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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“Mdm Chair, I have two related clarifications on public communications. Minister of State Sim Ann has said about the more complex Page: 89 issues we are facing now, sometimes cutting across different Ministries. In the Chamber, sometimes our PQs get redirected or we are told to ask another Ministry for answers. I wonder in the media, would they also face the same problem, since no one single person is able to answer complex questions. I would like to ask whether the Government is open to considering the model adopted in certain countries like China and US, where there is one single Government spokesperson to answer questions across the whole Government. That would be helpful in public communications and it will be more coordinated and more easily accessible. 3.00 pm The second question is: I am glad to see that there are interstitials being produced in the four official languages for the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP), but given the language proficiency of our Pioneer Generation, would the Government consider also producing interstitials in major Chinese dialects so that they can better communicate to our seniors? I believe we did so during the SARS period. I would like the Government to do so again.”
“The sentiment is not only about feelings towards the Chinese culture, but also respect for Singapore's local culture. Nowadays, tourists from China travel around the world. Many tourist attractions in non-Chinese regions provide information in Chinese. Most of them can just pass the original documents to a Chinese National to translate. However, in Singapore, it is not as easy. Singapore is a small country with a short history. However, we have developed our unique terminology in Chinese, such as HDB flats. In China, it is called "economical housing". In Taiwan, it is called "state housing". In Hong Kong/Macau, it is called "public housing". Our translation should be based on our terminology. If we are worried that Chinese tourists cannot understand, we can use footnotes to explain. Many people in the translation industry have groused that when the Government agencies outsource their translation work, they feel local interpreters are not as good as their counterparts in China and Taiwan. However, we must understand that the foreigners may not understand the Singapore context and our local terminologies, thus they cannot accurately translate certain words. We need to respect the translation profession, improve translators' benefits so as to encourage more people to join this profession. The Government should play a leading role in this sector. We are now forming a National Translation Committee. I would like to thank Ms Sim Ann for inviting me to join the Committee and I am happy to make my contributions. This Committee has a heavy responsibility and a very important one. Let us work together, so we do not have to be haunted by the "Hungarian Ghost Page: 69 Festival" again!”
“Madam, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Singapore is a multilingual society and we have implemented a bilingual policy for many years. Most Singaporeans can master English and understand their mother tongue. Our need for translation is not that high. Indeed, because of this reason, Singapore has to adopt a translation policy which differs quite greatly from monolingual societies like Japan, Korea or France. Firstly, we must not forget that there are still Singaporeans who only understand one official language and many of them are elderly. The Pioneer Generation is the highlight of this year's Budget and we should provide information to this group of people using the four official languages, whether it is letters, brochures or websites. Because of our bilingual background and education, we should be even more sensitive when dealing with languages. Our Chinese TV drama and variety shows have achieved more than the English ones. However, the information at the "50 Years of TV" exhibition did not have Chinese names for the Chinese Page: 68 drama shows. Although Channel 8 viewers all knew Zoe Tay, what they wanted to see at the exhibition was that the first TV drama Zoe Tay starred in was "窈窕淑女", not "My Fair Ladies". In the costume section of the exhibition, there were Chinese names of the show and its characters in brackets within the English text, but the Yang character for Yang Guo in the "Return of the Condor Heroes" was written wrongly. They have used the Yang which means the sun. I think the Little Dragon Girl, Yang Guo's lover, will be very upset that this is the wrong Yang Guo. In Singapore, providing Chinese translation not just benefits those who do not understand English; it also involves sentiments.”
“I would like to ask how MCI would build on this momentum to further develop our local media industry and help media practitioners on a sustainable basis.”
“Mdm Chair, Singaporean film director Anthony Chen has won many prestigious international awards for his film "Ilo Ilo" which depicted the life of a Singaporean family and their Filipino domestic helper. It shows that a very local story in colloquial language with Singlish and Chinese dialects, with no megastars, high budget or special effects, can still appeal to many audiences and film critics around the world. This achievement is also testament to our investment in the media industry, given that Anthony learnt his craft at at Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Film and Media Studies School, and "Ilo Ilo" received financial support from MDA. Personally, I am particularly impressed with it winning the Best Feature Film, the top prize at the 50th Golden Horse Awards. For Members who may not be familiar with this award, Golden Horse is the pinnacle of the global Chinese film industry. For this 50th anniversary ceremony, all the past winners of the Golden Horse Best Actor and Best Actress were gathered on stage to witness renowned film director Lee Ang present the trophy to Anthony Chen. One could not get a higher honour than this. I hope Anthony will remain humble and persevere in his passion for film making. Page: 38 At the same time, I hope the country will also give him a special recognition for this very outstanding achievement. I am not talking about the Cultural Medallion or National Day Award as these usually require an illustrious and long track record. But working in the creative industries can be very lonely and tough. Let us be creative and timely in motivating and encouraging talents like Anthony Chen. I also hope that Anthony's success will not be a flash in the pan, both for himself and for Singapore's media industry.”
“It is not easy for them to even find a temporary space to park their heavy vehicles to have toilet breaks. We should do more to Page: 63 enhance the work conditions and the welfare of these drivers for it would translate to safer roads for us all. 2.00 pm With the volume of infrastructure works in Singapore increasing, there will be more heavy vehicles, more trips on the road and more drivers joining the trade. Let us do something before the accident and fatality rate goes out of control. I would like to suggest that we require all heavy vehicles to install two devices: one, real-time speed recorder, the requirement to submit speed locks at regular intervals, say, every three months; and two, digital video cameras which should be useful in getting drivers to be more conscious of the way they drive. I am sure that the recorders would not only be useful in accident disputes, it would also help the drivers to drive more safely. I understand that these issues are not totally under MHA's purview. They include MOT, LTA for vehicle registration and traffic regulations, MOM and perhaps NTUC for driver's work conditions and MND, URA, BCA for parking and construction industry practices. However, even that the accident fatality rate is checked by MHA and Traffic Police, I would like to ask MHA to take the lead or perhaps arrow another Ministry to coordinate efforts with all relevant authorities to address the problems.”
“Mdm Chair, the number of fatalities from accidents involving heavy vehicles had risen from 32 cases in 2012 to 44 cases last year, that is, almost one person died every week in 2013 due to heavy vehicle accident. This is a big and tragic jump. One seemingly logical reason is that there are just more heavy vehicles on our roads due to more construction projects around the island. However, let us compare the numbers. The total number of vehicles in Singapore increases slightly by 0.4% over these two years. Yet, there has been a decline of 5.4% in the total number of fatalities from traffic accidents. On the other hand, there is a 3.7% increase in the number of heavy goods vehicles and very heavy goods vehicles from 2012 to 2013. But the rise in number of fatalities involving heavy vehicles was 10 times at 37.5%. There is clearly something about heavy vehicles that we need to look into than for it to take a natural course. The heavy vehicle industry is loosely regulated and drivers are paid on a per trip basis. I have received feedback that many of these drivers are under pressure to make more trips due to higher demand as well as to make ends meet. Hence, sometimes they take the risk of driving beyond speed limits. On the other hand, we also need to appreciate that the driver's work conditions are pretty tough. First, it is not easy to control a heavy vehicle. Heavy vehicle parking lots near the driver's home are also not easy to come by. Many have to find transport to and from home in the dead of the night or early wee hours where public transport is not available or accessible. They do not hence get to rest well and have irregular meals. There are also reports on drivers spending the night in their vehicles.”
“But we should bear in mind that how a reasonable officer exercises his discretion and powers in any given situation is very much a function of his or her training, the applicable standard operating procedures and operational doctrines. If they did not equip the officer well to do the job well, then the officer should not be solely culpable. As such, I would appreciate it if the Minister could provide details on the ongoing effort to renew confidence and trust of the public in the Home Team, and what efforts are being taken to maintain and improve the morale within the Home Team itself. Community Policing System”
“Convictions of senior Home Team officers for a variety of criminal offences in the last few years, the lack of coordination between Home Team agencies in the Woodlands Checkpoint security breach and the seemingly inadequate response in the Little India riot all conspire to undermine the image and standing of the Home Team. Page: 55 This is unfortunate. It is no surprise if the public has legitimate concerns of the Home Team's integrity, competence, professionalism, coordination, operational readiness and the ability to adapt to the rapidly changing operational realities. To be sure, we must not exaggerate the challenges and issues but every lapse in performance dents the public confidence in the Home Team. Major lapses are body blows, detrimentally affecting the morale of the dedicated men and women of the Home Team. The harsh reality is that people mostly pay attention when the Home Team gets things wrong or does not measure up. The fact that the Home Team is performing well matters little as the public perception is more often than not the prism through which trust in and confidence of the Home Team is measured by. There is no doubt that corrective actions are always taken to tackle the lapses, including internal disciplinary sanctions and criminal prosecutions. However, if there are systemic issues and problems resulting in sub-par performance, is it fair to punish the officers concerned, especially the rank and file men and women? Yes, they may not have measured up but there may well be systemic factors beyond their control. It is easy to dissect or micro-analyse a Home Team officer's conduct and judgement after the event.”
“These measures will ensure that we do not reduce the effectiveness of facial identification. Security technologies develop rapidly. Today, when I change my IC at 30 years old, I have to rely on the same card and technology for at least 40-50 years. There would not be many other personal belongings which are around after all these years, and I am not referring to items of sentimental value. Another compelling reason to replace the IC is that while it is made of relatively good material, it is subjected to wear and tear. Even our credit cards are replaced every few years. People in certain occupations also require frequent presentation of ICs. For example, those in the delivery and despatch line need to exchange their ICs for visitor passes at camps, certain commercial buildings, and condominiums. They have to take out their ICs a few times every day, and these are also the people who do not have strong financial strength. If their ICs are damaged, they will have difficulties affording the replacement fee. I have met one man whose tattered IC is kept in one piece by scotch tape. He told me he could afford the replacement fee, but feels that since it is compulsory for Singaporeans to carry our ICs, it is reasonable for him to expect the Government to replace it for free after every few decades of wear and tear. Hence, I urge the Ministry to review the current system of IC renewal. Image of Home Team Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene (Nominated Member): Mdm Chair, there is the human tendency to value effort almost independent of outcome. Effort alone, even when apparent to all, is not enough. And so, the sweet spot for the Home Team is one where it is not only working hard but also getting things right and well. These are challenging times for the Home Team.”
“Mdm Chair, presently, Singapore Identity Cards (IC) are issued at the ages of 15 and 30. They are only replaced if they are lost, defaced or damaged, or if the holders wish to change their particulars or photos. In contrast, the validity of our passports is only for five years. For security reasons, ICs, like passports, should be updated more frequently. I would like to suggest that we require IC replacements every 20 years, that is, additionally at 50 and 70 years old. The prevailing opinion is that most adult facial features do not change significantly. Hence, there is no legal requirement to update the photos in our ICs. However, it is not possible that a person looks the same at ages 30 and 80, which is the average age a Singaporean man is expected to live to today, or five years longer for ladies. For a span of 50 to 55 years on average, there will be visible changes due to ageing. Facial identification is an important component of security checks. Authorities would have the necessary equipment to check the thumbprint, but most others can only rely on the photo to verify that the person using the IC is the person in the photo, whether to start a new mobile subscription or borrow money. We have heard of cases of people losing their ICs, and even after they have reported the loss, having their ICs being used illegally and becoming victims of loanshark harassment or being laden with funny bills. Who am I to challenge someone who insists that he is the person in the IC photo, just that Page: 54 he has put on weight, lost weight, or the photo was taken on a bad hair day? As plastic surgery becomes even more common, we can also expect facial features to change in more people. Hence, it is important that citizens and PRs update ICA on these changes.”
“It would be even better if the database can be integrated with our hospitals' systems so that patients do not need to have to remember and retrieve their own insurance policies. A nationalised system will be very useful, particularly for patients and their family members in such times of distress. Last but not least, I want to add the point about the cost of operations. With the Government controlling MediShield Life, there should be economies of scale for the administration of these policies. The profits which could have been made by the private insurers can now be translated into lower premiums for everyone. Hence, I urge the Government to seriously consider administering MediShield Life. With that, I support the Budget. 6.26 pm Page: 144”
“Ms Salma Khalik of The Straits Times has raised the issue of premiums charged for the same ward class differing by more than 100% although they do not correlate with the claimable amounts. In addition, there are big differences in premium increases for people in the same age band and significant variance in coverage for people of the same age group in the same ward class. Page: 143 Private insurers are accountable to their shareholders; they have less motivation and leeway to assist policyholders who run into problems. One in eight policyholders dropped out of their MediShield Integrated Plans last year as they were unwilling, unable or neglected to top up their premiums when they exceeded the amount covered by Medisave. Quite a number had crossed age bands and not realising that their premiums had increased, they did not top up the difference in cash. Many of them gave feedback that the insurance companies did not make any effort to contact them personally about their lapses before cancelling their policies. Private insurers are commercial and they like to promote their policies to MediShield holders. I have heard of cases where policyholders receive so many marketing leaflets that they overshadowed the notices to pay premiums. As a result, the policyholders missed the payment. Their policies lapsed and they had to pay more to be reinstated. If MediShield Life is administered by the Government, the Government will be in the position to safeguard the interests of the elderly. I am also confident that the Government will be able to manage, grow and protect the funds from the premiums as well as any private insurance fund. I would like to suggest a central database to help organise MediShield insurance coverage for Singaporeans.”
“In 2005, CPF privatised the more expensive MediShield Plus A and B for A and B1 wards, and for private hospitals. These were restructured as Medisave-approved Integrated Plans. The Government continued to control the basic MediShield which covered at least 60% of Singaporeans. These changes were implemented to, I quote, "prevent cherry-picking by private insurers, restore the integrity of the MediShield risk pool, and bring about a more competitive and dynamic private medical insurance market". The idea then was that greater competition among the private insurers would result in more benefits at affordable premiums for policy holders. Initially, the privatisation did result in higher annual and lifetime claim limits and lower co-payment at the same or lower premiums for policyholders. However, today, nine years later, the premiums have increased significantly. Policyholders who want to change plans or insurers are stuck – if they change, they will incur heavy penalties, although insurers can change coverage and premiums anytime, subject to MOH's approval. Recently, MOH had to ask two insurers, AIA and Aviva not to reduce payouts to policyholders for dialysis. AIA reduced the benefits of about 20 end-stage kidney failure patients on dialysis when they were moved to a different health plan. Aviva reduced the payout amounts for dialysis under two of its integrated MediShield plans and raised premiums. Policyholders were also unsettled and confused by the way the five insurance companies – NTUC Income, Great Eastern, AIA, Prudential and Aviva – set the premiums and coverage of their Integrated Shield Plans.”
“At that time, people like Mdm Chui and Mdm Feng were uneducated, not applying for citizenship does not mean that they have no sense of belonging to the nation. After all, Singapore had just attained independence. They were probably not concerned with national matters and were only worried about getting by. By today's definition, they are not the Pioneer Generation, yet they helped nurture our second generation of nation builders. They may not have glorious achievements, but they have worked hard. Those aged 65 and above this year are among the 4,250 individuals. Although a few thousand is not a large number, the matter is of great concern to them, their children and grandchildren. They just want to live in Singapore with their families with total peace of mind and not have to go through the trouble of applying for a visa when they travel overseas. If they can enjoy medical benefits like other Singapore Citizens, it would be a great help to their children and grandchildren. They are not asking to enjoy the benefits of the Pioneer Generation. All they want is a pink IC and a red passport to spend the rest of their lives here as Singapore citizens. I appeal to the Government to make an exception and grant these seniors Singapore citizenship as we pay homage to our Pioneer Generation and Page: 142 celebrate 50 years of nation building next year. (In English): Next, I would like to move on to MediShield Life. I would like to suggest to MOM and MOH that MediShield Life be run by the Government and not be outsourced to the private sector. MediShield was introduced in 1990 as a basic medical insurance scheme to cover very large hospital bills at the B2 and C Class levels.”
“So, there are 4,250 individuals who want to be Singaporeans but have been waiting for at least 20 years. I have two residents who are in this situation. Mdm Chui is a Malaysian who married a Singaporean more than 40 years ago. She has four grown-up children and six grandchildren, all of them are Singapore Citizens, with the exception of Mdm Chui. Last year, her husband passed away and she became worried that her Permanent Resident status will Page: 141 be revoked and she will be asked to return to Malaysia. She has few relatives or friends in Malaysia because she has sunk her roots in Singapore and lived here for many years. Mdm Feng is also a Malaysian. She came to Singapore in 1962 but her husband passed away soon after. She became a construction worker and brought up her two children through hard work, and both of them are Singapore Citizens. Mdm Chui admitted that she was given an offer to take up Singapore citizenship more than 10 years ago but declined it. It is unclear if this is the reason why her subsequent application for citizenship was unsuccessful. Her daughter explained to me that her father had been in prison for more than 10 years at the time and her mother was solely focused on bringing up her four children. So, the matter was delayed for more than 10 years. The story of Mdm Feng is similar. She is a widow who took on a few jobs at the same time, all for the sake of her children. Now that she is retired and old, she is also unable to make economic contributions to Singapore. To be frank, when Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965, even our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was unsure if Singapore could survive.”
“I have even come up with a hotline number for dialect, 1800-1351-1351, meaning to be free from worry for one's entire life in Cantonese. Besides the Government, grassroots organisations and community groups can also be roped in to explain details of the Pioneer Package to older residents, especially those who live alone. As the younger generation, each and every one of us should also try to understand what the Pioneer Package is about, and explain the details to the seniors in our family so that they will have peace of mind and can enjoy their golden years without worry. How does one define the Pioneer Generation? During the Lunar New Year festive season, the Prime Minister announced that those born before 31 December 1949, who became Singapore citizens before 31 December 1986, will enjoy the benefits of the Pioneer Generation Package for the rest of their lifetime. This gift to 450,000 Singaporeans is not only a "lifetime ang pow" but also a gift of respect. Of course, regardless of how you define the Pioneer Generation, there will definitely be some who will miss out on it. The Minister for Finance has made clear that he will set up a committee to look into appeal cases. Now, I would like to make an appeal on behalf of a group of people. However, I am not trying to lobby for the Pioneer Generation Package for them, as they are too far off from the cut-off date for attaining Singapore citizenship. In actual fact, this group of people have yet to attain citizenship. As at June 2013, there are 531,200 Permanent Residents in Singapore. About 10% of them have been in Singapore for more than 20 years. Among the 53,000 Permanent Residents, about 8% applied for citizenship but were not successful.”
“Even after the briefing session, many of them came to check with us on whether they have understood the package correctly. Once they received confirmation, many went away happy and satisfied. But just one dialect briefing is not enough. I think the Government can make use of different platforms and occasions to spread this good news to more people. Last night, I attended the Facebook dialogue session organised by REACH and someone suggested that we could use getai to spread news about the Pioneer Generation Package. Getai is a unique part of our local culture. The Government can consider working with getai organisers and hosts, to spread news of the Pioneer Generation Package more widely, using language and humour that are close to the ground. In addition, journalist Hong Yi Ting suggested in a Lianhe Zaobao column that we should set up a Pioneer Generation hotline to answer questions from these senior citizens. Most seniors from the Pioneer Generation do not know how to use the computer. The mode of communication that they are most familiar with is still face-to-face interaction. Apart from the four official languages, we should also provide services in major dialects like Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese. This is also a good opportunity to provide employment for retirees and housewives who speak dialect. Their language and the way they communicate would be more appropriate than the explanation of any Government officer. And please do not use the automated voice recording Page: 140 system for the hotline. Requesting the caller to choose from various options by pressing on a particular number will only make the elderly more confused and frustrated. We can set up dedicated hotline numbers for different dialects.”
“They had to think of ways to come up with the money on their own, as they had not heard of Medifund, neither do they know how to go about applying for assistance. For the individual who is sick and his family, having to endure the pain of illness is already torturous. The fact that they have to worry about the medical bills makes the situation worse. Now that the Government has introduced the Pioneer Generation Package, it is indeed a timely helping hand. But no matter how good the package is, if our seniors do not understand how they can benefit from it, it is pointless. Although the Pioneer Generation seniors automatically enjoy subsidised rates when they pay for their medical bills, the subsidies are not physically Page: 139 tangible to them. As they do not know about or do not understand this package, they will continue to worry about their medical bills, some will choose not to see a doctor and suffer in silence for fear that they cannot afford the medical fees, or to avoid burdening their children. Seniors from the Pioneer Generation are at least 65 years old, and many of them are not educated. They do not know English or Mandarin, and do not understand current affairs. Last Thursday, I attended a dialect and Mandarin briefing session organised by Lianhe Wanbao at Tampines North Community Centre that seeks to explain how seniors will benefit from the Budget. We also made special arrangements for somebody to explain details of the Pioneer Generation Package in Teochew. I noticed that it was not easy for the elderly to understand the age-determined tiered subsidy of MediShield Life and how much Medisave top-up they would get according to their age. We need to be patient and explain to them slowly.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] After the Budget announcement, members of the public were generally appreciative of the sincerity and care that the Government has shown towards the Pioneer Page: 138 Generation. During the initial post-Independence period, resources were scarce, yet our pioneers worked hard to contribute to their families, our society and our nation. The Government introduced the Pioneer Generation Package primarily to show their appreciation for these pioneers, not to compensate for inadequacies in our national medical welfare system. All along, Singaporeans enjoy subsidies when they visit public hospitals and polyclinics to seek treatment, the portion borne by the individual can largely be paid using Medisave or MediShield. Recently, one of my grassroots leaders, who is more than 70 years old, was hospitalised for 18 days. He is now resting at home. When I visited him, he said all his medical fees have been paid for using Medisave and MediShield, and he did not have to pay any cash. Even if the funds in the Medisave account are insufficient, even if he is not covered under MediShield, he could still apply for help from the Medifund set up by the Government. There are full-time social workers in both public hospitals and polyclinics to help process the application. According to the Minister for Health, more than 90% of applicants have successfully applied for assistance under Medifund. In spite of these measures, the notion that "one is better off dead than sick" is still very common among the public. During my Meet-the-People sessions, I have come across a few residents who had to sell their flats or who have become indebted in order to pay off their medical bills.”
“Mdm Speaker, the Pioneer Generation Package is the highlight of this year's Budget and stands out from past Budgets for its target group. It is a meaningful Budget, which I support fully. This year, the Government prepared a very special package of appreciation for our pioneers who have contributed so much to nation building. It is timely and well-deserved. Our pioneers are a stoic group. They worked hard in their early years. Those were the times when even our country's very own survival was at stake. It was either swim or sink. Many pioneers were illiterate or had little education. They had placed their fate and future in one of the smallest countries in the world which had almost no natural resources and a shallow history. It is fitting that our pioneers, 450,000 of them, be given the assurance that they will be taken care of in their golden years. For the elderly, the greatest concern would be healthcare and it is this area which the Government aims to provide the greatest assurance. In the early years when salaries were low, it was difficult for many to accumulate savings and Medisave funds or have the spare cash to purchase health insurance policies. The PGP should provide them with peace of mind. The PGP also sends a powerful message about our attitude towards our elderly and our values – respect, appreciation and gratitude for our seniors and elderly. This is probably even more important than the financial support. It is also very meaningful for all the rest of us the younger generations who have benefited from their labour and sacrifices. During Sunday's REACH Facebook Chat on the Budget, netizens appreciated the Budget with words like "holistic", "emphatic", "forward looking" and "right time with right amount". Mdm Speaker, in Mandarin now, please.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State this: before HDB approves such operations in the estates, how does HDB engage grassroots leaders or other stakeholders to seek their opinions and also to discuss how to mitigate any inconveniences to residents? The Senior Minister of State talked about restrictions on delivery times: can he elaborate what are the times that are allowed for these operators to receive supplies of their goods?”
“Would the provisions be expanded to cover other areas, or would there be another Bill to give the law a set of "permanent teeth"? How could we be sure that just because there are no further riots in the next 12 months, the Bill has served its intended purpose? Madam, Little India has been an iconic spot in Singapore, not just a place of attraction for tourists, but also an area which has developed its own unique character organically. I drove past the area last Sunday night and I am happy to see that the usual vibrancy and rusticity of the place still exists. Mdm Speaker, this is probably not what the Minister could answer. While Little India has attracted many more foreign workers roaming the streets than there are local people living there, it has ironically preserved a part of Singapore and our heritage that is fast disappearing. I hope that this Bill will not dilute or sanitise the flavour of Little India, both functionally and symbolically. 5.20 pm”
“This explains clause 4 which prohibits the public consumption and sale of alcohol within the special zone. Does this point the direction that the Ministry is heading? Would all areas where big crowds can be expected to be intoxicated be subjected to similar rules and enforcement in future? Or will there be a general restriction on public consumption of alcohol? If not, this Bill could be misinterpreted to be racially discriminatory. I look forward to the Minister's view on this. Lastly, the enhanced powers will allow the authorities to quickly cancel or suspend business licences which flout the rules in the special zone and this may be as short as three days as stated in the Bill. My concern is: within such a short Page: 84 period of time, how can we ensure that proper investigations are conducted in order to be fair to the business owners? In the event that mistakes in the investigative process were made, is there recourse for compensation for the business owners? Madam, similar to the alcohol-related provisions, the effect of the other measures seems to be more pre-emptive. I do not think that the additional powers accorded to the police would have done much to bring the situation under control on that fateful night. In addition, it would probably require a lot more enforcement resources on the ground to prevent the same scenario from repeating itself. Usually after a major incident, it is highly unlikely that history would repeat itself in the short and medium term at the same place. The most dangerous place becomes the safest place. I would like to ask the Minister, how would the effectiveness of this Bill be assessed at the end of 12 months?”
“With the enactment of this Bill, Police and Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) will have additional powers to deal with potential threats to public order. For example, they can question and search anyone in the area for alcohol or prohibited items. Will there be clear guidelines and protocol for enforcement officers to adhere to in identifying such individuals and the way they perform the checks? How will the Government ensure consistency of judgement and action by the enforcement officers, given that the training of Auxiliary Police Officers is different from the Singapore Police Force, and that they are employees of a private company? Would foreign employees of auxiliary companies be accorded the same power? By reducing subjectivity inherent in such situations due to different interpretations of the regulations by different teams, we can then avoid situations of misunderstanding and stress. Madam, I would also like to address the issue of higher rates of interaction between enforcement teams and the visitors to the zone. Presumably, enforcement members will mostly be of ethnic groups and nationality different from the majority of the visitors to the zone. Will customised training be provided to ensure that enforcement officers are equipped with the basic linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to deal with the tasks at hand? In the event of miscommunications or when some persons being checked are being uncooperative, such incidents could lead to heightened tension between people of different racial groups or even escalate into racial riots or diplomatic rows. How can we guard against these? While we await the results of the COI, we can at most speculate that the influence of alcohol could be a contributing factor to the riot on 8 December.”
“Mdm Speaker, the maintenance of order and safety in the country is the responsibility of the Government. For a couple of hours on 8 December night, the order and safety in a small area of Little India were disrupted. The mob overwhelmed the authorities. It is important that the images we first saw on social media and then on mainstream media are not revived in any part of Singapore. For Little India, this is important not only for the residents and businesses there, but also the many foreign workers who visit the area. Our approach has been to integrate foreign workers into our communities. Therefore, these spaces will have to be managed on a sustainable basis. The workers have travelled far from home to work here, attracted by higher pay and also our reputation for law and order. The riot on 8 December could have easily escalated and spiralled out of control, and casualties could have come from any ethnic group and nationality. Despite the chaos, we are all very grateful that there were no fatalities. All the more then, while we have the opportunity, we should take steps to minimise the possibility of a similar event until we can establish with more certainty its causes and the appropriate long-term measures. Nonetheless, because this Bill involves an area where visitors are predominantly of one ethnic group, it has to be managed and handled carefully, with sensitivity. I have received feedback expressing concerns over this. I have trust in the competence of our enforcement teams. Nonetheless, I seek Page: 83 assurances and clarifications from the Minister that sufficient provisions are in place to prevent the extended powers, albeit temporary, from being subject to abuse. I think it would be helpful to have some form of checks hardwired into the legislation.”
“Madam, I have two questions. I note that the quantum for the penalty and incentive, there is a difference. There is a higher quantum for incentive versus penalty for the same duration, above or below the EWT that was mentioned. Why is that so? Secondly, when a bus is on the road, a lot depends on the road conditions as well – whether there is obstruction on the road, whether other vehicles give way at the bus bay for the buses to come out. There could be a lot of factors that are beyond the bus driver's or the bus company's control or sphere of influence. Would this scheme be steering a behaviour that is probably not entirely in the bus company or bus driver's control?”
“Thank you, Madam. Perhaps, I need to clarify my question. I was referring to the informal sector of such tradesmen. I am aware of freelance plumbers, air-conditioner servicemen, electricians who cross the Causeway. They are self-employed and they are offering such services in Singapore. Is MOM able to track these movements? What these people are doing, is it legal and acceptable in Singapore, because they do not pay Foreign Worker Levy? Because of that, they are definitely able to offer lower fees compared to local tradesmen. Is MOM able to take action to address this?”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. The media reported that students of the school received emails informing them of a change in the scoring system. But based on the Senior Parliamentary Secretary's reply, that does not seem to be the case, because there is no change in the scoring system. If that is the case, perhaps NTU might want to assure the students because I believe that caused some concerns among students of the school.”
“Can I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary, in the case of the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) at NTU, is it a matter of a change in the grading system or is it about a reminder for the course coordinators to be more stringent or more systematic in the way they exercise their flexibility?”
“They have shared with me inspiring stories of how Medifund has helped fellow Singaporeans in their medical bills as well as getting them to get medical treatment. I would like to urge Members of the House to help in this outreach exercise. If Members hear of anyone with difficulties paying their medical bills, let us know and we will see how we can help further. We want to make sure that Singaporeans receive the appropriate treatment.”
“Mdm Speaker, there have been anecdotal accounts of patients or their families having to sell their flats or take up loans in order to pay hospital bills. I have also heard of patients who go to polyclinics, but do not have the money to pay for the full prescription and instead asked for shorter duration of the course of medicine. It seems that there are still people who are not aware that Government has put in a lot of money to help patients in need. I would like to ask whether MOH can work out an SOP rather than just leaving it to individual initiative, given the heavier patient load in the hospitals nowadays. An SOP for all Government hospitals to give out leaflets on Medifund upon patients' admission and for hospitals and polyclinics to display notices in four languages at the cashier counters to inform the public that they can ask to see the medical social worker to apply for Medifund when they have financial difficulties. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Madam, I would like to thank the Member for his suggestion. I would like to assure the Member that, as mentioned in my reply earlier, we will continue to improve our outreach efforts to fellow Singaporeans to see how they can get assistance. We have increased assistance. If we look at the financial assistance we provided in Financial Year 2012, total financial assistance given to Medifund-accredited institutions increased by 12.2%, from $90.8 million in FY2011 to $101.9 million in FY2012. Beyond that, I have also come across Singaporeans who have been helped through the Medifund scheme, as well as in my engagement with the Medifund Committee members.”
“With regard to the second point, I am also pleased to share with the hon Member that LTA has worked very closely with the community and we have seen positive development, as mentioned by the hon Member. Beyond that, we are also looking at how we can improve the infrastructure, the engineering work with regards to safety. So, I am pleased to share with the Member that we will implement four bus-friendly humps along Tampines Avenue 9. We also have plans to reduce the speed limit along a section of Tampines Avenue 9 where we are thinking of reducing it from 60 km per hour to 50 km per hour. We are working with other agencies to see how we can do the necessary gazetting to make the effect.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. Since the accident in Tampines earlier this year where the two brothers died, the Members of Parliament for Tampines have worked with LTA to re-route heavy vehicles in the area so that they do not go near school zones. This was initiated by the community. May I ask when the Parliamentary Secretary talked about the localised scheme, who is the driver of this scheme? Does LTA proactively reach out to the local community whenever there is a new project in the area? Does this apply to both private and public construction projects in every area? Page: 38 So, I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary to elaborate on how it is being implemented on the ground. Secondly, specific to the accident site at Tampines Avenue 9, although the heavy vehicles are no longer plying as often, which is much welcomed by residents, we still find high incidence of vehicles speeding along the road. May I ask if LTA has any measures to address this issue? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Madam, I would like to thank the Member for the question. In fact, in Tampines, I am very happy to see the positive development. I think road safety is a shared responsibility. I would like to assure the Member that LTA will try its best to ensure that we can help communities and industry stakeholders to keep their environment and road safe. In most of the cases, we will look into it and we will be proactive. But in some cases, where things are very unique and localised, only the community would know better. There have been many communities which have come forward to work with us and I am very happy that we can see more and more communities stepping up, and, as such, the effect is that we will have safer roads for fellow Singaporeans and other road users.”
“I would like to ask the Minister to clarify the courses that are eligible for disruption. They must be fully funded by Government and/or conferred by the universities themselves. Is it an "and/or" criterion? I was reading the MINDEF's website that disruption is only given to students or NSFs enrolled in courses conducted by institutions that confer their own qualifications. I know that SIT has some courses which are offered in partnership with overseas universities which then confer their degrees. Would students or NSFs enrolled in these courses be eligible for disruption? And whether amongst these five tertiary institutions, are there any courses that do not allow the students to be disrupted for any reason? Page: 19”
“Mdm Speaker, the public is happy that there would be long-term concession rates for the low-income commuters. They are also heartened that the Public Transport Fund would be enhanced by way of collection of penalty fees, as well as a part of the fare increment in revenue that PTOs receive. We also note that only half of the transport vouchers in the recent round were collected or redeemed by commuters. I would like to ask the Minister how does the Ministry envisage the bigger fund will be used for the right purposes and whether they will consider allowing people with severe hardship to be able to apply, not just one time, but for many times, to tie over short term or even extended periods of financial hardship?”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. The driver is taught to drive only when he is in full control of the vehicle. So, when the driver knowingly exceeds the legal limit of alcohol consumption and proceeds to drive, he has no reason to be let off lightly. Given the increasing number of drink-driving cases and also fatal accidents involving drunk drivers, I would like the Minister to consider reviewing the penalties, including setting a minimum sentence for drivers who cause death when they exceed the legal limit, even if it is the first offence.”
“I would like to ask the Minister, with these changes, does the Ministry expect more private GPs and clinics to come on board the scheme? And what would Ministry be doing to encourage more to join the scheme?”
“Thank you, Madam. I understand that the HDB looks at the combined household income to assess the financial ability of the family. I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary what is the Government's position on such a scenario: a low-income couple stays in a rental flat with a child. When the child starts working, the total household income exceeds the $1,500 income ceiling for rental flats. Would the family then be required to leave the rental flat and buy their own flat in line with the house-ownership policy? If the child were to get married possibly a few two-year cycles later and would like to get their own flat, would he be disadvantaged as a second-timer? And how would HDB be able to help families like these – both the parents as well as the child who are potentially flat owners in their own right?”
“As and when the sites cross the two thresholds that we mentioned above, in terms of reach and in terms of the frequency of their articles, we will call them in for a discussion. At the moment, the only sites that we are deemed to be licensable are the 10 sites that I have mentioned publicly. On the second point about the concerns by the "Free My Internet" group, they are not subjected to the ownership or management requirements under the Broadcasting Act – none whatsoever. All they have to do is to abide by two additional requirements which is the performance bond and the take-down 24-hour notice. Beyond that, the content standard remains exactly the same under the Class Licence scheme. On the third point about AIC, like the Member, I am also puzzled as to why they issued their statement even though we had clarified. But I would like to assure the House and members of the public that we do not think, in any way, that this will affect the international reputation of Singapore because this has nothing to do with doing business in Singapore. It is about holding certain Page: 76 websites to a higher level of responsibility. If you operate as a news site, like any other news sites which are operating in Singapore, both in the traditional space and online space, we hold you to a higher degree of responsibility and therefore we need to license you, so that you know that whatever you do, you must do it well and do it accurately because you are reporting for the benefit of Singaporeans. So, we are a bit puzzled. We would like to assure the House that we do not think the concerns of AIC would affect our reputation as an international business hub for the Internet in any way.”
“Mdm Speaker, I have three supplementary questions. First, can the Minister clarify whether there are Page: 75 existing sites which meet the conditions for them to be classified as news sites but have not been required to apply for the individual licence because they have not reached the threshold of 50,000 unique IP addresses? If so, could the Minister share some examples? My second question refers to the concerns raised by the group "Free my Internet" on the ownership and management controls over the licensed sites. Can the Minister clarify whether the individual licensed sites are bound by these controls or whether it is something that needs a Ministerial exemption? My last question refers to the Asian Internet Coalition (AIC)'s letter to the Ministry to register its concerns on behalf of Yahoo!, Google, Facebook and eBay, and I note that this happens even after the group had met and sought clarifications with the Ministry. Would this affect the long-term reputation of Singapore as an international pro-business environment including our aspiration to be a data hosting hub? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I thank the Member for the three questions. At the moment, as I mentioned in my reply, we do not have any other sites which we have deemed to be licensable because they have not crossed the two thresholds that we mentioned. As I said earlier, we will monitor, but the most important thing for us is that all the sites existing now in Singapore can continue to do what they are doing. They do not have to look behind their back whether MDA is looking over them. We will continue to monitor this situation.”
“Madam, I would like to ask the Minister in cases where there is an intended and malicious attempt of individual or individuals to fabricate untruths to mislead the public and to discredit the Government, will the Ministry be able to take any action against these individuals if they are identified? Page: 68 Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Madam, we have to evaluate each case on its own merit. But certainly, if there are misinformation, we will ask for a correction for the individual to put the correct information on the website. Again, as I said earlier, it depends on the manner in which the information has been created. If it is really false, if it is really alarming, there are levers in which MDA can take, for example, under the class licence, we do have the power to ask the website owner to take down the website in question.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask Minister this: the distribution of the masks for the needy was indeed a very much appreciated move. I would like to ask if the decision was due to a concern of prolonged high PSI levels or was it due to a shortage of masks in the retail market, or that the cost of the masks was beyond the affordability of the needy? If the same considerations were to come back again, would the Government repeat this distribution of masks to the needy?”
“I would to ask the Acting Minister: in the past, when NAC was organising the Arts Festival, it also had to raise sponsorship to cover the costs. Now that it will be operated by an independent company, what is the difference between the Government's commitment in terms of financial contribution and liability of the NAC vs now, the independent company?”
“Madam, I am glad to note from the Deputy Prime Minister that the Government is using among various sources independent experts to reassess the appropriateness of salary scales for its top services in the Government. I would like to ask: going forward, is the Government continuing to use that as a way to ensure that the scale is relevant and competitive, instead of a straight peg to the private sector salaries, or as the Deputy Prime Minister said, a lag behind certain benchmarks in the private sector? With these changes, in terms of removal of pension and the bonus calculation, how is the Government in a better position to attract and retain top talent in these elite services of the Government service? My final question is: besides compensation, in the Public Service, integrity and public ethos are equally important, how is the Government ensuring that high standards are maintained in the service?”
“Madam, in anticipation of Singapore's 50th National Day, I would like to thank the Acting Minister and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their comprehensive replies on the wide range of topics and issues and to congratulate them on their first COS. Like the free museum entry which took two years to materialise, we all learn and take heed from the Minister that we have to be patient for matters like social capital, Singapore identity and heartware. These are things that we cannot see with our eyes but can feel with our hearts. These are things we cannot touch but we can all be touched. On behalf of my GPC members and all Members, I would like to thank also the staff of MCCY and the statutory boards for their hard work and support. So, Madam, it is my pleasure to ask for leave to withdraw my amendment and the last amendment for this year's COS debate. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,000,252,300 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $300,196,100 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Madam, I have two clarifications. First, on behalf of fellow Singaporeans and PRs, I would like to thank the Minister for considering and accepting the proposal made two years ago for free entry to museums. But now, I have to declare my interest as a Board Member of the Asian Civilisations Museum. I would like to ask the Minister: how would the museums cope with the forgone revenue from ticket sales and how would this affect their resources for acquisition, special exhibitions and other operations? My second clarification on traditional arts is meant for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] A report in Zaobao's arts section yesterday quoted Cai Shiji, Creative Director of Dance Ensemble Singapore. She said that as a successor of Chinese dance performance in Singapore, her dances were Chinese dance infused with new elements. She hopes that policymakers will not drag their feet and lock themselves in the old Page: 99 mindset where "modern dance movements should not be seen in Chinese dances" and, hence, restricting the new forms of Chinese dances. Otherwise, sooner or later, Chinese dances will have no young audiences. May I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary what is the definition of traditional arts? Would the new forms of Chinese dance or other traditional arts infused with new elements be eligible for grants under the Traditional Arts Plan?”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Most people are not familiar with or are interested in traditional arts. Awareness and the publicity on traditional arts is also limited. Traditional arts practitioners and supporters are generally people of the older generation. There is a risk that there is no succession. If so, we would be losing an important part of our cultural heritage. That would be a pity. The Traditional Arts Plan launched two years ago is much welcomed. Would the Ministry share with us the progress of its various initiatives to promote our traditional arts? How have traditional arts groups and the practitioners benefited from the Plan? What else can the Government do? Cultural Philanthropy”
“The Singapore Spirit shall not be contained in a table and chart. Youths and Professionals”
“They do so for self-motivation, corporate team building, to raise funds, or to support a cause. At the StanChart Marathon, even though foreigners routinely sweep the top prizes, not many people are getting hot and bothered over this. Page: 176 I had the honour of flagging off the Singapore City Race two weeks ago. It was structured like an amazing race around the country. I am sure the 4,000 participants who ran through Marina Bay, Fort Canning and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve would see for themselves what Singapore has done beautifully in our urban planning. This is a strong visual reminder that no amount of parliamentary debate or glossy brochures can achieve. At the race, I also met a voluntary group Running Hour which devotes time weekly to accompany and help visually-challenged people run. The passion for running has brought together people and the community to care for the less fortunate. Sir, People's Association is the main agency in charge of promoting racial harmony and social cohesion. Should its work be measured by the number of events it organises or the number of participants? How do you measure the quality and depth of engagement? It may be difficult to measure, but just because they are difficult to measure, it does not mean that it is the only thing we measure because this would change the behaviour and we may lose the direction. I hope MCCY does not go after such statistics to justify its existence, nor be forced to report such numbers to fill nice annexes. Let other Ministries report on the number of flats, length of MRT lines, GDP growth, falling crime rate and, hopefully, rising fertility rates. Sir, MCCY is different. Let us give our heartware a special place. Social capital will not be counted in dollars and cents.”