Desmond Lee
Singapore
“The Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation and Service (LEAPS) 2.0 is a framework for recognising student participation and achievement in secondary school co-curricular programmes.”
“The Ministry of Education (MOE) is mindful of the impact that rising temperatures may have on our students, teachers and officials taking part in the National School Games. Matches are scheduled only after students have had the time to train and become progressively more heat acclimatised.”
“As shared in Parliament in March 2026, the proportion of students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream schools has remained stable, at around 7% of the overall student population. This stability is observed across both primary and secondary schools.”
“The Ministry recruits and assesses applicants based on merit and suitability for the teaching profession, regardless of gender. We look for individuals with a passion for teaching, a belief in the potential of every child, and who possess the values and character to make a positive difference in students' lives.”
“Over the past five years, an average of 750 teachers resigned from the Education Service annually, representing a resignation rate of around 2%.”
“MOE has also progressively strengthened open access within the Primary 1 Registration Framework through Phase 2C, which is open to students regardless of whether they have prior connections to the school. MOE had increased the number of reserved Phase 2C places from zero to 20 in 2014; and from 20 to 40 in 2022.”
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“As a plumbing subcontractor for residential developments, Shin’s adoption of BIM helped eliminate potential clashes between mechanical, electrical and plumbing pipes and air-conditioning ducts. This helped the project team avoid abortive works and delays during the construction phase. As Er Dr Lee Bee Wah noted, local contractors also need to build up their capabilities and track record to succeed both locally and abroad. In this regard, Er Dr Lee said that stringent prequalifications in Government projects could prevent local firms qualifying and, hence, building up relevant experience. We should clarify that prequalifications are not intended to limit opportunities, but to ensure that tenderers have the ability to tackle important and complex public works, such as MRT or deep tunnelling projects. While it is up to agencies to set their own requirements, they certainly have to be fair and not be unduly onerous. They should also ensure that their tenders obtain an adequate number of bids, to ensure fair competition. Our approach to help firms is to give them the resources they need to build up their capabilities, so that they become more competitive. For example, contractors can tap on various schemes under BCA’s Construction Productivity and Capability Fund (CPCF) to build up their capabilities and to upgrade their workforce. About $530 million in funds have already been committed under CPCF, benefiting over 9,000 firms, 90% of which are our SMEs. In tandem, we also reviewed our procurement framework to place more emphasis on quality and this will facilitate healthier and more sustainable competition. With improved capabilities, local contractors will better their chances of qualifying for more construction projects.”
“We are also pushing for greater adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD). As Mr Saktiandi has described, BIM helps firms visualise detailed building designs in virtual 3D form before they are actually built, thus minimising potential issues during construction. IDD builds on top of BIM to connect various project parties through digital information. It also provides useful information about the building, for future maintenance or retrofitting. 5.30 pm Since 2015, building plans for developments larger than 5,000 sq metres have to be submitted to BCA and other regulatory agencies using BIM. Eighty-six percent of our large consultants and 65% of our large contractors now make good use of BIM. We will also drive IDD adoption so that our built environment sector can reap further benefits from the entire construction and building lifecycle. To facilitate this, we will develop shared platforms and standards to increase IDD interoperability across the entire environment value chain. By 2020, we target to have between 40 and 60 projects adopting IDD, compared to five projects today. Sir, adoption of these technologies is not just for big companies. Many smaller firms are also building up their capabilities in DfMA and IDD. One such example is a local firm called Tong Hai Yang, which is a homegrown construction and interior firm. The firm set up a subdivision to explore DfMA and this led it to develop its modular Prefabricated Bathroom Units (PBUs) as well as customised solutions to improve the fabrication and onsite deployment of its product. Another example is Shin Construction, a local small and medium enterprise (SME) specialising in plumbing.”
“Mr Saktiandi asked how we will create a high-tech built environment sector that creates good jobs for Singaporeans and improves opportunities for local firms. Over the past year, the Government has been partnering our industry, unions and institutes of higher learning (IHLs) to formulate ITMs for key sectors in the Built Environment cluster. These are construction, real estate, security, environmental services and landscaping. These five sectors cover the span of the infrastructure lifecycle, from conception, design and construction to operations and maintenance. We want to help firms level up their capabilities, seize new opportunities and create good jobs for Singaporeans. So, we are now shifting gears to implement these plans. For example, the Construction ITM focuses on two areas to improve productivity and competitiveness in our sector. These are Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) and Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD). DfMA involves the prefabrication of building components in a highly automated and mechanised manner, just like the manufacturing process, before onsite assembly. This saves time, reduces our reliance on low-skilled foreign labour, and results in more consistent quality. As Minister Lawrence Wong had said, we need to make major shifts in the way we build to achieve better results. Driving DfMA adoption for greater productivity is one such decisive shift. And to help our firms do so, we will continue to create lead demand and, at the same time, build more Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hubs (ICPHs) to ensure a sufficient supply of prefabricated building components. By 2020, we target to increase the DfMA adoption rate to 40% of new developments, up from about 20% today.”
“I do not have the specific breakdown for different languages, but for further plans, wait for the Committee of Supply.”
“Just to clarify, what does the Member mean by differentiate?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, today, about 75% of our early childhood educators who can be engaged to teach Mother Tongue Languages (MTL) are locals, which include both Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. Of the early childhood educators who specialise in teaching MTLs, about 60% are locals. The Government has been working to encourage and support more locals to become MTL preschool teachers. From 2016, polytechnic students who wish to become MTL preschool teachers can pursue specialised MTL tracks in Early Childhood. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) also supports these students with training awards, such as course fee sponsorship, allowance grants and professional development grants. To encourage mid-career entrants to join the sector, ECDA, Skills Future Singapore and Workforce Singapore also provide support for them to enrol in English or MTL Early Childhood diplomas offered by a range of training providers. The support is available in the form of course fee subsidies, in-training allowances and salary grants under the Professional Conversion Programme and other place-and-train modes. The Ministry of Education (MOE) annually presents the Outstanding Preschool MTL Teacher Award to raise the profile of MTL preschool teachers. This Award recognises preschool MTL teachers who have demonstrated passion, innovation and dedication. Going forward, ECDA will work closely with the new National Institute for Early Childhood Development and other sector partners to enhance the training and career development of MTL teachers and encourage more locals to take up MTL teaching in preschools.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on the first question, we continue to review not just the adequacy of the basic and additional subsidies, but we continue to review the whole suite of measures. As I have articulated earlier, there are both the direct subsidies to the child but also the indirect measures, such as through the Baby Bonus and CDA policies which were only recently amended, a couple of years ago, as well as the subsidies to operators to help them keep fees low and affordable for Singaporean children. On the Member's second point, the purpose of tiering the basic subsidies and additional subsidies in the way that we have articulated earlier is to provide support to mothers who work and, therefore, need full-day childcare. For those who do not work or who work part-time, there is the possibility of putting their children in half-day kindergarten services. Having said that, the Member is quite right that there are a variety of reasons that may prevent a mother from going to work full-time and, hence, benefiting directly from these subsidies. The Early Childhood Development Agency will look at all appeals on a case-by-case basis and we have given exemptions to those who can provide reasons to the childcare centre and with supporting documents, such as retrenchments, and through health reasons or their other caregiving obligations. So, certainly, we want to support not just working mothers but mothers who may, for various circumstances and exigencies, be unable to do so and, therefore, need support for childcare.”
“These include the Baby Bonus Cash Gift of $8,000 to $10,000 per child, and the Child Development Account (CDA) to which the Government contributes up to $6,000 to $18,000 per child, depending on the child’s birth order and co-savings by parents. Parents can tap on these measures to help pay for part of the needs of their children, including healthcare and preschool. In addition, we will continue to make good quality preschool affordable through MOE Kindergartens, as well as preschools under the AOP and Partner Operator (POP) schemes. Fees that preschools under the AOP and POP schemes can charge are subject to fee caps, to remain affordable. For example, the fees at AOPs are capped at $720 for full-day childcare and $160 for kindergartens, before Goods and Services Tax. A family with a monthly household income of $2,500 or less with a child enrolled in an AOP centre can pay as little as $3 for full-day childcare and $1 for kindergarten services per month, after subsidies. These Government-run and supported preschools now make up almost half of the market, from just one-third of the market five years ago, and have helped to stabilise preschool fees. These operators are projected to make up two-thirds of the market by 2023. Through these series of measures, we seek to keep preschool services affordable, especially to middle- and lower-income households. We will continue to review our policies to ensure that quality preschool remains accessible and affordable for families.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, providing affordable and quality preschool services for parents is a key priority for the Government. In reviewing the affordability of preschools for families, we take into account fee levels in the preschool sector; household needs and incomes; as well as various Government schemes, apart from direct subsidies, which contribute to the affordability of preschools. To defray the cost of childcare for families, the Government provides a universal Basic Subsidy of $150 per month, or $300 per month for working mothers. These are available for all Singapore Citizen children. In 2013, the Government reviewed childcare subsidies to better support low- to middle-income families. An Additional Subsidy was introduced to support working mothers whose monthly household income is $7,500 and below, or whose per capita income is $1,875 and below. Lower-income families and larger families receive more subsidy. Together with the Basic Subsidy, a low-income family can pay as little as a few dollars a month for preschool. In 2015, we also enhanced the Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) to benefit more families whose children are enrolled in kindergartens run by the Anchor Operators (AOPs) or by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Kindergartens offer shorter focused education programmes and are generally more affordable, with a median fee of $170 today. Families with monthly household income of $6,000 and below, or per capita income of $1,500 and below, can benefit from KiFAS. Apart from these subsidies, the Government provides support to defray the costs of child-raising.”
“Sir, the Car Park Label Scheme (CPLS) was introduced in 1980 to assist drivers with physical disabilities to board and alight from their vehicles. CPLS was extended in 1996 to include caregivers who drive passengers with physical disabilities. Drivers with CPLS label can park in dedicated car park lots that are marked with the accessible symbol of a person in a wheelchair. There are two types of labels: the Class 1 label is for drivers with physical disabilities; and the Class 2 label is for passengers with physical disabilities. The Class 1 label allows drivers with disability to park in accessible parking lots for as long as they need, with no time limit. The Class 2 label allows the caregivers who are drivers to park in a designated lot for up to an hour, to assist their passenger with disability to board or alight, as the case may be. Thereafter, the vehicle must be shifted to a standard parking lot to free up the accessible lot for other eligible users who require it. SG Enable administers CPLS and processes over 3,000 applications annually. More than 90% of these are successful. For those that are not, the main reason is because applicants are assessed by medical professionals to be able to board and alight their vehicles from an ordinary car park lot, and do not need the wider space provided by an accessible lot to do so.”
“Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is piloting the Community Kin Service, which will enable voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to better support seniors who display signs of declining mental capacity and who do not have family support to handle their finances so that they can continue residing in the community. Under the scheme, the VWO can apply for a Court Order to manage a fixed sum of money to meet a senior’s daily care needs. Once appointed by the Court, the VWO will be supervised by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and required to submit periodic reports. Appointed VWOs should have established financial procedures, with clear accountability for staff delivering support and handling the finances of the seniors. OPG will check that the seniors’ monies are used prudently and only for the purposes of meeting their care needs, in accordance with the terms set out in the Court Order. In addition, the Mental Capacity Act has existing safeguards to protect persons who lack mental capacity. If there is indication that anyone has acted in any way which compromises the person's best interest, including exploiting the person financially, the Public Guardian will investigate and take appropriate action. Where necessary, the Public Guardian may apply to Court to protect the personal or financial welfare of the person and refer the case to the Police for further investigation if any criminal conduct is suspected.”
“The Government does not track the number of children that Singaporeans have through overseas surrogacy procedures. How the law treats the relationship between a couple and their child conceived through overseas surrogacy procedures varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Such couples may wish to seek legal advice on their rights and responsibilities for the child under Singapore law.”
“As at end 2017, more than 500 children and their families are being supported under the KidSTART pilot programme. By components, about 150 children are on the home visitation programme, 125 children are in KidSTART playgroups and the rest are enrolled in preschools supported by KidSTART.”
“The number of babies born to citizen mothers who were not married to the father at the point of birth registration is 843 in 2016, and 836 in 2017. The 2017 figure is provisional at this point and subject to change. The further breakdown by whether the father's name is reflected in the birth certificate is as follows:”
“In 2016, approximately 8,000 Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) were registered by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). In 2017, this number increased by 50% to around 12,000. To encourage more senior Singaporeans to make an LPA, OPG is working with various organisations to raise awareness on LPA in the community. These outreach activities include engaging eldercare service providers, conducting talks at senior activity centres and distributing collaterals at community touchpoints. We will also be promoting the importance of making an LPA through radio. There is currently an application fee waiver in place for Singaporeans making more straightforward LPAs using Form 1 until 31 August 2018. We urge more Singaporeans to make their LPA early.”
“There are three types of Casino Exclusion, namely, (a) Voluntary Self-Exclusion, (b) Family Exclusion, and (c) Automatic Exclusion for Singapore residents who are bankrupts, receiving financial assistance from the Government, receiving legal aid, or residing in Housing and Development Board rental flats with rental arrears. As at 31 December 2017, approximately 24,000 Singapore residents are under Voluntary Self-Exclusion. Some 2,200 had Family Exclusion Orders and 44,000 had Automatic Exclusion Orders imposed on them. These numbers have remained stable over the last five years. We have put in place a robust and comprehensive set of social safeguards to combat problem gambling. This includes casino entry levies, exclusion and visit limits, not permitting credit for Singapore residents who are not premium players, age restrictions, as well as advertising and promotions restrictions. Additionally, there are ongoing public education programmes to raise awareness of gambling disorders. The various social safeguards have helped to minimise the social ills of casino gambling. The latest published Gambling Participation Survey in 2014 showed that the overall probable pathological and problem gambling rates among Singapore residents was 0.7%. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these social safeguards, work closely with our community partners who are helping to tackle gambling addiction, and make changes when necessary.”
“In addition to this network of support, caregivers of persons with disabilities can contact SG Enable, who will connect them to relevant services. Caregivers are a key focus under the Third Enabling Masterplan, and the Government is working with social service providers to enhance the ecosystem of support for caregivers in enabling their well-being. Complex and deep-seated issues require changes in parents' mindsets, and managing of their emotions, for them to take ownership and be a partner in the interventions. The Ministry of Social and Family Development will continue to study ways of improving social service coordination and delivery across the Government, people and private sectors. It will take a concerted effort by all parties involved to intervene and journey with the families for a period of time to make progress.”
“Families may find it challenging to cope with behavioural issues in their children with special needs, especially when the parents are not equipped with the knowledge to support them. This is compounded when these families face other stressors, such as financial and marital problems. Supporting these families with complex needs requires multi-agency collaboration that would include schools, disability agencies and other community partners. Family Service Centres, as key case management agencies in the community, take the lead in ensuring that each agency plays their part to provide timely and holistic support for these families. For complex cases, the Social Service Offices (SSOs) can help marshal these partners to develop a plan of action together and facilitate information sharing to address the needs of the family and the child effectively. Children with special needs attending early intervention services, such as the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC), Development Support (DS) Programme and Special Education (SPED) schools, have social workers and psychologists in these programmes who also provide support to caregivers in addition to rendering intervention and educational services to the children. These programmes also have peer support groups to assist caregivers who are facing challenges with their children with special needs. Caregivers can also enhance their care skills through appropriate training that is offered by our disability service providers. These trainings are made affordable for caregivers with the support of the Caregivers' Training Grant available through the Agency for Integrated Care.”
“The Child Development Account (CDA) is part of the Government's Baby Bonus scheme, which supports parents by defraying part of the costs of raising children. CDA funds are intended to support the developmental needs of children, such as for preschool and healthcare. To participate as a Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)-approved Baby Bonus Approved Institution, the education, healthcare or service provider must be licensed or registered by its respective governing body. For example, childcare centres must be licensed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) under the Child Care Centres Act, while clinics must be licensed by the Ministry of Health under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act. This helps to ensure that the services and products offered by the Approved Institution (AI) meet regulatory standards, which include proper administration and quality checks. MSF may revoke the approval granted to any institution if it is no longer in the public interest for it to participate as an AI. The Government regularly reviews the CDA scheme. In July 2012, the approved uses of the CDA were expanded to cover healthcare items at pharmacies, eye-related products and services at optical shops, assistive technology devices and education expenses, such as the purchase of uniforms and preschool registration fees. We welcome more eligible providers to participate as an AI, to help defray the cost of parenthood and make Singapore a great place for families.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, for the first question, if the Member can flag out the specific blocks, we will get HDB to look at the causes or look at the popping tiles and see what might have caused it and we will then follow up appropriately. On second question, as I said earlier, if local residents face financial difficulties in dealing with popping tiles beyond the 15-year period, then they can approach their local CDCs and their local Grassroots Advisors to see if there are schemes that can assist them. There are some CDCs that already have such schemes in place and these have been of great help to residents. 12.30 pm”
“Mr Speaker, I agree with the Member that we need to work with all aspects of society, including the private sector, to see whether it is appropriate for them to be advocating or advertising for such platforms and activities. This is an ongoing conversation. As I had said earlier in my reply, we will keep a very close eye on TheSugarBook and other like sites. In terms of the root cause, this is something that we continually study. People, including young people, make moral choices based on the internal sense of what is right, what is wrong, what is white, what is black and what is grey. What is important is that from a young age and all through life, we give individuals the opportunity to be exposed to good moral values. The role of family is critical and that is why the Ministry of Social and Family Development provides programmes in which parents can pick up and strengthen parenting skills. We work very closely with schools on such curriculum. We have social networks, such as Family Service Centres and other voluntary welfare organisations that partner us in supporting families that run into crises. For example, when the children present certain behavioural issues, it is a whole-of-community effort. I thank the Member for her concern. We will continue to keep an eye on such developments.”
“With that kind of internalisation of values, we put each and every individual in as best a position as possible when making his or her moral decisions.”
“I thank Mr Seah for his concerns, well-expressed. I give the Member the assurance that as we had responded to in the Parliamentary Question answer, we will keep an eye on the site and other like sites, and take action if laws are violated. In terms of finding the right balance between the freedom of people, including young people to make moral choices within the realm of what is legally permissible, and acting as a regulator to curb sites both online and, of course, in the real-world platforms to protect, we need to strike the right balance. Certain sites, for example, Ashley Madison, if the Member recalls, in 2013, the Info-communications Media Development Authority's predecessor, the Media Development Authority, acted decisively to ban the site because the site explicitly advocated, through its portal, extramarital affairs and infidelity. They had proposed to set up the site in Singapore and for the founder to fly in and launch the site. That ran right up against our core values on protecting the family and preserving family values. So, we acted decisively then. But the Member would know that in the online realm, it is very broad. There are many aspects of the online world that are very troubling. And yet, locking and banning every such site, whatever its subject matter may be, is not the most enduring way in which to protect Singaporeans, including young Singaporeans, from such risks. The key is to put in a lot of effort educating children from young and continuing well into the teenage years and beyond, so that they are aware of these risks. The key is that families, individuals, communities and society as a whole need to continuously recognise the values that hold us together.”
“At the same time, parents play a critical role in guiding their children and helping them to stay away from undesirable online content. At the end of the day, while we recognise that these websites undermine families and society, our best defence is for society, communities and our families to reinforce values that anchor us so that we do not to succumb to such influences.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, sugar dating platforms like The SugarBook commoditise and devalue relationships under the cover of a "mutually beneficial arrangement". Relationships become transactional: an exchange of money and gifts in return for companionship and "other" services. But what is of greater concern is that the site targets young people who are in their late teens and early 20s, even while they are still students at polytechnics or universities, exposing them to the risks of being exploited and abused. These transactions are fundamentally imbalanced in favour of older and wealthier people. Young women, for instance, may feel pressurised to comply with their wishes or demands and risk physical or sexual harm if they reject them. The Police will keep a close eye on The SugarBook, as well as the individuals who use its services. For instance, if there is any procurement of sexual services for payment, the Police will take enforcement action under the Women’s Charter, including possibly against the website and its owners. While we collectively object to such websites, the more effective and enduring solution lies in increasing the awareness of young people to such dangers, so that they exercise discretion and good judgement when navigating the online world. Students in the Ministry of Education's schools are taught to establish boundaries for personal safety, discern risks and exercise sound judgement when going onto online platforms and managing relationships, both online and offline. In addition, during Cyber Wellness lessons, they learn about safe and responsible use of technology and cover topics, such as danger with cyber contacts. They will also link up with our universities and polytechnics to help raise awareness of such risks.”
“Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 1 to 3 together, please?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, when you look at requirements for a building to achieve Green Mark certification, there is a variety of criteria. Some of them involve the incorporation of technology such as filters to remove particles from the air to make the indoor environment healthier. They involve mechanical parts, they involve technology. Some of them are based on design, for example, making better use of sunlight instead of enclosing the space and then having to use electricity to light up an indoor space in the day time. There are a variety of these measures that go into making a building both water and energy efficient. As far as it involves technology such as rainwater harvesting technology or solar panels, these are technologies that are available in the market. The developer, whether it is a public sector developer or a private sector developer, working with the consultants would have to assess whether the technology and equipment that they use are sustainable, maintainable and replaceable throughout the life cycle of the building.”
“On the composition of CP2M, I do not have the exact composition and names at this point in time. The second and third questions relate to availability of replacement parts as well as technology?”
“Could the Member repeat the second question, I did not quite catch it.”
“Today, some 350 preschools support about 4,000 children with mild developmental needs through the Government-funded Learning Support and Development Support programmes in preschools. Therapists and specially trained Learning Support Educators (LSEds) provide short-term, targeted developmental interventions for children in these programmes. LSEds also collaborate with the main early childhood educators of the classes in preschools to adapt teaching methods and activities to better engage children with mild development needs in the classroom. Since 2012, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) have worked with training institutes and educational providers to roll out specialised training. Early childhood educators undertake the Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Learning Support to become LSEds. Educators can also take up subsidised Continuing Professional Development courses to be equipped with the necessary skills to support children with a range of developmental needs. Over the next five years, MSF will expand the development support programme to more preschools and build up a pool of 200 LSEds to provide targeted intervention and learning support for children with developmental needs in preschools. This will support more early childhood educators in the care and education for their children. To better facilitate timely support and intervention, we are also studying how the development support programme can be enhanced to support children with moderate developmental needs within the preschool setting.”
“There were 2,651 maintenance enforcement applications filed at the Family Justice Courts in 2016, down from 2,753 in 2015 and 2,927 in 2014. These comprise enforcements for spousal, ex-spousal and child maintenance, and we do not have a breakdown for divorces only. The maintenance of spouses, ex-spouses and children is fundamentally a family responsibility. To assist families to obtain the maintenance they need, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has implemented the Maintenance Record Officer (MRO) scheme to identify defaulters who seem to wilfully default on their maintenance obligations. This provides greater clarity for the Court, in deciding whether to impose harsher penalties to deter future wilful defaulting. Maintenance default may occur for a multitude of reasons, such as where the defaulter faces financial hardship. To better support families in such circumstances, MSF has enhanced the MRO scheme by introducing a new early intervention point to assist complainants when they file an enforcement application at the Family Justice Courts. MROs concurrently assist spouses or ex-spouses in financial need by referring them to Social Service Offices for financial assistance. As of 29 December 2017, 148 complainants with minor children have been assisted through this new intervention point, since the scheme was first implemented on 13 November 2017.”
“So, whether the person calls the ComCare hotline or calls 999, goes to report to the Police or is suspected by a clinician, a doctor or a nurse who is doing triaging as being a potential victim of family violence, the network would kick in. Dialogue groups are held regularly among all the participants of this network to ensure that they are better placed to detect and to know what to do when they identify cases of family violence. As for the Member's specific question on when people call the ComCare or other hotlines, whether that provides a protective element to the victim, we do not have specific data at this point. But I would say that every time a report comes to the attention of the authorities and the network is able to do its part, we would like to believe that it is an important first step that brings the matter out to the attention of specialists, counsellors, the authorities and the Police, and that would be an important first step to addressing family violence behind closed doors.”
“I thank the Member for her questions. As I had said earlier, ComCare hotline is but one of the touchpoints through which victims of family violence, family members, neighbours, colleagues, friends, members of the public and bystanders can reach out to in order to flag possible family violence cases. Because in our view, family violence ought never to be treated as a private matter. It is the importance of creating a network and continuing to refresh, revitalise and to re-energise the network that is important. So, no hotline operates alone, no agency operates alone when it comes to family violence because if it is not for this network, there is always a risk of a family violence case falling through the gaps. So, the National Family Violence Networking System, of which the ComCare hotline is one of the entry points, brings a tight network of support and assistance that provides multiple points of contact for those affected by family violence. It links MSF and its partners to ensure sources of help are accessible to victims. The key stakeholders are Singapore Police Force, some people call the Police or go to the Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) or Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) or call 999; hospitals, which see cases of individuals, and sometimes, it could be that they suspect family violence causing the injuries; Family Violence Specialist Centres, who specialise in tackling the complex familial relationships and issues that surround the victims and their oppressors; and Family Service Centres as well as community-based welfare organisations.”
“These agencies provide facilities for the application of PPOs through video conferencing, medical services, legal advice and counselling services. The Penal Code, the Women's Charter and the Protection from Harassment Act provide protection for victims from violence, including family violence. The proposed Vulnerable Adults Bill will be an additional lever to allow statutory intervention in high-risk cases involving maltreatment and abuse of vulnerable adults. Public consultation on the draft Bill was held in the second half of 2016. MSF is finalising the provisions with relevant stakeholders and working through the details and standard operating procedures (SOPs) before introducing the Bill in Parliament this year. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Sir, I have two supplementary questions. For ComCare hotline and other helplines that are available, I would like to ask how does MSF assess risk? Are there any statistics to show how many people had been saved by such calls? I understand that in the United States (US), there are data analysis programmes to better screen the calls and identify the risks even earlier, before they are being harmed or die in the worst case scenario. Do we employ such data analytics technology?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, our Family Services Centres (FSCs) report an average of 1,400 cases a year where family violence is one of the presenting problems. In the past three years, on average, the Family Justice Courts received 2,800 applications for Personal Protection Orders (PPOs), with about 40% or about 1,200 PPOs issued each year. In the last one year, one in three callers who called the ComCare Hotline on family violence matters were non-family members, that is, third parties. On average, the ComCare hotline receives about 60 calls annually on family violence-related matters. Of course, members of the public and family members may call other numbers, may report to the Police, may approach Family Violence Specialist Centres, may approach FSCs and bring family violence concerns to the attention of the authorities through different channels. I just gave the Member an example of those who call in through the ComCare hotline. One common cause of family violence stems from the controlling behaviours of one family member over other members, resulting in intimidation or violence. Some families also face difficulties in coping with stressors, such as marital, financial or health challenges. Family violence is not a private matter. MSF's "Break the Silence Against Family Violence" campaign aims to raise awareness of family violence and to equip bystanders with resources and skills to safely step in to help victims. The National Family Violence Networking System links various agencies and community groups to provide multiple access points for victims to obtain help. Victims of violence have access to hotline services and social service agencies specialising in family violence work.”
“Deputy Speaker, I do not have the figures that the Member has asked for. If she files a written Parliamentary Question (PQ), I would be happy to see whether the information can be provided. As for whether we can expand Public Assistance scheme to help people who are unable to support themselves, we will continue to review our schemes.”
“In this particular instance, we are referring to a case of a person with intellectual disability who went out to work, went to find employment for herself, to look after herself. The importance of having legislation to protect such persons cannot be further emphasised. We have an existing set of laws in the Penal Code that allow us to take actions against abuses. The Vulnerable Persons Bill which we intend to introduce will allow us to intervene even behind closed doors, to reach out to families and to reach out behind families. But none of these will be effectual unless family members, colleagues, neighbours and passers-by, people who interact and suspect something amiss is happening to not just persons with intellectual disability but to persons with disabilities, to children and to vulnerable adults, step forward, raise the alarm bell and bring their suspicions to the attention of the authorities.”
“I thank the Member for the follow-up questions. On the issue of register, we recognise that for persons with intellectual disability, it is a whole spectrum classified very, very broadly into "mild", "moderate" and "severe" intellectual disability. Many young people who are diagnosed with intellectual disability get support when they are in preschool and when they go to SPED schools, whether they are in special needs education or in mainstream schools. In that regard, agencies, schools, the community know who they are. For those with more severe needs, FSCs, specialised centres, preschools and schools will refer them, especially after they have graduated, to support services such as DACs. For those with more severe needs, they will be referred to even institutional care, if required. Caregivers are given the necessary support and grants to undertake training in order to better support family members with intellectual disability. As for the horrific case of Ms Annie Ee, I would preface to say that it is a very sad case, which caught public attention and caused tremendous unhappiness at what happened to a young lady with intellectual disability who was out there, working and looking after herself. The case had recently been up for sentencing and because there is an opportunity for appeal, I would like to preface by saying I would not talk specifically about the case. So, I will make general remarks about how as a community and as individuals and how as a network of Government agencies, FSCs and VWOs, we can work together to strengthen the support for persons with disabilities, including persons with intellectual disability.”
“The proposed legislation will allow the Government to protect individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities and who cannot protect themselves from abuse, neglect and self-neglect. This will complement existing laws that address violence, maltreatment and abuse against them.”
“The wider community and public also have a crucial role to play in identifying and protecting these vulnerable individuals and to report any suspected violence or abuse. In this regard, MSF launched last year a three-year "Break the Silence" campaign to encourage bystanders and members of the public who witness or suspect violence to take action and to report. The campaign taps on social media, radio, television and roadshows to reach various segments in the community. For persons who lack the mental capacity to make specific decisions relating to their personal welfare or property and affairs, a Deputy may be appointed under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) as a proxy decision maker for that person. One of the key roles of the Public Guardian is to supervise Deputies appointed by the Court for persons who lack mental capacity, which include those with intellectual disabilities. The Public Guardian will also investigate whistleblower complaints on any alleged violation of the MCA provisions, including abuse or ill treatment of individuals without mental capacity, as well as instances of Deputies acting beyond the scope of the powers conferred on them by the Courts. If required, the Public Guardian will take appropriate action to safeguard such individuals, such as applying to the Courts to suspend or revoke an errant Deputy's appointment. In some situations, persons with intellectual disability, regardless of mental capacity, may be unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect. One of the additional levers to protect such individuals is the Vulnerable Adults Bill, which we hope to introduce in Parliament this year.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF) recognises the vulnerability of intellectually disabled persons who have no familial support. Some may not have mental capacity or may lose mental capacity for decision-making and judgement. MSF works with community partners such, as the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Social Service Offices (SSOs), Family Service Centres (FSCs), volunteer welfare organisations (VWOs) and disability services providers to identify and help persons with intellectual disabilities with no familial support. Support for persons with disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities, range from day care to long-term residential care. The starting point is to see how they can best be supported within the family and within the community. Some of these support services include the following: (a) children disability homes, which are long-term residential care for children whose caregivers are incapable of caring for them, who have unsafe home environments and/or where their caregivers have passed on; (b) drop-in disability programmes at Seniors Activity Centres, which provide social and recreational programmes for higher functioning persons with disabilities; and (c) Day Activity Centres (DACs), which provide day programmes for persons with disabilities to enhance their independence by equipping them with daily and community living skills. There are 29 DACs islandwide, and 19 cater to persons with intellectual disabilities. We have added another 400 DAC places in 2017 and will add more this year to increase the availability of such services to persons with disabilities.”
“Children and young persons (CYPs) who are in need of care and protection, such as those who have been abused or neglected, may be referred by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) or ordered by the Youth Court to reside in a place of safety, such as a licensed CYP Home. The number of such CYPs admitted to all licensed CYP Homes in the past three years is in Table 1 below. About one-quarter of CYPs known to MSF due to child abuse and neglect have a caregiver who had previously been arrested or incarcerated.”
“But even as the Government does more, we must be careful not to erode the strong work ethic and sense of individual responsibility and self-reliance which have been key factors underpinning Singapore's growth as a society and nation. We must also be careful not to diminish the role of the family and the community, where they are able to provide or contribute to the care and support for individuals who are disadvantaged or vulnerable. Today, there are many ground-up initiatives in the community, and many citizens are already giving and contributing. For example, there are community groups who reach out, befriend and support various vulnerable groups, such as low-income families with children and the elderly who live alone. The Government will continue to engage and partner the community to support such vulnerable groups. Through the SG Cares movement, we hope to mobilise volunteers and bring partners with different skills and resources to work with us in caring for those in need. The Government also looks continually at how we can enhance client-centricity in service delivery. There are ongoing efforts to tighten interagency referral processes and facilitate data-sharing with other agencies. We are also exploring the potential for more integrated service delivery and co-location of complementary services so that our clients can access more holistic assistance and become self-reliant again.”
“The number of households assisted each year on either ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) or Long-Term Assistance (LTA) has generally increased over the past five years, with a slight decrease for those assisted on SMTA in financial year (FY) 2016 compared to FY2015. This could be due to several factors, such as the widening of the ComCare eligibility criteria in 2012 and 2014, greater awareness and accessibility to social assistance through the network of 24 Social Service Offices which was rolled out between 2013 and 2015, and demographic changes. The proportion of older SMTA main applicants aged 55 to 64 increased from 18% in FY2012 to 23% in FY2016. The proportion of those who were not working also increased from 48% in FY2012 to 53% in FY2016. Most of those who were not working were either medically unfit to work or retired. The increase in proportion of SMTA main applicants who are older, medically unfit to work or retired corresponds with demographic trends, such as shrinking family sizes and an ageing population. The Government will continue to provide multiple layers of assistance for the lower-income and vulnerable through a network of Government agencies and community groups. There are many schemes in place addressing specific needs across various domains, such as financial needs, healthcare, housing, education, employment and retirement adequacy. Together, these schemes provide substantial support to those in need. We will continue to refine and enhance our policies and approach to social service delivery, so that the low-income and vulnerable will get the support they require to cover their basic needs.”
“We are also exploring co-locating other complementary services so that our clients can access the services and assistance they require more conveniently and meaningfully. Two of our SSOs2 have voluntary welfare organisation-run Family Services Teams co-located with them as part of another ongoing pilot. These efforts aim to bring about better coordination across both Government agencies and community partners so as to provide necessary and holistic support for those who have fallen on hard times and enable them to "bounce back" and become self-reliant again.”
“Our current network of 24 Social Service Offices (SSOs) was set up between 2013 and 2015 to provide more accessible and coordinated assistance to Singaporeans in need. The locations of these SSOs were chosen such that they are situated close to major transport nodes as well as to residents. Today, 95% of ComCare beneficiaries live or work within two kilometres of an SSO. Infrastructural improvements or relocations are considered and carried out where opportune or needed. For instance, the SSO at Tampines was relocated to Our Tampines Hub, so that its service counters can be co-located with those of other public sector agencies in the Public Service Centre. Apart from providing ComCare assistance, officers in the SSOs also do ground sensing and local services planning, collaborating with community partners to facilitate a coordinated approach to the planning and delivery of social services in the community. These twin purposes remain unchanged, although we are continually looking into ways to enhance service delivery and make it more client-centric. For instance, there are ongoing efforts to tighten interagency referral processes and facilitate data-sharing between SSOs and other agencies. We are also exploring the potential for more integrated service delivery by piloting at five of our SSOs1 the delivery of social assistance and employment assistance by the same SSO officer, instead of referring the ComCare beneficiary to a Workforce Singapore or Employment and Employability Institute officer for employment assistance. For clients who are unemployed but able to work, this provides easier and quicker access to employment assistance.”
“Individuals who have exhausted all means of accommodation options are referred to Transitional Shelters which are funded by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and run by voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs). There are three transitional shelters with a total capacity of 156 families and 60 individuals catering to both genders. The allocation between men and women will fluctuate from time to time, depending on need. These shelters are intended to provide temporary accommodation, as social workers from the VWOs work with the families and individuals to address their social issues and work towards securing long-term housing arrangements. Individuals who are unable to work, have no financial means and do not have accommodation and family support, are admitted to our welfare homes. There are 12 welfare homes, with a total capacity of about 2,300. There are 1,250 places for male destitute persons, 250 places for female destitute persons, and the remaining places are in welfare homes that cater to both genders. These homes are funded by MSF and managed by VWOs. They help to meet residents’ basic needs, as well as help them improve their emotional and physical well-being through rehabilitation programmes. For victims of family violence, MSF funds crisis shelters to provide them with temporary accommodation, while safety plans are mapped out for these women and their families. There are four crisis shelters with a total capacity of 220 beds. The current capacity of our shelters and welfare homes is sufficient to meet the current needs of individuals and families facing housing issues or crises. However, MSF is constantly reviewing this as we keep a close watch on intake trends and capacity utilisation of the shelters and welfare homes.”
“The focus of the Government's regulations for preschools is to ensure the safety, well-being and development of our young children enrolled in these preschools. Where operations are deemed to be affected and risk the safety and well-being of children, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will intervene decisively and involve other Government agencies to investigate more complex cases. In the event of unforeseen centre closures, ECDA will assist parents with alternative placement for their children. For teachers, it is an offence for employers not to pay salaries and CPF contributions.MOM and CPF Board will investigate such cases.”
“Under the Children and Young Persons Act, juveniles who commit offences may be ordered by the Youth Court to be sent to a Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre or a Place of Detention. Those sent to a Place of Detention are typically also placed on probation. The Singapore Boys' Home (SBH) and Singapore Girls' Home (SGH) serve both functions. The number of juvenile offenders admitted to SBH and SGH each year is as shown in Table 1 below. About two-fifths of the juvenile offenders in SBH and SGH have a family member who had been incarcerated before.”
“For example, we have introduced upstream programmes, such as KidSTART and the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, to support low-income families in their aspirations to provide a good foundation for their children and to own a home again. Our Social Service Offices work with community partners, such as Family Service Centres and voluntary welfare organisations to identify the needs of vulnerable groups, as well as their strengths and resources to help themselves, which uphold their dignity and enhance their resilience. The community plays a key role in helping low-income families avoid entrenchment. For example, the Council for the Development of the Singapore Malay/Muslim Community's (MENDAKI's) Family Excellence Circles brings together low-income parents to interact, exchange ideas and share best practices to cope with daily challenges and embrace lifelong learning.”