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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“The Government invests heavily in education, healthcare, housing and skills upgrading for Singaporeans, so that all have opportunities to do well in life. These range from broad-based subsidies and incentives that benefit many, to targeted assistance for lower-income or vulnerable groups who need additional help. As the needs of the low-income or vulnerable groups are often multifaceted, concepts like chronic or episodic poverty, which rely on a poverty measure based on one dimension, such as income threshold or housing type, are inadequate. Rather, we have in place multiple layers of Government assistance and a network of Government and community agencies that provide targeted and customised assistance for individuals or households in need. A sustainable social safety net is built on the values of individual self-reliance, family support and a caring community. Families form the foundation of our society and should be the first line of support. The wider community also plays a part in the outreach and care for the less fortunate. While the Government will do more, we need to draw on the strengths of our stakeholders to enhance the stability and resilience of vulnerable groups. In some instances, these forms of assistance function as a safety net to keep people from falling further, and to sustain them for the long haul. ComCare Long-Term Assistance is one example of this, where a person who is unable to work due to age or health reasons and does not have any financial means or family support need to be assisted with basic needs for the long term. In other instances, assistance schemes try to help people in difficulty bounce back up through significant, targeted support for education, employment, skills upgrading and housing, among others.”
“The State Court may also order other community-based sentences, such as mandatory treatment for mental health conditions, regular reporting to a centre and community service.”
“In October 2015, the Attorney-General's Chambers chaired an interagency committee to review the youth justice system. The committee made several recommendations in February 2017, including working towards increasing the age limit under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA), to allow youths aged 16 to below 18 to benefit from a wider range of sentencing options. The Government is working through the recommendations, as part of the wider review of CYPA. CYPA is one component of the youth justice system. Youth justice in Singapore, as a whole, is premised on gradated intervention. Our approach is to divert youth offenders, including those aged between 16 and 18, away from the Court wherever possible. Placing youth offenders on diversionary programmes outside the youth justice system allows them to be accountable for their actions and prevents disruption in other areas of development, such as education. Operationally, the triage system sieves out and diverts suitable youths who have been arrested for minor offences. These youths are then referred to diversionary programmes, such as the Guidance Programme, Enhanced Streetwise, and Youth Enhanced Supervision. The parents of the youths are actively involved in the programmes, which are also offered to youths aged above 16. The intent is to help the youths develop better self-control and make better decisions. Youth offenders who are not diverted are assessed for suitability to be placed on probation. Probation focuses on community-based rehabilitation and the Court may order accompanying conditions, depending on the needs of the youth offenders. For example, a probationer may be given a curfew or be ordered to reside in a hostel.”
“There are other approaches that can help protect parents from fee defaults arising from sudden closure, such as a student fee protection scheme, as suggested by Ms Tin Pei Ling. We will study the options carefully, taking into account the context and possible trade-offs, such as added costs to the sector and to parents. Under employment laws, it is an offence not to pay salaries and provide Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions. The Ministry of Manpower and CPF Board will investigate such cases.”
“The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) regulates preschools to ensure the safety, well-being and development of our young children enrolled in these preschools. In determining whether to issue or renew a licence under the Child Care Centre Act, ECDA assesses the centre’s standards in providing holistic early childhood development programmes in a safe environment. This includes looking at physical space norms and designs, environment safety and hygiene, programme staff quality and staff-to-child ratio. In addition, ECDA also considers the character and fitness of the applicant or licensee, such as whether he or she had committed child-related offences previously. In this context, ECDA will intervene decisively if operations are affected in a way that poses risks to the safety and well-being of children. For more complex cases, ECDA may work with other Government agencies to carry out investigations. In the event that centres abruptly close, ECDA will assist parents with alternative placement for their children, if needed. The number of abrupt preschool closures has been low, at about three annually, on average, over the last three years, and we will closely monitor this trend. Under the new Early Childhood Development Centres Act, which was enacted in April this year and which will be brought into force next year, ECDA will have enhanced authority to take into account the financial capacity of applicants in operating and maintaining such a centre. This will be one of the factors that ECDA will look at in determining whether a licence is to be awarded or renewed. Such upstream intervention will go some way in reducing the risk of operators abruptly defaulting on fees paid by parents or salaries owed to teachers.”
“It will comprise representatives from the social services, legal practice, judiciary, academia and the Government. We look forward to receiving the Committee’s recommendations in due course as we work towards creating an even more holistic, restorative and therapeutic family justice ecosystem. The hon Member also asked how MSF encourages strong marriages and families. We work with community partners to offer a range of marriage support and enrichment programmes for couples at different stages of their married life. In addition, the Families for Life Council organises events, such as the annual Marriage Convention and Family 365 workshops, which cover topics, such as marriage, family life and personal life. MSF remains committed to promoting and funding such programmes. We encourage couples and families to take part in these programmes and to proactively make full use of community resources which are available to them so as to strengthen family and marital relationships all through life.”
“Therapeutic justice involves looking into whether the law can be made or applied in a more therapeutic way to relationships, so long as other values, such as justice and due process, can be fully respected. Sir, a stronger emphasis on restorative and therapeutic justice in family dispute resolution should see approaches, such as counselling, mediation and conciliation, being moved to the forefront. It holds out the hope that we can foster space for family members to deliberate and explore options, while having time to manage their emotions and adjust and come to terms with new or altered personal circumstances. Families should avail themselves of the suite of help services and not rush into commencing legal proceedings. When families find a way to repair or reach a new equilibrium in their relationships, it should also translate into durable agreements and long-term settlements. Importantly, children who are often the innocent victims of family conflict can benefit from a return to functioning family relationships, even if the family structure has been altered through say, a divorce. In this regard, as the Senior Minister of State of Law had earlier mentioned, MSF, Ministry of Law and the Family Justice Courts (FJC) will be setting up a joint committee to study how we can further enhance the family law regime and explore multidisciplinary methods of family dispute resolution and Court-based resolution. The Committee will also examine how the concepts of restorative and therapeutic justice can be applied more extensively in the context of family dispute resolution. This new Committee will start work by the end of this year and will be headed by the Permanent Secretaries of both Ministries, together with the Presiding Judge of FJC.”
“Research tells us that taking a "family" problem to Court can increase mistrust between the parties, reduce the likelihood of durable settlement and stoke more litigation if parental and family conflict is prolonged. We, therefore, need to consider if there are other appropriate, multidisciplinary methods to resolve family conflict which can reduce the adversarial nature of litigation. At the same time, while mediation and counselling have been used as a core dispute resolution mechanism for some years, we want to see how it can be extended even further. Sir, the concept of restorative justice is usually thought of in the context of criminal justice, between offender and victim. It is an approach that emphasises the need to repair the harm done and restore relationships that have been damaged. It can take place when offenders who have caused the harm reached a point when they fully, freely and genuinely admit their actions and are willing to take responsibility for them. However, the core elements of restorative justice, principally the healing of relationships, reopening channels of communication, and empowering individuals to take active responsibility to repair the harm done, can potentially be applied to family conflicts as well. It can help to keep the focus on restoring family functionality through repairing family relationships. Sir, the concept of therapeutic justice focuses on the impact of law and the legal system on emotional life and the psychological well-being of people. It recognises that law is a social force that can either encourage certain behaviours or lead to certain consequences.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, family conflicts and disputes can have long-lasting impact and consequences on families. Children are particularly vulnerable. Several types of family conflicts and issues go before the Courts, such as divorce, maintenance, child custody matters, family violence and youth offending. With our rapidly greying population, we also expect to see more family disputes over mental capacity deputyship and doneeship issues. In July 2014, the Committee for Family Justice recommended a number of changes to the family justice system. The focus was on reducing acrimony in family proceedings and ensuring that the interests of children were better looked after. Senior Minister of State for Law, Ms Indranee Rajah, had, in her reply earlier, given a good summary of the recommendations made and the enhancements that followed. But amongst other things, the Committee recommended that a judge-led approach be taken when adjudicating family disputes. Their recommendations culminated in the introduction of the Family Justice Act and the establishment of the Family Justice Courts. The Committee had also recommended a more robust and integrated network of community assistance and support, which led to the establishment of divorce support specialist agencies (DSSAs). Today, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has set up four DSSAs, which are run by voluntary welfare organisations. In terms of reducing the adversarial nature of family disputes, the adoption of the judge-led approach and the child-centric focus in the Family Justice Courts are significant steps in the right direction. However, the fact remains that resolution of the dispute is still being sought through the Courts. Court-based litigation is inherently adversarial, costly and potentially complex.”
“Parents can look forward to over 40,000 new full-day preschool places by 2022.”
“Mr Speaker, as of June this year, there are about 470 workplace childcare centres located in commercial premises, Government buildings, industrial estates and other places of work. These centres make up about a third of all childcare centres in Singapore. Many factors, aside from just staff size, determine whether an employer would consider setting up a childcare centre at the workplace. These include the profile of employees, the employees' preferences in the location of childcare services, the location of the workplace and business viability of the centre. Employers would want to take all these factors into consideration. To facilitate and encourage developers and employers to set up workplace childcare centres, we have put in place various measures and schemes. The Community and Sports Facilities Scheme, for instance, provides bonus gross floor area to developers who set aside space in commercial buildings for childcare centres. Another is the Enhanced Workplace Childcare Centre Scheme, where eligible workplace centres may receive a furnishing and equipment grant as well as a development grant to cover the costs of converting space in workplaces for childcare use. In addition, for new commercial developments, the Early Childhood Development Agency has worked with the Urban Redevelopment Authority to require the developer for selected Government Land Sale sites to provide space for childcare centres. While the Government supports the setting up of workplace childcare centres, we note that many parents would still prefer childcare centres near their homes as well. As such, the Government will continue to ramp up the number of childcare places island-wide, mostly at new Housing and Development Board residential developments.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his suggestion. There are a variety of systems out there in the market, as well as a whole suite of projects that technopreneurs and researchers are working on. Not only is HDB working on this, but we are also looking and working with vendors out there in the market to see what we can put together as an offering to residents and then they find, together with their family members, the most optimal device. There are some which are attached to their wrists and they can then press if there is an issue. Some are attached to phones or part of a phone app and if it detects a sudden drop in height, it will send out an alert message. Other products we have seen involve motion sensors that would monitor movements within the flat and if there is no movement for a certain period of time, a few hours or so − of course, you must teach the machine when a person is or is not at home − it would then be able to alert people. So, the whole suite of options, whether it is worn, pulled, motion detected or attached to a hot pot, it is the whole range that we are looking at.”
“Certainly, for the trial taking place at Yuhua, HDB has helped to subsidise the cost in order make the take-up for the trial more prevalent. But nevertheless, we find that not all residents, and certainly not all elderly residents, felt the need to subscribe to this. This, in part, relates to their personal choice and their own assessment of their personal mobility and caregiving needs. So, finding scale and getting economies of scale would be very helpful in making such a project in any estate a success. Currently, HDB is looking at working closely with the Pioneer Generation Office, hospitals and the physiotherapists to identify seniors who would most greatly benefit from such an EMS system. Even after that, you need to talk to their families to get the sense of whether there is someone that the system can auto-dial to and alert, or whether their neighbours who would respond or there are service providers who are monitoring the system and to be able to respond. So, cost is one. But these things can be worked out through various packages and, ultimately, it is awareness and it is about whether the seniors' caregiving arrangements and caregivers find value in having such a system as a protective factor for them.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his suggestion. As I said earlier, the requirement to achieve at least 75% support from residents for NRP is to ensure that residents, or the majority of the residents, indeed support the proposal. Getting the residents aware of the project through direct mailers, exhibitions, community consultation is but one important part of that process. Getting feedback and ultimately persuading residents that this plan benefits them is best evidenced through residents' support for the proposal. If you reduce or do away with the poll requirement, then the question is how certain are we all that these facilities, indeed, are welcomed, or are needed by the residents? Even though the residents do not have to pay for these improvements, they relate to that immediate lived environment and I think they ought to have a say.”
“MSF is currently working with the National Council of Social Service and SkillsFuture Singapore to develop the Skills Framework for Social Service (SF-SS), which will be ready in 2018. The framework will include a skills map that articulates the skills and competencies required to enter the profession and progress as EIPIC teachers, as well as professional development programmes that EIPIC teachers can take on for skills upgrading and mastery. This will better equip both existing EIPIC teachers and potential entrants to identify relevant training opportunities and plan their professional development pathways. MSF has also appointed consultants from KK Women's and Children's Hospital and National University Hospital to help EIPIC centres build capabilities and enhance early intervention standards.”
“The Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) provides developmental and therapy services for infants and young children at risk of moderate to severe developmental delays. Early intervention maximises their developmental potential and minimises the risk of secondary disabilities developing. There are currently 21 EIPIC centres run by 10 voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) located across Singapore. From 2012 to 2016, a total of about 6,500 children were referred to EIPIC centres, or approximately 1,300 children annually. The average waiting time for enrolment in an EIPIC centre today is approximately five months, a reduction from the six months' waiting time in 2016. By 2018, there will be 500 more EIPIC places, bringing the total to 3,200 places. This should bring down the waiting time further. Parents may also consider enrolling their children in selected private early intervention centres under the Pilot for Private Intervention Providers (PPIP) programme. This serves as an alternative to VWO EIPIC centres. Children enrolled in these centres are similarly subsidised for the early intervention programme. Currently, children with mild developmental needs are supported through the Development Support (DS) programmes in selected preschools. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is studying how DS can be enhanced to support children with moderate developmental needs within the preschool setting. This will facilitate timely support and intervention for children with mild to moderate developmental needs in their natural setting. All EIPIC teachers must hold an Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Intervention (Special Needs) (ADESN).”
“Child development programmes in our public healthcare system are provided by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and National University Hospital (NUH). These programmes extend medical diagnosis, assessment and early intervention services to children aged 0 to six years old who have developmental needs and behavioural issues. In 2016, 2,170 children under the age of four (or about 1.4% of the cohorts) were diagnosed with varying degrees of developmental issues and needs. It is difficult to make a firm diagnosis of intellectual disability for very young children, except for those with specific genetic conditions, severe autism and severe cerebral palsy that are known to cause intellectual disabilities. Some will grow out of their developmental challenges after early intervention. Early intervention remains a key area of focus for children with developmental needs to maximise their potential. Besides KKH and NUH, early intervention services in the community are provided through the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)-funded Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) and Development Support (DS) programme for children with milder needs in preschools.”
“Between 2011 and 2016, the proportion of ComCare applications that were withdrawn after submission averaged about 2% per year. Applicants may withdraw their applications because they subsequently find a job and hence no longer require help. They may also withdraw their applications because they do not want to share the necessary documents or allow us to speak with their family members to better understand their financial situation. Whatever the case, we will always advise the applicants that they can return to the Social Service Office should they change their minds and decide to step forward for assistance in future.”
“More Singaporeans are taking steps to safeguard their future by making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). The LPA empowers a person to appoint someone reliable and trustworthy to act on his behalf should he lose the capacity to make decisions. We first waived the LPA Form 1 application fee from 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2016. We subsequently extended the fee waiver from 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2018. From 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2017, we have received 11,503 unique LPA Form 1 applications. We are currently studying how effective the application fee waiver and other measures have been, so far, in encouraging people to make their LPAs early.”
“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 (JRC) 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) function as both types of facilities. The number of juveniles admitted to SBH and SGH each year is in Table 1 below. Of the juvenile offenders who were discharged from the JRC between 2013 and 2016, the average duration of stay was 20 months in SBH and 24 months in SGH. In that same period, the average duration of stay for those discharged from a Place of Detention was three weeks each in SBH and SGH.”
“There are currently 26 Day Activity Centres (DACs) that offer day care services to adults with special needs. These are operated by voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs). While fees are set by the DACs, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has put in place several measures to ensure that these programmes stay affordable for those who require them. First, MSF revises the quanta of operating subsidies to the VWOs at the start of every financial year to keep pace with inflation. Second, subsidies are means-tested so that these services remain affordable to lower-income families. Third, guidelines on fee revisions are issued to the centres to prevent sharp fee hikes. Apart from fees and Government subsidies, the operation of these centres is also supported by Government grants, such as the Community Silver Trust, which provides dollar-for-dollar matching on donations raised by VWOs. We will continue to monitor the fees charged by VWOs for programmes that we fund to support persons with disabilities and their families.”
“Preschool teachers are equipped with basic skills and knowledge to understand and detect child abuse and neglect during their pre-employment training at the polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education or the various private training agencies accredited by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). In-service preschool teachers can also take up Continuing Professional Development courses related to the prevention and early intervention of child abuse. In addition to this, the Child Protective Service (CPS) of the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has developed a Sector-Specific Screening Guide and a Child Abuse Reporting Guide to support professionals who work with children to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and determine the appropriate course of action. ECDA conducts training sessions for principals and educators in the early childhood sector to use these guides effectively. To make such training resources even more accessible to professionals in the education, health and social service sectors, MSF CPS is working with the Social Service Institute to develop online training modules on child protection. The online child protection training modules are currently in their early stages of development. Further testing and enhancements are required before rollout, expected in late-2018. My Ministry will study whether the development of the training modules can be brought forward. We will also look at whether these modules can be incorporated as part of the compulsory training components for early childhood qualifications, over and above the existing training that is already being provided, to help trainee preschool educators understand and detect child abuse and neglect.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her keen concern about violence against elderly women. Based on the available statistics, the number of PPO applications by women above the age of 50 has remained relatively stable over the last three years. There were 480 in 2014, 430 in 2016. But every case is one case too many and we remain concerned about addressing the key issues that lead to violence in families, especially violence against women and violence against seniors. MSF did a survey in January last year to uncover a little bit more about the problem of family violence. About 40% feared reporting family violence because they felt it was a private matter. About half feared that reporting the matter will break up the family. Slightly more than a third was unsure exactly what family violence was and how to get help. So, it is an invisible problem. But family members, relatives, neighbours, colleagues, community leaders, friends can help to spot what would otherwise be an invisible problem and help alert the many touchpoints that are available that would allow us to intervene. In situations where people do not seek help but we are alerted to family violence, the Member would know that MSF is working on a Vulnerable Adults Bill with laws that would allow us to intervene in such instances. I thank the Member for her supplementary question.”
“This saw participation from grassroots leaders, schools, arts and sports groups, corporate bodies, self-help groups, the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and the Police. Such initiatives deepen the awareness of family violence and enable more people to break the silence and reach out to seek help for those affected.”
“Mr Speaker, over the last three years, the Family Justice Courts received a yearly average of about 2,800 applications for Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) against an abusive family member. Around 75% of the applications were made by women. Of these women, about 20%, or about 450 applications, were from those above 50 years of age. No one should suffer alone in silence. A strong partnership among Government agencies and community partners is necessary to ensure that those affected by violence receive the needed help and receive it early. The National Family Violence Networking System (NFVNS) was established more than 20 years ago for victims to be assisted by touchpoints, such as Family Service Centres and Family Violence Specialist Centres. Family violence is not a private matter. That is why, Mr Speaker, Sir, you will remember that you had launched the "Break the Silence Against Family Violence" campaign for the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) last year. This campaign raises awareness about family violence through platforms, such as social media and community roadshows. It also involves collaboration with community and corporate partners to equip bystanders with resources and skills to safely step in to help victims. We train partners and grassroots organisations to understand family violence and, importantly, to identify families experiencing violence early. Recently, MSF facilitated a conversation with Taman Jurong Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC), Fei Yue Family Service Centre, Jurong West Neighbourhood Police Centre and SSO@Taman Jurong on ways to prevent and intervene in family violence situations together.”
“All fundraising appeals, including those conducted online, to any member of the public or community in Singapore for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic causes are regulated under the Charities (Fund-Raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations 2012 (the Fund-Raising Regulations). The Fund-Raising Regulations spell out the duties and obligations of fundraisers, which include the need for disclosure of clear and accurate information to donors about the beneficiary and the purpose of the donation, proper usage of donations, as well as keeping proper records of donations received and disbursed.”
“Additionally, fundraisers, whether individuals or organisations, are expected to provide accurate information to the public, properly account for donations received and disbursed, and ensure that all expenditure is above board. However, some fundraising practices are lacking in transparency and accountability and this leaves some questions unanswered. Are records of donations received and funds disbursed properly maintained? What proportion of the proceeds will be used for the intended purposes? How are unused funds being accounted for? These are important questions that donors need to ask, especially when public appeals are involved. If many cases of fund-raising are discovered to have exploited the generosity of donors, the public may become sceptical towards truly worthy fundraising initiatives. It may make Singaporeans think twice whether to help someone in need. This would run counter to our goal to nurture a gracious and compassionate society. Another concern is if easy access to public donations through crowdfunding leads to a weakening of our work ethic or the important role of family support. We should be concerned if crowdfunding becomes the preferred way out for an individual, even before he taps on his own resources and efforts or support from his family. Finally, we would like to encourage the public to remain vigilant and discerning in responding to fundraising appeals, so as to avoid falling victim to improper fundraising activities. When in doubt, they should find out more from the fundraisers before making a donation. If the public have concerns regarding any improper fundraising activities, they should report the matter to the Office of the Commissioner of Charities. If fraud and scams are suspected, they should file a Police report immediately.”
“There has been a number of reports recently on individuals who have started online crowdfunding campaigns, some of which have gained large sums in donations. We are encouraged to see many Singaporeans step forward to help others in need. More acts of kindness and generosity for those who face challenging circumstances is a positive thing, because this can help nurture a more caring and gracious society. At the same time, such crowdfunding initiatives present certain concerns. First, do-gooders may not always know where their donations are going to. In some cases, we have found that some information presented by the individuals raising funds was inaccurate, or facts were only partially presented. For instance, some individuals said that they are raising funds as they have not received assistance from the Government when, in fact, they were beneficiaries of subsidies and other assistance from the Government. Every so often, there are also stories published on mainstream and social media about some individuals in difficult circumstances. Some of these individuals are, indeed, in challenging situations and are deserving of assistance from the Government and the community. But not all of the accounts presented were accurate. Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) officers found that some of these individuals were not seeking help or were ineligible for ComCare assistance. We have even come across individuals with accumulated savings to the tune of five or six figures. That is why MSF has provided factual clarifications on some reported cases of vulnerable persons.”
“How are records of donations received and funds disbursed maintained? How are unused funds being accounted for? Will the fundraiser be receiving any commission from my donation? These are some important questions that donors should ask. When in doubt, donors should find out more from the fundraisers before making a donation. At no time should anyone feel pressured to give. If donors have concerns regarding any improper fundraising activities, they should report the matter to the Office of the Commissioner of Charities. If fraud or scams are suspected, donors should file a Police report immediately.”
“With crowdfunding platforms becoming more popular, the charity sector will also need to evolve and adapt accordingly. It is paramount that the principles of transparency and accountability are adhered to in crowdfunding. The Office of the Commissioner of Charities has highlighted that fundraisers are obliged to provide clear and accurate information to the public about the beneficiaries and the purpose of these fundraising appeals. They should keep proper records of donations received and disbursed and ensure that donations are used in accordance with the intent communicated to the public. In the case of online crowdfunding platforms, information should be disclosed to the public about their status as commercial entities, the proportion of donations which will be given to the intended beneficiaries, and how their fees are computed such as details of transaction charges, if any. It is encouraging to know that some online crowdfunding platforms have shown efforts to ensure that the causes for which they are fundraising are legitimate and taken more effort to conduct due diligence checks to help donors discern the credibility of beneficiaries as part of their duty to donors. However, not all crowdfunding platforms conduct such checks. I strongly urge all crowdfunding platforms to put in place measures to validate the legitimacy of beneficiaries and ensure that donations are used responsibly. This will certainly enhance public confidence in donors to such online fundraising appeals. At the same time, donors also have an important role to play. Donors should remain vigilant and discerning in responding to online fundraising appeals, so as to avoid falling victim to improper fundraising activities. How will the donations be used?”
“We are aware of two cases where clients raised money through online crowdfunding, and their applications for social or healthcare assistance were turned down because the applicants' households were assessed to have sufficient resources after taking into account the donations raised. In both cases, the applicants had received Government assistance before. All individuals and households applying for assistance are treated equally. Applications are assessed holistically, taking into account the financial, social and health circumstances of the household. Government assistance is available for all persons and families who are vulnerable and need help. We are not aware of the reasons why the two individuals chose to raise funds through online crowdfunding. Crowdfunding enables those who need help to actively reach out to and seek assistance from a wider public. While we are heartened to see many Singaporeans stepping forward to help others in need, we also have some concerns with certain online crowdfunding practices. For instance, there have been cases where individuals present inaccurate information online to raise funds, including denying that they have received Government assistance. Should there be more crowdfunding cases discovered to have exploited the generosity of donors, the public may become sceptical towards worthy fundraising initiatives. This may dampen the charitable spirit and would run counter to our goal to nurture a gracious and compassionate society. As crowdfunding platforms enable fundraisers to reach a much wider audience within a shorter timespan, it is not surprising that online fundraising has been gaining traction. The benefits of technology will definitely be accompanied with certain pitfalls.”
“We recognise that a fair number of our elderly are singles. They may be more vulnerable to financial exploitation should they lose capacity. It is important for each of us to choose our donee carefully and consider what powers we intend to give, when we make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). We should appoint someone reliable and competent, someone we trust to act in our best interests should we lose the capacity to make decisions. This is probably the most important safeguard a single person can take. However, it might not always be possible for singles to find a family member or someone they know and trust to be their donee. This is why the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) was amended in March 2016 to introduce the concept of professional deputies and donees. As these persons provide doneeship and deputyship services for remuneration, they will be supervised by the Public Guardian. We will audit and check on them. In addition, MCA has existing safeguards to protect donors. Anyone who knows, suspects or believes that a person who lacks capacity is being mistreated can report this to the Office of the Public Guardian. MCA has a "whistleblower" clause to protect the identity of a whistleblower. If there is evidence that the donee has acted in a way which compromises the donor’s best interest, including exploiting the donor financially, the Public Guardian would investigate the matter. Where necessary, the Public Guardian would apply to Court for a suspension order to preserve the donor's assets and remove the rogue donee by revoking the LPA.”
“Some FSCs have found the change process more challenging than others, although there is broad agreement that there are clear benefits to having an integrated case management system and baseline practice standards across the sector. MSF regularly engages the FSCs in dialogue and has worked with FSCs to address the challenges that some of them have faced post-implementation. We are continually reviewing how SSNet can support our business processes better, so that those in need can be served better.”
“The Social Service Net (SSNet) was developed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) as an integrated case management system for the social service sector. Conceptualisation and development of SSNet started in 2013. The rollout to all Social Service Offices (SSOs) and Family Service Centres (FSCs) was completed by February 2016, at a cost of about $29 million. This amount covered the development and operating cost of the system for the full rollout, network connectivity and software applications to support information and communications technology-enabling of the social service sector, as well as provision of end-user devices to the voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) that have come on board. SSNet will continue to be extended to other MSF-funded services and programmes, such as the Divorce Support Specialist Agencies, in phases. There are more than 1,500 SSNet users to date. The SSOs and VWOs have benefited from more efficient information sharing through SSNet. For instance, SSO officers are able to retrieve the ComCare records of any walk-in clients requiring financial assistance, even if these clients had previously visited another SSO, reducing the need for the client to repeat his or her story in full. Also, with the client’s consent, the SSOs and FSCs can obtain some client information directly through system link-ups with other agencies, such as the Ministry of Health and the Housing and Development Board, reducing the time needed to collect such information and making things more convenient for the client. To reap these benefits, some standardisation of key business processes has had to be put in place across more than 40 FSCs run by 22 different VWOs.”
“These would include people using bulky mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, walking frames and lower-limb prostheses. In addition, those with medical conditions, such as muscular dystrophy, poliomyelitis and cerebral palsy, will be considered based on their conditions and needs. I would like to assure Members that MSF and SG Enable will exercise flexibility when applying the new eligibility criteria and look at the physical needs and condition of each applicant, even if they do not fully meet the default eligibility criteria. Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the proportion of persons who will not qualify for the Class 1 labels and who had bought cars under the Disabled Persons Scheme (DPS). DPS is a financial scheme that supports persons with disabilities who are unable to use public transport and need to drive to work. Under DPS, eligible drivers with disabilities are exempted from paying premiums for the certificates of entitlement and the additional registration fee when they purchase a vehicle. There are around 165 persons in the DPS (81%) who also hold Class 1 labels. Not all DPS beneficiaries apply for CPLS as they may not require the additional space afforded by these accessible lots, for boarding and alighting from their vehicles. The two schemes, therefore, serve slightly different needs. Individuals on DPS do not, by default, also need a CPLS Class 1 label. That said, any CPLS renewal will take into consideration the applicant's current condition and mobility needs.”
“(a) One example is the Public Transport Concession card that was introduced in 2014 to help defray the cost of transport for persons with disabilities. (b) Another example is barrier-free access and the provision of lifts and ramps at Mass Rapid Transit stations and selected pedestrian overhead bridges. (c) As of August this year, the Taxi Subsidy Scheme was enhanced to cover up to 80% of the cost of travel in taxis, including private hire cars, for work, school and, in addition, training, up from 50% support previously. Fourth, we come to the revisions that we will make to CPLS from 1 November 2017. (a) The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Ministry of National Development had consulted existing Class 1 and Class 2 label holders as well as voluntary welfare organisations, such as the Handicapped Welfare Association, Disabled Persons Association and Society for the Physically Disabled as part of the review of CPLS. (b) The objective was to see how we could ensure that persons with disabilities, who require the use of accessible lots for boarding and alighting, can be better assured that these lots will be available when they need them. (c) Beyond measures that I had outlined earlier regarding education, enforcement and making more accessible lots available, there was general agreement that we should reserve accessible lots for persons with disabilities who require the additional space to board and alight from their vehicles and are, therefore, more in need of such lots. Hence, under the new eligibility criteria, car park labels will be issued to those who are medically certified as having physical disabilities and who require additional space to embark and disembark from their vehicles.”
“(c) Beyond what is provided for under the Code, HDB and URA have been putting in more accessible lots in areas where there is high demand, wherever this is feasible. (d) The Building and Construction Authority is currently reviewing the Code, as part of its ongoing review on accessibility. This includes studying the availability and provision of accessible lots. (e) Given our physical constraints, however, there will be a limit to how many more accessible lots we can have. Second, agencies have moved to curb abuse and the indiscriminate use of accessible lots. (a) This begins with education. The National Council of Social Service conducts ongoing public education and outreach to increase awareness about the appropriate use of accessible lots. (b) Beyond education, stiffer penalties have been put in place since December 2015, to deter people who park indiscriminately in parking lots meant for people with disability. (c) The composition fine for first-time offenders was increased from $50 to $200, and the penalty for repeat offenders was increased to up to $400. (d) Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the number of persons who have been penalised for indiscriminate use of the lots. Last year, enforcement agencies issued 2,200 summonses for misuse of accessible lots in public car parks. We do not have a breakdown on the number of summonses issued to Class 2 label holders, and the number issued to drivers without labels parking in the accessible lots. We are working closely with agencies to strengthen enforcement. Third, we have put in schemes and programmes to make public and private transport more accessible to persons with disabilities.”
“The Car Park Label Scheme (CPLS) was introduced in 1980 to assist drivers with physical disabilities in boarding and alighting from their vehicles. CPLS was extended in 1996 to include caregivers who drive passengers with physical disabilities. Drivers with the CPLS label can park in dedicated car park lots that are marked in blue with the accessible symbol of a person in a wheelchair. There are two types of labels: (a) the Class 1 label is for drivers with physical disabilities; and (b) 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 caregiver-drivers to park in a designated lot for up to an hour, to assist their passenger with disability to board or alight. Thereafter, the vehicle must be shifted to a standard parking lot to free up the accessible lot to other eligible users. Demand for accessible lots has been rising, and this increase will further accelerate with our ageing population. The number of new label holders has increased by almost 40% from 2012 to 2016, from 1,273 to 1,758. To meet the needs of people with disability, Government agencies have been working on a range of measures. Let me highlight a few First, we endeavour to provide adequate accessible parking lots. (a) The provision of such lots is mandated under the 2013 Code on Accessibility. The code also requires the provision of accessible and sheltered drop-off points, with direct access to every block at residential estates. (b) There are currently about 6,000 accessible lots across public car parks managed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the National Parks Board.”
“With that, Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Desmond Lee.] (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“All of these schemes cover specialised courses in various fields of engineering. The SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme aims to help fresh graduates from polytechnics and the Institutes of Technical Education augment their academic training with practical industry experience to support their transition into the workforce. Candidates undergo a 12- to 18-month structured training programme in a job related to their field of study. The training programme includes guided learning, on-the-job training and work-based projects. Candidates receive an industry-recognised certification upon completion. The SkillsFuture Study Award is targeted at early- to mid-career Singaporeans looking to enhance their skills in future growth sectors. Successful applicants will receive a monetary award of S$5,000 which can be used to defray out-of-pocket expenses associated with their study. Eligible courses in the Built Environment sector include those from the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and BCA Academy. We will continue to work with the Future Economy Council, IHLs and industry associations to review and update the list of qualifying courses. So, there are many resources that our engineers can tap on to upskill and deepen their expertise. And I encourage interested parties to find out more about the relevant schemes and qualifying courses on the SkillsFuture website before applying for the ones that are most suitable. In summary, we place great importance on developing our engineering profession. I am confident that this Bill, which will help to raise the standards of PEs, enhance their access to overseas opportunities and provide a more pro-enterprise environment for local professional engineering firms, is a step in the right direction.”
“We agree that media publicity can help shape perception, correct misimpressions and promote engineering as a good career choice. So, in 2016, the Government launched a rebranding campaign to revitalise the profession's image and highlight its important contributions to society. And, in fact, the new realm of digital engineering and the introduction of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly, and Virtual Design and Construction involving technology and virtual reality, have begun to make the built environment sector and the engineering profession a lot more attractive, especially to young people for whom technology is like fish in water. We also increased salaries for public sector engineers to ensure that these jobs remain attractive. These efforts aim to raise the standards of public sector engineers and set the benchmark for the wider profession. For engineers in the Built Environment sector, the Construction ITM that will be launched later this year will include strategies to develop and strengthen the profession. Details will be announced soon. But one idea that has been floated is to introduce a capstone programme for graduating students to bring them up to speed on industry best practices and prepare them for work. We have also set up a task force comprising representatives from the Government, industry and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to incorporate relevant skills into the engineering curricula of our tertiary education. The task force is expected to deliver their recommendations early next year. I agree with Er Dr Lee on the importance of upskilling. There is already a comprehensive suite of SkillsFuture programmes designed to help Singaporeans develop skills and competencies for future growth sectors.”
“But separately and more importantly, we will continue to work with the industry to strengthen the capabilities and skills of our engineering core. Let me go through some of these measures, together with the points raised by Er Dr Lee Bee Wah. Er Dr Lee spoke of the need to develop our engineering profession and improve its image. She is spot on. Engineering is a core capability that we must build on. As she noted, giving scholarships has been an important means of attracting talent into engineering-related fields. And the prestigious Public Service Commission Engineering Scholarship was introduced last year to strengthen our pipeline for apex leadership positions in the engineering clusters within the Public Service. Eight of these scholarships were given out this year. Various Ministries and Statutory Boards, such as MND, the Ministry of Defence, JTC, the Public Utilities Board, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, the Defence Science and Technology Agency and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), amongst others, also give out engineering scholarships in many different branches. To grow engineering capabilities in the private sector, agencies, such as BCA and the IMDA, have been working with industry partners to award scholarships in various branches of engineering. For instance, BCA offers the BCA-Industry Built-Environment Scholarships and Sponsorships in collaboration with industry firms. These scholarships aim to encourage high calibre students to pursue an engineering career in the built environment sector in Singapore. So far, more than 200 industry firms have participated in this programme. We will also continue to look into new ways to develop the profession.”
“Next, an ACPE must submit an application to the Board before he can become an RFPE in Singapore. If approved, this will be valid for one year. ACPEs and RFPEs are bound by both Singapore and international codes of professional conduct, as well as Singapore laws and regulations. This means that any RFPE working in Singapore will be held accountable, both by our regulatory bodies and by the Singapore legal system. Mr Louis Ng asked whether there will be restrictions on the number of RFPEs who can collaborate with each locally-registered PE, and whether there are measures to mitigate unhealthy foreign competition that could depress wages and weaken our local core. On the first point, PEB requires an RFPE to collaborate with one designated local PE. This is to facilitate tracking. The Board will also be looking at whether sensible ratios can be put in place, whether in rules, practice directions or guidelines, of how many RFPEs that a Singapore PE can collaborate with. This is to ensure that the quality of supervision by the Singapore PE is not diminished. But as I mentioned earlier, the scheme is still in its early days, and the number of RFPEs in Singapore is still very small. PEB is monitoring the situation and will adjust the conditions in future if necessary. On the second point, RFPEs cannot undertake professional engineering work independently. They cannot sign off on submissions to regulatory agencies. So, they will not be able to replace PEB-registered PEs as custodians of the safety of our engineering works. Currently, the Singaporean Core of our PE profession is strong. Of the 3,900 PEs that we have today, Singaporeans make up almost 80%, and this proportion has held steady for the last 10 years.”
“First, PEs undertaking these works will still need to fulfil the full requirements, including the scope of work prescribed under the relevant legislation, such as the Building Control Act. Second, PEs employed by contractors will continue to be held accountable by the PE Code of Conduct, which requires them to carry out their duties in a professional and independent manner. And third, the PEs that contractors employ can only carry out professional engineering works on specified low-risk temporary works, such as site offices and temporary living quarters. Miss Cheryl Chan also asked if the public could seek advice and recourse through the Board in the event of contractual disputes with PEs. The Board is a professional body and does not provide dispute resolution services. Contractual disputes should be resolved through other avenues, like mediation or litigation. Nevertheless, if disputes arise because of a PE's alleged professional misconduct, members of the public can still file a complaint against the PE with the Board. Mr Louis Ng asked about the processes and criteria for authorising Registered Foreign PEs (RFPEs) through the ASEAN MRA on Engineering Services. Becoming an RFPE involves a two-step process. To start, a person seeking to become an RFPE in Singapore must first be admitted in his own country as an ASEAN Chartered PE (ACPE). To do so, he has to meet the criteria set out in the ASEAN MRA. Basically, this means holding a recognised engineering degree, keeping up with Continuing Professional Development, being equipped with relevant experience in engineering practice, and being recognised as the equivalent of a PE in his own country. Taken together, these criteria help to uphold the standards of ACPEs.”
“The decision was based on the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM's) assessment that Chemical PEs were needed to ensure the safety of Major Hazard Installations, such as chemical plants. Ms Thanaletchimi also asked about experience requirements for PEs. PE candidates are already required to meet relevant experience requirements prior to key milestones of the qualification process. For instance, applicants must have at least four years of practical work experience before they can attend the professional interview. Details of such requirements, such as the duration and scope of work experience, will be further prescribed in the Act's subsidiary legislation. Miss Cheryl Chan asked about PEB's processes for issuing penalties to PEs and professional engineering practices. She suggested that the Board create a list of violations to make clear which warranted deregistration. To some extent, sections 17B and 26A of the Act already set out some of the situations under which a PE can be removed from the register and when a professional engineering practice may have its licence revoked. For minor infringements, PEB may choose to issue a letter of censure to errant firms or errant PEs. In some cases, PEB might censure both. It would be hard to be more prescriptive beyond that, as the exact course of action will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. PEB has to calibrate the penalty according to the severity of wrongdoing. But sometimes, complex cases may need to be investigated by PEB or Disciplinary Committees appointed by PEB. Miss Chan also asked about checks and balances for contractors who employ PEs to carry out professional engineering works on their own projects. This amendment should not compromise safety or professional standards.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Members who have spoken on the Bill and let me try to respond to some of their questions. Mr Louis Ng and Ms Thanaletchimi asked about the scope of the PE Bill. In particular, why the Bill covers only the four prescribed branches of engineering, and how other branches of engineering will be regulated and supported. Mr Louis Ng cited, as examples, aerospace, marine and transport. The regulatory agencies overseeing safety of engineering works on aircraft, marine projects and land transportation rely on specific legislation as well as industry codes to enforce quality and safety requirements. These are their primary levers. However, on top of that, it is open to some regulators to decide to specify in their legislation that certain works need to be undertaken or certified by PEs. In such situations, PEB will come in and prescribe these as branches of professional engineering. The Board then becomes an important secondary lever for regulation of PEs doing this work. So, this is an evolving and continuing conversation between PEB and various sectoral regulators. One key consideration amongst many is whether sectoral regulators assess that it is necessary to add a further layer of regulation on PE involvement in order to secure certain levels of safety and quality standards in the work, over and beyond what they have managed to achieve under their primary regulatory framework. If so, PEB will work with them to prescribe new branches of professional engineering. For example, chemical engineering was just introduced as a prescribed branch of professional engineering last November.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to conclude by thanking Members once again for their many thoughtful suggestions, and to members of the public and to the industry who have given us many, many useful ideas and views that have helped us to shape and craft the Bill that you see before Members today. The proposed amendments to the Act were meant to balance between the necessary regulatory oversight to safeguard the interests of SPs, and an architecture that is flexible and gives latitude to make self-governance possible for MCSTs. These amendments are the result of many rounds of consultation over the last few years and we hope that the proposed amendments will help SPs as they step up and get involved in their respective councils and estates. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Desmond Lee]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef spoke on the issue of water leakage and asked if there could be guidelines to advise SPs on handling such issues. To begin with, the statutory presumption clause, which assumes that the responsibility for inter-floor leakage is with the owner of the unit above, does not apply to cases of lateral seepage. In the case of inter-floor leakage, the premise is that the floor finishing and/or the underlayment above the floor slab has been damaged, which then leads to water seeping through the slab and into the lot below. While the slab is deemed as common property, its definition explicitly excludes any layer that is the floor finishing or underlayment. Taken together, the leakage is deemed to originate from the strata lot above. Hence, it is the responsibility of the owner of the lot above to either prove otherwise or repair the defect. But in the case of lateral seepage, the party responsible for repairing the defect would depend on whether the leak originates from the interior of a strata lot or from common property. For example, if rainwater seeps in through an external building wall which is common property, the MCST will be responsible for any necessary repairs. For good neighbourliness, the relevant parties should first explore an amicable solution by cooperating to investigate and repair the leak. Parties could appoint a Building Surveyor to assist with the determination of the source and cause of the leak. Alternatively, parties may seek recourse through mediation channels like STB and CMC.”
“It has powers under the Act to carry out the required works. Mr Dennis Tan also asked about the situation where MCSTs take action against SPs in a situation where modifications had been made by previous SPs which were unauthorised changes made to their lots. If the contract for the Sale and Purchase between the SPs follows the terms in the conditions of sales from the Law Society of Singapore, then the new SP has the recourse of referring to adjudication under the Fourth Schedule of the Conveyancing and Law of Property Conveyancing rules of 2011. This is because the previous SP, who is a vendor to the contract, had undertaken that he has not carried out any unauthorised additions or alterations to the property. So, it depends on the form of contract. Of course, MCSTs may initiate action against the former SP under common law, if it wishes to do so, for any breach of duty and care in relation to duties set out under section 37(3) and 37(4) of the Act. Building defects are a common subject of disputes. Mr Yee Chia Hsing asked if the DLP could be extended until 12 months after the first AGM. The concern here seems to be with interim MAs being ineffective in helping SPs pursue defects rectification with developers. But extending the DLP on its own will not address the root problem of poor quality by some developers and contractors. This is something that MND is looking into. Specifically, we are looking at providing home buyers with more information about the track record of developers and contractors with regard to design and construction quality. This will help home buyers make more informed choices. It will also put some pressure on developers and contractors to ensure that they deliver good quality.”
“But these types of MCSTs can tap on BCA's Accessibility Fund if they meet the eligibility criteria. The Fund provides up to 80% co-funding for accessibility upgrading, which could include lift installations. But there is an overall funding cap of $300,000 per development. Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Mr Melvin Yong and Miss Cheryl Chan asked for dispute resolution platforms to address disputes through mediation, rather than legal action. Specifically, Mr Gan asked if we could set up a mediation centre with industry experts and legal professionals to look into claims and disputes between new home owners and developers. We are happy to say that existing mediation platforms, such as the Singapore Mediation Centre and the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore (REDAS) Conciliation Panel, are already able to provide this service. Mr Melvin Yong suggested having a mediation board to resolve common disputes in MCSTs. For that, we have the STB to hear and resolve a list of MCST disputes. The list includes disputes on costs of repairs and rectifying a complaint in respect of a defect in a lot or common property. Alternatively, SPs may approach the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) when the disputes are between neighbours or with neighbouring developments. If mediation fails, SPs may seek legal advice. Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the available recourse if there are disputes hampering efforts to replace or repair common facilities for safety reasons. Public safety is crucial. Hence, for safety critical situations involving structural defects in the building or common property, or any health hazard to the development, or if a Notice or Order has been served by any public authority on the MCST to undertake certain works, then the MCST must comply.”