Joan Pereira
Singapore
“We need to constantly monitor technological developments, assess their military potential and anticipate how adversaries might use them against us.”
“Third, scenario‑based exercises on sensitive issues, such as foreign conflicts involving race or religion, so that leaders can facilitate difficult conversations without letting emotions tear our social fabric.”
“How are we strengthening sustained capacity-building platforms – talent exchanges, not just in education and work but in the sports and arts as well; institutional partnerships and governance collaboration – so that we build enduring networks of trust, not one-off engagements?”
“Thank you, Speaker, and the Senior Minister of State. I seek two clarifications from the Senior Minister of State on border health measures that have been stepped up in view of the disease outbreaks overseas.”
“Thank you, Speaker and I thank the Minister. I have two clarifications for the Minister. I understand that there is a lot of support in kind in collaborating with our cross border counterparts to tackle fire hotspots, as the Minister mentioned. But how about some financial assistance for countries, if they require it?”
“Thank you, Speaker and Senior Minister of State. I have two clarifications for the Senior Minister of State. First, could the Ministry provide additional grants and support, including on a longer-term basis, for smaller drinks producers to help defray the costs of complying with the scheme?”
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“Mdm Speaker, I strongly support the amendments to strengthen our legislative framework and to increase the penalties against entertainment outlets involved in drugs, human trafficking, organised crime and other illegal activities. I approve of the more stringent assessments during licence applications to screen out undesirable operators and the harsher penalties proposed. These measures will greatly help to act as deterrents. I am worried about the increasingly liberal attitude of our young people towards drugs, as found in a survey released last month by the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA). The survey found that those with a liberal attitude towards drugs had increased from 11% in 2013 to 16% last year. In fact, today's Straits Times' article on the increasing number of new psychoactive substances causing harm to their users is most worrying. Entertainment outlets, such as nightclubs, are popular venues for young people to congregate, make friends and have fun. There, they are especially open to new and exciting experiences and, hence, very vulnerable to taking higher risks as they experiment with perceived "adult consumables", such as smoking, alcohol or drugs. Even those who are less inclined may give in due to peer pressure. We must ensure a safe environment for them to have clean fun and protect them from the ravages of drugs. Numerous raids by our Home Team over the years had also unearthed vice activities upon the premises of unscrupulous operators. In addition to the crimes of human trafficking, such activities are also a threat to our health system, as sex workers may spread sexually transmitted infections. Singapore's night scene has become quite vibrant and attracts foreigners and those who traffic in them out for a quick buck.”
“Madam, I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have one supplementary question. With Singapore's investment in smart cities, innovation, self-driving vehicles and so on, can we not help these drivers by mandating the usage of technologies to enforce theirs and the public's safety?”
“Madam, I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, what measures are in place to ensure our foreign drivers have the competencies to drive safely in Singapore? Second, why is there still speeding involving heavy vehicles, given that heavy vehicles have been equipped with speed limit devices?”
“At the very least, with a roof over their heads, mothers will have one less worry and be able to focus more of their energies on their work to finance the expenses of the families. Deputy Speaker, Sir, supporting and empowering our women will enable them to contribute more to their families, communities and country, and achieve their full potential. With women holding up half the sky, supporting the aspirations of our women is the most effective way to be future-ready.”
“As I had said during the Budget Debate, many of them do not have much savings and would hesitate to ask for money from their husbands or children to attend classes. By helping them with the costs of the courses, we will enable more women to pick up skills and return to work more quickly. As a practical way of recognising the contributions of our homemakers, I would like to propose mechanisms to encourage up to 50% of their husbands' Central Provident Fund (CPF) monthly contributions be transferred to them. These monthly transfers will provide acknowledgement and greater long-term financial assurance and is a meaningful way of recognising the great value of all the unpaid work and services that homemakers render to nurture their children and care for their parents. Last but not least, I appeal to the Government to treat a single mother and her children as a "family nucleus" for Housing and Development Board (HDB) applications. Single parents face enormous struggles caring and providing for children. We should help them by providing a stable and safe environment for the children to grow up in. Accommodation is a basic necessity to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable children. Research has shown that stress in children has a negative impact on their developing brains, "with consequences, including cognitive deficits and emotional disorders, which, in turn, help perpetuate disadvantage." It is very unhealthy for these disadvantaged children to have to stay in overcrowded homes of their parents' friends or relatives, where they may not feel that they truly belong or embarrassed at having to do so.”
“The current system can be enhanced such that, upon retirement, retired nurses can give consent to sharing their contact details for future re-engagement opportunities. This would help to alleviate the shortage of healthcare workers and at the same time the community can continue to benefit from their wealth of experience. They can also, through the course of their work, share tips on how they can take care of their family members better. Building up this network of retired medical professionals will complement what the community can offer. Therefore, by augmenting our professional caregiving sector, we will help women stay in the workforce while providing them and their family members peace of mind, knowing that their elderly family members are being taken care of. We must continue to step up the recruitment and training of manpower for the caregiving sector. This group of professionals will play an important role in enabling the females in our labour force to achieve a higher participation rate. Services at more of our eldercare centres can be augmented to include places for short-term accommodation for the elderly who need to stay there temporarily when their caregivers have to travel overseas. I would also like to take this opportunity to appeal again to the Government to legislate at least two days of eldercare leave per annum. This would be very much appreciated for family emergencies involving the elderly. Next, I would like to reiterate my request for additional course subsidies, on top of the SkillsFuture Credit, for women who wish to return to work after being out of the workforce for a number of years.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion because I hope to see more measures to enable our women to achieve their aspirations and reach their fullest potential. Although Singapore women have similar opportunities for education, training and work as men, our society still expects them to fulfill their traditional roles as mothers, daughters and daughters-in-law. As a result, women continue to shoulder the bulk of housework and caregiving duties. Even if their workloads are as demanding as those of their husbands', women are expected to take care of domestic affairs. In many cases, when it becomes too difficult to meet both the demands of work and home, women would always put their families first, sacrifice themselves and take a step down their career ladders or stop working. Personally, I would like to see greater support and recognition of the caregiving and nurturing role of stay-at-home mothers, and also greater empowerment for those who choose to contribute in the workforce. With an ageing population, we can expect to see even more women shouldering caregiving responsibilities for parents, in-laws and relatives. Our women are a precious resource and should be fully supported in their careers. To remain competitive as a nation, we need to secure the contribution of every qualified man and woman in our labour force. For families to be able to entrust the important responsibility of caregiving to professionals, we should continue to seek to boost the capability and capacity of our professional caregiving sector. A segment that we can tap on is that of the retired nurses, who can be re-engaged on a "casual hours" basis.”
“Would the Ministry also share the progress of its various cyber awareness programmes targeting different segments of our community, from our students to the elderly? How does the Ministry gauge the effectiveness of these programmes in reducing the number of cybercrime victims? Finally, I would like to ask how we can step up the numbers and training of cybersecurity personnel for both our Government and private sectors. Our legislative framework cannot be enforced without these talents to protect our systems and track down the perpetrators of cyber offences. How are we going to overcome the problem of these IT specialist shortages, particularly in the middle and senior ranks? I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Mdm Speaker, as a Smart Nation dependent on the power of ICT, we must have a robust infrastructure and legislative framework to protect the integrity of our cyber networks and digital systems. Our laws must keep up with the fast-evolving nature of cyber activities. This is a timely Bill which will empower the Ministry to deal with the increasing number of cybercrimes, including the unauthorised use of personal information and the trade and tools to facilitate such illegal usage. The amendment to criminalise offences under the Bill if they are committed in foreign jurisdictions using computers overseas is overdue and closes a loophole in the current Act. I would like to take this opportunity to express my concern about how well-prepared our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are to deal with cyber threats. I note that for the "SMEs Go Digital" programme which was announced at this year's Budget, areas, such as cybersecurity and data protection, are included. I urge the Government to also use this programme as a one-stop platform for SMEs to keep their companies abreast of new developments in cyber defences and to share their experiences in countering cyberattacks, the protection of digital properties and recovery processes. Such mutual support and even collaborations will be helpful for the prevention of future attacks. I would like to ask the Minister what plans the Ministry has to encourage more companies and organisations to step forward and report on cybercrimes on their networks and systems. Ideally, all offences should be reported so that the Ministry will have a better overview of criminal activities in this landscape, which will inform current and future policies to protect our systems as a whole.”
“Madam, it has often been said that man can survive without art but what a poor life it would be. I fully agree. Arts and heritage activities add colour and vibrancy to our lives. They are the perfect platforms for us to engage one another and help nurture our common identity and national unity. Hence, it is important that our arts and heritage programmes and spaces are available to all Singaporeans. In particular, we must reach out to vulnerable Singaporeans so that they, too, can participate fully in our cultural and community events. What measures does MCCY have to ensure that our arts and heritage programmes are accessible to the lower-income and disadvantaged groups? Besides removing or lowering the barrier of entry fees, we should also invite them through sponsored trips to the sites of the activities. Often, they are not even aware of them due to more pressing issues in their lives. Mdm Chairman, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to suggest that we attract more seniors to our museums by offering tours in the vernacular languages and making the experience more interactive. For example, at the end of the tours, there could be quizzes with prizes to add a bit of spice and fun. Such formats will engage the visitors at a deeper level as the competition will spur them to pay attention and ask questions. If the tours could also involve youth volunteers, there would be good opportunities to promote intergenerational bonding. Growing Social Commons through Sports”
“Madam, I would like to see more of our senior citizens volunteering as part of active ageing. Volunteering connects our seniors to others in our community, provides fun and a sense of fulfilment, and benefits their mind and body. Many studies have found that volunteers report higher levels of happiness. Researchers at the London School of Economics even discovered that the more people volunteered, the happier they were. Among weekly volunteers, 16% of those in the study group felt very happy, an increase in happiness comparable to having an income of US$75,000−$100,000 versus US$20,000. How is MCCY partnering senior citizens, SSOs and corporations to encourage more seniors to actively participate in volunteering and charity work? I understand many organisations encourage and express appreciation for their volunteers through various incentives. For example, museums invite their volunteers for previews and provide them with priority for shows. However, public awareness is not high. I would like to suggest that MCCY raise awareness through more publicity in the media and road shows, for example. We should acknowledge and recognise our senior volunteers' efforts more publicly and this will help draw even more seniors to our cause. Our Singapore Fund (OSF) supports initiatives to bring our community together and promote our Singapore Spirit and shared values. I would like to ask if there are any projects supported by OSF initiated by seniors and, if so, how many such projects there are to date and whether the Ministry can share examples of these projects. Support for Institutions of a Public Character that Internationalise”
“Madam, palliative or end-of-life care is still a sensitive topic in Singapore. Nonetheless, we need to persist with our efforts as a community, together with our health professionals, to raise palliative care awareness. We should encourage more dialogues to destigmatise end-of-life issues so that the early conversations can better inform care planning. Will the Ministry share an update about the public education initiatives to increase awareness about Advanced Care Planning (ACP), palliative care and end-of-life issues? How will MOH work with VWOs to improve public awareness of the accessibility and types of palliative care available? For many families, increasingly, spouses and adult children are working full-time and need palliative care support for their loved ones. Will we be able to meet the demands for hospices and home palliative services? Will MOH be able to train enough qualified personnel to cope with the rising demand due to our ageing population? In addition, how do we ensure that good quality palliative care will be accessible at affordable fees? Will the Minister share how funding and MediSave uses will be augmented to meet this need? Finally, I would like to request MOH to work closely with AIC to ensure that attention is also paid to our caregivers' emotional state. AIC can support and help caregivers find closure when the loved ones pass on, so that they, usually family members, will not go into a depressive state. Would the Ministry elaborate on the available support for the bereaved, especially those from our vulnerable groups, such as caregivers with low incomes or little family support? Productivity and Ergonomics”
“Madam, I commend the Ministry for its efforts to reduce the smoking prevalence through its multi-pronged approach, which includes the banning of tobacco product sales to minors and the "I Quit" 28-day Countdown. Unfortunately, smoking continues to be a significant contributor to the disease burden in Singapore. We are familiar with the diseases suffered by smokers and those exposed to second-hand smoke. Recent research has highlighted the dangers of third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke clings to the hair, clothes and any surface in the vicinity long after smoking has stopped. The residual nicotine and chemicals build up on surfaces over time and resist normal cleaning, posing a potential health hazard to anyone exposed to them, especially children. Would MOH implement more stringent measures to combat the hazards of third-hand smoke?”
“Madam, patients with mental health conditions and their families need all the support and understanding our community can give them. With our ageing population, the number of patients with mental health issues, such as dementia, is expected to rise. I hope public education efforts will be stepped up to help raise our community's general knowledge of such conditions, so that we can better support the efforts of our health professionals. The Community Mental Health (CMH) Masterplan is making good progress, especially in reaching out to patients to ensure they get more community support. I am particularly glad for the setting up of dementia-friendly communities and the Community Resource, Engagement and Support Teams (CREST). When will dementia-friendly communities reach island-wide coverage? I would also like to ask for a clearer framework to support residents dealing with instances of neighbours with mental health issues creating disturbances in the estate. Callers should be able to receive speedy responses after contacting dedicated 24-hour hotlines for help. And in the event that the Police are contacted, officers should also be aware of the need to refer such cases to AIC for help and assessment from its professional counsellors. I understand that, to date, we have over 120 GPs trained in the diagnosis and support of patients with mild to moderate mental health conditions. I would like to ask what is the target number of such trained GPs and whether these GPs are evenly distributed throughout our HDB estates. How does the Ministry ensure we have sufficient numbers of trained GPs in ageing estates? Fighting Dementia”
“Madam, NS is part and parcel of Singapore life. Yet, often during my interactions with my residents, the subject of safety during NS training comes up, usually from the mothers and grandmothers with sons and grandsons in NS. They have trust in MINDEF but cannot help but worry a little. They worry about their sons' and grandsons' health, physical training, the terrains and handling of weapons. Some unfortunate incidents in the past also serve as reminders of how things could go wrong. MINDEF has given the assurance that maintaining training safety is a key element of a strong and professional armed force. I am heartened to note that in 2013, SAF added Safety as its eighth core value. A Safety and Systems Review Directorate (SSRD) was formed to oversee the conduct of safety and systems reviews for MINDEF and SAF. SSRD set up its first external review panel, the External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS) in 2013 to review various aspects of SAF safety over its three-year tenure. I would like to ask what the next step would be now that the tenure has expired. SAF has consistently reiterated its commitment to safety over the years. However, one should always relook processes. Can MINDEF share what additional efforts have or are being made to make training regimes safer for our NSmen and how these efforts are being communicated to their family members and loved ones to provide greater assurance? Transport Allowance for NSmen”
“Chairman, drones are becoming more common and sophisticated. They will grow to be an integral part of our lives due to their many useful applications, from logistics to transport, photography, videos and even patrols. But in the wrong hands, they can be a threat to our national security. Last month, the Washington Post reported that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) had established a new unmanned aircraft unit, comprising of fleets of modified drones equipped with bombs. Drones can be easily bought and transported. They can be launched from almost anywhere and once they are airborne, they can reach any location within a few kilometres in minutes. The smaller ones are almost undetectable in flight. Current radar systems are designed to track larger aircrafts. Drones can be used to deliver goods. For those with bad intentions, such items may include poisonous powders or gases like sarin, incendiary devices, grenades and bombs. More worrying, it can be very difficult to trace the owner and operator of a drone. The risk of detection during the process of transporting, launching and operating one is low. Do we have the controls and infrastructure in place to regulate the access of drones? What is MINDEF's assessment of the threat drones pose to Singapore now and in the future? What measures does the Ministry have to ensure our national security will not be compromised with the increasingly widespread use of drones in our daily lives and in the near future? Investment in Defence Technology”
“Is there room for retired MFA staff and Singaporeans living overseas to assist or contribute to our Missions in their operations on a volunteer basis? What is the role of our Missions in fostering ties with Singaporeans living or working overseas? Also, what travel advice should Singaporeans take note of, especially those who travel frequently?”
“Sir, Singaporeans' travels are increasing in frequency and range. More Singaporeans are also living and working abroad these days. We are also living in a period of greater uncertainty, as we had witnessed in the spate of terror attacks from Europe to the Middle East, and even here in Southeast Asia last year. These trends and recent global developments mean that the load and complexity of consular cases that MFA has to handle will increase correspondingly. At the same time, there is growing public expectation for speedier services and assistance. However, our resources are finite. I note that MFA has only 50 resident Overseas Missions and that most Missions generally operate with very lean teams. Notwithstanding these operational challenges, I wish to commend our MFA officers for their professionalism and dedication in working around the clock, especially during crises and emergencies, to provide the necessary support to affected Singaporeans and their families. It is thanks to their hard work that many Singaporeans are able to travel overseas with the necessary assurances and peace of mind. I am sure that many Singaporeans who have received help from MFA in one way or another, would agree with me. Hence, I would like to ask how MFA has been addressing the challenges I mentioned earlier in the increasingly unpredictable environments we find ourselves in. How are MFA officers equipping themselves to ensure that Singaporeans continue to receive quality consular services? Does MFA have back-up teams on standby in various regions to swing into action in the event of large scale emergencies? How does MFA facilitate the transmission of experience from older and retired MFA staff to their younger colleagues?”
“Sir, we face an increasingly complex and uncertain world today. In recent months, unexpected electoral outcomes around the world have brought about unforeseen challenges. Strategic uncertainties driven by the adjustment of major power relations, such as between the US and China, and Britain's exit from the EU, will impact a small country like Singapore. A particular concern is that, from time to time, major powers will exert pressure on Singapore to take sides for a variety of reasons − nationalistic or protectionist motives, or even ethnic or religious concerns. As a country that treasures not only our sovereignty but also our multiracial and multi-religious way of life, instances of pressure from major powers may raise anxiety among fellow Singaporeans. In such a situation, it is important for Singaporeans to understand why we need to remain steadfast by not bending to take sides and, more critically, why Singapore adheres to a principled position of upholding international rule of law, even though this may cause certain levels of unhappiness from some of our major partners. As such, it is important for the Government to explain the considerations behind our foreign policy and to assure us that this is in Singapore's and Singaporeans' best interest. How then can MFA better engage our public on Singapore's foreign policy and to explain the challenges Singapore faces from our external environment? Resources for MFA”
“It is not easy to convince some of them that learning is good for their mental and emotional health and would enhance their quality of life. How do we motivate them and get them excited about trying out new things? I hope the Government will conduct a study into the psyche of our local elderly to find what motivates them so that we can use the information to formulate attractive ways to run our courses. It would also be helpful if the Government can support the recruitment of retirees for the care sector with subsidised training and training allowances. In the process, they may find their calling in certain areas of the care sector and want to develop further in these areas, carving out a new career in the process. These personnel will help to fill up the manpower shortage in the sector. Finally, I would like to conclude with a proposal to engage private-hire car services, such as Grab and Uber, in community service for the elderly. Both companies have been viewed as disruptors in their sector. It would be good if they would consider giving back to the community through volunteer services, such as driving vulnerable seniors to and back from hospitals or dialysis centres. This is already done by taxi companies, such as ComfortDelgro, that have programmes in place to provide ferrying services for the elderly and the disabled. Grab and Uber should likewise consider doing so, and the Agency for Integrated Care can work with these car hiring companies to make good use of their spare capacities, instead of relying solely on ambulances. Sir, I support the Budget.”
“This car will be an additional service to our current priority seats. If possible, a staff can be stationed on the platform nearest to this car so that he or she can provide assistance. This staff can also provide instructions to other passengers when necessary and help enforce order and security on the platform. In addition, we should try to build flexible, adaptable structures which can accommodate the elderly since this is a rapidly growing group. For example, we build childcare centres to cater to children but, with shrinking family sizes and an ageing population, the childcare centres located in the older maturing estates which may experience falling enrolment in the future should be convertible into eldercare centres. This way, the Government will not have to look for a new space, nor incur heavy building expenses. Hence, when building new childcare centres, the Government should also consider that the design can accommodate changes to eldercare centres in the longer term. The speed at which we are developing today can be intimidating for our elderly, particularly older women who are considering rejoining the workforce. I would like to request for additional course subsidies for them, on top of the SkillsFuture Credit, because many of them do not have much savings and would hesitate to ask for money from their husbands or children to attend classes. This is typical behaviour for many homemakers who are used to putting the needs and wants of their family members above their own. Since they have already embraced personal responsibility in picking up new skills, let us help them by lowering the barriers to learning as much as possible. I am now on a personal quest to persuade more of the elderly in my constituency to pick up courses. Not all of them see the need to.”
“As we set about restructuring our economy, we must bear in mind that whatever changes we make, we must continue to make an effort to consider the impact on our senior citizens and ensure that they are accommodated in our plans. Coming back to the topic of better communication between the Government and the people, seniors used to joke that the answers to their queries at Government departments always start with "www" − the website addresses which the staff shared helpfully, or so they thought. We have learnt since then that we need to reach out to our elderly through more interactive ways. Making adjustments to accommodate our seniors is a signature of a caring society. Another example of an area where improvements can be made to be more elderly friendly would be our Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations. Last week, I witnessed a horrific incident when a senior, who had difficulty walking, was going through the door of a train car. It closed on her hands while she was holding onto her trolley. Her trolley was out on the platform while her hands were stuck in between the doors inside the train. Luckily, the doors opened and she rushed out, very pale and very frightened. Would it be possible for our MRT doors to stay open for a little longer during off-peak periods at stations where there are more seniors, for example, at Outram station which serves the Singapore General Hospital? How about designating a train car for the elderly, disabled and commuters with children in prams? Able-bodied passengers will be allowed to use it but priority will be reserved for the less ambulant. The train car should be the one nearest to the platform lift when it stops and have seats in a loud and contrasting colour, for example, ang pow red, to signal its function.”
“This incident highlights the importance of good public communication. We need a better approach for communication between the Government and the public. How well we communicate new policies and measures will affect the level of support and cooperation we receive from the public, especially for those which affect our daily lives. In recent years, our Ministries have held many public consultation exercises on a wide range of issues with success. Valuable inputs from stakeholders and the public help shape our policies and legislation. Such dialogues also build trust and goodwill, which the Government will need to draw upon for unpalatable but necessary policies in the future. A similar exercise for water would have been useful. While the increase in water prices should not lead to drastic increases in the prices of our food, I still see the need to appeal for rental rebates for our hawkers and stallholders who will have to incur higher costs due to higher water bills and, later on, electricity price hikes from the carbon tax, on top of a rising trend in food prices. Their profit margins are low and any assistance will be very much appreciated. Rental rebates also mean that they will not have to pass on as much of the cost increases to their customers. While the new model of having social enterprises like NTUC Foodfare manage our hawker centres has made some progress in keeping the prices of certain food affordable, this remains limited to some basic dishes in these hawker centres and I believe more can be done to reduce overhead costs for the hawkers through some form of rental rebates. Next, I would like to speak on behalf of a group close to my heart − the elderly.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am honoured to have this opportunity to share my views on the Budget Statement. It is reassuring to know that we will have an overall surplus of $1.9 billion, even though we are running an expansionary Budget. Such prudence in our fiscal management has served us well and will ensure that we will have sufficient resources to tide us over future downturns. The most notable feature of this Budget is the line-up of initiatives to transform our economy. These measures are expected, coming on the heels of the recommendations by CFE. I am heartened that we are taking bold and swift steps to prepare for the changes new technologies will bring. Much is at stake as our economy moves into a higher gear. However, the impending 30% water price increase has dominated most of the discussions on the ground instead. Residents and businesses alike were taken by surprise − "why so much so suddenly" − and worried about the impact from such a big hike. Fortunately, numerous clarifications since the announcement have helped to reduce public anxiety. The feedback I have received from many residents has been quite encouraging. They do accept that a 30% increase after 17 years is not unreasonable. They support our efforts to be self-sufficient in water. They are also aware of how expensive water processing technology and infrastructure can be. What they did not like is that there were no prior public consultations about the increase. Such discussions would have provided the opportunity for the people to share ideas about water conservation and sources of funding for water infrastructure. While price increases are never welcomed, periodic increments with justifications shared in advance would be preferable to a sudden jump.”
“Often, these grandparents are the ones who send their grandchildren to school. By building the new childcare centres alongside the BTO HDB flats, it will ensure convenience for these senior citizens who would otherwise have to walk long distances or take public transport with the children to and from the centres. I hope for a greater degree of coordination between the Ministry of National Development, including agencies like HDB, and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), so that the issue of childcare vacancies does not burden parents, especially when we want to encourage young parents to consider having another child. Finally, when building childcare centres, we should also plan ahead for the health and exercise requirements of our preschool centres. Given the new recommendation by the NutureSG Committee for preschool children to have at least one hour of physical activity per day, incorporating facilities within the childcare centre to enable this would be essential. This will promote a more active lifestyle amongst the preschool children. By learning the importance of healthy eating and exercising, the children would be able to inculcate these good habits from young. Hopefully, these measures will decrease the number of obese children entering Primary school in the future.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill. Regulating childcare centres and kindergartens under a single framework ensures consistency in the enforcement of standards and other operational requirements. I congratulate the Ministry for a well-thought through piece of legislation, and commend the effort to engage all stakeholders in the process of drafting this Bill. In this regard, I hope that the Ministry will consider seriously some suggestions on the planning of preschool centres. On top of setting high standards and enforcement measures for operations, health, safety and teaching methods, we ought to recognise that our preschool centres cannot help families effectively if they are not there where and when they are needed. It is, therefore, important for our preschool centres to be located at accessible and convenient venues. There can be better planning in advance so that the building of new childcare centres and new BTO flats can take place almost simultaneously. This will ensure that there will be sufficient places for the enrolment of children in the estates. More often than not, the building of flats and childcare centres/kindergartens does not take place concurrently and parents would have to opt for other childcare centres around their neighbourhood, most of which may also be located further away. For a few housing estates with high childcare demand, the long waiting list for the choice childcare centres is a great source of frustration amongst parents. More and more families these days have both parents who are working. We cannot assume that there is a grandparent or domestic helper available in every household to take care of the child in the event that there is no vacancy. In addition, we must consider the role of grandparents who are involved in childcare.”
“These beleaguered neighbours submit all the information required and hope for swift action to be taken. Unfortunately, the transient strangers continue to stream in. Due to the presence of these visitors, residents feel less safe and are perpetually on their guard. Such an uneasy atmosphere in an estate does not contribute to building neighbourly ties. Hence, I would like to suggest that the Minister consider giving the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) more power and greater means at its disposal for enforcement. Finally, I would like to ask the Minister to elaborate on the penalties non-compliant property owners would face and what action will be taken against non-compliant owners who do not reside in Singapore and who continue to ignore warnings to desist from short-term rentals.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill, particularly for the amendments to address the provision of short-term accommodation, that is, for six consecutive months or less, in return for rent. With the insertion of the new subsection (3)(ca), failure to obtain written permission for this will be an offence. Many of my residents will appreciate this change, which states categorically that it will be illegal for owners to lease out their properties to short-term renters, unless they have a special permit. I have received numerous negative feedback from my constituents about the disamenity caused by such visitors. They have expressed their concerns about compromised security in their estates, the loss of privacy and the occasional disturbances. Despite URA's guidelines forbidding such rentals, thousands of condominium and room listings can be found on rental portals, such as Airbnb, Roomorama, PandaBed and HomeAway. Many of them can be rented for durations as short as one night. The Minister had shared with the House in a written reply in August last year that URA took enforcement action against 36 cases of unauthorised short-term subletting in private residential premises in 2014, 23 cases in 2015, and 44 cases in the first six months of 2016. These figures are very much lower than the number of complaints received by URA − 375 in 2014, 377 in 2015 and 161 in the first four months of 2016. I would like to ask the Minister why there is such a big gap in the numbers and whether URA has enough manpower and resources to follow up on the number of complaints. Many of my residents have complained to me that the problem lies in the lack of follow up or enforcement. Usually, the Police and URA have the details, including the exact addresses and profiles of visitors.”
“Walkways could be slightly raised and made a little uneven, such that it poses little difference to pedestrians but is bumpy for those on riding devices. Lastly, I hope the Ministry would consider providing community volunteers with light, wearable video equipment to make it easier for them to carry out their jobs. This would be helpful for them as they are on the ground daily and can nip any problem in the bud earlier and faster. I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“However, without doing so, in reality, it would be very difficult to apprehend the culprits. Some are afraid that there could be fraud such as the use of fake licensing tags. However, in fact, vehicles also face the same problem. It is not so difficult to change the licensing plate of a vehicle. (In English): Mdm Speaker, back to English. Secondly, I hope that the Ministry would re-consider requiring such equipment to be sold with packaged personal accident insurance and require such insurance to be tagged to the equipment and kept updated as long as they are in use. This will ensure that victims can at least be assured of compensation in the event of injury or death, encouraging the users to report the accidents as well. With increased usage, the number of accidents will increase. Currently, the Ministry does not compile the number and nature of accidents involving such equipment which occur on pavements and elsewhere, except those that occur on the roads. We should educate the public that with this Bill, such reports can and should be made at Police stations, as users of PMDs are legally bound to assist victims and report any accidents. Such data will allow the Government to keep track of accident patterns and provide useful information on how to improve upon regulations and road designs. Next, I urge the Ministry to consider improving road and pathway design to protect all users better, separating riders from pedestrians wherever possible, as we go forward to ensure greater safety for all. This has already been done in certain segments of New York City. The design can be done in such a way that discourages mobility devices from encroaching upon the space for pedestrians.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. A Bill dedicated to ensuring active mobility through the increased use of bicycles, e-scooters and other personal mobility devices is, indeed, timely. Setting out the regulations on the speed and weight of the vehicles as well as where they can be used have all been addressed quite thoroughly. At the heart of this Bill is the safety of the users and, just as importantly, the pedestrians. Let us bear in mind that walking and running to a destination are also part of our national drive to promote active mobility while reducing our carbon footprint. The Bill also addresses the conditions for the future development of dedicated travel paths on public and private land, in tandem with the Ministry's intention to create a more conducive landscape for multiple modes of travel and transportation, where walking, jogging, cycling, driving and various forms of public transport complement one another, providing a wide range of alternatives for reaching destinations; all the while encouraging healthy active lifestyles. Mdm Speaker, allow me to speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Unfortunately, accidents do happen and more can and should be done to make it easier for victims to report and also allow the Police to apprehend and punish the culprits. Unlike cars, PMDs do not have identifiable numbers or tags and if the culprits are determined to evade responsibilities, it would be very difficult to identify them. I hope that the Ministry will continue to think of ways to ensure that such devices are easily identified and visibly tagged. Currently, the idea of licensing and even tagging them with mini-In-Vehicle-Units, like for cars, have been rejected based on the reason that it is costly and not practical.”
“This is the SEC scheme which provides employers up to 8% of an older employee's monthly wage. The scheme targets companies which hire employees aged 55 and above and who earn up to $4,000 a month. The highest tier of SEC is 8% for employees aged 65 and above. While this incentive is appreciated, additional benefits would be useful. Employers would be concerned about potential energy and declines in cognitive functions in workers in their late 60's and would need extra motivation to hire these older workers. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Under the Retirement and Re-employment (Amendment) Bill, if a company with older workers do not have suitable positions for employees eligible for re-employment, they may choose to arrange for them to work in other companies, including a subsidiary or related companies. The important thing is that new employers should not just be fixated on whether the older worker can do the job. Although that is important, employers should also ensure the older employee can adjust to the new environment and adapt because older workers take time to adapt and adjust. It would be best if they are made aware of the whole work environment, instead of just knowing what work they themselves will do. That would be ideal. I am sure that with years of experience, they can adjust appropriately and make even better contributions to the company. We must encourage and guide Singaporeans to lifelong learning and ensure good results, so that they can cope with the challenges of new work environments. I hope that the Government will consider providing tax incentives to employers who are willing to hire and support the training of older workers.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. With Singaporeans living longer and in better health, raising the re-employment age from 65 to 67 is timely and will allow them to continue their work longer, contributing their valuable expertise and experience. I am very glad to note that an outdated provision, which allows employers to cut employees' wages at age 60, will be repealed. It is unfair to a worker who does the same job to have his pay reduced once he reaches 60. I am also happy to support the amendment which allows eligible employees to be re-employed by other employers with the older workers' consent. This will be more flexible than the current arrangement, where the employment obligations lie with the older worker's employer. In the event an employer is unable to find a suitable job within his company for the older worker, he will be able to transfer him. However, I am concerned that it would not be easy to transfer re-employment obligations of a 67-year-old employee to another employer in practice. The highest chances of success may be transfers to a subsidiary or related companies. Unfortunately, most SMEs do not have this option. In addition, companies may face a manpower crunch which does not allow them to look into helping the older workers find suitable jobs in other companies. This may result in the companies taking the easy way out by offering EAP which is a waste since many workers still can work and want to work. I would like to ask if it would be possible to offer current and potential employers additional incentives, such as tax rebates, to re-employ workers aged 67 and above, or recruit them from other companies? There is already an incentive scheme for employers to hire older workers.”
“This would be much more efficient and effective than relying only on our Police officers to do so, as is currently the case. The administration and operations would be more streamlined under this new arrangement. This would also free up our Police officers to focus on other criminal investigations. Lastly, the move to refuse the registration of inappropriate names is overdue. Now, ICA will have the power to protect our young from offensive names, however rarely it occurs. It is particularly important to reject misleading and confusing names which can be used to deceive the general public. Madam, I conclude with my support for the Bill. 2.12 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. It has been over two decades since the Act was last amended. I agree that the various amendments proposed are necessary to update ICA's operations and to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our border controls. A significant amendment is clause 14 which inserts a Schedule, including the personal identifiers that may be collected. The collection of iris images and, in some cases, recordings of voices, can help to strengthen our identity verification methods. Iris scans are a proven technology. It is contactless, convenient and highly accurate. It even works in the presence of clear contact lenses and non-mirrored glasses. Due to these advantages, several countries, such as the UK, the Netherlands and India, are using this technology. However, it is not without its weaknesses. There have been studies that showed that cataract surgeries could change the iris texture and may impact iris pattern recognition. In addition, there is also research suggesting that irises are susceptible to ageing effects that change their appearance over time. Another concern is the possibility of recreating synthetic eye images that match digital iris codes used by iris-recognition systems to identify people. Some researchers had already found a way to replicate such images, "creating the possibility of stealing someone's identity through their iris". Would the Minister share what measures we have in place to overcome these potential problems and threats to our new iris-recognition system? Next, I would like to state my support for the amendment to provide our ICA officers with the powers to investigate offences under the NRA.”
“Secondly, in a similar vein, may I suggest that amendments be made to ensure that the composition of the CPA includes at least a member of each major racial group and at least one woman. The CPA plays a critical role in advising the Elected President on financial Reserves and key appointments. Members of different racial groups and women will offer a diversity of perspectives, which will enrich and inform the discussions of the Advisers and the President. Today, we have the breadth and depth of talent in each of our racial groups and among our women to support this criterion. I hope my suggestion will push the search to unearth and persuade qualified Singaporeans to accept the appointments to the CPA. Lastly, we must be mindful that some Singaporeans would not be able to differentiate much between an election for the President and the GE, despite the public education efforts to highlight the different responsibilities of the President and elected Members of Parliament (MPs). The Commission has made its recommendations on campaign methods and how to prevent misinformation, such as setting out-of-bound markers during rallies. I support the government's decision to take more time to study the recommendations carefully before instituting new measures. I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“The importance of symbolism that any qualified citizen, regardless of race, language or religion, can be Singapore's Head of State is worth upholding. As the criteria for qualified candidates for the elected President are so stringent, we can be assured that meritocracy will not be undermined. By placing the onus on members of our minority groups to step forward and stand for election, we are encouraging them to take a more proactive role in our Elected Presidency. An Elected President, compared to an appointed one, has a stronger mandate to represent his people. Each of us has a responsibility to be representatives for our racial groups and our nation. I would like to suggest that going forward, we consider a separate fourth racial category for Eurasians, for the purpose of the Elected Presidency. I am not making this suggestion in response to the divisive anonymous article posted on the States Times Review website, which made false allegations pertaining to the election chances of Eurasians compared to Indians. Rather, I strongly believe that we Eurasians, being culturally distinct as Asians, with European ancestry and heritage, have a unique perspective to contribute to the office of the Elected Presidency. Our fusion backgrounds influence our attitudes, mindsets and interactions with our community. As the embodiment of East-West unions, we are also living testimonies of interracial, cultural and religious harmony and unity. By bringing something different to the table, we can help enrich the office of the Elected Presidency. Hence, I hope it would be ideal to ensure reserved elections for a Eurasian Elected President.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. Firstly, I would like to speak on the aspect of the Bill which addresses the issue of representation of minorities. As a Eurasian myself, I am proud to be part of a unique group of our community which is incredibly diverse and rich in our cultural heritage. We are literally living and breathing DNA fusions. Although we are routinely categorised as "Others", I have never felt excluded nor discriminated against. Hence, initially, I did not think it was necessary to set aside an election for members of a racial group from which there has not been a President for five terms. After all, the racial group of a qualified candidate should be irrelevant in our meritocratic and race-blind society. However, the reality is that we are not quite a race-blind society, as the CNA-IPS survey had found. A significant proportion of Singaporeans would still prefer a President to be of their own race. However, I am heartened to note that despite this, most Singaporeans will accept a Prime Minister or President of another race. The survey found that those who are younger and more highly educated are more accepting of leaders of different races. This, indeed, bodes well for our future. This Bill highlights the reality of the racial issues our society faces. It is important to acknowledge the need to be more inclusive of our minorities and ensure that they feel that they are also an integral part of our community. We have not had a Malay President or even a Malay candidate since the Elected Presidency commenced in 1991. Our only Malay President, the late Mr Yusof Ishak, was appointed after our Independence. I am, therefore, very happy to note that our next Elected President will be from the Malay community.”
“Madam, I thank the Minister for his reply. We all know that there are great physical and mental demands on our healthcare workers and this might affect the quality of care provided. So, I am very happy to hear that we will be expanding the healthcare workforce. Would the Minister consider allocating more funds to manage the well-being and stresses that our healthcare workers will face, especially now with an ageing population?”
“Like when they visit the homes, if they are found to have bred mosquitoes, can such information be shared with the condominium managements?”
“Mdm Speaker, NEA has been conducting intense inspections, not just in public housing estates but also in condominiums when asked to assist, and my condominium managements are really, very appreciative. However, when asked to share their findings with the condominium managements, NEA rejected the request. Would NEA consider sharing such information so that it can be a community effort for follow-up action?”
“I hope the Government will eventually look into mandatory time-off for upgrading courses to be hardwired into employment contracts to support employees' upgrading. Singapore's working hours are amongst the longest in the world but we are not the most productive. This indicates that our work culture and employers' attitude need to change from emphasising "face time" to focusing on efficiency and actual work done. Mandating a prerequisite number of hours to be set aside for upgrading courses will help to keep our workforce up to date and enable them to be more Page: 66 productive. I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“They ranked 31st in literacy and numeracy skills and 18th for problem-solving. The difference in scores is among the widest, compared to other countries, although OECD attributed it to the reason that the survey was conducted in English here, which many of the older generation in Singapore are not as proficient in. The survey also found that about 12% of Singapore adults had no prior experience with computers, compared to the OECD average of 10%. This is a phenomenon of concern and should be rectified as we are a highly connected economy and depend heavily on ICT in the workplace. Our older workers are, hence, particularly vulnerable if they are unable to keep up with developments in IT usage skills. This has a great impact on their ability to stay integrated at work, and those without IT skills will suffer from depressed wages or, even worse, retrenchment. English is the main language of the Internet and I would like to ask the Ministry how it intends to overcome the challenges of teaching seniors, who are more comfortable in their mother tongues, computer usage skills. Will the Ministry need to open more English proficiency classes to cater to older Singaporeans, especially those from the lower-income groups who had little education in their youth? I was heartened to read a recent press report that our polytechnics had increases of between 15% and over 60% in part-time students over the last few years. More and more of those in their 50s or 60s are signing up for part-time diploma courses, attending classes after a long day at work. They shared with the journalist that they were usually tired but persevered because they wanted to improve themselves and got a sense of satisfaction from learning something new.”
“Mdm Speaker, I fully support the establishment of SSG to take charge of our national initiative for lifelong learning and skills upgrading. New developments in technology are driving change at our workplace at an unprecedented pace. Without constant refreshment and upgrading, our workforce will find it increasingly difficult to stay relevant in the global market. Page: 65 SkillsFuture allows Singaporeans to take ownership of their own learning and is flexible enough to support evolving career needs and personal interests at different life stages. Individuals can choose from a wide range of studies and skillsets from various accredited institutions island-wide. My main concern, however, is how to get our seniors to benefit from SkillsFuture and develop the relevant skills. I acknowledge that our elderly are not a homogenous group but, indeed, most of them are not as well-educated nor Internet-savvy. It is important for the Government to find out in greater detail what occupations our older workers and seniors are in, where they aspire to go in the next stage of their careers or post-retirement and develop related courses and programmes suitable for them. I would like to ask if the Ministry has already looked into this aspect and if the current list of accredited SkillsFuture courses has taken it into consideration. The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), a study of adults' skills by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), had recently found that there is a big gap between our older and younger workers. Singaporeans aged between 16 and 34 ranked second in problem-solving using digital tools, fifth in numeracy and ninth in literacy. Those aged 45-65 scored lower than the OECD average.”
“Madam, I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his detailed reply. I have one supplementary question. Would the Ministry consider granting a separate licence, maybe Class 2A, that will allow the holder a longer parking duration time? This could be given on a case-by-case basis, with emphasis on elderly caregivers looking after persons with multiple disabilities. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Madam, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. As I mentioned in my answer earlier, Class 2 labels cater to the caregivers of the disabled person, where it allows caregivers to park at an accessible parking lot for up to 60 minutes. We have received several suggestions from members of the public as well, and we would just like to share that in deciding whether to extend or not, we have to look at the needs and demand of all label holders because they are all sharing this shared space. We believe that the 60 minutes given is a reasonable time for the caregivers to board and alight the persons with disabilities, bring that person to a safe place and, following that, go back to the vehicle to park it at the standard lots. We feel that extending the time will create a challenging process and increase the time taken for label holders to find accessible lots.”
“I would like to ask the Ministry whether they are able to conduct OBS courses for our seniors also. Many years ago, I organised a team building activity at OBS in Pulau Ubin. And, like the youths, they had fun experimenting with the high elements. They bonded well as a team and also learnt to overcome their fear. This is for the Ministry's consideration.”
“Promoting Senior Volunteerism Sir, our seniors have a lifetime of skills and experience to contribute to our society. They can also benefit from volunteering. In fact, studies have shown a positive association between volunteering and mental, physical and social well-being. An example of a senior volunteer is Mdm Doh, aged 70, who has been a long-time volunteer with Thong Kheng Welfare Services, Lions Befriender and the RC in Bukit Merah View in my Division. She has learnt that many elderly value, above all, relational connections – a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on. She had to respond to a few emergencies and gained great satisfaction in being able to help. However, some, especially those who are just starting out as new volunteers, may face challenges in volunteering. For example, they may have difficulty in getting a good match between their skills or interests and the segments of need and, most challenging, balancing family and personal commitments. There are also some volunteers who cannot find a good fit with the volunteer host organisations or who find that their volunteering experience could have been better managed. What are MCCY's plans in managing our pool of talented and active volunteers? Is there a portal or a point of contact where they can go to and register their interests and expertise, and be matched to appropriate volunteer host organisations? After registration, are there volunteer consultants they can turn to for advice and guidance? And, finally, for areas which need sustainable pools of volunteers so that they can be rostered for their duties, is there a system to organise them? Singapore Charitable Trust”
“Mr Chairman, according to the Individual Giving Survey in 2014 released by the NVPC last year, one in five employers organised volunteer activities but one in two employees expressed interest in employer-organised volunteering. Clearly, there is room for our companies to increase volunteer opportunities for their staff. Businesses are an important part of our community. By contributing to good causes together with their staff, they build goodwill and gain respect from the public and their customers. Their employees also have better job satisfaction and a stronger sense of corporate identity. Many employees I have come across admire corporate leaders who have the heart to give back to society. We have many examples of corporates contributing money, time and effort to good causes, such as Singapore Airlines (SIA), Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Mediacorp. In my constituency, Mr Peter Ng of Sin Kian Choon Fruits Trading is a good example of a business owner from Bukit Merah who has stepped forward to help needy residents in my constituency. He not only sponsors the fruits and rations for needy households, but helps out in the distribution, too. For these big companies and SMEs, the employees share with me that they gain great satisfaction seeing the happy and appreciative faces of the residents who received help. In May 2015, MCCY announced that the NVPC would be developing a Singapore roadmap for corporate giving. How has this plan helped to increase donations, both in cash and in kind, as well as volunteering from our corporations? Have companies been receptive so far? Some companies, particularly SMEs, need help or advice in how they can contribute. What plans does the Ministry have to engage and assist such companies?”
“What kind of support or resources can we provide their families and caregivers, especially if they have long-term patients, to take care of challenges like dementia or depression? Demand and Capacity for Eldercare”
“Mdm Chair, as our seniors grow frail, they develop multiple health problems and will need varying care needs and repeated visits to various medical specialists and therapists. This can be very tiring for them as well as for their caregivers. It is important that they have access to integrated and holistic care so that they will not end up shuttling from one place to another. What are the Ministry's plans to enable senior-centric care to take place? An example of an ideal situation would be like this. A senior goes to an SAC daily to take part in activities, socialise and exercise. The staff at the centre are familiar with his general health conditions and problems, and assist him to take his medications. When the elderly exhibits certain health symptoms, they are able to take note and alert his family members or, if he lives alone, to refer him to the appropriate agencies. When he goes for his medical appointments, the tests and treatments are preferably arranged on the same trip to minimise travelling. In addition, when he needs to move around different departments within the hospital, there will be volunteer guides to help him, especially for an elderly who can only communicate in his vernacular language. When he grows more frail and has to stay at home, he or his family will be able to get assistance from day/night nurses or part-time care-givers at affordable rates. With reference to this scenario, I would like to ask the Minister and the Ministry if we will have enough eldercare centres, step-down community hospitals and hospices to cope with an increasing number of seniors. How will we recruit, train and retain enough volunteer carers, volunteer guides, nurses, nursing assistants, professional caregivers and therapists?”