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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“Back when it was announced that prices of water would be increased, residents said some businesses took the opportunity to raise prices even before the increase kicked in. I hope the Government can look into a taskforce to ensure commercial entities do not use the GST increase as an excuse to exploit consumers. The Government is enhancing various financial support and grants which would help mitigate the GST increase in some ways. I would like to propose that when deciding on the income eligibility of applicants, we do not be so fixated on the applicant’s household income. An applicant may have obtained a new job or wage increase which results in disqualification from a scheme, but he or she may have only obtained that income increase recently and still has many outstanding bills to pay off. I think we should also look at other criteria, such as minimum working period. Ultimately, we do not want to end up penalising people for getting a job or a better paying one. Our end-goal is to ensure that children in these low-income families have a conducive environment where they can focus on their studies and self-development without being affected by their parents’ worries. Beneficiaries should thus be encouraged to find better means to support their family and not feel worried that they will be cut off from much-needed financial support once they do so. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Government has just recently announced that the GST increase will be implemented between 2021 and 2025, but I am concerned that businesses will take the opportunity to increase prices in advance and engage in profiteering. This happened last year when the water price increases were announced.”
“So, half are enjoying the HIP while the other half are still waiting, 还痴痴地在等. I am also concerned about those who have a house but are cash-tight and have little options to right size. This is becoming increasingly common in the older private estates, where the land lease is expiring and it is difficult to sell their house. There are also people who live in older HDB flats with a lease of less than 60 years and they find it very challenging to sell their flats. This is not about monetising the house but getting some money from the sales to cover the cost for the next house. As more housing estates start to age, this problem will become more rampant. While there is Silver Housing Scheme (SHS) for residents who are 55 years old and above, this scheme requires most of the proceeds to be topped up into the CPF and may not meet the needs of all elderly. How does the Government intend to address these issues? Next, I would like to ask how the decision to raise the Buyer's Stamp Duty for residential properties above $1 million was derived. What were the factors that were taken into consideration? The perception from the public is that this is just an exercise to take a cut from all the en bloc homeowners. It is likely that these en bloc owners have to buy another apartment to move to and they will end up being penalised if they buy above $1 million. Rising living costs and inflation are persistent concerns for every country. During my interaction with residents, by and large, residents understand the need for the Government to raise the GST. However, they worry about businesses profiteering by raising prices excessively and, in some cases, in advance.”
“This is good in principle, but implementation would not be so straightforward, given that every industry, every business, every individual has different levels of expectations and commitment. Communication and engagement between the different bodies will always pose challenges. It is unrealistic to put together a plan on paper and expect everybody to go through with it and resolve the problems by themselves. Thus, I propose there should be a full-time secretariat for each industry's ITM, to visit the trade associations and speak with the ground, to help resolve differences and administrative issues and ensure that each partnership is as effective and efficient as possible. SkillsFuture will remain a crucial component to help Singaporeans adjust and adapt to the Future Economy. Thus far, those who have utilised their SkillsFuture credits have found the scheme to be encouraging and, more importantly, they have gained useful skills that will help them in their careers, or even just to enrich their lives and learn something new. I hope the Government will consider investing more resources in SkillsFuture, such as giving more credits to those who have already used theirs. I would now like to move on to social issues. First of all, housing, an integral part of our lives and an asset that supposedly gives us financial security in old age. I am disappointed that there is no new commitment to a Home Improvement Programme for HDB flats built after 1986. Some of these flats are now at least 30 years old and prone to defects and safety issues. Can the Minister share future plans for HIP for ageing flats? Nee Soon South is in a very unique situation. Half of my flats are built in 1986 and the other half in 1987.”
“Young Singaporeans, in particular, will be excited about building their careers, businesses, fulfilling their dreams in the innovative and vibrant economy which the Minister is planning for. A greener and cleaner living environment will certainly be a significant boost to our living standards. In the face of increasing costs of living and a challenging economy, I am heartened that the Government plans to set aside more resources for those in need. This is a Budget that is forward-looking and filled with optimism. Let me start by discussing some of the plans in relation to the economy. I share the Minister's opinion that regional and international partnerships will certainly help to open doors to new opportunities. I am pleased to see that he is implementing some schemes to achieve this. Collaborations on infrastructure development is good news for our construction industry, that is, if there are plans to have local engineering and other consultants as well as construction firms to be actively involved. I note that an Infrastructure Office will be established to bring together local and international firms from across the value chain. I would like to ask the Minister: who will this Office serve – Government-linked companies? Temasek-linked companies like Surbana Jurong? Or our private sector? How will local consultants and contractors benefit? Next, even before the Budget, the Government has shared plans to transform industries through the development of Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs). These are aimed at addressing issues within each industry and fostering deeper partnerships between the Government, firms, industries, trade associations and chambers.”
“How will the Government decide which entities and projects will receive these guarantees, the amounts and the timeframes for repayments? In addition, will there be a cap on the total amount of guarantees to be provided? As infrastructure projects are supposed to be utilised well into the future, it is important to also apply our vision of building a Smart, Green and Liveable City on such projects as they will certainly impact how we live, work and play. I would like to suggest that we consider designating a proportion of the borrowings for such projects to be in Green Bonds issuance which, in turn, supports the Monetary Authority of Singapore's initiative to grow the green bond market in Singapore. This would help develop a green bond market of a significant size and add to the vibrancy of the bond market with greater variety of products attracting different investors. Finally, I would like to ask the Minister about the necessity of growing our Ministries' Budgets at 0.3 times gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Is it necessary to expand Budgets every year, as long as they are pegged to inflation rates? Is it not possible for each Ministry to continue its operations within the allocated Budget to strive for cost-effectiveness through work design improvements and taking advantage of technological innovations? Instead of pegging departments' budgets to GDP growth, it may be better to review and justify investments and expenditures annually, even in years when there is GDP growth. I would like to conclude with my support for the Budget. 4.52 pm Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for this strategic Budget plan, which is a practical and far-sighted approach at preparing Singapore to continue to do well in the future.”
“5% last year, a seven-year high. We must continue our investments in innovation and our efforts in structural reforms to boost productivity growth for the long term. Wage increases and productivity gains must grow in tandem. Does the Ministry have details of how much of the wage increases in the past year can be attributed to the 4.5% increase in productivity? I fully support the decision to extend the Wage Credit Scheme which co-funds salary increases for Singaporean employees, up to a gross monthly wage of $4,000. The scheme aims to encourage employers to share productivity gains with staff. The gradual reduction in co-funding by the Government, from 20% this year to 10% in 2020, will ease cost pressures on companies while they undergo transformation to raise productivity. Another important scheme is the Progressive Wage Model (PWM). I hope the Government will consider expanding this productivity-based wage progression pathway to sectors beyond cleaning, security and landscape sectors. Doing so will help the low-wage workers in other sectors who are vulnerable and not equipped to negotiate for training, upgrading, better or more productive work designs. Next, the plan to both save and borrow for future infrastructural projects is a sound one. I agree that the plan to borrow by our Statutory Boards and Government-owned companies involved in infrastructure will achieve twin benefits. Firstly, spreading out the costs to better match the timing of the accrual of investment benefits; and secondly, developing our bond market. Providing Government guarantees backed by our reserves would certainly kill two birds with one stone – providing assurance to investors while preserving our reserves to generate future returns.”
“Under what circumstances can the Government use other combinations of income instruments to replace the tax contribution from the GST increase? Also, what is the expected GDP contribution arising from the large-scale infrastructure projects, such as Changi Airport Terminal 5, Tuas mega port and the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR)? How would these go to reduce our reliance on future GST increases? In addition, will the Government consider a cap on the proportion of GST contribution to total revenue, since there will be future returns on investments made with our current reserves and the infrastructure investments we are embarking on? We also have to consider if we should set a ceiling on our GST rate in the future. For now, even after increasing it to 9%, our GST is at the low end of the spectrum, compared to many other developed countries. European countries’ GST or Value-Added Tax (VAT) is between 10% and 20%. The standard rates in Denmark and Sweden are 25%. While Denmark's VAT is set at one rate, other countries, such as Sweden, Germany and France, have reduced rates applied to essential goods, such as food. I agree with our Government’s decision to keep our GST at one flat rate to minimise administrative and compliance costs. However, going forward, should our GST continue to increase, we should review and examine other GST models with lower rates on essential goods and services to reduce the burden on the lower-income groups. In planning for GST increases, we have to take into account both the pace of wage increases that can be attained and the projected inflation rate, so as to reduce the impact of the increase in the cost of living on our citizens. (In English): I am heartened to note that our labour productivity grew 4.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is a well-considered and strategic Budget which positions Singapore for the medium and long term. I am in agreement with the Budget, which has been carefully calibrated and aligned with our key goals. While we enable innovation and support our enterprises to seize future opportunities, we are also preparing to deal with increasing expenditures in healthcare, national security and infrastructure. Indeed, as the Minister had emphasised, we are at a transition point which will present unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Some hard choices, such as raising the GST, will have to be made to ensure that we stay in the black and continue to build up our fiscal fitness. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Minister for Finance has announced that the GST will have to be raised in the next few years. GST is one of our key sources of revenue. This advance notice will help investors, businesses and residents to plan expected expenditures. The Minister has mentioned that the exact timing of the increase has not been confirmed and will depend on the state of our economy, our future expenditures and the revenue from existing taxes. Is the Government considering the possibility of postponing the GST increase beyond the projected timeframe if our future economic performance is better than expected? The GST was introduced in 1994 at the rate of 3%. It was increased nine years later in 2003 to 4% and, subsequently, in quick succession, to 5% the next year in 2004 and 7% another three years later in 2007. It will be over 10 years by the time it will be raised again.”
“Passers-by and pedestrians who currently walk past outdoor designated smoking areas will also breathe in second-hand smoke. If we could have some DSAs within the buildings, it could reduce the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. At the same time, it will protect the smokers from the elements. While we are trying to do our best to reduce smoking, it takes time. Meanwhile, we should provide an avenue where both parties could co-exist but without affecting each other negatively.”
“MOE also works with the IHLs to identify and address potential difficulties in gaining access to countries that may be of interest to their students. Feedback from students on their overseas stints has been positive. Their exposure to different cultures and working environments abroad has challenged and enriched them immensely.”
“Question No 12, please. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Ms Low Yen Ling) (for the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills)): Mr Speaker, Sir, IE Singapore's Young Talent Programme (YTP) aims to provide students at our Autonomous Universities, Polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) opportunities for overseas exposure and market immersion to prepare them for future global careers. Since 2015, the programme has benefited about 1,900 University students and more than 1,100 Polytechnic students and 200 ITE students after its expansion to include this group of youths. IE Singapore's SkillsFuture Study Award for International Business is targeted at Singaporeans with at least three years of working experience in a global role. It aims to deepen skillsets essential for navigating and overcoming the complexity of overseas markets. Since its launch in October 2015, a total of 432 study awards have been given out. MOE recognises the benefits overseas stints bring. These experiences help young Singaporeans develop a global perspective, a healthy respect for other cultures, greater independence and adaptability to new environments. Beyond the YTP, all our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) facilitate a range of overseas exposure for interested students, including academic exchanges with foreign partner universities, community service projects and internships or industrial attachments. Today, more than a quarter of ITE students, nearly half of Polytechnic students and close to two-thirds of university students choose to participate in an overseas programme during their course of study. The IHLs actively grow their overseas networks to expand the opportunities for their students.”
“I should have been clearer. I was referring to the same brand of kaya. Identical brands. The only difference is which one is less sugar. The actual price is $2.95 versus $3.95 for the one with the lower sugar content.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. Very often, we go to stores and we find items that are labelled with "low sugar content" cost more than those with "normal sugar content". To the general public, they do not understand why items with low sugar, which is healthier, which they want to choose, but it costs more. The simple thinking is that low sugar means put less sugar, so it should cost at least the same, or not much higher. I have seen items that are, for example, "normal sugar content", cost, say, $3 and the one with "low sugar" costs $4. The price difference is quite a lot. So, if we want to encourage people to move to a healthier diet, could MOH educate the public on why there is such a big difference?”
“Yes. But these estates are already 50 years old, and they have to continue to wait out for more years. So, I am referring to whether we could bring back a programme, such as EUP, that was previously there.”
“I have a clarification for the Minister of State on private estate upgrading. I was not referring to ad hoc repair and maintenance work. EUP focuses largely on estate-wide improvement work. And this will go a long way to resolving this issue.”
“Ensuring environmental sustainability also includes implementing measures to expedite the adoption of more water- and energy-efficient technologies in our buildings and facilities. As we are a densely populated and highly built-up city, such measures will have a great impact. Will the Government share the good practices adopted by the industry so that more can learn from these examples? And will the Government consider incentives for developers who adopt more environmentally-friendly designs and technologies in their developments?”
“One is the "master developer" approach where developers can do the master planning and optimise different land uses in an integrated manner for large parcels of land. For developers in overseas markets, they have the opportunities to develop: (a) a township; (b) they could build entertainment complexes, such as a golf course and theme park, to enhance the surrounding residential or commercial development; or (c) they could build schools and hospitals or other public facilities which would be handed over to the relevant authorities to operate, with rights to develop real estate for residential or commercial use. In these instances, the developer has the flexibility to plan and execute the development in phases and adopt varied sales and marketing strategies to achieve its return objectives, while complying with the tender specifications by the authorities. Is the Government working along these lines? Would this be a possibility in Singapore, given the land constraints? Perhaps the development of certain Southern Islands can adopt such an approach. The other approach is the Business Improvement Districts (BID) model where businesses and business-funded associations come together to improve a defined commercial area. Property owners and retailers work together to decide on how to create and build an attractive BID. The CFE recommended a BID to empower precinct associations, such as the Orchard Road Business Association. Would the Minister please elaborate on these schemes? These collaborative approaches have had good results when implemented in other countries and I look forward to the Minister's updates about their feasibility in Singapore.”
“In dire need of attention are the unduly narrow footpaths and pavements. Those in wheelchairs and babies in prams have to be pushed on the roads. With cars parked by the side, the roads are, in fact, congested and highly dangerous to both the road users and pedestrians. Some parts of the playgrounds and parks are also in bad shape. Community bonding has been affected as a result, since the parks are usual gathering points for the residents. We need the EUP to prevent the shared public areas from deteriorating into safety and health hazards. Could the EUP be sped up? If EUP cannot be sped up, as my appeal to the Ministry last year showed, would it be possible for a special fund to be set up for urgent repairs, maintenance and upgrading works at private estates, where factors, such as safety and health, are of immediate concern? Would the Minister also consider the number of residents living in the estate as one of the criteria during the selection process? If the estate has a higher density of residents, it makes sense to give it priority, other things being equal, as more people stand to benefit from the upgrading. Real Estate and Real Estate-related Industries My third cut is on real estate and real estate-related industries. I declare my interest as a professional in the real estate industry. In land-scarce Singapore, how do we foster more innovations in real estate development, so as to meet the needs of consumers and cultivate a sustainable market for real estate developers and real estate-related businesses, whilst achieving optimum land use efficiency? Last November, the Minister mentioned that the Government is considering new partnership models with the private sector.”
“Will the Ministry assist more fish farms to convert to indoor, vertical farms for better control of the environmental factors? The Apollo Aquaculture Group will be setting up a high-tech farm in Brunei. Are there plans to set up similar farms nearer to Singapore? In 2011, we began a push to increase the percentage of fish from our farms to 15% of the fish eaten here. Last year, we only reached 10%. When will we be able to achieve our initial target? Twenty-five percent of our eggs come from three local egg farms. What is the target for the next five years? How much of the chicken meat consumed here are locally farmed? Do we have plans to increase production from local farms? Have there been studies done on overseas contract farming? In 2015, our farms produced about 11,420 tonnes of leafy vegetables, up 21% from 2010. This amounts to 13% of Singapore's vegetable supply. What is our long-term target for vegetables and fruits grown locally? Can the Minister share what innovative technologies are being used to improve quality, productivity and output for our agriculture sector? Would the Minister also provide an update on the $63 million Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF)? To date, how much of the funds have been utilised? What is the progress of our acquisition of farmland overseas by the Government and Singaporean companies and our partnerships with foreign agricultural companies? 7.45 pm Private Estate Upgrading There are estates that are built in the 1960s and 1970s and are still not selected for the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP). Take my constituency, for example. The Soo Chow Garden, Adelphi Park and Pemimpin estates date back to the 1960s and 1970s, and there are portions which have fallen into disrepair.”
“Thank you, Chairman. First, on food security. During last year's COS debate, the Ministry declared that strengthening our food security will be a priority in the coming years. Whilst the world faces a period of global food supply uncertainty, as the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned in a report last month, due to a growing global population, global agricultural output will need to increase by 50%. Singapore imports more than 90% of its food from 160 countries. This means that we are highly vulnerable when food crises occur. Therefore, we should work towards greater self-sufficiency. Given the scarcity of resources, self-sufficiency does not necessarily just refer to increasing production. Reducing wastage will help us to do more with less. It is, therefore, important to look at or tackle food wastage. Last year, each person in Singapore generated 140 kilogrammes (kg) of food waste. Besides conducting ongoing public education to urge Singaporeans not to waste food, we should also encourage retailers and food sellers to provide the option of smaller portions for sale so that consumers will not have to throw away food they cannot finish. In the US, under the Good Samaritan Act, companies are not liable for anything that happens to those who consume the food they donated. Are we able to adopt similar legislation to encourage more companies to step forward and donate unsold food that is still suitable for consumption? In recent years, our 117 coastal fish farms have had to deal with an increasing number of oil spills and occurrences of harmful algae blooms. What measures does the Ministry have to prevent their recurrence and manage longer-term environmental risks? We have another six fish farms on land. Are they performing well?”
“Mdm Chairman, CSP was launched two years ago to help Singaporeans aged 40 and over who have been looking for jobs for at least six months to access mid-level and more senior jobs. CSP minimises the wage cut by subsidising for 12 months employers who hire such jobseekers in any job that pays a gross salary of at least $4,000 a month. Can MOM share an update with the latest statistics on the progress of CSP, such as the number of PMETs in the various job functions and sectors under CSP and the sectors which have been conducive for CSP? SMEs can seek help from Workforce Singapore (WSG) to recruit PMETs through CSP. With more SMEs encouraged to expand overseas, it will be a win-win situation if experienced PMETs with an MNC background with overseas exposure can be matched with such SMEs. Will MOM consider enhancing CSP by actively facilitating such matches? For this subset of CSP employees, can the period of support be extended beyond a year as projects involving foreign markets may have long gestation periods? Does MOM follow up with CSP placements and monitor their progress? And were there cases where the CSP placements did not work out as envisaged? These insights will help to refine the programme such that it is beneficial to both the PMETs placed and the SMEs hiring them. If the benefits are viewed as being one-sided, then the good intentions of the programme would be lost. The Finance Minister announced that the Government will increase wage and training support for CSP. Will the Minister elaborate on these? The CSP initiative was originally intended to run until October 2017. Will the programme be finetuned and extended? National Jobs Bank”
“Would the Ministry elaborate on what these sectors are, the types of companies within these sectors that would be eligible for this programme and the eligibility criteria?”
“Mdm Chairman, I am heartened to note that the number of PCPs had more than doubled in the last year to hit 50, covering almost every sector in our economy. The Minister shared last month that MOM managed to match about 60% of PMETs to jobs. Does MOM keep track of how long they remain in their new jobs and their subsequent progress, and can the Minister share these statistics? He also mentioned there are mismatches between the number of applicants and number of job openings across these 50 PCPs and that MOM is trying to minimise the imbalance. Can the Minister share more details on how this is being resolved? The Economic Development Board (EDB) has identified Healthcare, IT, Telecommunications and Aviation as our growth sectors. Thousands of jobs in civil, computer and precision engineering, project management, software development, systems analysis and design, data science and robotics will be created. Will MOM be looking into PCPs for such positions? So far, the PCP is reactive in nature. Most applicants would have lost their jobs before they enrol. I would like to propose that MOM take a more proactive and high-profile stance for PCPs. MOM may consider publicising PCPs to feed the needs of growth sectors and co-design modular training courses with the participating employers. This is so that interested applicants, who may still be employed but at risk of redundancy, can join in the training in the evenings and weekends, similar to pursuing an additional degree or certification. This would offer a smoother transition for the affected PMETs. The Attach and Train initiative was announced by the Finance Minister for sectors that have good growth prospects but where companies are not ready to hire.”
“Mdm Chairman, the Lean Enterprise Development Scheme (LEDS) is one of the most comprehensive initiatives launched in recent years to help our SMEs. It aims to support the growth of SMEs by helping them to develop new capabilities, capacity and markets. It also helps SMEs to be more manpower-lean and helps them to improve their HR practices. As of last November, 1,400 SMEs had joined the scheme. May I ask if the number has increased since? Does MOM have a target number of SMEs to help and is the Ministry meeting the goal? In addition, would the Ministry share the profiles of companies under this scheme, for example, the sectors, types of businesses, sizes, number of employees and their nationalities? During last year's COS debate, the Minister of State mentioned that the majority of applicants for the scheme were from the food and beverage (F&B) sector. Understandably, the F&B sector is labour-intensive and, therefore, is a prime candidate to benefit. Are there more companies in labour-intensive sectors that have not come forward and would the Ministry consider more pro-active efforts in reaching out? Has there been any feedback on elements of the scheme that may not be compatible to different business models? I am also interested to know if MOM monitors the progress of the SMEs after they joined LEDS, with respect to their productivity levels, revenues and profit increases or gains in market share. What types of changes in the companies' operations and transformations in work practices have resulted from LEDS? More success stories can be shared to encourage others to take a closer look at how the scheme can help them. Manpower-lean Businesses”
“As the Government and people work together to ensure environmentally sustainable practices, we will lay the foundation for an even more beautiful and liveable home for our future generations. With this, I conclude my support for the Budget.”
“"Buy Singapore" also ties in with another important national objective − environmental sustainability. Minister Heng has highlighted the importance of sustainability in his speech and introduced measures targeted towards more sustainable business practices and consumer behaviour with the increase in water pricing, introduction of carbon tax and promoting the use of cleaner vehicles. These measures will no doubt increase Singaporeans' awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability. In fact, many customers now actively look for products that are not detrimental to the environment, with a lower carbon footprint. Buying products that are made or manufactured closer to home would be one way of reducing one's carbon footprint. For example, we can have more locally farmed produce, fashion or household items using materials that are preferably locally sourced. Not all companies will eventually grow into large multinational industries but they can play a part in fulfilling our collective environmental agenda. I am happy to note that our young are being inculcated with the right values towards our environment. Teachers of preschoolers use the "Preschool 3R Awareness Kit"; older children have the "Youth for the Environment Day" platform to showcase environmental activities. As a father, I noticed that even composition and essay topics from primary school up to junior college use environmental issues as a recurring theme. We, as adults, must set good examples and take the lead in our family lives and in our professions to protect our environment for our present and future generations. I urge the Government to continue to provide more support to community-based projects that are environmentally beneficial.”
“These projects will also create demand for services and products downstream − contractors, engineers, designers, information technology providers and so forth. The Government can do more to boost local demand by including a "Buy Singapore" requirement. "Buy Singapore" should apply to both goods and services. From locally produced fish and vegetables when catering for meals at events to engaging the services of a Singaporean infocomm technology company, as long as the specifications are met and fees are reasonable, we should support Singapore suppliers and vendors. I am sure that some level of support is already occurring in our Government departments but a higher level of awareness and a stronger official mandate will go a long way to boost demand. Such a campaign will also send a signal to the market and individual consumers: if we do not support our own, who will? Supporting our local companies and encouraging them to keep improving is the only way to help them grow big enough to spread their wings beyond our shores to increase their revenue sources which shall help mitigate the ever-increasing costs. We should also ask ourselves if there are local industries that may potentially have an advantage in serving the domestic market that can be encouraged, supported or better funded to help them to grow. This is an important question which merits further and urgent study. In addition, the Government can award companies which meet prerequisite standards within their industries with an official "Proudly Made in Singapore" product stamp or "Proudly Singapore" service logo. This will incentivise our local companies to strive for higher quality. Hopefully, in time, the "Made in Singapore" label will be as trusted and respected as "Made in Japan" or "Made in Germany" labels.”
“While coffee merchants had said that the higher water costs would not affect the coffee prices, the hawkers themselves may be faced with more expensive supplies and higher cleaning fees, and they, in turn, have to pass on these costs to the consumers. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Lim Biow Chuan) in the Chair] The Government would have conducted an extensive study into the impact of the water price increase on all the economic and social sectors. Would the Government consider releasing the details to the public so as to prepare them for all the likely consequences and scenarios? The Government should also further reassure the public that they have mechanisms in place to prevent profiteering by businesses on the back of this increase. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The increase in water price can be complemented by a push to change consumer habits in water usage. In this regard and to further assist the families, could the Government consider giving incentives or introducing a lower tier tariff for households that consume less water either on a household or on a per capita basis? Since water consumption depends on family size and not flat type, it might be more effective for rebates to be given based on the number of persons residing in the household. A larger household would need more support from the Government than a smaller household staying in a similar flat type. (In English): Let me now touch on boosting demand for our economy. I applaud the strategies to bring forward or increase infrastructure projects. Bringing forward $700 million worth of infrastructure projects will certainly help the construction sector.”
“How will the Government continue to support SMEs to overcome these multiple challenges? Any increase in cost of utilities, such as water, gas and electricity, has significant impacts on the economy. It may be that water accounts for a small share of overall business costs and consumer expenses. Nonetheless, consider the knock-on and multiplier effects. A small SME may not be a large consumer of water. That would not stop their suppliers from raising the cost of supplies as a result of the water price increase. Neither would it prevent the management corporation of the SMEs' office building from raising their maintenance fees. The staff of the SMEs may need higher salaries to pay more to their respective Town Councils, children's service providers, and grocers. Eventually, the SMEs would have little choice but to pass on these added costs to end consumers. We do not question the need to increase water prices. There are very good bases to justify the increase. The timing of the increase is of concern. It is usual for price increases to coincide with the revenue recovery cycle of the economy. Businesses are experiencing slow to negative revenue growth. With the drive to push productivity in a tight labour market, every added burden to business costs could hurt the viability of the business. For individuals, Government credits and rebates lessen the direct impact of the water price increase to the households. The indirect knock-on effects mentioned earlier are of bigger concern. We expect hawkers to up their food prices. What we are unsure of is the quantum of the increase.”
“Mdm Speaker, this is a prudent Budget. It is reassuring to know that we are recording a Budget surplus of $5.2 billion, larger than the estimated surplus of $3.5 billion for financial year 2016, so that the Government will have the ability and, I am sure, the willingness, too, to step in with more assistance should the conditions turn further south in this volatile and uncertain environment. The Government has been rolling out incentives to support innovation and get businesses to increase productivity to counter cost increases. However, as innovation and the adoption of new technologies to increase productivity take time, the progress has been slow. One main reason could be that businesses, while raising productivity, have to continue to provide jobs for our citizens. In the domestically oriented sectors which hire more workers than export-oriented sectors, productivity growth is understandably marginal. The capital required for automation and productivity projects can be substantial, and Government grants and subsidies only offset a portion of these costs. While still coping with rising costs, in particular, labour costs, the impending increase in utilities cost due to the increase in water prices and the proposed carbon tax would be additional financial burdens. With the proposed 2% downward adjustment to the budget caps of all Ministries and Organs of State, we can foresee a decrease in Government projects available for public tender. The profit margins on these projects will be lower and companies that cannot reinvent themselves or keep up with productivity may find it difficult to stay afloat. Under such circumstances, would Singapore continue to be an attractive place for international companies to do business in?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State. To counter the tropical heat, would ventilation louvres be installed to shield units from direct sunlight and facilitate cross ventilation, because such louvres have been installed in some condominiums and public buildings, such as the halls at Nanyang Technological University. The other supplementary question has to do with countering noise transmission between floors, a common complaint among HDB residents. What kind of floor impact noise reduction underlayment does HDB intend to use to improve the situation?”
“In my view, section 12A could be more prescriptive in listing out the due diligence steps that owners should take, such as requesting the tenant or contractor to sign an undertaking or affirm a statutory declaration.”
“The owner of a property must satisfy, on a balance of probabilities, that he has taken "all reasonable precautions" to prevent the contravention by the tenant or contractor, or demonstrate "due diligence" but could not have prevented the contravention by the tenant or contractors. The challenge here is what constitutes "all reasonable precautions" or "exercise due diligence". These are grey areas that will only be decided if the case goes before a Court. The owner may think that he has taken "all reasonable precautions" but the authority may view otherwise. Some of us may recall that many years ago, a number of landlords were charged for harbouring illegal immigrants. The law did not spell out the requirements and duty of the owners but merely stated the requirement of "due diligence". The Courts took pain in those years to interpret what constituted "due diligence". The result then was that the bulk of the cases were slapped with convictions rather than acquittal. Subsequently, in 2004 and 2007, section 57 of the Immigration Act was amended twice, and new sub-sections were inserted to explain the kind of acts that the house owners must carry out to avoid prosecution. Similar ambiguity, if applied to section 12A, could cause undue stress on owners and result in unnecessary legal issues and costs. This is especially so if the owners are elderly, physically impaired or illiterate. In some cases, the owners have assigned power of attorney to a third party to lease to tenants and, in the event of a contravention of section 12A, does it mean that the owners would still be taken to task?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill which will strengthen URA's enforcement powers and facilitate its administrative and planning processes. However, in my view there are some points for further review which I would like to share with the House. The first is regarding the reduction of the permissible maximum number of unrelated persons for subletting, from the current eight to six persons. I would like to suggest that this criterion be refined to take into account the size of the unit and the actual number of rooms per unit. The universal cap of six persons per unit may not be optimal. For smaller units, this could result in overcrowding. For bigger units, it is an unnecessary constraint which would deprive owners of additional rental income. Casting a stronger focus on safety and hygiene, the Ministry could look into specifying available square footage per occupant and the level of amenities, such as toilets and bathrooms, provided on a per person basis. Such specifications will set the basic standards for living conditions and prevent owners from subdividing their units further to create more rooms. This will help to enhance not only the well-being of the occupants but of the neighbours as well. Next, on the provision of dormitory accommodation for seven or more persons and short-term accommodation of six consecutive months or less for rent will be deemed a change of use for a dwelling-house for which failure to obtain written permission will be an offence. With many rooms and residences in Singapore now being offered on Airbnb, it would be advisable to provide this group of owners with more clarity on whether they should withdraw their listings to avoid running afoul of the law. Another area of concern is the proposed section 12A.”
“Currently, there are tax-based incentive schemes to encourage family Page: 62 members to top up the CPF accounts of their loved ones. By allowing the transfer of monies in either or both of the member's Ordinary Accounts and Special Accounts to the MediSave Accounts of their family members who have lower balances, the recipients can benefit from the extra interest on lower balances and enjoy a higher effective interest rate overall. In the long term, they will be closer to having their own CPF LIFE plans. This amendment will benefit family members who are not working or are engaged in lower paying jobs for a variety of reasons – to look after the family, illness or disability. The ease of fund transfers will facilitate the strengthening of bonds among family members. I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“As years of data have shown, most investors who had used their CPF to invest would have been better off leaving them in the Ordinary Account. It may be better to err on the side of caution when considering the use of CPF funds for investments by members. CPF should remain a low-risk asset for members. Instead, we should get all members, particularly those from the lower income groups, to focus on building up their CPF accounts. They should be educated on the power of steady accumulation and compounding, as well as the difference between the interest rates offered by CPF and the banks. Those seeking employment, including the self-employed, should not be tempted to receive more cash payments upfront in lieu of CPF contributions. They stand to lose out on Government top ups, if they do not have active CPF accounts and the attractive CPF interest rates. They should be constantly reminded to contribute to their CPF. Without funds in their CPF, it would be difficult for them to plan ahead for important milestones, such as buying a home, funding their children's education or be able to afford unexpected medical expenses, let alone fulfil their retirement needs. At this point, I would like to commend MOM's public education efforts to increase awareness among workers of their rights. The recent TV advertisements to inform workers of their entitlements to CPF contributions do a great job in reaching out to workers in an interesting and easy to understand format. MOM's acronym is particularly suitable for this message – if your employer is not treating you right, just call the hotline and tell MOM! Lastly, I would like to voice my support for the amendments to simplify the MediSave top up process for family members.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill. A key amendment today is to allow a lump-sum withdrawal of up to 20% from eligible members' Retirement Accounts when they reach 65. This option will be available to those born in 1958 or later. Those who prefer to defer their withdrawals have the additional options of transferring the amounts to the Ordinary Account or converting them into monthly payouts through CPF LIFE or the Retirement Sum Scheme. Many Singaporeans welcome this new flexibility. It is always good to have options to withdraw more and get lower monthly payouts or withdraw less and get higher monthly payouts to cater to different retirement needs. I would like to commend the Advisory Panel for its painstaking efforts in reviewing our CPF system. It is not easy to ensure retirement funding sufficiency while introducing more elements of flexibility in the use of CPF funds. As it is today, our CPF funds are being used for housing, healthcare, education and investments to a point where, for some members, they do not have enough to fund their retirement expenses, which was the original intent of CPF in the first place. And, yet, we continue to receive requests to further liberalise the use of CPF funds. Some argue that the older generation, many of whom are less educated, may need more help from the Government to manage their funds. On the other hand, they assert, those in the younger generation are more highly educated and should be empowered to save up for their retirement. I disagree. There is a difference between being more highly educated and financially literate. It takes knowledge, skills and personal discipline to accumulate funds for the distant future, especially when there are already many current needs and wants.”
“Chairman, many of our private estates are at least 30 years old with many elderly residents. The Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) is necessary to prevent many of the shared public areas from degenerating into safety and health hazards. I would like to request for upgrading works to be sped up. Fences or railings to separate pavements from open drains will be helpful to prevent falls into the drains. Old footpaths and open drains may be pitted and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes after the rain. New widened footpaths with ramps will be welcomed by wheelchair or stroller users. Public playgrounds and exercise areas may need renovation so that they remain safe for users. In the event that EUP could not be sped up, the waiting time for upgrade for these old estates could take several years. Can areas that need urgent repairs for safety reasons such as covering up of open drains to create wider footpaths be sped up under a special fund or programme?”
“Mdm Chair, it has been over a year since the Municipal Services Office (MSO) was set up. Would the Ministry share what have been the improvements in terms of the coordination among its partner agencies? What have been the challenges encountered? One of the key initiatives by MSO was the OneService app. What has been the usage rate of OneService app and how much has it facilitated the timely response to the problems brought to the attention of the agencies? What proportion of the partner agencies' feedback comes from OneService app? I understand that MSO has been making enhancements to the OneService app, including adding new reporting categories. Would the Minister share with us an overview of the enhanced features and what are the plans for the OneService app going forward? What other agencies will be added as partners? Last year, the focus had been on making feedback easier for residents and working with agencies to address feedback more effectively. Would MSO take on a further role to review partner agencies' actions on the feedback? Would MSO provide feedback to partner agencies to improve their processes and workflow so as to improve service delivery to the public? With growing manpower and resource constraints, how does MSO and its partner agencies leverage technology to boost the productivity of municipal service delivery? Improving the OneService App”
“One of the solutions is to build our new estates even better to attract these home buyers and their families. These new estates must have the full range of facilities, well-designed and well-integrated with the surrounding ecosystem. They have shared public spaces, barrier-free accessibility and better connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists and are visually appealing. How would HDB ensure that with more and better facilities, the flats remain attractively priced and running estate maintenance costs remain affordable and will not escalate significantly over time? For home buyers purchasing homes in mature estates so as to be nearer to their families, HDB also provides housing grants as the resale prices of these flats are higher than direct purchases from HDB. These flats have shorter remaining leases. As the lease gets shorter, it will eventually lead to declining HDB flat values which will affect retirement planning. Would the Government consider lease top-ups for older flats, in addition to the SERS programme, as not all precincts are suitable for SERS? To further protect against the declining HDB flat values for older estates, would there be the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) schemes for flats built after 1986 after the completion of the current HIP in 2018?”
“Mdm Chair, I declare my interest as a professional in the real estate industry. We need to work together to build better homes with Singaporeans, for Singaporeans. First and foremost, we must ensure that the housing market is stabilised. When the market was rising, cooling measures were necessary in preventing a housing bubble. But now, with a more subdued market, we have to respond quickly to prevent the market from further decline. Otherwise, there will be negative impact on real estate related industries such as construction, interior design, renovation contractors, furniture and consumer electrical and electronics, which, in turn, affect jobs. Housing affordability must remain a top priority, especially for our first-timer families. For most young Singaporean couples, they must have their own homes first before they proceed to have children. Hence, with our birth rate hinging on our housing policy, HDB must ensure that we make available plenty of nests to welcome the stork. We should have a wide range of flats for every budget and need. Wherever possible, public and private housing, even public rental blocks, should be integrated in each estate to facilitate community bonding. For the most vulnerable of our households, I hope the Ministry will be able to accommodate them quickly to reduce the anxiety for the elderly and children in their midst. Does the Ministry have plans to ramp up the supply of public rental flats to cut waiting time? Our home buyers have benefited from recent enhancements to the income ceiling and housing grants, but individual choices, such as the preference for housing in mature estates and proximity to family members, pose challenges for buyers and HDB.”
“We should also provide more work options for older workers and retirees who want to work shorter hours or flexi-time. So far, FWAs are not very common in Singapore. Would the Government work with the TACs to assist companies in redesigning workflows to allow for more FWAs, so that it will become more widely adopted? Not only will this help to improve the work-life balance nationwide, but it will also enable more mothers, older or retired workers to participate in our workforce. Would the Ministry share with us how widely have FWAs been adopted within the Civil Service and Government agencies? I would also like to know the form these arrangements take and the profiles of the involved staff in terms of job functions, seniority, gender and duration of the FWAs. Does the Ministry have any quantifiable targets and deadlines for the percentage of workplaces which offer FWAs? How does Singapore compare with other developed nations in this respect? These would be good benchmarks for private companies to follow. Workplace Safety”
“Chairman, in the last few years, the Government has introduced various schemes and initiatives to help low-wage workers, including Workfare and the WorkRight Initiative. It has also worked with Tripartite Partners to develop and implement the Progressive Wage Model in certain low-wage sectors. In the event that this group of workers lose their jobs, what kind of support does MOM provide to these vulnerable workers? When companies downsize and close down, MOM should make it a requirement for the companies to direct the displaced employees to WDA, so that the Government can assist them through the various schemes and resources, such as the National Jobs Bank, CSP and PCP. Retrenched employees may not be aware of or are too shy to go for such help, but if this forms part of the retrenchment programme of the company, it will have more outreach. The National Jobs Bank has a number of jobs in low-wage sectors, but many low-wage workers will need help to access this website. Some are illiterate. Others do not have computers or Internet connection. Would MOM consider setting up physical National Jobs Bank pop-up booths at accessible locations, such as MRT stations or community centres? WDA runs a number of job and career support programmes. Would the Ministry provide an update on the effectiveness of and the challenges faced by these schemes? For retrenched PMETs faced with structural unemployment, is there scope to increase the number of PCPs to help them find jobs in growth sectors? Currently, Special Employment Credit is given to companies that hire older workers. To encourage companies to continue the employment of its existing older workers, would the Ministry consider extending a scheme similar to Special Employment Credit for these companies?”
“It is heartening to note that, recently, crowdfunding sites have sprung up to meet this need of matching individual investors with small companies that require funds. The loans are more likely to be approved and are processed more quickly than at banks. While this is good news for SMEs that need more funding, Singapore lacks specific guidelines for peer-to-peer lending. I would like to know whether there are plans to put in place guidelines to protect both lenders and borrowers that engage in peer-to-peer lending. Workplace Support for Families”
“Chairman, SMEs are a vital part of our economy. However, our SMEs face challenges, such as tight labour market, difficulty in obtaining loans and an increasingly competitive environment. More needs to be done to help SMEs stay relevant and competitive. The LEDS is a welcome initiative to help businesses adapt to a manpower-lean landscape and incentivise the development of a skilled Singaporean Core. However, not many businesses seem ready or willing to take on this challenge. Would the Ministry share what has been done so far under LEDS to encourage and support business transformation, and what more can be done, given the current business environment? How could the Ministry work closer with TACs to speed up the take-up rate? 6.00 pm I am glad that the Government is introducing a new SME Working Capital Loan scheme to co-share with participating financial institutions 50% of the default risk of loans up to $300,000 per SME. Total business loans fell 3.5% year-on-year in January to $357 billion and SME loan growth is expected to be a low- to mid-single digit this year. This is understandable as the rising level of non-performing loans last year was a problem for Singapore banks. SMEs struggle to secure loans, some due to their short credit history and others due to a lack of collateral. This lack of capital is stifling businesses and hampering innovation in our economy. Will co-sharing of default risk change the bank's risk appetite in this business climate? Since it is an equal sharing of risk, will Page: 101 there be an appeal process through MOM if SMEs could not obtain the loans from the banks? SMEs may also need smaller loans over shorter periods of time which banks may not be able to finance.”
“The Ministry's senior management should consider having more frequent dialogues and meetings with the owner or chief executive to talk about their hiring practices, starting from the "double weak" and "weak" companies. This will enhance mutual understanding of the employment situation. For PMEs who are referred to career counselling programme, we should ensure that the counsellors are more senior and possess more experience than the PMEs that come for this programme. They could also take on the role of a mentor, in addition to counselling and career guidance. The counsellors could be senior management or senior officers of the Ministry, industry TACs or volunteers who possess management experience. This could also be a hiring opportunity Page: 81 for these counsellors if they find the PMEs a good match to their organisation's needs. Presently, job positions paying a fixed monthly salary of $12,000 and above are exempted from the FCF. This should not be the case, as Singaporeans should have the chance to be considered fairly for all jobs, regardless of salary range. I would like to request MOM to review this. I would also like to ask whether more could be done for non-PMETs. They would need career counselling and time to adjust to new training to help them handle new jobs. Interim financial assistance should be paired with job advisory and placement to help them tide over the difficult time between jobs. Employers with Strong Singaporean Core”
“Mdm Chair, like many of my fellow Members of the House, I strongly believe that we should do more to strengthen our Singaporean Core. Minster Lim Swee Say had described the ideal situation as when local and foreign PMEs do not compete with each other for jobs in Singapore but rather work together to compete for jobs with the rest of the world. We will reach there one day. At this moment, there are still frequent complaints about foreigners doing jobs here that can be performed by Singaporeans. Could the Ministry share how serious the situation is? What is being done to ensure that EPs complement rather than compete with locals, and what more can we do? Are we going to have stricter EP application conditions and requirements to manage the EP inflow? Does the Ministry look into how long a particular job has been filled by a foreigner? In cases where it is necessary to hire foreigners, we should ensure that foreign companies execute transfers of skills and expertise to Singaporean employees over time. If a foreigner is replaced by yet another foreigner after a number of years, I would suggest the company be interviewed so that MOM can find out why the transfer of duties to a Singaporean had failed to take place and what can be done to rectify this. Would the Ministry share with us the success and challenges of the various schemes for retrenched PMETs and the National Jobs Bank? How successful is PCP in helping retrenched PMETs find jobs in growth sectors and is there scope to increase the number of PCPs? The culture of an organisation, including its hiring practices, is set by the owner or chief executive.”
“Singaporeans that he interviewed wanted shorter working hours and long holiday periods. Separately, I was told a parent wrote in to the human resource department of a hotel to request that her daughter not to have to work the night shift. These are businesses that hire both local and foreign workers. In this uncertain business climate and with Page: 81 near-term cyclical weaknesses, we ought to act proactively to support these businesses by deferring the levy increases by one year. On a broader front, would the Ministry work with Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) to look into setting benchmarks and controlling either the quota or the levy instead of both simultaneously? This will give businesses more flexibility to drive their business and to have a better mix in the number and type of foreign workers they can employ. With this, I would like to conclude with my support for the Budget.”
“A number of my residents have expressed concern over their abilities to relearn and retrain for different job functions or industries. I would like to take this opportunity to share a story reported in this year's 3 February issue of Bloomberg, titled "Appalachian Miners Are Learning to Code". Jim Ratliff worked for 14 years in the mines of eastern Kentucky, drilling holes and blasting dynamite to expose the coal that has powered Appalachian life for more than a century. Today, he rolls into an office at 8.00 am, settles into a small metal desk and does something which, until last year, was completely foreign to him: computer coding. The coal market began to collapse in 2011 and forced five major producers into bankruptcy. This had hit the miners of Appalachia very hard. The miners had to find alternative jobs and a number of them turned to computer programming, one of the few growth sectors they could identify. I find this example particularly inspiring. They prove that with the right support and attitude, it is never too late to relearn, retrain and restart a new career. Mdm Speaker, next on addressing near-term concerns. I declare that I have interests in the hotel and food and beverage industries. While I appreciate the deferment of levy increases for Work Permit holders in the marine and process sectors for one year, as well as maintaining the manufacturing Work Permit levies for another year, I feel that these should be extended to the services and construction Work Permit holders as well. The fact remains that Singaporeans are not keen on jobs in these sectors and employers have difficulty recruiting enough staff. During a recent coffee shop visit, a stall owner reflected that he is unable to secure cooks for his zi char, which is a cooked food stall.”
“We need Government support, both in funding and in collaboration with local and foreign researchers and universities, as well as foreign firms and for a longer period of time so that these Page: 80 local enterprises could grow to a size that can establish them as significant international players in their own right with a Singapore brand. But here lies another question: is it possible for us, with a rapidly ageing population and a workforce better known for reliability and efficiency, to become creative and innovative? Funding support for innovation is very important. But even more important is our culture. What we need to do, and quite urgently, is to change our attitude and mindset. Creative ventures and setting up businesses require guts because you are putting your own money, time, resources and reputation on the line. We have been trying to encourage risk-taking among our researchers and enterprises for years. As they say, if you want to take on projects in unchartered grounds, "Do not ask for permission, ask for forgiveness afterwards." Is our society ready to forgive a little more easily and make it easier for those who dare, to pick themselves up when they fall and try again? We await the day when we have people comparing how many times they have failed and are still trying, instead of which company they are working with. Supporting our people to overcome challenges and seize opportunities is our investment in SkillsFuture − equipping our people with the right skill sets to work in our new restructured economy. SkillsFuture is a fantastic scheme which encourages individual Singaporeans to take ownership for their own upgrading and career development.”