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 [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.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.”
The complete record
Every one of 500 lines we hold for Darryl David, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 10.
“One of the nominees for Singaporean of the Year in 2021, Ms Poh has done a lot to help those with mental illness in my Ang Mo Kio-Hougang constituency and she shares these strong views that more needs to be done for men's mental health. I had a chat with Ms Poh lately and, according to her, men often tend to equate psychosomatic symptoms, such as racing heart, digestive issues or headaches, as health issues and seek help from physicians without realising that these are common symptoms of depression. More worryingly, when depressed, men are more likely to engage in negative coping techniques, such as alcoholism, which may, ironically, lead to other forms of health problems in the long run. "During our sessions," says Ms Poh, "some male clients asked if it is okay for them to cry. We have to promote mental health among men more so that they feel comfortable to speak up about their struggles." And I thank Ms Poh for her valuable inputs in my speech. Mr Speaker, I wholeheartedly agree with Ms Poh and have some suggestions that I hope the Government could consider to better promote mental health among men. I believe that we should go upstream to educate men about the importance of mental wellness and let them know that there are sources available to them when they need help. Could our Secondary schools or tertiary institutions not develop dedicated resources and platforms to teach male students how to dispel traditionally toxic masculine stereotypes and encourage them to step forward and feel comfortable to speak up about their struggles and seek help? Could MINDEF consider running programmes educating our NSFs and soldiers about the importance of mental wellness and promote the idea that it is okay to seek help? It is okay to be not okay.”
“The stress of having to live with the pandemic, the need to face medical unknowns related to the disease, the increase in contestation for living and working spaces, job and income insecurity, and having to constantly navigate the ever-changing COVID-19 management measures, have left many of us physically exhausted, emotionally spent and mentally drained. When we think about mental wellness, we have to understand that different groups of people have different mental wellness needs as they can be affected by the same stressors differently. We recognise this, of course, if we look at mental wellness for the youths, mental wellness that affects seniors, postpartum depression when it comes to women who have just given birth and so on. So, rather than to treat mental wellness as a collective term, it will thus be beneficial for us to recognise that, just like these other different segments of society, men are also affected very differently by stresses. In many societies today, some patriarchal beliefs continue to be commonly held by the majority of the population and there are corresponding societal expectations of how men should behave in social settings. Men are still expected to be the head of the family, the dominant breadwinner, to have the "eye of the tiger" by demonstrating strength and confidence and to stare adversity in the face and to "man-up", take the fall when things go wrong. These expectations have, inadvertently, caused men to experience stressors that are different from those from other segments of our society. Ms Porsche Poh is one of the leading mental advocates for mental health, having founded Silver Ribbon way back in 2006.”
“As I have mentioned before, it is important to have a holistic taxation strategy and it is commendable that the Government is looking beyond GST as a revenue source and is also exploring other alternative sources of taxation revenue via other forms of progressive taxes, such as the increase in personal income tax for those with an annual income of more than $500,000 and an increase in property tax for non-owner-occupied property and owner-occupied property with an annual value of more than $30,000. The revisions in the rate of these progressive taxes will help to ensure that the overall tax regime in Singapore remains resilient, with those with more means contributing more than those with less. Notice I have said "those with more", not "those with a lot". So, as long as I have more than you, I should be happy and willing to contribute to you. That is what I think we all should be aiming for. I would like to shift the focus now to the next topic of my speech, Mr Speaker, please, on healthcare and, specifically, men's mental health and well-being. I am personally glad to hear that there will be an increase in healthcare spending, and a specific area of healthcare that I am especially happy that the Government is focusing on is mental wellness. This has been raised before by other Members in this House. Mr Speaker, COVID-19 has left an indelible mark on humanity and on our collective psyche. It has changed the way we utilise spaces, interact with one another and how we build social relationships.”
“As such, I do understand the rationale behind the GST increase and commend the Government for being sensitive in implementing the GST increase in two stages, in 2023 and 2024, so that the immediate impact of the increase is not felt and this will give everyone, both consumers and companies, time to prepare for the hike. To further soften the blow of the increase and to help Singaporean households cope with the increase in the cost of living, I am also heartened to see that the Government has rolled out many other schemes, such as the enhanced Assurance Package with additional CDC vouchers and cash payout to eligible Singaporeans; enhanced permanent GST Voucher scheme; U-Save rebates; MediSave top-ups; and the addition of S&CC into the GSTV scheme. With these schemes, the net transference from the Government to lower-income families and those who need it will increase from the current sum and the impact of GST increase on lower-income families will not be felt for many years. I believe that this transference and these schemes are really quite seamless and the effort for many of those who need it is quite minimal to access these schemes and that would significantly thus reduce the impact of any bandwidth tax that was mentioned earlier by our colleague, Mr Leon Perera, in his speech.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there was anticipation and even some trepidation in the lead-up to Budget 2022. Not only was this Budget set against the backdrop of a COVID-19 year three, it was also set against rising global energy prices, increasing core inflation, the rising cost of living and Europe on the brink of open conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which, by now, has become a grim and sober reality. And added to all these, of course, was the impending increase in GST. The issue of the GST increase has been debated quite extensively in this House and I understand that Members have opposing views on whether the GST should or should not be increased. I believe it is fair to say that almost all Members, if not all Members of the House, would agree that more can and should be done for the less privileged in society and those with more should contribute more. The fundamental question is, of course, how that more should be funded. Should we continue to draw more from the reserves? Should we significantly raise income tax and corporate tax? Should we base property taxes on property values? Should we tax the wealthy based on the value of their wealth portfolio? Should we use more of the NIRC and, if so, how much more – 60%, 70% and so on? These might very well be decisions that could be taken by either this Government or governments of the future. But I would like to urge those governments to exercise caution because such decisions have to be part of a holistic, balanced and diversified taxation policy that strikes a careful balance by considering the impact on all the various groups and stakeholders in our society. Let us not use a sledgehammer and swing away wildly when perhaps a discerning use of a chisel might be more appropriate.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I just have one supplementary question for the Minister for Education. I thank the Minister for confirming earlier that there will be no vaccination-differentiated measures for children in schools who do not get vaccinated. My question, however, is whether there should be activities beyond school, perhaps, say, if and when the National School Games should commence or if there are national-level sporting or athletic activities that will involve children aged five to 11, would there be possibly vaccination-differentiated measures implemented then. For example, would there be a position that might say if young children are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated, they would not be allowed to participate in these events? I ask also primarily because, sometimes, the results of these events for the children – the timings, their performances and so on, especially for those in Primary 6 this year – could be relevant and important in the application for secondary schools under Direct School Admission (DSA).”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, my clarifications notwithstanding, I conclude my speech in firm support of the Bill.”
“I would just like to seek for clarification as to why and how the Bill differentiates between the two groups of security officers who are essentially carrying out the same job functions and are facing similar levels of job risks? Would this lead to a differentiated level of protection based on employers and employment arrangements? If so, would the Government consider aligning the penalties to ensure parity for all security officers, regardless of the institution and organisation they are working for, and whether they are outsourced or direct-hire staff? While this Bill has introduced additional protections for security officers from physical and verbal abuse, I would like to propose that we consider additional legislation to further enhance the working conditions of the security officers. For instance, instead of having guidelines on rest areas for security officers, can the Government consider mandating the minimum standards for rest areas in the same way that the Government has mandated minimum standards for foreign worker dormitories? Also, given that the security landscape is getting more complex due to the multi-dimensional safety and security threats that we now face, would the Government consider introducing incentives to support security companies to send their officers for enhanced training and reskilling to combat evolving threats of terrorism, managing safety and security in the post-COVID-19 world, and to familiarise themselves with artificial intelligence and other forms of security-surveillance technologies? Madam, I believe these additional proposed measures will help to enhance the work conditions of security officers, enhance the attractiveness of the industry and, thus, improve the overall standards of the security industry.”
“Not only do we need to safeguard and protect our security officers from abuse and harassment, but we also need to take care of their mental and emotional wellness too. I hope that the Government will consider implementing an industry-wide Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for security officers. Companies that have implemented EAPs have found them to be effective in promoting mental and physical well-being of their employees. Positive impacts of EAPs include lowered absenteeism and turnover, improved well-being and productivity. The EAP for the security industry can be a permanent feature spearheaded by the industry association and union to provide an additional layer of support for security officers. Madam, at present, there are several different models for the employment of security officers. Most companies have chosen to outsource their security services to providers, others continue to hire their security officers directly as their employees to maintain stronger control over the training and deployment of these officers. The latter approach could possibly be adopted by public service organisations if these organisations wish to have stronger oversight over the provision of security services on their premises. The amendments to the Bill have made a special provision which stated that an individual would be covered by section 6(5) of the Protection from Harassment Act but not the Private Security Industry Bill if he or she is also a public service worker. This could have implications for security officers who are hired directly by public service agencies, if the penalties under the Protection from Harassment Act and other existing legislation are different from those covered by the amendments to the Private Security Industry Bill.”
“Madam, in each of these incidents, the security officers were just doing their job and certainly should not have been subjected to any form of abuse. As such, the proposed amendments to the Private Security Industry Bill are timely and important. It is heartening to know that the amendments to the Bill will strengthen the penalties against verbally and physically abusing security officers. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone, especially frontliners like healthcare workers and security officers. Not only do these workers need to carry out their daily duties, they also find themselves having to interact more frequently with members of the public than before the pandemic. A recent study conducted by SUSS and Union of Security Employees (USE) revealed that 40% of security officers have experienced some form of abuse, with incidences of abuse occurring more frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of the increase in incidence of abuse could be attributed to possible tensions that arise from the implementation of COVID-19 related measures, such as safe entry and safe management measures. While it is understandable that the public might be frustrated by COVID-19-related measures and are even confused in the initial stages when regulated entries into premises are managed and regulated, these frustrations and confusions should not be vented on security officers who are doing their job. The amount of psychological stress experienced by security officers is arguably higher than that of the public as they are now required to take on new responsibilities beyond just security work. They certainly should not be subjected to additional emotional stress of having to deal with this verbal abuse.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, much has been done over the years to enhance the wages and working conditions of the private security industry. For instance, the Progressive Wage Model developed by the Security Tripartite Cluster implemented in 2016 helped to encourage security officers to upgrade their skills and achieve productivity-based wage progression. Other support includes the joint guidelines announced by MOM, NTUC, SNEF in December 2019 on the provision of proper rest areas for low-wage workers like security officers, as well as a $1 million Workcare Grant announced in May 2021 to help facilities owners set up new or upgrade existing rest areas for outsourced cleaners and security guards. Taken collectively, these measures have certainly benefited the security industry. Madam, while we can institutionalise improvements in wage and work conditions of security officers, we cannot legislate societal attitudes towards them. In recent years, several high-profile incidences of security officers being physically and verbally abused by members of the public have been reported in the media. In September 2019, as mentioned in Minister of State Desmond's speech, a man was jailed for punching a security officer at Roxy Square. In January 2021, another man was jailed for punching a security officer after breaking through a safe distancing barricade and causing a ruckus at Jurong Point. And in a video that went viral on social media, a member of the public was recorded to be berating an elderly security officer and using insulting language on him when the security officer informed him that he needed to pay a fee for his friend to park his vehicle in a condominium after 11 pm. These are all examples of utterly reprehensible behaviour towards our security officers.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the threat of foreign interference is real, more so in today’s hyperconnected world where we are bombarded every day by an overwhelming amount of information on social media and digital media. Some of this information could be deliberate attempts by nefarious foreign entities to shape and influence our opinions on certain social and political topics. In an ideal world, we would be discerning enough to differentiate between genuine information versus attempts to influence. But sadly, we are living in a less than ideal world. Although not perfect, FICA is still useful legislation to help safeguard Singapore against foreign interference. Mr Deputy Speaker, the debates over FICA could be polarising. However, we must not let the debates over the form of the Bill or partisan politics detract us from the spirit of what the Bill intends to do. We need to acknowledge that the core spirit of the Bill is aimed at protecting our country from foreign influences that might destabilise our society or undermine the national interests of Singapore. With that in mind, I end my speech in support of the Bill.”
“Overseas funding for Politically Significant Persons (PSPs), political parties or for organisations involved in political activities is clearly undesirable. They are clearly undesirable. Clearly, we should not allow foreign entities to indirectly influence or get involved in Singapore’s politics via donations they make to PSPs. I believe every Member of this House would agree with me broadly on this point. However, I would like to seek clarifications from the Minister on the position regarding NGOs, especially if these NGOs are local chapters of a global NGO. What would the Government’s position be if the local chapters of global NGOs happen to be supporting a particular cause that might be regarded as not being fully in alignment with what is best for Singapore? Because, sometimes, those issues are a bit grey, they are matters that are open to debate and interpretation. With FICA in place, would these NGOs be classified as agents of influence and be ordered to cease their operations here? I would also like to seek clarifications on the Government’s position regarding local chapters of global NGOs that are currently receiving regular funding support from overseas donors and their parent NGOs. With FICA, would these NGOs then be forbidden from accepting funding from those channels, thus affecting the ability of these local chapters to operate in Singapore? I ask this, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, because there are NGOs that might be receiving overseas funding or support that are doing work, good work, that is beneficial to Singaporeans and the Singaporean community as a whole, and we would not want them or the work they are doing to be inadvertently affected by this Bill.”
“So, my question is, if there is sufficient evidence that a foreign entity, be it a government or organisation, is behind certain activities that are deemed harmful or detrimental to Singapore, how transparent will the Government be in making that information known to Singaporeans? I know that Singapore has always tried to be diplomatically sensitive when disclosing information on foreign influence. I do understand the need to be diplomatically sensitive, but if we were to act against the agent of that particular foreign entity, then should we also not make that entity’s identity and activities known so that we can, as a country, take a particular united position against that particular other country? For example, if Country X is behind certain activities that could be deemed detrimental to Singapore and Country X is known to be popular with Singaporeans, either as a tourist destination or perhaps a country that Singaporeans tend to purchase goods and services from, then exposing this country as a country that does not have Singapore's and Singaporeans' interests at heart might allow us, as Singaporeans, as one people, to take a stand of solidarity and take a position against Country X. After all, why would we want to contribute to the economy of a country which is determined to affect Singapore negatively? I said earlier that Singapore is a small country, and, as a small country, we might not have much of an impact on that particular country’s economy, but it is important to take a principled stand, in a show of collective Singaporean solidarity that you cannot mess with us, you should not mess with us. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Christopher de Souza) in the Chair] My next point is countermeasures for donor activities funding from overseas sources for NGOs.”
“Such pernicious foreign influence creates a drip effect that can change the attitudes of citizens towards their own government and even towards their own fellow citizens, leading to the destabilisation of the country in the long run and the weakening of its position vis-à-vis that of the foreign country that could be behind, exerting the covert influence. This is why an open economy and a small country like Singapore needs intelligence and counter-intelligence resources to help manage such threats. In the hyperconnected world that we are in today, everyone, individuals, organisations and governments, are susceptible to online attacks. Such attacks can be conducted by hackers who are motivated by monetary gains or by state-linked groups that are trying to make a political statement. For example, the hacking of Sony Pictures, an entertainment company, in 2014 by the “Guardians of Peace” who supposedly had links with a North Asian nation. Cyber attacks can even be sponsored by foreign states as part of political espionage to retrieve embarrassing information about politicians or classified government information from rival states. Of course, we all know about the biggest attack that Singapore was subject to in 2018 where the personal particulars of more than 1.5 million patients were stolen and the health records of Prime Minister Lee was also targeted specifically by hackers. While it has never been officially reported, it was hinted, Mr Speaker, Sir, that the cyber attack then was likely to have been orchestrated by state-linked hackers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA) broadly aims to counter foreign attempts to influence the domestic politics of Singapore through information campaigns that shape the public’s opinion on topics of interest to Singapore and the use of local proxies to influence political outcomes. Given the nature of FICA, there are, expectedly, numerous questions from various quarters on what FICA is, what does it cover or not cover, who or what is affected by it, how will it change the current operating models of NGOs that are part of a larger global body, or whether FICA will end up as a political muzzle on active citizenry and citizens’ participation in politics. These questions are clearly important and should be thoroughly addressed and debated so that all Singaporeans will have a clear understanding of what the Bill entails. Mr Speaker, Sir, the interference of foreign actors in the affairs of other countries is not new. History is replete with examples of how different states and state-sponsored actors had tried to influence the course of political and social development in other states. In modern times, foreign influence might take the overt form of Embassies and Foreign Chambers of Commerce lobbying and advocating for their interests. It may also take the covert form of actions, such as state-sponsored actors conducting black ops and clandestine disinformation campaigns, that sow discontent and distrust between the government and people and discord among citizens on contentious social issues. Such operations can also create an impression of mass support among the country’s citizens for a foreign country’s position on important bilateral issues.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for his answer and to thank also all the teachers who are currently doing a good job at HBL, as the parent of a child who is on HBL right now in Primary school. I have two supplementary questions, Mr Speaker. The first one is: I understand the Minister's point about HBL not just for our Primary school students but also for keeping our PSLE cohort safe. However, moving forward beyond this week, does the Minister foresee the possibility of HBL being extended either into the future or perhaps even until the start of the school holidays? Also bearing in mind that we have "N" Level, "O" Level and even "A" Level examinations coming up, does the Minister foresee the possibility to keep those cohorts, say, protected as well, that HBL might be rolled out in Secondary schools and beyond?”
“We heard the matter being debated and clarified quite extensively. My question is: the Minister had talked about a whole-of-society approach and the Minister used the phrase "communal safety net". I think the message the Minister was giving was that everybody has to work together collectively in this. I would like to ask the Minister if he can advise or comment if there is some way that all of us, as a community – parents, students, community leaders, policymakers – and I know this question sounds very naïve, but what can we do to ensure that something like this does not happen again? I would appreciate if the Minister could provide some guidance in that area.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. As a parent of two young children – my son is 13 years old – my heart broke when I heard the news on Monday. It is still, in a way, breaking. So, my sincere condolences to the families who have been affected by this. I do not think we can say that we understand how you feel because we do not; but our prayers and thoughts are with you during this difficult moment. I would like to take a moment, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, to also send a note of support to our educators who are also mostly affected by this incident. I have been an educator for 20 years and, very early on in my education career, one of my students passed on. When that happens to you, you have a troubled young man and his challenges, it is not something you forget very easily and, for a while, you are stuck between the two torments of "if only" and "what if". It took us all a while to get through that. So, I am heartened to hear the Minister say that there is support being provided right now for our educators who are affected by this. Because, as we have heard, our educators are very much more than just imparters of knowledge. They are caregivers, they are sometimes surrogate parents, they are older brothers, they are uncles, aunts and so on and so forth. So, I would like to just tell all our educators right now, especially those who are affected by this incident, thank you for all the good work that you have done and that you, no doubt, will continue to do and we all stand in solidarity with you. Mr Deputy Speaker, I know it is the final clarification for this afternoon, I thank you for that privilege. When this incident first happened, I think many people were asking the questions: how did it happen, how could it have happened?”
“So, the Primary schools get a different level of content versus the secondary schools versus the junior colleges. We also ensure that we train our teachers and our new teachers to be ready and prepared to implement the new curriculum. The new teachers are provided with this programme called the "CCE in the Singapore context" and so they are trained to deliver the content. Even existing teachers are also given opportunities to look at different pedagogies because we know that students are exposed to different content on social media and they use some of these contents using new pedagogies to excite the students and, at the same time, acknowledge the importance of engaging in discourse of this nature.”
“So, as part of the review, besides drawing from the research on Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), we interacted with experts and practitioners on current and emerging trends, engaged community partners and stakeholders, such as school leaders, educators and students across all levels. So, we continue to review CCE education, a very important part of our curriculum development for our students. The new CCE 2021 curriculum builds on the foundation that have been laid by the previous CCE curriculum and further strengthens the focus on guiding students to build character, learn values, social and emotional competencies, and develop citizenship dispositions within and beyond the classrooms. This is done through engaging pedagogies that encourage students to voice out and explore the multiple perspectives, including the national perspective, and bearing in mind the common good. So, we are using different pedagogies and not just top-down, not just telling them what it is, to allow them to use experiential learning. There is also a difference between the formal curriculum and the informal curriculum. It is not just in the classrooms but also through exposures like co-curricular activities (CCAs) as well as uniformed group interactions. So, even as the Member mentioned earlier, circumstances where there are students with different kinds of profiles, CCE is not just in the classrooms. It also takes place in experiences and platforms where students interact with one another. So, for example, in CCA, in national competitions, camps, leadership camps, students are exposed to other groups of students and they are able to interact with one another. The CCE curriculum also takes the age-appropriate dimension.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. My supplementary question actually takes the focus away from the EIP. I would like to reference a point that was made by the Minister for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Minister Edwin Tong earlier. The Minister referenced the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) programme that is being taught in the schools right now. I remember, not just from the Minister's point, but in the Committee of Supply earlier this year, there was due to be a review of the CCE. So, my supplementary question is actually for the Minister for Education. In the review of the CCE, could the Minister share more details how we intend to incorporate the topics of multi-racialism and multiculturalism into the CCE syllabus and also how the syllabus will possibly be taught across the various platforms than we allow for a more vigorous, broader, intense debate? My second question is, will the Ministry be looking into, say, for example, certain schools, where perhaps the student demographics are a little bit more homogeneous? I am not just talking about, say, SAP schools or madrasahs, but even certain schools which might be devoid of particular ethnicities for a variety of reasons. And will the Ministry then perhaps adjust or tweak the CCE to cater to teaching the topics of multiculturalism and multi-racialism in these schools? The Second Minister for Education (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman): Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his question. The Ministry of Education (MOE) regularly reviews the CCE curriculum to ensure that our students are equipped with the necessary skills and keep up with the increasingly complex and dynamic environment. The last review, as the Member is aware, began in 2018.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have observed PABs travelling on the roads that seemed to be going at speeds similar to that of small motorcycles or scooters. Given that riders of these vehicles – motorcycles and scooters – need to pass practical tests before they are allowed on the road, does the Government foresee users of road-travelling PABs needing some sort of simplified or modified practical test or some basic practical training in terms of how they should manage their PAB on the road? Riding on the road and riding on cycling paths are two very different experiences. If one of the aims of this Bill is to ensure the safety of the PAB riders, then perhaps PAB riders should be educated on how to ride on the road before actually being allowed on the road. Perhaps this education could take the form of some sort of practical experience, as onerous as that may sound. A final point, Mr Speaker, Sir, that I would like to raise was previously highlighted when I spoke about the Active Mobility (Amendment) Bill last year and, that is, while the implementation of a qualifying test will certainly enhance the riders' awareness of road safety, the challenge is in ensuring that all PAB riders will go through this test. How will the authorities intend to ensure that all riders are certified before they ride on the roads and how would this enforcement be done? Mr Speaker, Sir, my clarifications notwithstanding, I am in favour of any initiative that enhances the safety of all road users and conclude my speech in firm support of the Bill. 4.06 pm”
“With more PAB riders on the road, other vehicular road users must also be more aware and mindful of their presence and learn to co-share the road with them. Would there be plans to update the existing training curriculum of motorists to inculcate greater awareness in our present road users – our motorists – about the presence of this new group of road users, such as PAB riders, and even regular cyclists, who are also increasingly making their presence felt on the roads as well? On to my next point, Mr Speaker, Sir, and this had been surfaced by many other Members in the Chamber. I believe that the official handbook for the PAB mandatory theory test that is available on the LTA website comes only in English. Given that not all PAB riders are comfortable in English and are Internet-savvy, would there be plans to translate the current English handbook into other languages – such as Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, perhaps – and also make the handbook accessible to PAB riders offline as well? If there are plans to translate the handbook into other languages, when would these handbooks be made available, either online and possibly offline as well, in the form of a physical handbook? Also, will the proposed tests be as challenging as the motorists' Highway Code test, which, although I have not taken for quite a few years now, I understand does require some time and effort to study and prepare for? There are cases of people who actually fail to pass the Highway Code test. While these tests are currently going to be done online, would there be the option of written or even oral tests for those who might not be so comfortable with the digital testing option?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill is quite a broad one that covers various and diverse areas. I would like to focus my speech primarily on power-assisted bicycles or PABs. In the past year, PABs have increased in number – especially as many use it as a form of transportation on public roads. This was, no doubt, driven by the increase in the demand for food delivery services, which, in turn, led to a rise in the ownership and usage of PABs as food delivery riders saw PABs as providing a quick, convenient and fairly affordable method for them to fulfil their orders. With this increase in numbers of PAB riders over the years, I believe it is now useful for us to review the Road Traffic Act and introduce amendments to better safeguard the well-being of PAB riders and also other commuters and users of the road. At present, as Minister of State Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim mentioned, PAB riders are required to pass a theory test before they can ride on cycling paths. The amendments to the Road Traffic Act introduce the need for these riders to pass a similar test before they can ride on the road. This is a much welcome move as casual observations would tell us that many PAB riders have been riding on the roads even before the introduction of such a mandatory qualifying test. We have seen, over the years, many fatal and near-fatal accidents involving PABs. Implementing a qualifying test that aims to inculcate road awareness, defensive riding and road use safety would certainly help to alleviate the situation if PAB riders are now going to be more aware about riding and road use etiquette. Yet, training PAB riders, Mr Speaker, is only one part of the solution.”
“I have a couple of supplementary questions for the Minister. First of all, the Government will provide funding to the new entity, the new CLG called SPH Media. It is reasonable, if you provide the funding, to have some expectations, to have some accountability, even to have some conditions. Can the Minister, perhaps, develop on what are some of the accountabilities or even the KPIs that the Government would expect from the new CLG in return for the funding? And, of course, with that accountability, with that expectation, there could also be the criticism that, therefore, that is the way also of exerting control over the CLG. Could the Minister, perhaps, also expound on some measures that could be put in place to balance off between expecting accountability but yet, at the same time, having a hands-off approach and not necessarily shaping or influencing how the CLG would then do its business?”
“My clarifications notwithstanding, I am heartened that the Government has introduced this Postal Services (Amendment) Bill to reflect the consumer landscape of today and conclude my speech in firm support of this Bill.”
“This results in opportunity cost for consumers in terms of time lost as they must remain at home when their time could have been better spent on other activities. Secondly, if the aim is to appoint a single vendor, then would this end up perhaps favouring large industry players that have the financial muscle and resources to tender and implement the project on a national level? Could this lead effectively to the demise of smaller players in the industry and perhaps even affecting door-to-door courier services adversely when demand for such services decline? Would IMDA thus consider working with some of the smaller industry players that might not necessarily run the nationwide network but is still able to contribute to its running in meaningful ways? Thirdly, since the early 2000s, the Government has tried to minimise the installation of dustbins, for example, in crowded confined spaces, such as MRT stations or bus interchanges, as these receptacles could be used to hide improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which could lead to mass casualties – I am surfacing a point that has been repeated quite a few times already by my other parliamentary colleagues. So, the question is: how would IMDA ensure that the locker service will not be misused by nefarious individuals to hide hazardous biomaterials or IEDs that could cause mass casualties or widespread panic during an incident? How would the authorities ensure the safety and security of such a locker system? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, digitalisation has a pervasive impact on many aspects of our lives and has changed the way we communicate with each other and how we consume goods and services.”
“This fragmentation would make it challenging for merchants to adopt a standardised approach to last-mile delivery and for consumers to have a reliable method to receive their parcels when they shop from different online merchants that might perhaps use different locker platforms, depending on their tie-ups and partnerships with those providers and vendors. Thus, I believe that market consolidation in the parcel locker service will help to minimise current market disamenities, such as differing operational standards, non-systematic deployment of lockers and deployment of competing lockers in already congested public spaces. That being said, we ought to be mindful about potential unintended consequences in IMDA’s implementation of such a nationwide service. First, is there a possibility that a single player will end up dominating the market and, thus, the market is not subject to competitive market forces? In short, how can we ensure that the service will be affordable for consumers and that this single vendor – should there end up being a single vendor – will also continue to innovate and introduce new services when it is not subjected to competition from other vendors? Ensuring long-term affordability of such a locker service is important because such a service is an effective alternative solution to door-to-door delivery. We have already heard from some of our colleagues about the challenges of waiting at home to receive some of their parcels and their deliveries. At the present moment, door-to-door delivery requires some degree of coordination also between merchants and consumers to ensure that someone is at home.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as Singaporeans become increasingly reliant on digital communications enabled by the Internet and various mobile messaging apps, the mail profile in Singapore has correspondingly changed substantially. In the last decade, the mail volume of letters has declined by almost 30%. At the same time, the volume of non-letters, such as small packages and parcels, has increased – largely driven by the proliferation of online shopping platforms and changing consumption patterns. Although there is a certain nostalgia associated with receiving handwritten Christmas or Chinese New Year cards, we are now more likely to receive festive greeting GIFs on our mobile phones than physical greeting cards in our mailboxes. That is the reality of life. In the era of Internet-enabled communications and given the ubiquity of online shopping, our postal services need to progress with time. A new framework needs to be set up to enable our postal service provider to meet changing patterns of communications and to close the last-mile delivery gap for small packages and parcels for consumers. I am thus heartened to know that the amendments to the Postal Services Act have made provisions for IMDA to deploy a standardised national network of parcel lockers via a wholly-owned subsidiary or through an appointed vendor. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would imagine that parcel locker services are presently, at best, scattered across Singapore and are operated by different operators with differing operational standards and charges.”
“30 pm Youth advocacy can also be a way in which youths get the opportunity to amplify their voices through carefully thought through ideas on pressing matters that affect their lives today and the future. In fact, there is ample evidence from youth engagement efforts abroad that empowering youths can lead to fulfilling intergenerational partnerships. Young people can engage with society to find purpose and belonging within their own lives. Positive emotions are a key resource for people during the coronavirus crisis, according to the University of Melbourne psychology professor Lea Waters in an interview with the Guardian, as they can lead to increased resilience and help in clear thinking. I hope that the Government can continue to engage our youths and give them the support to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis more resourceful and adaptable, with the right life-skills to succeed in this somewhat uncertain future. Efforts to Engage and Empower Our Youths”
“Even the members of the World Bank-supported Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE)’s Youth Advisory Group have been using multiple media platforms such as Zoom, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to highlight the issues and concerns faced by youths to create solutions for the effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Mr Chairman, aside from this, youths need safe spaces, both emotionally and psychologically, to discuss matters that are important to them, in ways and in language that may be perhaps different from that used by the generations before them. Some of the issues that are of concern to them could include race, identity, community, health, the environment and religion. These safe spaces can be digital ones or physicals ones; but what is important is that there are these spaces to engage in forums or stimulating debates that engage and encourage them to be critical thinkers with diverse perspectives, yet inclusive, helping to reinforce their dignity and self-worth. The COVID-19 crisis has also highlighted the importance of transformational change through embracing new ways to build capacity. Besides these areas, youth may also be involved in areas such as capacity building so that they face the future with real-world skills. They can learn as well how to leverage on entrepreneurship and technology to change Singapore, and perhaps the world. Whether it is co-working areas or start-up incubators that use crowdfunding as a solution to develop ideas, youth projects can be kick-started to allow the young to collaborate with one another or with others. To allow more youth to benefit, those with the expertise and interest could help to come up with Kickstarter kits such as tools, both digital and communication-driven, as resources for the incubation of ideas. 2.”
“Mr Chairman, they are the unique generation of today, better educated than the previous generation, and more socially connected. They have grown up as digital natives with perhaps a different Singapore dream. Many of the youths of today, perhaps because of their education and exposure through travel and in the social media, are certainly more aware of what is going on; in short, they are more "woke". As seen in recent developments, many are keen to take on causes and stand up for their beliefs, participating avidly in movements and even coming up with their own hashtag causes. They are content creators and curators taking to platforms such as TikTok to engage and draw attention to issues. Yet, due to the way they grew up, they had not necessarily experienced the same hardship and challenges as previous generations, as each generation has typically led a better life than the one before it – until COVID-19 struck. COVID-19 has affected this generation like no other. According to an article by CNA, the economic fallout resulting from the COVID-19 crisis affecting about 50,000 school leavers from the different tertiary institutions in Singapore and overseas has led them to confront a grim reality; a reality that might have been very different from the dreams that they had been pursuing just 18 months ago. It is thus important to have platforms that will allow our youths to give their input to co-conceptualise and co-create the future. Given that these youths are at home on social media, harnessing these platforms is critical as youths can be encouraged and engaged to co-create solutions for the future.”
“It was the first of 20 new hawker centres to be built over a 12-year period and employed a social enterprise model to encourage more people to take up the hawker profession. It would be good to thus see how hawker centres managed by social enterprises – Social Enterprise Hawker Centre (SEHC) – work. At SEHCs, hawkers are usually new, unlike those at the legacy hawker centres where hawkers have been selling food for decades. It would be fitting to glean key management takeaways from both types of hawker centres to encourage the spirit of innovation and keep the heritage of our hawker culture going. One could also consider a permanent exhibition at one of our museums to inspire our children and our people through stories of the evolution of the hawker culture. Or why not even have a permanent “Singapore Hawker Museum”, that would highlight the culinary culture of the dishes while also perhaps tracing the development of hawkers in Singapore, from the street-peddlers to the 21st century hawker centres of today? Chair, our hawker centres are our nation’s community kitchens. Hawker culture is part of our national heritage and I hope that the Government will continue to come up with innovative and creative ways to keep this culture alive. Volunteerism”
“If education is the soul of a society, then let us teach our children the origins and vibrant history of our hawker culture: how we evolved from street peddling to the setting up of licensed hawker establishments as a long part of the journey to preserve food safety and hygiene without losing authenticity. Using digital means and heartwarming stories, our humble hawker history can thus come alive. We should celebrate our hawker culture as part of the school studies curriculum. We can record, digitally publish, teach and share the recipes and food preparation methods through applications so that our children know the ingredients that make up these unique dishes and discover more about their cultural significance. Chair, there are plenty of nuggets to be unearthed. For instance, char kway teow is a wok-fried noodle dish has its roots in Teochew culture, originating from the region of Chaozhou, in China’s Guangdong province. In Cantonese stir-fried cuisine, the reference to “wok hei” literally, "the breath of the wok", is a culinary term used to refer to the harmony of taste in a stir-fried dish. Even in the 1950s, hawkers learnt to cook char kway teow over firewood rather than gas stoves to retain that smoky "wok hei" aroma. And while the ubiquitous roti prata is typically associated with Tamil-speaking Indian-Muslim stalls, the dish apparently has its roots in Northern India, which has a stronger wheat-based culinary culture. There are many more such nuggets of information. We can also explore new ways to run hawker centres. The hawker centre in Ci Yuan Community Club in my Constituency was part of the Government's efforts to keep the cost of eating out affordable.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. It is a beloved icon; a familiar friend. Anyone of us who has taken a long trip abroad – in those days when we could still travel, of course! – and returned will remember the intense longing for that hearty meal of roti prata, satay or char kway teow; and sometimes we would all have them at the same time! In this regard, who does not appreciate our Singaporean hawker fare in hawker centres that echo with its trademark chatter of voices, clatter of plates and cups and the warm echoes of friends and family? Hawker centres are a symbol of our rich migrant heritage, harking back to a time when itinerant hawkers plied the streets to cook up instant meals of comfort food from their own unique cultures. It was thus truly a historic moment for us when our hawker culture was recently officially added to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; this only further reinforced the fact that our hawker centres and hawker culture are truly a part of our home and heritage. We must pay tribute to the hawkers, the thousands of men and women who laboured long hours over hot stoves and produced meals to feed Singaporeans. Not only have they fed our food culture, they have also contributed richly to Singapore’s multiculturalism. Their meals are economical and highly affordable; and hence, hawker centres are inclusive. Nine out of 10 Singaporeans strongly feel that the hawker centres are an integral part of our national culture and have voted in favour of preserving this culture. We must therefore preserve our hawker centres so that the award is not more than a trophy to be dusted occasionally. We need to do so, so that the generations after us will learn and know how this culture evolved.”
“Catering to students' emotional and career needs will help put them on a road to a stable and secure future, giving them hope and a sense of purpose. I hope that MOE will continue to provide the required support in these areas.”
“It would be good if schools, even Primary schools, were able to get more trained counsellors and psychologists to cater to the needs of these students facing challenges and difficulties in this area. Pastoral counsellors do help to manage the mental and emotional wellness of the students. However, I feel that there is also a need to have career counselling for students as well. While career counselling is typically associated with providing students who are graduating from University to help them sort out their professional post-University choices, I feel that it would be good to also provide career counselling to students earlier. This could be for students who are transitioning from Secondary school to their Junior College and Polytechnic education, as they can then be guided and advised about the choices that they make in the next step of their education journey. Often, students do not get sufficient guidance in these areas in terms of the industry or the profession in which they are interested. Professional career counsellors should ideally be industry professionals with the appropriate industry and professional experience – very different from the experience offered by educators or teachers. Now, these counsellors could also have the industry connections and network to invite industry professionals into the school to help speak to the students. This will help engage students so that they can make choices that are obviously more informed choices. I believe that MOE does provide this support via their Education and Career Guidance (ECG) platform, so it would be good to extend and enhance these resources so that every school perhaps could have its dedicated team of trained, professional career counsellors.”
“Mr Chairman, the COVID-19 pandemic has also made the mental health issue a concern. People have felt the effects in a number of ways: increased anxiety, worrying about health and a change in lifestyle habits and socialisation because of social distancing. Pressure levels could intensify for people who already face mental health challenges arising from daily stressors. Our young people and students would be no different, and I would thus hope that MOE can continue to develop and enhance their pastoral and career counselling support provided to our schools and institutions. 3.30 pm Pastoral counselling is essential in helping students with their mental wellness so that they can deal with their day-to-day mental stress. Sources of this stress can take the form of that which they face in their personal lives due to family and, perhaps, relationships. However, stress can also result from school-related matters, such as juggling multiple commitments – dealing with academic commitments and co-curricular activities and struggling with issues, such as their emerging identity and personality, relationship matters, peer pressure and even bullying. We tend to assume that it is typically older students, such as those in Secondary school onwards, who are affected by stress and mental health issues. However, it could also be that students in Primary school face their own types of stress, especially in the face of what some see as the "mother of all examinations" – the PSLE. Mental wellness and peer support have been given more focus in schools over the years and MOE has also updated and revised its Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum for 2021.”
“So, universities could thus be seen as the places of true continuing education where students of different ages and experiences could come and go, taking a continuous short series of short courses and programmes that would enhance what they have already learnt in the real world. And I would quote from hon Member Ms Denise Phua's line of "learning anytime, anywhere and at any age". Along this line, we could also encourage our universities to value educators who bring with them a deep wealth of experience and functional expertise in the corporate world. Educators who are able to straddle between corporate life and academia as these educators can then complement a largely research-oriented faculties. I would thus like to urge MOE to consider the points that I have made above as it takes steps to contemporise university education in Singapore. Recognising Every Youth's Potential”
“Some students who have interacted with tell me that they sometimes have difficulty to relating to concepts that were taught in universities because the unable to comprehend how these concepts work in the real world. Students also sometimes take a formulaic approach to concept application, applying their learnings rigidly assuming that the best practices that they have learned in case studies and classes would work in the real world. University educators that I have spoken to, on the other hand, often lament that students are unable to grasp concepts that seem so intuitive to those who have work experience. So, the question I would like to ask is if there are still value in putting our students through a continuous linear four-year tertiary education when they are 18 years old, or should we explore an education system that is more balanced and is a hybrid between a combination of hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge. Perhaps, we should amend and adapt the theory-oriented straight to university model and focus on a more practice-oriented model where we ensure that students should have some practical experience via internships, attachments or work stints before their enrolment to universities. We could also think about implementing a work-and-study model where students alternate between stints of study and work to complement and enhance what they have already picked up in the university and vice versa. This would help them better appreciate the concept that they have studied in school and allow them to draw practical and operational relevance that are much needed for them to function and blossom in today's university.”
“Chairman, the concept of meritocracy has been central to Singapore's success. The implicit assumption in the system assumes that success in life is a deserved outcome to those who have worked hard and upwards, social mobility is possible if you strive and succeed regardless of the socio-economic class that you are born into. This psyche of attaining success through one's effort and merit has been enshrined much into Singapore's collective consciousness and social fabric and has manifested itself in our perception that attaining a good education is somehow correlated with success. The ultimate apex of our education journey is seen as a quest for a university degree with the belief that attaining a pedigree degree from a good university is one of the passports of success. But the fundamental objective of a holistic university education should not be credentialism where students and parents chase after branded degrees, but rather the acquisition or market relevant knowledge, life skills and a keen sense of inquisitiveness that propels one to continuously upgrade and seek new knowledge throughout one's life. As such, we should be wary of continuing to chase after GPAs and endorsements of the universities without considering if its training and education is relevant to the job market and, more importantly, to our lives. In the world we live in today, it is not so much about what you know, as opposed to what you can do and I believe that we just strive to contemporise our university education to reflect this reality. Our university education landscape tends to revolve around a continuous four-year stint of education from 18 to 21 or 22 years of age. Depending on the degree programme, this curriculum tends to be largely theory-based.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have a point of clarification for the Deputy Prime Minister. Earlier, in his wrap-up, the Deputy Prime Minister mentioned the point that I made about nurses and healthcare workers and how I was very supportive of the decision to enhance their salaries and to review their salaries. I also made another point beyond that, which was to say that, I believe, it is not just about salaries; there are other factors that perhaps we could look at in terms of enhancing careers, mid-career conversions, perhaps in improving the work-life balance. I even suggested a bit of a radical idea, like paid holidays or mandatory leave that nurses and healthcare workers need to take to encourage them to step back from the frontline. The Deputy Prime Minister did not quite address this in his speech and I wanted to ask if it is something that the Government can actually consider beyond the salaries and the financial aspects of a nursing career.”
“I noted that the Government has also mentioned the measures to help households as a whole, manage increased costs of living and to deal with some of the financial challenges that they could face, not just in 2021 but in the future as well. So, I hope that in this particular case, those measures to help these families will not be possibly offset by a rise in prices that some companies might choose to implement, citing the petrol price rises as a possible reason. So, I hope the Government can actually consider putting in safeguards to curb unjustified increases in fares, fees and prices to help protect a wider range of consumers and customers in this regard. Mr Speaker, Sir, 2020 was a tumultuous year, but thanks to the strong support provided by the Government and to the resilience of our people, we were able to get through very, very difficult time. We are not sure what 2021 will bring, but I am confident that if we stay together, as one people, one Singapore, then we will be able to deal with whatever challenges come our way. My previous clarifications notwithstanding, I conclude my speech in firm support of the Budget. 1.48 pm”
“So, it is part of the measures I spoke about earlier, of the Government targeting specific groups in the industry who needed more support. Yet, the rise in petrol duties will impact this group significantly, and possibly negating some of the COVID-19 related assistance that they are already receiving elsewhere, as these drivers would have experienced an immediate increase in their daily operating costs. I know that to cushion the impact of the hike in petrol duties, the Government has announced road tax and petrol duty rebates for car owners, taxis and private-hire cars. However, while the price hikes have been immediate, I believe that the road tax rebates and the duty rebates may come somewhat later. The other point I would like to make, Mr Speaker, Sir, is, that while those who own their cars will receive their rebates directly, how can the Government ensure that taxi companies and car-rental companies pass on the savings to their drivers or hirers in as timely a manner as possible? Also, will the Government be open to extending the rebates for taxi drivers and private hire car drivers beyond the present period if required? At a broader level, the hike in petrol duties could also be accompanied by a series of price increases downstream – that is something that I am also quite concerned about, Mr Speaker. For example, logistics companies could pass on cost increases to retailers and retailers could similarly pass the increase on to consumers; consumers who make online purchases could end up paying more for their delivery if these costs were passed on; school bus drivers might raise their fees. I guess there are many many other examples that could see companies and organisations raising their prices and fees, citing the rise in petrol prices as justification.”
“So, I hope the Government can consider more options for these mid-career professionals to enter into the nursing and healthcare profession, perhaps, under a train-and-place model or other similar scheme that would enable us to recruit these people into the healthcare sector on a full-time basis. I would like to shift my next point, Mr Speaker, Sir, to the topic of the raised petrol duties that was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister in the Budget announcement. This is a topic that will be spoken about in the House and I have received much feedback from my interactions with many Singaporeans on the ground with regard to this. I agree that in a concerted effort to push Singapore towards a car-lite society and to encourage the use of cleaner fuel and electric vehicles for sustainability, one would find it hard to argue against the rationale for supporting this green agenda. Now, the immediate rise in petrol duties, however, will no doubt have more of an impact on some groups than others, specifically those who need their vehicles for practical and professional uses, and they are unable to switch over to alternate mode of transportation – be it electric vehicles or other forms of public transport in the short to mid term. I am speaking, of course, about those who need their vehicles to ferry young children, elderly or disabled family members around; and those who need their vehicles for work. As part of the Budget, I do note the Government has acknowledged that taxi and private hire car drivers who have been hit hard by the drop in ridership will continue to receive various forms of financial assistance support till the COVID-19 pandemic eases somewhat.”
“Apart from salary and career progression, I urge the Government to also consider enhancing the work environment and conditions for nurses as well. Singapore has traditionally depended heavily on foreign nurses, as we all know, to supplement our pool of local nurses. And it is not for want for trying. I believe we have been trying consistently to attract more Singaporeans and PRs into the nursing profession. I believe the reasons as to why Singaporeans are generally unwilling to enter the profession, perhaps, go beyond just wages alone. Perhaps, they are deterred by the long working hours, stress from having to deal manage difficult patients, their family members and expectations, as well as potential disruptions to family life arising from irregular work shifts. I hope the Government can consider doubling-down on the recommendations made by the Future Nursing Career Review Committee and enhance the attractiveness of the profession for local Singaporeans. We could consider implementing mandatory leave and even possibly paid holidays as additional benefits for local nurses so that they can take a break from being on the frontline and recharge from time to time. As part of a longer term plan, I would also like to urge the Government to develop a mid-career conversion programme for those who wish to enter the nursing profession. Many Singaporeans were employed as temporary-swabbers or as allied healthcare professionals during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Singaporeans who, perhaps, have not worked in the healthcare sector or experience what our healthcare professionals and nurses go through now find themselves on the frontline, as it were, and have the experience that would be so critical to enabling them to succeed in this profession.”
“Indeed, as a nation, we owe our healthcare workers, especially our nurses and allied healthcare workers, a deep, deep debt of gratitude. The recent announcement that the Government will enhance the salary of nurses and healthcare workers is long overdue. Nurses and allied healthcare workers have traditionally formed the bulk of all medical workers in Singapore. I am thus glad to learn that the Government is planning to enhance the salary of nurses and healthcare workers so that their wages are, perhaps, more commensurate with the work that they do. Apart from enhancing their pay scale, I hope that the Government will also continue to enhance the career prospects for nurses and healthcare professionals, especially those who desire progression. Under MOH’s classification, nurses are classified as "enrolled nurses" and "registered nurses". Registered nurses are required to attain a tertiary qualification and can specialise in different practice areas. They have a clear career pathway that enables them to eventually become, perhaps, even nurse managers. This pathway of progression is generally different for enrolled nurses who typically are those who possess a Nitec in Nursing from the ITE. So, while we enhance the salary level for nurses as a whole, I hope the Government will consider putting in place a progression ladder similar to those of registered nurses by taking into consideration their experience on the job, providing them with skills upgrading opportunities through both formal and on-the-job training, and even more scholarships for those who desire to enter the nursing profession and to those who aspire to higher qualifications in the nursing profession.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in 2020, Singapore, and pretty much the rest of the world, experienced one of the most challenging years in human history. Economically, the COVID-19 pandemic battered our economy. Socially, we had to learn how to live with the pandemic by changing the ways we interact and socialise. At workplaces, companies had to pivot their operations and rejig their business models overnight. With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging on in many parts of the world, it is fair to say that we are far from being out of the woods. While the Singapore economy is projected to make a recovery of between 4% and 6% this year, this recovery is set against the backdrop of a 5.8% contraction in 2020 and is from a relatively low starting position compared to pre-COVID-19 years. Recovery is likely to be uneven, with some sectors of the economy perhaps taking longer to recover than others. I am thus glad to learn that the Government has made further commitments to ensure that the hardest hit sectors in our economy will continue to receive the support that they need. Today, with a relatively weakened financial position, Government support will have to be more calibrated and targeted and Budget expenditures be geared towards helping Singapore thrive in a post-COVID-19 world. While we continue to preserve the immediate livelihood of our workers, we need to keep an eye on the gaps that have also appeared and undertake systematic steps to close them. I would like to speak on enhancing the salaries of healthcare workers and nurses, Mr Speaker, in this first part of my speech. Many years after SARS, we were reminded once again during the COVID-19 pandemic about the tremendous sacrifices that our healthcare workers make on their jobs.”
“Mr Speaker, I just have one supplementary question. It is heartening to know that the cases of people who have responded, the anaphylaxis responses are low. As the Senior Minister of State has shared earlier, it is good to have all the information of how things are coming along, openly and transparently shared. Would the Government also consider perhaps a whole-of-Government communication approach using various platforms, different types of communication methods, capsules and so on, so that this information as it is constantly coming in, can also perhaps be communicated out there to our public; especially, perhaps to our seniors who might be more comfortable with certain vernacular, be it the the Chinese dialects, Malay, Tamil or even other languages? If that is something the Government can do, I think this will go a long way to communicate what is happening accurately to our public out there.”