Darryl David
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, just have two supplementary questions. While it is heartening to know that there have been no evidence of external influence in this case, I would like to ask if the Government does indeed keep track of possible cases that fuel the possible coordinated efforts of organisations and agencies that may not be made so public a…”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Just two supplementary questions for the Minister. The Minister mentioned earlier about the revamping of CCE. I would like to ask Minister that are there specific strategies or techniques taught to students, either within CCE or in other aspects of school, in terms of self-regulation, how to manage their emot…”
“Three clarifications, please. The first for the Minister. I suggested in my cut, Minister, about the possibility of using AI to create avatar teachers to to minimise or to positively impact the teacher-student ratio. Can the Minister share if MOE is willing to consider this?”
“I ask for leave to withdraw my cut. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $15,473,381,200 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,185,000,000 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“A dedicated AI CET centre could offer modular programmes ranging from foundational literacy to advanced applications in responsible AI governance, sector-specific problem solving and workplace integration.”
“By situating enrichment within neighbourhood schools, broadening the scope of learning beyond examinations and nurturing pathways for high-potential students, we can combine academic excellence with inclusivity and social cohesion.”
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“Much of this perception perhaps comes from the ostentatious display of wealth by these ultra-high net worth individuals. While I believe that one should not hold anyone's wealth against them and each individual should be free to spend their money as they wish, I can also understand why conspicuous displays of wealth would not be well-received by many and could even lead to unhappiness and frustration and resentment amongst others. I believe this is a risk that the present Government is aware of and this year's Budget sends a signal on how the wealthy can, and should, contribute more to our nation building. The increase in consumption-based taxes such as higher Buyer’s Stamp and Additional Conveyance Duties for Buyers of higher-value properties and higher marginal Additional Registration Fee for higher-end luxury cars will potentially increase the tax base from which the Government can affect social transfers from those who can afford it to those who need more help and support. This approach is a balanced and fair one since a consumption-based tax that targets luxury consumption does not significantly alter Singapore's competitive corporate and personal income tax because these taxes kick in only when one purchases high-end luxury properties and cars. Ultimately, the increase in consumption tax of these high-end luxury properties is unlikely to dampen the demands for them since they can be considered as Veblen goods, that is, the increase in tax might actually drive up the demand for such products as they are now regarded to be even more exclusive. This further increases the amount of tax that the Government can draw when the wealthy and ultra-high net worth individuals purchase them. From those who have more to those who need more.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the past three years, the cost of living has risen sharply and universally due to COVID-19 and the Russo-Ukraine conflict creating disruptions in production and in the supply chain. Singapore has registered a steady increase in core inflation throughout 2022, hitting almost a 14-year high in September with 5.3%. Inflation in food and services have also increased steadily, hitting 7.5% and 3.7% respectively in December 2022. Overall, core inflation for 2022 stood at 4.1% and headline inflation was at 6.1% – a significant increase from 2021 and before. This has clearly had an impact on many Singaporeans and their families. Interestingly, during the same period, we saw more super-rich families setting up family offices in Singapore to manage their wealth. At the end of 2022, Singapore had almost 700 family offices. This is almost double that of 2020. The number of ultra-high net worth individuals, defined as individuals with at least US$30 million in investible assets, grew 8.6%, reaching 4,206 individuals in 2021, amongst which 28 are billionaires. The number of ultra-high net worth individuals in Singapore is projected to increase to about 6,000 by 2026. Mr Deputy Speaker, I understand the need for these individuals and their funds here in Singapore. But taken together, one cannot help but express concern if our society will eventually become more stratified with the existence of two perceived "Singapores" – a Singapore that caters to the lifestyle and consumption demands of the wealthy and ultra-high net worth individuals; and another "Singapore" for everyone else. Such perceptions are potentially divisive and might fracture the social compact that the Government has painstakingly built with Singaporeans over generations.”
“They were first introduced in 1992 for offenders of littering to increase offenders’ awareness of the impact of littering, as well as for them to experience the difficulties faced by cleaners. At present, I understand that CWOs are not mandatory and they are only one possible form of punishment for those found guilty of littering. From 2017 to 2021, a total of approximately 10,200 CWOs were issued, making up a small percentage of the total number of tickets issued during that period for littering. I would like to ask the Government for more clarity with regard to when CWOs are actually issued and would like to suggest that the Government consider issuing more CWOs as a form of deterrence against littering, especially in egregious cases. As painful as a fine can be, there are those who might be financially comfortable enough to pay off the fine and the fine has no material or any sort of impact on them. However, performing CWOs would allow them to empathise with the cleaners and realise how their inconsiderate behaviour has impacted others. I think this is likely to be more impactful in bringing about a behavioural change instead of the issuance of a fine. Mr Speaker, Sir, my clarifications and suggestions notwithstanding, I end my speech in firm support of the Bill.”
“I would like to ask if there are instances where the residents and management committees of private properties can ask for assistance from the Government to deal with egregious cases of high-rise littering and would the Government consider invoking the Environmental and Public Health Bill to prosecute recalcitrant individuals if the management committees of such properties are unable to take effective actions against them? I believe the hon Member Mr Ang Wei Neng had also alluded to this in his speech. Mr Speaker, Sir, we have seen several high-profile high-rise killer litter cases that have happened in private condominiums. In 2019, a television was thrown out of a 10th floor condominium unit. In the same year, a wine bottle was thrown out of a condominium unit, striking a 73-year-old man, resulting in his death. In 2020, a television, sound bar and speakers were thrown out of a 50th floor condominium unit. Maybe he was unhappy with his sound system – I do not know. But as incredible, as it sounds, these things do happen. While these incidents may seem isolated and extreme instances of high-rise littering, they demonstrate that high-rise littering and potentially killer litter can also be a problem in private properties as well. Can the Government consider providing residents and management committees of private properties a more direct route to resolve such cases instead of them having to rely on the route of by-laws and taking the matter to Court, or Court orders? Finally, I would like to talk about the punishment for littering. I think this was touched on by hon Members Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Lim Biow Chuan regarding the matter of Corrective Work Orders (CWOs).”
“The question I have for the Senior Minister of State and for the Government regarding this is, first of all, is there a convenient platform or a convenient app, a convenient website where the public can submit this evidence fairly easily and is fuss-free, and is it made known to the public? Secondly, should this case have to be prosecuted in Court, will the evidence submitted by the public suffice or is the member of the public who submitted that evidence be required to go to Court to provide testimony? I think if the latter is the case, then it might actually deter some individuals from providing evidence. So, in this regard, would the Government consider the evidence submitted to be sufficient without having to require the person submitting the evidence to go to Court to provide testimony? Next, I would like to move on to the extent of the Bill. At present, the Environmental and Public Health Bill applies only to publicly accessible areas. Private properties such as executive condominiums and private strata condominiums are regarded as places with restricted access, hence, they are not subjected to the Bill unless the high-rise litter lands on public property. It was further suggested that cases of high-rise littering in such properties should be dealt with by the management committee with the properties’ by-law or the management committee can turn to the Courts to deal with recalcitrant individuals who persist in high-rise littering.”
“At present, the burden of proof for high-rise littering lies in NEA having to identify and prove that an individual has committed the offence. The evidence is obtained from surveillance cameras that NEA deploys and flat owners only have to furnish NEA with the identity of every occupier of the flat at the time of the offence. The onus is on NEA to establish the identity of the culprits and taking punitive actions against the offenders. Clearly, this is an onerous process that is not only resource intensive but is inefficient as well. Based on reported averages, approximately 1,500 enforcement actions were taken annually between 2017 and 2021 for high-rise littering, while NEA received an average of about 25,000 such complaints during the same period. The stark differences between the number of enforcement actions taken against high-rise littering versus the number of complaints received further drive home the point that it is never easy to take actions against those who engage in such behaviour. I believe the amendment to shift the burden of proof from NEA having to prove that a particular individual in the flat has littered, to the flat owners and occupiers proving that they did not litter is a step in the right direction in ensuring greater efficiency in tackling the scourge of high-rise littering. That said, Mr Speaker, the prerequisite for enforcement actions remain – there is a need for NEA to deploy surveillance cameras to collect evidence that high-rise litter originated from a particular household. With surveillance cameras being a scarce resource, I understand from Senior Minister of State Amy Khor's speech earlier that members of the public are allowed to submit footage of high-rise littering that the NEA could use to follow up on such cases.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, despite many years of campaigning on the importance of public hygiene and cleanliness, the number of tickets issued by NEA for littering offences hit an all-time high of 39,200 tickets in 2018 before dropping significantly to 19,400 and 15,500 tickets issued in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The fall in number of tickets issued would highly be due to the curtailment of social activities during COVID-19 as the number of tickets issued are only for those who have been caught littering. The real problem of littering is likely to remain and it would be interesting to see what this number would be in 2022 and 2023 as more of society opens up. As one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with the majority of our population living in high-rise apartments or flats, the issue of high-rise littering is also of concern. It is interesting – compared to the fall in the number of tickets issued by NEA for littering in public spaces for 2020 and 2021, the same period saw a drastic increase in numbers of complaints for high-rise littering. From 22,000 complaints received by NEA in 2019, 2020 and 2021 saw NEA receiving 35,000 and 32,000 complaints respectively. This is likely because of more people working from home, thereby exacerbating the issue of litter being thrown out of the windows of their apartments. It is almost as if they shifted their mindset from littering in public to littering from their apartments. The problem of high-rise littering needs to be addressed urgently because the actions of a few inconsiderate individuals can lead to the reduction in the quality of life for the rest of the residents in that entire block of flats. In more severe cases, high-rise killer litter might lead to a loss of life when pedestrians are struck by them.”
“In doing so, I believe they would encourage mutual understanding and acceptance. In many ways, sensitive handling of these challenging issues would be a form of modelling of open discussion. There could also be instances when students themselves are exploring their own identity and having trained educators who could help them in this journey of discovery would be important. So, I feel it would be good if the Government could consider how educators could be trained to handle these issues and other related topics that might emerge from this debate. Mr Deputy Speaker, in one of my previous speeches, I had referred to the Singaporean identity as a quilt – a patchwork of many cultures and multiple identities that we have stitched together and that has stayed together over the past 55 years. I then made the point that, like any quilt, in time, we do have occasional tears in the fabric and some parts of our quilt are fraying at the edges. Perhaps these parts are parts of our community that we have not always heard, engaged or connected with, and who are somehow feeling that they are like a discarded scrap of cloth, rather than part of a beautiful and wonderful quilt. But I believe that what continues to connect us, what will help mend the tears and strengthen the fabric in our quilt, will be the strong threads that start with conversation, dialogue and understanding, and all done with respect. So, while this debate might be settled in the House over the next couple of days, I hope that the different groups in our society will continue to have important and relevant conversations and treat one another with dignity and respect, so that we can, indeed, work towards a Singapore that emerges stronger. With that, I conclude my speech in support of the Bill and the repeal of 377A.”
“However – and this is my sincere hope – such differences, if looked at rationally, can also be an opportunity for frank and open dialogue to look at the debate and embrace different perspectives and viewpoints. These conversations, based on mutual respect, can help us evolve into a more inclusive society, one that is richer through plurality and diversity. Enshrining anything in law is important but, equally important, is the value of open discussion and mutual respect. It is also important not to embrace a "cancel" culture or to automatically rule out someone who holds different views or even someone who decides to look at the topic conservatively. Worse still, we should not go back to labelling and stereotyping, even though I know I just used the term "conservatively". What does "liberal" mean? What does "conservative" mean? My view is that it would be good to allow others their views, even if it may seem more traditional and less progressive – there go the labels again – when viewed through certain lenses. So, I know. It is not easy, it is not possible, but it is really my view that we are able to allow others with a different opinion from us to speak, to have their voices heard, for us to have this dialogue. I would now like to move into education and schools, Mr Deputy Speaker. I believe it would be good to consider education and consider how the schools can play a part in nurturing open conversations so that this topic is handled sensitively. Our schools must be safe places for students to engage in respectful conversations or debates with others who may hold contrary opinions. Through the careful management of discussions on controversial issues, schools can help to promote freedom of expression, as well as inclusion and tolerance.”
“As such, while I understand the legal arguments for the repeal of 377A, I would like to say that it is even more important for us to recognise the need to repeal 377A from the perspective of moral integrity. You might ask how you would define moral integrity. I think, simply put, moral integrity is doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. Two men having sex in private is precisely that, a private and, in my opinion, a personal matter, and it should not be something that is regarded as criminal. In this regard, I believe that repealing 377A is, thus, the right thing to do because it is the right thing to do. Repealing this law sends a strong signal that we do recognise and respect individual differences, and that different groups are welcome in our community, which brings me to my next point about people, community and conversations. Because we now have to look at the issue from the different perspective of how, while a community and society is made up of people, as I mentioned earlier, these people do not live in isolated silos but have to live and function within the larger entity of a community. In this regard, the changes that the Government is affirming with the definition of marriage, of what constitutes a family and related social policies are done in the context of what it feels would work for our Singaporean community, having taken into account the various opinions and views on the matter. Differences in opinion, such as those arising from a topic, such as the repeal of section 377A, can lead different groups to clashing head-on over issues. It may lead to our society fracturing over fault lines because of the different hectoring voices that shout others down.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, even before this debate started in the House, we had already had widespread debate and exchanges of views regarding this matter across various platforms and in the community. The responses and emotions were mixed – from disappointment that the repeal was not enough, to concern that societal norms and values would be challenged and even, eventually, possibly changed. Indeed, in the run up to this Parliamentary Sitting, I have often been asked what my views are on the matter, and one particular question that I was asked, which stuck with me, was if I was “pro-repeal” or “pro-family.” These were terms that made me realise how polarising the issue was for many people who took a binary view of the matter. For them, it was either one or the other. My reply was, to that person who asked me, and is, that I am “pro-people” and “pro-Singapore”. These are two principles that I have always strongly believed in and it is why I am speaking today in support of this Bill and the subsequent repeal of 377A. I would like to address the issue of why 377A should be repealed. First, Mr Deputy Speaker, when we use terms like “community” and “society”, we have to acknowledge that these are larger entities that are made up of individuals, they are made up of people. And no one is exactly alike – we look different, we think different, we have different beliefs, we have different cultures, we have different values, we have different lifestyles, and, yes, we have different sexual preferences and practices. A truly inclusive community and society consists of people who are willing to not just tolerate, but actually accept those who are different from them, and those who are different should not be discriminated against in any way.”
“Furthermore, I accept that what is deemed harmful and dangerous is, in itself, subjective. Nevertheless, I believe that this Bill is a step in the right direction as it would compel a large number of OCS, some of which have been criticised in the past for using algorithms to encourage and even drive certain behaviours, to also play their part, a significant part, in ensuring that the online space remains safe and conducive. I would like to conclude with a quote from Jaron Lainer, computer scientist and virtual reality pioneer. I believe this was from the documentary, "The Social Dilemma", which, if you have not seen it on Netflix, I would recommend all Members of the House to watch as a very sobering insight into how social media works. Jaron Lainer says: “We’ve created a world in which online connection has become primary, especially for younger generations. And yet, in that world, anytime two people connect, the only way it’s financed is through a sneaky third person who’s paying to manipulate those two people. So, we’ve created an entire global generation of people who were raised within a context with the very meaning of communication, the very meaning of culture, is manipulation.” Does this manipulation lead to harmful outcomes? If it does, then it is good that all stakeholders – Government, users and the OCS – sit up, realise this and take steps to deal with this challenge. My clarifications notwithstanding, I end my speech in firm support of the Bill.”
“And if OCS have the sophisticated algorithms to identify cases of cyberbullying, then should we not work towards treating egregious behaviour like egregious content and possibly remove such material from the online platforms? Mr Deputy Speaker, legislation is an important lever in helping to protect our society from online harm, but it is not a panacea. While the Government can introduce measures to protect individuals from harmful content, individuals need to also exercise self- and social responsibilities. It would be impractical and impossible for the Government to monitor all contents on OCS. A large part of social monitoring would have to be done by end-users themselves. When end-users come across questionable content, would there be a dedicated Government-administered portal for them to provide feedback to? Or would end-users be expected to file reports with the respective OCS? While there are different merits to having a centralised Government-administered portal versus a portal administered by the individual OCS, the crux to effective reporting would be that the portals are user-friendly and it would not be too onerous for users to file reports against questionable online content. The ease of reporting will help to encourage timely reporting of such content and facilitate timely actions to regulate the content that could possibly cause online harm. Mr Deputy Speaker, I believe that everyone would agree that in our digitally evolving world, there needs to be a greater emphasis placed on online safety and safeguards, especially for children and young adults. However, it is also unrealistic to ban anything that seems remotely harmful or dangerous as that would over “nannify” the online space.”
“So, my question to the Government is, where would we draw the line on what would be considered egregious and what would be permitted? I must admit, Mr Deputy Speaker, as a parent of a 14- and 11-year-old, I would always want to err on the side of caution, but I also realise if we take that to the extreme, then we run the risk of anything with the slightest level of danger being banned. It would be good to have some clarity on this. While we debate on what is egregious content, I would like to ask what the Government's stand would be with regard to egregious behaviour. If the aim is to keep the online space safe, as indicated in the title of the Bill, then behaviour that is egregious should also be dealt with. By this, Mr Deputy Speaker, I am referring to the issue of online bullying or cyberbullying, as already referenced by other Members of the House. Bullying, especially of young people, is something that has always been an issue, especially in schools. However, with the pervasive proliferation of the online space, the issue of cyberbullying has multiplied into something that we cannot take lightly. For children and youths, cyberbullying can be intense, overwhelming, psychologically harmful and can result in mental health issues, poor academic performance, school avoidance and even suicide ideation. While our counsellors and psychologists no doubt continue to work with the victims of cyberbullying and they are doing great work, I am sure, can we and should we expect the OCS to do more in this area? After all, if we feel that egregious online content that causes harm should be regulated and controlled, then should not egregious behaviour that could result in harmful or negative outcomes also be treated the same way?”
“” Using this definition, I believe that some content on OCS would clearly be regarded as egregious, for example, materials that encourage and instruct one on how to commit suicide, supporting and promoting communal violence, videos that preach intolerance, extremism, terrorism and so on. However, not all content on OCS is so clear-cut. For instance, consider the now infamous “Blackout Challenge” that encourages participants to choke themselves until they pass out has actually claimed the lives of several youths and young children. The parents of one of the deceased children sued a social media platform and its parent company in May 2022 for exposing their child to harmful content, only for the lawsuit to be dismissed by a federal judge just last month, stating that the social media platform and its parent company were not responsible for the child’s death. What is the Government’s stand on such questionable social media trends? I would be interested to know how online materials that might not be so overtly and blatantly harmful would be regarded if there is the potential for them to be harmful. Some viral Internet challenges posted on OCS, while not overtly life-threatening at first glance, might have the potential to lead to significant public nuisances, injuries and possibly the loss of life. You might or might not be aware of the “milk crate challenge”, for example, which encourages the stacking and climbing of milk crates, which might not seem directly life-threatening – quite ridiculous, I know, but not directly life-threatening – but I would imagine that it could result in significant injuries, such as dislocations, cartilage damage and even potential permanent spinal cord damage, if one should fall badly.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the Internet and social media have become a part of us and is a key component of our social lives. While the boundarylessness of social media has increased our access to information, eased communications with friends and family, and facilitated freedom of expression, it has also, inadvertently, exposed us to potentially undesirable content. The Government has, in recent years, taken proactive steps to mitigate the possibilities of online harm through legislation, such as online falsehoods (POFMA), foreign interference, hostile information campaigns (FICA) and online harassment (POHA). I believe the Minister had referenced these in her speech yesterday. Yet, I believe more can be done to help Singaporeans, especially our children and youths, navigate the World Wide Web where nefarious contents might lurk and negatively impact them. I am thus heartened to know that this Bill seeks to introduce new safeguards into the Broadcasting Act (1994) by regulating online communication services (OCS), including social media services. Today, algorithms on social media platforms are designed to maximise users’ engagement by creating as many ways users can interact with them as possible and by appealing to what interests their users the most. It is good that we are now considering how we can hold OCS more accountable and responsible for the type of content they carry, to limit the negative impact of egregious online content on our community and society. The Cambridge Dictionary defines “egregious” as “extremely bad in a way that is very noticeable.”
“I would like to thank the Minister of State for her reply. Just one supplementary question, Mr Deputy Speaker. I think the Minister of State mentioned that such information will be sensitively managed and shared on a need-to-know basis. Could the Minister of State further explain, with regard to even sharing the information beyond MOE, for example, in the future with other Government agencies, how is that information managed and accessed? For example, if a male student should need to get mental support, mental healthcare, throughout his scholastic journey, and when he enlists in the Army, would MINDEF have accessibility to that kind of information, which is typically I am assuming, held by MOE. Could the Minister of State please provide some clarity on issues like that?”
“I would like to thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his comprehensive reply both on education and also on deterrence. Just one supplementary question, Mr Speaker, on the aspect of education. I agree with the Senior Parliamentary Secretary that this is key as a preventive measure. Given that many of our national athletes or perhaps, many of our athletes, get competitive much earlier on – in school, perhaps – would ADS and SportSG consider working with the relevant authorities or the relevant Government agencies to go further upstream in terms of providing education to our younger competitive athletes who would, obviously, hopefully, become national athletes, seeing as to how the youths could be a bit more impressionable, to have these education programmes further upstream such that they are aware of the pitfalls of using recreational and performance-enhancing drugs in their athletic endeavours?”
“The national symbols are also cultural symbols, each capturing a unique portion of Singapore's history and the aspirations of our country and people. Singaporeans should thus be more acquainted with the history of the symbols and what those symbols stand for. One of the approaches to increasing Singaporeans' awareness of the symbols is to allow them to come into contact with these symbols more freely and more spontaneously in their everyday lives and to conduct more public education on what the symbols mean. Safeguards, of course, notwithstanding, I end my speech in firm support of the Bill.”
“Many of us would agree that exercising common sense and good judgement in how we should treat our national symbols would suffice on most occasions when the symbols are used. However, there could be some instances where it might not be clear as to just what constitutes "disrespecting a national symbol". For example, if you search for "Singapore national anthem on electric guitar" on the Internet, which some of us might be tempted to do that right now on our devices, you will find a mellow, reggae-inspired version of "Majulah Singapura" on YouTube. Personally, I did not find that remix or that version of our national anthem offensive or disrespectful. In fact, the comments on the remix were all largely positive. However, would such a remix or interpretation of our national anthem be considered disrespectful under the new law and lead to a financial penalty or some measures taken against the artiste? Similarly, if parts of, or even the entire Singapore pledge were fused into a performance piece, would that be okay, or would the performer be taken to task if he or she did not get prior clearance from the authorities? There was also the case of a migrant worker who loved Singapore so much that he got the lion head symbol tattooed on the back of his neck. Would this be allowed under the new proposed laws? Again, I understand that one cannot have detailed prescriptions for everything, but it would be good if the Government could provide some clear guidance in this area. Mdm Deputy Speaker, our national symbols are quintessential to the Singapore identity. Many Singaporeans, and even foreigners, have come to associate the national symbols as synonymous with Singapore and the Singapore brand and what Singapore stands for.”
“If the aim of extending the period from July to September in the past was to allow for a greater display of patriotism, then why not allow Singaporeans and residents to display their love and patriotism for the country all-year round? On the issue of clarity, the disrespecting of national symbols in some cases, such as the willful and intentional defacing of the flag, for example, is quite clear and such cases must be dealt with accordingly. However, as more symbols get designated as national symbols and come under the proposed new laws, it would be good if the Government could provide some guidance as to how the symbols should be used respectfully and just what constitutes an offence regarding the treatment of a national symbol under the new law. The guidelines of use must be explicitly communicated to prevent members of the public and merchants from contravening the use of those symbols. This was mentioned earlier, I believe, by my Parliamentary colleague, Mr Yip Hon Weng and, at present, I do believe that several companies and merchants have used the lion head symbol on their product packaging to publicise that their products are made in Singapore. Would such usage of the lion head symbol be allowed under the National Symbols Bill? If yes, would there be an application process to use national symbols on product packaging and publicity collaterals, such as company brochures and banners? Would there be an office set up to process such applications and assess the merits of using national symbols on commercial platforms? Of course, it would be impossible to capture everything under the law or to have prescriptive guidance for all possible use of the symbols.”
“Some symbols like the Presidential standard, Presidential coat of arms, Presidential seal and public seal would largely not be very commonly used and displayed by the public, unlike other symbols like the national flag, national anthem, national pledge or even the lion head symbol or national flower. These latter five symbols are those that the public would be most familiar with and are also likely to be the ones that are most used in our everyday life, especially during national occasions. I hope that the Government will consider allowing members of the public more flexibility in using them so that these symbols can be part of our everyday lives and are close to our hearts instead of being abstract concepts or displays that we occasionally see. Greater flexibility to access and display these symbols will foster familiarity but still keeping the sense of respect while having the sense of national pride and collective ownership of these symbols that are, essentially, part of our Singapore identity. Mdm Deputy Speaker, in the past, we had amended the rules for when the national flag could be flown. In 2007, the National Day period was extended from 1 July to 30 September, and, in 2020, the rule was amended to allow the flag to be displayed from April to June 2020 as a mark of solidarity during the COVID-19 crisis. I would like to propose for the Government to consider extending the period of when the national flag could be flown, without a flagpole and night illumination, from 1 January to 31 December every year. Or, from a different perspective, to abolish having a fixed period when the flag can be flown.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, national symbols of a country represent the collective identity of the nation, the values that a nation subscribes to and the aspirations of its people. For example, the five stars on our national flag represent the ideals of Singapore and our national anthem captures the enduring hope and spirit of Singaporeans for progress. Since the Singapore Arms and Flags and National Anthem Act (SAFNA) was adopted, other symbols, such as the lion head symbol and Vanda Miss Joaquim, which are closely associated with the Singapore identity have also been listed as national symbols. Although these symbols have come to represent us, they are not accorded the same level of protection from misuse as our state crest, national flag and national anthem because these additional symbols are not covered under SAFNA. The introduction of the National Symbols Bill to replace SAFNA is thus timely and appropriate and will also help to provide greater flexibility and clarity to the use of national symbols. Notwithstanding my support for the Bill, I wish to seek clarifications concerning how the national symbols will be regarded and managed after the Bill has been introduced. First of all, the issue of flexibility. Under the proposed National Symbols Bill, seven additional national symbols like the Presidential standard, Presidential coat of arms, Presidential seal, national pledge, public seal, lion head symbol and national flower will be accorded protection status alongside the three national symbols that are originally protected under SAFNA.”
“What considerations would MINDEF have taken to ensure that the public's interest is catered for in these areas before embarking on such proposed manoeuvres? Mdm Deputy Speaker, as we celebrate NS55 this year we are reminded of the contributions and sacrifices that our Servicemen and Servicewomen have made to protect Singapore. I am personally grateful to all of those who have served for their contributions to the nation and hope that the proposed amendments in the Bill will contribute to the further strengthening of our Armed Forces and other Services. My clarifications notwithstanding, I end my speech in firm support of the Bill.”
“And if the plan is for all the SAF units and platforms mentioned above to be coordinated under DIS, how would DIS liaise with CSA who is responsible for coordinating a whole-of-Government defence? I hope that Minister could provide some clarity on this later. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I would like to shift my focus now from the digital and virtual realm to the physical and natural world. The second part of the Bill proposes amendments to the Military Manoeuvres Act of 1905 to permit the SAF to carry out of military manoeuvres in catchment areas with the approval of the Public Utilities Board. The catchment areas in Singapore, generally, comprise a majority of our reservoirs and natural landscape. These areas contain a diverse range of flora and fauna, many of which are possibly still awaiting discovery. For example, nine plants, fungi and algae were discovered, or re-discovered, in 2021, with more than half of these discovered in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. NParks also reported in 2017 that 480 new species of flora and fauna were discovered, or rediscovered, in Singapore between 2012 and 2017. I would like to ask if allowing military manoeuvres in catchment areas would impact Singapore's biodiversity adversely? Does MINDEF plan to do any environmental impact study or engage the relevant agencies and perhaps even nature groups with regards to the impact of such military exercises on the catchment areas, so we can minimise the ecological footprints of such activities on our natural environment? Also, how does MINDEF intend to balance military needs which are critical and crucial, and I support, with public interest given that our catchment areas are family-friendly leisure locations frequented by leisure hikers and families who are seeking a respite from urban life?”
“Such cyber attacks often go unnoticed by the man on the street as these attacks happen in cyberspace with low signatures in the physical realm, leaving no visible damages to real world infrastructures and assets until they actually happened. As Minister had said, "the battleground has changed". It is precisely because of the invisible and masked nature of such attacks that makes them so dangerous. We tend to underestimate the devastating real life damages that such attacks could cause, and could possibly be underprepared for widespread cyber terrorism, or "hacktivist", attacks that assail multiple soft cyber targets simultaneously. While I agree wholeheartedly with the setting up of DIS, I would like to ask where does the jurisdiction of DIS begins and where does it end, especially regarding cybersecurity matters and threats that could have an impact at the national level? Unlike a physical infrastructure where we can adopt a more sectoral approach in defence, it is a little bit more challenging to do so in the case of cyber defence. Also, a network attack on the SAF can potentially cripple multiple systems at the same time and could possibly be difficult to isolate and contain. In the unlikely or unfortunate event of a cyber attack on SAF's system – which we hope would never happen – who would be ultimately responsible for the defence of the system? Would it be SAF's Defence Cyber Organisation (DCO)? The Cyber Defence Group (CDG) under SAF Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence (C4I)? Or would the defence be coordinated by SAF's Digital Ops-Tech Centre (DOTC), which has the mandate to partner with the Defence Tech Community (DTC) and whole-of-Government digital agencies to secure SAF's system?”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, since inception, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has adopted the military doctrine of deterrence and forward defence. While Singapore has never sought to be a military aggressor, we have never shied away from the need to build a technologically advanced, modern and competent SAF. Indeed, today, I am proud to say, that SAF is a well-regarded fighting force, with possibly the best air and naval forces in the region. While Singapore has excelled in our preparedness and readiness in conventional jungle and urban warfare, the strategies and tactics of war have changed considerably in recent years. To tackle the multitude of new security threats, SAF has begun its transition from a third generation army to a fourth generation one, fortifying its capabilities to confront more complex defence challenges with more modern technologies and newer equipment. I am, thus, happy to learn that SAF has continued its earlier trajectory of boosting its cyber and digital defence capabilities with the proposed setting up of the Digital and Intelligence Services (DIS). The set-up of DIS is very timely in providing the much-needed safeguard to SAF's network assets as SAF transit, in earnest – to a firm, fighting 4G force. In today's networked world, countries face a multitude of security threats on different fronts. While the potential of open armed conflicts remains high, the actual possibility of countries openly engaging in hostile confrontations and conventional warfare, as what is happening in the Russo-Ukraine conflict, thankfully, remains low. A more commonplace security threat in the 21st century is the invisible cyber warfare waged by state and non-state actors against countries, using cyber weapons that mask the identity of the aggressor.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for that speech. I have a clarification that is linked to an oral Parliamentary Question (PQ) which I filed previously. The Minister talked about going beyond sports and about involving the community a lot more in the Sports Hub. That is very heartening. I would like to ask the Minister if there is any consideration being given to perhaps having one of the, if not the biggest, community event of the year, which is the National Day Parade (NDP), held at the National Stadium at the Sports Hub. I had the privilege of marching in the PCF contingent for the only NDP held at the Sports Hub since – I think it was in 2016 – and I can say it was a wonderful experience. So, Minister, in the past, as you know, the NDP would be held one year at the old National Stadium; one year at the Padang. Are there plans to perhaps commit to a more regular schedule of having the parade held at the Stadium, at the Sports Hub and perhaps even involving the Kallang Alive area, in a month of celebrations, say, across the entire month of August, that leads into a meaningful celebration at the NDP?”
“Resolving the challenges faced by working moms and return-to-work moms requires not only strong support from their family members, but also a system to integrate and reintegrate these women into the professional working network. My comments notwithstanding, I am supportive of the White Paper and hope that this will provide the foundations for Singapore women to grow, develop and thrive in our community and society.”
“An idea that is also worth exploring is to create more networks of entrepreneurs or business professionals to guide, mentor and advise mothers who are perhaps thinking of starting their own business. The COVID-19 pandemic has, definitely, resulted in the rise of more home businesses and, rather than return to conventional employment, perhaps some of these "mumpreneurs" might want to scale up their businesses, so as to allow themselves the opportunity to generate an income while also having the flexibility to attend to their other personal and familial duties. Indeed, having more of these networks, like "Mumpreneurs-Go-Places", for example, could help to coalesce and bond this group of mumpreneurs, who would then be able to provide mutual advice, help, support and guidance for one another. It would be good if the Government could also perhaps consider providing some start-up grants and support for such mumpreneurs or perhaps explore avenues of micro-financing that would be useful to them. Mr Speaker, Sir, a wicked problem is defined as a social or cultural problem that is difficult or impossible to solve – normally, because of its complex and interconnected nature. Indeed, as we work towards parity, equality for women in Singapore, we are taking on what perhaps is becoming less and less of a "wicked problem", but still one that has no simple and easy solution. Because, while the Government can take the lead in outlining concrete steps to support women, it takes a whole-of-society effort to actually move this needle significantly. Solving issues, such as unconscious biases and glass ceilings at work, require companies to take proactive steps, such as sponsoring the careers of high potential female executives.”
“Even though both men and women are equally susceptible to experiencing work-family conflicts, women are more likely to experience these conflicts more frequently and at greater intensity than men do. This is largely due to societal expectations that place a greater degree of family responsibilities on women even when they are full-time professionals and a greater degree of social sanctions that women will experience than men when they fail to juggle between work and family responsibilities. As a result, many working women have chosen to take a break from work to concentrate on meeting their family responsibilities before returning to work when their children are old enough to be independent. Juggling between work and family can be daunting, especially so for women who are returning to work after prolonged periods of non-work arising from the need to meet family responsibilities. Many of these return-to-work moms will, inevitably, experience a skills-gap issue where their knowledge about their trade could have become obsolete over time, they could have also lost business networks that they used to have, and they might not be fully up-to-date on the type of professional openings that are available on the market. To better assist return-to-work moms, it would be good if NTUC’s e2i division or their Women and Family initiative can conduct unique career coaching sessions to ensure that women returning to work are fully aware of the type of opportunities available in the market and they also have access to skills upgrading courses that enable these return-to-work moms to pick up new and relevant skills that will make them a better fit for the market.”
“Among the issues highlighted in the article, it was identified that a prolonged period of working from home may, in fact, have a dampening effect on the career development of women. One of the effects was the result in female executives being cut off from informal channels within the company and then, subsequently, encountering difficulties in obtaining resources necessary for work through informal company and industry networks. So, for women in their mid-career to truly benefit from FWAs, companies need to be cognisant of the potential impingement of the formation of informal professional networks that may result from the prolonged reliance on such arrangements. Companies, therefore, need to proactively assist women to manage the risk of such professional isolation. One of the ways that companies can mitigate this is to implement a system of corporate mentorship and sponsorship for female executives. As mentors and sponsors, senior executives are responsible for providing career guidance to female executives, helping them open doors to high-visibility projects, connecting them with professional networks within the company and across the industry, and also ensuring that they receive the resources they need for project implementation. Through this process, female executives can continue to have a channel into the senior corporate network, thereby ensuring that they continue to have the corporate visibility and exposure they need to advance their career even though they choose to opt for a more FWA. The second area I would like to speak on is specialised support for mothers who are returning to work.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in 2017, I spoke about a greater need to support women, especially mid-career women, at work. In that speech, I touched on how women tend to "leak out" of the promotion pipeline at the mid-career stage because the mid-career period tends to coincide with the stage of their lives where women experience heavy maternity and family commitments. Due to these commitments, many of them either exit the workforce, take on an involuntary career slow-down or are assigned to what some may call the "mommy track" by their companies. Because of these reactions, the career gaps between women and men widen as the organisational hierarchy progresses. Mr Speaker, there is one thing that COVID-19 has taught us about work and working from home. It would be that FWAs in the form of working from home and such hybrid work arrangements where time is spent between working from home are working out just as well as being physically present in the office, which is the more traditional working arrangement. Many Members of this Chamber have already talked about FWAs and, indeed, FWAs are covered and highlighted in the White Paper. FWAs might just be the right solution that enables women in their mid-career to have the best of both worlds. However, as we are also lauding the merits of FWAs because they enable women to manage both their work and their family commitments, we need to be mindful also that there could be potential downsides for women when FWAs are applied in too broad strokes. A 2017 article written by Singaporean researchers from the Human Capital Leader Institute (HCLI) published in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index by INSEAD, highlighted the need to have a more nuanced approach when implementing pro-family policies to support women.”
“Chairman, I just have one clarification. It is very heartening to hear the plans shared by Minister of State Low Yen Ling and Minister Edwin Tong about how they intend to support, invigorate and promote the arts industry in Singapore. Minister Edwin Tong talked about having safe spaces for the arts, for expression and development. He talked about 45 Armenian Street. I would just like to ask the Minister if he could perhaps expound a bit more on whether there will be more of such spaces that will be provided for our arts community and also what are some of the resources and facilities that could perhaps be put in place in these spaces.”
“Chairman, many of us remember fondly the Kallang Roar, although I agree with Minister Edwin Tong when he said earlier that while it is great to revel in nostalgia, we should also look forward to the future of the bright talents that we have coming up through the Singapore football pipeline. Last year, MCCY announced its strategic plan to revitalise our football ecosystem and improve the standards of football at all levels through its Unleash the Roar project, which of course, was mooted to bring back that Kallang Roar. The project relates to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) goal for the national team to qualify for the 2034 FIFA World Cup – a noble and aspirational goal, indeed. The project is a worthy one as it helps our youths undertake intensive and structured high-quality football training to play football professionally. Can MCCY provide an update on the progress of the Unleash the Roar project and its vision to unite Singaporeans of all ages, races and gender through football? Singapore Soccer and Kallang Roar”
“Madam, these games and the results achieved can only be reinforced through advance planning and real-time involvement and investment in scientific methods. Effort also needs to be placed on minimising the distractions and stress faced by athletes during games time, enabling them to focus on their performance. There is also much behind-the scenes work by organisations, such as Sports Singapore and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), that have collaborated to prepare for major games to deliver preparation plans, games preparation workshops, performance analysis. Enhanced sports medicine, as well as sports science, are being employed to support athletes in their games preparations. There is also the need to invest time and funds in coaching and providing the best in terms of infrastructure, programmes and sports facilities, so that our athletes can thrive stress-free and focused on delivering an optimum performance. Mdm Chairman, given the pressures that they face, athletes' mental health is just as crucial, so that they can deal with the pressure that intense competition brings. All these preparation and investment are only meaningful and possible if there is psychological support for the athletes and their efforts. Can MCCY provide an update on how Team Singapore athletes are progressing in their preparation for the major games in 2022 and beyond? What efforts are underway to rally Singaporeans to support Team Singapore? Sports have the potential to galvanise and inspire the nation. Can MCCY share its efforts to rally Singaporeans to show their support for Team Singapore and also to provide platforms for Team Singapore athletes to connect with and inspire Singaporeans? Sports”
“In October last year, it was reported that Yip Pin Xiu will receive $800,000 for the two gold medals she won at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in August 2021. It is, indeed, commendable that sponsors, such as DBS and the Tote Board, have stepped in with the cash awards to help the athletes and reward them for their sacrifice. The work of the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC), which focuses on enabling our elite para-athletes to participate in major games, such as the ASEAN Para Games, Asian Para Games, Asian Youth Para Games, Commonwealth Games and Paralympic Games, has also been crucial as the SNPC has undertaken collaborations to enable our para-athletes to soar. 4.15 pm It is important to leverage the international success of these para-athletes to encourage more sports participation at all levels. So, what is MCCY doing to provide more inclusive opportunities through sports? In line with MCCY's commitment in the Parliament Motion last year to honour our athletes, what is MCCY doing to support para-athletes and provide more opportunities for our aspiring para-athletes, especially for those who wish to pursue sports at a competitive level to represent Singapore in the international arena? Can MCCY also elaborate on its strategies to provide more inclusiveness through sports in the next phase of the Disability Sports Master Plan? Support for Major Games In sports, "it is not the will to win that matters but the will to prepare to win", according to Paul "Bear" Bryant, the late American football coach. At some of the major games such as the Southeast Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympic Games, major games preparation is an important ingredient in the athletes' preparation to enhance performance and recovery.”
“These benefits include cooperation, coping with confidence and shyness issues, dealing with stress and coping with aggression and violence. Sports can help curb social isolation and serve as a catharsis or outlet for those dealing with emotional issues. Sports also play a critical and important role in bringing Singaporeans together. Sports, whether it is through participation or spectatorship, foster a sense of pride and build a confident nation, through interaction with athletes or sports fan bases. To paraphrase Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, "The important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well." So, in this regard, sports can be used to develop an individual's resilience as well. Can MCCY share its strategies to bring sports participation back into the new normal? Can MCCY also share its strategies to restore and reinvigorate national sports participation, increase access to sports facilities and reintroduce mass sports events in a safe manner? Inclusive Opportunities through Sports Sports have the ability to reinforce the idea of the importance of equality. For the fourth Paralympics in a row, Singapore's para-athletes have come back with a haul of medals, in spite of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Athletes, such as Yip Pin Xiu and Paraglider Jessica Goh, have gunned for gold, winning the hearts of Singaporeans. Other para-athletes, such as archer Nur Syahidah Alim, cyclists Steve Tee and competition partner Ang Kee Meng, have shown how sports can build an inclusive society through opportunities for talent to shine.”
“Additionally, talent needs to be boosted through the exploration of new ways of blending digital formats with real-life arts and culture offerings. Training programmes for freelancers and collaborations with the private sector players are some of the ways to further talent growth to ensure sustained development of the arts and culture sectors. What are MCCY's strategies to revitalise the arts and culture sectors and ensure that our organisations and freelancers are well-positioned to thrive in the new normal? Can MCCY provide an update on the impact of ACRP and the support provided to organisations and freelancers? Can MCCY elaborate on its plans to further strengthen the socio-economic nexus of our arts and culture sector, including manpower development and plans for digitalisation, to ensure that our artists are well-positioned to thrive in the new normal? Bringing Sports Participation Back The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on sports participation on many levels, including the cancelling or scaling down of mass participation events. Safe distancing measures, as well as concerns about the danger of large clusters forming, have had an impact on sports participation. At the same time, there are new developments in sports aimed at coping with the limitations of safe distancing measures. Capacity constraints in sporting venues and the limitations on the way team sport can be engaged have resulted in innovations. An example of innovative approaches to physical space are emerging, such as the use of small box gyms that offer physical fitness enthusiasts a new and different lease of life. Yet, sports and the communal nature of many sporting activities have a huge role to play in the psycho-social aspects of life.”
“Mdm Chairman, the cultural and creative sectors of our economy are crucial in their own right in terms of their economic footprint and the employment opportunities that they offer across the board. At the same time, we cannot underestimate the innovation that the arts and culture sectors spur across the economy. With wellness and inclusion as key focuses, the arts and culture also offer channels for positive social impact. They encourage education about Singapore's identity, as well as revitalise our city life. Yet, the arts and culture sector has been hard hit by the pandemic and has been severely disrupted by it. In addition to short-term support for artists and firms, which comes from both the public and private sectors, policies can also leverage the economic and social impacts of culture in their broader recovery packages and efforts to transform our economy. With COVID-19, digital presentations have provided a lifeline, allowing audiences a new experience in the consumption of the arts. The digital space has provided both opportunities and challenges for local arts groups as they overcome the safe distancing measures and cross into a digital space that is not limited by physical boundaries. Yet, there is also a need to reimagine the business models used in the arts and culture sector, so that they are sustainable. Offering free programmes worked for the short run but the arts also need to be monetised. Effort needs to be placed on the protection of intellectual property in the digital space. Manpower planning and growth are also crucial as the arts groups rethink how to increase capabilities to augment the production quality of digital works.”
“Thank you, Madam. I would also like to thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his reply. Just one supplementary question. I understand that perhaps with time, the cost of installation of the lifts would come down. I would like to enquire from the Senior Parliamentary Secretary if MOT explores other alternative technologies for this. For example, conventional lifts use a certain electrical motor and mechanism, but would hydraulic lifts, for example, be a possible solution if the cost of installation of the hydraulic lifts would be a bit more economical and, therefore, allow for the Budget to be better used to serve the same purpose?”
“Thank you, Chairman. Just two clarifications for the Minister. The first involves PSLE. Some time ago, I made a speech where I did not suggest that we should remove the PSLE. But rather, while we have PSLE, to also incorporate some coursework component such that every Primary 6 student ends up with an actual composite grade that is a combination of the PSLE examination and the coursework component that they have done, maybe a 70% examination, 30% coursework. So, I just wanted to ask the Minister if the Ministry is considering this and, if so, could he provide some thoughts on this. Second clarification is about teachers. I mentioned earlier that I am really happy about the quality of our teachers. They have undergone some really good training. But I also talked about the possibility of encouraging or having more mid-career teachers coming in from other jobs, other industries, into the teaching profession to bring their experience with them. This can also be synced in quite nicely with continuing education and making sure that our people are trained to move into a different career. Could the Minister perhaps update or share if the Ministry has any plans to enhance this or to have this as a more structured programme for mid-career switchers to come into the teaching profession?”
“Moving forward, would we see a closer integration between the PET and CET frameworks so we can develop a future-ready workforce that is equipped with basic know-hows as well as the mindset that training and development is a lifelong journey, especially in Industry 5.0 and beyond? How could MOE, SSG and WSG work together to re-conceptualise how the education landscape will look like in Singapore? Thank you. Expanding Pathways and Opportunities”
“Mr Chairman, education and personal development is indeed a lifelong journey. This axiom is now more apt than ever. The Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 was coined by Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum in 2016 to describe how the confluence of artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, Internet of Things, quantum computing, genetic engineering and other technologies will create the perfect storm that paves the way for radical transformative changes in the conduct of businesses and how we live our lives. Today, we are barely five years from that and into the Industry 4.0 and futurists and academics have already begun to describe how the Fifth Industrial Revolution, Industry 5.0, will look like. As one consulting group has aptly described, Industry 5.0 is the new renaissance for humanity where humanism, civility, inclusivity, creativity and purpose will thrive alongside profit and digitally enabled progress. Think metaverse and you get the picture. Singapore needs to prepare our workforce for Industry 5.0 and beyond. Our educational institutions have traditionally focused on Pre-Employment Training (PET) to prepare our young for work. Compared to a few years ago, it is now becoming even clearer that getting a basic education is a necessary but insufficient condition for work in Industry 5.0 and beyond. We need to develop a new educational framework that integrates PET with Continuing Education and Training (CET) to meet the new reality of work. Chairman, MOE has traditionally focused on PET and CET has typically been the domain of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG).”
“As such, many of them might not have had much opportunity or exposure to other industries or professional environments before they become teachers. It would thus be good if MOE could explore industry attachments, not only for the teachers’ own personal and professional development, but also so that they can contextualize the subjects that they are teaching in the classrooms to the students. So, could MOE please share if there are such plans for the professional and holistic development and training of our educators? Support for Educators' Mental Well-being”
“Chairman, a strong education system is built around a few key pillars, one of which is to have passionate educators who are committed to bring out the best in every learner. Educators who not only teach textbook knowledge but also bring with them different perspectives and experiences that can enhance the learning of our learners. I believe that our MOE educators are committed professionals who have been given very good preparatory training that equipped them with the academic and pedagogical development knowledge, as well as with classroom management skills before they are deployed to teach in our schools. That said, that continuous professional development is very important, especially in the area of pastoral skills. Today, teachers not only have to deliver and teach, Chairman, they also have to manage the emotional and mental well-being of students and deal with interactions with parents, which are likely to be outside regular classroom hours. These are chronic stressors that might negatively impact the mental well-being of teachers, especially sustained over a prolonged period. I would like to encourage MOE to consider how we can better equip our educators with stress management and self-care techniques, so that they can better manage their own mental and emotional wellness. Another area where I hope MOE can consider is how to enrich the learning experience of our students, by encouraging educators with more diverse backgrounds to join the profession, or to ensure that our educators have diverse exposures, so that they can bring additional perspectives to the curriculum that they teach. Many educators went straight into the teaching service from NIE out of a passion for wanting to educate young minds and to serve the community through education.”
“But, as I have said before in this House, formative assessments can also provide an indication of a student’s development and academic growth. Grades can also be apportioned to coursework and there are many subjects that are based on 100% coursework. Would the Government review the need to have less summative assessments across all levels of Primary school even up to Secondary school levels, and move towards having more formative assessments that cater to more holistic and complete development of our students? Curriculum Content”
“Mr Chairman, Marva Delores Collins, an American educator who is famed for her teaching method and for her work in educating impoverished students once said that “when someone is taught the joy of learning, it becomes a lifelong process that never stops, a process that creates a logical individual. That is the challenge and joy of teaching.” Although this adage was made years ago prior to the advent of the Internet and before the age of technology assisted learning, it is now truer than ever. In today’s day and age where new knowledge is constantly being created and new skills render old ones irrelevant, it is important for educators to inculcate the joy of learning in students so that they are truly educated and have learned how to learn, not just schooled. While we know the importance of inculcating the joy of learning in students, it is a challenge to do so in an assessment-driven and exams- focused education system where rote learning and regurgitation might reap great rewards. Some time ago, MOE took the step of removing exams for Primary 1 and Primary 2 to allow for a learning experience and learning environment that would allow children to grow and develop without having to deal with the pressures and burdens of major exams. I believe this was a step in the right direction, I commend MOE for this, as it encouraged students to uncover the joys of learning without having to worry about how well they do in summative assessments like exams. Without a doubt, summative assessments are still important because they allow us to assess how much the students have absorbed the material and knowledge, and tests and exams are useful indicators of one’s progress in knowledge acquisition.”
“Rather than reducing it to a blunt tool about simply taking from one group and giving to another, I see this Budget more as reinforcing a uniquely Singaporean version of "noblesse oblige" where those who are in positions of relative privilege and wealth – and I use the word, "relative" again, Mr Speaker – have the social duty and obligation to take care of those who have less. So, it is not just about implementing a particular fiscal policy; it is about strengthening a societal philosophy. It would be wonderful if this philosophy could permeate into every single Singaporean social consciousness, whereby, regardless of our income levels, we are willing to contribute not just our money, but also our time to those who need our help and assistance. Because that is what a family does, Mr Speaker: those who are stronger, take care of those who are not as strong; those who can, help those who are trying; those who have more, help those who have less. Everyone does their part. And it is only by staying strong as one united Singaporean family that we are going to get through the economic and societal challenges of the years ahead. And with that, I end my speech in firm support of the Budget.”
“To help them move away from the stereotype that you should shed blood and not tears because "real men don't cry?" I believe that having such mental wellness programmes and demolishing archaic male stereotypes are not incompatible with training our soldiers to be tough and resilient. Making our young men better soldiers by making them more aware of their mental wellness also prepares them to be better men for the rest of their lives. I would also hope that the Government can devote some resources to having more community-based platforms that specifically cater to men who are presently struggling with mental wellness. For example, one could start with mental well-being activities in community clubs and centres that cater to men and perhaps this could evolve into dedicated structured support group sessions that men could attend. The ultimate aim of this would be to destigmatise help-seeking behaviour from men as signs of weakness by creating a more gender-neutral society and providing platforms where men, and women, feel comfortable to discuss mental wellness issues. Mr Speaker, Sir, there are those who have described this as a "Robin Hood" Budget; that is, "take from the rich to give to the poor". But to use that term is to draw lines of divisions between just "what or who" is rich and "what or who" is poor and dishes out unhelpful labels that can only be divisive in our society. The heart of good governance is about creating a strong social compact, and the social compact is constantly evolving as our society progresses. And a key feature of our social compact is reflected in this Budget, which signals that those of us who are blessed to have more should contribute more, and those of us who need more help should get the help that they need.”