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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“Public education also plays an important part in our continued efforts to promote organ pledging. Communicating with the public is an on-going process and we must keep up the effort. To summarise, Sir, my three points are: firstly, we must address the concerns of some Singaporeans on the clarity of the definition of "brain death" and assure them that patients' interests will not be compromised in favour of organ harvest. Secondly, while we want to promote HOTA, we must ensure that the opt-out process is simple and accessible. And lastly, we must continue our public education and communication efforts. On this note, Sir, I support the Bill. Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Thank you, Sir, for allowing me to join in this debate. Sir, I congratulate the Minister for lifting the Whip on this Bill. The provisions of this Bill do touch on religious beliefs of many Singaporeans. Therefore, it is only right that the Whip be lifted and allow Members to vote by their own conscience. Sir, I believe that it is the moral duty of all citizens to save lives and relieve pain. Accordingly, I would rise in support of the Human Organ Transplant (Amendment) Bill which seeks to widen the scope for getting more human organs for transplanation to save lives. Formerly, the scope of procuring human organs for transplantation was only limited to getting them from persons who have died in accidents. The organ allowed to be harvested was only the kidney. But with the enactment of this Bill, the list of organs allowed to be taken from dead persons includes the liver, heart and cornea.”
“We must understand that sometimes such issues are not a matter of the brain, but a matter of the heart because emotions are involved. And we would need to take time to explain and to persuade. It is also natural for patients and their relatives to be concerned, given the prospects of organ harvest, whether saving the patients' organs would be given higher priority than saving the patients' lives. For example, would doctors decide to disconnect the life support system so that organs can be obtained? It is therefore necessary to reassure patients and their families that procedures and safeguards have been put in place to ensure that patients' interests will not be compromised when the Act is expanded. Sir, inevitably, at the end of the day, there would still be people who choose to remain unconvinced and wish to opt out for a variety of reasons. The fact that some 12,000 people have opted out of HOTA over the last 15 years is evidence that we cannot hope to convince everyone. While we want to encourage Singaporeans to support HOTA, we must also respect the rights of any individual to opt out, if he so wishes. For this reason, I would strongly urge the Ministry to ensure that the process of opting out is kept simple and accessible, especially for the older people who may not be literate. I understand that MOH plans to inform all Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents when they turn 21 that they will be covered under HOTA. I hope MOH will continue this practice and, for the convenience of the population, the notices should be multi-lingual. Finally, Sir, I would like to urge the Ministry to continue its public education efforts. This is important in our efforts to reach out to Singaporeans to persuade them not to opt out of HOTA.”
“We hope that this will allow more organs to become available. It has been estimated that about 24 kidneys, for example, could become available for transplant if non-accidental deaths were covered under HOTA. The motive therefore is quite obvious. However, the inclusion of non-accidental deaths in HOTA may give rise to some concerns with regard to brain death. Although the Government has clarified, on several occasions, the definition of "brain death" and has assured the public that adequate safeguards will be introduced to ensure that the declaration of brain death follows a set of very stringent clinical criteria, some Singaporeans are still concerned on two aspects. Firstly, whether brain death is reversible and, secondly, whether every effort will still be carried out to save the lives of brain dead patients. The question that lingers on in some people's mind is that, while a person may be certified brain dead according to medical definition, is he truly dead? Some still have the fear or hope, depending on how you look at it. Those who have been certified as brain dead may still wake up one day. And if their vital organs have been removed under HOTA, they will have no hope of recovering. This is particularly so as some have heard stories of supposedly brain dead patients miraculously returning to life. It is important to dispel the myths of brain death and allay such fears. I am afraid that professional and medical definitions alone will not be persuasive enough, although they may be adequate as legal definitions. I think we may still need to explain in layman's terms what it means to be brain dead and why recovery is no longer possible. This is a tedious but necessary process.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the proposed amendments to the Human Organ Transplant (Amendment) Act. As the Acting Minister has pointed out in his speech, some 230 lives have been saved, since HOTA came into effect in 1987. Some people may feel that 230 is a small number compared to our national population of more than three million and that it would not make any difference. It may not have made any difference to many Singaporeans, but it certainly makes a lot of difference to the 230 lives which were saved through HOTA and to their family members. It is for this reason that we are here today to debate the proposed amendments to the Act to expand the scope so that more lives can be saved. These amendments, if approved by Parliament, will undoubtedly make a significant difference to those who are currently on the waiting list for organ transplant. Sir, we have come a long way. Over the last 15 years, most Singaporeans have overcome the initial fears and concerns of HOTA and come to accept the principle of presumed consent on organ transplant. It is therefore timely to move to expand the scope of HOTA so that more lives could be saved. While I expect more Singaporeans to be supportive of the proposed changes, we cannot take for granted that all of them have clearly understood the implications of these changes. In my dialogue with my residents, some of them, especially the older ones, still have specific concerns. We need to address their concerns if we were to have their unequivocal support. And I would like to elaborate on some of these concerns. Firstly, the Bill is proposing to expand HOTA to include non-accidental deaths. In particular, this will include patients who are considered to be brain dead. The intention is quite clear.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have a couple of supplementary questions. Firstly, I would like to ask the Minister whether he would assure Singaporeans that in the process of reviewing these charges, the quality of medical care will not be compromised. For example, I think Changi General Hospital has decided to shorten the length of stay for some of the hospitalisations. Would this lead to the doctors prematurely discharging patients? My second supplementary question is that this comparison of fees is good and welcome. However, there is also a flipside of the story, ie, whether it would lead to some hospitals, realising that their charges are way below the others, looking towards increasing their fees as a result, and whether the Ministry has investigated whether there were any such increases. My third supplementary question is whether the Ministry takes an active role in reviewing the charges imposed by hospitals or they leave the review to the respective hospitals.”
“For any such complaint through the MP, the serviceman must give a detailed account of his complaint in writing. The serviceman would be required to sign his statement giving his NRIC No, name, rank and unit." This is to allow the matter to be taken up seriously because without such information, it would not be possible to investigate the matter. So there are avenues open. With regard to other assistance provided to the families, yes, we do provide other assistance to the families in a way which is sensitive to the needs and requirements of the families.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two questions for the Minister. The first question is with regard to the access of NSmen to complain about ill-treatment and safety breaches. At the moment, I am glad that the Minister has explained that they can approach their Commanders and, ultimately, they can also approach the Armed Forces Council. But my fear is that this is still within the MINDEF organisation. Would the Minister consider setting up an independent Committee, comprising maybe external civil servants or even civilians where National Servicemen have access to, so that they can express their concerns? This is the first point. The second question is with regard to the affected families. As a follow-up to Mr Arthur Fong's question, I would like to ask the Minister, other than the financial assistance that is given to these families, whether there would be other assistance, such as emotional and counselling support for these families to help them cope with the tragedy. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I would be hesitant to set up an independent complaints bureau for the SAF. It is a disciplined organisation. It has to operate in a disciplined system, in a system and structure where there is authority and responsibility between subordinates and superiors, and this should be respected. Without that, the discipline and authority structure in the SAF could be undermined. I would be hesitant to introduce an independent complaints bureau outside, a separate system. Nevertheless, I should add that in the Recruit's Handbook, it does say that, "If a serviceman believes that he has been ill-treated or victimised by his colleagues or superiors and that his complaint has not been dealt with satisfactorily, he may approach the MP of his constituency for assistance.”
“Our battle against SARS has strengthened the confidence and bonding between the people and the Government. I believe that Singaporeans now have greater confidence in the Government's judgement and decision-making. Only when we have confidence in the future, will we have the courage to face the challenges ahead. The second C is "Commitment". We must be committed to implementing strategic measures. To endure a short pain is far better than to suffer a long agony. We must act fast to reform our wage structure and to turn our economy around. The third C is "Common goal". In order to effectively resolve our economic crisis, we must stay united as one people and one nation with a common goal and move towards a common direction. If we have the confidence, commitment and a common goal, we will be able to bring our economy back on the road to recovery, create more job opportunities and bring back prosperity. Then, we can all truly feel relieved.”
“Other than the school fees, other expenses such as books, miscellaneous fees, school bus, uniforms, etc, can be quite costly too. I hope that the Government would consider providing schools with more bursaries or welfare funds, and make appropriate adjustment to the qualifying criteria for such subsidies. Secondly, I believe that the adjustment to the CPF contribution rate will also result in some savings to the Government. I hope that the Government can pass on some of these savings to the people through reduction in tax rates and fees. DPM Lee has confirmed that the GST will go up as scheduled next year. Although we are somewhat disappointed, we can understand the Government's position. However, we hope that the Government will consider lowering some of its charges, such as the conservancy and service charges for the HDB flats, so as to send a signal to the people that the Government is willing and prepared to share weal and woe, joys and sorrows, with the people. Thirdly, I am glad to see that the Government has proposed a $600 million package to pump-prime the domestic economy, specifically for smaller-scale projects, so that our local contractors would have the opportunity to participate. What I am worried is that many local contractors are already financially stretched. They may need more time to prepare the tender documents and raise financing. Some may even have to be restructured first. I hope that the relevant departments will take these problems into consideration, when they call for tender. Now, with the lowering of our wage cost, we have no choice but to bring down our standard of living and our expectations. As we adjust, we must be prepared that there will not be without pain. Let me conclude my speech with 3Cs. First of all, we must have "Confidence".”
“For example, when the economy picks up, some employers might not be willing to raise the salaries of their employees for fear that the Government may raise the CPF contribution rate later. I think it may be better if we can set a more definite CPF rate, and allow the businesses and the people to make their own adjustments. Thirdly, some employers are concerned that this 3% cut may not be effective. Compared to labour cost in the developing countries, this 3% seems to be insignificant. Obviously, we cannot compare our wage cost with that of China and India. In fact, be it 3% or 6%, it is not going to bring our wage cost anywhere near that of these countries. The issue is not about the quantum of the adjustment. In fact, we should not look at these countries as our competitors but as strategic partners. While they compete with us, they also offer us new opportunities. Therefore, I feel that we should have a comprehensive strategy, not just to lower our business cost, but also to enhance our macro-economic environment. We must build a strategic network with these economies so that we can play a significant role in their economic growth. I believe it is necessary for the Government to explain this strategy to the public, so that the people will have more confidence in the Government and will not lose heart. Now, let me move on to the relief package. The $1 billion relief package announced by DPM Lee last week was most reassuring. It is an indication that the Government is aware of the difficulties faced by the people, and that it is willing to extend a helping hand whenever necessary. I would like to highlight three areas for the Government to look into. First, education. Many low-income families may have difficulties meeting the cost of their children's education.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to speak on the "Retuning of CPF Rates". Firstly, the Government has decided to lower the employer's CPF contribution rate by 3%. I believe many Singaporeans would feel a sense of relief because this is lower than the expected 6% cut. However, some employers may be disappointed. The issue is whether the 3% reduction is sufficient. This is like taking antibiotics. If you need a dosage of 6 ml, but you take only 3 ml, it is not going to work. Whether the 3% reduction is sufficient is really dependent on what the objective of the adjustment is. If it is just to ease the burden of the businesses so that they can stay afloat, then the 3% is certainly helpful. However, if the adjustment is to fundamentally enhance our national competitiveness, then the answer may not be that obvious. In fact, this may not be a question of numbers after all. Let me elaborate. First, even with the CPF adjustment, our wage system remains rigid. Perhaps, we can take this opportunity to push ahead with fundamental changes in our wage structure. Since our people are psychologically prepared for the 6% adjustment and the actual reduction is only 3%, is it possible for us to transfer the other 3% to the Monthly Variable Component (MVC)? In that way, we can give MVC a headstart. Secondly, the Prime Minister announced that the long-term target for our CPF contribution rates should be between 30% and 36%. By giving it a range rather than a fixed rate will undoubtedly give the Government more flexibility. However, this will lead to uncertainty. People will be concerned that the Government may adjust the CPF rates from time to time. It would therefore be difficult for the people and the businessmen to make financial planning.”
“Sir, could the Minister give an update on whether any services investments have been brought to Singapore? BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: I do not have the details now but I have just given the total numbers when I referred to total business spending for services investments. They refer to the investment commitments that we have gotten in the services area. We are not doing badly. We are achieving our targets. CHANGI AIRPORT (Competitive advantages) 5. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the competitive advantages of Changi Airport and (b) what plans and strategies are there for the Airport and its operators, to mount a pre-emptive programme to minimise the impact of competition from the region and to remain the airport of choice.”
“The Minister mentioned that one of the strategies was to promote the services sector. Could the Minister give an update on the status of promoting the services sector in Singapore? BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: The three new areas that we identified in the ERC are education, healthcare and the creative industries. Recently, I made a media announcement on our moves to promote education as a growth sector. For healthcare, we will be doing so in the near future. For creative services, I believe MITA is heading this project and some presentations will be made. The services sector requires coordination across a number of Ministries, and DPM Lee Hsien Loong chairs a Ministerial Committee on the promotion of the services sector to ensure that coordination across Government Ministries and departments is well carried out.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister for Health what is the state of the morale of the medical staff at the hospitals. Is any emotional or counselling support given to them? Do we have sufficient medical resources at our hospitals? Could we consider mobilising military and medical resources to supplement, if necessary? My second question is with regard to Home Quarantine Orders. I share Prof. Chin's concern that there is some misconception. The public is concerned what home quarantine involves and, therefore, they are afraid to come forward. Hence, if the Minister could consider giving more explanations on what it involves and what assistance is available, whether financial or other forms of support that can help them cope with home quarantine, that would help dispel the misconception and encourage more people to come forward.”
“The review should be conducted by the young people for the young people. In this way, we can ensure that the outcome will be relevant to them. As I am no longer young, it will not be appropriate for me to propose what the review should involve. Sir, I would also like to propose to the Government to consider appointing a Minister or a Minister of State to be in charge of youth development. He will be responsible for spearheading new initiatives aimed at engaging our youths. This will provide greater mandate and sharper focus on the youth programme.”
“Sir, Singapore has undergone major changes in the economy, as well as in our social structure over the last three years. In fact, there are also major changes in the region and around the world. These are tumultuous times. With the outbreak of the Iraqi war, the world will once again be plunged into another crisis and it is yet uncertain how it will eventually turn out. One thing is for sure - more changes in the world can be expected. Sir, amidst all these major changes, I am concerned that our younger generation, which grew up in a relatively secure and prosperous environment, may not be prepared for the challenges that are coming their way. They may be somewhat detached, somewhat indifferent to the happenings in the world. On the other hand, trends in juvenile crime are most worrying. The statistics that are shared by Mr Charles Chong a while ago tell us why. Sir, we need to do more to help our youths and help prepare them for the future. We need to understand their aspirations and their concerns. We need to engage them and give them a clear sense of direction and purpose. Our youth programmes and activities must be relevant to them. We must help them stay connected and stay out of trouble. For this reason, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister if he could elaborate on the youth programme that comes under his Ministry. What are the main focus and objectives of the youth programme? How do we measure the effectiveness of the programme in engaging our youths and preparing them for the challenges of the future? How do we reach out to the youths to involve them in the programme? Sir, in line with the spirit of remaking, I would like to suggest to the Minister to consider undertaking a thorough review of the youth programme to ensure it remains effective and relevant.”
“The situation is compounded by the fact that it is quite common that one of the parents has to stop work to help take care of the child. Many of them are facing physical and emotional stress today. Sir, these parents need some help to cope with the situation. I hope that the Minister would consider providing additional assistance to the parents to help them keep their children in the special schools if needed. Sir, children are our asset and our hope for the future. They are a source of joy to our family life. A small number of them, unfortunately, need some extra help. If help is unavailable, they may drop out eventually and become a burden to the family, society and the nation. But if we can offer adequate and timely help, most of them may be able to contribute meaningfully to the society, and some of them may even make it back to the mainstream.”
“Sir, there are about 20 special education schools today run by VWOs with funding support from the Government. There are numerous other organisations running special education services without funding support. However, there is a need to do more for special education. Sir, I should disclose my interest at this point that I am a director of Care Corner Limited, which is operating a learning clinic for children. I would like to request the Ministry to consider three areas: firstly, physical facilities for certain disabilities, eg, autism. There is a rather long waiting list for admission into special schools. I understand that the special school at Margaret Drive has a waiting list of about 200 and the average waiting time is about two years. We need to increase the capacity to meet the demand. Secondly, teacher training. I agree with Dr Amy Khor that this is an area that we should look into. I believe that one of the constraining factors is the critical shortage of qualified teachers for special education. Therefore, the existing teachers are all burnt out and this has led to even higher attrition. Part of the problem is the low remuneration level and the lack of a career path. The Ministry could look into this and see how we can help train more teachers in special education and provide them with a career path within the mainstream, so that they do not lose out. Thirdly, financial assistance. The real cost of providing education to children with special needs is very high, sometimes four to five times that for ordinary education. The actual cost varies depending on the type of disabilities. Some children may need individual specialists to help to cope with their learning difficulties. Few can afford this.”
“Secondly, additional financial resources may need to be given to help the lower income families so that their children will not be denied pre-school education. Pre-school education is generally more expensive than formal education because there is limited Government funding. The lower income families may need help to keep their children in the kindergartens. Thirdly, I hope the introduction of the Kindergarten Education Bill will not imply greater rigidity. We must continue to encourage creativity and diversity. I hope the Government will continue with its light touch policy on education, more help and guidance, rather than control and regulation. Sir, although pre-school education is not compulsory, it has become very much a way of life for our younger families. With MOE placing greater emphasis on improving pre-school education, I have no doubt that our young ones will benefit from a better run pre-school system.”
“Sir, I am pleased that the Ministry of Education has taken several initiatives over the last three years to improve the pre-school education here. In December 2000, MOE announced the minimum qualification of kindergarten principals. In October the following year, the minimum qualification and composition of kindergarten teachers were defined. Earlier this year, a framework of kindergarten curriculum has been introduced and, finally, the MOE announced recently that the new Kindergarten Education Bill will be introduced in Parliament shortly. These are all aimed at ensuring quality pre-school education for our children. Some of us will remember the story of "Meng Mu San Chian". Meng Tze is a very famous Chinese scholar. His mother Meng Mu shifted house three times - not to upgrade from a 3-room flat to a 4-room flat, to a 5-room flat, and then to an Executive flat - but to give her son a better environment to study. This goes to show that the children's education is close to the hearts of parents. I therefore welcome the greater attention given to pre-school education here. Sir, I would like to make three points with regard to pre-school education. With the introduction of the new criteria and the framework of curriculum, we must have a system to monitor the progress of compliance, even though the curriculum is not compulsory, and I agree that it should not be made compulsory. We must be able to know which kindergarten has adopted it and which has not. The parents must also know, so that when they enrol their children, they can make informed choices. Therefore, can we consider some kind of accreditation system to give recognition to those who have adopted the system?”
“I would also like to urge the Ministry to explore ways to encourage greater participation of community organisations and voluntary welfare organisations in the programme, as it will inject greater professionalism and realism. We should also develop programmes that would involve parents, as character building is not a job for the school alone. Parents must also feel a sense of ownership of the challenge. We must place greater emphasis on character building as part of the curriculum. It is a need to have subject, not a good to have subject.”
“Madam, as we strive for academic excellence, we must not lose sight of the need to mould the character of our children, especially during their formative years. I would like to ask the Minister to elaborate on the Ministry's effort in building and strengthening the character of our students. What are the Ministry's programmes? How are the progress and achievement of these programmes monitored and measured? And how are our teachers prepared and trained to deliver the subject? Madam, three aspects of character development are of great importance - the right value system, the leadership quality and the strive for excellence. First, on right value system. We must impart the right value system to the next generation. We must teach them to know right from wrong, to be responsible, to be accountable and, equally important, to be caring. These are basic qualities of humanity. Without them, our children will grow up to be a liability rather than an asset to our nation. Second, leadership quality. Some day, we will hand over to our children the future of our nation and ourselves. It is therefore crucial that we must develop the leadership quality in our children. We must inculcate in them the adventure and pioneering spirit, so that we can produce great leaders in politics, in business, the academia and in the community. Third, strive for excellence. We must develop in our children the desire to learn, the desire to improve and the desire to excel. They must not be easily contented with themselves. They must adopt lifelong learning as part of their lifestyle. Madam, I would like to ask the Minister to elaborate how these subjects are taught in the schools.”
“If too much non-teaching workload is imposed on the teachers, the quality of their teaching will invariably suffer. The losers in the end will be our own children. The review of the primary school system is important and I hope that the Minister will consider carrying it out.”
“Sir, some of my parliamentary colleagues have suggested that a review be done on the primary school education system. I agree and would suggest that this review should be done this year and it should cover a broad scope, including the following areas. Firstly, the curriculum. It would be timely for us to revalidate the primary school curriculum, in view of the changing education landscape in Singapore. It may also be good for us to take this opportunity to re-look at the non-academic subjects such as national education and character development. Secondly, on single session schools. The main constraint to implementing single session schools is the lack of physical capacity and the lack of teaching resources. However, the benefit of single session schools is quite convincing from the arguments from many of my parliamentary colleagues. I would therefore suggest that we could look at implementing single session schools for the upper primary school levels. I would like to urge the Ministry to consider introducing these sessions in primary five or primary six and in selected schools as a pilot project. If this proves to be successful and beneficial, we can then extend it to more schools and later, to lower primary classes as well. Thirdly, teacher training. We must ensure both the quality and quantity of teachers, especially if we are to move towards single session schools. In this respect, I am glad that the NIE provides ample opportunities for continuous education and training for our teachers to upgrade and update themselves. Perhaps, more could be done. Fourthly, teacher workload. We must also pay some attention to the workload of our teachers. There must be a balance between both teaching and non-teaching workloads.”
“Then, the amount of the payout from the ElderShield will be of no comfort to him. It will be more meaningful and more attractive if a lower degree of disability is adopted, perhaps, different levels of payout can be given to different degrees of disability so that it is not an all-or-nothing situation. Thirdly, a higher payout will make the scheme more attractive. One of the key attractions of any insurance scheme is to have peace of mind. Therefore, a half solution sometimes is no solution at all. Yes, the payout will be helpful somehow but it is not designed to provide full financial support. It therefore does not provide the much needed peace of mind. If the payout cannot be increased without increasing the premium, then we can consider an add-on scheme with higher payout and higher premium for those who really want to have complete peace of mind and can afford it. Sir, ElderShield provides a much needed safety net, especially for the lower income families. It is of grave concern that many of the lower income Singaporeans have opted out of the scheme. I hope that the Ministry will review the scheme as soon as practicable with some of these adjustments so that, hopefully, fewer people will opt out of the scheme. And I know that the Minister will say, "Give the scheme some time to operate and we will review it in good time." Sir, I shall patiently and eagerly await for the review.”
“Sir, firstly, I would like to thank the Minister for being extremely patient with me on this subject of ElderShield. Sir, I do not wish to belabour this issue more than what is necessary but it is an important issue and it affects a very important segment of our population, and the bulk of the Members in this House are part of that scheme. In fact, over time, all of us will be part of it. I am pleased to note that in the Minister's reply to my earlier question the Ministry has been working closely with the operators to ascertain the reasons for the lower than expected take-up rate and it will review the scheme at the appropriate time. Sir, I would like to urge the Minister to consider three specific areas in reviewing this scheme. These areas arose from a survey that I have conducted in conjunction with some students from the university. Firstly, the premium. Many residents feel that the premium is too high. Some feel that they could not afford it, especially those who are already affected by the economic crisis. As a new scheme, I understand that it is not easy to determine what premiums will be appropriate. However, after we have gained some experience in the claim patterns, I hope the Ministry will be able to review the premiums. It may even be possible to consider a rebate system to return some of the surpluses after providing for reasonable profits for the operators. Secondly, the qualifying criteria may need to be relaxed. The second most common complaint is against the stringent criteria to qualify for the claim. Psychologically, it is difficult for a person to imagine a situation where he or she cannot perform three of the six daily routines. If it occurs, there is a good chance that the person might have many other problems to worry about.”
“I feel that we can afford to open the scheme to them because these groups can be clearly defined and they are small in number after all. They are, in any case, most likely to be patients of Government polyclinics already. If we open the scheme to them, it is unlikely to result in widespread abuse, or a significant increase in Government subsidy. Yet, it would undoubtedly benefit those who really deserve it. Sir, I would be most delighted if the Minister could consider my suggestions.”
“Sir, with the introduction of the PCPS, many residents have benefited from the scheme. I am glad that the scheme was expanded further last year. I think it has been a very effective and worthwhile scheme. Under the scheme, qualified patients no longer need to travel all the way to Government polyclinics, but instead they can be treated at any participating private clinics near them, while paying subsidised polyclinic rates. The best part is that the scheme does not cost the Government any additional subsidy as the same subsidy would have been borne by the Government had the patients gone to the polyclinics. Furthermore, it has the benefit of reducing the queues at the polyclinics as well as give business to the private clinics. Given the success of the scheme, I would like to urge the Minister to consider relaxing some of the qualifying criteria so that more patients can benefit from this scheme. Currently, only senior citizens who pass the means test and those who are under public assistance can qualify for the scheme. I would like to propose that the scheme be extended to three additional categories. Firstly, the non-senior citizens who may pass the means test. These are those in the lower income group and they would benefit from some savings in the cost of travelling to the polyclinics. Secondly, for patients who are handicapped, travelling is always a major task for this group of people, and it would be good if we can save them the inconvenience. Thirdly, patients who suffer from chronic diseases that require long-term and regular medication or treatment. These patients are already suffering from critical illnesses and we can help alleviate their sufferings by including them in the scheme. I believe these three groups of people deserve some help.”
“The Ministry should draw up a clear schedule with specific milestones and targets so that we can monitor our progress and achievements in this respect. Other than providing assistance, will the Ministry consider offering some carrots or incentives to employers and employees to help them to overcome their inertia? For example, if we want to promote the MVC, could we consider exempting certain portions of the MVC from tax or CPF contribution for a limited period of, say, 2-3 years? Sir, it is imperative that we do not waste valuable time in reforming our wage system. A flexible wage system tied to productivity rather than seniority is integral to our economic restructuring programme. Given the weak job market, Sir, this is perhaps the best time for us to persuade people to accept it. We must not miss this opportunity.”
“Sir, let me continue where Mdm Halimah has left off. Sir, as we tackle the current unemployment problem, we must not lose sight of the long-term strategic move to deal with the fundamental issue of wage structure. It has been argued on many occasions, including Mdm Halimah just now, that the need to revamp the present seniority-based salary system is fundamental to our economic restructuring efforts. I shall not repeat these arguments. I would just like to ask the Minister to elaborate on the Ministry's plan to push ahead with this revamp. The monthly variable component, for example, was first mooted some two years ago and progress to date, as I understand it, has been painfully slow. My own company has introduced the MVC, with some modifications, and the scheme has worked well. Today, about 5% of our basic salary is in the form of MVC. We hope to achieve 10% in another year or two. Sir, if we do not forge ahead with wage reform quickly, I am afraid that it will become a major bottleneck in our economic restructuring efforts. Therefore, I would like to urge the Minister to consider launching a major campaign this year to persuade employers and employees to do away with the fixed annual increments and replace them with the reward system that is linked to productivity and performance. We must convince the employers that this is good for them, as it provides greater flexibility and enhances their competitiveness. We must convince the employees that this is also good for them as it improves their employability and helps them to save jobs in bad times. Some of the residents who came to me for help to find jobs are willing to take as much as a 50% cut in their salary. It would be unrealistic to hope for fixed increments year after year.”
“I believe the DBS Bank was initially set up to provide the much needed financing for developing new industries and, hence, the name "Development Bank of Singapore". Now that DBS has become a full commercial bank, it has changed its name and shifted its focus, by necessity. This is not a bad thing for DBS, but it has created a gap that needs to be filled. Therefore, we should consider setting up a new SME bank to fill this gap. With proper safeguards, I believe the SME bank can be viable. It will certainly signal the Government's determination to help local businesses and it will be a major boost to groom entrepreneurs.”
“Sir, the need to groom local entrepreneurs cannot be overstated and it is for this reason that today, we have a Minister of State in charge of Entrepreneurship. Sir, I like the analogy stated by Minister George Yeo a while ago. He said that we are like a garden, and the Government can fertilise, water and nurture it, but the ultimate test is in the quality of the seed. I agree and, in fact, like to go one step further. Perhaps, within this garden there are a number of pots of bonsai that are very valuable and, if we give them special tender loving care, one day they may grow to become a treasure and may become a collector's item. Sir, while it is good to encourage all Singaporeans to become more entrepreneurial, it is also important for us to focus our efforts to groom a number of what I call "super-entrepreneurs", who can become business leaders in their respective fields. These super-entrepreneurs will be able to put Singapore on the world map. They will be able to help us connect to the world and allow us to ride on the waves of the growing economies. As a start, I would suggest that our GLCs and perhaps some of the bigger private companies can play this role and become business champions one day. We must work with them, understand them and find ways to help them to succeed. And, when they do succeed, they must in turn help groom other Singapore companies. As we groom super-entrepreneurs, we must not forget the problems faced by many local businesses, especially the SMEs. One of the main obstacles for the local entrepreneurs is the lack of financing. Many have spoken on this subject and I shall not repeat the arguments. To help them, Sir, I would like the Government to seriously consider setting up a special bank for the SMEs.”
“Perhaps Mr Low has not undergone this labour pain, neither have I. But I can tell Mr Low very clearly that when my wife was giving birth, I was there with her. In the beginning, she was very nervous, the pain came again and again, and it dragged on for 18 hours before the baby was born. Even the doctors could not predict how long the pain would be. So for us to predict when our economic recovery will come, I think it is very difficult. Even the gynaecologists could not predict it. But one thing we can say for sure is that the baby is going to be born eventually. Whether it is natural birth or caesarian birth, so long as it is not an abortion, it is all right.”
“We must reform our seniority-based wage system and replace it with a wage system with monthly variable components to give employers more flexibility. We must enhance the employability of older workers so that they can retain their jobs or look for new jobs when the economy is being restructured. We must encourage people to be more flexible, be prepared to venture overseas and help them where we can. Mr Speaker, Sir, this Budget is a bold and balanced one although it offers no desserts. It has provided the necessary steps to ensure that we keep our competitive advantage. It is like a Ferrari with its engine finely tuned and the best driver behind the wheel, yet we still need to have a team of engineers and technicians working together at the crew pit to back up the machine. In this way, we will win the race and bag the trophy. Sir, I support the Budget.”
“Some of them may not even make it. We must look ahead in reviving the economy. First of all, we must ensure adequate liquidity. Next, we must make sure that the fund goes to those who need it and deserve it. Therefore, there is an urgent need to set up a special bank to cater to the needs of the SMEs. Whether this bank forms part of our present banking system, and how it would be run, are details that warrant careful consideration.. The terms of lending must also be considered. But in principle, a decision must be taken to set up such a bank to assist the SMEs to recover from the recession. I believe this is viable. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is also important to change people's way of thinking if we are to embrace the new economy. While we are making efforts to revive the economy, we could see three trends emerging: (a) As we build an external economy, we will see more and more Singaporeans going overseas to work; (b) With our economy going global, we can expect an influx of foreign talents coming here to work; and (c) The restructuring of the economy will continue and accelerate. Therefore, we have to leave our comfort zone, be prepared to take risks, be more flexible and, when necessary, free ourselves from past practices. The world is changing rapidly and we have to keep on changing too. I remember Mr Lim Swee Say saying that our restructuring is unlike mountain-climbing. In mountain-climbing, when you are tired, you can pitch a tent to take a rest and if you persist, you can reach the peak. He said our restructuring is more like rowing a boat in a stream, surging with rapid currents. If we stop, we will regress. We must get our people to expect changes. We have to progress with the times or we will be left behind.”
“Thirdly, MTI should set up an agency to provide one-stop services to companies that intend to invest overseas, as what the EDB has been doing to attract foreign investments to Singapore. Our many overseas offices can also help in this respect, but it would be helpful to have a central coordinating agency. The GLCs can also play a supplementary role in assisting such companies. Many of these GLCs have built up international networks and have substantial investments in China and other emerging economies. It would be good if they can help our local suppliers by bringing them along so that they can establish a foothold in overseas countries. On their own, they would find it difficult to compete with the low cost domestic suppliers initially. If we could help them overcome the initial difficulties, they would be able to compete with them eventually and they may well emerge as another global company. Next, giving Singapore companies a helping hand. Mr Speaker, Sir, we have to be aware that Singapore companies are facing a grave challenge. The economic recession has never been so grave and the duration so long. While focusing on the need to lower business cost, we must also consider specific measures to help local enterprises pull through this difficult period, so that when the opportunity comes again, they can recover and prosper. The main factor that is likely to constrain the rapid recovery among Singapore enterprises is the lack of capital. Due to the economic crisis in the past three years, many of these companies have incurred losses and heavy debts. With banks being very cautious at this time, even when the economy turns around, these companies will find it difficult to get working capital from the banks. Therefore, their recovery will be hampered.”
“On the other hand, if they are far-sighted, they will know that to venture out and invest with us may bring them more profits and would also benefit the existing joint venture business. As a partner in a new investment, their partnership position will be more secure. They will become our strategic partner. This is the same with Singapore, although investing overseas may result in capital outflow and will not create jobs for Singaporeans in the short term. I believe that this is a long-term strategy that will strengthen our economy and would eventually create more well-paying jobs for Singaporeans. Once we recognise that investing overseas is an important strategy, then we have to help our companies do so. In this connection, I would like to make three suggestions. Firstly, formulate direct incentives to encourage and help enterprises to go overseas. Investing in foreign countries entails high costs at the start up stage. This has discouraged many companies from venturing overseas. Through tax incentive and rebates, we could help to share some of the costs. Secondly, set up a special seed fund to co-invest with Singapore companies. Lack of capital is a common obstacle to companies going overseas. Local banks may be averse to lending them money to invest overseas because they are not familiar with the environment in the foreign country or they do not have the licence to lend money in these countries. Therefore, companies that want to invest overseas have to look for new banks. The Government should set up some seed funds to provide such facilities. We must be prepared to take some risks. As it is said, "no risk, no gain".”
“Thirdly, we have a stable political and social environment which ensures that our enterprises can develop and grow unimpeded. Mr Speaker, Sir, we have all the conditions for success. I am of the view that if we are to continue to prosper in a rapidly globalising environment, what we need is not just a Singapore economy. We have to build a vibrant and growing external economy that is not constrained by our own limitations. We have to open a new window, build new channels, develop new networks and be directly involved in the world economy. Such an economy cannot be constrained by our own geopolitical boundaries. Let me give an example. Over the years, my company has been investing in some Chinese cities and most of the businesses have done well. We naturally began to consider expanding our businesses to other parts of China. There was one critical obstacle. Our local partner was not prepared to join us in investing in places outside their province. They felt that their duty was to attract foreign investment to their own province so that jobs could be created for their local people. To them, investing in places outside the province means an outflow of capital and would not help create jobs for the people. They are wrong. In view of the reluctance of our local partner to go out of its own province, we decided to venture out to other provinces on our own. With the passage of time, such new investments will become more attractive than the existing one. When that happens, we may relocate our present factories and move to the new location. Then the province where we originally invested in will lose out eventually.”
“They had expected both corporate and personal income tax rates to come down further. However, we need to focus on the long term strategic objectives, and this is precisely what this budget seeks to do. Although restructuring is painful, it is the most effective way to help upgrade our economy to a higher plane. While the budget is generally on the right track, I think we could do more in the following aspects. Firstly, build up an external economy. Secondly, help our local companies and, thirdly, we must change our mindset. Build up an external economy. We have a very small economy with a population of 3.5 million. We have to depend on foreign markets. Our only choice is to stay connected to the world while at the same time minimise the negative impact of external factors. The Budget focuses on lowering business cost to maintain our competitiveness. However, I am afraid the world economy has changed structurally. It is not enough to be merely cost-competitive. Many economies offer more than cost competitiveness. They offer a huge domestic market and an inexhaustible pool of technical professionals and rich natural resources. We cannot offer the same thing, but does it mean that we are finished? Of course not. We have to identify and leverage on our competitive advantages, for example, our people, our most important resource. Our people are nimble, quick to exploit opportunities, creative, resilient and our workers are full of aspirations and ambitions. These are essential ingredients in the make-up of any successful entrepreneur. In addition, we have strong financial resources. Even during the current economic slowdown, many of our companies, both GLCs and private companies, remain financially healthy compared to many foreign companies.”
“The unemployment situation has worsened, externally there were squabbles between Singapore and Malaysia, and the bombing in Bali has made us keenly aware of the terrorist threats right before our eyes. On the whole, 2002 was a difficult year that has brought us few good news. The outlook for 2003 is still fraught with uncertainties. Externally, the tension that has bedevilled relations with our neighbour has eased somewhat although the bilateral issues have not yet to be solved. The situation in Iraq is unstable, with the war threatening to break out any moment. Our economy remains weak. With the successive retrenchments recently, the unemployment rate is likely to go up. The Prime Minister, in his recent interview, warned the people that the bad time is not quite over. He said that while we should not lose hope, we must also be prepared for the worst. Hence, when discussing the budget, we must be aware of the uncertain prospects facing us. The Government accepted almost all the recommendations of the ERC. These include postponing the restoration of the employers' CPF contributions, lowering the salary ceiling of CPF contributions, lowering the CPF contribution rates for workers aged 50 and above. All these measures are aimed at enhancing Singapore's competitiveness and preserving jobs. The Government has also put forward specific measures to help revive our economy, such as setting up a Services Committee to be chaired by DPM Lee, and the Committee on Promoting Entrepreneurial Spirit with Mr Raymond Lim in charge. What is apparently lacking in the Budget are some goodies people were hoping to get to alleviate their present financial difficulties. Their disappointment is understandable.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am a little puzzled after listening to the speech by Mr Low Thia Khiang. Mr Low said that the Government does not understand the difficulties faced by the people, and that the Government has not sent a clear signal to the people. I think this is a distorted opinion. We must not forget that the Government has postponed the 1% increase in GST by one year. This shows that the Government understands the difficulties faced by the people. This year's budget is a deficit budget. Does it not send a clear signal to the people that the Government cares? Mr Low also said that the Government has not done much for the unemployed. Perhaps he has not read the newspapers or heard the Minister's speeches that we have put in tremendous efforts to attract foreign investments, and by so doing to create more jobs for our people. There are problems in our economy, and these problems must be solved. I would liken our economy to a pregnant lady in labour. When my wife was in the labour room, I was there to accompany her, and the labour took a total of 18-hours. During child birth, the mother must experience labour pain. Without going through such labour pain, there would be no joy of a new-born baby. Likewise, our economy is like going through child birth. If we are not prepared to face some pain, and if we try to take short cuts, our new economy will not be born. Therefore, I urge all the MPs, including our Opposition Members, to work together to endure this pain of childbirth, and to look forward to receiving the new economy. Mr Speaker, Sir, 2002 was a very difficult year. The economic recovery which the people have been expecting did not materialise.”
“May I ask the Minister whether there is any specific timeframe for the revision of the new scheme.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I would like to seek some clarification from the Minister on his speech, and also to follow up on the questions on NEWater. From what he said regarding the chronological events in the negotiation of water, it would appear to me that the major turning point is the letter from Dr Mahathir to Senior Minister Lee dated 4th March 2002, which led us to a major decision to ramp up our NEWater programme to replace the 1961 Water Agreement when it expires in 2011. I would like to ask the Minister whether he could clarify or elaborate on what is so unattractive or unreasonable in the Malaysian Prime Minister's letter that led to our major decision like this.”
“This forum can also become a symbol, an icon, of our commitment to social cohesion and racial harmony. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we debate in this House how to tackle the threat of terrorism, we must not forget to recognise the good work put in by our security agencies. The Home Team, in particular, must be applauded for the effective intelligence they managed to gather and the swift and decisive actions that followed. It is through their relentless efforts that our homes are safe from the terrorists and we can all sleep soundly at night. On this note, Sir, I support the motion.”
“There are many different denominations within the Christian faith, with varying practices. Similarly, among the Chinese, there are also many different dialect groups - Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese - some do not even talk to one another. However, on the other hand, there exist many similarities among these different groups. We share the same land, we share the same community, we share the same consequences if terrorism is allowed to grow in Singapore. Many of the potential conflicts stem from the lack of understanding of each other. Such misunderstanding, if not resolved, may eventually lead to distrust and eventually even animosity. To avoid this, we must acknowledge and accept the differences, but emphasise and build on the similarities. The setting up of the Inter-Racial Confidence Circles is a good start. Perhaps it would be useful for the Ministry of Community Development and Sports to consider organising more regular dialogues among the various groups at the national level. For example, we could consider an annual forum where leaders from various religious groups, as well as grassroots organisations, can gather to share their views and concerns. There could be open sessions as well as closed-door sessions. This will provide a platform for sensitive issues to be discussed and differences to be resolved in an orderly manner. It will also provide an opportunity for greater interaction among the leaders and, hopefully, this will lead to greater understanding and tolerance. This forum can also be used as a platform for the religious leaders to proclaim statements on their stand with regard to religious harmony. Such proclamation will serve as a constant reminder and a useful guide for the respective believers and followers.”
“We must strengthen Singaporeans' resilience against recruitment efforts by the terrorist network and we must do so right from the start, among our younger Singaporeans. For this reason, I would like to suggest that we revise and update our school curriculum, for example, in the National Education Programme, to include issues relating to terrorism. Young Singaporeans must be taught the values of social cohesion and religious harmony. We must inculcate in them the basic values of mutual respect, mutual tolerance and mutual acceptance, regardless of race and religion. These values must be transformed from academic knowledge into a way of life for all Singaporeans. This way, when our younger Singaporeans come across teachings that do not conform to these basic values, they would then be able to question the basis of such teachings rather than being taken in by their emotional appeal. If they have been taught from young that it is wrong to take away lives, they will then have strong moral courage to resist the call to be part of a terrorist plan to kill innocent people. Therefore, I would like to urge the Ministry to work closely with the Ministry of Education to review our National Education Programme for this purpose. Thirdly, to strengthen religious harmony and foster greater mutual understanding and acceptance, we need to create more channels for communication among the various ethnic and religious groups. We cannot deny that many differences do exist among different religious and ethnic groups. To do so is being unrealistic. These differences are a result of our cultural heritage, our life experiences and our religious beliefs. Even within the same religious group, there are differences. I am a Christian.”
“For example, we must constantly remind our people that should an incident happen, they should not panic and should not jump to conclusions prematurely. We should also remind them not to aid in propagating unverified rumours or to inform the authorities when they become aware of such rumours. Of course, this needs to be done carefully so as not to create unnecessary fear among our people. The key is to let them know what to expect and what is expected of them. This way, they would be psychologically prepared and would not be caught by surprise. The impact of any incident can then be better managed. Secondly, we need to strengthen the resilience of our people, especially the younger generation, against distorted teachings. The White Paper showed that among those arrested, all, except two, are of average or above average intelligence. They are not ignorant or destitute. They are fully aware of their actions and deadly serious about their missions. What disturbs me most is the ability of the terrorist network to attract intelligent people and sometimes respectable members of our society to join in their cause. Investigations showed that one of the recruitment techniques used by the JI network is through seemingly innocent religious classes. These classes have far-reaching influence on the impressionable minds of our younger Singaporeans. The teachers abuse the trust and betray the confidence of their students. Then they bind their recruits with threats of infidelity if they choose to leave their organisation. Such techniques are frightfully similar to those used by secret societies in the past. The long-term solution to terrorist threats is to find a way to disrupt their recruitment process. I believe that we must deal with the root of the issue.”
“Sir, I am fully confident of the effectiveness of our security measures and the capability of our security agencies to manage and minimise the terrorist risks. However, we must not and cannot afford to be complacent. We must recognise that there is a possibility, remote as it may be, that a terrorist incident could actually happen in Singapore. As documents released recently by the Ministry of Home Affairs have shown, had we not caught the JI terrorists in time, a major incident could have taken place. If and when this happens, the psychological impact on our people could far outstrip the physical impact of the incident. More importantly, it could create a rift among Singaporeans of different races and religions. It could threaten the cohesiveness of our society. The multi-racial and multi-religious society we have so painstakingly built over the last 30 years could easily be destroyed overnight. If this happens, the terrorists would have achieved their objective of destabilising the country. Therefore, I feel that other than enhancing physical security measures, we need to also prepare our people psychologically in the event that an incident does happen. To do this, I would like to urge the Ministry of Home Affairs to consider a public education programme aimed at informing our people what they ought to do and what they ought not to do in such eventualities. This is no different from our effort to prepare our people in Total Defence. The recent bomb hoax at Holland Village is an example of how an ill-informed public may be used to propagate damaging rumours that may cause panic among Singaporeans. Therefore, being well-informed is a crucial element of our preparedness against terrorist attacks.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the motion standing in the name of the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Wong Kan Seng. Sir, the White Paper clearly sets out the history and the nature of the threat of terrorism in Singapore. It also recommends bold initiatives to deal with this threat. Many of us have assumed that terrorist activities in Singapore only started in 2001, after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center and that it has ended with the recent arrests of the JI activists. The White Paper shows us otherwise. Terrorism in Singapore dates back a long way and it is far from being eliminated. It is a deep-rooted problem. It threatens the stability and security of our society. It needs to be addressed thoroughly and seriously. On the other extreme, there are also people who are paranoid and see terrorists everywhere. There is no need to over-react and, as a result, strain inter-relations. We need to have a balanced approach. The White Paper is, therefore, a timely document that provides some guidelines for dealing with this issue. It also reminds us that terrorism is a problem for all Singaporeans. Government's efforts alone will not be enough. We must work together to deal with it as a united people I agree with the three key recommendations set out in the paper, ie, to enhance security measures, to police the threat of terrorism and to strengthen social cohesion and religious harmony. These are the three pillars of our counter-terrorism strategy. I would like to share some of my views and suggestions in this respect. Firstly, I agree with Mdm Ho Geok Choo that we must be prepared. We must prepare our people for the eventuality of an actual terrorist attack in Singapore.”
“It may even be useful to produce an easy-to-understand booklet to explain the new system. Education is a vital part of our Government policy as it affects the entire population and it determines our future. It is also one of the most difficult part as its effects are usually not immediately obvious. Madam, there is no perfect system, although every parent thinks and believes that he alone knows the perfect solution. We must continuously review and improve our education system to keep up with the times, so as to give the best to our children. I sincerely hope that this report is not the end but a turning point. I hope that the review process will continue and our future generation can benefit from an ever improving system. Madam, I support the motion.”