Christopher de Souza
Singapore
“I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. My supplementary question arises out of our deployment of our Multi-Role Tankers Transport. I think our airmen and soldiers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and MINDEF should be commended. It was a complex high-altitude mission, and it was successful.”
“Much obliged, Sir. My supplementary questions draw from the fact that the situation displays: one, how Singapore has agency; and two, how Singapore can use the situation as a catalyst.”
“It cannot be allowed to be the master. It does not moralise. Thus, as we embrace AI, we must do so with discernment. We should use it to the extent that it facilitates decision-making, but it cannot be allowed to usurp our decision-making. Innovation cannot come at the expense of trespassing on some existing IP rights.”
“In relation to the study on the drug trafficking and the death penalty. In fact, in response to that, I think there is a very good statistic that we should elaborate on in this House and also out there in education that 15 grams of diamorphine feeds 180 drug abuses for one week.”
“The Singapore Land Authority plays an important role in unlocking the value of state land for community use. As a sportsman, I have personally seen with immense joy how underutilised spaces, such as areas under flyovers, can be transformed into safe and vibrant places for sport and recreation, whether for pickleball, futsal, badminton, te…”
“To propel our status as a hub, Singapore will need infrastructure, such as exhibition facilities, to showcase mediation capabilities, breakout rooms, bilateral mediation hearing rooms as well as printers, laptops and screens for settlement agreements to be typed out.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,264 lines we hold for Christopher de Souza, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 21 of 26.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. I would like to express my strong support for this Bill. People are the most important resource we have and Singapore has always invested heavily in education, regardless of economic cycles. Despite the major financial crises in 2008 and 2009, the Ministry of Education has seen through the plans for our fourth university. This shows that the Government and Minister for Education are serious about and committed to delivering education for our children despite difficult economic climates. This Bill exemplifies the Government’s commitment to providing first class education to future generations of Singaporeans. I would like to go into two main points about the Bill followed by some queries. Firstly, Sir, while the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is a welcome addition to Singapore's university landscape, it is also a new institution and it will need to differentiate itself from its peers. In particular, SUTD is predominantly an engineering school and will undoubtedly be considered alongside NUS and NTU, both of which are established universities in their own right, offering a broad range of engineering and related disciplines. Against this backdrop, how will the SUTD’s genre of education be different and differentiated from engineering and architecture programmes in other universities both locally and abroad? How does it plan to attract its fair share of talented students as well as faculty members? Secondly, Sir, the establishment of SUTD was announced in 2009. The collaborations with its key partner institutions, MIT and Zhejiang University, were also finalised in January and August 2010 respectively.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the opening of a dedicated international arbitration facility, Maxwell Chambers, has made Singapore a regional arbitration hub. I have had the pleasure of acting as counsel in Maxwell Chambers and I agree and echo what Mr Alvin Yeo has said of it being an institution par excellence. Due to our Government's support, excellent infrastructure, our track record in enforcing arbitration agreements and reputation for integrity and impartiality, we are rising rapidly to be a premier arbitration hub in Asia. Many local and foreign law firms have upgraded their arbitration capabilities here. Will the Minister for Law consider leveraging on this development to make Singapore not just a regional legal hub but a global legal hub for arbitration and non-contentious legal work? 1.30 pm State land”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, thank you to the Ministry of Home Affairs for its comprehensive reply. I have three clarifications. The first is in relation to anti-terrorism measures. It is good that we are kept up to date where the officers are concerned with technology. Would the Minister consider sending officers overseas for understudying after a terrorist attack has hit that city there so that we can find out how those anti-terrorism agencies overseas work backwards to detect how the terrorist attack happened and, in so doing, help us in our prevention and detection exercises on local soil? The second clarification is in relation to unlicensed moneylending. The reversal of the trend is excellent from 18,000 to 16,000, and it also reversed an increase, so that is very positive. However, my clarification is how significant has the legislation been after its enhancement to catch the syndicate operators upstream? If we topple the apex, then the numbers would really decrease significantly. My third and last clarification, Mr Chairman, Sir, is in relation to organised crime. If I could ask Assoc. Prof. Ho, because of the cross border nature of organised crime, how would the legislation be tweaked to reach out and criminalise aiding and abetting from overseas as the masterminds are always inevitably overseas?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the Prison has done a remarkable job to prepare some inmates for employment beyond the prison walls. However, some inmates find it difficult to get jobs and shelter after release. I would like to suggest involving more of our neighbourhood communities, grassroots organisations and even the CDCs to help with their job placements. Could MHA consider initiating this Government community framework? We also need to conduct public education programmes and reach out to potential employers and companies to help them see the potential in and offer jobs to our ex-offenders. Lastly, could MHA identify, provide financial and administrative support to and work with half-way houses to help ensure that recently released inmates, who are unable to turn to their families for help, will be provided with much needed shelter? Committee on the prevention of reoffending”
“In addition, Sir, we need to do more to prevent loansharks from harassing innocent bystanders, in particular, the neighbours and subsequent homeowners, or even the owners of cars parked next to car of the borrower. Loansharks have become unreasonable in resorting to dangerous measures to recover their money and sky-high interest, blatantly harassing people whom they well know to be unrelated to the borrowers and innocent. They can also be very persistent and threaten the lives of innocent households, including the children in innocent households. What else can MHA do together with the community to deter loanshark harassment?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, our Home Team needs to maintain vigilance against organised crime arising from the casinos, for example, the possibility of illegal moneylending, money laundering, vice and drug syndicates. We need more resources to fight this battle. We also need to update and strengthen our legislation to deal with the cross-border nature of such syndicates operations. The Interpol HQ in Singapore should be roped in to assist in this battle. Would MHA consider passing legislation which is tailored to deter organised crime syndicates from sinking roots or operating here in Singapore? At the end of the day, we must couple enforcement with strong and powerful legislation to deter organised crime from setting foot in Singapore. 6.30 pm Another area of concern is at-risk youth being drawn into these organised crime syndicates. Our schools, law enforcement agencies, the social services sector, parents and youths themselves must all play a role in reducing youth crime. Would the Minister share with us how MHA will work with the community to implement new measures, public education and community engagement programmes to deter youth from joining the lure of organised crime? Loansharks My next cut, Sir. Enhanced punishment for unlicensed moneylending activities was recently introduced. Would the Minister share with us how these measures have deterred loanshark activities? Apart from enhancing punishments, more can be done to work with communities and neighbourhood groups to educate at-risk borrowers of the negative consequences of borrowing on their families, neighbours and themselves. This would assist the would-be borrower to think twice, or thrice, before borrowing from loansharks. Would the Minister share with us the future plans for this type of community-MHA teamwork?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the Home Team has been successful in preventing a terrorist attack in Singapore so far. However, this has led Singaporeans and Singapore residents to take our country's safety for granted. We need to innovate to ensure that Singaporeans and Singapore residents are constantly on their guard against a catastrophic attack on Singapore soil. We need to organise more "dummy exercises" in town, in our heartlands and on our public transport. Instead of an ad hoc schedule, periodic exercises should be organised to ensure that everyone is familiar with the process of identifying potential danger, alerting the relevant agencies and personnel, evacuation and also that everybody has the ability to react on the scene to save lives. Second, I would like to ask the Minister if our security and law enforcement professionals are periodically updated on the latest development in counter-terrorism strategies and technology. How often do they go for courses and theoretical, practical and physical training? Thirdly, going forward, we need to see how our infrastructure and public facilities can be improved in their design and structure to deal with catastrophic attacks and minimise injuries and fatalities, for example, having designated evacuation sites near the buildings. Terrorism”
“Sir, our primary schools are of a high quality. However, MOE should try to help ensure that pre-school education is also of a high quality across the range of pre-schools, so that all children entering primary school have the firm foundations to gain the most out of their Primary 1 education and beyond. The Singapore Pre-School Accreditation Framework (SPARK) was launched in November last year. Pre-schools can participate in SPARK by using the Quality Rating Scale (QRS) for self-assessment to improve the quality of their own programmes or seek external assessment by MOE-accredited assessors. MOE's target is to have 85% of all kindergartens and childcare centres participate in the external assessment by 2013. This is a good development. What else can MOE do to help level the playing field for children entering Primary 1? Helping at-risk youths to stay in school Sir, some families struggle to keep children out of trouble and motivated in school. We need the combined resources and effort of teachers, principals, neighbours, volunteers and grassroots leaders to encourage at-risk youths to recognise the value of education and help them stay in school, and eventually receive a qualification, whether from ITE, polytechnic or university. May I ask the Minister if we have a case management policy to coordinate efforts between schools and the grassroots leaders to maximise the chance of an at-risk youth staying in school? School bullying”
“Sir, the through-train system has received good feedback from students and parents. Without having to spend time preparing for the "O" levels, students have more time to do more project work and multi-media work which are beneficial in terms of learning. From 2012, seven more schools will offer the Integrated Programme, bringing the total to 18. This means that about 10% of each PSLE cohort will be eligible for the Integrated Programme. Is it MOE’s intention to roll this out to more schools? While the Integrated Programme may be beneficial for some students, it may still be advisable to keep some schools strictly "O" and "N" level-centric because it assures the students in these schools a golden "O" or "N" levels certificate. Investing for the future”
“MOE delivers a world-class education to our Singaporean children. However, the reality is that children from less-privileged backgrounds are sometimes at a disadvantage as their parents are sometimes unable to provide the basics for them, such as a relatively quiet study place, reference books, Internet access and personal guidance. How does MOE ensure that the students from low-income families are given the education they need in our schools to ensure they too reach their full potential? How does MOE ensure that opportunities are given to these children to secure places in our ITEs, polytechnics and universities? How will MOE ensure that our schools are tools to help upward social mobility? Opportunities for all”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the cooling measures introduced recently are timely. However, private property prices remain high, especially for young couples and families. High prices also have a significant effect on Singaporeans who want to buy the property to live in and not as an investment. Therefore, I echo the concerns raised by the hon. Member, Mr Lim Biow Chuan. Some Singaporeans feel that the cooling measures have not done enough to make prices affordable, especially in private property. What more can MND do to ensure private property is kept affordable, especially for those who do not qualify to purchase flats directly from the HDB? What more can be done to deter speculation in the property market as this hurts real home buyers? My second point, Mr Chairman, is that land is scarce in Singapore. Should we allow PRs to purchase land easily in Singapore? Should we not try to keep Singapore home-ownership land in the hands of Singaporeans? I have many landed properties in my ward, Ulu Pandan. When I make my visits to these estates, Singaporeans tell me that a number of houses on the streets are being bought by PRs. This may cause the value of land to increase beyond the budget of Singaporeans. Therefore, does MND think it is advisable to make the criteria to buy land as a PR more difficult? After all, land is scarce in Singapore.”
“The fourth point, Sir, Mr Low questioned Singapore's growth. But we are not growing for growth sake. We grow for Singapore's sake. Just as an illustration, last year, our GDP was 14.5%. What did that translate to? That translated into a 2.1% unemployment rate compared with the near double digit unemployment in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). But that is only half the benefit of growth. The other half, and very importantly, is that our employment rate also increased. The employment rate includes people who have gone out of the workforce because they are tired and want to take a break from the workforce and then re-entered the workplace and are able to find jobs. So, the 14.5% growth rate does translate into benefits for Singaporeans, certainly where job security and job placements are concerned. We are not in the business of quick fixes. We are long term, we are far- sighted and we move for Singapore's benefit. Mr Low started off by dismissing the far-sighted Budget as an election one. But Mr Low wants to share, share, share. We, on the other hand, are responsible and want to Grow and Share. 2.24 pm”
“Besides, MNCs like those which have settled down in the Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) carry economies of scale where jobs are concerned. These institutions, these MNCs, they come, set foot in MBFC and create jobs. Therefore, it is not a question of turning the tap off on foreigners but it is to continue to look and calibrate the numbers to ensure that the flow of foreigners in Singapore benefit Singaporeans' interest. Third, which is quite bewildering, is the complaint by Mr Low on food prices going up and, yet, offering no solutions for this. Rather than griping over the issue, we know that food prices have increased but much less when compared to other regions and other economies, we have only increased it by 1.8%, that is food inflation. A recent article in the Straits Times entitled "High level team looks out for profiteering". I will just quote from here that "NTUC Foodfare's 40 retail outlets froze prices for coffee, tea and canned drinks for the remainder of the year even as some foodcourts and coffeeshops raised their prices". Three days later, Fairprice announced a 5% discount on 500 of its housebrand products until 31st May. Mr Speaker, rather than just offering complaints, we are looking at solutions to deal with real issues on the ground, such as the increase in food prices albeit at 1.8% food inflation rate. And not only that, we are literally looking beyond the horizon, as this Government does, for solutions and, beyond the horizons here, it means geographically. NTUC is looking at contract farming to see how we can overcome price hikes at the source level so that this could be re-distributed to the consumers. So we are not just poking and jamming the Budget with complaints but no solutions.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to join in this debate. Mr Low Thia Khiang had, earlier before me, so much as dismissed this year's Budget as an election Budget. But when we analyse Mr Low's speech for what it really is, it really is an election response to our Budget. Wide-ranging in his criticisms but a dearth of solutions in his speech. First, it is surprising that Mr Low is suggesting to lower the GST. Who does Workers' Party really want to help? High-income earners, we know, consume more and, therefore, pay higher GST. And we know that pool of tax collected gets re-distributed to the lower-income earners. These are old issues that have been ventilated, discussed and voted on and have been implemented for the benefit of Singaporeans. We also know that the GST Credits, when they are returned to the public, are returned to the low-income earners, the 1-, 2- and 3-room HDB dwellers disproportionately to their advantage. So, who is the Workers' Party really trying to benefit by the reduction in the GST and the increase in the GST measures, which have proven so beneficial for the wider community in Singapore? Second, Mr Low questioned the recruitment of foreigners. Is the Workers' Party suggesting that there are too many, and which group does Mr Low want to repatriate? Is it the HDB builders, MRT builders, or the foreign domestic workers? These again are issues that have been debated and implemented for the benefit of Singaporeans. Besides, it is an age-old debate. The late Dr Goh Keng Swee very earlier on pushed through the welcoming of MNCs in the days where they were viewed as the new colonialists. But Dr Goh thought that having foreigners in Singapore would improve our economy, policies and GDP, it was implemented and much to the benefit of Singaporeans.”
“Can the Minister comment on how the voluntary care agreement can serve to empower disadvantaged families and enable them to raise their children in a safe and conducive environment? For example, does invoking the voluntary care agreement include helping the parents identify the constraints faced by the family and provision of aid to the family? In addition to ensuring adequacy in financial resources, do we also have schemes in place that help educate and raise awareness of what good parenting entails? At the end of the day, I believe that the first reaction should be to help families help themselves. We should only remove the child from the family as a very last resort. These concerns aside, I support this important Bill. 6.55 pm”
“Member, Mr Christopher de Souza, who is my MP, I am not as comfortable with section 4(c) compared to his comments on it. I am not comfortable because I do not agree with the expanse that it is important for MCYS officers to work because it covers many dimensions of well-being but my discomfort with section 4(c), both parts (i) and (ii), is in notions of adequacy because I think that is hard to establish. Moving along, I think that when it comes to a debate on the well-being of children, it is necessarily a difficult one because parenthood in itself is a learned process. As meanings of childhood and responsibilities of parenthood evolve, as our society matures, we must have in place consistent messages and processes to aid parents and empower them to be effective guardians. My final concern relates to the punitive tone of this Amendment Bill. While there are cases where parents and guardians inflict pain and suffering on their young charges deliberately and with intent, I believe that, in many instances, neglect and abuse are unintended outcomes due to constraints in circumstances. As a family sociologist, I believe that in most situations, the family is the best place to raise a child. The amendments in this Bill are focused primarily on measures in place to remove the child from dysfunctional families. However, there is very little mention on how interventions can be invoked to alleviate the disadvantages faced by such families, and to equip them with the necessary skills and resources so that they are in a better position to safeguard the well-being of their young charges. I am pleased to note the inclusion of the voluntary care agreement in section 48A.”
“Also, the officers in question should not hesitate to notify the Police if there are signs of abuse. Therefore, I agree with Mdm Halimah Yacob that there should be interfacing between MCYS, Police and cross-referencing between the two. The new section 9A empowers psychologists or approved welfare officers, in addition to registered medical practitioners, if they find evidence of abuse or neglect to commit a child or young person to a place of temporary care. I would like to know if the Ministry will provide the appropriate training to the concerned personnel to ensure that they are qualified to make such judgement calls to ensure all steps are taken in the best interest of the child. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Bill. 6.51 pm Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan: Sir, I have three short queries for the Minister relating to this Amendment Bill. First, the amendment to section 8 facilitates early intervention in cases of suspect abuse. While I appreciate the importance of early intervention, I am also mindful that an over-reactive system may result in more "false positives" which will result in traumatising the families involved. Sir, may I ask the Minister to comment on the safeguards that are in place to ensure that a balanced approach is taken for child protection? Second, while I agree with the expanded scope of well-being covered by this Amendment Bill, I am also mindful that notions of emotional and psychological abuse are hard to establish. What constitutes emotional abuse? Or psychological abuse? If a parent overindulges her child – does that constitute abuse? Some might argue that it does – that it is a case of I quote, section 4(c), part (ii), "neglected to exercise proper supervision and control”. Unlike the hon.”
“The debate has thrown up the fact that section 4(c) may be worded too widely, but I take a different view, Sir, because I think it is important to give MCYS and the officers as much room and discretion as possible, and provided of course that discretion is exercised accurately and, if that discretion is exercised accurately, then the children's best interest will be met. So I do support the width of section 4(c) as it is now in the Bill. I think we all agree that parents, guardians and immediate family members are primarily responsible for their children. Hence, as our system strives to provide protection for our children, we want to do this within the family environment as far as possible. We would ideally want to avoid separating children from their families unless there is physical or psychological danger. Where children are neglected or abused, then as part of our "Many Helping Hands" approach, the Government and the community must come together to assist such families to correct their ways and then attempt to raise their children. This approach is much preferable to removing the children from their families and transferring them to an institution of foster home. However, as I said earlier, removal in instances where there is abuse or neglect is the sad but better choice for the children. I strongly urge the Ministry to consider providing more resources and infrastructural support to such distressed families to enable them to raise their children in a reasonable home environment focusing on the child's health and education. In addition to financial and other resources support, counselling and courses on how to manage their families and children should be given on a regular, sustained basis. Follow-up visits by welfare officers are also necessary.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. I rise in support of the Bill, especially I record my full support for the raising of the penalties under section 7 of the Bill as it shows the Government's strong resolve to protect our children from sexual abuse and it also sends a strong signal that this House will not tolerate any form of sexual abuse of our children including child pornography. Anyone caught for sexually abusing children under section 7 should be given nothing less than a deterrent sentence. We must protect our children simply because of their defenselessness and innocence. The other important change in the Act, Sir, is introduced through clause 25. It inserts a new Part 3A introducing a licensing framework to ensure the welfare and safety of children and young people in residential care. Families form the basic blocks of our society and strong families make for a cohesive nation. Our family members especially our vulnerable children should be provided with the necessary assistance and protection for their well being and growth. The licensing framework will spell clearly the requirements for homes and the standard of care in homes. A board will be appointed to review all the cases of children and young people residing in licensed homes and visit the homes to ensure a safe environment. I support this amendment as it will go a long way to raising the standard of care for the young residents. Clause 5 amends section 4(c) to clarify that the child or young person may be considered to be in need of care and protection where his parent or guardian is unable or has neglected to provide adequate necessities even though the neglect was not deliberate.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Minister of State had mentioned the handing out of needles and that is a route that we should not go down. I totally agree. I was not suggesting that we would go down that route. But on the issue of targeting the soft drugs which are not yet scheduled in the MDA, would MHA work on trying to clamp down on clinics that dispense these sorts of drugs very freely, such as codeine and anti-insomnia drugs, so that we do not allow those soft users to eventually trump up into hard abusers.”
“Thank you, Minister of State for your replies. There were a lot of statistics, but I think I am correct to say that the incidence of drug offences increased from 500 in 2005 to about 1,900 in 2008. There seems to be quite a large spike over three years. My question coming out of that spike is: would MHA consider attempting to track the soft drugs that are not yet listed in the Misused of Drugs Act (MDA), for example, the Subutex case, before it was classified. Try to get those drugs in the schedule of the MDA early, so that the drug offenders do not move up the ladder to more serious drugs. I think that would be one way of nipping it in the bud. The second point is about the recidivism rate. The recidivism rate has increased from 18.3% to 21.1%, 37.5% to 39.5% and 21.6% to 25.5% on all three categories of offences being offences against persons, properties and drug offences. Would that be because our population has increased or that we have not got these people in jobs earlier enough after release? If it is the second reason, could we do more to get the inmates who are released in jobs early or earlier?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your replies. The statistics showed that the rioting may be going down but I think anyone would agree that it is very rare for eight people to be charged for a murder against one person. So I think that signifies a great deal of violence in that case. Coming out of the recent cases, my questions are: (i) would the Minister reconsider the manner in which operations against secret society units or gangs are levelled, (ii) whether we need a dedicated anti-gang related unit and a centralised one, and (iii) would the Minister consider keeping the Neighbourhood Police Posts open 24 hours?”
“Thank you, Deputy Prime Minister for giving us the assessment of the threat level of Mas Selamat. I would like to ask supplementary questions in relation to his escape to Malaysia. How was Mas Selamat able to leave Singapore when security had been tightened at the border controls, such as the Customs? If investigations are still ongoing, would the Deputy Prime Minister disclose to the House how he managed to get across to Malaysia when investigations are in fact concluded?”
“Thank you, Deputy Prime Minister for confirming that the manner which he escaped from WRDC is largely consistent with the COI findings. I would like to ask supplementary questions on MHA's assessment of his threat level to Singapore presently. Now that Mas Selamat has been detained, is the terrorism threat lower and is Singapore safer for it? Secondly, is there a greater threat, for example, a revenge attack posed by his network outside of WRDC? Thirdly, I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister what is MHA's present assessment of Mas Selamat's threat level to Singapore and how does this compare with MHA's assessment before his escape from WRDC?”
“Given that the review was only done two years ago in 2008, and this is a moving target and a review looks to be on the cards, would the Ministry of Manpower take bearing from the common law cases and the judgments of the courts as to what a just and equitable compensation amount is when factoring in how much or, if at all, the cap under the Act is raised?”
“Thank you, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, for your comprehensive reply. I would like to ask a question based on the disconnect between the Work Injury Compensation scheme and what is currently being awarded as just compensation by our Courts. For example, in my parliamentary question, I referred to the $182,000 award limit under the Act, yet the Court awarded $1 million. So, there seems to be a divergence of about $800,000. Given the principle of compensating a workman for his injury, would MOM consider raising the cap because there is a need to pay legal expenses to go to Court and you cannot choose between the two, and you have to either choose one or the other.”
“Sir, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary said that employers would have to fulfil the requirements of multi-agencies like MOM and PUB. Are the employers actually told in black and white terms exactly what they have to do, in terms of the ratio of bedding space per worker, sinks per worker, etc? If it was incumbent on them to find out from the different agencies, they will be very confused.”
“Thank you, Senior Parliamentary Secretary. Firstly, what is the definition of unacceptable accommodation? Are the employers told beforehand the requirements that have to be met for the accommodation? Secondly, is there a reduction in the quota of foreign workers that they can employ in future, if they have been charged and found guilty in court for providing unacceptable accommodation?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your comprehensive reply, and thank you to MPA, NEA and NParks for containing this in such an expeditious manner. Two suggestions for the Minister's consideration: Firstly, going forward, is there any way the community can get involved, for example, if it is non-toxic clean-up on the beach? This will promote a green outlook on life, especially among the young. Secondly, would NEA be able to share its findings with the community, for those who are green-minded?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your response. A million Singaporeans going to the casinos, shuttle services until 2.30 am, free stays in the hotels at the casinos – the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) seems to be reactive rather than proactive in this. What can be done to ensure that the CRA is more proactive in the future? What are the repercussions for breaches of orders and has that been made clear to the IR operators?”
“Where the punishment provision in relation to a person found guilty of a hostage-taking offence is concerned, I am of the view that we should not have a cap of 15 years. Would the Deputy Prime Minister consider giving the judges more leeway and flexibility to decide on this depending on the severity of the crime? In future, could the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) consider raising the cap of 15 years imprisonment to a life sentence? The judges can then factor in the duration the victim was detained, physical and psychological injuries inflicted, and corresponding harm to related parties to decide how many years up to a maximum of life imprisonment the offender deserves. Under clause 5, failure to disclose information which can prevent the commission of a hostage-taking offence, or which is useful in securing the arrest, prosecution or conviction of a person for hostage-taking offences, is punishable with a fine not exceeding S$50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both. Would MHA consider raising these caps if it needs a larger deterrent effect on the behavior it seeks to prevent? In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I would like to state my support for clause 13 of the Bill which provides that a foreign hostage-taking offence shall not be deemed to be an offence of a political nature. The same requirement also applies to an extradition request. This is a positive feature of the Bill as it prevents anyone from blocking extradition or mutual legal assistance on the basis that the offences are politically motivated. This will ensure sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-intervention in our domestic affairs. Sir, the Bill is timely, and I support it. 3.18 pm”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join this debate. Hostage-taking is an event which most Singaporeans associate with foreigners in areas of conflict far, far away. However, this sense of security was shattered two years ago in November when one of our own, a young Singaporean lawyer, was held hostage and subsequently killed by militants in Mumbai. Ms Lo Hwei Yen was only 28 years old then. Acts of terrorism can hit anyone, regardless of age, gender, religion, race and nationality. While hostage-takers may or may not be perpetuating acts of terrorism, the fact is that terrorists use hostage-taking as one of their tactics to achieve their goals. Both hostage-takers and terrorists seek to accomplish their objectives by threatening harm; and, in the case of hostage-takers, by continuing to detain, injure or kill someone unless a third party accedes to the requests of the hostage-takers. All too often, innocent parties totally unrelated to the conflict are caught in the crossfire and pay the ultimate price with their lives. Ms Lo's tragedy underscores the importance of international cooperation to combat the threat of hostage-taking. The Bill seeks to enable Singapore to ratify and give effect to the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations. State Parties are to establish jurisdiction over these offences and make them punishable under their domestic laws. They are also required to either extradite or submit for prosecution persons accused of committing, attempting to commit, or aiding in the commission of the offences, and to assist other State Parties in connection with criminal proceedings brought under the Convention.”
“In addition, I support the Ministry's decision to introduce an amendment through clause 4 to safeguard our heavily subsidised rental flats for the very poor and needy. The amendment will allow for subsidiary legislation to deter and punish those who are considering or who are already subletting their rental flats illegally. Such an abuse of our public rental housing system should not be tolerated as it deprives the truly needy as the errant tenants make a profit at the expense of the taxpayers. In light of this, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“I agree with this approach for two reasons. Firstly, it short-circuits the entire process of trying to catch the errant real estate agents and their partners – who are the moneylenders. Secondly, we address the issue of the moneylenders laying claim to the sales proceeds, protected by the law, as the loans are not secured on the flats. This is in line with the objective of public housing. This Amendment Bill will ensure that HDB flats will continue to be used primarily as homes by HDB flat owners. Housing is one of the human race's four basic needs, succinctly summarised in a Chinese proverb "yi shi zhu xing " – clothing, food, housing and transportation. Without housing, it is difficult for one to hang on to a job or provide protection and stability for one's family. The Government set up HDB with the objective of housing every Singaporean. Affordable public housing has always been HDB's mission. The amendment will give effect to HDB’s core mission of providing good quality and affordable public housing for Singaporeans. Not many other countries have achieved the rate of quality public housing that we have. More than roofs over their heads, HDB flats are also safe assets, stores of value which appreciate in value over time and provide security for retirement. Our HDB flats are well-maintained and upgraded regularly. Residents need not fear deterioration of their living environments as HDB continues to be committed to upkeeping and maintaining HDB flats and estates. Therefore, HDB flats should not be used as security or collateral for other loans or as instruments for profit by unscrupulous moneylenders. Such practices are clearly an abuse of the system and we must put an immediate stop to this.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. It is not often that the passage of a Bill is sped through a Certificate of Urgency so that all three readings are effected in one parliamentary sitting. This attests to the urgency and seriousness of the problem at hand, namely, the increasing number of moneylenders giving loans to HDB flat owners at very high interest rates with the borrowers' flats as collateral. It also shows how decisively, determinedly and thoroughly MND is acting to nip the problem in the bud. I think the approach the Ministry is taking will be effective in curbing this unhealthy development and addressing the root of the problem. To date, a number of unscrupulous moneylenders have been exploiting a loophole in our legislation. Presently, there is no restriction on the types of caveats that can be lodged. These lenders have hence made agreements with their borrowers to lodge caveats against their flats. This way, they have the first claim on the sales proceeds. It is all perfectly legal and above board; and the lenders have security in recovering the principle sums loaned plus an obscene amount of interest. In April this year, the Minister, in response to Mdm Halimah Yacob, had mentioned that he was considering "strengthening the regulatory framework to protect public interest". However, the focus then was on regulating the real estate agents such lenders have colluded with. With the introduction of clause 5 of the Bill, repealing the existing section 51 and enacting a new section 51, caveats can no longer be lodged against HDB flats for the payment of debt. Any contract using a HDB flat as a security or collateral for any debt other than as mortgage for the purpose of financing the purchase of the flat will be null and void.”
“It is a worksite billboard which already exists.”
“Mr Speaker, I echo Mdm Halimah Yacob's thanks to the Minister for Transport in bringing forward the deadlines. I think it shows the resolve the Ministry has in taking this matter seriously. The Minister mentioned penalties, and with that, the discussion on demerit points. But would the Minister consider a penalty to the employer if there is indeed a fatality or serious injury on the way to work, in terms that it may affect the quota or number of people he could employ in future? When you pass a worksite, there is a billboard which says number of fatalities and the number of workers that are injured. Could we institute regulations so that employers will need to also display the number of workers that have been injured on the way to and from work on that billboard as a deterrent?”
“I cannot be very precise as to whether or not they are reviewing it but I am sure LTA and the various agencies whose infrastructures are affected will certainly consider what additional measures to take. To his earlier suggestion about enlarging scupper drains and making the inlets bigger, this is already being done by the PUB. I do not have the details for Chai Chee but certainly we looked at it because that was one of the areas flooded on the 25th of June. We will consider whether or not these are some of the short-term immediate measures, as he rightly pointed out, that can be put in place before we enlarge the drains or the canals.”
“And, in fact, Sir, I would like to add that we are also prepared to work with home owners because, in some areas, it may be difficult for us to expand or enlarge the drain because of limited land availability, but what we can do is to advise the home owners on the necessary actions to take. So the PUB is prepared to work with the home owners on what are the measures they can take to prevent flooding in their homes. Assoc. Prof. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: I visited the site in Chai Chee and I met a few concerned residents there. While waiting for the overall changes in the drainage system, they suggested that maybe the Ministry can consider making an immediate step to increase the size of the road kerbs, scupper drains and road kerb drop inlets at all affected housing estates to take in more water quickly, so that we can prevent further flash floods. Secondly, I have also noticed that recent heavy rain spells, which were accompanied by strong winds and thunder storms, have resulted in some damages to our urban infrastructure such as our traffic lights, signages, power supplies as well as trees and landscape of our roads. The concern I have is when these structures break down, especially during heavy downpour, they may pose a danger to the public. So I would like to ask the Minister if there are efforts being carried out by the relevant agencies to review the operational status of these structures in withstanding the effects or impact of such heavy downpour or thunderstorm. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, to the second question: there is an inter-agency committee chaired by the PUB that looks at all of these incidents.”
“Thank you, Minister, for the comprehensive reply in which you mentioned Bukit Timah three or four times. The stretch of Bukit Timah where the canal runs through is located in my constituency. So, I would like the Minister's assurance on two questions. Firstly, I understand that there is going to be a widening and a deepening of the Bukit Timah canal. Could that be accelerated? And also the canal that takes the collection of water to Sungei Ulu Pandan which goes underneath Maple Avenue, would that be accelerated too? Secondly, would PUB continue to encourage the management councils of the condominiums where there are basement carparks to invest money in crest protection measures? I think that would be a very good interim measure until the widening of the canal. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: As I mentioned in my reply, where it is possible to accelerate, we will do so and, in fact, the Bukit Timah canal and the diversion canal is one of the top priority areas. So I would like to assure the hon. Member that the PUB is paying close attention and will work as fast as possible to get this job done. To the second question as to whether we can continue to work with the management of the condominiums, we would do so, as per my reply to the earlier question. In fact, after the last three incidents, we contacted all the management of the condominiums and advised them on what can be done. These are all older condominiums. The new condominiums are all subjected to the new platform levels in which PUB has stipulated. For those who were built before the new law came into effect, the best thing for the management to do is really to work together with the PUB and find measures in which they can incorporate. Some have already done so. Some, I think, are considering that.”
“Thank you, Deputy Prime Minister, for the comprehensive answer. My supplementary question is: are the radicalised individuals who have been arrested by the ISD this time merely just a few misguided individuals or is there a more deep-rooted problem in Singapore and how do we ensure that Singapore remains safe against the threat of terrorism?”
“The Senior Minister of State mentioned the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) being imposed on hotels if MTI receives feedback about vice activities on the ground within the community. So is there a mechanism for the community to give feedback to MTI that indeed it thinks that the hotels should have the CEP imposed and what is the mechanism through which that filters up?”
“I am much obliged and I think I should buy Ms Irene Ng a cup of coffee. Mr Speaker: No, please. Get on with your question, Mr de Souza, please.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the comprehensive reply and I appreciate that hourly-rated hotels service more than just air travellers, and I agree with that position. I would like clarifications on two points. The Minister mentioned in September last year new guidelines came out imposing certain restrictions on those intending to set up budget hotels. So do those restrictions apply to budget hotels pre-dating September last year? And that leads to the second clarification which is, if there are budget hotels in residential areas which were set up before September last year, can the community also be engaged as to whether or not their licence should continue if indeed there is a high amount of vice being generated by that within the neighbourhood?”
“12% of around 196,000 FDWs in Singapore complained to us about their salaries not being paid or not being paid promptly, and conclude that the electronic tracking mechanism is not needed now. GOVERNMENT POLICY ON HOURLY-RATED HOTELS 14. Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) if his Ministry is aware that allowing hourly-rated or transit hotels in residential areas results in sex workers plying their trade in the neighbourhood and causes distress to residents; (b) what measures will his Ministry implement to prohibit the issuance of licences to charge hourly rates to hotels operating in residential areas; and (c) whether his Ministry will consider only permitting hourly-rated or transit hotels near the airport and not in residential areas.”
“Thank you, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, for the comprehensive answer. The 0.1% statistic is indeed encouraging. My clarification is coming out of that 0.1% statistic, which are the reported cases. Of course, there may be instances where a FDW is not paid and does not report, and that is where my clarification lies. Does MOM agree that there is less incentive for a FDW who has not been paid to report, given that she is reporting against her employer who has to pay her salary? Therefore, if there is an increase in the statistic, would MOM consider the tracking mechanism that has been suggested? Mr Hawazi Daipi: Thank you for the question. As I have said, the number of FDWs who have reported that they have not been paid their salaries promptly or for a long period of time is really very small. We have enhanced our attempts to reach out to them to help them. Apart from that, as I said earlier, there are also the legal and regulatory measures to safeguard the FDWs' well-being. We require employment agencies to use the standard contract, which is a condition for the renewal of their licence annually. We expect the employment agencies to include in the standard contract a clause on salary payment mode. The standard contract, which is signed both by the employer and the FDW, has raised the awareness of the FDWs of their rights to salary payment promptly. FDWs are also informed about how to reach MOM offices should they need assistance. Of course, there may have been cases of employers who got away with not paying their FDWs over a period of time. Through complaints from FDWs during our random audits, we may discover some of these cases from time to time. But we go by the fact that last year, only 0.”
“Thank you, Minister of State, for the statistics – 70% are local hires. How many more jobs does MOM envision Resort World Sentosa (RWS) and Marina Bay Sands (MBS) creating when fully operational? What is MOM's plan to ensure that the additional jobs created from now till the operational time are prioritised for Singaporeans?”
“As he was released early for good behaviour, there must have been a significant and measurable gain in rehabilitation efforts. Yet, four years later, he attacked his young victim again. This case highlights two important considerations. First, that it is very difficult to assess risk. Second, when we invoke the community as part of the rehabilitation process, we must also equip the community involved with skills and information to empower the members – to make significant contributions to the rehabilitation of the offender, as well as to protect themselves. I raised these as concerns so that the community can be assured that their well-being is not compromised as we expand the CBS schemes. All said, I want to place on record my support of these proposed schemes as I strongly believe that we should not stigmatise those who have faltered, and as a community, we must do all we can to help these fellow Singaporeans return to equilibrium. 5.58 pm”
“Sociological literature on deviance tells us that much of it is learned behavior. For example, anti-social behaviour can often be traced back to the emersion in a sub-group culture which challenges status quo and normative expectations of the establishment. Here, negative peer influence is often the culprit. A confounding factor is the inability of the family to effectively police the offender. In these cases, releasing the offender back into the very environment that first tripped him may not be effective rehabilitation. In determining suitability of CBS schemes, will the Community Court take into consideration quality of offender’s social environment in additional to the nature of the offence? Will there be community-based interventions that will enhance the likelihood for successful rehabilitation? The second issue concerns evaluation of relative risk of recidivism, and risk to the community. Before an offender is allowed to return to the community to serve his CBS, the public must first be assured that the offender will pose no harm to those innocent members in his social environment. How will relative risk of recidivism be assessed? In the expansion of CBS, the notion of risk to community must be addressed. Recently, the Straits Times reported the case of the "Monster dad" who molested his 6-year old daughter, was incarcerated for four years and released back into his family, and then went on to rape the same child that he had abused. I had several questions when I first read the case: what rehabilitative efforts were conducted on the perpetrator when he was incarcerated for the first offence? For him to be released back into the community and allowed back into his family, how was he "certified" to be safe around not just his child but other children?”
“First, I must confess that I have but a truncated appreciation of the complexity spelt out in this Bill. A little while ago, Mr Calvin Cheng whispered to me that we were the only two non-laywers speaking on this complex Bill. I think for good reason, I sent an urgent e-mail to my research assistant, a law undergraduate, for help in deciphering the legal jargon. He replied in an email, "It is all 450 pages long! I will need time..." And then, he disappeared and went off to Melbourne, so I was left on my own. From my limited understanding, one key feature of this Bill is the expansion of community-based sentencing schemes (CBS). This Bill acknowledges the limitations of tradition punishments of fines, imprisonments or caning, and proposes there be greater flexibility in the law and a more graduated sentencing option for minor offences. The Bill proposes five new CBS: Short Detention Order, Day Reporting Order, Mandatory Treatment Order, Community Service Order, and Community Work Order. In general, I stand in support of a more holistic rehabilitation option for offenders – especially for those who committed minor misdemeanors. As a sociologist, I strongly agree that the traditional punishment modes of incarceration may not be the best option for certain groups of offenders, particularly low-risk offenders. I am especially appreciative of the Mandatory Treatment Order which acknowledges the severe disadvantages the mentally challenged faces, and the emphasis on psychiatric treatment as rehabilitation. While I stand in support of this Bill, I would like to seek some clarification from the Minister on two key issues. The first relates to the social environment in which the rehabilitation takes place.”