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.”
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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 9 of 26.
“Similarly, how can we be sure that information is, indeed, disclosed even where it is valuable or relevant and necessary to the Defence's case? Post-trial, certain timings for both the application for leave of review application as well as the hearing of a review application can be abridged through clauses 7 and 8. As these two powers would be able to shorten the timeline from those prescribed in the Criminal Procedure Rules, potentially prejudicing the relevant parties, would the Senior Minister of State please explain the rationale behind these amendments? The fourth area of substantive amendments that I want to speak about in this very short speech is that of RT. The RT regime is an important feature of our criminal justice system through both rehabilitation and deterrence. Clause 6 removes the ability of the Courts to backdate RT. While this removes the period that the accused was remanded for pre-sentencing, this amendment furthers the aim and purpose of RT. As the Singapore High Court in the case of Nur Azilah bte Ithnin vv Public Prosecutor opined, backdating RT will shorten the period of training and could undermine or hinder the effectiveness of such a programme. As such, this amendment will promote the effectiveness of the RT regime. Following CJRA 2018 which allowed for a more calibrated rehabilitation programme through changes to the duration of the RT regime, this amendment will further enhance the effectiveness of RT and is a welcomed amendment. Nevertheless, what will be done to ensure that the duration of remand will be reduced or minimised?”
“Additionally, by the words "if the Defence is aggrieved by the removal or redaction" in the new section 425B(4), it seems as though the Court’s determination on the matter can be easily sought by the Defence. Is this the case? While not allowing the Defence to be present as the Court views the document makes sense in order for this non-disclosure to be effective, would this be an exception to Rule 30 of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules 2015 under which legal practitioners are ethically bound not to initiate any communication with the Court unless he or she has given each legal practitioner acting for another party to the proceedings an opportunity to be present or to reply? That is my question to the Senior Minister of State. Further, how does the process take into account the general understanding that the Defence would be best placed to know whether something would strengthen its own case? Another question, these concerns must be weighed against the importance of protecting sensitive information. A correct balance must be struck. The provision could protect public safety, public security or propriety, public order, national interest, national security, safety of individuals, ongoing and future investigations and interest of justice in criminal investigation or proceedings. Even as the accused must be able to present the best case, such important concerns cannot be compromised if there is no need to, especially if it does not weaken the prosecution’s case or strengthen the Defence's case. However, when there is a need to disclose such information even though it is sensitive information, what will be done to safeguard the sensitive information from being abused?”
“Sir, the amendments in this Bill relate to different stages of the criminal justice process, from investigations to pre-trial disclosure, as well as post-trial procedure. In terms of investigations, clause 3 of the Bill allows officers of prescribed law enforcement agencies to investigate offences relating to VRIs. This is good as it streamlines the process by allowing the agency which is most familiar with the circumstance to investigate the offence, thereby smoothening the process. In order to fulfil such duties, is it envisioned that the skillsets and expertise will be slightly different from what the officers from the prescribed law enforcement agency are already using? If so, what training or arrangements will be provided to ensure that the officers would be able to develop the necessary expertise to tap into the requisite resources to investigate each case? Still staying on this issue, why does the new section 40B remove the need for an officer to be of an equivalent rank to that of an Inspector of the Police without seemingly replacing it with an equivalent safeguard? Allow me, Sir, at this stage, to declare my interest as a lawyer in private practice who sometimes acts as Defence counsel. Moving on to amendments relating to the pre-trial and trial stages, clause 9 provides for the non-disclosure of sensitive information and a process for it, that is, seeking a balance between the accused’s rights and interests with those of others. For instance, while sensitive information may prejudice public safety, safety of any particular person or future investigations, the prosecution may still need to disclose it if it is required by law and if it undermines the prosecution’s case or strengthens the Defence's case according to the new section 425B(3).”
“Mr Chairman, staying engaged, being active and socialising are key to good mental health. If one has physical health but is not connected to a social network, then mental health can decline. It is one of the reasons why we have situated a childcare centre next to an active ageing centre in the constituency I serve in Ulu Pandan. The elderly and young can interact and bring joy to each other, across generations. As an extra step, would MOH consider setting up Community Mental Wellness Conservatories in heartland areas to bring together caregivers of elderly Singaporeans who may have dementia or mental illnesses to share caregiving best practices on how to reconnect the elderly to a social network, with the mind to lift their spirits and re-energise them into joyful and active ageing? Protecting the Unborn”
“Mr Chairman, allied healthcare workers, such as nurses, physiotherapists and speech therapists, play a key role in supporting the overall medical care of the patient. I had previously asked how we could formalise their continuing professional development, career progression and the sharing of best practices within the allied health profession. Would MOH be able to provide an update on the steps taken so far to help achieve this outcome? More Singaporeans in Nursing”
“Mr Chairman, arising from the feedback I received from Singaporeans who went through difficulties during and after giving birth to their baby, I had asked in October last year whether MOH could consider extending additional financial support for expectant mothers who find it difficult to obtain maternity insurance from private insurance companies due to previously-experienced pregnancy complications. MOH said then that a review was being conducted for serious pregnancy and delivery complications. Could MOH provide an update on the review, please? Integrated Shield Plan”
“Mr Chairman, patient data is often – and sometimes very – sensitive. It is personal as it may contain information relating to medical conditions and diseases that the patient may want to keep private. The release of this information could cause turmoil to the patient and his or her family, leading to serious stress in relationships. To ensure information technology (IT) and cybersecurity specialists operating within the specialised sphere of medical information are trained well and that standards are kept high across health clusters and the many hospitals, would MOH consider setting up a Medical Cybersecurity Academy to train a core group of medical cybersecurity specialists share best practices among them and then steadily raise the industry standard, such as to protect medical records and the related information contained in them? Affordability for an Average Singaporean”
“Sir, there are couples who are childless who would love to adopt children, raise them and care for them. There are also would-be mothers who, due to very difficult and stressful situations, contemplate aborting their pregnancies. Would MSF please take up my suggestion of actively informing pregnant mothers, who are considering terminations, of the loving and nurturing option of giving their baby up for adoption? This is a win-win-win formula because, one, it would give the baby a shot at life in a loving and nurturing family environment; two, the pregnant mother benefits from a wider and longer list of options for her to consider; and, three, the adoptive parents benefit from fulfilling their wish to raise a child in a loving environment. Our organic total fertility rate will also increase. So, the economy stands to gain, too. 6.30 pm Enabling Masterplan”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, we have had a productive debate, first starting on Friday and then now concluding on Monday. I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State Edwin Tong for his comprehensive responses to our cuts. Sir, Singapore continues to have an efficient and effective governance system based on the rule of law due to the hard work of many players in the legal industry. These include MinLaw, IPOS, the Insolvency and Public Trustee's Office and many other public officers. So, in conclusion, a big thank you to Minister K Shanmugam, Senior Minister of State Edwin Tong, MinLaw and the officers for their hard work. With that, Mr Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $269,697,500 for Head R ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $323,398,500 for Head R ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“In addition to those clarifications, Mr Chairman, the use of SMC is very positive. But at the same time, where we have a lot of cases settled and the settlements are kept confidential, it does impact the development of legal jurisprudence in Singapore. So, in addition to the clarifications that I asked previously, would there be a move to encourage parties who do not mind having their settlements non-confidential in nature and allow for the mediators' understanding and grounds in coming to his/her conclusion published, and quite possibly published as a judgment of Court or a decision of the SMC?”
“I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State. I saw quite a thick file, and if there is anything more the Senior Minister of State would like to say on SkillsFuture, legal technology use in Singapore, and regional and global outreach —”
“Chairman, in order to tap on the regional opportunities in the legal market, firms need to be prepared to explore spheres outside Singapore. Allow me to declare my interest as a practising lawyer. International arbitration where parties are often cross-bordered is one key area of regional opportunities. Also, in October last year, a new Singapore infrastructure dispute management protocol was introduced to help mega infrastructure projects around the region manage disputes and minimise the risks of time and cost overruns. How is MinLaw assisting firms in Singapore with ideas for technological advancement or Blue Ocean Strategies to tap on the regional market, thereby creating more job opportunities for Singaporeans and being better able to serve Singapore-based or Singapore-owned companies? Property and Commercialisation of Intellectual Property Next, innovation and invention drive corporations to better their products. As a result, lives of consumers are improved. To incentivise such innovation, corporations' intellectual property (IP) must be protected. How is MinLaw bolstering Singapore's already formidable IP protection regime, such as to incentivise more companies to invest in, protect and commercialise their IP here?”
“The net effect is the development of Singapore’s jurisprudence not only locally but regionally, and quite possibly globally. Thus, how will the Ministry support the increased use of Singapore Law as the governing law in contracts and Singapore as the jurisdiction in which rights arising from the contract are adjudicated upon should disputes arise? Civil, Criminal and Community Justice Civil and commercial disputes are getting more complex, with cross-border parties a now regular occurrence in proceedings. Similarly, cybercrimes and the transitional nature of some syndicates make criminal cases making their way to Court more varied and complicated. With further criminological studies into how early intervention in youths can deter them from crime, sentencing flexibility is needed in our community Courts. How are we developing each of these legal spheres and the important partners in them – be it the Courts, the Bar, SIAC and the AGC – such as to develop Singapore into a global and regional legal hub for corporate and dispute resolution legal work which achieves fair and accurate outcomes within an efficient and effective legal system to the benefit of Singaporeans, the region and the global network? Accessibility to Justice Next, Mr Chairman, Singapore possesses a solid rule of law system for the adjudication of rights. In order for the system to be available to all who need recourse to it, what measures has MinLaw put in place to ensure that persons of limited means continue to have access to legal aid and, by extension, the Courts and the legal system? After all, justice is attained only if one has access to it. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Ensuring Access to Justice”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head R of the Estimates be reduced by $100". A Forbes article entitled, "Singapore: What happens when a nation state endorses legal innovation?" stated, "The Singapore Academy of Law has identified three separate, interlocking areas of focus for legal innovation and transformation. One, fostering a global perspective; two, adaptation of technology to advance and democratise legal service delivery; and three, human-centred capability-building through education and training." These are important components to further secure Singapore as a global and regional legal hub. Furthermore, an effective and efficient legal system, a good body of legal precedents, effective international dispute resolution bodies, such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Maxwell Chambers, the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC), the Courts, a qualified legal Bar, inhouse counsel and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), make for an excellent and formidable formula for the further growth of Singapore as a legal hub. What measures will the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) undertake to further bolster Singapore’s reputation as a regional and global legal hub? Another important aspect is promoting the use of Singapore law. How will MinLaw help to promote Singapore Law as the law of choice governing domestic, international and cross-border agreements at the time the parties sign those agreements? This will ensure Singapore Law’s body of case precedents is relevant and applicable to the rapid changes in how business is conducted. The more Singapore law is used, the more relevant it becomes and the more parties will want to choose it.”
“It was an extremely busy 2018 for MHA. And 2019 and 2020 look to be full ones, too. I would like to thank the Ministers and Senior Parliamentary Secretaries for the comprehensive responses and the productive debate. We would also like to thank the Home Team, including the SPF, SCDF, Police Coast Guard, Prisons, ICA for keeping Singapore safe. We sometimes take it for granted, but every now and then, it is nice to say a big thank you to the Home Team. With that, Mr Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $5,777,979,300 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $978,638,600 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“While we put in place steps to deter terror threats, we must, equally, be prepared in the event a threat vests on our shores. It is not just the prevention of terror attacks that counts but the "cure" after it happens. Even as we currently enjoy racial and religious harmony, we cannot take it for granted. A concrete sense of resilience must prevail in the minds of all Singaporeans, regardless of race or religion, to remain united, steadfastly protecting the racial and religious harmony while rejecting the threat of terror and its perpetrators. What steps has MHA taken to detect and deter self-radicalisation and what community-based exercises will be carried out to imbue a sense of post-attack resilience in fellow Singaporeans? Deterring Cybercrimes In 2018, the overall crime rate increased, mostly due to a 20.6% increase in scams conducted online or on the phone. Of the online crimes, a "significant proportion" was committed by foreign syndicates. Cybercrimes may have a transnational element to them, but their ill consequences can be felt harshly at home. This is especially when syndicates target the elderly in cheating cases or when love scams are deployed to take advantage of Singaporeans. To stem the harm felt in Singapore, my question is: how will MHA build on its capabilities to tackle local and cross-border cybercrimes and enhance public awareness to help prevent their re-occurrence? Safety of Road Users”
“Calls to decriminalise the consumption of highly addictive and illicit drugs should be viewed with scepticism and suspicion. These calls have an agenda, as some of those voicing them have much to gain financially. Sir, drugs do fuel crime. So, if we were to decriminalise the supply and demand of drugs, who suffers the social fallout? Who has to pave the road to recovery of a citizen addicted to drugs? Who has to care for the family broken by a member’s drug addiction? Who suffers as a result of drug-related crimes? Certainly, not the big industries seeking to profit from liberal drug consumption. Rather, it is the family of the drug addict that suffers the most – an innocent spouse, child or baby – and, of course, the state. So, we must deter both the demand and supply of drugs. What then is MHA's position regarding moves to make cannabis legal in neighbouring countries? Separately, what steps are being taken to increase the employability of former rehabilitated addicts? Cannabis”
“Chairman, the world we live in is very different from the past. Through the porous and interconnected Internet, crime and threats of unrest can be caused by players beyond a country's borders. Even within Singapore, the medium of the Internet provides a cover that can easily mask one's identity and location. Nevertheless, what is on the Internet can have consequences in real life. As such, combating falsehoods, protecting race and religion from speech inciting violence, ensuring domestic politics and sensitive policy decisions remain the domain of Singaporeans. These are all key and important facets to our way of life and the continued effectiveness of our rule of law governance system. Science and technology can be studied and deployed to detect foreign and domestic actors who seek to spread falsehoods and incite violence. As experts have stated, this is important as there are cyber armies in the region that can be easily deployed against Singapore directly or as proxies for another country. This can also include civilians who unwittingly participate as circulators of disinformation or even as part of a "militia" that acts in support of a state-sponsored disinformation campaign. Will the new MHA arm in the form of the Science and Technology Agency work to deploy the disciplines of science and technology to deter disinformation or information that incites violence and instability? SPF's SOP in Replying to Appeals”
“Those riots had been called "the worst and most prolonged in Singapore’s postwar history". But the fact that we can celebrate Racial Harmony Day is a testament of how much stronger our unique social fabric has grown. Unique Singapore is made up of many races – Malay, Chinese, Eurasian, Indian and groups of other ethnicities. Along with the ethnicities, there is a wide representation of religions. Living harmoniously and respectfully is, therefore, important. Through the Ethnic Integration Programme, people of different races live side-by-side. However, with the rise of inflammatory speech around the world seeking to incite violence against people based on religion or race, what are our ongoing plans to further safeguard our racial and religious harmony? Further, what steps will be taken to combat hate speech which incites violence against race or religion where such incitement is conducted on social media? It has been reported that since 2012, there has been a 600% increase in the number of users on Twitter globally that spout racial supremacy tweets. A United Nations (UN) expert stated that there is a "dramatic" increase in the number of websites and social media platforms that enable the incitement of violence. Tackling the social media aspect is important, as words on social media can quickly go viral like a fire which is out of control. This can be done through the use of bots. As it is more difficult to trace the origins of such speech, and identity can be easily masked, what legal tools will MHA deploy to deter would-be perpetrators from spouting inflammatory speech? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Emerging Threat to Religious Harmony”
“Thank you. A study of insurrectionist fake news movements around the globe show that hostile information campaigns are deployed in an attempt to undermine institutions, social cohesion and trust in governments. As effectiveness and efficiency can be hampered by an unabated spreading of untruths, the need for Singaporean security agencies to detect and counter them is crucial for the longevity of our system of governance and its continued efficiency. Therefore, to protect Singapore's reputation as a safe country in which systems of governance, trade and industry function predictably and effectively, we should have an armoury of legal tools to combat propagators of fake news and the ill consequences of their trade. It is important that this armoury of legal tools be versatile, as disinformation campaigns have become even more sophisticated and we need to keep up with the advancements in techniques of concealment and manipulation. For example, in a Politico article, it stated that "fake news merchants are a step ahead" of government efforts, challenging the definition of what constitutes fake news through the use of photo-based disinformation and the use of Internet messaging services like WhatsApp, as well as employing techniques to mask their locations and purchase of political ads in local currencies. To that end, would the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) consider formalising such an armoury of legal tools into a legislative and regulatory framework to combat fake news emanating from domestic and foreign propagators? Preserving Racial and Religious Harmony Every 21 July, Racial Harmony Day is celebrated. Why 21 July? The first series of riots in the Race Riots of 1964 began on 21 July.”
“To do so, we need tighter legislation to deter external pressures from having an overt or covert influence on our domestic politics and sensitive issues, which should rightly be for Singaporeans to decide. How can we add muscle to our legislative framework and regularly update the regulatory machinery to preserve and protect domestic policymaking as the rightful domain of Singaporeans? What can we learn of the modus operandi of foreign pressure groups, overt and covert, that have insurrected the policymaking and legislative spheres of other countries? Such a study will assist our Home Team to deter such modus operandi from being deployed here in Singapore. The point is this, that to preserve the effective and efficient running of Singapore, and to ensure our system of governance is not undermined by ill-minded external forces, we need to add more muscle to our armoury of legal weapons. May I take my next two cuts, Mr Chairman?”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head P of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Sir, reports have been made of foreign interference in various jurisdictions around the world. These include agents of influence, funding, hacks and leaks. For example, according to a report to the United States (US) Senate, Russia twitter bots seemed to have been involved in Brexit through social media. This is not to be taken lightly as interracial tensions were escalated by foreign state actors in the case of the US that is deepening the black-white divide. State actors were allegedly behind the Macron hack and leaks, where forged emails were mixed with real ones and were released at the 11th hour. In Australia, their Parliament was hacked. According to the Centre for International Governance Innovation, protection of critical infrastructure, such as voting machines and voter registry, are important to prevent and protect against foreign interference of the democratic processes. Over the past five years, there has been an upward trend in the amount of cyber threat activity against democratic processes globally. Singapore is not exempt from such threats. Experts are of the view that the SingHealth cyberattack was by a state actor as the attack continued even after detection. During the Singapore-Malaysia disputes last year, there was a noticeable increase in critical comments made by avatars. This may be hard to detect as false accounts and groups that originated from a foreign country can pose as local, as was done during the mid-term elections in the US. Therefore, we must guard against such threats descending on and vesting in Singapore.”
“Undergirding this must be an openness to different views and new evidence, even as one holds strong positions on certain subjects and issues. As an example, Sir, some fellow Members of this House would know my hard stance against drugs and the need to criminalise the trafficking as well as the consumption of drugs. This is because I humbly remain convinced that drugs are harmful, especially to the consumers and the communities around them. However, if objective and "un-agended" data shows that the consuming of illicit drugs is not harmful, then I will review the data and test my conclusions again. This is because all of us here in this Chamber owe it to the Singaporeans we serve to form the most accurate conclusion. For the record, as regards drugs, I am still of the view that we need to criminalise consumption. Sir, for this year's debate on the Budget Statement, I decided to focus on social compact, which was one of the foundational points in Minister Heng Swee Keat's speech. On that topic, I respectfully seek to persuade this House that politics in Singapore should remain about possibilities and persuasion, always with a view on what is best for Singapore's long term; it should be carried out under a broad umbrella where differing views can flourish and consensus built on a foundation of ethics, stewardship and values. It should never lead to brinkmanship, single issue politics or hollow short-term compromise. This is a place where policy and societal morality is charted. If we can all do it right, then unity will prevail. If we can all do it right, our social compact – as a people – will be robustly defended and protected. Indeed, it is worth protecting. It is worth defending.”
“Further, we need to be able to collect a collage of differing views under the umbrella of a single party, thereby avoiding sole-issue politics. This way, even hard issues and issues touching on morality and ethics can be debated in a respectful and productive way. Such an approach has a further advantage. It avoids the need for politics by referendum, since differing views are already represented in the legislature. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio recently aired an excellent programme just last weekend, entitled "The Real Story: Are Referendums ever a good idea?" In that programme, a quote on Brexit from the expert being interviewed caught my attention. Caroline Vernaillen from Democracy International explained: "I think what is definitely never a good idea... is putting a general programme to a vote if it contains multiple questions... the way Brexit was actually a broad reform programme." As representatives of the constituents we serve, we are entrusted with the mandate to make difficult decisions on policy or morality for our country. Therefore, when we are faced with tough decisions, it is, in my view, much better to debate the ideas respectfully and holistically in Parliament, and decide in Parliament what the path to take for Singapore is, rather than passing the buck back to the good people who entrusted us with the decision-making duties in the first place. So, I come back to this central issue of a social compact, which was a major plank in Minister Heng Swee Keat’s speech on Budget 2019 which I support. A valuable ingredient for an effective social compact is to ensure cooperation within society by reflecting and giving voice to differing views in Parliament. This is healthy and avoids the politics of extremes.”
“In the UK, the Britain First party ran on an anti-immigration and openly nationalist agenda. In 2016, Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader, was convicted for religiously aggravated harassment. Why do I raise this? The answer is this: irreconcilable division breeds an environment of politics of extremes. This inevitably creates conflict. Policies become political bargains that compromise on effectiveness. Politicians engage in brinkmanship. I would not want this to happen in Singapore for the sake of our social compact. In the US, partisan brinkmanship causes shutdowns of government, and it impacts the lives of many. During the 16-day shutdown in 2013, almost $4 billion in tax refunds were delayed, home loans for 8,000 rural families were stalled. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the US lost an estimated $2 billion to $6 billion of economic growth during the 16-day shutdown in 2013. An October 2018 article in the Asia News Monitor about Bosnia-Herzegovina, reported that the country faced a collapsing healthcare system, struggling public infrastructure, regressing education, catastrophic and accelerating brain drain. A lot to solve. Instead of meaningfully engaging these issues, the political discourse centred on nationalist brinkmanship and paranoia. Main campaign issues among nationalist parties were "either 'we're going to kill the other side or we're going to keep you from getting killed by the other side.'" In Britain, some think that the fear of a disorderly Brexit might be used to squeeze the deal through in Parliament or to help Britain in its negotiations with the EU. Therefore, Sir, from what the world has shown us, we need, in Singapore, to refrain from the politics of brinkmanship.”
“Therefore, what is important is not whether my views are ideologically right or left, but rather, I have the freedom within the government party to act or voice a view in accordance with what I thought was best for Singapore. This has strengthened my humble belief that, in Singapore, those elected must possess "political ambidexterity" – they must deploy right- or left-leaning policies in accordance with what Singapore needs for the long term based on a defensible and robust system of values and ethics. A person should not be pigeon-holed left or right. In the course of the debates, there will be times when we debate morality and our interpretation of it. That is important and we should not shy away from it. Nevertheless, it is important that politics in Singapore does not move into single-issue politics. Yes, the issues are very important. Yes, the issues have wide-ranging impact on many different sectors. But the running of a country cannot be reduced to a single issue. Worse still, examples from jurisdictions around the world have shown that some of those who push single-issue politics focus on polarising fault lines, exploiting them for a political purpose and deepening divisions in society. For example, some pockets in the political spheres in Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) and other countries have stoked interracial and inter-religious tensions by running on racial supremacy or anti-religion lines. In Germany, in September 2017, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) became the first far-right party to enter Germany's national parliament since the 1950s. It won 94 seats to become the third strongest party in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of Parliament. The AfD quite arguably ran elections on an anti-immigration, anti-Islam ticket.”
“The focus, one can argue, is not on the effectiveness or efficiency of the final product but on the political compromise. A New York Times article entitled "A Tax Code of Politics, Not Reason", says that "This compromise has left us with a loophole-riddled code that isn't very good at raising money." Compared to other developed countries, the US does not collect much tax at all. At least that was the state of things in April 2012 – but such is compromise. In my humble view, the better way is to focus on possibilities and persuasion rather than loose compromises. In order to do this, we should not label a person as "right" or "left", "liberal" or "conservative". A person can have different views on different issues and should not be limited to representing the "right" or "left" view. If we label people in this manner, the focus shifts from what is best for Singapore to whether or not a view conforms to a certain ideological view. Because there is no such pressure to fit or not fit a certain label in Singapore, I feel the freedom to decide based on what I think is the best course for Singapore on the issues that came before this House. In some matters, my view could be categorised as more "right". For example, my hard stance against recreational drug use because of its harm to society could be characterised as right-leaning. On a different issue, my view could be characterised as being more "left". For example, advocating for the Prevention of Human Trafficking Bill in order to protect vulnerable workers in Singapore from being exploited in a capitalist market.”
“Besides being able to draw from a broad slate of possibilities, there is value in housing different views within a single political party. Different perspectives make us reflect on things from a different angle. For example, during the recent debate on the National Parks Board (Amendment) Bill, Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns of safety and that of a hygienic living environment for her residents, citing multiple unsupervised cat feeding episodes as attracting big rats and the need for relevant authorities to be trained in handling snake sightings near residences. Mr Louis Ng took a different view on the matter, suggesting that the removal of snakes which eat rats contributed to the problem of a rising number of rats. Such an exchange is a real plus; a real advantage. Such an exchange sheds light on the same issue through different perspectives, sparking new ideas and increasing the range of possible solutions to be explored. Coupling the ability to house members of differing views with the need for cooperation among members of a single party, the policies and directions that come out from the deliberative process is not necessarily one characterised by compromise, but one of possibility through persuasion. This is a win-win, provided, of course, those involved in the debate want what is best for Singapore. The need to compromise for the sake of political dividend does not necessarily lead to the best policies. For example, in order to get bipartisan support to pass legislation, the US tax code often contains loopholes due to political bargains that needed to be struck between the Democrats that desire higher rates for richer Americans and Republicans who prefer to reduce taxes for the rich.”
“What worked in other countries may not be suitable or may need to be adapted before being applied to Singapore. As Mr Lim Siong Guan wrote, "Singapore is unique in its demographics, its small size and its lack of natural resources. We cannot become a first-world economy simply by following what others are doing. As we look at the successes elsewhere, the critical questions we continuously have to ask are not what they are doing, or how they are doing it, but why they are doing it and why they are doing it that way." Because of the rapidly changing world and our unique challenges, it is critical that we be able to draw from a broad slate of policies and avoid strict adherence to theories. Theories can be assistive, but they are just that – theories. Theories have limitations and thus cannot be overly, rigidly adhered to. Dogmatic adherence to theories or rigid ideology also lacks the ability to capture the multifaceted complexities of democracies. The Financial Times article entitled, "Capitalism and Democracy: the strain is showing" pointed out tensions between liberal democracy and global capitalism, citing Harvard University Prof Dani Rodrik as stating, "democracy, national sovereignty and global economic integration are mutually incompatible: we can combine any two of the three but never have all three simultaneously and in full." If he is correct, then balancing the tensions among these concepts – democracy, national sovereignty and global economic integration – cannot be achieved through strict adherence to dogma. Therefore, aiming for theoretical purism is not the goal; rather, aiming to do what is best for Singapore is, drawing from a broad slate of possibilities. I believe that this is what the governing party in Singapore must continue to do.”
“Sir, fiscal policies are important. But I am glad the Minister for Finance also emphasised Singapore's unique social compact – how the Government is partnering people to build a caring and inclusive society and encouraging people to volunteer and give back to society. Because the social compact of any society impacts how citizens cooperate with one another. Within a pluralistic society, people will have different views about what the social compact should be. Politics and debates in this House, therefore, reflect what those differing views are, and, at the close of the debates, policies impacting society are formalised into law. Therefore, giving voice to different views within a single political party is essential for Singapore. Indeed, it can be a major advantage. Why? Because it is important that there continues to be a broad slate of policy options for consideration for Singapore. Why? Because the world is changing. Geopolitics is being shaken up. Disruptive technology is rapidly advancing. What used to work in the past may not work in the future. But change itself is not new. Singapore has had to adapt her economic strategies. According to the book Dynamic Governance, in the 1970s, as change was more gradual and predictable, planning and predetermining what needed to be done was important for Singapore's survival. But when things changed more rapidly because of globalisation and instantaneous communication, Singapore needed to go beyond that to sensing and responding to emerging opportunities. When that happened, the role of the Government shifted from directing and allocating resources to facilitating the exploitation of opportunities. As a small island city-state, Singapore faces unique challenges.”
“What a remarkable mother and grandmother. It brings home, Mr Speaker, the importance of what we are debating through the two Private Members' Motions today in Parliament. Therefore, what I am asking for is that the support for caregivers be extended to caregivers of those who are physically or mentally disabled or mentally challenged. These Motions are a stepping stone. But, surely, we can and should move beyond the elderly. Nevertheless, it is not my purpose to distract from the good starting block that we are at now, in particular, caring for the caregiver of the elderly. The community needs to support ageing with dignity. When it comes to caring for caregivers, some caregivers are themselves in a vulnerable position. While some caregivers may be married and have a reservoir of extended family who can come in at least once in a while and support, others who did not get married may not have such resources available. They may be singlehandedly fulfilling caregiving duties, juggling between work during the day and caring for their aged parents at night. Others may themselves be retired. It is especially important to help caregivers who are themselves in a vulnerable position. I am confident that MOH, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Government will put in place measures that will benefit and provide the much-needed support for our seniors – our seniors who helped to build the Singapore we have today to age with dignity, and to provide their caregivers with key support mechanisms. Therefore, I support the Motions.”
“In my constituency, I have witnessed the great courage of parents and family members of those who are physically or mentally challenged. They have a great weight on their shoulders. Sometimes, unfortunately, the father leaves and the caregiving duties fall fully on the mother. For those who care for these children with special needs, much care is taken to create a protective environment in the home for the child. But what that means is that there is very little downtime for the caregivers themselves. Caregiving is a 24/7 job, except when the person cared for is sleeping, which is when the caregivers sleep, too. They, too, need to be able to rest and recharge emotionally, physically, mentally. But often, there is no opportunity for the much-needed respite. Allow me to give a real example. A single mother in Ulu Pandan, the constituency I serve, takes care of her special needs child. We were in contact for a number of years, partnering her family and supporting them. One day, she shared with me that she has another child, a daughter, who was getting married and asked whether we would be able to arrange care for her teenage son with special needs so that she can attend her daughter's wedding. As there was no one who could help care for her son during that time and her son needed specialised, close supervision, she was prepared not to attend her daughter’s wedding. That struck me – the level of commitment and dedication of that mother. Because her son had a tendency to harm himself, we made special arrangements with a hospital to care for him for those two days on which the wedding took place. After the wedding, she continued to take care of her son at home. She recently broke the happy news to me that she is now a grandmother – her daughter gave birth.”
“Because we believe that every person is precious no matter what their age. Everyone should be able to age with dignity. Just because a person is not working or unable to take care of themselves or may not be mentally alert does not mean that the person is not valued in society. No. This is not the Singapore way. In Singapore, we respect our elders. That is why we want to create more policy space so that our elderly can age with dignity, financially supporting them and their caregivers. Again, this brings home the point about why both the Motions today are timely. We should not in any way regard the elderly as a burden. I hope that this Motion will give the elderly the message that they are respected and looked up to. The elderly have a special place in the community and we have a lot to learn from them. This is the reason why, in my constituency, we have situated an infant care centre, childcare centre as well as a senior care centre near one another. We are planning various initiatives for both groups of people – the children with their parents and the seniors with their caregivers – to interact meaningfully with each other, for example, having combined celebrations of the different festivities, interactions during the year-end childcare celebrations as well as introducing grandparents' week. What we want is for them to have fruitful interactions with one another to strengthen the imparting of good moral values, such as kindness, caring and respect. So, what we are debating in Parliament today is a reflection of the high position we give the elderly in our community. Furthermore, this is a good first step to recognising the valuable contributions and unique challenges that caregivers face. I feel that we can and should look beyond caregivers of the elderly.”
“This is important so that our seniors can choose to age well at home, in an environment that is conducive, comfortable and convenient. Another way in which we should support caregivers is to consider seriously the provision of a caregiver allowance. This is to recognise the sacrifices made by primary caregivers as well as the crucial contributions they make. Tax reliefs are useful. However, not all caregivers may work. Lower levies do not benefit those who may not be able to afford FDWs. Institutional subsidies are unable to support those who are cared for at home. So, these Motions are timely to help address some of these gaps. Because of the wide variety of ways in which care is provided, caregiver allowance should be provided so as to meaningfully benefit those who would otherwise not enjoy financial help rendered. This is in line with the reason cited in the ElderShield Review Committee Report as to why cash reimbursements should be provided so that it will provide claimants and their caregivers the flexibility to decide on their desired care arrangements. Any financial help for the person being cared for will, in turn, benefit the caregiver, whether the caregiver is a family member or a person who is paid. If the caregiver is a family member, the financial relief can be used in ways which would otherwise be used to provide care for the person cared for. If the caregiver is a person being paid, that caregiver can be paid better. Providing caregiver allowance will also be a key step that the Government can take to lead the paradigm shift in the perceptions surrounding the vocation of caregiving. But this is not just a call for practical action, but also a principled statement. A statement that we need to care for all – the young, the middle-aged, the elderly. Why?”
“Sir, I stand in support of Dr Chia Shi-Lu's Motion and Mr Henry Kwek's Motion. They are excellent initiatives and are timely. Even as it is important to show support to our elderly in their golden years, it is equally important to care for the caregivers themselves because caregiving, though meaningful, can be extremely challenging and demanding on time, energy and emotion. Therefore, we need to support caregivers, both to give them the much-needed respite as well as financial help. In the constituency I serve, we see caregivers who are not working but are caring for their aged parents fulltime. In the workplace, we see people who work during the day and return at home to give care to their parents who are aged. To provide respite for the caregivers, there needs to be people who can stand in to care for the elderly while the primary caregiver is taking a much-needed respite to rest and be recharged. Besides training courses that are geared towards equipping primary caregivers with the necessary skills, what is also important is training courses for others to learn the skills. This would allow others to provide flexible home-based care so that primary caregivers can enjoy the weekly respite they need. Another important way in which caregivers can be supported is through caregiver leave and FWAs. This will help those who feel the need to accompany their aged parents for medical checkups. Other times, when an aged parent unexpectedly falls ill, such measures will allow caregivers to have the peace of mind in knowing that they will have the ability to address emergencies on the home front. To support caregivers financially, there can be greater subsidies or Government contributions for home-based care assistants working in VWOs.”
“I thank the Minister for his Statement. In the constituency I serve, there are persons with HIV. We work with them, we partner them, they are fellow Singaporeans. While I recognise that good work has already been done in this area by various organisations, such as Action for AIDS or Catholic AIDS Response Effort, will the Ministry consider formalising and bolstering this process, drawing from good initiatives in other countries? For example, Living Positive Victoria in Australia has a team of peer navigators who are themselves living with HIV, who work extensively with HIV patients and their families, one-on-one. Sir, some contract HIV through no fault of their own. These include babies. So, arising from this data leak, will MOH consider a more formalised process of support for those living with HIV and their families?”
“This is good because international cooperation in this area is vital to effectively identify which transactions are riskier. Sir, this Bill is timely. It seeks to limit the use of precious metals and precious stones in ML/TF. Therefore, I support the Bill.”
“As the effects of this Bill will be felt at all levels of the precious metal and precious stones market, including the individual buyers, AML/CTF needs to be an ongoing conversation requiring regulator-industry cooperation. For instance, there are concerns that customers will not understand why identity or proof of ownership may be important. Some customers may feel uncomfortable, threatened or put off by needing to answer so many questions. Lack of understanding of certain terms used in risk-profiling, such as "politically exposed persons" (PEP), may also be a hindrance to obtaining the requisite information. These concerns of regulated dealers overstepping and intruding into customers' details unnecessarily cannot be treated lightly. Indeed, this is part of the feedback that has come from the industry, that is, whether or not the questions to be asked of potential customers are overly intrusive. To this end, what will be done to raise awareness among the general public about what to expect and the importance of such processes? How will regulated dealers be supported in complying with the guidelines, for instance, giving them the power to ask for certain private information or building capacity so that they will be able to search in the relevant "watchlists" should such actions become necessary? Further, what will be done to address concerns that private information will not be obtained unnecessarily and that private information obtained will remain secure and confidential if eventually not needed for any AML/CTF investigations? Regarding the information gathered, clause 29 of the Bill provides for disclosure of information or documents to a foreign authority.”
“The common fundamental principle running through the whole variety of players in the precious stones and precious minerals industry is that of identifying and addressing risks appropriately. How that works for each business may differ. For instance, the kinds of risk that a person in the scrap metal business faces and a jeweller faces are different. As such, it is important that the objective is clear and expectations communicated so that each of the different sectors can comply meaningfully. There needs to be input from each sector of the industry so that the guidelines will make sense for the kinds of situations they may face. This Bill will help ease the transition of working current informal checking processes into a regulatory framework that is sensible and robust. Further, there needs to be training and education so that regulated dealers and their employees will be able to effectively implement the appropriate guidelines. If the regulated dealers understand the process but are unable to articulate it to the employees, the regulatory framework will not be as effectively implemented. As risk profiles may change due to the dynamic nature of ML/TF, there needs to be a two-way feedback on what works, what does not, how things need to be changed. That is why it is good that the Bill allows for adjustment of guidelines, standards and codes of practice under clause 35. These guidelines need to be flexible enough to allow discretion to be applied to individual situations, yet they need to provide sufficient guidance for them to be effective. The idea is not to be too burdensome for legitimate transactions but, at the same time, be sufficiently robust to identify and deter illegitimate transactions.”
“Would it include individuals who buy precious stones and precious minerals who make a one-off sale, for instance, to the pawnshop? What if there is more than one purpose for purchase? For instance, gold pieces are often bought during wedding preparation both as a gift and also as an investment. Would that be considered purchase for the purpose of resale? Also, what kinds of situations is paragraph (b) involving "intermediary" envisaged to cover? Secondly, how will the question of whether a product is a precious product according to the definition be worked out? If the value is referring to retail value, how will it be determined whether 50% of the value is attributable to precious stone or precious material or to the branding of a product or the craftsmanship that goes into it? As luxury brands may carry a range of products – some with precious stones and precious metals which may fall under regulated dealing, it is necessary that there be sufficient clarity and guidance on what is or is not a precious product. Clarity is important for compliance and effective regulation, yet it is also vital that these new regulations do not unduly curb in businesses' creativity when designing products. Thirdly, clause 6 says that "a person must not act or hold out to act as a regulated dealer unless the person is a registered dealer." Would this Bill apply to persons or businesses who are based overseas but who engage in regulated dealing with individuals or dealers in Singapore? For instance, if a manufacturer based overseas buys scrap metal from Singapore, would that overseas manufacturer require registration? This Bill adopts a risk-based approach to regulation. This is good because of ML/TF, both dynamic, always looking for new loopholes to exploit.”
“Sir, in the international web of ML/TF, it is important that Singapore does its part to create an environment in which crime does not pay. As the way these syndicates and perpetrators work is dynamic, it is important not to leave a gap in our preventive framework which they can exploit. Therefore, this Bill is timely to bolster our AML/CTF measures by increasing the standard of such practices in the industry, and, also, to protect the many hardworking merchants who operate within the industry. Precious stones and precious minerals are highly valued yet relatively compact, making it easy and desirable to store or smuggle. Their worldwide demand makes it easy to convert their value into money and vice versa. Their form is versatile and easily changed, making it difficult to trace. For instance, in "Operation Meltdown" overseen by the United States (US) Homeland Security Investigations, proceeds from drug trafficking were money laundered through gold. Part of the scheme involved converting gold bullion into nuts, bolts and other items, enabling them to declare them as “gold pigment". These characteristics make precious stones and precious minerals especially susceptible to be used for ML/TF. Therefore, in order to increase AML/CTF measures in this industry, this Bill seeks to regulate PSMDs. I have a few questions on the scope of the Bill. Firstly, the definition of "regulated dealers" says: "a business of regulated dealing; or business as an intermediary for regulated dealing." What does "business" refer to? From paragraph (e) of the definition of "regulated dealing" under clause 2, this Bill seeks to regulate the purchasing of precious stones, precious mineral or precious product for the purpose of resale.”
“I thank the Minister for his strong Statement. Indeed, we must strive to marry safety and creating a real operational environment. As a suggestion, would MINDEF consider re-employing retired officers and specialists who have operational and safety experience to train our NSFs and NSmen on what risks to look out for prior to on-the-ground missions? These retired or near-to-retirement SAF officers and Specialists have a wealth of experience to share; this could be a body separate from IGO.”
“We have to look at threats beyond our shores in order to guard our shores. Regionally, there has been a surge of synthetic drug manufacturing in the Golden Triangle, especially for methamphetamine. There has also been international concern that the drug gangs there will diversify into other kinds of synthetic drugs, such as ketamine and fentanyl, which are highly addictive, highly destructive. Sir, in conclusion, our resolve to fight against drugs in Singapore will not be diluted. Rather, with legal amendments, such as these, the resolve is made even more steely. As this Bill adds steel to Singapore's determination to deter a potential drug menace, I support it.”
“Even though patients try to minimise the consequences of cannabis, treatment providers say that many report feeling isolated, paranoid and are unable to effectively interact with the outside world, and experience psychosis and hallucinations. In Colorado Springs, marijuana has even been called, and I quote, the "gateway drug to homicide" by a district attorney. In 2016, eight of 22 homicides had a "marijuana nexus." And I quote again, "In most cases, robbery of marijuana was a motive, or the victim was killed during a marijuana narcotics transaction." Homelessness had also increased by 50% since marijuana was legalised. The impact is so great that there has been much local response to the harm marijuana is causing. Out of 64 counties in Colorado, 61% have prohibited or have a moratorium on recreational marijuana and, out of the 243 municipalities that have taken action on this issue, about 69% have prohibited it. In the Netherlands, the Hague has become the first Dutch city to outlaw smoking cannabis in and around its city centre, central railway station and major shopping areas. So, why do we want a drug-free Singapore, not a drug reduced Singapore, not a drug tolerant Singapore, but a drug-free Singapore? Why? Because drugs are harmful. No insidious pro-drug camp should deter us from our view that drugs are, indeed, harmful – harmful to the abuser, their families, society and a country's human potential. Indeed, Minister Shanmugam has taken this clear line on the international stage and I support it. Last year, Canada legalised recreational marijuana. I do not agree with questionable groups who push pro-drug rhetoric. Singapore is on the right path in its tough stance against drugs. We must continually be on our guard, never taking a defeatist attitude.”
“At paragraph 19 of the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA's) press release relating to this Bill, it reads, and I quote, "However, drug abusers who commit other criminal offences and harm society will continue to be dealt with very strictly. They will be charged in Court and be liable for imprisonment and caning, including LT." Is this differentiation between those who commit other offences and those who do not, the reason why clause 16 introduces a tiered minimum punishment for consumption and possession offences? Let us be clear that these amendments do not mean that Singapore's stance against drugs has softened. We are still treating drug abuse as a clear menace which needs to be eradicated, not tolerated. In fact, if we look at the Bill closely, the changes are actually mixed in strategy but single in purpose. We want a drug-free Singapore. Clause 13 allows "random spot-checks" to ensure that ex-addicts stay off drugs while long-term imprisonment is still on the books. Clause 16 introduces minimum punishment for those charged and convicted for consumption or possession offences even though it is their first time. So, what is clear is that while some amendments are rehabilitation-focused, the law does not hesitate to be harsh when it needs to be. Sir, as we step up rehabilitation efforts, we cannot lose sight of the reason why Singapore is so hard on drugs in the first place – drug abuse itself is harmful. By consuming drugs, a drug user is harming himself or herself, his or her family, his or her community, and society. Even cannabis, which has been legalised in some countries, is harmful.”
“With this longer supervision period, it is also important that supervision is not too disruptive so that the ex-offender's studies or employment will not be too affected. With the possibility of hair tests, how often does an ex-offender need to report for testing? For long-term resilience, could the Ministry consider providing some opportunities for physical activity or games so that former or recovering drug addicts can experience that there can be meaning to life and relief without drugs? Besides increasing the time of the supervision order to decrease recidivism, would the Ministry consider giving a workbook for the ex-offenders to record and review what they have learnt in therapy sessions in relation to staying off drugs, for example, how they themselves can better cope with stress or how to replace drug cravings with sports? This would provide them with a resource that they can have on hand whenever they may need to refer to it so as to assist in quashing the urge to take drugs. Also, because this Bill allows a supervision order to extend up to five years, it would be useful if the recidivism rate is tracked at the one-year, two-year, three-year, four-year and five-year marks. Would this be considered? Currently, under section 34, the Director may require any person whom he reasonably suspects to be a drug addict to be medically examined or observed by a Government medical officer or medical practitioner. This Bill extends the power to committing the person to a place specified by the Director for up to seven days. Could the Minister please expand on the purpose behind this amendment and why seven days was chosen? Thirdly, there seems to be greater differentiation between drug abusers as a result of this Bill's amendments. This is to be welcomed.”
“This Bill seeks to support rehabilitation efforts in a few ways and build on the ongoing excellent work of the Prisons Officers, counselling staff and voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who put in tireless efforts in the area of rehabilitation. Firstly, clause 19 empowers the Director to require the parent or guardian of a supervisee under 21 to attend any counselling session. This is good in that it goes further to try to ensure that low-risk youths in the non-residential Youth Enhanced Supervision (YES) scheme are given the best shot at rehabilitation. This amendment also recognises the importance of the family in rehabilitation. Because the family can play an important role in providing not just practical support but also morale, encouragement and purpose in life, I hope that older drug abusers would also be given opportunities to engage their families, such as to help drug abusers reconcile with their families who could be their pillars of support upon release. Would the Ministry consider the possibility of having more open visits, such as that reported by The Straits Times during the Children's Day in 2017, for suitable cases, especially for inmates with young children? Secondly, clause 18 increases the length of time for rehabilitation and supervision. Instead of six months, there will be a minimum of 12 months rehabilitation. The maximum duration has also been increased from three years to four years for rehabilitation and from two years to five years for supervision. This increases the amount of time that our captains of lives have to work with drug addicts to rehabilitate and decrease recidivism. This is excellent as there is greater support and accountability for a longer time during the integration phase.”
“The Internet makes it easier to commit an offence and there is a greater potential for harm. This is especially true when it comes to buying drugs online where the convenience and relative ease of accessing the Dark Net in the "comfort of one’s own home" makes it little more than a click away. Therefore, to counterbalance these factors which make drug trafficking over the Internet easier, lucrative and also more harmful, we should have targeted offences or aggravated offences if the medium of the Internet is used. Additionally, with the increase in online purchases, we need to make sure that our capacity to detect drugs in parcels will be able to match the volume being sent and received domestically and internationally. Another suggestion is that the MDA give due consideration to the potential harmfulness of the drug when mixed or cocktailed with available consumables. We should not just be concerned about the weight of the illicit drug. This is because using such contaminants or mixers could make the cocktailed drug more addictive, more harmful. Related to this issue, there is a rapid proliferation in number, type and availability of new psychoactive substances worldwide. We need to ensure that they are reclassified quickly into a First Schedule drug so that charges for trafficking, manufacture, import, export, possession or consumption can be made. Could the Minister consider this? This will help reduce the demand for and supply of such drugs, that is, through deterrence. Besides preventing the spread of drug abuse and a drug-tolerant culture, it is important to step up rehabilitation efforts. I support these key and important steps of promoting rehabilitation of drug addicts.”
“New section 11B introduces a new offence to protect our children against the harms of drug abuse. This is to be welcomed. In particular, it requires a person who possesses drugs or drug paraphernalia not to leave them lying around where a child may unknowingly take it. This is a crucial amendment. Why do I say this? In April 2017, in Utah, a girl was born – born a drug addict. Her mother had used drugs heavily during her pregnancy. But lest we think that this can only happen in Utah, here are some stories from newspapers that let us catch a small glimpse of how children are impacted by their parent’s drug abuse in Singapore. One, in February 2018, a one-year-old boy was rescued from suspected drug traffickers after his caregiver left him in their care. When his mother was found later, she was four months pregnant and had tested positive for drugs. Two, in June 2018, a four-year-old girl was discovered with her mother – within reach of sachets of methamphetamine. Three, in August 2018, a three-month-old girl was found in a unit with a suspected drug trafficker and drug abuser, with preliminary investigations showing that "ice" was abused during pregnancy and after the child was born. These are real-life stories of how drugs ruin lives, including that of innocent children. Therefore, this new offence is important to protect children from harmful exposure to drugs. Singapore must continue to take a firm and tough stance against drugs and questionable pro-drug narratives. While these amendments to the MDA will put another tool in the legal toolbox for grappling with contamination and exposure to drugs, I would suggest that the medium of the Internet should be given special consideration. This is because the Internet poses unique concerns.”
“This attitude towards drugs was more prevalent in older youth segments, that is, NSFs, university students and young working adults, than in younger youth groups, that is those from secondary school, junior college, polytechnic, Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs) and out-of-school youths. Over 33% of youths up to 30 years old misperceived cannabis as less harmful or non-addictive. One suggestion I have, in addition to the amendments proposed today, is that we include clear and informative learning material in our Ministry of Education (MOE) Science syllabus, which should detail the host of ills and harmful effects of experimenting with drugs. Make it examinable material. We need to start young and reinforce it regularly by putting it in the primary and secondary school syllabus. For university students, students travelling to places where drugs are more accessible, pre-exchange briefings, for example, could be arranged to remind them that drugs are not just illegal but also harmful. To supplement drug prevention education efforts, this Bill introduces new offences in new sections 11C and 11D to prohibit introducing a drug trafficker to another person or instructing a person to cultivate plants from which cannabis can be extracted, and manufacturing or consuming drugs. Even as this offence provides tools to clamp down on contaminative actions and contain the spread of drug abuse, we cannot let this lull us into a sense of comfort. We still need to continue to be vigilant in equipping people with the skills to (a) find credible sources of information and (b) guard against the rhetoric used by the pro-drug camp. There are also other offences introduced by this Bill that seek to limit exposure and contaminative acts.”