Desmond Choo
Singapore
“Through these expanded volunteer networks, we are building something more than a collection of programmes. We are strengthening a culture, a culture where service is valued, where sacrifice is understood and where defence is embraced as a shared mission. We are strengthening the very foundation of our national defence.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Prime Minister for his Ministerial Statement. The Labour Movement has surveyed our unionists. They are rightly worried about growth issues, loss of jobs and cost of living, but they have also expressed confidence that the People's Action Party Government will stay us through these difficult times.”
“Chairman, I would like to thank Minister Tan See Leng, Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State Zaqy and Minister of State Gan Siow Huang for their comprehensive responses and driving policy changes; and also Permanent Secretaries Ng Chee Khern, Jeffrey Siow, and their team of MOM officers, for their dedication in b…”
“Mr Chairman, just two clarifications. One, why is the Ministry raising the S Pass qualifying salary despite the labour market being already quite tight and the potential economic headwinds? What is the expected impact on the local workforce's wages?”
“Chairman, we have seen a surge in overseas travel as Singaporeans continue to embrace travelling in the new post-pandemic norm. Singaporeans are no longer sticking to the usual destinations but, increasingly, also to less-travelled destinations.”
“Since our Independence, Singapore has maintained the importance of capacity-building as a pillar of regional cooperation. In 1992, the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) was established in our effort to pay forward the help we received in our formative years. It serves as a platform to provide technical assistance to the world.”
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Every one of 589 lines we hold for Desmond Choo, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 12.
“Mr Deputy Speaker, co-operatives have a long history in Singapore, having been around since 1925. They play important social and economic functions for their members, offering a range of services from supermarket to welfare and financial services. We know that there are now about 23 credit co-operatives that offer a range of financial services, such as loans and fixed deposits, and encourage their 140,000 members to save for a rainy day. Many co-op members are also long-time members and some even have their family members as associate members. It was therefore disappointing to read about the case involving employees from the Singapore Statutory Boards Employees' Co-op cheating the society of more than $5 million, as also pointed out by Mr Alex Yam. While the matter has been dealt with in Court, the fact that the two employees were able to carry on with the deceit for so many years underscored the need to regulate co-operatives more stringently and ensure that proper governance procedures are in place. This can give greater confidence to members, assure them that their savings are protected and continue to uphold public confidence in co-operatives. One key area that needs to be tackled is in the appointment of credible and qualified individuals into the management committees of co-ops. I support the proposed changes on this matter as they will go a long way in professionalising the co-ops. I also support the enhanced regulatory powers that the Registry will have, for instance, in taking action when the management committee is not performing its duty, as well as in requiring co-ops to inform the Registry on developments that might adversely affect members' interests or its ability to meet financial obligations.”
“Every day in the heartlands, one would encounter many banks promoting various credit facilities and walk past the premises of many moneylending companies that have mushroomed in our town centres and malls. However, it is difficult to find educational posters or information sources on the ills of irresponsible money borrowing. Could the Ministry consider finding ways to balance this exposure to moneylending sources with educational information on the downsides of being burdened with debt? Finally, with reference to my earlier point on the abundance of moneylenders setting up shop in the heartlands, could the Ministry work together with the Ministry of National Development (MND) and other agencies to curb the number of such facilities in our heartlands? While it is true that a borrower will overcome any physical distance to seek loans and that such access can be attained online, limiting the immediacy of access and physical presence of these companies can reduce the temptation and convenience of borrowing in general. Notwithstanding the above, this Bill will further help prevent reckless borrowing and reduce default rates. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“Even though these moneylenders are restricted in terms of the channels they can use to advertise, they often have glitzy websites that do not provide upfront information on the interest rates for loans or the total amount of interest that needs to be paid for the full term of the loan. Could the Ministry consider imposing a condition requiring all registered moneylenders to provide a full disclosure on the total amount of loan plus interest to be paid, for example, on their websites and advertisements? Deputy Speaker, Sir, while most moneylenders follow the rules, there are some that have resorted to unscrupulous means to take advantage of borrowers. I would like to ask the Minister how many complaints against licensed moneylenders the Registry of Moneylenders has received on licensed moneylenders over the past two years. What are the top two types of complaints, and will the Registry consider publishing a list of blacklisted companies and a brief description of the complaint, so that borrowers are kept informed on the issues that they need to be aware of? Currently there is a list of suspended companies at the end of the list of registered moneylenders, but it is easy to miss the names as one would have to scroll to the end of 159 companies to see them. Could the Registry consider making the list of suspended moneylenders more accessible, informative and prominent? In terms of educating the public, will the Ministry conduct roadshows and other outreach programmes to educate the public on the law on moneylending and how to differentiate between a legal and illegal moneylender, and on the ills of borrowing in general?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, increasing levels of debt in Singapore have been an area of concern over the past few years. While the level of household debt remains high, the level of unsecured debt with loans taken from banks, while it had caused some concern two years ago, the Credit Limit Management Measures by MAS have reversed this trend. The number of borrowers with outstanding unsecured debt exceeding 18 times their monthly income has declined by 47% to 27,000 borrowers, compared to 2015 where there were 51,000 people in that situation. The amendments proposed under this Bill will enhance these measures as moneylending is further tightened. Easy accessibility to finances can feed unnecessary expenditures and habits, such as gambling. The proposed measures will prevent such borrowing from spiralling out of control. It is good that the number of high debtors with banks is decreasing. Yet, we must be cautious that the borrowing has not been channelled elsewhere. Debtors facing caps imposed on loans from banks − and soon from licensed moneylenders − might turn to unlicensed lenders, such as loan sharks. This means that the authorities must keep an even closer watch on unlicensed moneylenders who resort to creative tactics, such as sending WhatsApp messages using overseas numbers to lure borrowers. I would like to ask how the Ministry will work with MHA and other agencies to establish other ways to enforce against and further limit the access to unlicensed moneylenders. Tightly linked to the accessibility of easy loans is their perceived attractiveness. I would like to ask if any curbs on advertisements by licensed moneylenders will be imposed.”
“Yet, we cannot allow this extra layer of checks to cause transit passengers to encounter delays in the process of transferring from one flight to another. What measures will be taken to ensure that inconveniences are minimised, even as security steps are being increased? How is new biometric technology used to handle the increasing load? With increased responsibilities coming their way, we must also ensure that our officers are equal to the task. The law is, after all, only as effective as the officers using them. They must be trained to enhance their knowledge, skills and capability. How can SPF officers be involved in helping their ICA colleagues to take on the new powers? Interagency capabilities and operabilities are even more critical. We need to ensure that our officers operate well together as one unit. Other than training on their “hard” skills that are directly related to their profession, are ICA and SPF officers provided with "softer skills”, such as cultural intelligence, as their job requires them to deal with people from different cultures and nationalities? Another aspect of manpower and human capital, security work cannot be easily substituted with technology and enhanced legislation. Experience and street knowledge are essential elements built up over time. The Ministry must continue to leverage such strengths of our officers, especially when more powers are vested in them to meet our ever-evolving security threats. This might require buttressing our competencies with experienced officers from SPF and other enforcement agencies. Notwithstanding the above, the Bill is important to harden our borders without sacrificing on our efficacy and efficiency. Deputy Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the ever-present threat of terrorism makes it imperative for us to find ways to boost the level of security in Singapore. Our Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints handle a high volume of people daily. During festive periods, the numbers can go up to half a million a day. Changi Airport handled more than 50 million passengers last year and looks set to increase its passenger load with Terminal 5 (T5) on the way. We clearly need to future-proof our security coverage and provisions. With volume, potential perpetrators of harm seek vulnerabilities during busy periods. It is not merely a matter of volume. The nature and essence of threats evolve quickly. This makes timely and efficient intervention critical. With Singapore seeking to continue our position as a top transit hub, we must be at the top of the game with our security without losing our hallmark efficiency. This Bill widens the powers of ICA officers to search and arrest suspects for some offences, which currently come under the authority of the Police. Being at the frontline of security incidents, our ICA officers required powers to quickly intervene and resolve issues. Empowering them with greater authority will boost the level of safety and security and be efficient. One important measure included in this Bill is to allow ICA to collect personal identifiers from travellers in transit at Changi Airport where necessary. This contrasts with the current situation where the information is obtained only from travellers at immigration counters. Transit passengers make up about a third of Changi Airport’s passengers. We cannot allow terrorists to use Changi as a transit stop.”
“First, for those who are exempted from licensing, what kind of safeguards will there be against entities that are not providing legitimate services, or those who are out to scam visitors, or those who do not carry out their duties responsibly? Will we just leave it to the market to give them poor ratings and regulate itself? We must balance fostering a culture of innovation and Singapore as a reliable place for vacation. Rouge operators must be taken to task. Could STB make it compulsory for these entities to register themselves with STB so that we know who they are and what services they are offering? This will help the authorities in the event where investigations need to be made and tracking needs to be done. Second, since the penalties for unlicensed travel agents may be increased to $25,000, could STB also come up with clear guidelines to educate the public and the players in the sector on when one is exempt from licensing and when one is not, so that members of the public, including our overseas visitors, are clear on the guidelines and will not unwittingly get themselves into trouble? The tourism industry is evolving rapidly. We need a robust regulatory framework, strong travel agents and capable travel workers and guides to prevail in the future. We are clearly in the correct direction with this Bill. Mr Speaker, I support the Bill. 5.01 pm”
“In addition, tourist guides go through a Mandatory Refresher Course (MRC) as part of the requirements for licence renewal. MRC is now conducted in both English and Mandarin. This prepares for the future as Chinese tourists are expected to be an important group for the tourism industry. We must not forget the key markets, such as India and Indonesia. In view of the changing landscape of the tourism industry, how is STB ensuring that the future skills of guides are developed when they renew their licences? This Bill also proposes several measures to encourage greater innovation in travel products and services offered in Singapore. One provision exempts low risk/incidental players from the licensing regime to foster innovative and varied tour options. These measures will increase competition within the travel sector and will spur smaller agents and non-agents to be creative in coming up with programmes. Airbnb, for example, has a platform for visitors to sign up for "Experiences" in the city. While there are some options offered in Singapore, such as hiking, bike riding and watercolour painting, the offerings are somewhat limited, compared to what one can get, say, in San Francisco, where you could pay $50 to explore Victorian buildings with an enthusiast on the topic. In New York, you can pay $71 to explore the Garment District with a local designer. These types of "off-the-beaten-track" tours give life, vibrancy and variety to the kind of experiences a visitor could have in a city. Now, hopefully, with the change in provisions, more Singaporeans with knowledge or talent in different fields could come forward to offer such experiences. With regard to this change, I have two concerns.”
“The relatively large number of closures suggest that greater protection for both consumers and workers is needed. Under the proposed amendments for restricted travel agents' licence, there is a requirement of a net worth capital of $50,000. Can we ring-fence a percentage of that net worth capital required for the travel agents' licence to be used to pay the travel agencies' workers and guides when the travel agencies cease operations? In fact, could this be used for all the net worth capital requirements for the licences? The tourist guides are largely freelancers engaged by the travel agents to bring the tourists around Singapore. When travel agents close, they are adversely impacted. Most guides are not paid CPF or might not be covered under any insurance paid by the travel agent. How can we better protect the guides? As the travel industry transforms, we need to ensure that the workers as well as the tourist guides are trained in the relevant future skills. Digital skills, customer service, language abilities and emotional intelligence capabilities are increasingly valued highly. What are the training plans that STB has in place to help the travel agents and tourist guides to upgrade and upskill their workers so that they can help to grow the tourism industry? Could STB also consider having training content that is bite-size and on-the-go so that it is easily accessed by tourist guides who are often moving about as their work entails? As freelancers, their income would be affected if they are to take time off for training. So, formal learning can be difficult for them. To ensure the professionalism of the tourism industry, the future skills of the tourist guides should be tested to renew their licences.”
“Mr Speaker, Singaporeans are big travellers, with more than nine million overseas trips made in a year by air and sea. Singapore also received 16 million visitors in 2016. Clearly, it is important that we strengthen our legal provisions for travel agents which are a key pillar of the industry. The tourism industry has three key components: travellers, travel agents and workers. While I agree with the amendments proposed in this Bill, I hope that the Ministry can also review three other areas of enhancements: protecting consumers, having stronger travel agents and having a good workforce of tour guides and workers. While many recreational travellers plan their own itineraries, there is still a strong demand for the services of travel agents as they are convenient. Yet, the sudden closure of companies, including established players, such as Five Stars Tours and MISA Travel, left many consumers in the lurch. In 2014, when Five Stars Tours suddenly closed down, customers were stranded and some only knew through reports in the media. STB has a website called Travel Related Users' System (TRUST) where the public can check on travel agents that have had their licences revoked or those companies that have ceased operations. This is useful, especially to prevent fraudulent transactions. It can be made more useful if companies with chequered customer service track records are also included. On the website, there are two companies which had their licences revoked and 125 companies that had ceased operations since 1 January 2017. This could be a result of a fundamental structural shift in the tourism industry. Can the Minister share what are the main reasons for tour agents closing down?”
“I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. Just a couple of supplementary questions. The first one is: our national athletes are great ambassadors of the sports for Singapore. Is there a structured process for them to take up permanent roles within ActiveSG? And the second question: within the different schools, we have been trying to promote sports. Is there also a similar structured process, or a Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) that allows them to take up these positions within MOE or in terms of promoting the different interest groups?”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for her comprehensive answer. I have just one supplementary question. MOE has a good suite of services provided to the students. What is critical for the ECG Counsellors is also a career path that they can build on, so that they grow their industry depth and knowledge to help our students and progress with them over the years. What are the plans that MOE has to grow the careers of our ECG Counsellors?”
“Could some kind of penalty be imposed on the landlords who repeatedly have such establishments operating on their premises, but still evict and take reasonable steps to evict the operator within a month? Finally, I would like to know if there are any guidelines on advertising for these types of services in the heartlands. Could restrictions be placed on advertisements of massage establishments in the heartlands? [Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair] Sir, this Bill is as much about weeding out illegal massage establishment as supporting the genuine ones in developing their industry. All stakeholders need to play their role, especially landlords, who cannot adopt a rent-and-forget approach anymore. This Bill sets it in the right direction. I support the Bill.”
“These are businesses which have CaseTrust accreditation, a capital investment of at least $50,000 and are seen as low risk in providing vice-related activities as they are usually reflexology centres or physiotherapy centres. May I ask the Minister how many of these Category 1 businesses have been found to have flouted the rules due to having vice-related activities on their premises, or for not following regulations, such as having clear windows where all activities can be seen from outside of the shop? Is there a debarment period before these people could operate similar businesses again? Perhaps it might be useful to limit their operating hours as some of them operate even till midnight. Does the Ministry have any plans to revise these requirements and make it even stricter for massage establishments that want to operate in HDB heartlands? Sir, while this Bill enhances the responsibilities of the premises owner or landlord for the activities that take place, it could go further and take on a stricter stance to reflect the great responsibility that the landlord has on this matter. With regard to Part 6 clause 28, it seems to suggest that the premises owner is liable only if he or she knows that the place is being used as a massage establishment without a licence. Does this liability extend to sexual and other vice activities done at the premises, which is a breach of the licensing conditions? Does the Ministry have enhanced levels of punishment for multiple infractions? Can we consider the forfeiture of tenancy, especially if it is a commercial space in an HDB estate? Landlords who take “reasonable steps” to evict the operator within a month will not be penalised, while those who do not do so face a fine of $10,000 or imprisonment of up to two years.”
“Mr Speaker, the problem of vice establishments using "massage service" as a mask to hide their activities has been prevalent for a long time. As the Minister has shared, since 2013, there has been about a 40% increase in unlicensed massage establishments in Singapore. The operating terrain also made enforcement difficult. It is timely to strengthen our laws and regulations to protect genuine massage establishments and penalise those that use this as a cover for vice activities. One important change is the increase in fines from $1,000 to $10,000 for businesses that offer vice-related services, as well as including the possibility of a jail term of up to two years. This sends the correct signal that we are serious in tackling this problem. We also need to go further to weed out all parties that are responsible for letting such businesses thrive. We need to establish stricter rules on landlords, especially those operating within the heartlands. Besides the guise of massage establishments, there are news reports of those using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) centres as a guise for sexual offences. Sir, we must guard against having such businesses operating in our heartlands as it could cause security and social problems. Can MHA consider working with the merchant associations to strengthen our intelligence collection against such illegal establishments? What other mechanisms are there in place for HDB to obtain feedback on establishments that flout the rules? Currently, only massage establishments in the Massage Establishment (ME) Category 1 or those in the Exempted ME category are allowed to operate in residential areas.”
“This Bill will build on our previous efforts and is in the correct direction. Sir, I support the Bill.”
“There should be a balancing or rebalancing of powers where workers and employers are concerned, as many workers, especially foreign workers, might feel afraid to speak up even if they know there are violations. What incentives are there for workers to be a whistleblower where safety is concerned? What reassurance will they have and how will this be communicated to workers to encourage them to speak up? Secondly, training is important where WSH is concerned. One of the provisions of this Bill is to have the requirement for the Commissioner to accredit WSH training providers to be removed. This is because, as part of the migration of WSH training courses from MOM to SkillsFuture SG, the training providers will have to go through re-accreditation to meet the new standards. According to MOM, it has been working with SSG to prepare the WSH training providers for this change. Could the Minister of State provide an update on what percentage of companies have successfully made the migration and how many more are left to complete it by 2019? What are the measures taken to ensure training capacity has not been affected? Will this incur higher costs for businesses and what are MOM’s plans to help them? Technology is also a great enabler in some sectors as it can help reduce human error and accidents. Could the Minister also share the progress of some examples of companies that have successfully used technology to enhance the safety processes at work? How can the Ministry also incentivise the adoption of technologies to reduce the occurrence of workplace accidents? The progress towards safer workplaces is never a smooth or linear one. It will be littered with unfortunate incidents that we must do well to learn from and better protect our workers.”
“Mr Speaker, it was reported that the number of fatalities and injuries in the workplace decreased in the first half of this year compared to last year. This is good progress. While the spectre of major incidents, such as the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) worksite collapse, might linger, we are in the right direction. We must continue working towards ever safer workplaces. When it comes to ensuring workplace safety, two key areas come to mind. Firstly, the Vision Zero Movement sets us on the right mindset. All workplace injuries and health issues are preventable. In fact, it must be the goal of all companies to have zero accidents. In line with the movement, it is important to ensure that companies with a chequered past are not given the opportunity to be awarded contracts for key public projects, certainly with heavy scrutinising to ensure that they have put in clear systems to rectify their lapses. If we truly desire to have zero accidents and fatalities, we must have a more robust system of ensuring that only companies with a clean record or good remedial measures are given such larger jobs. Does the Ministry have a system of evaluation where companies that have flouted safety regulations repeatedly are taken out of circulation and prevented from being in the industry again? A desire for zero fatalities and accidents would not just rest with the leaders of a company but it should be a collective aspiration that is shared with all workers. A secure and accessible feedback mechanism should be in place for workers, especially in the construction, marine and engineering sectors.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. I have a clarification to make. In terms of setting the quota and the growth rate, did the Ministry take into account the requirements needed for other segments of the economy, especially the e-commerce industry which requires a lot of motorcycles and commercial vehicles? In the years ahead where online marketing and e-commerce become more prevalent, this requirement might increase. Would the Ministry then consider a review at a subsequent date?”
“It can be when a family member makes a careless remark to us, or when a friend circulates such messages through WhatsApp or other means of communication. We must stand up to such seemingly innocent but are really soft approaches of spreading division and disunity. We have a duty, both moral and national, to not participate in spreading such messages. This is our Singaporean duty. With regard to hate speech online, the European Union (EU) has said that it wants tech giants like Facebook and Twitter to do more in cracking down on hate speeches online by providing automatic deletion technology and other ways to prevent hate speech from being propagated online. Could we also look into whether we will call for the same provisions from such companies? While Singapore has laws to curb hate speech, such legislation may not be the only or the best way to deal with such matters. The safety and security that we have enjoyed for many decades are not something that came about by chance, but it is a result of hard work over a long period of time. The Government's strong and consistent enforcement of the law, a dedicated and capable Home Team and SAF, and the forward-looking social policies have kept terrorism at bay. We have been fortunate thus far to be spared from terrorist attacks. The threat is real and we must all play our part in being vigilant in our daily lives. I support the Motion.”
“Even though we have differences, I believe that what divides us pales in comparison to what unites us. However, this is something that we should not take for granted, especially when terrorism is almost at our doorstep. It is imperative that we strengthen our bulwark against these winds of evil. We have certainly made much progress through our many emergency preparedness programmes. Yet, videos and posts online continue to show that unattended bags or items in public spaces were often ignored and unreported. This reminds us that we have our work cut out for us. How can we further scale our efforts, especially in schools and workplaces? The social media is an important battleground that must be won. Social media has a critical role to play in times of crisis. It can be an agent in uniting or dividing us. I would like to ask if we can have a group of social media influencers who can be roped in as "first responders" on social media in times of crises. In the event of such an incident, these "online first responders" could be the first ones to put out their thoughts and, hence, lead discussions in a productive manner. If there are groups that try to spread falsehoods or rumours online that can confuse the public in times of chaos, these "first responders" could help Government agencies spread the correct messages to resolve the issue. I will next touch on fighting hate speech and extremist thinking. Incidents in other countries have shown a growing trend of extremist thinking. We must not allow our people to be influenced by these unhealthy trends which will create fear and suspicion among different races and religions. We must not only counter these perceptions online but also in our private lives daily.”
“Mr Speaker, as a racially and religiously diverse society, Singapore has a mix of fault lines and differences that can divide people and tear our society apart. The racial riots of the past are a grim reminder of what it can be like if there is no mutual trust and understanding among different societal groups. We have developed a Singaporean approach that worked for us. Although it is not perfect, we have enjoyed decades of peace and harmony. Singapore has been fortified but not impregnable. In late 2015, I attended a seminar called "Celebrating Humanity, Faith and Love". It was organised by Jamiyah Singapore, held in Soka Association in Tampines, and attended by Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Taoists and Freethinkers. I stood at the rostrum and could not help but marvel at the miracle that we have created. A week ago, I attended the 100th Anniversary of the Sheng Hong Temple and it was well-attended by leaders of Singapore's major faiths. We are probably one of the few places in the world where this can happen regularly, celebrated widely, and perhaps even taken for granted at times. We have forged a common space where Singaporeans can practise their faiths freely. This freedom is precious. Ironically, because we are a successful example of a multicultural society, we are on the terrorist hit list. Terrorism threatens to rip our hard-earned social fabric apart. Extremists can then lay claim that multiculturalism just does not work. The chaos and destruction from a successful terrorist attack in Singapore will drive wedges right along our fault lines. Will we unite and overcome the challenges together as one Singapore, or will we crumble and fall apart? The ties that we have nurtured during peaceful times can hopefully endure such a test.”
“There will still be many buildings holding thousands of people and of iconic and important value but not included within the guidelines. Yet, we know it is unwise to barricade every building and line every street with bollards. We must secure whatever we can, prudently and effectively. This is another ring of defence to complement our SGSecure work. The best defence is still an engaged and resilient citizenry. With this, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“How can the Ministry itself better manage such longer-term costs? Because the measures that might be needed can be extensive, there is value for a prescribed code, much like a building code. This allows companies to know what is expected of them as part of forward business planning. Yet, this might then become an ironically useful guide for terrorists. We need to strike a balance. Could the Minister share more on how the selection of infrastructure is made, and how many buildings will be affected? What is the timeline given for affected buildings to comply with all the requirements set out in the Bill? Mr Speaker, skilled manpower along the value chain is needed for these measures to work. For example, there must be sufficient consultants and capacity in the Ministry to ensure that building owners are not unduly delayed in seeking approvals. We need to ensure that security officers are kept updated on these new measures. Would new forms of training be required and refresher training be introduced to help existing security officers? There is also a consequential need for a pool of capable and well-trained staff in facilities management who can ensure that the new security measures implemented are in good working order. We will also need the security agencies to have sufficient resources to audit the buildings, the list of which perhaps will only grow with time. The powers to stop unauthorised photography are needed to stem terrorist surveillance and reconnaissance. This is an important first counterterrorism measure. Do the powers also extend to publishing of such photos? What measures or education efforts will be taken to increase awareness? Mr Speaker, this Bill improves the security in Singapore. However, laws alone will not solve all our security issues.”
“Mr Speaker, the 9/11 attacks ushered in an era whereby terrorist attacks are an unfortunate norm. While we have avoided terrorist attacks on Singapore soil thus far, we must not stop enhancing our defence against terrorism. Terrorists evolve their tactics quickly to stay one step ahead of security and law enforcement agencies. Cars and lorries are now used just as effectively as explosives to cause carnage, fear and deadly divisions in many countries. We saw these in Finland, the UK and Spain. The broad-ranging terrorist arsenal meant that our security agencies cannot be the only active agents in preventing terrorism. This Bill seeks to ensure that our key infrastructures are well guarded against threats. Infrastructure owners will be required to adopt measures against security threats. These will involve additional costs and resources for businesses and may result in some inconvenience as well. The concern about cost is understandable. Yet, a successful attack involves a far graver cost, and not just for businesses, but for everyone. This Bill is not alone in its bid to strengthen Singapore’s line against terrorism. The Counter-Terrorism Committee under the United Nations has similarly called for greater partnership between the public and private sectors to secure critical infrastructure. We can understand the concerns on costs because there can be a long tail of them. The costs involved will include consultancy, implementation and long-term maintenance and replacement. How would the Ministry better help our businesses to manage these costs effectively so that it will not be passed down to tenants and customers? In fact, the Ministry’s regulatory costs could also increase to ensure that the security measures are in working condition.”
“Speaker, I thank the Minister for his clarification. Just one supplementary question. While it is not reasonable to expect to take samples and tests of building materials, in the instance of the recent case on the combustible claddings found, how can we prevent further large-scale instances of such cases from happening again? Do we need to increase the number of inspection or something for the project?”
“Madam, I just want to check what is the larger strategic direction for future changes and what can we expect from the most current review that MOM is conducting.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I have two supplementary questions. Firstly, can the Minister of State clarify why was OKP not under BUS at the material time? Are we satisfied that there is no systemic failure of its safety management system? Secondly, while a lot of demerit points have been issued to the companies, are we also satisfied that the current regime is tough enough to deter companies from even trying to adopt lower standards in their safety management?”
“I would like to know if some of the programmes will be reserved for workers, compared to fresh graduates from polytechnics or junior colleges (JCs). How will the balancing be done? Finally, how can we ensure that this strong social focus does not prevent us from being nimble when industry requirements change? Right now, there is a need for more family/criminal lawyers, early childhood practitioners and specialists. But what if industry and social demands change in the future? For example, with the lower birth rates, the need for early childhood specialists may not be as high as it is now. How will SUSS ensure that its programmes are sustainable in the long term? In addition, I believe that for continued relevance and productivity, the strong social focus of the programmes must be infused by the best that digital and technological developments can offer. The investment in disciplines with a strong social focus is important as it underpins a Singapore that is transforming its economy and societal fabric. The focus on adult and lifelong learning can accelerate developing new ways of keeping our workforce nimble and relevant. I support the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of this Bill. The new SUSS' focus on adult learners is important and timely. Workers will have more opportunities to broaden or deepen their knowledge. I support SUSS' move to integrate applied learning into its curriculum. This improves industry relevance. It also improves speed to market for our graduates. This is a step in the right direction. In fact, this could contribute towards the continuous need to close the skills gap of our workers, an issue which was highlighted by our Manpower Minister recently. While I welcome the move to strengthen the social sciences and to prepare students for socially-related careers, I note that four out of eight fields in SUSS' full-time programmes are business-related. These include Accountancy, Finance and Marketing. How does this fit in with the focus on social sciences and how will its graduates differentiate themselves from those who take similar programmes in other universities? As SUSS is the only one of the six universities with a stronger focus on adult learners, how would the university work with the industry to improve the employability of students? How will SUSS work with the industry, Labour Movement or Workforce Singapore (WSG) to ensure that students who wish to switch careers or advance their careers are given proper support and network with employers in their field of study? Would they also similarly have structured access to internships and attachments in the industry? Press reports show overwhelming response for SUSS' courses as the number of applications received for some courses far exceeds the number of places available. A report by The Straits Times also mentioned that about 62% of applicants to SUSS are polytechnic students.”
“This shows that the Government respects the important role that Members play in scrutinising and debating Government policy and proposed legislation. I understand that there are now no limits on how long Members can speak on each item of business and how long each item can be debated but, at the same time, it would not be prudent to prolong debates just because we can. It is ultimately the quality, rather than the length of the debate that matters. A search online showed that the longest Parliament session in a single Sitting was in 1881 in the United Kingdom which lasted for 41.5 hours. Just last year, the Australian Senate sat for 28 hours before passing a Voting Reform Bill. This is one record that we might do well to avoid. For us to achieve a balanced state where important matters are sufficiently debated, I hope all sides of the House will practice self-discipline, including myself, and keep our speeches short and succinct. Madam, I support the Motion.”
“I look forward to the proposed tracking of changes to amendment Bills as this will help Members while going through the various versions of the amendments and keep track of the evolution process of the Bill. On the issue of petitions, I agree that it will be beneficial for the Parliament to have the option of considering a petition together with a related Bill or a Motion, instead of sending the petition to the Public Petitions Committee. This is so that Parliament can have the benefit of considering the petition while debating the Bill or Motion. Members can then scrutinise the issues raised in the petition and a full debate can occur. Public interest will, hence, not be compromised. When it comes to Question Time, I speak on behalf of backbenchers that we would naturally prefer more time rather than less. However, it also means that if Question Time is increased, the time spent on other matters. such as debating Bills and Motions, will have to moderate. I recognise that the Government is meeting backbenchers midway by increasing Question Time on an ad hoc basis and I hope that this can be done whenever the volume of business permits or an issue is of broad public interest. I also hope that Ministers will continue and perhaps also expand on the practice of making Ministerial Statements on significant issues of broad public interest to the House, in the spirit of accountability to Parliament. This will also give Members another avenue to ask questions on important issues and engage the Ministers on these issues. Finally, on time management, I welcome the Leader's indication that the Government is prepared to sit longer hours to deal with increased Parliamentary business.”
“Mdm Speaker, first, I would like to thank you for your guidance and leadership both as the Speaker of this House and as the chairperson for the Standing Orders Committee. With your leadership, our Parliament proceedings are smooth and efficient, and Members can debate productively and robustly while adhering to strict time limits. This report proposes several enhancements to various aspects of the Parliamentary proceedings and conduct. There are several issues which I would like to raise. First, the proposed amendments on the Elected Presidency, which are consequential to the constitutional amendments proposed last year. One of the proposals states that if the President goes against the advice of the majority of the Council of Presidential Advisers, and exercises his veto power, Parliament can override such a veto with a two-thirds majority. For this to happen, the President's grounds and Council's recommendation should be made available at least two days before a Motion is moved to overrule the President. I would like to clarify what is the legal position if the Clerk fails to publish the notification that the President did not exercise his custodial powers within the constitutional time limit? Second, on the Bill procedures, I welcome the proposal to increase the minimum interval from seven to 10 clear days as this will give more time for further deliberation on Bills. I also welcome the increase in the notice period for amendments from two clear days to four clear days as this will strike an appropriate balance between passing legislation in a timely way, while allowing Parliament adequate time for legislative scrutiny.”
“However, they also realise that they already have the 16-week maternity leave and asking for FWA might affect their career prospect. They are in a dilemma and are not sure what to do. Some even choose to leave the workforce. I hope the Government can give the new mothers the statutory right of FWA within the first year of childbirth. This has been implemented in the UK for many years and was welcomed by women and employers alike. This can promote pro-family practices and work arrangements and is a booster for women who are currently agonising over balancing work and family. Singaporean women need comprehensive support to fulfil their aspirations in family and career life. The measures outlined in the Motion can help Singaporean women achieve their dreams and aspirations. Hence, I support this Motion.”
“By age 40, she has only 3% of the up to two million eggs that she was born with. This was from a study by the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh. Hence, freezing the eggs at a younger age preserves her fertility." Now, the concern that allowing for egg-freezing might delay marriage and parenthood is also not trivial. However, sourcing for donor eggs is already allowed in Singapore anyway. And for many women, it is not just a matter of work delaying marriage but finding Mr Right. We should grant our women that right to choose without denying them the option of having healthier children. We can, in fact, support the aspirations of our Singaporean women by giving them a better chance of raising healthy children and having a good career. Turning to the workplace, many women with children find their career options limited by inflexible workplaces. The recently-announced initiatives by the Government on the pilot in the Civil Service and Standard Chartered's 20 weeks of paid maternity leave are clarion calls to help our mothers manage their balancing act better. Standard Chartered stated it had done so because it "recognise[s] the dual roles many of them have to play and want them to succeed both at work and at home." And we need more of such trailblazers. I hope that the Government can consider piloting the right to request for FWA. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me continue in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Deputy Speaker, after giving birth, many women need some time to get used to managing the dual roles of childcare and work. For many new mothers, the first year after childbirth can be exhausting. They hope that their work can be flexible so that they can better cope with the role of a mother.”
“Second, we need to review expanding the subsidised options for our couples. Currently, there are approximately 14 certified AR doctors in the restructured hospitals and about 33 in private practice. Opening up subsidies to both public and private hospitals give our couples more options and shorter waiting time. For couples with narrower windows, time is of the essence. The worry that doctors in private practice will raise prices because of the subsidies is not trivial. But we have similarly been using a system of audits and checks for community healthcare subsidies. The AR fees are now comparable between the private and public sectors. And the smaller group of AR practitioners meant checks should be easier. Opening up the market also introduces greater contestability for competitiveness. The issue of AR is less critical if a woman marries earlier and have children earlier. We are unlikely to reverse the trend of later marriages. But we can give women chances of giving birth to healthy babies even when they are older. The hon Member Miss Cheng Li Hui raised in 2016 if the Ministry of Health (MOH) can consider allowing for egg-freezing. A key consideration then was whether egg-freezing was effective. According to a Straits Times report on 18 September 2016, "In 2012, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine removed the 'experimental' label from egg freezing. It found that advances in techniques led to pregnancy rates comparable to IVF cycles that use fresh eggs." Even in IVF, eggs are extracted and then frozen before thawing for fertilisation, although for a shorter period of time. In the same report, it said, "Doctors note that a woman is born with a finite number of eggs, with the number and quality of eggs declining as she ages.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, for some of our Singapore women, building successful careers and closely-knit families, are closely intertwined. Their aspirations are inextricably linked by a relationship of trade-offs. Some find that the demands of work prevent them from settling down earlier. Others, while they enjoy parenthood, find balancing work and family a struggle and hope for better support. Still for others, the demands of motherhood and career meant the decision is binary. These trade-offs are difficult to make because, for most people, careers and families define us to a large extent. While it is unlikely that we can have our cake and eat it, can we do better for our Singaporean women? A report by the Department of Statistics released about two weeks ago stated that the median age in the first marriage for brides rose from 26.9 years in 2005, to 28.2 years in 2015. The need to find careers, success and financial stability before marriage is probably a significant reason for this phenomenon. The knock-on effect of later marriages is having children later. And with it, lower fertility rates. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) is increasingly being used by couples. While there are generous subsidies for ART, only women below 40 years old can benefit from it and, even then, the subsidies only apply for procedures at public hospitals. While the chances of conceiving drop after 40 and we should ensure public subsidies are well-targeted, there is a case to be made in having a reduced subsidy rate for those who are between 41 years old and 42 years old. The reduced subsidies rate commensurates with the lowered chances which are graduated after 40 years old to 42 years old, and not a precipitous decline.”
“Finally, as many Singaporeans are users of cyberspace, how will the Ministry educate the public on these provisions? What public communication plans are there to increase awareness of these issues? How will the Ministry galvanise the support of netizens as they can play a role in combatting cybercrimes by being more vigilant when they are in cyberspace? Establishing and evolving our cybersecurity blanket is critical to support Singapore's growth in the digital economy. This Bill provides greater assurances that our cyberspace can be a safer one. Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“Even without hacking or obtaining personal information through crime, cybercriminals can disrupt an individual's life by merely taking a photograph obtained online and using it for nefarious ends. While acts of this sort are covered under provisions in the Penal Code, such as sections 415 and 416 which deal with cheating in general, or under the Protection from Harassment Act, the conditions in cyberspace could create new dimensions of committing crime that may require them to be treated separately. With the rise of such incidences in cyberspace and the convenience with which they can be committed, would the Minister consider having such incidences covered under this Bill for added deterrence? Having new provisions in this Bill means that more manpower and expertise might be needed to investigate these cybercrimes. As the field of cybersecurity is a relatively new one, do we have adequate numbers of officers trained in cybersecurity to tackle these crimes? MINDEF recently announced that it will have a new cyber command and will rope in NSmen in cyber defence. I encourage the Home Team to take similar steps to ensure that it has enough expertise in handling an increase in cybercrimes. As cybercrimes are often transboundary in nature, I support the move to include an extraterritorial application of CMCA offences which cause serious harm to Singapore. However, investigations for such cases are usually complex as it will involve dealing with the laws of other jurisdictions. This might hinder investigations. In addition to that, how would distributed databases and cloud services affect investigation and enforcement? Could the Minister elaborate on how this can be overcome?”
“Mdm Speaker, the cyberspace has become the new frontier for security. The borderless and anonymous nature of cyberspace is an ideal hive for criminals. Singapore is not alone. Our overall crime rate decreased slightly last year but online crimes are on the rise. The fast-evolving nature of cybercrimes and our increasingly heavy digital reliance makes it imperative that we strengthen our cybersecurity laws to protect our citizens from harm. I support strengthening our laws on computer misuse and cybersecurity but I would like to seek clarification on several new provisions contained in this Bill. The new section 8A deals with personal information of individuals that have been obtained through hacking or other computer crimes and further using it for non-legitimate purposes. May I know what constitutes "personal information"? The types of personal information that is available online or on computers can vary from having one's photos on a "private" or "friends only" access on Facebook, to having more personal information, such as addresses and contact or credit card numbers. Furthermore, does the provision in section 8A mean that website owners will have an added legal responsibility in watching out for unlawful information being posted as comments on their site? The issue of online identity fraud is becoming more common and can lead to severe outcomes if not properly dealt with. Just recently, a community leader has had his photos used not only on Facebook, but on various other online platforms. His photo was found to have been scanned onto a digital image of a foreign passport, which was circulated online.”
“Mdm Chairman, for the general subsidies for Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) treatment, only women below 40 years of age can benefit from it. And even then, the subsidies only apply for the procedures and public hospitals. Some research state that clinically relevant facility decline is in for women aged 41 to 42. Would the Ministry consider extending the qualifying age for subsidies to 42? Would the subsidies also be extended to treatments at private hospitals so as to reduce waiting time? Co-funding for ART at Private Hospitals”
“Even though the Government has pledged to review and provide salary guidelines "based on market data and benchmarks", it is not clear exactly how the benchmarking is conducted. I would like to propose that the Government benchmark the pay of social workers to another noble profession − teachers. Back when the Government was looking to make teaching an attractive profession, it raised the salaries of teachers and increased the quality of their training. I ask that the Government do the same for social workers. I would also like to appeal to the Government for transparency in the salary benchmarking process and to set a timeline for regular wage reviews for social workers. Doing More for Singaporeans”
“It also helps companies to build CSR programmes. Can the Government provide an update on the scheme? Are there plans to further enhance the scheme? 6.00 pm A growing group that requires support are parents of autistic children. Treatment and therapy can be costly. Anecdotally, children might wait for a year or more to get into a special education or SPED school or centre. As these families have to cope with the high cost of raising the child, could subsidies or greater tax considerations be given to them? The community which embraces special needs persons is critical to making Singapore inclusive. Can the Ministry also share on other public education and outreach programmes they have, to educate the public about autism and the challenges in raising an autistic child? Would the Ministry also consider the further implementation of the very popular and successful inclusive playgrounds in the heartlands? Professionalisation of Social Work Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong (Non-Constituency Member): Sir, I would like to call out for better pay structure and pay increments for our social workers, as well as increased professionalisation of the social work profession. According to figures released by MSF last year, the number of social workers doubled from 2012 to reach 1,600 in 2016. However, this number is still far from what Singapore needs. Social workers play an integral role in alleviating the problems faced by vulnerable members of our society and they deserve remuneration that reflects the job complexity and high amounts of stress they face in their line of work. Despite pay increments announced in Budget 2015, the wages of fresh graduates in social work are still a distance from the overall median wage of fresh graduates.”
“Mr Chairman, as Singapore matures and ages as a nation, the demand for quality early childhood and social services increases. Having a pipeline of quality manpower in this sector is critical. Can the Ministry update on the progress in attracting, retaining and deepening competencies of manpower in the childcare and social services sector? Mid-career candidates have shared that they can take 1.5 to two years to be qualified to work in these sectors. Can the Ministry look at shortening the training period for prospective entrants without compromising the necessary depth of training? Mr Chairman, let me continue in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] A career in childcare or social services is very meaningful. Yet, many workers have told me that the remuneration and opportunities for career development lag behind other professions. This may become a barrier, as many new entrants decide to switch jobs so that they can establish a good economic foundation for themselves. Hence, I would like to suggest that we actively promote a shared-services business model which can do away with unnecessary expenses, and benefits can be shared with the workers. This will not only strengthen organisational capabilities, but also help better childcare and social service centres expand quickly. The Government can work with social enterprises under the union movement to promote this. Mobilising Community Effort My next cut. Helping those with special needs speaks of the conscience and grace of our nation. Both corporations and the larger community have important roles in weaving our tapestry of social hope and support. The SHARE as One programme is a meaningful platform for Singaporeans to give towards charities through their workplaces.”
“Chairman, while we restructure the economy to be vibrant, let us also continue to help our disabled jobseekers and their needs. SG Enable's open-door programme has helped many Singaporeans with training and jobs. This is good progress. Can the Ministry also update on the latest progress? Are there enough positions to meet the demand? Which sector has been the most progressive in hiring Singaporeans with special needs? Acceptance and opening our office doors to Singaporeans with disabilities require a shared appreciation of each other's capabilities. This must be ingrained from the very start. I encourage creating funding and platforms for our schools and youths to start joint projects where the disabled and able-bodied youths will get the opportunity to work together. Through these activities and interactions, mutual respect and understanding can germinate early, reaping returns of greater inclusivity at the workplace at the later stages. Assistive Technology Fund”
“Mr Chairman, the Government has enabled unwed mothers to be given the same 16-week maternity leave that all mothers get in Singapore as well as a Child Development Account. These changes are important. We should, however, still seek to provide a complete ecosystem of support. For example, unwed mothers are still not given the Baby Bonus cash gift and various tax rebates. Can the Ministry consider providing such support? They are also not able to buy an HDB flat as they are deemed to not have a family nucleus. Hence, they can only buy a flat under the Singles Scheme or from the resale market. Yet, under the Singles Scheme, they get smaller grants, compared to first-time married couples. Resale flats are more expensive. Unwed mothers who need a home to bring up a child will find it challenging. Could we re-look at the definition of a family nucleus so that unwed mothers can be granted with full housing grant and truly make it "Happy Women's Day". Supporting Family”
“Mdm Chairman, more companies are making FWAs available to their employees. This is encouraging. However, broader adoption is tepid because of mindset, manpower and operational constraints. Senior Minister of State Mrs Josephine Teo's pilot announced on 2 March is an important step to broader adoption at the sectoral level. We must reinforce this call for FWA. I am glad that MOM will go beyond the Tripartite Advisory and develop tripartite standards for companies to answer the clarion call. This tripartite code or standards will be an important step to further companies' commitment. I also suggest that these standards come attached with incentives for abiding by the standards. Employees in companies where there is such a standard have a right to FWA. We can also consider implementing this sectorally, starting with those where technology-enabled FWA can be made more pervasive, such as the banking, accounting and ICT sectors. Participating companies in the Human Capital Partnership Programme should also commit to these tripartite standards. Progressive- and Flexi-work Arrangements”
“I am pleased that the Ministry has developed efforts to place companies on the watchlist for weak commitment to the hiring of local Singaporeans. I would like to ask the Minister on the progress of efforts in looking at firms on this watchlist and under close scrutiny. Can the Minister share the profile of these firms? How have these efforts encouraged these firms to employ more Singaporeans? How have other firms responded to this signal? Jobs for Singaporeans”
“Mdm Chairman, Singapore has supported our companies with various grants, for example, Capability Development Grant (CDA), the Increase SME Productivity with Infocomm Adoption and Transformation (iSPRINT), Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) and Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP). Our companies have benefited from such support. Indirectly, workers have also gained through better jobs and wages. The IGP is a more direct approach. Every company which utilises the funding must commit to sharing productivity gains with our workers. Workers and company grow inclusively. They are also motivated to find even better ways to implement the projects. I believe there is scope to expand such an approach to other Government schemes. I note that not all gains are realised quickly and might neither be shared readily nor easily quantifiable. I propose that we expand gains-sharing to include investment in workers' training, such as subsidising training courses or providing training leave. In such a way, there will be longer-term entrenched benefits for workers. Can the Government also consider making this expanded definition of gains-sharing a key performance indicator (KPI) for our grants and initiatives? Firms on Watchlist and Close Scrutiny Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Mdm Chairman, during last year's COS debate, I raised the issue about Singaporean and foreign workers. I shared with the House that there were companies which had the locals' interests in their hearts, although they had a regular EP inflow. On the other hand, there were also companies whose hearts were not with our locals, where I received feedback that they use the locals in filling up the numbers and were not particularly interested in developing our local workers.”
“To evolve the programme further, we should work with companies, such as Honestbee, to create micro jobs accessible to our more senior residents. Supporting our middle-age and older workers is not only the Government's responsibility. In an ageing Singapore, they can be the vibrant driver of growth if we give them opportunities. They have carried Singapore's development on their backs over the years. It is time and imperative that Singapore give these veteran soldiers their second wind. Job Redundancies, Older Workers and Professional Conversion Programme”