Kenneth Chen Koon Lap
Singapore
“All right, Sir. I would like to ask the Minister of State, in view of the fact that the employer has no control over the runaway maid - and when the maid runs away they suffer both inconvenience and financial loss - can the Ministry consider, in genuine cases, whether they can lower the amount of the forfeiture?”
“Recently, there seems to be a let up on the effort made to press home the importance of the save water message to the public. As the demand and supply of water is interlinked, and while we can ensure more water supply in the future, it is equally important to limit the demand as much as we can now.”
“Therefore, I would like the Minister to inform us what new initiatives have been introduced, apart from increasing the stringent checks on the checkpoint at the Causeway, constant patrolling of our shores, and the tough laws against illegal immigrants as well as those who harbour them.”
“I have often come across cases in my meet-the-people sessions where even after the victim has received court judgement, he still requires the services of a lawyer to take follow-up action to ensure that the court order is being enforced when the other party defaults, and the victim is at a loss as to whom to turn to and how to proceed in…”
“Sir, I cannot help feeling that there still exists this perception of a great divide between the private and public sectors. This is not healthy, nor is it desirable. I would like to continue seeing all Singaporeans, be they in the public or private sector, working together for the good of the nation.”
“May I ask the Minister, now that the number of applications for HDB flats has lessened and the waiting time is less, can HDB give a more accurate completion time?”
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“It is totally different from the case where two persons are involved in a fight because if that happens, it is a simple matter of determining who is the guilty one, prosecute him or her, fine and punish the guilty party, and that is the end of the story. Can we do that for family conflict, given the emotional content and relationships bound by blood or marriage? Will life go on as usual once the so-called guilty one is being apprehended or punished? The answer is obviously no. Because once a conflict happens, family members are compelled to take sides to give evidence, testimonies or as witness in the court. The whole process will tear the family apart and set one against another. There will be a lot of consequential problems. Therefore, I am strongly against the introduction of litigation into all forms of family dispute at an early stage. We should stick to our principle of dealing with family problems through counselling, education and, most important of all, promotion of family values. Only in severe cases where hurt or grievous hurt is detected, then the culprit should be apprehended and prosecuted. Secondly, the introduction of Police to intervene at the onset of any family squabble is likely to make things worse as the possibility of reconciliation would definitely diminish, as both parties would take a confrontational posture and the end result is that the family loses control of the situation and therefore making it difficult for any amicable settlement. This runs contrary to our principle of settling family problems through conciliation, counselling and promotion of family values.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in yesterday's debate, it was unanimously agreed that family violence shall never be condoned. Those who engage in acts of beating up family members should be severely punished. This, we are in total agreement. However, it is in the form of legislation between the existing Women's Charter and the Penal Code and the proposed Family Violence Bill that we must decide on which is the best to address this serious social ill. There is a significant difference both in terms of philosophy and procedure between the two. In the Women's Charter and Penal Code, it takes a more humane approach. Every effort is made to mediate and reconciliate the conflicting parties in order to preserve the family unit. The law will only be introduced as a last resort. Whereas in the proposed Bill, the law is to be called upon on the onset of a family conflict. It is confrontational and litigious. I cannot reconcile the harsh high-handed and detached way of dealing with family conflicts as I feel that family conflict is a very complex and intimate problem that concerns family members who are bound by blood or marriage. Therefore, I wish to highlight a few provisions in the proposed Bill which I found extremely difficult to reconcile with. Firstly, the underlying intention of the Bill is to introduce litigation into family conflict at an early stage. It runs contrary to our strong belief that we should endeavour to resolve family conflict as much as possible through tolerance, compromise and respect. We must recognise that family violence is a very complex matter. It involves deep emotional feelings, relationship which takes years to develop and in the case of husband and wife, affection and a very special type of bondage.”
“And sorry to the Leader of the House. Now that the unofficial Leader of the Opposition has made his position clear, I think it is about time that the SDP, together with Dr Chee, made a final press statement. They should have the honesty and courage to make a final press statement, retracting what they said earlier and admitting that they have made a terrible political judgment. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings on the business set down on the Order Paper for today be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. EXECUTION OF FLOR CONTEMPLACION Debate resumed.”
“Unofficial. I am sorry, Mr Speaker, Sir. An hon. Member: Say sorry to the Leader of the House!”
“Sorry, Leader of the Opposition. An hon. Member: Unofficial!”
“I can only think of one reason, which is to exploit the situation to gain personal popularity and score political points. But is it the time to play party politics when our nation's honour is at stake, when our legal system is being challenged, our national flag being desecrated and our law enforcement officers are being accused of fabricating evidence to frame the accused and most of our citizens are being branded as heartless and inhuman? Dr Chee said that he has made this statement in the name of constructive criticism, but I am not the least convinced that that is his motive. Because when you have constructive criticism levelled at the Government, you could have chosen a better time and better issue. Now that the Leader of the House, Mr Ling How Doong, has made his position clear --- Some hon. Members: No.”
“After the long debate, Mr Speaker, Sir, almost all aspects have been covered. But, nevertheless, it is extremely painful to watch the Opposition Members trying to backtrack from their position. Now suddenly they are all agreeable that the Singapore Government had done a good job and that they are patriotic and condemn the appalling way the Philippine government has treated Singapore. But was it the case when the Flor Contemplacion case was at its height? I think from all the evidence, when we trace back the event, it is not so. The two Opposition parties have made a lot of press statements and written letters to the press, leaving no doubt that they are extremely unhappy about the way the Singapore Government handled the case. They cast aspersion and insinuation on why the Philippine government and the people reacted the way they reacted. They accused our Government leaders of making uncalled for statements and, as a result, caused this whole crisis to blow out of proportion. Sir, while I understand and even sympathise with the Filipino people's emotional outburst, because of their predicament in having the family separated and seeing their loved ones going overseas to take up manual employment, and that at election time, politicians would seek every opportunity to gain support and popularity, I cannot see any justification whatsoever for the response and action taken by our two Opposition parties. The timing of issuing press statements and letters written to the press is, to say the least, opportunistic and malicious. I am very sure that even Dr Chee, deep in his conscience, agrees that the Government has acted justly and transparently. Because all the accusations levelled at us have been rationally refuted in detail. Why then has he chosen to do what he did?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code JH 01984005. Sir, some of my colleagues have already covered the subject of child care. I just want to add two more brief points on child care centres. The Straits Times' article in the Life! section dated 30th December 1994 reported the CEO of a kindergarten as saying that there was a need for at least 50,000 spaces in child care centres but there were presently only 26 available. His comment was made based on a survey which he has commissioned. The CEO saw the need by parents for children's services and child care operators are rushing to meet this need. It was reported last year that there were 305 bids submitted for eight sites put up by MCD as child care centres. This implied that for every centre there were 38 interested operators. Therefore, I think we have enough people who are prepared to meet this demand. The question is whether MCD can provide enough licensed child care operators and sites for child care centres to meet this need. The second point I want to raise is, since child care centres are important in nurturing our young, there must be some form of control to ensure that only qualified child care operators with high quality programmes are allowed to operate. Does MCD take this into consideration in granting licences to potential operators? What follow-up monitoring system is in place to ensure that the standard is being kept to a very high level? 4.00 pm”
“I was proposing a senior citizens' corner for every two to three blocks of flats. As such, the expenditure involved will not be very much. I think this is a very important need to satisfy. Mr Wong Kan Seng( In Mandarin): If we want to set up a senior citizens' corner, we also need a lot of money because we not only have to provide two or three tables or chairs but we also have to provide a toilet before it can really become a satisfactory corner. Like in Bishan, for example, we have a few senior citizens' corners, not centres. But it requires about $30,000 to $40,000 to build such a corner. Mr Kenneth Chen Koon Lap( In Mandarin): I wish to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Of course, every RC has got its own responsibility to set up the senior citizens' club or the senior citizens' centre for our senior citizens to provide a forum and a place for them to enjoy themselves. But we have only limited resources. Even in terms of management, we also need a group of dedicated and talented people to run the centre, otherwise the senior citizens' clubs or senior citizens' centres will become ghettos. The place will become a very unsightly place and that would not be conducive to our good environment. Our policy now is to provide one senior citizens' centre for every 10 to 15 blocks of flats. To build one such senior citizens' centre would require about $30,000. We not only have to provide the basic furniture but toilet facilities as well. We also need to provide water so that they can clean up the place after their meals or they need water to prepare tea. So if we have to build one such centre for every two to three blocks of flats, it will be difficult to find enough people to run the centre. Secondly, if the management is poor, then the environment of the whole block will be adversely affected. So although I support the setting up of senior citizens' centres, we cannot do very much because of our limited resources. But if an RC has more than 18 blocks under its charge, maybe we can consider setting up two such centres for them so as to provide the senior citizens with more facilities. As to the suggestion of providing furniture in every block, we can look into the matter. If there is such a need, the town council has some funds to provide for such a facility. I hope that my answer will satisfy the Member. Mr Kenneth Chen Koon Lap( In Mandarin): Just now, what I proposed was not a senior citizens' centre.”
“The community clubs and the community centres have also set up their senior citizens' clubs. According to the survey that I have mentioned, they can only attract about 20% of the retirees to take part in the activities. Most of the senior citizens still prefer to stay in the void decks. I would suggest that the Ministry of Community Development provide more funds for the RCs to do something more and provide better facilities in the void decks for the senior citizens. These senior citizens' corners need not be very luxurious or elaborate. They only need basic facilities, like proper furniture, and a proper place for them to drink tea or enjoy a cup of coffee. The RCs need a lot of funds to manage and run the senior citizens' corner. I think the best idea is to have a senior citizens corner for two to three blocks of flats. We cannot expect the senior citizens to go too far away from their flats. At the moment, I think the RCs need more funds and they have to carry out their own fund-raising activities. They need extra expenditure for such activities. I would like to stress that since the main task of the RCs is to provide activities and facilities for the residents to promote better relations among the residents, they need not spend too much time. In fact, they should not spend too much time raising funds. If we really want to help and satisfy the needs of the senior citizens, I think MCD should consider providing all the funds required for the RC centres. Mr Wong Kan Seng( In Mandarin): I would like to thank the Member for showing so much concern for our senior citizens.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code JH 3100. (In Mandarin) According to a survey, of the 5,000 people aged between 50 and 60 years, 85% want to spend more time after retirement to stay with their families, 65% would prefer to keep company with their old friends, and about 20% would want to take part in activities organised by RCs and CCs. According to this survey, I think it is a very meaningful indicator to show what sort of facilities the Government should provide for the senior citizens. During my visits to my constituency, I have noticed that a lot of senior citizens like to spend their time enjoying a chit-chat, reading newspapers or watching television in the void decks. These senior citizens can spend a whole day from morning to evening or a lot of time in the evening playing chess or enjoying a talk with other senior citizens because more and more friends are gathered there. The facilities in the void decks are inadequate and so some people bring down their old furniture and leave them in the void decks. These void decks then become a very good forum for the gathering of these senior citizens. The RCs also set up their senior citizens' corners in the void decks to satisfy the needs of these people. But the void decks in the housing blocks do not have proper furniture. We have also received complaints from HDB about these old furniture being discarded at the void decks. This is an eyesore. So how do we help the senior citizens? I believe that the RCs can do their best to look after the needs of the senior citizens. At the RC centre, senior citizens' clubs are formed to conduct indoor and outdoor activities for them.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“At the base of the pyramid is the Sports for All where we encourage all Singaporeans to exercise and to take part in sports activities. The top of the pyramid is the Sports Excellence programme where effort is focused on the development of international champions. The Sports for All and Sports Excellence policies have served us well and they are meant to provide Singaporeans with a very wide choice of sports to pursue, either for recreation or for competition. The Member is interested in giving football a much higher profile for Singapore. Indeed, football is the third most popular sport among Singaporeans, after swimming and badminton. Partly because of its popularity, football has been identified as one of the seven core sports actively promoted under SPEX 2000 programme. The SSC will continue to promote football when the local league gets underway. A task force, appointed by FAS, has just completed its review. The FAS, together with the SSC, will study the recommendations to make sure that football remains not only a popular sport but also one that we will excel in. I do not want to pre-empt the recommendations nor the outcome of the review but I can assure the Member that MCD will give its support to any proposal to make football a sport which Singaporeans can be proud of and which can bring the country together.”
“And talking of the many helping hands policy I like to refer to the comment made by the Member for Cheng San GRC. In implementing the many helping hands policy, the Government has always adopted a very low profile. We want to give recognition to the work and contributions of individuals and organisations. This, however, must not be interpreted as the Government's hand disappearing, as has been suggested by Mr Das. I can assure the Member that the hand is, has been and will continue to be a very active and supportive one. The hand may be invisible but it is there. Between FY90 and FY94, the Government in fact paid almost $80 million to voluntary welfare organisations to cover their development and operating expenditures. In the coming financial year, the Government will be spending another $20 million to help the organisations to run their programmes and facilities. All these figures, mind you, do not include other subsidies, such as rental of premises, medical services and free education. I would like to say sincerely and honestly that our safety net is wide enough to catch all and whoever needs help will be helped to be independent and to move forward together with others. That is what community development is all about. The Member for Yuhua specifically asked whether funding will be given to unions, statutory boards and corporations to set up social service centres. Sir, they will receive the same funding and incentives as other organisations in setting up similar facilities. I now come to the last item on football mentioned by the Member for Hong Kah GRC. Sir, in promoting sports, the Singapore Sports Council adopts a pyramid concept.”
“But rebates and SOTUS are not meant to be a financial assistance scheme for the destitute anyway. While PA recipients do not benefit from rebates or SOTUS, they do enjoy other benefits. One such benefit is the waiver of rents and conservancy charges announced by the Minister for Finance recently. But what is not widely known, or often dismissed, is that, apart from their monthly allowance, PA recipients also receive many other forms of assistance from the community, for example, free medical treatment in Government or restructured hospitals and outpatient clinics, free textbooks for their children, remission of supplementary school fees and pocket allowances from school for their children as well as assistance in cash or kind from voluntary welfare organisations. Sir, PA rates are pegged to the actual consumption values of the households on the scheme. They are reviewed once every two years. The last revision was in 1993 and the rates were revised again last year to offset the impact of GST. A research company has just completed a survey to find out the consumption values of PA recipients. We are now studying the survey findings and, if necessary, the PA rates will be reviewed this year. Sir, the Government has been and will always be flexible in administering its financial assistance schemes. I would like to reiterate once again that community development is not, cannot and must not be the sole responsibility of the Government. It is through the joint efforts of the Government, the citizenry and organisations in the community that we can build a cohesive, caring, compassionate society and assist in creating a civic society in Singapore. Our many helping hands policy is, therefore, a correct one.”
“Critics always claim they are never enough and that the eligibility criteria are too strict. I understand these feelings and I empathise with the compassion most of us must feel for the disadvantaged among us. But the Government is not unfeeling either. Ours is not a case of dismissing the problem. Neither, Sir, is it a matter of how much surplus we have or the lack of it. Rather, ours is a matter of philosophy, a matter of approach to helping this group of people in our society. I know some may snigger at this statement, but the experience of many other countries serves to convince us that what we are doing is indeed not wrong. I would like to remind Members that the PA scheme is meant to provide a basic subsistence living for the truly destitute. It is for those who have no means of support or income and who are unable to work for one reason or another. If we give PA to those who can work, we may unwittingly perpetuate their dependence on aid and take away their desire to be independent. The Member for Cheng San GRC can be assured that every effort has been and will be made by my Ministry to assist PA recipients who can work, to undergo skills training and find employment. The Member also spoke on the need for free transportation for PA recipients travelling to work. While no free transportation is given, 87% of the PA recipients are senior citizens actually and they already enjoy concessions by the bus companies and SMRT. For those who need to visit Government or restructured hospitals or outpatient clinics for medical treatment, they are reimbursed for the transport expenses, including taxi fares for the frail and aged. Sir, it is true that PA recipients may not benefit from rebates and SOTUS given to Singaporeans.”
“I now come to the issue of helping the less fortunate brought up by the Members for Cheng San GRC, Mr Chandra Das and Dr Michael Lim. NMP Encik Imram also asked about financial assistance plans for the disadvantaged. Sir, this group of people will need help, especially help to escape from their poverty. We have, for example, the Small Family Improvement Scheme (SFIS) which finances the education of children of these families, besides helping the families to own their homes. Besides the SFIS, there is a whole array of programmes and services for the less fortunate in our society actually. I think it would take time for me to mention the whole list but if Members are interested, I can send the list to them because it will take some time for me to list them individually in this House. Mr Chandra Das from Cheng San GRC has asked about the 25th Anniversary Endowment Fund set up in 1991 with an initial capital of $31.3 million to help the destitute and low income families. 2.15 pm Mr Das may like to know that, since its inception, the fund has given out a total of $4.96 million to voluntary welfare organisations to finance their respective programmes. The 25th Anniversary Fund was set up to mark a special event, a quarter century of the nation's independence. It is the culmination of a year-long effort. It is just like a wedding anniversary where you have the silver, golden and diamond jubilees. The Government has no intention of setting up a similar fund for the nation's 30th anniversary. We will, however, continue to raise funds for charity during the National Day celebrations, as we did last year and every year. I come to Public Assistance. Sir, Public Assistance (PA) rates have always been an issue of contention.”
“For those who are frail and require medical attention, there are 45 nursing homes. More recently, the Ministry, together with HDB, has implemented a congregate housing programme to support low-income senior citizens living in 1- and 2-room rental flats. Under this programme, three blocks of rental flats in three housing estates with a high concentration of low income senior citizens are being upgraded to be more user-friendly to the elderly. Each block will be adopted by a voluntary organisation which will give help to the elderly and they have been given grants by the Ministry to cover the development and recurrent costs as well as space to operate in. The Member for Cheng San GRC has asked that I raise the issue of concession for senior citizens to travel during peak hours on buses and trains. I think the rationale for not giving them concession during peak hours has been given by the Minister for Communications before and I shall not raise it again. Nevertheless, I will raise the issue on behalf of the Member for those senior citizens who need to travel to work. I will raise this with the Ministry of Communications. Sir, we are constantly monitoring the needs of the elderly and adjusting our programmes to meet their needs. The Ministry of Health and my Ministry are in fact spearheading a national survey of senior citizens. Besides assessing the needs of senior citizens, we hope the survey will, for the first time, establish the needs of the aged and also the care givers. The survey findings will, hopefully, be available by the end of this year. These findings should help us to come out with policies and programmes to ease the stress on the family.”
“On the problems of the aged, I share the concern of the Member for Tanjong Pagar GRC and also the Member for Cheng San GRC about the ageing population. Indeed, by the year 2030, one out of four Singaporeans will be 60 years old and above and they form a very large pool of experienced and resourceful persons. I agree that they can only contribute if they remain active mentally and physically. I cannot agree more with the Member for Tanjong Pagar GRC about the desirability of the aged to stay in the community and also in the arms of the family. In fact, MCD is looking into this aspect and the Ministry is in the process of restructuring itself to put more emphasis on the family, and not only on dysfunctional families but also on well families to see the family as a whole, including the aged and children. The Member for Cheng San GRC mentioned the Senior Citizens' Week as one of the programmes organised by the Ministry. One of the objectives of the Week is to prepare individuals for their retirement years, and it is an occasion for us to recognise the contributions made by our senior citizens. Private companies, as mentioned by the Member, have been offering concessions to senior citizens, especially during the Week. Nevertheless, MCD will continue to encourage more companies to join in the effort. Senior citizens who need help for medical care are looked after by the voluntary welfare organisations and the Ministry of Health. The support programmes include meal delivery services, home medical care, hospital geriatric services and care, nursing homes, and respite facilities. For those who have no dependants or who cannot live with their families for one reason or another, there are 20 sheltered homes. Two more are in the pipeline.”
“But, again, I agree with her that we will continually seek to improve the working conditions or the career prospects of social workers. There is constant dialogue between NUS, NCSS and the Ministry on the social work curriculum to ensure that what they do and their career prospects are always improving. For example, following the Ministry's feedback, NUS has amended its syllabus to place more emphasis on family work. And training does not stop at the graduate level. The Diploma course, run jointly by the NUS and FRTC, which I mentioned earlier, is one example. We will certainly continue to work with the University and also other agencies to prepare social workers for the challenges they will face in their work. When it comes to getting volunteers, as mentioned by the Member for Yuhua, both NCSS and MCD have award and incentive schemes to recognise the contributions of the volunteers and these schemes are reviewed periodically. However, I think it is important for us to note that many individuals volunteer their services out of personal conviction to do something for the less fortunate in the society. And it is this sense of personal achievement that motivates the volunteers more than any award or incentive schemes that NCSS or MCD can devise. The Member for Yuhua called for a review of the Women's Charter. MCD is reviewing the Women's Charter to see how we can give recognition to women who stay at home and ensure that their non-material contributions to the family will be recognised. This is especially so in the division of matrimonial assets in the unhappy event of the marriage breaking up. We will keep the Member and also Parliament informed on the outcome of this study.”
“While in service, the staff attend courses, seminars, workshops on various topics. A one-time grant is also given to the Family Resource and Training Centre (FRTC) to develop a curriculum for a two-year Diploma Course for social workers in FSCs and to run the first course for 20 staff. These staff in turn would be able to train other colleagues when they complete their course. Sir, FSCs discharge a variety of functions, one of which is marital counselling. I agree that couples intending to divorce should view video tapes on how to resolve their marital conflicts and attend counselling sessions as proposed by the Member for Cheng San GRC. However, it would be difficult to force unwilling couples to do so. We will, however, in our public education programmes, encourage couples with marital problems to seek help from FSCs early. FSCs and agencies dealing with marital problems will be encouraged to persuade their clients view these videos during the counselling sessions. The training and career prospects of social workers have been raised by the Member for Yuhua and also Dr Soin. Dr Soin also expressed interest in the career advancement of social workers. A few years back I would have agreed entirely with Dr Soin that social work was a very poor cousin indeed among professionals. I think the situation is improving and it is no longer the situation today, especially after the Government's salary revision for the Welfare Scheme of Service in 1994. She also mentioned about the NCSS reviewing the salary scales of the voluntary sector and has recommended a scale comparable to that of the civil service. The new scale should be able to attract and retain good social workers.”
“Those VWOs who are charging low fees or nominal rates are, in fact, also helping lower income families. The Member for Yuhua touched on the heart of our policies when she says that community development starts with the family and that we should help families that need help. Indeed, it is the very strength and weaknesses of the family that determine the social fabric of our society. The family today is not the same as the family of the past. Change is inevitable, but change, when it happens too fast, can be a source of stress on the family, and stress can also come when members of the family have difficulties fulfilling their roles and responsibilities. So, unless the family can handle the stress well, it may end up as a dysfunctional family. Family Service Centres (FSCs) have been set up to help families under stress with their problems. There are 14 such centres now funded by the Ministry and we plan to have 24 by the year 2000. I would like to inform the Member for Cheng San GRC that FSCs must adopt a non-sectarian approach and must be open to all persons regardless of race, language or religion, if they want to receive funds from the Government. FSCs do try to engage staff who are multi-lingual. Where it is not possible to do so, FSCs have turned to the clients' family members, volunteers, neighbours, or even HDB officers for interpretation or translation facilities. And I am pleased to inform the Member for Cheng San GRC that all the 14 FSCs so far, with the exception of one that is run by SINDA, have clients from the four main ethnic groups. The Member is right in saying that FSCs must have trained social workers and counsellors and each FSC to be managed by staff with the relevant background and experience.”
“The new rates will take effect from April this year. The increase would mean that the Government would have to spend close to $40 million in child care subsidies in the next financial year. 2.00 pm Dr Soin has shown concern that even with the subsidies, it may not be enough for low income families. She had mentioned the centre-based subsidies of $100 and $50. Child care centres, in fact, have on their own, come in to help through reduced fees, waiver of registration fees and deposits, free uniforms, and also subsidised activities. But I agree with her. I think we can certainly do more and we will look into the suggestions that she has proposed. The Member for Cheng San GRC suggested that similar care be given to school-going children. While school-going children also need proper guidance and supervision, they require, in fact, fewer hours of care a day. Where parents can arrange for family members, neighbours or friends to look after their children, I encourage them to do so. This, indeed, would be a better alternative as the children would receive more personalised care and attention from relatives, from people they know, from people they love. The 1990 Census survey showed that for children aged between seven and 12 years old, most of their parents are able to take care of them. In fact, 76% of children are cared for by their parents and 11.9% by grandparents. So only about 3% of children are left on their own. Though no Government grants will be given to BASC, I assure the Member we will continue to assist the VWOs and other non-profit organisations by helping them to secure Government premises at subsidised rates. Currently, in fact, most VWOs running BASC have a sliding scale for fees which is based on family income.”
“While I am not suggesting that we move to that extreme, nevertheless, in order to ensure that the S-League is successful, I would suggest a team of consultants who has the experience in promotion and marketing be engaged to work hand-in-hand with the technical personnel of the FAS to cover the total package of staging the S-League. I understand that about $10 million is allocated for the implementation of this project and that a target of three years is set. Thereafter, each team would have to look after their own financial commitment. I would like the Singapore Sports Council to review this 3-year target, as I feel that the period given may be too short to expect all the teams to completely be financially independent. I would suggest that some flexibility be built in, although we would not like to see the League to be subsidised forever. However, judging from the experience of soccer promotion in the United States and Japan, we may require a little longer for a successful implementation. Now that we have made the decision of promoting the S-League, true to the Singapore tradition, we must make sure that it would be a success. The Acting Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): First, I would like to thank the various Members who have given their comprehensive comments on community development issues, sometimes passionately. Before I respond to these concerns and suggestions, I have a piece of good news for the Member for Tanjong Pagar GRC on the issue of child care subsidy. The Government has decided to increase the monthly child care subsidy for each child from $130 to $150. This is actually a 15% increase. That is for the full-day child care. For the half-day, we have decided to increase from $65 to $75.”
“Now that Singapore has been confirmed to be out of the Malaysia Cup tournament, it is time for us to move on and concentrate on our soccer league. I am glad that the FAS has proceeded with such speed to come out with a comprehensive plan to promote the S-League. The report of the task force committee on the S-League has covered all the technical and economic aspects of implementing our domestic football programme. I must congratulate the task force for a job well done, and I am confident that the FAS has the technical competence and the experience to make our new S-League a success. However, I would like to bring to attention that the promotion of soccer is unlike promoting any other sports such as swimming and athletics. Essentially, soccer is more than a sport. It is also a spectator entertainment. Therefore, it is very important to recognise that, apart from the technical and logistics aspects of managing the game, much attention has to be paid to the promotion and marketing aspects. As we all know, the popularity of soccer is tremendous. In many countries, it is almost viewed as a religion. The soccer game can evoke emotions and passions of millions of people. It can even uplift the spirit of the nation. In this respect, I would like the Singapore Sports Council not to under-estimate the task of marketing and promotion. Take, for example, in the United States, the American football game is not merely a sport. When the game is played, there are a lot of other entertainments being staged with the game. Therefore, when any of the game is played, it is an outing for the whole family with all the fanfare and trimmings. It is the same as the NBA basketball game or any baseball game.”
“Sir, since the Minister said that the rental for the hawker stalls differs from place to place, I would like to ask the Minister whether it would be fairer to peg the increase in rental on a percentage basis rather than a blanket one because, if it is a blanket increase, those who are paying less rental would have to pay the same amount as those who are paying a very high rental.”
“Sir, I share the concern by Mr Teo about the increase in rental by the Ministry of the Environment, Housing and Development Board and JTC. While I understand why rental has to be increased, I would like to comment on the manner in which the price is being increased. I remember Mr Dhanabalan, the then Minister for National Development, had explained the rationale for pricing HDB flats according to location. I think this same rationale should be applied to rental stalls in hawker centres. In the recent sale of hawker stalls, the stalls were valued from $38,000 to $168,000, depending on their locations. For those hawkers who have applied to sell their stalls, profits were estimated to be between $34,000 and $110,000. Therefore, the rentals of hawker stalls in different locations should similarly be varied to reflect the volume of business as well as the pricing of the goods. There must be a difference in value for hawker stalls located in a more popular location than those in outlying neighbourhoods. In this regard, the Ministry of the Environment should take into consideration the hardship of hawkers who can barely cope with arrears due to either insufficient business volume or remoteness of location. Therefore, I propose that the Ministry of the Environment should consider a scale of charges for rentals of hawker stalls at different hawker centres and different locations.”
“We must assure that the Singapore Arts Centre will not only be functional and user-friendly but, more importantly, it should be exciting and inspirational. Because in time to come, it is to be viewed as a monument built by us for the posterity of our future generation. I hope that as Singapore citizens, we can be proud of our new landmark just as the Australians are proud to have the Sydney Opera House and the New Yorker the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.”
“Sir, I wish to declare my interest as an architect. Mr Peter Sung has expressed my concern about the new proposed Singapore Arts Centre but in a slightly different perspective. Since the design was opened for exhibition to gather feedback, about 1,600 people have visited the exhibition and it was reported that over 60 written responses were received. But the content was never made known to the public. However, it was apparent that some of the feedback were not that favourable. In fact, many uncomplimentary descriptions, such as marshmallow, styrofoam boxes, or papaya blob were used to describe the design of the concert halls. It prompted the architect appointed to respond by appealing to the critic not to judge the design by the appearance of the model and that the design would not be like the image shown when completed. To quote the Chairman of the Aesthetic Advisory Group, "We need to have a bit of patience. People should not jump to conclusions that it will look like a blob." But this assurance did little to address the concern of those who took the trouble to provide the feedback and suggestions. By now, the design must have been finalised and I understand that piling will commence soon. I think it is important that the final design should be made available for public viewing again so that all those who have expressed concern can be assured that their feedback was being considered and appropriate amendments have been made. It can also serve to eliminate all those doubts and scepticism shown by these critics. The estimated cost of the first phase, I believe, is around $450 million. It is, by no means, a small amount. It is going to be our national pride when completed.”
“Therefore, a solution has to be found to strike a balance in recognising the contribution, experience and loyalty shown by the long-serving employees by the employers and, at the same time, adjustment made to the ever rising expectations by the employees. Long-serving employees who are being employed in the same position and not being promoted for any reason but, nevertheless, are able to continue contributing to the company should be willing to accept more reasonable yearly wage increments. And at the same time, the company also has to ensure the continued employment of these employees and reward contribution through bonuses and other means should the company make exceptional profits in any given year. I understand that at the present moment the CPF rate of a re-employed retired person is being reduced abruptly from 20% to 7 1/2% at the age of 55. Perhaps a gradual reduction and starting at the age of 50 and continuing until the new retirement age of 60 so that the impact of reduction in pay will not be felt so sharply, could be considered. I urge the Government to address this problem and find appropriate solutions. Otherwise, with the aging population increasing, we will be faced with the problem of scarce labour resources on the one hand and, on the other, we would have a group of labour force which cannot be employed effectively. In conclusion, I would like to see everyone reflect on this year's Budget with a long-term view and in relation to the interest of the nation rather than measure it against the dollars and cents that we individually can expect. In this fragile world, we should rejoice to the fact that we are one of the few nations that not only are we able to float above water but actually doing it by sailing across in a luxury liner.”
“Even in the US where the economic growth is much slower, the Federal Reserve deemed it necessary to increase the interest rate to dampen the growth of the economy to fight inflation. Besides, this year, the business circle will not have to contend with the increase in the CPF contribution rate as compared to last year. So we have time to observe whether our cost of doing business this year will still be competitive enough to sustain our expected growth. However, I would like to draw attention to an area of great concern, ie, the effect of rapid aging population on doing business as a whole, especially on our tight labour market and the ever escalating labour cost. Raising of the retirement age is a step in the right direction, but it may not be enough to overcome the problem. Again, it is a structural problem, partly created by our continuous economic growth. As a result, employees are being promoted and wages increase at a very rapid rate. Although increased productivity and the constant effort in skills upgrading have always been the means to balance such increase in wages and promotions, nevertheless, most employees would reach his or her peak in terms of productivity, skills and total output at a certain stage before their retirement age, especially when no promotion is forthcoming. In a situation like this, the company will be tempted to replace this group of senior employees by younger ones for pure economic reasons. This is undesirable. Although from the company's short-term outlook, it may make economic sense but, from the national point of view, it will be disastrous to lose the productivity and contribution of this group of workers.”
“In addition to the above, I have also observed that due to the buoyant property market, many Singaporeans have committed a sizable portion of their income to the purchase of properties. The high cost of owning a car also affects the spending power of a certain group of Singaporeans. Therefore, unless the retail sector can come to terms with all these constraints affecting the business and find innovative ways to deal with the situation, they will have a tremendous struggle to stay in business. A few percentage points in tax rebates is not the answer to their long-term survival. For this reason, I am sure the 2% reduction in property tax is not going to be of any help to them. Perhaps a survey on the retail market can be carried out by the Singapore Retailers' Association together with the help of the Ministry of Trade and Industry to make known more information on the volume of tourists, the amount of annual spending by the consumers, the quantum of new shopping space available and how much more will come on stream, so that it can help those who plan to enter the retail market to assess the viability of their intended undertaking. The second area in which much was expected is the commercial sector. They expected a reduction in corporate tax to help in their business venture. Although a reduction of costs in any form can provide a much more competitive business environment, in an economic buoyant situation where the existing tax rate is already competitive compared to other parts of the region, further stimulation may not be necessary at this point of time. In fact, it might have a negative effect on inflation.”
“While I agree that they are going through a very difficult time the problem cannot be resolved by the reduction of a mere few percentage points in tax rebates. I attribute this structural problem to the following three major factors. Firstly, we have an over-supply of retail outlets. Added to the worsening situation is the setting up of many shopping centres away from the traditional shopping areas because of the population shifts and the availability of MRT. I think our retailers have to realise that the demand of shoppers has decreased despite an increase in the number of tourists due to many other factors which I will elaborate later. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see that for every new shopping centre that comes into operation, invariably one old one will suffer. Secondly, due to our strong Singapore dollar, shopping outside Singapore has become very attractive. The lower-end shoppers will flock to Johor and other parts of Malaysia to do their shopping. The middle group of shoppers will venture into Thailand, Hong Kong or even Australia, while the upper-end shoppers will go to Europe and the United States to shop. Because of the price difference and because of the fact that almost every household in Singapore can afford to go abroad at least once a year, they find it economically advantageous to do this because, at the end of the day, most of them will save enough in shopping to pay for their annual holiday. Thirdly, because of the reduced volume of turnover due to lack of demand, most retail outlets will have to raise their prices of goods to survive. And it becomes a vicious circle, the higher the price, the lesser the demand both from the local and foreign shoppers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this year's Budget Statement is not unlike last year's in many respects. We have registered high growth and performed better than expected and, not unlike last year, it was met with lukewarm and indifferent reactions. Against the backdrop of so many depressing events which happened last year in the world, I cannot see how we can expect a better Budget Statement than the one we are having. If this Budget Statement is made in Mexico, I am sure the Mexicans will have a month-long fiesta. I am happy to note that part of our surplus is distributed back to our people through the CPF top-up scheme, rebates in income tax and conservancy charges. This is consistent with the Government's intention to redistribute accumulated wealth on a broad-based basis. However, although at first glance, every Singaporean seems to benefit from this distribution, a small group of people who needed this most has somehow been left out. I am referring to those under the public assistance scheme. They do not generally have CPF accounts and therefore cannot benefit from any of the CPF top-up schemes nor do they pay income tax, and not all of them stay in HDB flats. I think it is only fair that they should also receive something, perhaps in the form of a one-off cash grant or the Government can fund more generously through grassroots and charitable organisations to organise projects and activities that can benefit this group of people or even find ways to distribute some essential good to them. Let me address the two main areas where unhappiness comes from. The first area in which much was expected is the retail sector. But the problem facing the retail sector is complex.”
“Just now, Dr Soin said that money should not be a consideration, that taking up public office is a calling. But most top professions contain a certain element of calling, not the least is the medical profession. I would like to think that most young men take up the medical profession not for the monetary gain but for the higher ideal of serving the society and humanity. Then can we ask them: when they become doctors and surgeons, can they cap their earnings? Can we ask the surgeon, after a few operations per month, to say, "OK. That's enough. I've earned enough," and proceed to operate free of charge for the rest of the month? I think it is unfair. The issue here is: how do we ensure that this group of chosen people is really the best in Singapore? And how do we choose honest, capable and dedicated future leaders? If we can identify them and they are willing to serve, then the question of remuneration is one of the many considerations. Even at the highest scale, it is a very small price for each of our Singaporeans to pay, as they will always be better off by a system which ensures the future stability and prosperity of Singapore.”
“This loss of personal freedom and privacy cannot be measured by any amount of monetary gain. I realise this because of my very long experience in the private sector and I can see the difference. I can feel the difference very acutely when I entered public service. Mr Ling and Mr Chiam, for example, have again brought up the comparison of how much the Ministers and Prime Ministers in other countries such as Britain, Australia, United States and New Zealand get. Looking at the state of political situation there, I wonder whether Mr Ling and Mr Chiam know that by bringing this comparison up, they are actually speaking for the motion, instead of against it. Last week, it was reported in the Straits Times that in the run up to the election of the House of Representatives in the US, candidates spend an average of US$2 million for their campaigns. Some may even spend more. It takes a very naive person to believe that US Congressmen and Senators really depend on their official pay-cheque for their livelihood. So, Mr Speaker, Sir, my conclusion is that if we agree that Singapore should be governed by the best among the best, then we should not quibble about the quantum of remuneration being paid to the Ministers or the senior civil servants. For despite all the cost and national sacrifice and how one should put country before self, most dedicated and capable young men and women, when they make a career choice, one of the main considerations, not the only consideration, will still be how well they will be remunerated, whether it is commensurate with their capabilities and responsibilities. The best will always expect the most. It has nothing to do with greed. It is merely a fact of life.”
“It is not targeted at the present Government in power or to any of the individuals who are now holding the posts of Ministers or senior civil servants. It applies to any future government in power, be it the PAP government or any other political parties who may one day be in power in place of the PAP. Therefore, we should examine the contents of the White Paper objectively as a means to ensure that the best of Singapore talent be placed in positions to govern Singapore. One may ask: what if the elected government does not fulfil the required standard expected of its people? In other words, what if persons with lesser capabilities somehow get into the position of Minister or top civil servant? In such a case, our political system will provide a safety valve because the people of Singapore can ultimately exercise their rights by voting these people out of government. Some speakers, notably the Opposition Members, expound that those who enter politics should not be for monetary reasons, that they are expected to make sacrifice as they are supposed to serve the people and the nation. In other words, to be altruistic. I totally agree that to take up public service, one should be totally prepared to make sacrifice as it is a sense of duty and a sense of commitment that drive a person to take up public service. But it is very difficult to define what is the ultimate of one's sacrifice. To me, one of the greatest sacrifices a person can make is perhaps giving up totally one's personal freedom and privacy. As we all know, the Prime Minister and all the Ministers cannot possibly enjoy much freedom and privacy. They are under public scrutiny almost 24 hours a day, except maybe in the privacy of their own home.”
“Sir, I support the motion put forward by the Prime Minister. Mr Speaker, Sir, so far, the debate on the White Paper, both in this House and outside this House, has been centred mainly on the quantum of pay of Ministers and senior civil servants. It is being looked at in a very narrow perspective. The real issue before us here is whether we accept the objective of the White Paper in seeking to entrench a philosophy into our political system that emphasises that Singapore should be governed by the most capable and talented individuals available. This philosophy has ensured the continued prosperity and stability of Singapore since independence, and I do not think anyone of us should have any problem in reconciling with the proposal that this handful of selected people be remunerated commensurate with the best or near the best of the top private sector earners. Big corporations, like banks, manufacturing companies, spare no effort in sourcing the best talents to fill their senior posts. Companies, like Coca Cola and Walt Disney, pay millions of dollars to the Chairman, CEO and executives, because they know that the performance and survival of these organisations will depend on the performance of these few. Their success or failure can affect thousands of employees and their dependants. Singapore is like a big corporation, except that its performance would affect the entire population. It is obvious that governing Singapore in terms of responsibility and capability is much more demanding than the management of any of these large corporations. Let us be clear that when we put this system in place, it is to fulfil a long-term objective.”
“Sir, I just want one clarification from the Minister. With the introduction of this new scheme, does it mean that the walk-in system is abolished? Because this system has created a lot of unhappiness. For every happy applicant, there were hundreds of frustrated unsuccessful applicants.”
“Only then, will the law be fair and reasonable. We have, in force, a law to provide that parents must bear the responsibility of looking after their children. Conversely, those people who have been brought up by their parents shall be legally obliged to look after their aged parents when they get old. I think it will be perfectly justifiable. It should not be designed in such a way that parents who have been neglected by their children will have to beg for money from the children for their old age, through legal means. In view of all the aforesaid reasons, I feel that I am unable to support this Bill.”
“Although we do not have to be like Emperor Kangxi who attempted to rule his empire by the spirit of filial piety or the "24 examples of filial piety", many of which were "blind" filial piety, I think we should promote vigorously the idea of filial piety in Singapore. At the same time, we should also be very careful in handling the arguments which have been advocated by the so-called experts. These sociologists are attempting to inculcate among our young people the idea that children themselves did not ask to be born, and as such they have no obligation to support or maintain their parents. If we allow this kind of thinking to be promoted among our young people, then even if you have such a law, it will be just an empty shell. Furthermore, if we want to learn from other societies where the children can call their parents by the first name, then again, the consequences will be unthinkable. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in short, any matter within the realm of moral values should be handled through moral and ethical education. If you must legislate, then I think it should be done the other way round. The Bill is known as the "Maintenance of Parents Bill", but its contents do not seem to provide for the maintenance of parents. In my view, the contents of this Bill seem to suggest that it is a Bill for parents to demand money from their children. If you want to talk about maintenance of parents, I think the contents should be reversed and that is to provide for all children to fulfil their legal obligations to maintain their parents. If you do not maintain your parents, then you must show cause as to why you should not be maintaining your parents, by producing evidence to the effect that you have been ill-treated or neglected by your parents during your younger days.”
“Originally, the clients may not want to sue, but the lawyers, in order to earn commissions, would instigate them to sue. This is one example of how the legal process could be abused. If there are more and more of this kind of cases coming up, then some lawyers will certainly use all sorts of tricks to attract more business to their firms. Recently, a colleague of mine went to Los Angeles. He told me that one day he was walking in the streets when he noticed a signboard outside a very small office, and that was the office of a lawyer. It was written on this signboard: "Quick divorce. No hassle. US$399 only." I think if our society develops to such a stage, then it will be a very great tragedy indeed. So, if you want to have a quick divorce, it is just US$400 only. It is simple. There is no hassle and no trouble. You can get it done straightaway - instant divorce! If the society has problems, I think we must try and find out the root cause and trace the root of the problems. Otherwise, it will be like what Laozi had said, "The law may be manifested, but robbers and thieves are still abundant." Notwithstanding the many laws a country may have, if the society has problems, there will still be many robbers and thieves around. In my view, using legal means to resolve family disputes and problems is a wrong approach. Parents who have to resort to legal means to get money from their children to cover their expenses in the autumn years of their lives will not lead happy lives. I do not think they would be living happily, neither will they live long. How can their lives be meaningful! So the crux of the problem is whether we want to emphasise and propagate the spirit of filial piety.”
“So if one day, unfortunately, we have more and more of such cases, we will surely face great difficulty in enforcing the maintenance orders or warrants of arrest against those who fail to comply with the maintenance orders. I am even more worried that one day, if we begin to resort to legal means to deal with family problems, then gradually we will develop a trend of over-litigation in our society. More and more people will be resorting to legal means to solve their problems, especially family problems and disputes. I believe this would result in very bad consequences. Take America, for example. The American society is one which practises the rule of law. Can their laws resolve their social problems? I do not think so. In the United States today, one out of every two marriages ends up in divorce. What are the consequences? The consequences are that it becomes very popular for the Americans to enter into a contract between the husband and the wife, even before they are married, like a business dealing. The contract specifies that after the marriage, the husband cannot do this and that, and he must do this and that. Similarly, the wife must do this and that, and cannot do this and that. So, what kind of a marriage is this? The contract also provides for the division of matrimonial property after their divorce. So if one day, unfortunately, our society suffers a collapse in the spirit of filial piety of our people, then even though you have this law in existence, it is but an empty shell. Another problem with attempting to resolve family problems through legal means is that it will, more often than not, result in abuse. In the United States, many lawyers are like private advisers. They specialize in suggesting wicked ideas for their clients.”
“Recently, we read from the newspapers about some real-life cases, such as husband and wife going to court to fight over a HDB flat; mother and son suing each other in court over some property; brother and sister fighting over some estate matters, etc. When members of one family go to court over some family disputes, they have to go through some lengthy and costly process of litigation. In the end, are their problems truly resolved? Are these family disputes settled? I do not think so. No doubt, the court may have made a ruling to conclude the process of litigation, but this does not necessarily mean the family disputes are thus resolved once and for all. Secondly, I feel that if the Bill is passed in this House, there will be great problems and difficulties in its implementation. I have personally come across such an example, the case of a divorced woman claiming for maintenance. Her ex-husband was a professional with very good income. The court has granted custody of the children to the wife and ordered the husband to pay a fixed sum of maintenance to the wife every month. But he fell in arrears of payment of the said maintenance for six months. The woman had to go to court to apply for an enforcement order and, eventually, a warrant of arrest. But she faced problems in the execution of the order. For a number of months, according to this woman, the husband was at home but the authority was unable to bring him to court or compel him to pay up promptly the monthly maintenance to the wife. Yesterday, I heard the Minister for Home Affairs talking about the difficulty in executing the orders to bring parking offenders who had been summoned to court. There is a problem with enforcing such orders.”
“Furthermore, after the implementation of this law to provide for maintenance of parents, should there be any adverse effect, or as MP Peh Chin Hua said, "various kinds of adverse effects", then will Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon consider introducing further legislation to make it mandatory for children to treat their parents with kindness? Mr Goh Choon Kang (Braddell Heights)( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, to this Parliament, yesterday and today can be said to be days of grief and sorrow. This is the year which is designated the "International Year of the Family". Yet, ironically, we have to be here to debate this Bill. As some Members pointed out just now, the introduction of such a Bill is undoubtedly a show of no confidence in the filial piety of our younger people in Singapore. This is indeed lamentable! Just now, the Member for Hougang referred to a Chinese saying: "Even an upright magistrate will find it difficult to judge on a family dispute". If Prof. Walter Woon has the benefit of dealing with constituency affairs, he will be able to understand the significance and meaning of this saying and the profound philosophy behind it. During our "meet-the-people sessions", we often come across various kinds of family disputes and problems - disputes between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, husband and wife, father and son, and among siblings. They would come to their Members of Parliament to pour out their grievances and want us to settle the disputes for them. Very often, it would appear as though each party has its own reasons, and both sides would insist that they are in the right. So, who is the wiser? From my experience, I would say it is extremely difficult for such family disputes and problems to be resolved through legal means.”
“" This very complicated and delicate matter concerning human relationship, particularly the individual family relationship and operation, should best be resolved through mediation by the individual families and relevant organisations. The introduction of this Bill is not to provide a solution to the problem, neither can it provide an effective protection to the parents. Furthermore, it may even give rise to negative effects. To a perfect family where children are already supporting and maintaining their parents, this legislation is redundant. To those whose children are not providing any maintenance, but are self-reliant, this legislation is meaningless. As for those who are in need and not receiving any maintenance from their children, there is doubt whether they will bear to go to court and bring charges against their own children! If this legislation has resulted in the parents being forced by one or more of their children to go to court and bring charges against their other children who have not been contributing to their maintenance, then the parents will be in such a predicament. Even if they succeed in getting the maintenance, can it be meaningful? What is more worrying to me is that even up till this moment, the Nominated Member who introduced this Bill has not been able to produce any valid data or statistics to show that there is a need for this legislation. Even the PAP MPs who are supporting this Bill are unable to produce data to prove that there will be a need for such a legislation in future. The only argument is that this Bill can provide a safety net for a very small minority of old people. The number is so small! Really, to whom are we providing this safety net?”
“At that time, the Government felt that the moral standard of our society had not degenerated to a state where legislation had become necessary, and also the aging problem was not yet serious. Now, with the Government worrying about our aging population and the problem of the aged becoming a threat to the Government, this legislation introduced by Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon to make it mandatory for children to maintain their parents can be said to be most opportune. After this Bill is passed and becomes law, the old people who have children may not be able to go to the Government for assistance when they are in trouble, because there is provision in the law for them to sue their children in court for maintenance. The Government can then be perfectly justifiable in washing their hands completely off the matter. However, the Minister said, just now, that the Government will not. I heard it! Does this mean that, in future, those parents who would not bear to bring their poor children to court will find it more difficult, or even impossible, for them to get any assistance from the State or from welfare organisations? These taxpayers who have been working unrelentingly for the country enjoy no protection for their old age. They have even to cough out exorbitant lawyer's fees to sue their children in court. Is this the reward they get from the country? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, maintenance of parents is part of our culture, and an unalterable principle. But as the saying goes, "Even the most upright magistrate will find it difficult to decide in a family dispute.”
“The most important thing is medical cost, especially those who are suffering from chronic diseases such as kidney failure, senile dementia, etc, and the burden on the children is certainly not simply sustenance only! If, one day, our society has to face the problem of many old people being deserted by their children, then we would have to review where the problem lies. Why are the old people having no protection for their living? Who are the people who refuse to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining their parents? What are their family incomes? Is it because the pressure in life is too heavy for them to tackle? Or is it because we have been emphasising too much on material returns that the moral standard in our society has degenerated to such a deplorable state? We have yet to have a thorough understanding of the nature and actual situation of the whole problem. For that matter, we are not even sure if there will be a problem. To hastily legislate and even to pass a law at this moment is just too perfunctory! For example, this Bill provides that the duty of the children to maintain their parents is only up till the death of their parents. What about the funeral matters and their expenses? Will the children who have been sued in court and who have already had a show-down with their parents come forward and deal with the funeral of the deceased parents? Will Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon consider further legislation to make it mandatory for the children to bear all funeral expenses of their parents, and make their attendance at the funeral compulsory? Possibility of Bill being made use of by the Government after it is passed in Parliament Let us not forget that this question of maintenance of parents had already been raised in the Howe Yoon Chong Report on the Aged.”
“But since the introduction of this Bill in Parliament, this young man has been coming personally to the Town Council to pay the conservancy charges and asking for a receipt so that, in future, he will have evidence that he has been maintaining his mother. Another person enquired from me the contents of this Bill. After that, he told me that he was considering whether, in future, he should make his monthly payment to his father by way of cheque rather than by cash. No doubt, in these two illustrations that I have given, the existing relationships between the parents and the children are already bad. But now it has developed into mutual distrust between the parents and the children. There should be love and affection between parents and children. Yet it has now degenerated into mutual distrust. Is this not lamentable? Undermining the relationship among siblings and causing existing conflicts to turn white-hot I believe that the vast majority of parents would not resort to bringing their children to court as provided for under this Bill. But, in the case of children whose parents are staying with them, if their other siblings have not been making financial contribution to them, then they may be tempted to make use of this legislation to demand that their parents go to court to seek maintenance from the other siblings. As a result, the existing conflicts will become more acute and even to the extent of being irretrievable. The parents who are sandwiched in between would not know which side to take. This would certainly add on more misery to the old folks in their autumn years. Bill is no solution to problem As the name implies, "maintenance" means "sustenance". But for the old people, their expenses are not confined to just sustenance.”