Chong Kee Hiong
Singapore
“Chairman, I have two clarifications. The first one for Senior Minister of State Sim Ann. How will MND ensure that the expansion of the Budget Meal Initiative is sustainable for operators and individual stall owners?”
“In addition to crow attacks, frequent and longstanding complaints include bird droppings on laundry, windows and ledges, food and rubbish messes created by their scavenging, and noise nuisance. The bird droppings are hygiene and health concerns. They affect the general aesthetics of the town and lead to higher maintenance costs.”
“Chairman, the world is going through a phase of greater contestation, fragmentation and bifurcation on the global stage. This was born out of a fundamental lack of strategic trust between the major powers.”
“Mdm Chair, Singapore and Indonesia enjoy warm ties and has had a long history of strong cooperation across a range of sectors, including health, defence, education, culture and the environment. Singapore has been a top foreign investor in Indonesia in the last decade.”
“Mdm Chair, Singapore and Malaysia celebrate the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic ties this year. As close neighbours, our relations with Malaysia are built on a strong foundation of mutual trust and win-win cooperation.”
“Mr Chairman, Total Defence is the cornerstone of Singapore’s national security strategy. Total Defence is premised on the understanding that our security, stability and prosperity depend on the collective commitment and efforts of all Singaporeans and sectors of our country. Each of us has a part to play to defend Singapore.”
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Every one of 209 lines we hold for Chong Kee Hiong, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 5.
“Chairman, the profile of Singapore’s population has evolved over time. Our demography is made up of people from increasingly varied backgrounds. Today, we have a larger proportion of children born to inter-racial and transnational marriages. We also have many Singaporeans who have been born and lived overseas for a number of years, Permanent Residents and new citizens from many different nationalities. This means that our NS resource has become increasingly diverse. I would like to ask the Minister, on an annual basis for our recent cohorts, what is the average proportion of young Singaporeans who have to return from overseas to serve, the proportion of new citizens and the ratio of those who hold foreign passports? National Service is particularly a challenge for young men who have spent extended periods of time overseas. Are there specific orientation programmes to help them adjust to the cultural differences? How is MINDEF and SAF helping National Servicemen from such diverse backgrounds understand the need for National Service and adjust to NS? Most importantly, how does SAF build a sense of unity and solidarity among these cohorts? Enhancing NS Experience Chairman, my second cut. Our servicemen make much sacrifice towards NS. In order to train and remain fit and ready for their duties, they have to make sacrifices in the areas of their personal and work life. It is important that MINDEF and SAF does its best to help ease the burdens on our servicemen as much as possible. Would the Ministry consider tapping on technology and closer collaboration with employers and even other Government agencies, to enable systematic collation of feedback and harness suggestions on areas of key concern such as childcare and eldercare?”
“Mitigating actions being considered include major engineering works, such as empoldering and reclamation of offshore islands and coastal adaptation initiatives, such as planting mangroves. While Singapore has had experience with the traditional land reclamation method, empoldering is new to us. It involves building a dyke around the area to be reclaimed and draining water from within it. The reclaimed low-lying land, known as a polder, will be below sea level, kept dry by the sea wall. Empoldering is being used to add 810 hectares of military training space to the north-western tip of Pulau Tekong. This project was slated to be completed in 2022. May I ask the Ministry for an update on the progress of this construction? What lessons are we gaining from this building experience for the future use of this technique in other reclamation areas? How does this technique compare with the traditional land reclamation method in terms of construction and maintenance costs, as well as benefits and risks? Defence Spending”
“Chairman, at last year's National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee spoke about how climate change is one of the gravest challenges we are facing. I quote, "Both the SAF and climate change defences are existential for Singapore. These are life and death matters." The greatest threat is from rising sea levels, which will erode the shorelines of our small island unless mitigating action is taken. Areas at risk and which require priority protection include our military installations, the airport, central business district, and the industrial estates of Jurong and Tuas. Our defence and economy are at stake. Global warming has also resulted in the weather becoming more extreme. Singapore has become hotter with prolonged dry spells even as we experience bursts of heavier rainfall. Even gusts of wind have become stronger. One concern is about mitigating the impact of these dry periods on our reservoirs. We also need to consider collaborative measures with Malaysia to protect the reservoirs there which supply us with water. We have to plan for ways to protect people and minimise the potential damage to our facilities from flooding and toppling trees, during heavy downpours and storms. In short, a well-coordinated national effort is needed to respond to economic, social and military defence challenges related to climate change. Would the Minister elaborate on what are some of the measures taken by MINDEF and SAF to address these concerns? Polder Pilot Development Chairman, my second cut. Singapore is a low-lying island nation that is vulnerable to rising sea levels as a result of climate change. The Government has committed $5 billion to the Coastal and Flood Protection Fund to fend off the encroaching sea and pledged to top up this fund whenever our budget permits in the future.”
“The trust among our people, our businesses and the Government is strong and that is the main reason for my belief. I would like to conclude with my hearty support for the Budget.”
“Many of these incentives have a preset time period, for example, three years, or are subject to renewals or extensions. Companies change and transform at different paces, depending on the maturity of the industry and support available, especially for smaller ones. To encourage companies to plan ahead and remain continuously invested in the future, would the Government consider setting longer-term horizons for selected incentives? For example, when Pioneer Tax Incentives were first introduced, longer durations, up to 15 years, were given. As we continue on the digital transformation of our economy, more support would be needed to help smaller companies adopt new technology, not only with respect to the technical aspects but also with the costs. Perhaps tax incentives for the telecommunications or selected sectors can be provided so that they can lower the fees for the ecosystem to promote adoption and switchovers. Closer cooperation between MOM and institutes of higher learning (IHLs) will be necessary to ensure that the SkillsFuture courses are of high quality and are relevant to industry to support our economy’s transformation. The course materials, modes of instruction, quality of instructors, just to name a few, should be constantly reviewed and audited to ensure that they are up to par. The courses could also be broken down into mobile modular sections for the workers to learn on the go and achieve accreditation over time. Mr Speaker, Sir, while we are now facing an intimidating combination of challenges which include a global health concern, economic transformations and geopolitical tensions, I remain optimistic that we will be able to emerge from this victorious and become even more competitive and nimble.”
“With the decline in sales, operators will immediately look at cost-cutting. Operating hours will be shortened, the number of part-timers hired will be reduced, full-time staff will be placed on part-time shifts and asked to clear their leave or take no-pay leave. In the event of a prolonged crisis, what can be done to support businesses so that job losses are kept to a minimum? Feedback from various businesses indicated that the rent rebates of one month for National Environment Agency (NEA) hawker centres and markets, and half month for commercial tenants in Government-managed properties are insufficient as they expect that the situation will take at least till the second half of the year before it returns to normal. It is good for the Government to elaborate on the working assumption of the timeframe for these rebates. If the rebates are meant to cover serious business earnings loss for February to April, one or half-month rental rebates put in this context does seem reasonable. However, businesses seek the assurance that more help would be available if the situation prolongs or deteriorates further. I would also like to request for more support to be given to companies embarking or expanding their sales via e-channels. This crisis provides the impetus to push small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which have been reluctant to consider this sales avenue. With the current cost structure and labour situation, it is inevitable that e-commerce would become the norm and form an essential part of any business. Next, I would like to touch on positioning for the longer term. This Budget, like previous Budgets, have schemes to support the transformation of our local enterprises.”
“This will also be a way of supporting small businesses in our housing estates. I welcome the widening of qualifying criteria for the $100 cash support to citizens who earned more than $100,000 in 2019 or who live in private properties. This recognises that the COVID-19 situation is a challenge that all Singaporeans are facing and may be affected in one way or another regardless of their income level. It would be good if the Ministry would share how it arrived at the various financial assistance figures. This will help to illustrate the intended impact of the financial assistance and also the timeliness of the payouts. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has said that the Government "…will be prepared to do more when the situation warrants it". Has the Ministry also set for itself some indicators internally to decide on when further assistance would be rendered should the outbreak crisis deepen? In such a scenario, the cost of certain essential goods may increase, as disruptions in supply chains may create shortages in supply. Singaporeans may then suffer the double whammy of lower or even loss of income, and a higher cost of living. Under JSS, employers will receive the 8% cash grant on the wages of local employees for the months of October to December 2019. What about businesses that started operating this year which are also affected by COVID-19? Would the Government consider helping them as well? In addition, may I request for the grants to be given out earlier, especially for smaller businesses which operate on tight cash flows and are already severely impacted? I would like to urge the Minister to review if the current reliefs are sufficient to prevent the loss of jobs, particularly in the retail and F&B sectors.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am heartened that the 2020 Budget has been carefully calibrated to cater to the COVID-19 situation which has had an unexpected but swift and severe impact on our economy and society. This is a big, bold Budget which comes at the price of a $10.9 billion deficit, responding to the need for help by Singaporean households and businesses. This crisis has shown the importance and relevance of our Government's tradition of prudence. With an accumulated surplus of $18.7 billion over this current term of office, there remains a war chest of $7.8 billion, which is very reassuring. We should be prepared for a protracted outbreak as the situation is still evolving with growing cases reported globally. The solution does not lie in just successful containment in Singapore. It is a global effort by all countries to find a solution, as indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Should the COVID-19 outbreak become more prolonged and have an even greater impact on households and companies than what is currently experienced, we believe that the Government would draw upon the surplus funds to finance further measures to help. I would first like to touch on support measures. The Government's Care and Support Package will go some way to provide relief to individuals who have experienced income disruptions due to the impact of COVID-19 on businesses. The combination of cash, rebates and grocery vouchers will help households to manage their living expenses for a period of time. For Singaporeans living in 1-room and 2-room HDB flats, the $100 Groceries Vouchers provided to assist them are limited for use at participating supermarkets. May I ask whether the Ministry would consider allowing them to be used at provision shops or even markets?”
“Speaker, Sir, I have two supplementary questions. First, the Minister mentioned about the roadshow to inform people about the nomination. I would like to ask whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) could have a specific outreach to members who have not made nominations, rather than roadshows which a lot of people would ignore unless it is very specific to them. The second supplementary question is that my colleague Ms Foo Mee Har had also in October this year raised the question on whether MOM could increase the payout under the Retirement Sum Scheme. I would like to check whether the Minister has any updates on this.”
“I thank Minister of State Mr Zaqy Mohamad for that reply. It was reported that just five in 100 PwDs here have jobs. Could the Minister of State please shed some light on the difference in the numbers that he has just cited versus what was reported in the newspapers?”
“The Minister mentioned earlier that there will be more clarity in BTO prices so that applicants could better assess their affordability. At the time of application of flats, there is also home-loan assessment on how much the applicants could borrow. However, when the time comes for key collection, the applicants may have a lower income because of change of job or because of the environment. Therefore, they may not be able to afford the same flat. At the same time, the grant given to applicants are assessed at the point of application. So, it is sort of a double-whammy: he cannot get a higher grant because he was assessed earlier; and because of his reduced income, his home-loan entitlement has dropped and so he could no longer afford the flat that he applied earlier. Could the Minister explain how HDB could help this group of applicants?”
“We should be a city which is not only efficient and functional, but also beautiful and interesting, with buildings reflecting our unique historical and cultural heritage. We should be a city attractive to visitors but, more importantly, a joy to live and work in for Singaporeans. In this aspect, I urge the Ministry to continue to provide support to HDB to create beautiful and practical homes and estates. We want to become more independent in terms of our food supply. This is a great challenge in our land-scarce island. Would the Ministry share its plans for helping our farming communities through the creation of space and building of supporting infrastructure? Finally, Singapore needs to protect her areas of greenery as this is an important component of a liveable environment. I would like to request for an update of our efforts in this area. Draft Master Plan 2019”
“Meeting the needs of different family compositions, the elderly, persons with special needs and other vulnerable groups require redesigning blocks, the precincts and surrounding facilities. It is far more feasible to have a total makeover than piecemeal renewal. Infrastructure. The transformation of our infrastructure is necessary to enhance our ability to cope with climate changes, including higher temperatures and heavy rains, and to become more resource-efficient, such as through the installation of solar panels and other energy-efficient measures. Our city also needs to undergo infrastructural renewal to keep up with technological revolutions, such as the installation of charging points for electric vehicles. Would the Minister share with us an update on the major projects to make Singapore more resilient in the face of climate change? Will our city be sufficiently equipped to deal with or, better still, lead other cities, in technological advances? To attract more investments, we need good infrastructure and buildings which provide reliable and seamless support to businesses and industries, particularly those in the innovative and cutting-edge sectors. Whether we are building homes, tunnels or roads, we must constantly check and enforce the high quality of our structures through construction oversight and strict audits of certification works. The lessons of Opal Tower in Sydney and its wider implications for buildings across Australia is a timely reminder of the importance of quality control. What measures does MND have in place to enhance the quality and safety of our building projects? Aesthetics is also important.”
“Sir, many visitors remark on how rapidly Singapore's skyline is changing. Indeed, we are constantly building up, expanding out and tunneling down. As we develop and transform our city, how will the Ministry continue to ensure that housing, industry and business needs are met as we stay green, create space for agricultural development and take measures against the effects of global warming? Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats will continue to be where the majority of Singaporeans make their home. As HDB is in the process of reviewing the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) 2 and the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme, it is timely to also consider the redevelopment of entire precincts or estates, instead of making incremental changes. The benefit of a "whole-of-precinct" or even "whole-of-estate" redevelopment project is a better integrated layout with improved accessibility and connectivity. Infrastructure could also be improved in a more holistic manner. Another plus is the viability of installing systems incorporating new technologies, such as the pneumatic waste conveyance system. Redeveloping a precinct or a cluster of precincts may even be more economical and technically easier to carry out. Redevelopment also provides the opportunity for rejuvenation. For many older estates close to the Central Business District (CBD), the height of the new blocks can be increased to accommodate more young families who have members working in the CBD. HDB is not only the main provider of housing. It also has to fulfill many social objectives. HDB estates must foster inclusivity through the distribution of household types as well as the design and layout of high-quality social and community facilities.”
“What are some of the latest initiatives MOM has with SCORE to help ex-offenders re-enter and remain in employment? Persuading companies to consider ex-offenders has its own set of challenges. What schemes does MOM have to attract more employers to consider providing them with a second chance?”
“Sir, as we strive to build a more inclusive workplace, how will the Ministry encourage and help our companies to recruit, train and integrate more persons with special needs and ex-offenders? To encourage more companies to accept and employ persons with special needs, we have to help them understand that there are many types of special needs, physical and mental, and the kind of jobs these different groups can do. 3.30 pm Public education and greater support from the Government are very important in this regard. Perhaps the Government would also consider setting annual employment targets to employ persons with special needs in the public sector. Employers have to take the plunge, start hiring and learn along the way how they could be more supportive and understanding. Fellow workers will also benefit as they learn more about empathy. It is important that we help persons with special needs achieve as much independence as possible through work. Employment enables them to be engaged in society, learn and make meaningful contributions, just like able-bodied persons. They can help relieve their families' burdens and their parents can take comfort in the knowledge that they will be able to cope even after their parents are no longer around. Would the Ministry share an update on the Open Door Programme? The other group of Singaporeans whom we should make greater effort to integrate into our workplace are ex-offenders. Employment plays an important role in keeping recidivism rates down. When ex-offenders receive the chance to be contributing and be valuable members of society again, they can regain their personal dignity and make a living to support themselves and their families.”
“15 pm The re-employment age should also be redefined so that it is not referring to another expiry date but to a transition at age 70. This transition obliges employers to put our senior workers on rolling contracts on the same terms that should go on without an expiry date as long as the workers are still able and productive and want to work. It is the transition that allows employer and employee to evaluate performance and productive levels together, work out flexible work contracts if the employee so wishes and collaborate on job and workplace redesign to keep up productivity. Financial Security of Seniors”
“Redesigning job environments and functions will allow our seniors to continue working smoothly. Under the WorkPro scheme, the Job Redesign Grant of up to $300,000 helps companies to make these changes so that workers aged above 50 can work more easily and safely. What is the Ministry’s assessment of how rapidly our businesses are redesigning jobs to make workplaces more age-friendly? I am especially concerned about senior workers in menial jobs. Does MOM have measures to get employers to expedite job redesign and create better work conditions so that the work is less strenuous for elder workers? Are there plans to update or refine the WorkPro scheme? Finally, I would like to ask for an update on the adoption of FWAs in our workplaces. Does MOM have data on the number and profile of companies which offer FWAs and the number of employees who take it up? How many companies have tapped on the Enhanced Work-Life Grant and how many employees have benefited? Would MOM provide a breakdown on how many organisations have utilised the FWA Incentive and Job Sharing Incentive? How can we encourage even more companies to offer FWAs? Remove Retirement Age Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong: Chairman, life expectancy has risen from 76 years in 1995 to 83 years in 2017. If the retirement age remains stuck at 62 years, Singaporeans who wish to continue working would be forced into early retirement for over two decades. Will the Government consider removing the artificial expiry date for productive senior workers, namely, the current retirement and re-employment ages of 62 and 67. Removing the retirement age not only removes the first expiry date but also changes the current notion about the expiry of work abilities that is fixed by age. It will change the ageist mindset. 2.”
“Sir, I would like to appeal for more support for senior employment and request the Ministry to review four areas, namely, the retirement age, CPF contribution rates, job redesign and flexible work arrangements (FWAs). First, the retirement age. Last year, there was a call to review future steps for promoting senior employment after the move to raise the re-employment age to 67 was achieved in 2017. Increasingly, seniors are expressing an interest in continuing to work for a variety of reasons, such as to continue to earn an income, to keep their minds and bodies active, to stay engaged in the workplace and community or simply because they enjoy their vocations. There is no reason why they should be forced to retire just because they have reached a cut-off age. I understand that the relevance of the retirement and re-employment age concept has been relooked. Would MOM share if any conclusion has been reached? Next, CPF rates. Older workers have lower CPF contribution rates today to keep their total remuneration competitive and help them remain employable. The tradeoff is that they will have less to save up for their retirement. However, we are also seeing improvements in older workers' employability and longer life expectancies. Their wealth of experience, cumulative knowledge and skillsets are assets, enabling them to make valuable contributions to their work. I hope that we can help them to attract more contributions to their CPF, so that they can enjoy a more secure retirement. Is there scope to revise the CPF contribution rates of older workers while at the same time maintaining their employability? Third, job redesign. Older workers have a lot to contribute but their physical decline with age is expected.”
“Sir, the global situation is uncertain. Relations among the big powers – the US and China, the US and Russia, are under stress. There is an increasing trust deficit among states, and countries are questioning the benefits of multilateralism, openness, globalisation and free trade. This has resulted in a growing wave of support for protectionist and isolationist policies in some countries, undermining support for a multilateral, rules-based international order. We cannot change the fact that Singapore remains a "Little Red Dot" on the map. We also cannot change our destiny that however the global landscape evolves and whatever challenges we may face, we will always do so as a small state. Small states like Singapore thrive in a rule-based and rule of law-based international order. What can we do to protect and advance our interests in the face of rising unilateralism across the world? Singapore is nonetheless not alone in being small. Countries which identify themselves as "small states" make up the majority of the membership at the UN. How is Singapore working with other small states in the international community to ensure that our collective interests are secured and that small states continue to be heard?”
“Sir, the SAF draws heavily from Singapore's human resource in order to defend our nation against a wide array of threats. However, an ageing population and declining fertility trends will have implications on our NS resources and will pose a significant challenge for us in the long term. SAF will see a projected one-third reduction in manpower supply by 2030. This is a significant number. Therefore, there is a clear impetus to effectively manage our NS manpower resource to ensure that MINDEF and SAF are able to achieve its growing spectrum of missions even as the enlistment cohorts decline. Over the years, MINDEF/SAF has introduced initiatives to allow the SAF to tap on our servicemen's civilian expertise and talent to expand operational capabilities. How is MINDEF harnessing the expertise of our current pool of servicemen to maximise the potential of our NSmen? With growing manpower limitations, what is MINDEF/SAF doing to ensure that we can maximise our manpower resources? Will MINDEF consider options taken by other manpower-scarce countries, such as tapping on woman power? Will the Ministry consider pushing back or doing away with the retirement age of regulars? Will MINDEF also consider redesigning functions so that in suitable areas, persons with disabilities can also contribute to our national defence? NS Experience”
“With the global pivot to Asia, now the fastest growing region in the world, the time is ripe for Singapore companies to tap into new opportunities and new markets. We need to work together to achieve that. I would like to conclude with my support for the Budget.”
“Since January 2016, CPF members aged 55 and above will also earn an additional 1% extra interest on the first $30,000 of their combined balances, including up to $20,000 from the OA. These extra interests apply on the first $60,000 and first $30,000 respectively, regardless of whether one has a combined CPF savings of $60,000 or $600,000. I hope the Government will consider increasing the additional interest for those who have low combined CPF balances, for example, below the Basic Retirement Sum, to help them earn more in their accounts. If the funding for this means that we have to reduce or even remove the extra interests on the first $60,000 or $30,000 respectively for those with much higher CPF balances, I believe that financially secure Singaporeans will be willing to support this assistance measure. Finally, I would like to appeal for greater efforts to boost Singapore’s food resilience. We should step up priority and urgency to scale up food production through both the lease or acquisition of farmland overseas and the adoption of innovative processes. Besides requiring support and investments from both the public and private sectors, we have to encourage Singaporeans and residents to join in our "Buy Singapore" movement and help to buy local produce. Initially, buying local may mean paying a higher price. But we must continue to support local suppliers and vendors so that when volume picks up, prices would drop correspondingly. "Buy Singapore" will not only help ensure the sustainability of producing local food but also reduce our carbon footprint, contributing to environmental sustainability. By supporting our Singapore food producers and companies, eventually, they will be able to scale up and go regional or global.”
“The work may not appear to be heavy but some of the older workers are frail and visibly tired. These are the scenarios which led to many Singaporeans and tourists asking why our Government is not taking care of these poor senior citizens. There are comments that poor Singaporeans have to work to their deaths and so forth. Although these comments do not reflect Singapore’s reality, they are out there. While there might be some seniors who said that they worked to pass their time, due to the nature of these menial jobs, most people have concerns and reservations. We must also ask ourselves what is the perception our young children have of us as a society when they see frail senior citizens picking up after them, clearing tables and mopping toilets? Perhaps, it is timely for us to re-examine the implications arising from these policies. (In English): I move on to assistance for workers with low CPF balances. In line with the Government's targeted mode to help the most vulnerable, I would like to reiterate my call for more help for Singaporeans with low CPF balances, such as the group with balances below the Basic Retirement Sum, through higher tiered CPF interest rates. This is in addition to the current Budget top-up of $300-$1,000 for older Singaporeans with low CPF balances and, from time to time, when we have surpluses. The consistent returns from the higher interest rates will be of greater help to this group of Singaporeans, many of whom are likely to be freelancers, self-employed or low-wage workers. Allow me to elaborate. On the first $60,000 of a CPF member's combined balances, with up to $20,000 from the Ordinary Account (OA), an extra 1% interest is paid.”
“How many SMEs has ASP helped and in which sectors? Do our SMEs have enough awareness about this scheme and the necessary talents and specialists to implement the transformations? Would the Ministry share with us some of the successful cases and those which had not turned out as well? What are the lessons from those which had performed below expectations? These are important questions as we need to know how to better help these SMEs leverage technology to move ahead. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Next, I would like to speak about the occasional unintended consequences of well-intentioned Government policies. Take the example of the employment of older workers. They are commonly seen in our hawker centres, food courts and shopping malls clearing tables and mopping floors. These seniors are mostly unskilled workers with little education. Hence, there is a limitation to the type of jobs they can take on. As the Government provides WIS to encourage companies to employ older workers, companies are fine with hiring them since they are paying less for their services. In addition, employing these Singapore citizens also entitle the companies to employ more foreign workers based on DRC. With the tightening of DRC, companies are likely to employ more of these old workers, letting them do simple cleaning jobs, in order to employ more and better skilled foreign workers. We should note that this would also reduce their incentive to automate. On one hand, WIS may boost elder employment; on the other hand, there are some concerns about these seniors in menial jobs. The sight of these seniors, as they shuffle around hunched over, tugs at our heartstrings.”
“The challenge is how we can successfully harness AI and IA to help these companies. Would the Minister elaborate on how successful the ITMs and the Lean Enterprise Development (LED) schemes have been in assisting companies redesign jobs and reduce reliance on manpower? Some businesses find these restructuring steps troublesome, even counter-productive, as the time and resources required may temporarily distract them from their day-to-day operations. While they appreciate the short-term sacrifices they have to make for long-term gains, and they see the need to redesign and upgrade the types of jobs to cater to a more educated ageing workforce who want to work longer in more meaningful work, they need all possible assistance to effect these changes. Hence, I fully support the Government’s decision to expand the Industry Digital Plans (IDPs) for SMEs and to extend the Automation Support Package (ASP) by two years. I would like to call for IDPs to be expanded to more sectors expeditiously. Does the Government have a timeline for the implementation of IDPs for the remaining sectors? For the seven industries where IDPs had already been rolled out, would the Minister share an update on the adoption rate of each industry so far? For companies which have yet to implement digital plans, what are the main obstacles? What measures do we have in place to help them surmount these challenges? The seven industries were prioritised as their expected productivity gains would be the highest. May I ask if their actual gains had matched expectations? If not, what are the issues involved? As for ASP, I would like to ask if the amount budgeted to assist companies to scale up their automation projects had been fully utilised each year since it was launched in 2016.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of Budget 2019 with its focus on "Building A Strong, United Singapore". We are a small country in an uncertain world. Developments in the US, China and Europe had contributed to high levels of uncertainty in the past and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. These will not go away. In the face of such headwinds, Singaporeans would have to stay strong and united. We must be committed to solving our own problems and helping our own communities, something which this Budget aims to achieve. We must rally behind our leaders who will take us into a new Singapore era, one that our children and grandchildren will be proud of. Many plans and schemes had already been put in place. The oft-heard ones include those relating to AI, Intelligent Automation (IA), Technology, Manpower, Digitalisation, Innovation and Globalisation. The wheels had been set in motion. To many Singaporeans though, these schemes appeared to be piecemeal. More can be done to highlight the vision for Singapore and strengthen the connections so that we can understand how all these schemes can, together, shape a new future and set us a common goal. Driven by the rapid pace of technological advances which radically change processes and operations, many sectors are undergoing developments and changes of seismic proportions. These are critical for companies' survival, to catch up with their peers or seize opportunities to be market leaders. To automate and digitise is also to overcome the manpower challenges arising from the reduction in DRC which is expected to put an upward pressure on labour costs for companies in the services-related industry. We still hear businesses from the services sectors feedback that many of their processes cannot be automated.”
“I thank the Minister. It is very important to encourage those with lower CPF balances to defer their withdrawal till 70 years old so that they can get a higher payout down the road. That is one of the key objectives of this scheme. Could the CPF Board consider providing even more incentive to encourage this group, such as those with less than basic Retirement Sum in their CPF balance an even higher tiered interest rate for their balances so as to give them more incentive to defer their withdrawal?”
“I see more of such cases in my Meet-the-People Sessions, especially in recent months. HDB does give extension of time, but the common feedback is that despite extension of time, there are no viewers. So, if there are no viewers, that means there is no offer at all. Can I ask the Minister whether there are any other ways to help these residents, especially those who have tried for many months and even years to sell their flats, especially if they are elderly?”
“As IT talents are global and, as part of our cyber defence, I would like to ask the Minister if the Singapore Government Ministries, Organs of State and Statutory Boards and agencies have in place bug bounty programmes to tap upon the global expertise of white hats or ethical computer hackers, and if the compensations for their effort and time are globally competitive.”
“Most of the productivity gains resulting from the use of AI, robotics and IT will accrue to those who own the patents, the machines and the capital. Hence, whilst we have to nurture more entrepreneurs and technology creators and innovators to reap the benefits and rewards of this technological development, we also need to find ways to more equitably distribute these benefits and rewards so as not to further widen the income gap. Whilst we nurture our own talents and build our capabilities, we also need to be a player in the global transfer of expertise and technical know-how to boost local competencies which in turn strengthen the Singaporean Core. We want to continue to draw investments which create good jobs for Singaporeans, including high tech companies, such as those in the field of AI, cloud computing and robotics. However, we are also experiencing an environment of increasing trade protectionism among nations. How can Singapore deal with this current reality and find a path to thrive? The complexion of global trade, economy and foreign relations is changing at a pace that seems much faster than before. Our next generation of leaders will have to be clear in their strategies and nimble in their actions to be able to execute policies that bring Singaporeans together and move Singapore ahead. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, great changes are afoot, and the waves will be strong. I support the President's call to our new generation to unite and work together to keep Singapore an exceptional country.”
“We have witnessed how technology has disrupted how some commercial activities are organised and executed. A good example would be how quickly e-commerce has changed the dynamics of traditional retail. Similarly, it is timely to rethink how our administrative services can be organised in bold new ways, instead of just trying to incrementally improve how the existing Ministries operate. This will help us to be ahead of the curve to implement change rather than to deal with change. My final point is about technological advances, which are radically changing the way we live, work and interact with one another. We must master these technologies and harness their power to seize the economic opportunities they present. Some residents have expressed their concerns over our drive to become a Smart Nation. They are worried about new complexities and being left behind. They feel that our Government may be pushing this initiative too quickly. I empathise with them but I really do not think we can afford to slow down. We must help them to adapt and catch up through schemes, such as SkillsFuture, but we must get on the tech train. We have an ageing population, but our seniors are better educated than their predecessors. I believe that where there is a will, there is a way. We must understand that we do not really have a choice as we would rather be ahead of the race and not just be in the race along the technology runway. Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently creating a lot of buzz and a lot of worries too. AI systems lead to gains in productivity but threaten jobs in low-paid and low-skilled production industries and jobs that are administrative, clerical and procedural in nature.”
“What is most important is that we must be prepared for trade-offs and failures and have the courage and tenacity to pick ourselves up and try again. Some changes would be unpopular, and our leaders must be able to carry them. Hence, firstly, they have to win the hearts and minds of the people so that Singaporeans would be willing to take a leap of faith together with them. Geopolitics have changed much and so have technologies. Have we made the necessary changes fast enough? Take the field of education. We need to constantly review the relevance of what we teach and how we assess our young. Perhaps we need to revamp our "O" and "A" levels and the subjects taught. Basic and general knowledge in all subjects lay a useful foundation but do we need so many students studying calculus or chemical interactions in such depth? With the pivot to Asia, should our students not be exposed to great Asian classics, such as the "Dream of the Red Chamber", "the Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Ramayana", in addition to works from Shakespeare? When we implement changes, especially bold ones, we must ensure that both top-down and bottom-up approaches work hand in hand. This is because while focusing on visions in top-down policies, there may be gaps in the schemes, while bottom-up initiatives may miss the big picture even as gaps are filled. I hope our relevant departments will bear this in mind for our Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs). In addition, bold changes require process re-engineering. To get rid of the old ways of doing things, we have to reduce unnecessary processes to free up time and space for thinking, creativity and problem-solving. Increased efficiency and higher productivity are mutually reinforcing.”
“Are we able to nurture that child who could potentially be a chess grandmaster if he or she is in a school that does not have a Chess Club? There are those who can afford to send their children for private lessons outside of the school. But for those who cannot, how do we level the playing field in both academic and non-academic areas? Aside from education, policies and Government schemes will have different impacts on every individual and family as each face a unique set of challenges. In other words, there would always be groups that fall through the cracks, and we need to look out for them. Hence, I am glad that the Government acknowledges such differences and accept appeals, taking into account mitigating circumstances and changes in family situations. It is important that all our Ministries and agencies be prepared to make exceptions, but I must stress – within limits – to assist those caught at the edges. Exercising compassion in the implementation of our policies is helpful in reducing the impact of income inequality in our society. Though the issue of income inequality is not unique to Singapore, there is no one-size-fits-all solution that we can copy from others. The Government needs to continue to pay close attention to the ground, as the price to pay as a result is not restricted to economic consequences but more importantly, could create a tear in our social fabric. Another notable point the President made was about mustering the courage to implement bold changes and not limiting ourselves to taking incremental steps. We are not advocating recklessness but calculated moves into unchartered territories. If we do not take calculated risks, we risk becoming irrelevant anyway, with dire consequences.”
“We also face stratification and slowing social mobility. Our population is now more stratified across age groups and income and wealth. Historically, Singapore has been fairly successful in promoting social mobility. The story of our very own President is a good example and we all personally know similar cases like hers, where within one or two generations, families' circumstances are improved substantially. But as our society advances, social mobility slows and the gaps between different income groups gradually widen as accumulated advantages and wealth gets passed on from one generation to the next. As a community, we should start a candid discussion about the strategies to overcome this problem before it becomes too entrenched and difficult to resolve. We may need to modify our policies or social institutions. We should never accept the lack of social mobility as inevitable. Education plays an important role in enabling social mobility. We need to ensure that access to education is not just on a superficial level. We have the KidSTART programme to ensure that children aged six and below from vulnerable families have a "good start" in life through access to health, learning and developmental support. To further ensure that children who have been identified and benefited from the KidSTART programme continue to progress well, there should be similar support for those who need it to do well in primary and secondary school as well. Though MOE is committed to make every school a good school, each would still have different access to resources and therefore, indirectly limit the academic and non-academic options available to their students. How do we discover a talented tennis player from a school that does not have a tennis court or offer the sport as a CCA?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. I share the aspirations and concerns the President had expressed in her speech and I would like to take this opportunity to speak on some of them, namely the three "M"s: minimising the negative impact of inequality; mustering the courage to implement bold changes; and mastering technological advances. I am heartened that our Government is committed to minimising the negative impact of inequality. Singapore is a capitalist economy and a meritocracy. In this environment, those who are talented, able and hardworking will be rewarded. But in nature, talents and abilities are not equally distributed. So, what about those who are not as talented or skilled? Hard work alone will only take you so far. We should also not forget that health or personal conditions and circumstances may limit some people's performance at work. Whilst we should continue to encourage reward systems based on output and performance as this is accepted to be fair and justifiable, let us not overlook the problems of the imperfect market. Distorted remunerations of varying magnitudes exist, either paying too much or too little for contributions and work done. To mitigate the impact of consequent inequality, we must provide more assistance to those in need, especially for basic necessities, public housing, healthcare and education. Funds for the needy have to be sourced mainly from our tax revenues, with additional aid from voluntary donations. Hence, we need the endorsement and support from Singaporeans for a tax system which facilitates more transfers from those who are prosperous to those who are less fortunate. This way, even the poor in our community can afford a reasonable standard of living.”
“Would the Minister elaborate on innovative measures being used or considered for enhancing the safety and integrity of our built environment?”
“When will the review be completed and the new regulations be implemented? HDB residents also face problems like cracking or popping tiles, leaky pipes and other defects. There were 700 cases of popping tiles in the first half of January. They occurred in different areas from Sengkang to Jurong West, Woodlands to Toa Payoh. HDB had said that such popping tiles were "consistent with the experience of previous years" and due to cooler temperatures. Since these incidents have consistently taken place in previous years, HDB should take steps to minimise such problems through changes in the method of tiling and the type of adhesion materials used. Compared to other regions, our temperature range is much narrower and thus, more predictable. Hence, these problems should be more manageable and preventable. HDB should also consider checking the quality of workmanship and penalise or even ban contractors whose work are not up to par. Another problem which plagues a number of buildings, from HDB blocks to commercial buildings, is lift operations and maintenance. From a Choa Chu Kang HDB block to Golden Mile Tower, malfunctioning lifts and the long waits for repairs have become an increasing concern. How can we prevent the installation of poor-quality lifts in the first place? Are the long waits for repairs due more to manpower shortage or shortage of available replacement parts? How severe is the shortage of qualified technicians and engineers here and what is the percentage of foreign and local staff? 3.45 pm In addition, the deployment of new technologies and equipment, including drones, are ways to save on maintenance costs and improve safety.”
“Overcrowding can be a problem in many of HDB's public rental housing. The occupancy cap for 1- and 2-room flats in the open market is four persons. How many of the subsidised rental flats have more than four occupants living together? Can the Ministry provide bigger households, especially those with children, with bigger units? Overcrowded conditions are particularly detrimental to children. There is feedback that the environment in subsidised rental blocks can be unconducive for children with security, cleanliness and noise pollution being the main issues. To minimise such impacts on families living in these rental flats, what plans does HDB have to deal with these challenges? Shaping Our Built Environment Together I would like to ask the Minister for updates on measures to ensure high standards in building construction and maintenance and the utilisation of good-quality materials for safety. How does the Ministry enforce regular maintenance and checks in this sector? Are there plans to grow the pool of local engineers, technical and maintenance staff? My concern arises from a number of incidents in recent years. There had been a few cases of falling building parts, including cladding and other external features, although we have in place Periodic Structural Inspections once in a decade for residential buildings, and every five years for other buildings. These are limited to checking for structural defects. Non-structural parts should also be checked, including exterior components, which undergo lots of wear and tear. Such checks are particularly important as the number of ageing buildings increase. I understand that the regulatory framework for the inspection of building facades is being reviewed.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I hope more purpose-built flats, which take into consideration the needs of older generations, can be constructed. When they move into such units, it can also free up the flats that they occupy to increase the supply in the resale market, hence, moderating the prices of the resale flats and increasing choices for those who do not have access to Build-To-Order (BTO) flats. On top of the enhanced Proximity Housing Grant (PHG), would the Ministry also consider increasing the supply of multi-generation or dual-key flats? Such units facilitate intergeneration caregiving and bonding with grandparents helping to keep an eye on the grandchildren while the parents look after their elderly parents at the same time. Most new flats will be built in new estates and to further encourage the elderly to move near their children, one of the best ways is to allow them to live together under the same roof. Multi-generational and dual-key flats will provide the elderly with some degree of privacy and independence, while enjoying the benefits of proximity to their loved ones. Helping Low-income and Vulnerable Families Helping low-income and vulnerable families secure a roof over their heads is one of the most important things we can do. HDB currently rents out about 58,000 flats to low-income households at subsidised rates. I would like to ask the Minister: how long is the waiting period for these subsidised public rental flats? How many households are eligible but still on the waiting list? Will more flats be added to boost the stock of 58,000 units? Will the Ministry consider allocating more Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) sites, which have been cleared but not immediately redeveloped, for such families? This will shorten the waiting time.”
“Due to the emergence of new technologies, all of us must be prepared to do things differently for the same jobs or experience career conversions. Such changes are challenging for many senior workers. The Minister for Finance mentioned in his Budget Statement that the PCPs have helped more than 3,700 mid-career individuals take up new jobs last year. Does the Ministry have details of the number of beneficiaries in various age groups? What is the proportion of individuals aged 60 and above? Does the Ministry have plans to allocate more resources to train and support seniors who make such career transitions? Would the Ministry also share a progress report about older lower- to middle-income workers involved in the Work Trial scheme which enables them to try out new careers? What is the success rate and how many workers above the age of 60 have benefited? Helping Senior Workers Thrive”
“Chairman, we can expect older workers to comprise an increasing proportion of our workforce. Some seniors will even continue working beyond the re-employment age of 67. We should support those who wish to remain active at work to contribute their experience and expertise. Job redesigning and the implementation of age-friendly work practices will become increasingly important and pervasive across different industries and sectors. The Ministry had enhanced the WorkPro Job Redesign Grant in July 2016 to encourage companies to redesign jobs for our senior workers. More than 600 companies had applied for the grant to date, benefiting over 9,500 older workers. May I ask how far are we from the Ministry's target of the number of companies it wants to attract for this grant? What is the sectoral breakdown for the companies which had applied successfully? Does the Ministry have information on the penetration rate for different sectors and why some sectors attract more successful applications than others? I would also like to ask about the proportion of companies which enjoyed productivity gains after job redesigning with the grant. Since so many firms have utilised the grant, is there a platform for best practices to be shared so that other companies can benefit from faster and smoother workplace or workflow redesign to better suit older employees? What measures does the Ministry have to raise awareness about the availability of the grant and share the stories of successful applications? Could the Ministry make it mandatory for all public contracts for tender to include a term and condition that suppliers have to adopt these age-friendly practices?”
“Chairman, just last month, Minister Teo shared in this House that in 2016, 58% of active CPF members at age 55 met the Basic Retirement Sum. Does the Ministry have the gender breakdown for this group that meets the Basic Retirement Sum? Are women as equally represented in this group as men? Is more being done to encourage top-ups and transfers? Among the remaining 42% who have not accumulated enough for the Basic Retirement Sum (BRS), 55% were Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme recipients. This means that we have a substantial number, most of whom are low-income earners, who will barely have enough for retirement. We have not even included the numbers of those who are not active CPF members. Does the Minister also have the projections for the amount needed each month for an individual in retirement in the next 10, 20 and 30 years? Based on these projections, the Basic Retirement Sum drawdown forms what proportion of the total amount needed? Strengthening Retirement Adequacy”
“To build a workforce with a strong Singaporean Core, we need Singaporean workers distributed across different sectors and at all levels of seniority and skills. It is important that we have our own local staff with technical competence and core skills for key sectors. Unfortunately, there are substantial labour shortages in certain sectors, such as in healthcare and occupational jobs, such as skilled technicians. These shortages have resulted in dependency on foreign employees which, in turn, sometimes lead to communication difficulties due to cultural and language differences, or where even the hiring of foreigners is not enough to meet demand, we have to contend with long waiting times for repairs. It is clear that hiring foreign employees in certain sectors is not a sustainable solution to labour shortage. Would the Minister share the details of the local workforce shortages in various sectors? What measures do we have to boost the presence of local hires in these industries? Companies must also restructure these jobs to meet the expectations of new local hires, in terms of pay, number of hours worked and job perception. Companies should consider ways to differentiate themselves from their competition so that they can justify their higher fees and prices, in order to afford higher salaries to attract local employees. In addition, companies can improve work conditions by tapping upon technological innovations to make such jobs either easier or safer, or both. The Lean Enterprise Development Scheme (LEDS) was launched in 2015 to grow a more manpower-lean workforce, help build a strong Singaporean Core and nurture a higher-quality workforce. Would the Ministry share an update on the progress of this scheme? Lean Enterprise Development Scheme”
“How many employers are currently on the FCF Watchlist and which are the main sectors or industries where infringements occur? Does the Ministry also have the breakdown of the job categories, levels of seniority and salary ranges of jobs which had gone to the foreigners in these cases? What are the main sources and channels of feedback, complaints and whistleblowing? How many Employment Pass (EP) applications by errant firms had been rejected by the Ministry in each of the last few years? Having such details will be useful for the Ministry to spot red flags, improve preventive measures and formulate better manpower policies to protect jobs for Singaporeans, as not all errant firms will be captured on the radar of FCF. Would the Ministry also share with us the effectiveness of our National Jobs Bank in helping Singaporeans find jobs? Does the Ministry have some way of monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness and usefulness of this portal in ensuring that jobs are actually given to Singaporeans? If not, I would like to suggest that the Ministry consider doing so as soon as possible. Should it be ineffective, we will have to come up with new strategies and ways to connect employers with Singaporean hires. Improving Employability for Singaporeans”
“According to a World Bank report last year, Singapore ranked second in the world for ease of doing business. We want to remain highly attractive to companies around the world to draw their investments which will create jobs for Singaporeans. Investors and businesses, whether global or local, want access to global talent. This is especially so in high-tech companies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and robotics, where talents are in short supply and, hence, courted worldwide. We should welcome them because they bring unique value to the local economy. 10.30 am At the same time, we must ensure the transfer of expertise and technical know-how from these foreign employees to local employees within specific timeframes. Such transfers are critical if we are to build a strong Singaporean Core and boost local competencies. How to facilitate these transfers is the challenge. Monitoring and regulating the ratio and number of Singaporean staff at certain positions within companies after they have been occupied for a certain number of years by foreign staff is one way. Does the Ministry have a process of tracking such data across industries? Another way is to require companies, in particular, those in critical sectors, to justify and limit the ratio of foreign hires and limit how long they can work here. We have to strike a balance between meeting their demand for selected foreign employees to work in Singapore and providing Singaporeans with job opportunities. FCF seeks to ensure that Singaporeans are considered fairly for jobs. I would like to ask the Ministry for updates on the effectiveness of FCF enforcement measures and its compliance success rate.”
“Mr Chairman, in the last few years, we have observed a trend of increased religiosity in countries around us. Accompanying this is also a sense that certain religious practices and identities have become more exclusivist over time. Members would recall the incident where a launderette owner in Johor offered "Muslim-only" services to their customers. The business owner, in his business calculations, had expected a healthy demand for such services. This exclusivist arrangement could lead to reduced contact with other communities. This is of concern to us because it is happening right next door across the Causeway. Here in Singapore, we champion racial and religious harmony. We want to focus on the commonalities, not the differences amongst us. Wherever possible, we want to enlarge the common spaces shared among different communities. This is how we manifest our shared values, build our shared experiences and achieve our collective goals as a united nation. Yet, we have to acknowledge that, as an open society, we are not immune to external influences. If we are not vigilant, what has happened elsewhere in the world could well happen to us. Exclusivist and discriminatory practices along religious lines would splinter our society as we are one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world. Would the Ministry share with us an update on the measures to counter the threat of radicalisation? How do we counter threats of segregationist teachings on the Internet, particularly social media? How is the Home Team progressing in its work with different religious and community groups to combat segregationist teachings in order to help preserve the religious harmony we all cherish today? Terrorism and SGSecure”
“I felt that I had hit the jackpot." The wife looked at the husband and she said, "Dear, what I want is the current expenses, I am not talking about one-off type of expenses. So, are you telling me that if you do not win the lottery, my mother does not need to see the doctor? Are you telling me that if you do not hit the jackpot, my children do not need to eat extra protein?" And the husband said, "That is not a problem. We still have a house, an asset we can sell." I think this is the problem that one of our Members has described that is worrying. The understanding is: not a problem; if we do need to finance expenses, we can just utilise the proceeds from the land sale. The population's age and Government costs are always rising, but no problem! The Government can solve them by just selling land. One of my residents seems to have seen this coming. Last Saturday, when I was visiting the coffeeshop, he told me, "Sister Wah, you must remember, even a mountain of gold can be depleted. People shouldn't keep thinking about using the savings our grandfather left us. Don't let us become the unfilial sons who squander the family wealth!" 5.08 pm”
“As HIP is only applicable to units built before 1986, units built after 1987, although very old, they have not been renovated with low costs. This has affected the quality of life and safety of the owners and that is why I said that old flats face a special problem. But the flats are located in Nee Soon South, half built in 1986 and half in 1987. One-half is qualified for HIP but the other half will not qualify. In addition, some illnesses troubling the seniors are not covered by the Government's medical subsidies. For example, many seniors suffer incontinence and need long-term treatment. Otherwise, it may cause other health problems. I hope the Government can pay attention to this and provide some subsidies. After the Government announced the plan to raise GST, some unscrupulous businesses may increase their prices even before the actual GST hike. This happened when the water prices increased last year. Can the Government consider establishing a task force to study this problem? I would like to share a story with you. This is a conversation between a husband and a housewife. The wife said to the husband, "Dear, dear my mother is ageing and my mother has to visit doctors very frequently. Our children are growing up in their developing age. I need to buy more fish and meat for their development. I need to have more money from you." Husband looked at the wife with a smile and he said, "No problem. Sure. I have a piece of good news to share with you. Last Saturday, early in the morning, as I was at the Community Club, I met our Member of Parliament. Our Member of Parliament came to visit us before 8 o'clock. The licence plate wrote '4188'. It was quite a beautiful number. So, I decided to follow that number. I went to buy the 4D and the number came out as 8481.”
“I hope that the Government can monitor this situation to ensure that commercial entities do not use the GST increases as an excuse to exploit consumers. The Government will also increase various financial support and assistance, which can help mitigate the impact of the GST increase. I would like to suggest that Government agencies be more compassionate when assessing applications for assistance. Please do not use household income solely as the benchmark, because our fixation on the household income resulted in some applicants becoming ineligible. For example, a person who may have just obtained a new job or wage increase could become ineligible. But we should look deeper whether the person has to settle any outstanding bills that came about when the person was retrenched. I propose that, apart from the household income, we should look at the person’s period of employment. Ultimately, we do not wish to penalise someone who manages to secure a better job. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Chinese, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] This Budget pays attention to the ageing issue. Hence, I would like to raise a few related points. Firstly, I would like to talk about seniors who live in old houses. Old houses tend to have shorter leases and are difficult to fetch a good price, no matter whether it is a private property or an HDB flat. Hence, it is a challenge for their owners to downsize to a smaller unit and get additional cash. Even though we have the Silver Housing Bonus, the scheme requires that most of the proceeds be topped up into the CPF and may not meet the needs of all the elderly. Old HDB units built between 1987 and 1990 face a special problem.”