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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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 8 of 12.
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I declare my interest as a Board Director of SEC. This Bill takes an important step towards greater sustainability for our environment in legislating better ways of tackling ever-increasing amounts of waste generated in Singapore, with the biggest groups being the ones targeted in this Bill, namely, e-waste, packaging waste and food waste. I applaud the move to work with retailers and suppliers to collect and dispose of unwanted consumer and non-consumer products. Besides getting large retailers to offer in-store collection of certain e-waste and onsite collection upon deliveries to customers, the legislation also makes provisions for these services to be without charge to consumers. But the reality is that there is no free lunch in this world and the cost of labour and transportation will be included and recovered through sales, with prices increased across the board for retailers to remain viable as businesses. Hence, my concern is whether the process of collecting and disposal of such items is affordable for businesses and consumers. Can the Ministry review processes and facilitate cooperation among stakeholders to take advantage of economies of scale to minimise duplication of routes, maximise storage efficiency and so forth? In addition, the expected high prices on goods are not quite fair to consumers who are not disposing of any items. Can this be rectified? Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Bill stipulates that companies which collect e-waste may not charge for this service but they will offset the cost of collection by raising fees for other products and services.”
“] I would like to ask about the eligibility criteria for the Long-Term Care Assistance Fund and its publicity measures. The department in charge must ensure that vulnerable Singaporeans know how to apply for assistance. Another concern for me is that MediSave can be used to pay for long-term care for people with severe disabilities. As life expectancies increase and family sizes shrink, would the younger generation's MediSave accounts be depleted such that they would not be able to tap into the funds in their own old age? (In English): I am also concerned about the security of personal data in MOH's electronic databases. Would the Minister share an update on the measures to fortify protection of this information? Finally, may I take this opportunity to ask the Minister to consider allowing popular non-generic drugs to be subsidised. For those commonly reported to be more effective than their generic cousins, please kindly review the demand for these drugs and consider subsidising them. I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the establishment of the CareShield Life Scheme and the ElderShield Scheme under Government administration is an excellent and necessary move. We can expect the centralisation of expertise in the management of the schemes to yield the benefits of economies of scale, consistency and reduce running costs. The schemes are intended to provide long-term care financing support for severely disabled persons. With our rapidly ageing population and longer lifespans, many of our frail elderly will tap upon this assistance towards the end of their lives. The Bill also seeks to establish the Long-Term Care Support Fund. The Ministry of Finance had announced in March this year that the $5.1 billion fund will provide Government support for CareShield Life premiums and support various long-term care financing schemes for disabled persons, such as ElderFund. May I ask the Minister about the eligibility criteria for the Long-Term Care Support Fund and measures to increase publicity and awareness of this scheme? My concern is that some elderly and their families may not be aware of such assistance and do not know how to apply for help. We need to reach out to this group of vulnerable Singaporeans. Next, I would like to comment on a related amendment to the CPF Act, which is, to make provision for MediSave withdrawals for long-term care for severely disabled persons. I would like to ask if this would be sustainable in view of longer lifespans as well as shrinking family sizes with more and more elderly depending on fewer younger family members. Would this result in the latter's MediSave being depleted, leaving them little for their own use when they themselves become older? Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“I urge the Ministry to empower LTA to obtain all the necessary data from all service providers to inform and update its regulations for greater protection of passengers. As for PHC drivers, we must ensure that they are in good health and mental condition to drive safely and competently, just as we expect from taxi drivers. I would like to ask the Minister about measures to require PHC drivers to go for regular health screening and driver training. Next, I would like to express my support for the proposal to empower PTC to regulate fares set by ride-hailing operators. This will provide greater assurance to passengers, many of whom have expressed concerns over dynamic pricing. While I agree that there should be leeway to allow fares to fluctuate based on demand, I feel that there should be upper limits set to protect the interests of commuters. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Next, I would like to express my support for the proposal to empower PTC to regulate fares set by ride-hailing operators. This will provide greater assurance to passengers, many of whom have expressed concerns over dynamic pricing. While I agree that there should be leeway to allow fares to fluctuate based on demand, I feel there should also be upper limits set to protect the interests of commuters. (In English): Deputy Speaker, I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Bill proposes a new regulatory framework based on how passengers access the vehicles, that is, by hailing on the street or booking via a call centre or online app. This is a move in the right direction. By issuing two operating licences, one for street-hail and one for ride-hail, the Ministry will be able to ensure more consistent application of regulations covering all P2P services in Singapore. This is an improvement from our current framework that regulates taxi operators, which provide both street-hail and ride-hail services, but handles the ride-hail service sector with a very light touch. As a result, service delivery standards are largely left to the ride-hail companies. Since both taxis and PHCs serve members of the public, I am glad to note that this inconsistency will be rectified with the new legislation. An article titled "Disruption" in this year's 28 January issue of Bloomberg Businessweek described an accident involving a Grab vehicle in Singapore. The writer asked, "Was it possible, for all the convenience ride-hailing services offered, they were making cities less safe?" This is a pertinent question. Most PHC drivers work part-time and many are more dependent on GPS assistance compared to taxi drivers. Even their vehicles may be unfamiliar if they are rented, unlike taxi drivers who also lease, but usually operate the same or a similar vehicle. This combination of factors makes them more vulnerable to traffic accidents. Passengers want certain standards, especially for safety, driving competence and route knowledge. The new rules are intended to provide greater regulatory oversight for the protection and safety of commuters and drivers.”
“Would the Ministry share how successful SCDF has been in public education efforts and reaching out to our residents to increase their awareness of fire safety? A recent spate of fires caused by PMDs has drawn our attention to the risks of these machines, so much so that PMD fires are fast becoming a new fire risk category. I urge the Ministry to work with MOT to implement a national scheme to allow PMD owners to trade in their unapproved models earlier for the approved ones, in consideration of fire safety. Finally, I would like to request for home fire extinguishers to be made more easily available to homeowners. While they can be bought online, if SCDF could work with supermarket chains, such as National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) FairPrice, to sell fire extinguishers, they would be more readily accessible, especially to the elderly, many of whom do not shop online. In addition, the physical presence of fire extinguishers in these supermarkets would be a constant reminder to all customers of the need for fire safety. I hope the Ministry would consider this suggestion. I would like to conclude with my support for the Bill and I thank all SCDF officers for keeping us safe.”
“However, the older individual chutes do not have these sprinklers. Does the Ministry have alternative safety measures to address this problem? (In English): Furthermore, we have a higher proportion of elderly Singaporeans living in such older HDB blocks. This is of great concern as they are less mobile, probably less alert and less sensitive to changes in ambient temperatures and the presence of smoke. Therefore, they may be slower to detect fire threats. I hope the Ministry would consider ways to protect this vulnerable group of residents. I am aware that the Government is installing HFAD in all HDB Public Rental flats and the installation of HFADs is mandatory for new residences and existing residential premises carrying out fire safety works. However, this still leaves the majority of residences, both HDB flats and private properties, not equipped with fire alarm systems, although owners are strongly encouraged to install them. Does the Ministry have data on the percentage of homes installed with such devices? Does SCDF have a list of approved HFADs and their suppliers for homeowners' reference? This is important, as poor-quality devices can lead to a false sense of security, which can be dangerous, or create false alarms. Another challenge is dealing with fires in very tall buildings. The average height of our buildings has been increasing. It is very common now for our HDB blocks and condominiums to be over 40 storeys high. How prepared are we to deal with fires in such tall buildings, especially the elderly with mobility challenges? Can SCDF work with our grassroots organisations on fire drills and evacuation paths in our HDB and private estates?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the proposed amendments to the Fire Safety Act. It is important to review our fire safety legislation periodically to ensure that it remains effective in the face of changes in our environment and user behaviour. The Bill seeks to enhance the fire safety of buildings by empowering SCDF to require building owners to install critical fire safety features, such as protected exit staircases and fire alarm systems. I would like to ask if and how these features can address the problem of rubbish chute fires. Every year, over 2,000 fires break out in residences, with about half being rubbish chute fires. Our older HDB flats are fitted with individual rubbish chutes, which are quite different from the new flats where residents have to dispose of their rubbish through central chute systems. Central chutes are equipped with sprinkler systems to douse fires. However, the older individual chutes do not have these sprinklers. Does the Ministry have alternative safety measures to address this problem? Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Bill seeks to enhance the fire safety of buildings by empowering SCDF to require building owners to install critical fire safety features, such as protected exit staircases and fire alarm systems. I would like to ask if and how these features can address the problem of rubbish chute fires. Every year, over 2,000 fires break out in residences, with about half being rubbish chute fires. Our older HDB flats are fitted with individual rubbish chutes, which are quite different from the new flats where residents have to dispose of their rubbish through central chute systems. Central chutes are equipped with sprinklers to douse fires.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State. I have one supplementary question. Many of the elderly whom I meet believe in the great benefits of acupuncture. Will the Ministry at least consider allowing PG and MG cardholders to receive subsidies for acupuncture treatments referred by doctors to TCM clinics in the public hospitals.”
“I have observed and received feedback from my residents that many of these vehicles are regularly driving at above our speed limits. I seek clarifications on what is done when they are caught speeding. What is the time lag between a speeding vehicle captured on our road cameras and the update to the Traffic Police database, so that timely enforcement can take place? Does the Ministry have statistics on such drivers and their vehicles for the past five years? Sir, I conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“The Traffic Police had noted in their 2018 Traffic Accident Situation news release that accidents involving elderly pedestrians who jaywalk remain a concern, as 25% of all accidents involving pedestrians involve our elderly pedestrians. I would like to ask the Minister if the Traffic Police could have greater involvement in the earlier stages of new town and estate planning so that they can provide their input on the upcoming infrastructure. Greater consultation with the Traffic Police, who understand how the increasing population of elderly pedestrians behave on roads, would be most helpful. Their input would inform planners, for example, on placement of pedestrian crossings, and where to build overhead bridges with ramps or elevators, since the elderly would have difficulty with steps. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin) [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.]: The Traffic Police had noted in their 2018 Traffic Accident Situation news release that accidents involving elderly pedestrians who jaywalk remain a concern, as 25% of all accidents involving pedestrians involve elderly pedestrians. I would like to ask the Minister if the Traffic Police could have greater involvement in the earlier stages of new town and estate planning so that they can provide their input on the upcoming infrastructure. Greater consultation with the Traffic Police, who understand how the increasing population of elderly pedestrians behave on roads, would be helpful. Their input would inform planners, for example, on placement of pedestrian crossings, and where to build overhead bridges with ramps or elevators, since the elderly would have difficulty with steps. (In English): Finally, I would like to raise my concerns over speeding heavy vehicles.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is a timely Bill and I fully support the efforts of the Traffic Police to make our roads safer for all. Despite recent measures, such as more intense enforcement, the installation of more red-light and speed cameras, new and ongoing public education and engagement initiatives, the number of summonses issued for motorist offences has gone up, from over 150,000 in 2015 to more than 180,000 in 2018. Last year, the number of drink-driving accidents went up by 17%, and red-light running offences also increased by 16%. Hence, the heavier penalties, including longer imprisonment and disqualification from driving, should have a stronger deterrent effect. However, it would be better if we could put in place preventive measures to minimise the possibility of drivers committing offences in the first place. One problem, which has persistently bothered me and many of my present and former Parliamentary colleagues, is the hazardous practice of having Green Man and lights for both pedestrians and turning vehicles at junctions. While I am heartened by LTA’s announcement last April to introduce Red-Amber-Green (RAG) arrows at most junctions by 2023, where drivers have to wait for the arrow to turn green before making a turn, I think it is important that all, not most, but all junctions should have RAG signalling and, when pedestrians may cross, no vehicles should be permitted to turn. These signals should be consistent to reduce confusion among motorists who now encounter different signalling at different junctions. I also appeal to LTA to expedite the installation of RAG.”
“I sincerely hope that tech companies will cooperate and work closely with our Government so that Singaporeans will feel safe and have greater confidence when using their services. I would like to ask the Minister what is the process for developing the obligations in the codes of practice. Will stakeholders be consulted on how the obligations should be framed? (In English): In conclusion, we need continuous efforts to keep our Internet space safe for all Singaporeans and I am confident that the Government will continue to do more to educate our young and the elderly on the dangers of fake news and what they can do to protect themselves and their loved ones. I support the Bill.”
“Unlike the young, they may be less familiar with technology and the dangers that are lurking in the online space. I understand that the Government has introduced some programmes and initiatives, such as the Silver InfoComm. IMDA has developed a set of customised curriculum to increase infocomm literacy among seniors aged 50 and above. Silver Infocomm Junctions are senior-friendly learning hubs that offer affordable infocomm training and customised courses. These are encouraging steps forward to enhance digital literacy among senior citizens. The Bill provides measures to mitigate the impact and harm caused by online falsehoods. It would be better if the abuse of these platforms can be prevented in the first place. I, therefore, welcome the upstream regulation of technology companies through the inclusion of codes of practice, which will go a long way to ensure a clean online space. I sincerely hope that tech companies will cooperate and work closely with our Government so that Singaporeans will feel safe and have greater confidence when using their services. I would like to ask the Minister what is the process for developing the obligations in the codes of practice? Will stakeholders be consulted on how the obligations should be framed? Sir, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Bill provides measures to mitigate the impact and harm caused by online falsehoods. It would be better if the abuse of these platforms can be prevented in the first place. I, therefore, welcome the upstream regulation of technology companies through the inclusion of codes of practice, which will go a long way to ensure a clean online space.”
“We must teach them how to discern truth from lies, how to analyse information they read online and how to think critically. Values are ingrained in people from a very young age. Hence, from young, we must teach them fundamental values which transcend religious and racial differences, such as mutual respect and tolerance, integrity, justice and fairness, kindness and empathy. If they are taught well, they will be inoculated against anything which violates basic human rights and values. For parents, they will have to develop media literacy themselves and be able to discern facts from online falsehoods, so that they can have meaningful conversations with their children. These conversations have to be consistent and ongoing. Dialogues must remain open between children and parents, so that our younger generation can be groomed into a people who can think critically and independently. Our education system must be constantly updated in methods to teach the younger generation media literacy in a fast-evolving sector and equip them with the necessary skills. I am pleased to note that research-based assignments are very common in schools now. Teachers can engage students through these projects to examine various sources of information. Students learn how to determine which sources are credible and which are not. They are exposed to questions and frameworks where they can apply themselves and determine, in each case, if information is true or false. In this sense, our education system is forward-looking in preparing our young for the future. There is also a need to enhance digital literacy for the elderly as they may be a vulnerable group that is susceptible to fake news.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with the prevalent use of the Internet and social media, massive amounts of information are being shared online, particularly among the young. On one hand, the free flow of information is a form of knowledge democracy; on the other hand, due to the low or non-existent barrier to online participation, falsehoods and misinformation are pervasive. The online space has remained unregulated for a long time. Cases of how the Internet has been manipulated to gain profit, cause racial and religious disputes, incite harm and cast doubts on public institutions abound. The consequences for us as a nation would be dire if we leave such a situation unchecked. We will have difficulty telling the truth from online falsehoods, affecting our ability to make informed choices and decisions. We have already seen how online abuse and misinformation had led to injuries and deaths in other countries, spurring them to take action. Global sentiment is shifting as governments around the world now realise that regulation of the Internet space is needed. Germany had enacted the Network Enforcement Act which took effect this year. France passed the Law Against the Manipulation of Information last November. The UK is now holding an open public consultation on the Online Harms White Paper that sets out the government’s plans for measures to keep users safe online. We, too, need urgent and comprehensive measures to address the menace of online falsehoods and manipulation. Even tech companies now acknowledge that there is room for greater government intervention as they cannot be dealing with these problems themselves. I am very concerned about the impact of online falsehoods and fake analyses on our young.”
“I have one supplementary question. May I know under what conditions, that is, how severe the situation has to be in terms of number and severity of accidents before the Ministry will consider banning personal mobility devices (PMDs) on pavements or footpaths, which France had just done. Many of my elderly residents, when they walk on the park connectors, they do not feel safe anymore. Not just the elderly, in fact, a lot of residents when they meet me in the park connectors, they just feel it is so dangerous. So, I hope the Senior Minister of State can consider tougher actions against errant riders.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. I have two supplementary questions. First, will the Ministry consider setting a public target to be achieved for TB control? Second, what are other plans that MOH has in improving public education and awareness of TB, especially among our elderly?”
“These include the infrastructure and the services of people from different races and religions working hard to provide them with clean water, safe food, reliable travel and electricity which make their concerts possible. People who advocate hatred, chaos and destruction cannot have it both ways. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, racial and religious harmony is integral to the survival and prosperity of our nation. We must protect and nurture this precious but delicate asset to the best of our ability. We should never take it for granted but seek, instead, to constantly fortify and strengthen it.”
“The greater the number of Singaporeans and residents who resist and call out hate and offensive speech, the more protection we have as a nation. (In English): We also need to strengthen our capabilities in dealing with three groups of people. The first group is those who feel targeted but who may keep silent, bearing grudges. Subsequently, when the occurrences of hate speech become more frequent, some in this group may lose control and turn violent to hurt those they perceive as perpetrators. How can we identify the silent sufferers who may blow up, and calm these "victims" before they make outbursts? The second group is those who speak up. However, if they do not communicate in a constructive way, they may actually cause more harm and contribute to a more explosive situation. How can we help them to express and register their objections to hate speech which target them, but in ways which will not exacerbate the problem? The third group is those traumatised by hate speech and related incidents. What happens overseas may also affect us. How do we help our people who have been traumatised by such incidents overseas? Finally, we need to counter the propagators of hate speech by showing them in their true light. They incite hatred and even encourage criminal acts and terrorism. The music group, Watain, is one such example. Their hypocrisy and inconsistency between what they advocate and what they do should be highlighted. Even as the group encourages hate speech and urges the destruction of harmonious and constructive communities, its members continue to enjoy the convenience and even luxuries of the products of peace.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion on restricting hate speech to maintain our racial and religious harmony. Everyone believes in the importance of racial and religious harmony. But what happens when hate speech and offensive speech take place? In this age of high interconnectivity, such negative expressions through messaging, music, writing and art can travel the globe at the speed of light. The mask of anonymity and the camouflage of encryption further aid the proliferation of hate speech. A body of research and our own experiences had shown us that it is easier to pick up bad behaviour than good. Thus, we need holistic measures to prevent a downward spiral of hate speech begetting more retaliating hate speech. History teaches us that in all communities and countries, racial and religious harmony is fragile. Hence, it is important that we nip any threats in the bud as early as possible. We cannot afford the escalation of toxic communication nor the contagion of acrimony. Hate speech should not be tolerated and those who propagate it must be made to face consequences, including punishment to serve as deterrent. To borrow medical terminology, we need to build our herd or group immunity against hate speech through the vaccine of public education and of building trust among communities to overcome ignorance and misinformation. The greater the number of Singaporeans and residents who resist and call out hate and offensive speech, the more protection we have as a nation. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] To borrow a medical terminology, we need to build our collective immunity against the hate speech through the vaccine of building trust among communities to overcome ignorance and misinformation.”
“Such social interaction on a regular basis builds deep bonds and trust amongst neighbours and nurture intergenerational bonding. I would like to request that the Ministry make sports facilities more accessible to all, so that families and friends can exercise together, creating the motivation for seniors to keep exercising, and stay active and healthy.”
“Mr Chairman, as one ages, it is more important than ever to be physically active to maintain overall well-being and good health. How will the Ministry help our seniors stay healthy and connected through sports? The $100 top-up in the Passion Silver card for the Merdeka Generation is a good way to encourage our seniors to use it for sports facilities in CCs and Sports Complexes. However, the funds will soon run out for an active senior. I hope the Ministry will consider making periodic top-ups to assist this group. Some sports cost more than others. Does the Ministry have plans for qualified volunteers to conduct free classes for seniors or link up with venue operators to allow seniors to use their facilities at special rates? Next, in my constituency in Henderson-Dawson, and I am sure in other constituencies too, there are playgrounds with facilities for both children and the elderly. It allows 3G interaction where children play while seniors keep fit with other seniors. It is a lively place, where residents of all ages and races socialise. Such social interaction on a regular basis builds deep bonds and trust amongst neighbours and nurture intergenerational bonding. I would like to request that the Ministry make sports facilities more accessible to all, so that families and friends can exercise together, creating the motivation for seniors to keep exercising, stay active and healthy. In Mandarin, Mr Chairman. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Next, in my constituency in Strathmore Avenue, there is a playground with facilities for both children and the elderly. It allows 3G interaction where children play while seniors keep fit with other seniors. It is a lively place, where residents of all ages and races socialise.”
“Chairman, I have two questions for MOH. First, in my earlier cut, I mentioned that patients now have access to information on bills and fee information on the MOH website. But there is no information on the website on the standard or quality of delivery, basically, qualitative information. So, would the Minister consider providing such information on the website, which I feel will be helpful? That is the first question. My second question: last year, MOH announced the formation of the Agency for Logistics and Procurement Services (ALPS) to pool together the supply chain functions and resources of the three health clusters. May I know what is the progress of ALPS and how has that benefited our patients?”
“Sir, as MOH had taken over the responsibility for SACs from MSF, would the Minister share the update on plans for our SACs? I would also like to take this opportunity to share some suggestions which I hope can be considered for SACs’ future development. Firstly, I hope that MOH will scale up and expand the number of SACs in all our estates to meet the demands of our rapidly ageing population. As a communal space for social and recreational activities, the number and capacity of the programmes must be able to cope with the higher demand which will come with more seniors taking up active ageing. Second, I hope all SACs will have sufficient attached daycare, respite care and assisted living facilities to provide a seamless experience for the elderly. Imagine a healthy, active senior who has taken part in the SAC's activities transiting into its respite and daycare services, and subsequently assisted living facilities, as he grows older and more frail. The proximity of all these to his home, the familiarity of the environment, staff, neighbours, fellow participants and volunteers will provide him or her with a lot of comfort and peace of mind. Regulation of Private Homecare Services”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister what measures the Ministry has in place to ensure that healthcare remains accessible to all, its costs affordable, and whether more subsidies for a wider range of generic drugs can be included. First, one of the most effective ways to keep costs down is to provide transparency, thereby encouraging healthy competition among providers. Patients should have access to more information which include not only fees but also standard or quality of delivery. Presently, fee benchmarks and bill amount information for common surgical procedures for both public and private hospitals are available on MOH's website. I hope it is also possible for MOH to provide more qualitative information. Second, besides providing more subsidies for more generic drugs, additional assistance for needy patients for drugs should also be well-understood by all public hospital staff so that they can advise patients accordingly. This issue was highlighted in the newspapers recently by members of the public. It appeared that the affected patients and family members were not informed of the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF and MAF Plus), which is different from MediFund. MAF subsidises non-standard drugs prescribed for Pioneer Generation or CHAS cardholders. Finally, may I request for the Ministry to look into increasing our Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund subsidies.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. With a higher number of Singaporeans who will be eligible for CHAS moving forward and for us to better serve them, would the Ministry consider providing clearer guidelines to these CHAS clinics on the specific subsidies for specialist referrals?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. On the roads, I very often see vehicles carrying sand – both wet and dry – overloaded with these items: sand, gravel, stones. They may even be partially exposed. These pose a real danger to other vehicle users and even people. Can NEA consider working with the Ministry of Transport to deploy road surveillance technology to monitor such vehicles and take enforcement action where necessary?”
“Disinformation campaigns by countries big and small are a relatively low cost means to undermine the will and resolve of other nations that they have disagreements with. Singapore is not immune. We are one of the most Internet-connected countries, and one of the most diverse nations on earth. Countries that have differing constituencies and demographic compositions are particularly susceptible to such influence, which can set up contention against one another. MFA requires the strong support of a united citizenry to carry out its work effectively. It is thus very important for us to ensure that Singaporeans understand the fundamental principles of our foreign policy so that they are able to exercise good judgement and not take in information at face value. I understand that MFA is expanding its foreign policy outreach to the Singapore public, especially the younger generation and students, to help them better understand Singapore’s foreign policy. Would MFA please provide an update on these outreach efforts? Multilateralism and Small States Diplomacy”
“The increasing number of trips to destinations further afield, such as Iceland, South America and Africa, in addition to perennial attractions such as Japan, South Korea and Europe, shows how strong our collective wanderlust is. Given the increasing uncertainty around the world, Singaporeans who travel often or have family and close friends living abroad, would naturally be concerned whenever there is another natural disaster or terrorist attack in the news. Last year, there were a few major natural disasters, political riots and traffic accidents overseas where Singaporeans found themselves caught in. If caught in a major crisis or emergency abroad, our citizens located all around the globe would require more assistance and support from the Government. The complexity of cases may also increase. At the same time, public expectations of the quality and speed of assistance service have increased. I understand that MFA has over 50 overseas missions worldwide. I would, therefore, like to know what measures are being taken by MFA to address the needs and expectations of our travelling citizens. What travel advice should Singaporeans take note of, especially those who travel to places where consular support is not so accessible? Lastly, what is the role of our missions overseas in strengthening ties with Singaporeans living or working there? Outreach Efforts Our people’s confidence and support are crucial to the success of Singapore's foreign policy, especially in the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation in this digital age. Technology which allows information to reach us almost instantaneously can also deliver distorted and even false information.”
“Sir, Singapore had benefited from the assistance provided by international organisations and foreign countries in our early years of development. The United Nations (UN) Development Programme, for example, gave us invaluable advice on the formulation of Singapore’s economic development strategy, without which Singapore would not be the success we are today. In 1992, the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) was established as the main platform for Singapore to give back to the international community through training programmes for foreign government officials from fellow developing countries. The SCP's focus on human resource development reflects our belief that a country's most valuable asset is our human capital. Last year, the World Bank ranked Singapore as the best country for developing human capital. World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim said that "policies that build human capital are some of the smartest investments that countries can make to boost long-term inclusive economic growth." How has SCP, with its focus on developing human capital, helped Singapore to build our international network and standing? Would the Minister share examples and details of programmes and the impact of these on the relationships between Singapore and the foreign countries involved? Were there any subsequent projects of mutual collaboration and how have these been beneficial to both Singapore and the partner countries? Consular Assistance Singaporeans are among the most well-travelled in the world. They make more than 20 million trips overseas every year, including overland journeys to Malaysia, and venture beyond.”
“Sir, Singaporeans' commitment towards defending our country rests on our citizens’ full understanding of our vulnerabilities and an ingrained conviction of the importance of what we are defending. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to instil this understanding in our youths from a young age. In this digital age where growing global interconnectivity may result in the potential dilution of the "Singapore Identity", it is important that MINDEF reaches out to youths to deepen their understanding of Total Defence and ensure that they remain resilient to external misinformation, misguidance and threats, especially from the digital domain. Can MINDEF share how it is reaching out to our youths to reinforce the importance of the six pillars of Total Defence, nurture their patriotism and encourage them to play their parts for national defence? Business Engagement Businesses play a crucial role in economic defence as it is critical that they are prepared for emergencies and can recover quickly from disruptions to our economy. For example, in the recent incident of eggs, fish and shrimp export restrictions from Malaysia, our businesses were able to adapt effectively to the threat of disruption to our food supply. Food security is an essential requirement for our national security. Therefore, it is important for the Government and businesses to work together to put in place measures to build up a strong and robust economy which would, in turn, ensure the resilience of our country. How is MINDEF leveraging businesses to bring across our Total Defence messages?”
“In fact, as a multicultural and diverse society, Singapore’s social fabric could easily be threatened by the spread of falsehoods that exploit potential fault lines in our society, such as race or religion. One of the biggest challenges we face in combating fake news is on social media and messaging applications, such as Facebook and WhatsApp. Does the Ministry have any measures to counter misinformation online, such as an IT team to look into messages circulating online and intervening on the same platforms with clarifications? More importantly, we have to shore up our social defences, strengthening them on all fronts to counter these online threats. From our neighbourhoods, workplaces, markets and other common spaces, we will see and experience the real nature of our interactions and unity, making us less easy as targets. Does the Ministry have regular outreach sessions and public education initiatives to enhance our awareness of Social Defence? How can our Social Defence be further strengthened to deal with these online threats? Psychological Defence”
“Sir, in this age of the Internet, Singaporeans are increasingly well-connected. Many of us are able to access information 24/7, make transactions anytime, and communicate with others through our mobile phones and social media platforms. While Singapore's strong digital connectivity offers enormous social and business opportunities, it is also a point of vulnerability that individual hackers, criminal syndicates and state adversaries exploit to do us harm. As Singapore moves towards becoming a "Smart City", we need to be better prepared against threats from the digital domain. What measures does MINDEF have in place to rapidly detect and contain digital threats against Singapore? Recent incidents of data breaches had highlighted the human factor as a major vulnerability. In fact, users of the Internet have long been viewed as the weak link. No matter how robust our Internet structure, software and hardware are, complacency, poor personal hygiene and low awareness of digital threats will endanger our SAF systems. What steps does MINDEF have to strengthen this area and how will the Ministry ensure that internal and external audits of our digital networks are robust? MINDEF has recently launched Digital Defence as a new pillar of Total Defence this year. How are we getting Singaporeans to be more aware and better prepared to respond to digital threats? Social Defence against Online Threats Over the past year, we have seen how the spread of fake news online has divided societies, influenced elections and triggered ethnic riots overseas. Singapore is not insulated from these events.”
“I also request that MOH consider assigning a VWO with experience in elderly mental health to assess the mental health conditions of seniors in every estate and provide mental healthcare.”
“Nursing and caregiving remain a very labour-intensive sector. Due to the less attractive job nature and remuneration, Singapore has always relied on foreign workers. Most of them are Work Permit and S Pass holders. With a rapidly ageing population, the number of elderly who need care will only increase. If we want to attract more Singaporeans to this sector, the salary must be increased, and seniors and their families will have to pay correspondingly higher care fees. As Members can see, fee increase will become a problem. To date, foreign caregiving workers are willing to work in Singapore. Their wages are also affordable to us. In view of our limited options, in order to let our seniors age with peace and dignity, why do we not continue to hire this group of workers and not reduce the DRC for this sector, until the technological revolution reaches a stage where we can turn to robots? Singaporeans are very clear about the contributions of foreign nursing assistants and therapists, nurses and caregivers to our country, and welcome their help. Therefore, I request the Minister to reconsider his decision to reduce the DRC for the care sector. Another topic which I am very concerned about is the mental health of the elderly. To maintain physical and mental health, seniors need to participate in community activities. This way, friends from the social clubs and neighbours can help monitor their physical and mental conditions. If an elderly has any discomfort, those around him will be able to detect and extend assistance quickly. Therefore, I hope that the Government will increase the support to community events for our seniors.”
“With more seniors living longer, the number of cases is expected to increase significantly. Do we have enough qualified professionals for assessments and treatment? And where treatments do not work and seniors start to have behavourial problems, cause disturbances or pose a danger to themselves and others, what systems do we have in place to cope? Would MOH consider assigning a suitable VWO in each constituency to address this pressing need? This VWO should already be involved in this field. If there is no VWO involved in this area, the Government may wish to consider collaborating with an existing VWO to provide this service. Once these seniors are identified, we can refer them to this VWO which should be within walking distance of their flats instead of requiring them to go to IMH or waiting for officers to visit these seniors to render help. With such an infrastructure in each estate, seniors with or at risk of mental health issues will be able to age in place with support from family members, volunteers and mental health professionals. Only when their conditions deteriorate further or pose a hazard to their communities would they need to be enrolled in institutional care. Mr Deputy Speaker, the mental health of our elderly is one of the most pressing issues for our Government and our families. I look forward to addressing this issue together with the Government. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I support the Budget, but am worried about the impact of the reduction of the DRC on the nursing and caregiving sector. Although technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, this sector’s technological advancement has not reached such an advanced stage that robots can replace nurses and caregivers.”
“Singaporeans are keenly aware of these foreigners' role in our care sector and do welcome their assistance. Going forward, we will face competition for this pool of workers and professionals in the care sector. It is hard to say how long we can continue to attract them at our current rates of remuneration. Japan adopted new measures last December to attract foreign workers. The largest job category is nursing care. The Japanese government aims to bring in up to 60,000 foreigners to fill nursing jobs in the first five years. Other countries, such as Australia, are also beckoning. If we want our senior citizens to age in place and with a good quality of life, could we review this manpower policy and its impact on our seniors and their caregivers? The other issue which I am deeply concerned about is the mental health of our elderly. Mental well-being is very important and, as part of preventive mental health, we need to help them stay active and engaged in the community through volunteering, arts and sports participation. The Government and private sector support and the community have to come together to make the effort to involve and integrate our elderly in our events, programmes and activities. The interaction will also help us with early detection, whether a senior is absent, not looking well or behaving differently than usual. Such observations are not possible if they are isolated or detached from their communities. When a senior shows signs of weakening mental health, including depression, dementia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD) and Alzheimer's, getting help for him can be very challenging. The senior himself and the family may be in denial and resist medical assessments.”
“Foreign manpower in the care sector, mostly Work Permit and S Pass holders, help to fill the gaps for full-time and part-time care, complementing family members and local workers. The impact of the foreign manpower restriction on the healthcare sector will be significant, hitting VWOs, community and nursing homes and hospitals. While I agree with the Minister that we should not be too dependent on foreign workers, in this particular case, we have limited options. On the one hand, it would be ideal to attract more Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) to this sector. However, we just have to match care provision fees. If we have a higher proportion of Singaporeans in the care sector, overall fees for therapies, long- and short-term care need to increase. Families will have to pay more. The Government will have to subsidise more. So, higher cost will be an issue. On the other hand, will we be able to get enough Singaporeans to join this sector? We face a double whammy – a fast-ageing population and low fertility rates. On top of this, the younger generations are better educated and drawn to new opportunities, many in high-tech sectors, in our restructured economy. Presently, we have access to affordable foreign workers to assist us with the care of an increasing number of elderly. We should tap on this valuable manpower resource until the tech revolution reaches a stage where we can realistically start the transition to robotic assistants. In their capacities as nursing assistants and aids, nurses, therapists and caregivers, they make immense contributions to our care sector, enabling family members of our seniors to contribute to other areas of our economy and nation building.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to express my support for Budget 2019, in particular, the MGP, which will reach about half a million Singaporeans. I am heartened by this move to show our gratitude and care for these seniors’ contributions to our nation in their silver years. The feedback from the seniors have been very positive. They appreciate the benefits which provide them with greater peace of mind. At the same time, however, I am less certain about the decision to reduce the services sector's DRC. The reasons to reduce our reliance on foreign manpower and to accelerate adoption of automation to boost productivity are well understood. However, we must take note that there are categories of the services sector where innovative transformation is not yet ready. For all the excitement over robotics and automation, the stage of technological development in the care sector is not yet so advanced that we can replace human caregivers and nursing aides with CP30s and R2D2s. We are not there yet. Caregiving is still very labour intensive. The six basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) take on various levels of complexity for the elderly at different stages of health decline. To get through the day, they need help, that is, manpower, in fact, more often than not, womanpower. These manpower reductions will have a major impact on our elderly, the very group of PG and MG seniors whom we want to help age with dignity. Not all seniors have family members and foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to care for them full-time. For those who do, caregivers need to work, study and upgrade their skills, look after children and take regular occasional breaks to avoid burnout.”
“Our seniors' wisdom, talent, wealth of experience and strong moral values make them very suitable for volunteering. They are generally more patient and, hence, suitable as mentors to younger volunteers. I am particularly keen for such intergenerational volunteering efforts to succeed as we should encourage and strengthen bonding between the young and old. I hope that our community can actively reach out to our seniors when recruiting volunteers. We all have our passions and calling and, given the chance to volunteer in our areas of interest, we will gladly bring our expertise and knowledge to serve. I know of a resident in her 70s, Lucy is her name, who initiated a neighbourhood citizens patrol group because she was worried about the safety within her estate. Whether it is a hospital, museum or school, I hope our public, private and charity organisations can keep a special lookout for the "silver pool" as a volunteer resource. Whenever possible, consider making modifications to programmes to enable our seniors to join in or, even better, tap upon their talent, wisdom, rich experience and abilities. We want to have many helping hands in supporting ageing, with the family as the core, and the Government as well as other organisations in the community coming together to support our seniors. I would like to conclude with my support for both Motions.”
“Familial ties run deep in our society, even amongst extended family members. We should recognise and support the efforts of caregivers, who can be part of the extended family. Such forms of support can also help to reduce the number of isolated elderly in our midst, given that there are isolated elderly who do not have children but may still have extended family members who can and wish to help out. Caregiving is performed with love and warmth. But it is also one of the most physically and emotionally draining tasks on earth. Family caregivers are seldom compensated financially for their effort and time, and out-of-pocket expenses can lead to financial hardship for lower-income caregivers. We would like to propose that the Government consider supporting family or informal caregivers with an allowance, particularly full-time caregivers taking care of elderly with disabilities or mental health problems. For part-time caregivers who work, we appeal for more employers to offer FWAs so that they can retain talented and experienced staff who make valuable contributions to their companies and our economy. We should also support our caregivers by forming a network of support and guiding them in the navigation of social space so as to better look after their loved ones and themselves. Next, on volunteerism, a topic very close to my heart. Volunteering is one of the key hallmarks of active ageing. Elderly volunteerism or senior volunteerism will allow our elderly to stay active and engaged in the community. The regular interaction also enables them to look out for one another, make new friends and strengthen kinship amongst neighbours. We believe volunteering will lead to well-being and good health for our seniors.”
“We are advocating for a "many helping hands approach" to help us Singaporeans age well. And the most important pair of hands belongs to one's family. Our family sizes are shrinking due to a falling birth rate, and this means that there are fewer "hands" around who are considered immediate family members. How about helping hands from extended family members? Therefore, we are proposing a broadening of the definition of family members in Government policies to better allow Singaporeans to help support their extended family members if they wish. The key word here is choice. If the extended family wishes to help, our policies should encourage it. Take CPF, for example. We would like to suggest that extended members of a family be allowed to contribute to one another's account, for example, from grandchildren to grandparents, if they wish. Sir, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We are advocating for a "many helping hands" approach to help us Singaporeans age well. And the most important pair of hands belongs to one's family. Our family sizes are shrinking due to a falling birth rate, and this means that there are fewer "hands" around who are considered immediate family members. How about helping hands from extended family members? Therefore, we are proposing to broaden the definition of family members in Government policies to better allow Singaporeans to help support their extended family members if they wish. The key word here is choice. If the extended family member wishes to help, our policies should encourage it. Take CPF, for example. We would like to suggest that extended members of a family be allowed to contribute to one another’s account, for example, from grandchildren to grandparents. (In English): Another area is caregiving.”
“Like The Henderson Home in Henderson-Dawson ward where I serve, the flats and a senior activity centre are served by staff members on call and a resident carer. We hope that Kampung Admiralty’s concept of locating senior housing together with medical facilities, transportation, shopping and other amenities can be duplicated in new estates and on available land in older ones. Next, I would like to suggest that we build more SACs at locations within walking distance of seniors’ flats and apartments. This concept would be similar to the Wellness Kampungs where seniors can do exercises and take part in various activities, such as digital literacy, while at the centre, and senior volunteers may step forward to help if they wish. Exercising in a group will provide the motivation for our elders to keep up with their friends’ and neighbours' fitness levels. On the other hand, digital tools will increasingly dominate almost every aspect of our lives. We, therefore, wish to see better programmes aimed at helping seniors to improve their digital literacy, in ways which can help to value-add to and improve their quality of life. We must not leave anyone behind in moving forward as a smart nation and should provide more support to help our seniors go digital. With an increasing number of seniors, we need to boost SAC’s or Wellness Kampungs' capacity in both HDB and private estates. Having such centres near to their residences will encourage our elderly to take part in the activities there more frequently. The proximity will allow seniors to easily walk home and rest without worrying about transportation. Their families will also have peace of mind knowing that there will be someone keeping an eye on their parents and even grandparents.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of both Motions. The Motion on "Ageing with Purpose" is a follow-up on the position paper "Empowering Us to Live with Purpose and Dignity in Our Senior Years" submitted by the PAP Seniors Group. I would like to begin by expressing my sincere thanks and appreciation to each and every one who had contributed to this PAP.SG initiative. Under Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin’s guidance, my Parliamentary colleague Mr Henry Kwek and I completed this position paper with the support and feedback of seniors from all walks of life and experts in healthcare and ageing. With longer life expectancies, many of our seniors and, in the near future, we ourselves, will be looking at a much longer period of our lives spent in old age. To age with purpose and dignity, we must be able to spend our senior years meaningfully. It is estimated that a quarter of Singaporeans, or 900,000, will be seniors in a decade. There will be physiological changes and, hence, adjustments to policies and infrastructure are necessary. We require repurposing, from providing smaller assisted-living (AL) flats with shorter leases to programming longer "green man" time for crossing roads. Active ageing requires support from both the Government and society. I would like to start with homes. For many seniors, it is important for them to keep their independence and to age in place. We will need to provide more AL options in both HDB and private housing. We would like to appeal for senior Group Homes with AL facilities within HDB estates. We can either utilise available void deck space, where suitable, or transform several combined HDB flats into a senior Group Home with AL facilities.”
“I met a family of a deceased soldier about two years ago and his mother told me it is hard for the pain to go away. In fact, she told me, it will never go away. As a mother, I felt for her and I can understand fully her pain. I know the Minister highlighted earlier about the support through grief counsellors given to the platoon mates and to the families of the deceased soldiers. However, I would like to know if such emotional and psychological support is sufficient and if, indeed, more can be done to provide such support to the families.”
“I conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the proposed measures to counter the harmful impact of drugs upon our society and applaud our Government in standing firm in their policies and measures to protect our citizens. Drug addiction turns healthy people with potential into zombies. Drug dealers are not interested in killing their sources of income. Their best customers are addicts who manage to stay alive, keep buying for a while and help recruit new customers. Criminalising acts of contamination which facilitate and promote use of drugs is necessary to stop the transmission of the "infection", which is the spread of drug use and addiction. I also fully support the amendments which criminalise acts which expose children to drugs and allow young persons to consume drugs. One of my greatest worries is how we deal with the ease of accessing drug suppliers through the Internet, social networking and messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp, which provides end-to-end encryption. I would like to seek clarifications from the Minister on whether our Police and intelligence teams are empowered to access encrypted messages on these online messaging platforms. Another issue I am deeply concerned about is how drugs still manage to find their way into Singapore despite our strict laws. Would the Minister elaborate on measures at our checkpoints to prevent the entry of drugs into Singapore? How thorough are our checks on items being transported in? Last, I noticed that a focus in this Bill is to enhance rehabilitation of drug abusers and to ensure that they stay drug-free. May I ask if we have enough case managers and counsellors to assist addicts and whether these professionals have sufficient training and support to stay updated in this field so as to render the needful help.”
“All these preparedness measures will better equip Singapore for health crises and keep us safe.”
“] Another important amendment is to empower our health officials to use other means, in addition to arrest, to restrict the movement of high-risk persons. Some of them may have already been infected. Others may have been exposed to infected persons. For some non-compliant individuals and their families, such restraints on their movements, especially when they have not shown syndromes, can be very frustrating, even unpleasant, and emotions can run high. To pre-empt and counter such reactions, I would like to suggest that we include such scenarios as part of our emergency preparedness and public education. Regular public advisories to inform and educate all residents of the necessary measures for such crises will help prepare them mentally. People need time to adjust and accept difficult measures psychologically. (In English): Another important amendment is to empower our health officers to use other means, in addition to arrest, to restrict the movement of high-risk persons. Some of these may have come down with the infections, others may have been exposed to infected persons. For some non-compliant individuals and their families, such restraints on their movements, especially when they have not shown symptoms, can be very frustrating. The entire experience is expectedly inconvenient, even unpleasant, and emotions can run high. To pre-empt and counter such reactions, I would like to suggest that we include such scenarios as part of our emergency preparedness and public education. Regular public advisories to inform and educate all residents of the necessary measures for such crises will help prepare them mentally. People need time to adjust and accept difficult measures psychologically.”