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 5 of 26.
“Sir, I thank the Minister of State for his response. In an investigation, there are suspects and there are witnesses. So, in the event that the TraceTogether information is used of a witness, would there be a possibility of deletion of this information, by virtue of its private nature, if the investigation does not yield anything or the investigation comes to a close? I am wanting to draw a distinction between the suspect and a witness.”
“It may need improving, but it is a good system nonetheless. [Applause.]”
“Therefore, in addition to needing to weigh up evidence, that is, whether the person is guilty beyond reasonable doubt or whether he or she should be acquitted, the Judge needs to decide what rationale of sentencing to apply. And so, judging is not easy. It is not easy and we have many excellent State Court Judges. We will never be finished trying to improve the system. That is a constant. One listens to the Minister and all the speeches – we are all trying to improve the system, yes. But we have got a good foundation here. And there have been significant policy improvements over the years which I am aware of as counsel in private practice – which I declare to you, Mr Speaker. For example, over the years, we have introduced the video recording of statements by an accused. We have expanded the criminal case disclosure regime by having access to more information, the defence would be able to better prepare a more accurate case. We have allowed video recorded statements to be adduced as verbal evidence under certain circumstances to reduce the trauma of vulnerable victims. We have introduced provisions allowing certain vulnerable victims to testify, shielded from the accused. We have introduced provisions to ensure that the victim's identity in an offence under the Children and Young Persons Act is held in strict confidence. And we have introduced more comprehensive offences to tackle the seriousness of child pornography and child abuse content. Therefore, we do have a good system, Sir. This particular case has shown that there are still areas for improvement and I am heartened that the agencies will be reflecting on this case. I have every confidence that we can continue working from a good solid base towards a fair justice system for all. So, we have a good system, Sir.”
“One has to appreciate within AGC the intense nature of the work, the huge number of investigation papers, evidence and statements, and on top of that, having to run trials, attend plea of guilt mentions and pre-trial conferences. It is tough work, as Minister Shanmugam said, it is dynamic. There is so many pressures and each decision has sometimes life or liberty of a person in question. The second point, Sir, I would like to make is that a lot has been said about the trial Judge who handled the case at first instance in the State Courts. Here, I would also like to speak up for the system and see that there is indeed a lot of pressure on Judges. Many factors weigh in the Judge's mind. Firstly, is the person guilty, beyond reasonable doubt? Then, the Judge needs to ask if indeed the person is guilty. What is a fair and just sentence? How does one tamper justice with mercy in a sentence? And in sentencing, there can be so many permutations. Again, I say this in this House with some level of experience – notwithstanding that experience as a very junior judicial officer – my first posting in the Legal Service, before AGC. The Judge could be guided by retribution, which is a form of punishment. Or the Judge can be guided by deterrence which is to deter the accused or others from doing the same offence. Or a judge could opt for rehabilitation because he or she sees the sincerity in the offender and feels that he or she should be given a second chance to rehabilitate. Or the Judge can opt for restorative justice – which is my favourite type of justice – where the offender is given a chance to apologise for his or her mistakes and the relationship is restored between the accused and the victim.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I want to speak on this topic based on my personal experience. My second posting in the Legal Service was at AGC. This involved significant decisions whether or not to prosecute a person or to charge a person. Let me give you an example. One of the cases I had prosecuted was to do with rioting. The facts of the case were that there appeared to be a riot in a foreign worker dormitory. Five foreign workers were charged for rioting. They were watching a sports match. Things got tense and people started to fight. But I was not sure whether one of them was even part of the fight. As a DPP, I raised the question to my superior that rather than being part of the fight, I thought that the foreign worker in question was trying to break up the fight. I was instructed to interview the foreign worker. I asked to do a site visit where the fight happened, in order to get a sense of the evidence. That was a foreign worker dormitory. In the end, we formed the collective view that, indeed, this man was innocent and had actually tried to break up the fight. I went to Court as a DPP to ask for a discharge amounting to an acquittal for the foreign worker. He was set free because of AGC's application for a discharge amounting to an acquittal. That, to me, was my experience of the AGC – the integrity of the AGC. It is so easy to tar an institution, but I feel that, on the whole, AGC is an excellent institution, made up of good officers and I want to stand up and say that today. [Applause.] In the example I gave, the foreign worker did not have a defence counsel. So, the decision-making was all borne on the shoulders of the DPPs in question and the superiors we reported to.”
“I thank the Minister for his explanations. I have three clarifications. The first is in relation to the duration of the case – four years. Four years is a fairly long time for a person not to be employed, and then, eventually, acquitted. So, would he be able to explain the four-year duration? The second point is about entrenchment of impartiality within the system, what more can be done to entrench impartiality. I am not insinuating that it does not exist. I think it does exist. But what can we do more to entrench it? And the third point is somewhat related. It relates to capital cases – whether in capital cases, in trials, there can be two judges hearing a capital case in the first instance, and then possibly five judges on appeal, arising from the various different opinions between each levels of court.”
“We cannot pigeonhole ourselves or others as "right-" or "left-leaning” but must have the flexibility to be politically ambidextrous, not being a slave to rigid ideology but always with an eye for doing what is best for Singapore and making sure it works for Singapore. Furthermore, we should also be cautious about divisive politics. That, in my view, is not beneficial for Singapore. Divisive politics occurs when we are so entrenched in our position that there is no negotiation for middle ground. I do not think this would work in Singapore nor would it be beneficial for Singapore. We need to resolve disputes for the best of our country – even if we agree to disagree, the process and the debate allows for a fine-tuning of the points of view. And if a way around can be found, it places Singapore in good stead. The ideas proposed earlier regarding foreign worker dormitories, how to engage the seismic shift in tertiary education or ride the waves of a post-COVID-19 world with an excellent IP regime are all aimed at bettering Singapore. What is essential, if we are to ride this storm, is that Singapore’s best interests must always be our goal when advancing our points of view as legislators. If we are united in that cause, then Singapore wins. I support the Motion.”
“Indeed, IPOS’ strong reputation likely had a positive impact on Mr Daren Tang’s candidature as Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), which he will commence on 1 October. Having a strong IP framework is important to encourage innovation in Singapore as it helps generate and protect income from virtual products. Hence, the point that I am getting at, Mr Speaker, is that there is a regulatory framework to protect inventions squeezed out during the COVID-19 pandemic period. This makes Singapore attractive and exceedingly relevant to the region and the world. So, we have got good foundational structures to ride the post-COVID-19 wave. Our Bicentennial exhibition last year and especially the five excellent Acts performed at Fort Canning, reflected how Singapore has always been at the crossroads of history and was always enveloped by a time of change in a changing world. But, even as we are ever surrounded by change, one thing must remain constant and, that is, unity. Will Singapore remain exceptional? Will we, as legislators, lay aside our differences to forge a stronger and brighter future for Singapore together? How can we forge a better and stronger Singapore together? As legislators, we come together to debate and refine policy, to lead constructive conversations on what is best for Singapore. The policies and the shaping of them – both the result and the process are important. Often times, especially for fiscal policies, neither extremes are the best, with pitfalls for both.”
“These include not only biotech and biosciences but also media and technology, for example, animation or film. Firstly, we have a strong infrastructure to support these industries. For example, we have Biopolis which is specially built as a research and development hub at One-North, situated in a place that fosters collaboration between private companies and public scientific and educational bodies. Fusionopolis was designed to create an environment conducive to growth in information and communications technologies, media, physical sciences and engineering industries. The Metropolis in Buona Vista was meant to be a gateway to One-North with research facilities and business parks situated there and designed to be the headquarters for multinational companies. From what I have listed, Sir, we have custom-built state-of-the-art facilities for these sectors situated in places that promote collaboration and generate innovation. Hence, we have a sturdy foundation to ride the waves of biosciences, biotechnology, animation, film and virtual technology. Secondly, we have a strong Intellectual Property or IP framework that supports the development of virtual products. We have accelerated and robust application-to-grant pathways for certain IP rights. For dispute resolution, the Intellectual Property (Dispute Resolution) Act passed in 2019 will streamline IP dispute resolution in the Court system and has clarified the arbitrability of IP rights in Singapore. At this stage, Sir, I should declare that I am a practising lawyer at the Singapore Bar. Internationally, Singapore is known as an IP hub, with a strong IP office and enforcement working closely with other countries to enable smoother and faster IP protection globally.”
“My suggestion is to introduce penalties that disgorge a certain percentage of profits to deter repeat offenders and the kind of harm caused by contraventions. To be fair and encourage responsibility on the part of all parties involved, we could take a balanced approach. For example, if the occupier of a dormitory, that is the one in charge of the premises, can prove that he or she had taken all reasonable steps to achieve the criteria on a checklist, it would be prima facie evidence that they had fulfilled their obligations. On the other hand, foreign workers themselves staying in the dormitory would also have a similar checklist listing out their own responsibilities. Allow me, Sir, to move on to the third broad theme of my speech – suggestions on how to capitalise on the disruption presented by COVID-19. The first is in the arena of tertiary education. Many Singaporean students have had to return from universities overseas due to COVID-19 and want to make their first few years done overseas count towards a degree in Singapore. Singapore can use this opportunity to attract an even larger talent pool through Singapore Universities, both with Singaporean students and international students. Through online tutorials, students not in Singapore can participate in courses that count towards a Singapore university degree. The supply of students is no longer limited to geography. This can enhance Singapore’s reputation around the world and ensure the collection of ideas through the enhanced tapestry of students – Singaporeans and overseas students alike. In this way, we could look to becoming a global thought-leader in online pedagogy. In this time of disruption, a second area that Singapore could advance in is in industries that produce virtual products.”
“There looks to be demand for Singapore properties by overseas investors due to Singapore being seen as a stable environment. Hence, demand from foreigners may not diminish even if ABSD is removed only for Singaporeans. This means that the property market is kept somewhat stable. The first broad theme of suggestions in my speech, Sir, was related to support available to Singaporeans. The second theme of suggestions are those relating to foreign worker dormitories. About 20 purpose-built dormitories for foreign workers breach dormitory licence conditions each year, almost half of the 43 dormitories regulated under the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act Each year, there is an average of 1,200 employers taken to task for unacceptable accommodation under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. To put this number in context, it is the same number of inspections conducted by MOM last year on foreign worker housing, slightly more than a quarter of inspections and investigations combined. The high proportion of contraventions is concerning to me and we need to carefully examine whether the system is being abused by operators and whether punitive measures in the relevant legislation are sufficiently deterrent. Under the Foreign Employees Dormitories Act, the Commissioner may give a compliance directive if the operations are carried out in a careless or incompetent manner, or to avoid a serious and imminent threat to safety and health of residents. Failure to comply with requirements imposed by a compliance directive is an offence with penalty of a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to both.”
“My second suggestion on broadening support for Singaporeans is to assess personal income as an alternative to income on the household per capita basis. Sometimes, people living in the same "household" do not contribute financially towards each other. For example, siblings who are still living in their parents' home but do not subsidise each other’s finances. Others include situations I have previously described earlier on in my speech. Members of households could draw substantially different wages. In such situations, the person drawing a lower income is disqualified from receiving financial support from the Government even though he or she may not have access to those resources that the income on a household per capita basis attributes to him or her. It also excludes applicants from resources that were supposed to help him or her during the pandemic and, in some instances, prejudices families who are willing to shelter them during this crisis. Some of the schemes affected are the COVID-19 Support Grant, The Courage Fund for lower income households affected by COVID-19 and the Temporary Relief Fund. To address this, Mr Speaker, Sir, my suggestion is to take personal income as an alternative basis of assessment whenever the income household per capita disqualifies an adult Singaporean from financial support. My third suggestion on broadening support for Singaporeans is to consider removing the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for Singaporeans. The Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) already helps to ensure that a Singaporean will not overextend himself or herself but will only get a credit line within his or her means. Revenue can still be raised by retaining ABSD for foreigners.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the COVID-19 crisis has accelerated change. It is bringing about a new normal. In these unprecedented times, Singapore needs to keep what is good and build on it, refine what can be improved and continue navigating toward a better future. My speech will cover three broad themes – first, financial support for Singaporeans; second, foreign workers’ dormitories and, third, riding the wave of a post-COVID-19 world. Since the beginning of this year, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Heng Swee Keat has rolled out four formidable Budgets. These have gone some way to ease the pain felt by people as a result of the pandemic. However, there are some Singaporeans who may not stand to benefit from all these schemes but are, nevertheless, adversely affected by the pandemic’s disruption. For instance, because some of the current schemes assess eligibility based on place of residence rather than whether the Singaporean actually owns the property he or she is residing in, some people may have difficulty tapping on the support they need. For example, less well-to-do adult children who may be staying with parents; large extended families living together in the same house; Singaporeans who have recently divorced or single parents returning to stay with their elderly parents; unmarried children or grandchildren waiting to move into BTO flats under construction; or families who recently sold their homes under difficult financial circumstances and who have moved back in with siblings or parents. Sometimes, the consequence is that Singaporeans are excluded from the Self-Employed Persons Relief Scheme. In light of the above, my suggestion is that support schemes assess home ownership rather than mere residence.”
“I should mention, Mr Speaker, that I am an advocate in private practice and I sometimes do have to delve in landlord-tenant disputes – just wanted to put that on the record. The second main thrust of the Bill is that relating to contracts other than rents. The Bill looks to cap late payment interest, charges for arrears and so on. I welcome the reduction and limitation of late payment interest as this will help reduce snowballing debt. The last clarification I want to seek of the Minister is whether further adjustments will be made to the insolvency framework so that non-viable businesses can still exit smoothly. For example, where a business owner has made the hard decision to stop his trade in these times and seeks to venture into a new trade to overcome the difficult economic environment presented by the pandemic. In conclusion, Sir, the MinLaw team, along with other Ministries and agencies such as the Attorney-General Chambers have thought out of the box and pushed through this exceptional legislation in double quick time, if not in triple quick time. Indeed, sanctity of contract and the avoidance of retrospective measures are what we should all aspire to to ensure the certainty of the bargain struck by two contracting parties. But, Sir, these are unprecedented times. MinLaw has acted swiftly. This Bill, if passed, will reduce the pain businesses are feeling. And if it can reduce retrenchments; if it can help keep wages from being cut or further cut; if it strikes the right balance between tenant and landlord, if it gives that needed life buoy, as we come out of the circuit breaker and into the gradual reopening of the economy, then I say the effort is worth it, and the Bill should be supported. 7.33 pm”
“And if so, whether the rental waiver support from the Government and also the landlords' contribution to the rental waiver will be calculated based on rent pre-reduction or the newly agreed rent? While the law has tried to strike a balance between the landlords and the tenants, it can only go so far in achieving an outcome that all parties will find mutually acceptable in the long-run. Landlords and tenants need each other and I hope that they will continue to have constructive discussions to support each other through this unprecedented crisis. It was reported that landlords can apply for assessment as to whether the SME is eligible and that eligible tenants will be notified in due course. It may be in the words of the draft Bill, but would the tenant also have access to the mechanism of assessing whether one, the landlord is indeed one that faces financial hardship or two, whether or not they are indeed an eligible tenant. Besides rental waivers, the Bill also provides for rental repayment schemes to allow rent to be repaid in installments instead. Would the Minister clarify as to whether eligibility of this rental repayment scheme depends on whether the tenant had previously defaulted pre-COVID-19 or not? Further, what will be done to ameliorate the knock-on effect such deferment has on private individual landlords who would face financial hardship owing to the lack of cashflow? For tenants who are unable to move out, there is a change to the normal law of tenancy in saying that landlords will not get double rent for the period of holding over. Will the Minister clarify as to how this will interact with rental waivers?”
“I just hope that they would try to understand that investing our savings into property should not entail a different treatment than those who invested in other forms of assets. Finally, I am thankful of the Government’s courage and decisiveness in drawing down on reserves so as to combat these unprecedented financial challenges. In times of crisis, we as a society must come together and help our neighbours as best we can. I only hope that we would be allowed to contribute according to our means." I spoke with my resident this morning before coming to Parliament over the phone and I said I would definitely raise his well-worded point of view in Parliament this afternoon. Drawing from my resident's message, the point I am making is this. One, yes, I support the help given to tenants. Certainly. Two, the support is timely and needed. But three, we need a flexible system to differentiate between large corporate landlords and the landlords who have invested in small commercial shophouses and spaces as a form of, say, retirement income. It is for this reason that I am asking the Minister for "financial hardship" to be defined broadly and flexibly to strike the right balance, between the smaller landlords and the larger corporate landlords. And I hope the Minister would be able to expand on this request of mine in the good Minister's reply. Onto another point, Sir. It has been mentioned that direct monetary assistance previously rendered by the landlord to the tenant can be counted as part of the landlord's contribution to rental waiver. Would the Minister clarify whether agreeing to lower the rent, and not waiving rent, is also considered direct monetary assistance?”
“This is good as the considerations and ability to bear the "pain", so to speak, differs between smaller private landlords compared to large corporations. I would like to request of the Minister that a wide range of financial hardship should be considered as smaller landlords can also find themselves in vulnerable situations. Just yesterday, Sir, 4 June 2020, I received an well-crafted email from a resident of Ulu Pandan. And I quote from that email, and this is to support the point that I am making about the need to differentiate between different types of landlords. In that email, my resident wrote, "Dear Mr de Souza, I hope this letter finds you well in these tough times. I would like to seek your advice regarding one of the Government's new Bills, the one which would mandate a four-month rent free period for tenants, paid for equally by the Government and landlords. I would like to ask if the Government has any plans to differentiate between large landlords of significant capital reserves as compared to small family-owned companies. I am currently living on monthly rental revenue and honestly, I would not get to keep much of it after the banks take their due. It is my sincere wish that the Government would take into account of those in my position when discussing the proposed Bill. Given the current economic situation, landlords in my position are already facing problems with rent collection as well as waivers and haircuts demanded by our tenants. To further absorb an additional two months of rent would be too much for many to bear. Of course, I begrudge not the tenants for their plight. COVID-19 is a natural and unexpected disaster that strikes at all levels of society.”
“Sir, a main aim of this Bill is to support SMEs. SMEs are important to our economy. They are responsible for the employment of more than 70% of our country's workforce, about two million workers. However, during the circuit breaker, many have been left with empty offices or shops that rack up rent, incurring costs. This does not account for other operating costs, such as manpower costs. Reducing the costs that SMEs face will in turn help them support their workers. One of the main thrusts of the Bill is instituting rental waivers for SMEs, co-paid by the Government and the landlord. The period is four months for SME tenants at commercial properties for the months of April to July and two months for those in industrial and office properties for the months of April to May. This is good as it targets a significant expenditure many of our SMEs face and targets the period where SMEs are most adversely affected. According to news reports, one important criterion is that there must be a 35% fall in average monthly revenue from April to May 2020 compared to the same period last year. Such targeted help is good. It is fairer that landlords not have to take haircuts if their tenants' revenues had not been adversely affected. Would the Minister clarify what happens if the company was a new company or a new tenant such that the comparison to the previous year is either impossible or is an inaccurate comparison? Then, there is the landlord. From various news articles on this Bill, it looks to be that there is some distinction being drawn between large corporations and less large landlords through the use of the phrase "financial hardship".”
“It is good that there will be Digital Ambassadors who will help introduce stallholders and the elderly to the online world. They play an important role. In an age of digitalisation and digital gadgets, we should be cautious about the exponentially wide gap this will create between children whose parents can afford the digital equipment and the children whose parents may not be able to afford. It is something that needs to be watched out for and bridged, where possible, ensuring that individuals and families can have access to wifi and certain core digital equipment that may be deemed essential in this day and age. I look forward to hearing the details on how this will be addressed nationally. In the meantime, we will continue to carry out the local laptop, wifi and free Zoom tuition programmes in Ulu Pandan, the constituency I serve and I am responsible for. Sir, even as the central focus of the Budget is on jobs, behind jobs there are workers, there are businesses and there is the society to which we all belong. In concluding, Sir, I wish to lean on the wise words of an Ulu Pandan Pioneer Generation resident whom I briefly met at a mask collection point over the last weekend. He shared with me a formula to overcome this crisis. He said, and I quote: "We must have the right stamina We must have the right attitude For we are all sons of the soil." Indeed, he is right. We are all in this together – facing this crisis. With the right stamina, with the right attitude and with the right unity, we will prevail. And that, to me, Sir, is fortitude. 5.48 pm”
“As a result of the circuit breaker, home renovation works had to be halted. Some families had to rent another place for accommodation for an extended period of time and now need to rethink whether they need to extend their tenancies and pay additional rent because their home is still in the middle of a renovation that has been halted. Other families have or are still roughing it out in their half-completed homes. The home renovation sector is part of the built environment sector that requires specific approval to resume works. On 3 June 2020, BCA and the relevant agencies and Ministries clarified some of the delays, simplified the process to obtain approval, and estimated a shorter period for approval if the application is in order. There are still difficulties that some home renovation contractors face. I understand that testing of workers is essential. Given the homes are half-renovated and much disamenity is caused to the families, would there be priority given to test these workers so that the renovation can then be completed. This will seriously assist the family waiting for their renovation to be completed in their actual home, the contractor as well as the sub-contractors. Sir, the COVID-19 pandemic does not merely impact businesses or individuals but also has a knock-on effect on society. Something important that arises out of the COVID-19 pandemic and our response to it, is ensuring social inclusion in a society of increased digitalisation. In my constituency, we have procured laptops for students for lower income families to support their studies during the period of home-based learning, but on a national scale this is also very important.”
“And at this point, I like to record my thanks to the Deputy Prime Minister and his MOF team for putting out a fourth Budget in record time. Indeed, the Job Support Scheme focuses on the ability to captalise on our reserves to support employers at this time. The Fortitude Budget extends the Job Support Scheme to those businesses that are still unable to reopen. It is good that the sectors of aviation and aerospace, tourism, hospitality, conventions and exhibitions and the built environment will receive 1st tier support for June to August 2020. Even for essential projects that have been allowed to reopen, many have not been able to. Indeed, many will not be able to hit the ground running at pre-circuit breaker levels even if they can reopen in Phase One. Besides getting workers swabbed, having dormitories cleared, those in some industries may need to seek workers from other companies due to border restrictions and manpower supply shortages. Those with many workers who are still in Malaysia will have to plan their teams without the level of manpower that they once had. Even for those who have been able to work from home, their clients or customers may not have sufficient cash flow to pay them for the services rendered during the circuit breaker period owing to the whole demand-supply shock and disruption. So, bills go unpaid. Due to how the circuit breaker pushed the pause button on most of our businesses and firms as well as how integrated our whole economy is even on a domestic level, would the Deputy Prime Minister and the relevant ministries consider increasing the Jobs Support Scheme to 75% for all firms and businesses up to and including August 2020? Sir, onto another topic – specifically onto home renovation works, I would like to raise a suggestion.”
“The global mass working from home exercise has caused employers to rethink the need for employees to be physically present in the workplace, with some companies like Facebook even thinking of hiring remote staff who would permanently telecommute. What I am getting at is that COVID-19 has changed the labour market, the need for such large commercial rental space and also skillsets. The strong uptake of digitalisation and support for telecommuting will provide opportunities job seekers in previous generations would find hard to imagine. For instance, while it may be that job seekers will face global competition, the converse is also true – job seekers have opportunities from all around the world, able to live in Singapore but able to work for an overseas employer. Riding this wave of digitalisation is therefore key to ensuring our Singaporeans are equipped and ready for borderless job opportunities. For others, the greater support for working from home, that is, flexible work arrangements, may mean greater opportunities for mothers seeking to re-enter the workforce. We can convert adversity into strength, supporting workers and businesses in digitalisation. Companies who can implement work from home arrangements well, will in turn be able to reduce the commercial floor space they need, reducing rental fees and overhead charges. This would free up costs in the long run to invest in the development of personnel, it will also allow more money to be deployed into planning for the future instead of paying large amounts of commercial rent; it will allow effective utilisation of technology; it will create a future for the company through virtual communication. How companies cope and adapt to the COVID-19 virus is important to the Fortitude Budget.”
“As employees need to bring a claim of wrongful dismissal to the Tripartite Alliance of Dispute Management within one month of being terminated, the uncertainty and practical difficulties of this guideline could have a real impact on the employee’s ability to potentially seek redress. The current 100,000 places in SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package may or, in fact, is likely less than the estimated number of retrenchments as well if you combine them that job entrants such as fresh graduates entering the workforce. Here I would like to make the point that with the accelerated digitalisation of the world, the skill gap needed to be overcome by job seekers has, in some instances, also increased tremendously. If not, the gap dividing the people who have the ability to understand the digital world and the equipment and those who do not, that gap will exponentially widen. Is the current training support sufficient, especially for those who require extensive reskilling of workers after their jobs may become obsolete in the post COVID world, especially where digitalisation is concerned? While there is only so much that can be done to create jobs, would the Government consider promoting mentorship programmes as well, where the focus is on professional development and exposure, though may not necessarily be salaried or fully salaried. Being able to work on ad hoc projects, for instance, to be provided guidance from an industry professional on what courses are industry relevant, as well as being introduced to a network of other professionals may also be invaluable for job seekers even if they are unable to find a permanent job at the moment. COVID-19 has accelerated digitalisation, making digital literacy something necessary; no longer merely supplementary.”
“Sir, fortitude is about courage in adversity. Just as gold is refined in fire so also do the testing and hardships of life build character. Today we are debating the Fortitude Budget – a Budget to strengthen Singapore as we forge ahead. In a recent survey conducted by OCBC on over 1,000 Singaporean and Permanent Resident working adults at about 1.5 months into the circuit breaker, about 55% reported experiencing some form of wage cut, reduction in commissioning earnings, wage freezing and being forced to convert to a part-time role, contractual instead of permanent role, or to take no-pay leave. Almost half were worried about being retrenched or terminated within the next six months. In light of the heightened concern on being retrenched or terminated, it is important that our workers have sufficient protection from disguised retrenchments, which would not only remove any retrenchment benefit that a worker may be entitled to and would desperately need in today’s job climate, but would also obscure our ability to monitor the situation on retrenchments. Even though the “Advisory on retrenchment benefits payable to retrenched employees as a result of business difficulties due to COVID-19” issued on 20 May 2020 specify that “an employer who terminates an employment contract with no plan to fill the vacancy any time soon is presumed to have retrenched the employee,” it is unclear whether it goes far enough to protect employees from disguised retrenchments. How soon is “some time soon” and how will employees who have been terminated know whether or not there are any plans to fill the vacancy any time soon?”
“In the press release on MinLaw's website on this Bill dated 4 May 2020, paragraph 3 states and I quote, "By placing special compensation claims on the same footing as traditional salvage claims, the Bill incentivises salvors to protect the environment during salvage operations". Would the Minister please clarify whether the statement that special compensation claims are placed on the same footing as traditional salvage claims is to be understood only in the context of High Court admiralty jurisdiction and not, for instance, the ranking of a maritime lien? Would the Minister please also elaborate how having a High Court jurisdiction over special compensation claims impacts salvors and incentivises them to protect the environment? Further, would the Minister be able to explain whether the introduction of special compensation might translate into a better marine environment near Singapore shores? Clause 3 repeals section 176 of the Merchant Shipping Act which provides for the jurisdiction of the High Court over salvage claims in addition to section 3(1)(i) of the High Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Act. By locating all relevant provisions under the same Act, clause 3 tidies our statute book and makes the law clearer. In conclusion, Sir, this Bill supports and supplements the Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2019 in preparing Singapore for accession to the 1989 International Convention on Salvage. That Convention more adequately reflects the service that salvors do and incentivises salvors to protect the environment. This Bill furthers and strengthens Singapore as a maritime dispute resolution hub and a key maritime capital in the world and, therefore, I support this Bill.”
“While the Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2019 enacted the law that allowed such claims in Singapore, it is this Bill that will extend the Singapore High Court's admiralty jurisdiction to include such salvage claims. Therefore, this law is important and I support it because it will further incentivise and encourage ships at sea to help fellow ships in distress to reduce environmental damage within the seas and oceans. Reduction of environmental damage to the seas and oceans are key and we should support such a reduction. Hence, I am supportive of this Bill. This Bill has two operative clauses – clauses 2 and 3. Sir, at this stage, please allow me to declare that part of my practice as an advocate and solicitor includes admiralty disputes. Clause 2 is the clause that expands section 3(1)(i) of the High Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Act to provide for salvage claims under the 1989 International Convention on Salvage. The way the relevant provision has been restructured sets out more clearly what is covered. Flowing from this restructuring though, would the Minister please clarify if there is any other difference in the admiralty jurisdiction of the High Court over salvage claims besides the addition of salvage claims under the Convention? By allowing special compensation claims in the Singapore High Court, our High Court will have an expanded jurisdiction over a variety of claims in admiralty law and places it in a good position to administer justice on admiralty claims. This furthers Singapore's position as a dispute resolution hub, particularly in the admiralty law practice.”
“Sir, Singapore is a port city. Situated in a strategic geographical location with strong supporting networks comprising professional services, marine technology and logistical solutions, Singapore was ranked as the leading maritime capital of the world in 2019. Singapore has taken active steps to accede to the International Convention on Salvage. The Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2019 enacted the International Convention on Salvage. While that Act paved the way for the substantive law, it is this Bill deals with the jurisdiction of the High Court with respect to salvage claims. Salvage operation refers to any act or activity undertaken to assist a vessel or any other property in danger in navigable waters or in any other waters whatsoever. The party doing the salvage operation is known as a salvor. Situations that give rise to the need for salvage are varied, for example, grounding, fire, collisions, engine failure, structural failure and sinking. Previously, the 1910 Brussels Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law respecting Assistance and Salvage at Sea, salvors would only be rewarded if they were successful. However, this did not adequately recognise the skills and efforts of salvors who prevented or minimised environmental damage, providing little incentive for riskier salvage operations. An example is where a major pollution incident was avoided by towing a damaged tanker away from an environmentally sensitive area of where the ship or cargo could not be salvaged. In light of this, the 1989 International Convention on Salvage introduced something called "special compensation". This provided some reward to salvors who prevented or minimised environmental damage even though they were unsuccessful in saving the ship or the cargo.”
“Another possibility could be to retain the position that notices cannot be cancelled and, instead, only apply the time extension of 12 months to notices filed after the commencement of this Act. In conclusion, this Bill supports the institution of marriage which is important to our country. It is good that marriages can continue to happen during the COVID-19 crisis. Notwithstanding the clarifications I seek, I support this Bill.”
“While it provides that the Registrar can impose conditions relating to the use of remote communication technology under clause 2(1)(c), it does not convey rule-making power to the Minister. Therefore, to repeat my second clarification, if we are allowing parties to cancel their notice of marriage, what is the legal mechanism for it and under what circumstances can they do so? My third clarification, is, if we are going to change the law to allow parties to cancel their notice of marriage, why are we making such a change? Allowing it to be cancelled is a material change to the effect of such a notice. Being locked in for a period of three months without being able to cancel a notice is different from having a notice last for 12 months and being able to cancel it at any point in time. The effect this has on parties deciding to file a notice of marriage would be different. Filing a notice of marriage is the first step towards a marriage that is recognised by civil law. Marriage is a lifetime commitment and, according to Article 94(2) of the Women's Charter, newly-wedded couples are not able to obtain a divorce within the first three years unless there is exceptional circumstance. Since marriage is such a long-term commitment, it would seem, at least at first glance, a little strange to change the law to allow a notice of marriage to be entered into less seriously, as parties are able to cancel it at any time instead of being locked-in for a certain period of time until the notice lapses. Therefore, if we are going to change the law such that parties may cancel their notice of marriage, why are we making such a change?”
“A marriage is a significant milestone for families, and the couple may not just desire but also feel it only right and fair that families and parents from both sides be physically present to witness the solemnisation of their marriage. After all, marriage is the legal union between a man and a woman, husband and wife. It reflects the foundational family unit in our society. From marriages, we have children. Children have brought us joy, even in difficult situations, such as those that we are facing now. Sir, I would like to seek a number of clarifications of the Minister. They are in relation to clause 2(3) of the Bill which seems to provide for a situation where a notice of marriage may be cancelled during the extended period. Allowing for cancellation of a notice of marriage is different from what is currently provided for in the law. Currently, when a notice of marriage is filed, the parties are not able to cancel it but have to wait for the three months to lapse if they no longer wish to proceed further towards solemnisation of their marriage. So, my first clarification is: are we going to allow parties to cancel their notice of marriage? Following on from this, if we are allowing them to cancel their notice of marriage, what is the legal mechanism for it and under what circumstances can they cancel it? Currently, the Women's Charter does not provide for the cancellation of a notice of marriage. This position is also reflected in the Registry of Marriage's Frequently Asked Questions. Since the law, as it currently stands, does not provide for cancellation, the other possible place for such a power would be this Bill that we are debating today. However, this is not clear.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is good that even in these difficult times, we put in place measures so that people in Singapore can continue to get married. Marriage celebrations and ceremonies are often rich in tradition, heritage and cultural significance. But even where such celebrations are not possible during this period of time, at least that part of the marriage that confers a legal status can still be carried out. This is because there is a legal significance to marriage, bringing along rights, responsibilities and some privileges. For instance, the ability to obtain public housing, certain tax reliefs, adoption of children, immigration and so on. Because of the importance family life and the family unit has to Singapore, it is good that we can have such a Bill to allow marriages to continue taking place even during this time. The specified period for this Bill is defined in clause 2(6) and clause 3(5) as, one, “any period a control measure is in force”; or, two, “any further period that the Minister, having determined that it is necessary or expedient for the purposes of conducting any matter under this section in a safe and efficient manner and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, prescribes by order in the Gazette.” Although not required by statute, I hope the Minister will regularly review the situation and whether the need for the alternative arrangements under this Bill still persists or not. Many couples look forward to celebrating their what is often once-in-a-life-time ceremony. While the couple may not be familiar with the solemniser, their witnesses are often their parents, family members or closest friends.”
“This gives Members the requisite ability to continue to pass legislation needed for the constituents we serve to get through this crisis. On the basis that the provisions should be invoked sparingly and only when necessary, I support this Bill.”
“During this COVID-19 crisis, it was good that we had a runway – a runway to be able to still meet physically in one place today and pass this piece of legislation that will enable us the flexibility to meet in different places if we need to. We may not have had such an opportunity to do so in the future and having this in the Constitution today, presuming it is passed, is important. Furthermore, this Bill is broadly drafted so as to accommodate a variety of situations – expected and unexpected. This would allow our Parliament and future parliaments the flexibility they may need to handle unexpected and unprecedented crises in the future. The passing of legislation and robust debates are important features of our democracy and are, in fact, essential. For the benefit of this Parliament and future parliaments, would the Leader of the House elaborate on some principles and concerns that may guide arrangements mentioned in the proposed Article 64A(2)(c) both in the present as well as in the future? While the shape of the arrangement would probably be informed, to a large extent, by the situation presenting itself at the time, I believe that certain processes and principles, some embedded in our standing orders, are foundational to keeping and maintaining a parliament that is effective and efficient. Another question that I would like to seek clarity on is, constitutionally, how would a newly formed Parliament be able to utilise this continuity plan? Would Members have to first meet physically in one location for the swearing in before these amended provisions can be invoked? In summary, this Bill puts in place measures which allow us to continue sitting as Parliament despite it being impossible, unsafe or inexpedient to sit at one, single physical location.”
“What it takes to invoke this arrangement subsequent to the passing of this Bill is a mere majority of Members of Parliament to pass such a resolution. While there will be situations that are clear and uncontroversial such as during this COVID-19 crisis, there may be other times that are less so. Parliament and parliaments in the future who seek to pass such a resolution or sign such a notice should carefully consider the implications of having such an arrangement before doing so. This would be especially disadvantageous to parliamentarians with no or smaller natural informal forums to discuss issues with fellow parliamentarians. In light of this, could the Leader of the House elaborate on what “inexpedient” might look like and what is the reason for setting the threshold for agreement to that of a majority through a resolution for future instances instead of, say two-thirds majority of elected members, as is the requirement today. I understand that there is a difference – that we are seeking to amend the Constitution today and the invocation of the provisions in future would not amount to an amendment of the Constitution. But, I would humbly prefer that a two-third majority of sitting members be required to split the caucus into the two or more different locations given the importance of single caucus debates. Would the Leader of the House kindly explain the rationale for requiring a simple majority instead of a super two-third majority? The ability for the Speaker to present a notice given by Members is good as it provides for a way to invoke these alternative arrangements in a situation where Parliament may not be able to physically meet in one place anymore.”
“” This is not just a change in the way Parliament sits but it will also affect the way Parliament works, and hence should not be utilised lightly. Meeting in a physical place has its role and advantages to democracy that meeting in separate locations cannot replace. It builds an eco-system of collaboration. What do I mean? By bringing all parliamentarians into one single location, regardless of their political party affiliation or non-partisan affiliation for Nominated Members of Parliament, we as parliamentary colleagues have valuable opportunities to feel the tone and nuance of fellow Members’ speeches. That adds to our assessment of the subject at hand. What this means is that there is space for persuasion, for close communication, where we can discuss, persuade and work on issues together. It is not impossible to do so when we do not meet in one single body of caucus, but it is much harder to do so. Therefore, while the provisions being suggested today are necessary to address the difficulties of our current times, I would ask humbly that they be leaned on only if absolutely necessary. We should quickly try to revert to debating and persuading in a single caucus. Coming back to the provisions of this Bill, the proposed Article 64A(1)(a) specifies that the suggested alternative arrangement may be possible – one, for a period of six months after the date the Act is published in the Gazette; two, for a period of six months if Parliament resolves that it is or will be impossible, unsafe or inexpedient for Parliament to sit and meet in one place; or three, the Speaker presents to Parliament a notice in writing given by the majority of all Members of Parliament stating words to the same effect.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we meet today in a time of crisis and uncertainty, fighting together an unseen foe – a pandemic. As we have seen in the past few months, it is essential, in these times, that Parliament has the ability to sit and pass the necessary legislation, take swift and decisive fiscal actions, put in place much-needed measures both to control the spread of the virus as well as to alleviate the consequences of these control measures. We need to discuss these openly and robustly for the sake of the constituents we represent. These make not just for good collaborative democracy where we can get Parliamentary business done efficiently, but such debate allows us to combat fake news and maintain trust and confidence in institutions in this time of crisis. Faced with a situation, legislative bodies all around the world have asked themselves the question whether they can or need to meet and, if yes, how they will meet. Today, we are tabling and reading a Constitutional (Amendment) Bill under a certificate of urgency to put in place a continuity plan. Why? In this COVID-19 crisis, it is only prudent that we possess the ability to be flexible and adjustable as the need requires. We have technology that allows us to do so, and we should be able to make use of it when the need arises, just as many Singapore businesses have had to utilise their continuity plan. However, this change from the normal mode of business should not be taken lightly. It is not the norm and should not be the norm. The proposed new Article 64A(2)(b) provides that “arrangements… may be made for Parliament and its committees to sit, meet and despatch business with Members of Parliament being present at two or more appointed places and in contemporaneous communication with one another.”
“And for that reason, I support the Bill.”
“Would the Minister consider putting in place digital measures to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible, such as through the use of an online portal to allow parties to request for assessments, upload documents and even receive determinations for appropriate disputes? Third, a key point about the Bill is that it merely suspends obligations but does not negate their need to be fulfilled. In short, the Bill is like a dam, which holds back the tide of obligations temporarily. However, once the Bill ceases to have effect and this dam is removed, the combined obligations could be quite harsh. I wish to ask if the Minister is looking into providing guidance, such as asking contracting parties to use this period to negotiate with those they have contracted with, to be able to pay off their liabilities in instalments. Mediation, for example, is one such avenue. Notwithstanding my questions and suggestions, I stand in support of this Bill. Fundamentally, it is about helping enterprises during this difficult period by addressing their cash flow concerns and freeing them up to think about how to survive and innovate through this crisis. It is a comprehensive and significant Bill and I wish to applaud the Ministry of Law, AGC, relevant public agencies and those consulted during its drafting for investing such an immense amount of effort in such a short amount of time. It really does show the efficiency of our legal partners and the legal system at play in these extenuating circumstances. Sir, this Bill is a continuation of our efforts to respond robustly, firmly and decisively. I am confident that by passing this Bill, this House would be taking a significant step in ensuring that businesses in Singapore have a much better shot of making it through the crisis.”
“Clause 28(1) empowers the court to make orders to require an accused person or witness to give evidence in any court proceedings by a live video or live television link. This is to be welcomed. Nevertheless, Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to clarify a few points about the Bill. First, the Bill provides a mechanism to manage disputes arising from the application of the Bill. Division four of part two of the Bill contains provisions relating to the appointment of Assessors, the means for applying for an assessment, the powers of an Assessor, as well as provisions relating to costs. While the assessment process is undoubtedly intended to be a fast and efficient one, given the existing universe of contracts and the potential number and complexity of disputes, I would like to ask if the Minister intends to put in place measures to ensure that the panel of Assessors are not overwhelmed and are yet still able to arrive at just decisions in a timely manner. It is no good for anybody if these Assessors are stretched so thin that they are under immense time pressure to assess their cases. I have a further query on clause 13. Does the Assessors' power to achieve a just and equitable outcome include the power to determine that partial payments be made or that a tenant's security deposit may be used to offset rental arrears. This flexibility may allow for a more just and equitable finding or assessment. For instance, in situations where private landlords themselves do not have deep pockets and need the rent to pay toward a mortgage payment. By this, I mean private landlords who are landlords of commercial premises and they are unable to service their mortgage. Will some flexibility also be accorded to them in the assessment process. Another clarification.”
“Second, this Bill allows for a situation of a reduced threat of litigation, insolvency, bankruptcy, landlord-tenant disputes, hire purchase disputes from hanging over struggling businesses over the course of the next few months. This can be seen in part three of the Bill, which modifies various Acts to give temporary relief to financially distressed individuals and businesses. For instance, clause 20 raises the monetary threshold for bankruptcy applications from $15,000 to $60,000 and increases the time period to satisfy or set aside a statutory demand from the current 21 days to six months. For businesses, clause 21 increases the monetary threshold for insolvency from $10,000 to $100,000 and similarly extends the time period to satisfy or set aside statutory demands to six months. These significant changes will allow management teams to channel their mental energy towards keeping their businesses afloat and viable post-crisis, rather than or instead of them having to think about how to fend off litigation and insolvency actions. Essentially, this Bill allows management to use their mental energy to innovate, ride the storm and survive post-crisis, rather than to having to stave off and fend off insolvency proceedings or bankruptcy proceedings. I think it is a much needed reprieve. However, Sir, I seek a number of clarifications on the status of legal action and cases already commenced before the Bill comes into force. Here, I am in particular talking about hire purchase vehicles and landlord-tenant disputes – cases and actions arising around those areas. Third, the Bill sets out amendments to facilitate the conduct of court proceedings using remote communications technology.”
“These provisions impose a moratorium over five kinds of actions: Court and insolvency proceedings, enforcement of judgments and arbitration decisions, the enforcement of certain types of security, the calling on a performance bond pursuant to a construction contract, and the termination of leases of non-residential premises. Collectively, they provide a sturdy mast in choppy waters. For many of our businesses, the global economic repercussions of COVID-19 and our local circuit breaker measures mean revenues have dwindled to nearly nothing. While these economic circumstances are not due to their own actions, the impact means that businesses essentially have multiple swords hanging over their heads. If these liabilities are allowed to vest and fall due, businesses would be starved of their cash flow and would very possibly be forced out of business. This is not only bad for businesses. It is also bad for Singapore. It means that when the global situation gets better, we would have few businesses left standing to ride the wave of recovery. We need businesses to stand, and this Bill helps us do that. For event and tourism-related contracts, additional reprieve is provided in clause 7. Many of these contracts involve the placement of deposits, which do not involve small sums of money. Clause 7(2) ensures that these deposits cannot be automatically forfeited, thus allowing contracting parties to look for an alternative arrangement without the fear of financial loss. It may seem like a small measure but for man individuals and beleaguered small and medium-sized businesses that have paid deposits, I believe this will go a long way in alleviating a significant portion of their cash flow concerns.”
“Sir, I stand in support of this Bill. The present COVID-19 crisis is one of epic proportions – the challenge of a generation, perhaps, several generations. The steps we take now will define how future generations of Singaporeans will view us. For some fellow Singaporeans, this crisis could quite literally translate into a matter of life or death. So far, we have responded robustly, firmly and decisively. To borrow an analogy recently made by the Minister for Law, budgetary measures are the financial equivalent of an urgent blood transfusion. But he also said that just as there is a transfusion, we also need to staunch the flow of blood. Sir, in this regard, the proposed Bill is the analogous bandage that staunches the blood flow. So, at the outset, let me iterate my full support for the Bill while also declaring my interest as a practising lawyer. This Bill is exceptional, yet timely and responsive. It is exceptional because, as I understand it, the Bill was put together in a matter of days. In addition, the Bill acts retrospectively, something which lawyers normally discourage, given that it departs from one of the main principles underlining the rule of law. Nevertheless, in my view, this is well justified under these extenuating circumstances. It is also timely and responsive for several key reasons. First, the Bill offers much needed reprieve – reprieve in the form of certainty that there is a window to breathe such that there is a hope that businesses can be resuscitated when the situation improves. The core provisions of this part of the Bill can essentially be found in clauses 5(2), 5(3) and 6(2).”
“And just yesterday, I received a message from a constituent named Darren, who emailed me saying that his family wants to donate $30,000 to a worthy cause in the constituency to help the more vulnerable residents tide over this period. I was taken aback at these gestures. In just the last five days, I have met different Singaporeans in completely unochestrated settings who have reflected and expressed the magnanimous traits of Solidarity, Unity and Resilience. Will there be some friction along the way? Some kinks in the roll-out? Sure! That would be completely understandable. But as long as we gravitate towards a national ethos of unity, resilience and solidarity, and have the physical fire power to deploy further financial measures, if needed, then we would have earned Singapore a steady ballast to weather this storm. Sir, I should state clearly that I support the Resilience and Solidarity Budgets. However, Sir, spending our country’s reserves cannot, and must not, be taken lightly. We owe it to the generations who built up these reserves and the generations not yet born to ensure that every dollar should be stretched to maximise its benefit to the industry and the worker it seeks to help. Integrity and the ethos of stewardship in that spending process will achieve for us the objectives of unity, resilience and solidarity. Sir, fighting our way through this crisis will be a herculean task. But I choose to believe that we, as a people, have the mettle to accomplish such a task, and that the camaraderie that it will entrench will define Singapore’s character – as a nation full of fight, determination and grit. And that is a future worthy of our struggle.”
“Sir, in 1985, Singapore was going through a major post-Independence recession. As Singapore was still in the midst of the recession described as "a watershed in our economic development”, President Mr Wee Kim Wee in his Address to Parliament said, I quote, “When the recession eventually ends, as it must, we would have made another great stride towards realising our vision of a nation of excellence.” What we are facing today is different from the past in terms of extent, magnitude and nature, but all Singaporeans must have to count on each other. Indeed, many Singaporeans are counting on us in this House to express clear, methodical, honest, rational thinking as we shape and pass policy into law. We must deliver that for Singaporeans we were elected to serve. All these facets make up the essence of solidarity. The names of the Budgets are such an accurate description of what we want to instill – unity, resilience, solidarity. Sir, in the course of preparing this speech, I have been inspired by the unity, resilience and solidarity of Singaporeans. Just last Friday, four days ago, Mabel, a constituent in Ulu Pandan spoke with me at Meet-People-Session (MPS). Mabel is caring for a young special needs child in her family. She is also helping her adult daughter recover from a hospital stay, and on top of that she is caring for her own mother who is aged. Yet, Mabel continues to want to get re-employed notwithstanding the present situation. Such resilience is inspiring. Three days ago on Saturday, I met Adeline, a young adult in the Ghim Moh Hawker Centre. She shared with me that she wants to help as a volunteer to deliver food for the elderly in the constituency. Spontaneous and driven by unity.”
“In our globally connected economy, supply chains are interwoven across countries and, with cities and countries under lockdown, global supply chains have been affected. The knock-on effect reverberates across economies. Many businesses especially with smaller margins may not have enough liquidity and cash to survive through months of low revenue due to the crisis. One of the ways the Resilience Budget supports businesses is by helping them get the financing that they need, for example, through the Temporary Bridging Loan Programme. Indeed, the Solidarity Budget seeks to increase the Government’s risk share from 80% to 90%. Such risk-sharing initiatives are commendable, for they incentivise the injection of liquidity in the market. Nonetheless, as these loans are administered by individual financial institutions and banks, the process for sourcing and the exercise of comparing rates and fees across banks can be complicated and time-consuming especially for those who are unfamiliar with business loans. May I suggest we streamline the process through a one-stop online portal that allows businesses to find out eligibility, compare the fees and rates of the different banks’ loans under the schemes, and apply using a standardised form? This will shorten the time needed to source for a loan, obtain the loan and the time needed to receive the much-needed monies from the loan. It is crucial to shorten and simplify the process as much as possible during this COVID-19 crisis because some businesses may not have the weeks needed to wait for the monies to be credited into their accounts. Such expediency will help the risk-sharing initiative better achieve its aim – that of swift injection of liquidity and the prompt availability of credit.”
“Even before the closure of non-essential businesses, these tenants in malls have suffered from lower footfall as people were encouraged to stay at home. Safe distancing was understandably implemented to prevent overcrowding in malls and minimise the spread of the virus. This has had a huge impact on retail and F&B business. In the Unity Budget, qualifying commercial properties were given 15% property tax rebate, with the landlords urged to pass this on to their tenants. In the Resilience Budget, the quantum and scope was broadened. I have been told that some of these tenants that some of these tenants are unable to secure a $100 in revenue a day, a sum too little to cover rental for a day. In some places, landlords have not been prompt to pass on the rebate saving to their tenants, adopting a wait-and-see approach. In my speech on the Unity Budget I had suggested that we make the landlords of commercial spaces more accountable, and suggested that they be required to fill up a declaration to IRAS as to whether they had passed on the property rebates to the tenant and if so, how much in dollar terms. Indeed, the bludgeoning few weeks since I gave that speech have caused me to form the view that we should go even further. Beyond my suggested declaration, we should make it compulsory for the commercial landlord to pass on the full property tax rebate, in actual dollar terms, to the tenants. Hence, I am glad that we are soon passing legislation to that effect. Such prescriptive legislation ensures the money spent from our Budget is indeed stretched. The fourth area that I want to speak about is supply chains.”
“Quite possibly, this will be of relevance to the crew when eventually they fly again – having crew trained in emergency health skills is relevant to passenger aircraft. This makes SIA and its affiliated fleets more attractive when eventually they fly again. The next sector that has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 crisis is the tourism industry. In 2019, there were 19.1 million international visitor arrivals in Singapore who spent an estimated $27.1 billion. The tourism industry is not just a sector that is important in its own right but it supports many other sectors of our economy as well. Tourists contribute to retail, food and beverage, events and conventions, and it even helps attract investors as well as companies who want to set up their businesses in a place with a worldwide audience. Tourism also helps build connections for potential trade partners in the future and boosts Singapore’s standing on the international stage. As such, supporting the tourism industry which has been greatly affected by this unexpected crisis is important; and therefore I welcome the enhanced support for the tourism industry in the Resilience Budget. However, we should try to go further – so that the money is made more productive, we should require tourism hotspots to consider seriously how they can make their attractions more safe, from a hygiene point of view, as well as improve user friendliness for their visitors. This will help ensure Singapore will be one of the first destinations tourists would want to return to in the aftermath of the pandemic. The third area I want to talk about is the rental of commercial properties. Commercial tenants have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 crisis.”
“In particular, whether we are stretching every dollar in the Resilience Budget and the Solidarity Budget, so as to achieve optimum help in these areas. The aviation sector is one of the industries in Singapore most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. It was one of the first to be impacted as travel restrictions were introduced by several countries early on to prevent cases from being imported. The impact was so severe that on 17 March this year, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation estimated that most of the world’s airlines will be bankrupt by end-May this year. As a travel hub, Singapore’s aviation industry is a key component, with our national carrier, Singapore Airlines, flying our Singapore flag high. For Singapore to continue to be a choice location for regional headquarters, regional and international connectivity is crucial. We need to keep our aviation industry alive, so that we have a strong, supportive and connected eco-system for businesses to thrive in. Therefore, I welcome the much needed support the Resilience Budget is giving to the aviation sector. Besides supporting workers through the additional job support scheme to offset 75% of the first $4,600 of a local employee’s wages, the aviation sector is receiving $350 million enhanced aviation support. Extending that lifeline is crucial and far-sighted. But while these wages are being subsidised, the reality is our aircraft are grounded. Therefore, one way in order to make the wage subsidy even more productive is to have the crew redeployed to sectors facing manpower shortages, for example, in the healthcare industry, or in companies needing to distribute medical devices such as respirators and ventilators.”
“Sir, extraordinary times require extraordinary people. I believe, for I choose to believe, that Singapore and Singaporeans have the gumption and mettle to ride this storm. It will be a herculean effort, but we can – indeed, we must – do it. To do so, we need to face reality squarely and then chart our course to brighter days. As people play their part by staying at home, businesses suffer due to drop in demand. Employees are being laid off. Flights have almost come to a grinding halt as countries close their borders to contain and stabilise the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Supply chains in certain sectors have been broken. With half of the world’s population mandated to stay at home as of Friday, 3 April, the world’s economy is almost at a standstill even as our medical forces show formidable courage, strength and resilience. Besides implementing measures to “flatten the curve” and “break the circuit”, we must bolster our health force’s fight against the virus and should provide support for researchers and clinicians to find medical solutions to the COVID-19 crisis. The Resilience Budget requires a significant decision on the part of Parliament as it draws on our reserves. It deserves a robust debate. Such a debate is not just for the sake of those who contributed to our reserves, nor is it just for the sake of those whose sacrifices allowed us to have and preserve those reserves, but it is also for the sake of our younger generation and future generations yet to be born. We must ensure for their sake that every dollar we spend from the reserves is a dollar deservedly spent. In that vein, I want to dive into four areas: one, aviation; two, tourism; three, rentals; four, supply chains.”
“The reason why I am asking this is because there is an argument to be made that enforcement officers interacting with and arresting the accused and investigating the crime should not be the same ones with the power to compound. In conclusion, Sir, I thank my colleague Mr Louis Ng for tabling this Private Member's Bill. My congratulations to him. 5.08 pm”