Audrey Wong Wai Yen
Singapore
“A means to bring people together with unity and not uniformity, meaning not to replicate programmes over and over again unless there is indeed interest within their respective fields. The Member's third point really is raising standards.”
“Therefore, I hope MICA will allocate funds for more research and scholarship on arts, culture and heritage, including resourcing critical writing platforms in Singapore, whether print or online, and tapping into the expertise and experience of writers, curators and critics living and working in Singapore.”
“There are certainly still areas for debate which other Members of the House have already raised: how to increase productivity levels and reduce dependence on foreign workers – just to name two ongoing long-term issues.”
“There is a saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and so a strong society is one where its leadership pays attention to those on the lowest rung of the economic ladder to enhance not only the material and economic well-being but also the social well-being of its people.”
“I think that where business is concerned, a lot of companies will find different ways and means to earn extra income and to get around the rules, and I hope that the Ministry will continue to be vigilant to some of these practices.”
“However, as a Bill that protects the family and especially the rights of children, the Women's Charter continues to be an extremely important piece of legislation for our society, and I thank the MCYS Minister for proposing the amendments. With that, I support the Bill. 5.40 pm”
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“Is it now time for the Government to throw down the gauntlet to everyone in the services sector to raise their game? With that, I support the Bill.”
“Unfortunately, many people are attracted to become property agents because, currently, there are relatively low barriers to entry and there is a perception that it is an easy way to earn money, and you can see this in the classified advertisements by agents which hint to aspiring industry entrants that they can quickly earn good incomes in a short time. Becoming a property agent should not be a last-resort job option or a get-rich-quick scheme; it should be seen as entering a profession. Therefore, a crucial aspect of the Council's mandate would lie in improving the professionalism of the industry and improving the public perception of the profession. It has been unfortunate that a minority of black sheep in the industry has affected those who are honest and professional. Finally, I would like to also note that it is not only the real estate industry that has been dogged by a lack of professionalism and a flood of consumer complaints. We read of similar problems in many other industries, from private education to spas to renovation contractors. This raises the question of whether a lack of professionalism and a lack of awareness of proper ethical business practices is a widespread problem in Singapore, and whether industries can self-regulate without the Government stepping in to wield the axe. Do we need to do more to encourage ethical business practices, just as we are encouraging companies to support continuing education and training for their employees? This Bill follows on from the new Private Education Bill which spelt out the regulation of the private education industry after the plethora of complaints and bad practices of private school operators.”
“There has been an accreditation scheme for estate agents since 2005, ie, the Singapore Accredited Estate Agencies (SAEA) Scheme, which was set up with support from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, the Housing and Development Board and the Ministry of Finance. Yet, it seems only around one-third of an estimated 30,000 property agents in Singapore have been accredited. This suggests to me that many agents do not view raising professional standards to be important, although the numbers applying for accreditation have actually been increasing recently. Iwould also like to point out that codes of practice and conduct for the industry do exist: the SAEA also provides these guidelines which are available online. Yet, we are now at a point where we need to legislate ethical business practices for the industry. I find this to be a troubling indicator that, in Singapore, perhaps there exists a real issue of the lack of ethical business practices, particularly with respect to conflicts of interest. For instance, the practice of a property agent representing both buyer and seller appears to be fairly common, despite the commonsensical conclusion that this could prevent the agent from acting in the best interests of one or other of his clients. There are also cases of agents referring clients to moneylenders, or even operating as moneylenders themselves. Other Members of this House have already presented anecdotes of these cases. This lack of awareness, interest, or ethical conscience – however we wish to call it – I believe is the root of the problem.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of this Bill. The Bill before us now has certainly been a long time coming. It will provide a new regulatory framework for the industry which should raise professional standards of the industry. I have one query which is with regard to the minimum qualifications, in particular, educational qualifications required for registration as a salesperson or an estate agent. Will it be mandatory to have a minimum of four "O" levels for registration to be a registered salesperson or an estate agent? Have the minimum qualifying requirements already been confirmed, or will it be up to the Council for Estate Agencies to further propose and refine these? I am sure that many existing agents and those who aspire to enter the industry are quite anxious about this. The rationale for this Bill is clear. The average Singaporean's life is deeply tied to his home and property: with more than 80% of the population being home-owners, the apartment or house is often the Singaporean's only fall-back for a rainy day and his retirement plan all rolled into one. A less than trustworthy agent can therefore lead to disastrous scenarios. Many news reports have documented problems of errant property agents and loopholes in current legislation relating to real estate transactions. As Mr Lim Biow Chuan has pointed out, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) has received many cases of complaints relating to estate agents, with over 600 cases in the first half of this year. On the other hand, the fact that we need to have this Bill, unfortunately, indicates that the industry's attempts at self-regulation and raising professional standards have fallen short. It is a pity that the only solution for industry improvement appears to be Government intervention.”
“Thank you, Sir. I would like to ask if the Ministry has any figures on the number of non-subsidised HDB flat owners who concurrently hold private property, because that seems to be one of the key issues to address.”
“Thank you, Senior Minister of State, for your reply. I have just one supplementary question. My question was actually motivated by the fact that the number of officially authorised sublet flats seemed lower than what you see in the classified advertisements. My question is: is there enough supply of flats in the market to satisfy the demand from Singaporeans, PRs or foreigners who may not want to buy flats or cannot buy their own flats, and need to rent?”
“I am asking this because, as I have said, citizenship is a very emotional issue and it is now a topic that is hotly debated amongst Singaporeans. So this might seem like a very minor issue to bring up but it is something that caught my attention and I feel that the idea of citizenship also is something that the House is interested in. Sir, I speak here as an ordinary citizen and as an NMP. 5.10 pm”
“And I suppose here it is where being an NMP is a good thing because when I was reading the Bill, I was thinking, "Okay. This looks very interesting. Let me have a closer look at this." And I feel that I have because I do not have a body of voters who requires me to be responsible to them or to win their votes over. I feel that I have the freedom to look into this. As Minister Mah Bow Tan has pointed out, the Advisory Committee on Citizenship came into being with the Singapore Citizenship Bill of 1957. It was intended as a measure to deal with the large numbers of migrants in Singapore at that time. The brief of the Advisory Committee appears to me, even today, to be a safeguard that ensures applicants for citizenship, who may be refused it for whatever reason, have a final avenue for their cases to be considered before a final irrevocable decision by the Minister. Since those days of the 1950s and 1960s, Singapore today is still a country with many migrants and, I am sure, many applications for citizenship. Migrants might be here to work, live, to make a home or some marriages with other Singaporeans. Citizenship was a very emotional issue and can affect the fabric of human relationship and society. Today, the process of applying for the citizenship is streamlined and straightforward. I have seen the forms and the procedures online and it is all very clear. I would like to ask for further details or clarification on whether it is, indeed, because of the streamlined processes and efficiency of citizenship applications under the ICA and MHA, that there are fewer cases going up to the Advisory Committee or that its work is otherwise superseded or considered superfluous.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to join in this debate. I would like to first of all also thank Assoc. Prof. Straughan for a most eloquent description of the pressure and difficulty as well as the incredible privilege of our job as an NMP. I would like to assure the House that, like Assoc. Prof. Straughan and Mr Calvin Cheng, and, I am sure, my fellow NMPs, take our duties very seriously. Indeed, when I first came into Parliament for my first sitting, I was struck by the sense of privilege and responsibility because I am here also to speak for the people. Assoc. Prof. Straughan has spoken about accountability and how an NMP is accountable. For me, because I come from the Arts sector, it is quite clear that I do have people from the Arts who give me feedback and suggestions and all kinds of ideas. But our accountability really is to be responsible to Parliament which is the highest law-making body in the land and that is an immense responsibility which not every citizen has. So the onus is on us to do our homework, research and to talk to people. I am sure all of us, in our own ways, have done this – as Assoc. Prof. Straughan says, very often, alone or with very limited help. Many of us do enjoy support from the sector that we are from, whether it is informal network of support or, in the case of Assoc. Prof. Straughan or, indeed, myself, support of our employers which has been very important. My purpose of speaking here today is not really about the NMP and the NCMP schemes. It is actually to ask about clarification for the abolishing of the Advisory Committee which advises the Minister for Home Affairs before he refuses any application for citizenship.”
“So it is to some extent also the quality of the works as much as the pricing that draws the audience and I suspect that what we are doing today actually allows a more diverse, eclectic mix of performances and artistes to have the opportunity to perform in the Esplanade at a very high level. On Vasantham and the suggestion to have a community programme of the various languages put together as one so that we can identify more closely with the other races and cultures, we will have to give that some thought, all right, and we will get back to the Member on that.”
“I do not know whether you caught her work at the Singapore Art Museum last year. They are very, very well received internationally. Let me describe it. Basically, she cuts out pieces of Chinese art works and puts them through several layers of perspects and so when you look at it through the perspects, the pieces that are stuck on behind takes on a very mystic view, all right and those that are in front much sharper and perspective. It wowed the audience. Many people I know, through her, wanted to buy that piece but she decided that she wanted to keep it for herself. But yes, as a whole, we watched very carefully. We do have good mentors in the industry who are prepared to come forward and help shape and direct their careers. On the Esplanade, I think what happens is that the Esplanade is both a venue as well as a promoter. As a venue, it is open to companies that make use of the facilities. As promoter, they work with, for example, the SRT, as the Member mentioned herself, to commission works that will have a certain cache and resonance. At the end of it, I think it is the consumer that benefits. The Member mentioned some figures on the cost of tickets, both for productions that are commissioned by the private companies as well as those that Esplanade has a hand in. I think those are reasonable prices. Some of the works that the Esplanade helps to commission, like for example "Winter's Tale", the pricing of the tickets was actually much higher compared to the numbers that the Member has put forth.”
“I will make this quick. Just three clarifications: First, the Minister mentioned about talent development pathways for our people. I would like to ask about the arts scholars. Does MICA track the progress of our arts scholars? And does MICA offer some career advice for arts scholars who have completed their studies so that they can contribute better to the community? Second clarification is about the Esplanade, about how commercial arts promoters find it challenging to compete with the Esplanade, for instance, on pricing levels. Would MICA consider asking Esplanade to focus a lot more on artistic programmes and leave commercial acts to the commercial promoters? And my third clarification – actually it is more of a suggestion. The Parliamentary Secretary mentioned the popular programme on Vasantham on community news and I was thinking about a community programme that gives news about all the communities of Singapore – the Chinese community, Malay, Indian and all different foreign communities and this could be a programme that maybe has different language streams and, I think, could help with multi-cultural integration and creating a cultural identify for Singapore so, perhaps, MICA might want to take that up. The Chairman: We have about seven minutes. RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: Yes, we track arts scholars carefully because we have invested quite a significant amount in them and certainly we hope that they will contribute in significant ways. Many of them do. Donna Ong is a wonderful example of a young lady that benefited from our schemes and now she gives back in so many different ways. She has attained a certain level of maturity in her works. One of the young artists award winners, the prize given by the President.”
“The most dynamic "arts cities" in the world thrive thanks to a combination of state, private, and people support, and I thank MICA for continuing to support the arts and culture in Singapore and I look forward to more enlightened policies. School of the Arts”
“Because of their mission to make the arts accessible, the Esplanade does not charge market prices for tickets. Unfortunately, this creates an unbalanced playing field because commercial promoters cannot match the same pricing level. For example, at the Esplanade, the tickets for world-famous musician Branford Marsalis are priced from $40 to $100; in comparison, a private promoter bringing in a lesser-known musician, Imogen Heap, has charged tickets between $68 and $148. Private promoters bring variety to our landscape and offer more consumer choices, and I hope that the Minister could comment on this. It is important for us to look at boosting the entire ecosystem of the cultural and creative industries, from training of talents to the sustaining of enterprises and carving a place for arts and culture in Singaporeans’ everyday lives. We need to do this to promote local content and nurture the appreciation of local content among Singaporeans through the schools, through our festivals and through collaboration between different institutions, both private and public. In promoting local content, the mass media also plays a large role. In this light, can we ask MICA to expand the range of KPIs expected from MDA-supported TV productions to emphasise creative quality and production quality rather than seeking direct financial returns? And just as importantly, can MICA help to improve the professional standards of the broadcast and production industry? How are those companies going to be sustained in the long term? I hope that MICA would consider a review of the broadcast landscape.”
“He also led the setting up of Arts Network Asia, which supports inter-Asian collaborations. So how do we groom more capable people with the X-factors of passion, talent and the capacity to go above and beyond? What do we need beyond scholarships and bursaries? In this light, I would also urge the Government to trust the people who work on the ground, to give them the support to do what they do best. Another way to sustain the practice is to invest in artists' research. Experimentation leads to new discoveries, and deepening knowledge leads to better quality work, and such research should be supported and it can happen in different institutions, in the education institutions, at an individual artistic level, and in private institutions like the Theatre Training and Research Programme (TTRP). It is also important that we continue to create channels for young people to enter the creative sector from school, ensure they have access to continuing professional development and training, and, more importantly, keep our talents working in the sector. In the film and broadcast industry, I have received feedback that it is crucial now to develop talents for top-tier and specialised positions, such as cinematographers, editors, lighting grips and so on, and not just rely on the foreign collaborators in our co-productions. We should aim such that it is our professional standards that attract collaborators and co-producers from around the world. There is also the challenge of sustaining arts and cultural businesses, such as commercial arts promoters, galleries, auction houses and so on. Currently, the cultural events field is dominated by the museums and the Esplanade. The Esplanade brings in artistic acts as well as commercial artists such as world-famous musicians.”
“For example, through the Renaissance City Funding, we already have some flagship arts companies, such as The Necessary Stage, Singapore Dance Theatre and TheatreWorks. What is the next stage of their development? And, how can we nurture more artistic and cultural leaders to take us to the future? Cultural leaders would be important as Singapore strives to be a vibrant, global arts city. They may be artists, artisans, designers, business owners, managers. They create cultural capital, inspire others in the community, inspire the public and can be a focus for civic pride. They can also drive new initiatives to improve the sector. An example of a cultural leader cited in a research report that was entitled "The Artist as Leader" – the research was carried out by a British university – it cited the conductor Daniel Barenboim. The author said that he "demonstrated leadership in three ways". First, as a conductor, he leads musicians. As a pianist, he leads through the "sheer quality of his work". And, finally, he even leads in the socio-political-cultural sphere as a co-founder of West Eastern Divan, an orchestra of young musicians from Israel, Palestine and Arab countries, which builds bridges among the peoples of the Arab- Israeli world and offers an alternative model for dialogue in the region. In our own backyard, we also have had cultural leaders, such as the late Kuo Pao Kun who inspired many with his dramatic works and teaching. Today, we have directors like Alvin Tan and Ong Keng Sen who are respected locally and internationally. Ong Keng Sen has demonstrated his leadership through programmes such as The Flying Circus Project, which creates dialogue among artists from east and west, between traditional and contemporary.”
“It was written about and studied by academics locally and overseas, and today it is still being discussed. In film, our funding schemes tend to be aligned towards investment with expectation of financial returns, and this could be disadvantageous to filmmakers with different stories to tell or alternative ways of telling them. Let us not be afraid to find a fresh paradigm to develop the capability of artists and arts groups in content creation. Mr Baey earlier also suggested a fresh idea – the idea of some kind of tax deduction for investments in non-commercial films. From what filmmakers tell me, a lot of Singapore films tend to be niche, non-commercial. In fact, they are artistic films and sometimes cannot be easily pigeon-holed into funding schemes that rely more on commercial returns. At the same time, we should aim to create an atmosphere amenable for creativity and, here, censorship plays a part. While there has been a lot of liberalisation over the past decade, both local and foreign talents in the creative industry remain concerned about the long-term impact of an overzealous curtailment of content. Recently, concerns have been expressed by the arts community that censorship regulations are not sufficiently transparent and clear. It is therefore timely for the Government to hold a censorship review which was announced last year, particularly now when all kinds of content can be accessed online. Another strategy to sustain the sector is to look at how MICA can best nurture and support arts groups, companies, individual artists, creative talents, and strive for the next stage of their evolution – in a similar way to how SMEs are being encouraged to develop their businesses and take the next big leap.”
“It happens through the people – by the actions of citizens, artists and creative people; by scholarship and research; by presenting our social, cultural, and artistic history to the public; by continually creating new work; by encouraging our people to appreciate local content. The question we now face is, how can Government support facilitate such people’s activities so that they can have a deep impact? To build up our cultural confidence, talent development, I would say, is crucial. The Budget emphasises continual training and education for our people. How can we translate education and training into the creative sectors? How does education and training help to sustain the sector and develop more and stronger local content in all areas – from visual art to film, the performing arts, design, music, fashion? I would like to suggest a few strategies for investing in talent development. First, continuing support for arts groups, organisations, businesses, and individual creative talents – whether in the form of arts housing, provision of studios, direct grants, or programmes to encourage the appreciation of the arts by the public. Here, I have to declare my interest as I work in a non-profit arts company. But more than that, there should be support for risk-taking and policy-makers need to better understand this. There is always risk in content creation. I think Mr Baey Yam Keng had referred to this earlier. We cannot predict the success of a film or an art project. An example: back in 1997, who could have expected the TheatreWorks’ production of King Lear, which featured a cast from all over Asia, to make such big waves internationally?”
“Sir, before the break, Mr Calvin Cheng called passionately for MICA to be allocated more budget to carry out its work on culture. I reiterate that call but, firstly, I would like to welcome the proposed increased budget for MICA in this coming year's Budget. It is a sign that we are paying attention to the "softer" aspects of Singaporeans’ lives and our quality of life. I would like to address one main theme – the sustainability of the arts, culture and creative sector. Specifically, I will talk about arts, culture and the media sector. The ESC has articulated our aspirations to make Singapore the "best home for talent" and an "endearing home". Arts and culture are a cornerstone to ensure that Singaporeans, no matter where they are, have a compass point for their identity. Such aspirations to be an endearing home go beyond economic measures of success, to touch on the more intangible aspects of life. Indeed, to sustain the arts and cultural sector, we have to look beyond economic measures. We have come a long way since the Renaissance City report of 2000. It is now time for our policymakers to look towards deeply rooting arts and culture – including heritage, ethnic customs, cuisines, social histories, artistic works – in our people and society. To be a global arts city, we cannot simply import big foreign shows and blockbuster exhibitions; we must have pride in our own artistic works in order to anchor our legitimacy as a culturally vibrant city. The rooting of arts and culture cannot be mandated by Government although Government support is crucial for it to take off.”
“For instance, the arts scholars who are on MICA's scholarships, who have returned from their overseas training, can be tapped as a reservoir of knowledge. Ideally, our teachers should have an understanding and appreciation of Singapore's history, culture and arts, as well as our multicultural expressions so as to transmit a shared sense of culture citizenship to the pupils – our future generations. Private education institutions”
“It is a partnership between National Institute of Education (NIE) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). From its activities, it will collate a database of research about arts, education from all over Asia. And this database can be accessed by teachers, artists or anyone involved in arts education. This aims to benefit teachers in our schools as well as artists who teach as they can access case studies, best practices, innovative pedagogy, etc. Top universities art departments around the world have faculty who are renowned as practising artists as well as researchers. To be a leading art city, we need to develop the entire ecosystem of arts and culture, including education and research. Eventually we could consider setting up an arts research centre and an arts college. They could cover research and scholarships in such areas as Asian arts practices, heritage, film and media, etc. And that, again, could be another of our differentiators. The third area I would like to highlight is Singapore Teachers' Academy for the aRts (STAR), which is a welcomed development. I would like to thank the Minister for the announcement yesterday of more training for art and music teachers and for the specialised training. Having run workshops for teachers, I know that many would welcome more training, arts knowledge, contact time with artists and engagement of the real art world. I hope that arts training will also be made available for non-art and non-music teachers. For a start, I would urge the Ministry to tap into the expertise experience and knowledge of Singapore's own artistic talents, and not only look towards overseas trainers for the teachers.”
“We could then see emerging what Prof. Thomas Magnanti, founding president of SUTD has called – technical grounded leaders, that is those who have technology in the hearts and the soul and who will go out to the marketplace of a well-grounded education, be able to lead all of us economically and socially to the future. In other words, we should focus not just producing techno-geeks. Rather what we need are techno-geeks who can apply creative solutions to human problems. Could the Ministry comment on the provision of holistic education and creativity for technology and design students? My next point is artist research. Like scientist, artists also engage in a research to explore techniques, methodologies, and so on. Each work of art is the product of years of training and research. Research is key to better quality art to the accomplished artist and to the training of new talents. I urge the Ministry to support our local arts colleges, such as LASALLE, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and School of Art, Design and Media in NTU, to become top educational institutions that will attract talents from Singapore and around the world, including students from our very own School of the Arts. Here, I have to declare my interest as an adjunct lecturer at LASALLE. Support for arts colleges would include making funds available for research by faculty. Research funds could be offered to promising students, like research or lecturer-student collaborations. After all, the production and dissemination of knowledge is important in a knowledge-based economic. An example of the disseminating knowledge for wider social benefit is a new initiative that was launched yesterday – the UNESCO-NIE Centre for Arts, Research in Education.”
“I have heard from design industry practitioners that there is still a widespread lack of appreciation for design among Singaporeans. Some have attributed this to Singaporeans having lost that appreciation for meticulous craft and making things by hand. I have already raised this point in last week in the Budget Statement debate. I would like to suggest to the Ministry that they expand design education across the schools' landscape, to take on the mission of instilling a love, for making things with the imagination and the hands among our youths. An advertising campaign for our ITEs had a tagline, "Thinking hands create success". That strikes at the heart of design innovation. We need thinking hands. Even as we nurture the leaders in technological innovation through SUTD and SIT, etc, we also need to train the rest of the team. Those who carry out the big ideas of the leaders by making and implementing, by working on the processes from an idea to product, testing, quality control and finally the market. We need to maintain the equality of education of the worker bees, as it were. These are the backbone of the economy and society. In encouraging thinking hands, we could call on the cross-disciplinary approach as well. For example exposing our students to the world of artisans and traditional crafts people of Asia, to encourage appreciation to creative process and the meticulous craft of making quality products. After all, Singapore is at crossroads of East and West. So let us tap on these resources. Guest artisans and artists can be invited into schools – SUTD and SIT, etc, to share their knowledge. Innovation from tradition and our connection to the various cultures and people of Asia could be two of Singapore's key differentiators.”
“Sir, I would like to address three main areas. First, on the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and adopting a holistic approach in education, technology and design. Second on research and the arts. Third, the Singapore's Teacher's Academy for the Arts. The SUTD and SIT will certainly play a role and talent development in our creative economy. I would like to call on the Ministry to encourage cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural learning in these institutions, where they are engaged not just with trends and technology, but also cultural intellectual thinking in Asia and the world. With SUTD in partnership with Zhejiang University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as the Minister mentioned yesterday, this could promote a vibrant cross-cultural environment that will stand our graduates in good stead in the globalised world. Partnership with universities, renown for research, can help SUTD and SIT as local institutions, to develop strong research capabilites as well as a local research talent base. Eventually, research would, I believe, be led by a large local talent base. Next, I am heartened to note that SUTD seems to adopt a holistic approach. Students who undergo foundation studies in humanities and social sciences as well as study entrepreneurship and management. This is a positive approach and I hope the SIT will similarly open up a broad prospective for its students. The holistic approach is vital as the development of real world solutions is most effective, but when it takes into account, the impact on humans, social systems and the environment. I would like to raise some concerns from the ground, with reference in particular to design, as it is taught and practised in Singapore.”
“Mr Chairman, my question is about eco-friendly events because the Minister has informed us that NEA has a set of guidelines, and the NDP and other events are run according to those guidelines. As Singapore becomes a much more vibrant city, we can expect more outdoor events being organised, and some will be by private organisers. So, how would NEA work with them in order to ensure that they are more "green" friendly? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, we certainly do that. In fact, on some of the occasions where we see that events have been advertised – and these are very big events – we will contact the organisers and see how we can work with them in order to ensure that the events are eco-friendly. We do this with a lot of Government programmes like the National Day Parade and other events organised by the Government, but private companies are also our target because they also generate waste. I am sure they can learn from the best practices that we have adopted so far.”
“Singapore has faced many challenges in the past and by uniting as a people, we have overcome difficulties and made the country what it is today. Perhaps, not quite Switzerland yet, but still, I think we have done pretty well. We cannot take our resilience and unity for granted and we certainly have to address gaps such as the growing income disparity. But what we have, I believe, stand us in good stead as we head into the future. 12.45 pm”
“While Singaporeans are understandably concerned about the pressures on space, transport and housing caused by the large population of foreigners, perhaps we also need to be more balanced in considering the issue. It is an emotive issue. I think we need to be careful not to go overboard in our complaints. After all, we are a society that is multi-cultural and diverse. Yes, PRs may have contributed to the rise in demand for flats leading to high housing prices, but do not forget that Singaporeans too sold their flats to PRs and therefore a number of Singaporeans have actually benefited from this, just as others have found themselves on the losing end. Ultimately, what Singaporeans need to do is to shift our work culture attitudes where better productivity is not about working longer hours and where there is work-life balance and where human factors count. Sir, the Budget and the recommendations of the ESC are a step towards dealing with some entrenched issues within our economy and workforce and I hope that Singaporeans will strive together for a better quality of life and inclusive growth for all. I will end by telling a story about Switzerland as that comparison has come up a few times during the debate. Two Swiss artists came to Singapore for an art project that I organised, they stayed in Singapore for three weeks, and they loved our country. What made a deep impression on them? Our multilingualism, multiculturalism and the fact that diverse races and religions co-exist in peace and harmony. They told me that they would not encounter such a rich diversity of cultures where they live, and said: "This is very important, it gives Singapore strength and uniqueness, don’t take it for granted".”
“For instance, the increased levy is passed on to workers which may be in the form of illegal kickbacks or salary deductions; labour agencies increase their fees for finding jobs for workers; employers cut corners by dismissing workers before their contracts are up; and cutting corners may also result in safety lapses – with fewer workers, they may have to work longer hours, or there may be less than the optimum number of workers to carry out a dangerous task, and that could result in injury or death. Simply put, when it comes to money, unfortunately for a lot of human beings, we are willing to risk prosecution. The recent prosecutions of contractors who accepted kickbacks, which have been widely reported in the media, are testament to this. Those who provide welfare services to foreign migrant labour regularly report that there are many cases of illegal, exploitative and unsafe practices that go unreported for many reasons. So with the increase in foreign workers' levy, we might have some unintended consequences. Will the Ministry of Manpower have to work even harder to root out errant employers? I urge the Ministry of Manpower to pay close attention to the impact of the foreign workers' levy on companies that hire large numbers of foreign workers, and ensure that errant employers are brought to justice. I would also like to suggest that part of the increased foreign workers' levy could be channelled towards training, integration and welfare programmes for migrant workers who have also contributed to our development. It will be to Singapore's benefit for us to be more vigilant in ensuring that migrant labour is treated fairly and humanely.”
“I was just reading an interesting article on BBC news from December last year about a research from the New Economics Foundation in the UK, where various jobs were evaluated according to the total contribution they made to society, such as the impact on communities and the environment, and it was found that hospital cleaners created £10 of value for every £1 they are paid, whereas in this research bankers destroy £7 of value for every £1 they earn! I do not know how the numbers were calculated, but this was carried in a number of news reports. Perhaps, our policy makers could look into such an index for blue collar jobs to broaden our perspectives. A final point about training is on contract and freelance workers. I think that should be easy avenues for them to pursue retraining and re-skilling as well. For too long now, we have relied on foreign migrant labour to fill low-skilled and low-wage positions, and it is clear we cannot afford to continue with this assumption. I would now like to raise concerns about the increased foreign workers' levy. Because I can imagine that the trigger response of some contractors who employ large numbers of foreign workers will be to seek the fastest solution to an increase in business cost. This could result in a few worst-case scenario responses by employers which will end up hurting the workers.”
“In Singapore, on the other hand, one of the barriers we face in attracting people to such work is that we no longer have this appreciation for the work of the hands, for things like carpentry, woodworking, metal working and bricklaying. Even bus driving, it seems, falls into this category. The work of the hands is what we could call "craft", and is related to artistry. For instance, every handmade piece of furniture is unique and carries the mark of its maker. I would like to suggest that it is time we start to understand such craft again. Perhaps, in fact, we can even draw on the arts sector, on traditional and modern artisans and artists to build up this appreciation and enhance the image of jobs that require hardwork with the hands. Perhaps, they can help to educate the young on the value of handiwork. When our appreciation of manual labour rises, the standing of those who perform these jobs should rise too. So, perhaps, this is something that the Ministry of Education or policy makers could consider. Certainly, in my profession, I have met many people who fabricate things or do manual labour – carpenters, electricians, movers – and I respect what they do. They have specialised knowledge that I certainly do not possess, and without which the show cannot go on! Another way that we could re-value jobs is to devise other ways of calculating their value, such as the social and community benefits created through particular jobs.”
“Singaporeans have often observed that in western countries, workers in lower-skilled jobs such as hospital cleaners have a different attitude and carry themselves differently – they see themselves as holding down a proper job, with proper pay and benefits, and more importantly able to raise a family. These are quality of life markers that matter to the ordinary citizen. But as we have heard in the past few days, there are still many families in need in Singapore and those stresses they face and we cannot discount them. In Singapore, we have some examples of how job redesign and training have contributed to changing the perceptions of certain jobs, for example, security guards. Training programmes driven by the WDA, unions and industry have led to better trained security guards and recognition as a profession, which leads to pride in their jobs and better salaries. I hope that WDA, the unions and employers will continue in this fashion and help more lower-wage workers attain a better quality of life. Yesterday's Straits Times carried two interesting articles about two workers – a carpenter in Japan and a bricklayer in Australia – which showed how these "manual labour" jobs have attained societal respect. The article on the bricklayer had the headline "This job is an art and a career". The word "art" in this context is interesting but true. It takes training, expertise, attention to detail and care to lay the bricks in an even and straight line, and that is what we would call "quality finish". It all ends up in a beautifully-constructed building.”
“In addition to work-life strategies, what other measures can we encourage employers to adopt in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment? Having a good work-life balance certainly improves our quality of life. And when we talk about improving the quality of life for all Singaporeans, we cannot forget those among us who are likely to remain in low-skilled, low-wage jobs for a long time. I think we cannot escape the fact that these jobs will always be around. What quality of life can these workers expect in, say, five years from now? How much can, say, a cleaner expect to earn in five years' time? Can companies offer wages to the lowest-ranked workers in a way that keeps up with the inflation rate? Will they share their gains from productivity increases in an equitable manner with their employees? Employers will have to anticipate that salaries will need to increase with inflation over time and find ways to harness improvements in productivity to covering these business costs. One way to do this is job redesign and, of course, investing in training and innovation. But, perhaps more importantly, it is not only about employers. It is about society as a whole. We need to re-value these jobs. It is time for us to change our attitudes towards these so-called "dirty jobs" – those that involve manual labour. Instead of looking down on these jobs, we should appreciate that they are vital aspects of our economy and workers need to feel that they are respected for the work that they do. This kind of re-valuing demands a sea-change in our mindsets and attitudes.”
“If Singaporeans are re-trained to better standards, how can this be harnessed with their foreign colleagues' skill levels so that the entire team's work process becomes more efficient and productive? The implication here – and it is an important one – is that management and employers play a very important part in organising or innovating these work processes. Perhaps, management and employers also need further support in this area. A further important factor in raising productivity is actually the human factor. A happy worker is a productive worker. Thus, it is crucial for companies to provide a happy work environment where workers look forward to going to work, morale is good, bosses are compassionate, interpersonal conflict is minimised, talent is recognised and rewarded, staff welfare is taken seriously, workers' suggestions are taken on board and, of course, providing a healthy work-life balance. Good management practices and leadership are essential. Since the setting up of the Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy in 2000, Singapore has made progress in encouraging companies to be family-friendly. The Ministry of Manpower's website has a section dedicated to Work-Life Balance, where it notes the business benefits that result from a successful work-life strategy – these have been found in other research. They include increased productivity; improved recruitment and retention which means also lower cost in terms of recruitment of staff as there is lower staff turnover; lower absenteeism rates; improved customer experience and a more motivated, satisfied and equitable workforce. So what more can we do to encourage these "softer" aspects of enhancing productivity?”
“Most foreign workers are dead serious about working, whereas quite a few young Singaporeans force themselves to work. My gut feeling is, if we cannot find a way to change the working attitude, it is going to be a tall order." Mr Yap also commented that, "to raise the productivity of the whole team, we must upgrade all of the team members' skills. By this logic, only subsidising local workers training defeats the purpose of building a team. As far as the company is concerned, if you are good, you are good regardless of whether you are a Singaporean or foreigner." Sir, Mr Yap's point is that, when we look at measures to increase overall productivity, there are other factors in the work environment and business landscape to consider. Mr Yap refers to something other Members of the House have already raised: the reluctance of Singaporeans to take on jobs that involve long hours, shift work or manual labour. The irony is that while we shun these jobs, we also worry about the influx of foreign workers whom employers have resorted to hiring. For instance, the bus companies having to hire foreigners to drive our public buses, as described by Mr Ong Ah Heng. Now, I personally believe that bus driving is an honourable profession as it provides a valuable public service – I am a regular bus commuter myself – and the unions have done much to beef up the training and professionalism of the job. I will elaborate on this point about upgrading the image of certain jobs a little later. Mr Kenny Yap also makes the point that if Singaporean and foreign workers are needed to work on the same team, it is the entire work process that matters.”
“Simply attending a training course, or sending your workers for such a course, is not a magic pill for better wages and higher productivity. Many people are sent for training simply because the subsidies and grants are available. I have heard people complaining about being sent for training "yet again". Workers should want to be trained or re-trained and understand how this will help their job performance. At the same time, employers need the skills and smarts to harness the workers' newly acquired knowledge in their line of work. It can be frustrating for a worker to have attended training or re-skilling, and then return to the same old job without the opportunity to apply their learning. Furthermore, Singaporeans are so used to having their training paid for by employers and the Government that perhaps we do not necessarily have the incentive to seek out training opportunities on our own. Hence there is less motivation to improve. But we know there are exceptions to this as we have heard many stories of people who have gone for training and re-skilling and have better jobs even in the debates in this House in the last few days. Another disincentive to training is the long hours we already put in at the workplace, and in some companies the heavy workload per worker which leaves little time for additional training and even can lead to mental fatigue. If we take training for granted, if employer and worker attitudes do not change, then our productivity levels would not increase. In this context, I would like to share some remarks that I read in the Business Times by Mr Kenny Yap, who is Executive Chairman of Qian Hu. Mr Yap said, "My experience tells me that the difference between Singaporeans and foreign workers is attitude.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I would like to share a few observations on the topic of productivity, on quality of life for all Singaporeans, and to address the introduction of the foreign workers' levy. I have no doubt that the issue of Singapore's productivity has to be addressed and have no argument with the need to be more creative and innovative in a changed global economic climate. Cheaper labour and business costs in other countries have already forced us to adopt new strategies to continue our economic growth. However, what has not changed is that our key resource is our people. As such, it is heartening to see that older workers have been singled out for attention and support in this year's Budget as they have worked hard for our nation. We are hardworking people, but we also want to be fairly treated and attain a decent standard of living. To attain this decent standard of living, our productivity levels, competitiveness, and attractiveness as a place for business and investment, have to be addressed. But I believe that increasing productivity levels requires more than tax breaks and incentive grants. It will take more than financial rewards to inspire true innovation and change. More than these measures, what is essential is a mindset change. Employers, industry leaders, and workers themselves have to understand what productivity means – in real, practical terms – for themselves and their companies. Take training, for example. How exactly does it help a worker's or company's productivity? This is something that a worker and the company have to look at. They need a clearer understanding of the need for training and the determination and support to make it happen.”
“Just two supplementary questions. Thank you, Senior Minister of State, for your reply. I welcome the introduction of the PAL programme which will give students more hands-on interactive learning. My two questions are these: firstly, I have met many teachers who feel that they are not sufficiently equipped to teach content about Arts. This is possibly because in the old days in schools, we did not have the benefit of an arts education programme. So, how would the Ministry beef up teacher training? Secondly, training for arts educators, ie, the artists who themselves carry out programmes in schools. Are there also plans to enhance their training?”
“But as I learnt more about the topic, I think that unless we can get to the core source, we have to do something. In this regard, I strongly support the Amendment spelt out in this Bill but I also like to impress on the Minister that in addition to this, we would put more effort into raising awareness among the youths and the school kids that being a part of this kind of illegal enterprise has very strong detrimental effects on innocent victims and to put greater effort into educating them so that no matter what the reasons are, for even thinking about engaging in such activities, they would be better informed.”
“And I learnt from my fellow MPs that from what little we know, the bulk of borrowers tend to be people who are in debt, who are gamblers. I would like to just take this opportunity to appeal to the Minister to do two things. First is to invest resources, to try to have a better appreciation of who this "desperate group" is. And if indeed they are primarily gamblers, even gamblers deserve our help. Therefore the second call would be to continue to look at ways in which somebody who is in desperate need of funds, to see if there is a legitimate source for them to turn to. Many in this category, I suspect, will not have a strong informal social support. So to say that they should turn to family and friends is pretty much telling them to go down a blind alley. So, as a society, I hope that we will continue to put effort into creating legitimate formal sources of help for the vulnerable group in our community. The second point that I would like to touch briefly on is the loansharks – the problem and the cause of frustration, trauma and unhappiness in our community. But in all the speeches that I have listened to this afternoon, I think the one blank spot that we have come up with is, no matter how stringent our laws are, at the end of the day, we may not get to the kingpins because we do not know how to find the "big boys". So instead, we starve them by cutting off the tentacles, the runners. And the House has called for very stringent punishment on those who are engaged as runners. Initially when I had prepared my thoughts on this Bill, as some of you might have predicted, I called for a more compassionate approach. Many of these runners are teenagers and youths. They are not the direct source of the problem.”
“I would like to suggest again that all the relevant agencies and other grassroots organisations take action to rehabilitate these repeat offenders, so that they do not keep falling prey to the loansharks who might have been their former "employers". Illegal moneylending syndicates no doubt are causing social problems. Like most problems, they are probably best dealt with in a multi-pronged approach, with co-ordination and support from many different agencies, from the people and from and the State. With that, I support the Bill. 5.17 pm Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan: Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I am going to just ditch my prepared speech because I have been learning from my fellow Parliamentarians. Before listening to them, I took a very academic approach. But I think that from the perspective of MPs who have to see the victims day to day and who have to answer to their constituents, they certainly bring a different perspective. Looking at the issue that this particular Bill is dealing with, I think there are two main concerns. The first is the illegal activities of moneylenders, so that is supply. That would not have existed if there was no demand, and that is the borrower. So I would like to indulge in talking about two points, Mdm Deputy Speaker. The first is on the notion of borrowing. Mr Christopher de Souza is my MP. He has very strong views about what we should do with borrowers. I beg to disagree with him not because I am a liberal sociologist but from a sociological perspective and for the past few hours, I have been sitting there and trying to understand what would drive a person to turn to a loanshark for money? It must be out of sheer desperation.”
“As living costs continue to rise and the wages of the lowest-earning in our population may not keep pace with the inflation rate, I am concerned that we may see more financially desperate Singaporeans who may still go to loansharks or work for them despite the risks. I would like to urge the MCYS, other state agencies and all the grassroots organisations to organise and promote more financial literacy programmes among those who need it the most and reach out and educate those who are so desperate that they are unable to see beyond their immediate crisis. Perhaps, there could also be more community level counselling programmes for those who have been forced to borrow from loansharks and their families to add to the efforts to curb the gambling problem in Singapore. I am glad that in the proposed legislation, the Act of borrowing from loansharks has not yet been made a criminal offence. I believe that by doing so, it would only punish those who are most genuinely in need and would also simply drive these illegal activities further underground, making it deeper to really root them out. As for debtors who end up working for loansharks as runners and repeat offenders – I know there are many repeat offenders who go to jail for loanshark activities and repeat their behaviour when they are out from jail – the new stricter laws may act as a deterrent but I believe the truly desperate would still continue to run the risk of the harsher punishment under these new laws and these only play into the hands of the loanshark syndicates.”
“This suggests to me that perhaps foreigners could be involved in this business, or are perhaps themselves also victims of loansharks in Singapore. And if they are foreigners, they may not know what to do or where to turn to for help if they are being victimised. I would like to ask for a clarification of this amendment. While I am in support of the stricter laws proposed in this Bill, I am also concerned that enforcement of these laws will also have a ripple effect on those who have been driven to borrow money from loansharks and have been victimised. One concern is that stricter laws will drive loanshark activities further underground, making it harder to track them down and deal with them if they continue to harass those who have borrowed from them and those who have borrowed may feel more stigmatised and less willing to come forward to ask for help. People who resort to borrowing from these sources are often desperate, with little family support and nowhere to turn to and many of them also have gambling problems. In the financial downturn of the past year, it is not unreasonable to assume that many people might have found themselves in this perilous state, especially if they have been suddenly hit by large expenses such as medical bills. While the Government has assured Singaporeans that the poor and needy in our midst will be looked after, and have regularly enumerated the various programmes offered by the government agencies, CDCs, other organisations and charitable institutions, perhaps our current efforts to educate and reach out to the truly needy and desperate are still insufficient to help this minority of people who resort to borrowing from illegal means.”
“These youths usually come from troubled families. They have poor school records and other difficulties in life; they deserve to be given guidance and not be led into a life of crime. Hopefully, the new section 28B will cause loansharks to think twice before recruiting these youngsters but, of course, I believe it would take more than just legislation to fully tackle this problem. I was intrigued to read another amendment in section 5, where a new subsection has been introduced; stating that "a person who wholly or partly carries on, from a place outside Singapore, the business of moneylending in Singapore shall be taken to have carried on that business in Singapore". I would like to query if there are foreign illegal moneylenders operating in our midst, and if this amendment is being introduced in view of concerns of the opening of the Integrated Resorts where we can expect an international clientele patronising the casinos, and therefore possibly attracting foreign loanshark syndicates. I am sure we have all read stories and know of the stories about patrons of casinos in Genting and other places where they have been approached by moneylenders offering immediate loans right outside the casinos. These moneylenders could "migrate" to our shores and it is not unreasonable to assume that they too would want to globalise their business. It is undoubtedly easier with today's technology to internationalise all these illegal moneylending activities and as the Senior Minister of State has mentioned, such syndicates are also involved in other organised crime activities. The Bill also proposes a new amendment to section 15 of the Immigration Act which empowers immigration officers to request for information from the Housing and Development Board.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join this debate. It is quite clear from what has already been said in this House that this is a matter of great concern to everyone. All the anecdotes we have heard so far, you know, from residents whom MPs meet at the meet-the-people session to personal anecdotes of people we know who have had the flats being subject to paint splashes and so on, it shows that this is such a widespread problem. As such, I rise in support of the Bill. The proposed amendments to the Moneylenders Act does comprehensively tighten the laws on loansharking, which I have mentioned, is a growing problem. The proposed amendments will allow the authorities to deal not just with the person who is running the business but his associates and all those who knowingly assist his business. The Bill spells out clearly that anyone who assists in this business, whether collecting payments on behalf of the loanshark, disposing of proceeds from these activities, allowing his premises to be used for this so-called business – acting as a lookout or runner and so on – will now be deemed an offender. In addition, I welcome the introduction of a new provision for the freezing of proceeds from illegal moneylending. Part IIA of section 15 which allows the authorities to comprehensively deal with offenders. Among the stricter laws, I am particularly heartened to see that the new section 28B offers protection to minors below 16 who are led to committing criminal acts on behalf of loansharks which can cause serious injury. Some young people may not be aware but what they do could actually cause injury or even death. More youngsters have been recruited to do the dirty business of loansharks such as setting fire to people's property or vandalising.”
“I welcome the Bill's expansion of the scope of the disciplinary measures and resolutions in cases of complaints, which allows the SMC to adopt a more calibrated approach that will enhance the rigour of its work. But, ultimately, legislation cannot be the only guarantee of good, proper medical practice; the medical profession has to continue to commit itself to the most exacting standards and be led by a core leadership with a deep understanding of medical ethics. I close by quoting from Dr T. Thirumoorthy’s letter published in the Singapore Medical Association's newsletter in June 2009: "Strong public policy and medical leadership that is prepared to establish and develop medical professionalism based on competence, ethics and altruism are still the best assurance to protect the interests of patients and doctors." With that, I support the Bill.”
“And while acknowledging that some medical complaint cases involve some legal matters, and that doctors and complainants appear at disciplinary hearings with their own legal teams, the Singapore Medical Council also pointed out that a non-medically-trained person would not have the level of expertise to assess complex medical cases, especially those where even medical experts are divided in opinion. Furthermore, the SMC already has legal counsel who I believe is present at the hearings and can advise on legal matters. In fact, with the legal ammunition that both doctors and complainants can bring to a tribunal hearing today, having a legal professional as Chair may not speed up the hearing and settlement process; it might be more drawn-out and more costly for all parties concerned. I hope that the Minister will address this concern. Finally, I believe that despite new regulations, we are likely to see an increase in the number of complaints against doctors rather than a decrease. Singaporeans are more health conscious and seek more treatments today. We are also more aware of our rights as customers and, unfortunately, we can sometimes be a little too trigger-happy in hitting the complaint button. Having said that, patients are also entitled to be made aware of their options, should they wish to lodge a complaint. In the end, our public policy and legislation have to aim to maintain the medical profession’s high level of competence and strong ethical practices for it is that which sustains public confidence in the profession; and as I have already said, this is of paramount importance in an ageing society where healthcare concerns will always be in the public spotlight.”
“This might be a response to the number of complaints that are related to such things like advertising by doctors, but this change might also backfire I feel, as the public may perceive it to be a less transparent way of dealing with complaints – even if the inquiry process is rigorous. Also in this section, the use of the term "professional services" is vague, and I wonder if it might be more fruitful to have a clearer definition and why the Ministry of Health has opted to use this term. The proposed change that has drawn the most fire from the medical profession itself has already been mentioned by fellow Members, which is the provision for the appointment of a senior member of the legal profession to chair a Disciplinary Tribunal. I note that the proposed amendment, as it stands today in the new section 50, has been changed from the draft Bill initially presented for public consultation. In the Bill before us today, it is stated that a chairman who is not from the medical profession will not be allowed a casting vote; ultimately, it will still be medical practitioners making the ultimate judgment call. The concerns of the medical profession are valid and I believe it should not be dismissed out of hand. They have clearly stated their points of concern during the process of consultation and I do not need to rehash the same arguments. But just a couple of quick points. Most importantly, the medical profession is arguing a point of principle. They pointed out that having a non-medical practitioner as Chair of a Disciplinary Tribunal defeats the purpose of the Singapore Medical Council being a self-regulatory body. They also noted that this is contrary to what is practised by other similar regulatory bodies in other professions such as the Law Society.”
“The public is understandably concerned that doctors might want to protect and defend their own, and that therefore their complaints may not be given a fair hearing and that is an easy conclusion to jump to, given that the professional community is quite small and doctors are often acquainted with one another. However, we have to balance this concern against the need to have knowledgeable and experienced adjudicators who know how to examine and assess medical and scientific evidence. One way to have a balance is to demand transparency and rigour in all inquiries, and I believe that even the existing Bill has provision for this: for instance, the requirement that non-medical practitioners are also appointed to the Disciplinary Tribunal and Complaint Committees. In the new Bill, the provision for aggrieved parties, whether the complaint or the person who is complained against, to appeal to the High Court is another safeguard, even though that might take another complicated legal route. The other concern from the medical fraternity as well as the public is the backlog of complaints. I understand that one of the reasons for the changes in disciplinary proceedings is to speed up the complaints process and facilitate them more efficiently. But I would like to ask for clarifications on a couple of points. One of the changes is in section 39(3) where the Medical Council will no longer have to send to the Complaints Panel matters that are related to a complaint about professional services provided by a medical practitioner or to issues on the physical or mental fitness of a medical practitioner to practise. Instead, the Council can simply notify the medical practitioner involved and proceed to take action such as removing his name from the register or suspending him.”
“To put the responsibility of monitoring and, if necessary, trial and punishment, at the hands of doctors while the public could sometimes question the transparency of the processes – it actually demands that doctors practise medicine with a commitment to proper treatment of patients, justice and concern for the community. Self-regulation asks that doctors demand the same kind of commitment from their peers and colleagues. And this commitment can only benefit society. For instance, let us not forget that doctors often waive or lower fees for patients who simply cannot afford proper medical treatment; on the other hand, a wrong diagnosis or mistake has an impact on the community as it undermines public confidence in the profession and system. But having said that, I am sure that no doctor is wilfully negligent. In the spirit of encouraging the highest standards of self-regulation and evaluation by the profession, I applaud the provision for voluntary suspension or removal from the Register of Medical Practitioners, where a registered medical practitioner who feels he is unfit to practise by reason of a physical or mental condition, or due to his inability to deliver medical services at the required standard, can actually apply for voluntary suspension, removal or other measures. I have two queries with respect to the provisions in the Bill on disciplinary proceedings. But before I ask for the clarification, I would like to also bring up some concerns with regard to the disciplinary hearings. One of the public’s concerns is about doctors hearing complaints against their peers and the concerns about the transparency of these processes.”
“The recent tightening of rules for aesthetic medical practice is certainly welcome; however, people will always be enticed by promises of procedures that will enhance their physical appearance and, hence, the chances of things going wrong or the patient being unhappy with the results would be higher as more people go for such treatments. And the trend of more Singaporeans, especially younger Singaporeans going for aesthetic treatments, perhaps is worrying, but that is a debate for another time. We cannot completely eradicate mistakes as no one is infallible. But we do not want to end up with a scenario where doctors are constantly on the defensive for fear of lawsuits. High-profile cases featured in the media where patients have successfully brought a complaint against doctors, may have dented the image of the medical profession somewhat. But despite these cases, as a society, we must commit to the value of self-regulation in the medical profession, and empower the Medical Council with the means to uphold the highest standards of practice and ethics. In such a specialised field as medicine, it is impossible to expect the layman to make the right judgment call when it comes to questions of diagnosis and treatment. There is a history of practice and experience in the medical profession which doctors call on, not only in treating patients but also in hearing complaints brought against fellow members. A highly-ethical, socially responsible, self-regulatory body is crucial for the future of the medical profession and the quality of healthcare for all.”