Hany Soh
Singapore
“Thank you, Speaker. Just one supplementary question on whether there are any recycling plans in the pipeline for collaborations with our partners in the region or globally, or for a start, coming up with a common framework in terms of recycling across our Association of Southeast Asian Nations region?”
“I thank the Minister of State for her response. I understand from a few seniors whom I have interacted with in Woodgrove recently that a number of their peers were unable to join them for their regular outdoor qigong and brisk walking activities due to respiratory-related health conditions lately.”
“In this regard, perhaps PUB could consider an "opt-in", at least for the implementation or installation of the Costal Protection Measures for private owners or lessors instead of requiring them to procure the same from scratch.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I have two clarifications. One is pertaining to what Senior Minister of State Janil has shared about MySkillsFuture Portal, revamping it. Can we explore to actually allow the functions for the users to actually navigate through the portal based on locations wise, so that it allows the users to benefit from it.”
“To encourage more Singaporeans to utilise their SkillsFuture training credits, I hope that SkillsFuture@PA programme can be further expanded. In addition to CCs, it could also extend to running courses at the Residents' Network Centres.”
“The first question is, can we explore rather than to not totally include or consider the waiver of fees, instead can we explore increasing the search fees instead, so as to achieve the objectives that Senior Parliamentary Secretary had mentioned in terms of defraying the fees for maintaining such a services in the Wills Registry?”
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“However, many of them have confided in me, sharing that while these enrichment programs are offered by the preschool as "optional", they take place during the child's normal curriculum hours and they often feel a great dilemma on whether to enrol their child in these classes. Their primary fear is that their child will lose the learning opportunity and occasion to foster cohesion as well as friendships. As a mother of a five-year-old and one-year-old, I can relate to these concerns they have shared. Another resident shared that bringing her four children out for family outings is an expensive activity. She appreciates our Woodgrove Division's frequent organisation of trips to attractions and places, catering to the needs of family with young children to bond, such as indoor playgrounds and the newly opened Bird Paradise at highly-subsidised rates, as otherwise, she and her husband would either not have been able to bring their children to these places, or would have faced significant financial strain in doing so. Mr Speaker, my resident's hesitation in organising family outings is understandable and could also be shared by many other Singaporeans. Just as an example, while some local attractions offer subsidised rates or promotional offers for Singapore residents, a visit to one could cost this family of six, comprising two adults and four children, around $450. If allowed to tap on the CDA, it would spare them from having to cough out more than half in cash. For the sake of Singaporean families, we ought to consider further improving the CDA. I now move on to the topic of paternity leave. Our paternity leave scheme was introduced more than a decade ago. While the take-up rate has risen steadily in recent years, it is still at 53%.”
“Amongst other comments, some of these youths painted a daunting picture with their words when they said, "marriage is hard, raising children is even harder" and "if I want to have a kid, I must be confident that I can provide him/her with the best, if I think I can't do that, I would rather not have one." As I told them at the discussion, and I repeat now, we hear you. These are genuine concerns on at least two levels – in actuality and by perception. Either level could be sufficient to dissuade a couple from starting a family. The actual and/or perceived high costs of education, transportation, medical care, clothing and food, may generally cause couples to feel anxious and face challenges in sustaining their childless lifestyle, which may become or feel insurmountable should they have a child or children. Mr Speaker, we can do more and do better, to not only allay such concerns, but also positively encourage aspiring parents to actually become parents. The Child Development Account or in short, CDA, is a Government initiative designed to support parents in managing the costs associated with raising children. Over the years, the Government has broadened the scope of approved uses of the CDA to cover beyond education and healthcare expenses. Notwithstanding, many parents with whom I have interacted in my Woodgrove division still share their struggles arising from the high cost of maintaining a child, from the purchase of baby formula to enrolling their child to enrichment classes to ensure that the child is ready for school. They therefore hope that the list of approved uses can be widened to further assist them with these expenses. Currently, there are restrictions on using CDA funds for optional enrichment programmes.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill. The amendments proposed in this Bill demonstrate our Government's unceasing effort to make Singapore an even more conducive environment for Singaporeans to start families. These amendments follow the slew of past measures such as enhancements to parental leave, increasing childcare availability and affordability, as well as providing more financial assistance to large families. As shared by the Minister Indranee with this House on 28 February 2024, like many developed societies, Singapore's TFR has been on a declining trend and for the first time in history, fallen below 1.0. This is an alarming sign and an existential threat to Singapore. Prospective parents would have their respectively varying concerns and reasons militating against starting a family. Everybody's circumstances and challenges are unique and there is no silver bullet to miraculously improve Singapore's TFR overnight. That said, I have every firm believe that our PAP Government will never stop doing its best for Singaporeans, and today, we have this Bill to improve the conditions for prospective parents, which is a step in the right direction in an endless journey. During the recent focus group discussions organised by the PAP's Women's Wing and Friendzone, I got to listen to approximately 100 youths aged between 20 and 40 years old. When asked whether they intend to have children, many of them candidly shared their concerns with me, that child raising comes with significant burdens – both emotionally and financially.”
“To this end, while I understand from Senior Minister of State Amy Khor's speech earlier on, on how these fine amounts were derived, such as taking reference from other enforcement statutes, such as the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act. But the more important issue would be that, would this be sufficient to deter the targeted illegality? While we take care to not exact a punishment that would exceed the crime, this must be balanced against the risk that offenders may simply view any fine as an acceptable business cost. This will undermine legislative intent as well as public safety. Just recently, news reports carrying pictures of a river of red flowing through a canal close to Kembangan MRT station. The sight, by itself, was concerning enough such that members of the public reported it to NEA. In a 2019 Straits Times news article, PUB had reportedly prosecuted 38 companies in that past year for illegally dumping waste water containing chemicals or other materials into the public sewers. 18 out of those 38 companies, almost half, were repeat offenders. Clearly, repeat offenders have not been deterred. According to PUB, trade effluent illegally discharged into public sewers pose significant risks to public health and the environment. Mr Speaker, a group of unsung heroes who work tirelessly for the sake of our people and environment, but who are exposed to the risks of such irresponsible behaviour, are our sewerage and drainage workers. The onus is on the Members of this House to ensure that they, too, get to work under safe and fair conditions. Thus, I ask the Ministry if we should also consider mandating business owners to take up public liability insurance? Notwithstanding my clarifications, I stand in support of this Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, I declare that I am a lawyer by profession, whose practice areas include, but are not limited to, criminal and regulatory matters. I rise in support of this Bill. The amendments proposed herein are timely, especially since the last Sewerage and Drainage (Amendment) Bill, or in short, SDA, was in 2012. Mr Speaker, my speech for today will focus on the enhanced penalties proposed by this Bill, which, in my view, are greatly needed. In Senior Minister of State Amy Khor's reply to an oral Parliamentary Question during the sitting on 6 August 2019, she shared with this House that since 2014, PUB has prosecuted 119 companies for illegal discharge of trade effluent into the sewers, where the discharge did not comply with the stipulations. Senior Minister of State Khor further shared that of the 119 prosecuted companies, 21 were second-time offenders and another 23 committed the offences more than twice. The first clarification I seek is for the latest statistics. This will form the backdrop for the enhancement of the penalties sought to be implemented by this Bill. It will perhaps also elucidate the impetus and necessity for these enhanced penalties. The enhanced penalties proposed by this Bill, if passed, will strengthen the punitive levers to deter illegal discharge and impose harsher punishments. For first-time offenders, there will now be a minimum fine in the sum of $40,000. The maximum fine of $200,000 will not be changed. As for the offenders who commit an offence for the second time or more, a minimum fine will also be introduced in the quantum of $80,000. On the other hand, the maximum fine will be doubled to $400,000. Mr Speaker, it is a trite legal principle that the punishment must fit the crime.”
“I thank the Minister for the response. I have two supplementary questions. The first is, for the purposes of the audit, whether the Ministry has been conducting any mystery shopping consultations? Otherwise, is this something that it will consider doing amongst other measures for auditing purposes? Secondly, understanding from Minister that the medical practitioners are subject to SMC's Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, but in view that we are recognising that there are more telemedicine consultations that are happening now, post-COVID-19, are we also looking to review the existing ethical code and guidelines to specifically address some of these concerns that may arise from telemedicine?”
“However, with the advancement of media technology, especially AI, we find that many deceptively realistic videos have spread on social media platforms. Readers who do not verify with various reliable news sources can easily be misled. Therefore, I support this Amendment Bill to ensure that the publication of digitally fabricated and distorted content about the candidates' words and actions will be prohibited during elections. Here, I would like to pose a few questions. One type of communication not prohibited is messages conveyed privately in family group chats. In this regard, I would like to ask if the Government has considered that this could be exploited as a channel to disseminate fabricated false content during election periods. Secondly, I agree with what Minister said just now that this piece of legislation is not a panacea. It is far more important that the public is equipped with the ability to discern what is fake from real. Hence, apart from passing this legislation, does the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) plan to launch any educational activities in future to educate the public on how to identify AI-generated fake messages? (In English): Mr Speaker, notwithstanding my clarifications, I stand in support of this Bill.”
“Firstly, under this Bill, the Returning Officer's power to issue corrective directions under section 61N(1) will be extended to, among others, online elections advertising that contravenes the new section 61MA. How will the Returning Officer be supported in his or her new responsibilities, which are in addition to his or her already existing heavy and critical duties? Secondly, in operational terms under section 61N(2A), what would be the expected response time by the Returning Officer, upon receiving a candidate's request in the prescribed form for a direction under subsection (1)? Thirdly, how will this Bill be operationalised to augment and supplement our current measures against foreign actors and actors who reside outside Singapore, who seek to interfere in our electoral process using deepfakes? Fourthly, section 61MA(4)(a) excludes any communication of content between two or more individuals that is of a private or domestic nature by electronic means. While this rightly protects freedom of speech and privacy, how can we ensure that the objects of this Bill will not be undermined by the "dark social" phenomenon? Lastly, while corrective directions may be issued under this Bill, there remains a possibility that it may not reach all of us timeously, or at all. Would the Ministry then consider setting up a digital portal containing a repository of corrections and directions issued under this Bill? In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, elections must be fair and just. When voting, what the voters ought to consider should be the information which the candidates has presented genuinely, not those information which are fabricated or distorted.”
“Also in December last year, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was shown endorsing an investment scam. In April this year, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, along with other Members, Dr Tan Wu Meng, Mr Edward Chia and Mr Yip Hon Weng, each received an extortion letter containing a manipulated photo. The question of "whether we will be targeted" is a foregone conclusion. With our next General Election to be called by November next year, this Bill is a timely defence apparatus against the ever-evolving weaponised deepfakes. This Bill will provide a key line of defence against attacks that would invariably seek to strike at the foundation of our democracy. While the obvious danger posed by deepfakes would be misleading its audience into believing falsities, viewers could also be confused to the point where one is unable to tell fact from fiction. The public's awareness of deepfakes, which is what we trying to achieve by a whole-of-society effort, could even be manipulated by bad actors for nefarious purposes. They could, for example, when confronted with matters of record and which are true but adverse to their interests, seek to avoid accountability by falsely claiming that they have been victims of targeted deepfake campaigns. A phenomenon coined by legal scholars Robert Chesney and Danielle Keats Citron as the "Liar's Dividend". Clearly, Mr Speaker, we anticipate that we will soon be confronted with novel and previously unimaginable difficulties presented by deepfakes. We are gearing up for a battle against deepfakes, not fully knowing who our adversaries are and what their strategies will be. Notwithstanding, we have to do our best to be ready and ably protect the sanctimony of our democracy. To this end, I raise the following clarifications.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill. Among other amendments, this Bill introduces section 61MA, which criminalises the publication of OEA that contains realistic representations created using content that was digitally generated or manipulated of a candidate saying or doing something that he or she did not, in fact, say or do. I will refer to this as deepfakes in the following parts of my speech. With the advent of technology and ubiquity of social media, consumption of digital content is a constant in our daily lives, arguably even a necessity. There are many ways we consume digital content. There are those we search by ourselves in order to keep abreast of current affairs or due to personal interests. Then, there are some that are shared with us by families and friends. We often also come across digital content as a result of targeted advertisement algorithms. It is, therefore, safe to presume that all of us would have at some point seen deepfakes. The question is, have we been able to spot them? And of the digital content that we have viewed and remember, are there any falsities that are wrongly and inadvertently being perpetuated as truths by our memory? The opening line of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore's advisory published on 21 March this year accurately addresses the issue. I quote, "Artificial Intelligence or AI is being used to produce increasingly convincing deepfakes that are indistinguishable or even to the trained eyes". Mr Speaker, according to a CNA article dated 17 January 2024, it states that politicians are prime targets of deepfakes. They are right. In December last year, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was portrayed in a deepfake video promoting a cryptocurrency scam.”
“So, in this regard, is this an appropriate situation where we should activate and test out the efforts that we have harnessed through our Total Defence and also our SGSecure activities, where communities have previously experienced crisis management exercises, for these stakeholders to also be activated?”
“Thank you, Speaker. My clarification surrounds the issue of how we can minimise the inconvenience caused to our commuters. Firstly, whether the Ministry has studied the feedback from affected commuters to improve its response. In this regard, can the Ministry share what are the key feedback received thus far? The second clarification pertains to, first of all, I think we should applaud those who stepped forward, based on what the Minister has shared about how the crisis management team has come forward to render assistance to our children who are studying for exams, as well as seniors and those with mobility issues. But apart from this category of commuters, whether the Ministry or the LTA's crisis management response teams have also looked into how we should also reach out as soon as possible to mommies who are expecting and those that are accompanied by young children as well, to prioritise reaching out to them and render the necessary assistance at the earliest opportunity? Finally, this is pertaining to my parliamentary question that I had filed on the same note, which is about whether we should also mobilise our Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) team. In my humble opinion, it is not common for our train system to break down to such a substantive extent, in which it has affected millions of commuters. In fact, it seems to me as a form of national crisis and as what the Minister has said, it has involved multiple stakeholders to come together, united as one Singapore, to reach out and resolve these issues.”
“I thank Minister Indranee for the response. I believe there are a lot of employers out there who welcome these ideas and are thinking of ways on how to adopt them. But on the other hand, there will also be employers who adopt a wait-and-see situation to see how the situation develops by the time the implementation is in place next year. So, I am thinking, whether the Government is working closely with the tripartite partners to identify the good practices of current and existing employers or those who are already ready to adopt these practices to share and amplify such good practices, so as to encourage more employers to come onboard and embrace this in time and ahead of the timelines?”
“I thank the Minister for sharing with us the response plans in relation to combating this situation. I wanted to follow up by asking whether the Ministry is planning to implement enhanced surveillance and precautionary measures in close-quarter living environments. I understand from the Minister that there are already some measures in place for places such as preschools, but I want to know what about places such as camps where our Servicemen reside, old folks' homes where vulnerable seniors are situated and foreign worker dormitories as well.”
“With less wastage, the need for increased production could be ameliorated. Recently, there has been a spate of mass food poisoning cases which reminded us the importance of complying with food safety laws when handling food. As members of the public, either as donors or beneficiaries, we must not take it lightly. I hope the relevant authorities such as SFA to continue working with community partners to increase public awareness of food safety. I support this Bill.”
“These are just some examples of the many good work we have heard that are in progress in the community, which many are looking to operationalise and even expand under and upon the passage of this Bill, for our residents’ and the wider public’s benefit. At the same time, I also hope that the Singapore Food Agency would continue to guide us in this important mission, such as coming up with clear and specific food safety standards and best practices for the purposes of this Bill that will be implemented by all food donors and understood by all of the donees as well. One particular area would be the public education on the significance and difference between "best by" and "expiry" dates used, like what my Parliamentary colleague, Miss Rachel Ong, has shared earlier. Would these categories of food be, therefore, acceptable and safe for consumption? Mr Speaker, following the passing of this Bill, we should and we will keenly monitor and continue to engage the relevant stakeholders on the implementation and operations of food donation. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The purpose of this Bill is set out at clause 3, which is to reduce food waste and increase the availability of food for redistribution to food-insecure communities. Through our consultations, we learnt that a key concern of current and prospective food donors is liability, both civil and criminal. We found that the balance of donors' and ultimate recipients' interests may be struck, by providing protection against liability for donating food where food safety laws in the handling of food have been met. This, would be a win-win. Perhaps collaterally, this Bill would also hopefully bolster Singapore’s "30 by 30" food security goal.”
“In Woodgrove, I am grateful to have many community partners and residents who are supportive of our call to embrace green sustainable living, reduce food waste and do good "For the Community, From the Community". Several green sustainable events in Woodgrove, both large and small scale, have been held through the years, providing opportunities for residents and community partners, such as schools, to contribute ideas and take part in supporting our nation’s SG Green Plan goals. Events, such as our Woodgrove's World Environment Day, which is held on an annual basis for our community, would regularly see strong support by our community gardeners, donating their fruits and vegetables that were grown in over 100 plots of community gardens across Woodgrove. In July 2023, Woodgrove set up our weekly community pantry located at the heart of Woodgrove, where residents are welcomed to help themselves with food rations and daily essential items which were donated by community partners, such as temples, as well as residents who have requested to remain anonymous but chose to do good for our community. I am heartened that during a National Day block party in Woodgrove held over a recent weekend, we announced a Woodgrove-FairPrice Group collaboration, under which the FairPrice Group, being Singapore’s largest retailer and one of the working committee members of this Bill, will be on board as another enthusiastic community partner to support our expansion of the community pantry initiative to benefit a larger community in Woodgrove through its Community Fridge Restock Initiative, which aimed at providing blemished but edible fruits and vegetables to families and individuals in need across Singapore for free.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill. The Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill is the culmination of the close collaboration and consultations with various stakeholders for an important social cause. For this, I am grateful for having been able to work with my Parliamentary colleagues, Mr Louis Ng, Ms Poh Li San and Mr Edward Chia, alongside our PAP activists as well as industry players, social enterprises, public agencies and the community. The passage of this Bill is a milestone but not the end of our journey. We will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders and community. There will always be room for further improvements. According to the statistics tabulated by NEA, 755,000 tonnes, or rather 755 million kilogrammes, of food waste were generated last year. The amount was 813,000 tonnes in 2022, and 817,000 tonnes in 2021. Against this backdrop, and paradoxically, food insecurity remains a live issue. The Food Bank Singapore Ltd has produced over two million meals annually in the past three years. These are staggering figures. The purpose of this Bill, as set out in clause 3, is to reduce food waste and increase the availability of food for redistribution to food-insecure communities. Through our consultations, we learnt that a key concern of our current and prospective food donors is liability, both civil and criminal. As shared by my Parliamentary colleague, Mr Louis Ng, in his opening speech, there are many donors and potential donors out there who would like to contribute but are understandably concerned about incurring liability, despite taking every precaution and doing their utmost best.”
“I thank the Minister for sharing with us in relation to answering our Parliamentary Questions (PQs). I have one supplementary question. I understand that investigation is still ongoing, but I am curious to find out whether the relevant investigation team has already been in touch with Microsoft to understand what are the preliminary issues and what are the undertakings that they will endeavour to do to prevent such a major technical glitch from happening again.”
“Speaker, I thank the Minister for the insightful sharing. My question surrounds the antenatal and postnatal mental wellness support which the Minister shared earlier that has been rolled out at KKH and NUH. This supplementary question is in relation to whether there are plans to roll out to other hospitals, for example, like at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and also, in terms of the consistencies of the services to be provided by these public hospitals, are we ensuring that there is some level of consistency in terms of the practices that are being shared with the patients as compared to the private hospitals' patients in these aspects? The other supplementary question is in relation to the expansion of the Nexus centres, which the Minister had given an earlier response to my Parliamentary colleague Dr Wan Rizal's supplementary question, I have asked Parliamentary Questions on this as well, specifically in relation to whether these expansions will be rolled out in due course to our Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency's Woodgrove divisions, that will, of course, definitely benefit the residents of Woodgrove and also Marsiling. The gist of why there is an emphasis for this is because we are expecting a lot of Build-To-Order (BTO) families with young children who will be moving in. So, I hope that the Ministry can, when it comes to expansion, take this into consideration when deciding on the locations for Nexus centres to be constructed.”
“To this end, what are the factors the Commissioner may or will take into consideration when exercising his or her discretion over the appropriate penalty to be imposed? Mdm Deputy Speaker, virtually, all aspects of our lives – professional, financial, social and personal – are increasingly being digitalised. Thus, cybersecurity requires a whole-of-nation effort down to the individual, which must be constantly and diligently performed. Notwithstanding my clarifications sought, I stand in support of this Bill.”
“In broad terms, this Bill seeks to implement several changes to the Act that would enhance the security of CII operators' supply chains, regulate the usage of cloud services, regulation of systems used for and during key events and designating ESCI. Mdm Deputy Speaker, the following parts of my speech will be focused mainly on the ESCI. Clause 16 of this Bill inserts a new Part (3)(c), which regulates the ESCIs, including by empowering the Commissioner of Cybersecurity to designate entities ESCIs and impose cybersecurity obligations on them. I seek several clarifications in this regard. Firstly, in designating an entity as an ESCI, how promptly will the CSA notify that particular entity? Upon such designation, would any support be rendered by the CSA to such entity to ensure its familiarity with its legal obligations as an ESCI? Secondly, a notice issued under the new section 18(1) need not be published in the Gazette, by virtue of the new section 18(4). What are the circumstances or the considerations that will go towards publication or disclosure of an ESCI's identity? Thirdly and related to the preceding point, would actual and potential ESCIs as well as the public be able to access to a database or repository of sorts, in order to review the relevant precedents and case outcomes? Potentially, such information could be unavailable to serve as valuable lessons, should they be redacted or not reported. Fourthly, this Bill also introduces a new penalty framework. The Commissioner will be able to recommend civil penalties in lieu of criminal penalties for all offences committed by regulated entitles where appropriate and impose monetary penalties on non-complying FDI providers and ESCIs.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill. Singapore has been making monumental strides in its transformation into a Smart Nation. We are a hyper-connected, world-class, tech-driven state built upon three pillars: one, a digital society; two, a digital economy; and three, a digital government. In the 2024 Smart City Index published by Switzerland's International Institute for Management Development, Singapore is ranked fifth out of 142 cities. In the Digital Inclusion Index published by Roland Berger in 2020, Singapore was ranked as the top global leader out of 82 countries. However, the greater our usage and reliance on digital services and infrastructure, the more susceptible we will be to cyber-attacks which are increasing in frequency, scale and sophistication. Apart from those shared by my fellow Parliamentary colleagues in their respective speeches earlier, this House will also recall some of the major cybersecurity incidents that we have encountered recently. In 2018, SingHealth data breach, where the personal data of 1.5 million patients were stolen by a deliberate, targeted and well-planned cyber-attack; in 2021, National University of Singapore Society data breach, where the personal data over 1,300 members were compromised; in 2023, cyber-attack against the Marina Bay Sands that led to the theft of 665,000 customers' data; in February 2024, cyber espionage incident that took place during the Singapore Airshow period, which resulted in a foreign military phone call being leaked abroad; and even more recently, in April 2024, a ransomware attack on a local law firm. Clearly, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. As a nation, multinational company, SME or individual, we are all vulnerable.”
“Additionally, how has the OPG, at the organisational level; as well as MSF, at the Ministry level, been assisting and supporting those affected? As part of its rectification efforts and aside from this Bill, has or will the OPG and MSF consider enlisting the assistance of the members of the legal profession and other appropriate personnel? Our community is our greatest and most valuable resource and we have many who stand ready to volunteer their assistance. It would also be understandable for the affected Donors and/or Donees to want to relook at the affected LPAs. In this regard, will the OPG consider permitting them to do so and if they choose to do so, also allow for them to make amendments at no charge? Lastly, LPA Donors and Donees have been able to apply for a hard copy and certified true copy of the LPA through the OPG's portal. To assure those affected beyond a shadow of a doubt, would the Minister please confirm that the copies of the LPA ,which have been issued by the OPG, remain valid following the passage of this Bill and that there will be no need for any re-application or re-issuance? I thank the Minister in advance for his response to my clarifications. I would like to also take this opportunity to encourage the officers at the OPG and MSF to take this lesson in their stride and continue the good work they have been doing for all Singaporeans.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I declare that I am a practising lawyer. I rise in support of this Bill. This Bill purports to remediate the omission in the electronic LPA documents, due to which approximately 87,000 LPA documents are exposed to potential legal challenge. These 87,000 LPAs were certified between 14 November 2022 and 4 January 2024. The omission is in respect of the statutory requirement pursuant to section 12A(1)(a) of the Mental Capacity Act 2008, for an LPA to state expressly that it is intended to be a deed by the Donor. Madam, inadvertent mistakes do occur despite best efforts and stringent safeguards against the same. The primary lesson in every such episode, is how we all can be better and actually take all the steps to be better. I appreciate that the OPG that they have been transparent in accounting for its mistake and swift in remedying the potential consequences. The electronic LPA was a laudable initiative and which has benefited numerous Singaporeans. In our mission to be and do better, I seek several clarifications over the issue. Firstly, has the OPG ascertained whether any of the 87,000 LPA Donors have since become mentally incapacitated? While this Bill negates the need for any remedial actions on the Donors' part, Donees could understandably be anxious and uncertain about the ramifications stemming from the error, coupled with the fact that the LPA Donor is no longer able to amend his or her LPA. Next, has the OPG directly notified all affected parties? This would include but not necessarily be limited to the Donors and Donees but, perhaps, also the lawyers who may have assisted in the Donor's e-submissions of the affected LPAs.”
“Thank you, Minister of State. Just one quick clarification, which I also seek your reassurance on. I understand that the viaduct that will be constructed will run through the Marsiling Park area. So, will the relevant agencies be taking this opportunity to have a huddle and have a better understanding on how certain facilities will be improved, and also to minimise the disamenities that the park users will face around the area?”
“I thank Minister of State for her reply. I have a few supplementary questions. One is in relation to the bus service that we understand, at this moment, is used by commuters to the checkpoints. Following from this reclamation, how will this change when the area will be closed, especially for roads around the Woodlands Town Centre? The other question pertains to how this reclamation will affect the environment. In particular, some residents have expressed their concerns about the environmental impact study, whether that has been carried out to address any restoration of the natural habitat and species diversity in the area. Finally, what I also understand is that, as part of these reclamations, there will also be some land that needs to be acquired from Malaysia to expand the checkpoint. How does that impact the development and will there be any delays in Malaysia's decision that may affect the implementation timelines?”
“Chairman, I have two clarifications. First is in relation to providing more support to inspire our young to embrace and pursue their passion in sports. I am heartened to hear from the Minister's speech that there will be more sporting opportunities, for example, through inter-school sports tournaments. However, I do hope that the Ministry can continue its efforts to urge other stakeholders, for example, like the Singapore Sports School, to do more in the community, with the community, for the community. Some examples can be done through events that are jointly organised with the grassroots. For example, like a badminton clinic in which our Woodgrove CSC has organised with partners, such as Singapore Badminton Association and SportsSG, where the Team Singapore athletes, our shuttlers came forward. Apart from imparting their skills, they also take the opportunity to share more about their own personal experience, how they have come through all of the challenges to becoming a professional sportsman. The second clarification is on the Sports Facilities Master Plan. Apart from constructing and upgrading our current facilities that are operated by the ActiveSG, I wonder if we are also looking into working closely with MOE and its schools to offer more of their sporting facilities to the community. Take, for example, in Woodgrove where Innova Primary, has come forward to share with our Woodgrove CSC on a weekly basis its sports hall every Friday evening to organise badminton sessions for the community.”
“This year, a series of mental wellness-related workshops has been planned to take place in Woodgrove, from training our grassroots leaders with skills, such as active listening and psychological first aid to equipping families with better awareness on youths and seniors-related mental health issues. I look forward to MCCY's responses. Youth Mentoring”
“Mr Chairman, our youths are a key and valuable segment of our society. Their views, feedback and ideas must be heard, not least because they often inject fresh perspectives and introduce new dimensions to thought processes. Therefore, I would like to ask how has MCCY been encouraging and supporting our youths to experiment and transform their ideas into tangible actions and to fruition? How else and how better can MCCY provide their encouragement and support? The Youth Action Challenge started in 2019 as a platform for youths to champion ground-up initiatives and to partner the Government, businesses and community to realise their ideas. As it approaches its five-year mark, are there any updates that MCCY can share on the outcomes achieved and the number of projects implemented from the Challenge thus far? Enhancing Mental Well-being Support Mental well-being continues to be an important issue in the minds of Singaporeans, particularly our youths. The SG Mental Well-Being Network was set up in July 2022 to build community and peer support and raise awareness of the importance of mental health and well-being. One key initiative is the Well-Being Circles. Can MCCY provide an update on the Network's progress in meeting its objective and, specifically, the assessed effectiveness of the Well-Being Circles in supporting mental health and mental well-being? How can these initiatives rolled out by MCCY synergise with other ground-up initiatives introduced by local divisions? Take, for example, in our Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC's Woodgrove division, we recognise that it is crucial to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and well-being and establish a strong community support network to encourage those who are in need to seek help.”
“Chairman, I have two clarifications. One is to Senior Minister of State Amy Khor in relation to the climate-friendly vouchers. I understand that she has shared some figures. I would like to find out what are some of the possible reasons for its current low take-up rates and how will the Ministry intend to ensure higher public awareness, moving forward, and, in turn, as a result, higher take-up rate for the enhanced scheme. The second clarification is to Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey, in relation to the Public Toilet Taskforce. I wonder how does that differ from the past campaigns and collaborations, for example, that NEA already had with Public Hygiene Councils? What is the key takeaway from the past collaborations that we really want to implement from this new public toilet taskforce?”
“Mr Chairman, in an islandwide study conducted by SMU last year, more than 66% of 9,411 Singaporeans interviewed were of the view that public toilets in hawker centres and coffee shops either remain as dirty as they were three years ago, or “have become much dirtier”. Additionally, about 60% of the respondents also said that efforts in cleaning up toilets in hawker centres and coffee shops ranged from mostly ineffective to completely ineffective; only 6% of Singaporeans were optimistic about the efficacy of clean toilet campaigns. Why are public toilets in Singapore in such bad condition, or at least perceived to be? Could it be because, one, public toilets are not well designed for robust public use, operations and maintenance? Two, public toilet operators or their contractors are not maintaining toilets to attain and maintain good functional and hygiene standards? Three, users of public toilets lack graciousness in keeping toilets clean? Or four, there is a sense of a lack of ownership among all stakeholders to ensure that toilets are functional, safe and clean in Singapore? Mr Chairman, in the SMU study, in 2023, the top three cleanest public toilets in hawker centres and coffee shops were those located in Marina South, Outram and Boon Lay. Clean public toilets is certainly not a myth. With an ageing population and risks of disease outbreaks in the future, it is crucial for us to ensure that Singapore has clean and hygienic toilets. Thus, I ask: what plans does MSE have to address the issue of dirty toilets in these public spaces? What were the learning points from campaigns that were rolled out in the past? Do the relevant authorities plan to step up monitoring and enforcement to ensure public toilets are well maintained? Elevating Public Cleanliness”
“Mr Chairman, in view of the raised carbon tax and our residents' cost of living concerns, how has MSE been helping households to improve their energy and water usage efficiency in order to enhance their cost savings? How has MSE been working to raise public awareness on tips to conserve these precious resources? How else can MSE incentivise households that keep water and electricity consumption below national average or certain benchmark consumption per pax to encourage conservation of these resources? I hope MSE can share its ongoing and prospective efforts for the points I have raised above. Expanding Climate-friendly Households Programme”
“I thank the Minister on her earlier clarifications to Mr Singh. On the same note in relation to KPIs, I also strongly urge MCI, in terms of the KPI considerations, we should look at several factors, notwithstanding that certain KPIs are unfortunately not met due to the existing circumstances. We should also focus in terms of other priorities, emphasising perhaps on other KPIs' importance in terms of, for example, what the Minister has said on public trust. To me, another very important critical factor to also take into account is branding. For example, brands like The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao – how it relates back to our Singapore's brand and identity, reflecting to the outside world of what is exactly happening in Singapore, inviting for more foreign investors to come to Singapore. These are the good avenues and ways where we want to reach out to the outside world. And that should never be forgotten.”
“Since its inception in 2008, MOLLY mobile library has been travelling around Singapore bringing books, services and programmes to under-served communities which do not have ready access to public libraries. Can MCI update on the outcome achieved thus far and whether there are plans to expand the scope and outreach efforts to better promote reading and lifelong learning in the community at places, such as community clubs, senior activity centres and preschools?”
“Therefore, I implore MCI to spearhead the effort to ensure that in-person alternatives will always be readily available for those who are lost and feel helpless in seeking to embark on their digital journey. Take our typical neighborhood library for instance: seniors would much prefer approaching the librarian or receptionist for assistance, rather than having to resort to a virtual helpdesk. So, I ask, how will the Government ensure that our seniors are equipped with the essential skills to enable them to participate meaningfully in a rapidly transforming digital society? Secondly, how can MCI balance the seemingly competing interests of preserving the human touch versus ensuring that our digitalisation progress is not impeded amidst our increasingly digitalised society, particularly for future Government programmes to be rolled out and engagements with the community? Mobile Library Mr Chairman, every third Saturday of the month, many of my Woodgrove residents enjoy bringing their little ones to our Woodlands Regional Library – where their children aged four to six years partake in a fun-filled afternoon, listening to engaging stories and participating in book-based activities, such as crafts and quizzes. Events like these that are meticulously planned by the National Library Board (NLB) are greatly appreciated and many of my residents have shared their feedback with me that they hope to see more similar events happening in the community, even outside the library. In this regard, I understand that MOLLY, NLB's mobile library services may be able to fulfil such wishes.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] According to last year's Singapore Digital Society's Report, more Singaporeans are using digital skills in their daily lives. Among them, the most significant progress is in the use of mobile applications for payments and internet browsing by the elderly. However, there is still a need for improvement, in understanding and using new technologies. Many elderly residents in Woodgrove have also expressed to me that while they acknowledge the benefits of digital technology in their daily lives, they feel almost powerless to keep up with the rapid developments and transformation of these digital technologies. (In English): Chairman, getting the buy-in of the entire nation to embrace digital transformation is an incredible task. While the advantages of digitalisation are universally recognised, there are some who remain reluctant to adopt it. Having listened to my Woodgrove residents, I gathered that many seniors face difficulties keeping up in the nation's progress towards digitalisation. For most of them, learning with a patient and personal touch is much more preferred and effective. As we continue to introduce new technologies, we must first understand the needs of the end-users and the overall user experience as well as ascertain the most effective modes of imparting the knowledge and skills for operation. But everyone learns in different ways. As a whole-of-society charges towards digitalisation, have we paused to ponder whether we have been sufficiently and adequately inclusive of our seniors and residents with special needs?”
“Mr Chairman, my clarifications concern the Family Justice Reform's MEP component which Minister shared earlier that it will rolled out in stages. In this regard, I wish to find out what will be the Ministry's efforts when the MEP is being rolled out in stages to ensure that there is sufficient awareness on the ground, particularly the litigant-in-person, to make sure that they know where to seek help and what will be the procedures in line.”
“Mr Chairman, I wish to first declare that I am a lawyer and my practice areas include family law. At the Opening of the Legal Year 2013, the hon Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon announced the establishment of the Committee for Family Justice, which was tasked to deliver recommendations on the new framework for the family justice system, including specifically on how distressed families may be better assisted in resolving their disputes. In its report that was prepared following consultations with the public and key stakeholders and released in July 2014, the Committee made several key recommendations – many of which were laudably adopted in the Family Justice Reform Act passed by MinLaw and Ministry of Social Development and Family in May 2023. Amongst other things, the recommendations sought to: one, further improve court proceedings and procedures in the Family Justice Courts; and two, enhance maintenance enforcement processes. Therefore, I seek three clarifications. Firstly, what is the status of the changes to be implemented through the Act? Next, what were the challenges that were faced, along the way, to adopt the recommendations that were made since 10 years ago? Are these challenges still present? Lastly, how is the Ministry strengthening its ongoing efforts to ensure all relevant stakeholders are in sync and collaborating towards adopting and embracing Therapeutic Justice, which aims to help families in distress to heal and move on with their lives?”
“In my view, it is our duty to ensure that Singaporeans are aware and assured that we have been and always will do our best for our society. I look forward to the Government's response to my aforementioned points.”
“Chairman, cost of living remains as a top concern on Singaporeans' minds. Thus, I wish to seek the following clarifications, please. Firstly, has the Committee Against Profiteering found any instances of profiteering, especially in light of the recent GST increments? The Government must continue to safeguard Singaporeans against profiteering. Secondly, and specifically on food affordability, have food prices at dining outlets increased to the extent that Singaporeans have been materially affected from affording this necessity? I am particularly concerned about our seniors' ability to afford and access at least sufficient and adequate nourishment, whether they dine at home or outside. Thirdly, how else would the Government assist Singaporeans with household expenses, such as from water and electricity consumption? This point is raised as an aside to encouraging and incentivising households to minimising consumption levels. Fourthly, will the Government consider providing more support to social enterprises that provide free food to low-income families, especially those living in Housing and Development Board (HDB) rental flats, such as by giving matching grants to social enterprises? The measures under Budget 2024 are commendable and under which everybody will receive a slice of the pie. My concern is a nuanced one. How can we raise greater awareness so that every Singaporean understands the nature and extent of the assistance or relief that they will receive? Simply put, the measures must not only work but also be felt by Singaporeans to be working. Finally, how will MOF track the efficacy of Budget 2024's objectives and assistance to its beneficiaries? Mr Chairperson, we as a House and the Government have always worked to ensure that no one is left behind.”
“Thank you, Chairman. This is in relation to the Government's co-funding scheme for Assisted Conception Procedures (ACP). I can understand what Ministers have shared earlier on the rationale behind why we want to provide the better subsidy schemes for those who are below 40 years old. But through my interactions with several of the residents that have approached me for support and help, I can also understand that, generally, as women, we want to try our best to conceive naturally and without resorting to undergo ACP like IVF, unless circumstances require us to do so. Several of them, due to factors that are beyond their control, have entered marriage at a later stage and have eventually resorted to trying attempts at IVFs but have failed. I do hope that the Government can exercise flexibility in acceding to those appeals for those that have put in the effort and have unfortunately failed two attempts of the IVF trials and, as a result, have sought us to seek support for more additional fundings in order to eventually fulfil their dreams to become a parent.”
“The ability to be present as the main caregiver of their children is one of the main wants of every parent and this, of course, includes daddies. I therefore applaud the Government's willingness to adapt to changing times by increasing paternity leave allowances, yet even that may not be quite enough as companies have been observed to be "rebalancing", by calibrating the number of remote working days allowed. Therefore, I ask: how is the Government looking into other measures such as increasing the number of childcare leave for both mummies and daddies in response, to ensure that both parents are able to witness every important milestone of their children? Besides the struggles of sourcing suitable caregivers for their children, families often also fret over the financial constraints while striving to provide the best for their children. What is the Government doing to provide stronger support for parents in these areas – particularly when cost of living issues continue to have an adverse impact on this group? With regard to the Baby Bonus Scheme, will the quantum of the cash gift be periodically reviewed to be aligned with inflation? And can the Ministry explore widening the list of approved uses for the Child Development Account (CDA) to further assist parents with child-related expenses?”
“Chairman, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The practice of "marrying first and then advancing your career" is not common in today's society. For many young couples, the pressure of raising children is very significant. Therefore, they often hope to strengthen their respective career foundation, has stable financial capabilities before they consider whether or not to welcome a new life. However, by the time they reach that point, it is often too late. When they wish to add more family members, they have already missed the last bus. How should the Government alleviate the pressure on young couples to have more children and assist parents reduce and cope with their expenses and burdens of raising children? How should the Government provide reassurances to Singaporeans, especially those in the lower, middle-income families to ensure that our children have a good starting point, regardless of the family's financial situation, especially in terms of their healthcare and early childhood education. (In English): As the saying goes “it takes a village to raise a child”. Hence, every bit of support – no matter how little – and be it through caregiving or financial assistance, is always a welcome relief to alleviate the stress encountered during parenthood journeys. Not all couples are fortunate in the sense of having able-bodied parents, or being able to afford the cost of hiring a reliable helper to assist in caring for their young children. Based on the concerns that my Woodgrove residents have shared with me, these couples generally face greater concerns about caregiving arrangements – especially in the early stages of their child's life and even more so when they – the parents or their child – fall sick.”
“I applaud our Government for their foresight in focusing on this area, as lack of issues and action will lead to even more widespread problems in Singapore in the future, economically, socially and security-wise. By tackling these issues head on, we will be able to ensure that Singaporeans will be further equipped to weather the storms as one united people. I support this Motion.”
“During a focus group discussion organised by the PAP Women’s Wing last year, the feedback which we gathered from over 60 participants showed a consensus that, apart from having the need to do more to support mothers, more also needs to be done to support new fathers, as they too may be prone to suffering from depression in silence while trying to support their wives through this challenging period. With that said, social stereotypes that push men towards the supposed ideal image of a strong, uncomplaining individual do exist, thus discouraging them from openly sharing emotions and getting support for depression. While that affects the mental well-being of men in general, it is more pronounced for fathers who would have to grapple with even more pressing worries and doubts. Therefore, one way to improve support for our fathers is to reduce the social stigma of men seeking emotional help, whether through friends and family, or via professional counselling services. By reassuring dads that seeking a listening ear is permitted and even encouraged, we can do much to improve their emotional and mental well-being. Another way to reduce the stress of fathers is to work together with corporate entities to introduce new measures that allow them to play the role of caretaker while still maintaining a presence at work. Much has been said in recent years about the benefits of remote working in terms of achieving work-life balance, but it may be worth more of exploring an expanded version of remote working, especially for dads to cope with the arrival of their newborn and further ease the transition from paternity leave to resuming normal duties at work. In recent years, the topic of mental health has increasingly become a serious issue both in Singapore and around the world.”
“Last year, in collaboration with Mumpreneurs Go Places, the PAP Women's Wing Woodgrove branch continued to reach out to our community on mental wellness through a series of workshops, with one session focusing particularly on equipping participants with tips to practise self-care amidst busy schedules between work and family care commitments. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] From pregnancy to the birth of the baby, mothers often spend a lot of effort in caring for the newborn, neglecting that they themselves have also undergone many significant changes both physically and mentally. This often leads to postpartum depression. Research also shows that when mothers suffer from depression, out of every two husbands, one will also suffer from depression. Postpartum depression needs to receive attention and support from society, regardless of gender. If not treated promptly, it will not only have adverse effects on individual health, marriage, family life and career, but also affect the development of the baby. (In English): I am thankful that throughout my two pregnancies, my husband was always by my side, providing both assistance and comfort, which he still does today. We both believe that parenthood is a partnership of equals. Our shared experience has taught me that fathers too deserve recognition and support, and increasingly so as they got more involved in parenting. Similarly, they also deserve the same level of emotional support as they are equally susceptible to the effects of stress and depression from parenting-related causes. I am heartened to know that there are many who share the same opinion.”
“A study by the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies in 2021 revealed that support from peers can help to reduce the risk of mummies developing postpartum depression. As such, besides investing more resources in our healthcare system to improve coverage for mental wellness, I believe that we, as a community, should also band together to do our part towards increasing awareness of postpartum depression and provide a peer support network to ease the anxieties of mothers of newborn babies. In 2021, I chanced upon an article on the Internet about Depressed Cake Shop Singapore and its founders, Debbra Lee and Tracy Heah, where they shared about their respective postpartum depression experience and how they eventually decided to set up a campaign to raise awareness in this aspect through baking or purchasing of grey cakes with a pop of colour, with grey symbolising depression and a spot of colour signifying hope. I subsequently reached out to both of them to explore the possibility of working together to better support fellow mothers out there with their emotional well-being. The three of us hit it off right away from our first meeting and we began discussing ideas to collaborate with the objective of sharing practical tips to restore our mental health and accumulate our mental wealth to Woodgrove residents. In 2022, together with Depressed Cake Shop Singapore and with our community partner, the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH), we organised and invited young parents with their children to attend a cookie decoration session at our Fuchun Communiity Club, in which SAMH shared several signs to identify if one is suffering from depression and the resources available in the community that can be used for support.”
“These are critical initiatives to enable early detection and ensure individualised care can be given at the earliest opportunity to prevent mummies' conditions from worsening. But we will need to ensure that all hospitals in Singapore, public and private, that provide obstetrics and gynaecology services, are uniformly equipped with the relevant capabilities and resources to provide early detection and timely intervention to parents showing signs of requiring psychological support. Just as the monitoring of physical health is paramount for postpartum mums, so, too, should we devote resources to ensure their mental well-being after birth. Under the new national strategy announced last year, I note that more hospitals, polyclinics and GPs will be providing mental health services. In this regard, I hope that MOH will ensure that these services will be provided to new parents facing issues in this area to encourage them to seek help through these various avenues. Since 2019, specialists from KKH have begun to partner and train Punggol Polyclinic nurses, as part of the collaboration between SingHealth Polyclinics and Temasek Foundation to enhance their knowledge on postpartum depression in women. Can we expect to have more polyclinics provide mental health-related services during the regular routine check-ups for the babies? Apart from checking and ensuring that the various milestones of the newborn are met, I propose that these trained doctors and nurses also should take the opportunity to enquire about the parents' psychological states and advise them on the help and support available should they require it.”
“Even so, part of me still finds it difficult to forgive myself for not being able to provide her with the best in those early days, even though I know that I had done my best then. Having gone through some difficult times during my first pregnancy, I can empathise with fellow moms who struggle with the stresses of raising their children. The experience, combined with the knowledge gained over the past few years through my interactions with fellow like-minded mommies, also helped me to prepare myself mentally for the arrival of my second bundle of joy last year, a baby boy. During my confinement following the birth of my second child, I came across news articles about fellow mothers who had died by suicide with their infant children. The stories were tragic, but they also serve as reminders about the importance of recognising every mother's mental well-being during pregnancy and throughout the months after delivery. Between April 2021 and March 2022, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has seen a 47% increase in its patients who screened positive for postpartum depression, compared to the same period the previous year. This result does not come as a surprise to me. I am, therefore, heartened that one of the focus areas of our national mental health strategy pertains to strengthening mental health services for pregnant women. As we look into the well-being of mothers, I hope we may hopefully also be solving a pain point in our national birthrates. Currently, various hospitals in Singapore, such as the National University Hospital (NUH) and KKH, have implemented their own respective measures to identify signs of postpartum depression.”