Cheng Li Hui
Singapore
“To be fair to ourselves, despite the mistakes and inadequacies we see, when you take a few steps back, you would realise that relative to so many other countries, we have done pretty well. Please give ourselves a pat on the back.”
“Chairman, harmonious neighbourhoods are what we all hope for and work towards. However, having some disputes is unavoidable. While we work towards minimising such disputes, we must also pay attention to improving the ways we manage disputes such as the CDMF.”
“Chairman, in 2016, the Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) was launched to further improve Persons with Disabilities' access to sports. PwDs deserve the same level of access to the sports that they wish to pursue as non-PwDs.”
“Chairman, motherhood is one of, if not the most, noble of aspirations. While I thank MOH for the steps it has taken in the right direction with respect to Elective Egg Freezing (EEF), I feel that the ideal destination is still some distance away.”
“Chairman, every Singaporean has a part to play in our whole-of-society effort to build a strong, secure and cohesive nation. New threats continuously emerge, while existing threats evolve and re-invent themselves. The addition of Digital Defence is timely, which forms the sixth pillar of Total Defence.”
“Mr Chairman, the safety of our service men and women is paramount. At last year's Committee of Supply (COS), Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How spoke about emphasising a strong safety culture in the SAF through audits and inspections.”
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“Sir, our civil and public servants may come across classified information at work and such information could be crucial for them to exercise their duties effectively. There could be dire consequences if such information is wrongfully shared publicly. In April last year, we had two such cases. First, a public servant was arrested for sharing a draft media statement on schools moving into full home-based learning to curb the spread of COVID-19. Later, a civil servant was arrested for leaking the COVID-19 case numbers before official announcement. Both incidents could have resulted in panic in the community at a time when calm was needed. Most recently, a public servant allegedly leaked a Police lookout message that identified the suspect of the Tampines fatal stabbing incident. The message included the suspect's name, image, date of birth and nationality. It was widely circulated that the man had fatally stabbed his wife. From that, I received calls informing me that the deceased is my ex-PCF staff, Iris. Sir, Iris was a sweet and thoughtful lady. After her resignation from PCF, she came to bid me farewell at my Meet-the-People session. The next week, she returned again. She noticed that I was engaging people over my exposed drink and returned with a cup cover. She was a good mother and brought her children well. Her three children lost both their parents on the eve of Chinese New Year reunion dinner. It was a difficult period, made more difficult with the exposure. I would like to ask how can the Government further instill discipline on how Government officers deal with the possession of such information and what can be done further to let officers better recognise and appreciate the severity of sharing this information publicly. Smart Nation and Digital Government Group”
“Through all the families and women I have encountered who have shared with me their stories, I believe that women undergo voluntary egg freezing because they truly want to be a mother. This is a beautiful and wonderful thought but unfortunately out of reach for some in Singapore. I hope that as we continue to push on with our plans to re-open society and our economy in a safe and sustainable way, we will be able to relook at voluntary egg freezing and open our hearts and minds to support the hopes and dreams of many families here in Singapore. With that, Mr Speaker, I support the Budget.”
“Perhaps, the Government can consider progressively reducing the co-funding amount with age but extend some help to healthy couples who just passed the age of 40. My most recent appeal case was just in January 2021. Mr Lee and wife have been trying for a child for seven years and are both 37 years old now. They have just completed two rounds of IVF but unfortunately, both resulted in miscarriage. According to their gynecologist, they cannot send the embryos to NUH's Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) Diagnosis Lab, the only approved centre in Singapore, unless they have defective gene and so on. Sir, I had mentioned earlier about couples seeking treatment across the Causeway. On CNA Insider in April 2019, it was mentioned that couples seek treatment just 10 minutes across the Causeway in the cluster of fertility clinics in JB because one, cost; and two, PGS is allowed there. This testing and screening for the correct number of chromosomes can improve the chances of success. But this is not readily available here. We have had a pilot programme for three years. When will it go mainstream? We should allow more to screen their embryos if they have suffered miscarriages, provided no gender selection. Mr Speaker, how can we relax the rules in voluntary egg freezing and yet be mindful of the medical concerns, as well as the social and ethical implications surrounding this whole issue? There are many countries around the world where voluntary egg freezing is legal and have been allowed for many years. We will certainly be able to learn, adopt and adapt the best practices to suit our local environment.”
“I recall vividly this encounter when I was in a multi-storey carpark after one block visit and noticed a young couple with Police officers. The man's car was vandalised. As I approached, he ran over and thanked me. He said his wife and him did the survey together. His wife had suffered a miscarriage before and they wrote about it in the survey. He smiled and added that she was due the next month. And when I enquired about the car, he said, "No, no, go do more important things. We are happy you did this." Next, education and awareness. There is a lack of fertility awareness and on treatment and tests. Some hospitals gave out free fertility health checks in 2019 hoping to promote awareness but that stopped with the pandemic. We need to do more to promote understanding on the subject for couples. With the availability of online platforms, our public hospitals should conduct more fertility awareness talks online so that couples can participate in the privacy of their homes. We should consider the use of MediSave for fertility health checks, which cost around $400, or if possible, fully subsidise it if they do it within first three years of marriage, to encourage couples to seek assistance earlier. One of my Meet-the-People session cases was a lady who got married at age 40 in 2019. She understood the low chance of natural conception and quickly appealed for IVF co-funding. However, the new rule only allows two rounds of co-funding if the IVF process was started before the age of 40. The appeal failed and the couple paid for it on their own. She managed to extract two eggs, both successfully fertilised but did not result in pregnancy.”
“They eventually adopted a child from Indonesia. Another couple came to my Meet-the-People session to tell me their story. The wife wanted to explain the emotional stress to me personally so we could help others. She said she could not bring herself to return to the same clinic after each failed attempt or miscarriage. Thus, each time, they had to change doctor and clinic. After years of ordeal, today, they have three lovely children. She wanted to donate the rest of her embryos and eggs but learnt from her gynecologist that there is no such option here. For private fertility clinics, they can source for donor eggs overseas and they can have the procedures done here. I know some of my residents who froze their eggs and/or conceived through IVF overseas. A few couples have told me they felt that the cost of IVF here is higher. The amount of money they pay for two IVF attempts here may be enough for three attempts overseas so they get more chances for the same investment. Getai celebrity, Liu Ling Ling, also disclosed in the media that she had her son via IVF in JB when she was 50 years old. It was a different story then. Then, IVF procedure was not allowed for ladies above the age of 45. The rule changed in 2019. I do wonder what happened to couples who were seeking IVF treatments overseas before 2020. For those who needed to access their frozen eggs or embryos in other countries, how did they bring them back for their IVF treatments last year? In the past, doctors used to tell me, "No worries, just courier back". But with the current travel restrictions, I wonder whether these procedures can still occur. Sir, the survey meant so much to some.”
“For example, a woman who is about to undergo cancer treatment may freeze her eggs for future use. What about voluntary egg freezing? Is there room for a rethink on this long standing policy of not allowing healthy females to freeze their eggs? Why do we create this environment where healthy women have to bear the cost and risk of doing this procedure overseas? It is my belief that voluntary egg freezing can be allowed with legislation and a proper framework put in place. One suggestion is to make counselling session mandatory for women who intend to embark on this procedure. They should be fully informed of the procedure, financial costs, risks, the notion that it does not guarantee conception later on and most importantly, the emotional roller-coaster ride that they will be undergoing. Legislation can be put in place to prevent the abuse of voluntary egg freezing and they should include the following. An age limit of 40 years old should be considered as the quality of their eggs deteriorate drastically beyond the age of 35. For egg thawing and fertilisation to take place in the laboratory, the couple must be legally married. Sir, with voluntary egg freezing prohibited here, it also means we have no eggs bank. This means ladies of certain age or with poor eggs quality will have to source for donor eggs overseas or adopt. A resident asked me what a donor egg was and I explained. He told me that the option was never made known to him in public hospital. His wife's eggs could not be fertilised and after several extractions and failures, the emotional stress was too much and they gave up IVF. If there was the option of the donor egg, his wife would have loved the chance to carry a child herself and fulfil her dream of motherhood.”
“She is more tiring", and laughed. This determined new mom did three rounds of IUI and five rounds of IVF before her girl came along. All these chats with families made me more aware of the different experiences that couples go through to become parents, and I started to ask more and listen to their stories. Sir, I am going to give several accounts today. I hope that by doing so, we can review how our assisted conception policies can be further enhanced to help couples fulfil their dream of becoming parents. In mid-2019, when the PAP Women's Wing wanted to do a paper, we put out a joint survey on flexi-work, pre-school considerations and special needs. I decided to put out another survey on my Facebook to understand people's views on social egg freezing and other related questions, such as donor eggs, single motherhood, raising the IVF age limit of 45 and if they have children, were they conceived naturally, through treatments or adoption. I also gave them space to write their views on every question. In the 10 days after I sent out my survey, I had 716 respondents and over 400 who wrote their views and gave their contact details. Here are some verbatims from them. What is egg freezing? "I did not know egg freezing is prohibited." "I spoke to my daughter in her 20s after I saw your survey. She froze in USA before returning because she knows is prohibited here." "It was against my religious belief until I saw my daughter-in-law going through IVF. Please allow it." "My cousins froze their eggs in JB." It seemed like quite a number of ladies go overseas for social egg freezing. Today, in Singapore, only women with justifiable medical conditions are allowed to freeze their eggs.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the Budget. It is a sombre and cautious Budget. It focuses on a few key areas to prepare ourselves for life after COVID-19, especially to transform our economy and emerge stronger. Mr Speaker, during these pandemic times, with social activities curbed, night spots closed, I wonder if we would see a surge in birth rates in the coming months. That will certainly be a blessing to the families and a boon for our population. Our Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has been low at 1.14 for 2018 and 2019. This is indeed worrying. I felt that the topic of assisted reproduction is neglected in this House, and today, I would like to focus on this topic. I applaud the Marriage and Parenthood Scheme, which offers a number of financing schemes to help Singaporeans with the costs of conception, maternity, delivery and newborn care. In particular, allowing the use of MediSave for assisted conception and co-funding for the assisted reproduction technology (ART) procedures in public hospitals, which has greatly reduced the financial burden for many Singaporeans. Sir, before COVID-19, I used to visit newborns and their families in Tampines East regularly. On one occasion, a new mom told me, "Thanks to the Government, I got my baby." I was puzzled and she explained the ART co-funding scheme. You see, both her sons were from IVF treatments – the second was from her frozen embryo. She also told me the experience with her second child at the same public hospital was better than the first. She said public fertility clinics have improved with shorter waits for procedures. On another occasion, as I cradled a newborn, the new mum exclaimed, "Miss Cheng, she's asleep. Keep her there. She is from our eighth attempt. I thought ART was tiring.”
“I thank the Minister. Will the Ministry also consider doing a study on children of divorced parents who have done well to understand how they have negated the challenges? And two, do the Counsellors also hand over the cases from Primary to Secondary schools for the more vulnerable ones, such as those on the UPLIFT programme?”
“Some do not want to attend the large-scale events, even weddings because of their fear of doing the tests. Couples have given feedback that some of the elderly and their guests will actually decline the wedding invitations. They are saying it is actually like restaurant dining, but just that there are 10 tables of five each and the rule of no inter-table mingling is allowed as well. Can that be considered as the way for weddings?”
“I have two supplementary questions. Will MOE consider making preschool part of compulsory education and also, to increase the KiFAS minimum requirement of one-day attendance per month to qualify for the subsidy, which is the current status? We need to ensure that children from disadvantaged backgrounds attend preschool more regularly.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to inquire if MOM tracks the sectors that self-employed persons are from and how are these sectors doing now and will fare going forward – so that we can see what help will be needed.”
“Yesterday, we heard the Prime Minister remind us that this is possible due to the hard work and sacrifice of our founding generations. He called the reserves our rainy day money or coffin money. I know many people and businesses are struggling in these tough times. The money from the Government has given them some reprieve from severe hardships and difficulties. However, I am concerned that some people may be tempted to keep asking the Government for more money, even if they can survive with some sacrifices. I met some residents, a couple, who were staying in a 5-room flat. Their children had married and moved out to their own flats. They were not on talking terms with their children. They even had a Court Maintenance Order to require their children to support them. Yet, they refused to downgrade or right-size or do a lease buy-back of their paid-up flat in case they wanted to leave their flat to their children in spite of all this. They were retired and asked the Government to give them more money. While these cases are few, it is, nevertheless, a cause for concern if more people think like them. As the Finance Minister has explained, we need to use the money wisely, to save for real rainy days, and we are in the middle of a very long and heavy thunderstorm right now. I would go further and urge that we look for ways to cut back on spending, and reduce Ministries' budgets. Now is the time for all of us to be resilient and work together to restore our financial health, even as we battle the virus to restore our physical health. Madam, I support the Motion.”
“I saw articles of graduates' concerns of low starting pay affecting their future earning power. I say to them, "Do not worry about this. Go out there, learn and gain experience, even if it is not your field of study. You will gain other useful skills, such as teamwork, communication and planning skills, that will pay dividends well into your future." Those of us in this House that do yoga or pilates will be familiar with a pose called the "plank." It is a simple exercise similar to a push-up position. You support your body with your elbows and your back in a straight line to your ankles. Hold that position. The muscles that ache later? That is your core. It holds you upright and improves your stability and core strength for the next time you need to sprint. Perseverance and resilience are our society's core muscles. Like all workouts, you cannot do it with just one repetition and expect results. It requires a quiet determination to push forward through the pain, uncertainty and ambiguity. We need to have faith in our family who provide our hearts inspiration, encouragement from our friends, and trust that our Government will leave no one behind. I want to encourage all those seeking jobs not to wait for a better job with less work and more pay. Instead, look at investing in yourself, build your toolkit with new skills, grow your library of experiences. Develop a strong core of perseverance and resilience, and I promise you, when we are out of this valley, it will be your time to soar. Mdm Deputy Speaker, the Finance Minister has handed out almost $100 billion in subsidies and assistance to our people and businesses to help them tide over this crisis.”
“Resilience is a critical skill that all educators, both at home and in school, should impart. Some of the methods to incorporate resilience in the classroom include discussions and reflections on goal-setting and perseverance, sharing stories of success and failures, understanding strengths and weaknesses through student-led report cards. Our education system has been evolving in this direction, reducing the emphasis on academic results and nurturing talent across different arenas. I hope more can be done to expose students to more experiences that will encourage resilience and perseverance in our children and youths. Mdm Deputy Speaker, when my friends and I graduated in 1998, Singapore's economy was still suffering from the aftermath of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. The job market was bleak and we could not see the glorious rainbow that we were looking forward to. But the mountain tops also have valleys in between. It is in these "valley" moments that we grew more robust, more determined and resilient, and soar out of these valleys. I read with interest in the Straits times in April of fresh graduates facing lower salaries and rejections, and I reminisced about our days in 1998. Then, my NUS friends and I sent out hundreds of job applications, too, and we had low starting pay. Thankfully, MOE was recruiting teachers, and some took up the offers, yet some others became administrative staff. As for me, I studied insurance and did real estate work. Both became very useful in my later career. I also remember chatting with my friend, then an administrative clerk earning $1,600, wondering how we would ever be able to afford a flat. She worked hard and did a part-time ACCA. Ten years on, she was earning a more than comfortable $12,000.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, Parliament convenes for a new term at this critical juncture. Mdm President has charted the way forward in her Address. What a time this is. We have witnessed how an intertwined unprecedented economic and health crisis has affected our lives. Those who understand that this is going to be the new normal are preparing themselves for the rough journey ahead. In this pandemic, it is now more imperative than ever to push on with our continuous efforts to create a robust and inclusive education system for our children and youths. From a young age, parents, family and teachers heaped praises on our young ones, to encourage them to be the very best they can be. Every parent wants the best for their children and push them towards their own notion of success. When these children grow up, many become fixated on this notion of easy success and they want it and want it quickly. Some despair when they realise that success in real life takes time and endurance. I often remind parents in Edusave ceremonies that in their workplace, their colleagues get promoted not based on academic results. Academic results offer that first step into their careers but then, it is their interpersonal skills, attitude at work, such as commitment, drive and leadership skills, that lead to promotion. Our education system is exemplary when it comes to imparting knowledge and skills for the future economy. We have received worldwide recognition for this. Yet, given how fluid and competitive today's economy is, all these will come to nought if our youths are incapable of reacting well to changes and setbacks. Just before the pandemic hit us, I spoke about resilience in individuals and as a nation in the first Budget speech of 2020.”
“Microsoft estimates that two years of digital transformation was accomplished in the last two months. Forbes estimates five years of digital transformation to occur before mid 2021. These impacts have also been felt by our seniors, many of whom now communicate with video calls using WhatsApp or Zoom – something unheard of in 2019. Some seniors are also learning to shop online. Although there are no local studies released, in 2019, 40% of seniors aged 65 and above in Germany shop online. As we forge ahead in our new post-COVID-19 world, I anticipate far more online participation by our seniors than ever before. How can we capitalise on this digital transformation? How can we enable our seniors to be less isolated, more engaged with each other and with our society? What can we do with technology to help seniors connect with their families and friends and continue contributing to society and the economy even as they continue to earn a wage? As we protect the lives of our seniors by social distancing, we should also take care of their quality of social life by using technology. I am heartened that the SG Digital Office will be hiring 1,000 Digital Ambassadors to help hawkers and seniors learn digital skills. It is great that the Government is reaching out to help bridge our digital divide and at the same time provide employment opportunities for our graduating cohorts of ITE, Polytechnics and Universities. I hope MCI will continue to accelerate our digitisation efforts post-COVID-19. There is no doubt what we are experiencing is unprecedented. I hope when we look back to this period in the future, we can say we overcame COVID-19 with unity, solidarity, resilience and fortitude. Let us press on. 12.49 pm”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Budget. Twenty-twenty is a year to reset, regroup and relearn. What is before us, is unprecedented. It is both a health crisis and an economic crisis that affects our life, our health and how we live our lives. But far beyond our personal spheres, the world is rapidly changing. Tensions near and far, threaten to destabilise our once predictable place in the world. Global supply chains are also changing as countries ramp up their "nationalistic" strategies. Singapore has always depended on free and open trade. We need to regroup and strategise what is next for us, what can steer our economy into the future where businesses can thrive and individuals can progress. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we chart our path forward, I am particularly concerned about the challenges faced by our SMEs, especially the micro-businesses in our neighbourhood and hawkers. It is encouraging that the Government has set up the Emerging Stronger Task Force to study the systemic shifts emerging out of COVID-19. Other countries are also gradually ramping up their economies as they emerge out of lockdowns. We need to swiftly identify the economic shifts and strategise the way forward. Can the Minister for Finance shed some light on the work done so far and its first findings? How can we take advantage of new opportunities and accelerate our economic rebound? Sir, in March 2018, I spoke about how we in our 40s today will become seniors of the future who will be more tech savvy and self-sufficient. We are also likely to be able to retire later as technology allows us to work from home. This COVID-19 pandemic has also affected seniors in many ways. I would like to highlight digital transformation.”
“I thank the Minister. I have four supplementary questions. The Minister mentioned that the total number of packs is for 80% of the households. How did the 80% come about? What was the redemption percentage for SG50 packs? Is 80% sufficient to cater to the anticipated demand? What happens to the unredeemed items?”
“I thank the Minister. I have a few supplementary questions. There is another stockpile that people are concerned about which is actually about the mask. Many people read articles that suggested that other countries could be trying to hijack certain goods and products such as N95 masks from Singapore to their countries. Can the Minister share what are we doing to ensure there is sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers? We know that there is a stockpile, but COVID-19 can be here for a long time and what are we doing to protect our healthcare, Police and SCDF personnel? There is a report of mask production lines that were brought back to Singapore. Have they been located back? Have they started production? If so, what is the type of masks being produced and the capacity a day, and how self-sufficient are we? For chronic illness patients as well, such as cancer patients, some face difficulties buying masks or they worry about the quality and source. So, can they get a prescription and buy from public hospitals' pharmacies? Fourth, thanks for reassuring us on food supply, but what are the measures that you have in place to keep the cost of basic goods stable? And lastly, what impact with the circuit breaker have on our Singapore economy?”
“This, too, is a loophole. In the past, illegal wildlife parts like bearclaws, pangolins and other wildlife were part of folk remedies and traditional supplements and cures. It is my strong belief that we should retain that as a deterrent to anyone who might want to reignite such practices. We should adopt the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulate not just the trade of live animals but also that of animal parts and animal-based products in order to ensure that wildlife species are not threatened to extinction by trade. It is vital that we continue to find new ways to interact with our environment. As we build up new housing estates, new places of leisure, we need to learn to share these spaces with wildlife that was indigenous to that space. A strong set of laws and regulations will help to clarify the boundaries in which we can interact and share experiences with our rich and diverse wildlife. These clarifications notwithstanding, I stand in support of the Bill. 5.03 pm”
“In relation to the new section 5A which makes intentional feeding of any wildlife without approval an offence, I find that the use of the word “intentional” may be a challenging one to enforce, as it puts the burden on the state to prove intent. I could imagine people using excuses of feeding "domestic" animals as a means to excuse themselves from this ruling. It might be a small loophole, but a loophole nonetheless. The new section 5C makes it an offence to intentionally kill, trap, take or keep wildlife. Currently, section 5(1) of WABA makes it an offence for any person to kill, take or keep wildlife without a permit. The new offence requires the additional element of intention which, as before, the state has to prove. This is a high bar, as one could be trying to trap a pesky rat but, inadvertently, catch a Southeast Asian Shrew, a rare forest native. The intent of the matter is hard to prove and we should consider removing that requirement. Instead, we should educate our people to not trap, hunt or kill wildlife, and instead call upon professionals to get it done. As we inevitably encroach into the spaces of wildlife, they, too, will move into ours. How we structure our laws will help to protect one from the other. The intent of the two points above is not to nitpick at language but, rather, to find a specific set of actions we want to discourage, as we learn to share our common spaces with wildlife and put clear boundaries on what should and should not be done. My second clarification relates to the offence of importing living wildlife without approval under the new section 9(1). Currently, section 10(1) provides that "[n]o person shall import into Singapore any wild animal or bird whether alive or dead, or any part thereof" except with written authorisation.”
“Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. In the recent Netflix documentary series "Night on Earth", actress Samira Wiley narrates the episode on the impact of urban development on wildlife. In episode 5, she describes Singapore as "one of the most wildlife-friendly cities on Earth". Wildlife is the beloved otter families in Bishan and the Marina Bay It is the long-tailed macaque that call our nature reserves home, and even the hornbills that have recently be seen perched on balconies in our homes. Some have great affection for these wildlife creatures. Others find them to be a nuisance or have a sense of suspicion and fear. This can lead to great conflict as we have seen in the cases of bird feeders against their neighbours. Other times, our affection for wildlife may lead to greater harm and nuisance to both animals and humans when our affection is expressed in uninformed ways. This happens, for instance, when individuals feed wildlife inappropriately or capture animals for amusement and enjoyment without concern for what is natural for the animal. Sugar gliders, pangolins and hedgehogs come to mind. Wildlife should be integrated into our society and be part of what makes us uniquely Singapore, and not create conflict. The new Wildlife Act is not just about telling us what to do or not to do in relation to wildlife. More than that, it is about learning how to interact with and enjoy our natural environment in a respectful and humane way. I support the Bill and I have just a few comments. First, I have two clarifications relating to the new sections 5A and 5C which set out the offences of feeding, releasing, killing, trapping, taking or keeping of wildlife.”
“Sir, the bilateral agreements on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail the Singapore-Johor Bahru RTS projects were signed in 2016 and 2018 respectively. When ready, the RTS link will allow 60,000 additional commuters to cross the Causeway during peak hour. The project benefits both countries by easing causeway congestion, reducing travelling time and facilitating business and tourism. On 4 November 2019, it was announced that a suspension of the RTS project will be extended until 30 April 2020. With a new government in Malaysia and the April deadline approaching, can the Minister provide an update on our bilateral transport projects. What is the status of RTS? Will progress commenced after April? If there is no progress, what other options are there to improve connectivity between the two countries and improving the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities at our border.”
“Sir, I am heartened to note that the rail reliability has improved in 2019. The overall MRT Mean Km Between Failure (MKBF) was over 1 million km from October 2018 to September 2019. MOT has successfully achieved bold target of 1 million km between failure, as set by Minister Khaw in 2017. Our trains are now as reliable as the Taipei Metro and Hong Kong MTR. I applaud the team for their resilience, determination and hard work in achieving the target. Beyond ensuring timely renewal and maintenance of assets, we also need to build a pool of ever ready and competent rail engineering and maintenance crew to cope with a rapidly expanding rail network. Can the Minister share details of the training and upskilling programmes available for rail engineers? How have these programmes led to the recent improvement in rail reliability and whether these programmes would be further enhanced?”
“Can the Minister share how is SFA facilitating the business opportunities in this area while ensuring food safety is protected?”
“Sir, last year the Ministry announced the formation of the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and our ambitious "30 by 30" goal to raise Singapore’s food production level from the current 10% to 30% by the year 2030. Singapore relies heavily on imported food. About 90% of our food needs come from over 160 countries. As such, Singapore is especially vulnerable to disruptions in the global food supply chain and to price fluctuations. Deputy Prime Minister shared in his Budget speech that our imported supplies could also come under strain from climate change or geopolitical tensions. In land-scare Singapore, our approach to realising our "30 by 30" goal must be meticulously planned and carefully calibrated. With only 1% of land mass allocated to agriculture, we face a big challenge in growing our own produce. It is, therefore, important that Singapore focus on R&D to harness technological advances to boost local food production. Can the Minister elaborate on what are the challenges and opportunities for Singapore associated with our goal? Can the Minister also share the progress on our vertical farming and fish farming? How can we reach our 30-30 goal and help our local agri-food sector grow sustainably in the long run? Novel Foods Next. Sir, the adoption of novel food by Singaporeans has grown recently. Today, Impossible burgers is well received in Singapore. I just heard that we are going to have Impossible gyoza for tea later. As we gravitate toward plant-based foods, SFA has a responsibility to ensure that they are safe for consumption. A framework is being set up by SFA to look into the safety assessment criteria of novel food. There will also be opportunities for our food industry to grow our presence in this area.”
“Sir, the rise in global sea levels has accelerated in recent decades due to the melting ice sheets. Researchers projected that 13.6% to 15.2% of global beaches will be lost by 2050. As an island state, sea level rise is an existential issue for Singapore. The Prime Minister shared at the 2019 National Day Rally that the UN currently projects that sea levels will rise by up to one metre by the end of this century, or 80 years from now. It was also shared that Singapore would need $100 billion or more over 100 years to build our coastal defences to protect ourselves. It is thus timely that this Budget introduced the $5 billion Coastal and Flood Protection Fund. Can the Minister provide an update and details of the plans to build up our coastal defences? And as building coastal defence against sea levels would likely involve multiple agencies and stakeholders, can the Minister also provide details of the Government's strategy to coordinate our coastal protection efforts? Flood Resilience and Vector Control”
“Sir, when we talk about education, we are not merely referring to the teachers and schools, or even exams and subjects. It consists of an interrelated group of key stakeholders comprising of teachers, schools, parents and the wider community, so that together they strive to allow our students to develop holistically to their fullest potential. I am heartened that MOE has made many good changes in recent years to work more closely with the community and to build stronger partnerships. For example, last year, they built up upgrading opportunities for our ITE graduates. There is also enhanced support for disadvantaged students through community partnerships and after-school support. Looking ahead, how does MOE intend to build strong partnerships with parents, industry partners and the community to develop the values, dispositions and skills that will place our students in good stead for the future?”
“Sir, we have good schemes such as the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme and the School Meals Programme to help ease some of the financial burden faced by some of our students. However, I believe that more can be done to ensure that all our children are given a good start in life. In a recent house visit, I saw two boys standing on the kitchen counter-top and another running around and their great grandmother chased him with a cane. The great grandparents in their late 70s are caring for three boys, age eight, nine and 10. The father has left the family and their mother is a Grab driver. She could not afford much time for them. The seniors told me that it has been difficult as the boys get into disciplinary issues in schools and after-school care. How can the UPLIFT programme identify students and families who need help? Can the Minister provide an update on our UPLIFT efforts, including how MOE is strengthening after-school support and counselling support to tackle the challenges faced by disadvantaged students. What are the efforts to reduce long term absenteeism and drop out numbers, and have the statistics improved over the past five years? Update on UPLIFT”
“Sir, during 2018 President’s debate in this house, I spoke about CCAs being the place for students to pick up non-academic knowledge and skills. I have met several students who were very disappointed that they could not join the CCA of their choice because they lack relevant experience. I am heartened to read in the news in Jan 2020, that MOE has started a pilot with several Primary schools to remove selection trials. This is excellent. Let our children pursue sports or other interests they may have. CCAs should be for student to build friendships based on interest and passion. We should also have inter-school CCAs to encourage social mixing and bring down barriers of class. Inter-school CCAs can also bring together students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and hone their interpersonal skills. Teachers will also have a good platform to introduce the concept of social inclusivity. I hope the Minister will look into my suggestion to introduce inter-school CCAs so that our students can enjoy a more enriching CCA experience.”
“The Government can and must do more. We need to tackle mental health issues upstream and this is why I am bringing this up under the MOE heading because our schools and Institutes of Higher Learning are the headwaters of this issue. It is not just that the stress of school work creating anxieties and problems with self-worth but young people are so caught up in social relationships and the search for identity in the setting of schools. A lot of the initiatives on the ground now are oriented towards creating awareness of the issue. This is important as we need to correct persistent prejudices and ignorance. Singapore is specially equipped to tackle this issue because we have a centralised education system and MOE can do so much more. Firstly, mental health education should be a top priority and made mandatory. It should not be just a topic in character and citizenship education, or during the form teacher's guidance period but a subject in its own right in Secondary schools in which basic psychological knowledge can also be imparted so that young people can have the tools to understand what they might be going through. Secondly, we will benefit from input from young people themselves. One of the reasons for the jump in young people seeking help is that they are starting to open up mental health issues. It is time for us to listen to young people. We could learn from other jurisdictions such as Scotland, which has established a Youth Commission on Mental Health. It comprises young people from ages 16 to 25 to make recommendations to Government. Professional Development of Teachers”
“Sir, education is an entire eco-system consisting of key stakeholders such as teachers, schools, parents and the wider community. Our educators are at the frontline where they deal directly with the students for many of their formative years to impart knowledge, share experience and, most importantly, lead by example. Therefore, supporting our teachers is key to developing and sustaining a good education system in Singapore. With new developments and trends in the education field such as the increasing use of e-learning, computational skills and inquiry-based learning, we need to stand ready to ensure that our teachers and educators stay ahead of the curve. It is an important and never ending process so that our teachers are well-equipped to nurture future-ready learners. Can the Minister share how will MOE support the professional development of our teachers? Mental Well-being Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong (Non-Constituency Member): Chairman, Sir, youth suicides seem to be on the rise. In 2018, the figures spiked to 94 youths, between the ages of 10 and 29. MOE and MSF were very concerned with the spike, though both Ministries noted that it was not a trend yet. Obviously, we do not want this to become a trend as lives are at stake here. We need to do more than to closely monitor the issue. At the same time that youth suicides are on the rise, we see more young people talking about mental illness and turning to Mental Health Services for help. IMH has reported the young people seeking help has jumped by 190% from 2015 to 2017. I am aware that there are initiatives such as the Youth Corps programme to mobilise volunteers to provide peer support. There also many community initiatives responding to the impending youth mental health crisis.”
“Chairman, digital technologies have progressed tremendously and are very much part of our lives. They could allow us to achieve more than ever before if we are able to harness their potential and use them wisely with good purpose. Cyber crimes and online scams have been on the rise and it is not surprising with majority of Singaporeans accessing the Internet everyday across different platforms. In 2016, I filed a MOE cut on cyber education. Our children are tech savvy, but they may or may not be Internet savvy. They may forget there are real dangers lurking in the cyberspace. Cyber bullying, online predators and online scams are just some of the dangers youths face. It is important that we introduce and equip our young Singaporeans with digital literacy in schools. We have made a good start and laid a strong foundation over the last few years when schools started allowing students to use tablets in class. This allows for more enriching classroom experience where learning is now more interactive, interesting and personal. Will the Ministry consider providing additional subsidies for students from lower income family to purchase devices? Will the Ministry also be developing guides or courses for teachers to impart and deepen digital literacy among their students in schools? We need to better prepare young Singaporeans for an increasing number of sectors that require advanced AI-related competencies such as digital finance and cybersecurity. Can the Minister share what is in the pipeline to deepen digital capabilities especially in our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs)? Digital Training”
“Can the Minister share what MOE has done so far and if MOE can consider embedding sustainability into the curriculum? Character and Citizenship Curriculum”
“Sir, for a long time, our schools have played an indispensable role in anchoring our students on strong moral values. In my speech in the debate on the President's Address in 2018, I mentioned that our CCE syllabus then focused on classroom and theoretical knowledge. I said, "Our young people should walk the talk and we should seed the caring hearts of our next generation. Let them adopt a kindergarten, old folks home, pet shelters and the responsibility of caring for others." It is important that we look into how we can develop age-appropriate strategies for students at different age groups so as to increase the effectiveness of CCE in schools. Can Minister share if MOE has been looking into this? To strike a chord with students, CCE should also be easily relatable to the students' experiences. Therefore, is it possible for CCE lessons to be conducted beyond classrooms and even more actively utilise the life experiences of the teachers so that the lessons could be more authentic? Incorporating Climate Change in Education Next cut. Sir, last year, I filed a cut on teaching Green in school. We have to inculcate green values in younger generation. Our schools can play a big and important role in educating our students on the importance of Green initiatives and the perils of global warming. They should also be better informed of the sciences and policies in relation to climate change. We should make it part of the compulsory curriculum. Let us educate them on the Semakau landfills that are running out in 2035, instead of 2045. Schools can also take the lead in the reduction of single-use plastics and instill a recycling mindset, including handing down used textbooks and using recycled textbooks.”
“Sir, in an MOM 2018 report, 72% of employees worked in firms which provide formal flexible work arrangements, up from 70% in 2017. The provision of flexible arrangements has a huge impact on staff retention, as the new generation of workers values flexibility a lot more. With COVID-19, many companies have adopted the split-team arrangement, where an alternate team is now stationed at home to support the company's operations. This creates an opportunity for companies to assess and try out flexi-work arrangement and review internal workflows. Post-COVID-19, may I suggest that MOM: (a) follow up with a survey to poll companies and employees on their readiness for flexi-work arrangement; (b) study and access flexi-work arrangements across different industries and sectors; (c) make flexi-work arrangement part of the productivity drive, with less time and money on commuting, reduction of office space and rent; and (d) perhaps form an inter-agency work group with the private sector to study this? Support for Informal Elder Care-givers”
“Sir, I declare my interest that my father owns a business in the process industry, although I have not been involved in the business for over two years. In 2016, I filed an MOM cut on local talents. I said then that one of the challenges faced by SMEs is finding local talent. It is common knowledge that companies need high quality staff for expansion and survival of business. Many SMEs want to employ local talent but some locals might find that it is more glamorous to work for MNCs. 2.15 pm Then, I had proposed for our trade associations to work closely with IHLs to close the gaps in employment. We should also build up the image of mastery of skills and trade. Budget 2020 announces reduction of the S Pass sub-DRCs of the construction, marine and process sectors from 20% to 18% 2021 and 15% 2023. However, many companies, especially smaller scale ones, find it challenging to hire local talents. Some of the jobs in those three sectors are simply not attractive to locals. Long project working hours, sector specific hazards and remote workplace, such as Tuas and Jurong Island, are not helping. I am concerned that the challenging terrain faced by these companies would become even more challenging come 2021 and 2023. How can we help these companies to smoothen the transition to lesser S Passes and more locals in the future? How are our IHLs training locals to fill those roles? Support for Senior Workers”
“Sir, the hardworking men and women of the Home Team have played a critical role in keeping our country and our people safe. With new challenges emerging, their work gets tougher. I am heartened that the Home Team has transformed its operations throughout the years. With the celebration of Singapore Police Force's 200th Anniversary this year, can the Minister share how does our Home Team remain relevant to meet our evolving security needs? Home Team Capability”
“Sir, climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world. On 9 February 2020, a Brazilian-run research station recorded an extreme temperature of 20.75 degrees celsius in the Antarctic. The first ever temperature recorded of over 20 degrees Celsius. Temperatures around the world continue to rise, melting ice into oceans and causing sea levels to rise. This poses existential challenges to our Island state. We have to act decisively on climate change. I am heartened that the Government has carried out a public consultation in 2019 to discuss how we could formulate our long-term low-emissions development strategy. Can the Government share its plans to reduce our emissions? What are the various factors the Government took into consideration? Moving ahead, we also need to look into achieving sustainable development, continue to create good jobs while ensuring a well-managed transition to a low carbon future. The transition while challenging, also poses various opportunities in the green economy related innovation. How can Singapore leverage green growth opportunities and how we plan to rally businesses, the community and individuals to be part of it? 1.45 pm International Efforts on Climate Change”
“Not only did more volunteers turn up to help, we also saw more residents, including new faces, approaching us to donate food items. Some thoughtfully added bottles of hand soap in their donations. During the same period, I visited a family in Tampines which has a member who was infected. The rest of the family members were quarantined at home. We delivered some daily necessities to the family. I also took the opportunity to visit the other residents in the block. While I sensed some residents had uneasiness and questions about the virus outbreak, I was especially heartened when I witnessed neighbours rallying around the infected family. One neighbour offered to buy the family their daily necessities while another offered to deliver meals. My heart swelled with pride as I witnessed our residents putting aside their concerns to step forward to help fellow residents in need. Sir, before I end, I do have one suggestion for the Finance Minister to consider. Budget 2020 has many schemes and enhancements. Some people, such as our seniors and smaller enterprises, may be overwhelmed by all the information. May I urge the Government to step up on engagements and communications to targeted groups like families, companies, workers, especially seniors, so that they can better understand and benefit from all the available schemes? I am optimistic that this Budget will resonate with Singaporeans and set us on a firm footing for our continuous nation-building journey. So, let us persist and continue to strive together for our people and our country. SG United. On this note, Sir, I support this Budget.”
“In Tampines, we have a free bowling programme during the school holidays. We deliberately mix students of different races and schools during the game. One of the girls went home crying because she was afraid and uncomfortable mixing with students she did not know. Her mum took leave to bring her for the next session and shared with her that she will not be able to choose her own secondary school classmates or work colleagues in future. She told her to try and adapt and she will be there to support her. We watched the girl as she finally enjoyed the company of her lane mates and even forgot about our presence. She just needed the morale booster. We love and protect our children, give them the very best we can, put them first. But the most important value we can teach is to instill strength, the tenacity to try things, be adventurous in thoughts if not actions. Sir, our people strive to be the best they can be – acquiring knowledge and skills, possessing determination and drive, working hard to get ahead. Striving is a fulfilling process but it is not an easy one. I am heartened that this Budget signals that the Government is standing with all Singaporeans in their determination to build a better future for themselves and their children. And coupled with resilience, we will all emerge stronger and better together. Resilience is only one face of the Singapore Spirit. The other equally important face embodies the graciousness and kindness that many Singaporeans are displaying every day. I witnessed that firsthand in Tampines earlier this month. Just two days after the raising of the DORSCON alert to Orange, and amidst reports of panic buying at supermarkets island-wide, our volunteers continued their monthly food donation drive to help needy residents.”
“Home team agencies and institutions, such as our hospitals, play a critical role, too. The COVID-19 crisis has shown us once again that defending Singapore against threats often requires a whole-of-Government approach. It involves coordination among multiple Ministries and agencies, with an eye always on the bigger picture. Our response to the COVID-19 emergency has been admired by many. The researchers of a Harvard University study said, "Singapore set the gold standard for COVID-19 detection around the world”. This entire response and operations that the taskforce has mounted are not something we should take for granted. On behalf of my residents, may I say "thank you" to all involved in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. What is heartening is that during my house visits, I met several residents who told me “we have to play our part against the virus”. Some of them, I learnt, sanitised the lifts daily on their own accord and their neighbours were not aware. They also realised that the cleaners were busy cleaning common touchpoints and so swept their own corridors. At EMB ceremonies, I noticed some of the children were having stage fright. I encouraged parents to share with their children their own fears and insecurities. Let our children know that everyone has fears and we must try and overcome them. I told the audience I do not like public speaking. I still do not. But I am really glad I did not let that stop me from doing my work now. I love my work. Likewise, parents can share meaningful lessons in their lives so that their children get to understand difficult situations and decisions. They can learn to think through some of the challenges and build resilience. These lessons often come in everyday scenarios.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Budget. Twenty-twenty started with a lot of uncertainty. The US-China trade war was still not settled and technology continued to disrupt businesses and threaten jobs. Against this backdrop, COVID-19 came along and slammed our economy and our way of life and threatened to bring us into a recession. To help us overcome these challenges, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and his team have put together a very generous Budget 2020 with a wide-ranging package of measures to support and sustain businesses, workers and families in the short term. At the same time, it allows us to focus on the longer term to transform our economy and reskill our workers for our long-term sustainability and success. This is a good reminder that the reason why we have been able to put together such a package is because of the surplus generated and Reserves accumulated over the years by our previous generations. Successive generations of Government and Singaporeans have worked hand in hand to get to where we are today. Our Pioneers led the way and the Merdeka Generation worked hard and transformed our country. A wealthier Government today is showing their appreciation with generous packages and top-ups. Therefore, I am especially happy that our seniors have been given special attention in this Budget: more Silver Support Scheme beneficiaries, higher payouts and dollar-for-dollar matching when their families top up their CPF accounts. One of the values that have got us this far is resilience, as a nation and as individuals. This year's Tampines East Edusave Merits Bursary (EMB) ceremonies coincided with Total Defence Day. I took the opportunity to remind the audience that Total Defence is more than just military deterrence.”
“I believe that this significant increase in collection points nationwide will surely yield better recycling rates for e-waste. Sir, it is important that we act now to put in place a comprehensive waste management system in Singapore, a system that is sustainable and pragmatic. I support the Bill.”
“The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Westcom Solutions have a food digester in JTC's Pandan Loop Industrial Estate. It processes food waste into an odourless organic fertiliser and produces about a ton of fertiliser every month which they packaged and sold. All these show that NEA has worked hard on food recycling seriously over the last few years. The Bill now mandates that large hotels, malls and industrial food developments need to treat food waste from 2024. Can the Minister elaborate on what can this food waste be turned into other than fertilisers, energy and animal feed? Is there a market for these products to be exported and sold? Do we have the technology and capacity to do this? How are we passing the knowledge to the industry players and building managers to help them ease into the new regulations? How much is it expected to cost them? And will it ultimately lead to a significant increase in rent or overheads? These business costs are still important to consider as they ultimately lead to a higher cost for end consumers. At the national level, I think NEA has done a good job in tackling food waste. First, by working with schools to cultivate our students with good habits. Second are the ongoing campaigns, such as "Love your Food. Waste Less. Save More." But the reality is that tackling the root of the food issue means reducing all this food waste in the first place. Today, we stroll through our social media feeds and we inevitably see posts of glorious food at hashtag foodporn. Perhaps, we could also start posting our empty plates with the hashtag "SG don't waste food". Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also strongly support the e-waste framework. I am especially glad large retailers must now provide in-store collection points.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, I declare my interest as a Director to National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Foodfare and Advisor to Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association. Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. Sixteen years from now, in 2035, our landfill Pulau Semakau will run out. Just a decade ago, Pulau Semakau was expected to last until 2045. But we have been producing so much waste over the last decade that we have shortened the lifespan of the landfill by another decade. This trend is alarming and a cause for concern. Designating 2019 as Singapore's year towards zero waste is a first step. But we are clearly racing against time. We have to do more in a more comprehensive, realistic and sustainable manner. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill aims to be comprehensive as it encompasses plans to deal with food, electronic and packaging waste. I will focus on food waste in this speech. As of 2017, only 16% of our food waste is recycled while food waste alone accounts for an estimated 10% of total waste generated in Singapore. In 2017, the National Environment Agency (NEA) launched the two-year "Love Your Food @ Schools Project" where some schools, including Chongzheng Primary in Tampines, are fitted with machines that guzzle food waste and turn them into compost and then given to residents who manage various community gardens. At Our Tampines Hub, we have two food waste digesters where up to 1.4 tonnes of food waste generated from the hawker centre can be recycled everyday into non-potable water and fertilizer which are also put to good use in our rooftop garden. Over at the Singapore Armed Forces, food waste from some camps is being collected and treated to help generate energy.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my name is not reflected.”
“I have two supplementary questions. It was reported that the server was also accessed by several other Internet protocol (IP) addresses. What do we know about this access? Is it by foreigners or locals and will we be pursuing any actions on them? Do they have the information on the blood donors as well? For those who failed to donate their blood due to illnesses, can this sensitive information be accessed?”
“15 pm Electrification of private cars will be challenging because there is little charging infrastructure. In any case, the best way to reduce emissions is to go car-lite. However, public service vehicles, such as our nearly 6,000 public buses, could be electrified. We just heard that MOT has a plan to convert the public bus fleet to clean energy by 2040. Could the Ministry support this plan to electrify the Government public service fleet by examining: (a) the impacts of particulates and other emissions from the vehicle fleet on health, quality of life and economic output; (b) the experiences of commercial providers of zero emissions transport, such as HDT or Blue SG, to understand barriers to widespread adoption; and (c) the related tax and subsidy policies needed to electrify major private vehicle fleets, such as private buses and taxis? Inland Ash Scattering”