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.]”
The complete record
Every one of 2,293 lines we hold for Grace Fu Hai Yien, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 40 of 46.
“That they are not a strain on society, and that they settle down first, spend some time to understand our local culture and learn our language as well.”
“Mdm Speaker, when it comes to matters of the heart – and marriage is one of them – it is very difficult for the Government to have rules over them. But, hard as it may, we need to have certain rules. As Member Dr Lily Neo had said earlier on, we have to make sure that the immigrants we take in do not strain our fiscal resources. Also, we have to make sure that the new immigrants have a very good chance of assimilating into our society. Many of the foreign spouses I have seen, have very good intentions of wanting to marry Singaporean men and wanting to settle down in Singapore. But they are unfamiliar with the place and the norms. Our PR and SC criteria basically encourage them to make sure that the family has the ability to support them and that they would be working to maintain a stable marriage. If they were to have a stable marriage with children, their chances of getting PR approval, and SC approval thereafter, would be higher. Having said that, there are about 50% of applications being rejected. Usually, as I have said, it is actually a matter of time. If they show that the Singaporean Citizen spouse has the ability to support the family, the marriage is stable, the family is intact over time, their chances of attaining PR, and thereafter SC, would be better than those without family and children. In the interim, we have the Long-Term Visit Pass and the Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus which allow them to seek employment and also to be entitled to some medical subsidies, just as a PR would. So, it actually provides a good way to tide over this period – work on their income and marriage, keep the family intact – and then they will be in a very good position. This is to satisfy the issue raised by Dr Lily Neo.”
“Mdm Speaker, the first question is about criteria. Yes, we do have definitive criteria. Selection is not based on a single criterion. It is based on a whole set of criteria. We will look at the economic contributions of the persons, education levels, family units applying together, and their intentions. If you have the whole family applying for citizenship together, this will be given greater consideration. We review the criteria from time to time, making sure that they meet our immigration needs. On not allowing new citizens to drain our limited resources, we are very mindful of that consideration. I will discuss this a little later in the second question following this, about how we deal with foreign spouses. The other question is really about reviewing the eligibility of new citizens or PRs in buying property. Again, I think this is a very substantive question. As much as we can, we will try to differentiate the benefits between Singapore Citizens and PRs. For PRs, we do review their bases of being granted PR from time to time, especially once every five years, when their re-entry permit is up for renewal. If those bases no longer exist, then we may refuse to renew their re-entry permits. Page: 13”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank the Member for the three supplementary questions. If I may, I think the supplementary questions themselves are very substantive, and will probably warrant separate PQs (Parliamentary Questions). But I would like to take the first supplementary question, with regard to SC (Singapore Citizenship) – whether we grant SC before they start residing in Singapore. The answer is "no". We generally require them to have a period of residency in Singapore and become a PR before we grant SC, with the exception of some of the minors – children who may have come along with the SC or the PR who has stayed here for some time. And because the parents are granted SC, we will also grant their children SC even before they start their residency in Singapore. These are all considered as a family unit. Page: 12 From time to time, their children, wives and parents may be granted SC before they have long extended periods of stay in Singapore. On the second question, Mdm Speaker, on foreign spouses, I will deal with this question later in a subsequent PQ. And the third question on integration, I would suggest the Member asks this as a separate PQ at another time.”
“To the extent that we all want as high a TFR as possible, I think we are aligned on that. I would like to see what is in the Member's assumption in arriving at his number. What is the TFR that he has assumed and also I noticed that he has assumed the TFR to increase from 2013 and, therefore, giving him some additional workforce? To have additional workforce from TFR today, it means that the child born today will start working in 2030 and he is only 17.”
“And the TFR, I think the Member has noted that he would like to raise TFR. Is there any target TFR that he has in mind?”
“So, 10,000 is the limit for citizens, every year from now to 2020, and thereon as well? Beyond?”
“Which means there would be no foreign wives, no new PRs, no new SCs from now?”
“Thank you, Madam. I would just like to follow up on the assumption of immigration. What is the Member's position on immigration? Are we assuming zero immigration from 2013 onwards?”
“I would like to see Joelle and Michelle happy to go to school, finding exciting careers ahead of them in Singapore, feel confident about their future, to find the loves of their lives and have children of their own. It is the continuation of the Singapore story, one that has brought us to where we are today. Our proposal today is to give Joelle and Michelle as many options as possible; this is to ensure that we as a people will continue to be united and strong; that as a country, Singapore remains an attractive place to live, work and play; that our children and their children will find this country a place worth fighting for. To realise this dream, I believe in building a strong Singaporean Core, creating a good opportunities for Singaporeans and planning and building a high quality living environment. 5.12 pm”
“This option has a higher chance of meeting the career and family aspirations of Joelle and Michelle in their adult lives. Mdm Speaker, may I speak in Mandarin? (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] How can we help Joelle to fulfil her cartoonist dream? How can we manage our population and immigration policy to give the many young Joelles as many opportunities, as wide a variety of jobs, and as high a chance of succeeding in the future, while not over-consuming our resources, our infrastructure and our living environment? What we are proposing in our White Paper is a path which we believe will give our children the most options in the future; where we will tighten the inflow of foreign workers at a calibrated pace that is half the growth rate of what we were used to; encouraging new businesses and new industries to start up, giving our Joelles and Michelles opportunities for good-paying exciting jobs, sometimes working alongside foreign employers or colleagues who have the required expertise but still learning to progress in their careers; helping businesses, like the one owned by Mr Ng, to transform through new equipment, technology, or out-sourcing the labour intensive, low value-added activities to Page: 95 other countries; encouraging employees like Mrs Ng to upgrade through training and adoption of new technology. This option allows Singapore to be one that remains relevant to the global economy, so that Singapore can be Joelle's spring board to the regional or global market with her talents. This option has a higher chance of meeting the career and family aspirations of Joelle and Michelle in their adult lives. (In English): What is my hope for Singapore?”
“Well-being comes both from the tangibles – having fulfilling jobs and a good quality living environment, as well as the intangibles – strong supportive families, values that connect us, and a collective hope for a Page: 94 brighter future. I bring up Joelle and Michelle again. Joelle once mentioned to her parents that she aspired to be a cartoonist. What kind of Singapore in the future holds the most opportunities for Joelle, an aspiring cartoonist? How can we manage our population and immigration policy to give the many young Joelles amongst us as many opportunities, as wide a variety of jobs, and as high a chance of succeeding in the future, while not over-consuming our resources, our infrastructure and our living environment? What we are proposing in our White Paper is a path which we believe will give our children the most options in the future; where we will tighten the inflow of foreign workers at a calibrated pace that is half the growth rate of what we were used to; encouraging new businesses and new industries to start up, giving our Joelles and Michelles opportunities for good-paying exciting jobs, sometimes working alongside foreign employers or foreign colleagues who have the required expertise and learning alongside to progress in their careers; helping businesses, like the one owned by Mr Ng, to transform through new equipment, technology, or out-sourcing the labour intensive, low value-added activities to other countries; encouraging employees like Mrs Ng to upgrade through training and adoption of new technology. This option allows Singapore to be one that remains relevant to the global economy, so that Singapore can be Joelle's spring board to the region or to the world with her talents.”
“These student leaders will be instrumental in reaching out to the wider student population and help build meaningful relationships between local and international students. We will also explore the use of more creative platforms such as the arts to spread the message on integration. At the workplace, more efforts will be put in place to help Singaporeans and foreigners relate better with one another, both socially and professionally. Some efforts are already in place include a diversity management toolkit to assist staff to better understand different working styles due to nationality differences as well as bonding sessions in some private companies where staff learn more about each others' cultures. We will step up our efforts and urge new immigrants and PRs to make an effort to engage Singaporeans in the course of their daily lives so that they can better understand and adapt to our way of life. Integration takes time and every effort counts. Singaporeans can also help move our efforts along by extending a helping hand to newcomers and to interact with them. Minister Chan will also be speaking further on the topic of integration, and he will share more information later. In closing, I would like to go back to the pointed I started with. In our deliberations on what is the best way forward for Singapore, Singaporeans were at the heart of our considerations and a strong Singaporean Core was our objective. What does it mean? In my view, a strong Singaporean Core is one where Singaporeans have a sense of well-being and belonging, in a place where we can all call home.”
“Our integration efforts are a critical complement to our immigration policy and are important in strengthening our Singaporean Core. Many Singaporeans have shared with us their deep sense of belonging to the country and their desire to safeguard our unique society – one that has cultural diversity, yet anchored by a set of common values, norms and languages. We have heard calls for new immigrants to be rooted, active members of our community. Many Singaporeans would also like new immigrants to be able to communicate with Singaporeans of all races and embrace our way of life. We agree with these views. The Government will continue to encourage and help newcomers integrate into our society by strengthening integration efforts across our schools, our workplaces and community. We will continue to tap on natural platforms to foster integration. New immigrants who study in our local schools, for instance, are fully immersed in the Singaporean way of life through their close and frequent contact with their local schoolmates and teachers. They also learn more about our heritage and Page: 93 core values as part of their school curriculum. Like many of us, lasting friendships and bonds are forged among these young new immigrants and their local schoolmates. Among them, many grow up sharing the same dreams and aspirations of Singaporeans, working together with the rest of the country to make this a better home. In addition, our Universities have taken on a more proactive and comprehensive approach to foster integration. Camps are being organised to bring together local and international student leaders to promote cooperation and bridge differences among them.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker, and thank you Members of the House for your indulgence. We introduced the Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus (LTVP+) last year to provide more support to Singaporean families with foreign spouses. The LTVP+ entitles them to healthcare subsidies at restructured hospitals pegged to the level of PRs, greater certainty of stay and employment benefits. Last year, around 4,000 spouses were granted the LTVP+. Page: 92 Citizens' spouses on LTVP+ can also receive job sourcing assistance and training advisory services from the WDA. As their situation stabilises, these families may subsequently apply for PR and citizenship. When assessing such applications, we evaluate factors, such as the length of their marriage, whether they have Singaporean children and whether their sponsor is able to support the family financially. All else being equal, applicants with a Singapore Citizen (SC) spouse or children stand a higher chance of being granted PR or SC. The Government will continue to look at how we can better assist such foreign spouses as they seek to integrate into our society. Singaporeans are and have always been at the heart of our immigration strategy. Mr Muhd Faisal Manap and Dr Intan commented on the need to maintain the Malay proportion within our population. We recognise the need to maintain the racial balance in Singapore's population in order to preserve social stability. The pace and profile of our immigration intake have been calibrated to preserve this racial balance. The proportion of Malays in the citizen population has been stable over the years. In 2000, it was 14.9%, and in 2010, it was 15.1%. In fact, it has increased slightly. It is our policy to maintain the ethnic balance in the citizen population as far as possible.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. Is 26 August 2012 arbitrary? I think, for most Government policies, it is very rare for us to implement measures or policies retrospectively. But for this particular case, we have taken cognisance of the hopes of many couples and we have actually back-dated the policy to the day when these measures were first alluded to by the Prime Minister. So, it is not an arbitrary date. In fact, we have, in a way, back-dated these measures for baby cash bonus, as well as Medisave grants, to a date that is before the details were actually announced. Whether we should have a defined criterion of one year prior or two years prior, as I mentioned earlier, we would prefer not to have measures that are retrospectively applied. I am sure that if we had heeded the call of the Member and applied the effective date to one year prior to the announcement in January, those who have just missed the deadline would also say that it is unfair to them. Taking all views together, we believe that it is just good practice not to retrospectively apply measures as much as we can. Whether it is fair to parents, I would like to say that we have to adjust our measures from time to time. Whenever we improve or change our policies and incentives, unfortunately, some people may feel that they have not been able to take advantage of the new enhancements, but this is how things work. It is not possible for us to back-date all future announcements and make the commitment to apply benefits to all cases retrospectively. My encouragement to the parents who feel that they are disappointed by these measures, that we have not back-dated, that perhaps they would consider having more babies, and then these new babies would benefit from the enhanced package.”
“Mr Speaker, I would just like to clarify that as I understand it, the giant panda is not separately housed. It is actually housed within the zoo. So in order to get access to it, you actually have to go through the zoo. I think that is the reason why WRS has made that requirement to go through the zoo, pay an admission price, and on top of that, there is a top up. The top up – although WRS is not under direct supervision of MFA – from what I understand, it is really to pay for the costs of housing the pandas, looking after them, and contributing to the conservation of the pandas. Page: 1455”
“Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. I am glad to hear that the Hawkers Associations see NEA as a good partner for calling of cleaning contracts. This is also a call that has been made by other Members in this House. We will consider NEA's role in the management of hawker centres. We would like to take a more cautious view because I think there is a balance to be made between centralising greater economies of scale versus more autonomy, more room to decide how cleaning should be undertaken in the various hawker centres. Page: 1198 When we approached the nine affected hawker centres, the feedback from some of them was that they wanted to be more involved in the process. When they meet with an increase in cleaning costs, that is when they will start applying their mind to how to make the work better, or to be less reliant on cleaners. Some of them are even considering undertaking some of the cleaning works themselves. This is where there is always tension, whether we should want to leave the calling of the contracts and tenders to an agency, or does the Hawkers Association want to take it upon themselves and manage the risk better. We will be happy to get into a conversation with the three hawker centres in the Member's ward, but we will like to take things one at a time. Right now, our focus is on the centres that are currently managed by NEA and would like to see how the enhanced accreditation scheme works before we consider taking on more hawker centres. Page: 1198”
“So, it is time for the society and the Government to take a holistic view and try to improve the working conditions as well as career prospects for this group of workers. It is through the accreditation system that we hope to achieve these objectives. Whether there will be improvements, as I said, we hope so. We hope that by putting in criteria for best sourcing that there are better standards required of the cleaners. With better training, we hope that each of the cleaners will be in a better position to do their jobs better. More importantly is also the need to mitigate the lack of workers because we know that this is not an industry where many Singaporeans would jump on the band wagon and will look for a career here. So, we recognise that we have to achieve more with fewer workers, going forward. This is where looking at processes, looking at improvements in the equipment, looking at better mechanisation will be a longer term solution towards mitigating the cost of increase, going forward. This is the thinking behind the return of trays. At the moment, when we look at the Tray Return effort, we are looking at it from the point of view of promoting social graciousness, a responsibility amongst Singaporeans to pick up after ourselves and not to leave work behind for others. This is also a more sustainable way for all of us to work towards reducing our reliance on workers, particularly foreign workers. We will have to monitor the progress of Tray Return scheme and continue it on a process of reviewing the work processes, discussing with the service provider, and also looking at how we can make the work of the cleaners a more satisfying and progressive one.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. First of all, on the first question, on whether the increase in fee is stated in the tenancy contracts, the answer is yes. There are provisions in the tenancy contracts on cleaning fees that could change from time to time. Sometimes, the stall-holders may not expect and would not be able to anticipate the movements in the pricing of the cleaning contracts, but I think they are aware that these are some of the business risks that they have to manage, just as they are managing other risks, such as cost of utilities, and so on. As far as whether cleaning fees would increase in other centres – let me say that at this point in time, the cleaning industry is going through some changes. First of all, there is accreditation that the Government will be insisting on. Secondly, there is also some impact coming from the tighter foreign workers dependency ratio. Also, the hours of working and operations in the centres may vary from time to time and from centre to centre. These are all factors that could have an impact on cleaning charges, and part of the effort in having an enhanced accreditation is to try to move the industry towards one that has better standards, takes better care of its workers through training, development and progressive wages, and where there are greater economies of scale, and therefore, in a better position to invest in productivity measures, such as improvements in the use of equipment, investments in mechanisation, and so on. Page: 1197 The industry is actually characterised by a large number of low-skilled workers, lowly educated, sometimes not in a very good position to know their rights. Sometimes, they do not know how to look for information on training, and so on.”
“The Government and the community will continue to support and grow the sector to achieve better social outcomes.”
“For financial year 2009, the Government provided $54 million in capital funding for infrastructural development to non-profit organisations in the education, health and social service sectors. In 2009, Government funding accounted for almost 50% of the total funding received by the charity sector; the other 50% came from donations and fees. In the area of social services specifically, local manpower for the social service sector rose from 5,114 in 2003 to 7,207 in 2009. MCYS' funding to social services increased by more than threefold over 10 years to $139 million in FY2010. The Government also provides additional funding to help non-profit organisations develop their capabilities through the $45 million Voluntary Welfare Organisations Charity Capability Fund (VCF). The Government supports the critical work done by non-profit organisations through funding as well as by encouraging community giving. The tax deduction for donations was increased to 2.5 times in 2009 and this has been extended for another five years until 2015. There are also matching grants for donations towards essential areas. During the recent Budget 2011, $1 billion was set aside for the Community Silver Trust to match donations to voluntary welfare organisations that provide long-term care for the elderly and disabled. The non-profit sector complements the public and private sectors. The non-profit sector and its volunteers serve the community with passion and champion causes to create a better society, be it in the arts, sports or other sectors. It also provides opportunities for people to volunteer and be actively engaged, which in turn fosters social cohesion. Thus, it is vital that the non-profit sector continues to grow.”
“Mr Speaker, as I have replied earlier, we do not think that it is appropriate for the grant to be used to finance COVs. We do not think that there are people who are using the grants now to finance the COVs. That is in relation to question two. Question one: we will consider the suggestion and we will give due consideration in our subsequent review of the policy. NON-PROFIT SECTOR'S CONTRIBUTION TO GDP 17. Mrs Mildred Tan asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) how much of Singapore's GDP is accounted for by the non-profit sector; (b) what is the rate of growth for this sector over the past 10 years and what is the projected growth; (c) how much of the local workforce is in this sector; (d) what are the types and amounts of capital funding for this sector; and (e) what is the percentage of funding that comes from donations, Government funding, and fees collected by these organisations. The Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon) (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no standard definition of the non-profit sector. For Singapore, the non-profit sector generally consists of organisations that are not set up to generate profit and rely mainly on grants and donations to cover their operating expenditure. These organisations are across sectors such as social service, health, education, arts and sports, among others. They include charities and Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs). The non-profit sector contributed 1% of Singapore's GDP and employed some 48,000 people in 2009. The sector grew at a compounded annual growth rate of about 7% from year 2000 to 2009.”
“So the setting up of the Academy of Singapore Teachers, the Physical Education and Sports Teacher Academy (PESTA) and the style which deals with areas such as PE and Arts, these are really to allow the profession greater opportunity while they are in-service to pick up specialised training opportunity in areas of their choice. So there are a lot more opportunities for training, and they themselves doing their own training roadmap. The master teachers – those who are experienced – will then pass on their skills to the more junior ones, probably including more mentoring as well. On top of that, there is always a continuous need to upgrade our teachers because of developments in pedagogy and technology. We know that there are many changes that are going on as well as studies going on as to how we could teach and learn more effectively. That is going on not just in the sciences, mathematics, humanities, it is happening in the languages as well. What the Minister has described earlier about Stellar, about mother tongue languages – that really shows a continuous effort on MOE's part to upgrade and move our teaching standards as knowledge increases and technology improves. It is a never ending journey, and we really like our teachers to take control of their profession, direct their own training paths and basically develop their sense of professional pride, knowing that in Singapore teachers are well respected and well equipped. 5.00 pm”
“Madam, that is a multi-faceted question, but I would like to take the first question on the number of teachers that we are recruiting. I think it is very important for us to basically take note of what the Member has just said. The fact is that we are already recruiting one in eight graduates. There is a limit for us to increase that number, beyond which I think it will affect the rest of the economy. For that reason, we have increased, for example, the number of allied educators. That really, first of all, augments the number of staff within the school system, but also allows Singaporeans, who have not gotten the chance to have a tertiary education and university degree, to have a career opportunity in education. So the allied educators are very helpful. They provide our teachers with very good support, not just in teaching but also in specialised areas, eg, like counselling and in special needs. We do provide good career progression for them, which is very structured, including training. Her first part of the question really is: how do we equip our teachers to prepare them to be the teaching force of the future? Because we do want our students to be ready for the 21st century and therefore our teachers must equally have those skills to do so. I think there are three levels again. First of all, we like to see an increase in the number of graduate teachers. Secondly, we are improving our in-service training, in other words, after they are in the teaching force, we are going to give them more structured training opportunity as well as giving them the leeway to dictate how they would like to improve their professional skills themselves.”
“The first step involves the identification of students and their special needs. For instance, the universities identify any special needs students during the admission process that could include medical examinations. Second, these students are then put in touch with counsellors who customise appropriate arrangements such as facilitating physical access. Academic faculty may also modify teaching and examination methods appropriately, such as through providing extra notes, scripts with larger fonts or additional time for examinations. Third, teachers and faculty are trained to provide learning support and pastoral care to these students. Sir, I have outlined the efforts MOE will be making to enhance the learning experience of our students. Our focus will be to equip our students for the 21st century through a holistic education, providing them with the necessary skills, values and knowledge to succeed. MOE is committed to ensure opportunities for all Singaporeans to realise their full potential regardless of their background. Tertiary and continuing education”
“On average, MOE invest $17,000 annually in each SPED school student, much more than the $7,000 per student in the primary mainstream schools. This significantly subsidises the cost of education for special needs students. Parents pay school fees charged by the individual SPED schools, which are run by voluntary welfare organisations. The schools have various financial assistance schemes to help those in need. With the extension of the financial assistance scheme to SPED schools, those in need will get even more support. That was what my Minister has announced earlier. For low-income family with a child with multiple disabilities attending the AWWA School, for instance, this can be about an additional $1,000 or so in assistance a year on top of the $17,000 MOE is already investing. This also means that SPED schools can re-position their own assistance schemes to support more students. Currently, most SPED schools have sufficient places to meet the demands for admission. Students who are unable to enrol in SPED schools of their choice are currently enrolled in other SPED or mainstream schools depending on their needs. MOE has also enhanced the capability of mainstream schools to cater to students with mild special needs. We agree with Ms Denise Phua that our educational institutions need to be inclusive and we thank her for her suggestions. Ms Phua would be glad to note that we are doing more to support those who are hearing or physically-impaired or are visually-handicapped in our mainstream schools. MOE collaborates with VWOs to support the learning needs of these students. We are similarly extending support at the post-secondary education institutes (PSEI). Such support is provided through a three-step process.”
“Our approach is to give our schools autonomy to vary the hours of instruction time, based on what is best in the educational interest of their pupils. Specifying that all activities should end by 6.00 pm, as Assoc. Prof. Paulin Straughan has suggested, could curtail meaningful activities. Nevertheless, MOE will continue to promote the importance of healthy, work, family-life balance for teachers and pupils. 3.45 pm With regard to primary schools in particular, MOE's guidelines for single-session schools are that Primary 1 and 2 pupils could have a slightly extended-curriculum day ending at 1.30 pm. This is taking into account the increased emphasis on non-academic aspects of the curriculum. Primary 3 to 6 pupils could have two longer days in a week to include enrichment or CCA activities though these are entirely optional. Since primary schools have gone single session, we note that school hours have remained within these specified guidelines. Turning now to special education, Ms Sylvia Lim suggested a central agency to provide information to parents. Currently, MOE's website provides information on special education (SPED) schools and the programmes that they offer as well as educational pathways for special needs students. In addition, the Centre of Enabled Living (CEL) was set up in 2009 to be such a first-stop information and referral centre for eldercare and disability services. Ms Lim also asked about means-testing for SPED school fees. Allow me to clarify that Government's funding to SPED schools is not based on any means-tested formula. Rather, MOE provides SPED schools an annual per capita grant of two- and-a-half times that of primary education in the mainstream schools.”
“They will need to assess whether this will overburden the child and whether the child will benefit more by spending the time in other ways, like Members have said, take a stroll, outdoor activities, reading or exercising. While some students find it helpful, it could lead to undue stress if students have too much tuition, and under-performance for others. There are also many students who succeeded without tuition by paying attention in class, consulting teachers and working consistently throughout the year. I would like to quote you an example. Ms Sharanya Pillai from Riverside Secondary is a case in point. She scored nine A1s during last year's "O" Levels and was one of the top students without the help of tuition. She comes from humble background. According to the Straits Times report, her father is a security guard and her mother is a part-time retail assistant. With the monthly household income of $1,300, it is no surprise that tuition was something she did not even consider. But she managed her time well and minimised travelling time by attending a secondary school 10 minutes away from her home. She had more time to study and rest. She even did the Chinese Special Programme, which she got an A1. She aspires to be a doctor someday, and we wish her well. This is just one example of a student who excelled through the support of her school teachers, family, her own hard work and determination. Schools also conduct Co-Curriculum Activities (CCAs) to offer students from holistic and broad-based development. For secondary schools and junior colleges, some CCAs might start later in the day when it is cooler or in the evenings for valid reasons, for example, camps and concerts.”
“Sir, I am glad to take note that public feedback on the recommendations of the MTL review committee has been largely positive. Many parents and committee groups agree with the rationale for the changes and affirmed our bilingual policy. I will now address specific issues raised by Members in general. Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Ong Kian Min and Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan touched on school curriculum and hours. Some Members also spoke about private tuition earlier. Let me take these issues together. MOE believes in a balanced and holistic education for our children. We are rebalancing the system to focus more on 21st century skills and values as well as non-cognitive aspects of development. We also review the curriculum regularly. As part of the "Teach Less, Learn More" initiative, curriculum content in recent years has been reduced by as much as 30%. Guidelines have been provided to school leaders to ensure careful consideration goes into setting schools' start and end times as well as holiday homework. The curriculum is also designed to allow schools to complete the syllabus within school hours and prepare students adequately for examinations. To help the weaker students learn better, teachers may conduct remedial lessons out of their good intention. Such lessons are not compulsory. Parents will be informed in advance and have the choice to opt their children out. When holiday homework is given, teachers typically do so judiciously and purposefully. Beyond what schools provide, some parents choose to provide their children more support through tuition. This is a choice for parents to make.”
“In fact, the enhancements made in past reviews have resulted in a larger proportion of "O" Level students offering Higher Chinese Language (HCL). The percentage of the "O" Level cohort offering HCL has increased from 19% in 2004 to 28% in 2010. This shows that our students increasingly see the importance of the Chinese Language and are developing a deeper interest in it. (In English): Sir, I fully agree with Mr Ang Mong Seng that we need a conducive environment for students to learn and use the language outside of school. The Minister has announced additional funding to the Language Promotion Committees, which will support meaningful programmes. For instance, the Committee to promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) has launched a Cultural Performance Exposures Scheme, 文化随意门, to engage youths from different home language backgrounds. Take up has been positive, increasing from 20 schools when it started in 2009, to more than 70 schools this year, benefiting 10,000 students. The Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC) organises an annual Malay Language Quiz – Kuiz Cepat Tepat, in collaboration with MediaCorp, attracting participants from 110 schools and capturing some 100,000 viewers. The Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee (TLLPC) co-organises with the Tamil Language Council a range of activities for the Tamil Language Festival, which include a debate series, forums and drama festival. Parents, too, play an important part, by giving their children early exposure and creating opportunities to use their mother tongue. It is heartening that the MTL Survey 2010 revealed that the majority of parents, regardless of language spoken at home, acknowledged the importance of learning MTL.”
“Over the years, our MTL teachers have made significant contributions in improving teaching approaches. Their efforts are commendable. As teachers are key to whatever we do in education, we will need to first enhance our teacher training, so that teachers can in turn cater to varying student abilities and starting points. In 2008, the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language (SCCL) surveyed 2,200 Chinese Language teachers to identify their training needs and develop courses according to the level that they are teaching, eg, lower primary and secondary; language skills needed, eg, composition or comprehension; and teaching pedagogies, eg, use of ICT or storybook. Going forward, to guide training, a teacher-competency framework will be developed. MOE will work with the National Institute of Education (NIE) and SCCL to provide training and support to Chinese Language teachers. MOE will also deploy an additional 500 MTL teachers by 2015. Mr Chan Soo Sen asked how we can produce "high peaks" in Chinese Language. In fact, the development of even higher levels of language proficiency for students with the ability and interest is also an important part of the more customised approach to MTL. We have provided for Special Assistance Plan Schools – in fact, we are adding Nan Chiau High next year. We also have the Bicultural Studies Programme and the Chinese Language Elective Programme. On top of this, we will be introducing a new Chinese Linguistics and Translation subject at the "A" Levels. This subject will provide students with a fundamental understanding of the constructs of the Chinese Language, so as to groom future bilingual professionals with mastery in both English and Chinese languages.”
“Mr Low may not have seen a video clip that was shown at the recent MTL Review press conference which featured a reunion dinner. It is an example of what students will watch in the classroom to trigger further discussion. Not only will such activities strengthen their oracy, it also reinforces understanding of their culture and values. Therefore, as pointed out by the Review Committee, students who use MTL as a living language are more likely to better appreciate their cultures and traditions. The MTL Review Committee recognised that students have different starting points because of different home language environments. As such, a more customised student–centric approach in the teaching of MTL will be taken. Teachers will be equipped with a range of appropriate pedagogies to cater to different learner profiles. For example, these include motivational strategies to build a positive affirmative learning environment and adopt a more systematic approach to build oracy foundation through contextual learning. Teachers will also be equipped with a variety of classroom strategies, such as the use of group work to encourage interaction, and the use of songs, rhymes and videos as well as role-play to strengthen oral interaction and make learning more engaging. Another way of customising MTL instruction would be through information and communication technology (ICT). To support teachers to better use ICT in teaching, learning and assessment, and multimedia resources such as videos, flash animations and interactive games will be provided. In addition, a web–based interactive portal will be provided to all schools to facilitate students' learning. To effectively implement these changes, teachers will play an instrumental role.”
“These allow Ms Mohan to build trust and rapport with the pupils, better track their development and provide more detailed feedback to their parents. Such good practices to strengthen individual pupil development are also being introduced to other schools. I am pleased to note that since 2009, more than half of the primary schools have already implemented these practices. MOE will continue to support schools to implement PERI's recommendations by providing the necessary expertise and resource support, for instance, by recruiting more PE, Art and Music teachers. I will next touch on the teaching and learning of mother tongue languages, which Mr Ang Mong Seng, Mr Chan Soo Sen, Mr Low Thia Khiang had spoken about. Sir, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin ): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] MOE's educational goal remains to support and *Cols. 4063-4066. enable every student to learn MTL to the fullest of his or her potential. To achieve this, the recent MTL Review articulated the objective of nurturing active learners and proficient users of MTL. The Review Committee also recommended that the goals for MTL learning be centred on three "Cs"–Communication, Culture and Connection. It further recognised that language is best learnt when students are taught to use the language in an active and interactive manner in real-life settings. In order to help students achieve proficiency in usage, teaching methods and national examinations will be better aligned. Contrary to what Mr Low has suggested, nurturing active learners and proficient users do not mean that transmission of culture and values will no longer be important in the teaching of MTL.”
“Today, I am glad to share an upcoming project to co-locate Pek Kio Community Centre with the Indoor Sports Hall of Farrer Park Primary. This will allow the school and CC to share facilities and collaborate on programmes. Details will be announced by People's Association (PA) later. 3.30 pm But we are not investing in infrastructure alone. Arising from PERI's recommendations, we will make learning even more engaging. For instance, MOE has developed additional Mathematics resources for Primary 1 to Primary 6 to support a more customised approach to teaching Mathematics concepts. The aim is to give pupils a strong foundation in Mathematics. The resources include manipulatives, game sets, picture cards and posters. Here you can see [indicating a slide shown to hon. Members] that the students are handling different shapes to have a better grasp of such concepts in the teaching of Mathematics. We will be equipping all classrooms with these new resources over the next three years. Similar provisions are planned for all other subjects. MOE has also been working with primary schools to place more attention on character development in each pupil. Let me give you an example of what happens in New Town Primary School. Each class has both a form teacher and co-form teacher who follow the class for two years. Ms Mohan, the form teacher meets her Primary 1 class each morning and spends her time interacting or reading together. Each week, during the Form Teacher Guidance Period, she bonds with the class through games, interactive activities and role play. Ms Mohan meets her pupils one-to-one and she meets each pupil at least twice a year. Such interactions are used to discuss the reflections that pupils have captured in their Learning Journals.”
“I am pleased to update that PAL has been extended to another 24 schools this year. We will re-design classrooms to encourage greater interaction and group learning, and develop 21st century skills such as effective communication and teamwork. We will also provide more out-of-classroom learning facilities, such as eco-ponds and science gardens. This slide [indicating a slide shown to hon. Members] shows East Spring Primary students learning about pulleys as part of their Science lesson. How I wished I had something like that to teach me about pulleys during my days, I am sure I would have done better in my Physics then. The next slide [indicating a slide shown to hon. Members] shows Tampines Primary's eco-garden where a teacher is conducting a lesson outdoors. Again, you see the engaged faces of the children. It is very encouraging to see them taking their lessons with such enthusiasm. This allows students to learn from the first- hand experience rather than just through pictures or books. For schools undergoing upgrading, we will provide additional space so that VWOs can provide student care services after school hours as Ms Denise Phua suggested. However, we will leave it to the school to decide depending on their pupils' needs. There are currently Student Care Centres in 36 of our primary schools. MCYS also has financial assistance schemes for lower-income households to cater to this group of students. At present, almost half of our primary schools have already become single session. As we push ahead with upgrading, almost all Government primary schools should be able to transit to single session by 2016. As we upgrade schools, we have been experimenting with new and innovative models to improve land efficiency and facilitate community sharing.”
“Sir, let me address specific issues raised by Members and elaborate on two key areas. First, our efforts to create a student-centric learning environment and, second, providing more support for students with special needs. First, student-centric education. Mrs Josephine Teo and Mdm Halimah Yacob asked for an update on the Primary Education Review and Implementation Committee's (PERI) recommendations. We are upgrading 40 more primary schools in Phase 3. This will facilitate primary schools to transit to single session and allow strengthening of non-academic aspects of education like PE, Art and Music. These upgraded schools will have newer and better facilities to support more innovative and engaging lessons. Allow me to cite a few examples. The first slide [indicating a slide shown to hon. Members] shows a PE lesson at Hougang Primary School. To support a more holistic education, indoor sports halls such as this will allow PE lessons and CCAs to be conducted throughout the day, rain or shine. All schools that need it will be equipped with synthetic turf which is cheaper to maintain and can be used immediately after it rains. For the Performing and Visual Arts, schools will have band rooms, dance studios and performing arts studios. Here we show Members a slide [indicating a slide shown to hon. Members] of a Performing Arts Studio at Lianhua Primary School. This is integrated into the library to maximise the use of space. We see pupils performing a skit as part of the Programme for Active Learning (PAL), which helps Primary 1 and Primary 2 students develop character and life skills as well as discover their talents. At last year's Committee of Supply, I mentioned that MOE was prototyping PAL in 12 schools.”
“We will be very keen to work with progressive contractors to give them more incentives to lead the way, to lead the industry so that we can create better and productive, as Er Lee Bee Wah said, regionally strong players. That is our dream as well. So, we will help them build up their capabilities, enhance their competitiveness, so that they can lead the rest of the industry. By 2020, we hope to see the construction industry transform into one that is highly integrated and technologically advanced, led by progressive firms and supported by a skilled and competent workforce. Food supply resilience”
“A total of 10 construction trades will be added to the existing seven trades for CoreTrade registration and this will allow a better paying job, higher value, better career progression, and possibly attractive career options for Singaporeans. But, as I mentioned earlier, the construction industry will continue to depend on foreign workers. Nevertheless, with the CoreTrade and its enhancements, we hope to attract more locals but we also want our foreign workers to be of higher skill, more experienced so that they can better support our construction activities in a productive manner. Sir, since last year, the construction industry has responded positively to our call to improve productivity and we will work closely with all the stakeholders in the construction value chain, namely, the developers, the architects, the engineers, main contractors and sub-contractors, to enhance our schemes and policies. Yesterday, I believe Member Yeo Guat Kwang lamented to the House about the frustrations faced by some of the SMEs and he quoted lyrics from a very popular Hokkien song "Wa Meng Ti, Wa Meng Ti ", simply translated, it means "Oh Heaven, oh Heaven, what is your guidance for me?" But I would like to encourage Mr Yeo Guat Kwang and Members of the House that, instead of lamenting, asking the Heaven, they should say "Mian Meng Ti, Mian Meng Ti, Meng BCA" (免问天，免问天，问BCA). At BCA and MND, we are very, very convinced that this is the way to go. We have to reduce the reliance on foreign workers and we must improve productivity of this industry.”
“To encourage the SMEs and sub-contractors to invest in technology, BCA’s Mechanisation Credit (MechC) defrays the cost of buying or leasing equipment. Two and a half million dollars has been approved for applications from 100 companies, the majority of which are small firms. One such firm is Kong Hwee Iron Works and Construction which purchased a Computer Numerically Control pipe profile cutting machine, which is shown on the right hand side [indicating], that basically automates steel pipe cutting, compared to the traditional manual way of cutting it. So, again, improvement to labour, reducing manual errors and machines get less tired than human beings. Sir, we recognise that there is a need to reach out to more firms and to further incentivise them to make the change. I am pleased to announce that we will raise the level of funding support under the Mechanisation Credit scheme, the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Fund and the Productivity Improvement Project scheme to provide more assistance to a wider group of firms. BCA will be releasing more details on the revised funding levels. We will also enhance the regulatory requirements to bring about changes in industry practices. We will change the "Buildability Score" to encourage designers to adopt more productive designs and we will introduce a "Constructability Score" to steer builders towards more productive construction methods and technologies. BCA has been consulting the industry on these enhancements and will introduce them in second half of 2011. To complement the levy framework, BCA is enhancing the CoreTrade scheme to recognise more trades that support productivity improvements.”
“We believe that this is really a very good example on how leading progressive firms can show the way to lead the change in the industry. When ready later this year, this facility is expected to reduce the labour required for precast production by 50% to 70% through mechanisation and automation. Next, BCA’s Building Information Modelling (BIM) Fund has also started to attract interest from the industry. As mentioned by the Deputy Prime Minister in his earlier speech, BIM enables the integration of architectural, structural and mechanical and electrical (M&E) designs which avoids costly re-work during the construction phase. I have asked for a short demonstration of what BIM can do [ indicating ]. This is using the SAFRA Clubhouse as an example. This is what you see as a perspective of the design. First, the architect will develop the architectural model. The model will then be passed to the structural engineers to develop the structural elements. The mechanical and electrical engineers will then add on systems such as plumbing and air-conditioning, ventilation, and so on. And, finally, the software allows the different consultants in the project team to share their design specifications so that potential clashes in design can be avoided and can be resolved early in the design phase, thus, avoiding costly re-work down the road. 5.30 pm To steer the industry towards adopting BIM, BCA will require electronic submissions of architectural, structural and M&E plans using BIM for regulatory approval by 2015, starting with architectural submissions in 2013. The public sector will drive BIM adoption by working towards specifying BIM as a requirement in new building projects from next year.”
“We like to encourage the industry to start the "brisk walking" as the Deputy Prime Minister said, and tap the Construction Productivity and Capability Fund (CPCF) for incentives. Progressive firms which adopt technology and productive methods to reduce their reliance on foreign workers will be more cost competitive and better able to meet the challenges. In the end, we believe they will offer their customers better value and gain market share. Since the launch of the $250 million CPCF in June 2010, more than 500 firms in the construction industry have benefited from the Fund, of which 65% are small firms. Close to $7 million has been committed. To date, BCA has received over 1,400 applications from 400 firms to tap on the Workforce Training and Upgrading scheme. This covers up to 80% of skills assessment and training course fees for eligible workers. BCA will enhance this scheme to benefit more companies. This funding support will also be extended to cover more productivity-related courses, including those at the PMET level. In the area of technology adoption, BCA has approved 10 applications and committed close to $3 million from its Productivity Improvement Project (PIP) scheme. One successful PIP application is Tiong Seng’s development of an integrated pre-casting facility which is highly automated and enables a 24-hour precast production process in a factory environment. In other words: it is covered, it is multi-storey, it also has a part of the building that is reserved for foreign workers' dormitory. It is an integrated facility, with intensive use of land, and it changes construction from what we know – that is, being exposed to sun and rain – into a factory manufacturing environment.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to thank Members, Mr Zainudin Nordin, Mr Ong Ah Heng and Er Lee Bee Wah for their questions on the construction industry and our progress in increasing productivity. First, allow me to share with the House the Construction Productivity Roadmap. Whilst we recognise that we cannot replace foreign workers with locals in this industry, we can reduce the number of workers by switching to technology or building up the skill levels of the workers. To incentivise the industry to do so, we have to regulate the demand of foreign workers through the foreign worker levy and the Man-Year Entitlement (MYE) System. Second, we will offer financial incentives to encourage progressive firms to adopt technology or upgrade their workforce. We will impose regulatory requirements and standards on buildability and constructability to drive productivity efforts across the entire value chain and, finally, underlying the success of our efforts is the core competence that is residing in the construction personnel. Hence, we will need to improve the quality of our workforce. First, on foreign worker levy. We have recently announced additional levy increases and MYE cuts, up to July 2013. As announced earlier, a new skills framework will come into effect from 1st July 2011 to identify higher-skilled and more experienced workers. Those who are registered under BCA’s CoreTrade scheme, or who have attained supervisory qualifications, will be in the new Higher Skilled category and attract lower levy as compared to those in the Basic Skilled category. The levy differential will encourage the industry to upgrade and retain their skilled workers. Since the announcement of the levy changes, there have been concerns that the cost increase would be passed on to consumers.”
“Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. LEGAL PROFESSION (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 4.30 pm”
“Clause 15(1) of the Bill provides for the private lottery duty for these fruit machines to be 9.5% of actual gross turnover. There is no change to the other private lottery duties. Clause 15(2) allows the Minister for Finance to vary the rates of private lottery duty by way of subsidiary legislation. Second, this Bill formalises the transfer of the regulation of private lotteries from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). With this transfer, MHA will oversee the regulation of all gambling activities. Clause 4(1) allows the Minister for Home Affairs to appoint a Permit Officer to regulate private lotteries. Clauses 8 and 9 set out the powers of the Permit Officer. Clause 32(2) provides that the Minister for Home Affairs may make regulations for the manner in which private lotteries are to be conducted. MHA will work closely with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) for the regulations and conditions which relate to social safeguards. Third, we will increase penalties commensurate with the offences and allow the composition of offences. Clauses 20 and 21 provide for an increase in penalties for non-compliance and submission of incorrect accounts to the Commissioner of Betting Duties, as well as promoting a private lottery without a valid permit. Clause 29 provides for the composition of offences, similar to that applicable under the Income Tax Act. The other salient provisions in the Bill serve to improve tax administration or provide clarifications to the law. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mrs Lim Hwee Hua].”
“Given that the Integrated Resorts' casinos are targeted mainly at overseas visitors, the taxation basis and rates were set to ensure that they can be internationally competitive. In contrast, most other gaming revenues in Singapore, such as 4D and Toto, are taxed based on actual gross turnover. This is so as not to unwittingly incentivise operators to raise payouts and consequently increase overall gaming demand. International competitiveness is not a consideration for fruit machines operated by the clubs. The playing of fruit machines in the clubs is primarily a recreational activity for its members. We will tax the fruit machines in clubs based on actual gross turnover. Having said that, we will lower the private lottery duty for fruit machines to 9.5% of actual gross turnover, instead of the 12% planned earlier. This reduced tax rate of 9.5% takes into account the data and feedback from all the clubs and the change in Singapore’s gaming landscape. This will cause the Government to forgo $25 million worth or about 8% of the private lotteries tax collection. The majority of the clubs will pay less tax than what they are currently paying. However, I should state here that it is not the role of the Government to offset the loss of market share that they may face with the opening of the casinos. The clubs will need to adapt to the change in the gaming landscape and devise appropriate strategies to generate future revenues. Sir, this Bill repeals the Private Lotteries Act and enacts a new Private Lotteries Act to provide for the control and levy of tax on private lotteries. Let me now highlight the main features of the Bill. First, the change in tax basis and rate for fruit machines in the clubs.”
“PRIVATE LOTTERIES BILL Order for Second Reading read. 4.22 pm The Second Minister for Finance (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Fruit machines in private clubs have hitherto been taxed at 30% of deemed turnover. The deemed turnover is determined by the number of coins in the cash collection boxes of the fruit machines. This taxation basis dates back to the 1950s when it was not possible to accurately measure actual turnover of fruit machines. In his 2006 Budget Statement, the Minister for Finance announced a change in the taxation basis and tax rate for fruit machines. Specifically, he announced a private lottery duty at 12% of actual gross turnover of fruit machines. The technology of fruit machines has evolved, and thus we are able to make this shift in taxation basis from deemed turnover to actual gross turnover. The 12% rate was set so as to be revenue-neutral to Government. However, the implementation of this new tax treatment was subsequently deferred, as further review was needed, given feedback from the clubs. Since the opening of the casinos in the integrated resorts, the gaming landscape has changed and clubs have seen a decrease in fruit machine revenue. The clubs have asked that the Government reduce their tax burden including taxing them based on gross gaming revenue just like that for the casinos. Unlike gross turnover, gross gaming revenue refers to the earnings net of winnings which the clubs pay out to patrons of their fruit machines. Such a basis, Sir, would allow the clubs greater flexibility to adjust the payout ratios. The casinos are taxed on their gross gaming revenue, which is the basis of taxation adopted for casinos by major jurisdictions.”
“She raised concerns on the less stringent regime for relocation of rides. Sir, we have adopted a risk-based approach to regulate all amusement rides. Under the Bill, the risk assessment will be carried out based on, among other things, the age profile of the target patrons. In other words, if the ride is designed for a certain height and certain weight, then we have to assess what are the kinds of mechanical parts, and structural design that have been put in place. So, it is actually an age-appropriate assessment. All rides will be required to be designed, operated and maintained according to prescribed international safety codes and standards. On the less stringent regime for relocation of rides, I wish to reiterate that there is no compromise on the safety of ride, as I mentioned in my earlier speech. The relocation work must be carried out in accordance with the design and specifications and the proposed installation method as set out in the original Installation Permit issued for the ride. The Commissioner of Amusement Rides Safety will also have powers to cease the operation of any relocated ride that is deemed unsafe. Sir, I believe I have addressed the Members' concerns and queries. Let me conclude by thanking Members for their support for the Bill. With the more comprehensive regulatory framework for amusement rides safety in place, we can further enhance public safety in the daily operations and throughout the life cycle of amusement rides. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.”
“The Demerit Points System has graduated penalties as the licensing chalks up more demerit points, ranging from imposition of bank guarantee to cancellation of licence. Where the ride is found to be unsafe, the licensing officer can suspend or cancel a licence immediately. The new regulatory framework will prescribe a more detailed and structured system of fines and statutory penalties, covering a wide range of contraventions throughout the life cycle of the ride, from installation, operation, modification, to maintenance, repair and relocation. There will also be a tiered level of penalties, depending on the severity of the breach of duties for the various statutory parties. The Commissioner of Amusement Rides Safety has powers to revoke the Operating Permit when the ride is deemed to be unsafe. Assoc. Prof. Fatimah Lateef asked about emergency management, the handling of personal injury and insurance. The SCDF will be responsible for the fire safety and rescue management system for rides. It will approve the evacuation and incident management procedures for rides. They will also go through fire safety and evacuation exercises with the ride operators. Before the Operating Permit is issued by BCA, the ride operator has to fulfil SCDF's requirements and obtain the Certificate of Compliance issued by SCDF. There will be requirements in the Regulations for a properly-trained first aider to respond to any emergencies that could arise in the operation of the ride. On insurance, all existing operators have public liability insurance coverage of varying amounts. The Regulations will prescribe a mandatory minimum amount of insurance coverage to safeguard public safety. Assoc. Prof. Fatimah Lateef also asked if there will be special criteria for children's rides.”
“The industry is building up its expertise and we encourage the industry to procure the right expertise and source for more CAs to assume this role. We are actually asking the industry to go out and source for the right CAs, and BCA will assess them on their individual expertise and experience. So we are open to accepting more CAs to operate in the local industry. Er Lee suggested that a Committee be established to standardise parks management protocols in Singapore, similar to the US' American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Under the Bill, our Regulations will generally prescribe that the rides in Singapore have to meet the standards under the ASTM F-24 Committee, as well as the European/UK equivalent, BS EN-13814. These international standards are a result of years of collective experience and expertise of established global industry experts in amusement rides in the various fields ranging from design, operation, maintenance and testing. BCA will also review these standards periodically. Sir, given the relatively small size of our amusement rides industry, I do not think that we need to set up a similar standard-setting committee in Singapore. Er Lee has suggested that the Bill should make compulsory the reporting of accidents and ride malfunctions to the authorities. Sir, I can confirm that this will, indeed, be the requirement. Mr Liang asked about the enforcement measures taken in the past against operators and how the new framework intends to strengthen enforcement and compliance. Under the exisiting licensing regime, the Police uses a Demerit Points System to penalise breaches in licensing conditions.”