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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“So, the non-relevant portions can be transferred and the Courts will have the powers necessary to prevent any gaming of the system. Mr Ong also asked about the transfer of cases that had begun in the regular Court and then to transfer to the Tribunals. If a case is better heard in the Tribunals rather than the regular Courts, then the Courts could indicate this to the parties concerned so that they can then decide to terminate the proceedings in the regular Court and then to commence afresh in the Tribunals. Next, let me talk about enforcement. Many Members spoke about this and I agree with them that the enforcement mechanisms have to be effective. That is why the Bill provides for calibrated enforcement mechanisms ranging from ordering an apology by the respondent to the award of damages and, at the extreme case, to the issuing of an exclusion order. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked whether it would be useful for the Tribunals to order an apology as it might be just done pro forma. It may not be a sincere apology. Well, this is a matter of judgment. But we do see that community disputes, being relational in nature, can sometimes be resolved by addressing underlying emotional hurts. An apology might be appropriate in such situations to repair neighbourly relations, and an order of apology may well be sufficient in cases involving minor anti-social behaviours without the need for further orders. Mr Hri Kumar asked for an estimate of the bond amount and whether the landlord's bond would be forfeited if the tenant contravened the Special Direction after the landlord had given notice to terminate the lease. Again, it is something that the Tribunals have to decide based on the facts of the case.”
“If they have not, they should do so before coming to the Tribunals. In addition, if the case heard at the Tribunals is subsequently found to be frivolous or vexatious, the Tribunals can award costs to the respondent. The Rules of Court, which will be worked out after the Bill is passed, will specify the circumstances under which costs can be awarded to the respondent, for such cases. These will deter persons from being overly sensitive or perhaps even vindictive and take out frivolous issues to the Tribunals. I agree with Mr Alex Yam that the Tribunals should not "set precedents in too many minute areas" of daily living. And, again, I emphasise one more time – I think it is worth reiterating this – that the intent of this Bill is not to curb behaviours. It is to provide a last resort for truly anti-social behaviours that are a nuisance to those living nearby. So, it is about striking the right balance and how we can provide sufficient remedies for such victims who we feel for and we want to help. And even with a new statutory tort, I must emphasise that Page: 110 the Tribunals will only make an order if it is just and equitable to do so. Mr David Ong raised a concern that a party could game the system by filing a counter-claim in the Tribunals so that the whole proceedings can then be transferred to the regular Courts, where the person can hire a lawyer and enjoy an advantage over the original applicant. I agree we should not allow this to happen. The Bill provides that no proceedings related to the private dispute may be started in another Court after the same claim has started in the Tribunals. If a party makes a counter-claim in the Tribunals, the proceedings not covered under this new statutory tort can be transferred.”
“Such family members will then, under this broad definition, be able to bring an action in their own name, rather than have to rely on the lawful owner to do so on their behalf. Mr David Ong asked if co-tenants could be included in the definition of a "neighbour". These are individuals living in the same place of residence, but they occupy different rooms. For purposes of the Bill, they are not considered "neighbours" because we feel that such disputes are better treated as domestic disputes. Again, it is about getting the balance right. We want to address difficult disputes between neighbours but we do not want to over-reach and intervene into disputes happening within the same residential unit which are more likely to be domestic in nature. Furthermore, if there are co-tenants who have disagreements with one another, they can always approach their landlord for a resolution. And for aggrieved tenants who share a flat under the HDB's Joint Singles Scheme, I believe they should raise the matter with HDB, which will then have its own mechanisms to deal with such cases. I also want to address concerns raised by several Members about the risk of abuse and the prevention of abuse. I want to emphasise that in designing the framework, we are very mindful of the risks of abuse. As Dr Lily Neo put it, there may be "fussy neighbours who just want to find fault with other neighbours". To prevent frivolous claims and abuse of the Tribunals to embarrass or inconvenience neighbours, when the application is made, the Registrar will assess such claims and dismiss them where appropriate. Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, they would already have checked to make sure that the parties have made the effort to go through mediation.”
“There was a question on the definition of a "neighbour". I think Mr Hri Kumar asked about this; several others as well. This is defined in the Bill as an individual who resides either in the same building, or within 100 metres of the other party's home. Why 100 metres? It is included to make clear that the focus of this Bill is on disputes between neighbours. As shared by Members, disputes can involve residents living a few units away, as well as above and below in a block setting. We have looked at past cases and, based on the experience of these cases, we believe that 100 metres will be adequate to cover all those living in nearby units or adjacent blocks whose acts cause unreasonable interference to neighbours. If the nuisance were to originate from further than 100 metres, it would most likely be something more significant than a private dispute between neighbours, and other remedies will have to be sought. There was also a question by Mr Hri Kumar and Mr Faishal Manap on the definition of "lawfully residing". What does it mean to be "lawfully residing" in a place of residence? We have put this in place to rule out all those who are not legally residing in the residential unit, such as squatters. They would not be able to apply to the Court under this Bill. But we have kept the definition deliberately broad and not just limited to those with proprietary interest in the residential unit. This is because there may be family members who do not have direct stakes in the unit, but are legitimate residents there, and that will include also include also family members who may not have the address updated in the NRIC for Page: 109 whatever reasons.”
“Let me go to the specifics about the different scenarios and the cases. Several Members talked about the cases that they have encountered in their own constituencies and they range from food smell, noise, due to parties, littering, surveillance of video recordings, placement of an altar, dripping water from laundry. The list goes on and the scenarios are Page: 108 endless. It is very hard for me to go through each and every case because, really, what we have with these statutory tort, is meant to cover a wide range of possible issues that may give rise to private disputes between neighbours. The examples listed in clause 4 of the Bill are illustrative; they are not exhaustive. Mr Lim talked about video recording because a person sets up a video outside his home to deter loan sharks – is that considered an intrusion or interference into enjoyment of property? Mr Faisal Manap asked about a case of a corner unit. I think these are all specific scenarios which the Courts will have to decide based on the principle of what is deemed to be unreasonable and excessive. This will have to be determined by the Tribunals, based on the facts of each case, using a commonsensical approach and in the light of everyday experience. They will do so bearing in mind the ordinary instances of daily living that can be expected to be tolerated by reasonable persons. They will take into context our unique multiracial and multicultural context in considering what is reasonable and excessive. It is not possible, nor would it be wise, for very precise definitions to be hardwired into the Bill at this stage. We should give the Courts the flexibility to decide. We set out the broad principle and the Courts will decide based on the facts of each case.”
“However, if both disputants agree and it is approved by the Registrar of the Tribunals, lawyers can represent the parties. So, the provision is available for them to have lawyers if both parties agree and the Registrar or the Tribunals agrees. The Tribunals will have simple, streamlined procedures. Hearings will be judge-led. The Judge will have the flexibility to conduct the proceedings as he thinks best. In a regular civil Court, proceedings are adversarial and parties are responsible for highlighting evidence and arguments to the Judge. In the Tribunals, the Judge will play a more active role in the proceedings, by questioning the witnesses directly or asking parties to produce certain evidence. The Tribunals will have the flexibility to hear witnesses and review documents as they deem appropriate. They will not be bound by the rules of evidence. These simplified and streamlined procedures, we believe, will allow the costs of proceedings in the Tribunals to be lower compared to normal civil Courts. Mr Patrick Tay asked if the Bill can be used together with the Protection from Harassment Act, or POHA. The two are different because the Tribunals can only hear disputes relating to the new statutory tort under this Bill whereas POHA is for victims of harassment and unlawful stalking, which is different from the Community Disputes Resolution Bill we have before us, which is to adjudicate intractable private disputes between neighbours. I acknowledge that there may be instances where a person faces both a neighbour dispute and harassment. If so, he may wish to consider pursuing remedies under both sets of legislation separately. Of course, the person can seek legal advice if he wishes to do so and the Court may decide how the case should be adjudicated.”
“However, if it was the Court's requirement for both neighbours to attend mediation, he or she may be more prepared to do so and to work things out. So, mandatory mediation provides both parties an opportunity to hear each other's views. It might help them understand their neighbours' perspective and, hence, be more accommodating. We certainly hope that the majority of cases will be resolved through such mediation, whether voluntarily through the CMC or mandated by the Tribunals, and the relationships between neighbours can be mended and there will be no need for them to appear before the Tribunals. I should also clarify that we do not envisage the CMC or Government agencies referring cases to the Tribunals directly. As I mentioned, since we are dealing with private disputes, there must be individual ownership of the issues, so the person feeling aggrieved must want Page: 107 to resolve the case enough to file a claim in the Tribunals. So, the victim has to apply to the Tribunals personally. But when he or she does so, they must show proof that they had made attempts and efforts at mediation; they must provide evidence of the anti-social conduct to prove his or her case. Details on these procedures will be worked out subsequently after the Bill is passed. We are mindful of Members' comments and suggestions that these will be streamlined and made simple and also accessible to the public. Let me now address specific questions pertaining to the Tribunals. Mr Zainal Sapari asked what is the difference between a regular civil Court and the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals. As I have explained earlier, parties will not be represented by lawyers in the Tribunals so that cost will be kept low, compared to normal civil proceedings.”
“So, they have sufficient capacity and they are prepared for an increase in caseload arising from this, because we do expect and are prepared for more cases being directed to the CMC for mandatory mediation. For a start, the CMC will dedicate a pool of 25 Master Mediators for cases referred by the Tribunals. It will be monitoring the number of cases and it will increase its mediation capacity as required. So, informal mediation will be improved; formal mediation via the CMC will also be improved. Thirdly, this concept of mandatory meditation which the new Bill provides for. Clause 30 of the Bill provides the Tribunals with the power to order mediation. The Bill emphasises mediation and the resolution of disputes in a manner that perceives neighbourly relations. The Tribunals – as mentioned earlier and I continue to emphasise – will ensure that parties make some effort to mediate their case. It will determine whether it is necessary to order the parties to mediate before it even adjudicates on the dispute. So, now it has the power to mandate mediation. I know Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked whether this was something worth doing, because he said that a basic principle of mediation is the willingness of parties to mediate, and he said that if it is mandated, maybe they are not doing it willingly. On the other hand, there are Members like Mr David Ong and Patrick Tay who said, "Please mandate more." I think David Ong said, "Mandate generously." So, again, it is about finding the right balance. On balance, we think that mandatory mediation has its benefits. For example, a person may refuse to voluntarily attend mediation initiated by a neighbour, perhaps because it might be seen as a loss of face; perhaps, it may be seen as an admission of guilt – for a whole host of reasons.”
“We will be giving our community leaders and volunteers more support to be trained as informal mediators. In fact, we have already started this work and some 600 grassroots leaders have already been trained in mediation by the Community Mediation Centre or CMC as well as the National Community Leadership Institute or NACLI. This resource of mediators in the community, on top of the CMC mediators, can now be mobilised to help bring disputing neighbours together and to, hopefully, facilitate win-win outcomes. Mr Zainal Sapari asked if there is protection against abuse for community leaders who step forward to mediate quarrels between neighbours. For such grassroots leaders who are engaging in this work, it is really part and parcel of their community work, so they are already covered under the People's Association's general insurance scheme when they perform such community work. That is at the informal level of mediation which we will strengthen and which we will improve. At the next level, should informal mediation be unsuccessful, then we want to refer the case to the CMC for further intervention. Residents can bring their case directly to the CMC by calling the hotline or registering via the CMC website. Here again, we too are going to strengthen the capacity within the CMC. Indeed, we have already done so because, in anticipation of greater demand for mediation, the CMC has already stepped up training over the past year to increase its pool of community mediators. It now has 162 community mediators on its panel, all of whom are trained to handle disputes between neighbours. Of these, 65 are Master Mediators. They Page: 106 have at least nine to 16 years of experience each in handling community disputes and they have the capacity to mediate up to 5,500 cases annually.”
“Where there are clear regulatory breaches, then it is best to approach the relevant agency. For example, if the issue is over the obstruction of the common corridor and there is a clear breach of the rules, then it is best to approach the Town Council directly. If the dispute is over high impact noises affecting the entire block, then the residents can approach the Police to enhance ground response to such noise disturbance. The Police, as mentioned earlier by Deputy Prime Minister Teo, will be introducing the Community Wardens programme later this year. Page: 105 What this Bill seeks to do is to address the issue of difficult private disputes between neighbours, long-standing intractable disputes between neighbours. In such cases, their first recourse, again, is not to seek resolution through the Tribunal. Their first recourse should be for the individuals concerned to take responsibility of the issues, to speak to each other and to strive to resolve the issue amicably. If the issue cannot be resolved, then the disputants should seek help from a neutral third party – a community leader, a grassroots leader or even a friendly neighbour to help facilitate such resolution. Such intervention or informal mediation can go a long way to prevent a simple conflict from escalating further. So, our first step and first priority really is to strengthen this network of informal mediation. And many Members spoke about this – how we need to strengthen this network of informal mediation. We will, indeed, be doing more to step up training for our community leaders because they require special skills to manage such delicate situations and, sometimes, even cultural differences which can be sensitive.”
“Mrs Lina Chiam mentioned a few times what Minister Shanmugam had said in Parliament, in this House, on the principles in which community disputes can be resolved. I am not the Minister for Law, neither am I a lawyer, but I would like to assure Members that this Bill was indeed worked on, not just by MCCY officers alone, but together with MinLaw and many agencies involved in this very complex issue. We have made it very clear, as Members would have heard me say just now in my first speech, that this recourse, this legal recourse that we have set up in the Bill is indeed a last resort. I specifically made that very clear. I will continue to repeat that in this speech: that it is a last resort. So, that policy intent will guide the way in which the Tribunals operate. Madam, let me now go on to address some of the specific issues which Members have raised regarding the Bill as well as the Tribunals. There is one set of issues which several Members asked about, which is about the operational mechanics of how this new framework will be implemented on the ground. Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef, Dr Lily Neo and Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked questions related to this, for example, collaborations between grassroots leaders, CMC, Government agencies, the role of the Neighbourhood Police Centre or NPC, whether there will be a one-stop centre. I would say that for all these operational issues, it is not going to be so straightforward to have a one-size-fits-all solution. We are certainly going to strengthen the co-ordination between the CMC and the frontline agencies and the grassroots organisations. But, this is inherently a complex matter and there are a myriad of possible issues that may give rise to private disputes between neighbours.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank Members for speaking up and supporting the Community Disputes Resolution Bill. I think virtually all the Members who spoke supported the Bill, although I know that Mrs Lina Chiam expressed some reservations which I will address later. Inherently, I would say at the outset that this is a very difficult and complex issue as many Members also highlighted. We are working very hard to get the balance right. We have no interest in legislating social behaviour, but we also know that the status quo is not feasible, is not desirable today; there is a lacuna. All of us have encountered residents who have been victims of recalcitrant neighbours with anti-social behaviours and some of them have been suffering for years with no recourse. Because they complain, agencies try to resolve the matter. It sometimes stops for awhile but it continues again. They go for mediation, sometimes the person does not show up, sometimes they do, but again, it does not get resolved properly. So, this is what we are trying to address with this Bill, how can we offer some help for such victims? That is why I am rather disappointed at the way Mrs Lina Chiam characterised what we are doing as a u-turn or tried to distort the intent of the Bill. We are not trying to take the easy way out through legislation. The easiest thing for us to do is to do nothing and just be Page: 104 status quo. But would this truly be of help to the victims who are suffering and the residents who are asking for help? I do not think that is the right answer. That is why over the past two years, MCCY has been working very hard, very closely with the different agencies, including MinLaw, on a new framework, including this Bill as well as the Tribunals.”
“When differences arise, neighbours should try to resolve issues between themselves in the first instance and seek help from their grassroots leaders, through informal mediation or the CMC if external help is needed to formally mediate a solution. To enhance ground response, Deputy Prime Minister Teo just announced just now that the Police will also be piloting the Community Wardens to assist the police in managing severe cases of noise nuisance. And finally, the Tribunals will be an avenue of last resort to adjudicate long-standing, difficult disputes between neighbours where other efforts at resolution have failed. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 2.36 pm Page: 73”
“If one party has tried to mediate but the other has persistently refused to participate, then the Page: 72 parties may be ordered to attend mandatory mediation. Mediation is important because solutions which have been reached by mutual agreement will help preserve good neighbourly relations. And even so, we recognise that some people will remain uncooperative. These people should not frustrate attempts at dispute resolution indefinitely, as is sometimes the case now. Where mediation fails, the Tribunals will proceed to hear the case and make the orders as may be necessary and just. Mdm Speaker, I have highlighted the key features of the Tribunals and provided a walk-through of how a case could possibly find closure at the Tribunals. If the Bill is passed, time will be needed to work out the specialised rules for the Tribunals and to set up the infrastructure for the Tribunals to operate under the auspices of the State Courts. And we expect that the Tribunals will be able to start accepting cases in the second half of this year. To sum up, this Bill provides legal recourse for community disputes and emphasises the priority of a conciliatory approach to resolving disputes, such as by providing for the Tribunals to have power to order mediation. Considering that individual ownership and community ownership is a key principle of this Framework, this Bill has also incorporated other elements, such as a compliance bond mechanism, to bring home the point that persons related to the wrongdoer should not cede responsibility to the state when it comes to correcting the behaviour of anti-social persons. To reiterate our approach, we would like, first and foremost, to encourage and promote good neighbourliness.”
“Given that parties will usually represent themselves without involving lawyers, proceedings will be less formal and will be more judge-led. Proceedings in these Tribunals will also be in private, by default. Second, the costs of proceedings in the Tribunals will be lower compared to normal civil proceedings, as processes will be streamlined and no lawyers will be involved, unless the parties agree to have legal representation and a Tribunal allows this to happen. Third, to ensure that no one will be denied access to justice, a third party may represent a case on behalf of a party who is a minor, elderly, illiterate, or mentally or physically unwell. Fourth, considering the simplified procedures, we do not expect the Tribunals to be a forum for complicated claims where large sums of money are involved or where there are other issues at stake. The Tribunals will have jurisdiction to hear claims of up to $20,000, which is aligned with the prescribed limit at the Small Claims Tribunals. Larger claims, of course, can still be brought in other Courts, where more formal processes will apply. Lastly, the Tribunals will not hear claims which are brought more than two years after the cause of action in the statutory tort has accrued. This also aligns with the position in the Small Claims Tribunals, and provides sufficient time for parties to attempt earlier conciliatory efforts – including mediation – before resorting to the Tribunals. Mediation will play a critical role in the Tribunals' process. We envisage that the Tribunals will generally only hear cases if mediation has already been attempted. So parties are encouraged to mediate their disputes even before filing their cases in the Tribunals.”
“When someone commits a "second strike" breach of the special direction, in addition to criminal penalties, the victim can also apply to Court for an order to exclude the wrongdoer from his place of residence. And it will be an offence for the wrongdoer to breach this exclusion order. This is a very serious consequence for those who have repeatedly ignored Court orders, and will not be invoked lightly. The Court will consider whether it is "just and equitable" to make the exclusion order. This will include considering the impact of the order on those living with the offender and those who could be reasonably affected by the order. It is similar to the Personal Protection Order or PPO regime, where a domestic exclusion order can be granted in cases involving family violence to protect family members. Page: 71 To sum up, the two-strike enforcement mechanism is carefully designed to give the offender opportunities to stop his anti-social behaviour, so that residents can enjoy peaceful and harmonious living in their community, failing which, the Bill provides a range of calibrated enforcement options to prevent or deter recalcitrant offenders from continuing to interfere with their neighbour's enjoyment or use of his home. Madam, I will now turn to the next set of provisions in the Bill, namely those relating to the establishment of Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals, which are specialised Courts hearing cases involving only the new statutory tort I just spoke about. The Tribunals will be part of the State Courts, as full-fledged Courts presided over by District Judges. But the Tribunals have several distinguishing features. First, the Tribunals will be governed by special and simplified procedures to help laypersons navigate the Court process.”
“Another group who could be ordered to enter into a compliance bond are landlords. For example, if Mr Y is a tenant, the Court may order his landlord to enter into a compliance bond of a specified sum, and impose any conditions or make directions as part of the bond. The landlord has to ensure that Mr Y complies with the special direction, otherwise his bond may be forfeited. For a case like this, the landlord could take steps to resolve the issue, such as by ensuring that Mr Y services the air-conditioner regularly. The Bill also provides that if a landlord is ordered to enter into a bond, the landlord has the option to terminate the tenancy agreement with the wrongdoer by giving at least 14 days' written notice. This will not extinguish any rights which the landlord may have against the tenant. At the same time, this will incentivise tenants to be considerate. Now, assuming Mr Y remains recalcitrant and fails to comply even with the special direction of the Court. So, he has already breached once and he remains stubborn and recalcitrant, he fails to comply with the special direction of the Court. This is what we call a "second strike" because the offender would have failed to comply with a Court order two times in a row. A breach of the special direction without reasonable excuse is an offence, and, if found guilty, the offender will be liable to be fined up to $5,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding three months or both. We believe that, for most wrongdoers, the real possibility of criminal sanctions will be sufficiently deterrent to ensure compliance. Mdm Speaker, there may be situations where a very strong enforcement response is necessary.”
“The consequences are calibrated and will become more severe with each additional breach. To illustrate, going back to the earlier example, what if Mr Y fails to comply with the community dispute order without reasonable excuse for the first time? Mr X can apply to Court, with the necessary evidence, for a special direction for Mr Y to comply with the order within a specified time. This is what we call the "first strike". Along with imposing a special direction on the offender, the Court may order any person other than the offender to enter into a compliance bond and impose any conditions or make such directions as part of the bond. The idea is that since the person has already breached the community dispute order once, it may be necessary to involve those around him to ensure that he does not do it again. This recognises that community disputes are sometimes not just a matter between two persons, but require the efforts of those around them to resolve the matter. This Bill gives the Courts a broad discretion to decide who should be required to enter into the bond, and whether any conditions or directions should be imposed, as this would depend very much on the facts of each case. They could include parents and guardians, particularly for young offenders. For example, the parents of a young person causing a nuisance may be ordered to keep away a child's musical instrument if it is the source of loud noise at night causing interference with a neighbour's rest. It could also include requiring caregivers to ensure that those whose Page: 70 mental illnesses may have contributed to the anti-social behaviour receive appropriate treatment. The Courts will give these persons an opportunity to be heard first, so that they can voice their concerns and objections.”
“The sound continues. And with the best of intentions, Mr X resorted to mediation at the CMC. Even after mediation, after promises to stay quiet, this same problem continued. So, as the noise issue continued, the relationship with Mr Y got worse. This may sound like a problem that many Members would have faced when you talk to your residents. Mr X now knows that there is this new statutory recourse. What can he do? Understandably, he would like to seek a community dispute order from Mr Y for Mr Y to stop switching on his air-conditioner at night. But, perhaps unknown to Mr X, Mr Y has Page: 69 a young child who cries non-stop unless he sleeps in an air-conditioned environment. So, based on the facts of the case and the elements of the new tort, the Court may decide that the order sought by Mr X is not realistic. A more just and equitable order could be, for instance, for Mr Y to service his air-conditioner to ensure that it no longer causes persistent noise and disturbance. Ideally, all would be well if Mr Y complies with the community dispute order. Realistically, however, there will be some inconsiderate, recalcitrant persons who will not be deterred by a Court order. In fact, the need for effective enforcement was a key issue raised during public consultation on the Bill. Members of the public who responded to our feedback were concerned about whether Court orders would be ineffective or difficult to enforce. We agree that a strong deterrent is necessary to ensure that the community dispute orders have bite. At the same time, we also recognise that bringing the full weight of the law upon wrongdoers for one-off breaches may be too harsh. So, we really worked hard at trying to get the balance right. What the Bill provides for is a two-strike approach to enforcement.”
“So, clause 5 of the Bill sets out the types of orders that a Court may make as part of a community dispute order if it is satisfied that it is just and equitable to do so. The Court can order: first, the respondent to pay the victim damages; second, an injunction, to stop the respondent from doing something; third, specific performance, for the respondent to do something; fourth, an apology from the respondent to the victim; and, fifth, any other order necessary to give effect to the Court's orders. The Court's consideration of whether it would be "just and equitable" allows the Court to consider all the facts of the case before determining whether it would be appropriate to make a community dispute order, and what type of order should be made. In particular, the Court may consider the impact of the order on the respondent, the persons living with him, and any other person who can reasonably be expected to be affected by the order. The Court may also consider the ordinary instances of daily living that can be expected to be tolerated by reasonable persons living in Singapore. So, this provides a safety valve against abuse of the community dispute order by, perhaps, over-sensitive individuals. At this juncture, Madam, perhaps it would be useful to provide a case study for illustration. Let us say there are two neighbours living side by side and, for simplicity, I will call them Mr X and Mr Y. Let us say Mr X has issues with his neighbour Mr Y because of a persistent noise emitting from Mr Y's air-conditioner at night. Being a good neighbour, Mr X first approached Mr Y to mitigate the problem. Unfortunately, this did not work. So, Mr X called the authorities to investigate. When they went to the home, they did not detect the problem, but still it continued at night.”
“So, this new tort and the community dispute order give victims the legal tools to deal with unreasonable interference with their enjoyment of their own residence. This new tort is required because existing laws do not adequately cover the wide range of disputes that can arise. With this new tort, the natural question is: what types of situations can be considered as unreasonable interference with a person's enjoyment or use of a person's place of residence? The Bill provides that the tort can involve any act or omission by the respondent, including acts or omissions causing excessive noise, smell, smoke, light or vibration, littering, obstruction, surveillance and trespassing on a neighbour's place of residence. There are examples set out in clause 4(2) of the Bill. They are merely for illustration; they are not exhaustive. Nevertheless, they represent a broad range of common issues faced by residents, based on actual cases which we have seen from the frontline agencies as well Page: 68 as the feedback that we have gathered from public consultation on the Bill. Members may ask what could be considered unreasonable. The Courts will have the discretion to determine this, based on the facts of each case. For example, it is unrealistic for a person to expect that his neighbour's children will never make any noise. But, if the children play drums late into the night persistently, then this might be considered unreasonable interference. Madam, for the Bill to be effective, it has to offer practical and effective resolution to such disputes. After all, the parties involved would have to live close together as neighbours even after the mediation or whatever the process they go through.”
“This is evident from the no-show rate at the CMC every year, which is about 60%, or about 900 out of 1,500 cases. Mdm Speaker, this is the context we have today which has led to this Bill. Madam, I will now take the House through the primary objectives and key features of the Bill. Page: 67 In devising the Bill, we have kept in mind three factors. First, the legal recourse introduced in the Bill is intended to be the avenue of last resort to deal with intractable cases; second, conciliation through mediation will continue to play a critical role in the process of the Tribunals; third, robust enforcement mechanisms must be put in place to deal with recalcitrant anti-social persons. So, these are the considerations which underpin our effort to put in place effective measures to long-running disputes between neighbours. There are two main aspects of the Bill. Part 2 of the Bill deals with the new statutory tort of interference with a person's enjoyment or use of his place of residence; and Part 3 of the Bill deals with the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals, including their establishment, jurisdiction, proceedings and appeals. And there are also consequential amendments to be made to the Community Mediation Centres Act and the Small Claims Tribunals Act. Let me first explain the new statutory tort provided for in this Bill. The Bill introduces a new statutory basis of claim that a person may bring against his neighbour for unreasonable interference with his enjoyment or use of his place of residence. A person can bring this claim in any Court or ask for a community dispute order from the Court. I will refer to the person suffering the unreasonable interference as the "victim", and the neighbour causing the interference as the "respondent".”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mdm Speaker, the Community Disputes Resolution Bill 2015 proposes to introduce a new statutory tort for private disputes between neighbours and to establish specialist Tribunals in the State Courts to facilitate the resolution of such disputes. Last year, in the Committee of Supply, I spoke about the need to strengthen our approach to managing such disputes. I emphasised individual and community ownership and how everyone has the responsibility to be a considerate neighbour so that residential living will be more pleasant for all. When problems arise, residents should first seek to resolve the matter amicably with their neighbour, failing which, they should try mediation. But I also acknowledged that, for a minority of "deadlocked disputes", adjudication by specialist Tribunals may be necessary. Let me explain the impetus for this Bill. In a densely populated city-state like Singapore, day-to-day friction between neighbours will sometimes occur. Living in close proximity with our neighbours can heighten sensitivity towards disturbances, like noise, smells and what we perceive to be inconsiderate use of spaces like the common corridor. These tensions could easily sour relations between neighbours, even when there are attempts to talk through the issues. Mediation can help disputing parties find a mutually acceptable solution. But as Members are aware, there are sometimes limitations to mediation. Showing up for mediation is only the first step to resolving the issue. While more than 70% of the cases seen by the Community Mediation Centre or CMC are resolved, the remaining ones are not settled. More importantly, some parties refuse to avail themselves to mediation in the first place.”
“Madam, we are, indeed, hoping to progress on this particular matter with MOE. We have been in discussion with them. There are some considerations, of Page: 83 course, in terms of thinking about the quality of the programmes. It is not just about sports from the MOE's point of view. There is a certain pedagogy that is involved that is important. Teaching of values is important. This is an important consideration which we recognise. It is part of the whole education system. As a first step, as I have mentioned, we are complementing what they are doing. What we would like to do, certainly, is to go beyond just complementing what they are doing to even potentially offering programmes under ActiveSG which may, indeed, earn CCA points, as the Member has suggested. This is something we are talking to MOE and schools about. It may take time to evolve. As I have said, it is much more complex and there are different stakeholders involved. It becomes more than just sports participation. It is education, and the values to impart through that programme become relevant and, therefore, that conversation is happening with MOE now.”
“Madam, with regard to Haw Par Villa, there is already an effort which STB is leading. We are involved in the overall discussion, and they are looking at what to do with the place, what more can be done, and they are consulting various stakeholders. I would say that this example also highlights the need for us in many of these things, when we talk about heritage, to take an overall approach. It, indeed, cuts across many agencies, as Prof Tan Tai Yong mentioned just now. He talked about all the different agencies that are involved in heritage. And that is to be expected because no single agency can own heritage. It is part of all of us. The National Heritage Board will be the champion for heritage and they will promote heritage in all the different aspects, including in Haw Par Villa, but there may be different lead agencies in charge of some of these projects because they fall under different ambits and there are different agencies pushing them. With regard to Haw Par Villa, there is a lead agency in STB, they are driving this, we are involved in it, and I am sure they will be putting out some updates in due course as well.”
“Madam, on cycling and the velodrome, we are, indeed, studying it very seriously. It is not a trivial matter because the land taken is going to be quite significant and there will be trade-offs to manage because once you put something like that in a particular location, it means a certain opportunity cost for other sports facilities as well. As I have mentioned in my reply to the Member previously, in the meantime, we have been supporting our athletes to train in different locations, not just in Singapore but also overseas, and we are studying seriously this issue of the possibility of a velodrome within Singapore. We are not ready yet but the study is still underway and we are looking at possible locations and the feasibility of it. Page: 82 On the BMX track, that is something that is certainly more immediate on our horizon. We are looking at a particular site within the Old Airport square and the plans are being finalised. Sport Singapore will likely announce this in due course. On traditional arts, I agree that we should, indeed, find ways to remember and to hold up our "living national treasures", as the Member mentioned. These are our master craftsmen, our master artists, people who help us to celebrate our intangible heritage and culture. We already have many schemes that do that in Singapore today through the NAC schemes where we honour our master craftsmen and our master artists, and we will see what more we can do to enhance the recognition of such individuals.”
“That medal was also for the retired uncle who bowled just a few lanes away when I was training; it was for the cleaning lady who stood behind smiling every time I looked up from my routine; it was for the taxi driver who asked me for tips on what wrist guard was best for him. That medal was for every Singaporean." When the SEA Games comes in June and the ASEAN Para Games in December, the spotlight is not just on our athletes; it will be on all of us coming together as One Team Singapore. So, let us all do our part to celebrate this sporting milestone and make our Golden Jubilee a truly meaningful and exciting one.”
“One area that they are studying is how to extend the development pathway for student athletes, so that they can continue to benefit from a supportive environment that would enable them to study, train and develop Page: 79 as an athlete, beyond their Secondary school years. These post-Secondary years are particularly crucial because athlete development often spans late adolescence and early adulthood. One idea is for the Sports School to offer predominantly six-plus years through-train programmes within the school, and also with stronger linkages with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), including local and overseas universities, so that there will be a wider range of athlete-friendly post-Secondary pathways. The Committee will be finalising its report after further consultation and the full report will be released later this year. Mdm Chair, in conclusion, there are few things in life that rally our emotions and fire up the Singapore spirit like sports. And there has never been a better opportunity for Singaporeans to come together. As I have said, it is the first time in 22 years that we are hosting the SEA Games, but this is the only time that you will have the SEA Games together with the 50th Birthday of Singapore. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 2.45 pm The last time we hosted the SEA Games in 1993, we saw sporting heroes like Joscelin Yeo and Fandi Ahmad in action. We saw bowler Grace Young who, some of you may remember, was the one who lit the cauldron during the Games. Grace also won a gold medal in the women's bowling doubles event, and we met her recently and she said, "That medal – that gold medal – was not just for me, my team or my federation.”
“They will be sharing the task force's recommendations very soon in the coming months. To help athletes balance their pursuit of High Performance Sports with their career aspirations, we have also introduced a new spexCareer Scheme. Under this scheme, we have 21 partner companies. They are committed to emplacing athletes on internships, apprenticeships, part-time or full-time employment, and that is because they see the value of employing an athlete. They feel that an athlete embodies the winning spirit, embodies the right values of teamwork and resilience, and they want to employ and recruit athletes. For example, part-time Judo coach and athlete Ang Xuan Yi is one who has benefited because, through the matching and through this new scheme, we have helped her to land a full-time position with Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group (MSIG). And this insurance company has agreed to hold the place for her so that she can train for the SEA Games, and even offered an opportunity for her to head to their Japan head office's Judo Training Centre for an exchange programme. These are companies we have in our network, and we will grow the network so that we can offer more such opportunities for our athletes. Madam, the Government alone cannot ensure the viability of a career in sports. This remains a personal decision and commitment that an individual has to make. But what we have done and will continue to do is to put in place a support system for those with sporting aspirations and the desire to fully realise their potential. To further strengthen this ecosystem, we have also set up a committee to review the Singapore Sports School. The Committee has been seeking inputs from various groups and studying the approaches and models in other countries.”
“After the SEA Games and Para Games, if there are more athletes who demonstrate excellent performance and wish to go on to higher levels, the support will be there for them. Our HPS system will also support male athletes with National Service obligations. We will help them secure time-off to train and represent Singapore at major games. We will support and track those with exceptional talent. And if they meet the performance benchmarks, which means having the potential to medal at top-level international sports competitions like the Olympic Games, we will support them in their application for deferment from full-time National Service. Besides supporting our top performing athletes, we are also engaging our various stakeholders, including the National Sports Associations (NSAs), employers and schools. We have moved our NSAs to a baseline block funding approach, so that they can have more certainty to plan for multi-years. This fiscal year, almost all NSAs will get a higher baseline Page: 78 funding. NSAs can tap on flexible programme funding to develop new initiatives and focus areas. These could include training and competitions locally and abroad with sporting clubs. Overall, funding for NSAs will increase by close to 10% in Fiscal Year 2015, compared to the previous year. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is one such NSA that would benefit from all the investments that we are putting in. I think Mr Faisal Manap asked about this. There is a task force that is looking at setting out the goals and the strategic directions for Singapore football in the coming years. They are hard at work and I would say that their initial thinking is very much in line with what some of the suggestions that were raised by the Member, which is to focus on youth development.”
“Page: 77 That is why we formed the Committee for Disability Sports, which is chaired by Minister of State Sam Tan, which will tackle the longer term issues needed to raise participation in disability sports and for more people to get involved. We want sports to be inclusive, so that all Singaporeans can experience the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle. Another legacy for the Games is to have a robust High Performance Sports (HPS) system to support the aspirations of our sporting talents, and several Members spoke about this as well. We are doing a lot to prepare our athletes for this year's Games. But, again, it should not be once-off, and it is not just because we are the host this year. Our investments in HPS also will be sustained – they are part of a broader plan to systematically build up and strengthen our sporting system. For example, we have a spexScholarship scheme where athletes with the potential to excel at the Asian Games, World Championships or Olympic Games level can enjoy significant financial and programming support. Fencer Lim Wei Wen is one such athlete who is now benefiting from the scheme. He had difficult family circumstances and was raised by his grandparents. He took to fencing in ITE, but almost had to give it up when he needed to find a job to support the family. When the Singapore Fencing Association heard about the new scholarship scheme, they put his name up, and he qualified and received the award in 2013. Since then, he has gone on to win Singapore's first ever fencing medal at the recent Incheon Asian Games. This is not just Southeast Asia. It is at the Asian level he has medalled and he is aiming even higher. We now have 70 top athletes who are focusing on full-time training, with support under the spexScholarship.”
“So, again, those who do not make it to the school team now get a chance to play and they can compete with one another at about the same skill level. That is what we are trying to achieve through ActiveSG – to provide maximum opportunities for our youths to participate in sports and so that we start this from young and they can develop a lifelong interest in sports. Besides better programming, we are also improving our infrastructure under the Sports Facilities Master Plan and several Members, like Er Dr Lee Bee Wah and Mr Arthur Fong, asked about this. As Members are aware, we have started work on several major projects in the Master Plan – the Regional Sports Centre in Tampines and Punggol, as well as the new sports centre in Sembawang, and the redevelopment of the Ang Mo Kio Swimming Complex. There are other developments in the pipeline. These will be done at a later phase, probably after 2020. This is part of a broader phasing of public sector infrastructure projects due to the constraints we face, especially in terms of foreign workers. But in the interim, before the new centres are ready, we will step up our programming efforts in these areas and we will do that in Yishun and other estates as well. Our investments in new sports facilities are also necessary for another important goal, which is to break down the barriers that often prevent people with disabilities from participating in sports. Minister of State Sam Tan spoke about this just now. And as highlighted by Miss Penny Low, the ASEAN Para Games offers a very good opportunity for us to leave behind a real legacy for participation in disability sports in Singapore.”
“ActiveSG also works closely with some schools to broaden the opportunities for their students to participate in sports. You hear feedback from time to time that students do not get a chance to play sports in school unless they make it to the school team. I should say that this is not new because, even when I was in Primary school in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I remember I wanted to play football, but I was not good enough to make it to the school team. So, I could not join the CCA, or what they called then they called "ECA" then. Our schools are better equipped today, but I can appreciate that it is not always easy for them to accommodate every request for involvement in sports. What we are doing in ActiveSG is to complement the school offerings and provide even more opportunities for Page: 76 young people to get involved in sports. For example, in Serangoon Secondary School, with the support of ActiveSG, students now have a chance to play floorball, even though it is not offered as a CCA. At Cedar Girls' Secondary, the athletics team now uses the training facility at the Kallang Practice Track. So, with the support of ActiveSG, we provide coaching expertise and programming assistance to the school and in such a way that students who are not part of the school athletics team can now also participate in track and field activities. ActiveSG will also look at starting more competitive leagues among the schools. For example, we recently partnered the Basketball Association of Singapore (BAS) to organise a developmental league. This was for the teams that did not qualify for the National Round of the B Division Inter-School Basketball Championships. Each team could also field more players than usual. They can field up to 15 instead of 12.”
“Utilisation rates at our gyms, our pools and our sports halls have increased by about 30%. It is encouraging to see not just existing members but also new converts to sports. Take the example of Mr Sujimy Mohd and his family. Like many Singaporeans, their typical weekends would be spent on watching movies, going out to eat, or shopping in a mall. That is before ActiveSG. As he puts it, "In Singapore, it's very easy to just go out and 'makan', or check out the latest mall. You need to consciously tell yourself that you need to do something different". With the improvements we have made through ActiveSG, Mr Sujimy and his wife take their children to the Jurong West swimming complex every weekend, and they are enjoying a more active, healthier and, may I say, happier, lifestyle. Mr David Ong asked how ActiveSG can complement the school sports ecosystem to nurture the sporting habit from young. This is, indeed, a key area of focus for us in the coming year. ActiveSG's partnership with schools involves programming at several levels. First, we will continue to ramp up our School Holiday Sports Programme. These holiday sessions expose students to a variety of new sports, like archery, floorball, futsal, inline skating and ultimate frisbee. When we first piloted this programme, we were not sure about the response, especially for sessions in the September holidays when it was close to the year-end examinations. But we were pleasantly surprised because many of these programmes ended up being over-subscribed, not just by children, but also by their parents, who participated alongside their kids. We will build on this, and also the strong interest among the schools that are partnering us for the SEA Games, to roll out even more programmes in the coming year.”
“This year, instead of donning his Red Cross uniform, he has decided to take on the role of a media relations officer, putting the skills he has honed in over 30 years with the Civil Service to good use. And I can attest to the skills that he has because, in fact, I met him when I was a very young officer working in MOF. He was my colleague and I think he will certainly make a lot of contributions to the Games. With the dedication and passion of volunteers like him, I am confident that we can ensure a positive experience for all Singaporeans and for our friends from the region. Mdm Chair, the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games will no doubt be the highlight of our sporting calendar this year. But at the end of the day, when the crowds leave and when we bid farewell to our regional neighbours, it is what we leave behind that matters more. What is the legacy that we want to leave behind? One important legacy is to further strengthen the culture of sports among Singaporeans. I am sure the SEA Games will spark interest in sports – we will have more people coming to cheer for Team Singapore, more students and volunteers getting involved, and more people participating in sports. But all this should not just be a short-lived temporary phenomenon. How do we sustain the momentum? I think the best way is to step up our initiatives and programmes under ActiveSG. We started ActiveSG as our national movement for sports. We provided a $100 credit to all new members. So far, more than 700,000 have signed up for ActiveSG. About three in five members have used their free credits to book facilities and join sports programmes. Page: 75 Through ActiveSG, we have enhanced our sports facilities and introduced new and innovative programmes at our sports centres.”
“When Singaporeans cheer for a Team Singapore athlete, it is not someone distant that they read about in the newspapers or watch on TV, but it will be a person they can all connect with – someone who has gone to the same school as us, or someone who lives with us in our neighbourhoods. In short, we are celebrating our own hometown sporting heroes. Let us say you are living in Marine Parade, you may soon see billboards like this, the one you see on screen here showing support, basically saying "Marine Parade Cheers for our Hometown Sporting Page: 74 Heroes" and showing support for Team Singapore athletes in the same estate, like swimmer Joseph Schooling and sailor Jodie Lai. We are doing this in all our HDB estates and HDB towns. We hope Singaporeans will join us in all of these activities. Some may wish to do more, and have done so. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of our volunteers, whom we call Team Nila. We started this call for volunteers two years ago and the response has been overwhelming. It has far exceeded our targets. We now have about 17,000 volunteers for the SEA Games and 6,000 performers for the Opening Ceremony of the Games. They come from all walks of life and they are committed to giving their time, energy and passion for a successful Games. One of the volunteers is Mr Tang Chun Tuck. In fact, he is one of the rare volunteers who has been involved in all the editions of the Games hosted in Singapore – 1973, 1983, 1993 and, now, this year. He was a first-aider at the 1973 and 1983 Games. He helped to coordinate the work of the Red Cross in 1993.”
“Amongst them are acrylic paintings and tote bags produced and packaged by trainees from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) and the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) respectively. And there also Braille gel bracelets produced to help raise awareness for the visually-impaired. And I am glad to say that part of the sale proceeds will go to the SportCares Foundation and The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund. So, they will be supporting a good cause. Over the coming weeks, we will be stepping up our engagement activities all over Singapore. We will dress up our housing estates and key buildings with Team Singapore banners. The Games torch will be travelling to the communities and schools as part of our engagement effort to create even more awareness and excitement. One activity which has proven to be quite popular is the Make-a-NILA initiative. NILA is the mascot for the Games and, in every Games, there will be a mascot, and the podium finishers will get a stuffed toy representing the mascot. Usually, they are factory-produced in all the Games that we have seen. But in the SEA Games, we decided to do something special because these mascots are personally sewn by Singaporeans and these hand-made NILAs, together with personalised messages of well wishes, will then be presented to the winning athletes. That is the activity that you can engage in the community and it has been very popular. 2.30 pm In all our engagements, we also aim to link our athletes closer with the schools and communities they come from, in order to strengthen that sense of connection with our athletes.”
“This is why we have ensured that half of the events at the SEA Games are free and the prices for the ticketed events are kept affordable – as low as $5, with additional concession for students, senior citizens and full-time National Servicemen. We have also reached out to friends and family members of Team Singapore athletes, who will also be able to purchase discounted tickets through their respective National Sports Associations. I am happy to report that the ticket sales so far have been progressing well and I would urge everyone to get their tickets soon because they may well be sold out before too long. I also want to call on employers, be it in the public or private sectors. Employers, please grant your staff time off to attend the Games, so that you can show your support, too. In the words of our national sprinter Calvin Kang, "Support from Singaporeans is important, because this is home, and home is where the heart belongs." So, the Games will be a rare opportunity for Singaporeans to come together and show that we are part of one Team Singapore. And I would call on everyone to show their support wholeheartedly. Page: 73 We had a glimpse of what it means to have such strong homeground support last weekend when 40,000 people came together to mark the 90-day countdown to the SEA Games and we unfurled the largest ever Team Singapore flag on Orchard Road. Our SEA Games merchandise store has also been well received. It is very popular. The items, more importantly, have been created with a social cause, as was suggested by Miss Penny Low.”
“But it shows the tremendous resilience and spirit that our athletes have, and wanting to be able to excel at what they do. Page: 72 That is why Jovin is also training very hard for the upcoming ASEAN Para Games in December. Just as athletes are raising their games, Sport Singapore is also doing everything it can to support them. Take archer Tan Si Lie, for example. He is a student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), but has taken time off to train full-time for the SEA Games. We are providing him with enhanced training assistance grants to support his full-time training load, and also additional programme support for his overseas competitions. This has allowed him to train freely without worrying about the cost of these overseas trips and also his archery equipment. He is not the only one enjoying such support. Altogether, we have close to 400 athletes on what we call the Final Push Programme – to provide additional resources and support to our athletes, so that they can focus on their preparations for the Games. The Government is doing its utmost to support our athletes. In fact, if you speak to some of our veteran sport administrators, they will tell you that these are the most comprehensive preparations that we have done so far for a major Games. But the biggest support and motivation that our athletes can get is from Singaporeans directly. I join Members like Mr Seah Kian Peng and Mr Arthur Fong in calling on Singaporeans to rally together and get behind our athletes. There are many ways to show support. The first, of course, is to come for the Games. Make sure you attend and cheer for our athletes during the competitions.”
“Our athletes are not new to major competitions but, this year, the competition will be something special for all of them, because they are competing in front of the home crowd and they are bringing glory to Singapore, right here in Singapore. This is why they are going all out, making tremendous sacrifices, and putting extra effort into their training. Amongst them is 28-year-old cyclist, Dinah Chan. She participated in the last SEA Games in Myanmar and, three months before her race, her plans were thrown into disarray because of a car accident. But Dinah bounced back into training within four days of the accident and eventually won Singapore's first cycling SEA Games Gold Medal in over 16 years. Till today, whenever she hears the National Anthem being played out during her school's assembly session, because she is a teacher, she said that she would always remember what it was like to be able to stand on the podium in Myanmar and she hopes to do so again in Singapore. The same can be said of our para athletes, whose stories truly reflect the triumph of the human spirit. Some of you may be familiar with para sailor Jovin Tan, who is a three-time paralympian. Born with cerebral palsy, he picked up sailing at the age of 15. Even though he cannot swim, he picked up sailing. He used to require assistance to get in and out of his boat. But during the training session, with the help of his coach, he learnt how to crawl from his wheelchair onto his boat all by himself, so that he can be fully independent and he would not need to rely on volunteers. It may seem like a very small thing. This is not about the race; it is really about getting from the wheelchair to the boat.”
“Over the years, we have continuously invested in sports. We have worked hard to increase accessibility and opportunities for Singaporeans to participate in sports. This is because there is nothing like sports that can excite people and bring us together. Our efforts have yielded results. The weekly sports participation rate has increased from 42% in 2011 to above 60%. The opening of the Sports Hub last year has been an additional catalyst to developing our sporting scene. Our athletes now have world-class facilities to train and compete in. Page: 71 Singaporeans, too, benefit from these facilities. Every day, the indoor halls at the Sports Hub would be packed with people playing badminton, basketball, netball, volleyball and table tennis. Some community groups have also become a regular sight at the Sports Hub, such as the Shin Zhong Taiji Quan Association, which organises its weekly Taiji sessions at the Sports Hub. Last year, there were more than 60 sports events held at the Sports Hub, with attendances of nearly a quarter million across all the sports venues. This year, we will see an even more vibrant calendar of sporting events. But the key highlights of the year will be the 28th SEA Games in June and the 8th ASEAN Para Games in December. This is the first time we are hosting the SEA Games after 22 long years, and the very first time ever that we are hosting the ASEAN Para Games. These are two excellent opportunities for all of us to rally together, to put up a good show, and to cheer for our athletes. We will field the largest ever Team Singapore contingent in the history of both Games. We are looking at close to 700 athletes for the SEA Games and 100 para athletes for the ASEAN Para Games.”
“Mdm Chair, let me wrap up by turning to sports as an important part of our culture and social fabric and, with your permission, Madam, I would like to show some slides on the screen.”
“We will hear from them directly on their hopes, dreams and ideas for Singapore's future. Page: 60 This year, the National Youth Council will host a series of youth engagement sessions and conversations. We will invite youths to shape – to share their ideas for a better Singapore – how we can create opportunities for everyone, build a fair and inclusive society, and secure the future of our choice. We will showcase their aspirations at the futuretogether.SG exhibition, which will round off our SG50 celebrations. This will be held at Gardens by the Bay from November and will continue on through early next year. I hope many will be inspired by this collective imagining of how we might one day live, work and play in Singapore. I hope that all Singaporeans will be moved to act on these aspirations and build a better future for Singapore. Mdm Chair, earlier on, I compared what we are doing in SG50 to a family gathering for a celebration. And I think it is appropriate for me to end, for now, by quoting Janet, the ITE graduate I mentioned just now. When we spoke to her about her project, we also asked her, "What is your wish for SG50?" She replied, "That more people will come together and celebrate – not just as individual families, but as one family." That is the spirit of SG50. In our Jubilee Year, I hope we can celebrate our heritage and culture, build a brighter future for all of us to share, and grow closer together as one Singapore family.”
“I am glad that we are already seeing many young people getting involved in SG50 projects. One example is a young lady named Janet Ng, who is a recent graduate of ITE College West. She is also an active volunteer who teaches ukulele to the elderly. She was inspired by the Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech last year where he spoke about honouring our Pioneers. So, the seed of an idea was planted and it grew bigger over time. Janet asked herself, "Why is it that when National Day comes around, some Singaporeans like to go abroad?" Maybe this question would be asked again this year because it is a long weekend. She thought, "That's not quite right. I would like to remind people about their identity as Singaporeans, about their roots and their culture. I would like to inspire students to be the pioneers of the next generation." She linked up with her schoolmate Sherwin and they applied for the SG50 Celebration Fund. This July, their team will hold a carnival called "Evolution to 50". They hope to re-create Singapore life in the 1970s and 1980s. And they will curate panels that showcase Singapore's development over time. They will invite participants to pen down their aspirations for Singapore's future, and pledge to be the "Pioneers of the Next Generation." We asked Janet, "What does that phrase ‘pioneers of the next generation' mean to you?" And she replied, "Our Pioneers today helped to build up Singapore. So, it's our turn to make the change." And there are many young people like Janet who are excited about SG50, and galvanised by that same sense of ownership and possibility. The projects that they are undertaking show that they have got heart and drive for the community. We will continue to engage young people on SG50 throughout this year.”
“It is worth highlighting that many of these activities are driven from the ground-up – they are initiated by ordinary Singaporeans, from all walks of life. So far, through the SG50 Celebration Fund, we have supported around 260 ground-up initiatives; and the number is still rising. The diverse projects show the strong sense of ownership that our people have in leading the SG50 celebrations, which will strengthen our national identity and community cohesion. This brings me to what I think is the most important theme for this Jubilee Year, which is our future. We must preserve our heritage and remember the past. We must celebrate our arts and culture, and strengthen our sense of identity as a people. But most importantly, we must look forward to consider what kind of future we want for Singapore and for the next generation. Minister of State Sam Tan and Parliamentary Secretary Low Yen Ling will say more about this in their speeches – about how we want to strengthen our spirit of giving, our sense of Page: 59 harmony and our engagement with our youths. And then I will close by talking about sports. But I would say we particularly recognise that our young people today play a crucial role in shaping our future. We will do everything we can to support them in their aspirations, and to provide opportunities for them to contribute to the community. This is why we started the Youth Corps last year, and we have scaled up programmes at OBS. We are also investing in spaces for youths, for example, by upgrading *SCAPE, and offering more programmes for youth development. SG50 is naturally a good opportunity for young people to get involved in causes that they care about, and help shape a better society.”
“I should say that this is something we should not take for granted. Resources will always be limited and, from time to time, difficult trade-offs will have to be made. You see these in the most advanced economies where budgets for the arts and culture have been cut back sharply in order to meet more pressing demands. We are in a different position fortunately. Our public finances allow us to invest in the art and Page: 58 culture. I am glad that, in this House, there is strong support for such investments. I am also glad to say that this support is shared by many Singaporeans. We recently set up a Cultural Matching Fund for the Government to match private donations to the arts on a dollar-for-dollar basis. And in just over a year, we have seen very good response from the public, and the Fund has already disbursed over $30 million to about 60 arts and heritage groups. Beyond funding, we will continue to support our arts practitioners in other ways. One way suggested by Mr Baey Yam Keng is through the provision of centralised services. And as he noted, NAC already provides some of these services, like shared publicity and marketing. There are also outreach programmes that bring together tenants at our art centres, in Aliwal Art Centre and Goodman Arts Centre. 1.45 pm Going forward, NAC will open its consultancy programmes to more arts organisations. This includes coaching on organisational capabilities, like board management and arts marketing. We will see what else can be done, including the possibility of shared professional services. I also support Mr Baey's suggestion to extend the Dual-Use Scheme to arts groups. And MCCY will work with MOE to see how this can best be implemented. All in all, we can expect a year-long calendar of very meaningful SG50 activities.”
“We will hear from veterans like Vernon Cornelius from The Quests. Incidentally, they were the only Singapore band that topped the Charts such that they kicked out the Beatles. They were on the billboards and ranked higher than the Beatles in the 1960s. You will hear veterans like Ramli Sarip, Dick Lee and, hopefully, we will be able to find Anita Sarawak, whom the organisers have been trying to locate and have her join in the concert, too. Our artists not only help us to express our identity, values and beliefs, they also fly our flag overseas. We are supporting them with the $20 million Cultural Diplomacy Fund which we set up last year. This provides our artists with overseas exposure, and also strengthens our cultural engagement with other countries. There are several international highlights on the horizon this year. We will soon launch a Singapore Festival in France – three months' worth of visual arts, theatre and other cultural forms. We are also returning to the Venice Biennale, the pinnacle platform for contemporary visual art. In June, we will participate in the City of London Festival – one of the most highly regarded festivals in the UK. Singapore will be in the spotlight as the featured country at the Festival. These are not just ad-hoc events or engagements. I agree with Ms Irene Ng that our cultural engagement needs to be done in a systematic manner. As part of our cultural diplomacy efforts, we are working closely with other agencies – including MFA – to build meaningful, strategic and sustained cultural partnerships with these nations. Events like Venice Biennale or SingFrance are part of this larger strategy. Mdm Chair, the Government is committed to supporting our artists. We will continue to invest in them and the cultural sector.”
“We will recognise many of these hawkers at the World Street Food Congress that Singapore will host next month. We are also increasing community outreach on our food heritage. We are incorporating food into the Singapore Heritage Festival and our community trails. In the year ahead, we can look forward to programmes like community cook-out sessions, travelling demonstrations and food carnivals. Besides food, we are also seeing clearer expressions of what Singapore culture and identity are all about, through the different artforms. For example, when the Singapore Chinese Orchestra performs, they sound very different from a China-based orchestra. You can immediately hear the difference. They have a unique sound, blending traditional Chinese music with Southeast Asian influences. Likewise in visual art, we have the pioneers of the Nanyang Style and a younger generation of contemporary artists who are experimenting with different mediums and traditions to bring distinctively Singaporean characteristics to their art. That is why it is so meaningful to celebrate the arts in our Jubilee Year. It is about providing meaningful outlets for self-expression and discovery. It is about discovering who we are, and who we want to Page: 57 be. We will celebrate across different genres of the arts. In the area of dance, for example, NAC will be launching a new nationwide dance carnival in October. It will encompass dance from all our cultural traditions – Chinese, Malay and Indian – as well as newer forms of contemporary dance. Another example is the Sing50 concert which will be held just before National Day. It will celebrate the rich tapestry of Singapore music, from Pop Yeh Yeh in the 1960s to the xinyao movement in the 1980s.”
“They also spoke about food as an example. We all have fond memories of home-cooked meals and eating out at hawker centres with friends and family. When we go overseas, we miss the food at home. It is an integral part of our identity. I agree with Members that it is important to preserve our food Page: 56 and hawker heritage and we are doing this in various ways. We are giving more spotlight and recognition to our master hawkers. For many of them, cooking is second nature. They might not have written it down. But it is in their head and they have the skill and craft to cook some of the best food. Take the example of Hainanese chicken rice. If you look at the recipe online or wherever you find it, you will often find the recipe saying: cook the chicken, then soak it in ice water to get the meat tender. That is the common recipe. But, in fact, the real Hainanese do not soak chicken in ice water. The real Hainanese do not soak the chicken in cold water. It is more difficult to cook that way. It takes more skill. It takes more experience to ensure that you cook it without soaking the chicken in ice water and to ensure that the meat is tender and good to eat. How do I know this? Because I am a Hainanese, number one. Number two, my grandfather came from Hainan Island many years ago, and he worked as a chef and a steward in a British club. And he was reputedly one of the best cooks there. Unfortunately, the recipe did not get passed down to my father who relied mostly on my mum to cook and he certainly did not pass it down to me; which is why we must continue to do more to preserve our food heritage. We are commissioning research and documentaries for Singaporeans to learn about signature dishes from our master chefs, our master hawkers and to practise the recipes at home.”
“Nominated sites must prove themselves to be of "outstanding universal value", which means they must occupy a unique position not only in the history of the local communities, but of the entire world. We believe that the Gardens have a solid case. They were instrumental in transforming Southeast Asian history. The most significant example is how research and experimentation conducted at the Gardens introduced rubber to the region, where none had been grown before. And, in so doing, transformed the entire region and, indeed, the world. More importantly, our nomination signals our commitment to heritage conservation. We are making a collective stand, as a nation, to preserve this green oasis in the heart of our city. This will forever be a special place for all Singaporeans and, indeed, for all of humanity. The process for the UNESCO bid is on its way. We will not know the outcome till June or early July. And I will be going to Bonn where the World Heritage Committee meeting will be held and the decision will be made at the Committee. I hope to return after that meeting with Jubilee presents for Singapore and for all Singaporeans. Besides celebrating our heritage, our Jubilee Year is also a year to celebrate our culture, our distinctly Singaporean culture. As a young multi-cultural nation, this idea of a distinctive Singaporean culture is still relatively new and it is still evolving. Theatre pioneer, Kuo Pao Kun, once said that Singaporeans have the mentality of "cultural orphans" – we have a sense of anxiety in the search for self. But he said that many years ago. Over the years, I believe we have strengthened our Singaporean identity. We have forged bonds that bring us together. Mr Baey Yam Keng and Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin spoke about this.”