David Ong
Singapore
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister of State for the reply. A few supplementary questions: first, how effective is the HDB's current mediation framework in helping to resolve such disputes between co-tenants, because I do see quite frequent cases of co-tenants having disputes and having difficulties coping?”
“Two supplementary questions. A high rental cost has always been a point of contention between the event organisers and Sports Hub Pte Ltd. What more can be done by the Ministry to make this public-private partnership (PPP) work, to better align public service needs as well as private sector ones?”
“Madam, I would like to ask the Minister whether he can look into having a hawker centre in Bukit Batok because we do need one and I think without the hawker centre, the only place that people go for food is that food centre that is now being sold for $31 million.”
“Madam, I would like to thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have three supplementary questions. With the sizeable complaints of recent DBSS projects arising from an apparent mismatch of expectations, poor workmanship and accountability, can I ask the Minister of State on the roles which should be played in overseeing the DBSS sche…”
“Madam, some quick supplementary questions for the Minister. The Sports Hub is touted to be the centrepiece of the SEA Games, so, I would like to ask about the status of the hybrid Desso pitch that was much talked about and whether it could stand the robust tests during the SEA Games.”
“Thank you, Madam. I spoke quite passionately about Haw Par Villa a while ago and I know that it has got a very strong historical as well as cultural merit, and is worth preserving.”
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“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. I have three supplementary questions. First, given that non-compliance is very common in patients with mental illness and chances of relapse are high, what is being done and can be done to ensure that discharged patients stick to their routine drugs? Next, what is the current psychiatrist-to-population ratio today and are we able to cope with the number of people suffering from mental disorders? Lastly, what can the Ministry do to promote more providers of community-based mental health services and make them more accessible to better support people with mental disorders, so that they can be better supported and re-integrate into society?”
“On the ground, during my interactions with my residents, many are appreciative and commented that the PG Package benefits are good. During my MPS, I have received appeals from seniors to be included even though they missed the qualifying criteria. Many argued that they, too, have contributed to the building of Singapore. Some naturalised citizens, too, want to be included on grounds that they have been in Singapore for longer than their citizenship status. Although clauses 13 through 15 addressed the issue of who qualifies, as well as the appeal process, I hope for more transparency in the deliberation of the appeal. On what grounds would exceptions be made on these appeals? Mdm Speaker, the crux of the issue is for members of the Pioneer Generation who need help to be able to receive them as quickly and seamlessly as possible. This is the basic issue that we have to address. The Government had spared no effort and resources in trying to get the message of the PG Package down to the recipients. We, therefore, owe it to ourselves, as well as the Pioneer Generation Singaporeans, to avoid hiccups and delays in the delivery, Page: 52 such as subsidies in medicine and premiums for MediShield Life. With this, I support the Pioneer Generation Fund Bill. 3.26 pm”
“Concern because, even in the face Page: 51 of one of the worst global financial meltdowns in 2009, we had had to utilise $4 billion of our country's reserves. This year alone, we are introducing various social programmes costing many billions. Moreover, the funding of the PG Fund is drawn from our Net Investment Returns of our reserves, and the source of the latter is dependent on prudence, governance and strong economic growth. Although the approach is one of prudent fiscal spending, for a small economy like Singapore, we are highly susceptible to shifting global external conditions beyond our control. The question is whether Singapore can continue to enjoy the trade winds of good investment yields from its reserves. Mdm Speaker, we need to avoid well-intended good policy marred by poor execution. In this regard, we have introduced many measures that go to the heart of easing the living of all Singaporeans as much as possible, sparing no effort or funds. Many members of the Pioneer Generation may have little or no education, are monolingual and ignorant of current affairs. Thus, it would be a shame if people do not understand how they can benefit from all the goodness and benefits of the PG Package. I must add that the Government has embarked on an aggressive and comprehensive outreach and communication plan to reach out to as many of our PG seniors and the public as possible. It is good to do a stock-take and see how effective this has been and what more can be done. Mdm Speaker, the PG Package has been a popular policy with the recipients. This is evident as more than 100,000 of the PG members have started using their cards in just over two months.”
“We need to avoid indiscriminate pricing by healthcare providers, which may have a double-whammy effect on making healthcare more expensive for our seniors and accelerating the depletion of the PG Fund. Notwithstanding the Finance Minister’s pledge to ensure the benefits of the PG Fund do not run out, how can we ensure that the cost of living, especially healthcare costs, is insulated from spikes in an inflation? Singapore is a small country with highly porous borders and we are highly susceptible to global economic factors. At the moment, our inflationary rate is manageable, but there is no guarantee that external forces, such as the excessively high price of oil, would not result in the cost of living in Singapore spiralling upwards. We have, for many years, achieved Budgetary Account balances, with some exceptions, mostly in surpluses. However, it is a known fact that with many rebates, close to 70% of Singaporeans do not pay income tax. Our Government's revenue has for some years now been dependent on indirect tax for income. Thus far, we have been fortunate to achieve fiscal surpluses. But, as more pressure builds up on providing social support, as well as the need for maintenance and replacement of existing infrastructures, our people need to be assured that the Government would not take the route of increasing direct income tax or other indirect taxes to raise revenue to fund demand for similar generous social measures. Mdm Speaker, the PG Package and its many wonderful provisions reminded me of the traditional Chinese delicacy of 盆菜. This dish takes hours and hours of preparation, served in a large earthen pot. At every layer, it is stuffed with delicious delicacies. But, for the country, this is both a source of celebration and concern.”
“With the multi-faceted subsidies to benefit 450,000 members of the Pioneer Generation, the Government will need to fulfil its obligations to those eligible for life. Our Pioneer Generation seniors can also be assured, knowing that the Government has prudently set aside the full amount of the PG Fund now to ensure the sustainability of this package. This is a guarantee that Singapore will honour the commitment made to them, regardless of future economic or fiscal circumstances. In doing so, our budgets in subsequent years can be freed up to meet future needs and challenges without burdening future Page: 50 generations. What is clear is the need to ensure the PG Fund is well governed, prudently utilised and effectively deployed to achieve the desired outcomes for our seniors. We should also guard against being too bureaucratic or conservative in its application, resulting in an overtly under-utilisation of the PG Fund. Several factors, however, can accelerate the utilisation of the PG Fund, threatening its adequacy. In 1990, the life expectancy of Singaporeans was 75 years, but, today, it is 82. The World Health Organization placed Singapore fourth in the world with the global average age of 70 years. Our citizens are able to enjoy longer longevity where a large part is credited to a world-class healthcare system and greater awareness of a healthy lifestyle. Should there be a breakthrough in science and medicine that enables us to live much longer, more PG Fund will be needed. Mdm Speaker, I would also like to call for more transparency in healthcare costs for medicine and treatments.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak on the Pioneer Generation Fund Bill. This Bill is, by far, one of the boldest and most generous initiatives undertaken by the PAP Government in looking after the welfare of our senior citizens. This fund is set up with a noble aim to recognise and thank each and every of our Pioneer Generation Singaporeans for their contribution in making Singapore what it is today. This Fund will greatly alleviate theirs and their families’ anxiety and concerns on healthcare bills as they live out their golden years. Since September 2014, many of our 450,000 Pioneer Generation Singaporeans had experienced a significant reduction in their healthcare cost. Many, who did not qualify for the Pioneer Generation Package, came to see me at my Meet-the-People session (MPS) to appeal for inclusion in view of the benefits experienced by their Pioneer Generation friends. In last Friday's Straits Times article, it was reported that many seniors who have not seen a dentist in a very long time are finally getting their teeth checked and fixed. Some 24,000 PG seniors visited the dentists with their PG Card in hand. Currently, the large healthcare discounts for the Pioneer Generation are almost in full swing except for the subsidies of medicines and premiums for MediShield Life. Nonetheless, members of our Pioneer Generation are generally happy with the benefits of the PG Package. The total cost of the PG Package in nominal terms will be slightly over $9 billion, and, with the accumulated interest over time, it is projected that the Pioneer Generation Fund will be enough to pay for the full cost of the package. Hence, sustainability is an important consideration with this package.”
“I want to thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his response that more stations will be wi-fi ready and, hopefully, it will be nation-wide. I think it is a given that all of us would need it. So, I would hope that the Ministry could roll out wi-fi in all the MRT stations, as commuters will have a need for it. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: The Member has made a good point, Madam. Nevertheless, we want to make sure that we roll it out in a manner that will be able to reach out to many people without much of a hiccup. Today, we are testing out the whole process. It has been well-received. Nevertheless, we want to see how we can facilitate it better. So, I assure the Member that we are seriously looking into it because at the end of the day, we are committed to enhancing the travel experience of our commuters.”
“I am heartened that the Government has taken the lead to extend the re-employment age to 67 years. My supplementary question is that although I am glad to note that nine out of 10 are offered re-employment in the Public Service, I would like to know what assistance is given to Public Service employees who are able and want to continue working but are not re-employed in the Public Service. My last question is: will the Public Service also take the lead in re-engineering the workplace so that older workers can stay employed longer and be more productive as well? What are some of the initiatives undertaken by the Public Service, if any?”
“She currently works at Dover Park Hospice and will be pursuing a Diploma in Nursing course starting this October. Lay Kian demonstrates an inspiring sense of determination and resilience. This quality is more important than any paper qualifications. At her age, she continued to pursue lifelong learning even when it was difficult. Learning new skills when one has gone past the conventional school-going age is never easy, but Lay Kian has shown us that personal determination and resilience can make it possible. In closing, let us not allow any lack of paper qualifications, even age, be barriers to have a fulfilling and rewarding career. Older workers can aspire too and should be given equal opportunities. I urge employers, parents and education institutions to come together and value our precious human talents regardless of their starting points. Let us re-define "success" and embrace a fair meritocracy that will uplift all segments of our society, providing each with equal opportunities and many pathways to achieve their own aspirations. Indeed, we are not scaling to reach a single summit but enabling all of us to reach the many different peaks of a wide mountain range. Madam, with this, I support the Motion. Page: 104”
“We are now faced with the rapid rise of smart machines and systems, emergence of new media ecology, super-structured organisations, a globally connected world and an ageing population. These disruptive drivers are reshaping the future landscape for our workforce. With a rapidly ageing population, coupled with the fast changing outlook of the modern workplace, workers in the future will also need to be adaptable lifelong learners. Many senior workers may have wanted to pursue a certificate, diploma or degree when they were younger but were unable due to financial constraints or family obligations. Employers and our educational institutions can also look at welcoming our senior workforce to pursue their passion for lifelong learning to gain knowledge and expand their horizons in their field of interests. This June, I had the pleasure of attending the ITE College Central Graduation Ceremony. I would like to make mention of a special graduand, Ms Liaw Lay Kian. Lay Kian is a NITEC in Page: 103 Nursing graduate who enrolled for her NITEC at age 50 and graduated this year at age 52 which is three times the age of most her graduating cohort. She could not pursue her studies earlier as she had to care for her bed-bound father-in-law for 16 years and her ailing husband for 10 months before he passed away. Lay Kian has intimate and first-hand knowledge of the toll illness can take on the family and can empathise with the patients and their families' struggles. She brought her passion in palliative care to Dover Park Hospice as a volunteer and then enrolled into a Nursing course at ITE. At 50 years, she found it daunting to go back to school but her determination and resilience saw her achieving an almost perfect GPA of 3.94 which earned her the Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal.”
“Under the Pell Grant Program, it costs the American taxpayers more than US$30 billion each year and yet American students periodically do not do as well comparatively. On the other hand, Germany's vocation trainings are based on the enlightened view that not everyone will benefit from a university education. The expensive resources can be better allocated elsewhere. A notable success story of Germany's new belief system is the famous chef, Claus-Peter Lumpp. Chef Lumpp's story could just be one of the many who drop out of schools in our mainstream education. His mother gave him permission to leave school, but only if he found an apprenticeship. Lumpp landed one in the kitchen of the Hotel Bareiss in 1982. Today, Lumpp's Restaurant Bareiss has a three-star rating from the prestigious Michelin guide and most of the chefs in his kitchen were mentored under the same system that brought his talents to the fore. As a result of this system, few Germans find themselves unemployable. The youth unemployment rate, for example, was just 7.7% in February, well below that of the US and the euro zone as a whole at 23.9%. In this regard, Mdm Speaker, our employers need to play their part to give priority in nurturing deep skills and developing the potential of our workers. Many other countries are strait-jacketed in their policies, with many young people with general degrees who have the expectation that they would obtain lofty professional jobs commensurate with their qualifications. We need to stay away from such gridlock. In some of these same countries, workers with essential skills were able to get ahead in life with better pay and career prospects. Mdm Speaker, our world is fast changing.”
“People must believe that apprenticeships are viable and worthwhile options for them to have a sustained and fulfilling career. Employers must also adopt a holistic approach in the development of their workers. Employees can be placed in jobs that could enable them to hone deep skills and provide scope for developing their career growth and progression. Employers can better outreach to employees with succinct communication of the company's training and development framework. The Building and Construction Authority Apprenticeship programmes introduced since 2012 not only help firms to upgrade their existing local tradesmen, the programmes also offer vocational pathway to an academic route. Most importantly, upon completion of these programmes, the apprentices will qualify to be registered as Core Trade tradesmen or foremen. Such recognition for their trade specialisation is critical in the success of the Apprenticeship programme. Parents are naturally anxious about their children's future and may seek assurance that indeed without a degree, their children can progress and be recognised at their work place. The task forward will take time to generate the buy-in. With the resolve of the Tripartite Committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman to give weight and to drive the process forward, I look forward to more industry partners and employers adopting a structured apprenticeship model where Polytechnic and ITE students, who have demonstrated their ability to combine academic and work skills, are the kind of workers for the new economy. Page: 102 Let me share a case in point of Germany's experience as compared to the United States' dual focus on preventing students from dropping out and getting them into universities.”
“Singapore has been successful in its economic restructuring since 1965, due largely in part to its ability to establish a close relationship between policies for skills formation and the demand for skills at each base of the country's economic growth. One of Singapore's great achievements in education is an early emphasis on technical training to develop a workforce that is continually relevant and employable. Singapore's ability to anticipate and adapt to changing trends and employment landscape has been critical in future-proofing our workforce. Page: 101 The ASPIRE report is not just about providing more opportunities for Polytechnic and ITE students to progress but also our continual effort to anticipate and make our workforce future-ready. The post-European crisis has churned out some valuable lessons for Singapore. Germany's successful model of apprenticeship has spared the country from the worst of Europe's crisis. Whilst our younger new job entrants as well as some existing employees would be happy with the prospect of careers tied less to a paper qualifications but more to their applied skills and job performance, one cannot underestimate the width and breadth of change that is needed. While the efforts of the ASPIRE Committee are commendable as well as the Government's willingness to accept all the recommendations, it is one thing to have these fine recommendations but another if the practices on the ground are not in sync. Society's mindsets and cultural changes are needed for ASPIRE and the new employment culture to achieve its intended objective. For the recommendations of ASPIRE to be successful, much work is needed to boost recruitment and recognition of apprenticeship programmes.”
“This emphasis on paper qualifications, or worse, the idea that a degree of any type is needed for future success, has permeated parts of our society. In the minds of some, this has mutated into a sense of entitlement, where there is a belief that once a person has a degree, regardless of what one wants to do, that person should be given a job with pay commensurate to the degree. I must reiterate that I am not at all saying that degrees are no longer valuable or worth pursuing. Rather, it is the pursuit for degrees sake, regardless of its relevance to the worker or his job that needs validating. Big changes in mindsets will be called for if this mental shift is to be practicable. Whilst meritocracy has transformed our country from Third to First world in a short span of 49 years and benefited Singapore and its citizens, it can be argued that the time has come for us to relook this primary "key" which unlocks the doors to opportunities. Can there not be other alternative keys which may also unlock those same doors? Or perhaps the issue can be seen in another way, where the idea of "meritocracy" is not equated or so closely intertwined with "academic achievements", such that other forms of achievement can also be recognised on equal footing as "meritocracy"? I submit that such non-academic achievement must include work skills, experience, or even recognised knowledge acquired possibly in ways not linked to examinations or written tests. In essence, we must strive for a fair meritocracy to ensure that equal opportunities will benefit all segments of our society.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion as it is both timely and a step in the right direction. A fundamental tenet underlying the Committee's approach was that all Singaporeans should have opportunities to realise their full potential and progress in life, regardless of their starting point. Many Members of this House have spoken about this and I, too, strongly support this key tenet. Indeed, we must make available to as many people as possible multiple routes to a successful and fulfilling life and career rather than solely based on paper qualifications. In a young and developing country like Singapore, it is important that every citizen is developed to the best of his or her ability and, as far as possible, every citizen should be helped to achieve a position where he can best contribute to society and also find the most fulfilment. As such, this message, that opportunities will be given to all, regardless of academic qualifications, needs to be disseminated to all strata of our society, all stakeholders, employers, employees, students as well as parents. Page: 100 I think the central factor to this exercise is how our country and we, as a people, define and celebrate success, and also how we treat and value people and respect every job. It seems naturally ingrained in us that we want to do well and to hope that our children can be successful. Like all parents, we are hopeful that the next generation will do better than the one before. But how do we define what is "better" or "successful"? Meritocracy is an essential and integral part of Singapore's political and social culture for years and academic qualification is often viewed as a stepping stone to getting a secured future, grounded in a good job with better pay.”
“Thank you, Madam. I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. From the many cases I have seen in my Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) and house visits, many seniors aged 55 and above were pretty upset that the GST Voucher is based on the Annual Valuation of their residence because most of them do not own a property. They are cash-poor, but simply because they live with their children, they are denied the benefits. Since the appeal cases are relatively low for those aged 65 and above, would the Ministry consider extending the benefit to these senior citizens?”
“I just want to ask the Minister to answer the last part of my Parliamentary Question on whether the other hospital projects are on course – the Yishun, as well as Jurong Community Hospitals. Are they on track for 2015?”
“I thank the Minister for the reassurance. I have three supplementary questions, Madam. Can the Minister share more on the progress and outcome of the collaboration with the private sector to increase bed capacity? Will this be a long-term solution? Will there be enough resources – doctors, nurses, therapists – to cope with this increase in bed capacity, as well as the provision of home-based medical services?”
“Thank you, Madam. I just want to thank the Senior Minister of State for the fact that the participation of seniors has increased to 65%. I am more concerned as to what the Ministry is doing to reach out to the employers to ensure that there are fair Page: 23 re-employment contracts for these workers. And with an ageing population and more feeling fitter these days, will the re-employment age be moved in the near future?”
“I thank the Minister for the clarification and update. I just want to ask three supplementary questions. The first is that we still have about 60% of the companies which have not embraced the incentive programmes. What else can be done to improve the take-up rate of the Productivity and Innovation schemes? Over the last few years, I think we have been unsuccessful in meeting the productivity target of about 2% to 3%. Can the Minister share with us the estimated productivity goal for this year? And at what point of not meeting the productivity target will the Government consider new measures or tweaking some existing ones that affect business, particularly manpower shortages and rising business cost? Page: 37”
“I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. I do urge the Ministry to reconsider a quick implementation of Medisave for home-based care. I think it is hard for caregivers to take special leave just to bring the elderly to the hospitals and clinics so as to get subsidised medicine and, of course, to use their Medisave. Three quick supplementary questions: one is that the majority of home-based care providers in Singapore are private operators and that could mean home care can be pricey for some and that the standard of care can vary. My first question is whether the Ministry Page: 20 has plans to streamline the quality and price of these service providers. The second question is whether the Ministry can consider extending the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) to home-based care. Finally, home-based hospice care and home palliative care share similar requirements of longer term care at home. Will the Ministry also consider the use of Medisave for home-based hospice care?”
“Thank you, Madam. I just want to thank the Senior Minister of State for her clarification. Just a quick supplementary question. Could you share with us the amount of licensed moneylending in relation to the total consumer credit market, say, over the past year? And how extensively would the Advisory Committee be engaging in terms of its key stakeholders, so that the balance between protecting consumer interest as well as access to credit is preserved?”
“Madam, I would like to thank the Minister for his reply. Two supplementary questions. For low-income applicants to return the disbursed Additional Housing Grant, especially in cash, can be quite a huge burden when they annul their marriage as a result of a failed relationship. This is on top of forfeiting the 5% down payment. Can the Minister share with us whether there are other schemes in place to help these financially-challenged individuals to repay the Additional Housing Grant? And can the Ministry also review this penalty of forfeiture fee or accrued interest for low-income individuals who may Page: 33 need to defer the Additional Housing Grant repayment?”
“I would like to assure Mr Giam that there is no room for crony practices in Singapore. If there is any evidence of such practices, I think you should share it with us instead of relying on indices which present an incomplete picture of the situation in Singapore. Page: 68 Mdm Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to say that faith in the old social compact and in the governance of the Government, forged over 49 years of success, will not easily be worn away, but new globalisation trends and challenges will continue to erode it. As policy-makers, our Government needs to be bold and creative enough to re-imagine and re-make a sounder new foundation for its renewal in the coming decades. Building trust, both between the people and the Government, and among citizens, would go a long way towards mending social fault lines and build on social equity. With this, I thank the President for his Address.”
“The index is too simplistic. It looks at the wealth of billionaires in sectors, such as finance, oil and real estate, which The Economist claims to be prone to cronyism in many countries. It does not examine or identify actual cronyism or rent-seeking behaviour in each country. Just because they are billionaires in these sectors does not mean that they must make their money through cronyism. Nor can we charge a sector in Singapore as being prone to graft and rent-seeking just because it is so in other countries. As The Economist article itself pointed out, some countries have competitive markets in the sectors The Economist labels as crony sectors. Singapore's intolerance of graft is well-known internationally. Reputable international rankings have consistently placed Singapore as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. For instance, the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Singapore as the fifth least corrupt country in the world. Mr Giam also neglected to say that the same article in The Economist also placed Singapore top of the list in terms of institution quality. Our high ranking in these indices is a strong recognition of the clean and meritocratic system we run in Singapore. First, our laws against corruption are applied consistently. There are no exceptions made to anyone. Second, we uphold meritocratic principles where rewards are tied to one's efforts and performance. Third, we have created a conducive business environment that enables companies to compete on equal terms. Singapore has been ranked the easiest country to do business in for several years according to the World Bank Doing Business Report. The Competition Act also protects consumers and businesses from anti-competitive practices.”
“As there are already 250,000 people who are aged 70 and above, our capacity for respite and day-care facilities is currently lacking and needs to catch up quickly. In addition to the Health Ministry's Home Care Development Plan, I would like to urge the Ministry to extend the use of Medisave for home-based care services including physiotherapy and medication. As Medisave can be used to cover hospital ward fees but not home-based care, people will tend to choose to stay in the hospital and for longer, as they want to make use of their Medisave rather than use their own cash. In addition, medication for home-based clients is not subsidised, many elderly with severe mobility issues still make their way to polyclinics so as to get the subsidised medication, which is a further load again on our caregiver. Singapore's economy has performed well over the years and provided good jobs for Singaporeans. Businesses have thrived in Singapore because we have maintained strong economic fundamentals, an open and business-friendly environment, sound infrastructure, a highly educated workforce, good governance and, importantly, fair and transparent Page: 67 business practices and low corruption. These are key competitive advantages that we must protect and ensure that we remain competitive. In the debate, Mr Gerald Giam said that the Government must be on guard against rent-seeking behaviour, especially in major industries. I fully agree. That is why the Government introduced the Competition Act in 2004 and established the Competition Commission of Singapore to protect consumers and businesses from anti-competitive practices of private entities. However, Mr Gerald Giam is wrong to allude that there is crony capitalism in Singapore based on The Economist's Crony-Capitalist Index.”
“According to the latest Population Trends, in a mere 20 years, the number of old people living alone has increased three folds from 32,400 in 1992 to 109,500 Page: 66 last year. Even as we address the upstream issue of raising the fertility and replacement rate of the population, there is a critical need to attend to the issue concerning our senior citizens who are living alone. These lonely seniors face psychological problems, like depression, associated with loneliness. This brings up the even greater spectre of old folks dying alone. This is a sad and morbid issue to consider but we must tackle this issue head on. Mdm Speaker, behind every sick who ages in place and in dignity is his or her dedicated caregiver. According to figures from the latest National Health survey in 2011, about 210,000 people are looking after the elderly. I am sure this number is much higher today. Caregivers' needs are diverse and, at times, can be intensive. We must do more to alleviate the burden of these caregivers as most may have to work while caring for their elderly sick or non-ambulant elderly parents. Most chronically ill elderly would usually have more than one problem and many caregivers had to take substantial time off from work to bring them for medical checkups, follow-up treatments, appointments and rehabilitation. I join in the call to have Eldercare leave legislated to support our caregivers. As caregiving can be intense and heavy, more can be done to also support the mental and emotional needs of our caregivers. Whilst we recognise how far our healthcare has come, I would like to ask for the Ministry to look at building a support structure for these caregivers so that they can get access to all the help and schemes without having to go through several doors.”
“While staying employed will help build their retirement savings, it is also very much about self-worth, dignity and productive ageing. It is hard to imagine how one can get a quality of life in living out one's remaining years in idleness, or being only semi-ambulatory. This is the single most important reason why I have been pushing this in Parliament for the removal of retirement age, extend the re-employment age, compensate senior workers fairly for work rendered and narrow the employer's CPF contribution gap with our younger workers. When people stay gainfully employed, they have a sense of self-worth and achievement, something which they cannot gain from financial assistance provided by the Government or the Pioneer Generation Package. We must encourage our seniors towards productive and meaningful ageing. I want to emphasise the need for a mindset change and how we perceive our older workers. Our society, in fact, is a fast-ageing one. As the Health Minister, Mr Gan, rightly said, "Longevity is a blessing and growing old should be something to look forward to." Our society, our employers, in particular, must change their attitude on seniors' ability to contribute. Our employers can embrace the five "Rs" for older workers – Recruit, Re-employ, Redesign, Recognise and Respect. The Government and companies must ensure that our seniors age productively and contribute to a vibrant society. In short, Madam, moving forward, we need to be more creative in the way we organise our society to fully utilise the resources of a workforce with more elderly and fewer young people. The $8 billion Pioneer Generation Package is important in addressing many of the concerns of our people but we can do more. By this, I am referring to the growing trend of old people living alone.”
“This is a fact of life in Singapore. This is causing many people to be mindful, if not fearful, of whether it would continue to be affordable to live in Singapore, especially with the obvious rising costs. Our Government needs to tackle the cost issue so that all Singaporeans, no matter what their background or income levels are, feel assured. We need to win the hearts and minds of our people and our older folks need to have peace of mind when they retire. This takes me neatly to my next subject, which is, our seniors. The scenario of having to plan and deal with a longevity economy is no longer an academic exercise. The need for more Page: 65 medical services will increase. The country, as a whole, will be moving slower. More people may be less ambulant, which places additional demands and strains on our physical and social infrastructure. Singapore's life expectancy is at the very top when compared with the rest of the world. Our average life expectancy at birth stood at 82 years in 2011, making it a joint fourth with Italy and just behind Japan in Asia. Although it is good to know Singaporeans are living longer and that longevity is a blessing, many seniors remain worried about their declining health, financial adequacy, possibility of family neglect and abandonment. This leads me to my pressing concern, which is the statutory retirement age of 62. Notwithstanding the encouraging statistics of seniors' participation rate in the workforce, there are still many who are made to retire too early at a young age of 62 or are re-employed at less than desired terms and pay. Our seniors would be idling around for a good 18 to 20 years. This is a potent recipe for mental and chronic illnesses.”
“However, we must not take this for granted as social divisions can quickly developed in an increasingly diverse society. Whilst there are established fault-lines like race, religion and language, other possible fault-lines like social classes, nationalities and enclaves may emerge. Our Government has to stay alert to any rifts and keep the trust people have for one another intact. Mdm Speaker, many around the world consider Singapore a wealthy country. In fact, our infrastructure and public service are both given very high marks by many agencies and Governments alike all over the world. Many would not hesitate to think and say that if you are able to live in Singapore you must be rich. We are in the minority of countries around the world that is able to present a Budget of $8 billion to reward some 450,000 citizens belonging to our pioneer generation without too much of a dent on our reserves or the pockets of our citizens. Notwithstanding our relatively low Consumer Price Index, Singaporeans all round feel that the cost of living is increasing for some time now. For the 105,000 families earning less than $1,500 a month, they may be feeling the pinch even though there are many assistance schemes around to buffer against price increases. We are currently facing a tight labour economic situation coupled with meteoric rise in property and rental prices in Singapore. Rising rentals affect all kinds of small businesses like hair salons, book stores, coffee shops, eateries and provision shops. Any adverse effect on business cost directly affects the ability of the working class to feed their families. When the economy is doing well, coupled with a tight labour market and rising prices of goods, there is a domino effect on all sectors of society.”
“Trust can also be engendered if the populace has a better appreciation and understanding of the issues and challenges facing Singapore. However, no government is perfect, has 20-20 vision or a crystal ball that provides all the right answers all of the time. However, for trust to take place, the Government must have the gumption and courage to make unpopular decisions, the humility to admit when there is a failing and the will to make corrections and changes to policies. Singapore has progressed from Third to First World in a very short 49 years with many foreign observers having labelled Singapore a miracle story. As the country tries to solve its present day problems with new ideas, policies and solutions, these will bring about new sources of discontent. According to Henry Petroski, a prolific engineering writer, "Form follows failure", meaning "Every step forward begins with a discontent." As our country evolves, so have the expectations of our people. Such rising expectations are signs of progress which perpetuates future innovations and solutions. Look around us; the schemes and services we enjoy today are results of past discontentment and complaints. This does not mean that the louder the shout, the faster or higher the Government has to Page: 64 jump. Where some things may fail or not meet our expectations, there are a whole lot more that works well in our country day to day. The key thing is that our citizens appreciate how far we have come as a country, how life has improved from one generation to the next, while at the same time acknowledging that life could still be better. Our Government spared no effort in ensuring that social equity and trust amongst our people remain strong and robust.”
“Collectively, the Government and the people came together, shared their aspiration, hopes and concerns to forge our common future together. This must be an on- Page: 63 going effort so that we will continue to strengthen trust and accountability between the Government and fellow Singaporeans, and promote mutual understanding among its people. Apart from communicating better on the rationale behind Government policies, obtaining "buy in" from our citizens would benefit from a healthy dose of trust. Being better able to communicate with our people means we need to have trust in both directions. In an article, William Hatcher, a political commentator based in the US, noted that the trust people had in the US government has dropped significantly from post-World War II, at 70%, to the current level of about 30%. This development may be endemic of modern society, but it does not mean that we should stand idly by and accept it. Instead, we need to redouble our efforts to engage the populace and enhance the trust of our people in the Government. We need to strengthen social and political capital by increasing the level and quality of citizen participation in governmental decisions and be more transparent in the way we arrive at our policies. In one stroke, we foster greater citizen "buy in", provide explanations and encourage more people with good ideas or improvements to speak up and add their contribution to the nation. Our Government will also need to trust our people more and perhaps be perceived less as being paternalistic. Citizens can be empowered in shaping Singapore by enlarging active citizenry in policy formulation and post policy implementation.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to participate in the debate on the Motion of thanks to the President. At the heart of a country is its people. I welcome the notion of "inclusiveness" which is a strong theme that resonates throughout the President's speech and the key performance driver in the Government's work plan. The President has outlined the Government's goals to strengthen safety nets for the vulnerable and elderly, build strong families and communities, improve quality of life for all, and create more opportunities for both working adults and the young. I fully support that. As the Government renews its pledge to build a better Singapore with a brighter future, all Singaporeans are also urged to participate actively in charting the success of Singapore for themselves and generations to come. The critical questions facing us since 2011 are how successful has this Government been in reaching a common understanding with our people; how well have we been in meeting the demands of our people, and how much traction does the Government's views and policies gained with its people. The element of trust between the Government and the Governed is vital. Trust can be looked at in three ways; the Government's trust in our people, the people's for the Government and the mutual trust people have for each other. Trust builds social capital and they are mutually reinforcing – social capital generates trusting relationships and in turn produces social capital. One of the significant steps the Government has embarked on to shore up social capital since the last Election is the massive public engagement exercise – Our Singapore Conversation.”
“Mdm Speaker, a quick question for the Second Minister on whether there is an ASEAN response plan and what kind of collaboration among the defence forces of ASEAN nations can be deployed such as information-sharing, security alerts on flight routes, as well as crisis Page: 44 management, in light of this unfortunate event.”
“Similarly, given the open nature of comments posted on social media websites, for example, Facebook, comments which may put a person in a bad light, but not specifically directed at a person's webpage, that is public gossip, also may not be harassment, even though the person being commented upon may not feel too good, and may be considering using the law. It is all about a matter of degree. The Protection of Harassment Bill needs to have the deftness of water finding its own level, regardless of the form of its container. It is about striking a fine balance of protecting the public while not stifling free speech. It is legal taichi. With that, I support the Bill. 5.45 pm”
“Such harm commonly occurs to victims, and it would provide clarity for the public for the Government to state whether such claims are allowed under the eventual Act. Under the existing Criminal Procedure Code, the Courts have the power to order persons convicted of any offences to pay compensation to victims injured by their crimes. It would be useful, for public knowledge, for the Government to clarify that this power extends to persons who are sentenced by the criminal courts for harassment or stalking offences. Madam, notwithstanding what Home Affairs Minister had assured this House of the adequacy of the Home Team, we are all aware of the tight labour shortage all sectors of the Singapore economy is facing. I fear that there may be little additional manpower that may be allocated to the policing of harassment, especially cyber harassment. Moreover, we need to guard against an environment of paranoia, of being over-protective, or having people who think they are victims of harassment and make reports at the drop of a pin. Not everything which is irritating or bothersome is harassment. Hurtful or insulting statements may not always be Page: 130 harassment. Checking up another person's profile on a social media website may not, by itself, constitute stalking. The general public need to be educated as to what constitutes harassment or stalking. We need to ensure that criticism is not stifled. For example, if an artist's work is heavily criticised online and in a non-gentle manner, this, while possibly impolite, is not harassment.”
“It is also a safety issue, since harassment and stalking can subsequently lead to violent acts, both on the part of the victims who may self-harm themselves in despair, or taking their own violent action against the perpetrator; or, on the part of the perpetrators with unfulfilled longing leading to violence. Page: 129 All such outcomes should be avoided as far as possible. It is heartening to see that some of these concerns, especially about public safety, have been addressed in the Bill, with the introduction of Protection Orders for victims of harassment and stalking. This is a logical and effective extension of the Women's Charter protection regime, and useful experience can be gleaned from that well established framework. The Women's Charter also provides for a quick and relatively inexpensive way for women under threat to obtain Personal Protection Orders, without the need for lawyers, unless the allegations are fiercely contested. This ensures that those people who are in need of such Protection Orders can obtain them expeditiously and without taking a hit on the pocket. It would be good if such a framework is also put in place for victims of harassment or stalking, which would go towards allowing them quick access to protection without having to expend much resources of their own. On a related area, I note that the Bill does provide for civil remedies, like damages, for acts of harassment or stalking. Under the law of torts, in the common law, a claim can be made by the victim for "nervous shock" or "pain and suffering" which the victim suffers arising from the perpetrator's acts. The Bill appears to be silent on this aspect, on whether claims for such psychological harm can be made by victims of harassment or stalking.”
“A single innocuous post in a social website can be re-posted in multiple websites within minutes, if not hours, and removing the material from one website is scant comfort for a victim, if the same material had been reproduced ad nauseam. It may thus be necessary for the eventual Act to be effective in combating harassment, especially online harassment, to give the authorities the ability to respond quickly to allegations of harassment. While the Bill's original intent is noble enough, the execution may exacerbate the pains victims felt. Victims may face extreme difficulty in identifying who the perpetrator is, especially when it is done through the Internet. Victims do not have the powers or means to conduct investigations on their own and find out who the perpetrators are, before reporting the matter to the Police. For all intents and purposes, the perpetrator may not have broken any law yet for the Police to make an arrest. All they can usually do is to report to the Police that someone is harassing or stalking them, and provide only online identities. We cannot expect victims of harassment or stalking to be able to identify their tormentors, or even be able to give much information about the identity of the perpetrators. Police should not simply turn away or file away such cases on the basis that there is no suspect identified, but should consider devoting some resources to investigating such cases, especially where the incidents of harassment are serious. This is especially so since the Police have far more thorough investigative powers as compared to individuals. For individuals to hire private investigators is usually prohibitively expensive.”
“In particular, I will be touching on the difficulties of identifying the perpetrator of harassment or stalking, especially when the acts are done through social media, which is pervasive in our society. Legislating against the wrongful acts is one thing, but enforcement is another. While there can be clear legislation as to what acts are prohibited under the new Act, there is still a need, under the provisions of the Act, for the perpetrator of the harassment or stalking to be identified before action can be taken. On a related note, while the authorities have the power to compel the taking down of material which contravenes the Act, we need to keep in mind that the vast majority of social media is located overseas, and the foreign service providers are often slow and careful in taking down material, unless the person who posted the material gives instruction or takes it down himself. This also requires the identification, if not the presence of the perpetrator. And this is where some difficulty lies. A lot of harassment and stalking can be done through the anonymity of the Internet, through social media websites like Facebook, which have massive penetration in Singapore. The short messaging system Whatsapp is said to be adding one million new users daily. It is easy for harassers to create new accounts and use these accounts to commit acts of harassment, without Page: 128 betraying their true identity to the victim. I fear that pulling the perpetrators out of the shadows may be as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. A lot of emotional, psychological and physical harm inflicted through the harassing acts committed online can also propagate very quickly through social networks.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for the opportunity for me to debate on this timely Bill that seeks to address an existing gap in our current law. Although we may not be forerunners in this area of the law globally, credit must go to the Minister for Law and the Attorney-General's Chambers for putting up this Bill. This is, indeed, a comprehensive Bill, which would go a long way of according new levels of protection to victims of harassment and stalking, both in the real and cyber world. Indeed, it is a long time coming that our current laws Page: 127 need to catch up with social media and new crimes in the cyber world. In a 2012 Microsoft study, Singapore had the second highest rate of online bullying after China among young people. Where traditional bullying was confined to verbal or physical intimidation, the social media has given the bullies a longer arm to torment, harass and humiliate their victims, even right into their own bedrooms. This Bill comes most appropriately at a time when there is rising concern that cyber bullying is on the rise. This is sufficiently serious to warrant the authorities to take notice and provide victims access to protection and justice. As shared by the Minister earlier, there were many news reports, from other countries and Singapore, where teenagers and even adults have been driven to harmful actions, even suicide, from cyberbullying and harassment. This is not something which Singapore should have the ignominy of experiencing. A Bill like this needs to balance the rights of free speech and the need to protect victims from harassment. Although I am confident MinLaw works hard at striking that balance, may I add my observations which I believe more can be done for victims?”
“Can the Ministry update us on the take-up rate of home-care services and the plan to grow such services? With more top-ups to seniors' MediSave Accounts, it is timely for us to review its usage to render more help, with home-based care expenses, non-standardised medicines as well as nursing home fees. On nursing homes, I urge the Ministry to step up the make-over programme and raise the bar of our existing nursing homes so as to shirk off its stigma as a place of last resort, the place to die alone or a place of abandonment by their children. Our nursing home should be a place where seniors are cared for clinically and emotionally, a place where they can age actively and with dignity. Can the Ministry update us on the progress of the make-over programme as well as the implementation of the nursing home standards? Healthcare 2020 Masterplan comes with a holistic plan of integrated healthcare that allows for seamless treatment from acute to step-down to home-based medical or palliative care. Given challenges in terms of manpower to complement these expanded facilities, can MOH advise that the Masterplan is on track for 2020? Finally, building an inclusive and a caring environment for our seniors where they are valued, cared for and loved by those around them, as they age in their homes and the community, is a shared responsibility. We must harness the community spirit, the strength of families and the close collaboration of the public and private sectors to collectively help our seniors to age in place with grace and dignity. Page: 58 Expanding the Cover of 3Ms”
“Mdm Chair, Singapore's healthcare expenditure has averaged around 4% of GDP and this is low when compared with many developed countries. This is modest, bordering on low, but achieving fairly good outcomes. Can we achieve better outcomes? I believe we can and can do more to remove Singaporeans' anxiety over their healthcare bills as they grow older. Our healthcare system hinges on what some call personal responsibility or others label it "co-payment". Some have argued that because of the benefits of preventive medicine, the co-share of health or cancer screening should be kept to a minimum. I am for a smaller co-share to encourage personal responsibility and to look after oneself, but not total eradication, as this encourages a buffet syndrome on healthcare. The Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs) of restructured hospitals like SGH are highly utilised. Now, with more subsidies at SOCs, it would be quite a Page: 57 shame if the high quality of our facilities and medical professionals is dented because the kinks of high demand and long waiting time for a referral at the clinic and queues for medicine are not ironed out. I do hope that the Government can look at alleviating transport concerns by enhancing the Seniors' Mobility Fund to include seniors who are strapped with chronic illnesses but not wheelchair ambulant and have to make frequent visits to hospitals or clinics. We need to do more to enhance eldercare and, in particular, palliative care. At the moment, they left palliative care very much to the immediate family. By which time, they may have exhausted their resources in the face of terminal chronic diseases. I urge the Ministry to do more to assist end-of-life care.”
“I hope the Minister can develop ambassadors for sports and have them share in the community. Page: 30”
“Thank you, Madam. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary spoke about the importance of keeping our heritage alive. I know that there is a heritage grant scheme to achieve this objective. I would want to check with the Senior Parliamentary Secretary on the progress of this scheme, how many have taken up this scheme? Can he share with us the types of projects that have been supported? The second clarification is for the Minister to see how we better profile and develop our sports ambassadors. How do we leverage on their popularity and achievements? For me, I have the privilege of listening to Mr C Kunalan sharing his achievements in school. Students may not know him, but after a session, I tell you they were totally in awe. He is a giant not only in sports, but also as a person —”
“Sir, sports inculcate valuable qualities, such as teamwork, shared responsibilities, uphold team interests, fair play and sportsmanship. Also, sports help people to stay healthy and fit, and bond our people and nation together. As such, apart from rallying behind elite sports, more can be done to encourage and build a broad-based interest in sports amongst Singaporeans across all ages and from all walks of life. How does MCCY intend to achieve this? The Super Sports Club – the key recommendation under Vision 2030 Sports Masterplan – endeavours to be a public sporting club. Can the Minister provide an update on the progress of the Super Sports Club and Active SG? Many of our residents have asked for the use of common sports facilities in schools and other sporting facilities in their neighbourhood. What is the status of MCCY's attempt to work with schools, colleges and tertiary institutions to open their facilities for community use? Perhaps MCCY can share with us some of the obstacles in achieving this goal and share how we may get around them Page: 158 and make sports accessible and inclusive for all Singaporeans. Partnership with National Sports Associations (NSAs)”
“Mdm Chair, it is almost 10 months since admission to the museums is made free to Singaporeans and PRs. Has the public responded positively to the free admission? Museums tend to focus on producing outputs such as attendance numbers, collections and programmes to assess how well they are doing. I hope the Ministry can focus more on museum outcomes and impact on visitors' experiences. It is not about how much, how big or how many but how the museums are able to develop its audiences as regular users and extending its relevance and collaboration with the community. The museum experience should not be restricted by its four walls or opening hours but also reaches outwards to the community. Apart from the onsite engagement, our museums can leverage on online, mobile and social media platforms to reach out and build meaningful relationships with its users. Can the Minister share with us MCCY's strategies to ensure that our museums stay relevant, to continue to evoke positive visitors' experiences and repeat visits? What plans are in place to ensure that the Singapore Story presented in our National Museums remains resonant, relevant to Singaporeans, especially in light of our 50th anniversary?”
“Mdm Chair, the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) was introduced in 2009 to help seniors monetise their HDB flat and boost their retirement income. The number of seniors taking up the HDB's LBS went up last year by 240 after rules were relaxed. However, this number reflects a rather lukewarm response to the LBS even after enhancements to the scheme were implemented last year. As our population ages, we do need to look at more ways to help our elderly who wish to monetise their flats. Can the Ministry review the low take-up rate of the LBS and look into why elderly Singaporeans today are not considering housing monetisation as the preferred option to enhance their retirement income and age-in-place? Given the number of seniors who are asset-rich but Page: 105 cash-poor, are the monetisation benefits in the Lease Buyback Scheme attractive enough? While some may say they prefer more cash upfront for discretionary use, others are worried that they may outlive their 30-year lease and become homeless, even though assurances were given by HDB that this will not be the case. Is the scheme's low take-up due to a lack of awareness and outreach to elderly Singaporeans? Can more be done to raise awareness of LBS so that those who need to monetise their homes are aware and understand the benefits of the scheme? Would the Ministry review the LBS package and will the scheme also be expanded to include larger flat types so that more can monetise their assets? Attractive Living Options for Seniors”
“Madam, I would like to declare my interest as the President of the Basketball Association of Singapore. Today, we see an explosive growth of TV channels and new viewing opportunities, such as multi-TVs at home, new mobile television services on mobile handsets, tablets and even gaming devices which can deliver content on demand. In spite of these developments, broadcast TV remains, for now, the medium of choice for the masses. Our public service broadcaster must keep its promise as a genuine public service and promoter of a breadth of local programming, including sports. At the last SEA Games in Myanmar, Singaporeans did not get to see much of our athletes competing in 25 out of 30 events, although they brought back 108 medals in total. Public service broadcasting of the Games featuring our athletes is lacking even during off prime-time hours. In our efforts to better rally Singaporeans to support Team Singapore and its athletes, what can the Ministry do to ensure more air time over its free-to-air channels of our athletes competing in regional, national and even school sporting events? Page: 72 Documentaries and Films”
“Mdm Chair, digital transmissions allow broadcasters to send signals more efficiently, enabling viewers to receive better quality images and superior sound. However, the progress in the digital television arena should not be restricted to those who can afford the migration. As I understand it, the cost of migration to digital television requires a set-top box and antenna which is about $129. This is a tidy sum for any low-income family. I am heartened that Minister Yaacob will be announcing plans to help some 170,000 low-income households to benefit from digital television. This is an important initiative as, currently, some of MediaCorp's free-to-air programmes are already in digital format. And by 2020, all analogue programmes would cease. I look forward to further updates from the Minister on this plan and to help low-income Singaporeans access digital television. Consumer Protection in Pay TV Contracts”
“Mdm Chair, one of the key challenges that Singapore is facing is an ageing population. Our seniors continue to remain on the edge of the digital divide. We need to integrate this very special group of users into the mainstream modern digital society. Infocomm media, without doubt, can play a significant role in assisting our elderly to manage their lifestyle, healthcare and active ageing. New developments in the field of ICT open up new possibilities in tele-medicine, applications for home, home use such as remote reading of bio-data such as ECG, blood sugar levels, patient monitoring and supportive actions. I would like to ask the Minister how ICT-ready are our seniors today. How will the infocomm media Masterplan be addressing this challenge and what are some of the ideas identified? It is important for our seniors to be active learners and contributors to society even after they have stopped work. How can our libraries better engage seniors, especially since some seniors may not be highly mobile or digitally literate? Analytics for Social Good”