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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“I have a four-year-old boy at home, so, I know for young children, having a choice over food options not only helps them feel like they have some control over their lives, but learning to decide is also a key part of growing up. And yet, for others, being able to choose the food that they eat comes from a position of need. For diabetic patients, for instance, white rice and sugar, items that are often found in standard ration packs, would be of little help for them. And that is why I have been so deeply inspired by the many big hearts that have been involved in this space, working hard to evolve our giving models, so that we do not just give but, more importantly, give better. And for that, I salute all who have been, and will continue, to be hard at work in our food charities. Sir, I support the Bill.”
“We welcome the protections conferred by the Bill, as more donors can confidently participate in food donation and less food will go to waste. Through our food charities and food support organisations stepping in to organise these donations, more food can be given to those in need. And organisations can also benefit from the assurance that there are legislative protections in place, as they carry out their work. I hope that, collectively, these measures will help encourage greater community giving while, at the same time, reducing food wastage. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) supports the spirit of the Bill. With the GSFD Bill, we can look forward to an increase in the quantity and variety of donated food, as more businesses and individuals are encouraged to donate. My hope is that this will lead to greater choice and dignity for beneficiaries of food support, who will be better placed to get food support that best meets their needs and preferences. With this Bill, I encourage food donors who are considering stepping forward to also work with food charities to understand the needs of food support recipients and donate in ways that provide greater choice, including healthier food options. We also encourage donors and food charities to work with CFWG and, together, we can address the community's needs more effectively. Mr Speaker, in my past four years of involvement in this space, I have had the distinct privilege of seeing first-hand how giving has evolved over time. For our beneficiaries to have the option of choice is not simply or merely about preferences.”
“The CFWG's work is beneficiary-centric and largely driven by the food charities which are the key enablers of these efforts. The workgroup has also risen to the occasion during difficult times. During the circuit breaker, the work of many food charities was disrupted, with many unable to operate. Recognising that there was higher demand for food support then, CFWG members rallied together and developed a central repository of food support beneficiaries' data. This enabled charities that were still able to operate to take over to provide support to those who needed help. Today, that initiative has led to the establishment of a FoodConnect Database. Launched in 2022, the FoodConnect database provides food charities with a consolidated view of food support received by a household, thus facilitating better coordination and avoiding duplication. And we continue to encourage more food charities to come on board the database. We have also launched a FoodConnect Directory that enables families to access food charities according to where they live and their dietary requirements. This has helped families more easily find food support that best meets their needs. The Directory has become more comprehensive over time. Today, it includes food charities offering halal, non-halal and vegetarian food support options in all service regions in Singapore. The introduction of the Good Samaritan Food Donation, or GSFD Bill is a significant step forward to bolster efforts in the food support space. The Bill reflects the collective efforts of stakeholders in the food donation space who have come together to think about how to incentivise food donation and reduce food wastage in Singapore.”
“Together, they provide a wide range of food support, such as cooking and delivering hot meals, distributing dry rations, setting up community shops, as well as providing digital credits that allow beneficiaries to select the food that best meets their dietary requirements. Food charities complement the Government's support, by offering additional aid and expanding the range of choices for families in need. Their efforts go a long way in helping to alleviate the burdens of these families. Not many people see their work. They are often unsung heroes, operating behind the scenes. Many food charities and their dedicated volunteers work tirelessly around the clock, including at night and in the wee hours of the morning. They collect donated food, prepare and repack them for their beneficiaries and help prepare cooked meals. Many also work closely with social services to identify needy families and make plans for supporting them, in line with their needs. I have had the privilege of leading the Charity Food Workgroup, or CFWG, over the past four years. The CFWG was first formed in 2019 and today comprises 15 private and public stakeholders, such as food charities, Government organisations and corporate partners. Our goal is to bring partners within the food donation ecosystem together so that we can harness our collective strengths to practise "good giving and giving right". We have done this by: (a) helping those in need identify and receive food support; (b) reducing duplication of food support and reducing food wastage through better coordination; and (c) encouraging better giving through a shared emphasis on providing food support that meets beneficiaries' dietary needs and in a way that gives beneficiaries greater choice and dignity.”
“Mr Speaker, I would first like to thank Mr Louis Ng and his team for tabling the Private Member's Bill and for bringing this important issue to the fore. In my speech, I will touch on three areas: one, how the work of food charities in Singapore fits with our social compact; two, how the Bill will support their work; and finally, how, as a society, we can join hands across Government, community and businesses to support more intentional giving. Food support organisations play an important role in our society. They are a positive model of how community partners with families and the Government and exemplify our "many helping hands" approach. In Singapore, we encourage self-reliance and family support. Individuals do their best for themselves and their families and families provide the first line of support. The next layer of support is a caring community, comprising neighbours, community organisations and other partners, including corporates. Members of the community, like our food support organisations, contribute their time, resources and expertise and help create opportunities for those they help. The Government helps to create conditions and opportunities for Singaporeans to provide a better life for themselves and their loved ones. On occasion, some families fall on hard times for a variety of reasons and the Government steps in to provide support, in essence, provide a social safety net to help them regain stability and self-reliance. Thus, food charities do not work alone, but alongside many others who seek to help individuals and families in need. There are many food charities in Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, I think the short answer to Mr Chua's question is yes and we do take that into account, both for the near term as well as for the longer term. In the near term, we are working with Keppel Club to see if more slots could be made available. So, for instance, we are exploring the possibility of introducing night golfing at the Keppel Sime Course, for instance, and in the longer term, we will explore all other various options and make sure that public accessibility is one of our key considerations in doing this.”
“A deputyship application may also be filed on the simplified process if all relevant persons to the individual who lacks mental capacity consent to the application and where the deputyship application is for specific orders under the Mental Capacity Act, such as to withdraw up to $80,000 of P’s monies, where P refers to the person who lacks mental capacity or other common orders such as to consent to medical treatment. The simplified deputyship application typically takes four to six weeks, which is faster than the standard deputyship applications. We will continue to review how we can improve the process while ensuring sufficient safeguards against potential fraud or undue pressure. Mr Don Wee has also asked about the LPA take-up rates. Indeed, making an LPA is an important step in planning ahead for ourselves and our loved ones. With an LPA in place, we can be better assured that our loved ones are empowered to support us and manage our affairs, should we lose our mental capacity. To date, close to 210,000 Singaporeans who are aged 50 and above, have made an LPA. The LPA Form 1 application fee is currently waived for Singapore citizens till 31 March 2026. Let me take this opportunity to also reiterate MSF’s commitment to supporting Singaporeans in their pre-planning efforts, and urge those who have yet to do so to make an LPA as soon as possible. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I beg to move. 5.36 pm”
“For instance, if the court is satisfied that fraud or undue pressure was used to induce a Donor to execute an LPA, the court may direct that the LPA be not registered or revoked, amongst other things. The Public Guardian may also investigate any alleged contravention of the Act and may interview a Donor to ascertain whether he or she had executed an LPA under fraud or undue pressure. In addition, financial exploitation of Donors may also amount to criminal offences, such as under the Penal Code. If any person suspects or believes that a person who lacks mental capacity is being financially exploited, they may report this to the Public Guardian and the Police. The Office of the Public Guardian promptly looks into such reports and works closely with the relevant agencies such as banks to take swift action and minimise harm done to the person who lacks mental capacity. In addition, the Public Guardian may also apply to the court to suspend or revoke the LPA or place the Donee or Deputy under closer supervision. Today, before an application for deputyship can be made, the individual intending to apply for deputyship will have to obtain a medical report from a doctor certifying the individual’s lack of mental capacity. This medical report has to be dated no earlier than six months before the deputyship application, which ensures that the information provided is current. An assessment of mental capacity assesses an individual’s ability to take in information presented and demonstrate sufficient reasoning in order to make informed decisions. As mental capacity may fluctuate over time, a proper assessment of the current mental capacity of an individual cannot rely on historical health information in medical records such as the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR).”
“Since the issue was made public, MSF has not been made aware of any such challenges being brought against the affected electronic LPAs. Subsection (3) of the Bill provides that no legal proceedings may be instituted on or after 6 March 2024 over the validity of these LPAs by reason of the instruments or forms, used in the making of the LPA not being in accordance with section 12A(1)(a). Ms Hany Soh, Mr Don Wee and Mr Yip Hon Weng asked if there will be notice given to affected Donors, to inform them that their LPAs will now be recognised as valid. As no action is required by these Donors, we will not send individual notices. Instead, a note will be affixed to the registration page of affected electronic LPAs to point to the retroactive validating provision, when the Bill comes into effect. Queries were also raised by Members on measures to strengthen our processes, and on enhancing the LPA and deputyship regimes. Ms Hany Soh, Mr Don Wee and Mr Yip Hon Weng asked about possible measures that can be taken to ensure such an incident does not happen again, including enlisting the assistance of the legal profession. While no system of checks can be a 100% foolproof, MSF will continue to proof-read and vet all documents as thoroughly and as meticulously as possible. We will perform a final vetting of all documents prior to a system launch, to ensure compliance with operational as well as legal requirements. Mr Don Wee has also raised several other queries relating to the LPA and deputyship regime. On the safeguards to prevent the financial exploitation of Donors, the Mental Capacity Act contains several provisions to address potential cases of financial exploitation.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I thank Members for the thoughtful questions raised and for their support for the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill. With this amendment to the Mental Capacity Act, the affected electronic LPAs, made between 14 November 2022 and 4 January 2024, will be retroactively validated. Affected Donors do not need to re-make their LPAs and no action is required on their part. To date, MSF has not received any requests for electronic LPAs to be re-made. Several questions have been raised by Members on the impact to those affected, as well as the support provided. Let me address these questions in turn. Ms Hany Soh asked about how many of the 87,000 affected LPA Donors have since become mentally incapacitated and if Certified True Copies of electronic LPAs that have been issued would have to be re-issued. Currently, there is no requirement for the Donee to inform the OPG when the Donor loses mental capacity or when an LPA is used. Nonetheless, according to our records, the vast majority of the affected LPAs have not yet been shared with third parties. The Bill, once it comes into effect, will remove any uncertainty over the validity of these LPAs on the basis of the omitted statement. In addition, third parties who have transacted with Donees based on a Certified True Copy of the electronic LPA may continue to rely on these documents for the transaction. However, we recommend that third parties request for the online registered LPA rather than a Certified True Copy, to ensure that they obtain the most updated version. Ms Hany Soh and Mr Don Wee also asked how affected parties will be supported and protected in the interim and if there have been challenges made against the affected LPAs.”
“Despite this, it took nearly a year before a member of the public noticed the difference and wrote in to enquire. Let me now turn to the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill proper. Our key consideration was to ensure certainty of the validity of the LPAs which the Donors had made, so that the Donors would not have to take steps to re-make their LPAs. The Bill provides for the retroactive validation of the affected LPAs by introducing a new section 12B in the MCA. Specifically, subsections (1) and (2) provide that an LPA made between 14 November 2022 and 4 January 2024, both dates inclusive, using the online LPA system, is not invalid as a deed and not invalidly created by reason only that it was not made in compliance with section 12A(1)(a). Our intent is to validate all affected electronic LPAs, provided they comply with all other legal requirements for the making of an LPA. Subsection (3) additionally provides that no legal proceedings may be instituted on or after 6 March 2024 over the validity of these LPAs by reason of the instruments, or forms, used in the making of the LPA not being in accordance with section 12A(1)(a). With this amendment, the uncertainty over the validity of all affected electronic LPAs will be removed. Again, we apologise for the omission and assure affected Donors that they do not need to re-make their LPAs. With that, Mdm Deputy Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“Unfortunately, the electronic LPA, unlike the hard copy form, did not contain this required statement. Two Members of the House have also filed Parliamentary Questions on the matter and I would like to take the opportunity to address them here. First, we apologise for this omission and for any inconvenience this may have caused. Since 5 January this year, the electronic LPA has been revised to include this statement. Next, let me touch on the implications of the omission. For the approximately 87,000 electronic LPAs made between 14 November 2022 and 4 January 2024, there is some uncertainty as to whether the LPAs were validly made. Hard copy LPAs, on the other hand, were not affected by this omission. Till date, MSF is not aware of any actual harm suffered by Donees or Donors. Many of the Donors that made the LPAs continue to have mental capacity, and so, there is no need yet for the Donees to act on their behalf. It is possible that some Donees have begun to exercise the powers in some of the affected electronic LPAs, but we are not aware of any challenge to the exercise of those powers by third parties. This Bill will remove any future potential complications. Lastly, on the process by which the electronic LPA form was approved for deployment, MSF had an internal proofreading and vetting process. The forms were prepared by the staff of the Office of the Public Guardian and was vetted by the Public Guardian, as well as by a separate Legal Unit. Unfortunately, no system of process checks can be 100% accurate, as this case shows. In fact, the electronic LPA forms go through various parties, including certificate issuers who are people familiar with the hard copy forms, such as lawyers or doctors.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Development, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), a Donor may appoint a Donee through a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). If the Donor loses mental capacity, the LPA allows the Donee to decide on the Donor's personal welfare, property and other affairs. Previously, LPAs were made using hard copy forms. In 2021, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) amended the MCA to digitalise the LPA process. This provided more convenience and facilitated an uptake in the number of LPAs created. The online LPA system was rolled out on 14 November 2022. The LPA is a legal document which confers powers enabling a Donee to decide on the Donor's personal welfare, property and other affairs. In most cases, the property, such as a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat, a private condominium apartment or a landed property, is registered under the Land Titles Act. To transfer ownership of such a property, there is no need for a deed. However, for property not registered under the Land Titles Act, transfer of ownership must be made by way of a deed. Hence, an LPA is executed as a deed, so that irrespective of the type of property, the Donee has the power to make the necessary transactions for the benefit of the Donor. Prior to the electronic LPAs, the hard copy form contained a statement in the signature box where the Donor physically signs, that the LPA is "signed (or marked) and delivered as a deed by Donor". Section 12A(1)(a) of the MCA is intended to replicate this for electronic LPAs and specifies that the electronic record must clearly state on its face that it is intended to be a deed.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for his supplementary question. As I mentioned, there are about 3,000 households who are not in rental flat housing but qualify for KidSTART or UPLIFT Community Network. So, in the next phase of ComLink+ in the next three years, where we are trialling our ComLink+ progress packages, we will be reaching out to these 3,000 families. And if these ComLink+ progress packages prove indeed successful, we will then consider reaching out to more lower-income families beyond these 3,000.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her support for the Athletes Inspire Fund. I give her assurance that so long as a coach is registered with either the National Registry of Coaches or the National Registry of Exercise Professionals, he or she is eligible for support under these two schemes. CoachSG will work with relevant agencies and bodies like NICA to be sure that our coaches are well-supported.”
“I thank the Member for her clarifications. If the Member had listened to my speech, there are a lot of plans coming up as part of the Sports Facilities Master Plan. Other than the Member, Mr Ong Hua Han has also mentioned that it is not just the hardware. It is also about the heart ware, what keeps the heart ware going. It is as much as it is about the hardware as it is about the software or the programmes that are running in the institutions. We take the Member's point about having more programmes to collaborate with the schools, more programmes to collaborate with the community. In fact, if the Member had listened in to some of what I said for football earlier, the Member would know that a lot of it is vested and intertwined within our school system. The school football academies, for instance, we started with 10 in 2022. And now, in 2024, we have 15 academies that have been set up and includes five that are dedicated to girls as well. Across all the different checkboxes, schools, different genders and different sporting types, we are trying to do more of that, to popularise and propagate more sports, and working in collaboration with the community.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her clarification. The short answer is yes, because we are looking at how we can support our retired athletes more holistically.”
“In particular, the SportSG’s SportCares programme is committed to providing opportunities for marginalised groups to participate in sports. Through the SportCares bursaries, children and youths from low-income families have increased access to quality sports, such as basketball, football, track and field, field hockey, water polo, canoeing, table tennis and so on. So far, the SportCares bursaries have enabled over 480 children and youths to learn new sport activities. We hope that more Singaporeans and corporates can generously donate and actively contribute to SportCares. (In English): Chair, through sports, we can grow closer as a community. Through sports, we can improve our health and instil a sense of confidence. Through sports, we can inspire a nation to go beyond our limits. In conclusion, sports can clearly enrich and empower our lives. So, I hope to rally all Singaporeans to take action today and let us all live better through sports.”
“Applications for the March window will be from 1 to 31 March, so please start applying. Another key component of our athlete support system are our coaches. Ms Jean See will be pleased to know that we are looking to upskill and professionalise exercise, sports and outdoor adventure coaches and instructors, which in turn, could increase their wages that is commensurate with their skillset. For exercise professionals, SportSG will be instituting an accreditation framework under the National Registry for Exercise Professionals (NREP) in a later phase and we welcome inputs from NICA. Ms Jean See would also understand that the exercise, sports and outdoor adventure sectors are diverse with niche offerings and therefore it is difficult to introduce a cost norm. However, we will continue to engage coaches to better understand their challenges and explore ways to further support them. For example, in the outdoor adventure sector, the Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) Council is working on a capability development roadmap that will look into the salary and remuneration challenges for full-time and freelance OAE professionals. We are open to see how SkillsFuture can further support their professional development and the OAE Council will also be looking at having more sites and facilities with affordable access. Chair, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sports help us maintain physical and mental health and is also one of the ways to build character, transform lives and encourage social mixing. The Government supports children and youths from different backgrounds to participate in sports through ActiveSG’s Academies and Clubs.”
“Besides the mandatory annual submission of audited statement of accounts to SportSG, NSAs are also required to allow SportSG to audit their accounting records. If an NSA is found non-compliant with the terms of its funding agreement, SportSG will take appropriate action, such as suspending, terminating or even recovering the grant. For more serious cases, such as misappropriation of funds, SportSG would refer these to the police. We have also previously explained, how we allocate our funding across the NSAs. That has not changed. SportSG's annual grants to NSAs help to support their organisation functions, outreach programmes, training facilities and HPS plans. Annually, the level of funding is assessed holistically, considering a few factors, such as its alignment with SportSG's Vision 2030, whether it has achieved agreed KPIs, its capabilities in governance and execution and the existence of a sound plan for development of the sport overall. For emerging sports that do not receive support from an NSA, funded directly by SportSG, Mr Darryl David and Mr Mohd Fahmi asked about how we can support aspiring athletes in these fields. We recognise that our athletes in emerging sports, such as powerlifting and pickleball, have performed well internationally. We are all very proud of them. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that the OTSF will be expanded to support the Athletes Inspire Fund (AIF). The AIF provides funding support for athletes who represent Singapore in emerging sports. Athletes can apply as individuals or as a team. The funding support may cover cost items, such as airfare, accommodation, registration fees, visa fees, travel insurance and equipment. And there will be three application windows each year: in March, July and November.”
“At IMG, Chloe gets to travel to different states in the United States, play in tournaments and showcase her skills to college scouts, who are proactively seeking out young talents and potentially bringing them a step closer to their dream of turning professional. We wish Chloe and all our UTR scholars currently overseas all the best. Chair, our Team Singapore athletes continue to inspire Singaporeans as they shine on the world stage. And this is only possible with a strong support system backing them in taking their sporting goals to the next level. Our high-performance sport (HPS) system is dynamic and athlete-centric. Each athlete is supported in a holistic and personalised manner. The Singapore Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre (SSMC@SSI) provides personalised sport medicine care for our athletes. Such support includes comprehensive medical screening, focusing on both physical as well as mental health; support for athlete recovery through physiotherapy and exercise rehabilitation; and integration of medical care with sports sciences. Athletes are covered by a medical insurance policy that allows athletes to claim for in-patient treatment or surgery for accidental sports-related injuries not covered by SSI or SSMC@SSI. To Ms Sylvia Lim's suggestion regarding former national athletes, our consistent approach is to support our athletes' transition into retirement from the competitive sporting careers by helping them find good employment. Active and retired athletes can also tap on various programmes, including spexEducation and spexBusiness, as elaborated by the Minister in his speech earlier. But we will explore how we can support them better. On the funding of NSAs, there is no change to the policy and requirements that NSAs must meet to qualify for our funding.”
“A critical part of this is developing a structured football development system so that we can raise the standards of Singapore football at all levels. I would like to share, at this juncture, a few updates. We now have 15 School Football Academies (SFAs), of which five have dedicated programmes for girls. We have also doubled the number of young footballers from 300 youths in 10 pilot SFAs in 2022 when we started, to over 830 male and female young footballers this year. We have also set up and since sent our National Development Centre (NDC) teams and a combined SFA squad overseas for training camps and competition opportunities to expose them to quality competition they cannot find locally and to further their development in football. Just last month, we launched the Singapore Youth League (SYL): our inaugural nationwide high performance youth football competition. The SYL provides aspiring youth players a regular and competitive platform to gain match experience and develop their football skills. Through this league, we hope to further strengthen a robust talent pipeline of next-generation national team players. Last year, we also sent our first batch of eight young footballers on UTR! Scholarships to study and train overseas at world-renowned academies – the IMG Academy in Florida, USA and the ESC LaLiga in Madrid, Spain. 12.45 pm Chloe Koh, one of our scholarship recipients, is now at the IMG Academy in the US. Her near-term goal is to play in the NCAA Division I and, ultimately, she wants to play professionally. As an introvert, Chloe had to step out of her comfort zone when she first arrived in the US. After a few months, however, she has quickly adapted.”
“In his Budget speech last month, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the Government will match dollar-for-dollar, all donations to SportCares from April this year onwards. We really hope more Singaporeans and corporates will step forward to donate generously to SportCares. Chair, we know how passionate Singaporeans are when it comes to football, and how much we hope to see our national team succeed both at the regional as well as international levels. Mr Darryl David and Mr Faisal Manap asked for an update on Unleash the Roar and the selection process for Singapore’s National Team's Head Coach. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is responsible for the promotion and development of the sport. This includes developing training programmes and the hiring of coaches. When selecting a National Head coach, FAS considers the following key attributes; one, the candidate needs to demonstrate a track record of developing players and have a robust strategy in preparing and fielding a team to achieve results; two, apart from the National “A” team, the candidate would also supervise the Under-22 team together with the Under-22 Head Coach; three, the candidate is expected to uplift the football ecosystem, impart knowledge and raise the overall profile of football. FAS has gone through a rigorous process to find a new coach. Let us give our new national coach some time to find his footing and hopefully make his mark with the national team. To be sure, we are playing the long game to uplift Singapore football. We launched the Unleash the Roar! (UTR!) in March 2021, and since then we have made steady progress to strengthen our football ecosystem locally.”
“Sport is not only a great way to keep fit, but also builds character, transforms lives and encourage social mixing. In particular, the SportCares programme seeks to harness the power of sport to provide access and opportunities for marginalised communities. Through SportCares initiatives and bursaries, children and youths from low-income families have increased access to quality sports programmes, such as athletics, basketball, water polo and canoeing and many others. To date, the SportCares bursaries have enabled more than 480 children and youths to learn new sports. In April 2023, SportCares also awarded scholarships to its first batch of students. I would like to share how the scholarship has helped Hassan Shapiee. Hassan joined SportCares’ Saturday Night Lights (SNL) programme in 2017. SNL is a football programme for youths aged 13 to 21, to train regularly and to compete in the HEARTS Football league throughout the year. Coming from a low-income family with his father as the sole breadwinner, Hassan is the third of five children and juggles part-time jobs to alleviate the financial strain at home. Other than studying, Hassan is also caregiver to his five-year-old younger brother. During his time with SportCares, Hassan served as a responsible captain of his SNL team. As an alumnus, Hassan continues to give back by volunteering with SportCares, planning camps for students with special needs and children from low-income families. He also participates actively in the SportCares Champions programme – a leadership programme for youths willing and able to step into the role of a leader and mentor. With the help of the scholarship, Hassan will complete his Diploma in Sustainable Built Environment at Republic Polytechnic and he has plans to join the Police force.”
“A 5,000-seater stadium, swimming complex, 20-badminton-court-sized indoor sports hall, sheltered tennis and futsal courts, water sports centre and an archery field are features of the new Punggol Regional Sport Centre. And we have been making our sporting facilities inclusive and accessible to Singaporeans of all abilities. Mr Ong Hua Han emphasised that it is not enough to just make our sports facilities inclusive. We must help persons with disabilities feel empowered to exercise in mainstream settings. I fully agree. Since the launch of the Disability Sport Master Plan (DSMP) in 2016, SportSG has introduced a range of programmes so more persons with disabilities can take part in sports. These include the learn-to-play programmes such as “Yes! I Can” and “Play-Ability”, as mentioned by Minister Edwin earlier, and an annual Play Inclusive campaign. To date, some 20,000 persons with disabilities have taken part in these programmes. Our vision is for all persons with disabilities to be engaged, enriched, and empowered through sports. To refresh the DSMP, we have convened a taskforce comprising stakeholders from SportSG, MSF, SG Enable, MOE and disability sports organisations such as the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) and Special Olympics Singapore (SOSG). To date, the task force has engaged more than 600 stakeholders, received good inputs. In essence, the DSMP refresh will look to: one, increase accessibility to disability sport activities and facilities; two, enhance awareness of disability and inclusive sporting opportunities; and three, help fulfil the aspirations of those who aspire to pursue sports at the high performance level. We will share more in detail later this year.”
“Chair, sports is a great way for people from all walks of life, whether you are a senior, a youth, a person with disabilities, sport enthusiast, or weekend warrior, to bond and to stay healthy together. Singaporeans lead busy lives but we want to make it easier for everyone to make sports a way of life. Our ambition is for Singaporeans to be able to take a 10-minute walk from home to affordable sport facilities by around 2030. This is made possible through the Sport Facilities Master Plan (SFMP). Today, SportSG has built 10 Sport-in-Precinct (SIP) facilities with another 24 more projects in various development stages. These facilities are located conveniently within HDB estates and are free for use by all. Dr Syed Harun highlighted the importance of sport in strengthening community ties and social cohesion. SIP facilities serve as organic nodes that brings the community together. From playgrounds for children, to sheltered courts for futsal or basketball, exercise stations with QR codes which you can scan to learn correct techniques and rubberised walking tracks for seniors. There is something for everyone. More than 370 facilities including indoor sports halls and free-to-play fields are also available under the Dual Use Scheme (DUS). In fact, there are over 40 free-to-play fields where Singaporeans can freely use on weekends. This year, we look forward to the opening of four new facilities namely: the Kallang Tennis Hub, the Kallang Football Hub, new basketball courts at the former Bedok Swimming Complex and a facility for softball and baseball at Jurong East. In the coming years, Punggol and Clementi residents can also look forward to new sports facilities. At Clementi, there will be a new town playfield which includes a running track and community sport courts.”
“I just want to make a clarification to my main speech earlier. In my excitement, I said that the family coaches would visit the families at the beginning, once or twice every month. Actually, it is once, every one to two months.”
“I thank Mr Ong for his clarification. I think a quick point to note is that with the launch of the Enabling Business Hub in Jurong last year, we have facilitated an increase of job support services that is provided to PwDs from one year to two years and the intensity of job support services is actually increased, where needed. So, I do not have the numbers on hand as to how many of PwDs drop out after one year and at the different milestone times, but rest assured that the passion as well as the appetite to really look at helping a PwD, not just land the job, but to really sustain and remain in employment is there.”
“It is about connecting the family to other agencies, other organisations on the ground, so there needs to be a good sense of who these partners are going to be and a good team spirit or team player-ship, if you will, in working with the partners on the ground. So, these are all the qualities that we look at and try to nurture and imbue in our family coaches.”
“I thank Ms Ng for the clarifications she is making. Indeed, we do need the right type for a family coach and basically, we look for a few things. One, is a person somebody who really is passionate and really genuine and authentic about helping people from lower-income families. Two, somebody who can display empathy and have good, strong communication and interpersonal skills because that will be helpful when communicating some of the action plans or things that the families need to work on. And three, really, individuals with good analytical planning, as well as problem-solving skills. So, we are also open to having mid-career switchers join us because we do understand that mid-career switchers, they have more working and family experience and a lot of time this will come in useful. Because we are talking about life experiences that the family coach could potentially share with the families that they work with. But in addition to the type of candidates that we are looking for our family coaches, we also provide a comprehensive suite of training. There is a structured training programme for family coaches before they are deployed and at various milestone stages and this will include frameworks that they can use to assess the family's strengths and needs for action planning and also engagement-related training. So, things like basic counselling, motivational interviewing, cultural competency as well as coaching techniques; and also working effectively with stakeholders. Because it is not about just bringing a goodie bag or a bag of different schemes to the families.”
“And we are talking about going way beyond placements, because we do want persons with disabilities to keep their jobs, to sustain employment. Because employment is not simply about having a job, having somewhere to go nine to six every day. It is also about personal empowerment. It is also about self-actualisation in many instances. So, that is but one example of how outcomes are also being attended to. Other outcomes that we look at, NCSS conducts a quality of life survey of persons with disabilities and this is called the Disability and Inclusion Panel Study. And this is conducted once every two years. This is also one of those proxy reports that we refer to, to see how the needles are shifting in this space. And I really want to behoove Ms Denise Phua that the EMP 2030 is not a dead plan. In fact, it is a very live plan. It does not mean that what we have said in 2022 is truth with a capital "T". We are open to evolving some of the strategies; we are open to evolving some of the methods. In fact, we have stated in the Masterplan itself that we understand that things are changing, particularly in terms of, say, assistive technology. And we acknowledge that and we welcome any suggestions along the way as we get to 2030. And if I can add, 2030 is most definitely not a full stop. To me, it is the figurative comma in our journey towards making Singapore a more inclusive society. So, I hope that is sufficient assurance for the Member.”
“I thank Ms Denise Phua for two very extensive clarifications. I will take the first clarification first. I am afraid I will not be able to give a very detailed reply. I agree with the Member that in terms of implementation, in fact, oftentimes, we meet a lot of implementation roadblocks, especially where we need partners to work together, especially where we need perhaps to push for maybe some flexibility at the edges of our current day policies. But rest assured that there is a very intentional view right from the social service officers on the ground, the SSOs' general managers, as well as each of the SSO officers that are in touch with the ComLink+ families, the family coaches, right up to the senior public servants, as well as myself. We do take a very keen interest in what is going on on the ground. So, while I cannot — well, I can, but I would definitely use up all the clarification time going through all the details of the various implementation bumps that we have encountered. But you have my commitment in this Chamber that MSF and our officers, right down the line to the SSOs on the ground, will commit to helping every single ComLink+ families that we are serving today. So, that is a very broad answer to Ms Denise Phua's first question. To the second question, I want to thank her for being a very passionate advocate in this space. And I assure the Member that we are not simply looking at output in the EMP. Some of the indicators that we look at pertains specifically to outcomes. So, for instance, in terms of employment, getting to 40% employment, and that translates, from when we first started in 2022, when the EMP 2030 was launched, we were at about 30%, 31%. And to make that leap from 30% to 40%, that translates to about 10,000 job placements.”
“(In English): Sir, I started my speech asking whether Singapore can be a caring and inclusive place for all families, including our lower-income families and those with persons with disabilities. Aini, Lek Wei and Irfran have shown us, we can. We can, when families do their best to achieve their aspirations. We can, when our social service partners and professionals journey alongside these families. We can, when employers hire inclusively. We can, when our volunteers take time and energy to befriend our families and PwDs. And we can, when you and I look out for those amongst us in need. This is our refreshed social compact that we set out under Forward Singapore. Together, we can create a caring and inclusive Singapore. One where everyone can progress, fulfil their potential and achieve their aspirations. A Singapore made for all Singapore families.”
“ComLink+ Progress Package recognises and supplements ComLink+ families' efforts in working towards stable employment, financial stability, home ownership and giving their children a good start in education. We will launch the first ComLink+ package for preschool this year to encourage early enrolment and regular attendance. Besides the volunteers that Minister mentioned, ComLink+ partners come from across the people, public and private sectors. Our anchor partners, DBS, Singapore Pools and the Ngee Ann Kongsi have contributed generously towards supporting ComLink+ families. In this year of Celebrating Volunteers, I would like to thank ComLink+ befrienders for devoting your time and energy to journey with the families. We also continue to support PwDs, by providing different employment support programmes catering to varying needs and capabilities. This includes extending the Place-and-Train Programme and increasing capacity for Sheltered Workshops. Aside from employment, we support PwDs to live independently and better integrate into the community. We will increase the number of Day Activity Centres spaces and launch two new Enabling Services Hub in the North-East and West later this year, providing more opportunities for PwDs to engage in social activities and learn new skills. Lower-income families and PwDs are often too saddled by today's burdens as they work towards achieving their aspirations. The Government and social service partners adopt a person-centric and/or family-centric approach by providing a range of services and programmes to accommodate their various needs, capabilities and empower them to fulfil their potential. Together, as a society, I hope that we can work together to create an inclusive and caring Singapore.”
“Also, Deputy Prime Minister Wong announced that we will update the per capita household income threshold for means-tested subsidies so that more families can benefit from subsidies like the ETS. Valid means-test results can also be shared across schemes, so that beneficiaries need not undergo repeated means-testing within a period of time. This will help ensure that our schemes and subsidies remain accessible to those who need them. Lastly, the EMP commits to improving accessibility and inclusiveness in our social and physical environments. We have extensively improved the accessibility of our public transport and public spaces; all public buses and train stations and almost all public sector buildings are wheelchair-accessible. You and I can play our part through small but impactful actions, such as looking out for those who need a hand, smiling more, staring less at unusual behaviour and focusing on their abilities and not limitations; because together, we can build a caring and inclusive society. Chair, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Many citizens share similar aspirations for Singapore to be an inclusive and caring society, where everyone is empowered to pursue their own aspirations. Today, let me share on how we are going to support lower-income families and PwDs to reach their full potential. First, ComLink+ reflects our philosophy in empowering lower-income families by encouraging action and progress. Our family coaches journey with ComLink+ families through a family-centric approach. The family coach will consider the family's circumstances, needs and strengths to co-develop an action plan with the family to achieve its goals.”
“Riding on this encouraging progress, we will launch the second and third ESH in 2025 – one in the North-East covering Punggol, Hougang, Sengkang and Serangoon; and one in the West focusing on Jurong West. We hope that the ESHs will support more persons with disabilities like Irfan and very importantly, provide respite for caregivers like Mdm Sheriffa too. I agree wholeheartedly with Mr Ong Hua Han that we need to support our caregivers, who play an indispensable role. In fact, it is also a point that I made in my speech in the debate on the Budget statement just a week ago. CaringSG will collaborate with the ESH and other communities to strengthen community and peer support. To support persons with disabilities and their caregivers with long-term financial and care planning, more than 1,200 trust accounts have been set up with the Special Needs Trust Company, or SNTC. We share Mr Murali Pillai's hope that more families will set up trust accounts and tap on the Special Needs Saving Scheme (SNSS) to set aside Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings for long-term care. SNTC works with key partners, including SG Enable, SPED schools and social service agencies to reach out to families. The Government is also strengthening support on caregiving costs. For those who require point-to-point transport to commute to SPED schools and community-based programmes, we will increase the Enabling Transport Subsidy (ETS) from 1 April 2024 to alleviate the cost of transport services. Currently, about 5,400 beneficiaries are receiving the ETS. With this increase, about 40% of families currently receiving the ETS can expect a reduction in their out-of-pocket transport fees by 10% or more.”
“We will add 500 DAC spaces, from the current 1,800 to 2,300 by 2030. We will add 50 spaces to the MINDS Jurong Training and Development Centre by 2025, with the rest added progressively in the next few years. SG Enable launched the first Enabling Services Hub (ESH) in Tampines last August. The ESH complements current support services by bringing services and programmes closer to homes of persons with disabilities. Through working with community partners, we hope to create inclusive neighbourhoods and strengthen support for adults with disabilities and their caregivers, especially for those no longer actively receiving services. Take Irfan and his mother Mdm Sheriffa whom I met recently as well, for example. Irfan was not suitable for work after graduation and was staying at home. Thankfully, Sheriffa was connected to the ESH, which engaged Irfan in various activities close to where they stayed. One activity Irfan enjoys is volunteer book-shelving at the Tampines Regional Library. He volunteers every Thursday. So every Wednesday night, he hangs up his blue volunteer t-shirt, looking forward to volunteering the very next day. Irfan also enjoys community fitness activities at Tampines West Community Club, including inclusive floorball activities. These activities have brought Irfan out of isolation and into the community. Mdm Sheriffa works night shifts at a fast-food restaurant and takes care of Irfan in the day. Irfan's engagement in activities allows Mdm Sheriffa to run errands or to have a much-needed respite before work. Sherrifa has also made friends with fellow caregivers through ESH activities and knows she is not alone. To date, the first ESH has supported more than 140 persons with disabilities and caregivers living in Tampines and Bedok.”
“As shown through Lek Wei, such environments enable those with higher needs to learn and develop at their own pace and hopefully, eventually enter open employment. As demand for Sheltered Workshop spaces remain high, we will increase capacity by 500 spaces, from the current 1,700 to 2,200 by 2030. We will add 100 spaces to APSN's Centre for Adults this year, with the rest added progressively over the next few years. Because of the good uptake of the range of work opportunities, we raised the employment rate of resident persons with disabilities aged 15 to 64 from about 28% in 2018 to 2019, to 33% in 2022 to 2023, and we will press on towards our aspirational employment target of 40% by 2030. I am heartened, as Ms Carrie Tan and Ms Ng Ling Ling would be too, that more employers like Boon Café are hiring inclusively. These employers are accredited with the Enabling Mark. Based on the Comprehensive Labour Force Survey for 2022 and 2023, close to half of persons with disabilities were employed in community, social and personal services, manufacturing and F&B services. To expand the jobs available, SG Enable is reaching out to employers in emerging sectors, such as transport and storage, including logistics; and financial and insurance services. We call upon more employers to be inclusive hirers, so that more people like Lek Wei can pursue their work aspirations. Beyond employers, the community plays a key role in enabling our persons with disabilities to live independently and feel valued. In the Enabling Masterplan, we committed to provide a continuum of support services that enable persons with disabilities to live in the community. For those unable to work, our Day Activity Centres (DACs) help to equip them with essential daily and community living skills.”
“The onsite team at EBH@Jurong also provides enhanced employment support for up to 24 months at a higher intensity, to support those with higher job support needs. For some, the road to employment is a longer journey. I recently met Lek Wei and his parents. Lek Wei is autistic and often had meltdowns. After graduation, he enrolled as a Sheltered Workshop trainee with the Knead with Love bakery at the THK Pan-Disability Centre@Eunos. The team provided a structured environment with routines, made efforts to understand how Lek Wei received instructions and gave him time and space when he was overwhelmed. He picked up skills like weighing ingredients and rolling dough and found joy in making delicious bread for others. 3.30 pm Gradually, Lek Wei could regulate his emotions better and made such good progress that he secured a job trial at Boon Café@ITE College Central. During this trial period, the Sheltered Workshop and Job Coaches guided Boon Café in job redesigning. For example, Boon Café personalised Lek Wei's workstation by labelling the ingredients and colour coding the steps to his recipes. The Café employees also learned how to communicate with him. They speak to him slowly, with simple words. Through all these efforts, Lek Wei assimilated well and a few months later, Boon Café offered Lek Wei full-time employment. Lek Wei was Boon Cafe's first employee with disability and he opened the door for the hiring of three more at the cafe. I also tasted some of the pastry that he made, I must say they were "yummilicious". Mr Ong Hua Han will be interested to know that our Sheltered Workshops provide a structured learning and training environment, with support from allied health professionals and training officers.”
“However, what really reflects our moral fibre as a society is how we work together to make sure that no one is permanently stranded at the bottom of the barrel. As our lower-income families work hard to build a better tomorrow for themselves, let us support and journey alongside them. I now move on to enabling persons with disabilities. I would like to assure Ms Denise Phua and Ms Rahayu Mahzam that we are working hard and making good progress on implementing our EMP 2030. SG Enable plays a key role in galvanising an extensive range of partners towards our EMP 2030 goals. Members can refer to MSF's website for more detailed updates – as Ms Denise Phua mentioned, you might have to do a few clicks but you can find all the details there – but today, let me share some key efforts and progress. First, we want to empower persons with disabilities to pursue their work aspirations: to get a job and to stay employed. To do this, we adopt a person-centric approach, providing a range of employment support programmes to cater to various needs and capabilities. SG Enable piloted the Place-and-Train programme in 2021, where employers receive salary support of up to 90% while they train persons with disabilities placed with them. Through Place-and-Train, 131 employers have hired more than 330 persons with disabilities. We will extend the programme for two more years and place and train another 200 persons with disabilities by 2026. Last December, SG Enable launched the first Enabling Business Hub at Jurong, (EBH@Jurong), partnering employers, training providers and social service agencies, to bring job opportunities in the logistics sector closer to persons with disabilities in the West.”
“This is distinct from social assistance that serves immediate needs but may have less direct and sustained impact on longer-term outcomes. Third, our greatest support comes from partnerships: our volunteers and our partners. Our ComLink+ partners across the people, private and public sectors contribute what they can to support others in need. Our anchor partners, DBS, Singapore Pools and, most recently, The Ngee Ann Kongsi, fund some of the ComLink+ Progress Packages. DBS, for instance, has made a contribution of over $30 million to the ComLink+ Packages for Preschool and Home Ownership. Many DBS staff have also stepped forward as Befrienders, while Singapore Pools staff are also volunteering at various ComLink+ programmes. Students like Ansel Lim and Adele Koo from NUS, whom I have also met recently, are Aini's Befrienders. They play with Laila and organise outings with the families and in this Year of Celebrating Volunteers, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our ComLink+ volunteers for devoting your time and energy to journey alongside these families. We welcome community partners to work alongside ComLink+ to offer complementary programmes where there is a need, such as debt counselling, financial literacy, homework supervision and sports programmes. In this way, everyone contributes to uplifting our lower-income families. Looking ahead, we hope that ComLink+ will support families' pursuit of long-term aspirations. Going forward, we will track ComLink+ families' progress towards the "3S"s outcomes and work with local academics to evaluate the efficacy of the ComLink+ Progress Packages. Aini's challenges are not unique. In every society, there will be those who struggle from time to time.”
“If Laila regularly attends a Government-supported preschool until six, not only will the ComLink+ CDA top-ups fully pay for her preschool fees, there will also be ample balance remaining in her CDA that can be used for her healthcare and other primary school expenses. Since the nationwide scale-up of ComLink, we have been encouraged by the good response from the families, many of whom have agreed to work with us. And we are now ready to embark on our next move: to provide ComLink+ support to families beyond those in public rental housing. From this month onwards, and over the next three years, we will expand ComLink+ to cover another 3,000 lower-income families who are not in public rental housing and are eligible for KidSTART or UPLIFT Community Network. These families face similar challenges as our ComLink+ families and would also benefit from family coach support and the ComLink+ Progress Packages. ComLink+ embodies our refreshed approach to support our lower-income families, something Mr Melvin Yong touched upon. First, our approach has to be family-centric. Our family coaches recognise each family's unique aspirations, strengths and circumstances and work with them to chart their next steps. They also take the lead to coordinate and integrate support for the families they serve, giving families more headspace to plan for their own future and achieve their goals. Second, our shift from social assistance to social empowerment, where we help families move forward as they work towards a better future. ComLink+ aims to empower families to achieve the "3S"s outcomes of stability, self-reliance and, eventually, social mobility over the long term.”
“The first ComLink+ Package for Preschool will be launched in the second half of this year and we will roll out the rest of the ComLink+ Packages subsequently. The early years are crucial for a child's learning and development. Enrolling in preschool by age three and attending preschool regularly will give Laila a good start in life and better prepare her for Primary 1. This is why the ComLink+ Package for Preschool will recognise parents' efforts to prioritise their children' preschool education. This is how it will work: every child between ages three and six in a ComLink+ family who enrols in and attends preschool regularly, can receive up to $3,700 in their CDA. This includes a one-time CDA top-up of $500 when the child is enrolled in preschool in the year that he or she turns three, and $200 for each quarter that the child achieves at least 75% attendance in the preschool. These top-ups are funded by one of our ComLink+ anchor partners, DBS. The Government will also match these CDA top-ups as part of the Baby Bonus Scheme, so that the child can get as much as $7,400 in total in their CDA. I would like to emphasise that the parents do not need to make any monetary contribution. All they need to do is to enrol and send their child to preschool regularly. As Laila continues her preschool education, Aini will also benefit from the preschool subsidies given to lower-income households. Mr Gerald Giam will be pleased to know that full-day childcare fees for children from all lower-income families at Anchor Operator preschools cost as low as $3 monthly.”
“After some consideration, Aini and Wali decided that Wali could take care of Laila when Aini needs to fly for work. With care arrangements sorted out, she can now look for a cabin crew job with peace of mind. As the family coach, Zeke is providing Aini and Wali with the sort of structured approach Ms Ng Ling Ling talked about, to achieve stability and make better decisions for the future. The nationwide rollout of ComLink started in 2021. Ms Denise Phua would be pleased to know that our Social Service Offices (SSOs) and Family Service Centres (FSCs) now serve 10,000 families with children in public rental flats in all 21 towns. And we are now ready to proceed with ComLink+. Mr Xie Yao Quan would also be pleased to know that with ComLink+, we will have integrated support across multiple programmes, including KidSTART, UPLIFT Community Network and Project Dian@M3. We will continue to strengthen the leadership role of the family coach to coordinate support across programmes and services, so that ComLink+ families can enjoy comprehensive, coordinated and convenient support. MSF currently has about 120 family coaches and we plan to recruit 200 more. We have also recruited and trained about 1,600 volunteer befrienders working alongside our family coaches. All in, each family coach, aided by volunteer befrienders, is expected to support between 25 and 35 families and meet with them at least one to two times a month at the beginning. [Please see clarification later in the debate.] In a shift from social assistance to empowerment, we will provide financial top-ups through ComLink+ Progress Packages to recognise and supplement ComLink+ families' efforts in working towards stable employment, financial stability, home ownership and giving their children a good start in education.”
“Chairman, talking to Singaporeans from all walks of life, one topic that often comes up is, "What would Singapore in the future look like?" Will we be a more caring and inclusive society? Can Singapore be a place made for all families, one where lower-income families have a fair chance to achieve their aspirations, and one where persons with disabilities can fulfil their true potential? MSF is working hard with families and communities to make these statements a reality. I recently met Ms Aini and Mr Wali, a young couple who welcomed their first child Laila in 2022. They are currently living in a public rental flat and they hope to purchase their first BTO flat soon. Aini is looking to return to a cabin crew job, while Wali is striving to turn his passion for stand-up paddling into a full-time business. The couple is working hard to realise their dreams: to achieve their career goals, buy a home and provide a good future for young Laila. But they are unsure how they can get there. This is where MSF's ComLink+ family coaches, like Mr Zeke, come in. Our family coaches journey with ComLink+ families and support their aspirations. The family coach considers the family's unique circumstances, needs and strengths and co-develops an action plan with the family to help the family achieve its goals, one step at a time. Through discussions with Zeke, Aini and Wali agreed that an important and immediate goal for the family was to secure stable employment. This would enable them to repay their loans and save for their BTO flat. With Aini on board with the action plan, Zeke then connected her with a career coach at Workforce Singapore. Zeke also provided helpful perspectives and suggestions on balancing work with parenting responsibilities.”
“I recently asked ChatGPT what it thought of the Singapore public transport system. Its reply: “Singapore’s public transport system is widely regarded as one of the best in the world”. Descriptors ChatGPT used include “efficiency”, “extensive coverage”, “integration”, “accessibility”, “cleanliness and safety” and “affordability”. On accessibility, ChatGPT says: “Singapore’s public transportation system is designed to be accessible to people with disabilities and the elderly. Most stations and buses are equipped with facilities such as ramps and elevators to facilitate easy access.” In fact, all MRT and LRT stations in Singapore are barrier-free; all bus interchanges and 98% of bus shelters in Singapore are barrier-free; all public buses are wheelchair accessible; and most bus interchanges have baby care rooms for families with young children. However, an inclusive public transport system goes beyond hardware. According to a May 2022 CNA article, the wheelchair ramp on buses has become a source of anxiety, especially amongst new wheelchair users. In the same article, Mikail Wong who became a wheelchair user not long before the article was published shared: “When I’m going to take the bus, other commuters might look at me. I feel paiseh. Am I hindering others?” While we have definitely provided hardware that is more inclusive, how else can we grow a more caring commuter culture so that persons with disabilities, seniors and families with young children can use our public transportation system and amenities with just as much ease as the rest of us? Support during Times of Disruption”
“Sir, a quick reply to Mr Singh. I thank him for his answers. I think we set out to seek the facts. The questions we asked were: whether Mr Singh did alert Mr Leong to the couple's situation; and second, why Mr Singh waited for four years to do so? No disagreement with the process that has been in place all this while and we are definitely not saying that the WP and Mr Singh are going out there on social media platforms to point fingers at the Government. But I think the original first two questions were not answered. I just want to round back to a point that I made earlier, about not using the vulnerable ones in our community as Trojan horses, as pawns or as chess pieces, because every time I go on night walks, every time I visit the families in the rental flats, the specifics of their situations already pain me. And for us to add further stress to their situation by subjecting them to such situations, it is neither good faith nor does it do any good for their actual situations. 11.02 am”
“I do not know what Mr Singh was trying to do and I make no specific comment on his motivations. But I am sure he and everyone in this Chamber here will agree with me that people, especially the vulnerable ones that we serve, and their plights should not be politicised. Instead, there must be a sincere intent to help. It is an old art in politics – highlight one case, hopefully get attention, colour perceptions, then make people think negative thoughts about the Government as a whole. Interesting that this happened a few days, just before the delivery of the Budget Statement on 16 February, perhaps to try to make people think that the Government does not help those who need help. But whether that is anyone's motivation, I do not know and I cannot make a statement on that.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank Mr Melvin Yong for his supplementary question. The short answer is there was no breach. But this is what we know of Mr Leong Mun Wai's involvement. Following the post by Mr Leong on 12 February, our volunteers spoke with the couple to find out what had happened because we know the couple and we had been helping them consistently, and that what Mr Leong had put out contained falsehoods. The couple told our volunteers that they were surprised to find Mr Leong at the door on 12 February because they had neither approached the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) nor Mr Leong about their situation. Instead, they said that they had actually written to Mr Pritam Singh four years ago in 2020. Then, there was no response from the Workers' Party (WP) or Mr Pritam Singh. Meanwhile, during these years, MSF and other Government agencies had been helping the couple and the extent of the help provided was set out in the MSF statement issued on 15 February. The couple said that on 11 February, four years after they had written to Mr Singh, they received a call from him. Mr Singh spoke about the couple getting in touch with him four years ago and he told the couple that someone would visit them. Then, one day later, on 12 February, Mr Leong Mun Wai went to visit the couple. The couple told us that they were told that Mr Singh had informed Mr Leong regarding the email that Mr Singh had received four years ago. As to why Mr Singh did not do anything for four years and why he then chose to speak with Mr Leong, and whether Mr Singh knew or agreed with Mr Leong that this matter will be highlighted on social media, just four days before the Budget Statement was due to be delivered on 16 February, that is not clear to us.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I think, in the whole process, we have been very mindful to make sure that the anonymity of the couple is assured. In the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF's) statement that was issued on 15 February as well as on the factual clarifications that were made on Factually.gov.sg, I think we had done our utmost to be assured of that. I think the whole exercise was to put out the facts and that is what it was all about.”