Indranee Rajah
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, I would like to make a clarification in relation to two written answers on childcare leave issued by the Prime Minister's Office on 25 September 2025 and 3 February 2026 in response to Parliamentary Questions filed by Members of Parliament Ms Cassandra Lee and Ms Valerie Lee respectively.”
“Based on Year of Assessment (YA) 2025 data, about 9,500 working mothers claimed a lower amount of Working Mother's Child Relief (WCMR) under the fixed-dollar basis than they would have under the previous percentage-based basis, for children born or adopted on or after 1 January 2024.”
“We regularly receive feedback on enhancing child-related leave provisions, including the Member's suggestion. In recent years, parental leave provisions have been significantly enhanced, such that parents now have 30 weeks of paid leave, including 10 weeks of Shared Parental Leave.”
“The Government does not have data on the number of transactions involving multiple units on a single residential title that have not been subdivided. Such properties are treated as a single property for Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) purposes when it is bought, so no ABSD is foregone.”
“The Government publishes data on personal income tax, which is publicly available on www.data.gov.sg. This includes data on the number of course fees relief claimants and the amount of the relief granted. The Member may refer to the website to access the data for the first three questions.”
“In considering the duration of leave, we will look at the need. In this case, as I have explained, there is a difference between those who give birth physically to a child and those who adopt.”
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“Mdm Speaker, this annexure is to enable the Members to appreciate the full flavour of what we mean. MinLaw exercised some creative licence to come up with a menu to illustrate what it would look like if you had food and beverage with geographical indications. So, you would have, as starters, Melon wrapped with Prosciutto di Parma, followed by Belon Oysters and Baked Camembert Cheese from Normandy. For the mains, you Page: 79 have Chicken from Bresse braised in Red Wine from Burgundy, and followed by a Roast Kobe Beef Rib Seasoned with Sarawak Pepper. For dessert, Fresh Strawberries Drizzled with Balsamic Vinegar from Modena, a Provencal Olive Oil-Lemon Cake and a Champagne Granita. And, of course, not forgetting the wines. We have Chablis; Mosel for the White, a Bourdeaux and Brunello de Montalcino for the red with Digestifs of Grappa and Port. Madam, the names of many of these products refer to a town, region or country, as can be seen from the menu. If Members wish to avail themselves of the menu and try it out, I can assure them that MinLaw will not be exercising its copyright in respect of the menu and they are free to do so. We call these terms "GIs" when they signal to consumers that a product has special qualities or enjoys a certain reputation or other characteristic due to its geographical origin. Indeed, some of the terms in the menu are recognised as GIs in other countries. Take "Bordeaux", for example. "Bordeaux" is a wine originating from the Bordeaux region in France. It is said to have a special flavour and characteristic because of its geographical origin. If "Bordeaux" is protected as a GI in Singapore, this means that only wines produced in the Bordeaux region can be labelled and marketed as "Bordeaux" wines in Singapore.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Madam, the Geographical Indications Bill proposes to strengthen protection for businesses and consumers by enhancing the regime dealing with representation of geographical origins of goods, where such origins are indicative of quality. Before going into the provisions of the Bill, it may be useful for me to explain what we mean by "Geographical Indications" or "GIs" in the context of the Bill. Geographical Indications or "GIs" are terms which we use to inform consumers that a product comes from a particular place. Such goods would often fall under the category of food and drink. I thought, Mdm Speaker, that it might be useful to illustrate this. And with your permission, may I ask the Clerks to distribute an Annexure to the Members?”
“With the expansion of our Plant Varieties Protection regime, we will need examiners with the necessary technical expertise to examine a much wider range of plant genera and species. Clauses 2, 5, 6, 8 and 11 of the Bill, therefore, amend the Plant Varieties Protection Act to enable the Registrar of Plant Varieties to engage the services of other examining authorities, including those from other UPOV Convention member countries, to perform the relevant technical examination. This outsourcing model is in line with current practices in other jurisdictions, such as Switzerland, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. This is a resource-efficient way of providing for technical examination. In cases where AVA does not have the expertise to do a technical examination of any particular plant genera or species, the proposed amendments will enable IPOS to engage the services of other examining authorities with the relevant expertise to do so. This removes the need for IPOS or AVA to recruit and train in-house technical experts for the examination of new plant varieties, which will be time-consuming and expensive. Instead, they can tap on available expertise. Clause 4(a) also enables the Registrar of Plant Varieties to delegate his powers or functions under the Act to any person with the relevant qualification or experience, for operational efficiency. In conclusion, Mdm Speaker, I beg to move.”
“Thank you. The current list of plant genera and species covers specific plants from: firstly, the Orchid family, for example, the Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis; secondly, Aquatic plants and Ornamentals group, for example, Heliconias; and, thirdly, the Vegetable group, for example, Baicai and Caixin. I should clarify that the plants seen in these photographs are just examples of the various plant groups listed under the Schedule, and these plant varieties shown are not specifically protected plant varieties. The UPOV Convention obliges us to allow protection for all plant genera and species by the tenth year of our accession, that is, by July 2014. As such, clause 3 of the Bill expands the plant variety protection system under the Act to all plant genera and species. Aside from the need to comply with our international obligations, the expansion of our plant varieties protection system is also intended to encourage investments in the research and development of new plant varieties with economic potential. One example of a plant with such economic potential is the "'Jatropha curcas" species, which was added to the list under the Ornamentals Page: 61 group in December last year. And if I may display the slide just to show what this plant looks like, the first shows the oil-bearing fruits, and the second picture will show the plant in flowering stage. This species can produce fruits of high oil yield. It holds potential commercial use as a bio-fuel. Locally, there is already some interest to breed this species. When a Breeder applies for protection of a new plant variety, plant materials have to be submitted for technical examination. This examination is currently conducted by the prescribed examination authority, that is, the AVA.”
“I just ask respectfully your permission to show a few photographs for the Members' better understanding of what this Act is about.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Madam, Plant Varieties Protection is a type of Intellectual Property protection. A person who breeds, discovers and develops a new plant variety, defined under the current Act as a Breeder, may apply to protect his new plant variety under the Plant Varieties Protection Act by filing an application for a grant of protection. If given, the grant of protection gives the Breeder exclusive rights in relation to the new plant variety. The Breeder may prevent others from doing a range of acts without the Breeder's permission, such as: (a) producing or reproducing; (b) selling; (c) importing; and (d) exporting the protected plant variety. Currently, the Act is limited to protection of certain specific varieties of plants listed in the Schedule. Examination is carried out by AVA. This Bill seeks to enhance the plant varieties protection system in Singapore under the Act. It expands the scope of Plant Varieties Protection under the Act to include all plant Page: 60 genera and species; and it enables IPOS to engage the services of other technical examining authorities, aside from the AVA, in the examination of these plant genera and species. I will now take the House through the main features of the Bill. The Act was enacted arising from Singapore's accession to the International Union on the Protection of New Varieties of Plant Convention, the "UPOV Convention", on 30 July 2004. This was part of our United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement obligations. When the Act was first enacted, varieties from 15 plant genera and species were eligible for protection under the Act. This was in line with our UPOV Convention obligations. Mdm Speaker, I take to heart your injunction regarding slides.”
“Mdm Chairperson, with respect to the Member's clarification on elaboration of Page: 19 what kind of professional and technical certifications we are looking at, the Committee is still at the early stages of the work. But what I can say is we should first look at what is the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is that students want to progress; those who are in working life also want to progress. That is one part of it. And when you look at the employer's perspective, what does the employer want? The employer wants skills, deep skills. And also for employees who have worked for two or three years, they want them to get additional skills and broader skills. So, that is the starting point. It is really to look at what the industry needs and what kind of certification the industry recognises, and what kind of certification in which the industry feels that there are gaps at the moment and is not being provided. It is also important to recognise that each industry is different. So, what we are really looking at or exploring is how to work with industries to understand from them what they need in order to give their employees the chance to progress upwards, what kind of certifications would be relevant for that, and how we can assist in this process.”
“Our Universities have already been supporting their transition from NS back into their studies at a comfortable pace. At NUS, NTU and SMU, NSmen can choose to undergo a Special Term to take modules one semester earlier. If they complete sufficient modules during the Special Term, these students will be able to graduate a semester early. NUS is also piloting an online course for NSmen to start their lessons prior to matriculation. Our NSmen also have other options for further education, such as the specialist and advanced diploma programmes offered by our Polytechnics. To the extent that his suggestion was for them to do part time studies in the course of NS, I think it is important that they should, during the course of NS, focus and give all their energies and time to National Service as it is very important. But if there are other things that can be done in the course of NS, then perhaps those suggestions can be referred to MINDEF. Page: 180 In conclusion, Mr Chairman, let me say that the efforts that we take are all designed to bring out the best in our children. We want the best for them because Singaporeans have great potential. MOE's task is to make sure that that potential is realised. Helping Misfits in the Education System”
“Mr Png Eng Huat asked about the tuition grants for international students. The hon Member has raised this topic before in Parliamentary Questions. And Page: 179 as the Minister had explained, eight out of 10 start serving the bond promptly, or have been granted approval by MOE to defer their service obligations to pursue further studies. The remaining ones are not necessarily automatically in default – some are overseas for further studies, but omitted to get approval and some are seeking employment. It is not necessary for me to go into details, as the Minister had answered that in the Parliamentary Questions previously. But one thing I can assure Mr Png of is, if it comes to MOE's attention that there is a deliberate default, then enforcement action will be taken. In response to Assoc Prof Eugene Tan, I would like to assure him that we are investing heavily in promoting scholarship in Singapore and there is no lack of financial support for scholarship projects on Singapore. The amount of funding available is actually in excess of the number of quality projects submitted. I believe his concern is whether or not people will submit such projects. But we are of course happy to encourage the submission of projects with research on Singapore. Assoc Prof Eugene Tan also asked about the Discretionary Admission Scheme (DAS) to Autonomous Universities (AUs). He felt that 10% was too high. This was actually in response to a call for some flexibility and being autonomous, the AUs are responsible for admissions into their institutions. They are expected, however, to maintain high standards in its admissions process and they are also accountable to their Boards. Mr Yee Jenn Jong suggested that we could provide our NSmen with greater support for tertiary studies.”
“We have training support in drama through the Programme for Active Learning (PAL); its increased recruitment of art and music teachers; there is a dedicated academy for arts teachers; there is funding for art and music instructor scheme; and an art and music equipment grant for Primary schools. Also, from 2014, the Singapore Teachers' Academy of the aRts (STAR) will be providing professional learning opportunities for drama teachers through two schemes: the Artist-Mentor Scheme and the Arts Pedagogical Research Fund. Drama teachers will also be able to work with established drama practitioners as mentors to enhance the teaching and learning of drama. Assoc Prof Eugene Tan asked about efforts to promote the study of Asia. Today, there is already a significant focus on the study of our immediate regional environment in our schools at all levels. It is done through subjects like History and Social Studies. The history and culture of China, India and Southeast Asian countries and the development of ASEAN are covered in Social Studies for Primary; History and Social Studies for Secondary; and History at pre-University level. In our Polytechnics and ITEs, there are numerous avenues to deepen understanding of Asia. There is China studies, with an attachment in China, or world issues modules. And our Autonomous Universities (AUs) also have undergraduate programmes which give students a better understanding of the region. For example, NUS has an undergraduate programme in Southeast Asian Studies, and offers modules which look at regional politics. MOE also provides support to schools through the Trips for International Experience grant, allowing schools to organise meaningful overseas learning journeys in the region.”
“We have stepped up efforts to ensure consistency in the quality of such training with the enhancement of the accreditation system and standards that training providers must adhere to. Our immediate priority is to strengthen the Polytechnic training pipeline by increasing intake numbers to meet the increased manpower demands. As these are the more immediate needs, we will focus on them first. We will study the feasibility of centralising pre-service training when manpower demand has stabilised. 7.15 pm Ms Faizah Jamal asked about eco-literacy in our schools. Our children are exposed to eco-literacy throughout their education from pre-school, all the way up to the IHLs. Pre-school children are exposed through the "Discovery of the World" mentioned earlier. In our Primary and Secondary schools, eco-literacy is taught in two ways. It can be infused as part of other subjects, for example, Character and Citizenship Education, Social Studies, Science and Geography. In some schools, it is taught as a distinctive programme with partners, such as the Science Centre Singapore. One such example is Balestier Hill Secondary, Page: 178 which has a programme titled "Man and the Environment: Developing 21st Century Competencies through Environmental Education". Many schools also promote environmental education through co-curricular activities or school programmes, for example, Environmental Clubs or school-wide recycling efforts. Ms Janice Koh asked about using drama as pedagogy. There are many pedagogies that teachers can use in their teaching, including drama. The choice of pedagogy depends on whether the subject lends itself to being taught in a particular way. I would like to assure her that MOE is supportive of this, not just for drama, but for music as well.”
“So, every child in preschool will have access to the opportunities afforded through education, irrespective of their financial background. On preschool curriculum, the curriculum, teaching and learning resources in MKs are based on the belief and principles reflected in the refreshed Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) Framework for a quality kindergarten curriculum. Page: 177 MOE's underlying philosophy is about teaching children to learn and to discover the joy of learning. The MKs offer a curriculum with a distinct Singapore flavour to allow children to learn in an authentic context. For example, the HI-Light Programme supports holistic development of children in six learning areas: aesthetics and creative expression; discovery of the world; language and literacy; motor skills development; numeracy; and social and emotional development. Children explore, discover and make sense of the world around them through these themes. The themes include topics which are familiar to children, allowing them to explore and learn about themselves, their friends and people and places around them. Dr Intan asked about centralisation of training for preschool teachers. Raising the quality of teaching at preschool centre is something that MOE remains committed to. ECDA was formed to integrate the Government's approach towards early childhood care and education in Singapore. We have raised the minimum qualifications for kindergarten-level teachers over the years. For existing teachers, ECDA will provide more professional development opportunities as part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Masterplan launched last year.”
“This is why we put a lot of effort and resources to uplift the quality of preschool education, including the quality of preschool teachers, the preschool curriculum and the preschool pedagogy. Even as we improve the quality, we are mindful that preschool education should continue to be accessible and affordable to all. And that is why MOE set up the MOE Kindergartens (MKs). The first five pilot MKs started their first batch of K1 classes in January 2014. All of them are progressing well. I visited the MK in Punggol View Primary School. Although it only started in January this year, the teachers and children at the school have already initiated collaborations with the kindergarten children and teachers. For the Lunar New Year celebrations, the Primary 2 students and kindergarten children worked together to make greeting cards for the community. Through that interaction, the older students learn values, such as responsibility and care for their younger peers, while the kindergarten children learnt teamwork through the activity. The children then gave the cards to the homes in the neighbourhood, which helped them to start thinking in terms of being part of a community. As announced last week, five more MKs will commence operations in 2015. Four of them are located in Primary schools, so that we can have a diversity of sites which allows us to try different things and compare pros and cons, one of them will be located within the community site in Yishun. These five kindergartens will also have care services because we understand the needs of working parents, and we will continue to pilot innovative approaches to teaching and learning. We will also continue to reserve a third of the places for low-income families and provide subsidies.”
“We will not be able to achieve what we hope to unless all the stakeholders are on board. So, for the composition of the ASPIRE Committee, we have private sector representatives, people from the industries, and Government agencies – not just MOE, but people from the Polytechnics, ITEs, Universities and representatives from EDB, SPRING and WDA. We are also actively engaging all the stakeholders – the students, the alumni, the parents, the teachers and the industry players. In conclusion, on this topic, let me introduce, or launch, the ASPIRE logo. We wanted a logo to reflect what ASPIRE stands for, and initially MOE embarked on doing it in-house. Then we realised – no, this is for the students, so the logo should come from them because they are the best people to express what they think and feel about it. So, we had an open competition across all the Polytechnics and ITE. There were close to 400 entries. The winner, Loh Jun Jie, a third-year student doing a diploma in Visual Communications at NYP, produced this [A slide was shown to hon Members]. This is his winning entry, and you can see it is very professionally done. It is a reflection of the creativity and artistic talent of our Polytechnic students and it is an example of the promise and potential that they have. We want to bring out the best in each and every one of them, and give them as many opportunities as possible to succeed. This is what ASPIRE aspires to do. Page: 176 I move on now to preschool education. Bringing out the best in every child at every stage of the learning journey and that journey begins at preschool. Much of a child's development is influenced by their learning, exposure and experiences in their early years.”
“He developed a useful base of skills in Polytechnic, and after National Service, with support from his Polytechnic and SPRING, he commercialised the research that he did at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and co-founded Progeniq, which provides high performance computing solutions, helping digital animators to speed up production of visual effects in Hollywood and Bollywood films. But ASPIRE's work is not without challenges. As we saw in Europe, a critical enabler is strong industry ownership of vocational training. Over there, it is the companies who are responsible for taking on apprentices and they provide the training. They help apprentices to find schools to provide the theoretical education. Employers see themselves as co-developers of talent and invest heavily in training and teaching employees. But they derive a benefit in terms Page: 175 of access to skilled employees and a recruitment pipeline. Here, employers regard career education as the task of the educational institutions, rather than as a joint endeavour. In order for us to achieve the outcomes outlined earlier, there will have to be a much deeper collaboration and co-ownership between industry and the IHLs. And this will require a mindset shift. However, I am cheered by the interest that has been expressed by industries so far and we are working with them to develop a viable model that suits Singapore's circumstances. Another challenge is how we view vocational training and jobs. Right now, it is still a paper chase. We have to see each job as something valuable in its own right, and place value on professionalism, technical skills and craftsmanship. As has been said: "It's not what you know; it's what you can do with what you know." As you can see, ASPIRE's work is multi-faceted.”
“Can I invite Members to have a look at this on the screen [A slide was shown to hon Members] and guess what it is? It is actually an edible nutrient sheet developed by Singapore Poly's Food Innovation and Resource Centre in collaboration with industry. So, you can see the green part is broccoli, the orange part is carrot mash, the red part which forms the car is beetroot, the wheels are spinach, and the ground is ground-up mushrooms. And this is ideal for getting young children to eat their vegetables. It is also very good for transportation because you can have the nutrients available. And I asked them whether there were preservatives, they said, "No". So, that was a good thing. And what you do is you put it over warm rice, and then it softens, and you can eat it. The second one is that of a device [A slide was shown to hon Members ]. You can see this device attached to the kidney area and if you feel a twinge as you look at it, there is a reason for that. This is called a Percutaneous Access to Kidney Assist Device. But, basically, what it does is to help the surgeon to hold steady when locating a kidney stone so that his hand does not shake. It is thus much easier when you conduct a surgery. It was developed by ITE's Technology Development Centre with NUS and NUH. So, this hands-on, practice-oriented, problem-solving nature of applied learning in the Polytechnics and ITE, as well as the research, innovation and enterprise project work that the students do, is uniquely suited to developing young entrepreneurs. One such entrepreneur is Mr Darran Nathan. He is a Ngee Ann Poly graduate and a technopreneur.”
“Two, we are also considering (a) progression pathways and opportunities where promotions and progress are based on competency and skills; and (b) the use of skills frameworks or professional industry certifications to achieve this and we would like to pilot them in suitable sectors. We also want to have enhanced career guidance to get a better matching of student strengths to the courses that they take. We are also looking at support for students who have difficulties and who are not meeting their full potential, especially those at risk of dropping out. So, you can see, graduating from Polytechnic or ITE is also not an end in itself, but it is a wonderful beginning. We are looking at Continuing Education and Training for the Polytechnic and ITE students so that they can continue to learn and progress even after they graduate from Polytechnic and ITE. We want them to have options to work immediately after graduation; pursue further studies after graduation; work first and then continue with education or get professional or technical certifications; get further training after getting valuable working experience; or become business owners or entrepreneurs. I had a case in my Meet-the-People Session. An ITE student came to see me for an appeal. He wanted to pursue a technical diploma in automotive engineering as he wanted to have his own automotive business. He wants to be a boss, not an employee, and he is pursuing his dream through the ITE route. ASPIRE is also reviewing how to strengthen and deepen Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) in Polytechnics and ITEs. Not many people Page: 174 realise this, but our Polytechnics and ITEs are centres of Research, Innovation and Enterprise.”
“We have in place many of the pieces that have led to their success – strong vocational training institutions, industry-relevant training and industry partnerships. However, there are also takeaways and ideas from which we can learn. For example, this [A slide was shown to hon Members], we went to a company and, in that company, they had set up another company and the students were the MD, Accountant, CFO and the guys who have to take the orders. They basically had this subsidiary which they ran as a company but putting the students in there so that the students would get corporate experience and have to make the kind of decisions that you would have to do in real life. So, the things that ASPIRE is currently considering include: Page: 173 One, enhanced internships and the value of applied learning through enhanced internships which are as follows: aligning skills to industry demand, so that our students can be assured of a job; combining theory and practice; making sure the real-life environment facilitates the learning of the life skills I mentioned earlier; and also providing a strong base for them to be skilled workers, business owners or entrepreneurs. This is Mr James Tan [A slide was shown to hon Members], who is currently a Duty Terminal Manager with Changi Airport Group (CAG). James did his internship at Changi Airport and he was awarded the "Extra Mile Award" by CAG for his performance. Due to his outstanding contribution during his internship, he was the first intern to be recruited to become a Duty Terminal Manager since the commencement of CAG's Changi Youth Ambassador Programme.”
“Four different machines, handled by four different people, four different jobs. Today, we have the iPhone. All of those functions and everything that those four people did can be done by this. These jobs are gone, except possibly for the secretaries who will probably always be needed. This one single device has disrupted jobs and changed the economic scene. Page: 172 Today, you can have a job as an app designer. This job not only did not exist 26 years ago, but the possibility of its existence was not even in anyone's contemplation back then. And what has happened before will happen again. So, the question is, how can our education system help prepare our students for life and a career, now and in the future? These are the goals of ASPIRE: (a) Ensuring that our Polytechnic and ITE students are highly employable, with highly sought-after skills, we want them to have different options to progress upwards; (b) We want to give them the skills to navigate the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) environment. We want them to have resilience, leadership, adaptability, problem solving, communication skills; and (c) We also want to lay the foundations for them to become entrepreneurs, innovators and business owners. We hope to achieve this by strengthening applied learning in the Polytechnics and ITEs because applied learning, by its very nature, promotes these outcomes. I led a trip to Switzerland and Germany last month to study their applied education model. It was a good learning experience. But as each country is unique, we cannot simply replicate what they have. At the same time though, we saw many familiar elements which assured us that we are on the right track.”
“This chart shows the state of youth unemployment based on figures from a 2012 OECD report. You will see right at the top, 51% youth unemployment, Greece and Spain. Portugal and Italy, with 36% youth unemployment. These are understandably due to economic conditions. However, in the US, according to their Bureau of Statistics, there are 3.8 million job openings while approximately 11.8 million are unemployed. This suggests that one reason for part of their unemployment rate is a mismatch between skills and qualifications in demand and the skills and qualifications their people have. The Finnish and Korean figures, 19.4% and 9.5% respectively, also tell us that a degree qualification is not a guarantee of a job. There must be alignment between skills supply and job demand. 7.00 pm Germany and Switzerland on the other hand have low youth unemployment rates, 7.9% and 7.5% respectively – and one of the key reasons is their strong vocational education and training through apprenticeships, which ensure that many students leave their system with skills relevant to available jobs. So, that is the first thing – aligning skills and demand. The second is equipping Singaporeans for the future. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman a few days ago highlighted the unpredictability of the future workplace and how digitalisation is transforming not just businesses but jobs. When I first started work as a lawyer 26 years ago, we had what was considered the forefront of technology at that time: the electronic typewriter with a two-line screen that was used by the secretary; a telex machine that was used by the telex operator; a fax machine that was operated by the fax operator; and the phone was routed through the switchboard which was operated by the phone operator.”
“The report also recommended Continuing Education and Training for lifelong learning and financial assistance for mature students taking part-time degrees at UniSIM. You can see from this, how step by step but with gathering momentum, we have been diversifying the University landscape and increasing the opportunities for young Singaporeans. With that part underway, we are now focusing on the Polytechnics and ITE. And this brings me to ASPIRE. In November 2013, the Prime Minister announced the formation of the committee for the Applied Study in Polytechnics and ITE Review (ASPIRE), which I am chairing. Members have made reference to this. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked for an update of the committee's work, Mr Yee Jenn Jong spoke about internships, and Mrs Lina Chiam spoke about international exposure for students and the promotion of entrepreneurship. These are the issues which ASPIRE is looking at. Before I go into the details of ASPIRE, let me first explain the driving considerations behind its work. Mr Chairman, with your permission, may I ask the Clerks to distribute the handouts and display a slide on the LED screens regarding youth unemployment rates around the world?”
“Mr Chairman, what is the ultimate purpose of education? As Minister Heng indicated, it is to bring out the best in every child, to prepare them for the future – not only for jobs but also for life. All the initiatives and steps that we have taken are with these goals in mind. Minister has given a macro overview. I will deal with two specific areas – tertiary and pre-school. We have, step by step, been transforming the tertiary education landscape. Prior to 2000, we had two Universities – NUS and NTU. In 2000, SMU was established. It introduced the US-style university, complementing the other two older universities modelled along British lines. In 2009, SUTD was established, with a focus on design, engineering training and research. And in 2010, the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) was set up, providing an additional upgrading pathway for Poly graduates. Page: 170 In August 2012, the Committee for the University Education Pathways Beyond 2015 (CUEP), chaired by then Senior Minister of State for Education and Information Mr Lawrence Wong, made several key recommendations in its report. One, to increase the cohort participation in our publicly-funded Universities. And two, to have a new applied degree pathway. I want to spend some time explaining this idea of an applied pathway because I am not sure if it is well understood across the board, but it is very important. The applied pathway focuses on the practical application of specialised knowledge and prepares students for specific professions with a strong nexus to the industry and economy. SIT and UniSIM were identified as the two new applied Universities, the other Universities being research universities.”
“I thank the Member for clarifying. I think the Member's understanding is correct. It is done through the prosecutor. What I intended to convey in my reply was that we are prepared to consider ways in which the victim can work with the prosecutor so that the claims can be brought to Court. With respect to the numbers, I do not have the numbers specifically with me at the present time, but perhaps the Member might like to file a question on the statistics and I can arrange for the numbers to be provided.”
“Madam, with respect to the Member's question as to when the review will be completed, as I indicated earlier, there are a number of stakeholders that we have to consult. So, it is not possible to give a definitive date, but what I can assure the Member is that it will be done as expeditiously as possible. With respect to the second question of what happens when a licensed moneylender behaves like an unlicensed one and crosses the line, the short answer is that if they cross the line and they breach the law, then, of course, they will be dealt with in accordance with the law. If they commit an offence in the course of pursuing their claim for recovery of the loan, then they will be prosecuted for that offence.”
“Mdm Chair, Mr Hri Kumar asked about the third law school. The current status is that the third law school will be situated within UniSIM. The idea for the third law school is to be an applied law school meaning there should be a strong nexus with practice. We want the graduates of that law school to have not only a very strong theoretical foundation but also a strong practice-orientated teaching in their education. The current status is that a Steering Committee has been set up, which I chair. The Steering Committee is looking into issues such as the curriculum of the third law school, admission criteria, staffing as well as all the other different facets that will go into the setting up of the third law school. The report will be out, hopefully, by the end of this year.”
“The Coroner's Act was enacted in 2010 and came into effect in 2011. Section 39 of this Act gives the Coroner the discretion to discontinue proceedings before him if he determines that the inquiry is no longer necessary to determine the cause of and circumstances connected with the death, that is, the Coroner can decide whether to continue the proceedings or discontinue the proceedings. In exercising his discretion, the Coroner may have regard to the wishes of the next-of-kin of the deceased. In practice, if counsel for the next-of-kin is present, the Coroner would take the views of the next-of-kin on board, through counsel. So, discretion is given to the Coroner, and if the counsel for the next-of-kin agrees to the discontinuance, then the question arises: how is the public interest served by insisting that the Coroner must continue with the inquiry, particularly, where all the facts have come across? It does not make sense, in such a situation, to take away the Coroner's discretion and to force him to continue with the inquiry. 5.15 pm So, the question is, should we trust the Coroner to consider what is appropriate in each case? Or do we make it mandatory for the Coroner to continue? I think we should trust the Coroner and let it be discretionary. Our position is generally similar to that in the United Kingdom and New South Wales, Australia. Madam, in conclusion, I would say MinLaw advances access to justice and the rule of law through all that we do. We will continue to review and enhance our laws to safeguard the rights of Singaporeans, strengthen the people's trust in Government, and the global community's trust in Singapore.”
“Relevant considerations will include the different purposes that civil and criminal proceedings generally serve, the different burdens of proof in such proceedings, the different legal and factual issues that may arise in criminal proceedings from those in civil proceedings and vice versa, and the different types of evidence that may be required to establish the civil compensation claim and the criminal offence. I think what is key here is that the law, as it currently stands, gives the victim the right or the ability to claim for compensation in the criminal proceedings. Our courts are actually required in every case to consider whether compensation should be given. I think Ms Lim's concern really is the ease with which the victim can claim, and whether or not the victim is able to have the issues put before the Court in a way that will enable the claim for compensation to be determined. We will certainly look and see whether more can be done to enable the victims to make claims under the existing section 359. In fact, our approach of requiring the Court to consider whether compensation should be ordered in the criminal case, in some ways makes it even easier and better for Page: 115 the victims. Finally, Mr Pritam Singh called for a review of the Coroner's Act. The purpose of a Coroner's inquiry into the death of a person is to inquire into the cause of and circumstances connected with that death. The crux of the issue raised by the Member is this: should a Coroner's inquiry be forced to continue in certain cases, without the Coroner having any discretion on the matter, even though a finding has already been made in criminal proceedings as to the cause of and the circumstances connected with that death?”
“Our size is such that travelling costs may not deter borrowers from going to moneylenders in different parts of the island. As part of our review, we intend to consult key industry stakeholders, including organisations that provide counselling to distressed borrowers and the moneylending industry, amongst others. I cannot overstate the importance of striking the right balance and we will announce the measures in due course. Turning to Ms Sylvia Lim's cut, she had suggested reforms to allow victims of crime to attach civil compensation claims in criminal proceedings so that separate civil suits need not be filed, although I think that in case, Ms Lim did accept that for complex matters or things where there are issues heavily in dispute, those would be suitable for civil claims. I think that is in line with the judgment of Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong, as he then was, was in Public Prosecutor vs AOB [2011] 2 SLR 793. Presently, section 359 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows for claims for compensation in criminal proceedings. That section makes it mandatory for a court convicting a person of any offence to consider whether a compensation order should be made, and the court will make such compensation orders where appropriate. I think Ms Lim's point was whether or not one could have a simple joining procedure where you attach a civil claim to that criminal case. There is some difficulty in attaching a civil claim to a criminal claim because it is not just a simple matter of tagging a civil claim on. There are issues that have to be thought through carefully.”
“If the cap is set too low, it would be commercially unviable for licensed moneylenders to service borrowers with high credit risk. This would force borrowers to turn to loan sharks to meet their financial needs. If the cap is too high, borrowers will be overcharged by moneylenders. It is therefore necessary to find the right balance. At present, moneylenders may also charge a variety of fees, if the borrower has agreed for these fees to be charged at the time the loan is taken. Such fees include fees for late repayment of principal or late payment of interest and fees for early redemption or termination of the loan. However, these fees can escalate for the borrower. My Ministry is reviewing the moneylending regime. We are considering measures to address the issues raised by Members. To this end, we are reviewing the interest rate cap and considering whether there should be further restrictions on the charging of fees by moneylenders. As for borrowing caps for unsecured loans from moneylenders, the current regime only regulates the amount that an individual can borrow from each moneylender. We intend to establish a Central Credit Bureau that will enable tighter controls over the total amount of unsecured credit which an individual can borrow from moneylenders, that is, a "universal cap". Mr Zainal asked about restrictions in the number of moneylenders in any given housing estate. At present, we have not imposed any limits on the number of moneylenders in any geographical location, but this is something that we are studying. We are looking at the statistics on the concentration of lenders and borrowers. However, geographical restrictions may have limited effectiveness Page: 114 in a small country like Singapore.”
“In June this year, MinLaw will also be supporting the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association to organise the In-house Counsel World Summit. This will be the first time this event is held in Asia. The event will provide a platform for in-house counsel worldwide to discuss the latest global trends and legal issues that affect business activity, particularly in the Asia Pacific. It will be an important platform for networking and connecting. We will continue to study other ways to expand the in-house counsel community in Singapore. Our moves to strengthen the local legal scene in Singapore have also been about ensuring even better access to justice, better protection for the vulnerable and equitable outcomes for all. Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Mr Zainal Sapari highlighted concerns over the moneylending landscape in Singapore, particularly, excessive borrowing and excessive borrowing costs. In regulating the moneylending industry, we have to maintain a balance between allowing borrowers reasonable access to credit, and providing them, Page: 113 especially those with lower income, with adequate protection. We are cognisant that some borrowers turn to moneylenders in desperation and this makes them vulnerable to exploitation. To this end, there are various safeguards in the law such as borrowing caps for unsecured loans as well as interest rate caps. The existing borrowing caps for unsecured loans from moneylenders protect borrowers earning an annual income of up to $120,000, while the existing interest rate caps for moneylending loans apply only to borrowers earning less than $30,000 a year. When we set interest rate caps, there are competing considerations involved.”
“In his Budget speech, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman announced the extension of the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) Scheme for another three years. The PIC extends to law firms as well. Law firms can utilise the PIC for their training of lawyers and to acquire systems or technology which improve their Page: 112 productivity or to run their practices more effectively, for example: IT systems, document management systems, accounting systems, client relationship management systems and other automation systems. This would also include, for example, information technology devices such as iPads. In 2012, over 230 SLPs benefited from the PIC, obtaining more than $20 million worth of PIC enhanced deductions. We encourage SLPs to leverage on this scheme, as well as other schemes administered by SPRING Singapore to support their growth. Besides the SICC, SIMC and schemes to support SLPs, we are also looking at ways to develop the in-house legal counsel sector in Singapore, especially where such jobs carry regional responsibilities. The in-house legal counsel sector creates good jobs and provides alternative career pathways for Singapore-qualified lawyers. As the interface between business and the legal service industry, the in-house legal counsel sector creates spin-offs to our legal services industry, including SLPs. In 2012, we amended the Evidence Act to extend legal professional privilege to in-house legal counsel. In-house counsel may enjoy this privilege if they are employed for the purpose of giving legal advice and the communications for which privilege is claimed relates to matters of legal advice. This has made it more attractive for international companies to establish their regional in-house legal departments in Singapore.”
“There are also other schemes administered by IE Singapore and EDB, depending on needs and strategies of different SLPs. I would encourage the Singapore law firms to take advantage of such schemes. Any expansion into regional markets must be done in accordance with their laws. The key is in understanding those countries' rules, in terms of allowing foreign firms to do business in their jurisdictions. Some may allow law firms to operate through different vehicles such as partnerships, corporations or joint ventures. Others may do so through licensing regimes. It is not always necessary to have a physical presence or office in the foreign country. It is possible for SLPs to provide legal services out of Singapore to regional clients. In this scenario, what is important is access to potential clients and having a strong Singapore legal services brand so that such clients will automatically think of SLPs when they need legal services. MinLaw is also helping SLPs to better understand markets in the region through various means. For example, with respect to Myanmar, which is a growing and potential market, we invited the Director-General of Myanmar's Union Attorney-General's Office to speak at a seminar co-organised with the Law Society of Singapore. SLPs were briefed on Myanmar's legal and business landscape as well as their legislation regulating foreign investments. We are now also working with the Law Society to plan seminars in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw. These will be useful opportunities for SLPs to meet potential partners and clients in Myanmar. In addition, we will continue to support efforts of SLPs to improve productivity and develop new capabilities for the domestic and regional growth.”
“Mdm Chairman, I will deal with the remaining cuts. Mr Hri Kumar asked how MinLaw is supporting our Singapore Law Practices (SLPs) venturing abroad. SLPs are an important pillar of our legal services sector. SLPs employ more than 90% of Singapore-qualified lawyers. Through their practice, legal knowledge and skills, they facilitate access to justice and the rule of law, uphold our legal system, contribute to the development of Singapore law and jurisprudence, drive the development of our legal profession, and support the growth of our economy. We want our SLPs to do well and to grow not only in terms of depth and breadth of expertise, but also to expand regionally. There are good growth opportunities for SLPs locally as well as in the region. We would like to help SLPs who are looking to capture opportunities overseas to grow and become regional leaders. The market for legal services in Asia is expected to grow with the increase in trade and investments in this part of the world. Our SLPs are in a good position to compete successfully. Our top Page: 111 four SLPs are already the largest law firms in ASEAN. There are existing incentives and assistance schemes in place to support SLPs. First, IE Singapore's Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation (DTDI). Under this scheme, SLPs may deduct against their taxable income, the expenses for overseas business development trips and overseas investment study trips. Second, there is the Development and Expansion Incentive for International Legal Services (DEI Legal), administered by EDB. Law firms, which are structured as companies and which provide international legal services from Singapore, can get a 10% concessionary tax rate for income derived from such services under this incentive scheme, subject to EDB's approval.”
“The Bill updates the maximum fines for offences involving fraud under section 169 and for falsely certifying the correctness of any application, dealing or caveat lodged at the Land Titles Registry under section 59(6) of the Land Titles Act. This ensures that penalties are commensurate with the offences committed, especially in the light of the higher values of property transactions today. The updated penalties are also in line with those of similar offences found in other legislation. Finally, the Bill makes several technical and housekeeping amendments. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Ms Indranee Rajah]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“Presently, section 129 of the Land Titles Act sets out a list of dealings which can still be registered, despite a caveat having been lodged against the property, unless the caveat specifically prohibits the dealing on that list. Examples of such dealings include release or extinguishment of easements or restrictions on land. However, this is not entirely satisfactory as the current list contains dealings which would not necessarily conflict with the caveator's claim of interest in the property, for example, a change or correction of the property owner's name. Presently, such dealings are included in the same list and will be prevented from registration if the caveator chooses to extend the prohibition to the list of dealings. The Registrar would have to issue a notice to the caveator giving him 30 days to apply to the Court if he wishes to prevent its registration. It is not desirable to prevent the registration of such dealings when they will not conflict with the caveator's claim of interest in the property. It also causes unnecessary delays in registration and increases administration costs. To do away with such delays and costs, clause 58 of the Bill therefore proposes to amend section 129 of the Land Titles Act to create two separate lists of dealings. First, a "permissive list" of dealings the registration of which the caveator can still prevent by lodgement of the caveat; and secondly, a "non-conflict list" Page: 44 of dealings the registration of which the caveator cannot prevent by lodgment of the caveat. These are dealings which do not conflict with or have any impact upon the caveator's claim of an interest in the property, for example, a name correction or an application for a new certificate of title.”
“(a) When a caveat is lodged against a property and the property owner is of the view that it is frivolous or vexatious, the property owner must file a statutory declaration with the Registrar of Titles to that effect. (b) The Registrar will allow the caveat to remain if the caveator is able to: (i) produce documentary evidence to show that he has an interest in the property; or (ii) obtain a Court Order for the caveat to be retained. (c) Usually, the caveator will produce evidence that, on the face of it, justifies his claim of an interest in the property. (d) Should the property owner disagree, he would have to obtain a Court Order to remove the caveat. We have received feedback that this practice is unfair to property owners, as they have to bear the burden of removing frivolous or vexatious caveats. As such, clause 57 amends section 127(2) of the Land Titles Act to require the caveator, within 30 days, to obtain a Court Order for the caveat to remain if the property owner lodges an application with the Registrar to challenge the caveat's validity. Page: 43 This amendment puts the onus on the caveator to justify his claim of an interest in the property. This is in line with the normal burden of proof that he who asserts must prove his assertion. This is also the position in Australia, namely, New South Wales and Victoria. The next amendment deals with registration of dealings in land. The general rule is that a caveat prevents the registration of any subsequent dealing in the land identified in the caveat, unless the Land Titles Act provides otherwise.”
“In the recent local case of Botanica Pte Ltd v Management Corporation Strata Title Plan No 2040, the High Court suggested that in light of increased activity in the redevelopment of properties, it was perhaps timely for the Legislature to consider the need for the Court to have an express power to modify easements. My Ministry has considered this issue and we are of the view that it would be useful to give the courts power to modify easements. This is addressed in the Bill. The Bill will empower the Court to create, vary or extinguish an easement over land if it is reasonably necessary for the effective use or development of the land that will have the benefit of the easement or that is affected by the easement and if it is consistent with the public interest. Where necessary, the Court may also award compensation to any party affected by the Court's order. The Land Titles Act deals with registered land. Related amendments will be made to the CLPA to confer similar powers on the Court in respect of the creation, variation or extinguishment of easements over unregistered land. We Page: 42 envisage that these amendments will facilitate more efficient and optimal use of land. They also align our practices with those of Commonwealth jurisdictions, such as Australia – for example, New South Wales and Queensland – New Zealand and Canada, which have similar provisions. The next amendment relates to the lodging of frivolous or vexatious caveats. Under the current Land Titles Act framework, when a caveat is lodged, the onus of getting the caveat removed is on the property owner. The procedure, as it currently stands, is as follows.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mdm Speaker, this Bill seeks to amend the Land Titles Act to improve our laws on land administration and for greater operational efficiency. The amendments proposed in this Bill were arrived at after consultation with the relevant Government departments, the Law Society of Singapore, experienced conveyancing lawyers and they are also in response to public feedback. The Bill does several things. It empowers the Court to create easements and to vary or extinguish existing easements. It improves the remedies available to a property owner in response to a caveat lodged on his property. It introduces a list of dealings in respect of which registration cannot be prevented by a caveat. It makes miscellaneous changes for greater clarity or consistency and for better administration of the Land Titles Act. Page: 41 The Bill also makes related amendments to the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA) and the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act (CLPA). I will now take the House through the main features of the Bill. At present, access by non-owners through another person's property is established by use over a long period of time or the landowner granting a right of way, also known as an easement. When land is re-parcelled and developed, it can give rise to situations where previous easements are affected or new easements are required. For example, owners who previously had access to a main road may now find their access blocked, or the historical easement may now no longer serve its original purpose. This results in less efficient use of the land. The Court, currently, does not have the power to vary or create easements under the existing provisions of the Land Titles Act.”
“But nomenclature is also important because it is a reflection of what an entity or an organisation does. In this case, the Subordinate Courts are the Courts that come into the greatest contact with the everyday lives of people. It is the Court that has the greatest interface with the people of Singapore, adjudicating upon their disputes, and helping to resolve many of their difficulties. For that reason, it was felt that the new nomenclature would be better. "Subordinate Courts" implies subordinate, slightly lower and lesser in status. "State Courts", on the other hand, reflects that everyday interface which is a function of the State in adjudicating the disputes of the people that come before the Court. So, that is the reason for the name change. With respect to the costs incurred, this would mainly be with regard to the replacement of the signage, name cards and other stationery. Name cards and stationery would have to be replaced in any event as stock runs out, so the costs would not be greatly significant. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Ms Indranee Rajah]. (proc text)] Page: 83 [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee. (proc text)] [Deputy Speaker (Mr Seah Kian Peng) in the Chair]”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank Ms Lim and Mr Lim for their support of the Bill. The Members' response has been encouraging and certainly shows the support that the Subordinate Courts have in this Chamber. There were several questions that were raised by Mr Lim Biow Chuan. The first was a suggestion that new Judicial Officers could perhaps be attached to a VWO or CDC. That is a suggestion that certainly merits consideration and I will relay that to the Chief Justice and to the Courts, because at the end of the day, we want to be sure that those who dispense justice also have empathy and an understanding of the struggles and difficulties faced by the people who come before the Courts for their disputes and woes to be adjudicated. Page: 82 The second point that Mr Lim had raised was whether the Minister could institute internal guidelines for suitably qualified persons for the Deputy Registrar or Assistant Registrars. The Minister may not, but the Minister will relay this to the Chief Justice as Court guidelines come under the purview of the Chief Justice. But I think that I can say that the Courts do pay a great deal of attention to the appointments of persons to any judicial function, recognising the responsibility that they discharge in their functions. The third point which Mr Lim wanted to know was whether or not the name change was really necessary and particularly so with respect to the costs of the name change. Mr Lim is correct that a name change in and of itself does very little. It is the other things which are done – the appointment of Presiding Judge of the State Courts, the raising of the qualification criteria, all the things which are part and parcel of the Subordinate Courts system, that make it what it is. So, the substance is there.”
“For instance, mid or second career officers who seek to join the Subordinate Courts may not satisfy the raised minimum statutory requirement, but may have such substantial work and life experience as to qualify them for consideration as Judicial Officers. As such, clause 6(d) accords the Chief Justice a discretion to waive the requirement of seven years as a legally qualified person for appointment of a District Judge to five years, having regard to that person's qualification and experience. Clause 7(b) creates a similar exception for Magistrates who only have between one to three years' experience. Mr Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, I would say that the public reposes a great deal of trust and confidence in the Subordinate Courts – and, indeed, in our Judiciary generally. We trust them to apply the law impartially, uphold our laws and dispense justice fairly. The mission of the Subordinate Courts is "to provide an effective and accessible system of justice, inspiring public trust and confidence". These amendments reflect that mission. Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 4.58 pm”
“Clauses 5 and 11(7)(b) of the Bill confirm this position. Next, clause 6 increases the minimum statutory requirement for a legally qualified person to be a District Judge from five years to seven years. The minimum statutory requirement for a legally qualified person to be a Magistrate will also be increased from one year to three years under clause 7. When the Subordinate Courts Act was amended 20 years ago in 1993, Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee said before this House: "Dispensation of justice and application of the law do not take place in a vacuum but in the context of Singapore's social milieu. Not only is legal knowledge important but also wisdom that comes with experience in dealing with matters of the world." As our legal profession matures, it is timely for these minimum statutory requirements to be reviewed. The Subordinate Courts' practice has been to appoint Judicial Officers with longer experience than statutorily required to these positions. In fact, the average length of experience before they are appointed is about 17 years. These officers have delivered stellar results over the years. Given the expanded functions and powers of these Judicial Officers, raising the criterion to appointment to guarantee a more experienced and mature Bench will underscore the importance of the responsibilities which these Judicial Officers carry out. This will, in turn, enhance the standing of the State Courts. Page: 78 We recognise that because of the raised criterion, there could be situations where deserving candidates may not qualify for appointment as a District Judge or Magistrate as soon as they could have under the pre-amendment criterion.”
“The elevation of the position of the PJSC reflects the wide-ranging jurisdiction and the power vested in the State Courts, and the growing complexity of the cases filed there. For instance, the civil jurisdiction of the State Courts has increased from $100,000 to $250,000 over the years. The sentencing powers of the Magistrates' Courts and District Courts were recently increased. The ability to make orders for community sentences was introduced. It is also an assurance of the highest standard of leadership for the State Courts. There are four other characteristics of the PJSC that I would like to highlight. First, having regard to the fact that a Judge or Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court will be the PJSC, the title "Chief District Judge" will no longer be appropriate. The Bill, therefore, proposes to replace the title of "Chief District Judge" with "Presiding Judge of the State Courts". [Deputy Speaker (Mr Seah Kian Peng) in the Chair] Second, the PJSC is to be appointed by the President, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice, under a new section 8A of the amended Act. The language of clause 5, which introduces section 8A, follows that for the appointment of the CDJ, District Judges and Magistrates under sections 9 and 10 of the Subordinate Courts Act. Third, clause 5 empowers the PJSC to sit in any State Court. Page: 77 When he so sits, he will have the same jurisdiction, power and privileges of the State Court he sits in. Fourth, the PJSC will continue to be able to hear cases in the High Court during his appointment as PJSC, by virtue of his appointment as a Judge or Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court. For instance, he may preside over appeals from the State Courts, save for matters which he had previously dealt with as the PJSC.”
“I will now take the House through the main features of the Bill. The majority of the Bill concerns the renaming of the "Subordinate Courts" to the "State Courts". However, the amendments go beyond a name change. They underline the reality that the lower Courts are the primary dispensers of justice. As the Chief Justice noted in his address at this year's Opening of the Legal Year, "The revised nomenclature will better reflect the primary position that these Courts occupy within our judicial system". The nomenclature "State Courts" was chosen as it reflects the important national function that the State Courts perform in adjudicating disputes and dispensing justice, and combines dignity with gravitas. With these amendments, the "State Courts" will replace the "Subordinate Courts" as the collective name for the District Courts, Magistrate Courts, Juvenile Courts, Coroner's Court and Small Claims Tribunal. There will, however, be no change to the designations, scope of work and jurisdiction of these constituent Courts. Judicial Officers of the State Courts will also continue to be appointed as Magistrates and/or District Judges of the State Page: 76 Courts. Second, clauses 5 and 6 replace the office of "Chief District Judge" (CDJ) with the office of the "Presiding Judge of the State Courts" (PJSC). The office of the CDJ is the apex post of the Subordinate Courts. In 2010, we re-designated this post from "Senior District Judge" to "Chief District Judge". That was mainly a nomenclature change. Today's Bill goes further. Whereas the office of the CDJ has traditionally been occupied by officers of the Singapore Legal Service, the Bill provides that the PJSC shall be a Judge or Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Madam, this Bill seeks to amend the Subordinate Courts Act to enhance the standing of the Subordinate Courts. The Subordinate Courts play an integral role in the administration of justice in Singapore. It is before these Courts where a vast majority of people seek access to justice and the protection of our laws each day. More than 95% of our Judiciary's total caseload is handled by the Subordinate Courts and its annual volume averages about 350,000 cases. In October last year, the Subordinate Courts were conferred the World Class Award. This is the highest honour for global performance excellence conferred by the Asia Pacific Quality Organisation. The Subordinate Courts have also received very positive feedback in court user surveys. These are impressive achievements, and reinforce the continued faith the country has in the Judiciary. Page: 75 Over the past few years, the Subordinate Courts have introduced initiatives to ensure that it remains a beacon of integrity that discharges its functions impartially, fairly and professionally. In 2010, the Subordinate Courts reviewed and launched a new Justice Statement, which emphasised public trust and confidence. Last year, its judges began donning robes, a symbol of authority, when presiding over hearings in open Court. Today, this Bill introduces three changes: First, to rename the "Subordinate Courts" as "State Courts"; Second, to replace the office of the "Chief District Judge" with the office of the "Presiding Judge of the State Courts"; and Third, to increase the minimum statutory requirement for a legally qualified person to be a Magistrate and District Judge from one year to three years, and five to seven years respectively.”
“(proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Ms Indranee Rajah]. (proc text)] Page: 74 [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee. (proc text)] [Mdm Speaker in the Chair]”
“Madam, I understand the Member's concern and, indeed, as the Member says, the rationale of giving such a notice is to alert the driver early of the potential prosecution so that evidence can be secured. Specifically, the Member asks whether there is any time limit for the Police to issue the notice for information. In this case, Traffic Police will have a standard operating procedure (SOP) in place to prevent long delays. Under the SOP, notices will be sent out generally within one to two weeks from the time the offence is disclosed. The registered vehicle owners will have seven days to respond. If there is no response, a second notice will be sent via registered mail and this will be within 30 days of the offence being disclosed. As such, there will be no delay caused by the amendments. This is with respect to the request for particulars which is sent to the owner of the vehicle. In some cases, of course, the driver may not be the owner of the vehicle. If the registered vehicle owner provides details of the driver, who is different from the registered owner, then a notice of traffic offence will be sent to the driver within one week if the offence is compoundable. A second notice will be sent via registered mail if there is no response. If the offence is not compoundable, then a notice to attend Court will be sent within one month via registered mail. And registered vehicle owners and drivers will have adequate opportunities to respond. The Traffic Police will also contact the registered owner over the phone if there are repeated failures to respond to the notices or, in the appropriate case, to the driver. I hope that this allays the Member's concerns. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to.”
“The maximum imprisonment term for these offences will be raised from five years to 10 years. This is in line with the penalties provided under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act and will thus ensure consistency across our anti-terrorism legislation. Madam, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 4.44 pm”
“The amendments allow notices for all traffic offences to be sent via normal mail. Following such notices, the registered vehicle owner will be given adequate opportunities to clarify the identity of the driver of the vehicle at the time of the offence. The use of normal mail is more efficient than registered mail as it does not require the motorist to collect such mail from the post office if he is not able to receive the mail at the first instance. It is also less costly. Next, amendments to the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act – clause 12 of the Bill amends the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act to expand the definition of a "police officer" to include a Commercial Affairs Officer from the Police Force's Commercial Affairs Department who is involved in conducting investigations into terrorism financing. The term is used in sections 8, 10, 10B and 11 of the Act, namely, requiring any person with information about terrorist property or terrorist financing to Page: 72 disclose it to a Police officer, criminalising the act of tipping off in respect of investigations conducted by a Police officer, and authorising a Police officer to search and seize terrorist property. Amendments to the United Nations Act – The United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Regulations currently make it an offence to, inter alia, export, sell, supply or ship arms to any terrorist or to provide any terrorist with technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities. Clause 14 of the Bill increases the penalties for such terrorism-related offences to enhance their deterrent effect. The maximum fine for these offences will be raised from $100,000 to $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for entities.”
“This would open another avenue to bring in good legal minds to Singapore to augment the Hearing and Mediation Tribunal at the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), which adjudicates disputes relating to IP applications and registrations. Page: 71 IP Adjudicators supplement the existing specialist tribunal at IPOS which already hears such disputes. Together, our specialist tribunal and these new IP Adjudicators will enhance Singapore's reputation for quality IP decisions. To improve the transparency of information relating to interests in registered IP, clauses 7, 8 and 13 of the Bill will enable the recording of express trusts and beneficiaries of express trusts on the Trade Marks Register, Patents Register and Registered Designs Register. This is a business-friendly move in support of Singapore's goal to be a hub for IP transactions. Next, amendments to the Road Traffic Act – clause 9 of the Bill is an administrative amendment to delete section 82 of the Road Traffic Act, and the portion of section 66(3) which makes reference to section 82. Section 82 of the Road Traffic Act requires the issuance of a warning, the service of a summons, or service of a notice of intended prosecution via registered mail within 30 days for three traffic offences, namely, speeding, dangerous/reckless driving and driving without due care or reasonable consideration for other road users. The proposed amendments seek to streamline enforcement processes in respect of these offences. The provision is no longer required as the person will already be notified of possible prosecution action for the offence when he is issued with a notice under section 81 to give information of the particulars of the driver at the time of the offence.”