Cynthia Phua
Singapore
“Sir, I am very glad that the Minister has elaborated on the diversification of our food sources. On the ground, our senior citizens are saying that the 10-cent increase in a cup of coffee is affecting their daily needs.”
“Where are the weak links that should be tightened? How does his Ministry intend to tackle the problem and whether it is engaging in any dialogue with different concerned groups in the community, for example, VWOs?”
“Mr Chairman, the Minister mentioned about the cross-agency effort on youth. He mentioned three Ministries – MOE, MHA and MCYS. I would like to ask for one more, ie, MINDEF, because for male youths, if they are delinquents, they would have left school and be enlisted earlier, and they could get help from MINDEF.”
“Many parents are working when the children are in secondary school. As a result, teenage students are left at home in the afternoon without proper guidance.”
“In the community, we came across many new cases where family could not manage to persuade the patient to have early treatment, resulting in nuisances being caused to the neighbourhood and the patient himself who suffers the mental illness.”
“What has been the outcome pertaining to our ongoing efforts to bring back our Singaporean medical students and some of the young doctors working overseas? What are the Minister's views on the newly introduced scholarship for medical students studying overseas?”
The complete record
Every one of 639 lines we hold for Cynthia Phua, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 13.
“Mr Chairman, Sir, in the last few years, there has been much improvement made to the public transport system. For this proactive stance, the Minister must take the credit for his leadership. But as the ridership rises, so too will the demands on the operators. To begin with, buses are still not keeping to schedules especially during peak hours. During off-peak hours, the infrequency of buses is common. The LTA has provided some assistance by installing Real-Time Bus Arrival Information Panels to help commuters. Will these panels be extended beyond the CBD area? There is no quality benchmark here for, say, at the midpoint of a journey for buses to keep on schedule. Once there is no quality measure, there will be no improvement. LTA should proceed with mid-journey KPI on the percentage of buses arriving on time. In addition, residents have complained about the infrequency of feeder bus services during weekends. We should liberalise the feeder bus services and allow private operators to operate these. The upside of this would mean that more bus operators for our primary school children who then can start schools later. We know the Circle Line is being brought forward with the opening of four stations. Can we have an update on the earlier opening of the rest of the lines and stations? Are there further MRT lines being planned? MRT trains still suffer from an overcrowding problem during peak hours. Despite the increases in carriage frequency, commuters still find themselves unable to board. Could this be an infrastructure issue where the old MRT lines are a single track system and not able to allow more carriages on the track?”
“Sir, thank you for allowing me to make a point of clarification. After IMH where the patient seeks treatment, this could be followed up by the daycare centre. And then later on, more VWOs can be encouraged to come out to set up some silver ribbon centres, where the patients are cared for more on a voluntary basis. On this basis, we have more community support on the ground. 1.15 pm”
“Presently, many of our community leaders and volunteers do not understand the various ailments relating to mental health, let alone how to help and support them and their family members. I really hope that the Ministry will make an effort to share this knowledge with the ground. I would also like to appeal for more VWOs to set up community support centres, so as to support these mentally ill residents and their families with the help of the Ministry of Community Development and Sports. However, there is a limit to what the VWOs can do both in terms of manpower and resources, especially on trained personnel. I understand that it takes at least a good five years of post-graduate study to be trained in this area of medical specialty. So I hope that the Minister could put in effort and resources to train these specialists on the ground. Funding for Institute of Mental Health Services”
“Madam, I have spoken on support and help for mentally ill patients during the debate on the Budget Statement. I will repeat again as these patients are really in need in the community. I would like to appeal personally on behalf of a group of residents who are mentally unwell, as we have not attended to their needs for a long time. Also, we have not helped their families who look after them. Many have been left behind to cope with their dependants on their own. Many families have difficulties seeking help, as they are either embarrassed or do not want to face the stigma of the illness. I have checked and found that there are only three day care centres in Singapore, although the Minister had earlier revealed to me that there altogether six centres for mentally ill patients. I made a cold call and spoke to one of the occupational therapists who is taking care of one centre. He has two other colleagues who are helping him to take care of about 40-50 clients daily, and they are understaffed. The average age of the clients is 30-40 years old. Basically, these are healthy men and women in their prime, and yet they need long-term medication. I understand that the medication is very expensive as well. The burden on the family is heavy, and it is really for 365 days. It is not short-term but really long-term care. I can empathise with them because, as I said earlier in Parliament, I have actually stayed with relatives in a kampong area, and I felt the gloom and the doom in the day. We have done well in community support for the elderly. Can we have similar networks for our mentally unstable patients?”
“I would like to link the issue of affordability with the fact that people in the lower-income groups are at higher risk of poor health. This has been researched widely in other countries. In Singapore, a study by the Singapore Heart Foundation concluded that almost 50% of the people in one- and two-room rental flats had at least two chronic diseases. This included needy elders who had no source of regular income. It is logical to assume that for low-income people, steep costs of healthcare are a barrier to healthcare utilisation. Many of them avoid healthcare screening for fear they may find something sinister and that would create higher monthly cost. To summarise, if community-based long-term care is made more affordable and means tests are conducted with flexibility, especially in this time of recession, many families would find immense relief. Of what good is the construction of more concrete structures, highly trained staff, if the ordinary man-in-the-street cannot afford to pay for the services? I would like the Minister to consider waiving the GST for all transport fees and community-based long-term care services. This could be for one year to recognise the financial difficulties families are facing, renewable after one year. Regarding families which have multiple serious problems, the maximalist rather than the minimalist approach towards subsidy should be applied. Long-term healthcare is a necessity, not a luxury. Therefore, the Ministry is urged to take a humanitarian approach in this very extraordinary time. Healthcare for the Elderly”
“Long-term or step-down care includes a wide range of services such as day rehabilitations, hospices, home nursing, home medical and even ambulance services. The increasing physical disability among people above 65 years, women in particular, as revealed in census data from to 2000, emphasises the importance of these services. Let me share some statistics that I have found. Sunlove-Hougang Senior Citizens Day Rehabilitation Centre and Ang Mo Kio Thye Hua Kwan Day Rehabilitation Centre charge about $40 per day and these charges exclude transport cost which could range from $15 to $20 per trip. The charges are usually subject to means testing which is viewed as mean by clients. For community hospitals, the average monthly bill including treatment cost for an eight-bedded room without air-conditioning is $2,040 for Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital, $2,079 for Saint Luke's Hospital, $2,746 for Saint Andrew's Community Hospital. The cost works out to be about $90 per day. For someone from the middle and lower middle class who may have other dependants such as children, the fees are very high. While Medisave can be used for part payment, we must understand that the CPF account holder will need his Medisave for his own healthcare needs. For ambulance services, an emergency call to SCDF is publicised on the internet to be free provided that the person is hospitalised. If not hospitalised, cash payment of approximately $80 to $100 is charged. For a non-emergency call, the charge is minimum $60, maximum $80, for a one-way trip. If the family has to call an ambulance for a frail grandfather to go for a medical checkup, I estimate that the appointment and the transport cost would run up to at least $400.”
“Many who serve in our hospitals come from the Philippines, China and Myanmar. Coordination between clinics can be improved. The other aspect is coordination between the hospital and within its specialist support services and the polyclinics is critical. Let me give Members a real example. My father-in-law was warded last year and was asked to leave the hospital on a Sunday, despite the fact that he was unable to swallow properly and had a scheduled test to determine if he could swallow properly on the following Wednesday. If he could not, a tube had to be inserted. I had to make a few frantic phone calls to ensure that the test be completed before he was discharged because if he could not swallow, he would be dehydrated and needed to be warded again. Such basic coordination is important for the well-being of our elderly patients and not cause undue stress on the family units. Are we to set up more support services in the heartlands to help families who have to provide aftercare for the elderly? How many elderly daycare and medical and rehabilitative centres do we have in Singapore to support our elderly? Affordability of Community-based Long-term Care Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta (Nominated Member): Madam, the demographic ageing of Singapore's population and the challenges that it brings for policymakers, service providers and family caregivers have been reiterated by my hon. colleagues. I am glad the Ministry of Health intends to spend $500 million over the next five years on community-based long-term care such as new community hospitals and capabilities to run the facilities. However, my question is: are the services affordable for the average Singaporean?”
“Madam, to those of us who have been living with an elderly person in our home, we know the joy and the bonding they bring to a family unit. Something as simple as a misstep that results in a fall would cause the family to be in difficult time, the cost of medical care can pose a heavy burden on a family and the additional support needed to take care of the family and the patient. Of course, we would be worse off without MediShield and Medisave. We need to look at an overall plan on how we can help families to cope with unexpected needs from the elderly in the community. What is the status of the Master Plan for the Elderly? Do we have enough hospital beds by 2020? I am glad that we have proceeded to build the Yishun Hospital. Do we need to build more to cater to our elderly? How about our community hospitals? Many a time, the appeal on the ground is to allow the elderly to stay longer so that arrangements can be made to bring them home. The urgency of turnover at the main hospitals and the community hospitals is being executed by the medical staff compassionately, so it seems, because of the way the funding of the hospital is given. Is the Minister reviewing the funding formula so that the end result, the medical staff does not need to be so compassionate and turn the beds around? Can the Minister elaborate on the funding method as it has an impact on the residents? The devils are in the service delivery on the ground. Firstly, we must have enough supply of geriatric doctors on the ground who can understand the elderly patients. In the hospitals and clinics, the bedside manners of doctors and nurses can be improved. Elderly patients may only be able to speak dialects but not English or Mandarin. They would have difficulty to communicate their basic needs.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister on home ownership. Has the Minister reviewed the need for 90% home ownership? Is the Minister hoping to achieve more than 90%? Can we do less than 90% in view of a more complex family structure that we have now and a more diversified population? And this leads me back to the Lease Buyback Scheme. Is it too late because there are already a lot of old folks in the market? Can we not have a wider range of rental flats that have less subsidies? And can we be more creative and consider maybe allocating land – if HDB does not want to build – to the private sector to build rental flats and rent them out? This is an area where we should have more love but instead we tightened the criteria for the application of our older folks. Has the Minister talked to the elderly on the sum of $5,000 upfront before confirming it? And has the Ministry, again, looked at its proposal on the overall guideline and talk to our senior residents on whether they are agreeable or happy with this Lease Buyback Scheme?”
“Without this, residents will find their estates deteriorating into a slum. Has our Town Councils been taking steps to grow this fund? There are concerns that the sinking fund may not be adequate in time to come. Firstly, as estates get older, there is the need for more regular maintenance. Secondly, the cost of upkeep has risen. And thirdly, the conservancy fee has been unchanged. As a result, the funds that are at the disposal of the Town Councils have not kept pace with the market, such as inflation, cost of labour, material, and energy. The Town Councils have also used parts of the sinking fund to co-pay for the HDB LUP. I, therefore, like to ask whether the Ministry would consider helping Town Councils keep up with their seasonal cyclical maintenance by reinstating the Cyclical Works Grant which was granted to Town Councils in the earlier years, since Town Councils have to pay for part of this infrastructure cost, especially when there are more lifts in each block and these are new infrastructures. Town Councils”
“Sir, the HDB Lift Upgrading Programme has improved the quality of life of many Singaporeans. With this love Budget, we hope that LUP, which is part of the infrastructure programme to enhance our living environment, will be uplifted. Can the Minister update the status of the programme and how fast his Ministry has been rolling out the LUP? And will there be any cutback in the programme, in view of the higher cost of materials in 2007 and 2008? I understand that HDB has reduced the number of blocks for LUP because of cost factor. Can the Ministry reveal how many blocks do not qualify for the HDB LUP, because of the $30,000 per benefiting unit cap? And what plans does the Ministry have in mind to improve the mobility and accessibility for residents of these blocks? In view of the recent downward trend of the material cost, will HDB ramp up its programmes? And is the $30,000 cap still a realistic figure after the hike in 2007 and 2008 material cost and, hopefully, with some downward adjustment in 2009? Has HDB reviewed its cap of $30,000? Will it increase the cap to allow more blocks to be eligible for the LUP? It is an infrastructure programme that will enhance the living condition of the residents and it is essential. Secondly, will the Ministry reveal the amount payable by the Town Council as co-payment for HDB LUP, since it is an infrastructure programme and Town Council will need to pay more to maintain the new flats, because of more new landings and many more additional new flats? Another point I would like to raise relates to the sinking fund, which has come under the limelight recently. The sinking fund is a sum total of monies saved up over the years for the purpose of paying for big-ticket items which need repairs, refurbishment or replacement.”
“Can HDB look into a period of warranty of at least three years or more, considering that since 2005, HDB has provided a 10-year warranty against spalling concrete for new flats? Should not the whole ceiling be repaired, instead of spot repairs? Is there any better method of repairs to ensure warranty of more than 12 months? Can HDB do more research into old flats as the problem lies here, besides we are already 90% built up? Would HDB consider helping its lessees fund the repair of non-wet areas in view of this difficult time? Moreover, such repairs, if done by the HDB under the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), are free of charge. But we cannot wait until HIP comes their way. We do not want the concrete to fall on the heads of the residents when they cannot afford to pay for repair. The Home Improvement Programme was announced last year in February as an alternative to the MUP. This programme helps to address the spalling concrete at the wet areas. What is the status of the programme now? What are the learning points? What is the cost of redoing the toilet? What is the cost of HIP? I have a precinct in Paya Lebar and it has many spalling concrete problems. However, it was rejected for HIP and I do not know the reason. Can I appeal to the Minister to reconsider this precinct for the HIP? Can the Minister update us on the plans going forward? What is the budget for HIP and how does it plan to implement the programme for the residents? And in light of the economic downturn, will the Ministry consider escalating the HIP? Lift Upgrading”
“Spalling concrete is not a new issue in Parliament. Spalling concrete in existing HDB flats affects ceilings. So far, HDB has treated the spalling in non-wet and wet areas differently. HDB has assisted financially in the repairs for wet areas as these are serious. Last year, the Minister wrote in his reply that HDB had assisted 2,300 lessees affected by spalling concrete over the past 12 months. The figure of 2,300 lessees affected may seem small in relation to the nearly 900,000 HDB units islandwide. But I believe this is only the tip of the ice-berg. Many of the residents have carried out the repair themselves. As they have to pay for the costs of repair, they go for a cheaper contractor. As a landlord, can HDB organise such repairs on a national level? By calling a bulk tender to carry out such works, there will be the economies of scale and residents can have the repairs carried out at competitive pricing. The Minister has said that the cost to lessess is an average of $40 for each repair. This is not so. Residents tell me the cost of repair to the lessee is about $200, when I see them in MPS as well as during house-to-house visits. I have asked the lessees about the $40 payment but their reply is that the contractor said that the area repaired is bigger. Can the Minister explain the cost of $40? Is it for an average size of repair? Maybe this question will help. What is the cost of repair for one square foot of spalling concrete? What is the guarantee period for each repair? Many a time, residents come back and say that the repair was done at one area and the same area was spalling again a few months, or after a year.”
“Can we spare more resources on development of life skills, more resources for CCA? Many are kept out of meaningful CCA and sports as many schools claim that they do not have enough resources and facilities. They only concentrated on achieving the sports excellence awards which the sports club should now take over instead of the schools. If we use the LOVE approach, maybe, we should have an award for schools with the highest participation rate in sports, arts, music and maybe, in theatre works too. Sir, this is one Budget that will take us on an uphill climb. But I am confident that we have a headstart as we have adopted a LOVE approach in first introducing the Jobs Credit and we hope that more of the Ministries could approach their policies and implementation on the same basis. Sir, I support the Budget.”
“Physically, these are very healthy men and women in their prime. Yet, they need long-term medication. The burden on the family is very high. We have done well in our community support for our elderly. We have neighbourhood links, senior citizen connects and we must have similar networks for our mentally unstable patients. Presently, many of our community leaders and volunteers do not understand the various ailments relating to mental health, let alone how to help them and support them and their family members. I am appealing that our Health Promotion Board and the Ministry of Health to help share this knowledge on the ground. I would also appeal for more VWOs to come forward to set up such community support centres to support these residents and their families with help from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. On the other end of the spectrum, we should also take a look at the needs of the youth. Indeed, in the past five years, glue-sniffing has been on the rise, especially among young people. Within just the first half of last year, 352 inhalant abusers were caught . This is an alarmingly huge figure that demands our attention. Furthermore, more than half of these people are under 20, with the majority being students. We have just done a review in the primary school. Can we have a serious review of the secondary school? Can we use the LOVE approach to look at the secondary school curriculum to see how we can support the dual working parents? How do we motivate our children? Can we cut down the drop-out rate? I am concerned about the moral values of our young wards. The sexual offences involving young people are on the rise. The teenage years need more guidance from parents and school supports.”
“The Monetary Authority of Singapore could well prod our Singapore Stock Exchange and other financial bodies to act proactively and give closer scrutiny without waiting for the hurricane to descend and rip off the roofs over their heads. Here again, we need to apply the LOVE approach and look at the ground needs. There is an urgent need to upgrade the capacities of our current polyclinics, where long queues are the order of the day. Singapore is also on track to be the world's third-fastest ageing nation, with 20% of its population aged 65 and above by 2020. They are making very visible presence at our polyclinics. We must find a way to help these senior citizens get medical treatment in a timely manner and have more specialised help at the community level. We must not only provide more polyclinics but also counselling centres, physiotherapy centres and mental wellness centres. I would like to appeal here personally on behalf of a group of residents that are mentally not stable. We have not looked squarely into their eyes for a long time. Not only them, but we have also not helped their families. Many have been left behind to cope with their dependents on their own. We really need the LOVE approach to this issue. Many families have difficulty seeking help as they are either embarrassed and do not want to face the stigma from the society. I have checked. There are only three day care centres in Singapore for the mentally-ill patients. I have made a cold call and spoken to one occupational therapist taking care of one of these centres. He has two other colleagues who are helping him to take care of about 40 to 50 customers a day. And they are under-staffed. The average age of their customers are aged 30 to 40 years old.”
“What are the courses relative to my qualifications and how can I tap on them? And finally, if I cannot find something suitable for me, I may, as a last resort, consider switching career and go for retraining. However, this is going to be very painful. Next, I will ask: what is the course fee that I have to pay? How long is the course? Can I get some kind of allowance for my home while I go for training? These are pertinent questions. I know these are all available in the various websites but can we not put together in one particular website to help our unemployed. Another laudable decision by the Government is the doubling of the amount of GST Offset Credits this year. However, I would like to ask for more. The medical bills are on the increase month after month. More could be given in terms of the senior citizens' bonus to help defray the cost of rising medical bills. My concern is that families may cut medical bills to channel the money to pay for households needs. The Wall Street saga has taught us many things. Among the lessons learnt, one is about greed, the other is about financial surveillance. All the firms had their accounts audited and certified as complying with regulatory requirements, yet each passing day throws up some kind of fraud and malfeasance of such magnitude that further aggravates the financial and economic crisis. It is a stark reminder to us all in Singapore that we should either re-examine the system of accounting and accountability of auditors, or review our system and test it to ascertain its strengths and weaknesses. Public confidence will be shaken if we were to have a Madoff or Ponzi saga in our midst.”
“Although the Special Risk-Sharing Initiative (SRI) has opened up the credit lines for small and medium enterprises, however, the cost is high. I am told that one bank has offered 12.5% for the loan and after much negotiation, it has just lowered by 0.5% to 12%. The interest would be an added burden in the progress of business. MOF has to work closely with the banks to mitigate such high costs of loans. For those who have already been laid off, the Government has already put in place many measures to support them in their effort to regain employment. For example, the MOM/WDA Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) programme, and the NTUC's e2i centre. I spent half an hour two days ago to access the two websites, ie, the WDA as well as e2i, as an unemployed. The WDA website, like many, are keen to offer much information but it does not approach it from the workers' needs. The websites provided a list of jobs available. I am excited and I just clicked on, for example, "health attendant". To my disappointment, under "qualification needed", the column mentioned the training provider. The e2i website has more information. It stated that the healthcare sector has 6,400 vacancies. When I clicked on it, it showed the jobs available, the salary range and also the entry requirements. I delved further and it prompted me if I want to apply for the job, I must fill in a form and I must attend a job fair or go down to the centre. I would like to appeal to these agencies to put up dedicated websites to assist the unemployed. On the LOVE approach which I mentioned earlier, as a retrenched person, I need to know what are the jobs available for me. How can I apply online? If I cannot qualify, can I find something suitable?”
“As it stands, there are already concerns about whether those who bought properties at the peak during 2007 under deferred payment schemes would be able to honour their commitments when the projects are completed in the course of the year or the year after. There are also quarters within the community who grumbled because they do not get more cash to take home. What they do not understand is that the Jobs Credit Scheme helps them to stay on their jobs. We do not know how long the recession would last and by helping them keep their jobs, their families would benefit. And this is even more valuable and beneficial in the long run than a one-time payout or a few-time payouts. Here, the details of the GST Offsets and the Senior Citizen's Bonus should be given more highlight by the major media, or MOF could prepare some materials to circulate to the ground. *Cols. 1839-1840. While on the Jobs Credit Scheme, I hope the Government would explore how to refine the scheme to further motivate employers who are standing at the edge in deciding whether or not to let their workers go. We must encourage them to retain rather than to retrench their workers. One suggestion is to give more cash to companies that retain majority of their workers and give less to companies, which despite the incentives given, have resorted to trim their workforce. It is important that both employees and employers must work together hand in hand to look into the company's strategies to survive in this difficult time and also in the long-term. Once the goal is clear, training and convincing workers to train or to start shorter work-weeks will be part of the day's business.”
“We need more civil servants like him and I would like to urge all the civil servants, while drafting and implementing policies, to look at the needs of the people and look at their perspectives. And this is what I coined the LOVE approach that one should adopt when drafting and implementing social community policies with a passion to help the people. There is no doubt that retrenchments and recession are invariably intertwined. Unemployment rates are expected to be much worse during this recession, a fact underscored by the recent announcement made by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), as many as 51 million jobs worldwide could be lost in 2009. To be realistic, we must be prepared for the prospect of higher job attrition this year. But I am also confident that the Jobs Credit Scheme will help to reduce the attrition by mitigating their wage cost. Here I would like to commend NTUC Chief, Minister Lim Swee Say, for his timely manner in speaking for the workers and chiding those employers who take the easy route of retrenchment without an after thought. The message is loud and clear: Keep the workers and take the opportunity to cross train the workers to make them flexible by upgrading their skills. Some have raised the question of why has the Government has decided to introduce this Scheme instead of simply lowering CPF contribution rates. I am glad that the Government did not lower CPF contribution rates as it would have a detrimental impact on our residents, many of whom have to service home mortgage loans. A lower CPF contribution rate may cause our residents to stall their monthly mortgage repayments. We would then have on our hands, our own version of "sub prime".”
“This is the eighth Budget session that I am sitting in and I would like to say to the Prime Minister that this Budget is really one that has the workers' perspective and their needs in mind. In it, he has shown affection, care and concern for the people. I believe the same principles were applied by Minister Tharman as well. Let me comment on this element of LOVE that I will time and again make mention throughout my speech today. We must continue to address socio-community needs despite facing challenges posed by the economic crisis. The key is to look into the needs of the people that we seek to help, to be bold and be flexible in implementation of our policies. Take the Catholic High School as an example. In 2006, the school made a bold step to allow students to take "O" level examination subjects that they preferred to study instead of choosing from fixed subject combinations which most schools do. In this way, students study the subjects that interest them. The result: they excelled in the "O" level examination. In fact, from a total of 43 top students island-wide, 12 were from Catholic High School, with all scoring nine straight A1s. So now, Catholic High School has achieved its aim of being a top school not through selecting students and raising the entry point of PSLE scores but this was achieved because the principal has care and taken cognisance of the students' interest and needs. He listened to the students and trusted them to speak their minds. He dared to be creative and be flexible in his approach to issues. He knows that there will be more work for his teachers and administrative staff, a total of 100+ combination of subjects. However, because of his love for the children, he took that Bold Step.”
“(In Mandarin ): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*. ] I believe that everyone knows by now that in this year’s Budget, the Government strives to create more job opportunities so that we can have stable income. The Government will maintain peace and order in Singapore so that we can go out and establish our career without any fear or anxiety. The Government’s main concern is to help our people retain their rice bowl, lower the unemployment rate and help our manufacturers to ride out this crisis. We hope that the employers would cooperate with the workers by providing more flexible work arrangements and training opportunities, so that once economy is recovered, the workers can work hand-in-hand with the company to make greater contribution. At the moment, some countries are facing bankruptcy, yet our Government is able to allocate funds at this difficult time to help our businesses invest in their workers and indirectly helping our Singapore citizens. This goes to show that the Singapore Government’s rational and prudent approach in managing surpluses has made our coffer rich and abundant, so that when the thunderstorm comes, we have the reserves that we can rely upon. So I hope that all our people will understand the intentions of the Government and the plans to help our economy recover. Let us go forward together, especially during this time of economic recession, look after one another, be concerned and care for one another and be full of confidence for the future and the Government, so as to build a harmonious and loving society to march towards a future that is bright and prosperous. (In English ): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Jobs Credit has earned applause from many quarters.”
“I am one of those who surf the Internet occasionally. Among my friends, some have noted that sometimes when they enter some of the sites, and try to put in positive comments in some of the political sites, these are not accepted. So how does Senior Minister of State ensure that for such websites, it is open to all, whether it is positive or negative comments? RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: I do not think we want to establish a regime where we regulate and direct the proprietors of the sites to take measures where they have to accept all comments. Where people feel that they have and want to engage in a serious and meaningful debate, I think the Government will be prepared to engage them, and I have mentioned that we will do so on REACH and on the online sites of the mainstream media. Let us start with those areas. I would encourage all netizens who want to engage in responsible and meaningful debate with the Government, to move to these sites and we can engage them at these places. CONVEYANCING AND LAW OF PROPERTY ACT (Recent amendments) 3. Miss Penny Low asked the Senior Minister in view of the long history of controversies surrounding section 73 of the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act, if he will elaborate on (a) why the recent amendments to the Insurance Act took so long especially since some insurers have already been using separate beneficiary nomination forms to establish revocable trusts; and (b) what prompted the changes at this time.”
“A family of five children – the husband suddenly passed away in China and the whole household could not have a shelter over their heads.”
“Sir, I would like to ask Parliamentary Secretary whether he would consider allowing the HPS to be paid by instalment, rather than on a lump-sum basis because if the household is unable to afford the flats and paid on cash basis because of the salary, then they would be unable to pay a lump sum. So, it will help the household. I have one case – sorry, Mr Speaker, I will be speaking a bit long here.”
“They always pick up old refrigerators, which use up a lot of energy.”
“Sir, could the Senior Minister of State consider tapping on the volunteers to be trained and provide guidance to our tenants and lessees in these one and two-room flats, because about 13,200 of them are actually in the PAYU scheme, and 50% are from the one and two-room flats? So from my experience, lessees of one or two-room flats always – Mr Speaker: Come to your question, Mdm Phua.”
“It was emphasised that the children of single parents will not be disadvantaged as they will enjoy the same benefits as other children. But intentional or not, a child of a single mother will be deprived of many things from birth because the mother is denied maternity benefits that her lawfully-wed counterparts enjoy. Notably, the child will spend less time with his mother as compared to other children. The mother's spending power may be greatly compromised because she gets less paid leave on top of the fact that she does not have a husband to supplement the household income. Whether a mother is a single parent or not does not escape the fact that she has contributed to the country by helping the population to expand. It also does not diminish her responsibility to give the child a good upbringing so that the child becomes a useful citizen one day. The role of the Government is to provide a conducive environment for a parent or parents to nurture their children. We should ensure that every child enjoys equality right from birth, especially if it is within our means to do so.”
“I hope the Ministry would take this opportunity of the amendment to the Bill to enhance the employment terms for the contract workers. My next concern is that there should be paternity leave in the Employment Act. We often speak of the need to be family-oriented, and for fathers to play a greater role in minding the child and helping their wives by playing a bigger role in the family. Previous polls have shown us that many Singaporean women would be more willing to have more babies if their husbands could share their duties. In line with our mission of getting more married couples to have babies, paternity leave should receive as much emphasis as maternity leave. Pregnancy is a shared responsibility between married couples. We should get the men to be responsible for the parenthood at the birth of the child. Let me recount my personal experience. All my four babies were by caesarean birth due to medical conditions. I was in hospital for five days and needed another one week before I could really care for the baby properly. The best support I had was from my better half, who understood my needs and helped me to cope with the baby. This is especially crucial for the first baby as everything was for the first time, more consultation and support are needed. His presence meant much to me and the baby. Hence, I could have four babies. And I asked for 10 days, at least, for paternity leave for our fathers. While we are on the topic of babies, I wish to appeal for the Baby Bonus benefits to be extended to single parents. This is an issue that has created some controversy but has yet to be thoroughly explored. Single parents were excluded mainly because the purpose of the Baby Bonus scheme was to encourage Singaporeans to get married and have babies.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to begin by commending the proposed amendments under the Bill before the House, especially the amendments in dealing with unfair dismissal and allowing more workers to be eligible to be heard in the Labour Court. However, there are some areas that the Bill should be more specific about. I am concerned about the wages for contract workers. I share the same concern of Mayor Zainudin. Contract workers play an important part in our economic development. They are like the booster to an engine. Whenever the economy picks up, companies would turn to contract workers to supplement their full-time workforce to cope with increased production. These contract workers are not always unskilled or inexperienced hands. Sometimes, these are workers who have good experience except that they are not able to get full-time employment for one reason or another. In fact, it is not uncommon for contract workers to eventually work their way to become full-time employees. Presently, some of these workers have no minimum wage, no medical/hospital benefits, no insurance coverage and no CPF. These contract workers, most of the time, have agreed on these unfavourable terms as they need the extra cash because of financial hardship. Circumstances make these contract workers to fall into the temptation of accepting such job offers. Now with older workers joining the ranks of contract workforce, in view of the poor economic situation, we should see to it that they are not exploited because of their difficulty in seeking re-employment. For many years, the Manpower Ministry has been trying to resolve these employment conditions for the contract workers and has yet to give them a good employment package.”
“I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his comprehensive answer and I want to congratulate him because he has really taken care of those cases that we have put to him. But in every MPS, we have at least four or five cases coming to us. By the explanation given by the Parliamentary Secretary, we would have resolved most of these cases. Unfortunately, we still see all these cases, at least four or five cases every week. I would like the Ministry to look into it seriously. We agree and we support the Ministry that we should not have fully subsidised flats for all families. But can the Ministry really look into this – whether we could have different levels of subsidies of rental flats for residents? In most of the cases, they cannot afford to even downgrade. Where do you want them to go? Even with his solution, as I say again – you ask every Member here – you will see many cases that are asking for alternative housing. Do we have them? I think it is a big question mark.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two supplementary questions. In Singapore, we have the Masterplan which is reviewed every 10 years, and then the DGP plan every five years. In this case, there is an ad hoc request for land use. I want to ask what is the process for approval of ad hoc use because compatibility of use is important in land use planning. Can the Minister explain the process of this land use per se in the midst of a residential estate? The second question is, how does this acute shortage come about because any employment of foreign workers needs the approval of MOM? Does it mean that there is no communication at all between MOM and MND?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two supplementary questions. In the last one and a half years, there were a number of en bloc sales. As a result, there are a number of condominium developments and a number of the developers have offered deferred payments. What are the impacts on the financial institutions as well as on the small-time owners and purchasers? Second, can the Minister shed some light on the factor of the safety buffer margin on our financial institutions?”
“It is not only imperative politically, but also morally and philosophically, for a government to support its marginalised populations and facilitate their growth and protection. By example, our Government is giving the message that the mentally disordered persons deserve a better deal in life, and better services, which they may have been deprived of either by choice or circumstance. The inspection of psychiatric facilities by a Board of Visitors every three months is also necessary to maintain the institutions' high level of quality of care. On a broader level, we need more evidence-based research to identify the causes for the rise in mental illness in our population. Does the Ministry have any plans for conducting such research? If yes, can the Minister please elaborate? Prevention is the better route, both economically as well as in terms of productivity; some forms of mental disorders are hereditary and it is hoped that our Singapore Genome Project may help in future to curb such sources of mental illness. Alzheimer’s disease is one such mentally debilitating disease. On this note, I support the Bill.”
“The period of detention should not exceed six months. I would like to ask the Minister for Health whether there will be a channel for review of detention. Are there plans to develop a Code of Practice to guide any family members who may wish to seek a review of the detention order? To whom should such a request for review be directed? For comparison purposes, the British have developed a document titled "Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards" or DOLS in June 2008, which provides such information. It is reasonable for concerned family members to seek a review and they should be entitled to a full explanation, as mentioned earlier by my honourable colleague, Mdm Halimah. Another related third concern is that of inadequate manpower to cope with the additional clientele in psychiatric institutions. With the broader powers assigned to police officers for the removal of mentally disordered persons, it is to be expected that the numbers admitted to the psychiatric institutions will increase dramatically. If the population of allied health workers such as counsellors, medical social workers and psychologists does not commensurate with the expansion of services, we could face insurmountable problems. I would like to ask the Minister for his plans on the rapid expansion of the sector of allied health professionals such as nurses, psychologists, medical social workers, counsellors, and the like. If our local expertise is inadequate, will our dependence on foreign labour be accelerated as a result? It is a well-thought-out strategy to introduce the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Bill and the Mental Capacity Bill together as they deal with connected issues. The Singapore Government is to be applauded for taking the issues of the mentally ill and disabled very seriously.”
“Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong, who introduced the Community Court in June 2006, introduced relevant policies as to how the mentally ill and disabled should be tried in court. His progressive thoughts in this arena are commendable. The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Bill is comprehensive in that it deals with the apprehension, treatment, removal and transfer from a psychiatric institution; maintenance and liability, punishment for offences against mentally disordered persons as well as for improper detention of them. It is more reactive and protective of the physical well being of the mentally ill. Mr Speaker, Sir, I have the following concerns about the Bill. Firstly, not enough attention is paid to the psychosocial treatment of the abuser after he or she has been fined and punished for ill-treatment and/or neglect of the mentally disordered person. Just as we have mandated counselling for the domestic violence abuser, similarly, informal and formal caregivers may also need counselling and support to improve themselves or even show remorse for their past deeds. Caregivers, who have intentionally or unintentionally neglected or ill-treated the mentally disordered person, usually have been burnt out by the stress of caregiving which could have been for lengthy periods, eg, 20 or even 30 years. They need help too. In order not to overstretch the manpower of the Medical Social Services Departments, such abusive caregivers could be referred for counselling at the Family Service Centre nearer their homes. My second concern is that mentally ill persons may be detained or institutionalised against their will. The reasons for detention have to be the health and safety of the mentally disordered person as well as the safety of other persons.”
“For far too long we have devalued people with mental illness, and there has not been proper protection, whether medical or legal, of mentally ill persons. Stigmatisation of people who belong to this category was prevalent in the past as seen in the derogatory reference to Woodbridge Hospital as the 'mad persons' hospital. Even today, a person with a history of mental ill health would have difficulty in seeking employment. To illustrate, allow me to describe an empirical study conducted in Singapore by a Master's level Social Work student from National University of Singapore. He found that schizophrenic patients were so afraid of being identified by their employers as being mentally ill that they religiously kept their appointments with their doctor, and were conscious of taking their medicines as prescribed. Hence, they lived in fear of being disclosed, and instead of advocating for better treatment by society, they kept their shroud of secrecy to hold on to their jobs. A similar study using similar research instruments, found that in contrast to the Singaporean patients, their American counterparts were more active in advocating for themselves, and did not live in fear of being identified as mentally ill. One positive outcome identified by the researcher was that Singapore patients tended to be more compliant as far as medication is concerned as compared to their American counterparts! The study made me wonder whether we could work towards a situation when schizophrenic sufferers would feel accepted by society and have a positive rather than a negative motivation to comply to medication. In the last 10 years, the legal sector has made some progress in their recognition of the needs of the mentally ill when they appear in court.”
“And that is where aggressiveness comes in, there is a real need for community support in terms of even police intervention, and this is where I feel that even the Police could be involved in certain areas as well. In Singapore, special attention needs to be given to the elderly, who constitute a large group among those with psychological problems. Last year, suicide rates among those aged 65 years and above took a leap from 69 in 2006 to 87. A large number of these suicide cases may be attributed to psychological issues. Training for counsellors to handle this group should also include lessons in local dialects so that they can communicate with the elderly, most of whom do not speak Mandarin, for example. This will also enable volunteers to become confidant to the elderly and alleviate their loneliness. Lastly, I urge the Minister to look into how we can prevent people from abandoning the mentally-ill at the hospitals or institutions. Given modern technology, we should impose a system whereby the next-of-kin, guardian or family members must be tracked so that they look after these patients. Without family support, their chances of recovery and returning to society would be worse. 4.36 pm Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta: Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir for granting me permission to speak on this Bill. In Singapore, one in six persons suffers from some form of mental health problem. While the current percentage of 16%-18% is lower than many developed societies like USA, where the corollary is 26%, the finding from the National Mental Health Survey has propelled the Ministry of Health to carry out a Blueprint or Master plan for the next five years. The introduction of this new Bill which replaces the earlier Mental Disorders and Treatment Act 1985 has been long overdue.”
“We must be able to train our psychological counsellors in the community to identify mental health patients and refer them to trained mental health professionals. Presently, in the community, there are very few trained mental health professionals. We need to speed up the effort to encourage this pool of professionals. We need to increase the awareness that mental health can improve with prompt treatment, as in the case of cancer. More often than not, mental patients find themselves in the dilemma of whether to seek medical treatment or not. Some may find medical fees unaffordable. Some do not recognise the severity of their symptoms. Yet others keep mum about their predicament and avoid the hospital for fear of negative labels. Worse will be those who turn to pseudo counsellors who mislead them, and strip them off their life savings. Once they are receiving treatment, they also require support to get their life back on track. So we need to organise strong support groups in the community to give post-treatment support. This is where I urge the Government to look into training a talent pool of perhaps volunteers by giving them opportunities to undergo basic training in areas that are pertinent to understanding and supporting mental illnesses. I think this is especially so for family members because they are caring for the patients day and night. Personally, when I was young, I was living, for a short period, with a mental patient and it was really very torturing and very hard on the family to care for the patient day and night. At times, when there is no medication, either because there is no financial support or the patient refuses to take the medication, the patient goes on a cyclical mood.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to begin by commending our Health Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan for introducing the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Bill, which is timely especially when mental dementia may be more prevalent with an ageing population. With an increasing number of people being afflicted by psychological problems, concerns about legal implications and social issues with the regard to mental illness have been surfacing. The Bill is a farsighted move in drawing up a framework to provide clarity in the event of any legal disputes involving those who may be mentally ill, and in ensuring such patients are identified and given appropriate health care and attention. However, to effectively provide support for the mentally ill, much more can be done. Although mental patients are able to turn to medical care from local hospitals and health institutions, they receive little in terms of social support. On the other hand, those who are suffering from physical health problems, such as cancer victims and the physically disabled, have the options of seeking medical and social assistance from welfare organisations that are established to take care of their ailments. This is a situation of disparity that needs to be addressed. Few welfare organisations cater to the needs of the mentally ill. I believe there are sub-specialties in counselling and that one who is trained in psychological counselling may not be suitable to handle cases that require someone trained in psychotherapy. Hence, though some volunteers are trained in counselling skills, this does not equip them to deal with a whole spectrum of cases including involving those who are mentally ill.”
“Sir, I just want the Senior Minister of State to let us know what is the HDB's building plan in terms of studio apartments and how many are coming on-stream in, say, the next three years, including the two-room flats. If she does not have the answer, please let us know. Basically, this information is really not available in the public domain.”
“Sir, I have three questions. (1) With regard to the CPF LIFE of $106,000, what is the monthly instalment payment that the lessee would be able to get? (2) Since it is to be implemented in January 2009, what are the current interim alternatives that the lessees have? We know that studio apartments are also another alternative for the lower-income families to downgrade to. But currently they are all over-subscribed. What is the HDB's plan on studio apartments? (3) Is HDB going to build the regular two-room flats? HDB has started to build two-room flats. Are they going to build the regular two-room flats?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, although the Minister has mentioned that the viability of the transport operators is important, I would like the Minister to comment and to consider again the concession fares for our senior citizens and tertiary students as well.”
“This would ensure that the waiting time for our buses could be reduced and hence overcrowding during peak periods. At the end of the day, I am confident that, with PTC's guiding hand, the quality of our public transportation system might one day parallel or even surpass that of its counterparts in Tokyo, Japan. We are already on track to build our own comprehensive transport system, what with our current 109 km of MRT lines, more than 3,000 buses and the upcoming Circle and Downturn Lines that are still in development. I have no doubt that the PTC will build on these achievements and continue to advance the standard of our public transportation system beyond our most optimistic expectations for the benefit of all our citizens. Approving these amendments will give it a leg up, but it is only the beginning. 4.40 pm”
“For example, if the central bus route planning and fare structure are for the area, say, Aljunied GRC, then more residents of Aljunied GRC could be called upon to assist and contribute. This ad hoc committee will serve as a reference to give feedback on the day-to-day goings-on at the bus stops, the train stations and the taxi stands. They will also be able to share with the PTC on the impact of fares on their expenses and how they have been coping. With all due respect to the members of the PTC, many of whom may be car owners, the frequency and the time they spend on public transport will not be sufficient to give them an appreciation of the headaches, the heartaches and the frustrations confronting the commuters who day in and day out have to muscle and jostle with everyone, not just once a week, but every day, five days a week. Moreover, the members of this committee can serve as "ambassadors" for PTC, giving it more transparency and support for the public. The criteria for members to qualify for appointment to this ad hoc committee should be based on their income level and non-car ownership. Also, members of this ad hoc committee will serve for only one term so that we can give as many people as possible an opportunity to serve on the committee. I know PTC members do get feedback but, in getting public feedback, often it is those who are vocal that will speak out and we may not get the true picture of others who have a different viewpoint to share. In addition, the timeliness of service of our buses is still far from ideal. Presently, PTC only measures the timeliness of the buses at the starting time of the service. However, with the extension of dedicated bus routes, PTC should look into the promptness of this service at the midpoint of each bus service journey.”
“And I urge PTC to look into setting up a Research and Development function so that we can build up our own technology as we move towards the future. The employment of technology should not only be in the functions of PTC but also in the communication with commuters in real time. Let me give you an example. I understand that one department in the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) is developing a software by taking into account the existing public transport route information to direct a commuter from one place to another. They are able to recommend the lowest cost route or the fastest route based on cost and times as parameters which include the buses and rail. Such R&D would benefit the public. Although the impetus of tapping on technological advancement is critical, we must always adopt an open system and not allow any system to be the monopoly. These criteria should be a system that allows and promotes integration and wider usage. Use the ez-link card as an example. I look forward to the day when we can do away with the current system of having to pay $1 deposit for the ez-link card and to get a refund when you return the card. Currently, PTC comprises a panel of members who are mostly professionals. This is good because, by their training and understanding of how to manage issues and find solutions, they are well-equipped to handle their responsibilities. However, I would like to suggest that the Minister consider enlarging the Council or set up more and specific ad hoc committees, comprising more of the ordinary man-in-the-street, the working class or the "broad masses", if I may borrow the phrase.”
“In addition, with many young adults aspiring to have a tertiary education and the latest statistics show that 59% of our annual batch of students are pursuing tertiary education, we should look into how to help this group of students as they need to travel more frequently and are active. To summarise, the Ministry, together with the PTC, should look closely at the route planning and distance-based fare structure to ensure that our commuters, especially the senior citizens and tertiary students, with their limited income, can enjoy the maximum value for the fare that they pay travelling on public transport. This is something that is long overdue as the present benefits extended are limited, in terms of time of travel and the number of trips. The introduction of the Through Card for all public transport mode is very much overdue as well. With MOT taking over the role of central route planning and the PTC tasked to initiate the fare structure, it is timely to introduce the Through Card for all public transport modes. This would enhance the maximum value, offer convenience for our frequent travellers. With limited land and physical capacity, to ensure that we continue to have an efficient public transport system is to employ technology in route planning and fare structure. With advancement in computer technology, I am sure we can tap on the ability of computer programming to chart an efficient distance-based network for commuters. If motorists can use GPS to plan their routes, I am sure the public transport operators too should do better to ride on technology to deliver their services with greater efficiency to their customers. We should also look at how other countries apply technology to the best advantage.”
“I am glad that the Ministry has recognised time as the key measure for transport efficiency. Hence, the distance-based fares to allow the commuters to switch from one mode of transport to another depending on the availability of services, and the key is the availability of bus and rail services and the timeliness of these services is critical for an integrated public transport system. With an integrated public transport system, then only can the PTC ensure that there is maximum value for the commuters through distance-based fares. So the PTC should not only look at the distance-based fares but also look at the availability of the rail and bus services at the same time and also the timeliness of the arrival of these services. So this key change is welcome as it would mean lower costs for commuters and a shorter travelling time. However, for single long distance-based commuters, I hope the Ministry would consider lowering the fixed cost fare for the first journey since the other component, the distance-based fare, would take into account most of the cost of travelling. With PTC taking on the additional responsibilities to initiate and impose changes on the transport fare structure and the apportionment of fare revenue, I would like to call on the PTC to review the fare structures for our senior citizens and students of tertiary institutions in view of the gloomy economic situation ahead. I make this call against the backdrop of the call for our senior citizens to work beyond 62 and to lead active lifestyles.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Public Transport Council (Amendment) Bill, as it is indeed very timely with the increasing call of the public to switch to public transport. With the population projected to increase in the years ahead, we must be conscious in our approach in urban planning and ensure that what we implement must be far-sighted so that we do not leave our future generation with problems that are insurmountable. Central to our style of urban living is the public transportation system. Our economy, our entire society, revolves around it – a fact highlighted by the more than five million trips that are made on it every day. Yet this is overlooked, sometimes taken for granted even. Demands from its users for its absolute perfection, in terms of cost and efficiency, are continually heard. Such expectations are healthy, as it stimulates constant improvement – an element which is very necessary when we look at the demands on our transport system. With the proposed amendments, I hope we can have before long a more equitable fare system so that commuters would not be penalised by the fare structure for the many criss-crossing they have to make daily from one transport service to another. I have a few concerns and suggestions to make on the integration of fares and the PTC. Firstly, I would like to urge the Ministry to hasten the integration of fares. Do not take another six months of review like the issue on safety belts. If necessary, implement in phases and roll out the new plans so that the benefits could expeditiously benefit the commuters without further delay as they are long overdue. As with motoring, speed of travel is the equation to efficiency.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not understand the Minister's reply on the two-point seat belt as regards the technical requirement per se, ie, to put in a two-point seat belt is much easier than a three-point seat belt. I can understand that for new buses, there is a requirement. The cornerstone of all these arguments is safety and time does not permit you to delay, in terms of the installation. Can the Minister give us a specific date as to when a temporary measure, like the two-point seat belt, be implemented for the existing buses?”