Cheryl Chan Wei Ling
Singapore
“I note that Singapore has been pursing discussions with multiple countries over the past few years, regarding these cooperation activities. Will the Government be able to provide an update on the status of these cross-border discussions and whether they are progressing as expected, and aligned with our infrastructure plans and timelines?”
“Speaker, I have one supplementary question for the Minister of State. I want to ask the Minister of State, given the fact that we do this environmental impact study, will there be a study that will be conducted for every single oil spill and, if so, how long would the monitoring period be?”
“Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. As we go for more resource- and energy-efficient models of agri-tech production, would the Ministry consider taking a more active stand, beyond just grants, to look at areas of R&D, scaling and commercialisation?”
“Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Minister. I agree with the Minister that these software systems are relatively complex and, generally, you do not just have a single supplier supplying to the overall system.”
“I have got a supplementary question for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. From now till when the official regulation is in place is still some time away. For home owners, they would not have a means to be able to detect formaldehyde levels because they would not know.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have one supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. I recognise the challenges and headwinds that the Senior Minister of State has mentioned, but the reality is beyond just capability building and the grants that are given.”
The complete record
Every one of 455 lines we hold for Cheryl Chan Wei Ling, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 10.
“General knowledge and broad skills may not help them to get more work opportunities as their curriculum is already different from those taught in the mainstream schools. Once they are past the schooling age, there are even fewer institutions or higher learning avenues that can enable them to continue their skills upgrade or to learn the relevant knowledge that is in tandem with industry requirements. Looking at those with autism or attention deficit disorder, studies have shown that they exhibit strengths in many areas related to creative work, such as visual arts, music, self-contained direct tasks, and have strong memory, good in Mathematics and computer, amongst others. With the growing gig economy and digital workplace, we can design and engage them in these areas. We can consider providing platforms for them to further their studies and skills beyond their prescribed age where schools are currently able to keep them. Similar for those individuals with physical disabilities and are wheelchair bound, some are mentally well to cope with work and can be trained for suitable jobs. While some random efforts are taking place in Singapore, we should continue to learn from some companies, like Microsoft and CVS Health, that are proactive in employment practices in these areas. I know that SG Enable actively supports people with disabilities in job training, employment information and job referrals to employers. However, with an increasing number and a wider spectrum of people with special needs emerging due to awareness and medical advancement, we need to put in place earlier intervention to assist more special needs people in having an active income.”
“Sir, very often, we worry about creation of employment opportunities, redesigning jobs for the seniors and the current workforce, and how we can continuously upgrade their skills to ensure they remain relevant and employable. At times, we may have forgotten that there are people with disabilities that are left without a job. This is even more critical for them as chances of learning a skill that can be used for future employment is as uncertain as them worrying about whether they have enough to care for themselves at old age. This is a multifaceted issue that warrants more attention and support. Special needs individuals can be wide ranging, from those with varying levels of physical disabilities, to those with autism and attention disorder, and the other extreme spectrum for those with severe mental health challenges. We need to, first, clearly define the scope of special needs people that we are able to assist for work employment in the short term, and eventually to build a structured framework of assistance that looks into education, training and job prospects for them. It is understandable that we cannot cater jobs for the entire spectrum of special needs people. But surely, there must be specific areas that we can champion together. I recognise the awareness by employers that people with disabilities can also contribute economically has increased in Singapore. Apart from redesigning jobs and opening the employment doors of regular companies to those with special needs, I feel that a more pressing need and area that we have to focus on is the training of special needs individuals with specific skills for different industries when they are still schooling.”
“Thus, I suggest we begin with the provision of a panel made up of experts from specific industries, retired or existing senior management executives from MNCs, consultants and business owners who wish to volunteer their insights or even take a stake in the companies to enable their leap towards internationalisation. This will be a tremendous help for the startups or local large enterprises. Hunting in Packs”
“I have two suggestions for MTI to consider supplementing what exists today. First, to tailor the funding and schemes to assist large local enterprises, as opposed to the current grants provision that is uniformly applied across all SMEs. For example, if the company is currently lacking in certain functional domains and the skilled expertise has to be sought from foreign talent pool in the interim, allow them to have a special quota to hire the expertise for a defined period and put in place measures that can ensure that knowledge transfer must take place to develop future inhouse expertise and the local workforce gets an opportunity to step up. Grants that are also given need to be customised and assessed on specific grounds that may not exist in today’s business context or agency's definition. Have that flexibility to review, and the agency officers who review these grants must have some level of business experience or exposure that allows them to understand commercialisation and business cases so that they can better provide these approvals not on the basis of against a checklist. Second, create a panel of expertise that can act as consultants or mentors to startups or existing firms that wish to internationalise. ESG is providing currently a suite of services that I must say the contact leads in overseas markets have proven to be useful for some of the companies venturing abroad. However, there exists a gap for these companies that are trying to navigate the business culture differences to understand which functions within their entire operations of specific industry will be more effectively performed overseas and how they can collaborate with other Singapore companies in the global arena.”
“Sir, I have spoken in this House previously about the need for collaboration and building an ecosystem that provides opportunities for our local enterprises to internationalise and build capabilities in the face of the emerging challenges in the market. I understand that MTI has put focus on this and extra emphasis to assist local companies in the past two years. While I support the ongoing efforts, it is equally important for us to recognise the need to continue developing organic companies and groom them into a full-fledged business or industry. Why is it important to do so? First, encouraging the creation of many startups do not naturally translate into building an industry or development of large local enterprises. Secondly, companies that have been operating for some years in any specific fields may no longer retain the expertise after they sell out the business should the new business owner shift the company’s expertise out of Singapore. While consolidation and acquisition of businesses are a normal process, what seems to be a trend in our successful local enterprises is the lack of perseverance in building businesses where there is product or service expertise coupled with intellectual property (IP) knowledge. Further, some of these successful local enterprises tend to cash out as soon as the opportunity arises instead of attempting to develop the business to greater heights. This, in the long run, will impede our ability as an economy to have large local enterprises that can contribute meaningfully to our GDP or our workforce. By not expanding the base business or retaining core expertise in Singapore, it may be difficult over time for us to attract the multinational corporations (MNCs) in continuing investments in Singapore.”
“Not that these are unimportant, but they will not move the needle nor set the long-term direction of our country. And without building our social capital now, defining the values and roles of this country with active civic participation, each Budget will only fall on the ears of citizens like a lecture in class and endless debate of whose rightful duty it is to care for the ageing population and the future generations. I support the Motion.”
“But in all businesses, there are some fundamentals in people and business management that will always be relevant across time. These are the key aspects of operating a business beyond data analytics, automation and a technology app. For young startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to scale up or internationalise, they require some of this knowledge and stepping stones that can reduce their learning curve. Consultation and guidance from the working group in their 40s to 50s today will be useful for these companies. The same applies for employers. They must be willing to conduct inhouse development training for their workers and bridge the generational gap and workplace knowledge through job rotations and have a healthy mix in the retention of seniors. As we put focus on the structural aspects of the industry transformation maps (ITMs), let us not forget the need to step up on our mentorship guidance and the cross-industry functional knowledge exchange. Mr Speaker, the conversation about the inequality gap, who are the intended beneficiaries and how much or who should give, is not a talk that will end. Countries with longer histories than Singapore are facing the same issue. But all these will only continue to be chatters unless we, as a country, as the people of this little red dot, begin to acknowledge that we must all play a part and take actions in our daily lives to make Singapore an inclusive country. If we cannot convince ourselves to demonstrate the intrinsic values of this country, our future Budget debates and conversation with the public will be nothing more than package subsidies, Net Investment Return Contributions (NIRC) and incremental shifts in our economy and trade.”
“Employers, too, have a fair share to play in this as they balance their profits, reinvest in the workers and give the workers a decent wage to begin with. It is not how large or small the action is, but what we are willing to do and to what extent to effect the change. This comes back to the basic question of sharing. The top and middle tiers of the economy, whilst they have more opportunities and pathways to elevate, they can certainly do more for the lower-income group, starting with a willingness to pay more for their services. Our mindset and actions around this issue ultimately reflect the values of this country and its people. Another area that I wish to highlight is the need for knowledge transfer between the inter-generations and within the working class. Knowledge sharing is a very important resource in any organisation. When we exchange information, skills and expertise, it not only creates awareness of expectations. It also serves to update the workforce of changes within the workplace and, consequently, trains the people. Any organisation, and a country for that matter, which has a culture of sharing, will achieve better results of faster response time, better coordination and diversity in solutions to their problems. In the next two decades, we will see the retirement of a large cohort of Baby Boomers, and the millennials will eventually make up most of the workforce. This drain of expertise and knowledge will have its repercussions if there are no early channels for inter-generation or inter-workplace transfer. I do not doubt that millennials are learning and will develop the different new skillsets to meet the future workplace demands.”
“While the current Progressive Wage Model (PWM) and Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme are designed to help raise their wages, the question still remains whether this is sufficient in today’s context to support and meet the basic needs of the low-income workers and their families. The Government has implemented multiple targeted schemes in larger quantum like ComCare, GST rebate, transport vouchers, education funds and so on to continue assisting this low-income group. There are also donations of cash in kind from the public and the voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to them. Clearly, all donations will help them in one way or the other, but are these safety nets the answer to their basic needs? I feel that to effectively make a difference that impacts and uplifts the lower-percentile group, in particular, those younger families, giving them access to resources, especially a decent living wage, so that each worker at the end of the month would have more to spare, is actually more critical. Not having time only to live hand to mouth will also allow them to have some quality time with their children or grandchildren that can foster the growth of the next generation and instil family bonding that many average families enjoy. This brings us to the crux of the issue – how much more are consumers and employers willing to pay them to meet the living wage? We cannot continue this path of racing to the last dollar for the value of contracts, asking for more productivity from these workers without paying for tools or environment that aid their productivity improvement, assigning more tasks to them when we can do some on our own, something even as simple as clearing our own plates and trays after a meal.”
“But with a shrinking and ageing workforce, it is impractical to consider further taxes on income. After all, the ability of an average income worker to build wealth is dependent on sheer labour. Also, the consumption tax, in one way or another, does impact the lower-income group to meet their basic living expenses. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) and transport vouchers, Silver Support Scheme and other subsidies given to the lower-income group do help to defray some of their costs but, overall, consumption taxes indirectly do raise the general cost of living. In order to maintain fiscal prudence, we need new revenue sources to sustain the many programmes that may have a long tail in the years ahead. While we look ahead and review the current tax system in its entirety, should we consider the possibility of a net wealth tax and inheritance tax for the ultra-high net worth individuals who make up 1%-2% of our society? In the spirit of giving and sharing, will the ultra-high net worth individuals be willing to share more of their wealth to uplift the vulnerable and less privileged communities? Another case in point is the wages of the low-income workers. Many of these workers are hired in domestically focused industries like cleaning, security and landscaping. I have come across my own residents in these sectors, and they work very long hours to ensure their income can meet the family’s expenses. For these individuals, we cannot expect they would have the luxury of time to upkeep and have upgrading of their skills, or even to further define their career path for the long run. Over time, they are the ones who are disadvantaged by us. Us, the consumers of their services.”
“For Singapore to rise above the challenges and ensure every citizen has a place in this country, we should take a hard look at what it takes to be inclusive. How can we be inclusive unless it is consciously built into our policies, ingrained as a culture and as individuals, we think and walk them like a way of life. To me, building social capital and civic participation is key. In this process, the concept of sharing is fundamental – sharing of wealth, sharing of people and available resources. Let us begin by looking at what areas we need to improve on to achieve a more equitable distribution of resources. Looking at where Singapore is, one can say that Singapore should be considered having done well as our system is built on principles of meritocracy, has a fair and progressive tax system and the redistribution of wealth has a focus on social outcomes. But over the last decade, there is evidence that indicates that the increase in wealth inequality has become greater than income inequality. Those with the wealth are not only on a better footing to accumulate more but they have even better access to resources that help preserve their wealth. To reduce the wealth inequality gap in Singapore, we tax through personal income, property and consumption. This way, the top earners and those with more assets contribute. To further encourage those who have more to give, the tax-deductible donation scheme was implemented. I believe many donate as they believe in the causes and not because of the tax deductibles. But it is also true that since the estate duty was scrapped in 2008, the number of charitable foundations and trust funds set up has since increased three folds. Compared globally, Singapore has a low personal income tax rate.”
“Mr Speaker, the Budget is an important annual process that defines the focus for the country in each fiscal year, outlines the plans to be implemented and also sets the tone of how the nation’s fiscal health may be like in the years ahead. But, how many Singaporeans take a strong interest in what the Budget is and discuss how each Budget impacts the future state of the country? A few days ago, I overheard a conversation between two individuals about Budget 2019. Mr X asked Mr Y, "Have you checked out the Budget calculator and see what benefits you get?" Mr Y replied, "Not yet, I roughly heard some things about it, but seems there are no benefits for me or my family." Such a conversation may sound familiar to some. It indicates a lack of interest about the Budget or the only association they can have with the Budget is a measure of one-off monetary benefits. The underlying message is worrisome, that the Budget is nothing more than a bag of benefits that serves some people in one year or the other. As we chart our way forward and work towards an inclusive society, this is an increasingly pertinent topic to address. I believe it is time for us to define who we are, what we can do as one country and what we hope the future Singapore to be. While some issues can be addressed with short-term fixes, the future state of the country requires longer-term strategies. And this big picture, the end state, must be defined and built together with the citizens and the Government. We need participants, not bystanders, in the process. Singapore has a growing ageing population, the external environment is more dynamic and disruptive and future scenarios are more unpredictable; these are all facts and norms of the new age.”
“In some private estates, the distance to commute from home to the nearest public transport point can be daunting for the seniors. This is especially so for estates with many slopes, like the one I have, and those frail seniors may need to walk at least 20 minutes or more to reach the first bus stop. To help reduce their future transport cost and to encourage greater mobility amongst older seniors, I urge the Government to work with the private sector to begin planning and developing various forms of innovative transport service for the elderly living at less accessible locations within the private estates. Mr Speaker, to truly show care and concern for our seniors, every action and every thought counts. From policies to community efforts, if we all consciously plan and look ahead to adapt with the changing needs of our seniors, I am certain our collective efforts will be rewarded as we enjoy a country and home that respect, embrace and enable our seniors to age with dignity. And with that, I support the Motion.”
“As a matter of fact, I see it in my own constituency of how the different agencies, for example, HDB, MSF and VWOs, collaborate to put their best efforts in enabling the underprivileged seniors to have a place to live in, socialise and being cared for. But there is always more that can be done. I would like to suggest further finetuning the rental housing policy to accommodate specific groups of seniors who are unable to afford a rental place from the open market. They include: (a) seniors with mentally challenged conditions and unable to live with another unrelated person in the same flat; (b) seniors who are not officially divorced but have been forsaken by their family; and (c) seniors who are diagnosed with terminal or multiple chronic illnesses and wish to cash out from their existing flat and use the monies towards medical treatment. Some of these underprivileged seniors only wish to have peace of mind knowing they have a shelter to live and rest in. It takes a whole of community to care for them. But the first step of having a permanent shelter is more than a baby step for them. Lastly, provision of innovative transportation mode in a private estate. While the public transport networks in the heartlands are better connected and provide easier access to commuters, the same cannot be said for those living in the private estates. In today's context, one can say it is designed as such because more own private vehicles in the private estates and can afford other forms of transport. But in the years to come and with the increased ageing population, accessibility becomes equally important whether they live in the heartlands or in the private estates. With age, the probability of seniors who are still capable of driving and can afford a car will begin to decline.”
“I must emphasise the point that I am making is not about raising or whether more CPF monies should actually be allowed for use for flat purchase, but rather, for those who have sufficient CPF monies, it is better for them to pay with CPF than taking a loan. As we can imagine, having to worry about monthly mortgage payments or legal fees that ensued from defaulted payment for a shelter that will see them through old age is a tricky situation that warrants a nuanced assessment of what is more essential for them as retirement. Second, the requirement to top up one's RA based on the current age-adjusted Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) after signing up for the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) needs to be reviewed. Some seniors have expressed why they prefer not to take up the scheme as they found that they remain "cash poor" after selling the lease to HDB. With time, the BRS continues to be adjusted upwards and there will be a point when there are little cash proceeds from the scheme unless substantial savings already exist in one's CPF. While this is an option for seniors to age in place if they choose not to move, there are seniors who feel that the price value of the lease they are getting does not proportionately commensurate the value of the flat. Three, living spaces for underprivileged seniors. For one to feel empowered and age with dignity, they need to, first, have a place they can live in and feel at ease. And this place is one they can call home. Regardless of whether they own or rent the place, it needs to provide comfort when they have little else to turn to. I know much has been done on the ground.”
“This will benefit those who are singles and joint tenancy senior couples to prepare ahead without incurring hefty legal fees and also the complexity for their family in managing the process in future. Two, review restrictions on CPF savings for housing needs. Many Singaporeans we know finance their housing needs with the usage of CPF savings. This topic is pivotal to many seniors and, especially so for those from the lower-income group, who have been relying largely on their CPF to finance the mortgage loan. The question, of course, remains how much CPF funds retirees can use for the purchase of flats without compromising their retirement funds. I would like to highlight two areas for consideration. First, there is currently a cap on the maximum amount of CPF savings that can be used for the purchase of a property with a lease that is less than 60 years. This actually impacts two groups of seniors – the seniors who wish to downsize, and the other are younger families who wish to purchase the older flats. There are some seniors who wish to downsize and move closer to their children or siblings for a better care network as they age. For these seniors, I would say, mostly 50 years and above, who have adequate CPF funds in their Ordinary Account (OA) and Retirement Account (RA) to fully pay for the next flat purchase. This cap results in them having to take a loan. The uncertainty of securing a full-time job is high at that age. Some seniors are either not working or, at best, on a part-time work basis. Thus, they typically encounter difficulty in obtaining a loan or have a lower loan quantum if they qualify. It would be a relief if the seniors can fully pay off for the property and not be burdened by further mortgage at that age.”
“Current statistics have shown that an estimated one-tenth of the people aged 60 and above have dementia in Singapore. Half of those aged 85 and older are already diagnosed with dementia. And this number would double by 2030. By then, not only will the seniors' ability to remember, judge or care for themselves deteriorate, it is unlikely that they can benefit from any housing schemes like downsizing to a smaller flat with the Silver Housing Bonus, lease buyback or subletting a room which, in the first place, we have designed all these with them in mind. Further to health conditions, the growing trend of singles over the past 15 years, as shown in the General Household Survey conducted by the Singapore Department of Statistics, adds on to this challenge. With shrinking family size, it is unclear whether these singles will have the necessary family support to care for them when they age. But what is certain is that they do require some form of decision-making on their behalf if they become mentally incapacitated. At that stage, housing and funds become ever more critical to them. How and who best can make appropriate decisions for them at that point of time? It is with this thought that I am asking MND to consider the provision of a common service for senior home owners to sign up for LPA and also Will writing specifically related to their HDB flats. The process can be simplified with some instructions similar in approach to appointing nominees for the CPF account. As a start, the service can be offered to all seniors who make new flat transactions. Subsequently, this can be extended to home owners aged 50 and above with an existing flat.”
“Mr Speaker, in my maiden speech in Parliament, the central theme was on seniors and how we manage the social implications of an ageing society. Then, I introduced the "3G Village" that we aspire to have, one built with care and respect for all ages as everyone has a meaningful role in it. In that, I made several suggestions on how we could embrace our seniors at the workplace and how we can provide meaningful social activities to prevent isolation amongst our seniors. Apart from our seniors, I also noted there is a need to assist their caregivers who are important members of the ecosystem in enabling our seniors to age in place and lead active, healthy lives. Further, in 2018's Motion on Support for Senior Citizens, I raised the need for proactive actions from all in the community – personal prevention to social activeness, senior-friendly townships to social care networks. Like others in this House, we recognise it is time for us to work cohesively as a community towards achieving a country of active seniors. Today, I wish to focus my speech around some practical challenges and give four suggestions that can assist different groups of seniors in their housing planning and for them to age in place. One, service provision of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and Will writing for HDB flats. In 2016, HDB flats made up 73% of Singapore's total housing stock. This represents a significant proportion of home dwellers living in public housing. As people age and have changing lifestyle needs, they will transit from one flat to another. While most people today are still able to manage their decision-making process, it is useful to take a precautionary outlook on future needs.”
“Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister and the Senior Minister of State for their very elaborate response. I think many Singaporeans and myself really enjoy all the hawker food and we are supportive of the idea, including the need to try new models for what is relevant for our time. But for the fact that because the term is called "social enterprise", it needs to clearly demonstrate that there is this element of social benefits, whether it is for the hawkers themselves or even for the consumers. I have two clarifications that I would like to ask the Minister or the Senior Minister of State. Firstly, for the grant that is given, for example, on the productivity initiatives, are these operators actually mandated to pass through all these benefits to the hawkers or are the hawkers paying extra for the e-payment system, the tray return system and so on? Secondly, the Senior Minister of State mentioned about the need for 50% of the surplus to be translated back to social benefits. Can the Senior Minister of State elaborate more on what are these social benefits?”
“Nevertheless, I look forward to the implementation of the Bill as it will bring about the necessary changes that impact others on a topic which is not one of preference, but a changing social attitude in our country.”
“Four, to reduce the probability of second-hand smoke in residential estates, especially for HDB dwellings, will the common staircases and common corridors be marked as NSZs for a start? Five, the Bill stated that a manager of a specified place who fails to ensure that the smoking facility in the specified place complies with the prescribed requirement commits an offence. As these individuals are likely to be the managing agent or volunteers of the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST), what enforcement powers will be conferred to the individual who is carrying out his or her duties in order to protect them? Lastly, for implementation of the Bill within the private condominiums after it is enacted, is there a requirement for the MCST to gain consensus and pass a resolution for this addition to their by-laws before a specific room or place within their compound can be designated as a NSZ? In cases where the MCST is unable to gain majority consensus for the resolution, what recourse can members supportive of the Act have? As reflected in the clarifications that I sought, implementation will be critical when the Bill is passed. Only time will tell how much effect the Bill will bring about, how smokers and non-smokers can live within the shared spaces, and what pressure will society impress upon smokers as the general population becomes aware of the harmful effects to health. Mr Deputy Speaker, while I support the Bill, I believe that social responsibilities of individuals have more bearing in improving the situation as there is never sufficient enforcement that can be carried out on the ground.”
“She said that she had to seal up all the front windows facing the common corridor, shut her main door and turn on the air-conditioning for many hours each day whenever her preschoolers were at home. She simply had no choice as several members of her immediate neighbouring units are chain smokers. The crux of the issue was that her neighbours would not be smoking within their units and preferred to do so along the common corridor or even at the common staircase. At another block of flats, other residents raised similar concerns but, this time, it is about smoking at the stairwell and by non-residents. They have identified some of these smokers as underaged youths, and others were tenants who lived in the rental flats. The secondary issue that resulted from their smoking is the random littering of cigarette butts at the stairwell and parapets. Now, the question becomes one of fairness and enforcement. Do the others who are non-smokers have to bear with the inconsiderate actions of the smokers and do the cleaners have to suffer from picking up after the smokers? With this context in mind and for better understanding of how the amendments will subsequently be instituted, I would like to seek several clarifications from the Minister. One, what are the public areas in Singapore that will be prioritised by NEA to be designated as NSZs? Can the Minister share the guidelines of how this will be decided? Two, is there a timeframe in which the new NSZs will be implemented throughout Singapore? Three, for residential estates, are we likely to see an increase of designated smoking facilities and what are the guidelines for a smoking facility to be considered complying to acceptable standards?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I welcome the impending changes that will be introduced to the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Amendment Bill. While it may still be a long while before we become a smoke-free society, it is a step forward when we broaden the scope to have more designated NSZs and enhancing the responsibilities as well as enforcement that can be carried out by specific appointed groups beyond the agencies. Second-hand smoke is known to pose health hazards and researchers have shown that it does contain the same harmful chemicals that smokers inhale. There is just no safe level of exposure for second-hand smoke and it is known to cause cancer, apart from other health issues. Why then does this become a social issue? Simply because this is a topic beyond personal choices but rather it encompasses infringement of the rights of others. For the young children and those who are non-smokers, they surely have a right of not being constantly exposed to second-hand smoke. Let me cite two examples to illustrate how helpless some people will feel under such circumstances. Both incidents were during my house visits at different locations. I recalled the first incident was when I was walking down a common corridor at one of the HDB flats. The distinct smell of tobacco was lingering in the air. As I was entering one of the flats, that smell was clearly overpowering over that unit. For a moment, I thought there must be some heavy chain smoker living in that unit. But that was not the case. The lady owner, a mother of two young children, actually pointed out to me, and had an aggrieved look, when she said this.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister two supplementary questions. The first is on the guidelines for selecting the precincts for VERS. Is it purely based on age or are there other factors? The second question is: what percentage of votes will be considered successful during the polling in VERS, in order to qualify for it?”
“Yes, actually many of us should really be doing this for our fellow Singaporeans, be it mentorship, guidance, giving and sharing our experiences and knowledge. This is the spirit we want to have in Singapore. We are able to build things together, look out for one another, not judging others by their backgrounds, but actually treating them with dignity and giving them a chance based on their merits. So, looking ahead, what do we aspire to have in Singapore? I say one where we share common values and spaces, one where many voices are represented, and, certainly, one that enables social mobility and continued equitable wealth distribution. In short, it is a place where we find anchors in a country that we are truly proud to call our home. [Applause.] [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, (proc text)] [(proc text) "That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to: (proc text)] [(proc text) 'We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which she delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the Second Session of this Parliament.'." (proc text)]”
“The need to work together as a team, to listen with compassion and humility, open to alternative views, deepen engagement and build trust with the people was strongly echoed by Mr Christopher de Souza, Mr Pritam Singh, Mr Ganesh Rajaram, Mr Murali Pillai, Ms Chia Yong Yong and Mr Kok Heng Leun. As citizens, we should also share our views and ideas, endeavour to work with the Government in the spirit of encouragement and experimentation for an optimum outcome each time. We must create our future Singapore together, because Singapore belongs to all of us. We can best succeed when we share this journey together. Mr Speaker, let me end by sharing a story. I brought my parents to the Frances Yip concert last month. Before the close of the concert, Frances introduced a Singaporean songwriter and music producer, Mr Eric Ng, on stage. Eric went on to share his background and talked about his career and how he got into this industry. In all his excitement, he told us that it really started because of a mentor who was willing to give him that first opportunity that truly, indeed, became his first big break into the music industry. He seized the moment and sincerely appealed to all in the audience. This was what he said, “Most of you present here tonight, I believe, are Singaporeans. For what I have been through, I know it would not have been possible without my teacher and a mentor who gave me the opportunity. So, here with me tonight, I have here my own mentees and potentials who will become big in this industry. Thus, I am appealing to all of you to do the same and support local talents. Give these talents a chance, because I know they will make their mark someday.” His appeal was a simple one, but it moved me. It made me reflect and think.”
“Each action, each step, is a sign of strength, unity and hope to fellow Singaporeans. In all that we do, as a citizen, student, parent, caregiver, worker or employer, we must always bear in mind the goal of making this country a more inclusive one. From inclusive growth to inclusive learning to inclusive workplace, we should rally behaviours that promote meritocracy, diversity and inclusion. And encourage social norms, adoption of standards for age-friendly, women-friendly, worker inclusive workplaces, as advocated by Dr Amy Khor, Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef, Mr Heng Chee How and Ms Low Yen Ling. Mr Darryl David also added how we can provide education support for neuro-divergent students and one which I strongly support, too. Dr Chia Shi-Lu spoke about the need to further bridge the gaps in healthcare services for senior patients, individuals with mental health needs, and strengthening our primary healthcare. As we strive to do well as an economy and do good as a society, the process is just as important as the outcome, exactly what Ms Sun Xueling mentioned earlier. I trust the Government will strive to constantly work and give of their best to Singaporeans. As we have heard from Members in this House, leadership, teamwork, empathy and trust are very important characteristics to have in our 4G leaders. The Government must strengthen the engagement with our people so that there will be a greater sense of alignment of concerns and aspirations, and a stronger sense of shared ownership.”
“From education, healthcare, social networks, housing and integration policies, I hope that, with the additional resources in place, more people can benefit from the assistance available, more can express their individualism, achieve success of their own definition, and eventually pay it forward to help others along. Third, we must strive to do more together as one people, one nation. There is much we want to achieve in the second term of this Government for our people, with our people. But we need to set our sights way beyond the current time, because nation-building is a journey with no end. A common thread amongst every theme that we touch upon as a Government is people. As Minister Heng Swee Keat just said, people are at the heart and core of every policy and implementation that we do. How do we bring out the best in our people? This is also a point that is made by Mr Alex Yam, Ms Rahayu Mahzam and Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin. In Singapore, people are and will always remain our most precious asset. They represent the talent, the essence of our society, and our hope for the future. I share what fellow Members have raised. We are here to build a home, a home that brings happiness, warmth, developments and one that allows every elderly, especially the seniors ahead to age in a dignified way. Family units remain as the bedrock of our society and is our first line of support. But the people in our community can make a difference to our lives, too. They can become the extended family – neighbours and volunteers who help other needy families, seniors, working mothers, families with few dependants. This, in the words of Ms Joan Pereira, and also described by Minister Indranee Rajah, is the true kampung spirit we have – the care for the people around us.”
“Meticulous planning, social strategies in place and precise execution are necessary. Social cohesion in Singapore was brought about by many factors. We need to continue to work on and strengthen the values that define us as a society. Values of social good, what it takes to be an active citizen, how do we give and share with others – these are areas that we should promote, as noted by Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Dennis Tan, Mr Azmoon Ahmad, Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Mr Chong Kee Hiong. We need to get the basics of the society right and not discard what works just to be bold. Only a good society with strong values and virtues can withstand the test of time. This is a point that Mr Seah Kian Peng also referred to. Further, I say that the Government and the people should begin making our own Tetris safety net. A Tetris safety net is one weaved from layers of support, one that is expandable in scope and one that is fundamentally stronger when the layers fall in place. It takes many hands to further ensure that no one is left behind. I appreciate what Mr Louis Ng’s father has taught him, "There is beauty in giving than receiving." Many Members suggested, too, that we must encourage the spirit of community giving. We are fortunate today that we have volunteers, social workers and civil society activists; people who have stood up for causes, listened to other people, gave back and helped others. But we will always have a need for more such helping hands in our society. While the lower-income group is always supported, we have to begin considering expanding our reach in different aspects to give more protection and peace of mind to a burgeoning middle class. This explains why it is even more pertinent that we continue to work on options to cater for everyone.”
“Instead, we should engender smart communities to support digital access programmes that can help the needy and vulnerable. To achieve all these, our economy needs to continuously create sufficient diversity and attractive jobs, provide work-life balance and develop a positive work culture to appeal to a young and dynamic workforce. After all, it takes a motivated and innovative society to produce outstanding results, as Mr Faisal Manap emphasised. So, let us continue to enlarge our economic pie to ensure there will be more opportunities for our people to pursue, and more outcomes for our people to share. Second, our future society. We must strive to do good together and further ensure we can reduce income inequality and enhance social mobility throughout all segments. This topic was vigorously debated upon by Mr Ang Wei Neng, Mr Png Eng Huat, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and many more other Members I cannot mention in detail here. I agree with Minister Ong Ye Kung that we have unfinished business of tackling inequality and it requires ceaseless efforts and drive and continued refinement as we progress in our nationhood building, be it through education, jobs, housing or urban planning. Our future city should be one that embraces diverse ideals and uplifts our fellow citizens from different backgrounds, a society where every generation has equal opportunities to achieve their dreams better than the previous generation. Whilst finance, family conditions and job cycle vary for every individual, the duty of the Government is to ensure that every citizen has a place in the country, a home to live in, and every child grows up with equal access to education, jobs and a safe environment. But these do not occur by chance.”
“In the long run, such students would intrinsically have embraced the concept of lifelong learning and are always skillfully deployable in different fields. Lifelong learning must also continue beyond tertiary education, as pointed out by Asst Prof Mahdev Mohan, Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Ms Denise Phua. With digitalisation and an immense economy outside Singapore, all talents – local and global – are not bounded by geography. Minister Chan Chun Sing rightly pointed out that we need to have the skillsets and mindsets to compete internationally. As we build local talents, we need to be mindful that we include global talents, too, particularly from fields that we currently lack. There must be a balance to address the immediate and long-term needs. I see the key role of the Government in ensuring there is cross-cultural learning and knowledge transfer to gradually build our local talents over the long haul. Not many economies in the world have evolved at our pace or are as well-organised as us. But having a good start is only the beginning. Looking at the growth and rapid advancement of ASEAN countries and other economies like China, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. I hope we continue to sprint, to create and be a creative inventor or early adopter in the race, and not a follower. So, we must embrace emerging technology, turn them into useful innovations, and nurture new markets in our Smart Nation and beyond. Mr Henry Kwek suggested harnessing the value of data and digitalisation to create a single national digital platform where businesses can find new opportunities. Ms Tin Pei Ling also highlighted that we must not neglect our seniors in the digitalisation process.”
“In my speech, I suggested to create an ecosystem of industries with more small and medium enterprises abroad, a point that was also alluded to by Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Mr Teo Ser Luck and Mr Thomas Chua. They further added that we need an effective trade mission, local trade associations and chambers to do more in implementing ITMs, to help our companies hunt better as a pack overseas and overcome the steep learning curve while venturing into foreign emerging markets. For all these to work, it boils down to a key element in our economy – talent. To build a future workforce, we have to cultivate and attract talents. Mr Saktiandi Supaat reinforced the importance of having labour laws that can ensure fair and inclusive employment practices to protect our local talents. Ms Foo Mee Har and Assoc Prof Randolph Tan suggested a differentiated intake approach of talents to help businesses, tap on technology to identify the future skills landscape and why the need for equality of opportunity through our industry transformation push. To cultivate such a workforce, it has to begin young and it starts from our education. We must develop students with varied abilities, not just knowledge but applied learning and emotional quotient that make each individual holistic. Such soft skills of empathy and character building are ever more critical as Er Dr Lee Bee Wah and Miss Cheng Li Hui highlighted. As the saying goes, "All roads lead to Rome". So do the pathways of our students. We should enable diversity in their learning process and broaden the definition of success. Reward them for having learnt and not "mugged". Appreciate each child for their values and their demonstrable soft skills.”
“Tripartism has played a significant role in our economy in the past decades. Mr Melvin Yong and Ms Thanaletchimi have called for tripartism to help our workers to embark on the transformation journey at a faster pace and operationalise the ITMs. It is time to galvanise actions that create impactful initiatives on the ground. As with all efforts, they must ultimately translate into tangible jobs, reasonable real wage increases and skills that are relevant to changing business environment. We want quality and inclusive economic growth that can help provide jobs and help with the cost of living, as shared by Dr Tan Wu Meng and Mr Zainal Sapari. We need to break new grounds, build new capabilities and transform vision into reality. New partnerships of public and private service model have to be forged. Support has to be given to prevent unfair practices against small businesses. This new world and its changes impact not only our citizens and businesses but also the regulators and the Government. They, too, need to adapt to social, political and global market dynamics. They must be more agile. Speed and mindset shift are essential. Mr Patrick Tay, Mr Ang Hin Kee and Mr Desmond Choo urged the Government to study how the new models of technology like artificial intelligence will impact our workforce and the need for new legal framework around it. Similarly, human resource support for freelancers and new models of contract workers that Mr Ang Hin Kee and I shared. This calls for boldness in the way we do things. Such bold shifts could mean a deviation from what we know best – the structured processes, well-trotted known sectors, MNCs and strict compliance.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to round up this Debate on the Address of Thanks to the President. Over the past few days, 70 Members, including the Prime Minister, have passionately shared their vision and views, and actively debated on what is next for Singapore. Members have covered several key themes around the President’s Address: a vibrant economy with equal job opportunities, social mobility and reducing inequality, building an inclusive society, visible leadership in building trust and strong partnerships between the Government and the people. We acknowledge that Singapore is in an advanced stage of development. So, for the next 50 years, how can we do better as an economy, as a society, as one people and one nation? Let me now broadly sum up the views from Members who have spoken in this Debate. First, our future economy. With changing times, our future economy cannot simply be a measure of employment and gross domestic product growth. Our future economic metrics need to reflect societal trends and performance, such as sustainable income of the workforce, retirement adequacy, quality of life and intergenerational wealth transfer. Singapore’s early economic focus was on industrialisation and job creation. Through an open economy and thriving on multilaterism, as Mr Vikram Nair said, we have made progress and continue to shift our focus to adapt to industry needs of the time. We have since moved from mass manufacturing to high technology manufacturing; and now we are embarking on industry value-add and digitalisation. With the ITMs and SkillsFuture, we are steadfast in our efforts to transform the sectors, upgrade our workers’ skills and create new opportunities, abreast with the future economy.”
“Tomorrow, Sir. Deputy Speaker: So be it. ADJOURNMENT [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." – [Mr Desmond Lee.] (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 6.40 pm.”
“If we ever falter and question whether Singapore can make it in future, I would say that we do not lack local talents, but we lack faith – faith in the next generation and belief that they can do better than us in their own right and style.”
“To me, this can only be done if the Government is able to: one, keep necessities like utilities, food, transport and healthcare affordable; two, provide sufficient choices to meet the varied needs; and, three, build a society of giving individuals and corporations. Take utilities and food as an example. It is hard to imagine today for one to live without power, water or food in a developed country. These are, indeed, necessities that must be kept within affordable means for any household. There is a need for the Government to keep the cost low and give direct subsidies for these items. But I think more can be done with a stronger focus on how to channel donations towards beneficiaries and social programmes that support giving necessities to those not living in public rental flats. Mr Speaker, today, we live in a world in flux. Challenges abound. But so, too, opportunities. I am confident, if we continue to work together, the Government and people in close partnership, we will be able to seize the opportunities and effectively address the challenges – be it income inequality or social mobility – to build an even better tomorrow for ourselves, our children and future generations of Singaporeans. Last month, in "Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2018" edition, themed "Disruption and Innovation", 24 individuals from Singapore made it to the list. The list featured 300 young disruptors, innovators and entrepreneurs across Asia who are under the age of 30. And Singapore tied with Japan for the fifth highest number of honorees this year. Many would also have heard of Chloe Chua, the 11-year-old violinist who won first prize at the prestigious Menuhin Competition. I am sure there are many more awards that other Singaporeans have received and continue to work towards.”
“If each of us can offer half an hour of our time regularly in helping the seniors in our own family to learn and navigate the digital world, inter-generational communication would grow exponentially. The seniors will feel safer to be taught in a known environment and from people they trust. This can greatly improve their learning effectiveness. We can all play a part to create innovative inter-generational programmes that are unique to our own family and pass on the heritage and values that will make our seniors proud of us. (In English): Finally, let me touch on an area that concerns all Singaporeans – the cost of living. It is natural for anyone to have concerns over necessities. After all, these have direct impact on our lives. Over the years, the Government has conscientiously supported our people in mitigating the impact of inflation and rising external costs through different forms of direct subsidies and creating schemes to ensure affordability. While our safety net support is a targeted approach, the largest and continued financial support has always been extended to the low-income individuals and households to ensure they can keep up with basic needs and are not left behind as we progress. But with progression, it is inevitable to have an emerging middle class with rising aspirations and growing needs that go beyond necessities. How can the Government, in reality, provide subsidies and grants for the masses without breaking the bank? I believe this will be a difficult path to pursue. If we are to eschew the populist approach, the obvious answer is “We can’t subsidise for all”. So, I think we are at a point where we have to differentiate the "needs" from "wants", and how best to support different groups of Singaporeans.”
“The National Steps Challenge seems to be a simple and effective platform to get our citizens moving. Hence, I suggest for MOH to consider boosting these efforts by incentivising Singaporeans through discounts on their MediShield Life premiums. For those who actively exercise and do not have medical claims, offer them annual premium discounts. As premiums will go up as people age, this incentive can motivate seniors to keep well, physically and psychologically. In the long run, this will help relieve the psychological, physical and financial pressure for them. Second, to encourage the seniors to help one another in the community. We constantly look for volunteers who can provide care and assistance to needy seniors. To me, this initiative is one approach that increases social cohesion. Everyone has a role to play to build a community in which people respect each other. I urge retirees and seniors to give back to society and help make Singapore an inclusive society. Singaporeans who are keen to be more socially-engaged, please do step forward and help us build a more gracious nation. Third, promote inter-generational programmes. Youths and young working adults have many commitments today. For some, to spend quality time with their parents and grandparents has become a luxury. Even so, youths and working adults choose to spend a lot of time on social media. This has become a trend of the modern society. Yet, as digitalisation is becoming a norm in our daily lives, why do we not pool our wisdom to enrich the digital space and create a platform for inter-generational bonding? Think about it.”
“] Next, I would like to talk about another very important group and one that is growing in our society: our seniors. Barely three months ago in this House, we discussed at length on the Motion of Support for Our Senior Citizens. Given the significance and challenges that may be faced by these seniors, more enhancements were deliberated in Budget 2018. Minister Heng Swee Keat also announced three structural changes in his Budget Statement to better integrate health and social support services for seniors in the community. The structural changes include a nation-wide expansion of Community Networks for Seniors by 2020, the formation of the Silver Generation Office and a further consolidation of planning and policy oversight of health and social support services from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to the Ministry of Health (MOH). All these are done in the hope that our seniors can age healthily and confidently in place. Based on the current situation, our priority is to help those seniors who are isolated and need assistance the most. Because these seniors live alone and have no family support, most of our efforts are now focused on planning and caring for them. However, to ensure the other seniors are socially engaged and keeping fit, I would like to take this opportunity to call out to this generation of soon-to-be seniors to partner us in planning for the future. First, maintain a healthy lifestyle. The adage "health is better than wealth" is well-known to many. It is ironic that we seem to understand and treasure this more as we age. In fact, prevention is better than cure. As such, we must exercise often to stay fit. So, let us take the first active step together. A good start is halfway to success.”
“In today’s digital world, it is quite appalling that despite our drive for equality, people can hardly associate women with science and technology. A UN research showed that only 28% of the global researchers in STEM are women in 2016. This is not a numbers game of ramping figures to parity. It is the dawn of time; a call for change. An impetus to bring new perspectives from women on product design, services and emotive connections which are seldom considered previously. With widespread technology so closely entwined in our lives, we need to embrace these technologies to achieve the much-needed productivity and innovation. Many of these tools can bring positive outcome for women in helping them balance their many roles in society. Education and careers in STEM should be encouraged amongst females. In Singapore, we are fortunate that every child, male or female, has an equal opportunity to receive education from young. But more can be done to enthuse females to continue pursuing roles in non-traditional industries or in male-dominated industries. The current social gap lies in the perception that men are more suited for such jobs because they involve more problem solving and a level of technicality that historically men are seen to fit better. But the truth is that despite the differences in the minds and behaviours of both genders, it is through pooling such differences that we can create stronger and more cohesive teams. Such acceptance and changes in the long run will lead to more creative thinking and innovation, thus, leading to more fulfilled and satisfied employees and society. Mr Speaker, I will continue in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“As this duty still primarily falls on the shoulders of the women, those coming from single-child families or are the main caregiver to the elderly will feel more pressure, balancing work and caregiving. I understand the Ministries have been studying this topic with the employers and unions, but I hope they see the request not as one asking for more entitlement and thus inconveniencing the companies. Instead, it is about making a legislative change that allows an individual’s existing entitlement to be used for caring of their loved ones. Employers should feel encouraged and incentivised, particularly when the unused medical leave reflect that their employees are in good health and with little work absenteeism. This effort is truly about giving a choice to the employees they value. Three, freelance and flexi work. With the growing need for part-time work and care services, we should harness the strength of local entrepreneurs and the talent pool of women available in our country. I have previously suggested establishing startup spaces in neighbourhoods to enable women to work closer to home or on a part-time basis. Provide spaces in our town hubs to house such entrepreneurial businesses and shared platforms for them to create a service industry of its own – basic services like meal catering, minding of old folks and children at home, home cleaning, laundry and so on can be catered on a demand basis. With proximity and a reliable supply of services, it can help ease the burden of working mothers and reduce the cost when it comes to after-school care. Fourth, rooting for women’s education and leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).”
“For those who do not qualify as low-income group but have needs for interim housing, allow them to rent directly from HDB, only for those selected aged flats with leases of less than 45 years and, of course, subject to a capped period. These include families which have needs for interim housing as they transit, young working adults with little need for a permanent place due to their job nature, the single parents who need immediate shelter after their matrimonial flat is sold off and so on and so forth. Give them the flexibility and space to manage or rebuild their lives. The next group I wish to speak for is the women. Mr Speaker, last year during the debate on the Motion on Aspirations of Singapore Women mooted by the PAP women Members of Parliament, many Members in this House supported and raised good suggestions in the debate on how to assist our women to become active contributors, to be treated fairly as an equal in society and duly supported to achieve their dreams. I, too, have spoken on this Motion and am happy that some of my suggestions have been addressed or are being worked on by the Ministries. I hope further consideration can be given to the following. One, subsidies for non-working mothers with children. The current subsidies given to non-working mothers for infant care, childcare or kindergarten are lower compared to those of working mothers. As we encourage women to return to the workforce and balance their parental duties, can the Ministry consider giving equal subsidies for non-working mothers who plan to return to the workforce and remain gainfully employed after their children are placed in care services? Two, convert unused medical leave to eldercare leave. Family remains an important first line of support for our ageing population.”
“One, change the valuation method for aged flats. The challenge the market is facing is two-fold. The sellers are having difficulties selling their flat with more options available in the market and a decreasing lease. The buyers, on the other hand, find the aged flats priced out of their attainable reach. The fact is that the value of any ageing leasehold property will be different from a young property, regardless of how attractive its location is. Thus, aged flats should not be valued using the current comparison method of past market transactions. I suggest the valuation be based instead on its remaining lease, the length of time the current owner has occupied the place and its right-sizing potential. Firstly, this enables the elderly to unlock their cash, right-size and move nearer to their children if they so wish. Secondly, it enables young families or singles to also afford flats from the resale market in mature estates and enhance the social mix. Two, select precincts from different mature towns for lease top-up by private developers. Given the lack of new land plots in mature estates, it is difficult to effect SERS, especially when the flats are built over almost the same time span. As HDB flats are typically built precinct by precinct, so, rather than selling new land plots for private property, allow the private developers to top up the land lease of HDB flats for future development. Likewise, the Government can convert plots of private condo land for HDB housing in future when its lease is up. This creates a better mix of private and public housing in the long run and allow families to have various home options in different towns at different stages of their life. Three, allow direct rental of interim housing from HDB for the non low-income group.”
“We need to take proactive steps to ensure progressive job mobility in order to achieve more effective social mobility. Two, create ecosystems and build our Singapore brand. To do so, we must build upon the illustrious track record of Singapore’s quality and brand reputation internationally. Take it one step further, lead and create consortiums made up of more Singapore SMEs to create an industry of our own on the international stage. This can be a paradigm shift of what the Government used to do. We pick the potentials and help build such ecosystems. From developing global trade partnerships, exporting skilled workers, processes and systems, developing R&D expertise and know-how; to creation of new industries and co-sharing of resources within industries. Ecosystems that have cross-industry demand and opportunities will give time and opportunity for our students and workers to deepen their skills and develop them into the trade craftsmen of the future. Let me turn now to the vast majority of Singaporeans – singles, young families, young working adults and seniors. A top concern here is housing. Affordability, choice, capital value, retirement – these are common words associated with the topic on housing. On one hand, we want the Government to do more and support through policy measures. At the same time, I believe we still want to instil a sense of responsibility in our people and have them take ownership towards securing their basic needs. Thus, I think it is time for us to include other considerations for the aged HDB flats and, in this, I mean flats that are above 50 years of age, and augment the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). Bearing in mind that these efforts must be taken with a multi-prong approach, I propose a few areas for consideration.”
“How well do our workers contribute to their tasks, how do they sight opportunities, can they collaborate? The list goes on. The nugget is: “Can they stand out from the crowd?” Growth, we have certainly achieved in Singapore. From a fishing village to a modern metropolis; from no industries to many multinational companies and homegrown brands. But will this growth endure the test of time? To me, I think we need to ensure we continue to have a role to play on the regional and global stage and, for this, the Government has to try some non-traditional approaches. In this regard, I suggest two areas of enhancement to aid job matching and to build our home brands. One, the Government has to play a greater role in shaping the job-matching scene. Having a job data bank like in the past is insufficient. We need proficient actors in the industry to scout the value and talent within our workers. As traditional hiring processes fall out of favour, it is creating a vacuum and the mismatch in skills and jobs. And I see this as an opportunity for us. The establishment of the Institute for Human Resource Practitioners (IHRP) by Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers’ Federation is a good example of an initiative that can enable such changes within organisations and professional communities. We should encourage more of such partnerships and raise the bar of our work culture through different professional groups. With the consolidation of mature industries, a vibrant startup scene and the presence of many smaller companies, the mergers and acquisitions potential also becomes livelier. This will inevitably impact the pool of workers and freelancers during management changes and a lack of HR support is unhealthy.”
“I believe that by knowing how to pay it forward and our relentless search for a higher purpose, we can nurture citizens with the spirit of care and giving to others. Let us start to embrace and encourage this sense of responsibility amongst our young by blurring the lines of socio-economic background through valuing their actions towards our community and country. Third, build soft skills and creativity of students from young. How should we train our students not to be regimental experts in subject matters but to demonstrate soft skills, the ability to apply and be creative? I feel that the future skills we need to develop in SkillsFuture of our next generation are their ability to switch between industries and adjust within changing project needs. Staying relevant and planning for one’s career and life must become instinctive in them. We must build their soft skills from young. And to me, this can also help to shape their personalities and resolve when facing challenging situations. Take, for example, the role of an Industrial System Designer or Industrial System Integrator. They have skills that are relevant to multiple industries. While their knowledge of systems, designs, mechanics are fundamental, more critical are their management skills in integrating projects and people. Next, working Singaporeans. Today, we see growing trends of jobs moving towards the gig economy and remote workers. The pace of change is unpredictable and disruptive. Increasingly, jobs are fulfilled by satellite workgroups and regional talents. The competition for workers and jobs is no longer confined by a country’s boundary. This game has absolutely changed. The number of workers is no longer the defining trait of a business or an economy. Instead, it is the quality of workers that matters.”
“For special needs children in mainstream schools, their challenge is to cope with the same number of subjects, using the same course materials and adapting to the pace of regular learning. For some, they, indeed, struggle with something as basic as taking an additional language or subject. Parents have shared with me that their children with such needs usually are not given exemption from the subjects until the children have proven to consistently fail. This can be very demoralising for the child who has dyslexia, autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It also deters the child in wanting to learn more or do well in other subjects. Yes, it may be a sweeping statement to say all special needs children are late bloomers. But I am certain no one will deny that these children deserve the opportunity to have a longer runway to learn and explore their potential at a pace that is suitable for them. Second, to de-emphasise academic excellence by including VIA performance as a standard school admission criterion. Today, there is no shortage of daily evidences that reflect a lack of good community values and decreasing tolerance amongst people. From road bullies, errant users of shared bikes and personal mobility devices, high-rise litterers and so on. These people have little sense of how their actions impact others and the environment. Values, to me, are fundamental guiding principles in an individual. Our students can ace through exams; but such achievements do not empower or make them a more purposeful individual. VIA is unlikely to sustain at the current rate unless it is given emphasis in mainstream school admission criteria and not limited to those under Direct School Admission.”
“Mr Speaker, I beg to move, "That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to: 'We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which she delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the Second Session of this Parliament.'." Sir, let me start by saying that I whole-heartedly agree with Mdm President that the principal challenge of our times is to work together: Government and the people. We are halfway through the current term of Government and we have made progress here. A lot done with programmes and schemes, such as MediShield Life, Smart Nation initiatives, Community Network for Seniors, Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs), Adapt and Grow for workers and so on. But we still have a lot more to do. Citizens have expectations of the Government to demonstrate leadership in formulating policies that always put the country on a better footing and care for her people. At the same time, they also want their voices to be heard and for the Government to stay connected and remain relevant to the ground. Thus, I want to speak up for different groups of Singaporeans and share my thoughts on how we can do better as an economy, as a society and as one people, one nation. To begin with, education. It is critical for social mobility. Looking at it from the viewpoint of our students and parents, I want to share three suggestions here. One, to pilot “through train” education to Secondary school for special needs students in mainstream schools. Students have different pace of learning and each child blossoms at varying stages of their lives.”
“We should creatively generate options and create accommodative relief for individuals and families, rather than one where individuals are more likely to become supplicant recipients of charity.”