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 [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.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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“Mr Speaker, this is pertaining to the enforcement of this new regulation. I understand from the Senior Minister of State that it will be challenging certainly to have an enforcement team to enforce this on the ground. Would the Government consider perhaps using technology and enhanced technology in this area? For example, with a sufficient closed-circuit television (CCTV) or camera network and perhaps more advanced recognition technology, would this be possible in the future to use such technology to identify those who break the law? Again, similar technology has been used in the enforcement of traffic regulations or even illegal parking along double yellow lines, for example.”
“" I believe that it is imperative that we should always display this deep affective care in dealing with our children and young persons, especially those who are at risk. And we should be helping them not only deal with whatever immediate dangers and challenges they are facing in their lives, but also with the ultimate aim of helping them in the wider context of being able to reintegrate into society. I thus end my speech in firm support of this Bill.”
“I believe that foster parents provide children and at-risk youths with a second lease of life and another shot at life that their biological families and parents may not necessarily be able to provide. I am glad that the Bill now also considers them as "parents" and recognises that they provide an important duty of care to the children they foster by according them childcare leave. This gesture is a significant one, and I am sure that it will be well-received as the childcare leave will accord them greater flexibility at work for them to provide the necessary care for the children they are fostering. Emotional bonds between foster parents and the fostered child will inevitably grow over time. I would imagine that it would be emotionally painful for a set of foster parents to be separated from their foster child once the child reaches a certain age or when the foster child leaves their foster parents to go back to his or her biological homes. I would thus like to know if there is the option for foster parents to adopt their foster child, provided both parties are open to the arrangement? And are such arrangements typically common? Also, would the biological parents' consent be needed, even if they have shown themselves to be unfit parents through their actions and behaviour which sometimes have been deemed as criminal? Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to conclude my speech with quotes from John Baptist de la Salle, who is often acknowledged as the patron saint of teachers. In writing to his fellow Brothers and Educators, de la Salle said: "To deal with young people very harshly is to forego all hope of bringing about any good" and, "have much care and affection for the young people entrusted to you.”
“With the increased need to provide step-up care to a larger number of children and youths, and the demand for greater resources to support more victims of abuse and harm, it seems likely that the Government will need to increase staff resources to ensure that there is a sufficient number of professionals who can provide interventions to children. I would thus like to urge the Government to concurrently enhance the capabilities of staff who are already working in Government-run homes for children and strengthen the capabilities of those homes to provide holistic care. As such, could the Government consider reviewing the knowledge, skills, abilities and other competencies of professionals who are working with children, enhance the career prospects of the profession and perhaps even reconsider the remuneration and benefits of these professionals to attract a larger number, especially potential mid-career switchers, to enter this field? Mr Deputy Speaker, working with children and at-risk youth is meaningful and important work because it impacts the next generation of Singaporeans. We need to ensure that we are able to entice and retain more people with the right passion to enter this field. The Government could also perhaps consider tapping on those looking for re-employment, perhaps full-time parents or even grandparents who are looking to return to the workforce. If these happen to be parents or grandparents of children and youths of a similar age, they could likely have the aptitude and skillsets to successfully work with these children and at-risk youths. Finally, on the topic of foster parents, Mr Deputy Speaker.”
“Also, would Government-run homes have the necessary incident management standard operating procedures to manage older youths, as they would likely require a different set of management procedures when they get into incidents compared to younger children who might get into similar incidents during their stay at the homes? Emotional and psychological abuse have long-term impact on individuals and the extent of the harm caused by psychological and emotional trauma is arguably more significant and last longer than physical abuse. One could recover from the pain of physical abuse yet carry the scar of psychological and emotional trauma for their entire lives. It is heartening to know that the Bill now provides more comprehensive coverage to protect victims of emotional and psychological abuse. Changing the term from "injury" to "harm" may seem lexically trivial but it underlies an important shift in how interventions and care could be given. As compared to an "injury" which requires perhaps professional assessments and objective evidence to substantiate that victims have suffered from hurt or trauma, "harm" seems to suggest a lower establishment threshold before interventions can be implemented. This begets the question of who will determine whether or not children are at risk of harm and to what extent "harm" must be proven before interventions can be implemented. With the potential expansion in the level of intervention that needs to be implemented, does the Government possess sufficient resources to ensure that all victims of emotional and psychological harm are thus provided with a sufficient level of support to avert the long-term impact of such harm? I would like to touch on resources and staffing now.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, CYPs are among the most vulnerable in our society. Although 17- or 18-year-olds are likely to possess the intellectual capabilities of making informed decisions, this does not mean that they possess the same level of emotional and psychological maturity as an adult to make those decisions. And I am sure that there are many parents of such young people who would agree with me. As such, the question is whether or not 17- and 18-year-olds should be treated as an adult when decisions need to be made regarding their safety and welfare are highly pertinent ones. Indeed, research has shown that while youths and adults may possess almost the same level of intellectual capabilities, youths are, however, less able than adults to make mature decisions that may have important outcomes in their lives. In this regard, the amendments to the Act that extend coverage to those under 18 is a positive step and will ensure that a greater number of youths are supported and protected. One aspect of increasing the age of protection would be the need to extend a duty of care to a greater number of older youths who are sent to Government homes for various reasons. Physically, these older youths may be of the same physical build of adults, but they will likely lack the emotional and mental maturity of adults. I would thus like to ask what are some of the measures that the Government could put in place to ensure that the mental and emotional well-being of these older youths are taken care of.”
“However, Sir, the reality is that, for most people, the prospect of "going to Court" is an intimidating one and could actually be onerous and demanding, especially for individuals or organisations of modest means, who might not be financially equipped for such a legal appeals process, or who might just find the whole process of legal appeal via the Courts too overbearing and intimidating. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the fact that the Minister for Law has stated that the appeals process via the Courts will be kept as affordable and simple as possible, and I trust that the Government will do periodic reviews of this process to ensure that it always remains so. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, falsehoods that get repeated often enough and shared widely enough will be perceived to be true. We need to be cognisant about the slow-drip effect of deliberate online falsehood on our social fabric and how it could erode trust between communities. As such, I believe that the Government has the responsibility to nip deliberate attempts to undermine social cohesion before these attempts can take root. However, I also feel that we need to get the balance right between making the right decision when it comes to curtailing deliberate online falsehoods, and being judicious in how those decisions are made. Notwithstanding my concerns, I ultimately believe that the potential benefit of this Bill far outweighs the potential pitfalls, and I thus conclude my speech in support of the Bill.”
“As such, I would imagine that while falsehoods that deliberately promote ill-will among different communities would warrant the Government to invoke POFMA to "prevent feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will between different groups of persons", other forms of falsehoods and manipulations might be less clear cut. For example, it is stated in point (f) in clause 4 that POFMA could be exercised "to prevent diminution of public confidence in the performance of any duty or function of, or in the exercise of any power by the government”. Could the Government please provide some clarity or examples of incidences on what it could consider as a diminution of public confidence in our public institutions or bearers of public office that would result in the Government exercising their powers under POFMA? Another point I would like to raise pertains to the appeal mechanism that goes via the Courts. The present Act provides an eventual avenue for appeals against the Government’s decision to be made to the Courts, after an appeal to the Minister. There has been some criticism that this might result in an appeals process that is too overwhelming and even financially prohibitive. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I had initially considered the possibility of having the appeals process heard by a tribunal, rather than through the Courts. However, I realised that this would then raise the issue of who would appoint the members of this tribunal, as if the tribunal was appointed and approved by the Executive branch of the Government, then it would ultimately be handling an appeal on a decision made by that same Executive branch. So, I do see the merits of the appeals being handled by the Judiciary, which is set apart from the Executive Branch.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, over the past two days, we have heard from more than 30 speakers. We have had hours of debates. We have had some rather bizarre images ranging from decapitations to usage of phrases like "nuclear", "chilling", "afraid", "fear" – it makes you wonder sometimes whether we are watching a very disturbing B-grade, post-apocalyptic movie. We have also heard some very compelling, logical and rational arguments as well. One thing, despite the sheer diversity of views, is clear. And that is that, all of us in this House agree that we need to assiduously tackle deliberate online falsehoods that have the potential to cause social and economic damage, by putting in place a response framework to prevent such hoaxes, misinformation and falsehoods from negatively impacting our society. Of course, where we differ is the form and manner of that framework. I rise in support of POFMA as a mechanism that will curtail the potential dangers of falsehood and misinformation. But I do have some points of clarification I would like to raise in my speech. A key tenet of POFMA is that deliberate online falsehood and misinformation campaigns will undermine social trust among communities, lead to the diminution of confidence in our public institutions and inflict harm on public interest. Indeed, clause 4 of the Bill clearly spells out instances where public interest will be compromised and that the Act can be invoked when such instances occur. While clause 4 spells out these instances, it also provides the Government some discretion to act under POFMA.”
“Our music, literature, languages, stories, myths and folklores, rituals, customs, beliefs, practices, festivals and, of course, food must be considered, alongside other aspects with our special Singapore stamp and spin. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage to ensure better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance. It is, indeed, heartening to discover that Singaporeans want to see a listing for our hawker culture from the polls conducted by the National Heritage Board. We know hawker centres as familiar dining rooms for all of us. They are ubiquitous all over Singapore. Hawker centres unite us and enable us to celebrate our love for food. They feature cuisine that are part of our food heritage, food staples that are worth preserving. Additionally, our hawker culture is humble and built on hard work, a part of our immigrant roots. It is a culture that helps to reinforce our sense of national pride. Who among us, for example, has not travelled abroad and craved for our favourite hawker dish? Last year, MCCY announced plans to nominate Singapore's hawker culture to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Can MCCY please provide an update on this?”
“When we think about diversity and inclusiveness, most of us would associate these two words with workplaces where we encourage companies to embrace differences and to create a conducive work culture where people of different races and creeds and of different abilities are able to work alongside one another without fear and prejudice. Creating a diverse and inclusive society requires more than fashioning conducive workplaces as people spend a majority of their time away from work. The ideals of inclusiveness must thus be embedded within our social fabric where people of different abilities are able to live, work and play together. One aspect of inclusiveness that remains under-explored is how we could potentially use our "play" time to foster better understanding among people with different abilities. Can we leverage sports to build a more inclusive society, especially among those who have limited interactions with others different from themselves? Our SG Heritage Plan In March 2018, MCCY announced the creation of a national masterplan to promote tangible and intangible aspects of our culture. These aspects are part of our heritage. They make us what and who we are, shape our society and unite our communities, giving us a unique place in the world. Beyond this, our heritage serves as an anchor when we are beset with challenging issues that may polarise our communities. As our founding Prime Minister observed of Heritage: "It… shapes the ways a people meet new challenges and helps them adapt and to survive." 1.15 pm It is, indeed, good that we have entered into conversations with Singaporeans of all ages and backgrounds to discover what to them is significant as our intangible culture, what resonates with them and makes us singular and special as Singaporeans.”
“Mr Chairman, can I take my cuts together, please?”
“In Singapore, the Youth Conversation was kicked off last April for youths in Singapore to voice their concerns and aspirations about policies and causes in a safe space. It has been approximately a year since this initiative was started. Can MCCY give an update on the progress of the Youth Conversations? What are the key themes that have emerged and what are MCCY's plans to deepen engagement with youths who have participated in these conversations?”
“Mr Chairman, over the last decade, Singapore’s athletes have made steady progress on the international sporting scene. Our female table tennis team did well in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. The whole country watched with pride as we attained our first Olympic gold medal in 2016. We have also picked up gold medals at major international games along the way and, indeed, quite a few of those gold medals were won by our Parliamentary colleague Ms Yip Pin Xiu. We have done well in the SEA Games, winning 188 medals in 2017, making it our best performance in SEA Games not held in Singapore. In 2017, it was announced that the Government will inject up to $50 million into the High Performance Sports System and the One Team Singapore matching grant to realise the Vision 2030 Fund. The purpose of the investment, as I understand it, is to develop top athletes by enhancing their local training environment, providing them with overseas training opportunities, and giving them access to clinics and workshops. It has been about a couple of years since the matching grant was announced. Can MCCY provide an update on the progress of the fund and how the fund has been used to support and develop our athletes? Also, with two major games on the horizon – the 2019 SEA Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – can MCCY provide an update on Team Singapore’s preparations for these major games, and what our targets are for these two major competitions? Engaging the Youths Today's youths are passionate about many important national and international issues and are strong proponents of cause-based advocacy. They want to have a voice in policymaking and aspire to be heard.”
“Mr Chairman, can I take my two cuts together?”
“I had asked another question of the Minister: would there also be opportunities for mid-career professionals, in terms of this task force's framework, to do a professional conversion programme to make the switch? If the Minister could reply, before the Senior Parliamentary answers.”
“Chairman, I just have two points of clarification. The first point would be to the Minister. It is very heartening to hear the Minister talk about the tripartite, or should I say, the quadripartite because it involves four parties, task force. Can the Minister share more regarding when we can expect more details on this task force in terms of a budget and opportunities and would there also be opportunities for mid-career professionals in terms of this task force's framework that is due to be set up to allow them perhaps to do a professional conversion programme, as it were? Another point of clarification is for Senior Parliamentary Secretary Faishal Ibrahim. The CMS would certainly help many parents to register for early childhood and so on. Would it be compulsory for all early childhood centres to come onto this CMS programme? And when can we expect the CMS to be rolled out into the sector?”
“Mr Chairman, the rise of dual-income families has resulted in many initiatives to ensure the provision of quality early childhood education. This, indeed, helps to cater to the needs of young families. It ensures that our children start out on the right footing in their education journey, guided with the expertise from competent early childhood education professionals and committed operators. Early childhood teachers are instrumental in spotting developmental issues in children. Above all, high standards in early childhood education allow for social mobility so that every child has a fair chance to succeed. At the 2018 COS debates, MSF announced the launch of the Early Childhood ITM to improve the early childhood sector. This will help provide more innovative services and productive processes. Measures have also been taken to ensure that early childhood is affordable and accessible to everyone. Effort is also being made to ensure the recruitment of quality early childhood educators. By 2020, the number of early childhood educators is projected to reach 20,000. What initiatives will MSF implement under the ITM to improve the productivity and working environments of operators? What other initiatives will be launched to ensure the career progression opportunities for early childhood professionals to reflect the evolving complexity of their roles? Empowering Women”
“Mr Chairman, according to projections, our population is expected to reach 6.34 million by the year 2030, out of which, 28% would be senior citizens above the age of 65. These numbers are expected to grow and, by the year 2050, almost half of our population would be above 65. One of the key challenges of growing old is deteriorating mental capacity. Based on a longitudinal ageing study conducted by the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, one in five elderly above the age of 75 shows signs of depression, and a Well-being of Singapore Elderly study led by the Institute of Mental Health revealed that one in 10 elderly above the age of 60 may have dementia. Coping with mental wellness issues during old age is thus a growing concern. What support measures has MSF put in place to help those without mental capacity, particularly those with little or no family support? Improving Lasting Power of Attorney”
“The National Social Work Competency Framework lays out the competencies at various levels of specialist knowledge. It serves to define the knowledge, skills and attitudes required by social work professionals to deliver quality social work practice. The competencies will also help to increase awareness among service users, policymakers and those who fund our social services and the effort of social workers. The Framework will also help chart professional development and career progression. MSF recently launched the Skills Framework for the Social Service, to help social service professionals plan their careers. Can MSF further leverage this framework to drive and enhance skills development in the sector? Vulnerable Children and Youths”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. First cut is on families facing multiple challenges. Challenges and issues experienced by families in need are never one-dimensional and often encompass a set of intertwining problems that cannot be solved in a piecemeal manner. An example of this would be a family with school-going children whose sole breadwinner has had to quit his job to look after a bedridden dependant. Under such a situation, the policy approach is to support the family with short- to mid-term ComCare assistance and to try and place the breadwinner in employment. We need to question, however, if this is the right approach because the breadwinner will not be able to hold on to a stable permanent full-time role due to the need to look after his dependants. The children of the family are likely to perform less well than their peers in school due to the need to juggle school with caregiving duties when they are at home. We should adopt a more holistic approach to resolve complex social challenges individuals and families face so that we can help them get back on to their feet and to live a life of dignity. Does the Ministry have a holistic intervention plan to help individuals and families that are facing a complex set of challenges? How can the Ministry help improve their life circumstances beyond just giving short- to medium-term financial assistance? Skills Framework for Social Service Next, social workers have come a long way since its early beginnings in Singapore. With a more complex operating environment, changes in the demographics in our population, evolving family structure, income disparity and rapidly changing social environments, the training given to social workers needs to be strengthened.”
“Mr Chairman, I have two points of clarification. The first point I believe should be for Senior Minister of State Sim Ann because it pertains to the library and digital books. I just wanted to ask the Senior Minister of State if she could update on some trends on e-books or digital book borrowing. And does she see a trend in e-book or digital book perhaps even outstripping conventional publications of books in the long run? Second point of clarification is for, I believe, could be for the Minister. I did attend the National Archive Exhibition. And I really have to commend the National Archives team on the wonderful job that was done. I was wondering if the National Archives could perhaps engage other Government agencies, say, MOE, for example, to ensure that all the excellent work that has been done could also be shared with our students in primary and secondary schools. In the past, this would involve an excursion to the National Archives building and I believe that might be the case for some materials. But I believe much of what I saw as digitalised can be brought onto screens and into the schools. So, is that something that perhaps the Minister could consider, in terms of exposing more of our younger Singaporeans to all of this rich history?”
“This will provide many opportunities for classrooms to become media hubs for media talent in the making. However, it has been observed that the local market for made-in-Singapore media content is small, making it imperative to create an enabling media environment. What are our general plans to develop/grow the media industry domestically and are there plans to support local media firms overseas?”
“Mr Chairman, first, is on public service broadcasting (PSB). Over the years, IMDA has supported the production of PSB programmes which have several national and social objectives. PSB programmes promote Singapore, the Singapore identity and values, such as family, community, social inclusiveness and cohesiveness. At the same time, they cater to special interest groups, for example, the elderly and youths. They have also helped to increase cultural awareness in a plural society and foster religious harmony. Over the years, such programmes have also helped to educate viewers, for example, through current affairs exposure so that we can be plugged into the world as global citizens to understand the cross currents that affect us. Today, a revolution called cord-cutting is spreading throughout the world, freeing people from the ties to cable even, with over-the-top (OTT) services offered by Netflix, Amazon Prime and even Viu for fans who want to binge-watch Korean content. Can the Government share how PSB is changing in this ever-evolving media landscape? Developing the Media Industry In the last five years, efforts to grow the media industry has rapidly accelerated. Big players like Lucasfilm; RGM Holdings, a well-known talent management company; BKN Media, an acclaimed animation studio; and DLM Digital Studios, a major Indian film production company, have set up shop in Singapore, increasing the international profile of the media industry. In the area of media education, Nanyang Technological University's (NTU's) School of Arts Design and Media has launched programmes to nurture creative media professionals. South Seas Film and Television School from New Zealand is also setting up a campus here.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to speak on civic discussions and diversity of views. Global cities across the world are often characterised by openness and tolerance of divergent views. One significant trait of such vibrant societies is the people's ability to "talk" through multiple, conflicting perspectives without hysteria and harm. While psychologists argue that it is social survival depends on conformity, recent research also suggests that divergence fosters creativity. Stanford Professor Carol Dweck has done extensive work on the concept of "Growth Mindset." Individuals who believe their talents can be developed through hard work, good strategies and input from others have this growth mindset. I believe that respect for divergent views can be fostered in our schools to help students engage calmly in rational exchange to develop a growth mindset. I would like the Government to consider how we can we improve civic discussion in our schools and beyond to encourage the plurality of views among Singaporeans. Government Public Opinion Surveys”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. Libraries today face critical challenges from many counts: from the Internet, modern cafes and even homes with book repositories. The question is not whether print and digital media can exist side by side in libraries. It is how the library can be a third space, for diverse social groups to exchange ideas, inclusively. Libraries can be physical or virtual social spaces with social media applications. How can we transform our libraries into community hubs for people to interact, interconnect, learn, produce, share, meet informally, hold discussions or organise social events, special shows and exhibitions? Libraries can also be "living rooms" for sharing of ideas via book clubs and forums, a safe space and meeting place for all. How does the Government ensure that our libraries continue to serve as an inclusive social space for Singaporeans of all ages?”
“Mr Chairman, the anonymous nature of the Internet has led to a "disinhibition effect" where people take on an online persona that is different from their persona in real life. The disinhibition effect has been studied extensively by researchers to understand cyberbullying behaviour and other forms of undesirable online behaviour, such as trolling and catfishing. While such online behaviour is objectionable, its effect is relatively contained. What is worrying is the emergence of deliberate online falsehoods, where the reach and potential impact of such falsehoods are widespread. The Internet has provided the perpetrators of falsehoods with a veil of anonymity and the disinhibition effect has emboldened the perpetrators to craft messages that are patently false, with the malicious intention to obfuscate the truth. The malice of online falsehood can lead to communal and racial violence, distrust in the establishment and sway public opinions on important social issues. Singapore is not immune to the malice of deliberate online falsehoods. Some state actors and individuals have mounted falsehood campaigns to discredit our institutions, to cast aspersions on our Government and systems. These orchestrated campaigns need to be dealt with swiftly and decisively before they gain momentum. 2.45 pm Yet, dealing with deliberate online falsehoods require a multi-agency approach that includes combating falsehoods with facts, educating Singaporeans to discern between truth and untruth, and for media companies to play their part to weed out fake posts and misinformation campaigns. What are some concrete steps that the Government is taking to help Singaporeans guard against deliberate online falsehoods in an increasingly complex digital and media environment?”
“Mr Chairman, the Smart Nation initiative was launched in late 2014 with the aim of applying digital and smart solutions to provide better services to our residents and businesses. Since its inception, the Smart Nation Initiative has gone on to embark on numerous pilot projects and trials, some of which, like contactless payment for public transport and TeleHealth, are starting to bear fruit. That said, some of these initiatives seem to have been started as standalone programmes, with Government agencies and Statutory Boards launching their own initiatives. Can the Prime Minister's Office elaborate more on the larger national narrative guiding the Smart Nation Initiative and how it has delivered tangible benefits to citizens and businesses? Also, are there intentions to embark on a public-private partnership to commercialise current initiatives so that more benefits can be delivered to end users by private sector players? People at the Heart of Smart Nation”
“There are many men and women like Mr Sree who have shown the grit and resolve to not only contribute to the defence, economic growth and societal development of a newly-independent Singapore, but managed to upskill and upgrade themselves along the way, while also somehow finding time to raise a family. These remarkable men and women are responsible for the trees that provide the shade that we are all now enjoying and I would urge the Government to review the MGP from time to time, and to top-up the benefits whenever we are able to so. I believe that this would give the MG peace of mind that their needs would be attended to and they would be looked after during their silver years. Mr Speaker, Sir, I began my speech referencing Singapore’s Bicentennial and how we can continue to maintain our relevance and importance in the global landscape. Singapore has, indeed, come a long way since our founding 200 years ago, and we have survived several existential crises in the process. As we celebrate the Bicentennial, I hope that we can all also take some time to think about not just where we came from, but where we are going to next. Let us embark on the search for deeper meaning behind what defines Singapore, our goals as a Country and our purpose as a People as these are important fundamental foundations and would certainly help our future generations remain anchored and rooted in the values that have brought us our success.”
“Mr Sree was born in 1951 and brought up in a kampung in Sembawang. As his father was the sole breadwinner supporting a family of eight children, Mr Sree entered the workforce after his Senior Cambridge Certificate, working as a bicycle mechanic while enrolling at Lembaga Gerakan Dewasa Pelajaran (Lembaga) which was a night school set up by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for workers seeking to upgrade themselves. In 1969, he was called up to report for National Service as his request for a deferment to complete his studies was turned down. Mr Sree was eventually commissioned as an Artillery Officer in 1971 and he always speaks of his period of National Service with a great source of pride. As he himself says, and I quote, "I was very proud to be in the Artillery Battalion. The training I underwent in National Service was very tough, but having lived in a kampung within a big family unit, I was able to tolerate the training regime. Along the way, I made many friends and they remain a source of strength for me up to today. The early batch of National Servicemen were considered the Pioneer guardians of Singapore." That is a wonderful tagline actually to tag for our early National Servicemen, the Pioneer guardians of Singapore. Mr Sree then went on to join the Port of Singapore Authority as a clerk and, through continuous upgrading and learning, worked his way up to becoming an Operations Officer. In 2018, he retired from PSA after more than 45 years with the company. I think to some in our younger generation, that seems like an eternity. Forty-five years of loyalty to this particular company. This also included an eight-year stint in India that he saw as a form of "National Service", as felt he was part of a strategic initiative to develop a Singapore company overseas.”
“Without robust international defence and domestic security, all our significant economic progress and social development would be significantly threatened and that would have grave consequences for Singapore. I now would like to focus on a caring and inclusive society. Singapore has always adopted somewhat of a centre-left policy structure and we must continue to take necessary steps to look after our citizens. The current ComCare scheme, for example, is useful in the way that it is meant to provide short-term support, but it does have its shortcomings. At my Meet-the-People session, I have often encountered residents who need a little more support beyond what is presently available to get back on their feet. Although the ComCare short-to-medium term assistance that was rendered to them could be extended when needed, the process of putting in the repeated applications for extensions could be discouraging and demoralising for these residents who are already assailed by multiple challenges. As such, I am looking forward to the ComCare Long-Term Assistance scheme that will help provide a longer-term guarantee to help those who need more support, especially those who are unable to work due to unfavourable conditions and circumstances. I would like to especially commend the Finance Minister and the Government for the MGP that recognises the contributions of the generation that lived in a period of uncertainty during Singapore's early Independence and who committed their lives to Singapore, often at significant personal sacrifice. All of us here, Mr Speaker, would either have relatives or would know someone from the Mederka Generation, and one such person is one of my residents, Mr Sreevardhanan Vasu Pillai, or as he is known in our community, Mr Sree.”
“Recent developments in the region have shown that it is important for Singapore to have a credible defence force and to enhance our capabilities against cyberattacks. Mr Bilahari Kausikan put it adeptly at a recent public lecture that a strong and capable defence is Singapore's only leverage on the international stage, giving us an equal footing and bargaining power against other nations. While much of the talks have focused on building our external defences, let us not forget to stay vigilant with regard to our internal security. As the Chinese saying goes, "it is easy to parry a spear thrust in the open, but hard to dodge an arrow shot in the dark." While we can prepare and defend ourselves effectively against any form of external aggression, internal aggression by an enemy in the dark will always be the one that could catch us offguard. So, we thus need to maintain our vigilance against any potential acts of terror on our soil that might rear its ugly head from time to time. Our SGSecure initiatives must thus continue to be strong. Very often, Mr Speaker, Sir, much more damage can be done by attacking the digital and cyber network of a country than attacking via a method of conventional warfare. Consider examples of how cyber terrorists could wreak havoc and create massive damage if they gained access and control of key services, such as our emergency services, airports and transportation networks or key installations like power grids. So, I am heartened that the Government has introduced a sixth pillar of total defence – Digital Defence – to combat this cyber threat. I am thus in favour of the proposed spending on defence as I strongly believe that we need to ensure that we stay safe and secure always.”
“Schemes like the SME Co-Investing Fund III and the Enterprise Financing System are aimed at giving our SMEs a leg-up by improving their access to public and private funding so that they have the much-needed liquidity to import the latest technology, grow their businesses, and possibly eventually spread their wings beyond Singapore. I would strongly urge our SMEs to continue to tap on schemes like the Go Digital programme and Digital Services Hub to scale up on their digital solution capabilities and shore up their competencies in the area of the Internet of Things as well. This would allow them to revamp their business model so that they could find their own niche in the midst of the evolving global economic landscape. While the Government enables the financing system to help catalyse the growth of SMEs, I would urge International Enterprise (IE) Singapore do more perhaps to help our companies make their mark overseas, and to further enhance the Made in Singapore brand regionally and globally. Can IE Singapore do more to help identify areas of growth and help groom our local companies to develop capabilities in those areas? The development of Centres of Innovation in Aquaculture at Temasek Polytechnic and the Energy Centre at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have helped to synergise the R&D know-how of our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) with industry-led innovations to commercialise cutting-edge solutions. Can this be a model that IE Singapore can further explore moving forward? Can more such centres and incubators be created to spearhead growth in other areas? I would like to move on to the topic of defence and security.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tension that Singapore is celebrating our Bicentennial in 2019. In recent times, waves of populism have swept across regions and countries, leading to the rise of nationalistic fervour, pressuring countries to adopt citizen-first policies and to implement protectionist trade measures over practices of global citizenship and internationalism. Although trade relations seem to be improving between global giants China and the United States (US), the global economic marketplace and international political landscape are far from stable and certain. However, with uncertainty comes opportunity, and it is important for Singapore to continue to explore how we can continue to remain relevant and ready on the global stage, and leverage our strengths in multilateral and bilateral arrangements that benefit our country. Sir, I would like to begin my speech by covering parts of the Budget that I believe supports this area. First of all, supporting and enhancing the capabilities of our SMEs. SMEs continue to be the backbone of Singapore's economy, forming a significant number of all enterprises in Singapore, employing 65% of our workforce and contributing almost 50% of our GDP. I believe my Parliamentary colleagues Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Ms Jessica Tan and Ms Denise Phua had already made this point. In the midst of economic uncertainty, our SMEs certainly cannot afford to be complacent and it cannot be a case of "business as usual" for them. I thus applaud this year's Budget for keeping our SMEs in mind, and for putting in place measures that help them grow, especially to develop digital capabilities so that they can eventually cut down on the reliance on foreign manpower.”
“With partners in the telecommunications sector, these basic smart devices could be made available at a nominal rate to all senior citizens above 60, and those seniors facing financial difficulties could even get these devices for free. This would help our seniors transit into the digital era, as not every senior citizen is able to afford a smart device. The provision of this smart phone will remove the cost of ownership as one of the potential roadblocks that might impede the adoption of smartphones among senior citizens. Mr Speaker, the many challenges associated with an ageing population is a classic example of a "wicked problem." Tackling wicked problems requires policymakers to adopt an integrated approach to holistically manage the multifaceted nature of the issue. Moving forward, it is crucial for us to identify pockets of opportunity for interventions and implement a holistic suite of programmes to tackle the problem in an integrative manner. I mentioned earlier that Singapore is facing a demographic timebomb with regard to the challenge of our ageing population. While a timebomb is dangerous, as we have seen in many movies, it only causes damage if it eventually explodes. So, let us all work together as one people, one nation to ensure that we are able to defuse this timebomb by ensuring that we take the right steps to manage and support our elderly in a manner that will allow them to age with dignity and grace.”
“Next, on staying connected. As we strive to become a smart nation, we need to find more ways to empower our senior citizens to adopt the usage of technology in their daily lives. Based on the statistics collated by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), smartphones seem to be one of the easiest ways for senior citizens to get connected to technology. To encourage senior citizens to venture into the world of technology and to make better use their smart devices, would organisations like the National Library Board (NLB) and PA consider working with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), such as the Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs), polytechnics and universities, to set up booths at libraries and Community Centres (CCs) to help the elderlies with IT-related matters and to teach them how to stay connected through technology? In this sense, NLB and PA would provide the hardware of creating physical spaces where the elderly could learn about technology while IHLs provide the software of teaching the elderly. And, of course, we encourage the youths to also interact with our elderly as well. I would also urge the Government to consider how it could, perhaps through IMDA, partner homegrown technology companies like Creative Technologies or Razer and the like, to develop and produce basic smartphones or similar devices with functional smart features like e-payment and Internet access for senior citizens. These "uniquely Singaporean" elderly-friendly phones could also incorporate larger fonts and instructions and features in the major languages.”
“And I firmly believe that it is this healthy foundation that is laid early on in one's life that will determine one's health and physical wellness in one's later years. I would urge the Government to adopt a whole-of-Government approach to encourage citizens, especially those 40 and above, for example. Let us not wait till we reach the 60s, but let us go further upstream, let us start earlier. And to put in place a holistic multi-agency masterplan on how they can make changes to their lifestyle, if we can encourage our citizens to age healthily and develop good lifestyle habits that would build a healthy foundation for the future. This would involve agencies, such as MOH, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) or the soon-to-be Singapore Food Agency (SFA), HPB and even Sport Singapore, working together to promote the holistic concept of healthy living. Such a multi-agency strategy could also involve the Ministry of Education (MOE) emphasising introducing school curriculums that teach children the importance of a proper diet and having more outdoor physical education hours to promote fitness. AVA or SFA, and HPB could jointly mandate the level of sugar in processed food and promote the use of healthier cooking methods. MOH and the network of polyclinics could offer subsidised health screening for those aged 40 and above, and SGActive could set aside dedicated hours for senior citizens to use their facilities at discounted rates to promote the take-up of exercise. To top these suggestions off, I would also urge the Government Ministries and agencies to take the lead to promote better work-life balance by setting aside some time at the end of the workday, perhaps once or twice a week, so that their staff can be encouraged to begin the habit of exercising regularly.”
“In the course of our conversation, after reminiscing about old times, the conversation became a little bit bitter-sweet as we started to talk about our peers, many of whom had begun to develop what we call the lifestyle illnesses – diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and so on. The conversation then turned to those who had gone for operations for anterior and posterior cruciate ligament replacements and everything. It got quite sober when we discovered that a few of our cohort actually already passed on as well from heart attacks, cancer and the like. My friend then shared that he himself had undergone two bypasses and had a stroke, all before the age of 45. This was very sobering and it explained why he looked like he had lost a lot of weight, which I was too polite to mention. But the point I am making is that he had no children, married with a wife who was not working, and he has already begun to think about what is going to happen to him come 15 years' time when he is in his 60s should his health take a turn for the worse. When he found that I will be speaking on this Bill, we parted with these words, he said, "Bro, you must make the point. Don't wait till you are in your 60s. You got to start now! Start to eat healthy, start to live healthy, make your preparations." And it is with that in mind that I want to make this point that it is never too early to inculcate healthy living habits. Apart from spending time educating senior citizens of the need to have a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, targeted efforts must be made to reach out to those who are in the younger age brackets so that they, too, can understand the importance of making changes to their lifestyle early.”
“In healthcare, the introduction of CHAS, Pioneer Generation and the soon-to-be announced in detail Merdeka Generation packages should help to alleviate health cost in this area. I would like to commend the Government for these policies. Apart from these policies, it is also important, via moral suasion, to convince the elderly of the need to stay healthy and connected, and to support them with targeted interventions. And these are the two areas that I will be focusing on. First, the need to stay healthy. With retirement age set at 62 and re-employment age at 67, Singaporeans are, on average, spending 15.2 to 20.2 years of their life in retirement. It is, therefore, critical that Singaporeans continue to remain healthy so that they can experience the joy of their post-retirement silver years with their loved ones. It was a wake-up call for many people when MOH released the statistics that one in two Singaporeans could suffer from some form of disability by the time they reach 65. Many people I spoke to have found those statistics troubling because it has never occurred to them that their mobility and lifestyle could be severely restricted in their old age. Underlining these statistics is the important message that everyone needs to take ownership of their own health because we could end up suffering from some form of disability if we do not cultivate healthy living and healthy eating habits. Mr Speaker, Sir, recently, I caught up with an old friend from secondary school whom I had not seen for many years.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of both Motions, but my speech will focus on the Motion to do with ageing. The population around the world is, indeed, ageing. This is primarily driven by two key trends – people are living longer than before, and birth rates are declining. An ageing population is a relatively new phenomenon since, for the most part of human history, the population has been youthful and life expectancy was shorter. Singapore is experiencing a similar situation, In fact, we could be facing what some people have referred to as a "demographic timebomb" as, by the year 2030, 27% of our population will be 65 and older. This, naturally, has significant implications for the country’s economic and social policies. In the 1970s, Singapore's Old-Age Support Ratio was 13.5, that is, there were 13.5 working age adults supporting every elderly person above 65. This ratio plummeted to 4.8 in 2018. With fewer working adults to support a growing number of elderly, the potential tax revenue from income tax, for example, has fallen significantly during times when there is an urgent need to increase our social spending to cushion the impact of a greying population. In recent years, a number of economic and social initiatives have been implemented to mitigate the impact of an ageing population. In public housing, the extension of LBS to larger flats allowed more seniors to unlock the remaining value of their HDB flats and have a steady flow of retirement income while continuing to age in their own housing units. To ensure our elderly can age gracefully within a vibrant community, Kampung Admiralty was designed as an integrated retirement community.”
“What is the lifespan of rail assets before they are being replaced and how is the operational lifespan of these assets determined? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the coming decade will see several big ticket expenditures in our public transport. While we are setting aside the RIF to fund current expenditure, I think it is also good that the RIF will form one of the foundational pillars to ensure that we have a reliable public transport system to meet future capacity. With that, Sir, I end my speech in support of the Bill.”
“The NRFF also introduced a new framework to enhance the financial sustainability of the network – train operators will now pay a licence charge into an RSF that can be used to build, replace or upgrade operating assets. It was subsequently announced in the 2018 Budget that the Government will inject $5 billion into the RIF that the Minister spoke on earlier. In principle, RIF is meant to allow the Government to save when the fiscal position allows, so as to finance the development of new rail lines and to renew and upgrade existing rail infrastructure. I hope that the Minister can provide clarification on the financing model of the RIF to meet future needs beyond the initial capital injection of $5 billion. I would also like to inquire if the Ministry has developed a set of financing guidelines for the fund and whether it will be making these guidelines known. The topic of public transport, Sir, is not just a critical one, but it also somewhat an emotive one because it affects everyone in one way or another. While Singapore continues to upgrade and enhance our rail and network system, we need to build in a rubric of checks and balances to ensure that our investments are reaping due returns in the form of enhanced performance and reliability. Has the Government then predetermined a set of expenditure-performance ratios to measure the returns of capital expenditure from the RIF vis-à-vis the expected improvement in train reliability and performance? Aside from setting up the expenditure-performance ratio, has a set of asset replacement guidelines been drawn up to ensure that capital equipment is replaced or bought before the need to do so becomes pressing? For example, lifts in public housing estates are generally replaced when they hit the 28-year mark or thereabouts.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the MRT and LRT networks are vital transportation arteries that residents of Singapore rely on. Based on statistics released by LTA in 2017, the average combined daily ridership on our rail MRT and LRT networks is approximately 3.3 million per day. This represents a sizeable proportion of daily commute on our public transportation system, and these numbers are expected to rise in the near future when our total rail capacity is further expanded with the opening of new train lines. Since 2016, train operators have gradually transferred their rail assets to the Government under the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF). The NRFF is meant to create a more reliable system where maintenance regimes of train operators are regulated by the enhanced Maintenance Performance Standards. In principle, the NRFF should have a positive impact on rail reliability since it increases the onus of preventative maintenance on the network operators. Yet, there have been several high-profile train disruptions in 2017, such as the flooding of the MRT tunnel in Bishan, the Joo Koon train collision, and a series of incidents that affected three train lines on the same day in November 2017. These incidents do not seem to gel with the pledge that the Singapore MRT (SMRT) and LTA made in July 2016 that they would increase the headcount of maintenance and engineering staff to meet the enhanced standards. In this regard, I hope that MOT could give the House perhaps an update on whether SMRT and LTA are on track to increase their maintenance capacity, how the Ministry is holding SMRT and LTA responsible for adhering to the Maintenance Performance Standards, and perhaps the consequences they face for not doing so.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State. With that clarification, Mr Deputy Speaker, what usually happens then is that perhaps if the FDW makes that loan and she then has her employment terminated by the employer – understandably, when the employer finds out – she returns. As she has committed no crime, the FDW is technically able to return to the country again and perhaps, this entire cycle is repeated by which the FDW then perpetuates further inconvenience and stress on her new employer. Would the authorities consider perhaps in such cases some measure – I understand the concept of innocent until proven guilty – whereby such FDWs are either placed on a watchlist or even barred from returning until this matter can be clarified, to avoid further inconveniences down the road?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their replies. Two supplementary questions to ask. It is heartening to hear that there are measures that are being taken with regard to self-exclusion and the caps. This is pertaining to licensed moneylenders. Would it be useful for the Government to consider, perhaps in light of the fact that the employers are usually the ones who have to suffer the consequences should FDWs default on their licensed moneylending loans, to have a practice where the employer's consent needs to be sought before FDWs approach licensed moneylenders for loans? So, in a way, if you look at the self-exclusion for the casinos, for example, I understand that family members can also choose to exclude certain family members. That is the practice. So, my question is, can the authorities consider with the case of licensed moneylenders, for the employer's consent to be sought before the FDW makes that loan with the licensed moneylender? The second supplementary question is relating to the issue of unlicensed moneylenders. As far as I understand it right now, it is not an offence to take a loan from an unlicensed moneylender. Am I correct, Senior Minister of State?”
“I thank the Minister for the reply. I think we all agree on the critical importance of National Service and the sanctity of serving the country. I have a couple of supplementary questions, Mr Speaker. First of all, will the Minister or MINDEF be prepared to consider sports that perhaps cannot be so quantitatively assessed? For example, should a Singaporean sportsman one day win the Australian Junior Open Tennis Championship and have a real possibility of achieving success on a global stage, thereby playing under the Singapore flag, would we be able to consider something like that? My second question is, would we be able to consider outstanding achievement in activities other than sports, say, in performing arts or perhaps even in music?”
“In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I would just like to take a few moments to speak about our educators and admitting the challenging jobs they face. Being an educator is not easy. I always make the comment that we will never presume to tell a lawyer how to do his job. You would not go onto a plane to tell a pilot how to fly a plane. Indeed, you would not tell a brain surgeon how to perform surgery. But everybody seems to want to tell teachers and educators how they should teach the children in school, so, it is tough. We have to deal with these expectations. We have to deal with the amount of work outside of the classroom. We have to deal also with the fact that we are shaping and growing young people and young children. So, I would like to take this moment just to say "Thank you" to all our educators; whether you are a preschool educator or a professor in a university. Thank you for taking our children from building blocks to the “ABCs”. Thank you for preparing them for the mother-of-all exams. Thank you for guiding them in their coursework and their projects. Thank you for all the academic, the non-academic work and the administrative work that you do outside the classroom. But most of all, thank you for continuing to develop the one resource, the one resource that will always be critical to Singapore’s success and, that is, our people. [Applause.] 3.37 pm”
“As evidenced by how our post-primary and tertiary education sectors have produced a varied pool of talent who are skilled in a variety of different fields, could we not also allow our primary schools to be more diverse in offering their own curriculum that caters to different learning needs and aspirations? I am supportive of Ms Rahayu Mahzam’s amendments that development paths need to be suited to unique strengths and interests and I believe strongly that having different systems and different pathways will ultimately be beneficial as it produces different products. Diversity ultimately results in a whole that is always more than the sum of its parts and I would like to encourage MOE to perhaps run some pilot programmes in the primary school sector to see how alternate systems and pedagogies could also be successful. Mr Speaker, Sir, we live in an ever increasingly complex world where challenges are often multifaceted and closely intertwined and we need to design an education system that adequately prepares our people for this world. A system of this nature must necessarily recognise the potential of each and every learner and create diverse pathways for everyone to meet their potential and aspirations. In this increasingly complex world, it is not so much about what you know, as what you can do. I thus strongly urge the Government to consider how we can continue to ensure that our people, both the young and not-so-young, are given adequate opportunities and pathways that allow them to learn and develop along different pathways, while at the same time, master a set of life skills and domain knowledge that enables them to maximise their unique potential.”
“So, while I am not advocating the scrapping of the PSLE and I acknowledge the proposed changes being made to this exam by MOE, I would like to suggest that MOE consider how it can make the PSLE more about a demonstration of other skill sets and capabilities, other than the ability to “cram-and-deliver.” Perhaps, the element of coursework or continuous assessment could be introduced as part of one’s PSLE grade, such that the eventual PSLE score is a more holistic reflection of a young adult’s capabilities and abilities. The Government has, over the years, increasingly recognised that there are multiple pathways to success. Having a degree, for example, is only one of the many peaks of excellence and we have, indeed, seen many examples of successful people who do not have degrees. The fundamental objective of education is thus not to pursue paper qualifications, but the assurance that the receivers of education learn employable and relevant skills that enable them to succeed in the industry or career of their choice. In an earlier speech debating the President’s Address in May, I briefly commented on how the Government has recognised the importance of providing learners with various options that cater to different learning needs and aspirations in the post-primary school education sector. The same choices are also given to parents in the pre-primary education sector with different early childhood education options providing different pedagogies and curricula to suit different needs. While multiple options are provided for pre- and post-primary school students, the primary education sector still follows a one-size-fits-all model where schools administer a centrally planned curriculum with limited room for variations.”
“When there is no one left to tell you what assignments you should do? When there is no one left to tell you which 10-year series you should practise? That is the challenge. Because you cannot have tuition throughout your entire life. Or maybe you can and that is why people have life coaches, psychologists and psychiatrists. Moving on then to my next topic, which is: an exam-based academic achievement versus a skills-based academic achievement. I think one way of ensuring that we focus more on life skills is to explore how we can shift from an exam-based academic system to a more coursework-based or skills-based academic one. I spent 16 years in the polytechnic as an educator and I have seen how students who have less than stellar academic PSLE or even "O" or "N" level scores often end up doing very well in the polytechnic system. They are able to achieve good grade point average scores in the polytechnic, which reflects their ability to do well academically. They are transformed from being regarded as academically poor or average, into good academic achievers. The main difference, of course, is that they are now in a system that measures academic achievement in terms of coursework and skills capability, as opposed to the ability to study for an exam. There are some subjects at the "N" and "O" levels that allow students to do well based on their practical and skills-based capabilities, but the fact remains that our education system is still very much an exam-based academic one, especially when it comes to the mother-of-all exams, the PSLE. Ultimately, a good PSLE T-score demonstrates a child’s ability to cram for exams and deliver in a controlled exam-based environment and one wonders if that is an accurate reflection of his or her potential.”