Arthur Fong
Singapore
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for the response. A supplementary question. Would the Ministry of National Development (MND) or HDB consider putting double-glazed windows for bedrooms into the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) options in the future?”
“Mdm Chair, the Sports Master Plan of 2011 is bearing fruit. Since the inaugural Marathon Race in 1982, our sports calendar is now filled with several marathon runs, catering to a variety of running enthusiasts, from novices to Olympic champions.”
“Mdm Chair, in just under three months, we will be hosting the 28th SEA Games and, in nine months, we will have the honour of hosting some 1,300 to 1,500 para-athletes from ASEAN countries. We hosted the SEA Games some 12 years ago and we are hosting the ASEAN Para Games for the first time.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank Mr Chen for his clarification and I hope that Mr Cedric Foo would read it in the Hansard. But my point was on foreign workers, as he prevaricated from his answer to Mr Foo. But I hear him. It is good to have a peek into the Workers' Party's attempt on policy on foreign workers.”
“Sir, the Sports Facilities Masterplan costing $250 million was unveiled last year. The main objective would be to build facilities to cater for future sporting needs and sports development. Are there any updates in terms of new community-based sporting facilities to be built in the coming years, aside from a new stadium in Sembawang?”
“I hope this can be extended to other male national athletes as well. The Olympics is not the only prestigious sports event, even if it is indeed the most prestigious. Our athletes require more opportunities to participate in as many regional sporting events as possible.”
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“Schemes such as the People-for-Job Traineeship Programme (PJTP) had given an incentive to employers to take on those olderworkers in a consultant or mentorship role. Under PJTP, Government had taken on part of the wage cost up to $2,500 per month for a period of six months and longer for those workers who are above 50. Sir, this was an effective measure to help increase the re-employment prospects for older workers. However, by pulling back this programme, the employment prospects for older workers will wane. This is of concern because as our population matures and leads toa greying population, we can expect that the size of this vulnerable group to increase further. Efforts to retrain may not result in an immediate fix. Thus, there is a real need to extend schemes such as the PJTP further. Otherwise, the net effect may be that older Singaporeans will feel, rightly or wrongly, that their interests are not being looked after. I ask that we allay their concerns. The continuation of the PJTP will give them half a chance of being employed and for the REAP to succeed. It is like a thirsty person orlet us say, an analogy where a young man is recruited to taste test a soft drink by the soft drink manufacturers or producers and they give him cash to go to the vending machine to getthe drink and then fill up a form, andfor his trouble, he will get a rebate of free Coke for six months. So this young man takes the money, goes to the vending machine where he finds the machine is locked. So before he can get the benefit of tasting the drink, fill up the form and get the rebate, he cannot even access the drink.So,people need first to be employed before the REAP can succeed.”
“The work towards ultimately synergistic result among the agencies would benefit our local corporations. This will indeed be the much needed help our local manufacturers lament that is lacking - the lament that the interest in them has been eclipsed by the spotlight and resources towards attracting the big boys to Singapore. Perhaps by the end ofthe Year of the Rooster, SPRING Singapore and the other agencies can turn from a spring chicken to a fighting cock for our local businesses! Sir, next, assistance to our people. On the Budget's broad-based assistance to Singaporeans by various top-ups to specific funds, the Government is signalling to the people that we know what their concerns are, ie, rising healthcare cost and retirement needs. However, let me raise a few areas of concern that I think need to be highlighted. Firstly, on the topic of unemployment opportunities for older workers as well as what I call the "sandwich class" of above 40s with the higher financial responsibilities than those of the 30s and those who are already in their 60s and, eloquently, what Mr Iswaran had mentioned, an example of the 49-year-old security guard who was a clerk. Sir, older workers without the necessary skill sets to find re-employment has become a permanent feature of our labour market. We have to consider measures to help older workers who find it hard to gain re-employment if they lose their jobs. Let me elaborate my concern. Sir, many workers are now finding it hard to keep up with the fast-changing times and may not have the skills required in higher value added jobs. Take, for example, a sales manager earning about $6,000 a month. If retrenched, he would find it difficult to get a job again on the same basis or even at half his salary.”
“So an amicable outcome and,in most cases, the survival of a viable business is assured. Perhaps HDB can take a leaf off JTC's sterling example. Sir, while still on the subject of pro-business, many local manufacturers have built up a good reputation for producing good quality and high-value products. Many firms jumped on to the ISO bandwagon and consulting firms did a roaring business leading local firms to ISO certification. I am happy to note that in this regard, IE Singapore has been doing its part in showcasing our businesses overseas and has taken an active role in initiating business relationships among our local enterprises with those overseas. On the other hand, EDB has been tireless in attracting foreign players to our shores. Jurong Island is a showcase and testimony to EDB's success. I wonder if EDB and IE Singapore, and even SPRING Singapore, can lock arms to assist our local businesses, specifically the local manufacturers. EDB can give IE and SPRING a heads up, turn on the radar, on the kind of businesses that they are attracting to our shores in a foreseeable timeframe so that IE and SPRING can source and aid potential ancillary services and product suppliers, the big boys that EDB targets to bring in. If this is already in practice, and I suspect so, then can the Government formalise and, if necessary, add resources towards this partnership? This will then ensure that the conduits are well oiled and, in practical terms, resolving the possible turf issues, or work out situations where no agency seems to be taken responsibility of. This, in a way, would take care of what I call "thingsthat fall between the tables" or what Mr Inderjit Singh termed as "road blocks".”
“Sir, why can the other Government bodies not do the same? For instance, we are hearing from the ground that the improved economy is really sector specific and, to a large extent, has not helped the retail sector, as evidenced bythe anaemic growth of 2.2% last year. The HDB retail shops bore the brunt of the economic slowdown and are still reeling from poor business. They have not been doing well even with the rental rebates. These rental rebates will be removed come June, and the strategy to improve the HDB retail business environment will come in the form of the 3Rs. This is supposedly a measure to correct the over supply of HDB retail space with the view that the decanting of such unproductive retail space, the HDB retail shop business environment will improve. I eagerly await the details to be announced during the Committee of Supply debate. Short of the details on the 3Rs, some of these observations can be made. Of the 14,000 or so retailers in Singapore, only 6,000 who are HDB lessees will be eligible for the 3Rs. The balance of the 8,000 or so retail shop owners who have bought their shops from the HDB would not be eligible for this scheme. Of the 6,000 HDB retailers who rent their premises from HDB, as many as 4,000 are likely to be affected by the 3Rs, since they operate in less than ideal locations within the older precincts and neighbourhood centres. This is where JTC is an example that takes the lead in being pro-business. As I have mentioned, they have approached tenantswho were affected by the rebate roll back and still face difficulties even with a rental reduction. JTC works with the customer and they treat their tenants as customers and a working relationship develops from there.”
“The Government partnered with hardworking Singaporeans and together we emerged from the gloom. We are ready to tackle the challenges that will come our way and, at the same time, share the opportunities that are before us. Mr Speaker, Sir, we have been making the right moves. Like a gardener, we have fertilised the ground during the poor economy years, planted the seeds, tilled the ground and are beginning to see some saplings growing. We should continue to water, fertilise andnurse this growing garden of ours. This Budget has been described as having something for everyone. It also means that the pie is shared by many and naturally a smaller piece for everyone. While we cannot expect the Budget to please everybody, let me raise a few areas where I think the Government could perhaps scrutinise and consider continuing or supplementing resources. First, small businesses. We have been speaking about the need for our Government agencies to be pro-business. Sir, we need to put deeds to words. For starters, I applaud our Government's measure to help loss-making SMEs with the loss carry-back provision. I am also happy to acknowledge that JTC is a shining example of being pro-business. JTC has taken an enlightened approach - that if the tenants do well, so would the landlord. JTC, while rolling back the rebates, has also lowered the rentals. Where they make a difference is that JTC's pro-business approach takes care of tenants who are still in difficulty on a case-by-case basis. If I have to borrow a phrase from my profession, what JTC has shown all is the tailored approach or the customising approach toits clients, whatever assistanceitis capable of delivering to the specific needs ofits customers. I would holdJTC up to be the poster boy for pro-business.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I speak in support of Budget 2005. Sir, the Budget for 2005 proposes an astute balance between the interests of Singapore business and our community. Where Budget 2004 sought to promote broad-based growth and fiscal recovery, Budget 2005 forges ahead with prudent reform to encourage continued growth and fiscal consolidation. This Budget delivers a broad-based assistance to Singaporeans and gives a clear signal that no Singaporeans should fear being left behind. As Prime Minister and Minister for Finance has reported, the economy rebounded strongly and recorded 8.4% growth last year. A large part of the growth is attributed to manufacturing which saw a stellar performance of 13.9% real growth. The services industry also held up well with a strong performance with the hotel and restaurant sector claiming a 12% real growth. This is perhaps no surprise as the improving economies in the region see a return of visitors from Indonesia and Japan. Of note is the startling increase of visitors from China and India. China and India recorded a growth of 54% and 52% respectively. Although all these figures had to do with an improved global economy last year, it also had a lot to do with the Government's strategies and resultant policies to position our key sectors during the doldrums, so that we were able to catch the wind as wedid last year. By pump priming key sectors like tourism, manufacturing, transportation, logistics and the services industry over the last three budgets, the Government had put us back on firmer footing. Sir, clearly, the Government had been correct and, as I said earlier in my opening, astute in steering us out of the uncertainties, the volatilities and the vulnerabilities over the last few years.”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for Law for letting us know that there was no miscarriage of justice in Mr Yeo's case. I also thank him for taking us through the jurisprudential process and the chronology of events that took place. When the case of Mr Yeo Eng Siang was reported in the newspapers, it created quite a bit of public sympathy for him. Given the response by the Minister for Law, would he feel that the sympathy was misplaced?”
“I am hopeful now, with this review and the implementation of the recommendations accounting for the inputs over the next couple of days in this House, that the bilingual policy will bear fruits. Sir, I support the motion.”
“84% of primary school teachers reported that students have difficulty in learning CL in school; and 71% of secondary school teachers have reported the same. If these students become parents of kids, in 10-20 years' time what will happen to the learning of CL in Singapore? I think it is a very dire situation and at the same time, if we juxtapose that to what the Chinese economy will be in 10-20 years' time, that is indeed a sobering thought. Sir, while we teach mother tongue to our students with different linguistic aptitudes, I would like to caution against creating yet another form of streaming. Students with a lower aptitude for their mother tongue should not be segregated into a linguistic underclass. This is not the intended goal, nor should it become an unintended consequence of this review. Instead, the study of mother tongue is to be made more palatable. We must encourage the students to gain a greater interest in their mother tongue and to use it. For students who may develop their competence further beyond the foundation level at the later stage, the curriculum will provide them every opportunity to do so. While we must aim to give students every opportunity to learn according to their aptitude and pace, we must also caution parents that this is not another race where students would be pitted against each other for the sake of academic achievements. No amount of tuition will make the learning of mother tongue palatable to a student if he is not interested. By building a love for the language or mother tongue, we would likely have more students who would appreciate the language and who would use it later in life.”
“As previous speakers have mentioned, early exposure via listening and speaking will give the child familiarity in the sounds and the tones of the language. Reading and writing abilities can thus be acquired much easier. I have already covered the situation of EL-speaking homes and the difficulty faced by students from these families learning CL. What is alarming from the Report is this. MOE's survey found out that 50% of students from CL-speaking homes find it difficult to learn CL and 36% of students from mostly CL-speaking homes find it difficult to learn CL in school. This means that the teaching method or teacher training needs to be looked at. This is the "disconnect" I spoke about earlier. Students speaking CL at home and yet find it difficult to learn CL in school is a curious situation indeed. I venture to say that the standard of CL speaking in our homes may be worth scrutinising. And I think the hon. Member, Mr Ong Ah Heng, has touched on that earlier. There is Singlish, and maybe a form of Singnese might have developed. How often have we heard our young saying, wei me zhe yang. What he actually meant was, wei she me, ni zhe yang; or, shan ge len. It should be san, not shan; ren, not len. Perhaps len came from some influence in speaking the Hokkien dialect as ren is lang. So, speaking of dialects will influence one's ability to speak proper Mandarin. Sir, I would like to offer my input on the comments of critics saying that our students may not master written communication for mother tongue if this review is adopted. We must weigh this against our success in keeping the language alive, in getting students enthused in learning the language. I have mentioned earlier some other statistics on the difficulty of learning CL at school.”
“I think that if the children develop an appreciation for the language beyond the very minimum required for them to pass examinations, the likelihood of them using, and thereby developing a fluency of the language, is very high. This brings me to the proposal to allow students to use aids such as electronic dictionaries. Much as I agree that this particular proposal is a tremendous help to students, I am not sure that we should let students use this device too early in their examinations. Perhaps we should let them use them a little later, maybe in secondary schools. I believe that students must be able to master a reasonable number of characters in their formative years. I am encouraged by the Report that there are new and creative ways to let students develop an interest early. Writers of textbooks and storybooks must be creative, appealing and refreshing in the materials they produce. The combination of reading materials and word list must serve to build a basic grounding that will aid the student in developing an ability enough to ignite his interest and not to overwhelm him instead. I hope that during the implementation, special attention be put in striking the right balance here. Sir, I would like to suggest that electronic dictionaries be used later, and we still allow for a reformatted examination to test the true ability of a student mastering of the language, with all the implementation that we want to put in place with this changed curriculum. Otherwise, we would not know how the revised curriculum has served us in terms of imbuing the students with the basics. I am convinced that we should begin with anchoring an ability to converse in the language.”
“So, this experience was very arduous and painful for them and they did not carry on with them an interest in the language and, hence, missed that at work. Some of these students are the parents of the current cohort of students facing much of the difficulty in CL and, to some extent, ML and TL today. The overlapping factors of an adversity to learning the language, the lack of opportunity to use the language and perhaps the acceleration of western influence and the desire of parents for their children to be proficient in English show up a little disconnect in the CL curriculum. Sir, the recommendations in the Report to enthuse all CL students as well as to help them develop an abiding interest in the language are steps in the right direction. There is mention of helping students discover the meaning and joy in the learning of CL. As an English-stream student myself, I would like to share with this House an expression. For example, the words leng qi - one of the great inventions over the last 100 years. Leng qi - yi ge ci, liang ge zi (two characters). From leng, you learn about other words: han leng, bing leng, leng dan - all different meanings and pretty close. Han leng (bitter cold), bing leng (icy cold), leng dan (to ignore or to give a person a cold shoulder). You learn about context. So, those are another three words, but six characters in all, from one character of leng, or cold. Then the second character qi, you have qi guan (air hose or air tube), qi hou (the weather), qi lei (to be discouraged). There are another three words and six characters, all from leng qi. Is that not interesting, if I were to ask a child? So, from one word or two characters of "aircondition", we learn so many more words. Perhaps we could introduce such interest in children early.”
“I later managed a letter consisting of a couple of short paragraphs in Chinese. I would add that this had to be done with a Chinese dictionary in hand, but oral fluency made it much easier. In the course of my work today, the daily use of the language helps me regain some fluency. To respond to a question in Chinese, I thought through in Chinese and responded in Mandarin. Without daily use, this would not be possible. So, it was an arduous process for students like me in school, to say the least. However, the system had helped me in good stead in the same breadth. The bilingual policy gave me the grounding to pick up and improve upon my Chinese so that I can converse and interact with native speakers of the language today. Those like myself are fortunate enough to have emerged after our 12 years in school meeting the objectives set out by the bilingual policy. But there are many who just gave up on the language and went overseas to further their education, some never came back. And I am sure Mr Chiam See Tong does not want this to happen. Like, Mr Ong, I am puzzled by Mr Chiam's remarks earlier. For those who have never gone overseas, they just gave up the university route until a few years ago. Then there were those whose "O" level and "A" level certificates attested to their proficiency, and they entered the university. But these students, and I am not being critical here but merely observing and noting the approach, studied extremely hard, picked questions, memorised essays, be very examination-oriented, just to get into the university. They learned to study smart to get into the university and thereafter stay off the language altogether.”
“Sir, I speak in support of the proposed review of the Chinese Language curriculum. Since the inception of our bilingual policy, it has been implemented in schools on the principle that bilingualism is essential to Singapore's survival. As one who had gone through that system, I can attest to the fact that studying Chinese did not come easy to me. Being in an English-stream school, needless to say, lessons, play and socialising were all done in English. As the Report highlighted, and few would disagree, the language spoken at home will feature in how at ease or ill at ease a student is with the language. I speak mainly English and the Cantonese dialect, but am fortunate enough to have had a fair amount of exposure to Mandarin. Mandarin programmes and news broadcasts on TV and radio, and speaking to relatives and elders in Mandarin enabled me to push through and obtain a P3 grade for Chinese at "O" levels. I would like to reiterate that speaking Cantonese at home did take away my opportunity and time to speak and to be exposed to Mandarin. Sir, during National Service, I spoke more English and learned the Hokkien dialect - I see some smiles from Members of the House who had served National Service - but Mandarin was spoken less. While studying overseas, I was instructed to write home in Chinese so that my mother had an idea of how I was progressing and managing. Well, in my first year, my letters home were usually three to five pages long, consisting of only about 10 Chinese characters: Qin ai de ba ba, ma ma (at the beginning) and at the end, hai er, Zeng. Not good. Coming into contact in class with some students from Taiwan and China afforded me some limited opportunity to speak Mandarin, and subsequent letters home had more Chinese characters and even phrases.”
“Given that Singapore has been singled out as a target for the extended arm of the Al Qaeda group in South East Asia, it is timely that we adequately arm our officers and that their lives too are not threatened. I call on our Ministry, in doing so, not to be half hearted about it but to not only appropriately but adequately arm and train our officers. Sir, it is needless to say that our immigration officers face challenges from unknown enemies with equally unknown weaponry. Sir, I support this amendment.”
“Sir, on another consideration, we know that the tenancy agreements are also stamped and registered with IRAS where both the details of the landlord and tenant are recorded. In our drive to consolidate and interconnect Government services, could the Government consider a system or process to inform landlords of any change in the status of the immigrant tenants by alert or notification, so that the landlord could take necessary steps to protect his interest and, in fact, avoid being penalised? So this closing of the loop, as it were, would make differentiating the recalcitrant, knowing and reckless harbourers stand out. It would take close cooperation between MOM, ICA and possibly IRAS in some cases, but surely this is a challenge that our civil service could face and overcome. The inclusion in the amendment of the lower limb for harbouring is long overdue. It would seem that the several scenarios I have mentioned and past cases that claim much publicity reveal that the discretionary hand is crucial in the application of the law according to its intent. Although the amendment aims at giving the courts and prosecution more discretion, the provision for mandatory jail sentence may be made clearer and specifically applied to recalcitrant, reckless, knowing and intentional harbourers. Last but not least, Sir, I speak in support of the amendment of section 38A of the Bill to arm our immigration officers. On a daily basis, our officers at the frontier of our borders risk life and limb in ensuring that the fabric of our society is not threatened with undesirable elements entering our shores.”
“Similarly, although the unemployment situation is on the mend, the sad fact of chronic unemployment hitting some 70,000-odd Singaporeans remains and, confronted with a tight situation of financial difficulties, I would not be surprised if house-owners become more lax when doing the necessary due diligence on would-be tenants. How many times have we encountered in our meet-the-people sessions of struggling residents with multi-faceted problems, including mounting arrears? Their problems are complex, compounded with a tough job market. The single mother, desperate for money, may be quite callous and not to do the necessary due diligence when confronted with the opportunity of renting her flat for some much needed cash. Or, for that matter, our single and/or elderly residents, receiving no support from their friends or relatives, and needing to eke out a living on their own in spite of their old age, are still fit to work, they too have to compete with the tough employment situation, and having little or no education, could we blame them if they are less than cautious in applying the three required due checks to absolve them from penalty? With the provision in section 57, discretion could be applied if the courts and prosecutors are satisfied. Had this amendment been in effect last year, the mitigating factors might have saved a constituent of mine from imprisonment, like our hon. Member, Mr Ravindran, had mentioned earlier. This incident involved my resident. He employed a worker and checked his document that seemed to be in order. One day the police came, did a spot check and all was fine, seemingly. And, another day, a spot check by Immigration Officers found out the document was false. This resident of mine was in prison.”
“But, like the killer litter episode mentioned earlier, once the law stipulates a mandatory jail sentence, it effectively takes away the discretionary powers of our public servants and, in particular, much of the discretionary powers of our courts. However, with this amendment, the introduction in section 57 of a negligent harbouring limb, discretion is enabled. Our civil service is filled with some of our ablest and brightest. They must be entrusted with the powers of discretion to decide, especially when it comes to prosecuting for the greater good of the nation. More importantly, if our judges are entrusted with the powers to mete out death sentences to deserving criminals, by extension, they must also be able to discern between harbourers of illegal immigrants, who deserve stiff sentences, and the unfortunate exceptions, who may not deserve a mandatory jail sentence. I support the amendment in the Bill extending the catch to include the middlemen who assist, encourage or induce landlords under section 57B to provide shelter to immigration offenders. The property market in Singapore currently is tough all round, be it within the rental or sale segment of the market. Many real estate agents are finding the going tough and some may be tempted to put caution to the wind. A few desperate agents may stop at nothing to conclude a transaction and may inevitably put themselves or their clients, the landlords, at risk and thus cast a black mark on the industry.”
“Sir, it may be refreshing to hear from a non-lawyer after so many and one more to follow. Sir, not too long ago, when we were confronted with the problem of killer litter, the law stipulated that anyone throwing things, whether it is litter or otherwise, when caught, would deserve a mandatory jail sentence. In relation to this episode, a case was related to me of a seamstress who had to carry a pile of jeans that she had sewn, from her flat on the 4th floor to a van waiting below her flat, presumably to take delivery. In between the transfer, she rested a pile of jeans on the parapet to catch her breath. Apparently, due to exhaustion, she lost hold of her wares and the pile of jeans came tumbling down from the 4th floor. Although the information was given to me anecdotally, my source told me that she was subsequently charged and served a 2 weeks' mandatory jail sentence. As defined by the law then, things thrown from a flat are deemed to be killer litter and thus the need to charge. When it came before our courts, although our judges were sympathetic to the specific case of the seamstress, they had no choice and had little discretion, but to mete out the 2 weeks' mandatory jail sentence stipulated according to the law. Sir, my parliamentary colleague, the hon. Mr Shanmugam, had spoken passionately in this House on the need to amend our immigration law. He had spoken then that the mandatory jailing of landlords, which puts them on par with grave crimes and serious criminals, represents an erosion of the principle that Parliament prescribes mandatory jail sentences only in severest cases. Sir, with this proposed amendment, the erosion of this principle has not been prevented. Unlike killer litter, negligent landlords do not put human lives at risk.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, in the same question in 2002, after the US blackouts, we were told that some of the reasons were inadequate capacity, diversity of supply, etc. But among the answers given were that we also carried out regular exercises in Singapore to check the integrity of our electrical system. When was the last check done before this recent major blackout? If the audit of the system did reveal any weaknesses, or the scenarios that Mr Ravindran talked about, could it have helped us prevent this last blackout?”
“With the S Pass ruling, foreign workers are expected to augment a segment of the jobs in Singapore, presumably, jobs for which Singaporeans are not trained enough for. I wonder whether the Minister could comment on what problems the WDA will face and that we cannot train sufficient Singaporean workers for these jobs. Is it just complacency that we talk about or is there some other reason? But with a better plan that we were shown just now, I hope that perhaps WDA could, with the aid of maybe an inter-agency or inter-Ministry coordination, focus on future ITE graduates and see how we can perhaps train them to augment and take up such slates. Perhaps the Manpower Employment Planning can take into consideration the potential productivity inputs of our future IT graduates and maybe, in time, the S Pass will be a thing of the past. I end with a call to the WDA partners in the industry and learning networks to continue their collective and creative efforts as well as committed resources in helping Singaporeans. I also call on WDA to celebrate the little successes and inform Singaporeans of such successes every so often so that it raises its profile early in the agency's life and establish itself as the Singaporean worker's lifeline, and certainly another shining example of the tripartite relationship success. Role of Singapore Workforce Development Agency”
“Madam, with the formation of the WDA last September, another one of the ERC's recommendations has been put into action. Indeed, the WDA has its role cut out for it. The timely formation of the WDA to look at our current unemployment situation with the mission to enhance the employability and competitiveness of our workforce and job seekers cannot come at a better time. In fact, it only took a lightning six months' time lapse from DPM Lee's announcement at last year's Budget for the WDA to get down to work. 5.15 pm Madam, there is a concern facing a segment of Singaporean workers today, and I hope that the WDA, in its scope, will address and engage workers to retrain. Almost 30% of our 2.1 million strong workforce is educated at Secondary 2 and below, and the Minister has just talked about that a moment ago. Many of the workers are from the services sector, such as hospitality and transport, and also from the manufacturing sector. These are the most vulnerable groups. There are many Singaporeans with similar profiles who are now already unemployed and those in the manufacturing sector are actually buying time. And we know that the new jobs in the manufacturing sector are on the wane. Madam, these are the workers that we need to help most. They are the ones with children to provide for and old folks to care for. I acknowledge, however, that some of these workers do need a mindset change, but some simply cannot be retrained even if they are willing to for various reasons. Some not so hopeful people have remarked that for this group of people, perhaps it is no longer MOM's problem but MCDS' problem. It would be a sad day indeed if that is the case. My last point is with regard to the S Pass.”
“Finally, our current employment situation, where workers above the age of 45 are having difficulty in securing re-employment, means our youths need to be economically productive to their family as soon as possible. Many of these NSmen have parents who are in this age group and who are worried that, if they lose their jobs, they will have problems supporting their children through university after their NS stint. A few of such families have described the time when their children are still in NS a very stressed period, as some of them are saying that they are on borrowed time, hoping not to get retrenched or getting the pink slip. Although there was a review and a welcome revision of NS allowances recently, and notwithstanding the importance of national defence, given Singapore's unique situation, the families of many of these NSmen are worried and would like to see their children launch into their career or further studies earlier, thereby relieving some of the stresses and burdens of the families.”
“Sir, two years ago, my parliamentary colleague Dr Chong Weng Chiew made a plea for a review for the reduction of the length of National Service term. He argued that, given the advancement of modern technology and the lesser reliance on manpower, would it not be possible for the length of our National Service to be shortened. Sometime later, the then Minister for Defence, DPM Dr Tony Tan, informed this House that MINDEF had studied the request in detail and responded to Dr Chong's plea. Sir, I wish to take up this issue again for several reasons. Firstly, MINDEF had anticipated and made preparations in response to our falling birth rate. For instance, I understand that MINDEF is relying more on technology, so much so that the building of assault bridges, for example, no longer requires or relies on a lot of manpower. We have also added more advanced weaponries that trim manpower needs tremendously. Hence, in this regard, the utilisation of our NSmen need not be a compact two years. Secondly, we are addressing the falling birth rate, but we cannot be sure of how it will turn out. That being the case, it makes our smaller manpower pool all that more precious. Our youths today face competition not just from amongst their peers, but on the global arena for jobs. Our young graduates, as it is, compete against their peers from some countries with a very much lower starting salary, as they hit the job market two to two and a half years later than, say, a Malaysian, European, Indian or American professional hired here on local terms. Although these and other nationals can augment our pool of professionals and perhaps even given a PR later, our very own young men who bear the responsibility of national defence start a peg below these other foreigners.”
“Sir, I am in support of the Government's commitment to cut costs where there is excess fat, and this will only prepare Singaporeans to sail faster when opportunities arise with the global economic recovery. While I support the exercise to make us leaner and meaner, I certainly hope that the Minister will ensure that the Esplanade's programme will not in any way be restrained or constrained by the cuts in expenditure. I also hope that the cost-cutting will not be passed on to concert-goers in the form of more expensive tickets or a pull back in service delivery. Sir, for a generation of Singaporeans, they remember taking walks along Elizabeth Walk with their family, or playing a round of police-and-thief at the old National Theatre grounds, or taking a roller-coaster ride at Kallang Park. Our next generation of Singaporeans will remember their time at the Esplanade, either as a participant at the Youth Festival or just plain enjoying a world-class performance in the evening at the Esplanade with close friends and family. Sir, I raised the cost of the Esplanade at last year's COS, but concede that the benefits to our people and, more than that, to the generations to come will be worthwhile. I hope that the cost-recovery bogeyman will stay clear of this crucial stage of the Esplanade's development as one of Singapore's and, indeed, one of the world's icon for the performing arts. Design Singapore”
“I tell these anecdotes to make the point that our retailers and their staff are too rules bound. Their mindset is not customer first. I think Singaporeans, in general, lack the service mentality. They cannot make adjustments that would earn the company more money. If you ask them to do 1, 3, 5 or 1, 3, 2, they will just think that it cannot be done. It has to be 1, maybe 1 ½, then 2, 2 ½, then 3. Good customer service means putting the needs of the customers first, and organisations should stress this. This should be the main aim of all staff. They are still too few, too rare, in Singapore. This should be dealt with especially since we are growing the service industry in Singapore. I would like to ask the Minister what can be done to instill good customer service at all levels, especially in the retail and restaurant industry in Singapore.”
“This cannot succeed fully if it is not matched by an equal reputation for customer service. As we all know, if you got a bad experience, it would be more like a shopping hell. Recently, I have to buy some furniture for my study. I thought it was an easy thing to do. So I rushed into a store, found a wooden chair with a cushion on it. But when it was delivered to me in my home, it came without the cushion. I thought it was an oversight. But I was told that the chair came without the cushion and if I wanted the cushion, I had to go to the store and buy it. It would have never occurred to me, looking at it in the store, that it would have come without the cushion because it is a hard chair with wooden planks for seat. So I asked, "Can you take back the chair?", since I do not have time to go back and buy the cushion. "No, you cannot.", they said. So now, I am stuck with the chair which cannot be sat upon, and I am using it as a shelf. The other occasion was that I had to buy a proper book shelf for my books. I did not have much time to shop. And as usual, I drove to a popular giant furniture store, which is quite well known, and I chose one quickly. It was a regular book shelf, not on sale. So I asked if it could be delivered a month later, because I was doing quite a bit of travelling that period, and the reply was no. It has to be delivered within the next two weeks. If it is not, then I have to pay $5 per day for storage. I said, "But, you know, this is going to be in your warehouse anyway. It is a regular item." They said, "No, no. You have to come back two weeks later if you want it to be delivered a month later." So I said, "But I will be away." They said, "No." They were just inflexible. So I left without a book shelf. At least, I have a chair for a shelf.”
“Sir, the retail sector represents a significant business sector in Singapore. There are about 20,000 retailers who employ about 90,000 people. I strongly feel that given the current retail climate and despite an improving economy, their livelihood is still difficult. My concern stems from the fact that given the highly competitive nature of the retail sector, our retailers are not making ends meet. Recent data suggests that the average Singaporean spent $5,702 in 2002, down by about 11% since 1997. Things do not look good for the retail industry this year. With higher GST, the lack of income tax, rental and other rebates, the retailing business will continue to languish. What can the MTI do to help the retail sector? 6.00 pm I was very happy to hear from the Minister just now that the JTC will actually be looking at possibly extending some of the rebates. I was also alarmed when I heard about how difficult it was for the retailers to conduct any shopping promotion event. If my Clementi town merchants want to organise any event to spur sales, they would have to obtain support or approval from the grassroots organisations, the LTA, NEA, HDB and FSB. If any of these agencies do not give the necessary approval, the promotional event cannot be carried out. It is difficult to do business already and we do not need some more red tape. It is important to revitalise the retail sector, especially in the heartlands. It is better to have a one-stop agency for these applications. I recommend that perhaps MTI could be the coordinating body to streamline all the necessary approval. Customer Service Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong (Tampines): Sir, Singapore is trying to position itself as a shopping paradise.”
“Sir, the GPC for MTI and Ministry of Finance, chaired by Mr Leong Horn Kee, had a very good meeting with the resource panel. There were good suggestions and, among them, was actually to have experts from, say, the retail sector or the SMEs, to contribute their inputs to the approving units. Perhaps even a rotation of the ACE members can be in the review committee for such loans. I think this will ensure that the spirit of the scheme will filter through to the small businesses that truly need the breath of life. This will stem the doubts and rebut the sceptics of the scheme. Sir, I call on MTI not to remove the crucial micro loan to the SMEs and to ensure that while the banks apply the market mechanism, they do not lose sight of the objectives of the schemes that have been set up for. Credit Cooperatives”
“Sir, I am raising the issue of SMEs' financing, in particular, accessibility to the Government assistance programmes managed through the participating financial institutions. I would describe it as painful and even difficult for those 40,000 or so SMEs to receive the assistance set up by the Government and managed through SPRING Singapore, in particular the micro loans. Some retailers I spoke to are sceptical of the Government's assistance programmes and they told me why. A confectionery had applied for a grant in 2001 and is still waiting for the grant to be processed. In the meantime, the scheme had lapsed and he had closed down his business, but the needed cash flow assistance may have actually helped him tide over to a better time. Another local designer house with a retail outlet in a posh Orchard Road locale had his micro loan application rejected because he had bad banking record. Over the last six months, he had two cheques that bounced and hence his business was deemed unviable. Sir, again, this micro loan is supposed, among others, to help companies with their cash flow problems. I am happy to report that after nine months, his business is still going at a rental of $20,000 a month. Sir, I am convinced that the schemes are well intended, well meaning and even well conceptualised. But the execution is anything but desirable on the down end. The commercial institutions partnered with to approve and process such loans are not in sync with the intention and the purpose of the Government for granting such loans. The very reason the schemes are put in place is to help the viable businesses through a rough patch. In a rough patch, even for a viable business, a cheque or two will bounce. Does it make it then unviable for the loan to be rejected?”
“MTI could then make provisions for ASEAN companies to set up shop here with ease. Sir, it not only promotes good economic sense and possibly creating more jobs here, but also strengthens the bilateral relations with participating countries as well.”
“Sir, when in a foreign country and we mention Singapore, many foreigners will sing praises on how we have built up our economy, how it has developed and how it continues to evolve. The urgency to remake our economy and to stay virile in the global economy has, and will continue to be, a focus of the Government and indeed for all Singaporeans. We recognise that we are often-times at the mercy of situations that are beyond our control. The often-used phrase "synchronised recovery" is an example. Sure, as we are seeing a recovery, "synchronised decline" will happen again down the path, for instance, the real estate prices in Singapore have fallen since the Asian financial crisis. In this regard, it is a triumphant coup for us to have signed the Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand, a few European countries, Japan and, of course, the United States. Goods exported from Singapore to these FTA countries are tariff-free. This is an extremely good economic instrument that can be shared. Friends I have in the ASEAN region, when I extol the virtues of their sending their exports through Singapore for value-added activities and, thereafter, exporting to these FTA countries, thus enjoying the benefits, think it is a good idea. Sir, it makes good economic sense to promote and share the benefits of the FTA with our ASEAN countries. Like the well-received road shows that MTI had arranged for local businesses, we can consider doing likewise for our ASEAN friends. The countries that we have signed the FTAs with are not worried about the backdoor dumping of cheaper goods because they are confident that Singapore would be promoting this idea within the rules and terms of the FTA. We could be more proactive in promoting this idea within the ASEAN community if we have not already done so.”
“Sir, the wholesale and retail sector, mirroring our domestic economy, reported robust growth of 6.7% and recovered in the second half of 2003. Sir, this good tone on the growth figure, however, masks the still weak state of the domestic economy. There are about 33 million square feet of shop space in Singapore. The reported growth of 8.5% owed much to the motor industry but it masks the dire state of the retail industry. It is now a fact that Singapore can no longer claimed to be a shoppers' paradise. Our high cost has placed us out of competing against the cheaper destinations. The construction sector contracted by 11% and construction demand fell to a 12-year low. When the HDB stopped building a while back, it led, to what my Parliamentary colleague, Mr Leong Horn Kee, described as the "butterfly effect". It almost single-handedly led to the collapse of the home improvement industry. In a poorer economic environment, Singaporeans' propensity to spend slowed down dramatically. Thus, it is no surprise that food and beverage industry saw a drop of 14% in revenue. Singaporeans are eating out less as a result. Sir, the point I wish to make is that, given that there is very little boost for the domestic market and the change in the general population's propensity to spend, I worry for the local businesses that spur the domestic economy here. Hence, I look forward to MTI's creative measures to rein in a slowing domestic economic. Cost Competitiveness”
“Sir, I am not speaking because my points were covered by Prof. Chin.”
“I urge all Singaporeans to help take care of our environment. Sir, it is important for us to live within our means. There is no need for us to spend more merely because we earn more. We should save what we do not need to use. Hence, while I agree that we can extract a "productivity dividend", we should also bear in mind that in doing, we need to consider and manage related issues, such as motivation. Why should a person be productive when he is being penalised for being so? Also, as many previous speakers had asked, where will the cuts come from? Next, under the current uncertain situation, I support the additional expenditure for security. But the security forces should be prudent in spending, doing so only when necessary. The security agencies should ensure this. Finally, I am also faced with a conundrum. In a famine, a fatter person has a better chance to survival than a lean one. This means that it is worthwhile for a person to eat a little more when time is good. One wants to be healthy, but one also wants some "looseness", some enjoyment in life. Hence, is there a place for some system inefficiency when the economy improves, when things are going well! In conclusion, Sir, allow me to pay tribute to our community and grassroots leaders. The peace, unity and security that we enjoy today are due in no small ways to their efforts. Without them, it would have been very difficult, if not impossible, for us to readily overcome the SARS outbreak and the extremist threat. They were able to quickly reach out to the people and unite everyone to the common cause, to the common interest of Singapore. I thank them all. Let me end here by reiterating my support for the motion.”
“At the same time, we also have calls to the Government to get out of people's lives, to allow them more space for personal decisions, to live and act. Sir, we must learn to take personal responsibility for our lives and those of our loved ones and also our environment. We must become a resilient people, depending on others only as a last resort. While enjoying the good life, we must at the same time be prepared for the worst. We must be like the proverbial prudent hardworking ant rather than the happy-go-lucky grasshopper. I gather that the Government has started us on this journey with the glaring absence of all the usual handouts and rebates that we saw in the past years. The people will miss all these, but this is a necessary step to wean our people away from the over reliance on the Government, so that they stay prudent when times are good. Among the people who came to see me to seek my help during the past years, not everyone was from a poor background. Several once held good well-paying jobs but were unable to cope with just a few months without an income. Having said that, the Government should readily help those who are at risk, those who through no fault of their own had fallen onto hard times and are unable to help themselves. We also have a small island for a home and unless we make the effort to maintain it and to keep it safe, it will be difficult and expensive to make it a worthwhile place to live. With some 85% of our people living in flats, if we do not help the town councils to keep our estates clean, maintain and protect the common facilities, we will have to pay more to maintain our estates. My hon. colleague, Mr Ong Kian Min, Member for Tampines GRC, spoke in more detail on the matter yesterday.”
“Most industrialised nations have this problem. So we have a serious situation in hand, one that is not easy to solve. Monetary incentives have been tried in these countries, but it has not been found to be a complete solution. Parents will tell you that they have babies not for monetary incentives, but for more deep seated and emotional reasons. It is without doubt that bringing up a child takes up a lot of effort and money. Making it easier for parents would help, but it is only one of the factors. I am glad that a high-powered Committee has been set up to look into this issue. May I meanwhile convey three inputs, amongst many, that I have received from the public for the Committee to consider? Previous speakers had discussed these, but let me lend also my voice to them. A working mother would like the maid levy to be reduced for the period while her baby is too young to be placed in infant care. She needs the maid as both she and her husband are working. Another mother said that she does not need a long maternity leave, but she suggested that we adopt the European practice where a mother is allowed to work for four days a week for a period of one year after the birth of the baby. During this arrangement, the employer pays 80% of the salary while the Government contributes 10%. Yet, other parents lament the lack of affordable infant-care and childcare facilities, which are an alternative to a maid. They want the Government to facilitate and support in the setting up and running of more such facilities. Sir, it is interesting to note that if the Government were to agree to all the suggestions made for procreation and old age, this would complete the support given to a person throughout his life, from procreation to farewell.”
“It is an austere Budget with much less for the common man and woman. In reality, on closer reading, it is a most significant Budget Statement where disparate Government initiatives announced over a spate of time have been pieced together to unveil the platform on which we will drive into a changed world. It is a good roadmap. The changing global economic landscape is a major cause of our immediate economic difficulties. The Government has introduced many changes in response but the results are still coming in. Many people thus wonder if the Government has things under control, if it knows what to do. In all fairness, the fruits of policy and strategic changes will take some time to be seen and felt. This journey is going to be tough and painful, as we have so far experienced and likely to be long. Our people must be patient and persevering for the fruits to be borne. However, it is useful for the Government to keep the people informed, to regularly highlight the fruits that are forming, ripening and harvested. The ability to follow the progress made will reassure us that our leaders have the situation under control. The Budget Statement has done an excellent job in this respect and I hope that this information sharing could be done more regularly. Sir, as many of the previous speakers had stated, the decision to have a baby is a very personal one to be taken by the spouses. The responsibility for the decision lies largely with the people, not the Government. But it is not uncommon to hear the blame for the falling birth rate to be placed on the doorsteps of the Government. However, the Government should help wherever possible by making it easier for the people to take the decision. This problem of a falling birth rate is not unique to Singapore.”
“If they close their business, they will lose their 3-month rental deposits which, I understand, can be about $100,000 in total for some areas. On the other hand, if they stick with their business, they will continue to lose money on a daily basis for the 3-year contractual term. It cannot be in the interest of Government to leave things completely to the market, but rather involve itself with the challenges of these small businesses. Sir, while we have made it clear to businesses that want to set up here that we will welcome them with open arms, let us continue to find ways to support our small businesses that employ a large segment of our working population. Mr Speaker, Sir, I used an aircraft to describe Singapore's journey in my first Budget debate speech two years ago. We have certainly gone through some rough weather, as we dived, ducked, turned and climbed in the turbulent economic storms, we have managed to stay on course. As we jettison the excesses that will allow us to fly safer and more efficiently towards the Land of Opportunity, let us be careful not to jettison along with the excesses the assistance that these small businesses and many retailers in our domestic market need. As I have said earlier, and many of my parliamentary colleagues have also alluded to, much of the costs and charges is something these business have no control over despite already cutting other "excesses" in their respective businesses. Sir, I support the Budget 2004. Dr Tan Boon Wan (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. During delivery, the Budget Statement did not sound exciting, in fact, I should say it was disappointing as many of the usual rebates, allowances and reliefs were missing.”
“If the same scenario extends to the retail sector, more people will have their jobs at stake. It is even more frightening if we look at the profile of these retail workers where training or retraining may not do much to aid re-employment should they lose their jobs. I understand that most of these retailers are family held - on average, each of these family-held businesses employs four workers or family members. With 10% or 9,000 workers in the retail sector out of job, it translates to 1,200 families in trouble. This is a worrying prospect, and one which we must do all in our power to prevent. Sir, let me elaborate with another example. In my constituency, there are about 13 coffee shops covering 105 blocks. Each coffee shop hires about 40 employees. These workers remain largely untrained because they work 10-12 hours to earn their meagre wages. Our training initiatives do not seem to reach this segment, as they do not have the time or, more likely, the capacity to be retrained. Assuming that they do accept the call for retraining, there is little support for them because if they do go for training, they do not earn their wages. For many of them, it is a hand to mouth existence and so opportunity cost for retraining is too high. Sir, many of these workers, including the sales assistants in the retail sector, belong largely to the 12.6% of households in Singapore earning less than $1,000. While this Budget is pro-business and well conceptualised more for the larger businesses and the MNC types, it can still do more for the small businessmen. In the case of coffee shops, they need direct inducements to help them through this crucial period of economic recovery. They need assistance to either restructure the industry, and many of them are caught in a vicious cycle.”
“"It's only when the tide goes out that you can see who's swimming naked," a famous remark by Warren Buffet, America's best known investor describing the masking of the retail sector growth. We have heard from Members of the House how some of these costs in fees, charges and rentals have been contributed by the Government, whether directly or indirectly. Many of these businesses have already cut costs, and some to the bone. The rebates that have been or will be rolled back have been subsidising the costs that have been entrenched through the years, now that the businesses are left with the burden of the rock heavy costs when the tide changes in their favour. Sir, small businesses have been part of the growth engine for Singapore since its early history. While we always hear about big businesses and how Singapore conglomerates are making headlines around the world, our small businessmen have been quietly contributing a significant portion of GNP. The retail sector alone employs 90,000 people. I have heard anecdotal evidence to suggest that these retailers are not able to meet even their basic overheads, let alone make profits. There is a glut of retail space, and a poor retail mix. Now, I have heard that HDB will cut its rental rebates scheme from June this year. We also see the same pull back on property tax rebates earlier. Sir, surely there must be some leeway to hold off on pulling back such assistance, if we want businesses to find their feet and begin to flourish in this critical time of economic recovery. If we do not continue to help small businesses, then more of them will go under. In fact, about 7,500 businesses and companies ceased operations or closed down in the second half of 2003.”
“With this policy, many investors and Singapore tax residents may be more inclined to regard Singapore as a viable wealth management hub. More Singapoerans are and will be travelling abroad to work. Foreigners are encouraged to set up base here and operate out of Singapore. They will be better able to deploy their earned income in a safe and established financial superstore or, more aptly, wealth management centre right here in Singapore. I am confident that we will see more positive developments in this area. I look forward to more such initiatives that will aid building a good base for the fund management industry that is crucial in the business of wealth management. The Minister has made it clear that while we should have a guiding hand in the development of industry structure, it is not the intention of the Government to hand-hold businesses. Where support can be given, Government will continue to provide as much assistance as possible. However, the onus would lie with businesses to take the risks, innovate and, finally, stand on their own feet. This is, of course, the final outcome that we want. But is there room for us to give that extra gentle push in the right direction at this crucial state of the economy, where indicators are pointing to a recovery? Have we been too hasty in concluding that the current state of the domestic economy is keeping equal pace with the improving global economy? The roll back of the assistance rendered to them at the first sight of economic recovery may be too hasty. The figures showing the 10% improvement in the retail industry includes car sales. Although car sales had dipped last year, it nevertheless masks the not-so-robust growth, as the 10% growth seems to suggest in the retail sector.”
“Some cynics on the ground have fed back to me the futility of this measure as they question how many new start-ups are there that are able to make $100,000 in the first three years. This tax exemption may prove to be little in the way of tax revenue lost, good news for the tax boys but really not a big help to the start-up fellows! My problem with this 3-year plan is that it sounds good, but I am not convinced of the real benefits ever reaching the intended group. Worse still, it may be an example of a well-intended policy ending up on the bandwagon of sceptics doubting the sincerity of the Government, however wrong the Government thinks the sceptics may be. I join my fellow parliamentary colleague, Mr Ang Mong Seng, in a call to the Government to not only extend tax exemption for the first three years but to also tax at half rate or the going rate for the company's fourth and fifth year of business. Sun yen er chien, as he described it. Sir, I also recommend that the Government could start by looking at beefing up assistance to the start-ups by extending the micro loan scheme to them as well. The Government could also make available to promising start-ups an early "incubation" programme by having experts who have start-up experiences share and guide such start-ups so that the chances of success and making through the first three years are higher. Sir, on my next point, I would like to declare my interest as a banker. This Budget also makes Singapore much more competitive in the field of wealth management. Freeing up taxation of overseas deferred and investment income has been one of the challenges faced by the wealth management industry for some time.”
“The American Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, had this to say in February to the House Financial Services Committee. I quote, "Federal budget deficits could cause difficulties even in the relatively near term." He went on to caution that, "Unless the government get its financial house in order, the situation will grow more dire with the impending retirement of 77 million baby boomers. Without corrective action, this development will put substantial pressure on the Government's ability in the coming years to provide even minimal government services while maintaining entitlement benefits at their current levels without debilitating increase in tax rates." This, Sir, already is a "clear and present danger" that Singapore has to address and to keep at centre court at each Budget. My analogy is to use a tube of toothpaste to symbolise frugality. Many will agree that it is difficult to put back the excess toothpaste that you have squeezed out of the tube. Money spent is gone. Live within our means, save enough to buy more toothpaste and use what we have prudently and to the best effect. Sir, not many Singaporeans know that the Singapore Government continues to have one of the lowest operating budgets in the world - at 16.6% of GDP. Even so, Government has been prepared to give new start-ups some breathing space with tax breaks for the first $100,000 income for the next three years. The idea is to let start-ups focus on building their businesses perhaps by consolidating their operations and channelling some of their profits back into their businesses. I look forward to reviewing the impact this will have on new start-ups and study the benefits and impact of the policy on their initial development, perhaps cut in the next budget.”
“Sir, the Minister has constructed a clear policy direction in this Budget. As per recommendations in the Economic Review Committee's Report in 2002, we have put forward incentives to make Singapore an attractive location for businesses to hub. We have lowered the corporate tax as we had set out to do some time back, and we have extended tax reliefs to businesses that will set up operations here. It is anticipated that these same companies will create jobs for many Singaporeans. With 12,000 jobs created in the second half of last year, we can be expectant of more good news in this financial year once these new policies kick in on the back of an improving economy. While we promote businesses, we thank the Minister for Finance for a highly prudent Budget. On the back of a recovering global economy, the window now exists to trim excesses that we cannot support if we want to stay nimble and flexible. This Budget starts the trimming of the fat right at home - each Ministry will receive a 2% cut in their budgets, with the exception of Defence. Sir, the Minister for Finance had, in his Budget Statement, mentioned under the first of three pillars - Effective Government, the importance of good financial practices. I suspect that he had toned down but careful not to mute his caution about the importance of fiscal prudence in the face of spending pressures and tighter budgets. This is so that his cautionary note will not drown out the visible uptrend in the economy and the opportunity for Singapore to gather momentum in the coming year. The Minister for Finance reiterated that we must never fall into the trap of budget deficits. So, I was a little surprised at Dr Gan See Khem's suggestion for the Government to promote more budget deficits.”
“What can the Ministry do in cases where companies rehire their workers under a new contract and under a business name and then terminate their services under a new contract in order that companies avoid paying the benefits had they terminated their staff under the previous employment contract signed that would have required them to pay benefits?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has said rightly that no amount of words can alleviate the grief of the three families. They have lost their sons serving the country. Can the Minister assure the House that the aggrieved families will receive adequate compensation? Secondly, in the light that accidents and deaths do happen during training, is it time to review relevant sections of the SAF Act pertaining to compensation for accidents and deaths? RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, when a serviceman dies in the course of duty, his next-of-kin or dependants will be compensated in accordance with the provisions in the Workmen's Compensation Act. The Workmen's Compensation Act is revised from time to time and, therefore, the compensation is also revised from time to time. Besides the compensation according to the guidelines in the Workmen's Compensation Act, MINDEF has a group insurance scheme which we encourage our servicemen to take part in. Besides that, the SAF also has a benevolent fund to assist members of the family, for example, surviving children, with their education and other needs. So there is a variety of provisions available for compensation as well as to assist the families of deceased servicemen.”
“Obviously, they have worried a lot before they made the policy pronouncement. The Chinese have a saying. A good leader first worries and then enjoys last - sian tian zhi xia, you er you, hou tian zhi xia, le er le. Clearly, we can see the agony written all over their faces. While we should be worried about going forward, how to readjust our finances, we should also spare a thought for the senior leaders, because history will have to write the final chapter. But I am convinced that history will vindicate them. And I have no doubt that history and historians will vindicate this policy U-turn. This policy U-turn is a mark of political conviction. It is not a course of political convenience. I urge this House and all Singaporeans and those who speak to jiu wu ba (95.8) to support this proposal.”
“Because at that time, in the 60s, the Philippines was the second most developed economy in Asia. The first was Japan. Today, the Philippines is among one of the poorer countries in Asia. When the Iraq war broke, the Philippine government was worried about two things. They were worried about the lives of the Filipinos in the Middle East, but they were just as worried over the loss of foreign income from that part of the world, because the Philippine economy is now heavily dependent on remissions from their own workers in the Middle East and across the world, including a major component from Singapore. This reversal of fortune should not be lost on us. Today, we are a rich country. Tomorrow, we should be a rich country, but history has a way of turning hopes upside down. Madam, many of us are clearly worried about our future. We know that Cabinet, in particular the senior leadership in Cabinet, had sleepless nights agonising over this policy change. PM and DPM have revealed that Cabinet agonised for at least two months over this decision. We are sure that some of the senior leaders in Cabinet must have agonised long before they even broached the subject to Cabinet. The leadership ought to be worried. And this is a good leadership that worries. The PAP leadership lives by its honour code. What it cannot deliver, it does not promise. What it promises, it had delivered. And on this, it has fallen down. There was a commitment to restore the CPF to 40%. To break a commitment like that and reverse it must have weighed heavily on them. It could not have been an easy decision for Cabinet. PM, DPM and several Ministers have come here to explain, and in their explanations, we can feel their sense of burden and their sense of worry.”
“" I have lost him, but he has not migrated because he does not qualify to be a migrant. He is not rich enough. So, he is on a social visit pass. Every time he comes back to Singapore, he comes to my MPS and helps me. And he has asked me whether I can help him to get a job. I have been trying and I cannot. All the companies I know are actually retrenching people because business has been poor. Three days ago, I had lunch with two ex-colleagues. One is a 42 year old ex-General Manager of Tanjong Pagar Town Council. Another is an ex-colleague in the Public Works Department, going back almost 20-something years. I cannot remember the vintage. The younger ex-colleague told me that he was clearly worried whether his children would have a future in Singapore, with so many people leaving Singapore or giving up hope. The older colleague has two children in Australia - one studying in Melbourne University and the other in Queensland University. But he told me that his children had told him, "What should we do if we don't get jobs in Singapore? Should we stay in Australia?" He is clearly worried because he and his wife want their children to come back to stay in Singapore. When we grow old, we all want our children to come back and stay with us. We all want friends to be around. When our children and friends have to leave Singapore, not because they are quitters, but because they need to earn a living for themselves, we should sympathise with them. But at the same time, it is hard for us to accept that the people closest to us are forced to leave the country because they cannot find meaningful jobs here. In the 60s before I got a scholarship, I was very tempted to go to the Philippines for my undergraduate studies.”