Eric Chua
Singapore
“Chairman, thank you for your indulgence. I would like to set right a couple of points in my speech earlier before Members seek clarifications. Firstly, I mentioned that enhancements we provide additional financial relief for 3,600 PwDs accessing our residential and community disabilities services. The number should be 3,800.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her very passionate interventions over the past years as well. First, on job redesign. Under the existing Open Door Programme, there is a Job Redesign Grant that can already be applied for, so that is one potential avenue that we can point to.”
“And I behove all Members of the Chamber to also support these home-based businesses, because many of them, for instance, Bakes by Ben and his mum. They are making a living.”
“We must treat it as solvable. We cannot eliminate temptation, but we should not normalise harm. If technology has industrialised temptation, then our response must be to industrialise resilience: thoughtfully, proportionately, with care. Let us not hesitate simply because the subject is uncomfortable.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for his clarifications. On the provisions of information in vernacular languages on the website, I think that is something that we can potentially explore and look at.”
“I am also grateful for the IJT members across the private and public sectors – lawyers, policy-makers, law enforcement officers, social service professionals, healthcare experts, community partners and caregiver representatives. Sir, to be sure, we face both challenges and disruptions, but also tremendous opportunities.”
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“And I behove all Members of the Chamber to also support these home-based businesses, because many of them, for instance, Bakes by Ben and his mum. They are making a living. They are not letting life get them down, and they are saying, "Look, I am playing my part", and in a way they are crying out to society to say, "Support us as well in this journey". I have come on board and I invite everyone to share in this journey. [Applause.]”
“Sir, I thank the Member for his two clarifications on disability inclusion and support. First, on DACs. DACs are actually meant to support PwDs with moderate to more severe needs and in fact, the profile of clients in DACs are actually rather young, with many of them coming straight from SPED schools. The focus really is on equipping and getting these clients ready for independent living in the community, but we acknowledge his suggestion and we will take it back to take a closer look. Second, on home-based businesses. I thank him for raising the point and pointing the spotlight on Junlefont. In fact, I have been supporting Jun Le. My two National Day Parade outfits for the past two years has been designed by Jun Le. And I thank Member Lee Hui Ying for also jumping onboard last National Day Parade. But that aside, we are already working with them. So, for instance, like as part of the i'mable collective, we have curated a whole host of home-based businesses, such as Jun Le, and Jun Le is featured as part of the i'mable collective as well. Every year end, when we have our Enabling Lives Festival, we do have a marketplace where we feature each of these home-based businesses, like Jun Le themselves, and that is where I got to know designers like Jeremiah, we have Isaac and Sheng Jie, who is so good with the dinosaur drawings, and so on. And I really hope that Members of the Chamber, and also all of us out there – this is my call to all of you to also support these businesses. It is not just about buying a clay or porcelain dinosaur. It is not just about buying artwork. The act is not in the buying, but because that buying is living proof of their dignity, of their ability to also contribute to society and to be an upstanding member of society.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her very passionate interventions over the past years as well. First, on job redesign. Under the existing Open Door Programme, there is a Job Redesign Grant that can already be applied for, so that is one potential avenue that we can point to. On her suggestion for the lighter version of the ESH – the ESH Minus or the ESH Portable – we are very keen to roll out more ESHs over different parts of the island in the coming years, so please stay tuned for more information.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for his clarifications. Indeed, future care planning, especially with the person, as well as the caregivers at the centre of this planning process, is absolutely essential. That is a key organising principle for service models moving forward. Just want to highlight a few examples, so that we can illustrate the point. I have mentioned briefly in my speech that the Enabling Skills for Life Programme, an important component, is the individual curriculum and development plan, for which the caregivers, as well as the PwD themselves are very intimately and closely involved in the creation of the content and the milestones within. In yesterday's cuts, Ms Denise Phua, also talked about the Family Life Navigator Model, and she likened that to the ComLink model, where we have different families, different ranges of needs being supported by somewhat like a defender. We totally agree with that mission and that vision. What we need is some time, in order for us to assemble the right manpower, with the right aptitude, the right capability and competencies to do this. But in terms of vision, we are well aligned.”
“Chairman, thank you for your indulgence. I would like to set right a couple of points in my speech earlier before Members seek clarifications. Firstly, I mentioned that enhancements we provide additional financial relief for 3,600 PwDs accessing our residential and community disabilities services. The number should be 3,800. Second, on families who are looking to set up the SNT Account, for these families, we will provide the initial $5,000 capital needed to set up an SNT Account through ComChest Funding. Thank you.”
“(In English): Chairman, as we journey towards 2030, our commitment very clear: to build a Singapore where PwDs pursue aspirations with confidence, where families trust that support will endure. And we will keep listening and we will keep refining. We thank Ms Denise Phua for her suggestions to the Taskforce, and we will deliberate over her input and share more when ready. Sir, policies alone cannot create inclusion. Policies remove barriers. People create belonging. Inclusion happens when employers open doors, when neighbours extend friendship and when communities choose to see ability before disability. PwDs are not defined by what they need. They are defined by the strengths they contribute: resilience, creativity, loyalty, courage. They are not passive recipients of support, much like seniors in our community. They are partners in our shared future. So, let us move forward together: not by asking people to fit into narrow definitions, but by shaping a society heartful enough for every Singaporean to belong. And that is how we advance an inclusive Singapore. One where everyone, truly, can thrive. [Applause.]”
“To Miss Rachel Ong's query, we are studying how to improve deaf access services, including training more Singapore Sign Language interpreters. There are also SSAs like SADeaf, who provide casework and counselling services using sign language. Chairman, please allow me to say a few words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, promoting a more inclusive Singapore is the shared aspiration of all Singaporeans. We hope to build a Singapore where PwDs can pursue their own ideals and aspirations. Through employment support, Day Activity Centres and Sheltered Workshops, as well as the Enabling Skills for Life Programme, we hope to help PwDs build lifelong learning capabilities, enabling them to better integrate into society and live meaningful lives. We implement the Enabled Living Programme, the Home Support Programme, and establish Enabling Services Hubs to strengthen the support networks for persons with disabilities at home and in the community, allowing them to live independently in the community for the long term. We have not forgotten about the family members and caregivers around PwDs. The existing CPF Top-Up Matching Scheme and Special Needs Trust Company are in place to provide financial security for special needs families, giving them a peace of mind in planning for the future. We will continue to collaborate with partners from all sectors to ensure that every person with disabilities can find their place in our country and live dignified and meaningful lives. This is our commitment and determination in building a more inclusive and caring home.”
“For insurance coverage of $250,000, a healthy 33-year-old mother with per capita household income below $3,600 would only need to make a one-off trust top-up of $10,000 to her child's account to cover the total premiums for the plan. Upon the insured parent's demise before age 100, $250,000 will be paid into the child's SNT account. As premiums increase with age and the amount insured, caregivers are thus encouraged to start these conversations early with SG Enable. Case Managers, who are social work-trained, will work with caregivers to craft personalised care plans and ensure funds are disbursed in accordance with these plans after caregivers have passed. These measures offer real relief for caregivers. I recently met Mdm Kitty Li. Kitty is the mother of a child living with autism and she was initially hesitant due to the initial capital needed to start an SNT account for her child. With the Community Chest sponsorship, Mdm Li can start saving in the SNT account to benefit from the Government Matching Grant and use these savings to purchase a Great Eastern Cares Term Plan. While we work on ensuring our initiatives remain fit for purpose, we agree with Miss Rachel Ong that raising awareness is a crucial part of ensuring that these initiatives have reach. Beyond what is available on their website, SG Enable has developed the Enabling Guide to consolidate information on available support. And they will also continue engaging with partners, such as employers and industry chambers, to raise awareness of inclusive hiring and employment support. We also endeavour to improve accessibility to our initiatives given the wide range of needs.”
“Under the MRSS, we dollar-match CPF top-ups for those eligible, up to an annual cap of $2,000 and a lifetime limit of $20,000. This means that if a parent of a seven-year-old with a verified disability status tops up $2,000 annually to their child's account, we will match by topping up another $2,000 each year. Assuming: one, the parent consistently tops up $2,000 annually over 10 years to hit the lifetime cap of $20,000; and two, a 4% compounding interest, this child would have minimally $320,000 in CPF retirement savings by age 65. This translates to at least $1,700 in monthly payouts for life, from age 65. If a parent tops up consistently from a young age, the compounded impact can be substantial, giving their child meaningful CPF payouts in later life. This is all about dignity in their senior years. Third, on securing future arrangements. Caregivers need assurance that these funds are secure when they are no longer around. The Special Needs Trust Company can help. As announced at Budget last year, we will be introducing a dollar-for-dollar matching grant for tops-ups to the Special Needs Trust (SNT) accounts. From 1 April this year till 31 March 2031, families with per capita household income of up to $3,600 can sign up to receive matching top-ups of up to $10,000 to the SNT accounts. [Please refer to the clarification later in the debate.] Parents can further multiply their financial provisions for their child by buying a Great Eastern Cares Term Plan. This term plan insures parents up till age 100, with coverage ranging from $100,000 to $300,000.”
“Since January this year, subsidies for the Assistive Technology Fund were enhanced, and extended to families with per capita income between $2,601 and $4,800. Through the Assistive Technology Fund, eligible families can purchase assistive technology devices for independent living. From July 2026, we will increase subsidies for residential and community disability services by up to 15 and 10 percentage points respectively. The income threshold for subsidies will also be raised, extending eligibility to households with per capita income between $3,601 and $4,800. Ms Denise Phua and Ms Kuah Boon Theng would be pleased to know that these enhancements will provide additional financial relief for 3,600 PwDs accessing our residential and community disability services, including those attending Day Activity Centres. Ms Phua and Ms Kuah also noted that our funding to service providers impact service access and quality. And that is exactly why we regularly review our funding models for relevance. We last increased funding to Day Activity Centre providers in 2021, and to disability residential service providers last year, in 2025, to account for inflation and enhanced staffing requirements for clients with higher support needs. The inter-agency Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities will explore more ways to keep disability support affordable for families and sustainable for service providers. Second, on strengthening savings. From January this year, eligible Singaporeans with disabilities are included in the Matched Retirement Saving Scheme (MRSS). This was announced by the Ministry of Manpower at the Committee of Supply last year.”
“Our ESHs in Tampines, Punggol and Jurong have worked with over 300 community partners and volunteers in the past two years: from grassroots organisations to schools and local businesses. They conduct outreach, organise learning workshops and social activities, and link PwDs and caregivers to relevant services. For families, the ESH can be a reassuring first touchpoint: a place to ask questions, seek guidance and find support without feeling overwhelmed. More importantly, ESHs help communities grow in confidence. Through inclusion workshops and partnerships, neighbours learn how to better welcome and support PwDs in everyday settings. Because when support is embedded within our neighborhoods, PwDs are not seen simply as clients of a programme, but they are recognised as fellow residents, friends and contributors to the same community they live in. Chairman, caregivers carry quiet courage. Many worry most not about themselves, but about what will happen after they are gone. We recognise the challenges they face and we must ensure they are well-supported on this journey. As Singapore ages, this concern becomes more urgent. Caregivers themselves grow older too. Health challenges emerge over time. Future planning cannot wait. As noted by Assoc Prof Kenneth Poon, a chief area of concern for caregivers is how their loved ones will be cared for after they pass. We are supporting families in three ways: first, near-term relief; second, strengthened savings; and third, secure future arrangements. First, to provide near-term financial relief, Prime Minister announced in Budget last year that subsidies will be increased for adult disability services and extended to more households.”
“To this end, MSF is piloting two community living models to strengthen support for independent living. The first is the Enabled Living Programme (ELP) pilot, which has started in five locations, and we are doing this in close partnership with appointed SSAs. 11.00 am Delivered within designated public rental flats, ELP allows PwDs with low to moderate support needs and no to little family support to live independently. When I recently spoke to Boon Hao, an ELP resident supported by the Autism Resource Centre, he did not talk about policies or subsidies. He spoke about hosting his friends on Valentine's Day – about the dishes he prepared, about the chore schedule he shares with his roommate, Vincent, about grocery runs at Ang Mo Kio Hub. These may sound like mundane things, but for Boon Hao, they represent dignity, independence, friendship. Through ELP, persons with low to moderate support needs can live independently in public rental flats, supported by coaches and community networks. Residents may not live with family, but they are never alone. Grassroots leaders check in, neighbours build friendships, and Boon Hao is even exploring volunteering. That is inclusion, in action. Living side by side, contributing to the same community. We will also launch the Home Support Programme in the second half of this year, extending similar support to those already living independently or has plans to do so in their homes, near ELP sites. Alongside community-living models, we are strengthening neighbourhood support through our ESHs. The idea is straightforward: support should be close to home and easy to access.”
“When the child graduates, six months can feel like an eternity. We are accelerating expansion. Our pledge was to add 500 DAC and 500 SW places by 2030. But in fact, we have already added 100 shelter workshop places in 2024. A further 520 DAC and 360 SW spaces will come on stream progressively by 2027. As capacity builds, families on the waitlist are not left alone. Enabling Services Hubs (ESHs) offer activities and serve as community touch points. For recent graduates, the Supported Transition and Engagement Programme (STEP) ensures they remain meaningfully engage with outings and activities at least twice weekly while waiting for placement. All this, because transition should not mean isolation. We also heard feedback that moving between SW and DACs can be cumbersome. Re-assessments, transitions – families told us that it felt like starting from scratch each time the needs changed. So, last year we launched the Enabling Skills for Life Programme (ESLP). ESLP integrates both models – SW and DAC – into a single continuum. More importantly, it introduces individualised curriculum and development plans co-created with clients and caregivers. That co-creation is important because no one knows a person's strengths and aspirations better than the individual himself or herself, and the family members. As of January this year, close to 770 clients across eight centres have transitioned to ESLP, and we will continue refining the service model over the next three years. Our aim is simple: as each individual grows, the support around them grows too. This means that ESLP clients will have access to more training pathways depending on their specific needs and aspirations. Sir, skills matter, but belonging matters just as much.”
“SG Enable, supported by SkillsFuture Singapore, will introduce new courses from April this year, adding to the existing 140 active courses curated by the Enabling Academy. But skills alone are not enough. We need inclusive employers. SG Enable is partnering employers in sectors, such as food and beverage (F&B) and Health and Social services to curate job roles thoughtfully. And through various grants, wage offsets and the Enabling Mark, our national accreditation framework, organisations can steadily strengthen the inclusive hiring practices. Inclusive hiring is not charity. It is good business. It enriches workplaces with resilience, loyalty and diverse perspectives. For graduates with higher support needs, centre-based services remain critical. Today, about 3,600 PwDs attend our Daily Activity Centres (DACs) and Sheltered Workshops (SWs). [Please refer to the clarification later in the debate.] Behind this number are real families, like 21-year-old Mirza and his mother, Mdm Habibah, who simply wants the best for her son. After graduating from SPED school, Mirza tried a placement with a SW before eventually settling into a DAC at SUN-DAC. I visited Mirza recently. For him, the DAC gives him good structure, friendship and a safe space to grow. Every Thursday, Mirza goes on walks around Bedok. He buys prata, sometimes ice cream, learns how to count money and take the bus. These are meaningful lessons in independence. For his mother, Mdm Habibah, the programme gives her peace of mind. She can go to work knowing that Mirza is safe and meaningfully engaged, and treasures coming home to hear his story about the day. But we know the current wait time, from referral to enrolment, is long, over half a year on average. This weighs heavily on families.”
“Chairman, a fair and inclusive society does not expect people to fit neatly into our systems. Instead, it asks the question: how must our systems evolve so that every person can flourish? At MSF, that is the question guiding our work. Earlier, Minister of State Zhulkarnain spoke about uplifting low-income families. I would like to focus on another group of families who carry both immense love and immense responsibility, families with persons with disabilities (PwDs). When I meet parents and caregivers, one concern surfaces time and again. It is not just about today. It is also about tomorrow. They ask me, after my child graduates from special education (SPED) school, what comes next? Will there be a community? Will there be meaningful opportunities? And most importantly: perhaps when I am no longer around, who will look after my child? Sir, these are deeply human questions, and under the Enabling Masterplan 2030, we are addressing them in three ways. First, building capability through lifelong learning. Second, building communities where PwDs truly belong. And third, building lifelong security so families can plan with confidence. Allow me to share more. For many families, graduation from SPED school is both a proud milestone as well as a moment of uncertainty. Each year, about 250 SPED graduates move into employment or further studies within six months of graduation. Behind each statistic is a young person taking a brave step into adulthood, and parents learning, oftentimes anxiously, to let go. Access to lifelong learning is important to facilitate a smoother transition to life beyond school. Mr Ng Chee Meng and Ms Denise Phua will be pleased to know that we provide funding support for skills training through the SG Enable Training Grant.”
“We must treat it as solvable. We cannot eliminate temptation, but we should not normalise harm. If technology has industrialised temptation, then our response must be to industrialise resilience: thoughtfully, proportionately, with care. Let us not hesitate simply because the subject is uncomfortable. Let us choose evidence over denial, courage over avoidance and support over stigma. Because the question before us is not whether this issue exists, but whether we can address it together head on.”
“It is a story of early exposure, silent conditioning, secrecy, shame and courage. Behind the label of "addict" is a human being, once a curious boy, trapped in silence, who needed understanding, community and support. If we are serious about addressing this issue, we must move from discomfort to evidence-based strategy. Today, we operate with limited national data. Much of our understanding is extrapolated from international research and community case reports. I propose three steps. First, commission a rigorous, interdisciplinary national study on problematic pornography use in Singapore. We need to understand prevalence, mental health associations, relational impacts and risk factors. With evidence, we can calibrate responses proportionately and responsibly. Second, review our digital and sexuality education frameworks. Young people need emotional literacy, digital resilience and grounded understanding of consent and healthy intimacy. Parents too may need support navigating conversations in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. If exposure is increasingly common, then equipping youths and their families with tools to interpret what they encounter responsibly becomes essential. Third, expanding funding and capacity for community addiction services. If demand for counselling related to behavioural addictions is rising, our support ecosystem must keep pace. Those who seek help should encounter accessible and timely support. Early intervention is humane, preventive and cost-effective. Sir, this is not about digital content. It is about mental health. It is about how young people form expectations about relationships. It is about how couples build trust over time. If we want strong families and resilient youths, then we cannot treat this problem as unspeakable.”
“Counsellors have also pointed out that without meaningful guidance on boundaries and respect, young people may misinterpret what they see online as normal and acceptable behaviour. To be sure, we must avoid simplistic conclusions. Family dynamics, peer influence, trauma and broader cultural factors all play roles. But we should not dismiss the potential impact of repeated exposure during formative years. These are not purely moral questions. These are public health and social stability questions we need to address. Let me take some time to share one Singaporean's story. Let us call him Dale. It all began innocently; magazines shared among schoolmates. Then came the Internet, and then a pirated DVD. The images Dale saw disturbed him, yet something in his young mind shifted. Curiosity became habit. Habit became compulsion. Outwardly, Dale functioned: studied, worked, served National Service. Inwardly, he was trapped in a cycle. Stress, rejection, celebration all became triggers. After acting out came the crash: shame, disgust, promises to stop. He described living a double life. Church on Sundays, alone with his addiction at night. And guilt was crushing. At one point he said, "I think I am born without the capacity to love." Pornography had shaped intimacy into fantasy and control. The turning point came when Dale walked into a Sexaholics Anonymous meeting. Ordinary men – fathers, professionals – shared their stories. Dale then realised he was not the only one struggling. Isolation began to break. With support from We Care, Dale learned to trace his triggers, sit with discomfort and name his emotions instead of numbing them. Recovery was slow and imperfect but deeply human. Sir, to be sure, this is not a story of moral failure.”
“Individuals struggling with compulsive pornography use often report difficulty concentrating at school or work, escalating consumption despite attempts to stop, secrecy and emotional withdrawal, strained relationships, persistent shame and low self-worth. This behaviour may begin as stress relief, but over time it can worsen distress. When relationships deteriorate and emotional health declines, the impact is not confined to the private sphere. It affects families, workplaces and communities. So, as policy-makers concerned with mental health, we cannot ignore emerging behavioural addictions simply because they are uncomfortable to discuss. Locally, community organisations, such as We Care Community Services, have observed an increase in the number of individuals seeking help for compulsive sexual behaviours, including problematic pornography use. Reporting cases relating to sex, porn and love addiction have risen significantly in recent years. Post-pandemic, those seeking help for online pornography behaviours more than doubled compared with pre-COVID levels. Most clients are in their 20s. Some cases have also appeared among teenagers, with some of them as young as 12; 12, Sir! These are only the individuals who have come forward. Many more may remain silent due to stigma or uncertainty about who or where to seek help. Youths today are exposed to explicit content at younger ages, often unintentionally through peer sharing or algorithmic feeds. In 2024, more than 460 youths aged 19 and below were arrested for sexual crimes. Authorities have noted that early and repeated exposure to sexually explicit materials can be one of several contributing influences shaping young people's understanding of consent and healthy relationships.”
“Social media notifications, online gaming achievements, gambling wins, auto-play streaming. Our attention economy is engineered to keep us engaged. Pornography exists within this larger environment. It is one of many digital stimuli competing for our attention. But it differs in one important aspect: it can shape expectations about intimacy, about consent and about relationships. When exposure begins early, often before emotional maturity has developed, the lessons absorbed may not reflect mutual respect or healthy communication. In Singapore, conversations about sexuality are often cautious. Families may find them difficult to initiate. Schools approach the topic carefully. Public discourse remains restrained. But silence does not mean protection. When guidance is absent, young people may turn to the Internet as their primary educator, and we all know that the Internet is not designed to teach values. Technology has industrialised temptation. What once required effort, patience and real human interaction now arrives instantly on screens engineered to capture attention. If our public health response focuses only on treatment after harm, we will always be reacting to damage, rather than building resilience. Sir, some may ask, why is this a healthcare issue? Because behavioural addiction reshapes neural pathways. It co-occurs with anxiety and depression. It drives demand for counselling, psychiatric care and family therapy. If we ignore it, it does not disappear. It presents later in our clinics, our IMH wards and our social service agencies. This is a health issue because it affects brain function, mental health, relational stability and drives demand for counselling and psychiatric services.”
“I rise to ask whether we are paying sufficient attention to a behavioural addiction that may be quietly emerging, particularly amongst our young people, and to consider what role public health can and should play. To be sure, dopamine is not the enemy. It is a neurotransmitter essential to how our brains function. It motivates us, reinforces learning and gives us satisfaction after effort and achievement. But dopamine also plays a central role in addiction. When certain substances or behaviours repeatedly trigger intense reward signals, the brain adapts. Neural pathways strengthen. Over time, the brain begins to prioritise the behaviour associated with that reward. What begins as voluntary can, for some, become difficult to control. Addictive substances, such as drugs and alcohol, are well recognised for this effect. Increasingly, research has examined behavioural addictions, including gambling disorder, gaming disorder and compulsive sexual behaviours, which engage similar reward pathways. Pornography today is instant, anonymous, inexpensive and available through smartphones at any hour. There are no physical barriers and few natural stopping points. For a subset of individuals, repeated exposure and escalating consumption can entrench patterns that are hard to reverse. Some international studies suggest that problematic pornography use may affect figures in the low double digits, depending on definitions used. Methodologies differ, but the emerging literature suggests this is not an isolated phenomenon. Even if prevalence in Singapore is lower, the absolute number affected could still be significant. We must also situate this issue within the broader digital ecosystem. Modern life is structured around reward cycles.”
“Their sacrifices laid our foundations, their resilience carried us forward and their wisdom continues to guide us. Let us see seniors not through the lens of limitation, but of possibility. As mentors, tutors, caregivers and docents, they can shape lives and strengthen communities. Let us build a Singapore where ageing is not feared but celebrated; where every senior feels valued, empowered and connected. For when we uplift our seniors, we honour our past and secure a future defined not only by success, but by dignity, compassion and shared humanity. Our Dangerous Dalliance with Dopamine Let me begin this speech not with statistics or policy, but with three simple introductions. "Hi, I'm Benny. I'm sober and I have stayed away from drugs for the past five years." Most of us would respond with admiration. We understand the discipline required to overcome chemical dependency. "Hi, I'm Benny. I'm sober and I have stayed away from alcohol for the past five years." Again, we nod silently. We know the toll addiction can take on health, on families, on livelihoods. But what if I said: "Hi, I'm Benny. I'm sober and I have stayed away from pornography for the past five years." What happens inside us? Do we shift uncomfortably? Suppress a smirk? Or question whether that even counts as sobriety? 8.00 pm This reaction tells us something important. While we are prepared to discuss substance addictions openly, we remain uneasy when the addiction is behavioural, private and sexual in nature. Pornography addiction is often dismissed as indulgence or simply part of growing up in a digital age. Yet for some individuals, consumption becomes compulsive, distressing and disruptive to daily life. Today, I rise not to moralise or to condemn desire.”
“I suggest three ways seniors can contribute. First, on social mobility. Seniors can help ComLink+ families facing financial, social and emotional strain. Many parents are stretched by work and caregiving, while children may lag behind in literacy and numeracy. Inspired by the Experience Corps, seniors with teaching or professional experience can tutor children, offer knowledge, patience and encouragement. Beyond academics, seniors can also mentor parents, share perspective and life wisdom. In so doing, they provide not just help, but lend stability and hope. Second, mental health. A peer-reviewed Singapore study of adults aged 21 to 89 found that seniors reported significantly lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress than younger adults during the 2020 pandemic lockdown. By contrast, about one in three youths reports internalising symptoms, such as anxiety, loneliness or depression. Many young people hesitate to involve parents or families in their struggles. Seniors, with their steady, non-judgemental presence and life experience, can offer guidance, comfort and hope; helping young people feel less isolated and more resilient. Lastly, our heritage. History is most powerful when told through lived experiences. Projects, like Humans of New York, resonate because they are real, unfiltered, human. Our seniors often hold the most meaningful stories of our communities. As community docents, they become living bridges to moments that may never appear in textbooks, but remain a crucial part of our shared memory. Through their stories, we preserve not just events, but the struggles, values and quiet triumphs that shape our heritage and collective humanity. Sir, our seniors built the Singapore we know today.”
“Sir, by 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be 65 or older. This presents both a challenge as well as a tremendous opportunity. Too often, we focus on what seniors lack. It is time to shift that view. Seniors are not liabilities: many are eager and able to contribute meaningfully to society. We must move beyond a deficit mindset and embrace their full potential. I recently met Prof Linda Fried, distinguished geriatrician, epidemiologist and the first female Dean at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. She is also a trailblazer for co-designing Experience Corps, an inter-generational volunteer programme that engages seniors in their fifties as tutors and mentors for children in public elementary schools, while promoting the health and well-being of the volunteers themselves. The programme aims for "triple wins": first, to help children succeed academically, especially in early literacy; two, boost the physical, mental and social well-being of older adults; and three, strengthen communities by connecting generations. The results are striking. Students show improved literacy, better engagement and fewer behavioural issues. Volunteers experience reduced depression, enhanced cognitive function and stronger social connections. Schools report enriched learning environments and deeper community ties. It seems simple: an engaged senior is a healthy senior. Yet, while we understand the science of social determinants of health, activating it is quite another challenge. MOH's Silver Guardian programme encourages seniors to volunteer at Active Ageing Centres. It is a great start, but we can do more. Empowered seniors do not just enrich their own lives; they strengthen families, schools and communities, shaping a Singapore where every generation thrives.”
“I thank the Member for her clarifications. I think that is something we can explore and we will take it back to consider.”
“Chairman, I thank the Member for her clarifications. On the second part about AMDs, I understand that to look at it comprehensively for a full suite of future care plans instruments, AMD definitely is one of the instruments that we can potentially look at. But in my own exchanges with, say, seniors on the ground, I think it is oftentimes far easier to broach a conversation on setting up an LPA and also drafting or talking about an Advance Care Plan. And then the AMD, which is actually much further down the line, is something that we can potentially look at after all these more upstream instruments have been addressed. On the Member's first question, do you mind repeating that again?”
“I think the Service Hub provides assistance on a case by case basis, and to the best of their ability in each case to really walk through the service journey with each individual user.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for his clarifications. On the provisions of information in vernacular languages on the website, I think that is something that we can potentially explore and look at. Of course, we are also mindful not to provide for content in a variety of languages such that it affects the way in which the content can be consumed. So, accessibility of how the website presents itself to users is also something that we consider. With regard to the two-year framework, what we want to prevent in many cases, because a lot of times, community disputes verge on "he says", "I say". And what we want to prevent is the return of vexatious claims made by parties. So, a two-year framework removes the potential for these vexatious claims to come back on a recurrent basis. On the next question about the cases, about 400 CDRT-related enquiries last year were handled by the State Courts Services Hub. And can the Member repeat the last point about end-to-end services again, if you do not mind?”
“I am also grateful for the IJT members across the private and public sectors – lawyers, policy-makers, law enforcement officers, social service professionals, healthcare experts, community partners and caregiver representatives. Sir, to be sure, we face both challenges and disruptions, but also tremendous opportunities. Our Ministry's priorities are crystal clear. We will enhance legal services and intellectual property to support the economy, uphold the rule of law and expand access to justice and, at the same time, optimise land to meet our community needs. Together with our partners, we will press on. As we commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the Second Charter of Justice this year, we look not only to our own history but to the future – one where the law continues to serve Singapore and Singaporeans well. [Applause.]”
“This was mentioned by Mr Vikram Nair. In better serving these individuals, we have in the past made some efforts. In 2010, we introduced community-based sentences, including the Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO). The MTO allows certain offenders with treatable psychiatric conditions to be treated in the community rather than be incarcerated in appropriate cases. In 2018, we expanded the MTO scheme to benefit more suitable offenders. Other measures include the Appropriate Adult Scheme for Persons with Mental Disabilities, administered by MINDS to support such persons during interviews with investigating officers. But we fully recognise that more can be done. We want to finetune how our system caters to these vulnerable individuals' unique needs while delivering just outcomes. For instance, effective rehabilitation may differ for offenders with different underlying conditions. While some may benefit from psychiatric treatment, others such as those living with autism or intellectual disability may benefit from other interventions. These questions intersect multiple areas such as law, social services and healthcare, and involve stakeholders from the private and public sector. Thus, MinLaw formally announced the launch of the Inclusive Justice Taskforce (IJT) in January this year. The IJT will examine how society can better support individuals with such conditions and disabilities who risk offending or who interact with the criminal justice system. Our objective is simple. It is to raise public awareness of what works and recommend tangible improvements. The IJT has begun its work and we will provide updates in due course. I am privileged to co-lead the IJT alongside Ms Peggy Yee, founding director of PY Legal LLC and a long-time advocate in this space.”
“In 2022, we expanded the income coverage for criminal defence aid from the bottom 25th to the bottom 35th percentile by PCHI. In 2024, we adjusted the PCHI and annual value thresholds for civil legal aid and criminal defence aid, accounting for the increase in household income and property value over the years. As the Minister announced earlier, we will expand civil legal aid coverage by the LAB. We will raise the PCHI threshold for civil legal aid from $1,050 to $1,650. This could potentially benefit up to 1,000 more Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents annually. To account for rising household income, the bank savings and non-Central Provident Fund investment threshold for both civil legal aid and criminal defence aid will be raised from $10,000 to $12,000 to ensure that the truly needy remain eligible. We target to implement this later this year. Applicants with extenuating circumstances will continue to be reviewed by an independent means test panel comprising legal and social service professionals. Beyond Government schemes, we continue to partner with the legal fraternity and key stakeholders, such as Pro Bono SG to strengthen the legal help ecosystem for all Singaporeans. Mr Alex Yeo asked about those facing legal issues arising from the loss of mental capacity of family members. In 2025, we amended the Legal Aid and Advice Act 1995 to allow means testing based on the mentally incapacitated person, not the volunteers applying to be their deputy. This has reduced financial barriers and encouraged more volunteer deputies for vulnerable persons without family support. Finally, we are also examining how our justice system may better serve those with disabilities or mental health conditions as needs for these individuals often go beyond legal support.”
“Those with genuine financial needs can apply for a fee waiver. I would add that the validity of a will does not depend on registration with the Registry. On the latter, we do not plan to impose insurance requirements to encourage options for legacy planning. If the public is unsure whether their service-provider is a licensed lawyer, they may check the MinLaw webpage. It has a search function that lists lawyers who have valid practising licences at the date of the search. Lastly, I turn to access to justice. It is a key pillar that ensures our laws and justice system are not just for those with means, thereby preserving our social fabric, as mentioned by Mr Nair. We have been helping those in need through the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) and the Public Defender's Office (PDO). Since 1958, LAB has provided the vulnerable with civil legal aid, including matrimonial, monetary claims and probate matters. The impact of LAB's work is significant – receiving an average of around 7,000 applications annually. In 2022, MinLaw established the PDO, which institutionalised criminal defence aid. PDO received about 2,400 applications in 2025. A portion of applications is referred to Pro Bono SG's Criminal Legal Aid Scheme under a co-delivery model. Additionally, LAB and PDO partner with social service agencies, Family Service Centres and Social Services Offices to provide holistic assistance and referrals for applicants with social needs, such as family violence, addiction, mental health and housing problems. Dr Wan Rizal, Mr Alex Yeo, Mr Gabriel Lam and Mr Jackson Lam asked about ensuring access to legal aid for lower-income and lower-middle-income Singaporeans. We continue to review the means test thresholds regularly.”
“We received feedback that the time, the effort and the cost of enforcing judgments can be disproportionate to the judgment sum, leaving some judgments unenforced. This is undesirable. We aim to simplify the enforcement process, therefore, to be more effective, efficient and affordable. We intend to do this by: one, giving the Court greater powers to identify a judgment debtor's assets and means; two, by introducing new enforcement modes to deter and punish non-compliance with Court orders; and three, creating new Civil Judgment Enforcement Officers to assist parties with enforcing their civil judgments. We have been consulting with relevant stakeholders, including the Bar and the Judiciary, and aim to introduce a Bill later this year. Third, in family justice. We have made changes to help families move forward with minimal acrimony, including addressing non-compliance with maintenance orders, as noted by Mr Nair and Mr Yeo. Since establishing the new Maintenance Enforcement Division in January last year, the Family Justice Courts have referred around 1,000 cases to the new Division. So far, about two thirds of concluded cases settled during or after conciliation. This is a good start and we plan to expand coverage in future phases. Another area is ensuring will-making remains accessible to Singaporeans. Singaporeans have a range of options. Depending on complexity, budget and personal preference, they can write their own wills, engage will-making services or even ask a friend for help. Ms Hany Soh asked if wills can be registered for free in SAL's Wills Registry and suggested regulation or mandatory insurance for non-lawyers. On the former, the fee defrays the costs of the service, which includes maintaining records for up to 120 years of the testator's life.”
“Sir, the CDRT is but one component of our broader community disputes framework, which also includes mediation and the CRU. Many disputes arise from misunderstandings or lifestyle differences. Calm, neighbourly exchanges can usually go a long way. But if informal communication fails, parties should attempt formal mediation. Mediation at the Community Mediation Centre is quick, effective and free. About 80% of cases reach an amicable settlement and that is why we made it mandatory. The CDRT is an avenue of last resort, after all other measures have failed. As it is a court of law, some proper processes are necessary to ensure the proper administration of justice. The pre-filing assessment is not designed to redirect or deter residents. Instead, it is meant to help residents assess whether their dispute is suitable for the CDRT. For example, residents should attempt mediation before filing a CDRT claim. So, the form asks whether mediation has been attempted before. Residents also cannot file a CDRT claim against persons who are not their neighbours. Again, the form highlights this point. This ensures that residents do not spend time, money and energy filing a claim, that cannot be heard in the CDRT. Those who need help navigating the e-filing system, including those with specific language needs, can contact the State Courts Service Hub. On the $150 filing fee, those with financial need can apply for a waiver. But again, parties should always attempt mediation first. It is entirely free and mostly effective. Second, we have been studying ways to streamline the enforcement of civil judgments, as mentioned by Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Gabriel Lam and Mr Alex Yeo.”
“Currently, state properties are let out for a range of interim uses, typically with tenures of under 10 years, to retain planning flexibility. In response to feedback that such tenures may not facilitate capital expenditure recovery and may limit investment in property rejuvenation, SLA has leased out selected state properties on longer tenures, subject to planning considerations. 11.15 am For instance, SLA recently launched the sale of the Adam Park heritage bungalow cluster on a 30-year lease. Such extended tenure allows time for investment recoupment and greater business certainty. Ms Goh Han Yan asked about improvements to the Land Betterment Charge (LBC) regime. We have enhanced various aspects of the LBC framework since it came into force in 2022. Minister Edwin spoke about the enhancements just last week at the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore (REDAS) Spring Festival Lunch. More details may be found in his speech on the MinLaw website. It is also vital that our legal processes and frameworks remain accessible, fair and effective. We continue to review our legal frameworks to adapt to trends and societal needs so that Singaporeans can seek recourse and resolve frictions whenever they arise. First, in community justice. Legislation was passed in 2024 to enhance the Community Disputes Management Framework. We have made mediation mandatory in appropriate cases. Second, a new Community Relations Unit (CRU) has been created to investigate neighbour disputes and to act. This is being piloted in Tampines. Third, we have enhanced the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal (CDRT) to improve the service journey for victims and enable them to obtain relief more quickly. Mr Gerald Giam made several points on the CDRT's processes.”
“Chairman, the Rule of Law underpins our society's broader objectives and continued development. In my speech, I will focus on two key areas: first, optimising land and creating good spaces for our economic and social needs; second, upholding the Rule of Law and expanding access to justice to strengthen our social fabric. We do so by ensuring that no one is denied legal access and by supporting vulnerable groups. Let me start with land. Sir, we are committed to optimising state properties to better meet community and business needs. This safeguards land resources for our current and future generations. To this end, SLA engages public agencies and industry to better understand market needs and identify opportunities to put state land and properties to good use, in a pro-enterprise manner. Mr Christopher de Souza and Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh asked about the use of state land and properties. I will share some examples. Responding to arts practitioners' call for a dedicated space, SLA collaborated with the National Arts Council (NAC) to transform state properties at Kampong Java Road, into "Flock" – an artist-led innovation and creation hub. SLA has also been activating suitable spaces in response to requests for "weather-proofed" sports spaces. One creative example is the placement of sport facilities under viaducts. These were previously under-utilised due to noise and lack of essential utilities. But we saw potential in the natural shelter and worked with Sport Singapore to transform the Gali Batu Flyover area into ARK Sports Village @ Segar. What was previously unused space is now a thriving sports facility. Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh also asked about a longer tenure for more state properties.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 2026/2027, and ask leave to sit again on Monday, 2 March 2026.”
“Chairman, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported and leave be asked to sit again on Monday, 2 March 2026?”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her supplementary questions and for her attention to this space, inclusive employment. On the centralised register, as she has correctly identified, the essence of this scope of work really is about the customised nature of providing job support. So, finding out students with disabilities what their specific areas of strengths, interests, motivations and possible career pathways are. That is a highly bespoke journey. I think we will double down on that front. As to time extensions, I think we could take the suggestion back and explore her suggestion. But even if we were to grant time extension, I think it goes back to the first point that I mentioned earlier, and that is for each student, we need to really explore what the possibilities are. Because this area of work, again, on inclusive employment, is one that is highly bespoke.”
“Sir, I thank the Member, Mr Gabriel Lam, for his two supplementary questions. We do understand that there are rough sleepers who, for reasons of rules at the shelters, not quite want to do that. The prevalence rate is about 75% based on the last street count. About three-quarters of rough sleepers on the streets today, they do not wish to check into the shelter because of rules, privacy, as I have mentioned, storage space and so on. But the primary reason is still one of privacy as well as personal spaces, which is why we have worked with community partners, like New Hope Community Services, to start redesigning our shelter spaces. On his second supplementary question, about utilisation rates, yes, we do publish that. In the Street Count Report, we mentioned 730 transitional shelter bed spaces. As of September last year, utilisation rate was about two thirds or 66%.”
“MSF has also recently announced a $450,000 Partnership to Tackle Homelessness (PATH) fund and invites organisations to trial innovative solutions to address underlying causes of rough sleeping and help rough sleepers work towards housing stability.”
“Thank you, Sir. The 2025 Street Count of Rough Sleepers Survey by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) found that most rough sleepers choose to sleep in locations that are sheltered from the elements and are generally well-lit. These locations also tend to be places they are familiar with, near to friends and family, and some rough sleepers also choose locations that are close to their workplace for convenience. Based on our interactions with rough sleepers, these considerations apply across all geographical locations. Rough sleeping is a complex issue. Many rough sleepers have homes to return to but rough sleep due to disagreements with family, friends or co-tenants. MSF staff and volunteers from the Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers (PEERS) Network journey with rough sleepers to address the underlying needs and often, a process of trust and rapport building is needed before meaningful support and interventions could be rendered. Over time, we hope more rough sleepers would be prepared to consider shelter and social services support, though the pathway for each rough sleeper would likely be different, just as their individual circumstances differ. Overall, MSF works to ensure that shelter support remains accessible to rough sleepers. For example, to address the survey finding that lack of privacy and personal space were key barriers to rough sleepers moving into shelters, MSF has partnered our shelter operators and re-designed the units with partitioned bed spaces, shelves and wardrobes. The Member may also wish to refer to MSF’s 2025 Street Count Report for more details.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her supplementary question. We are in agreement, total agreement. As I mentioned, we will increase DAC spaces by 500 over the next few years by 2030; and we are prepared to ramp up even more if there is an assessed need to do so.”
“I call upon all Members of this Chamber to be part of this movement so that we can move the needle towards making Singapore a more caring and inclusive society.”
“And then, there is the Enabling Services Hub (ESH), for which we have set up three across the island now. Progressively over the next few years we will be setting up more of these ESHs to make sure that we can provide community connections through the provision of social activities, caregiver support, as well as referral services. Because we are not dealing with a situation where there is a lack of services for persons with disabilities; rather, sometimes is that navigation of this quite complex landscape that is the issue. And also the Enabled Enabling Skills for Life Programme (ESLP) which is fundamentally a new service model that we are looking at which integrates the current DAC, as well as shelter workshop models to provide and equip persons with disabilities for independent living, for community participation, as well as for employability. It sounds like there are many pilots and there indeed are. But the end goal is this: that we want our persons with disabilities and special needs, we want them to not just make do in life, but we want them to be able to thrive and flourish. On the related issue of affordability, rest assured that through the inter-agency task force that is currently headed up by Minister of State Goh Pei Ming, we are looking at that deeply in terms of affordability of services, not just the availability of services. And I think I want to close by making a call to our Members of this Chamber, as well as to the larger society, that our vision is for our persons with disabilities to flourish, to thrive and not just to survive in the community. We can be closer to our vision when more in our society can embrace our fellow workers, our fellow students, fellow members of a community.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her supplementary questions. I think we most certainly look at the issue of capacity, not just in the uni-dimension of number of places alone. We do look at the different disability types, the demand under each category, and also we take an island-wide view of where the availability of these centres are for each of these disability types. It is a more nuanced approach than my main reply would suggest. But at the back-end with MSF and also with SG Enable, we do work very closely with our partners, with our colleagues in SG Enable as well as our social service agencies to understand, drill down to what are the real needs in terms of the heat map around the island. So, rest assured that we are doing a much more nuanced analysis than just capacity alone. With regard to whether we are prepared to work with private providers, the short answer is yes. We are looking at options to see how we can vary the different service models that we are looking at today. I think one of the key principles that I really want to hark back to is to take a step back to see what is our end objective for persons with disabilities, persons who are living with autism. And one of the key objectives is to make sure that they can continue to live in the community with the families for as long as possible. That is to say we want to delay institutionalisation for as long as possible. Hence, that is why in the past few years, we have worked vigorously on various pilots. Pilots like the Enabled Living Programme, the Home Support Programme, which will start in the second half of this year. These provide community living options for persons with disabilities and special needs.”
“Absolute numbers wise, it is not a big increase, but I think if you just look at this statistic, it does not give the situation sufficient justice, because we do need to unpack the nuances. Because rough sleeping on the streets present itself as just one option of several, whenever a youth at-risk faces circumstances like academic stress, family disputes or even relationship issues in their life, and resort to running away from home, to sleeping rough on the streets. And another phenomenon that we have observed is that couch surfing is often times also an option. So, we do need to unpack this in a more nuanced manner with our youth agencies on the ground. MSF will do that, and in time to come, we can share more with the Member, or with this Chamber, when the time arises. But I think we do not want to detract from the main substance of the rough sleeping and homelessness issue in Singapore, and that is the fact that the predominant profile of the rough sleeper in Singapore is still male, middle-aged to older Chinese individuals, and often times, they still remain in employment. In fact, about a good majority of them remain in employment, and many of them, not all rough sleepers are homeless. Half of them do have homes to go back to, so I think this is a call to action from me to everyone, Members of the Chamber, as well as to all out there – if you see a rough sleeper in your neighbourhood, please contact the SSO or the MSF PEERS office. "More Care, Less Stare". Our rough sleeping friends are going through a rough patch in their life. I think it takes the whole of Singapore to care for these some 500 individuals of them on our streets.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her supplementary questions. On the first question, our Social Service Office (SSO) officers do accompany our Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers (PEERS) Network community partners on a weekly basis, whenever they conduct the night walks. So, whenever we have night walks, and I join them from time to time in a year, we have SSO officers, often times, HDB officers will also be available on WhatsApp, so that we can provide help to our rough sleeping friends on the streets as readily as we can. So, the answer is yes, we do have teams that are supporting our community partners, on the ground, on a sustained basis. With regards to capacity and utilisation rates, it is a good practice that we have kept from pandemic days, where we work very closely with our community partners to make sure that there is sufficient surge capacity, should there be a need to exercise them. With regards to youths and young adults who are in the rough sleeping situation, I think it is a quite a different ball game altogether. The joint Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), as well as MSF's homelessness and rough sleeping study that has been published, and I mentioned in my main reply earlier, we have seen some of the trends, and I think it bears repeating some of the observations. For instance, the first misconception is that there has been a huge rise in youth homelessness. If you compare numbers, in 2022, where we did our last street count of the 530 rough sleepers that we have observed then, there were about 16 rough sleepers on the streets. Last year, where we did our nationwide street count again in 2025, of the 496 rough sleepers, we had about 30. This represented an increase, in terms of percentage, from 3% then in 2022, to 6%.”
“The regular presence of Government agencies has generally helped in maintaining order among the unlicensed street hawkers and other groups, and minimised incidents. The agencies will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
“Mr Speaker, in 2020, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), Singapore Food Agency (SFA), and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) carried out a street enhancement exercise at the pedestrianised Waterloo Mall. The objective was to improve public health and safety, as well as to enhance the streetscape. As part of this exercise, SLA issued Temporary Occupation Licences (TOLs) to existing street vendors to enable and require that they ply their trades within designated spaces. From time to time, there are incidences of unlicensed street hawkers such as tissue paper vendors or individuals soliciting donations in the area. To preserve orderliness, agencies regularly conduct joint operations, especially during peak periods, to enforce licensing conditions and maintain order in the area. Agencies are mindful that the unlicensed street hawkers in the area are of a mixed profile. Some are elderly and some appear to have medical conditions. Some also may face more complex challenges such as social isolation. While these in any combination, may form their motivation for illegal hawking, it may not always be the case. For those who may be vulnerable, agencies work with the Ministry of Social and Family Development to refer them to the Vulnerable-In-Community Network, comprising volunteer groups and Government agencies. Those requiring assistance will be linked to relevant agencies, so that the root causes can be addressed. These joint operations are supported by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), which maintains a balanced enforcement approach in the vicinity of the temples along Waterloo Street, that considers both community sensitivities and public safety needs. SPF will intervene as necessary when law-and-order issues arise.”