Baey Yam Keng
Singapore
“Our next generation will have far greater opportunities to make their mark here. The Government will also guide them into the transport sector through scholarships, training and career development pathways, so that they can put their talents to good use and contribute to society.”
“I would say that the greening of bus stop roofs may not be something that is practical across all bus stops. I do not have the exact figures, but I am sure we must have tens of thousands of bus stops in Singapore. So, there is a cost element.”
“Based on earlier trials conducted by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), fans have a limited impact on the ambient temperature in an exposed bus stop environment. Commuter feedback from the trials was also unfavourable. Most bus stops are also shaded by surrounding buildings and trees, reducing the effectiveness of solar installations.”
“Certainly. Members would remember that over the years and decades, our bus stop designs have evolved. We have to take into consideration various factors, not just the comfort of commuters who are waiting there but also the practicality of sighting of buses coming ahead as well as maintenance, safety and different factors like that.”
“I thank Ms Gho for her concern for the arts and the artists. Indeed, it is part of our commitment to provide affordable, accessible spaces for artists and arts groups. We have announced last year that we are doing a study on how the arts spaces provision can be better improved and the study is ongoing.”
“Speaker, the median and maximum waiting time for pedestrians at signalised junctions are 120 seconds and 140 seconds respectively. Wait times for pedestrians depend on the nature of road, junction size and configuration, as well as prevailing traffic volume.”
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“During this gap period, is the policyholder still covered under MediShield Life? Finally, a clarification for our Pioneers. The Pioneer Generation (PG) receives annual Medisave top-ups of $200 to $800 depending on their birth cohort. Some of them had expressed their concerns that the annual top-ups are fixed but the premiums would increase with every succeeding age cohort. We have given assurance that PG members above 80 years old last year do not have to pay cash for their MediShield Life premium. Indeed, an 81-year-old PG member this year can Page: 92 use the annual Medisave top-up of $800 to pay for the subsidised annual premium of $566, with a balance of $234 to spare. However, a 61-year-old PG member already has to pay an additional $289 on their annual Medisave top-up of $200 for the $489 subsidised annual premiums. However, when they turn 80 years old, their premium would go up to $566, assuming the premiums do not increase, but their Medisave top-up remains the same at $200. As these PG members get older and typically more financially dependent, their burden becomes heavier with MediShield Life. So, on their behalf, I would like to seek the Minister's reassurance that they will remain covered under MediShield Life. With that, I support the Bill. 4.19 pm”
“While setting the right policies in place is important, I would like the Minister to share how the Government intends to keep the public abreast of updates and changes over succeeding generations of MediShield Life members. Next, I would like to seek clarifications regarding premium payments for young adults. The Government provides every Singaporean newborn with a Medisave grant of $3,000 which can be used to pay for his premiums. Using the MediShield Life premium for high income in 2019, the total premiums from birth to age 21 would be $2,795. Most likely, the amount would be higher as premiums would likely increase over the next 21 years. This amount will almost exhaust the $3,000 Government grant at age 21, provided that the grant is not already utilised for other medical expenses. At this age, most young adults are still not financially independent. With the Ministry of Education's (MOE) target to provide 40% of each cohort a chance to study at local Government universities, many will still be studying or serving National Service (NS). Others may still be looking for jobs. In addition, there are others who are unable or unwilling to work. How are they going to pay for the premiums if they do not have CPF contributions? How will the Government recover the premiums? Will the premiums be automatically deducted from their parents' accounts? How about children who are living off their parents financially without valid reasons? How does the Ministry intend to balance the interest of the child, parent, the state and other MediShield Life members? The other question I have is regarding instances where a policyholder becomes hospitalised after defaulting on his payment and the Government is in the process of recovering the outstanding premiums.”
“Mdm Speaker, the MediShield Life Scheme has been well-received and is enjoying widespread support. Universal coverage for life based on cost sharing and risk pooling is welcomed for the peace of mind it provides. Madam, understanding and remembering the details of one's health insurance will not be easy. In fact, it is probably easier for most of us to do our taxes, partly because it is something we do once every year. Insurance claims, on the other hand, are much less frequent and occur during stressful periods. As MediShield Life affects all Singaporeans, it is very important that we help everyone understand the mechanics of the Scheme. How we communicate this national insurance scheme is very important. The Pioneer Generation (PG) Package has taught us many valuable lessons in this regard – how to minimise misunderstandings, how to communicate most effectively using various languages and dialects, how to utilise different platforms to reach different groups, particularly the vulnerable ones and so on. Page: 91 But compared to the PG Package, MediShield Life affects a much larger group of people as well as subsequent cohorts. Every Singaporean will be covered from birth. It will be something that our next generation will be born with. As a baby, a child, an adolescent or even a young adult, one may not be fully aware of what MediShield Life is, what it covers, the rationale of risk pooling, because it is the parents who will pay the premiums and make the claims. Over time, there will be refinements to the Scheme, premiums will be adjusted. Public education, hence, must be ongoing, continuous and as in advertising jargon, "as sticky as possible".”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. The Senior Minister of State has explained that the Minimum Sum for Medisave is adjusted for inflation reasons. But for the CPF Minimum Sum, there is no adjustment applied to cohorts that come after the Minimum Sum that is set for that year. I wonder whether that could also be applied. My second question is: given the current adjustment on a yearly basis, does the CPF member keep on topping up the difference, or when they utilise part of the minimum Medisave and it falls below the Minimum Sum, would they have to keep on topping up the amount? The next question is: for members who have comprehensive healthcare insurance policies, is it possible for them to apply for full or partial exemption of the Minimum Sum? Can the Ministry consider this because this should be akin to CPF where members with annuity plans can apply for partial or full exemption? My last question is: with MediShield Life, where there is more coverage and also lower co-insurance rates, will this Medisave Minimum Sum be revised downwards?”
“Mdm Speaker, a few questions for the Senior Minister of State. I would like to ask: when SDC maintains or operates the monorail, what are the guidelines or regulatory requirements that it adheres to? Which Government agency in Singapore is responsible for enforcing or regulating that aspect? I note that SLM's reply in the Forum page that it is according to the required standards for railways in Japan. Does that mean that the Japanese authorities come and certify the monorail? Which is the Government agency in Singapore that is responsible? My other question is about the 4 December incident where 61 people were stranded for four hours on the monorail: how do we prevent such an incident from happening again? Industry observers say that the system does not have a walkway that would enable passengers to be rescued easily. Will this pose a danger for passengers on the Sentosa monorail, and how can we further enhance this system? Page: 18”
“Mdm Speaker, the Minister had alluded to the fact that the intention of the winning bidder might not coincide with the state's land use planning. I would like to ask when the agency assessed the tender, would information about the parentage of the bidder and the fact that it was incorporated in Singapore only recently, not arouse some suspicion and prompted checks. Therefore, I ask the Minister what is the due diligence that was taken in assessing this tender and whether lessons learnt could be applied to prevent such instances from happening, not only just for religious sites, but other land use tenders as well.”
“But remember, while we can easily switch off the air-conditioner, we are at the same time also switching off the life of an animal. In recent years, there have been a number of mass adoption exercises due to pet farms closing down or not being able to sell their "excessive stock". There have also been cases of poor breeding practices leading to genetic health problems. Many animals which cannot find homes or which suffer from health problems had to be put down. Such tragic outcomes could have been prevented if we had more stringent measures in place upstream. With that, Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill. 2.19 pm”
“However, the problem here is that the party conducting the screening is the pet retailer/vendor, who has a vested interest in ensuring successful transactions. Logically, the assessment of pet owners should be performed by a neutral disinterested party, such as AVA or an animal welfare group. I acknowledge that getting pet owner certifications from independent third parties sounds very inconvenient. However, compared to putting down thousands of animals every year, especially highly cognisant ones, such as dogs and cats, I think this additional red tape is definitely the lesser evil. In addition, I would like to enquire about the role of the current declaration forms in the event of subsequent abuse and abandonment. Does AVA maintain these forms in its database for the lifespan of these animals? If so, can the information be used by prosecutors? Secondly, my point on supply. I would like to urge the Ministry to limit the number of pet farms and stores selling animals, as well as the number of animals being sold. More stringent requirements should also be imposed to ensure the health of animals being bred or imported for sale. Sellers should be required to be more transparent about the lineage of their animals and be required to offer animals suited to our warm and humid tropical climate and dense, built-up environment. Page: 23 An animal may look very adorable with thick and soft fur, but the owner has to know that much time, effort and money are needed to keep such an animal healthy, comfortable and remain adorable. There are some species of dogs which need to be kept in an air-conditioned place. Owners might think that they are able to commit to that.”
“Subsequently, when they realise that the work and costs involved in caring for these animals are higher than expected, or when their personal circumstances change, they neglect or abandon these poor animals. According to an estimate by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), at least 10,000 pets are abandoned or left at shelters every year. A significant number of Page: 22 these animals have to be put down as there are simply not enough suitable adopters and resources to keep them. This is clearly unacceptable. To reduce incidents of neglect and abandonment, people interested in adopting from animal welfare groups have to go through extensive interviews to gauge their suitability. The adopters' residences, family members, working hours, lifestyles and even their neighbours are taken into consideration. This process is essential in ensuring a successful adoption. Since 1 January this year, pet retailers and buyers are required to sign AVA pet purchase declaration forms. This was one of AWLRC's recommendations which did not require legislative amendments. The pre-sale screening checklist includes questions about the buyers' age, pet ownership history, familiarity with the needs and inherited traits of the pet and whether the new owner has the time and resources to care for it. Buyers have to declare that the shops have provided them with detailed information on pet care, including food, exercise and health needs. This pre-sale screening is certainly a step in the right direction. Potential owners are prompted to think more deeply and carefully before buying and this would help to reduce impulse buying or adoption. In addition, the questionnaire can help highlight any incompatibility between buyers and pets.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to participate in this debate. First, I would like to congratulate the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC) for the excellent work done on this Bill. Indeed, there has been growing awareness and concern among Singaporeans about the protection and welfare of animals, whether these are wild, strays, pets or kept in our zoos and aquariums. This speaks well of our society. The amendments are timely and I am sure the updated legislation, backed by rigorous enforcement, will enable us to be better stewards and custodians of our fellow creatures. The Committee has been thorough in its work, seeking views from a wide spectrum of Singaporeans and the various stakeholder groups, including vets, animal welfare groups and the pet industry. I would like to share a couple of my concerns about pet ownership and supply. Firstly, ownership. Ideally, the owner or the family should take care of a pet for life. This is especially important for animals which form strong attachments to their carers, such as dogs. Some owners even refer to their pets affectionately as "furkids". Having a pet is akin to having a baby. One key difference is that while the baby will grow up and become independent one day, the pet is forever dependent on its owner. A pet owner needs to be prepared to care for a pet throughout its lifespan. A puppy typically lives 10-13 years; a kitten 12-14 years; and a bunny, nine-12 years. During this time, a child would have grown up and may outgrow his fascination with pets and an adult would probably have less energy to care for pets. However, there are a number of people who buy or adopt pets on impulse or without adequate research or planning.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister this: the topic of providing window grilles for rental flats was raised at the last session, but unlike window grilles, there are more families who do cook at home. Yes, the Minister has mentioned that other heating options are available to residents, but I think for the LPG cylinders, there is often cost in terms of the deposit and people do have to pay in full upfront. For low-income families which the rented flats are targeted at, this could be an unnecessary burden that we could help to relieve them of. I hope that the Ministry could re-consider its decision and to install gas pipes for new rental flats.”
“Thank you, Madam. I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State: we will track the claims, but I understand CHAS has a cap per claim. So, is the Senior Minister of State saying that the Ministry will check the total bill of each claim in Page: 43 order to ascertain that doctors do not overcharge? My last question is this. I know of some GPs who, in the past, waived certain fees or charged lower fees for those low-income families. But given, now, with this subsidy, they may then revert to the market rate. So, how would the Ministry treat such cases? Is it overcharging or is it acceptable?”
“Thank you, Madam. I would like to ask the Minister how was the Government involved in deciding the type of pitch used for the National Stadium? Was the Government consulted before this hybrid was decided? In resolving this issue now, how is the Government working with SHPL to settle this issue and what is the time frame that the Minister expects this pitch to be restored to the expected standard? The Minister mentioned that as part of the PPP, the Sports Hub has to cater for public use. So, during this period where the pitch is not satisfactory, what are the public events that would be affected and how would this affect the PPP arrangement? How would SHPL be taken to task for not fulfilling its end of the agreement?”
“May I ask the Senior Minister of State, does it mean that ITE CEPAS card holders do not enjoy nor do they enjoy travel concessions?”
“Madam, I would like to clarify because based on the existing website, it makes a distinction between students from ITEs and junior colleges and students from the polytechnics and undergraduates. For those who are receiving scholarships or bursaries, one category is ineligible while one category qualifies for the concession. So, I think there is a difference, in terms of the treatment, and I hope that the authority could normalise it so that it is fair to all students studying in the various institutions.”
“As I have mentioned in my reply, we receive 10,000 titles every year and it is not possible for MDA to consult every one of them. But certainly, I think, if the film maker is keen to know why such an outcome was given for his or her film, they could easily contact MDA and they have done so in the past, where they had a discussion and we explained. It is not the role of MDA to tell them how to re-edit the film to meet our classification guidelines, but, on our part, we explain to them where we find that the film has some problems. Because I think the process is transparent and we engage them as and when we think it is necessary and, on their part, if they want to see the film being broadcast or being screened publicly, they should do so earlier on. So, in this case, the museum did not, but we did inform them why is it that we have to give them this classification and if Ms Tan Pin Pin would like to have a discussion with MDA – in fact, she has asked for it and we have met her and we have explained – we will be happy to do so, not only for her, but for other film makers. The Member's question about festivals – I agree with him that we should try and work together with film makers but it would be up to the local film makers to recognise that we do have classification guidelines. If they feel that they are uncertain about whether or not the film that they are about to put up will meet our classification guidelines, they can meet MDA officials at any time to discuss this.”
“I would like to ask the Minister this. I noted that this application was made by the NUS Museum, not by the film maker. Given that this film was given the NAR classification, which is supposed to be the most extreme level of classification, would MDA not think that it is necessary to engage the film maker, maybe to understand how or why she made this film – the treatment, story angle and to have a level of engagement with the content creator and also to explain, perhaps, the MDA's rationale for giving such a classification, that perhaps a compromise can be made? Page: 29 In general, when films are submitted for festivals, if the film maker is a local film maker, would MDA not be able to reach out to these film makers because of proximity, since the film makers are in Singapore versus overseas foreign film makers and, therefore, concerns could be addressed in time? The last question is – would then, the film maker, Ms Tan Pin Pin, be suspected or accused of white-washing crimes of certain people and, therefore, be liable for prosecution as well? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: The answer to the second question is not. This is a film that she has submitted, or at least, in this case, the NUS Museum has submitted and we have classified as NAR. By the way, NAR is not the most extreme classification. The most extreme is prohibition under section 35 of the Film's Act. The question of engagement is something in which we are well aware of and we engage film makers, as mentioned in my reply, at any point during the production of the film. Really, it is the prerogative of the film maker to consult MDA because the classification guidelines are all in place.”
“Thank you, Madam. I can understand that HDB flats are designed with the basic necessities or essential necessities to keep costs down. But I would like the Ministry to see window grilles in high-rise living as a safety requirement rather than non-essential item, especially for low-income families who need help with our rental housing scheme. For these families earning less than $1,500, and especially with young children, even a few hundred dollars can be a lot of money. I would like to ask the Minister of State what is the proportion of rental tenants with young children and what is the proportion who have sought approval to either install window grilles on their own or that HDB has helped to install window grilles for them at HDB's cost. What is the application procedure and what is the success rate?”
“Madam, a follow-up on the Minister's last point about parents living in mature estates finding it difficult to relocate into a new estate, would the Ministry consider giving financial incentives for these parents to move? The CPF Grant that the Minister had mentioned earlier, I think, typically does not apply to these parents because they would have enjoyed previous subsidies. And, therefore, I hope that the Ministry would consider giving, perhaps, cash grants to incentivise parents to move into the new location and settle down there.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I do not disagree with the principle of using financial disincentives to control traffic volume and, hence, alleviate traffic congestion. However, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State, has our consistent tweaking of ERP rates been confusing motorists on keeping track of and remembering the prevailing rate of a specific gantry during different time slots of the day and how effective has this scheme in addressing psychology of motorists and changing their driving behaviour? It is interesting, given that the high percentage of 78% of gantries had not changed their rate in the last three years, would this not indicate that the ERP had not helped to bring down the traffic volume across those gantries?”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you very much. I would like the Minister to clarify this: is the option to extend the lease already an option that the owner can consider, apart from relocating to a nursing home and so on? Regarding the SERS compensation, given that the Minister has said that the front end of a new lease is probably more valuable than the tail end of a lease, can the Minister assure that the compensation for the SERS flat will be enough for the flat owner to purchase the new flat, same flat type in the offered precinct? So, that means the compensation is enough for them to pay for whatever lease duration that the replacement flat is being offered to the Page: 40 flat owner.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister this: no one really knows exactly how long one will live. The case-by-case consideration that the Minister had mentioned may not really be assuring enough for people, when they are planning for their own accommodation to last until the end of their lives. The option of staying with families or at nursing homes may not be something that we want to think through at length in our 90s. I would like to ask whether HDB could, at the onset when the flat owners sign up for LBS, determine the value of lease extension, perhaps on an annual basis, based on the lease value calculated by HDB at the point in time it buys over the balance of the lease? And it is written down on the contract, so that at least, the flat owner knows, "If I need to extend by a year when I outlive the lease, this is the amount I have to pay." That gives a very clear option that flat owners can consider. The next question I would like to clarify is for those flat owners on LBS affected by SERS, is the Minister saying that the new replacement flat could be offered to the flat owner with a shorter lease based on the lease that they have remaining on their old flat, and therefore, they pay a lower value to get the replacement flat?”
“I would like to ask the Minister if someone decides to go on the LBS, does it mean that to maximise the LBS value, it would probably be better for him to sign up at a high end of the property cycle rather than a lower end? Does the timing affect the value of the lease and hence, the payout?”
“Thank you, Madam. I note the Minister's point that he is reviewing whether to increase penalties for mosquito breeding. But I would like to point out that there is a difference between water trapped in the laundry pole-holder and stagnant water in an ill-maintained and unused private swimming pool. Hence, the difference in potential of mosquito-breeding in these different water bodies. Also, with a smaller volume, there is probably a higher concentration of mosquito larvae, leading to easier detection upon inspection by NEA officers. Would the Ministry consider tiering the penalty fees to better reflect the different risks posed by poor housekeeping, according to different scales, even within residential homes?”
“But, finally, NLB will have to make it in the best interest of the patrons who come to NLB to seek the books that they want. There is, in fact, no reason for us to harmonise the two systems. We draw from each other primarily because the two institutions deal with actually an entirely different audience. The way we see it is that NLB will see what MDA decides and then they make their own decisions. Sometimes, they may coincide; sometimes, they may not. In the case of the Archie book, the NLB actually purchased it before MDA made the decision. Now that MDA has made a decision, NLB has decided to review the book. And once we have set up the advisory panel, we will review it before we decide on what to do with that book. Again, this is something which I do not want to prejudge. I will leave it to NLB and the soon-to-be-formed advisory panel to decide on the future of that particular book.”
“This time round, we received feedback and, therefore, the book was reviewed with a fresh pair of eyes. Noting the current environment, they decided internally, based on their professional judgement, that it is best to be withdrawn. The process that I had mentioned earlier in my reply was adhered to, to the letter and spirit, to ensure that we go through the due process. Going forward, as I had mentioned earlier, they will have an advisory panel to be able to allow them to test their judgement and views on a particular book to a wider cross-section of the community. I think we can improve the process, no doubt, but I am confident that what they have done so far, for these many, many years in terms of reviewing books which are up for feedback, has been done with the best professional judgement that they can make under the circumstances. As to the Member's second question, the first thing we have to remember is that it was not the intention that the MDA decision should determine how NLB should decide on a particular book. The reason is very simple: in Singapore, bookshops are opened to all patrons. In fact, there are no age restrictions at the point of sale, as practised in some other counties. Page: 19 MDA has to take this into account when it decides on a particular book, whether it finds it objectionable or not. In the case of NLB, as I had mentioned earlier, we have different collections. This allows us to apply a differentiated approach that gives us flexibility to decide on some materials which may be unsuitable for one age group to be placed to another section. So, our position in the Ministry, together with NLB, is that the judgement finally has to be made by NLB, taking into account feedback and inputs from various different sources.”
“Thank you, Madam. I agree with the Minister that we should leave it to NLB staff's professional judgement in deciding what books to select for its collection. I would like to ask the Minister when the books in question were withdrawn or transferred to the adults' section this year, what was the staff's professional judgement of the books to be deemed suitable at that time for the children's section. And why did NLB then decide to reverse the decision – first to pulp it; and subsequently, to transfer it to the adults' section – when a member of public gave the feedback? How is NLB accounting? I think NLB has not stood up to give an account of why the initial decision was made because I am sure there are a lot of literature and reviews about these books because they have also faced some controversy in other countries. My second and last question is, referring to MDA's decision not to allow the import and sale of a certain volume of the Archie comic series, I know that NLB is letting that volume remain in its collection. This discrepancy between two Government agencies – one to allow the sale, for public to make a considered decision to purchase a copy, versus allowing it on public shelves – does the Ministry have a view on this, and should there be streamlining between the practices of the two agencies? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I thank the Member for those two questions. In the first case, as Members may have known, we acquired the books, especially "And Tango Makes Three" in 2005, before the book even made it to the American Libraries Association list. In fact, it was reviewed internally in 2009, some years after it was acquired. At that time, NLB decided to retain it.”
“Madam, I have two supplementary questions. First, I would like to also speak up for public servants holding communications portfolios. Sometimes, communications cannot do wonders and policy itself is very complicated. We may need to nip the issue at the bud at the way the policies are developed. My question is: does MCI play a role in advising the other Ministries how to develop policies that are easier to communicate and, hence, easier for people to understand and appreciate. If so, how? If Page: 27 not, why not? I would like to ask my second question in Mandarin, Madam. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Minister of State Ms Sim Ann has been working very hard to produce the YouTube videos in dialects for the Pioneer Generation to understand this very important message. These YouTube videos are uploaded so that people can watch them from anywhere at any time. But they were not telecast on TV except during Friday morning's dialect opera programming belt. So, apart from budget constraints for the TV advertisements, is there any difference in the Government's dialect policies between the traditional media and the social media?”
“I think this is practised in many of our childcare centres as well. Unfortunately, more parents turned up late because they had rationalised that since they were paying for additional hours of service, they are entitled to it. Their feelings of obligation towards the teachers disappeared. Even worse, when this childcare removed the fines, the number of late parents did not go down because it had been "normalised". The childcare centre should have tried harder to use the power of social norm to encourage parents not to be late. They could inform parents that most people, most parents pick up their children on time, and share with them the personal impact of their late-coming on their waiting children as well as the teachers, the caregivers. In conclusion, Madam, we all just need a little help to see how our actions impact our environment, our future and the country. Experts in this area should be incorporated into our Civil Service, our Ministries and agencies to assist on a permanent basis to develop a deeper understanding of how the mind generally works and behaves. In recent rankings of trust in governments around the world, Singapore Government has performed well. I believe that just as the people places trust in our Government, the Government can also place trust in our people to do the right thing for themselves, their families and for their country. We have good policies with good intentions. With greater attention paid to psychology, to how people and society think, perceive and behave, we can achieve far greater mileage that the Government duly deserves. Page: 45 3.17 pm”
“It is clear that "nudging" people towards decisions is far better than imposing fines. We still joke about Singapore being a "fine" city. The sad thing is, despite decades of imposing fines on littering, we are no closer to reaching the standards of cleanliness in Taiwan, Switzerland or Japan. Safety on roads has not improved much either. On the other hand, financial incentives have not given us more baby Singaporeans. I am not advocating that we remove financial penalties and incentives, but we should acknowledge their Page: 44 limitations and look to other methods to complement existing ones. For one, we have been agonising over our dismal Total Fertility Rate of 1.2. However, most married couples in Singapore do have an average of two children. Why do we not target Singaporeans to get married? Have more places and activities for young people to come together and socialise, and help more young couples get their HDB flats faster. Over the years, as a society, we have also become more inclined to attaching monetary values to activities. We use these values to weigh inputs and outcomes. We automatically perform cost-and-benefit analyses for any course of action. This is not only ineffective but an approach, and this approach will also contribute to moral deterioration. Once market norms replace social norms, it becomes very difficult and costly to revert to social norms. People would point out that they are entitled to courses of action not beneficial or detrimental to building a harmonious society because they have paid for it. A well-known example is that of an Israeli childcare centre attempt to get more parents to pick up their children on time. Parents late in picking up children are first advised to come earlier. Subsequently, fines were imposed.”
“I found out that in the UK, the government has a very specialist unit called the Behavioural Insights Team, also known as the "Nudge Unit". It applies "insights from academic research in behavioural economics and psychology to public policy and services". It is a 13-member team, with backgrounds in academia, such as behavioural sciences and experimental methodology, policymaking and marketing, and they are responsible to achieve four objectives: (a) to encourage and support people to make better choices for themselves; (b) to consider the application of behavioural science to policy design and delivery; (c) to advance behavioural science in public policy; and (d) to champion scientific methodology to bring greater rigour to policy evaluation. I am not sure if our policy-makers are already aware of this unit's work though it would appear that we have not been as systematic about applying it. I would like to urge the Government to consider setting up a similar unit, to build similar resources in our Government. While we must be careful that the work of this team should not be misinterpreted as manipulative of people's minds, I am sure that its inputs and its insights will contribute to better policies and communication. An interesting contribution of the "Nudge Unit" in the UK is the tax department. It did an experiment involving two groups of taxpayers. One group received the usual notice about paying taxes on time, while the other group included this information that nine out of 10 taxpayers in the UK filed their taxes on time. As a result, this second group had a higher percentage of compliance. This experiment demonstrated the power of social norms, the desire to conform. The power of social norms should not be under-estimated.”
“I am sure there are drivers like me who deliberately take a longer route to avoid a gantry but, in the end, just to find out that I have just saved 50 cents; probably I spend more paying for the petrol and the time cost. People will not remember that the Government had reduced road tax as a result of ERP. For most drivers, the savings from the reduction in road tax far exceeds the payment through ERP. But the perception that they have to pay more stays in people's minds. Compare this to the London Congestion Charge; it charges a £10 daily fee for driving a vehicle within the Congestion Charge zone from 7.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday. That is it, simple and easy to remember. From the behavioural perspective, the London Congestion Charge is probably more effective, because our ERP rates are so precisely calculated – well, rightly so, because I think they are very equitable based on work space usage, based on number of entries into the restricted zone – but the problem is, these incremental charges and frequent adjustments are no longer effective in controlling road usage. Instead, disproportionate unhappiness builds up. Page: 43 Madam, psychology is at play, too, when we see a 25% increase in the visitorship to museums after admission charges were waived, or when many more peak-hour commuters, when they did not take up the 50 cents rebate but choose to take advantage of the free MRT travel before 7.45 am. I do not think it is because they cannot afford the few dollars to pay for the admission tickets to museums or pay for MRT fare. It is the "free" mentality, but it does not mean that free is no good. I am glad that the Government is slowly moving away from the "No Free Lunch" philosophy. I was curious about how psychology features in other countries' policy-making.”
“This is because all the different tiers, categories, terms and conditions to deal with the various permutations do not take into account the limited time Page: 42 and processing bandwidths that most people have at their disposal. As a result, the targeted population sometimes does not behave or respond as expected. A case in point would include our ERP system. The ERP charges alone would span various spreadsheets. In fact, I just checked out onemotoring.com.sg – it is 16 spreadsheets long. Probably, I would have to print it in A3 size in order to read it easily. The four categories of vehicles and all the different time zones, the different gantries – it makes a very complicated matrix. I ask this question: how many motorists would go through these charges, which vary on location, day of the week and timeslots, to plan their routes, unless it is a daily route that they take? There are so many rates involved. Every few months, we will adjust the rates to take into account changing road conditions or school holidays. Our civil servants are superb in finetuning in packets of five minutes, 30 minutes and 50 cents. In addition, as payment is automatic and hassle-free through IUs and cashcards, this probably results in two main behaviours: (i) people just drive wherever they need to because they cannot be bothered and the cost is immaterial to them. When this happens, the deterrent effect is lost; (ii) motorists are just so irritated every time they pass by or see an ERP gantry without knowing exactly what the ERP rate is. In this case, the resentment builds up.”
“Madam, many times, our policies are watertight so that we prevent people from taking advantage of the system. The fact is that these people who abuse the system are really in the minority. However, by doing so, we are also passing on the onerous requirements to the vast majority. When the PAP Tampines North branch started a monthly free haircut service in January in the constituency, people asked me, "How do we ensure that the beneficiaries of this free haircut are indeed the needy?" I deliberately did not want to check income slips, ask for Public Assistance or CHAS cards or even ICs. Yes, I cannot guarantee that these people who come for haircut are all low-income, but the fact is that we hold it at the void deck of the largest rental block in the constituency. With this, I am confident that I am making it convenient for those who need help to come by and, for most of the people, I am reaching the target audience. If someone else really makes the effort to be there just to get a basic trim with no washing, perming or colouring services and out in the open, I am happy to offer it. I do not want to be so calculative because I know that the needy also want to have some dignity in their lives, to be treated with dignity. Insisting on evidence to prove their needy status also means that I am doubting their integrity. All the confusion about the PGP has dissipated some of the goodwill it created and it highlights the need for us to improve upon how we structure policies and measures. There are a few other examples where the "precision engineering" of policies is so well done that, in order to maximise the benefits and minimise wastage and abuses, we lose some of the intended effectiveness.”
“I wonder if we could have come up with a scheme which is easier for people to understand. The $9 billion package for 450,000 Pioneers will average out to be about $20,000 per recipient, and this is very substantial. If our Pioneer Singaporeans are allowed, for example, to access free treatment at C or B2 wards in Government hospitals, for, say, the common 15 chronic diseases, would this have probably amounted to about the same cost to the Government? But if we have done it in this way, a more blanket way, I think this would have given a great assurance to all Pioneer Singaporeans. It will be a lot easier to understand as well. In the current package, we are providing for MediShield Life subsidies and Medisave top-ups, but the money spent and used, may not be used by our pioneer recipients if they maintain a healthy lifestyle and remain in good health and Medisave top-ups are eventually Page: 41 passed on to their descendants instead. Yes, there is a valid concern that free treatments could be abused, but as the Government hospitals act as gatekeepers to the necessary treatments, I believe this could be minimised and managed. In countries like the US where the third party, a private sector health insurance company, pays for the care provided by the public sector, naturally, patients would want to maximise their entitlements, and pharmaceutical companies and hospitals would be very happy to guide them to maximise their own revenues. However, in countries in the Nordic region, for example, where the provider and payer of medical services are aligned in the public sector, medical expenditure is better contained than in the US. That is why during this year's Budget debate, I called for our new MediShield Life scheme to be administered and managed by the Government.”
“They do not have to worry when they seek treatment at Government hospitals and polyclinics, just pay as much as they can afford and seek help from social workers and their Members of Parliament when they cannot pay the bill. They should never believe that it is better to be dead than to be sick, and they should be reminded to seek treatment early. Recently, the Government announced that the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) card will provide more benefits than the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) blue and orange cards. However, maximum subsidy per visit and per year differs according to whether one has general illness, single chronic illness or multiple chronic illnesses. I fear that this will confuse the man-in-the-street again. I hope the Government will consider simplifying these measures. (In English): After trying for the last few years to overcome challenging global economic conditions, we are now deploying the fruits of labour and using these hard-earned resources to boost our social programmes, with the PGP being the most prominent. The intent of PGP has been widely lauded and it is evident that much thought and effort had been invested in its formulation to ensure its viability and coverage. My elderly residents, like Pioneers all over Singapore, are very appreciative that their contributions are being acknowledged in this tangible way. However, it did not take long before the feeling of confusion cast its shadow over their initial elation. I understand that some constituencies had even come up with quizzes and show-and-tell performances to explain the details. Unfortunately, a nationwide survey tells us that people are still not very clear about the PGP benefits. Based on feedback I received from younger residents, they, too, are unclear.”
“In 2011, Madam, during the debate on the President's Address when he opened this Parliament, I gave suggestions on how Government communications could improve. I have to give the Government credit that over the last 2.5 years, we have seen good initiatives like "Our Singapore Conversation", Ministries and Government agencies are also getting more active on social media, and the recent Pioneer Generation Taskforce has been formed to focus on communications and reaching out to Singaporeans. I applaud all these efforts. However, the Government can still do better in policymaking. In communications, we need content that is developed to be easily understood and easily consumed. There is just this much that messaging and packaging can do. Now, in Mandarin, Madam. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Pioneer Generation Package has been well-received by all, yet, most do not fully understand the Package. I have organised a few briefing sessions and have personally experienced how difficult it is to clearly explain the Package. Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) has just launched a series of briefing sessions in Mandarin and dialects and they have roped in several volunteers to help convey and explain the contents of the Package. We invited officers from MOF and MOH to train them, and the volunteers also felt that it was very complicated, even after listening to the officers' explanation. Page: 40 In the end, we decided to simplify everything and just tell everyone that the Government will give the Pioneer Generation more help in terms of health insurance and subsidies, that their Medisave accounts will be automatically topped up every year.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to participate in this debate. I support the Motion of thanks to the President for his Speech. I like the many initiatives and plans made by the various Ministries. There is a shift in our focus now to the social and people sectors, and we have, indeed, seen the gradual move in this direction over the last few years. But there are people out there who still feel that the Page: 39 Government is not doing enough. Why? Is it because of photographs and videos showing old people collecting cardboard, cans and selling tissue paper that go viral in social media? These images do distort the reality because they do not tell the full story. Let me share a true story of a news vendor in Tampines who is wheelchair-bound. A couple of years ago, a resident asked me if the Government could buy this gentleman a motorised wheelchair because she sees him pushing, struggling with his wheelchair as he goes around in the estate. It was a very meaningful, very thoughtful, very kind suggestion, so I said, "Yes. I would look into that." I went to speak to this elderly man and I found out that he actually already has two motorised wheelchairs at home. He said that he had stopped using these motorised wheelchairs because as he does not exercise his arms, he became weaker and fell sick easily. Therefore, he switched back to the manual wheelchair. What I did was to ask the Town Council to make sure that the route he takes from his flat to the newspaper stall is barrier-free. I think that is what we can do to help him. Sometimes, we do jump to conclusions without knowing the full facts and we easily point the finger at the Government. Let us be fair and make the effort to find out more first.”
“Mdm Speaker, I refer the Minister to an earlier report at the end of last year about the digital panels not displaying MRT information but just bus services information. The answer was that the commuters enter the MRT stations and get the information there. I think that would not be very useful, because we are talking about an integrated public transport system. It would be useful for commuters at the bus stops to know what is happening at the MRT stations. If there is going to be a disruption, they can make plans on the spot rather than go into the MRT stations and find out then that their service is disrupted. I hope the Ministry can consider this.”
“Thank you, Madam. I gather from the Senior Minister of State's answer that there are two factors here affecting the pricing – one would be the purchasing power of the market, Singapore's market; and, secondly, a bidding war would lead to higher pricing. So, in theory, if MediaCorp were mandated to show all matches under the anti-siphoning list, there will be no interest for SingTel or StarHub to go into a bidding war, and only MediaCorp would have interest to purchase the rights. So, would that not be something within our control that can affect the negotiations and, hence, probably, a reduction in the price that MediaCorp has to pay to FIFA?”
“I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether he is able to share or confirm that MediaCorp has to pay to broadcast the four matches under the anti-siphoning list and how their rates compare with what SingTel pays. In the scenario where we were to include all matches under the anti-siphoning list, what is the impact of this on the pricing that MediaCorp, as a Free-to-Air station, has to pay, versus a pay-TV operator?”
“Page: 162 Actively engaging grandparents in this role promotes active ageing and strengthens family and intergeneration bonding. This will also help alleviate the shortage of caregivers for young children. Many areas, including Tampines, face a shortage of childcare and infant care services and capacity. In fact, it would be even better if the subsidy could be extended to non-related caregivers, that is, babysitters. This will also help unlock the latent workforce in our heartlands: housewives whose children are grown up and for some reason are not taking care, or not yet taking care of grandchildren. There are housewives who could also cope even when their own children are still very young. My mother, for example, was a babysitter to our cousins when I was in primary school. I guess an area of concern could be the difficulty of enforcement or checks that the grandparents are, indeed, the caregiver. I think as long as the child is below seven years old and both parents are working, we can safely assume that there will be an adult caregiver. For a start, we can disqualify parents who employ a domestic helper. It is quite certain the child would be under the care of a grandparent or babysitter if he is not already in an infant or childcare centre. This change would recognise the contribution grandparents and babysitters make in bringing up the future generation and the hard work involved. I appeal to the Ministry to reconsider this. Stay-At-Home Mums (SAHM) and Caregivers”
“Mr Chairman, presently, Government subsidies for infant care programmes range between $220 and $600, depending on the type and duration of care. For childcare, the subsidies are between $110 and $300. I would like to request that the Ministry reconsider the suggestion to allow parents to claim these subsidies when their children are cared for by grandparents. My parliamentary colleagues had made similar suggestions over the years, the latest just last year, but have always been turned down for the reason that such care, although highly valued and appreciated, is not quantifiable and that there is already symbolic recognition in the Grandparent Caregiver Relief of $3,000 per year given to working mothers. Sir, I do not understand why the Government is indirectly subsidising infant care and childcare operators, which are mostly commercial, but not the grandparents. I feel strongly that this important service should be recognised for what it is, regardless of the source and type of the service. If the Ministry's concern is that the level of grandparent care is not the same as that provided by professional or institutional caregivers, we could organise childcare training courses at community centres for these grandparents. They can be certified on an annual basis, if necessary, before they can claim the monthly subsidies. Not only will this help to ensure that they are up-to-date with the latest healthcare and childcare information, such courses can also help ensure that grandparents and parents are on the same page on childcare practices today and reduce the potential for conflict. The training classes would also provide a wonderful platform for grandparents in a neighbourhood to interact with one another and strengthen community bonding.”
“Thank you, Madam. I would like to thank Acting Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sam Tan, Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob and although she did not get a chance to speak – Mayor Amy Khor – for their patience in listening to the GPC and to other Members, and also addressing our concerns and views on the wide portfolio that MCCY is handling. I would like also to thank the Permanent Secretary, the staff at the Ministry and the various Statutory Boards for your hard work. Just like the windows in your Ministry's building, your work adds colour to Singapore and the life of Singaporeans. With that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. 12.30 pm [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,284,076,300 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $678,450,600 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)] Page: 31”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. I have two clarifications. First is regarding the $20 million fund that the Acting Minister talked about yesterday to raise the extension profile of Singaporean artists and cultural institutions for the next five years. The Straits Times reported today that the fund will not be opened for application by the artists but instead it will be recipients selected by the Ministry. I would like the Acting Minister to clarify if that is so. And if not, what would be the criteria for the artists to be selected? My second clarification is related to the traditional arts, for which I will speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned yesterday that NAC will have a fund to support traditional arts groups. I would like to find out – in this five-year programme – how many groups have we supported? And when the five-year programme ends next year, will the Government consider extending it so as to give more support to these traditional arts groups?”
“It is timely to ask what emotional anchors root us to our nation and create a sense of belonging to Singapore, our home. When we stand on the steps of the National Art Gallery overlooking the Padang, we know we stand today because of the history behind us. Our shared culture binds us as a nation and as a people. The Padang reminds us of how important we should allow space, expand the space, and not just physical space, for the human mind and spirit to express itself. In front of us, we can marvel at the Marina Bay with its skyline and our latest natural water catchment, remember how it was previously nothing, just like over the past 50 years, we have defined and created Singapore's future from almost nothing. Page: 120 Productivity and Seizing Opportunities”
“Many of the local traditional arts troupes managers are already in their golden years, some of them are even from the Pioneer Generation. They may not be familiar with how the Government works. They may not know any people Page: 119 from NAC. Therefore, they do not feel comfortable approaching them for help. I hope NAC will be more proactive in engaging these traditional arts groups, understand their situation and explain to them how NAC is able to help them. I also suggest that the National Museum of Singapore get in touch with Sin Sai Hong and ask if they are willing to donate their costumes, music scores or plaques which have historical value, so that these can be placed on exhibition in the museum for others to remember 100 years of history. More importantly, I know there are still a few surviving opera troupes. We need to be more proactive. The Government should keep in pace with the people's passion and provide help to give a second life to traditional arts. We do not wish to remember them in museums after they have closed down. (In English): I begin my speech mentioning the National Art Gallery, now let me bring it back in my concluding section. The buildings of National Art Gallery were once our City Hall and Supreme Court, establishments of Government, administration, justice and authority. The Singapore Public Service is well-known for its efficiency and effectiveness, and our country is built on justice and meritocracy. Next year, our 50th National Day Parade will be held at the Padang. It is apt that at the half century mark, the nation will witness this significant milestone right in front of a brand new institution for culture and heritage. MCCY's mission is to build social capital, to inspire the Singapore Spirit and together make Singapore home.”
“Hence, I would like to ask the Acting Minister for updates on what is being done to support our local artists, both in terms of developing the wider arts ecosystem and in terms of providing better spaces for the arts. Madam, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Singapore's oldest Hokkien opera troupe Sin Sai Hong put up its last performance at Chai Chee Lane United Temple last Tuesday. The troupe will not be performing any more. A traditional art group with 104 years of history has become a page in history. Mr Cai Jianfu, who has been managing Sin Sai Hong for the last 40 over years and who is also the son-in-law of Sin Sai Hong's third-generation successor, Wei Chungui, told Lianhe Zaobao in an interview that his father-in-law had instructed him to try his best to keep the troupe going, but if there comes a day when they have to terminate the troupe, he may do so. Mr Cai decided to close the troupe now, when they still have 100 or 200 shows to perform, so that the troupe will still be remembered in its good days. The National Arts Council (NAC) has implemented a new plan several years ago to support traditional arts. I understand that since last year, even commercial troupes like Sin Sai Hong are eligible to apply for funding. But it did not apply. I asked Mr Cai why he did not do it. He explained that the performing troupe has only 13 members and the youngest among them are already in their 40s and 50s, while the rest are in their 60s or 70s. Mr Cai himself is 78 years old. He does not think he can find a successor. Since there is no new blood in the troupe, he did not want to apply. As we can see, Mr Cai has high expectations of himself and his troupe.”
“It is no different from planting and watering trees, shrubs and plants to build a City in a Garden. How can MCCY make Singapore City of the Arts? And it should not be just in the city, in the downtown. How about our heartlands where the life, heart and soul of Singaporeans are? The Singapore Symphony Orchestra just played in Tampines last Sunday. It drew a packed crowd, many with their children, sitting on the ground mats in the breeze. Residents came specially for this free public event, enjoying a performance that typically will cost hundreds of dollars for families to watch in a concert hall. What can we do to bring arts to more people? For Singapore to be an inclusive society, we must also reach out to the less fortunate and underserved group in our arts and cultural outreach efforts. Not only do we have to assist them with their financial and other material needs, they should also be provided with the opportunities to enjoy the arts. This group includes the poor and needy, the disabled, the sick, prisoners and even those with mental problems. What has the Government done to reach out to these Page: 118 groups? Madam, I would like to thank the Acting Minister again for taking up my suggestion to give citizens and PRs free admission to our National Museums. May I know what is the public response so far since May last year? We know that free entry will attract visitors but for interest in our arts and culture or heritage to be sustained, we also need good content. How is the Ministry supporting the acquisitions of our Museums to enhance our national collections? Likewise, while we can spend millions to refurbish the Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, we also need good quality arts programming to fill the halls and expose the public to different art forms.”
“Madam, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100". These two years are exciting times for MCCY across its portfolio of arts, culture, heritage, community, youth and sports. We are seeing the reopening of Page: 117 Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall in August this year, but before that, the Sports Hub will be ready in phases from April and the National Art Gallery will be the latest kid on the block during Singapore's Golden Jubilee in 2015. These are major investments by the Government not only to enhance our skyline, but they will serve as icons and catalysts to push our pursuits in these sectors. They will also provide the platforms and offer activities to bring the community together and allow our youth to follow their passion and live their dreams. I am also happy to note that under the Masterplan, there are ideas to pedestrianise the roads in the Civic District, the Arts District of Waterloo Street and Queen Street will be more pedestrian-friendly and conducive for street activities. Arts, heritage and culture do not and should not just stay in studios, galleries, theatres and concert halls. When I visited Edinburgh Arts Festival many years ago, the whole city was bustling with arts activities everywhere. Arts and culture should spill over in the streets and be around us. I know our friends in the Home Team by nature are just concerned about public disorder and nuisance. The arts sometimes is just messy because it is free-spirited. We can plan and create more physical space for arts and culture, but I hope that MCCY, by nature, should also be an advocate for space beyond physical space for arts and culture to be nurtured in a conducive environment.”