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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“The Community Dispute Management Framework (CDMF) promotes neighbourliness and encourages residents to engage with one another in the first instance when disputes arise. As much as possible, it is best that disputes are resolved amicably at an early stage, before they become intransigent or intractable. Residents can also seek help from grassroots leaders to facilitate communications or attempt formal mediation at the Community Mediation Centre with a trained mediator. We have previously announced the enhancements at this year’s Committee of Supply. They comprise various measures, including putting in place stronger laws to address serious neighbour disputes, including mandating mediation where applicable, improving the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal (CDRT) processes to give faster and more effective relief and piloting a team of dedicated personnel to facilitate dispute resolution. The majority of community disputes involve neighbourhood noise. These are often complex and subjective issues for which the setting of clearer social norms plays a pivotal role. The Community Advisory Panel on Neighbourhood Noise (CAP) has established a set of community norms to manage noise and foster harmonious living, including an understanding of what kinds of noise are acceptable or unacceptable in the residential setting. Since receiving CAP’s recommendations, the Municipal Services Office (MSO) has been working with partners to promote the proposed community norms and engaging relevant stakeholders on the proposed recommendations.”
“Finally, I would like to emphasise again that PA does not conduct any activity with any political party. It serves the Government of the day, as with any Government agency. PA does not allow its events or venues to be used for partisan purposes by any political party and serves all Singaporeans, regardless of their political leanings. Like all other Government agencies, members of the public can send in their feedback and enquiries on any matters related to PA, such as service quality or facilities, through its public feedback channels by phone or online feedback form. The feedback channels can be found on PA's corporate website (www.pa.gov.sg).”
“During the Committee of Supply debates this year, Member of Parliament Gerald Giam even asked for more ServiceSG centres to be set up – in every neighbourhood – to assist seniors with Government digital services. Such ServiceSG centres are, in fact, being set up, in collaboration with PA. Mr Leon Perera asked about the proportion of PA’s budget used for activities undertaken by GRAs to explain Government policies to the people. To put matters in context, PA’s resources are used to provide programmes for all residents, ranging from recreational, educational to social purposes. These include community events to bring residents of different backgrounds together; outreach efforts to communicate, explain and get feedback on Government policies; and last-mile delivery of Government programmes and policies. For example, during the COVID-19 period, PA worked with the Ministry of Health to raise awareness, explain and assist in the implementation of the vaccination programme. For Budget, dialogues are organised to explain the various policies and schemes. A more recent exercise would be the ongoing Forward Singapore conversations, where PA, with the strong support of the GRAs, grassroots leaders and staff, organised multiple engagements reaching out to Singaporeans to review and refresh our social compact. The overall budget allocated to PA supports GROs in reaching out to the community and deepening resident engagement; all the above that have been mentioned; as well as to construct and operate PA facilities, including community clubs. There is no specific proportion of budget allocated for activities related to explaining Government policies, as the overall PA budget is to achieve the objectives of PA.”
“They guide the PA Grassroots Organisations (GROs) in their engagement and outreach efforts by walking the ground with grassroots leaders and volunteers to understand citizens’ concerns and gather feedback, explaining Government programmes and initiatives, and overseeing the last-mile delivery of the Government’s programmes. Therefore, the GRAs must be able to share the Government’s vision and objectives, explain policies from conceptualisation to implementation and are familiar with the concerns of the community. I hope the Workers’ Party joins me in recognising the value PA brings to our community and the good that PA staff and volunteers do, in tirelessly serving all residents, regardless of whether the constituency is Opposition or ruling party. I have seen first-hand how professional and dedicated PA staff and volunteers are in serving their community. This was especially pronounced during the pandemic, when PA staff and volunteers gave their all to aid, comfort and serve our fellow Singaporeans, especially seniors and the vulnerable among us. It would do them a great disservice to suggest that they do this for partisan purposes. If I could just give an example: Members from both sides of the House have highlighted how the digitalisation of Government services may end up excluding the less tech-savvy segments of our population. The Government recognised this and tapped on PA’s wide network to reach out to every last resident in the constituencies. Take the Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers, for instance. Those without smartphones or who needed a bit more help could simply drop by a Community Centre, be it Joo Chiat or Hougang, to get assistance from PA staff.”
“But I think it has succeeded in its mission substantially – and there is no better proof of that than in how Singaporeans came together during the COVID-19 pandemic. PA was not the only agency which contributed to strengthening and deepening our social capital – the Singapore Armed Forces and the Housing and Development Board, to mention just a couple, were also crucial – but it is its raison d’etre. Ms He Ting Ru asked if there are any impediments to having civil servants from PA or other agencies communicate and explain Government policy, compared to a grassroots adviser doing so. Government agencies do communicate their respective policies to the public and engage key stakeholders to explain the policy considerations. The PA officers are themselves civil servants. But they, like other civil servants, also rely on PA’s grassroots networks for last-mile delivery and communications – this could be through informal chats with citizens at house visits or community activities, or structured dialogues on Government policies. Over the years, PA has built an extensive grassroots movement, its staff and volunteers interacting with residents through community activities, celebrating key milestones in their lives, such as parenthood and significant national events, such as SG50. Some of the grassroots leaders have served since PA’s early founding years and have established a deep familiarity and rapport with the residents that cannot be replicated by civil servants in other Government agencies. An agency, one of whose roles is to establish people-to-people links, cannot be relying solely on civil servants to nurture these networks of relations that so enrich our communities. Grassroots Advisers (GRAs) augment PA with their extensive networks and grassroots experience.”
“The People's Association (PA) was established on 1 July 1960 pursuant to the People’s Association Act 1960, a year after Singapore attained self-government. Those were turbulent and uncertain times, and PA was set up to strengthen the link between the Government and the people and to build strong and cohesive communities across Singapore. Sixty-three years later, PA’s mission remains the same: connect Government to people; people to people; and bring all Singaporeans together, regardless of race, language, religion. The PA’s role, then and now, remains: to foster racial harmony and strengthen social cohesion, to promote active citizenry and civic responsibility, and to serve as the bridge between the people and the Government. This means that as a Government Statutory Board, PA would communicate and explain Government policies to residents, help them understand and navigate the various policy details and processes and, at the same time, relay public feedback and sentiments to the Government so that Government policies can continue to be refined to better address the needs of Singaporeans. Another way to describe PA’s role is in terms of a concept in sociology – “social capital”. It refers to the network of relations in a community and the set of values animating that community, which allows all the individuals in that community to work together effectively to achieve a common purpose. From its conception in 1960, our founding fathers saw PA as at once the catalyst to deepen our social capital and the glue that strengthens the network of relations that makes us “one people”. How do we know the PA has succeeded in its mission? An organisation with such a far-reaching and far-ranging mission is always a work-in-progress.”
“SportSG, together with NICA and SFA, will continue to engage the stakeholders through all implementation phases of the NREP.”
“Sport Singapore (SportSG) will launch the National Registry of Exercise Professionals (NREP) in phases, as part of the longer-term strategy to professionalise the fitness industry and build capabilities, especially in the areas of safety and knowledge. In the first phase, from April 2023 to March 2024, exercise professionals, including freelancers, may register for the NREP as long as they (a) have Standard First Aid with Automated External Defibrillator and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation certification; (b) acknowledge the Exercise Professional's Code of Ethics; and (c) have relevant fitness or exercise accreditations, such as Personal Trainer, Yoga, Zumba, or general ones, like group fitness instructor. Exercise professionals who do not possess the Standard First Aid certification will still be able to register for a provisional NREP membership, which entitles them to subsidised rates for the certification. This subsidised certification is provided for under the free one-year National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA) membership that all NREP members are eligible for during the first phase of the NREP. NICA membership provides exercise professionals with access to training support and grants, among other benefits. In addition, the SportSG has been engaging over 400 exercise professionals, gyms and fitness coaching businesses and working with industry stakeholders, such as the Singapore Fitness Alliance (SFA), to raise their awareness of the NREP and its benefits, and encourage businesses to have their exercise professionals sign up on the NREP, as well as consider NREP as a criterion for hiring. Overall, the response has been positive towards the NREP.”
“Like other Government agencies, PA does not conduct any activity with any political party. PA does not allow its events or venues to be used for partisan purposes by any political party.”
“The People's Association (PA) is a Statutory Board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. It has full-time officers who work closely with grassroots leaders and volunteers. PA was set up in 1961 to promote social cohesion, and to act as a bridge between the Government and the people. PA plays a key role in last mile communications – explaining Government policies to citizens, listening to their concerns and gathering their feedback so that the Government can refine, adjust and improve its policies to better meet the needs of Singaporeans. PA works closely with Government agencies to inform and engage residents on key government initiatives. For example, during the COVID-19 period, PA worked with Ministry of Health to raise awareness of safe distancing measures, and to explain and assist in the vaccination programme. PA spared no effort during the pandemic to look after our residents, going door to door, providing a calming assurance to our residents, and going the extra mile even when it meant risking the health and safety of staff and volunteers. PA also delivered urgent services to residents – including distributing masks, TraceTogether tokens and delivering food during the circuit breaker period. The PA appoints Grassroots Advisers to guide the grassroots organisations; as well as grassroots leaders and volunteers to help us communicate and implement the policies and programmes of the Government. This includes explaining difficult and sometimes unpopular policies that the Government believes are necessary for the future of Singapore, such as the Goods and Services Tax increases, which the Opposition rejects, the increase in retirement age and the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, for example.”
“I thank Mr Singh for that clarification. And perhaps, with your clarification, it now appears that we are not that far apart, because you did use the phrase "English test" when you first raised it. I think it was during COS. And so, when I heard your speech then and earlier today, a test is a test you either pass or fail. And there must be consequences if you do not pass. So, it was in that context that I said let us not use it as a single point consideration. But I am glad we have clarified that and you are now saying that is one of several factors that we look at. On the survey, I understand, and as I said, it is not an unimportant consideration and I accept that. I think we all want to ensure that we can communicate with the people we see in Singapore, at least to a basic degree. And I can see where that is coming from. I can accept the sentiments conveyed in that survey. It is one survey, yes, but it does reflect sentiments in our society, and I think we must take heed of it. But the point about international students, I think, comes from a different perspective. They are taking a qualifying test for a different reason. Because there is an academic element to their entry into the schools in Singapore. So, I do not think one should conflate the two different tests. They are meant for different purposes.”
“Sir, the "Semangat Yang Baru": Forging a New Singapore Spirit exhibition opened yesterday and I went to visit it. I encourage Members here in this House to visit it. It is at the National Museum of Singapore and it is free for Singaporeans and PRs. It was an evocative and inspiring exhibition; also, thought-provoking. I left it, feeling a deep sense of pride. If there is one lesson that I learnt from this exhibition, it is that as a nation, we do not have much. We never did. We do not have natural resources and we do not have the blessings of a natural hinterland that we can take advantage of or, indeed, space – which comes at a significant premium for us. But what we have is our people. We have always had that. We have always done much better, punched above our weight, gone further with our people. And if we can continue to stand as one united people, as we declare in our national pledge, then I have no doubt that we will overcome these challenges with confidence. And we will see a vibrant, thriving Singapore for generations to come. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion. [Applause.]”
“She is passionate about reaching out across generations to befriend seniors, even as she herself is currently a full-time medical student. Busy as she is, she volunteers her time in many other charitable projects and events as well. And while she is young, her leadership was apparent – to bring and convene her fellow youths together to rally them to support her cause. Sir, Jia Yi is remarkable, but she is also not an outlier. She is one of the many Singaporeans who continue to step forward, without being asked, to contribute their time and their treasure. And we will continue to work with people like Jia Yi, striving to be those granules of sand which connect us to the bigger blocks of our society and our institutions collectively make us stronger across generations, across racial and religious groups and across the diversity of our population. When I meet people like Jia Yi, I am reminded that, in fact, we are already different from so many others in the world, with what we have – diversity and harmony that has resulted from a system that structurally fosters equality, social mixing and integration. This is what the wisdom of an earlier generation of leaders have given to us and has allowed us to build on a strong foundation to chase our dreams and fulfil our ambitions. So, let us not throw out what has worked well for us over the years. Sometimes, you must look back to look forward. And these are the elements, the fundamental building blocks that has made it work for Singapore. To continually work at fostering harmony between diverse communities of different races and faiths, creating opportunities for people of all abilities, talents and interests to excel, powered by a culture of inclusion, care and volunteerism.”
“Those which merit further discussion, we will consider for them to be presented here, in Parliament. MCCY can consider sponsoring a White or Green Paper on the proposal, so that they can be considered in this House and we can then all have a robust debate on them. Those involved in giving views or preparing the recommendations can see the impact of the work that they do. We are formulating this carefully and more details on these youth panels will be provided when ready. Over the next few months, we will consult with youths on the panels and on the key policy issues that they wish to see under the youth panels. We look forward to the active participation of our youths to shape the future of our country. Sir, I am confident that our youths will welcome this opportunity. I have always been encouraged by the heart that they have in bringing Singapore forward through my interactions with them. Sir, let me now conclude. Earlier this month, President Halimah and I met our Youth Corps leaders at the commencement ceremony of the leaders' programme. One of them, Lim Jia Yi, led a project called We+65. Started in 2022, this project reaches out to the less mobile seniors in Sembawang, with activities that helped to improve their mobility as well as their cognitive functions. And it was borne of her realisation that perhaps the seniors were less connected and had less resources available to them. This was done as part of a volunteering programme with the Agency for Integrated Care and Blossom Seeds Limited, a charity operating in that area. If you speak to Jia Yi, her sense of responsibility of her commitment to the community will shine through clearly.”
“We agreed that instead of taking an adversarial approach to policy suggestions, we could perhaps engage on these trade-offs and share views on opportunity costs, develop a deeper understanding of these considerations that would be helpful to making policy suggestions. These were all very constructive suggestions. With this in mind, we will introduce youth panels later this year. Youth panels will be for youths to develop policy recommendations together with the Government, with some differences. They will be youth-led and will be resourced by agencies like the National Youth Council and perhaps the appropriate agency, depending on the domain. They will work on a topic or a policy which resonates with the youths of today – something that is topical, that has traction, interest and a fair number of young people support a discussion on the topic. We will share our policy considerations and trade-offs, exchange data points and most importantly, think with them on these questions. Against this backdrop, we will create space for our young people to take the lead in the deliberations and formulate suggestions. Through these panels, we want to engage our youths in meaningful and constructive discourse where they can also listen not just to us in the Government or the agencies, but also to the experience of other people in their position, appreciating that opinions may differ from their own and weighing competing priorities, looking at both the short term as well as having a longer lens perspective of these trade-offs. Together, they will develop policy considerations and present them to the Government. In turn, these recommendations will be taken seriously. We will make a conscious effort to close the loop with them, whatever the outcomes might be.”
“We must also give them a stake in Singapore's future and have a voice. Our young people today must come to terms with a myriad of complex world issues – challenges and constraints such as climate change, economic uncertainty, slowing social mobility, and they will be growing up in the context of the ageing population that Minister Ong has spoken about. For all of these, there are no easy or quick solutions. Yet, as my colleague Minister of State Alvin Tan and many other Members of this House have articulated, our youths are undaunted. They are not deterred. They have expressed a keen desire, on the contrary, to be a key part of the solution. In my own engagements with the youth, I have found them to be very much seized with the issues of today. They know that the solutions that they can contribute will make an impact on their lives tomorrow. After the President's Address last week, I came across an article in TODAY online. Several youths were interviewed on how they wanted to be involved in nation-building. Some of them made comments and there were reactions which piqued my interest. So, I arranged to meet with a few of them and several other youths to learn and hear first-hand for myself, what they were most concerned about, how they saw their role as future leaders and what more we could do to partner with them, to engage them, so that they can be part of that solution. One point which came up was the desire for a more in-depth discourse. They hoped for more details as to how their feedback and suggestions on policies, which were being considered by the Government, might result in some trade-offs that they had perhaps not thought about.”
“Integration requires sustained efforts from all parties. It is a holistic approach. Sir, our immigration framework was tightened significantly in 2009 so that a broader range of factors can be considered to assess – not just the applicant's ability to contribute, but also his or her ability to integrate well into our society and, perhaps, also importantly, their commitment to want to sink their roots here. This includes factors such as the length of stay, which I have mentioned, family ties to Singapore and whether the applicant has studied in a national school or done National Service, for example. I believe these are equally, if not perhaps in some cases, more effective as a marker of integration. We currently do not have a single-point English test or proficiency requirement for naturalisation, unlike some other countries. If you look at Japan, South Korea or the United Kingdom, I think they have a language test requirement. It is likely to be because they have a single, more common, more unified operating language. But that is unlike Singapore, which has four different official languages. Indeed, as Mr Pritam Singh would appreciate, the Constitution itself currently provides that one of the markers for naturalisation is working knowledge of any of the four official languages. So, I would not say that English proficiency is not important – I think there is value in that – but let us not make it a single qualifying test or single-point assessment for citizenship. Sir, let me now turn to our youths. The ForwardSG exercise is about charting our way forward. Youths are an important part of this journey. To forge a viable compact, we must understand as well as support their dreams and aspirations in a completely different paradigm from when we were growing up.”
“That is why at MCCY, our work is focused on opening these different pathways in arts and sports, for instance, for us to celebrate and include those of different merits. Sir, on inclusion, Mr Pritam Singh earlier spoke about the English proficiency test. Let me share my thoughts in this House on the test. Sir, I know many people have different views on this and I respect them. I think there is range for a variety of different views on what weight you might place on this. But my own view is that the knowledge of English at a working level, while helpful, should not be a defining or, indeed, a limiting factor, which might happen if you introduce it as a single-point test. After all, a significant proportion of Singaporeans throughout our history has not been able to speak English well, many of our parents and grandparents amongst them. My own grandmother would not pass this test. She is 96 years old today. She probably still would not pass this test today. But she continues to be a source of joy and value to the family in different ways, many of them intangible. If we had applied this test years ago, then someone like her may not have made it into Singapore. So, we have to think about that as well, as a consideration. That is why I urge this House, as we talk about this and think about this issue, let us not close our hearts to this, but to be open. Mr Pritam Singh said the key is in integration. I think that is the point that I have been emphasising. How do we integrate them? Is a single-point English test the best way of doing this? Or perhaps that we look more broadly at the process of integration, which I believe is a long-term process. After all, our Constitution sets out the criteria. You have got to be in Singapore for a period of time as a resident.”
“She spent some time away from the spexScholarship, but after a while, having discussed with her coach and the National Sports Association, decided to come back full-time and was supported by the spexScholarship, which grants her an allowance and benefits, and allows her to access support to sport science and sport medicine. She now trains full-time and competes overseas, all supported by the spexScholarship. Her decision, as Members would know, has paid off well, with her recent performances. We expanded the support so that athletes with the potential can focus full-time on their sporting pursuits and do us proud in Singapore. Beyond supporting our top athletes, we will also enhance the accessibility of our programmes and facilities so that even more can participate in sports, perhaps not just for fitness but also socially, as a platform for bonding and mixing, as Mr Murali Pillai has suggested. Recently, at Budget 2023, I had announced that we will put in an additional $100 of credits in the ActiveSG accounts of children aged four to 12, so that they can start accessing these programmes, not just for fitness but from a social mixing perspective from an early age. Sir, in this House, over the last few days, various Members have highlighted that Singapore's concept of meritocracy could be too narrow. It needs to be refreshed to look beyond academic domains of schools and grades, where diverse skills and talents in non-academic domains such as the sports and arts are also recognised and everyone is given an opportunity to pursue their passion, hone their talents and do their best in their chosen field. We agree with that.”
“We have done much to open pathways in the arts. The School of the Arts, for example, has made it possible to have high quality specialised arts education from the age of 13 and the University of the Arts now allows us to culminate with a degree in the arts in Singapore. We have invested in this to provide a comprehensive arts education so that those who see this as their strength and as their passion, there will be rich opportunities. We will continue to invest in building up our creative industry, to grow a flourishing and globally connected creative economy for the arts through new business models, development pathways and internationalisation opportunities. We are unlocking these new opportunities with the next iteration of Our SG Arts Plan and Our SG Heritage Plan so that we do not just stop at providing added qualifications but also create an entire cultural ecosystem and value chain for those interested to embark on a career and fulfil their aspirations and their potential. I think this is central to our notion of unity. We have also stepped up our support for those who excel in sports by providing pathways through the High Performance Sports system and enabling our TeamSG athletes to perform at their very best. A key part of this ecosystem and this plan is the Sport Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship) which is offered to our athletes with the potential to excel at major games or world-level events. Take Shanti Pereira, for instance, our national sprinter. Many of you, I am sure, would have been very proud to have seen her break her records, making great strides recently, quite literally. Shanti returned last November to the spexScholarship.”
“It allows them to acquire vital social and communication skills, develop confidence about themselves and feel no inferiority complex. Through sport, PwDs are also able to reduce the social stigma associated with their disability and are empowered to realise their potential. Launched in 2016, the DSMP has contributed to increased sport participation rates among PwDs, rising from 28% in 2015 to 50% in 2019. Our target is 70% by 2030. We will develop pathways for aspiring para-athletes so that there are equal opportunities for talented Singaporeans, with ability or disability, to compete at the highest levels. This includes growing the pool of coaches and better coaching individuals with disabilities by developing their own professional and technical expertise in disability sports. We have also introduced a range of programmes, including learn-to-play programmes and the annual Play Inclusive campaign. The Play Inclusive campaign is where students from both the Special Education and mainstream schools come together. They train together and they compete together in unified sport competitions, for example, in goalball. By playing together on the same team, they bond because they understand one another far better. Our students who participate in these programmes say that these help to normalise what can otherwise sometimes be an awkward situation. It reduces the curious stares and the moments of being overly polite when someone does not quite appreciate the circumstances that they are in. It also allows them to interact in a positive context and challenge assumptions about what they can or cannot do. An inclusive society is also one where diverse skills and talents can be better appreciated and valued, and those with these talents have opportunities to develop and to advance.”
“It allows students from different schools, different backgrounds to take part in their chosen CCAs, and helps them to come together outside of school to form friendships. Our students may attend different schools based on the academic curriculum offered, but these non-academic interactions need not be confined by the same terms. So, outside of the subjects they study, they are more enriched when they engage with the wider social network, mix with and form friendships across different schools. Second, as we build a better home for ourselves, staying united as a country also means being inclusive – having a space for all of us. In this debate, we have heard a lot about meritocracy and how we will uplift our workers, our families, our children to ensure equal opportunities for all and how, for certain groups, we will have to actively intervene and shape the environment so that there can be better opportunities for all. At MCCY, there are also several ideas we are pursuing. My colleague, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, spoke on Wednesday about enhancing the landscape for PwDs to alleviate the impediments that they face so they can come along together with us. And beyond that, how we should open up opportunities for persons who are differently-abled and differently-interested to fulfil their passions and their potential. For PwDs, one area we would like to spend a bit more time on is in sport. To spur greater sport participation among PwDs, we have updated the Disability Sport Master Plan (DSMP) for this reason. Indeed, as I am sure many Members who have had experience in this sector will attest to, sport can be a transformative tool, especially for PwDs.”
“These circles have served us well, over the years, to bring different stakeholders in our neighbourhoods, coming together. But to reach more and newer sections and, perhaps, younger segments of our community, MCCY will further support their efforts to digitise and expand their programme offerings so that we bring more people in to participate and get to know each other. Starting from this year, we will also be dedicating July as our Racial and Religious Harmony Month – not just a day but a month, to highlight the efforts of our Harmony Circles and our community partners and organise more activities to celebrate and to promote racial and religious harmony, so that the significance of the day and of the occasion and the learning points go beyond just spending a day celebrating one another's special occasions – coming in a different attire, perhaps, or costume, celebrating by exchanging goodies and gifts associated with festivities of other races. Going beyond that, to connect with one another through these traditions and share the understanding of these traditions, to deepen an understanding and inculcate the value of openness and appreciation. Another step that we are exploring is a joint initiative we will have with the Ministry of Education. Students, as you know, are allocated to their schools based on their academic merit. But there is no reason why this same configuration should also hold for co-curricular activities (CCAs). So, the Strategic Partnership CCA initiative allows secondary students to join in various CCAs outside of their own schools, increasing the variety of the CCAs that students will have access to. But this initiative has other social benefits.”
“No. My apologies. And I will have to work on my pronunciation. They work together constantly – and while I may get the names wrong – they all come from different faiths, but they come together to serve underprivileged residents in the vicinity, the neighbourhood in which they operate. Different faiths bound by a common social purpose. I was recently at the Masjid Kampung Siglap for buka puasa, again, as I am sure many of my colleagues here were. What was special about that occasion? The mosque had invited groups from the surrounding temples and churches, and lay people in the estate to come and join them. And when I chatted with them, I found out that many of them had never seen the inside of a mosque, let alone experience buka puasa. It was a special occasion to be able to share that experience together. Young children who were seeing this for the first time, I am sure, would have been left with a better understanding of the Muslim faith and of the meaning of Muslim practices. And so, the next time they step into a mosque or the next time they engage with a friend who is from the Muslim faith, who is fasting, it no longer feels strange or unknown to them. This how we foster understanding and build unity, bit by bit, at a very micro-level, but coming together, stronger than the sum of our parts, as I said. And we want to go beyond just religious tolerance, to a better understanding and appreciation; and grow as a country to embrace differences in our multicultural and multi-religious society. That is after all our aspiration. To this end, MCCY has also recently refreshed our Racial and Religious Harmony Circles. At the local level, Harmony Circles provide the structures that foster friendships and build mutual respect in local networks.”
“Stratification is very unhealthy and it can lead to entrenched intergenerational stratification as well if we are not careful. So, we need to break down these barriers, not just along racial or religious lines but also between other fault lines in our society – like local and foreigner, the different income groups, between the young and old, as well as intergenerational conflict. On this note, I am very grateful for the good work that has been done by many ground-up organisations. I have visited many of them, as I am sure many of my colleagues here have – whether it is the social service agencies or voluntary welfare organisations, clan associations, self-help groups and so on. Through their own initiative and effort, people are brought together in a variety of ways. For example, within churches, mosques and temples, and other places of worship. These places of worship might serve a specific religious community, but they are completely agnostic when it comes to running programmes with a broader social reach and impact. Many of our religious institutions work together, to benefit their neighbourhoods and in so doing, provide opportunities for their congregation to intermix and to get to know each other. For instance, the Al-Mawaddah mosque, Sengkang Methodist Church and Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnanamuneeswarar – and I hope I got that right.”
“But over the last half a year to a year or so, I have been fortunate to be, in my capacity, at the intersection of so many different touch points of our community, where people from a broad cross-section of society come together to pursue their passions. Whether it is in sports or arts, heritage, culture, language, the youths, the grassroots network, or the various Chinese clans and associations that I meet on a regular basis. All of them come together at the different intersection points and all these sectors of our community represent tremendous opportunities for us to build our social capital and enhance our sense of cohesion and unity. These are the platforms on which people can engage with one another, day to day, and through such interactions, begin to foster deeper relations and build trust and rapport. We cannot force unity and cohesion. But we can institutionally create the environment for people to come together to intermix across different fault lines, across different segments of our society. So, let me share some thoughts on what MCCY has done and has in mind, to ensure that we continue to foster this deep sense of unity. First, Mr Murali Pillai, when he spoke and talked about sports as a tremendous opportunity for us to level the playing field. Dr Tan Wu Meng spoke about togetherness and, indeed, all of these are different ways of expressing that we need to have avenues for us to have social mixing between different segments of our society. The key to fostering stronger unity is to have both occasion and opportunity for people from different backgrounds to see and enjoy spending time with one another, through the passions that they pursue so that we are not stratified and constantly in our own social circles only and in our own echo chambers.”
“For instance, how do we create deeper personal, social bonds – particularly in a world that is so digitally connected? How do we nurture what is common between us, while at the same time celebrating our individual diversity? How do we stay united in the face of global headwinds? I have attended several ForwardSG dialogues, met a range of people from different backgrounds, exchanged many views – some of which I will share here. And I must say that overall, I am very encouraged by what I have heard. I have come away with a significantly renewed sense of optimism, that Singaporeans care deeply about that unity, they appreciate how fragile it is and they want to come forward and proactively play a part to contribute, to ensure that we do not lose that unity. One key takeaway is that this unity is not an abstract concept – unity, cohesion, harmony – sometimes, if you do not pay attention, you might think it is just an abstract concept, but it is not. And we achieve it not by ideas alone, but more importantly, by having it embedded in our daily lives: part and parcel of what we do, where we go, who we see and the people we socialise and work with. It is realised through these shared experiences, the various social and communal interactions that we may have and the spaces that we have to do so. I have been Minister at the MCCY for almost three years now. I started almost three years ago when we were in the thick of COVID-19 – we could not come together, safe distancing measures meant that we had to keep people apart when our very mission was to bring people together.”
“As various Members in this House have said, it is exceptional that Singapore has so far bucked that trend. This global trend of falling trust levels leads to deeper apprehension and suspicion. The shared common space is reduced and divisive ideologies take hold. These are not just foreign concepts or phenomena; these are developments that affect us in Singapore here as well. The increasing interconnectedness of the virtual world means that many concerns that were once distant and foreign to us, now have the same immediacy and resonance as much as local ones. As Mr Seah Kian Peng has pointed out, it opens the door to foreign influences seeking to create divisions in our society, to target and to accentuate existing fault lines, or perhaps even create new ones by churning out increasing amounts of emotional, emotive, provocative media, with little or no basis in truth and we must assume that these foreign influences exist here, right here, on our shores. So, we cannot be complacent and take our cherished unity for granted, and we cannot for a moment assume that we will be immune to this. This is why our ForwardSG exercise is so important. One pillar of this exercise is the "Unite" pillar, where we bring Singaporeans together to explore what keeps us going as one people. This is, of course, not a new agenda – national unity has been one of our foremost priorities for many years. But aspirations change, challenges are different, they have shifted and the context in which we tackle these issues must also change. And so, we must be alive to all these changes, be cognisant of them and work out what would be the new approach in this new compact, to tackle these issues.”
“And we do so because we want to ensure that every minority, whether in race or religion, will have the space and freedom to practise their religion and culture as much as possible. Our electoral system guarantees minority representation in Parliament. And by doing so, no political party can prevail by narrowly appealing to only one racial or religious segment of society. Our Ethnic Integration Policy allows us to have a balanced ethnic mix in our public housing, so that we do not have racial enclaves like we see in many other countries. This is a policy that has ensured that for all of us, in our lived experience day-to-day, where we go, where we live, where we do our supermarketing, we will come across a diverse range of different ethnicities at our doorstep in our daily lives. It helps us foster a strong relationship between our people and it shapes who we are and how we approach ethnicity and diversity in Singapore. Yet, even while we have made our diversity a pillar of strength, the uniqueness of Singapore, we must recognise that if we are not careful, it can very quickly become a point of vulnerability. When a society is as diverse as we are, harmony is not the natural order of things. And it is something that we must constantly work on, to jealously guard it and to be always fearful that it is taken away from us. Around the world today, we see societies becoming more pluralistic; and as they do so, they also become more fractured. The most recent edition of the Edelman Trust Barometer shows that trust continues to decrease in many countries around the world. Not just trust in government, but in all institutions – businesses, the media and even in non-governmental organisations.”
“And as Mr Sitoh Yih Pin so emotionally and eloquently shared earlier, those were the founding circumstances of our country. And almost counter intuitively, our founding leaders chose the path of most resistance. We chose to go against the grain and embraced multiculturalism and diverse ethnicities, to recognise and to uplift everyone to make our country a Singapore for all – not just for Chinese, Indians or Malays – and having a space for all religions. It was this bold step, born out of extremely difficult circumstances which became the original seed that has allowed our unique multicultural society to grow, to become more cohesive over the years and to flourish. We will continue to draw strength from that unity. It makes us stronger and it certainly gives us a basis to move forward, and we are stronger than the sum of our parts for that unity. I would add that we did not just proclaim that we want to be a multicultural, multiracial society. We worked hard at it, we worked hard to make this happen, through our policies and through our institutions. Our founding leaders, for instance, set out in our Constitution, the most basic document that we have in Singapore, for the government of the day to always have regard for the interests of our racial and religious minorities. We set up the Presidential Council on Minority Rights (PCMR). In almost no other place in the world is there an institution like the PCMR, whose role is to scrutinise legislation after they are passed in this House to ensure that they are not disadvantageous to any particular racial or religious community. We have laws like the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, which set out clear parameters to deter hate speech and other derogative comments on religious communities.”
“In a 2022 survey by the Pew Research Centre on how advanced economies were affected by COVID-19, Singapore was found to be less divided and more united, after coming out of COVID-19. In fact, Singapore was ranked highest by quite a distance. This has, in turn, led to other positive outcomes, with our unity being a key driver behind the confidence we have in our healthcare system, as well as in our economic outlook and recovery. Working together, caring for one another, having trust in our institutions – these qualities have seen us through the crisis of a generation. Compared to many other countries, some of which were deeply divided to begin with – they came out even more fractured after the experience. It is therefore vital for us that we continue to grow the reservoir of social capital that we have worked so hard on, over the years, to accumulate. As various Members have noted in this House, we have long recognised the need for our country to be special, to forge a unique path as a multiracial and multi-religious society, to be one that celebrates our ethnic diversity as a strength, while having a shared sense of belonging and identity. Few societies around the world have succeeded in ensuring its citizens live harmoniously together, let alone one with as much diversity as Singapore. I have no doubt that even as we have done well and we have. Our unity, our ability to stand together, will continuously be tested. We were an unlikely nation to begin with and perhaps, we still are. We must never lose sight of our roots. In 1965, we were forced out on our own. At that time, we had a diverse population with a Chinese majority. We were surrounded by much larger Muslim-majority countries around us.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have had several requests over the break to cut down on the speech. I am also mindful of colleagues who are celebrating Hari Raya and I want to wish them in advance "Selamat Hari Raya". [Applause.] Sir, over the course of this week's debate, we have talked about the many challenges that we see ahead of us, the shifts that we need to make in an increasingly difficult and changing environment – to face a harsher, more uncertain economic climate; to guard against growing inequality. Members have spoken about how we can strengthen our policies and our socioeconomic infrastructure, in areas like education, employment and housing. Sir, we have heard many good ideas and have had a lively, robust cut-and-thrust debate and I believe all these steps that we have heard in this House, they are all important, in and of themselves, as key success factors for Singapore. But equally critical and urgent is for us to be able to achieve all of this together, working in unity. All of us, a people of different backgrounds and persuasions, a diversity of cultures, faiths and languages coming together to build consensus, create space and forge a compact that can see us thrive and which can also help us withstand the growing external threats on the horizon. One shining example of how unity and cohesion have served us well was in how we tackled COVID-19 together, as a nation. The Prime Minister spoke about this on Wednesday. Our nation's collective sacrifices and efforts, with a high trust quotient for Government and institutions, saw us through COVID-19 and we came out stronger and more united after COVID-19 than we were before.”
“Of course, we will continue to take soundings from not just the stall operators but also the consortium operator, the patrons and people who deal with the security and other aspects of this bazaar, to learn from it so that in subsequent years, it will be better.”
“In any typical bazaar or market, there will always be a variety, and there will always be a differential in terms of the takings of the stalls that are there. I think you cannot expect all to make money and all to be at the same level of profit-taking. But the point to be made is that they know in advance what the cost would be. The other point which I made in my answer earlier is that a fair number of these are not inexperienced stallholders. They have come from previous trade fairs and other bazaars. In fact, a fair number, quite a substantial number, not only came from previous years' Geylang Serai bazaar – so they know what it would be like – but they also came and made bids for multiple stalls in this bazaar. Again, that is something they have to factor into their own consideration when it comes to market price, what they think they can afford, what they think they can sell and whether they can realise and recoup. For Wisma Geylang Serai, which operates the entire event, their role, of course, encompasses the bazaar and that is in the hands of the professional operator. But in addition to that, whatever is tendered, a substantial amount then goes back into the Light Up, the organisation of the event itself and ensuring that the programming, which I had mentioned earlier, drives footfall to the event, and also ensures that the festive occasion is celebrated appropriately, which is PA's and Wisma Geylang Serai's main agenda. When you look at that collectively, that is the way in which this bazaar had been run previously, and had been run this year too.”
“Sir, as I explained, the bazaar, like in previous cases, both in Geylang Serai as well as other similar bazaars or trade fairs, is managed by a professional operator. They come in, there is a tender. The open tender, which is conducted, reflects the market price. So, this is the market price that is reflected in an open tender. Parties come in, they decide what the market price would be and they make a bid for that. As I had mentioned, the point is not to get the bidder with the highest price but the bidder with the best expertise and the best proposal. In particular, for a bazaar the size and scale of Geylang Serai, which is not just the bazaar itself but in conjunction with the festive occasion, the Ramadan Light Up and so on, it is important to get the programming, as well as the way in which the bazaar will be operated in a safe way, for both the stall holders as well as the patrons. That is why we looked for a professional operator as well as one who has the experience and ability to provide the environment. To the point that Mr Faisal makes, the operator publishes the rates that it wants to charge. So, no bidder comes in without knowing what the rates would be and that is an important consideration. They have to make their own calculations, that is why I mentioned the market price. So, the bidder knows in advance what the price would be and then they decide. To Mr Faisal's point, whilst we do not require all the stallholders to declare their profits or otherwise to PA, we have some anecdotal evidence to suggest that some of the stallholders some time around the midway point had recouped their rental expenses. Others, perhaps, might take a longer period of time. It is really a question of which stalls, what their offerings are, how popular they might be and so on.”
“Since 2019, Wisma Geylang Serai has taken over the organising of the bazaar and is responsible for the overall place-making and programming at the bazaar, which has traditionally been held in the month of Ramadan, leading up to Hari Raya. Wisma Geylang Serai curates the programming at the precinct, including the bazaar. The curation of the programming includes the Light Up, concerts, cooking and talk shows and other programmes – all of which add buzz and festivity to the occasion. It also generates additional footfall to the bazaar. In addition, the Singapore Tourism Board also promotes the bazaar as a destination for locals and tourists. This year's bazaar, at 36 days, is the longest festive bazaar on record. In total, almost 700 stalls were taken up. Of this, a substantial number of stallholders had previously either operated a stall at the bazaar in a previous year or at some other trade fairs organised by PA or the merchants' association. A fair number of the stalls at this year's bazaar also took up more than one stall at the bazaar. In an effort to support home-based businesses, a section of the bazaar is reserved for them where they are given stalls at a low-cost rental, which is at $55 per day. Various community groups, such as the National Kidney Foundation, the Malay Youth Literary Association (4PM) and also Jamiyah Singapore, are provided with complimentary space at no charge.”
“Mr Speaker, trade fairs and bazaars which are organised on state lands are done through an open tender process to appoint a professional fair operator to manage and operate the event. Whilst the People's Association (PA) does not run the trade fair or bazaar, it sets the relevant conditions and specifications for the successful operator to ensure that the event is held in a suitable, conducive and safe environment for stall operators and patrons alike. This is done through the terms of an open tender, which include ensuring the adequate supply of utilities and amenities and the provision of suitable logistical support. A successful tenderer will have to comply with the terms of the tender. The successful tenderer then also sets the relevant rental rates for the stalls, having regard to factors, such as the duration and location of the event and the type of business based on market rates. An entity or individual who intends to bid for a stall will know in advance the rental rates which are proposed to be charged as well as the other details on which the trade fair or bazaar is operated. They can then assess for themselves whether to make a bid. In the case of the ongoing Bazaar Raya Geylang Serai and Hari Raya Light Up, which I will call "the bazaar", organised by PA since 2014, the above framework that I have just set out would apply. There were several bids for the operator and the tender was then awarded to a consortium of operators. In considering the tender, price is one factor, amongst others. In the case of the bazaar, the award did not go to the bidder with the highest price.”
“In our engagements, many Singaporeans were enthusiastic about playing a bigger role in shaping our future, including by contributing ideas, shaping policy and participating in new forms of engagement and partnership. They also agreed that closer collaboration and partnership between the Government and other stakeholders in society was essential in the next phase of nation-building. MCCY, together with the rest of the Government, will offer opportunities for Singaporeans to co-develop policies and solutions on salient national-level issues through platforms, such as Citizens’ Panels and Alliances for Action (AfAs). At least 35 AfAs have been formed since 2019. We see healthy, sustained youth interest in policy making. MCCY will encourage more youths to engage in constructive civic discourse, take action to make change, and contribute to policy co-creation through platforms such as the Youth Circles and programmes such as the Youth Action Challenge. Somerset Belt will be a refreshed and vibrant precinct for youths, with youths, and by youths. Young people can lend their voices to shape Somerset Belt into a space to experiment in and call their own. We will continue to create new platforms to give our youth opportunities to shape Singapore. Through the Forward Singapore engagements, Singaporeans have shared that they care about deepening inclusiveness, promoting fairness and growing a culture of giving back. MCCY will rally and support Singaporeans in achieving these ideals and aspirations, to build a stronger and better society.”
“Together with community partners, such as our Self-Help Groups, MCCY will facilitate mutual support across ethnic communities to ensure that the fruits of growth and progress are shared by all. We have refreshed existing platforms such as our Racial and Religious Harmony Circles so that they remain relevant in fostering social harmony and enhanced the Community Dispute Management Framework to promote pro-social behaviour and good neighbourliness. MCCY will continue to build a resilient society where the Government and other stakeholders, including businesses, communities and individual Singaporeans, tackle challenges together. Businesses have a role to play in strengthening our social fabric. MCCY is supporting the NVPC and the Singapore Business Federation to grow the number of businesses that generate value for society at large. MCCY is also extending and enhancing the Corporate Volunteer Scheme (previously known as the Business and IPC Partnership Scheme) so businesses can continue to enjoy tax deductions when their employees volunteer at an Institution of a Public Character. Businesses can also contribute through mentoring. The Mentoring SG office has been set up to grow awareness of mentoring, match individuals and organisations to suitable mentoring opportunities, and build capabilities to grow the mentoring movement at the national level. Corporate bodies can step up to provide volunteer mentors or opportunities for their employees to be mentored. Every individual contributes to society in their roles as family member, citizen and worker. We encourage all Singaporeans to partner the Government in refreshing our social compact through the Forward Singapore exercise.”
“MCCY will continue to support artists and athletes, including through new and enhanced facilities, greater support for self-employed practitioners to grow and innovate, and uplifting sector capabilities. We must continue to build a deep reserve of social capital and trust and nurture the “gotong royong” spirit. MCCY will continue to facilitate opportunities for Singaporeans to donate or volunteer for causes they are passionate about, through platforms such as Youth Corps Singapore, Team Nila, and our network of SG Cares Volunteer Centres across 24 towns. Through partners like the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), Community Foundation of Singapore, and Singapore Kindness Movement, we will promote care for each other as an integral part of Singapore culture and everyday life. The People’s Association will increase opportunities for citizens to be involved in community service and improvement projects in their local neighbourhoods. Schools remain an important common space to develop cross-cultural understanding and friendships from an early age. Programmes, such as Strategic Partnership Co-Curricular Activities, allow students from different schools to participate in activities, such as athletics, water polo and ethnic dance. We are also topping up the accounts of ActiveSG members aged four to 12 years with an additional $100 of ActiveSG credits, so children can interact and bond outside of school. Across ages, our arts and sports programmes, such as the Children’s Season, Children’s Biennale, and Active Parents, encourage family bonding, while our Active Silver Hubs promote intergenerational bonding and help seniors stay active. Demographic and societal shifts require us to continually reforge the bonds of trust among our diverse communities.”
“The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth’s (MCCY) mission is to build a caring, cohesive and confident nation, where everyone feels they belong and is inspired to work towards a common future. Through the Forward Singapore exercise, Singaporeans came up with ideas to strengthen our solidarity and mutual responsibility as one united people. MCCY will partner Singaporeans to act on these ideas to build a better and stronger Singapore for all and generations to come. MCCY will continue to develop our arts, heritage, and sports facilities and programmes as common spaces for people to come together to build shared memories. The Peranakan Museum and Children’s Museum recently opened with refreshed and interactive exhibits that tell the Singapore story. Our festivals, such as the Singapore International Festival of Arts, Singapore Art Week, and Singapore Heritage Festival, bring Singaporeans together to celebrate our arts achievements and heritage. Singaporeans will enjoy greater access to world-class sports facilities and marquee sports, lifestyle and entertainment events with the Government taking over ownership of the Sports Hub and rejuvenating the Kallang Alive precinct. MCCY is committed to growing a vibrant arts, heritage, and sports sector, that reinforces our shared identity as Singaporeans, instils national pride and confidence in our achievements and people, and fosters an inclusive society where individuals’ skills and talent, especially in the arts and sports domains, are valued. We are unlocking new opportunities with the next iteration of Our SG Arts Plan and Our SG Heritage Plan. We are also updating the Disability Sports Master Plan to set out pathways for aspiring para-athletes, and to enable persons of different abilities to participate in sport.”
“Sir, as the Member knows, after the Writ of Elections is issued, Members of Parliament vacate their offices. And so, they are no longer Members of Parliament. So, to that extent, they are not Members of Parliament. Therefore, the appeal, if any is filed by that person, it will be treated as a request made on behalf of another member of public. I hope that clarifies.”
“Sir, Grassroots Advisers, or GRAs, are appointed by the People's Association (PA), a Statutory Board which is under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). They help the PA with its mission to foster social cohesion and also connect with and engage people on Government policies and schemes. The term of a GRA's appointment is determined by PA and is not tied to the term of Parliament. As with all Government agencies, which continue to function after a Writ of Election is issued, GRAs continue to discharge their responsibilities. In this period of time, Government agencies also continue to receive and will duly consider appeals made by members of the public, or those made on their behalf.”
“The updates on the recycling programme and its costs to the Government have been provided in the combined oral reply to Question Nos 5, 6, 7, 25 and 26 on the Order Paper for 20 March 2023. [Please refer to "Second-hand Shoes Collected in Project for Recycling to Create Running Tracks Exported Instead for Overseas Resale", Official Report, 20 March 2023, Vol 95, Issue 93, Oral Answers to Questions section.] We have taken steps to tighten the process chain and remain committed to our Singapore Green Plan 2030 efforts to support the national sustainability agenda.”
“Our publicly-funded museums are avenues to share our rich history and cultural heritage, so that Singaporeans understand what we stand for, thereby strengthening our sense of belonging and national identity. To ensure our museums are accessible to Singaporeans, the Children’s Museum Singapore – like other public museums – will continue to have free admissions for all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents beyond 31 March 2023. Tourists and foreign residents will be charged prevailing rates.”
“To Dr Tan's second question, investigations are being done by the contractor which engaged the sub-contractor and they are currently ongoing, and I will leave the investigation as they were. If there are any other findings that are material, then we can raise this again in this House. As to Dr Tan's first point, the way in which the system was working previously, was for Yok Impex, the sub-contractor, to collect from designated areas around Singapore and all of their collections would then be brought back to their facility for the sorting purposes. I cannot tell you nor can I glean from the Reuters' report where the shoes were deposited; whether they are all done at the same place or divided up into 11 different locations or otherwise. And so, I would not want to speculate as to why that is the case. The fact of the matter is that as far as the investigations show, it is only the Yok Impex collections that have been tainted with this finding based on information we have currently. So, the measures that Alba has taken in relation to Yok Impex would, in relation to the findings that we know so far, be sufficient to address the problem.”
“I would not get into a debate over the efficacy of which material is best used for playgrounds and sports grounds and so on, but I will ensure that the point that you have raised is fed back to the relevant engineers so that they will study this. But I will put to Mr Singh this – at the very least, this method does use the shoes as a further source of materials, when the shoes would otherwise be disposed of. So, if nothing else, the grinding facility provides an additional avenue for waste material. And I have said earlier in my answer, the number of shoes that are discarded, provides an avenue for these shoes to be reused in public infrastructure facilities.”
“The short answer is yes, there was such an assessment made. And to take Mr Singh's comparison, without overly going into technical details, the rubber density of old tyres is quite different from that of the shoes that you see and the extent to which we want a certain density at the running track and on the playgrounds, they rely better and use better the materials from the shoes rather than old tyres.”
“Sir, I think I have explained how we intend to strengthen the process and the steps that we have taken and intend to take. The point I will make is we do want partners to come forward with the assurance and confidence in the project that the shoes that are collected for a recycling project like this will, in fact, end up being the granules that we use for our sporting infrastructure.”
“And so, steps have been taken to correct this between Alba and its various other sub-contractors – those that it may appoint in place of Yok Impex. But we will certainly see the extent to which we can impart into these sub-contracts some other mechanisms that tighten the process without being overly burdensome, which then in turn increases the cost of collection.”