Irene Ng Phek Hoong
Singapore
“Mdm Speaker, elder abuse may be more common than is recognised, particularly amongst seniors with dementia or other cognitive impairments. Does the Minister agree that the barriers to recognising and reporting elder abuse should be addressed? One of them is the lack of a clear definition of elder abuse.”
“I am heartened by the Minister's reply. In my duties as a Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) Member for Defence, I have interacted with many women officers, including commanders in combat units, and they hold their own in a male-dominated workforce.”
“Madam, my condolences again to the families and friends of those who lost their lives at the Sabah Earthquake. I thank the Minister for his reply and we support the Ministry's approach to outdoor adventure learning and its continuance.”
“Thank you, Madam. It is heartening to see how readily Singapore responded to the disaster in Nepal. I would like to ask the Second Minister: now that the disaster relief phase is coming to an end, how would Singapore contribute to the long-term reconstruction phase that follows?”
“This will help to sustain the practice and tradition and increase appreciation of their artistry within the community and beyond. We should also conserve the unique tools of traditional art forms, such as the last remaining dragon kiln in Singapore, and protect it as part of our heritage.”
“I would like to ask about the stress levels on the students. I welcome the Ministry of Education's (MOE) shift to go beyond grades. But, on the ground, Page: 123 the reality is that there is increasing pressure on the students to chase good grades, given the very competitive system and also the high expectations of parents.”
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Every one of 931 lines we hold for Irene Ng Phek Hoong, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 12 of 19.
“Sir, at the heart of the issue is the need for transparency. And I am glad to hear from the Health Minister that benchmarks have been provided for disclosure practices, but the benchmarks have been shown to be flawed in NKF's case, and the result is a credibility gap that will undermine people's trust and confidence in our VWOs. The world might be moving in the direction of more professionally-run VWOs with business models, but the trust that the people have in the biggest player which personifies this has weakened. This is a contradiction that is bound to cause serious problems if it is not resolved quickly. What is the use of wanting better-run charities with better paid staff when our largest charity is starting to be viewed as being out of step with everyone in ways that damage people's trust in them? Sir, I would like to address a sticking point, which is the CEO's salary. Many donors are understandably interested in how much the leaders of charities earn. In the US and the UK, this information is public record and can be found in websites. There is a website called CharityNavigator which provides the CEO's salary as a percentage of total expenses so that donors can quickly put the salary in perspective. The CharityNavigator is America's largest independent charity evaluator. Its position is that the compensation for a charity CEO should be not small. It should be commensurate with how much the organisation spends and raises. The Minister mentioned Oxfam as a charity worth emulating. Sir, Oxfam is one of the world's foremost aid agencies, experienced in delivering emergency relief to trouble spots, such as East Timor, as well as managing long-term projects all around the world. Oxfam America pays its top man about $300,000 in 2003, which is about 0.”
“And we test ourselves because then we will discover what we will live up to and what we hold dear to us. Sir, we do not have a quarrel with meritocracy as an ideal - paying a person according to his performance and the value of his job. But still many Members of the public were outraged at the $600,000 annual income and perks of T T Durai. I must confess that I myself was taken aback as I know of few people who are paid such generous 10-12 months' bonuses. So the question that arises is: what has he done to deserve this generous pay? And for the public to make an enlightened judgment, we need more facts, and the facts that come out through litigation are not the best way to disclose such sensitive information. We need VWOs to be transparent, to be ready to put out such facts without being cross-examined in the witness box. At the same time, we need to be clear in our minds about whether we think CEOs of large charities should be paid according to their talent and capabilities that they bring to the job. Sir, I must admit that I can understand how a person living in a 2-, 3- or 4-room flat will feel about his public donations being used to pay a CEO with such high salaries. The question is not how much or who donates, but the question is whether the person who does the job is doing it to the best of his ability and bringing the maximum benefits to the patients and to the causes that they support. My understanding is that the members of the NKF Board are not paid. So it is a volunteer spirit. They are very community-minded men who are helming the Board of NKF. And the CEO - I do not know him personally - my understanding is that he believes in the cause of NKF. But the question is whether he has lost focus, whether he has been excessive in the way he runs NKF.”
“Sir, the public outrage over the NKF saga is really quite unprecedented in Singapore. We can see the outpourings of anger in newspapers and also in terms of the way they demonstrated in drawing graffiti on boards and buildings, which I feel is something quite terrible and should not be encouraged in Singapore. While I think public outrage in most cases is justified, I feel that the way that some Singaporeans have responded to this should be lamented and should be discouraged, because it does not help us to build confidence in VWOs and give confidence in how we respond to difficulties and crises that charities will go through again and again. Sir, I am sad that some Singaporeans have chosen to take out their anger on staff and volunteers as well. This does not say much for our sense of community spirit. The issue, I feel, revolves around, as my colleagues before me have pointed out, transparency and accountability because, at the end of the day, this involves public money. To my mind, this NKF saga marks a defining moment. It is a defining moment because it challenges us in a deeper way by asking us to choose between two ideals which we hold both equally worthy. It is not choosing between right and wrong. Nobody is accusing NKF or its former CEO of being corrupt. It is about balancing our notion of meritocracy which is about paying the right amount for the right man, given the value of the job, and social justice, which is about creating a fairer and more just society. This is why I feel this debate is important. It is more than just about good governance of NKF or charities, but we form our national character in defining moments like this because we commit to irreversible courses of action that sharpen our collective identity.”
“I would like to ask the Minister to review the range of subsidies, grants and resale levy to see whether it would be sensible today - given that many Singaporeans are hit by economic restructuring and that many are on contract work, which means irregular income - for them to opt to sell their flats. What are their options given this scenario?”
“Sir, with your indulgence, first of all, can I just mention about the point that my colleague, Mdm Ho Geok Choo, said. I think a happy scenario would be the golden girl scenario where we have singles staying and growing old together if for some reason they cannot and do not want to get married. It is not a negative social implication. At least, they have company when they grow old and they can rely on each other if for some reason they cannot get married or they do not want to get married, and I think it should be their choice. Sir, may I clarify the Minister's reply to a point that I made earlier? Maybe I was not clear. I was concerned for the cash strapped. Even now, at the meet-the-people sessions, we do see residents coming. They have no choice but to sell their flats to get some cash to pay up their loans. Therefore, especially for those in 4-room flats, they have two options: one, to downgrade, either to a rental flat or a 3-room flat. If they go for a 3-room flat, they have to purchase from the resale market which means that they have to pay a resale levy. That is a disincentive. If they buy a resale flat, from listening to my residents, my understanding is that they have to pay a resale levy. That is my understanding if they buy from the resale market. If I am wrong, perhaps the Minister can correct me. Some of my residents have this perception that if they upgrade, they believe that with the cash they can at least pay up the downpayment and they can use their CPF to pay the rest. I tried to advise them against it. But I worry that with these changes, the option for them to move to a bigger flat when they cannot afford it will be there.”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for the change affecting singles. It increases the housing options and which would be appreciated. But I notice that this change would benefit mainly the well-to-do high-income singles. Can the Minister consider the long-held appeal of singles to also allow them subsidised housing, in terms of new flats, because this would benefit also the broader range of singles, mainly the low income and the lower-middle income? My next question also relates to the lower-income. The changes of lower cash payment and higher loan limit would be a boon to those who are cash-strapped and who need to buy flats. I worry about the impact, like my colleague, Mr Gan Kim Yong, on those who are in a dire situation and have to downgrade, because of all their debts, they cannot pay their S&C charges, and the lawyers are after them. But if you put yourself in the position of a downgrader now, or somebody who is cash-strapped, you would upgrade because of the new changes. Also, it does not make sense for them to downgrade now to a three-room resale flat because they have to pay the resale levy. If you upgrade, you get a grant for upgrading. I would ask the Minister to review the whole complex range of levies, subsidies and grants to make it sensible to the average HDB person to make the wise choice and decisions, because I am worried that those who are cash-strapped would see upgrading as a way out of their cash problems rather than to the right size and to move down.”
“I would like to ask DPM whether he can enlighten us on how we can educate Singaporeans to spot possible terrorists within their midst. I know it is difficult. But the thought of having it so easy for terrorists to strap suicide bomb materials onto their bodies and just going into MRT stations to blow off stations simultaneously is too terrible to bear. I wonder whether it is possible because I saw an ISD video where there was a suspicious-looking man with a cap and sweater on a hot day in Raffles Place, with a fake bomb strapped onto him, and nobody around him batted an eyelid. So I wonder whether more could be done to educate Singaporeans on such matters.”
“I would like to thank the Minister for a comprehensive and re-assuring reply. But may I ask two supplementary questions? Sir, according to medical literature, survival can be as high as 90%, if treatment is initiated within the first few minutes after a sudden cardiac arrest. Sir, I am assured that MINDEF has used defibrillators on at least one person. But can I ask the Minister why they were not used on the two recent cases of servicemen who suffered cardiac arrests? My second question is a broader one. It relates to the whole issue of safety in training. Over the last one month, there have been about four cases of Singaporeans who have died because of their training exercises. Since a review had been completed last year, have there been full checks to make sure that they are all implemented correctly or whether there should be a further review to make sure that our soldiers' safety is paramount during training exercises?”
“Sir, the Minister mentioned that the bottom 20% includes an increasing number of retirees. And he mentioned looking at raising the retirement age. This will only help those who are yet to retire, and not those who have retired. Can I ask the Minister what are the options for the group that has already retired, and also whether it is timely to look at whether the pension levels for Government pensioners should be increased, given that the cost of living has been rising over the years?”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for a very detailed reply which contained very farsighted ideas. It will help make Singaporeans feel that much more secure. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister two questions. The key words I heard from his speech are "coordination and cooperation". Can I ask the Minister to tell us whether we have been successful in also engaging Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in our efforts to contain transnational terrorism, as we will not be safe no matter how much we try to insulate ourselves or detain the JI dissidents or no matter how we patrol our maritime waters? Can I also ask the Minister to please give us a sense of whether he is satisfied with the cooperation so far? My second question relates to the survey. Can I ask the Minister whether the survey has also taken into account differences in terms of the perceptions and attitudes of men and women, along gender lines, and in terms of, for instance, whether men are more aware of the practical steps to take in the event of a terrorist attack compared to women, and on the various questions asked? Because if the women, not having gone through National Service, might not share the same kind of security consciousness, perhaps more should be done in terms of courses or programmes to inculcate a more rugged mentality among our women.”
“Mr Low has been in the House and he has heard all the social safeguards that will be put in place. The casino will be like this small stall in the corner - no signs, no bright lights - and a clear sign saying it is dangerous, "Please don't go." A barricade with $100 fee to get in and various safeguards to make sure that Singaporeans are not tempted. But we also acknowledge, and it is clear from the speeches made, that there is a risk. Therefore, we must take all steps as a society - and the VWOs should get on board - to make sure that we can mitigate the negative effects. We are not saying that there is none. But we are saying that we will do our best to mitigate it. I think we can.”
“The people there say, "Don't go and eat there. It is for those who want this sort of food, but it is not good for you. Enjoy the rest of the buffet." There are a lot of things to do, and it is a place that you want to be identified with. But there is this booth, "Don't go. It is bad." I think the Government has made clear over the last few days that it is not promoting casino. It does not want to promote gambling. There was no poison being served to Singaporeans; there was no special medicine with after effects that were meant to cause Singaporeans ill. Sir, I have no doubt that this Government has made this decision in the best interest of this country and society, after weighing very carefully the pros and cons. I would urge all those who have spoken up against the casino to join PM Lee and the Government to make this work for Singaporeans and to work together to make sure this is a plus for Singapore as a tourist destination and as a home for all citizens.”
“Recently, Sydney formed a new Casino Investigation Unit after an inquiry into reports of serious criminal activity at the casino which include claims that loan sharks force women to pay back debts by prostituting themselves. It is reports like this that make you a bit worried. Sir, if given a choice, I would not want a casino on our shores. But having heard the arguments put forward by the Government, it would appear that we have little choice, not if we want multi-billion dollar investments with tens of thousands of jobs for our citizens and to create the land of opportunity for all with buzz. However, as citizens, we do have a choice in whether we want to be regulars at a casino or not, and in how we can put our best efforts into making sure that the integrated resort will work in the best interest of all Singaporeans, with minimal social costs exacted. Then we will indeed be Uniquely Singapore - fun, vibrant, cosmopolitan, but still distinctly Asian, wholesome and safe. I was not around when Mr Low Thia Khiang spoke yesterday. But I read in the Straits Times that he likened the resort's proposal to porridge that was being cooked and served to Singaporeans. They were then told to take it as there was special medicine in it and that this medicine could cause some people diarrhoea or dehydration and even lose their lives but to take it, and then the PM would do what is necessary for the aftercare. This analogy is misleading and insidious. This is not what the Government is advocating - to take porridge with, almost like poison laced in it. It is more like a grand buffet. I see it as a grand buffet aimed at drawing big crowds, creating excitement in Singapore. There is one stall that sells something that may not be very healthy for you, and there are barricades.”
“Yesterday's easy choices are today fraught with ambiguous moral tones as the world becomes more globalised and we are no longer insulated from what happens in the most liberal parts of the world. We need to reach a new and fresh consensus on where we want to go, the sort of society we want to become and pass on to future generations. Many in this House have noted that cities all around the world are reinventing themselves, such as New York, and some, such as London, Sydney and Geneva, already have casinos without damaging their reputations as respectable places. That is true. But note that all these examples quoted also celebrate more liberal and free-wheeling lifestyles. Hence, having a casino in their midst is consistent with their social and traditional ethos. Another important difference: if the citizens of the UK do not like the lifestyle in London or the citizens of the US do not like the life of the Big Apple, they can live elsewhere in their vast countries. And I do have good friends in the UK with strong family values who prefer to live in less exciting places, like Surrey, than in London even though they could well afford to live in the capital. But Singaporeans do not have such choices as Singapore is both a city and a country. So it is all the more important that all sectors of society be brought on board when deciding on issues such as this which have a bearing on the kind of society we want to become. Otherwise, some might feel that this is not the home they want to live in, and migrate. Also, some people mentioned Sydney. Sydney may be a vibrant and safe city on the surface, but it is in actual fact today grappling with serious criminal activity arising from its popular Star City Casino which was set up nine years ago.”
“We have to understand what can we do to mitigate even those problems today. Singapore has much experience in public campaigns and public education programmes to prevent what are considered social ills, such as smoking and drink driving. Can we also apply similar approaches to problem gambling? Sir, I would urge the Government to see research as a strategic investment to improve our ability to understand how and why some people develop gambling problems and how to use resources most effectively to prevent problems and provide treatment. Investment in problem gambling research will also reflect a tangible commitment to finding solutions for serious problems that affect not only individuals, but also their families and communities. Sir, this research can be funded directly from gambling revenues received by the Government. Perhaps, the Government can work out a formula which assigns a percentage of the gross slot machine revenues to research. This is being done in some countries like Ontario. Sir, my third concern revolves around the future that we want to create for Singapore, our home. I feel this is at the heart of the issue. In his Budget speech this year, the Prime Minister has painted a vision of Singapore as a land of opportunity for all, a home with strong community bonds and values worth living for and fighting for. It is a vision that all Singaporeans can share and look forward to. However, more and more Singaporeans find themselves confronted by difficult choices at every turn - having to choose between many competing concepts of family values, sexual morality, and social justice, which they should advocate and defend.”
“You see the Chinese gambling during the Chinese New Year and at solemn occasions like the funeral wake. You see the children taking part in these gambling sessions, especially over Chinese New Year. If there is a road accident, you can be sure the Chinese are rushing to copy down the car plate licence number to buy 4-D rather than helping out those who are injured. I do not know of any other cultural group which does that. But that still does not answer the question of why we have more probable compulsive gamblers than Macau because we have mainly the same ethnic composition, in terms of the majority Chinese. Sir, we need to invest more in research to identify in each community: values and attitudes towards gambling, the nature and extent of gambling activities, the prevalence of problem gambling, and the resources and strategies available to mitigate problem gambling. The resulting data will help individual communities to raise people's awareness about problem gambling and to plan for prevention and treatment services. Going by the limited research that is focused on problem gamblers, especially those found in other countries, it is hard to define a personality factor that distinguishes compulsive gamblers from other people. It can be the average Joe. It can be a person who has a very high moral standing in society. However, studies have found that compulsive gamblers have more irrational beliefs about gambling. For example, they are more likely to believe that they can beat the house. So no matter how much we tell them that they cannot beat the house, they still believe irrationally that they can. We have to find out what works in preventing gambling problems that already exist in Singapore today and those who go to cruise ships and Genting.”
“Compared with a non-casino county, the casino county is expected to have higher overall bankruptcy filings than the non-casino county after the ninth-year of operations, with progressively increasing rates thereafter. The study raises possible explanations for these life-cycle effects. Casinos may have positive economic effects in the initial years as they provide jobs and other economic benefits including a large influx of tourists and non-residents who come to gamble and enjoy in the entertainment complexes. But over time, as the casinos mature and other localities open up competing facilities, they speculate that the number of tourists begins to drop at the same time that the number of problem gamblers increases. This brings me to the urgent need for independent and rigorous research in Singapore to help us understand better what draws Singaporeans to gambling in the first place, why some become problem gamblers, and how to treat them. And we should carry out these studies before the IRs open in 2009. The recent MCYS study on gambling is useful in giving us the baseline and a snapshot of the situation today. It found that, as we know, about 58% of Singaporeans aged 18 and above already gamble. A minority of 2.1% are probably compulsive gamblers. This is quite an eye-opener because the percentage of probable problem gamblers is higher than Macau's 1.8%. Macau is presently the king of casinos in the region, with 17 casinos. How is it that we seem to have overtaken Macau in producing problem gamblers even before a single casino is built? Even if we allow for statistical error, it would seem too close for comfort. We need to understand why. I think the prevailing culture and social attitudes play a role. Gambling is very much a part of the Chinese culture.”
“What assurance do we have that the operators in Singapore will not one day say that, responding to the changing circumstances and trends, they need to expand the casino in the resorts here? Or, if they prove unable to attract foreigners in droves, and they turn to the Government to relax the rules on the casinos, to attract more Singaporeans to patronise them, can the Government hold firm, especially given their iconic status and the world is watching? Also, the integrated resorts will be up and running only in five years. That seems like a long time, enough time for others in the region to join the race to build casinos within integrated resorts and also lure the crowds. What will then be our edge? My second concern relates to the longer-term demands on our resources to deal with the casino-related problems. Singaporeans will benefit from the jobs created when the integrated resorts first come in, but the problems which may arise in terms of problem gambling, bankruptcies and crime, will only rear their ugly head many years later. Are we prepared to pour in the resources and deal with the problems in the long haul? I read a recent study by Economics Professor Ernie Goss and Law Professor Edward Morse on the varying bankruptcy effects over the life-cycle of the casino. This study is the first to look at the impact of casinos over a 12-year period, from 1990 to 2002. It compared the personal bankruptcy rates in casino and non-casino counties and tracked the longer-term consequences of introducing gambling. They found that after an initial increase in personal bankruptcy rates, rates declined and levelled out for an additional two or three years, followed by progressively increasing rates.”
“Indeed, I notice that all the Ministers who spoke did not try to minimise the potential social fallout of having casinos. Indeed, they confronted the issues head-on and listed many new and bold initiatives to tackle the problems that may arise from having casinos, including strict law enforcement measures. At the visit with the MPs to view the concepts and models proposed by the potential bidders late last week, I paid special attention to the location of the casino in the premises of the proposed concepts, its prominence and size. And I was assured to note that, in most proposals, they were understated, very tasteful, and not offered as a key attraction. All that said, however, I must say I still have some concerns about the decision which I hope will be addressed by the Government. I will highlight three. The first relates to the economic merits of the case. The entire premise of the go-ahead rests on the assumption that these integrated resorts will be successful in attracting tourists, with the revenue generated mainly from its casinos, and hence create jobs and add to our economic growth. But how confident is the Government that Singapore can sustain two IRs of this magnitude, with such small gaming components, and that the tourists will be able to provide the flow and the numbers? I am not saying, of course, that we should increase the gaming component. But I worry if the resort operators will make a case for it at a later stage for their economic viability, especially since it has been made clear that the casinos will be the economic engines of the IRs. As Minister Lim Hng Kiang noted, the integrated resort with the smallest gaming component presently is the Atlantis in Bahamas and it has a gaming component of about 25%.”
“I do not think it gives us much comfort when the Government says that, "Oh, because the concepts with casinos have come in from all over the world, from top brand names, from well-known people, what will the world think of us now if we have to say no?" And so we have to say yes to both. We are also worried about where the investments from the other potential bidders would go, or whether they would go to another region. The question then arises, all the more perhaps, that we should have called for a request for concepts with the casino element for one then, perhaps just in Sentosa. Indeed, I would have liked to start with just one IR with a casino in Sentosa, which is less accessible to Singaporeans and can be considered "overseas", to see the effects and to see if we could manage the social fallout, and to see if such an IR with a small gaming component could be successful in drawing the crowds, especially the tourists, before deciding to open up the area in other parts of the island to more IRs with casinos. That being said, I must say in all fairness that the Government did put up a compelling case for opening our doors to an IR with a casino over the last few days. And the clincher for me, like for Mr Lim Boon Heng, is the jobs created. Like gambling addiction, joblessness can also lead to severe social problems such as broken families, bankruptcies, suicides and crime. And I think, for the average Singaporean and the community as a whole, joblessness is a greater scourge than gambling addiction. Indeed, in my meet-the-people sessions, I see more problems cropping up from people not being able to find and keep jobs than from gambling addiction. But that is not to say that we should not go all out to combat gambling addiction.”
“One reason, I think, was how the Government framed the argument in the beginning and how the leaders and the people had very different conceptions of what it meant when it said "to open the doors to a casino". I think most Singaporeans have not been to the integrated resorts, with a casino component, in the Atlantis or Bellagio, and we have in mind casinos like the sort that they would have in Las Vegas and Macau. Therefore, we were talking at cross-purposes. And the more the Government pushed the line about whether we are a mature society or not, the more those of us who felt that we do not want a Macau and a Las Vegas stuck to our ground. Sir, there is a sense that we were not being heard, but actually we were just speaking on very different wavelengths. Another reason, I believe, is the call for a request for concept which provided the casino option for both sites. I felt that if a request for concept for an IR without a casino component for one of the sites, say, the Marina Bayfront, has been called, that means no casinos involved, that would have at least given the public a chance to see if this is indeed a dead idea, a really no-brainer, with no takers, because it would just not be viable. Or perhaps, for all we know, there might have been a few good concepts coming in, perhaps viable, given the prime location of the area and Singapore's brand name. But because we have called for concept proposals for both sites, which include the casino component, or given them the option of including a casino, now we seem tied to the idea.”
“It cannot be that I expect the Government to listen to my views on the issue and to take them seriously while I shut my ears to its views. So I have listened very closely to the Ministerial speeches over the last two days. It became clear to me that the concerns and fears that I had, which were also voiced by many Singaporeans who were against the casino, were recognised and also shared by the Government. And that, in particular, some Ministers, such as Mr Lim Boon Heng and Mr Wong Kan Seng, were also deeply vexed about the possible negative effects of a casino, and that the decision to go ahead was not an easy one for them. This gives anti-casino Singaporeans, like myself, the confidence that our views had also been reflected vigorously at the highest level and not brushed aside as being immature, soft or, perhaps worse, as being pre-modern, backwater-loving moralists. This equal respect for the legitimate views of those in the anti-casino camp is important, or else it would breed cynicism and alienation among those who had spoken up because they cared. Indeed, one of the depressing aspects of this debate is the sense that many people did not - and still do not - believe the Government when it said that it had not made up its mind on the casino issue until the date when the special meeting was held among the Cabinet. Some said that the feedback exercise had been a farce and a waste of time. Sir, why do they think that, despite all the pronouncements to the contrary? I do believe the Government when it said that it did not make up its mind until the moment when a decision needed to be made.”
“Sir, it was not without a heavy heart that I greeted the news that two integrated resorts with casinos will be built. Just now, we heard Mr Low Thia Khiang say that the Workers' Party wants to be a channel for different views. But actually, in the PAP, we already have that. We have PAP MPs who have very different views from the Government leaders on the casino issue, and I am one of those who opposes it. I oppose it for three main reasons. First, I was not entirely convinced that the economic benefits of a casino would outweigh the social costs. Second, I was concerned that a casino would only escalate the gambling-related problems in the society, such as gambling addiction, broken families, suicides as well as crime. Third, it might change the tone of our society, from a wholesome, safe and secure one, a good place to raise children, to one which is more sleazy and perhaps morally loose, with showgirls and prostitutes in tow. But there was another reason why I felt strongly against the casino and it was a more personal one. I have seen up close how relatives and friends - good people with responsible jobs - could become helpless gambling addicts and lose their savings, their homes and their dignity, and their families suffered. Sir, I have spoken on this publicly. I have made my concerns known also privately to some Ministers. But just as I wanted the Government to keep an open mind to my views and to listen to my concerns, I have also sought to keep an open mind to its views on the subject. It is only fair and right in an open democratic debate on national issues. It has to be a two-sided conversation aimed at reaching the best possible decision in the interest of the country as a whole.”
“We watch our diet, we exercise and we load up on health supplements. We will live a longer and healthier life. But what will these older chaps with time on their hands do? Can I ask what has the Government done to help the elderly keep active? Amongst the needs and requests that I come across from older residents, I find that the one that is most hard put to address adequately is the request for jobs. Much as we want to enable more Singaporeans to continue working into their 60s and stay active, many today are unable to find employment. These older people who need jobs are generally beyond the age that most employers would consider seriously, and are generally less educated and less energetic. Once displaced, many are unable to get back into the workforce easily. A focused approach to tackling this problem is key to eventually dwindling down the numbers. An elderly earning his or her own keeps will see his or her own self-esteem rise. For those who are prepared to help themselves and are physically able to do so, we must find ways and means to help them. We could co-opt employer groups for help with these initiatives. MCYS and VWOs could also work together to identify jobs such as cleaning jobs, managing thrift shops and gardening for such elderly people.”
“Sir, I would urge the Minister to consider setting up a national grassroots club for the English-speaking older Singaporeans especially those who are still healthy, active and higher-educated to cater to their various interests and to develop their skills and talents even after retirement. I would also urge the MCYS to assist the elderly in their adjustments after retirement by providing appropriate social networks as well as pre-retirement education. Mr Wee Siew Kim: Sir, the elderly has occupied a place of honour in our society. We have an annual Senior Citizens' Week. We are surrounded by senior citizens' corners and groups. Yet, more could be done. This group of people built Singapore. All strived to get us to where we are today. Many were born here, worked here and will die here. They are the true sons of the nation. Many came here young, our original foreign imports, stayed on and contributed. There will be more and more elderly people in Singapore. Many are still active and healthy and they want to continue to contribute to their community and the economy and to lead productive and meaningful lives. They want to be self-reliant. I would like to ask the Minister for his plans to cater for the needs of an increasing number of elderly. What is the Government going to do to ensure quality care in the community? Quality care runs the gamut of accessible and affordable healthcare to those that need a home to care for them, a home that not only provides a roof and meals, but also will see to their medical care and other psychological, social and emotional needs. Will Government do more to encourage VWOs to run such homes, one piece of the many-helping-hands mosaic? We are well-informed of wellness and healthy lifestyles.”
“The dissatisfaction is higher among the older age groups and the minority races as most of the activities are targeted at the majority of the population which are Chinese-speaking or English-speaking. I note that many of the senior citizen groups on the ground at the grassroots level are Chinese-speaking and they tend to centre around karaoke or events where they speak Hokkien or the local dialects. I would like to ask the Minister what the MCYS is doing to cater to the older age groups, in particular, those from the minority races, to help them integrate into society better, especially in their winter years. The NUS' study also found the lower level of satisfaction being registered by the elderly aged 55 to 67, probably due to adjustment problems after retirement. Increasingly, many of those retiring are highly educated, English-speaking and still active. They cannot fit into the present senior citizens groups which largely cater to the masses and the lower-educated. Not all have the financial resources to go globe-trotting or to play golf. But they do have their own interest and can still contribute their talents to society. Sir, recently, I was in US on my way up to the Grand Canyon. I stopped by a small town, sat in the public square and I found a group of senior citizens ambling by, sitting down with their guitars and violins and striking up a good tune - folk music, country music and basically having a good time. They add colour to the city and the town. I think we should create an environment like that in Singapore where growing old is something exciting - they can still bloom, they can still show their talents and not a time where they just fade into oblivion.”
“Sir, as our population ages, we will see more and more elderly singles and given the present trends, an increasing number will be singles who have never married before. We also see a rising number of elderly singles who are married before but either divorced or widowed. Some of them have no family support or come from dysfunctional families. Some of them have become physically disabled through old age and have to rely on walking aids or wheelchairs to get about. I see them at my MPS quite regularly, Changkat being an ageing estate. Besides financial concerns, they are often beset with loneliness and depression. If you visit their flats, it is often quite bleak. Once, I had a woman, a single, in her 50s, who grasped my hands and wailed, "I am so lonely. Nobody cares whether I live or die.". I can send a befriender her way, but I doubt it will meet her deep-seated needs. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister what is being done to support elderly singles as most of the activities on the ground are targeted mostly at families and the young. Talking to some of the elderly singles, you sense that there is still a hope in them for love. I notice that the Government tends to focus on marriage rates for those below 40. I hope that we give those above 40s and 50s a sense that there is hope because there are 20 or 30 more years to live, that there is a companion that they can turn to. Sir, a recent study by the NUS on the quality of life of the elderly in Singapore found that the two domains of life that the elderly are most dissatisfied with are leisure and recreation facilities as well as the arts and culture scene in Singapore.”
“Sir, presently MOM does not allow Singaporeans to marry foreigners who had worked in Singapore on a work permit before. This applies even if the foreign worker has left the country and returned to their home country. The ban seems outdated, Sir, and I would ask the Minister to kindly review it, given that Singaporean men are already travelling in droves to Vietnam and other countries to look for brides. It seems unfair that foreigners who have worked in Singapore before on a work permit would be discriminated against in this quest for love. I think it is also very painful for us to see residents coming to us saying they are separated by the Ministry of Manpower from their wives and children just because of this policy which needs to be reviewed.”
“So, whether we will become like that foreign association, I think only time will tell. But my Ministry is committed to working towards that direction, and we will start with the younger population through the schools. Recently, I had an engagement with a group of young professionals from tertiary institutions. They recognise the challenges. They are keen to do something. There is a group of students in NTU that have formed themselves and it is called the NTU Earth Link. They came to a dialogue session in their T-shirts, well ironed, and they are keen to do something in the universities with their colleagues. So, we will have to engage civic-minded individuals and volunteers on the ground to help us in this message. There is no other way. We can continue with the penalties but, ultimately, public consciousness and civic-mindedness are also needed to ensure that this habit gets inculcated deep into our psyches.”
“I want to ask the Minister about the state of littering in Singapore. There is a view that without the army of workers, Singapore will not be as pristine as it is. From the complaints from residents, it seems that littering is still a problem in public estates. Can I ask the Minister if more could be done to inculcate a sense of civic consciousness among Singaporeans? 4.45 pm Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, this is a campaign that we have been doing for many, many years, and the hon. Member is right that we cannot say for certain that we have been very successful. There have been areas where we have done quite well. It is something that we will continue to work through our public education campaign and programme. Let me share an example with Members. I know of a foreign association that uses our school field every Sunday for recreation and games, and I was told by one of the teachers in that school that, at 12 o'clock, when you go and see the field, you cannot see a piece of litter at all. This particular foreign association will make it a habit to pick up after they have finished and bagged everything away. Are we there yet? I am not so sure. This is something which we have to continue to inculcate, and that is why, in my reply, I mentioned earlier that we are working with the young and the schools to inculcate the message of anti-littering and to play their part to care for the environment. I cannot give you an exact assessment of what is going on on the ground. But I do agree with the Member that, because we have a lot of foreign workers working in that area, we have been able to keep Singapore clean. But, ultimately, we need to inculcate this habit into Singaporeans that they own the environment and they have a part to play.”
“Sir, I note that the Opposition MPs have two extra minutes than the PAP MPs except for GPC Chairmen. Can I ask why is Parliament being more generous to the Opposition MPs in terms of giving them two minutes more than the rest of us? Secondly, if the law of averages is to be applied in terms of the number of cuts given, it could be argued that a logical conclusion would be to cut the allowance of Opposition MPs because the PAP MPs have filed more cuts on average a year than the Opposition MPs.”
“I would like to ask the Minister two questions. First, about the kind of cultural sensitivities that our SAF troops undergo. As we have seen in our relief mission in Indonesia, the cultural sensitivity and the facility in the language help greatly in the mission. I would like to ask the Minister if such sensitivity is also inculcated into its training and courses with other countries in ASEAN, such as Malaysia. My second question is to do with the training space. It has expanded greatly since independence. I would like to ask the Minister whether the current list of countries giving us training spaces is adequate, especially given our emphasis now on training our troops to transform into a 3G SAF, as well as for non-conventional warfare, such as terrorism.”
“Although our SAF did a sterling job in the humanitarian mission in Indonesia, and as the report did note that many of its troops were going in cold, with no procedures or precedents to fall back on, I wonder if the Minister could consider reviewing the force structure to see if it would be useful to have a force dedicated to humanitarian relief to support the international community's military responsibilities for the safety and well-being of people wherever they are in peril. 3G SAF”
“Sir, the tsunami disaster highlights an aspect of security that we need to be more prepared for, namely, the capacity of a state to cope with disasters which may challenge stability and order in the region. SAF's track record has shown that despite its small size, it could be very effective for peacekeeping, as well as emergency humanitarian relief missions in the region and in the world. 5.15 pm Its recent relief mission to Indonesia, after the tsunami disaster, demonstrates not only the operational readiness of its troops but also its farsighted strategy, sophisticated planning, professionalism and precise deployment of its assets. It also highlighted how the SAF could be a force for good in the region and in the world. Often, we are asked why we need such a strong SAF, and we often say that the fundamental aim of our defence policy is to ensure that Singapore enjoys peace and stability and that Singapore's sovereignty and territorial integrity are protected. And we always stress our twin pillars of our defence policy, which is diplomacy and deterrence. But, increasingly, the SAF is being asked to play a bigger role in terms of peacekeeping and humanitarian and relief missions, and I wonder whether, like together with the rest of my colleagues, the SAF might want to review its priorities and expand its role.”
“For example, the Singapore Art Museum would need about $3 million to buy the Tan Swie Hian Collection, but it could not do so because it has not the budget for it. But Tan Swie Hian is in fact one of our most celebrated artists. Indeed, in the July 21st issue of Time Magazine in the year 2003, it wrote: "In Singapore, a country that has struggled to produce artists who excel in even one medium, it is starting to find someone like Tan who has thrived in so many different artforms and has achieved international acclaim for all." I would add that it is even more startling to find that our own museum cannot have enough money to buy the artworks of these rare Singaporean artists. 2.00 pm Sir, it is important for us to build up our own collection as part of our own national heritage and to enrich our cultural life. We also need to nurture our own Singapore writers. And for good writers, there needs to be an appreciation of the value of literature, not only at the ground level, but also at the policy-making level. It is not that we do not have the literary talents. We have teenage poets who have won world-wide awards in the UK, and I believe one reason why the world knows so much about UK, Canadian, American and Australian literature is because their writers are promoted by their countries. One long-time Singaporean writer told me that he had often been invited to other countries to get to know the writers of these countries and to read the works of these other countries. And they also ---”
“If Singapore wants to cultivate creative industries and promote arts and culture to a respectable level, the most critical task now is not just pouring money into infrastructure. What is needed is content which captures the Singapore spirit and the Singapore genius and an audience who can appreciate Singapore art and literature. I would like to ask the Minister what is MICA doing to help develop a museum-loving and theatre-going people among Singaporeans. Recently, I was in Paris. I had three hours to spare before leaving for the airport. So I asked the average Parisian on the road, "What do you think I should do for the next three hours?" The immediate response was, "You should go to our museums. We have a nice collection of arts there." And they rattle off names of their French artists that are on display there. It is a natural instinct. I wondered to myself if I were to ask, as a visitor, the average Singaporean on the Singapore streets, I think they would be shopping at Orchard Road, or food at Newton Circus. I think we should do more to encourage our Singaporeans to enjoy going to museums as a valuable leisure pursuit for the family, and to love the artworks by Singaporeans and the art works that they can catch at these museums. Can I ask the Ministry whether it is giving enough support to the National Heritage Board in terms of funding to acquire regional art, including local art, and to stage world-class shows, especially shows that can travel well to promote Singapore art and Singapore artists? Sir, a museum cannot be a serious player in arts and culture if it does not have sufficient acquisition money.”
“Sir, can I ask the Minister for his assessment of the US commitment to be engaged in this region? There has been some concern that the US might be distracted by the Middle Eastern process and the issues in Iraq, as well as the issue in Northeast Asia, and less attention might be paid to South East Asia. From the Minister's interactions with the US officials under the new Bush Administration, can I ask for his assessment?”
“Can I ask the Minister why Singapore has decided to go ahead to work on this treaty now at this time after years of expressing reluctance to do so? I would also like to ask the Minister's update on our relations with China, US and India which have also been evolving. ASEAN”
“But I note that now even Johore wants to have a public say in the negotiations, as Johore Mentri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman was quoted as saying, "The state wants to be heard on three key areas - reallowing Singapore military aircraft into Malaysian airspace, the water price review and the proposed bridge." Sir, I am not sure that this state-centric approach will help the two countries to resolve the outstanding issues with the larger regional cooperation in mind. Indeed, much of the focus of the Malaysian media and Johore politicians seem to centre around the issue of the bridge. Previously, it was a crooked bridge, but now the Malaysian proposal is for a straight one. While I do not see why the Causeway should be demolished for this, I would like to ask the Minister if there is any merit at all to this idea of a straight bridge, and if it can bring any benefit to Singapore as well, and the cost, taking into account the long-term view and the larger picture of regional cooperation. Sir, we will stand firm on fundamentals but we must be broad-minded enough to accommodate Malaysia's interests where our own national interests are not diminished. As for Indonesia, the issue of the extradition treaty, among other issues, is also an old one, but we seem to have moved forward on this. According to newspaper reports, PM Lee Hsien Loong was quoted as saying that Singapore would sign a treaty with Indonesia following his meeting with the Indonesian President. Sir, Indonesia has, for nearly a decade, sought an extradition treaty with Singapore, but we have been reluctant to do so. Certainly, concluding an extradition treaty will allow both sides to focus on more important and pressing issues.”
“Sir, Singapore's relations with Malaysia and Indonesia are very important with implications on the mood and development not only of the three countries but also of the South East Asian region. As a region, we are living in challenging times. On the security front, terrorism and piracy still pose a danger. On the economic front, the region is facing increasingly intense competition from low-cost countries such as China and India. Those countries hit by the tsunami disaster, especially Indonesia, face the costly prospect of reconstruction. And politically, some countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, have just undergone political transition. But I would argue that we are in a better position today than we have been for a long time to forge a closer partnership with each other to build a stronger region. First, all three countries - Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia - have new leaders who are forward looking and who have emphasised their resolve to strengthen relations further. Second, all three leaders have been able to demonstrate through their actions that the specific disagreements between their individual countries and Singapore should not be allowed to define the broader relationship and over-shadow the many areas that we cooperate with each other. But some old thorny issues remain, and they can set back the good progress made if we are not careful. With Malaysia, the old issues are a legacy from the Mahathir era, and I am glad that Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi have met recently to discuss the steps to take the talks forward.”
“Indeed, the Highway Code actually gives greater emphasis to cyclists' safety. Hence, amongst other categories of users, the Advanced Theory of Driving handbook also emphasises cyclists' safety. Let me just mention what it does. It specifically teaches learner drivers to give plenty of room and be alert when approaching cyclists or passing them; check mirrors and blind spots for cyclists when turning; keep a safe distance between the vehicle and the cyclists when overtaking; and look out for passing cyclists when opening the vehicle door. So all these are there. But as we have mentioned earlier, it is not so much just learning about it when you are at the learning stage. Do I have time?”
“I thank the Minister for agreeing to review the rule about cycling along footways. But I want to ask the Minister whether there is a budget put aside for promoting safe cycling as well as enforcement action taken against motorists who are dangerous drivers on the road and endangering the lives of cyclists, especially by squeezing cyclists alongside the roads, as well as action taken against reckless cyclists themselves who may be going against the flow of traffic and other traffic rules that they may have gone against. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: I thank Ms Ng for making this clarification which gives me an opportunity now to take points from my speech in a more sane manner. The fact is that Traffic Police does take enforcement action against motorists who endanger the lives of cyclists. The Traffic Police tells me that they take a serious view of this because cyclists are also, as I said in my response to Mr Charles Chong, one of the vulnerable groups - motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians like children and the elderly. Hence, the Traffic Police does issue summonses to drivers for offences, such as inconsiderate, careless or dangerous driving. I agree totally with Ms Ng that all of us are motorists ourselves and we should also be mindful of this vulnerable group. We do educate them through means like road safety education and, in particular, through exhibitions and other campaigns. In fact, Ms Ng's association is welcomed to work with the Traffic Police to see how we can also reach out to motorists. Of course, cyclists on their part must also not violate any commonsensical requirements, for example, not to cycle against the flow of traffic, or when you cycle at night, to have reflectors. These are all points which cyclists themselves must also bear in mind.”
“This would require coordinated action, but the blanket ban signals that cyclists have no business being on footways, even though the roads might be dangerous. I would also like to ask the Ministry to do more to promote safe cycling and to put aside a budget for it. It should mount a campaign, the way it mounts a campaign for motorcycle safety and road safety for motorcyclists. I would also like to ask the Ministry whether there has been any enforcement action taken against motorists ---”
“I would like to declare my interest as the Patron of the Singapore Amateur Cycling Association. Recently, I held a discussion with concerned cyclists who formed a Safe Cycling Taskforce after fellow cyclist Sylvester Ang was killed by a bus in December. Sir, his death is another painful reminder that our roads are just too dangerous for cyclists. We need to take a serious view of the vulnerability of this group of road users, especially as their numbers are increasing. But because it is an issue that cuts across several different Ministries, and requires coordinated action, it seems to fall between the cracks, with no real progress. I would urge the Ministry to take the lead to set up an inter-ministerial taskforce to look into the issue of bicycle safety, before more lives are lost. Sir, we need to be realistic. No matter how much enforcement or education is done, it is hard to make our roads safer for cyclists if our urban planners or transport policy-makers do not factor cyclists into their plans. Recognising this, several countries such as Australia have formed multi-agency committees on bicycle issues. Sir, there are currently many heartlanders using bicycles as a mode of transport from their home to school, market, MRT stations, etc. Many use the footpaths along the public road to commute responsibly as they felt that the roads are presently too dangerous, especially for students cycling to school. However, it is now an offence to cycle along a footway. Could this rule be reviewed, while making sure that the safety of the pedestrians is not compromised? Perhaps modifications could also be made to some footways, with clear signs for pedestrians and cyclists so that both could use the footway safely.”
“Today, the Government spends millions on subsidies for working parents who place their children in day care centres. The provision of similar supports to full-time homemaker with children under five years of age and homecare allowances would afford parents greater freedom to choose between caring for children at home or consuming state subsidised day care benefits.Sir, a homemaker's tax credit perhaps through the CPF will help them save for old age as well. Sir, to conclude, I know that there might be quite a number of calls for more help to the lower income and to those who might suffer from the fast pace of change and restructuring. I agree with the Finance Minister that we should not breed a culture of entitlement. In fact, we have been very cautious about handouts because we are worried about the crutch mentality that might creep in. And, indeed, in our MPS, sometimes we have cause to worry when residents turn up expecting financial help outright when they run up high household bills or credit loans which could have been avoided if they were more prudent and disciplined. There is already evidence of some sense of entitlement with the utility save scheme, and I wonder whether we should target it more at the lower income rather than spread it quite thinly also to the higher income and middle income groups. We need to be even more targeted and we need to be cautious and target our help at the elderly and the families who find it increasingly hard to cope because of circumstances largely beyond their control. Then it will indeed be a land of opportunity for all including those who now feel down and out and who want to look forward to a future of dignity and land of opportunity. On that note, I support the Budget.”
“I see a trend of more grandmothers coming to my meet-the-people sessions. And those who come for help often cite their adult children's inability to pay for them and on the problems coping with household bills, as their children wereabroad. This is not a problem for the present generation of older housewives only. We alreadysee in our Forum pages the debate about some younger women, well-qualified ones, choosing to give up their careers to be full-time housewives. And some become homemakers at great financial sacrifice, struggling to live on a limited single income. This dedication to the role of motherhood should be encouraged and not discouraged by our tax regime. Government policies should remain neutral on the issue of career choice for women, whether it is to be full-time housewife or in the workforce. Public policy should treat the women at home and in the workplace equally. But, presently, our policies are skewed towards freeing up women to be better workers, and not enough emphasis on policies that free upwomen to become better mothers. The conventional approach that we have today is implicity oriented towards helping mothers work while raising children or achieving what we call a work-life balance. But there are women who want to invest all their resources in taking care of their children and bringing them up for the first five to 10 years of their lives, and there are good reasons why they do that. The early years of childhood are critical for social and cognitive development and some mothers want to invest more heavily in shaping this development than in advancing their own careers.Sir, home care during the early childhood years is labour intensive and we should recognise the economic value of the homemaker's contribution during that period.”
“For the ordinary van, it is only $65 a month for a HDBcar park lot, whereas for the van with a wheelchair lift, it is $185 per month. Even the cost the VWOs have to bear is higher. Sir, I would also urge the Government to expend greater resources in helping the wheelchair-bound to integrate into society. Already, in many parts of the world, we see an ageing population. Ifwe want to make an economic case for it, it is a good investment. We probably will see more ageing tourists coming to our shores by the bus loads and if we have elderly friendly ramps and buildings at Orchard Road thatare hype and happening but also happening for the elderly, I think it will be good for us, for our elderly as well as for our economic growth. Sir, I hope that even as we make Orchard Road more exciting, we incorporate features that can make it easy for the wheelchair-bound to zip around. Ifwe go to New York, it is the land where everybody is busy rushing around butwe see people in wheelchairs wheezing around. It is part of the landscape. In Singapore,we do not see it in Orchard Road, and it is not because we do not have wheelchair-bound people. If we go to East Coast Parkway,we can see many coming out enjoying the view because they can use the facilities. But if they want to go shopping or if they want to enjoy the sights in Orchard Road, it is very difficult. Sir, I would urge that we prepare for the ageing population and we prepare for the fact that this region will see more ageing tourists in the future. The third group is housewives. Most of our caregivers are women and often housewives, but sometimes I wonder who cares for the elderly housewife. Who pays for the financial security and medical savings of these elderly housewives? These are issues that need to be addressed.”
“So to try and draw Singaporeans, the VWOs have managed to try to increase it to $1,000 but even then, it is very hard to attract Singaporeans, and I doubt whether these jobs can be redesigned and I doubt whether the VWOs can afford to pay more to attract Singaporeans.Sir, I would urge the Government to consider either waiving the levy or reducing the levy for VWOs. The Government can also help reduce operating costs of the VWOs by giving exemption on road tax for the vans which are equipped with hydraulic wheelchair lifts, which are operated by the VWOs, to transport the elderly to and from the centre and the home. This is a necessity. Increasingly, we see more and more Singaporeans in wheelchairs as they are unable to move around on their own. And these wheelchair-bound elderly cannot use public transport and they cannot afford taxis. They have no choice. If they want to go for rehabilitation, they need these vans. Presently, the vans with a wheelchair lift have to pay road tax andERP. I urge the Government to consider allowing the VWOs to be exempted from this to reduce their operating costs. Presently, ifa VWO has one van and there are 50 elderly people, one van can take four elderly personsat one time one hour to fetch four people tothe centre. If there are 50 elderly people, it would take more than 10 hours to take all the elderly peopletothe centre and it will be closing time. So VWOs now have an increasing need to have more vans with this facility. So please help them to serve our elderly better. Already, these VWOs have to pay higher car park charges for their vans because of the tonnage. Because they have wheelchair lifts, they have to pay more than the ordinary van.”
“This is because health and social conditions are often tightly intertwined and medical intervention cannot be successful without also addressing social issues. We need to encourage elder care that provides nursing andphysiotherapy, to improve the elderly physical condition as well as the social activities that help them to bementally stimulated and emotionally connected. Sir, this is where I feel that the policy is a little bit slow to catch up with what is going on on the ground. On the ground, the integration is already happening and we see more and more centres offering this. I suggest that all-day rehabilitation centres in Singapore now under the current ambit of MOH and all community-based rehabilitation day-care centres for the elderly under the purview of MCYS be integrated under one Ministry for better synergy and maximisation of resources. This would also facilitate making subsidies transferable and portable among the day rehabilitation centres and elder care centres. Sir,we also need to help VWOs specialise in elder care, and this is part of our building community vision. The Government has been encouraging the public sector to step forward to plug gaps, and we know that VWOs often run on a very lean outfit, with very tight budgets. The recent announcement of the hike in foreign worker levy has caused some to be quite concerned, because VWOs, especially those that specialise in elder care, do rely on foreign workers because they need to keep their pay low, especially for the multi-tasked care staff. The multi-tasked care staff do things like feed the elderly, bring them to the toilet, clean the centre.VWOs pay about $800 a month, and this is not the sort of pay that would draw Singaporeans.”
“Butthere is a shift now, more and more, for the elderly to move from residential care in hospitals towards home-based care. But for this to be successful, we need to develop and support integrated community-based services that provide substitutes and alternatives such as daycare rehabilitation centres which allow the elderly to get healthier and, at the same time, return home at the end of the day and, hopefully, one day find a job that they could be proud of. Sir, presently I want to focus on rehabilitation because it is a very important part of the elderly's life, when one ages,getsa stroke,various problems andrequire care. Presently, patients are not allowed to use their Medisave to pay part of the cost of going to daycare rehabilitation centres based in the community. But that is an anomaly because they could useMedisave if they go to a MOH registered rehabilitation centre attached to hospitals. Ifan elderly suffering from a strokeneeds rehabilitation, it makes no differencewhether it is a MOH registeredor MCYS registered rehabilitation centre. But with MOH registered,onecould use Medisave, for the other, one could not. Sir, I would ask the Government to change the mindset towards these community-based day services for the elderly. It is not a sign that children are eroding their sense of filial piety if they send their elderly to rehabilitation centres or day care centres for the elderly. On the contrary, it is a sign that children care enough for their parents to make sure they get integrated care. And at the Government level, we should also integrate health and social care services and treat them as equals in terms of subsidies for elder care.”