Cai Yinzhou
Singapore
“Dialect artists are gradually passing on, with no one to carry the torch, and the flame risks being extinguished. What concrete plans does the MCCY have to support the preservation of dialect arts and ensure that they continue to thrive in Singapore? Mandarin is the bridge that connects us in society.”
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the response. A learner who fails or cannot complete a course through no fault of their own due to illness, family circumstances or a programme that was poorly matched to their needs currently has no clear published appeals process to help recover their course fees.”
“This also aligns with pricing transparency, where the Veterinary Therapeutic Guidelines already recommend that vets provide clinics with cost estimates and disclose the evidence base for such treatments, but this is currently voluntary.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. My supplementary question is similar to the $200 cash disbursement for platform workers to cushion rising fuel prices. Can we also consider some immediate stopgap disbursement for ComCare recipients, especially those with young children who have very little buffers to begin with?”
“How can we better take into account other areas that the seniors might be active in, for example, in faith-based or Community Club or Centre events or course-based initiatives that they might be volunteering at? How do we take that into account?”
“We must catch these impairments before the rapid decline in quality of life. Fourth, I ask the Ministry to consider introducing degree or diploma courses for audiology and podiatry in tertiary institutions, to increase the number of Singaporeans specialising in these areas and in turn, be better able to serve our seniors who require such…”
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“Speaker, I thank the Ministers for their reply. I would like to seek a few clarifications. The first is on Megan's case. The initial reporting of the case in the media kind of pinned the blame on the social service agency Beyond Social Services that was involved, and a few community and social practitioners actually spoke up on social media about the optics of the reporting. I think, retrospectively, the question is then, how can we better report or communicate when such tragedies happen, in light of also encouraging collective ownership and culture? My second question refers to conversations with preschool educators. On one hand, one anecdote was, as much as educators want to balance building rapport with parents and they do ask when they find injuries on the children and they need to ask in a polite and non-offensive way to just clarify how injuries that might have occurred when they bring their child to the centre. So, the question is: how does the Ministry help to support preschools in balancing this rapport with parents that preschool educators have to constantly balance? Another question by preschool educators was when a child with non-verbal or with special needs might present with injuries that parents may attribute to falls, that it is only the parents' account that is taken into consideration. What advice would we give to preschools to assess in those cases, how much of parents' accounts to believe and whether or not to make a report with NAVH, nevertheless? A last question from preschool educators is, after the abused child returns to a centre, they may also exhibit some of this abusive or violent or inappropriate behaviour to their peers as well. How can teachers be better prepared for these scenarios?”
“While the Bill covers about three-quarters of the local workforce, this excludes the 67,600 platform workers recorded in 2024. As the enhanced Bill comes into force, I look forward to seeing the Ministry reviewing these aspects of expanding protections to outsourced workers and freelancers. I commend the Government and congratulate all stakeholders, including NTUC, TAFEP and SNEF for their efforts in bringing this Bill and its dispute resolution mechanisms to fruition. This Bill is a tripartite win, demonstrating the collaborators' spirit of employers, unions and the Government in establishing clear roles and a robust framework for workplace fairness. Notwithstanding these three clarifications, Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill is a landmark legislation towards creating fairer and more equitable workplaces. I stand in support of this Bill and offer three points for consideration. First, I acknowledge MOM's rationale for expanding the ECT monetary jurisdiction to S$250,000 for discrimination claims, a positive step for many PMEs. However, non-unionised workers are disadvantaged due to the inability to have legal representation during mediation or ECT proceedings, especially given the complexity of proving discrimination. While union members in non-unionised companies have access to Tripartite Mediation Advisers, a proportion may not and may struggle to understand the discrimination and the experiences or articulate the details of unfair treatment. Can the Minister clarify specific resources to support non-unionised workers through the ECT procedures? Second, I understand the position that Court proceedings would generally be held in private to foster open discussions without public misrepresentation. However, there is significant public interest in serious workplace discrimination cases and to hold employers accountable, the current Bill appears to offer limited discretion for the High Court to publish this information. Will the Minister confirm that the High Court's discretion to publish is flexible enough to ensure public accountability of employers found to have committed discriminatory acts, even without criminal prosecution, to avoid undermining the deterrence effect of this legislation? Third, I note that this Bill does not amend the scope of the Workplace Fairness Act, which excludes outsourced workers and freelancers, including platform workers.”
“The Bill proposes increasing maximum jail term for fatal abuse of vulnerable victims from 20 years to life imprisonment of up to 30 years. This tool ensures penalties for the "worst of the worst" egregious cases. Despite serious penalties for abuse, advocates for vulnerable groups, like domestic helpers, highlight root causes lie in power disparity and victims' fear-driven difficulty in seeking help, sometimes due to social isolation. Increased abuse penalties also need to come with complementary protection and empowerment for potential victims, especially for early intervention. For example, migrant domestic worker abuse averaged 320 reports annually from 2020 to 2024. Existing support measures can be expanded through awareness of help avenues and increased checks on these foreign domestic workers. Enhanced penalties also apply to abuse of children under 14 and vulnerable persons. Beyond age, if I may suggest stipulating definitions of vulnerable persons for seniors or even those with disabilities using metrics, like the Activities of Daily Living score, which is an established tool for measuring functional ability. In conclusion, I strongly support this Bill's decisive move to address crime threats and introduce tougher penalties. Notwithstanding these clarifications, I support the Bill.”
“A worrying trend involves youths becoming scam mules; and a misconception that only elderly are victims when those in the 21 to 59 age group, who might be digitally native and overconfident, thereby constituting most victims. Greater deterrence therefore may not address economic hardship or coercion, but our approach needs to be balanced, focusing on financial literacy and legitimate employment. Given the heavy penalties for potential money mules, public education on offence severity is needed, especially demographics of those less aware. We must also incorporate these messaging, using technology, like the ScamShield app, a powerful intelligence network against scam trends. Another suggestion includes encouraging money mules to become informants, aligning with Government efforts against local scam enablers, where those actively cooperating with authorities by providing information on scam operations could receive reduced sentencing. But often the investigation of potential money mules might be complex and lengthy. It is hard to distinguish those who participate as a mule versus those whose personal information might have been misused and compromised. During investigation, these individuals might face strict restrictions, including frozen bank accounts, affected credit ratings, making it hard to receive salaries, to pay bills or to receive Government benefits. This significantly impacts those already struggling financially. Can the Minister, therefore, clarify interim measures and collaborations with banks to support the increasing number of Singaporeans implicated in scam-related investigations but might not be convicted? Next, I will speak about strengthening protections for vulnerable victims against abuse.”
“Mr Speaker, the Bill updates the Penal Code and other legislations, strengthening the legal framework for urgent issues, like scams, and serious crimes, like abuse. This aligns with Singapore's history of strengthening laws against trends in crime. I support the Bill but seek clarification firstly on complementary social and support measures to tackle the scourge of scams between deterrence and dialogue. The Bill distinguishes money mules from scam syndicate leaders, introducing mandatory caning for scammers and discretionary caning for money mules. This toughens measures against scams, addressing a national issue. The message is clear, "If you dare to scam Singaporeans, this is the price you pay." This move is crucial due to devastating losses: over $3.4 billion since 2019, with a record $1.1 billion in 2024. But beyond financial figures, victims have experienced ruined family relationships, depression and some even turned to suicide. Caning is, therefore, an effective deterrent in reducing loan shark harassment, but I have two clarifications on this. First is for those above 50 years old where caning is unsuitable, how will alternative penalties be applied? And whether these enhanced penalties will immediately apply to the 27 Singaporeans allegedly found to be part of the Cambodian scam syndicate, if found guilty? While the Bill assigns lower culpability to money mules, their punishment is still significant. I support the new offences but suggest new ways to augment the effectiveness. As criminal lawyers note, deterrence is not the only crime control method; focusing solely on increased penalties might ignore root issues. Mules might be financially disadvantaged, incentivised by financial hardship to sell Singpass details or personal access.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I would like to inquire on how, with footpaths being narrow, cyclists may be elderly themselves and navigating these obstacles, like running children or dog walkers, may be challenging for them as well. So, cyclist speed may not be the only factor of danger, but also the ability of these cyclists to navigate these obstacles. My supplementary question is whether the Ministry will consider cycling pathways to be designed to co-exist on the road, especially in areas with high density of pedestrians or vulnerable individuals, like schools or silver zones.”
“Could the Minister of State provide more detailed elaboration on the methodology, including the specific fossil fuel benchmark used to assess how the cost of the banded fuel of jet fuel was calculated and substantiated to be more than three times that of Jet Propellant 8 (JP-8) fuel? Finally, we must leverage on our national strengths. Singapore is a major refining hub, home to significant self-production capacity, such as Neste's expanded facility. The Minister's assurance is sought on the strategy for how the presence of these advanced facilities will be utilised to bring the cost of SAF lower over time, rather than merely acting as a platform for centralised procurement and persistently high global market rates. Secondly, on the need for public accounting in its management. This SAF levy is a public contribution towards a critical national goal and the accompanying trust must be transparently maintained. While the blueprint indicates the fund will purchase SAF at its actual market price, the Bill is not explicit on public reporting obligations. I urge to consider establishing a clear formal reporting obligation for CAAS regarding the SAF Fund. Will the Ministry commit to publish a regular and comprehensive report for the public? Such a report should document the total levy collected and expended, the volume and cost of SAF purchase, the actual SAF uplift proportion achieved by airlines and, most importantly, the measurable environmental impact and carbon emissions reduction delivered by the fund. I commend the Ministry for this decisive step towards the long-term decarbonisation for our aviation industry. Notwithstanding these clarifications, Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Sir, this Bill aims to establish the SAF Fund and to provide for the imposition of a SAF levy and supports the laudable goal of CAAS and MOT to kickstart the adoption of SAF in Singapore. Sir, I seek to raise two key areas for the Minister's clarification. The first is on the financial structure of the levy. It is accepted the high costs of SAF currently necessitates a measure and mechanism like this levy to support its initial adoption. However, I remain concerned that this policy decision appears to place the financial burden entirely upon passengers. I respectfully ask the Minister of State to justify the approach and explain the considerations behind the choice, not to implement a model of financial risk sharing with airlines or fuel suppliers, or direct volume metric mandate on these commercial entities, an approach which has been adopted in other jurisdictions, such as EU and UK. As this levy is passed on to consumers, we need clear assurance that their contribution is both effective and monitored. Flights from Singapore were previously estimated to increase by $3 to Bangkok; $6 to Tokyo and $16 to London. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could inform the House of the specific mechanisms and reporting protocols. CAAS was established to actively monitor these estimates and ensure that actual financial impact of the levy on ticket prices remains predictable and consistently aligns with the Ministry's initial projections. A crucial point for public confidence is technical basis for the cost difference. The Ministry has previously stated, including in its discussion in 2023 that SAF is currently more than three times the cost of conventional jet fuel, thereby being unsuitable for use by the Republic of Singapore Air Force and its aircrafts, like the F-16.”
“Thank you, Speaker. Thank you to the Minister of State for MND. I understand HDB will consider compulsory acquisition of flats by severe and recalcitrant nuisance makers. The constant distress caused by noise transmission is a root cause of many disputes that escalate, including pickleball. And I am glad to hear that new BTO developments now feature increased floor slab thickness. To ensure we address the structural root issue, can the Minister of State clarify whether they will commit to immediately implementing a mandatory logging and tracking system, and with which agency, to monitor all dispute cases that are reported to involve threats of physical violence in order to identify and flag these recalcitrant offenders, or even consider providing equipment like industrial grade sound monitoring for rental? My second question is, given the limited scope for major infrastructure changes in existing flats, will the Ministry consider exploring subsidised soundproofing improvements or technology, as a specific upgrade option under future Home Improvement Programmes for blocks that have high persistent record of noise related disputes?”
“Speaker, in my speech, I mentioned that Singapore will celebrate SG75 in 2050. I misspoke. It should be SG85.”
“French philosopher Auguste Comte may have coined the phrase "demography is destiny", but the President's address has provided a powerful continuum that birth does not dictate destiny, that no one is left behind and that every generation can look ahead with optimism and hope. What will Singapore be in 2050 when we celebrate SG75? [Please refer to the clarification later on in the debate.] The country each generation inherits is determined by the actions of the previous one. I am deeply aware that the country my children inherit will be determined by the actions we take now. The President's address has set a clear direction for our nation and it is up to us to embody that vision. Let us respond to the needs of our community with purpose and empathy. Let us build a future where every Singaporean feels seen, heard and valued, a society that truly makes efforts to care for the last, the lost and the least. And I say with conviction, let our generation respond, in optimism and hope. Mr Deputy Speaker, I end my speech in support of the Motion. [Applause.]”
“As we aspire to improve health-span and the quality of life, we must first ask ourselves what exactly is a life well lived and how do we want to age? The World Health Organization quality of life measurement assesses a person from the physical, psychological, social relationship and environmental perspectives. It acknowledges that humans are multidimensional and, therefore, measures various domains of life, not just the absence of illness. How do we measure the friendships between friends and neighbours? How do we quantify the psychological pain of a senior who might be leaving a familiar community due to a relocation and the cost to their health? How do we communicate with one another the sense of loss at the mergers of our schools, or the closure of our favourite youth hangout or even the place where we used to date. Third places tying closely with the sense of belonging and forms a key part of our identity. Impact assessments provide some economic measurements towards this, and I am glad that the Government has adopted features of environmental impact assessments in redevelopment works. Heritage and social impact assessments have existed, and we must seek to incorporate more of these accounting languages in the decisions we make, and this will allow us to measure the true impact of our decisions on community and identity. In conclusion, our total fertility rate is at a record low. Next year, Singapore attains the UN status as a superaged society with more than one in five of us over 65. In five years, that will be one in four. In 2050, it will be almost one in 2.5 Singaporeans. I am not sure how the age range of our Parliamentarians will be by then, but as the youngest male PAP Member in the 15th Parliament, by then, I will be 60.”
“We must make help visible and accessible and offer it proactively. We must better honour filial piety through stories, and those who choose to personally undertake this responsibility. We must rightfully account for the value these caregivers contribute to our society. This labour of care does not stop at caregivers to seniors or persons with disabilities. We cannot forget our frontline workers who actively care for our people too. We need to better support our social workers, family coaches, teachers, counsellors, therapists, psychologists and nurses, so they can better serve Singapore. We must find ways to improve the coordination of our services and close help-seeking time gaps. This ensures our system can be effective in what is intended to do to deliver compassionate assistance to our people in their moments of need. The spirit of empathy is the very fabric of our neighbourhoods. But for our communities to thrive, the systems that support them must be equally compassionate. Beyond economic calculations, we need to consider the accurate accounting of what truly makes a society strong. For too long, relational elements like the immense contributions of caregivers and the cultural values of our heritage have been hard to quantify and, thus, undervalued in our balance sheets. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg describes the third space. The first being our home; the second being the workplace; and the third, the place which is the anchor of community life, which facilitates and fosters broader and more creative interactions. They can be in the form of communal social nodes, places like void decks, hawker centres, coffee shops or parks.”
“At the 12th edition this year, I met 31 children with high-care needs and their families, and a village of many helping hands – from extended families to corporate volunteers and medical staff. As a mother, Rae's journey was one of incredible resilience, and the generosity she received from others spurred her to create a community of support for what would otherwise be an isolating caregiving journey. Rachael passed away last month, shy of turning 21 in October. As representatives, these are moments of clarity that strengthen our resolve to speak up and I will do so, for caregivers and persons with disabilities, in this House. The resilience of a society is tested during a pandemic, a crisis, and we are only as strong as the weakest link. This was evident during the pandemic when the spotlight shone on essential workers and the vulnerable. During the pandemic, I worked as a care staff in a nursing home, assigned to a ward of 16 males. The daily routine of care was visceral, was intimate and it was intense. This includes changing their diapers, showering, wound dressing, and managing cognitive conditions and difficult behaviour, on a 24/7 shift-work basis. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the labour of care, and I admired my colleagues, a largely migrant workforce, but also realised the unaccounted cost of care and trade-offs that family members might make when they choose to undertake caregiving personally. With love and dedication and devotion which may undergird their decision, many may feel unprepared and helpless too. As the saying goes, "You can't save others if you drown too." While the Government has taken steps to support caregivers through respite services, training and grants, we must go further. We must ensure easy access to resources.”
“In our communities, seniors rally around one another to celebrate milestones and turn to one another for support in times of grief and sadness, just as friends and family do. They exist not just as individuals in a neighbourhood, but as a living library of knowledge, and together form a powerful resilient community. How can the narrative of growing old then be reframed, not as a liability, but as an opportunity to live again. After giving their all for decades to work and raising a family, how can we encourage the cultivation and nurturing of new passions, creative talents and entrepreneurship projects through their existing strengths and knowledge? For our youths, we have agencies, like Youth Corps and the National Youth Council, which play a vital role in development through leadership and volunteering programmes. I propose for the formation of Elder Corps, a value for a parallel equivalent agency to leverage on skills and wisdom of our seniors to match them with our schools and youths for mentorship and guidance, to be a force for volunteering and meaningfully contribute to our society. New friendships, shared memories and purposes. These are experiences that hold our communities together. Let us ensure our seniors live their final years with dignity, purpose and a good quality of life. Deputy Speaker, Sir, empathy for the vulnerable must also be at the heart of what we do as Parliamentarians. I recently journeyed with Toa Payoh residents Ryan and Rae Mok, whose daughter, Rachael, was born with a rare chromosome disorder and had high-care needs. When Rachael turned five, Rae started Project GIVE, a yearly tea party where entire families of children with high-care needs would gather and participate in an inclusive carnival.”
“At the National Day Rally, the Prime Minister also shared, "Many seniors do not want to move out. They prefer to age where they are, and we will need to provide for them as they get older." The Government's ambition to age-in-place and enhance health spend is a powerful paradigm shift. This sentiment is echoed by many seniors I have met, including two pioneers of community building in Toa Payoh Central, Mr Chia Ah Sah, aged 79; and Mr Raman, aged 75. The combined years of service to this community is a total of 96 years. Mr Chia shared, "We are poor, but some people are in even worse situations and so we help." This simple belief of a heart-to-heart service has remained consistent over the past 40 years. The love and attachment to the community has only grown. But how do we create more Mr Ramans and Mr Chias? Like many in the Chamber, I have joined many seniors for workouts, outings and health screenings to discover this answer. Instead, I have learned extraordinary secrets, what I describe as "non-Google-ables". Secrets about the precise herbal ingredients in a 药材汤, or herbal soup, to cure a cold for my pregnant wife; hacks to stretch their dollar, like knowing which store at the wet market, or cai png, economy rice stall offers the best value for money. They know the latest hack of getting NTUC discounts and the ways to get CDC vouchers from task. They can also tell you the history behind a street name or the location of a building long gone much faster than ChatGPT can. And not to mention, advice on a good long-lasting marriage and how I should spend more time with my wife and two children. This is the collective wisdom of a lived experience.”
“Today, volunteers at back-alley barbers have given over 8,000 haircuts at nursing homes, migrant worker dormitories and rental flat communities. I learned the most profound change does not need a massive budget, but sometimes a pepper of courage and a generous serving of human connection. In the lorongs in Geylang, empathy was an emotion I understood long before I ever learnt its name, and it is this fundamental truth that shared human connection that must guide our work today. I would like to thank the residents of Bishan-Toa Payoh for the support and the opportunity to stand here today. In the recent National Day rally, our Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Toa Payoh will be one of the first models of the Age Well neighbourhood. Having managed active ageing centres, I have seen the importance of Healthier SG across Singapore and I am grateful for the inter-agency collaboration between MND on the hardware refresh and MOH on the software integration of programming. It is not just our population that is ageing, but our flats too. Toa Payoh is the first satellite town comprehensively planned and developed in 1965 by HDB. Many of the flats are seniors in age too. Residents are anxious of their homes and worry about the uncertainty of timing, the future value of their flat and its remaining lease. Many also face the daily realities of defects and look forward to repairs and upgrades through the Home Improvement Programme. Each resident has unique circumstances and may require different levels of support. I will echo the concerns of my residents and speak up for clarity on upgrading options as well as what an equitable Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS) offers.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Sir, I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. In a turbulent world, the President's address offers a renewal of faith. It calls us towards a "we first" society built on the enduring pillars of unity and trust. It is a powerful and essential vision for our nation's next bound, but let us be clear, the fulfilment of that promise does not begin here in this Chamber. It begins with us in our local communities in the enduring efforts of one Singaporean reaching out to another. Prior to being a Member of Parliament, I was known as the "Ah Boy" of Geylang. I grew up there all my life and had a different perspective of the world, one not easily found in textbooks or policy papers. I saw the complexity of life and met neighbours known to society only by their labels – the nightlife workers, the troubled youths and ex-convicts trying to hold on. The temptation is to see their lives in black and white, a simple failure of law and order. But as a neighbour, I saw something else. I saw single parents struggling. I saw human beings resulting to vice, often because they lack options or were escaping a reality much worse. I learned that we cannot fix what is broken until we recognise the shared humanity in every single individual. It was with that same understanding that I spent my weekends in 2014, in the back alleys of Geylang, with migrant workers playing badminton, sharing a meal and seeing their sacrifice and commitment to family thousands of miles away. When my friend, Nurul Bashar from Bangladesh, was counting his every last dollar for his father's urgent surgery, I did what any friend would. I picked up a pair of scissors, learned from YouTube and offered him a free haircut. That small act of care grew into a volunteer movement.”