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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“It is important, however, to move further downstream and to make sure that Singaporeans of all backgrounds have a strong foundation for learning. Sir, education is supposed to be the means by which all students acquire a chance to realise the Singapore Dream. We need to invest more in education of the lower-income children from their pre-school days. Previously, when most kids do not go to pre-school and there was not such a wide range of pre-school centres, there was not much difference in the starting point between children at Primary 1. The entry point was ground zero. Now the entry point is five levels up for the richer kids who attend a host of enrichment classes, studied at expensive, elite pre-school centres and come from a home environment which encourages learning. For the poorer kid who starts at ground zero, the achievement gap is becoming wider. We have to strive to close it and make sure that they have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. At this point, I would just like to respond to Nominated Member of Parliament Viswa Sadasivan's point where he made a rather sweeping comment that he suspects too many legitimate cases are falling through the cracks. I would like to say that there are various financial schemes on the ground that help lower-income Singaporeans to cope, including the CCC welfare fund where we can help Singaporeans on the spot and very quickly. We are not bound by the income ceiling that is set by MCYS. In fact, we are very flexible in how we dispense the ComCare payouts that we have at our disposal. So, I am not sure where he gets the idea that there are too many legitimate cases falling through the cracks.”
“We sometimes see young people from poor backgrounds who feel that there are too many obstacles to achieving a better life and they become victims of low expectations. They feel that society looks down on them. The danger for some is that they then turn to gangs to win respect and acquire self-esteem. I can see this danger in one of my residents who came to see me for a job. He is 29, healthy, his highest qualification is GCE "O" levels. To add to his woes, he does not have a roof over his head. His mother, who is divorced and works as a part-time cleaner, does not qualify for a rental flat because she has sold two HDB flats previously. He roams around in mosques, void decks and parks. When he saw me recently at MPS, he told me he wanted to give up on life. I told him he is still young, things can change for the better, do not give up hope and we would help him. The good news is that he has found a job, just recently, as a car jockey earning about $12 an hour, working three days a week. But it is a temporary job. On the housing problem, I am still working on it and appealing to the HDB and I am sure we can come to a solution for them. I asked my young resident, "What is your ambition, what do you want to be?" He said he does not know. I cite this story to illustrate that, for some, they suffer from a deeper problem – the poverty of aspirations. They started with high hopes, with aspirations just like others in society: they want a job, a decent home, a good life. But over time, they find too many obstacles in their paths and get discouraged. More often than not, it is because they lag behind in their education and skills. Rightly, some MPs today have focused on the need to upgrade the skills of the workers.”
“This is to take into account the rising cost of living and the fact that wages at the lowest end tend to remain stagnant and even decline in this fast-paced globalised economy through no real fault of these workers themselves. Sir, some MPs have spoken about the pros and cons of the minimum wage. I look at it this way: there are various tools in the toolbox to address the problems of the widening income gap and the downward pressure on the wages at the lowest end, minimum wage is one tool. We have looked at it, we studied it, we looked at the pros and cons. We studied the countries that have used this tool and we are not convinced that it is a right tool for our low-wage workers given the circumstances that we are facing today. There is evidence that this tool may hurt them more than help them. So we are leaving that tool in the toolbox. Our preferred tool is Workfare. It is a made-in-Singapore tool, it is relatively new, tried it out the last few years, we can sharpen it and we should sharpen it, we should strengthen it and improve it. We should give it time to work but we should be bold in making sure that it works. Having said that, if after strengthening and sharpening Workfare and using the various tools in our toolbox, such as increasing the job scales, increasing productivity, best sourcing. If after the tools fail, it is worthwhile looking at the other tools in the toolbox which may include the minimum wage scheme. Sir, beyond Workfare, we have to address the emergence of an underclass who may feel that they have problems of access to education, housing, good jobs and financial security. We have to look out for any structural inequalities which may impede their progress.”
“I would urge the Minister to review how Workfare is paid to such workers so that they are not forced to turn to welfare. Right now, about two-thirds of Workfare is paid into their CPF accounts. I know the rationale is to help these workers save for their retirement needs. But to be effective in supplementing the income of low-wage workers, the Workfare payout should be treated like wages. That is, it should have the same CPF contribution rates as wages and not more. If you are aged 35 to 50 years, the total CPF contribution today is about 35% of wages. Going by this formula, the Workfare payout should be about 65% in cash, not one-third as it is today. As the CPF contributions decrease with age, this also means that older workers will get to take home more of the Workfare payouts in cash. Another issue is the frequency of payments. It is now paid only twice a year. To make an impact, it should be paid every month like their monthly wages or at least every quarter as long as they have work. Some low-wage workers I spoke to, including Rosy, do not know how much they have received from Workfare and cannot quite remember when they received it. Sir, Workfare needs to work and it needs to be fair. It should make a meaningful impact on the low-wage worker's current standard of living, not once in six months almost as a charitable handout. Workfare should also be fair in valuing the contributions of these low-wage workers who have helped to build up Singapore and whose unglamorous jobs are a benefit to us all. Their services are crucial to maintaining our standard of living. What will be do without our cleaners, for example? Their pay is paltry despite the importance of their services in improving our daily lives. Sir, the amount of Workfare should be enhanced.”
“There will always be some who are faster, stronger and richer – and others who constitute the bottom. But inequality does not have to be as stark and polarised as it is in Singapore today. It is important that we have an honest conversation about the widening income gap without any political posturing. If left unaddressed, it will breed resentment at the bottom and undermine trust in our open and meritocratic system. It is not just the poor who suffer when social divisions become toxic but the entire society. At our Meet-the-People sessions (MPS), we come across residents who struggle to make ends meet because of their low wages and their family circumstances. Some are resilient and self-reliant. They include one of my residents, Rosy Law, who is 72. She works as a cleaner and earns about $650 a month. She is a widow and supports her 44-year-old son who is visually-handicapped. He sometimes busks at MRT stations for some income. Members may see him at the MRT station in Tampines. When she saw me at my MPS, she refused to accept any financial assistance. All she asked was for help to repair her ceiling leak which is a common problem in ageing estates, which we did. I admire her spirit. It is a courageous can-do spirit. We must support such a spirit and strengthen it. At the same time, I know that she is struggling to cope with her household bills. One of the best ways to help her is through her wages and that of her son. How to lift their wages so that they can enjoy a better life? It is hard for them to be more productive in their present jobs. We lift their wages through Workfare. But, presently, the way Workfare is structured does not give sufficient cash support to meet their immediate needs.”
“Sir, in my speech, I would like to focus on the Singapore Dream and ask whether it is still within reach of all Singaporeans. Certainly, many Singaporeans are enjoying a high quality of life with a decent job and better bonuses today. Most have a roof over their heads, and thanks to HDB's home ownership policies, the homes are getting higher in quality every year with better estates. But even as our country chalked up stellar GDP growth last year, we need to make sure that we are creating an economy and a society that lifts up all Singaporeans and not just the top 20%. We have to look at the lowest 20% and make sure that they have the opportunity and the support to move up the income ladder. The ladder used to be pretty short and most people started at the same ground level. You could see the top, and you know that with hard work and perseverance, you could reach the higher rungs. But over the years, the widening income gap has made the ladder much longer, with the top rung shrouded beyond the clouds. For those right at the bottom, even the middle rungs might seem beyond reach. According to figures from the Department of Statistics, between 1995 and 2009, the increase in the average monthly household income for the top 20% experienced a fantastic increase of 120%. For the lowest 20%, the increase was about 50%. One may say, well, at least it is an increase of 50% over the 14-year period. Certainly, there is progress; that is true. But let us examine the actual facts for a more complete picture. In terms of quantum, the increase for the bottom 20% is small. They experienced an income increase of only $330 over 14 years. For the top 20%, the increase was about $6,700 over the same period. Granted, humans are not all equal in ability.”
“Sir, would the Senior Parliamentary Secretary agree that a clear distinction has to be made between motorised bicycles which ride on motors and pedal bicycles which ride on human legs? Because motorised bicycles go at a very high speed, they cause greater danger to pedestrians. Can I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to clearly differentiate the rules and approaches to dealing with the two categories and have step-up enforcement actions against motorised bicycles on footways? Motorised bicycles are more like motorbikes rather than pedal bicycles. They should not be called cyclists because they are more like riders.”
“Mr Speaker, according to the latest household expenditure survey, HDB residents spent up to 36% of their household expenditure on food including hawker fare. So any increase in the food prices is felt keenly. Is the Minister aware that in recent weeks, the cost of a cup of coffee has gone up by five cents to 20 cents in some food courts, attributed to global price hikes in sugar and coffee? Is the Minister also aware that the privatisation of hawker centres and coffee shops to large chains has led to higher prices? Nasi padang in some food courts can cost more than five dollars. Can the Minister assure us that food prices remain affordable, especially to people with modest income, and that businesses will not use inflation as an excuse to jack up prices and profiteer? The Minister spoke about investing prudently. Can the Minister address the trend of banks encouraging people to spend and to incur debts with easy credit and promotions rather than to save and to invest prudently? And does the Minister agree that the surge in the number of credit cards per person and the growth of rollover balances are danger signs that people are being ensnared in the cycle of debt?”
“It climbs significantly when individuals are in school, but steadily decreases as they enter adulthood. More men than women are active in sports. Sir, we should have more sports competitions and programmes targeted at the middle-aged and the seniors, with categories for men and women. Right now, the impression is that the sports venues, the plans and programmes are mostly aimed at the youth and at sports excellence, as with the Youth Olympic Games. But more efforts should be directed towards encouraging a wider range of Singaporeans to take part in sports to make sports a part of their lifestyle so that we can create indeed a sporting nation and a sporting culture. And these biennial Singapore Games can indeed be a step towards this. With that, I support the motion. 6.16 pm”
“This can include bike proficiency courses for beginners to the advanced, and safe cycling courses for both young and old. Residents will especially benefit from having such a venue at their doorstep. They can picnic in the park, they can ride a bicycle, take part in one of the many courses or watch world-class sporting events. This is just a glimmer of the vast potential of this venue. Sir, to realise its full value, the Government needs to commit the necessary resources. It would not be realistic to expect such high maintenance venues to be operated by the National Sports Associations on the basis of "economic sustainability", especially given the community use and the need to keep it affordable. The Government should lend its full support especially in the initial years. It would seem to me, given our land and financial constraints, that we should focus our resources on creating and sustaining sports venues which will benefit the majority of Singaporeans directly. Like the Tampines Bike Park, the Sports Hub, which will provide integrated sports facilities to the public, falls into this category. I am not sure, however, about the proposed Changi Motorsports hub. The venue for hard core racing, which will cost $330 million, is slated to be built on the prime seafront land in Changi and its ambition is to be Asia’s premier motorsports destination. I am not entirely convinced why we should want to be pouring scarce resources into this venture. Should we not try to be more focused on the sports we want to excel at, and which we want Singaporeans to take part in and make a part of their lifestyle? This brings me to my final point on the trends in sports participation in Singapore.”
“Sir, the YOG showed how Team Singapore can deliver an Olympic-class sports event at a high level within a short time. Having reached this level, how do we sustain the momentum so that Singapore can indeed be a sporting nation – a nation in which everyone, young and old, can discover and develop their own sporting experience, increase their participation and improve performances in sports? Sir, one of the lasting legacies of the YOG is our upgraded sports venues. Before I proceed, I would like to declare my interest as Patron of the Singapore Amateur Cycling Association (SACA) and, as you know, Tampines is Singapore's first cycling town. But had it not been for the YOG, the Tampines Bike Park would not have had the Olympic-standard mountain bike trail and the BMX track or the 1,000 seats. I watched some races during the YOG and the stalls were packed and the atmosphere was just great but how do we keep that passion alive and make sure sports venues are well used and well maintained? The hills and mounds of the BMX race track need regular maintenance, especially in our tropical weather. How do we make sure the venues benefit not only elite athletes but also the community at large? The Tampines Bike Park provides an ideal training ground for top athletes and sports enthusiasts alike. It can be home to the Singapore Amateur Cycling Association (SACA) and a wide array of cycling events which will lift our sports scene and develop Singapore into a premier cycling venue in the region. And while it works to develop the skills and talent of our national squads, the bike park can also offer a range of courses for individuals, community sports clubs and schools and run throughout the year.”
“Sir, I would like to commend the Minister and his team for delivering a successful YOG that did Singapore and Singaporeans proud. There were initial hiccups, as to be expected of such an international event of this scale and size. I think that the Minister and his team, like the athletes and volunteers, also showed the Singapore spirit in the way they worked to overcome the challenges and rose to show Singapore's resilience and determination. Sir, having heard the Minister's explanation which was so detailed and which gave a clear view of why we spent so much on the YOG, can I ask the Minister whether these details could have been released before the YOG so that the public can fully rally around the YOG without the distraction of quarrelling over the figures and without wondering whether the investment is worthwhile?”
“Thank you, Sir. Can I ask the Minister for an assurance that, given that distance fares are based on the distance travelled on the fastest route, which includes walking time and waiting time, senior citizens are not unfairly penalised for being less mobile and less savvy about the routes to take? Can I also ask the Minister: given that the Minister is encouraging the constituencies to buy public transport vouchers to give to the needy who cannot afford the increase in public transport fares, can he encourage the public transport operators to pick up the charge of printing and handling the public transport vouchers because then it will reflect the true dollar value of the vouchers to our residents from our welfare fund?”
“Can I ask the Minister, to what extent has our rapid urban development limited our island's capacity to run off streams caused by strong rainfall? I would also like to know if Minister would ensure that besides providing drains, our urban planners would incorporate techniques that promote infiltration and storage of water in the soil column and reduce impermeable surfaces. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, for any urban development, before the plans can be approved, the PUB would have to check as to whether or not there will be an adequate consideration given for the drainage system. Whatever run off that is produced as a result of the development, it must not over stress that drainage system that we have. If there are exceptional cases, we will work with the developers to see what are the ways they can ensure that the run off from the development does not aggravate the existing system. The Member suggested some ideas. I will pass these to the PUB to see what they can do further with the contractors and the developers. Thus far, we have not come across any incidents where flooding is a result of an existing development. More often than not, we would have calculated together with the developer what is the run off, and whether or not the existing drains have the capacity to absorb the additional run off.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister, from the cases of those radicalised by external teachers who preach militant jihad, whether there is a profile of Singaporeans who are vulnerable to such influences and whether their radicalisation is linked not only to external influences but also internal developments in the country and their community such as unhappiness with certain policies, their lot in life or their circumstances.”
“Thank you. Sir, there is not so much time and I see that our colleague, Mr Christopher de Souza, has one more question.”
“Sir, at the Meet-the-People Sessions, I seem to see an increasing number of elderly residents who say that they cannot live with their children, either because the flats are too cramped and crowded or the relationship has broken down irretrievably and cannot be reconciled. Given such a situation, can the HDB review its policy to allow for such appeals where the need for rental flat is quite real? And can I ask the Parliamentary Secretary, if he agrees that this is not so much a matter to do with filial piety but the fact that it is a reality on the ground where some family members just cannot get along and, rather than force them to put up with further hardships, to provide them a solution with rental flats?”
“Can I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if the Ministry is satisfied with the take-up rate, and also whether the Ministry has received feedback from the public whether the amount received from this Lease Buyback Scheme is sufficient for the elderly who want to use it as a way to monetise their flats.”
“We speak up to make sure that legitimate concerns of the people get a fair hearing and to help find constructive solutions to the country’s complex problems. At the heart of good governance must be men and women of tested ability and integrity who are prepared to act in the national interest, rather than their own. The PAP has developed a system that has allowed it to select men and women of integrity, commitment to society and ability to come forward to serve. It does not always get it right but, by and large, the system has served Singapore well. Singapore has scored well for its social and economic achievements, for its organisational ability to overcome crises, for its transparency and for being one of the least corrupt countries in the world. This system will survive as long as we can get clean, effective and dedicated people to be in Parliament and to uphold this system. It is a virtuous circle. But no government, however intelligent, honest and far-sighted, can succeed without the support of people. Good governance must therefore be accompanied by strong public support. This requires a working democracy and goes beyond the mechanics of winning elections. It is about ensuring the political legitimacy of the Government and constantly building public trust in the integrity of the system and keeping that trust. The end goal of any governance system is not institutional strength, not even economic well-being. It is not about meeting World Bank, Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) or Freedom House benchmarks. It is about building a nation. It is about creating an inclusive society where citizens not only progress, but feel a sense of ownership and belonging to the country.”
“It opens the door to the unprincipled pursuits of individual self-interest and group of interests. To help prevent this, it is crucial that the process of selecting the NMPs must be made even more stringent, rigorous, transparent and more open to public scrutiny. At the very least, there should be more than one Committee interviewing and vetting the nominees to judge their motivations and commitment. What we want to guard against in the future is the sight of NMPs sauntering into the Chamber, enjoying the unearned status and privilege of being called MPs, and leaving after two years without any discernible contribution to the House. Sir, in the end, policies and laws are made by men and women who make decisions, and not just debate endlessly in Parliament. Leaders are elected to formulate and explain the decisions they consider best for the country, after weighing all the factors. They are accountable to the people. Sir, the elected PAP MPs may perhaps feel this most keenly, because we take seriously our obligations to the people and spend much time addressing their needs on the ground. We often get abused by residents for unpopular PAP policies, even if they are the right ones for the country. To add insult to injury, we also have to endure being called PAP "yes men" or "yes women", even though our record may show otherwise. Sir, anyone who takes the trouble to read the Hansard can find ample evidence of Ministers being taken to task by PAP backbenchers. The PAP is not a monolith. The PAP backbenchers will continue to ask sharp questions and will continue to be alert. At least, I hope I will be and I intend to be [Laughter]. In this respect, a principal difference between the PAP backbenchers and the Opposition is that we do not oppose for opposition’s sake.”
“I hope that, with smaller GRCs and more single seats, the Opposition will contest all seats so that more Singaporeans will get to exercise their vote. Whether the Opposition enter Parliament through the front door or what some people call the "back door", they at least can be said to represent a segment who had voted for them. Thirty percent is at least a proportion of the public mandate. The same, however, cannot be said for the Nominated MPs. Hence, I have grave reservations over the proposal to make NMPs a permanent feature of Parliament. Unlike the Opposition, who at least fight the elections to get into Parliament, the NMPs are really there at the grace and favour of each Parliament, subject to Parliament approval after every election. They have no obligation to speak for the people, and indeed, have not earned the right to. They have not submitted themselves through the electoral process to open scrutiny by the people, for the privilege to represent them in this House. Some people say, "Oh, the PAP MPs who had walkovers are no different!" But there is a big difference and a big one. The PAP candidates submitted themselves to the electoral process and were ready to put themselves through the rigours of an election campaign. The fact that the process was not carried through was not their choosing. As for the NMPs, their mandate to speak in Parliament comes not from the people, but from the elected MPs of each Parliament. The elected MPs may or may not give their assent to their continued presence in Parliament. To remove this requirement is to remove this important distinction of representative democracy. It offends the fundamental democratic principles of representation and accountability.”
“For this reason, I see merit in expanding the NCMP scheme. It will provide an opportunity for the younger generation to assess for themselves the quality of our Opposition politicians and decide for themselves if having more Opposition can improve the governance of this country. The younger generation will face new problems, often brought about by the very solutions of the old ones, and these, even if they can in turn be solved, generate new situations, and with them new solutions, and so on, and forever unpredictably. They must learn to take ownership of their decisions and the consequences for the country. After all, our education system, with its emphasis on critical and creative thinking as well as national education, has provided them the foundation to emerge as intelligent and responsible adults. In my view, the current problem with Singaporean democracy is not so much the lack of opportunity for the Opposition to get elected, but rather the lack of opportunity for many of our citizens to vote. This is because there was no Opposition contesting in their constituency, leading to a walkover. Many berate the PAP for this, as if it is the PAP’s job to also ensure that the Opposition find and field sufficient credible candidates for a General Election. They forget that the large number of walkovers was in fact an Opposition strategy to create the "by-election" effect, where it intentionally returns the PAP to power so that voters can feel more secure about voting for Opposition. It strikes me as not only unfair, but quite ridiculous to blame the PAP for the walkovers when it was the party that fielded candidates for all seats.”
“The other teams who hardly train, however, turn up at the race and moan, year in and year out, that the race is very unfair as they have a hard time trying to beat Team A. So one year, the organisers decided, among other things, to give away nine more prizes, without diluting the spirit of the competition. They may not be the same as the gold, silver and bronze trophies, but they allow the best losers to get onto the podium, receive a trophy and accept applause from their supporters for their effort. If nothing else, this should boost their morale and motivate them to do better. Certainly, there is no lack of Opposition parties – there are more than 20 of them registered. I hope, if this Bill is passed, the nine Opposition candidates who get into Parliament on the NCMP ticket will value the privilege of being in this House and seek to lift the level of intellectual debate – not lower it. If one takes the Opposition forums on the Internet as a barometer of the intellectual debate in its camp, however, one does not have cause for confidence. Our experience in the 1960s with the Opposition, the Barisan Sosialis, has also demonstrated how quickly Parliament could be turned into a gladiatorial blood sport. The Barisan was intent on frustrating each and every measure of the Government to bring progress, and on sustaining an atmosphere of instability to bring the Government down. More time was spent on fighting political battles than on solving the most urgent of problems facing the country. The real victims were the Singapore people. The older generation went through these traumatic times of political instability and uncertainty. But the younger generation of Singaporeans have no memory of these times and have little interest in history.”
“And some PAP candidates who do win, after years of hard slog on the ground and a tough fight at the election, will enter Parliament only to find their beaten rivals take their place alongside them in the Chamber. Not only that, the NCMPs, given their more provocative comments and populist calls, would tend to receive better media coverage of their Parliament speeches than the elected PAP MPs, even if the latter may speak with more substance. Hence, I cannot help but wonder at the charge made by some that this proposal is calculated to stifle the growth of the Opposition, that this is a PAP ploy to perpetuate one-party rule. One would think that, on the contrary, with at least nine Opposition figures in Parliament, the Opposition can use the high-profile platform of this august Chamber to prove itself and build up its strength. Do not forget that when the PAP started its political life in the Legislative Assembly in 1955, it had only four Assemblymen. Yet from that four, the PAP managed to build itself up into a potent political force. By 1959, it was able to contest all seats and win the elections. And also do not forget, throughout that period, the English language press were against the PAP. If the Opposition of today keeps blaming the media and the PAP for its failures and weaknesses, I think after some time, fair-minded Singaporeans can sort out fact from fiction and draw their own conclusions. The situation is not unlike teams of athletes taking part in a relay. Team A has been sweeping the top three prizes year after year, to the chagrin of the other teams. It has been winning because it has the strongest athletes with a fast anchor runner – they recruit the best, train hard all year round, work as a united team and never lose sight of their goal.”
“Sir, today, some important changes have been proposed to our political system, which will have an impact on the way we govern in the future. I would like to focus on two proposed changes and discuss them in turn. First, to increase the minimum number of the NCMPs to nine, and, second, to make the NMP system a permanent feature in Parliament. In the case of NCMPs, objectively, it is not the job of the ruling Government to help the Opposition get into Parliament – the onus is really on the Opposition camp. It is the job of a good Government in Singapore, however, to work towards a democratic society that is based on justice and equality, as enunciated in our National Pledge. It is not a question of seeking to maintain PAP hegemony, as some cynics may charge, but of upholding the country's basic creed. The Opposition parties have long claimed that the reason they do not win many seats in the General Elections is that the playing field – they say – is uneven. Some think this is just an excuse they trot out for their inability to field quality candidates and put up a credible and compelling programme to voters. Others, on the other hand, think this charge has more than a grain of truth, and point to the big GRCs anchored by Ministers as giving the PAP an unfair edge. Whatever one's opinion on the issue, I think, with nine guaranteed seats for the Opposition in the next Parliament and also with the increase of single seats from nine to 12, the tilt of the playing field could be said to be more in their favour. For even if they lose, nine of the highest-scoring Opposition candidates can still get into Parliament. Such a privilege does not extend to the PAP candidates who may lose the election by just a few votes.”
“Sir, can I urge the Senior Parliamentary Secretary not to look at the five demonstration cycling towns as models for the rest of the island but rather to look at the congested cities in the world, such as Paris, London, Geneva, Chicago, Edinburgh, who have managed to incorporate cycling into their urban transport systems with bike lanes on roads, with clear signs that indicate that cyclists have a right to be on the roads? Sir, I feel that the emphasis on Tampines or the other towns in Singapore is a red herring and might lead us in the wrong direction because what we need is a clear national policy. On the other question of education, can I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary if he could work with the Traffic Police to ensure that the message is also targeted at motorists and not only at cyclists? For safe cycling to take place on roads, we need motorists to look out for them and are conditioned to look out for them.”
“The average DSR for new flats that were launched in the last six months in non-mature estates ranged from 17% for a 2-room flat to 23% for a 5-room flat to 25% for a 3-room flat, as shown in Table 1*. This is close to the CPF contribution rate of 23%, and well within the international benchmark for housing affordability at 30%-35%. The DSR has remained at a comfortable level for first-timer households due to generous subsidies. All new flats come with a substantial market subsidy. First-timers can also enjoy a CPF Housing Grant of up to $40,000 when they buy a resale flat, Design Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flat or Executive Condominium (EC). Households earning less than $5,000 monthly can apply for Additional Housing Grant (AHG) of up to $40,000. Eligible households can also get HDB concessionary loans. Sir, I wish to assure Members that the Government will continue to set prices for new HDB flats to ensure that they remain affordable to first-time home buyers. *Cols. 175-180.”
“ The Minister for National Development (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB Resale Price Index (RPI) has risen by an average of 3.2% per annum in the last decade, from 1999 to 2009. In comparison, the rise in median household income was marginally higher at 3.3% per annum over the same period. If Members would refer to Chart 1*, it illustrates what I have just said. Chart 1 also shows that, during this period, prices have fluctuated from year to year. Some years prices have gone up, other years prices have come down. *Cols. 175-176. Hence, in answer to the Member's question, it is possible that prices of resale flats have risen faster than incomes when indexed against different years. Using more recent years to index the growth, we find that the annual RPI growth exceeded income growth, due to the strong demand and the quick economic recovery. This is shown in the latter part of Chart 2*. On the other hand, if we go back further and use 1995 as the base year, prices rose by 2.8%, lower than income growth at 3.2%. This is illustrated in Chart 3*. Sir, ultimately, what matters is whether, at all times, first-time home buyers are able to afford HDB flats. This is what the Government is committed to achieve. It does so in two ways: one, by making available new flats of different sizes and in different locations for different income groups, from basic 2-room flats to premium 5-room flats, and two, by setting the prices of these flats such that they are well within the means of buyers within the income ceilings. To check on affordability, HDB uses the Debt-Service Ratio (DSR), which compares the monthly mortgage instalment to the monthly household income.”
“Obviously, we have decided to maintain this posture and will review it next, when October comes around. The second question that Mdm Ho has is about inflation. The whole idea is to have the exchange rate put on a gradual and modest appreciation path so as to tighten monetary policy as a way to bring inflation down. But once you use the exchange rate as the key instrument, you cannot use rate of interest, otherwise the two will work in contradiction to one another. Her third question relates to the impact of the appreciation. As I mentioned, with the exchange rate getting stronger, this impacts us in two ways: one is because we are a very import-dependent economy, it will lower our cost of import resources. At the same time, it affects our exports. But because a high component of our export comes from imported resources, this has not affected our export competitiveness in the long term. As to specifically the impact on the tourist industry, our study shows that even though the currency's exchange rate is an important factor, what really draws people to Singapore are the attractions. I think relative exchange rate is a factor but not the most important factor. CORRELATION BETWEEN MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND RESALE PRICE INDEX 4. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for National Development (a) how has the median household income risen in comparison with the HDB Resale Price Index (RPI) over the past decade; (b) has the annual HDB RPI increase been higher than median household income growth when indexed against different years; and (c) in light of the announcements made in Budget 2010, how is the Government making sure that flats remain affordable for first-time homebuyers.”
“In the longer term, the steady appreciation of the exchange rate is in line with our strong economic fundamentals. It keeps inflation low and stable, which helps to preserve the purchasing power of Singaporeans’ income and savings. It also provides a stable and conducive environment for businesses to undertake long-term investments, thus enhancing competitiveness and providing the basis for sustained quality economic growth for Singapore. Mdm Ho Geok Choo (West Coast): Sir, I have three supplementary questions. One, how far would our gradual appreciation policy continue? Is it possible for the Singapore dollar to reach the previous high of 1.3438 against the US dollar? Second question: traditionally, MAS has used the exchange rate as a policy tool. Will there come a time when the Singapore dollar has appreciated to a level deemed too high that interest rate will have to be raised? In that situation, will inflation become a serious issue? The third question is this. If the appreciation of the Singapore dollar continues, would it impact Singapore's position as a major tourist destination now that we have positioned ourselves as such, with the opening of the two integrated resorts (IRs) and the remaking of Orchard Road? How would it affect our export competitiveness?  Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I explained in my answer, our stance in our monetary policy is taken through the exchange rate, and this works for the medium term. Since we adopted this in the 1970s, it has proven to be fairly effective given our very open economy and our high dependence on trade. Over the years, through our monetary policy, we have kept inflation rate in Singapore low and kept the economy competitive. We have six-monthly reviews on our monetary policy.”
“In April 2010, MAS announced that it would shift to a modest and gradual appreciation of the Singapore Dollar Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (S$NEER) policy band, in addition to an upward re-centring of the band. This effectively implies a tighter monetary policy stance. This policy decision is appropriate, considering that the Singapore economy has recovered strongly from the global financial crisis and is expected to continue on a firm path, given improved prospects in the external environment. At the same time, domestic inflationary pressures are likely to pick up in tandem with the rise in global commodity prices and domestic costs. Moreover, the effects of the shift in policy stance work with a lag, and economic activity is already beyond pre-crisis levels. Thus, it is timely to unwind the policy that was put in place during the downturn, and return to a gradual and modest appreciation of the exchange rate. The adjustment to the monetary policy stance at this juncture will thus ensure that economic growth is sustainable going forward. There are two main ways a stronger Singapore dollar will impact the domestic economy. First, the majority of products we consume and use in production are imported from abroad. A stronger exchange rate will, therefore, reduce the cost of these imported goods for both consumers and producers. Second, the stronger Singapore dollar will help moderate external demand for our goods and services and ease the demand for domestic resources, such as commercial and industrial space, as well as labour inputs. This will help prevent domestic business costs, such as wages and rentals, from rising too rapidly and ensure overall macroeconomic stability.”
“Nevertheless, I think during this sharp rebound, we must expect some tightness. As I explained in my answer, we expect pressures to rise in the labour market. We also expect not just domestic factors but also external factors to affect us through higher commodity prices, particularly energy prices. These are some of the consequences that we have to manage with the stronger recovery that we have. The main instrument in our monetary policy is to implement changes through the exchange rate. As I will explain in my answer to the next question, this is our key lever for monetary policy. Our economy is very open and we have decided to use the exchange rate rather than the rate of interest. Nevertheless, there are other levers or instruments that we can use, particularly administrative measures with regard to asset prices. The Government has already been doing so towards the end of last year and, again, in February this year. So, we are watching the situation very carefully. BENEFITS OF GRADUAL APPRECIATION OF SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Senior Minister as the Singapore Dollar Nominal Effective Exchange Rate policy shifts from that of a zero per cent appreciation to one of modest and gradual appreciation, will he provide an assessment on how this policy will benefit or impact us.  Mr Lim Hng Kiang (for the Senior Minister): Mr Speaker, Sir, Singapore adopts an exchange rate-centred monetary policy to maintain price stability for sustained economic growth over the medium-term horizon. Given the small and open nature of our economy and our dependence on trade, the exchange rate has a significant influence on domestic prices which, in turn, is critical for the economic decisions of households and businesses.”
“Specifically, wage pressures will build as the labour market tightens, while asset values could rise in tandem with the improvement in economic fundamentals. Rising global commodity prices, particularly energy prices, could also push up producer and consumer prices in the economy. The overall CPI inflation in 2010 is thus projected to be between 2.5% and 3.5%. This is higher than the 0.6% inflation in 2009, but lower than the 6.6% inflation in 2008.  Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah): Sir, two questions. In the Economic Review Committee (ERC) Report, it was mentioned that a 3% to 5% GDP growth per year will be healthy for an economy at our stage of development. Given that we have seen such a stunning strong growth for the first quarter and that we could possibly see double-digit growth for the year, I would like to ask the Minister whether there is enough slack or capacity within our economy to sustain such a strong growth. Secondly, given that high growth will imply rising cost and inflation, besides the strong Singapore dollar policy, will the Government look at other policy tools or measures to rein in inflation and rising asset prices?   Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, first, we must take the strong growth this year in perspective. We have had two years of recession. The recession started around the middle of 2008 up to the middle of 2009. In fact, in 2008, our growth was 1%; in 2009, our growth was minus 2%. If we take the three-year period as a whole, the strong growth this year is actually a rebound from the very weak conditions in 2008 and 2009. If we take the three-year period, in fact, this is equivalent to a growth rate of about 2.4% per year. So, it is not something that is beyond the potential capacity of our economy.”
“Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what are the reasons for the sharp upward revision in the GDP growth forecast for 2010; (b) whether the economic growth is expected to be broad based; (c) whether strong growth is likely to further fuel asset inflation and higher costs; and (d) whether the Ministry still sees downside risks on the horizon.  The Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, MTI recently revised the 2010 GDP growth forecast upwards, from 4.5% to 6.5%, to % to 9%. The revised forecast takes two key factors into account. First, the Singapore economy posted exceptionally strong growth since the beginning of the year. Based on advance estimates, Singapore’s GDP grew by 32% on a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted annualised basis in the first quarter of 2010. On a year-on-year basis, it expanded by 13%, with robust growth rates recorded in all the key manufacturing, construction and services sectors. This indicates that the economic recovery is becoming broad based and more entrenched. Second, the upgrade in GDP forecast also reflects further signs of improvement in external economies. Notably, the broad recovery in the US economy, coupled with buoyant domestic demand in China, will support the recovery of trade flows and benefit manufacturers and exporters in the region, including Singapore. However, we are mindful that several downside risks remain. These include a sovereign debt crisis in Europe and a weak recovery in private final demand as fiscal stimulus measures are gradually withdrawn. In terms of the outlook for domestic prices, we expect some inflationary pressures to emerge as the economy recovers.”
“Supplementary question, Sir. First, I would like to commend the Minister for his firm handling of the case. It is important that Romania does not underestimate our determination and resolve to pursue this case and ensure that justice is served. Sir, can I ask the Minister if Romania has given an indication of how long the criminal investigations will take in their country? And given that Romania does not seem to share the same understanding as Singapore that Dr Ionescu does not have diplomatic immunity, is there a higher international body that we can turn to to resolve this?  Mr George Yong-Boon Yeo: Legally speaking, there is no higher authority that we can appeal to. Because of some disagreement or confusion over the interpretation of Article 39.2 of the Vienna Convention, the earlier INTERPOL red notice has been suspended. This is part of INTERPOL's procedures that if there are differing views, they would pursue the matter further before re-activating the red arrest notice. All these require the two sides to meet. They have already said that members of the Prosecutor's Office and the police would come to Singapore. We told them, "Look, do not delay this. Come as quickly as possible in May. Let us clarify the position between ourselves and enable the process in Romania to go forth, with our fullest cooperation." Separately, MFA has asked our Ambassador in Brussels to visit Romania with members of our own Attorney-General's Chambers in order to familiarise themselves with the legal procedures and processes in Romania. We are also engaging a lawyer to hold a watching brief for us in Romania. REVISION IN 2010 ECONOMIC FORECAST 2.”
“The materials can also be a rich resource for film-makers and TV broadcasters to make documentaries for local dissemination and for export. Such activities need funding support and a lead agency to champion them. Let us not be found lacking in our resolve to preserve our collective heritage and memory – before it is too late.”
“Sir, as time marches on, as memories fade, and as the founding generation passes, we must step up our efforts to preserve the images, voices and documents that form this country’s historical memory. It is more than a responsibility – it is our national duty, not only for this generation but the future. An important priority is a systematic collection of documents and images of our founding fathers. The materials should also be made available to the public in various forms. For example, the National Archives, together with MediaCorp, could produce a CD of "Great Speeches of Singapore’s Founding Leaders" with audio-visual clips of the key speeches which defined the nation’s course since 1959. This can be screened on TV, aired over radio and sold at bookshops. Audio CDs of great leaders are not uncommon in countries like US and UK and you can find these CDs in bookshops in those countries. For the people’s version of history, we should also collect documents and memories from the public. The project must be democratic: everyone could share their memories of Singapore. The nature of what could be created and its potential cultural value are almost infinite. The more people get involved, the bigger and stronger the archive would become. The resources gathered should not be locked in a vault, but be packaged into travelling exhibitions to the heartlands. The songs and stories are all part of our vibrant heritage. So are our buildings. We should be very cautious about razing structures which hold people’s memories and dreams. With imagination and resources, this project can help foster a continuing dialogue about the past, and facilitate effective public consultation and participation.”
“The festival should allow ample interaction between writers and audiences through debates and workshops. There should be an explosion of activities to encourage reading for pleasure by young and old alike. My wish list for the Singapore personalities to be featured at such a book festival will include people like Lee Kuan Yew, Kishore Mahbubani, Tommy Koh, among others. All authors – each with a unique voice. Writers of cookbooks could be featured, after all everyone in Singapore is interested in food. Also humour writers – why should the book festival be all serious? That should get some buzz. The buzz should extend to the heartlands. The community involvement will give the book festival a sense of purpose. To do this well, the festival needs a bigger budget. I should declare my interest as a published author, although I have been speaking up on such issues for many years now. It seems to me that if our book festival wishes to not just survive but thrive, it needs to ask what to make it essential to the nation. I urge MICA to work at its transformation, so that our literary and intellectual scene can also be transformed.”
“Sir, unlike the Singapore Arts Festival, the Singapore Writers' Festival has yet to register in the mind of the public as an important cultural event. We should refresh our Singapore Writers' Festival, and raise its profile to put it on Singapore's cultural map. It should be a festival as much about ideas as about writers. And the ideas should not merely be of the literary variety, but cover the range from political commentators and economists to newspaper columnists and historians. The festival should also be a celebration about books and all that all goes into their making and enjoyment – readers, story-tellers, bookshops, publishers big and small. To reflect this, I would suggest renaming the festival to the Singapore International Book Festival. It should be a platform to showcase Singapore's thinkers and writers and expose them not only to Singaporeans but also to the region and the world, and vice versa. Newspapers, bookshops, publishers and libraries should also play an active role at the festival. We should not forget that all writers begin as readers. And readers sometimes begin as listeners. I must confess that I discovered the lyrical beauty of the poems by Edwin Thumboo only when I heard him read his work at the Edinburgh International Book Festival last year. Had it not been for that session, I would not have felt a connection with the poet, even though I am a strong supporter of Singapore writing. That is the magic of a book festival. At our bookshops, Singapore books are generally not as well marketed as the international ones. It takes some effort to search out good local writing. We should use the festival to make it easier, and to spark the public's interest in our own literary legacy.”
“My next clarification is for the Senior Minister of State, Mr Iswaran. I am very excited about the English Language Innovation Fund. As we know, Literature is not an optional subject and I see that this Fund is a great way to bring literature to our schools. Can I ask the Senior Minister of State whether MOE can guide and encourage our schools to use literature as a way to promote an appreciation of the English Language, especially Singapore literature, and to use our Singapore writers to go to schools to speak about their work?”
“Sir, while the Senior Minister of State, Ms Grace Fu, said that students are taught about Singapore's founding fathers in schools, there is a sense that the situation is presently woefully inadequate. Since the curriculum of Social Studies and History are under review as I understand it, can I ask the Senior Minister of State to consider strengthening and building in more key narratives about our founding fathers and our early pioneers so that our Singapore students can come out of school understanding why we are the way we are and how did we get here? The objective is not to regurgitate them in the examination hall but to engage in a discussion with the students on the ideals and ideas that drove these great men to overcome great odds, and whether these ideas and ideals are still relevant today.”
“" Whereas, today, some former Barisan leaders who in the 1960s opposed merger, now say that had the Barisan come into power, there would have been more welfare for the people, and so on. No mention about the Communist danger. Madam, to analyse the lessons of history, we must know our history and learn how to evaluate the evidence. To ask students to be educated on our political history is not the same thing as politicising our education system. As Aristotle said, "politics is the 'master science' among men." The future and relevance of education”
“Kishore Mahbubani, the Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, rightly noted in the Straits Times last week that strong nations are built on inspiring narratives about their past. He called it a great tragedy that few students knew of their founding fathers. This ignorance extends to our early pioneers. A student wrote in my Facebook that it is strange how our students could reel off the names of figures from China’s imperial history, but "they are not able to tell who is Aljunied, Eunos or Nee Soon!" At the same time, we should teach our students that history emerges from the examination of evidence and the exercise of reason. For example, there has been some discussion recently about what would Singapore be like if the Barisan Sosialis had won in 1963, and not the PAP. Will it lead to a peaceful socialist paradise, as some today seem to think? Or to a troubled pro-China Communist state, as others do. Or is this only so much navel-gazing? I believe that such discussions are not without merit. But to do this intelligently, one needs to understand the regional and global events at the time, and the political forces at play. One also must also learn to appraise claims and counterclaims, separate supportable assertions from fabrications, scrutinise the evidence, detect flaws in arguments and reject unjustified inferences and generalisations. For example, Australia’s then Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs, Robert Menzies, stated in a Cabinet note in 1961, that if Singapore were to win independence on its own without merger, Singapore would be easily subverted by Communist China. "It would in time almost certainly be governed by radical Chinese aiming at close association with Communist China.”
“Madam, our young today are bombarded with all sorts of ideas through the Internet. Actions that once scarcely entered the realm of fantasy are now presented on the Internet not only as entertainment, but as reality. The blog post claiming that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had suffered a serious heart attack is a case in point. It said Singapore would face "total destruction" due to a "power vacuum". The post was a hoax but spread like wildfire through the Internet. One can sit back and say – well, freedom of speech. But does this entail the freedom to spread such lies and bring harm to the country? It is such questions that our young should learn to grapple with. Given this new reality, our students need to be equipped with the reasoning skills and moral values to face the challenges of living in the 21st century. They need to learn how to think through the arguments and evidence, come to their own rational conclusions and to work out right from wrong. To do this, we should review the education curriculum and build in the teaching of moral values and political awareness with an emphasis on the exercise of reason. A good way to approach this is through the subjects of history and literature. Where we can, we should draw from local sources and examples, so that the students can see the direct relevance to their lives. The goal is not to indoctrinate, but to encourage individuals to face the contradictions and dilemmas faced in any course of action and to provide them the opportunity to arrive at fair solutions. At the same time, we should imbue in our students a strong sense of national identity. More should be done to insert key narratives about our founding leaders and pioneers into our history books.”
“However, the experience was somewhat marred by the hordes of tourists, the pollution of the boat engines and the destruction of corals. Sir, we should use our own parks and coastal areas to teach Singaporeans, especially the children, to respect the environment and to love nature. Let us have more educational signs to teach them to identify the wildlife species that live under their own noses. Many Singaporeans did not know that we have rare sambar deers living in the wild until one was recently killed by a car on the Seletar Expressway. This accident raises a red flag – is encroaching development threatening their survival? I would like an assurance from the Minister that we are doing all we can to protect the habitat of our wildlife.”
“Others reading the inscriptions would connect with the gesture. Sir, it is our unique history, cultural diversity and the human touches which would give the city personality and soul. Then perhaps one day, our slogan can be "Singapore: The City with Soul". Green spaces and coastal areas Sir, go to the East Coast Park on any weekend and you can see crowds of people jostling for space – walking, jogging, cycling, roller-blading, camping, fishing, flying kites, and so on. All over the island, our parks, beaches and other recreational spaces are getting over-crowded. It is good that more people are into outdoor activities. However, the whole idea of being outdoors is to have a sense of freedom and space, and to connect with nature. We need to provide more areas for our often-stressed Singaporeans to get away from it all. Reports about a man with this big problem of not knowing where to row his own kayak, and the rise in illegal fishing, point to the need to give more thought to this. The Ministry has done a good job of turning this island into a garden city. I especially commend it for building the park connectors. Like Member Teo Ser Luck, I have also enjoyed it tremendously, cycling from East Coast to Changi Village and marvelling at the natural beauty around us. I would like to ask for an update of the work to link up the major parks, nature reserves and housing estates throughout the island. Besides the main island, more should be done to develop our offshore islands into recreational areas, where people can swim, kayak and island-hop. But please do not turn them into another Sentosa, which has an artificial plastic feel about it. When I was in Koh Samui and Phuket, it was easy to hop from island to island on a boat, and to swim and snorkel.”
“Sir, Singapore seems to be sprouting giant shopping malls everywhere. And now, oversized Integrated Resorts. They scream that we are a consumer city – even a copy-cat city. You see the same offerings at any other large city in the world. They say nothing about our cultural heritage or our distinctive character. Sir, we need to inject more soul into the city. We should identify more heritage areas and create a buzz around them while preserving their authentic, old-world charm. This should be done in an integrated masterplan, involving not only the hardware of buildings, but also the software to give the area its own personality. A great example is Haji Lane and Arab Street – pulsing with the energy of our vibrant culture. A not-so-good example is Boat Quay. Visitors walking along the promenade today will not get a sense of its history. They would not know that it was once a major port in Singapore, or one of the most popular sites for Chinese street story-telling, stunts and opera performances. Why not build a maritime museum along the river and also bring back the aura of that history? We should also be innovative and creative. Why not use our Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries, bus stops, MRT stations, even rubbish bins, to display our heritage and creativity? Work with our local artists to hand paint on them. For example, the bus stops and ERP gantries in Orchard Road can have an orchard theme. Those in Chinatown can have a Chinese theme. It is by involving people that the city evolves its personality. We should also allow people to adopt benches to commemorate a person or an event. For example, a husband can sponsor a bench in Boat Quay in memory of his wife because they used to date there regularly.”
“May I ask the Minister on terrorism? Our Singapore Navy is now on alert because of intelligence that there is a terrorist group planning attacks on our oil tankers in Malacca Straits. Can I ask the Minister for an update on the situation, whether there has been any suspicious activity in the area and whether he knows which terrorist group is planning the attacks?”
“Sir, one last point. I take courage that, at least, I am not entirely alone because the founding leader, Mr Rajaratnam, also espoused this very strongly. I am not here to hold a brief but it is something I hold strongly as well.”
“But I just wanted to raise the idea that there is a possibility that there are some people who want to opt for the category of "Singaporean". We should not deprive them of this option if that is what they should wish for. The other point I was making is that we should, as far as policy is concerned, try to emphasise a national consciousness rather than a racial consciousness in terms of our approach to solving national problems. Again, this is not a call to ignore the influence of culture on behaviour or to ignore the strength of the influence of culture on performance. Rather, it is a call for a national approach so that we solve problems based on individual's situation, or maybe even class – because it is a whole class of people who are poor, under-performing, suffering from low esteem – and based on those traits not the colour of the skin or what you see in their identity cards. I take courage that although it seems unrealistic to the Minister –”