Gan Thiam Poh
Singapore
“Chairman, the ComLink+ Progress packages aim to support the efforts of eligible lower-income families with young children to help them achieve stability, self-reliance and social mobility.”
“Madam, our maritime sector has been a key growth engine for our economy and provide many jobs and business opportunities. In addition to being an international maritime centre, Singapore is the top bunkering port and busiest container transshipment hub in the world.”
“Chairman, in rating the quality of public transport, most commuters would consider the following factors, such as safety, affordability, connectivity, reliability, accessibility, frequency, speed and last but not least, comfort. All these factors contribute to our commuters’ experience, which many of us go through almost daily.”
“Chairman, many of my residents are appealing to have MRT stations in the proximity of their homes. Will LTA reconsider a new MRT line to support residents at Seletar, Yio Chu Kang, Fernvale at the central, north and northeast zones to the city at the south, and new Woodlands North, as well as to Changi Airport on the east and Tuas on the…”
“Chairman point-to-point (P2P) services play an important role being a convenient and, at times, essential supplement to our public transport system, by providing direct access to specific locations. Our main P2P providers are taxis and private hire vehicles (PHV).”
“Chair, our hawker centres are our national canteens and provide a wide variety of affordable food to suit more palates and budgets. We have had many popular hawker centres sited all over Singapore, which have served residents over many years.”
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Every one of 667 lines we hold for Gan Thiam Poh, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 11 of 14.
“May I suggest that the Government consider setting up another institution or registrar as a long-term solution to administer smaller defaulters through a simpler and more economical framework. It is important to impress upon the individuals to take personal responsibility and exercise self-discipline for their personal finances. Raising the limit may send the wrong signal to them. Next, I would like to voice my support for the amendment which will allow bankrupts to be discharged according to a set timeframe. This is a more transparent approach than the current framework under which there are no specific criteria and discharge is granted only by the High Court or Official Assignee on a case-by-case basis. Under the new framework, debtors will be encouraged to work towards resolution and closure. At least they will know when they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. With Page: 111 that, I support the amendment. 6.27 pm”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. We have over 20,000 cases of undischarged bankrupts in Singapore, with about 1,500 to 1,900 new cases filed every year. According to the Insolvency and Public Trustee's Office, the leading causes of bankruptcy in Singapore are overspending, business failure and unemployment. The Credit Bureau Singapore also reported that borrowing by individuals had increased over the years. Page: 110 It is important that the Government puts in place measures to encourage financial prudence and prevent borrowers from over-leveraging. Continuous public education is necessary to remind Singaporeans of the benefits of financial discipline so that they will be prudent and not borrow beyond their means. I support measures, such as the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) framework and so-called financial restrictions of motor vehicle loans by MAS. The Credit Bureau also plays a role in helping borrowers and lenders manage debts and risks. Schemes, such as the Debt Repayment Scheme and the Repayment Assistance Scheme administered by the Official Assignee and Credit Counselling Singapore respectively, are also useful in helping individuals reduce their debts gradually and in a feasible manner. The Bill proposes to raise the minimum debt level for debtors to be made bankrupt from $10,000 to $15,000. The Ministry has pointed out that the intention of this amendment is to get lenders and borrowers to resolve more debts without resorting to a bankruptcy application or petition. In addition, the amount takes into consideration inflation. My concern is that the higher limit may encourage lenders to try to get individuals to borrow more than what they need. There is also the possibility that lenders will upload their costs to meet the minimum amount.”
“Next, the penalty for carrying dangerous materials, such as weapons or biochemicals, is a fine of up to $100,000, jail for up to five years, or both. I think that this punishment is too light for anyone who carries such dangerous materials which can cause injuries and fatalities on a potentially massive scale. I urge the Ministry to re-examine this. With more and more UAs fitted with cameras, it would be inevitable that the privacy of all in the flight paths of UAs will be compromised. How would the authority resolve the problem of such intrusions and help protect residents' privacy? Taking UA operators to Court for privacy invasion can be tedious and expensive for most Singaporeans and residents. How can the Government help victims take action against errant operators in an expeditious and affordable way? Finally, may I request the Ministry to consider prohibiting the flying of UAs in all Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates, especially between the HDB flats, as they would certainly intrude upon the privacy of the flat owners, unless with permits and copies of the video recorder are subject to censorship. With that, I support the Bill. 4.51 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, the increasing popularity of unmanned aircraft (UA) necessitates an update of our regulatory and permit framework to facilitate their usage while ensuring safety and security. This Act amends the ANA and POA. New sections 29G of ANA and 32A of the POA provide for authorised personnel to take action to counteract security and safety breaches. They can direct the fastest and most practicable way of controlling or ending an UA's flight path, even by force, if necessary. However, it is not very clear to me how far our enforcers are allowed to go to end the flight paths of rogue UAs. Would the authorities be empowered to shoot them down if the operators refuse to land them, or if they are beyond control and likely to cause harm and injuries on the ground? I would appreciate if the Minister could share more details in this area. What worries me about this Bill is the lack of measures to enable the authorities to carry out preventive checks to minimise chances of UAs carrying prohibited items, especially explosives, from taking off; and in the event rogue UAs are recovered, there may be very little evidence on them to assist with the identification of owners and operators. I suggest that we put in place checks and restrictions on all UAs, locally-made or imported, and impose licensing and certification requirements so that the authorities will have a complete database of UAs and their owners, somewhat similar to the database we have for SIM cards for mobile phones. Even the UAs owned by hobbyists who fly the UAs for recreation or private use should be included. This way, operators would be more conscious Page: 80 of responsible usage and it would be more feasible for the authorities to track down operators should something go wrong.”
“Some residents are worried that after the Bill is amended, some people may pose as HDB officers and coerce the residents into opening their doors for them to get in. Although HDB has reminded the residents to verify that they are HDB officers, some residents say that they cannot tell whether the documents are genuine or not. And they are also concerned whether their privacy could be preserved. I hope that the Minister could take into account these concerns and worries of the residents and put forward the relevant measures that HDB is going to take. 4.58 pm”
“Page: 75 Presently, HDB bears half of the repair costs of leakages and spalling concrete, with the other half shared equally by upper and lower floor flat owners. Generally, flat owners pay about $180 for each ceiling-leak repair. Despite this heavily-subsidised price, there are owners who face financial hardship and cannot afford to pay. Does HDB have assistance schemes in place to help such families to pay for such expenses? Another important advantage of allowing HDB officers to enter flats with warrants is that we now have another tool to stamp out the illegal subletting of flats or their use for non-residential purposes. Presently, owners and tenants can refuse to let HDB officers enter their flats to investigate lease infringements. Many of such cases include overcrowding leading to disturbances and an unsafe environment for the neighbours. Hence, I am in full support of providing our enforcement officers with this new tool for a safer neighbourhood. Let me continue and conclude in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I support this Housing and Development (Amendment) Bill. On the surface, provisions of the Bill may appear to be giving HDB officers excessive power to enter HDB flats which are suspected to have problems to conduct investigation and repair. However, the HDB would only do so as the last resort. Every year, there are as many as 2,800 cases of ceiling leak cases which take more than three months to resolve. In some cases, it may take even more than a year to be dealt with. And there are more than 100 households who refuse to cooperate and HDB has to apply for a Court warrant in order to enter the unit to investigate. This is time-consuming and taxpayers' money is wasted.”
“It would be useful for HDB to clarify what constitutes uncooperative behaviour. Would the Ministry elaborate on what actions HDB has to take and exhaust before it acts to force the flat owner to allow access to carry out the investigation and repair works? How long will the whole process take before forced entry is made as a last resort, as pointed out by other Members in the House? What would happen if the owners need a longer time to accede to the request due to, for example, medical reasons, but the owners of the unit below cannot accommodate? Or if the owners of the upper floor unit claim that they cannot comply at all due to medical concerns? There may also be cases where the owners are away for extended periods or are so-called "uncontactable". What alternatives are available to HDB officers? I would like to suggest that HDB conduct thorough investigations of affected units to ensure that causes of problems originating from other sources are excluded before approaching the suspected units. For example, there had been cases where the ceiling leaks tend to occur only on rainy days because they were caused by cracks in external walls on the upper floor, not from the upper floor unit per se. Sharing information about such prior investigations with the owners of the units above will assure them that they are not being inconvenienced unnecessarily. I would also like to ask what would happen if the remedial works still fail to rectify problems. Would the owners still need to pay for additional costs of further investigations? What if further investigations reveal that an errant diagnosis is due to a HDB contractor?”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. A key feature of the Bill is the power of entry for HDB for investigation and urgent repairs. For many long-suffering residents whose neighbours have been uncooperative or, worse, acting in violation of the law, this measure is overdue and provides much welcomed assurance of safety and security. In cases where there are looming dangers, such as structural damages, where the safety of residents is at stake, HDB's right to access the problematic units is indisputable. With the amendment, HDB will no longer require a Court warrant and necessary action can be taken immediately. I would like to ask the Minister: how many of such cases have occurred in recent years which are the most common hazards and what measures are in place to prevent the recurrence of such incidents? Page: 74 On the other hand, where the situations are not quite as dire, such as a ceiling leak, there are some criticisms about the proposal to allow entry with Court warrants in cases where owners ignore a 24-hour notice period and have not allowed HDB staff's entry. Some feel that such a measure is heavy-handed. Others worry about abuse of such powers. The critics in the first group may not be aware of the severity of this problem. As the Minister of State had shared before, each year alone, there are about 2,800 ceiling-leak cases which take more than three months to resolve. In addition, every year, HDB has to take about 120 flat owners to Court to compel them to provide access to their flats for investigation and repairs. It is important for the Ministry to highlight to all HDB owners that the 24-hour notice is only given in cases where the flat owners have been persistently uncooperative.”
“Things are showing effect. With regard to obesity, our rates seem to indicate that it has stabilised, although it increased from 6.0% in 1998 to 10.8% in 2010. We have another survey which we did in 2013, a similar one, but a little bit different methodology, that showed the rate has gone down to 8.6%. And also, it seems to show that the rate in obesity may be slowing.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary if our promotional efforts have shown any impact. In fact, I also want to find out, are Singaporeans actually getting healthier in their habits? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I would like to thank the Member for his supplementary question. As I had shared earlier, we are making good progress. What we are seeing is that Singaporeans are getting healthier. And our health promotion efforts have shown some impact. One is with regard to the picture in terms of their habits and the other is with regard to some of the data that we have collected. There are areas where we can do more and where we need to improve. There are areas whereby because of affluence, because of the availability of good food, we may have to do some more in trying to help to change this behaviour. But I must say that besides HPB, there are many other organisations that are together in this journey. These include the People's Association (PA), CDC, Sports Singapore, also it relates to facilities provided by LTA, by NParks and many more, as well as organisations and small interest groups. I shared earlier about small informal groups interested in the health movement. We also want to thank them for playing a part. But let me go back to share with you some of the data that we have. For example, if we look at smoking, between 1992 and 2013, our adult smoking prevalence improved from 18.3% to 13.3%. We see a downward trend. Another trend that we can see is also smoking rates amongst young adults aged 18 to 29 years are lower than among all adults – 12.7% and 13.3%. This possibly is attributable to the intensified intervention, targeting young adults at the Institutions of Higher Learning and also National Service training camps.”
“Mr Chairman, I support the Healthy Living Masterplan's objective to create a conducive environment in which healthy living is accessible to all Singaporeans. I would like to ask the Ministry how it will raise the standards and quality of healthcare; about the progress of the Masterplan, how the various initiatives have been performing and if they are gaining traction among Singaporeans. Will there be new projects in this coming year? What are the areas of difficulty and what can be done to Page: 126 minimise potential problems? (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As long as we can keep ourselves healthy, we shall have no worries at all. Every generation will enjoy MediShield Life and we shall live happily ever after.”
“Sir, since launching the ABC Waters Programme in 2006, the numerous ABC sites have won many admirers for their picturesque scenes. The initiative to create beautiful community spaces for all to enjoy while integrating our networks of waterways and reservoirs is a big success. Singapore is on her way to being transformed into a City of Gardens and Water. Hence, my residents are keen to know if there will be an ABC Programme site in our constituency and if there are any plans to improve more areas. When will PUB carry out improvement works to Sungei Pinang, Hougang Avenue 10? Would PUB consider including Hougang Avenue 8 as well? Water Resilience”
“Mr Chairman, since 2011, the year-on-year change in the Consumer Price Index for hawker food at hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts has been increasing at an average of 2% to 3% per annum. Cumulatively, the increases can be quite significant for our lower-income households whose incomes may not be increasing by as much. Hawker food is one of the essentials of Singaporean life. It is delicious, accessible, convenient, hygienic and offers great variety. Hawker food is a boon for the elderly who are too weak to cook, and for workers and employees who are too busy or tired after a day of work to cook. Hence, I urge the Ministry to do its best to ensure that our hawker food prices remain affordable to all.”
“Madam, I understand that ERP is implemented when the speed of the motor vehicles falls below 40 kilometres per hour (km/h). I notice that along MCE, during the morning and evening peak hours, vehicular speed along the stretch where the gantry at the former ECP leading to Fort Road is located, is more than 40 km/h. My question is: is there a need to continue to impose ERP there at the moment?”
“Mdm Chair, motorised bicycles are becoming a major hazard on our pavements and roads. Despite the penalties, there is growing demand for such vehicles, including those modified illegally which can go up to 120 kilometres per hour. What will the Ministry do to resolve this issue? May I suggest that we step up enforcement, make it easier for witnesses and victims to make reports, and implement riding tests, licensing, road tax and insurance requirements? Many owners of motorised bikes do not realise that they are liable for civil suits in the event of an accident. If serious injuries or deaths result, they could be liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. Without the necessary insurance policies, both victims and riders will face much difficulty. I urge the Minister to take action urgently. Innovative Forms of Last-Mile Transport”
“Mdm Chair, currently, there are 10 City Direct bus services serving Jurong West, Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Hillview, Sengkang, West Coast, Sembawang, Jurong East, Eunos, Bedok and Hougang. As I also heard very positive feedback from Members, may I ask how successful have these services been to others? What is the feedback so far and will the services be sustainable in the long term? I understand that five more City Direct bus services will be available to serve parts of Marsiling, Woodlands, Pasir Ris, Tampines East, Simei, Yew Tee and Yishun from the next quarter. Are there plans to increase such services in Sengkang, Buangkok and Punggol? Page: 57 Transport Subsidy for Caregivers”
“Madam, so far this year, we have been hit by a spate of train disruptions, the most recent one just last week. All lines seem to have been affected by one problem or another. A number of such incidents were during peak hours, causing massive jams and delays. Understandably, commuters were frustrated and disappointed. On the other hand, commuters also noted the improvements in our train system over the past few years though it is still not entirely satisfactory. I would like to ask the Minister why we are continuing to be plagued by MRT disruptions and what have been done to minimise such incidents. How can we ensure that we can achieve an optimal balance between efficiency and safety as the headway between trains during peak hours is minimised. In addition, what improvements have been made to our trains for the past few years and going forward, to make our system economical, relevant, reliable, efficient and convenient? Building Noise Barriers for MRT Tracks”
“Mdm Chairman, I wish to ask the Minister whether there will be a price review for Studio Apartments. Currently, the tenure for Studio Apartments for senior citizens is only 30 years, whereas the lease for 2-room flats is 99 years. I compared the price of a Studio Apartment to that of a 2-room flat. For a 2-room flat, after subsidy, the price of the flat can be as low as $10,000 to $20,000, whereas that for a Studio Apartment which is on a 30-year lease in the new towns is about $50,000 to $60,000 each. My question is whether there will be a review of the price and I hope that the price of Studio Apartments can be lowered to help the senior citizens.”
“Chairman, rental is one of the biggest components of business costs. Many small businesses utilising HDB commercial properties are requesting that HDB review and reduce their rental rates. Any reduction or rebate would really help them to continue with their businesses. Perhaps, the Ministry can consider providing rebates to businesses which provide essential products and services to the community, such as grocery stores and food stalls in an estate with many senior citizens. These businesses may not be very profitable as volumes are small but the elderly will enjoy the convenience at their doorsteps. The savings will also be passed on to the consumers and keep their businesses viable and competitive.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to ask the Ministry about the progress of the MSO launched on 1 October last year. It has been tasked to coordinate the work of eight Government agencies. I would like to know how the MSO achieves this objective. How does Page: 138 it avoid duplicating the existing feedback mechanism or becoming a message forwarding box? These eight agencies are AVA, PUB, LTA, NEA, NParks, Singapore Police Force (SPF), People's Association (PA) and HDB. I would like to ask why is MSO partnering these particular agencies and will MSO consider partnering other agencies as well? If so, what are these agencies and how will this effort benefit the residents? MSO's OneService Mobile App Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, MSO has recently launched a mobile app called OneService in January 2015 to make it easier and more convenient for residents to submit their feedback on municipal issues. I have met a few people who have downloaded the app. Can the Minister share with the House what are the benefits of using this app? What does it mean to the public? How has the public response been so far? How does it help the MSO in delivering its services? How has service to the public improved? Will MSO be looking to further enhance the app to make it better and more useful for residents? Centralisation of Public Greenery Maintenance”
“On the other hand, parents may be reluctant to relocate and stay near their children in a new estate, even if the amenities or infrastructure are better in these new estates. Hence, will MND consider adding rooms to existing blocks if it is structurally possible? Just one or two more rooms may be all that is needed for three generations to stay together in their mature estate.”
“Some couples who marry late and thus are earning higher incomes or who want to be financially prudent have appealed to my parliamentary colleagues or me to ask the Ministry to waive the income ceiling for all first-time joint applicants. They feel that they should not be penalised for their circumstances. Page: 126 Would the Ministry consider providing all first-timer joint applicants an equal chance for the first bite of the cherry for BTO flats? I am sure that by doing so, it will lighten their financial load and aid in procreation. Pro-family Incentives Presently, under the Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS), 30% of the BTO flat supply and 50% of the Sale of Balance flat units are set aside for first-timer married couples with at least one child. For families with at least three children, they can take advantage of the third-child priority scheme under which up to 5% of the available flat supply is set aside for them. And if they are not successful under the TCP, they get to ballot again under the PPS. I would like to ask whether the Ministry would consider giving applicants and upgraders with at least two children even higher priority and an additional grant for each child in the family. Addition of Rooms to Existing Flats At my Meet-the-People Sessions, I have always found it heartening to receive requests for help from young couples wanting to stay near their parents. This shows that our family ties are still strong. Unfortunately, there are many new families competing for such units in mature estates and the Government cannot always build more blocks of flats due to lack of space in these mature estates.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] At the opening of the Twelfth Parliament, I suggested that the Government could consider providing cheaper HDB flats with a shorter lease than 99 years to needy Singaporeans. The Government is already providing Studio Apartments with a 30-year lease to the elderly. Can the Government consider supplying flats with leases of 60, 70 or even 45 years and sell them at a lower price to needy Singaporeans? For a start, the Government could consider 3-room or smaller HDB flats and sell them to people who have applied twice directly with HDB, enjoyed the grants twice but, for whatever reason, encountered financial difficulties and cannot afford to buy on the open market. At the same time, we can stipulate that people who have bought these cheaper flats can only sell them back to HDB to prevent them from profiteering. Shorter Waiting Time (In English): Mdm Chair, most couples today prefer to have their own flats before having children. And the wait of 2.5 years to four years to collect the key to a BTO flat may be somewhat too long, especially in view of the increasing ages of the brides and grooms, as people tend to get married later nowadays. Hence, I would like to ask if the Ministry would be prepared to build more flats for buffer stock going forward. This will result in a shorter waiting time for our newly-wed couples, encouraging them to get married early and have more children. Waiver of Income Ceiling Presently, a couple's average gross monthly income must not exceed $10,000 for them to be eligible for a new HDB flat.”
“On the SME Talent Programme and the matching of talents to the SMEs, would the Ministry consider recruiting all these talents under the Ministry and seconding them to those businesses requesting them? Of course, the cost will be borne by the businesses directly. That will expedite the whole process and also give more assurance to the talents.”
“Mdm Chair, to support the growth of our home-grown companies and help them build their expertise and brands, the Government has been providing various assistance schemes, such as the broad-based Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) and Innovation and Capability Voucher (ICV) schemes. I am heartened to note that awareness of these schemes is high and they are increasingly popular among SMEs, as the SME Development Survey and a Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey had found. More SMEs are also accessing manpower-related schemes, such as the Workfare Training Scheme and the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme. Page: 14 May I ask the Minister if there are plans to enhance targeted assistance scheme tailored to individual companies' needs? If so, how can such targeted Government schemes benefit more SMEs? Help SMEs Transform”
“Mr Chairman, there is intensifying competition for the global tourist shopping dollar. How will the Ministry ensure that we remain a vibrant tourist destination and retain our competitiveness on this front? I note with concern the decrease in tourist arrivals by 3.1% last year, the first decline since 2009. One of the reasons was our strengthening Singapore dollar which makes us actually a pricier destination. How can we overcome this hurdle by adding value so that our visitors will find their trips here worth the while? Page: 139 Fortunately, total tourism receipts had stayed constant as per capita spending has risen. This is very encouraging. Would the Ministry share how it intends to maintain this trend in tourist expenditure?”
“Competition among cities to become hubs is actually very keen. New ways of doing business, such as e-commerce, is changing the landscape rapidly. It is crucial that we continue to invest and innovate to stay ahead of the pack. Singapore-Korea Free Trade Agreement”
“Chairman, our median wages are increasing on target to reach the 30% rise between 2010 and 2020 set by the Economic Strategies Committee. In the face of global economic uncertainty, it is important for us at this mid-point to review what the key growth sectors for Singapore are in the years ahead. These will help us plan for the training required for our workers to be ready for these sectors, which will enable them to earn better wages. Would the Ministry share with the House the sectors it has identified and its strategies to attract investments for the development of these sectors? I would also like to reiterate my concerns over the impact of automation on jobs which I spoke at length about in my speech during the Debate on the Budget Statement. Robotic technologies are improving by leaps and bounds and are increasingly able to perform tasks Page: 132 previously thought the domain of only humans. This development will result in certain job redundancies while creating new types of jobs. Against this background and given the changing profile of education qualifications and higher job expectations, how can MTI facilitate the creation of quality jobs for Singaporeans? Key Hub for International Trade As the nature of trade and trade flows change, I would like to ask the Ministry how we can keep Singapore relevant as a key hub for the international movement of goods and services? Being a key hub is one of the main reasons for our prosperity. We are Asia's top logistics hub, with 20 of the top 25 global logistics companies operating their regional or global headquarters here. We are also one of six major cities which are hubs for all types of cross-border flows, according to the latest research by McKinsey Global Institute.”
“However, we must be mindful that the profits from this increased productivity accrue to owners of the businesses which own the automated businesses, factories and companies. This has, in fact, likely escalated income inequality and resulted in stagnating wages overseas. Hence, we must be careful not to let the flipside of this technological advancement hurt our workers, too. Instead, as a nation, we must strategise and concentrate on taking advantage of this trend, investing and taking stakes in these businesses as individuals, organisations, corporations and as a nation through our sovereign funds. Only then can we reap the profits for the benefit of our people. The article also mentioned that even as some jobs become obsolete, new jobs are created. It gave the example of Rio Tinto's Australian mines. Automation has cut many driving jobs which are now mostly being done by robots. However, "the company now needs more network technicians and mechatronics engineers, a hybrid of electrical and mechanical engineering that hardly existed five years ago". The restructuring of our education system, to tie in more closely with the needs of employers and industries, is a step in the right direction to stay relevant in this new market. With that, Mdm Speaker, I support the Budget. 2.13 pm”
“What kind of support can be further extended to Singaporeans, especially as we need to continue to encourage procreation? Raising fertility remains one of our long-term economic priorities for continued economic vibrancy and sustainability. Finally, I would like to share my concerns about the role of automation in raising productivity. I am sure that many of us have seen recent reports of how automation and the use of robots in various industries have helped with manpower shortage and raised productivity. This is a global trend and will continue unabated. It is impossible for Singapore to fight this trend as the majority of the changes are taking place overseas beyond our jurisdiction, in countries with huge manufacturing capabilities and capacities, particularly the United States and China. In fact, China has recently overtaken the United States as the largest global market for robots. The Wall Street Journal published a thought-provoking article "What clever robots mean for Jobs" on 26 February this year. The article highlights how automation reduces demand for certain jobs. Robots can now handle unpredictability and take on jobs that used to require human skills or judgement. And computer can even "read human facial Page: 52 expressions, do legal research, write stock reports and news stories, as well as translate conversations. At car dealers, they generate online advertising. And, at banks, they churn out government-required documents to flag potential money laundering – all jobs done by human workers a short time ago". Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said last year that "automation threatens all manners of workers, from drivers to waiters to nurses". For us here, with our manpower shortage, this should sound like good news.”
“Not everyone is ready to take advantage of this development and it is important that the Government educates more Singaporeans to embrace these changes and reap the benefits. Singapore is moving towards being a Smart Nation and the Government has to help our local businesses adjust. Of course, there are implications for brick-and-mortar set-ups and rentals. Private residential, commercial, industrial property owners cannot keep on increasing rentals. Increasingly, businesses do not even need retail or office space because of the new technology. Page: 51 On the other hand, I would like to take this opportunity to request the Government to help keep costs of business down by keeping the rental of industrial and commercial properties down. As the price of oil has fallen significantly, the value of our workers' output may be affected. The productivity index may not reflect the full picture of the gain of workers' productivity and workers have to work even harder to get the same value of output. The value of work is impacted by non-labour components, such as rental and energy costs. The deferment of foreign worker levy hikes is welcomed and businesses are requesting that the levy not be increased further. There is a need to encourage employers to support their employees' needs. Often, employers are concerned that the staff will join their competitors after investments in training them. There are bigger challenges for SMEs to attract and train staff as they may not have the luxury of resources. We also have to examine how to support employees to upgrade skills and acquire new technologies, especially those in mid-career. In a rapidly changing and competitive market, the lifespan of skills acquired may be shorter than expected.”
“Not many countries have the luxury of implementing measures, such as ours. We are able to do so without debt or burdening future generations because of the surpluses from years of economic growth. It is absolutely critical to secure continued economic vibrance for sustained prosperity. We must remain attractive to foreign investors even as we push ahead to develop our local enterprises and their overseas expansions. The confidence of investors, both local and foreign, is very important for us to be able to continue to develop our various sectors and provide good and quality jobs for all Singaporeans. With a dynamic economy, we can keep our Singapore dollar strong and this will help keep our cost of living low since we import almost all our goods. Singaporeans love to travel. I am sure they have noticed how, in recent years, our strong Singapore dollar has stretched their purchases overseas. The strong Singapore dollar will help us to also check on the cost of living, since we import most of the goods into Singapore. We must be mindful that with global competition, our workers face foreign competition even when they are not on our territory. The way of doing business and consumer behaviour have been changed tremendously by technology. Nowadays, people bid for jobs and take orders online. I believe most people in this House or their family members would have also made purchases online. Services can be delivered online and products via delivery. Borders are really coming down and competition can be from anywhere, everywhere. On the other hand, the world is our oyster. We can expand our business overseas through the same online channels as well.”
“They also appreciate the higher interest rates for workers aged above 50 to 65 which are much higher than the low market commercial interest rates one can get today. On this note, I would also like to ask the Government to do more to share this information with the public. I noticed this morning when I saw the Facebook post by our Speaker, when she met residents recently in a coffee shop, she also realised that some Singaporeans may not know this information. I share her thought. I would like to appeal to the Minister to consider providing more incentives and tax reliefs to CPF members who top up the CPF accounts of their family members through their own CPF or in cash so that these loved ones, currently restricted to parents, parents-in-law, grandparents, grandparents-in-law, spouse and siblings, can also enjoy the security and higher returns of CPF savings. Presently, CPF members can enjoy an additional tax relief of up to $7,000 per calendar year if they use cash to make top-ups for their loved ones. Would the Government consider removing this cap of $7,000? I am sure that more members will be encouraged to make more top-ups if every dollar's top-up can enjoy tax relief, just as higher tax deductions for donations have led to more donations, which is why the Government has increased tax deductions for donations made to IPC-registered charities this year from 250% to 300% – tripled. Page: 50 Another welcomed measure is the Special Employment Credit to encourage employers to continue to extend employment to older workers. For those who can and want to continue to work, we must do our utmost to support them as their many years of experience and cumulative wisdom bring invaluable contributions to the workplace.”
“Mdm Speaker, since this is still within the Chinese New Year period, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone in the House happiness, prosperity and good health. I rise in support of the Budget. This will be our biggest Budget to date and it is almost 20% more than last year's. Yet, it is a prudent and inclusive one, investing in our future development and our most precious resources – our people. I have every confidence that these investments will bear good fruits and create even more opportunities for Singapore Page: 49 and our future generations. One of my favourite features of this year's Budget is the set of measures for building skills. The SkillsFuture Credits, more study awards, cost subsidies, internships and on-the-job-training are widely welcomed. I fully agree with Deputy Prime Minister Tharman that our country must become a meritocracy of skills. Our people should be valued for expertise and contributions at each stage of life. If we are to remain competitive as a nation and as an economy, we have to update the way we motivate, incentivise and reward our workers. Learning and developing our potential throughout our lives is the way to go. If we do not change our mindsets, we will end up either being complacent or discouraged and the outlook for our next 50 years will be gloomy. My constituents, friends and colleagues have also shared with me how appreciative they are of the measures to support families and the more vulnerable seniors. Some have even expressed concerns about the sustainability of these measures and urged prudence in our future expenditure, requesting not to burden taxpayers too much. Everyone I spoke with welcomed the increase in CPF salary ceiling, saying that that will be helpful for middle-aged workers.”
“I thank the Minister for the positive reply. I think we are all aware that Singapore public transport is heavily subsidised by the Government. My thinking is that since it is heavily subsidised, and actually there are profits made by the transport companies and there are also savings there, would the Ministry perhaps consider making all Singaporeans as shareholders of these public transport companies, so that they get to share in the savings, especially for this year, which is the 50th year of Singapore's Independence (SG50)? I think we had done that in the past via the issuing of Singtel Special Shares. Perhaps, the Government may consider that to celebrate SG50 and to thank all Singaporeans for their support this year, the understanding that they have shown, their support of the transport operators, especially in the past two years, and for the inconvenience that some of them have to go through.”
“Can HDB make available such information as soon as possible and also, instead of twice yearly, can HDB conduct these sales quarterly so that the applicants can plan ahead?”
“My next question is whether HDB will consider giving an extra chance for those repeated so-called unsuccessful applicants after each failure.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. For this year's 16,500 BTO flats, may I know what is the percentage that would be 2-room flats made available to singles?”
“The Government cannot do nothing when someone is dying just as the doctor would do his best to save the patient's life so that the patient can recover quickly. Singaporeans must also look after their own health and live a healthy lifestyle. When you fall sick, you are the one who will suffer; nobody can substitute your body and you will Page: 126 suffer the pain of any illness. Because MediShield Life is for everybody, every one of us has the responsibility to ensure its sustainability. All Singaporeans must look after their own health and stay healthy. This will help reduce the amount and number of claims so that the premiums will remain affordable to the people in general. The success of this Scheme will depend on everybody's support and sharing the cost together. For those who are financially hard-pressed, we have to make sure they receive assistance and support. We have to ensure that no one will be left without cover because of financial problems. We occasionally would hear people say "I do not even have enough money to eat, let alone buy insurance!" How will the Ministry further simplify the assistance model to help the needy Singaporeans? I think the Ministry can work through the Community Centres to help these people. We can also encourage Singaporeans to be charitable and donate money to help those who cannot afford to pay their premiums. We have to build together a society which is full of compassion and care. Perhaps the Government can provide tax benefits and relief to encourage Singaporeans to help the disadvantaged pay their premiums. I support the Bill.”
“For this new Scheme, the coverage amount will be higher, co-payment will be lower and there will be no cap on the sum that a person can claim in his lifetime. As a result, premiums will be higher than those of the current MediShield scheme. I am glad to know that the Government has pledged $4 billion in aid over five years to ensure the new scheme stays affordable. Also, two in three people will get permanent subsidies of 15% to 50% on their premiums. Increasing employers' Medisave contributions by 1% and allowing contributions from spouses and siblings are also helpful. Those who still cannot afford the premiums will get additional help from the Government. For most people, the higher premiums can be covered fully by Medisave. I also support the establishment of the MediShield Life Council to review the scheme periodically and recommend changes to ensure it continues to give effective protection to all citizens. Will the Ministry consider setting up another appeal panel to review all appeals including reviewing all medical claims by the medical practitioners to ensure that treatment is both appropriate and most cost effective? I hope the administrator of this Scheme must be compassionate – all cases of defaults are to be reviewed with the benefit of doubt given to the members or the policyholders and understanding. Penalty must always be the last resort for the affected. Let me continue in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Deputy Speaker, looking after the people is the duty and responsibility of the Government, just like it is the duty and responsibility of the parents to look after the family.”
“Another potential problem is that while a person could be asset-rich, whether the assets are local or overseas, the assets may not be liquid. As a result, this person might be unduly penalised by his personal circumstances. The MediShield Life Scheme also gives the Minister the same powers as the taxman for recovering unpaid premiums – such as deducting from salaries or from bank accounts. These measures are needed as they deal with those who can pay the premiums but fail to do so or refuse to do so, thus, increasing the load on other policyholders in order to ensure that it is fair and equitable to everyone under the Scheme. Does it mean that any accrued premiums will get top-priority ranking during debt recovery compared to other creditors? Will the same powers enable the Minister to lodge a Page: 125 caveat or put a lien on personal realisable assets such as a HDB flat or private property for the recovery of unpaid premiums? Does this also mean that a defaulting policyholder will not get his professional licences renewed as is currently the case with Medisave? Will a policyholder be automatically included in the casinos' exclusion list? What will happen to those who are unable to work for medical reasons and those who are bankrupt? How will the Ministry assess these cases, especially for the ones heavily in debt? Most importantly, will their coverage remain intact in the interim? Perhaps the Ministry can consider allowing a policyholder to pledge his or her immovable property, including HDB flats, for the payment of the premiums without needing cash top-ups. Will the Ministry consider granting non-claim bonus, like what is being done in the motor industry for the insured, if the person made an effort to stay healthy and has never claimed under the Scheme?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. I am very happy with the implementation of a national insurance Scheme which will ensure that all Singaporeans are covered from birth to death. My residents feel the same. They feel particularly reassured by the coverage of pre-existing conditions and the removal of the lifetime claim limit. The increase of the annual claim limit from $70,000 to $100,000 is also welcomed as most bills will fall below this amount. With compulsory universal coverage, payment defaults can have a serious impact on the sustainability of this Scheme. Hence, the Bill gives the Government wide-ranging powers to access personal information. These include the power to check a person's income with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and his health status via hospital records without needing to get his permission. However, there is a clause allowing those who find these checks too intrusive to deny access. Without the information, it is not possible for the Government to determine if they are eligible for income-determined Premium Subsidies or the standard premiums for those without pre-existing diseases. Therefore, such individuals will have to forfeit any potential Premium Subsidies and be levied the 30% additional premiums for 10 years, same as for those with pre-existing diseases. I would like to seek clarification regarding information access. Will the Ministry be accessing one's credit record with the Credit Bureau and foreign bank accounts where information is protected under the Banking Secrecy Act? Despite all these checks, there is still a limitation to the access of full information of a person's assets beyond Singapore's jurisdiction.”
“I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply. Will the Ministry also look at the aspirations of Singaporeans, especially the young? Will the Ministry make efforts to look for jobs that meet these aspirations?”
“In fact, I would like to echo Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef's point earlier that perhaps we should consider allowing an even longer period of adjustment. What we are stipulating are standards that we should not compromise on once they have been met. In conclusion, I want to urge the Ministry to ensure that enough resources are allocated to enforcement. Accommodating large numbers of foreign workers carries a cost to society as a whole. It is the responsibility of employers to fully price such costs into their operations. Workers need to be taken care of according to standards that the social conscience of Page: 65 Singapore today requires. Very often, the social cost of accommodating low-wage workers are hidden from view and not properly accounted for. In that sense, poor quality conditions in accommodating foreign workers often push the cost to society. 4.40 pm”
“Although a balance has to be struck, it should be better to anticipate the natural concerns of the community hosting a dormitory, rather than to react to them only when they arise. Ultimately, if operators find that they need not care for the vicinity in which the dormitory is located, the costs will be transferred to the neighbourhood, which will only increase negative perceptions and threaten the sustainability of such facilities. My second concern is about the threshold number, which several hon Members have already spoken about before me. I appreciate that the Minister had already emphasised that smaller dormitories are not exempt from regulations. I hope you will allow me to press this point on the grounds that there are concerns that I feel exactly about the uneven treatment. Since a significant proportion of workers are housed in smaller dormitories which would be exempt from this Bill, I would like to ask if the Minister has any concerns about possible unintended outcomes. Is it the intention to impose a heavier regulatory burden on operators of larger dormitories? This raises other issues. First, operators will be subject to different standards, depending on their size, and the enforcement could become, therefore, correspondingly more onerous. Second, if employers gravitate towards smaller dormitories because of this loophole, this could encourage the sprouting up of such smaller facilities. As I had noted above, my concern is that when accommodation standards are unacceptable, this increases the overall cost that would have to be borne by society. On a different note, I would like to express my strong support for the Ministry's decision to allow operators a transition period in moving to these new standards.”
“However, I have two specific concerns which I would like to seek the Minister's clarification on. First, given the significant impact that large foreign employee dormitories could have on the welfare of their occupants, the condition of the immediate vicinity, as well as the general state of the neighbourhood in which it is located, I am concerned that none of these factors appear to have been explicitly included in the licensing conditions. At the moment, the licensing conditions do not require feedback from either the dormitory occupants, current or intended, the residents of the surrounding community, or any assessments of the impact on the immediate vicinity. I see that clause 13(c) does specifically include "serious disruptions to the community" as grounds for the Commissioner to issue a compliance directive. But that appears to imply that the preceding anomaly, such as a complaint, would be required as a trigger. Mdm Speaker, I am suggesting that accounting for such potential impact on the community should be built into the licensing requirement so that the operator is required to proactively seek community feedback as part of the conditions for renewal of licence. I am suggesting that such conditions be explicitly imposed. I am aware that it could impose additional costs on operators, which would, ultimately, have to be borne by employers. However, I believe that what we want is a system that will stand us in good stead for the Page: 64 longer term. Hence, I believe that this would be in line with the purpose stated in clause 4(c) of the Bill. If the regulatory burden on operators is too heavy, it will encourage flouting of the law. On the other hand, inadequate oversight will lead to a mismatch between the burden borne by employers and that borne by society.”
“In my view, congregating the dormitories at one location or spreading them out to different places, each has its pros and cons; same with putting the majority of workers up at one dormitory or separating them at different dormitories. How to balance? The two are very important. Besides guidelines on hardware facilities, "software" issues, such as the proportion of dormitory staff and managers to boarders and staff training, are also important. Communication between the dormitory staff/managers and the boarders is important, so also the care and concern shown towards the workers. This can effectively prevent unhappy incidents from happening and will help employers raise productivity. Page: 63 Every now and then, we would hear about how awful the living conditions of some foreign workers' dormitories are. Unscrupulous employers and dormitory owners, in order to profit, knowingly put up the workers in overcrowded, unhygienic and unsafe dormitories, taking advantage of the fact that the workers are not familiar with Singapore and are helpless. The reason why we keep seeing this kind of problems is because the possibility of being caught is low and the punishment is not severe enough. This Bill is in tandem with the long-term measures taken by the Government. At the same time, MOM should conduct surprise inspections and mete out punishments accordingly against those who flout the rules and make sure employers comply. Hope we can effectively solve this thorny problem once and for all. (In English): Madam, I support the Bill. 4.35 pm Assoc Prof Randolph Tan (Nominated Member) : Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join this debate. This Bill is an important move to regulate accommodation for foreign workers, and I support it.”
“They address the management of public health and safety issues, security and public order Page: 62 issues and the maintenance of social and commercial facilities and services. While I support these additional measures, I would like to ask the Minister how the figure of 1,000 was arrived at. Whether it is a smaller dormitory with a few hundred residents or a bigger one with 1,000, similar problems could arise. In the event of an infectious disease outbreak, racial or national tension, for example, the tipping point can be reached at 100 or 200 workers. In any dormitory with a couple of hundred workers from a wide mix of countries, there should be measures to ensure harmonious living. Should the hundreds of thousands of workers housed in smaller dormitories, especially those within worksites, not be protected as well by the new regulations? In addition, how will it be possible for the Ministry to ensure a level playing field for all dormitory operators with different requirements for dormitories of different sizes? Next, I would like to check if it is compulsory for Work Permit holders working in certain sectors to be housed in PBDs. If this is, indeed, the case, what are the reasons? Mdm Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] This amendment is targeted at dormitories with 1,000 beds or more. Should the Government also consider setting a limit on the maximum number of beds for these facilities? This is because we must make sure that if a conflict unfortunately breaks out, the Government can quell the unrest effectively in the shortest possible time, so that workers staying there and the managers are safe.”
“Madam, I declare my interest. I work in a local bank, which provides financing for foreign worker dormitories. Thank you for allowing me to join this discussion. Presently, all foreign workers' accommodation has to meet regulatory standards set by no less than five Government agencies, namely URA, SCDF, BCA, PUB and NEA. These comprehensive rules set minimum space allocation, fire and structural safety, environmental health and hygiene, water and sewage standards to ensure the safety and well-being of workers. However, in reality, enforcement of these standards has been a challenge. As there are so many foreign worker housing all over our small island, regular inspections of all of them are not possible. Errant employers and housing operators take advantage of this and their workers' helplessness to flout the law with impunity. Violations have been persistent and range from overcrowding to fire safety. Hence, I agree with the Government's decision to increase the number of PBDs. Monitoring the standards of these PBDs will be more practicable and sustainable. However, employers are naturally concerned that such a decision might favour dormitory operators and lead to higher business costs. They are worried that with no alternative accommodation for their employees, they would be at the mercy of dormitory operators. Would the Ministry consider setting up an independent council, similar to the Public Transport Council, to regulate the pricing of dormitories so that operators will compete instead on non-price factors? This Bill encompasses additional regulations for dormitories with 1,000 or more beds.”
“I have a supplementary question for the Minister. May I ask whether the Ministry keeps track of Singaporeans who are excluded but travel overseas to gamble?”