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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“The three regional campuses in Simei, Choa Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio will enable ITE to deliver greater inter-disciplinary training and provide modern facilities that enhance campus life and support a high quality of education. In 2014, we will be piloting a two-year Extended NITEC Foundation Programme aimed at levelling up the literacy and numeracy skills of academically-weaker Normal (Technical) students ahead of their core NITEC year at ITE. Currently, about 22% of each Primary 1 cohort progresses to ITE. However, the rising expectations of the economy and the shifting emphasis towards more highly-skilled manpower have resulted in a more demanding technical curriculum at ITE. As a result, some ITE students find it difficult to complete their NITEC programmes within two years. The Extended NFP is intended to better prepare these students for successful completion of their NITEC courses. Students in the Extended NFP will spend three years at ITE for their NITEC programmes, instead of the usual Page: 133 two – they will undergo two years of foundation training before progressing to their career core curriculum in the third year. The Extended NFP will be available to Normal (Technical)-level school leavers with less than two Normal (Technical)-level passes. The programme will cover, firstly, technical training, which is designed to prepare students for the NITEC career core modules that they will take in their third year; secondly, an integrated academic foundation programme to build up literacy and numeracy skills; and, thirdly, socio-emotional support elements to improve self-confidence and motivation. Upon completion of the second year of the Extended NFP, students will obtain the NITEC Foundation Certification (NFC).”
“The ITEs and polytechnics are key institutions in our post-secondary education landscape. They have had a long and successful history of providing hands-on and industry-oriented training to two-thirds of each Primary 1 cohort. And we are very proud of our Page: 132 Polytechnic and ITE students. If we look at this next slide, Members may be forgiven for thinking that it is a scene from an Emergency Room. It is actually part of the training facilities at the Health Sciences Department of Nanyang Polytechnic. And, here, the students are undergoing training for an emergency situation in a real-life setting. I have met some of them; they are very enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. Similarly, ITE has many people imbued with passion for their work and study. Here, you see on the left hand side, a student, Muhammad Salehan B Jaafar. He aspires to become a pastry chef after graduation. And although his GCE "N" level results allowed him to progress to the GCE "O" level, he chose instead to enrol in ITE College West to pursue his interest in baking. On the right is Joan Lee. When I asked why she enrolled in the course, she said it is because her passion had always been in baking, and she first learnt her baking from recipes on the Internet. Here are some shots of what they have done – that is a Strawberry Fantasy, Classic Roast Lamb Rack, Mango Cheese Tranche and Coffee Art – very well done but these are people, students who pursue it with passion and you can see that they have the right passion. When they go out in life, they will be able to do well. To bring about a better student experience at ITE, we established the "One ITE, Three Colleges" model, distinguished by the opening of ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio earlier this year.”
“At the tertiary level, NUS, NTU and SMU are part of the ASEAN University Network (AUN), which provides both faculty and students with access to regional exchange programmes. Our university students can also access a wide variety of financial support options for overseas exchanges to ASEAN countries. I move on now to our post-secondary education landscape. Mr Yee Jenn Jong asked about the promotional examinations for Junior College 1 (JC1). Our JCs set their own examinations based on their respective student profiles and develop their own criteria for progression to the second year of their JC course. Hence, there is no standardised measurement of pass/fail across the JCs in the first year promotional examinations. MOE's data show that approximately 6% of first year JC students in each cohort were retained. The two JCs with the highest retention rates at JC1 averaged about 15% over the past three years. MOE recognises that school leaders have a good understanding of their students' needs and can best judge how to help them succeed. JCs thus develop their own examinations and criteria for progression to the second year of their JC course, so that it is tailored to suit the students in their JC. At the same time, students are counselled if the "A" level course is not the most suitable pathway for them. Some may proceed to further their education in post-secondary institutes, for example, the polytechnics. MOE closely monitors progression rates of students as they progress from one stage of the education system to the next. And we continuously seek to improve the educational career guidance we provide secondary students to help them make appropriate educational choices. I move on now to the ITEs and the polytechnics.”
“00 pm Currently, there are resource-sharing sessions and workshops in designing the Literature curriculum for teachers, as well as Biennial Literature Symposium, which features seminars on pedagogy and assessment. Ms Koh had made some other suggestions which we would be happy to study. But this issue is not about Literature alone. The broader issue is about encouraging more students to take up Humanities subjects. We have been traditionally strong in Mathematics and Sciences, less so in the Humanities. This is not desirable in the long run. So, it is important that we have students who have interest to do well in both the Sciences and the Humanities. Singapore needs both in the 21st century, and MOE will encourage the schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to promote and support Humanities subjects along with the Sciences. Mr Chen Show Mao spoke about ASEAN and a need to promote understanding and goodwill. That is correct, but this need not necessarily be done through scholarships alone. There are a variety of ways in which MOE facilitates the interaction, understanding and promotion of goodwill amongst students from ASEAN countries. Students in our schools learn about ASEAN Page: 131 and the region through the Humanities syllabi. They also have opportunities to participate in overseas learning journeys or student exchange programmes. So, MOE coordinates student exchange programmes, such as the ASEAN Student Exchange Programme (ASEP) and the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Partnership Camp (STEP). These involve cultural exchanges and activities to enhance students' learning and to foster friendship and ties.”
“If I may just put things in perspective, in terms of each "O" Level cohort, there were about 3,000 students offering Full Literature as an examinable subject in 2012. So, that is for Full Literature. But in addition to this, where Literature is an elective to the combined Humanities, there were an additional 3,000. So, in total, this made up about 6,000 students offering Literature in 2012. Since the introduction of the Humanities electives in 2002, the overall number of students offering Literature – Full plus Elective – has remained largely stable, Page: 130 in the range of 6,000 to 7,000. The fact remains, of course, that the number of students offering Literature has fallen, compared to 20 years ago. This is, in large part, attributable to the perception that it is difficult to score in Literature. However, the proportion of Distinctions in Literature among "O" level graduates is about 41%, which shows that it is very much within the realm of possibility to do well in Literature. Ranking, as you know, has been done away with. So, I think the stage is set really for schools and students to be able to take up Literature with a great deal more enthusiasm than before. The key to having a strong Literature programme is – and this was noted in the newspapers a few days back – students with a strong interest in the subject; passionate teachers; supportive principals; and a good foundation in English. MOE is fully in support of the schools offering Full Literature at the upper secondary level. Ms Koh had made various suggestions, two of which are already in play – enhancing the teaching of English as a language, and Literature; and also supporting teachers to be better prepared. 5.”
“Many kindergartens have, in fact, designed programmes, with MOE support, to teach children about care and respect for the environment. MOE's Innovation Grant has supported 35 kindergarten-initiated nature- and environment-related innovation projects since 2008. In 2013, MOE was collaborating with NTU on a project designed to help children in 23 kindergartens to learn about nature, coastal and recycling awareness. This next slide shows the PCF Buona Vista making a trip to the beach – not for a picnic, but for a coastal clean-up. Through this outdoor activity, the children learnt the consequences of beach litter on the seashore and marine ecosystems. Moving on now to Literature. Ms Janice Koh spoke passionately about this, and MOE agrees with Ms Koh that Literature is an important subject in an increasingly global and complex world. The 21st Century competencies we need to develop in our students would include things like communication and cross-cultural awareness, and Literature has a role to play in this. Through Literature, one learns about life, people and values. Literature also hones writing and debating skills, as well as critical analysis, as noted by Ms Koh. But more than that, the most important reason why anyone should take Literature is just for the sheer joy of it – the beauty of the language, the evocativeness of imagery; the power of words; the characters who come to life, and the emotions that leap off the page. As I mentioned in answer to a previous PQ, Literature is compulsory for lower secondary students. So, the area for the Member's concern is really the upper secondary years. And Ms Koh had mentioned the drop in Literature since ranking was introduced and, later on, the combined Humanities.”
“Between 2011 and 2012, about 550 preschool educators benefited from Government provision of scholarships, teaching awards and bursaries for training and professional development. MOE also provides training opportunities in leadership, curriculum and pedagogy. We also recognise outstanding kindergarten teachers by working closely with professional bodies, such as the Association for Early Childhood Educators, Singapore, to identify and present awards to outstanding kindergarten teachers. Funding is provided for these teachers to attend mentoring courses, overseas conferences and study trips. Ms Faizah Jamal spoke about environment in the preschool curriculum, and I agree with her that education about the environment should be an important part of preschool education. The refreshed Kindergarten Curriculum Framework includes "Discovery of the World" as one of its key learning areas. This encourages preschool centres to harness the children's natural curiosity towards the world around them and help them learn how to care for the environment. We support teachers in bringing environmental education to the preschool classroom. The Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education-Teaching includes curriculum planning and pedagogies for nurturing children's awareness of their environment. And the Kindergarten Curriculum Framework includes suggestions on how teachers can provide opportunities for children to develop interest in the world around them by bringing them outdoors on field trips and neighbourhood walks. Page: 129 The environment – including our housing estates – is a natural classroom for our children. But much depends on the imagination of the teachers on how to use these "natural classrooms" creatively.”
“MOE has engaged primary school leaders on how to ensure a smooth transition from K2 to formal schooling, including the appropriate teaching approaches and pitching of lessons at Primary 1. MOE will continue to engage teachers and key personnel in primary schools to ensure that Primary 1 learning is appropriately paced, and Primary 1 teachers continue to revisit and reinforce what has been taught and learnt in the preschool years. Primary schools would also provide additional support to those children who need more time to attain the K2 learning goals. And we ask for parents' support in this endeavour. The next item, Teachers. MOE will continue to invest in raising the quality of teaching in preschool centres. Committed and high-quality teachers are the heart of a good preschool experience. We have raised the minimum qualifications for kindergarten-level teachers over the years. The minimum professional qualification is the Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education – Teaching. This is a diploma-level qualification offered by polytechnics and Page: 128 private training agencies. The percentage of kindergarten-level teachers who have undergone or are undergoing training for this diploma has increased from 58% in 2007 to 85.5% in 2012. Going ahead, our polytechnics will increase the number of places for both full-time and part-time kindergarten-level teacher training programmes, starting from 2014. We also need to attract and retain individuals with the right dispositions to nurture and inspire children. This involves recognising preschool teachers as professionals, and providing them with respectable salaries and good career opportunities. To achieve this, MOE has been improving access to professional development opportunities for preschool teachers.”
“These include: we should listen, we should not play, we should not talk, we should not speak when someone is speaking; we should not interrupt; and we should listen to the person who is speaking. Mdm Chairperson, if you think about it, that is very much like the Standing Orders of Parliament. So, we are actually preparing them with foundational concepts for a good future ahead. Page: 127 We turn now to the next slide which is a picture of Ascension Kindergarten. Here you see music and movement activity where children move around the room with small quick steps or large slow actions depending on the visual cues in the form of cards with different shapes on them. The children take turns to lead and to control the activity by holding up these cards. Again, although they are playing and having fun, they are indirectly learning the concepts of: (a) leading and influencing the behaviour of their friends; (b) how to follow instructions; (c) how to control their movements when they take big and small steps; and (d) exploring the elements of music, such as tempo. Some parents worry that the learning goals articulated in the Kindergarten Framework may be too basic and may not adequately prepare children for Primary 1. They are also concerned that primary schools may have higher expectations than the goals set in the KCF. To these concerns, I would like to say that MOE developed the learning goals in the KCF with feedback from both the preschool and primary school educators. The KCF reflects alignment of learning goals at the end of K2, and what we expect the children to be able to do and know upon entry to Primary 1. It establishes a common understanding among educators on how to better support a child's learning in the preschool years and at Primary 1.”
“In this first slide, you see the first week of kindergarten at PLAY@Temasek Polytechnic. Here, the children realised that not everyone could see the board from where they were seated. It led to discussions on how to overcome the problem. They then planned the seating arrangement such that taller children sat behind. This led to the need to decide who was taller and who was shorter. The children then used different methods to compare their heights, such as standing in front of a mirror together, measuring themselves while lying on the ground, and using strips of paper to compare their body lengths. They then arranged themselves from tallest to shortest and proposed a new seating plan. Now, this was structured as play, but it allowed the children to learn. They were learning numeracy concepts and skills, such as comparing and ordering, which are the bases of measurement. They were learning problem-solving; and they were learning social skills, such as working with their friends, and making decisions while considering the viewpoints of others. In the next slide, also at PLAY@Temasek, the children had to learn how to relate to one another in a group setting. They were always eager to share their ideas and found it difficult to wait for their turn to speak. In this picture, the children watched a video of themselves in class and identified the inappropriate behaviours. They had a discussion in class on how turn-taking could be better managed and they came up with rules for turn-taking. By constructing class rules, they took ownership of the rules and learned negotiation, problem-solving, and how to interact in a group. Members may not be able to see it from here, but I will just tell you some of the rules they came up with.”
“Mdm Chairperson, I thank the Members for their questions and comments. The comments can be grouped into roughly four categories: first, on preschool; secondly, education and the balance between Sciences and the Humanities; thirdly, many pathways to success; and the rest were miscellaneous questions. I will take these in turn. Mr Zainudin Nordin asked about the improvements to the quality of preschool education, working conditions, welfare, remuneration and strategies to attract and retain preschool professionals. The keys to quality preschool education are a good curriculum and good preschool teachers. In February this year, I launched the refreshed Kindergarten Curriculum Framework called the KCF, as part of MOE's Comprehensive Kindergarten Curriculum. The KCF lays out holistic learning goals that we want children to achieve at the end of K2. These goals include not just literacy and numeracy skills, but also how children relate to themselves and their peers, and how they express themselves confidently. MOE firmly believes that preschool education is about teaching children how to learn and helping them discover the joy of learning. The aim of preschool is to teach children good foundational concepts, and not to have them learn the entire Primary 1 syllabus before they start Primary 1. I would like, if I may, to show some examples of how these concepts work. Mdm Chairperson, with your permission, may I display some slides on the LED Page: 126 screens?”
“MHA's position is that the issue of video recording as well as other operational issues should be looked at in the following manner: there should be a fair system which seeks to ensure that crimes are solved, and the system should also seek to ensure that the rights of the accused are protected. If an accused wishes to challenge the statement given by him, there are clear avenues available today. On the question of whether this regime can be re-thought, over the years, MHA has introduced a number of changes, and it is MHA's intention to continue to look at the processes. I think the Government recognises the rationale behind the suggestions made by Mr Hri Kumar and Ms Lim. That rationale, together with other considerations, will be considered in the light of evolving circumstances when MHA further reviews its processes.”
“A person who uses the corporate form for fraud can be made personally liable for the debts of the company. He may also be guilty of a criminal offence. If a person is a director, he could also be disqualified from holding directorships. In terms of public education, ACRA has collaborated with CASE to develop a guide for consumers dealing with business entities. That guide shows consumers how to use ACRA's information services, to conduct background checks on business entities before deciding whether they should deal with them. On criminal procedure, Ms Sylvia Lim had raised a question on the disclosure regime under the CPC. In launching the disclosure regime, we determined a body of predicate offences to be included. The Prevention of Corruption Act is not included in this list. CPIB investigations under the PCA, therefore, are excluded from the disclosure regime. However, CPIB investigations of predicate offences included in the regime will observe the same disclosure requirements. The Police has introduced measures over the years to improve the quality of their investigation processes. These practices are shared among the Government investigation community, which includes the CPIB. MinLaw will convey the Member's comments to the CPIB and this will continue to be reviewed. In the meantime, for cases not covered under the statutory regime, the common law will still apply, as the Court of Appeal made clear in Kadar's Page: 53 case. Both Ms Lim and Mr Hri Kumar raised the issue of video recording. The issue of video recording is an operational matter relating to police investigations and it comes more directly under the purview of MHA. However, MinLaw understands from MHA that there are currently no plans to introduce video recording for the taking of statements.”
“Patents agent professionals are aware of the requirements and the clearance process at IPOS is simple and quick. Information about NSC is available at the IPOS website, but IPOS will study how to further raise awareness of the provision among companies. On Mr Fong's suggestion to set up a DIY facility, it is already possible today for companies to file IP, such as patents and trademarks, on their own, but most still seek IP service providers for professional assistance. Companies can enjoy a 400% tax deduction or 60% cash payout on IP registration under the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme. This can include the Page: 52 associated fees paid to professional service providers. On the Small Claims Tribunal – an issue raised by Mr Patrick Tay – legal costs for proceedings are minimised as the process is simple and parties appear in person. Money orders are enforced through the Magistrates Court through the Writ of Seizure and Sale (WSS), and the filing fee for the writ of execution to enforce the Tribunal's order is $105, which is 30% lower than the fee for a case not under the Tribunal. Incidental costs of enforcement, such as bailiff and auctioneer fees, may bring the total cost of the enforcement to about $400 to $600. However, the Court will generally order the losing party to bear all enforcement costs, so that the successful claimant may not need to pay. We are conscious of the cost factor in our on-going review of the Small Claims Tribunal Act together with the Subordinate Courts. We will ensure that the Small Claims Tribunal stays true to its purpose of providing effective and swift redress for small claims. Mr Patrick Tay had asked about consumers' recourse against errant companies who fold up and set up as new companies.”
“The first is that Singapore should aim to be an international hub for IP transactions and management, so that companies will use Singapore as a base for regional and international IP transactions, and manage their IP portfolios from Singapore. Two, Singapore should aim to be a hub for quality IP filings for companies all over the world. These companies can tap on our IP service providers and infrastructure and use Singapore as the gateway to secure IP protection in key markets all over the world. Singapore should become a choice venue for IP dispute resolution by leveraging on our efficient, cost-effective and high quality judicial system, and alternative dispute resolution methods, such as arbitration. To reach these strategic outcomes, the Committee has recommended that Singapore develop skilled IP professionals, networked to the region and beyond, to effectively serve the international needs of companies. Also, we should build a conducive and progressive environment to encourage IP players worldwide to bring their IP activities to Singapore, and thus create a thriving IP eco-system in Singapore, entrench our status as an IP hub, and position us to assert thought leadership in the field. We are in general agreement with the recommendations of the Committee, and we intend to aggressively develop Singapore into a regional and international IP hub. Detailed announcements will be made over the next few months on this front. Mr Fong also asked about the review of section 34 of the Patents Act, currently referred to as the National Security Clearance (NSC) provision, which is meant to safeguard the disclosure of information prejudicial to national defence interests and public safety.”
“Mdm Chairperson, Mr Hri Kumar asked about the QFLPs. From 2008 to 2011, the value of legal services exported from Singapore increased by 51.8% from $363 million in 2008 to $551 million in 2011. This growth has been catalysed by our calibrated liberalisation of the legal services sector, mainly through the QFLP Scheme. 2.00 pm In 2008, the first six QFLP licences were handed out. The six firms have done well. Eighty percent of their gross revenue comes from offshore work, work that would otherwise have been done overseas. Last month, we awarded a second round of QFLP licences to four top international firms. We will continue to monitor the QFLP scheme to ensure that it continues to contribute to the strength and diversity of our legal sector. Mr Fong had asked about making Singapore an Intellectual Property hub. Mdm Chairperson, today, the development and exploitation of intellectual property have become a key driver of economic growth globally. The importance of intellectual property (IP) will continue to increase. Transactions in IP will become a business in itself and Singapore must ride this wave. A vibrant IP marketplace in Singapore will support high-value jobs and business opportunities for Singaporeans. It will also enable Singapore businesses and innovators to commercialise and exploit their IP. We, therefore, set up the IP Hub Steering Committee last year to formulate a Master Plan to guide Singapore's development in this area. Page: 51 The Committee has submitted its findings and recommendations to the Government. It identified three strategic outcomes that we should work towards.”
“Mdm Speaker, I do not have the specific information at the time about the trends, but that can be looked into. Again, I understand the Member's question – his concern is that if there is a declining trend, then you must do something to arrest it. If the trend is on the upswing, it means that the Universities are taking the right track, and certainly that is something that MOE can ask the Universities to look into. 12.18 pm”
“The School of Accountancy, School of Law, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Business have all made use of the FDS since SMU started in the year 2000. As for the SUTD, it has been tapping on the A*STAR academic pathway scheme, and currently have one faculty from A*STAR in the form of secondment or joint appointments. They also work closely with Contact Singapore on the international faculty recruitment roadshows to bring back returning Singaporeans. It has had hired three returning Singaporeans from the Page: 14 US and UK in this manner. That said, however, I think that the hon Member's thrust, really, is that we should do more to encourage the Universities to put Singaporeans on track, and that point is well taken.”
“Mdm Speaker, I did not understand the hon Member's comment to be a request for preferential treatment. In fact, I understood it to be a call on merit. And I have no doubt that the Singapore academia are well placed to stand on their own merit and their own right. Coming back to what I said earlier, and taking the Member's point about developing those who are in the pipeline, the Ministry will encourage the Universities to develop the staff who are in the pipeline. NUS has, for example, the Overseas Graduate Scholarship and the Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship which are for Singaporeans and Singaporean PRs. I understand that NUS also actively tracks and courts overseas Singaporeans to take up positions at NUS and a recent success was the recruitment of Prof Ho Teck Hua who was a professor of marketing at UC (Berkeley)'s Haas School of Business. Prof Ho is now the Vice President (Research and Strategy) and Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor in NUS. NUS has also tapped on the A*STAR academic pathway scheme to draw more Singaporean talents in research. NTU does not have fellowship awards specifically meant to attract Singaporean talents, but it does have awards such as the Lee Kuan Yew Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Temasek Research Fellowship and the Nanyang-DSO Post-Doctoral Fellowship which is opened to all nationalities. NTU has also indicated that it intends to tap on the A*STAR academic pathway scheme to provide a pipeline of Singaporean talents in research. As for SMU, it has its Faculty Development Scheme (FDS) which sponsors Singaporeans and Singapore PR graduates who are keen academic career and went overseas PhD programme. Upon successful completion of the degree, he or she will be considered for appointment to an assistant professorship at SMU.”
“Mdm Speaker, I do not think there is any disagreement there with the professor that we should develop a strong Singaporean Core, not only in academia but elsewhere. I hear the call to encourage the Universities to have more Singaporeans on their tenure and other tracks. Indeed, that is the position of the Ministry of Education. The Universities are, as Asst Prof Eugene Tan has indicated, autonomous. So, they do have a large degree of autonomy in the way they recruit and in the way they structure. But that said, the Ministry is strongly supportive and encouraging of the Universities getting more Singaporeans onboard for all their tracks and we will certainly encourage them to do so. Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene: Thank you, again, Mdm Speaker. I am pretty concerned about the tenure track faculty in our Universities because the majority are not Singaporeans. One can envisage that, going forward, the proportion of Singaporeans as tenured faculty in our Universities would be even lower. At the moment, it is one in two for most of the Universities, but Page: 13 going forward, given the lower numbers in the tenure track scheme now, that could mean problems in future when it comes to tenured faculty. We need to make a more concerted effort to develop local talent. My call here is not for preferential treatment but rather, a level playing field.”
“Mdm Speaker, I understand the Member's concern. In effect, if we considered the Member's question, what the Member is really asking is about an investigation whilst the investigation is on-going. That makes it difficult to proceed with the investigation in a proper manner, which is why I had indicated in my answer that if the Member would wait until all the relevant proceedings are over – that includes the investigation into these allegations – Page: 38 then a full account will be given. So, the intention is not to not give an answer. The intention is to ask for the Member to defer this question so that when it is asked at the appropriate time, a full answer can be given which addresses his queries.”
“My understanding is that at the present time, the resources – in terms of the teachers available – is sufficient, but as I indicated earlier, if there is a greater need, we would be happy to increase that pool.”
“For that, perhaps, if you have specific examples, you could send that along to MOE so that we can look into those. Certainly, the idea would be to encourage students to pursue their passion where they can, but at the same time balance it within the framework of what the school has available and the school's resources. But wherever one can, one should try to achieve that balance. The third question on the question of publishing the enrolment and the pass rates. We have just moved away already from the publication of the PSLE results – who does the best. We have moved away from ranking. I think we are trying to move away from this system of "I compare with you and I compare with another person". I think we would want that if Literature is taken up, it must be taken up because you love the subject and it has much to offer. You should not take it up merely because it is a question of my comparison with somebody else, but if the question is directed to what can we do to encourage students to take it up and to at least indicate that it is not such a—because the pass rates do actually show that good results – if we can put that out to show that it is not a subject to be feared only because it cannot be scored at, that I think MOE would be happy to do.”
“I thank the Member for her questions. Her first question was given that there is so much emphasis on academic achievements, are schools pressurising students to take up the harder subjects. Let me just break that down. Even if you take Literature, there is an academic rate attached to it. It is not Literature, not academic, and other subjects, academic – that is the first point. But the more important point and I think the thrust of the question was are schools pressuring students to take the subject? And remember, in my answer, I have broken it down to Secondary and upper Secondary. In the lower Secondary, it is compulsory, so they have to take it. We are really talking about the upper Secondary. And in the upper Secondary, it is already a component of the Social Studies. For the Social Studies subjects, you have to take Social Page: 27 Studies plus an elective. The elective would be either Geography, History or Literature. At that stage, they have a choice and it is very much the students' choice. They can also take it as an additional Humanities subject. That too, is a choice for the students but some would choose not to take that up; some may prefer Geography or History. So, in answer to the first question, I would certainly hope schools are not pressurising them but the system is structured such that it is for the students to elect. And one would certainly hope that for those who love Literature as a subject and just for the language and what the subject has to offer that they would take it up as a subject, as a matter of choice. The second question related to students who wanted to take it as an examinable subject and was not offered in their schools.”
“Sorry, can I just clarify with the Member on the last question? She wanted Ministry to consider —”
“MOE will continue to support Literature and encourage schools to offer this subject in the context of a holistic and broad-based education. Our approach to the teaching of English in schools is two-pronged. First, to enable our students to build a strong foundation in the use of the language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, and secondly, to strengthen that foundation by exposing students to different text types from print and non-print sources. This approach ensures that our students learn to use the language accurately and fluently, and to appreciate the use of the language to represent ideas effectively, appropriately and with impact. MOE provides training to our English Language teachers to use this approach to enable their students to read, understand and critique both literary texts, such as stories and poems and informational texts, such as those in science and geography textbooks, and to produce such texts in speech and writing. The training is provided for student-teachers at the National Institute of Education (NIE) as well as for teachers already in our schools, in collaboration with the English Language Institute of Singapore (ELIS).”
“Another contributory factor for the decrease in candidature in Literature was the common perception that it is difficult to obtain a good grade for this subject. MOE's data suggest, however, that students' performance in "O" level Literature has been consistently good. There has, in fact, been a slight upward trend in the pass rate for Full Literature, from 90% in 2002 to 95% in 2012. The percentage of students scoring distinction grades has also risen from 35% to 40% over the same period. Page: 25 Schools may start classes based on available resources. There are enough qualified Literature teachers and, if necessary, MOE will recruit teachers to meet demand. In addition, MOE organises regular sharing sessions on the teaching of Literature and a biennial Literature Seminar to meet the needs of Literature teachers. A special interest group to promote sharing of teaching strategies and ideas has also been set up. These platforms have been well-subscribed to by teachers. To make the subject accessible to and interesting for students, MOE regularly reviews and revises the Literature syllabus. The 2013 syllabus was developed to provide students with a strong foundation in the study of Literature and cultivate in them a love for the subject by the end of Secondary education. The focus of this syllabus is to strengthen the lower Secondary Literature instructional programmes in schools so that students develop a strong foundation in the subject and the confidence to offer Literature at Upper secondary, should they wish to. Literature remains an important core Humanities subject in the curriculum as it helps us to better understand human nature and impulses for human behaviour.”
“The decline in the "O" level candidature for Full Literature over the last 20 years needs to be understood in the context of an education system responsive to a changing social context, and which has offered increasingly more curricular choices for students over time. MOE has increasingly provided multiple pathways for students to pursue their Secondary education. Students can now choose from educational options ranging from Junior College (JC), Polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to the Integrated Programme (IP). In addition, schools have more autonomy to shape their school-based curricula to suit the needs, abilities and interests of their students and to carve out niche areas for students to excel in. To support the opening of multiple pathways, MOE has introduced new subjects, such as Drama, Physical Education, Computing and Economics. Schools could also work collaboratively with the Polytechnics to offer niche subjects to their students. These subjects include Media Studies, Creative 3D Animation, Biotechnology, Design Studies and Introduction to Enterprise Development. Our schools offer Literature, History and Geography as compulsory subjects for Secondary 1 and 2 students. At the upper Secondary levels, the introduction of Combined Humanities, with the compulsory Social Studies component and an elective Geography, History or Literature component, was the main factor for the decrease in candidature of Geography, History and Literature as a full subject. Teachers and students have responded positively to Social Studies and have commented that this subject has helped them to better understand societal issues that concern Singapore and the world. Students have also acknowledged that Social Studies helped them to develop critical thinking.”
“There is also a committee which I am chairing – the Pro Bono Promotion Committee – which will look into the overall pro bono system and review how best to encourage pro bono work by the legal profession as a whole. With respect to Asst Prof Eugene Tan's enquiry about law students and law schools, the law schools are actually in the midst of refining their curriculum to expose students to doing more pro bono work. But as a general rule, we would want to cultivate an environment in the community where the legal community as a whole steps forward to do more pro bono and to support legal aid. [(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)] Page: 72”
“Social services available at the Centre include legal clinics and practical support services to help the LIPs or the litigants-in-person prepare court documents and applications. That said, we are also open to other suggestions. Mr Hri Kumar had suggested a possible public defender scheme using lawyers from private practice. This is actually among the various suggestions that we have received and which have been considered. We will review this and other suggestions and see if any refinements can be made. I would like to conclude by commenting on what some Members have raised, which is support from the legal community and the need for pro bono. They have mentioned lawyers in private practice and other stakeholders who have come forward to give of themselves and their efforts in terms of pro bono legal aid. This is very much to be encouraged and it is heartening, in particular, Page: 71 to see the private lawyers coming forward to do this. In reply to Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef, the Legal Aid Bureau has been enjoying good support from the legal community in getting private lawyers to be their assigned solicitors. As mentioned by Asst Prof Eugene Tan, we set up the Pro Bono Development Unit in the Bureau to better reach out to the private lawyers. And Mr Hri Kumar's point about involving corporate counsel and foreign practices is also well taken, and this will be reviewed. With respect to the Legal Aid Bureau's caseload, my Ministry will allocate resources to deal with the increased caseload for the Bureau as may be appropriate. With respect to what is the best approach to promote more pro bono efforts, mandatory or otherwise, we have had a consultation, views have been heard and a committee led by Justice V K Rajah will make recommendations on the way forward.”
“Page: 70 Ms Ellen Lee also suggested educating the public of their rights. Certainly, more can be done in this area. It does not necessarily have to be the Legal Aid Bureau but we will look to see how persons in need can be made more aware of their legal rights. Mr Hri Kumar raised some concerns about foreign workers who may be caught in legal difficulties. Whilst I appreciate the comments that he has made, they really are more a matter for the Ministry of Manpower. I will raise Mr Kumar's concerns and suggestions to the Minister for Manpower, but Mr Kumar should feel free to direct those comments to the Minister for Manpower himself as well. For criminal legal aid, I would agree with Mr Hri Kumar and the others who have spoken on it about the importance of adequate representation in criminal proceedings. The Government already funds LASCO. But on the other types of criminal proceedings, I should say that the Government's KPI is not convictions. The Government's KPI must be and always has been justice. This is something that we will try to uphold. And it is because of this that the Government does also contribute indirectly. The Government makes a contribution to the Law Society's Pro Bono Services Office which runs the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. We are in discussion with the Law Society to expand our funding to them, to enable the Society to take on more deserving cases. There is also a Government-community collaboration, the Community Justice Centre, which is in the midst of being implemented. This is a one-stop hub that will provide greater integration of legal aid and social assistance to litigants-in-person or defendants.”
“Whilst I am on the subject of contributions, Mr Hri Kumar asked whether those who had their contributions partially waived are liable to make contribution in the event they recover money. The answer is, yes, they are. On the merits test, Mr Patrick Tay asked whether it is necessary to impose a merits test. And the answer, again, is, yes, it is. The reason is this: you are spending taxpayers' money to provide legal aid; you want to make sure that the person has access to justice. On the other hand, if a claim is clearly frivolous, you do not want to be spending the taxpayers' money to pursue something which is clearly and obviously frivolous. Similarly, for untenable defences. On the other hand, I accept that there are also cases which fall in between where the possible outcome is not so clear. And that is where you have to make an assessment of the merits: you have to think about whether this is a case which should go to court. On balance, if there is a reasonable prospect of success, then the Legal Aid Bureau will render legal aid. So, the merits test is relevant and important. Mr Tay had asked what about the criterion for the merits test. But you cannot apply a criterion as such. Each individual case depends on the facts of the case and the application of the law to that case. So, it is not a one-size-fits-all merits test for every case. On the broader issues, I believe, Ms Ellen Lee mentioned about legal aid services in general and educating the public on the legal aid coverage. The means test and the scope of legal proceedings covered are actually available on the Legal Aid Bureau's website and brochures. But the Legal Aid Bureau is happy to provide copies of the brochures to organisations as and when required.”
“It is for this reason that the Act has discretionary exceptions to the general means test which cover separated spouses, those who suffer a sudden disability leading to a loss of earning capacity, those who suffer a sudden loss of income and need urgent aid and, of course, the new exception that we added for family cases involving children or those requiring protection orders. The amendments have increased the quantum of the deductibles for the discretionary cases and built in some extra flexibility. To recap, the Government's general approach is to make sure that those in need of legal aid but who are in difficult financial circumstances, especially the vulnerable groups, are not shut out by inflation and changes in the cost of living. We are also concerned to ensure that vulnerable individuals in family situations have the protection of the law and access to justice, and this can be seen from the thrust of the amendments. Page: 69 Asst Prof Eugene Tan asked why Singaporeans and PRs are treated equally when it comes to the provision of legal aid and advice, and suggested that PRs be required to satisfy a higher threshold. Actually, there is a differentiation in treatment between Singaporeans and PRs. Whilst we do not have a separate means test for Singapore Citizens and PRs for the qualifying level, PRs are generally charged a higher contribution when they are granted legal aid. So, in order to qualify, the test is the same. But at the end of the day, when we are asking back for some form of contribution, the PRs will have to pay more than the Singaporeans, and there is a differentiation between Singaporeans and PRs in favour of Singaporeans. We think that this is a fairer approach. This is the current position, but we will continue to study this.”
“The main consideration in reviewing the Act was to take into account the changes in cost of living and also to provide coverage to the more vulnerable groups in family cases. That was the thinking behind the current amendments. Several Members had also expressed concern that the levels in the means test may become outdated and they had commented on the need for regular updating, and I note Asst Prof Eugene Tan's comment that review and revision are needed so that deserving persons are not shut out. Yes, we agree entirely. That is why the Government regularly reviews the Act and the Act has been reviewed at regular intervals – in 1995, 2001, 2007 and, now, in 2012. But we will continue to review and refine the means test regularly to ensure that it remains relevant. Mr Hri Kumar suggested that the means test could be updated by using a flexible formula rather than having to wait for Parliament to legislate the changes to the means test. Actually, under section 24 of the Act, the Minister can amend the means test deductibles and discretions in the Second Schedule by way of Gazette notification. In this instance, it is being brought through Parliament because there are other amendments which are required. I move now to the exceptions to the means test. All of what I said before notwithstanding, I also accept that rigid adherence to the means test can cause difficulties in very exceptional cases. The test is premised upon average income and expenditure patterns and, like all tests premised on a general set of parameters, it may operate harshly, or in an unintended fashion, in exceptional circumstances.”
“There are also different ways to structure the means test, but our assessment is that adjusting the deductibles is probably a more targeted approach than simply increasing the disposable income limit. That is because the deductibles, which we are increasing, are what represent the average cost of living for the average family. The annual disposable income represents our estimate of the reasonable cost of basic legal services. So, the $10,000 figure was arrived at, being an estimate of what would be a reasonable amount you would have to spend in order to obtain basic legal services. If you take a test where you raise the annual disposable income into a one-size-fits-all test, then it could result in inequitable outcomes. For example, all things being equal, a bigger household with more dependants will have more expenses. Having a flat disposable income test could operate unfairly against them. Pegging the living expenses deductibles to a number of dependants will give you a fairer outcome. So, the better approach is this: we look at the disposable income and capital limit and ask ourselves whether those amounts are sufficient to finance the cost of basic legal services. Our assessment is, yes. If you have more than $10,000 in disposable income or capital, you ought to be able to afford basic legal services. If it is less than that, then that is where the Legal Aid Bureau will step in to help you. The idea is that this is not intended for protracted trials but basic legal services, such as probate, adoption and straightforward family law cases. I turn now to the comments made by Members on the specific elements of the means test. Asst Prof Eugene Tan asked about the considerations for the Page: 68 review of the Act and how the quantum was derived.”
“On average, there are about 10,000 applicants to the Legal Aid Bureau per year, out of which, approximately 90% are approved. She had asked what were the reasons for the rejected cases and, in general, it is because they have not met the eligibility criterion. Finally, she had also asked what proportion are matrimonial cases. The answer is 52%. There were comments made on the means test in general and, on this, let me just make a few comments – which are that the touchstone is really Page: 67 disposable income and disposable capital, not gross income or gross capital. What we do is we look at the resources reasonably available to the applicant in order to finance his or her legal expenses. The test allows the applicant to deduct the resources which he uses for his day-to-day expenses and his spouses' expenses and his dependants' expenses; so, you do not take that into account. It also disregards the assets which you cannot expect the applicant to sell, for example, his life policy up to certain amount and his dwelling home. So, you look at the end of the day at what he has left that he can actually use to pay for legal services. Mr Patrick Tay said that taking into account current cost of living, annual disposable income of $10,000 is at the sustenance level. I was not quite sure why that would be the case because the means test envisages that $10,000 is what you have left after you have deducted your own expenses, your spouse's expenses and your dependants' expenses. So, $10,000 disposable income for legal services is not luxurious by any measure but it is, I think, accurate to say that it is above sustenance level.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Members who have spoken and would like to address some of the issues and queries that they have raised. First, I think that Mr Hri Kumar and Mr Edwin Tong had both made speeches calling for greater discretion. In a sense, what they raised was highlighted and responded to by Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef who, on the other hand, questioned the issue of discretion and asked whether or not we should have some minimum flexible guidelines or criteria. And there you have the tension. Discretion allows you to do a certain amount of things but, at the same time, that discretion cannot be unfettered because, if so, it would not be transparent and then there would be challenges to whether the discretion was exercised properly. There has to be some reference to a framework, and that is what we have at the moment. We have tried to balance it by having a transparent means test but, at the same time, we have tried to blunt the sharp edges of the means test by having a discretionary element exercisable by the Director of Legal Aid. I notice, though, that the two cases mentioned by Mr Edwin Tong and Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef were ineligible for legal aid because of the surrender value of the applicants' insurance policies. In these cases − for Mr Edwin Tong's resident, the surrender value was $10,000 and, for Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef, it was $40,000 − under the revised limits, they would both qualify. I would urge Mr Tong and Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef to ask their residents to re-apply. If there is further difficulty, please refer the matter to me, and we will see what can be done. Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef also asked about the average number of referrals annually for the last three years and how many were approved.”
“I would conclude by saying that State legal aid is part of a range of measures to help the needy. It is supplemented by LASCO for capital cases, as well as CLAS and other pro bono work administered by the Law Society. All of these have a part to play in facilitating access to justice. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 3.22 pm”
“Clause 10(d) amends section 12(4)(a) to make clear that the legally aided person is not liable to pay the fees of the Bailiff of the Subordinate Courts in the execution process, and clause 10(f) inserts a new paragraph (d) in section 12 to exempt an aided person from having to pay the requisite deposit to the Official Assignee where aid has been granted to commence bankruptcy proceedings against the debtor. This will make it easier for aided persons to recover debts due to them. Clause 11 amends section 13 to empower the Director of Legal Aid to require an applicant for legal aid or a legally aided person to deposit a sum of money to meet out-of-pocket expenses incurred on his behalf. And clause 20 amends the First Schedule to add proceedings before the Shariah Court Appeal Board under the Administration of Muslim Law Act and proceedings before the Commissioner of Labour under the Work Injury Compensation Act and to the list of proceedings for which legal aid may be Page: 50 granted. Mdm Speaker, in conclusion, I would say the Bill recognises that access to justice is important and that not all individuals have the ability to get such access without assistance. The Bill reaffirms the Government's commitment to providing access to justice for the most needy among us. I would also like to acknowledge the officers of the Legal Aid Bureau, as well as the important role played by private lawyers who, quietly and without expectation of thanks, give their time and energy to pro bono work, whether as assigned solicitors with the Bureau or under other pro bono initiatives. A debt of gratitude is also owed to the social workers who work alongside the lawyers dealing with the problems that the law cannot solve.”
“Under the proposed amendment, the quantum of the deductibles applicable in such situations will be increased, in line with the changes to the general means test for disposable income. So, for example, the deductible for dependants in this situation will be increased to $3,000, from $1,750, which is half of the new deductible for dependants under the general means test. The remainder of the Bill makes general improvements to the administration of legal aid. The salient clauses are as follows: Clause 3 amends section 4 to empower the Director of Legal Aid to remove a solicitor from the panel of assigned solicitors. The Director can exercise this power when, for example, a solicitor has ceased practice or it is shown from his professional conduct that he is not a suitable person to remain on the panel. However, a solicitor aggrieved by his removal can appeal to the High Court. Clause 7 amends section 9 to empower the Director of Legal Aid to require all applicants for legal aid to make contributions towards the costs incurred for their case. The approach here is ultimately founded on the principle that the applicant must also exercise responsibility. An applicant who has a stake in his case has more incentive to be prudent and responsible than one who does not. The contribution required will depend on the means of the applicant. There will always be cases where the applicant faces great financial hardship. No contribution will be required from those who truly cannot afford to pay any.”
“Clause 21 introduces a special discretion in applying the means test for family proceedings which involve a child of protection orders. The practical effect of this amendment is that it will extend the coverage of legal aid to persons who are the most vulnerable in family disputes. The Bill introduces a rule-based discretion for the following proceedings: (a) divorces, where a child of age below 21, a minor, is involved; (b) custody care, control and access of children, child maintenance and all cases under the Guardianship of Infants Act where children below age 21 are involved, as well as (c) cases involving personal protection of a child and/or spouse. In these types of cases, the Director of Legal Aid has the discretion to relax the deductibles in calculating the applicant's disposable capital. Under the Bill, in addition to the standard deductibles, he has the discretion to exclude the following from the calculation of disposable capital – the applicant's home, provided that its assessed annual value is not more than $20,000. This is $7,000 more than the ordinary cap of $13,000. The effect of this amendment is that it will extend coverage to residents living in lower end private property. There will also be a new deductible in the form of $5,000 worth of capital. This, in effect, raises the disposable capital cap to $15,000. The proposed amendments also expand the discretion for loss of income cases where the applicant has suffered a sudden loss in income and requires legal aid urgently. Under the current Act, when an applicant has suffered a sudden loss in income, the Director already has the discretion to assess the applicant's means by looking at his disposable income for six months instead Page: 49 of the usual 12 months.”
“This would translate to about 300,000 additional persons who can potentially be covered under the Act. And this expanded coverage does not take into account the Director's discretion to depart from the general means test in exceptional circumstances, which I shall address later. So what does this mean in practical terms? Perhaps, I can illustrate by this example. Let us take a family of four, living in a HDB flat. You have one working parent, one homemaker, two children. Let us say the gross household income is $3,500 a month, or $42,000 a year. After deduction of CPF, the gross Page: 48 household income is $2,800 a month, or $33,600 a year. Applying the current test before the amendments, the deduction for each member of the household would add up to $15,000, that is, $4,500 for the applicant, $3,500 multiplied by three for the spouse and children. The annual disposable household income would, therefore, be $18,600 – and this would be above the $10,000 disposal income limit. So, in that example, if you have applied the current test, they would not qualify. But if you apply the revised test under the proposed amendments, then the deductions can add up to $24,000, that is $6,000, for the applicant and up to $6,000 times three for his spouse and two children. So, applying the revised test, the annual disposable household income would be $9,600, which would bring that family within the $10,000 limit. If the same family pays rent, the rent would be an additional deductible and, as such, the gross household income could potentially go up to $5,625 and the family would still meet the income limit of the means test. That is for the general means test. There is also a new discretion that we are introducing for family proceedings.”
“This will allow for wider and better coverage. An applicant can now deduct the following when calculating his disposable income: (i) $6,000 for his own expenses. This is an increase, up from the current $4,500; (ii) he can also deduct up to $6,000 for his spouse's expenses. This is up from the current $3,500. But this would not apply when the Director has already excluded the income of a separated spouse; (iii) the applicant can also deduct up to $6,000 for the maintenance of each dependant. This is up from the current $3,500; (iv) he can also deduct up to $20,000 for rent. This is up from the current $1,000, and is based on the lower end of the prevailing open-market rental rates for 3-room flats in suburban areas; and (v) he can also deduct his spouse's CPF contributions though, again, this will not apply when the Director has already excluded the income of a separated spouse. That is for income. As for the disposable capital, an applicant can now disregard the following. First, his CPF investments. These are to be disregarded because he cannot withdraw these to pay for legal services. Second, the life insurance policies held by him, of up to $46,000 in surrender value. Third, the annual value of his home, provided that it is $13,000 or less. This is up from the current annual value of $7,800, and it is equal to the revised maximum annual value of HDB flats. HDB flats which are used as dwelling homes will remain entirely deductible. These amendments to the general means test will ensure expanded coverage. The current coverage of legal aid is about 17% of Singaporeans and PRs. With these amendments, we estimate that the Act will cover about 25% of Singaporeans and PRs.”
“The effect of this is that it will allow another potential group of people to benefit from legal aid who would not fall under the general test. Third, it improves the general administration of legal aid. I will now take the House through the main amendments of the Bill. The most significant clause in the Bill is clause 21. It amends the means test for legal aid prescribed in the Second Schedule of the Act. Under the Act, a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident (PR) meets the means test for legal aid if his annual disposable income is $10,000 or below and his disposable capital is also $10,000 or below. It is a double-barrelled test, meaning you have to meet both the income test and the capital test. The applicant's annual disposable income is calculated by adding his annual income with that of his spouse and deducting the permitted deductibles, for example, his CPF contributions and expenses for daily necessities. An applicant's disposable capital is calculated by taking the value of all his assets, for example, property, savings and other assets and deducting therefrom the value of permitted deductibles, for example, his HDB flat, if that is used as his family home. The means test is, therefore, structured to look at the resources which are reasonably available to the applicant to fund his legal needs. The applicant's disposable income should, therefore, not be confused with the applicant's gross income. His disposable capital does not include assets which we cannot Page: 47 reasonably expect the applicant to liquidate, for example, the home in which he lives, up to a certain value. Under the proposed amendments, we will expand coverage of the general means test by expanding the existing deductibles for both income and capital, and by creating new deductibles.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mdm Speaker, access to justice is one of the cornerstones of our society. We may have the best laws, the best courts and the best system, but all that would be lost if they cannot be accessed by persons in need. However, like all things, there is a cost to legal services, and not everyone can afford such services. It was with this in mind that the Legal Aid and Advice Act was originally enacted back in 1956, to ensure access to justice. That objective remains as relevant today as it was then. Page: 46 The Government is conscious that there are those with meritorious legal claims or defences but who are unable to afford lawyers. The Government has also taken into account the rising costs of living and its impact on a person's ability to afford legal services. Over the years, the Government has periodically updated the means test to take into account the current costs of living. Past reviews were conducted in 1995, 2001 and 2007. The latest review was completed in 2012. Following the latest review, as well as taking into account feedback from Members of Parliament, the Government considers that the proposed amendments are necessary to facilitate greater access to justice by those in need. The proposed amendments take into account the current cost of living, and also expand the coverage of legal aid to include more vulnerable applicants. The Bill does three things. First, it expands the general means test for legal aid under the Act. The effect of this is that it will allow more people to be covered by legal aid. Second, it expands the discretion of the Director of Legal Aid to depart from the general means test in exceptional cases.”
“Yes, they were wrong to breach the rule; yes, they must pay the penalty but the penalty, while serving a punitive purpose, must also be proportionate. Consider this: for the offence of voluntarily causing hurt under the Penal Code, there is a maximum sentence of two years. When you commit robbery under the Penal Code, it is between two years and seven years. At least, the people who commit those offences do know what the duration of the penalty is, whereas for those who committed the offence of falling in love with and marrying the wrong person without permission, they do not know how long the penalty will last. I would ask the Minister to consider imposing a finite ban. Inclusive growth programme and low-wage workers”
“Mr Chairman, under our current rules, a foreigner who is a work permit holder is not permitted to marry a Singaporean without obtaining prior approval from MOM. Sometimes, this rule is breached and in that event, MOM imposes an entry ban on the foreign spouse from entering Singapore. I understand the rationale for the rule and I also understand the rationale for the penalty; hence, the imposition of the ban. 4.00 pm However, what I want to raise is the duration of the ban. Under the current policy, when the ban is imposed, MOM does not tell the couple at the outset how long the ban is for. It is indefinite. And whilst there are sham marriages, there are also many cases where the relationship is genuine but the couple have either breached the rule unwittingly, or have mistaken belief that if they marry outside Singapore, it is all right; or, as is often the case, they know the rule but breach it, simply because they love each other and are willing to take the risk of being caught because their feelings for each other outweigh that risk. Love is a difficult thing to legislate. However, where the rule has been breached, then even if the relationship is genuine, they must pay the penalty and be subject to the ban. But I would ask the Minister to consider imposing a ban of a finite duration because in cases where the relationship is genuine, it causes a lot of hardship and difficulties to the couple because, effectively, their lives are in limbo. I have cases of residents approaching me to appeal for their spouses to be allowed to re-enter Singapore because they do not know what to do with their lives; they cannot make plans. It is especially difficult for the children.”
“Mr Chairman, like my three parliamentary colleagues who have preceded me, I am concerned about the current developments in the Middle East and, in particular, how it will impact Singapore's economy. I would therefore like to ask the Minister what is Singapore's strategy for alternative energy and, in particular, if he could provide an update on the status of the pilot project for electric cars, and whether electric cars can be a viable alternative mode of transport in Singapore. If yes, then how long would it take before electric cars can become a mainstream means of transport?”
“Mr Chairman, it has been a year since the Integrated Resorts (IRs) have opened, and there have been reports on the strong performance of the IRs since their opening. I would like to ask the Minister for an update on their performance, in particular, how does that performance so far compare with the earlier projections, and what does the Government expect to be the IRs' economic contribution in the long term.”
“Mr Chairman, this is actually to provide two clarifications to the Minister. The first on gracious HDB living. I was not suggesting in any way that the onus and responsibility should be with the HDB. Obviously, these habits come from the residents. The thrust of my speech was how can we can get the residents to take responsibility for gracious living. That is the first clarification. My second clarification relates to the Minister's condition of the MPs sitting in with the architects for the design. I wish to clarify with the Minister that I am more than willing to do so. If I may just take one minute to give the Minister a cautionary tale to what happened to Newton Hawker Centre which is in my constituency. I am afraid that I made the architects re-draw it three times before we were happy with the final design. In the end, they gave it to a junior architect who is actually very good because when everybody looks at the design now we will see that it is beautiful. At the end of that he decided he would give up architecture and become a lawyer. So, the upshot of this is we are more than happy to participate, Sir, but the HDB may find itself with a greatly-reduced architectural team and a greatly-expanded legal department. 6.00 pm”