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 would like the Minister's views on the questions that I have posed, ie, whether it is a question of politics of envy and whether we should change our approach in the way we deal with our neighbours, especially in the context of what the Prime Minister has said recently.”
“--- when so often we talk about offering help. My question therefore is that perhaps we should slow down, and I would like the Minister's comment on these questions, as well as a recent remark by our Prime Minister, and I quote him: "Singapore is a small country, vulnerable to external forces sometimes beyond our control. We have to get along with our neighbours. We have to work together."”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister what is his view on the politics of envy in this instance. Does he see the ban on sand arising more from a situation of: "I see you little red dot, tak puas", rather than the border and environmental concerns? If that were so, would Singapore be revealing itself to be more measured in its pace so as to pacify our neighbours? I say this because our success and fast growth may be creating a lot of tensions with our neighbours who feel the threats of challenges and stress. Therefore, would a different tactic and approach work, rather than one of offering to understand and help? Our neighbours could be feeling low, and the loss of face ---”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister given the current state of activity in construction which includes both private and public housing, public works and other public infrastructure projects, how long does MND expect our current stockpile of sand to last. Will the existing stockpile help to cushion any short-term increase in cost of sand? How much did the Government pay for the existing stockpile and how much will the Government be charging for any new release?”
“Sir, how would the Minister engage the traditional religious leaders? Already, Muslim ustaz who got involved in the religious rehabilitation group have been labelled Government ustaz by some elements of the Muslim community. This may actually discourage other well-meaning religious leaders from getting involved or identified as part of the Government effort. How can the Ministry mitigate such labelling? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, if the Member had asked this question and made this point several years ago, it would probably have been quite valid. But since then, as I have enumerated, we have bridged the gaps between the communities. We are not quite there yet, but certainly there is now deeper understanding and trust, and this is expressed in many activities that have been happening. Sir, in light of the many activities that have been organised, even the initial scepticism that surfaced amongst the community when these religious leaders volunteered to join the programme, I think that has been overcome. Indeed, our moderate Malay leaders are now going to the ground to talk to the rest of Singaporeans. At the COS debate, we will explain more on how, going forward, we will continue to build this pyramid. I think we are going up. We have certainly improved in the last three to four years. But more can be done. Let us see how we can do more together.”
“A related area of concern is the way banks target specific customers who have deposits of a certain size. This clearly violates the privacy of the customer. Banks have obviously made use of privileged customer information to target their customers for cross-selling. Do customers have any safeguards to protect their information? MAS should mandate that banks do not use confidential customer information for any other purpose than normal transaction and communications. MAS can also require banks to put up prominent warning labels to alert customers that there are risks attached to these ‘safe’ investments. This is similar to the warning labels put on cigarette packs. Sir, I believe these are major issues that will require the attention of MAS to further strengthen Singapore’s position as a trusted financial hub and banking centre. Sir, on these, I rise in support of the Bill.”
“While the situation has improved slightly in the past three years, the financing structure for SMEs has not changed at all. Overdrafts remain their main source of short-term funding (40%), followed by trade financing (32%), term loans (27%) and factoring (7%). Sir, less than one in three SMEs (27%) are able to secure loans to finance their growth. Clearly, this structure needs to be corrected. Can MAS look into the feasibility of an SME Bank to assist SMEs finance their growth and to go regional? The SME Bank can provide a wide range of financing options designed for SMEs and on more competitive terms. This will, in turn, help our SMEs to become more competitive in their markets. The SME Bank can also provide first- or second-round funding for start-up companies, thus supporting our drive towards greater entrepreneurship. Sir, I believe such a bank can be viable financially. More importantly, it can provide the much-needed impetus to help our SMEs grow and expand regionally. Sir, my final comment relates to the marketing of financial products. We all know that banks do not make much money by accepting deposits. They do make money by selling their depositors additional products such as unit trusts, insurance policies or structured deposits. In the case of structured deposits or investment products, customers are not made aware of the many and often substantial hidden costs in these products. While they are promised protection of their principal sums, many of the management costs of these products are often deducted upfront. So, in cases where the returns on these products are minimal, depositors may actually lose part of their principal. In light of this, banks must demonstrate greater transparency by advising their customers of the hidden costs of these products.”
“MAS has mandated that local banks adopt two-factor authentication (2FA) to provide stronger security for e-banking. But feedback by bank customers indicates that it may be inconvenient for them to carry multiple tokens for different bank accounts. I would like to ask if there is a better alternative that provides more convenience but does not sacrifice the added security. Sir, my next question is about phishing or anti-phishing. Phishing is becoming more rampant around the world. Security experts tell us that phishing attempts are moving away from the USA and Europe to the Far East. Singapore banks have also been the targets of phishing attacks in the past. One reason why phishing continues unabated is because phishing sites are often located in servers in third countries where banking laws are not so strict. Many security experts believe the answer lies in more effective inter-governmental collaboration. In view of this, I would like to ask: What are the prospects for increased inter-governmental cooperation in combating phishing? What are the prospects and challenges for a global or inter-governmental agreement in combating phishing and similar crimes? Sir, one issue that crops up regularly among SMEs is the need for a SME Bank. As business organisations, banks naturally gravitate towards higher-yield activities. This, coupled with more stringent banking controls, may make financing for SMEs less attractive. SMEs, on the other hand, need a good source of funding to help them grow and regionalise. According to the 2006 SME Development Survey, a good 40% of SMEs depend on overdrafts as their main source of short-term funding. This is an expensive option for them.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the amendments are comprehensive and will empower MAS to better manage the new dynamics of the banking sector in the years to come. I have only one comment on the Bill. This relates to credit card advertisements and promotions by banks, section 56, subsection 5 (page 68). How do Net advertisements or solicitations come under this section, if a foreign bank originates it outside Singapore but intended for a Singapore audience, or as part of a regional marketing exercise of which Singapore is one target market? Sir, the Internet is still very much a grey area that transcends territoriality. Is it possible to develop more granular controls on Net advertisements and promotions? Sir, I also have a number of other issues to raise relating to the development of the banking sector in Singapore. Unlike Mr Inderjit who has digested the technicalities, I am raising another perspective. The first relates to developments in credit card technology. Sir, we have seen recent cases of credit card skimming and credit card fraud perpetrated by foreigners, precisely because we use magnetic-striped cards. The continued targeting of Singapore by these fraudsters may undermine our reputation as a trusted financial hub. On the other hand, credit cards with embedded microchips have reduced card fraud by as much as 80% in countries like France. Under these circumstances, I would like to ask if MAS would mandate the adoption of EMV microchip technology to replace magnetic stripe-based cards. I understand this may be a costly exercise for banks. But I would like to argue that the cost is worth our reputation as a trusted financial hub, as well as for the reputation of the banks themselves. My second question concerns two-factor authentication.”
“Sir, the 2006 SME's Development Survey found that there is a very low take-up rate of Government funding schemes. 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 the SME Access Loans. What are the reasons for these very low take-up rates and what will MTI do to improve these rates? I would like to ask the Minister for Trade and Industry to critically review these schemes with the following parameters: (i) the relevance of these schemes to the needs of the SMEs; (ii) the promotion of these schemes to raise the awareness of these schemes; and (iii) the workflow of SMEs applying for these schemes. Is the application process, for example, too complex or too time-consuming? Are we disbursing the funds quickly enough for SMEs to use them in a timely manner?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask what is the Ministry's view with the following observation. Where economists have warned of divergent growth patterns between different businesses and income groups and that a dual economy may emerge, with businesses catering to the global market seeing robust growth whilst, on the other hand, companies serving local markets are lagging behind because private consumption growth is slow. I would like to ask how and how else can the Government help equalise this disparity for businesses and incomes.”
“This means more of our workers in future will have more time between jobs or projects that they can fill by doing small-scale businesses; and (ii) displaced workers can be encouraged to look for alternative sources of income. This is especially applicable to PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) who were displaced during the last recession and who are finding it difficult to be re-employed. Many of these have many years of experience which they can leverage on consultants. Sir, micro-enterprises can also help us develop a culture of entrepreneurship that enabled our forefathers to make Singapore what it is today. Sir, I have raised a number of issues, many of them will require a multi-agency or multi-Ministry approach to solve. But it is the reality before us today - that is, in this flat globalised world, we no longer have the luxury of viewing things in comfortable compartments and solve them in discrete silos. We need a holistic approach, both in viewing problems as well as in solving them. I support the motion.”
“As a result, Singapore grew and prospered throughout those formative years after Independence. Sir, I believe we need to revive that sense of urgency in our people, and build a national resilience to come to terms with a globalised flat world. Only then can Singapore rise up to the opportunities and cope with the challenges. SMEs and bridging the income divide Sir, the Member for Ang Mo Kio and GPC Chairman for Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Inderjit Singh, was in his element when he spoke about helping our small and medium enterprises to grow so they can become the MNCs of tomorrow. I fully support his call, but I would like to draw attention to the development of SMEs in general, as well as to see this in the larger context of closing the income gap. I would like to raise two issues. One is on funding. The latest SME Development Survey 2006 found that 40% of SMEs still resort to overdrafts as their primary source of funding, which is expensive. This indicates that a large number of SMEs still have problems securing bank loans. I would ask the Minister for Trade and Industry to study this further, and study the feasibility of setting up an SME Bank. The second point that I would like to raise has got to do with entrepreneurship and micro-enterprises. In this context, Sir, I would like to call on the Minister for Trade and Industry to see how we can encourage the development of micro-enterprises as one way to close the income gap. I see the two main drivers to this: (i) the nature of work is fast moving away from full-time employment to a contract-based and flexi-time model.”
“There must be a fundamental training to shift the mindset of "I have to do it" which stems from an obligation or a compulsion to "I want to do it" which stems from an internal desire. It is no use just to have visible skills of smiles, greetings and fixing when we do not touch on the more fundamental intangible skills which have got to do with the attitude and the mindset. The training should also help our workers to manage change more effectively, both in good times as well as in bad times. This will include a willingness to retrain and retool, but should be holistic enough to help them manage constant change and possible displacement. In this context, Sir, I am also moved by the statement by Minister of State for Education, RAdm Lui Tuck Yew, who called for our education system to move beyond honing abilities to nurturing values like team spirit and ruggedness. I would argue that our young generation needs more than that. They need a set of human relations skills that prepares them for working life. One of my grassroots leaders remembered how, 30 years ago, he first read Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People", and asked why he was not taught those human relations skills in school. Sir, I believe this kind of training is long overdue. Indeed, I would like to ask the Prime Minister to consider instituting a mindset training programme for the whole nation. It is synonymous with the way we bring up our children in the family by developing their core values and attitudes towards life and challenges. I remember Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's National Day Rally speeches in the 1960s, when Singapore was in its industrialisation phase. Year after year, he exhorted Singaporeans to work hard and warned of the consequences if we did not.”
“Many jobs have been redesigned so that lower-skilled workers can be more productive and earn reasonable wages. But there are still many workers out there who were displaced in the last recession who could not find jobs befitting their education and experience. We cannot be sanguine with what we have achieved so far in job reform, as the constant change in the workplace can cause them and others to be displaced in future. The President also said: "Education is the best way to level up our society", and I fully agree. Hence, the wide range of training and retraining programmes. But I would also argue that another set of skills may be required of our workers. In this context, the Minister for Manpower has indicated and I quote: "The Ministry aims to set up the employability skills training …, continue to reinforce a strong work ethics that has been the foundation of Singapore's success …, develop a stronger service culture is also on the cards to prepare workers for the jobs in the growing services sector …, workplace safety …, raise safety and health standards through effective regulation." Sir, these statements point to a greater need for a different type of training of our workers. The Minister may wish to redefine what constitutes employability skills training. How can the Singapore workforce reinforce sound work ethics, develop a stronger service culture, raise the safety and health standards and compete with foreign talents and workers if the fundamental mindset of our Singaporean workers is not addressed. For this, I call on MOM and WDA to look into the mindset training which will touch on the work attitudes of the Singaporean workforce.”
“Sir, while I agree that volunteerism is about commitment, passion and dedication, we need to encourage more to step forward. Many volunteers today are those with time to spare, but little else. Without an income, they are themselves financially at the margin. We must ensure that their selfless efforts do not work against them. The pride of the poor Sir, as the Minister for MCYS refines and streamlines the social assistance programmes, we must also critically ask if these programmes have effectively reached out to those most in need. With more than 36 assistance programmes today, are the poor beating a path to our door? To be truly effective, we must be sensitive to the feelings of the needy. Poor people have pride, even in the face of adversity. Just last week, a Malay TV programme, Detik, showed an elderly lady saying that if she had to make her skin as thick as a wall to receive assistance, she would, because she had to. And she said it on the verge of tears! Building a new mindset Sir, I am cheered by the good news that employment is at its highest in many years. The Minister for Manpower should be applauded for his Ministry's untiring efforts to create new employment opportunities for the people. From my personal perspective as a HR professional for many years, I fully appreciate the need for continuous learning and skills upgrading to create a globally competitive workforce. But also in this context, I wish to echo the President’s sentiments when he said: "Our basic approach must be to stay open to the world and pursue growth and competitiveness, while doing more to assist Singaporeans who are adversely affected." The MOM has done much to retrain and retool displaced workers for a new-generation workplace.”
“The Minister has also informed the House that new tenants, who have previously sold their subsidised flats and downgraded, will pay higher rates as they have benefited from an earlier subsidy. Sir, unlike HDB residents who downgrade to buy a smaller unit, those who downgrade by selling off their flats to rent one may be forced to do so by their dire circumstances. Many cannot afford to service their housing loans; others may have had their flats repossessed by the banks. Should these people be deprived of a bigger subsidy in their rental flat just because they happen to start off better in life than those who start off with flat rental? By the same argument, does it mean that those who benefited from the subsidy on their first rental flat will likewise be given less subsidy when they could afford to upgrade and purchase a flat? Sir, this is what I mean about having a finer mesh. While we do not want to reward the guilty, we should not also punish the innocent. In helping those in need, we should not open one door and close another that was there. Many helping hands Sir, I support the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) in his commitment to maintain the "many helping hands" approach. I understand that social workers in agencies work with stretched resources and to ease their heavy workload, more helping hands will go a long way. We need to strengthen and sustain those many hands. It is not about many more right or wrong hands; it is really about attracting and retaining volunteers, especially from the pool of able-bodied retirees. Would the Minister consider a token allowance for meals and transport for retirees who volunteer? I understand that in Taiwan, retirees who volunteer as pedestrian wardens are given a token allowance to keep them going.”
“Sir, I also welcome the Minister's plan to set up a ComCare database as an early warning system of failing families. I would like to know if this database can also catch warning signs of needy families getting worse in their condition. Perhaps this is a good time to study the feasibility of linking the ComCare database with other Government and utility databases. We have a high degree of connectivity of databases among Government organisations. Is there any way this advanced e-Government infrastructure can be deployed to identify cases of people needing help? For example, can this new ComCare system also highlight when a household fails to pay its utility bills, phone bills and other bills? Matched to the ComCare database, it can alert social workers to potential problems facing those families already in their case files. A finer mesh for HDB rentals Sir, the finer mesh that I am advocating applies also to public housing. I want to thank the Minister for National Development for hearing and understanding the plight of residents who are in financial straits and see selling off their flats as a way out. The provision of more 1- and 2-room flats in Boon Lay where more than 80% of household incomes are less than $3,000 is indeed timely. The Minister has informed this House that for tenants whose household incomes have grown over the years, their rental rate will be adjusted to take into account their higher pay. I must point out that the increase in household income may not be a good benchmark. In poor households, a modest increase in income is often offset by the number of growing dependent children and sick elderly parents. Such an increase does not automatically signal an improvement in affordability, but may in fact leave these families at the status quo.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I join other Members of the House in thanking the President for his Speech at the Opening of Parliament. He has provided an excellent overview of the challenges facing us in the next five years. Certainly, from his speech, we all have our work cut out for us. Sir, many Members before me have spoken impassionately on widening the social net, and I agree wholeheartedly with them. But I would also argue that we need that social net to be of a finer mesh, so that we do not exclude some groups that would otherwise fall through the net. I am glad that the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports has acknowledged that there are problems with implementation, gaps and duplication. As the Minister reviews and fine-tunes the whole slew of assistance programmes we now have, I hope he will also remember that there are groups of people who, under the current structure, may find the existing assistance programmes inadequate. Allow me to identify some of these groups. One is a group of single elderly people who live by themselves. Some passed away without people knowing it - until it is too late. Another group is what I would call the 'permanent poor'. My experience in the last six years in low and lower middle income Boon Lay has led me to conclude that there is an inevitable poor group who needs help most of the time. During my MPS, I see repeat requests every week for NTUC food vouchers. They come from people like the poor 87-year-old-man whose son is in prison; the single mother with her brood of children and the temporary orphaned children whose parents are in prison. Sir, for these groups, their plight gets worse and not better. For these groups, can we have professional dedicated help and a more permanent line of financial help?”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State how would the Ministry actually be tracking the content in such blogs and, given the fact that the websites are actually public domain, what form of accountability is to be taken by or expected of the bloggers. I am heartened to note that there will be an educational approach taken. And to what extent will the Ministry be implementing such educational programmes?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, allow me to share the case of Mr X - in his 40s, unemployed, and took up a part-time lecturing job. Sir, he will not qualify for Workfare Bonus, because he teaches in modules of 24 hours at any one period of time. His average income is slightly above the Workfare Bonus' cut-off point. He lives in an apartment where, again, the annual value works against him. Can he sell his flat? He cannot, because he will be out of money, as prices are below what he owes the bank. Interest rates are rising and, before long, he may be asked to up his instalment repayments. In raising this issue to the Minister, I am speaking for the silent mass of PMETs. We should note that the unemployed PMETs are a growing group and not a dying breed. If the issues they face are glossed over lightly, or not adequately addressed, we may unwittingly be allowing a group of negative energies to brew. The Government has been as inclusive as it can be. I call for more visible outreach to the PMETs. It need not be monetary assistance alone, but a booster and a leap-frog to the business network or micro enterprises.”
“Sir, like my colleague before me, today I want to bring up again the plight of a group of workers who are caught in a wedge. This group looks seemingly good. They hold high qualifications, hold jobs as managers, supervisors, and they are what we call the PMETs. They are mainly in their mid-careers, many in their 40s and 50s when their careers are at their most precarious. This is the age when what they needed most are their jobs. They are at that point in their life where they are in the midst of paying for housing, renovation and car loans, and their children are going to JCs, polytechnics or even the universities. This is also the phase in life when many body parts require more than just a touch-up job. They need repairs and cost money. Then, one morning, when they go to work, they are crunched. Like the cork of the champagne bottle, with no more than a shake of the hands, their careers just go "pop"! A corporate merger and relocation of business, a downsizing or a change of top leadership, and they are out of jobs. Who is there to lend a voice to these PMETs? The plight of these PMETs affects not just themselves, but also their families, spouses, children and all other dependants. I would like to urge the Minister to set up: (1) a special database of these PMETs, so that the Government can monitor the status of this group of executives, managers, etc, who are in need of jobs, and help them get back into the job market; (2) a network hub, where those aspiring for business contacts or portfolio manager jobs could be linked. At the same time, we should encourage the proliferation of more micro enterprises which could well provide the starting point for the PMETs; (3) a platform similar to the ADVANTAGE! Scheme to help them.”
“Whilst we worry about the shortage of talents and over reliance on foreign talents, we have, in our midst, a group of what I call, PMETs - professionals, managers, executives and technicians - who can fill many vacancies. What we need is a wake-up call for these PMETs and our employers in Singapore - to help them to re-adjust and re-mould their work ethics and attitudes. It is not meant to be disrespectful of their quality and abilities. It is more trying to energise them to take a fresh look at what is available. Sir, the way to do it is to put them through a mindset training programme. Some may say that this is a step backwards for them, but I think it is more a case of taking one step backwards and two steps forward. So I urge that we structure a scheme for PMETs to be put through a training of mindset awareness. This will ensure that the PMETs will get a better chance of getting a job. Similarly, employers need mindset training to eliminate their prejudice for these PMETs. I urge for a national training scheme to reach out to these employers. On this note, I thank you for my participation. Jobs”
“Sir, I will be raising three issues. First, about our efforts to attract the brains or the talents to our shores. Many were attracted here especially with the billions of R&D fund being dangled before their eyes. We have been wooing many top researchers to conduct their highly-priced and high-risk work in our laboratories. After spending so much money into R&D, my concerns are as follows: (1) How do we ensure that the billions that we invest on this pool of talent to enable them to make these forays to expand the boundaries of mankind's knowledge on many complex and life-important issues remain within our country? (2) How do we ensure that what is discovered is inherited by our own experts? (3) How do we train the second echelon of local experts so that they can carry on from where others have left off? Mr Chairman, we have to build up our own talent base as we cannot go on relying on foreign talents. A recent Reuters' report on staffing highlighted that employers have difficulty in finding the right people to fill jobs despite high unemployment in Europe and the US. This phenomenon is also experienced across North America and Asia, and the talent shortages identified are: sales representatives followed by engineers and technicians. It polled 33,000 employers in 23 countries in January, including 627 in Singapore. Has the Ministry of Manpower done any study to look into the talent shortage? What is the action plan to mitigate this problem? Should a knowledge management database be launched to see how we can inventorise and nurture our knowledge so that we can add value and expand on it? In building up our knowledge base, we may gradually become less dependent on foreign talent. Sir, my third point is on mindset training.”
“Just as we have done very well in the area of sexuality education, I am just wondering whether MOE would be stepping up some programme to expose our students in school to the ill effects of casino gambling. This is so important especially when we are already going into this industry. I would like to know whether, to-date, there has been any data on the number of students in school who may have been arrested for gambling and whether there are programmes that are in place to address some of these issues.”
“Sir, for slow learners who are on the learning support system, they are labelled as "lousy, slow and stupid". What are we doing about this label? Sir, lastly, I want to ask the MOS that, going forward, what would be the criteria for the selection of schools to introduce Applied Learning? Neighbourhood Schools”
“" Some schools in the US have abolished failing grades and they will give as many times as you want to get the right answers. This is nowhere close to anything real in life. I would like to link these rules to some observations and feedback from ITE, JC and Secondary Four students whom I recently had some conversations with. Their comments can be categorised under three categories on jobs. They are: how will their education land them a job when some of their middle-age parents remain unemployed? Why are jobs, including the lower-end ones, landing on the laps of foreigners? On skills and competencies, how can they better equip themselves to remain composed and achieve win-win outcome? On self-motivation, how can they be taught to look at a glass of water as half-full and not half-empty? They wonder why are some of their friends not going beyond Secondary Four and Secondary Five and what is MOE doing about these drop-out rates. Would they contribute to the unemployment in Singapore?”
“Sir, if there is a vote to select the Ministry which has the most nimble policies, the MOE would probably be a strong contender. We have produced many bright students, some of whom have made it to the top ranks of their graduating cohorts. At the same time, MOE has also paid attention on the slower students and the disabled. To date, 59 out of 330 primary and secondary schools have improved their infrastructure so that their facilities are accessible by disabled students. It is also heartening to note that the PCF kindergartens will be incorporating special syllabus to train autistic children. The MOE has also overhauled and rebranded technical education in Singapore so as to boost the image and value of vocational and technical education. However, going forward, we need to go beyond academic pursuits and skills acquisition. A holistic approach includes instilling a sense of reality in our students and beefing up their emotional and adversity capacities. We also need quality learning resources to support our system. Sir, Bill Gates hit the nail on the head in a recent talk to high school students. He highlighted a few rules which he said students do not, and will not, learn from schools which are geared to deliver only feel-good politically-correct teachings. Thus, we have created a generation of kids who may be lacking in the concept of reality and this could set them up for failure in the real world. I will quote two rules that have application in our situation. Rule One, "Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity". Grandparents call it "opportunity". In other words, make the best of what we have. Rule Two, "Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State with regard to the liquor licence whether there could be an imposition of a time limit for the sale of such liquors in the hawker centres or food centres. Also, with regard to the attire of the serving girls, they are normally mini-skirt attired, and I think that is part of the reason why it is also contributing to many of these foreigners coming to the hawker centre and actually spending their nights there and drinking into the wee hours of the morning. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, depending on the location of the outlets, eg, in HDB estates, the sale of liquor is prohibited beyond midnight or, in some cases, to 1.00 am. So there are limitations and conditions. As to how the girls who are serving are dressed, it all depends on what your own sense of taste is because, if you are in those places where you are drinking beer, you are with people I think who can accept the dress. Of course, if the dress is indecent or obscene, then the police can take note of it. But if it is a short skirt or a bustline that may not be as high as some women would like it to be, it is subjective. I think those who want to go to frequent these places must know that this is the setting.”
“Sir, the Minister indicated that at a temperature of 60 degrees or so, it will be very safe. Many eateries are still serving half-boiled eggs. I wonder whether it is good for us to issue an advisory for Singaporeans to avoid half-boiled eggs.”
“Finally, in terms of the career prospects for Police officers, the Academy may want to consider tie-ups with the universities to allow these officers, who want to pursue their interest in behavioural science, to go on to take degree courses. In this way, our Police officers can actually progress on their studies and pursue degree courses related to criminology and other related disciplines dealing with people-management skills. 6.30 pm”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, policing today is no longer about crime prevention, crime investigation and preservation of law and order. Police's role is multi-faceted and the Police have to be trained in people-to-people relations, dealing with minors and be conscious of the rapidly changing social environment within the community. Training in soft skills aside, it is also good that we continue to work on the image of the Police Force as one that reaches out to the public and not necessarily as tangkap Police, giving them a very hard and tough image that will not help to build trust and confidence with the public. Sir, care must be taken in handling minors so that their emotional and mental welfare will not be jeopardised. For example, for runaway kids, can the Police training help to strengthen the minors' family ties? Will the Police partner the MCYS, for example, and the parents to study into the coincidence of runaway kids and families with step-parents, as reported in today's Straits Times? The Police Academy that has been set up and is now providing centralised training may consider conducting special courses on how to deal with juveniles, since statistics indicated that crimes committed by young people have been on the uptrend, so that they can have a better understanding of the social and emotional development of young people. The course may cover areas, such as behavioural science, with emphasis on understanding juvenile behaviour. Counselling of juveniles is another course that should be included as part of the basic training for Police officers.”
“The bonus in this exercise is that this is to be done at a national level and it will bring together women of all races. Mr Chairman, Sir, I urge the Minister to organise more of such big-scale programmes, besides the recent emergency exercise.”
“Sir, in the context of the changed global, political and social environment, the rise of religious militancy, the decline of economic growth and with its resultant loss of jobs, the social climate requires a rethink of the way we approach race relations and community bonding. Sir, relationship, and, for that matter, race relations, is akin to a three-level process. At the first level is the normal routine activities organised for maintenance. At the second level is the need to attain some desired ones. This is the engagement level. Couples will swear that this is the most satisfying stage of a lifelong relationship, even more than the married state, which, although gives meaning, is also very prone to strains and cracks when familiarity breeds contempt. To sustain the phase of engagement, couples often go back to exchange vows, so that they will remain on this engagement stage. 6.00 pm Sir, I am advocating for this engagement phase euphoria to ensure sustainability of our community engagement programmes. No more should we just rely on a replay of what was done previously, such as loads of people to go round visiting cultural sites of other races. Instead, we need to inculcate a philosophy and process of doing things. This brings me to a point and an example which I want to raise. Given the threat-intensive environment that we live in today, the time may be right to muster women and give all of them some form of basic training in first-aid. I am not advocating something as structured as National Service for men. What I am putting across is to set up a framework where all women can be given first-aid skills which they will also find useful in their private lives.”
“To help with the family, the mother has employed a domestic help, whose salary is paid from the charity money. In such cases of hardship, I would like to appeal for the domestic maid levy to be waived. Since the maid levy does not constitute a source of revenue but is imposed as a disincentive, it makes sense for us to consider the exceptions. I hope the Prime Minister would be compassionate to these cases. In summary, we have, as the Finance Minister had rightly said, "to be nimble". We have to be ready to make adjustments. Our economy is dependent on many external factors and the gyrations in the oil prices and the menace of an outbreak of the Avian flu may require more than just a jab in the arm. This Budget has been as inclusive as it could possibly be. It offers a lifeline to those who are less-well off and reinforces the principles of Workfare. I am confident that given time, our older and less skilled workers and those who are in the lower percentile of our society will be able to move forward and keep pace. What is important is that we are able to help keep them running even if it is at a slightly slower pace. At least, we know that they did not come to a halt. On this note, Sir, I support the Budget. 5.30 pm”
“For a start, we could offer every Singaporean and our founding fathers two free non-transferable admission tickets to popular places of interest, such as the Discovery Centre and Sentosa, and in time to come, the Integrated Resort. The idea behind this is three-fold. With such non-monetary concessions, we can eventually encourage Singaporeans to absorb some of the national "treasures" that are within our midst. This enriching experience will instill in Singaporeans a better knowledge of what is available in their homeland and correct the perception that there is nothing interesting in Singapore. Secondly, such concessions target at bringing the rich world of arts and culture to all Singaporeans. Thirdly, encouraging our people to visit places like the Heritage Centre and other places will also contribute towards enhancing our inter-racial harmony, not to mention giving them an appreciation of our multi-racial heritage. In fact, this can form part of our Community Enhancement Programme. The Disabled Sir, the Budget is silent on offering specific help for the disabled. I define this group as those who are not mobile and, in some cases, bedridden. Many of these cases have been made worse as they were dealt a hard blow by fate. In my constituency, I came across a family of three who are patients of the Home Nursing Foundation. The widowed mother, in her sixties, had a stroke seven years ago and is ADL assisted. The two middle-aged daughters are invalids. One suffers from spinocerebro degenerative disease and epilepsy and is bed bound. The second daughter suffers from spinal cerebrellar ataxia, is wheelchair bound and feeds via PEG. Sir, this is a family who literally lives on charity.”
“Let us call it the Singapore Philanthropy Fund, or SPF, so that we can expand the outreach of the Progress Package to include those who have dropped out of school. Sir, I have a recent MPS case, where a sister of a 19-year old is looking after her 20 year old autistic brother. The mother is serving time for shoplifting. The stepfather is jailed for drugs. The sister dropped out of school after Secondary two and the brother after Secondary one. When asked why she was not looking for a job, she said she was an IMH patient. She would rather go back to school to better equip herself before looking for a job so that she could stand a better chance to free herself and her family from poverty. Sir, there are many of such similar cases of children even dropping out of school in the midst of their lower primary education in the past. These "temporary orphaned children" are in their teens today. Often, they are from dysfunctional homes and never went back to school again. Instead, they spend their time loafing around. The money from this Singapore Philanthropy Fund could be used to send these children back to school and offer them a chance to start life anew. Beyond cash Sir, beyond the offer of cash to the people, the Hon. Prime Minister may, in future, want to consider also giving every Singaporean - especially elderly Singaporeans and, in this group, our founding fathers whom my colleague, Ms Irene Ng, spoke about - the joy of visiting and re-visiting places of interest and national institutions, like the National Museum, Zoological Garden, National Heritage Centre, Malay Heritage Centre or even to a show at The Esplanade.”
“Meetings, International Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) Next, I want to dwell on the hosting of international events, which the Finance Minister in his Budget speech said, "€¦also creates opportunities for knowledge networking." We hosted the Olympic Committee session, the Global Entrepolis@Singapore, not to mention the recent aerospace event, and we will be welcoming delegates for the first intellectual property diplomatic conference and the IMF/World Bank in due course. I urge the Finance Minister to consider giving financial incentives or GST rebates for the acquisition of conference systems, equipment and facilities needed to host large events so that we can further grow this new growth sector. We have many schemes to help the manufacturing and the financial markets. We should likewise offer help to MICE. The Have's who want to donate Next, I would like to spend a moment on the helping hand we are extending to needy Singaporeans. I must applaud the move to peg the payouts according to the annual value of the property as probably one of the best ways to render them to those who need them most. However, I know that to some Singaporeans, particularly those who live in properties with high annual values, the amount that they will receive from the Growth Dividends will not make a material impact on their lives. Some may want to consider donating their payouts to the less well-off. I want to ask the Government to make accessible an option that would encourage the spirit of volunteerism and evolve a culture of philanthropy in Singapore among Singaporeans who may want to channel their share of the fruits to a special fund.”
“Our participation and value add can always take the form of injecting funds or providing the brain work or facilities for such ventures. Sir, our encounter with alternative fuels has thus far seen the launch of a few cars running on hydrogen-generated electricity and other hybrids of "green" cars. Tax incentives were given but they are not encouraging enough. The tax rebates are: For electric and hybrid cars: rebate equivalent to 40% of the car's Open Market Value (OMV). For compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles: rebate equivalent to 40% of the vehicle's OMV for passenger cars and 5% of the vehicle's OMV for buses. For CNG taxis, the rebate will be equivalent to 40% of the vehicle's OMV. In 2005, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) had announced that the green vehicle rebates would be extended for another two years, until 31st December 2007. From 1st January 2006, owners of "green" vehicles will enjoy the various rebates. These are for electric and hybrid cars and for vehicles using compressed natural gas. This means owners of green cars and taxis would enjoy rebates of 40% of the car's OMV, up from the present 20% of OMV. Apart from a short-lived but boisterous launch in the media, the whole project appears as if it is one where the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. If there is a determined and relentless effort to look for alternative fuels, our officials would, I am sure, be churning out a volcano of ideas. I hope those who ventured into these "green" cars do not have to eventually sell them off as masak masak toys. Sir, has the effort of the Inter-agency Committee on Energy Efficiency formed in 1998 gone to its resting place among some Ministry's library shelves?”
“What it means is that these countries will be consuming more and more oil in order for them to rev up the momentum of their economic growth. A report by the US Energy International Administration (EIA) projected world demand for crude oil to grow to 103 million barrels per day in 2015 and to just over 119 million barrels per day in 2025. Seen against 2002's consumption of only 78 million barrels per day, it is very sobering. EIA said that much of the oil demand would come from emerging Asian nations, where strong economic growth has resulted in a robust increase in consumption. I quote: "Emerging Asia (including China and India) accounts for 45 percent of the total world increase in oil use over the forecast period in the IEO2005 reference case." Again, our economy will be very vulnerable if oil prices fall into fits of upward bursts. The US is trying to reduce its dependence on oil. I believe that we, in Singapore, should also pay attention to the use of alternative fuels. Like my colleague before me, Dr John Chen, I urge the Government to set up a special committee to study the use of alternative fuels, and their impact on our economy and our environment. Just as we have succeeded in finding alternative water, we should also join in the search for alternative fuels. I hope that some of the $5 billion that we are injecting into the R&D Trust Fund can go into research for alternative fuel. Sir, could we also explore the possibility of partnering our regional neighbours in their R&D programmes and initiatives besides starting from zero base on our own? Some Singaporeans have gone ahead to partner our regional neighbours in palm oil projects - palm oil being a potential alternative source of fuel.”
“Some will spend the money they receive at the hawker stalls, the retailers, pay for taxi rides and so forth. So it helps in generating economic activity. For others, the money will help them to move forward with their lives, grateful that they are able to buy some of the things they had wanted most through this Budget. In response to the Budget, Sir, I would like to highlight six issues for the Prime Minister's attention. I begin with the contingency fund. Contingency fund Though the outlook for the overall economy is all fair and clear blue skies, the Prime Minister and Finance Minister has cautioned that there are downside risks, chief among which is an outbreak of the Avian flu. It is worrisome to read of the frequent but intermittent deaths of birds in Indonesia, India, China, Germany, France and Africa. And it is just as worrisome to read of the daily street violence played out on the streets of many countries around the globe. We have seen how SARS scuttled the economic growth of regional economies. The Avian flu can be just as damaging, if not worse. We have in place some measures among Government Ministries and some major corporations to ensure business continuity. However, I would like to ask whether the Prime Minister and Finance Minister is setting aside a special contingency fund to prepare for an economic fall-out should the Avian flu decide to spread its wings. What is the sum, and what is the plan? Reducing oil dependency Sir, another risk to our economy is the erratic roller coaster behaviour of the oil prices. The chatter among experts is that because of the fragility of the supply chain, prospects of an upward runaway of prices can easily occur. Let us look at our projections of the growth trends in Asia - from Indonesia, India to China.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this year's Budget will be one that will be long remembered as a people's Budget that brings hope to the people. It is the outstretched arms extended to wrap around the shoulders of a group of people standing in a line. The one who stands closest, ie, the poor, gets the most warmth. The better-off, positioned further abreast, is touched by the tip of the fingers. They know that they have not been forgotten. As one senior executive delightfully told me that between him and his wife, they are getting $500 "ang pow". Everyone gets something. The only difference is that the amount varies. Even the Straits Times, I read, benefited and its circulation shot up because of the Budget news. Admittedly, we can please some people some of the time and not everyone all the time! The ones left out are the businesses, especially the small and medium enterprises. While some of my parliamentary colleagues labelled this as an Election Budget, and others cautioned that it may create a dependency mentality, I take a different view. This is a Budget where the Government shares its harvest with the people - the low income, the young, the old and the retired. Yes, we have been building up reserves year after year, and I believe this Government will still continue with its policy to grow our reserves. I think we can say with confidence that the maintenance of a strong reserve is an integral part of the responsibility of this Government. But what good does it do to a country that is rich in reserves but its people are poor and suffering, unemployed and dejected? Take the simple analogy of a company. In difficult years, the workers do not get increments or bonuses. When things improve, the workers get a better payout. Our Budget this year will also help the economy.”
“I note that the Authority is empowered to investigate into the suitability of the applicants. I hope the prescribed fees imposed on each application will be sufficient such that the Government can recover the cost of its investigations, especially since some of the inquiries may require having to contact overseas counterparts to check on the applicants. Also, will the Minister consider stipulating a minimum age for those employees who require special licences so that this category of employees are, hopefully, more matured and able to fend for themselves? As I mentioned in my previous address on the IR issue, Sir, I hope this project will create sufficient jobs to help our older workers who lost their jobs to find opportunities to re-enter the job market. Perhaps, the Government may want to consider sending these older workers who are suitably qualified to be retrained in casino operations at the polytechnics or other institutions. On this note, I support the Bill. 2.43 pm”
“Sir, my other parliamentary colleagues have raised their concerns on bad hats, moneylenders and prostitution rings who will lay in wait to leverage, like parasites, on the casino operations. I would like to add a different dimension to the debate and ask what steps will the authorities take to prevent pimps from lurking around the IR. Also, we have a large workforce of lower income foreign workers in Singapore. How are we to monitor and ensure that they do not moonlight in dubious activities on their days off on weekends at the casinos? Part XII, clause 181(1)(b) allows the Authority to obtain information from a casino operator to make available information to the authorities. Video camera is an important element in crime prevention and the gathering of evidence. Will the regulatory authority impose on the operators a minimum timeframe where they have to keep proper records of their videos, surveillance tapes of the activities on their premises, so that in the event of any investigation, the authorities can have access to important evidence? Sir, this section of the Bill also empowers casino personnel to detain suspected offenders. Will the Authority require that the casino personnel must record in detail the persons detained and the events leading to the detention and immediately call the police? The operative words are "immediately call the police" as, otherwise, an overzealous casino employee may abuse his authority by corruptly seeking gratification for the release of the detained person or to intimidate or harass the detained person without access to his rights under our laws. Lastly, I want to touch on employment. I hope all the key casino employees who require special licences will be subject to screening by not just the police but also CNB, CPIB and CAD.”
“Sir, in the 2005 Budget sitting, I mentioned the need to look at the big picture and weigh between the negative social impact and economic benefits of the IR project. I am pleased that the emphasis to be given by the Singapore Tourism Board on the proposals will be on the IR as a tourism draw rather than on the gaming component. Unlike what NMP Prof. Ong Soh Khim has been talking about, I applaud the Bill on the Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore as it sets out the framework on which the gaming aspect will be supervised, and it is very comprehensive. But there are areas which I think the Minister may want to consider. I would like to know whether the Authority will restrict the casino operator from offering website gaming in any form to Singaporeans. It does not make sense if someone is banned from the casino but he can get access to the gambling activities through the web. Of course, one may argue that there are many other casino webs, but, at least, we should take due diligence to prevent where we can those who are banned and also young children from gaining access through the backdoor. Currently, the casinos in the US are big on football leagues and other major sports. Will the Singapore operators be similarly allowed to offer such betting for their operations in Singapore? While I know that Singapore Pools and others have been collecting bets on certain games, the wide following of English and European soccer leagues in Singapore, coupled with the availability of more such gaming opportunities, may well encourage more gambling than in the past. Will areas where big TV screens are put up for betting and where betting billboards are set up to be included in the definition of "gaming areas" under the law?”
“I would like to ask the Minister whether the capacity of the ComChest as a central fund-raiser will be limited and its effectiveness diluted, if there are other VWOs who are not participating in what ComChest is set up to do.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State that in view of the decision taken by many car agents today to award three-year warranties for new vehicles purchased, it would appear that motor vehicles would be quite well maintained since it is a free warranty. As such, I am just wondering whether the existing policy will indeed be relevant. Also, taking into consideration that the prices of motor vehicles are coming down drastically, there will be more possibility of car owners actually renewing their cars even before five years are up. So, in view of this, it may actually make sense for us to review the policy. Mrs Lim Hwee Hua: Sir, the decision by dealers to extend warranties for three years is strictly a commercial decision. The Government, at the same time, has to ensure that cars remain roadworthy, and it would have to fall back on the statistics that are currently borne out through the three-year inspection requirement. As for the trend of cars being replaced on a shorter scale, again, these are personal and commercial decisions made by both the consumers and the dealers. Government's duty again remains that of ensuring that cars are roadworthy.”
“While the errors gave wrong figures for the months of May 2004 and March 2005, the errors completely offset each other. The total figure for financial year 2004/2005 was correct. There is no question of Singapore Customs or IRAS trying to fudge or cover up their mistakes. In particular, there is no reason for the IRAS officer to try to conceal the error, as the error was neither his nor IRAS'. The Customs and IRAS officers were both diligent and competent officers. They and their agencies have learnt from their mistakes and will be extra careful in future.”
“IRAS and MOF did not immediately detect the over-reporting in May 2004, as that month's collection did not show any extraordinary increase over the same period in 2003. The total GST collections by IRAS and Singapore Customs amounted to $938.5 million for May 2004. Although this figure was 28.5% higher than the May 2003 collection of $730.5 million, the increase was within expectations due to the increase in GST rate from 4% to 5% on 1st January 2004. Furthermore, import GST is only a part of the total GST collection, which varies widely from month to month due to its cyclical nature. The error was only picked up during an audit in April 2005. When IRAS was informed of the mistake, IRAS took immediate action to amend the error. The IRAS officer simply reduced the March 2005 figure by the sum of $208 million, instead of reporting the correct March 2005 figure and amending the May 2004 figure. He thought what was critical was to ensure that the overall collection figure for the whole of the financial year would be correct, not realising the importance of correct monthly figures too. Given the sequence of events, it is plain that the corrections had been done immediately in April 2005, but in the wrong way. I would like to assure Singaporeans that the GST collection in the Government accounts for the financial year 2004/2005 has been audited and correctly accounted for. The reporting errors did not arise from a data system failure but from human errors. The first error by Singapore Customs was a straight mistake of picking the wrong figure from the computer spreadsheet. The second error by IRAS was an error of judgment in the course of trying to correct the mistake by Singapore Customs.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister how the withdrawal of this proposal would affect the remaining proposals submitted to-date. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: I do not think it will impact the preparation of the four remaining bidders, because the four of them are all world-class companies, they are all capable of generating what I believe is a compelling plan. With four bidders in the fray, there is more than sufficient competition to ensure that they have to put up good value. GST COLLECTIONS BY CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES (Discrepancy) 11. Prof. Ivan Png Paak Liang asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) how can the Customs authorities mistakenly combine two months' GST collections into the May 2004 figure; (b) why no one in Customs, IRAS, their supervising Ministry or statistical agencies noticed the discrepancy until much later; (c) why was the May 2004 figure "corrected" by adjusting the March 2005 figure; (d) whether the discrepancy and correction had been announced prior to the Straits Times' report; (e) who are responsible and what action has been taken against them; and (f) what action has been taken to render our statistical collection more robust. The Second Minister for Finance (Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat) (for the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance): Sir, the officer who submitted the May 2004 GST figure for collections by Singapore Customs had a computer spreadsheet which showed monthly collections as well as cumulative collections from the beginning of the financial year. She inadvertently picked the cumulative April and May 2004 collections to submit to IRAS. It was a "data translation" error. Thus, she reported the collection for May 2004 as $419 million instead of the correct figure of $211 million, an overstatement of $208 million.”