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.”
The complete record
Every one of 857 lines we hold for Ho Geok Choo, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 18.
“I would like to ask the Minister how diversified is our investment portfolio in the ASEAN countries and whether the sub-prime crisis has, to a certain extent, affected our investment decisions in ASEAN.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State whether the job matching agencies are reaching out to the relevant groups of Singaporeans who are actually in need of a job and whether they know exactly how and where to approach these agencies. My second question for the Minister of State is this. In view of the fact that we are quite dependent on foreign workers, how badly will our economy be hit should a foreign country decide to place an embargo on their nationals coming to Singapore to work?”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister how many cases were hospitalised and at what duration were they being discharged. Although it has been reported that it is under control, are there any indications of any new outbreaks? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, as reported, there were 13 cases altogether for this recent outbreak. To the best of our knowledge, all of them have recovered. Not all of them required hospitalisation. At the moment, our efforts are to ensure that the area remains free of any infection and therefore NEA has set up an Inter-Agency Chikungunya Fever Taskforce that is implementing various measures to improve the environmental conditions in Little India. Sir, some of the things that we will be doing are to step up enforcement against unauthorised use of URA parking lots; enforcing against the usage of premises for unauthorised purposes; ensuring that the open spaces maintained by SLA are not used for unauthorised purposes and that these areas are cleaned daily; enforcing against employers who have housed their foreign workers in unauthorised premises; and finally, to intensify the cleaning and flushing of drains. We will continue to ensure that the affected area remains clean and the environmental conditions are maintained to the standards that we want. PARTICIPATION RATE OF SINGAPOREANS IN WORKFORCE 4. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how the employment of locals can be further enhanced in light of the decreasing participation rate of Singaporeans in the workforce; and (b) whether Singapore is too reliant on foreign labour in light of the higher participation rate of foreign labour.”
“Sir, supplementary questions. Can the Minister enlighten whether the fares will be consistent across the different bus operators, and whether the fares will remain comparable to the current fares or will there be hikes? My last question: what incentives, instead of disincentives, will be given to car drivers to switch over to public transport?”
“Thank you, Minister of State, for the very encouraging response. Sir, I would like to ask two supplementary questions. These relate to today's papers which reported that there were only about 9,000 persons graduating to fill the potential job openings in the tourism sector. Given the fact that we still have to build up the pipeline of Singaporeans and that we may eventually have to look to the foreigners to bring in the service staff, especially for the IR sector, I would like to check with MOS: (1) How would that process of bringing in the foreign service staff be carried out? (2) How do we ensure the quality control, given the experience of the less than desired quality standard of foreign construction workers that have been brought in recently by foreign contractors?”
“Three supplementary questions: (1) Could the Minister kindly highlight where are the current road infrastructure upgrades and when will they begin operation? (2) Are there plans to widen busy roads that have become immune to ERP?; and (3) Are there plans to improve the safety of known dangerous roads, eg, the well-known stretch of road along Thomson, often used for racing, where recently four undergraduates crashed?”
“Similarly, the fund-raising conducted by non-profit organisations and charities may exceed their worthwhile expenditures in certain years and they should be allowed to save the excess funds for future years and should not be forced to spend the money in that year just to retain their tax-exempt status. The amendment will give charities much needed flexibility in the use of their funds and this will ultimately benefit the persons that charities are set up to serve. I would caution, however, that the NKF affair is still fresh in the public's mind and with the financial irregularities in Ren Ci's accounts being the latest talk of the town, the public will be concerned about something that may be perceived as a relaxation of Government's oversight of charities. Madam, to address the public's reasonable concerns, their attention should be brought to the fact that the Charities Act requires charities to furnish annual statements of accounts and annual reports on the activities of the charities during the year. And charities should be informed in no uncertain terms that these requirements will be enforced firmly and vigilantly. In addition, the Code of Governance for Charities and Institutions of a Public Character should be brought into force as soon as possible, as it sets out further best practices that are conducive to the transparency and good governance of charities. I understand that even though compliance with the Code is not a mandatory requirement, charities and IPCs must either comply or explain why they do not comply with the guidelines of the Code. This will help to assure the public that the Code has bite and will be effective in regulating the conduct of charities and IPCs. Madam, on this note, I support the amendments to the Bill. 5.32 pm”
“Would it be better if we offered exemption for 100% of a higher initial base income so as to encourage entrepreneurship and help in the initial growth of the company, and then a staggered system of taxation by a greater number of tiers? Members may refer to Appendix A, which has been circulated, for an example of how a staggered system of taxation would be better for entrepreneurship than the current simpler two-tiered system. Madam, in both systems, the total tax revenue remains the same at $26,550. But because the base income for initial tax exemption is higher, ie, $22,500 as opposed to $10,000, and because this new system offers full tax exemption, growth of new companies would be less affected by tax payments in the initial stage. This system will not reduce Government revenue from companies with a taxable income of $300,000 or more and will reduce Government revenue only marginally from companies with a taxable income of less than $300,000. However, the slight reduction of tax revenue from each such company will be compensated by the increased number of new companies which are formed because of the more supportive tax environment. Members may refer to Appendix B for examples why less revenue will be collected for taxable income falling below $300,000. Charities tax exemption Madam, the move to abolish the requirement for charities to spend at least 80% of their annual receipts on charitable objects in Singapore within two years in order to enjoy income tax exemption is a laudable one. The current requirement is simply unsatisfactory. Profit-making companies may not always be able to find enough investment opportunities in any given year and may keep monies in reserve to take advantage of opportunities when they do arise.”
“The Government has a track record of doing what is in the best interests of the country, and we must prevent any attempts to draw connections between increasing prices for the laymen and decreasing tax rates for corporations and top earners. We must make it clear that the purpose of these amendments is to benefit all Singaporeans by attracting investment and encouraging enterprise in Singapore, resulting in potential increases in jobs and standards of living. Madam, to do this, the Government should demonstrate with tangible data that these measures are indeed the best way forward. Can the Ministry provide the public with statistics showing that lowering income and corporate tax rates encourages investment and job creation? These would be of great help to MPs in explaining the new measures to their constituents. Such assurances from our leadership will go a long way in keeping the politics of envy at bay. If unheeded, public perception will allow the green-eyed monster to rear its ugly head. Income tax exemptions Madam, the income threshold qualifying for partial tax exemption has been increased from $100,000 to $300,000. With the increase, 75% of the first $10,000 of chargeable income and 50% of the next $290,000 of chargeable income will be exempt from income tax. However, I am concerned that exempting 75% of the first $10,000 of chargeable income will make little difference to companies, due to the low income base of $10,000. I would like to question whether this simple two-tier system removes much steam from the company's growth because it will be exempted only by a substantially lower 50% of a significant base of $290,000.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, the proposed amendments are notable for their focus on making Singapore a better place to do business. Most notably, the current amendments propose to cut corporate income tax from 20% to 18%. In the current global environment, the pivotal consideration for a company's decision to plant its flag in Singapore might just be our attractive corporate tax rates. This reduction is in keeping with the global realities of competition. A KPMG survey recently showed a global reduction in corporate tax rates on the average from 27.2% to 26.8%. Countries like Germany, Spain, the UK and France have corporate tax decreases in the pipeline. Hong Kong's corporate tax rate is still 0.5% below ours. The writing is on the wall. In a cut-throat global economy, Singapore must compete on every front, including its tax environment, to attract businesses to invest and operate in Singapore. However, Madam, like my hon. colleague before me, Mr Inderjit Singh, I have concerns with regard to the amendments in the Bill on corporate tax at this point in time. We know that no policy exists in a vacuum. While the income tax amendments are a positive development, the rationale must be clearly communicated to the public. Coming hard on the heels of consumer price increases, the GST hike and the increases in ERP, the lowering of taxes for those perceived to be economically better off in society will draw criticism. If our Government does not explain its intentions clearly, the impression in the minds of the people will be of a government that is a reverse Robin Hood, ie, tax the poor and give to the rich.”
“I would like to ask the MOS a few supplementary questions. Given the importance of service standards in Singapore's economic growth, what plans are there for companies to institute customer service tracking systems so as to monitor customer service performance and close the gaps along the way? I would also like to check whether there is a programme to identify service champions amongst CEOs and companies in Singapore so as to provide a model of sorts for others to follow. Thirdly, in time to come, will we work towards establishing a customer service index in Singapore in view of the fact that the service industry is increasingly to be the pillar of growth for Singapore?”
“I would like to ask the SPS whether the PCP is also working in concurrence with employers. In other words, are we looking at PCP just for the dislodged PMETs, that means, those who have been retrenched or displaced from the mainstream of occupation? Or are we also taking a proactive step to work with employers who may have plans to redeploy these people to some other areas and, therefore, MOM can take a more proactive step to work with employers to retrain these people?”
“Thank you, Minister, for the clarification. I am just wondering whether, nationally, the Minister would encourage a scheme where we allow parents who are planning for a family to actually buy the insurance in advance and, in that way, perhaps we could actually reduce the risk for consultants.”
“Sir, three supplementary questions for the Minister. First, I would like to ask the Minister: through what means would the Ministry be considering the supply of properties to be increased? Second, whether MND would influence other agencies through fiscal policies, such as perhaps raising the reserve ratio or interest rates in response to managing the rising property prices in Singapore? Third, what specific plans does the Ministry have in the next three years to ease the rising property prices in Singapore?”
“Her sexual conduct will be questioned on the witness stand by the defence counsel and the public ordeal is often said to be psychologically worse than the results of the physical rape. The partial abolition of the marital rape immunity does not go far enough in protecting women who need to rely on it most. Women with access to legal advice and counsel are able to get separation documents or an injunction, but it is the most disadvantaged that will be the most dependent on their husbands as well as those who will have the least access to legal counsel. Should we not then be making every effort to protect them if we want to make this amendment more than just symbolism? Hence, Sir, while I support this Bill, I would also ask for marital rape to be fully recognised as an offence under the Penal Code and that it should be an offence whether or not the spouses are living apart or under an injunction or a court order. 3.25 pm”
“Sir, to supplement the legislative efforts in combating sexual abuse, I would also like to urge MCYS to take an aggressive role in educating parents on spotting tell-tale signs of sexual abuse and grooming. This can be done through the tried and tested use of information booklets for parents modelled after those in the UK. I would also further urge MOE to work in tandem with MCYS in the dissemination of such information as schools represent the greatest congregation of the individuals these laws seek to protect. It is laudable that we have recognised the problem: now we need to follow through with efforts that will ensure that the children we love and care for are safe on the Internet. Amendments to be improved upon Mr Speaker, Sir, currently, under section 375 of the Penal Code, a man cannot be penalised for forcing himself onto his wife. The amendment to section 375 of the Penal Code states that no man shall be guilty of an offence against his wife, who is not under 13 years of age, except where there was an injunction, a court order or the spouses were living apart. Sir, it is my belief that this provision must be taken further and that the immunity against charges of marital rape must be completely abolished. Why should a man be protected from the appalling crime of rape just because the person he rapes is his wife? Is not rape by any other name still a rape? An oft-cited concern for retaining the immunity against charges of marital rape is the fear that vindictive wives will falsely accuse their husbands of marital rape. Sir, in practice, such instances will be very rare, as the emotional and mental cost of reporting rape is very high. A woman who reports rape is often said to be "raped a second time".”
“Sir, the UK cyberspace research unit did a study shortly after the passing of the Sexual Offences Act in the UK. It discovered that 14% of the youths from ages 9 to 16 admitted to having engaged in some form of abusive cyber behaviour, although it was not clear what percentage of these actions would constitute an offence under the sexual grooming provision. In our Internet savvy generation, it is clear that the age of innocence is crossed before 21 years of age. I would urge the Minister to consider lowering the age at which this section can apply to 18 years. Also, while the abovementioned amendments are to be lauded, they must also be supplemented by stronger efforts at the community level against sexual predators. We need to translate these legal definitions into programmes at the community level that can reach out to the different stakeholders concerned for child safety: parent, teachers and children. We must educate the public in spotting signs of sexual abuse and how to counsel those who have been sexually abused. This was a challenge the UK faced after it brought section 15 of the UK Sexual Offences Act into being in 2003: how to make sure public education kept apace with the law. There was a dearth of research done in the fields of sexual grooming and Internet abuse, and I suspect that this might also be the case in Singapore. Fortunately, we do not need to start from scratch. I would like to urge MCYS to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Law by commissioning a study into the public education efforts embarked upon by other jurisdictions and how effective they have been in highlighting community efforts to combat sexual grooming.”
“Sir, I was reflecting on this issue and I realised that the Government is very much like the parents in the household. With a brood of children, born of the same parents, but with totally different characters, how do the parents ensure that within the family, there is space, tolerance, balance and peace and harmony in their co-existence? Of course, there are principles and values that parents must instil. But when there are disagreements, it is not enough to know what is wrong but it is important to know how to fix the problem as well. How could the parents do this without excluding any member of the family? This is the imperative task faced by the Government at the moment. Areas of clarification Sir, the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill also seeks to create the new offence of "Sexual grooming of minor under 16". Modelled after an existing English provision, the new offence is targeted at sexual predators who prowl Internet chatrooms in the hope of procuring minors for sexual activity. The relevant section is section 376E(1). This offence of sexual grooming follows the example of many jurisdictions in recognising the importance of legislative protection of minors. Overseas legislation that makes sexual grooming a crime can be found in section 15 of the UK's Sexual Offences Act, Australian Criminal Code (section 218A), and Canadian Criminal Code (section 172.1). My concern with the sexual grooming offence in the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill is that it is targeted only at persons of age 21 and above. There are, after all, many sexual crimes committed by those under the age of 21. Given the increasing Internet savviness of teenagers, it would be more appropriate to have the sexual grooming offence applicable to those of age 18 and above, similar to the age in the UK Act.”
“This is an essential step forward if we are to become a kinder, more caring and just society Also significant is the removal of minimum terms of imprisonment for four offences: section 379A on theft of motor vehicle or components, section 411 on dishonestly receiving stolen property, section 414 on assisting in concealment of stolen property (where it involves motor vehicle or components) and section 454 on lurking house-trespass or house- breaking in order to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment. Sir, this, like the increase in fine quantums, allows judges greater flexibility in sentencing. It is a clear sign that we trust the courts to balance the broader societal need to deter serious offences with the need to treat the individual offender fairly. In the explanatory notes to the amendment, it was said: "Minimum imprisonment terms will be removed, where possible.". I agree with this approach. Observations on debate on section 377A Sir, reactions to section 377A have been sharp and vocal, with several interest groups taking highly public positions on this particular provision. In fact, I understand that there is a disturbing undercurrent of violent hostilities surrounding this discussion. I would like to appeal to all interest groups and interested individuals to discuss section 377A in a calm and peaceful manner befitting a civil and civilised society. Sir, I would like to reiterate what Dr Balaji said recently, although in another context, and that is, "Whilst we encourage diversity in society, we must not allow divisiveness to cut society into a disintegrated one, especially in a small and open country like Singapore.". We must strike a balance.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill. The sweeping changes to Singapore's Penal Code are very much necessary to keep the law moving with the times. In the course of the debate on the amendments, much ink has been spilt and saliva spent on the most controversial amendments. Much technical analysis and criticism of the Bill have been made by legal academics. As a layperson, I feel that we should not miss the woods for the trees. As laws advance, it is important to examine their impact on society at large: legislation does not exist in a vacuum, and must constantly be assessed according to their relevance to society. I feel that it is perhaps the least remarkable amendments that most deserve mention for moving the Penal Code one step closer to creating the kind of society we want Singapore to be. Having said that, this revision should not be the last of its kind: continual improvements have to be made to weed out anachronistic and obsolete legislation as well as to incrementally build on the progress made in this and future amendments. Modernising the Code for a more just society Sir, 56 changes were made to fine quantums in the recent amendments. This is to be highlighted and lauded because it brings fine quantums up in line with the purchasing power of this day and age. Fines pegged at 1984 price levels are certainly unlikely to deter criminals in 2007. More importantly, increasing maximum fine ceilings also allow judges the important sentencing discretion of imposing higher fines rather than imprisonment. Sir, this is an important recognition that imprisonment should not be the first resort. Instead, rehabilitation outside of a prison environment should be the first choice for non-serious offences.”
“Sir, I would like to check with MOS what plan is in place in tracking some of these foreign talents taking up PR in Singapore and subsequently becoming Singapore citizens. And, to date, do we have any record of the progress made?”
“Given that the economy grows as it has on a quarter-to-quarter, and the real GDP growth for Singapore for three quarters fell 14.4% in Q2 2007 to 6.4% in Q3 2007, and with strong inflationary pressures from wages, up 8.5%, at a seven year high, and office rents up at about 50%, how does the Government intend to allay fears that the economy is over-heating?”
“I would like to thank the Minister for the very comprehensive and reassuring response. Sir, although this it the second year that Singapore is on the study, how does MTI intend to keep track of Singapore's rankings in such surveys? How will MTI cascade the action steps for improvement to the industry at large? And how are the results of such findings to be translated into action plans? Also, are there examples to showcase that we have tracked and how well are we doing in those areas that we have not fared so well in the past?”
“I would like to ask the Minister of State whether the Government is also engaging some actuarial experts to review the viability of the annuity scheme.”
“Sir, three supplementary questions. First, what are the reasons for the rather slow progress among the SMEs moving on to the non-seniority wage based system? Second, what can the Government do to speed up this conversion? Third, why is the CPF restoration for those above 50 years of age incumbent on the company and the employee being on the non-seniority wage system?”
“I thank the Minister for his clarifications and sharing on the state pension fund. Just like Mdm Halimah, I did not suggest or advocate for a state pension fund. Rather, I had suggested for a co-payment scheme for a very small group of old guards in their 80s and 90s who have missed out on the prosperity of Singapore. I think, to my mind, it is not likely that this pool will increase because when this group expires, the scheme will end. Also, a second point of clarification, as for the eldercare fund, it is really to help a group of Singaporeans who cannot look after themselves and it will not be a "no limit" scheme but rather a token gesture that will purport the values of compassion alongside self-reliance for the future generation.”
“For a business case to be credible and compelling enough to drive an executive action, the organisation needs company specific workforce and financial data accurately analysed in the light of the company's business strategy. The question is: are the HR departments ready and equipped to perform these strategic roles? A company needs to understand its own workforce and the external talent market it competes in. I urge MOM to set the stage for companies to practise strategic workforce planning. Today, Workforce Planning has been transformed into an analytic, modelling and forecasting tool that enables senior executives to make strategic business decisions with greater accuracy and confidence. Sir, CPF changes and the other measures aside, instilling a sense of fair employment deal, a national survey and strategic workforce planning are the next three major steps in this journey of evolving a more secure retirement in Singapore. On this note, I support the motion. 2.38 pm”
“One executive commented, "Older workforce wind up in self-directed careers, becoming project managers on ad hoc basis than as a result of the company's talent management plan." Another business leader commented, "... something gets out of whack in the employer-employee relationship", especially for the PMETs. Soon I realised that, like players in a game of blind man's bluff, these seasoned executives were groping in the dark for answers about the older workforce who have been around for 30, 40 or even 50 years. As the conversation progressed from domain knowledge to unexplored territory, it revealed a gaping hole in management science as existing management models have never addressed such issues in the past. Minister Lim Swee Say's speech of yesterday highlighted several important issues at the workplace which to date surveys have not captured. Common questions that have appeared in surveys do not deepen our understanding, root out new challenges or generate practical solutions. Following Minister Lim's point, perhaps the Government should commission a national survey to capture issues quantifying the challenges and current practices. For example, how significant are the issues? Which industries or functions are most affected? Who are the ones who have vital work skills who will be most difficult to replace? Until we have answers to these, it is a black box in front of us. My third proposition is to make a business case for the older workforce. Increasingly, companies want to capture the potential cost and benefits of recruiting, retaining or losing older workers.”
“To these young people, employability is more important, and they want sharing in the form of equity ownership, stimulating environment and skill enhancement opportunities. Employers must be awake to these divergent or manifold expectations and play their part in evolving a secure retirement system for Singaporeans. If we could maintain and uphold this trust and confidence at the workplace, especially for the PMETs in their 40s and 50s, the workforce will have no fear of not being retained or employed. How can employers and the Government do more in this area, especially for the PMETs? Will the impending re-employment of older workforce legislation be extended to cover this group? Next, on the national study or survey on ageing workforce. Sir, the ageing workforce is the pre-eminent HR issue of the coming decade, unprecedented in management history, and it will impact every conceivable aspect of HR management. All the small scale surveys and their findings on the older workforce to date have been more of the same. To cite a few examples, allow me to share this conversation session. A group of senior managers from a cross section of companies were discussing challenges of an older workforce. They started with a litany of structural barriers and retirement plans, to keeping retirees on the payroll. Then it moved into other areas like talent shortages or hard to fill jobs, rehiring retirees and flexible work time. But the conversation veered off in another direction, raising a number of provocative questions. Who constitutes the mature workforce? What do they want? How to retain the best and ease the exit of those who ought to be rid off without inviting an age discrimination suit?”
“Sir, the Prime Minister spoke of Singapore as a city of possibilities. Surely, this must be a signature trade mark of future Singapore, and not just legislation and rules. How to create possibilities, choices, flexibility, care and compassion? That anything is possible must surely be the new brand of future Singapore. For this, Sir, we must seriously consider an eldercare fund and co-payment scheme for the longevity insurance for a select group of deserving Singaporeans in this city of possibilities. Next, I will touch on my views from a human resource perspective. First, on fair employment deal and a shared destiny to give a sense of security. All the issues raised underline a fundamental point, that sense of security remains a prime consideration and is related to issues of reciprocity and fairness. Employees fully understand that "job for life security" is gone, but they expect performance-based security. As long as they perform, contributing to results, they want to feel that they can and will have some form of security, whether it is expressed in terms of continuing employment or financial success sharing. The message for employers must be not to try to eliminate the notion of security as part of the employment deal, but rather to redefine it in the context of a shared destiny. For some elderly workforce who are beyond training, the fruits of shared destiny will indeed be long-term employment, ie, the notion of from cradle to grave, resurrected once again. For others, issues such as developmental opportunities and skill building are more important, especially companies dependent on young, highly skilled professionals and technical employees. These young ones do not look for life-time career with the same company.”
“If the estimation of $4,000-$7,000 is needed for the compulsory annuity, I believe that the eldercare fund could be tapped onto to assist CPF members who have more pressing needs for their Minimum Sum for other purposes such as paying for their medical bills or children's tertiary education especially when Singaporeans are having children so much later in life. Sir, I am not advocating for freebies but in the spirit of self-reliance and mutual help, to further nurture a caring and compassionate society, perhaps the Government could institute some form of co-payment financed by investment returns from the financial reserves. This will go a long way in reaching out to the needy old and not forgetting also the unsung heroes, like the samsuis and the old guards who had tirelessly and unstintingly built the foundations of modern-day Singapore. These are old men and women who respectively have fought the Communists and Barisan Sosialis, risking their lives and toiled the soil to build modern Singapore in the late 1950s and 1960s. Sir, many of the living ones in their 70s, 80s and 90s are in need of assistance, as some have outlived their family members or caregivers. They will not be made any richer even with the assistance of their longevity insurance, but the gesture from the Government can touch and melt the heart and gain the respect of Singaporeans at large. How many more years can these geriatrics go? Sir, such a gesture will go down in history for generations to come, to show how compassion must not be forgotten in our strive to instil self-reliance. I am sure the younger Singaporeans will not begrudge such a gesture shown to those who had indeed contributed to Singapore. And we are not advocating giving to all and sundry, and it is not as though we cannot afford it.”
“Sir, having been with the aviation industry before for 16 years, I can attest that the international accolades on Changi Airport must be attributed back not only to the foresight of the leaders, but also the elderly cleaners and operators who worked relentlessly round-the-clock to make Changi Airport tick and its arrival and departure halls as well as toilets spotlessly clean. To this group and others like them, the Government has a responsibility to look after them. No doubt the first line of responsibility for looking after the poor and elderly is their immediate family members, but some family members may not be able to do so as they have their own commitment to fulfil. The next hope is to wait upon charity. Yes, there are Government schemes also to help the poor in Singapore but what else can the Government do for special groups of the ageing workforce? We want to be able to include them in the annuity scheme. It is not about old wine in new bottles but what is more for the needy who do not want to be excluded? Just as much as the Government is providing the financial resources for continual learning, skills upgrading and the like, to putting aside millions and billions of dollars in endowment funds, which earnings through interests and other investment returns are used to operationalise the various schemes, would it not be possible to set aside some money into what I would advocate as an endowment elder fund care for the aged? We could use the investment incomes to pay for the annuity premiums for the special group or subsidise the premiums. Minister Tharman has explained that the reserves are not to be touched and there is no disagreement here. We are referring to investment returns that could be set aside.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first, I would like to dwell further on the points brought up by hon. MPs like Amy Khor, Halimah Yacob and Inderjit Singh on the real issues of ordinary men on the street who do not have a job because either they are too old, physically disabled, mentally unsound or just cannot find a job. What more can the Government do besides exempting some of them? Sir, self-reliance is a discipline, but mutual help, care and compassion are virtues that make a stronger generation of Singaporeans. Sir, rather than give what the people ask for now, a good government must also plan to give future generations what they would need. This would always be a conflicting battle between what is good now and what would be good for the future. Sir, Singaporeans react differently to the impending CPF changes. To some, the frequent changes and complex nature of the CPF have led them to fear that the CPF has become "cannot provide forever". The rumbling on the ground is that the Government is shirking its responsibility in looking after the under-privileged as well as those who, after they have toiled for the country and who are now in their most vulnerable years, are having to pay a tax on an annuity scheme to take care of themselves. In the mind of the masses, especially the 20% lower income, their argument has always been that, if there is no economic protection given to them in their wages and where foreign workers are perceived, rightly or wrongly, as competing with them, then they would expect that in their vulnerable years, the Government will look after them when they can no longer look after themselves.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the SPS: in view of the wider range of sports activities that are being introduced, eg, inline skating and even bowling in some of the schools, for the poorer students who are game at taking competitive sports in some of these more expensive sports, I would like to know to what extent is the MOE actually subsidising some of these expensive sports, such as bowling and inline skating. Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: It is for the purpose of encouraging widespread participation in schools that the SEP was actually formulated so that all students, regardless of their financial background, are able to take up interesting sports like inline skating and so forth. ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING COVERAGE (Adjustments) 12. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Transport whether the adjustments to the ERP coverage can be made after the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) has been opened to traffic and a further assessment of the traffic conditions is made so as to take into account the revised traffic conditions.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary: (1) In view of the fact that the jobs in these sectors are not exportable, ie, we are going to depend very much on Singaporeans to do these jobs, and the very heartening news that the places in the tertiary institutions have increased from 2,000 to 3,000, I would like to know what is the percentage of the places that are going to Singaporeans versus foreign students? (2) In what other ways are we doing to actually persuade and convince Singaporeans to go into these sectors?”
“In fact, most complaints relate to having money being locked up in the CPF, making it tough to make ends meet in times of severe illnesses or not being able to access the money despite having a terminal illness. But we know that this is not true. The current CPF Act provides for withdrawal in such circumstances. Therefore, more support for CPF policies can be garnered if people truly understand what CPF is about and how it benefits them. How can the Minister look into ways to better reach out to the general public? On this note, I support the amendments in the Bill. 5.25 pm”
“But such protection of the Minimum Sum and Medisave Minimum Sum will become all the more critical as members reach retirement age. I would therefore caution against any attempt, even by a court of law, to have funds in these accounts touched for purposes other than which they were designed for. Sir, with reference to section 58A on offences relating to investment, the inclusion of this new section will give the CPF Board more teeth to prosecute any member and/or third parties who willfully defraud the Board into releasing members' funds through the manipulation of the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS). I see this amendment as both proactive and preventive. Given the tight conditions on the use of CPF funds today, and the extended withdrawal age and withdrawal limits to come, there will no doubt be creative attempts to effect premature withdrawals illegally. The CPF Investment Scheme is a convenient conduit for such attempts. I would like to ask the Minister whether there are comprehensive measures in place to ensure we plug any loopholes and provide punitive measures against any attempt to defraud the Board. Sir, like my colleague before me, I am also in agreement that CPF can be very complex for the layman to understand. Even the CPF website does not provide easy access to the basics of CPF. The concern is how are the less educated and those who are unable to read be able to understand the intricacies of CPF. Perhaps, we could organise more roadshows in the heartlands to educate the people, at least, inform them about the exact workings of the CPF and their benefits and rights, especially with regard to situations where they can withdraw their CPF savings and what CPF can be used for.”
“Sir, with reference to Part IIIA, section 27B, on order of court for transfer or payment of money standing to the credit of a member, I applaud the amendment to facilitate transfer of property to the ex-spouse. At the meet-the-people sessions, MPs often have to grapple with the plight of ex-spouses who have no immediate means to take over or sell the property because of the need to refund the CPF used for the purchase of common property before the divorce. Sir, I am informed through the briefing notes from the Ministry of Manpower relating to these amendments that the new amendments will allow a court order to effect an immediate transfer of a member's CPF monies to the CPF account of his or her ex-spouse. This, according to the notes, will be done without the Minimum Sum and Medisave Minimum Sum first having to be set aside. Unfortunately, I cannot find mention of this in the amendments tabled. I therefore seek confirmation that this is indeed the intent of the new Part IIIA of this Bill. If this were so, then I fear we are getting into dangerous waters. Let me first reiterate that I am all in support of the Women's Charter, and for the protection of the rights of all parties in divorce proceedings. By all means, we must give ex-spouses what is due to them from the members' Ordinary Accounts. However, we must constantly remind ourselves of the intent of the CPF Act. The CPF is intended as a form of savings for its members, and especially to create a nest egg to sustain members through their retirement years. As the Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech underlines, retirement and ageing will become major issues in the years to come. The CPF Act has relentlessly protected this right all these years, some would say more aggressively than is necessary.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to acknowledge a few observations and highlight a few issues in relation to the amendments tabled. First, I applaud the amendment to section 18. This amendment will add greater flexibility to CPF members who wish to support their aged parents, grandparents and siblings, and provide greater voluntary support for the aged. Sir, as mentioned by the Minister, our population is fast greying. In fact, according to a Straits Times' report last Friday, the dependency ratio will grow from nine economically active persons supporting one older person over 65 years old today to 3:1 by 2030. Sir, this amendment will help Singaporeans take personal responsibility for caring for their loved ones in their sunset years. It is not unnecessarily onerous, as the member will have any outstanding funds credited back to his account upon the death of those loved ones to whom he has made contributions. It also provides greater flexibility for CPF members to transfer part of their savings to the Special Accounts of those who have not yet reached 55 years of age. Like my colleague, Mdm Halimah, before me, I would also like to ask whether top-ups for Medisave account of family members are included. Sir, the Government has always championed the development of the family as our basic social unit. This amendment will go a long way towards strengthening of the institution of the family. I also applaud amendments to sections 18A and 18B, which allow a member to transfer funds from his Ordinary Account to his retirement account. These new provisions will enable a CPF member to plan and manage his retirement financing needs more proactively and at an earlier stage.”
“Also, coming from an academic domain, they may be able to provide fresh insights and perspectives to an issue that may elude practising members, whether from the public or private sector. Sir, as a human resource practitioner, I warmly welcome the establishment of Personnel Boards for the LSC. Like any other organisations, the Singapore Legal Service faces the challenge of attracting, developing and retaining the best talents. Indeed, our goal so far as to say that the HR challenges of the Singapore Legal Service may be even more daunting, is that it needs to attract talents from a specialised discipline. We need to attract and keep the best legal eagles available to ensure the wheels of justice continue to work efficiently in Singapore. My colleagues before me, Mr Christopher de Souza and others, are such fine examples. Sir, I am compelled to express some disquiet at the proposed amendments to the First Schedule, in particular, the shortened oaths of office for the Prime Minister, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. The existing oaths are very specific on the duties and responsibilities of these officeholders, especially with regard to counsel and advice to the President and to the need for non-disclosure information. The new shorter oaths are curiously absent on these duties and responsibilities. It is in the nature of law to be specific because the specifics provide the springwell of accountability. Some would say that the devil is in the details. I would like to enquire why these oaths of office need to be shorter. The existing oaths are only four paragraphs long, and I am sure reciting the existing oath is not onerous on the Prime Minister, Ministers or Parliamentary Secretaries. 4.03 pm”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Constitution provides the foundation upon which all other Singapore laws are promulgated. It is the mother of Singapore laws. Unlike my fellow parliamentarians who are celebrated legal talents, I am speaking as a lay person. I want to take this opportunity to raise one observation and a few questions on the amendments tabled before us. Sir, clause 2 provides for the expansion of the membership base to include a maximum of two members to be nominated, each by the Chief Justice, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and the Prime Minister. This makes for a maximum of six members to replace three members who include a Supreme Court Judge. Sir, in view of the concerns raised by my NMP parliamentary colleague, I think it is very important for DPM to further explain the rationale so as to ensure that people do not in any way misconstrue the new structure to be a form of interference by the Executive in the legal process. Sir, in reading clause 2, I also understand that the LSC membership might include lawyers with more than 10 years of experience in private practice. I welcome this inclusion, as it will no doubt expose the LSC to the best practices of the private sector and, hopefully, sensitise the LSC to the challenges faced by the private sector. But, Sir, I also wish to enquire why such membership to the LSC did not include members of the academia. I would certainly imagine that these learned men and women of the law, whose activities include in-depth research, would provide the LSC with useful inputs into its deliberations as well as to its decision-making process.”
“I would like to ask the Minister, in view of this incident and the experience that we have gained, how else and how differently would EDB and MOE be engaging future foreign universities to come to Singapore in our pursuit of making Singapore an education hub.”
“Sir, the amendments to the Fourth Schedule to provide for exemption for Islamic financing is another exciting development that I fully support. These amendments will no doubt support the growth of Islamic financing, which is attracting a great deal of interest in the business community. My only question is, why is this exemption restricted only to non-residential property transactions? Why can we not extend this to other forms of business financing as well? Members may be interested to know that Islamic financing and banking is not just for Muslims. In other countries which also practise Islamic finance, many financial institutions have reported that between 30-40% of their Islamic financing clients are non-Muslim companies. Because Islamic finance is not based on an interest rate paradigm, these companies have found that they enjoy greater predictability in their budgeting and they can protect themselves against sudden changes in interest rates. Sir, I hope the Minister for Trade and Industry can seriously consider extending this exemption to other areas of Islamic financing, therefore creating a new impetus to the development of this very promising sector. Sir, on this note, I rise in support of the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill. 3.15 pm”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill. I welcome the amendments to section 21, especially those relating to overseas advertisements. While the amendments relating to the promulgation of advertisements outside Singapore extend the existing provisions of zero rating for exports and international services, I am heartened that they have now included overseas advertisements. Certainly, this new amendment will, I believe, contribute significantly to two critical areas. The first is to support Singapore's effort at becoming a media hub. I hope these amendments will attract more advertising agencies and media houses to locate in Singapore, as the advertisements they book for their clients out of Singapore will be zero rated. Secondly, these amendments will enable and encourage our local companies to promote their products and services in international markets, thus supporting further our globalisation drive. By zero rating international advertisements, our local companies can drive and coordinate more effective international marketing and promotion programmes out of their home offices. Sir, I am also heartened by amendments to section 21A, which relate to the zero rating of tools and other supplies from the manufacture of goods for foreign persons. I believe these amendments will help drive down the cost of doing business for our local companies doing sub-contract work for foreign companies. The effect of zero rating will help make our local sub-contractors more competitive. In this regard, Sir, I wish to ask if such zero rating will also apply to manufacturing tools by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and contract manufacturers. Both of these sectors are fast growing and attractive markets for our local companies, both large and SMEs.”
“But we must not just be looking at the inconveniences faced by the contracts because of such measures. At the same time, I think we must also consider the plight of residents having to live through the day and night and even on weekends with the noise. Sir, besides depending on complaints to track recalcitrant contractors, what other measures are being taken to educate contractors on noise pollution? Where the construction activities coincide with school examination periods, especially during the PSLE, 'O' and 'A' levels and university examinations, would the Ministry consider barring construction activities from being carried out during the night and on weekends as well as public holidays? Contractors will find that it makes business sense, in terms of dollars and cents, to keep the noise level down. This will also create a more favourable image, understanding and acceptance of the other inconveniences that residents may have to put up with as a result of their construction activities, such as dust, detours and others. On this note, Sir, I support the Environmental Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill. 6.15 pm”
“Whilst the intent of the Bill is noble as it seeks to protect and manage, it is just as important that there is a proper process to manage the suppliers. The Bill must not just come on, on the suppliers from a punitive approach. That must be the last resort. At all times, the process to convert suppliers to comply must convey education, persuasion and seriousness that leads to meting out fines and imprisonment. The latter should be the last resort. Sir, Singaporeans are a pragmatic lot, and I am confident that their consumer instincts will prevail in selecting the most energy-efficient products. Their pragmatism will guide them not only in the prices of these products, but also their potential to save consumers on their electricity bills. Construction noise control Sir, in past sessions in this House, I have highlighted the problem of noise pollution caused by construction activities near to or in the housing estates. As a highly urbanised country, we can accept the inevitability of construction activities so close to our homes. With tight deadlines, building contractors are often forced to extend their activities into the night and even Sundays and public holidays. However, as I have highlighted in the past, the noise from these construction activities tend to affect residents adversely. I am therefore glad to support the amendments to this Bill as they relate to the penalties for noise pollution. The higher penalties of fines and compositions will no doubt motivate contractors to look into more effective ways to control noise pollution from their activities. However, to cushion the pressure of cost and time constraint, as raised by hon. Member Lee Bee Wah, I urge NEA to consider partaking in subsidising the measures to control noise pollution.”
“Sir, I rise in support of this Bill. With increasing worldwide concern over climate change and the environment, this Bill is certainly most timely. Although Singapore is a small country, this Bill will help us play our part in conserving energy, and in creating a better living environment for Singaporeans. Mandatory energy labelling Sir, a voluntary Energy Labelling Scheme has been in operation since 2002. To date, less than 25% of refrigerator and air-conditioner models in the market have been labelled. Manufacturers and retailers have obviously not shown much enthusiasm to this scheme, and for obvious reasons. Fridges and air-conditioners are energy guzzlers, and energy labelling will no doubt highlight this fact. With the passing of the amendments to this Bill, energy labelling will become mandatory. This Bill will create a leveller, enabling consumers to choose products which are more energy-efficient. What timeline are we looking at to reach a higher percentage for energy labelling of refrigerators and air-conditioners in the market? How else will the Ministry engage in an awareness programme to promote a switch to energy-saving products? To encourage importers and manufacturers to register with NEA, would NEA be giving any form of grants or incentives to expedite a swifter change to energy-saving goods? Suppliers are given a grace period of six months to clear their existing stocks. Would the NEA consider some form of rebates to help expedite this process? Sir, this Bill will subject offenders who fail to label their goods or mislead with information to fine and both fine and imprisonment respectively. How will NEA be tracking for compliance and would there be any recourse for the supplier who may have failed to comply because of extenuating circumstances?”
“Secondly, in the matter of the Fourth Schedule, paragraph 2: "The section 54 prohibition shall not apply to any merger if the economic efficiencies arising or that may arise outweigh the adverse effects due to the substantial lessening of competition in the relevant market in Singapore." Sir, this argument can be potentially contentious. It is not unusual for business dealings, including mergers, to be packaged with the most noble objectives. The road to heaven, they say, is paved with good intentions. Yet, mergers which initially demonstrate great economic efficiencies may not be able to sustain them in the dynamics of the business world, where change is the only constant. Even merged entities themselves undergo transformations and further mergers. Many are overtaken by new technology, new competitors, new business processes as to themselves become uncompetitive. I would like to know the circumstances under which such "dispensations" are given, and what safeguards there are for the section 54 prohibitions to apply if the economic efficiencies from these mergers are themselves outweighed by the adverse effects on the competitive climate. In other words, if these mergers prove later to be uncompetitive, can the section 54 or other prohibitions apply? Sir, with these concerns, I rise to support the passing of the Competition Bill.”
“Sir, I support the amendments in this Bill. Sir, Singapore has grown and prospered as an open economy and we continue to do so in a world economy that encourages free and open trade. As a member of the WTO and as a signatory of several Free Trade Agreements, we also embrace the ideal of open competition. In preparing for this new era of open and free global trade, we have deregulated and liberalised a number of economic sectors, including banking, telecommunications and others. Singapore companies must anticipate the entry of new, and perhaps bigger and stronger, foreign entities as their competitors. They will have to design and develop new competitive strategies to continue growing and compete effectively in the new economic landscape. One such response may be to enter into corporate mergers and acquisitions, either with local or even with new foreign partners. The Government must be proactive to these changes. We must strengthen our laws to ensure that such corporate mergers, acquisitions and other forms of partnerships do not create monopolistic entities that are detrimental to Singapore's open, competitive and pro-business environment. Indeed, our open, pro-business environment has become our differentiator and competitive advantage, and we must ensure nothing blunts this edge. Sir, I do have a few questions to raise for clarification on this Bill. First, may I know the rationale for replacing the criterion for a joint venture to be considered a merger, from its function on an "indefinite basis" to one that functions on a "lasting basis"? How does the law differentiate between "indefinite basis" and "lasting basis"?”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether we have the resources and capacity to train our manpower in these areas to meet the growing demands. In some skill sets, there is a global shortage, such as for environmental engineers, construction engineers and process engineers. How can Singapore compete for these resources?”