Ellen Lee
Singapore
“Madam, I have one supplementary question for the Minister. Given the increasingly heavy responsibilities that our Regular servicewomen have played alongside their male counterparts, will the same opportunities be made available for servicewomen to be appointed the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Chief of Defence Force, and eve…”
“Singaporeans are savvy in utilising technology to solve problems at work and good at using multimedia to make new friends, show concern for society, entertain themselves and share life experiences. Perhaps, we should use our creativity and think of ways to resolve community disputes without resorting to the use of law.”
“Sir, with more Singaporeans living longer than their parents, being healthy and able to work beyond retirement age becomes a common concern for adults with family commitments.”
“Madam, although much has been done to empower senior citizens to age graciously, there are still many who choose to conform to long-held norms, such as living quietly and modestly at home, reading, exercising and socialising little and focusing their attention on family and children.”
“Madam, with a rapidly ageing population and more people leading a longer life, care for the elderly is inevitable. However, ageing couples who have two or fewer children or no child at all are confronted with the prospect of there being no one to take care of them and their daily needs, especially when they are sick, feeble and weak.”
“Madam, the Community Mental Health Plan had a three-pronged focus: increasing awareness, expanding early intervention capabilities and integrating care with the community care. Could MOH provide an update on progress made so far?”
The complete record
Every one of 356 lines we hold for Ellen Lee, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 8.
“I firmly believe that 50 years of hard work has laid a solid foundation and we should continue to improve and prefect our prized legal system. I support this Bill. 3.14 pm”
“The researcher must have Page: 45 sufficient scientific evidence to show that it has no evident harm to animals before it can be conducted on humans. During the entire process of HBR, there must be sufficient safeguards. If a situation arises when the interests of the subject could be severely harmed, then HBR must stop immediately and effective measures taken to minimise the negative impact on the subject physically and psychologically. Ultimately, it means that the life and health of the subject must come first. Regardless of whether the HBR can obtain relevant data and achieve the desired results or not, should the subject suffer any physical or psychological problems, or his rights are endangered, then the HBR must stop and should not continue. What has impressed me the most about this Bill is its forward-looking nature. For example, we all know that our law currently forbids organ and blood trade, but it is ambiguous towards human tissue. This could be a potential legal loophole. The new Bill clearly states that the trading of human tissue is forbidden. The purpose is to prevent the trading of any part of the human body and to protect the vulnerable groups from becoming the criminals' money-making tool. I suggest our schools and the community pay attention to educating young Singaporeans in HBR ethics, so that they understand the importance of respecting life and protecting the vulnerable groups. With the rapid change of our society in so many areas, social cohesion will face grave challenges. How to make sure our law continues to protect individual rights and social harmony is something that an effective Government must do.”
“The importance of this Bill lies in the fact that it reminds us that scientific experiment is for us to live happier and healthier, and the application of knowledge should go beyond knowledge accumulation. Second, obtain informed consent from the research subject. Informed consent is a prerequisite of HBR. Any HBR done with deception, coercion or financial inducement violates the moral codes or the law. It is worth emphasising that the researcher must inform the subject the purpose, method, expected benefits and the potential risks of the research, help him understand all these and answer his doubts. Only after the subject has agreed to participate voluntarily and signed a written consent can HBR be performed on the subject. If the subject lacks or loses ability to make an informed decision, the informed consent should be exercised by his family members, guardian or deputy. Our society is ageing gradually and the speed of ageing is faster than many people's imagination. Based on observations at my own constituency, older Singaporeans do not have enough understanding of this issue, so we must provide legal protection for them to ensure that they know their rights when participating in any HBR and to prevent the researchers from withholding data on risks or using the research results to obtain inappropriate commercial gains. Another group that needs to be protected is the mentally disabled. The law must ensure that their family or guardian know how to protect their rights. Third, protect the rights of the research subject. The rights of the research subject refer to the physical and psychological safety of the subject during HBR.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, I choose to participate in this debate because many Singaporeans are not aware of the importance of this issue. To an ordinary person, scientific experiments should be handled by the experts. It is like leaving personal problems, such as medical subsidies and housing grants, or even social problems, to the relevant agencies to deal with. In our local dialect, this is called "政府的事情", the Government's business. The truth is that ethics and laws regarding human biomedical research (HBR) are relevant to each one of us. This is because no matter how society evolves, the ultimate Page: 44 purpose of all materials created is to serve us. HBR can be a sensitive topic in the medical and social fields; it has something to do with our valuable life and social safety. Hence, many countries have introduced laws and regulations, as well as moral codes, to ensure the safety and legitimacy of HBR. Next, I would like to talk about the moral principles that HBR must follow. First, to be conducive to medical and social developments. HBR must be conducted with the sole purpose of studying the human biology, finding out why and how disease occurs, improving disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment, so that it can be a driver for the betterment of humanity's health and for the development of medicine and society. Each one of us should understand this. In Singapore, we live in a highly efficient, fast-paced and materialistic society. People often focus on work efficacy and neglect the human touch by paying too much attention to results.”
“Madam, I have one supplementary question for the Minister. Given the increasingly heavy responsibilities that our Regular servicewomen have played alongside their male counterparts, will the same opportunities be made available for servicewomen to be appointed the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Chief of Defence Force, and even be recommended for political office?”
“Question No 6, Madam. The Second Minister for Home Affairs (Mr S Iswaran) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs: Mdm Speaker, move-on orders have proven to be a useful means for the Police to pre-emptively de-escalate potential public order situations and stop unauthorised activities that could cause public alarm or disorder in public places. By issuing the move-on orders, Police were able to stop potential illegal actions and disperse those involved without the need to effect arrests. Before move-on orders were introduced, Police could either warn an offender and follow-up with post-event investigations in the case of a non-arrestable offence, or arrest an offender on the spot in the case of an arrestable offence. The first option presented limited scope for officers to prevent incidents from escalating, while the latter option limited the flexibility of Police action in cases where the offender did not pose a substantial threat and was, in fact, amenable to counsel. Since the Public Order Act was enacted in 2009, 20 move-on orders have been issued by the Police. Nineteen subjects of the orders complied and no further adverse incident took place. The remaining subject failed to comply with the order and was subsequently arrested.”
“Singaporeans are savvy in utilising technology to solve problems at work and good at using multimedia to make new friends, show concern for society, entertain themselves and share life experiences. Perhaps, we should use our creativity and think of ways to resolve community disputes without resorting to the use of law. Not long ago, a group of enthusiastic Singaporeans helped an old lady with dementia find her family through Facebook. This incident prompted me to think of ways to utilise the new media platform, to make use of the collective wisdom and concern of the community to promote harmonious living, and encourage everyone to live and let live. Of course, this requires all of us to teach our children to be caring and courteous, to learn to care and trust each other. This must start from the family, while interaction and communication skills are enhanced in school. Only with this foundation can we develop a caring and courteous nation Page: 103 and a cohesive ideal society.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, while I support the Bill, I also feel that there are many shortcomings in trying to resolve disputes through legal means. People generally believe that legislation can help resolve disputes that cannot be solved within the community. The reason is that sometimes one party refuses to attend mediation or is uncooperative; hence, the problem cannot be resolved. The key is that the mediation process is not mandatory. So, legislation will increase the chances of resolving the issues. On the surface, this argument appears to be valid. But I personally believe that there are a few areas that deserve our attention. Firstly, we must be psychologically prepared. If large fines cannot deter neighbours involved in serious harassment from continuing their illegal actions, do we then need to discuss how to penalise this kind of behaviour again? Previously, littering carried a fine of $500 and repeat offenders had to serve Community Work Orders. But even until now, there are some Singaporeans who continue to litter without regard for others and continue to repeat the offence even after they have been penalised. The fine has been increased to $10,000. If the trend continues, fines are likely to increase. Our overseas friends say that Singapore is a highly efficient society based on the rule of law, but the quality of our people is not high, people comply with the law primarily because they are afraid of being fined. The Bill will reinforce their belief that Singapore is indeed such a society. Why is it that our National Education has not successfully nurtured citizens who are caring towards their neighbours and considerate about others, who value harmony above all in their relations?”
“But, beyond that, there are other factors that we recognise – people may feel discomfort and also the issue of privacy. The Senior Minister of State, Dr Amy Khor, is working very hard together with her team to see how we can deepen our engagement and make people go to the area where we can facilitate them to come forward in doing this. The more people coming forward, the better it is; the earlier you get to know what is wrong with you, the better we can diagnose and we can help you to manage it. The second issue is about smoking. Like what I had mentioned, for smoking, we take a multi-pronged approach. Why we do smoking cessation programmes is because we care for fellow Singaporeans. We know the ill effects of smoking. It is not about not allowing them to smoke but I think we see day after day on how death can be prevented if one stops smoking and not only for oneself but also for the family members. I am very heartened to see the positive effects of our "I Quit" programme. It is not only to the smokers themselves but it also goes beyond that, to the family members, to the community. I remember meeting a friend who smoked. When he stopped smoking, the whole family celebrated. We want to see how we can celebrate this because we care for one another. We should do more but we must make sure we do not forget to care for these smokers because I understand that to stop smoking is a daunting experience, but we want Page: 144 to support them. 6.15 pm”
“Sir, I have two clarifications. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary said that mammogram screening has improved. I was wondering whether he was referring to the improvement due to the promotion of women health issues at the workplace or at the Page: 143 community level. I was wondering whether affordability would be one of the issues that would have confronted women who have still not responded to it. The other clarification is that the Senior Parliamentary Secretary had also said the incidence of people smoking seems to be coming down because of some awareness programmes. I am wondering whether something could be done to create greater awareness of smoking within an HDB flat unit because we often hear residents complaining of neighbours smoking in their units and then, they are the ones who are inhaling the second-hand smoke. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: I thank Ms Ellen Lee for her questions. Mammogram screening has gone up: from 34.7% in 2010, to 37.7% in 2013. As the Member had mentioned before, it is due to the continuous effort that we do at workplaces and the community. Even for myself as a Member of Parliament, I have often encouraged on the ground my residents to go for such screening. And I am very, very touched in the sense that people care for one and another, amongst the aunties, makciks together, they talk to each other and see how they can facilitate this. Even my wife recently shared with me that amongst her group of friends, they went for classes at the mosque, and even at the mosque, they are trying to encourage people to go for such activities like health screening. I am happy that it is flowing down to the ground and people are seeing the benefits of it, the need for it.”
“Sir, with more Singaporeans living longer than their parents, being healthy and able to work beyond retirement age becomes a common concern for adults with family commitments. While HPB has gone to great lengths to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising more, many health experts think we are facing a growing problem of obesity which leads to other health problems. Working adults with health problems to overcome will face employability issues as they grow older. What are the challenges ahead faced in motivating Singaporeans to eat well by paying more attention to nutrition and to exercise more by making more use of sports facilities available in their estate or at the workplace? Could MOH provide an update on the progress made in helping individuals to remain employed even in old age by staying in good health?”
“Madam, at its annual conference in 2014, the PAP Women's Wing highlighted the widespread tendency among women to place their health low down on their list of priorities. Coupled with the demographics on the number of years women spend in managing chronic diseases in old age, there is an urgent need for more incentives to be provided for women to pay attention to their health. Could MOH provide an update on the proposed workplace health grant for women?”
“Madam, the Community Mental Health Plan had a three-pronged focus: increasing awareness, expanding early intervention capabilities and integrating care with the community care. Could MOH provide an update on progress made so far? Specifically, what outreach efforts have been effective in improving early detection and was there a focus on depression which is on the rise among senior citizens? Was the pioneering effort by Changi General Hospital to develop home-based mental health services duplicated in other hospitals? What is the number of adult Singaporeans who have benefited from the impetus to integrate care with the community? Finally, how will initial directions in the Masterplan be taken further?”
“Madam, with a rapidly ageing population and more people leading a longer life, care for the elderly is inevitable. However, ageing couples who have two or fewer children or no child at all are confronted with the prospect of there being no one to take care of them and their daily needs, especially when they are sick, feeble and weak. As such, more homes and centres will have to be built to take them in. What is the current take-up rate for home-, centre- and community-based care among the elderly? Given the anecdotal feedback about the long waiting time at certain care centres, what measures have been put in place to reduce waiting time and could MOH provide an update on customer satisfaction levels? Page: 111 Active Ageing and Hearing Aids”
“Madam, although much has been done to empower senior citizens to age graciously, there are still many who choose to conform to long-held norms, such as living quietly and modestly at home, reading, exercising and socialising little and focusing their attention on family and children. To our forefathers this was often accepted as growing old contentedly in a dignified and befitting manner. Today, we believe the Third Age should be lived to the fullest and that we must keep fit both in body and in mind. We should exercise as much as is safe to do so, read and pick up new skills relevant to a fast-changing world, volunteer our help where needed and make a difference where we can. In this connection, could MOH please provide an update on how far we have gone in empowering our seniors and what more needs to be done?”
“Madam, I declare my interest as a family law practitioner. The launch of the Family Justice Courts was described by the Chief Justice as one of the most significant events in the legal calendar last year. To many family lawyers, the details that were subsequently unveiled represented a change of seismic proportion. Two diametrically opposed approaches need to be reconciled and one of which was what most have been used to – being adversarial on behalf of the clients. In the new legal ecosystem, family lawyers have to be conflict managers and problem solvers but it is not clear how quickly the transformation has to be made and if it would come at a cost in terms of fewer paying clients or considerably longer working hours because of Page: 103 the need to attend training courses to acquire new skills in counselling and mediation. Currently, lawyers are undergoing accreditation scheme assessment courses as well. Could the Minister explain the impact upon the legal profession as a whole? Outsourcing of Call Answering Services”
“Madam, Singapore was ranked first out of 50 major investment destinations in the latest Business Environment Risk Intelligence called the BERI report. From the viewpoint of business, Singapore's favourable operating conditions come Page: 72 from her stable political and economic environment. Plainly put, our open economy has served us well but this does not go down well with many Singaporeans. Many are dismayed by the influx of foreigners lured by a thriving and very liveable environment because Singaporeans expected growth that would provide us with more spaciousness and comforting familiarity for us to grow old in. The Little India incident not too long ago caused quite a number of people to feel that our cherished social order is crumbling fast. It is important that the Government dispel the notion that more openness makes us vulnerable. In short, what more can we do to maintain a cohesive society as we continue to welcome those who can contribute to our continued prosperity?”
“Chairman, the annual National Day Parade (NDP) has been entrenched in the lives of Singaporeans as the signature event in the month of August, alongside other events to mark the nation's birthday. Participants feel the tug of patriotism in their hearts and revel in the uniquely Singaporean flavour of this visual and aural feast by cheering loudly and singing national songs. Expectations run high this year because it is our 50th birthday and our people have confidence in MINDEF staging a parade that will be remembered for a long time. Minister has just given to us a glimpse of what to expect at the Padang this year. Can Minister give us more information on what else can we expect for the National Day Parade?”
“Chairman, the measure of a responsible member country in the international community is its willingness to share the burden of international and regional security. Singapore is physically small, and a "little red dot" as we are called. But since Independence, we have been consistent in our efforts to do what is in our interests as well as within our means to collaborate on security and humanitarian initiatives sanctioned by the United Nations (UN). Last year was singular in the number of terrorist, epidemic and climate issues that confronted the world. What impact do these have on the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)'s role? Can MINDEF provide an update on its contributions to international and regional security, for instance, fighting the ISIS threat, countering piracy in regional waters and providing disaster relief? Military Diplomacy”
“Madam, on the South China Sea, more than a year ago, the Philippines decided to take China to the tribunal under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea. The Chinese refused to take part in the proceedings, insisting instead on a bilateral approach to settle the dispute over a vast, oil-rich area. Since then, Vietnam has said that it would not rule out taking China to the tribunal as well, following China's move of its largest oil rig into the waters contested by both. What is the Ministry's response to the situation? Northeast Asia On North-East Asia, despite strong concerns voiced by China and South Korea, Japanese Prime Minister Abe led his government to approve a re-interpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution to give more powers to its Self-Defence Forces. In Japan, there are voices that oppose his move as the change is deemed illegitimate. What is the Ministry's stand on this? Is this an indication that despite Japanese Prime Minister Abe's meeting with China's President Xi Jinping after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) where both sides sought to prevent the tension between the two countries from worsening, the Page: 71 Northeast Asian tension remains tense as before? On another note, ISIS has threatened to attack Taiwan 101 after its recent execution of a Japanese reporter which was blamed on the Japanese government's refusal to give in to its demands. Does this indicate that the ISIS threat will add even more tension to Northeast Asia or will it encourage a more collaborative approach to a common enemy? Responding to China's Territorial Claims”
“With the drinking culture getting more and more popular, it is timely to introduce the Bill. We also know that drinking has caused families to break up. Of course, not everyone will behave the same after drinking. Some are responsible drinkers and know when to stop. But those who cause troubles after drinking will raise their voices and have conflicts with other drinkers. Quite often, it is the nearby residents who will suffer. Many times, residents will call the Police and hope the Police can come quickly. The drinkers may leave after the police intervene but the next day they will come back again to cause trouble. With this Bill, the restriction of drinking is clearer. I believe the situation will improve. At the same time, I would like to bring up the question of enforcement. Do we have enough manpower and resources to implement the Bill? During the alcohol ban hours, do we have enough Policemen to patrol the estates to protect the peace and quiet of the area? Those who contravene the law knowingly must understand the consequences. It should not be simply telling them to leave or pouring away the alcohol. The authorities can also consider setting up a hotline so that members of the public can report incidents of illegal drinking and drunken behaviours. This is to ensure quick and effective response. I hope the authorities can draw up the manpower requirements and the details of implementation. Only then can the Bill achieve its desired objectives. I support the Bill. 4.35 pm”
“In my recent house-to-house visit, many residents asked me to remove the tables and chairs at the void deck. These are newly-installed stone tables and chairs. Why? They said that since these tables and chairs were installed, they have not had a good night's sleep, because every night there would be a group of residents who would drink up to the early hours. These people do not just drink; they make a lot of noises, urinate and vomit everywhere, leaving a large amount of trash behind them. My residents pleaded to have the tables and chairs knocked off so that they could have a good night's sleep. When I heard about this Bill, I was very happy because the problem of the residents would be solved immediately. The tables and chairs at the void deck can be spared! We do not need to remove them now and my residents can have their undisturbed sleep. However, I do not know when the new measures will come into effect; of course, I hope, the sooner the better. Those who want to drink after 10.30 pm can do it at home or go to licensed places such as coffee-shops to drink. Drinking at home makes me think of our foreign workers. Where is their home? Home for them is the dormitory. Why does the Bill not allow them to drink at their home? Quite often, they work very late and when they reach home they might want to drink a little to relieve the tiredness and boredom and cool down after a long day's work. I Page: 58 hope the Minister could consider allowing foreign workers to drink in their dormitory. Liquor control in countries with a popular drinking culture such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia has been implemented for a long time. We know that when a person has too much to drink, he will disturb and be a threat to others.”
“In addition, some temple organisations are concerned that the liquor control may prevent them from organising the annual Seventh Month celebrations outdoors and other religious activities. The reason is that the dinners usually start at 8.30 pm, and because there is the bidding of items, it is difficult to finish before 10.30 pm. They hope that as long as they do not disturb the residents nearby, the Police and authorities should allow them to go beyond 10.30 pm to early morning so that the committee members can have some time Page: 57 together after the event, have a bit of drink and discuss the affairs of the temple and bidding matters. This time of interaction is very important for the temple activity organisers. So, I hope the authorities will allow them to continue to organise their religious activities as per normal. This Bill clearly has the support of the people. It will play an important role in maintaining social order, reducing incidents caused by liquor consumption and creating a responsible drinking culture. However, as long as it is not harming the interests of the majority and if the venue is far away from the residential area, the authorities may consider giving some flexibility to impacted businesses and religious activity organisers – for example, by extending the alcohol ban hour by another 30 or 60 minutes, depending on the nature of the event. 4.30 pm Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, the issue of liquor control is something we have to tackle urgently. Some people believe that the introduction of this Bill is a knee-jerk reaction to the Little India riots last year; some believe it is an over-reaction. But I do not think so.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill. The reactions to the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill appear to be very intense. Some media reports give the impression that many people believe that the Bill is a bit excessive. Social media even reported that more than half of the people surveyed are against the Bill. I personally believe that the Government should, through the media, carefully explain that this Bill has not been introduced without listening to the people and is not just based on the views of the Members of Parliament. On the contrary, we all know that there were two public consultations beforehand and people generally agree that there is a need to control liquor supply to reduce incidents caused by liquor consumption. Why do some people choose to protest only now? I believe it is mainly because they lack a sense of democracy and are unfamiliar or disagree with the process of public consultation; or maybe they were too busy during the consultation periods and had no time to express their views against the Bill. According to feedback from the businesses, introducing liquor control at this time may bring about negative impact on the retail business. They feel that businesses are already facing challenges due to the labour shortage and rising cost and to ban liquor consumption after 10.30 pm will cause a chain reaction. If the customers who are used to drinking outdoors do not go out, take a taxi, order food or consume anything, then not only will the retail business be affected, other businesses may also be adversely affected. In the end, it is the employees who will be impacted the most. This is something that the Government must pay attention to.”
“For those with difficulties paying premiums, the Additional Premium Support can also be considered. For the first four years, the transitional subsidy will also be provided. Therefore, I would like to urge the community to find out in detail about the benefits that they can get from the MediShield Life Scheme. If there are dialogue sessions, please attend it with your family and neighbours to understand it together. For those who are better off, ask yourself, if you have MediShield Life now which covers bills for Class B2 and C wards, would you still need to get Integrated Shield Plans? Or can that money be used for other payments that have priority in your life? For those who are younger, think also about how this scheme can support your healthcare costs up to your golden years. Make use of this Scheme reasonably. Just because there will be MediShield Life, I hope that we will not see more people going to the hospital for conditions that do not require inpatient treatment. (In English): I hope MOH will continue to monitor the Scheme closely, including the administrative costs for such universal health coverage for our entire population. It is expected to rise. The sustainability of the Scheme is also important and critical because as we move along, our population will age and certainly the number of economically active people will drop. These are some of the challenges that we may face in the coming years. Mdm Speaker, the most important assurance is that the Government will keep cost and the premiums affordable, and those who require assistance will be assisted. That is as good a promise any scheme can ever provide a population. I support the Bill. 4.34 pm Page: 97”
“I ask this with respect to those who acquired this not due to lifestyle reasons but perhaps from blood transfusion or in the case of maternal to child transmission, out of no fault of their own. Perhaps the Ministry can consider this on a case-by-case basis. Finally, for Singaporeans living overseas and they will, too, be covered by this compulsory Scheme. I would caution that we have to monitor the numbers who would suddenly come back to get treatment here because of the MediShield Life Scheme, for example. I am not sure what numbers we are talking about. Madam, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The MediShield Life Scheme will bring many benefits to Singaporeans with its wider and better coverage. It can firstly be used to pay hospital bills with its higher claim limits; secondly, it functions with the absence of lifetime claim limits for more types of illnesses; and thirdly, it Page: 96 can be used to pay for the cost of treatments like chemotherapy, dialysis and others. If we look at it, this is very important, especially to the Malay community, where firstly, many do not have any other insurance plans. Secondly, many also have chronic diseases, for instance, the proportion of diabetes, hypertension, stroke and heart disease is very high in Singapore. All these increase the risk of our Malay community having damaged kidneys and other diseases. Thirdly, many also are within the low-wage and low-income group. For most Singaporeans, the premiums for MediShield Life can be sufficiently funded by their Medisave. This includes the Medisave top-ups by the Government and subsidies for the needy. There are also benefits and subsidies for the Pioneer Generation (PG).”
“And if so, what would be the application process? For those who are still employed and their companies offer portable medical benefits, how and can these ride on the MediShield Life Scheme? Will there be some steps that they Page: 95 will have to go through, for example, notifying the CPF Board or MOH? On the formation of the Council, can I confirm that members appointed will also need to sign a confidentiality agreement in view of the type of information they will be handling and have access to? Also, how many members will be on the Council? And I do hope it will comprise of the relevant and appropriate representatives. On the penalty for late payment, can I ask the Minister for an explanation of how "the total amount of penalties imposed on the premiums and interest for an insurance period must not exceed 17% of the total amount" was arrived at? Also, what is the definition of "an insurance period"? Is it a year? Pertaining to the action to be taken against those who do not pay their premiums or default, when exactly will the action be taken? It does not seem cost effective to me for us to go after those who default on one or perhaps two premium payments, as the cost of the proceedings may be significantly more than the total cost of the premiums owed to the CPF Board. On Integrated Shield Plans, where many are actually looking forward to the announcements, when can we expect the details to be out and what is the Ministry's view on the use of "risk loaded" policies? Madam, currently, HIV and AIDS patients can use their Medisave accounts for payments but not MediShield. With MediShield Life, will we see some liberalisation in this area?”
“Also, can the Minister please explain in a situation where we have an adult child more than 21 years of age who has mild mental sub-normality but is not registered as a disabled person and, of course, is not working as well, who is being looked after by his parents, who will be responsible for the premiums and who will pay when he is 21? What happens if his parents are in the low-income category? What will also happen if his parents pass on? Next, pertaining to data confidentiality, will the additional, non-medical personnel who will be handling personal information such as healthcare-related information, salary and so on be required to sign an undertaking or agreement? This may now include more staff in the administrative office as well as other clerical staff. For the Additional Premium Support, I assume this will be means-tested. Can the Minister please clarify if support will be disbursed as per the current sliding scale already in use and in existence in our restructured hospitals and Government institutions? If it is different, then we will have to brief the staff. Can I also find out if we can have some frontline booths set up at our Government institutions, which is similar to the ones that we set up for our Pioneer Generation Package to assist with clarifications and explanations, especially in the initial period post-implementation? For the premium subsidies, those who are already in contact with the public healthcare system would likely have their information available and updated. Does this mean that the subsidies will then be automatic? How about those who have never been in contact with the public health system or have only sought treatment at private institutions? Will they have to apply for the subsidies?”
“First, MediShield Life is about being as inclusive as we can. Those with existing medical conditions, who have found it a challenge to get insurance coverage, now have an avenue to assist them. The front loading of 30% for the first 10 years is a reasonable amount compared to what such patients with end-stage renal failure, diabetes mellitus and its whole range of complications and those on chemotherapy, for example, will be utilising in the long term for healthcare cost, now that the ceiling for claims has also been removed. My interaction with such patients has generated expressions of relief, thus far, these have also been some of the major concerns for this group of patients. But can the Ministry of Health (MOH) also let us understand a bit better about the existing medical conditions that will be covered? For example, mental illnesses, congenital diseases and palliative care as well as long-term care. Some of these questions have been raised by people who fall into Page: 94 these categories. Madam, with reference to Part 2, section 4, subsection 3 on premiums, can I clarify on the definition of "parent"? In the context of, for example, a single lady who is not legally married but has decided to have a child of her own, what will her status be and responsibility to that child? The same clarification would also be needed to understand her role and responsibility when it comes to "refund" under section 4, subsection 5 and the definition of "child", as in the Bill, as it currently stands, the definition provided does not really encompass this definition.”
“" Those who hold this view feel that they should have the right to decide on how to Page: 93 make use of their surplus funds and to invest in products with reasonable returns. Perhaps they believe that the premiums paid over the long term can be used for commercial investments to obtain better returns and they do not need to rely on the insurance scheme to look after their health. These doubts do not just come from one single age group. There are some young people as well as older people who do not quite agree with the basic concept of this Scheme. So, we need to educate our people that only when everyone participates in the Scheme can we achieve the ideal effects of this unique public policy. Our people should realise that the premiums will depend on the number of people insured and the structure of the population will have to be taken into account when calculating this complex formula. If you want everyone to benefit, we then have to involve all Singaporeans. As a part of our country, we should put our collective interests in the first place. We should not be so calculating and penny-pinching for our personal interests. The success of Singapore is built on a clean and efficient Government and Singaporeans should cast a vote of confidence in the reasonableness and sustainability of the policy. The Government will continue to pay attention to the low income and the disadvantaged, as it has always been doing. I support this Bill wholeheartedly. 4.24 pm Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Madam, the MediShield Life Scheme Bill is a bold move on the part of the Government. It is a major undertaking with a progressive, long-term vision for the management of healthcare cost. I have a few points to bring up.”
“Mdm Speaker, I will be speaking in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, MediShield Life is a scheme which will benefit all Singaporeans, including those who are not able to buy insurance because of pre-existing conditions. This Scheme is based on the concept of everyone working together on something that can benefit all. Community grassroots leaders told me that some residents had reservations on the Scheme, especially with regard to the premiums. We all know that since the financial crisis, the recovery of the global economy has been slow, and our economy faces many challenges. Many people are uncertain about their job and future income, especially the lower-income workers whose qualifications are not high and computer knowledge is limited. The affordability of the premiums has brought about a great deal of pressure on them. Although the Government has given the assurance that premiums will not increase for five years and the Government will not raise taxes to cover the subsidies given, some people feel that as inflation is unpredictable and work is becoming more and more uncertain, the cost of living will definitely go up. The cost of looking after the sick and elderly at home and children's education makes people worry that after five years, they will not be able to afford the premiums. Some people say frankly that after paying the monthly mortgage and other expenses, there is no cash left in their pockets. And if they need to pay the premiums in cash, there would be a problem. On the other hand, some people ask, "If I do not have health problems and do not need to use the medical insurance to pay for the hospital bill, is it not a waste of money to join the Scheme?”
“Mdm Speaker, in reply to that, I do know. But the fact is that when you have people or third parties in the Court who are watching the proceedings, know what is going on, in itself is already a breach of that privacy and therefore, it is not to be encouraged.”
“They do not need the public scrutiny as these are personal experiences that are best not shared in public and therefore, public criticism will only add to the wound of the divorcing parties and to the parents who have children charged in the Youth Courts. A panel of advisers usually are made up of educators, counsellors, lawyers, psychologists and sociologists and these people are more than qualified to assist the judge in coming to a decision on what should best be done to help the youth in trouble. No parent Page: 68 want the public to know that their children have run afoul of the law and that it is because they were unable to bring up their children properly – they had poor parenting skills – that had led to the children running afoul of the law. As such, I would like to urge the Minister not to consider opening up hearings in the Family Courts as well as the Youth Courts to members of the public. 4.31 pm”
“Another question relates to how younger family law practitioners who have yet to establish themselves could better equip themselves for their new role. I look forward to Minister's clarification for it is necessary that the family lawyers should themselves be convinced that their role remains relevant in the new Family Court system. Mdm Speaker, if I may just put forth my view on the point put forward by the Member for Aljunied GRC, Ms Sylvia Lim's arguments just now, when she said that Family Court cases and Youth Court cases should be made more transparent for the public to know what went on through the decision-making process. I declare my interest as a family law lawyer and I believe that amongst today's list of speakers, I could be the only one who is practising family law and, therefore, I speak from a position of authority. I have also been appointed as an advisor to the Panel of Advisors in the Juvenile Court and, therefore, I know that parties involved either in divorce proceedings or in a Juvenile Court processes usually do not want non-related parties, particularly people who have got no contributions to make to the decision-making processes, to be involved in the hearing of their cases. Most people do not want their cases to be known to the public, especially for parties who are undergoing acrimonious proceedings. The fact that they have ended up in Court shows that they need the Court to solve the differences for them. They do not need other people to know why the marriage have failed, why certain things were done to each other and why certain decisions were made regarding their children.”
“One of them related it to The World Bank report entitled Judiciary-led Reforms in Singapore which begins with the remark that "Singapore is widely recognised as having one of the most efficient, effective judicial systems in Asia, perhaps in the world." It then asked the question as to how the judiciary changed so successfully and quickly. Listed among lessons from Singapore's reforms was the centrality of strategic thinking and business planning to institutional success. The report concluded, among other things, that we have created multi-disciplinary teams; enhanced user coverage and outreach; built administrative service capacity; increased access to justice and improved efficiency. Reforms also emphasised the need to direct targeted interventions in areas in urgent need of improvement. All these observations, I thought, explained why the recommendations Page: 67 produced by the Committee for Justice made for a powerful and persuasive read. There is no doubt that our judicial system has improved lives and increased public confidence in the rule of law. However, I have been approached by some colleagues, particularly family lawyers, who are concerned about the Family Court's power to appoint, in proceedings involving the custody or welfare of a child or involving a person, a registered medical practitioner, psychologist, counsellor, social worker or mental health professional to examine and assess the child or person for the purposes of preparing expert evidence. A common question asked is whether these professionals would be required to have undergone a certain period of legal training before they are appointed by the Family Court.”
“Reports online said that this reform would reduce Singapore's divorce rate because people pondering divorce would have to put in more resources and time to face counsellors, children's psychologists and legal professionals, and thus would hesitate to divorce. Personally, I do not agree. Every now and then, we see families, even with double income, who are unable to cope with the rising cost of living, including children's education expenses and parents' medical expenses. This leads to constant quarrels between couples who eventually choose to separate or divorce. As a family lawyer, I often think that for couples in the midst of separation, financial counselling should be the foremost solution. Providing this kind of resources to people who need it would be truly conducive for couples to give up the thoughts of separation. The Bill reminded people of one issue that is not included and that is the disputes between adult children and their aged parents. Recently, we often hear this catchy song about the PGP played on TV. I thought, what about those pioneers who have dementia or reduced mental capacity? Who will safeguard their interests when they face family and monetary disputes? When aged parents have to face their children in Court because of monetary disputes, will the law protect them like it does for the children through counselling and mediation? (In English): Mdm Speaker, in my speech earlier, I touched on my reasons for supporting the Bill. I am very happy that it puts children's interests first and that it upholds the family as the basic building block of our society. Feedback from my colleagues as well as community leaders is that this Bill makes them proud that they are Singaporeans.”
“Mdm Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Statistics recently released by the Department of Statistics (DOS) showed that the number of divorce cases rose by 4% compared to two years ago at 7,525 in total. Since 2004, Singapore's divorce cases have been rising continuously, with only a slight dip in 2012. Overall, the rising trend is clear, which is worrying. Of the failed marriages, the average marriage span is 10.3 years. Couples married under the Women's Charter tend to divorce after five to nine years of marriage. Reasons for divorce commonly cited are unreasonable behaviours and separation over three years. I support the reform of family justice. I think ordinary Singaporeans would agree too. The two core reforms are to save the marriage and family as much as possible. But when the family dispute has unavoidably come to the legal stage, what we should do is to reduce the suffering brought by the whole process. To reduce the acrimony commonly seen in family justice cases, the Family Justice Courts under the new family justice system will put the children's interests first and help people in divorce seek legal aid and counselling. If the children are still young, the counselling will be compulsory. Young children are the hapless Page: 66 victims of their parents' divorce and are helpless in preventing it from happening. They do not know how to resolve the conflict, fear and helplessness in their hearts; they can be manipulated by their parents and used as a tool to achieve the parents' agenda. Hence, the law must be on the children's side, protect them and help them continue with their studies in a not-so-ideal environment so that they can still live a healthy and deserving life.”
“On behalf of my residents, I would also like to thank the PAP Government for its foresight, for creating a health safety net for Singaporeans and their loved ones. Now, Singaporeans can say, "In Singapore, no matter how high the medical expenses are, no need to worry, the Government would help us to pay!" 5.19 pm”
“In the unfortunate event of someone falling sick, the Government, the individual and the community should make combined efforts to make sure everyone can receive appropriate levels of healthcare. Because of my professional background, I know many people who get into severe difficulties in their financial and personal life due to marriage failure. We can even use extreme difficulties and poverty to describe their situation. They feel being isolated socially; if they fall sick and have to be hospitalised at this time, it would be like adding frost to snow and making their lives even more unbearable. The one thing people fear most after retirement is falling sick and having to be hospitalised. Some people are even more unfortunate. They have to work day and night to make ends meet after divorce, and have no additional money to buy health insurance. This is especially the case with divorced women who have the custody of their children. If their ex-husband refuses to pay alimony and their children happen to be hospitalised and need surgery, they will be burdened with high medical bills. These cases show that there are some less fortunate Singaporeans who have no financial and family support; they urgently need the protection of MediShield Life, so that when they fall sick, they can see a doctor in time to receive treatment. For this group of Page: 81 people, the reform of MediShield is, indeed, timely and good news! Finally, I would like to thank the MediShield Life Review Committee for their dedication. Their hard work in the past 10 months will contribute to the nation, improve our healthcare system and allow everyone to benefit.”
“Some residents have hastily opted out of their private insurance plans, believing that, with MediShield Life, there would not be any issues with getting sick and hospitalised and that everything would be cheaper. It is somewhat erroneous to interpret MediShield Life this way and should be corrected as soon as possible. Besides the Government, the insurance companies should also be responsible to explain to their customers the differences between insurance options and whether there are any overlapping areas. With regard to rising premiums, why young people have to pay more, needs clear explanation, too. Many people do not understand the benefits of front-loading. Front-loading means to pay more when you are young and earning more and to get a discount after retirement. Young Singaporeans must understand the benefits thoroughly. If they have aged parents, the burden on them will be lessened. If their parents' premiums are reduced, they will need less help from the children. This is one of the many features recommended by the Committee, and I fully agree. The underlying concept is simple, which is to let everyone take part within their means and all will benefit. I would like to emphasise that mindset should be adjusted with regard to some people's belief that it is best that the Government should pay when people see a doctor. The experience from some of the welfare states shows us that it is not sustainable to have a free healthcare system, because it will lead to the ballooning of healthcare demand, creating a heavy burden on the government. Our healthcare system still emphasises individual responsibility for one's health, which is to pay attention to things, such as preventive measures, exercise, diet and sleep.”
“It has successfully integrated the efforts of the Government and the individuals to ensure people's well-being. Why do we review the MediShield Life system? In the Prime Minister's words, it is one of the Government's focuses to alleviate people's concern with the rising healthcare cost. He announced last August that MediShield would become universal and life-long, and the Government would particularly look after the senior citizens who have contributed to nation-building. The Report came out within a year, which is a remarkable deed not every government can do, thanks to the PAP Government's clean and practical management of our resources over the years. The Government on one hand judiciously calibrates expenses based on revenues; on the other hand, it boldly takes a long-term view. Do Singaporeans understand that the $4 billion MediShield Life fund is the result of the Government's judicious financial management? Do they understand that it would not be easy to continue to improve the healthcare system and we may need more funds in the future? The next step is for us to think about how to improve productivity, use innovation to create wealth to build up our national coffers. Only by doing this can we be healthier, happier and live a stable life. The coverage under the new MediShield Life has expanded; hence, the premium will also increase to maintain cost-benefit balance. People cannot opt-out either. According to grassroots feedback, ordinary residents cannot fully understand such details. I think it is Page: 80 necessary to step up public education, using different means to explain to Singaporeans in the communities, as well as in companies.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, many people are not clear about our medical insurance system. They simply express views on some healthcare issues, such as it is getting more and more expensive to see a Page: 79 doctor; older Singaporeans dread getting sick, not to mention checking into a hospital to receive treatment! They did not bother to study the system further. As for the structure and details of the whole healthcare system, even fewer people understand them. Why do I raise this issue? Because I feel that before we start the debate on the MediShield Life Review Committee Report, it is necessary to remind Singaporeans that in the eyes of many foreigners, our healthcare system is worth learning from. Our 3M healthcare system comprises three parts – Medisave, MediShield and Medifund. Although some people may not believe this, that is, the 3M system has ensured that most Singaporeans are able to afford their medical expenses. Medisave is mandated by law in that every employed Singaporean must set aside a certain portion of his salary in a medical savings account. Both the account holder and his direct family members can use the money in the account. This can satisfy most of a person's ordinary medical needs. The account holder can also use some of the money in the Medisave to buy insurance from officially appointed insurance companies; this is MediShield. For low-income earners who cannot join the Medisave scheme, the Government has set up Medifund to help those people in extreme poverty to receive treatment when they fall sick. The 3M system is different from a totally free national healthcare system, and it is also different from a totally market-driven one.”
“Therefore, I would like to urge teachers to discuss the Committee's proposals with their students during Civic Education classes. By doing so, not only can we get to know the views of the students but, more importantly, we can instil in them the right values. This is not to trivialise the spirit of National Service, as the contributions of our NSmen cannot be measured by money. We must all remember that it is each and everyone's duty to defend the nation. 1.57 pm”
“Some residents feel that the benefits currently provided under the NS Recognition Scheme are a very powerful way of showing recognition. For many parents, their children need to have financial ability before they can marry and have children. An additional amount in their bank accounts after National Page: 16 Service means that they can get an apartment earlier. Occasionally, I will hear young men saying jokingly that girls enjoy many advantages over boys because she graduates two years earlier and will have more savings after graduation. To be honest, it is not difficult to understand their sentiments. Our children are brought up in a culture of fierce competition and they believe that hard work leads to success. When they encounter seemingly unfair situations in education and work, they cannot help but feel a bit unhappy. The proposal of the Committee is the right one. Six thousand dollars is not a small amount. However, what matters is not the number, but the message that is being conveyed, which is recognition of our NSmen and their families' contributions. It is with the support of their families that they can complete their National Service successfully, a noble duty of a male citizen towards the country. Another piece of good news for our residents is the additional $100 reward for passing the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT). Those who achieve Gold will receive $500; Silver $300; and those with a pass will be awarded $200. This must be a rare reward system in the world. Interestingly, I have heard of some Singaporeans who tell their sons or husbands to work harder, so that the whole family can benefit if they get the cash reward.”
“But it is a balance we have to achieve, and the sooner we begin on this tough job, the better the outcome will be for all of us. Mdm Speaker, I shall speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The President delivered the policy speech on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the Second Session of the Twelve Parliament. His speech, to many Singaporeans, including myself, was very inspiring. Indeed, the Government must work hand-in-hand with the people to build a better and more caring home. While the Government works towards attaining economic achievements, we must also unite as one people, young and old, to live happily and confidently together. The President also reminded us that although Singapore has been independent for nearly 50 years, we are still a young nation. Singaporeans of today must uphold the same spirit as our pioneers, namely, resilience and hard work, to overcome the challenges we are facing today, just like what our pioneers had done in the past. Amidst the transformation of the global economy and the rapid change of the Singapore society, the Government has made major policy changes in the past 10 years, such as introducing ComCare and WIS, to better look after the vulnerable and the low-wage workers. In recent years, the Government has continued to improve its policies, ramping up the supply of public housing, improving the public transport system and introducing the Marriage and Parenthood Package. These schemes reflect the Government's commitment to stay relevant. Singapore is a small nation. It is a fact we cannot change. Hence, we cannot take our nation's defence for granted. To recognise the contributions of our NSmen, the Committee to Strengthen National Service has proposed a series of measures.”
“While I am heartened by the NS Review Committee's recommendations to strengthen National Service, I would like to urge the Government to help develop more ground-up initiatives to deepen the sense of belonging to our nation. Allow the community to play a greater part by giving them more resources to pursue the cause of promoting care and concern for one another. We can further enhance existing activities and programmes to emphasise kind thoughts, kind words and kind actions every day. Membership could be as varied as possible; it could be based on age groups, common interests, life phase, alumni or adopted charitable organisations. The key to success is consistency so that such groups are given sufficient resources to interact regularly. The promotion of care and concern among Singaporeans should also be enlarged to include caring for the environment and animals. There is among some of our youths a certain cynicism that showing care and concern towards others works against their own interests. They argue that they may end up as victims of their own altruism. This pessimistic view of others often drives able young people to focus solely on what matters most to their future – excellent academic qualifications. There is a Page: 15 need for us to address this dreadful pessimism. School pastoral programmes have to pay greater attention to this aspect of character development. Our children must be imbued with a strong sense of confidence about their future. They must believe that their future is co-created with their friends and how good their future is depends on how much they can complement and support each other. It is no doubt a difficult balance to strike when we subscribe to meritocracy as a society and have an entrenched belief in the value of individual diligence.”
“There is a great deal that our Government can deliver in terms of affordable housing, good healthcare, equal educational opportunities and secure employment, which are close to Singaporeans' hearts. When it comes to building a caring society, Singaporeans need to be convinced that they, too, must play their part and that they cannot rely on the Government to make it happen or expect a change equivalent to our remarkable achievement in making our nation the best place for mothers and women. What the Government has done and should continue to do is to promote courteous and considerate behaviour at all fronts – the workplace, in schools and in neighbourhoods. In recent years, customer service standards across many Government agencies rose significantly. Singaporeans have become more aware of the extensive social services we provide for the less fortunate in our midst. In addition, the National Service (NS) Review Committee has recommended more benefits in recognition of NSmen's contributions to the country. The proposed changes show more than due consideration towards Singaporeans who defend us and our homes. They are proof that the nation places great priority on furthering options that will increase their well-being as well as their family's well-being which, in turn, strengthens their sense of belonging to our nation. Anecdotally, since last week's announcements on the proposed increased benefits for NSmen, some mothers have begun telling their sons – and wives, their husbands – to work harder at staying fit so that the families will benefit overall.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion to thank the President for his Address. Before the local media reported that Singapore was named the best place in Asia for mothers, there is already a group of residents in Woodlands who believed that it is true that Singapore is the best place for them and their families and for women and girls as well. This group included many women grassroots leaders, women residents who regularly took part in our community activities with their family members, foreign wives and new citizens, all of whom acknowledged that their children benefit from being born and raised in Singapore. Singapore's top spot is due to the Government's efforts to improve services for mothers and children: maternal mortality has been cut by 80%, child mortality decreased by 25%, gross national income per capita doubled and the percentage of women in Parliament increased six-fold over the past 15 years. I attend international parliamentary conferences regularly and have also hosted foreign parliamentarians in Singapore. The high percentage of our women parliamentarians and the safety for our women and girls generally are widely admired by even the most advanced countries in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. From feedback I have gathered on the ground, what is important to many mothers is not the affluence our children would inherit, but the care and concern they would receive as they grow up and the amount of care and concern they would show others when they become adults. Page: 14 The President's Address has also touched on the Government's proactive approach to improve the nation, including how we would continue to make Singapore a Caring Society.”
“Her experience in this case clearly illustrates that the Protection from Harassment Act can provide better protection for the victims, as the victims can apply for protection orders on their own and do not need to be represented by a lawyer. This targeted Bill means that the victims can save legal costs and put an end to the harassment earlier. However, the Bill does not list protection from harassment as the legal responsibility of employers so as to better protect women at the workplace. Personally, I feel that what the Government has done is not comprehensive enough. The Government should ask companies or employers to conduct legal Page: 132 workshops regularly, so that employees understand their rights, employers know their responsibilities and the definition of harassment. Without harassment, employees' productivity will also improve. We also need to help Singaporeans understand that the new Bill targets only offenders. Victims can sue the perpetrators, but the company or organisation they are working in will not be considered as having violated the law. We also need to educate our students so that they have a better understanding of harassment, help them understand that bullying both in school and on the Internet is not only illegal but also immoral. To build a more civic-minded, gracious and compassionate society, our young generation has to learn to respect others from young and to always be considerate of the feelings of others. They also need to understand that harassing others may cause life-long suffering to the victims. Education is, therefore, very important.”
“As for children, it is even more difficult because they are often doubted and most cases are left unresolved. Some victims are even suspected of dressing provocatively to attract the attention of the opposite sex, so they "deserve it". Victims deserve sympathy for their suffering. Yet, accusations by family members and those around them only serve to add salt to their wounds. Victims often become depressed under such circumstances and are unable to continue to seek legal recourse, they feel very helpless and find it very unfair. During my tenure as the Vice President of the Singapore Association of Women Lawyers, a single lady who was not young, average-looking and did not dress provocatively, came to me at the insistence of friends. She had a very unusual request, because she was charged in Court for harassing her boss. The truth is, she was the victim. Her boss was a foreigner who started off harassing her in the office, then sexually assaulted her, forcing her to become his mistress and eventually made up an excuse to dismiss her. In the end, she had to reveal her boss' true colours, but nobody believed her. After understanding her situation, I felt that the best option for her was to defend herself in Court. However, as she had no money to engage a lawyer, I decided to help her prepare the Court papers and also take care of all the complicated procedures, as well as the pre-trial preparations. A year later, she managed to win the case and justice was served. But, by then, she was very drained and depressed because the Court case took a toll on her. From the victim's point of view, to resort to legal recourse is a painful process.”