Intan Azura Mokhtar
Singapore
“Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Minister or Minister of State Zaqy, what are the plans for MENDAKI's Tuition Scheme to ensure that our children are ready for a more dynamic environment and also to seize opportunities to excel in various areas apart from academic excellence?”
“For instance, they can work a few days a week in the office and a few days from home so that they can still work full-time, fulfill their work obligations but can reduce commuting time and yet have the opportunity to meet with colleagues and interact with them face-to-face in the office for that much needed social interaction.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the answers. It is heartening to know that the numbers have dropped over the years, from 2009 to 2019, over a period of 10 years. However, 2,800 is still quite a large number every year for enforcement acts to catch recalcitrants.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. So, 19,000 diabetes cases each year. Does the Ministry of Health (MOH) have the numbers as to what are the causes of the diabetes cases, whether it is through direct sugar intake or is it through other foods, such as high starch content?”
“Mr Speaker, the first question I have is for the Minister for Health. Do we have enough healthcare workers and professionals to help manage patient cases in NCID and the hospitals in this period of heightened healthcare alert seeing to the increased demand and work stresses on them?”
“It is related to schools. Are there any specific or additional measures in schools, particularly for preschoolers and primary school children who may not always be aware or practise proper personal hygiene as we try to educate Singaporeans in this?”
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“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Can the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the Edusave fund for madrasah students? Also, what is the status of the Enhanced Joint Madrasah System that will be implemented in 2015? Currently, we also see more and more debates and differing views within our Malay/Muslim community which is causing a divide. For instance, there are those who call themselves true Muslims while others, considered as liberal Muslims or those who are independent and open minded. I am worried that the practice of group labelling amongst ourselves will divide not only our Malay/Muslim community, but also Singapore's multiracial Page: 125 and multi-religious plural society. Does Islam not promote tolerance and respect for one another, even if there are differences, as long as it is not against Islam? What is the Minister's view on this and what can be done by MUIS, our mosques and our madrasahs? Strengthening Families and Marriages”
“Mdm Chair, a question for the Minister. There is a recent shift, Minister, towards multiple peaks of excellence, diverse pathways and holistic education, which is a good thing. However, despite extensive and best efforts, we still have parents, teachers and even school leaders who may still be focussed on academic achievement. They may still be sceptical about every school being a good school. I mentioned this in my speech. So, what else can be done to ensure that we get support from these major stakeholders? Page: 24”
“Hence, regardless of whether our centrally trained preschool teachers end up teaching in an Anchor Operator preschool or otherwise, our preschool children can look forward to being taught by teachers of equivalent training background, knowledge and skill levels, and parents will have greater confidence in placing their children in preschools run by the Anchor Operators or in our MOE Kindergartens, rather than worrying about whether they are able to secure a place in a brand-name preschool or be able to afford the fees at such places. On a related note, I would also like to request the Ministry to look into setting up more school-based Student Care Centres. I understand there are currently 80 such school-based Student Care Centres. I hope the Ministry can set up more, possibly one in each Primary school. Such school-based Student Care Centres are important, especially in supporting working parents and young families. Parents would have greater peace of mind when they know that their Primary-school going children have a place to go to after school, and in school, without the need to travel on their own whether back home or to another venue for after-school care. In addition, having responsible adults taking care of their children in a safe environment, which is in the school itself, will also be assuring to working parents. I hope the Ministry will seriously consider both recommendations – that is, to have centralised training for pre-school teachers and to set up more school-based Student Care Centres soon. School-based Student Care Centres”
“With the Government's plan to add 20,000 more childcare places by 2017, the need for sufficient qualified preschool teachers becomes more acute. Setting up the physical space for a childcare centre or preschool is the easy part. Getting well-trained preschool teachers with the desired set of skills, passion, personality and commitment to the profession is a different matter altogether. Currently, preschool teacher training is done at several of our local Polytechnics and various other private education institutions. While bodies, such as the Pre-school Qualification Accreditation Committee and the Workforce Development Agency, are there to regulate preschool teacher training, the processes in place are often merely procedural and do not quite look into the training curriculum, contents and pedagogy in depth to ensure consistent standards and quality. There have been claims that while the private education institutions which run such preschool teacher training have structures that satisfy Government requirements, the standard and quality of preschool teacher training differs from one private education institution to another. This results in rather distinct differences among our preschool teachers in terms of knowledge, skills and classroom experience, depending on which institution they did their preschool teacher training in. I have spoken about this before and I hope the Ministry will take the lead in centralising the training of preschool teachers, just as our school teachers are all centrally trained in the National Institute of Education before they are Page: 138 deployed to teach in our mainstream schools, so as to ensure consistent standards and quality.”
“A number of young people I have met and spoken to, seem to have very similar perceptions that having a first degree will increase their chances in finding a "good" job, and having a post-graduate degree will increase their chances of being promoted thereafter. There is a need to help our young realise and see for themselves that the well-trodden, linear path is not all there is to doing well or being successful; many roads lead to the same destination, and there is nothing wrong in taking a longer route, making U-turns, or taking a longer time in getting there. On a related note, I applaud the formation of the Applied Study in Polytechnic and ITE Review or ASPIRE Committee. This is a testament of the Ministry's commitment to ensure many different pathways to success and in helping our students realise their potential in different domains. Working closely with prospective employers is important in ensuring that our polytechnic and ITE students are given opportunities, through internships or apprenticeships, to gain work experience in different industries and develop work-ready skills even before graduating from their respective post-Secondary programmes. It is my hope that through this close collaboration between our Page: 122 post-Secondary institutions and prospective employers, we can sufficiently show that a uUiversity degree is not necessarily a pre-requisite to getting a good job, doing well in one's career or being successful in life. Being deemed as "good" or having attained success ought to be seen from a broader perspective beyond academic excellence and consistent expected results. May I end with a quote from Winston Churchill: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts." Funding for Independent Schools”
“The abolition of academic streams will help reinforce the Ministry's commitment to recognising and providing for diverse abilities in different domains, and that we develop at different rates. For the Ministry, the challenge remains in changing the mindsets of parents, school teachers and school leaders, and the general public to embrace this paradigm shift. Employers have a significant role to play in this as well, and I hope that the Ministry will work closely with prospective employers to recognise abilities beyond just linguistic, logical-mathematical and visual-spatial for a start. I would also urge the Ministry to continue explaining and describing the intents and goals of Every School a Good School, as well as explicitly detailing what has been done to make this a reality – not just with parents, but teachers and school leaders as well – because misperceptions and cynicism still exist with regard to Every School a Good School. But more importantly, parents, teachers and our society in general must be convinced that being a "good" child or "good" student or "good" employee is not about producing expected results consistently or not ever making mistakes. There is nothing wrong with making mistakes or having failed, as long as one learns from it and is able to "fail forward", or do better the next time around. It is the very fear of failure that prevents us from trying out new ways of doing things, daring to take the less trodden, non-linear or longer path, or being able to seize opportunities wherever they may be – locally or globally.”
“This is an area of excellence that we have traditionally associated with being intelligent, being successful in one's education, and which is a determinant to being successful later on in life. However, this is only one peak of excellence that we have in our education system for our children to pursue their interest or ability in. I see other peaks of excellence forming. Schools, such as South View Primary School and Edgefield Primary School, come under the peak of excellence in Dance and Performing Arts. Schools, such as New Town Secondary School and Unity Secondary School, come under the peak of excellence in Uniformed Groups. We must continue to recognise these different peaks of excellence and accord the same amount of respect and admiration as we have traditionally done for academic excellence. 4.45 pm As Howard Gardner expounds, human intelligences are varied in different frames of what our interests and propensities fall into, and involve both skills as well as potential. Human intelligences extend beyond linguistic and logical-mathematical abilities, and sometimes spatial-visual ability, that traditional high-stakes examinations usually assess, and which we have traditionally valued to equate to one's level of intellectual capacity and potential to succeed in future. This is a very narrow perception of intelligence, ability, or potential future success, and I am certainly glad that MOE has made significant strides in making changes to the education system to recognise a broader spectrum of intelligences and abilities in different domains. In the same vein, once again, I would like to call for the Ministry to abolish academic streams at the Secondary school level, just as has been done at the Page: 121 Primary school level.”
“Madam, when the Minister for Education first talked about Every School being a Good School in 2012, many conversations and discussions ensued among students, educators, parents, critics and just about everybody else who is interested in our education system. "Every School a Good School" sounds catchy but few actually believe that it is true or that it can be true. To many of us, Every School a Good School seems to mean that every school that we see or know of should be like Raffles Institution or Hwa Chong Institution, or like Rosyth School or Ai Tong School. To me, many of us probably equate a good school to being a popular school or being a school that has many students who do well academically in high-stakes examinations. If we go back to what Minister Heng said about Every School a Good School, we see that a "good" school, first of all, nurtures engaged learners; enables Page: 120 teachers to be caring educators; and, third, fosters supportive partnership with parents and the community. The Minister also mentioned that "each of our schools is good in its own way". There was and still is no mention of a "good" school being one that has many students with stellar academic results or being in the likes of schools that have long been perceived to be "good". Hence, I am deeply concerned when many of us – parents and our own school teachers and school leaders themselves – still have the wrong perception of what a Good School is. As I see it, well-known schools such as Raffles Institution (RI) or Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) have had a strong tradition of excellence in the academics and are likely to continue in this area.”
“Senior Minister of State Dr Amy Khor earlier mentioned about the Professional Conversion Programme for Physiotherapists. I understand that there are also programmes for other professions as well. However, in particular for eldercare professionals and social workers, it is required that mid-career entrants have either a diploma or GCE "A" levels and we know that these are sectors where there will be increasing demand for eldercare workers and social workers. Would the Ministry consider extending this programme to something like a certificate programme for mid-career entrants for blue-collar workers or housewives, for example?”
“I understand the reason for rejecting the waiver of repayment, which is to ensure enough funds for their own retirement in the future. But this is another 20 to 30 years for them. I would like to seek MOM's consideration to review the existing policy for repayment of CPF funds used, and instead allow options where Singaporeans can decide to: (a) seek repayment of the CPF funds used as a lump sum; or (b) seek repayment of CPF funds used in instalments for an agreed period of time; or (c) waive the repayment of CPF funds used entirely. Impose caveats, if need be, but I hope that the Government can consider these. CPF Nomination”
“Mdm Chair, currently, those who wish to withdraw their names from the HDB flat that is co-owned with their aged parents, in order to purchase a new BTO flat with the spouse or spouse-to-be, would require the repayment of the CPF funds used, with accrued interest by the remaining co-owners. The remaining co-owners are usually the aged parents. This repayment, usually in cash, has to be made within six months of Page: 64 the name withdrawal, back into the CPF account of the co-owner who has withdrawn. I have met several residents who are in this very situation. One of them is Mr Yeo and Ms Liu, who are getting married and have applied for a new BTO flat. However, Ms Liu currently co-owns a flat with her aged parents which she has helped pay for over the past three years. She appealed to CPF Board to seek a waiver of the repayment of about $42,000 by her aged parents, back to the CPF account when she withdraws her name from the current flat. However, her request was rejected. Mr Yeo and Ms Liu are not alone. In the past two-and-a-half years, I have met a few other residents who are in the same predicament. The reasons for wanting the waiver for repayment are reasonable. They are still young, they are working, and are capable of building up the CPF funds for retirement, but their aged parents, usually in their 50s or 60s, are not able to do so. There is a strong sense of filial piety amongst these young Singaporeans who feel that waiving the CPF repayment by the parents is a small gesture of repaying their parents' kindness and sacrifices. And they feel that the current CPF policy prevents them from being able to proceed to purchase a new flat and may be an obstacle in them starting a family.”
“Chairman, more of the NSmen now have post-Secondary educational qualifications and would have had some form of work experience during internships or work attachments during their respective courses of study where a lot more hands-on approaches to problem solving would have been done. As the educational levels of our NSmen rise, they are likely to have higher aspirations and also want to contribute more meaningfully to the SAF, such as sharing their views and ideas on existing processes and policies. How is MINDEF looking to engage our NSmen more effectively, maximise their contributions and help fulfil their aspirations? Will there be more platforms to elicit these views and ideas from our NSmen and will MINDEF be able to support the test bed for ideas for pilot projects done by our NSmen with regard to defence and security?”
“Being a small state, Singapore can be affected by developments in the region and among our close neighbours. Indonesia will be having the general election as well as Presidential election soon, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would be stepping down this year, as required by the Constitution. Of late, we have observed strong Indonesian nationalistic sentiments that have shaped incidents on various fronts, one of which is the naming of a navy vessel. Just like Dr Lim Wee Kiak, I would also like to ask if we expect the outcomes of the 2014 Indonesian elections to affect our bilateral relations with Indonesia. In addition, with the current dry spell, there are concerns that haze would be back with a vengeance. While the proposed Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill is a welcomed move, can the Ministry provide an update on Singapore's cooperation with Indonesia on this?”
“Even though various programmes and initiatives have been implemented to increase awareness towards disease prevention and a healthy lifestyle, perhaps so far, they have been insufficient or are not so effective. Will the Government review the current programmes and initiatives, and are there plans to introduce a more structured programme to manage these health issues, especially since our society is rapidly ageing? I hope that the government can share its plans, if there are any, and set aside sufficient funding for such programmes and measures. At the same time, based on feedback from the Pioneer Generation and senior citizens, we find that there are still many of them who do not really understand what assistance schemes are available or what benefits that they can receive, be it from this year's Budget, previous years' Budgets or the schemes currently available. Can the Government help to collate information about all the available assistance schemes and programmes for our Pioneer Generation and senior citizens, and share this information, whether through the mass media or other publications? This information can also be shared at places of worship like the Page: 127 mosques and public areas that are easily accessible, such as community clubs, supermarkets and libraries. Most importantly, the information should be communicated clearly and can be easily understood by our senior citizens and Pioneer Generation. 5.46 pm”
“Hence, I must iterate that while more has been done to help lower-income and older Singaporeans, middle-income Singaporeans have not been left out. However, I would like to urge the Government to collate the various provisions, benefits and assistance schemes available for middle-income households and earners, above and beyond this year's Budget, and make this information easy to understand and accessible. Page: 126 At this juncture, Mr Deputy Speaker, please allow me to continue in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] This year's Budget builds on the various assistance schemes that were introduced in previous years' Budgets. However, this year's Budget is unique in that the focus of the assistance being offered is geared towards the Pioneer Generation or our senior citizens. The Pioneer Generation Package, estimated at about $8 billion, was set aside to finance medical costs that may be a source of worry for our elderly. While we welcome the allocation of funds to help our senior citizens cope with healthcare costs when the situation requires it, we must also not forget the preventive measures. We find that the number of diabetes or heart patients, obese and smokers within our community have all increased from 2004 to 2010. Although medical costs can be financed through the various assistance schemes like CHAS, MediShield Life, MediSave Top-Ups, MediFund, and now, the Pioneer Generation Package, I am also concerned with the state of our health in general. Optimal health will most likely guarantee a good quality of life, freedom and the ability to live independently during old age.”
“The Government can consider how to co-pay and finance parent care leave with private employers and companies. I am aware the proposals I have put forth – greater employment incentives for companies to employ seniors, free transport passes for our Pioneer Generation and parent care leave – will require an even bigger Budget. But maybe the Government can consider increasing sin taxes even further, by a few more percentage points, particularly for more expensive alcoholic drinks, such as wines. I am no expert in this but I am sure Deputy Prime Minister Tharman and MOF would be able to work this out. I am sure those who indulge in smoking, drinking or gambling do not mind indulging in our Pioneer Generation instead. On a separate note, while many are pleased with the Pioneer Generation Package and increased financial assistance for the elderly, as well as expanded assistance to SMEs, there are some who feel that still not enough is being done for middle-income earners or middle-income households. This is where we ought to take a step back and look at this Budget with respect to previous years' Budgets and existing assistance schemes. We cannot look at this Budget in silo because, with each annual Budget, schemes and provisions are introduced which span several years. Hence, there are overlapping assistance schemes to ensure continuity and seamlessness of support. In this year's Budget, the expanded bursaries for Institutes of Higher Learning, assistance schemes for SMEs and Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS), are all targeted to assist middle-income households. In last year's Budget, the revised property tax for owner occupied residential properties and increased personal income tax rebate, were introduced and also targeted to assist middle-income households.”
“When I met him at his home during one of my block visits, he lamented the difficulty he had getting a full-time job once he turned 60 years old. He is still fit as a fiddle, walks without any walking aids, very eloquent and has a good memory as well as a jolly sense of humour. However, the one thing that has deteriorated somewhat is his eyesight. So, he no longer drives. But he takes the bus and train to get around and to get to work. Greater incentives for employers to employ our seniors will make it even more attractive for our seniors, such as Uncle Tan, to be employed on a full-time basis. Free transport passes will help seniors, such as Uncle Tan, get around as they please without having to worry about topping up their cards or replacing them. We would not be here without our seniors, our Pioneer Generation of Singapore. Let us extend this little gesture of gratitude and love to them. On a related note, I would also like to request the Government to consider introducing parent care leave of at least three days a year. As we espouse the virtues of filial piety and collective responsibility towards our elders and seniors, it is also important to make provisions for those among us who are working and yet have responsibilities towards the care of our aged parents. Just as the Government has agreed to pay for three of the six days of childcare leave Page: 125 without medical certificate for working parents, I hope that the Government can consider doing the same for this proposed parent care leave. Three days a year, and making this provision to civil servants for a start, will send a strong signal to all employers and companies that responsibility and care towards our families include both children and parents, and provision ought to be made for this for employees.”
“The Government has introduced the Special Employment Credit (SEC) scheme in 2011 and enhanced it in 2012, as well as introduced a special enhancement for 2015 in light of the increase in CPF contribution by employers. Under the current scheme, up to 8% of their monthly Page: 124 salaries, capped at $4,000, will be co-paid by the Government. For work done in 2015, the enhancement is another 0.5%, which works out to up to 8.5% of monthly salaries. Although this has made it more attractive for companies to employ older Singaporeans, I hope that the SEC can be enhanced yet again, so that employers will be further incentivised to employ our seniors. In addition, many of our seniors value their sense of independence. They travel on their own using public transport, and the senior concession cards for those aged 60 years old and above have certainly come in handy. However, each card is valid for only five years. Replacement is required thereafter. May I propose that the senior concession cards be given as a lifetime card with no expiration date? Replacement is only for lost or damaged cards. And for our seniors who are part of the Pioneer Generation, a nice gesture would be to provide free public transport passes for them. There are only 450,000 seniors who belong to our Pioneer Generation. Let them travel around this nation of ours, which they have helped build, as they please. There are many such seniors who value their independence, the ability to be mobile and move around without having to depend on their children or others. One such senior is Uncle Tan. Despite being more than 65 years old, he still works, albeit part-time, earning about $1,000 a month.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity to speak on the recently announced Budget. This year's Budget builds on the schemes introduced through previous years' Budgets but is especially generous where our seniors are concerned. I am happy to find out more about the Pioneer Generation Package, which I feel is magnanimous. And I am pleasantly surprised by the increased personal income tax relief for parents. To me, these provisions underscore two important things – that we must continue to value our pioneers and seniors, and for those of us who are taking care of and providing for our parents, the Government will chip in and lend a hand. In other words, taking care of our seniors must be a collective effort – it cannot just be the responsibility of the Government to provide for them. As children, it is only right that we continue to provide for our parents to the best of our ability; as employers, it is commendable when we are able to provide for the employment of our seniors; and, as a society, it is only human for us to support them in every way we can. When I talk to senior residents, or residents who belong to our Pioneer Generation, I find something quite consistent among them. They are usually very positive about life and the lives they lead; they are generous in nature, yet expect little in return; and they value their ability to be self-reliant and independent, usually reluctant to seek help unless really necessary. Being among the last few speakers for today, what I say or propose may have already been put forth by other esteemed Members in the House. Nonetheless, let me still do so. For a start, I would like to make a pitch for our seniors who wish to continue to work even after retirement.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I am glad to hear that MOE is reviewing the DSA scheme. Are there plans to expand the DSA scheme to include all Secondary schools and/or possibly even revamp the DSA scheme to make it non-optional, where every student taking the PSLE can gain admission to a Secondary school of choice based on both the PSLE results as well as their progress through a student portfolio that showcases their achievements in both academic and non-academic areas?”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister of State. While HDB is reviewing the scheme, may I also suggest a few things? We know that there are increasingly more senior citizen households in blocks which are less than 30 years old. That means they are not eligible for the Home Improvement Programme yet and it is still a few more years to go. May I suggest that EASE be expanded, for example, the anti-slip treatment for tiles to be extended to also the kitchen, and not just one bathroom but both bathrooms in the kitchen; and the bamboo pole support holders to be included as part of EASE rather than HIP? There have increasingly been more residents asking for that in particular.”
“We cannot simply stand by, criticise the Government on what it has done, spew mere rhetoric on what it has not done or showcase some form of intellectual snobbery on what more it can do; but in reality, we have yet to do the real work of helping others and making that positive difference in the lives of those in need. While words matter, actions speak louder, but not nearly as often, as said by Mark Twain. 7.02 pm”
“While I concur that the Government provided many assistance schemes for these groups, there is still room to enhance the assistance given to ensure that those who really need help will be given help. One example is the recently introduced MediShield Life. Many of my residents support the MediShield Life Scheme but some are worried whether they will be able to afford the premiums to this scheme, especially those from the low-income group, the elderly and those from the middle income but have many dependants, like small children, elderly parents or family members with special needs. I hope that the Government will help these groups whether through a Pioneer Generation Package, premium subsidies or by increasing the MediSave withdrawal limits so that the MediShield Life premiums can be paid fully from the MediSave funds. Another way would be to provide flexibility to Singaporeans when they utilise their MediSave accounts, especially for our elderly, in order to pay for the costs of health screenings, dental checks or physiotherapy sessions and for antenatal checks for expectant mothers. This flexibility will help Singaporeans to manage the cost of living in terms of medical and health needs. Please allow me to end my speech in English. (In English): While I urge the Government to do more, I would also like to make a similar call to each and every one of us here in this House and out there Page: 127 to do our part as well. Extending the necessary social and financial assistance to those in need and who are vulnerable in our society is not just the responsibility of the Government alone. Each and every one of us has a part to play in making a positive difference in our society.”
“In addition, greater flexibility in the use of one's social security savings, in this case, the use of Medisave for preventive healthcare, will develop a sense of independence and self-worth among our people. For all we know, it may just pave the way for better healthcare in the long run. Finally, there can be better coordination among the Ministries, Government agencies and organisations that extend social and financial assistance to those in need and who are more vulnerable in our society. Better coordination will not just lead to greater efficiency but also ensuring that the assistance rendered is more effective and targeted and, at the same time, reduce frustration and Page: 126 anxiety among the beneficiaries. This will require the seamless sharing of information, knowledge and experience, and a collective belief, that by working together, we are able to do our best in helping those who are vulnerable and in need. The MSF's introduction of the Social Service Offices in our heartlands is a welcomed move, which, I hope, will help realise this belief. At this juncture, please allow me to speak in Malay, Sir. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The ability to manage the cost of living is a concern shared by many Singaporeans, especially among the low-income group and the elderly. For the low-income group, increases to the cost of daily necessities, housing and transportation will continue to pose challenges because their salaries do not increase in tandem with the increase in the price of goods. For the elderly, the savings that they accumulated over the years through all their hard work and toil will now not amount to much, compared to the increase in the daily expenses and medical costs.”
“While it is recognised that the Government has improved policies and programmes with regard to social and financial assistance, the implementation and delivery of such assistance can be enhanced further. For one, accessibility, as spoken by Members earlier today, of such assistance can be improved, where barriers to seeking assistance can be kept to a minimum or eliminated altogether. Easy access to such assistance will make it less frustrating for those who need it and, at the same time, help to preserve their dignity and sense of hope. Next, the Government can do more to ensure affordability for Singaporeans. Social and financial assistance schemes can be reviewed regularly, to take into account current income and cost-of-living trends. And for low-income families who are plagued by illnesses or extenuating circumstances, or those with young, school-going, or elderly dependants, additional support can be provided. Managing the cost of living and continued affordability of services is important to such families, and any additional help by the Government will certainly be needed. Third, the Government can provide greater flexibility in assessing the merits of each case applying for social or financial assistance, taking special circumstances into account when determining eligibility and the level of support to be rendered. This is so that families in genuine need can receive appropriate help even if they do not fit the criteria that have been set or only qualify for minimal help. Frontline staff can also be trained to assess such needs and exercise flexibility at the point of application for assistance.”
“Residents I spoke to have expressed their support for it as this would help ensure all Singaporeans have a medical safety net to fall back on should medical expenses be more than what their MediSave or out-of-pocket cash payments can cover. Even younger and more affluent Singaporean residents I met have expressed their willingness and support for pre-payment of premiums while they are still young or while they can afford it. So, this is good news. However, one concern raised by specifically older residents and those with lower income, is whether they can afford the premiums for MediShield Life. This concern does not just come from older Singaporeans or those with relatively lower income, but several middle income earners who have more dependants to support – such as young children, ageing parents or family members with special needs. The Pioneer Generation Package is a good start to help older Singaporeans pay the MediShield Life premiums, but I would like to urge the Government to consider providing premium subsidies to these other groups of Singaporeans – the lower income earners and the middle income earners with more dependants to support. It is heartening to hear that the Government will convene a committee to look into the premium and payout structure of MediShield Life. But in order to help Singaporeans adjust in the initial period when MediShield Life is introduced, the Government can consider providing some form of financial Page: 125 support to those who need it. Yet, another consideration is to increase the Medisave withdrawal limits for each Singaporean so that the premiums for MediShield Life can be paid fully from our Medisave funds.”
“There was barely enough for Mdm Rahimah and her two-year-old child each month. She did not go for her monthly antenatal checks as she could not afford it. However, having worked before, she had some funds in her MediSave account and was hoping she could draw down from her MediSave for her antenatal consultations. At the moment, under the MediSave Maternity Package, up to $450 can be withdrawn from an individual's MediSave account for pre-delivery expenses, such as consultations, ultrasound scans and tests, but only if these were done at the same hospital that they deliver their baby in. The claim for these pre-delivery expenses is made only after delivery at the same hospital – in other Page: 124 words, a reimbursement claim structure that requires upfront cash payment first. So, for someone such as Mdm Rahimah, this is difficult. I hope MOH would consider granting greater flexibility for our expectant mothers to draw from their MediSave account to pay for their antenatal medical expenses after each consultation, visit or test, whether at polyclinics, private clinics, or hospitals which may be different from the one they would eventually deliver their baby in, instead of the current reimbursement claim structure that requires upfront cash payment. In addition, I would like to suggest that the withdrawal limit for antenatal or outpatient consultations or treatments by expectant mothers be increased to at least $600. In the spirit of encouraging and helping Singaporeans to have more children, I hope the Ministry will seriously consider making these proposed changes. A higher quantum would be appreciated for sure. The introduction of MediShield Life for all Singaporeans is very much welcomed.”
“His three children are all grown up, married and live with their own families. While Uncle Robert and his wife are retirees and hence do not earn any monthly salary, they lead a simple but comfortable life with enough to get by. He insists that he does not want any financial assistance nor does he want to ask from his children. But what he wants is to be able to be independent and spend his own hard-earned money for his needs. When I met him, Uncle Robert shared that although he was asked by his doctor to go for a detailed health screening at the hospital, he had been postponing it as he was certain one check would lead to another and the final hospital bill would be quite substantial for him for out-of-pocket cash payments. He added that he has "several thousand dollars" in his MediSave account and all he wants is to be able to finance his healthcare expenses with his own money in his MediSave account. I am sure many of us understand how Uncle Robert thinks. He feels a sense of dignity and independence because he can pay for his own expenses – medical or otherwise. Greater flexibility in the use of MediSave will certainly help seniors such as Uncle Robert to independently take care of their health and well-being. Similarly, greater flexibility in the use of our MediSave funds will help expectant mothers mitigate their antenatal medical expenses – be it at the restructured hospitals or private clinics. Many expectant Singaporeans can benefit from this, such as Mdm Rahimah, one of my residents. She was expecting her second child when she came to see me for financial assistance. She relied on her husband, the sole breadwinner, who worked as a security guard and earned about $1,200 a month, but who also had to pay alimony to his ex-wife and two other children.”
“These are important because the transport vouchers will help mitigate the cost of travelling to and from school and to ensure that the children continue to attend school, while the school breakfast vouchers will help to ensure that they are able to start off their school day with a good and healthy meal, despite the financial difficulties that their families are facing. Conversely, I hope that MOE can also refer students who do not attend school regularly or who show signs of malnutrition to MSF so that a follow-up can be made to visit their families to identify those who are vulnerable and who may need further social or financial assistance; in other words, close collaboration between the Ministries and agencies would be very useful. Another enhancement is the use of MediSave. I applaud the review of our healthcare financing but I also hope that MOH can grant greater flexibility in the use of MediSave by Singaporeans – not just for hospitalisation or surgical procedures; in other words, recuperative or reactive healthcare expenses – but for preventive healthcare expenses as well. I spoke about this in the Budget debate earlier this year, and as I did then, I would once again implore the Ministry to consider that Singaporeans be allowed to use our MediSave funds for preventive healthcare expenses, such as healthcare screenings, physiotherapy sessions, especially for the elderly, and dental checks, and also for antenatal medical consultations, in both private clinics and restructured hospitals. Page: 123 One of my residents, Uncle Robert, whom I met during one of my block visits, is one such Singaporean who can benefit from such flexibility in the use of our Medisave funds. Uncle Robert lives with his wife, just the two of them, in a spartan but cosy five-room flat.”
“For instance, our ComCare assistance scheme can be streamlined and made easier to process and disburse to the beneficiaries. Some residents I met have lamented that from the time they apply for ComCare, they would have to wait for another two to three or even four weeks before they would be given the much-awaited cheque. While they are appreciative of the financial assistance they receive, they also get frustrated with the wait, to the extent that some of them will jump with annoyance at the mere mention of ComCare! As Page: 122 MSF introduces the first 10 Social Service Offices in the heartlands, I hope that the processing and wait time can be improved. I would also like to propose that ComCare assistance be given for a longer duration at any one time – six months instead of the current three months. For many residents whom I have met and who have sought ComCare assistance, three months of financial assistance, in the first instance, is barely enough for them to find a job, wait for the next pay cheque, and settle their arrears or debts, before having a decent amount left over for daily expenses, such as for food and transportation. Most of the time, they would have to reapply and this would incur an even longer period of wait time. To enhance the ComCare assistance given to lower income families, specifically those with school-going children, may I propose that MSF work closely with MOE to identify the children from these families and extend transport and school breakfast vouchers to the children.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to file this Adjournment Motion and speak on social assistance and affordability for Singaporeans. With increasing globalisation, Singapore, like many other developed countries, faces greater economic volatility, sluggish wage growth at the lower end, relatively less social mobility and a rising income gap between the haves and have-nots. While our median household incomes have risen and more have higher salaries, there still are vulnerable groups of Singaporeans who may need more than a leg up over a longer period of time before they can catch up with the rest. The Government needs to intervene in a timely and decisive manner to provide more support to lower income Singaporeans to help them improve their lives and carve more and better opportunities for themselves and their children. I must, however, acknowledge and state for the record that the Government has done quite a bit to help vulnerable Singaporeans, such as the elderly and low-income earners – through Government assistance schemes, such as the Community Health Assist Scheme, GST Vouchers, ComCare and Workfare Income Supplement, to name a few. The Minister for Social and Family Development shared with us in detail earlier today. Nonetheless, with the rising cost of living and inflation in the prices of food, housing and transportation, affordability remains a challenge for the low-income earners whose salaries have not quite increased in tandem with the increase in prices, and for the elderly whose current savings from years of toil and sweat have not quite amounted to much, in relation to today's prices of goods. Hence, there is still room for more to be done to help them.”
“If I could just repeat that. If the Ministry would provide an option for older Singaporeans at the age of 55 to decide to use the CPF funds to purchase an SA and have less in their Retirement Account, so that they have lower monthly CPF payouts after the age of 62. That can be an option.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister for the reply. I am glad to hear the assurance by Minister that flexibility may be accorded. I understand the need for the policy but there are also older Singaporeans who may not be able to rent directly from HDB or cannot afford to rent from the open market or live with their children. It seems that the SA is their only housing option. Would the Ministry consider providing an option to eligible older Singaporeans aged 55 and above, for example, those who are economically active who can support themselves, to be able to decide to use their CPF funds to purchase an SA and get a lower monthly CPF payout after the age of 62? There are some of these older Singaporeans who feel that they should take care of their housing needs first before worrying about the monthly payouts seven to eight years later.”
“A question for the Senior Minister of State. I agree with the point raised by the hon Member Ms Denise Phua that there are quite a number of private tutors who used to be teachers with MOE in the past. I am quite concerned about this. I wonder whether MOE will consider reviewing the provision given to teachers that they can give private tuition – existing current teachers who can give private tuition for up to about six hours per week; whether that can be reviewed where teachers can no longer do so. That could probably be a start to trying to curb this attraction towards the private tuition industry.”
“One area which the Committee recommended – and I think we should do this – is about how to reach out further to the vulnerable groups. I have tasked both MUIS and MENDAKI to study this, on how best we can leverage on existing structures within the community to reach out to the more vulnerable in our community so that they have access to all of our programmes. Here, the role of the MMOs are very important because, firstly, they have their own networks, their own resources on the ground. If we can again leverage on them and get them to do more in terms of reaching out to their clients and beyond their own existing client base, then there would be a good outcome. Secondly, I have also encouraged the various organisations to study further the recommendations, whether there is room for them to either expand their existing programmes or adopt new programmes. We have announced new funding that the Government has given to Malay/Muslim Community Development Fund (MMCDF) and, therefore, there are additional resources for us to do a lot more. We are planning to meet the various MMOs to explain to them the areas that we would like them to go into so that we can tap on this new funding. Page: 40”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister for the reply. While it is heartening to note that the community generally is coming together in trying to forge our way forward, I would like to ask the Minister whether existing programmes are sufficient to address these new areas of concern that you mentioned earlier and what are the specific roles that Malay/Muslim organisations (MMOs) can play in this. Finally, how can the information-gathering process that has been started through the Suara Musyawarah initiative be continued within the community because I think that it is a very good platform to gather even more diverse views and concerns from the community? Page: 39 Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I thank the Member for the two supplementary questions. For the second question, there was a recommendation by the Committee that we should continue with the conversation. Clearly, we cannot do as the way we have done, which means I have to set up another committee. But the idea of reaching out to groups that we would not have heard before is an important point. We are studying this to see how best we can continue with the conversation. One idea is to go back to the various groups that they have met to close the loop on some of the suggestions that they have made and how those suggestions have been implemented by the various organisations. But we are studying it. On the Member's first question as to whether or not there are sufficient programmes, the short answer is that there is never a sufficient number of programmes because we need to do a lot more. But clearly, in certain areas, we need to pay greater attention and I mentioned this during the recent Hari Raya speech.”
“So, the idea of dovetailing and streamlining is an important part of the work that has been done in Singapore and we would like all MMOs to consider that as a protocol. To the best of my knowledge, many MMOs would first tap on national resources before they deploy their own resources to assist low-income Malay/Muslim families.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply. It is clear that low-income families will benefit from the Government assistance and programmes such as access to affordable childcare or student care, for example. However, may I know how our other community organisations and Malay/Muslim organisations (MMOs) are streamlining their assistance schemes to complement and enhance Government's support for low-income families? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Madam, families who are in need, first of all, should not hesitate or be embarrassed to seek help from a wide range of assistance schemes at the national and community levels. We want to avoid duplication and enable low-income families to achieve self reliance in a holistic manner beyond just mere monetary help. So, the Member is right that we want MMOs to better dovetail their assistance schemes with national schemes. The general approach that we would like to take is to first explore the client's eligibility for national schemes and then with community and local schemes coming in to supplement or complement the client's needs. I cannot speak for other MMOs but, for both MUIS and MENDAKI, that is the protocol that we adopt. So, for example, we first refer zakat recipients to national schemes conducted by the CDCs and also by WDA. In the case of MENDAKI, all the programmes that we do on the ground, we work closely with Family Service Centres which are national institutions to ensure that we tap on the programmes which are available by various Government agencies with MOE and MSF. At the national level, we understand that MSF would continue to work as an active and caring partner in helping the needy but working in partnership with families and the community to strengthen our social safety net.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. I understand that Primary 1 registration has been delinked from population policies in the past. In the light of our current population challenges, would the Ministry consider relooking the Primary 1 registration priority phase, especially for families with two or more young children, in particular, for those who would like to enrol their children in the nearest Primary school, and where this Primary school is popular and usually over-subscribed? It is really a matter of convenience and accessibility for these families.”
“While money can provide for most physical needs, time is required to nurture human relationships and inculcate values. Hence, I hope that the Ministry will take a look at the additional measures that I have mooted earlier. Overall, I support the amendments to this Bill.”
“Essentially, this longer runway of 18 months is necessary to allow the child to have a smoother transition from the care of the biological mother to the adoptive mother and, above all, to ensure the well-being of the child. So, it is not merely an item to be passed on from one person to another. Third, clause 11 which amends section 12B where two days of childcare leave are given to working parents with at least a child between the ages of seven and 12 years old, inclusive, is a right move. However, for a working parent who has more than one child – and whose children can be either below seven years old, or between seven and 12 years old, or both – the maximum number of childcare leave they are eligible for, is still six days. Page: 111 I would like to propose instead for such parents to have the maximum six days of paid childcare leave – three days paid by the employer and three days paid by the Government – and an additional two days paid by the Government. Hence, working parents with more than one child below the age of 13 years old ought to have up to eight days of paid childcare leave. As I have said earlier, it certainly requires more time to take care of more children. In conclusion, the Government has done much to help Singaporeans plan for a family and have children, such as giving priority for housing and providing child development co-savings and education financial support for the children, among others. We must not fail to acknowledge all these. Notwithstanding, there are still areas in which the Government can continue to improve on and provide for Singaporean couples to help them have and raise children. The decision to have children is simply not based on the financial ability to raise them, but also on one's ability to spend quality time with them.”
“Page: 110 Three, the extended four weeks of half-pay or full-pay maternity leave can be made optional but it certainly can provide the mothers who have just given birth to their third or subsequent child the option to spend more time at home with her children and make it easier to nurse the newborn child with exclusively mother's milk for at least the first six months, as recommended by health professionals as well as the World Health Organization. As a mother who has done this, I know the difference it makes. Next, clause 10 to include the new sections 12AA to 12AD is a welcome move. However, it is indicated therein that "adoption leave must be consumed within a period of 12 months commencing on the date of birth of the child." The hon Member Mr Dhinakaran has talked about this earlier, but I would like to add on just a little bit more. While the four weeks of adoption leave are rather generous, I would like to propose that the duration in which these four weeks can be taken be extended to 18 months from the birth of the child – up from the current 12 weeks given. On the part of the biological mother, more time ought to be given to the biological mother to spend time with the newborn child to fulfil the maternal instincts developed throughout pregnancy and for the biological mother to sufficiently nurse the child with mother's milk. On the part of the adoptive mother, a longer period before the adoption process is completed and approved is also important to give more time for the adoptive mother to ease into the role as the mother and main caregiver to the child.”
“While I understand that a longer total maternity leave period may compromise the initial or overall employment opportunity for the working mother, I feel that the extended maternity leave period beyond the current 16 weeks can be provided as an option for working mothers. There are several compelling reasons to do this. One, the amount of paid maternity leave by the Government should increase with later confinements to indicate greater support for working mothers who have more children. In addition, the amount of time that a working mother needs to take care of a newborn and an older child or children is definitely more. Imagine nursing yourself back to health after giving birth, and taking care of a newborn baby and two older children who may be below the age of seven each – all at the same time. As a working mother of three children myself, I know how challenging that can be. Once one child falls ill, the others are quite likely to fall ill as well. It can be quite stressful. Two, in light of the current employment crunch and to further protect the continued employment of working mothers, the Government can show greater support in this by bearing a larger proportion of the cost of employing working mothers compared to employers. In addition, it might just be easier and probably neater to employ a relief employee over a six-month period on a contract basis compared to over a four-month period to cover the employee who is on maternity leave.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill, in particular, in the areas of greater employment protection for our working mothers, shared parental leave, provision of paternity leave and extended childcare leave. These are commendable changes that are necessary for our working parents – not so much to simply improve our current Total Fertility Rate, but more to provide the much needed support for our Singaporean parents to spend more quality time with their children and family and to have better work-life harmony. While the amendments are lauded, there are some areas which I hope the Ministry can consider, study a little bit more and, hopefully, implement in the Page: 109 near future. First, clause 4 of the amendment indicates the addition of section 9 subsection 5A. While the addition is welcomed, I would like to propose a further amendment. Instead of simply providing 56 days of paid maternity leave for all working mothers for their first and second confinements, and 112 days of paid maternity leave for their third and subsequent confinements, I would like to propose a more staggered paid maternity leave provision by the Government. For the first confinement, it is the same – 56 days of paid maternity leave. For the second confinement, I would like to propose 84 days of paid maternity leave. For the third confinement, I would like to propose 112 days of paid maternity leave and an additional four weeks of half-pay maternity leave. For the fourth and subsequent confinements, I would like to propose 140 days of paid maternity leave and an additional four weeks of half-pay maternity leave.”
“I would like to ask the Minister if MUIS has plans to extend this part-time programme to adults.”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Joint Madrasah System was implemented in 2008. The Aljunied Madrasah, Irsyad Madrasah and Al-Arabiah Madrasah are three of our full-time madrasahs that participated in this system. How did our madrasah students perform under this system, especially in the national and international examinations? What are the opportunities for further studies and job opportunities for madrasah students? Recently, the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs announced the enhancements to the JMS system. Among others, there is the addition of the International Baccalaureate Diploma (or IBDP). I think that this is a positive step that provides more educational and job opportunities in the future for our madrasah students. It will also put them on par with other students from mainstream schools, at the global level. Can the Minister share further details about the implementation of IBDP, as well as the details about other plans, to ensure the success of the JMS system that continues to bring benefits to our full time madrasah students? Part-time Religious Education for Adults Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Nee Soon): (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, part-time religious education plays an important role to inculcate life values and religious values among the Muslim community in Singapore. The aLIVE programme managed by MUIS receives positive feedback in terms of the effectiveness and relevance of the programme in the daily lives of our children. I have personally attended several graduation ceremonies and annual concerts, and I have found that the students benefited from the experience and knowledge from the aLIVE programme. Presently, the aLIVE programme is run specifically for children and teenagers.”
“Madam, we recognise that the number of women in the workforce has shown gains over the past decade. Currently, about three-quarters of women of child-bearing age are working. However, like other Members in this House, such as the hon Members Ms Irene Ng and Ms Foo Mee Har, I believe that if the Ministry were to institute or even legislate specific measures, even more women will join and stay in the workforce. First, there are women who choose to stay home to take care of their children and family. However, they do some freelance work for extra income. Currently, there is little Government support for freelance work or work from home. I would like to urge the Ministry to help set up some form of support or union group for freelance workers, to help them be recognised for the work they do, especially for stay-at-home-mothers, so that they can benefit from schemes, such as CFAC or KiFAS, for instance. Second, there are women who stop working as they feel that their employers are not supportive of them dividing their time between work and family. I would like to urge the Ministry to help employers institute a pro-family work environment and legislating flexi-work arrangements, especially for working mothers. For instance, women can do part of their work away from the office or can report to work at earlier or later times and consequently leave the office earlier or later. Finally, may I implore the Ministry to legislate that at least one nursing room be provided at every office building? Employers who are able to provide measures such as these ought to be recognised and commended. Recognise and Promote Fair Employment”
“Madam, again on the point of adoption, as was raised earlier by Mr de Souza. The Minister has mentioned that it is not an easy option to provide for expectant mothers. I have heard and read about the ease of abortion in our country. I hope that the Ministry or the Minister can look into Page: 69 this and see how adoption can be put up as an option because I think the counselling given during abortion counselling is very minimal.”
“Madam, the substantially high number of abortions in Singapore each year is a cause for concern. With our declining total fertility rate (TFR), I feel that it is a shame where about 12,000 foetuses are aborted annually, half of them was from married women. Can we do more to reduce these numbers? Can we make it easier for such women to carry their pregnancy to full term and give their baby up for adoption so that couples who really want a baby but have difficulties doing so can have one from someone who is not able to bring up the baby and is willing to give the baby up? Even if we are able to "save" only 10% of these abortion cases, that may mean 1,200 more babies in our midst. I met a resident who lamented that the adoption process is a rather cumbersome and long-drawn one. She had to wait for about a year before she was able to adopt her daughter from a couple who could not bring her up. Can the Ministry study this and find ways to make the adoption process easier and shorter, but without compromising the legal and safety issues? While we may worry about the unintended consequence where it may encourage more women to give up their newborn babies readily without extensive thought, I feel strongly against the innocent little lives that are lost just like that. I believe that for most of these women who decided not to continue with the pregnancy, adoption may not be an option that they were aware of or may have thought about. I hope the Ministry can take a lead in offering adoption as an alternative to abortion at the clinics and hospitals. Promote Adoption of Babies and Children”
“Madam, I have three clarifications. First, Minister has sketched the major directions and possible challenges for our educational system in the coming years. But we know that this cannot be addressed by the Ministry, schools and school leaders alone. Parents and teachers are equally important stakeholders. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi Daipi has addressed the point about parents, but may I ask the Minister what more can be done to ensure that our teachers remain positive and committed to the rethink that Minister has sketched out earlier? And the next two clarifications to Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi Daipi, with regard to the new school-based after-school care centres, who will be the personnel to attend to our students, after school hours? Some teachers are quite concerned that their job scope might just be expanded. And the third Page: 166 clarification, in Malay please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] What are the status and updates of the Malay Etiquette Camp that was introduced in 2011? Has it been implemented widely?”