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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“All these advisories and support are crucial for laying a robust foundation for strong marriages and families in Singapore. Lastly, I would like to ask if certain documents which hopeful couples need to submit for the marriage registration could be transferred digitally between Government agencies. This could help expedite application and registration processes and reduce red tape. I look forward to the Minister’s clarifications and conclude with my support for the Bill. 5.13 pm”
“For those who have not, the solemnisation process presents an opportunity for the solemnisers to offer such important advice and share valuable personal experiences in person. I hope that with solemnisation conducted via video links, this important part of the process shall be required to remain incorporated as well. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Many couples whom I solemnised, sought advice from me and I even provided some counselling to some of them. They appreciated this as I shared my own marriage experiences and they found it helpful. Couples who have attended marriage preparation programmes prior to their marriage registration would have learnt about couple communications and problem-solving skills. For those who have not attended such programmes, the solemnization process presents an opportunity for the solemnizers to offer such important advice and share valuable personal experiences. I hope that with solemnization conducted through video links, this important part of the process shall be required to remain incorporated as well. (In English): For couples who are interested, solemnisers are an important connector who can point them to resources where they can get further support in their new married lives, including marriage preparation programmes which are also available to married couples. It is never too late to learn more about communication, conflict-resolution, household financial management skills, family planning and health screening, how to relate to in-laws, and more. Solemnisers can also promote customised service for the unique circumstance of each couple and point them to the relevant Government agency or Ministry should they require further support for this new stage of their lives.”
“Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of the circuit breaker measures have affected many of those planning to get married this year. Marriage is one of the most important milestones in life. We need to take urgent steps to ensure that Singaporean couples can proceed with their marriage plans and be supported in their new family lives, despite the challenging circumstances. All over the world, marriage solemnisation, in all its different formats, has usually involved the couple, their families, friends, well-wishers and a solemniser gathering at a formal ceremony. However, now, during such unprecedented times, we have to adapt. We are fortunate in being able to tap on technology to do so safely – by enabling marriages to be solemnised remotely through video links, without the need for couples to be present at the Registry of Marriages (ROM) or the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM), or be in the physical presence of marriage solemnisers, religious leaders and witnesses. While such an arrangement may have certain risks, I am confident that we are keeping these to a minimum by limiting this process to couples presenting Singapore-issued documents for verification and only allowing couples where at least one person is a Singaporean or Permanent Resident. I used to be a solemniser when I was working at the People Association’s Family Life Unit. Many couples whom I solemnised sought advice and I even provided counselling to some. They appreciated this as I shared my own marriage and family life experience and they found it very helpful. Couples who have attended marriage preparation programmes prior to their marriage registration would have learnt about couple communications and problem-solving skills.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. I have one supplementary question. Many elderly fall at home and sometimes their families did not even realise till after some time. For those who live alone, it could be an even longer lag time before someone discovered the elderly had fallen. With this in mind, may I ask how MOH or perhaps HPB can deploy more wearable fall detection alarm devices for elderly, especially those who have been assessed by medical professionals to have a higher risk of falling and perhaps even those who live alone.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have two supplementary questions for Minister Gan. I am very glad to note that MOH is providing mental well-being support for our frontline workers, especially doctors and nurses who face patients. But how about healthcare support workers? Like frontliners, they also face heavy workloads, physical and mental stress. That is the first question. The second one is, if mental well-being support is provided, what is the type of support that is being done for them?”
“Finally, I would like to ask whether the Government is putting in place any other mechanisms to monitor the situation of smaller businesses so that, if need be, further action can be taken to save viable businesses. Sir, I support the Bill. Thank you. 6.04 pm”
“I am happy to see the various measures that the Government is rolling out to mitigate the deep impact on our SMEs. SMEs play a very important role in our economy. They account for over 65% of Singapore's employment and contribute almost $200 billion, or 49%, to our economy. We must continue to support them as they will be the future drivers of our growth, especially if they are able to exploit regional and international opportunities. COVID-19 is an unprecedented crisis for our generation. Without sufficient support, many otherwise flourishing businesses with good foundations might go bust and this will hamper the growth of our economy as a whole. I strongly believe that we will all recover from this pandemic. It is not if, but when. When the crisis is over, it will be a different world and we have to be ready to seize the new opportunities on the horizon. We cannot afford to have a large number of small business owners being embroiled in litigation and insolvency proceedings. They will become a drag on our economic recovery. This Bill will give SMEs the breathing room to examine the way they do business and revamp. They will not need to worry about fire-fighting and their immediate future. Hopefully, the temporary measures will provide them a reprieve, giving them the space and energy to review how they could change their business models and emerge from the crisis stronger. I also hope that the bigger players – landlords, banks and finance companies – will continue to see their relationships with SMEs as one of partnership. When the SMEs do well, they will also do well. I hope that this understanding will underpin the future discussions that are needed between landlords and tenants, banks and borrowers, to chart a way forward.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the COVID-19 pandemic has sent shocks through economies around the world, including Singapore’s, with an especially severe impact on SMEs, small retailers, including provision shops, mom and pop shops, and food service providers – restaurants, "kopitiams" and hawkers. With the latest circuit breaker measures, their businesses will be hit even harder. A survey conducted by Chope, an online dining-reservation booking platform, found that 78% of the restaurants involved were not prepared to last longer than six months if the current situation does not improve. Eighty percent are reducing staff to cut costs and about one-third have asked their full-time staff to take compulsory leave. A few days ago, a Straits Times article reported on how severely retailers in our heartland malls, such as JCube in Jurong East, Lot One in Choa Chu Kang and the Star Vista in Buona Vista have been hit. These shops tend to rely heavily on in-store sales for their revenues and the recent movement restrictions therefore have a heavy impact. Some of these shops have seen a reduction in their sales of up to 90%. All these business declines have a domino effect and multiplier impact through our entire eco-system. When the revenues for these businesses dry up, their employees' wages dwindle, reducing their ability to spend on goods and services and thus, in turn, affecting other businesses as well. Landlords, lenders and investors are also affected. Landlords would have trouble collecting rentals and consequently, their lenders and investors like banks, finance companies, corporations, shareholders and other individuals would end up with non-performing loans and investments.”
“There will be some who might fall through the cracks and need to be given special consideration in view of their particular circumstances. I trust that our leaders would exercise due diligence and flexibility. I support the Resilience and Solidarity Budgets. 8.17 pm”
“I feel that as long as they are actively looking for jobs, whether these are permanent or part-time positions or on fixed term contracts, or are still attending training, they should be also assisted under this scheme. Second, some unemployed residents hope to qualify for the COVID-19 Support Grant, which was targeted at employees who lost their jobs due to the contagion. While they had not lost their jobs earlier due to COVID-19, the crisis has definitely made their ongoing job search much harder. I feel that as long as they are actively looking for jobs, whether these are permanent or part-time positions or on fixed term contracts, or are still attending training, they should be also assisted under this Scheme. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Resilience Package is to reduce the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) will help the self-employed to cope with the current difficulties. I would like to suggest that the SIRS auto-qualifying age be reduced to 30. Those who had lost their jobs even before the outbreak also appeal to the Government to accommodate them, so that they can receive the COVID-19 Support Grant, too. (In English): With stricter safe distancing measures and the greater vulnerability of our seniors, we would want our elderly to stay at home more. How can we ensure that our needy seniors or seniors living alone can get the help they need? How is the Government empowering VWOs to pool their resources to assist them, such as helping them to buy groceries or sending meals to them? Could we make better use of technology in this area? I support the Resilience and Solidarity Budget and its measures to help our workers and the unemployed.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, first of all, I would like to thank Deputy Prime Minister and the MOM for broadening the criteria of allowing our self-employed persons (SEPs) earning an income as an employee to also qualify for Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS). This was the point that I had wanted to bring up and appeal and I am happy for the adjustment. The Resilience and Solidarity Budget demonstrates the Government's determination and resolve to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on jobs and the economy as best as it can. I would like to make some suggestions based on the feedback from my residents over the course of the week. The first is to lower the age for auto-inclusion for SIRS. Automatic payout is given to eligible SEPs aged 37 and above. Would the Government consider including SEPs aged 30 and above as well? At that age, Singaporeans would be planning for marriage or would be married with a child on the way or have at least a child to support. Some of their parents or in-laws might be retired and need their support too. Hence, allowing for auto-inclusion from 30 years old and above will greatly help to relieve the burden on affected families and also reduce the administrative workload on Government officers so that they can devote more resources to other urgent appeals. Second, some unemployed residents hope to qualify for the COVID-19 Support Grant, which was targeted at employees who lost their jobs due to the contagion. While they had not lost their jobs earlier due to COVID-19, the crisis has definitely made their ongoing search for jobs much harder.”
“It is a lot easier to point to the cash value of the GST Voucher payouts, and then compare that to the GST paid by individuals, rather than to count up the value of other subsidies. I wish to ask the Minister whether the Government continues to have the policy intent of using the GST Voucher Fund, as far as possible, to provide cash and cash-equivalent relief from GST to lower income households. If that is the case, then would it be really necessary to move this particular part of the amendment? Could then the other relief schemes be funded through other means? I would also suggest that the Government annually assess and publish estimates of the amount of GST paid by individuals and households at different parts of the income distribution. These could then be compared to the value of GST Voucher payouts, so the actual incidence of the GST on Singaporeans will be transparent. This would also be useful for fine-tuning aspects of the GST Voucher Scheme because changes to savings and expenditure patterns in the population could affect the GST incidence people pay. The Minister for Finance has revealed in this year’s Budget debate that the bottom 40% only pay for 10% of net GST. The top 20% and foreigners pay for 60% of net GST. But I still think it would be more useful and illuminating if the Ministry could publish estimates on the effective rates of GST at different parts of the income distribution and how this will be impacted by the proposed increases to the GST rate, with the GST Voucher Scheme in mind. 2.07 pm”
“So simply returning the GST paid to lower income households through GST Vouchers is much easier. Progressive income taxes should be an integral component of any fair taxation system but some critics also present a false choice between raising income taxes and GST. Income taxes do not cover short-term visitors to Singapore but GST does. Our present income tax system does not cover most sources of non-wage income to individuals, so GST does help to ensure people pay some taxes out of capital income, windfalls, capital gains, and so on. There are reasonable concerns, for example, Ms Pereira raised that retirees are burdened by paying GST. But again, returning the GST paid to low-income retirees through GST Vouchers is much easier, while high-income retirees undoubtedly benefit overall from the lack of capital taxes in Singapore. The permanent GST Voucher Scheme, backed by the GST Voucher Fund, is an ideal solution to the problem of regressivity. If it is well designed, it can eliminate most or all of the burden of GST on low-income Singaporeans. The concern I have with this amendment is that in broadening the purposes of the GST Voucher Fund to "mitigate the impact of the goods and services tax", we are moving away from the original intent that the GST Voucher Fund is meant to directly finance "relief from goods and services tax" to low-income Singaporeans. As GST increases the cash price of purchasing goods and services, it is simplest if cash is just returned to lower income households, so that they end up paying little or no net GST. Simplicity is also a virtue when it comes to addressing misunderstandings about the GST.”
“While the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund provides subsidies to help some of these costs, financial assistance to offset the impact of GST on these items will provide added relief. I would like to request the Ministry to consider taking a step further to exempt a list of vital items used by the elderly from GST altogether, that would include assistive devices like wheelchairs, walking sticks and hearing aids as well as home healthcare items, that would include nasal tubing, adult diapers and milk supplements. (In English): Sir, I support the Bill. 2.02 pm Assoc Prof Walter Theseira (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, the Goods and Services Tax has been the subject of much misunderstanding. While the tax itself is straightforward, the policy of using GST Vouchers to correct the impact of the tax on low-income Singaporeans is perhaps less clear at times. Before I discuss today's proposed amendment to the GST Voucher Fund, I think it useful to outline why the GST Voucher Scheme is crucial to address persistent criticisms of the GST. Many critics argue that the GST is a regressive tax, that it places a greater burden on lower income Singaporeans and this leads to suggestions that the GST should be waived on necessities, replaced with a tax on luxury goods, or replaced by more progressive income taxes. These ideas while well-meaning are likely to be inefficient, compared to our practice of simply granting GST Vouchers to households. For example, differentiating between necessities and luxury goods is not straightforward. A number of US states exempt groceries from sales tax, but not take-away food. This can lead to the perverse result that lobsters are exempt from sales tax but fast food is fully taxed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I welcome the amendments to the Goods and Services Tax Voucher Fund Bill. Compared to the current provision which targets the identified beneficiaries themselves, the grants-in-aid extend the reach of the Fund to help with the expenses that may be incurred by one person for the benefit of another beneficiary, such as by a family member of an elderly. My residents, especially those who are care-givers of their elderly parents welcome this move. Presently, the Home Caregiving Grant provides $200 monthly cash payouts to care-givers to defray care-giving expenses, such as to be used to partially offset the wages of a foreign domestic worker (FDW) or eldercare fees. The grants-in-aid will be a much-welcomed supplement as there are quite a number of care-giving expenses, including assistive devices and consumable home healthcare items. While the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund provides subsidies to help cover some of these costs, financial assistance to offset the impact of GST on these items will provide added relief. I would like to request the Ministry to consider taking a step further to exempt a list of vital items used by the elderly from GST altogether, that would include assistive devices like wheelchairs, walking sticks and hearing aids as well as home healthcare items, that would include nasal tubing, adult diapers and milk supplements. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The grant-in-aid will be a much-welcomed supplement as there are a number of care-giving expenses, including those assistive devices and consumable home healthcare items.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I think I asked about higher insurance coverage for the workers. Can the Minister of State please explain?”
“] In the area of lift breakdowns, what are the numbers in the following categories: public housing, non-public housing, commercial, industrial and institutional? How can we further improve the reliability of lifts and escalators (L&E)? Finally, I would like to ask the Minister if it is possible that we make greater use of technology to monitor the performances of our lifts and escalators, and minimise the need for human monitoring? This could help to reduce the downtime and minimise inconvenience. Productivity could be increased too. 3.01 pm”
“Sir, this is a timely Bill and I fully support the amendments which cover quite a range of important areas, from enhancing lift and escalator (L&E) safety to ensuring more frequent façade inspections, from mandating a Progressive Wage Model for the L&E sector to regulating mechanised car parking systems. I would like to focus on the amendments for L&E today. I welcome the introduction of the requirement for elevator maintenance workers to possess minimum qualifications or certification before they can be allowed to perform works without supervision. Besides ensuring that they have acquired competency so that the overall maintenance standards are raised, this new rule will help to enhance safety for the workers as well. However, accidents can still occur. Could the Ministry share statistics on incidents resulting in injury? I hope the Ministry could consider providing incentives to encourage L&E maintenance companies to tap upon technology to boost work safety for their staff at the elevator and escalator sites. May I also take this opportunity to appeal for legislation to mandate higher insurance coverage for these workers? In the area of lift breakdowns, what are the numbers in the following categories: public housing, non-public housing, commercial, industrial and institutional? How can we further improve the reliability of L&E? I would like to ask the Minister if it is possible that we make greater use of technology to monitor the performances of our lifts and escalators, and minimise the need for human monitoring? This could help to reduce downtime and minimise inconvenience. Productivity could be increased too. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“Sir, culture and the arts help build a sense of community, bringing people together by providing a common experience and shared worldview. They also provide opportunities for learning, communication and entertainment. Therefore, it is important to ensure that culture and the arts are accessible to individuals from all walks of life. Every segment of our society, including the less privileged, should have access to a wide range of quality arts performances. I would like to commend MCCY for doing much to bring the arts to the less privileged. One example is the WeCare Arts Fund, a year-round funding scheme that supports artists and Social Service Agencies in developing participatory workshops for beneficiaries. In Singapore, free, non-ticketed arts events are widespread and easily accessible. In fact, non-ticketed arts attendance has been climbing over the years, reaching an all-time high in 2018. Last December, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra gave a free performance in an open area at my market/hawker centre. My residents, especially the seniors, were delighted to have a wonderful concert at their doorstep. They spent a memorable evening singing along with the evergreen hits and nostalgic tunes. It was a most heartwarming sight and I really want to thank our hon Nominated Member Mr Terence Ho and Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) for making this happen. Our seniors are really looking forward to the next one, which is coming up soon. Quality arts performances can be expensive to produce and affordability would be an obstacle for the less privileged. They may require interlocutors to provide context to the performances and may need to attend such events with friends and family to feel comfortable and to enjoy the performance. How would MCCY address these issues?”
“I have got two clarifications for Senior Minister of State Amy Khor. Earlier, she mentioned the Community Care Nursing Leadership Programme, or CCNLP. May I know how this complements the Community Nursing Scholarship that was earlier announced in 2017 to develop the pipeline of nursing leaders in the community? The second clarification is on assisted living. Though the Senior Minister of State shared that the Government is rolling out assisted living flats to expand housing options for seniors, I still wonder whether there will be enough assisted living flats for all seniors, especially with an ageing population.”
“Sir, the Ministry announced last year that it was working with MND and HDB to pilot an assisted living development in public housing for the elderly. Seniors would be able to select a HDB flat with senior-friendly features and choose from a menu of care packages with optional add-on services to suit their needs and preferences. Examples of these choices include health screening, exercise classes, personal care, housekeeping and round-the clock emergency support. The development would even come with communal facilities and programmes to encourage social interaction. It is an exciting development and I am glad to note that Singapore's first Assisted Living Public Housing for seniors will be launched in Bukit Batok in May. I strongly believe that this will help our seniors age in place. May I ask the following: how has the progress been thus far? Which service providers have been shortlisted as partners? How much will such a unit and the care packages cost? Will there be enough assisted living flats for all seniors especially with our ageing population. What other initiatives is the Ministry considering to support active ageing and to help our seniors age in place?”
“It has been three years since Community Nursing (CN) teams were set up as part of the Ministry's nationwide plan to bring healthcare closer to communities and homes, especially for the more vulnerable elderly residents. These personalised, coordinated and fully-subsidised care services play a crucial role in preventive care for the less privileged seniors. As the nurses visit their patients in their homes, they are better able to detect the environment, social and other factors affecting their health. This enables them to have a more holistic understanding of their patients' needs. Over time, patients build trust in their nurses and this makes it easier for them to open up and accept their nurses' advice. With our rapidly ageing population, more Community Nursing Posts (CNPs) will be required in our neighbourhoods all over Singapore. Would the Minister share an update on the number of such Community Nursing Posts to date and how many more does it intend to set up in the next 10 years? The posts are currently located at Senior Activity Centres. Will MOH partner with other organisations such as other Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) to expand the location options for future posts, as this will bring care closer to home for seniors. How many nurses are working under this scheme and how many more will MOH recruit to cope with the increasing number of elderly persons in the coming years? What is the ratio of community nurses to residents under their charge? How has the retention rate of the nurses been so far? Allied Healthcare – Career and Support”
“Sir, part of the Stabilisation and Support Package in this Budget is one month's worth of rental waivers for hawker stalls managed by NEA. This will certainly help to alleviate the difficulties experienced by our hawkers due to the reduction in business from the COVID-19 outbreak. Many of these hawkers are worried about the outbreak deepening and prolonging, especially with the news of the virus spread in other countries. The spread will increase the risk of new imported cases from different sources. Would the Ministry consider providing more reliefs, such as more rental rebates, in the event of the outbreak worsening? New Jobs and Skills for Sustainability”
“In Taiwan, waste collection is not an individual throwaway chore but a community ritual and recycling party where piped music from waste collection truck bring out local residents with bags of recyclables and mixed waste, and community volunteers help residents sort out the thrash properly. In Singapore, we have an urban set-up conducive for community recycling efforts. With blue bins located at each HDB block, local grassroots organisations can take ownership of the bins to monitor the recycling trend of each block, diagnose problems such as low rate of recycling or indiscriminate dumping of thrash, and organise targeted events or campaigns to educate the residents of the block. Use of Styrofoam Crockery and Products”
“Sir, with increasing awareness of the importance of recycling, more residents are bringing recyclable items to the blue recycling bins in our housing estates. However, very often, the bins are full and residents end up leaving their items around the bins. The reason these bins fill up so quickly is that many plastic bottles and tins can be quite bulky, such as bleach bottles and Milo tins. Add piles of newspaper and cardboard packaging waste, and the contributed items accumulate very quickly. Hence, I would like to request that we increase the size of the bins or allocate more bins to each HDB block. I hope that their designs can also be improved to make them more user-friendly. Some big items simply do not fit into the bin slots. Recycling Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong: Chairman, I think I have mentioned this many times now, but we are a failure when it comes to domestic recycling, which is stuck at a dismal 21% to 22% rate. Singaporeans are not recycling. We have an attitude of convenience and we depend on the Government to do everything. Sir, the Government has done what it can to encourage domestic recycling. There is a conspicuous blue bin with simplified images showing what should be recycled at every HDB block and specially marked recycling trucks picking up the recycled thrash regularly. I think it is time we change strategy to turn the National Recycling Programme into community-led recycling. Experience in Germany, South Korea and Taiwan, which have the highest rates of municipal recycling, show that when urban communities are mobilised to take ownership of recycling programmes, cultures and norms of recycling become entrenched.”
“Chairman, during this period of the COVID-19 outbreak, people are taking precautions and minimising contact by avoiding crowds where possible. This crisis provides an opportunity and the motivation for our smaller, especially the simpler and more traditional, businesses and enterprises to adopt digitalisation for their operations. However, many of these business owners would need help and I would like to request that the Ministry provide the additional support to our heartland enterprises to digitise and go online. Can the Ministry provide the expertise and guide them towards any support grants so that they can serve more customers through this relatively new sales channel? For example, there are many more people now who prefer to have their meals and groceries delivered to them. I hope the Ministry will take this opportunity to help more of our heartland enterprises move towards digitalisation. Consumer Matters”
“Digital technology has transformed our communication modes in unprecedented ways. Today, digital platforms have become the new "mainstream" – many individuals are shifting to social media channels and closed-messaging apps to get real-time news and communicate with others. This development has traversed geographical language, ethnic, cultural and income boundaries. Government agencies can harness the power of digital platforms to raise public awareness and understanding of their policies and gather feedback. The immediate and borderless nature of digital platforms also present an opportunity for MFA to reach out to Singaporeans at home and abroad in a timely manner, especially in the event of major incidents and for foreign policy decisions that have impact on Singaporeans. As digital platforms continue to evolve, Government agencies need to introduce new ways to share content in order to better engage and connect with Singaporeans. Good communication and productive interaction will help build confidence and trust. For foreign policy, this is particularly the case. Singaporeans need to have a better understanding of the macro picture, the objectives of our foreign policies, and even the constraints we face. These are important with the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation online. What are MFA’s efforts to engage Singaporeans on the fundamentals of Singapore’s foreign policy? How has MFA's outreach efforts developed? Cultural Diplomacy”
“Yesterday, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia. As Malaysia's closest neighbour, we have a long-term vested interest in Malaysia’s stability and prosperity, as any developments there will inevitably impact Singapore in many ways. I would like to seek an update on the developments in Malaysia, the progress of key bilateral issues and how Singapore can step up our relations with Malaysia in the longer term. Raw Water from Johor”
“Chairman, the current COVID-19 outbreak is a global concern that has widespread public health and economic implications. As an open economy and international trade hub, Singapore is experiencing a significant impact from the outbreak. We also have many Singaporeans living and working overseas who have been affected. How has MFA been mobilised to support Singapore's inter-agency efforts to combat COVID-19? Would the Ministry share with us how it had managed during the various evacuation efforts and the challenges it faced? What lessons have we learnt from this experience? Does MFA see a need to increase our ground presence in more territories overseas so as to provide better support for Singaporeans living and working there? Does MFA foresee that it would have to initiate similar evacuation exercises in other countries should the outbreak worsen and spread to more countries? Bilateral Relations with Malaysia The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers for Education and Minister for Social and Family Development (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Mr Chairman, several bilateral issues with Malaysia took a turn in end-2018, such as on the maritime and airspace fronts. While a number of these issues appear to have made progress, other issues still require discussions from both sides. This includes key connectivity projects such as the Singapore-Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System Link and the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail. These are projects that will benefit both our peoples and that I hope will proceed on track expeditiously. It is also notable that our Health Ministries have quickly set up a Joint Working Group to collaborate on tackling the COVID-19 situation across our borders. The political situation in Malaysia has evolved rapidly in recent days.”
“Over the years, in addition to the core pillar of Military Defence, Singapore has built up the five non-military pillars of Civil, Economic, Social, Digital and Psychological Defences to fortify the comprehensive security structure of Total Defence. All Singaporeans, individually and collectively, have important roles to play in our security, contributing our different expertise and abilities to build a strong and resilient nation. Total Defence had enabled us to overcome past challenges such as SARS, terrorism and economic downturns. It is important that we continue to educate the next generation of Singaporeans to stay united and work together to overcome new threats. How is MINDEF or SAF educating our young about Total Defence? Total Defence”
“Chairman, over the last few years, we have observed the trend of misinformation and falsehoods being propagated via social media networks and applications escalating. In some countries, the proliferation of "fake news" has even influenced the outcome of elections. Here in Singapore, amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen several pieces of "fake news" being circulated, some of which had caused needless panic and fear among certain segments of Singaporeans. How is MINDEF supporting whole-of-Government efforts to prepare Singaporeans to combat the spread of online falsehoods and misinformation? Does the Ministry have an assessment framework to determine when the spread of such online misinformation is threatening our security and at which point will the countermeasures be activated? Cybersecurity”
“Chairman, many Singaporeans go online for all their needs. Our digital connectivity provides opportunities for MINDEF to reach out and engage both the military and civilian forces in joint initiatives. What plans does the Ministry have to further exploit technology to enhance cooperation between both stakeholders for our security? Would the Minister also share how we are leveraging on technology to enhance our soldiers' NS experience and well-being? Technological advances have changed defence strategies and training methods around the world. Would the Ministry share how these technological developments have impacted SAF? Are we adequately prepared to handle increasingly sophisticated and complex equipment? What are the main challenges in securing access to such technologies? How are we progressing in our proprietary defence research and development? NS Hub”
“Unconventional security threats, such as terrorism, pose increasingly greater risks to our nation. The on-going turmoil in the Middle East provides opportunities for terrorist groups to step up attacks, not just there, but also close to home. Former fighters, who have acquired skills from their experiences in Iraq and Syria, are returning to Southeast Asia. Singapore is not insulated from the influences of returning foreign fighters. Given the threats from terrorism abroad, would the Ministry share with the House an update on its efforts to counter terrorism? What measures have been implemented to limit their ability to propagate their radical messages and minimise their influence on our communities? In addition, how does the Ministry identify, prevent and monitor potential fighters entering Singapore? For Singaporeans and foreign residents and workers here who may be radicalised, do we have adequate surveillance measures and resources to spot, monitor and contain them? CBRNE materials − chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives – are utilised by terrorists to attack people and infrastructure. How does MINDEF restrict access to such materials in order to minimise potential injuries, deaths and damage? In recent attacks overseas, we have also observed the use of common tools, such as knives, and even vehicles, by terrorists to launch attacks on innocent bystanders. Do we have in place an early alert-and-response system to detect behavioural anomalies which will trigger alerts and calls for urgent assistance?”
“If this follow-up portion can be delegated to people like Mr Ho, someone who loves people, enjoys working with people and who has such invaluable experience and, if a system can be put in place, the SSO officers can be freed up to do the earlier coordination and intervention work. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Investing in resources to take care of our less privileged groups will yield positive results many times over. The young will break free from the poverty trap, lifting their families with them. Those who are down will not remain down and out for long with many helping hands to pull them up. Together, we will build a stronger, more unified Singapore. I support the Budget.”
“This is very important, particularly where children or the elderly are involved. These are two groups of people who may not be able to articulate their problems or speak up for themselves. Protecting and helping children are one of the most important things we should do because we want to enable them to grow up into healthy and well-adjusted individuals who can take care of themselves, break out of the poverty cycle and become contributing members of our community. I would like to propose that we tap on seniors and older workers to help in this area of work as they have good experience and wisdom. Besides providing more funding to hire them, we would also need to train those who are joining these positions mid-career. Allow me to share my constituency experience about a senior who has been volunteering in my Henderson Dawson welfare committee after his retirement. Mr Ho Yew Wai, aged 70, is my resident. He retired three years ago as a senior counsellor in the Family Court. He visits individuals and families in distress, patiently talks to them and understand their issues, then works with our SSO, various Government agencies and VWOs to ensure these families receive holistic help. After a couple of months of the case closing, he will get in touch with the families to ensure all is well. This goes on till he is confident that the family is alright. If something has gone wrong mid-way, he will work with SSO again. However, much time and resources are needed for such a follow-up, and there are just that many cases one can handle.”
“Living from hand to mouth, struggling to just make it through the day, it is daunting for them to figure out where to ask for help, let alone approach different Government agencies. It is very helpful that SSO, the coordinating body, provides them with the necessary guidance and help, such as job matching and linking them up with the relevant Government assistance schemes and services and voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs). The SSO provides a customised social service, catering to the different requirements of each distressed resident or family. This is labour-intensive work and, not surprisingly, our SSOs are very much stretched in terms of resources, specifically manpower. This makes it hard for them to follow up with individuals or families to see if they are doing fine after help has been rendered and the cases considered closed. Many social workers and case officers would definitely want to follow up to ensure their cases are okay because, in reality, there are always lingering or recurring problems which pop up as this vulnerable segment goes through the different stages in their recovery or relapse. However, with new cases approaching the SSOs for help, the challenge is having to prioritise with the very limited resources. Presently, with so many touch and contact points, picking up and identifying cases are not so much of a problem. Doing a longer and more thorough follow-up is the real challenge. Our social workers and officers need time to build rapport with these families and establish trust. Over a long period, with greater and deeper understanding of their cases, they could be more effective at proposing more long-term solutions and detecting other underlying or potential problems.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am very grateful and relieved that our country is able to finance this $106 billion Unity Budget without having to draw on our Reserves nor burden future generations. We thank our predecessors for their thrift and wisdom in building up our Reserves and assets which provide the Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC). This year's NIRC is expected to remain the top contributor to our revenue, ahead of corporate and personal income tax and GST. In addition, we have benefited from careful and tactical planning which ensure that we accumulate and set aside surpluses for a rainy day. Thus, we are much better prepared to weather this storm of global uncertainty, economic shifts and the COVID-19 outbreak. The $4 billion Stabilisation and Support Package and $1.6 billion Care and Support Package will provide substantial help to businesses and households to deal with the short-term challenges ahead. Furthermore, this Budget goes beyond the immediate present and sets aside funds for mid- and long-term goals. Today, Sir, I would like to focus on assistance for the vulnerable and needy and request for more resources to be committed to help them. This is a topic very close to my heart. This year, the expenditure for Social and Family Development is expected to increase by 8.5% to $3.3 billion. Our Social Service Offices (SSOs) play an important role in coordinating social assistance for needy residents. Most vulnerable households face multiple problems. They need help with their finances, job seeking, family relationship problems, health issues, care for their children, elderly or disabled family members.”
“Speaker, I have noticed during my walkabouts in my constituency, in some GP clinics, the receptionists wear masks and the nurses wear masks. But in some GP clinics, it could be just next to the one where the nurses wear masks, they do not don masks at all. So, are there some guidelines for the GP clinics to follow?”
“] Next, I would like to comment on the amendment to address the issue of underage riding of PMDs on public paths. While I support those who are underage riding under supervision, these are, nonetheless, motorised devices and there are definitely risks and challenges associated with the control of these devices. I would like to suggest that the Ministry consider sharing with supervising adults, through an electronic platform or public workshops, the techniques and methods to teach juvenile riders, with an emphasis on personal and public safety when using these devices. (In English): Sir, I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to share my thoughts on two aspects of this Bill. The first is regarding accident insurance. Under the new section 58A, businesses will be required to ensure that the drivers and riders they engage or employ are covered by third-party insurance, whether the vehicles utilised are regular or PABs, PMDs, motorised wheelchairs or mobility scooters. I fully support this important amendment. In the event of an accident, the insurance coverage will ensure that the victims will be able to claim medical expenses as well as compensation for any other damages. Along the same vein, I would like the Ministry to consider if third-party insurance would be useful for all riders. This is to ensure that all victims, not just those involved in accidents caused by business-related riders, can seek recourse and compensation. It would be also helpful if the Ministry can work with insurance firms to ensure affordability. Without insurance, victims can only try for private settlements through mediation or make civil claims. I have had a few cases where my residents who were victims approached me for help as they were unable to seek any recourse. Next, I would like to comment on the amendment to address the issue of underage riding of PMDs on public paths. While I support those who are underage riding under supervision, there are risks and challenges associated with the control of these machines. I would like to suggest that the Ministry consider sharing with supervising adults via an electronic platform or through public roadshows or workshops the techniques and methods to teach juvenile riders, with an emphasis on personal and public safety when using these devices. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his reply. I am very glad that the Ministry is doing all it can to encourage the take-up rate for vaccinations. But may I know if the vaccination rates are lower, among our lower-income group?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. I have one supplementary question. My concern, really, is whether all our urban areas and housing estates in Singapore will be able to have swift access to emergency services based on the existing locations of emergency departments across Singapore.”
“We can order almost everything from food to furniture, participate in courses, receive legal advice and accounting services online without taking a step out of our homes. Will telemedicine proceed similarly and what controls will the Ministry put in place to protect Singaporeans? Next, I would like to enquire about the tightening of naming restrictions. Approval will be required for terms, such as "Singapore" or "National" for new companies, but existing entities do not have to make any changes to their names. In order to get around this constraint, new companies may buy out or take over existing ones with the coveted terms. This is a loophole which must be plugged. May I suggest that a certain time period, such as five to 10 years, be given to such companies to continue operating, after which the terms "Singapore" and "National" must be removed from the name, unless they receive fresh approvals from the Ministry? With this, I conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“For example, should the doctor and patient have a pre-existing relationship, that is, the doctor had seen the patient in a face-to-face consultation at least once before? Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Since patients are not physically examined in person by the physicians, there is a higher risk of the doctors missing the detection of certain symptoms, resulting in misdiagnosis. As it is, it is already a challenge for the accurate detection of many illnesses and diseases as they manifest similar symptoms. How will the Minister ensure the quality of diagnosis? Should something go wrong, how can patients seek help and redress? This leads to another issue. Will doctors be held to the same standard for telemedicine? I think it is important that medical personnel and the patients have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and their rights for this nascent service. I am also curious whether there will be prerequisites before a doctor can proceed with the provision of telemedical communication. For example, should the doctor and the patient have a pre-existing relationship, that is, the doctor had seen the patient in a face-to-face consultation at least once before? (In English): Another concern is the prescription of medications. Will remote prescriptions be permitted and what is the Ministry’s assessment of the risks of abuse and fraud? Since telemedicine can be practised wherever there is Internet connection, I would like to ask if this Bill will regulate cross-border consultations. Just as the Internet facilitates international trade of goods and services, will this occur in our healthcare?”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, the evolving healthcare landscape necessitates updates and changes to our licensing framework. Moving from the current premises-based, fixed licensing model to a services-based, flexible modular one will enable our Government to strengthen its governance over the medical sector. The refreshed structure is needed to manage new services and ensure patient safety and well-being. Telemedicine, an emerging area, is a field that I am particularly concerned about. It is a broad field, encompassing video communications, digital storage and transmission of medical information in the form of text, data and images, remote patient monitoring, health apps on mobile devices and more. I would like to ask the Minister if he would share more about the aspects of telemedicine the Bill is intended to regulate and the provisions included to future-proof the Bill for developments in this fast-changing field. Since patients are not physically examined in person by the physicians, there is a higher risk of the doctors missing the detection of certain symptoms, resulting in misdiagnosis. As it is, it is already a challenge for the accurate detection of many illnesses and diseases as they manifest similar symptoms. How will the Ministry ensure the quality of diagnoses? Should something go wrong, how can patients seek help and redress? This leads to another issue. Will doctors be held to the same standard for telemedicine? I think it is important that medical personnel and patients have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and rights for this nascent service. I am also curious whether there will be any prerequisites before a doctor can proceed with the provision of tele-medical communication.”
“] (In Mandarin): Lastly, I want to ask about efforts to ensure the spread of public education on basic religious knowledge which is suitable for our multi-religious nation. Most people will not actively seek out general knowledge about other religions. For this reason, the Government must take on the task of pushing out key nuggets of information to the public, including young and old, on a sustainable basis. It is very important that citizens and residents attain at least a basic level of discernment and knowledge so that our community's foundation for religious harmony is firmly set. In addition, with mutual respect, tolerance and a gracious attitude, we will be able to enjoy the fruits of a harmonious and vibrant society for years to come.”
“What is the Ministry's assessment of this scenario and the consequences of the offenders being let off, in a way, without penalties? One of the safeguards against foreign influence is to require religious organisations to only open key positions to Singaporeans or PRs, with "exemptions granted on a case-by-case basis". Would the Ministry share some of the guidelines which inform such exemptions? My concern is that too much discretion will be given to the officers in charge and evaluation standards may be uneven. Another safeguard is the requirement to disclose affiliations to foreign organisations. Many of the smaller religious bodies rely on volunteers and have very lean resources to draw upon. I seek the Ministry's assurance that the demands of the disclosure are not too onerous. Next, would the Ministry elaborate on how to facilitate whistleblowing so that the authorities can pick up news and information of individuals or religious leaders fanning the flames of ill-will and hatred towards targeted groups as early as possible? On one hand, we want to deter unwarranted complaints or prank calls; on the other hand, the screening process should not be too onerous and discourage genuine reports. We also need to provide protection for whistleblowers and ensure anonymity. Lastly, I want to ask about efforts to ensure the spread of public education on basic religious knowledge which is suitable for our multi-religious nation. It is very important that citizens and residents here at least attain a basic level of discernment and knowledge. Add these to mutual respect, tolerance and a gracious attitude, we will be able to enjoy the fruits of a harmonious and vibrant society for years to come. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“We also need to factor in the precious time used up in the process of recognising, verifying and identifying such online threats before issuing the RO. The current 14-day notice before the order can take effect is inadequate in our current environment. Next, I want to state my support for the introduction of CRI which is non-mandatory and intended to be rehabilitative and restorative. I believe that a significant portion of the offenders will benefit from the opportunities to better understand themselves and their religion in the context of our multi-religious Singapore, and the religion or religions they have denigrated, through counselling or participation in activities. I am hopeful that ties can be mended. While these individuals are going through CRI, they may not be able to earn a living or take care of their families as usual. Would there be help provided for their family members, such as counselling on financial and household management and even religious guidance, similar to assistance for families of the incarcerated? I am particularly worried about how the elderly and children in affected families will be impacted. I appeal to the Ministry to ensure that they will not go hungry and the children will also get to continue their schooling uninterrupted. This may also be a good time to identify how much influence the offenders' beliefs have on their family members, so that they can be similarly assisted and led away from misguided beliefs. I have another concern which I seek clarification. It is stated that if the offender completes CRI, criminal prosecution cannot be taken against him. What is the risk of offenders choosing to undergo CRI, going through the motions without any sincere intention, in order to avoid criminal prosecutions?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I strongly support the amendments to MRHA. Singapore is ranked as the most religiously diverse nation in the world by the Pew Research Centre. This is really quite remarkable, considering our small population and land size. Our religious diversity and social stability attest to the success of our policies to treat everyone equally, "regardless of race, language or religion", as stated in our citizens' national pledge. This commitment extends to residents of other nationalities living and working here. Maintaining peaceful co-existence of people from so many different religious and racial groups and of different nationalities in a densely built-up city is no easy feat. We must never take religious harmony for granted nor let our guard down but continue to work on strengthening our social fabric through constant reviews and adjustments. MRHA has been instrumental in preventing anyone or group from inciting feelings of hostility towards people of different religious groups. To ensure that its powers remain effective, we need to revise its coverage to keep up with the times. The ways of communication have changed significantly, and I view the expansion of the scope of ROs as a necessity. Today, unfiltered messages can spread through the Internet and social media like wildfire, reaching tens and hundreds of thousands in minutes and hours. Within that time, much damage can be done if ROs do not take immediate effect. As we have seen in incidents in other countries, the harm is not just hurt feelings, but the loss of precious lives, irreparable injuries, destruction of infrastructure and, worse, when people react emotionally and violently, often without checking the basis of what they have heard or read.”
“In order to ensure that recovery costs remain at an affordable level for businesses and consumers, can the authorities assist all parties to cooperate fully to reduce costs? Customers who do not need recycling should not pay a higher fee. Can this be rectified? (In English): Next, I would like to express my concern about the collection processes in place. Are these processes simple and fairly straightforward? If they are not, I would like to suggest that stakeholders be provided guidance and infrastructural and administrative support from the various Government departments involved. Another concern is manpower and resource constraints, especially now that we have tightened up on the number of foreign workers allowed here. This is a challenge, particularly for our SMEs. To make up for the shortfall in manpower, can more of our workers be trained to take on these tasks? With these, I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”