Imram bin Mohamed
Singapore
“If you have such an attitude, from the perspective of an opposition party, you feel that by creating this GRC, it is unfair to you, then I can understand your point. But Mr Low Thia Khiang said in the conclusion of his speech that this GRC system in Singapore is a very regrettable one.”
“Ramiah, shows that out of 174 non-graduate Tamil teachers, 93% were in favour of a degree programme and they were willing to upgrade themselves through this degree course.”
“Sir, I would like to seek clarification. If a Muslim is involved in an accident and lapses into a coma and is hooked on to a life-support equipment but subsequently he dies and he has opted in under the Human Organ Transplant Act as well as the living will, which procedure would be required?”
“I am still not very clear. The AMD covers all manners of death, including death by accident. So we could have a common situation where the victim has pledged his kidney and now you need a specialist to certify him brain dead. Do you require two or three specialists?”
“I would therefore like to further suggest that these workers be paid a bonus from the fund for attending and successfully completing the courses. Perhaps the Government could look at this as a more productive way of distributing future budget surpluses back to the people.”
“Those who have succumbed to drugs should be dealt with firmly, even if they are new addicts. We need to be firm to be kind. Statistics have shown that the possibility of a successful rehabilitation is greater the earlier they are treated and it becomes extremely difficult once they become hardcore addicts.”
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“The courts, on the other hand, are viewed as remote or intimidating to a victim in distress. The Police need not intervene prematurely. The Police usually come into the scene when a report is made and the victim has a choice to seek other recourse before going to the Police to seek help. I would agree with Members that Police action would be construed as confrontational if the Police were to merely apprehend and prosecute the abuser. However, under the provisions of the Bill, the Police would offer offenders the option of going for counselling in lieu of a prosecution. This has several merits. Firstly, it is a conciliatory move. Whilst wielding a big stick, the Police will first offer a humane punishment. The stick is only used if the accused is uncooperative. Secondly, the abuser is compelled to go for counselling which is probably the best therapy for people who are inclined to hurt their loved ones. It offers a chance for a recalcitrant to be rehabilitated. Thirdly, it would be an acceptable form of punishment to most complainants who wish only to reconcile and to continue living together with the offender in a harmonious environment. Of course, to achieve effective Police intervention, Police personnel need to be adequately trained in handling family disputes. The Police would need to look into this requirement and our judgement of the merits of the Bill should not be influenced by the lack of such Police personnel at the present time. Looking at it positively, since the police station or Neighbourhood Police Post will always be the first stop for victims looking for legal protection, a sufficient number of adequately trained personnel of the Police could play a vital role in mediating a conflict and reducing the initial trauma of the family members.”
“But many see this as an onerous process or are simply intimidated by the courts. As last year's statistics showed, only one of seven complainants sought and was given protection from the courts. Thus, a large number of abusers got away scot-free with little the legislation could do to check their violent streak. There is therefore a need to give more teeth to the law to deal with recalcitrants of family violence. We need to send a clear message. The society does not condone violent behaviour within the family environment. Several Members have stated that though family violence is on the rise, we should not exaggerate the problem and blow it out of proportion. However, we should not treat the problem too lightly either as family violence, if allowed to continue unchecked, would result in a disharmonious relationship in the family. This would lead to a multitude of social problems, like those we are experiencing today and which have been attributed to dysfunctional families. The Bill also proposes that Police be empowered to investigate all cases of family violence reported to them. Members have articulated a number of arguments against this, such as the undesirability of Police intrusion into the home, a lack of expertise to handle family disputes, the premature and confrontational nature of Police intervention. I feel, however, that the proposal has many merits too and should be given serious consideration. For a start, it would serve as a strong deterrent to would-be perpetrators of domestic violence. The public too would see the Police as a more acceptable form of intervention than the courts. This is because Neighbourhood Police are seen as friendly, more accessible and can provide more immediate relief.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I see it, there are two main issues that need to be debated with regard to the proposed Family Violence Bill. (1) Is there a need to enhance or tighten the present legislation? (2) Is Police intervention desirable for all cases of violence? I shall confine my arguments within this ambit. The incidence of family violence is on the increase if we go by the statistics revealed by the Government. The figures show that the number of Protection Orders issued for spousal violence has more than doubled over the last five years, and is heading for a record increase this year. This rising trend in family violence indicates that existing legislation has not been entirely effective in dealing with this problem. One weakness of the present legislation is that it is not deterrent enough. The law does not effectively ensure that the perpetrator of a violent offence on a family member will be taken to task. The victim could report to the Police. But unless grievous hurt is evident, it would be difficult for the Police to prosecute under the Penal Code because of difficulties in getting evidence. Witnesses may not want to come forward because of the private nature of the conflict. Further, since they are still living together, the offender could apply pressure on the victim not to proceed with the complaint. The complainant may also not want to proceed with Police action when told of the possible punishment the offender may face. Police statistics revealed that of the 3,625 cases of voluntarily causing hurt involving family members in 1994, about half the complainants did not want to proceed beyond making the initial complaint. The victims could seek to file to the court for legal protection under the Women's Charter.”
“Sir, would the Minister consider another school in the eastern zone for the GEP programme?”
“Sir, motorists are already quite heavily burdened with the purchase of a car and subsequent running costs, including one of the highest road taxes in the world. Is it fair to increase the burden further by charging the road users? After all, road pricing is a form of road tax. Should not revenues collected from road usage be passed back to motorists through perhaps a reduction in road tax?”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for his explanation and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J of the Development Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code JD 08994034. Sir, when one thinks of the need for facilities for low-income families, the things that immediately come to mind are a home environment that is not conducive to learning, the lack of motivational factors and guidance for the young. One may also observe that the residents of 1- and 2-room flats spend much of their free time in the common areas around their HDB flats, as they do not normally have the means to indulge in other recreational activities. May I ask the Minister whether the budget provision of over $800,000 under this code for the development of facilities for low-income families would address the areas I mentioned. I notice that this budget provision is made for the first time this year, and the amount appears too little if it is meant for what I think it is for. Perhaps the Minister could clarify.”
“Could I have the Minister's comment on whether he would consider allowing PA recipients to work for the VWOs?”
“Sir, presently over 2,700 disadvantaged families are receiving public welfare assistance. The allowance they receive varies from $155 per month for a single-person household to a maximum of $445 per month for a family of four or above. As Dr Lim has just mentioned, the amount is not quite enough to meet the daily needs. Thus, many of them receive additional assistance mainly in kind from voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs). The recipients of PA are not allowed to take up any form of employment, otherwise their allowance will cease. I feel the scheme works against the principle of promoting self-reliance. There are no incentives for recipients to seek jobs. This is understandable for the old and the infirm. However, those who are able should be encouraged to be self-dependent, even partially. They should be given the opportunity to supplement their income. May I suggest that the PA recipients be allowed to work part-time in voluntary welfare organisations without losing their financial assistance. They could work as cooks, cleaners, receptionists, child-minders, and so on. In this way, they will be earning their supplementary income instead of simply receiving them as handouts from the VWOs.”
“Sir, I have two points to raise on the subject of illegal employment and enforcement. (1) I notice that there is a high increase in operating cost. I would like to know the reason for this. Is it due to an increase in the influx of illegal immigrants? Or are we increasing our enforcement? (2) On the question of enforcement, there are foreign workers holding work permits who moonlight in the evenings and over weekends. I believe these workers are subject to enforcement action by the authorities and, if caught, the employers too become liable to prosecution or fine. The question I would like to ask is: is there any harm in these workers taking up secondary jobs? In my view, these people provide a useful source of manpower in this resource hungry Singapore. It will allow small businesses which cannot afford to employ or find difficulty in employing full-time employees to hire these workers on a regular part-time basis. These workers who take up additional work in their spare-time will not only ease the tight labour situation but also by being so employed they will not be involved in undesirable social activities. May I therefore suggest that instead of cracking down on their moonlighting, the additional jobs be legitimised. Of course, their main employers must agree and they may not mind. It serves their purpose too, as they will no longer be penalised for their employees', now legitimised, moonlighting activities. Perhaps the Government could also work out some incentives to encourage employers to allow their foreign employees to take on additional jobs. I am sure there are complications involved which the Ministry will have to resolve before introducing the dual job permit system, but I feel it is worth a try.”
“I hope that the Ministry of Education will make the scholarship awards from Edusave complement the scholarship/bursary awards introduced by the grassroots organisations. The joint scholarship/bursary awards not only enable the students to understand the community spirit but is also an effective promotion of the scheme. I hope the Ministry of Education would consider the above suggestions.”
“I believe it is worth the while to put in the extra effort and money to help improve this group of children, as it will prevent them from later becoming an obstacle to our progress, or, worse, a burden to society. I would appreciate it if the Minister could let us know what plan he has to help these students and whether the Edusave facility could be extended to allocate funds for specially tailored programmes for them. Mr Peh Chin Hua( In Mandarin): Sir, Edusave is a very good plan. However, despite its implementation since 1992, many students and parents still do not understand the function of Edusave and the benefit they can derive from it. I hope that the Ministry of Education will publicise this scheme to prevent it from being misused by schools. I understand that many parents are perplexed over the fact that Edusave is being used by schools to organise educational tours and dinners for the students. It is very difficult to explain to the parents that going on a tour is to widen our knowledge and it will help us to understand the history, culture and ways of life of other countries. It is also not easy to explain to parents that by making the students attend some formal dinners will help them learn some dinner etiquette and table manners. To the parents, it is merely merry-making and feasting, a misuse of Edusave. Some schools are even suggesting that contributions be made from Edusave towards the School Building Fund. Parents are getting the wrong impression that the Government is trying to use another method to take back what they have given out earlier through Edusave. I think we must retain the original principle and spirit of Edusave. It should not be misused by the schools. I appreciate the plan to award scholarships through Edusave.”
“Sir, I would like to voice my concern for the plight of the below average students in our schools. These students comprise about 10% to 15% of the cohort every year. Sir, we have a very good educational system in Singapore where no child is deprived of a place in school. However, the system is biased towards the high achievers. Justifiably so, we spare no effort and money to further develop these bright students through GEP, independent and autonomous schools plus special Edusave grants for them. On the other hand, very little attention is given to the slow learners who are left more or less to fend on their own. As these pupils progress unassisted through primary schools, they would fall further and further behind their peers. I fear this would lead to an ever widening gap between the top and bottom in our society. This would lead to obvious consequences. If we draw up a profile of these students, you will see that they come from low income, single parent, or broken families. The environment they grow up in, plus the lack of motivation, increase the probability of them dropping out of schools, becoming delinquent and vulnerable to drug consumption. Some self-help groups have, on their own initiatives, implemented special programmes to help the low achievers in the primary schools. They have achieved measurable success. Their outreach is, however, limited due to lack of resources. A more concerted effort is required to help all these children. Just having weekend tuition classes for them to attend are not sufficient. With the right motivation and proper guidance, they could also be developed to their maximum potential. Remedial effort should start from an early stage as it would be easier to mould them during their foundation years.”
“This is because Muslims also pay to MUIS and other recognised bodies an annual tax on accumulated wealth. I believe the Government has no fixed formula to determine the ceiling for exemption from estate duty. The figures are simply reviewed from time to time. I urge the Minister to review it on a more periodic basis. Where estate duty is concerned, if we do have to err, we should err on the generous side. Finally, Sir, I would like to commend the Minister for a good and cautious Budget. While I support the motion, I hope the Minister will consider the points raised. It will further enhance the Government's image of one that cares and has compassion for all its citizens.”
“The introduction of the GST has resulted in a reduction in their profits. Many had to absorb the cost of the GST in order to be more competitive and to retain their market share. The strengthening of the Singapore dollar too has also affected the business of those who depend on tourist clientele. With further strengthening of the Singapore currency, the Government may have to review the viability of Singapore being marketed as a shopping destination for tourists. While the reduction in the property tax rate from 15% to 13% is aimed at reducing costs for the industrial and commercial sectors, many small business owners may not benefit from it. By and large, they rent the premises they conduct their business in. Though the Minister has encouraged landlords to pass on the tax reduction to the tenants, this may not happen especially as rents are normally determined through tender. Another area I would like to touch upon is with regard to estate duty. Sir, I understand the limit of exemption from estate duty was last fixed in 1984 at $500,000 for liquid assets and $3 million for immovable properties. I feel these figures are badly in need of a review considering the large income and asset inflation that has taken place over the last 11 years. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this tax is known to be referred to as a misery tax for when a head of family dies, the family has not only lost a breadwinner, but also suffers the misfortune of having to bear additional tax burden. Like the Malay saying goes, Sudah jatoh di timpa tangga pula. One may even question the justification for such a tax. A man has already paid his due tax on his income earned during his lifespan. He has to pay again when he dies. It is a form of double taxation. For Muslims, it is a triple tax.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to join in the debate. Sir, the Budget Statement by the Minister for Finance is certainly one that is welcomed by most Singaporeans. The general population can certainly be pleased with the rebates in the HDB rental, service and conservancy charges, the CPF top-up as well as the easing of their tax burden. It is good that the Government is distributing these goodies across-the-board and it should be such as these handouts are to a large extent a refund of the excess GST collected in 1994. The GST being a broad-based tax which affects all Singaporean consumers, it is only right that the excess collected be distributed equitably to Singaporeans at large. While I welcome the Budget Statement, I cannot help but feel that pensioners and retirees do not stand to gain much from the rebates and easing of their tax burden. I believe this issue was raised last year when the GST was introduced. I do not see it being addressed in this Budget. Sir, monies from the Central Provident Fund and pension are not subject to tax. Yet our retirees who have withdrawn their CPF and are receiving pension find themselves subject to taxation when they spend their hard-earned savings. In this year's tax changes for individuals, the retirees are treated no different from the other income earning Singaporeans. They ought to be treated more generously. After all, these people have done their fair share in contributing to the Singapore economy during their working years. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also feel that the worries of the small retail business owners are not adequately catered for in the Budget. The past year had seen overheads rising for all these small businesses and they are finding it harder to make ends meet.”
“In conclusion, I feel the benchmark salary should be derived from a broader base, rather than be narrowly fixed to the 15P 32I, as suggested. We could perhaps consider the top, say, 5% earnings of all the eligible professionals rather than from a limited number of professions. This should give a more realistic measure of the top earners.”
“Ministers' salaries are already high by any standard. We may be doing harm to the value of public service by further equating it to high monetary rewards. We need to guard against a possible erosion to the sense of pride and dignity in public service. Apart from being an economic leader, our political leaders are looked upon to also provide strong moral leadership. This aspect of the leadership role is important, as high moral values are indeed crucial to the long-term success of a nation. And one value that our leaders could help instil in our young is that good moral leadership cannot be bought. With regard to the Administrative Service, the Government intends to recruit bright graduates into the civil service. I agree that we need to pay salaries comparable to the private sector in order to attract these young people. However, to peg their income at age 32 to the 15th position in the six professions in the private sector may be overly generous. The private sector works under a different set of rules from the public sector. Monetary rewards may not reflect academic excellence. The brightest graduate who joins the private sector will not necessarily become the top earner at age 32 or at other points in his career. Sir, one of the objectives of this exercise is to retain talent within the Administrative Service. However, will it work totally? Good public officers, after having served in Government departments and having established a wide network of contacts, would be worth a great deal to the private sector. The latter will be willing to match whatever salary they are getting. Therefore, attrition of some of these people is inevitable and Government should prepare for it in some other way.”
“Thank you, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to express my views on the White Paper. Whilst I do not disagree with the principle of setting benchmarks for Ministerial and senior public officials' pay, I feel very uncomfortable with the proposed formula which pegs their salaries so precisely to the few top earners in the private sector. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the salary proposal will send confusing messages to the masses. On the one hand, the public were told that they should make only moderate claims for wage rises. These should trail productivity increases so that Singapore can remain competitive. On the other hand, the public are now told that for the same reason, the Ministers' salaries must be increased by leaps and bounds. The explanation offered is that Ministers must be paid their market worth. If this can apply to Ministers, why should it not apply to others too? A taxi driver would question why he is not allowed to vary his charges to market conditions. For instance, during festive seasons or at other times where there is a high demand for taxis, he should be able to up his fare. The general public will not be able to understand why we need to pay top dollars to attract or retain Ministers. Ministers are already receiving comfortable salaries. Besides, the job carries with it many other tangible and intangible benefits. For example, the level of prestige associated with the position can hardly be matched by any top jobs in the private sector. If, in spite of all this, people still turn away from the job, it must be for reasons beyond money or perks. Our Ministers are leaders of our nation. Theirs is a noble profession. And as the White Paper states, salaries should never be the motivation for persons to become Ministers.”