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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“To honour such individuals who have made extraordinary contributions over a significant period of time, we will include a new category for Sport Leaders in the Singapore Sport Hall of Fame. And to elevate the Singapore Sport Hall of Fame as the sporting-equivalent of our Cultural Medallion, I am also pleased to announce that our President will give out the awards starting from this year. Finally, Chairman, sport can be a force for good. As Singapore evolves to be an even more inclusive society, sport must continue to play a key role in our community and our way of life. Mr Mark Chay asked how MCCY promotes philanthropy within our sports culture, including through TeamSG Cares that was set up in April last year. Through TeamSG Cares, former and present athletes can participate in various giving initiatives or start their own charity or social pursuit for causes close to their hearts. Since the launch of TeamSG Cares, our athletes have been involved in weekly initiatives. These include sport clinics, such as boxing, bowling and football, weekly food distribution activities, school engagements, talks to underprivileged youths and fund-raising activities for the President’s Challenge. SportSG’s SportCares initiative also uplifts underserved and underprivileged communities, and I would now like to share how the programme has helped this young man, Abdul Thaslim. Thaslim is the eldest of three siblings. His parents are both blue-collar workers and he has a younger sister with disabilities. Thaslim started out in SportCares in 2013 with the Saturday Night Lights football programme and later moved to the SportCares’ CareRunners Programme when he discovered his passion for running. Growing up, finances often weighed on Thaslim’s family.”
“This speaks to our aspirations to provide more opportunities to our athletes, especially our young ones, to achieve their full potential. A lot is asked of our athletes. In terms of psychological support, Singapore Sport Institute (SSI) and National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) proactively monitor our athletes’ mental health. Ahead of major competitions, dedicated teams of sport psychologists and Athlete Life personnel provide one-on-one consults and impart skills to athletes so that they can cope with the mental and emotional issues that they may face. I call upon all Singaporeans to rally together and give TeamSG athletes our fullest support. Today’s sporting heroes are often legends of tomorrow. Mr Darryl David and Mr Mark Chay asked whether MCCY intends to review the criteria for athletes to be inducted into the Singapore Sports Hall of Fame and whether MCCY would consider the inclusion of coaches and administrators. Chairman, the Singapore Sport Hall of Fame was set up in 1985 to honour our top sportsmen and sportswomen, instill a sense of pride among Singaporeans and inspire our budding athletes to emulate the outstanding performances of its inductees. However, it is not only strong medal performances that we wish to recognise. First, several of our top athletes make sustained contributions to their sport and the community after they retire from active competition. We appreciate and recognise these contributions on top of their achievements as active athletes. Second, the success of our athletes and the overall development of Singapore sports owe much also to the contributions of sports administrators, coaches and scientists, amongst others.”
“From April next year, Government agencies which hire a sizeable number of exercise professionals, including Sport Singapore (SportSG), People’s Association (PA), Health Promotion Board (HPB) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), will only hire exercise professionals registered under NREP. This will ensure a certain level and consistency of qualifications amongst all exercise professionals who conduct programmes that are run by Government agencies for the public. A later phase will see NREP strengthening the accreditation framework. Further details of the requirement for a Basic Exercise Science certification and continuous education framework will be released by SportSG in due course. Through NREP, we hope that exercise professionals will be equipped with the relevant accreditations to raise the overall quality and safety standards of the fitness industry. Sir, sport ignites national pride. Mr Mark Chay asked about our plans to ensure that our athletes are well-supported in 2023; a packed year where our athletes will represent Singapore at the Cambodia 2023 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, as well as the deferred Hangzhou 2022 Asian and Asian Para Games. Behind the scenes, our preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 are also in full swing. Grooming a champion is a multi-year effort and journey that requires holistic support as the athlete progresses. We work closely with the National Sports Associations (NSAs) and design this support on a multi-year basis so that we can continually identify, develop youths and prepare a pipeline of athletes who can excel at the major Games. With this in mind, we will send around 570 athletes to the 2023 SEA Games. For many sports, we are sending more athletes than in previous overseas SEA Games.”
“One such example launched last year is Bukit Canberra, which will feature facilities, such as an indoor sports hall, swimming pools, gym, fitness studios, a hawker centre and a polyclinic. We also launched the roadshow for the Toa Payoh Integrated Development last month. This would be an exciting lifestyle destination comprising event spaces, sporting facilities, such as a gymnasium, badminton courts, a revamped swimming complex as well as a new library. These will be ready by 2030. Sport Singapore has also been working closely with MOE to expand the Dual-Use Scheme (DUS) to provide Singaporeans with convenient access to schools’ sports facilities. To date, these include around 230 school fields and indoor sports halls. Mr Xie Yao Quan asked what the Ministry’s plans are to help exercise professionals refresh and update their skills. Indeed, certified exercise professionals with relevant accreditations play an important role, especially as more Singaporeans adopt sport as a way of life. To help professionalise the sector, we will launch the National Registry of Exercise Professionals (NREP) in three phases. From April this year to March next year, we will support our exercise professionals to upskill by providing free membership to the National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA). This provides them with access to training support and grants, amongst other benefits. To register, exercise professionals need to produce the following: (a) Standard First Aid with AED and CPR certification; (b) code of ethics acknowledgment; and (c) relevant fitness or exercise accreditations, such as personal trainer, yoga, zumba or general ones like group fitness instructors.”
“Sir, sports help us unwind and stay healthy. It helps us keep fit physically and mentally and encourages social interactions. This is why sport should continue to be a part of our Singaporean way of life. Ms Hany Soh, Mr Xie Yao Quan and Mr Mark Chay asked about sports facilities that will be constructed and upgraded, as well as plans to make these facilities accessible to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and seniors. Easy access to sporting facilities will help us adopt sports as our way of life and we have been pursuing this through the Sports Facilities Master Plan (SFMP). The master plan is a multi-year effort to refresh infrastructure, increase residents’ accessibility to sports facilities and encourage social mixing. We will ensure that our rejuvenated and new facilities cater to seniors and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). To date, SportSG has retrofitted swimming pools in six ActiveSG centres with ramps for wheelchairs and has set up eight inclusive ActiveSG gyms. We are on track to make all 27 gyms inclusive by 2026. Through SFMP, residents in Jurong will have greater access to sporting facilities when the ActiveSG Sport Village @ Jurong Town opens in the first half of 2023. Residents in Sembawang and Punggol East will also enjoy Sport-in-Precinct (SIP) facilities, with further projects expected to open in Nee Soon Central, Woodlands and Gek Poh in the coming months. The rejuvenation works at Delta and Choa Chu Kang Sport Centres are also in their final stages. Both centres are due to open in the first half of this year. We will also bring more integrated sport and community hubs to residents.”
“I think we can do more to bring it forward to all who are involved on the ground.”
“In terms of the planning that goes on behind the scenes, the ComLink Alliance Workgroup that is the steering committee for each town meets very frequently – monthly. We have 21 of such leads there are leading the efforts in each of the 21 towns. In terms of how we connect with the different partners within the community, this is a central node. We do involve the other visceral parts of the ecosystem as well. For instance, the volunteer centres under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's (MCCY's) SG Cares. They too feature very strongly in ComLink because they are a good source of new volunteers who might be interested, who might want to be a part of this ComLink journey. Those typical nodes that you find in the community landscape in each town – for instance, the grassroots – they are also plugged into this ComLink Alliance Workgroup. In terms of how we reach out to each Member, we also give regular updates by email. Feel free to approach me as well because I am in charge of the ComLink that is part of Henderson-Dawson. So, feel free to reach out for updates on the information. But where there are programmes and initiatives that you think are worthy of propagating, not just across the ComLink towns, but they can be something that can be shared across towns. What we have done is my MSF colleagues have helped to create a buffet of different offerings of academic programmes, of sporting programmes – for instance, Sport Singapore has this SportCares programme that reaches out to rental flat families through football, basketball and all that. That is put on a list that is shared with all ComLink Committees. In that sense, information sharing has been ongoing. It has been very much behind the scenes.”
“I think my mobile phone charm is not working very well. So, to the point that the Member raised, I fully agree with her that a wide range of skillsets are needed. Again, I go back to my centre of gravity earlier about the roles of the befriender vis-à-vis the role of the CEO. Before the CEO comes to where he or she is in the SSO, I am sure he or she goes through a rigorous set of training under the ambit of the SSO before he or she gets to where he or she is serving. But I just want to expand a little bit more about what the befrienders go through. To me, the befriender is the first touchpoint for our ComLink families. What we have done is to make sure that the befrienders are committed and they also go through a full training curriculum with the SSOs. There is a training roadmap for our ComLink befrienders, which includes topics like understanding the social service landscape in Singapore, family and domestic violence awareness training and also ComLink befriending training, which is tiered into two different levels – Tier 1 and Tier 2. Those components about dos and do nots for home visits, befriending philosophy, building rapport, sensing needs, nudging families – our befrienders are trained as part of this curriculum in those competencies and skill sets. To that end, I will assure the Member that the befrienders are well equipped to take on the challenges in being a part of this – I agree with her – this mammoth and gargantuan endeavour to really make a change in the rental flat family landscape.”
“Chair, I thank the Member for her clarification. I think she would agree with me that the sheltered workshops' environment is very much suitable and amenable to PwIDs, not so much for persons with autism. The additional 100 spaces that we are talking about would be the type of jobs that we typically can find in a sheltered workshop. Alongside this, what is happening behind the scenes is also the fact that we are trying to review some of the service models to see how we can change up the way sheltered workshops are being organised: what they can do or what they cannot do or what they could do in the future. So, we are trying to future-proof or move the sheltered workshop model into a more advanced stage. We welcome corporates to have a conversation with us because it is only by understanding where business needs are, understanding where persons with disabilities' needs as well as caregivers' needs are and forming these few pieces together and that overlap in the Venn diagram – that is the sweet spot that we want to land. I think that is exactly the harder piece of work that we are trying to work at behind the scenes right now. So, I do not have a ready answer, but I thank the Member for shining the light on this part of work that we are doing.”
“I am fully aware of that. I thank the Member for her question. I think the short answer is there is never enough manpower. But the longer answer is that behind each befriender, we are not leaving the befriender to do his or her job alone. In my speech, I said the befriender will put things together almost like a character from Mission Impossible, harnessing things in the coherent plan for the family, having great knowledge of the different schemes and programmes, both on the Government's side of the house and the community's side of the house, and present a coherent plan to the family. He or she is supported by a CEO, who is a staff of the SSO. So, the short answer and the longer answer is, yes, the befrienders are supported by these so-called professionals at the SSO, behind the scenes. As I mentioned in my speech, today, we have more than 700 befrienders. There is a certain type that we look for in a befriender. And Ms Carrie Tan, being in this sector for a long time, would know that we want those who are big-hearted, red-blooded and have a big heart for ComLink families to be able to journey with them for the long haul. Because we are not talking about volunteering for ad hoc occasions, we are talking about going at it for months and sometimes, perhaps, even for a couple of years, at least, with each family, understanding them in depth and then proposing and perhaps, nudging and working through with these families – as equals, of course – on the situations that they are in. So, I feel that the bar for befrienders is also high. If anything else, I would really make a clarion call for more to step up to be befrienders. And I thank the Member for highlighting this issue on manpower as well.”
“But essentially, a part of ComLink's DNA is about daring to do new things policy-wise as well. I think some of these moves would be gradually revealed as some of the details are being worked out. I urge the Member to watch the space for announcements related to ComLink.”
“Chairman, I thank the Member for his additional suggestions. I think there were a couple of things that were said; well, quite a number of things were said. I think, first of all, it is the reference to the minimum income study. I think that has been covered in the last COS and addressed by Minister Masagos. I will not go into it in great detail. I think our position on that has been clear; there have been previous press releases by the Ministry of Finance, as well with regard to that study. To two other points that the Member made regarding the application process. I think the Member also was nodding away when I was talking about SupportGoWhere and ComCare applications being made easy through SupportGoWhere. That is just the start of our entire journey. We are on the cusp of change in the social service delivery landscape, if I could put it that way. And I think ComCare being on SupportGoWhere is just one of the starting points for us in revolutionising the delivery of social services. So, that is one part of the thing about the ease of application for social service applications. The last point on experimentation, I think the Member would be very seized to find that part of ComLink is exactly about that – for us to have an area carved out that we can do policy sandboxes. For instance, the point about the 60 Jalan Besar families taking on this upstream approach. Of course, this is more operational than policy that they have one point of contact for all the different services, have the befriender and the ComLink engagement officer (CEO) working together to make sure that what is presented in terms of an action plan to each family is coherent, it is not obfuscating to the family, it is not confusing to the family. That is only the start of what we are looking at.”
“Chairman, I thank the Member for his suggestion and his comment. I agree. And I just want to go on to add – and also to add to Minister Masagos' point – about the fact that the SSO general managers and staff do have some discretion, especially when giving out quick and immediate support. Oftentimes, we get feedback that SSO applications take about four to six weeks to get approved. That is for a large percentage of all cases that come in. But beyond that, the general managers do have some discretionary funds within each SSO for them to take some quick actions as well. I just wanted to add to that.”
“So, in Lengkok Bahru, I see remarkable resilience, a great deal of love and a thriving kampung spirit! Sir, in closing, we all want to do the best for our families. But to be a truly caring and inclusive society, we must look beyond our own. A quote by disability rights advocate Helen Keller is fitting, "Alone we can do so little but, together, we can do so much". So, right now, let me call upon every Member in this Chamber, every Singaporean, young and old, regardless of race, language or religion, to come together so that we can build an even more caring and inclusive Singapore for our next generation. [Applause.]”
“I am heartened to see that many families who have benefited from ComLink are working hard to give themselves, their children and their families a better future. Some families want a stable job, some want to save enough for their children's education, while some want to own a house one day. Regardless of their aspirations and goals, we are committed to work with these families and provide them with the support and assistance they need. As we move towards the future, we must support each other so that no one gets left behind in the long run. This is Singapore's social compact. This is Singapore. (In English): Sir, I would like to conclude by sharing a story. Recently, I met a 10-year-old girl, Ratu, at a flea market in Lengkok Bahru. Intrigued by a bucket of cute "stuff" that she was holding, I asked her what she was doing. "I'm selling these handphone charms, 50 cents a scoop!" was her spirited reply. And with that, I was a customer; I was sold. You can see this small little thing here? That is a handphone charm. Boomer me did not know that this is called a charm, by the way. So, my point is this. We often hear of families living in rental flats being beneficiaries of aid and support and overlook the fact that these families, too, have agency. They, too, can be empowered, take active steps to uplift themselves and even help fellow families in need. This was exactly what I observed in Lengkok Bahru. Families connected to one another, not by blood, but by their common motivation to help one another out in taking on life's challenges. And there are the big-hearted "cheerleaders" who have consistently journeyed with these families. Mr Raymond Khoo and his team at the S17 Community Kitchen is one great example.”
“We will enhance training for our frontline officers, including those at our SSOs, to equip them with the knowledge and skills that they need to work effectively in this new paradigm of social service delivery. But we also need the community, social service agencies, corporates, academics and volunteers, to join hands with us, so that we can build a strong and cohesive Singapore for all. Sir, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our vision for Singapore is to be a caring and inclusive society, much like how it was in the "kampung" days. Families are the bedrock of society. Every family faces different problems and challenges in life. It is not difficult to imagine that the challenges faced by families with disabilities are even more different from those faced by other families. To strengthen our support for them, SG Enable will be launching the first ESH in collaboration with SPD in Tampines West Community Centre in the coming months. SG Enable will also be setting up the first EBH this year in Jurong West, in collaboration with social service partners and businesses. This will bring more inclusive employment opportunities closer to where PwDs live. This collaboration with businesses will drive inclusive hiring with job redesign and technology. Apart from families with PwDs, another group that we must support is our lower-income families. These families often face unique and complex challenges. However, like families with PwDs, we must provide coordinated, convenient and comprehensive support and services that are tailored to the circumstances and considerations of each family.”
“This is also another example of providing integrated support in a family-centric manner that Ms Joan Pereira also talked about. Mr Leon Perera will be glad to know that we have also enhanced the SupportGoWhere portal to allow online applications for ComCare SMTA, so that applicants need not go to SSOs in person to apply. This is only one example of how we are starting off the process of making different processes more streamlined, starting with ComCare. 7.45 pm Today, there are already financial assistance schemes that cover both education expenses as well as subsidies and grants for childcare, kindergarten and student care. For students who require more dedicated help in coping with their studies, our schools run various programmes to ensure that these students receive adequate additional learning support and guidance. Self-help groups and other community partners also provide support, such as academic help for students from lower-income families. We regularly review the adequacy of our assistance schemes for the lower income. We introduced temporary measures to provide ComCare assistance for a longer duration and at a higher quantum during the pandemic and increased assistance for ComCare schemes last August. We will continue to monitor the adequacy of our schemes and make necessary adjustments where appropriate. Supporting lower-income families to help them achieve stability, self-reliance and social mobility must be a whole-of-society effort. Within the public sector, we will step up our efforts to coordinate and synergise our efforts across agency boundaries, with support centred on the family.”
“Apart from the effort involved in integrating service delivery across agencies, the work on the ground is high-touch and we need more befrienders. Empathy, the human touch and personal connection are crucial as we reach out to ComLink families. To be sure, we also need families to be open and receptive. Not all families may immediately see the need for befriending or to work on an action plan. Beyond ComLink, we have other avenues of support for lower-income families. ComCare supports lower-income households with financial assistance to meet their basic daily expenses. Assoc Prof Jamus Lim and Mr Leon Perera made various suggestions to improve support for low-income families such as reducing the need for documentation and enhancing the financial assistance schemes. On the three specific groups that Mr Leon Perera referenced, today, they can already walk into the SSO, and the SSO officers will be able to follow up with each of them on their cases. Also, referral protocols are already in place, including between MHA, MINDEF and MSF. Over the past few years, we have been putting in place various arrangements, including system links, with other agencies to reduce the documentation required of ComCare applicants. ComCare applicants who are also account holders need not separately submit information on HDB rental, Singapore Power utilities and S&CC by the Town Council. We are also streamlining application processes to make it easier for applicants to seek support. For instance, with the introduction of ComCare scheme bundles, eligible ComCare beneficiaries are now automatically referred and/or qualified for Government assistance for education, healthcare, student care and childcare.”
“I thank Ms Carrie Tan for her suggestion to tap on the beneficiaries of SSAs as ComLink befrienders. Indeed, we are looking for people who are empathetic, open-minded and most important of all, passionate about journeying with ComLink families towards their goals. We welcome all who fit the bill to step forward as ComLink befrienders. Sir, delivery of social services must be informed by the family's needs and considerations. To complement community efforts, we have been strengthening Government services delivery. As Deputy Prime Minister Wong mentioned in his Budget Speech, we are working with relevant agencies to further integrate services that support ComLink families. Ms Joan Pereira asked about our plans to achieve this. Families living in rental flats often run pillar to post, filling out multiple forms, repeating their stories and struggles at different offices to receive all the help they need. These families are also visited by befrienders from different agencies and organisations, each sharing their own programmes and criteria, and this creates plenty of confusion and adds to these families' bandwidth tax. This must change. We will streamline functions such as outreach, befriending and case support. Each family will be assigned to ComLink befrienders who will be their consistent touchpoint. The befriender will organise interventions into a single coherent action plan and work with families to achieve their goals. We started this approach with some 60 families in Jalan Besar over the last few months and families have found it beneficial. Our intent is to scale and benefit more families this way in other ComLink communities. Ms Denise Phua also asked about challenges in implementing ComLink.”
“We have gone further upstream in extending our outreach by launching the ComLink Rental Scheme with HDB last year, as shared previously by Minister of State Faishal Ibrahim. With the new scheme, families will be supported by ComLink officers once they apply for rental housing. With more proactive support, ComLink officers are better able to journey with families and provide them with support in other areas. This holistic support earlier on in their journey will lead to better outcomes. Allow me to share the story of Ms Fatin Nabilah, a single mother of three children who lives in a 2-room rental flat in Boon Lay. Fatin works as an ad-hoc server at weddings. Jean Yi, an undergraduate at NTU, started befriending Fatin's family last May. When Jean Yi found out that Fatin was looking for jobs in the healthcare sector, she offered to recommend Fatin to a suitable job as her own elder sister is also in the healthcare sector. Over time, Fatin felt Jean Yi's sincerity. She opened up and began to trust Jean Yi. Jean Yi's relationship with Fatin's family soon blossomed into one that is positive and trusting. With Jean Yi's constant reassurance and encouragement, Fatin feels confident to achieve stability for her family. At Jean Yi's suggestion, Fatin participated in the SGUnited Programme for Nursing and Healthcare and the "Daughters of Tomorrow" Confidence workshop. Fatin's children also received academic support from ComLink programmes like the free tuition programme organised by Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre. With support from the SSO, Jean Yi serves as Fatin's cheerleader, listening ear and a mentor to the little ones. Befrienders like Jean Yi play a key role in ComLink. Today, we have some 760 volunteer befrienders working with some 3,500 families.”
“Time and again, in moments of need, we have shown that we have so much room in our hearts for those amongst us with less and for those amongst us who are facing, quite frankly, different challenges in life. Therefore, I call upon everyone – businesses, community partners, Members of this Chamber, everyone in Singapore society – to take interest and be the change, so that Singapore can truly be a shining beacon for the world in disability-inclusion! Sir, I will next talk about families with children and youth living in public rental housing. Through ComLink, we proactively reach out to and journey with these families to help them navigate life's challenges and seize opportunities, so that they can build a better future for themselves. Our goal is for these families is to achieve the "3Ss": stability, self-reliance and social mobility. To do that, we place the family firmly at the centre of what we do, and we make sure that Government services and community resources are delivered in a comprehensive, convenient and coordinated manner. Ms Denise Phua asked about our progress for ComLink. From four pilot towns in 2019, we have in the past two years expanded ComLink islandwide to some 21 ComLink communities, each supported by an SSO. Community partners, including corporates, social enterprises and SSAs, have also contributed greatly to ComLink. Together, community partners and Government agencies have provided 264 ComLink programmes and services to date, including those such as financial literacy programmes, enrichment activities, sporting activities and so on. Today, 86 of these programmes are ongoing. Other support such as monetary and in-kind donations have also poured in.”
“Sophie is a young, bubbly, outgoing swimmer. Whenever one meets Sophie, one can almost be sure that Orinda, her Golden-Labrador Retriever buddy, will be by her side. Orinda's love for Sophie, though, transcends the usual pet-and-owner proportions. Sophie is visually impaired and Orinda is Sophie's guide dog. Guide dogs are specially bred, and they go through stringent assessment and training for 18 months before they are matched to their potential human pals. Unfortunately, a lack of awareness surrounding guide dogs meant the duo sometimes find themselves in awkward situations, to say the least. In January this year, Sophie and Orinda were all stoked about attending their first Candlelight concert until they were stopped by security and Sophie got asked some questions. She was asked, "You want to watch the show, right?" by security, "How you see? You cannot see, right?" This was in January this year. Last November, Sophie and Orinda were again the subject of scrutiny, when a fellow train passenger's unfounded fear that Orinda poses a safety risk made its way into the media. Sir, in an ideal world, the word "inclusion" would be without meaning. But we are not in utopia. Quite clearly, we have some way to go. Though there is some reason to be hopeful. Just a few days ago, one Mr Koh Hock Neo contributed to The Straits Times Forum page, expressing his thanks to a Police Officer and a contractor on separate occasions, who had helped his sister who is hard of hearing. So, there are glimmers of hope. It is my strong belief that Singaporeans are a red-blooded, big-hearted people, sometimes, just a little shy.”
“For a start, the first hub in Jurong West will focus on showcasing how PwDs can be a part of the logistics industry. Beyond EBH, we are also expanding the capacity of sheltered workshops. This will enable more PwDs who are not yet ready for or unable to take up open employment to receive work skills training and work therapy. We will be adding 100 sheltered workshop places by early 2024, bringing the total capacity to 1,800. This will help to alleviate the waitlists for sheltered workshops, which are currently operating at almost full capacity. MSF will continue to monitor the demand for adult disability services and will also review service models as needed. Beyond PwDs, we must also look out for their caregivers and family members. We work closely with our partners to ensure that caregivers are also supported. Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked for an update on the AfA for Caregivers of PwDs. The AfA is supporting Project 3i, a caregiver-led initiative to provide a network of social and emotional support for caregivers and to equip them with caregiving skills. This is being piloted at two locations: Boon Lay and Kampong Glam. Since its launch in November 2021, Project 3i has supported over 2,700 caregivers. Over 130 community volunteers and caregivers have been trained to support other caregivers of PwDs. Going forward, the AfA will expand Project 3i to two more constituencies so that more caregivers can benefit from the support network. Everyone plays a part in making disability-inclusion a reality. How we perceive PwDs and how we behave around them are markers of how inclusive we are as a society. Chair, allow me some time to share about Ms Sophie Soon. I got to know Sophie in 2021, when she flew our flag high at the Tokyo Paralympics.”
“Beyond the benefit to the individual PwDs, companies with inclusive hiring practices find stronger empathy amongst co-workers and a more cohesive workforce. Some employers might be keen to hire inclusively but may not know how to go about it. Collaborating with employers and industry associations, the EBH will showcase inclusive hiring practices and help companies implement these practices. For instance, by re-designing jobs so that tasks can be done by PwDs and using technology to enhance productivity. As Ms Ng highlighted, job coaches play an important role in helping employers looking to hire PwDs. There are currently about 300 job coaches providing a range of disability employment support. The EBH will also have a team of job coaches on site. The EMP2030 Employment Taskforce will explore building up job coach capabilities. 7.30 pm The EBH will also help to identify other suitable employers in the region and match them with PwDs who have the necessary skills and if necessary, prepare them for those jobs. Mr Murali Pillai would be happy to know that the first EBH will be opening its doors later this year in Jurong West. Along with other measures, the EBH will contribute to our aspirational target employment rate for PwDs of 40% by 2030, up from 31% today. Miss Rachel Ong asked about alternative training pathways for PwDs to work in more sectors. Today, PwDs can access vocational training through SPED schools, the School-to-Work Transition Programme and SG Enable's Enabling Academy. These programmes prepare them for work in a range of sectors, including horticulture, online retail and facility services. We are continually looking for employers and industries who are keen to hire inclusively so that PwDs can be employed in meaningful roles.”
“Building on our experience with the Enabling Village or EV, as it is affectionately known to some of us, we plan to bring services closer to where PwDs live and we are doing this via two new pilots. First, the Enabling Services Hubs (ESH), this will take a regional approach towards strengthening support for PwDs within the community, making our local communities more inclusive. The first ESH will be launched in the coming months in collaboration with Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) in Tampines West Community Centre. A satellite site will also be set up in Heartbeat @ Bedok. The ESH will have an outreach team, which will actively engage PwDs and their families living in Tampines and Bedok, especially those who are not currently enrolled in any disability services. In addition, community befrienders will be matched to those who need more support. At the ESH, PwDs can take part in social activities to interact with neighbours and volunteers. They can also attend courses to pick up new skills. Caregivers who need a short break can also make use of drop-in respite care services. The ESH will also work with local partners to encourage inclusion within our neighbourhoods. For instance, residents with and without disabilities can join in community activities together, or even volunteer as befrienders. Companies in the area can offer employment opportunities. With your active participation, we can foster more inclusive communities rooted in these ESHs. The second pilot is the EBHs, which will bring jobs closer to where PwDs live. Many PwDs can and want to be gainfully employed with dignity, not just for charity. This view was also echoed by Ms Ng.”
“Who will take care of him after I leave this world?" Hearing all this has only powered me and my colleagues' resolve to do our best for disability-inclusion in Singapore. EMP2030 is no panacea, but it sets out a broad vision for the next eight years. For the first time, clear, tangible goals across 14 Focal Areas are penned. However, a masterplan is of little use if it is merely the exercise of putting pen to paper. To bring the plan to life, we need everyone's buy-in, support and more importantly, action. Ms Denise Phua is right that we must tap on mainstream initiatives to support PwDs. This has also been our approach. Where mainstream support is not adequate to meet the needs of PwDs, we provide additional targeted support. One example is education. Today, about 80% of students with mild to moderate special education needs attend mainstream schools. For students with more severe needs, special education (SPED) schools provide more intensive and customised support to help them thrive. Opportunities are also created for students from both SPED and mainstream schools to learn together and interact meaningfully. Ms Denise Phua also asked about the implementation progress of the EMP2030 recommendations. Let me share a few updates. Inclusive communities play an essential role in enabling PwDs to live well and to participate actively in the community. Ms Ng Ling Ling also asked about plans to scale existing initiatives and provide integrated support. When MSF and SG Enable opened the Enabling Village in 2015, it was the first inclusive community space in Singapore. It demonstrated how we can create communities where PwDs participate as integral and contributing members.”
“Today, Aloysius is setting his sights on attaining a sports scholarship and representing Singapore at the Paralympics. In Aloysius, I see possibility. I see a fellow human being, wanting nothing more than just to become the best version of himself, just like any of us, disability or otherwise. In Aloysius, I see hope. Our hope that with the right support, PwDs too can realise their potential and live life to the fullest. Since our first Enabling Masterplan, we have come a long way. But more remains to be done. As Ms Rahayu noted, a key challenge in building an inclusive society lies in meeting varied needs across a diverse range of disabilities. Our approach must be one of working with PwDs, caregivers, disability sector professionals and community partners, as we periodically review our policies and programmes. This partnership approach ensures that specific needs are understood and allows stakeholders to work on solutions together. The same partnership approach also informed our fourth Enabling Masterplan, EMP2030, which we launched in August last year. Because of my work in the disability space, I was privileged to have been part of some very meaningful and some very powerful conversations. Meaningful because many points raised came from a position of care and love. Powerful because a lot of what has been said were real and vulnerable. Months on, I still "hear" these questions in my heart: "After graduation, will my autistic daughter be able to find a job that she can excel in?" "Can my brother and I enjoy a basketball game at the neighbourhood court, just like the rest? But because he plays from a wheelchair, we sometimes get weird stares." "How much longer can I last? I feel like I am going to burn out very soon." "Ah Boy has intellectual disability!”
“Sir, strong families are the foundation of a strong society. As the Chinese saying goes, "家家有本难念的经". Every family's story is unique. The challenges each family faces too, are unique. Today, I will focus my speech on: one, families with loved ones who are PwDs; and two, lower-income families with children. Our vision for Singapore is to be a caring and inclusive society. One with a big heart, and one where PwDs are empowered to pursue their aspirations, realise their potential and participate in civic life, just as anyone would. Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked about the success and challenges of our Enabling Masterplans over the years. Since our first Masterplan in 2007, we have made good progress in areas spanning education, sport, assistive technology, our built environment, public transport and societal norms. These improvements have empowered PwDs to live life to the fullest. Let me share through the lens of 16-year-old Aloysius Gan. I first met Aloysius and his father Kagan, when we travelled to Bahrain for the Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG) two years ago. Aloysius is a Boccia athlete. He has cerebral palsy and is paralysed in all four limbs. He attends school at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore. Aloysius communicates with the help of an assistive technology device, uses a wheelchair and is able get around on public transport as our bus and train network is largely barrier-free. For me, cheering on Aloysius at the AYPG felt no different from cheering for our able-bodied athletes at other major games. I witnessed first-hand Aloysius' steely determination to overcome his stronger and more experienced opponents, never mind that it was his international debut in 2021. And overcame them he did, making history as he brought home a coveted Gold medal.”
“Yet, Sophie and Orinda's presence in an MRT cabin last November drew the attention of a concerned fellow commuter, who wondered if she and her child were at risk of being attacked by Orinda. Such incidents aside, the Enabling Masterplan 2030 launched in August last year also featured Inclusive Transport and Inclusive Communities as two of its 14 identified Focal Areas we would need to work on collectively, to become a more disability-inclusive society. Considering these developments, can MOT and LTA share plans for evolving and extending the Caring SG Commuters movement, so that Singapore's public transport system can truly be one that is caring and inclusive? Transport for Port Workers”
“Mdm Chair, efforts to foster a more caring commuter culture began as early as 2009, when LTA started encouraging pro-social commuter behaviour, such as giving up one's seat to those who it need more. The Caring SG Commuters movement first began in August 2017 with the aim of growing a caring commuting culture. Commuters may also have, over time, become good travel buddies with the "thoughtful bunch" on our public transport system: #StandUpStacey, #BagDownBenny, #HushHushHannah, #MoveInMartin and #GiveWayGlenda. Love those. Further efforts to create a caring commuting culture was crystallised when the Caring SG Commuters committee was formed in 2020. The committee's mandate was to "facilitate and pull together multi-agency efforts in the ideation, implementation and publicity of initiatives that transforms our public transport system and commuting culture, into one that is more caring, welcoming and inclusive." Over the past few years, we have kept at our efforts in engendering a more caring commuter culture. In 2021, the Caring Commuter Week was launched. The Outstanding Caring Commuter Award, which was recently renamed the Richard Magnus Award for the Outstanding Commuter, recognises nominees for their acts of care and kindness. These are but a few examples of what has been done to change mindsets and nudge behaviour. Yet, we hear stories which suggest that inclusivity remains a stretch goal when it comes to our public transport system experience. Paralympic swimmer Sophie Soon and her guide dog’s experience in November last year, was instructive. Sophie is visually impaired and relies on Orinda, her guide dog, in getting from point to point.”
“Mdm Chair, since personal mobility devices (PMDs) became a popular transport option for last-mile commute in recent years, the safety of both PMD users and pedestrians on footpaths and cycling paths have surfaced as a cause for concern amongst many. "Detention order for PMD rider who left woman with fractured skull in collision and fled". "Twenty-two-year-old man pleading guilty to causing the death of a 64-year-old woman while riding his PMD." These are attention-grabbing headlines that have unnerved many residents, particularly so for those living in older estates, such as in Queenstown, where I serve. Residents often narrate to me their near-miss encounters with bicycles and mobility devices on footpaths and cycling paths. "I wonder whether a short trip on foot to our neighbourhood amenities, such as the polyclinic, stadium, or local hawker centre these days, can really be safe!", some lament. 7.30 pm Recently, the Active Mobility Advisory Panel proposed a set of rules that would allow for the use of cargo bicycles and other novel mobility devices on our roads and paths. While the Panel also recommended that a set of rules on size and weight be consistently applied for these new additions, as with all active mobility devices, many residents are still rightly concerned. With our foot- and cycling-path sharing culture between various user groups admittedly still in its infancy, what can we do to ensure that even as we nudge changes in behaviour in our last mile commute, we do not do so at the expense of the safety of our residents? Forward Singapore – Transport”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary question. Like him, I am concerned about the awareness as well as update, of not just the awareness of the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs) but also relevant instruments. So, rest assured that we will continue to work with Government agencies as well as community groups to make sure that awareness and take-up of these instruments are enhanced in future.”
“How can we help Singaporeans grow relevant digital competencies such that they can keep up and stay ahead of the curve in a world of continuing technological disruptions? How do we make "learning and adapting to ever-changing technologies" a way of life amongst our working population? How do we help more senior members of our workforce manage the stresses of adapting to new technologies and tools? After all, it is only human for one to be anxious about the unknown and to fear making mistakes. This is particularly so in work environments such as in the healthcare industry, where any mistakes in the use of technology can result in grave consequences.”
“Chairman, we live in an era of technological disruptions. These disruptions are changing the way we live, work and interact with each other. At the workplace, the adoption of artificial intelligence, robotics and machine learning technologies will unfortunately translate into structural unemployment for segments of our economy as jobs that have been around for generations get relegated to the history books. The way business has been conventionally conducted in industries such as retail and media are also being ruthlessly upended. Technological disruptions often exacerbate the digital divide, thereby further deepening the rifts between the young versus the old, the haves versus the have nots. Even in non-IT sectors, employers increasingly expect employees to possess adequate IT competencies. For instance, it is not a stretch for organisations to expect employees to exhibit basic mastery in areas such as cybersecurity. For example, an organisation's cyber defence is only as strong as its weakest link. An employee that succumbs to phishing emails, unintentionally introduces malware into a company's network, thereby opening the doors for corporate espionage or sabotage activities, would likely not be viewed upon favourably by his or her supervisors. Increasingly, a good command of IT skills is fast becoming a core skill employers look out for. Employees may be expected to leverage technology in enhancing collaboration across teams at the workplace. Employers may increasingly expect employees to be proficient in using collaboration tools and platforms to work closely with their colleagues and business partners. Employers may also expect employees to harness technology to innovate business processes, improve customer service experiences and enhance overall productivity.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his suggestion. We will take that into account in our review.”
“For the Member's assurance, we do currently have regular sessions where we meet up with the CIs through their respective professional organisations to reiterate the important role that the CIs play in this process.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I fully agree with the Member that the role of the LPA Certificate Issuer is not merely to rubber-stamp the LPA application. In fact, LPA Certificate Issuers play a very key role in the entire process. First of all, who can be a CI? It is not any Tom, Dick or Harry who can be a CI. You have to be a medical practitioner that is accredited by the Public Guardian, or you have to be a practising lawyer or you have to be a registered psychiatrist. So, first of all, the qualification to be a CI is already one step in ensuring that this is a professional service that is provided. And this process is an important safeguard in the LPA application process. What does a CI need to do in the entire process of discharging his or her duty? First of all, the CI has to meet the donor in person. We have required this as a safeguard because the CI needs to play a few roles and one of which is to make sure that the donor is of sound mind, understands the intent and the scope of the LPA, and at the same time, verify that the donor is not induced by fraud or is under any undue pressure to make the LPA. In that meet-up process, the CI also verifies the donors' identity. I shall not go into details of how this is done. Thereafter, when all these steps have been made, the donor then digitally signs the LPA in the presence of the CI. For this entire process, the CI must keep clear and detailed records of the steps that had been taken in order for him to ascertain the mental capacity of the donor and how he has arrived at this conclusion that the donor has mental capacity. These are guides that have been given to the CIs. But we take the Member's suggestions that we can perhaps beef up the guide that is currently being provided.”
“I think it is also a matter of perspective – to some, it will be very onerous to be able to place a bet today. But I think for us as policy-makers, we want to strike a good balance, and I think we have done just that with our existing regime.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. On the first question about what indicators do we look at, we must first understand that the numbers we are looking at in terms of what has been reported for FY2021/2022, is contrasted against a very low base in the previous FY. That previous FY, as I have explained, we have implemented quite number of measures, not just in Singapore. But in Singapore alone, we have had our circuit breaker from April to June 2020 and also a whole slew of other postponements in terms of sporting activities. For instance, the Tokyo Olympics, for which is one of the favourites for sports betting, Copa America as well as the UEFA European Football Championship. These are some of the examples that really accounted for the low base in FY2020/2021. Having established this, what are the indicators that we look at? We can safely and quite surely rely on a few factors. For instance, we look at gambling participation rates over the years. Over the past 10 years, gambling participation has remained quite stable at about 50%. I think it has been stable throughout the past 10 years. The key, as I mentioned in my main reply earlier, is whether there is a problem of a rise in the incidence of pathological and problem gambling. I am happy to share over the Member that over the past few years, there has not been any marked increase in the overall probable pathological and problem gambling rates. That has constantly remained at 1%. I do agree with the Member that on social issues such as these, we do want to err on the side of caution – which is why we have implemented quite a number of exclusions. I will not repeat what I have already mentioned in my main reply.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. I will make two points in response. First is the fact that I think between families to families, there are differences in circumstances, differences in terms of the challenges that each family faces. So, what is applicable to one family might not be quite applicable to the rest. The second point I want to make is that the renewal process, as much as possible, we have made it less onerous. In terms of documents submission, we are not expecting the family to come back with the full suite of documentation that was needed at first application. In fact, we will only need documentation that reflects the changes. For instance, if there are changes in terms of employment status, due to hospitalisation leave, medical leave, or changes in other aspects of their financial conditions, those documents can be presented to the Social Service Office so that relevant assistance can be presented. In terms of making sure that there is as little bandwidth tax on them as possible for the renewal process, the Member would be happy to note that now, applications for renewal as well as first applications can be made online on the SupportGoWhere portal. As much as possible, we are trying to make this as seamless and as frictionless a process for families as possible.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the hon Member for his additional supplementary questions. I think there are two buckets here. One is for long-term assistance. Typically, we are looking at residents who may not be able to be in employment, so we are talking about seniors who live alone; seniors who are not able to work and in the long haul, will need assistance for quite a long time. So, that is long-term assistance. For short- to medium-term assistance, we are looking at families and I think that the Member will agree with me that there will be some variability, in terms of the conditions in each family. I have mentioned earlier in my original reply that the families are able to come back to the Social Service Office to renew their applications, even before their applications are due to expire. The point about this renewal process is not so much to impose an unnecessary bandwidth tax on these families but rather to have regular check-ins with these families, so that together with the families, we can journey with them, understand the difficulties they are facing and then, render assistance where needed. So, as I have mentioned in my earlier reply, between short and medium term, we do not make that distinction, but the principle is one and the same and that is to lend appropriate and prompt assistance to the families, where needed.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member Mr Darryl David for his question. I will make a broad point about what Mr Darryl David has mentioned. The pursuit of excellence in sport is not just limited to the technical aspects of it. I think this is consistent across sports, cultures and jurisdictions, if I may put it that way. In my recent visit to Europe, where I visited a few sporting centres of excellence – if I may call them that – in terms of football, I think the consistent message that has been sent is that they – these academies, these football clubs – they want to produce and create excellent footballers but, more than that, they also want to produce good individuals, individuals with good values. As much as the pursuit of sporting excellence is about fitness, technical competencies of each sport, it is very much also about values inculcation, the promulgation of values from one generation to the next. In that vein, coaching, as well as the role that coaches play, is a very important role that cannot be overstated in the sporting fraternity. That, I agree with Mr Darryl David. So, there can be a lot of scope for us – ADS, SportSG, SNOC and the different sporting bodies – to work together with the schools and MOE without even going into specifics and, definitely, I thank the Member for his suggestion. 3.01 pm”
“The NSA may also suspend training support for the athlete or their selection for competitions. The Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) or the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) may also, separately, suspend the selection of the athlete for any Major Games for the appropriate period. Notwithstanding the range of sanctions that can be taken, it is also important to consider a rehabilitative approach to help the athlete not to offend again. The sporting community will work with the athletes to provide counselling and rehabilitative support they may need. The Government and the local sporting fraternity looks upon the misuse of drugs as a serious matter. SportSG, ADS and the fraternity will continue to work together to underscore the importance of complying with Singapore's laws on drugs and anti-doping rules at all times.”
“Third, it is mandatory for all national athletes to complete modules on the World Anti-Doping Agency's e-learning platform called the Anti-Doping Education and Learning (ADEL) Platform, to deepen their understanding of clean sports. To prevent inadvertent doping, ADS provides the "Check Drugs" function on its website to enable athletes and support personnel to check on the prohibited status of a particular drug or substance. The database contains more than 9,000 medications registered in Singapore and is updated monthly. For medications not on the database, athletes can and should check with a sports physician or with ADS directly. Two, on the detection and deterrence front, ADS oversees a robust doping testing regime. First, ADS develops and regularly reviews a test distribution plan for athletes, with higher testing frequencies for athletes assessed to be at higher risk of doping. Several factors are considered in determining the risk level of doping, such as the athlete's performance and the type of sports. ADS' testing regime covers both in-competition and out-of-competition tests. Second, ADS also relies on intelligence, such as whistle-blowing sources, to identify and investigate allegations of drug abuse, including following up to conduct tests on alleged offenders. Under the ADS, sanctions are imposed on athletes found to have violated anti-doping rules. These range from a few months to a lifetime ban, depending on the degree of fault, intention, type of substance used and aggravating circumstances. These sanctions are made public to send a deterrent signal to others. Other sanctions may also be imposed. For instance, SportSG could suspend the spexScholarship or other support offered to a carded athlete.”
“Thank you. The Government established Anti-Doping Singapore (ADS) as the national anti-doping authority in 2010. SportSG works with ADS and the broader sporting fraternity to ensure that sport in Singapore is free of doping and that our national athletes compete fairly and safely, and that they can be upheld as role models for Singapore and Singaporeans. At the national level, Singapore has a clear, well-established policy on drugs. In the context of sport, Singapore has a framework of rules and standards to keep sports in Singapore free of doping, including the use of both recreational drugs and performance-enhancing drugs. It aims to equip our national athletes with the information, tools and values for them to exercise sound judgement and choices when it comes to the use of drugs. There are two key strategies in which this is implemented: (a) through education and prevention; and (b) through detection and deterrence. Let me elaborate. One, education is a key preventive measure to discourage intentional or inadvertent doping, and this is done through various platforms. First, all National Sports Associations (NSAs) are expected to inform and educate their athletes and athlete support personnel on issues concerning sports doping under the framework. Second, ADS works with NSAs to plan, implement and monitor education programmes for athletes. These comprise regular updates on issues, such as the currency of prohibited substances and methods, the health consequences of doping, and the rights and responsibilities of athletes. ADS also reminds NSAs and their athletes on their anti-doping obligations at all pre-Major Games briefings.”
“I thank the Member Mr Giam for his question. I think NCPG's approach is that of a broad stroke, because to tackle the problem of youth gambling, we want to not just look at youth. We want to look at the family as well. I am sure you remember during the Chinese New Year period, we had Wang Lei on various YouTube advertisements and advertisements on TV as well, espousing the messages of, "Are you still gambling right now?" That was in Mandarin, by the way. And specifically to youths, the message is Be Smart, Don't Start. And I cited the example of the CNA documentary series earlier about loot boxes. So that is the position of NCPG and they will continue working on the messaging for telling youth not to get started with gambling, and that is the key message and they will keep going at it. Thank you.”
“For the second question, the answer is we will take a look at that and we will gradually, progressively, evolve what we can provide in the technology and on the website. The third question relates to the co-location of the different institutions, SSOs, FSCs and all that. We have piloted that at Kreta Ayer and Taman Jurong and we have co-located the SSO and SSA-run family services.”
“For the second question, the answer is we will take a look at that and we will gradually, progressively, evolve what we can provide in the technology and in the app. The third question relates to the co-location of the different institutions, SSOs, FSCs and all that. We have piloted that at Kreta Ayer and Bukit Merah and we have co-located the SSO and FST. [Please refer to "Committee of Supply – Head I (Ministry of Social and Family Development)", Official Report, 10 March 2022, Vol 95, Issue No 58, Budget section.] [(proc text) Written Statement by Mr Eric Chua circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5): (proc text)] I wish to make the following factual correction to the reply given during the MSF Committee of Supply at the Sitting of 10 March 2022. My reply should read as follows:”
“I understand the FAS' recruitment process for this position has been set in motion and we will be hearing from them in due course. Sir, "Unleash the Roar!" is a mammoth undertaking. Many have asked me how I felt, leading the charge on this front. I would be lying if I said I do not have butterflies in my stomach. But today, I am hopeful. Why? Because of the many passionate individuals I had spent hours talking to about this project. Because they believe in Singapore football. And because of our Lions, the way they fought their Indonesian rivals at the Suzuki Cup semi-finals last year on Christmas Day! And most of all, because of how Singaporeans reacted to them. What we witnessed that night has got to be one of the most, if not the most gripping, Singapore football performance in recent history. We all rallied behind our Lions. And the immense sense of pride that we felt when Majulah Singapura filled the National Stadium – never mind that there were only 10,000 of us that evening! That experience was simply priceless. That, Members of this Chamber, is the power of sports, the power of football, and that is why we must believe in Singapore football and we must believe that we can Unleash the Roar! Sir, I began by talking about the importance of strengthening our collective sense of "us". I would like to end by saying that we are laying the foundations for a better future today. Across our different sectors – community, arts, sports, youth – we all have a role to play in shaping a Singapore that is caring, cohesive and confident. It is our strength in unity and collective fortitude that will enable us to overcome the pandemic and build a brighter tomorrow, and a stronger Singapore Together. [Applause.]”
“Beyond youth and coach development, we will set into motion other plans. First, we will launch the "Unleash the Roar!" scholarship to nurture young talents later this year. The scholarship will provide financial support to talented and committed footballers to immerse themselves in a high-performance football environment abroad while pursuing their studies. We also plan to support more young talents to go overseas on stints to broaden their exposure. Second, we will do more for women's football here in Singapore. We will grow the participation base by introducing more programmes for girls under the ActiveSG Football Academy. We will provide our women footballers greater support by way of training facilities, coaching and sports science. Third, beyond the resumption of the Singapore Premier League (SPL), MCCY and SportSG have been working with partners, such as the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), on opportunities for our football teams to compete with international teams on home ground. Singaporeans can look forward to supporting the Lions at the upcoming football triangular series against the Philippines and Malaysia. I am sure some Members of the House also fondly recall the Lion City Cup. Pandemic restrictions aside, we hope to bring our young competitors from the region into Singapore, so that our youths can compete at a high level and, at the same time, generate excitement about youth football. Finally, we are in discussions with FAS to transform the SPL by increasing professional standards and strengthening private sponsorship. We look forward to sharing more when these plans are firmed up. Mr Faisal Manap asked about the replacement of our national coach.”