider taking the lead in a whole-of-Government approach to encourage building owners to build linkages on the second level, overhead, or underground, to reduce such threats, rather than having the existing building regulations to compel the building owners to only build linkages during major renovations? The second question is: will MHA consider increasing the number and scale of exercises in the heartlands involving the residents, so that they can be better prepared for the aftermath of an attack, if any?”
“I have two more supplementary questions. Are there any more new entrants into the bike-sharing market that have approached LTA recently? Jurong Town Council has increased the number of yellow boxes for shared bicycles to park but we still face indiscriminate parking. Will the Ministry of Transport consider imposing a rule for the three companies to implement policies to encourage proper parking first, before LTA allows them to expand at such a great speed?”