Gan Kim Yong
Singapore
“Consumer complaints relating to the secondary resale market for tickets to major events and concerts have generally remained low. Nonetheless, to protect the public from scams on secondary ticket resale platforms, the Police have imposed Code of Practice requirements under the Online Criminal Harms Act to require designated online service…”
“Singapore does not condone the use of forced labour. We criminalise forced labour in Singapore under various laws. Relevant Government Ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Home Affairs and Singapore Police Force, play their part in investigating complaints of suspected breaches in domestic laws that relat…”
“The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) discontinued the PayNow nickname feature as scammers had been exploiting the use of nicknames to impersonate legitimate entities and trusted individuals.”
“As of end-2025, around 6,900 private residential buildings have registered their solar installations with SP Group for the export of excess solar-generated electricity to the grid. The installed solar capacity of these residential buildings is 115.3 megawatt-peak (MWp), or around 5.5% of all current installed solar capacity in Singapore.”
“The one-year pilot extension of liquor trading hours has seen strong interest from businesses. As of 31 May 2026, the Police have approved 88 applications for the extension of liquor trading hours from public entertainment outlets in these areas.”
“The Government does not make projections of domestic or regional demand for renewable diesel or sustainable aviation fuel. Demand depends on commercial considerations, evolving market conditions and regulatory developments across different jurisdictions.”
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“Sir, the process is actually quite transparent and it is enforced by the Ministry. Just to give the Member a breakdown, out of the 80 cases specifically in 2005 that MOM dealt with, a total of 43 cases were resolved through conciliation between the parties and compensations were paid where it was due; 35 cases were not pursued further because the employers and employees might have reached a certain agreement without the involvement of MOM; one appeal was rejected because there was no ground for appeal; and one Ministerial order was issued against the errant employer. That adds up to a total of 80 cases. SOCIETIES (Accounting guidelines and audit checks) 12. Dr Tan Sze Wee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in the wake of the NKF debacle and concern about corporate governance matters, whether the Registry of Societies will consider implementing strict accounting guidelines and conducting audit checks on other societies, such as religious organisations and associations, in an effort to curtail any incidence of fraud and mismanagement of public funds. The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, the primary responsibility of the Registrar of Societies is to ensure that societies comply with the Societies Act, and that the members and executive committee conduct their affairs in accordance with the society's constitution. By and large, societies should be self-regulating, with their affairs governed by their constitutions. The primary responsibility for regulating the affairs of a society therefore lies with the elected committee members and the general membership to ensure that the finances are prudently managed and properly accounted for.”
“I think contract workers are employed for a variety of reasons. Some contract workers are employed for specific projects and some are employed for overseas postings, for example. And not all of them are older workers or lower-wage workers. Some of them are actually senior managers who are on contract and they are employed for specific reasons. So it is difficult to generalise and say that they are employed for lowering cost purposes. Some workers prefer to have a short-term contract so that they have flexibility to decide what they want to do after expiry of their contract. As I explained in my answer to an earlier question, one purpose for contract workers is that it serves to allow companies to have greater flexibility in responding to changes and volatility in the business conditions, which is an important part of the flexibility we want to build into the economy.”
“Sir, with regard to the Member's questions, we do not have specific numbers of workers who have been forced to sign a resignation letter. For those workers who have come to us, we have investigated and for those who have been proven to be the case, we have instructed the employers to reinstate them. I think what is more important is for us to understand that this issue of fair employment practices has to be dealt with in a holistic and comprehensive manner, and it has to be a collective effort of the Government, the unions, the employees as well as the employers through their associations. I think only through this collective effort will we be able to change the mindset and to educate both the employers as well as employees. To educate the employers so that they know what are the acceptable practices for managing their workers, whether it is recruitment or dismissal, and to also educate and reach out to workers who may need help in understanding their rights and obligations. I do agree with the Member that much more needs to be done and can be done to reach out to these workers. And this is one of the efforts that we are looking at, on how to collaborate with the tripartite partners to help our workers understand their rights better, and we will continue to do so.”
“Ong Soh Khim: Sir, the first question is: would the Ministry provide statistics of the cases in the three age groups that were done by the employers to get rid of the older workers so as to hire cheaper foreign workers and/or short-term contract workers? Of these 80 cases, would the Ministry agree that this is just a tip of the iceberg and there are probably many more cases where there are older workers and not very highly-educated and therefore do not know the channels to lodge a complaint? The last question is: of all these cases, how many are cases where older workers, who are not highly-educated that probably have worked for many years for the company, were intimidated and coerced to sign a resignation letter written on their behalf to accept a certain salary as compensation so as not to seek further compensation from the company?”
“Sir, between 2002 and 2005, my Ministry received a total of 287 complaints against unfair dismissals. Most of the cases involved dismissals due to employees' wrongdoings, indiscipline or work-related performance. Of the 80 complaints against unfair dismissal that MOM dealt with in 2005, 34 (42.5%) cases involved employees who were below the age of 45, 28 (35.0%) were between the ages of 45 and 54, 14 (17.5%) were between 55 and 60, and four (5%) were above 60 years of age. The number of workers who have complained that they were forced to resign or retrenched to disguise a dismissal is small. Hence, MOM does not maintain separate categories of such cases. As stipulated in the Employment Act and the Industrial Relations Act, a worker who considers his dismissal to be without just cause, may appeal to the Minister for Manpower within one month of the dismissal. If the dismissal is found to be without just cause, the Minister may order the employer to reinstate the dismissed employee to his former employment or compensate him. Where the company has valid grounds to dismiss an employee, its decision will be upheld by the Minister. Older workers who are unsure of their employment rights should consult their unions if they are union members. For non-unionised members, they can approach MOM for advice and assistance. Our officers will help workers seek redress if they have a valid case. The Ministry also issues advisory guides in four official languages to workers on their rights and obligations, including the right to appeal against unfair dismissal. Assoc. Prof.”
“Mr Speaker, I do not have at hand the specific numbers of contract and non-contract workers not paid CPF. But for such cases, when they surface, MOM will investigate thoroughly. And for employers who have violated the CPF Act, we will take the necessary legal action against them to ensure that workers' interests are protected. As for statistics for contract workers that are beyond one year, we will consider the possibility and cost involved. DIALYSIS COSTS AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND VWOs 9. Ms Eunice Elizabeth Olsen asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the average effective treatment cost of a dialysis session at public hospitals, private dialysis centres, and VWOs (Voluntary Welfare Organisations); (b) what accounts for the variance in treatment costs; (c) how does Singapore's dialysis costs compare with those of other countries in the region; and (d) what scope is there to further lower dialysis costs at public hospitals and VWOs like NKF.”
“Instead, it is more effective to work with the community. The community knows best who the truly needy residents are. The People's Association and the CDCs have been organising briefings to update grassroots leaders on social assistance schemes and the different channels for assistance. More than 20 sub-sessions have been conducted since July this year.More sessions will be held over the next few months so that all our grassroots leaders involved in community assistance will know how to help those in needwho may approach them. For the needy, all they need to know is to approach their CDC or Citizens' Consultative Committee or Family Service Centres, if they need help. They do not need to know which scheme to apply for. These agencies will coordinate with one another, and help the needy person using the appropriate schemes and programmes that are available.”
“Since its launch, ComCare has received 30 proposals for funding under the ComCare Enterprise Fund and the ComCare Social Support Projects Fund. Of these, five proposals have been approved for funding, and the rest are still under evaluation. Helping the unemployed Helpingthe unemployed is a key focus for the ComCare Fund. Under the ComCare Self-Reliance pillar, the Work Assistance Programme (WAP) is targeted at helping unemployed Singaporeans find employment and become self-sufficient. Families under WAP receive job-matching assistance as well as financial assistance to help them with their basic living needs. Between Julyand September 2005, about 1,900 families were helped under WAP. 40% of these are likely to find employment withinsix months. 60% of those who find employment are likely to be retained in their jobs. To help the unemployed return to work, ComCare also provides assistance for childcare, kindergarten and student-care expenses under the Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Childcare (CFAC), Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KIFAS), and Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA). Through the ComCare Enterprise Fund, we have also facilitated the creation of social enterprises, which are sustainable businesses with a social cause. Many of these social enterprises provide jobs for needy Singaporeans. From July to September 2005, about 100 people have been placed in social enterprise jobs through ComCare. ComCare will continue to focus on ensuring sufficient help for needy Singaporeans. It will complement Workfare by providing the necessary supportive assistance so that needy Singaporeans can go to work. Public education Mr Speaker, Sir,we do not believe that it is necessary to spend money to advertise ComCare.”
“These are areas that we would look into. We thank the Member for the suggestion. Column No : 1788 COMCARE FUND (Usage and programmes) 6. Dr Tan Sze Wee asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports if he will provide an update on the ComCare Fund for needy Singaporeans, and in particular (i) whether the fund has been used to address the needs of unemployed Singaporeans; (ii) whether the introduction of new programmes has been effective in addressing these needs; and (iii) whether any public education programmes have been introduced to raise awareness of the ComCare Fund to segments of the public who may be marginalised and are in need of assistance. The Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon) (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Prime Minister launched ComCare on 28th June this year to help provide a safety net for Singaporeans faced with hardship, and to ensure that no one is left behind. From July to September 2005, the firstthree months of the operation of the ComCare Fund, ComCare had disbursed $8.7 million for nationwide social assistance programmes administered by MCYS and the Community Development Councils (CDCs). About 13,700 low-income households were helped by these programmes. ComCare had also set aside $4 million to give the Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs) more flexibility in meeting the needs of their residents. As at end September, the CCC ComCare Fund (CCF) had disbursed $663,600 to help about 5,400 distinct needy persons. In addition, ComCare had pledged additional resources to empower the community to do more for the needy in their midst.”
“The key for the Committee is to focus on measures that are practical and sustainable. To allow workersto take home more salary without commensurate increase in productivity may not be sustainable in the long term. So the focus of the Committee, as I explained earlier, is on the six key areas to fundamentally help improve the productivity and the competitiveness of ourlow-wage workers so that they would be able to earn more and, as a result, they would be able to take home more pay. Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim (Nominated Member): Sir,with respect to the second point that the Minister of Statementioned just now on providing social support for work, would the Ministry consider providing eldercare leave since now we already have child sick leave. Providing eldercare leave will apply to workers who are a single child in a family and providing eldercare will help them to work and take care of their parents at the same time.”
“The Committee recognises that Workfare can only succeed through collective efforts at every level of society. We have therefore been holding extensive consultations over the last few months to help us understand further problems faced by low wage workers and formulate and fine-tune our recommendations to help them. The Committee will be releasing its report outlining the problems and challenges faced by low wage workers and the proposed measures to address these challenges in January next year.”
“Sir, the Ministerial Committee on Low Wage Workers started work in July this year and released some initial recommendations for public consultation on 30th August 2005 under the broad strategy for Workfare. The recommendations have been generally well received by various stakeholders among workers, unions and employers as well ascommunity groups. Singaporeans have responded positively to the Workfare approach as they recognise that welfare is unsustainable and unproductive. Through Workfare, we will do our utmost to help and reward those who make an effort to find and keep a job and who upgrade themselves to earn more. Keeping this broad principle in mind, the Committee proposed that Workfare should help low wage workers in sixareas. Firstly, to make work pay. These include the Workfare bonus and housing grants tied to work.Secondly,toprovide social support for work, to put in place programmes to help workers to take care of their dependants while they are at work.Thirdly,higher skills for better jobs, namely, to help low wage workers improve their skills so that they can keep their current jobs, or take on new ones. Fourthly,expand job opportunities by re-designing existing low paying jobs into higher productivity and better paying jobs.Fifthly, hope for the future. These include programmes to help children from the lower income familiesto complete their education so that they are better able to find and keep jobs in future. Sixthly,sharing in the nation’s progress. Finally, when the economy is doing well, we will examine ways to share the fruits of our economic progress with the low income families in a way which is fair and helpful. For those who are physically or mentally incapable of work, ComCare will continue to serve as the safety net.”
“Sir,the Committee is looking at helping our Singaporeans monetisetheir property. One wayto do so is for them to downgrade, for example, to a smaller house so that they will be able to realise some cash that they may need. But Ms Irene Ng is talking about allowing them to withdraw from CPF, what rightfully belongs to the CPF, ahead of their retirement. This is quite a different proposition that the Member is proposing. AsI mentioned before, therearemany schemesavailable to help these lower income workers in Singapore. And I would encourage the Member to approach the relevant authorities forhelp, rather than to work on the CPF which is meant forold-age retirement. Column No : 1786 MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON LOW WAGE WORKERS (Solutions to resolve problems of low-income workers) 5. Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for Manpower what solutions has the multi-Ministerial committee come up with to resolve the plethora of problems that 240,000 full-time and many more odd job, low income workers earning less than $1,000 per month are facing.”
“Mr Speaker, I sympathise with the Member's concerns.To some extent, we have to also recognise that these are two different groups of people, ie, those who make investments tend to have excess in their CPF accounts, and like all investments,they thus have profits and losses and the risk has to be managed. Whereasthe particular group of people that the Member, Ms Irene Ng, was interested in are the low income workers and those who are jobless.For them, if we were to help them solve their daily problems by extending a loan to them through the CPF, it is consumption in nature, andwe would be storing up bigger problems in the long term.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for raising these questions. Firstly, I do not have the specific dollars spent on the older workers but I would like to share with Members some of the indicators of our effort in the training of older workers. As part of our ongoing effort to help them secure new employment we have identified several new opportunities in very specific sectors. These include the child-care, transport, financial, retail, food and beverage and healthcare sectors. These are, as Members can see, not specifically the manufacturing sector. This also answers the Member's second question whether they have moved from the manufacturing sector. With regard to the Member's last question on what we can do to help forge co-existence between the older and younger workers, I think this is a mindset change that will take some time to happen and this is one of the areas that the Tripartite Committee will be focusing on how to encourage the employers to reach out to older workers and to give opportunities for older workers to be employed. At the same time, we also want to encourage a mindset change among the older employees to be more adaptable and flexible. We also look at the work processes within the company and to make sure that these work processes are suitable and adaptable to the older workers. At times, we might have to make some changes to the work processes and we may even need to install equipment to allow the older workers to work in these companies. All these are the areas where the Tripartite Committee will be looking at and they will make an announcement on the recommendations in time to come.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to explain to the Member that some of these complaints are experiences faced by older workers when their applications have been rejected, and sometimes they feel that they have been discriminated against. But upon investigation, many of these complaints were unfounded because there were genuine requirements for younger people who are stronger for certain jobs that require the physical strength. But, obviously, for employees or applicants whose applications have been rejected, they would feel that they have been discriminated against. 3.00 pm”
“This is the only way for these organisations to develop and grow. The NKF problem is not one of professionalism, but one of transparency, or rather, the lack of it. We must all thank Mr Gerard Ee for agreeing to work as Chairman of the NKF for free. But we cannot expect the next CEO to also work for free. It is important that we pay the new CEO appropriately, taking into account the charity's affordability, the job's responsibility and the candidate's capability. The new Board must weigh all these factors and decide accordingly and be ready to defend its decision publicly. The public can then decide whether the Board has been reasonable and whether they deserve continuous support and donations. Only this way can our charitable organisations grow in professionalism. In conclusion, Sir, I would like to urge the Minister to carry out a thorough investigation into the affairs of NKF to ensure that there is no misdeed, to review our regulations governing charitable organisations, to ensure basic disclosure and governance rules are adhered to, and continue to encourage our charitable organisations not to let up in their pursuit of excellence through professionalism.”
“The requirement for accountability is the same. Certain basic rules must be there to ensure that essential information is disclosed. We have hitherto left it to the community to decide. We hope that people will be wise in donating their money and support the transparent organisations so as to put natural pressure on others to improve their transparency. However, unlike commercial enterprises, charitable organisations often appeal to the emotional side of the donors, which is not always rational. Therefore, I feel strongly that there is a need for us to specify certain minimum disclosure requirements. We should include an indication of what proportions of the donations go directly to serve the stated cause and what proportions are spent on fund-raising efforts and overheads. There should also be some checks and balances in the operation of the charity. For example, there should be certain requirements for independent directors on the board as well as regular internal audit processes. A possible model could be one that separates fund-raising activities from the provision of charitable services and each separately accounted for. I would suggest that a review panel be set up, comprising IRAS, MCYS and other relevant Ministries to thoroughly review the governance issues of charitable organisations. Thirdly, we must not lose sight of the need for professionalism in the charitable organisations. My fear is that this NKF episode may have a severe negative impact on the overall landscape of charitable organisations. I hope that our charitable organisations, which have been pushing for greater professionalism, will not take a step backwards. Charitable organisations need to continue to inject greater professionalism into their organisations.”
“But we need to determine, through the investigation, whether there has been any breach of governance, any impropriety or misconduct on the part of the CEO and the Board. I am not suggesting for a moment that there is any impropriety or fraudulent practices, but it is important for us to determine conclusively to have closure to that matter. If there is, then appropriate legal action must follow. If there is not, then we should conclusively put this matter behind us. This is a crucial step towards restoring credibility of the NKF and rebuilding confidence of its supporters and donors. Arguably, it is also in the interest of the CEO and the Board to have the whole matter clarified through an independent investigation so that their role and credibility could be restored. It is no doubt a painful process, but it is inevitable. Secondly, I would like to suggest that the relevant Ministry should review the regulatory system governing charitable organisations. Sir, I appreciate that there is a need for some balance. We should not over-react because of one incident. We need to ensure that certain basic rules are followed, yet allow sufficient flexibility for the organisations to develop and grow. We can understand that charitable organisations depend, to a large extent, on volunteers at many levels. This is not wrong as volunteerism is the foundation of charity. But as volunteers, they cannot operate like commercial enterprises with very elaborate governance procedures, rules and regulations. It is just not possible to operate. However, they are similar in many ways to commercial enterprises. They raise funds from the public to pursue commercial interests. Charitable organisations also raise funds from the public to pursue their charitable causes.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate on the Ministerial Statement on NKF. First, I would like to declare my interest as a director of a voluntary organisation, Care Corner Limited. [Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Chew Heng Ching) in the Chair] 5.08 pm Sir, first, I would like to commend Minister Khaw for his handling of the issue. His swift, firm and transparent approach has helped to stabilise the situation and restored calm to the community. A new Chairman was quickly identified and put in place. The Minister just informed us that a new board has been appointed and soon, a new CEO will come on board and NKF, hopefully, would be able to start on a new sheet and put its troubles behind. However, there are lessons to be learnt from this incident and if we can learn from this unfortunate event, we would help NKF to be stronger and we would also be able to help other charities to mature and grow. Sir, I would like to urge the Minister to consider three aspects. Firstly, we need to conduct a thorough investigation by way of a board of inquiry or otherwise. The NKF incident has generated a lot of public interest. I can understand the anxiety as many Singaporeans have donated to the charity. They are genuinely shocked by the turn of events and wanted to know the truth of the matter. There are many rumours and stories circulating around, which can be quite damaging if they are not properly addressed. I think, in the interest of transparency, we should carry out a thorough investigation into NKF's affairs. I am not so concerned with the debate on the salary and perks of the CEO, as this is a matter for the NKF Board to determine, and for the people to judge whether they have been overly generous.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister whether he has considered that this proposed reduction in the minimum cash limit and the change in the LTV policy would lead to Singaporeans buying bigger units of housing, because theoretically, with the same amount of cash, they can now borrow twice the amount from the bank. Also, would this lead to more commitments in real estate by Singaporeans and therefore adversely affect the adequacy for retirement savings? The second question is a related one. With this change, it would seem that we are now relying very much on the bank's prudency to exercise care in granting the loans. But with the recent change in the ranking of security, now the banks rank ahead of CPF, would it not encourage the banks to be more liberal in granting loans? And if something does go wrong, the banks would rank ahead and the person who suffers would be the CPF member and his savings. Would there be any safeguards against this eventuality from happening?”
“Others like me are more concerned with the negative impact and feel that we may be better off not having a casino. But, ultimately, the Government has made the judgement and has decided, after weighing the pros and the cons. We must now accept the decision, and we must move on. We must work to make sure that the integrated resorts are successful and that the potential social problems are addressed. We can only do that if the Government, the community and the people all work together, despite our differences, for the common interests of all Singaporeans.”
“It was announced yesterday that the national framework on gambling will cost some $20 million to set up and another $40 million each year as recurrent expenses. These can be financed by this fund. The fund should not be used to help gamblers settle their debts. It should instead be used to help affected families pay for their children's education, temporary relief for basic living expenses such as food, utilities and healthcare, for a period of time until they are able to get back on their feet. The fund can also be used to finance treatment and counselling services, as well as community efforts, on public education on the adverse effects of gambling. Sixth, we need to preserve the work ethics of our people. The integrated resort may provide a new engine to our tourism industry, but it cannot replace the entire economy. If we think that with a casino, the economy will boom and all our problems will be solved, and we become complacent, it will be the downfall of Singapore. Sir, we must continue to maintain healthy and growing manufacturing and services industries. The Government must continue to bring in new investments and create new job opportunities. On the other hand, Singaporeans must continue to adopt positive work ethics and continue to upgrade themselves to keep Singapore competitive. In this regard, the NTUC will play an important role in sending the right message to the people. In conclusion, Sir, the casino issue has generated much debate among Singapore ans from all walks of life. This shows that it is an issue that is of concern to most Singaporeans. Some feel that it should go ahead as it will have a positive impact on our businesses. Some feel that it will signal a major step towards a more open society and should be encouraged.”
“Therefore, I would like to suggest that for a start, we should strengthen the present social service support network such as the family service centres to ensure that they are capable of helping family members who are facing problems arising from gambling. Fourth, we need to encourage greater community support and involvement to address gambling and related problems. Community, grassroots and religious organisations can play an important role in our public education efforts by promoting the right values and strengthening the family bonding. Religious organisations, for example, have argued strongly against the casino. We accept that the Government cannot make its decisions based on religious grounds as it is a secular Government. But it is important that we engage them and take pains to explain our decision. We must also encourage them to turn their conviction into positive and constructive actions. For a start, I would like to suggest that these organisations can initiate a campaign among their constituent members to voluntarily place themselves into the exclusion list, so that they and their families will abstain from the casino. They must also strengthen their education programmes to impart values to their members and come up with assistance schemes for those who may need help. These are some positive and tangible ways these organisations can do to help minimise social impact. Fifth, I would like to urge the Government to set up an endowment fund with the tax revenue from the casino to help families affected by gambling. The Government could pledge, say, the first three years of gambling tax revenue into this fund.”
“I have, on a number of occasions, stressed that we need to do so, but it is now more urgent than ever. We need to prepare our young and build a strong foundation of moral values in them. This way, when they grow up, they can become responsible and self-disciplined adults. Granted that the primary responsibility of children's upbringing rests with the parents, but many parents today are both working and are unable to spend much time with their children. They may not be able to help their children effectively. Undesirable as it may be, we need to help fulfil this role through our schools. I would like to suggest that we should consider strengthening our moral studies and even reintroducing religious studies in our schools. Some of these moral values cannot be effectively taught in a formal classroom environment. Therefore, we must be flexible and allow schools to introduce creative ways of teaching this subject. Third, we need to introduce programmes to strengthen family bonding. As it is, the bonds among young families here are already weak with divorce cases on the rise. The presence of a casino will inevitably lead to greater tension in the families of the gamblers. Even if they are not problem gamblers, their frequent patronage of the casino will undoubtedly put a strain on the family's finance over time. This could translate into strained relationship in the family and may eventually translate into family violence. I am glad that the Government will be enhancing the CAMP programme to help addicted gamblers. However, I think most compulsive gamblers would not admit that they are problematic and they would not seek help voluntarily. It is their family members who are the victims who would need help.”
“At the same time, our infrastructure must also be ready - airports, transport system, hotel accommodation, etc, must have the capacity to cater to the expected increase in the number of foreign visitors. Our service quality must be improved to ensure that visitors have a pleasant experience here. Our overseas marketing network must be strengthened to promote Singapore effectively. The Integrated Resorts alone will not be enough to keep Singapore on the first tier. It is not difficult for other countries to catch up in time. We must have a comprehensive action plan to ensure we succeed in transforming Singapore into a unique destination. Sir, the second key focus, moving forward, is on addressing social issues. In this regard, I would like to make six suggestions. First, we should undertake a comprehensive and objective study on the potential social impact of the Integrated Resorts. The recent survey was more reflective of the current state of affairs. It is important for us to determine the likely social impact of the Integrated Resorts by learning from the experience of other countries that have introduced casinos in their cities. The study should compare the situation before and after the casino has been introduced. It should cover issues like the impact on family cohesion, work attitude, social fabric, as well as other pertinent factors. The study may not be a precise one as the scenarios of different countries are different. But it will serve as a useful reference for us to pre-empt some of the potential problems and take necessary precautionary measures rather than remedial actions. Prevention is better than cure. Second, we must strengthen the moral education and character building programmes in our schools.”
“After all, having paid the social costs we must reap the economic benefits to make it worthwhile. Secondly, we must take the necessary measures to address the potential adverse effects on the society. The fact that the recent survey showed that only 2% of the population are gambling addicts should not lead us to complacency. 2% is 2% too much and this will increase with the introduction of casinos in Singapore. We must not trivialise the problem and instead we must address the social issues upfront. Sir, allow me to elaborate. Firstly, on ensuring success of the project. To be a successful destination we must provide a complete menu of entertainment and leisure facilities. The two proposed IRs should not be an end in themselves, but serve as a catalyst to spur new tourism developments in Singapore and help transform Singapore into a modern cosmopolitan city. We must go on to develop an area like the West End of London or the Broadway of New York, where music, art and cultural performances are held regularly. We must work towards attracting world-renowned artists and performers here. We must also build a world class shopping strip like the Champs Elysees of Paris or the Fifth Avenue of New York. Instead of redeveloping Orchard Road, I think it may be better to start afresh on Marina South, where there are fewer constraints. We must develop a cluster of theme parks like the Gold Coast in Australia or Florida in the United States, so that we can cater to the interests of the whole family. But, Sir, we cannot be just copycats. It would be a mistake if we simply replicate these famous icons in the world. We must do so in our own unique way so that we can offer tourists and business visitors a uniquely Singaporean experience.”
“Allowing casino in Singapore could erode the moral values of the younger generation over time. It could also undermine the moral standing of the Government which has been held in high regard by the people. Secondly, I believe it would create social problems, weaken family bonding and break up marriages. Yes, these problems exist today, but the casino will inevitably worsen the situation. Yes, we can put in place safeguards to minimise the impact, but some of these impacts are irreversible and cannot be measured in dollars and cents. Thirdly, the work ethics of the people could be adversely affected and, in turn, investor confidence could be shaken, accelerating the hollowing out of our industries. The long term impact on the overall economy is uncertain. While we gain in tourism-related industries, we may lose out in the traditional manufacturing and services industries. Sir, although I am disappointed with the Government's decision, I can understand the basis of this decision. Being a secular Government, it must make its decision based on the balance of merits. It is clear that if we do not allow casinos to operate here, they will go elsewhere in the region and they will instead become a threat to our economy. I hope the Government has taken into account the potential downside risks and likely problems before arriving at this final decision. I take comfort that the Government has promised that it will address the adverse effects of casinos thoroughly. Therefore, while I am against it, now that a final decision has been made, I think we should move on. Going forward from here, I think we should focus on two key issues. Firstly, we must work together to ensure that the project is a success.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate. Sir, as you know I am against the casino. I am somewhat disappointed with the Government's decision to proceed with the proposed Integrated Resort with a casino component. But I am not totally surprised with the final outcome. Sir, the economic motivation behind the proposed Integrated Resorts is a clear one. They will create some 35,000 jobs and add 1% to our GDP. The projects, on their own, with $4-5 billion of investments, will give a much needed boost to the ailing construction industry in Singapore and they will spur other new developments in the Marina Bay area. More importantly, the Integrated Resorts will serve as a magnet to draw in tourists and business travellers from all over the world. This, in turn, will provide the critical mass for the service industries, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, arts and leisure industries. Undoubtedly, the IRs will bring much buzz into our city and turn Singapore into a first-tier cosmopolitan city of the world. On the other hand, if our neighbouring countries begin to build casinos ahead of us, which some of them are already thinking about it seriously, then we will lose the initiative and our tourism industry and the services sector will suffer. They may eventually be marginalised in time to come. There is little argument against the potential economic benefits of the proposed Integrated Resorts. However, I maintain my view that gambling is undesirable and, therefore, I am personally not supportive of the proposed IRs. Although the potential economic benefits are tempting, the potential problems are equally daunting. I have spoken on this subject on several occasions and I would just summarise my three key concerns. Firstly, it is a moral issue.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to thank the Minister and his colleagues for their very interesting response. With their response, commitment and vision, I am very confident that our future is in good hands. On this note, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.”
“I would like to ask the Minister, with regard to his idea that for the university to grow and be nimble and responsive, it is better to have a much more flexible structure within the university. But I am afraid that the current university structure is fairly rigid, with individual departments, department heads and faculty deans. Does the Minister see a problem in the transition to a more flexible, ownership-based structure in the universities? The second issue is with regard to the Minister's comment that university education benefits more the individual. I would like to ask the Minister whether he will agree that tertiary education does produce good government, business and community leaders, which benefit not only individuals, but the community as a whole. Perhaps we just have to agree or disagree on this point since it is a more philosophical matter.”
“Sir, I have three concerns with regard to the corporatisation of the universities - NUS and NTU. Firstly, to take advantage of the flexibility arising from the corporatisation, the universities must identify areas where it has the potential to develop peaks of excellence and put in place a clear strategy to develop these areas. So I would like to ask the Minister whether he will share with us which particular areas have these universities identified as potential growth areas. Secondly, very often, the success of a good strategy depends on the people behind it. It is therefore crucial for the universities to have the right people who have the vision, the ability and the determination to lead the universities and take them to greater heights. Could the Minister tell us whether he thinks the present leadership at the two universities is appropriate and whether there is a need to strengthen it? Thirdly, the corporatisation will also give the universities flexibility in setting their fees. This may translate into higher costs for the undergraduates, maybe in certain faculties at least. Will the Minister assure the House that corporatisation by itself should not lead to higher fees? On a related subject, the Minister announced last year that the Government will gradually reduce its subsidy for university students over time. I would like to urge the Government to recover this move as it is in Singapore's interest to help our children maximise their potential and to pursue their tertiary education here. Given that universities can now go out to raise funds, could the Government consider reducing the subsidy only after the universities are able to raise sufficient funds to fill the gap? Corporatisation of Universities”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister a question regarding teachers' workload. We welcome the initiatives that the Ministry has introduced. I am sure the teachers would be very happy. But I think it is still important for us to understand the nature of the workload of the teachers. So I would like to urge the Ministry to consider doing a review on the workload and maybe develop some kind of an indicator or index so that we can compare over time whether the workload has increased or decreased and also compare with other countries, so that we have a handle on the workload. Because teachers are not like managers, where they are on flexi hours and can adjust their own time. They are not like workers who have fixed hours, so long as you work 44 hours a week, you are all right. But teachers must have wider scope, and it is important for us to have a feel of their workload, whether it is adequate or appropriate.”
“In the past few years, our education system has undergone great changes in order that our students could be taught according to their talent and potential. This basic principle is correct. However, I feel that for our education system to be thoroughly successful, it would still depend very much on our teachers. Therefore, we should review our teaching service. First of all, the Ministry of Education should evaluate the workload of our teachers. Now that they are required to teach less and make the students learn more, the traditional teaching methods can no longer be used. The teachers have to be innovative and deploy creative ways to teach, and have more time to interact with the students. They also need more time to prepare their teaching materials. With the heavy workload they are having now, they may not have the space to carry out this innovation. Second, the curriculum has also been changed and reformed. Teachers need to be trained to adapt to them. I think we should have the teachers' consent because some of them grew up in the old system. We should listen to their views and adjust our policies. Third, perhaps we should provide our teachers with more administrative assistants so that they could concentrate on teaching. This may incur more cost, but I think it is worth it, for the benefit of our next generation. Teachers are very important in this reform of the system. No matter how good our policies are, we need to have dedicated teachers so that the reform could be successful. We always say that teachers are the engineers of our souls. I think we should improve their working condition.”
“The Minister has explained that these students must demonstrate a sincere desire to return to school before they are re-admitted. I feel that this somewhat punitive approach is counter productive and I would like to urge the Ministry to reconsider. If at all, the penalty should be on the parents, not on the children. Sir, education is the key to our future. It is for this reason that many changes have taken place over the last few years to finetune our policy and programmes. However, education is a partnership. Parents play a crucial role in this partnership. It is therefore important that we communicate to the parents, explain to them and convince them. The confusion during the recent registration exercise is a case in point. Although the Minister has apologised, to be fair, it is not entirely the fault of the Ministry. Parents and students are also partly responsible. Therefore, I would like to suggest that there should be a communication department within the Ministry that focuses on communicating its policies to the schools and to the parents. This way, we can strengthen the educational partnership and make our education policy more effective.”
“This would help reinforce what they learn in the classrooms. I think more can be done in this area. And it would be useful to form a taskforce to review our present programme. Sir, in our strive for excellence, we must also be mindful not to neglect students that need additional help. This is in line with our philosophy of building a caring and inclusive community. There are three categories of students whom we need to pay more attention. Firstly, slower students. We need to help slower students make progress and achieve success. We need to give them encouragement and build their confidence. In this regard, I would like to urge the Ministry to consider doing away with the remaining EM3 streaming at the primary level. We can give schools more flexibility to decide how to differentiate among its students and provide learning support for them, without explicit streaming. Secondly, disabled students. We must improve our facilities to allow greater integration of students with disabilities. I have run kindergartens which include autistic children, and it is tough. They need more time and more attention. These students will also need greater financial support as they would require additional therapy to help them cope with the normal education programme. The Government has provided additional funding for them, or perhaps more could be done. Thirdly, delinquent students. We must provide counselling and support for students who have disciplinary problems. Our objectives must be to try to keep them in schools, rather than to keep them out, so long as they do not affect other students in the school. Therefore, I would like to urge the Ministry to take a more lenient approach in re-admitting students who have dropped out of schools.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head K of the Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, our policy of offering greater variety and customisation according to the capability of the students is a correct approach. We ought to produce a few peaks of excellence while maintaining a high general level of academic achievements. However, I would like to stress that our education policy cannot be focused only on academic achievements. We must provide a holistic and balanced education for our children. In Chinese, there are five words that describe the five key aspects of education, de zhi ti qun mei, meaning moral values and character building, intelligence and knowledge, physical development, social skills and artistic skills. Sir, we have done very well in the academic aspects. But I feel that we should strengthen our moral education and character development programmes. Moral values are important as they provide a sense of responsibility, accountability and respect for others. This is the basis of any interpersonal relationship, without which we cannot build a strong community. Character development, on the other hand, is important as it gives the person strength and determination to overcome obstacles and realise his dreams in life. I would like to repeat my call to the Ministry to review the moral education and character development programmes in our schools, such as the co-curriculum activities, the community involvement programme and the National Education programme. Perhaps, it is time that we revamped these programmes to make them more relevant and more effective. We could use the tsunami incident to teach our children values and character. Perhaps, the older children may even be able to be involved in part of the relief and rebuilding efforts.”
“In the final analysis, the most effective way to reduce the burden of medical cost is not to get sick. Therefore, the promotion of healthy living must continue to be the primary thrust of our healthcare policy.”
“Sir, healthcare cost has been one of the main concerns of Singaporeans. The Ministry has put in tremendous efforts to contain cost increases. However, it continues to rise year after year. This may be inevitable as the quality of healthcare services improves with advances in technology. Recently, I went to shop for a new notebook computer. It costs close to $4,000, more than the old one I have. I protested to the vendor and told him the computer prices everywhere have been declining. He said, "Yes, but this new one has many new features which the old one did not have - wireless connection, blue tooth technology - you name it they have it." Adding insult to injury, he said, "If you want the old model, I can sell you at half the price." So I decided to keep the old computer instead. As the quality of healthcare services increases, the cost must naturally go up. But healthcare is unlike notebook computers. I could go back to the old notebook computer and it still works, but we could not expect our people to accept healthcare service qualities of the past. The expectation has also increased over time. We have to manage Singaporeans' expectation. To ensure healthcare remains affordable, I would like to urge the Ministry to focus on three areas: First, to review the two restructured hospital groups to see whether competition is effective and whether there is room for cost-savings by merging them instead. Second, expand the primary care partnership scheme to those in the lower income group and the handicapped. Third, enhance the Medifund to help those who really need help. The Government has increased the fund, but I hope the qualifying criteria could be reviewed to benefit more patients.”
“The question is: what if his party decides to take the opposite position? Is he going to change his stand against his own conviction? What intrigues me more is that despite not having a clear position between him and the party, he has decided that this issue should become an election issue at the next general election. This is like deciding on the menu of the wedding banquet before deciding which lady he should get married to. In any case, if he thinks that this is a crucial issue - which I agree it is - why did he not raise it during the Budget debate or submit a cut on this subject? Sir, I think it is time for Mr Low to stop confusing everybody and take a clear position on this issue instead. Per Capita Income”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the Government has by now received all the proposals from the potential investors. I hope MTI will, in due course, release some details of the proposals on the integrated resort and the basis of its decision to proceed, or otherwise. However, before making the final decision, I would like to urge the Government to carry out a comprehensive study on the long-term social and economic impact of the proposed casino. The result of this study should be made public so that we are all aware of the implications and so that the issue could be addressed adequately. While it is not a life and death issue, the decision on the casino will nevertheless affect many Singaporeans. Perhaps it is not a subject that requires a referendum or the lifting of the Whip, as it is a policy that is well within the Government's ambit to decide. However, I feel that it is an issue that has sparked much talk and debate among ordinary Singaporeans. It would seem odd that this subject is discussed everywhere else, except in this House. I think a full debate in this House on this issue is necessary. At least it will allow Members an opportunity to express their views and concerns and give the Government a platform to specifically deal with the issue involved. 1.30 pm Sir, what surprises me was that after almost a year since the issue was first raised, the Workers Party said a few days ago that it still did not have a position on this issue, according to media reports. Apparently, it held a forum recently to solicit feedback. Maybe they wanted to see which way the wind was blowing before forming its position. Mr Low Thia Khiang, however, declared that his own stand was that it was better for Singapore not to have a casino.”
“Sir, the small and medium-sized enterprises in Singapore play an important role in our economy. I would like to make three suggestions on how we can help some of our SMEs to grow. Firstly, we need to help open the gateway to the region and to the world. We have established many FTAs, and more are on the way. But FTAs are only the first step. To take advantage of these FTAs and to go regional or international require a lot more effort. I would like to reiterate my view that the GLCs which have succeeded in breaking into regional and international markets should help the SMEs by holding their hands through partnership and joint ventures. Secondly, we need to focus our resources. While I can understand the Government's reluctance to set up a new agency to promote SMEs, I would like to suggest that, at least, a present and existing agency should be nominated, whether it is SPRING or IE Singapore, to take on the promotion of SMEs as its primary mission. For our efforts to be effective, we need to have someone to champion the cause. He must think about nothing except SMEs and must be passionate and visionary about the SMEs. We need focus and accountability, the equivalent of Philip Yeo in the early years of the EDB perhaps. Maybe Mr Inderjit Singh would have been a good choice for this post, and I hope the Government can consider this. Thirdly, we need to help SMEs with financing. Yes, there are financial schemes. But are they effective? Maybe it would be useful to review some of these schemes to see whether they have been effective, and to see whether more needs to be done. Sir, while the MNCs will continue to be a key engine of our economy, there is a pressing need to develop our SMEs. Now would be a good time to launch new initiatives to help them grow.”
“Sir, I would like to clarify with the Minister on the rental flats. I understand that it is heavily subsidised but I was asking in my speech whether the Minister would consider having a two-tier rental system with the second tier that comes with a lower subsidy but more flexible criteria.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to support Dr Amy Khor's call to review our public housing policy. We have to make sure that our houses remain affordable and that they do not deplete the retirement savings of our people. In this regard, I would like to make three specific suggestions. Firstly, HDB should focus on building smaller units such as 2-room and 3-room flats, leaving the larger ones to the private sector, which is more than capable of building them. Smaller units would also be more affordable and would take up less of their savings. Secondly, HDB should also consider providing more rental flats, given the long waiting list for rental units. HDB has always taken the position that because rental flats are heavily subsidised, their eligibility criteria have to be very stringent. Perhaps, HDB could introduce a two-tier rental rate system. The first tier is the present subsidised rate meant for those who qualify under the existing criteria. The second tier could have lower subsidy, but meant to be more flexible. Thirdly, I would like to urge the Ministry to reconsider the reverse mortgage scheme. I am not suggesting that we open this scheme to all Singaporeans at this stage but, at least, we should allow those who are retired and need financial help to re-mortgage their flats, because the alternative would be for them to sell their flats in order to resolve their financial problems. They would then end up losing their shelter over their heads. Reverse mortgage would, at least, help to defer, if not avoid this unpleasant outcome. Sir, we have done well in providing public housing. Now we should refine HDB's role to focus on providing housing for the lower income and the needy families. After all, this is what an inclusive society is all about.”
“Sir, many Singaporeans today are concerned with the cost of public transport and, in particular, trains and buses. Their concerns are not without reason. Firstly, public transport services are an essential service. More than half of the population relies on public transport to commute. It is a service that we cannot do without. Secondly, transport cost constitutes quite a significant portion of household expenditures. And, thirdly, fuel cost makes up about one-quarter of overall operating cost of public transport companies. With oil prices exceeding $50 a barrel, people's concerns are well-justified. It is, therefore, important for us to manage the public transport cost to ensure it remains affordable and that it does not impose an undue burden on our commuters. I applaud the move by the Ministry of Transport to review the fare adjustment formula that determines the cap on fare increases. The purpose was to make fare adjustments more responsive to changes in the economy. However, being more responsive means greater volatility as well. Introducing this formula at this point in time, when the economy is recovering, would mean that we are starting from a low base and there is greater likelihood for the fare cap to go up than to go down. Is this the right time to change the formula? Although the economy is recovering and the unemployment rate falling, the benefits have not fully filtered down to the ground. I think it is not time yet to consider fare increases, especially given that the public transport companies are turning in healthy profits last year. Therefore, I would like to urge the Minister and the Public Transport Council not to allow fare increases this year. I would also like to ask the Minister whether measures have been put in place to manage the fuel cost.”
“While the future will continue to be full of challenges, it offers great opportunities for every Singaporean. We must prepare ourselves well to grasp these opportunities and to realise our dreams. On this note, Sir, I support the motion.”
“The changed work ethics may also imply lower overall productivity and affect our industries. I would be more convinced if there is a comprehensive study done on the overall economic impact on Singapore rather than just on the integrated resort as a stand-alone project. Thirdly, I think we have not exhausted all alternatives. Our tourism industry is doing well as it is. Of course, we hope it could do even better. But I am sure there are many successful tourism resorts in the region that do not depend on the casino model. It is unlikely that all these resorts will collapse as more casinos are opened in the region. In fact,I believe that these resorts may become premium family resorts targeted at tourists who specifically do not want to bring their family to a resort casino. They may even be able to command a premium price for the niche they occupy. Can we not be like one of them? I sincerely hope that the Government would take a more cautious approach in evaluating the integrated resort proposal and not rush into it, as it would have long-term implications, some of which may be unpredictable and irreversible. Mr Speaker, Sir, to conclude, the Government's financial policy presented in the Budget Statement underlines the caring and inclusive approach of the new leadership. Through the Budget, we respond to the past by recognising the efforts of our people and sharing with them the fruits of our growth. We take care of the present by managing cost of living and helping local businesses survive and grow. More importantly, we prepare ourselves for the future by focusing and investing in the education of our children, by imparting to them the right values and by strengthening their character.”
“Firstly, I think the arguments for and against the casino could not be based purely on economic grounds as it certainly has far-reaching implications on moral and social issues. In fact, the potential extent of moral and social impact to our society is difficult to predict. One thing is for sure,the impact would be negative, judging from the experiences of other cities with casinos. Some of the negative consequences may be mitigated to some extent through restrictions on Singaporeans entering the casino, increased law enforcement efforts, rules and regulations, etc. But it is the less obvious moral and social aspects that I am worried about. Over the medium to longer term, it could potentially erode the work ethics of our people, lower their moral values, weaken the fabric of our society, and ultimately, weaken our spirit to strive for excellence. Let me relate to you an incident I personally encountered. I was in Brisbane on a business trip some years ago when the casino there just opened. I was going out for dinner with some business associates and I hailed a cab on the street. As I got into the cab, I told the driver the destination. I sensed there was some hesitation, so I asked him why. He said he was reluctant to go the distance as the casino was opening in 15 minutes. I was not sure whether he was going there to gamble or to pick up passengers. Whatever it was, I had to call another cab. So the society there had changed. Secondly, the economic benefits are not so clear cut. While the gaming component would attract more tourists, it was not clear whether the economics depend largely on domestic patrons or on foreigners. If indeed it depends on Singaporeans, then we are simply reallocating wealth and there is little net gain for Singapore.”
“These three factors are key to a successful overseas venture. We need to help some of these companies who aspire to go overseas. In this regard, the GLCs may be able to play a more proactive role. GLCs could take the lead in establishing beachheads in the emerging economies. As beachheads, they could serve as a conduit to help our local businesses enter into these markets. I am glad to see some local companies teaming up with one another to go into China and India. More could be done and we could help them, if necessary. We must also encourage more Singaporeans to be prepared to work overseas for periods of 3-5 years. On our part, we must make it easier for these overseas Singaporeans to re-locate overseas and to return to Singapore after their posting. This is especially so in terms of their children's education, their spouses' career, their housing needs, etc. Financing is another aspect where the local small companies would need help to go overseas. Commercial banks are generally reluctant to lend their support as their appetite for risk is relatively low, given the comfortable business here locally. I hope the Government could look into this and help our companies raise funds for worthwhile overseas ventures and eventually become regional or even global players. The third and last issue I would like to discuss is the proposed integrated resorts. I think an integrated resort would undoubtedly give our tourism and hospitality industry a boost. However, I did mention in my speech in Parliament earlier that I was not convinced it was a good idea to include a gaming component in the proposed integrated resort. My concerns are three-fold.”
“I hope the Ministry could review the character building programme in our schools to make it more effective in helping our children cope with stress and failures and instil in them the spirit of adventure. Another important component of our education system is our teachers. Many changes have been made to our school system. It is also timely for us to look into our teachers. I think we should look into three aspects of our teachers. For a start, we need to review their workload. We are moving towards an education system that is more flexible and diverse. We want to encourage teachers to be innovative in their teaching methods to suit their students. All these require more time and effort.We must make sure that they have room to do so. Perhaps we could look into providing more administrative support for the teachers so that they could focus more on teaching. As we prepare for the future, I would urge the Government to invest more resources into education for our people because they are the most valuable asset we have. We must prepare them well to meet the challenges ahead. The next issue confronting us, as we prepare for the future, is how weplug into the world. We must quickly develop an external wing to our economy. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has worked very hard over the last few years in establishing FTAs with our major trading partners. We must now go beyond FTAs. The private sector must now take the lead and take advantage of the framework established by the Government and venture out. However, it is not easy for our small and mediumlocal enterprisesto venture overseas. Firstly, they need to have sufficient financial resources. Secondly, they need to have good people who are willing to relocate overseas. Thirdly, they need connections.”