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?”
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“The investigator, if you read that section carefully, is a very powerful agent and he has fairly extensive authority. Can the Minister please comment on the qualifications investigators are expected to hold, given their significant role in the self-regulation process? My fourth and final concern is on interim orders. Section 59B outlines the process which allows the immediate suspension of a physician if the Interim Orders Committee feels that it will benefit public interest. This is while investigations are still ongoing. While this may be reassuring to the public when it concerns a rogue doctor, may I ask the Minister what processes are in place to protect the innocent doctor? My fellow Members had commented on the merits of publishing a list of errant doctors – I am not sure if I agree with this because in the spirit of encouraging self-discipline within the profession, I think that for a compassionate society, we should give doctors who have made serious errors or mistakes a chance to redeem themselves. So, therefore, publishing this list would pretty much limit their chances of redeeming that professional etiquette. With these comments, I stand in support of the Bill. 5.08 pm”
“My second query is on the nature of complaints which should be referred to the Medical Council for possible action by the Complaints Committee and Disciplinary Tribunal. Section 39(1)(a) to (d) outlines the complaints that can be considered. But the descriptives invoked are broad and vague. For example, section 39(1)(c) notes an eligible grouse as a "complaint that the professional services provided by a registered medical practitioner are not of the quality which is reasonable to expect of him". Can the Minister elaborate on what "professional services" would cover? In many instances, expectations from patients may vary from the standard medical practice that is accepted by the medical profession. Whose expectations will be taken into consideration? With this broader definition of what is acceptable cause for raising concerns, does the Minister expect that the number of complaints should rise? And if so, will the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) be able to manage the increased caseload and revert on each case within a reasonable timeline? Relating to this is the statute of limitation for personal injuries, which currently stands at three years. As we expect most aggrieved complainants who are seeking redress to first lodge their complaints with the Medical Council, will the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) be able to complete its investigations within the three-year period, so that complainants who may wish to pursue a civil lawsuit can rely on the outcome of the Disciplinary Tribunal's decision to make an informed decision on what they should proceed with? My third concern relates to the investigators that can be appointed by the Complaints Committee. On page 52 of the Bill, section 60A details how the investigator will be empowered to carry out his duties.”
“As the focus of the Bill is on self-policing, there is little attention paid to how information should be disseminated to the lay complainant. While I applaud the inclusion of sections 49(11) and 55(2) which facilitate an appeals process for the complainant, I also note the feedback on this Bill from the Law Society of Singapore where Mr Kenneth Goh, Director of Representation and Law Reform, commented on the difficulties a complainant would face in filing an appeal. For the complainant to make an informed decision on whether or not he should exercise this option of appeal, he must first have access to the evidence on which the Disciplinary Tribunal’s decision was based. For the general public following the proceedings, it is equally important that there is sufficient information made available to allow for a fair assessment of how the judgment was influenced. Only when the processes invoked are understood and appreciated by the public, will self-regulation result in the promotion of trust in the medical profession. May I ask the Minister to share with us the details on how information gathered during the investigation and the rationale for the outcomes arrived at, by the Complaints Committee and the Disciplinary Tribunal, will be shared with the complainant as well as the general public following the proceedings? Additionally, will there be mechanisms which will allow for queries or feedback on the proceedings by the lay community? I strongly believe that an informed lay community will be more likely to partner the medical profession in a constructive manner that will promote a more efficient and effective healthcare delivery system.”
“In a climate where litigation is increasingly the first option for the aggrieved and where the increased incidence of medical malpractice lawsuits will result in escalating healthcare costs, a move to uphold high standards of professional conduct through enhanced self-regulation by the Medical Fraternity reflects social responsibility on the part of our physicians. As I stand in support of this Bill, I would like to seek the Minister’s elaboration of the some of the details involved. There are four aspects which I have queries on. The first deals with transparency of the disciplinary review process and my concerns resonate with that expressed by Mdm Halimah. In his letter to the Medical Fraternity published in the SMA News (dated 13th July 2009), Director of Medical Services, Prof. K Satku wrote, and I quote: "Self-regulation in a profession is intended primarily for the benefit of the public. In assessing whether the proposed amendment is appropriate, it is therefore pertinent to seriously consider if the proposed change ensures fair outcomes for the public, the complainant and the doctor, and engenders greater public trust in the profession." For the lay community to appreciate and accept the internal review outcomes of the Complaints Committee and the Disciplinary Tribunal, we must first be able to follow the processes involved and observe the procedural steps which lead to the final outcomes. Sections 47 and 48 uphold the confidentiality of information obtained during the investigation. Sections 49 and 53 lay out the procedures to be taken at the completion of the investigation of the Complaints Committee and Disciplinary Tribunal, and detailed actions involving the medical practitioner in question.”
“In comparison, the survey pointed out that doctors trained in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand and Britain were well taught, and I quote, "well taught and fully understood what constitutes 'medical professionalism'." It is sad to read that Singapore-trained doctors were thus said to lack professionalism and at times labelled as being tardy or abrasive when treating patients. I would like to ask the Minister what are the current measures used in assessing the professional standards, ethics and service quality amongst our locally trained doctors. What have been done to place greater emphasis on training doctors on professionalism and communication? Moving forward, what is the system in place where newly trained doctors can receive ample learning opportunities especially in exemplifying professionalism, service and care? Sir, with that, I support the Bill. Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity to share my views on this important Bill. This is a comprehensive Bill that covers a wide range of issues central to the professional management of medical services. Of key significance is the aim to foster greater public trust in the disciplinary process within the medical profession. The main bulk of this very long Bill focuses specifically on this aspect. Details on Disciplinary Proceedings, Health Committee Inquiries and Performance Assessments are spelt out in clause 26, which spans from pages 16-52 and revamps the entire Part VII of the original Act. I applaud the Ministry of Health and the Medical Fraternity for amendments set out in this Bill.”
“In the interest of patients who have placed much trust in their doctors and physicians to save their lives, I hope to see this provision being widely practised for the benefit of not only the patients but also of the profession. As a follow through of this, I would like to urge the Minister to consider allowing greater transparency to evolve and contemporaneously update the public in the MOH’s website the names of doctors censured or subject to disciplinary proceedings as well as those who are deemed unfit or have applied to limit their practice ambit due to physical or mental unfitness. On a separate note, I would like to request the Minister to clarify my concerns on a recent article that I came across sometime in July last year. It was mentioned in the local newspapers that a survey was conducted in the wake of the conviction two years ago of a trainee doctor from the Tan Tock Seng Hospital who had tried to film a female colleague in the shower. Among the questions asked in the survey was whether he should be allowed to practise as a doctor. Fewer than half of the NUS-trained doctors said he should not be allowed to practise, compared to 71% of their foreign-trained counterparts. Furthermore, seven of the doctors trained locally found his actions pardonable. From the survey, it appeared that the Singapore-trained doctors were more unwilling to have their colleagues disciplined or struck off the register even if they have a criminal record. Nor are they likely to tell on the colleagues who are tardy or abrasive. In short, they are said to be more lenient on colleagues who fall short on ethics compared to those who are trained in medical schools abroad.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill and I thank the Minister for his elaborate explanation of the purpose of this Bill. I feel that this Bill is timely. As I had shared previously, mental illness and impairment affect anyone regardless of race, profession or status and appear to be on the increase. Therefore, it is good to see this Bill introducing new changes to ensure that registered medical practitioners are competent and fit to practise medicine and also to uphold the high standards of practice and reinforce public confidence in the medical profession, not only locally but also internationally. I am particularly drawn by the new section 37A which proposes to allow a practitioner who realises that his performance may be impaired for whatever reason so as to make him unfit to continue in practice to voluntarily apply to the SMC to remove his name from the register, or to suspend him or to impose conditions or restrictions to his practice. As this is a voluntary action, it does require the medical practitioner concerned to be honest and honourable and to possess an extremely high level of moral courage and self-discipline to ensure that he puts the well-being of his patients in priority to his, that he will not jeopardise his patients’ life and well-being especially if he finds himself unable to treat his patients effectively due to his own physical or mental health or other hindrances. I sincerely believe that this provision seeks to provide the hallmark of a truly honourable physician. The courage to admit his inability to cure for whatever reason is heroic and commendable.”
“Sir, one supplementary question. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary said that the HSA is tracking or monitoring the sales of illegal drugs over the Internet. Would that necessarily mean that if any surfers were to come across such illegal trade, HSA would necessarily be the authority to report this illegal trading too?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your replies. Just like to check with the Minister, is there any duration within which the vehicle has to be confiscated before it is released to the innocent third party?”
“Thank you, Minister of State, for the answer. I have three supplementary questions. First, is there a training programme in place to ensure that there will be enough sufficiently-trained childcare givers for all the 200 new centres when they are fully operational? Second, if foreigners are to be recruited to be caregivers, will the Ministry impose any minimum qualifications on these caregivers so that the safety and well-being of the infants and young children in their care are ensured? Third, would allowing infants as young as two months to be put in infant care centres effectively defeat the purpose of the 16-week maternity leave granted to mothers?”
“I would like to ask the Minister whether there is a mechanism in place to check the duration of ownership after a property has been purchased, that says if the property is sold within, say, a three- or five-year period, that that would certainly be speculation.”
“Supplementary question, Sir. May be it is because the Town Councils have taken the stance that they will only issue warnings and perhaps call up the person who posted the notices, that we still see the problem recurring especially in void decks and in lifts and things like that. The thing I have noticed is that no notices have been put up to advise against such acts and the penalty it carries. So, would the Ministry consider putting up such notices so that it acts as a deterrent because I have come across residents who are very irritated by such acts of posting?”
“I would also like to ask the Minister if he would provide an update on whether the recognition of graduates from additional foreign law firms or law schools for admission as advocates and solicitors in Singapore has resulted in more practising lawyers for the legal profession. Sir, with that, I support the Bill. 3.55 pm”
“Would the Ministry be drafting the terms of this training contract so as to ensure uniformity and consistency in the quality of the training to be provided by the law firms involved? I urge that such powers should be exercised cautiously and judiciously with checks and balances by the Ministry as well as the legal profession as a whole. For a start, the Law Ministry should outline in lucid terms the specific grounds for the exemption or approval. This serves the object of transparency and public accountability and should be published in the Government Gazette or explicitly communicated to the members of the legal profession. Previously, there were suitably qualified persons to adjudge whether a person should be exempted or approved. I am concerned about the extent which the Law Ministry by itself would be sufficiently equipped to ensure the applicant's records (both academic and practical) can substantiate his or her exemption or approval. By the same token, the provision of such powers is to fulfil one of the aims of admitting more lawyers into practice so as to redress the perennial problem of shortage of practising lawyers. It is therefore imperative in the admission of new lawyers under this new provision that persons who are exempted or approved should serve as practising lawyers for a requisite period of time so that this amended provision will not be used as a "back-door" provision for any person to be admitted as an advocate and solicitor in Singapore and then immediately leave practice to work as in-house counsels or embark on other professions shortly after upon being called to the Singapore Bar.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with the passing of this Bill, the Law Minister appears to be vested with more powers in relation to the admission of lawyers. Most of these powers are now vested in the Board of Legal Education, which comprises the Attorney-General, the Law Society President, the National University of Singapore law dean and a number of lawyers or members nominated by the Singapore Academy of Law. When this Bill is passed, the Law Minister will now be the one with the power to approve a person as legally qualified when he is actually one "who is not otherwise entitled to be a qualified person" within the meaning of the Act. The Minister would have the discretion to administratively exempt such persons from the usual courses of instructions or examinations if the Minister is of the opinion that these would be persons whose expertise would contribute to "the quality of legal services in Singapore or the economic or technological development of Singapore". Why should the Minister be the only authority to so decide without consulting the other relevant bodies? What KPIs are in place to measure the quality of the applicant's contributions? Can the Minister provide examples of what sort of persons he had in mind that would fall within this category of "privileged persons"? Besides the transfer of such powers, one of the other main purposes of the Bill will be to implement changes to the requirements for lawyers to practise Singapore law. Instead of a pupillage in law firms, prospective lawyers must serve a practice training period of six months, which will be enhanced with a training contract with the firms.”
“Supplementary question, Minister. Most of these complaints of excessive noise are usually raised by residents who complain that these noises occur in the middle of the night. And I guess at that point in time, the Ministry officials will not be on patrol to check on these. I am wondering whether or not there will be a regime that will be carried out by the Ministry to make sure that, other than the day checks, something could be done at night, especially in the dead of night. The other thing is whether the Ministry would consider raising the penalty because I think $500 for illegal modifications is perhaps too low in today's context.”
“I recall reading that a child reportedly asked Minister Mentor if we could air-condition Singapore. At a separate occasion, Minister Mentor reportedly mentioned about technology embedded apparels that could adjust the external temperature of the person to a comfortable and optimal temperature, be it colder or warmer than the ambient. They both dared to dream. Do we? Do we have the boldness and tenacity to make dreams come true? Do we have the entrepreneurial wherewithal to further make it commercially successful? Would cooling and lowering the humidity in Singapore bring us a "sixth tap for our water needs"? If the technology is available, will it become affordable just as desalination and NEwater become in time? Can Singapore solve its water constraints and climate change issue together, invest in viable technologies while we do R&D on new ones? If successful, we could market this system in many parts of the world with similar issues. Could this be a business or industry that we can build, while solving our own issues? 3.59 pm”
“We should allow some of our hard earned reserves to help us create more than just monetary returns by bringing some of tomorrow's best viable technologies and most promising industries that are fit for our natural competitive advantages for other markets to create goodwill. We should be willing to sacrifice even a little on absolute monetary return in exchange for the precious intangible benefits that could help spark and thrust Singapore forward into the next decades. We are proud that our reserve managers in GIC and Temasek, when benchmarked against investment agencies, have been credible, successful and viewed with admiration globally in their community. We further acknowledge Temasek's sterling role since inception of its stewardship and the building of many of our great Singapore Enterprises in many forms, directly or indirectly, or in concert with other agencies or leaders. The question is, could we harness the same resources, people and spirit to help create a second renaissance in the building and rebuilding of our local businesses and enterprises? If not Temasek or Temasek 2, what would be the best way or best institution or combination of people and institutions for us to focus on this, going forward? If and when the Economic Strategies Committee crystallises its action plans in response to the Prime Minister's vision and blueprint, would such an institution be an effective added medium in reshaping Singapore's new business and enterprise landscape? With global warming becoming inevitable, given our hot and humid climate, Singapore may not be a comfortable and choice place to live and work for some people. This would adversely affect our aspiration to become a First Class Home. Is there something feasible that needs to be done or could be done?”
“If this is true, we as a small and neutral nation, proven to be of no threat to any of the big boys, are in the best position to buy into concessions or invest in companies owning concessions but are in need of cash in this downturn. We stand to benefit by being the neutral and least threatening intermediary that can secure precious and finite resources at this trying time and supply the Chinese, Indians, Japanese and Koreans when most or all the other cylinders of the global economy start to kick in, say, three to five years' time. In addition, as technology firms find themselves cash strapped when credit is scarce, it would be wise for us to offer, selectively, to invest in them. We have shown our Sovereign Wealth Fund to be the most transparent and the least of adversarial threats, even in the sharp scrutinising eyes of the US Congress and EU Commission. We should invest the blood and sweat savings of our forefathers prudently and boldly to secure a stronger foothold for our children and grandchildren to build upon, after we carefully evaluate and identify the sphere of our natural competence and competitive advantage. We cannot bring our nest egg to our graves, after we allocate sufficiently for rainy days. We should ensure that each generation is enterprising and creating new sources of value and wealth for our next generation, while investing prudently and steadfastly in the wealth accumulated and passed on by the previous generations, which is not our blood and sweat to claim, for the optimum benefit of ensuing generations. We recognise that it would be foolhardy to expect a Temasek 2. But we do need an Enterprise Builder and Enterprise Enabler. It is true that what is lacking is not just about money. However, we should put our money where our mouth is.”
“Besides what is currently provided for service and non-service injuries via the public service, I learn that National Servicemen are given an option to opt for a personal accident insurance coverage to cover them throughout the year as well as the recall period. Active servicemen are given an extra $20 monthly allowance to help defray the cost of this insurance but this option is not extended to servicemen who are on reservist. To give family members of our servicemen a greater peace of mind, I urge the Government to consider providing additional coverage for our servicemen on reservist duties paid for by the Government. This will be a strong signal and important gesture of the Government's gratitude towards our National Servicemen. Minister George Yeo has said in the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Addendum that "Good relations with our closest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, are essential." Indeed and I hope that, as part of building the good bilateral relations, Members of Parliament and the public/private/people sector representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore should continue to have more frequent interaction and cooperation. In the same vein, in relation to bilateral relations with Malaysia, Singaporeans cheered on hearing the Malaysian Prime Minister's clear message during his recent visit to Singapore that both sides should embark on a new relationship without the baggage of the past. Mr Speaker, Sir, an investor has opined that, while the mighty world powers can print money and pump prime, they cannot print finite basic resources, especially basic commodities needed for economic growth when the world recovers.”
“Ten percent of them are institutionalised at Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and psychiatric homes. The rest continue their treatment in the community, often in partnership with IMH. Given the considerable number of patients seeking such treatment and, I believe, the trend is upward, I urge MOH to consider decentralising the specialised psychiatry services to the heartlands. I am aware that certain local polyclinics and general practitioners at the heartlands already provide such services. But I suggest that we extend the availability and reach of psychiatry services to all polyclinics, where feasible, in partnership with the general practitioners with such expertise. The advantages are obvious, considering the pressures faced by our greying population, our dual income families and school-going children in our highly strung and competitive society. This will ease the burden of patients and their loved ones who accompany them for treatments regularly. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has reiterated in the Defence Ministry's Addendum that "National Service remains the backbone of the SAF, and maintaining the motivation and morale of our National Servicemen remains a key priority. MINDEF will continue to recognise the contributions of our National Servicemen, their family members and employers, and work on enhancing their commitment to the defence of Singapore." The several accidents and deaths of NSFs and NSmen on reservist duties, both in the SAF and SPF, in recent years have highlighted the need for insurance coverage.”
“If we espouse lifelong learning, this is where we start to equip them with true skills and experiences. Their tasks would include making or grooming new friends, developing their own network for their own benefit in the advancement of their career and for Singapore indefinitely. Sir, let me move on. The President emphasised the importance of investing in our healthcare system and enhancing our 3M financing framework to assure every Singaporean access to high quality healthcare. The Ministry of Health has announced, amongst others, that Medisave will now be extended beyond the six chronic diseases to include outpatient treatment of schizophrenia and major depression. I am heartened to note that five new nursing homes are expected to be built in the next two years, including one catering to the special needs of psychiatric patients. This will greatly ease the financial burdens of many families, especially during this economic uncertainty. Many people welcome Minister Khaw Boon Wan's pledge that the Health Ministry intends to "strengthen capabilities of family physicians, especially in chronic disease management, mental health, palliative and home medical care" by promoting "best practice guidelines for family physicians and in our polyclinics" and to ensure that "Intermediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC) for our ageing population is adequately funded and provided well". Such reassurances are very well received by Singaporeans who prefer to have their senior family members receive quality care on home ground. On 24th March 2009, MOH responded to an inquiry by my parliamentary colleague, Dr Lily Neo, that there are about 25,000 patients with serious mental illness in Singapore, principally schizophrenia.”
“If I tell my friends in US that I came from Malaysia, in eight or nine cases out of 10, they have no idea where Malaysia is. But, if I tell them it is near Singapore, they get an impression almost immediately. However, I sigh with emotion. There are talents in Singapore, there are also talents in Malaysia and they graduated from UK Cambridge, Oxford or US Harvard, or Yale University. But, how many of them will return to their homeland? Beside those graduated from top notch Universities, even for local graduates, if they can get a job and a green card in US, they will not return to their homeland. *Cols. 685-686. (In English): Sir, I end the quotation here. On investing in education, we need to continue to attract more foreign talented students at their tender age so that they can have more time to be assimilated into our system and society. We should hatch a plan to expose our local and foreign talents to acquire soft skills through cultural exchanges, immersion and exchange programmes, drama, debates, scientific conferences and competitions, exchange internships, host markets or industries throughout their schooling curriculum. We could ensure that the same talents, when they are still young and energetic eight to 10 years after graduation and after appropriate preparation, are sent overseas for meaningful assignments for a certain period where they will cut their teeth, round their corners, hone their skills, immerse in the foreign environment to work with their foreign counterparts to gain valuable experiences in an environment that will widen their perspective, challenge their knowledge, push them to find solutions in uncharted and unfamiliar territories and deepen their ability to examine issues from the diverse perspectives of their host country.”
“We need to co-create a liveable city state which will fulfil the needs and aspirations of their children as well as their own needs when they age or retire. Singapore can be different and should be different from New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Talents come here because it is a place to maximise profits, it gives them a unique living experience complete with security and with cultural and religious diversity co-existing harmoniously, which is not easily replicable elsewhere. Sir, I would like to continue in Mandarin to give an update to what Minister of State Koo Tsai Kee had said yesterday on an article that is published in the Lianhe Zaobao today to show Singapore's changing fortunes. (In Mandarin): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] In today's Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, there is an article titled: "Where does the problem lie?" It is a commentary article by the foreign press and the author is Ouyang Wenfeng. He wrote in his article, the United States Military Academy at West Point held a graduation ceremony last Saturday, the US Defence Minister gave a speech at the ceremony, the top student this year is not an American, it is a Singaporean named Li Wei Xian. He majored in Economics at West Point, and is planning to return to Singapore after graduation. A great talent like him, remains dedicated to serving his country. It is no wonder that Singapore can surpass Malaysia within a short period of time and remains the most powerful economy in Asia. We are a small state, but yet we achieve so much and, so, Singaporeans are proud about it. When Singapore was separated from Malaysia, was Singapore more powerful than Malaysia? Today, the whole world knows about Singapore.”
“In difficult times, people look to their leaders to crystallise their vision into simple messages to the people to spark their inner strength, bring forth their passion and let them put in their extra effort without asking. When people are fired up with real hope and not false dreams we would have a continuous and momentous drive that would further catalyse change, focus the administrative service into decisive and pragmatic actions and foster unity of purpose as a nation. As Minister of State for Defence, Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee, said yesterday, Americans need strong leadership, so do we. Now is the time for the Government to launch a 10-year vision and blueprint before the depressing numbers of the economy start to pull at our heartstrings and the tectonic plates of the "New World Order", both geopolitically and economically, begin to shift irreversibly. I therefore laud the Prime Minister for his bold and resolute address to this House yesterday which has outlined the direction forward in bold and well-thought out strategies. We take cognisance that we are limited by land and other natural resource constraints. It is therefore imperative for us to identify the growth areas where we have our natural competitive advantage to optimise the yields from our precious resources, which include our people. This will consequently create a virtuous cycle of better paying jobs, greater job satisfaction and more work-life balance for our people and will ensure that niche businesses created will not be easily overtaken by others. In the same vein, we need to groom and retain talent by creating a conducive environment for local and foreign talents who want to make Singapore their home.”
“Apart from the day-to-day issues, people need hope for themselves and their children and strong confidence that in unity the new vision in addressing the "New World Order" is within reach when hearts, minds, blood and sweat are fused together as a nation. Singaporeans are used to the Government providing a simple, clear and common vision regardless of the occasion to fire up their hope, energy and focus to transform ourselves, our society into something we can identify with and work towards. The Government is expected, once again, to rekindle in our people a national pride that takes us beyond what we have achieved today, in the short 50 years of self-government. Many gratefully remember how our Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had set aflame the hearts and minds of Singaporeans in turbulent times. They appreciate Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s sterling guidance when he was our Prime Minister. That Singapore enjoyed tremendous growth (until the US financial system collapse) and continues to attract to our shores eminent businessmen, much coveted global investors, technology and scientists under the open and inclusive governance of our current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have not gone unnoticed. At least for Singapore, the Chinese saying that "wealth does not last three generations" is not true as our Government has always been guided by a clear, fundamental vision to secure Singapore’s future. The true grit of our leaders is being tested during this downturn. We have read of how people in the region and far away have been comparing the state of affairs in their countries with ours, often with a tinge of envy that we can continue to push through tough but unpopular policies that ensure our survival in the immediate and long term.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to join in the debate. I support the motion in thanking the President for his Address. I also thank the Prime Minister for addressing the numerous concerns of my colleagues who have spoken for the past three days and for setting up the Economic Strategies Committee to study the long-term economic transformation of Singapore and to review specific strategies to develop different sectors. He also temporarily ended speculation on how the electoral system will be changed to cater for a wider range of views. The President touched on "Building Our Future Singapore in an Uncertain World". We are indeed living in an uncertain world especially after the collapse of the financial system in the US has disrupted the global economy and the globally feared H1N1 pandemic flu has finally landed on our shores yesterday with our very first case being tested positive. Many Singaporeans I have spoken to seek reassurance and messages of hope during this critical period. In short, they expect the "New World Order" to be within reach. The ground sentiment is that people want to see more concrete measures. Let me elaborate. Sir, the Prime Minister's speech has clarified some people’s impression that the Addenda to the President’s speech did not seem like a holistic blueprint with clear vision, precise objectives, coordinated actions and milestones and key performance indices in addressing the much anticipated "New World Order", geopolitically and economically. They hoped to see bold vision with the balance of steady hands that is believable, identifiable and achievable, a vision that inspires, galvanise and work.”
“A good example would be the Picture Story in today's edition of the New Paper taken by a resident in Bishan showing a group of policemen trying to arrest a man below his block. The introduction of Move-On Orders for better crowd control appears to be a calibrated approach. However, the Police should exercise restraint when using this Bill's penal provisions in incidents happening within Singapore that are not major international events, such as campaigning during the General Elections. I see this Bill as continuing the process of opening up that has begun a few years ago. Since as a country we want a more open and free society and are moving towards more openness, we should not allow any legislation to hinder our growth and development towards active citizenry and civil rights participation. 4.48 pm”
“This also further blurs the line on when and under what circumstances a person is legitimately demonstrating or carrying out an illegal march, a demonstration or procession in any given case. How would the police avoid mistaking a curious bystander as a protester? The definition of "public place" is ambiguous. This Bill defines it to mean any place, open air or otherwise, to which members of public have access as of right or by virtue of permission, including when a payment of a fee is made. Apparently, this expression is extended to include private premises that the occupier of the place allows members of the public to enter, but only while the place is ordinarily open to the public. In more ways than one, the dichotomy between a public and private place is further obscured. What may be a "private place", eg, a private club or hotel ballroom, by normal definition now becomes a "public place" in the eyes of this piece of legislation. This Bill can rope in property owners to help maintain public order. Property owners would undertake the onerous burden of taking "reasonable action" to prevent illegal assemblies and processions on their premises when they are notified by the police. Then, again, who is the actual "property owner" becomes questionable especially when the assemblies/processions cut across numerous properties and localities. Another proposed clause includes giving police enhanced powers during events declared as special events, as well as letting law enforcement officers stop people from filming, distributing or exhibiting films of law enforcement activities. What is defined as a "law enforcement activity" requires greater clarity. Will filming Police Officers on patrol amount to a breach of this provision resulting in indictment?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill as it will give the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) more effective powers to maintain public order and safety during major events such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit which Singapore will host in November this year and others to follow. The IMF meeting experience a few years back has shown that protests and terrorist actions could threaten mega events that Singapore is increasingly hosting. I support this Bill as it is imperative to ensure peace and order during Singapore’s hosting of major international conferences of high global signature. This is to ensure that our reputation as one of the safest cities in the world is maintained. Having seen the protests taking place in Thailand in the past few days during the ASEAN Summit, I am sure most Singaporeans and foreigners alike would not want a repeat of such violence here. I welcome this continuous review of public order laws to keep them up to date with a progressively more complex security environment, especially when this Bill focuses on outdoor activities. Consolidating relevant portions of the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act and the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act into this Bill is timely. However, this new Bill has stark similarities with the Public Order (Preservation) Act, Cap. 258, especially with its key provisions. I therefore hope that MHA will consider clarifying and rationalising them. Several commonly used words and definitions have been given new meanings. For the purpose of this Bill, "assembly" can now refer to one person alone marching or carrying out a procession solely. This is a stark departure from the definition of an "unlawful assembly" in the Penal Code which is five or more.”
“One supplementary question for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. Would the Ministry of Health consider implementing a minimum age requirement for all commercial ear piercing activities, that children, perhaps, under 16, must be accompanied by at least one parent when these activities are taking place?”
“Another concern is the impact of insurance on donors. Donors could be discriminated against and be rejected or subjected to higher premiums by insurance companies. I am aware that the Bill attempts to address insurance costs through the compensation mechanism. However, the impact of organ donation to donors' pre-existing health or life insurance products is still unclear. Premiums aside, how would the donor's existing policies be affected? There must be adequate safeguards, especially for those donors who are risking their lives to save or help others in need as this may be an aspect that they may not have considered or given due consideration to. In the same vein, what if after accepting payment, the donor develops more or unforeseen health complications? And what if the healthcare costs escalate beyond what the compensation or payment can cover? Is there a safety net of sorts? Donating organs to help another life is a sacred and laudable act. If it has to descend to a point where the blame is transferred to the Government for enacting this legislation to encourage the donation that result in the donor suffering poorer health, it will leave a bitter taste. Inevitably, the Government would be blamed for its role in enabling the rich to exploit the weak and poor. The question then is whether the Government should have the moral duty to take care of the health of the donor? Mr Speaker, Sir, having aired my concerns and hoping that the Minister would give them due weight where appropriate, I support this Bill.”
“If the Ministry eventually allows or follows a set of international practices and guidelines in working out a legally acceptable and ethical mechanism to allow for reasonable payment to cover out-of-pocket expenses, and for anticipated and quantifiable medical and non-medical expenses, it should be communicated simply and clearly to all Singaporeans, especially since the Act is one of an opt-out scheme. The regulations to be drafted must be clear and unambiguous and simply understood by the laymen. As it is an equally important piece of subsidiary legislation, would the Minister consider calling for a public consultation to gather more feedback as well before the subsidiary legislation is drafted? The Hospital Transplant Ethics Committee has an unenviable task in this whole exercise. As such, the selection of the members of the Committee must again be carefully carried out. This Committee must not only be seen as transparent but also be respected as being highly ethical and compassionate. MOH should conduct regular audits, checks and balances on these committees as they may become the sole arbiter of what is reasonable compensation or reimburse ment. This is to prevent compensation from becoming an inducement to the poor and desperate to donate their organs. In short, people must understand the rationale and the concept of the payment, and accept it as fair compensation. Introduction of mandatory counselling of the possible consequence of such organ donation would also help to underscore the importance of the donor's decision and if it were truly mercenary, then hopefully, he would be deterred and change his mind. However, if it were altruistic, then it reinforces in the donor the need to have regular due diligence check of his health.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the interest of time I shall not repeat what my colleagues before me have said about how this Amendment Bill will bring about the milestone changes to immensely benefit more people needing organ transplants. Although I do share some of their concerns, I nevertheless support this Bill as it will give more people hope and a second lease of life. However, I have my concerns which I hope the Minister would consider and re-examine as these may have unintended repercussions. First, the issue of compensation, costs incurred or reimbursement. It has been suggested that only verifiable or documented expenses should be allowed as it is ethically unproblematic. The primary concern with the so-called payment, compensation or reimbursement is that it is often unclear when it tips over to become payment for an organ. Furthermore, there will always be some genuine payments for which no verification or documents can be produced, especially when the cultural practices of different ethnic groups in nourishing their bodies to aid recovery may differ. For example, the Chinese believe in using ginseng, dangui and cordyceps, amongst others, and these are pricey. Would the Minister consider additionally allowing for a one-off payment of, say, $2,000 to cover these payments? By the same token, whenever there is payment, whether in cash or kind, we will never be able to satisfy everyone. Some people over-estimate their own worth and value and will price their worth and earnings differently.”
“However, increasingly, my residents are complaining that their disputes cannot be resolved because their neighbours refuse to go for mediation, especially in cases involving noise, dirty laundry, high-rise litter and the encroachment of space. Would the Ministry of Law consider: (1) empowering the CMCs to compel attendance in cases assessed to be genuine and non-frivolous; (2) making settlements enforceable between the parties with sanction meted out for non-compliance; and (3) escalating contentious cases for resolution by community mediation tribunal. Staffing at Small Claims Tribunal and Subordinate Courts”
“Sir, when the monthly income ceiling was last raised in 2007, more people qualified for legal aid. Some legally-aided litigants in matrimonial proceedings have actually abused the policy of not having party-and-party cost ordered against them, to insist on contentious proceedings to improve their stakes in claiming custody and care/control of children, maintenance for the wife and children and the division of matrimonial flat. By refusing to settle at appropriate junctures, although it is their prerogative to insist on a trial, doing so would inflict cost injuries for their spouses as well as their own assigned lawyers whose fees are fixed, especially when the final judgment was not in their favour. Would the Ministry consider: (1) allowing recovery of party-and-party cost from such Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) applicants; (2) allowing LAB or its assigned lawyers to recover from such applicants an extra fee commensurate with the time taken in the proceedings; (3) having fixed periodical reviews of the means of qualified applicants whose fortunes may have changed for the better in the course of or after the court proceedings are over. This will result in better management for public resources and litigants' expectations; and (4) in intestacy cases where there are minor beneficiaries, to lift the requirement that a co-administrator must also satisfy the means testing when the co-administrator is often not a beneficiary but was just being helpful. Community Mediation Community Mediation Centres (CMCs) have been in existence and in operation since January 1998. CMCs have been useful in settling disputes which would otherwise have to go the normal litigation route.”
“Despite our country's affluence and first world status, there are still in existence many dysfunctional families amidst us. Shockingly, they may not just be from the low-income families but stretch and affect various strata of our populace. My other concern, in particular, is in the area of re-marriages and how young children, youths and their grandparents have to deal and cope with new in-laws, the step-parents and the step-siblings. There are anecdotes of young children and the elderly who are usually economically dependent on the new spouse, usually the male, being subject to verbal and physical abuse and neglect. To exacerbate the situation, the recent rise in media reports of step-fathers or siblings raping/molesting their younger step-daughters/sisters is a worrying social trend. In the light of all this, may I ask MCYS, specifically for this vulnerable group: (1) How many cases/reports of such cases have been received for the past five years from 2004 to 2008? (2) What is MCYS currently doing to help the young/youths/elderly in such dysfunctional families? Has it been effective? (3) What future plans does MCYS have to proactively prevent, manage and handle such cases? I hope that the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Dysfunctional Families will also be looking into these issues as well. Home Ownership Plus Education (HOPE) Scheme for Dysfunctional Families”
“Sir, after the Government revised the pro-baby package last year, people's perception of marriage, parenthood and family has taken a curious turn. Courtship couples are constantly asked when they will tie the knot so that they can quickly receive the Government's goodies. When a couple announced marriage plans, they are asked the following questions: (1) Was the marriage motivated by the procreation benefits? (2) How many children do they intend to have? (3) Would they be claiming all their entitlements including maternity and paternity leave? Some young couples have been indignant as they feel that these questions are attacks on their integrity. They are marrying for love and if there are benefits along the way, these are incidental as they can still choose to forgo them by not having children. I strongly agree, although I do hope that they would change their minds about not wanting to have children. The procreation incentives should not degenerate into a money-grabbing culture such that the sanctity of marriage and family is forgotten. I draw a parallel with the housing grants that HDB gives to eligible homeowners. In a divorce, it is very common for the spouses to claim their entitlement to one-half of the housing grant in the division of the matrimonial flat. There are also divorcing couples who demanded that the baby bonuses given by the Government should be split between them or that they be separately held for the children so that the money does not fall into the hands of one parent only. In giving out cash grants and other subsidies to help families, MCYS should also explore ways to ensure that these will really go towards promoting family togetherness and not be turned into bones of contention in the event of a split in the family.”
“Does the Ministry of Home Affairs intend to create a different telephone number for the public to call, such as the 1777 for ambulance for non-urgent cases, in the situations that I just mentioned above, instead of 999, so that trained police manpower could be freed up for more urgent life and death matters? This could mean outsourcing this non-urgent aspect of the work to the auxiliary police, as in the case of the traffic police. It could also mean that in family quarrels, for instance, dedicated social workers or trained community mediators could be dispatched to provide dispute resolution services, rather than to fulfill the expectation of certain family members to have the police make an arrest on the spot. Training of Home Team”
“Sir, the Home Team has performed admirably. And since Singapore became an international convention venue, it has expanded its duties to protect all convention participants as well, over and above utilising private security forces. This is no easy task, especially when much co-ordination is needed with the foreign dignitaries’ security agencies to ensure that they work seamlessly and efficiently. The recent recruitment of a few hundred more people to join the Singapore Police Force speaks volumes of how much manpower is required. The Second Minister for Home Affairs has said that our police officers indeed work much longer hours. Singaporeans should salute the existing team for their efforts have led to the overall crime rate in 2008 dipping below that of 2007. The overall efficiency and effectiveness of the SPF have led to many more people calling 999 as a reflex action to the following: (a) Quarrels between family members or with neighbours; (b) Chatter from the void decks and motor bike speeding in the dead of the night; (c) Noise from religious celebrations due to auctions, wayangs or lion dance performances, etc; and (d) Harassments from loansharks. Callers expect the police to arrive at the scene at least within 30 minutes of their calls. Many residents are angry that the police did not give priority to their calls for help. When these few hundred vacancies are filled, people would naturally expect the Singapore Police Force to have an even higher level of quality service, since more police officers are now available to respond even more quickly to their calls.”
“(4) A Singaporean killed in the Mumbai terrorist attack – how many people would use this incident to remind ourselves to check on travel advisories issued by the MFA before traveling? (5) The recurring Bangkok political crisis – why are Singaporeans undeterred or not worried for their safety and still going to Bangkok? (6) All iconic structures, such as the Singapore Flyer and some skyscrapers are easy terrorist targets – are internationally-accepted disaster rescue or contingency plans made mandatory and reviewed periodically? Dual Citizenship”
“To counter terrorists threats, SARS and the flu pandemic, much work have been done to prepare Singaporeans for the outbreak of these eventualities in the past eight years or so. Yet, how prepared are Singaporeans today? The efforts seem largely confined to major inter-agency exercises, simulations and drills conducted by the Home Team and some grassroots organisations, and the distribution of handbooks to households. Do Singaporeans truly know how to respond to such emergencies if they happen? How long must MHA persevere in its efforts to make Singaporeans realise that they must take ownership and play a critical role in their own safety and not rely totally on the Government? I will use six examples to illustrate. (1) Fire drills in commercial buildings – office workers often do not take these seriously and take the exercises like “going through the motion”. The participation rate is often not very high. (2) MRT train disruptions or accidents along expressways or in the tunnels – how do commuters and motorists respond before the authorities arrive at the scenes? Is the Traffic Police making it mandatory for head-lights to be turned on and for drivers to tune in to the local radios for the whole duration of the tunnel ride in the CTE or the KPE? (3) The tremors felt by earthquakes in Sumatra or Indonesia – most people did not even realise why they experienced sudden dizziness. For people who did evacuate, instead of running away to open spaces as soon as they hit the ground, they stood at the ground floor of the same building, expecting to see something happening.”
“He said that senior citizens who are above 50 should take part in social work, so that they can make use of their rich experience and impart them to our younger generation. (In English): In TODAY newspaper's VOICES column yesterday, ie, on 4th February 2009, Dr Peter Yan recounted his experience and lamented that, "There's an increasing lack of respect from stressed-out, pampered youths." He said he has "a head full of grey hair", so I guess he must be a senior citizen. I quote him, "While we need skills to excel in life as well, it is important to take notice of the seniors who have made the world what it is today. In 2040, 60% of our population will be senior citizens. Life has became impersonal – on seeing a neighbour, you get just a nod, at most. Youngsters are blaming the 'elderly experienced' for allowing the economic woes to evolve and not learning from history. It is easy to point fingers. But, rather than to shift blame, will the youth be open to intellectual discourse on issues? Can they discuss this, while keeping in mind that a failing economy is no reason not to maintain their respect for the elderly? I would add to that by saying that being elderly or frail is not a reason to be discriminated by the young and able-bodied. Singapore is what it is today because our elderly have shared the vision of our Government and worked to make Singapore survive. Their respect is already earned and we should not be any least respectful. Nevertheless, I wish to know if the Prime Minister's Office has any concrete plans to address these issues. Concessions for the Elderly”
“These caregivers may not qualify for or participate in SPUR for various reasons. As locals, most of them would know how to speak dialects, Tamil or Malay and would obviously be an asset over the foreign nationals as employers need not provide accommodation, pay foreign workers' levy or security bonds for them. They are also likely to be loyal employees as their lifelong dedication looking after their loved ones have shown. Socially Responsible Individuals Next, on socially responsible individuals. According to statistics, about 14% of senior citizens are aged 50 to 59 now. This particular group possesses core values which are very different from the generations after them. The majority are educated in Chinese Language schools with strong emphasis on moral and character development, reflecting the political and economic situation then. They had a very colourful and stormy life history, a fate tied up with governments that were colonial, then self-governing, then a part of the Federation of Malaysia before going alone to become independent. It is often lamented that our current generation lack many of the innate values which this group possesses as they have greater capacity, certain desirable traits, values and mindset that could perhaps help us to reduce some of the disturbing trends or values that confront us today. I, therefore, ask what and how our Government can engage this group of senior citizens meaningfully, so as to tap or draw on their expertise and experience in and area of our economy, community and societal use. 4.00 pm (In Mandarin): On 1st January, there was an article in Lianhe Zaobao by Mr Wu Wei Cai.”
“Sir, as Singaporeans live longer, many are also reportedly suffering from illnesses and undergoing treatments. Whilst many can take care of themselves by going for regular follow-up checks and treatments, there is still a significant group who rely on caregivers who are inevitably the unmarried children or siblings. As a result, these caregivers cannot be gainfully employed as their caregiving role is often a full-time, unpaid task. This task can last the lifetime of the person who needs care and in the process the caregiver would have also advanced in years besides having been made poorer without any savings or support for himself or herself. Whilst it is only right that the responsibility of caring for a family member, either a parent or sibling should be borne and shared equally amongst all the other children or siblings, this is often not the case. There is never any equality of burden when it comes to caring for an infirm relative or parent, unless there is a prospect of an inheritance. While some cases can seek relief from the Maintenance of Parents Tribunal through using the parents as the person needing maintenance, there is no equivalent of such a tribunal for siblings. Should we allow this group of home caregivers to fall through the cracks especially when they had performed their obligations so unselfishly? Can they not be certified as qualified caregivers and be offered some schemes that allow them to be given priority when applying for jobs in community hospitals, nursing homes or homes for the elderly sick in priority to other foreign nationals, so that their experience and skills that they had picked up looking after their own relatives could be turned into an employable skill?”
“Furthermore, "addiction" is also classified as a form of psychiatric ailment and many people are addicted to many different things that may cause them to behave in ways that cause their loved ones to wonder if they are mentally sound. I believe that there are still many more people needing help but they or their family members are not coming forward to seek help as they fear the social stigma of being labelled "mad".”
“It is very difficult to please everybody. Fortunately, our Government's style is not to be deterred just because some people may have other ideas. Otherwise, we would not get to enjoy the new lease of life brought about by this unique Budget. Apart from thoroughly resolving the problems affecting the daily lives of the people, the Government should also care for the present mood and spiritual condition of the ordinary folks. Every day, every night, we keep hearing depressing economic news that would hurt our fighting spirit and undermine our confidence. It would make our people worry, disheartened and following that, it may even lead to family discord, bankruptcy and marriage breakdown. Therefore, I support the Prime Minister's call that we should help our people through our grassroots leaders, our grassroots organisations, our community organisations, so that all our people will feel that there is warmth and care in the society, so that they will be able to pick themselves up and try to ride over these difficult times. Even for those who do not go for medical treatment because of financial difficulties, we should encourage them to go for treatment so that they would recover sooner. (In English): The Government has set aside $3.7 billion towards healthcare and a chunk of the monies will be used towards promoting mental well-being. I strongly support and applaud this move as we are already seeing a rising number of people seeking treatment for some milder forms of mental illnesses, such as depression or anxiety to more serious forms which border on insanity and unsoundness of mind.”
“(In Mandarin ): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A *.] This year's Budget is indeed shocking to many people, making our people realise how serious the present situation is. It also shows the determination of the Government to deal with the problem. The Government not only insists that employers should endeavour to retain the jobs of their employees, but also makes history by opening up the coffer to draw into our past reserves, and goes even further to introduce the unprecedented Jobs Credit, Special Risk-Sharing Initiatives and other packages to help employers who are not doing well to cut costs and save the rice bowls of their employees so that they can keep their flats, or at least delay the possibility of losing their jobs. Among all the commentators who are making waves all over the world, my deepest admiration is for the Lianhe Zaobao commentator, former Member of Parliament, Mr Goh Choon Kang. In his article, "Conscientious Economics ", he described the Government as a clever housewife. This is an apt analogy – "There are good housewives, there are also not so good housewives. A clever housewife or daughter-in-law is well loved by her parents-in-law. A clever housewife will make use of her wisdom, her virtue, her clever thoughts, her decisiveness and unite the old, the middle-aged and the young in the family. Enhance the family cohesiveness and collectively overcome adversities, making it one big happy family." On this occasion, our ordinary folks would look at the Government as though it is their young daughter-in-law. If she does well, it is to be expected, and even then there are things that she could have done even better, and if she does not do well, then, of course, she will be subjected to very severe criticisms.”
“Sir, a clarification. (In Mandarin): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A *.] Just now, Ms Lim said that the Government should consider her suggestion, ie, to set aside a sum of money to subsidise the unemployed or those who are retrenched, with a ceiling of $500. And yesterday, we heard in the debate that Mr Low Thia Khiang was strongly against the Government's decision to draw down on the reserves. We know that this Budget is already a deficit budget, yet Ms Lim is saying that we would have to have this scheme. Then where are we going to get this money? Are we to draw down more from our reserves? *Cols. 1843-1844.”
“Sir, the Senior Minister of State mentioned that residents who have problems could approach MPs for help. But I would like to inform him that apparently this is not working these days. With PAYU, residents can use the card to top-up, but for gas and water, they cannot top-up themselves. Whatever little payments that residents want to make are not being accepted by SP Services. I just had a case last night where disconnection had already taken place. Despite making a payment of $250 this morning, SP Services still did not want to reconnect. This is causing difficulty, because even after going to an MP, SP Services is not budging. So, where else can the resident go, if an MP cannot help?”