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.] The recent announcement during the 2013 Budget to set up the Early Childhood Development Agency is a welcome move. This is a signal that the Government will be giving more attention to early childhood education. I support the focus on the sector and, at the same time, I call on MOE to study how a framework or guidelines on Malay Language education at preschool can be drafted and implemented. This is important to ensure that the learning and appreciation of Malay Language and culture are done at a young age in the classroom and also through interaction and play. Page: 143 There is much to be gained through the learning of the Malay Language, not just speech and writing abilities, but also the values and traditions of the Malay community. For instance, learning Malay proverbs teaching why we should be humble even as we succeed, speaking the truth no matter how tough it is, and undergoing hardship in order to enjoy success later. This will help children learn about values, humility, honesty and working hard. In addition, reading Malay folktales, such as Malin Kundang and Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup, can also teach children about the importance of respecting and loving our parents and, at the same time, remind parents about their parental responsibilities. Schools need capable teachers to perform this job. What are the Ministry's efforts to train Malay teachers who can teach their students to use the Malay Language well and teach them about Malay values and culture? I hope the Ministry can consider my questions and suggestions. Malay Language Teachers”
“Page: 91 While streaming has been useful in the past in helping teachers carry out differentiated teaching with a more targeted and efficient use of resources, we must also recognise as students develop at different rates – and if we continue to pigeon-hole them in specific academic streams – we risk fulfilling the Pygmalion effect negatively, in particular, for slower progress students. I would urge the Ministry to consider this, as I see it as a first step to greater inclusivity in our schools. Primary 1 Admission”
“Madam, I applaud the recent changes by the Ministry such as abolishing the ranking bands of schools and revising the Master Plan of Awards, among other initiatives. These are clear signals that our education system places less emphasis on awards and more on the process of learning in schools, in the spirit of celebrating the diversity of talents of our students and in ensuring multiple pathways of excellence. While these measures are very much welcomed, I would like to advocate that streaming at the secondary school level be abolished altogether. I have raised this before and I would like to urge the Ministry to institute a similar system as what we have at the primary school level – where students take subjects either at the Standard or Foundation level. Hence, for secondary schools, let all students take subjects either at the academic level, for example, which leads to the GCE "O" Level, or at the vocational level, which leads to the GCE "N" Level. Without being confined to only the subjects offered within a specific academic stream. A student may then have a secondary school leaving certificate of both "O" Level and "N" Level subjects taken. This allows greater flexibility for secondary school students to take subjects at the level they are comfortable at and can flourish in. Our students can continue to be taught in different bands for different subjects, based on their ability but we will be able to institute a more effective form of differentiated learning in our classrooms. This may alleviate some of the stress that students and parents face at the PSLE because of the misplaced fear of not wanting to be in certain academic streams at the secondary school level.”
“Madam, I declare my interest as an academic in NIE. Among the recent Budget announcements is the move for more help to be extended to students from less privileged backgrounds in terms of more learning support, after school care, and online resources. Along these lines, I would like to once again ask the Ministry to have teachers who teach slow progress, or currently Normal (Technical) students in secondary schools, to be specially trained in motivational and counselling skills. Having taught Normal (Technical) students in a secondary school for a couple of years, I must say that when I first stepped into the classroom, I felt somewhat inadequate in teaching them. Although my pre-service teacher training focused on the relevant pedagogy, educational psychology and classroom management skills, I was still unsure how I could motivate them and help them to learn. In the end, I put the subject syllabus aside and just spent a good couple of months getting to know them first. To this day, I believe that if I had been specially trained to teach Normal (Technical) students, I could have been more effective as a teacher to them then. So, once again, just as the Gifted Education Program (GEP) teachers are specially trained to teach fast progress students, I would like to urge the Ministry to make the provision for teachers who teach Normal (Technical) and Page: 87 other slow progress students to be specially trained as well, on top of the usual pre-service teacher training. This could be in the form of in-service teacher training before teachers are deployed to teach Normal (Technical) classes. Every School A Good School”
“Madam, just last year alone, we saw two fatal accidents outside a primary school in Sembawang, where both the victims were less than 10 years old. Similarly, two teenage girls were knocked down outside their secondary school in Woodlands. I have driven along the Sembawang road where the fatal accidents happened. I must say because of the bend of the road, and the fencing on the central divider, visibility of pedestrians to the drivers is greatly reduced. I would like to propose that fences be constructed on both sides of the road rather than on the central divider. But, may I know what is the Ministry's plan to enhance road safety around schools? Enforcement of Traffic Rules”
“Most Singaporeans today keep themselves informed through various channels – online, print media, broadcast media, social media – just to name a few. MINDEF has sought to keep up with this trend and has started to use different media platforms to engage Singaporeans and keep them informed on defence issues, just like what we received in our collateral package earlier. Can the Ministry provide an update on its efforts in this area?”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. Young Singaporeans today are more technologically savvy and are very comfortable in getting information on the go, using smart mobile devices, and communicating through email or tweets. Can MINDEF provide an update on how it is enhancing its learning and training efforts to stay relevant with the learning and info-communication proclivities of a younger generation of NSmen, to ensure that there is little or no disconnect between what they need to learn and know, and how this is conveyed to them? In addition, our younger generation of NSmen is getting more well-educated and is likely to have higher aspirations. They are also likely to want to contribute in more meaningful ways to the SAF and share their ideas on how things are carried out. Can MINDEF highlight how it allows our NSmen to take on more responsibilities, share their ideas and views, and play a greater role in Page: 174 the SAF? Total Defence Total defence has been around for about three decades. Although students in schools continue to learn about total defence and observe Total Defence Day, there are still Singaporeans who remain indifferent about it. Some even question the relevance of total defence today, in our current state of relative peace and stability. However, we know that the defence of Singapore depends on the will of Singaporeans to support the need for a strong SAF and, more importantly, to take personal responsibility in getting involved in the defence of our nation. 7.00 pm How does the Ministry ensure that Singaporeans continue to understand and appreciate the importance of Total Defence? And how does the Ministry continue to ensure that Singaporeans remain committed to our defence?”
“Madam, libraries have traditionally played a central role in being the repository of information and a centre for reading and learning for the general public. There is much that libraries can offer in terms of developing an individual's information literacy and life-long learning skills for the 21st century, especially for those who may have limited access to print materials or online information. Having done research on libraries and information literacy, I cannot sufficiently underscore the importance of public libraries, especially for our children and school students. For it is only through reading first that we are thereafter able to write and generate new ideas for scholarship. Our public libraries have evolved over the years and I can see more people visiting the libraries. Can the Ministry provide an update of how our public libraries have kept relevant in seeing to the needs of our society in navigating an increasingly knowledge-based environment and economy?”
“Sir, the number of drug abusers arrested in 2012 is about 3,481, which is a 5% increase from 2011. Out of these, 31% are new drug abusers – about 1,070 individuals. And out of those 1,070 individuals, two-thirds are aged 29 years old and below. Hence, in 2012, about Page: 140 720 youth were arrested. In other words, about one in every five drug abusers arrested last year is a youth below 30 years old. Although the number of youths below 20 years old arrested in 2012 has dropped by about 30%, the number involving youth is still quite substantial. The youths drug situation in the region is also worrying. For instance, the Indonesian National Narcotics Agency survey done at the end of 2011 showed that there are between 3.8 million and 4.2 million illicit drug users in the country, most of them are young professionals. Hence, with greater cross-border mobility of our youth in the region, there is cause for concern with regard to drug use among our youth. Can the Ministry provide updates on the current drug situation in Singapore, for example, are we seeing new drug trends among our youth drug abusers? What are the Ministry's plans on dealing with new drug abusers, particularly the youths? For those who have been arrested for drug abuse, what are the rehabilitation programmes that they go through and are there plans to enhance these programmes? Tackling Recidivism”
“Mdm Chairperson, there are Singaporeans who choose to give up their full-time jobs to take care of others – whether elderly parents or family members, or their young grandchildren. These are our elderly and grandparent care-givers. They usually get no income, except maybe some pocket money allowance from the other working adults in the family or their children who are working. However, we must recognise the important role they play in taking care of the family and in keeping the family together. Is there a way for our elderly and grandparent care-givers to receive some direct benefits or incentives, such as free public transport passes, annual passes to places of interest or even shopping or discount vouchers at shopping malls? At the moment, for grandparent care-givers, only their children who are working will get Grandparent Care-giver income tax relief. But, again, this is not a direct benefit to the grandparent care-givers themselves. With the Government taking a lead in emphasising the significant role they play, I am sure we would also be able to bring in some corporate sponsors to support this and show greater appreciation to our elderly and grandparent caregivers. Enhanced Baby Bonus”
“I have asked this in Parliament before and I hope that our senior citizens can partake in preventive healthcare and pay for it out of their own MediSave accounts – funds that they have accumulated through years of work and being economically active – so that they can feel a greater sense of dignity and independence because they can pay for their own medical expenses. In addition, I would like for our expectant mothers to have greater flexibility to pay for their pre-natal checks at the hospital or private clinics, from their MediSave accounts. At the moment, under the MediSave Maternity Package, Page: 60 up to $450 can be withdrawn from an individual's MediSave account for pre-delivery medical expenses such as consultations, ultrasound scans, or 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. I would like to propose that greater flexibility be given to our expectant mothers to pay for their pre-delivery medical expenses whether at polyclinics, private GP clinics, or hospitals which may be different from the one they would eventually deliver their baby in. In the spirit of encouraging and helping Singaporeans have more children, I hope MOH would seriously consider this. In conclusion, Mdm Speaker, I must say that this year's Budget stands out clearly in two areas. One, it is evident that there is greater equitability in terms of wealth redistribution, and in helping the lower and middle income Singaporeans. Two, it is also clear that more Government intervention and assistance is being made available to help Singaporeans mitigate the cost of living and be gainfully employed. With that, Mdm Speaker, I am happy to support this year's Budget.”
“The announcement to review our healthcare financing is definitely welcome. In particular, I would like to urge MOH to allow greater flexibility in the use of MediSave by Singaporeans. At the moment, our MediSave funds are used mainly to pay for hospitalisation or for surgical procedures. This is very much recuperative or reactive healthcare expenses. I would like to propose that our MediSave funds be used for preventive healthcare expenses as well. If we can go for regular health checks so that we constantly monitor our health, there may be little need for costly surgeries or hospitalisation later. Hence, there may be substantial cost savings for medical expenses in the long run. For example, our senior citizens can utilise their MediSave for health check-ups, or for getting their monthly medication for chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension, at the polyclinics or restructured hospitals. A resident I met recently on one of my block visits, Uncle Robert, lamented that he hopes to be able to utilise his MediSave funds for his medical health checks. He shared that although he was asked by his doctor to go for further checks at the hospital, he says that he has been postponing it as he was certain one check would lead to another and the final bill would be quite substantial for him for out-of-pocket cash payment. As a retiree, he said that he did not want to burden his children by asking them for money for his medical checks. But he added that he has several thousand dollars in his MediSave account – if only he could use it for his medical expenses. I empathise with our senior citizens like Uncle Robert.”
“But there are families who need a FDW because they have young children, elderly parents or disabled family members who need special care and attention. And they may not necessarily be middle, upper-middle or high-income earners. The $120 FDW levy, in addition to the FDW salary of about $450, can be quite a strain on the family's monthly expenses. Hence, may I propose that such families be eligible for subsidies of the FDW salary and a further concession of the levy, subject to a review of the family's per capita income and specific needs for a FDW? Second, the reduced car loan quantum of up to a maximum of 60% was a rather drastic and unanticipated move. This makes it difficult for some middle income families to buy a car, especially when they need one, such as families with young children, elderly parents or disabled family members. One such family is that of Mr Kang, a resident in Jalan Kayu. Mr Kang is a cancer patient and is wheelchair-bound. He needs to drive a car to get himself to work and to ferry his two young children to childcare and school. When I saw him a few weeks ago, he sought my assistance to help him appeal for a waiver of the Page: 59 Additional Registration Fee (ARF) and Certificate of Entitlement (COE) because of this physical condition, as he hopes to buy a car. However, I worry for him, especially in light of the lower car loan quantum introduced recently. I hope that some concessions can be made for families such as Mr Kang's to be able to afford to purchase a car that may be a necessity to help them be more mobile. I am sure that putting down a rather substantial cash downpayment for a car may not be easy for individuals such as Mr Kang, who would need the cash for medical treatments − which brings me to my next point on healthcare financing.”
“This is important in ensuring that good quality yet affordable preschool education can continue to be provided to Singaporeans who may not be able to afford the high fees charged by some private preschool education providers who may try to convince parents that the more they pay for fees, the Page: 58 better quality education their children will get. The expansion to the AOP will help to ensure that good quality preschool education can still be provided for our children at affordable fees, much like what NTUC MyFirstSkool and the PAP Community Foundation have been able to do for many years. I still remember my PAP kindergarten days, as it was known back then, where the PAP kindergarten was about the only affordable preschool education provider, at a time when almost no one else was interested in providing preschool education. Hence, the $3 billion allocated for the preschool sector in this year's Budget will go a long way in helping Singaporeans have continued access to quality and affordable preschool education for our children. When I asked some people what was the one thing about the Budget that they could recall – two things seem to stand out. One was the reduced Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) levy, and the other was the lower car loan quantum of either 50% or 60%. Hence, while there are many incentives and measures of the Budget that are attractive and will benefit many Singaporeans, there are some areas which I hope the Government can take another look at and review in the near future. First, the reduced FDW levy is a welcome move by many, especially families with working parents. Many are happy that they would need to pay less levy each month for their FDW.”
“For instance, the higher budget allocated means that our children who face difficulties in reading or Mathematics, will receive more attention and assistance from better qualified teachers. At the same time, this will also open up opportunities for our community in many areas. Firstly, these steps can bridge educational and achievement gaps for our children who come from less well-off families, by giving special attention to them from early on, to develop their minds and their learning abilities. Secondly, these steps also provide employment opportunities in the preschool sector. For example, our mothers who are not working can take the opportunity to upgrade their skills through development training in preschool education, and subsequently obtain job opportunities as preschool teachers, assistant teachers, or caregivers in this sector, whether as full time or part time employment. The training and employment opportunities will not only provide our mothers with a source of income, but it also acts as a platform for our mothers to improve their personal skills, and gain employment experience for the future. In addition, our mothers can nurture and educate their own children even better, as mothers who are more skilled in early childhood education. More can be done by mothers in educating their children at a younger age. As the Malay saying goes "if you want to bend a bamboo, do it when it's a bamboo shoot". I would like to urge our mothers, especially those who are not working, to seize the opportunities that are available in the preschool education sector. (In English): The move to bring in more anchor operators in the Anchor Operator (AOP) scheme that will provide for 16,000 additional places by 2017 is a welcome move.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to join in the debate on the Budget. When Deputy Prime Minister Tharman announced the slew of Budget initiatives and incentives, I was heartened that the various measures that have been introduced are clearly for the benefit of the majority of Singaporeans − from the enhanced permanent GST vouchers, to incentives for companies to employ Singaporeans, to the revised and more equitable progressive vehicle and property tax structure. It is evident that the Government has listened and heard the concerns of Singaporeans and is taking bold and decisive moves to address the needs of Singaporeans. For my speech today, I would like to address three broad areas: the preschool sector; families and healthcare financing. Before I proceed any further, Mdm Speaker, please allow me to continue in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] This year's Budget can be described as generous and plentiful in terms of the assistance rendered to Singaporeans, especially the lower and middle income groups, and the elderly. Page: 57 I am touched and encouraged, especially with the announcement that $3 billion will be set aside to revamp and strengthen preschool education. Among the steps that will be taken with the increased budget allocation for this sector are, building more child care centres in residential areas and near work places, scholarships for preschool teachers to attain at least a diploma in preschool education, as well as career development and a more structured training for teachers. All these will surely ensure a better quality preschool education for our children.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for the reply. Even though I understand that there are limitations, I hope that there are also ways to help certain families who really need that first car but for whom the prices of current COEs may be out of their reach. At the same time, would the Ministry consider looking at how the car loan structure can be changed where possibly the first car can be obtained at 100% loan and the second car at 80% or 90% loan, and so on? Page: 9”
“(In English): Mdm Speaker, I wish to reiterate that I hope the Government will implement measures to help Singaporeans start their families and manage the costs involved in doing so and help older Singaporeans be gainfully employed even in their golden years, before we resort to bringing in more foreigners or new Singaporeans or PRs. I am confident that when the Government continues to make strides in demonstrating this, Singaporeans will be assured that the Government truly has the interest of Singaporeans and our shared future above everything else which I believe is really the case. And unlike the hon Member Mr Faisal Manap, I think the measures are anything but half-hearted. I hope that the Government will take into consideration these Page: 119 recommendations to the White Paper. 7.03 pm”
“He wanted to remain as an Indonesian citizen because that is where he came from, that is where his family resides and because he sees a brighter future for himself in Indonesia as compared to Singapore. On behalf of our Malay/Muslim community, I feel this is an issue that needs closer attention from the Government. How can we attract Malay university graduates or Malay professionals from Indonesia and Malaysia to become Singapore permanent residents or citizens, especially when the Singapore population needs to be augmented? Many Malay/Muslim Singaporeans are concerned that the number of the Malay/Muslim citizens or population will decrease further, at a time when the overall population in Singapore needs to increase. A common feeling amongst many members of the Malay/Muslim community is that a decrease in our population will affect racial stability and inter-racial relations in Singapore. How Malays see their place in Singapore will also be affected if they become the smallest group of minorities here. This issue requires a suitable solution and I am touched by the Prime Minister's promise that the Government will ensure that the proportion of Malays in the overall population of Singapore will be monitored and will be maintained. To address this perception, what the Government can do next is to share information and data about the number of new citizens and permanent residents of Malay origin from this region, or who are Muslims, as well as initiatives taken by the Government to attract more citizens, permanent residents or new immigrants that can increase the number of our Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. With that, I would like to end my speech in English.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Thank you, Mdm Speaker. The White Paper on Population, which was recently introduced by the Government, has presented a number of challenges that we have to face together in the next 15 to 20 years. Among the concerns of the Malay/Muslim community is the ability to cope with the cost of living and the proportion of Malay/Muslims in Singapore as compared to the other races or communities. I admit the Government has laid out a number of initiatives and assistance programmes to help Singaporeans cope with the cost of living, especially for those with low income and who have relatively large families. The assistance programmes, such as ComCare, CHAS, CFAC, KiFAS and so on, have been implemented. These schemes are comprehensive but there may be many more of us who are not aware of these assistance schemes. So, I would like to urge the Government to collate all the information on these schemes, and to see how an individual or a family that needs help from one scheme can be automatically considered to receive assistance from the other relevant schemes. This will require close cooperation between the Government bodies and departments. Here, I would also like to take the opportunity to touch on the perceptions that the Government has ignored our Malay/Muslim community in terms of not making enough effort to look for new citizens or permanent residents of Malay origin from Malaysia or Indonesia, or Muslims from outside the Southeast Asia region. Personally, I know a Javanese Indonesian student who graduated from our local university and who was offered to be a Singapore Permanent Resident. He Page: 118 accepted the offer but told me that he will not accept the offer of Singapore citizenship, if it was offered later.”
“I am sure the benefits that our young ones can reap from interacting with older Singaporeans extend beyond just having someone take care of them – they will certainly learn valuable life lessons and core values from our senior Singaporeans, and this point has been brought up before by other hon Members of this House. Page: 117”
“The approval process for adoption can take quite long, ranging from a few months to even more than a year. Some may find the wait frustrating and the time that has lapsed could have been better spent establishing a strong parent-child bond. I strongly urge the Government to look into how the adoption process can be made easier so that Singaporeans can nurture the adopted child to grow up with the right values and contribute back to our Singapore society when they are older. Hence, contributing to our Singaporean core. At this point, I would like to address what the hon Member Mr Faisal Manap brought up earlier regarding housing and how it co-relates to having children. I think housing or not, having children is a serious choice made by a couple. There are many factors that the couple would have to consider. Housing may be just one of them, but I am happy to share that when I had my first child, I was without a flat of my own and I was staying with my parents. So, housing or not, there are a lot more factors to consider. Finally, in helping our older Singaporeans stay gainfully employed even in their golden years, I would like to urge the Government to pave the way in helping our seniors in their jobs. Just as expectant mothers are now being given greater employment protection during and immediately after their pregnancy, I hope that our older Singaporeans can also enjoy better employment protection as well as the protection of employment benefits and wages. The Government can also pave the way for our seniors to embark on a second career in their golden years, such as becoming allied educators in our schools, or becoming caregivers in student care centres.”
“First, while parents or households with children below 12 years old can benefit from a reduced Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) levy of $170 per month, a further concession to the FDW levy, or better still, a waiver of the levy altogether, will be useful, especially for households where both husband and wife are working. While some may advocate not having FDWs in raising our children, the reality is that households where both husband and wife are working need the help of FDWs to manage their household chores so that they can spend quality time with their children when they are home. The further concession to FDW levy will help them to better manage their household expenses and may even encourage more stay-at-home mothers to go back to work, hence contributing to our economy. Second, I would also like to request that the Government allow expectant couples, that is, either the husband or the wife, to use their Medisave to pay for their pre-natal medical and health checks at restructured hospitals or polyclinics. As a mother myself, I know that the cost of pre-natal medical and health checks can be quite substantial, even in restructured hospitals. The flexibility to use one's Medisave during the pregnancy period will be useful for expectant couples to mitigate the cost of having children. Page: 116 While the Government has introduced measures to help childless Singaporean couples have their own children through assistive technology and the necessary co-funding, I would also like to urge the Government to consider looking into the process of adoption for these couples. There is quite a number of childless Singaporean couples who are seeking to adopt babies or toddlers so that they can start their own families.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for letting me be part of this debate. The Population White Paper released by the Government last week has provided Singaporeans a glimpse into what to expect in the near future and some challenges that we may have to face and Page: 115 need to address with regard to our population. Most of us are aware that with a low total fertility rate and an increasing population of senior citizens, our economic growth may be difficult to sustain. However, I hope the Government will help Singaporeans achieve a few things first before even considering bringing in more foreigners to boost our population and sustain our economic growth. These are: first, helping our Singaporean parents and young couples start and take care of their family through additional measures to mitigate the cost of living; second, helping our childless Singaporean couples have children; and third, helping our older Singaporeans stay gainfully employed even in their golden years. For a start, I must commend the Government for introducing the Marriage and Parenthood Package recently. The comprehensive package that introduced new measures ranging from additional financial support to co-savings to leave entitlement is useful in making it easier for Singaporeans to have children or have more children. As a working mother myself, I must say that the new measures are indeed generous. However, I would like to urge the Government to consider a few additional recommendations to complement the slew of measures that have been introduced.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister for the reply. The move to stop publishing the top PSLE scores and scorers is a good one. At the same time, will the Ministry stop publishing the range of aggregate scores that the Secondary 1 cohort students obtain, as they gain admission into each Secondary school, as is currently available on the School Information Services website?”
“While problem gambling may stem from one person, its impact extends to beyond the individual. Hence, in reversal, the social or family support that can be extended in the road to recovery can certainly help expedite the process for the individual to get back on track in life. Page: 1403 In the spirit of strengthening safeguards against social ills that are a result of problem gambling, I support the amendments. 4.55 pm”
“Here, may I also suggest that the Ministry work closely with VWOs or GROs to possibly exclude from casinos, individuals who may be receiving financial or social assistance from these organisations as well, the VWOs or the GROs, and not just from the Government or Statutory Boards. Sir, the Ministry might also want to consider to exclude those who may have records of having borrowed from loan sharks, unless they are able to prove that they are no longer in debt with such illegal moneylenders; or those who have been having payment arrears for housing mortgage or rentals, or utility bills. I have met residents who face financial problems and are in payment arrears even though they are working and earning rather substantial monthly salaries. Upon chance meetings with their family members, neighbours or grassroots leaders who know them well, I found out that these residents are either compulsive or fervently hopeful gamblers who feel that their life can turn around only if they can strike it rich through gambling. The situation is even worse if they have borrowed from loan sharks to finance their gambling habits, as the victims of loanshark harassments extend to beyond just the borrowers or their immediate family members. In conclusion, Sir, while those who have been placed on exclusion orders or visit limits can apply for their names to be removed from the list, I am glad to see that it is required for them to first participate in counselling, rehabilitation or special education programmes, or undergo clinical assessments. However, may I suggest to the Ministry that their family members, relatives, trusted friends or social workers familiar with their case be included in these programmes as well to their support.”
“However, the family members do not wish to apply for the family exclusion order either because of the hassle in doing so or possible embarrassment to the family. Hence, it is good if a Visit Limit or Exclusion Order can be imposed on the gambler by concerned and significant others. The insertion of section 165B subsection (2) states that the visit limit shall specify the maximum number of visits in aggregate that the person may make to any casino in each month. May I find out from the Ministry how has this been or will be checked or documented, and how does this apply to overseas casinos or those on cruise ships that commence gambling sessions on international waters? In addition, how does this apply to online casinos? Is there a way to place a check on these casinos that can one can gain entry to anytime, anyplace? Page: 1402 I am glad to see the amendments to be made to section 165A to exclude from casinos not just those who are on any social assistance programmes, but also those who are on any subsidy schemes funded by the Government or any statutory board. I once met a resident who had just applied for ComCare. He was about 60 years old, unemployed and taking care of his aged mother who was about 80 years old and also unemployed – just the two of them. I felt that he was eligible for the Public Assistance Scheme and suggested to him that I will help him apply for that. But he was quick to decline it. I was surprised and asked him why. He replied that if he was on Public Assistance, he could not gain entry to the casinos here and he would rather try his luck there than depend on handouts. I was not sure whether to be amused or annoyed by his remark.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Ministry for its efforts to update the Casino Control Act. While the proposed amendments seek to strengthen the Act and ensure that casino gambling in our society can be even better managed, I do have several concerns, particularly from the social perspective that I hope the Ministry will be able to address. First, the amendment to section 155 to include visit limits is a welcome move, especially for families of problem gamblers or those who may harbour the fervent hope that Lady Luck will be on their side soon, very soon. However, how will the limit be determined? Will it be decided based on the individual's prior gambling habits? Or will it be decided based on the amount of debt that the individual has incurred? Can the limit be decided based on the possibility that the individual may end up with problem gambling, as anticipated by concerned family members, relatives or close friends? In addition, Sir, I had wanted to ask if the application for a Visit Limit can be made on behalf of a family member or individual by a concerned or authoritative member of the community such as from a voluntary welfare organisation (VWO) or a grassroots organisation (GRO) who is well aware of the problems faced by the family or individual because of the individual's gambling habits or propensity towards gambling. I am glad to hear from the Second Minister for Home Affairs earlier that grassroots leaders can do so. Sir, I have met residents whose families have been torn apart or forced to live through dire circumstances because of one family member's problem gambling habits. Some of these problem gamblers have gone to the extent of borrowing the pocket money of their school-going children just to finance their gambling habits.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. I have two supplementary questions. May I know what is the outcome from the deliberation of the Committee on University Education Pathways, particularly on the issues of affordability and financing of University education at the autonomous or private institutions? My second question is: would the Ministry consider allowing individuals to use their CPF monies for undergraduate degree programmes at our local Universities, whether publicly-funded or private ones?”
“In addition, at the end of 2011, about two-thirds (66%) of locals in our prisons are drug offenders. Out of these, four-fifths (79%) had drug antecedents or are repeat offenders. We also recognise that between 2012 and 2014, some 3,000 of such repeat offenders in our prisons will complete their long-term prison sentences and will return to society. I worry that our drug situation may turn for the worse, more than we initially expected, as a result of the confluence of these few factors I have mentioned earlier. Besides amendments and additions to existing laws, we need a more holistic approach in dealing with the drug scourge. While the sterling enforcement efforts of CNB through the years have undoubtedly contributed to the current controlled drug situation, the anti-drug efforts on the proactive front may well be the key to eradicating the drug menace altogether. In this regard, I hope that more resources can be allocated towards educational initiatives to increase awareness, thus making our young and the vulnerable more informed, resilient and less vulnerable towards the misuse and trafficking of drugs. I hope the Ministry will be able to address the concerns I have raised, and will work closely with other Ministries, Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs), grassroots organisations, schools and the CNB so that the drug situation in our society can be managed well. Overall, I agree with the amendments and support the Bill. 5.04 pm”
“Sir, I am also concerned that the alternative sentence of a life imprisonment instead of the death sentence may be misperceived by the general public, especially among our young or unscrupulous drug traffickers, that they can be opportunistic when it comes to drug trafficking because of the proposed amendments to this Act. The less informed may think that the drug trafficking offence has become less serious while the opportunists may think that they can get away with a less harsh sentence. Some may think that if they are being classified as a young person below the age of 21 or a vulnerable person when caught as a drug courier, they can claim to be simply a courier, cooperate with the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), and be given a life imprisonment instead of the death sentence, which they hope can be later reduced to several years' imprisonment due to good behaviour. As I said earlier, Sir, I hope that the general public, especially our young, will not have this false belief that the law is softening towards drug trafficking. The seriousness of the drug trafficking offence must be emphasised time and again. Page: 1094 Finally, Sir, with the possibility that a life sentence is imposed instead of the death sentence and the possibility of the misperception that the law is softening towards drug trafficking, the current drug situation may worsen, especially among our young. As it is, in 2011, there were 123 drug abusers aged below 18 years old who were arrested. This number has more than doubled since 2008 where there were 46 abusers below 18 years old then. In particular, those aged 16 years old and below have shown the largest increase with about 64 individuals arrested in 2011, compared to 15 in 2007.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Ministry for its efforts to update the Misuse of Drugs Act. While the amendments seek to strengthen the Act and provide an alternative to the death sentence for drug traffickers or couriers, which was a mandatory punishment put in place since 1975, I have several concerns regarding the amendments to the Act which I hope the Ministry will look into. First, the amendment to section 2 defines a vulnerable person as "any person who suffers from an impairment of, or a disturbance in the functioning of, the mind or brain resulting from any disability or disorder which impairs one's judgment". How does an offender prove vulnerability, or how will we decide the offender is truly vulnerable? Will a medical diagnosis be required? In addition, does this amendment also include the elderly who may be duped into committing the drug trafficking offence by confidence tricksters or a friend or family member whom they trust? Next, the amendment to section 2 also defines a young person as any person under 21 years old. Is the offence by someone who is 21 years old or older, who causes or procures a young person who is between 13 and 21 years old, of the same degree of severity as that of someone who causes or procures a young person who is below seven years old, for instance, to be a courier? I hope that a more gradated treatment of the degree of severity of the offence can be made, depending on how young the courier is; more so if the offender is the adult responsible for the minor who is the courier, such as a parent, step-parent with custody over the minor, or a guardian of the minor.”
“Minister, just to follow up on the Member's question earlier, will the Ministry consider reviewing or terminating, or at least put through a probation period for such ASEAN scholars found involved in undesirable acts that question the character or morals of such scholars because they are looked up to as role models? They are expected to adhere to a certain code of ethics as expected of the scholarship.”
“I thank the Acting Minister for the reply. While I understand that SOTA is likely to cater to students to prepare them for the IBDP, would the Ministry consider introducing alternative qualifications, such as the Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (WPLN) qualification, so that students who do not eventually qualify for the IBDP can have an alternative pathway to move on to the ITE thereafter?”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for the reply. The Minister mentioned in his reply that there are reviews that will be made. Can the Minister please elaborate on the reviews that will be carried out, and how can it be ensured that the funds that are disbursed to the MMOs are really used according to the intended purposes? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, on the second question, there is a committee chaired by a Member of the Board, Mr Salim Kader, that will review every project proposals by the MMOs, and to ensure that the project proposals fit into the overall thrust of Mendaki's work. Thus far, we have seen no reason to deny any of the project proposals because they have kept the proposals in line with the overall objective of Mendaki. On the review, Sir, we recognise that many Malay/Muslim organisations, such as PPIS, 4PM, Muhammadiyah, have initiated many programmes and services to uplift the community and we recognise that these initiatives are commendable and are aligned with Mendaki's key thrust in the four areas that I have mentioned – education, youth, family and employability. The purpose of the review is really to identify the areas in the community which we require more support because, obviously, nothing is static and the MMOs can continue to build on their good work. We want to ensure that they are in a position to tackle the community's challenges and that they have a sufficient and steady flow of funds to help the community progress even further.”