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?”
The complete record
Every one of 575 lines we hold for Joan Pereira, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 12.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the amendments in the Bill because it is a much-needed step towards a zero-waste Singapore. We need a comprehensive strategy to tackle plastic waste that also considers reasonable lifestyle changes for all Singapore residents. This is the only way to ensure that our efforts to tackle plastic bag problems will be sustainable over the long term. One is the issue of proper bagging of waste, especially food waste, before disposal. If we do not provide reasonable alternatives, we are simply pushing the problem of people obtaining plastic bags from supermarkets to other sources. Many residents ask me how they can bag their rubbish going forward as they find five cents per bag pretty expensive. Surely, we do not want residents throwing their rubbish, especially food waste, directly into the rubbish chutes, in order to save on the cost of bags. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] One challenge is the issue of the proper bagging of waste, especially food waste, before disposal. If we do not provide a reasonable alternative, we are simply pushing the problem of people obtaining plastic bags from supermarkets to other sources. Many residents ask me how they can bag their rubbish going forward, as they find five cents per bag quite expensive. Surely, we do not want residents throwing their rubbish, especially food waste, directly into the rubbish chutes, in order to save on the cost of bags. (In English): Are there concerted efforts to support local-level composting or centralised food waste collection solutions? This will also help to close the food waste loop in Singapore, even for households. Will the Ministry be implementing initiatives similar to the Bloobox? Can we build on that?”
“With the advent of NPS, we are not simply saddled with a drug issue, but it also translates into community mental health issues. Studies have also shown that substance abuse and mental health issues are often co-occurring disorders and abusers require longer-term support, treatment and guidance in order to have a better chance at rehabilitation. Therefore, can I request for more comprehensive and longer-term mental health resources and support for drug abusers who have gone through rehabilitation? Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] With the advent of NPS, we are not simply saddled with a drug issue, but it also translates into community mental health issues. Studies have shown that substance abuse and mental health issues are often co-occurring disorders, and abusers require long-term support, treatment and guidance in order to have a better chance at rehabilitation. Therefore, can I request for more comprehensive and longer-term mental health resources and support for drug abusers who have gone through rehabilitation? (In English): I support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with the trend of more new types of drugs produced, trafficked and sold in increasing quantities, it is important that we increase the penalties for drug offenders to act as an effective deterrent. However, such deterrence alone is not sufficient, as we can still see these activities going on with impudence despite the harsh penalties. We will also need to consider how we can successfully flush out such syndicates operating in the region and their distribution channels into Singapore. This is not easy as many of the syndicates are based overseas, and their masterminds are also not within our jurisdiction. I hope that we can have even closer cooperation with our bilateral counterparts, such as the various platforms within ASEAN that deal specifically with this issue, including the Meetings of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD). The UN had repeatedly appealed to governments, especially those in Asia, to consider the problem of the abuse of and trafficking in amphetamine-type stimulants in their entirety, including their prevalence and the reasons why more youths in the region are turning to the abuse of methamphetamine. This problem is a regional issue and every country has a part to play in slowing down this drug epidemic. Are there regional information sharing partnerships that can be enhanced? Can Singapore play a role in committing some resources to such efforts? There are also shifting attitudes among governments in the region towards drugs, including some showing more tolerance or even acceptance of recreational uses for selected types of drugs, like cannabis. This will invariably undermine existing efforts as the attitudes of youths in the region towards drugs will also shift.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I have a clarification for Minister of State Tan. He shared about how our SG Volunteer Centres (VCs) coordinate efforts to match the volunteers and the beneficiaries, and this has grown. On the medical escort initiative that I spoke about just now in my speech, can Minister of State share how the VCs are working to match the patients with the volunteers and how is MCCY strengthening the VCs to help them in this job to do well?”
“How would MCCY work towards understanding the situational requirements and facilitate these volunteer operations? Our volunteers are a huge resource who should be valued and engaged meaningfully. SG Cares Community Networks”
“Chairman, SG Cares Volunteer Centres are the coordinating hubs of all volunteers in their respective towns. Many good-hearted people are willing to step forward and offer their time and expertise to help. But it is not enough to just increase the number of volunteers. The challenge is sustaining their interest and engaging them meaningfully. Sometimes, the centres may not have the resources to engage them at the level which they are willing to serve. I would like to focus on an area that has very high need. I understand from most of the SSAs in my constituency that there is a high demand for medical escorts, especially among the elderly, to help vulnerable patients keep their medical appointments at polyclinics and Government hospitals. Volunteers in this area are few, and in most instances, the staff in the SSAs have to handle this work, on top of their own work. They are stretched and tired. The other challenge is matching the volunteers and the patients. We need coordinating personnel and a good IT system to draw up the schedules and match with those of the volunteers, including reserve medical escorts, in case a volunteer, who has been assigned to the senior, is suddenly unable to make it. We can imagine the coordination, administrative and IT support that this group needs. Without these resources, the matching process will be less efficient, the volunteers may not be activated as often as they would like to, to sustain their interest. Meanwhile, we have so many patients who need their help. This is just one of a few examples of how the volunteer centres can be better supported. Different volunteer centres will have varying resource support requirements.”
“Chairman, most Singaporeans live together in harmony. Neighbours are generally considerate and look out for one another. However, there is an increase in the number of disputes in recent years, with the common causes being noise disruptions, smoking, littering, hoarding, just to name a few. At our COS debate last year, Minister Tong shared that the Community Dispute Management Framework (CDMF) was in the process of being enhanced. I support this as it is better for neighbours to first discuss their problems in the presence of a trained mediator early instead of allowing the situation to escalate. At the MinLaw COS debate on 27 February, it was announced that disputes over noise issues, disputes that have resurfaced after mediation at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC), and disputes in which parties want to file a claim with the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal (CDRT) must first go through mandatory mediation or the parties involved will be penalised. Under the enhanced CDMF, how will MCCY proceed to assist in the other types of dispute cases not in the above three categories? What about cases involving religious practices that might cause racial or religious tensions, persons with mental health or suspected mental health issues? Some of the disputes have not been resolved for a long time, to the distress of neighbours. Can MCCY try to expedite the processing of these cases?”
“Thank you, Chairman. On ComLink, to be more effective, I think we need to have more information sharing. I mentioned this in my speech earlier. Can I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary if this is being done now and if so, how can we help our SSOs so that it is facilitated across all the various agencies and it will be more helpful in their job?”
“Chairman, I am glad that as a nation, we have started the conversation on how we should value all work equally, whether these are "head", "heart" or "hands" work. Today, I would like to advocate for "heart" work, that is, jobs and careers in the community care and services sector. We, as a nation, had pledged not to leave anyone behind; and a competent and effective social service sector is crucial to fulfil this vision. How can the Government attract good people to join our SSAs? How will MSF retain them, support, and empower them to excel? These are important questions which we must get right to build a united nation with strong bonds, based on equality and social mobility. Our SSAs are responsible for the delivery of assistance to the vulnerable amongst us. When they do their jobs well, they uplift not only the lives of this segment but our whole society. How will the Ministry affirm the efforts and contributions of our SSAs and support them to thrive? I would like to suggest that one way to recognise and motivate capable social service officers is to enable those who do well to progress to senior and top positions in our Ministries and Statutory Boards. Their backgrounds in social services should be treated as equally as those from other sectors. Partnership with Social Service Sector”
“Chairman, there is feedback from my residents that though there are vacancies in a particular infant care centre, the centre is unable to accept the children because of a shortage of infant care teachers. For parents, it is also important for such centres to be near their homes to facilitate drop-offs and pick-ups. Does the Ministry have plans to train more infant care specialists to meet the demand of our parents? What are the challenges and obstacles in the recruitment and retention of these staff in this sector? What more can be done to improve the working conditions of the teachers and reduce the attrition rate? Preschools”
“The early indicators that children in the programme had better preschool attendance than their peers of similar socio-economic backgrounds were encouraging, so was the feedback from the parents and caregivers that they were better supported in their parenting journey. I would like to ask the Ministry how it will improve and sustain the attendance of the family members in KidSTART at information and counselling sessions organised by Government agencies and volunteers. KidSTART organised an information session at a void deck in my constituency and the families just needed to come downstairs to attend the session. However, the parents were unable to attend and even if they attended, they were unable to concentrate unless someone helped to look after their children. In addition, to enhance coordination for each case, we need to map out and identify which agencies to work with and share information within the team looking after the family. Based on my experience, there is still room for improvement in information sharing and updating among the different agencies and volunteer groups. If the Ministry can provide more support and resources to facilitate consolidation and updating, that would be helpful as the assistance delivery process can be expedited.”
“Chairman, to better help vulnerable, lower-income families, it is crucial to deliver coordinated and family-centric assistance. I was very glad when ComLink was announced in 2019 to bring together SSOs, Government agencies, charities, grassroots organisations and other community partners to help families with children living in public rental flats. I have been meeting various stakeholders to coordinate assistance for distressed families in my constituency. I appreciate the usefulness of these collaborative sessions as it has been effective in providing holistic care. We know who is doing what for whom in the family, thereby preventing duplication in efforts and plugging gaps. A feature which I have been hoping for is a centralised case file which all the stakeholders involved can access and link or refer to the relevant Government and other external assistance programmes. At last year's Committee of Supply (COS), Minister Desmond Lee mentioned that the Government would "strengthen backroom integration across agencies", consolidate common systems and processes where possible and manage them centrally. This will be really helpful in speeding up delivery and reduce coordination costs. Would the Ministry provide an update on the centralisation process? I would also like to ask about the befrienders with ComLink. As the Ministry scales up this scheme, how is the recruitment of these volunteers progressing? What are the main challenges encountered in attracting and retaining befrienders? How is the Ministry reaching out to more Singaporeans to volunteer and participate in this worthy endeavour? KidSTART Chairman, I am heartened that KidSTART, which you started, will be expanded nationwide to support more eligible children in lower-income families.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I have one clarification for the Senior Minister of State. Can the Ministry of Finance share, whether the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) have a system to calibrate annual property values as a ratio of all owner- and tenant-occupied properties, to ensure that AVs are not disproportionately skewed by a few high rental units?”
“Chairman, as more of our HDB blocks cross the 50-year mark, we need to plan ahead to secure the resources needed for their upkeep. As the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us supplies of materials and manpower cannot be taken for granted. The flats in my Henderson Crescent estate, in Henderson Dawson, which were built in 1970s, are about 50 years old. Many flats there have problems, such as constant water leak and spalling concrete. Even after continuous repairs, the problem persists. What is HDB's plan for such flats? Would the Ministry share and update on its maintenance plans for ageing estates, like Henderson Crescent, including the Home Improvement Programme scheme or can HDB consider SERS for the flats at Henderson Crescent? Many residents there have expressed to me their desire for SERS. If there are no plans for SERS, can the Ministry provide some information on VERS? Because with more information, residents will be better equipped to plan ahead their housing journey and also other housing matters.”
“Chairman, the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions to the global supply chain, the Russian-Ukraine war, extreme weather conditions, amongst others, all contribute to the sustained inflation which our world is facing today. Many food and beverage (F&B) establishments, including our hawker stalls, have had to increase prices due to the rising costs of ingredients, as well as higher utility bills. When I do my walkabouts in the hawker centres in my constituency, residents highlight to me that food is now very expensive. Many suggest that the Government reduce the rentals so that hawkers can maintain or lower their prices. As a nation which needs to import most of our food ingredients, energy and even water, there is little we can do for these components. However, the rentals, at least at hawker centres, is something which the Ministry has control over. I would like to ask if rentals account for a large part of our hawkers’ overall operating costs? Have their rentals been increasing in tandem during this period of inflationary pressures? How does the National Environment Agency (NEA) ensure that rentals at hawker centres remain reasonable? What benchmarks does NEA use? How is the Government supporting hawkers during this challenging period to ensure that our hawker food remains affordable? Hawker Food Options in CBD”
“Chairman, last month, at the 16th Pacific Alliance (PA) Summit in Colombia, Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong, signed the PA-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (PASFTA) and PA-Singapore Joint Declaration with his counterparts from the PA member states – namely, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. In July last year, we substantively concluded negotiations with the other Latin America economic bloc, the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), which comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Will the Ministry elaborate how these agreements will benefit and help build trade between Singapore and Latin America? Will the Ministry also share with the House an update on our other initiatives to engage with Latin America? Bilateral Relationship with UK and EU”
“Chairman, I am heartened to note that MINDEF and SAF continue to engage the community and key stakeholders to understand the challenges, constraints and opportunities faced by our people and businesses. Such engagements will go a long way to help boost the public support for defence and enable Singaporeans to better understand defence issues, so that they can play a more active role in building a resilient society. Over the years, the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) has provided an invaluable avenue for MINDEF and SAF to receive feedback and proposals. Last year, Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad provided an update on the various ACCORD initiatives, including ACCORD's focus on engaging youth and women on defence issues. Would MINDEF provide an update on the various initiatives that ACCORD has been working on recently? ACCORD and Community Support for NS”
“I hope that we can gather at least half of all Singaporeans to step forward to be trained in things like First Aid, CPR, basic firefighting and other critical life-saving skills, and to start training our younger generation in all these skills as well. (In English): As a multiracial, multi-religious society, we need to be extra vigilant to guard against attempts to strike at the fault lines in our society and to destabilise our community. It takes time and effort to understand and nurture bonds among people with different backgrounds, gradually building mutual trust and solidarity. Unity is only possible with these bonds and a willingness to place the interests of community above self, with the stronger helping the weaker.”
“Beyond emergency preparedness exercises, our residents should know what to do when there is a fire, power or communications failure, flooding or more dramatic scenarios such as bomb threats or someone with a weapon on the loose. We must co-create solutions in preparation for such threats. The Government cannot do this alone. Thus, I was heartened to learn about the pilot Total Defence Community Table-top exercises where residents presented their suggestions on how to prepare for future crises. I support the decision to scale up this exercise so that more communities can participate as part of the SGSecure programme. Indeed, during times of peace, we need to practise and ensure that we are familiar with the essentials of coping in emergencies and life-saving skills. I urge the Government to enhance the funding, support and resource allocation for crisis preparation among its agencies and on the ground. It is time for SGSecure to go beyond the threat of terrorism and to mean more than "Run, Hide, Tell" to our people. I hope that we can gather at least half of all Singaporeans to step forward to be trained in first aid, CPR, basic firefighting and other critical life-saving skills and to start training our younger generation in all these skills as well. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I urge the Government to enhance the funding, support and resource allocation for crisis preparation amongst its agencies and on the ground. It is time for SGSecure to go beyond the threat of terrorism, and to mean more than "Run, Hide, Tell" to our people.”
“As expected, during a Budget debate, there will be many ideas put forth on how we can provide more support to Singaporeans and inevitably, that would mean we have to spend more. However, as fellow Singaporeans, we can all play our part to make this country a better place – and every little bit of effort counts. If everyone can chip in just a bit more in their own way, be it to look out for each other or to lend a helping hand and with some creativity, I am very sure we can bring about a better Singapore for all. In addition to asking each other how much you are getting from this year's Budget, can we also ask ourselves how we can do more to look after our families, our friends, our neighbours and our fellow Singaporeans? The COVID-19 cluster incident in my constituency proves that indeed, we have many willing helping hands in our community. What is needed is for all the stakeholders in an estate, in a community to be familiar with what to do in emergencies. How can we set up and maintain crisis activation centres and keep the relationships among stakeholders, including residents, grassroots leaders, community organisations, places of worship and more, warm through regular bonding and training programmes? We need more than Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for emergencies like fires, floods, power failures and such. When the representatives on the ground know one another, can put a face to a name, the effectiveness of crisis management will be higher, and in some emergencies, every minute counts. In countries like Japan, where they are constantly threatened by earthquakes, regular drills with high participation rates are the norm.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the last three years had been tough for our people but we are finally riding out this storm. The full force of the crisis had been mitigated by decades of careful savings and implementation of sound measures. Thus, we all have to do our best to save where we can. This is necessary to prepare for potential future crises, whether they are triggered by geopolitical tensions, extreme weather conditions or any other causes. Most importantly, we must stay united as a people. It is our unity which has enabled us to overcome the crisis together. On the ground, many individuals and groups had come together to help those most badly hit by the pandemic. One of the first COVID-19 clusters was in my constituency in Henderson-Dawson. More specifically, it was at Bukit Merah View. Quite a few residents had to be quarantined, leaving young children and the elderly at home. My community centre coordinated home care, delivery of food and necessities to these households. I was heartened by organisations, volunteers, residents and grassroots leaders who stepped forward to help. There were also residents who donated money to their favourite hawkers whose livelihoods were hit hard by the COVID-19 restrictions. Youth and children pitched in, drawing cards to comfort those in hospitals who could not receive visitors. How can we keep these relationships and networks warm so that we can tap on them should another crisis strike? Or rather, without the sensational nature of a crisis, how can we encourage more of us in the community to offer just that little bit of additional help and support to each other and lessen the burden together?”
“Thank you, Speaker. I have one supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. In general, I have received feedback that some patrons, although they are able to, do not return their trays after eating. May I know how successful the mandatory tray return policy has been since the initial set of good results, and whether there has been any deterioration in the compliance rate? And if so, would the Ministry be able to impose more effective measures, like more frequent patrolling by NEA officers and enforcement, only if necessary?”
“Thank you, Speaker. I have one supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. MOH had recently published figures on the number of individuals who have received payments under the Vaccination Injury Financial Assistance Programme (VIFAP). Of these individuals, may I know how many of them had suffered from an ischemic stroke after receiving the bivalent vaccine?”
“For example, the Ministry can consider allocating Government grants for waste management companies to run public school education campaigns and anti-littering campaigns or channel funding to industry collaborations that encourage the use of recycled materials. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Public education, effective usage of recycled materials as well as partnerships between the industry and Government play equally important roles in our sustainability efforts. I hope that Government support can be focused on collaborative partnerships to achieve a zero-waste future for Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the beneficial impact of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for the waste collection and materials recovery sub-sectors is very welcomed. These workers are providing essential services and their wages should reflect their valuable contributions. They should also be adequately compensated for the very challenging nature and conditions of their jobs. The PWM provides the structure to address these issues and uplift their professions. The inclusion of these sub-sectors in PWM shows the growing recognition of their very important roles. It is also necessary to have a formal career progression framework to attract more local workers. There are very specific skillsets required to manage effectively and efficiently. Continuous improvement and retraining are needed to increase productivity in these sectors. For the new licensing framework, the increase in paid-up capital will provide differentiation among classes of providers. The customers will be able to select suitable companies based on their capabilities and resources. The system will encourage providers to improve their workflows and innovate to boost productivity and raise service standards. With greater innovation and increases in productivity, the working conditions of workers in this sector will also improve. I urge the Ministry to provide more support to these companies to help them and their workers to progress. However, we must also remember that public education, effective usage of recycled materials as well as meaningful partnerships between the industry and Government are equally important components in our anti-littering campaigns and sustainability efforts. I also hope that Government support can be focused on collaborative partnerships to achieve a zero-waste future for Singapore.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I have two clarifications for Minister Ong. First, as the bivalent vaccine booster shot is currently optional, I would like to ask the Minister whether the take-up rate among our elderly and the at-risk groups is adequate. The second question – given that there have been news reports on the increased transmissibility and re-infection rates of some of the virus' sub-variants circulating now, are more extensive communication efforts being planned to encourage more people to take their bivalent boosters as soon as possible?”
“And also if Members remember, during a Sitting a few months ago, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann and I also answered two queries as to how we would want to make sure that the fire safety in the HDB blocks are enhanced. Beyond the infrastructure, we also work with community organisations and grassroots organisations to see how we can enhance the community resilience, with regards to how they can keep their homes safe from fires. And when fires happen, what we can do as a community to see how we can get everyone to a safe place, while the SCDF and other agencies do their work to help solve the issue.”
“My deepest condolences to the family of the late SGT1 Edward Go. Sir, I have one supplementary question for the Minister of State. I note that there have been quite a number of fires in public rental blocks in recent years. Can the Minister of State share if there are any gaps in the design of our public rental housing blocks that might make them more prone to fire risk? And if so, what are the mitigating measures that can be taken. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. Not only rental flats, all Housing and Development Board (HDB) buildings are compliant with the prevailing Fire Code at the time when they were built or renovated. At the unit level, flats are designed as separate fire compartments to minimise the risk of fire spread to other units via walls of required fire-resistance rating. So that is at the unit level. And fire-rated doors will also have a closer, to ensure that they do not stay open after the occupants have evacuated. This maintains the route of evacuation for residents for a certain time, based on the fire rating. For the common areas of Block 91 Henderson Road, the corridor width complies with the prevailing Fire Code requirements. On a day-to-day basis, the Town Council conducts fire safety inspections of the HDB blocks, such as checking on obstruction along corridors and requiring residents to remove them. So, the involved Block 91 Henderson Road also complied with the prevailing Fire Code requirements, that the fire engine access road must be within 18 metres of the dry riser breaching inlets located near the exit staircases. While some rental blocks are maybe more densely occupied than some of the sold blocks, this does not compromise their compliance with the Fire Code.”
“Such views can come from any quarter of society and may even be disguised as supporters of any of the positions that I had mentioned above, but their ultimate aim is to push Singapore to an extreme corner of the spectrum, without consideration as to whether this would be good for us. Some of these could also be driven or initiated by foreign elements with an insidious agenda, given the borderless nature of social media and the Internet. We are a small and closely-knit nation. Our society cannot afford to be polarised by this issue. We have already so many challenges facing us, as families, as communities and as a nation. We need to unite and fight as one to overcome the many difficulties which lie ahead. The COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over. We have to deal with the rising costs of living amid increasing global tensions and geopolitical conflicts. We need to combat social and income inequality and strive to make sure that no Singaporean is left behind. I hope that cool heads will prevail and we can all take a step back and understand one another's positions and work together as a society to bridge any differences. Let us all be more understanding of and respectful towards one another, so that no one will feel discriminated against. This is one aspect where we individuals have choice.”
“Sir, the Government’s rationale for the repeal of section 377A has been laid out quite clearly over the past few months. However, I would like to express my worry that fault lines are being drawn in our society as a result of the views of various groups in our society occupying the centrestage on this issue. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] The concerns and aspirations of every Singaporean should be heard and should be valued, especially on such issues that matter to all of us. For most of the voices that are speaking up, they have come from a place of love – a love for the future of this country, a love for the future of our people and our society, and a love for this world. There are members of our community who have difficulty accepting the implications that they feared would come with the repeal of section 377A. The fear is about losing the fundamental values that we have built our society on and the fabric that holds us together. To me, this fear comes from a position of love, not of hate, as they love the country and community that we have built and are worried about it being damaged. There are also members of our community who feel that the repeal of section 377A has been long overdue, and some of them are also hoping that our societal norms can further evolve and become more liberal towards different types of marriages and families. This set of views also stems from a place of love, where they would like to embrace differences and allow everyone to pursue whatever lifestyle they so desire. Unfortunately, we have also come across voices who do not come from a place of love but would rather stir hatred and misunderstanding within our society, and these are the ones who are drawing and then exploiting fault lines within our social fabric.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. I have one supplementary question. Employees who have been dismissed or retrenched may need assistance, but may feel that the HR of their company are not on their side due to various circumstances. Would MOM be able to provide a channel or dedicated hotline for such employees to seek some advice as to what they can do and what options they have?”
“Visitor numbers are limited to 200 per day. During the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pinnacle @ Duxton rooftop was closed to visitors. I earnestly appeal for similar preventive measures to ensure the orderly management of public access to all other HDB sky gardens all over Singapore. Residents are not against public access. They just want measures to enable them to live normally and peacefully, which most HDB residents do everywhere. The welfare of these residents matters. The current system is not allowing this, and we have to implement measures to ensure security and crowd control to reduce disamenities. HDB sky gardens are here to stay, and we will expect to see more of such beautiful features in future developments. But the need to share these public spaces in a responsible manner is equally important as well. I hope we can all work together towards a more sustainable set of solutions together.”
“On weekends, visitors go to these gardens late at night too and their noise also disturb residents trying to sleep. In the morning, the cleaners are confronted with cigarette butts and alcohol bottles that are carelessly littered all over the sky gardens. I would like to highlight that these are all additional costs being borne by the Town Councils. My volunteers patrol the sky gardens at night after 10 pm to remind visitors to leave the sky gardens as residents need to have their rest. However, my volunteers have been doing this for over two years. They are exhausted. Expecting them to patrol these gardens daily is not only time-consuming but unsustainable. The issues are no longer happening on a daily basis with the reopening of borders and lifting of restrictions on the gathering of people, but such problems are still observed during weekends and on festive occasions. Over the last few years, we have tried so many measures to minimise the disamenities, together with HDB, Town Council, Residents' Committees, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and other Government agencies. We have even involved the Police. Our current measures are insufficient and not working. I hope we can move on and try new measures. My residents and I are mindful that these are public spaces. But public access is not a licence to abuse the space, or behave inconsiderately and irresponsibly. The current state of affairs is hardly building cohesive communities. Residents are stressed by the many strangers loitering around their dwelling units and creating disamenities. In contrast, the situation at another popular HDB rooftop terrace at Pinnacle @ Duxton is much more orderly. Non-residents need to register and pay a $6 fee to access the 50th storey rooftop via a turnstile gantry.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, community spaces are incorporated into the design of our Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates to enable residents and visitors to interact and bond socially. These areas are open to the public so that everyone can enjoy them. In some of the newer estates, beautiful sky gardens with gorgeous views are built to the delight of all. It is the hope of the Government that our people will be able to spend time with their families, loved ones, neighbours and friends in these pockets of nature in the midst of our public housing estates and build cohesive communities. Unfortunately, not all users of these painstakingly-built sky gardens take care of these spaces nor consider the well-being of residents who live in the blocks where the gardens are located. Unlike beaches and public parks, the sky gardens are literally built onto the residents' blocks, where inconsiderate and irresponsible usage have a direct impact on the people living there. Residents have been putting up with the inconvenience and nuisance caused by visitors to the sky gardens who behave in an inconsiderate manner. These troubles are especially pronounced during the weekends, eve of festive seasons and public holidays. My residents are well aware that these are public gardens, but they are extremely inconvenienced by the chaos, noise and the rubbish that the crowds would bring. There were occasions when the wait time for lifts is very long because many non-residents are using the lifts to visit the sky gardens and the carpark lots are also taken up. Residents sometimes have to endure dirty lifts, overflowing dustbins, littering, illegal smoking and loud partying in common areas.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I have one supplementary question for the Minister. There may be elderly facing non-life-threatening cases who may not have been able to share their condition while waiting for a doctor to see them at the A&E. They may have felt nauseous, cold, scared, hungry. How then does MOH identify or how then do the nurses identify such cases and help comfort them during that waiting period?”
“This statement totaling all the benefits should also be available in the Singpass app such that our citizens will know how much assistance or support they have received. It is important that our people obtain the correct perspective on how revenue collected and redistributed helps to assist the less privileged in our community so that no one gets left behind. Our nation is built upon a mutually supportive and enabling ecosystem, of which a cohesive and united people are the foundation. Sir, I support the Bill.”
“As they get older and may not be able to continue working, the contributions to MediSave may stop. By then, it will be very tough for them to cope with their medical bills. Mr H hopes that the Government would consider topping up higher amounts for the MediSave accounts of the vulnerable elderly. In view of rising medical costs and that one of the key reasons why we have to increase GST is that our ageing population requires more support, I would also like to ask for higher withdrawal limits for MediSave. I hope that there can be more support and subsidies for outpatient treatments of chronic illnesses through the existing CHAS scheme for our Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In view of rising medical costs, and that one of the key reasons why we have to increase GST is that our ageing population requires more support, I would also like to ask for higher withdrawal limits for Medisave. I also hope that the Government can provide more support and subsidies for outpatient treatments of chronic illnesses through the existing CHAS scheme, for our Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation. (In English): Other than the elderly, I can understand the burden of the sandwich class as I speak to many of them during my walkabouts. They feel very stretched by the increasing costs of living. Inflation is affecting their incomes which may not have kept pace with the increase in costs. Separately, I would like to suggest that the Government send each Singaporean an annual consolidated statement of the various subsidies, top-ups and cash payouts he or she receives in the mail.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in order to provide better support for the vulnerable and the increasing number of elderly in our society, more tax revenue from different sources is required. GST, being a consumption tax, is one of the ways to obtain revenue. More GST is being borne by the higher income group. As data from previous years show, the top 20% of the households here, foreigners and tourists account for more than 60% of the GST collected. I would like to share a real story of how such revenue is used by the Government to help my elderly residents, two of them, and how more targeted support measures can help to alleviate some of the financial stress experienced by them and other Singaporeans. Mr H, aged 68, stays with his wife, Mdm L, aged 63, in a 3-room HDB flat. Mr H left his job as a taxi driver in 2020 when his wife was diagnosed with kidney failure and needed to start dialysis. In addition, he takes care of their eight-year-old granddaughter. The couple’s greatest concern was medical costs. They were very worried about financial challenges if Mdm L was not able to continue working. The dialysis cost is about $300 per month after subsidy. Other costs include half-yearly treatment costs and medicines amounting to about $600. The family was relieved that Mdm L could continue working and she currently earns about $2,800 a month as a childcare teacher. With various Government subsidies and assistance schemes, they can cope with the dialysis costs and daily expenses. Their granddaughter is also receiving financial assistance from MOE. But Mr H shares with me that he is very concerned about the depletion of his and his wife's MediSave accounts. Currently, they are depending on their MediSave to pay for their medical bills.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have one supplementary question for the Minister. Single and lonely elderly sometimes find it very difficult to identify suitable donees. Can MSF help our elderly by matching them with perhaps a pre-screened list of potential donees? If there is not such a list of persons, can MSF maybe consider doing so?”
“Thank you, Speaker. I have one supplementary question. How did ICA ensure that the security of our Woodlands checkpoint was not compromised, that is, that there were no security breaches, such as any illegal or unauthorised entry into Singapore? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. Essentially, there were no security breaches, such as illegal or unauthorised entry into Singapore, during the power outage incident. So, what we did was that during the power outage, our Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) worked with us and continued to man all critical security posts and access points at Woodlands Checkpoint. And these critical security posts and access points had the emergency lighting. In addition to that, we also provided APOs portable emergency lamps and they guarded these points. Also, we had more security patrols throughout the period of the outage. We are happy that there were no security breaches.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. I have one supplementary question. Residents aged 50 and above who have already taken their second booster are not sure if they can take the bivalent vaccine and when to take it. For those aged 80 and above, many took it in April, that is, more than five months but less than a year after the second booster. For those aged 50 to 79, many took it in June, that is, less than five months of their second booster shot. Can the Minister advise?”
“] Last, I would like to ask about the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (TCMPs) in the Healthier SG model. TCMPs have been playing a significant role in helping residents, particularly the elderly, to better manage their health over the long term. TCM methods often emphasise holistic care and can be complementary to our current system. If the Ministry is concerned about the standard and consistency of TCM healthcare delivery, how about setting up a system, similar to our present western medical framework, and ensure its integration into our healthcare system?”
“While MOH has stated that it will support the GPs in this aspect, what will happen if a patient's preferred GP chooses not to join the network due to the clinic's constraints? Yes, patients can select another doctor but it is not so easy, especially when a strong relationship has been built and, more importantly, the doctor's medicine works well for the patients. This would then mean that patients have to doctor hop before finding the right one that suits them. Some residents are also concerned that more costs for the GPs will be involved and they worry as a result, the medical costs will be higher for residents who see GPs under this Healthier SG initiative. How would the Ministry ensure that costs will be kept in check? I applaud the decision to narrow the difference in drug subsidies across polyclinics and private clinics through a combination of enhanced drug subsidies and drug price limits. However, there may be some non-generic drugs which will continue to be priced above the limits. Will patients be given a choice to opt for such drugs via personal top-ups and MOH to provide greater subsidies because these drugs work well for them? Last, I would like to ask about the role of TCMPs in the Healthier SG model. TCMPs have been playing a significant role in helping residents, particularly the elderly, to better manage their health over the long term. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) methods often emphasise holistic care and can be complementary to our current system. If the Ministry is concerned about the standard and consistent TCM healthcare delivery, how about setting up a system similar to our present Western medical framework and ensure its integration into our healthcare system? Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Healthier SG initiatives and look forward to the expected benefits as this new healthcare model nudges Singaporeans to focus more on active self-care. All of us as individuals need to consciously take steps on a daily basis to minimise the risks of illnesses and diseases, with care and guidance from our doctors and their teams of support professionals. Many of the things we can do are quite achievable, though not always easy for some of us, such as taking the necessary medications on time, watching our diets and exercising. Following up with doctors familiar with our health histories regularly will help to introduce some discipline into our lives, as we have to be accountable to them too. One of my concerns is regarding the funding model that will be partly based on health outcomes. The White Paper states that service fee payments for family doctors will be partially based on "the progress made in terms of preventive care or chronic diseases management". While I understand the intent of this clause, the reality is that there will be some patients who have difficulties being compliant and it is not reasonable to expect the doctors to control their patients. I would like to know how the Ministry will help such patients. Will there be situations where doctors may choose not to continue with the management of very challenging patients? Another question is regarding the additional administrative and IT set-up and maintenance requirements necessary for this scheme. The White Paper states that in the initial phase, the Ministry will provide a one-off IT support grant. Going forward, inputting data and maintaining the IT system in a clinic will need more manpower and IT knowledge, particularly to ensure a high level of cybersecurity.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In my constituency, there are residents who live in public rental flats where their units face each other. They have no available space to hang the national flag either near their front door or outside the kitchen windows because that is where they hang their laundry. Would the Ministry share what alternatives they have to showcase their patriotism? The Bill states that offenders may be penalised for misuse of national symbols. MHA should give the offenders a chance to explain because it could be a misunderstanding. I hope the authorities will educate the public on what constitutes misuse of national symbols. (In English): Madam, I support the Bill.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I support the proposal in the Bill to enable the Minister to allow the national flag to be flown outside the National Day period. Having these displays during significant occasions, such as the Olympics, would be a wonderful way for Singaporeans to express their national pride and unity. In my constituency, there is a group of citizens who face some challenges if they wish to express their patriotism. They live in public rental flats where their units face each other. They have neither available space near their front doors nor at the back, outside the kitchen windows, because that is where they hang their laundry. I hope we can facilitate the good intent of these Singaporeans and help them to showcase their national pride. While the Residents' Committees do hang the flags on parapets or railings of stairwells at these blocks, these are projects by group committees. For individuals who want to do so on their own initiative, they need some help and support. Would the Ministry share what alternatives there are for these residents? The Bill states that offenders may be fined up to $30,000 or jailed for up to six months, or both, for an offence under the regulations. Offenders must be given the chance to explain why they made their mistakes. It should be explained and communicated very clearly to all what constitutes the misuse of national symbols. Public education is very important. What measures has the Ministry planned for to educate members of the public? The enforcers should also be understanding and not penalise offenders straightaway. While there will be a minority who intentionally misuse national symbols, more likely than not, these are genuine mistakes. I hope they would be advised accordingly instead of being fined. Madam, in Mandarin.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I have a supplementary question for Senior Minister of State Sim Ann. I have observed that agencies face extremely great challenges in getting our hoarders, especially those who face mental well-being issues to cooperate. Can I ask if there could be dedicated mental health or social support resources set aside for cases specifically under the Hoarding Management Framework, so that more attention can be given to resolve such cases very quickly?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I have two supplementary questions for the Minister. A recent study from Portugal suggested that the current lead dominant Omicron BA.5 subvariant is linked with higher odds of causing reinfection, regardless of the vaccination status. Is the Ministry considering conducting similar studies and would such findings affect our country's vaccination and treatment strategies?”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. May I know what are the measures to prevent monkeypox from spreading and whether the Ministry would consider encouraging smallpox vaccination as a preventive measure, as they are thought to be about 85% effective against monkeypox infection?”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I have one supplementary question for the Minister. Would the Ministry consider exploring the use of offshore islands such as Pulau Ubin for poultry or agricultural users with aspects of ecotourism, so as to enhance the resilience of Singapore's food supply.”