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, while moral education should remain primarily the responsibility of the parents, we must help them to strengthen it through our education system. We have reviewed almost every aspect of our school syllabus to keep up with the changing environment. It may be timely to also review the way we teach moral values. I hope the Ministry of Education would look into this aspect. Another area that I think needs to be reviewed is our character building programme. This is crucial in preparing our children for the future. Singapore is rapidly becoming globalised. For our children to survive the keen competition in the world, they must have a strong character, in addition to their skills and knowledge. In my view, three aspects of character building are most important. Firstly, they have to be able to handle stress. Many parents have complained about stress in schools. Yes, the education system is stressful, not only to the children, but more so to the parents. But life itself is stressful, whether at work, at home or in Parliament. It is counter-productive to shield our children from stress. Instead, we must equip them so that they could cope well with stress. Next, we must instil in them the spirit of adventure. They must not become complacent and be easily contented. They must not be risk averse and always look for the easy way out. Instead, they must constantly strive toinnovate and venture into new territories so that they could always stay ahead of the pack. Lastly, they must have great capacity for failures. To take risk means therewould be mistakes and failures. Our system today is not very tolerant of failures. To be successful, we must be able to cope with failures, learn from it and move on to greater heights.”
“It is about preparing our children to deal with the challenges in life. It has to deal with all aspects of their lives. We train their brains, but we must also enrich their souls. Moral education is one aspect of education that I think needs to be strengthened. It is crucial for us to impart to our children the right moral values. We must teach them to differentiate what is right and what is wrong.We must teach them the value of family. We must teach them the importance of social harmony. Ultimately, we must teach them their responsibility to themselves,their family,the society,the nation andthe world. Sir, let me share with you a story. Some of you might have heard this story. There was a captain commanding a destroyer. After a long day of exercise at sea, the ship was heading home. Then as the night fell, the captain saw a light in the distance. So he sent out a light signal, "We are on a likely collision path, please change course". A reply came promptly, "Change your course." The captain got a little bit annoyed and sent another signal, "I am the captain, change your course, immediately". Then came the reply, "I am sailor 2nd class, change your course". This time the captain was furious. He sent an ultimatum, "I am a destroyer, change your course, now." Then the reply came, "I am a lighthouse, change your course." Sir, a strong foundation in basic value would serve as a lighthouse or a beacon in the sea of darkness to provide vital reference points. They are essential to avoid collisions and to provide directions. Only by building a strong foundation in moral values could we produce responsible citizens with a clear sense of direction and purpose, and not just productive people.”
“In line with our mission to create a caring and inclusive society, we should provide support for the less able and the less privileged among us. These include the lower income families, the older Singaporeans and the disabled. The ComCare Fund is introduced to help the lower income group. I hope the ComCare Committee would ensure that those who genuinely need help would get it.The Government's decision to top up the CPF of older Singaporeans is a welcome move. Although the individual amount is small, it is a meaningful gesture and it is within our means. It is important to continue to recognise the special needs of these older people and help them where we could. As for the disabled, I hope the Government could do more, especially in their education and training, so that they could be integrated into the society and become a productive and useful member of the community. We have a duty to help them as they are part of the big family and it is our stated promise that no one in the family should be left behind. Sir, next, I would like to spend more time on the more important aspect of the Government's financial policy, that of preparing ourselves for the future. In this regard, I would like to focus on three key issues that would shape our future. Firstly, focusing on education. Our children are our hope for the future and their education is the foundation of our future. It is, therefore, important for us to continue to invest in education. Singapore undeniably has one of the best education systems in the world. Despite our small population, we constantly produce students whoexcel in international competitions, especially in mathematics and science. However, education is not about academic achievements alone.”
“On healthcare, I am pleased with the efforts by the Ministry of Health in containing cost increases. With the publication of hospital bills, the institutions are put on the defensive to ensure their operations are cost efficient. The proposed changes to the MediShield schemeare also aimed at reducing the burden of larger hospital bills on the patients. While the premium increases are inevitable, the Medisave top-up would help in some way, at least for the short term. Whatis of greater concern are the utility and public transport costs. The new formula on the price adjustment cap would provide more flexibility in both directions, up and down. But with rising fuel prices, I am concerned that the Government maybe considering raising utility rates and bus fares in the short term. I hope the Government could delaysuch increases for as long as possible until the benefits of economic recovery have filtered down to the people. Next, helping the SMEs and local enterprises. We must also take care of the local small and medium-sized businesses. Some of them, the neighbourhood retail shops, for example, have suffered significant losses over the last few years. They struggled to stay afloat, hoping that business would recover soon. The loss carry-back scheme is a bold attempt to help these companies, but it would be most disheartening to see their hope being dashed simply by rental increases. Perhaps the Government could consider extending the rental rebates for a while longer so that they would have a chance to recover their losses and rebuild their business. The SMEs could not be ignored. They still form a significant part of our economy. We need to keep them going and help them restructure and grow.”
“Towards this end, I am pleased that the Government has decided to provide top-ups for Edusave, Medisave, Medifund, CPF for the older Singaporeans, as well as the initial funding for the ComCare Fund from thebudget surpluses of 2004. These top-ups totalled more than $800 million and they would go a long way to help needy Singaporeans to cope with the short term difficulties. Sir, next Iwould like to talk about taking care of the present. While we address the issues that arose from the economic recession and recognise the past efforts of the people by sharing with them the fruits of our progress, we must also be mindful of the present problems and difficulties that are faced by Singaporeans today, one ofwhich is the cost of living. Although the economy has done well last year, it would take time for the recovery to translate into higher salary, better bonuses and increases in asset value. It would take time for the economic growth to bring about creation of personal wealth. Yes, the standard of living has improved compared to 10 years ago. Yes, many Singaporeans own a handphone today and many households own a PC at home. However, many of these items, which were considered luxury goods once upon a time, have now become basic essentials. Handphones, for example,are almost indispensable in today's fast moving world, whether you are in business or a factory worker. These all add to the household expenses. Although the CPI indicates that inflation is low, the reality is that household expenses might have gone upsimply because of rising standard of living. People are feeling the pinch as they try to keep up with the standard. The top three concerns among most Singaporeans are healthcare, transport and utilities.”
“Over the last few years, Singaporeans have rallied together to support the Government's efforts to restructure the economy. They heeded the Government's call for retraining and upgrading to improve their employability. Nevertheless, some lost their jobs, while others took a pay cut in order to stay in their jobs. The process was painful and many have made personal sacrifices. Now that the economy has recovered with an impressive 8.4% growth last year with unemployment rate below 4%, we have succeeded once again in remaking our economy. However, not all of us have emerged unscathed. In fact, we must recognise that some Singaporeans who have been affected by the prolonged recession have not totally come out of it yet, even as the economy recovers. In particular, the older workers are still finding difficulty securingand retaining jobs. They need help and we must continue to find ways to help them effectively. I am glad that the Government has introduced the Re-Employment Assistance Programme (REAP). I hope that the relevant Government agencies would work closely with the NTUC and CDCs to administer the scheme effectively so that workers could benefit from it. I would like to urge the Government to give special attention to the older workers as they would need more help to re-enter the economy. To a large extent, this requires a mindset change among the employers as they are the key decision makers in the process of employment. If the Government could consider some financial or tax incentives for the employers, it might help kick-start the process. As part of the caring and inclusive approach, we must share the fruits of our labour withfellow Singaporeans.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first, I would like to take this opportunity to address a few issues that Mr Low Thia Khiang has raised. First of all, Mr Low was right that the success of the Government should be measured by how it takes care of its community. Indeed, the Government has taken care of its community and, in fact, the Government's effort in looking after the needy is demonstrated by this generous Budget that is tabled before us. Mr Low also expressed some concerns on the rising healthcare costs. Yes, healthcare is not cheap and it will not be cheap as the quality of healthcare improves. But it will always remain affordable -that is the promise that is given by the Government. Mr Low objected to means testing on one hand but, on the other hand, he advocates that the more successful should be taxed more in order to subsidise the less successful. Isthis notwhat means testing is trying to do - to measure the success of the people and to ensure that our subsidies are targeted specifically at those who need these subsidies more? Sir, to Mr Low and some people, maybeBudget time is a time to dish out goodies. But, Sir, this is not the time to dish out goodies. The Budget is a very serious affair. In fact, this Budget reflects the Government's philosophy under the new leadership. The Prime Minister has stated very clearly that the style of his Government is one of caring and inclusive, while creating opportunities for Singaporeans. This is the main thrust of this Government's financial policy this year. Sir, I agree with the key policy directions and these could be broadly categorised into three categories and these are: responding to the past, taking care of the present, and preparing for the future.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we have had four days of debate on the motion. Many points and issues were raised. Many concerns were highlighted. As Dr Wang said, Singaporeans have confidence in the new leadership. We have the people, we have the resources to get there. The best is yet to be. It now remains for me to thank all the speakers that have contributed to this debate, in particular, the NMPs who have made their maiden speeches in this House. I would also like to thank the Prime Minister for his enlightening speech that inspired much hope and confidence. Sir, I would like to invite all Members to join me in thanking the President for his Address. [Applause]. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to: "We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the Second Session of this Parliament.". ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to Tuesday, 25th January 2005." - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Adjourned accordingly at Half past Three o'clock pm to Tuesday, 25th January 2005. APPENDICES”
“And Mdm Cynthia Phua wanted to build character through sports. On the other hand, Dr Geh felt that we should empower the people by giving them greater access to information. She preferred the analogy of a bird rather than a kite! That is fine. What is important is that the message gets through, that more needs to be done in this respect. Miss Eunice Olsen was of the view that the way to rootedness was through volunteerism. Like Ms Indranee Rajah said, we need to encourage our people to have passion and conviction to pursue what they believe in. Yesterday morning, I was listening to the radio while I was driving to work. Apparently, in a survey, more than 70% of Singaporeans agreed that there was no better place to stay than Singapore. But the same survey also showed that half of them would not mind migrating. This sounds contradictory to me. If this is indeed the best place, why migrate to the second best? Maybe the accuracy of the survey is not very precise and perhaps we should not read too much into it. But it is important for us not to lose sight that we want to build a Singapore for Singaporeans. It is therefore critical for us to allow our people to be more engaged. I would suggest that the Ministry of Education review its national education programme to determine whether it is effective and what else we can do to instill a sense of ownership, a sense of belonging and a sense of responsibility. Three MPs have spoken out strongly against the proposed casino as it will erode the values of our society, and it will cause damage to our home. While I can see the economic value of a casino, I too question the wisdom of such a move. I would urge the Government to be cautious on this matter so that we can all have a home that we can cherish.”
“The $500 million ComCare Fund will go a long way to help them cope with their basic expenses. At the same time, the Government should also make sure that Government cost increases are kept to the minimum, and they should reflect real costs incurred by the Government. Furthermore, we should not let up on our efforts to cut waste and thereby reduce cost. In this regard, I am pleased to see the Ministry of Finance's Addendum that they will reduce the burden on businesses by cutting red tape and setting its fees and charges at cost. What I wonder is: why restrict only to business costs? Why not apply the same principle to consumer costs as well? Several MPs also talked about volunteerism and caring for the old and the disabled. Miss Eunice Olsen spoke about volunteerism while Dr Chong Weng Chiew wanted more autonomy for the voluntary organisations. Mr Sin Boon Ann also appealed for more concern for the disabled. Mr Ang Mong Seng suggested that public facilities should be made more friendly to older people and the disabled. The Prime Minister announced yesterday that the Lift Upgrading Programme will be accelerated. As we progress as a nation and as a family, we must make sure that each and every Singaporean can benefit from our progress and that no one is left behind. The President's Address devoted an entire section on this. For us to build a truly gracious society, a country that we love, we must show commitment, care and compassion for the poor, the old and the disabled. Engaging the people Lastly, engaging the people. Mr Ivan Png, Miss Penny Low and Dr Geh Min have all touched on this all important and yet rather abstract subject. Mr Png suggested that we should build a sense of belonging through the 4Ps. Miss Penny Low talked about people-centre approach.”
“If we have a vibrant and expanding economy, the pie will grow and there will be a slice for everyone - the GLCs and the private companies, the old and the young. We must therefore get ourselves plugged into the world, make sure that our environment is stable and safe, continue to trim our bureaucracy to ensure cost competitiveness. This way, we will have a secure future. Caring for the needy For the lower income group, rising cost of living is one of their key concerns. Mdm Halimah Yacob, Dr Chong Weng Chiew, Dr Warren Lee, Mr Ang Mong Seng and Dr Tan Sze Wee all spoke passionately about rising healthcare costs. With the proposed review of the MediShield scheme, contributions are likely to go up. Based on the figures shown by PM yesterday, healthcare costs increased some 11% between 1998 and 2003, almost double the increase in per capita gross national income. I think many will feel assured with the PM's proposal to increase Medifund from $1 billion to $2 billion. I would urge the Ministry of Health to relax the Medifund criteria so that more will benefit from it. The second highest increase is in education. Both healthcare and education are, to some extent, non-discretionary and the impact of the increases is most felt in the lower income group. With higher oil prices, many Singaporeans are also concerned that the next to be increased will be bus fares. True, cost of living must go up over time as we demand and enjoy better services, be it healthcare, education or transport. Although wages have also increased, the lower income group and those who are unemployed will still be facing financial difficulties. We have heard Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Wee Siew Kim and several others talk about real life stories of the needy.”
“We must continue to play our part as a responsible world citizen. Through ASEAN, the World Trade Organisation, the United Nations and other international fora, we will continue to advance the interests of Singapore and the world. Growing the economy The economy and job opportunities remain one of the key concerns of many Singaporeans. Despite the healthy 8% growth we achieved last year, some Singaporeans are still facing employment difficulties, especially the older ones. Mr Heng Chee How, Mr Yeo Guat Kwang and Mr Teo Yock Ngee all highlighted this issue and urged the Government to do more to help them. Addressing the issue, Minister Lim Boon Heng announced on Tuesday initiatives to be introduced by the NTUC, including the proposal to forge national consciousness to provide jobs to the older workers. The Prime Minister, yesterday, also announced the REAP scheme to help the unemployed and the setting up of a committee to help older workers stay employed. There were also several suggestions on the way forward for our economy. While acknowledging that there have been encouraging changes, Mr Inderjit Singh and Dr Amy Khor wanted the Government to further streamline the bureaucracy and to make sure it filters down to the operating level. Dr Teo Ho Pin suggested that we should take a 3P partnership approach while Dr Wang Kai Yuen felt that it is better for the Government to stay out of business. I think perhaps this is an issue of balance. There is certainly a role for Government companies to play in certain sectors of the economy, but they should not be so extensive that the private enterprises are crowded out. The crucial issue, I feel, is to create a pro-business environment here so that there are opportunities for everyone.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, over the last four days, we have heard many Members speak passionately on Government policies as laid out in the President's Address. We also heard the Prime Minister's response to some of the points made by the Members. We have had a rather engaging, fruitful and, at times, entertaining debate. Now, Sir, I have the privilege to sum up the debate. The thrust of Members' speeches over the last four days focused on four broad areas, and these are strengthening Singapore's role in the international community, growing the economy to provide opportunities and jobs, caring for the needy and engaging the people. Firstly, Singapore's role in the international community. The recent tsunami disaster has brought into focus Singapore's role in regional and international arenas. Dr Lily Neo gave a blow by blow account of our efforts. Many MPs have also spoken on this subject. Mr Iswaran, Dr Ong Chit Chung, Dr Ong Seh Hong shared their personal encounters in the disaster areas and they have all concluded that the actions of our military, civil defence, healthcare workers as well as many civilian volunteers have made us proud as Singaporeans. I am particularly pleased that even the Non-Constituency MP, Mr Steve Chia, has also taken a stand on the side of Singapore and praised the Government's efforts. Our involvement in the tsunami disaster relief has strengthened the bond among Singaporeans. Indeed, the incident has shown that a small country like Singapore is able to contribute in a meaningful and impacting way to the region and to the world. Our contribution must now go beyond disaster relief and reconstruction. We can also play a role in the promotion of free trade collaboration, in counter-terrorism measures and many other areas.”
“Instead, it was the string's tension that allowed the kite to catch the wind and soar. As soon as the string was gone, the kite lost its flight. So it is with our children. While we build wings for them, we must give them roots. The roots do not hold them back but instead give them the ability and motivation to soar. Our youths are our greatest assets. In creating value for Singapore, we must prepare them well so that they can continue to build upon the value we have created. Mr Speaker, Sir, during the term of this Parliament, Singaporeans have gone through one of the most turbulent periods since our independence, eg, protracted economic recession, international terrorism, the Iraq war, SARS and, more recently, the tsunami. These crises have impacted many Singaporeans. The nature and degree of the impact, however, are quite different for different people. Some have to adjust their lifestyle, some have totally changed their perspective of life altogether. It is understandable that some may be somewhat disheartened. The President's Speech offers much hope and assurance. As we move forward into the new chapter, there will be challenges and difficulties. But the future also holds promising opportunities for Singapore. Our primary policy objective must be to continue to add value to Singapore and to make sure all Singaporeans are able to enjoy the fruits of our efforts. In the process, we must focus on strengthening the four pillars on which we create our values - creating more opportunities for Singaporeans, building a home that we belong, preserving our basic values and preparing our children for the challenges ahead. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“Without a strong character, they may be tempted to give up too easily or simply take the easy way out by running away from the problems. In this regard, I would like to urge the Ministry of Education to focus more on character-building. I was rather disappointed that the Ministry's Addendum did not cover this aspect with sufficient focus. Perhaps it is time for us to review the character-building programmes in our schools to make them more relevant and effective. We must also pass on to our youths the spirit of adventure, the courage to venture into the unknown, and the wisdom to be prepared for the journey. As we open up windows to the world, we must encourage them to go forth and engage the world. They must be willing to go beyond their comfort zones. There are risks and there could be failures. But these should not deter us from moving out. We want to give our children wings to fly as far as they can and as high as they can, so that they can realise their dreams and aspirations. At the same time, it is equally important to strengthen their roots so that they have a sense of belonging. Let me share with you the story of a kite. There was this kite that has a very big wing span. One windy day, its master took it out to fly. The wind was strong and the kite opened its wings and soared as it caught the wind. It went higher and higher, and soon it reached as high as the string would allow. But the kite was very unhappy. It complained to the string: "Every time when I am about to take off, you always give me a tug and pull me back, and now I cannot go any higher because of you. Why would you not just let me go?" Eventually, the string gave up and let the kite go free. You can imagine what happened to the kite. The truth is that the string was not pulling back the kite.”
“We must not take the easy way out and compromise on these values. It is these values that allow us to stand tall among the nations of the world. It is these values that bind us together as one people. It is these values that make us a great nation. We must, therefore, reinforce these values among our people as we write the next chapter together. The fourth pillar is preparing the younger generation. Our children are very fortunate to be growing up in a relatively stable and prosperous era. When we encounter temporary setbacks, it is natural that some of them become less confident of the future because they have not gone through tough times. Some of us who have been through many difficult times, especially those who grew up during the early years of our independence, would be much more confident. We have much less to work with in those years. The outlook then was worse than pessimistic. But we succeeded in creating a future for Singapore against odds. Was it luck? Perhaps a little bit of that. But to a large extent, it was sheer determination of Singaporeans to make it that drove us to success. Today, we are much better off. We have much more resources, and we are starting from a position of strength rather than a position of weakness. The key was how to further strengthen our position to ensure that we stay ahead. To do so, we must instill in our younger generation the same determination to survive and the drive to excel. Only this way will their future be secured. Yes, the future has many challenges and obstacles. But they are not insurmountable. However, we must strengthen the character of our children so that they are well prepared to face the challenges and overcome the obstacles.”
“I remember Dr Vivian Balakrishnan once quoted to me Minister Mentor Lee's comment, that our achievements today are a result of disciplined and hardworking Singaporeans. We must not take this comment lightly. It is the work ethics of our workforce that drew many investors here and allow Singaporean workers to command a premium over others. We must not allow this to be eroded. Otherwise, we will lose that premium and we will lose our attractiveness as an investment location. Singapore is often regarded as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. We must preserve this image of clean and honest society in our strive for prosperity and growth. We must guard against the invasion of greed that could easily destroy the virtue of honesty. The recent tsunami disaster has shown that Singaporeans are a compassionate lot. The speed and extent of Singaporeans' response to the calls for help are evidence that, when it comes to the crunch, we will not hesitate to show our generosity. In this process, we also strengthen the bonds among Singa- poreans as we stand together to face the crisis. In the good old days, we acquired much of our values from our parents. At dinner tables, for example, we would listen to our parents as they talked about principles and values. Nowadays, however, working parents hardly have time to have dinner at home, let alone spending time with their children to talk about moral values. There is, therefore, a gap that we must fill. Perhaps, schools should relook at our moral education programme. Granted that this is a subject that is difficult to be taught in a school environment, we must try our best nonetheless. Sir, our values and ethics must serve as the beacon to steer us through the many challenges in the years ahead.”
“I am sure many Singaporeans watched the Tiger Cup last night, and we celebrated our victory as a nation. The game was more than just entertainment. It drew us closer as a family. Arts is another area that can add spice to Singapore, while more resources may be needed to keep arts alive. We must make Singapore a more attractive place, not just for tourists, but a home for Singaporeans also. Finally, we must ensure our home remains affordable. Cost increases seem to be inevitable as our economy grows. Of greater concern to many are education, healthcare and basic services like utilities and transport. I would like to urge the Government to put greater efforts into containing costs. For example, I remain unconvinced that the proposed reduction in the universities' subsidy level for each student is justifiable, and I would urge the Government to reconsider it. Healthcare cost is another area that needs to be addressed. I hope that the proposed revision to the MediShield Scheme will make it more effective while keeping it affordable. As we build our home, we must be mindful not to end up losing it, because we cannot afford it anymore. We must live within our means. We must design a home that we can afford to build and maintain. The third pillar is preserving our basic values and ethics. As we adapt to the fast-changing world, there are certain things that we must take care to make sure that they do not change. One example is our basic values. These values have served us well over the last 40 years. In fact, they are the reasons for our achievements today. Without these values, we would be lost. And what are some of these values? Hardworking is one of them.”
“The Prime Minister and the President have both talked about engaging the people, especially the younger generation. It is gratifying to see many young faces among the new batch of NMPs. Being in Parliament is certainly one way of being directly involved in shaping the future of the nation, but it is not the only way to be engaged. Every Singaporean has a vital role to play in building our home. Participating in community work, being involved in charitable organisations and contributing ideas are just examples of many avenues of engagement. We should continue to encourage all our people to come forward by opening up more avenues. However, engagement is also not restricted to the young. The adults and the older generation also have much to contribute, given their wealth of experience, and we must not neglect them. We must also encourage Singaporeans to voice their opinions frankly and openly. Every Singaporean's view is important. No one is too trivial to be ignored. We should welcome their views, critical or otherwise, so long as they are sincere in advancing Singapore's interests. We must decide collectively what kind of a home we want to build. But, in the end, we must also be clear that it is not possible for everyone's preference to be satisfied. Eventually, the interest of the majority has to prevail. Our home must also be exciting, vibrant and alive, be it leisure, sports, entertainment, or even shopping. We should open up more avenues and allow more varieties. We have started to allow bar-top dancing, although I am not sure this will be effective in making Singapore vibrant. There are many other wholesome and meaningful activities that we can promote. Sports, for example, can have a great bonding effect among the people.”
“I think more needs to be done to help these students and integrate them into the mainstream wherever possible, so that they can enjoy the same opportunities as the others. I hope the Ministry will review our Special Education programme to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. Similarly, in the economy, we have to create new job and business opportunities. We must open up windows to the world through our FTAs. We must ride on the growth of China and India. We must prepare our people and help them grasp these opportunities. Going overseas, especially into the less developed and less regulated countries, is not easy. But we must do so if we want to stay connected to the world. While we bring in high value-added industries and services with higher skill levels and higher pay, we must also open up opportunities for the less able. While we can offer education and training for them to upgrade themselves, our responsibility cannot stop here. We must recognise that there will be some among them who would have difficulties upgrading themselves despite their best efforts. They will need help and help must be available. We must make sure that they are not left behind. The second pillar is building a home. Singapore must not be just a place of opportunities where people come to work and make their buck. It must also be a home for Singaporeans. A home is like no other place. I am sure many of us take our families to different parts of the world for vacations. While we are on holiday, we relax and enjoy ourselves, but we all come home in the end. This is because the holiday destinations we go to may be fun, exciting and enjoyable, but they are not our home. Home is where we belong. To make Singapore a home, we must first involve Singaporeans in building the home.”
“In education, for example, we have seen many changes in the last two years. The removal of the primary school streaming of EM1 and EM2 (and I still hope that the Minister will consider doing away with EM3 as well), the introduction of the Integrated Programme, the establishment of private schools, the changes to the Chinese Language programme, the proposed corporatisation of the two universities and the establishment of the fourth university. These changes are aimed at creating more opportunities for Singaporeans to pursue their education here according to their interest and ability. At the same time, we must inject greater flexibility into our system. We must create different paths to success. The ability of individuals differs from person to person. But we must create avenues where every Singaporean can progress and make contributions regardless of their abilities. Success and contribution cannot be defined in absolute terms. If a person has given his best to realise his potential and contribute to the society within the limits of his ability, he must be considered successful, and we must help him to do so. Again, taking education as an example, many of our policies are aimed at producing peaks of excellence among our students. However, at the same time, we must not forget to help those who might need an extra helping hand to move along, so that he too can do his best. In this regard, I am pleased to see that the Addendum of the Ministry of Education has included a special section on Special Education to cater to those who have learning difficulties. Some of these children may require special assistance and professional treatment which are not easily available and can often be costly.”
“Our role in fostering international collaboration in the promotion of free trade, counter-terrorism measures and even the tsunami relief efforts, has elevated our international standing. Many Singaporeans are proud that we can make positive contributions in a meaningful way. We also add value to Singapore by building a safe home, a prosperous economy and a vibrant community. We want to make this place an attractive place to live, work and play. We want to give each and every Singaporean a say in the nation building process so that we will have a strong sense of ownership and we will work together to create value for the nation. Finally, we make sure that the value we have created can be enjoyed by every Singaporean, including those who may be less able. The President's Speech is about creating value for Singaporeans. The overall tone of the Speech was somewhat cautiously optimistic. Optimistic, because the best is yet to be. The future offers enormous opportunities as the region recovers from the Asian economic crisis and as the world becomes increasingly open. With our resources, our people and our network, we are well placed to grasp these opportunities when they come. Cautious, because the path ahead remains full of challenges. Success will not come easy. The world environment is changing rapidly. We must move fast to adapt to these changes. The process will not be without pain but the ultimate success is well worth it. Sir, I would like to share my views on four specific areas which I feel are crucial in preparing ourselves for the challenges ahead. To me, these are the four pillars on which we create value for Singapore. First, creating opportunities. We have to offer more varieties and options in education, career, leisure and other areas.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, 'That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to:- "We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the Second Session of this Parliament.".'. Sir, the tsunami disaster on Boxing Day last year was very much on the President's mind when he delivered his Speech. The disaster was indeed a rude reminder to all of us that life is full of uncertainties. We cannot take for granted the peace and stability we enjoy today. We must instead strive to preserve what we have achieved and at the same time not forgetting our duty to the rest of the world, despite our small size. Singapore is at a major turning point in history. With the change in the Government leadership last year, we are now entering a new chapter. The President outlined seven priority areas for the Government in his Address last week. These are to: secure Singapore's place in the world; to build a safe and secure environment; to build the economy; to invest in people; to augment our population and talent; to engage the youth; and to build a place for everyone. These priority areas cover a broad spectrum of Government's policies. They range from domestic issues to international relations, from bread and butter concerns to the more abstract issue of nation building. However, there appears a common theme among them. They all share the same objective, that of creating value for Singaporeans. First, we create value by securing regional and international recognition of Singapore through our active involvement in the international arena.”
“To ensure buy-in by the stakeholders and avoid unnecessary misunderstanding, we have to communicate clearly our intention, help them understand the process and the implications, address their specific concerns and take into account their feedback and suggestions. This way, we will be able to rally support from all the stakeholders to ensure a smooth implementation. Mr Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, the proposals put forward by the Committee are one giant step in the right direction. To help our children acquire a reasonable level of proficiency in the Chinese Language, we must fine-tune our Chinese Language programme to achieve three objectives: Firstly, we must create in our children a sustainable interest in the language; Secondly, we must strengthen their confidence in acquiring and using the language; and Thirdly, we must motivate them to strive to realise their maximum potential. As the Minister has said, the success of the proposed changes, however, depends on the implementation process. For this reason, we must prepare all the stakeholders, including the teachers, the students and the parents, so that they are ready for the changes and we are able to reap maximum benefit from it.”
“One way is to recruit directly from the A-level students. We could identify early A-level students who are interested in the Chinese teaching career. We can offer them teaching scholarships and tailor special preparatory courses for them, some of these could even be conducted at the NIE. They could be offered guaranteed places in the NIE as a teaching career, skipping the A-level examinations, similar to the new IP programme. This will help improve the recruitment of quality teachers. It may also be useful for NIE to tie up with leading universities and institutions in China to allow our teachers to go through an immersion programme in China. For example, they could spend their final year in a Chinese university. Timing Ninth, this is with regard to timing. The Minister indicated earlier that the proposed changes will first be tried out on a pilot project in selected schools. It will be fully implemented in 2008 and the examination system will be in place by 2010. It seems a long way to go. I can understand that we need time to iron out the implementation details and to prepare our schools and teachers for these sweeping changes. However, some parents whose children are in the primary school today will be concerned that their children will not benefit from the new system. Worse still, some are concerned that the transition period may be unsettling for their children and will affect their final results. Perhaps the Ministry can explain clearer the transition arrangement and the effects on the children. This will help assure affected parents that their children's performance and their future will not suffer as a result of the transition. Tenth, communication. Equally important, Sir, is the communication process.”
“We need to address three issues with regard to the Chinese Language teachers: Firstly, are the teachers convinced that the new approach is a better approach? Secondly, will the teachers be ready to adopt the system? Thirdly, how do we maintain and improve the quality and quantity of our Chinese language teachers? I am glad that the Committee has consulted the teachers and principals widely before finalising its recommendations. However, we cannot take it for granted that all teachers will embrace the new approach wholeheartedly. Many of them have been brought up under the old system and they believe in that system absolutely. It is therefore important for the supervisors and principals to spend time and effort to explain these changes to our teachers to ensure that they too are convinced. Having been convinced, it will need time for the teachers to get familiar with the new approach and be trained to deliver the new syllabus. New teachers joining the service should also be put on a new Chinese programme at the NIE to ensure they are well prepared for the new system when they enter into the service. I would urge the Ministry to work closely with NIE to work out the detailed training and retraining programmes for our Chinese Language teachers to prepare them well. There is also some concern about the quality of our Chinese Language teachers. The general decline in the standard of Chinese language in our schools also means that the quality of the intake pool of Chinese teachers will suffer. If the quality of our Chinese teachers is limited by the quality of the intake, then we will get caught in yet another vicious circle. Perhaps we could review the intake system for Chinese Language teachers to ensure the quality can be maintained and improved.”
“As it is, some parents are already quite confused with the changes in the education landscape over the last few years. These proposed changes in the Chinese Language programme will undoubtedly add to their confusion and anxiety. However, education is a partnership among the Government, students and parents. If the parents are out of sync with the education policy, we will have a missing link. We must, therefore, take pains to explain our policy changes to the affected parents, so that they will buy into our new approach and become effective partners in our education programme. I hope that when the changes are implemented, the Ministry could produce information memos to explain the impact of these changes and help parents to adapt to the new system. Parents must also take a positive approach and play a supporting role in their children's education. It is also important for our parents to have realistic expectations of their children. It is natural for parents to wan zi cheng long, ie, expect their children to become a dragon. However, unrealistic expectation will result in unwarranted frustration and demoralisation. While it is good to set a higher target so that our children will be motivated to strive for better performance, we must not be critical or discouraging when they could not achieve the goals we set. Parents must strike a balance between motivating our children and stressing them. This way, learning will be a more pleasant and enriching experience for our children. Teachers' readiness Conceptually, the proposed approach to Chinese Language teaching is in the right direction. However, its success depends to a very large extent on the implementation which, in turn, depends critically on the schools and the teachers who will deliver the syllabus.”
“It could also include contributions from teachers on tips on Chinese Language, as well as language puzzles and quizzes, to make it interesting. Occasionally, we could also organise international competitions in Chinese Language, such as debates, theatrical works, choruses, etc, to create opportunities for our students to interact with Chinese Language students from other countries. This will help level up their standard, help them appreciate the language better and generate greater interest in it. I believe television programmes could also be one very effective medium to encourage the use of the Chinese Language. Many children and adults watch our television programmes. Unfortunately, there is a lack of good Chinese programmes that are suitable for children. Most of the children channels on the cable are English-based. The most popular local Chinese programmes tend to be the television serials. While some children may watch these programmes, they tend to rely on the English subtitles. Would it not be possible to put in Chinese subtitles in our Chinese serials and even daily news? This would not only help our viewers improve their listening skills, but will also help improve their ability to recognise Chinese characters when they look at the screen. Of course, there are commercial implications that have to be considered. We need parents' support Seventh, we need to gain support from the parents. Parents play an important part in the success of these changes too. A recent survey by the Feedback Unit indicates that only 50% of the parents feel that our education system is developing our students to their fullest potential, and only 26% of parents are aware of the desired outcome of our education system.”
“But we must break this vicious circle. While we empower our children to read, we must also ensure that there are abundant supplies of reading materials that will interest them. Perhaps the Ministry could consider various alternatives. For example, we can bring in better reading materials from China or Taiwan directly and make them available for students and parents, or put them in the school libraries so that students can have easy access to them. As a last resort, we could also develop such materials ourselves in collaboration with other agencies. Creating opportunities to use the language Sixth, while we improve the teaching of the Chinese Language, we must also look into ways to create more opportunities to use the language in schools and in the communities. This will go a long way towards keeping the language alive and making its learning a living experience rather than a dry and boring process. Some have suggested that a day in the week be designated as "Speak Mandarin Day" in the schools. I am not so sure this would be effective. Other than the difficulties in communicating with other races who do not speak Mandarin, an artificially created environment is unreal and difficult to sustain. We could introduce more immersion courses or exchange programmes to allow more students to spend, say, a month, in China and this will undoubtedly improve their grasp of the language in its natural environment. Even if their proficiency degrades after they return to Singapore, the immersion experience would have strengthened their foundation permanently. This is of course costly and needs to be considered carefully. The Ministry could also encourage schools to introduce a Chinese newsletter where students can contribute their compositions to be published.”
“It is also crucial to recognise that parents too play an important role as a partner in the children's education. More specifically, they get very involved in their children's preparation for examinations. Therefore, schools must also explain the impending changes to the parents, so that they would not be caught by surprise. Perhaps, we should also put less emphasis on paper examinations at the end of each year but put more emphasis on children's performance throughout the year. For example, students could be given project work and asked to present their results. Their performance can be scored and counted towards the final results. This way, they can be assessed based on their ability to use the language rather than on their performance in a single examination. Teaching/reading materials must be improved Fifth, we must improve our textbook and reading materials. According to the MOE survey, one of the top reasons cited by students who liked Chinese is that they find the Chinese textbook interesting. Therefore, it is important for us to continue to improve the content of our textbooks to make it even more interesting and engaging. I hope the Ministry will put in resources in this area. What I find lacking though are good, interesting and captivating reading materials outside the school. Our bookstores here carry quite a lot of Chinese books, but a large proportion of them are translated materials from western literature. Most original Chinese books circle around a handful of legends, such as the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Journey to the West, and Dreams of the Red Chamber, and so on. In fact, there are many versions of them. Maybe it is a commercial consequence, as the market here for Chinese books is much smaller than that for English ones.”
“Some students may be slow starters and they may benefit from the Bridging and Reinforcement Modules. However, if they are able to catch up later on and even do well in the Chinese Language, will there be sufficient lateral flexibility to allow them to switch over to the Enrichment Modules? I think there will be varying abilities among the students, especially in the earlier years. It would be difficult to determine their fate at such an early stage. It would be good to maintain lateral flexibility to cater to students who may be late bloomers. Perhaps one way is to allow all students to participate in the Enrichment Module. The weaker ones will take up the Bridging or Reinforcement Module as an additional programme to help them catch up. This way, they will not lose out, if they can catch up later. Of course, if they are unable to catch up after some time and teachers feel that it would be better for them to focus on the basic modules, then it would be better for them to give up the Enrichment Module to concentrate on the foundation. The teachers can explain to their parents and persuade them accordingly. Examination system must be adjusted Fourth, despite the changes in the education policy, in practice, the examination system has a great influence on the behaviour of schools, students and parents. The format of the examination needs to be revamped to be in line with the objectives of the new approach. I am glad that the Committee has proposed to do so over time. However, we must ensure that teachers are familiar with the pending changes in the examination format so that they are ready and are able to help their students to be ready for the new format. The recent incident in the PSLE Science paper is perhaps a useful lesson to draw upon.”
“Some basic writing skill is still needed Second, while I agree that the requirement to learn complex writing skills should be deferred, I think students should still learn the basic strokes and simple characters at an early stage. These basic strokes are like the radicals of the Chinese characters. They are like alphabets in English, and they are the basic components of Chinese characters. They are essential in helping students recognise words. Without a good familiarity with them, it would be difficult for students to recognise and retain Chinese characters. Some writing will also help students internalise the language and reinforce their reading skill. Therefore, I would like to urge the Ministry to consider retaining some basic writing skills even in the lower primary classes, but it probably would not be necessary to test these skills in the examinations. Selection process of the modular system Third, I would like to touch on the selection process in the modular system. While the modular approach to teaching Chinese will allow students of varying abilities to progress at their own pace, such an approach will involve a selection process. The proposal calls for a Core Module for all students in the primary schools. The weaker ones will take up the Bridging or Reinforcement Module while the stronger students will pursue the Enrichment Module. The question is: what is the basis of determining the ability of the students entering Primary 1, so as to decide which module they should take up? Will they be put through a test? Will it be purely based on the language background of the student's family? The concern is that this system will result in another form of streaming, this time at an even earlier age.”
“If we do not change our teaching programme and instead continue to make Chinese learning a painful and stressful experience in the initial years of primary education, our children will lose interest in the subject and they will discard the language as soon as they leave school. Over time, the real standard of the language could slide even faster. I agree with the Committee that by making the initial learning process more interesting and more pleasant, we can hope to retain our children's interest in the subject at least a while longer and, hopefully, they will be able to learn and retain more of what they learn. This perhaps is the one aspect of "teach less, learn more". What is more important, perhaps, is to ensure that there are sufficient avenues to allow those who are talented and have a special interest in the language to pursue their studies further. We could create more opportunities for those who want to pursue Chinese Language to a much higher standard to do so. For example, students who are in the polytechnics because they could not qualify for university admission could be offered special courses in the Chinese Language in the university or NIE which may eventually lead to a diploma or degree. This will allow more peaks of excellence in the Chinese Language to emerge and average up the standard of the language here. We may need to explain this more clearly to the Chinese community to address their concern about the standard of the language falling as a result of the changes in the education policy. This will help harness their support for our policy.”
“The Committee's proposals In recognition of these challenges, the Committee has made proposals to recalibrate our education system to adapt to the new landscape. The two main proposals are to adopt: (a) A modular approach to the teaching of the Chinese Language to suit the ability of the children; and (b) A "Recognise First, Write Later" approach to the teaching of Chinese Language so as to create and sustain children's interest in the language. Sir, few can argue with the concept and the principles of these recommendations as the Committee has done a very thorough job. Most feedback I received is supportive of these new approaches. However, as the proposed changes are fundamental and impacting, there are invariably some concerns from different stakeholders. I would like to share some of these concerns, and I hope that the Minister would consider and address them. Lowering standard First, there is some concern among the Chinese language professionals that the proposed changes will result in further decline in the standard of the language. They perceive these changes as a compromise solution to ease the pressure on our children. Are we in reality adjusting our standard to the lowest denominator? If so, then the question is whether this will be the start of a vicious circle and the standard will continue to slide as time goes on. Their concern is understandable, given that they have invested much of their life to promote the Chinese Language. While I am Chinese educated too, I take a slightly different view. I believe that, firstly, the decline in the overall Chinese standard among Singaporean students is more a result of the changed environment.”
“The lack of the home environment for the use of the Chinese Language is a major shift and we can no longer assume that children entering Primary 1 will be able to at least converse and read in basic Chinese. We will need to return to the basics to make early stages of learning Chinese easier. Otherwise, the difficulties encountered by our children when they first begin to learn Chinese will put them off and cause them to lose interest in the subject. Once they lose interest, it would be difficult for them to excel in the subject. It is therefore crucial to help our students develop and retain a healthy interest in the Chinese Language. Another obstacle to the learning of the language is that the subject is perceived to be harder to score in an examination. The MOE survey showed that one of the main reasons cited by students who dislike Chinese was that they did not do well in the language examination. The sense of defeat and failure might have demoralised them and put them off. We need to rebuild their confidence in acquiring the language. Studies have shown that it is not easy for a normal person to master more than one language at a reasonably high level of proficiency at the same time, regardless of his intellectual capacity. It requires specific talent to be effectively bilingual. It is more common that the majority will be able to master one language well and another language at a somewhat lower level. With the dominance of the English language as the main working language in business, and increasingly so in society, it is inevitable that the majority of Singaporeans would not be able to achieve a very high level of Chinese Language proficiency. We must therefore review our expectation and fine-tune our language programmes accordingly.”
“They cited two reasons for their views. The first one is the potential economic value of the language given China's increasing economic power. The second is that it is part of their cultural heritage as a Chinese. I think it is important for us to strike a balance in our efforts to encourage our students to learn Chinese well. We must motivate them not only with economic benefits but also cultural motives. The economic value of the Chinese Language is quite obvious and readily accepted. The cultural value of the language is more abstract and harder to quantify. Our challenge therefore is to take a balanced approach. Problems in learning Chinese The Chinese Language programme in our education system has been one of the most talked about subject, not only in this House, but also among Chinese Singaporean parents. Every parent professes to be an expert in education. The difficulties faced by our children in learning the language are indeed complex. First of all, the overall landscape of language usage in Singapore has shifted over the years. The most significant trend was that about 50% of Chinese children entering P1 now speak predominantly English at home compared to only 36% 10 years ago. This declining use of mother tongue at home is a trend that cannot be denied and the trend is also unlikely to reverse given that English has become the dominant working language here. In fact, it would seem that Chinese is not the only mother tongue that is facing this problem, other mother tongues, like Malay and Tamil too, are facing similar trends. I think it would be useful for us to extend the review, at some point in time, to other mother tongues as well.”
“In Singapore, going to the market, in Chinese, we say qi ba cha. In China, they would not understand ba cha because it is a Malay word. Instead, market is shi chang or cai shi. Similarly, an air conditioner in Singapore is referred to as leng qi ji, while in China it is kong diao, mainly because in China, their air conditioner does not only produce cold air, but also warm air during winter. Let me relate a personal experience. Many years ago, when I started to go to China for business, I took a train from Shanghai to Changzhou. It is a five-hour ride. I bought a business class ticket, called nuan zuo, meaning soft seat. I went to the cabin and there were no seats. But there were four beds, three of them were occupied, so I went to the one that belonged to me. I sat on the bed and waited for the train to set off. A lady came into the cabin and started putting her stuff on my bed. So I confronted her and said, "This bed is mine" and I showed her my ticket that says, "No. 34, nuan zuo. San shi si hou, nuan zuo." She smiled and flicked out her ticket that says, "San shi si hou, nuan ruo" meaning soft bed. She said to me, "I get the bed, you get the seat." But I said, "No seat?" So she looked at me and shook her head and said, "Sit at the end of my bed." Sir, I am sure the train service in China has improved tremendously after many years. But we do learn new things every day. Therefore, it is important for us to recognise that language is not just a communication tool but an integral part of a society, that is, culture and history. Based on a survey by MOE earlier this year, most parents want their children to learn the Mother Tongue Language. Even among the English-speaking homes, more than 90% felt that it was important for their children to learn Chinese.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate on the Education White Paper presented by the Minister for Education. Sir, I rise in support of the motion. Firstly, I would like to congratulate the Committee, led by Mr Wee Heng Tin, for an excellent report. The Committee has done a very good job in reviewing the teaching of Chinese Language in our schools and has made very bold recommendations on fundamental changes to the system. Many teachers, language professionals and other stakeholders I spoke to welcome the recommendations. They feel that it is timely to revamp our Chinese education programme. The emergence of China, in recent history, has enhanced the economic value of the Chinese Language. Many Singaporeans doing business in China were forced to brush up on their Chinese and some were forced to acquire the language from scratch. I have a personal business friend who is about 60 years old. He could not speak a word of Chinese when he was young. About 7 or 8 years ago, he started a business venture in China and as the CEO of the joint venture, he had to relocate there to manage the business. Now, he reads Chinese, speaks Chinese and can write simple Chinese letters and emails. And he tells me that sometimes, he speaks Chinese in his dreams too, and I think he has internalised the language. When there is a need, there is a will, and when there is a will, there is a way. However, economic value alone cannot be the sole motivation to learn the Chinese Language and, for that matter, any mother tongue. Language is alive and it is a way of life. It reflects the rich culture of the people it represents. To be sure, the Chinese used in Singapore is quite different from that in China. Let me give you an example.”
“Sir, first of all, I would like to ask the Minister whether the Ministry has a set target of the total number of students that should go through the IP andhow many percentthat would be for each cohort. My second question is: given that the IP would give them more time and space, would there also be more room for them to pursue non-academic interests, including character-development programmes?”
“Further clarification and requestfor the Minister, Mr Speaker. I understand that some of the power supply companies do provide instalment plans for residents who are in arrears. That has been very helpful. I would like to ask the Minister whether he could consider reducing the upfront payment that Singapore Power is charging the residents. As I understand it, Singapore Power usually asks for 50% upfront paymentin order for them to qualify for an instalment plan. Can I ask the Minister whether this amount could be reduced to make it easier forthe residents to pay by instalments?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister, in view of the unemployment rate still on the high side and also there are quite a number of residents who are unable to pay their utilities bills, whether he would consider deferring some of the increases in the utilities fees in time to come when they are due for review.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether he could give a specific update on the progress made by the smaller SMEs in Singapore in this wage restructuring exercise.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it appears to me from the Minister's argument that the main motivation for allowing a casino in Singapore is an economic one, ie, to attract tourists. I would like to ask the Minister in this regard whether casino operation is a fundamental element of a successful resort or tourism industry, and whether the Ministry has explored other possible models before we jump into a conclusion to allow casinos in Singapore.”
“I certainly hope that the process would be smooth and successful, and the Acting Minister would get his much deserved bonus at the end of the year, but, more importantly, our economy will be strengthened.”
“Sir, earlier this year, the Government announced that the Ministry of Manpower would step up its efforts to push ahead with wage restructuring. In fact, DPM Lee mentioned that the Acting Minister's bonus would depend on its success. Perhaps, the Acting Minister could give us an update on the progress of the efforts by his Ministry. Sir, I would also like to take this opportunity to share some of my views on this issue. Firstly, wage restructuring process must be fair and equitable. Many employees are sceptical of this proposal as they suspect this is another disguised form of wage cut. Sir, we must dispel such suspicion. Employers, therefore, must not take this opportunity to reduce the overall remuneration package for otherwise, there will be ill-will and the process will fail. Secondly, the criteria for the proposed scheme must be well-defined and transparent. The greatest fear of the employees is the uncertainty of the variable component. The criteria on which the variable component may be reduced or removed must be clearly spelt out and made known to the employees so that there is mutual trust and confidence. This will also minimise the possibility of abuse. Thirdly, communication is vital, not only at the macro level, but also at the micro level. At the company and the union levels, there should be extensive tripartite consultation before the system is introduced. The intent must be clearly explained to all the stakeholders so that they can buy in to the idea. Full commitment from all parties is vital to the success of this transformation. Sir, I would like to ask the Acting Minister if he could share with us what his plans are in pushing ahead with wage restructuring.”
“Sir, I think we have harped long enough on pre-school education. Let me go on to education hub. Sir, our education landscape had gone though significant changes during the last few years. We have introduced a number of new initiatives to improve our education system. In particular, the proposed introduction of privately- operated schools is an exciting initiative. It will provide greater variety and choice for Singaporeans and, hopefully, it will also create new peaks of excellence. In this regard, I would like to ask the Minister whether he could give the House an update on the status of private schools in Singapore. Sir, the Singapore education system is already well known for our outstanding academic achievements. I know and I agree that MOE's primary mission must be to provide quality education for Singaporeans. But if we can capitalise on our reputation and our know-how, we may be able to develop Singapore into an education hub. We already have many foreign students studying here - in the universities, junior colleges, secondary schools as well as in primary schools. I believe we can do more. Over time, I think more and more young people from the emerging economies like China, India and even Vietnam will be keen to study overseas. Their presence here will add colour to our education system and will give our students an opportunity to interact with those from other countries and other cultures. These foreign students could also be a source of foreign talent in time to come. 3.15 pm Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether his Ministry has a coherent strategy to develop Singapore into an education hub. And, if so, could he elaborate on the strategy and, if not, would he consider such a strategy? Primary One Registration”
“Sir, I would just like to clarify that I did not recommend increasing taxes. What I proposed was for the university to review its operation with a view to cut waste and cut operating costs.”
“Sir, I believe there is still room for reducing the running cost of tertiary education institutions. Before the Ministry decides to reduce Government subsidy, I would urge the Ministry to first launch a cut waste campaign in these institutions to further trim their operational costs. Eventually, we could even consider cutting back some of the less critical Government expenditures. But to reduce the subsidy for tertiary education should be the last resort.”
“Sir, DPM Lee, in his Budget Speech, mentioned that the Ministry of Education is going to review the subsidy structure for tertiary education. The intention is to reduce the level of Government subsidy and let students bear a greater share of the burden. The rationale was that university education benefits individuals more than the society and the nation. Therefore, he argued that we should focus our limited resources in supporting primary and secondary education that benefit more people. Sir, I beg to differ. I would argue that we should not reduce the subsidy for tertiary education for a number of reasons. Firstly, people are our only resource, our only asset, and we must spare no effort in developing their potential to the fullest. Education is the key to upgrading the quality of our people. Unlike in the past, tertiary education today is no longer a luxury, but a common aspiration of Singaporeans. It is, therefore, necessary for us to ensure that tertiary education is affordable. By that, it means that people do not need to borrow money to have access to tertiary education. Secondly, the fact that only 25% of each cohort proceeds to tertiary education should not be the reason for reducing the subsidy. In fact, I would argue that this is the top end of our talent and we should do all we can to help them realise their potential. Thirdly, the argument that tertiary education eventually benefits individuals more than the society is also flawed. I would argue that, because these are the cream of the crop, many of them are potential leaders in business, politics and society in future. The multiplier effect can be enormous. The society and the economy will eventually benefit from their contribution.”
“I think their going back to the same school has the advantage in that the school will be able to better monitor them. However, it might also be better for the students to go to another school, so that they have a chance to turn over a new leaf. I hope the Minister can clarify these points. The Chairman: Ms Irene Ng is not here. Mr Inderjit Singh. Special Assistance Plan (SAP) Schools”