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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“I was pleased to see that after some discussion, both parties demonstrated the spirit of mutual support and understanding. The two ceremonies were able to proceed smoothly. In the end, they even congratulated each other. Everyone was happy. Many of us would have encountered situations, such as frictions caused by neighbours burning joss paper. Through the IRCC, I have also helped two neighbours resolve a dispute caused by the Indian family burning incense. They eventually reached mutual understanding. From these incidences, my grassroots and I believe that we still need to continue to promote the understanding of the culture, faith and customs of other races through multiple channels, strengthen mutual trust and respect, and deepen our community bond. Just like my Parliamentary colleagues, I often organise various activities to bring residents together to build rapport and social cohesion. Among all these activities, I noticed that the durian party is a good one. Different races can gather and enjoy durians together. The durian is not just a diplomatic tool. Minister Ong just conducted Durian Diplomacy when he visited China recently. The durian party is a good activity to bond residents. The durian has become a common language, regardless of language, race and religion. We cannot afford to be complacent, lose vigilance or take for granted our current achievements, stability and peace. Because if we are not careful, the mutual trust and tolerance we have built over the years can crumble overnight. Only by working together can we prevent extremism from destroying our racial harmony and prevent the terrorists from taking any chance to undermine the peaceful co-existence of different races.”
“Using English as the common working language will not only enable various races to communicate equally with a non-mother tongue language but also facilitate communication and business dealings with the international community and people from other countries. Using English as the common communication medium is not because of its superiority but because it is convenient, used widely and practical. As the Founding Prime Minister had said, English is something that no particular race enjoys an advantage, hence all the races can communicate equally. People say we are like a rojak, but we are a plate of healthy, delicious and popular rojak. I think the Health Promotion Board (HPB) can use this as our slogan for Healthy Food Choice. The establishment of IRCCs is a very good community scheme. The IRCC in my constituency plays a very important role. It has helped many residents to resolve their misunderstandings and contributed greatly to racial harmony in the community. In fact, in my constituency, there were some disputes involving residents of different races. The consequence of these disputes can be big or small. If they are not solved promptly, consequences can be severe. I remember one afternoon at one void deck, a group of Malay residents were having a wedding ceremony. At another corner, there happened to be a Chinese resident who was conducting a religious ritual with a puppet show. The loud noise from the puppet show disturbed the Malay wedding. The Malay residents had mistaken the nearby Chinese ritual for a funeral, hence they showed tolerance and constraint. However, they hoped that the Chinese resident can lower the volume so that the wedding can go ahead. I happened to be visiting the area so I helped them understand each other.”
“Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Since Independence, building together a multiracial, multi-religious, multicultural and inclusive society has always been the foundation of Singapore's nation-building. Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stated clearly in the declaration of Independence what is the foundation of Singapore. "This is not a Malay nation, this is not a Chinese nation, this is not an Indian nation. Everyone will his place: equal; language, culture, religion." Singapore is a multiracial society. Every race has its own language, culture, religion and values. All the races form a big family called Singapore. It is a Singapore for all Singaporeans. We can all see the efforts over the years to build a Singapore for Singaporeans. From the national anthem played at the radio and TV stations, reciting the pledge in schools, the National Day Parade, GRC system, to the Reserved Presidential Election system and EIP, all these are constantly reminding Singaporeans the importance of unity and multiracialism. To build a Singapore for Singaporeans is the responsibility of every Singaporean. Different races must co-exist peacefully. The majority race cannot bully the minorities. Every race must tolerate one another, develop consensus while accommodating differences, leverage different strengths and allow a hundred flowers to bloom. Bilingualism enables Singaporeans to communicate with a common language while maintaining their mother tongue and helps develop multiculturalism in Singapore.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. From my personal experience, we do have cases where the residents actually stay next to the school and could not get a place. So, would there be a further review probably to look at the distance, in other words, those who stay nearby will get the priority? Would there be any possibility for the Ministry of Education to review and look at all these cases?”
“We must stay united and harmonious as a community in order to deter extremism, intolerance and terrorism. All races must keep constantly reminding one another that our religions and ideologies promote peace and love for our fellow men. Our fight is against terrorism, not against any religion nor any race. We should leverage upon our well-trained, multiracial, multi-religious National Service (NS)men, active and reservists, and update them regularly with counterterrorism skills to expand on security measures on the ground. Finally, I would like to voice my support for making it an offence the unauthorised photography and videography, including with the use of drones, of protected places listed under the existing PAPPA under this Bill. I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, it has often been said that prevention is better than cure. The Infrastructure Protection Bill is, indeed, all about pre-emptive measures to protect critical infrastructural facilities against the increasing threats of terrorism. However, I am concerned about how we are going to achieve the balance between our security needs and public convenience. If we overdo it, we may end up with protected areas which are operated like a prison. On the other hand, if our protection measures are insufficient, such lapses could invite exploitations by terrorists. I would like to suggest that we invest more in and leverage on technology to boost security. This could be a better solution than relying heavily on hardware, such as physical protective installations, which are also necessary. The use of big data analytical digital techniques, for example, would be useful. The recent attempt by terrorists to fire a rocket from Batam is a clear example of terrorists exploring all means to cause casualties and instill fear. We have been fortunate in that our neighbouring countries have been working closely with us to cripple such attempts. In such cases, the scope for infrastructure defence will be limited due to the destructive powers of such weapons. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] It is said that “As virtue rises one foot, vice rises 10”. The enemies are in the dark but we are in the open. Hence, we must take pre-emptive measures to protect our infrastructural facilities. It is always wise to play safe. Only by doing this can we effectively prevent and fight against terror. (In English): Hence, early detection of self-radicalised individuals, their education and rehabilitation are important countermeasures as well.”
“From the quality of the finishings to differences between marketing brochures and the final products, many of these cases end up in Court. I hope the Ministry or Commissioner of Buildings (COB) can set up a mediation centre with a panel of industry and legal specialists to look into these claims and provide economical and amicable solutions. Finally, I would like to make a comment about the use of the management fund. Although the management fund can be used to fund and organise social and sports activities for residents in an estate, it would be prudent to put a cap on such expenditure since its main purpose is for the upkeep of the development project. Residents in condominiums should be encouraged to form Neighbourhood Committees (NCs) whose objective is fulfilling the social needs of the residents, so that the MA can focus on and be primarily responsible for estate maintenance. Both the MA and NC should work closely together for the benefit of the residents while enabling and encouraging individual responsibility. With that, I confirm my support.”
“Mr Speaker, I support the Bill. The Bill will greatly improve the management of properties. I want to put on record my appreciation for the contributions of members of the public and various stakeholders who had given their feedback and recommendations over the last few years. We are now benefiting from their collective wisdom. I just have a few more suggestions for the Ministry's consideration. Firstly, ensuring positive balance transfers of moneys from the developers to the MCSTs is a step in the right direction. However, there remains a possibility that some MAs will not be able to function properly during the first months of the estate's operations or during the transition period from the developer to the MA appointed by the MCST. This may affect the daily maintenance of the development project to the detriment of the residents. It may be more appropriate to require the developer to ensure sufficient balances such that the monies can pay for at least three to six months of estate maintenance and operations. Next, in addition to the prohibition for a council member to hold the position of Treasurer concurrently as a Chairperson or a Secretary, all councillors should be required to make declarations to ensure there will be no conflict of interest in all appointments of contractors for the estate's maintenance. In some cases, after an open tender, an estate may face a limited number of choices for contractors, some of whom may be related to council members. I would like to ask the Ministry to consider drawing up legislation for such scenarios to protect the residents' rights. As we see the completion of more development projects, we encounter more cases of dispute between new home owners and developers.”
“Madam, We have a very successful SAF and defence force. Practically in every household, you will find a National Serviceman. How could the Government leverage on this advantage that we have to work with the community to form a strong defence against terrorism?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. I hear you, but would the Ministry consider working with any specific organisation to provide training or even look at how to assist those who are retrenched or are receiving financial assistance who wish to become hawkers?”
“I thank the Minister for the reply. Would the Minister consider keeping this ratio for the long term? I understand it used to be 80:20; now, it seems to be 70%-72%. So, is there a threshold that the Government would consider to maintain for this ratio, this proportion?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. May I know whether HDB would consider allowing them to buy over their existing rental flats?”
“I thank the Minister of State for the reply. My question is whether there will be a near future review of the manpower needs in view of the lead time that is required and also because by 2030, that is, in another 13 years' time, in fact, one out of four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above. I think that is something that we always bear in mind. With that in mind, when will MOM review whether we would need some more manpower or whether the training programmes or the take-up rate will be sufficient to meet the demand?”
“Will the 5,000 include organisers and performers and supporting staff because, at some events, in fact, the performers and the supporting staff added up together could be more than 5,000 together with the participants? As there are limited choices of venues which can hold 5,000 people, will the Ministry consider designating such areas so that permanent security installations and measures can be set up in these areas to leverage the economies of scale and help organisers reduce costs? I am also curious about whether the use of electronic and personal communication devices will be restricted at these events since they can be used by terrorists, as reported recently in the US and the European Union (EU). Finally, regarding manpower requirements at such events, will the volunteers helping out be required to be trained volunteers? The support of volunteer staff will help to reduce the cost of organising such events. In addition, will the Ministry consider constantly updating and equipping all NS personnel and reservists with skills and knowledge to combat terrorism? I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Mdm Speaker, the introduction of this Bill is a sad indicator of the environment we live in. Singapore has been relatively safe so far, thanks to the vigilance of our security personnel as well as cooperation from the private sector. Our years of effort at promoting mutual understanding and building tolerance and harmony amongst different racial, religious and community groups also play an important role. Nevertheless, the threat of a terrorist attack is high and we must take pre-emptive measures to ensure the safety of Singapore and all our residents and visitors. The Bill will require organisers of public events which expect more than 5,000 participants to consult the Police on security measures. I would like to ask if the Minister can share how the number of 5,000 was arrived at. I also seek clarifications about whether this limit also applies to the Speakers' Corner, election rallies and events organised by grassroots organisations. Security measures would include deploying more security officers, bag checks and installing anti-vehicle barricades. Would the Minister elaborate on the minimum necessary security measures that an organiser must implement and how would the Government assist with the sharing of costs? What happens if an organiser decides to set the number at 4,999 instead of 5,000 or split the crowd into two at venues in close proximity to each other? Or split events into two successive sessions, one immediately after the other with less than 5,000 within the venue while having less than 5,000 or just fall short of 5,000 waiting outside the venue, making a total of 5,000 at any point of time.”
“I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply. I would just like to ask how often do HDB officers carry out surprise checks on all the owners who sublet HDB flats.”
“May I seek clarification from the Minister whether the transfer of equities by way of gifts is exempted? In the case of, let us say, the parents transferring the share to their children, and also transferring due to death of the shareholders, and so transfer to the beneficiaries, would that also be exempted? Also, I know the tax is on the underlying residential property value. In the case of a distress sale, in a hurry, how would you determine the value of the asset?”
“Madam, I would like to appeal to the Ministry to consider giving to families and individual caregivers the equivalent grants or subsidies given to infant care and child-care centre operators. These are parents who have family members or caregivers from their neighbourhoods who can help to look after their babies and children. To ensure that these caregivers meet standards in caring for young ones, the Ministry can organise a training and certification process for them. Those who pass the training will then be entitled to the grants. People who provide such freelance care-giving services for children should be supported as professionals, too. Home-based Care Options”
“Madam, today is International Women's Day. I wish all Happy Women's Day. As more women and grandparents enter or remain in the workforce, the demand for infant care and childcare increases. We need to build a strong system of caregiving support to help young married couples in their parenthood journey. Currently, parents with children in childcare and infant care centres benefit from a basic subsidy and an additional subsidy which help offset the centres' fees. In order to encourage more couples to have children, in view of our low fertility rate, will the Government consider offering additional infant care and childcare subsidies for the second or third child? This will help these families cope with the higher expenses incurred in looking after more children. I would also like to appeal for an increase in the provision of childcare and infant care facilities in Sengkang South. Update on KidSTART”
“Thank you, Madam. Littering tickets issued by NEA rose 18% last year to reach 31,000 tickets. This is despite years of ongoing public education and enhanced fines for litterbugs. Would the Ministry share how many repeat offenders were issued Corrective Work Orders (CWOs) in the last three years and does it think that they have been effective? Will there be changes to how the CWO is conducted to increase their effectiveness? Mobile Surveillance Camera High-rise littering is such a hazard. All of us know that it is called "killer litter". But it is difficult to apprehend the culprits. The Ministry has been deploying mobile surveillance cameras to catch such residents in the act. Can the Ministry provide an update on the effectiveness of these cameras in deterring high-rise littering? How many cameras are in use and how many litterbugs have been caught in the last year?”
“How has the progress of our public education efforts been? Can the Minister share updates on water saving designs and installations in our buildings? Next cut. Water Price Increase Would the Ministry elaborate on the Government's expenditure, investments and subsidies for water made to ensure sufficient and reliable water supply for Singapore? How does the Government reach the figure of 30% for the increase of water price? Given the current poor economic climate, businesses, in general, will find it difficult to stomach the water price increases. Is it possible for the Ministry to defer the price increase or stagger it over the next five years with smaller annual adjustments? Our individual households play an important role in water conservation as they account for 45% of the water demand. What are the plans the Ministry has to help and encourage Singaporeans to practise water conservation and adopt water saving measures at home? What are the available technologies families can tap on to reduce their water bills?”
“Madam, the Linggiu Reservoir in Johor, Malaysia, is an essential source of our water supply. Its size is five times, larger than all of our 17 freshwater reservoirs combined. Our entitlement draw of 250 million gallons per day (mgd) of water from Linggiu meets over 60% of our current demand for 430 mgd of water. Hence, the drastic drop in its water level over the past few years, from 84% to the lowest recorded level of 20% last October, is a matter of grave concern. How will the water supply in Singapore be affected if Linggiu reservoir runs dry? How we can build our water resilience against contingencies, such as weather uncertainties and supply disruptions? Our demand for water is expected to rise to 800 mgd by 2061 as a result of growing population, commercial and industrial needs. In the same year, our 99-year water agreement with Malaysia will expire. How will our water supply be affected if Malaysia decides not to extend our water agreement? What plans do the Ministry and PUB have to ensure that our water supply is adequate in meeting future demand? We have been experiencing more instances of extreme weather conditions, from prolonged dry weather to intense downpours resulting in flooding. More recently, we have lots of rain in the afternoons. Is the Ministry working on a long-term infrastructural solution to collect water during the heavy rains while mitigating the problems of flooding? 3.00 pm It is just as important for us to minimise water wastage. How efficient is our system of inspection to detect, prevent and minimise water wastage and leaks? For many years, most of us have taken the flow of clean water from our taps for granted. We must step up our efforts to increase public awareness of our water conservation.”
“What plans does the Ministry have to improve industrial and household energy efficiency and thus reduce GHG emissions? How will these contribute towards Singapore's pledge to reduce our emissions under the Paris Agreement on climate change? Air Quality in Singapore”
“At the beginning of this year, NEA warned that we could see an increase in the number of dengue cases towards the middle of the year. The agency had detected 60% more Aedes aegypti mosquitoes the previous month over last October in its Gravitrap surveillance system. This is, indeed, very worrying. I am especially concerned about the impact of the disease on our elderly whose immune systems are weaker. Can the Ministry provide an update on the study of the male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia bacteria? Initial studies have suggested that these released male mosquitoes have successfully mated with the urban females whose eggs do not hatch. Does the Ministry detect a fall in the number of dengue cases in the estates where these studies were conducted? In how many more estates will these male mosquitoes be released in the future? The high diversity of circulating dengue serotypes is also worrying as immunity for one strain does not offer protection against other strains. Although the world's first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, is now commercially available here, it is much less effective against two of our most common strains, Den 1 and Den 2. Nonetheless, since the vaccine reduces severe dengue by 84%, I hope that the Ministry will help publicise the availability of this vaccine to increase awareness. I would also like to ask how successful our public education programme on the prevention of mosquito breeding has been. Are industries and residents more aware of the dangers and being more cooperative now? Greenhouse Gas Emissions The industry sector, as the largest emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, plays an important role in reducing our emissions. Consumers can also help by using more energy-efficient appliances.”
“Steel construction could be equally productive if we know the know-how. Besides that, giving more time in upfront planning and design can go a long way in saving resources and time. In Singapore, very often, the moment the developer gets the land, he would want to rush the design submission so that he can launch his project for sale as soon as possible. Architects and engineers are building Building Information Modelling (BIM) models just good enough for submission and get approval. Later, when the contractor comes on board, he builds his own BIM model. Where is the benefit that BIM is supposed to bring to the team? For the HDB's Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), I was told that four to five teams of contractors are called in. Is it not a waste of time and resources? I hope that the Government, being the largest developer in Singapore, can lead by example. I would like to take this opportunity again to urge the Ministry to do more to support the growth in the capabilities of our local contractors and professionals. The Ministry should help them to build up track records and get them on board government-to-government (G-to-G) projects overseas. Singapore can benefit from a more resilient, reputable and capable construction industry with in-house local competency. Estate Privatisation Planning”
“Sir, the Government will bring forward $700 million worth of public sector infrastructure projects in this fiscal year. Out of these, how many new projects will be under the Ministry? What would be the total valuation of these projects and what specific initiatives will MND inject into the market to help our contractors? 6.30 pm Construction Productivity Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: Let me first declare my interest as a professional engineer and my involvement in the public listed companies in real estate and the construction sector. Our construction sector is in dire need of stimulation. Many of them are fighting for survival. Our local contractors are losing business to foreign contractors, some of whom can provide cheaper raw materials and labour from their home countries while some have more impressive track records and support from their parent companies. I know that in some cases, the Government is breaking up large projects into parcels to enable local contractors to participate. But more can be done. The $700 million of additional public construction projects is much welcome and I hope all the projects will be awarded to our local contractors, creating opportunities for them to build on their construction capabilities. Certainly, I agree that more innovative ideas are needed to boost productivity. Why are our contractors not so keen to embrace new technologies? Many said they may not be able to get sufficient projects to recover their investment. Perhaps, the Government can have some schemes for them that ensure them of the volume of projects should they invest in new technology. There are many ways to achieve productivity. Concrete Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) is one but not the only one.”
“Madam, thank you for giving me the opportunity. I would like to ask what the take-up rates for the Parenthood Priority Scheme have been and whether HDB has been able to meet the demand to date. Which estates and flat types are most in demand? How successful has the scheme been in encouraging married couples to have more children and as early as possible in their married lives? Shorter Waiting Time for BTO Flats The Minister shared in October last year that the waiting period for BTO flats will drop to two to three years, down from the current three to four years. How would the Ministry go about achieving this and what would be the steps taken to expedite the construction process? Will additional costs be incurred in order to shorten the waiting time for the construction to be completed? What is the total number of BTO flats that HDB intends to build ahead of the launches? Would the Ministry also share how many flats for each room type will be built and where will the locations be? Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme Next, I would also like to ask how successful has the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) been? Can HDB lower the rental and allow the rental to be used to offset against the purchase price of the BTO flat? Can the scheme be extended to couples still in the process of applying for flats? Lease Buyback Scheme Next, will HDB reconsider extending LBS to HDB flats other than 4-rooms and below? This would really enable many senior citizens to age in place. I would also like to appeal for the eligible age to be lowered and for approval to be granted for cases involving residents with special needs on compassionate grounds. Seniors Co-sharing Rental Flats”
“Madam, I have a question for the Parliamentary Secretary. I thank him for updating us on the development of NAFA and LASALLE. Presently, I understand that those colleges have collaborated with foreign universities to offer design-related degree courses. My question is: will the Ministry consider allowing them to upgrade to become arts universities and offer degrees to their students?”
“More and more young people are interested in creative arts tertiary education, which augurs well for our endeavour to transform Singapore into a Distinctive Global City for the Arts. Creative arts education fosters creativity and innovation, both necessary for a future-ready Singapore. I am heartened to note that the Government is looking at how to further develop creative arts tertiary education, both in terms of expanding the scope and depth. Would the Ministry provide an update on its plans to enhance the quality of creative arts tertiary education? How have the enrolments been for the various disciplines and levels at our institutions? In addition, what measures does the Ministry have to align our creative arts graduates' skills with industry demands? How does the Ministry help them prepare for their future careers and what kind of projects has the Government initiated or attracted to Singapore to help provide them with good career prospects? Creative Arts”
“Sir, it has often been said that it takes a village to raise a child. This is, indeed, a universal truth. Parents, grandparents, family members, teachers, neighbours and communities all owe a child varying degrees of duty to protect and nurture him and to guide him in his journey towards adulthood. Over the years, MOE has been making the effort to strengthen the partnership between parents and schools and communities so that our children will have a better education experience. This is a challenging initiative as our curriculum is quite demanding and we have more families where both parents are working. Can the Ministry provide an update on its efforts to foster stronger parental and community partnership with our schools to enrich our children's educational experiences? School-parents Network Relationship”
“Sir, MOE kindergartens hold a strong appeal for many parents as they believe that the Ministry has more resources to develop a high-quality curriculum while keeping the fees affordable. I would like to ask what parameters MOE is using to measure the success of these kindergartens and how does it assess their performances so far. In addition, how many more MOE kindergartens will be set up in the next two years and whether there are plans to open them in all primary schools in Sengkang, Punggol and Hougang? MOE seeks to level the playing field for all children through subsidies and additional financial assistance for needy students. May I ask how many children benefited from such assistance last year and what is their percentage of their cohorts? Would the Minister also share if the teachers are trained to detect students with learning difficulties and assist them? Preschool Education”
“I just want to clarify for the surveillance cameras which have been installed and also still going on. I understand that quite a lot of them are recording and re-recording. Will they be shown online if it is "live" recording?”
“Madam, the nature of crime is evolving in Singapore. While violent crimes, robberies and theft have been trending downwards, cybercrime is increasing. As more of our interactions and transactions go online, so do criminals. Cyberattackers stealing money, information and data are costing individuals and companies here millions of dollars a year. Millions more are lost through e-commerce cheating, online scams and ransomware. The Internet also facilitates transactions of illegal goods and services. The number of arrests for buying drugs and drug-related items online has jumped six-fold. Vice activities are also increasingly being coordinated online. Even recruitment by terrorists is also being conducted online. The arrests of self-radicalised Singaporeans last year highlighted the danger of terrorist activities here. How will MHA leverage technology to transform frontline operations so that our Police Officers can react to security breaches and emergencies quickly? What measures are in place to help the Home Team stay updated and equipped to cope with new security challenges and increasing demand? Would the Ministry consider increasing recruitment to boost our ability to deal with security crises? MHA's Partnership with Community”
“My residents have given me positive feedback on this. Will HDB consider increasing the allocation for new BTO flat upgraders or second-timers slightly, cautiously, moderately? These owners will, in turn, release more resale flats into the market for young couples looking for this option. Finally, I would like to conclude with my thanks and appreciation for the extension of the Additional Special Employment Credit. This is something I have been hoping for as I think it is effective in incentivising companies to retain our older workers and help them stay employed. We should also remind companies that the Government is continuing to support them through ongoing schemes, such as the Wage Credit Scheme and the Special Employment Credit scheme. These are not small amounts, totalling $900 million. Mdm Speaker, with that, I support the Budget.”
“It made me puzzled and I could not reconcile it. I certainly support our move to become even more self-reliant in our water supply through the use of the latest technology. While the cost increase cannot be avoided due to the huge investments required, more efforts should be made to continue to increase the sources of water supply and the use of technology that can help reduce the cost of water production. We should continually remind Singaporeans of the importance of conserving water. On this note, may I know whether the Ministry will consider opening up the water supply sector to more private players to set up more plants to increase competition? We should have more dialogues and discussions about how to motivate Singaporeans to save water. In short, I believe in incentivising rather than having penalties in promoting water conservation. May I recommend that we look more closely at how other countries conserve water? For example, in Hong Kong, every household is served by two water pipes − one for potable water and one for non-potable water. In some areas in Japan, it is common for the toilets to be designed in such a way that used water from wash basins are fed to the flush tanks. I am also heartened to note that the Singapore Government has increased the grants for Singaporeans to buy resale flats so that they can live near their parents or working area. However, we need to be mindful and remain cautious, and monitor whether such additional grants may end up pushing up the prices of resale flats. Also, with these grants, resale flats are becoming more attractive. Will the Ministry share if the prices between BTO and resale flats are narrowing? I am heartened by the announcement that more flats may be built to shorten the waiting time for BTO flat applicants.”
“I was particularly struck by the fact that the company was not reliant on the relatively cheaper unskilled labour for their competitive advantage. He shared a good example. A good, experienced, skilled and productive plasterer could produce four times more than an unskilled labourer even though he may be one and a half times more expensive than the unskilled labourer. In addition, the company could save on unnecessary hidden and unforeseen costs, such as wastage and material costs ,if the job needs to be reworked or improved. He shared that, in conclusion, cheap is not necessary good, and increased productivity is relatively important in ensuring the competitive advantage. Another topic which features prominently for this Budget is the 30% hike in the water price. I do share the concern of Singaporeans over the price hike and worry about the impact on the cost of living and business costs. Even until today, people do still laugh at us for drinking "long kang" water. Putting aside such remarks, businesses that I spoke to shared that the consequences of not having reliable and sustainable water solutions are far-reaching. If not solved, it might be worse, and we might lose businesses and investors. Imagine, if we do not have such alternatives, what would be the price Singaporeans would have to pay in the future? A few months ago, there was an interesting article by Channel NewsAsia. It shared that Singapore consumers spent about $134 million on still bottled water in 2015, up 25% from five years ago. A 60 ml bottle of drinking water usually retails for about 50 cents to about $1 in the supermarket. For the same amount of tap water, PUB reported it would cost only 0.1 cents, not even 1 cent. This makes it 500 to 1,000 times cheaper than the bottled water.”
“The Singapore Government must continue to invest in all Singaporeans and make every Singaporean the best and most preferred person to employ and work with wherever Singaporeans are in the world. The world is our market and oyster. The Internet has removed many geographical barriers to enable a global market. Hence, more local companies should think about tapping the bigger global market overseas through e-commerce. The number of people making purchases online is increasing exponentially and they do not care where the e-commerce websites are based. Is it possible to compete with Amazon, or Tmall or Taobao? Yes, it is. Even though these sites seem to sell almost everything, there are many niche sites out there which are able to build their brands online and secure loyal customer bases. However, even as we encourage our companies to venture overseas, the fact is that they are based here in Singapore and our high business cost structure is a problem. Some sectors, like construction, are heavily reliant on foreign workers. There are limits to how much innovation in construction can help assist to reduce costs. Would the Ministry reconsider deferring or staggering the foreign workers levy increase for all sectors and providing rental rebates to help SMEs offset higher utilities bills, compliance costs and the new carbon tax? As HDB is a major developer, it can consider taking the lead in construction innovation as it is in a position to enjoy economies of scale. Would the Government share what innovative practices it will be engaging in and what would be the expected savings in terms of costs, manpower and time? I recall meeting a foreign contractor recently and checking with him how the contractor competed in the market.”
“The Government can step up their efforts to share relatable success stories to motivate them, show them how others have adapted so that they do not have to worry or be fearful, share information about how people have managed transitions and, very importantly, how changes can benefit them. Singaporeans must recognise that these changes are not threats but opportunities. The fundamentals do not change – for example, robots assist, not replace humans. When residents heard about the initiatives, such as the acceleration of $700 million worth of infrastructure projects, they were heartened. These are concrete developments they can relate to. Hence, the Government should share more news about how it will pump up the economy and attract more investments. For example, the Government can highlight updates about how many more direct and indirect jobs will be generated by Changi Airport Terminal 4 and the other projects in progress. (In English): We have to make a greater effort to focus on the tangible benefits for workers. Success stories about jobseekers benefiting from matches at our National Jobs Bank, our Career Support Programme, Professional Conversions Programme and the Work Trial Programme will also boost the morale of the unemployed and encourage them to enrol and persist in their training. Periodic updates about the new Attach and Train initiative should be shared in the media to raise awareness of its benefits. Mdm Speaker, US President Donald Trump wanted to make America great again; Americans first. We must strive for "a great Singapore: Singaporean is the most preferred choice" for all employers, not only locally but internationally and wherever Singaporeans are.”
“Mdm Speaker, for this Budget, MOF has maintained our tradition of prudent public spending and I am glad to support it. Although FY2017's primary deficit will be double last year's, we will still manage a surplus of $1.9 billion even after factoring in Special Transfers, thanks to the $14 billion contribution from our Net Investment Returns. This is good news. This Budget has many good and targeted initiatives to support businesses, in response to the report by the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE). The Government's commitment to drive innovation is clear as we can see in the $500 million top-up to the National Research Fund and an additional $1 billion for the National Productivity Fund. However, as we had just experienced our weakest economic growth rate since 2009 and the growth outlook is weak, many are waiting for the Government to share more details about how the economy will achieve the target growth of 2% to 3%. Where are the growth sectors in the immediate future? Notwithstanding, I must thank Minister Iswaran for his assurance to the House the day before. Mdm Speaker, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Some residents told me that they could not understand the relevance of the CFE Report. Not everyone can be in the fields of engineering, information technology (IT) or artificial intelligence (AI). In fact, quite a number of residents feel stressed by the advance of disruptive technologies. They are totally at a loss about how to stay in the competition, never mind about staying ahead. They cannot keep up and cannot fill in the gaps in knowledge and skills. They are fearful, feel down and left out.”
“Due to the proposed longer licence tenure, I urge the Ministry to conduct unannounced audits more regularly. Currently, such audits are conducted at least once a year. Would the Ministry consider increasing the frequency to at least twice yearly to ensure that centres maintain their standards? I am also concerned about the impact of temporary centre closures in the event of disease outbreaks. There are clear conditions under which centres will be permitted to start running again. However, during the closures, many families will be left in difficulty, due to more dual-income families and grandparents staying in the workforce longer. Finding someone or somewhere to take care of their children will be a big challenge. I hope the Ministry will address this and share what contingency plans it has for such situations. Finally, I hope the Ministry will provide more guidance and support to operators in caring for children with special needs within their centres. Embracing such children and helping them to integrate into the preschool community should be the way forward, instead of segregating them. If the parents feel confident enough to enrol them, it means that their conditions are usually manageable with some conditional help and empathy. While they will need extra care and concern, if the Ministry can facilitate operators' partnership with referred specialists, the interests of these children will be safeguarded.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. Our childcare centres and kindergartens are as varied as the uniforms, or lack of, for the children in their care. There is a wide range of fees, programmes and facilities. Yet all of them must meet certain health, safety and teaching standards to ensure that the children are well-cared for and ready for our primary schools. Hence, I fully support regulating all pre-schools under a single regulatory framework for consistency. The new framework will further safeguard the interests of our children and their parents through requirements, such as getting operators to clearly state their registration and admission processes and giving parents sufficient notice if they decide to increase their fees. I am happy to note that centres will continue to have the flexibility to customise their lesson plans within broad guidelines which ensure that the programmes are developmentally appropriate. However, the Bill does not address how the Ministry will ensure that centres charge reasonable fees. Some centres claim that they offer unique, high-quality programmes and charge fees which can match our universities' tuition fees. Although this is a free market, some degree of control by the Ministry would be helpful. I was reassured to find out that new administrative requirements are clear and will not be too onerous upon the operators. Operators should have no difficulty adhering to the new regulations, minimising operational inefficiencies and costs, while safeguarding centre quality and standards. Notwithstanding, I would like to ask the Minister whether operators will be expected to employ designated operation, administrative or compliance staff to ensure that they are running their centres according to the new framework.”
“I thank the Minister for the reply. There is a public concern that if you do not control the number of such vehicles, it will actually affect the current system because, currently, taxi companies are exempted from Certificate of Entitlement (COE) bidding. So, whether it will lead to higher COE prices for private vehicles.”
“Would the Ministry consider setting up a Government-approved lease deposit account in which landlords are required to place their tenants' deposits? This will help enhance protection for tenants and facilitate recovery of their deposits. I would also like to ask how many cases there have been of tenants subletting to other tenants in the last five years. What are the typical profiles of such tenants and what actions have been taken against them? If they are foreigners, would the Ministry consider banning them from working and living in Singapore? In addition, would the Minister share how many cases of disputes between neighbours involving Singapore residents and foreign tenants there were in the past five years? Does the Ministry keep track of the nature of the disputes so that we will be able to formulate better preventive measures? Finally, would the Minister share with the House how the Ministry works with MCSTs, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the Police and Neighbourhood Committees to enforce and regulate the private property rental market?”
“Deputy Speaker, thanks for allowing me to participate in this debate. I support the Bill but have some suggestions for the Minister's consideration. As echoed by other Members who have spoken earlier on this Bill, I, too, would like to mention that, firstly, under the new Fourth Schedule, URA will reduce the maximum number of unrelated persons a property can be rented to from eight to six. The intention is to deal with the recurrent problem of subletting to too many tenants, resulting in overcrowding. However, as properties vary greatly in terms of size and configuration, may I recommend that the Ministry limit the number of tenants based on the sizes and types of rooms of the residences? Secondly, I would like to advise that we seek consistency in our criteria for both public and private housing. Currently, a Singapore Citizen is allowed to sublet the entire HDB flat after fulfilling the minimum occupation period. The maximum number of sub-tenants allowed in each flat is based on flat type. For 1-room and 2-room flats, four sub-tenants; for 3-room flats, six sub-tenants; and for 4-room and bigger flats, nine sub-tenants. Private properties should be subjected to similar caps as well. Thirdly, I would like to request for greater protection for tenants. In the last few years, there have been cases of owners who collected deposits and sublet the same property to multiple tenants. Does the Ministry keep track of how many such cases of complaints have occurred in the past five years? Will the Ministry implement measures to deter such cases from recurring? In addition, often, owners and their tenants have disputes over whether the deposits should be returned, and some owners keep the deposits at the end of the leases without valid reasons.”
“Moving forward, I hope KWSH will contribute even more to healthcare services in Singapore following the repeal of this Ordinance. I am glad that the Government has supported the upgrading of the hospital though part of it is affected by the land acquisition for development. The upgraded hospital will help support our ageing population and patients with chronic diseases. The hospital has an important role to play and I hope it will continue to receive support from the public. I would like to thank the Ministry for connecting the Bendemeer MRT station to the hospital, which will provide much convenience for the public to gain access to the hospital. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our seniors, the Pioneer Generation and the public for their support over the years, with which KWSH is able to make continual success in Singapore. I support this Bill.”
“Although in the early days, the hospital's main purpose is to care for immigrants coming from Kwong-Chau, Wai-Chau and Shiu-heng prefectures of the Canton Province of China, in fact, it has also already been caring for people from other dialects or races. Even though I am not a Cantonese, I am a Hokkien, I have also benefited from the hospital. Whilst it serves all Singaporeans, KWSH has also had the special support of the Chinese community. The hospital has many volunteers helping them in their programmes. The volunteers add much warmth and friendship to the lives of the hospital's residents. These volunteers are called the "kopitiam kakis". They chitchat with the residents, share stories and sing songs with them, just like in a kopitiam. Even though KWSH's Ordinance was outdated, it has been able to achieve all this. I note that the Ordinance is not fully compatible with the guidelines recommended in the Code of Governance for Charities and IPCs. With the new Bill, KWSH will have more flexibility to help more low-income Singaporeans regardless of race or religion. This will remove the limitations imposed by the Ordinance regarding KWSH's beneficiaries and allow it to adopt a modern governance structure. While KWSH had earlier made the right decision to broaden its scope of services to patients regardless of race, language or religion, it is appropriate that the mandate of the hospital, as reflected in its governing document, be updated in line with our national values. Changes to its governance structure will also be in the interest of KWSH's donors and beneficiaries as the hospital will have greater transparency and accountability in fulfilling its mandate.”
“In Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, just as my Parliament colleague has just mentioned, KWSH, has cared for many low-income families since its establishment in 1910. The hospital provided Singaporeans with good medical services and contributed much in terms of charitable and healthcare services. When it started, it provided both TCM and western medicine services, a first for Singapore. In the early days, it also provided maternity services and treated communicable diseases. I am glad to see that the hospital has evolved its services over time. Today, it operates a nursing home, a day rehabilitation centre, a TCM centre and provides homecare services. I understand that it is even going out into the community to provide healthcare talks and mobile health screening for the elderly. KWSH has always played an important role in caring for the indigent. Even today, nursing home residents who are unable to foot their bills can still receive funding from KWSH's charity funds. Mdm Speaker, when I was young, I used to live at a rental block opposite the hospital and it has left a deep impression on me. Thinking about the hospital brings back many vivid memories. When I was young, like many other residents, I visited the clinics there for treatment. KWSH's low fees have benefited me, my family and my neighbours. I am glad to see that the Government has decided to keep the hospital and allow it to continue to do charitable work and help the low-income families. I am very happy to see that, and I am also very touched.”
“In addition, what is the percentage of older workers aged 62 and above in SMEs, relative to large corporates? This information will be useful for reference by both the public and private sectors and will inform our future policy measures.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. In view of our ageing population in which one out of four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above by 2030, the Government would have to work with employers to adjust to the new norm where older workers will become one of the key pillars of our workforce. The amendments to the Retirement and Re-employment Act are necessary to include those who are able and willing to continue working. Raising the re-employment age to 67 is one thing; convincing companies to retain and recruit these senior employees is another. We need to balance the needs of businesses and workers. How would the Government encourage both employers and employees to retain older workers at other jobs within the company and at re-negotiated wages? My concern is that it is easier for an employer to offer EAP than to help an older employee find a position. Currently, the SEC scheme provides some incentive for companies to hire older workers aged above 55 earning up to $4,000 a month. These companies will receive SEC of up to 8% of the employee's monthly wage. However, to attract employers to hire workers at the much older age of 67, particularly those who used to work at other companies, additional incentives, monetary or otherwise, would have to be given. Incentives will be needed for the current transition period until the concept of working into a person's 70s or even 80s becomes more widely accepted and integrated into our company culture. I would like to ask the Minister: what have the public sector employers, including Statutory Boards, done for the re-employment of older workers? What are their success rates and the percentages of such workers being retained and redeployed?”
“It is important to set consistent guidelines on the update of the credit records, including improvement of financial situation or data rectifications, to ensure the clients can access the credit or loans they need in a timely manner. Finally, I would like to suggest that credit information, in addition to credit from Singapore banks and financial institutions, should include the credit from the Integrated Resorts (IRs) and the licensed moneylenders. Although we have the Moneylenders Credit Bureau (MLCB) to which all licensed moneylenders provide information about their loans, it would be better for all loans and credits to be consolidated for a better overview of a client's financial situation. I support this Bill.”