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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“Mr Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion in recognising, amongst other issues, the importance of mental health and calling for a whole-of-Singapore effort to enhance mental health and well-being. This is aligned with the Government's National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy introduced last year. My speech today will focus on the topic of mental wellness during and after pregnancy. Studies have shown that about one in 10 women experience postnatal depression within the first three months of giving birth, with those who were depressed during pregnancy most likely to be depressed after delivery. I wish to share my personal experience of being in this category when I was expecting my eldest daughter. My daughter was born five years ago, but even today, I can still remember vividly feeling delighted, yet fearful about being a first-time mom. The lack of sleep, coupled with the stress and anxiety of raising a newborn as a rookie mom caused me to be constantly exhausted, both mentally and physically. I was also unable to provide enough for my baby through breastfeeding alone, which intensified my feelings of guilt, sadness and frustration. Looking back, most of the stressors I faced then actually centred around social stigmas and expectations. My own troubles with breastmilk production stemmed from the normalised expectation that all mothers should be able to provide sustenance for their children exclusively by themselves. And like many working mothers, I also wrestled with my priorities of fulfilling my motherly duties while juggling my work obligations as a litigation lawyer, all of which contributed to much worry and stress that consequently sapped my energy. Today, my daughter is an active, healthy and happy child.”
“The objective of the SEPP is not to eliminate the future or decimate the prospect of rehabilitation of any offender. Instead, it seeks to ensure that offenders are not released back into society before they have been sufficiently rehabilitated, which could otherwise jeopardise the future of a potential victim. To this end, I seek the following clarifications from the Minister: Firstly, during the period of continued incarceration, will SEPP inmates undergo specific or specialised rehabilitation programmes? If so, what are those? And if so, whether good performers of such rehabilitation programmes can be allowed an avenue to make representation to seek for Minister’s early consideration for review of his suitability for an early release? Lastly, in respect of sexual offenders who have been released unconditionally or on licence from SEPP, will MHA consider, apart from curfew and/or electronic monitoring, also imposing a condition akin to an automatic Protection Order that prohibits such offenders from coming into any unnecessary contact with their former victims? And where the offender was diagnosed with pedophilic disorder, that he or she should also be prohibited from coming into any unnecessary contact with children? Mr Deputy Speaker, notwithstanding any of my aforementioned clarifications, I support this Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to first declare my occupation as a director of a law corporation and one of the areas of practice which the firm provides is criminal defence. Sir, I rise in support of this Bill. While the Bill seeks to bring about a series of changes, my speech today will focus on clause 304B, which provides for SEPP. At the outset, I acknowledge the Government’s calibrated approach for the SEPP, the applicability of which is scrupulously limited to serious violent and sexual offences specified in the Seventh Schedule. In my view, one of the most severe legal punishments – indefinite detention in prison – is being rightly and proportionately reserved for the most deplorable species of offences. That said, the nuance that bears highlighting is this – it is not necessarily just the intrinsic nature and severity of the Scheduled offences themselves that warrant the infliction of the SEPP, but perhaps more crucially, it is the proclivity of the offenders to re-offend after they have been released. We have read in news reports and judgments of cases, the atrocities committed by some offenders. We surely must have asked ourselves – could this have been prevented, or prevented from happening again? Each victim is one too many; each victim has physical and mental trauma that he or she may never recover from in spite of their best efforts and support from their loved ones. As Minister Shanmugam has said: "the Government’s key duty is to protect the public." It is certainly also a key duty of this House to do the same. Notwithstanding, we must discharge this duty responsibly and proportionately. After all, there is no saint without a past, and no sinner without a future.”
“Singapore is not the only country targeted by the scammers. As technologies progress, countries all around the world are facing the thorny issue of how to fight scams. In October last year, The Straits Times reported that globally, the annual loss due to scams is a staggering $1.4 trillion. In Australia, in 2022, the loss amounted to about S$2.6 billion. Neighbouring countries, like Malaysia, reported in December last year that between January to November, the amount of loss amounted to as high as RM1.3 billion. How do we prevent ourselves from becoming the next target of these scammers? Some seniors have adopted the "see no evil, hear no evil" approach to stay safe by not trying at all. In my opinion, that is certainly not ideal and will cause them to fall behind even more in keeping up with the fast-paced transforming digital society. Today, in countries like China, online purchase and mobile payments have become an integral part of Chinese society, with cash payment becoming quickly a thing of the past. In conclusion, combatting scams require a whole-of-society effort, starting from the public being vigilant and remaining up to date on the types of scams in the wild, assisted by Government-funded information outlets. Meanwhile, corporations such as banks should also work in tandem to enhance digital safety nets. Together, we can work our way towards boosting public confidence, and nurture an inclusive and safe digital society.”
“There are other solutions that may help in terms of safeguarding funds against scams. In November last year, OCBC introduced its anti-scam security feature called OCBC Money Lock, which allows customers to lock away funds in their bank accounts and can only be unlocked after the customer's identity has been verified by the bank. This is a good initiative which I hope MAS can mandate to be rolled out across all of the banks in Singapore and to encourage sign-ups by our seniors. In addition, MAS can also consider working with banks and insurance companies to introduce an insurance scheme akin to the concept of Deposit Insurance Scheme, which anyone with a bank account can purchase to protect their monies in the event that they fall prey to an online scam. Concurrently, we should also step-up collaborations between financial institutions and our community. Upskilling workshops, such as OCBC's Digital Silvers programme, and the digital literacy partnership by DBS Foundation and IMDA, are prime examples of such initiatives. If deployed in conjunction with the previously mentioned measures, the banks can also make use of these workshop as opportunities to promote and encourage seniors to sign up for the "money-lock" features as well as enrolling for the anti-scam insurance to protect funds in their bank accounts. I hope that such workshops can be made easily available, just like those run by the SDOs, and I will explore how I can best help my Woodgrove residents benefit from them. In conclusion, in Mandarin, please, Mr Speaker. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In recent years, scams continue to evolve, especially online scams. The ever-changing scam methods have made many Singaporeans, especially the seniors, feel very anxious and helpless.”
“Meanwhile, in a recent news article where another bank was interviewed after one of its customers lost his entire life savings due to another malware scam, the bank likewise took a similar position that their customers "remain the singular most effective defence and strongly urged them to exercise vigilance and caution in this ever-evolving threat landscape." I disagree with the position taken by the banks in both cases, in that they conveniently expected their individual customers to fend for themselves. By taking such an approach, it could deter more from becoming active participants in our digital society and cause more to lose faith in our banks' credibility. It is the joint responsibility of all stakeholders to commit towards adopting a whole-of-nation approach to sustain trust by building an inclusive and safe digital society. Therefore, the banks could and should do more to contribute, such as adopting better anti-phishing solutions, improving authenticity verifications, and being extra vigilant towards abnormal transactions to keep accounts secure and prevent the likelihood of scams. The children of the elderly couple I spoke about earlier who had lost their entire life savings due to an impersonation scam, have shared with me that banks could have done more to prevent these unauthorised transactions from taking place. Amongst other efforts, the banks ought to have paid more attention to each customer's regular banking patterns. In their parents' case, the couple's bank account had zero withdrawal activity for years until the scammers wiped out over half a million dollars of their savings through two large transactions. The bank should have made calls to them to seek confirmation on the abnormal request before releasing the funds.”
“Just like what Dr Tan Wu Meng had shared earlier, the approach ought to be consumer protection-centric. Just two days ago, I attended to one of my Woodgrove residents, Mr Yu, during our weekly Meet-the-People Session, where he shared about his unpleasant experience with his bank since June last year. Back then, Mr Yu was making an online hotel booking when he fell prey to a malware by entering his OTP on a bogus website. He promptly contacted the bank's customer service upon discovering several unauthorised transactions amounting to over $6,000 charged to his credit card. But despite his request to terminate them immediately, Mr Yu was advised by the bank's customer service officer that because the monies have yet to be received by the scammer, he would have to wait until he received his next monthly statement of account as proof before raising a dispute on the fraudulent credit card transactions. Mr Yu took this officer's advice. Almost six months later, the bank replied after completing their investigations to inform him that he is expected to bear 50% of the unauthorised transacted sum. To add insult to injury, the bank in their written response reminded him "to always take care of your credentials and refer to the bank's website for more information about how to protect from scams." It is, therefore, understandable that Mr Yu remains aggrieved and perplexed as to why the bank had refused his request to terminate these fraudulent transactions in time. What else could he have done or done better? What should others who find themselves in similar situations do?”
“Notwithstanding that the SG Digital Community Hub at our Fuchun Community Centre had to be closed due to the Community Centre's ongoing major upgrading works, the SDOs continue to work closely with our grassroots organisation to operate roving counters at various Woodgrove locations to raise awareness and motivate our residents to adopt digital technologies and enhance their digital skills. Despite these efforts, however, many of our seniors in Woodgrove have shared with me that, notwithstanding that they are now equipped with smart phones, they are still apprehensive about exploring and navigating the digital world on their own, even though they are now well capable of using mobile apps like Facebook and WhatsApp to stay in touch with their family and friends. This does not come as a surprise to me, as they are constantly made aware of heart-wrenching stories from fellow Singaporeans who have suffered great financial loss after falling prey to online scams. A sobering example comes from one of my Woodgrove residents in his late 60s, who had lost close to $800,000 of his and his wife's life savings due to an impersonation scam. The amount was meant to enable the couple to go on their Haj pilgrimage and to see them through their remaining years after retirement. With news and anecdotes of scams like these being reported on an almost daily basis, how do we ensure that Singaporeans, especially our seniors, attain sufficient trust in the safety of the various digital platforms to begin to use them confidently, yet remain vigilant against the ever-evolving risks? I believe that large organisations, such as banks and e-commerce platforms, will need to do more to prevent losses from online scams and bear their consequences.”
“Mr Speaker, in order to build an inclusive and safe digital society, the 3Ps must each play their part. And as what Assoc Prof Razwana has just shared with us earlier, it is with mutual trust and shared responsibility, with corporations and community partners continuing to equip users with the right skillsets to function in this rapidly-transforming digital society or providing accessibility options for those who are unable to do so, while helping to deter online threats, such as scams, and educating the public about them at the same time. I am pleased to note that in the recent years, several of our Woodgrove community partners are already making efforts to make this digital society more accessible for all in our community. One good example can be found in the POSB Woodlands West branch, situated in Woodgrove's Fuchun Neighbourhood Centre. After its renovation, the branch now exclusively offers self-service banking options that are available 24/7, with branch staff continuing to be present during the bank's usual operating hours to guide customers, especially our seniors, on how to access their desired services with the new teller machines. The branch also features a community space specially for conducting talks and seminars in various languages that aim to educate residents further regarding digital banking and e-payment services. I must also register my appreciation for the Singapore Digital Office (SDO)'s Digital Ambassadors who, in 2023, have supported a total of 12 senior-centric community events in Woodgrove, such as our Seniors' Carnival and digital upskilling workshops.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his response. I have one clarification. I understand that inspections are carried out every two years. Is there a rationale behind why is it two years? In view of this Cordlife incident, can we also explore to see if there are any possibilities of having it on an annual basis instead, to prevent the recurrence of this unfortunate incident?”
“I thank the Minister for her response to my Parliamentary Question. I have a few supplementary questions in relation to that. Firstly, in relation to the PDPC's investigation findings, do we have an estimated timeline as to when that will be completed and whether that would be subsequently published to the public for information? Secondly, subsequent to the reporting by MBS to the PDPC, whether the PDPC has received any reports from members who are affected, especially, and how this particular incident has affected these members and whether any of them has been further assisted since then? Thirdly, this is in relation to whether the Ministry or the PDPC would consider it necessary to impose further specific or enhancement of obligations to these organisations that possesses large volumes of personal data, for example, through licensing conditions, where applicable?”
“Thank you, Speaker. I have three supplementary questions for this question. Firstly, can the Senior Minister of State share on a per user basis, what would be the cost involved if the subscriptions were kept, as opposed to how much it cost before the cost increases? The second supplementary question is in relation to alternative platforms for the users, how do they measure up against the current Udemy Business platform? And finally, how will the Ministry or, specifically, NLB assist members of the public with the transitions from the current platform to its replacements, especially when it comes to addressing their needs on work or studies?”
“In a recent focused group discussion which I co-organised in my capacity as the Head of Policy for PAP Women’s Wing, one resounding feedback gathered from over 70 participants was a consensus call for the introduction of family care leave, in order to provide some flexibility for Singaporeans to deal with various family issues that may crop up from time to time. These issues would, of course, vary from household to household, for example, managing the effects of post-partum depression for mummies; accompanying toddlers for speech therapy sessions; or attending to the medical needs of ageing parents or relatives and so on. The fifth point and my final clarification pertains to employers’ buy-in. While we strive to achieve conditions that will better support Singaporeans to embrace families, I am also mindful that we must take care to ensure that employers’ interests are not forsaken as this will ultimately affect the livelihood of the employees. To this end, can MSF share, based on the feedback that they have gathered from its various engagements conducted with employers, what are some of the issues that employers have been facing, or expect to face in this regard and whether such concerns were shared with their employees so as to arrive at a win-win outcome? Mr Speaker, it is my belief that these suggestions, if implemented with the endorsement of employers, will address the evolving needs of every Singaporean while they play their part to support their families, further reinforcing the notion that Singapore is Made For Families. In conclusion, notwithstanding the clarifications and suggestions I have raised earlier, I stand in support of this amendment Bill.”
“For example, instead of a continuous period of no earlier than 28 days from the date of confinement, could expectant mothers be given the aggregate 28 days of Government-paid maternity leave that may be consumed in their final trimester? Or while all medical appointments are important and necessary, there are some which are straightforward and which will not take the full working day. For situations, such as this, could the Bill perhaps provide for the flexibility of the "time-off" and/or half-day consumption of such leave days? My third point pertains to the readjustment of Child Development Account restrictions to include other child-related expenses. When I attended Woodgrove’s Bonding with your Child Day just yesterday alongside 80 of our Woodgrove residents with young children at an indoor activity playground theme park, I took the opportunity to gather more feedback about the challenges faced by our young parents. One common reply was the concern over rising inflation and increased cost of living. They shared that while they appreciate our local community’s effort in cushioning such impacts, they also hope that more flexibility can be exercised on how monies in the Child Development Account (CDA) can be utilised. For example, monies in their child’s CDA can be utilised to pay for preschool fees, but not the optional extracurricular activities organised by the preschools. Although many parents still see the need to enrol their kids for these optional activities to prevent them from "losing out", doing so would require the parents to pay out of their own pocket an amount ranging from a few hundred to several thousands of dollars per month as they are not allowed to tap on their CDA funds. Fourth point is in relation to the introduction of family care leave.”
“Through my many interactions with the young parents that I have met in Woodgrove during our Embracing Parenthood-themed community engagements as well as during my house visits, I have realised that there is no-one-size-fits-all solution for parental leave arrangements. Every family has its own unique set of circumstances and preferences. Some mummies may prefer to have their husband to play a more supportive and active role after childbirth as they look forward to resuming work sooner, while others would much prefer their maternity leave to be extended further so that they can fully concentrate on their new-found state of motherhood, nursing their children and being present for significant milestones before returning to work. My second point pertains to clarifications on the period of a female employee commencing her Government-paid maternity leave. Under the Bill, female employees may only commence their maternity leave no earlier than 28 days before childbirth. However, we have seen cases where expectant mothers have had to be warded for more than 28 days from their estimated or actual delivery date or were intermittently required to go on medical leave for treatment even before their child was delivered due to pregnancy complications. In such situations, the working mothers had to rely on their own paid or unpaid medical leave as they were still considered ineligible for Government-paid maternity leave. Mr Speaker, the current debate presents an opportunity for us to further improve the support measures given to aspiring and current parents. On this note, I would like to ask whether MSF would consider additional amendments that will allow some flexibility on the commencement date of the maternity leave for those medically certified cases.”
“Many more fathers have also been seen doing so, signifying a change in public attitude towards the sharing of parental responsibilities. Notwithstanding, the rebalancing exercise sought to be undertaken by this Bill should also be accompanied by a re-examination of the support given by the state in order to ensure that it remains fair to our children, mothers, fathers and, not to forget, the employers. I, therefore, applaud the additional enhancements which will be introduced through this amendment Bill, such as the increment of Government-paid paternity leave and other benefits. Nevertheless, I wish to take this opportunity to seek several clarifications and make several suggestions. Firstly, providing parents with the flexibility to decide how to share their parental leave. This was one of the recommendations set out in our Women’s Development recommendation paper. Currently, a working mother can share up to four weeks of her 16-week maternity leave with her husband. With the increment of the Government-paid paternity leave or benefit from two to four weeks, I wish to take this opportunity to seek clarifications if couples will still be able to enjoy this flexibility of enabling the working mother to apportion up to four weeks of her maternity leave with her husband, such that her husband can have up to two months of paternity leave to support his wife and their new-born child. In relation to this, I would further urge the Government to consider providing full flexibility to all couples to decide how they wish to share their maternity and paternity leave between themselves.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill which aims to enhance support for aspiring as well as existing parents with young children to better manage their work and family commitments, as our nation moves towards building a society that is Made for Families. In July 2021, the PAP Women’s Wing and Young PAP jointly presented a paper on women’s development. Titled "Take Action for Women in Singapore", it was drafted based on our engagements with over 1,500 people comprising different age groups and backgrounds who were surveyed on issues faced by women in schools, workplaces and home. One recommendation which I resonate with – and more particularly so currently as an expectant working mother in my third trimester – and of which I have been advocating for during the White Paper debate on Singapore Women’s Development in April last year, is to further encourage equal sharing of childcare responsibilities amongst mothers and fathers – something that we have aimed to achieve since as early as 1961 when the Women’s Charter was first enacted. Section 46 of the Act specifically sets out that "upon the solemnisation of marriage, the husband and the wife shall mutually bound to cooperate with each other… in caring and providing for the children" and "the husband and wife shall have equal rights in the running of the matrimonial household." Increasingly so, fathers are playing a more active and significant role in caring for their children, from bringing their kids for medical appointments to walking them to and back from school. My Woodgrove residents have often shared with me that the role a father plays has been expanding and this is keenly felt within each family.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I must first declare that I am also a parent of a preschool-going toddler. I have two supplementary questions for the Minister of State. The first pertains to ECDA's reduction of Kinderland's licence tenure of up to six months and I understand that ECDA will not hesitate to not renew the licence if the centre fails to demonstrate significant improvements. Assuming in the event the licence is not renewed, I understand that the burden will be on the preschool to facilitate and make arrangements for parents to enrol their children in alternate centres. Under such circumstances, I believe that the relationship would have really soured and there will be a lot of mistrust between the centre operators and the parents. I, therefore, hope that ECDA will, under such circumstances, intervene and assist the many helpless parents. My second supplementary question is in relation to the recent announcements of the mandatory CCTV installations. Following the announcements, some parents still do raise their concerns and share with me that there may be possibilities where the CCTV footages may be tampered with prior to the review of the parents of the affected children, or that there will be situations where the alleged child mismanagement incident actually took place at a blind spot or areas that are not captured by the CCTV. How would ECDA ensure that such parents' concerns are properly addressed?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. This question is in relation to Minister Chan's earlier comment in relation to CPIB being functionally independent. My clarification is, what oversight is exercised over the CPIB and whether the CPIB's investigation methods are being audited on a regular basis to ensure impartiality and parity of treatments, regardless of the identity of the subject of their investigations?”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I have just one supplementary question. Since the revelation of this incident, is MCI keeping track of whether the international standing and the local public's confidence in SMT's products have dipped subsequent to the announcements? And as what the Minister has shared earlier in response to Member Ang Wei Neng, are we seeing the trend of a drop in terms of the reach of their contents and their engagements with the general public at large as well?”
“I thank the Minister of State for her response. I just have one clarification in relation to section 63B of the new Bill which aims to protect the survivor's identity. So, I understand that this is purely in relation to protection of the identity of the survivors, but not the rest of the family members or the perpetrators. Since one of the objectives of the Bill is to rehabilitate the perpetrators to restore broken relationships, can I clarify if actually the provisions can also extend to providing the protections to the perpetrators in certain circumstances? Take, for example, in situations where the matter was referred to Court by the protector without the survivor's consent and in those situations also where the perpetrators are actually suffering from psychiatric conditions that have caused the commissions of violence.”
“Notwithstanding the clarifications and suggestions I have raised earlier, I stand in support of this reform Bill.”
“For example, it forces the perpetrator to move out of the matrimonial home, with no alternate accommodations. While I know that MSF provides shelters for victims of family violence, would assistance be also rendered to perpetrators in cases where the Court has imposed such restraining orders as well? My third point, the prevention of the abuse of the system. While I am supportive of this new system, how can we ensure that it will not be abused by estranged spouses who are seeking to deprive the other of access to their children while they are in the midst of or in the aftermath of a bitter divorce proceeding? It is not too far-fetched to assume that parties with acrimonious marriages may take the opportunity to cause difficulties or disrupt plans if given the ability to do so. In order to ensure that the system remains fair and partial, we will need to ensure that it cannot be manipulated in such a way that spouses can use it as a form of revenge. In conclusion, Mdm Deputy Speaker, family violence of any form, be in physical, psychological or emotional, should not be condoned. To those victims out there who are still suffering in silence, hoping that their situation will eventually improve for the better, I urge you to come forward and seek help. To those who think that by obtaining a PPO, it will increase your chance to obtain sole custody, care and control rights of your children, I urge you to think twice. Avenues to seek help for family protection under the Women's Charter should be seen as a shield and not as a sword. Let us all continue to work together towards preserving the spirit of therapeutic justice, to habilitate and restore broken relationships amongst family members, in the best interests and welfare of our children.”
“I am heartened by this ongoing collaborative effort to reach out to our community at large and applaud those additional measures which will be introduced through this amendment Bill. However, I would also like to take this opportunity to seek some clarifications. Firstly, enhancing protections for those who are unable to apply for a personal protection order (PPO) on their own. Under the new amendment, for victims reluctant to report their assailants, the Bill allows the Director-General of Social Welfare to appoint protectors to apply for the necessary PPOs on their behalf as well as to seek the appropriate orders as the protector deems fit to best protect the victim from further harm. In this regard, I wish to inquire whether such empowerment also applies to victims who are willing but unable to apply due to factors such as age – those that are below 18 – or mental incapacity. Take, for example, a 16-year-old teenage girl who has been exposed to domestic violence alongside her mother. In an attempt to keep the family intact, the mother refuses to apply for a PPO for herself and her daughter against the father. For cases such as this, to whom can this 16-year-old seek help from if she has no other family members to rely on? Can a protector be activated in such an instance? My second point, the workability of certain court orders imposed against the accused perpetrators. Under the new regime, the Court is given additional powers to issue orders such as domestic exclusion – a Stay Away or No Contact order. In typical situations, however, where a husband and wife with limited income are staying under the same roof, imposing such orders may seem either impractical or inconvenient to one party.”
“More community legal clinics have been set up at places, such as Community Centres across the heartlands and neighbourhoods. Since the COVID-19 period, Pro Bono SG has also begun to offer virtual legal consultations for the convenience of residents who may, due to family circumstances, be unable to attend the legal clinic session in person. In our Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, in conjunction with the Law Awareness Weeks@CDC last year, our M3 volunteers organised a physical law awareness talk at Woodgrove's Fuchun CC, where we invited lawyers and senior social workers from PAVE to share in both Malay and English languages, about what constitutes family violence, what are the types of assistance and support available to counter domestic violence. At MSF's front, just as what Minister of State Sun shared earlier, we have also seen the establishment of the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) and online channels, as well as the setting up of more Family Service Centres and Protection Specialist Centres that encourage victims of family violence to not suffer in silence and to take action in putting things to an end. We have also seen more collaborations between the Ministry and the community to raise more awareness in this aspect. One example is our Woodgrove Division's collaboration with the Family Justice Courts last August on the Family Justice @ Heartlands series where several expert panelists, including the Registrar of the Family Justice Courts, a representative from the Rehabilitation and Protection Group from MSF and esteemed lawyers, were invited to come together to share their insights on the holistic support available on protection related matters.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I would first like to declare that I am a practising lawyer and the Chairperson of the Pro Bono SG's Community Legal Clinics' Committee as well as a member of the Law Society's Family Law Practice Committee. Madam, I speak in support of this amendment Bill which aims to better protect against family violence. In my years volunteering in the community legal clinics and during weekly Meet-the-People Session prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, I have come across several such cases where spouses live in constant fear of their other half, while continuing to stay together with no way out of their predicament. I remember vividly a case which I attended to almost a decade ago when I was a newly called junior lawyer, where a foreign spouse visited the community legal clinic, crying. She shared with me that she had been subjected to her husband's verbal and physical abuse for years. At first, she decided to tolerate the mistreating for the sake of their young children and due to her worry of her husband cancelling the sponsorship for her permanent residency (PR) status to remain in Singapore. However, her husband's treatment towards her continued to worsen, to the extent that he forbade her to step out of the house and would lock her and her children indoors whenever he headed out to work his night shifts. On that particular night when she came to see me, she managed to sneak out of the house and came to my legal clinic to seek advice on divorce, as her mother-in-law, who had a spare key, had come to the flat to visit the grandchildren. In recent years, there have been increased efforts on the ground to raise awareness on the personal protection order (PPO).”
“I thank Minister Indranee for the response. Many of my Woodgrove residents are very happy and look forward to the redevelopment of the Kranji Turf Club into more housing and recreational facilities, especially for the young couples. But at the same time, some have given me feedback that they are also rather concerned in terms of the traffic congestion situation that is already happening around that area because of our close proximity to the Checkpoint and also to the various highways. I am just wondering, for the purposes of this redevelopment, would we be working very closely with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to ensure that we will look into the additional populations that are coming in, at the same time, addressing the concerns of the traffic congestion there? The second supplementary question that I have is that many of my residents have shared with me that they appreciate the many fond memories that they have seen in the culture and events that have happened at STC. So, I am hoping that for the purposes of this redevelopment, when we establish our distinct identity, can we also look at how we can preserve many of these fond memories, engage the residents around the area to incorporate them into the housing, so that we can allow the future generations to still have some memories in relation to STC?”
“Thank you, Sir. I have two supplementary questions in relation to the OneService app. The first is, what is the current subscription rate for the OneService app? The second one is, apart from reporting a municipal issue, which my Parliamentary colleague has raised earlier, the OneService app provides many other useful services, such as rendering help to your neighbours and also in terms of finding out which are the nearest useful facilities near you. So, I wish to ask are there any plans to increase awareness and the take-up rates and whether more such useful services will be included in the app in due course?”
“Thank you, Madam. And I thank the Minister for his reply. I have one supplementary question and one suggestion. The supplementary question is in relation to whether the Ministry has been tracking the redemption rates of the concessions, our monthly passes and the PTVs respectively? Are we beginning to see an uptick trend in terms of these applications and approvals, from pre-COVID-19 to post-COVID-19 period? And the other point, in relation to the suggestion to increase awareness and provide more help, is whether we can explore to train the relevant staff at the respective train stations, where members of the public or commuters applying for the concession passes can also enquire about the availability and application of the PTVs?”
“(In English): In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, notwithstanding the clarifications and suggestions I have raised earlier, I stand in support of this Reform Bill. Strengthening Family Therapeutic Justice presents us with an opportunity to create a more compassionate and effective family law system. By embracing this approach, we can reduce the acrimony, ensure fairer outcomes and prioritise the best interests of our children. Let us all work together towards a future where families can navigate the challenges of separation with dignity, empathy and the welfare of our children at the forefront.”
“In cases involving children, it should be made mandatory under the Court’s Practice Direction for parties to exchange supporting documents at the outset, which would typically only be exchanged either during the mediation or at the ancillary stage. Additionally, settlement proposals should thereafter be exchanged. If the matter still cannot be settled and has to proceed under the ordinary route, the docketed judge should promptly refer the matter for mediation, with the aim of converting parties to adopt a TJ mindset and work towards a global settlement. Additionally, MSF or the Court should arrange at the earliest opportunity for the children to undergo counselling to better understand and minimise the trauma caused to the young and innocent as a result of their parents’ divorce. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, "An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind." The dissolution of a marriage and parting ways with your spouse need not and should not be acrimonious. It is my sincere hope that this approach can be achieved in all cases, particularly those involving children, once the Bill has been passed and implemented. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Family Justice Reform Bill, when it comes into effect, will give the presiding judge more control. Although it is difficult to judge people's family affairs, I am confident that MinLaw and MSF and the Family Justice Court will assure the public how these rights can further reduce unnecessary legal proceedings, alleviate the mental and financial stress faced by the parties in divorce proceedings, improve broken family relationships due to divorce, and minimise the intentional or unintentional psychological harm done to the children by either party during this period.”
“Secondly, there must be an emphasis on training and consistency in the management of cases across all judges, counsellors, lawyers and even the upcoming MEOs. Such training should not take place separately. Currently, the family judges undergo specialist curriculum training in multidisciplinary topics, whereas the family lawyers may opt to attend the Family Therapeutic Justice Certification Programme, and counsellors attend family counselling certification programmes respectively. Training for all of these relevant family justice community personnel should be carried out together, where all can partake in various role-play scenarios and have a better understanding of one another’s positions by putting themselves in one another’s shoes and explore how they can better work together to resolve those supposed acrimonious issues. Hopefully, these changes will gradually help to create an environment where parties involved are more inclined to consider and accept the TJ outcomes. One of the proposed changes under this Family Justice Reform Bill pertains to enhancing a judge-led approach. In this regard, I wish to seek clarification on whether this would mean a docket system where a specific judge is assigned to a case right from the beginning when a divorce is commenced under the ordinary route to oversee the case through to its conclusion. To better promote efficiency in Court proceedings, being another objective which this Reform Bill aims to achieve, I would urge all parties involved, including the judge, lawyers and the parties in action to actively work towards reaching a global settlement.”
“Since then, the Courts and the family practice community have been co-creating a renewed vision of family justice informed by the TJ principles. However, to date, my observation is that the relevant stakeholders still have different interpretations on how a TJ approach ought to be adopted during the Court proceedings. Moreover, some may still be resistant to buy in to this concept. In order for this vision to come into fruition, it requires the whole ecosystem to embrace the concept, including the Courts, lawyers, counsellors and the parties involved. Together, we must work towards a common defined goal that the resolution of family disputes need not be adversarial but should rather be focused on solutions, such as determining what outcome would be the most reasonable and practical in the best interest of the children after their parents have separated. To achieve this, both the "hardware" and "heartware" changes are necessary. Firstly, there should be an increase in manpower and resources at the Family Justice Courts. This will ensure that the Courts are adequately equipped to handle cases in a timely and efficient manner. Take the incoming Maintenance Enforcement Officers (MEOs), for example. How many of these MEOs will the Courts be expecting for the Ministry to recruit in order to cope with the high volume of maintenance summons applications? Moreover, it seems to me that the workload and job scope of MEOs are expected to be heavy, having the need to deal with not just the parties involved but also third parties like the Government agencies and financial institutions to obtain information on parties’ financial situations and, thereafter, conducting conciliation sessions with parties and reporting these developments to the Court.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I would, first, like to declare that I am a practising lawyer and the Chairperson of the Pro Bono SG’s Community Legal Clinics’ Committee as well as a member of the Law Society’s Family Law Practice Committee. Mr Deputy Speaker, I speak in support of the Family Justice Reform Bill which aims to strengthen Family Therapeutic Justice. As shared during my speech last year during the debate on the Women’s Charter (Amendment) Bill, divorce is one of the most stressful events in one’s life, according to the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, second only to the death of a loved one. This result does not come as a surprise due to the fear of navigating through many uncertainties. As a result, matters relating to divorce and subsequent related enforcement or variation applications remain as one of the most common topics enquired by applicants for preliminary legal advice at various community legal clinics run across Singapore. During the course of my legal practice, I have represented clients in matrimonial disputes with a view to resolving matters through what is now commonly known by many as the “Therapeutic Justice” or TJ approach. Many a time, clients and fellow members of the bar have asked, "What exactly is TJ?" To me, in essence, TJ revolves around reducing acrimony in family proceedings, ensuring outcomes are deemed as practical and acceptable to parties involved without undue delays, complexity and unnecessary escalation of costs. Over the years, there have been ongoing discussions about transitioning family law proceedings towards such less adversarial TJ approach, just as what the hon Presiding Judge of the Family Justice Courts, Justice Debbie Ong, had shared in the Family Justice Work Plan in 2020.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I have two clarifications. One is in relation to the COE, whether the Ministry has conducted any public surveys to better understand and discover what are the factors that would persuade more private vehicle owners to switch to public transport. Another one is in an effort to reduce carbon footprint, what is the ratio of the single- to double-decker buses currently in service and whether LTA has plans to move towards 100% double-decker buses to maximise ridership capacity and, thereby, an effort to reduce the carbon footprint?”
“(In English): In closing, Mr Speaker, I wish to quote an abstract of a speech by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at one of the National Day Celebration Dinners which he attended in 2009. "We have done well for the last 50 years since 1959. We overcame many difficulties in the early years from 1961 to 1965. After we achieved the steady growth in the mid-1970s, we met setbacks. We overcame them because, together as a people, we faced our difficulties squarely and worked together to resolve them. Had we evaded the problems, hoping that they would go away, we would have failed. Singapore is likely to do well in the next five to 10 years. We can reach a new level of development, but difficulties will crop up and we must always face them squarely, work together and resolve them." Fast forward to today, nearly 14 years since the late Minister Mentor made his speech, we went through his departure, the COVID-19 pandemic and many economic and geopolitical uncertainties, but I am glad and heartened that we have overcome these challenges and will continue to overcome future challenges with the leadership of the People's Action Party (PAP) Government who do not evade problems ahead but face them squarely, working hand in hand with fellow Singaporeans to resolve them. Mr Speaker, notwithstanding the suggestions that I have made earlier in my speech, I support Mdm President's Address.”
“Aligned with what Minister Masagos has shared yesterday, that there is a need to ensure that our social services are comprehensive, convenient and coordinated so that families can get the help they need quickly and easily, to avoid going through such unnecessary hassle, I humbly suggest that the Government consider reviewing the Mental Capacity Act and recommend adjustments such that in the event where no LPA has been made, a certain category of the immediate next-of-kin can assume such responsibility to be the default deputy, upon proof to the OPG that the patient is now mentally incapacitated. This category can be aligned to what is set out in the Intestate Succession Act, where in the event that the patient is married, his or her spouse may be deemed to have the first of right to be the applicant to apply to become the deputy. In the event the patient is still a bachelor when he becomes incapacitated, then either or both of his parents may be deemed to have the first of right to be his or her joint deputies unless either renounces his or her rights. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As our population ages, to ensure that Singaporeans and their offspring have a peace of mind, the Government should not only educate Singaporeans about the benefits of estate planning but also delve deeper into exploring ways to assist Singaporeans in the event of unforeseen personal circumstances, for example, when a spouse suddenly suffers a stroke and is bedridden or when the sole breadwinner of the family passes away suddenly. We have to find ways to lighten their burdens and worries, especially when they have to deal with onerous legal procedures.”
“As such, I think that perhaps the real way to resolve the problem that the seniors and their families may face subsequently, is not to just encourage them to do an LPA now, but to look at how their immediate next-of-kin can assume the responsibility and power to manage their affairs more quickly, without the need to go through a stringent deputyship Court application, should the day come when one becomes mentally incapacitated before an LPA has been made. Currently, if a person becomes mentally incapacitated without making a prior LPA nomination, his immediate family members will have to apply to the Family Justice Court (FJC) to be legally appointed as deputy of the incapacitated patient. Notwithstanding, while the FJC has now offered a simplified deputyship application, the process is still viewed as cumbersome and costly. A simplified process still takes at least four to six weeks or so to complete and the time frame may be prolonged if the case gets more complex, where the Court will prompt the intended deputy to retrieve for more information. Moreover, consent of immediate family members and relevant persons will need to be sought. In such instances, these requirements often cause more dispute among family members. Siblings or distant relatives of the bedridden patient may feel that the applicants, such as the spouse of the patient, should not be the appointed deputy. This cumbersome procedure may not eventually even lead to a desired outcome, as sometimes, the patient might have passed away halfway through the application.”
“And more recently, to appeal to the general public in ensuring that legal instruments, such as LPA, remains affordable for all, the OPG has yet again extended its $75 application fee waiver to 31 March 2026 for Singaporeans who register for LPA Form One. This is, in fact, the fifth extension since its first extension in 2016, as an effort to encourage more Singaporeans to plan ahead and apply for an LPA. But despite these efforts, the take-up rates of Singaporeans making comprehensive estate planning remain less than the majority. I had the opportunity to speak to several seniors during one of the recent law awareness talks organised by our Woodgrove PAP Branch, where our young PAP volunteers who are legally trained, took the opportunity to explain the importance of doing an LPA and walk residents through the process of registering for it. One shared with me that she can understand the importance of doing an LPA, but she hoped that she can sit on this issue for as long as possible, and that "touch wood", she will never need to rely on it. Another couple whom I have spoken to shared that they will not want to trouble their working children to sign the papers as they are all very busy. While I respect their opinions on the matter, it may be that they are simply kicking the can down the road. Just as what Minister Masagos has shared in his speech yesterday, I concurred that Government policies should be deemed as enablers. As policymakers, there is a need for us to be proactive because we know we need to identify issues early before they snowball into larger issues for Singaporeans in need.”
“This entails the making of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) nomination to appoint your desired donee, so that: one, he or she can manage your assets, welfare and affairs, should you become mentally incapacitated one day; two, making of CPF nominations, to make sure that your desired beneficiaries need not wait too long to receive the financial aid which you have left behind through your CPF savings; and thirdly, making of wills, to ensure that your final wishes pertaining to your legacy are respected. Comprehensive estate planning brings about benefits, not just for your own personal interests, but more particularly, for your loved ones as well, in terms of convenience and saving in costs and time. Proper planning will eliminate the need to deal with tedious paperwork, while grieving over the sudden unfortunate loss of a loved one at the same time. Over the years, the Government has worked with relevant agencies and community partners, stepping up its efforts to increase Singaporeans' awareness in this aspect. For almost a decade, Community Development Councils (CDCs) have been partnering with law society's Pro Bono SG to conduct law awareness weeks to educate residents on basic legal knowledge through legal talks conducted across the five districts at various community centres (CCs) and residents' committee centres (RCs). The talks tailored for those who are not legally trained, are easily digestible and ensure that attendees are equipped with basic legal knowledge, which will come in useful in times of need. In recent years, we have also seen agencies, such as the CPF Board and the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), who have embraced digitalisation, streamlining the e-filing process of registering a CPF nomination and LPA respectively.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise to thank Mdm President and speak in support of Her Excellency's Address. Before commencing my speech in proper, I would first like to declare that I am a practising lawyer. Mr Speaker, I concur with Her Excellency that one of the values that shape the Government's agenda is to look into ensuring that in every stage of life, Singaporeans can better cope with uncertainties and look forward with confidence. The COVID-19 period has taught us that just as businesses must have the business continuity plans, families should create their emergency preparedness plans to deal with unforeseen circumstances, such as losing a financial pillar in the family due to sudden death or terminal illness. But one group which we should pay particular attention to in this aspect is our seniors. As shared recently by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the book launch of "Singapore Ageing: Some Issues and Challenges Ahead", our Singapore population is not just ageing, but ageing rapidly. By 2030, almost one in four Singaporeans will be over 65. Apart from investing in the appropriate infrastructures in public housing and healthcare, I have shared on several occasions with this House that in my opinion, helping Singaporeans enjoy their golden years with greater peace of mind begins with comprehensive estate planning.”
“Thank you, Minister, Ministers of State and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for through your sharing, very heartening to hear that there are many wonderful initiative that are being rolled out, especially creating more opportunities for our little ones to embrace sports, arts and culture. This question is posed to Minister of State Alvin Tan, it is with relation to OBS. So, in our effort to promote SG Made for Families as a nationwide movement, I wonder if OBS can explore expanding its programmes to also include family adventure camps to strengthen bonding amongst family members, reignite the quality family time together especially between the youths, their parents and their younger siblings.”
“— within each local Division across Singapore.”
“Okay. During the COVID-19 period, we saw many religious organisations come together and partnering with the local community with a common purpose of serve the helpless and the vulnerable in the neighbourhood. Post-COVID, this community spirit continues to strengthen. Take, for example, the Church of St Anthony (CSA) in Woodgrove. For the past two years, CSA has been partnering with Woodgrove Division through the People's Association (PA) to organise Harvest of Love events at least twice a year where the parishers and our grassroots volunteers would distribute care packs to low-income residents. Recently, the Harvest of Love initiative took place within the Church where low-income families of all races and religions were invited to have lunch at the Church with choir performances and presented with festive rations, care packs thereafter. Since the Racial and Religious Harmony was renamed in 2022, with the vision to create networks of trust that unite people regardless of race or religion, what has been the progress thus far in establishing cooperation, harmony, respect and trust in the community? What role can the Harmony Circle play to encourage more of such ground-up initiatives —”
“The Children's Museum Singapore, being the first ever Museum dedicated to children in Singapore was opened last year, aspiring to be a place of Wonder and joy for our little ones. Last month, I joined 80 of our will Woodgrove residents and their children to visit the museum where we spent an enjoyable afternoon together partaking in activities, such as travelling back in time to the olden Singapore to experience life as our forefathers had and learning how various communities in Singapore celebrate birthdays. Apart from Children's Museum, what other initiatives is MCCY looking into, to create additional opportunities for our young ones to understand our arts and heritage through play and learning experience. Is MCCY working with MOE and PMO's Made for Families to explore more collaborations with a view to inspire more of our children to pursue arts as their passion, as well as deepen their knowledge of Singapore's tradition, traditional heritage and culture, and at the same time, encourage more family-bonding opportunities? Sector Capability Building in Arts”
“This space has great potential to be another community sporting venue, allowing residents to have more options without the need to travel all the way to the Woodlands Sports Complex. Youth Leadership Development”
“Over the years, Woodlands Sports Complex has become indispensable community spaces where Marsiling and Woodgrove residents who often go to. Its facilities cater to the needs of all age groups, playing an important part in bonding the family and community closer together. We often see parents bringing their little ones to the swimming pool for waterplay. Many friendships have been forged amongst the seniors too in these venues, be it through sports or by participating in the Active Green Harvest at the community garden located right next to the swimming pool. I must credit ActiveSG for being a strong community partner of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC with whom we regularly collaborate to organise a series of community events that keep our residents active. Take the Sporting Wednesday at Woodland Stadium, for example, which encourages our Marsiling and Woodgrove residents to visit the stadium every Wednesday, from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm to participate in a series of sports, such as walking football and so on, along with fitness programmes, such as zumba, entirely free-of-charge. In recent years, residents have feedback to meet that several of the facilities are often under maintenance and express their desire for the sports complex, stadium and sports centre to be rejuvenated. How can the Ministry, ensure that community sports are more accessible to all especially for our senior citizens and to create more opportunities for family bonding as well as fostering a shared community spirit? Could SportsSG also work closely with MOE to explore opening up more school sports facilities to the public? One example is the former Innova JC School site in Woodgrove Champion Way which some residents have expressed their interest in using the running tracks for their evening exercise.”
“Similar feedback were also received from parents of young children, as they struggle to get across to the infant care preschool, as well as for swimming lessons whenever they travel with prams. Following our appeals to the relevant agencies, I am heartened that NEA has since provided a covered linkway from the Marsiling Mall to the overhead bridge and nearby bus stop. I therefore hope that LTA can expedite in its installation of lifts to this overhead bridge. Silver Zones for Seniors and Road Safety”
“During the earlier Budget debate, I shared that in order for Singapore to become a nation Made for Families, our infrastructure needs to be ready to cater to the needs of families with young children as far as our seniors and those with mobility issues. Improving the accessibility of this group of people to allow for them to travel to places they frequent, is important. To achieve that, installing lifts to our pedestrian overhead bridges and ensuring that the surrounding areas are sheltered with barrier-free access, are critical. What is the current progress of installing lifts for the existing pedestrian overhead bridges in Singapore? What is the target timeline to provide barrier-free access to these bridges, so as to create a more inclusive society, enhancing mobility of seniors, families with young children and those with physical disabilities? One example is the overhead bridge Woodgrove Zone 7, connecting Woodgrove residents to Marsiling Mall, Woodland Sports Complex and PCF Marsiling Mega Centre and for Marsiling residents to travel to the family Service Centre in Woodgrove. Many seniors residing in Zone 7 have shared that they would often get their meals and groceries from Marsiling Mall hawker centre and supermarket just across the road. Notwithstanding that there is a traffic light crossing a few hundred metres away, if given a choice, they would prefer to take the bridge as a safer option, especially during wet weather. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that many of them when carrying their heavy groceries, find it, almost an impossible task to walk up to overhead bridge. Some had no choice but to resort to jay walking across the road from under the bridge during wet weather especially.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I have three supplementary questions, two is for Senior Minister of State Amy Khor. I am heartened to hear about the plans to be rolled out on the International E-Waste Day, which is in October. But apart from that, could NEA also look into how the three Ps can come together, to increase awareness in other aspects. For example, the World Environment Day in June, and coming up very soon, the Global Recycling Day on 18 March, so that we can encourage more active recycling and for the community to collectively take the lead to further reduce the contamination rate of our recyclables. The second question is on the charging for plastic bags. During Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC's Green Action Communities deep dive, one of the suggestions is actually to explore how the community can collaborate with supermarkets to incentivise and encourage Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) initiatives. So, how can the Ministry facilitate to link up the community and these supermarkets, so as to organise more of such green sustainable initiatives. Thirdly, for Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey, in relations to the Project Wolbachia, I understand that it has been rolled out and it is intended to ramp up to more HDB blocks and also landed homes. Can I also clarify that whether we are also exploring, if we have sufficient numbers, to release it to the private condominiums as well, as during the peak periods. For example, in Wood Grove, I have seven condominiums, there is actually a cluster for these condominiums.”