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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“Sir, I have three supplementary questions for the MOS: (1) What kind of guidelines is the Ministry drawing up to ensure that there will be organised programmes to bring about a more consistent performance standard among foreigners who come to work in Singapore? (2) What is the Ministry doing with regard to programmes on integrating foreigners with the Singaporean workforce? and (3) How does the Ministry go about ensuring that the foreign workforce in Singapore would be protected from unscrupulous employers?”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for the comprehensive response to my questions. Sir, I have two supplementary questions for the Minister: Would the Ministry consider some sort of a relocation grant to ease the burden of some of the SMEs who have actually been forced to shift because of redevelopment? In view of the fact that from now till 2010, when there will be more supply of office space, in the interim, would the Minister consider liberalising the use of residential homes for some of these operations?”
“Given that the bulk of spam is from overseas, we can reasonably expect that the winners will be the foreign spammers with their Viagra and organ enlargers. The losers will be our local law-abiding SMEs who are trying to leverage the Internet as a low-cost marketing medium to promote their honest business. I would like to ask the Minister to seriously reconsider the <ADV> tag, if only to give a level playing field to our local SMEs. Sir, the intent of the Spam Control Bill is good, but I hope the House will give due attention to some of the concerns that I have raised. 2.13 pm”
“They achieve it by 'hijacking' the PCs of innocent users, and using these 'zombie' computers as relays to send out their bulk mail. Many innocent users have become unwitting partners, unaware that their PCs and servers are being used so. This raises the question, Sir, of whether this Bill will implicate such unwitting users who do not even know their PCs and servers have been hijacked and used as relays. I therefore wish to ask: what protection does this Bill provide for such users whose computers are hijacked as 'zombies'? Punishing the innocent and rewarding the guilty Sir, section 3 of the Second Schedule ("Labelling and Other Requirements") requires every unsolicited electronic message to have the "<ADV>" tag in the header or message of the email. Ostensibly, this is to identify the message as an advertisement. In the early days of the Internet, the <ADV> tag was regarded as part of netiquette, to alert the recipients that the email was an advertisement. The user could then choose whether to open the message. Today, the <ADV> tag is a kiss of death! Allow me to explain. Messages tagged with <ADV> can easily be identified by today's anti-spam software and filtered out of the system, ie, relegated to the Junk Mail folder or even deleted automatically. In other words, the user may not even get the chance to view the title of the message. Compare this with the foreign spam which is not tagged, and which can and do bypass most anti-spam software. Sir, I fear the net effect of this <ADV> tag is to punish the innocent (those who abide by this Act) by having their messages filtered out automatically, and reward the guilty (those who do not tag their messages).”
“I would venture to guess that local spam makes up less than 1% - although the Minister had earlier on said, maybe 20% - of the total spam that I receive. Yes, these emails, while unsolicited, are not entirely unwelcome. Sir, this leads me to ask: why are we introducing a law that does not solve 99% of the problem, but instead goes after the 1% of local spammers whose crime appears to promote local and legitimate products and services? If the intent of this Bill is to prevent Singapore from becoming a transmission point for spam to be sent overseas, then I believe our local ISPs would be better equipped to nip the problem in the bud. Indeed, it would be in the interest of our ISPs to ensure that their servers do not becoming spam relays, as that would impose a heavy and an unnecessary burden on their servers and bandwidth. Opt-out scheme Sir, I am heartened by section 2 of the Second Schedule (Unsubscribe facility). Inherent in this section is the adoption of an opt-out, instead of an opt-in, philosophy. I welcome this as a progressive move, as it is not onerous upon legitimate businesses wanting to promote their goods and services through e- marketing. Unfortunately, Sir, and this is no fault of those who drafted this Bill, many users cannot always differentiate between local and foreign spam. The very act of unsubscribing confirms to the spammer that he has a 'live' email address, in contrast to one generated randomly by his software. Such 'live' addresses are especially valuable to the spammer and, far from getting the user off a mailing list, it may actually cause the user to receive even more spam! Zombie computers Sir, many international spammers do not achieve their dubious reputation of being able to send millions of emails by deploying their own computers.”
“Sir, I rise in support of the Spam Control Bill. I applaud the Government for introducing this legislation as it will no doubt enhance Singapore's reputation as an infocomm hub. This Bill will also prevent Singapore from becoming a regional relaying point for overseas spammers to send their spam to our neighbours. I believe there are very few Members who have not been on the receiving end of spam, and would welcome this Bill if only to see an end to this scourge among all email users. Unfortunately, Sir, I think many Members will be disappointed. This Bill may not stop spam entirely. Allow me to voice a few observations of this problem and some concerns over this Bill. Most spam is foreign My first observation, Sir, is that the bulk of the spam we have been receiving is coming from overseas. The sale of Viagra, the solicitation for obscure stocks, and of course the invitation to profit from ill-gotten gains from Nigeria and their many variations - all these have come from overseas. The spam mail appears to be indiscriminate. Forgive me for my biological description. My good friend's husband has received solicitations to have his breasts enlarged, and my good friend too has received solicitations to have her 'male member' elongated. The few spam mails that I do receive from Singapore have more to do with invitations to attend training courses and seminars, and sale of legitimate products and services. Most are from our local SMEs, although I do receive an occasional mail from individual entrepreneurs selling home-made trinkets and other products. In contrast to the foreign spam, I would say our local spammers are quite legitimate businesses, clearly identifiable and quite responsible.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I respect and am very touched by PM's sincere gesture to hold his salary for five years and to donate the increase to charity. But, Sir, I fear maybe this is a rub-off of the paranoidial culture of the PAP Government. I fear that, out there, there may be others who may be taking PM's magnanimous gesture as a retreat and a face-saving admission that the policy is flawed. And I think it is so important for us to emphasise and underscore in this Chamber that what PM has done is really because he cares for Singaporeans and I hope PM will make a clear clarification here.”
“The economy is doing well as a whole, and if any adjustments are to be made, it must be done when things are looking rosy and bright, although it may not be so for every one. There is never a right timing. Sir, our Ministers and civil servants have done a sterling job in making Singapore the developed nation that it is today, carrying a uniquely Singapore Brand. The Government and Ministers do not deserve the “disdain or cynicism” that is generated every time their pay or its determination is mentioned. I do not agree that political office is demeaned by paying competitive private-sector salaries, so long as the benchmarking is above board and appropriately reviewed. It takes a rare breed to make it to the top anywhere and, for that, we need to pay a premium. It is a globalised world that offers many attractive options, and we all know that the rules of the game have changed for every one. It is no longer relevant to follow the paths of the Tony Blairs and George Bushs. Sir, no one can deny that the Singapore Brand has given a boost to many, and especially the private-sector businesses that have thrived on this brand. Singapore's approach is breaking new ground but, eventually, I am pretty sure that many countries will have to follow suit, just like in our road pricing approach. Therefore, another precedent created by Singapore Inc. We do not need to apologise for instituting a pay philosophy that advocates for salary to commensurate with the worth of the job and performance of the incumbents. All we need to do is to fine-tune the formulation process for the salary benchmarking. On this note, Sir, I support the motion. 6.27 pm”
“Whatever the formula, it will always be a judgement call. So who makes this judgement is crucial. Perhaps, the salary benchmark could be revised to consider the existing remuneration packages of the 10 or so largest listed companies and a judgment based on how many times larger the Minister’s job size is, compared to that of these 10 CEOs. The judgment should be made by an appointed expert panel. Sir, there have also been rumblings that the heat on high wages is happening in pockets of the economy and not widespread yet. But once the cue is on, where the civil service and Government take the lead, then it can be expected that pressure will be put on, especially on the non-financial sectors. SMEs are going to be hard hit in their bid for talents. It will start an inflationary wage spiral. Business costs will go up and some businesses may become uncompetitive because of high wage costs. Sir, this is the time for us to reinforce the importance of flexible wage policy. The scheme towards a variable component with a high portion linked to performance of the individual and the economy is the right thing to do. Therefore, employers who can afford and need to align with market rate would do well to use the variable component that realistically compensates for real-time performance and keep the fixed component low. For others, this is a good time to do the catch-up and put it right, especially if employee salaries have been lagging behind. Where the company could ill afford hefty increases, employees must not abandon ship for another 50 bucks. The test to building trust and fairness could not have come at a more appropriate time for both employers and employees.”
“The directions taken by the Government today is correct, but I would advocate further refinements in the process. In large public-listed companies, the review of salaries is not done internally but by a remuneration committee staffed by independent directors. It may be prudent for the approach pioneered in 1994 to be reviewed and validated by an independent expert panel appointed specifically for this. There may be a need, therefore, for this formula to be validated by a properly constituted panel, as has been suggested by many academics and professionals, perhaps comprising remuneration experts, MPs and private sector CEOs. The use of market salary benchmarks for transparency is definitely welcome. Is the latest $2.2 million salary benchmark too high? Based on our estimate, the size of a Minister’s job is significantly larger than the CEO’s job at some of the largest listed Singapore companies. If we were to extrapolate a market salary based on the published CEO salary data of these companies, this benchmark is not too high. But, technically, the salary benchmark in its current form is difficult to defend because they relate to individual earnings and not to “market basic salary rates”. Also, the fact that the benchmark has been developed internally can be construed as self-serving. Given that the 48 individuals in the six professions may not be the same individuals year after year, are we comparing apples with apples, given that the cohort of civil servants and political office-holders may remain the same for a good five years? Should we also use a five-year moving average for a more realistic measure of earnings over a period of time, rather than to peg it against the incomes of the previous year?”
“Sir, this debate boils down to a question of value and worth. How much do we value our civil servants and Ministers, and how much are they worth? Almost every one, from the man-on-the-street to the Opposition MP in this Chamber, has a view on how much is too much but no one seems to be able to say how much is just right. Is it realistic to peg the revised salaries to private-sector levels? Think about it. The size of a $230 billion economy as well as millions of lives are dependent on this group of civil servants and political leaders, and, if they fail, it is as good as a nation of 45 years under the PAP being wiped off completely. So can we ever overpay them for that humongous task ahead? Will a Minister resign because his pay does not match market rates? Perhaps we should ask Dr Tony Tan and Mr S Dhanabalan, both successful top bankers, why they devoted their best years to serving the people. Dr Tony Tan even responded to a “recall” to become Deputy Prime Minister when the need arose. Did both of them do it just for the money? Were they adequately compensated for their sacrifices, ie, did they enjoy the same financial perks as Ministers as they did when they were bankers? Sir, the crux of it all is: can we really tag a price to our political leadership? I think not. It is, as I said, priceless. We know that the call of duty to the public office is beyond dollars and cents. It takes more than capabilities and competence. It involves sacrifice and service. And if that were so, what is $2.2 million compared to $5 million that we pay the CEO of SingTel? Sir, I support the principle of paying for the worth of the job and performance of the incumbent.”
“Some say that throwing money at a problem is a lot more complex than dollars and sense, especially as measuring quality of “public service” in purely financial terms is becoming very crude and money cannot substitute for leadership that is low on “people” skills. We have to go beyond the salary issue. Instead, we must inculcate tolerance, trust, fairness and integrity among people managers. Sir, let me now turn to the issue of Ministers’ salaries. Many Singaporeans would argue that Ministers cannot be compared to civil servants, even top civil servants. They are not recruited from a job advertisement. Ministers are elected by the will of the people in the General Elections, and then appointed from among their peers of MPs. These differences should help us better understand what drives a Minister in his job. And they should guide us in evaluating how a Minister should be remunerated. So what drives a Minister in his job? Is it merely the pay, or is it also his own value system and his commitment to serve the people? Ministers operate, or should operate, with a spirit of service to the people who elected them. There is nothing in the private sector to match this privilege and the responsibility that comes with it. If governing Singapore is a task far larger than governing a corporation and requires skills of a different sort, it only goes to show that it comes with almost a priceless tag. Some would argue that Ministers may not necessarily perform as well in the private sector. My rejoinder to this is, it similarly applies to the private honchos. Therefore, given the extra EQ and sacrifice required of the political leadership, all the more compelling it is to peg their worth to that of the top private sector CEOs.”
“But I would argue that such attrition is a natural outcome of good economic times. Even private sector employers are lamenting the rise in job-hopping. Sir, many ask: how does the attrition rate in the Administrative Service compare with the attrition rate of the brightest in the six professions used for the salary benchmark? Are they also losing their best? If so, would we end up spiralling the wages of those whom we benchmark against? In other words, we could inevitably start a game of musical chairs in this competition for talents, as the ones overtaken will now benchmark against the newly-installed top earners, and the game goes on. Hence, the need to caution using salary benchmarking as the only solution to attrition issues. Many of the former Administrative Service officers who have left for the private sector deny that it was higher pay that pulled them away. Most cited other reasons, such as yearning for more exciting challenges. Some professionals whose scholar-children in the Administrative Service are under very intense pressure to perform, as they have not reached Head of Department yet, say this is the problem - not that of the level of Superscale or Minister's pay, but it is the intense working conditions of those yet to prove themselves that is “pushing” the younger Administrative Officers to join the private sector. So, is it a case of treating all problems like a nail just because the hammer is the only available tool? The sterling performance and the integrity of our civil service and public administrators have been acknowledged worldwide. To maintain this level of performance, we must endeavour to attract and retain the right talents. This requires good human capital management.”
“To do it after the fact would be like closing the stable door after the stallion has bolted. HR departments would want to inculcate a pay philosophy which nurtures a high performance culture. This ultimate measure is what CEOs owe to business enterprises in the commercial world. For the Government, it is accountable to the people and businesses for the success of the nation - the whole complete proposition of stability, safety, security and economic prosperity. It is logical to ensure that we have the best brains and minds in the civil service and at the helm of political leadership in running Singapore Inc., the biggest and most complex enterprise in a sea of vulnerability: complex in its character, for we are a nation of multi-racial and multi-religious people; vulnerable, because we are surrounded by neighbours with highly different priorities, survival requirements and resources, and who constantly blow hot and cold at us. To govern such a nation effectively with precise outcomes year after year has been the hallmark of our civil service and political leadership. In the stock market, Singapore Inc. is definitely a superior blue chip that pays good dividends year after year to its shareholders. So, we have to make sure that those who make good returns are well evaluated and remunerated for their effort. Sir, the civil service is Singapore’s biggest employer. It must compete with the private sector to attract and retain the best talents. During the recession years, the civil service was a good port in a storm. Many unemployed lawyers and engineers signed up for teaching, and many are returning to the private sector during good times. This may explain the rise in resignations, from 4.8% in 2005 to 5.7% last year.”
“Sir, this debate is highly emotive. I wish we would look at the bigger picture and not allow emotions to cloud the realities of the war for talent that is raging in this global market today. My speech will consider the following: competition for talents, reasons for attrition and issues beyond salary, refining the process of benchmarking with independent panel and market salary benchmarking of job size, the importance of flexible wage policy, reinforcing the Uniquely Singapore Brand. Competition for talents Competition for talents Sir, the issue at hand is what will happen if we lose talents from the civil service. The conventional wisdom is salaries must go up to match what the private sector is paying for the best. But is the risk of losing talent real or perceived? Are there other reasons why talented people leave the civil service? This begs the next question: is money the only way to “block” the drain on talent? While turnover statistics from the civil service might point to the mid-level officers leaving the service, the turnover rates for the creme de la creme in the Administrative Service, eg, the Deputy Secretary, the Permanent Secretary and for that matter, equivalent grades in the political leadership and Judiciary is practically nil. Does that mean that we need not worry about this group of hotshots whom some critics may say have already benefited from generous scholarships? But from a HR perspective, caught in a competition for talents, there is a need to proactively revise the compensation package to ensure that something is being done to retain the best in the midst of the competition for talents. It is about due diligence and not taking what you have for granted.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State when does the Ministry actually consider it appropriate to install road humps in addition to the signages like the Enhanced School Zone and Slow Down markings.”
“I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary to enlighten the House on the criteria for the Estate Upgrading Programme and, to date, how many private estates actually had undergone such an exercise. And for those who are on the queue - I understand that quite a number of estates are on the queue - what is the estimated duration that they would have to wait?”
“I would like to ask the Minister of State how many companies to date have embarked on the Job Re-Creation Programme. What is the target that the Ministerial Committee on Ageing has in mind to encourage more employers to participate in job re-creation? Also, how will the Ministerial Committee on Ageing work with other agencies to promote employability of the older workforce? And in the midst of these 12,000 workers who have gone through the job re-creation training, how many of them are actually from the PMET category?”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister to comment on the recent blast of the granite quarry in Karimum. How will it affect the supply to our construction industry and the measures taken by our Government with regard to other sources of supply? Also, beyond the possibility of sabotage, what long-term plans or strategies would our Government be looking into where sand and granite from Indonesia are concerned? Mr George Yong-Boon Yeo: I do not know much about the explosion at the granite quarry in Karimun apart from what I have read in the newspapers and from some reports which I have received from Jakarta. The Indonesian police is investigating into the matter and it is best that we leave it to them. If the Singapore owner requests our assistance in the Foreign Ministry, then, of course, we will help them. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked earlier, Mr Speaker, Sir, whether, in fact, the problem we are now having with Indonesia reflects a certain diplomatic failure. Well, I think that is for others to judge. IMPORT OF GRANITE FROM ALTERNATIVE SOURCES AND ESCALATION OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS 2. Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for National Development whether his Ministry is importing granite from alternative sources and, if so, when will these arrive. 3. Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for National Development what are the specific steps the Government is taking to prevent unjustified escalations of overall construction costs by parties who give the high price of sand as the reason for increasing prices. The Minister of State for National Development (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for National Development: Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would like to answer Question Nos. 2 and 3 together.”
“Sir, it is worrying to hear that there are many parents who do not send their children for pre-school education. (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A *.] Sir, preliminary surveys indicate that a large proportion of families not sending their children to kindergarten are of the Malay families. Can the Minister please enlighten the House why this is so? Are there any particular reasons? What is the next step to help the Malay families in providing pre-school education to their children? * Cols. 3241-3242. (In English): For any exercise to reach out to these families, it is important that we must not take half-hearted measures. How will MOE provide further funding to ensure that it is not just engaged in empty talk when it embarks on reaching out to this group? Sir, how would MOE also engage other agencies to reach out to this target group?”
“Sir, I applaud MOE's commitment to expand the available choices in our education system. This strategy of more customised education will ensure our children will receive the most appropriate education that suits their talents and abilities and make them to be the best they can be. I would like to ask the Minister how he would rate the success of his Ministry in combating drop-outs in view of much attention that has been given to customise education according to the profile of its students, and students prone to dropping out of schools. How are teachers trained to deal with these at-risk students prone to dropping out of school? Are there special programmes dedicated to these at-risk students? How do we monitor the progress of these students that are put into these special programmes. What is the number of drop-outs as it stands today? What are the main reasons for students dropping out of schools and what measures is the Ministry considering to address these reasons?”
“Sir, National Education plays a critical role in moulding our young to become active, responsible citizens of the future. Has National Education achieved its lofty goal? How is MOE measuring the success of the National Education curriculum? If we assess our students on other subjects through examinations, how do we assess them on National Education? Are these measures adequate? Sir, our national challenges today and in the future can be most daunting. We have to prepare our people to face the forces of globalisation, manage an ageing population, show care and compassion for those less fortunate than us, live with increasing foreigners in our midst as well as culture and nurture a mindset for emergency preparedness. I would like to ask MOE whether they will be considering incorporating into the National Education curriculum a subject on nursing and care and first-aid for female students and also a subject on living with foreigners in our midst. Sir, these subjects could perhaps be brought alive through community bonding programmes as well as mass drills. Student Integration”
“Mr Chairman, I wanted to ask the Minister whether he could elaborate on the haze grants. Specifically, what would they be used for and in which area? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, at the last AMMH in Brunei, the Ministers directed the Secretariat to study the Haze Agreement in terms of the financial regulations. At this point in time, we have to develop what we call "protocols" in terms of how the fund will be used. It has not been developed as yet. The agreement provides for a fund, but how it is going to be used will have to be developed by the ASEAN Secretariat. But, certainly, I think the sentiment of the Ministers there is that we do not want to fund projects for putting out fires only. Fire prevention will be our priority. Singapore would want to see the money go into capacity building, training local plantation owners and farmers on alternative land clearing practices, and even buying of equipment. Instead of burning, they could use tractors to clear the plantation. These are areas in which we are going into, but the financial rules are being developed now.”
“Thank you, Minister, for the very comprehensive response to the questions asked. I think there is one question which I have asked and which the Minister has, perhaps in the interest of time, not responded. Could I get the Minister's response to my question on haze? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I have replied earlier on the haze issue. But in short, Sir, the five countries involved in the haze have been working actively. Mdm Ho asked about our relationship with Indonesia and our assistance. Singapore has decided to adopt a province in the Muaro Jambi Regency in Sumatra to work together with the local government and the Ministry of Environment in Indonesia to develop a master plan to deal with the forest fires over there. We have also agreed to contribute US$50,000 to the ASEAN Haze Fund. We were the first to do so. As a consequence, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei have also agreed to contribute US$50,000 each. The target set by ASEAN countries is half a million US dollars for the Haze Fund. Meanwhile, we will develop the master plan, together with our Indonesian colleagues, so that the master plan can be successfully implemented, hopefully towards the second half of this year, so that we can make sure that we can deal with the forest fires and the haze that may come again this year.”
“What plans does he have to further promote energy labelling to manufacturers and consumers?”
“Sir, I also wish to ask, considering the state of bilateral relations with Indonesia today, what further challenges does the Minister anticipate in working with his Indonesian counterpart in combating the haze problem this year at the local level? The next issue is on climate change. My next question to MEWR is that further to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, it has been predicted that the sea level will rise between seven and 23 inches within the next century. This naturally worries many countries with large coastal areas. Sir, Singapore is not just a coastal nation. We are also an island surrounded by bodies of water. I would like to ask MEWR whether the Ministry sees this as a problem for us. What plans does the Minister have to mitigate problems arising from climate change, especially rising sea levels, on Singapore? What other challenges does he see from the IPCC report on Singapore in the coming years? Although we are located in the equatorial zone and relatively safe from earthquakes, is the Ministry anticipating possibilities of earthquakes? Are there measures that the Ministry is looking to address in safeguarding buildings? I was told that just a while ago, at about 12.30 pm, the whole of NTUC Building was shaking because of an earthquake felt, and also in other parts of Singapore. Can the Minister please address this question? 2.00 pm Finally, Sir, I have noticed that there is no significant publicity given to energy labelling to consumers. I believe the level of awareness of energy labelling is still quite low among the public. I would, therefore, like to ask MEWR the status of this energy labelling campaign, both to manufacturers and consumers. How successful has this effort been and what is the adoption rate to date so far?”
“Sir, MEWR's and Town Councils' efforts have contributed in no small way to making Singapore one of the cleanest cities in the world and, in time, a green and blue scenic spot and a quality of living that many in the region envy. In the spirit of continuous improvement, allow me to raise a few other environment related issues. On noise pollution, Sir, with an increase in en bloc acquisition, including SERS and replacement with new buildings, retrofitting of old buildings, conversion of bigger flats to smaller ones, there will be increasing construction activities. Especially for those projects close to housing estates, we are receiving complaints from residents of increased noise pollution. I do believe that MEWR has a certain threshold for noise emission and that this level can be monitored. Beyond this level, what is MEWR doing to manage the noise level? I note that noise pollution or its management does not appear on the agenda of briefings for members on the GPC for Environment. It also does not appear in the Environment Report 2005, the latest copy which I have. Is the Ministry serious about managing noise pollution? Although the Minister has answered on the haze question, the haze still continues to plague us because it affects our quality of living. The question is: are there more specific forms of assistance to our neighbour? It is good to provide support to combat the problem, but what are we doing to prevent the haze from occurring in the first place? Since haze is caused by land clearing for economic activities, can we consider some form of economic assistance as an incentive, eg, grants for clearing land without burning, fertilisers, and even health grants to address respiratory problems of Indonesians affected by haze?”
“I think you have elaborated a suite of programmes with respect to, for example, the financing schemes and the collaboration between the local SMEs and the foreign SMEs. In the process of these programmes being implemented, are there any on record that specifically the MOS may like to share on the issues, and what is being done to address some of these implementation issues?”
“I thank the MOS for the very comprehensive programmes that he has elaborated with regard to helping the SMEs. On the SME issues, I would like to ask whether he has any implementation details or issues on record with regard to these programmes and, if there are, what is being done to address some of these implementation issues.”
“I would like to ask the Minister if he sees any prospect of similar, mutually beneficial, linkages between these foreign SMEs and our local SMEs. Can foreign SMEs add value to their local counterparts? Could MTI pose as a condition to foreign SMEs that they 'adopt' local SMEs, either as suppliers or sub-contractors, and provide them the necessary support and industry linkages? Sir, according to MTI, there are 133,000 SMEs in Singapore which make up 99% of our enterprises. I would like to ask if MTI could provide a more granular definition of SMEs, by breaking down by criteria such as revenue base, size of workforce, etc, so as to enable the Government to provide more targeted assistance to companies? Resources and Opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises”
“Sir, I agree with the Second Minister for Finance's announcement that the Government will be attracting foreign SMEs with mixed feelings. On the one hand, foreign SMEs would bring in the kind of talent and entrepreneurial flair that would give a "second wind" to our economic development. SMEs in the USA, for example, have shown far higher growth rates than large corporations. They could teach our local SMEs a thing or two about doing business, either in our own home ground or in venturing overseas. But, on the other hand, they may also pose a serious competitive threat to our own local SMEs. Our SMEs tend to be averse to competition, both local and foreign. Just witness the opposition to participation of GLCs in our economy. Sir, would the foreign SMEs form a competitive threat to our own local SMEs? If so, what can MTI do to improve our local SMEs' competitiveness? Ever since Singapore embarked on our industrialisation drive, we have attracted MNCs. Besides providing much needed necessary investments and employment, these MNCs have also returned significant value to the economy through establishing local linkages and supply chains with local SMEs. They have also helped them to improve capabilities, through training, knowledge, skills transfer, and other forms of capability development. Some MNCs have even taken a stake in some of our local SMEs. As a result, our SMEs have moved up the value chain, attracting new businesses from other MNCs and even expanding their operations overseas. The Government has facilitated these linkages through schemes such as the Local Industry Upgrading Programme (LIUP). In short, these linkages have been a win-win for the SMEs as well as the MNCs.”
“On other aspects of SME financing, during the parliamentary session in January, I raised the issue of the very low take-up rate of Government funding schemes for SMEs. Again, I quote the 2006 SME Development Survey which found that only 8% of SMEs surveyed took up the Local Enterprise Finance Scheme, only 4% took up the Micro Loan Programme and only 2% took advantage of SME Excess Loans. In his reply, the Minister said that the very fact that 8% of our SMEs took up the LEFS scheme, to him, is a very good sign. He cited the availability of funds and other avenues available for financing of SMEs. The SME Development Survey that I cited earlier also showed that 40% of SMEs surveyed depended on overdrafts for their short-term financing needs. This is a very costly option compared to other instruments and underlines the fact that SMEs were not able to avail themselves of other options, including Government financing schemes. Sir, I raise this issue again for the urgency that it represents. I strongly urge MTI to review the Government financing schemes available today and ascertain how they could be better accepted. What further corrective actions, including adequate promotion and marketing of the various Government financing schemes, will MTI be embarking on? Small and Medium Enterprises”
“Sir, a recent seminar by the Institute of Policy Studies has pointed out the emergence of a dual economy in Singapore - companies servicing the local market which are performing poorly and companies earning most of their revenues from overseas and which are doing well. The Second Minister for Finance, in his Budget Speech, pointed out that only 25% of our companies derive half or more of their revenues from overseas. I presume they belong to this second group. Sir, in the last session of Parliament, the Minister for Trade and Industry gave us a good profile of SMEs today. If I could quote him: "Today, we have some 133,000 SMEs in Singapore which make up 99% of all our enterprises. About 94% of our SMEs belong to the service and commerce industries, while the remaining 6% are in the manufacturing industry. SMEs contribute some 42% of our GDP and employ 56% of our workforce." By any measure, these are very large numbers. It underlines the important role that SMEs play in our economy. I should also add that 41% of respondents in last year's SME Development Survey said they did not generate any revenue from overseas. This may be an indication that our regionalisation drive, while successful in some ways, still has some way to go. These are just some of the development issues facing SMEs. What steps is the Ministry taking to help local SMEs in management training, international marketing and overseas expansion? Sir, in my speech during the Budget debate, I raised the issue of change management for PMETs. I would also argue that managers of SMEs, too, would benefit from this form of training to help them transition and venture beyond our local market.”
“Madam, we live in an equatorial climate that can be very warm and humid. In the old days, including the colonial era, houses and buildings were constructed with high ceilings and raised flooring on stilts to provide natural cooling and ventilation. Even high-rise buildings had high ceilings with fans. Those were the days before air-conditioning. Today, our modern buildings from homes to skyscrapers are designed from a western perspective based on a temperate climate. These designs prevent air from circulating into our buildings. I imagine winter winds could be cold indeed, but our architects often forget we welcome our tropical breezes. As a result, we depend increasingly on air-conditioning. The accent today is on energy-efficient building design. A great deal of attention is given today on the orientation of the building to maximise the use of daylight versus artificial lighting as well as other construction factors. Given these trends, Madam, I would like to ask MND if the buildings under its jurisdiction could be designed and constructed to be more energy-efficient. It would not only reduce maintenance costs, but would also help us to do our part in conserving energy. If indeed there are plans to convert to build more energy-saving buildings, when and how would the Ministry review the procurement of energy-saving materials for such purposes? What kind of change management programmes would the Ministry put in place to convert Singaporeans to be less dependent on air-conditioners and to stay in tune with the natural conditions of the environment?”
“Madam, it is estimated that there will be about 600,000 senior citizens by the year 2020, a number that is equivalent to five Toa Payohs. Most worrying will be those aged citizens in the low-income groups. With small CPF contributions and meagre savings, they may not have the means to own their own homes and may be forced instead to rent low-cost HDB flats. There is another group who may be staying with their children but because of family squabbles, are forced to seek lodging on their own. Renting flats, even HDB flats in the open market, may not be economically feasible for this group of people with little or no disposable income as they are subject to market forces of demand and supply. Madam, demand for rental of HDB flats has jumped in the past 12 months as a result of severe over demand from private sector where rents have also climbed. I would like to ask the Minister, in addressing the new developments, will HDB be reviewing the criteria for rental flats for the aged low-income? Among the aged, there will be those elderly who can better afford housing, healthcare and recreational facilities. Last April, MND announced that it has shortlisted a few potential sites for construction of a retirement village. Can MND provide an update and details of this project and when such a retirement village could be launched? One possible challenge in such projects is the high cost of land in Singapore. Is MND studying the feasibility of locating the retirement village in lower cost neighbouring countries? One good example is the South Johor Development Zone which the Johor State government is wooing Singapore investors. Perhaps the lower cost of land there plus other attractions can make the retirement village economically feasible. Barrier-free Access”
“(3) What is the budget set aside to translate this island into a City in a Garden and how will this budget be financed? The Minister for National Development has recently said that, indeed, we can create a global city by working together in meeting the future challenges to provide for population growth and capitalising on economic opportunities while maintaining a good quality of life. How will the group of Singaporeans who will not be able to catch up with this higher standard of living be helped along such that they will not become paupers in the midst of plenty?”
“Sir, City in a Garden will incorporate the best features of the world's top cities. But it will come with a tropical twist, lots of water and business charm. Indeed, an exciting vision to bring the buzz into the city. In response to criticisms about the homogeneity of our HDB flat design, we are beginning to see more variations and colours. In planning for a City in a Garden, it is important that we inculcate a sense of ownership. Many worry that the buzz may give way to the importance of evolving a character of the city. Consultation with the public will ensure that we incorporate the input of Singaporeans, including those living overseas, whose exposure may be a rich source of ideas. With involvement of the stakeholders, we can then continue to build on our strength of a sense of unity amidst variety and diversity of our environment. Sir, one way we can achieve this is to let residents take ownership of the gardens, fruit trees or waterways adjacent to their homes. We have seen PUB's efforts in this direction to get schools and residents to care for their nearby waterways. If Singaporeans can take shared ownership and responsibility of these gardens and waterways, they will also get to enjoy the benefits of the beauty and the cleanliness of these amenities. I believe that by inculcating this sense of shared ownership and responsibility at the community level, we will also develop our national heartware of community bonding and harmony. I have the following questions: (1) How would MND go about engaging the community in taking ownership of their living environment? (2) What steps will MND embark on in sustaining the efforts of the community towards reaching the vision of a City in a Garden?”
“And handling exceptions often requires unconventional thinking or thinking out of the box. We need a more systemic change of mindset among our policy-makers. Sim Wong Hoo said it aptly that we should be able to do anything unless there is a rule that says we cannot, rather than not do anything unless there is a rule that says that we can. That mindset will enable us to achieve a lot more. Sir, continuous improvement and making a quantum leap in service improvement often require radical changes in our mindset. This is also the essence of innovation, and I hope that we can instil that as a culture within our civil service, if not the nation as a whole. Sir, in conclusion, let me applaud the Government once again for its success in managing the many and divergent expectations of the people. This year's Budget has certainly managed to please most of the people most of the time. But I also ask that the Finance Minister would think through our current system of support and subsidies. The system works for the overwhelming majority, but we owe it to ourselves to ensure that just as "we will leave no one behind", we will let no one fall through the cracks. Sir, managing exceptions may be just as challenging as managing expectations but die-die must be done. On this note, I support the Budget. 01 pm”
“This group falls out of reach of all the good Government intentions and facilities, such as Workfare. Do we shrug our shoulders and say, "Well, if they would not accept public help, it is their right?" This is just the cop-out way and must be eschewed. When those rejecting help are so obviously in distress, and yet so obviously oblivious to the precipice, a caring community can and should devise ways to accommodate this group, which is probably more vulnerable than an underaged autistic kid. At least the kid would have the care of his parents, not for adult underprivileged. Sir, I would like to cite a case, a family of three disabled siblings in their 50s supported by one sickly sister in her 50s. Two are mentally retarded and one other is both retarded and deformed. Another normal brother, faced with his own financial problems, has avoided visiting them. My worry is whether this precariously poised group would one day slip through the net for lack of family support or mental capacity to make the wise choice, ie, to go to a home when they are unable to look after themselves anymore. I would like to ask our Prime Minister whether the Government would consider introducing laws to make such destitute and disabled persons wards of the court, to be sent to homes for their own good. How many of such cases are found in our midst? I would also like to plead that each constituency maintain a register of the poor so that they can be identified for counselling and support. Mindset change Sir, our Government, indeed any government, works through a system of rules and procedures that creates consistency and transparency in the provision of public services. But rules must also make allowance for exceptions.”
“We should, however, recognise and give our overseas Singaporeans, particularly the relevant subsets, some due respect, appeal to their heartstrings and have their souls rooted for Singapore and, if possible, give them access to opportunities, not handouts, in a level playing field. Sir, I would like to ask: how successful have Government efforts been in engaging the young and our overseas Singaporeans? Will we be able to root their souls for the New Brave Singapore of 2020? Plight of the poor and aged Sir, when I spoke before this House last November, I called for a finer mesh for our social security net. It is necessary for me now to repeat that call, but with greater urgency. There live in our midst today a small group of destitute people in prosperous Singapore, and we wonder how that could be so? You can bring a horse to the water but you cannot get it to drink. For a special group of Singaporeans, it is not just a case of not drinking the water. Some do not see the water even when they are standing at the edge. Others suspect the water has been poisoned, so one sip would kill them. Yet others believe that they would be severely punished by the Government if they dare to take even a drop. Another lot says if they do not have their own water, they must not drink it when it is offered. This small group of people in Singapore are at the bottom of the bottom-most, not because there are no safety nets for people like them. There are aplenty but, because of the way they are or have become wired, they are just unable to understand what is available, what is for their own good to accept and so continue to suffer the saddest deprivation in the midst of plenty when it is all so unnecessary.”
“Last week, I chaired a panel organised by the SIF to reach out to overseas Singaporeans. They raised problems they face, ranging from encounters with our official overseas agencies, on children's education on relocation back home and lack of support for budding Singaporean entrepreneurs venturing overseas. My stance is that while understanding the resource constraints faced, the overseas Singaporeans' feedback should be given serious due consideration. The Straits Times of last Saturday quoted MM Lee as saying 370,000 Singaporeans (citizens and PRs) were guesstimated to be living overseas, and this is no mean number. And it is not a monolithic mass. I believe they range from children of well-endowed families who, having studied overseas, remain to work in better-paid jobs in advanced First World countries; executives sent by the public sector, MNCs, GLCs and larger private companies who can earn significantly higher disposable residual incomes in countries with much lower cost of living; retirees (legally, voluntarily retired or otherwise) who relocate to more laid-back places or cheaper countries in the region for various reasons, such as in search of their personally defined better quality of life, large spaces and hence less pressures, and it does not matter whether the differential pressures are actual or perceived; those squeezed out by the recession and structural shifts and not yet absorbable by the selective growth happening back home, who seek out incomes overseas, etc. Sir, the Government has done a good job for Singapore and Singaporeans as a whole, and it is right that it cannot possibly solve all problems, given that the fundamental ideology of no welfarism cannot be breached because we are a special, vulnerable and small country.”
“To survive, most have moved to lower-ranking and lower-paying jobs which may not optimise their qualifications, skills and experience. Retraining for other jobs may help them overcome their financial problems by taking on other jobs, but I wonder if we are optimising this group of human capital. I have two propositions. Firstly, we cannot prescribe the same kind of measures for PMETs as we do for lower-skilled workers. I therefore advocate for a Change Management programme as a foundation course. This will help them to cope with their new situation and manage their self-esteem. Change Management should be a precursor to their retraining. Secondly, I propose an organised structure to help PMETs in enhancing their competencies and career transition. Currently, they do not fit into our existing structure of retraining and re-employment. A specialised body, like the Lembaga of the past, that understands the value of PMETs as a rich source of human capital and that better understands their unique predicament, will help leverage the value of this group. Sir, I am heartened that the Minister for Finance intends to allocate more funds for continuing lifelong education. I look forward to the Finance Minister extending the same funding as the PSEA to other professional training providers for PMETs. I would also like to ask the Minister for Finance what immediate plans he has for PMET adult learners on change management and competency training. Rooting the souls for Singapore Sir, the second issue I would like to raise concerns the rootedness of Singaporeans. A Straits Times' survey of 2,000 teens from Singapore, China, Japan, Malaysia and India last year found that 53% of Singaporean teens expressed a desire to emigrate.”
“Many businesses have also complained that IRAS takes a long time to refund the GST rebates and this can affect their cash flow. I would like to ask what steps IRAS will be taking to speed up this process. GST offset package Sir, the GST offset package is essentially pocket money given to help Singaporeans cushion the impact of a higher GST. Most common folks get the GST credits and so do NSMen and NSFMen for the National Service that they perform. Sir, like my colleagues before me, there is another very important category of Singaporeans who actually perform two times national service. They perform national service of staying at home to bring up their children and look after the family. They also perform the extra duty of contributing to the population growth, if cajoled correctly. Unfortunately, they are again left out of this "hong bao" distribution. Will the Finance Minister consider including housewives in future offset packages? Sir, I would now like to raise four other issues which are critical in enhancing our competitiveness and social fabric. Empowering PMETs Sir, PMETs form a most susceptible group to the forces of globalisation, outsourcing and flattening of organisations. During the last recession, 40% of those retrenched came from this group. We must recognise PMETs as a source of rich human capital, with substantial expertise and experience. If well managed, it can enhance our competitiveness as a nation. Their number is not small, and many will be joining their ranks as restructuring of organisations continues in this globalisation. Sir, displaced PMETs do not need welfare, but they do need help in transitioning. Many have found themselves in a serious financial bind, and this has caused a great psychological effect on their self-esteem.”
“With Workfare, we are meeting the needs of lower-income groups who are disadvantaged by globalisation. Indeed, through Workfare, Singaporeans can enjoy the globalisation cake and eat it at the same time. But, Sir, I am also moved to raise a few questions on Workfare. Eligible workers who have worked for at least three months in the first half of 2007 can look forward to their first Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) on 1st January 2008. To receive their WIS, they have to wait between six and nine months. Is there any reason for this long wait? If the WIS is meant to be an incentive to work, the impact of a deferred payment may dilute this incentive. Sir, Workfare is new and needs to be further tested and reviewed after three years. With an ageing population, the numbers eligible each year may go beyond the current 438,000 beneficiaries. I therefore wish to ask what kind of proportions or provisions would the Government be making to ensure that there will be sufficient funds beyond the current Budget of $400 million a year as well as to ensure continuity of Workfare. GST increase Sir, let me now turn to the next tap - GST. Many have raised concerns that future reductions in direct taxes may lead to future rises in GST and are keen to know how much further will GST rise to reach an optimum or sustainable level. As proposed by the hon. Member, Mr Inderjit Singh, to make GST affordable, we should zero-base our essential consumables. Whilst help will be made available to about 10,000 unregistered firms wishing to register for GST, the question is: how can such small firms be assisted over a period of time to address additional operating costs and overheads? Is there any target number of firms that IRAS is working on to convert the GST-registered companies?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is a win-win-win Budget in that there is something for everyone through the four taps - the CPF, Workfare, GST offset package, and the corporate tax. It is also a Budget that paves the way for a more secure future for all of us. Allow me to comment briefly on a few of these four taps. CPF CPF, regarded as a linchpin of our social security system, has now become more strategic. It is used not only as a platform to deliver the "goodies". The CPF has also become a mechanism for the Government to drive expected outcomes, increasing take-home pay of the lower-income and employability of the older workforce. Given the Government's push for employment of the older workforce in the wake of an increasingly tight labour market in these better times, one other thing which the Minister for Finance could consider in future Budgets is to remove the stigma that getting old means getting less CPF contributions, especially for the workforce above 50 years of age. The way to do this is to pay for ability according to the value of the work, without any form of discrimination. This is the surest way to say what we mean in promoting the value-add and worth of older Singaporeans to stay in employment. Workfare Sir, our Workfare scheme must be applauded for being pragmatic, innovative and, I would add, exemplary. Workfare is an innovative approach and a viable alternative to welfare. Many governments around the world have introduced welfare to help their poor, only to be mired by huge welfare costs and a widespread culture of dependency. By supporting citizens who are effectively employed, the Singapore Government has creatively delivered the benefits of welfare support without its attendant problem and risk.”
“Sir, to a certain extent, we are all actually suffering from information overload. While all the packages that have been outlined are going to be very useful for us over the long term, I am just thinking, in the short term, whether MCYS would consider deploying some officials, whether be they from the social services or MCYS itself, to assist the grassroots leaders and advisors in the comprehension of all these packages so that it helps to facilitate a more speedier approach when it comes to dispensing all these assistance programmes.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have three supplementary questions for SPS. My first question is, with the improved rate of employment among the retrenched PMETs, would the Ministry consider actually tracking the retention of these re-employed PMETs? If not for anything, it is at least an exercise to gauge how long these re-employed PMETs will stay in employment. My second question is that in a globalised economy, we know that retrenchment among PMETs is going to be a recurring problem, even when the economy is good. In view of this, what other kind of long-term programmes will the Ministry be looking into for the PMETs, especially also for PMETs in the service sector? The third question I have has to do with the fact that PMETs represent a very rich pool of talents. If we do not capitalise on this talent pool, it is really a waste. Many of the skills and experience may be in demand outside Singapore, but PMETs may not be able to tap these opportunities on their own. Therefore, what plans does the Ministry have in terms of aggregating the talents and experience of these displaced PMETs in order to help them to secure overseas assignments?”
“If the MRO industry is seen as strategic to our economic development, we should then look into streamlining the claim process as well. To this end, Sir, I ask that the relevant Government agencies, such as EDB, CAAS and IE Singapore, work closely with the aerospace industry association or MROs to simplify and streamline the entire claim process. On this note, I rise in support of the Bill.”
“Sir, such "knowledge-based" services will contribute to making Singapore a one-stop aerospace hub, providing the entire suite of services, from MRO to managing the supply chain of aircraft parts and running the entire technical operations of even new airlines. To compete profitably and effectively in a global marketplace, a Singapore MRO company would have to establish facilities overseas to store aircraft inventories and spares. We can have the "brains" in Singapore but, for an efficient flow of aircraft spares and inventories, it would be better to set up forward Distribution Centres (DCs) in countries like China, India, Middle East and North America at strategic locations (or air hubs) around the world in support of ITM and FTM services. Sir, I ask that the IA should be extended to Singapore MRO companies engaged in these global businesses. Sir, the MRO is a knowledge-based industry, with a high level of value-add and intellectual capital. To quickly build up a base of local MRO domain knowledge, I would like to ask if the Government could provide incentives for our MRO companies to bring in foreign talents who have specialised skills in the MRO, ITM or FTM businesses, like the specialists for passengers-to-freight (PTF) conversion aircraft, aircraft design, aircraft structures (such as aircraft stress engineers), etc, to grow the depth and breadth of our local MRO industry. They can provide the knowledge and skill transfer to help us build up our own pool of local talents. Finally, Sir, I have also received feedback that the current claim process is very long and tedious with many forms to fill, together with a lot of justifications required.”
“Sir, it is most timely that the provisions of this Act and the Investment Allowances are extended to the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry. This will spur the development of our own MRO industry, and contribute to the development of Singapore as a regional aviation hub. To this end, Sir, I do have a few observations and suggestions to make. One, the MRO business faces competition from around the region. For example, other countries are also setting up MRO companies to service their own aircraft, especially from their national carriers. Our own local MRO companies can expand their wings into these overseas markets by setting up joint ventures in these countries. In situations such as these, and where the services are complementary to those here, I ask that the investment allowance also covers the capital expenditure and investment relating to the formation of these foreign MRO joint ventures. This should apply to those MRO companies headquartered in Singapore. Although the EEIA covers the MRO services and aircraft rotable management, also known as Inventory Technical Management (ITM), I would like to ask if it can also be extended to cover aircraft Fleet Technical Management (FTM) services. The FTM services tend to complement ITM services, and both these ITM and FTM services are normally sought after by start-up airlines which need the technical expertise to start up an airline. An airline-linked MRO which would have all the technical expertise and experience to run the airline could provide such services, which are high in intellectual content and with high value-add.”