Lee Li Lian
Singapore
“Thank you, Madam. I have three clarifications, please. The first two are for Senior Minister of State Mr Lee Yi Shyan. One, are there plans to build a temporary, or better still, heavy vehicle car park in the Sengkang/ Punggol area, given the fact the temporary one in Anchorvale is giving way soon?”
“Madam, a clarification for Senior of State Josephine Teo. To help defray costs and lighten the financial burden, can the Ministry look into my suggestion of allowing motorcycle owners to pay by instalments of, say, up to 10 years instead of the current repayment period of five years?”
“There were 1,420 cases in 2012; 2,080 in 2013; 2,419 in 2014. In view of the increase in such complaints, what else can AVA or MND do to assist? Lastly, as mentioned by a Forum writer – and I agree – preventive measure is a better way to deal with this, through better design of buildings to prevent roosting and entry of birds.”
“This way, low-income earners do not have to compete with owners of larger and more expensive motorcycles for a COE. If we cannot split Category D, may I suggest that we allow the successful COE bidders to pay by instalment to alleviate their burden? Supply of COE”
“This will help residents who work in jobs requiring them to drive the heavy vehicles to be able to park their vehicles with peace of mind at the end of a long working day and return home quickly to enjoy time with their families.”
“I urge the Minister to consider allowing CPF members to use their RA to continue to pay for their outstanding mortgage loans and the tertiary education of their children even if they Page: 55 do not meet the Minimum Sum, so as not to create sudden additional financial burden on them.”
The complete record
Every one of 124 lines we hold for Lee Li Lian, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 3.
“Madam, I would like to find out what are the current efforts taken to remind home owners to make premium payments if they have failed to do so, before the policy is terminated.”
“Residents in a unit have been making a lot of noise in the middle of the night causing disturbances. The Town Council, HDB, Family Service Centre (FSC), Member of Parliament (MP) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) have tried knocking on the door to speak to the resident but were not successful. There is no chance to speak to the resident at all, not to even mention organising a session at the CMC. How can this Bill assist? Next, mental illness. For residents who suffer from mental illnesses, how does this Bill resolve involving them? Sensitive issues. I know it is sensitive for the Bill to cover matters which could potentially involve religious practice at home. To ensure religious harmony between neighbours and residents, how can this Bill then mitigate the potential conflicts arising from religious practices? Lastly, Madam, I noted that this Bill does cover dispute that happens in the unit. There are certain behaviours at home that could affect the comfort and peace of neighbours as we are now living closer to one another. However, people also value their freedom and privacy at home and that they should have the right to enjoy what they like to do in the place they call home. I would like to clarify how can this Bill balance the respect for each individual's privacy in the sanctuary of their personal space and the common interest of other residents living together in the community. 3.01 pm”
“Madam, this Bill seeks to establish a Tribunal to hear difficult cases of dispute between neighbours after efforts such as community mediation have been exhausted. The latest SHS or better known as the Sample Household Survey which was conducted by HDB revealed a drop in residents' satisfaction with their flat and their neighbourhood. Respondents cited inconsiderate neighbours as the main reason. I am sure everyone in this House, including agencies such as HDB, Town Councils and even the Singapore Police Force has their fair share of experience dealing with neighbour's dispute brought up by our respective constituents. Most people wish to live harmoniously and believe in the Chinese saying, “远亲不如近邻”. Unfortunately, some disputes have soured relationships so badly that neighbours seek ways to get back at each other or escalate their quarrels to the media and Internet. As much as I do not wish to see neighbours ending up in Court to settle their differences, I hope that this Bill will encourage more people to resolve their disputes at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) and legislation should be the last resort. I have several clarifications on the implementation of the Bill and hope that the Minister can address them. Clause 4 of this Bill provide a list of scenarios in which interference is caused. I would like to point out three different types of cases that are not mentioned in this clause and ask how the Bill can help to address these situations. Page: 82 First, rented unit. Owner rented the whole unit out and went overseas for work, say, for a particular number of years. Tenant and neighbours got into some conflicts. The parties will have to face the music. What implications does it have on the owner of the flat? Next, parties are uncontactable.”
“Sir, I have repeatedly brought this up in the Committee of Supply (COS) since 2013. Currently, single parents below the age of 35 and their child do not qualify as a family nucleus when applying for a new HDB flat or rental flat. They are also not eligible for any housing subsidies. Single parents are not entitled to certain tax reliefs. Single parents are not entitled to Baby Bonus and CDS support. Single mothers are only entitled to eight weeks of paid maternity leave. Single fathers are not entitled to paternity leave at all. I am bringing this up again because I think the state should recognise them as parents, regardless of their marital status. Their parental responsibilities and their children's needs are the same. As a parent, I am grateful for the much needed support I get from my spouse and parents. I cannot imagine how difficult it is for single parents who may not have any support and cannot even take the same amount of leave as other parents, to take care of their children. This is not about encouraging more single parents but ensuring better and fair support for the children who have been born to them. Sir, I find it ridiculous that we are even discussing this. Today, we are penalising children by denying their single parents the ability to support and care for them. Once again, I want to urge the Ministry to consider equalising these entitlements. Page: 163 Support to Young and Vulnerable Families”
“For healthcare providers, they need to remain current and relevant in their offer of services and care. Not over-servicing is also important, as this can be an element that leads to increased healthcare costs in totality. Appropriate training, education, patient education, managing their expectations are all necessary tasks. Healthcare providers must also align and understand national policies so as to best advise their patients and address their queries as well. Whilst we do regulate and do a lot in the public sector, how about the private sector? This is an area of utmost concern for myself and many practitioners in the public sector. Employers also must do the needful to keep workplaces safe and injury-free, have the relevant training and education on site for certain industries and their requirements. After all, workplace health promotion is the combined effort of employers and employees, as well as society, to improve health and well-being of people at work. MOH, HPB and the Government must continue to strengthen and evolve the healthcare systems and financing as fit. Public consultations and walking the ground will help policymakers and our civil servants understand issues and policies applicability much better. The clinical practice guidelines serve as an example of an initiative to align practice, for example across both the private and public sectors employees and healthcare staff. Page: 99 Moving forward, how does MOH plan to have long-term sustainability of our healthcare system, align stakeholders and offer more public consultation to hear the voices from the ground? What will be the steps to enhance the often talked about productivity and value measures in our Singapore healthcare system? Successful Ageing”
“I would like to find out what is the progress of these developments. How many people are on the waiting list and what is the average waiting time to get into a Senior Care Centre? Responsibility in the Pursuit of Health Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: Madam, responsibility in the pursuit of health. We, in Singapore, have one of the more comprehensive and robust healthcare systems globally. Access is readily available and patients do have a choice generally. Our healthcare financing system has a strong foundation and has undergone changes to evolve over the years. Patients and public's expectations too have evolved as we moved from third world to first Page: 98 world nation. Healthcare is always an issue close to the hearts of citizens. Stakeholders of the healthcare system must ensure they utilise appropriately, avoid wastages, as all these are linked closely to cost, affordability and inflation, and eventually the sustainability of our healthcare system The stakeholders of the healthcare system must demonstrate responsibility at all levels. Consumers or patients must manage expectations, make realistic goals together with their healthcare providers and plan their treatment and management. They should not demand for unnecessary tests and should keep themselves up-to-date and educated on their health conditions and issues. Utilising healthcare services and facilities appropriately is also important. Patients' wish to always have it "cheap, fast and good" is very much also dependent on their choices, demands and usage patterns. They must also learn to focus on health promotion: that is the process of enabling people to increase control over his or her own health and its determinants and thereby improve their health.”
“Madam, this is a topic I brought up in last year's Committee of Supply (COS) and I am raising it again because I have yet to see any progress. Both the ElderShield and Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly, better known as IDAPE, need tremendous improvement. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents with Medisave are automatically covered by ElderShield at the age of 40. IDAPE is a means tested Government assistance scheme meant for elderly citizens who suffer from severe disability and who are not eligible for ElderShield because of their age or existing disabilities. Currently, ElderShield 400 provides a payout of $400 per month for up to 72 months. The last reform done for ElderShield was in September 2007. IDAPE provides $150 per month for per capita household income of $1,800 and below, and $250 per month for per capita household income of $1,801 to $2,600. In the case of IDAPE, the monthly subsidies of $150 and $250 are too low. This only marginally covers the cost of supporting an elderly person who is severely disabled and needs constant and specialised care. The payout period of six years is also too short considering life expectancy has gone up and the elderly person may live for many years with his or her disability, with an unlikely chance of additional income or means. I call on the Government to review both the subsidies and payout period. Next, I would like touch on the topic of Senior Care Centres. As an ageing society, there is a growing demand for such centres. These centres provide a range of aged care services such as day care, dementia care, day rehabilitation and basic nursing services. In a written Parliamentary Question (PQ) reply on 21 October 2013, the Minister announced plans to develop 39 more Senior Care Centres by 2016.”
“Madam, a clarification for Senior of State Josephine Teo. To help defray costs and lighten the financial burden, can the Ministry look into my suggestion of allowing motorcycle owners to pay by instalments of, say, up to 10 years instead of the current repayment period of five years? But, if not, what else can be done to help this group of Singaporeans?”
“This way, low-income earners do not have to compete with owners of larger and more expensive motorcycles for a COE. If we cannot split Category D, may I suggest that we allow the successful COE bidders to pay by instalment to alleviate their burden? Supply of COE”
“Madam, in the first three months in 2015, COE for Category D hit a historic high of $5,800 at the second tender in February 2015. At least 70% of 140,000 motorcycles are those not exceeding 200cc, corresponding to Class 2B riding licence. I believe these high COE prices are being pulled up by bidding for more expensive and luxury motorcycles requiring Class 2A and Class 2 riding licences. A motorcycle is a necessary tool for many low-wage workers. Some of them hold jobs like despatch riders for courier companies or delivery riders for fast-food companies. We could consider splitting Category D into D1 for motorcycles not exceeding 200cc, and D2 for those exceeding 200cc. As 65% of motorcycles registered in 2013 and 2014 are not exceeding 200cc, it can be estimated that the D1 category will have a quota of 1,111 total COEs for the months of February to April 2015. This is equivalent to Category C for goods vehicles and the open Category E. So, we should not see price volatility for Class 2B riders and the riders can be protected from higher bids by Class 2 riders. Alternatively, would it be possible for motorcycle owners to pay the COE by instalment, so as to lighten their financial burden? In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] At least 70% of 140,000 motorcycles on our roads are those not exceeding 200cc, and they are a necessary means of living for many low wage earners. COE for category D, that is, motorcycles, hit a historic high of over $5,000 in 2015, which caused grave concern among low-income workers. I suggest that we divide Category D into D1 and D2. D1 is for smaller motorcycles under 200cc, and D2 is for those exceeding 200cc.”
“Thank you, Madam. I have three clarifications, please. The first two are for Senior Minister of State Mr Lee Yi Shyan. One, are there plans to build a temporary, or better still, heavy vehicle car park in the Sengkang/ Punggol area, given the fact the temporary one in Anchorvale is giving way soon? The next one is on the second point in my speech. Will the Ministry look into having some open air car parks in new estates, instead of just multi-storey car parks? This is especially useful for vehicles that cannot enter multi-storey car parks because of their height. My third clarification is for Minister of State Mr Desmond Lee. Will Mr Lee agree with me that tree pruning does not solve the root of the problem, because trees grow again? I am of the view that food source is the main contributing factor to this problem. When and how does AVA conduct their inspections and take enforcement actions?”
“There were 1,420 cases in 2012; 2,080 in 2013; 2,419 in 2014. In view of the increase in such complaints, what else can AVA or MND do to assist? Lastly, as mentioned by a Forum writer – and I agree – preventive measure is a better way to deal with this, through better design of buildings to prevent roosting and entry of birds. Pet Ownership”
“Madam, pigeon-related nuisance is a common problem faced by the MPs as well as Town Councils. Pigeons often rest on air-con ledges of residential units, dirtying the place and the surroundings. Some residents also encounter pigeons flying into their kitchen to pick on food. It gets so bad that some cannot even hang out their laundry. Page: 21 Pigeon-related nuisance include inconvenience to residents, hygiene issues, damage to building facades, they attract pests and, most importantly, may spread disease. I understand that AVA works with Town Councils and NEA to manage pigeon pollution. Town Councils will carry out pigeon control works to reduce the pigeon population in the estate while NEA will enforce against high-rise litterers. Unfortunately, we are aware of the challenges faced in trying to catch high-rise litterers. Controlling the population of pigeons will only work if the breeding stops, that is to say, the availability of food must stop. I have written an email to AVA asking for assistance to deal with this problem. The solutions given by AVA were: One, residents can consider bird-proofing their air-con ledge areas. This would mean that residents will have to incur unnecessary costs because of a few inconsiderate people. Two, the Town Council can consider installing nets at the external facade covering the air-con ledges to deter pigeons from resting along the air-con ledge. This will cost the Town Council a large sum of money from operating expenses. Moreover, I have also received feedback from units with netting that such netting causes inconveniences as well. Just yesterday, in the Straits Times, an article entitled "Pigeon problem ruffles feathers" reported an increase in complaints on pigeon-related nuisance.”
“This will help residents who work in jobs requiring them to drive the heavy vehicles to be able to park their vehicles with peace of mind at the end of a long working day and return home quickly to enjoy time with their families. This will also reduce the number of heavy vehicles plying into residential areas, which is a potential danger to road users. For another group of vehicle owners, they face a different parking problem. Certain medium sized vehicles are too tall to enter the multi-storey carparks (MSCP) in our HDB estates, but there are no open-air carparks for such vehicles in many new HDB estates. In many instances, the residents feedback to me that they have no choice but to park along the side of a road. Would it be possible to look into more open-air carparks or to reserve a number of lots in open-air carparks for vehicles that are above the height limits for MSCP?”
“Sir, parking has been a major headache for many drivers of heavy vehicles in Singapore. There is a total of 41,600 heavy vehicle parking lots, out of which Page: 150 10,400 public lots are operated by URA and HDB and 31,200 are private lots. While there are supposedly only 34,600 heavy vehicles on the register for all the lots, there is a long waiting list of 3,900 heavy vehicles for public lots as of August 2014. This is not too surprising since HDB charges $85 a month, URA charges $130 a month whereas the average monthly season fee for each private lot is $275 a month, more than double the fee for public lots. The monthly season fee for private lots is too expensive for most drivers of heavy vehicles who are mostly paid on a per-trip basis. The lack of monthly fixed salaries also leads to long and odd working hours for many drivers, who end up having to drive their heavy vehicles back to park near their homes. To earn more income, many drivers prefer to drive bigger vehicles but are unable to afford the parking charges for private lots and are stuck on the wait list for public lots. They often have to resort to parking at open air carparks or along the roadside at night. They know they may get a parking summons as a result. They have no choice but to take the risk. One such summons would cost the family approximately $100. I have residents in Punggol East who are at risk of getting summonses on a daily basis. One possible solution for this is for HDB and URA to take over private heavy vehicle parks and expand the number of public lots, especially those private heavy vehicle parks situated close to estates where the population has increased sharply in recent years – in the central, north and north-east regions.”
“Madam, during the debate on the President's Address last year, I called for the Ministry to consider expanding the number of 3-room PPHS flats. I noted that the take-up rates of 4- and 5-room PPHS flats were much lower due to high rental costs. I acknowledge the Government's efforts since then to reduce rental costs by allowing for co-renting, and to increase the number of 3-room PPHS flats to be made available in the first and second quarters of 2015. Based on the HDB website, I note that more than 60% of the 3-room PPHS flats to be made available will come from only one location in Jurong West. While I understand the constraints of finding eligible vacated SERS flats for adoption into the PPHS, I hope that the Ministry can make more efforts to spread out the number of such flats throughout the island. Next, I would like to propose to the Government to study the feasibility of pegging rental charges to the median income of those applying for the same class of flats, rather than to the market rate. The recommended affordability rate is for a debt service ratio of 25%, which means if the median monthly income is $2,000, the mortgage payment or rent should be $500. This will lower the rental charges substantially and make PPHS more affordable, attractive and, thus, further improve the take-up rate. Home Ownership for Rental Flat Tenants”
“The suggestion to remove the matching criteria was brought up twice in this House during COS since 2013. The reply then was that the objective of such schemes is to help parents defray some of the cost of raising a child while recognising that the primary Page: 70 responsibility for the care and development of the child rests with the parents. I acknowledge and agree that the care and development of the child is the responsibility of the parents. However, a Parliamentary Question reply on 7 July 2014 showed that only 48% of the total number of CDAs in the birth cohort of 2006 to 2013 saved to the maximum co-savings cap. To account for the lower income households with less disposable income available to divert into savings, Madam, I would like to recommend a system of ratio of dollar-for-dollar matching from the Government starting from a base of a monthly household income of $2,000. Every dollar deposited would attract a $3 match from the Government. The ratio of dollar-for-dollar would decrease as the household income rises and, eventually, normalise at the current rate when it hits $6,000. We can follow the household incomes as set out on the ECDA childcare subsidy. This would give even greater incentive to lower income households to save for their children's future, encourage co-responsibility, give more targeted assistance to those in need and ensure a levelling of opportunities available to children from lower income households. Attracting Malay Talents”
“I understand the need for caution and that we do not want to encourage sham marriages in exchange for benefits. However, no Singaporean should be unduly penalised for his or her choice in a marriage partner based on social status or income level. The current criteria for applications regardless of long- or short-term passes, PR or citizenship should be made more transparent. We should prioritise long-term stays for foreigners married to Singaporeans, especially when there are children involved. They are a group that is naturally integrated in the Singaporean Core and priority should be given to them when granting new citizenships. Madam, we need to be able to distinguish foreigners who want to make a home here from those who want to use Singapore as a transit point. With that, I urge the Government to provide more information on this family unit and support their efforts to make Singapore a home. Parenthood Package My next cut. The Child Development Account is part of the Baby Bonus and is a savings account where parents' deposits are met dollar-for-dollar by the Government, up to a cap ranging from $6,000 to $18,000, depending on the birth order of the child. In 2013, parents were given 12 years to deposit up to the savings cap, when previously they only had six years. Giving a longer time period to save up to the cap, while intended to be kind-hearted, still does not go to the heart of the problem – the lower-income households are very much less likely to have spare funds to deposit into their CDA. A child's education needs have to be managed from the very start to ensure that all children have the chance to access as many opportunities as possible, not just those from higher-income households.”
“Today, in Singapore, four in 10 marriages involving Singaporeans are between a Singaporean and a non-Singaporean. Yet, despite this increasing trend, many Singaporeans who tend to be lower income face a huge challenge getting their spouses the appropriate pass to stay in Singapore for long term and live as a stable family unit. Today, we know that there are over 11,000 LTVP holders, including LTVP Plus holders. However, today, we are unable to track the number of spouses who only get short-term visit passes which require them to move in and out of the country and do not allow them to work in Singapore. I would like to ask the Minister why it is that we are unable to track this number today and if there is a way to work towards being able to do so. Many of these foreign spouses on social visit passes tend to be female. If they have children, the children often have to shuttle in and out of Singapore along with their mothers. Extension of the social visit pass also takes time and there is no guarantee that the foreign spouse will be granted that extension. Such conditions create a lot of stress on a family who cannot plan a stable life together long term, given the constant disruption and unknown outcomes. Page: 69 We know, today, with the cost of living, it is very hard for a family with children to manage on a single income. Many of these foreign spouses would like to work and help support their Singaporean spouse and family but they are not able to do so because they are on short-term visit passes. In cases where the Singaporean spouse who is the sole breadwinner passes away or becomes critically ill, the foreign spouse has little ability to support the family without working or being able to stay here long term.”
“I urge the Minister to consider allowing CPF members to use their RA to continue to pay for their outstanding mortgage loans and the tertiary education of their children even if they Page: 55 do not meet the Minimum Sum, so as not to create sudden additional financial burden on them. After all, to many of these Singaporeans, how can they possibly think about a comfortable retirement when they are still struggling with home loans and ensuring their children have a good education? We can look at this easing of the restrictions specifically for repayment of existing loans by taking a minimum number of years back. CPF and Senior Citizens”
“Madam, CPF members who have reached 55 years of age will see a portion of their Ordinary Account (OA) and Special Account (SA) savings transferred to their Retirement Account (RA) to meet the Minimum Sum. After setting aside the Minimum Sum cash component, funds from the RA can only be used to pay for these individual's housing mortgages. An article in Yahoo Finance dated 11 February 2014 discussed the top three complaints Singaporeans have about their CPF accounts. One of the complaints is it is nearly impossible to access your RA. I have come across such cases during my MPS where residents above 55 years are unable to pay their housing loans through their RA because they have insufficient funds left over and above the Minimum Sum. And they struggle to find additional funds to pay off their housing loans instalments in cold hard cash. Some of them do not even think that they stand a chance to get CPF Board to allow them to use their monies in the RA and hence do not even want to try to appeal. I have also come across residents who wish to appeal to use their CPF RA for the purpose of funding their children's tertiary education. This will become more and more common as Singaporeans get married and have children later. Many of them will still have school-going children when they reach age 55. Madam I acknowledge that it is important to set aside sufficient funds for retirement. At the same time, we must recognise that there are immediate financial concerns that warrant exceptions to present rules. Managing housing mortgages and cost of education are financial concerns that are important to many Singaporeans.”
“Madam, it is a known fact that the strong demand for childcare will inevitably be the same for student care in time to come. I had spoken about this in last year's Debate on the President's Address. New estates like Sengkang and Punggol house younger families. Therefore, school-based student care centres (SCC) are well received in these areas. Such centres provide the much-needed convenience as both parents are working. It provides parents with peace of mind, that they need not worry about where their children will be heading to after school or whether it is safe for them to travel home alone. Such centres also offer enrichment classes and supervision to children doing homework. Such an arrangement reduces the family's need for a domestic helper and is especially useful to children that lack home support. In last year's Committee of Supply or COS debates, the Minister announced that the public can expect another 40 SCCs. While this is welcomed, I believe the Ministry can do more to push for at least one student care centre in every school. I would like to call upon the Ministry to place greater emphasis on this. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Last year, at the Debate on the President's Address, I mentioned that young families have a need for student care services. Today's need for childcare centres will turn into tomorrow's need for student care services. Student care services will help monitor the students' behaviour, as well as their homework. Parents need not worry about where to leave their children after school or whether the kids will be safe going home alone. This arrangement will reduce the family's reliance on domestic helpers. I hope the Ministry of Education (MOE) can pay more attention to this issue. Before- and After-school Care”
“This is especially useful for women who become mothers and wish to change their career paths in order to spend more time with their children. The median age of mothers at first birth was about 30.4 years and 30.5 years in 2012 and 2013 respectively. So, it would be reasonable to lower the eligible age to 35 years so that the scheme can benefit more Singaporeans who would be looking to make that mid-career shift. In conclusion, Madam, I am glad that we are investing in our people through lifelong learning. Regardless of background, age, income or chosen industry, they should all be given Page: 19 the chance to enhance their skills and experiences to empower them to take charge of their own career paths and direction in life. As the Government invests more in this area, there is much more we can do to facilitate how the culture of self-development is developed successfully. Investment in people will pay off, especially when paired with the right resources, a long-term strategy and commitment that both the Government and its people must work towards. 12.26 pm”
“There are situations where employers see interns as cheap labour and are herded from one department to another to fill gaps in any manpower crunches without any focus on their development. While we do not want to over-formalise practical training either, there must be some guidelines to ensure that students do gain from their experiences, are monitored and get significant work-ready skills. This should include having company orientations, regular mentorship and evaluation sessions and, of course, clearer goals, timelines and outcomes, for both students and the company. There must be adequate consultation between education institutions and companies from identified industries to ensure that programmes help students further develop their skills and learning, while also being in line with the needs and expectations of industries today. Lastly, Madam, enhanced subsidies for mid-career Singaporeans. Subsidies of up to 90% will be handed out to all Singaporeans aged 40 and above. These training courses have to be funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Workforce Development Agency (WDA), that is to say, if one chooses a course not funded by MOE and WDA, they will not be eligible for subsidies. There are well-developed professional courses in the market that have been proven to be useful. It will be good if the range of courses can be expanded so that every Singaporean can be given a choice to consider and benefit from the subsidies. The Government should also look at lowering the eligible age to facilitate mid-career changes, which was the objective of this programme. By doing so, Singaporeans have the opportunity to build up their expertise earlier and, thus, better contribute to the workforce.”
“An example will be, should these trainers be at least Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA)-certified? More clarity should be provided on these questions. One group of Singaporeans who would benefit greatly from these credits is homemakers. Home-makers may find themselves out of touch with the requirements of their respective work industries after staying at home to look after their young children during their growing-up years. Whether they have the confidence or ability to move back into the workforce may depend on whether they can get adequate training to refresh and upgrade their skills. Apart from going back to the workforce after their children have grown up, homemakers can also make use of these credits to pick up skills that allow them to work from home or be employed in companies that adopt flexible work practices. However, this group of Singaporeans would also not have as much cash in hand, given their lack of income and, often, their families would already be finding it a challenge to manage on a single income. Can family members transfer credits to one another since there is no expiry on credits and it could benefit the family as well? Madam, I move on to the next part of my speech, which is on internship enhancements. In my speech on the Motion on Applied Study in Polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education Review (ASPIRE), I had shared my internship experience, listed the advantages and Page: 18 pointed out the challenges of implementing internship and apprenticeship programmes. To recap, there should be consistency in terms of what students can expect to gain during their internships. There should be some formal programme structure that ensures beneficial outcomes for both students and employers.”
“This leads me to the cost of taking up courses and whether $500 is sufficient for PMETs to adequately upgrade themselves. Many valuable courses may well exceed $500. I understand from the Minister for Manpower yesterday in this House that these credits are to be used to pay the net value of courses that are heavily funded. Will there be a sufficient and robust list of approved courses for individuals to choose from that can be covered by the $500? Page: 17 While I acknowledge that self-development and upgrading must be rooted in personal self-interest and that, for some, no amount is really enough, we must also acknowledge the cost-of-living issues that many Singaporeans face today. Many working individuals will have to make tough decisions on whether to fork out a sum of money to invest in themselves or to save that money or use it for family expenses. I noted from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance's speech that the credits can be accumulated and there will be top-ups to pay for more expensive courses. I would like to find out how much and how often these top-ups are scheduled to be, since people may be less willing to commit to longer courses if they do not know how much they will end up having to fork out on their own. There is still the supply of relevant and accreditable courses that the Budget did not address. Are individuals free to choose training providers? Will there be enough relevant courses for people to take? Will there be job counsellors to guide and advise interested parties when it comes to choosing courses, especially the elderly or those re-entering the workforce after some time? Will there be a minimum standard that trainers involved in these courses need to fulfil?”
“But if you are determined to learn, no one can stop you. However, at the same time, we can help enable the individual who is willing to take ownership of his or her life. Apart from providing a $500 credit for work-related courses, we will need to address factors that might hamper the development of a culture of continued self-development. One reason why employees may not be going for the required skills upgrade could be the resistance they are getting from their respective companies. Training presents a prime opportunity to expand the knowledge base of all employees, but many employers find the development opportunities costly. Employees may need to be absent from work to attend a course or training, which may delay the completion of projects and scheduled work. Employers may also not be willing to bear some of the costs of training fees. In my previous job, I was very fortunate to be in a company that valued skills and regularly sent staff for skills upgrading for both hard and soft skills. Despite the potential drawbacks, training and development provide both the company as a whole and the individual employees with benefits that make the cost and time a worthwhile investment. Training provides a series of planned learning experiences for individuals and builds their technical skills and business competencies. Training also helps to improve efficiency and can motivate employees to do well. This helps to make positive changes to the way in which they work and make decisions. It also helps individuals to use the training to meet their individual needs and ambitions. Hopefully, with the Government formalising skills upgrading, we can change employers' mindset.”
“Mdm Speaker, Singapore has come a long way and, this year, we will be celebrating our nation's first 50 years as an independent country. Our history is important. It shapes, moulds and forms our country. Having said that, our future is equally critical, and this year's Budget takes major steps in four areas to focus on building Singapore's future. The Government investing more in our nation's most valuable assets, our people, is welcomed and, certainly, the right thing to do. Today, I will focus my speech on the need to invest in skills of the future and empower every individual to learn and develop throughout their life. On Skills Future credit, technology is constantly evolving and changing the way things are being done. Processes that we considered common and had gotten used to for years can be done today more efficiently and effectively with the help of technological advancements. Jobs can be replaced by technology, never to return. When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. And to remain competitive, it is important for people to constantly adapt and adjust to stay relevant in an era of rapid technological advances and environmental change. To charter this course of self- Page: 16 development, skills upgrading and training are essential. One of the highlights of this year's Budget is that all Singaporeans above the age of 25 will receive an initial credit of $500 for work-related courses. That is to say, even at the age of 70, one can continue to upgrade themselves. In Chinese, we call this 活到老学到老. It is true that people must be interested in getting themselves trained. They have to see the value training can bring to them. If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you.”
“As the incumbent conservancy contractor had to cease their services by end June 2013, the Town Council then needed to quickly make a decision to invite companies to tender; otherwise no one will be clearing rubbish and cleaning lifts! This is just one of the many challenges an Opposition Town Council faces. On the other hand, I am pleased to note that EMSU services provided by the previous contractor continued their services in Punggol East. Regardless of political affiliations, Page: 54 residents' interests should always be the priority and there should not be elements of political preference or fear. It will be sad if there are elements of fear when bidding for a project in Opposition Town Councils. In conclusion, Madam, we respect the findings made by AGO. In response, I want to emphasise that the Town Council has already made changes to work processes, systems and procedures to address specific lapses. With that, I would like to end off my speech by thanking all the staff who were involved in this rigorous audit process.”
“Point 7: weak controls over access to strong room and safe. There were already written authorisations by the Secretary to various officers to hold the keys to the strong room in the Town Council HQ and Finance rooms and safes at Town Council HQ as well as the branches. The Town Council has since enhanced its controls and obtained the Chairman and Secretary's authorisations for access to the strong rooms and safes. Next, Madam, I move on to unforeseen challenges. I had my first "surprise" shortly after the Punggol East by-election in January 2013. I was on the ground shortly after to meet representatives from the then conservancy contractor for both SK 1 and SK 2. SK 1 refers to blocks 101 to 141 and SK 2 refers to blocks 142 to 197. We were informed by the contractor from SK 1 that because of issues they were having with the Ministry of Manpower, they were not able to continue their contract with us. As AHPETC was going to take over only from May 2013, the Town Council requested the handing over Town Council, that is, Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council, to call for a tender for SK 1 in March. Subsequently, two established cleaning companies tendered for the contract. The tenderers were invited to attend the tender meeting in late April 2013, just before the handover in May. Unfortunately, representatives were sent from both companies to inform that they were no longer able to participate in the tender and would like to withdraw from the tender process. It was also followed up by written notices to the Town Council Chairman on their decision to withdraw without any valid reasons. AHPETC had no choice but to respect the companies' decision to withdraw.”
“AHPETC recognised that it is good control practice for bank reconciliation to be independently reviewed and for the reviewer to sign off and date on the bank reconciliation statement as evidence of review. When Aljunied-Hougang Town Council was formed in 2011, the merger resulted in the Town Council inheriting several bank accounts from the former management, in addition to those from Hougang Town Council. These accounts were mainly used for receipts and payments. To streamline the accounts, the Town Council decided to close unnecessary accounts, leaving only four accounts, that is, one operating fund and one Sinking Fund account each with two banks. Since mid-2013, the Town Council has been doing monthly bank reconciliation at the account level for each of these four accounts. I move on to Appendix B of the AGO report on Internal Controls, points 5, 6 and 7. Point 5: weak controls over cheques received. The Town Council noted AGO's observations and had improved upon its safeguarding of cheques received by mail. Cheques not banked in by the end of the day are now placed in the safe. As an additional control, all cheques received are scanned by Finance staff into a central server. Currently, the reception area is already monitored by CCTV, which would be able to detect unauthorised personnel Page: 53 accessing mails received. Point 6: surprise examinations not carried out in accordance with Town Councils Financial Rules. The Town Council has noted this observation and will implement surprise checks by the Town Council Secretary or his representative at every branch office at least once a financial year. A senior Finance staff had gone to each branch office in FY2013 and FY2014 to conduct a surprise check on cash collections and balances.”
“Thank you, Madam. Finally, I get to speak. I reiterate what my fellow party colleagues had all said before me, that is, the Town Council acknowledges that there are areas for improvements which were highlighted by the audit. Going forward, we are committed to improving the processes and have, indeed, taken on some measures already. Page: 52 There are two parts to my speech. Part one, is to address some of the disclaimers pointed out by AGO and what the Town Council has since done to improve the system and work processes. Next, I will also be touching on my experience with unforeseen challenges faced by Opposition Town Councils. Number one: disclaimers flagged out by AGO. I refer to Appendix A of the AGO's report, disclaimers 8, 9 and 10 and what the Town Council has since done to improve our systems and work processes. These are information already publicly available. Disclaimer 8: income taxes. The Town Council had since engaged a tax agent to prepare the income tax computations for FY2012/2013 as well as FY 2013/2014. Disclaimer 9: goods and services taxes. Some of these problems arose because the former Finance Manager, who was familiar with the GST submissions had, unfortunately, resigned. Going forward, the Town Council will have to work with our IT vendor to split the GST for routine and Sinking Fund income or expenses in the system. Several of our Town Council Finance team are also now familiar with the apportionment formula required by IRAS. Systems and processes for out-going staff have been put in place, as mentioned earlier by my fellow colleague Mr Pritam Singh. Disclaimer 10: cash and bank balances.”
“Madam, it is good to know that a roll-back plan was in place and had been activated. One supplementary question: does the Minister think that two hours is a good timeframe? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I think, under the circumstances, M1 did the best that they could, given the information they had. There is no standard in this world for us to judge whether two hours were adequate or inadequate. In hindsight, looking at all the actions they had taken, IDA and the Ministry are quite satisfied that two hours were a reasonable time for them.”
“Is 30% a standard rate for all pre-existing conditions, or is it a range of up to 30%, depending on the severity of the pre-existing conditions? Next, the insured will pay normal premiums after the 10 years. Is this guaranteed or subject to claims and/or premium payment experiences? More details on what constitutes pre-existing are not available. What about a scenario such as an insured who was fully covered under MediShield, a few years down the road the insured took up a private integrated shield plan and had conditions to be excluded? Will such conditions be treated as pre-existing and will be required to pay more premiums under MediShield Life? Lastly, for insured who are currently on private Integrated Shield Plans, their premiums are paid directly to the private insurers who will service the policyholders' needs. Private insurers will service all claims and sort out back-end arrangements with CPF Board to include any payouts from MediShield through the Central Claims Processing System, better known as CCPS. Since MediShield Life is replacing MediShield, am I right to assume that the current procedures remain unchanged? That is, the insured do not need to pay premiums separately? With that, I look forward to the Minister's responses. Thank you, Madam. 2.50 pm”
“However, let us not forget that there are individuals who are paying for the premiums of their children, spouse and parents from their own Medisave account. Next, access to health information. An authorised person, certified by the Minister, can have access to an individual's health information or history. I can understand the need to have access for such information for the purpose of determining the loading factor to the premiums as stated in clause 27, subsection 1a. However, like many Singaporeans, I am concerned about how much information is available and accessible to those given the authority to assess the database. What security measures are put in place to ensure that the abuse of medical information is kept to the minimum? An individual can choose to opt out of the system if he or she does not want to give such access to the Ministry. Once an individual is out, will all details be removed from viewing, or only partial information? Apart from not being able to enjoy premiums subsidies, what other benefits are they not entitled to? Will there be any implications to their claims? At which point of the application process would the insured be able to opt out? Page: 68 Third, underwriting process and pre-existing conditions. Like every insurance policy, an applicant needs to go through the underwriting process. I would like to find out how will this be done in the case of MediShield Life. Will this be individual or group underwriting? One of the key features of MediShield Life is that it covers pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions not currently covered under MediShield will have to pay an extra 30% in premiums for 10 years.”
“Thank you, Madam. This Bill sets out the legislative framework and powers for the implementation and administration of the MediShield Life Scheme. I support this Bill but I have several clarifications and concerns which I will elaborate as I move on. Page: 67 One, penalty for late payment of premiums. According to clause 11, interests may be imposed from time to time on outstanding premiums for that insurance period for those who default on payments. And in clause 17, a penalty may also be added on to the premiums and interests. I would like to find out under what circumstances will interest and/or penalties be imposed. The total amount of penalties and interests imposed cannot exceed 17%. According to an online article from Channel News Asia, these recovery measures are meant to clamp down on wilful defaulters with the means to pay their premiums and are adapted from existing income tax legislation. On what basis did MediShield Life decide to adopt such measure from the income tax legislation and how is medical insurance premium comparable to income tax? Will the insured lose their cover if the payment is still not recovered despite multiple reminders and interest incurred? I would like to assume that they would not, since this is a compulsory national insurance but, still, I would like to seek a confirmation. And if the insurance is indeed lapsed, is there a function to reinstate the policy? Will this scheme allow premium holidays for insured who genuinely cannot pay for their premiums? These could be individuals who lose their job and stop contributing to their CPF Medisave. Some may argue that although the insured becomes unemployed, Medisave savings will be able to see them through the difficult period.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. It is good to hear from the Minister that that plot of land will still be a place of worship. One supplementary question: how can such an incident take place or be overlooked? What other safeguards are there in place to prevent it from happening again?”
“In order to know if there is adequate representation, how many trade unions have applied to be accorded recognition by employers and how many have successfully done so? In conclusion, I look forward to the Minister's clarifications on the points raised. 5.08 pm”
“Thank you, Sir. According to Singapore Workforce 2014 by MOM, the number of resident PMEs has increased by an average of 4% per annum over the past 10 years. Today, PMEs comprise about 31% of the workforce and this number is expected to continue to grow. With the growing proportion of PMEs in the workforce, amendments made in this Bill to provide better protection for more workers are thus welcomed. I have two clarifications on the Bill. The first one, according to section 17(3), there is limited representation for executive employees. This could possibly include employees who are in junior or mid-level management, with job functions that include managing, directing, legal, human resource and finance. What could these employees do when they want to seek redress? Given that employees in Singapore could be multitasking within the company, this could lead to many employees having limited representation under this Bill. This could also lead to contractual manipulation by employers to restrict their employees' rights. What can be done to prevent this? In addition, is there any person or class of persons which the gazette had declared not to be employees for the purpose of this Bill? For class of persons with limited representation under the Bill, should their occupation not be stated explicitly in the Gazette or the Act itself to avoid confusion and surprises? What can the Ministry do to help employees make an informed choice when accepting a job offer or taking on additional job scope? What does the Ministry intend to do to generate more awareness among employees about this Bill, especially those with limited representation? Page: 86 Next, this Bill also excludes trade unions which have not been given recognition by an employer to act on behalf of employees.”
“However, the tough part will now come in making firm commitments and dedicating the resources required to making these recommendations a reality. With that, Page: 47 Madam, I support the Motion. 3.25 pm”
“In addition, while it is true that interns can help address a company's manpower needs, there will be students who lack initiative and treat internships as simply a course requirement or something to put on their CVs without putting in much effort. Some may only expect to do more "interesting tasks", and such interns always require more supervision and can add to the workload for the company. Such factors are disincentives for companies with limited resources. While lead institutions must encourage a culture of responsibility amongst their students and employers, there are real constraints that may need to be dealt with more specifically to incentivise companies to support such programmes. Some examples of how incentivisation can take place would be to offer grants or funding to cover the costs of taking on a student intern or apprentice which would cover things like resources required for internship supervision and mentorship. Alternatively, we could look at tax incentives for companies who sign up to participate in specific internship programmes. Such incentive schemes are implemented in countries, such as the United States and Canada, for businesses to offer high-quality work experience programmes for students. In Singapore, we have similar schemes in place as well, such as the SME Talent Programme for SMEs. We should review such existing schemes and assess how to expand and enhance them to bring a larger number of students and companies into the fold. Madam, in conclusion, I am glad to support the recommendations by ASPIRE. It shows commitment to equip students, regardless of their background or chosen path, with the right skills and experiences to empower them to take charge of their careers and plot their path to success.”
“In order to ensure a successful internship or apprenticeship programme that is available to more ITE and Polytechnic students, there must be an active drive to attract a network of committed companies across industries to support, share and mentor students through internship and apprenticeship programmes. There must be adequate consultation between education institutions and companies from identified industries to ensure that programmes help students further develop their skills and learning, in line with the needs and expectations of industries today. We need to also help companies see the value of being part of internship or apprentice programmes. The benefits include having access to a steady source of skilled pre-professionals which can address manpower needs, as well as the opportunity to source for talent for future recruitment, and get fresh ideas and perspectives from students to solve company challenges. For SMEs especially, who often struggle with manpower shortages, it Page: 46 allows them to tap into a flexible, short-term and cost-effective workforce. We must also recognise companies who are seen as actively investing in the student community and creating opportunities for them, aligned with national initiatives. While looking at shifting mindsets, there may also be a need to incentivise companies to commit to official work experience programmes, by reducing some of the short-term challenges they might face so that they can see the long-term benefits. Many companies, especially SMEs, lack the manpower to supervise and mentor interns and to provide them with adequate training while on the job. They may also lack the budget to compensate interns and apprentices.”
“As internship programmes are not extensive across courses and not all students have the opportunity to participate, students who are looking for work experience may source for internships on their own with individual companies. I have come across situations where outside a formal internship programme, interns may not even get an allowance and end up doing tasks that the company needs them to fill in for, without much supervision. Therefore, it is critical to enhance and expand official internship programmes led by the educational institutions, with companies agreeing to participate and implement more formal programme structures. While we do not want to over-formalise practical training either, there must be some guidelines to ensure that students do gain from their experiences, are monitored and get significant work-ready skills. This should include having company orientations, regular mentorship and evaluation sessions and, of course, clearer goals, timelines and outcomes, including relevant certification, for both students and the company. Making firm and clear commitments. I think we can agree that internship and apprenticeship programmes are critical for students to make well-informed choices and acquire the right skills for successful future careers. We should aspire for each student to have exposure to at least one internship or apprenticeship programme during his or her time in ITE or Polytechnic, even going so far as ensuring that formal work experience becomes part of their course requirement. Mdm Speaker, we must commit to setting clear goals going forward so that the desired outcomes of the ASPIRE report can be made a reality. Active consultation with industry.”
“My internship gave me greater insights into that particular industry and what I realised was that tax and accounting were not quite the right path for me, something I may not have realised till much later, if not for this internship. Every student, regardless of whether they are in University, Polytechnic or ITE should have the opportunity to explore and demonstrate their skills through quality work trainings. Companies will also have greater exposure to students from Polytechnics and ITEs. They can evaluate them first-hand, based on skills and capabilities, and not just on paper qualifications. This would help reduce any perception that employers may have towards students from particular institutions. Challenges. While work experience programmes are becoming increasingly popular today, one challenge is ensuring some level of consistency in terms of what students can expect to gain during their internships. Internship and apprenticeship programmes are often voluntary and informal, so students can get vastly different experiences. While I benefited from my internship, many of my peers who had done internships elsewhere felt that they did not have much guidance, and others felt that they were given pointless tasks where they did not learn. I have learnt of similar experiences today when speaking with students in my ward. Without a formal programme structure, there is plenty of opportunity for abuse. There are situations where employers see interns as cheap labour and are herded from one department to another to fill gaps in any manpower crunches without any focus on their Page: 45 development.”
“Mdm Speaker, the recommendations made by the ASPIRE Committee represent a welcome shift in how we approach education and how we enable Singaporean students to succeed as they choose different educational paths. This shift is important as we recognise the growing diversity of Singaporeans and their interests, as well as the changing needs of the markets. Today, I will focus on recommendations on how students in ITEs and Polytechnics can get meaningful work experience through internships and Place-and-Train or apprenticeship Page: 44 programmes. Work experience is an excellent opportunity for students to learn practical aspects of industry-specific jobs, not just the theoretical mechanics in the classroom. This helps them achieve a high level of competence and understanding of their own interests and abilities. While I agree with the ASPIRE recommendations that we need to enhance internships in collaboration with industry partners and expand options for students through apprenticeship programmes, what is critical is how we go about implementing these recommendations to bring real benefit to our ITE and Polytechnic students. The value of work experience. Madam, during my time at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, I did an internship for four months at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) as part of my Business Studies course. Although it was for a short period, it was a very fulfilling and pivotal experience for me. I was fortunate enough to be assigned to an encouraging mentor who dedicated time to setting goals for me and evaluating my progress.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. One supplementary question – will such CCTVs be also installed in new BTO flats? And if yes, will the Ministry consider working with MND to have them installed upon obtaining Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) for these flats?”
“Thank you. I agree that it does not just lie solely with MOM, which was why I suggested that we should also be looking at working with the National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC), because productivity is also one of the factors why a lot of companies are not taking up this option. And I am glad to know that there will be more initiatives, especially in November 2014, which was mentioned earlier, and I look forward to that. Hopefully, we can see more advancements in this area. 3.06 pm Page: 38”
“The National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC), which brings together representatives from the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Education, Manpower and Finance, is a very appropriate body to address work-life harmony. The Council should integrate work-life strategies into its industry-specific productivity strategies and campaigns. Page: 62 This will also have the advantage of customising work-life strategies to the specific work processes, contexts and needs of different industries. Madam, the President concludes his speech pledging ourselves anew to build a better, brighter Singapore. Today we have the ability to broaden our social security nets and to pay closer attention to the diversity of challenges our citizens face today. As a successful and progressive country, we are in the best position to focus more attention on those who need an extra hand. People must be at the centre of how decisions are made, even if they belong to the fringes, for it is really how we treat those who are most vulnerable that is the true mark of leadership and governance. 4.31 pm”
“First, it is because the centre is in the school; second, there are supervisors at the centre to make sure the children do their homework and behave properly; third, it can reduce parents' dependence on maids. The Minister for Education revealed in March during the COS debate that MOE will set up another 40 Primary school-based SCCs in the next two years. Though it is a good move, I feel the number is not enough to meet the increasing demand. The Minister for Social and Family Development (MSF) said in his COS speech that MSF will work with WDA to provide training for teachers at the SCCs. However, different from childcare centres, the operators of SCCs are not regulated by the Government in regard to their standard, this is a worry. I hope the Government can speed up the process of setting up more school-based SCCs and the teaching standard of SCCs will be raised. (In English): Madam, back to English, please. I move on to my last point. Flexible work options. I have brought this matter up several times before in this House. Financial incentives introduced by the Government, such as Baby Bonus and Child Development Account to encourage having more children, need to be complemented by a change in attitudes and mindsets of employers with regard to flexible work options. According to some surveys, 88% of Singaporeans say they work beyond office hours. Other reports suggest that a minority of companies have work-life balance initiatives for their employees. Work-life harmony has been tackled exclusively in the domain of manpower policy. This clearly has not worked. As work-life harmony is associated with business performance and productivity, there is a need for closer coordination between Ministries that are concerned with productivity.”
“On top of supporting vulnerable groups, the President has pledged that the Government must support strong families – one way that they can act to achieve both would be to tackle this issue to help retain and keep families intact. We need to be able to distinguish foreigners who want to make a home here with their Singaporean family from those who want to use Singapore as a stepping stone. It is important to recognise that it is the Singaporeans and their Singaporean children who suffer most in such situations. I urge the Government to review this to keep the family unit in mind. Madam, I will now move on to the second part of my speech. Supporting young families. We cannot ignore the national challenges we face with low fertility rates, and we must do all we can to support young Singaporeans so that they can make an easier choice to have families in the first place. A critical way to do this is to ensure that parents have greater flexibility in managing family and work commitments, and have adequate care support for their children at different stages in their lives. Page: 61 The availability of student care. Madam, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In new towns like Sengkang and Punggol, there are many young families. Today's needs for childcare services will change into tomorrow's needs for student care services. Currently, school-based Student Care Centres (SCCs) are very popular. For working couples, whether they can comfortably leave their children with a student care centre is very important. I think the Government should set up more school-based SCCs. Usually, people are more comfortable sending their children to school-based SCCs.”