Faizah Jamal
Singapore
“How do we plan to extend the liabilities to these companies or persons who own the accused entity or burnt land? Will there be specific clauses included to ensure clarity so that we can execute these?”
“I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I have two supplementary questions. There has been a recent report just about last week, I believe, where there were fish deaths at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve where the river turned black and there was a horrible stench coming from it.”
“What is heartening from the MSF survey is the headline finding that more than eight in 10 parents with teenage children or younger were satisfied with their relationship with their children as well as with their family life. We still have much work to do in the area of family justice.”
“It is not the intention of NLB to exclude any group in society. But we cannot pretend that we can have every possible book in the universe in the Library. It does not happen anywhere in the world. Some curation is possible because we need to draw certain lines.”
“The Vietnamese government has also given its assurance that it will provide compensation and due assistance to the affected foreign companies, including Singaporean firms. We will continue to work with the Vietnamese government to ensure that the interests of Singaporean companies and investors in Vietnam are protected.”
“I planted it for my children and my children's children. It does not matter that I may never get to see it. That is how we walk lightly on earth." Walk lightly on earth.”
The complete record
Every one of 133 lines we hold for Faizah Jamal, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 3.
“How do we plan to extend the liabilities to these companies or persons who own the accused entity or burnt land? Will there be specific clauses included to ensure clarity so that we can execute these? Finally, the haze causes numerous health-related effects which cannot really be measured and quantified easily, not forgetting the greenhouse effects and the gas emissions generated yearly. Importantly, follow-up is critical. This cannot be just a one-off fine for the errant companies. Recalcitrant cases must be dealt with adequately and appropriately. Legislation is one aspect. Education must continue. Commitment must be inculcated. Mutual trust must continue to be strengthened. After all, it is also a matter of regional and ASEAN co-operation. Challenging as it is, Madam, if this Bill works for us, it can serve as a model for ASEAN to implement on a variety of transboundary and regional issues. Madam, I support the Bill.”
“This Bill contemplates both civil and criminal liabilities. It cuts across national boundaries. Thus, we need clarity on its execution. Affectedly, public members must know their rights. What will be its recognition by countries in the region and their law-making bodies? There will be variations, we know, from the differing practices, culture, laws and legislation in the various countries. With its extraterritorial scope, how consistent will it be with international public law or health laws? If a person or company is convicted, will they have to come to Singapore to be tried? Questions like this will arise. Can a member of the public file a civil suit, in this case, in a foreign court? What about a whistle-blower? What kind of protection are we able to offer him or will he be entitled to? On previous occasions, Madam, we have encountered a struggle to get ownership data. With the passing of this Bill, will it facilitate this? Or will it be a matter of investigations taking too long, such that the haze would have come, passed and even been blown over before we come to something concrete? Will Singapore or NEA be appointing a team of trained negotiators and facilitators to investigate and verify issues and data? Also, can I ask the Minister how we plan to obtain objective data on ownership and thus responsibility? Will we be accessing the NASA Landsat 8 satellite for the data and details, or are we utilising other resources from Indonesia? Page: 60 Another issue, Madam, is that the owners of the land may sub-contract these out to locals to manage and run. What stand will we take in the event that the person or company claims and counter-refutes that they do not know the errant and illegal practices of the locals that they have engaged?”
“Schools, in their curriculum, should not only teach about oil palm production and the haze, but also the alternative sustainable methods, as well as to empower students in the ways they can take action to change the status quo through a more conscious consumer lifestyle. The ordinary citizens, as consumers, should be made aware that they have the power to change a business model that has thus far been more concerned about profits than about people or the planet, provided citizens start by taking back responsibility for their own part in the problem. It is no use playing the blame game when there is no sense of personal responsibility for the consumer choices that we make individually and collectively as a country. After all, if there is one thing that this Bill shows us, it is that we cannot not have an impact on the environment. It, therefore, behooves us to walk lightly on the earth. A sign that I saw while travelling along the busy London highway is most instructive. It says "You Page: 59 are not stuck in traffic; you are traffic." 4.02 pm Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Madam, this is a significant Bill for a very serious issue. Why so? It is because it causes an acute state of emergency in Singapore and our neighbours every year for the last 20 years or so. Secondly, it has both short- and long-term effects on our health and development and, thirdly, it has significant economic and business impact. Fires will remain fires, but what is needed is a sense of ownership, responsibility and sustainable change in behaviour and practices. Only then will the fines, which are up to $2 million, be worth its value. All parties involved must render full cooperation and collaboration to sort out the root causes and come to a mutual agreement conducive to all.”
“Mdm Speaker, this is but one small way the Government can take the lead beyond the Bill and show its commitment to take back responsibility for its own consumption patterns and to send a strong signal to big business of which companies it is willing to support and which it will not, in keeping with the principles of this Bill. The Government can also continue to work with environment civil society that has been involved on this issue because these groups have existing networks beyond our shores that can be harnessed to gain ground information for a more accurate picture of the situation. For example, a young man by the name of Tan Yi Han, has taken the initiative to start a ground-up movement of young people called the "People's Movement to Stop the Haze", or PM Haze for short, and has even recently travelled to the affected areas in Jambi and Riau with his team where he met not only the local NGOs, but also saw first-hand the impact of the devastation on the villagers who have lost everything in the fires, people who are like us in Singapore but do not have the luxury of being the consumers of the products of the oil palm plantations. Yi Han saw for himself the complexity of the situation and realised there is much more that needs to be done and can be done by the ordinary Singaporean, a project he has continued to take responsibility for, and all because he saw the need to do more than complain or wait for the Government to do something. Civil society, on their part, should continue to educate citizens of the individual's responsibility to reflect on their role, as conscious consumers, to choose products that have an ethical origin as far as possible and to boycott the renegade ones, and I would argue, to go so far as to even reduce consumption.”
“These products are everywhere – in our food, in our homes, in our shops, in our offices – and in all the ways that make our lifestyle the comfortable one that it is, a lifestyle, I might add, that many want to maintain. Every time we take our money out from our wallets, we are either contributing to the profits of these companies and to the problem that we complain about, or we can opt to make the world a better place by being conscious consumers and demand a higher standard from big business and the Government. If, indeed, the root cause of the haze problem is commercial, as Minister Vivian Balakrishnan rightly pointed out, then I call upon all Singaporeans and our Government to be aware and conscious of their own consumption patterns. In a Parliamentary Question (PQ) I submitted in April this year and heard in the House, addressed to the Minister for Finance, I had asked what measures are in place to strengthen and reinforce the commitment to the initiative called the Public Sector Taking the Lead in Environment Sustainability (PSTLES). I also asked a supplementary question in the House to the effect that in view of reports that paper commonly used in offices that are procured or manufactured by companies that do not practise sustainable oil palm production, should there not be greater vigilance, scrutiny and commitment over this aspect of green procurement on the part of the Government. Senior Minister of State for Finance, Mrs Josephine Teo, in her response, assured the House that "if the source of this supply could be Page: 58 made known to us, I think we should take a closer look at it".”
“Should the Bill have gone further and demanded that big businesses involved be forced to be part of that reparation, restoration and rehabilitation process of the people and the forest? Could the Minister also clarify if there are, in tandem with the Bill, plans to incentivise and motivate companies to take the ethical route and to acknowledge the good ones that have already done so? Page: 57 In addition, may I seek the Minister's assurance that there will be greater scrutiny of Singaporean-owned and Government-owned businesses that are involved in such businesses, to ensure that the high ethical standards that we expect start from our own backyard? Mdm Speaker, I started out by noting that destructive activities that affect the environment know no borders. I want now to focus on other fundamental issues. For some time now, I have noted with concern how quick we are to blame another country for the problem, and, even then, only when the haze occurs literally right in front of our eyes. I am concerned that there is not as much self-reflection and introspection of how this is also a good time to be cognisant of our own contribution to the problem, to our own consumer lifestyle and our responsibility as individual citizens and as a country, to come up with more life-affirming and empowering solutions. While we hold another country or commercial entity to task for the negative impacts of its activities on our citizens and our country, let the haze not blind us to the fact that we, in a developed country, are, in fact, the beneficiaries of the products of the oil palms through our ability to afford such products.”
“Further, for individuals or groups who may rightfully take Court action but may not necessarily have the funds to do so, how does the Bill envisage the way they may move forward? Does the Government see the possibility of the creation of a single special public interest litigation agency for this specific issue which may, perhaps, be funded wholly or partly by the Government? Thirdly, criminal prosecution entails the payment of fines up to a maximum of $2 million. For the big agri-business conglomerates, even this amount is but a dent in their profit margins, compared to the damage they have caused, which may be beyond dollars and cents, for example, the loss of not just human lives but animal lives, too; loss of global bio-diversity and severe destruction of one's tropical rainforest. Could the Minister explain where the fines will be channelled towards? As a way of showing that we in Singapore are equally concerned for the well-being of the Indonesian people who suffer the worst effects of the haze, being at the epicentre, so to speak, as well as the animals like the orang utan and the elephants who are often poached as the forests are opened up, or left to die in the fires, can such monies be set aside in a special fund and used for restoration, reforestation, rehabilitation of the forest, the animals and for humanitarian support for the Indonesian people? In addition, the ultimate goal that we should be striving for is that pressure be brought to bear on big business to actually change their business practices and become more ethical. I am concerned that the amount of fines stipulated in the Bill alone will not go that far. There is also the possibility that big business might pass on the cost of the fines to the consumer in the form of higher prices of products.”
“We know that such fires occur in peat swamp forests. It is in the nature of such forests that it is the soil below that burns sometimes for years and it is the layers of burning peat soil that are difficult to put out or control once the fires start. In a situation where the local politics may be hazy – no pun intended – as to who actually owns and is in charge of the land, how does the Bill ensure that the real power behind it is the one that is called to answer? For example, should there be a change in ownership or control of the land which may or may not be transparent or recorded formally, how does the Bill envisage the gathering of proof that a particular entity is the one that caused the fire? Further, such evidence calls for cooperation and collaboration with the countries concerned. Could the Minister clarify how the Bill envisages such cooperation and collaboration to be Page: 56 sought? The gathering of such evidence would also include the use of technology for veracity, authenticity and accuracy. Could the Minister clarify what sort of technology is envisaged and whether there may be potential issues relating to infringement of privacy and sovereign rights in the use of such technology? I say this because I note that even as the incoming President of Indonesia supports the proposed law, he also cautions that this must not be at the expense of his country's sovereignty. Secondly, with regard to civil action, could the Minister clarify how are the parties envisaged by the Bill who may take action, are to do so? If, theoretically, it is open to any individual who has suffered damage or injury to do so, would this not potentially be burdens on our Court system?”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill. It gives credence to the fact that when it comes to the environment, there are no borders. Damaging activities in one place affect another area beyond its shores, just as much as in the place of origin. The concept of "transboundary environment damage", as a platform for legal redress, Mdm Speaker – something that I first learnt about way back when I was studying environment law 20 years ago – is only now in the consciousness of Singaporeans. The Bill also gives credence to the fact that, contrary to earlier narratives that the fires are caused by smallholders and slash-and-burn farmers, these are actually the work of – in the words of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong – "errant companies". It also gives credence to the fact that, as Minister Vivian Balakrishnan rightly emphasised, "the root cause is commercial" and the fault lies with big business having, he said, "total disregard for their social and environmental responsibilities". This Bill also stands out for many reasons, not least of which is the fact that it includes Singaporean entities as well as non-Singaporeans as potential offenders and defendants who could be prosecuted and/or sued. It is foreseeable that even financial institutions will now have to be more circumspect when granting loans or investments in case they, too, get implicated. This is a powerful tool to remind the corporate world that it has obligations and responsibilities beyond that of profit-making for their shareholders. That said, Mdm Speaker, I seek clarifications for the following concerns. Firstly, for the entity to be liable, and for the Bill to be truly effective, a strong ground mapping of concession areas to pinpoint responsibility for the fires is needed. Therein lies the rub.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I have two supplementary questions. There has been a recent report just about last week, I believe, where there were fish deaths at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve where the river turned black and there was a horrible stench coming from it. The report also stated that AVA was investigating the situation. May I ask what the result has been, if there had been any so far? Secondly, there is also a recent article that I read where a town in America called Toledo in Ohio suffers from what is called microcystis algae. And as a result, there was terrible harm done to the drinking water and it was caused by farming, lawn and sewage run-off. Would AVA and MND take extra precautions, bearing in mind that there are variations in the weather now and the possibility of this happening may be even more severe?”
“What is heartening from the MSF survey is the headline finding that more than eight in 10 parents with teenage children or younger were satisfied with their relationship with their children as well as with their family life. We still have much work to do in the area of family justice. I therefore look forward to the next stage of the Committee's work, which includes the enforcement of maintenance orders, a longstanding problem. In this regard, it would also be timely for a major review of the Women's Charter, first enacted in 1961 and with many amendments since its Page: 65 promulgation to keep it updated. I hope the Government will review and revamp the Women's Charter with the aim of enacting a Family Charter, an omnibus family legislation by consolidating the various legislations pertaining to the family and children. Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill and look forward to it transforming family justice in Singapore for the good of our families and of our society.”
“I hope that the Family Justice Rules Committee, provided for in clause 46 of the Bill, when drafting the Rules to guide Court procedures and practices will reinforce the child's interests in both form and substance. Madam, a marriage, in essence, is a private matter between two persons. Nevertheless, the state of marriages has profound societal and public policy implications. Hence, the family is regarded as ‘the basic unit of society' in Singapore's Shared Values and the importance of the family is regularly underlined in official discourse. The state of the family is also conceived to intimately affect the state of the nation. This is premised on the belief that the "good family" will take care of itself and, in turn, the nation-state – as a collection of good families – will then be strong as well. The family is also regarded as the formative source of social capital in a communitarian society. To quote the Shared Values White Paper published in 1991, a "fundamental building block out of which larger social structures can be stably constructed". In this social reproduction process, the family then is the incubator for the reproduction of values and norms desired in our society. Even as we strengthen the social safety nets, the family remains the first recourse for help and a bastion of resilience when an individual falls on hard times, with the state intervening only as a last resort. The first survey on the state of family life conducted by MSF last year indicated that family life remains important to Singaporeans even if divorces show a gradual upward trend.”
“Divorce does not mean the end of familial duties and commitments such as parenting. I should add that we should not go away thinking that acrimony and continuing conflict is the inherent and inevitable result of a marriage breaking down. I believe Court statistics will be able to support the assertion that the majority of couples are able to sort things out without going to Court. We should not create the inaccurate impression that acrimony must be the order of the day when marriages break down. In this regard, I would like to ask the Minister how the Family Justice Courts will be assessed on its effectiveness. As public funds are involved in the administration of justice, the need for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will always be there, but I hope the Court administrators will instead subject the Family Justice Courts to KPIs that are focused on holistic problem-solving, despite the difficulty in quantifying how the Family Justice Courts has better protected and supported fragile families, especially minors caught through no Page: 64 fault of theirs in the dispute. Madam, I now turn briefly to the centrality of a child's best interests and welfare in our family justice system. It might seem trite to reiterate the best interests of the child as it is enshrined in our substantive law. While this Bill's focus is on the constitution, jurisdiction, and powers of the Family Justice Courts and the administration of family justice, it is crucial that the child's interests are protected and represented robustly in Court proceedings. Too often, the "child's interests" is bandied about flippantly such that we lose sight of its core meaning and effects.”
“In its next phase of work, I hope the Committee for Family Justice will look into how family law teaching and scholarship can be promoted not just in our schools but in our institutions of higher learning and within the Bar. As this Bill demonstrates, a wide array of expertise is required, many of which are not found within the legal sector. While law is a key driver, the reality is that family justice cannot be just about family law and procedural rules alone. Too much reliance on the law will likely result in mechanical outcomes that may well serve the Court system in terms of case disposal performance indicators but contribute little to heal the rifts within family. Both form and substance are of utmost importance in our family justice system. Madam, the Bill does not tell us how the Family Justice Courts will go about delivering family justice that is fit for purpose in today's context. But we can gather from the Family Justice Committee's recommendations and report that the Family Justice Courts will adopt a robust and integrated network of assistance and support, as well as enhanced Court management processes including a Judge-led approach. Taken together, they should enable the Courts to resolve family disputes more effectively. The touchstone of effectiveness, however, must not exclude the imperative to help lessen the trauma and acrimony involved in the divorce process and in ancillary proceedings. Litigation is not the ideal vehicle for resolving family problems. Should families, however, seek recourse to it, our family justice system must endeavour to reduce the acrimony quotient and not unwittingly contribute to the downward spiral of frayed ties. There is a future that still needs to be lived post-marriage.”
“Madam, this Bill should create and sustain an ecosystem of family law experts and family specialists, including psychologists, counsellors, social workers and mental health professionals, all working together to provide a holistic solution that can bring parties to work together even if they are going their separate ways. Resolving disputes, especially intractable ones and when relations have completely broken down, is certainly an integral part of the family justice system. But even then, this Bill must challenge all those in the family justice system – including the litigants – to protect families, especially minors, and to ensure that the fundamental responsibilities of families and parents continue to be fulfilled. With the forthcoming establishment of a third law school in Singapore with a focus on community law, there should be a stream of dedicated legal professionals for family law broadly conceived. In law school admission interviews every year, I am always struck by how applicants speak enthusiastically and sincerely about criminal and family law. But that fervour seems to dissipate very quickly while the students are in law school. I call upon the two law schools to continue to enthuse students about family law and to raise the status and profile of the subject in our law schools. While I do not teach family law, my continuing interest in this area of the law is very much due to the tutelage of Professors Leong Wai Kum and Debbie Ong, my family law teachers in National University of Singapore (NUS). In addition, our law schools must sustain teaching and research of family law from an interdisciplinary perspective. Page: 63 The allure of family law is not as attractive as the material lure and glam factor of corporate law.”
“While we have, over the years, sought to improve access to justice and reduce the adversarial factor when marriages fail, this Bill marks the culmination of a concerted attempt at institutional re-design to put in place a framework and infrastructure to better help and support families. Madam, marriages may fail and end but familial ties and needs persist, especially for children who are minors, and parental duties and responsibilities continue as well. Part II of the Bill provides for the establishment of the Family Justice Courts, comprising the High Court (Family Division), the Family Court and the Youth Court, to hear all family- Page: 62 related proceedings. I welcome the renaming of the current Juvenile Court to the Youth Court and its coming under the Family Justice Court. The Youth Courts will hear cases involving the Children and Young Persons Act. The Bill also provides, where necessary, in clauses 26 and 35 to empower the Family Justice Courts to direct parties to undergo mediation or counselling, as well as participate in available family support programmes. I hope the institutional redesign, which is a major plank of this Bill, will provide the impetus and support for a specialised pool of judicial officers and Court staff with deep interest, nuanced expertise and broad experience to handle family cases and those involving children and youths. I welcome clause 17 of the Bill to this effect for the recognition given to these officers of the Family Justice Courts.”
“Madam, we have been very good at educating our citizens on the practicalities of life. We would do well as a society to also weave life skill lessons on self-reflection, self-esteem, self-empowerment, skills on anger and stress management in our homes, our schools, at our workplaces, our healthcare and family services and in our communities; skills that we so desperately need in this country if we are to keep the fabric of our society strong. 3.49 pm Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene (Nominated Member): Mdm Speaker, I welcome this Bill which seeks to enhance the framework of the family justice system in Singapore. This Bill is very much inspired by the recommendations of the Committee for Family Justice, co-chaired by Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah and then Judge of Appeal Justice V K Rajah. There were extensive consultations and I note the broad support for the proposals from the key stakeholders. So, this proposed law is off to a good start. I welcome this Bill as championing a major and much needed revamp of our family justice system. This Bill should be read in conjunction with the July 2014 Recommendations of the Committee for Family Justice report – which Members have referred to fairly extensively – as much of the details relating to workings of the family justice system are covered comprehensively there. This Bill provides the skeletal framework but the meat of the revitalised family justice system is to be found in the Committee's report and recommendations. It should be mandatory reading for all those concerned about family justice.”
“So, beyond the practical legal, non-legal and counselling services that are envisaged under the Bill, I would strongly suggest parties be given access to proven life skill techniques to enhance self-empowerment and esteem to navigate the changes that are to come with the separation, the healing and forgiveness that need to happen for all parties so that they can continue with their lives with as little rancour as is humanly possible under the circumstances. At this point, I declare my interest as a facilitator of self-empowerment workshops where participants, some of whom may well be going through divorce processes themselves, are taught life affirming skills and a mindset shift from a victim mentality and the blame game to one of self-determination. I have found that, invariably, people find strength in themselves that they do not know they have as a result of this painful period in their lives. More importantly, they also find it in themselves to look a little more kindly on those who may have hurt them, even as the healing continues. It is after all, a process. It is after all, also how one perceives and responds to a situation, not the situation itself that will ultimately lead to healing and wholeness. Finally, Madam, the work should not start here. Relationships with others do not start with a marriage; it starts with a relationship with oneself. If you do not know how to have a Page: 61 life-affirming relationship with yourself, you surely cannot have one with someone else. The fact that domestic abuse is such a reality in Singapore shows that many people are ill equipped to handle the anger, the resentment, the exhaustion from daily stresses. Many are unable to deal with themselves.”
“I would also urge that agencies adopt a non-judgemental stance for what is still perceived by the Page: 60 community as a stigma. Divorce is still seen as a failure on the part of the parties and the recent controversies over what community norms of a family mean does not make it any easier for the parties concerned. I would argue that beyond the Bill, there has to be greater education, awareness and acceptance of the different types of families, not just the so-called traditional one of "father, mother, two children". Further, just as I applaud the change in name from Juvenile Court to Youth Court as it recognises the derogatory implications of the word "juvenile", I would also urge that we all be mindful of the words used to describe divorces like the phrase "broken families". I speak from experience when I say single parent families are not necessarily broken, just as so-called "traditional families" are not necessarily "whole". Madam, I also speak from experience when I say that in such emotionally-fraught times, it is important for the parents to stay grounded and centred. While the parties navigate their way through the challenges, sometimes, all it takes is for one parent, one spouse, one adult to stay centred. Children take their cue from adults, and if at least one parent can learn to access their own inner resources, this is where the "less acrimonious, less ugly" aim of the Bill is truly realised.”
“Thirdly, I welcome the proposal to train community touch points to identify those with family problems and the proposal to establish divorce support specialist agencies. With domestic violence being a reality in Singapore, I would urge that this training and support include the ability to be aware and sensitive, and to recognise and be cognisant of abuse in all its forms including psychological abuse, and to respond accordingly when giving advice and support. Fourthly, I welcome the proposal for the accreditation of lawyers in non-legal aspects, for example, knowledge of social services. Since this is not meant to be mandatory, could the Minister clarify how lawyers would be encouraged to do so? Further, I would suggest that all professionals, not just lawyers, connected to the family justice system, be given similar access to knowledge of fields beyond their own, so that they are familiar with the various services. I also seek assurance that such support be available under the Syariah Court system to avoid a two-track system. Finally, Madam, while streamlining the process, and providing access to the legal, financial and counselling support to the parties and the children as envisaged under the Bill are commendable and while the Government, the community and the family must do all they can to support families to ride through this challenging period of their lives, sometimes, the best thing to do is for the spouses to go their separate ways. I would, therefore, urge that unless support agencies are specifically religious in nature and parties know what they can expect from such agencies, that other agencies, especially Government-linked ones, remain secular in their approach, advice and support.”
“Could the Minister clarify if such consultations are to be one-off and, if so, could these consultations continue to be provided both during and after the final judgment if it comes to pass? I would argue for the consultations to be made available throughout the divorce process so that all the parties concerned continue to get the support they need, and they and the Courts, understand fully the differentiated impact on different family members. Further, in a report by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) titled Singapore Social Health Project 2013, it is found that new personal protection orders filed Page: 59 against family members range between 2,500 and 3,000 annually. PAVE, a family violence specialist centre recorded a total of 1,200 cases of domestic violence between April 2010 and March 2011. Such is the reality of domestic abuse in Singapore. In such cases where there have been abuse and violence, I would urge the Minister to provide for such pre-filing consultations, and, indeed, any consultations, to take place safely in the interest of the abused parties, especially the children, by doing away with the need to have face-to-face contact, for instance, with the use of video uplinks. Secondly, with regard to the aim of the Family Justice system for a "judge-led approach", I seek assurance from the Minister that this process will be less and not more inquisitorial. And if so, I seek clarification whether judges will be given training to equip them for what would necessarily have to be a less intimidating approach if legal training is not sufficient, because ultimately, the aim is the empowerment of the parties concerned.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the Family Justice Bill. I welcome the aim of the Bill, as stated in the joint statement of MinLaw and MSF, to "provide better support to families to help them resolve disputes" by streamlining the process through the Family Justice Courts and providing various support channels through the community touch points and the setting up of the divorce support specialist agencies in due course. More importantly, in my opinion, is the aim of making the process less adversarial, reducing the acrimony and the tussle which invariably hurts everyone concerned, especially the most vulnerable parties – the children. As someone who has myself gone through the divorce process at a time when my own two daughters were very young, I can attest to a time of mental and emotional confusion. I can also attest to the amount of mental and emotional effort, energy and time it takes to get back on my feet and to feel "whole" again for my own sake as a single mother and for the sake of my children as we rebuild our lives as a threesome. So, I speak from personal experience. Madam, I seek the following clarifications from the Minister. Firstly, with regard to the proposed pre-filing consultations. This is a good way to ensure that from the very start, the parties know not only what the issues are, that they would have to work through with people who are in a position to provide the advice they need; for some, this can provide a reality check on the position they plan to take. However, Madam, this is also a time of great confusion and it is probable that parties may not always be in a state of mind to fully understand many of the issues at this stage, even with the specialists present.”
“It is not the intention of NLB to exclude any group in society. But we cannot pretend that we can have every possible book in the universe in the Library. It does not happen anywhere in the world. Some curation is possible because we need to draw certain lines. In our case, because we are a multi-racial and multi-religious society, some books which incite racial hatred, we will never allow into our Library. So, let us not pretend there is no censorship. There is, because we need to make sure that we protect society and also observe our community norms. We are very clear about that. But we also recognise that society is changing and, therefore, NLB will have to take its cue from the various sources I mentioned earlier, including now with the new advisory panel, Page: 21 to make its final decision on whether a book should be withdrawn.”
“We stay true to that but, at the same time, we operate in an environment where there are people of different races and religions. So, we have to take our context into account. Let me answer both the questions together because I think they are somewhat related. I will answer the issue on pulping later on. It is not true that we were making the decision hastily. Feedback came in, we looked at it, we used the best possible judgement that we had with the best available information that was available to NLB to make that decision. As I admitted in my reply, we could have made the process slightly better and we plan to do so with the advisory panel. We recognise that there are different views in society. There are different groups with different interests and we have to take that into account. In fact, the NLB does so in all of its dealings. For example, they have their meet-the-customer sessions. They meet different groups who have interests in the Library's work. They meet MOE and other civil society groups that may be interested to have discussions with them and they are happy to do so. But going forward, as I said earlier, with that advisory panel drawn from a wide cross-section of society, it will give NLB an additional source of inputs for them to make their decision. But I have to say here that, finally, the decision has to be made by NLB. As I mentioned in my reply, it is not an exact science. We do our very best. Sometimes, we will not get the best decision possible out there; sometimes, we will get it right. But at the same time, on balance, we will do our best to try and seek as much feedback as possible. So, the advisory panel will serve us in that particular avenue and we will continue to do so, to draw as much input as possible.”
“I have two supplementary questions for the Minister. Firstly, in this House last month, in answer to Nominated Member of Parliament Laurence Lien regarding how the Government wishes to engage with diverse views of the community, Minister Lawrence Wong had said that we should exercise restraint, moderation and mutual respect and have open dialogue. In view of this reply, would the Minister agree that in view that NLB had made the decision really hastily, and in view of the fact that it already knows that there was controversy not just in Singapore but elsewhere, should NLB not have then paused and taken a step back before making that decision, and especially to use the word "pulp", which creates tension not just within the LGBT community and the literary community, but also with members at large? Secondly, by actually making a decision to put the books in the adults' section – although I agree that is far better than actually pulping it completely – would this not, as a society of diverse races, views and ages, marginalise a group of people that may not necessarily fit into the model of the traditional family of father, mother and children, especially since things are changing organically, as the Minister also recognises? Page: 20 Thirdly, I would also like an assurance from the Minister that, going forward, NLB, as a Government agency, would continue to stay secular not just in its procurement of materials but also in all its policies and decisions. Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Madam, to the hon Member's last question, I would like to assure her that we are a secular Government. But we also look into community norms. We have to see how society is shaping up because we do not operate in a vacuum. We adopt secular policies.”
“The Vietnamese government has also given its assurance that it will provide compensation and due assistance to the affected foreign companies, including Singaporean firms. We will continue to work with the Vietnamese government to ensure that the interests of Singaporean companies and investors in Vietnam are protected.”
“Question No 6, please. The Second Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs): Mdm Speaker, the Singapore Government takes a very serious view on the unrest that broke out at the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) I and II in Binh Duong province on 13 and 14 May 2014. The VSIPs have long been a symbol of the strong economic cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam and are projects endorsed by both governments. To this end, we have made representations at various levels to the Vietnamese government to emphasise our strong concerns, the need for the Vietnamese government to provide security, and that the violence, indiscriminate looting, and the burning of the Singapore flag at the VSIPs were unacceptable. The Vietnamese government has expressed its sincere regret over the unrest and has assured us that it would take concrete measures to ensure that such incidents would not occur again. During Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam's meeting with Prime Minister on the sidelines of the Nikkei conference on 22 May 2014, Deputy Prime Minister Dam conveyed Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's deep regret over the unrest at the two VSIPs and gave full assurance that such incidents would not happen again. The Vietnamese government also pledged to conduct a full investigation and take necessary action against the perpetrators. The same message was conveyed to Minister Shanmugam Page: 23 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh. We note that most of the affected companies in the two VSIPs have restarted their operations and the Vietnamese government has taken measures to normalise the situation in the VSIPs.”
“Mdm Speaker, may I seek clarification as to whether there is a frequency and a timeline for consultations to take place?”
“I planted it for my children and my children's children. It does not matter that I may never get to see it. That is how we walk lightly on earth." Walk lightly on earth. Whether we take that literally or symbolically, it is a good thought for half-time as we dream of a better future and as we journey towards maturity and responsible stewardship for our country's 50th birthday. 1.56 pm”
“" The Indonesian farmer or the companies burning the forest, is only part of that equation. All Members of this House should ask, "Why exactly are we leading such a massive consumer lifestyle in this country, from the car that we drive, to the food that we eat, to the things that we buy and the things that we throw away such that we are part of the problem and not part of the solution?" All Members of this House should be conscious and aware of the fact that all that we need, all that we desire, have to come from somewhere and end up somewhere in the environment. All Members of this House should raise environment issues because it is the right thing to do; it is the mature and wise thing to do. It is time to take back personal responsibility. Why? Because no environment means no arts, no sports, no business, no income, no jobs, no health, no economy, nothing. It is really that simple. To end, Mdm Speaker, I want to share just one of the many invaluable lessons I have learnt through my forays in the forest over the last 30 years, learning from my greatest teachers, the orang asli, or the indigenous people of the forest, and how this has moved me to leave behind a corporate legal career towards something more meaningful to me, that of an environment educator. In my recent trip to the forest, an orang asli by the name of Alang, who is in his late 40s, showed me a sapling of a tree they called the "berbau", which he had recently planted in a cultivated part of the forest. When I asked him how long that sapling will take to grow into a mature tree, Alang said "Oh, about 30, 40 years or so." When I remarked that "You may not be alive then at that time, Alang", Alang's response was "That's the point. I did not plant Page: 17 it for me.”
“All Members of this House must make the conscious choice to realise that far from this being a "special interest", environment matters concern us all because of how completely dependent we all are on the environment in all aspects of our lives. It is not just the purview of an environmentalist or an environment Nominated Member of Parliament. In fact, in the Nominated Member of Parliament Scheme, there is no such platform, unlike that for the arts or sports. Rather than ask, "Should there be such a platform?", I would much prefer this scenario – all Members of this House should go beyond what I call the human-centric issues that have been the hallmark of this House, important though these are. All Members should speak on Page: 16 environment issues in this House. To give some examples, all Members of this House should ask why our domestic recycling rates are so dismal and demand to know why can we not have the structure that an equally developed country like Taiwan has, and how this dismal rate impacts on the spaces that we are constantly reminded are limited. All Members of this House should be alarmed and ask why the rate of our food waste is so high for a comparatively small population, especially when at the same time we raise concerns in this House on behalf of the constituents on the rising cost of food. As we speak, there are reports that the haze will be worse this year than last. All Members of this House should resist the temptation of pointing fingers at another country again when this happens, go beyond enacting laws to penalise companies and ask the deeper question, "Who, after all, are the beneficiaries of the products of oil palm plantations if not all of us, the people living in a country rich enough to afford those consumer products?”
“So, what do we want to see as this Government goes into the second half of its elected term? To name just two. Firstly, to remember that we are equal partners not just in conversations but that we are citizens that have a stake in the well-being of our country; beyond the issue that we champion, and are able to come up with workable alternative solutions. Secondly, the notion that the Government acts under a public trust – a trust that land and resources belong to the people and major decisions that impact on the land and the resources cannot be made without prior informed consultation. In that regard, impact assessments for major projects that include not just environmental but cultural, heritage and social as well, have to be put in place and must be transparent and open to public scrutiny. Mdm Speaker, half-time is a good time for some self-reflection. As I, too, reflect on my two years in this House, and with a few months left of my appointment, I realise how strange it is that environment matters in its fullest spectrum are not given as much airing in this House as they deserve. How is it possible that something so fundamental as the very thing on which our entire life depends and even more fundamental than the so-called ‘‘bread and butter” issues is so marginalised in the highest law-making body of the land? From my many chats with Members of this House, I know that this is not for "want of caring or not knowing". Many do care. Many do know. Perhaps, environment concerns are not seen to be "vote winning". Mdm Speaker, I have mentioned that the environment community is ready and willing to engage with the public and the people we elect into office to mainstream these issues. That is not enough.”
“At the same time, we believe there is much the Government can do to facilitate the process from ideas to action by opening up the space for more dialogue. Mdm Speaker, in the two short years that I have been in the House, I have seen greater willingness on the part of Government agencies for engagement with environment advocates, for example, the unprecedented eight-month engagement with Land Transport Authority (LTA) over the Cross Island Line ably facilitated by Senior Minister of State Mrs Josephine Teo, specifically in raising awareness of the importance of an environment impact assessment process, and the recent Ubin Conversations, a timely and much-welcomed initiative by Minister of State Desmond Lee. Mdm Speaker, I echo what the hon Member Mr Laurence Lien talked about yesterday to the effect that the Government must not see civil society as "the other" to be feared or guarded against and that civil society in turn must engage responsibly. I believe the examples I have given are positive models of how open honest dialogues can lead to greater understanding and appreciation that civil society has workable solutions that the Government may not. Differences do not have to lead to divisiveness, a point that the President had taken pains to refer to in his Address. However, Mdm Speaker, from the five Green Conversations, we believe that whilst we are ready and willing to take responsibility and take action, it often seems to us, especially in the area of nature conservation, that this is still fire fighting. Sometimes, we are the last to know. Page: 15 With the growing demand for consultation and participation, there is a danger that this form of engagement is neither empowering nor sustainable.”
“Firstly, a call for environment education in its widest spectrum is to be given greater focus in both the formal and informal channels by both the Government and civil society, based on the premise that eco literacy, that is, the relationship not only between humans but also between all non-human species and with human beings and with the earth, leads to compassion, caring and love, values that are good for society as a whole. Secondly, the growing awareness that there is an urgent need to language our concerns in different and creative ways as we engage with different sectors of society as well as different Government agencies so that we are able to convey our message more coherently and effectively. Thirdly, the growing awareness of the urgent need to educate ourselves on the Parliamentary process and to engage with the people we voted into office to mainstream the issues so that Page: 14 environment issues become as commonplace as any other municipal issue. This came about particularly with the session that I facilitated in March for the environment community on the Parliamentary process for a more effective environment advocacy. I believe that such education will engender an informed citizenry that is able to engage in a responsible manner for a more empowered advocacy, good not only for the green community, but also for the policymakers and for the country. What all these conversations show, Mdm Speaker, is this: the environment community is willing to take responsibility for initiating discussions, in educating, engaging and empowering the public, the private sector and the Government. We are also willing to take responsibility for generating workable solutions and are ready to get going with action from the ground that are the highest good of all Singaporeans.”
“When the plan to review the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint was announced recently, and to complement dialogues organised by MEWR, three more conversations called "Conversations on Sustainable Singapore" were organised. Thanks to the tenacity and much to the credit of Mr Eugene Tay, together with the Nature Society and SMU Verts, a student organisation of the Singapore Management University, in a span of just a month and a half, these sessions succeeded in generating constructive and workable solutions on three specific themes: Energy and Climate Change, Waste and the 3Rs and, finally, Food Security and Food Waste. The last session was held just last Saturday. Speakers from both Government agencies and private sectors were invited at each of these sessions to provide some context and fodder for discussions. From them, not only did we learn about what has been done, more importantly, we were all inspired by what more can be done. The reports from the last three sessions, like the first two, will be disseminated to the Government and agencies, and I trust will, in due course, be given substance. In all, the five events affectionately known to us as the "Green Conversations" provided an avenue for more than 300 people the opportunity to share concerns, ideas and workable solutions. Credit must go to the "Our Singapore Conversation" platform for giving us this impetus and motivation. Mdm Speaker, in all of these conversations, a few common lessons became very clear.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion of thanks. In his Address, President Tony Tan affirmed that the Government will give substance to the many voices of citizens who have participated in the "Our Singapore Conversation". When it became clear that the conversation sessions that were taking place in 2012 had little or no environment content, many people concerned with environment issues felt the need to have one, specifically to discuss the wide spectrum of environment matters, in line with the "Our Singapore Conversation". As a result, in January 2013, with the support of the Our Singapore Conversation Secretariat, together with sustainability consultant Mr Eugene Tay, I co-organised a gathering in what was arguably the first time that close to 80 people ranging in age from 17 to 70 representing a wide spectrum of the environment community, from nature conservationists to waste management experts, from animal welfare groups to advocates on sustainable living, from veteran environmentalists of 30 years advocacy experience to fledgling school groups, came together. Page: 13 The upshot of this conversation was a recognition that the conversation format was useful in seeking and discussing views and issues, and a strong desire by all the participants that there should be more conversation, open to the public, with each session focusing on specific environmental issues. Subsequently, the "Our Singapore Conversation on Green Spaces" was organised by Nature Society and Young NTUC in November 2013 to focus on nature conservation. We succeeded in gathering about 50 people, some of whom were completely new to advocacy.”
“Mdm Speaker, one supplementary question, please. Beyond green buildings and the points that have been mentioned, I would like to ask one question. There have been reports that paper that is commonly used in offices for photocopying and so on sometimes comes or is procured from or manufactured by companies that do not practise sustainable oil palm production. And in view of the fact that we are very concerned about transboundary haze, pollution and things like that, can there be at least greater vigilance and commitment towards this particular area of green procurement?”
“I urge MOH to think beyond exercise and diet and in discouraging smoking in our healthy lifestyle campaigns and provide life skills that support young people in dealing with their emotions because real healthcare is about dealing with the underlying causes and not just pharmaceuticals and hospitals. Health Screening”
“This public education should be targeted at fathers and other members of the family as well because it is well-documented that when there is family support, mothers tend to breastfeed and for longer periods. The other concern I have with the emotional health of young Singaporeans is reflected in the Parliamentary Question I submitted late last year on the increasing rates of suicides Page: 117 among young people. Madam, what more can be done by MOH and the community in our schools to help school counsellors and parents to identify the problems early so that emotional support can be given before it is too late? It is interesting to me that a school in Thailand has been teaching its young students relaxation techniques at the start of the day, and it seems to have borne results. The students display a more positive mindset and have a more composed outlook towards life. I believe our young people here would benefit from such life skills. Further, it has been long established that a physical ailment is often a result of suppressed emotions, like anger and frustration, and science is only beginning to recognise this mind-body connection between what we think, how we feel and our illnesses and diseases. Madam, at this point, I would like to declare my interest as a facilitator of self-empowerment sessions supporting individuals as they navigate their way through emotional challenges. 4.45 pm Invariably, these people, when given a safe, non-judgemental space to express and release their emotions and deal with the emotions in a constructive way, they report feeling enhanced self-awareness and better able to make life-affirming choices. What is even better – their physical condition improves as well.”
“Mdm Chair, last year, I had called upon MOH to consider the value of nature spaces in healing for preventive and rehabilitative healthcare, based on increasing literature which shows the relationship between green spaces with wellness and well-being. In my Budget debate speech this year, I had raised my concerns over the emotional health of Singaporeans, particularly young people. Madam, in a Parliamentary Question I submitted last November asking for the rate of breastfeeding, Senior Minister of State Amy Khor had confirmed that partial breastfeeding rates went up from 21% in 2001 to 42% in 2011. Exclusive breastfeeding rate, however, is very dismal, partly due to cultural resistance. Madam, the nutritional and health benefits of breastfeeding have been much spoken about. However, not as much has been said about its long-lasting emotional benefits. A breastfeeding relationship cements a very strong emotional bond between mother and child. From the very start in life, because the mother is always close to the baby, the baby adapts to life outside the womb better, secure that the mother is always near. More importantly, it is well-documented that this close interaction and sense of emotional security persist not just in childhood but also in adulthood as well, helping in the make- up of well-adjusted, balanced individuals. For this reason and to enhance the emotional health of Singaporeans, I call upon HPB to do more to promote, educate and encourage breastfeeding, provide the necessary support and facilities both at home and at work, and to remove the cultural resistance and ignorance that Senior Minister of State Amy Khor had talked about.”
“Sir, the clarifications that I seek are even more significant in view of the report in The Straits Times a few days ago that a disused underpass near Shenton Way on land that belongs to SLA had been waterlogged and may be breeding the aedes mosquitoes. So, my questions are: what is SLA's standard procedure for dengue and mosquito breeding prevention in general and supervision with regard to non-residential areas that are under the jurisdiction of other Government agencies, in particular how regular are the site checks that NEA conducts? What are the penalties and how does it ensure compliance and enforcement? How many summonses have been issued to other agencies over, say, the last year? Due to the prolonged period without rain, which we are experiencing now, how does NEA ensure that covered sewers not being flushed does not lead to an increase in mosquito breeding? And have the Town Councils and estate committees been proactive in this regard? Dengue Fever”
“Sir, for these reasons, I am making a call for a national nature conservation policy that makes clear that our nature reserves are inviolate: a fair and equitable distribution of nature areas all over the island instead of the situation now where they are situated at the central and northern areas only; that the future Pulau Ubin be a central part of this conservation policy and Chek Jawa be protected from any reclamation plans. Sir, I mentioned that under the URA Master Plan, only 4% of our natural greenery is protected. This falls far short of the UN Convention on Biodiversity's Strategic Plan 2011-2020, which calls on states to conserve 17%. Whilst 17% may be too much of a stretch, I think Singapore can do a lot more in order to not fail in its international obligations as a respected member of the UN. Sir, last year, when I attended the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Brunei, parliamentarians had committed to ensure that we hold our governments to account for the commitments that we had agreed to at that Page: 143 Assembly, one of which was to ensure green growth and sustainability in economic development. Even though I understand that such commitments are not binding, I would be very remiss if I do not uphold this responsibility. Approval of New Developments in Estates”
“According to the Master Plan, only 4% out of 29% of our natural areas is to be protected as nature reserve. The number and size of nature parks, however, would be increased to 5% of our land area. This seems to be a rather hazy picture of what nature reserves do. Nature parks, while a very good thing, with its implication of the intervention of the human hand, is not the same as nature reserves with forests that have been here for thousands of years. Page: 142 In my Budget Debate speech, I have enumerated the many values of nature reserves like biodiversity in providing wellness. To add to the list, nature as protection against climate change and as free eco services. Our nature reserves and mangroves provide eco services, like oxygen, clean air and prevent flooding. With the current drought, frequency of flooding in recent years in some places that has never happened before and the worst haze last June, it surely is no longer lost on anyone just how dependent we are on the environment. Of what use is a sterling economic promise if there is no sterling environment? Nature is eco tourism. Friends who are professional nature guides have told me that many tourists marvel at the fact that in just a short inexpensive bus or taxi ride away from their downtown hotel, they are already in some part of the oldest forest in the world, unlike in other countries where you have to travel some distance from the city. This can give us an economic competitive advantage over our neighbours. Nature is heritage. It is time that we value our natural spaces as much as the value we place on our built heritage. Nature "just because" – it defines us as a mature society because we know the inherent value of areas that do not necessarily have to translate into dollars and cents.”
“Sir, Singapore prides itself as being very forward-looking in our development plans. We plan for population growth as far ahead as 2030. We have a well-articulated land transport plan and we also have a regularly updated URA Master Plan, with the most recent made public just a few months ago. What we do not have is a national nature conservation policy and I am making a call for one. Sir, in just the two years that I have been a Member of this House, I have seen the integrity of our nature areas either being chipped away or in danger of being compromised completely. Just to name some examples. Last year, the custodian of our nature reserves gave permission to a for-profit company to organise a night-time high impact sports event through part of our nature reserve, even though it knows that the animals in our forest are for the most part nocturnal, and are highly sensitive to human presence. This is on top of the trash that inevitably gets generated in such an event where being eco-friendly is not part of the event organiser's consciousness. 5.45 pm Early last year, the debate on the Population White Paper and Land Use Plan saw me questioning the proposed reclamation works that will swallow up the much loved Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin as well as arguing strenuously against the proposed train line cutting through the nature reserves. Sir, the recent URA Master Plan is very articulate in terms of economic, recreational, social and cultural aspects. However, with respect, the focus seems to be more on minimising the impact of our massive development by its plans to ease transport problems and reducing air pollution rather than a pro-active stance on conservation of our natural spaces.”
“15 pm Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I understand that the Ministry formed the Inter-Ministry Committee on Food Security (IMC-FS) in 2012. This is to coordinate and look into holistic measures to mitigate our food security risks and vulnerabilities. I also understand that, as part of its strategy, the Committee is studying two broad areas, namely: reducing food wastage and boosting industry production capacity and resilience. I would like to ask the Minister for an update on the works of the IMC-FS. Has the Committee engaged stakeholders, such as importers, manufacturers, retailers and logistics players? How supportive are these stakeholders with regard to the strategies of the Committee? What are the recommendations on industry development and food wastage reduction? Finally, how will these Page: 131 initiatives benefit Singaporeans?”
“Mdm Chair, Singapore obtains about 90% of its food needs from other countries. Around this time last year, AVA gave a statement in the Forum page of The Straits Times that Singapore aims to be self-sufficient in fish, eggs and leafy vegetables. HDB also said that it intends to build more than 100 multi-storey carparks with rooftop gardens where the new facilities would allow residents to plant their own vegetables. Recently, there was also a report in The Straits Times about rooftop vegetable Page: 130 gardening right in the heart of town. Mdm Chair, my question relates to fish farming and rooftop vegetable gardens. Recently, there had been severe losses in the fish farm industry as a result of fish death. I seek three clarifications on this matter. Firstly, to what extent is the aim of being self-sufficient in fish now affected by the fish death and how much time is needed to recover from these losses and get back on track? Second, in response to the PQ that I filed last month, Minister of State Dr Maliki confirmed that part of the reason was the fact that the fish that were farmed were not able to adapt to our waters. Does it mean then that the choice of fish species had been ill-advised, and was there a fiscal consequence to the Government? Thirdly, in AVA's continued support for fish farms, how would AVA ensure that the selection of high-value fish that is better able to adapt to the local conditions will be made? With regard to rooftop gardens, I seek clarification on whether there will be support – both funding and professional advice – for residents who wish to be part of this initiative. If so, what are the details, especially if, for example, residents wish to be able to derive some income from this initiative? 5.”
“And with regard to early childhood educators, are they also given specialised training as well? Lastly, what is the range of courses available in our Polytechnics and Universities which offer environment-related modules? Learning Opportunities for NSFs”
“Sir, I declare my interest as an environment educator. In the 2012 Committee of Supply, I had asked why environment education has not been given emphasis in adventure education Page: 165 programmes for schools. The basis for my question is that for a holistic outdoor education, it is not enough that students experience only the physically and mentally challenging team-bonding and personal reflection of adventure education. There has to be a component of environment education as well, so that students are eco-literate. Personal reflection should include a sound understanding, awareness and consciousness of human impact on the environment, not only through the outdoor activities, but also in daily life as well so that students are guided and supported to make responsible life-affirming choices. 6.45 pm Last year, I had asked how much emphasis would be given to environment education and preschools in the present environment awareness or "Discover Your World" preschool curriculum. For this year's COS, I would like an update and I have four related questions. Firstly, beyond environment education, through local field trips that were mentioned by the Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mr Hawazi Daipi today, how far have schools included the environment education component in their schools' adventure education and camping trips, both local and overseas? For example, when students hiked up Bukit Timah or Gotong Ladang as part of their school camp, is there also a component and facilitation session where they also learn about, say, the unique biodiversity of the area or issues relating to deforestation and climate change? Second, in general, are teachers in charge of the environment component at all schools given specialised training in the facilitation of such programmes?”
“In fact, no less than the Office of the Auditor-General itself stated in its 2011 Public Accountability Publication that "The citizens of Singapore are the ultimate owners of our nation's financial resources. It is important that they understand and support the process and the systems that ensure public accountability". I look forward to seeing this call for greater openness come to fruition in the near future. To end, Mdm Speaker, in my work both in and outside the House, I have found how powerful it is when people engage in real conversations, face-to-face dialogue, seeking only to educate, to engage and to empower. That, to my mind, is the real meaning, the full meaning of Deputy Prime Minister Tharman's words, "Quality Growth for Singapore". 12.21 pm”
“Some countries, for example, New Zealand, have a practice of releasing a pre-Budget Statement at least one month before the Budget is introduced in Parliament for more time for analysis and debate. Mdm Speaker, as part of my call for transparency, I had called for a compulsory environment impact assessment which is open to public scrutiny and study. That opportunity to repeat this call came with the Population White Paper and Land Use Plan when the proposal to put a train line cutting through our nature reserve drew strenuous objections by nature activists like myself. Much to the credit of LTA, in an unprecedented consultation with nature groups lasting eight months – ably led by Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo – what used to be an unmentionable word in Government agency parlance, the dreaded word, "EIA" is now in the consciousness of at least one Government agency, LTA. More than that, and I am sure Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo would agree with me, is the fact that the openness, the transparency and the discourse between the parties had enabled both sides to understand each other much better. Imagine what that can do for greater productivity. Such consultations Page: 16 bode very well for public-people engagement in the future. Mdm Speaker, from my experience at last Saturday's session, explaining the parliamentary process to environment advocates, I realised what an asset it is to have an informed citizenry – discussions are more robust, more substantial and ultimately more empowering. A Budget process is likewise a powerful channel for engagement between people and the public.”