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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“Sir, I thank the Member for her questions. The short answer to what she is asking about, essentially, is yes, more will be done. The EBH that I spoke about earlier is the first, the pilot. More business hubs will be set up across the island so that we can bring employment services and support services closer to where PwDs and their caregivers live. In terms of how we want to achieve our aspirational target of getting 40% employment rates for PwDs by 2030, another strategy is to look at which other industries are more amenable to disability inclusive employment. Today, the industries that are more amenable include services, food and beverages. As I mentioned in my main reply, we are trying to move into other new growth areas, blue oceans for PwDs, such as logistics. To achieve the aspirations that we want for PwDs, I think we need to go beyond the tangibles, we need to go beyond programmes. Essentially, we are also talking about a change of mindsets, a change of hearts as well. We do need a change of hearts on multiple fronts. First of all, for PwDs themselves, many of them would also have this question in their minds, especially if they have not been in the workplace for a long time, "Can I do it, can I be an employee of an organisation, a business, a corporate?" That is the question we need to address. Secondly, caregivers. They will ask, "Can my loved ones do it? Can my loved ones work? Will he or she be bullied?" These are concerns we need to address as well. Most of all, I would say, beyond the C-suite consent or support that we get from industries, we do need every employee, every supervisor – or as many of them as we can – to really embrace the fact that PwDs can live amongst us, can also be my fellow employee, can be my fellow workmate.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for his additional supplementary question. I think the question is not one about whether how regular are such reviews but rather whether these supports that we have put in place are adequate and relevant for the families in need. The last review that we have done was in August 2022 and the Member would agree that with the recent pressures on cost-of-living, we need to be adept and prompt in addressing the needs of these families because oftentimes, those that are in these families are hardest hit by cost of living pressures. In terms of how we review what is to be included and at what level do we provide support for these families, we do look at a basket of needs that get reviewed from time to time, periodically – as I have mentioned in my main reply. We also do include items that perhaps over time, should be included in what these families will probably need as a basic need. I raised the example of mobile data plans as one of the instances that we have included necessities into this basket. So, I hope the Member and other Members of this House are adequately assured that we do review the basket of ComCare support as a basic set of necessities for these families regularly and that the support for these families are adequate and relevant.”
“That is why we took back the Sports Hub because we believe in its potential to drive community sports. In 2023, school events returned to the Sports Hub, including 42 National School Games Finals. We also aim to host more world-class sporting events, having added FIBA Intercontinental Cup – that will come to Asia for the very first time – to the already burgeoning list of marquee events, including the Singapore Smash and Rugby Sevens that I had mentioned earlier. Third, supporting our athletes and para-athletes to maximise their potential by providing them with financial support as well as non-financial support, including coaches, psychologists, scientists, amongst others. But as a nation, all of us must rally behind our athletes, regardless of whether they win or lose. Why we continue to invest in sport is because of its ability to rally communities together and foster national pride and cohesion. We must not lose sight of this. Take, for example, the Suzuki Cup semi-finals two years back on Boxing Day where our Lions lost the match to Indonesia while three men down, but won the hearts of all Singaporeans. The immense pride that we all felt, that I felt, when Majulah Singapura filled the National Stadium that evening. That is the power of sports. But it is only possible if we come together as a nation to support our athletes, regardless of outcome. No doubt, Singapore is a little red dot. But we have time and again shown the world what we are made of. Madam, with that, I stand in full support of the amended Motion raised by Mr Darryl David. [Applause.]”
“On emerging sports, we need to make optimal use of our limited resources. Our priority and, hence, our investment, is channelled to developing a sustained pipeline of athletes to represent our nation at elite competitions, including major games. We are, nevertheless, looking at more ways to support athletes in new, emerging and niche sports. On broadcast, the broadcasting of sports competitions is a useful platform to promote the efforts of Team Singapore athletes and drive greater support for Team Singapore. We agree with that. Mediacorp broadcasts a range of sporting competitions and events on its free-to-air channels and meWATCH. But decisions related to sports broadcasting really depends on several considerations, including things like time zone, media rights, audience interest. So, I hope the Member who raised these points can appreciate these complexities. Madam, at this point, I reiterate my support for the amendments raised by Mr Darryl David. When I started, I spoke about regular and consistent review and evaluation being part and parcel of our HPS ecosystem, regardless of this or any other Motion. Our goals in sport will not solely be our medal count. Rather, ingredients that will allow us to build a successful HPS ecosystem. And that includes, one, broad access to sports through community programmes and infrastructure, regardless of socio-economic status. This is why we have the SportCares programmes and have topped up $100 worth of ActiveSG credits for all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged four to 12. We will also continue to enhance access to sporting facilities through our Sports Facilities Master Plan. Second, we will continue building a vibrant sporting culture.”
“But it is more important for us to be focused on building sustainable, long-lasting foundations to anchor our sporting aspirations, including football. For the recent football friendlies against Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Kallang Alive Sports Management Company Limited had waived the venue rental fees for the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) in addition to further subsidising third-party pass-through costs incurred by FAS. On the Sports Hub, we have made various statements on the termination sum and I will not go into details on this. This is a Motion on sports not on Public-Private Partnership (PPP), and let us focus on that. In any case, as Member Assoc Prof Jamus Lim has acknowledged, Minister Edwin Tong has already covered the takeover of Sports Hub in detail during his Ministerial Statement last year. In gist, we went for a PPP due to the international private sector expertise we could tap on and the lack of upfront capital costs from the Government. And when our partners fell short, we made a decision to terminate and we got a fair deal. This was also laid out in February this year. It has only been a short period of time since we took back the Sports Hub in December last year. Many more community events have taken place. For the first time, we were able to organise large-scale community festivals at the Sports Hub, attracting more than 50,000 participants in one shot. We have also built a healthy pipeline of world-class, not just entertainment, but also sporting events. So, besides concerts, we have marquee sports events taking place or have not already taken place in the Sports Hub, such as Rugby Sevens, Singapore Smash, Singapore Badminton Open, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and the FIBA 3X3 Asia Cup.”
“This can be through donations to the One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF), which will support our athletes in enhancing their training environments and in increasing competition opportunities. One such beneficiary was the Singapore Floorball Association, who had used OTSF to subsidise their overseas training and competition costs. This exposed our floorball athletes to a higher level of international competitive floorball, where our Singapore Under-19 men's team managed to participate in the 12th men's Under-19 World Floorball Championships in April 2023. Second, by joining the spexBusiness network to help support current and former TeamSG athletes in pursuing meaningful careers while balancing their sporting commitments. Mdm Deputy Speaker, at this point, I want to thank all Members for their suggestions. As we have heard from Samuel's story, many of these have already been implemented and those not implemented may or may not be practical or does not really account for our context. But I just want to assure Members of this House that we are always improving the system and we welcome all Singaporeans to support us in this journey because this journey in creating sporting success needs partnerships. At this juncture, I would also like to take some time to respond to some of the points that had been raised. On football, Goal 2034 is a project aimed at galvanising improvements to our football standards at all levels and paying particular attention to the base. This requires a whole-of-society approach for all of us to get behind these efforts. We have outlined this approach on several occasions. Do we want to qualify for the World Cup? Every country serious about sports will want to aspire towards that.”
“Each of these athletes empower persons with disabilities to live better through sports, exemplifying how sports can reduce the stigma and discrimination sometimes associated with disability. That is why the Government has been and will continue to invest resources in promoting disability sports. One key thrust to achieve this target is inclusive facilities. I am glad to share that SportSG has set up eight inclusive ActiveSG gyms and are on track to make all 27 gyms inclusive by 2026. I am also heartened that persons with disabilities' participation in sports has increased from 30% in 2015 to 54% in 2022. I assure Ms He Ting Ru that this figure cited in the Enabling Masterplan is based on Sport Singapore's National Sport Participation Survey, so they are fully aligned and accurate. The Government will continue to better support disability sports. That is why sports are one of our focal areas under the Enabling Masterplan 2030. That is also why we embarked on an update of the Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) and aim to share the results of our update next year as well as the next steps to make sports more inclusive. Even as the Government continues to support our athletes, I urge corporates and Members of this House to partner us. I spoke earlier about how it takes a village to raise an athlete and I hope, sincerely, that as a nation, we can continue to grow this village. I thus urge that all of us use our platforms to be cheerleaders for our athletes, whether they win or lose. And I echo Mr Mark Chay and Ms Poh Li San who called on corporates to support our athletes and I would like to suggest two ways for corporates to help. First, to support our athletes financially.”
“We will also continue to facilitate and provide some access to gym facilities, sport psychologists as well as training and competition facilities for our athletes in emerging, new and niche sports. As we continue to scale up support for our athletes, I would like to assure this House that the Government will do likewise for our current and next generation of para-athletes. Our para-athletes have been an inspiration to all of us, showing what it means to not be defined or constrained by physical limits. One such example is para-powerlifter Nur Aini, who, at the 2017 ASEAN Para Games, was the first Singaporean woman to compete in para-powerlifting. Across several major games, Aini made steady progress but was beset by an injury following the 2022 Paralympics. This injury required surgery, but Aini remained unfazed and persevered to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Since then, Aini has continued her steady ascent, making history at the recent ASEAN Para Games, winning Singapore's first ever medals in women's para-powerlifting through her two bronze medals for the Women Up to 50 kilogrammes in the Best Lift and the Total Lift events. We also have a team of dedicated SSI sports scientists who have been doggedly considering ways for our para-athletes to further maximise their potential. One example is Muhammad Diroy, who, with the support of his coach and an SSI biomechanist, adopted a new individualised technique that enabled him to defend his gold medal at the ASEAN Para Games men's Shot Put event. Aini and Diroy are just some examples out of numerous para-athletes – or as I prefer to say, athletes – who have represented Singapore.”
“" These words spur Samuel on as he starts again for the next Olympic cycle – his window to perform. Training is tough but, against all odds, Samuel prevails, winning a silver medal at the following Olympics. Remembering Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan's wisdom, Samuel says in a post-match interview, "I didn't lose the gold. I won the silver." Time flies. Samuel's journey as an athlete is ending. We also note Ms Sylvia Lim's proposal on post-retirement medical support. I thank the Member for that. To give back to the sport and community, Samuel decides to take on coaching roles within the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) to nurture and inspire the next generation of shuttlers. Samuel's legacy will not be forgotten. As a retired athlete who makes sustained contributions to the sport and the community after retirement, he has been nominated and will likely qualify for induction into the Singapore Sport Hall of Fame. He will join the ranks of almost 60 other athletes, including track superstar C Kunalan, bowler Remy Ong and swimmer Theresa Goh. Some of these retired athletes have, in turn, been invited to provide their views on Hall of Fame nominees. His coach, too, has been included in the Hall of Fame under the category for Sports Leaders that had been created to honour the contribution of sports administrators, coaches and scientists, amongst others. With the Government's review of the Sports Excellence (spex) Framework, we hope that there will be more "Samuels" to come. One of these revisions was extending the spexScholarships in 2022 beyond just athletes competing in major games to our very own world indoor skydiving champion, Kyra Poh.”
“If only someone could share with Samuel that years before, Kean Yew experienced the same pressures. Earlier last month, I met Kean Yew on the sidelines of the Singapore Open. He had just exited in the second round but he was, as usual, looking cheery when I met him. After chatting with our shuttlers, I pulled Kean Yew aside. I checked in with him on his mental state and well-being, something that I have always been concerned about. I spoke to Kean Yew again last night over the phone to seek his consent for my sharing in this Chamber. Because what was apparent to me then from that conversation was that the weight of an entire nation's expectations was squarely on this young man's shoulders and he was fully aware of that. Perhaps overly so. And I raise this today in the hope that all of us can be that little bit more sensitive and that little bit more supportive. Athletes want to live up to fans' expectations but fans need to understand that athletes, too, are human. They, too, have good days and bad. Let us not forget that it is not all just about medals, but rather, it is about journeying with our athletes as they work through their daily struggles in realising their maximal potential. Back to our protagonist, Samuel. He perseveres. While the pressure overwhelms him at times, Samuel is encouraged by his friends. However, not all is a bed of roses. In the gripping quarter finals against the world No 3, Samuel eventually succumbs in his first Olympic endeavour. As Samuel marches to the back of house, holding back tears, his coach says to him, "Sport is not merely about the medals. It is about training to be the best version of yourself. You have done that. You have done yourself and Singapore proud.”
“The National School Games Finals at the Sports Hub are now a common affair and it warms Samuel's heart to see inter-generational families spending their evenings and weekends enjoying community programmes at the Sports Hub. He also looks forward to competing for a medal at the Sports Hub in his maiden participation in the Singapore Badminton Open, a Super 750 event that has made Singapore one of the most prestigious spots on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour, only behind the World Tour Finals and the four Super 1000 tournaments. Samuel loves the challenge and he knows he has home ground support. Years have passed since. Samuel is now an aspiring Olympian and receives an even larger tranche of support as compared to when he was younger. This mirrors the support that shuttler Loh Kean Yew receives today, including annual grants that provide access, including but not limited to technical directors, coaches, National Training Centres and tailored sports science and sports medicine support. After the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Kean Yew was invited to train with Viktor Axelsen in Dubai. This played a pivotal role in Kean Yew winning the BWF World Championships in 2021. This and subsequent Dubai training camps were also funded by the spexScholarship programme. Singapore Sport Institute's (SSI) Athlete Life Team also provided education counselling to Kean Yew when he was studying in Republic Polytechnic and when he decided to pursue badminton full-time. With the weight of the nation's expectation on Samuel, he is slowly feeling the pressure. Social media is abuzz with scathing scrutiny of his performance. Online kerfuffle between loyal fans and naysayers fuel unnecessary speculations and judgement. That shook Samuel's morale.”
“He continued to deliver a stunning performance at this year's SEA Games after he "ORD-ed", clinching a gold medal in the same event – as the first Singaporean champion in the event since 1967. Chen Xiang credits his performance to his fellow medical officers who had covered his duties when he was away for competition. This gives Samuel quiet confidence that his colleagues will be equally supportive. Samuel has since "ORD-ed", balancing university with his sporting ambitions. That has not been easy, but Samuel is glad, however, that the spexEducation scheme helps him to juggle sports and education by supporting him with school admissions, scholarships and scheduling his classes around training and competitions. The scheme has been made possible through agreements between SportSG and 16 partner Institutes of Higher Learning and has benefited more than 600 athletes since 2013. Samuel knows that he will soon need to balance his sporting pursuits not with studies but with his work commitments. Nevertheless, Samuel is grateful that spexBusiness partners, including Grab, MOH Holdings and Nestle, hire around 390 athletes, which provide for flexible work arrangements to support their training and competition schedules. This is in addition to spexTAG or Training Assistance Grant, which helps to defray athletes' training cost, as well as spexGLOW or Grant for Loss of Wages, which offsets lost wages sustained from missing work due to preparation or competition at the major games. That supports around 800 athletes. Samuel is also glad that he can train at the Singapore Sports Hub that has really blossomed into a vibrant sporting and lifestyle precinct for athletes and the general community alike.”
“However, he finds the transition from youth-level competitions to senior tournaments challenging. Nevertheless, Samuel presses on, drawing encouragement from sport climber Luke Goh who similarly recognised the difficulty of youth-to-senior transitions, where "everyone's mindset and mentality just got more cut-throat and intense". But yet, Luke scaled that transition to secure a bronze medal at the 2022 International Federation of Sport Climbing Asian Cup. Luke was also, coincidentally, one of the first youth athletes whom I had met when I first took on the role of Parliamentary Secretary at MCCY. Luke's steely resolve to shine at sport climbing, even at a young age then, left a deep impression on me. He is a perfect example of how NYSI has been supporting emerging sports, such as sport climbing, bicycle motocross (BMX) and skateboarding. Fast forward a few years. Samuel has since graduated from SSP and has enlisted into NS. He is grateful that since this year, spexScholars are allowed to retain their scholarship while serving NS as well as have existing provisions to support their training and preparation of our national athletes, taking into account the specific circumstances of the athlete, his sport, subject to the SAF and Home Team's operational requirements. Samuel met Team Singapore hurdler Ang Chen Xiang, who gives him confidence to do well both in sport and in NS. It was challenging, to say the least, for Chen Xiang, having to manage training and competitions alongside heavy commitments as a medical officer in the First Commando Battalion. Yet, Chen Xiang clinched the silver medal in the men's 110 metres hurdles final at the 31st SEA Games last year while serving NS.”
“Like Samuel, Juliet came through the JSA in 2015, where she participated in four sports, including fencing. Juliet then took up SSP’s Learn-to-Fence programme in January 2017 and joined SSP’s fencing academy the year after. Progressing over the years, Juliet qualified for the Asian and World Cadets and Juniors Fencing Championships in 2021. She was youth-carded in 2022, placing her on the high-performance pathway as a junior athlete. As a result of her youth-carding, Juliet received funding support which fully subsidised her participation in local and overseas competitions and facilitated her development as an athlete. Juliet fenced her way to the top 32 at the 2022 World Fencing Championships and quickly became a spexScholar in 2023. At the recent SEA Games, Juliet became the first JSA graduate to win a gold medal in the Women's Individual Sabre and also winning a joint bronze in the Women's Team Sabre in her debut SEA Games outing – all while excelling in her studies and managing a GPA of 3.55 out of 4 in the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Sports School Diploma Programme in Business Studies. As a spexScholar, Juliet received increased support, opening doors to greater opportunities, including partaking in more than eight International Fencing Federation competitions and overseas training camps with other top-tier fencers, which contributed to her ascent in the world rankings. Juliet was also provided comprehensive assistance, including tailored programmes in areas, such as strength and conditioning, psychology, biomechanics, nutrition and many other essential elements, that contribute to her holistic growth as an athlete. Back to Samuel, who has since joined the Singapore Sports School, displaying several strong performances in youth-level competitions.”
“And Samuel has also heard from his friends about the Sport-in-Precinct facilities in Nee Soon Central, Woodlands and Gek Poh as well as the rejuvenation works that were done to the Delta and Choa Chu Kang Sport Centres. For now, Samuel is glad that the Dual-Use Scheme (DUS) is in place because that means that 140 indoor sports halls and 100 school fields, roughly half of which are free, are readily made available to the public. Soon, the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) looms ahead but Samuel is thrilled to join the Singapore Sports School (SSP) via the Direct School Admission (DSA). In Samuel’s mind, SSP is where he can pursue both sporting and academic excellence. Today, SSP has 10 academies, such as shooting as well as individual programmes that accept students from other sports, such as wushu. Past and present student-athletes have also performed well at Major Games and Championships. For instance, two-thirds of our athletes winning medals and 58% of debutants at the 2023 SEA Games were from the Sports School. They also accounted for about 30% of the medals and gold medals won by Team Singapore. On the academic front, SSP students had also done well – 67% of student-athletes scored at least 40 points out of the maximum 45 points for IB exams while more than 95% of the GCE “O” level cohort qualified for junior college or polytechnic courses. SSP also takes care of athletes’ life issues, for instance, providing education and counselling guidance. Samuel’s friends have also shared with him about fellow SSP student-athlete, fencer Juliet Heng – a real person, by the way – who had done an excellent job of balancing her academic pursuits with her sporting ambitions.”
“At Primary 4, Samuel’s teacher nominates him to go for the Junior Sports Academy (JSA) selection trials, a collaboration between the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI). Under this programme, primary school students like Samuel with higher abilities in the physical domain try out different sports and identify where their talent and passion lie. Samuel has lots of fun playing four different sports and, during the programme, he discovers his love for badminton. In the JSA programme, Samuel meets Syahbil and understands that Syahbil was exposed to sports through the SportCares Saturday Night Lights football programme, one of several programmes that provide bursaries for children that come from low-income families to learn a sport. Samuel is particularly inspired by Syahbil as he also goes the extra mile to help others in need and give back actively by volunteering through SportCares. As their friendship develops, Samuel looks for opportunities to play badminton with Syahbil outside of school and outside of the JSA. Samuel looks forward to the upcoming sporting facilities that will be built around his neighbourhood. Based on the last three to five years, an average of S$90 million is spent annually to develop and operate stadiums, running tracks, sports halls, pools and other public facilities. And Samuel is particularly excited about the Toa Payoh Integrated Development (TPID) because it is near home and he knows that there will be many more badminton courts. And he has high hopes for the facility because he had visited Bukit Canberra before. Bukit Canberra featured facilities, such as indoor sports halls, swimming pools, gyms, fitness studios, a hawker centre and a polyclinic.”
“Coaches, for investing time and energy and being role models for our athletes; coach Roland, along with Lionel Leong and Ang Peng Siong, have been instrumental in our swimmers’ journey and I was glad that we were able to get Roland that opportunity to present a medal to Colin, his last gold medal. And you can feel and see for yourself that exhilaration on Roland’s face. And not forgetting our sports associations and councils, chefs de missions, corporates, Team Nila volunteers and fans who were a constant source of support for our athletes. How then are champions made? In the next half an hour or so, I want to bring Members into a time warp by illustrating the support that our HPS systems provide through the lens and “life course” of a hypothetical young boy, five-year-old Samuel. To be clear, the boy is hypothetical but the programmes and policies are real. Samuel and his family live in a HDB flat with an open-air hardcourt downstairs. Noticing his love for sports, Samuel’s parents considered a range of options for him to explore his interests – sports co-curricular activities (CCAs) in schools, ActiveSG programmes, private academies and clubs as well as private coaching. The parents signed Samuel up for programmes run by ActiveSG academies and clubs, whose variety meant Samuel tried out different sports at a very young age. Samuel’s parents gladly utilised ActiveSG credits that have been provided since 2014, not knowing that these credits probably helped raise sports participation among Singaporeans from 54% in 2015 to some 74% in 2022. And this was driven by our belief that grassroots participation and high performance are not at odds. In fact, they go hand in hand as part of our sporting ecosystem.”
“What is perhaps even more important were the eight Games records, 17 national records and 40 personal bests (PBs). Particularly significant were the PBs, podium finish or otherwise. These are powerful testimonies of our athletes striving to be the best sporting versions of themselves. After all, it is not just about winning medals, as hon Member He Ting Ru has mentioned in her speech as well. As Australian Olympic swimmer and gold medallist Bronte Barratt puts it, it is about trying to win. The motto is "faster, higher, stronger”; not “fastest, highest, strongest”. Our youths and debutants, too, did us proud. Debutants won 30% of Team Singapore gold medals. As Ms Poh Li San mentioned, Izaac Quek swept all the table tennis men’s events, winning all three golds in singles, doubles and team. Swimmer Nicholas Mahabir also performed spectacularly, winning two golds in the relay events as well as three individual silvers. And it is perhaps worth noting that Izaac was just 16 at the time and Nicholas 18. Our para-athletes were also outstanding –12 golds, 15 silvers and 17 bronzes; smashed nine Games records, 16 national records and 17 personal bests, all from a small contingent of 25 para-athletes. Swimmer Colin Soon not only won four golds and one silver but also shattered four Games and national records. These achievements were only possible because of the “village” behind our TeamSG athletes. Family members, caregivers and friends whose enduring love, sacrifice and belief gave our athletes the strength to turn dreams into reality, something that Member Ms Sylvia Lim is very familiar with.”
“Instead, we focus on the development of the sport ecosystem and support systems – a journey that may take an athlete eight to 12 years – to get athletes to the peak of their performance, to realise their full potential, often at a major games or major championships, against the best in Asia or the world. The book, Project 0812, encapsulates this belief, highlighting how our achievements at the Olympics were 20 years or more in the making. Our basis is the well-researched and internationally recognised SPLISS model. SPLISS stands for “Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success”. This model focuses on key components that make up successful sports ecosystems. In this model, researchers identified nine pillars underpinned by 96 critical success factors that successful sporting nations exhibit. This model has helped us review existing high-performance infrastructure as well as identify gaps and determine priorities for infrastructure development on a sport-by-sport basis. And we have seen results of these efforts. Bowler Shayna Ng clinched the International Bowling Federation Super World Championships Women’s Single Title in 2021. She is also Chair of SNOC's Athletes’ Commission, representing and advocating for our athletes. Silat athlete Sheik Farhan secured his fourth World Championship Title at the 19th World Pencak Silat Championships in 2022. Farhan also clinched the Singapore Youth Award in 2019 and was also the first Silat exponent to make the Forbes “30 Under 30 Asia” list. At the recent SEA Games, our athletes delivered stellar results – 51 golds, 43 silvers, 64 bronzes – sixth not seventh, that Assoc Prof Jamus Lim mentioned earlier, in the medal tally table.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I support the amendments to the Motion raised by Mr Darryl David. But let me start by assuring the House that regular and consistent review and evaluation are conducted as part and parcel of our High-Performance Sports (HPS) ecosystem. Through our review, we examine: (a) what has worked, (b) what has not worked, (c) what we could do differently and (d) chart our future priorities. Our goal is to win, of course. But we must accurately define what “winning” is. While recognising that we cannot compete directly with countries that have large populations, we have also performed well in many sports, including swimming, sailing, table tennis, badminton, silat – just to name a few. Assoc Prof Jamus Lim distributed a handout suggesting that GDP per capita spending is a predictor of sporting success. First, I wish to point out that the handout does not attribute what the data sources are. Second, saying that sporting success can be pinned down to one predictor is perhaps overly simplistic and shows a lack of understanding of the complexity of our sporting endeavour. In fact, the scatter plot provided by Assoc Prof Jamus Lim himself substantiates the point that perhaps there is no correlation between spending and achievement, given the spread of the data points. So, let us not data mine. Many more factors are at play, depending on the operating context across countries, and this should also not be limited to just medals, because they are just the tip of the iceberg.”
“But I do note the Member's suggestion for such studies to be conducted in the local context, so that it can better appreciate the nuances or the different nuances.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. His points are well-noted. In today's programmes – not within the ambit of MSF but me wearing my Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) hat – we do have programmes where peer-to-peer interaction across different socio-economic groups is already taking place. For instance, under Sport Singapore (SportSG), there is SportCares, which reaches out to youths from low-income families through sports. Young talents who are good with their fundamental movement skills are recruited and scouted for their abilities at sports and then, placed in Junior Sports Academy or centres where talents from across different socio-economic groups are placed together. That is where the interaction across socio-economic groups already takes place. I cite this as one of many other examples across the different agencies' programmes and services that we provide. I do note the Member's suggestion to replicate some of these studies in our context here in Singapore. I will take that back to the Ministry, but I do want to put forth a note that we might not want to replicate every study that is out there, because that would not be a judicious use of our resources. I also want to draw some reference from the study which points to a finding, such as the stickiness with respect to how members of each socio-economic status group are having a resistance to mixing with members from a different socio-economic status group. A finding, such as this, is somewhat confirmatory of what we know intuitively – we do not really need additional research in order to confirm or conclude as such.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I share the passion of the Member and I really applaud the Member as we can see, from her very spirited delivery of her supplementary questions. I share that passion as well in doing more for the community, especially for those with moderate to severe needs. I totally agree with her that staying at home, not consuming any of these services, is not going to be the way to go. She mentioned the point about fee caps. We introduced that in October 2021. That helped about half of the community with some of the fees. The fee cap is anywhere between $20 and $710. Of course, there is much more that can be done. This year, we will be piloting the Enabling Services Hub. We will be launching that by the second half of this year. We will provide learning, social activities as well as respite care at locations that are closer to where persons with disabilities, including those with moderate needs, as well as their caregivers, live. We take the Member's points on board and we look forward to that continued engagement and exploration with the community and the Member herself to see what better we can do for the community.”
“Till today, communication with her mother often evokes strong reactions, such as feelings of fear and anxiety. For families and individuals who have experienced abuse or violence, my Ministry will continue to strengthen protection and provide support for these survivors. Where there are records, these survivors will no longer be retraumatised by their perpetrator through the MPA. This amendment thus builds on our efforts in this area. Mdm Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, Singapore's system of social security is based on self-reliance, strong families and strong communities, with the Government as the final safety net. Yes, parents must exercise individual responsibility. But where that is not enough, the family stands as a key pillar of support. On that note, I support the Bill.”
“Lastly, the Workgroup also proposes to protect survivors of abuse from being put through unnecessary distress and painful memories, often triggered when they had to face their parent who abused them. We have just had an extensive debate on the Family Violence Amendment Bill. That Bill touched on how survivors are empowered to better protect themselves, the Government's ability to intervene in family violence cases, and empowering the Court to make additional rehabilitative orders, raise penalties and strengthen enforcement against breaches. This Bill, on the other hand, deals with the long-lasting effects of childhood abuse, which can linger on for many years. Perpetrators can cause direct harm to their family members through physical or emotional abuse and harassment, but they can also cause indirect harm by using institutions and legal processes. Effects of childhood abuse can be long-lasting, and research has shown that the effects of exposure to reminders of the past abuse can sometimes be as bad as when it first happened. Let me cite a case that my Ministry handled, of a survivor in her 20s. This young woman experienced emotional and physical abuse by her mother and stepfather since she was very young. She was told that she was useless and had things – physical objects – thrown at her. When she was not even 10 years old, her stepfather started to sexually abuse her, and MSF was alerted of her case a few years later. After receiving therapy, I am glad to note that she was able to complete her Polytechnic education and find employment in life. However, the long-term effects of abuse are still manifest in her daily life, such as her fear of loud noises, low self-esteem and, occasionally, self-harm and suicidal tendencies.”
“So, only a small number would meet the threshold for intervention. For the few that do, it is important that the Commissioner can call the children down for conciliation and discuss their parent's care. My next point is on the making of non-monetary directions. Our families have remained strong, but they are also getting smaller and seeing their resources stretched with fewer working members supporting the young and the old. For cases before the Tribunal, often the underlying cause of maintenance disputes is strained relationships. This amendment empowers the Tribunal to make non-monetary directions, such as imposing counselling orders to address behavioural or emotional issues that strain family relationships, and help disputing family members take steps to repair their relationships. Gambling addiction is another reason cited by the children refusing to maintain their parent. To resolve maintenance disputes in such cases, we need to address this root cause. My Ministry works with the National Council on Problem Gambling to adopt a multi-pronged approach in tackling problem gambling. Specifically, we have implemented preventive measures through public education and to encourage problem gamblers to seek help. We also have social safeguards, such as "the exclusion and visit limit" regime, to mitigate the problem. Finally, we have remedial measures through help services, such as counselling and treatment, for problem gamblers and their families. The Workgroup's amendment here further complements the Council's work in nudging problem gamblers to seek help. With this, the Tribunal may order that maintenance payments are conditional on the parent attending, for example, counselling for gambling addiction.”
“First, on the power of the Commissioner concerning destitute parents. The MPA provides a last resort to compel maintenance from children who neglect their duty towards their elderly parents. But as the Workgroup rightly pointed out, it is of no use if the parent refuses to initiate the process. We know of a few destitute parents residing in state-funded welfare homes who had children they could have relied on in their old age. But the children exploited their parents' reluctance to file a claim and shunned their responsibility when they clearly have the means to maintain their parents. The many attempts to persuade the children were futile. Hands were tied and nothing else could be done to take them to task. I agree that in such glaring cases, the Commissioner should be allowed to act without needing the parent to initiate the process. This will plug the gap. Mr Yip Hon Weng has asked how many destitute parents have willingly chosen this path despite having the means to provide a roof over their own heads. To clarify, people who have the means to provide a roof over their heads would not meet the criteria for being destitute under the Destitute Persons Act. Only those who are unable to support themselves and lack family support can be admitted into welfare homes. Some may think this is an attempt to transfer the burden of caring for our needy elderly from the state onto the children. This is not the case. The Workgroup has emphasised that the amendment is intended for the Commissioner to intervene only as a last resort, after the welfare home has exhausted all other options and only if the Commissioner reasonably believes that the parent has no records of abandonment, abuse or neglect, and that the children can afford the maintenance.”
“This includes support schemes such as: (a) the Pioneer Generation Package, which provides healthcare benefits for life for all Singapore Citizens born before 1950; (b) the Silver Support Scheme, which provides quarterly cash supplements to Singaporeans who had low incomes throughout life and who have little or no family support in old age; (c) ComCare, which supports lower-income households with their basic living needs; (d) the Community Network for Seniors, which involves Government agencies and community partners teaming up to reach out to seniors, especially those who are lower-income or living alone, to help them stay active, socially engaged and connected to support and health services; as well as (e) the Senior Mobility and Enabling Fund, which provides subsidies for assistive devices, transport and home healthcare items for seniors to age in place within the community. At the same time, there is support for families to care for their elderly members. As part of Singapore Made for Families, there will be more caregiver support, such as respite services and enhanced Home Caregiving Grant, as well as counselling and mediation support. MSF supports the thrust of the amendments raised by the Workgroup, which seeks to enhance the powers of the Tribunal and the Commissioner in ensuring neglected elderly parents are adequately supported. At the same time, safeguards in the MPA will be strengthened to prevent its misuse by those who did not fulfil their parental duties. The amendments are very much in line with the spirit and intent of the MPA and build upon previous work to make the legislation even more fit for its purpose. At this juncture, I wish to give a more detailed response to some of the key amendments.”
“The MPA is meant to be applied for a small minority of children who neglect their responsibility when their parents cannot support themselves adequately, and they have the means to help. In 2022, slightly over 100 elderly parents sought a maintenance order under the MPA. Most of them managed to resolve their maintenance disputes with their children at conciliation. Only a very small number proceeded to bring their dispute to the Tribunal. Yet, one is one too many, and there is room for improvement. Mr Don Wee raised a point on the sharing of responsibility so that no child is overwhelmed by the financial obligation of supporting his parents alone. For the elderly and families who do not have enough financial resources, the community and the state will step up to play a bigger role. We are invested in supporting and strengthening families and will continue to help lower-income elderly who do not have family support, or whose children lack the means to support them.”
“But such an individual is likely to also attribute his achievements to his own capability and may not stop to look at his family, his community and society which provided the conditions for his success. As each generation feels it had made it solely on its own steam, mutual care and support across generations weaken. In Singapore's case, however, we believe that strong families empower its individual members to thrive and to flourish, which is why strong families make for a resilient Singapore society. And this will be increasingly crucial as Singapore ages. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be 65 and older. An estimated 83,000 seniors will live alone and some 100,000 seniors will need help with at least one Activity of Daily Living (ADL). Families are, therefore, crucial as the first line of care and support, and taking care of our parents must continue to be the norm. The MPA reflects the accepted values of most Singaporeans and upholds what we value as a society. Recent ForwardSG engagements and these MPA amendments have affirmed that Singaporeans today continue to hold strongly to the principles of "self-reliance" and "family as the first line of support". I agree with Mr Don Wee, Mr Yip Hon Weng and Ms Janet Ang, along with Members of the Workgroup, on the need for more upstream efforts. We are strengthening the Families for Life movement, which aims to inculcate family values, working with schools and community partners, as well as to promote family bonding, including across generations. Values education starts at home and I hope parents will also role model the type of families that we want our next generations to have. That said, legislation is still important and relevant.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I thank all Members who have spoken earnestly on this Bill, reflecting on the importance they place on this social issue. Let me begin with the family. Singapore thrives when families are strong. With strong families, many societal challenges we face today will become much more manageable. Today, strong values hold us together as a family, as a society. Upholding these values are important as they underpin our way of thinking and our way of life. From MSF's 2019 Survey on the Social Attitudes of Singaporeans, 93% of elderly respondents stated that they have a close-knit family and 96% aged between 15 and 64 agreed that it is their duty to take care of their parents, regardless of their qualities or faults. Similarly, from HDB's Sample Household 2018 survey, 71% of elderly aged 65 and above were able to rely on their married children for physical support, 95% for emotional support and 90% for financial support in times of need. Likewise, for their unmarried children, 82% were able to rely on them for physical support, 91% for emotional support and 83% for financial support in times of need. So, clearly, Singaporeans continue to hold the family as a fundamental bulwark of our society – family members caring for and supporting one another. This is the hallmark of Singapore society. It makes us different and it helps us think beyond ourselves. Around the world, there are other models. Some societies regard the individual as supreme and triumphs over the family. To be sure, this affirms the dignity of every person and allows individual potential and special talents to flourish.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I thank the Member for his additional supplementary questions. To the first point, the SCFA was last enhanced in 2020 and we do review it from time to time. So, rest assured that we do review this scheme. For larger families, we do look at the per capita income condition, so that each family, if they do qualify, they can qualify for higher subsidies where plausible. The Member rightly said that the SCFA is not meant for enrichment. There is perhaps one component that I did not mention and that is the startup grant, and that helps the families to pay for initial enrolment costs – things like buying a mattress, putting in centre deposits, buying uniforms, for instance. So, we do take quite a varied approach in helping families where the needs are most prescient.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank Mr Louis Ng for his supplementary question. I do not have the numbers right now. If he likes, he may wish to file an additional PQ and we can attend to that. But we do work with NCSS as well as the relevant SSAs if there are cases where, in particular, the actual salaries on the ground do not quite match up to what has been stated in the guidelines.”
“I thank the Member Ms Denise Phua for her supplementary question. I think she would also understand that in the social sector, the approach has always been one of many helping hands, where the Government, the corporate sector and the community partners, including Social Service Agencies, all come together to bring something to the table to make sure that, in terms of various aspects of running the social sector – funding, expertise, resources – everyone brings something. The Government cannot possibly fund all the programmes that are running on the ground and, yes – Sir, I seek your patience in letting me finish my reply – and so, it is in that spirit that we take an approach where many stakeholders come together to bring something to solve the many social problems that we face today.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Member for his additional supplementary questions. Yes, just to reiterate what I mentioned in my speech, we have consulted the sector, academia and the Government, not the unions this time round. We do note his suggestion that we can possibly involve the unions in future salary reviews.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. The short and quick answer to his questions is yes. We do work with MOE to go upstream to green-harvest and we do review our salary guidelines annually. I thank the Member for his suggestions.”
“As explained in an earlier reply provided by Minister Masagos to a Parliamentary Question (PQ) on 21 April this year, the salaries for the right-sized Senior Care Staff role represent an increase in salaries, once those with competencies and performance at the job level of Social Work Associate are reclassified into the correct job role. The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) has been supporting SSAs to implement the guidelines and to ensure that employees continue to be remunerated commensurately. Current staff should not have their salaries reduced as a result of the changes to the job roles. SSAs should continue to pay staff competitively, including paying above the guidelines if they are able to do so, in order to attract and retain quality manpower.”
“Sector salaries are reviewed regularly to ensure that salaries in Social Service Agencies (SSAs) remain competitive against comparable roles in competing markets. The recent review took into consideration the economic outlook, wage growth in the general market, including healthcare and public service, the contributions of social service professionals, funding sustainability of SSAs and alignment with the Skills Frameworks for Social Service and Healthcare. In particular, the Skills Maps, which outline the range and levels of skills and competencies required for each job role, were developed and validated with representatives from the sector, academia and the Government. Arising from the review, some job roles were merged or right-sized. These include: one, adjusting the organisation budget ranges for Head of Agency roles; two, merging Executive, Programme Coordinator, Programme Executive and Volunteer Executive into a single Executive role; three, merging Social Worker (Entry) and Social Worker into a single Social Worker role; four, merging Therapist (Degree) and Therapist (Diploma) into a single Therapist role; and five, mapping the Senior Care Staff role to Social Service Assistant job grades, while reclassifying social work associates more appropriately to the Social Work Associate and Senior Social Work Associate roles. The revised salary ranges for merged job roles provide greater flexibility for SSAs to hire employees at various competency levels and to plan for their progression according to experience and performance. For merged job roles, the starting salary guidelines took reference from the blend of the merged grades and are higher than the starting salaries of the lower merged roles before the review.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. Actually, to both questions, the short answer is yes. First one, we do consider, holistically, the situation and factors within each family. On the second question about numbers, I do not have the exact numbers; but we do review, as I mentioned in my main reply, the affordability and accessibility from time to time.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary question. At the point of a case being referred to the CPS, we will perform an intake assessment. And at this point, when we do the assessment, we will make sure that we check for any signs of immediate safety concerns for the child, or whether the parents or caregivers are cooperative at a particular stage of investigations. If we find that there are instances where the child's safety is immediately found to be at risk, or if the parents are uncooperative such that the CPS officers do not get to sight the child, then the CPS officer has every right to move on to the next phase to conduct an in-person assessment. Specific to Mr Gerald Giam's question on whether there were examples of such cases in the past five years, I will encourage him to file a separate Parliamentary Question on this if he would like to ask for the specific statistics, because I do not have them at the moment. Again, rest assured that the CPS officers, given their procedures, have the ability to step in if there is an assessed need to do so.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary question. As investigations for the case are currently ongoing, we cannot comment on the specific details, but I do agree on the need for us to work harder collectively to make sure that the NAVH helpline and other sources of assistance are made known to those who might be in need of such assistance. And on that matter, just in December last year, MSF launched an online text-based channel that is accessible via MSF's website as an additional mode of reporting for NAVH to make it easier for reporting. We also find that youngsters nowadays very much prefer the online textual anonymous kind of platforms that allow them to bring to attention some of the plights and situations they are in. So, while I cannot comment on the specifics, I think we can call upon everyone in the House and beyond to do more to raise awareness on this issue.”
“The professionals in CPS and the social service agencies work hard to intervene to prevent further harm, and the fate of every single life matters. Despite their efforts and that of others at the various touchpoints that children come into contact with, it is not possible to expect that every single case will be detected. I hope Members of this House can support the difficult work that they do in your communities and to rally your residents to play their part too. Residents can support the Break the Silence campaign and attend domestic violence awareness training. Through these, members of the public are educated on potential signs of child abuse or neglect. Everyone can benefit from such knowledge, whether as a neighbour, a community volunteer or a grassroots leader. Those who see such potential signs are encouraged to report their concerns to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) at 1800-777-0000. We are also educating our children on this difficult topic of abuse in an age-appropriate manner. Preschoolers are taught how to talk about their feelings and seek help from trusted adults when they feel unsafe or hurt. In schools, students learn about personal safety and safeguarding themselves against abuse through their Character and Citizenship Education lessons. They also learn help-seeking skills, including the "Signal for Help" hand gesture. They are shown the community resources and helplines for them to turn to when their safety is compromised. They are also encouraged to look out for their peers and seek help for those who display these signs of distress.”
“Thank you, Sir. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)'s Child Protective Service (CPS) investigates cases involving serious abuse or neglect of children and young persons in accordance with the statutory framework set out under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA). The threshold for CPS to exercise various powers under the Act is predicated on whether there are "reasonable grounds to believe that a child or young person is in need of care or protection". The fact that a child is not attending school is not, by itself, sufficient grounds to invoke CYPA powers. This is because non-attendance could be due to many other reasons. To determine if a case meets the legal threshold under the CYPA, CPS will gather information from the child, family and professionals via phone or video calls. If the assessment is that there is immediate or serious safety concerns for the child, or when parents or caregivers are uncooperative, CPS will conduct an in-person assessment of the child and the family. CPS may also order a child to undergo assessments, examinations or treatments, or remove the child and commit him or her to a place of temporary care and protection or to the care of a fit person. CPS must balance multiple conflicting interests when determining what is best for a child. CPS is careful in exercising its powers and will only remove a child if it is not possible to keep the child safe within his or her family. For less serious cases, CPS will refer the child and family to a Child Protection Specialist Centre, Protection Specialist Centre or a Family Service Centre for follow-up intervention as necessary. The nature of child abuse is that it is often not easy to detect.”
“On the professionalisation of exercise professionals, I think our intent is to make sure that there is a broad standardisation and there is a broad sense of accreditation across all exercise professionals in the industry. So, yes, some of the private gyms might be impacted. But I think the intent, if you stick to our original mission, it is really to make sure that there is some quality assurance, some basic standards that are being enforced in this industry.”
“Chairman, I thank the Member for his clarifications. I think I will take the first three clarifications that he has made. Regarding focus, the Member was also himself a para coach, so I am certain he would know that, in the landscape now, what is probably the utmost priority is to make sure that what is available in the mainstream or able-bodied space of talent ID is popularised in the disability space. By that, I mean the concept of sport matching. Disability occurs on a very wide spectrum and across different disability types. So, what you want the person with disability to realise is that there is a sports that suits me, not just in terms of my temperament and also abilities, but also one that suits my condition. We want to make that concept availed to all persons with disabilities and their caregivers. And from there, we can then see how we can look at who are the talents, who is showing promise, and then pick up the next generation of para-athletes from there. That is the first clarification. On heritage, definitely, because the locations we are talking about are Toa Payoh, Queenstown. Queenstown is the first satelite HDB town in Singapore. As the local Member of Parliament in Queenstown, when I was having conversations with Sports Singapore, I was also making requests on how we can weave in some of these heritage components into the new make-up of the stadium. Things like for instance, activities or events that were held in the 1960s and 1970s that were really high point events, that marked what Queenstown really was. For instance, water polo. It was very much a part of Queenstown Swimming Complex in its earlier days. So, I think these will be considered for sure.”
“In an ideal world, we should see people with and without disabilities enjoying sports together without curious stares or awkward moments of being overly polite. In an ideal world, a para-athlete should simply be called an athlete! (In English): Sir, to conclude, there is a saying that goes "staying active starts with me". However, if you allow me to be grammatically incorrect, I would like to say that sport being a Singaporean way of life starts with "I", three "I"s for that matter. "I" for Invigorating – where sport can help us to unwind and stay healthy; "I" for Inspiring – where sport can inspire a nation; and "I" for Inclusive – where sport can truly be a force for good.”
“] Sports can raise the fitness level of our citizens and bring people from different races, ages, occupations and family backgrounds together as they exercise or participate in sports together. Every Singaporean including people with disabilities (PwDs) can live fulfilling lives through sports. The Disabilities Sports Master Plan (DSMP) launched in 2016 has given many PwDs more opportunities to participate in sports and cultivate an active lifestyle. In the past few years, we have also achieved some success in promoting sports for PwDs. The proportion of sports in which people with and without disabilities participating together has gradually increased, promoting mutual understanding and social inclusion. However, there is much more we can do. The Para Sports Academy will continue to cooperate with partners to create more opportunities for PwDs to participate in sports events, develop ways for them to participate in competitive sports to comprehensively showcase their competitive abilities, and nurture more athletes with disabilities. We will continue to hold focus group discussions to gather feedback, promote barrier-free environment to support the needs of different PwD groups and provide them with more opportunities to participate in sports. Last Saturday, I was at the National Para Swimming Championships held at the OCBC Aquatics Centre. World-class venue, world-class swimmers. I met many great para swimmers, both current and retired athletes as well as parents and family members who were there to cheer on our para swimmers. Participating in this activity has moved me a lot. In an ideal world I envision, there would be more spectators cheering on our PwD swimmers. Even though they may not have a PwD in the family, they could still be allies of the PwDs.”
“And that is a 16-year-old we are talking about. Truly an extraordinary achievement, truly inspiring. With the recent launch of the Enabling Masterplan 2030, it is timely that we review the outcomes of our DSMP initiatives and update our strategies to better support PwDs in sports participation. This year, we will hold focus group discussions with partners and stakeholders to harvest more ideas of how we can do so. By updating the DSMP and with the support of all our stakeholders, we will work towards our 70% target for sport participation amongst PwDs under the Enabling Masterplan 2030. Sir, last weekend I was at the National Para Swimming Championships held at the OCBC Aquatics Centre. World class venues. World beating para swimmers. And I met many of them, both current and retired: Sophie Soon, her brother Colin, Paralympic bronze medallist, Theresa Goh, Darren Chan, Wong Zhi Wei and many proud parents, and family members who were all there, rooting for the para swimmers. But in an ideal world that I envision, there would be many, many more spectating and cheering on our para swimmers. Allies of the disability community, whether or not they have a person with disability in their families or otherwise. In an ideal world, we should see persons with and without disabilities, enjoying a game of basketball together, able-bodied individuals enjoying goalball with visually impaired players, without curious stares, without the awkward moments of being overly polite. In fact, in an ideal world, a "para-athlete" should perhaps simply be called an "athlete"! Sir, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“To better prepare coaches and trainers to coach individuals with disabilities, the DSMP has further developed professional coaching and technical expertise in disability sports. In partnership with the International Paralympic Committee, SportSG has facilitated training in coaching and technical courses and grown the pool of disability sports coaches in Singapore. CoachSG has incorporated modules on disability sports, such as inclusive coaching practices, in its Community Coaching curriculum. Sport Singapore has also worked with the Republic Polytechnic on Continuing Education and Training courses to upskill more than 200 coaches in disability sports coaching since June 2020. Sir, I spoke about our young Boccia athlete Aloysius Gan's indomitable human spirit in my MSF speech last week. Today, I would like to talk about this young man again, but this time from a sporting perspective. Aloysius was introduced to Boccia when he was just seven years old, when his teacher noticed his cognitive abilities and recommended that he take up Boccia as his CCA, even though Primary 1 students typically could not join. In 2021, Aloysius made his international debut at the Asian Youth Para Games. Aloysius went up against the top ranked South Korean player – who was actually selected out of a few hundred under-21 players – in the pool stage and lost to him. But they had a rematch in the finals and Aloysius managed to beat him and grabbed his first gold medal in an international competition. During the Boccia World Cup in November last year, Aloysius also beat more experienced players who were ranked fifth and eighth in the world to advance to the quarter finals. So, merely over a year after his international debut, Aloysius ranks 18 in the world now.”
“At one point, Thaslim even contemplated discontinuing his studies so that he can help support the family financially. With encouragement from his mentors in the SportCares programme, Thaslim pressed on. He, subsequently, enrolled into the Youth Coaching Development Programme to fulfil his aspirations of becoming a coach. Inspired by those who had modelled the values of volunteering to him, Thaslim is now an active youth coach at SportCares and even volunteers with his local Youth Network. I am extremely proud of Thaslim and wanted to share this story with every one to showcase how sport can actually be a force for good. Miss Cheng Li Hui, Mr Darryl David, Mr Mark Chay and Mr Xie Yao Quan asked about efforts to improve accessibility and inclusion in sports and how the Disability Sport Master Plan (DSMP) can spur greater sport participation amongst persons with disabilities (PwDs). Launched in 2016, DSMP has contributed to increased sport participation rate among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), with the participation rate rising from 28% in 2015 to 50% in 2019. 3.15 pm Together with partners such as the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) and Special Olympics Singapore, SportSG has done so by introducing a whole range of programmes, including learn to-play programmes and the annual Play Inclusive campaign, reaching out to more than 18,000 PwDs to date. The Play Inclusive Campaign, supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE), promotes inclusion through shared sporting experiences. Through Play Inclusive, both persons with and without disabilities from the Special Education and mainstream schools train together before participating in unified sports such as goalball.”