Denise Phua Lay Peng
Singapore
“Sir, as Singapore ages, disability and ageing will increasingly overlap. The line between disability services and elder care services will blur. Many adults with disabilities face similar challenges as seniors in varying degrees, but at a younger age.”
“But the SPED schools are run by a lot of the other professionals as well such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, coaches and so forth. And I ask for MOE, as it always looks at SPED educators, to also focus on this other very important group; because retention is capacity.”
“Are there other strategies that the Prime Minister will consider, like easier adoption procedures to have more people adopt, more of us Singaporeans adopting? The second is, in terms of immigration as well, to bring in people who are of the right profile and suitable profile to grow our Singaporean population?”
“Enterprise grants should include accessibility compliance requirements. Inclusion cannot rely on goodwill alone. It must be systemically built-in. And finally, move five: on strengthening intermediaries and social service agencies (SSAs). Sir, if AI is to be whole-of-society, then SSAs cannot be left behind.”
“When SSAs become AI-enabled, the most vulnerable of us benefit. In conclusion Sir, Budget 2026 sets an ambitious direction: AI ecosystems, SkillsFuture strengthening, innovation hubs such as Lorong AI and the future AI Park at one-north. Ambition is necessary, but it is execution that determines whether progress is shared.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her assurance, assuring the House that there are indeed alternative identification methods available for those who are unable to use facial recognition. Just a couple of supplementary questions. Number one, are these measures systemic and applicable for all fully digital or not fully digital banks?”
The complete record
Every one of 1,094 lines we hold for Denise Phua Lay Peng, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 13 of 22.
“The number of Allied Educators has grown from 600 in 2009 to more than 2,400 in 2014. Their role can be challenging, especially for those involved in teaching and learning and behavioural management support. I would like to seek the Ministry's update of the AED Page: 99 scheme, the achievements and challenges to date and how MOE might partner further the major disability partners to support and equip these professionals. On Disability Support Offices. In 2013, students with special educational needs in IHLs received the great news that there will be a Disability Support Office or DSO in each publicly funded university, polytechnic, ITE college and arts institutions. This is a game changer and will give excellent support for those students, as support had been inconsistent and dependent very much on the good hearts of individual IHLs. I would like to seek an update on the status of the set-up of these DSOs. On the Special Education Needs or SEN Fund, in the same year, MOE had also announced the setting up of a SEN Fund to help students with physical, hearing or visual impairment. This fund currently does not include the three most common forms of learning disabilities, namely, dyslexia, ADHD and autism. I seek the Ministry's favourable consideration to include these students as candidates for the use of the SEN Fund. Students with special needs in SPED schools. Thanks to the enthusiasm of Minister of State Sim Ann and the Minister, SPED schools have continued to receive much support. There are some gaps that I would like to bring up for attention. First, a portal for teaching materials for core common life skills. After expending a lot of time and resources in developing curriculum framework, it is time for MOE to start populating the framework.”
“Madam, I wish to draw the Ministry of Education's (MOE) attention to three groups of children that I think could be at risk of being left behind. The first is children from lower income families. I am glad that financial assistance and other schemes such as after-school care have been put in place for these children. US research had suggested that students' performance decline after long school holidays, especially for those from families with low income. As Mayor of Central District, I observed that many children from lower-income families engage in little learning or enrichment activities during their school holidays. They tend to lack adult supervision due to the work commitments of their parents and absence of caregivers. This is unlike their peers from more affluent families who can afford additional learning experiences, such as outside enrichment programmes like family vacations. My Community Development Council (CDC) team and I had organised holiday camps for these children, trying to help them close the gap with their more affluent peers. We taught them how to write e-books, play musical instrument, new games and even make and edit movies. However, I fear these efforts on the ground are not systemic and regular enough to make sustainable impact. I urge MOE to work with the relevant partners to ensure that students who lack adult supervision during school holidays can continue to learn and are not being left even further behind their more affluent peers. Next, Madam, on students with special needs in both mainstream schools and the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). The Allied Educator or AED scheme. The introduction of the AED scheme in 2009 was a significant initiative for students with special needs in mainstream primary and secondary schools.”
“Make solid, good subject modules available to all schools, whether they are academic or not, from foundational to typical to advanced levels. Four, exit schools such as the gifted schools or the Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools in the system. Instead of congregating students of the same abilities in one geographic location, assign students of mixed abilities under one roof in classes led by teachers or life coaches. Students can belong to one same base class, but they follow their Individual Education Plan; and in the course of the day, take classes suitable for their own ability and pace with other students of similar learning needs. Part of this is already what we see in the polytechnics and universities. Five, be more aggressive in the use of technology to make available the best education practices and packages available to teachers, students and even caregivers to level up their playing field. And lastly, much more must be done to provide the evidence and experiences that prove that there are many pathways to a good life. Employers, including the public service, must lead the way to find more progressive ways of hiring, promoting and recognising employees beyond the usual academics. Parents who have enjoyed the success of taking the path less travelled must share their experiences. The vision of making every school a good school is a progressive one. It will, however, remain a dream unless all of us in this country work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to make this happen.”
“Many Singaporeans hold dear the mental model that for a good life, you will need good academic results to get into good schools so that you can get into a good university which is the passport to a good job, good salary, good spouse, hopefully good children and the cycle repeats. This is a mental model that cannot be coaxed away. People can only be convinced if they see and encounter sufficient evidence and personal experiences to replace it. Another mental model, this time held by employers including the public service, is that graduates from top schools are more desirable and their academic scores are the key determinants of their ability and potential. Their hiring system reflects that accordingly. The education landscape itself too is shaped by a system which primarily promotes students through academic scores and mainly assigns them to schools based on academic results from high-stakes examinations. Many of these deep-seated mindsets originate from well-meaning intent. Education is, after all, the most obvious and empowering way to social mobility. But unless these underlying structures and mindsets are addressed, it is futile to try to get the buy-in that every school is a good school. And schooling will continue to be a pressure cooker. There are several ways I would like to suggest to get rid of these unhealthy symptoms at the tip of the iceberg. Page: 50 One, get rid of unnecessary high-stakes academic examinations such as the PSLE. Too much time in a primary school is spent preparing students for this. Two, pilot a 10-year integrated through-train school without compromising rigour in both academics and character building. Three, develop a solution-based approach to organising schools and education programmes.”
“Madam, beneath the observable 10% of an iceberg above the water level, is an important 90% of its total mass. It is this 90% beneath the surface that the ocean currents act on and causes the iceberg's behaviour at the top. I would like to apply the analogy of the iceberg to explain why it is still very hard for Singaporeans to believe that every school is a good school. 1.30 pm First, what is observable at the top of the iceberg. The drive to get into what are perceived as the better schools is still relentless. This is despite all the good work that the Minister has done. Top PSLE scores are no longer announced. Ten-year series assessments Page: 49 are made easily available for all. More education awards for good character; ASPIRE and even plans to replace the PSLE T-score system to one that is less competitive. Yet, the belief that some schools are more desirable or better than others still remain. Cut-off points to enter Junior Colleges last year went as low as three points for schools, such as Raffles Institution and Hwa Chong Institution. The tuition industry continues to thrive to a size of probably more than $1 billion now. Even polytechnic students go for tuition these days. The Direct School Admissions or DSA was not encouraging. Parents and students soon found out the best way to ace the DSA system is by excelling in certain co-curricular activities or CCAs that will put them ahead of other candidates. Popular schools now not only attract the best brains but also the best brawn. Back to the iceberg analogy. Beneath what is observable, there are underlying structures and strong beliefs and mindsets that continue to feed the undesirable behaviours. In the interest of time, I will name just a few.”
“But I am very impressed by their enthusiasm and energy. Enterprises like these are not without challenges. They face manpower and cost issues, such as rental, like their larger peers, and they may not yet have the capacity or capability to improve their business model and build for their future. But there is a level of energy, enthusiasm and tenacity about these micro enterprises I observe that prompts me to ask if there is something we can do to nurture them further and not put out that spark too soon. Granted, not all of these micro enterprises will or should succeed, but I urge the relevant Ministries to look deeper into how these small enterprises can be grown and scaled, if appropriate. Size and scale matter in business I know, but not always, especially if they are masters in their class, boutique in nature or serve a specific geographic niche. Who knows if there will be some amongst them who will thrive and become a miracle or improbable success, as termed by ex-Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, like our very own small and beloved country, Singapore? Madam, I hope more will be done on SkillsFuture and also for the SMEs and, especially, micro-enterprises of our country. On that note, Madam, I thank the team which has put together such an excellent visionary Budget. I know that, whether we are going right or left, as long as we are all going forward and not backwards, it will be good for our country. I strongly support the Budget. 5.41 pm”
“A comprehensive deep review of the state of the SME sector should be conducted and recommendations made on what should start, what should stop and what should continue in order to achieve the Government's vision for this sector. Much like the Municipal Service Office (MSO), which is carved out as a separately resourced strategic unit. Next, on Small and Micro Businesses. Finally, Madam, I wish to lend a voice to the many small and micro businesses of Singapore. Many of them employ less than 10 headcounts. They could be start-ups or old brands. Mr Kurt Wee, the CEO of Association of the Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME), told me that there are some 150,000 small and micro enterprises. He calls them the last cushion of employers to provide jobs at this level. Although there is a school of thought that size matters in business and that small enterprises without scale should exit through natural attrition, I urge that we do not write off these small enterprises too soon. These outfits reflect a spirit of entrepreneurship, tenacity and energy we may not want to quench in our country. Not especially when the Government is advocating many pathways of success here. Page: 114 I think of Adrenalin, a high-energy event management company led by a group of very diligent, enthusiastic young people; Butter Studio, known for its preservative-free cupcakes; Amino Bar, a one-stop protein drinks shop that specialises in protein drinks, fresh juices and supplements; and DIY Laundry, a coin-operated laundromat in the Whampoa heartlands. I think of the numerous neighbourhood flower shops, car mechanic workshops, hairdressing and beauty salons. The owner-operators of these micro enterprises did not take the typical path of perhaps even finishing a degree and then working as employees.”
“As I commented at the beginning of my speech, this Government has tried, more than any other government I know, to grow local businesses inside and outside Singapore with a slew of incentives, including setting up of regional SME centres and consultants and so forth. Page: 113 I hope that more incentives will be granted for larger successful local enterprises to buddy, mentor or even start industry-based training academies in the likes of the American Motorola University, MacDonald University and Disney University. Despite the many efforts, things do not seem to have improved as much as desired in this sector. We hear from businessmen, such as Members Mr Inderjit Singh and Mr Thomas Chua, Chairman of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who lamented yesterday the low utilisation of the SME schemes that the Government has provided and called for breakthroughs to address the ground challenges of many SMEs. Up till today, I still hear of unfair tenancy agreements where institutional landlords charge, beyond a base rental, additional rental of up to as high as 30% of the top-line revenue of retail shops/retailers, without the landlords themselves committing to bring in higher shopper traffic through better tenant mix or marketing support. Madam, I support the principle of self-reliance and pro-activity, especially when it comes to business. But I believe that there are significant ground issues in this sector that call for more dedicated resources to study and look into. Dedicated Minister and Team. In this regard, I would like to propose the appointment of a dedicated Minister and supporting team with the relevant track record in businesses to concentrate on this sector.”
“Members of the special needs workforce deserve to be in the main chapters of SkillsFuture – they should not appear only in the footnotes or, worse still, be left out of the SkillsFuture masterplan. Fourth, on how effective learning and training are conducted. Madam, learning in the 21st century takes place in both physical and virtual learning spaces. Learning can be individual or in a classroom or community, it can happen face-to-face or real time at home, remote or at the workplace. For too long, we see classrooms of teacher-controlled learning where information is presented to cohorts of students, without regard for their learning styles, pace and level of knowledge. These hallmarks of old pedagogies should not remain hallmarks in SkillsFuture. In addition, research suggests that the training resources that yield the highest effectiveness are not the training event. It is the analysis and design that are conducted pre-training and the reinforcement that occurs after the training event that produce the higher level of results. Hence, as SkillsFuture rolls out its plans, it should seriously look at the entire training design process. I ask that special attention be placed to ensure that the pedagogy behind SkillsFuture trainings be constantly updated to align with the 21st century and the future of work and that resources be allocated to the pre- and post-training design, not solely on the training event. Finally, on local enterprises. On SMEs of our country, the Government has a vision to grow 1,000 SMEs of $1,000 million turnover each by year 2020, contributing a worth of $100 billion.”
“I, hence, support the creation of a Masterclass Trainer category and some form of recognition scheme for quality trainers in SkillsFuture. Next, on trainees, business owners and leaders. On the same question of who, Madam, I would like to reflect the inputs that SkillsFuture should not be only for those in the worker or executive classes. It is not uncommon to hear trainees lamenting that it is their bosses who themselves need to attend trainings as well. It is not uncommon to hear of business owners, leaders and managers who, by virtue of their positions, expect other people to take on lifelong learning but never think that the need to learn applies to themselves. Sure, they may have different learning needs and styles but, still, it is critical that those who lead or manage others must themselves lead by example and embark on lifelong learning themselves. Special needs workforce. Still on trainees, Madam, I wish to also speak up for those who typically will need more attention and support in the workforce. In an increasingly tight labour market, every person who can work is an asset, part-time or full-time. There is merit in giving a boost to the non-traditional local workforce and, especially those who will need Page: 112 additional help, such as the elderly and those with special needs. More must be done for the special needs adult learners by WDA, xCalibre and other related agencies, in the same progressive way that MOE has catered and funded students with special needs. Many people with special needs can work, if the proper needs assessment, training and support are provided. I urge the state to visibly step up its resources to organisations, such as WDA, xCalibre, SG-Enable, and to employers who hire this special workforce.”
“Beyond simple digital literacy, the SkillsFuture framework should identify core 21st century competencies, such as building one's online presence, online marketing, online shops and digital videos and e-books for training one's staff in both mundane and higher order duties. Page: 111 This will ensure a more inclusive outreach so that those who are not in the identified growth clusters would have access to strong foundational skills and be more future-ready, no matter what industry they belong. Regular audits should also be conducted to ensure that content stays relevant and we must be robust and open enough to arrest future trends. Beware of what innovation guru, Dr Clayton Christensen, called "disruptive innovations or technologies" which can easily displace existing products or services and creating new values instead of merely adding value to existing markets. Third, on who should be involved in SkillsFuture. First, on trainers. Madam, business owners in the SkillsFuture Council, to which I also belong, such as Mr George Quek of BreadTalk, have lamented how some of these past human resource development efforts in their companies yielded little impact because of incompetent trainers. And I agree with his observation. Just as schools qualify and assess school educators, some form of standards – not too onerous – must apply to ensure the quality of those involved in SkillsFuture training. The saying that "those who cannot do, end up training" is not without cause. Good trainers are hard to come by. However, the gems who have both actual work experience and the ability to train and coach effectively must be identified, recognised and deployed in each targeted industry.”
“Madam, although lifelong learning and developing deep skills should ultimately lead to better jobs and security, there is a risk of overly linking training to promotions and higher salaries. Cynics have already started to ask, "What's in it for me in this SkillsFuture?" and question if it is not a boost to the adult training industry or, worse, a chance to use public funds to develop one's hobby. It is important not to overly promise immediate promotions and job salary increases so long as one completes a training. In fact, it is plausible that a number of us may not even get to keep our current jobs if we do not seek to constantly learn and improve. So, my suggestion is this. As we invest the yearly $1 billion into SkillsFuture, we need also to invest in more aggressive communication to Singaporeans about Why the need to learn, to self-drive one's learning and the opportunities that lifelong learning brings and the risks if we do not. Second, on what SkillsFuture should cover, that is, content. To foster deep skills and innovation, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman has announced the focus on the five growth clusters of Advanced Manufacturing, Applied Health Sciences, Urban Solutions, Logistics and Aerospace and Financial Services. While I appreciate that we cannot achieve expertise and advanced capabilities in every area in the economy, I believe it is important to develop a robust SkillsFuture framework that also includes basic core competencies relevant to the 21st century and not only the more advanced capabilities favoured by the state.”
“The first is the introduction of the new income supplement, the Silver Support, for elderly Singaporeans who had not accumulated adequate resources to retire upon. The second is the increase of the top marginal tax rate for the top five percentile of income earners. The increase makes for a more progressive tax system to mitigate income inequality and allows for those with higher ability to pay higher taxes. This is a pleasant surprise from the resistance I faced when I proposed two years ago a higher "Do-Good" tax for top earners in our country to help pay for higher costs in social spending. The third significant item in this Budget is the annual $1 billion SkillsFuture investment to empower every Singaporean to learn and develop throughout life and to deepen their skills for future work. It is this big-ticket item that I wish to caution the Government about. Madam, having owned a training and consulting business before, I learnt one important feature about training. That is, unless training is properly designed, delivered and assessed, it will not lead to either learning, application, impact on one's performance or business outcome. Page: 110 To ensure that SkillsFuture achieves its goals of deepening skills and cultivating the habit of lifelong learning for all Singaporeans, I propose we take a deeper look at the Why, What, Who and How aspects of this important scheme. First, on why SkillsFuture is important. SkillsFuture is about the next phase of investment in the people of Singapore. It aims to help Singaporeans learn lifelong at every age and develop expertise in every field, creating many pathways of success. It is both about taking on better jobs and lifelong security and also about maximising one's potential in life.”
“Madam, Singapore faces critical social and economic challenges as we embark on the next 50 years of our existence. These challenges, amongst others, include: (a) an ageing Population with seniors who may not have sufficient to retire in dignity; (b) a worrying declining or, at best, flat performance in productivity of local firms and workforces, pressured by increasing global competition; and (c) a deepening income gap between Singaporeans who are highly skilled, globally mobile and those who are less skilled and at risk of being chronic low-wage earners. Page: 109 If unaddressed, all three challenges reduce the sustainability of our economy and our jobs; potentially causing conflicts, disunity and instability in our society, crippling our long-term survival. I would like to first talk about changes before Budget 2015. I applaud the Government for having taken various strategic steps to address these social and economic challenges, even before Budget 2015 was announced. The seniors of our country were granted Pioneer Generation status and special benefits. Special employment benefits were also introduced to help employers hire seniors. MediShield Life was introduced to ensure that all Singaporeans are insured for basic healthcare for life, regardless of pre-existing conditions. For the business sector, more than any other governments elsewhere, the Singapore Government has put up a slew of measures to assist local SMEs to innovate, grow and expand. Madam, Budget 2015 introduced more than 30 measures to strengthen the social security and build the future of Singapore. Besides deploying the familiar bag of transfer tools, such as the GST, the SC&C and income tax rebates, Budget 2015 introduced three strategic and significant measures.”
“Where these concerns are valid, such as those of the occasional social drinkers, I trust that the Ministry will adopt a light touch and after a season of implementation, consider if measures could be more lax or removed. For now, I urge Singaporeans to give this Bill a chance and ask the Ministry to review the regulations after a period of implementation. Madam, with that, I support the Bill. Page: 38 3.00 pm”
“In this case, many Singaporeans are not aware when and where the public consultations were held, although these were gazetted and information is published in the mainstream media, in the relevant Ministry websites and the REACH portal. Some people have suggested that, besides these current outreach channels, put up relevant links in, for example, the Prime Minister's Facebook, the Prime Minister having the highest reach so far in social media, I think. There is data. And, perhaps, like even on hon Member Baey Yam Keng's or the rest of our social media, so that the links and communication of these public consultations or the information can be more widespread. Two, it will be useful for the Government also to consider doing a "curtain-raiser" of sorts for Bills, such as this, before its First Reading; not so much to play to popular votes, but to ensure that perspectives previously unheard are surfaced and addressed before finalising any Bill, and if information comes in useful, to be incorporated in the development of the Bills. Information, such as that shared by Minister Iswaran just now and during the Second Reading, about the national data and places where there are higher incidences of public disorders and so forth, I find are very, very useful data. If they were revealed earlier than the First Reading, I think the support for the Bill would have been even higher. As far as public consultations on major policies are concerned, I believe that both citizens and Government can do better. In conclusion, Madam, Singapore has one of the most lax regimes, as far as liquor sale and consumption are concerned today. I am glad we have taken a step, as a country, to be moderate in our approach to this topic. As with most Bills, there are gaps and concerns.”
“It has been asked by some who do not support the Liquor Control Bill if the Bill has "genuine public support". Madam, to be fair to the Ministry, much effort, perhaps more than in other Bills, has been made to consult the public, both for general and specific proposals. The first public consultation, I think, was in October 2013, even before the riot. The truth of the matter is that those who feel strongly about the issue, in this case, liquor control, took the effort to step forth and to let their views be counted. Those who did not step forward and respond to the call for views did not have their views made known or considered. So, does this Bill have support? Well, at least from the people who took the time to respond to the calls for public consultations. Their personal experiences and strong support for some form of restrictions in the sale and public consumption of liquor – not total ban, as in some western countries, but partial restrictions – their views were registered and taken into account in the development of this Bill. So, I would urge Singaporeans who feel strongly about issues to try their very best to make known their views during public consultations and not way after. One of the channels Page: 37 you may wish to consider is the REACH e-Government portal that we have, where I know feedback is taken regularly and seriously analysed to shape Government policies. At the same time, I would also urge the Government to improve its public consultation mechanism. Number one, outreach has to improve; the ways by which we outreach.”
“Madam, the spirit of the legislation, I am sure, is not to target the occasional social drinkers in areas unlikely to attract large congregations, where there is low risk for public disorders arising from liquor consumption. The purpose of this Bill, as I understand, is to target socially-ill behaviours that might cause public disorder, nuisance and even risks to Page: 36 others, especially residents. When I checked with the authorities, they expressed difficulties in trying to draw the boundaries and, therefore, the decision on quite a blunt measure was implemented for now. But still, I urge the Ministry to assure the public that it will apply a light touch in these situations, for example, issue warnings and only take punitive measures through public nuisance. I also urge the Ministry to monitor the implementation of the Bill for a year and consider further loosening the regulations for those areas at lowest risk of public disorder and disamenity arising from liquor incidents. I believe the Bill, in its current form, is flexible enough to allow for changes in regulations. Perhaps, later on, instead of two tiers – liquor-control zone or non liquor-control zone – there could be three tiers – Tier 1 for those at highest risk of public disorder; Tier 2 with moderate risk; and Tier 3 where there is little or no risk. Next, on Current and Future Public Consultations. Madam, I wish to touch on the mode of public consultations for major policies. First, let me clarify that I do not believe that a country should be run by referendum. But I do believe that consulting more people with different views in the population will surface different kinds of perspectives and even blind spots that may be very useful in developing national policies.”
“Some Tekka residents – Minister Lui Tuck Yew's area – want the restriction hours to be extended over the weekend. There are also some opposing voices, too. Merchants, whose businesses depend on the sale of liquor and merchandise to migrant workers in Little India, are affected. And I had, together with Minister Lui Tuck Yew, in and outside this House, urged the relevant Ministries to help these businesses ply their trade, for example, in the large dormitories or the recreation centres for migrant workers. So, Madam, you can imagine the challenges of the Ministry in trying to decide where the boundary should be, because there are so many conflicting demands. I am satisfied that MHA has taken a moderate approach and did not over-extend the number of Liquor Control Zones. Only the top two hotspots, Geylang and Little India respectively, were designated Liquor Control Zones, versus other contenders, such as Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Chinatown and Joo Chiat. In short, the regulations could have been more restrictive but they are not. And for sure, the Bill, when enacted, will bring a lot of respite, especially to our residents in Little India. Next, on Occasional Social Drinkers in Lower-risk Zones. Madam, much of the criticism about the Bill centres on whether it is clamping down on personal freedom. Singaporeans who drink socially at public places, such as BBQ pits along the East Coast or holiday chalets, are concerned that they are now deemed to be committing an offence if they drink beyond 10.30 pm. And if they simply want an occasional beer, they would now require a consumption permit, as mentioned in clause 13 of Part 3 of the Bill.”
“The alcohol curb and security measures that we implemented under this Temporary Act received very positive feedback and were most welcomed by many residents, regardless of race. One interesting indicator was when we began to see more children, especially little girls at our playgrounds now. Many residents want the measures under the Public Order (Additional Temporary Measures) Act to stay, as they worry the upcoming legislation would be more lax, once the Temporary Act expires in March 2015. The shock of the Little India riot of December 2013 was not lost on them. Lest we forget, that riot is the worst public order disturbance in Singapore in more than 40 years. One migrant worker, who triggered the riot, lost his life. Twenty-three emergency response vehicles, including ambulances, were damaged. Out of these, five were burnt. Another seven private vehicles were damaged. Forty-nine Home Team officers sustained injuries. The findings of the Commission of Inquiry confirmed that alcohol was one of the root causes of the incident. Thus, the continued designation of Little India as a Liquor Control Page: 35 Zone is a relief to many of my residents. Madam, I also believe that there is pressure on the Ministry to introduce stronger measures and enlarge or increase the number of Liquor Control Zones. Just outside the Little India special zone, residents who do not live in that zone have protested about more migrant workers crossing over from the special zone to their blocks and their field to drink and to litter. And I just received a petition on this. In Geylang, where my colleague Mr Edwin Tong serves, there was a request by a resident for the common areas in his condominium to be designated as a public area so that the liquor curbs can apply there.”
“Madam, I support the Bill, especially on the setting up of "Liquor Control Zones". Madam, I am one of the Members of Parliament looking after a part of Little India. My colleague, Minister Lui Tuck Yew is the other. Page: 34 Together with many residents, the owners of licensed F&B outlets and religious organisations in my ward, I support the designation of Little India as a Liquor Control Zone. The Bill that provides for Liquor Control Zones has been in the making since 2012. This is even before the Little India riot of December 2013. The trigger for a Bill such as this came from the increasing number of residential complaints and public disorder and disamenity incidents in not only Little India but also places, such as Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Joo Chiat, Geylang and Chinatown. Little India is a popular spot where locals, tourists and migrant workers congregate. For many years, they not only frequent the shops and eating houses in Little India, they – especially the migrant workers – gather in the void decks, the shops on the ground floors of the HDB flats. Minister Lui Tuck Yew's and my feedback to the authorities on behalf of our residents had always been consistent, prior to and after the riot. Return the use of community spaces, such as the void decks and playgrounds in housing estates ,to the residents. Let the tenant mix of shops directly below their housing units be of a more wholesome profile – the unrestricted sale of liquor in bottles stacked from floor to ceiling does not belong to residential zones. These were our calls. The authorities began to seriously heed our call to action. Then, the Little India riot of December 2013 happened. The Public Order (Additional Temporary Measures) Act was subsequently introduced in April 2014.”
“In conclusion, Madam, at last year's July discussion of the White Paper on MediShield Life in this House, Minister Gan spoke about the important blend of three body parts that would make this important scheme a successful reality. He says the Team needs to Listen with their Hearts, to know what are the worries of Singaporeans; to Think with clear Heads and to be Hands-on during implementation and delivery. The Bill has reflected that the Ministry has indeed deployed well their Heads and their Hearts. It is now the time for the most challenging part of the Scheme to ensure that the Hands now deliver. I thank the Team for the excellent work, and I really look forward to a successful albeit a very challenging delivery of this important birth. I urge all Singaporeans to support the Ministry of Health's Team in this very important implementation phase and constructively help to explain, help to improve and help to make this Scheme work. With that, Madam, I support the Bill. 2.35 pm”
“Although Transitional Subsidies will no longer apply then, there is still the permanent bill for Premium Subsidies for the lower- to middle-income families and the Pioneer Generation Subsidies. Other factors will also come into play. With a new-found confidence by members that coverage is now for all and for life with no cap to life-time claim limits whatsoever, the potential of higher and over-consumption is real. With lower co-insurance payments by the insured, will there be a temptation to go for more lavish or boutique services and prescriptions? Added to this is, as most of us know, that by 2030, one in five will be 65 years and older, and almost a million people belong to that group. So what can be done to mitigate the high possibilities of over-confidence, over-consumption, over-prescription that will lead to an escalation of healthcare expenditure and therefore premiums in the long term? Can the Ministry set up a Work Group to look deeper into incentives to look after one's health; to educate Singaporeans on less costly but just as effective medical prescriptions and to develop solutions to reduce over-consumption of healthcare benefits? On the supply side, where would future funding and revenue sources come from if healthcare costs are expected to rise? Even if we dip into the national coffer, is that a wise Page: 63 long-term strategy? A lot of these will have, of course, to do with the ability and the wisdom of the Government of the day; but still, Madam, it would be useful to hear the comments of the Minister on these potential longer-term issues, for the sake of those who come after us.”
“Madam, for those who truly cannot afford, I seek the Minister's assurance that defaulters who cannot pay for good reasons, be treated with not only justice but mercy as well. I am referring to examples of members who live in bigger abodes whose Medisave Page: 62 could have been depleted as a result of serious illnesses or big hospitalisations or business failures or by the sheer fact that they are not employable due to disabilities or chronic illnesses. There may also be households where husbands simply cannot afford to top up the Medisave balances of their non-working spouses, in addition to topping up their own. So besides treating these special defaulters with mercy, may I also suggest that MOH proactively work with MSF to develop a register of vulnerable persons such as these and pay special attention to them? Perhaps a Special "Top Up My Medisave Fund" could be set up and the relevant Ministries could advocate for annual top-ups during Budget time and/or encourage philanthropists or members of the public to contribute to such a Fund and help them top up. Concern three is on sustainability. To help Singaporeans with their MediShield Life premiums, the Government, we understand, will provide close to $4 billion over the next five years. Government is bearing the bulk of the cost of extending coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, Premium Subsidies, Pioneer Generation Subsidies, Transitional Subsidies, all these are borne by Government. All these are well thought out, very thoughtful and deeply appreciated. But what happens after five years and the years after is important food for thought and discussion.”
“Madam, as details on the subject of "pre-existing conditions loading" are not fully released, affordability for those with additional premium loading is a concern. There is also ground fear that the return to a normal premium for these persons after 10 years will apply only to those who have good claims records for the initial 10 years. For those who are chronic or more severe, they worry, perhaps unfounded, that they will be made to continue to pay the same or higher premium loading. These are persons who are currently not covered, because they are born with congenital illnesses, or they have acquired chronic medical problems due to strokes or accidents, prior to the introduction of MediShield Life. Being turned down, being rejected or being made to pay very high premiums was the experience of many of these people with pre-existing conditions in the current healthcare landscape. As many of them may not be employable and their families cannot support them for life, they seek assurance that the government of the day will always ensure affordability and find means to ensure that they are appropriately covered. I therefore seek the Minister's consideration to codify the principles of MediShield Life's pre-existing conditions scheme. This is so that members will not be subject to the additional loading without good medical reasons; and so that premiums for those who are subject to additional loading will always remain affordable. Concern two, on defaulters. Madam, the MediShield Life Bill has provided a full section, Part 3, clauses 11 to 18, on policies and practices relating to defaulters. I fully agree that since this is a shared scheme of collective responsibility, any member who can afford but wilfully does not pay up, should be subject to punitive measures.”
“Madam, clause 4 of the Bill provides that persons who are deemed by the Board to have a pre-existing medical condition will be subject to premium loading. According to the Ministry, such persons will pay an additional 30% on top of the normal premium of an insured for 10 years; after which a normal premium is supposed to be applicable. I understand that the bulk of the cost of bringing persons with pre-existing medical conditions into the common pool is already borne by Government; and that the additional 30% premium loading is a signal of co-ownership or co-sharing. But the details of what might constitute a pre-existing condition and hence subject to premium loading, have not been published or explained in detail. And that is a cause for anxiety for at least two groups of Singaporeans. One, special needs persons with lower medical risk. Madam, I have been asked by members of the special needs community if any person diagnosed with an intellectual disability or learning disorder or had spent time in a special school, would be automatically Page: 61 slapped with an additional 30% premium loading. Many of them, for example, the deaf, intellectually disabled or those with other learning disorders, may experience challenges at schools and workplaces that relate to their ability to learn, socialise and be included; but physically, health-wise, these persons may not be at risk of requiring more medical treatment or even hospitalisation than the rest of the Singapore population. Hence, the feedback is for persons with special needs who do not have adverse medical claim track record, should not be subject to the additional 30% premium loading. The second group who are anxious are persons who are subject already or going to be subject to additional premium loading.”
“But we cannot claim we want to be inclusive only in word and not in deed. We cannot lament about poverty or poverty lines if we do not support the move to pool our risks and ensure that those who are poor also receive universal basic Page: 60 healthcare for as long as they live; and those who are disadvantaged as well, in health. Who knows if, one day, you or a loved one should land in circumstances that put you at risk of being excluded from healthcare because you are no longer young, healthy or financially able? Who knows if, one day, one of your loved ones is born or acquires some form of disability which a private insurer may not cover or cover only at a very high cost? Who, for that matter, would answer to the national call to have more babies if there is no guarantee that any Singapore baby, born in sickness or health, will have access to basic healthcare insurance coverage? MediShield Life is Singapore society's response to the call to ensure that no one, now or later, is left behind as far as essential healthcare services are concerned. Whether we will use the service now or never, let us all support the scheme wholeheartedly and be proud that there is such a scheme in Singapore. Let us also be patient and allow time for any gaps or administrative challenges in the scheme that may still need to be closed or overcome. These imperfections do not call for the baby to be thrown out with the bathwater. In this regard, Madam, I would like to share three concerns commonly raised for Minister's comments and consideration. These concerns are, one, pre-existing conditions; two, defaulters; and three, sustainability of the scheme. Concern one on pre-existing conditions.”
“There are also five types of subsidies that will kick in to ensure the affordability of premiums: one, Transitional Subsidies for all Singapore Citizens; two, Subsidies for Pioneers; three, Permanent Subsidies for premiums for the lower- to middle-income families and that covers two-thirds of Singapore households; four, Government's footing of the bulk of the costs to bring in those with pre-existing conditions; and five, additional support for those who need further help. MediShield Life, to me, is a more appealing updated, more comprehensive and portable package that is personal and usable across all settings, whoever one's employer and station in life is. Let us support MediShield Life wholeheartedly. Madam, MediShield Life, most of all, is not only about updating a national healthcare insurance scheme. It is the manifestation of the spirit of belonging to a country. Basic healthcare coverage is an essential part of the safety net in one's life. Every citizen ought to be included and ought to have access to basic healthcare coverage and not just those who are accepted for access for coverage by insurance providers. The price to pay for that inclusion must be something that we, as the people of Singapore, must determine to pay. True, premiums will increase with this more comprehensive national healthcare insurance package. But we cannot say we are a Singapore family if we leave behind other members of the family when they get older, when they become health-wise vulnerable or when they are born with or later acquire disabilities through accidents or sicknesses. I have sat through many dialogues including the "Our Singapore Conversations" where so many people spoke about having an inclusive country where the older and the disadvantaged will be cared for.”
“Madam, the MediShield Life Scheme is the Government's response to one of the key anxieties of Singaporeans in an ageing society with increasing healthcare options and costs. I believe it is a game-changer in the national healthcare landscape in many ways; but especially in three areas – coverage for all, coverage for life and coverage with help. Coverage for all. According to 2013 data, about 7% of Singaporeans were not covered under the MediShield scheme. That will change under MediShield Life. In the past, MediShield does not cover those with pre-existing medical conditions, whether they are Page: 59 born with it or acquired it later in life. In the past, about one in four in the Pioneer Generation were not covered under MediShield because they cannot work or cannot be reached or may have opted out. In the past, pioneers above the age of 90 were not covered under MediShield. MediShield Life will now cover all of them. Coverage for life. In the past, MediShield protects members only up to a specific age with a lifetime claim limit of $300,000. With MediShield Life, they will now be protected for life, with no lifetime claim limit. Coverage with help. Whilst premiums will increase, a slew of measures had been painstakingly put together by the MediShield Life team to allay fears of affordability. MediShield premiums can now be fully covered by Medisave, to avoid the need to pay upfront cash.”
“First, I want to commend the Minister of State for not just his ability to count but really doing very good work on the ground. My merchants at Sim Lim Square have given very good feedback. So, congratulations for that. The Minister of State had mentioned that the proposed legislation will be completed in the middle of this year. But that leaves at least a few more months. I am wondering if the Minister of State could consider some interim measures for the next few months, before the proposed legislation is out. Perhaps, Police presence in civilian attire so that victims can report very easily at the focus areas you mentioned – People's Park, Sim Lim Square and Lucky Plaza. Implementing some of these interim measures will be in order.”
“There are schemes that are based on either one – opt in or opt out. For the human organ donation scheme, for example, everybody is in unless they want to opt out. So, I guess I am suggesting schemes like these.”
“It should not be so easy that if you want to enter, just go to the counter and pay up $100. I think if something is not encouraged, why not just opt everybody out of it as a natural exclusion and, if you want to enter, then you go and apply for what Mr Seah Kian Peng has recommended?”
“I do not mean the $100 scheme. Since the Ministry or the Government is spending so much money on the demerits of gambling, problem gambling and so forth, so I think it can be assumed that gambling or casino entry is really not something that is encouraged. Therefore, since it is not really encouraged, then why not just have a scheme whereby everybody is excluded from entering the casino and, if you want to be included, then sign up for an opt-in scheme, changing the assumption of the current scheme we have today in our country?”
“Madam, I would like to go one step further than my colleague Mr Seah. The current system is based on self-exclusion from the casinos. So, if you do not want to enter, you opt out. Would the Minister consider a self-inclusion scheme whereby you are automatically excluded and you apply to opt-in only if you really want to visit the casino? Would the Minister consider that?”
“Thank you, Madam. I can empathise with the demands that many of us make on MOE for cheaper, faster, better facilities. So, I am sorry to add on to the Minister's load. I would like to enquire if MOE can consider conducting a study of the needs and the very vocal demands of families of the students with more challenging requirements – those with special needs, whether in mainstream schools or special schools. There have been quite a lot of demands for that, but the solution is really not easy. I would like to ask if the Minister can consider starting a workgroup to look into various more innovative solutions, perhaps, a continuum of solutions that involve enrichment centres, parents pulling together with their helpers and so on. We want to come up with solutions that can address this need to keep the children better occupied after official school hours, whether they are special needs or not, whether they are in mainstream schools or not. I Page: 23 would like the Minister to consider that.”
“Thank you, Minister. In view that there is an upcoming major special needs activity, the Purple Parade, coming up on 15 November 2014, plus Senior Minister of State Teo Ser Luck happens to be one of the attendees in two weeks' time, I wish to seek the Minister's assurance that the unpleasant episode of 27 September 2014 will not be repeated. That is my first supplementary question. My second supplementary question is that I wish to also seek Minister's comments on how MND intends to more effectively communicate, on an on-going basis, these policies and practices to stakeholders, such as applicants and users and also Community Club staff and Page: 28 management. Better safe than sorry.”
“Madam, I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider this other model which is right in the middle of what was explained by Page: 37 him. It is between the segregation model where special needs children are all huddled together in one physical location and, the other one, where the children are fully mainstreamed. There are models in the world that are actually middle-of-the-ground models where there are, for example, special schools within schools, or early intervention centres within a mainstream preschool setting. That is something that is not uncommon now. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider studying that. Some of us who were serving in the special needs sector would be very happy to help out in the solutioning.”
“Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew himself had once proposed $500. And two, instead of continuing an opt-out scheme which automatically qualifies all Singaporeans to gamble at licensed casinos, change it to an opt-in system so that only those who wish to gamble sign up. Finally, to conclude, Madam, next year, we prepare to celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday. We have spoken much about admiration for the grit and diligence of our Pioneer Generation who did not simply take the path of least resistance. It is thus the opportune time to take a bold step and reject gambling, whether remote or on-site, in our economic, social, manpower and education master plans. 3.55 pm”
“Just as we are bold enough to explicitly stand by principles, such as the family is the first port of call for help, that extramarital relationships are not encouraged, we need to stand by our objections to gambling, whether online or via brick-and-mortar casinos. It has been almost 10 years since we made the fateful decision of authorising licensed casino operators for the sake of jobs in an economic recession. Ten years down, is it not time to review our position? With the tightening of foreign labour in Singapore, have the casinos now, indeed, become competitors for manpower from our local SMEs? If manpower is so precious, why would we divert precious manpower to learn the casino business, whether in physical establishments or online? What is our progress in learning skills, such as operating the MICE or the meetings, conventions business and family entertainment industries, such as that of the Universal Studios, which the Integrated Resorts have exposed us to? What have we learned? Page: 68 When will Singapore wean itself of the casino industry, reduce the casinos from two to one to nil, especially in the light of new potential entrants, such as Japan and other Asian countries? Madam, let us review the long-term place of gambling in our country. In addition, let us continue to exercise self-restraint in the current landscape. Data from 2012 showed 6.2 million visits by locals to the two casinos, and the issuance of more than 13,000 no-limit annual casino entry passes and almost 1.5 million of day passes to the casinos. Madam, even more ought to be done to discourage gambling by local residents for the immediate future. Let me propose just two for the speech. One, to increase the casino entry fees to the casinos from $100.”
“Remote gambling, because of its direct and blatant use of money as a medium of play, affects Page: 67 not only the problem gambler alone; not only his families; but potentially his network of significant others in his life, including those in his work and social lives. I will not relate the many cases of people and families ruined by problem gambling; there are enough stories highlighted in the media. My question is: why should the Government support exempt operators and be part of an undesirable social phenomenon, and then, later, invest further resources, such as the National Council for Problem Gambling, to thwart its ill effects? We need to review the place of gambling in Singapore. Madam, beyond the immediate task of debating on the Remote Gambling Bill, however, is the larger question of the place of gambling in the future of Singapore. I am relieved that Singapore has exercised strong self-restraint in the brick-and-mortar casino business. Our Government did not succumb to the seduction of chasing the trophy held by such casino economies as those in Macau and Las Vegas. However, I believe that it is time for the Government to review and take a holistic approach to discourage gambling as an economic or social activity. It is not enough to make silo, piece-meal introductions of legislation and policies. While I appreciate MHA's good and timely intent to plug a loophole in the laws which were enacted before the Internet era, it is telling that MHA considers this Bill "to be technically an extension of Singapore's approach to terrestrial or land-based gambling," and that "the provision of gambling is not permitted unless specifically allowed for, by way of an exemption or licence." Madam, we need a holistic longer-term game plan to reflect our principles and intent.”
“Do two wrongs make a right? Should our lack of sophistication in arresting the savvy gamblers who circumvent the law, stop us from using legislation as an important tool to stem remote gambling? The answer is no. Madam, even if solely for optical reasons, we must not send the signal and message to both young and old Singaporeans that remote gambling is fine as long as it is under a state licence. My second reason to push for a total ban is my disagreement that in order to learn how to better enforce anti-remote gambling measures, we should provide for local exempt operators. Madam, even if friendly potential gambling companies, such as the Turf Club or Singapore Pools, were to enter the fray of remote gambling, they will face tensions at several fronts. First, they have to be attractive and their gambling offerings need to be comparable to what is in the market today. The management and staff will have to put in their best to lure customers to meet their KPIs of being good or excellent in their trade and become profitable. If they become extremely good, they will no doubt achieve their KPIs and bonuses, but they will also ruin more lives. However, if they are half-hearted in trying to make their remote gambling licence bear financial fruit, then they would be ineffective in helping the State learn the ropes of enforcement. It is a no-win situation. My third reason for advocating a Total Ban pertains to evidence that online gamblers are prone to exercise less self-restraint and significantly more likely to be problem gamblers.”
“They highlighted the impossibility of totally blocking 100% of all remote gambling sites and in prosecuting especially sophisticated and seasoned overseas providers. They argued that since you cannot beat them and since there will always Page: 66 be some appetite for remote gambling, which will otherwise be driven underground, let us join them and run some exemplary remote gambling sites ourselves. "Better learn how they do it, so that we can be better enforcers" was the argument. And while we are at it, be sure to channel some proceeds from these licensed operators to local charities and social causes! These are the popular arguments to support a partial ban or to allow some licensed remote gambling operators in Singapore. Now, the other school of thought – arguments against the provision of exempt operators. Singaporeans belonging to the other school of thought, on the other hand, felt strongly that there ought to be a total ban of remote gambling. They want to see a similar position taken, such as the strong stance taken against the entry of Ashley Madison, the renowned online site that promotes extra-marital relationships. Madam, I subscribe to a total ban of remote gambling with no exemption for several reasons. The top reason is the negative signal we are sending, as a Government, to the entire population, especially our young. It had been said that 40% of online gamblers over-estimate their wins and under-estimate their losses. If, indeed, we believe so strongly that remote gambling is harmful and does no good to either people or nation, then are we legitimising the act of gambling and breeding its acceptance by legally providing for exempt licensed operators in this Bill? Does gambling become more noble when operated by a licensed versus an unlicensed operator?”
“I, therefore, fully support the move by our Government to tighten the remote gambling sector and to nip the problem in the bud, before this time bomb blows up. Fronted by MHA, the Bill has been introduced for two key objectives – one, to prevent remote gambling from being a source of crime or disorder; and two, to protect young persons and other vulnerable persons. When adopted, Singapore will be passing what is arguably one of the strictest and most vigorous anti-remote gambling legislation in the world. Parts 2 to 4 of the Bill put in place a comprehensive multi-pronged regime deploying strong measures in blocking websites, protecting vulnerable players, especially the young ones, regulating financial payments and gambling advertisements. The biggest contention, however, lies in Part 5 of the Bill. Part 5 provides for the Minister to issue a certificate of exemption that authorises a party to provide a Singapore-based remote gambling service. This is as long as the Minister is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so. Madam, this provision for exempt operators is not without strong controversy. I was one of the participants who took time to join the public consultations on remote gambling and this is what I noticed. Whilst almost everyone agreed that Singapore must regulate the remote gambling industry and push on with more aggressive public education, not everyone agreed on whether there should be a partial or total ban of remote gambling. I have examined arguments "for" and "against" the provision of exempt remote gambling operators. Arguments in support. Those who are "for" controlled licensed remote gambling, or a partial ban, do so for several reasons.”
“Madam, Singapore is one of the most wired nations with one of the fastest Internet connections in the world. Its heavy investment in InfoComm and Technology, or ICT, is evidenced not only in its economic policies but also in the education landscape. Singapore's young people are arguably some of the most technologically savvy in the world. Fueled by the popular use of mobile wireless telcomm devices, such as smartphones, the already $40 million remote gambling industry is all set to soar further, particularly in Asia. Due to its pervasive nature, remote gambling, left uncontrolled, is predicted to pose a very great threat to people and nations. It is more convenient, more easily accessible and available 24/7. As commonly quoted, one can literally gamble in one's pyjamas in the privacy of one's bedroom. Remote gambling sites are capable of offerings in the gambler's language of choice. Successful operators can afford better payout rates due to its lower overheads after its initial investments. Virtual casino operators have been known to rig the games. And in a highly Page: 65 publicised scandal involving online poker, professionals developed "rogue" software that allows access to third-party computers and accounts to cheat and to view the cards of other customers without their knowledge. Remote gambling is thus a cause for concern and unless Singapore does something with this unregulated sector so far, we are holding a walking time bomb that will hurt lives. In fact, the majority of participants in the public consultations conducted by Ministries, such as MSF, are convinced of the ills of remote gambling and concur that something ought to be done. My support for Parts 2 to 5 of the Remote Gambling Bill.”
“Thank you very much. I would like to ask if the team would consider doing that.”
“So, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State if the Committee would recommend a taskforce that goes beyond the 10 recommendations. Because the 10 recommendations, to me, are still "outside-in approaches". Unless that mindset, that cultural change happen, it is not going to help us get results from the 10 recommendations. So, I would like to ask if the taskforce would put in place a HR taskforce that comprises HR professionals and other leaders from the public sector, people sector and the private sector with the specific task to identify and to study rigorously which jobs need degrees and which do not, and then study the competencies that are required. Then, basically, even at the point of hire, employ people that way and pay them that way. If we can do that, then I think it is a very good start to let Singaporeans know that there are jobs that just look at competencies and not just at paper qualifications.”
“Thank you, Madam. I want to thank the Senior Minister of State and the Minister for a really good job. This, to me, is very significant for Singapore. I just want to belabour one more time the need for the public sector to take the lead. Not because it is not trying and is not doing what it is already doing. The public sector needs to put in even more effort mainly because although it hires 4% of the total workforce, it is, however, the largest employer in Singapore. And because it is so respected, people look Page: 113 towards it for the definition of job success.”
“We should see a bolder vision of Singapore inventing our own Singapore brand of education. In fact, all over the world, educators question if their brand of education is meeting their society’s needs. In Taiwan, for example, some educators and parents are experimenting with 没有围墙的学 校 (schools with no walls) and 移动的学校 (schools on the move). In Europe, the Waldolf Education model Page: 89 sees a few thousand independent schools based on that philosophy, kindergartens and centres for special education. In the United States, we know that online schools are on the rise, rapid rise. We have a lot going for ourselves in Singapore too. Tuition aside, we have some of the best resourced and the most wired schools in the world. Our Singapore Mathematics Brand is so coveted all over the world. We labour diligently and purposefully over the best ways to promote bilingualism. The Government has a strong interest in our ITEs and polytechnics, not just those who are in the universities only. Singapore can develop its own brand of education that meets not just economic needs, but also develop citizens with both competence and character who can be captains of our own lifelong learning, with the support of the state. We must be confident enough not to chase world rankings, such as Organization of Economic Development (OECD)'s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and start inventing our own benchmarks based on what we want for our country and people. Sir, with that, I support the Motion. 5.42 pm”
“I would also advise the ASPIRE team not to push too far the assumption that if we align very closely with industry, then our future is secured. Different industry players serve different time windows. Even John Gardner advised, many decades ago, that we cannot tell with certainty what specific skills may be needed in the future; or what future jobs we cannot envision now. There is certainly a place for timeless skills and attributes in our education system for critical quality thinking, strong problem solving skills, good work habits and discipline to serve us in circumstances that we cannot predict. Sir, in conclusion, the ASPIRE project, I repeat, is a long time coming. I thank the Prime Minister who spoke about it in the last National Day Rally or long before that and our Ministry of Education leaders – Mr Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister of State Indranee and the entire ASPIRE team – for starting this very significant journey – a journey that is very important for our country. I have shared that there are three critical success factors for ASPIRE to realise its goals. One, the ability to transform the mindset of key stakeholders. Two, the ability to imbue excellence or mastery in schools and workplace culture. Three, the ability to discern wisely and work effectively with industry players. Sir, I look forward to the follow-on taskforce to be led by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman and I look forward to seeing even more game-changing measures to maximise the potential of our precious human resource in Singapore. We can perhaps consider positioning Singapore schools as lifelong learning institutes and the Ministry of Education (MOE) as a Ministry for lifelong learning, perhaps even taking over the Workforce Development Authority.”
“" We need both excellent scientists and excellent mechanics, excellent doctors and excellent plumbers, excellent Members of Parliament and excellent event managers and community leaders. And I really want to taste what Senior Minister of State Indranee said about Mr Jiro's excellent sushi which "tastes like this cloud that explodes in your mouth". I must make a trip to Japan. We must stop popularising the mindset that the purpose of learning and training is career success, progression and promotions. In this time and age, some would argue that unless we continue to learn and apply throughout our lives, we may not even get to keep our current jobs. ASPIRE must be about creating equality in opportunities and also excellence and pride at all levels of work. Critical success factor three – ASPIRE's ability to work effectively with industry players. One of the key positive features of the ASPIRE initiative is, its very close alignment with industry players to advise on relevant skill sets for mastery. But industries have short and Page: 88 long planning windows. Some of them answer to financial analysts’ expectations. Hence, I think a critical success factor for ASPIRE is whether it is discerning enough to work effectively with the industry to meet, not just current labour needs, but also to build the workforce of the future, which is a higher national goal. I believe it is time to get out of the box to keep building bigger and bigger centralised campuses. Let us direct some of the resources to building satellite campuses out into more authentic industry settings so that employers and students from the different education pathways can learn to work together for greater learning outcomes.”