Ho Geok Choo
Singapore
“I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. Just one question: the public had indeed been expressing reservations about eating seafood and I think we are also seeing Singaporeans shunning Japanese restaurants for fear of contaminated seafood. How safe is seafood imported from elsewhere and in Singapore now?”
“Thank you, Senior Minister of State. I have two supplementary questions. First question: short of sounding ageist, would the Ministry consider introducing an age quotient into the qualification criteria of this grant as such a move would encourage young couples to own a home and start a family of their own?”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister for his comments on how the political crisis in the Middle East and the nuclear crisis in Japan will have an impact on our energy needs. In view of these developments, what are Singapore's plans to go nuclear and what are our alternative sources of energy?”
“This is an example of mismatch. First, it highlights the need for course counselling for the individual to ensure that the training to be pursued is relevant. Second, it shows that employers in certain sectors are not ready or willing to accept PMETs who have formal management training.”
“Chairman, Singapore serves as a global and regional hub for several international companies. In the borderless global economy, accounting practices are being outsourced.”
“Mr Chairman, Singapore's 1961 Water Agreement with Malaysia expires on 31st August. As the date fast approaches, can the Minister update on Singapore's water situation and plans for self sufficiency? Mr Chairman, I would also like to find out what other plans does the Ministry have to strengthen the habit of saving water.”
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“Of course, no one knows how many jobs that the Jobs Credit Scheme will save. What could be stated with confidence is that without Jobs Credit Scheme, more jobs will be lost. It is also unclear whether the cost of saving each job can be measured directly with the amount of money pumped in to save that job. Will it, as some economist has put it, cost taxpayers $90,000 per job, if 50,000 jobs are "saved", with the cost per salvage progressively lower if more jobs are deemed to have been saved as a result of the exercise? Such a yardstick is both narrow and inappropriate because every job saved would have delivered a multiplier effect, both monetary and social to Singapore’s economy, several times the amount the Government spent. Conversely, every job lost for want of the 12% support in wages might be more costly on the economy and society than the amount saved. The critics of the Jobs Credit Scheme are right when they pinpoint that the money goes to companies which are doing well and those which are not. Is it not better then to target companies in need, since the job grant to them will be a life-line whereas to those thriving and well, it is money for jam? My view is this: As the grant will be paid to employers on a quarterly basis, retrospectively for workers on their payroll during that quarter, it means companies must have enough cashflow to support their payroll in the interim. Realistically speaking, therefore, the grant will not make much difference to employers who had fared poorly even in good times and, like fallen leaves, are likely to be blown away by today’s credit tsunami. For those who thrived in the good times and are encountering temporary difficulties now, the Scheme will be of greater help.”
“Instead, beneficiaries must take this opportunity to set standards to level up the training system through judicious tracking of training outcomes and injecting professionalism into the training industry. Three, this is an opportune time to reflect on the tumultuous journey our country has taken so far and assess what we need to do to maintain vigilance and focus on going forward – revamping our economy, upgrading our workforce, improving our public health, national security and social cohesion as well as strengthening our bilateral ties. Sir, I commend WDA's recent initiative to embrace fresh graduates into the job market, and direct them into this learn-as-you-work scheme. By the SPUR-JOB scheme, WDA has given a very positive signal to our fresh graduates seeking jobs that they will be given the head start in job-readiness by attending the WSQ competency training and by taking on internships. This is an opportune time for the HR fraternity to play a part in honing the people management skills of fresh graduates and PMETs and encourage them to enrol in the HR WSQ and People Management Competency training. Sir, one of the most scrutinised help measures unveiled in the 2009 Budget must be the Jobs Credit Scheme. And so it should be, as the funds earmarked for the scheme are huge: $4.5 billion, roughly a quarter of the $20.5 billion Resilience Package or about what it cost to build the first phase of our MRT in 1987! I would be the first to admit that the Jobs Credit Scheme is not perfect but if we wait for the Scheme to be refined to perfection, nothing might be done until the situation deteriorates so much that it will need even more money to stabilise or, worse still, may be too late to stabilise at all.”
“We may need to place Singaporeans amongst these potential Singaporeans, so that together they work as a group of service staff of this hospital in Singapore and not as a separate group of foreign talents doing their job in this hospital in Singapore. This young doctor further shared that indeed many of his Singaporean peers feel resentful of foreign talents, as they see these foreign talents as creaming off the best from us and then leaving us. He feels that this perception must be addressed as Singaporeans truly feel that they are being treated less well by the Government. Sir, our forefathers came to eke a living and stayed on because they found comfort and a sense of purpose. How can that be re-lived amongst the foreigners in Singapore? I hope that there will be individual and collective efforts made to understand and get along with each other. Next, economic resilience. Sir, will changing our political system enhance our resolve to remain as one united people, knowing full well that going forward, the economic challenges staring at us are from outside Singapore and not within our boundaries? I laud the Prime Minister’s growth strategies for the new Singapore which will focus on levelling up our human capabilities, growing new industries and making new friends to sustain our survivability. Sir, to be able to translate these strategies into actionable programmes, I would advocate a focus on the following three items: One, review the national movement initiated by MOM in the last three years to level up our human capabilities. Two, in supporting the WSQ framework, Jobs Credit Scheme and SPUR must not be viewed as “ah kong money”, to be used without discretion as they are readily available.”
“The Prime Minister’s move in changing the political system is evidence of a balanced approach to the politics ahead of us. Sir, I have asked myself: What are my hopes and aspirations for Singapore in the years ahead? As a second generation politician, I yearn for a Singapore where its people, whoever they are and wherever they may be, know in their hearts that Myheart@Home Singapore. How did it happen to me? How could we instil that love for Singapore in our people? How do we evolve the global city that will attract foreign talents and overseas Singaporeans? Sir, last weekend, I was with about 60 youths and young professionals at a forum addressing President’s three key questions on tackling capabilities, anchoring new opportunities and values, and dealing with constraints. I spoke to a young doctor from a Government hospital. He was a Taiwanese but, after 16 years in Singapore, has now become a Singapore citizen. He was sharing his views about rootedness. At work, the caregivers of the patients are foreigners who work long, graveyard hours. They relish the chance for a job but they are not quite sure if Singapore is the place they would want to sink their roots. When I asked: "Why not?", the doctor elaborated. Many of them feel that they are treated like "foreign talents". They do not feel that they belong. Perhaps we should drop the terminology "foreign" and refer to them as potential Singaporeans. It bothered me the whole weekend and I was wondering too why they should feel "foreign". Perhaps it is the way they have been bunched together in their job assignment with no Singaporeans in their midst as their peers. So if we wish to integrate and socialise them as one of us, the work culture in the hospitals may need to be modified.”
“Others may speak the same language and wear the same attire, but they do not have the same DNA of the PAP leaders simply because the parentage and heritage are different. Sir, for sure, the PAP Government will be faced with challenges in the coming years. For it to remain as a strong and credible Government, it will have to continue to evolve to connect with a younger, more outspoken and demanding generation of voters. But at the same time, the Government must not be seen to neglect its pioneers and mature citizens. Social cohesion is about that strong linkage of the old and the young, and this can only happen if they are threaded together with the same string. A credible and strong Government will really depend on the leadership's ability to stay connected and engage its citizens, including the opposition and alternative interest groups. In that, we need leaders of different age groups, gender and experience to reach out to the wider community. Where we are strong in our intellectual capabilities, we need not do more. But we need to do more on the soft side. We need more leaders with emotional quotient, adversary quotient and lastly, opportunity quotient that the Prime Minister spoke about. By opportunity quotient, I refer to the ability to seize the opportunities around us and in the process, embrace new developments, willing to move out of the comfort zone and try new things. We need to have "a complement for that perfect whole that we are seeking". We do not need to augment more of what we already have. Doing more of the same does not equate to excellence, rather, we want to be able to synergise, complement and evolve a balanced social eco-system.”
“Unlike the NMPs and NCMPs, the PAP and opposition MPs have another significant responsibility to their wards, to deliver the mandate that they have promised their voters. I am reminded that as an elected MP, we carry that responsibility to walk our talk when we are in your ward. Therefore, are we having too many NMPs and NCMPs with this change? The Prime Minister has said the increase in the number of NMPs will accommodate representation from the people sector, including grassroots leaders. To my mind, the inclusion of the people sector, including grassroots leaders will balance the group of NMPs representing diverse societal interests. As for the NCMPs, my concern is this: what if our well-known slipper-clad opposition candidate is amongst the last of the NCMP candidates and by default, he gets into this August Chamber? What if there is an opposition candidate representing a sectoral group with interests non-aligned to the nation? We can say, "Well, that's the voters' choice". I could agree with that argument, but I still keep my reservations that, in this August Chamber, only kind men and women of integrity and sincerity should be admitted. And this calls for a discerning electorate. Sir, the fact that the same PAP Government that brought about self-governance to Singapore is still in power, demonstrates that PAP has a formula and tradition that we can be proud of. This discipline and tradition practised by men and women in white will continue to reside in the younger second generation of the PAP leaders. Sir, I believe that the change in the political system will provide the breeding ground to nurture the PAP MPs to be a stock of its own, that no other political parties could easily clone.”
“Old Guard Singaporeans led by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, were masters of their destinies in the 1960s. Despite being ousted by Malaysia, with many predicting our premature demise, the sheer determination of the Old Guards transformed the economy and our social and political complexion, paving the way for success in the next 45 years. It took a great bold leader in then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to do that. Today, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is similarly taking a turn in the path that will lead us to a new plane. We are at Camp David and the terrain up Mount Everest is rugged and challenging. Whether we can make it up there to enjoy the beautiful scenery will depend on how prepared and ready we are in making this climb. The change announced by the Prime Minister will result in Parliament having at least 18 Members of Parliament (MPs) who are not from the ruling party. This step signifies the maturing of an electorate that has come of age. It signifies the openness of the incumbent Government in accommodating the pent-up desires of Singaporeans for more activism, especially in politics. I applaud the Prime Minister's embrace of an inclusive society to encourage a wider range of views in Parliament, including opposition and non-government views. But whether this increase in the number of opposition MPs and NMPs in Parliament will necessarily mean a more robust political outcome for all Singaporeans will be determined by the calibre of these incumbents. PAP MPs, Opposition MPs and NMPs will be tested on their ability to debate, offer constructive feedback and propose alternative solutions, rather than go on the way of selfish, pork-barrel politics.”
“Sir, thank you for allowing me to participate in this motion of thanks to the President. As the second last speaker, after more than 50 have spoken before me, I was really in a state of depression, just like the economy. But I am delighted that the Prime Minister's road map for Singaporeans to brace ourselves for the "Brave New World" offers another perspective to this five days of debate. And I will touch on some of these perspectives. Sir, the PAP Government has brought Singapore from a developing economy to a first-world economy. And, into the future, Singapore will be a gateway for the West to enter the East. Our small island-state, coupled with a lack of resources and surrounded by giant neighbours, makes us very vulnerable. But in the last 50 years, this Government has carried its people through many crises. From social and racial unrest in the early 1960s, to political struggle with the Barisan Sosialis, to economic transformation. Externally, in recent times, Singapore has not been spared of global headwinds, pandemic diseases and regional tensions with our neighbours. This vulnerability has been tempered by our people's courage and discipline. The road ahead is challenging. We see nations going the same path as we had. What had worked for us, are working for them. The competition is on an even keel and is for real. What will give us the edge will be the "oomph" factor in our human capabilities. What is this "oomph" factor? It resides in a people with capabilities and the mindset to keep on moving and improving the status quo; a people who have the fire in their bellies to stay ahead and the penchant to seek out opportunities; a people who will make circumstances and not be made by circumstances.”
“Sir, why did the funds invest in riskier assets, even if they are within acceptable risk levels? Why are we doing it now when we had not done so before? And are our reserves ultimately safe with this higher Sovereign Wealth Fund exposure to riskier assets? Riskier assets are like strong sunshine, maybe we need more sun block? Helping Businesses Weather the Storm”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, after a recent Constitutional amendment, the Government is able to draw upon our reserves in emergencies. This major recession is a national emergency and fully warrants the $4.9 billion drawdown. I agree with Senior Minister Goh on the boundaries for its usage. But within these parameters, we must use it when necessary. Sir, along the line of my former colleagues on the size of the reserves, while I understand the sensitivities of revealing the size of the reserves, I ask the Government to assist us to make an informed assessment on the risk of any further withdrawals, especially in light of the ongoing recession. We do not need the full disclosure, but we do need some directions. Further directions would be the total percentage growth in our reserves over the past year to date, and the near term outlook for its growth. Sir, news reports say that through its state-owned funds, Singapore has invested a total of about US$24 billion in Citi, Merrill Lynch and UBS over the past 14 months and S$2.6 billion in Barclays. What are the current values of these investments on an individual company basis from investment date to latest market closing date? While GIC's investments in UBS and Citi were done through means of convertible securities that provided a guaranteed rate of return – thus providing some downside insurance – have we considered what if these companies eventually go bankrupt? Can we recoup our investments at cost? I refer to a recent statement from MOF which mentioned that it had invested mainly in fixed income instruments before, but had now increased its asset allocation for higher risk and higher return investments like equities and alternative instruments.”
“According to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, as of 2007, only 54.5% of eligible hawker centres have been upgraded under the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme, launched in 2001. Does the Government have any enhancements to this programme? With this economic downturn, a way to inject more money into this economy would be to bring forward hawker centre upgrading. Sir, on hawker centre hygiene. What is the frequency of hygiene inspectors' site visits to hawker centres? Many hawkers still do not use gloves in food preparation. Giving hygiene marks are obviously not effective. I suggest that we make it compulsory for all hawkers to go through an annual refresher course in food handling and hygiene. For those who are unhygienic, we should impose even higher fines. Sir, the overall cleanliness of hawker centres needs to be improved. Can the Ministry look into constructing more tray stations in the hawker centres and further promote the habit of tray clearing? Can the Ministry also provide an update on efforts in maintaining overall hawker centre hygiene? 4.00 pm Hawker centre toilets are now cleaner due to Government and NGO's efforts. Nonetheless, there are still some of the most poorly maintained public toilets around. Yes, users themselves need to improve their toilet habits but, surely, more frequent cleaning needs to be done. What is the Government doing in this area? ABC Waters Programme”
“There are now three CNG refuelling stations, and I understand that this is expected to increase to five by the end of this year with the opening of a station at Serangoon North and another at Toh Tuck. Now that the Government has facilitated the set up of the initial refuelling infrastructure, further expansion on a sustainable basis must take into account the private sector’s business considerations. At some point, we hope that the private sector can pick up from where we have stopped to work together with other private sector players to build up the infrastructure. Sir, I will now ask my Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Amy Khor, to reply to the remaining cuts.”
“Sir, to reduce pollution from vehicles, we have also been promoting the use of environmentally friendly vehicles, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and hybrid vehicles through the Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR) Scheme, which narrows the cost differential between green vehicles and conventional ones. Since its introduction in 2001, the GVR Scheme has been reviewed on a regular basis. In January 2006, the rebates were enhanced from 20% of the open market value of the vehicle to 40%. Since then, the number of green vehicles has increased from about 200 to more than 5,400 as at end 2008. As a proportion of the total car population, the number of green cars here is still low, at about 1%, but this is comparable to countries such as the UK and the USA. I am pleased to announce that the GVR scheme will be extended by another two years till 31st December 2011. The Government will continue to review the GVR scheme, taking into account changes in vehicle technology and more stringent emission standards for diesel vehicles. Mr Charles Chong asked about our efforts to promote CNG vehicles, and Mr Edwin Khew also spoke about this during the Budget debate. The GVR has facilitated the initial adoption of CNG vehicles as a cleaner alternative to diesel vehicles. CNG vehicles have also enjoyed exemption from the special tax which is levied in lieu of a fuel tax. As MOF announced in the Budget this year, this exemption will be extended for another two years till December 2011. NEA has also supported private sector efforts to develop CNG refuelling infrastructure by providing co-funding for the start-up costs of three stations.”
“Other countries who are also dealing with this disease might provide us with some good vector control methods. Have we sought their expertise? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Mr Chairman, Sir, I have spoken about resource efficiency and building capability in the environment sector. Now, allow me to move on to our third thrust, which is to ensure sustainable development in protecting and enhancing our environment in the areas of air and water quality, noise management, as well as public health and cleanliness. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about our air quality and efforts to promote green vehicles. In 2008, Singapore continued to enjoy good air quality with the Pollutant Standards Index in the "good" range for 96% of the year. Our key pollutant levels, including those found in Sembawang, were within the standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Authority (USEPA) with the exception of very fine particulate matter or PM2.5. Diesel vehicles are a significant source of PM2.5, accounting for about half of PM2.5 levels. My Ministry has adopted various measures to reduce PM2.5 from diesel vehicles. For example, we introduced the more stringent Euro IV standards for new diesel vehicles from October 2006. Euro IV-compliant diesel vehicles emit as much as 70% less PM2.5 than older Euro II vehicles. Our aim is to bring PM2.5 levels down to the USEPA standard of 15 microgram per cubic metre. We are making good progress towards this goal. Our annual mean PM2.5 level in 2008 was 16 microgram per cubic metre.”
“Sir, a report in the Straits Times mentioned a spike in the number of dengue cases in the first three weeks of this year. A total of 509 people were infected, compared with 341 during the same period last year. That is a 49% increase. It was also reported that the spike could be due to short-term fluctuations. I would like to check whether this increase is due to short-term fluctuations or any other reasons. Malaysia has seen a recent upsurge in the number of cases. Malaysian news reports state that 4,221 dengue cases with 12 deaths were reported in the first 23 days of this year. This compares with ,103 cases with five deaths over the corresponding period in 2008. That is about double. What is the Government doing to ensure that the higher incidence of dengue in Malaysia does not spill over here? Could we have fever sensors at the Malaysian immigration checkpoints, like we had during SARS? Can we also have an update on the dengue situation? And what is the Ministry's strategy to keep it low this year? Will the Ministry need to increase manpower given the need to fight dengue as well as Chikungunya? Sir, ever since Chikungunya set foot on our shores, it has taken a liking to Singapore, multiplied locally and even applied for PR status! Given the fact that it is not foreign talent, we have tried to prevent it from taking up permanent lodgings. But has that been effective? Has Chikungunya become endemic in Singapore? The Ministry of Health reported that for the first four weeks of this year, there were 160 cases, compared with 11 cases for the same period in 2008. That is a 16-fold increase. This is very bad. Surely there must be weak spots in our control regime. Can we have a progress report on its management, and are there any improvements that we can make?”
“I would like to urge the Government to develop, one, a database of these consultants and entrepreneurs to facilitate businesses; and, two, a network hub of companies and PMETs to further facilitate job and business opportunities. SME-targeted schemes should be further publicised. Examples, Local Enterprise Finance Scheme, the Micro Loan Programme and the SEEDS Fund for employers with no more than 10 employees. Are there outreach programmes for these Schemes? What is the take-up rate? And I hope that the Government can actually give some publicity here. Help for SMEs”
“Sir, SMEs employ the majority of workers in Singapore – six out of 10. They are also the most vulnerable in a prolonged downturn. To help SMEs improve their productivity during this time, perhaps the Government could offer a scheme that grants SMEs to carry out an organisational review of their processes and systems to better streamline for optimal manning. So an employer's SPUR can be launched which gives a grant for retaining external expertise service and the allocation of internal resources for such productivity and workflow streamlining exercise. Sir, I commend the Government for the $5.8 billion to assist businesses and the SRI in assisting to keep these companies afloat. However, Sir, increasing the loan quantum coverage is a thoughtful measure as some SMEs have larger companies as customers and if these larger companies go bankrupt, the SMEs will soon follow suit. There are instances of healthy companies which cannot get loans simply because the banks are reluctant to lend. I think it is necessary to assess the efficacy of these measures by assessing loan activity on a regular basis. This can be carried out by SPRING Singapore. Sir, in times of adversity there can be opportunity. This recession could be a good time to encourage entrepreneurship. Many PMETs are being laid off and this surplus executive-level human capital must be assisted. We can encourage these individuals to tap into their skills to offer services such as business consulting. Therefore, our aim should be to encourage entrepreneurship, flexibility, self-reliance and leveraging on current skills. In this way, we not only achieve our objective of developing the spirit of enterprise, we also help with gainful employment.”
“Madam, we can also develop a scheme to encourage foreign internships especially among countries which we have FTAs with. That way, we will have a lot more Singaporeans with direct exposure to foreign industries and countries' business practices and ideas. On a company level, we can encourage establishment of FTA partner countries' companies in Singapore with the provision that they have an active staff development program for Singaporeans. Creating Business Demand to Ensure Effectiveness of Supply-side Budget”
“The Finance Minister has spoken on incentives and measures to improve Singapore’s competitiveness. I would like to see more measures to broadly restructure our economy. I would like to ask the Government whether there are any measures to develop industries that are more recession resilient and that would diversify our economic base beyond finance, pharmaceuticals and electronics. On the first issue, some of the more recession resilient industries are education and healthcare. While we have been making efforts to develop our schools, can we devote more resources such as funding and expertise to develop also the private education industry? Madam, on measures to broadly diversify our economy, while there have been many schemes to incentivise the growth of selected industries, can I suggest that we set up a scheme to encourage the quicker cross-fertilization of ideas among industries and even across countries. What do I mean? The Government, through its industry contacts, can fund more exhibitions as well as develop more business exhibitions or conferences. While private exhibition companies want to target what they consider growth sectors to run a profitable exhibition, the Government's objective would be to encourage development of new industries and new businesses. Madam, I notice the Government's Calls for Collaboration (CFC) scheme seeks to bring Government, businesses and the public sector together to develop solutions. Can the Government give further details on that? The Core Innovation Fund of $180 million over next two years is an interesting scheme to develop private sector solutions for Government services. Can the Government give more details on that and what achievements or activities have been undertaken since inception last year?”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister three supplementary questions. One, on rental flats, I would like to ask the Minister if the rental demand continues to rise and unless HDB continues to build more, it will have to chase after the demand. MND will have to ensure that those who come in for a rental flat must continue to be helped towards home ownership. Does MND have any plans to ensure this? Question two, Sir, is on housing for the elderly. Can the Minister elaborate on the plan and design for elderly housing, taking into consideration the needs of the elderly and the younger community? The third question is township. I would like to know whether there will be some spillover effects of the Jurong Lake district development into Boon Lay, an old and remote estate. In the Jurong district, as well, which has not seen much modern development. Can Boon Lay share some of Punggol 21's windfall? Actually on this subject of "love", it would appear that Punggol 21, being a relatively younger estate than old Boon Lay, is getting more attention.”
“We have to maintain and improve this ecosystem by assuring PMETs that it is fashionable to work in the construction industry. To do this, there must be champions who will step forward to do this rebranding. I call on the Government to give its full support to these industry players –”
“Sir, amidst all this gloom and doom, the construction sector is still one bright spot. So, how can we convince Singaporeans to take up jobs in the construction sector? A recent Channel News Asia (CNA) report noted that foreigners had a higher employment share in manufacturing and construction when many took up labour intensive jobs. It cited MOM saying the more demanding working conditions in these positions are the less attractive to Singaporeans and PMETs. How does BCA hope to change this perspective? Indeed, there are professional jobs in the construction sector. Unfortunately, the mental image of the construction sector is that of hard toiling, physically demanding labour. What new plans are in place to profile such jobs? 3.45 pm It is timely to improve the image of the construction industry by enhancing its ecosystem. We have about 250,000 foreign workers in Singapore and it is estimated that about 10% of this group will be shed. For the remaining, they will constitute a revolving pool of foreign labour on musical chairs, as there will be pockets of contractors who will release these foreign workers, while other contractors may be in need of them. The challenge is really to devise a good mechanism to match the released workers with the vacancies. It is important for the image of the construction industry not to leave these foreign workers in the lurch during this downturn. As for the PMETs, the challenge is to change their perception. I propose that we establish, also, another mechanism to facilitate the induction of PMETs into this sector, perhaps guided tours of the construction sites and the various kinds of work involved. Sir, the ecosystem of the construction industry must be nurtured.”
“In my estate, which has a high proportion of elderly, I get complaints about the inconveniences suffered because of the behaviour of their lonely elderly neighbours, who could be throwing stuff down their high-rise flat or making noises in their flat in the middle of the night. Sir, I urge the HDB to continue sending teams to countries, like Japan, that have more experience in handling housing needs of the elderly.”
“Sir, just like my colleague before me, I would like to know when the Lease Buyback Scheme would be launched. Sir, I am also keen to know how is the Ministry going to promote awareness of this scheme. Some of the elderly residents are illiterate, so advertising the scheme in the newspapers will have very limited effect. TV advertisements may be more useful but some may not have TV sets as well. Perhaps, the HDB can appoint officers to visit such elderly residents and advise them. As I understand it, under this scheme, the elderly person sells back to the HDB the tail end lease of his flat at market rate. He then gets a 30-year lease on his flat. The elderly gets a $10,000 subsidy out of which $5,000 is paid to him upfront. Why are the elderly not able to get the full $10,000 subsidy in cash upfront, especially if they have pressing needs? Sir, society has evolved and baby-boomers prefer to stay on their own. I urge the HDB to build more of the Studio Apartments for the elderly. I would like to know what special scheme will be made available to them. Sir, in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Housing Authority has a number of options for the elderly. There are different types of housing in public rental estates designed to facilitate the everyday lives of the elderly. I would like to know how HDB can offer a wider range of housing options for the elderly in line with changes in their lifestyles. How can the elderly be integrated with the younger families in the community, such that they do not become a forgotten lot? On the other hand, how can we be sure that there is enough planning and designing that go into such housing, such that the dementiated will not become an inconvenience to their neighbours?”
“We did this partly through a unique fund raising model, banding everybody together for a common cause, selling of cookbooks with recipes from Boon Lay residents, hawkers themselves as well as from supporters, including Mrs Yusof Ishak. We were also fortunate to have the active support and participation of our President Nathan. Donors ranged from Boon Lay residents to the well-known Lee Foundation. The proceeds will be used to develop an Elderly Wellness Centre, and the Lee Kong Chian Academic and Character Enhancement Centre for latchkey children, many of whom do not get proper meals or academic guidance. A scholarship programme has also been launched for needy student leaders of the Boon Lay Youth Club. We believe that dishing out more money is not the answer to tide over financial difficulties. It is, at best, an interim measure. More important would be the programmes that provide the foundation to help those in need to survive. As such, dipping more into our reserves must be carried out within the boundary laid out, and I support Senior Minister's call for the three guidelines to be in place in the use of our reserves. I believe in the generosity and the can-do spirit of Singaporeans, rich and poor, to help each other and help themselves, and not just depend on the Government alone. And my fellow citizens, I ask them to tap into that can-do spirit which is within all of us, and use it to light our way. As this song says, "Yesterday is dead and gone; tomorrow is out of sight." Let me now adapt the last line, "Come, let's walk side by side, helping one another make it through the night." Sir, on this note, I support the Budget. 12.41 pm”
“Internships would provide the new graduate with a holistic induction into the world of work, thus making them even more attractive to employers. Taken as a whole, the Budget has substantive measures that show a prudent but realistic Government at work. However, we can and should improve this Budget and use more of our financial resources at our disposal. Our Government has never over-spent over an office term. Our reserves are large. Our fiscal prudence is meant to protect us on a rainy day. It is now, not just a rainy day, it is a hurricane! If ever there was a time to use our financial resources to boost our economy and assist our strained society, it is now! We must not let this "global economic tsunami" become a "spiritual tsunami", sapping our optimism and increasing our cynicism about the future and about the Government. Yes, the Government must seek all ways to bolster the economy and aid the people. Above all, let us all be optimistic, and nurture a sense of care and share in the community, where everyone from the humblest to the wealthiest steps forward, to do something for himself or others, so that all can sail through this storm safely. Sir, allow me to end by sharing how the residents of Boon Lay, my constituency, and the larger Singapore community have started doing it. When we started a fund raising project for needy residents five months ago with a target of $1.5 million, we were filled with trepidation as the economic clouds were growing darker around us. We persisted in unity and managed to raise a tidy sum of $2.68 million in five months!”
“The Government can provide funding to companies who contract with these consultants. In a sense, it is a "SPUR for employers". This brings me to the issue of medical insurance for the unemployed or self- employed. Currently, if a person is unemployed, it is likely that he does not have medical insurance. If he is hospitalised or requires outpatient hospital care during his period of unemployment, he will probably choose to pay the fees by withdrawing from his Medisave Account, up to a certain limit. But the coverage is at a very basic level. I suggest that the Government provides more medical insurance coverage for the unemployed. When they find work again, they can repay the Government. Also, if the person has an existing medical insurance policy from, say, a private insurer, I suggest that the Government help pay for the premiums during the period of unemployment. The affected person can repay at no interest charge after resuming employment. To encourage speedy repayment, interest charges can kick in if the person finds employment again, either with a company or through self-employment, but does not settle these arrears. Again, we can use the CPF payroll to ascertain when such medical insurance premium payments can be discontinued. Some self-employed who do not make much do not need to contribute to CPF. For such cases, we should continue to assist in premium payments, reviewing them on a periodic basis, perhaps yearly when they file their income taxes. Sir, I wish to acknowledge the EDB funding to assist fresh graduates with on-the-job training. Perhaps we can take a cue from the UK where the government there is creating internships in order to provide university graduates with work experience.”
“If we are serious about assisting everyone who has been hit by this economic crisis, we must also be serious about reaching out to as many as possible through funding a wider range of educational providers. The Government can, together with industry experts, devise a list of criteria to set certain standards for such SPUR course providers, as examples to other providers like SHRI and MDIS. ­I declare here that I am the President of SHRI. Sir, the Government has been creative in introducing the PCP. This is farsighted but I caution the Government not to err too much on the side of anticipating future employer or market demands. We must also balance that with human resource capabilities and interests. What does this mean for managing surplus executive-level human capital? For those who are looking for opportunities to market their acquired skills, the Government working together with relevant agencies, even the private or NGO sector, can assist them. Along these lines, for the PMET group, what would also benefit them is (1) a database of these PMETs to enable the Government to assist them in job placement; (2) a network hub for companies and PMETs to further facilitate job and business opportunities; and (3) a scheme to enable the establishment of micro-enterprises of any nature – not just in the Government-targeted science or engineering fields, as what many of the Government incentive schemes are now aiming at. With a prolonged downturn, many larger companies will be keen to outsource certain business functions such as human resources, IT management as well as marketing. PMETs with such skill sets could assist companies with such work, thereby gaining useful employment for themselves while enabling companies to stay trim and lean.”
“This is not only in line with our idea of making Singapore an inclusive society, but it is also in line with our policy of encouraging marriage, families and parenthood. And what if the sole breadwinner loses his job? I suggest we establish an income relief loan, subject to a cap, where the person can draw upon at a low interest rate, say, 2% per annum for 12 to 24 months. This is practical and useful, given the increasingly volatile nature of our global economy and in lieu of the unemployment insurance. Sir, in this recession, PMETs need assistance more than ever before. With Singapore being plugged into the global economy, the new reality here in Singapore is that increasingly, more white-collar workers will be affected. I am glad that the Government has acknowledged this with its targeted 46 Professional Conversion Programmes (PCP) by year-end, and its enhanced SPUR offerings. In the 2006 Budget debate, I urged the Government to target assistance to these PMETs. I commend the WDA for expanding the SPUR programme from 150 to 800 courses, covering up to advanced diploma courses at polytechnics and selected tertiary courses at UniSIM and the three publicly funded universities. PMETs are usually well educated, and such higher level courses will directly benefit them. And now, when they enrol in such courses, they get paid for the hours spent taking a course – a training allowance – for the duration of the course, instead of at the end of it. That will help in managing daily expenses. Nonetheless, even with all these changes, only a small number of higher education and training providers get funding in offering these SPUR-approved courses.”
“Going forward, we should also adopt a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax system as a built-in stabiliser. Taxing Singaporeans for income earned the previous year where they may have earned significant bonuses or were at the very least working, could be especially burdensome for those that have been laid-off. Sir, from an economic perspective, if the export sector continues to sink, we cannot logically rely on that to boost demand. As a Government, we should also use other ways, such as priming consumption to stimulate demand and bolster the economy. As such, larger Government measures directed at the people could be seen as a recessionary counter-cyclical bonus to pick up the slack from the export slump. All families – from low-income to the needy middle-income - should be given food vouchers, GST credits and utility rebates, based solely on their household income. Because there could be discrepancies – a family of five who live in a 3-room HDB flat but have three family members working and those who live in a semi-detached house but have the sole breadwinner retrenched. He has to support three children and a wife. Giving food vouchers, GST credits and utility rebates based on household income would be fairer since both families pay taxes, and both families have bills to pay regularly. Sir, households are under tremendous strain now. To prevent any large scale default on mortgage payments like what happened in the US, which a major recession like this just do if people continue to lose jobs, I support MP Inderjit Singh's call to defer principal mortgage payments for HDB mortgages. We should also look into providing rebates for non-working mothers since they also contribute to the economy indirectly.”
“I commend the Government for its Special Risk-Sharing Initiative (SRI), in assisting to keep these companies afloat. But we must monitor the effectiveness of this scheme, perhaps on a monthly basis. If bank credit lines do not open up fast enough, we should perhaps give a tax break to these companies. Sir, the 40% property tax rebate on industrial and commercial property for 2009 is a substantive move, but the rebate should go directly to the tenants rather than the landlords. That way, we directly help the tenants. Sir, aside from proposals to improve the Jobs Credit Scheme, I ask the Government to consider – what if the money still results in large scale retrenchments? Should more money not be given to people to tide them over this difficult period? It is, after all, turning out to be the worst recession Singapore has ever had. This is the time to really take major action. As such, doubling GST credits is too timid. Maybe we should look at quadrupling the GST credits? Or slash the GST by half, to 3.5%? We can also spend more on healthcare and education and even move money from defence spending to these areas. In times like these, do we need to spend so much on traditional defence? FY2009 defence spending is projected to be $11.4 billion or 26% of the Budget. It is better to employ some of that money to build up economic defence. And why have just a 20% personal income tax rebate capped at $2,000? Perhaps we should, in addition, waive the personal income tax for income earned in 2008, subject to a tax liability of x dollars. This will give better relief to Singaporeans in the sandwich class in this difficult time and free up some cash which could be especially useful for the newly unemployed.”
“The Government estimates that the number of older citizens 65 years and above will mushroom from the current 9% to 23% of the population in 2037. Older workers, especially those 45 and above, often have difficulties finding a new job if they are laid off. As a Government, we have advocated the restructuring of relevant jobs for older workers. The Government should now take the lead and hire more older workers. In addition, I suggest we have an Older Worker Jobs Credit Scheme. We could double the Government's contribution under the Jobs Credit Scheme to encourage the hiring of older workers. As such, if a company hires an older worker, the Government gives the company 24% up to a wage limit of $2,500. To prevent companies from abusing this scheme, I suggest we make it only applicable to new recruits and not people who have been retrenched from the same company. For the group of highly skilled older workers, I urge the Government and corporate sector to look at innovative ways to tap into their expertise. After 40-odd years of economic growth as a country, we have a generation of experienced middle-aged professionals and executives whose skills we can harness for the next lap of growth. We should encourage companies to employ such people for strategic purposes. That way, everyone, from corporations to the Government, benefit from their collective skill and wisdom. Sir, SMEs employ the majority of workers in Singapore – six out of 10. While they employ the majority of workers in Singapore, they are also the most vulnerable to a prolonged slowdown as they do not have the deep profits, large revenues or cash reserves that enable larger companies to withstand a long- term slowdown.”
“Put another way, the success of the Jobs Credit Scheme is not measurable. What is the objective of this scheme? It is to save jobs, via helping businesses manage labour costs. Some companies will have to fold because they are just doing too badly. But what percentage of job losses will determine if the scheme is successful or not? We do not know. The way to refine it, I would suggest, is to establish a feedback mechanism where all companies – large, small, unionised or not – are required to inform the Government beforehand if they are considering retrenchment. The Government can then devise specific measures on how to better assist such companies. It can refer them to other business assistance schemes that the affected company might not know about, or refer them to business consultants who can help them manage their costs better. Their consultancy fees could be funded or co-funded by the Government. If companies still do eventually retrench staff, we can stop or reduce the Jobs Credit payment quantum per worker towards these companies. Laid off workers can be helped through measures I will elaborate later. Sir, the enhanced SPUR programme is excellent, but one of the concerns I have is that it could be open to abuse if companies were to send staff for training simply for the financial incentive and then retrench them. Some regularity mechanism is required to ensure that this does not occur. Above all, we must have that can-do spirit and come up with creative solutions. I would like to make a few recommendations. First, on older workers and innovative HR practices. With improvements in health and medicine, many older workers are still agile and alert. We are a rapidly greying population.”
“In essence, these are unprecedented times and for unprecedented times, we need unprecedented measures. In a new globalised world, we need new thinking and new action. US President Barack Obama said in his inauguration speech, the old ways of thinking about government are over. He said, "What we need is not big government or small government, we need a government that works." Deng Xiao Peng once said, "It doesn't matter if the cat is white or black, so long as it catches mice." Likewise, for Singapore to deal with this recession, we should not deliberate between a supply-side approach or a demand-side approach and debate the theoretical merits of each. What we most want is "measures that work". The objective is clear - to help Singaporeans retain their jobs and tide over this recession. Sir, several of the Budget measures proposed are in the new thinking and new action categories, which I applaud. Firstly, the courage to use past reserves for the first time. And to use it for a Jobs Credit Scheme which effectively gives companies across the board money for retaining staff. Specifically, 12% of an employee's pay up to $2,500. Some say this amounts to only a maximum of $300 per worker. If a company is doing very badly and has to fold up, a savings of $300 per employee is not going to help retain the employee. Why not just save the $2,500 by laying off that employee? I say, look at this as a lifeline for a start. The aim is to keep companies afloat. The Government knows that securing jobs is the best form of social welfare and is focused on doing that. Still, the Jobs Credit Scheme has its limitations. Most importantly, it does not differentiate between companies most likely to lay off workers from those that are not intending to lay off workers.”
“Mr Speaker Sir, I rise in support of the Budget. I want to take this opportunity to commend the Finance Minister for an exceptional Budget that aims to instil a sense of caring and sharing as well as inculcate a sense of espirit de corp in the community. Sir, this recession is a by-product of our new age of globalisation, where volatile economic cycles and job insecurity are part of the equation. In biblical times, wine grapes were not put into used leather pouches as the fermentation process would burst the old pouches. Hence, the saying, "you don't put new wine in old bottles". Hence, too new thinking and new action are critical to contain today's problems and provide solutions for tomorrow. We cannot solve new problems with pat old answers. Boldness and iconoclasm are in. So, by all means give help to the needy but we must ensure that we do not, in the process, make "needy" a new growth industry and acceptable career. What remains a constant is that while it is new age to have a bleeding heart, but as relevant is what Minister Mentor once said, we have to be careful not to bleed to death. Sir, we have had two generations of job security. What do we have now? Job insecurity. Clearly, with our increasingly globalised economy and society, the periods of growth have become shorter, placing tremendous strain on individuals and families. Singapore's unemployment figures are grim. The total number of people laid off last year was 16,000. Credit Suisse recently projected that we could see some 300,000 people laid off in this recession, out of which 100,000 would be Singaporeans. But that is just a projection. What is a fact is this: We are already into our fourth quarter of negative growth.”
“Just two supplementary questions. One, does the Government have any final deadline beyond which the Sports Hub Project cannot be further postponed? And if so, when that would be? The second question: can the Ministry provide an analysis of the potential lost revenue from deferred or lost sporting events because of these delays, which currently total two years, from the original completion date of 2010, to 2012?”
“Thank you DPM for the comprehensive clarification. Just one supplementary question. On the employment scene, how and what specific programmes are there to address the growing fears and concerns of Singaporeans, with respect to increased job competition from foreigners, especially in this current situation?”
“Thank you, Minister, for the clarifications. I would like to ask the Minister whether there are any contractors, at the moment, undertaking these projects, who are being assisted by the Government? To what extent, is this assistance rendered?”
“I have four questions to ask. Sorry. First, aside from the retraining programme, such as SPUR, does MOM have any other schemes to address the likely growth of surplus labour arising from retrenchments layoff? Second, assuming that it takes some time, even with a SPUR qualification or any other new qualification, before jobless workers find employment, does the Government have any schemes to offer interim employment for these workers, such as interim housing which HDB has come up with. Third, the question really has got to do with the point the Senior Parliamentary Secretary made about mindset change. Yes, we really need to change the mindset of workers with regard to retraining and accepting new jobs. But is there a scheme to subsidise and put these people through a mindset change programme which, for some time in early 2000, was actually very much promoted by some of the professional associations but they never had any form of subsidy or support from the Government. Lastly, with regard to the likely surplus labour that we may be seeing, does the Ministry have a profile as to who they are in terms of their gender, age and nationality?”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the comprehensive answer. I have just four points to make.”
“Thank you, Minister of State, for the very comprehensive explanation. Just on two points. The first point really has got to do with the part about being able to go face-to-face with the consultants that are in place now for start-ups as well as even self-employed individuals to consult with. I am just wondering whether the Minister of State would be able to enlighten the House as to how well this outreach has been accepted by the industry, in terms of the numbers of start-ups as well as individuals who have taken up this service that is available. The second point really is that beyond consultancy which is normally at the initial stage, is there any plan for an advisory service of sorts where actually the consultants will walk through with the new start-ups as well as the newly self-employed people in the process?”
“I would like to ask the Minister, in view of the fact that small businesses and new start-ups will become sizeable enough to be a pillar of our economy, other than the existing $2.3 billion loan support package, what other programmes are there to augment these SMEs and start-ups in this economic downturn.   Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, we have an entirely different eco-system for helping start-ups with SEED and various components of the venture capital market and helping a company through the various stages of growth. In the November announcement by the Senior Minister of State, Mr Iswaran, we also enhanced that part of the eco-system for start-ups. EMPLOYMENT FORECAST FOR 2009 3. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the employment forecast for 2009; (b) which are the growth sectors; and (c) which sectors will be worst affected by the global economic crisis.”
“On behalf of all women in Singapore, I commend this amendment as this will indeed go a long way to giving families more financial support, while also operating as a long-term incentive and encouragement to have bigger families. On this note, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill. Sir, the new definition of 'research and development' in section 2 of the Income Tax Act is restricted to science or technology – why are social sciences and humanities not included? For instance, research on consumer behaviour or even on human capital planning, which could be very useful in developing Singapore's economy as well, would not come under the definition of 'research and development' as proposed in the Bill. If the hesitance to include social sciences or humanities is due to the difficulty of ensuring that the research is legitimate, may I request that potential researchers seeking tax exemption be then required to seek prior authorisation from the Minister or from IRAS before embarking on the research. Sir, perhaps a set of guidelines can also be set out in the subsidiary legislation to establish the parameters to guide decisions on whether a particular piece of research can be tax-exempted. Sir, the new section 14Q allows for tax deduction on renovation or refurbishment works for the purposes of the person's trade, profession or business. Such tax-deductible expenditure is capped at $150,000 over three consecutive basis periods. Sir, indeed this will be very helpful for both new businesses and those seeking to upgrade their current premises, and I commend the new inclusion in light of the current recession. Sir, the changes to the Fifth Schedule on the Working Mother's Child Relief allows a mother to claim more tax deduction for her children, up to 100% of her earned income.”
“Thank you, Senior Minister of State, for the comprehensive response. I have three supplementary questions. In this economic downturn, I really like to know how will downgraders to 2-room and 3-room flats be impacted, and whether there is a record in the HDB as to the number of downgraders who have been affected by this situation. The next point really is whether there is sufficient counselling on affordability that is conducted by HDB for potential downgraders or purchasers of flat, because I think it is important that we should inculcate in our Singaporeans this attitude of responsibility when they want to make a purchase. And the last question really is with regard to what Mdm Cynthia Phua, my parliamentary colleague, has raised. There is concern that perhaps for residents – and even for the benefit of the advisers and the MPs – whether there should be some more briefings carried out by HDB with the MPs on what is really being done to address those cases encountered.”
“Sir, I want to thank Minister for his very comprehensive response but, honestly speaking, it is quite tough trying to understand what has been explained. I am not representing everybody in the Chamber but I am sure if we were to ask anyone to try to reiterate the formula, it is quite a tall order. The experience of my grassroots leaders in trying to explain to residents who have come to see us on the increase in electricity rates has been quite tormenting, because they themselves are also finding difficulties in trying to explain. So what I really would like to ask for is for Singapore Power perhaps to do a bit of a PR job here in terms of sending down its officials to help grassroots leaders to do a better job at explaining this increase in electricity rates. Secondly, Sir, in order to boost the confidence of residents so that they know that this is not just an arbitrary decision to increase electricity tariffs, perhaps we could form a council, like the Public Transport Council (PTC), and this may give more confidence and a better chance of understanding how this formula was made.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether his Ministry is aware of the kind of issues brought about by foreign workers living in the midst of our local residents. Is there an inter-agency body that would seriously consider all the inputs and views brought up and that would also represent the views of the local residents as well as the local grassroots organisations? When social behaviour is an issue, and because of the congestion that we face in living in the locality, would the Minister, together with the Ministry of National Development, consider, for example, floating dormitories on water? And since we are bursting at the seams, is there a possibility for us to rent space, maybe across the border, from our good neighbour, Johor, to build dormitories?”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister to what extent are the local residents, where the dormitories are to be erected, involved in the whole planning process, in terms of amenities to be built or even roads to be constructed to specially cater to this group of foreigners. The reason I ask this question is that, if the local residents were involved to a certain extent, I think it will help to build that ownership of these foreigners coming in to live amongst them.”
“For example, some of the unused buildings could generate rental income and be put to good productive use instead of being left unused. Finally, Sir, in support of this Bill, I wish to reiterate that, of course, incomes like dividends and interest are usually more predictable than the growth in the value of an investment and what the capital gains realised may be should the investment be sold. Still, dividends and interest income do not operate in vacuum and are related to market and economic performances. Injecting the capital gains component into what is available from the country's reserves would provide us with a useful third leg in the pool of funds available to support the Government's annual budget spending especially in a slowing economy in the next few years. Sir, on this note, I would like to support the Bill. ADJOURNMENT OF DEBATE”
“We can also include a new provision that requires parliamentary or presidential approval for the Government to draw down amounts exceeding 50% cap on Net Investment Income. This approach would ensure a measure of safety in that our budget is still based on money that has been received but allows for flexibility should the need arise. At this juncture, Sir, I wish to register a few points. One is on the sentiment from some Singaporeans. I am concerned with the public perception of the timing of introducing this Constitutional amendment as, at one time, it was decided to lock the reserves. Subsequently, the Government unlocked the reserves. Now, with the deepening financial crisis, any change made at this stage may lead people to perceive that the Government is in a financial mess. It is, therefore, important that the Government address this point with the people. Secondly, I would like to suggest that provisions be made for an annual review to be carried out by an independent body to check whether Net Investment Return when implemented, in effect, eats into the reserves. How much will the change from the regime of Net Investment Income or Net Investment Returns raise the amount of money available to the Government in absolute terms is another question which I hope the Minister would be able to throw some light on. Fourth, like colleagues before me, I would also like to ask why have Temasek's assets been entirely excluded from the Net Investment Returns regime. Should these assets at least be included in the changes that deem as realised capital gains directly attributable as part of the past reserves? Fifth, Sir, I would also like to stress on the need to eliminate wastage and unnecessary expenditure and for us to look for ways to ensure efficiency in generating income.”