Dennis Tan Lip Fong
Singapore
“Yes, Sir. By combining practical experience with advanced analytics, we can transform traditional operational careers in the highly productive technology-enabled professions, ensuring that more high-value decision-making and better paying jobs remain in Singapore.”
“When Singapore officers are deployed at Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, do they enjoy the same legal protections and operational autonomy as their Malaysian counterparts enjoy when stationed in Singapore?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Relating to one issue of co-parenting, I would like to ask will the Ministry consider granting foster parents synchronised access to the child's Health Buddy app? Currently, foster parents have no access to the app and require the cooperation of biological parents.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Would the Ministry consider a tiered co-payment model for private providers similar to the EIPIC-P scheme where middle-income families can pay a regulated rate for a fixed number of additional private therapy hours to supplement their child's public intervention?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just one clarification for the Senior Minister of State. I thank the Government for acknowledging the gap regarding the software-driven energy degradation and for the commitment to monitor and test when necessary.”
“Yes, just a quick clarification. I thank the Minister of State for the answers and the details. The feedback I receive is pertaining, especially to making appointments, because there have been instances where foster parents experience appointments being cancelled without their knowledge, and then having to arrive at the hospital unnecessa…”
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Every one of 1,079 lines we hold for Dennis Tan Lip Fong, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 22.
“Thank you, Chairman. In the last few months, there appears to be some lamentation over the slow recovery of the Asia Pacific aviation industry from the pandemic amidst government restrictions. According to figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for October last year, travel in the Asia Pacific was down 92.8% in October 2021, compared to October 2019. According to IATA, the region is the only part of the world to see practically no improvement in air travel during the past year. A few months on, as countries battled their way out of the Omicron threat, I wonder whether there is any sign of recovery for the aviation industry in the Asia Pacific and, indeed, for Singapore this year. At last year's Committee of Supply (COS), Minister Ong Ye Kung told the House not to expect a V-shaped recovery. That was before the start of the VTLs for Singapore and many other countries. Many countries have relaxed travel restrictions in the last few months. Nearer home, Singapore continues to increase its VTL locations. Australia recently opened its borders to visitors again. As more countries start to open up and increase flights to other countries and with some relaxing COVID-19 test requirements, will the Minister update the House on his expectations for growth of air travel in the coming year and its implications for Singapore as a major air hub and for our aviation industry? I would also like to ask the Minister whether we will see the start of recovery for the aerospace sector. This sector is significant to Singapore and includes maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), avionics and aircraft component production and repair.”
“Many residents feel frustrated by HDB's explanation of the issue of costs, something which could have been avoided if HDB had tendered out lift upgrading projects consisting of these blocks with design issues together with the bulk of the HDB blocks with no design issue for LUP access to all residents in the blocks, as former Hougang Member of Parliament Png Eng Huat had raised in the House way back in 2014. I would like to seek an update from the Minister on HDB's quests for new technical methods to bring down LUP costs for these affected blocks in Singapore. I also hope that HDB will work on this issue expeditiously to bring lift upgrading to all.”
“Mr Chairman, I return to the issue of lift upgrading for the six blocks of HDB flats in Hougang SMC where there are still certain units which do not have the same floor access to lifts and this is a very real issue affecting a number of my residents. We were told that there are about 150 such HDB blocks left in Singapore. At COS last year, the Minister replied to my cut and said that, for blocks where the costs are still too high, it will not be prudent to offer the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP). He also said that while the Government continues to explore new technical methods to bring down LUP costs, the Government had also introduced the Lift Access Housing Grant of up to $30,000 in 2020, which is supposed to assist residents with urgent mobility or medical needs to move to another flat with direct lift access. While this may provide an option, shifting can be a more complicated decision for many, more than one would imagine, especially if the residents have been living in the same flat for a considerable time. Some prefer to stay on, even if it meant carrying their elderly relative on their back, or together with the relative's wheelchair, down two flights of stairs. But a year on, residents in affected blocks have continued to speak to me of their frustration with no same floor lift access. Unsurprisingly, the Lift Access Housing Grant is no panacea to many of the residents who spoke to me.”
“I, therefore, wish to seek updates from the Minister on the plans for a green transition for such goods vehicles, starting with an update on the Government's targets to convert goods vehicles to EVs and other green options and plans to achieve these targets. Will the Ministry be getting more industrial estate operators to roll out more EV charging infrastructure around industrial areas and encourage a switch to electric light commercial vehicles and vans? Will there be subsidies for companies that adopt these EVs early? Regulations on Electric Vehicle Chargers and Operators”
“The increase in our green ambitions requires us to look at emerging trends in last-mile logistics. Online retail sales have averaged 13.5% in total retail sales in Singapore in 2021, compared to an average of 5.4% of retail sales between 2018 and 2019. This has meant great convenience to Singaporeans who purchase from online platforms, but it also is likely to mean that there is more demand for last mile logistics. Today, all types of goods vehicles are of the diesel engine variety. The increase in demand for last-mile logistics will mean an increase in our carbon footprint. A study by the World Economic Forum in 2020, prior to the pandemic, indicates that the expected growth in last mile delivery is likely to increase carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. The accelerating effects of COVID-19 would have increased the carbon emissions more rapidly. To be clear, the Government has taken some steps to mitigate the issue. During the COS last year, then Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung made the announcement that no new diesel cars and taxis will be allowed to be registered from 2025. The current Commercial Vehicle Emissions scheme, which started in April last year, was designed, in part, to persuade owners of light commercial vehicles, which make up 68.9% of all goods vehicles, over to vehicles that burn cleaner fuels. We have also seen electric light commercial vehicle models increasingly being rolled out by manufacturers, such as Renault, Opel and BYD. The main constraint is electric charging infrastructure, which is still in its infancy.”
“LinkedIn published its first-ever report on the state of the green economy in a Global Green Skills Report on 22 February, which noted that Singapore ranks 24th out of the top 25 countries in terms of relative green skill intensity, lower than the global average. Therefore, it is not enough to emphasise on skills and competencies to incorporate into Singapore's education curriculum. Our workers in the industry must develop the ability to think at a systems level, to have grit and resilience in order to transit and compete in the global green economy and ready with global talent. I, therefore, ask the Minister for Manpower to give more specifics on transitioning our workers in the fossil fuel industry towards jobs within the green economy. How will Career Conversion Programmes being offered by Workforce Singapore (WSG) be augmented to reskill existing workers or train new hires in the sustainability sector? Will more Continuing Education and Training (CET) courses be jointly developed by NEA together with industry and partner stakeholders and offered by Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), such as Polytechnics and ITEs? How will they plan to reach the individuals working within the industry to ensure that they are ready for the transition? How will the Ministry collaborate with the companies within this sector to provide the necessary information for their employees in this green transition? I, therefore, ask the Minister to give an update on how MOM intends to keep a domestic talent pipeline for the petrochemical segments where petrochemicals are still envisioned to be used in the green future.”
“Extending from my Budget debate speech earlier this week, I wish to highlight the need for a Just Transition for the manpower currently within the petrochemicals industry, otherwise known as the energy and chemicals industry. While Singapore is accelerating the green transition, we must not forget that there are around 27,000 people working in the sector, a majority in their 30s and 40s. With an increasing resistance to working within this space, we may be losing sight of the forest for the trees as we do require petrochemicals, albeit at a reduced level, as we transition to a green economy and society. This does also mean that many in the sector may be at risk of losing their jobs in the near to medium-term. Those who remain in the fossil fuel industry may find some of their jobs fundamentally changed to fit the greening economy. Many workers in the field should be looking to make mid-career switches into the green economy. But how can we integrate a Just Transition in this sector then, so that no one is left behind? This requires buy-in not just from the Government, but from companies which are invested in the green transition. Shell announced in November 2021 that it is halving its crude processing capacity at its Singapore hub and reducing fuel exports as it transits from fossil fuels to cut emissions and meet global low-carbon energy needs. How will such industrial developments in our petrochemical industry affect existing employment? For a start, I hope that both the employers and the Government will work to ensure that as many existing workers as possible can be retrained and converted to new positions under new green ventures within the organisations. Next, at this point in time, our aggregate level of green skills level may not be sufficient.”
“Beyond navigating ties between the US and China, how will Singapore balance joining the Framework and fit in with various other economic arrangements which Singapore is currently committed to? I would, therefore, like to ask the Minister how does Singapore plan to engage with the US under this Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Relations – China, Japan and South Korea”
“Mr Chairman, Singapore and the US have been close partners in support of the rules-based economic and security order within our region since our Independence. A recent example of how we have assisted in the area of security is our offer of military planes to help with evacuation efforts in Afghanistan last August. Economy-wise, the US remains, by far, consistently the largest foreign investor in Singapore. The US is also Singapore’s top trading partner in services and Singapore’s third largest partner in merchandise trade. The most recent development is on the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework put forward by the Biden administration. While still light on details, a White House factsheet on the Indo-Pacific Strategy of the US gives us insights on the areas of engagement, including labour and environmental standards, a new digital economy framework, building resilient and secure supply chains, and making shared investments in decarbonisation and clean energy. If actualised, the plan presents significant opportunities for Singapore. However, with the said opportunities come risks. One that comes to mind is the question of US commitment. The domestic political atmosphere in the US is one that is sceptical of trade and other economic deals that are perceived to place American businesses and workers at a disadvantage. Such conditions are apparent across the political spectrum. This could affect the degree of US commitment to the framework. There may also be concerns in Beijing that Singapore may be cooperating in an effort that undermines Chinese interests. Such considerations may be especially important, given the current heightened levels of suspicion and competition between the US and China.”
“At last year's COS, Minister Ng Eng Hen also updated the House on the involvement of many SAF personnel to assist in COVID-19-related operations for the community, such as packing masks, stabilising the outbreak in dormitories, helping to set up the community care and recovery facilities, supporting contact tracing and medical logistics operations. While I understand and agree with the support given by our SAF personnel in these areas, it also meant time-out from their training and their usual deployment or roles. As we head towards a post-pandemic world – and this includes more countries opening up their borders – I would like to ask the Minister what are SAF's plans to work towards the resumption of training and exercises back to a pre-COVID-19 level. Will SAF be enhancing training for all our forces and Servicemen and, in a sense, making up for their time spent away from our training or operational role as a result of COVID-19?”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. In the last two years, COVID-19 has affected virtually all aspects of our lives. It has affected our workplaces, businesses, public offices, schools, events and many other areas. SAF and military training have not been spared, too. SAF had to overcome the challenges which COVID-19 might have imposed on its training programmes, training methodology, restriction of travel for overseas exercise and, possibly, our morale, due to restriction of activities, including cohesion activities, and so on and so forth. And all these without compromising SAF's combat readiness and maintaining the quality of its training regimes and programmes and the morale of our Servicemen. The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine is a reminder to us of the importance of Singapore having a strong defence force as an effective deterrent against foreign aggression and ambitions. Both the quality and credibility of our defence force must be maintained at all times, regardless of the challenges, such as COVID-19. At last year's COS, Minister Ng Eng Hen shared with the House that despite the challenges of COVID-19, protection of key installations, maritime security, air defence and counter-terrorism efforts continue around the clock. The Minister also shared that COVID-19 affected some training programmes, exercises and deployments. And while certain major exercises resumed with the help of safe management measures, it might require more time to restart other exercises or for training to reach pre-COVID-19 levels. I hope the Minister can brief the House again on what was SAF's experience in maintaining its training regime and high-level of combat readiness last year, our second year of fighting COVID-19, and share with us the challenges which SAF had overcomed.”
“While Budget 2022 can be said to be matching our climate ambitions to the international standards, the devil is, of course, in the details as we will need to transition away from our current economic structure at some cost. I look forward to more details from the Government on how it intends to manage the transition, particularly within the petrochemical industry, and the move towards electric vehicles.”
“The eventuality is that the GST increase will be a burden on the middle class, increasing their costs of living. And as the sandwich class, this may be something they can less afford, as compared to higher income groups above them. In particular, we need to pay attention to Singaporeans in their 30s to 50s, but the vast majority are not just paying for necessities for themselves but also for their parents and their children. The compounded pain that households will have to deal with is not something we should ignore out of hand. This is particularly so as we expect an ageing population to come in the near future. According to a Straits Times report on 27 July 2021, citing figures from Census 2020, residents aged 65 years and above form 15.2% of the resident population in 2020, up from 9% in 2010. About one in four will be above 65 in 2030 and a corresponding increase in old-age dependency is to be expected. Singaporeans will be facing more questions on out-of-pocket healthcare prices. The Government has argued that the Government's healthcare expenditure will increase significantly, but the out-of-pocket costs of healthcare paid for by the people will also increase as a result of the GST hike. While subsidised patients in public hospitals and polyclinics do not pay any GST, the GST on the goods and services provided by GST-registered private clinics and non-structured hospitals that Singaporeans do go to are not absorbed by the Government. GST also applies to premiums of Shield and group medical insurance plans. Can the Government assure Singaporeans that the hike in GST will not mean that Singaporeans are going to pay more in their out-of-pocket healthcare costs? Mr Speaker, let me conclude.”
“Will MOT consider using public education messaging on wise and considerate use of public chargers so that we can start engendering good and considerate habits with our drivers while the EV numbers are still small and growing, just as we also want to encourage our ICE drivers not to use slots reserved for EV charging? It is good to get these issues right as early as possible so that we can minimise the waiting time and enhance charging access for EV owners. Importantly, this will, in turn, have an impact on our efforts to persuade more vehicle owners to convert earlier to the use of EVs. Mr Speaker, I next move on briefly to the proposed GST hike. As I have mentioned earlier, the Workers' Party recognises the costs that the decarbonisation move will impose on Singaporeans. Therefore, the GST hike comes at an inopportune time for Singaporeans, many of whom are dealing with record consumer price inflation. I echo my other Workers' Party colleagues who are asking for the GST hike to be implemented only as a last resort. Mr Speaker, I am aware that the Finance Minister has provided assistance packages to cushion the impact of the proposed GST increases. Apart from the adequacy of such packages, I note that the assistance package is only available for a few years. As for the enhancement to the permanent GST Voucher Scheme, those with an assessable income beyond $34,000 will not be receiving any assistance, a sharp cliff where, for some, these packages may no longer apply should they earn more. I note that GST has only gone up and has never gone down, even if assistance packages will adequately cushion the impact for low-income earners and even the lower-middle middle class in the short term.”
“Will the public car parks be adopting all fast chargers or will there be a combination of fast and slow chargers? Does the Government have any specific planning requirements for the design of car parks in public, private residential or commercial buildings in respect of the installation and siting of EV chargers in car parks to minimise waiting time and avoid any traffic blockage caused by vehicles waiting for charging? For existing car parks, does the Government foresee that some or all car parks may require modifications? If modifications are required, would the assistance offered by way of the current EV common charger grant to MCSTs be sufficient? Not unlike ICE cars, most vehicles, except for commercial vehicles, will not require daily charging. However, drivers will still have to develop new habits of charging their cars with some forward planning. ICE cars may need just 10 minutes in petrol kiosks. But, for EVs, queuing time aside, typically, a fast charger may take between 30 and 40 minutes for up to an 80% charge, and a slow charger may take up to eight hours for a full charge. Technology is, of course, improving constantly, but depending on the number of cars waiting for charging at any one time, an HDB car park with, say, just three to four chargers, may still possibly create queuing time not currently seen with ICE cars in petrol stations, even with charging operators charging a penalty charge for drivers who leave their cars beyond the charging time required.”
“Minister S Iswaran said that there were around 2,200 electric vehicle charging points in Singapore, of which, 300 were installed by commercial operators in the past year. In 2022, there will be more than 600 charging points deployed at public car parks under the joint LTA-URA pilot tender, in addition to charging points in other locations like private residences, malls and petrol stations. The Minister also said that LTA will continue to monitor EV adoption trends and accelerate the deployment of our EV charging network where necessary to meet our 2030 target of 60,000 charging points island-wide. The year 2200 appears a long way off the target of 60,000 in eight years' time and I would like to ask the Minister again what are the Government's progressive targets over the next few years and how does the Government plan to step up on the installation of public EV chargers. Last year, in my Budget debate speech, I also mentioned that having a critical number of charging points required in all residential commercial car parks and public car parks as well as the design of the car parks and the siting of the EV charging points are important. Singapore is unlike other countries like the US or Australia, where most people have the luxury of charging their cars in their own garage overnight. The minimum charging time, even with an incomplete charge with a fast charger, may still lead to queues in HDB or condo car parks, if there are insufficient chargers or if the chargers are inappropriately sited. A year on, I would like to ask the Minister what the Government's experience with the installation of our initial chargers over the past year has been. Has the Government done any study to establish a suitable ratio of EV chargers versus the number of cars per car park?”
“We are also a regional trading centre for coal, natural gas and oil products and support dozens of finance houses that specialise in the said commodities. More than a hundred global chemical companies have operations in the city. As noted above, Singapore's linkages into the current brown economy are deep. And while we build for the economy of the future, the reality is that if we take away the manpower and capital in the petrochemical industry abruptly, we will cut the oxygen prematurely at a time when our green ambitions have only just begun. And there is still a need for some petrochemicals in the modern green economy as some petrochemicals can be found in modern solar panels, modern wind turbines and batteries, to name but a few. Therefore, I ask that the Government provide more details on how it intends to manage the green transition in our petrochemicals industry and if Singapore will continue to attract and keep parts of the petrochemicals industry in Singapore that are relevant for the green economy. In the Committee of Supply debates, I will focus on the manpower transition in the industry with the hope that Singapore will be adequately prepared for the transition so that our Singaporean workers, young and old, will be able to be optimally employed in the sector as it undergoes the green transition and that we will not need to rely on or import significant foreign manpower. Mr Speaker, I next move to some updates from the Minister on our drive towards electrification of the vehicles on our roads. Last month. I filed a question to the Minister for Transport asking for the total number of electric vehicle chargers installed in 2021 and the expected number of EV chargers that will be installed progressively over 2022 and 2025.”
“In November last year, Shell has announced that it is halving its crude processing capacity at its Singapore hub and reduce fuel exports. The oil major, a major part of our oil and gas industry, is intending to transit from fossil fuels to cut emissions and meet lobal low-carbon energy needs. This is part of a wider global trend in a transition towards lower carbon fuels and it undoubtedly will affect Singapore. Earlier this year, students from the group Students for A Fossil-free Future (S4F), produced a 68-page report calling for universities to divest from fossil fuels. I empathised with the concerns of these students. They have proposed that Singapore Universities seek sustainable alternatives to linkages with the fossil fuel industry and implement climate crisis education over the short, medium and long-term. However, while it is true that we do need to transition, what does that mean for the petrochemical industry in Singapore in its current form? We know that our petrochemical industry has been a strategic pillar of our industrial sector. According to a 2019 answer by MTI to a Parliamentary Question (PQ), the energy and chemicals industry contributes nearly 3% of our GDP and employs about 28,000 people in 2017, with the majority in their 30s and 40s. The number went down to 27,000 in 2020, according to MTI's answer to my PQ in April 2021. Mr Speaker, any growing resistance in Singapore against the oil and gas industry may mean a talent pipeline disruption in this strategic pillar. In 2019, Singapore was the world's fourth biggest exporter of refined petroleum, and fuels and chemicals accounted for around 23% of our total merchandise trade, according to data from the World Bank and the Observatory of Economic Complexity.”
“Although some details, such as the exact day of the net-zero achievement and of the transition framework for emissions, intensive and trade expo sectors, as well as the exact quantum of the additional U-Save rebates to help mitigate the cost increases to businesses and households, have not been released, this is a step in the right direction for Singapore. The Workers' Party agrees with the need to transit our economy to a green one as soon as it is practical. However, the Workers' Party also recognises that while decarbonisation is necessary, it will also impose a cost. This is especially so if we are to provide climate leadership for our citizens and in this region. Singapore has taken some early measures on sustainable development, such as switching to natural gas for electricity generation instead of more pollutive fuel oil, imposed a vehicle quota system to cap vehicle growth and has introduced a suite of mitigation measures to decarbonize our industry, buildings and households sector. We now have a bolder carbon tax trajectory and improve our net-zero climate ambition. Therefore, we need to think carefully about how to bring about this change and not leave anyone behind. In my speech during the "Towards a Low-carbon Society" Motion last month, I have argued that we are in need of a just transition, one that is inclusive and equips those who work here and plan to work here with the necessary know-how, to access good job opportunities in the sustainability sector. Today, I wish to talk about the need for a just transition within the petrochemicals industry. There have been movements towards a greener transition within our petrochemical industry.”
“Mr Speaker, Budget 2022 is a step in the right direction, in many ways. Even as the Workers' Party disagrees with the key proposal of the GST hike. In my speech, I would like to talk about a carbon tax, our transitions in the petrochemicals and industry and transport, before touching on the GST impact on healthcare costs. Mr Speaker, the Workers' Party has been supportive of a carbon tax when it was first mooted. We recognise that the Government has finally thought it appropriate to raise the common tax to a level in line with international standards to help Singapore achieve a net-zero and emissions ambition. We support the move to see the common tax raise progressively to a target between $50 and $80 dollars by 2030. This is still broadly similar to the range as proposed by my colleague, the hon member for Sengkang, Assoc Prof James Lim, in his previous speeches. It will impose a temporary cause to Singaporeans, but we are of the view that when we do become a green economy, the impact of the carbon taxes will be reduced. However, I like to seek a clarification from the Minister on whether there are any efforts to extend the carbon tax to companies that emit less than 25,000 tonnes of GHGs per annum to enhance our efforts toward a net-zero ambition. I also hope that the Government will present more details on how they intend to mitigate the impact of the increase of the carbon tax on our households beyond the U-Save vouchers. Mr Speaker, I wish to further address the important issue of Singapore's green transition. This is an important subject, given the carbon taxes increase over the next eight years and to aim to achieve net-zero emissions, by or around mid-century.”
“All these may require funding of course and the Workers' Party has welcomed carbon taxes. However, we will need to consider funding mechanism to properly channel carbon taxes towards a just transition measures. Here, the Government can take reference from the EU's just transition mechanism, which includes a just transition fund offering financial supporting and technical assistance for most affected communities, such as low-income communities. Mr Speaker, let me conclude. We, in this House, have seen robust exchanges on Motions surrounding climate change and jobs. We have the opportunity here to hit two birds with one stone. Let us not waste it and seek a just transition for all Singaporeans workers in the greater future we seek to achieve. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.”
“Therefore, I ask that the relevant Ministries and Statutory Boards work on a just transition roadmap for Singaporean workers which can be at risk of displacement as the green economy develops. We should prioritise a roadmap for carbon intensive industries, such as petrochemicals and power generation. We can also look at ensuring a just transition for the labour force. For secondary industry, they are carbon intensive but are already taking active and laudable steps to adopt less polluting technologies, such as transport, shipping, logistics in the supply chain. Mr Speaker, I declare my interest as a shipping lawyer. We should also consider a just transition roadmap to get our financial professionals to take on nascent green financing roles where there are growing opportunities. Such a just transition roadmap must be a key complement to the Singapore Green Plan 2030 on the green economy and be executed upon. This will ensure that value is not just accrued within businesses only but an equitable share of the value created will directly benefit Singaporean workers. We can also kickstart stronger efforts on green upskilling. My Parliamentary colleague, Mr Gerald Giam, has previously called for extending the Special Employment Credit scheme to provide time-limited wage support to all Singaporeans workers while taking up their first job in the green economy. I wish to reiterate this call. In the vein of ensuring our talent pipeline remains robust, I also ask that all our agencies ensure their future upskilling programmes and career conversion programmes are created for and geared towards the green economy we aspire to, so that the value of the green economy can be directly captured by Singaporeans, both present and future.”
“They should concern those whose existing jobs and livelihoods are affected by transition, away from polluting industries, as well as those at risk of the direct impacts of climate change. How do we achieve a just transition for all Singaporeans? This must be done in both words and deeds. Here, I have a few suggestions for the Government to consider. On words, I ask that the Government review the COP26 just transition declaration and consider supporting the said pledge and efforts, putting social dialogue as well as rights at work at the centre of policies for strong sustainable and inclusive growth and development for our workforce. And a commitment to this will give impetus to focus societal efforts on combating the global emergency, that is, climate change. This pledge also looks at supply chain development. Singapore, as a shipping and logistics hub and a commercial centre, can and should play an important part in the global supply chain screen. transition. Second, on deeds. The average Singaporean worker must not only hear that we are doing the right thing but also sees the concrete benefits from this move towards a low-carbon sustainable economy. Clause 29(b) of the ILO's just transition guidelines also ask that governments, in consultation with social partners, and I quote, "Give particular attention to unemployed workers and workers at risk of unemployment in communities and industries affected by climate change, resource degradation or structural change, including those in the informal economy." We need to help Singaporean workers in sectors who are being affected or will soon be affected by developments in the green economy. We need to look at how to prepare Singaporean workers to go into jobs, which will be created in the green economy.”
“To put this simply, it aims to address inequalities, such that no Singaporeans will be left behind and all can aim for a better future in the transition towards the green economy. Lest some in this House think a just transition is mere window dressing and holds no direct relevance to us, this very term can be found in the preamble of the 2015 Paris Agreement, of which we are a party to. The relevant paragraph notes, and I quote, "Taking into account the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs in accordance with nationally defined development priorities." If nothing else, our manpower and development policy should adhere to the spirit of the Paris Agreement by trying to stay in line with its goal of keeping global warming or limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius as we reaffirm by COP26 in Glasgow, last November. This means that we need to ensure that green financing is not just catered towards greening the sources of energy. It needs to create value for our labour force. We need to ensure that we can prepare those working in our high carbon intensive industries, particularly those in the the fossil fuel related sectors for new green jobs. We need to ensure that corporate accountability is not just about reporting their greening efforts, but how they are ensuring their own green transition includes bringing the many workers within and not lead to mass retrenchments. A just transition also means that green finance should not solely be about capturing profitable opportunities in the green economy. It should also be offering those that are left behind by a green transition, the funding opportunities to adapt.”
“Mr Speaker, nearly a year ago, this House acknowledged that climate change is a global emergency and a threat to mankind and called the Government, in partnership with the private sector, civil society and the people of Singapore, to deepen and accelerate efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to embrace sustainability in the development of Singapore. It could not have been timelier was we have seen more effects of climate change materialised over the last year. At home, intense rainfall events in 2021 led to heavy flash floods. In the region, the floods in Malaysia and Typhoon Rai have led to hardship and suffering to the affected communities. The events remind us that climate change is at our doorstep. This year, in this Motion "Towards a Low-carbon Society", Members of Parliament on the other side of the aisle is calling on the Government to advance Singapore's inclusive transition towards a low-carbon society. This builds upon last year's Motion as there were measures discussed, such as enhancing green financing, creating green jobs and strengthening corporate accountability. We, the Workers' Party, do not object to these measures. However, I would like to push further. Our inclusive transition also need to be just to address the unequal impact of climate change. I will ask that this Government throws its support behind a just transition, not just in words, but also in deeds. What is a just transition? This idea is advanced by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as a process towards an environmentally sustainable economy which needs to be well-managed and contribute to the goals of decent work for all, social inclusion and eradication of poverty.”
“I know the Minister touched on some aspects of this earlier, but, essentially, I would like to know how different will the career tracks be after the restructuring, and how will the changes enhance the new and separate Judicial Service. Will there, for example, be a default career progression plan, planned under each of the Services' Commission and transfers across to the other will only be catered upon request by an officer, or by the management of either services? In my speech at that "Justice for All" Motion, I also said a specialised Judicial Service may be preferable to the current system to provide more distance between prosecutors and those working as magistrates and judges. For example, to avoid having AGC colleagues, some of them being more senior colleagues, arguing cases before them, knowing that they may be posted back to AGC again. I had asked what safeguards will be in place to encourage reasonable distance. Next, I would also like to ask whether there are plans to differentiate the remuneration frameworks of the Judicial Service and the Legal Service tracks, to account for the differences in specialisation after the restructuring. Finally, I would like to ask the Minister for an update on how MinLaw views the current caseloads in our Courts, given our current number of judicial officers and given the pace by which the cases are being managed, and whether it thinks that the current number of judicial officers is adequate across the Courts. Mr Speaker, notwithstanding my clarification, the Workers' Party will vote in support of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill and the Judicial Service (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill.”
“I hope that with the JSC, our Courts can continue to recruit and develop more specialists in different areas, be it technology, construction, finance, IP, so on and so forth. This should also not just be at the higher levels, such as in the High Court, but also in the State Courts. This will enable our Courts to maintain its high standing among judiciaries all over the world. Mr Speaker, I have said in my speech during the "Justice for All" Motion that how an average Singaporean thinks of our judges is important. He or she must, of course, be learned in law, and also in the area of specialisation that he or she is known for, beyond pure commercial law and, particularly, in areas like criminal and family law. The ability of judges to understand and empathise with the different challenges faced by litigants of different socioeconomic backgrounds is critical. I hope and have confidence that, with a dedicated JSC, our Judiciary and judicial officers can continue to rise to these challenges. Mr Speaker, next, according to The Straits Times article of 4 October on the present Bills in question, I read that secondments will be available on application to provide selected officers with experience across both services and permanent transfers may also be available subject to prevailing personnel rules. I would like to ask the Minister, following the changes under the present Bills, what are the new changes in respect of (a) the career development for the officers under the proposed new LSC and JSC respectively, as well as (b) the changes in respect of inter-service postings between LSC and JSC that officers can expect after the restructuring.”
“In particular, it has always been well-regarded by many commercial lawyers elsewhere. As a shipping lawyer, I can further attest to that also, because the cross-border nature of our shipping legal work, both contentious and non-contentious, require us to work with lawyers from different maritime jurisdictions. And the issue of finding jurisdiction for both the contracts we draft and the cases we do, often has to do with finding strategic, reliable and reputable jurisdictions, which we can persuade our clients and other stakeholders to accept. With the new JSC being split from the current LSC, and the more dedicated judicial track, which must surely envisage more dedicated recruitment as well as Human Resources (HR) policies, even more attention to judicial training at all levels, especially lower to mid levels, as well as a more enhanced career progression plans for all judicial officers, it is hoped that the public will be able to see better access to justice, even better quality judgments at all levels, including the various tribunals, State Courts, the High Court and the Appellate Courts above, as well as the delivery of just outcomes for all litigants. Mr Speaker, I believe that our current LSC is big enough for the split to take place. I believe that a separate JSC should be given optimum autonomy to plan its recruitment in human resource development, independent of the reconstituted LSC. Having a separate JSC will, hopefully, allow it to look at recruitment, professional and continuing training and retention of personnel with a new focus as it strives to work towards building a team of officers who are specialists in being judicial officers, not merely Legal Service Officers.”
“Today, I am heartened to see the Government taking the first step to set up a Judicial Service separate from the current legal service. The Workers' Party supports this move and indeed the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill for these changes as this will among other things, promulgate even greater judicial independence. The Bills proposed the setting up of a Judicial Service Commission (JSC) separate from the existing Legal Service Commission (LSC). Currently, the Chief Justice (CJ) is the president of the LSC and the Attorney-General (AG) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman sit on the commission together with two other members, each nominated by the Attorney-General, the PSC chairman and the Prime Minister. Under the new arrangements, pursuant to the Bills, the AG will take over as the president of the LSC and the PSC chairman assume the newly considered role of Vice President. The CJ shall be the President of the new JSC, while the PSC Chairman assumed the newly considered role of the Vice President, together with two other members, each nominated by the CJ, the PSC Chairman and the Prime Minister. I assume that the reconstituted rows in the respective commissions intend that the AG and CJ cannot be nominated by anyone to be members of the JSC and the LSC respectively. And if my assumption is wrong here, I am happy for the Minister to clarify, but this must surely be the case as this would promote independence between the two commissions. And in the case of the AG, not taking a role in a JSC, it would demonstrate greater judiciary independence. Mr Speaker, the Singapore High Court has always enjoyed a good reputation in the international community for its jurisprudence and effectiveness.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me first start by declaring that I am a practising advocate and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Singapore. The Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Judicial Service (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill before us today provide for the creation of a separate Judicial Service. The call for a separate Judicial Service is not something new at all. There has been calls for separate Judicial Services over the past 35 years and indeed, from all sides of the House. The Workers' Party former Secretary General and former Member for Anson, the late Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam, called for a separate Judicial Service Commission back in 1986. Former Nominated Member of Parliament and President of the Law Society, Mr Chandra Mohan K Nair, called for it in 2004. In our manifesto for the 2011 General Election, the Workers' Party called for a separate Judicial Service. The hon Mr Murali Pillai proposed a separate Judicial Service Commission in November 2020, and again, in the Adjournment Motion in July this year together with the hon Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Mr Christopher de Souza. In November 2020, following the Ms Parti Liyani saga, my colleagues, the hon Member for Aljunied, Ms Sylvia Lim and Ms He Ting Ru, the hon Member for Seng Kang, filed a Motion named "Justice for All". In my speech in the "Justice for All" Motion, I said that it might still be worthwhile for the proposed review then, to still consider whether we should have a more specialised or dedicated Judicial track at the State Court level encompassing Magistrates and District Judges, continuing inter-services posting or rotation with other branches of the legal service, particularly with the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).”
“Comparing Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee’s remarks on the default practice of the Coroner going down physically to the mortuary to view and identify the body, to the present proposed amendments, there appears to be a significant mindset shift on this. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister with this amendment, whether there is an intention to stop the Coroner’s daily attendance at the mortuary as a default practice, if it is not already happening, and let some other means, as what the Minister has explained, like video link to take over as a daily default practice in place. If not, what is the expectation of the Government with respect to when the Coroner is expected to attend in person? I would like to know whether the proposed change arises from a significant resource shortage for the Police, the Health Sciences Authority and the Coroner’s office. If so, will the Minister elaborate on this resource shortage? If "saving resources for the Police, the Health Sciences Authority and the Coroner" was a key consideration, would ramping up on resourcing be a more robust solution than making this key step a discretionary one?”
“According to MinLaw, there are two reasons for the suggested change: (a) the viewing of the body serves "to ensure that the deceased is correctly identified. However, there are already existing safeguards to ensure the correct identification of bodies", which the Minister has touched on today; and (b) this will expedite the process of releasing the body to the family, and will also save resources for the Police, the Health Sciences Authority and the Coroner. In the debate to the Coroners’ Bill in 2010, the Senior Minister of State introducing the Bill, Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee, said that: "…this provision will enable the Coroner to harness technology in appropriate cases, where the Coroner may be indisposed to be physically present to view the body, without having to cause unnecessary delay to the progress of time-sensitive investigations. This will expedite the release of the body to the next-of-kin after the Coroner has viewed and identified it. But let me assure Dr Lam that the norm will still be the current practice of the Coroner going down physically, right to the mortuary every morning to view and identify the body, and that includes weekends and public holidays." The Minister was replying to a Member Dr Lam Pin Min’s question and comment about whether letting the Coroner view and identify a body by video in lieu of viewing in-person, to decide whether an inquiry is needed, trivialises the investigative process. Needless to say, viewing the body is an important step in determining whether a death happened due to natural causes or whether an inquiry into the cause of death is needed.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. The Coroners Act came into effect in January 2011. I would like to seek the Minister’s clarifications on two of the amendments which this amendment Bill seeks to introduce. On the first amendment which is to give the Minister flexibility to issue a certificate for the release of a dead body to a foreign state in certain circumstances, I would like to ask the Minister what were the circumstances that prompted this particular amendment. Was there any recent incident where a foreign state objected to or requested for exemption from the Coroner holding an inquiry? What were the difficult circumstances in that case, if at all, or those cases which prompted the Government to wish to give the Government the discretion not to hold such an inquiry? I would also like to ask the Minister, in making such an amendment, whether the Government has done a study of the likely reciprocity from other countries based on their current laws. Will there, for instance, be mutual reciprocity? I would also like to ask the Minister whether the proposed discretion is widely available in other countries. I would like to ask what safeguards are in place to ensure that our Minister, in making such a decision, will not succumb to any strong pressure from a foreign state to release the body of a dead person when there are mysterious or suspicious circumstances leading to his or her death. Finally, will the Minister’s rationalisation of whether or not it is in the public interest for the discretion to be exercised, be made publicly available? Next, on the dispensing of the need for the Coroner to view the body for preliminary investigation, this Bill introduces a new section 12 such that the Coroner does not have to view the body when making this preliminary investigation.”
“I thank the Minister, for that clarification. Maybe I will read it in a slower manner. Just reading what CBRE reported that in the second quarter, select retailers were snapping up choice locations in the second quarter. And the concern I have here is: would the consolidation by the so-called "select retailers" or bigger players, reduce the available space of choice for the small players, the smaller retailers; in the meantime, while causing their rental to remain elevated with weaker revenues as a result of the current prevailing social distancing measures? If that is the case, I hope the Government will see how they can better support the SMEs and especially the smaller retailers and businesses, possibly, if need be, to prevent undue speculation by the bigger players and ensure the playing field is still level. Let me reiterate, Minister. My concern is that the SMEs, especially the micro SMEs, may still feel business pressure and lower sales arising from the SMMs and challenges of COVID-19 generally and may struggle more with their business rentals as compared to other more established or bigger businesses.”
“Mr Speaker, still on the topic of rental, according to property company CBRE's comments on URA's statistics for the second quarter 2021, some higher categories of grades of office buildings have seen positive take-ups or upward revision of rentals while other categories of grades of properties face falling rents and slower take-up. They observed, "That the office leasing market performances in the second quarter is a tale of two halves. Leasing momentum gets apace as business sentiment improves and more staff were allowed to return to the office." They then noted that this was then affected by Phase Two (Heightened Alert) in May and June, leading to work-from-home becoming the default again. They reported that the retail rental markets were affected by Phase Two (Heightened Alert) in this last quarter. CBRE noted that select retailers were snapping up choice locations in the second quarter. With such consolidation by so-called "select retailers" or even bigger players, reduced available space of choice for smaller retailers had caused their rentals to remain at elevated levels with weaker revenues due to prevailing safe distancing measures. If that is the case, I hope the Government will see how they can better support the SMEs and smaller retailers and businesses, prevent undue speculation by the bigger players and ensure that the playing field is still level. My concern is that SMEs, especially the micro SMEs, may still face business pressure and lower sales arising from SMMs and challenges of COVID-19 generally, and may struggle more with their business rentals as compared to other more established or bigger businesses. Mr Speaker, aside from the concerns that I have raised, I support the Bill. 1.46 pm”
“Mr Speaker, I have a question regarding the evidence required to show the drop in income. I am concerned whether the requirement of strict profit and loss statement may be a little bit too onerous for some of the small businesses, especially those who may not have an in-house accounting or finance department or staff. To seek external help for a claim of just half a month's rental waiver may not be cost-effective to many micro businesses. I would, therefore, like to seek clarification with the Minister as to how stringent is this documentary requirement to show evidence of a drop in income and whether it is restricted to the businesses' profit and loss statements properly drawn up or the Ministry will be open to alternative evidence showing the drop in business income compared to previous months. Separately, I am also concerned with the shortness of time given for the submission of such financial statements and I would like to ask the Minister whether there can be more flexibility with the time limit of 28 days. Next, I also wonder whether the Bill in question could have been drafted to provide for the rental waiver framework to apply generally in future whenever there are changes in safe management measures (SMMs) like the onset of circuit breaker, Phase Two or Phase Two (Heightened Alert), with restrictions on dining in and other operating conditions on retailers of businesses. We may not need to have a further amendment Bill to provide for a specific date in future when another similar Phase Two (Heightened Alert), for example, is called. Perhaps this can be looked into in future, if necessary.”
“Mr Speaker, it is clear that whenever there are some forms of safe management measures, related restrictions imposed on our dining and retail businesses, whether it is a complete ban, such as during the circuit breaker, or with fewer restrictions like those imposed under our recent Phase Two (Heightened Alert) in May and June and again in August, many in F&B or retail will suffer a drop in business. Under today's Bill, the Government is introducing the new rental waiver framework, which will require all private commercial landlords to provide two weeks of rental waiver to qualifying tenants. This is being implemented to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during the recent two rounds of Phase Two (Heightened Alert). Under the rental waiver framework, eligible tenants will receive a total of about one and a half month's of rental support, for which a month's rental support comes from the Government's Rental Support Scheme announced earlier. Under this framework, once the Bill is passed, eligible tenants can expect to receive a Notice of Rental Waiver and a declaration form distributed along with their second Rental Support Scheme payout in October. Tenants who wish to claim the rental waiver must, among other requirements, show that they have suffered a drop of at least 20% in their income for the two Phase Two (Heightened Alert) periods in May to June and August 2021 as compared to the Phase Three period between December 2020 and May 2021. Procedurally, tenants will be required to send a copy of their notice, a completed declaration form and the supporting documents to their immediate landlord via email or registered post within 28 days. The supporting documents include the profit and loss accounts of a tenant as evidence to show the drop in income.”
“We should also be mindful that – and I quote from an article from a US Department of Justice community relations services toolkit for policing entitled "The Importance of Police-Community Relationships and Resources for Further Reading" – "the community members' willingness to trust the police depends on whether they believe that police actions reflect community values and incorporate the principles of procedural justice and legitimacy". Good relationships and trust will enhance officers' efforts on the ground when they engage residents and will also encourage provision of information important for solving of crimes or non-crime matters handled by the Police. Mdm Deputy Speaker, in closing, I wish to thank our SPF officers for their service and contributions. In particular, I commend SPF for the good work which its officers do in its community policing efforts on an everyday basis. I support the Motion. [Applause.]”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, SPF and its officers have over the years helped to keep our homes and neighbourhoods safer and more secure but I would also agree with the point made by the hon Member for Aljunied, Ms Sylvia Lim, that effective policing is not just about safety alone but justice too. Save for a few isolated incidents, by and large, we do not usually feel unsafe when we walk around any part of Singapore at any time of the day. Many people, both locally and abroad, have pointed to Singapore having fewer violent crimes on our streets. This is, of course, not something which we can ever take for granted and SPF must continue to work on this. We are also one of the few countries where many of our Police officers are NSF officers freshly enlisted from school at the cusp of adulthood. The different challenges that our young NSF Police officers may have to face every day cannot be underestimated and can be daunting. I hope that our young NSF Police officers are given sufficient psychological support as they go about their work. In Committee of Supply debates for MHA in recent years, Members of Parliament have brought up the issue of manpower constraints in SPF. The use of different technologies is one way of making up for such constraints in an era of declining birth rates and population. More use of technology, while necessary, can never make up for the human touch, the need for a good relationship with the community as well as for more empathy when handling members of the public. Good relationships between Police officers and residents in the community will promote mutual trust, which is essential for effective policing.”
“Police officers in our NPC attend to many calls every day. I am sure they deal with all types of crime reporting. But they also deal with noisy or unruly behaviour at void decks, fights, families' or neighbours' disputes, suicides or unnatural deaths, fires in HDB flats or common spaces and many others. In recent times, they also had to handle many scamming cases. I am often amazed by the range of cases for which people make Police reports. Many reports probably involve issues which do not come under Police jurisdiction. But one can just imagine the amount of time taken by our Police officers in NPCs, Police stations and Police posts, helping members of the public to patiently record their Police reports. During the COVID-19 period, with circuit breaker and work-from-home, Police officers probably have to contend with more cases of neighbours' disputes and complaints on the breach of safe distancing or other prevailing restrictions by groups of people hanging out in our common spaces such as void decks, ball courts, sitting areas or neighbourhood parks. A lot of such work can be mundane, dreary and thankless. It may not be as exciting or headline grabbing as cyber crimes, fraud or other white-collar crimes, drugs and vice-related offences or even checking on KTVs or gambling dens but a large number of our Police officers have to do such unglamorous but necessary bread and butter community policing work. The work they do in a community is necessary and help to keep things in the right equilibrium and will help to make our homes, neighbourhoods and towns feel safer, more secure and peaceful.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, it is often easy to overlook the fact that SPF and its officers are responsible for an incredibly wide range of responsibilities beyond its most stereotyped role of solving crime cases and bringing offenders to justice. In recent years, much efforts have also been expanded in the area of public security and anti-terrorism. Cyber crimes and online scamming have also taken up much attention of our SPF officers. We are also living at a time when the public's expectation of Police standard is increasing. For example, the video-recorded interview of suspects has been introduced a few years ago and many hope that it will be extensively used. Today, I wish to spend a little time on the Police work in our neighbourhoods and community. Since I became the Member of Parliament for Hougang, I have had many opportunities to see our SPF officers doing their work in my constituency. I also heard much from my residents of their own experience with our Police officers when they have had the need to contact them. Recently, one of my elderly residents passed away suddenly. Officers from the Hougang Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) and Ang Mo Kio Police Division had to attend onsite to do the necessary investigation before helping staff of a casket company to remove the body. I had a great view of their professional efforts on display that evening as I witnessed the Police officers going about the grim but necessary work competently, meticulously and coolly even as it was not the most pleasant vocation. The officers, including a young NSF officer, handled the grieving relatives onsite professionally and calmly and yet, empathetically, patiently making sure that the next-of-kin knew what was going on and what the relatives had to do next.”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I would just like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether there are any plans to expand the road network or to increase the capacity of current expressways or roads leading to Tuas and the Tuas Mega Port area, specifically, for road transport and logistical purposes? And if so, when will these constructions be taken?”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for the wrapping-up speech. Just one clarification. Actually, the last question in my speech has not been answered, regarding whether the Government will be providing a reimbursement to the Town Councils for the extra manpower expenses for the SafeEntry access management.”
“As additional personnel are required to assist with the access control work, including personnel to man the access control, I would like to ask whether the Government will be reimbursing Town Councils for additional manpower expenses incurred in implementing access control and SafeEntry check-in at markets and hawker centres. Mdm Deputy Speaker, notwithstanding the concerns I have raised here, I support the Ministerial Statements.”
“Many may not realise that stalls in canteens in schools and Institutes of Higher Learning are also affected. In June, I met a resident during my house visit who runs a food stall in a Primary school canteen. Her income went down during the Phase Two (Heightened Alert) in May, with more home-based learning (HBL). Another resident shared with me how the family business of running a few food stalls in tertiary institutions was also quite seriously affected by the COVID-19-related closures and online classes. Have all such institutions waived or reduced rentals when students switched to HBL or online classes even before the Phase Two (Heightened Alert) in May? Since the circuit breaker, life has not been easy for many in our F&B industry. Changing dining restrictions and work from home add to their woes. I hope the COVID-19 Recovery Grant, another support scheme, will go some way to reduce some of the losses but F&B operators, hawkers and staff will certainly look forward to the end of dining-in restrictions once and for all when our vaccination rates rise in the coming weeks. Mdm Deputy Speaker, before I close, I would like to seek clarification from the Government on a different issue. Due to the increase in cases detected at markets and hawker centres, the COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce has recently directed that all Town Councils are to implement access control with interim fencing and mandatory SafeEntry check-in at all markets and hawker centres by Monday, 26 July, yesterday.”
“What I have said above about businesses requiring certainties and avoiding abrupt, disruptive orders also apply to F&B outlets. This is, indeed, one sector that has constantly been affected by the changing COVID-19 phases: from the circuit breaker across the various Phase Two and Three sub-categories, from hawker centres, coffeeshops, food courts to cafes, restaurants and caterers. Hawker centres and coffeeshops are not spared. Popular stores do well during lockdowns. Drinks sales go down and soup-based food suffer more. Economical rice stalls do better. Mookata stores turn to online sales to mitigate their losses. Zi char stalls suffer as there are no group sit-downs to multi-dish dinners. WFH also meant that F&B businesses near workplaces and away from residential areas, for example, food centres like Amoy Street Food Centre or Lau Pau Sat suffer a drop in business. So, when Phase Two (Heightened Alert) was reinstated recently, I remembered the many hawkers I spoke to in my constituency over the past year and made a mental note of how I think each would be faring the next few weeks. I cannot help feeling a sense of dread for many of them. Coffeeshop assistants or even local drinks promoters have been asked to do less work or even no work. Store tenants have complained that they have to spend more on takeaway packaging and yet crockery clearing fees have not been waived. I hope rental reliefs will be available to support stalls in privately run food centres and coffeeshops. Many caterers have suffered badly because of the lack of events over the past year and more so during the circuit breaker and Phase Two (Heightened Alert) periods. I shudder to think of the outlook for them until more and larger-scale events with catering can take place.”
“However, I am concerned whether the abrupt two-week suspension is fair to all affected nightlife businesses which pivoted to F&B outlets, bearing in mind that many of the 400 over establishments may not have the same kind of business or operating conditions as KTV bars with social hostesses and, hence, should not be regarded as having the same risk level as the intimate KTV bars. In the first place, nightlife establishments were allowed to pivot to F&B outlets as a way for their businesses to survive and we heard this, too, in the House yesterday. In fact, MTI reported that only 18 out of 400 outlets received funding for kitchen, installation and conversion. The rest had to dig into their pockets to do the conversion in the face of indefinite closure of their businesses in the earlier days. When they were allowed to operate as such, one would have expected that their premises were subjected to initial and subsequent regular inspections for compliance to safe management measures, for example, wearing of masks when not eating, safe distancing, kitchen and service hygiene and many others. If such inspections were carried out on a regular basis, would not the SFA or other Government agencies have been reasonably assured of the SMM compliance of these outlets or, at the very least, those establishments which do not have the intimate KTV operations or have similar characteristics? The abrupt closure of all premises would have been avoided. Businesses need certainty and abrupt orders to cease business like this will cause sudden damaging losses. Moving ahead, I urge the Government to have a more proactive and consistent supervision of SMMs in businesses and avoid abrupt reactive changes. Next, impact of dining restrictions and other measures on the F&B industry.”
“What is the roadmap that the Government has so far as far as WFH is concerned? When do we stop working from home? What exact targets do we have to hit? Minister Gan Kim Yong, in answering the hon Member Sylvia Lim's question in Parliament not long ago, has shared some factors for the Government's consideration. But as vaccination rates increase significantly next few months, can the Government consider setting clearer criteria or milestones so that businesses can also plan accordingly? Next, a more systematic and consistent supervision of SMMs in businesses and less abrupt reactive changes for businesses. In the early days of the circuit breaker, I remember that the criteria for law firms was not clear and some received indication that they could operate while others did not. Fortunately, things got clearer subsequently. Indeed, businesses strive on certainty, and systematic and consistent supervision of safe management measures should be encouraged. Sudden changes should be avoided. Let me raise a recent example of this. The recent KTV cluster highlighted what was not known to many Singaporeans previously, that some businesses in the nightlife industry had pivoted to F&B. As the KTV cluster unfolded, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced a two-week suspension of operations from 16 July 2021 through 30 July 2021 for all nightlife establishments that had pivoted into F&B establishments, which affected over 400 such establishments. It was announced that all the staff will be tested and their SMM protocols will be inspected to ensure these are properly implemented and before they are allowed to resume F&B operations. Given the timing of the suspension, it looks like a direct reaction to the KTV cluster.”
“The argument goes that this will keep more people from taking public transport and congregate in larger numbers in their workplaces. On the employees' end, many have, in fact, gotten used to WFH. For those who are fortunately able to work effectively from their laptops or other devices away from the office, many even relish the flexibility of incorporating childcare and other domestic responsibilities, which is not a bad thing. I have residents who are parents of toddlers, both fathers and mothers, who shared with me their concerns of less flexibility with childcare once they cease WFH and have to go back to the office full-time. On the other hand, the flexibility of working from home has its downsides. For example, as emails come in at all times of the day, many find it difficult to draw the line between work and time off from work. This takes a toll on rest, family time and even mental health. There have also been more neighbours' disputes reported in the past year since the circuit breaker as more people stay at home. On the employers' end, some businesses have adjusted to WFH and may not even go back to having an office with full daily staff attendance. Again, for many others, WFH is not ideal for their business operations, whether for getting more businesses, for internal management, for employee supervision or for managing staff morale. Many businesses struggle with this uncertainty of how long this will last. Beyond a short renewal to see if things get clearer in the following year, how do businesses plan their rental renewal, keeping their space pending a return to the pre-COVID-19 modus operandi or adopting, permanently, some degree of WFH like Mastercard or Prudential and perhaps downsize office spaces?”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, on 14 May, the Government announced the commencement of Phase Two (Heightened Alert) after the outbreak of the Changi Airport cluster which had about 43 cases around 14 May. Phase Three (Heightened Alert) was in place by 14 June 2021, with two-person in-room dining. Five-person in-room dining was later resumed on 12 July, only to be short-lived by a change back to two persons within one week from 19 July. On 19 July itself, I was at a coffee shop in Hougang for my dinner after house visits. Many residents present asked me whether it was true that there would be a lockdown of sorts in a few days' time. This was the day when there were reportedly 163 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, then, I believe, a single-day record. True enough, the next day, the Government announced that Phase Two (Heightened Alert) would be resumed from 22 July till 18 August with no in-room dining. It has been over a year since the circuit breaker was ended for the General Elections to take place, yet it has been an unsettling period of ups and downs for businesses as the country copes with successive, growing COVID-19 clusters. Today, I would like to touch on three aspects: one, work from home; two, more systematic and consistent supervision of safe management measures in businesses and less abrupt, reactive changes for businesses; three, impact of dining restrictions on F&B outlets. Work from home. The Government has continued to insist on work-from-home (WFH) as the default for many of our businesses and offices, with exceptions for small numbers to go back to office when necessary. This may compel many to WFH as the default and going to office on only certain limited days of the week.”