Keith Chua
Singapore
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the response to suicide prevention. In a PQ I filed last year, the response advised that there is no tracking or cumulative data collated of the number of persons diagnosed with suicidal ideation, whether caused by mental health conditions or other triggers.”
“Enterprise Singapore has a comprehensive set of schemes to help enterprises in their internationalisation efforts. Amid the uncertain global economic environment including emerging protectionism, what are MTI's plans to ensure the schemes remain relevant in supporting local enterprises with the potential and desire to internationalise and…”
“Mr Chairman, MTI and EnterpriseSG launched the Heartland Enterprise Placemaking Grant in 2024. Could MTI provide an update on the response to this grant from the merchants and how many applications have been received and how many have been approved.”
“Mr Chairman, businesses need to continue to manage costs efficiently, especially in a competitive environment. As mentioned by Members previously, can MTI provide an update on the the IMC for Pro-Enterprise Rules Review and the SME Pro-Enterprise Office (PEO). Specifically, what are the key areas that have been most helpful for SMEs?”
“Mr Chairman, the Minister recently announced the establishment of a task force to help sustain and grow heritage businesses. While some heritage businesses continue to flourish, many have decided to exit permanently owing to economic pressures, rising costs, lower consumer demand and also succession issues.”
“Mr Chairman, scams continue to be a pressing concern in our digital age. As technology evolves, so do the tactics of scammers, who increasingly exploit messaging apps and social media to deceive victims. Despite ongoing public awareness efforts and enhanced security measures, scams continue to remain persistent and a costly issue.”
The complete record
Every one of 105 lines we hold for Keith Chua, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 3.
“As a maturing society that seeks to more inclusive, there is need for us to have greater tolerance, understanding, compassion and a clear demonstration of heart and not just head. The maintenance of public safety and order is important for the community. This is not denied. But this cannot be at the expense of those in the community that will need our help and support – the weak, the vulnerable, the mentally unwell."”
“They should continue to be free to enjoy public outings and all forms of suitable recreation as citizens. They may have a teenager, young or older adult with autism and we are all familiar that in some instances meltdowns happen. Can we get an assurance that nothing in the passing of this Bill will diminish their rights or be disrupted in day-to-day living because a member of the public chooses to seek the intervention of the Police prematurely? In addition, persons with certain other conditions may also find themselves under greater scrutiny just because they exhibit behaviour different from what society perceives as the norm? We must not be seen to have taken three steps forward only to take two steps backwards. Mr Jeffery Tan, CEO of Mindset Care Limited, a charity established to make a tangible difference to the Singapore mental health community, had this to share with me, "To borrow the phrase from Professor Tommy Koh, as a 'loving Singaporean critic', we often 'overengineer' solution to situations. In so doing, we have the tendency to inordinately apply more 'head logic' than 'heart logic'. If it is eminently clear that the person is struggling under a mental illness, it begs the question whether arresting the individual will offer any valuable solution to the situation at hand and more importantly, the individual. We do not need more 'head logic', which is arrest and apprehension, in this proposed change. Instead, we need more 'heart logic'. Admittedly, the latter may take more effort, time, and resources – but that is the reflection of an enlightened and matured community and not just one that focuses only on expedience and efficiency.”
“Several years ago, I was introduced to the value of response teams which included trained peers, or persons with a lived experience, as part of the team. A person with a lived experience may often be better at communicating with another person facing similar challenges. They may be better equipped in helping to de-escalate certain situations. Hence, I would suggest that should a multi-stakeholder committee be considered, we need to include persons with lived experience as mentioned by Mr Lee from Resilience Collective. With a troubled mind, I consulted psychiatrist Dr Muni Winslow for his advice and guidance. Since the release of the Second Reading of the Bill, Dr Winslow has received calls of concern from his community. Allow me to share Dr Winslow's views and this is with his permission: "I think the key drawback is that most police knowledge is no better than a layman. It would be helpful if all public-facing police personnel get at least some basic training in identifying symptoms of mental illness – the different types – as it will help them in de-escalating violence, for example, alcoholism and domestic violence and so forth; and identifying signs of dangerousness in folks with mental conditions. Autism spectrum and ADHD folk are considered neurodivergent and more likely to have confrontations with the law as they do not know how to back down, or sometimes, cannot." With resources available in Singapore, it would be good to see all MHA personnel, within a year if the Bill passes, given some training in assessing the various types of mental health conditions and skills to de-escalate and bring them to a safe place. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to raise the concern I have for families with children with autism.”
“Should we therefore scale these up so that as far as possible this will be the first line of response to individuals in mental health crises thus enabling law enforcement officers to focus on their primary duties? The challenge would be to differentiate the correct response when a call for help or action is received. As with the issue faced by our Accidents and Emergency (A&E) departments as a first port of call for any semblance of a health emergency, so will calls to the police be a likely default position for disruptive behaviour. I would also like to refer the commentary written by SG Mental Health Matters. Concerns expressed here relate to the significant discretion handed to Police officers. There is also the concern about the potential resultant trauma on persons with mental health conditions. Dr Jared Ng's commentary, "Expanded police powers don't have to mean 'three steps forward, two steps back' for mental health in Singapore", looks at the differing views and offers this proposal: "Mental health professionals and law enforcement officers have a responsibility to work together to ensure the best possible outcomes. A multi-stakeholder committee could give and gather feedback on operational processes, evaluate intervention strategies to inform policy adjustments. Only then can we ensure both public safety and the compassionate treatment of those in mental health crises. What matters now, is how stakeholders are engaged and collaborate so that Singapore does not detract from the strides made in mental healthcare." Dr Ng was chief of emergency and crisis care at IMH and therefore a voice with experience. He speaks on the interface between the Police and mental health and cites some collaborative models from the United States, the Nordic countries and Australia.”
“Mr Lee shared this with me, "When I first heard the news of enhancing our police officers' powers when making arrests of people with mental health conditions, I immediately felt there would be a reintroduction of stigma on mental health. 'Why would normal powers not be enough? Are people with mental health conditions violent?'. These potentially new perceptions are not healthy for us as we have been slowly chipping away at this huge, seemingly insurmountable, boulder called stigma." I have read briefly that law enforcement agencies would send officers for training. While I applaud this, I am concerned how thorough this training would be. I say this because each person is different and triggers may take very different forms. As a person being subject to such an arrest, one must always remember that emotions will be at play and whether or not I can control my emotions. The law, I agree, is meant for good. But perhaps, what is needed is a joint effort to develop these methods so that both officers and persons with mental health conditions are protected. A group with representation from all – from the Police, psychiatrists, mental health professionals and persons with mental health conditions – so that no one is left behind or not considered. Ms Anthea Ong, former Nominated Member of Parliament; Ms Cassandra Chia, President of the Disabled People's Association; and Dr Rayner Tan from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health penned an article entitled, "When someone has a mental health crisis, arrest is not the answer". They too speak up for the persons facing mental health issues. We do have specialised response teams for mental health.”
“She concludes with these words, "Mental illness is not a crime and our laws should not be constructed to make it so. I object." Ms Sabrina Ooi, CEO of Calm Collective Asia, also shared her experience on the trauma of getting arrested. She calls on us to find compassion to look beyond the surface and to broaden our perspective on what it means to keep our society safe from the mentally disordered. Dr Jonathan Kuek, clinical mental health researcher, raised the concern on the thresholds for apprehension. Under the proposed new law, as long as the danger to human life or personal safety is reasonably likely to occur, police officers will be allowed to take someone into custody before any actual harm is caused. The danger need not be imminent. Mr Speaker, Sir, could the hon Minister kindly clarify how the law enforcement officers will make this judgement call. Can the hon Minister give reasonable assurance to persons in recovery and their caregivers and families, that degrees of unusual or undesirable behaviour can be sufficiently calibrated before apprehension is deemed necessary? Ms Porsche Poh, Executive Director of Silver Ribbon, wrote on ensuring that police are competent in managing mental health crises. Mr Speaker, Sir, most of those who wrote in expressing concerns about this new law agreed that we have excellent law enforcement officers. The concerns are not questioning the integrity and existing capabilities. Many give credit for the thoughtful and professional way our law enforcement officers execute their roles. I sought the views of Mr Nicholas Lee, Executive Director of Resilience Collective, a mental health charity powered by peers for peers. Peers are persons in recovery and persons with lived experience.”
“Can we still consider deferring this if we are truly trying to send a positive signal of hope for persons coping with mental health issues, especially while we are doing all we can to encourage more to come forward and seek help early and while we continue to fight the stigma associated with mental health? This House is likely to be aware of several articles that have since been written about the Bill. Most of these articles expressed varying degrees of concerns on the proposed amendments and have been written by persons in recovery, by caregivers and by mental healthcare professionals. Let me start with the article from Ms Chan Li Shan entitled, "I object: mental illness is not a crime". Ms Chan is a patient advocate, an author and a person with lived experience. I met Ms Chan some years back and heard her story of recovery. In Singapore, we do not have many individuals like Ms Chan Li Shan, who have documented their journeys of recovery. I have also heard mental health professionals expressing the need for more persons in recovery to write of their experiences so we can better understand this from the perspective of one receiving treatment and care, understand the challenges, appreciate their feelings and emotions and recognise that just like everyone else, persons in recovery are fellow human beings who have views, who can feel hurt and rejection and can appreciate care and affection. Today, mental health care at the patient level has improved. Individuals, such as Ms Chan, have shared about the pain and trauma in the use of restraints in hospitals. In her article she voices the issue of real risk of trauma on individuals in recovery if the law is not applied in the way it may be intended.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I first mention my involvement in a number of mental health support service agencies, particularly as board member. In February 2024, this Parliament overwhelmingly passed a landmark Motion on advancing mental health. This House recognised the importance of mental health as a health, social and economic issue and called for a whole-of-Singapore effort. This followed the October 2023 launch of the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy. The October 2023 report and the February 2024 Motion collectively brought tremendous encouragement to anyone and everyone with interest and concern with mental health and wellness. Persons in recovery, caregivers, mental health professionals and service providers – all found comfort, fresh hope and renewed expectations. When I first read this proposed Law Enforcement and Other Matters Bill – specifically in the reference to mental health and also read the resulting media comment, I was alarmed and concerned. Why the need to make the change now just as we are building a national collective toward enhanced mental health support? Plugging gaps in the law is the task of the Government. This Bill is wide-ranging and mental health is just one of many proposed amendments. I have no issue with the other amendments proposed in the Bill. Could this amendment relating to mental health have been introduced at another time? This would enable the many follow-up aspects from the October 2023 Ministry of Health (MOH) strategy plan and the February 2024 Parliamentary Motion to settle in and gain traction. Would we not be a better prepared community having given this bit more time?”
“I thank the Minister of State Alvin Tan for expanding on The Collective. It would be very helpful to know a bit more about this and what it might look like as we move this into fruition. For example, is the focus on strong collaborative philanthropy to help our community? Will it galvanise all our community together in this effort, recognising that the key players in this are the Community Foundation of Singapore, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Community Chest and supported by MCCY?”
“Mr Chairman, Singapore is a generous society. A quick look at our history will show accounts of individuals from all races generously giving back over the centuries. Many familiar names can be found in hospital and healthcare facilities, educational institutions, community services. Many contributions are captured in our archives: individuals and families from all walks of life giving time, talents and treasures. As we shape our new social compact, there are many ways we can continue to engage all of society across all ages and at all levels. The proposed collaboration with the Community Foundation of Singapore, MSF and Community Chest will provide opportunity for those who are in a position to donate materially to support those from lower-income groups. Developing the Company of Good will bring about giving from our extensive business community. May I ask about MCCY's next steps toward growing philanthropy and fostering more collaborations? Supporting Businesses in Giving Back”
“Mr Chairman, as mentioned by the Member just before me, we have a rich heritage. Our ability to forge racial and religious mutual respect today stems from our decades of living together, working together and facing challenges together. It was not The changing world will require us to deepen our unique heritage and stay united as one people, stemming from our different races, our different cultures and our different religious affiliations. Engaging our youths in appreciating and preserving our cultural and societal heritage needs to continue. It was encouraging to see higher visitor numbers to our museums and heritage institutions in the recent years. May I therefore inquire what the Ministry's plans are to engage youths in our efforts to understand more and preserve our cultural and societal heritage? May I also inquire how we can engage our seniors to share their lived experiences and stories, in particular, to our younger generations? Social Harmony”
“Mr Chairman, it is encouraging that our society is increasingly engaged in support of the social service sector. We see this in volunteering. We see this in the sharing of skills and also in the area philanthropic initiatives. We see this in individuals across all age groups, large businesses alongside the smaller and medium industries. We see this among faith-based groups, community organisations – everyone coming together. Today, Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers can also be donated to charities. We have been engaging Singaporeans in caring for our community from school days with the hope this will continue through adult life. As we chart our new social compact, we need to encourage active engagement across all strata of our society. May I therefore ask the Minister what more will we do to deepen this continuum of engagement? How can we best convey information on the areas with most immediate needs? Galvanising the Community for Good”
“Mr Chairman, I am so appreciative and thankful for the many individuals who have given their best to work in the social service sector. For over 30 years, I have engaged with the many who serve with passion and dedication. In the spectrum of services, the work is often very challenging. The needs of today as we embark on our new social compact will require additional people with commitment, care and compassion. We also need to take care of those already serving in the social services whether in their early, mid or late career stages. Remuneration needs to keep pace with other sectors. Career progression, recognising and acknowledging talent will contribute to ensuring everyone can give their best. May I ask the Minister how well we are doing in bringing in fresh graduates, social work professionals and also mid-career entrants into our social services? May I also ask how successful we are in retaining talent in this vital sector? Early Childhood Education”
“Mr Chairman, providing necessary mental health and wellness services and support cuts across many Ministries. The several Ministries include MOH, MSF, MOE, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), MOM and MHA. Current service providers, whether under MOH, MSF or MOE, therefore, welcome the establishment of the National Mental Health Office. Seamless continuum of care is essential to delivering the best care to persons with mental health issues. Also key will be the continual efforts to reduce stigma and early diagnosis and intervention. We also need to keep strengthening support networks for recovery in the community. This Parliament recently called for a whole-of-nation approach to addressing the current and future mental health challenges in our nation. May I seek updates, therefore, on the key areas the National Mental Health Office will initially focus on and whether there has been agreement on initial key indicators to determine outcomes that we can all work towards?”
“Mr Chairman, every senior should be given the opportunity to decide how they wish to live out their older years. Some may choose to retire at a suitable point, others may desire to continue working for a few more years or perhaps find meaningful engagement in serving the community. In order to have the ability to make choices, financial considerations will be one major factor. Some seniors may need to work a little longer to build up enough retirement adequacy. To facilitate this, we may need to bring forward the current timing of raising the retirement age to 65. 2.30 pm Employers need to appreciate the experience and value of seniors in various vocations. To all employers currently providing job opportunities for seniors, thank you very much. May I enquire, what are some ways the Ministry can encourage employers to retain seniors or to give suitable second career opportunities to seniors? Secondly, will consideration be given to raising the retirement age to the next level before 2030? Advisory on Reasonable Accommodation”
“Mr Chairman, trade associations played a valuable role during COVID-19. These included closely working with the Government and Members, providing input on business realities and proposing ways to ride through the pandemic and to retain jobs. Historically, trade associations have brought like-minded businesses by sector to work cooperatively, share best practices, improve productivity and, in many instances, to internationalise. Recovery from COVID-19 has been patchy for some sectors and many continue to face the recent challenges of higher costs across many fronts. Trade associations will remain relevant, though some sectors may face consolidation while others see opportunities for growth. The broad-based Budget support measures will help many companies. How will MTI best support trade associations in this challenging phase of global and domestic business disruption? How will MTI approach those sectors and their trade associations that see consolidation but still remain viable? Uplifting Businesses”
“Mr Chairman, retrenchments and redundancies are expected to continue. MNEs, Lazada, Amazon and Google in the technological sector have reduced staff. The closure of Tetra Pak will affect 300 workers. From time to time, local enterprises also succumb to changing conditions and downsize or cease operations. Such realties are not new. We need to continually find new foreign investments and also keep building up and strengthening local businesses. The local business sector was built over the decades, possibly centuries, by individuals with the entrepreneurial spirit. While the majority are classified SMEs, we also have large successful local enterprises and collectively, these employ many Singaporeans. My question to the Ministry and to all of us is: what will we do to keep the entrepreneurial spirit thriving, especially in challenging times and when business conditions may not be conducive? Also, with Forward Singapore (Forward SG), there may well be a resurgence in social entrepreneurial initiatives. How can we support these agents of change? Supporting our SMEs”
“We are now aiming to grow digital literacy amongst our seniors to perform their daily activities, access digital Government services, manage their health on mobile apps and make electronic payments. Several will potentially be new to technology. Current statistics do not show seniors as a major group of victims of scams. This could shift as more seniors embrace technology. Could the Government share what efforts are in place and planned to protect seniors from scams? How will we actively engage seniors to stay alert to new scams potentially targeted at this group while helping them to embrace technology with confidence?”
“Mdm Chairperson, the latest statistics from CNB reported that new drug abusers aged under 30 rose to 480 in 2023, which is a 20% increase from 2022. Among those arrested last year were five 14-year-olds. Earlier this month, three teenage girls were arrested for abusing Ice, two of them were 13 years old. The increase amongst youths and at a younger age is a worrying development. This is despite education campaigns against drugs in schools, along with the constant and consistent reminders on the dangers of abusing drugs. An Institute of Mental Health (IMH) survey in 2023 shared that the average age when drug users in Singapore start taking illegal substances is around 16. About a fifth of those who had taken drugs did so because they were curious about the illicit substances. Other reasons were the belief that the drugs would help with their problems and also from being influenced by friends. In the third quarter of 2023, the Inter-Ministry Committee on Drug Prevention for Youths was formed to look into developing a whole-of-Government response to the drug problem amongst youths, with a focus on drug prevention. Could the Ministry and the Government share on the efforts made since and, if it not too soon, how effective some of these responses have been? Can we also improve the recidivism rate through a relooking of the process for a drug abuser's treatment and journey of rehabilitation and reintegration? Scams and Seniors The prevalence of scams in our society has been an increasing source of concern. These are, essentially, cheating and stealing in this digital age. On 18 February 2024, The Straits Times reported there were 46,563 cases in 2023 where victims lost $651 million. This was despite numerous media warnings, education and new measures.”
“Mr Chairman, Singapore and Laos are fellow small states who have worked well together. We should render all possible support for Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship this year – just as we did for previous years. I am pleased to note that MFA is providing training courses for Laotian officials under the Singapore-Laos Enhanced Cooperation Package. Singapore is also supporting Timor-Leste in its efforts to fulfil the roadmap for its accession to ASEAN. For instance, our Singapore-Timor-Leste ASEAN Readiness Support package provides support for capacity-building. We should further deepen cooperation with Timor-Leste in capacity-building once we establish our resident Mission in Dili. What more can we do to help Laos and Timor-Leste and build caring communities in ASEAN and beyond? What can the people and private sectors do to support these efforts? Situation in Myanmar”
“Mr Chairman, the current state of global affairs is relatively turbulent, characterised by competition between major powers and multiple crises happening around the world. It, therefore, remains important for Singapore, as a small country, to contribute towards building regional stability, including through working with our closest neighbours. What areas can we specifically contribute to in the near term? Singapore has also worked with Malaysia on many projects, some of which have been focused on Johor. One such example is the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). JS-SEZ aims to strengthen connectivity through improving the cross-border flows of goods and people between both sides of the Causeway. At the same time, I understand that Singapore has also been working with Malaysia on easing congestion at the Causeway. Could the Minister kindly provide an update on our state of cooperation with Malaysia, including Johor? Singapore's Relationship with Neighbours”
“Could such a collective project also be given the same tax deduction for our Singapore charities and social entrepreneurs, who can raise grants to scale up solutions for communities currently having little or no access to clean water? Solving the global water challenges will transform communities, address health issues, generate improved economic standards and improve access to education. Singapore can play a key part – bringing together existing and new providers and delivering a coordinated plan to solve this global challenge as a partnership of public, private and people sectors. Mr Speaker, Sir, we cannot afford to become complacent despite our significant achievements. There will be future challenges – some we may foresee while others may confront us suddenly, as with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, as Deputy Prime Minister Wong has mentioned, we have pulled through challenges over the past decades and often emerged stronger. We are embarking on a new social compact that will shape future generations. Budget 2024 continues to support our shared journey together. It is imperative that we stay united and build collective resilience. Sir, I support Budget 2024.”
“Statistics quoted were about 700 million people – or about one in 10 – do not have access to clean water. Many communities could live their entire life with little or no access to clean water. Our Embassy in Myanmar has helped communities access clean water. Clean water solutions have been initiated by Lien Aid in Cambodia, which I have had the opportunity to visit and to learn. I also had the opportunity to meet the Wateroam team in the Singapore International Foundation Young Social Entrepreneurs event, when they were in the early stages of startup. Wateroam was founded in 2014 by three Singaporean undergraduates while at NUS. When Hyflux was still an operating business, I was able to promote their portable filtration system for use in rural communities. When we talk about water solution, we also need to acknowledge the early efforts of Dr Jack Sim – founder of his very own WTO. For the benefit of Members here, WTO in this case is World Toilet Organisation. Dr Jack Sim has done a great deal in promoting clean water and proper sanitation. Mr Speaker, we have an amazing array of water solutions currently developed in Singapore, by Singaporeans. Lien Aid is serving in four Asian countries. Wateroam products and solutions are in 44 countries. As access to clean water will require varied approaches across countries, much more will need to be done globally to resolve this problem and to help develop lasting solutions. May I, therefore, propose that as we plan to pilot the Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme, we give some thought to starting a similar scheme for being a key player in actively providing and scaling global clean water solutions?”
“In a recent opportunity to hear from MHA, I am heartened that there is increased efforts to help early drug abusers rehabilitate and hope we can keep supporting this. There is also the issue of decline in mental wellness and the recent increase in suicide rates amongst youth. Again, what are the possible systemic issues that we may need to address? Thirdly, Mr Speaker, Sir, we have been beneficiaries of economic and material success. We are also a nation that is one of the safest and, largely, most secure in this rather troubled world. Many of us will describe this as being a nation that has been truly blessed. The proposed plan to help those who desire to help others is a tangible step to building a cohesive and generous society. It enables those in our community to play a part in contributing together toward our shared future. Engaging the Community Foundation of Singapore, MSF and Community Chest is an excellent starting position. So is the objective, which is to uplift the lower income members within our community with collaborative programmes and initiatives. The proposed Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme is a positive step, as we seek to share our blessings beyond our shores. I would note that, as a country, we have responded generously to appeals over the years without the tax deduction. The Government is stepping forward to support acts of humanitarian assistance, which should see increase in our levels of response should such unfortunate events occur. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the City of Good Summit organised by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). One of the keynote speakers spoke on the issue of water and the continuing challenge of clean water in many less-developed parts of the world.”
“Support may be helpful in conveying – they are not facing this alone and that both Government and the community are ready to help. I also hope and request that the approach we introduce will be wholistic. I would also encourage individuals who are unfortunately affected to try to stay positive in planning their future. Some may become involuntarily unemployed owing to physical or mental incapacitation. There are some existing avenues to help this group. However, it is likely some will fall in the gaps. Would the Government, in developing this support framework, review how help can be delivered to cover as many individuals who become involuntarily unemployed besides through retrenchments or redundancies? Our social sector must continue to retain talent and attract new talent to be ready to support both current and future needs. As we define success under our new social compact, I am hopeful that we will find many who will see this sector as a fulfilling vocation. Our youths and seniors will need a variety of targeted support and interventions. This Budget has outlined support for our seniors to improve their retirement adequacy amongst other areas of support. In this area, employers need to step up and provide opportunities for seniors seeking to remain in the workforce. Many of our larger local companies are doing well. Would such companies continue to step up and lead the way to meaningful engagement and employment of seniors? It is troubling that drug use is increasing amongst our youth. While enforcement may seem to be natural response, have we been able to identify what are the systemic issues that we may need to address?”
“Secondly, continuing to seek the welfare of our people and finally, recognising and appreciating our success and, in turn, sharing this both within and beyond our shores. Much has been spoken in our recent debate on our reserves and the prudent fiscal stewardship exercised by our Government over the past decades. But we need to understand that we started building our reserves with what we can assume was a smaller initial sum and, over the decades, have grown this significantly. In terms of our own economy, we started our economy from a challenging base and today we have been able to attract significant international investments and also develop a strong local business sector. Budget 2024 has acknowledged current challenges and has therefore provided support in a number of areas for both individuals as well as for businesses. Growth in our local business sector will come organically and will also come from new initiatives. We need to ensure our SMEs continue to thrive. We need to encourage entrepreneurship to stay vibrant and relevant. Innovative entrepreneurship can come from intentional support of budding social entrepreneurs. Perhaps some of the new and some of the enhanced funding provided under this Budget, including areas such as research and development, can be allocated to suitable social entrepreneurial initiatives that are not just seeking commercial return but also achieving social impact and social objectives. Budget 2024 provides for the welfare of those in our community who are more needy and vulnerable. Owing to structural shifts in our domestic economy and also in the global economy, some of our workers will find themselves involuntarily unemployed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to share perspectives on this year's Budget – Building Our Shared Future Together. Implicit, as I see it, are the key words – Building, Shared Future and Together. In listening to Deputy Prime Minister Wong deliver the Budget on 16 February and subsequently reading his speech again, more than one time and reflecting, I feel very grateful that despite the uncertainties we will encounter, we are well-placed to face these together as one people. Budget 2024 addresses immediate issues whilst continuing to structure our future social compact. Budget 2024 is the start of an estimated spending of about $40 billion towards our new social compact. Budget 2024 continues to encourage and support necessary economic growth, albeit at a slower pace. Our Budgets typically attract the interest of the financial and business community. I do hope, though, that more Singaporeans will find time to read Budget 2024 in totality. I hope that even as the financial and business communities evaluate and debate the Budget from fiscal perspectives, that they will play a part in communicating the essence to a much broader constituency. Possibly, one reason for the limited engagement in the Budget details by our broader population is a historical implicit trust in our Government. However in this age of misinformation, it becomes essential that every Singaporean increasingly appreciates facts and realities. It needs to be seen beyond simple statements, such as Government handouts, if we are to be a part of contributing toward our shared future together. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to offer my observations under three themes or headings. Firstly, having been faithful and responsible in little and therefore being entrusted with much.”
“This could be by expanding the Enabling Employment Credit scheme in place for persons with disabilities to include persons with mental health conditions as more flexible arrangements are often required. Social enterprises have also been established to provide employment opportunities for persons in recovery. The common challenge for social enterprises has been financial sustainability. Notwithstanding this fundamental challenge, a few have found ways to stay financially sustainable and continue to offer hope to many persons in recovery. I would like to thank you for your continued commitment and perseverance. Our society has to keep working toward normalising mental health and wellness. The stigma associated with mental health issues remain but perhaps, we are seeing this gradually becoming less of a hindrance for people seeking proper help and towards accepting persons in recovery in our community. Recovering in the community is still the better approach for persons with mental health issues. Better understanding of mental health issues will reduce stigma. Stories of recovery will provide better understanding. As we build mutual respect as a nation, we will encourage acceptance of those in our midst who are differently abled and more vulnerable. Mr Speaker, Sir, we must continue to do all we can to help those in our community seek early help for mental health issues. We must continue efforts to find ways to intervene effectively to help those at risk of suicide. We must provide the necessary support structures for persons to recover at their own pace and do so with dignity. We need to continue to reduce and eventually remove stigma associated with mental illness.”
“While there is the provision of ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) for persons with lower income and unable to work for extended periods, can we review the provision of a disability allowance scheme where individuals who have financial difficulties during the treatment and recovery can receive adequate support until they are ready to return to earning income? In Asia, places like South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong provide various levels of disability allowances which include mental illness. Similar support is available in Australia, England and the US. The availability of some form of disability allowance extends the rehabilitation options and programmes for persons in recovery. I understand that IMH is reviewing the implementation of the clubhouse concept for helping persons in recovery, having recently sent teams to study this, operating both in Hong Kong and in China. I would like to acknowledge the many employers who, over the years, have stepped forward to provide employment opportunities for persons in recovery. You have made invaluable contributions to helping so many reintegrate and recover. We need more employers to step forward and provide opportunities for persons in recovery to find suitable jobs. In helping persons in recovery to return to the workplace, there are employee assistance programmes that support both the individuals and the employers. There is a cost attached to providing these employment opportunities. In order to support more companies to step forward and here, I am thinking of particularly the SMEs which may provide, in many cases, a more suitable and conducive environment for re-employment, I would suggest that we consider schemes where employers can be provided with credits for employing persons in recovery.”
“Every person with a mental health condition has their individual journey of recovery. About 20 years ago, one of the organisations I volunteered with piloted a clubhouse model for recovery. The clubhouse model can be either residential or daycare. The model engages members in recovery in a whole variety of activities and at a level and pace that the individual member can manage. These would range from the simpler to the more advanced roles. Members can be engaged with cleaning, administration, preparing meals, planning and running activities, pursuing hobbies, arts and crafts, finding jobs and providing support to those who have jobs. One area that we found limited our model was the absence of an allowance, such as a disability allowance provided for in some other countries. And these are for those members who were not yet ready to return to work and earn some income. In Hong Kong, for example, there is access to disability allowance and the clubhouse model works quite well there for persons who find this suitable recovery track. In studying their model, it was found that the availability of a disability allowance did not necessarily become a disincentive for members to eventually return to work when they were ready. I have long advocated for the consideration of some form of financial support for those persons in our community in recovery. As mental illness is not classified as a disability in Singapore, there is no specific access to financial support during the period where a person is unable to return to work. In some cases, this can be years, especially for the more severe cases.”
“Our seniors also are vulnerable to loneliness and isolation and, as a community, we need to ensure that as we move toward an ageing society, we have in place the necessary support systems to address mental health issues, including cognitive functions. Suicide continues to be an area of concern with the vulnerable groups being teenagers and young adults and the seniors. Our community can play a role in identifying individuals with suicidal ideation and guide them in seeking support and professional help where appropriate. It was noted in response to a PQ that a number of individuals who completed suicide did not have any record of seeking help. We need to find avenues to address this particular area. As mentioned in the October report under Competency 6, efforts must be taken to identify those at risk of suicide and intervene effectively. As we build up our care and support systems, we must do all we can to prevent the next suicide. Support in recovery is a key part in helping everyone with mental health issues. Recovery is an individual journey, and everyone will recover at a different pace. This means that our support systems need to be able to accommodate each individual. Some may recover at a faster pace, others may take longer. In providing professional support, we may need to review the often-used quantitative approach. Rather, a more qualitative approach would ensure appropriate levels of care and support tailored to each individual. I do hope the tiered approach will help us move in this direction. The KPIs, for example, set for service providers who are supported by public funding, should also be reviewed to enable adequate care and support in programmes, such as our Community Intervention Teams (COMITs).”
“The National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy launched in October 2023 will bring further enhancements to building up effective mental health services across four areas of focus and calls for a whole-of-society approach. I would like to add some observations and suggestions in the areas of early intervention, suicide risk and early prevention, support in recovery and removing stigma and normalising mental health. Identifying mental health issues early remains a key area to try to reduce the eventual severity by accessing professional support and where necessary treatment, including counselling and medication. IMH has excellent services in early detection and intervention. Unfortunately, the continuing existence of stigma associated with mental health issues continues to hold back individuals from seeking proper care and help early. I am encouraged by the response to a question I raised in November that MOE will be ready to step up counselling support in our schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) if and when necessary. One of the areas we need to resolve is where parents withhold consent for their children's treatment. We should address this as a matter of priority. In the workplace, we also see improving understanding of mental health and wellness. We need to continue to bring on board the CEOs, senior executives and HR professionals to better understand mental health issues in the workplace. Recent studies have shown the economic cost of mental health issues and more companies, whether SMEs or larger companies, need to proactively embrace conducive working environments. Many of my colleagues have mentioned this already.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I stand in full support of the Motion for a whole-of-Singapore effort to forge a national strategy to address mental health and well-being. May I, first, declare my interests serving on the Boards of Social Service Agencies providing various levels of support for persons in rehabilitation and recovery from mental health conditions. I am also a member of WG3 that contributed toward the National Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy. Mental health issues affect a wide percentage of our population in varying degrees of severity. The onset can take us totally by surprise or can be the result of life's challenges. It can be triggered at home, in school and at work by an emotional experience or a bereavement. Support for mental health issues require a combination of access to primary healthcare, social support, family support and caregiving. There may also need to be financial support both for meeting the cost of services and where there is a loss of income. I have been a volunteer in mental health services for about 30 years, and over this period, our mental health services have seen several areas of increasing support with the introduction of more services and also more treatment options. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] We have seen the move toward recovery in the community. We are gradually addressing the issues of stigma that have long prevented persons with mental health conditions from seeking help. We are seeing more individuals re-integrated back to employment and educational institutions. In the more recent years, we can state with increased confidence to persons with mental health conditions that recovery is possible. While we have progressed, we need to keep improving across all areas of mental health and well-being.”
“The aspirations of our people are for a more caring, compassionate and generous society. As we continue to unite and persevere in our shared aspirations, I believe that one day, hopefully in the not too distant future, Singapore will not just be recognised as an economic miracle but, also, as a generous society and a generous nation contributing toward a better world. [Applause.]”
“Seven, maintain a healthy donor-beneficiary relationship. We need to maintain a healthy balance between donor and beneficiary organisation. Beneficiary organisations are expected to be responsible and accountable for public funds and donations. Donors may need to recognise and appreciate that the beneficiary organisations are expected to deliver high levels of service in their area of specialisation. They may also be more attuned to needs on the ground and therefore more knowledgeable, both in service delivery and needs. While fiduciary responsibility remains a collective responsibility, not every aspect of service delivery can be brought back to a simple cost denominator. For instance, the care of certain groups with special needs can require a high ratio, even one-to-one staffing such as adults with autism in a care facility. Eight, maybe we need to rethink the phrase "he who pays the piper calls the tune". When it comes to identifying needs in the community and allocation of resources, we also need to keep the right balance so that the funding of initiatives does not result in solely being donor driven. We need to provide adequate space so that there is regular and adequate input from service providers and their beneficiaries. Ninth, we have had an extensive discussion on this, harness technology. Technology has been playing an increasingly key role in the non-profit sector. During COVID-19, we saw how online giving benefited and replaced more traditional platforms. Let us continue to harness technology for all appropriate purposes and specifically for doing good. Mr Speaker, Sir, whether we look back in more recent years or whether we examine generosity in our society over a longer time span, we can be encouraged by a country where we have been helping each other.”
“Providing, for example, a five year or longer, rolling cycle would enable both the donors and the beneficiaries to enhance planning of services with greater certainty. Thirdly, as I touched on briefly earlier, promote giving as a family. We can action this as part of bringing generosity to the next level and to encourage active participation across all generations. My generation may be more comfortable with direct donations and this is still one of the more common methods. Amongst the younger generation, there may be more interest in volunteerism and direct engagement. Fourthly, encourage and nurture Singaporeans to become ambassadors for good. Singapore Citizens are fortunate. We have one of the most accessible passports in the world. Yes, this enables us to pursue our business and economic interests, and there is great benefit for that. Yes, this also makes our leisure pursuits more convenient. But how about actively considering the social opportunity that this presents? Fifthly, actively encourage and build collaboration. We are seeing this, over the years, growing very much so locally. But I would look at international giving. I would propose to encourage that we encourage stronger and intentional public, private and people sector collaboration. Temasek Foundation and SIF, our larger private foundations and philanthropic groups can increasingly take the lead to bring generosity beyond our borders as Team Singapore. Six, consider to promote internationalisation. Just as our social entrepreneurs look to scale their programmes outside of Singapore, could we look at a suitable support programme for internationalisation for suitable social service agencies. I am thinking of an approach similar to the Enterprise Singapore support for local companies to internationalise.”
“During COVID-19, we also helped countries around us to tackle the pandemic and our neighbours have acknowledged this, with appreciation. The more recent introduction of tax offsetting for approved foreign charitable donations is another step toward enhancing our place as a generous nation. In its 2023 report, the Charities Aid Foundation that does an annual World Giving Index ranks Singapore as 22nd out of 140 countries. The ranking covers categories such as "would you willing to help a stranger", "donating money" and "volunteering". Were were 22 out of 140 countries. At the top of the list, Indonesia, has topped the global ranking under this report for six years. It may be of interest to note that the SIF's annual Young Social Entrepreneurs programme, attracts a high level of interest from Indonesian participants. A nation with a spirit of generosity is a breath of fresh air to a troubled world. Allow me to summarise and conclude with some thoughts and suggestions for further consideration. Firstly, develop Singapore as the Silicon Valley of philanthropy. A visionary Singapore philanthropist shared this idea recently. The more I reflect on it, the more strongly I feel we should take this suggestion seriously as we continue to develop Singapore as a philanthropy hub. Attracting both the financial resources and the service providers to work out local, regional and global solutions is such a powerful and impactful combination. Secondly, review the current 2.5 times tax deduction for donations to Institutions of Public Character (IPCs). I had made an appeal for the 2.5 times tax incentive to IPCs to be made available for longer than three year cycles, to enable longer-term planning in both giving and in receiving.”
“Some of our early scholars became political leaders. Our professionals have also benefited from acquiring knowledge, skills and expertise to improve many aspects of our society in areas such as medicine and healthcare. Gradually, with the transfer of knowledge and our own economic growth, we began to build up our own capabilities. In recent decades we are now sharing this through ASEAN scholarships, and also inviting public sector leaders from the region to attend the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, just to cite a couple of examples. The establishment of Temasek Foundation and Singapore International Foundation (SIF) are also tangible initiatives that help to benefit and serve communities outside of Singapore. I believe our foreign missions can also increasingly serve as a conduit of generosity for us as a nation. While there are the natural and the normal priorities for our foreign missions such as economic and trade development, diplomacy and political engagement, we can also, through our foreign missions, continue to plant seeds of generosity in tangible and meaningful ways. I visited Myanmar in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis and had several meetings with our then Ambassador. He was personally engaged in helping local communities in development initiatives, among which, would be the provision of affordable, clean water solutions. Our Non-Resident Ambassadors can be bearers of generosity to countries where we find ourselves in a position to offer help. As a nation, we also regularly respond to appeals, unfortunately accompanying natural disasters, and we respond with donations in kind and at times with medical and humanitarian aid.”
“Religion plays a key role in shaping generosity by the very nature of the teaching of kindness, respect, love and compassion. The majority of Singaporeans belong to one of the major religious groups. Our mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship all contribute toward a culture of generosity in multiracial and multi-religious Singapore. The support of our religious leaders will definitely strengthen our collective efforts and collective responsibility. These are just some example of ways that we can build on an existing generous society. The values we have been teaching and inculcating have already contributed toward a more caring and compassionate society – and I do hope we keep building on this. May I highlight a couple of recent Straits Times reports. One on the $2.50 shop which is keeping food affordable for needy customers. Ms Hani and her family are a wonderful example of one of many forms of grassroots philanthropy. Another recent report featured 12-year-old, Ms Chng Rui Jue, who has raised over $1.2 million for charitable causes. Thank you, Ms Hani. Thank you, Ms Chng and the many, possibly countless fellow Singaporeans giving generously, quietly, every day. Mr Speaker, Sir, we have also been a relatively generous nation. Let us remember that as a fledgling independent nation we benefited from the generosity of larger and more developed nations. We also benefited from the generosity of our local philanthropic community such as the early foundations established by successful families. Education and training overseas was an important area where we were able to build up a key team for our public sector and essential services. Colombo Plan scholarships are one example of the generosity of others during our crucial early years.”
“In the simplest definition, this describes the active engagement and mobilising of all of society in acts of giving and generosity. These would be through giving of time such as volunteerism and befriending, the giving of talent such as giving expertise and programme development and also the giving of treasures through direct donations. Grassroots philanthropy continues to grow and thrive in Singapore. The good work of groups such as the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) and National Council of Social Service (NCSS) is encouraging the growth of all three areas of generous giving. If I look back, the response that we see in appeals for help and contributions should continue to be an encouragement to all of us. I recall years back, how society responded in highly generous giving when we became aware of, for example, a foreign worker injured and needing financial help or individuals and their families needing particular financial support for specialised medical treatments. If you look over the years, you would find that our live charity shows, for example, bring together wide sections of our society in generous and spontaneous giving. I propose we take on the task of nurturing grassroots philanthropy and building generosity to its fullest potential. To achieve this we will need to be intentional. We can cover this at the earliest stages starting in our schools, progressing it through our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). We can encourage this through youth programmes and organisations. We can bring this deeper through existing initiatives such a NVPC's City of Good and Companies of Good. We can encourage families to give as a family across all generations. We will certainly benefit from engaging our seniors in acts and activities around generosity.”
“And I looked at the next word, "finance" and it displayed 3,680 results. Mr Speaker, Sir, many of us witnessed an outpouring of generosity during COVID-19. Our fellow citizens and residents came out in so many different ways to help one another. We did not need a committee or extensive discussions or we did not need to fill out multiple pages of applications. Many across all strata of our society stepped forward in small and not so small ways. Public, private and people sectors acted spontaneously, responding to needs from basic necessities to financial support and financial support for both individuals as well as businesses and to caring for each other. So, this does beg the question: can we be a continuously generous and caring society now that we have settled in the post-pandemic new norm? I do believe we can if we want to and work towards a shared vision of our future; and I would say, much along the aspirations shared by way of feedback through Forward Singapore. Tertiary institution research carried out in recent years on philanthropy in Singapore show that generosity is a visible though often silent thread that flows through our heritage and history. At many stages in our modern history since 1819, the whole of society have stepped forward. Our earliest philanthropists were individuals and families from across the main racial groups. I hope that there will be opportunity to make the history of Singapore philanthropy and generosity more available and accessible. Mr Speaker, Sir, through my involvement in a Centre for Philanthropy at the National University of Singapore from 2009 to 2019, I was introduced to the term "grassroots philanthropy".”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment. May I first declare my interest as a board member in various social service agencies and charities and as a trustee for a charitable trust and a foundation that contributes to education, health and heritage. There have been several positive developments in the recent months both in philanthropy and also in Government initiatives to support the more financially vulnerable in our society. These come at a crucial time of need for several in our midst. The most recent distribution of Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers for 2024 will certainly be welcome for many to help offset higher living expenses. I would also applaud the Government's initiative to offer the option to households to donate CDC vouchers to charity. Here, we have a generous Government providing the option for those who are in a position to in turn generously share with charitable causes. Besides the gift of the money itself, I am sure that this will also raise awareness of needs and causes in our midst. In recent years, we have also heard these words repeated by our national leaders: "No one gets left behind". I do hope that this will find its way to be a shared national aspiration alongside our Government's commitment. I would like to suggest that this may be best achieved with a whole-of-society approach – the public, the private and the people sectors. What do our Parliament records show about the word "generosity" or "generous"? Well, as I prepared for this paper, I did a simple word search on our Parliament website. For the word "generosity", there were nine results and for the word "generous", there were 38 results. I then searched the word "money" and there were 1,790 results.”
“The SDGs have attracted both public and private funding and have been often used to benchmark philanthropic giving across all levels. While we may not specifically align our various public and private philanthropic endeavours with the UN SDGs, we are, nevertheless, engaging in many of these goals through many ongoing public programmes and private and people initiatives. I hope that as our leaders engage at the highest levels, there will be consideration for building a whole-of-society approach to global engagement. Working with young and aspiring leaders and also, in particular, social entrepreneurs, they have much to offer to the Singapore of today and tomorrow. Allow me, Mr Speaker, to conclude with this well-known quote from Mr Lee Kuan Yew: "For the young, let me tell you the sky has turned brighter. There is a glorious rainbow that beckons those with the spirit of adventure. And there are rich findings at the end of the rainbow. To the young and to the not-so-old, I say, look at that horizon, follow that rainbow, go ride it." I cling onto the few words that say, "not-so-old". Mr Speaker, Sir, though a non-voting Member of this House on constitutional matters, I strongly encourage and support our leaders, our President and our Ministers, to perform foreign and international roles in our national interests and I thank them, particularly where this is in their private capacities to contribute towards a much-needed better world.”
“As our leaders with sharp minds, expertise and experience debate and discuss issues of importance at international forums, we play our part in contributing to global solutions and actions. Participation at international forums will also be a channel where we remain open to learning from others and, perhaps, bringing back lessons that may improve our own policies and practices. I trust our leaders will be bringing along younger leaders to observe, listen and learn. Our private and people sectors have also contributed on the global stage over the decades. It may be timely to see whether more public, private and people sector collaboration may be beneficial in selected global arenas. As a financial hub, we will have gained much private sector knowledge and expertise and continue to attract a significant amount of funds under management. We have also gained significant experience in establishing and stewarding our Sovereign Wealth Funds. The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) has been mobilising the people sector in cross-border engagement. Since 1991, SIF has brought together communities in a variety of initiatives with the aim to connect and collaborate for positive change. One programme, the Young Social Entrepreneurs Programme, brings together social entrepreneurs from the region each year to sharpen their socially driven initiatives, undergo mentoring and, eventually, participate in a final pitching session. Social entrepreneurs emerging from this programme have brought positive impact and change to a whole spectrum of communities. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are currently behind schedule and many are unlikely to achieve the targets set for 2030. If the SDGs are achieved, the world should be in a better place.”
“He was supported by a capable and able strong team, as he often acknowledged. He also made it a practice to bring younger leaders along with him to observe, listen and learn. Many are in the House today. After handing over political leadership, Mr Lee remained highly sought after internationally for his advice, his views and his outlook on a whole range of matters. He also concurrently provided guidance and advice when requested on domestic matters. Global institutions continue to be dominated by the global powers. Often, this comes down to fundamental dominance by size and funding. Global institutions, though, are also facing the risk of losing relevance. There are many different views why this is the case. Despite this, it would be against our interests to ever feel that we, as a small nation, cannot contribute. It may take time, effort, persuasion, trust, cultivating relationships. If our leaders are invited to perform foreign and international roles in their private capacities, we should, therefore, encourage this if this is in our national interest. The recent rapid increase in interest rates from a decade of almost zero interest may continue to test the global economic fabric. Stock markets remain volatile and rise and fall in anticipation of whether the US Federal Reserve will increase interest rates. The ability to navigate the global financial uncertainty in the coming years will need the best minds and, of course, sound fiscal policy. This is all happening at a time when global trade is becoming increasingly protective. We, therefore, need to protect our future interests, both domestically and internationally. And we have been doing so and we must continue to do so.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to speak on this proposed amendment Bill. We may be a small nation, but Singapore has gained international respect and admiration in several areas since our founding. The world today is yet again facing a series of challenges. After recovering from the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 with seeming peace and financial stability, COVID-19 hit. I use "seeming peace" because there were still areas of conflict and, if those were not contained, could have certainly brought global disruptions. Geopolitical tensions between the United States (US) and China have deepened, although there may seem to be some ray of hope recently, and Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, triggering political and economic fallout. Regionally, we are seeing the continuing issues in Myanmar. Most recently, we are witnessing the Israel-Hamas war, with ripples through racial and religious communities despite statements that this is neither a racial nor a religious conflict. Singapore's domestic well-being depends on regional and global well-being. As a country dependent on regional and global peace and prosperity, we cannot look the other way when and where events occur that impact trade, financial systems, peace and global order. This, of course, must also include the ongoing efforts to address the urgent needs concerning climate change and the environment. The proposed amendments may seem like a couple of sentences. But the potential impact will likely be much more. I refer to potential positive impact on a regional and global scale. And I believe, harnessed wisely, this will, in turn, reap positive impact for us domestically. Our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, put Singapore on the world map despite our small nation status.”
“The right to civilians to live peacefully must be protected at all times." In response, the Chief Rabbi wrote: "Our hearts and prayers are also with innocent Palestinian civilians who have lost their lives in this senseless conflict, and we do hope and pray for a peaceful and long-lasting solution to this war and a permanent peace between Israel and the Palestinian people, as elusive as it might seem at this moment." Mr Speaker, Sir, may I say again, Singapore must do everything to preserve our unique religious and racial harmony. The Israel-Hamas war must not be allowed to divide our society. It is important that we stick to the correct information. It may become necessary to combat misinformation especially on this conflict. Our political leaders need to ensure that there is a clear flow of accurate information, continue to uphold the law and to protect all races. Religious leaders must do everything in their means to give correct guidance as ultimately all faiths subscribe to the principles of love, respect, kindness, compassion and peace. Fellow Christians in Singapore are deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives in this conflict and by the suffering that inevitably accompanies conflict. The National Council of Churches of Singapore has called the churches in Singapore to pray for the Israel-Palestinian conflict. We are praying for the alleviation of suffering in every form, for peace to come quickly and for governments, including our Government, to intervene in appropriate ways in finding the way to peace. Along with the other faiths, Christians in Singapore are grateful for the religious harmony we experience in Singapore and will keep playing our part to uphold this. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion and the amended Motion. 6.19 pm”
“Likewise," the Minister was referring to the previous day, "yesterday, Sikh temples, Hindu temples, Christian organisations, pastors, Buddhist temples, Taoist temples, they all came together, just like today. And I think we need to keep that spirit." It is indeed precious that Singapore has worked hard at achieving and maintaining religious and societal harmony. We cannot afford to lose this. Singapore and Israel have enjoyed many decades of friendly relations. We are grateful for the support when we were in the early stages of nationhood and for assistance in training and building up our armed forces. Today, there are strong economic ties in many areas with Israel. Israel is a leader in the digital space. My fellow hon Member Mr Neil Parekh has asked about the safeguarding of our business, investment and research interests in Israel. May I add that while we look at this from the Singapore perspective, we will also recognise that trade and investment remains a vital lifeline for Israel in her current struggle. Wars are costly both in terms of human lives and in economic terms. Much has been said, the current situation has immediate needs for humanitarian aid and relief. Singapore started by contributing an initial seed amount from the Government of $300,000, and as updated by the Minister earlier, about $5 million in total has now been received, and many other initiatives are also underway. I would like to express deep appreciation to the Mufti of Singapore and the Chief Rabbi of Singapore. Drawing extracts from their letters released publicly, the Mufti of Singapore wrote: "There is no place and no justification for any form of violence and brutality on civilians by anyone, including by Hamas, or in any retaliatory response.”
“Our Prime Minister said this in response to media questions on the issue, "When innocent civilians suffer, infants, kids or grandparents, sometimes by side effect of military conflict, sometimes directly targeted, and in this case, what happened on 7 October when Hamas attacked Israel and launched vicious, horrible attacks against large numbers of civilians and killed 1,300 people, maybe more, mostly innocent civilians – it's horrendous. It isn't something which could be justified by any rationale whatsoever." I agree with the Prime Minister. Our Minister for Law and Home Affairs had this to say on the ongoing conflict, "We need to be clear about our stance – we condemn all acts of terrorism and wanton violence. But we must not let these events happening externally affect the internal situation within Singapore. We must, in Singapore, maintain our racial and religious peace." The Minister is correct and, in a subsequent interview to the media, stressed that humanitarian aid has been given by the people of Singapore across all faiths and sectors. I quote the Minister in responding to the Humanity Matters relief effort, "Today, Humanity Matters, you look at who is contributing: Taoists, Missions, Buddhist Temples, Hindu volunteers, Muslim organisations, corporations, and of course majority of those involved are Chinese. This is Singapore, this is unique about Singapore – everyone comes together to help, even though they know most of the help goes towards Muslims in Gaza. They are human beings. They need help. We do what we can. That is what Humanity Matters' action today shows.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the loss of any innocent life is tragic. The taking of innocent lives of civilians is a crime, as is the taking of innocent civilians as hostages. All wars are tragic and inevitably have tragic consequences on innocent lives. Singapore supported the recent UN resolution on 26 October 2023, entitled "Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations", along with 119 member nations. This resolution calls for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities as well as for all parties to respect international law. Our Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Burhan Gafoor said this, following the passing of the UN resolution, "We deeply regret that this resolution has two glaring and significant omissions." "First, it makes no mention of Hamas' role in perpetrating the massive and coordinated terror attacks, which led to the brutal killing of 1,400 Israelis and others and the abduction of more than 200 hostages. These are acts of terror that we condemn unequivocally, and the abhorrent deeds of Hamas cannot be justified by any rationale whatsoever. We reiterate our call for the immediate, unconditional and safe release of all civilians taken hostage." "Second, this resolution does not acknowledge Israel's legitimate right to defend its citizens and territory in compliance with international law. As with every country, Israel has a right to defend itself from heinous terrorist attacks, to protect its people from senseless violence and to keep its territory secure." With all the discussion from fellow Members so far, I believe this House is in agreement with our Ambassador, especially as we have heard from our various Ministers as well.”