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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“All right, then I will go on. Members might like to know that since 2016, in the context of supporting Singapore lawyers, 78 Singaporean lawyers and inhouse counsel have successfully applied for the SkillsFuture Study Award for the legal sector to hone leadership skills in management of their own law firms. So, the Singapore Academy of Law and INSEAD run a Law Firm Leadership Programme. At the same time, SkillsFuture also supports qualifications for solicitors to seek admission as solicitors of England and Wales through the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme. From 1 April 2019, we will also be supporting lawyers who wish to take the New York State Bar exam, through the SkillsFuture Study Award as well. 11.45 am The role of paralegals is growing and we recognise the integral roles that they and other legal support professionals play in this industry. So, we will also continue to work with the Singapore Academy of Law on its programme, Legal Industry Framework for Training and Education for paralegals. This maps out the competency and training that are needed for paralegals to move up the value chain and support legal services. In addition, we also provided pathways for paralegals who wish to upskill and advance their career. To give an example, 80% of places in the Singapore University of Social Sciences Law School are set aside for mature students, including paralegals. Mr Chairman, allow me to conclude now. As I mentioned earlier, we ask ourselves: what purpose must our legal framework serve? We must have a legal framework that is fair, transparent, updated and remains relevant to the users of the system and, most importantly, underpinned by a strong rule of law. It must then meet the needs of individuals and businesses who call Singapore home.”
“Yes. Third, in the adoption of technology, we are supporting law practices to keep up to date with technology. So, Members might like to know that under the Tech Start for Law scheme, SLPs have been given 70% funding, 115 law practices of which 99% are small and medium-sized ones have collectively adopted 143 of such solutions. In the longer term, we will work with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to develop a broader-term roadmap for up to 2030, in identifying technologies that will impact and change the delivery of legal services. Fourth, we continue the development of legal talent not just for lawyers but also for sub-specialists like paralegals. We continue to work closely with the law schools to ensure the law curriculum, the training, are robust and prepare our lawyers and paralegals for future generations. We will also continue to support Singapore lawyers to deepen their skills through the SkillsFuture programmes, as I mentioned earlier. Mr Chairman, just give me a few minutes as I wrap up. I will conclude with the question that drives all of us – what purposes must the legal framework serve?”
“Prior to this visit, 24 lawyers from six leading firms in China's Shaanxi province undertook a month-long attachment in Singapore as part of MinLaw's initiative to help Chinese lawyers better understand what Singapore has to offer as a business hub for Chinese companies as well as also to help Singapore lawyers connect with their Chinese counterparts and learn about and tap into opportunities in the Belt and Road Initiative.”
“On Ms Rahayu Mahzam's point about providing customised consultancy services to small and medium firms, the Singapore Academy of Law's Future Law Innovation Programme (FLIP) recently launched an initiative, where, for as low as $1,500, small and medium-sized law firms can engage a consultant to review their workflows and advise how they can better harness and adopt technology to help with the process more efficiently and perhaps more importantly for these small firms also more cost-effectively. Second, on internationalisation. My Ministry is supporting the efforts of SLPs to capture a greater share of international demand for legal services. In other words, look not just at Singapore as the market, but to go beyond Singapore, into the region and globally. Together with the Law Society of Singapore and the then-International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, we launched the Lawyers Go Global programme in February 2018. The programme helps lawyers expand their networks outside Singapore through mission trips, training and also a branding exercise for the Singapore lawyer brand. In the last 12 months, close to 60 lawyers have participated in three mission trips. We have also stepped up our engagements in Asia. My Ministry has led our law firms and institutions on promotion trips to Asian countries. I visited China earlier this year to strengthen Singapore-China legal and judicial cooperation. During my visit, I attended and spoke at the "China-Singapore International Commercial Dispute Resolution Conference", a first of its kind, jointly organised by Singapore and China.”
“Broadly, we are supporting SLPs in three ways. First, in new business areas. To sustain their business in the face of competition and technological disruption and, as Ms Rahayu Mahzam has pointed out, law firms need to venture into new practice areas. We cannot keep holding on to the conventional ones. My Ministry will continue to help Singapore lawyers develop capabilities in high-growth practice areas. To give an example, we worked with the NUS Faculty of Law to roll out "The Project Finance Academy", a three-day practical hands-on workshop in November 2018 to take participants through the main legal considerations in structuring project financing transactions and negotiating infrastructure deals. We also encourage and support law firms to develop new practice areas and access regional opportunities. Also, in response to Ms Rahayu Mahzam's suggestion on continuing professional development (CPD) courses, the Singapore Academy of Law and the Law Society of Singapore have been developing various CPD programmes and courses, designed in a new way, to equip practitioners interested in deepening or building practices in new areas. Some of these programmes are also approved for SkillsFuture credits. Mdm Rahayu Mahzam might like to know. We will share the feedback that has been given by Ms Rahayu Mahzam last week with the Singapore Academy of Law and the Law Society.”
“We have also worked hard to promote international law scholarship, particularly in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) law context. For instance, we supported the launch of the ASEAN Law Academy at the National University of Singapore (NUS) last year. At the same time, we must also ensure that we are a responsible global citizen, if we are to earn and maintain the trust of the international community. There are two aspects to international cooperation that I will touch on: criminal cooperation and civil cooperation. As a sign of our commitment to international cooperation to combat transnational crime, we concluded the Model ASEAN Extradition Treaty in 2018 and launched the commencement of negotiations for an ASEAN Extradition Treaty. We also launched the commencement of negotiations on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with China. We are pursuing a number of efforts in the area of civil cooperation as well. Mr Murali Pillai asked whether Singapore intends to accede to the Hague Apostille Convention. My Ministry is currently studying the possibility of doing so. We have begun discussions with stakeholders, engaged representatives from the Hague Conference about the practicalities and the steps needed in implementing the Convention. All of these efforts translate into more opportunities for Singapore law practices. Both Mr Christopher de Souza and Mdm Rahayu Mahzam have asked how Singapore law practices are being assisted to take advantage of the opportunities created for them. The final area that I will, therefore, cover relates to our efforts to support Singapore law practices (SLPs) to adapt. And not just that, but to go beyond and take advantage of these opportunities in this broader landscape that has been curated.”
“This is a set of standard-form documents which make the process of structuring a deal faster, quicker and more cost-efficient for startups and venture capital firms. VIMA incorporates Singapore law as the governing law and Singapore as the chosen dispute resolution forum. My Ministry also works with the universities to encourage research that helps to develop and strengthen Singapore law. The intent is to ensure that our law remains cutting-edge, and not just cutting-edge, but also one that meets the needs of our modern businesses. We continue to welcome views and suggestions from practitioners and businessmen alike on how we can further strengthen and enhance these laws. Besides the efforts to strengthen our position as a premier legal services hub, we are also investing in establishing Singapore as a thought leader in international rule of law efforts and also participating in legal cooperation. First, we want to establish Singapore as an advocate of, and a thought leader in, international rule of law efforts. The Singapore Convention on Mediation will be the first convention under the UN auspices to be named after Singapore. This reinforces Singapore's reputation brand as a forum of choice for cross-border dispute resolution and also other forms of alternative dispute resolutions. We also engage actively in international efforts to design new international rules to ensure that Singapore's perspectives and our unique circumstances are not ignored. For example, my Ministry, together with other Ministries, worked to secure Singapore's re-election as a member of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law from 2019. This will enable Singapore to continue to actively participate in the development of international trade law.”
“It provides a platform for information exchange on infrastructure opportunities in Asia, facilitates investments and financing, and gives Singapore-based infrastructure players access to these opportunities. In the same month, we also launched the Singapore Infrastructure Dispute-Management Protocol. It helps to proactively manage differences to prevent them from escalating into disputes and also minimise the risks of time and cost overruns, all of which aimed at enhancing and improving on the large-scale infrastructure ecosystem in Singapore. Mr Christopher de Souza has rightly pointed out that Singapore's position as an international legal services hub can be further strengthened by promoting the use of Singapore law. We agree. And Singapore law is well-placed to meet the legal needs of businesses in Asia, particularly those businesses that are previously familiar with or accustomed to using English law. Singapore law benefits from its roots in the English common law system but has gone on to evolve to remain modern and relevant. And overlaid on our common law are legal frameworks and statutes which are often developed in very close consultation with the industry users. Those who choose Singapore law choose to do so as they wish to tap into a legal system that is not just familiar but one which is trusted, both in Singapore as well as internationally. The promotion of Singapore law does not, however, just involve Government stakeholders, but is also driven from the ground up, by the Bar and from others within this ecosystem. For example, in October 2018, the Singapore Academy of Law and the Singapore Venture Capital and Private Equity Association launched the Venture Capital Investment Model Agreements (VIMA).”
“As far as mediation is concerned, SIMC signed an MOU in 2018 with the Asian Development Bank to help resolve disputes that may arise in infrastructure public-private partnership projects, and an MOU with the China Council for Promotion of International Trade Mediation Centre in January 2019. Further to our efforts in enhancing Singapore's attractiveness as a forum for dispute resolution, we have also identified several high-growth practice areas to develop. First, in the area of insolvency and debt restructuring. We amended the Companies Act previously and now we have got an omnibus Act that was passed in 2018, the Insolvency Restructuring and Dissolution Act. And that was the final piece of principal legislation in our phased implementation of the recommendations of the Law Review Committee as well as the Committee to Strengthen Singapore as an International Centre for Debt Structuring. So, we now have legislation that seeks to properly balance the interests of debtors and creditors as they are undergoing restructuring in Singapore. The Act, which we target to bring into force this year, benefits local businesses needing help, positions Singapore as a location of choice for foreign debtors to restructure and also creates new opportunities for insolvency professionals, distressed debt funds and also financial institutions. Second, in the area of Projects and Infrastructure. We have taken steps to capture the increasing demand for legal services in this area. Infrastructure Asia, Singapore's infrastructure office, was launched in October 2018. This is an office set up by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Enterprise Singapore, and supported by MinLaw through our Professional Services Programme Office.”
“Mr Murali Pillai would be pleased to know that funders have seen an upturn in the requests for funding in Singapore and there has also been support for expansion. We are currently reviewing the overall framework, how it might work, including areas for potential extension into proceedings commenced in SICC and any appeals from SICC. Second, we must continue to invest in order to strengthen our leadership position. We are bolstering our infrastructure to meet demand and also support growth. The expansion of Maxwell Chambers is on track. The newly refurbished building located next to it, the Maxwell Chambers Suites, will be launched in the third quarter of 2019, shortly. This will add 120,000 square feet of floor space and triple Maxwell Chambers' current size. But it is not just about size or how big the physical infrastructure is. We need to deepen our collaborations with international institutions. And on this score, we have attracted top arbitral institutions to set up offices in Singapore. The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, for instance, has set up a case management office here. The Permanent Court of Arbitration has its new office in Singapore, its first in Asia. SIAC has also signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with a number of Chinese institutions in 2018 alone. China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, one of the leading commissions in China for dispute resolution, an MOU was signed in 2018. Likewise, an MOU was also signed with the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration as well as with the Xi'an Arbitration Commission.”
“We have done well in international dispute resolution, but we will continue to build on these efforts to further enhance our position. We are now the third most preferred seat of arbitration globally. The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) is also the third most preferred arbitral institution in the world. And SIAC, along with the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC), have all seen increases in caseload over the years. For SIAC, the highest caseload was 452 cases in 2017, of which 83% were international in nature. As for SIMC, as of 31 December 2018, it had received a total of 68 case filings from parties from more than 20 different jurisdictions. For SICC, 29 cases have reached SICC since it was established in 2015. Mr Murali Pillai asked for an update on SICC. Beyond just the caseload alone, what SICC has been working very hard on is to enhance the enforceability of SICC judgments. In 2018, our Supreme Court and the Supreme People's Court of China signed a Memorandum of Guidance on the recognition and enforcement of money judgments in commercial cases. This means that parties who have commercial dealings are much clearer on how any money judgments arising from disputes can be enforced against any other party, whether in Singapore or in China. 11.30 am Mr Murali Pillai also asked about third-party funding, for an update in the area of international arbitration. My Ministry has consulted a public consultation to obtain feedback from stakeholders on how the reforms have been working in practice. We also asked if there was a need to extend third-party funding to new areas. Generally, it has been positive.”
“For example, IPOS launched a Specialist Certificate in Intangible Asset Management in January 2019 and also collaborated with the Singapore University of Social Sciences to launch a Master of IP and Innovation Management programme in 2017. This year, the first batch of 14 students is expected to graduate from this programme, with another 21 expected in the next cohort. All these measures work towards ensuring that our legal system meets the needs of all, whether it is the man-in-the-street or businesses large or small who call Singapore home. Our legal system as a whole also plays a broader role as a supporting pillar for the next phase of Singapore’s economic transformation. On this, there are two interlocking aspects of my Ministry's efforts to provide this support. First, we are strengthening Singapore's position as an international legal services hub. Second, we are working to establish Singapore as a thought leader of international rule of law and pursuing international cooperation. These mutually reinforcing efforts together underpin our position in an increasingly uncertain world as a trusted, stable centre for law and business, and I would like to elaborate on these few points now. First, we are investing in strengthening Singapore's position as a premier legal services hub, both regionally as well as globally. This means strengthening our position as a dispute resolution centre, growing new areas to meet the demands of international legal services, and finally, promoting the use of Singapore law to meet business needs. There are three broad categories of efforts related to dispute resolution. First, we have been and we continue to position Singapore as a trusted and neutral forum for dispute resolution.”
“We are naturally excited to see them grow as they leverage their startup position, IP rights, and look forward to observing their continued success. Third, we are making it easier for businesses to commercialise IP from the public sector. The National IP Protocol was developed and rolled out in April 2018 to encourage commercialisation of public sector IP and also research and development outputs. It streamlines IP practices in our public research institutes, universities and public agencies to reduce the time and effort needed to structure commercialisation agreements entered into with the private sector. This will foster greater collaboration between the private sector businesses on the one hand and the public sector. Finally, and in response to Ms Jessica Tan's question on job opportunities, we have also several initiatives to develop talent and create jobs in the IP sector. IPOS has partnered SkillsFuture Singapore to develop the first national level skills development framework for the IP sector. This will be rolled out in August 2019. This framework will provide comprehensive information on the career options, skills needed for the various job roles, and also the training programmes relevant for the IP sector. This will aid in the upskilling of new entrants and also existing IP professionals. IPOS has also partnered Workforce Singapore on the IP Professional Conversion Programme, and with SkillsFuture Singapore on the SkillsFuture Study Awards. These schemes provide financial support for the reskilling of newly-hired employees and for individuals who are seeking to deepen and broaden their skills. We are also developing programmes to ensure that trained individuals are recognised with certifications.”
“There are various forms of assistance already available to enterprises, in particular, SMEs and startups, on IP strategy and management: Businesses that need preliminary advice on IP strategies to support their business plans or on IP legal issues can tap on IPOS' IP Business Clinics and Legal Clinics. These are available to small businesses, individuals and sole proprietors, and approximately 600 businesses have availed themselves of the use of these clinics since 2015. IPOS also provides specialised consultancy services on IP audit, due diligence and strategy to help enterprises identify their intangible assets and also integrate them into their own strategies for growth and expansion. About 80 enterprises have benefited from these services, with close to 90% of them being either SMEs or startups. When enterprises seek assistance in developing their IP strategy management capabilities, eligible costs may also be defrayed under Enterprise Singapore's Market Readiness Assistance Grant and the Enterprise Development Grant. While there is still some way to go in encouraging businesses to leverage their IP growth and take advantage of the ecosystem, we have seen a number of success stories. One example is OTSAW Digital, an SME which builds autonomous robots for the security industry. IPOS assisted the company in developing its IP strategy – how to protect and manage its IP and, thereafter, exploit it, as well as other intangible assets. OTSAW now has internal processes to identify IP that is developed and to protect it appropriately. It is also more aware of IP-related issues when negotiating with other business partners and also, of course, potential investors. The company is now expanding internationally into Malaysia, Indonesia and the Chinese markets.”
“For example, creators will find it easier to build their reputation as people who use their works will then have to properly acknowledge the creator. Creators of certain commissioned works will also enjoy default ownership of their works whereas, previously, the commissioning party would own the works. As for innovators, innovative businesses in data analytics will find it easier to mine data for analysis. Details can be found in the Copyright Review Report, a fairly comprehensive report which was released in January 2019. At the same time, we are also reviewing the IP dispute resolution system to make it more accessible, especially for individuals and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), so that they can more effectively safeguard their rights. We held a public consultation on proposed reforms in late 2018 and we are now studying the feedback that was received from the community for the next phase. Mr Patrick Tay also asked about helping Fintech startups to protect their IP. Last year, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) introduced a FinTech Fast Track Initiative which accelerates the file-to-grant period of deserving FinTech patents to approximately six months, and that is in place of the usual two to four years. IPOS will extend this initiative for a further year to 25 April 2020. FinTech startups can also avail themselves of other assistance schemes available to Singapore businesses, some of which I am going to highlight. Second, we are helping Singapore businesses in commercialising their IP rights. Ms Jessica Tan asked about this.”
“Consumers who then wish to take their dispute to resolution by arbitration in a quick and cost-effective manner can consider the Law Society's Pro Bono Arbitration Scheme, which adopts streamlined procedures and, more importantly, waives the fees of the sole arbitrators in those cases. If the consumer wishes to challenge the arbitration clause or the arbitration award, he can apply for legal aid for representation in Court. And LAB will represent such consumers if there are legal merits in his case. That said, if Mr Chen Show Mao is able to provide us with the specific case that he has encountered. In the example he cited last week, there is a case where a consumer is in a situation where he has got no choice over the entry into the contract. My Ministry will review the case and see what we can do to assist on a case-by-case basis. On top of that, we will also continue to monitor developments in this area with the Ministry of Trade and Industry since it concerns consumer protection and consider whether further steps need to be taken. A number of Members have asked specifically about the intellectual property (IP) regime in Singapore, and I will turn to that next. The Minister for Finance spoke about positioning Singapore as a "Global-Asia node of technology, innovation and enterprise" for our next phase of growth, so these are quite pertinent questions which Members have raised. My Ministry's efforts in the area of IP will support this push in four major ways. First, we are positioning our IP system to better support creators and innovators. Mr Patrick Tay asked about protecting the IP rights of creators. We will be amending the Copyright Act to better support creators in this digital age.”
“We recently amended the Legal Aid and Advice Act to simplify the means test, provide greater flexibility to grant aid and also improve on the overall administration of legal aid. These changes will be implemented in the second half of this year. On criminal legal aid, the number of accused persons assisted per year has risen after the Government introduced direct funding in 2015. the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme assisted almost 1,600 cases in 2018, almost four times the number of cases that were assisted pre-2015, before the Government funding. We will continue to review these schemes to ensure that persons of limited means, the right target clientele for this scheme, will remain assisted and will have access to justice. Mdm Rahayu Mahzam also asked about supporting lawyers' low bono efforts. We are working with our partners, the Law Society Pro Bono Services and the Singapore Academy of Law, to study how we can further enhance support for pro bono and also low bono efforts. Mr Chen Show Mao also asked about legal aid for arbitration in disputes over consumer contracts. As a general rule, legal aid is not provided for arbitration because it is a private, consensual dispute mechanism and it is typically used for high-value commercial dispute resolution. Nonetheless, I would like to assure Mr Chen Show Mao that there are several avenues available for such consumers to seek assistance and redress. Let me just outline a few. Before consumers undergo arbitration, they can obtain free legal advice from the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) on the arbitration clauses in the contract. This can help consumers better understand their rights and obligations under the contract, and LAB can also provide substantive advice and also legal options available to the consumer.”
“15 am As for the reporting and publication of POHA cases, any person may ask for a copy of the Court’s decision. The Court may consider factors, such as whether the applicant has a sufficient interest in the action or any other legitimate reason for making the request in assessing whether to grant the request. In every POHA case, oral grounds of decision are provided to explain the Court’s reasons for its decision. As in all cases in the State Courts, full written grounds will be published if there is an appeal to the High Court on the matter. Mr Murali Pillai asked for an update on our review of the probate and administration regime. This review is taking place against the backdrop of a whole-of-Government effort to improve the experience of citizens and also their loved ones at the end-of-life. My Ministry is working with the Ministry of Health, the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and also several other Government agencies to develop a Moments of Life Digital Portal to support Singaporeans as they deal with their estate management matters or those of their loved ones in the end-of-life journey. Features will also include step-by-step guidance on making wills and settling post-death estate matters. A beta version will be released by the end of 2019. On top of that, we are also considering ways in which we can simplify estate administration, how the process is for affected families, particularly where smaller estates are concerned. So, we are making the process simpler, more straightforward, less expensive for the simpler, smaller cases but, at the same time, also going upstream to help with estate management and planning prior to that stage. Mr Christopher de Souza and Mdm Rahayu Mahzam asked about legal aid.”
“We recognise that ADR mechanisms, such as mediation, can be a valuable tool in resolving disputes or providing a forum for parties to ventilate key issues. We will decide how best to encourage the use of ADR after considering feedback on these proposals. Moving on to the area of community justice, Mr Patrick Tay asked about cases filed under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA). As at 31 December 2018, 535 applications for Protection Orders have been filed. Of these, 213 Protection Orders and 193 Expedited Protection Orders were granted. These include applications by victims of workplace harassment. Ninety-nine applications for Protection Orders were referred to the State Courts Centre for Dispute Resolution. Of the 96 cases that completed mediation, 59 reached a settlement leading to a withdrawal of the application or the grant of a Consent Protection Order. Over the same period, 12 civil proceedings for statutory damages have been brought under section 11 of POHA, while 11 applications for non-publication orders under section 15 of POHA have been filed. Three thousand and eighty-nine Magistrate's Complaints have been filed for alleged POHA offences, while 51 Magistrate’s Complaints have been filed for alleged breaches of Protection Orders or Expedited Protection Orders. About three out of 10 Magistrate's Complaints, inclusive of those related to POHA, underwent mediation. And about 80% of these cases reached a settlement. One thousand seven hundred and fourteen criminal cases with POHA charges have also been commenced by the Attorney-General’s Chambers. We note Mr Patrick Tay's suggestion to track the types of cases filed and will work with the State Courts to explore this further. 11.”
“Moving on to civil justice, we amended the Supreme Court of Judicature Act in October 2018 to enhance efficiency in Court procedures and allow the Courts to better manage proceedings. That same month, two committees, one convened by my Ministry and another by the Judiciary, proposed a number of changes to enhance the efficiency and affordability of our Courts. The public consultation on these proposals concluded on 31 January 2019. We are reviewing the feedback and will make the necessary legislative amendments this year. We will also work on legislation this year to strengthen the enforcement of civil orders. These proposals work together, and they also overlap with one another, to ensure that our Court processes continue to provide effective access to justice. And that must remain the hallmark of our judicial system. Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked about promoting the use of mediation for commercial disputes. First, I am encouraged to hear about his story and also his very positive experience with the Mediation Centre. This vindicates the efforts of our mediation community to enhance mediation as an effective alternative dispute resolution tool. Litigants are currently encouraged to attempt an amicable resolution of their disputes through alternative dispute resolution (ADR). This can include mediation, neutral evaluation or even attempting to negotiate settlements privately. Two of the changes proposed by the committees relate to ADR: firstly, making it mandatory for parties to attempt to resolve their disputes before resorting to litigation; and secondly, empowering the Court to order parties to attend ADR if the Court is of the view that the parties had failed to reasonably consider ADR prior to commencing the legal proceedings.”
“Chairman, I thank the Members for their speeches that were made last week and also for the various suggestions that were canvassed. The Ministry of Law's (MinLaw's) focus is two-fold: First, we continually update the legal framework to meet the people's needs as well as the businesses', that is, all those who call Singapore home. Fundamentally, our rule of law must remain strong. Our legal framework must have laws that are relevant and also updated. Second, we are strengthening Singapore’s position as the premier legal services hub for Asia, and beyond. This also supports and contributes to the continuing transformation of Singapore’s economy. We must continue to have a trusted system. I will touch on these themes, as follows, and I will begin by giving an update on my Ministry's efforts to continually update the legal framework to meet those evolving needs. Mr Christopher de Souza touched on this. On criminal justice, we passed extensive amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act last year. We have since implemented most of the measures. My Ministry also worked closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs on wide-ranging amendments to the Penal Code and other substantive criminal laws that were introduced in Parliament earlier this year. A major focus of these amendments is to enhance legal protections for vulnerable victims of crime and ensure that our criminal justice framework addresses new forms of crime effectively. As for family justice, we set up a committee with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Family Justice Courts last year to build on the wide-ranging changes made in 2014. Its report will be released soon. We will consider the committee’s recommendations thereafter.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2019/2020, and ask leave to sit again on Monday, 4 March 2019.”
“Mr Chairman, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again on Monday, 4 March 2019?”
“So, it remains the most efficient. And the best way in which this can be fixed and to ensure that this problem does not arise again, is to really strengthen and make more resilient the way in which testing is done, either at the time migration takes place or at some stage thereafter, to continue to monitor even after it goes "live", as I had mentioned earlier. Fixing the problem at its root requires these levels of resiliency to be improved, not so much to change the system architecture altogether. 11.13 am”
“The timeline I gave earlier takes into account the amount of time for the CHAS team to pick up the error, flag it to NCS and, within about three weeks or so, the error was fixed. What the vendor did not realise at that point in time was the fixing of that error meant that all cases moving forward would be correct, but it did not account for the fact that those that had been processed up to that point in time still had mismatched subsidy information. The error itself was fixed a few weeks later. So, from that time onwards, no other errors would occur. Between that time and when this was then announced, steps were taken to identify the scope of the persons who were involved, how each of them was affected – whether up or down – and the extent to which remediation would take place. And once that was determined, this was announced back in February, earlier this month. As far as the extent of recovery is concerned, as I had mentioned, the $2 million would cover an estimate of what it would cost to remediate this problem. As Assoc Prof Theseira appreciates, if we keep the subsidy level and honour the subsidy level despite it being erroneous, there will continue to be a degree to which further subsidies that were higher than what they were supposed to be, might be granted. And so, we are looking at all of this with the vendor and working out the sum that would approximate all of this and come to an arrangement with the vendor. On the last question by Assoc Prof Theseira, this system still remains the most convenient because it allows there to be one avenue where the information is contained and one source at which all of these would be determined when an applicant comes and makes an application for subsidy, whether it is CHAS, long-term care or for some other subsidy schemes.”
“In terms of the scale of the error and the remediation efforts that are taken, and the cost that it will take, the $2 million that I estimated would approximate all the costs that would be involved in correcting this error. In terms of the information that is affected, income information for a particular individual would remain similar. So, yes, if one aspect of the information is compromised, then it may affect the way in which that individual's subsidy tiers are calculated. The way in which we design the system is for convenience. So, there is a similar backend to all of these subsidy tiers, and each time a request is being made, one goes back to the base information for that particular individual. So, to that extent, yes, Assoc Prof Goh is right. But ultimately, the integrity of the system depends on the various crosschecks and the verifications that are done before the information is then put out. In this case, there was one particular file that affected the base information, which is why when computing subsidy levels, the information was incomplete and, therefore, some subsidy levels were wrongly assigned.”
“As we tap on technological solutions to raise productivity and improve the provision of healthcare services and support to Singaporeans, we are keenly aware that system vulnerabilities and risks exist and they do have to be carefully managed. Where IT systems are outsourced to vendors, we also have to closely supervise their work, monitor their performance and manage vendor risks. We constantly seek to improve our quality assurance frameworks and review IT processes and outsourcing. Following this incident, MOH has started a review of our testing and deployment processes to identify areas that can be further strengthened. For example, we will be implementing an independent Quality Assurance review for every major system change henceforth. We will also look into automating some parts of our testing and deployment processes, including the detection of anomalous transaction outcomes. We will continue to learn from our experiences to build a stronger and more robust system.”
“The means-test system concerned is a mature system that has been running since 2012. Based on the scope of this migration, the tests and validations were scoped and performed accordingly. Thereafter, the means-test system was migrated to the new data center. Unfortunately, NCS deployed a wrong version of a software file to one of the servers in the new data centre. In other words, the scope of test and post-production validation was appropriate and in accordance with the project’s assessed risk, but the wrong version of the file was thereafter used, instead of the one that had been tested. And that applied to one of the servers. Dr Chia Shi-Lu and Assoc Prof Walter Theseira also raised questions on outsourcing versus inhouse development. To deliver digital solutions and deploy IT systems effectively, the Government adopts a mix of IT development approaches, including outsourcing, co-sourcing and also in-sourcing. If the solution is commercially mature, Government agencies are more likely to outsource, so as to better manage cost and leverage on the capacity, competency and also the scale available in the market. Increasingly, the Government is also co-sourcing the development of critical systems with key vendors to ensure high systems quality and reliability, as well as interoperability across the Government. Finally, full inhouse development is done to develop capability which would enable us to develop software to better respond to our evolving policies and requirements. In public healthcare, we take a similar approach. This allows us to move at a pace needed to support the volume of IT system requirements across the healthcare system, while ensuring that core capabilities continue to be developed internally.”
“Dr Chia Shi-Lu and Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked about the checks and audits on the system and means-test results. To ensure the means-test status and healthcare subsidy levels are updated, a refresh of an individual’s data is automatically triggered every two years, or sooner should an individual request for an updated means-test or make an appeal. We agree with Dr Chia Shi-Lu that it is useful to inform CHAS beneficiaries of their subsidies at each deduction so that they can also verify that their subsidy levels and balances are accurate and updated. We plan to look into this during future rounds of system enhancements. As for the means-test system, the regime of checks and audits are in line with overall Government Information Technology (IT) Policies. These cover areas, including software development, test management, systems resiliency and cybersecurity. Audits are conducted regularly. Recent audits on the means-test system include one by GovTech on IT management process compliance from July to October 2018, and another initiated by MOH on cybersecurity in August 2018. Where changes or enhancements are made to the system, MOH adheres to the quality assurance process stipulated for Government agencies. This would include requirements on software component testing, end-to-end system integration testing, user acceptance testing, performance test, security test and production environment shakedown tests. For some systems, a set of transactions may also be performed at launch or migration to verify accuracy before going “live”. Additional monitoring may be undertaken during the initial period of time after going “live”. The extent of testing in each case would depend on the assessed risk.”
“Thank you. Sir, the error occurred in the computerised means-test system that calculates the healthcare subsidy tiers which individuals are eligible for, based on their income information. This central system is owned by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and managed by our vendor NCS Pte Ltd. On 16 September 2018, the system was migrated to a new Government data centre, due to the Government’s planned decommissioning of the old data centre where the system was originally located. One of the files uploaded by NCS to one of the servers during the migration was of a wrong version. As a result, healthcare subsidy tiers of some individuals were computed without the corresponding full income information of these individuals. The first run of the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) means tests after the system migration took place on 18 September. The first discrepancy in means-test results was identified by the CHAS processing team on 24 September, and NCS was immediately alerted. The team then subsequently identified five more cases between 9 October and 2 November, and alerted NCS on each occasion. Three of the six cases were applications that required some manual verification from the CHAS processing team who detected the discrepancies. The other three cases were appeals from CHAS applicants. Two were assessed to be legitimate appeals for higher subsidies and were approved. The majority of the affected individuals received higher subsidies and they do not need to return the subsidies disbursed. We estimate the amount to be about $2 million, and we are in discussions with NCS to recover the amount from them. Those who received lower subsidies will have the shortfall reimbursed, and their subsidies set to the correct levels going forward.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, may I take the first three questions together?”
“In response also to Mr Mohamed Irshad's suggestion to more systematically track caregivers, our various initiatives will give us the opportunity to collect more comprehensive information on caregivers to better understand their profile and needs and what else could be done to enhance the support given to them. Mr Speaker, my belief is that all caregivers are committed to providing the best care possible for their loved ones. They do not complain and they are often determined and resilient in overcoming the challenges that come their way. Caregiving journeys may be long, but we can go the distance if families and communities come together to support the caregivers in our midst. This is not just about grants, hardware or programmes. It is also about appreciation and empathy and, in the words of Ms Anthea Ong, about embracing caregiving as a society to ensure that we not just provide the physical and hardware support but also the socio-emotional support that we owe caregivers. It is about nurturing the kind of society we want to foster. The Action Plan reflects the Government's commitment to strengthen support for senior caregiving and our call for a whole-of-society effort to partner caregivers in their caregiving journey. Each of us must do our part to recognise, value, support and celebrate caregivers. Together, we can support and empower caregivers and, in turn, help our seniors in Singapore to age in place with dignity, in an environment which they know well, and with people who care and love them. On this note, Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.”
“We plan to expand more of such caregiver support networks through our Dementia Friendly Communities. Ms Anthea Ong noted that it is critical to equip our caregivers with the right skills and the relevant knowledge through training. Many households rely on FDWs to support their caregiving needs and we want to equip them with the relevant caregiving skills upstream so that they can take better care of our seniors. On that note, we will enhance eldercare training for family caregivers and also new FDWs early on in their employment in Singapore. On this note, I am very encouraged to hear about the several community and ground-up initiatives to recognise and support our caregivers mentioned by Members, such as Mr Murali Pillai and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah as well, to build a support structure to reach out, to empathise with and help caregivers on this journey. We would agree that everyone in society has a part to play in this caregiving journey. I have heard many Members expressed that sentiment and I agree entirely. For instance, the Caregiver Alliance Limited partnered the Chinatown Heritage Centre and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) this year to organise an event for caregivers and their loved ones at the Centre. Caregivers had the opportunity to network and share experiences while nursing students from NYP role-played characters from the past and conducted therapeutic and fun activities to engage the young and old alike, including baking, childhood games and paper art. We will continue to work closely with community partners, such as Community Development Councils and grassroots organisations, to strengthen community-level support for caregivers, as Mr Murali Pillai has suggested.”
“This is often physically and emotionally tiring. The pilot would provide custodial care service for home palliative care patients so that caregivers can take a break with the knowledge that their loved ones will still be well taken care of at home. Next, let me touch on caregiver empowerment and training. As members have noted, beyond just having a strong suite of formal services to support caregivers, good socio-emotional support for caregivers is also crucial. We already have community outreach teams who currently reach out to those at risk or those with mental health illnesses. We will evolve some of these teams to provide a more dedicated focus on caregivers. These teams will provide outreach to caregivers, provide case management and support through counselling, and also offer socio-emotional programmes. AIC will pilot these community outreach teams with community providers, such as Caregiver Alliance Limited, by the end of 2019. We will also facilitate more caregiver support networks being set up. Caregiver support networks provide a safe environment for caregivers to come together, share their caregiving experience, lean on one another, support one another, which is often needed during the long and oftentimes difficult caregiving journey. Take the example of Mdm Theresa Toh who cares for her 68-year-old sister with schizophrenia and attends Queenstown Caregiver Connect, a support group for caregivers. Queenstown Caregiver Connect helps Mdm Toh with self-care by organising talks on mindfulness and communications with her loved ones. She has also, through this programme, met with fellow caregivers with whom she has now a strong friendship and there is a group to lean on and someone with whom she can empathise with.”
“Ms Tin Pei Ling shared about caregivers who find it challenging as their own sleep then becomes disrupted when they need to tend to the seniors at night, especially if they also have to juggle work commitments in the morning. To support such caregivers, AIC will pilot a new night respite service for seniors with dementia who may have sleep and behavioural issues. AIC will partner a few nursing home providers to provide this new option where seniors with dementia can be engaged through activities at night while their caregivers can catch up on their own rest. As I mentioned earlier, the need for respite services can be unpredictable and we need to be able to cater for caregivers getting respite quickly and efficiently. Dr Chia Shi-Lu suggested allowing families to pre-register essential information with providers. We have been studying this idea and will pilot a pre-enrolment system this year to further reduce the time required to activate respite services. Under such a system, caregivers can pre-register their loved ones and complete some of the otherwise lengthy and somewhat laborious administrative processes upfront. Later on, when the time comes for the respite services to be availed of, providers would already have some of the key information, and this would help to cut down the administrative process and time required to enrol the senior. AIC will try this out with a few providers first, iron out any operational matters as they study it for a period of time and then look to expand this to more providers. We will also pilot a home-based respite service for caregivers of palliative care cancer patients. Caregivers of terminally ill patients are fulfilling the desires of their loved ones by caring for them and also enabling them to pass on at home.”
“In addition to FWAs, as Mr Melvin Yong noted, some caregivers wish to re-enter the workforce and need more support as well, such as in upskilling and job seeking. My colleague, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Low Yen Ling will be sharing more details of our recommendations to support these groups in her speech later. I turn now to the point made by various Members on the importance of caregivers being able to take occasional breaks during their journeys to rest, recharge and, sometimes, to deal with their own particular circumstances as well. Sometimes, a respite is not even a luxury because some caregivers might require the respite at short notice due to their own exigencies. They cannot always anticipate when they might themselves fall ill, or when they might have an urgent matter to deal with. How they are going to be able to take some time off to tend to these exigencies while at the same time ensuring that their loved ones remain cared for remains a significant burden. Respite services within home and institutional settings are already presently available. To date, over 2,400 clients have benefited from respite services in senior care centres and nursing homes. But again, we can do more, and MOH will be enhancing our suite of respite options so that more caregivers can benefit from respite services. We also want to ensure that caregivers can access such services in a shorter period of time. For instance, we have heard from caregivers that seniors with dementia can sometimes have difficulty sleeping and resting at night. In fact, some of these seniors with dementia can be quite active at night.”
“So, we will allow caregivers to use their MediSave to help pay for the healthcare expenses of their Singaporean siblings by the end of 2019. These measures will complement our existing suite of long-term care financing measures supporting family caregivers. So, they come on top of those measures. Next, more and more families face a growing caregiving burden but also coupled with their own work commitments. So, the workplace environment is a key consideration as we chart this landscape. Employers also have to play a part in creating supportive workplaces. Caregiving leave has been mooted by several Members in this House here today and also before this. While we acknowledge that there are merits to extending leave provisions, we also need a sustainable approach that balances the needs of not just employees but also employers in the long term. This was a point which was widely discussed at the various consultations we had with caregivers. As Dr Chia Shi-Lu noted, many caregivers see FWAs as being more useful to helping them meet both their work and caregiving commitments and balancing them in the longer term in a more sustainable way. For example, working caregivers would like the flexibility to be able to take time-off to tend to their loved ones’ needs. Often, they do not need a full day or even half a day and, perhaps two to three hours might be sufficient in some circumstances. Other caregivers may require flexibility to work offsite on occasion whilst they take care of their dependants. In our view, a better and more sustainable long-term approach to this issue would be for employers and companies to develop their own FWAs which can best support caregivers in the workplace.”
“The grant will replace the FDW Grant, with an enhanced quantum of $200 per month. Let me explain this. I have earlier said that no two caregivers' journey is similar. Indeed, there are very many differences in the journey and also the way in which care is expected to be delivered. We have noted Mr Christopher de Souza and Ms Tin Pei Ling's point that care arrangements may vary from person to person or, indeed, may even vary depending on which stage of care the recipient might be in. We want to be able to provide financial support which will better meet the range of diverse caregiving needs. At present, the current FDW Grant can only be used to offset the cost of hiring an FDW. It is, therefore, limited because not all caregivers might need or want an FDW. So, we will replace this with the HCG of $200 per month, which is an increase on the present $120 per month for the FDW Grant, and also allow caregivers greater flexibility on how they choose to use this sum. Some might use it to help with the cost of hiring an FDW, if that is what is needed, whilst others could choose to use this sum to defray the cost of caregiving expenses, such as the costs for home and community-based services, and transportation to medical appointments. There is much greater flexibility in how this grant can be used. Care recipients who qualify can choose to nominate their caregiver to receive HCG. Ms Joan Pereira has also suggested that we broaden the definition of family members in Government policies to strengthen familial support. On that score, we agree that family caregivers, first of all, they are usually the first port of call, and fundamentally in the entire ecosystem, they are key to supporting our seniors age-in-place.”
“Next, let me turn to improving financial support for caregiving needs. Several Members, including Ms Joan Pereira, Mr Christopher de Souza, Dr Intan Mokhtar and Mr Chen Show Mao have suggested providing further financial support to manage caregiving expenses, especially for those being cared for at home. From our engagement sessions, many caregivers have, indeed, shared with us that the cost of caregiving is amongst the uppermost issues on their minds. Currently, we already have several schemes in place to support ageing in place. These include the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund to defray the cost of assistive devices and home healthcare items, the FDW Grant to offset the costs of hiring an FDW, as well as the CTG to subsidise training. We will build on these to boost support for caregiving in home and community settings, so as to achieve, amongst others, a delay or even a reduction in the need for institutional care for our seniors. On that score, I am pleased to announce that we will introduce a new Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) by end of 2019. HCG will be means-tested and available to care recipients with permanent moderate disability, regardless of age and granted on criteria which are similar to what we now use for the FDW grant. HCG can be used to offset the costs of long-term caregiving in the community. HCG will complement severe disability schemes like ElderShield and CareShield Life, by providing support earlier, and at a stage when care recipients are still able to perform these ADLs, albeit with some assistance. In other words, HCG will be available at an earlier and less severe stage of disability, when compared to the criteria in disability schemes, such as ElderShield or CareShield Life.”
“We agree with Dr Lily Neo that we need to synergise our efforts with SSOs and other Government touchpoints within the community to make service delivery more cohesive and unified which, overall, will then better serve the needs of seniors and caregivers alike in the community. Miss Cheng Li Hui highlighted earlier the need to look out for elderly caregivers. We agree and, through our Community Networks for Seniors initiative, Silver Generation Ambassadors will identify these elderly caregivers during home visits and link them up with services and support schemes relevant to their particular circumstances and needs. As Mr Melvin Yong also noted, technology is fast becoming a key enabler in providing caregivers with useful information. The web portal on eldercare and caregiving, Singapore Silver Pages, will be revamped this year to improve the overall user experience. We will also develop a Health Marketplace e-platform by 2020, where users can more directly access services, such as Medical Escort and Transport, and also purchase regular consumables. For such services, it helps that a caregiver has the option of not having to make a trip to a physical office or speak to someone over the phone, just in order to access those services. As part of our Smart Nation efforts, MOH has been working with GovTech and other Government agencies on a cross-agency Moments of Life Digital Portal to aid Singaporeans, including caregivers, with pre-planning for the end-of-life journey. Features will include step-by-step guidance on issues, such as Advance Care Planning, making wills and settling post-death estate matters as well. We will roll out the beta version by the end of 2019 and will work with the relevant touchpoints to raise awareness of these pre-planning tools.”
“There are five broad themes which underpin our action plan. Let me just set them out before I go into these in some detail. They are, firstly, Care Navigation; secondly, Financial Support; thirdly, Workplace Support; fourth, Caregiver Respite Services; and finally, Caregiver Empowerment and Training. Let me now outline our key directions in each of these areas. First, on better care navigation. As mentioned by Dr Chia Shi-Lu, many caregivers, particularly the new ones, the new caregivers, need ready access to information and referral to services, but they may not know so well where to turn to, how to navigate the landscape, whom to turn to for help, and whom to consult in their time of need, particularly the new ones who may suddenly and very quickly embark on this caregiving responsibility. Today, we have physical touchpoints – AICare Links, operated by AIC in acute and community hospitals. The AIC Office at Maxwell Road caters to walk-ins from caregivers and seniors alike, and provides information and assistance regarding eldercare services, grants and schemes. The public can also, of course, obtain information through AIC’s helpline, the Singapore Silver Line. These are all useful but perhaps not enough. We need to do more to help caregivers feel supported and confident in making informed decisions regarding the caregiving needs of their loved ones. AIC will create four more AICare Link touchpoints and also embed them in the community at Silver Generation Office satellite offices by the second half of 2019.”
“For those who still have difficulty paying for care after Government subsidies, grants and insurance scheme payouts notwithstanding these programmes, there are also Government-funded safety nets, such as MediFund and ComCare, which can provide further assistance. Ms Rahayu Mahzam has suggested updating the CHAS eligibility criteria. We agree, and MOH is already in the process of reviewing and, where necessary, updating the per capita household income criteria for CHAS, so that more Singaporeans can benefit from CHAS subsidies. At the same time, we will also take the opportunity to review the household income criteria for other healthcare subsidy schemes as well. Taken together, these efforts support ageing in place, living with purpose and dignity, and also provide caregivers with peace of mind. But we can still do more to directly address the needs of caregivers. In the various engagements that we have had with caregivers since September last year, many shared with us the challenges they face in caring for their loved ones. Whilst they face challenges, they also left us in no doubt how the caregiving journey is itself a very rewarding process. That is also the sentiment that many Members here today have expressed. No two caregivers' journeys would be similar, but each of these experiences is bound by the same common desire to care for, and give the best to, their care recipient. We need to help them on this journey. Therefore, drawing on feedback from the caregiving ecosystem and the people operating within the system, MOH, together with partner agencies, have developed a Caregiver Support Action Plan to strengthen support for caregiving. This action plan outlines key initiatives that we will embark on in the next two years.”
“I would like to assure Ms Anthea Ong that beyond just growing capacity from a hardware perspective, we are also working to strengthen the quality of our aged care services through appropriate regulations, developmental services, education, guidelines, service audits, as well as capability-building programmes. Ultimately, for whatever additional hardware that we put in place, it is the people talent that is the most important, and we agree with both Ms Anthea Ong and Mr Melvin Yong that healthcare professionals play a key role in providing quality aged care services for our seniors. Between 2012 and 2017, MOH had provided funding support to raise the wages of workers. Salaries of workers across participating providers saw a 30% increase in aggregate over this period of time. MOH also supports skills training scholarships and grants, and productivity improvement and job redesign initiatives to raise the value of jobs, alongside salary increases in line with the intent of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM). We will continue to work with employers to review salaries of workers regularly to ensure that they are adequately recognised for their efforts. MOH will study if further efforts are needed, including whether to introduce a PWM for the eldercare sector with the tripartite partners. We have also put in place long-term care financing measures to ensure affordable and also sustainable healthcare. Today, we see means-tested subsidies for aged care services, which is complemented by our long-term insurance care schemes like ElderShield and CareShield Life, and a range of disability schemes, such as IDAPE, which Ms Intan Mokhtar has mentioned, and the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme (Pioneer-DAS).”
“Some may care for different groups of care recipients, such as seniors or children or, as Ms Denise Phua mentioned, PWDs, or any combination of this. Their needs are diverse, as with their own particular family or caregiving circumstances. So, over time, we will need to look carefully at what these needs are and whether further assistance might be needed. As a start and particularly given our demographic shift over the next decade which I have outlined above, I will focus on how we can support senior caregivers as vital partners in our health and social system. Some of the measures that I will outline will also apply to other groups of caregivers, for example, those looking after PWDs. And my colleague, Minister of State Sam Tan will touch more on this when he speaks. As Mr Murali Pillai and Dr Lily Neo noted, many caregivers naturally prefer for their loved ones to age-in-place at home, in familiar surroundings and in the company of people they know and love. We agree entirely, and it really goes without saying. As such, the Government has been taking the lead to anchor care in the community. Over the years, MOH has strengthened the broad ecosystem of support for senior caregiving by expanding the capacity of aged care services. We have also deepened the range of care options available for our seniors, through new models, such as the Integrated Home and Day Care programme. We are encouraged to see a higher take-up of home and community care services. As of late 2018, around 16,000 clients have benefited from subsidised home and community care services, an increase from around 14,000 seniors in 2017.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there have been so many thoughtful and considered points which have been raised by various Members in this debate on an issue which is not only urgent and pressing because of our socio-demographic profile and trends, but also one which shapes the type of society we want to foster and the kind of place we want to grow old in. In particular, Members have spoken about the need for a whole-of-society effort to help seniors age with purpose and with dignity. Members have also affirmed the critical role that caregivers play in achieving this, so that our seniors can better age in place and, as far as possible, in the company and care of those who love them the most. I agree, and the Government intends to introduce measures to help caregivers on their journey. As our population ages and more Singaporeans live longer, we will see a rise in informal caregiving. By 2030, one in four residents will be aged 65 and above, close to where Japan is today. Our family sizes are also shrinking. As a consequence, our old-age support ratio will also decrease, from 4.8 in 2018 to an expected 2.7 in 2030. This is a significant shift. As Dr Chia Shi-Lu noted in his speech at the outset, Singaporeans will need support in caring for their loved ones, and working caregivers will need to balance employment and their family responsibilities as well. I am mindful that there is a broad range of different caregivers, and we have heard different stories from different perspectives, all of which are very relevant to the debate today. There is a broad range of these different caregivers who operate in a variety of different circumstances and in a very broad landscape and they also themselves wear multiple hats.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. On Mr Leon Perera's point earlier on the sentence, I would just like to clarify that it was backdated to the time that he was first remanded, which was June 2016. And thereafter, he also had remission, as is usual, which accounted for the dates that the Member had in mind.”
“And on that score and Miss Cheng's second question, the Select Committee had recommended that the Government consider measures to address both deliberate online falsehoods and also state-sponsored campaigns that threaten our national security. The Government will consider the Report and will also consider legislation in both of these areas this year.”
“Testimony before the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods also showed indication of information warfare being carried out against Singapore, including the use of news articles and social media, to influence the minds of segments of the Singapore population. Foreign interference is not always easy to detect or attribute. In December last year, when bilateral issues with our immediate neighbour were at the top of the news, we noticed that a curious spike in online comments on social media made from avatar accounts – essentially, anonymous accounts with profile pictures that do not show the owner's face. Many of these comments were critical of Singapore. On one such issue, jams at land checkpoints. Around 40% of the comments on alternative media outlets' pages on social media came from avatar accounts. We do not know who these suspicious accounts belong to nor do we know if they are being coordinated by foreign actors. But it is clear that these accounts had sought to give and create an artificial impression to netizens of the opposition to Singapore's position, at a time of heightened bilateral difficulties. That is not the only issue or instance. In such instances, it is imperative that we have the ability to identify where these accounts come from and, indeed, if they are real. In our daily operations, our security agencies take it as a working assumption that we must be careful of the threat of foreign interference. The overseas examples that I have alluded to attest to this threat. But it is not convenient, for national security reasons, for me to enumerate all of these examples. Suffice to say that these threats are real, we are a target, and we must be vigilant.”
“Mr Speaker, foreign interference has had a long history in Singapore. In the 1970s, the Government took two newspapers to task – The Singapore Herald and The Eastern Sun – for taking foreign money and then attempting to undermine the Government. There have been and will always continue to be countries with an interest in interfering in Singapore's affairs and swaying public opinion amongst us and against us. More recently, Members may recall the case of Huang Jing, a Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy academic who the Government identified as an agent of influence, acting on behalf of a foreign country. He was expelled in August 2017 and had his Permanent Residency annulled. He had knowingly interacted and cooperated with intelligence organisations and agents of a foreign country to influence Singapore's foreign policy and public opinion. He had done so by engaging prominent and influential Singaporeans, and giving them what he claimed was privileged information about the foreign country so as to influence their opinions in favour of that said country. Huang also recruited others in aid of his operations. Members will also recall the SingHealth hacking incident last year, essentially an attempt to extract health information of Singaporeans, with the Prime Minister being the specific target. The Minister for Communications and Information had stated that this was the work of an advanced persistent threat group, cyberattackers who are typically state-linked. These are not casual hackers or criminal gangs. Cyber hackings are often deployed in concert with hostile information campaigns to search for information that can be weaponised.”
“We must also take further measures to minimise the possibility of politically-involved individuals and organisations being subverted by foreign actors. On hostile information campaigns, new legislation should have two broad objectives. We must be able to act swiftly and effectively to disrupt and counter false, misleading and inauthentic information and narratives spread by foreign actors. We must also be able to pre-emptively expose clandestine foreign interference campaigns. In the physical world, foreign actors may interfere in our domestic politics through the use of proxies, by funding or donating to politically-involved individuals and organisations, or by taking on key leadership roles in the organisations. Our laws must minimise the possibility of such entities being thus used and manipulated. We must not allow foreign actors to undermine our political sovereignty, nor our ability to make our own choices on how we want to govern our country and live our lives. The threat is real and we will be moving on these issues later this year.”