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.”
The complete record
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 6 of 14.
“My question is on solar installation at the reservoirs. Was a cost-benefit study done? I was wondering about the recovery of the capital expenditure or capex, compared with so-called the conventional energy. Of course, I am in support of this project to use solar energy, but I just want to understand whether, in the long run, is it something worthwhile to do.”
“Chairman, hawker centres are an important and integral part of Singapore life. Not only do they provide affordable, accessible, hygienic and good quality food, they also serve as essential social spaces where Singaporeans and visitors can gather to enjoy a good meal. In 2011, the Government had announced that it intended to build 20 new hawker centres by 2027. Are we still on track to meet this target? How is the Ministry ensuring that the hawker trade can be sustained and how can productivity in hawker centres be raised in the face of manpower constraints? Would the Ministry also share an update on how well each of the new hawker centres are doing? Does the Ministry have any plans to review and enhance the present schemes for this sector? Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres”
“Chairman, high-rise littering is a particularly dangerous offence which can cause serious injury or even result in death. I strongly urge the Ministry to utilise all available tools and technology at its disposal to prevent and deter this anti-social behavior. Rigorous enforcement should be conducted and heavy penalties meted out to offenders. I would like to ask for the latest available statistics for this offence and whether the trend is improving or worsening. What has been done to curb high-rise littering and whether the Ministry will be deploying more advanced technology or investigative techniques, such as identification through DNA? Could the Ministry also leverage more on the sense of shame, such as by increasing the visibility and duration of the Corrective Work Orders, to punish these high-rise litterbugs? Tray Return, Hygiene and Hawker Centres”
“Sir, in order to reach our 30-30 goal of producing 30% of domestic nutritional needs by 2030, our agri-food sector needs funding and technological support to ramp up production. It is an ambitious goal as we only produce less than 10% locally today. To overcome our land, water and human resource constraints, we need to adopt innovative solutions and tap on technology to optimise productivity. We will continue to need a lot of support from R&D. As food supply reliability is a fundamental national security issue, we must strengthen our resolve to make the endeavor a success. Can the Ministry provide an update on what the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is doing to support our local farmers to help them succeed in the face of stiff competition in a free and open market? SG Eco Fund Next. The launch of a SG Eco Fund by the Ministry to support partnerships with the community and enterprises in our sustainability efforts is much welcomed. Indeed, Singaporeans are becoming more aware of the importance of sustainability in every aspect of our lives. From renewable energy to reducing plastic and e-waste, conserving our precious water resource to making sustainable food choices, we all hope to contribute in our own ways in the attempt to become a low carbon, low emissions country; and we are all putting in more effort into supporting sustainability efforts. Can the Ministry share more details about the projects which Singaporeans and companies can apply for under this new SG Eco Fund? Review of Year Towards Zero Waste”
“Chairman, the COVID-19 crisis highlights the importance of having diverse sources of supply for all our imported goods. Singapore is particularly vulnerable since we are so reliant on imports. It is natural to want to order more from particular trading partners which are reliable and offer good value for money. However, this will consequently reduce the imports from other sources. Being mindful of the risks of over-dependence on any one particular supplier or region, we must make it a strategic national security decision to diversify our imports, even if it means that it may be less cost-effective. Would the Ministry provide an update on how it ensures a robust import strategy to prevent supply disruptions, price hikes and supply fluctuations? Local Food Source Sustainability Next, as we import most of our food, we are vulnerable to external shocks that affect food supplies at their sources. Potential food supply disruptions could come from unexpected or extreme weather conditions, problems with transport routes or delivery modes, export bans, or even crises such as the COVID-19 outbreak. Hence, diversification of our food import sources is critical and in addition, to enhance our food security, we have set for ourselves the "30-30" goal to produce 30% of our nutritional needs domestically by 2030. Singapore currently produces less than 10% of her nutritional needs domestically. Would the Ministry share an update on how we could achieve the 30-30 goal and what measures and incentives are available to encourage Singaporeans to seize the new opportunities in our food production sector?”
“Such collaborations could increase the chances of our SMEs moving up the value chain, to become more innovative and competitive. Does SkillsFuture have a role in assisting such companies and facilitating industry collaborations? If so, could MOE elaborate on this? Finally, it is important that courses and programmes associated with SkillsFuture meet high standards and live up to their accreditation. Otherwise, potential employers would have doubts about the training credentials of applicants and the programmes might eventually lose their value. We also want to ensure that the SkillsFuture Credits are used wisely. What measures does the Ministry have to ensure that the content and teaching standards of the courses are of a high standard and to prevent fraudulent use of SkillsFuture Credits?”
“Chairman, the SkillsFuture programme is a wonderful initiative which provides tangible support for Singaporeans to learn new skills at every stage of their life. When it was rolled out in 2016, many Singaporeans made good use of the opportunity to pick up new skills. The range of courses is impressive from languages to healthcare, culinary skills to information technology and more. I appreciate the $500 SkillsFuture Credit top-up for Singaporeans aged 25 and above and the additional one-off SkillsFuture Credit of $500 for every citizen aged 40 to 60. In the event that the COVID-19 outbreak deepens, there might be some workers laid off in the next few months. Would the Ministry consider allowing this group to utilise their SkillsFuture Credits earlier, before the commencement date of 1 October this year? Many employers, especially our SMEs, are busy dealing with the here-and-now and have limited bandwidth and time to plan for their future. However, rapid technological advancements and disruption require them to continually innovate and seize new opportunities. Their workers need to keep up with the changes too. So, training is very important. What measures or incentives does the Ministry have to help our employers develop stronger workplace training capabilities? One potential benefit from attending similar SkillsFuture training courses is networking among employees in the same industry. Such opportunities could be a chance for workers and staff from different SMEs to collaborate. They could share best practices or even form small working groups where they could brainstorm and exchange ideas. These are all developmental opportunities for workers too.”
“Chairman, with the global pivot to Asia, it is more important than ever for Singapore to deepen her relationship with ASEAN countries beyond the immediate neighbours. While ASEAN nations share core values, we are quite different in terms of our political backgrounds, population profiles, cultures and geography. Nevertheless, we are highly interlinked in many areas, including trade, economic and military cooperation. We also work together to overcome common environmental and security challenges. The Government has announced the Asia-Ready Exposure programme and set the "70-70" target to increase our youths' exposure to ASEAN. I am confident they will be well-prepared to carry on our work to promote inter-governmental and private sector cooperation within ASEAN. Would the Ministry share an update on recent work and future plans to deepen our relationship with ASEAN countries? International Community and Cybersecurity”
“Citizens can purchase HDB flats but they are treated as singles for housing grants and foreign spouses cannot be co-owners. In cases of divorce or widowhood, the foreign spouse faces even more uncertainty. The Government has said it will help facilitate a renewable LTVP, as long as they have custody over young Singaporean children. This is very welcome but not a guarantee. The foreign spouse also has no right to occupy or inherit an HDB flat, causing great anxiety over housing. Can the Government allow citizens married to LTVP+ holders to qualify as a family for the Public Rental Scheme? Can the Government provide greater support and protection to these vulnerable families by granting the LTVP+ to all foreign spouses of citizens? Can the Government consider creating a clear, timed pathway for these foreign spouses to obtain Permanent Residence status? Home Team Science and Technology Agency”
“Chairman, the recent Hong Kong protests had shown how quickly mass gatherings can degenerate into chaos, resulting in injuries and even deaths, and damage to properties. Such incidents not only destabilise communities, they also cause social rifts and hurt the economy. I understand that recently, the Police had to be called in to help manage the crowds in at least one of the supermarkets after the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) was raised to Orange. While this is a very different situation from Hong Kong, it shows that unexpected events can lead to people gathering and the Home Team must always be on the ready to ensure order. Would the Ministry share what lessons we have learnt from the Hong Kong protests and how would the Home Team prevent similar incidents from happening in Singapore? Residency for Transnational Spouses Assoc Prof Walter Theseira (Nominated Member): Mr Chairman, transnational families form a significant proportion of our population today. Between 2009 and 2015, around 15,000 citizen children were born to non-resident foreign mothers. In 2018, one in four citizen marriages involved a non-resident. Such families often live with tremendous uncertainty because the foreign spouse must continuously apply for the right to stay in Singapore. ICA does not publicly disclose the exact criteria for granting or renewing a visit pass. Foreign spouses are placed in a vulnerable position within their marriage because of this uncertainty. Community organisations who work with abuse survivors or migrants have seen many cases of the citizen spouse threatening to cancel their pass as a way to abuse their foreign wives. Transnational families, particularly lower income ones, also have limited housing options.”
“Ride-hailing companies do not need to match $10 a day. PHC drivers typically pay 20% commission based on the total fare collection. For an average day, PHC drivers pay about $36 in commission and the $10 per day relief is equivalent to 27.8% of their expenses. On the other hand, taxi rental per day is about $100. Thus, $10 a day relief is equivalent to 10% of the expenses of a taxi driver. Would the Ministry consider reviewing the Special Relief Fund in view of the different cost structures of both? Finally, we should also note that we have a significant number of self-employed or freelancers amongst us who will not be eligible for the various assistance schemes, such as JSS. For example, many tourist guides are self-employed. Would the Government roll out measures to help them find other temporary and part-time jobs? This group of workers can be redeployed to other tasks, such as temperature-taking. I saw on television recently there were some who have taken it up. They would need job counselling and advisory to point them to available temporary jobs or even career changes so that they can continue to secure a livelihood. 4.49 pm”
“They express their desire to continue working, not receiving financial assistance. Companies should be incentivised and encouraged with rewards to give these Singaporean jobseekers the highest priority for available jobs in their firms, especially those in their 40s and above who are willing to take part in PCPs, before granting Employment Passes (EPs), S Passes or Work Permits (WPs). The proposed hiring incentive for employers, which provides 20% salary support to the employers for six months, is attractive and I hope the Government will monitor its effectiveness. How will the Government determine the scheme’s effectiveness and under what conditions will the Ministry review existing programmes to support the employability of Singaporeans? Next, I would like to share some suggestions about the support for the point-to-point transport service sector. Firstly, private hire car (PHC) drivers who drive an average of 6.7 trips per day will qualify for the $10 per day relief. For taxi drivers, the hirer will qualify for the $10 per day relief and each hirer, being a full-time taxi driver, typically has to drive 15 to 18 trips per day. Each hirer typically has a relief driver who also drives about 10 to 15 trips per day but relief drivers do not qualify for the $10 per day relief. Could the Ministry of Transport consider extending such an assistance scheme to support taxi relief drivers? Secondly, taxi operators, typically asset-heavy, carry higher costs and have to pay road tax, corporate tax and so on. Ride-hailing companies, which are asset-light, do not have to pay any such taxes as they are borne by the drivers. Hence, the cost structures of both are different. Taxi operators are matching the $10 a day relief fund by providing a rental rebate of $10 a day or more.”
“Furthermore, we must consider the knock-on effects of company closures on other connected businesses. The potential chain reaction should not be underestimated. Hence, I urge the Minister to consider expediting the assistance. The Government's decision to target support for the five sectors directly hit by COVID-19 is understandable. Funds are limited and the amounts must be large enough to be impactful. I appeal for some support for businesses connected to the five supported sectors of tourism, aviation, retail, food services and point-to-point transport services as well. Suppliers to businesses in these five sectors are suffering, too, as it is common that these five sectors outsource services to vendors and suppliers. I hope the Ministry would consider introducing some measures to assist companies which are similarly affected, due to their dealings with firms in these five sectors. It is a great idea to encourage companies to send their employees for training and reskilling. However, many smaller companies are unable to do so. Some of these small companies are almost firefighting every day, they are also stretched for manpower, it is almost impossible to send workers for training. In addition, they may not have the financial means to do so. I would like to ask the Ministry whether they are able to assist such smaller companies with the kind of difficulties that I mentioned. The Government has committed to work with large anchor enterprises to support training for their sectors. May I ask if this plan would help to address the concern I have just mentioned? Some Singaporeans who were retrenched earlier would have greater difficulty getting jobs now. We sympathise with their difficulties.”
“Mr Speaker, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, Sir, firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the frontline healthcare workers, as well as frontline staff from the Ministry of Defence, the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the various agencies. Of course, we must also thank all Singaporeans for their support and cooperation. I am confident that we will be able to overcome this COVID-19 outbreak together. (In English): I join my Parliamentary colleagues in supporting this year's very substantial Budget. The size of the commitment will go a long way to tide us over a challenging and uncertain period. Just as our economy had seen its weakest growth since the 2008 Financial Crisis, the COVID-19 outbreak struck us out of the blue and there is not a single person here who has not felt its impact in one way or another. The $4 billion Stabilisation and Support Package will be a great help to businesses, with cash flow and jobs support. The Package is well-considered, taking into account the various aspects of employment so that we can help our workers retain their jobs and prepare for the future. JSS offers temporary wage offsetting, the Wage Credit Scheme enhancement co-funds wage increases and the extended Adapt and Grow Initiative will boost training and reskilling. I would just like to request that the Finance Minister consider disbursing the JSS payments earlier than the targeted date of end-July. Many of the smaller companies are already struggling to remain in business and it would be tough for them to wait for another five months. The timing of the payouts could mean the difference between survival and failure for some.”
“For example, we could impose environmental levies on products packaged in plastics and providing incentives for other materials better for our environment. In addition, we should also introduce stronger measures to make sure that our people do their part to cut down on wastage, be responsible in recycling correctly and avoid polluting our environment. Reducing, recycling and caring for our environment should be a mindset inculcated through our education system as well as consistent public education and outreach. These efforts should be ongoing even when it becomes part of our Singapore culture so that our younger generations will continue to uphold this value. For higher effectiveness, I would like to request that the Ministry consider deploying more resources to its enforcement units.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I fully support the Bill which will contribute to greater accountability and more responsible plastic waste disposal globally. We have all seen reports from neighbouring countries that have discovered toxic wastes illegally exported to their countries. Our compliance with the Basel Amendments aims to put a stop to such irresponsible practices. Going forward, only approved categories of plastic waste can be traded without restriction, while particular categories can only be exported with the permission of the importing countries. For Singapore and most countries, plastic waste is the biggest category of waste. Unfortunately, the amount we generate is increasing year by year. NEA's latest statistics showed that we only managed to recycle 4% of our plastic waste, compared to 99% for metals, 56% for paper and cardboard. Four percent is really pathetic and we should make much more effort to reduce the amount of plastic we use, particularly in consumable products. Many Singaporeans are supportive of the Government's efforts to be environmentally responsible but the reality is that so many of our items are packaged in plastics. Consumers are in a bind because we do not have much of a choice. What can we do if your shampoo or beverage comes in a plastic bottle? It is important that we go upstream for solutions. The responsibility is on the manufacturers to pack their products in sustainable materials. How should we encourage the manufacturers to improve on their products so that potential issues and concerns are addressed from the production stage to ensure that they are environmentally-friendly? Perhaps, the Ministry can consider using both the carrot and the stick to bring about improvements.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill is timely in view of the developments and breakthroughs in the medical sector. Technological advances are accelerating changes in how our healthcare services are delivered and the types of treatments available. The updated legislative framework will enable the Ministry to better govern our healthcare sector and ensure quality of care. I have only one concern for this Bill and this is regarding NEHR. Going forward, all healthcare institutions, including laboratories, must input patient data into NEHR. While this will ensure continuity in terms of treatment for patients and allow medical professionals to have a holistic grasp of their health conditions, there are also potential downsides. For example, if any physician were to arrive at an erroneous conclusion and make a wrong diagnosis, this may have an impact on subsequent consultations or any follow-ups by other medical practitioners referencing the patient's medical history. The consequence of such a mistake may be serious, leading to more issues down the line. Would the Minister share what preventive measures are in place to minimise such incidents? In addition, I am also concerned about the security of the database and potential system failure. I would like to ask the Minister for an update on measures to boost the robustness and resilience of NEHR. With that, I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Most importantly, we need to protect those who are abused and trafficked here for such exploitation. Do we have a framework to enable victim-prostitutes to seek assistance and also act as witnesses? I would like to conclude with my full support for this Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thanks for allowing me to participate in this debate. I have three main points of concern. Firstly, regarding online vice. I commend the Ministry's efforts to deal with this problem through the introduction of extraterritorial jurisdiction to the Charter. Doing so will equip our Police Force more adequately as criminals are exploiting technology to boost their revenue and protect themselves by operating their illegal businesses remotely. I would like to ask if it is possible to require the social media providers to monitor their websites round-the-clock for such vice transactions and either remove or report attempts to offer online services, both locally and from overseas, to potential customers in Singapore. What measures will the Ministry implement to enlist the cooperation of social media providers to help deter such offers and bring those involved to task? Secondly, the irresponsible lease of premises. Certainly, owners and tenants who allow such activities to be conducted on their premises should be severely punished. The law requires owners to perform due diligence when leasing out their properties, such as but not limited to, conducting identity checks when signing the lease agreements. However, the tenants who had been cleared under such checks could still use the residences to conduct illegal activities without the owner's knowledge. What other mitigations are there for the unfortunate, innocent owners? Lastly, the problem of "visitor-vice". These are prostitutes who enter Singapore as tourists or on visit passes. Some individuals operate on their own while others are flown in and controlled by crime syndicates overseas or even locally. How can we prevent these syndicates from engaging in such activities in our homeland?”
“Finally, I would like to ask about efforts to help with mediation when disputes involve different religious groups. For example, we have come across neighbours’ disputes arising from different religious and cultural practices, such as the burning of joss paper and even the placement of altars. Would the Ministry consider having a special mediation team to help resolve such disputes and to ensure that these cases can be handled sensitively and fairly?”
“Many of the providers may resist or ignore our demands, on the pretext of freedom of expression, even when such expressions include untruths, insults and calls to do harm. Are we able to impose effective restraints and meaningful penalties upon uncooperative companies? In addition, would the law be applied to foreigners who have attempted to infiltrate and impose such provocative expressions from offshore? Do we maintain a blacklist of such perpetrators which Singaporeans can also access so that institutions and organisations will be mindful and think twice about giving them a platform to share their thoughts or give public talks? In Mandarin, Mr Speaker. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Here in Singapore, we must not allow anyone to attempt to sow mistrust among our racial and religious groups. Nobody is allowed to cross the out-of-bounds (OB) markers using the pretext of freedom of belief and speech. However, we should not assume that everyone is clear about the OB markers. Therefore, public education is very important and it should be complemented with regular reminders. I hope the Ministry will share its plans and measures for public education to continue educating Singaporeans, to strengthen mutual understanding of one another’s faiths and practices as well mutual respect and help. In addition, more can be done to encourage inter-religious cooperation. For example, we are already seeing many religious groups coming together to support one another. For example, recently, a Buddhist group helps with traffic control for visitors to a mosque. Another example is mosques working with churches and temples to help the needy, regardless of race and religion.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in firm support of the Bill. Our Government has been putting in great efforts to strengthen racial and religious harmony in Singapore since we gained Independence. Our policies have been carefully reviewed and updated over the years. This round, as usual, we are not taking things for granted and will be introducing ROs which will take immediate effect. This is a significant change, compared to the current 14 days' notice. However, in view of the speed and reach of online communications, we must do this to minimise potential damage. There is a Chinese saying, 星星之火可以燎原，that a single spark of fire could burn down an entire grassland. Likewise, a comment, a single sentence or a single paragraph on the Internet could trigger discord among groups of people, leading to violence and destruction within hours. It is far better to err on the side of caution even though we might be criticised for being too strict or too sensitive as the stakes are simply too much for our small nation. This challenge is how the Government could increase surveillance over social media and stop any comment or posting that could sow discord among religious groups, especially from offshore. The scope of this task could be overwhelming due to the sheer volume of online postings. Would the Ministry share how it will filter feedback, conduct online checks and whether it will utilise technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI)? After identifying online threats, how could we enforce our ROs against online service providers to remove such provocative posts immediately to prevent them from being circulated in Singapore?”
“I would like to ask the Minister how many drivers have TDVLs, how many have PDVLs, and how many have both. Does the Government also have the number of drivers working for each operator and the number of drivers who work in each band, for example, 24 to 30 hours, 31 to 40 hours, 41 to 50 hours and so forth? What employment benefits and security do these drivers enjoy, such as MediSave and MediShield Life? I suggest that only Singaporeans are allowed to be licensed drivers. I hope that the Ministry will consider the suggestions I have just made. I support this Bill.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, I welcome this new Bill. I have been waiting for the P2P Passenger Transport Industry Bill for a long time. I think it is necessary to harmonise the regulations of taxi and PHC operators in order to create a more level playing field and provide safer and more satisfactory passenger services. We should review and harmonise the market as existing taxi operators are exempted from COE bidding while ride-hail operators need to bid for COE. We should welcome more industry players to the industry and offer incentives to both drivers and customers. We should take note that the operators have provided incentives to encourage drivers to attend to commuters' need during non-peak hours. Has any customer satisfaction survey been done for different age groups and different types of customers, such as those who are information technology (IT)-savvy and those who are not? Henceforth, under LTA's new licensing framework, two types of licences will be issued, which will be according to street-hail service or ride-hail service, and the fees for both services will be regulated by PTC. I am sure passengers welcome these new regulations. With PTC regulating the fares, the way fares are calculated and the range of charges, particularly the dynamic billing introduced during peak periods, will be more transparent and give passengers greater peace of mind. Bear in mind that we need to balance the conflicting needs between drivers who hope for higher incomes and customers who hope for lower fares. I propose that a new definition of the private chauffeur services be provided within the new framework in order to clearly distinguish it from the ride-hail services.”
“I hope the Ministry could provide tools and avenues to Town Councils and homeowners to resolve such problems expeditiously. As SCDF wants to focus on higher fire risk areas, it intends to outsource routine inspections and enforcement to authorised third parties, such as retired Police Officers and other public servants. I fully support this move. I would like to suggest that inspections be stepped up, particularly in residential estates. If the inspectors spot problems in the common areas, appropriate action can be taken, with education as a priority. However, it is difficult for inspectors to detect flammable items hoarded within one's home. I am concerned that we will face more cases of hoardings among older residents with our rapidly ageing population. There have been a number of fires due to the large quantities of flammable items hoarded by the elderly in their flats. The behavior of these residents certainly poses a great risk to other neighbours. If these homeowners are unable to modify their behavior, would the Government consider providing them with alternative accommodation with more fire safety features? It is unfair and unsafe to subject their neighbours to such fire risks, especially when these families have young children or elderly with mobility problems. The last point I would like to make is on the installation of fire alarm systems and sprinklers in our HDB common areas and neighbourhood shops. I appeal to the Government to install and maintain these systems in all our HDB estates, old and new, as an additional safety measure and to minimise potential fire damage. I hope these fire safety systems will become standard features in all buildings in Singapore. I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, I welcome the amendments to the Act to empower SCDF to take a wider range of actions for fire safety, in particular, the enhancement of its investigative and enforcement powers. Without regular enforcement and meaningful penalties, complacency sets in and, over time, increasing numbers of business owners and residents engage in inconsiderate and risky behaviours. These include the failure to maintain fire safety equipment or evacuation routes, allowing the overcrowding of people and goods, and using poor quality electrical devices from suppliers, or using the devices inappropriately. Most fires can be prevented but it requires the cooperation of everyone. We need more consistent public education and outreach programmes to teach and remind all residents of safe practices and installations. One of the biggest fire safety challenges in residential premises is the cluttering of passageways by plants, household items, trolleys and PMDs. I am sure all my Parliamentary colleagues have been receiving complaints about this problem. Residents need to be reminded that they must keep a 1.2-metre free passage for emergency access. In addition, no flammable items should be kept along common corridors or in staircases. I would like to ask the Minister what measures we have in our arsenal against recalcitrant offenders. Some homeowners can be very stubborn and treat the areas outside their homes as their property. Such obstructions have been the source of inconvenience and disputes among neighbours for many years. So far, it has not been easy to resolve these problems as certain homeowners have been uncooperative and even refused to turn up for mediation.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I think it is not possible for the Minister to go against public opinion and risk his credibility by doing this. If you think that you are right, you can still lodge an appeal.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Let us not forget that this is falsehood. When the Minister issues a takedown order, he will explain his action. If you disagree, you can go to the Courts and let the Court decide.”
“Because, ultimately, the Court will still be the one that can decide, even though it is a matter of sequence, as what the Member pointed out. I know the WP's argument is that you would prefer the Court to decide. But do not forget, the Minister's decision still can be challenged; anyone can still go to Court and challenge.”
“In turn, its collapse could potentially lead to other bank runs, and, like a fast-spreading virus, soon cripple an entire financial ecosystem. Singapore’s financial markets are certainly not immune to such incidents. Thus, any measures to counter falsehoods must be fast and decisive. Otherwise, opportunistic actors will be able to use falsehoods to cause panic, create instability and erode confidence in our financial infrastructure. Any delay may ultimately cause severe harm to ordinary Singaporeans, some of whom may see their life savings wiped out in a matter of hours. Hence, I do not support measures which will hamper the ability of our Ministers to react quickly to clamp down on online falsehoods. Some have argued that applications to remove articles or news should be first made to a Court or independent party. Enormous damage, some of which may be irreversible, would have occurred over those precious hours and days of delay – damage which the perpetrators do not have to be responsible for. The onus should be on the parties making claims online to present the facts and evidence to support their assertions instead. Hence, I think we should consider allowing class action suits brought against service providers by the victims themselves harmed by tech companies which fail to rectify or take down fake news. Of course, there is another angle which we should consider. While falsehoods by malicious actors can have a serious impact on the financial markets, is it possible that a mistaken exercise of the powers under this Bill may also have a serious impact on the financial markets? Would the Minister share how the Government will mitigate the risk of making such mistakes? I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“It is not hard to find that some people, in order to add emphasis and persuade others, add bits and pieces to the message, and a real message could become a false message. I have a suggestion here. If you cannot determine the authenticity of the information, you can attach a disclaimer clause to remind the other party that you cannot research or verify the information, so that the other party can also be vigilant. (In English): Mr Speaker, Sir, the introduction of the POFMA Bill is another crucial step to fortify our financial and economic stability. As we all know, financial systems are particularly sensitive to market rumours and online falsehoods. This vulnerability can have devastating consequences for individuals, companies and our entire economy. There is a need to act quickly and decisively to protect our financial system. Allow me to share a couple of examples. In June 2017, a false post on 4Chan claimed that the founder of cryptocurrency had died in a car crash. The post led to a crash in the price of Ethereum and US$4 billion was wiped out in just five hours. To prove that it was all fake news, Buterin had to copy some data linked to the latest block mined on the Ethereum blockchain on a piece of paper, took a selfie with it and post this photo on Twitter. During the Financial Crisis in 2007 to 2008, there were rumours that the Bank of East Asia was in financial trouble, leading to thousands of panicked depositors queuing outside the bank's branches to withdraw their savings. Regardless of the actual financial health of a bank, in the event of a bank run, when a large number of customers withdraw their deposits simultaneously, even a healthy bank could become insolvent.”
“Do not forget that users on some popular online platforms do not need real-name registration. In other words, some people can open up thousands or even tens of thousands of fake accounts, men pretending to be women, women pretending to be men, elderly pretending to be young and young pretending to be elderly. This is also why online fraud cases are constantly emerging. I had encountered a resident asking for help. His relatives’ child, impersonating the mother, set up an account to vilify the religious beliefs of others and provoke hatred. Recently, the US also has to legislate to control fake news, especially deepfake technology that allows people to combine images. By attaching former US President Obama's face to another person and then making a false statement, it is possible to mislead the audience to think that Obama is speaking. If those with bad intentions can send out false information using such technology to impersonate the US president or the presidents of other countries about launching a nuclear bomb to a certain country, the consequences would be unimaginable. I think these platforms should use real-name registration systems to allow netizens to register accounts for effective control. As the saying goes, upright people with nothing to hide do not do things secretly, so we should encourage a constructive and responsible platform for free speech, instead of using these platforms to put other people down and create social unrest under the banner of freedom of expression. We are all familiar with the traditional game "pass the message". In the process, it is not difficult to find out that when the message reaches the last person, the original text from the first person has been distorted.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Yesterday, I listened to the speech of the hon Mr Low Thia Khiang. He accepts that online fake news brings harm to the society and must be curbed. He also accepts that the Court can act as an arbiter of fake news, although he is of the opinion that it should be decided by the Court instead of the Minister. Despite the differences, they are the same. Because the Court has the final ruling. The focus of today's Bill is on information falsifiers who disseminate false information online with the intention of causing harm, rather than the responsible and constructive network users. It has been said that good people will gravitate towards doing good and the bad towards evil. Most people have a natural understanding of fairness and justice. Although Mr Low Thia Khiang’s worries can be understood, he does not need to worry too much unnecessarily. Each of us has received interesting information forwarded by friends. I also often remind myself that for the information which is questionable and cannot be verified, when forwarding, I also alert the other party that the information may be false and cannot be substantiated. Everyone can develop this habit, so that they can have better peace of mind. Although the Ministers have the power to make a clarification or take down a post, they are not likely to abuse this power and make decisions that violate their credibility and abandon the public’s trust. At the same time, we will allow freedom of speech to flourish, and it can also enhance the credibility of the network platforms and maintain users' confidence in the platforms. I want to remind everyone that everyone could be a victim of fake news.”
“Such acts are tantamount to the "warrant to kill" order practised by the triads and secret society in the old days, which should not be allowed to have place in our society. In addition, we should consider the harm caused to innocent parties, especially those who have been framed and set up. This reminds me of a friend who was humiliated and threatened with breaches of privacy by her ex-husband after their marriage turned sour. The damage and harm are far-reaching and hurt the children who are the innocent parties. Therefore, anyone who advocates and resorts to all means to hunt down another party with threats of violence should not be dealt with lightly as such threats are provocations to violent behavior, which are against the efforts to make Singapore a gracious society. We should also educate the public and raise awareness that they could be used for mass manipulation by persons with their own agendas. There are already cases of companies and individuals misleading the public online with information discrediting their business rivals in order to gain a competitive advantage in their businesses and improve their own profits. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, this Bill is very timely. I am sure that many of our Members here have similar experiences where residents come to them for help about cyberbullying. We cannot allow cyberbulling to threaten public and individual safety. Although they claim that they do this for justice, they must respect our law and to pass the matter over to the authorities. There is no need to get the innocent involved. (In English): With that, I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the introduction of the new offence of "doxxing" as the number of such incidents is getting out of hand. Publicly sharing personally identifiable information, such as photographs, videos, addresses, phone and contact details, while inciting people to "punish" or humiliate targeted parties have become increasingly common. Some of these cases are just plain bullying, others involve manipulation with criminal intent, and yet others are carried out in the name of justice or "vigilantism". While we understand that people generally want justice to be done, they must understand that it would be best to leave it to the relevant authorities to perform thorough investigations and follow-ups. After all, many Internet users may be too quick to present information without having the full facts. The Government should educate members of the public about appropriate actions they can take and how to share information with the relevant agencies. In order to build trust and increase the public’s confidence, the informed agencies should also share investigation results and outcomes, where circumstances allow, with concerned members of the public, so that they would not feel that all their cooperative efforts have gone down a deep black hole. As time goes on, the public will trust in the Government to take the right and calibrated actions and be less inclined to administer their own brands of justice. We should not encourage violence in our society. And one taking the law into one's own hands, especially doxxing, can cause unnecessary harm to the parties concerned, including their families, who are innocent parties.”
“I do not think my question had been answered. How do you determine the land cost because this is without tender? The second question is: what is the projected revenue for the additional investments? Is there any projection?”
“Mr Speaker, I have one question. I just want to know, for those employees from this group who are retrenched, how many of them are from multinational corporations (MNCs) or foreign-invested companies?”
“They can earn decent salaries in better environments. They can even operate their own eateries or restaurants with financial backers. However, this also means that good, affordable food may not be so widely available in the future. To ensure that we have a steady stream of younger hawkers, more has to be done to ensure a decent livelihood for our hawkers while keeping hawker food affordable for Singaporeans. Will the Ministry share a progress report on its mentorship programme and Incubation Stall Programme which train interested cooks and teach them how to manage a hawker stall? They are some hawkers who, despite having spent years in this trade, are less successful or who are even struggling. Are there counsellors at the Ministry whom they can turn to for feedback and suggestions on how to turn their businesses around? What are the success factors of hawkers doing well and how could these information and insights be shared with this group? Last but not least, our hawker centres need the cooperation of all customers to stay clean and pleasant for dining. Unfortunately, a minority of diners are not so neat when they eat and leave a mess of bones or unwanted food pieces on the tables. How can we educate our people to be more considerate and hygienic? How can we improve our dining etiquette as a nation? In view of the labour shortage for cleaning staff, Singaporeans have to get used to returning our own trays or, even better, like the Japanese, wipe and clean up our tables before we leave. What further measures will the Ministry take to ensure the success of the tray return programme?”
“Sir, our hawker centres – our ubiquitous community dining rooms – are the heart of Singapore life. Here are where we can get our three daily meals, or six, if you include brunch, tea and supper, from professionals offering cuisines from east to west at affordable prices. It is from our vibrant and unique hawker culture that the world’s first Michelin-starred street food stall emerged – "Hong Kong Soya Chicken Rice and Noodle" run by chef-owner Chan Hon Meng. I am sure that we will have more champions like Mr Chan in the future. This is because we have many hawker stalls which serve up delicious food reflecting our diverse cultural heritage and innovative fusions which can only be found here in Singapore. Our hawker centres are an important and intrinsic part of our history. The Government, community and stakeholders must work together to ensure that this living legacy will continue to flourish. How is our nomination of Singapore’s Hawker Culture for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity progressing? What more can Singaporeans do to lend support? Selling food is a tough and competitive business, even more so for hawkers. The work is physically demanding and the hours are long. Many Singaporeans are concerned that selling hawker food might become a dying trade with fewer younger people taking it up as a career. Will the Ministry review and implement further measures to sustain our hawker trade and culture? Part of the reason the younger generation is not so attracted to running hawker stalls is the availability of other food sale alternatives. Those passionate about making food can choose to work for food courts run by chains, restaurants, hotels and catering firms.”
“Continued Vibrancy of Mature Estates What measures will MND take to ensure mature estates remain vibrant and liveable, especially with the falling average household size? How about building more BTO flats targeted at young families? This will enable young couples to stay near their parents, and their children will bring more vibrancy to a mature area with high numbers of the elderly. Optimise the Use of Car Park To optimise our car parks, would HDB and URA consider introducing another type of season parking, namely, for half a day, either day or night parking, at HDB, URA and heavy vehicle car parks to provide an alternative for those who do shift work and to ease their parking needs and optimise the parking space? Improving the Liveability of HDB Towns”
“Sir, for young couples, many have to wait more than a couple of years before collecting keys to their new HDB flats. This is really not conducive for family planning. Most of these couples put up at their parents’ flats instead of renting in the interim to save money for their future. Considering that current flats are not big, it is quite a squeeze to house another new family member with babies on the way. Because of this, most couples postpone having a child until they get their own flats, which is again not ideal, as more and more couples are getting married when they are older, in their 30s. Hence, it would be really helpful if the wait can be shortened. Would the Ministry continue to build Build-To-Order (BTO) flats ahead so that buyers can enjoy shorter waiting times of 18 months or less? In addition, for families wishing to upgrade to a bigger flat, can priority be given according to the number of children they have? After all, the more children there are, the greater the urgency for more space. This will also encourage our young couples to have more children as they can be assured that they do not have to wait too long when they need to upgrade to bigger flats to house more kids. May I ask how many such applications have been received and what is the percentage of success? Lastly, will the Ministry consider additional measures to encourage first-timers to continue to live near their parents in existing mature estates? Can some form of additional rebates or incentives be provided? This is because first-timer young couples have to pay a premium for these locations, which are generally more centralised and have more amenities.”
“Sir, it has often been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Indeed, while the main responsibility of bringing up a child belongs to the parents, our schools and the community play important roles as well. So far, the partnership between homes, schools and communities had been informal and not so structured. Hence, I am pleased to note that the Ministry had recently launched a set of Guidelines for School-Home Partnership which suggest actions that parents and schools can take to help our children develop their self-management skills. Parenthood does not come with introduction manuals and I am sure parents will find the systematic approach helpful. I understand that these guidelines have been well-received so far. The Guidelines for School-Home Partnership are not just for parents. It is a guiding principle for schools, the community and other stakeholders as well. I am curious to know under this framework how collaborative partnerships between the community and the school will help them learn to be responsible and active citizens while building confidence in themselves. Would the Minister share details and examples of how the joint effort nurture character, impart core values and help them acquire skills outside the curriculum? At the same time, how do these projects and programmes serve and meet the needs of the community? Mental Health Education”
“Sir, terrorism remains a grave concern and, much as we prefer not to believe this, it is highly likely to be a matter of "not if, but when". So far, Singapore has been fortunate in that we managed to avoid major incidents, thanks to the diligence and competence of our security agencies. Besides boosting security measures, we have to strengthen our ability to deal with the consequence of potential attacks. Our community must remain united across ethnic and religious groups. Would the Minister share updates on SG Secure and how it would help to foster a community which is more resilient and self-reliant in dealing with crises like terror attacks, as well as MHA's efforts in combating self-radicalisation?”
“Sir, there is a growing trend of drug use liberalisation in the west, including towards cannabis. One can even purchase cannabis-flavoured drinks, cookies and ice-cream in nations where their recreational use has been legalised. However, the damage of such drug misuse on our health is undeniable. And I urge the Government to prevent this trend from taking root in Singapore. I am also very worried about how the abuse of such drugs will lead to the exploration of and subsequent addiction to other illicit drugs. What is the Government’s stance on this issue and how does it plan to respond to this growing trend globally? What measures do we have to ensure that such illegal drugs do not find their way into Singapore? Tough Stance on Drugs – Demand and Supply”
“Sir, religious harmony is very important for Singapore. An effective way to nurture and strengthen religious harmony is to make sure that people from different religions interact with one another. However, in recent times, we have seen overseas examples of segregationist behaviour. For example, there were media reports about laundromats in Malaysia only wanting to serve Muslim customers and extremist Buddhist monks in Myanmar calling Buddhists to boycott Muslim businesses. We need to make sure that such separation of people based on religion is not acceptable here. Reducing social mixing among believers of different religions will divide our society over time and splinter our nation. How can we ensure that such segregationist practices do not take root in Singapore? Home Team Science and Technology Agency The decision to establish the new HSTA by the end of this year cannot come soon enough. In view of the volume and increasingly serious nature of digital threats, a dedicated agency will boost our Home Team's technological capabilities to provide greater support for its operational needs. The range of cases which our security agencies have to deal with are getting more diverse and more complex by the day. Cyberattacks and cybercrimes are escalating even as general crime rates are stabilising or falling. Would the Minister share more details about the aims and key focus areas of HSTA? How will it interface with other similar agencies, such as the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA)? Science and Technology Agency”
“A rapidly ageing population and a persistently low Total Fertility Rate (TFR), which is among the lowest in the world, pose serious challenges for our future. There are severe implications for our social fabric, national heritage, economy and defence, just to name a few. We must make it a matter of priority and urgency to review our population strategies. We need a core group of young Singaporeans to ensure that our country remains cohesive, dynamic and vibrant. What measures does the Government have to invigorate our population strategies and keep a balanced mix of locals and immigrants? What is the Ministry’s view on the effect of new attitudes to family structures and their impact on families and procreation? In addition, how would we prevent the financial burden of caring for our ageing population from falling on our future generations? Total Fertility Rate In Minister Heng Swee Keat's Budget speech, he urged us to draw on our Singaporean DNA to continue to progress. Unfortunately, with our low TFR at 1.16, one of the lowest rates in the world, the future of our DNA is at risk. Modern Singapore had started as an immigrant country and will continue to accept and integrate immigrants in the future. However, it is important that we have a core group of Singaporeans born and bred here. The Government had implemented various measures and incentives to support marriage and procreation. We need an urgent review to understand why they have not been effective. Whether these are inadequate or require enhancements, we must address the roots of the problems. Will the Ministry share its plans to reverse our TFR? New Citizens – Appointment and Integration”
“We should continue to build the infrastructure for businesses to switch to natural gas, electricity or solar and so on and so forth as soon as possible prior to the introduction of such a tax. Notwithstanding, I support the Budget.”
“For families struggling to get by from day to day, seeking help in the maze of many-helping-hands may be a real challenge. How can we improve our present assistance delivery system? Do we have an evaluation framework to assess how productive and efficient we are in getting help to those who need it? For other families with challenges, their problems are compounded by unconstructive family cultures in the way the members behave towards one another or manage their finances and resources. They can be shown and taught better alternative ways of interaction and allocation and use of finances and other assets. I would urge the government to prioritise assistance allocation to families with children. Investing time and resources, particularly manpower resources in the form of counsellors/guidance with a hand-holding approach, on such families will help them to break out of poverty cycles and ensure that the children live up to their highest potential. Last but not least, I would like to appeal for an exemption of the diesel tax increase for vehicles and machinery and company's reliance on diesel for production for which there are currently no non-diesel alternatives. The doubling of the duty for diesel from 10 cents to 20 cents a litre is very substantial. For certain heavy machinery and special purpose vehicles, there are no diesel alternatives in the market and this tax increase imposes an unnecessary burden on their owners and operators. Going forward, the increase in diesel tax and the implementation of carbon tax will make more hardship in sectors where there are limited energy choices.”
“Would the Government ride on our achievement in education to encourage more investments in international schools and established private universities to encourage foreigners to send their children here for further studies? These would help generate income for Singapore. Would the Ministry of Finance (MOF) consider imposing and increasing taxes on gambling, including taxes on winning proceeds, which could provide a sustainable and long-term revenue to support the rising Singaporeans' social expenditure needs, leaving a rise in GST as a last resort? Revenue can also be collected from travellers, while no effort is spared to attract tourist arrival and spending in Singapore. We should also consider reviewing our immigration policy to draw ultra-high and high net worth individuals who can invest substantial amounts in Singapore to create quality jobs and income for Singaporeans. Priority for grant of citizenship can be considered for applicants who have paid either significant personal or corporate income tax of at least $5 million in total for the last five years or have spent a good amount in payroll for Singaporean employees through the companies investing in Singapore for a certain period of time under review. We have been focusing a lot on restructuring our economy and transforming our industries. I would like to propose that we appoint a task force to look into transforming families in financial difficulties and those with problems. Let us have a concerted effort to uplift families which are struggling to cope. Many of these families need money, quite often after an illness or death tips their finances over the edge. They need befrienders and professional counsellors to help them navigate the various assistance schemes available to them.”
“They have to be realistic and avoid short-sighted measures. After all, Singapore is facing an ageing population, with the ratio of working people between 20 and 64 years old vis-a-vis those over 65 falling to 4.2. We have nothing, but we can "create something out of nothing" and have what others cannot have. The world is a turbulent one. We face stiff competition in science and technology and we need to depend on our people's diligence and mastery of skills to forge ahead. So, it makes sense for the Government, on behalf of the people of the country, to pay tribute to the PG and MG, and to allocate additional funds to cater to their needs. This is only right. Many of our MG had to start work at a young age to supplement the family's income and care for their younger siblings. Their contribution is worthy of our respect. Furthermore, many of them did not get to enjoy the comprehensive benefit of CPF, especially after the CPF was amended and enhanced to bring better safeguards for our members. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, the measures to assist MG are quite popular and welcomed by many older residents, which leads to the next question: what about subsequent generations? The future is unpredictable and there may be changes beyond our control down the road, leading to certain batches of future seniors facing difficulties in their retirement years. In addition, there are usually some seniors in every cohort who would need some form of Government support. Hence, we must continue to search for more engines of economic growth and revenue resources to finance not just elder expenditures but all necessary expenses. Would the Government continue to encourage investment of private hospitals here and to promote medical tourism?”