Lawrence Wong
Singapore
“Sir, we will provide more information. I see the value of getting Ministries to put out more information, to share more about how their resources are being used and what outcomes they have achieved.”
“Sir, I agree fully with Mr Azhar that human capacity, human capital is critical. In fact, I would say the long-term potential of Singapore, how far we go really depends on us being able to maximise our human potential. That is key and that is why we have long invested in education. And it is not just about the investments.”
“Sir, we have been maintaining that commitment of 1% for some time now. I do not think it is about saying that we just have to do more and spend more. As many have highlighted, we want to ensure good outcomes from our R&D spending as well. So, we will continue if the outcomes are good.”
“This has never been the case. Temasek, when it started, was always very clear about its mandate from the very beginning – commercial, not doing national service, focused on commercial outcomes.”
“Sir, the MOF economists when they look at fiscal projections use Government's forecast of the economy, which is also published. We would typically use the mid-point of the range and then, of course, because these are in nominal terms, you have to factor for that. And the projections are done on those basis.”
“Sir, I was relieved that Mr Loh said he only has one question, but he asked the most difficult question. To answer the question, we will continue to monitor cost of living across all segments of society.”
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“Mdm Speaker, HDB buildings are built using reinforced concrete in accordance with the prevailing building codes and industry norms. This ensures that our buildings are structurally safe and suitable for occupancy. While there are no existing regulations or standards on acoustical performance of building structures, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) is mindful of the needs of residents in this regard. Based on our survey, the vast majority of residents and respondents have expressed satisfaction with the noise insulation performance of their unit walls and floors. Nevertheless, HDB is continually looking at practical noise mitigation measures for the comfort and well-being of all residents. I should also highlight that in the context of our high-density environment, and with HDB flats designed for natural ventilation, it is not possible to completely sound-proof a unit. So, we do need all residents to do their part. Considerate neighbourly behaviour, such as keeping noise levels down, especially at night, will help provide a pleasant living environment for all.”
“We will continue with our Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme in old estates where redevelopment is viable economically and where there are suitable sites to house residents together. We will bring jobs closer to home, reducing travelling time to work. This will better support the needs of our families and our ageing population. We will also foster a safe and convenient environment for everyone to walk and cycle in our towns. Ang Mo Kio and Tampines will be piloted as model walking and cycling towns while new areas, such as Marina South and Kampong Bugis, will feature more walkable ground spaces with social and retail amenities and reduced road space and car usage. We have made good progress in greening our new and existing buildings to be more energy-efficient. We will also make it easier for people to adopt greener practices in their buildings, for instance, through adopting smart systems that enable users to better manage their energy consumption. In addition to diversifying our overseas food supply, we will look for new avenues to improve our local food supply. We must continue to develop technologies and innovate to increase productivity of our local farms. We must also optimise the use of agricultural land. We will continue to build our future Singapore, with Singaporeans and for Singaporeans. Through the ongoing Future of Us Conversation, we invite Singaporeans to imagine the future and share their vision for our nation. Communities will be empowered to be more involved in enlivening public spaces and improving our greening efforts. Page: 47 Singapore is our home, where we belong. Together, we can build an inclusive home and a sustainable future for all Singaporeans. Page: 48”
“We will continue to work with residents, grassroots organisations, civic groups and partner agencies to build an engaged community that cares and actively participates in improving our living environment. Singaporeans can enjoy more lush greenery near their homes. We will make greenery more accessible to Singaporeans, with 90% of households living within 400 metres of a park or park connector by 2030. Communities in Singapore will also be connected by an expanded network of green corridors, which will grow from 300 kilometres to 400 kilometres. We will activate green spaces and intensify greenery horizontally and vertically and work with passionate Singaporeans to conserve our biodiversity and celebrate our built heritage. We will develop a sustainable and thriving city, one that is highly productive with efficient use of resources and minimum wastage. We will continue to help our construction industry improve productivity. We will spur the adoption of cleaner, quieter, highly productive construction methods, foster collaboration across the construction value chain and continue to upgrade and upskill the construction workforce. Industry clustering and development of shared facilities across all relevant sectors will be explored to reduce land demand and increase productivity. We will press on with our efforts to revitalise our older estates. The Remaking Our Heartland programme will continue to inject new life into these towns through comprehensive makeovers. At the precinct and block level, our Neighbourhood Renewal Programme will enhance the living environment while ageing flats will be upgraded through the Home Improvement Programme.”
“We have enhanced the Lease Buyback Scheme to enable more seniors to age-in-place and unlock some value from their flats. We have also implemented the 2-Room Flexi Scheme to provide choice and flexibility for seniors looking to right-size to a smaller home. We will continue to build on such options to meet the housing and retirement needs of our seniors. Our estates will continue to be accessible to all, including our seniors. New smart-enabled homes will empower residents to adopt solutions, such as the Smart Elderly Monitoring and Alert System, in their homes, so that seniors live in a safer and more conducive environment. We have made new flats available to singles since 2013 to respond to changes in our society. We have seen strong demand from singles and will continue to help singles own their homes. Beyond individual homes, we aim to create more shared spaces to nurture a vibrant and cohesive community where neighbours come together to celebrate the Kampong Spirit. We will build more town plazas and neighbourhood centres with projects and activities to engage the community. Heartland shops will be revitalised into vibrant commercial nodes and social spaces for community bonding through the Revitalisation of Shops Scheme. We will create spaces to meet community needs. Childcare centres, elder care centres and other social communal facilities will be provided in Build-To-Order (BTO) projects. We will also explore co-locating and integrating some of these to encourage inter-generation bonding among families and neighbours. Page: 46 We will partner all Singaporeans to improve our communities. Through the Municipal Services Office's OneService Mobile App, residents can give feedback about municipal issues they face in their environment.”
“MND seeks to build an inclusive and endearing home, nurture cohesive communities and develop Singapore into a sustainable and thriving City in a Garden. Homeownership is a key tenet of our social compact. We will ensure that our housing policies continue to help young couples start a family, uplift the lower-income and vulnerable to a better future and facilitate our seniors to age gracefully. We remain committed to help Singaporeans own their homes and keep housing affordable for future generations. We have addressed the demand-supply imbalance in the housing market, which is on track for a soft landing. We have helped first-timer families own their first HDB home and increased the quota for second-time flat buyers where possible. We will help families live closer together so that they can better care for their parents and young children. We will provide a range of choices so that there is a home for every budget and need. We will press on with efforts to ensure that our housing programme remains inclusive. The Fresh Start Housing Scheme will help second-timer public rental families, who are committed to improving their situation, own a home again. We will work closely with social agencies to support these families in a holistic manner; including helping them to find employment and keeping their children in school to ensure that they can sustain progress and homeownership. For others who have fallen on hard times and need shelter while they get back on their feet, we will build more public rental flats and integrate them within larger HDB estates. We will also look into ways to support other vulnerable groups, including divorcees and low-income singles. We will help our seniors to age gracefully and with peace of mind in their retirement years.”
“Madam, I agree with the Member on the first point about bodybuilding. Even though it may not be under the purview of SNOC, certainly, we will do Page: 31 what we can, through ADS, to make sure that the anti-doping protocols and mechanisms are in place for the sport of bodybuilding. On recreational users or recreational athletes, people who go to the gym and perhaps those who may be tempted to use performance-enhancing drugs, that, as the Member has highlighted, does not fall under the purview of ADS right now because they focus on athletes that compete at the national or international level. I think we will have to look at how we can raise public awareness, particularly amongst this group. I am not sure that we want to start policing or administering anti-doping tests at all the private gyms all over Singapore. That may be a bit of an intrusive measure because, in the end, there needs to be personal responsibility in terms of people's actions and the awareness of the consequences of taking some of these types of performance-enhancing drugs. So, certainly, public awareness efforts, public education can be stepped up and Sport Singapore, together with ADS, will look at how it can do more of these public awareness efforts.”
“Mdm Speaker, to fulfil our obligations under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) International Convention Against Doping in Sport, we established Anti-Doping Singapore (ADS) in 2010 as the national anti-doping organisation to oversee sports anti-doping policies and operations. ADS works closely with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to ensure cooperation on information sharing and anti-doping related matters. The Singapore Sports Council Act already empowers ADS to conduct the anti-doping activities required to meet our international obligations. My Ministry, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), will ensure that our anti-doping practices continue to be in line with the latest version of the World Anti-Doping Code and the latest is a 2015 version. Whilst there are some new testing requirements under the 2015 Code which we are working to put in place, these can be introduced under current laws and there is no need to introduce further legislation.”
“Madam, that certainly is something we intend to do. In fact, the NParks has already stepped up its heritage tours and public outreach efforts. Visitorship to the Gardens has increased by 35% after the announcement that the Gardens was inscribed as a World Heritage Site. So, in the last few weeks, we had seen a sharp increase in visitorship. Many Singaporeans are curious about the Gardens and its history and heritage. So, the heritage tours have been very popular and NParks will be making available more of such tours and also doing even more to reach out to Singaporeans about the historical significance and rich heritage of the Gardens. Page: 38”
“We have formed a World Heritage Site Management Committee that includes residents, experts and volunteers. Any future developments within the boundaries of the site which are not flagged up in our Nomination Dossier to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be discussed by this Site Management Committee. NParks also has a comprehensive volunteer scheme covering a wide range of areas, including gardening, conducting guided tours and assisting in the curation and documentation of different herbarium specimens. Beyond this, we all have a part to play in ensuring that the legacy of the Gardens is passed on to future generations. We can visit often with our families and friends, so that it can forever be cherished both as a place of historical significance and fond personal memories. We have a collective responsibility to keep the Gardens clean and well-preserved.”
“Madam, we are fully committed to protecting the Singapore Botanic Gardens as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. And all Singaporeans have a part to play in this. On the Government's part, we have robust measures in place to protect the Gardens and to ensure that it remains a peaceful green oasis in the city. For example, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)'s comprehensive, integrated and transparent land use planning framework ensures that new developments in the vicinity of the Gardens are compatible with it. For example, the Gardens has a Height Control Area defined by the area contained within a one-kilometre radius centred from the Bandstand in the Gardens. Within this buffer, no new development would be allowed to be visible from the Bandstand. We have also put in place measures to protect the more vulnerable heritage trees. Future developments will be designed and sited carefully to spread the visitors more evenly across the Gardens. Page: 37 We will continue to engage UNESCO closely in our efforts to protect the Gardens. We will adopt a transparent and proactive approach and seek advice from their experts to ensure the site is well-protected. For example, last year, UNESCO's expert advisory body, the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), visited Singapore to inspect the Gardens. One of their recommendations was to have more frequent inspections for historical buildings within the premises of the Gardens. The National Parks Board (NParks) took in their feedback and has increased the frequency of these inspections by professional engineers from every five years to every two years. Ultimately, the Gardens belongs to all Singaporeans. It is our shared responsibility to upkeep it.”
“The Community Disputes Resolution Bill was passed in Parliament on 13 March 2015. It was mentioned that the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals would be ready in the second half of the year. This is developing according to plan. The implementation details and the subsidiary legislation, such as the Rules of Court, are currently being worked out by the relevant agencies. We expect the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals to be ready by end October 2015. Page: 95”
“Madam, I thank the Member for the question. As I have mentioned just now, the direct impact is limited. If you look at the direct impact of the Greek crisis on the banking system in Europe – so, if we look at the first round impact within Europe itself – even that alone is also not that significant because European banks' exposures to Greece have come down significantly since the height of the crisis. The exposure was about 1.3% of the aggregate balance sheets in September 2009 and it has since come down to 0.3% as at end of 2014. In addition, the European Central Bank and the European Union are likely to take steps necessary to safeguard the Eurozone financial system. So, if you look at the potential for the spread of the impact or the impact beyond Greece to Europe, I think there will be some impact, certainly, and the direct impact is on Europe, but that impact can be contained, given that the exposures have come down and steps are Page: 29 going to be taken. But as I had mentioned just now, the broader contagion or the broader concern would be the unravelling of the situation because we cannot rule out the possibility of Greece exiting the Eurozone, whether now or later, and that, indeed, can have knock-on effects on investor confidence, not just in Europe, but also in the rest of the world. So, that is something that we are monitoring carefully. There is no reason for alarm now but we are aware and concerned about the risk and we are monitoring the situation carefully.”
“There is much reflection within Europe on the incomplete design of the Euro project and what further reforms are necessary in the Eurozone. However, there are also more fundamental lessons coming out of the problems in Greece, problems that some other countries share from time to time. To be brief, I will just highlight two lessons. First, living within our means and ensuring that budget policies are sustainable. This means avoiding populist spending promises or benefits that can only be financed by accumulating debts indefinitely. Second, avoiding a prolonged loss of competitiveness. Greece saw growth in wages and benefits that was much higher than productivity increases and a severe loss of its economic competitiveness, including against its Eurozone partners like Germany. This has weakened its growth prospects and compounded its build-up of debt.”
“Where the arrears persist, the IMF could initiate procedures to withdraw that country's membership in the Fund and realise the loss. So far, no country has had to face what is, in effect, expulsion from the IMF due to persistent arrears and no losses have been realised on IMF loans. Greece's debts owing to the IMF are significant. However, the IMF has sizeable reserves that it can use to protect its members and lenders, should any loss arising from its loans to Greece eventually be realised. When member countries contribute resources to the IMF, our financial exposure is to the IMF and not the countries that the IMF lends to. The IMF, with the advantage it has from its preferred creditor status, has, in turn, always repaid its own creditors. Neither has the IMF ever had to use members' capital funds in the IMF to cover losses. On 1 July this year, the IMF reaffirmed that member countries' claims on the IMF are fully secured and that it will continue to meet its obligations to its members and lenders. Page: 28 Singapore has, therefore, not suffered any financial impact arising from Greece missing its repayment to the IMF. To reiterate, this is because, when Singapore, as a member of IMF, contributes to its resources, our financial exposure is to the IMF and not the countries that the IMF lends to. I should also mention that Singapore's loan commitment under the IMF's 2012 Borrowing Arrangements have not been activated, as the IMF has sufficient financial resources for its current lending programmes. Ms Ng also asked about lessons to be drawn from this crisis and there are, indeed lessons, every country can draw from the Greek crisis.”
“Mdm Speaker, I am taking this question on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister Page: 27 and the Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The direct impact of the crisis in Greece should not be significant. While it adds uncertainty in the European economic recovery, the European Central Bank and the European Union will likely take the steps necessary to safeguard the Eurozone financial system. The direct impact of Greece on Singapore is also small. Greece accounts for just under 0.2% of our total trade and 0.1% of banking system assets. So, Singapore's financial systems continue to function in an orderly fashion. Nevertheless, the situation could unravel. If Greece exits the Eurozone, now or later, it could trigger a broader loss of investor confidence in European integration. There could also be knock-on effects on the rest of the world. Overall, while there is no reason for alarm, we are closely monitoring developments in Greece and the Eurozone. Ms Irene Ng also asked about Greece and the IMF. When Greece missed a US$1.7 billion repayment to the IMF on 30 June this year, the Fund declared Greece to be in arrears. When a member country misses a payment to the IMF, the IMF continues to work with that member to help it clear its arrears. This has been the case in previous instances of arrears. It is also pertinent that the IMF has preferred creditor status, which means that loans granted by the IMF to a member must be repaid ahead of all other creditors. The IMF has the scope to take a series of progressively stronger measures against a member in arrears. As an immediate step, the IMF will not permit the member further access to IMF resources.”
“Madam, on the first question on the duration of the programme, there are two different parts. One, ActiveSG itself will continue forever. It is not a programme. ActiveSG is really meant as a national movement in the way we want to excite, mobilise and provide opportunities for people to participate in sports. So, it is core to what we are doing in the Ministry and in Sports Singapore. I believe the Member is talking about the credits, whether there is a time expiration to the credit and the answer is no. We will let people take their time to use their credits. As to the usage of the credits, whether it can be broadened to a wider range of activities, my sense is that I would not want to use the credits just to watch sports events because that was not the purpose of the credits. The purpose of the credits was to encourage people to take part in sports and that is why we have allowed the credits to be used specifically for Page: 21 SportSG facilities in our sports centres as well as programmes within the centres. We can consider whether or not this can be expanded to a broader range of activities, but our main intention is to get people to want to participate in sports.”
“Overall, we want to ride on the momentum of a successful SEA Games and, as I had mentioned earlier just now in my reply, ActiveSG will aim to increase its outreach and offerings, so that more Singaporeans can live better through sports.”
“Madam, we launched ActiveSG as the national movement for sports in April last year. Since then, 815,000 persons have signed up, of which close to 90% are Singapore citizens, the rest being Permanent Residents. About three in five ActiveSG members have utilised their free ActiveSG credits to book a sports facility or to sign up for a sports programme. The encouraging response has far exceeded our expectations for the first year. To encourage more Singaporeans to sign up for ActiveSG and to use their ActiveSG credits, we will expand the range of ActiveSG programmes to offer more quality opportunities for sports participation. ActiveSG will work with schools to provide additional opportunities for students to participate in sports, whether it is to pick up a new sport, go further in a sport they are already participating in, or to take part in a sports competition or league. One example is the Basketball Developmental League for school teams that did not qualify for the National Round of the B Division Inter-School Basketball Championships. So, these are students interested in playing basketball but they did not qualify for the B Division Inter-School Championships. Each team was allowed to field more players than usual, so that those who did not make it to the school team can get a chance to compete. ActiveSG also recently ran a camp for youth sports leaders, so that they can give back to the community by developing sports programmes for others. Page: 20 We are also working with companies. So, building on the successful partnership with Comfort Delgro to encourage taxi drivers to participate in sports, ActiveSG will now engage other corporate partners to design sports programmes for their employees.”
“So, we will continue to nurture and grow the Singapore Spirit in all of us, so that we can continue to stay united as a people and strong as a nation. In the coming months, as we celebrate our Golden Jubilee, there will be more opportunities for sports to rally the nation. The ASEAN Para Games in December is one such opportunity and I look forward to seeing Singaporeans come together again, this time in support of our Team Singapore para-athletes, in the same way that they turned up to cheer for Team Singapore at the SEA Games.”
“And there are currently over 60 million views of the broadcasts of the various events on the SEA Games YouTube channel. Through the packed venues at every sporting event, we could clearly see that there can be great demand from Singaporeans to catch sporting action "live" in our stadiums and arenas. So, we will build on this interest by making our sports calendar more vibrant – providing Singaporeans a wider choice and an array of sporting events to attend, be it the upcoming FINA World Junior Championships in August, the Women's Tennis Association Finals in October, or the Netball Nations Cup in December. Our goal is to promote a culture of attending sporting events with friends and family and, in the process, inspire Singaporeans to engage in sports themselves, whether at the recreational, competitive or even the high performance levels. We will also continue to grow the ActiveSG movement. It currently has 815,000 members and we will provide more opportunities for Singaporeans to adopt an active lifestyle. The most heartening aspect of the Games for me was the strong demonstration of the Singapore Spirit throughout the Games. Our many volunteers worked hard, day and night, to put together a great experience for Singaporeans and visitors from the region. So, we will strengthen sports volunteerism as one of the legacies of the SEA Games. There were many instances where the Singapore Spirit shone bright – with spectators singing the National Anthem with gusto; great sportsmanship exhibited by our athletes; and people who stayed back to help clean the venues after events. Page: 19 These instances clearly demonstrated the Singapore Spirit – of unity, resilience and pride in our nation.”
“Madam, the recently-concluded SEA Games was a sporting milestone for Singapore. Indeed, we must build on its success, which was a great example of how, by working together as one Team Singapore, we can excel and do our nation proud. Our Team Singapore athletes put up their best ever performance at the SEA Games. This shows that our High Performance Sports system is on the right track. We will do an after-action review and apply the lessons learnt to further strengthen the system, so that more of our athletes can go on to excel in future SEA Games and on a bigger stage – the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, as well as the Olympics. First, we will continue to find ways to improve the training and development of our athletes, for example, by strengthening our partnerships with the National Sports Associations (NSAs) to improve their quality of coaching, to work out individual athlete Page: 18 development plans and high performance programmes. We will also strengthen the support offered by the Singapore Sports Institute to national athletes, for example, by enhancing the sports science and sports analytics support to them. Second, we will improve youth athlete development, so that more promising student-athletes will have the opportunity to excel in their sports and don national colours, while continuing their education. The review of the Singapore Sports School, which is now underway, will provide for this. Third, we will build on the support of employers, so that national athletes who have to juggle sports and work can get the support they need to train and compete for Singapore. There was strong community interest in the SEA Games. More than half a million people attended the various sporting events and activities.”
“In assessing whether an artistic work contravenes funding guidelines because it undermines the authority or legitimacy of the government and public institutions, or threatens the nation’s security or stability, the National Arts Council (NAC) will consult relevant agencies, such as the Media Development Authority (MDA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). For instance, NAC would typically consult MDA on their views and classification rating of an art work. NAC would also communicate closely with the grant applicant to fully understand the context of their project. As the overall arts funding body, NAC will then make the final decision, taking into account the inputs received.”
“As a public agency disbursing public funds, NAC is guided by Government policies that safeguard national interests. Its funding guidelines are made public on the NAC’s website and are made clear in the grant funding agreement signed between NAC and grant recipients. NAC reserves the right to withdraw the grant if the project does not fulfil the funding agreement or contravenes the funding guidelines. Withdrawing grants rarely happens as most parties abide by the agreements they have made. However, if there is a breach of the funding agreement, as a public institution, NAC has the responsibility to recover any public monies that have been disbursed. Beyond grants for specific projects, NAC’s support includes arts housing, professional development, market and audience development as well as philanthropy for the arts. Hence, while NAC may have withdrawn a grant for a specific project, the artist or arts group may still receive NAC’s support in other areas. This can cushion the impact of the grant withdrawal on the artist or arts group. To ensure impartiality, NAC’s grant assessments are made in consultation with views from external assessors such as industry advisors, experts and practitioners, and based on published grant evaluation criteria such as artistic merit, extent of public engagement as well as the capacity and commitment of the applicant to execute the project successfully.”
“Sports Hub Pte Ltd (SHPL) has Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on crowd management, safety and security, which they require all event organisers to comply with. In addition, for every event, SHPL also works with the event organiser to tailor a specific plan that covers details, such as the number of ushers and security personnel needed, and where and how to deploy them. For large events, SHPL consults and works jointly with the Singapore Police Force, Traffic Police, Land Transport Authority and Sport Singapore to review and coordinate the event plans as well as the crowd management, safety and security measures. This enables Sport Singapore to maintain oversight of risk mitigation measures. As the Sports Hub is a relatively new venue, SHPL continues to refine its SOPs based on lessons learnt with inputs from the authorities after every event. Where relevant, Sport Singapore participates in the after action reviews and discusses operational improvements with SHPL at their regular meetings. We have collectively learnt useful lessons from the crowd control problems encountered during the SEA Games Closing Ceremony, such as the need to better advise guests about arrival timings; to cater extra time to pass through heightened security checks; and to better manage crowd build up and the ushering of people to their seats. Sport Singapore is working closely with SHPL to strengthen its SOPs and share the lessons learned with organisers of future events at the Sports Hub.”
“These programmes provide guidance, tools and checklists to help customers and consumers assess their financial needs, including insurance and investment needs. Page: 99 In addition, we will be launching an education campaign soon, to remind Singaporeans about the importance of saving and investing for the future, and to introduce low-cost options like Exchange Traded Funds and the upcoming Singapore Savings Bonds. So, campaigns like these also have a role to play in encouraging consumers to learn more about their financial choices and plan ahead for their financial well-being. Sir, I believe I have addressed the points and queries raised by the Members and I thank all of them for their support of the Bill. [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Lawrence Wong.] (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)] Page: 100”
“Mr Hri Kumar also asked about the annual caseload handled by the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (FIDReC) and whether there are any plans to expand FIDReC's jurisdiction. Since the launch of FIDReC's operations 10 years ago, it has handled an average of 855 complaints each year. FIDReC's jurisdictional claims limits were set to cover the majority of retail transactions. FIDReC can already take on cases that exceed its jurisdictional limits if the financial institution agrees to allow FIDReC to hear the claim. Nevertheless, I would like to assure the Member that MAS and FIDReC will keep the jurisdictional limits under review to ensure that FIDReC continues to provide an affordable alternative dispute resolution scheme that covers the majority of retail transactions. Mr Deputy Speaker, the amendments to the FA Act will raise the standards and professionalism of the financial advisory industry to better serve the changing needs of customers. But, ultimately, customers must take responsibility for their financial decisions. I fully agree with the Member that the best protection is a well-informed customer. MAS has been and will continue to work with the industry and other Government agencies to enhance financial literacy among Singaporeans. The centrepiece of our efforts is MoneySENSE, which is the national financial education programme. Through MoneySENSE, we provide financial education through diverse channels, customised to the needs of different segments of society, in order to raise the overall financial capabilities of all Singaporeans. For example, to reach out to Singaporeans in the heartlands, MoneySENSE has been organising road shows at public libraries and community centres using games, talks and info-displays to disseminate financial messages.”
“Second, for the more unsophisticated or vulnerable customers, supervisors of FA representatives are required to call such customers after each transaction to ensure they have not been unduly influenced by their FA representatives to purchase unsuitable products. Third, such abuses may be detected through mystery shopping exercises which are conducted regularly and the Financial Advisers are expected to do so. These safeguards are all subject to MAS' supervisory oversight and MAS will work closely with the FA industry and consumer bodies to assess if further safeguards are necessary. The Member also asked about the scope of section 23B of the FA Act. I would like to clarify that MAS has no intention of imposing a "blanket ban" on FA representatives holding another job. FA representatives may hold another job, provided the job does not conflict with their financial advisory roles, result in the neglect of their financial advisory duties or Page: 98 bring disrepute to the industry. In consultation with the industry and consumer bodies, MAS has identified four specific jobs that FA representatives are not allowed to engage in. These are: selling real estate, moneylending, promoting junkets for casinos and marketing products that are not regulated under the FA Act. These jobs are clearly in conflict with financial advisory activities. For example, MAS has received complaints against FA representatives who use their regulatory status to market questionable schemes in products which do not accord safeguards to customers under the FA Act. So, MAS will monitor the situation and expand the list of prohibited jobs where appropriate.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Members for their points and I thank Mr Thomas Chua for his support of the Bill. He spoke on several useful points on SMEs, not entirely directly relevant to the Bill, but I think these are useful points and feedback on SMEs which our economic agencies will certainly find useful. He also suggested that other agencies can learn from MAS and I am sure MAS will be happy to share its experience. I also agree with him that compensation models do shape behaviour and that is the key reason why MAS is introducing its new remuneration framework that incorporates non-sales KPIs so that the focus of financial advisory representatives will not be solely on sales. I would also like to thank Mr Hri Kumar for supporting the Bill and I will address the questions he has raised. First, on the point about consumers having the option to request only product advice or "execution-only" services from the FA representatives. This flexibility is, indeed, available today. It caters to customers who are more sophisticated or who want to opt out of receiving financial advice. Nevertheless, MAS will take regulatory actions against any FA representatives found to have abused this flexibility to influence unsophisticated customers to purchase unsuitable products. There are also a few safeguards to deter and detect such behaviours by FA representatives. First of all, under the new remuneration framework, the checks to be conducted on FA representatives will include an assessment of whether they have undertaken the necessary due diligence to understand their customers' investment objectives, financial condition and personal needs. FA representatives who fail to conduct such due diligence, could suffer cuts in their remuneration.”
“(proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)] Page: 60”
“There is a Steering Committee on AML/CFT. All the various agencies – the Ministry of Home Affairs, MAS and Ministry of Finance – are involved. On the enforcement side for money laundering and terrorism financing, we have agencies like the Police, Commercial Affairs Department and Central Narcotics Bureau working on this. On the legal side, the Ministry of Law and Attorney-General's Chambers are involved and, on the financial side, MAS is the integrated financial supervisor overseeing AML/CFT issues for the entire sector, including the banking, securities and insurance industries. MAS works very closely with other non-financial sector supervisors, including the Casino Regulatory Authority and ACRA. This is our whole-of-Government, multi-agency effort. We are not doing this in a piecemeal fashion. We are doing it holistically but, for now, we are presenting the MAS Bill, focusing on the amendments relevant to MAS' role. Madam, I believe I have addressed the questions raised by Members. Once again, I thank the Members who have spoken for their support of the Bill and for their clarifications and I would encourage Members of the House to give their support to the Bill. Madam, the amendments will reiterate Singapore's commitment to the global fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. Singapore's financial sector is built on integrity, trust and professionalism. Our continued growth is only possible if we have a clean regime that safeguards legitimate funds and weeds out tainted money. Page: 59 [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Lawrence Wong].”
“I had earlier highlighted the key safeguards for ensuring that only bona fide requests are acceded to and that the information shared is kept confidential. To facilitate MAS' assessment, the Bill requires that the foreign supervisor be specific on the purpose of the request, the nature of the assistance and the relevance of the information requested, to the foreign supervisor's oversight of the institution it is in charge of. This will address some of the broad requests with tenuous grounds that are typical of the "fishing expeditions" that Mr Arthur Fong mentioned. Page: 58 To mitigate the risk of misuse or leakage of the information, the foreign supervisor is required to undertake to safeguard the confidentiality of the information and to use the information only for the specified purpose. MAS will be able to reject any future requests for information by the foreign supervisor if MAS finds that it has breached any of the undertakings. The Act further requires that the information requested be proportionate to and is of sufficient importance to the supervisory issues that are raised, and that the matter to which the request relates to should be of sufficient gravity. Based on these criteria, detailed assessments will then be made, taking into account the specific facts of each case. This proportionate approach taken by MAS is provided for in international standards, including those set by FATF. Mrs Lina Chiam mentioned that this MAS Bill has to be taken holistically, together with the ACRA Bill and other enforcement and legal aspects, and I agree that combating money laundering and terrorism financing is really a multi-agency effort, I would like to assure her that we do have an overall multi-agency effort in place to look at this holistically.”
“Where deficiencies are identified in a financial institution, MAS will require it to take prompt remedial actions and update MAS on the completion of these remedial actions. MAS may also require the financial institution to appoint an independent third party to certify that the measures have addressed the deficiencies. I would like to assure Members that MAS takes a serious view of any breach of the Notice and will take appropriate regulatory actions. Depending on the severity of the breaches, these range from formal warnings, reprimands, restrictions on operations, financial penalties to the revocation of licences. Mr Arthur Fong likened financial regulators, like MAS, to builders of a shark net to protect swimmers in a lagoon from the sharks. I would say it is a very vivid analogy. While MAS may be responsible for setting the AML/CFT rules, the integrity of our financial sector is a collective responsibility. Industry stakeholders play a critical role in making sure that these rules translate into an effective regime. We must all work together to make an effective net. Both Mr Arthur Fong and Dr Benedict Tan asked for more details about how the safeguards for international cooperation will work in practice. Madam, the sharing of information with foreign supervisors is intended to support the effective AML/CFT supervision of international financial groups. While customer information may be relevant in certain cases, information requests will, generally, relate more to the financial institution itself, such as its policies and procedures, management or control structure information, control lapses that may be identified through inspection and supervisory actions taken against the institution.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Members who have spoken and for their support of the Bill. I think all the Members who spoke – all three – highlighted the importance and relevance of ensuring that our AML and CFT laws remain relevant and effective in the face of recent developments. The Members have also raised several issues and I will address them in turn. First, Dr Benedict Tan asked how MAS can ensure a level playing field for banks with regard to the implementation of customer due diligence requirements. Madam, as I mentioned earlier, detailed customer due diligence requirements are set out in the AML/CFT Notices issued by MAS to financial institutions. The Notices specify what customer due diligence entails and the specific requirements. Mrs Lina Chiam alluded to the fact that these requirements may put banks in a conflicting position between developing and growing their business and being subject to these regulatory requirements. But, Madam, I would say that all the banks and financial institutions around the world understand that there is a need, in today's environment, to perform such functions to be able to identify and verify the customer's identity, screen customers against sanctions lists and other published databases. This is not an imposition or Page: 57 additional requirement. This is basic to what a bank should do and it is essential, in fact, in preserving trust and integrity in order to develop the banking sector. In fact, these requirements are benchmarked against international standards set by FATF, as well as industry best practices. MAS supervises the financial institutions for compliance with these Notices.”
“For example, assistance will only be rendered in relation to bona fide requests and the foreign AML/CFT supervisor has to undertake to use the information only for the purpose that is specified in the request and to protect the confidentiality of any information obtained. On the domestic front, the amendments will enhance MAS' ability to share information with relevant Singapore authorities for the purposes of taking AML/CFT supervisory, investigation or enforcement actions in a timely manner. Mdm Speaker, in conclusion, all governments have to play their part in the fight against the ever-present threat of money laundering and terrorism financing, and even more so for international financial centres like Singapore. In its recent assessment of Singapore's compliance with the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recognised that MAS has in place a strict AML/CFT regime. Even so, in light of the constantly evolving threat, it is important that we continually review and enhance our regime to align it with international standards and best practices. The introduction of the MAS (Amendment) Bill represents Singapore's resolve to maintain the high standards of integrity and trust in our financial system. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 3.08 pm”
“MAS may currently approve an inspection of a foreign financial institution in Singapore by its "home prudential supervisor" to facilitate effective consolidated group supervision. However, in certain jurisdictions, like in Australia, the responsibility for AML/CFT supervision resides in an authority that does not have prudential supervision responsibilities, meaning to say, that they have two separate regulators – one in charge of AML/CFT and another to oversee financial prudential standards. The amendments in the Bill seek to empower MAS to approve inspections in Singapore by the home AML/CFT supervisor, whether or not it is also the financial institution's prudential supervisor. And MAS' written approval must be obtained for this purpose. Third, I will elaborate on the powers to share information, subject to strong safeguards that we have put in place in this Bill. To enhance cooperation between MAS and its foreign AML/CFT counterparts, the Bill will introduce powers to allow MAS to share information to facilitate the AML/CFT Page: 51 supervision of financial institutions originating from its counterpart jurisdiction. MAS will also be able to make AML/CFT supervisory enquiries on the counterpart's behalf. Any information shared with MAS' counterpart may be used by them only for AML/CFT supervisory purposes. Nevertheless, MAS may give its consent, upon the request of an AML/CFT supervisor, to allow information that has been shared for AML/CFT supervisory purposes to be shared with a third party, in appropriate circumstances. And such onward-sharing of information will be subject to strict confidentiality safeguards set by MAS. Legislative safeguards have been included to prevent "fishing expeditions" and other forms of abuse.”
“Consequently, countries like the United States (US), Australia and New Zealand have done so. Page: 50 The financial institutions in Singapore are already required to carry out due diligence measures to know their customers well and to monitor their transactions for suspicious activity. Financial institutions are also required to maintain proper records to facilitate AML/CFT supervision and investigation into any possible criminal activity. The amendments in this Bill will now embed in the MAS Act a general requirement to conduct customer due diligence and to maintain records. The detailed requirements for customer due diligence and record keeping are currently applied through Notices issued by MAS, and this will continue to be the case. Next, let me set out the powers to conduct AML/CFT inspections and the authorisation for such inspections as laid out in this Bill. The power to conduct inspections is essential to checking that financial institutions comply with the AML/CFT rules. Currently, MAS' power to carry out inspections is found in sector-specific legislation like the Banking Act, Insurance Act and Securities and Futures Act. For greater efficiency and consistency, these powers will now be centralised in the MAS Act. Specifically, the new provisions will vest MAS with the power to inspect financial institutions for compliance with directions or regulations relating to Singapore's international obligations, like the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions on sanctions and the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing. It will also enable MAS to appoint a third party, like an auditor, to inspect a financial institution on MAS' behalf.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time". Singapore's financial centre has contributed significantly to our economic growth and development. However, the size and international reach of our financial sector also expose Singapore to money laundering and terrorism financing risks. To mitigate these risks, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has in place a robust preventive regime that combines stringent admission and licensing requirements, rigorous supervision, and strong enforcement measures. MAS reviews this regime regularly to keep pace with the constantly evolving threats, as well as with developments in international standards and best practices. The proposed amendments will strengthen MAS' supervisory powers in relation to anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT). And I will use the acronyms AML and CFT to describe these efforts. They will also enhance MAS' ability to cooperate with its foreign supervisory counterparts. These changes will align our regime with the international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. MAS had sought public consultation on these changes. The feedback received has been carefully considered and incorporated into this Bill. Mdm Speaker, I will now go through the main amendments of the Bill. First, on the AML/CFT requirements. Customer due diligence and record-keeping requirements are fundamental to an effective AML/CFT regime. In its revised standards, FATF has recommended that these requirements be set out in primary legislation to demonstrate a country's commitment to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.”
“There are also foreign exchange risks which can move easily against the investors' favour. There are risks of changes to tax and regulatory frameworks governing property ownership. For example, there may be rules that restrict the non-residents' ability to sell a property in Page: 25 that country easily. And these are risks that can happen in any investment in overseas properties. These are risks that we must continually emphasise. The CEA and MAS, as I mentioned earlier, will step up their efforts to help investors understand these risks better and to do their due diligence.”
“Madam, we should look at this separately because we have a set of cooling measures which is put in place taking into account global conditions and our domestic property market. And we know why there is a need for that. It is really because, globally, interest rates are low, returns are low, there is a lot of liquidity in the market and investors everywhere, including in Singapore, are looking for things to invest in. If we are not careful, then you can easily have a bubble being built up, which is why we had to put in place cooling measures in our property market. In that context, whatever we do on the cooling measures has to take into consideration the broader global developments as well as our domestic property market trends and ensure that we continue to have a stable and sustainable property market within Singapore. On the advertising standards which the hon Member talked about, that is something which we can and should look into. In fact, I understand that the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore is already looking into reviewing their guidelines for advertising on investment in properties and the guidelines would apply to investments in property both locally as well as overseas. They are reviewing the guidelines and I think they will put in place a set of more stringent guidelines in future. What is important at the end of the day is that individuals must have the responsibility when they make these decisions, and we have to continue to raise the awareness of potential investors and educate them to make sure that they do sufficient due diligence before they make any property purchases, overseas in particular. There are many risks. I have mentioned oversupply risks as one of the considerations.”
“So, we can put up community screening sites for people to watch. We are also making it available on social media platforms, so you can download an app which will be announced very shortly and you can even watch the events live on your mobile platforms, whether it is a handphone or a mobile device. These will allow also for viewing of all the different sports.”
“Madam, on the pitch of the Sports Hub at the National Stadium, as I have explained before, the SHPR, the Sports Hub consortium, has already put in place a lay-and-play solution, meaning to say, they are growing the grass somewhere else and they will be laying it on later when the pitch is needed. So, if you were to go to the National Stadium now, the entire pitch has been covered for the rehearsals and the Opening Ceremony. Naturally, when you open the covering, all the grass there would have died. It is only natural, because it is covered for days or weeks. But because we have a lay-and-play solution, the grass is being grown elsewhere. And I have seen the grass grown elsewhere. It is fine, it is luscious. The grass is good. So, the next step is when the grass is needed, it will be transferred over as part of this lay-and-play solution. The company that has been contracted will be in charge of doing that. The hon Member also asked about marquee fringe events. Indeed, that is what we are planning to do, because many people come for these events not just for the games and the sports but also as part of a lifestyle experience. So, we will be having carnivals at the Sports Hub and also at Marina Bay. At Marina Bay, we are hosting all our sailing and dragon boating events. There will be a big carnival there. And in the Sports Hub where many events are going to be held, we are also going to have a sports carnival around the Sports Hub. So, hopefully, that will draw more people to come for these carnivals and then to support and watch our Team Singapore athletes in action. On the over-subscribed events, whether or not we can find ways to broaden their viewing, I would say that we are doing it through various means. One, the events will be telecast live on TV.”
“Mdm Speaker, the ticket sales are progressing well. It is somewhat uneven. There are some events which are very popular; I think if you are planning to buy a ticket for the Opening Ceremony, I am sorry to say that tickets have probably been sold out. And if you are going for very popular games like the water polo finals, that event is also sold out; swimming events, very popular. Certain events have been very popular. Some are still progressing slowly, steadily, partly because the fixtures have just been announced. For example, football fixtures were just announced; and some other sports, the fixtures had just been announced. So, it may take a bit more time. But I would say that, based on past experience, compared to other games and sporting events, the ticket sales so far have been better than expected, compared to previous events. We will continue to encourage all Singaporeans to, like I said earlier, take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support Team Singapore on home ground in a new competition venue like the Sports Hub. It is true that we will host the SEA Games again 20-something years later because all the Southeast Asian countries will take turns every two years. But we will never have another SEA Games hosted in our Golden Jubilee Year like this. So, this is a historic opportunity and I would encourage all Singaporeans to come and support Team Singapore.”
“Page: 20 At the end of the day, it is the support and encouragement of all Singaporeans that will determine whether we have an extraordinary Games, one that is worthy of our Golden Jubilee.”
“Mdm Speaker, we started planning for the Games three years ago. Preparations for the event are currently in full swing and progressing well. Over the past few weeks, we have carried out several events at the various competition venues to test-run our systems and processes. Based on the experience of past Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the focus during the Games tends to be on the athletes and the competitions. For this reason, we do not think it will be so useful to have a dedicated exhibition on Singapore's relation with our ASEAN neighbours. Instead, we will find different ways to highlight this throughout the Games. For example, it can be done in the Opening Ceremony or through social media platforms where we can promote ASEAN and our relations in ASEAN. The SEA Games in Singapore will feature 36 sports and around 400 events, as well as about 10,000 athletes and officials. We are also planning to field Team Singapore's largest-ever contingent, with 748 athletes representing Singapore in the Games. Our athletes are training intensively. I have spoken to many of them. They have told me that they are determined to do their best and to do Singapore proud. In their preparatory and qualifying competitions in the run-up to the Games, many athletes have posted outstanding performances, achieved new personal bests and broken long-standing national records. What remains is for Singaporeans to come forward to attend the Games with family and friends to cheer for our Team Singapore athletes. While being gracious hosts to our Southeast Asian friends, let us also make the home-ground advantage for Team Singapore count by being there to cheer our athletes on.”
“At the entry level, MAS partners financial institutions to (a) provide opportunities for young Singaporean professionals to be groomed through structured developmental programmes; (b) help Singaporeans acquire specialist capabilities in finance, MAS supports financial institutions in providing training opportunities, for example, through the Financial Training Scheme (FTS) and the Finance Scholarship Programme (FSP); and (c) develop leadership capabilities. MAS also has several initiatives, such as the International Posting Programme (iPOST) for overseas exposure, as well as a new Asian Financial Leaders Programme (AFLP) which will be launched later this year. Page: 93 Second, MAS will ensure fair employment practices for Singaporeans. MAS has been working closely with the key financial institutions to ensure that they give Singaporeans fair consideration for all roles in their organisations. MAS has engaged the top management of these financial institutions, including at the global level. They have responded positively and assured us of their commitment to merit-based employment practices. They have processes in place to safeguard against any form of discriminatory hiring. Our aim is, hence, to work with the institutions to develop a continuous pipeline of Singaporean talent, while ensuring a level playing field so that Singaporeans can compete for the jobs offered here. At the same time, Singaporeans in the industry must take ownership of their own careers and development. We will support them in their journey. MAS will provide maximum opportunities for Singaporeans to equip themselves with the relevant skills and to deepen their expertise. This is how we will ensure a vibrant global financial centre in Singapore, with Singaporeans at its core.”
“Many financial institutions have located their global and regional business functions in Singapore. To staff these functions, financial institutions look to build teams with the best mix of talents, so that they can compete globally. This strategy of financial institutions is in Singaporeans’ interests, as it provides them a chance to be in top-quality, globally competitive teams here in Singapore. At the same time, around the world, financial institutions are having to run on leaner structures, both in terms of business lines and geographical footprint. Modest growth prospects, more stringent regulatory requirements and advances in the use of technology, have made financial institutions more cautious in their hiring decisions. These are global trends and no financial centre is spared from the need to adjust and upgrade. Competition for jobs in every global financial centre is, hence, keen and will continue to be so. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will be doing more to help Singaporeans prepare for this new landscape. First, developing skills and deep capabilities. As part of the national SkillsFuture initiative, MAS will work with partners like the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) and with both employers and unions, to provide more learning pathways and training opportunities for Singaporeans in the finance industry. This is a comprehensive effort at every level – from the rank-and-file to senior professionals and specialists.”
“Madam, I can speak from the perspective of the MAS because we engage the banks and the finance sector and I would say that the banks are seeing greater demand for foreign exchange services and solutions from the SMEs. Because our SMEs are growing and there are also more of them going overseas, they are earning international revenue and, therefore, they have more foreign exchange exposure. So, if you talk to the banks, all of them are, indeed, expanding their suite of solutions and services to meet their small business customers, particularly with regard to managing foreign exchange transactions and risks. Page: 37 However, I would also say that when we look at the assessment from the financial sector's point of view, a lot of the gap is really in terms of the knowledge and the in-house skills within the SMEs. It is not so much the lack of services but the issue of a lack of knowledge and in-house skills within the SMEs and that means really going out to reach out to the SMEs, providing more courses or helping them to understand how to even quantify their FX exposure, to begin with, and then helping them to understand what are the different options out there in order for them to hedge their FX risks, whether it is through a bank solution, whether it is through a futures contract or, for that matter, through a natural hedge, because you do it in a low-cost manner through a natural hedge by holding a basket of foreign exchange currencies. There are different solutions and I think that is the biggest gap that I think we need to address. As I have said earlier, there are many agencies – SPRING, ASME as well as the banks and SGX – offering different workshops and courses to SMEs to help them raise their awareness level.”
“Mdm Speaker, to sum up, let me emphasise that the legal recourse provided in this Bill is really intended as a last resort to resolve difficult private disputes with neighbours. It is just one part of a larger community dispute resolution framework which we have put in place. And within this framework, we will continue to do our utmost to promote good neighbourliness and we will continue with efforts to strengthen the "kampong spirit". There are many agencies that are involved in these efforts. MCCY is doing it together with partners like the HDB, the People's Association and the Singapore Kindness Movement. We will work to cultivate good neighbourliness as well as better social norms. If third-party intervention is needed, then let us rely on mediation as a first step to resolve the dispute, and this can be done informally by community leaders and, as I have explained, we are stepping up our capabilities there to have more trained mediators in the community to do this informally. If that is not successful, we elevate it to the CMC for formal mediation. And, again, if that is not successful, then the final recourse is provided in this Bill as a last resort when all other attempts to resolve the dispute have failed. Mdm Speaker, I believe I have addressed the concerns and points raised by Members and I beg to move, and seek the Members' support of the Bill. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Lawrence Wong]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)] Page: 113”
“Several Members like Mr Zainal Sapari, Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Alex Yam, Ms Tin Pei Lin and Dr Lily Neo spoke about this, and we are very mindful that this is an area of concern. The Members asked what actions can apply to those who are suspected to be mentally ill or may have some other medical conditions. We have existing laws and procedures regarding mentally ill persons and these will continue to apply. If the person is a danger to others, the Police can apprehend the person and take him to a doctor who can send the person to a psychiatric institution for treatment. However, if a respondent who is suspected of mental illness breaches the community dispute order and the victim applies for a Special Direction, the Court making the Special Direction can also order, say his family member, to enter into a bond with conditions that the respondent goes for assessment and/or treatment. If the respondent commits the offence of breaching the Special Direction, then the criminal Court convicting the respondent can also call for a psychiatric assessment to determine whether it would be appropriate to make a Mandatory Treatment Order under section 339 of the Criminal Procedure Code. So, these are the recourse, but I would say that besides the legal mechanisms and recourse, there is a lot work that is taking place right now to tighten our frontline partnership between Government agencies, grassroots leaders, community leaders and voluntary welfare organisations to deal with mental health issues. I hope that these efforts will over time contribute to better community-based care for a mentally ill respondent who is not Page: 112 violent and, in so doing, reduce the nuisance imposed on his neighbours.”
“But I would imagine, based on the principles that we have set out, that if the landlord had initiated the step to terminate the lease and the Tribunals conclude that the landlord has done everything possible to ensure the tenant's compliance with the Special Direction, then the bond should be safe. Page: 111 The Member also asked about the recourse an individual has if he has been awarded damages and the contravening party refuses to pay despite being able to. Where an order for damages has been awarded, the successful party can enforce the award in the usual manner, which is by applying to Court for a writ of seizure and sale, if necessary. There were also some questions about the exclusion order, and I would like to emphasise that this is really a measure of last resort. First, the whole Bill and the legal recourse under this Bill are already a last resort. But within that, the exclusion order is really a measure of last resort to protect long-suffering victims from intransigent respondents. It is only available after the Court order has been breached at least twice – breach of Order, firstly, followed by a breach of Special Direction to comply with the Order. It is similar to the Personal Protection Order (PPO) which prevents the perpetrator from going near the victim. So, we envisage that the exclusion order will only be made in the most egregious of cases. The Court will consider whether it is "just and equitable" before it makes the order, and the duration of such an order. It will also consider the impact of the order on the respondent, those who live with him, and any other person who may be affected by the order. Finally, let me talk about issues of managing those who are mentally ill.”