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 2 of 3.
“Page: 60 Another problem arises when the Singaporean spouse, who is the sole breadwinner in such cases, passes away or becomes critically ill, leaving the foreign spouse to take over the responsibility of supporting the family which often consists of very young Singaporean children. Daily living quickly becomes an uphill task. Eventually, the foreign spouse may be forced to leave Singapore with his or her children. It is a shame to lose Singaporean children this way. Mdm Speaker, marriage is a choice that everyone has the right to make. While it is not explicitly stated, what can be observed are two clear areas of consideration when awarding passes to foreign spouses – the length of stay and duration of marriage, as well as the sponsor's ability to financially support the family and sustain the marriage. The first is understandable as we do not want to encourage sham marriages in exchange for benefits but no Singaporean should be unduly penalised for his or her choice in partner based on social status or income level. The current criteria for applications – regardless of long/short-term passes, PR, or citizenship – should be made clearer and more transparent so that a full review can be conducted. Priority should be given to applications by Singapore family units. This was outlined in the Workers' Party's Population Policy Paper, which states that the process of new citizenship naturalisation should prioritise foreign spouses of Singaporeans. This is especially with regard to "resident foreign spouses who have settled in Singapore… Many of them are parents of children who are citizens. They are a group that is naturally integrated in the Singaporean core, and priority should be given to them when granting new citizenships".”
“However, the breakdown of a marriage is difficult enough for most parties, especially where there are children involved. What the state should do to support these Singaporeans is to make it easier for them to be able to find housing, so that they can move on with their lives and provide their children with an element of stability amidst an already tough situation. Next, low-income Singaporeans and their foreign spouses. 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 long-term and live as a stable family unit. Over the course of my work, I have met Singaporeans, typically male and earning lower incomes, whose wives are unable to qualify for LTVP/LTVP+. Today, we know that there are over 11,000 Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders, including Pass-Plus (LTVP+) holders. There are an unknown number of spouses who only get Short-Term Visit Passes (STVP) which require them to move in and out of the country. From my experience on the ground, the number is significant. Many of these foreign spouses on social visit passes tend to be female, and 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 young family, who cannot plan a stable life together long term, given the constant disruption and unknown outcomes.”
“A divorcee is faced with several untenable options for housing. He or she can buy over the other half of the house, or purchase or rent from the open market. These choices require financial means that the individual may not have, especially on a single income. The divorcee can also purchase or rent directly from HDB but may no longer qualify as a first-timer. There are other restrictions like the debarment period of 30 months for a rental flat and a three years waiting period if their previous flat was purchased directly from HDB as well. A divorced parent, especially with children under his or her custody cannot afford to wait for extended periods to find a roof over their heads. The standard waiting time to queue for a BTO flat or rental flat, is already long enough. Imagine how much longer it is for a Page: 59 divorced parent with children in tow, who are already struggling to cope with the emotional fallout that comes with the breakup of a family. I would like to propose that the Ministry looks into further shortening or to do away with the debarment period especially for rental flats for divorcees with children, given the challenges they face with their existing options. The Ministry should also consider expanding the number of 3-room flats under Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS). Under PPHS, the take-up rates for 4- and 5-room flats are much lower due to high rental costs and most families looking to rent under the scheme may not be big enough to be able to justify renting a larger flat. Mdm Speaker, this is timely, given the President has announced the Government's plans to "commit to house all Singaporeans and to help them own their homes". The Government understandably takes a pro-family stand in the development of our policies.”
“Mdm Speaker, as a nation, Singapore has come a long way in 50 years and achieved much that we should be proud of. As we have evolved, so have the challenges our society faces and it is time to reflect on how we can do better for our people. Amongst the pledges outlined by the President, one that resonated with me most was strengthening safety nets to help the vulnerable. In the first part of my speech, I would like to address who we determine to be vulnerable and propose ways to support certain groups that are in need of help. The President also pledged to support the development of stronger families and help younger Singaporeans achieve their potential. In the second part of my speech I will touch on how we can do more to support young Singaporean families in their life aspirations. Vulnerable groups. Madam, I am heartened to hear the President commit to keeping the pathway upwards open to all Singaporeans, regardless of their background or circumstances. I have spoken at length in this House about the plight of unwed, single parents as well as caregivers, and have provided recommendations on what we can do. Today, I would like to talk about two other groups that need our attention – divorcees and Singaporeans with foreign spouses. Between 2007 and 2012, there have been more than 7,000 divorces a year and more than 8,000 children affected by divorce every year. One of the biggest struggles for many divorced single parents is home ownership post-divorce. When a couple goes through divorce, the flat will be sold and sales proceeds apportioned accordingly. Such a sale is usually done within a stipulated timeframe, and each finds him or herself with some cash from the sales, but without a roof over their heads.”
“I think we can all agree that parents are parents all the same, whether they are single or married. Their parental responsibilities and the needs of their children do not differ. I would urge the Ministry to seriously consider equalising their benefits. Families in Crisis”
“Chairman, l welcome the changes made last year to include single parents for both infant care and childcare leave. In last year's COS, I called for the same maternity leave to be extended to single parents. Currently, a married woman is entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave while an unwed mother is only entitled to eight weeks of paid maternity leave. Maternity leave is particularly important for the child as well as the mother to recuperate physically and emotionally from child bearing. A mother's marital status is irrelevant. Because of this, single mothers will have to quickly get back to their workplace while they are still struggling and recovering to find infant care assistance for their very young babies. Page: 168 Apart from maternity leave, a single parent below the age of 35 and her child do not qualify as a family nucleus when applying for a new HDB flat or rental flat. They are also not eligible for housing subsidies. Housing is a basic necessity and single parents need to provide themselves and their child a roof over their heads, too. This often leaves them with no choice but to rent or purchase from the open market. With hefty rental rates, such families may have to cut back on other expenses, such as medical and food for their children. I have come across cases in Punggol East where they have difficulties looking for a place to stay. They have to stay in an overcrowded flat or move from month to month to stay with their relatives or friends. Single parents are also not eligible for baby bonus. Raising children is not an easy task financially, even if one is married and has two incomes. The cash component and money in CDA will certainly come in handy to help the single parent manage early childhood expenses.”
“Madam, two clarifications for the Minister, please. The first one – are there plans to conduct a review of IDAPE? The current payouts of $150 and $250 are too low. Next, will the Ministry consider releasing a list of what are the types of new cancer treatments not classified as chemotherapy that are currently allowed under MediSave? This will provide greater clarity for the public as well as our frontline healthcare staff. 6.00 pm”
“Madam, one group of Singaporeans that is often left out of our Budget are caregivers. Caregivers include stay-at-home mothers, grandparents who are primary caregivers of their grandchildren, as well as individuals caring for dependant parents or relatives. Being a caregiver is a full-time job that has not just physical and emotional challenges, but financial ones, too, as many caregivers have to stay out of the workforce to manage their caregiving responsibilities or can only do part-time work. A study commissioned by the then-MCYS found that almost half of the caregivers are unemployed. In 2013, there were an estimated 210,000 people who provide regular care to family and friends. This number is expected to grow, along with the demands for caregiving. In fact, last year, The Straits Times reported the caregiver crunch in Singapore. Currently, the Government offers tax reliefs to help their families, for example, parent relief, handicapped dependant relief and grandparents' caregiver relief. These are good measures, but they are indirect assistance. The inherent problem is that it is regressive in nature. The lower income benefit less, compared to their higher income counterparts, despite being most in need of financial support. I would like to recommend that direct and progressive support measures, such as subsidies, CPF or MediSave contributions, be provided directly to caregivers. A good example will be for stay-at-home mothers to be eligible for infant and childcare additional subsidies, just like working mothers. 3.15 pm Informal Caregivers”
“Madam, MediSave currently allows withdrawals for the following outpatient cancer treatments: radiotherapy, outpatient radio surgery treatment and outpatient chemotherapy. However, it is unclear if MediSave can be used for newer cancer therapies that do not fall under these categories. With advances in medical technology, a range of new cancer treatment options which were not classified as chemotherapy are now being offered to patients, for example, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, better known as TKI drug therapy. These options are more targeted, acting only on cancer cells. It is anticipated that this class of treatments will grow in use and importance. Whether they are covered by MediSave has become unclear, not only to the frontline healthcare staff but, more importantly, to the patients and their families. Uncertainty and confusion about whether they can afford to pay for these new treatments out of their MediSave accounts lead to anxieties for cancer patients and their families at a time when the focus should have been on them getting appropriate treatment. Can the Minister clarify how he decides whether MediSave can be used for cancer therapies that do not fall under the currently provided categories? If MediSave is not currently allowed for a specific cancer therapy, what is the process to appeal for MediSave to be used? How can the review be fast-tracked on these types of therapies? Could the Ministry also release guidelines for the public on the eligibility of the different treatments available in the market to make the process less uncertain and confusing?”
“Madam, both the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly, better known as IDAPE, and ElderShield were launched in 2002. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents with Page: 59 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 who would need 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 payout and the subsidies. I propose that we raise the monthly subsidies in line with the current inflation rate of 1.4% and to extend the payout period from six to 10 years. The Pioneer Generation Package was launched to recognise the contributions of senior citizens for nation-building. Hence, it is timely for MOH to conduct a review on both the payout for ElderShield and IDAPE to better support the care of the severely disabled elderly.”
“It is also noticed that with some of these, the supporting infrastructure may not have been built or optimised and has, thus, caused much strain at various levels. And these strains include limitations caused by roads, either insufficient capacity, or the number of lanes available; insufficient designated parking facilities as well as traffic and social disamenities caused by over-crowding, especially where these areas are in close proximity to schools and residential areas. How exactly does BCA/URA collaborate and plan with relevant agencies on meeting some of these needs and alleviating anticipated problems and challenges of existing as well as new developments? In many areas, the lack of proper early planning and alignment has resulted in agencies having to play a catch-up game. Page: 141 Nature Conservation Policy”
“Mr Chairman, residents in new estates like Sengkang and Punggol face a lot of inconvenience in accessing basic amenities like barbers, markets, clinics, and food centres. This takes a toll especially on elderly residents and families with young children. I wish to focus this cut on accessibility of food centres in new estates. In 2012, the Recommendation Report of the Hawker Centre Panel stated: "Besides providing a source of affordable food for the community, hawker centres have become part of the social landscape, being community spaces Page: 140 where residents from all walks of life could freely interact. They are a unique feature of Singapore's urban landscape and help engender a sense of belonging to Singapore." I have four questions for the Minister. (a) What factors does the Government take into account in assessing where new hawker centres are to be built? (b) To what extent does the Government take into account the number of hawker centres per population within a locality as a deciding factor for building a hawker centre? (c) What measures have been taken to ensure that residents of non-mature estates are not disadvantaged compared to residents of mature estates when it comes to nearby access to affordable cooked food? (d) In planning for new towns, how are hawker centres factored into the planning process? Infrastructure Support and Consequences Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Mr Chairman, in land-scarce and highly dense Singapore, proper planning and utilisation of space is critical. Of late, the development of residential and industrial areas have mushroomed rapidly, especially in certain areas.”
“7 to 4.1 drop calls. Does IDA feel that this accurately reflects what the Singapore subscribers are experiencing? Lastly, would IDA consider using more technologically advanced and accurate methods to audit network traffic logs, such as using Deep Packet Inspection, better known as DPI? Library Outreach”
“In a written reply to my Parliamentary Question on 17 February this year, the Minister mentioned: "There are no inconsistencies between the results for mobile network coverage and drop call rates as they measure different aspects of an operator's network. The former measures the presence of radio signals of a certain signal strength, at a certain location. End users typically see this represented by the varying number of signal strength "bars" on their handphones. Test results for this indicator are typically collected by IDA through drive and walk tests. The call drop rate, on the other hand, is a measure of the availability of radio channels to handle and maintain established calls. It is assessed by IDA using the network traffic logs, which reflect actual users' data." The reply stated that drop call rate is a measure of the availability of radio channels to handle and maintain established calls. However, in the IDA's QoS standards and performance results, there have not been any tests done, monitored or published for this availability of radio channels. Hence, I would like to find out how did IDA arrive at this conclusion. The fact is, if there is no availability of radio channels, calls will not be set up in the first place and, hence, that call will not have existed to be dropped later. Page: 51 Apart from the above, I have three other questions for the Minister. First, drop call rates are heavily affected by coverage because when a mobile phone moves to an area of low or no signal strength, the call will drop. Therefore, I would like to find out how did M1, with the worst coverage, have the lowest drop call rates? Next, based on the drop call rates published by IDA, for every 1,000 phone calls that the Singapore subscribers make, they should only experience 2.”
“Madam, in last year's COS, I brought up the question of whether a $10,000 fine imposed on our operators for failing to meet IDA's QoS standards is sufficient to provide the push for operators to invest in improvements of their network infrastructure. I am glad to note that there had been more appropriate penalties levied on operators for failing to meet operational expectations. On 24 January this year, M1 was fined again for failing to meet the new standard for outdoor 3G coverage. M1 spokesman said that, "We note that M1's network delivered the best call quality, with the highest call success rate and the lowest call drop rate". Instead of relying on two simple metrics, IDA should consider redefining how call quality is determined. Page: 50 Firstly, IDA QoS standards did not test for any data-related metrics, such as throughput and latency, which are two important components that will help Singapore become a dynamic and vibrant global infocomm hub. Next, allow me to make comparison with another country's regulatory standards. We are using received signal strength level of minus100 dBm to access the coverage for 2G. In UK, the regulatory authority, Ofcom, uses minus 86 dBm. This means that the absolute signal strength requirements for 2G is 25 times lower in Singapore compared to UK. For 3G, Ofcom is measuring received signal code power, better known as RSCP, which is more appropriate, as 3G is a spread spectrum technology with scrambling codes, instead of received signal strength (RSSI), as done in Singapore. Will IDA consider having stricter coverage requirements and more comprehensive quality standards so as to provide Singapore subscribers and businesses with better access to telecommunications services? Drop Call Rates My next cut.”
“In order to prevent abuse, supporting materials, such as hospital receipts and letters from doctors or physiotherapists, may be submitted to employers. Marriage and Parenthood Package”
“Singapore's rapidly ageing population requires a holistic approach to the many challenges involved. As our parents and grandparents age, they will require not only medical attention, but also regular care and support from their children who may be working adults. These working adults may need to leave work from time to time to care for the elderly. As it stands, it is not mandatory for employers in the private sector to provide for parent-care leave. The Civil Service introduced parent leave in late 2011 whereby civil servants are entitled to two days of eldercare leave, without the need to show medical Page: 90 certificate. This is a good start but two days are not enough. According to an MOM survey in 2010, only 10.6% of private companies offered parent care leave to their employees. Furthermore, the survey noted that only large companies with 200 or more employees did so. This is, again, plainly insufficient. Calls for mandatory parental leave have also been heard in this House. On 12 November 2013, at the Second Reading of the Employment, Parental Leave and Other Measures Bill, Members of the House asked the Government to consider making eldercare leave mandatory across the board. In response, Acting Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said that while he encouraged support for elderly parents, the Ministry was "mindful that we should allow businesses to adjust and we do not have plans to legislate any family leave schemes at this present stage." Making such leave mandatory is reasonable since many of our elderly parents visit the hospitals or clinics very often for check-ups. Hence, I would like to urge the Ministry to make it mandatory for all private companies to offer Singaporean employees parent-care leave.”
“There is no better time than now for companies to make these ICT investments to enable flexi-work, and for the Government to steer them in this direction through a number of existing measures such as this. Page: 87 Flexible Work Arrangements and WorkPro”
“We have talked extensively about the need to institutionalise work-life balance at the workplace. While we have existing policies to encourage employers to implement flexible work, it seems that more needs to be done. A recent global survey by Randstad this year revealed that only 20% of companies in Singapore intend to hire more people on flexible working arrangements. Fifty-five percent of employers admit that their organisations' efforts to create flexible work options are average or poor. The main reason for this is, business leaders are not convinced that this will be beneficial to their organisations, particularly in terms of employee productivity. There are countless studies, including one by MOM, that debunk this myth and prove, in fact, that flexible work practices can boost productivity. By creating a better work culture that engages and addresses employees' needs, companies can retain talent and improve productivity. Flexible work does not just improve employee morale, but ensures that employees are set up to work remotely which reduces service gaps and business continuity. The Deputy Prime Minister had outlined the ICT for Productivity and Growth (IPG) programme to accelerate the adoption of ICT solutions. This encourages the adoption of ICT to address productivity concerns. The Government has committed to channelling companies towards more flexible working arrangements to support families in Singapore. As such, it is important that the Government leads the way in shifting mindsets that flexible work arrangements hamper productivity. Solutions that can drive productivity and enable flexible working should be promoted. Further reward should be offered to those who can implement flexible work policies successfully upon adoption of that technology.”
“Similar to CPF nomination, members are not aware that their beneficiaries change according to marital status. It is timely to conduct a review of the consequences of the intestacy law and greater awareness must be generated to the public on how this will affect their CPF money. Review of Minimum Sum”
“CPF proceeds are distributed according to the intestacy law if the member did not make any nomination prior to his or her death, with the exception of our Muslim friends whose proceeds will be distributed under the Administration of Muslim Law Act. The intestacy law states that when a CPF member is married, it will revoke a previous nomination. However, when a member goes through a divorce, it Page: 65 will not revoke the previous nomination unless the member makes a fresh nomination after the divorce or remarries. Unfortunately, many CPF members are not aware of this fact. I have come across cases in Punggol East where there is confusion amongst the immediate relatives of the deceased, uncertain about where their relation's CPF money has been transferred to. Very often, family members approach the CPF Board to understand who the beneficiaries are but are turned away as this is considered confidential information. This allocation process may not be in line with the member's wishes and their money may not reach the people whom the member feels need it most. For example, if spouse and children are financially self-reliant, the member might have wanted to provide for their elderly parents, disabled or unemployed siblings, grandchildren or even grandparents. I would like to suggest to the Ministry to send notices to CPF members whenever their marital status changes so as to allow members to make changes to their nominations if they choose to. This will require some additional administration but it can help to eliminate confusion and pain for CPF members and their immediate families. Section 73 of the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act (CLPA) has generated much controversy in the past. One of the contributing factors was lack of awareness.”
“While we want to encourage two-parent families under the institution of marriage, we must also have ways to provide support to single parents so that their children start out on a more equal footing, despite their circumstances. Madam, the ones who inevitably suffer the most because of these measures are the children of single parents. Our focus when addressing the issue of single parent households should be on the child, and we should not be punishing a child for whatever actions we deem his or her parents to have committed. In conclusion, I welcome the Pioneer Generation Package. I would love to see more to be done to let our pioneers enjoy their retirement and enjoy the fruits of their labour. I would elaborate more during the Committee of Supply debate on the three issues I have brought up in this speech, specifically, caregivers, worklife balance and single parents. 2.15 pm Page: 62”
“As part of the Budget recommendations, the Deputy Prime Minister outlined the ICT for Productivity and Growth (IPG) programme to accelerate the adoption of ICT solutions. I would like to recommend that solutions that can enable flexible work policies should be featured as approved solutions. I believe there is no better time than now for companies to make these ICT investments to enable flexi-work. Companies can take full advantage of the PIC grants and other available schemes to make the investment. Page: 61 Lastly, an area I had hoped the Budget would consider this year is equalising support for single parents. The Government made the right step in equalising childcare and infant care leave last year. I was, however, disappointed to hear no specific move this year to equalise other support measures that married mothers have, including maternity leave, housing support, Baby Bonus and the Parenthood Tax Rebate. The Budget rightfully focuses on ways to reduce income inequality in society. As such, it is important to address specific segments of society that are "at risk" of falling behind and look at how the Government can provide assistance to ensure the chances of this happening are reduced, especially when it comes to children. Many studies have shown that children from single-parent households have lower economic mobility than children born to married parents. There are many factors that contribute to this, from a loving dual-parent family structure being most ideal for the emotional and social development of a child, to the single parent's financial constraints that limit what he or she can provide for the child to help the child get a better start in life. These challenges are all the more why single parents should be better supported in Singapore.”
“This is because they devote all their time to care for their family, and are unable to work full-time. At best, they can only take on a part-time job. The effort that they put in is no less than those at the workplace. However, they are often neglected. Take this Budget, for example, none of them will benefit from it directly. For this "job", they get no recognition, no salary, no bonus, no CPF and no tax relief. These caregivers are important pillars of our families. Their sacrifice and the important role they play are often overlooked by society. Currently, the Government offers tax relief to help their families, for example, parent relief and child relief. These are good measures but they are indirect assistance. Moreover, although we now offer child relief for working mothers, mothers who leave the workforce to look after their children do not enjoy similar benefits. Therefore, I urge the Government to provide direct economic assistance to this group of people. I will put up my suggestions during the COS debate. (In English): Next, I would like to touch on measures to help individuals better balance their work and family commitments. We have talked extensively about the need to institutionalise worklife balance to address our current low fertility rates and the stress that balancing careers and families have, especially on mothers. Despite the Government's efforts to encourage this through Flexi! Works schemes, it seems that more needs to be done to change the mindset of employers. Reports have shown that flexible work arrangements can drive productivity and the key to this is adopting the right technology infrastructure to facilitate this.”
“One recommendation to extend the PGP beyond healthcare would be to implement a discount scheme or a "PGP Pass" for the elderly to access major tourist attractions for free or places of entertainment for a discount. The United States and Ireland, for example, have implemented "senior passes" or "Passports for Leisure" for the elderly, entitling them to special discounts and access to state leisure and recreational facilities as well as private sector attractions. Our pioneers have built Singapore to what it is today, and as part of how we honour them, we should make Singapore and its many attractions accessible so that they can spend their retirement time enjoying landmarks of Singapore's success. In addition, while the PGP is warmly welcomed for the current Pioneer Generation, the challenges our Pioneer Generation faces today will be the challenges our ageing population will continue to face going forward and this will need to be continually addressed by the Government, beyond the Pioneer Generation of citizens. Madam, I will continue my speech in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Next, I would like to remind everyone not to forget another group of people. They take care of the household every day, looking after their children, and some even have to take care of parents who are staying with them. They are the caregivers in our families. They include grandparents that take care of their grandchildren, housewives, stay-at-home husbands and also those who take care of family members who are unwell. This group of people work round the clock, from morning until night. It is a thankless job that is both physically and mentally challenging, and one that puts Page: 60 them in a financially disadvantaged position.”
“A more flexible use of MediSave would greatly benefit the elderly, since many of them may not suffer from an approved chronic condition, but have other illnesses that require costly long-term care and constant medical attention, a point I brought up in the last COS and also previously during the By-election. I hope to see a wider range of medication, outpatient treatments and perhaps early screening tests to be included into the usage of MediSave. The Workers' Party has also consistently called for Singaporeans above the age of 75 to be allowed to withdraw from MediSave for any medical care without restrictions. I look forward to hearing more details from the Ministry during COS. Given the high cost of healthcare today, as well as the propensity for the elderly to fall sick as they get older, I welcome the main focus of the Pioneer Generation Package on easing the healthcare burden. Page: 59 However, at the same time, we should take a more holistic view of supporting our Pioneer Generation. The policy framework for our Pioneer Generation should also consider how we can enable our pioneers and the elderly to lead a more meaningful life in times of good health. After all, with today's healthcare standards, many of our elderly look forward to more years of good health post-retirement than they used to before. Today, we have a number of schemes and activities to encourage active ageing, but at the same time there is more we can do to enhance retirement activities to keep our pioneers active, independent and happy. A healthy and stimulating social life is, in fact, a form of preventive healthcare.”
“Mdm Speaker, over the past few years, Singaporeans have faced increasing strain with the growing cost of living and Page: 58 deepening income inequality. This year's Budget's focus on ensuring strong support, particularly for the elderly through the Pioneer Generation Package, as well as strengthening overall social safety nets are a step in the right direction towards easing the financial burden on many Singaporeans. I welcome the Pioneer Generation Package and, at the same time, I would like to recommend several other areas for the Government to consider addressing in the Budget, specifically caregiver support, more efforts into encouraging flexible work arrangements, as well as equalising support for single parents. The Pioneer Generation Package, better known as PGP, although it may be belated, is welcomed. For many years, Singaporeans have been calling for more measures to take care of our Pioneer Generation, whose hard work and sacrifices have led us to the country we have today. This package, which was designed to honour and recognise the Pioneer Generation for their significant contributions in the early days of our nation-building, rightfully focuses primarily on healthcare affordability. For elderly Singaporeans, being able to manage their healthcare costs has always been one of their greatest concerns. It is heartening to note that means-testing is not required for the pioneer to qualify for the Package, so that a wider range of our senior citizens can get the support they need for their medical care. In the Deputy Prime Minister's Budget Statement, he mentioned that there will be more flexibility to use the MediSave for a range of outpatient treatments.”
“Thank you, Madam. Two supplementary questions. The first is from my original Question No 4 on the Order Paper, part (e): whether the current number of immigration officers is enough to deal with the surge in travellers during peak seasons. The second question: what has been done to ensure that the attention of immigration officers is not compromised as a result of tiredness and/or long working hours?”
“I would like to find out whether the shared parental leave includes fathers of adopted children. If not, why not?”
“In conclusion, I welcome the changes and hope that the Minister is able to make clarifications in his response. 4.49 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, my speech will focus on the amendments made to parental leave as well as Child Development Co-Savings Act. I would like to seek clarifications on these two areas. With the inclusion of the two weeks shared parental leave between parents to the existing pool of leave which include maternity, paternity and/ or adoption leave, the Employment Act and Child Development Co-savings Act will be providing new formula to compute these leaves. I would like to find out whether the new shared parental leave includes fathers of adopted children. Can the Ministry consider legislating employers to allow fathers to take the leave flexibly by days instead of by weeks? If the Government is leaving it to the mutual agreement between the father's employer and the father, for the leave to be taken flexibly by days instead of by block leave, these arrangements should be monitored closely and further evaluated. Shared parental leave has to be allocated by weeks from the mother's maternity leave to father. Can the Ministry consider allowing fathers to return the shared parental leave back to the mother if it is not consumed? Next, the Child Development Co-Savings Act will be updated to accurately reflect the policy that parents' total childcare and extended childcare leave is based on their youngest qualifying Singapore Citizen child under the Child Development Co-Savings Act. This is done to avoid situations where parents who have both an older Singapore Citizen and a younger non-citizen child double claim leave under Page: 77 both the Employment Act and the Child Development Co-Savings Act. I would like to find out from the Ministry on whether there are such cases happening and if yes, how many of such cases have taken place over the last five years to warrant this change?”
“I would like to find out the rationale for not allowing HPS premiums to be deducted directly from children's CPF OA since funds from the children's CPF MAs are currently allowed to be used to pay for parents' premiums for MediShield as well as Medisave-approved integrated Shield plans. Are there different parameters that are used to consider them?”
“When the Ministry is conducting such reviews, I would like to find out whether there are any ways, methods or formulas that were used previously to conduct its review, in order to continue to stay relevant. In other words, how are the reviews done?”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. I have one supplementary question: whether the Ministry can consider, as I have mentioned earlier in my PQ, using basic salary instead of Assessable Income, with the provision that the Assessable Income is not more than a certain number of times of the basic salary, since allowances make up a substantial portion of low-income workers' pay. As such, they may inadvertently be left out of the scheme. For the Ministry's consideration, please.”
“Thank you, Madam. I would like to direct my question once again back to the Minister for Health. Earlier on, I had asked two supplementary questions, I would like to thank him for his reply to question one. I do not know if I had missed it but I did not hear the reply for question two.”
“Mdm Speaker, two supplementary questions for the Minister. Number one, will the Ministry consider working directly with manufacturers or industry to come out with something for children given that the haze is a decade-long problem and we do not know whether it will be back again? Children being younger are more prone to health effects. Question two, the MOH clarified to the public that N95 masks are not certified for children's use on 23 June. This came three days after the three-hour Page: 55 PSI reading soared to an all-time high of 321 at 10.00 pm on 20 June. Many parents were not aware that the masks were not suitable for children and were using it when the haze was at its worst. The question is: why was this piece of information not publicised earlier and what can we do in the future to disseminate crucial information in a more timely manner?”
“I thank the Acting Minister for his reply. Like Sengkang and Punggol, Punggol East has an acute shortage as well. Are there any possibilities to see any new childcare centres up by 2014? The stated timeline was by the first quarter of 2015 – some of them just cannot wait that long.”
“I would like to thank the Minister for his response. The appeal I was referring to was, according to the resident, the first appeal where he went down to the CPF Board personally to appeal for the use of his RA. That was the appeal that I was referring to. I am glad to know from the Minister that the letter that I had written on his behalf is under review. For the past one month, I had written a couple of letters on the same issue. I hope that they will also be looked into as well.”
“We can look at this easing of the restriction specifically for repayments of existing loans by taking a minimum number of years back, and not for more recent purchases.”
“CPF members who have reached 55 years old will see a portion of their Ordinary Account and Special Account savings transferred to their Retirement Account to meet the Minimum Sum. Funds from the Retirement Account can only be used to pay for these individuals' housing mortgages after setting aside their Minimum Sum cash component. I come across such cases every week during my MPS, where residents above 55 years are unable to pay their housing loans through their Retirement Account because they have insufficient funds left over and above the Minimum Sum, and they struggle to find additional funds to pay off their housing loan instalments. One such resident, Mr Ang, had about $20,000 transferred from his CPF OA to his Retirement Account when he turned 55 last year. His monthly instalment for his housing loan is $700. He appealed to CPF to allow him to use the funds in his Retirement Account to pay for the instalments but was rejected. This leaves him with the only option of forking out cash for the instalments. This is a heavy burden for him whose take-home pay is less than $2,000. On top of that, he needs to finance his children's tertiary education. In a written answer to a PQ filed in 2011, Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that there are about 1,250 HDB flat lessees who are aged 55 and above, and are in mortgage arrears for three months or more. It is important to set aside sufficient funds for retirement. However, at the same time, we must acknowledge that there are immediate financial concerns that warrant exceptions to present rules. I urge the Minister to consider allowing CPF members to use their Retirement Account to continue to pay for their outstanding loan, even if they do not meet the Minimum Sum so as not to create sudden additional financial burden to them.”
“Page: 103 Madam, this House has on many occasions reiterated that the declining TFR poses a serious population problem for Singapore. If we are committed to reversing this trend, we must make the fostering of a conducive family environment a priority when we look at work-life balance. Flexi-work Arrangement and PMEs”
“The Government has been promoting work-life harmony for more than a decade. The Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy was set up in 2000, under the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF). Other schemes include the Work-Life Works! Fund and the Flexi-Works! In total, over 1,200 companies have participated in these schemes. However, it is unclear whether these initiatives have made significant impact on the working environment. A study by MSF found that only 23% of workplaces offer flexible working hours. It found that work-life harmony has not improved in the past six years. The research clearly shows that we need to re-focus our efforts. I would like to reiterate my call for an independent commission to look into work-life balance practices for a more family-friendly Singapore. What I am proposing is to make the family a central, not secondary objective. While a balance must be struck, current efforts focus more on how to achieve productivity, over and above how to support families achieve better balance in their lives. Please do not get me wrong, I am not saying that productivity is not important but both approach are equally essential and that is why a better balance must be struck. We must move away from the mindset that flexible work practices would negatively affect productivity. The MSF study found that those who scored higher on work-life harmony were more likely to be engaged and productive in the workplace, have better physical and mental health, and reported better family relationships and desire for more children. A better family life is the cornerstone to a motivated and productive worker, and a healthier economy.”
“Madam, two points. I heard the Minister say that there will be 15 more childcare centres in Punggol and I would like to enquire whether Punggol East is one of the locations. And yes, I would love to actively work with MSF to identify suitable sites in Punggol East for more childcare centres. Point number two is I am heartened to know that the same amount of infant care leave, childcare leave and so on, are now extended to single unwed mothers. I also acknowledge the Acting Minister's reply to Mr Gerald Giam on the 16 weeks of maternity leave that could not be extended to single mums. I would like to take this opportunity to once again urge the Minister to consider it seriously because, as I have mentioned in my cut, marital status is not relevant because maternity leave is really for emotional bond building as well as physical recuperation for the mother.”
“As such, I call upon the Ministry to consider extending the benefits of 16 weeks of paid maternity leave to single mothers and also look into granting paternity leave for single fathers. Adoption”
“Madam, a married woman is given 16 weeks of paid maternity leave. The situation for single mothers is very different. Single mothers are currently only entitled to eight weeks of paid maternity leave from the state. The bond between the mother and her child is special and often indescribable. Mothers in this House can certain attest to it. Women today have many responsibilities, both in the workplace and at home. All the more the time a mother can share with a child is especially precious and, when managed well, can strengthen the psychological and emotional attachment of the mother and her child. Maternity leave is particularly important for the child, as well as the mother, to recuperate physically and emotionally from child bearing. A mother's marital status is irrelevant. They may be single by chance, but mothers by choice. We must remember that such discrepancies in maternity leave only hurt the child who has to suffer from lack of time with his or her parents, simply because they are not married. It is unfair to penalise the child for whatever decision parents may have made that the State frowns upon. Children, whether born to married parents or single parent homes, require the same amount of love, care and support from the parents they have. I certainly hope that the Government does not view an additional eight weeks of Page: 37 paid maternity leave to single mothers as a financial burden. Rather, I hope that the Government would appreciate the needs of a child as well as the value of the bond between the mother and her child which is non-measureable in monetary terms. This is not about encouraging more single mothers but ensuring better and fair support for children who have been born to them.”
“As such, I call upon the Ministry to prioritise the building of childcare facilities in younger estates and to also factor childcare spaces into the design of BTO flats in all new towns. I would also like to ask the Minister if there are any specific plans to develop additional childcare facilities in Punggol East. Extending Childcare Subsidy”
“Madam, childcare is an integral part of a couple's plan for raising their children. More often than not, for families where both parents are working, the cost and availability of quality childcare facilities are top concerns. As anchor operators, the PAP Community Foundation and the NTUC My First Skool, receive heavy setup and operating grant, and in the process, prevent fair competition in the childcare market. This will gradually reduce the choices and viable options for parents. My fellow Workers' Party's colleague, Mr Yee Jenn Jong, suggested making childcare services available to all Singaporeans as a public good. In response, the Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Chan Chun Sing, stated that the scheme is currently under review and the implementation committee for enhancing pre-school education will be announcing the details Page: 34 in due course. Many parents in my ward of Punggol East will be anxiously waiting for the outcome of this review. There are insufficient childcare facilities in Punggol East to meet the demand of the ward. A look at the number of vacancies at each centre as well as the estimated waiting time would be a good determinant of whether there are enough childcare facilities available on the ground. Considering that Punggol East has a relatively younger population as compared to more mature estates, the demand for childcare facilities will consequently be higher. Madam, the demand for childcare facilities in Punggol East will only continue to increase with the increase in houses in the vicinity and, hopefully, with more young couples encouraged by recent moves to have more children.”
“Two points. Minister Lui has misunderstood my point. I probably spoke too fast yesterday. Yesterday, I mentioned Rivervale Crescent in Punggol East, not Punggol East in general. There are services along Rivervale Drive as well as Sengkang East Way, but not Rivervale Crescent. Blocks most affected are Blocks 183A-D, 184A-C, 185A-D, especially the elderly where they need to walk all the way out to take the LRT, then they go to Rivervale Plaza for their daily maketing needs. The second point, I sent an email to LTA together with a map of the place on 9 March. Apart from the standard reply that my feedback is receiving attention, I have not received any other updates. I hope that the residents of Rivervale Crescent do not have to wait too long.”
“Following these revisions, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) raised concerns, asking ComfortDelGro to justify its taxi fare revision. This points to a need to relook at how this industry is regulated, to strike a better balance, in terms of benefits for both commuters and drivers. I would like to ask the Ministry to call for a review of taxi service provision, taking into deeper consideration the following two points. One, we must ensure that taxi services continue to be priced reasonably for the consumer. Taxi fares have, of late, increased significantly, not just due to increments in ERP, but also the extension of taxi surcharges to the point where commuters have to pay surcharges from 6.00 pm in the evening all the way till 9.30 am the next morning, including the midnight surcharge. The next one, a report in The Business Times on 15 December 2012 analysed ComfortDelgro and SMRT's financials. It concluded that both transport operators can actually afford to raise salaries internally, without having to pass costs on to the commuters. Taxi companies should be obligated to demonstrate how fare increases correspond with benefits for taxi drivers, should there be any in order to justify fare increments. This review should also look into alternative ways to reduce the cost to drivers, such as lowering taxi rentals, instead of just increasing fares for commuters. My last point, unlike Ms Foo and Mr Yam, Rivervale Crescent in Punggol East do not have any trunk or feeder services. Concessionary Fares for Tertiary Students”
“Madam, my colleague, Mr Yee Jenn Jong, had during the COS debate last year stated that it was an opportune time to review the need for concessionary travel to be extended for the physically disabled as well as for Polytechnic students. I would like to take this opportunity to echo the call by Mr Yee as well as other Members in the House who had spoken in the past for fare concessions to be extended to the disabled. The disabled community has been calling for concessions for over 13 years to no avail. I hope that the concession to be given to the disabled will be significant and will ease the financial burden on this group of individuals who tend to have lower incomes and higher expenses due to their disabilities. I also hope that the Fare Review Mechanism Committee would also consider giving the same travel concessions not just to those who have physical disabilities, but to those with special needs, such as Down Syndrome. My next point is on the affordability of taxi services. While taxis continue to be viewed as private transport, they, in fact, fall mid-way between vehicle ownership and public transport, and it is a service used by many Singaporeans. While it is the Government's position that taxi services should be left to the free market, the free market is constrained by quotas on taxis as well as taxi driver Page: 162 licenses. What further affects the competitiveness of the industry is that it is currently led by one major player, ComfortDelgro and several much smaller companies. This leaves the smaller players with less room to set competitive fares or rentals. According to a report from Asiaone.com, the National Taxi Association urged all other players to follow ComfortDelgro's upward revisions to surcharge and fares in 2011.”