Grace Fu Hai Yien
Singapore
“The Government takes a multi-pronged approach to address the disamenities from second-hand tobacco smoke. The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with Government agencies, Town Councils and community leaders to promote considerate behaviour and strengthen social norms.”
“The Government recently announced land-use changes in Lim Chu Kang to optimise our scarce land to meet our growing and evolving needs. We are at the initial planning stage and agencies are still working out the detailed development proposals.”
“Public Waste Collectors and Town Councils have trialled the collection and treatment of segregated food waste from households. However, participation rates are poor despite regular engagement and reminders.”
“The quality of incense offerings and the practice of burning incense are not regulated by law. Instead, the National Environment Agency (NEA) works with stakeholders, such as Town Councils, agencies and religious organisations, to encourage responsible burning of joss paper and incense.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) monitors public cleaning contractors through regular physical audits and remote monitoring, complemented by video analytics. NEA also regularly assesses the cleaning quality and outcomes of public cleaning contractors.”
“This question has been addressed in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s combined answer to Question Nos 15 to 18 on the Order Paper for 7 July 2026. [Please refer to "National Recycling Rates, Plans and Targets", Official Report, 7 July 2026, Vol 96, Issue 32, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
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“In sum, these three amendments will ensure that the temple management committees will continue to be effective in discharging their responsibilities in today's operating environment. Mr Speaker, this Bill amends the Hindu Endowments Act in the manner that I have just described. Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“Mr Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Hindu Endowments Act was enacted on 1 May 1969 and provides for the Hindu Endowments Board to administer Hindu religious and charitable endowments. At present, the Board administers four temples, namely Sri Mariamman Temple at South Bridge Road, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road, Sri Sivan Temple at Geylang East and Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple at Toa Payoh. This Bill contains three amendments to section 20 of the Hindu Endowments Act, which relates to the appointment of the temple management committees of the four temples under the Hindu Endowments Board. Let me take Members through the amendments. The first amendment in section 20(2) of the Act will allow each temple management committee to comprise up to 12 members, an increase from the current eight members. By ensuring a broader mix of expertise and experience, the temple management committees will be better positioned to meet the heavier demands of temple management. The second amendment is to section 20(3), the quorum at all meetings of the temple management committees will be increased from four to six members, so that we keep the same proportion to meet quorum as we increase the committee's membership size. The third and final amendment is to section 20(4) of the Act, which will allow members of the temple management committee to serve a longer term of office of up to three years, instead of the current two years. This will provide members more time to contribute meaningfully and see through their plans to improve the temple and the well-being of its worshippers.”
“Mr Speaker, I beg to move, "That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders, the Second Reading of the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) (Amendment) Bill, Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Amendment) Bill and the Hindu Endowments (Amendment) Bill be taken on 25 March 2020". The Second Reading of these Bills were deferred to a Sitting on or after 1 April 2020. This motion will enable Parliament to debate these Bills today. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders, the Second Reading of the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) (Amendment) Bill, Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Amendment) Bill and the Hindu Endowments (Amendment) Bill be taken on 25 March 2020". (proc text)]”
“In light of growing polarisation around the world, we need to show regard and respect for one another regardless of our differences and build a cohesive community with a shared identity. The Government will work with Singaporeans on this journey. Ms Anthea Ong's and Mr Murali Pillai's calls to focus on mental health were answered by MSF, which is working with interested Singaporeans in the Youth Mental Well-being Action Group. My Ministry also agrees with Mr Pritam Singh that more can be done for the integration of new citizens, and we will be partnering citizens to co-create content for the Singapore Citizenship Journey, so that new citizens share the same understanding of what it means to be Singaporean. Mr Speaker, I wish to conclude the debate by thanking all Members for their active participation over the past weeks. On behalf of the House, I would also like to thank you, Mr Speaker, and your deputies for your able stewardship of the debate proceedings. I also thank the Parliament Secretariat and staff for their dedicated assistance and responses to our requests and queries, particularly those who took our temperatures and kept our premises clean, and the interpreters who were with us every step of this debate. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. [Applause.] 1.58 pm”
“To give Singaporeans a good head start and realise their full potential through their careers, MOE and MOM are working with industry leaders, private training providers and professionals to scale up their respective SkillsFuture programmes and Mid-Career Support Package. Responding to Mr Arasu Duraisamy's and Mr Saktiandi Supaat's queries on the future of our cityscape, MND spoke about plans to partner Singaporeans to re-design, redevelop and rejuvenate Singapore. In the digital realm, Mr Vikram Nair and Ms Tin Pei Ling painted a vision of a Smart Nation with citizens at its centre and PMO shared how Singaporeans can be involved in the entire process of building our Smart Nation, from conceptualising to deploying digital products and services. Third, a society with opportunities for all. Members like Mr Ang Wei Neng, Assoc Prof Daniel Goh, Miss Cheryl Chan and Ms Rahayu Mahzam agree that we want to create a society with more opportunities for all, whether for children and youths in disadvantaged families, persons with special needs, or working mothers who shoulder a disproportionate amount of care-taking responsibilities. As Ms Denise Phua put it, our social challenges need to be tackled together, and the community's role is crucial in ensuring no one falls through the cracks. MOE and MSF shared how they are working with corporates, individuals and community stakeholders to co-create and deliver services that will strengthen our social support for disadvantaged groups through the UPLIFT programme, and allow all Singaporeans to participate fully as contributing members of society. Fourth, a caring and cohesive community.”
“So, I am heartened to hear the theme of partnerships come through strongly in our debates. The momentum is clear. Singaporeans can and want to play a bigger role in shaping Singapore. Government agencies will be opening up many more opportunities for Singaporeans from all walks of life and all segments of the society. We will co-create and co-deliver initiatives to make Singapore a resilient nation, a city of possibilities, a society with opportunities for all and a caring and cohesive community. Let me review each of them. First, a resilient nation in the face of global disruptions. Members agree that it is critical we remain nimble. Mr Cedric Foo and Mr Ong Teng Koon spoke about the opportunities and challenges caused by the rise of the digital economy. To this end, MCI shared how its community partners are helping Singaporeans and our SMEs build digital skills. Mr Dennis Tan and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah highlighted the dangers of climate change. As part of its response, MEWR is catalysing citizen-led initiatives to address our sustainability challenges through its two Citizens' Workgroups. And might I say, the youths are also very passionate about this aspect. Second, a city of possibilities. Singapore should continue to be an attractive place to live, work and play. Mr Douglas Foo and Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar highlighted more can be done to ensure Singaporeans' continued employability and relevance for the future. Ms Jessica Tan, Ms Foo Mee Har and Mr Zainal Sapari spoke passionately on harnessing the resources of our mid-career workers – those in their 40s and 50s.”
“Dr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Teo Ser Luck rightly pointed out that in times of crisis, come opportunity. Some Members, such as Prof Yaacob Ibrahim, have called for Singapore to take stock and reflect on how we can be better versions of ourselves as a response to the challenge. Many of our industries and businesses appreciate the need to transform so they are better prepared to deal with the next disruption. Members like Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap and Miss Cheng Li Hui asked that we also build up Singapore's civic spirit, psychological defence and social cohesion so that we emerge from this crisis stronger as a nation. Even as we are occupied with the challenges of the present, we have our eyes firmly on the long-term issues. Many Members spoke passionately on ensuring Singapore's competitiveness and relevance in a fast-changing world. Mr Lim Swee Say reminded us that our common goal is to generate sufficient resources to improve the lives of all our people. This is evidenced by the large number of questions received by MOE and MOM on education and training for Singaporeans, pipping even MOH despite the current public health situation. Singapore's current and future challenges will be increasingly complex and unexpected. If we harness the diverse strengths of Singaporeans and work together as one, just as we are doing with COVID-19, we can turn our challenges into opportunities, our problems into possibilities. We can build a future Singapore that we and those after us can be proud of. This is the essence of Singapore Together. The debates in the past few days have presented us with long-term challenges – how to age well, how to uplift the disadvantaged, how to build a climate resilient nation and so on. To tackle them, we must partner to build our Singapore together.”
“Mr Speaker, it has been an eventful start of the year, with Singapore battling the COVID-19 outbreak. It is through such difficult times that we prove our mettle as a nation and as a people. The Government's response to the crisis has been swift. Deputy Prime Minister Heng announced a $4 billion package to cushion the near-term uncertainties caused by COVID-19. Various Ministries have detailed how they are introducing measures to mitigate the impact to their respective sectors. It has been a defining element in the Budget 2020 debate. The fact that this Government has sufficient financial resources, accumulated through financial prudence, was not lost on the Members. Neither was the call for all segments of the society to play an active part as Team Singapore in riding out the challenge. Indeed, many stakeholders came together to deliver help. For instance, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) acted quickly to form the Tourism Recovery Action Task Force, comprising tourism leaders from the private and public sectors to map out recovery strategies. MOM, MOT, MTI, NTUC and MCCY will roll out measures to help self-employed persons of multiple sectors, including allowance for training. The COVID-19 outbreak may have generated fear and anxiety among Singaporeans but it has also shown our community at its best. We have heard about the numerous ground-up, spontaneous acts of care. Mr Liang Eng Hwa shared how larger businesses are stepping up to help smaller ones tide through this crisis, while the SG Cares Volunteer Centres brought community groups and resourceful corporations along to reach out to vulnerable groups. These efforts exemplify the strong community spirit in Singapore today.”
“But if the project requires more funding over a longer period of time, I think it is only reasonable to expect more questions and more KPIs.”
“I would like to thank Ms Anthea Ong for their suggestions. Like we do here, we always listen to suggestions from Members carefully, and I am sure we will go back and take in these suggestions as we review the scheme. Having said that, OSF is a fund that will encourage as many ground-up projects and groups as much as possible. So, the structure is set low, with low hurdles so that it is easy to get but the amount generally is kept low – for a purpose because we want to encourage as many as possible to access the funds. If we were to have it for multiple years of a much larger sum of funds, then obviously I think the Member would appreciate that with the importance of being a custodian of Government funds, we would then impose more rules. MCCY is also in the process of harmonising the rules of the grants. We are bringing several grants under the Government – not just MCCY but over several Ministries – under one umbrella. That is really to address some of these issues that the Member and Mr Irshad have raised earlier on about having to go to multiple agencies. I would also like to explain that while OSF is the place to go to for Singaporeans if they want to start a ground-up or a new project, we are really not the domain experts for many of these projects. Very often if the project is going to take a longer life, if we are going to invest more time and effort into expanding or deepening the project, then it is inevitable that we have to rope in our sister agencies or Ministries to take a look on the efficacy of the project. So, I would like to urge Members to bear with us when you see bureaucracy. We want to keep it as simple as possible.”
“So, it is really to try to work along the wide range of ages to access sport opportunities, with customised and appropriate measures for each age range.”
“The question on hawker culture, the process now is in the hands of UNESCO. To be very frank, they will go through their internal assessment. There is nothing we can do as a country to influence or affect the process. But I think there is a lot that Singaporeans can do to continue to support hawkers and hawker culture in Singapore. Many of them deserve our support, whether it is by patronising them or showcasing them or just giving them the kind of exposure that they so deserve. When there is good food, I am sure we will tell each other about it. So, continue to support and give them good business. I think we are also trying to, in a way, make our hawker centres a lot cleaner, particularly in this period of time. That is also an important part of hawker culture – it is not just the food but also the place. How do we have a new standard of public eating spaces in our hawker centres? So, it is also something that Singaporeans should think about. The second question about Active SG Credit, we had hoped the free admission will have addressed the Member's request. But I think why 65 – we thought that is a good age, timing with how we see our lives, getting into retirement age and having more time on your hands. It is really a good time to get into an active lifestyle and we hope that ActiveSG gym and swimming pool will be part of the lives of those 65 and above. In general, I think we are looking at ways to encourage Singaporeans to adopt an active lifestyle. When they are young, we are doing as much as we can in the schools, starting this time round, as you can see, our efforts will go into the pre-school sector, getting the teachers involved, getting the programme instituted at the pre-school level, and also getting the parents at the pre-schools involved as well.”
“And I think years of developing that support on the ground whether it is through PA, whether it is through Team Nila, our Youth Corp Singapore, have shown us we have the strength, a very strong and firm layer of volunteers that is out there that will support us, the Government, in reaching out to the ground and helping the ground. While other countries see their citizens standing in line in the cold for hours for two pieces of masks per person, we have distributed four masks per household within days, without queues. And I think this is the day we have been practising so hard, that we are preparing so hard for. And I think Singapore has really come well. And through our actions, we demonstrate that we are in this together, with trust and confidence in the Government and in one another. Together, we are working out solutions to new problems. We will emerge a stronger nation. This is the Singapore Spirit and the heart of our nation. [Applause.]”
“We are aware that the strength of our society is not measured by, say, the number of art events we hold, or the amount of grants made. The answer lies in our responses when we face a major crisis as a nation. COVID-19 is the moment that allows us to search for the answer. To get through the crisis, we must unite around our values of multi-racialism, openness and self-determination. We must not let fear and anxiety come between us. That it is a worldwide crisis gives us a good basis of comparison with others. Sir, I would put to this House that Singapore and Singaporeans have come up well as a caring people, cohesive society and a confident nation. Singapore has united as one, and acted and applied our minds to help one another. Many have stepped up to show what it means to be Singaporean. Those working at the frontline of our defence are standing tall and stoically in their positions despite shouldering risks to themselves and their families. Some, like the pilots and crew of Scoot and the MFA officers who flew into Wuhan to retrieve Singaporeans there, showed courage, sense of duty and self-sacrifice, and made the nation proud. Some contributed time and resources to those in need, going deep into the community to reach out to seniors and the vulnerable in their homes. As the situation developed, more of us have come forward to help, in whatever way we can to anyone, regardless of race, language or religion. This is a testament to the strength of our society and our progress as one people.”
“When we drop the mindset of "us versus them" and see ourselves as a collective "we", Singaporeans with different points of view can sit together and work on issues important to our shared future, such as jobs and economy, the environment, the vulnerable and the disadvantaged. We will continue to support partners and agencies to build capacity and capabilities within the community for more inclusive civil discourse. We will support platforms that bring together people who hold different perspectives. And we will partner ground-up efforts to promote social harmony. In Mandarin, Sir. 12.30 pm (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Apart from the recent COVID-19 situation, racism, religionism, and protectionism are also on the rise globally. People are increasingly tribal, divided and disconnected from each other. As such, we will ensure Singapore's social fabric stays strong, by working together to offer opportunities, community and inclusion to every member of society. Bearing in mind our vision, we will build a home that provides opportunities for all, by enhancing access to these opportunities and allowing people to develop their full potentials. We will also foster a more caring and gracious community, where we do not forget to help and enable one another to succeed. We will build an inclusive city that celebrates our diverse talents and cultures. Finally, with the Singapore Together Movement, MCCY will do more to partner Singaporeans to build a caring, cohesive and confident Singapore. (In English): To conclude, Sir, we in MCCY often ask ourselves if we are making progress towards our vision of a caring people, cohesive society and confident nation for Singapore.”
“Even as we celebrate what makes us different, we need to emphasise and protect what we share in common. A major reason for Singapore's success is that we stay open to the world while remaining cohesive as a nation. We combine unity with diversity, harmony with difference. We can do this because our communities hold our differences not in opposition to each other, but in a relationship of mutual respect. Diversity ensures we have the range and breadth of ideas, perspectives and resources to thrive globally. Because we come from different lands and cultures, the possibilities of what we can make together are so much richer. We see a common good and are committed to building something better. We rely on one another for security, stability and prosperity. Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked how we will foster mutual understanding on LGBTQ. In many of our discussions with citizens, the issue of sexual orientation has often been raised. It is grounded on personal values and beliefs and consensus is not always possible. However, we agree with Assoc Prof Walter Theseira, that we do not shy away from discussing it and it is important that we have platforms where we can engage on our differences on the basis of mutual respect. For instance, at the Youth Conversations and SG Youth Action Plan engagements, youths had a safe space to express views, on their aspirations, concerns, fears and disappointments. Participants voiced their opinions, including on LGBTQ issues, while others listened with civility and respect. Through such platforms, we listen to those different from us and seek to understand them on their terms, even with our disagreements; we expand the common space to engage one another and work together on the things that we want in common.”
“When we affirm our common fate, support one another and work and progress together side by side, we live a democracy of deeds. A clear manifestation of this has been the crafting of the SG Youth Action Plan, where more than 70,000 youths proactively shared their ideas and views on Singapore in 2025. Senior Minister of State will share more on this. Ms Anthea Ong and Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked how we will support ground up efforts better. Finance Minister has shared in his Budget Speech that the Government is prepared to invest up to $175 million from now to 2025 to engage active citizenry and develop partnerships. To support more projects, we will put $20 million of these funds into Our Singapore Fund and extend it to SG60 in 2025. Government will co-invest the balance in partners across all domains to support projects that address shared priorities. This enhanced support will help partners develop capacity and capabilities to sustain impactful initiatives. More immediately, Senior Parliamentary Secretary will also speak on our measures to support the arts and sports communities in view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. To grow an inclusive society that embraces diversity, we will expand pathways to success that celebrate our diverse talents, skills and cultures. This year, we will provide more support to our athletes and artists, so they can excel and succeed and make Singapore a place of opportunities. We will support promising athletes representing Singapore who are not covered by our High Performance Sports system. We will work with individuals and groups to preserve our heritage in innovative ways and keep it alive so we can transmit it to future generations. Senior Parliamentary Secretary will share more details.”
“We will ensure our seniors can lead full and active lives. We will ensure that everyone has convenient access to sports facilities. We will also ensure that our lower income families will be able to enjoy quality arts productions, so we can all flourish as a society together. However, such opportunities alone do not make a good home. We must enable and help one another to succeed. Every Singaporean counts, we will only by progressing together. As a people, we need to recognise and act on our mutual obligations to our fellow citizens. (In English): Beyond providing opportunities for all, we wish to build a strong community spirit where we care and help one another. There is more each of us can do to give and to lift the less fortunate and more vulnerable among us. Senior Minister of State will provide more details on these initiatives. We will deepen our commitment to one another as one people and to Singapore. In 2020, MCCY will partner Singapore citizens to create content on what makes us Singaporean and this content will be used to update our Singapore Citizenship Journey. Through this process, Singaporeans will articulate and affirm who we are as a people, while co-creating content to enrich new citizens' understanding of Singapore. After an open call in January, we will convene a Citizens Workgroup comprising of interested persons from diverse fields and organisations. Over the next few months, they will discuss what unites us as Singaporeans and research topics close to our hearts. This would include our values and obligations as Singaporeans, social norms and our culture and national history. Their recommendations will be published by end-2020.”
“We will work with MOE to convert all remaining suitable facilities by this time next year. These initiatives will help realise our aspiration of having sports and recreational facilities within a 10-minute walk from our homes. Ms Joan Pereira and Mr Yee Chia Hsing asked about broadening access to the arts. Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Mr Terence Ho made similar suggestions in this House. We will ensure that all Singaporeans have access to quality arts productions. This year, we will enhance the WeCare Arts Fund by launching the WeCare Arts Experiences, in partnership with the five Community Development Councils (CDCs). This will enable less privileged families to attend ticketed presentations for free at our cultural institutions such as the Esplanade, SSO and NHB museums, through a subsidy of up to $40 for a ticket. By 2022, the National Arts Council and CDCs aim to reach up to 20,000 beneficiaries and volunteers under the scheme. As Mr Terence Ho noted, everyone has a part to play in enhancing access to the arts and we encourage volunteers to step up and work with Social Service Agencies to see how they too can contribute their time. Mr Chairman, I would like to speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We will enhance access to opportunities for all. For our preschool children, we will help train the teachers to stimulate their physical and intellectual growth through. For our school-going children, we will provide a more holistic learning journey, by expanding avenues for them to try new sports. We will also provide more opportunities in building shared experiences through learning our national history together. For post-secondary youths, we will increase opportunities for them to gain cultural literacy and a deeper understanding of the region.”
“Not forgetting those who are less youthful, we will ensure everyone has opportunities to lead full and active lives. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be at or above the age of 65, and we will have 900,000 seniors. Sports and physical activity allow our seniors to sustain their health and mobility longer and continue to be engaged in the community. From this year, we will make public gyms and swimming pools free for all Singaporeans aged 65 years and above. We will review the age criterion from time to time, in keeping with the trends and life expectancy of Singaporeans. SportSG will also partner the Agency for Integrated Care to bring programmes for seniors to their doorsteps, at Senior Citizens' Corners and Senior Activity Centres. I have touched on new initiatives for Singaporeans at each stage of life. Equally important, we must ensure that access to the things that make a full life – the beauty of the arts, the rigour of sports, the knowledge of our heritage, the support of our community – is open to all, regardless of background. We will continue to increase access to sports facilities around the island, under our Sports Facilities Master Plan. This year, we will break ground for the new Punggol Regional Sport Centre. We will bring new Sport-in-Precinct facilities to Sengkang South, Pasir Ris East and Dover, achieving our target of initiating 20 Sport-in-Precinct projects by 2020. We will rejuvenate another five ActiveSG facilities, from swimming complexes in Ang Mo Kio, to, Er Dr Lee Bee Wah may like to know, sport centres in Yishun. In partnership with MOE, over 90% of suitable Government Primary and Secondary schools' sports halls and fields have been converted for public use under the Dual Use Scheme.”
“These initiatives will make learning more meaningful and come alive for students, as they go through their Character and Citizenship Education syllabus and subjects such as Social Studies in Primary school and History in Secondary school. In an age where Asia's economy is growing in significance, our youths need to understand regional markets to thrive in the future economy. Our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) already provide youths with opportunities to build their economic, social and cultural awareness of the region. Youth Corps Singapore piloted the enhanced Youth Expedition Projects (YEP+) in 2018 to provide youths with deeper understanding of the region. The YEP+ comprises not only of community service, but also visits to multinational corporations and start-ups. Our participants have made their marks in Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and China. Currently, the YEP+ provides about 5,000 opportunities for regional exposure. In 2020, we will increase opportunities for youths to engage the region. The National Youth Council (NYC) will partner IHLs to expand short-term immersion opportunities to ASEAN, China and India for ITE, Polytechnic and University students, through the new Asia-Ready Exposure Programme (AEP). The AEP will curate industry-focused experiences in the region for our youths to be more aware of the economic opportunities in these countries. By 2022, NYC's regional exposure programmes, including the AEP, will support up to 10,000 youths each year. This is double the current number of youths benefiting from NYC's programmes. This will contribute to the "70-and-70" target for students, announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech and enhance the Asia-readiness of our future workforce.”
“The Singapore Philatelic Museum will be revamped as a dedicated children’s museum where children can learn about a wide range of themes, including the heritage and culture of Singapore and the region, by playing with interactive and immersive exhibits. For instance, there will be a permanent exhibition on "Singapore, Our Home", where children can learn how early pioneers lived and worked, and role-play as hawkers, coolies and merchants. The museum will re-open in 2021 and add to the current offerings for children, such as the Children’s Biennale at National Gallery Singapore. Our museums will also provide our students with shared experiences of learning together and appreciating Singapore's history. In 2020, the National Heritage Board will introduce Museum-based Learning (MBL) as part of MOE's Learning Journeys for students. All Primary 6 and Secondary 2 cohorts will visit the Asian Civilisations Museum and National Museum of Singapore respectively. Students will travel through the museums in small groups, interact with museum educators and complete hands-on activities with their friends. 12.15 pm For instance, at the National Museum, students can learn the struggles of the Japanese occupation by choosing artefacts they are interested in and having conversations around those artefacts. One such artefact is Elizabeth Choy's dress, which she wore while held captive. Through this experience of exploring our history as a cohort, we hope our students will form shared memories together, and learn important values such as self-determination and helping one another during difficult times.”
“We will also partner MOE to ensure all pre-school teachers graduating from the National Institute of Early Childhood have the skills to help our children develop their fundamental motor skills. Complementing these initiatives, an "Active Parents" movement will be launched this year, to encourage and equip parents to play an active role in our children’s sporting journey. At our Primary and Secondary schools, we will continue partnering MOE to provide our students with opportunities for a well-rounded education through sports and culture. In 2020, we will expand the School Sports Partnership and introduce "Active Play". Primary schools can tie up with SportSG to conduct different sports, so students can pick up these sports conveniently – during recess, school sports days or at nearby sports centres. These non-competitive arenas can encourage students to try more sports and bring them enjoyment while fostering confidence, teamwork and cohesion. We are also exploring more offerings under the Strategic Partnership CCA pilot formed last year between MOE, the National Arts Council (NAC) and SportSG. This allows students to pursue their interests, even if these are not offered as CCAs in their schools. They will be able to represent their schools in national competitions and platforms. Athletics and Ethnic Dance are currently offered under this programme. This year, where there is demand, SportSG is ready to open up more locations to support Athletics training. On its part, NAC will work with LASALLE College of the Arts to provide Ethnic Dance experiences for interested students. We will nurture creativity and expand horizons of our children by celebrating our history and igniting their love for our heritage.”
“We partnered stakeholders to support the expression of national pride through Our SG Arts Plan and Our SG Heritage Plan. We empower our citizens through Our Singapore Fund, Our Harmony Fund and the National Youth Fund, to start ground-up projects that can inspire others and strengthen our identity as one people. With the Singapore Together movement, MCCY will do more to partner Singaporeans. In a world where people are increasingly tribal, divided and disconnected from each other, we will ensure Singapore’s social fabric remains strong, by working together to offer opportunities, community and inclusion to every member of society. We will enhance access to opportunities, foster a more caring and gracious community, and build an inclusive city of possibilities. For a society to be united, it must work for everyone, not just a few. There must be equal conditions for all to thrive. I am glad Dr Lim Wee Kiak raised this. We will enhance access to opportunities in the sports, arts and youth sectors for all Singaporeans at each stage of their lives. Mr Darryl David asked how MCCY will provide such opportunities for all children and youths. In the early pre-school years, a child's main way of learning and developing is through play. Under our Children and Youth Sport Framework, we will provide more in- and out-of-school play opportunities for our children to support their physical and intellectual growth. In 2017, SportSG initiated the Nurture Kids programme to complement ECDA's development framework for our young children. Last year, we partnered 125 pre-schools and introduced fundamental movement skills such as jumping, throwing and balancing in a safe and fun way to more than 5,000 children. This year, we will double efforts, and make this available to 250 pre-schools.”
“Twenty-twenty marks the beginning of a new decade. For MCCY, we ended the last decade on a strong note across our domains, where Singaporeans came together to celebrate our heritage, our unity and our sporting achievements. We commemorated our Bicentennial, recalling our history and how together we built a nation. Our religious leaders came together to affirm their Commitment to Safeguard Religious Harmony at the inaugural International Conference on Cohesive Societies. Our country rallied behind Team Singapore athletes at the SEA Games, who brought home 53 gold medals, 46 silver medals and 68 bronze medals. We have become a more caring nation through voluntary acts of spontaneous and everyday kindness. There have been many accounts of how Singaporeans have looked out for each other in recent weeks during the COVID-19 outbreak. Many of us desire to do more for the community, from donating to volunteering. As a people, we have become more confident about our identity, what we can offer and showcase to the world. With strong public support, we submitted our nomination to inscribe Hawker Culture in Singapore on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. We look forward to the outcome in December 2020. Making Singapore our home together is the heart of MCCY's work. We believe in collectively shaping the society we want to be – a caring people, a cohesive society and a confident nation. We work closely with partners to support the Singapore Cares movement. We encourage our citizens to step forward to serve, through Team Nila and Youth Corps Singapore. We have expanded opportunities for Singaporeans to engage in honest dialogue and understand each other better, through programmes such as BRIDGE.”
“Mr Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2020/2021, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Mr Chairman, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2020/2021, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Mr Chairman, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow?”
“We are paying attention to how we are closing the cases and we want to see that not only do we do it efficiently, we are also doing it effectively and from the residents' point of view, we are addressing their concern appropriately.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to address Er Dr Lee Bee Wah's question. I thank her for the question. MSO does monitor the time taken to close the case because it is our objective to ensure that we deliver good Public Service, good public municipal services in an effective and timely way. We look at the time taken and we pay particular attention to cases that take longer than usual. Having said that, we do not stipulate the service standards for each of the agencies because the nature of cases can be different. Some cases can be cleared quite easily. If there is litter that is not cleaned, someone can clean it up quite quickly. But if there is a request for public lighting to be installed, then obviously, the cases would take longer. We do recognise that even though service standards are not prescribed, public officers, knowing that MSO is watching, tend to want to do the right thing and try to close the cases as quickly as possible. In many of these cases, it is about giving a better reply. In cases where it is expected to take longer, such as doing maintenance in time, when we are doing a cyclical maintenance in three months' time or six months' time, we do want to go back and give the appropriate answer to the resident. If we give the appropriate reply, I think we can manage the expectations of the residents better. With that in mind, we have stipulated, what we call a post-case poll. If you have received a reply from agencies but you are not satisfied with the reply, or if you do not think that your case or feedback has been satisfactorily addressed, you can indicate it through the poll rating and you can also follow up with subsequent submission on the same issue.”
“In 2020, we will remain steadfast in our goal to deliver connected services for a connected community.”
“Certainly, as part of SG Together, we will enable each and every one to have a say and exercise collective choices that will impact their living environment. For a start, we have included new OneService app features to activate our community to make the changes they want to see. Residents will be able to poll on local improvement works through "What Say You?" surveys and use the "Community Challenge" feature to take bite-size, meaningful actions that help address issues that concern them. We must also augment hardware with "heartware", by nurturing more community participation and partnership. During a pilot in Yio Chu Kang to reduce high-rise littering and pigeon issues, the dedication of the Residents' Committee community leaders to educate residents personally was critical in tackling the root cause – human behaviour. Post-pilot, we saw an 80% reduction in related feedback. We have formalised a programme to equip community leaders and Town Councils in all towns with advice and resources to tackle these issues. We welcome residents to come on board in a variety of ways – as individuals, to inject their unique perspectives, and as a community, to build consensus amid diverse views. For example, MSO is partnering MCCY in the "Love Our 'Hood" initiative that test-beds various resident participation models to co-create solutions for municipal issues in their neighbourhoods. Through these projects, we will develop resources that other community groups can use when launching future ground-up initiatives. To sum up, there are many good ideas, diverse talents and new solution possibilities across the community, industry and agencies. We want to harness these to achieve our common goal of improving our living environment, the SG Together way.”
“First, we are integrating services from agencies and Town Councils into the OneService app, to develop the "Book Facilities" feature for residents to have a single, simple touchpoint to find and book community spaces, such as function rooms, barbecue pits and sports facilities. In addition, we will introduce new reporting categories, such as "smoking" and "high-rise littering", for residents to highlight specific concerns for investigation. Second, we are improving accessibility to services, by bringing our mainstay reporting function to where residents are. With OneService Lite, which involves QR codes posted at places where residents frequent, such as HDB lift landings, users can easily report a case by scanning the QR codes in just two taps, without having to pre-install the OneService app. Soon, residents can also submit cases via popular social messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, guided by an AI-powered chatbot. Third, we are constantly innovating to kick-start future-ready solutions. Since January, we have been trialling Municipal 360. Routine feedback submitted through the OneService app will be routed directly to agencies' contractors for speedier resolution. Residents will be updated with photographs of work done directly by the municipal worker. Last November, MSO hosted the OneService-Industry eXchange for public and private organisations to share ideas and co-develop solutions for municipal operations. With more collaboration and experimentation, residents can look forward to smarter, more customised service improvements. 5.45 pm Even as we expand technological connectivity, we want to connect residents with each other to co-create a better living environment for all. We agree with Mr Amrin's suggestion to consider the diverse views of residents.”
“I recall a case where residents at Pending Road were troubled by unpleasant smells from a nearby flat. HDB found the flat severely hoarded and infested with pests. HDB worked with Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council, MSF, PA, IMH, Thye Hua Kwan and Covenant Evangelical Free Church to address the case holistically. They worked over weekends to clean the flat, obtained financial aid for repairs and provided emotional and counselling support – all to afford long-term self-care to the flat owner and a sustainable solution to other residents. This is the empathy and resident-centric service we champion. Today, nearly 60% of our OneService app cases have post poll ratings of 4- and 5-stars. We aim to raise this to 70% by end-2020. MSO will go further, beyond coordinating, to forge meaningful connections with, and among residents. Mr Ong Teng Koon asked about MSO's progress in harnessing technology to deliver service improvements to residents. The projects undertaken by SLA and NEA under the Municipal Services Productivity Fund are progressing well. In 2019, we awarded funding for HDB and PUB to trial a smart lock system that Mr Ong has asked, that automates access to maintenance areas in HDB estates, such as rooftops. We will explore the potential for this system to be adapted to other spaces, together with other solutions, such as encouraging residents to be more considerate, as Mr Ong has requested, to address the root cause of community noise. We are making other technological improvements to better connect residents to services that meet their needs.”
“Chairman, as our country battles the COVID-19 outbreak, I would first start by conveying our appreciation towards all cleaners and workers in municipal services for working hard to keep COVID-19 at bay. Municipal issues concern all of us as residents and, as Mr Baey Yam Keng said, can be complex and involve multiple parties to resolve. We have made good progress coordinating across Government agencies, Town Councils and other non-government stakeholders, to offer residents services that are prompt, practical and personal. With the OneService app, residents can access services on-the-go. We now have more than 200,000 app users who, collectively, submitted over 460,000 feedback cases. The use of Artificial Intelligence or AI, enables our integrated systems to route most of these cases automatically to the right agency for prompt action, with 89% accuracy. This saves about 175 man-days a month, freeing up resources for agencies to focus on rectifying ground issues. To address complex issues, MSO first clarifies the roles of stakeholders involved. Ninety percent of cases involving multiple stakeholders found the case owner within seven days, and since 2015, the average time taken has fallen from eight-and-a-half to six days. MSO then works with stakeholders to develop collaborations that tap on their respective areas of expertise. Mr Baey cited cat-related nuisance. NParks is the first point-of-contact for the public for animal-related feedback. We are tightening the collaboration to manage this and monitoring to ensure that case resolution times and outcomes improve. Addressing residents' concerns about complex issues often goes beyond coordination, so we emphasise services that carry greater personal engagement.”
“I would like to thank the Member for the supplementary question. I would like to commend her for always being passionate about championing social causes. Indeed, SG Cares wants to develop that as a movement so that Singaporeans feel that they are engaged and involved in issues confronting Singapore. As to whether we will like to see our local charities moving offshore, we do it in many ways. As I had mentioned in my answer earlier on, if there are charities who are going to be involved in very meaningful causes, such as in disaster relief or in some other purpose that is important of that time, we are prepared to grant exemptions. Similarly, we have also the structure to support visions such as Ms Ong's. I mentioned in my speech earlier on about how this is a collaboration between various organisations in Singapore, including some of the important and critical NPOs. Besides just supporting charities, I would also like to give a special mention to the very good work that many of our youths are doing. Even where, without a presence of charities outside Singapore, they have been able to do very good work, helping with local communities in the region. This is where, I think, we are planting the seeds and we hope that more will think like Ms Ong – interested and prepared to invest their time and resources in social causes that confront us and the region.”
“Mr Speaker, the closure of the local chapter of UN Women is an internal decision by the board and members of the society. The 80:20 fund-raising rule under the Charities Act, requires at least 80% of funds raised for foreign charitable purposes be applied towards charitable purposes in Singapore. This is to ensure that donations from our Singapore public are used primarily to benefit locals and to address local needs. The Commissioner of Charities can and does waive this 80:20 rule on a case-by-case basis, such as for fund-raising for immediate disaster relief in other countries. Ms Ong is right that globalisation and connectivity ties the fortunes of countries together, and many solutions to global issues require collective action from all countries. The Government, through the Economic Development Board, engages and develops a robust eco-system of Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), including international organisations dedicated to philanthropy. This includes organisations such as the Asia Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) and the Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC) – which use Singapore as a venue to convene, share best practices and form partnerships to address global issues. To support cross-border giving, the International Involvement Hub (I2Hub) was launched in 2013. Comprising the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), the Singapore International Foundation (SIF), the Singapore Red Cross Society (SRCS) and family of Temasek Foundations (TF), it provides opportunities for the Singapore community to contribute towards and participate in social, relief and community development initiatives in communities outside Singapore.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2020/2021, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Chairman, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2020/2021, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Chairman, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2020/2021, and ask leave to sit again on Monday, 2 March 2020.”
“Mr Chairman, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow?”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent to move that the Debate be now adjourned?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, may I seek your consent to move, "That the debate be now adjourned."”
“Sport Singapore (SportSG) currently manages 24 squash courts across five locations at Burghley, Kallang, Ministry of Education (MOE) (Evans), St Wilfrid and Yio Chu Kang which have been open to the public since the 1980s. The average utilisation rate for these courts during peak periods has remained stable at around 70% over the past three years. But it has been uneven, with the 10 courts at the Burghley and Evans Road sites seeing peak demand at less than 60% of its capacity. SportSG has been engaging the Singapore Squash Rackets Association (SSRA) on the replacement facilities for the Kallang Squash Centre since 2018. In the meantime, SportSG has identified Burghley and Yio Chu Kang as potential locations for the interim National Training Centre for our elite athletes, and will continue to work with SSRA on the interim and longer-term infrastructure plans for the sport. The squash fraternity has done well and Singaporeans can be proud of their sporting achievements. In the recently concluded Southeast Asian Games held in the Philippines, Singapore's squash team won two silver and three bronze medals. Squash's continued success will require the fraternity and its supporters to work together for its longer-term development. SportSG will be happy to partner SSRA on its goals for the sport, and work with the squash fraternity and the community to support these goals.”
“The $200 million Bicentennial Community Fund (BCF) aims to encourage giving in the bicentennial year. It provides dollar-for-dollar matching of donations of up to $400,000 for an Institution of a Public Character (IPC), for the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020. IPCs are still raising donations and will only complete their submissions after 1 April 2020. IPCs can use these donations to bring their causes forward. The National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) is the appointed administrator for the Fund. Based on applications received thus far, about 63% of IPCs have applied, with an estimated 70% utilisation of the Fund. The window of application for BCF matching is still open until 31 March 2020, and we encourage the remaining IPCs to consider applying for the Fund, and givers to continue supporting the causes and IPCs they are passionate about, to help the IPCs make a greater impact.”
“For example, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has launched digital experiential learning journeys since 2018, where youths guide seniors to become more digitally ready. During these tours, youth volunteers from Youth Corps Singapore (YCS) personally teach seniors on using e-Payments, banking apps and cybersecurity tips. Beyond these current initiatives, MCCY has funding for good ideas that bring Singaporeans together, such as Our Singapore Fund. We welcome Singaporeans who are interested to promote inter-generational bonding to come forward with their ideas and energy.”
“The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) recognises the importance of mentoring. Youths who receive mentorship are more likely to be active in the community, more resilient when facing setbacks, and have higher levels of self-esteem and self-confidence. We also recognise that many seniors have the life experience and wisdom that could make them good mentors to youths. Hence, increasing mentoring opportunities, including mentoring of youths by older persons, is one of the key actions we are developing under the SG Youth Action Plan. For example, MCCY and the National Youth Council are supporting the Mentoring Alliance, a ground-up initiative comprising 11 youth sector organisations that aims to promote a local mentoring movement and foster positive youth development. Mentoring Alliance has recruited about 200 mentors, including seniors, who mentor youths in areas, such as resilience building, pro-social skills and marketplace exposure. We support these efforts through the National Youth Fund. As part of the SG Youth Action Plan, we are also partnering Young National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC's) Youth Career Network (YCN). Young NTUC's YCN aims to provide young polytechnic and university graduates with career support and guidance in Singapore and has recently expanded its focus to include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is an area where the experience of our seniors in ASEAN would benefit a new generation of Singaporeans seeking out opportunities in our region. Inter-generational mentoring can also go both ways, where youths aid our seniors in areas where our youths have expertise.”