Diana Pang Li Yen
Singapore
“Skills take time to build, deep mastery should be rewarded through structured progression, skills-based pay bands and credible steps from apprentice to specialist to titles, such as master craftsman. If we want Singaporeans to stay in trades, real wages and progression must be clear and competitive.”
“Question No 11. The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Koh Poh Koon) (for the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health): Sir, respite care services tap on the capacity of existing care services for seniors, persons with disabilities (PwDs) and children with developmental needs.”
“Thank you to the Ministers. It pains me as a mom to hear what has happened and it continues to pain me every day. I hope this will be first and the last time I hear this, and this will never happen again.”
“Now, whenever this woman sees us, she will say "thank you". This is the power of the "we" that the Prime Minister emphasises on. We helped her to understand the situation. Religious organisations also chipped in to help.”
“Mr Speaker, earlier in my speech, I had used a Hokkien phrase, which I am given to understand may not be very appropriate to use in the Parliamentary context. I just wanted to explain that I used it in the context of a story I was relating and did not mean to be unparliamentary. Please accept my apologies.”
The complete record
Every one of 35 lines we hold for Diana Pang Li Yen, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“In a sector that intersects with both animal welfare and the well-being of households, we should explore the potential for pro bono or community veterinary support, particularly for lower-income pet owners, urgent welfare cases and rescue organisations. I am not suggesting an obligatory burden on every clinic. But the sector, in collaboration with the Government, could explore more structured support mechanisms for genuine cases of need. One practical step could involve veterinarians declaring their pro bono hours during their annual licence renewal or consider this as part of the continuing professional education. This would enable the Ministry to track such contributions and foster a stronger culture of service and community engagement among veterinarians. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, while I support this Bill, I hope we will not regard this as the end of the conversation. A truly effective veterinary service system is one that not only regulates professionals adeptly but is also one that ordinary Singaporeans trust, understand and access. It must provide robust protection for the public in serious situations, strengthen our local pipeline of future veterinarians, ensure disciplinary powers are wielded with appropriate safeguards and maintain a fair and sustainable professional landscape as the sector continues to evolve. For all these reasons, I support the Bill.”
“So, I ask the Ministry whether the Government has done a study on the demand for the studies in Singapore and how many local students each year have to study overseas if they want to become vets. I also ask whether the statistics support opening a full-time vet school in Singapore and if so, how would such a school or course be regulated, how clinical training would be supervised, and how specialist training would fit within the registration framework under this Bill. If we care about standards, access and long-term resilience, then the pipeline matters. A stronger local pathway can help Singaporeans and Singapore build a deeper bench of veterinarians with local knowledge and long-term commitment. I also want to raise one specific issue on the disciplinary framework under the Bill. The Bill allows the Interim Orders Committee to suspend or restrict a vet for up to 18 months even before the disciplinary matter is finally decided. This is serious stuff, affecting livelihood, reputation and the right to practise. Yet, unlike the Disciplinary Committee, there does not appear to be a requirement for a legal professional to sit on the Interim Orders Committee itself. I therefore ask why no legal professional is specifically required at this stage. Where powers of this seriousness are exercised, it would be good to have a legal professional on the Interim Orders Committee to provide safeguards against procedures and substantive irregularities and errors and to uphold rules of fairness and procedural justice during disciplinary proceedings for vets. Sixth, pro bono and community veterinary support. Every profession has a role to play in social responsibility.”
“They involve professional judgement, public trust and the welfare of animals. Advertising should therefore be free from misleading claims, exaggeration or aggressive techniques and this could pressure clinics into prioritising commercial competition over professional standards. I propose that the Government implement an advertising framework that ensures fairness for all veterinarians, avoiding any tilt in favour of larger corporate entities with greater marketing resources. Such a move would help prevent smaller, independent practices from being disadvantaged, thereby preserving the diversity, sustainability and competitive balance within the sector. Furthermore, an uncontrolled increase in marketing competition would inadvertently drive up business costs, which may ultimately be passed on to pet owners. So, I urge the Government to ensure that any framework for the vets’ advertising is underpinned by robust ethics safeguards, maintaining the professionalism, fairness and long-term sustainability for the sector. Fourth, the pipeline of future vets and whether Singapore should move towards a local vet school. As spoken by many of my colleagues in this Parliament, if we want a strong veterinary profession in Singapore, we must not think just about regulations. We should also think about training and about the future pipeline of vets. Today, Singapore still relies heavily on overseas education. While the National University of Singapore has a pathway linked to the University of Melbourne, it is not the same as having a fully local veterinary degree and training system here in Singapore. Studying overseas is costly and this may put the profession out of reach for capable Singaporeans.”
“I hope the Government will investigate strategies to improve affordability and price transparency, ensuring that pet owners are not left feeling shocked or helpless when critical medical interventions are required. Second, insurance and whether there should be a compensation fund. The role of insurance in mitigating the financial impact of veterinary care is undeniable. However, many pet owners may lack clarity on the available policies, their precise coverage or the practicalities of making their claims. Some may even believe they are adequately covered, only later to discover the exclusions and limitations or when the treatments become absolutely necessary. So, while educating the public about pet insurance is vital, I propose a more comprehensive approach: do consider the establishment of a compensation fund, potentially pooled across the profession. This fund could serve as a crucial safety net in serious cases where a veterinarian's negligence results in loss, where insurance proves inadequate, unavailable or has lapsed. We see similar concepts in other professions. For instance, the legal profession has a compensation fund and the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Singapore provides compensation for victims of uninsured or untraceable drivers. I believe the veterinary sector should explore a similar industry-wide pooled fund as a last resort, ensuring that pet owners are not left without a practical remedy when unforeseen and severe circumstances arise. Third, as the profession evolves, advertising should be approached with care. While some degree of advertising may be acceptable, it should also be governed by stringent ethical guidelines. Veterinary services are not mere commercial commodities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Veterinary Practice Bill. As a fellow pet owner, I believe this legislation is both timely and essential. It rightly acknowledges the critical role the vets play, not just in safeguarding animal health but also in providing a peace of mind to families who entrust their beloved pets to their care. With the increasing prevalence of pet ownership and our rising expectations for animal welfare, establishing a clearer and more robust framework for this profession is a necessary and forward-thinking step. I commend the Government for bringing this important Bill forward. As this field continues to evolve, it is crucial that we ensure law enhances standards without inadvertently placing undue pressures on the sector. For many Singaporeans, practical concerns loom large – the affordability of the bills, the meaningful and insurance options, the adequacy of local training for future vets and the presence of a reliable safety net for severe complications. Therefore, while I wholeheartedly support the Bill, I urge the Government to use this opportunity to think more broadly about the sector. First, a significant concern for many pet owners is the escalating cost of the bills. While most owners are committed to providing responsible care, the cumulative expenses of diagnostic tests, surgeries, hospital stays and follow-up treatments can lead to unexpected and substantial bills. For some families, this presents a genuine affordability challenge, sometimes forcing them to delay or decline necessary treatment or to struggle financially even when they wish to do the best for their fur-child. As we elevate professional standards, it is equally important to explore ways to make the care more accessible and manageable.”
“I would like to ask Minister of State Goh, how would the increase in a family counselling capacity affect the quality of counselling services? And are there sufficient counsellors to support this capacity increase?”
“Yet for the child, the harm caused by sudden separation can be just as real and just as lasting. I therefore urge that we treat domestic child abduction as a time-critical child welfare issue by tracking and publishing core indicators and by creating an expedited judicial pathway with early neutral review, swift restoration of safe interim contact where appropriate, proportionate deterrence against bad-faith conduct by one parent and all-round operational support for parents, so that we protect genuine safety cases while preventing abuse of a "remove first, explain later" tactic and safeguarding children's best interests. So, I ask MSF: what more can be done, together with the wider family justice system, to ensure that children are not left to bear the consequences of time delays in high-conflict cases where contact is abruptly cut off? Chairman, these are practical refinements to existing problems, but they go to the heart of what MSF stands for. Strong families are not only built before a crisis, they are also protected through a crisis. I hope the Ministry will consider these improvements so that the system achieves what it is meant to achieve: better co-parenting, less conflict and better outcomes for children. Protection Against Harmful AI Usage”
“Next, Chairman, if the programme's purpose is to protect children by improving co-parenting readiness, there appears to be a gap in who is required to attend. Currently, only parents initiating or consenting to divorce are required to attend. However, parents contesting the divorce or related matters, who may be the one who need it most, are exempted. If such a parent is outside the programme, the intervention reaches only one side of the co-parenting, which undermines the policy purpose. I therefore urge MSF to consider applying the programme more equally to all parents undergoing divorce with children under 21 years old. Chairman, this connects to a second issue that often arises in higher-conflict divorces and it is one that is particularly acute during festive periods when children's access and family time become more emotionally charged. During this Lunar New Year period, many families are reuniting and celebrating, but for some parents it is the toughest time of the year because their child has been unilaterally taken away or withheld by the other parent without any Court Order, contact is cut off and they are simply told to "go to Court". The cruelty is that legal processes take time and in these cases time matters most, because the first days and weeks of separation can disrupt the child's routines, allow untrue narratives to take hold and erode the child's bond with the left-behind parent. In other words: justice delayed is justice denied. While international child abduction triggers urgent return mechanisms under the Hague Convention, domestic removals within Singapore do not have an equivalent rapid response track, leaving left-behind parents to wait for months whilst their applications are being resolved in Court.”
“Chairman, I rise to speak on divorcing couples. But let me start with a quick clarification. I am married; happily married. But I am speaking about divorce today because in Singapore has been going on an upward trend. In particular, I wish to address the support that MSF provides to help parents transition from being spouses to being co-parents. Divorce is not merely the end of a marriage. For many families, it is the beginning of a long co-parenting journey and the people who pay the highest price when that journey is poorly managed are the children. In that regard, I support the policy intent behind the mandatory co-parenting programmes for divorcing couples with children below 21 years old. The structure is good, it is sound. The online e-learning component to set a baseline understanding, followed by a physical counselling session to discuss practical co-parenting arrangements after divorce is good. It rightly treats co-parenting as a public good. But if we accept that, then the support must be timely, accessible and directed to the parents who need it most. Chairman, I make two observations on how MSF can improve this in a practical way. I was informed that the physical counselling session take weeks to book, with longer waits during festive periods and at more heavily subscribed Family Service Centre locations. I urge MSF to strengthen delivery of the programme in three ways. First, increase counsellor capacity and appointment slots, including weekends and weekdays. Second, expand the schemes to more locations, which includes increasing Family Service Centre capacity where demand is persistently high. Third, use video sessions in suitable cases so physical capacity constraints do not become a bottleneck.”
“Chairman, sometime in mid-2025, a salad shop owner tragically passed away after an alleged fraudulent work injury claim that was filed against her. MOM is investigating. But even so, one death is one too many. This reminds us that employer mental well-being also matters. With this in mind, I offer four suggestions to the Minister. First, MOM could provide practical guidelines and support to help SMEs recognise and address subtle workplace bullying, including providing clear examples and model policies which can be easily implemented. Second, MOM can develop and publish simple, proportionate investigation protocols and tools that SMEs can use to handle complaints involving discrimination, bullying and harassment. Third, MOM could maybe help employers, especially SMEs, to formulate inclusive employment schemes into day-to-day workable processes, so that support for persons with disabilities, women and caregivers can become operationally realistic. Fourth, MOM could consider consolidating employer support schemes and guidelines into a single, user-friendly platform, similar to what we have: SupportGoWhere, so SMEs can quickly understand what they qualify for and how to implement this support without heavy reliance on consultants or even middlemen. Chairman, I hope the Minister will consider the issues I have raised. Promoting Safer and Healthier Workplaces”
“Protections must therefore be real, accessible and consistently applied, but we should not assume that employers are always the wrongdoers. Sometimes, the misconduct comes from fellow employees as well. This system should help employers intervene early, guide them on proper complaint handling and provide workers with a safe, trusted channel to report concerns. Second, inclusive employment for persons with disabilities, women, and caregivers is both a social good and make economical sense, especially in a tight labour market. Strong support frameworks can help these groups fulfil their care-giving aspirations and maximise their contributions. But for inclusion to work, we must look beyond the employee barriers and also consider employers' capacity to implement it. For SMEs, inclusive hiring can bring sudden operational costs, job redesign, additional supervision, workflow adjustments, training, managing healthcare and well-being concerns. If we want inclusive hiring to be sustainable, employers must be supported, not overwhelmed. Finally, fair and merit-based workplace matters. Fairness means wider opportunity, reduced biasness and progression based on performance and potential, but fairness must also be sustainable. Inclusive policies, flexible arrangements and stronger protections will succeed only if they are credible to workers and workable for the employers. Many SME bosses operate under immense pressure, paying off staff before paying themselves, managing cashflow risks, meeting compliance requirements and carrying all the emotional burden of keeping their businesses alive. Ultimately, a fair workplace cannot exist without the well-being of both the employers and the workers. It must work on both sides.”
“Third, performance and fairness concerns, including tracking output, fears of misuse and perceptions of inequality. Fourth, higher operational costs, such as information technology investments and extra manpower for shift cover. Fifth, operational and contractual constraints, especially in sectors such as F&B, retail, security, where physical presence is essential. Chairman, if we want a fair and inclusive workplace, they must also be sustainable for the employers. For without employers, there are no employees, vice versa. As we strengthen worker protections, we must equally strengthen support for SMEs to implement these guidelines in a practical, proportionate and business-viable way. Supporting Workers and Inclusive Workplace Chairman, I will now speak on the importance of building a safe, inclusive and fair workplace for the employment of people with disabilities, women and caregivers. First, we must strengthen protection against workplace discrimination and harassment, including bullying that is often subtle and not immediately visible. All employers want a safe and respectful workplace, but many SMEs struggle with policy design, complaint handling, documentation, deciding on appropriate responses, especially without in-house HR expertise. Bullying is not always obvious. It can take the form of verbal intimidation, gaslighting, passive aggression, repeated put-downs, hostile tone, public shaming, deliberate exclusion, or constantly shifting expectations. These behaviours may leave little paper trail on the outcast, but over time they erode trust, undermine psychological safety and drive attrition, which is a lose-lose outcome for both employees and employers.”
“Chairman, the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA requests are important because they set clear norms on how employees should request flexible work and how employers should assess these requests. This clarity reduces misunderstanding, builds confidence and encourages constructive and mature workplace dialogue. For employees, the benefit is practical. These guidelines promote work-life balance and provide a clear, structured pathway to request flexibility in where they work, when they work, or the workload they take on. This is especially important for parents, caregivers and those managing health conditions, enabling them to remain economically active while meeting family and personal responsibilities. For employers, the guidelines introduce discipline and transparency. Employers are expected to respond in writing, and where requests are rejected, to explain clearly based on business needs. This reduces speculation, limits perceptions of bias, and strengthens trust and workplace harmony. Chairman, I support the thrust of these guidelines. But I ask MOM to recognise a simple ground reality: not all employers, especially SMEs, have the capacity, manpower, HR expertise to implement this formal FWA workflows effectively. While TAFEP provides grants, templates, training and advisory services, real operational challenges remain. If unaddressed, these guidelines risk becoming compliance issues rather than substance, particularly for SMEs. On the ground, SMEs face five key pain points. First, manpower constraints, with small teams lacking dedicated HR capacity. Second, management constrain on supervisors as they have to handle both hybrid and staggered work schedules of their team.”
“Skills take time to build, deep mastery should be rewarded through structured progression, skills-based pay bands and credible steps from apprentice to specialist to titles, such as master craftsman. If we want Singaporeans to stay in trades, real wages and progression must be clear and competitive. Third, firms must be part of the solution. I urge employers to support and fairly remunerate trade workers, and for the Government to work with the industry to build consistent standards for training, mentorship and assessment, especially in SMEs where the capability varies. A strong local workforce will not be built on goodwill alone; it will be built on systems that make skills development, progression real. Chairman, my question is this: as structured career pathways for skilled trades are being developed, I hope the Ministry can ensure that they are visible, trusted and outcome-driven, so that skilled workers can make real progression and real recognition, and young Singaporeans can see that trades are a first choice in a pathway to success. Valuing Skilled Trades Pathways”
“Chairman, I rise to speak on creating diverse pathways to success through skilled trades and the mindset shift we need as a society to recognise hands-on work as essential, skilled and worthy of respect. During these debates, much has been said about the rise of AI and its multiple uses. However, let us not forget that every day, Singapore runs on the work of people who fix our lifts, maintain our estates, keep the kitchen running, service our vehicles, install electrical systems and respond when things break down. These are not "low-skilled" jobs. They are jobs that require craft, discipline, judgement and often years to hone. AI cannot do these jobs. If we want a strong local labour core, we have to value these jobs, these roles, not just in words, but in how we treat these workers and how we design progression for them. Chairman, I welcome the direction that the Government will work with employers, the Labour Movement, trade associations and institutes of higher learning to develop structured career pathways for skilled tradesmen, so that this inclination towards hands-on and "heart" jobs can see how they can advance and how they can build a career. This is an important signal, because recognition is not only social esteem. It is also the clarity of a pathway. People will invest in mastery when they see where the mastery leads. So, I make three practical calls. First, actively promote the message that skilled trades are essential work and a respected choice, not a back-up, not a second choice. This is about dignity and pride in the way that we work. It matters for how young people, parents, employers perceive these pathways. Second, we should ensure that the trade mastery translates into a good living.”
“Here, MOE can partner and work with non-Government organisations, for example, Inter-Religious Organisations, which has a long and extensive experience in engaging different faith communities in a constructive and practical way. Third, MOE can support teachers and school teachers with ready-to-use resources and facilitation guides. Inter-faith discussions require careful handling. I believe many educators will welcome clearer frameworks, case studies and training so that they can facilitate confidently, especially when sensitive questions are being raised. Chairman, my point is that ultimately, inter-faith understanding is not about preventing conflict, it is about building social capital. It is about ensuring that our young grow up with the instinct to ask, to listen and to respect. When students learn early that different faiths can coexist and share the same space, we strengthen the roots of cohesion that hold Singapore together. If we want Singapore to remain united in a more polarised world, we must invest not only in academic outcomes, but also in the social fabric. Inter-faith learning is one of the quiet, high-impact investments that will pay dividends for decades to come. Physical Education Time in Schools”
“Chairman, I rise to speak on inter-faith learning for social cohesion. 6.45 pm Singapore's harmony did not happen by accident. It is the result of deliberate policies and hard work, by our founding fathers over many decades, that build trust across the communities. I would describe this as the Singapore model of practical harmony – not just tolerance, but day-to-day cooperation, a shared civic space and the instinct to navigate differences thoughtfully in our society. In a multiracial, multi-religion society, this harmony must be renewed in every generation. Chairman, schools are where this renewal can be made real. Inter-faith learning should not be treated as a niche topic or something left to certain communities, certain neighbourhoods or only to those who are already exposed. If we want mutual understanding to become a shared national norm, every student should have balanced, age-appropriate exposure to major religions and beliefs that shape Singapore in a way that builds trust, reduces stereotypes and equips them to navigate difference with confidence. Chairman, I therefore hope MOE can consider deepening inter-faith education in three practical ways. First, MOE can strengthen a clear structured baseline of inter-faith literacy with age-appropriate content that focuses on understanding, common values and how Singapore manages diversity. The aim is not theological depth. The aim is civic understanding and mutual respect for the various religions in Singapore. Second, MOE can make inter-faith learning more experiential. Lived, not classroom-based, and more fun. Schools can be supported to run structured dialogues, visits and interfaith learning journeys.”
“Fifth, did the Government expect this change to increase COE renewals because retaining older cars becomes relatively more attractive and if so, what is the expected impact on the number of COEs available for the new cars and the resulting trajectory of the COE premiums? Finally, did the Government assess how this policy might raise household costs, including higher used car prices and the impact on families who need cars for caregiving, disability needs, shift work or caring for elderly family members? Mr Speaker, some people have also asked my team whether if this is, in substance, an electric vehicle (EV) promotion policy. If so, can the Government clarify whether our infrastructure is ready? For example, is the national power grid ready to support a mass adoption of EVs, and will EV charging, especially in older estates, keep in pace, so Singaporeans will not feel that policy is moving faster than practical realities. Mr Speaker, the principle is simple. When policy moves quickly, transitional safeguards matter. Otherwise, it creates a perception that when Government provides support, there are conditions and waiting period. But when the Government takes away value, it can be immediate. I worry this perception would erode trust, especially if ordinary families are hurt because they are not sophisticated buyers and reasonably expect the rules to remain stable when making big purchases. So, in closing remarks, Mr Speaker, I support the Budget's "we first" direction. However, I urge the Government to view the issues that I have raised through the lens of transition and in fairness, whether it is social, economical or business in nature.”
“When the PARF rebate framework changed with such a short runway, the assumptions that buyers and sellers made at the point of contract no longer stands, yet buyers remain locked in because they cannot back out of the contract without any penalty. I, therefore, have six questions I hope the Ministry for Transport (MOT) can consider. First, why was there no interim measures for buyers who had already committed and paid deposits before Budget Day, and would the revised PARF framework have started in a later COE cycle or with a longer lead time, so that the buyers have time to react and consider their decision to buy? Second, in deciding on an immediate start date, did the Government consider industry practices, such as non-refundable deposits, and was it anticipated that some buyers would face the dilemma of either proceeding at a loss or forfeiting their deposits if they cancel their car purchase? Third, will the Government consider introducing a limited relief mechanism for buyers who entered into purchase agreements and paid deposits before Budget Day? For example, mandating a short grace period, a cancellation-without-penalty window or other measures to prevent immediate hardship to this group? Fourth, did the Government consider the impact on new-car sellers who typically commit to inventory and order pipelines six to 12 months in advance? For these new car dealers, they are now at risk of holding stock that is much harder to sell and may have a knock-out effect on their business viability and also employees' jobs.”
“Since the announcement, I have received ground feedback from residents and people who are concerned about the sudden implementation and the financial hit they may have to take, through no fault of their own. As announced, the PARF rebate will be reduced by 45% and the cap lowered from $60,000 to $30,000. This change applies to Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) obtained from the second COE bidding exercise in February 2026 onwards. Mr Speaker, my concern is not about whether the Government has good policy reasons to recalibrate PARF. Policy can and do change all the time. My concern is the effective date and the absence of transition safeguards for buyers who had already committed to a car purchase under the prior framework. One of my Geylang Serai resident shared with me that before Budget Day, he committed to a vehicle purchase and paid a deposit based on the prevailing PARF rules. However, after the announcement, the dealer's position was that the deal will proceed, and if the buyer cancelled, this deposit would be forfeited because the dealer did no wrong and any dispute should be taken to the authorities. In reality, for many committed buyers, there is no meaningful option to renegotiate the pricing or cancel their purchase without losing substantial deposits. These buyers bear the downside of an immediate policy shift. Mr Speaker, what makes this change particularly difficult is the hastiness of the implementation. The next COE cycle started after Budget was announced and before this House got to debate the policy change.”
“It is only human nature that if families fear that by buying a home triggers an immediate loss of support, they may delay taking up the step of home purchase that the policy is trying to encourage. Mr Speaker, this is not a call to keep families dependent. It is the opposite. If we want families genuinely to take the difficult step from rental to ownership, or from assistance to self-reliance, we should make the transition predictable and safe. I hope the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) can share how support is tapered when these families transition out of ComLink+ and whether their family coaches can help with a transition plan, so they do not fall into gaps between schemes at their most vulnerable and most fragile moments of the transition. Next, Mr Speaker, the Budget also introduces policies that affect a large majority of SMEs. In doing so, the Government typically engage trade associations and chambers to gather feedback of on-the-ground perspectives. However, not all SMEs is required to be part of these bodies. Even the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), as the apex business chamber, only has compulsory membership for companies above the $0.5 million paid-up or authorised capital threshold. This means a substantial segment of the micro-SMEs may not be in the room when these policy feedback are being gathered, even though they are the ones who are most sensitive to cost and compliance changes. I therefore urge the Government to consider opening feedback channels you hear from these small and micro-SMEs, via channels, such as the SME Centres, so that in all fairness, the policy does not get shaped mainly by the larger companies. Mr Speaker, for the last part of my speech, I will turn to the PARF changes.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Budget as delivered by the Prime Minister. What struck me about this Budget is not just the package of measures, but the signal it sends. In a more uncertain, fractured world, it reassures all Singaporeans that we can remain steady, confident and united, it reassures Singaporeans that we are always here to take care of each other. This Budget carries a clear "we first" direction, reminding us that progress is not just about growth in figures, but about shared responsibilities, stronger bonds and a social compact that is real in everyday life. Mr Speaker, if we take this "we first" direction seriously, then we must pay attention not just to the policy intent, but how these policies land on the ground, especially at transitional points where households and businesses are most exposed. In that spirit, whilst I will touch briefly on ComLink+, measures affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), I will focus my main remarks on the revised Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) policies and the issues of transitional fairness. First, Mr Speaker, I support the enhancement of ComLink+, which is a scheme that helps families progress from public rental towards home ownership. But I want to raise the practical issues on transitional risk. Moving from public rental housing into a new home is not that simple. For some of these families, there is a degree of vulnerability as they encounter moving – there are renovation costs, furniture costs, new travel routines, childcare, school logistics and sometimes, a change in a workplace too. Some of these families may not yet be stable to absorb a sharp drop in social and financial support if they are immediately treated as having "graduated" out of ComLink+.”
“Question No 11. The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Koh Poh Koon) (for the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health): Sir, respite care services tap on the capacity of existing care services for seniors, persons with disabilities (PwDs) and children with developmental needs. Providers are generally able to meet the demand for respite care, with the Agency for Integrated Care and SG Enable working with providers to prioritise clients with urgent care needs, including cases with caregivers seeking help to cope with burnout. In 2025, caregivers of over 14,600 seniors and over 3,600 PwDs and children with developmental needs utilised subsidised respite care services. We will continue to review our respite services to ensure they meet the needs of clients and their caregivers. For instance, we will enhance the Home Personal Care service later this year to offer longer service hours and after-hours care, including for respite care. The Take-a-Break home-based respite programme for PwDs and children with developmental needs is also currently being reviewed.”
“Thank you to the Ministers. It pains me as a mom to hear what has happened and it continues to pain me every day. I hope this will be first and the last time I hear this, and this will never happen again. I would like to know the following: what are the criteria for selecting those who receive this specialised training to better support these cases and what is considered as alternative care arrangement under this new framework, given that these families may have family issues, they cannot find alternative care. With so many agencies and parties involved, too many ingredients may spoil the soup. So, who is ultimately in charge of this, and what they can do when this happens again?”
“Mr Speaker, earlier in my speech, I had used a Hokkien phrase, which I am given to understand may not be very appropriate to use in the Parliamentary context. I just wanted to explain that I used it in the context of a story I was relating and did not mean to be unparliamentary. Please accept my apologies.”
“Now, whenever this woman sees us, she will say "thank you". This is the power of the "we" that the Prime Minister emphasises on. We helped her to understand the situation. Religious organisations also chipped in to help. Mr Speaker, this is the Singapore spirit that we need, and it is also the spirit in our National Pledge – "regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation." As the MP for Geylang Serai, in the days ahead, I will serve you diligently, improve community infrastructure to support physical and mental well-being. I will also promote Geylang Serai’s traditions and history. I will do my best to help those with difficulties in your daily life and find the most suitable solutions. I will understand your situations. I say to you: "Come to me if you have a problem, ask me if you don't understand, I'm here for big and small issues." (In English): Mr Speaker, I support the Motion. [Applause.]”
“One that remains true to our values, confident in our future and united as one people. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, Singapore's racial and religious harmony, and the mutual trust and respect between families and society, are the result of 60 years of joint efforts by the PAP government, the people and religious groups. Our forefathers have passed down this spirit to us today and we must carry it forward! We must pass these important values from generation to generation. Only by nurturing strong families and a caring society can we truly achieve the goals of "SG100". I am currently the Member of Parliament for Geylang Serai. It is a vibrant home with rich stories, traditions and history. The people here possess a strong "kampong" spirit, looking out for one another and caring for each other! This is our Singaporean "kampong" spirit, and it is also an important driving force for Singapore to continue moving forward! Mr Speaker, during these 144 days, I feel what people feel. I remember a resident who encountered housing and financial difficulties and came to seek my help. Initially, she only told me that her husband had lost his job and the family's source of income had been cut off as a result. The family of four was staying with others, without a home of their own. Their original plans to purchase a house had to be abandoned due to her husband's unemployment. After understanding the situation, we successfully helped her apply for a rental flat, and the matter of her children's education were also properly arranged. We also contacted different religious groups, and everyone extended their help unconditionally, providing assistance, regardless of race. These efforts greatly improved their lives.”
“What businesses need are practical tools, affordable digitalisation, fair insurance that allows older workers to be hired with confidence and genuine partnerships that nurture homegrown talent. Our SMEs are not small. They are strong – strong in heart, strong in resilience and strong in their contribution to Singapore. Mr Speaker, I may be new to this House, but I am not new to service. For over 20 years, I have sat with residents at their lowest points, trained volunteers to serve better and built teams that believe in we, not me. I see myself as a tiger mum not a bear mum, protective of every life entrusted to me, whether within my family or in the community I serve. Just as I would never compromise on my children’s well-being, I will never compromise on protecting our heritage, our culture, our racial harmony that binds us all together. Service, to me, is not a sacrifice. It is a joy. I want Singapore and my constituents to know that I love what I do. I enjoy what I do. They can come to me and my team, and we will be there for you. My promise is simple. I will stand with you. I speak for the voiceless. I will champion for the caregivers, the women, the seniors and small businesses. In doing so, I hope to play my part in building a "we first" society that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has called us forward. One day where every Singaporean can be the best version of ourselves and you are never left to walk alone. Mr Speaker, as I take my seat in this House, I do so with full awareness of the responsibility entrusted to me. I may be new but I bring with me the life experiences of many Singaporeans. I look forward to working alongside all Members of this House to build a more compassionate, more cohesive, more courageous and more lovable Singapore.”
“Stories like his remind us that the skills and wisdom of our seniors are often undervalued, even as they still have so much to contribute. I also recall attending the wake of an elderly man. The two of them, the man and his sister lived together in all their lives, unmarried. When she passed on, he was suddenly adrift and alone. I connected him with support and encouraged him to come for volunteer and join our network. Over time, I began to see light coming into his eyes again, a glimmer of hope. Another time, I sat with a senior at a wake while he waited for a companion to arrive. All we did was just to keep him company. To him, that simple act mattered greatly. These encounters remind me that what our seniors often need is not grand gestures, but dignity, presence and inclusion. Dignity in old age is not a luxury. It is a necessity. And I will champion a Singapore where every senior can live with dignity, contribute with pride, and age with confidence with dignity. Finally, Mr Speaker, I will also champion the cause of our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For more than two decades, I have walked the journey of the SMEs myself – balancing payroll, coping with rising costs, navigating layers of compliance and carrying the weight of employees who depend on me for their livelihoods. I have seen business owners who are my friends quietly sacrifice family holidays, forgo their own salaries, dip into their savings – just to make sure the employees are paid. These stories rarely make the headlines, but they are the quiet sacrifices that keep Singapore's economy and communities going. This is why I will continue to press for clearer, more accessible forms of support for SMEs. Support should not come hidden behind costly consultants or weighed down by red tape.”
“Provide pathways for post-caregiving reintegration, so that those who step away from their work to care for their loved ones can re-integrate and come back to the society. Let us strengthen our community networks so that no caregiver will ever feel abandoned or walk the journey alone. Mr Speaker, in the same bond of solidarity is also what sustains us women. I will speak for women. Like many Singaporean women, I wear many hats. I am a daughter, wife, mother, employer, volunteer. Juggling is constant. Sometimes, we lose themselves in that intensity. Menopause, mental fatigue, caregiving stress – these are real but very often dismissed or misunderstood. I have seen it and I have lived in it. And that is why I started the Healthy Women, Healthy Family programme together with Dr Ang Seng Bin and community partners in 2022 because when women are well, families thrive, and when families thrive, the nation stands firm. In this House, I will champion these policies that recognise women's roles and provide holistic support: more accessible childcare, inclusive workplaces and mental wellness resources. These are not an afterthought but our foundation of what we are going to do. Just as we must support women in balancing their many responsibilities, we too must honour our seniors, who have carried their responsibilities for a lifetime. They are not merely dependents, but wisdom-keepers whose experiences continue to hold great value. I recall meeting a resident who told me that he once served as a general manager of a company. He is now in his 60s, living alone. He struggles to find permanent work. Despite a lifetime of leadership and knowledge, he can only secure low-level jobs like security jobs.”
“Volunteers staying late in the night, helping, doing their best to help strangers. Neighbours looking out for neighbours. That, to me, is the Singapore spirit at its very best. I often remind my volunteers: this work is never about us. It is about the lives we touch, about the people. I make that point to share with them, train them, build them, be with them so that we can serve and all of them have served, with confidence, because when I leave one, I leave the whole team and together, we grow stronger. Mr Speaker, allow me what I will champion in this House. Caregiving is both beautiful and brutal. I have met mothers in their eighties still caring for their adult children with special needs. I have met "sandwich-class" parents torn between their ageing parents and their young children in need. One mother told me; I totally agree: "I am always running but never arriving." Even in my own life, I have witnessed the quiet strength of caregiving networks. Neighbours who notice those living alone alert my team, step in to watch over one another, offer simple acts of kindness without hesitation. I have seen parents entrusting their children to neighbours during renovations. In my own experience, I was very, very late. My neighbours helped me to pick up my daughter. They helped me to feed her before I came home. These small but selfless gestures freely given and reciprocated, are the essence of neighbourly spirit, reminded me that a true community is built not on grand words, but on everyday acts of care. Love alone is not enough. Families need knowledge and also support. I hope we can prepare families through pre-caregiving education, so that they do not stumble blindly into the stage when the time comes.”
“That evening, together with my volunteers, we found her a simple solution, amongst a lot of other things – a rental flat to ease her immediate burden. So, what mattered more was not just the rental unit. What mattered was that she left knowing that she was not alone. She has a whole team of us behind us. Months later, she came back to me, gave me a handmade flower and that itself touches me deeply. This gesture of gratitude will stay with me far longer than any appointment or anything or any title would ever bring. Encounters like these remind me that politics is never an abstract. It is not about paper-pushing or making grand speeches. It is people, real people, real lives, and real struggles. And when we say "we first", not "me", this is what it looks like if everyone practises it. Since the last GE in May, I have had the privilege of joining my team at more than 140 events. Among them all, one moment stay deeply with me – it was my very first National Day Parade as an MP. Standing at the Padang among the thousands of fellow Singaporeans, I was deeply moved by the sight of our people gathering as one. In that moment, the weight of this office truly struck me. I felt the echoes of our beginnings, the unity, the sacrifice to build our nation, the solemn duty that we now have to carry to keep Singapore strong, united and moving forward. The voices of the crowd might rise beyond not just celebration. They were testimony to resilience, the resilience of a people who refused to give up, who believed we could build something out of nothing. In that same spirit, Mr Speaker, is what I see every week at our meet-the-people session. Ordinary Singaporeans showing extraordinary courage and strength.”
“Some came in angry, very angry, some confused, some in tears. And he listened, always with patience, always with respect, never raising his voice, never hurry them along. He gave them dignity and his time. From him, I learnt that true leadership is not about titles, but about service. It is about lifting others so that they all can stand tall together. I was blessed with family support. My parents, in their practical way, told me: "If you choose this path, 'mai kao peh' (in Hokkien). Just do it, do not complain." [Please refer to clarification later in the debate.] My mother urged me to sign up for party membership, reminding me that Singapore had given our family much and it was only right to give back when the country asked for it. My husband, quietly yet steadfastly, shouldered more of the caregiving duties at home so that I can give my time to serving others. My daughter, in her innocence, just said: "Mom, do what you can to help others." Their support carried me and carried me still because behind every volunteer, every MP, every Minister, there is a family that makes it possible for us to serve. For that, I remain deeply grateful to mine for the love, support and encouragement they have given unconditionally. People ask: "Why keep going back, week after week, for more than 20 years?" My answer is always the same. It is the residents; it is the people. Each story, each struggle, each glimmer of hope reminded me why service matters. I remember sometime in May this year, a mother walked into my meet-the-people session, completely overwhelmed. She was caring for her elderly parents, while raising one special needs daughter and three others. She was exhausted, anxious, desperate, close to despair.”
“I remember my very first case, seated next to the interviewer with my hands on the computer all ready to type. An elderly woman walked in, distraught and sad. She spoke only in Hokkien and for some reason clutched ever so tightly to my hand, as though I was her last hope. Her son had failed to enlist into National Service. She was struggling to deal with the consequences of that mistake, on top of pressing financial difficulties. I can still recall the look in her eyes – worry, mixed with shame, a deep sense of desperation and hope that someone might listen and help her, for this burden, she cannot carry alone anymore. That itself was my turning point. I realised then I had a heart for service which I never knew that existed. And so, week after week, I returned to serve. It became a calling. The problems were not always easy to solve. Some petitions succeeded, others did not. But every story and every one of them mattered to me. Each resident reminded me that service is not about recognition, but about presence. It is not about being served but about serving. That elderly woman, in her quiet way, became my first teacher in politics. She taught me more in one evening about the dignity of service than any textbook or boardroom ever could. Along the way, I was truly blessed with mentors who not only shaped my journey but also shaped the person I have become. One of them was our former Transport Minister and MP for Fengshan, Mr Raymond Lim. He showed me that leadership can be calm, rational and humble. Despite his position, he always treated the residents and volunteers as equals and never gave the impression that he was above them all. I remember sitting beside him at Meet the People sessions. Residents would pour out their troubles.”
“Mr Deputy, Sir, I rise today with a deep sense of honour and gratitude to join my fellow Members in thanking our President for his thoughtful and stirring address to open this 15th Parliament. His words were not only a reflection of the past six decades but also a challenge for us to rise to the journey ahead. The President reminded us that the Singapore story began with improbable beginnings – no natural resources, no hinterland and no credible military to defend ourselves. Yet, with unity and sacrifice, we built a nation that is secure and prosperous. He reminded us that while the world is turbulent and the seas rough, "we cannot command the tides, but neither are we a vessel adrift." [Mr Speaker in the Chair] As I listened, I could not help and reflect on how the values of unity, resilience and trust have shaped my own journey, my own advocacy and the causes I stand for in this House. I am forever grateful to Prime Minister Wong for reminding us, in his speech yesterday, that a "we first" society is one that values solidarity even as we recognise our differences. His words resonate deeply with me, for in my own journey into politics is rooted in a simple belief: when I lift and when we lift others, we all rise together. Mr Speaker, before 2003, politics and grassroots work were far from my mind. I had just left my role as an auditor and was fully occupied with business. Life was busy. To be frank, it was comfortable. One day, quite by chance, a business contact around my age invited me to a meet-the-people session over in Fengshan. Out of curiosity, I accepted the invitation, thinking that it would be just an ordinary evening, a bit of letter writing, perhaps observing how MPs and the volunteers help residents. But that evening changed my life.”