Edwin Tong Chun Fai
Singapore
“These questions have been answered in the reply to Questions Nos 26 to 31 for Oral Answer on today's Order Paper. [Please refer to "Addressing Issues Identified in Legal Profession Sustainability Study", Official Report, 7 July 2026, Vol 96, Issue 32, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time secti…”
“I am answering in my capacity as the Minister charged with the responsibility for the People's Association. The Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers Scheme was first introduced in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic with two key objectives: one, to help Singaporean households cope with daily expenses; and two, to support hawker…”
“If the incident is a result of bilateral obligations relating to data protection and inviolability of equipment not being complied with, then the Government will consider all available legal and diplomatic options, in accordance with the bilateral RTS Link treaties, as well as the relevant international law.”
“In 2024, community sentences under part 17 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 (CPC) were imposed in 86 criminal cases handled by the State Courts.”
“It is a five-minute journey across both ways; and with the availability of closed circuit television coverage and the real-time monitoring that will be done by the officers on both sides, we did not think that this will be necessary.”
“The Ministry of Law will provide an oral reply to this Parliamentary Question, together with other Parliamentary Questions which have been filed on this topic at the next available opportunity.”
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“As of September 2023, the Public Defender's Office has received around 1,300 applications, of which close to 580 were assessed as eligible for criminal defence aid under the Public Defenders Act. Out of about 420 rejected applications, about half did not satisfy the prescribed means criteria. Almost 30% were assessed to have a lack of merits. Other reasons for rejection include the applicant already being represented by a private lawyer or not yet charged in Court. The remaining 300 applications are either ongoing or closed due to reasons, such as withdrawal or applicants not following up.”
“We understand from the Singapore Mediation Centre that it does not track information specifically on vehicle leasing disputes.”
“Sport Singapore (SportSG) uses real-time information from the National Environment Agency (NEA)'s Lightning Information Service to decide the closure of ActiveSG swimming pools. This information is also available to the public through NEA’s myENV app. SportSG will consider incorporating this information in its future upgrades of the ActiveSG app so that it is more convenient to its users. I thank the Member for his suggestion.”
“Thank you, Sir. I understand the point. If you look at the mechanism behind calculating the bazaar, I think Mr Chua said he understood the slightly shorter duration. So, what we did was we looked at the average rental 2023 and looked at the number of stalls that are available and the duration and, by and large, when we work out the average rental in 2023, against the number of stalls that were available this year, the average rental would be about $500 per day, roughly. The cap that is going to be introduced in 2024 is designed to keep it at around, roughly, the same level or a little bit below. But the point is that there is a certain basis on which stall operators can now make a bid for the stalls, knowing that there will be this cap. And I think, to that extent, there is certainty. That is one immediately good outcome of this. But the other factors, such as, what are the prevailing conditions, how large it will be, for how long it will be held, and those sometimes vary from year to year. So, we will take all that into account in subsequent years and bear in mind what Mr Chua has said, but look at, overall, achieving the optimal experience for both stall holders as well as for patrons.”
“Mr Speaker, in the course of planning for Bazaar 2024, Wisma Geylang Serai (WGS) has reviewed the proposed rental for Bazaar 2024 in light of several learning points from the bazaar held in 2023. This includes feedback received from the stakeholders, including stallholders as well as patrons. WGS has also considered that Bazaar 2024 would likely be held on a smaller scale due to redevelopment works of the Geylang Serai Cultural Belt and would also be held for a slightly shorter duration. Given the above, WGS decided on introducing a rental cap for Bazaar 2024. The People's Association (PA) and WGS will continue to review the operation of the rental framework in the light of prevailing conditions before deciding on subsequent bazaars and trade fairs, which it organises. On part (b) of the Parliamentary Question, other Government agencies may have different policies and considerations in relation to the pricing of rentals for hawker centres and commercial properties, which are quite different matters from considering the pricing of a bazaar like the Ramadan Bazaar.”
“SportSG plans the rejuvenation of all our sport centres based on factors, such as age, expected period to redevelopment and alignment to town development plans, to ensure that they continue to serve residents' needs well. Jurong West Sport Centre is not yet due for a rejuvenation. Currently, the majority of Jurong West Sport Centre's spaces are leased to childcare centres and enrichment schools, with the remaining spaces not equipped with the exhaust and electrical provisions required to support food and beverage (F&B) operations. SportSG has introduced F&B vending machines at the centre to offer more options for visitors and there are F&B and retail options nearby, such as Nanyang neighbourhood centre, Pioneer Mall, Joo Koon MRT, the recently reopened Jurong West Hawker Centre and the upcoming BTO at Jurong West Street 93. When Jurong West Sport Centre is due for rejuvenation, we will explore enhancing its infrastructure to support more F&B options. SportSG will continue to work with partners in the neighbourhood to enhance the vibrancy and visitorship of Jurong West Sport Centre.”
“Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs) are not required to disclose a list of their top donors in their annual submissions to the Commissioner of Charities (COC). However, all donations received and expended by the IPCs must be accounted for within their Financial Statements. Other information such as the IPCs' programmes and activities must be reported in their Annual Report. Out of the total number of IPCs required to file their annual submissions with the COC for the Financial Year ended in 2022, about 98% have submitted their returns. The COC's office is following up with the remaining IPCs.”
“There are many organisations and platforms that new Family Offices (FOs) can tap on to inform and shape their philanthropic endeavours. These include the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS), Community Chest, as well as groups such as the Asia Philanthropy Circle and Asian Venture Philanthropy Network. In March, the Wealth Management Institute and the Private Banking Industry Group, supported by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), launched the Impact Philanthropy Partnership to bring together high net worth individuals and FOs to galvanise giving and encourage philanthropic partnerships. These organisations and communities can help new FOs better understand our local giving ecosystem and how they can contribute. Our approach is to work with intermediaries that already have touchpoints and connections with FOs, to raise awareness of philanthropic causes and practices and encourage meaningful and impactful philanthropy. For example, Government agencies such as the Economic Development Board and MAS, as well as intermediaries, such as financial institutions with wealth management services, law firms and tax advisory services connect interested donors with CFS. CFS then matches donors with impactful giving opportunities across different sectors – social and welfare, education, health, arts and heritage, sports, and so on – depending on the donors' interests. As more FOs set up in Singapore, the Government will continue to monitor and review the philanthropic advisory support available to enable them to channel their capital and other resources towards meaningful philanthropic purposes, to make a positive impact on society.”
“The question relates to how the Israel-Hamas conflict affects social cohesion in Singapore. The speeches on the Motion raised on this topic at the Parliament Sitting on 6 November 2023 as well as subsequent clarifications, have addressed this Parliamentary Question. [Please refer to "Solidarity, Security and Peace – The Israel-Hamas Conflict", Official Report, 6 November 2023, Vol 95, Issue 115, Motions section.]”
“Under the Sport Excellence (spex) programme, all national carded athletes, including athletes under the spexScholarship programme, receive support for their overall psychological and mental well-being. As part of regular medical check-ups, all national carded athletes take a well-being survey that screens for possible psychological and mental distress, including eating and sleeping disorders. Cases requiring attention are flagged and assessed by the Singapore Sport Institute (SSI)'s sport science team. If clinical expertise is required, they will be referred to the Singapore Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre (SSMC@CGH) for follow-up with a trained psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. For comprehensive details on mental health support for our national athletes, the Member may wish to refer to the Ministry’s responses to Dr Wan Rizal and Ms Hany Soh’s Parliamentary Questions on 13 September 2022 and 5 October 2021 respectively. [Please refer to (a) "Mental Health Support for Singapore’s Athletes during Training and in Run-up to Competitions", Official Report, 13 September 2022, Vol 95, Issue 68, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section; and (b) "Celebrating Singaporean Athletes’ Victories and Honouring Efforts in Setbacks", Official Report, 5 October 2021, Vol 95, Issue 40, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“In Pranav's case, he did not collapse after the run and his symptoms only became more obvious over time. As Pranav was conscious, breathing and had a pulse, the use of an AED was not required. Three, all sports staff are inducted to the above sports safety Standard Operating Procedures. This includes reviewing the Risk Assessment Management System in their area of work at the beginning of each year. Four, at the start of each year, all student-athletes are also briefed on sports safety. Coaches also brief student-athletes on safety precautions before the commencement of any new activity. Notwithstanding the above, following this unfortunate incident, SSP is working together with MCCY on a thorough review of the school’s safety policies and protocols, to identify areas for further improvement. An expert panel is being formed to assist SSP in the review. The review will seek to further strengthen the school’s safety policies and protocols, including pre-admission screening, communication, implementation and supervision of safety protocols and any other areas recommended by the panel. SSP aims to complete the review by the end of the year but will also progressively implement any improvements when ready. MCCY and SSP take this matter seriously. We are strongly committed to the safety of our student-athletes, as we continue to support them in achieving their sporting and academic aspirations. We will also continue to provide the fullest support to the family of Pranav in their time of grief.”
“As with all MOE schools, SSP is subject to an External Safety Validation, which includes checks on safety protocols, processes, equipment, personnel, training, risk assessment and management, simulation exercises and reviews. Such external review and validation has helped SSP take a systematic approach in regularly assessing and enhancing their safety protocols. The school had just undergone an external safety validation in February this year. In addition, to ensure a culture of compliance with all safety procedures and protocols, the school management conducts checks and collects feedback from student-athletes and parents annually and as appropriate. There is also a whistle-blowing policy for staff to report wrongful practices involving SSP employees. Members of the public can also report any breach of safety policy or procedure by emailing the school directly. All instances of breaches of SSP’s code of conduct are investigated, based on a set framework. SSP also equips the school community with the relevant training to ensure student safety. One, all SSP coaches, general managers and boarding staff are first-aid certified, with training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of the automated external defibrillator (AED). They are also trained in psychological first aid. SSP coaches are also registered with the National Registry of Coaches, in addition to their specific technical coaching certification. Two, all student-athletes and staff undergo annual refresher training on emergency preparedness. This includes training on the protocol for the scenario when an individual collapses. There are sufficient AEDs in the school for emergency use. An on-site physiotherapist from the National Youth Sports Institute can also assist to manage and treat injuries and recovery.”
“The cause of death, according to the death certificate, was cardiac arrest with antecedent cause of malformation of coronary vessels. Throughout Pranav’s hospitalisation, the School continued to provide support for Pranav and his family. School and Ministry of Education (MOE) counsellors, CARE1 officers and school staff also provided emotional support to student-athletes and staff who were emotionally affected. Following detailed investigations into the incident, the School issued the badminton coach a letter of dismissal on 14 October 2023. This was for his failure to comply with the School’s safety protocol by not accounting for all student-athletes, and checking on their well-being, before dismissing them from training. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Singapore Sports School extend our deepest condolences to the family of Pranav Madhaik. Pranav’s unfortunate passing, the loss of a young life with so much potential, has been a sad occasion, and a deep shock to all of us. The safety and well-being of student-athletes in the Singapore Sports School are paramount matters for the School. All members of the School community – management, staff, coaches, student-athletes themselves, and their parents – play a crucial role in ensuring our student-athletes study and train in a safe environment. Recognising this, the School has in place comprehensive policies and procedures to protect the safety and well-being of all student-athletes. The School develops a set of comprehensive policies and procedures, based on the MOE School Safety Handbook. This covers various scenarios that might arise, including student safety, medical emergencies and return to training protocols after injuries or sickness.”
“Allow me to first recount the facts briefly of what happened to Pranav Madhaik, a young aspiring national athlete from the Singapore Sports School (SSP). On 5 October 2023, around 1826 hours, Pranav completed a routine 400-metre fitness time-trial. Time-trials and conditioning sessions are a regular part of a badminton student-athlete’s training. Pranav had reported to his coach that he felt unwell after the run. The coach then told him to rest. On previous occasions, Pranav had reported being unwell but had recovered after resting. Pranav rested at the side of the start and end point of the run while the coach attended to administering details of the time-trial. The coach subsequently left the area to brief other student-athletes on competition matters and thereafter dismissed the student-athletes. The coach left the school premises after the briefing, without further checking on Pranav. While Pranav was resting, he interacted with two other groups of student-athletes who walked by. A few of them approached him and, according to their accounts, did not notice anything unusual with Pranav at that time. The last group interacted with Pranav at around 1835 hours. At around 1840 hours, another coach who was walking by noticed Pranav and approached him. Pranav requested for some cold water, and the coach asked a student-athlete to get it for Pranav. Subsequently, after the coach assessed that Pranav appeared to be in some difficulty, he activated the School’s Boarding staff to assist at 1845 hours. An ambulance was called at about 1850 hours. It arrived at about 1902 hours and conveyed Pranav to the National University Hospital at about 1919 hours. Pranav was warded and given intensive medical care. Unfortunately, he passed away on 11 October 2023.”
“Grassroots leaders are not required to declare their political affiliations to the People's Association.”
“The ActiveSG app does not allow users to cancel confirmed bookings of facilities. This helps to minimise hoarding and last-minute cancellation of bookings and ensures that more Singaporeans can access public sports facilities. We assure users of ActiveSG facilities that should they not be able to use the booked facility due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness or inclement weather, they can write in to ActiveSG and will either be granted a replacement booking or offered a refund by writing in to ActiveSG. As soon as ActiveSG is notified of the cancellation, it will release the slot for public booking. Our public sports facilities have been well-utilised during periods of peak demand, with few unused bookings. We will continue to monitor users’ experiences in booking and using ActiveSG sports facilities to better serve the public.”
“The Member may wish to refer to responses to Dr Wan Rizal's and Ms Hany Soh's Parliamentary Questions on 13 September 2022 and 5 October 2021 respectively for more details on mental health support for our national athletes, which include our esports athletes. Through such support during their active competition career, our athletes develop the life skills and mental resilience that can help them deal with life's challenges, even after their retirement from competitive sports. [Please refer to (a) "Mental Health Support for Singapore's Athletes during Training and in Run-up to Competitions", Official Report, 13 September 2022, Vol 95, Issue 68, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section; and (b) "Mental and Emotional Well-being Support for Singapore Athletes Before and After Major Sports Competitions", Official Report, 5 October 2021, Vol 95, Issue 40, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.] Should the Member have more specific queries, the Member can file a separate Parliamentary Question.”
“No public funds were spent on the advertisement in the Business Times on 3 August 2023.”
“In line with these efforts, NAC has commissioned the Singapore Book Publishers Association to present a country stand at the 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair, which will feature Singapore literature and writers, as well as support a delegation of local publishers to participate in the Fair. This will raise the visibility and profile of Singaporean writers among international publishing houses.”
“Local and international publishers are supported by the National Arts Council (NAC) with the Presentation and Participation (Publishing) grant. This grant supports the publication and translation of Singaporean-authored literary works both in Singapore and overseas. Between 2020 and 2022, NAC supported over 140 publishing grant applications. While most of these grants went to local publishers, approximately 3% of such grants were for works by local authors in international publications, for example, the translation of Delayed Rays of A Star by Singapore Literature Prize winner Amanda Lee Koe and the novel "Impractical Uses of Cake" by Epigram Books Fiction Prize winner Yeoh Jo Ann for the German markets. Local publishers may also apply to NAC for the Market and Audience Development grant to support their participation at international arts platforms, including exhibiting at trade fairs, as well as to raise the profile of Singaporean writers and publishers in international markets and overseas readers, including international publishing houses. Between 2020 and 2022, NAC supported five such grants, of which all went into marketing Singapore Literature internationally. This includes NAC’s support for writers to participate in international literary events. Information about NAC’s grant schemes that support the publication and internationalisation of Singapore literature is available on NAC’s website. In addition, internationalisation is a key pillar of Our SG Arts Plan which was recently launched by NAC on 5 September 2023.”
“Grassroots Organisations (GROs) assist in the administration of the Government’s financial schemes to support residents. In addition, GROs often also initiate their own local welfare assistance schemes to provide targeted assistance to their residents having regard to the specific needs of their local demographic which they assess. These local schemes complement the national schemes. There is a wide range of schemes, aimed at a variety of different segments of society who need assistance. The above schemes would have different qualifying criteria and also apply differently depending on the design of the scheme. In addition, the distributions may sometimes be made during festive occasions, but often also during non-festive occasions. The modality of the distribution, as with other features of the scheme, is left to the discretion of the local GROs to decide.”
“HDB sells BTO flats at prices that are below market to ensure affordability to flat buyers across different income levels.”
“State land and buildings are physical assets that form part of our reserves. Whether they are rented out by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) for a short tenure or sold for longer-term development, the principle is to do so at fair market value. Tendering land sites is one way of establishing fair market value. For land that is not sold through tender, such as land sold to the Housing and Development Board (HDB) for public housing development, the fair market value is determined independently by the Chief Valuer (CV). The CV takes into consideration relevant resale transactions on the open market and other relevant factors, such as specific parameters of the site. For state properties rented out by SLA, the market rate is assessed by professional valuers from SLA or its third-party managing agents. Similar to how the CV takes into consideration relevant transactions in his valuation, the professional valuers who value the properties for rental would establish the market rate for the property, taking into account the rental transactions of comparable properties and the market conditions at the time. The properties would then be marketed to secure the best price for the property, which would not be less than the value determined by the professional valuers. While the valuations in these two examples have different mechanisms, the underlying principle is the same. Whether for short-term lease or a longer-term disposal, the valuation seeks to establish the price that the market is willing to pay in each case, so that the Government transacts at fair market value. The pricing of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats is completely separate from the pricing of public housing land to achieve fair market value.”
“Tenants of heritage bungalows managed by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) can contact SLA or the relevant managing agent, if they wish to submit a request to maintain vacant state land located adjacent to their property. Owners of private landed properties can similarly write to SLA. Such requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, based on the specific circumstances. The factors that will be taken into consideration include, amongst others, the reasons for the request, what the tenant or owner intends to do with the state land, the specific site conditions and how SLA’s interests would be best achieved given the circumstances.”
“From time to time, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) receives feedback, from the tenants of residential state properties it manages and/or other residents in the vicinity, on issues related to vegetated land located within and adjacent to the properties. These include issues relating to public health and safety. SLA’s approach to such cases, including whether site clearance is necessary, is to assess each case on its merits, depending on the specific circumstances, and always with a view to safeguarding SLA’s interests as the landlord. SLA will take into consideration, amongst other factors, the nature of the tenants’ public health and safety concerns, the specific tenancy details and how SLA’s interests would be best achieved in the context of the tenancy and its surrounding circumstances. The solution to the issues may also be site-specific. For example, some cases involving mosquito breeding can be resolved through more frequent fogging. However, site clearance may be carried out if the disamenity persists and it is necessary to address public health and safety concerns. SLA does not specifically track the number of requests from its tenants on issues relating to the maintenance of vegetated state land located adjacent to residential state properties.”
“The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) does not specifically track the number of cases involving residential heritage bungalows managed by SLA, which fall into the categories set out by the Member. SLA’s approach with regard to the management of state properties was explained in detail in Parliament on 3 July 2023. [Please refer to (a) "Rentals of State Properties", Official Report, 3 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 105, Ministerial Statements section; and (b) "Approvals for Rental of and Works to be Done at State-owned Bungalows", Official Report, 3 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 105, Written Answers to Questions section.] The Member can refer to the speeches as well as to the various clarifications addressed in Parliament. We highlight the following two points. On the rental of properties at exactly the guide rent: as explained in Parliament on 3 July 2023, SLA’s practice for its residential state properties is that these properties can be rented out if the offered rent is equal to or above the guide rent. Thus, there would have been cases where residential heritage bungalows were rented out exactly at the guide rent. On site clearance – SLA’s approach to cases where there is feedback on issues related to vegetated land located within and adjacent to the properties, including whether site clearance is required, is to assess each case on its merits, depending on the specific circumstances and always with a view to safeguarding SLA’s interests as the landlord. SLA will take into consideration, amongst other factors, whether there are any public health and safety concerns, the specific tenancy details and how SLA’s interests would be best achieved in the context of the tenancy and its surrounding circumstances. The solution to the issues may also be site-specific.”
“From time to time, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) receives feedback, from the tenants of residential state properties it manages and/or other residents in the vicinity, on issues related to vegetated land located within and adjacent to the properties. SLA’s approach to such cases, including whether site clearance is necessary, is to assess each case on its merits, depending on the specific circumstances and always with a view to safeguarding SLA’s interests as the landlord. SLA will take into consideration, amongst other factors, the nature of the tenants’ public health and safety concerns, the specific tenancy details and how SLA’s interests would be best achieved in the context of the tenancy and its surrounding circumstances. The solution to the issues may also be site-specific. For example, some cases involving mosquito breeding can be resolved through more frequent fogging. However, site clearance may be carried out if the disamenity persists and it is necessary to address public health and safety concerns. The considerations behind the site clearance for the cases at 26 Ridout Road and the state property at Dalvey Estate were explained in Parliament on 3 July 2023; these considerations did not include the size of the land to be cleared. [Please refer to "Rental of 26 Ridout Road", Official Report, 3 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 105, Ministerial Statements section.]”
“It was explained at length in Parliament on 3 July 2023 how the Singapore Land Authority manages its portfolio of heritage black and white bungalows. The Member can refer to the speeches made in Parliament as well as the responses to the various clarifications. [Please refer to (a) "Rentals of State Properties", Official Report, 3 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 105, Ministerial Statements section; and (b) "Approvals for Rental of and Works to be Done at State-owned Bungalows", Official Report, 3 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 105, Written Answers to Questions section.] Based on the matters already set out in Parliament, the total rent collected on heritage properties exceed the total expenses incurred, including on marketing and maintaining these properties. This was also the case in FY2022.”
“This question has been addressed on 2 August 2023 in the reply to Question Nos 35 to 38 on the Order Paper. [Please refer to "Practice of Grassroots Organisations Transferring Sums of Money to Personal Bank Accounts for Official Operational Needs and Actions Taken", Official Report, 2 August 2023, Vol 95, Issue 109, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“As the custodian of state land and properties, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) oversees the management of about 2,600 state properties, including around 600 heritage black and white bungalows. It has previously been explained in detail in Parliament on 3 July 2023 that SLA deploys state properties to a variety of different uses. [Please refer to (a) "Approvals for Rental of and Works to be Done at State-owned Bungalows", Official Report, 3 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 105, Written Answers to Questions section; and (b) "Rentals of State Properties", Official Report, 3 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 105, Ministerial Statements section.] In the same way, the surrounding state land is used in a variety of ways, having regard to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Master Plan. For heritage bungalows which are located within landed estates and rented out for residential use, the adjacent state land which does not have an alternative specified use may be included in the tenancy boundary. For cases where the bungalows are put to other uses, such as commercial use, the adjacent land can be used for other purposes like place-making and may be excluded from the tenancy boundary. It has also been explained in Parliament that SLA has carefully broadened the usage of these heritage bungalows to meet the evolving needs in Singapore, bearing in mind the URA Master Plan and the need for a judicious balance between protecting heritage properties and redeveloping them altogether. The occupancy rates of these heritage bungalows have generally moved in tandem with changes in market conditions.”
“The National Arts Council (NAC) is presently engaging with the stakeholders, including members of the busking community, in a review of the busking scheme which will be completed by the end of this year. NAC will share on its review when ready.”
“The committee has got one board member and other senior grassroots members who are not on the board and otherwise not connected to PA's senior management. In relation to the Member's point about whether we will make the findings public and publish a report, I will have a word with the review committee. The scope of its work is essentially to look at its current processes, give a view and to really have a second pair of eyes. In most of these cases, it is not that the process is not set out. The process has been set out, there are standard operating procedures (SOPs), and in fact, that is why the AGO was able to audit it and make these findings of inconsistency relative to what the SOP ought to be. But I will convey the point and discuss it with the review committee. The Member's first question is on the scope of the checks. The scope of the checks, as I said, would be similar to what the AGO has done in terms of timing as well as the scope – "scope" meaning the kind of transactions as well as having regard to the nature of the problems picked up. Obviously, as we do this, even as we focus on those transactions, the lessons learnt can be adopted on a broader scale, such as co-mingling is not just prohibited in the context of welfare assistance schemes, but also across the board. So, those are lessons that we will pick up from this review but applied across a broader variety of different transactions. 12.58 pm”
“Thank you, Ms Pereira. The first question is a valid one. As we move towards ensuring that we undertake transactions digitally, there will be a constituency of persons, usually the elderly, who are not able to keep up and process the transactions in the same way. So, what we do at PA is we always go with the mantra that we say it is digital first, but not digital only. So, those of our seniors or other residents who come and need assistance because they are unable to process or handle the transactions digitally, we will assist them in person and, in some cases, if necessary, we will help them to print the hard copies so that they will be able to administer. But, at the same time, in our drive to ensure that we move towards digital transactions, our staff is also trained to counsel such people to help them and try and get them on board the digital framework so that, for future transactions, they will be more equipped and more assured to be able to handle those transactions. To the Member's second question, the proper process, as Members have heard me outline, is indeed to avoid co-mingling with the staff's bank account. In this case, what happened was that the cheque was crossed and, as a result, had to be deposited in the staff's account. The usual process is for the cheques to be uncrossed and for cash to be handled across the counter without entering the staff's bank account.”
“The relevant authorisations were all disclosed and properly recorded in the systems maintained by the GRO and that, as I mentioned earlier, was precisely the reason why AGO was able to check and verify, based on these records, that no money was missing at all. In relation to the Member's question about follow-up steps for the staff and the volunteers, I have set them out in my response. We have underscored the importance of adhering to this and counselled the relevant parties concerned to ensure that this does not occur again.”
“These were to address risks that were observed through past AGO audit findings as well as picked up through PA's regular internal audits and reviews. Going forward, PA will implement all of AGO's recommendations in the FY2022 and FY2023 reports. It has put in place a systematic plan that includes accelerating the full implementation of measures we had embarked on in recent years. Digitalising manual processes to minimise the need for cash handling, refining financial procurement rules and bolstering capabilities of staff and GROs and their volunteers in these areas. PA will also address the lapses identified and strengthen the monitoring and compliance to procedures and processes. In this respect, PA has also set up an independent review committee to review the latest AGO findings – independent from the existing staff and the internal audit team – to review the latest AGO findings and to ensure measures are put in to strengthen the system. The review committee will regularly report the progress of the implementation to the PA board as well as to MCCY. PA will update the public on its progress from time to time. PA takes the findings of the AGO very seriously and will continue on taking the steps outlined above to address the gaps in the processes.”
“Thus far, we have identified three other cases in which similar inappropriate practice of money management for welfare assistance schemes was adopted. In all of these cases, there was also no loss of funds nor any mala fides in staff conduct. These practices have also since stopped. Nonetheless, we do not take this for granted, and to Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Dr Tan Wu Meng's questions, PA has taken note of the areas and observations by the AGO and has counselled its staff and volunteers involved of the need to adhere strictly to governance processes. PA has also implemented and will continue to work on strengthening its internal governance and oversight of key processes. I would add that given the scale and volume of such transactions, which I have outlined to Members earlier, PA recognises that staff and volunteers do face challenges when administering welfare assistance schemes and other Government programmes and, at the same time, managing administrative matters, such as contracts and claims processes. PA will continue to identify ways to improve its structures, systems as well as processes to mitigate such reoccurrence, but at the same time allow the GROs and its volunteers to do what it does best on the ground by delivering last-mile services direct to residents, helping them in times of need and making sure – as Members saw in the case of the welfare schemes during COVID-19 – that cash flow, which was vital during COVID-19, was not affected. Mr Sharael Taha, Ms He Ting Ru, Mr Saktiandi Supaat, Mr Yip Hon Weng and Mr Leong Mun Wai asked about PA's plans to strengthen compliance and prevent future occurrence. In recent years, PA has embarked on major structural changes and implemented measures to strengthen its key governance processes.”
“For this case, the AGO found that the process took place as follows: staff collected the used physical vouchers from the hawkers and merchants, and tabulated the amount to be reimbursed to each of them on a weekly basis. The transaction volume was high, with most of the claims of small amounts at around $20 to $30. Members would recall that this first iteration of the CDC Voucher schemes was entirely physical; physical vouchers were used. To facilitate these reimbursements, a crossed cheque would be issued by the GRO to the relevant staff member's name, who would withdraw cash and then reimburse the hawkers and merchants using this cash withdrawn. When the hawkers and merchants received the monies from the staff, they would indicate their receipt of the cash by signing against the listings prepared by the staff member. Similar to the first case, the process deviated from the standard procedure in that a crossed cheque was issued instead of an uncrossed cheque and the monies went through the staff member's personal bank account briefly. This was not the correct procedure. However, there were proper records and accounting of all the claims and the disbursement of monies. The AGO has reviewed the records and found no evidence of loss or misappropriation of funds, as in the first case. This arrangement ceased with the changes to the CDC Voucher scheme in December 2021 when electronic vouchers were introduced in place of physical ones. Sir, to address Ms He Ting Ru, Mr Louis Chua and Ms Joan Pereira's questions, subsequent to the AGO's audit, PA has been undertaking checks similar in scope to the AGO audit and in respect of the same period.”
“There are a few notable points from this case. First, whilst this was not the correct procedure, the staff concerned explained that it was thought that the additional step in using the crossed cheque was taken to better account for the money. And that was why that step was taken. Second, the monies withdrawn were duly checked and verified through the process by multiple and different staff members. Third, all the amounts deposited, withdrawn and distributed were properly recorded and accounted for. The AGO has reviewed the records and found no evidence of loss or misappropriation of monies in this case. The practice ceased once the AGO noted this observation in the course of its audit. The second case concerned the reimbursement of monies to the hawkers and merchants under the CDC Voucher scheme at one GRO. The CDC Voucher scheme was launched by the PA in 2020 to help lower-income households defray their cost of living and, at the same time, support hawkers and heartland merchants who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, GROs helped to administer the scheme by distributing the physical vouchers to the low-income households, as well as thereafter, facilitating the reimbursement of voucher claims from the hawkers and merchants. The period in question coincided with the time when cashflow of hawkers and merchants were seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and various other measures, including safe management measures. The GRO in question thus saw a need to set up a system which could facilitate a prompt claims process for the hawkers and merchants under the scheme.”
“Welfare distributions to low-income residents at festive events are a form of local welfare assistance scheme initiated by the GROs, often in collaboration with community partners. This, as I said, complements the national schemes in rendering support to the vulnerable. Such schemes are not uncommon and most GROs would have their local schemes to address the specific local needs of each constituency. In auditing the disbursement procedure of this scheme, the AGO found that a crossed cheque was issued to a staff member. When the cheque was brought to the bank by the staff member, it would be processed and the amount would be deposited into the staff member's bank account. The staff member would then withdraw the deposited amount in cash over the bank counter, accompanied by one other staff member. Verification of the cash withdrawn would be performed by a third staff member not involved in the cash withdrawal. Throughout this process, the deposit and withdrawal would be tagged to the individual responsible in PA's Financial Accounting System that is used by all GROs to account for receipts and payments. The monies withdrawn were then distributed to the scheme recipients, with proper record and accounting of the amounts given out. Mr Yip Hon Weng asked what the standard procedure would otherwise have been. Sir, the standard procedure would have been to do all of the above, except one step, which is for the cheque to be an uncrossed one, made out to the staff member, with the words "or bearer" crossed out. When the uncrossed cheque is brought to the bank, the cash would be withdrawn immediately over the counter and retained by the staff concerned and then applied to the scheme for disbursement. That would have been the usual step.”
“They could not have done so without the prompt reimbursement of the voucher claims facilitated by the GROs. Sir, there are about 2,000 GROs across Singapore assisting to operationalise both national and local schemes that I have outlined. They do so by raising awareness and identifying eligible households and assessing applications, including from those who might marginally miss the criteria of these schemes or require some form of additional assistance. People's Association (PA) staff and volunteers are then mobilised to extend the last-mile support under these schemes by directly administering the distribution of welfare assistance or vouchers from the Government or community partners. In doing so, PA staff and volunteers have developed a good understanding of the ground needs and often had to be flexible as well to render timely assistance to the residents. Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked about the proportion of GROs that were audited by the AGO. As I said, there are about 2,000 GROs across Singapore. Each year, the AGO decides on which organisation it wishes to audit – this includes the GROs – and how many it wishes to audit. The AGO also retains discretion to determine the areas to be covered in its audit and the approach to take. For the FY2022/2023 audit of PA, the AGO chose to audit welfare assistance schemes for the period of 1 April 2019 to 31 May 2022, a large part of which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. In its audit, two GROs were identified to have adopted inappropriate practices in the management of monies. I will explain to Members now the facts of these two cases. The first case concerned the management of monies for welfare distribution at festive events by one GRO.”
“Thank you, Sir. Sir, this reply will also address Parliamentary Questions filed for subsequent Sittings by Dr Tan Wu Meng, Mr Saktiandi Supaat1, Mr Leong Mun Wai and Ms Joan Pereira. Sir, let me start by setting out some background to the nature of the transactions audited by the AGO. Grassroots Organisations (GROs) have always played an important role in enabling the Government's efforts to support residents by raising awareness of and, in some cases, directly administering national schemes, such as the Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers Scheme, on the ground. Each year, GROs help to administer about three to four national schemes across all constituencies. Many GROs would be activated to support the administration of these schemes, which typically involves processing at least 260,000 such applications each year. Over the years, GROs have also initiated their own local welfare assistance schemes to provide assistance to their residents having regard to the specific needs of their local demographic, which these GROs assess. These local schemes complement the national schemes, often helping those who fall through the cracks. In total, these local schemes benefit at least 400,000 residents annually across Singapore. The assistance and support from the Government, GROs and community partners have had a real impact on the livelihood of our population. For instance, the cash distributions initiated by GROs and community partners help low-income households alleviate the increased expenses during festive seasons as they prepare for celebrations with their families. Heartland hawkers and merchants were able to obtain relief from the pandemic and rising costs of living with the CDC Vouchers Scheme.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will address Question Nos 35 to 38 from today's Order Paper relating to People's Association's audit findings from the Auditor-General's Office (AGO) for the Financial Year (FY) 2022/2023 together.”
“This question has been addressed in the reply to Question No 31 for Oral Answer on the Order Paper for 9 May 2023. [Please refer to "Simplified Busking Audition Process", Official Report, 9 May 2023, Vol 95, Issue 103, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“Third is to progressively roll out training on talent identification for coaches and strengthen our scouts’ capabilities in identifying the best of our young footballers. Fourth is to launch the inaugural UTR! scholarship to provide promising footballers the best environment to train and compete alongside their academic pursuits. The scholarships will be launched later this year. These are being implemented and we will share more details in the coming months.”
“We acknowledge the poor performance of our football team at this year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Everyone, including the team, is disappointed with the results and agrees that they need to perform better. The Football Association of Singapore has commissioned a panel to conduct a review of the team’s performance and will share their findings and recommendations soon. Regardless of our national team’s performance at the recent SEA Games or other competitions, the Government is committed to supporting the “Unleash the Roar!” (UTR!) project and will work hard to uplift the standards of Singapore football. This endeavour will also require a whole-of-society effort and we encourage Singaporeans to support the UTR! project. However, we should not expect results overnight. This will be a long-term endeavour that will require collective action from many stakeholders. I am pleased to share that there is steady progress on the UTR! project. Earlier this year, we shared with Members of the House on the progress of our School Football Academies (SFAs) and our partnership with Spain’s LaLiga Academy to provide overseas training opportunities. We also set out concrete measures to uplift Singapore football in the longer term. First is to establish a national framework to systematically select and develop the best players from the broad base of participation that we have from the SFAs, the Singapore Sports School, ActiveSG Football Academy as well as private clubs and academies. Second is to set up a national football development centre as the main training centre to develop more structured opportunities for training and competition for those who aspire to be selected and represent Singapore in the national teams.”
“The work of the panel commissioned by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to review the football team’s performance is still ongoing. It expects to release its findings in July. Growing our pipeline of local talent is the key thrust to our long-term strategy to uplift Singapore football. We will, however, not rule out continuing to work with FAS to assess and naturalise foreign players who have both the talent and the heart to represent Singapore. In the past, these have included Daniel Bennett and Mustafic Fahrudin, Song Ui-young and Aleksander Duric. While Aleksander has since retired from competitive play, he continues to contribute to Singapore football in his capacity now as Principal of our ActiveSG Football Academy. It is important that beyond sporting abilities, these players must demonstrate that they are prepared to take up the duties and responsibilities that come with citizenship and have shown their ability to integrate into our society. Therefore, while we will tap on our foreign sports talent scheme to support our football objectives, we need to do so at a posture and pace that reflects the wider considerations of our sporting policies, as well as the granting of Singaporean citizenship.”
“NAC takes into consideration appeals where there are strong mitigating reasons, such as the impact of COVID-19. Regular check-ins are also conducted by NAC on the projects' progress, to pre-empt and mitigate cases of non-compliance as much as possible.”
“The National Arts Council (NAC) provides funding to artists and arts groups in a number of areas. First, to support organisational development of professional and strategic arts organisations; second, to produce or present art and encourage Singaporeans' participation in the arts; third, to build audiences, patrons and supporters to complement artistic efforts at home and abroad; fourth, for the training, research and development of artists across various fields; and fifth, to support the needs for art spaces through subsidies. From 2020 to 2022, NAC has also disbursed additional COVID-19 relief grants under the Arts and Culture Resilience Package. Grant applications are assessed based on guidelines that are publicly available on the NAC website. The guidelines inform applicants of the conditions of the grant, such as the scope, eligibility, application process and assessment criteria. Besides the artistic strengths of each project application, NAC also considers aspects, such as public engagement as well as capacity and commitment in the execution of the project. As a steward of public monies, NAC is accountable for the use of funding towards achieving national and social objectives. Given the increasing number of grant applications over the years, NAC would also prioritise projects that are aligned to NAC's strategic priorities, such as the ones articulated under Our SG Arts Plan. In the last five years, there have been cases where applicants were found to not comply with NAC's funding guidelines. These are largely administrative in nature, such as applicants who did not meet the agreed deliverables or had exceeded their funding cap. However, the number of such cases has been on a downward trend.”
“We acknowledge the poor performance of our football team at this year's Southeast Asia Games. Everyone, including the team, is disappointed with the results and agree that they need to perform better. The Football Association of Singapore has commissioned a panel to conduct a review of the team's performance and will share their findings and recommendations soon.”
“The Arts House Limited (AHL) is a public company limited by guarantee set up by the National Arts Council (NAC). NAC appoints AHL to manage arts spaces at The Arts House, formerly known as Old Parliament House, Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, Goodman Arts Centre, Stamford Arts Centre, Aliwal Arts Centre and Drama Centre. Spaces, like The Arts House, hold special historical significance and are protected as National Monuments. As a steward of public resources, NAC provides funding guidelines that are publicly available on its website. AHL observes these funding guidelines in its venue rental process and requirements and makes them known to all potential venue hirers. As part of the AHL's terms and conditions of venue hire, hirers will also have to obtain the necessary licences and approvals that are required by public agencies, which include the Arts Entertainment Licence administered by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for the staging of arts performances.”