Lim Biow Chuan
Singapore
“Sir, just two short supplementary questions. First, currently, the United Nations define seniors as 65 years whereas we have set ours at 67 years. So, would the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) consider reducing to 65 years for the age eligibility criterion for getting the concessionary rate for the MDW?”
“In light of this, the existing practice of the Ministry, which disallows the repeated renewal of shorter term COEs, should also be eliminated to preserve the maximum flexibility for EV drivers to extend the use of an environmentally friendly car.”
“Sir, in June last year, the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) was launched. Sir, let me express my gratefulness to LTA for the TEL line, as there are three TEL MRT stations within the Mountbatten constituency. The TEL line has facilitated travel for many residents in my constituency.”
“Sir, I receive many queries from Polytechnic and GCE "A" level students wanting to know about their enlistment dates, asking about their Physical Employment Standard (PES) status prior to enlistment for. Sir, I also receive queries about NSmen hoping to study overseas.”
“MFA has said on several occasions that Singapore supports the right of Palestinian people to a homeland of their own. Singapore delivered not one, or two, but a total of six to seven tranches of humanitarian aid for Gaza in January 2025.”
“Even in Parliament, Sir, our Clerks and other staff work such long hours because MPs debate long hours, spend time debating Bills until late in the evening and sometimes until late at night. Sir, I have on many occasions, received emails from Ministers late in the middle of the night.”
The complete record
Every one of 802 lines we hold for Lim Biow Chuan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 17.
“Subject to the clarifications, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill. Page: 120 5.11 pm”
“Next, section 42(7) provides for the Collector to return all temporarily occupied land to the persons interested on the expiry of the term. In the event that there is a dispute about the condition of the land which is returned, what is the means of resolving the dispute? Would the person interested have to make a claim against the Government in Court or does he make a claim through the Appeals Board? Can the Senior Minister of State clarify the dispute resolution process? Can he make a claim for compensation for the reinstatement works that he feels is rightly due to the land? The Schedule of the Bill provides for the basis on which compensation is to be assessed. May I ask the Senior Minister of State in situations where the land acquired or required for temporary use is zoned residential but has been given a Temporary Occupation Licence for use as commercial, would the State consider the financial losses arising from the loss of business? I am of the view that we should compensate an owner or land user based on what the landowner is actually using his property for and not what the property was zoned for. If a person interested has suffered financial loss because the temporary loss of occupation has disrupted his trade or business, why should he not be entitled to claim for losses? And section 43(3)(a) seems to be at odds with the principle of paying a fair compensation to the affected occupier or person interested. Finally, I understand that the state does provide ex-gratia payment for some owners on a case-by-case basis. The ex-gratia payment is made outside the ambit of the Land Acquisition Act. Would the state consider amending the Bill to include a provision for payment of the ex-gratia payments as well as the basis for determining the amount payable?”
“Whilst I agree with the concept that we should continue to pay the market value of any land acquired, may I ask the Senior Minister of State whether valuers are able to determine the market value of airspace or subterranean space? Has the Singapore Land Authority consulted the professional valuers as to how they would be able to value such space considering that this is quite a new development? Next, clause 5 of the Bill which amends section 42 of the Act, provides for the state to acquire land for temporary occupation and use for a public purpose. But the Bill states that the Collector may procure the temporary occupation and use of land for a term ordinarily not exceeding a total of three continuous years. Can the Minister confirm that in extraordinary circumstances, the State can procure the land for a term in excess of three Page: 119 continuous years? If so, can the Senior Minister of State indicate what would be considered extraordinary circumstances to justify the state taking away the land for so long? In many circumstances, sometimes three years may be seen as quite long and, certainly, not seen to be temporary. Next, the amended section 42(3) of the Bill provides that the Collector is to provide at least one month's notice to the person interested and every occupier of the land. Does that mean that the interested person or the occupier must vacate the land and deliver possession within one month? Surely, the period of one month is too short for most occupiers or interested persons to deliver possession to the State or to the Collector. May I urge the Government to consider giving more grace period to the interested person or the occupier to vacate and surrender possession to the State?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, last year, due to the development plans for the Thomson East Coast Line, several residents in my constituency had their properties acquired by the Singapore Land Authority to make way for the new MRT line. In total, 21 properties were acquired within my constituency. I visited several of the residents to see whether I could assist them. When I spoke to them, I could sense their disappointment and frustration that their properties were being acquired and that they would have to be displaced from their homes. From their perspective, it does not matter that they would be compensated the market value for their properties. They would very much prefer that their properties not be acquired at all. I acknowledge that in land scarce Singapore, the Government should have the power to acquire land for the common good or what section 5 of the Land Acquisition Act says as "public purpose". This will enable the state to build more public housing, more roads, MRT lines and other critical Government infrastructure which will be beneficial to the larger public. Nevertheless, from this experience dealing with my residents, it is clear to me that the Government's decision to acquire land under the Land Acquisition Act would have deep impact on the lives of affected Singaporeans. Hence, I call on the Government to utilise the powers under the Land Acquisition Act sparingly and judiciously and only when there are no other viable options. For this current amendment Bill, I wish to ask the Senior Minister of State the following questions: Clause 4 of the Bill provides that the Board is to take into consideration the market value of the airspace or subterranean space acquired.”
“Is there a particular reason for the omission of the world "unreasonable"? I hope that the Minister can clarify these concerns. Madam, I support the Bill. 2.58 pm”
“It is a basic principle that mediation is usually a voluntary process whereby parties are encouraged to seek a amicable solution on their own accord. Hence, if a party is unwilling to attend mediation, would referring that party to the CMC help resolve the matter? Would the Court consider sending contravening parties for mandatory counselling or even for psychiatric help if the Court deems that a contravening party needs such psychiatric treatment? Section 5 of the Bill provides that a Court can order a respondent to provide an apology. If a party is unwilling to provide an apology or if the apology is not sincere, how would that order resolve the dispute between the neighbours? Perhaps, an apology can be considered a mitigating factor for a Court in determining the amount of damages to be awarded. This is akin to defamation suits where the Court does not order a defaming party to make an Page: 81 apology. However, an apology would help reduce the sting of the defamation and hence a reduction in the amount of damages to be awarded. Section 4(2)(e) of the Bill provides that surveillance of the neighbour or his place of residence is not allowed. But, Madam, there are occasions when a neighbour in dispute installs a video camera to capture evidence of any offending acts by his neighbour. There are also occasions where a resident installs a video camera to record acts of harassment by loan sharks. Is it the intent of this law that this installation of the video recording device is not allowed? Perhaps, the Minister can clarify. Finally, section 4(1) of the Bill provides that a person must not cause "unreasonable" interference. However, in section 4(2), the following subsection, the word "unreasonable" is missing.”
“I do have some queries about the Bill which I hope that the Minister can clarify so that in future when the Courts interpret this Act, they have reference to parliamentary debates to ascertain the intent of Parliament. As a starting point, whenever disputes arise, what should an aggrieved party do first? The Police do not wish to be involved as there is no criminal offence committed. However, from experience, the presence of the Police is frequently very helpful as citizens respond better when there is Police presence. Is it possible for a Neighbourhood Police Centre or NPC to set up a section staffed by Police Officers who specialise in neighbour dispute? Next, let me go on to the Bill. Section 9 of the Bill provides for the Court to grant an exclusion order to exclude a contravening party from his place of residence. Whilst I acknowledge that this order may help keep the peace for the neighbourhood, this power gives the Court a very wide discretion. May I ask the Minister, is there a time limit for the exclusion order? Is it meant to be a temporary exclusion order or would it be a permanent order? When can the contravening party be allowed to return to his own home? In the meantime, would the Government provide an alternative accommodation for the contravening party? Next is section 10. It provides that a breach of an exclusion order by a contravening party is an offence and the offender is liable to a fine or imprisonment. Besides fine or imprisonment, can the Court order specific performance or is there power to evict? Section 30 of the Bill provides that the Registrar or Tribunal Judge can refer parties to the CMC or to any other person for mediation with or without consent of the person.”
“Finally, neighbours complain about socially unacceptable behaviour like the use of vulgar language, taunts or urinating in public and so on. Whenever neighbour disputes occur, we have limited solutions. Usually, we ask the community leaders to mediate; we ask the HDB officers or the Town Council officers to speak nicely to the residents to seek their co-operation. We even ask the Police to pay them a visit to remind them to keep the peace, and finally we invite parties to attend mediation at the Community Mediation Centre or CMC. However, where one neighbour is adamant in not wanting to resolve the matter, the issue becomes stalled. The rest of the neighbours who are adversely affected are left fuming away and feeling frustrated. This situation is clearly unacceptable to many people. There must be a solution for disputes of this nature where an unreasonable respondent should be taken to task instead of leaving the rest of the neighbours to fume at the inadequacy of the legal system. Hence, I welcome the Community Disputes Resolution Bill. I welcome the creation of the tort of interference with enjoyment or use of place of residence as defined in the Bill. I also welcome the setting up of the Tribunal and the empowerment of the State Court to determine whether a Respondent has breached the tort of interference. I recognise that this Page: 80 new law is not a silver bullet which will solve all the neighbourly disputes. But, at least, it provides some form of relief for the majority of neighbours who suffer because one particular neighbour has behaved in an utterly unreasonable manner.”
“Madam, in the course of my work as a Member of Parliament, I come across many disputes between neighbours. It is an area of frustration because there is hardly anything we can do about the dispute. There is no offence committed but yet, if the situation is not managed properly, it will impact the social harmony of the neighbourhood. Page: 79 Neighbours quarrel for many reasons. Complaints which I receive frequently are about noise where neighbours disrupt the peace because they either play their musical instruments too loudly, they make banging noises or they drag their furniture in the middle of the night. Some neighbours have dogs that bark throughout the day and night; and some neighbours hold parties which go on to the wee hours of the morning. Next is encroachment of space. When one neighbour is unhappy that the other neighbour has too many plants or a shoe rack placed along the corridor; or the neighbour parks their bicycle indiscriminately, or leave their clothes hanger in a way that blocks the passageway. And in the private estates, this is manifested when neighbours place dustbins or pails to "chope" parking space and they get very upset when someone else parks along the public road which they deem as their own personal parking lot. The third one is littering. Neighbours complain about dripping of water from upstairs neighbours, throwing of cigarette butts, tissue and even sanitary napkins or other litter to the downstairs unit. Fourth is smell. Neighbours complain that their other neighbour burns incense throughout the day or burns incense paper in an indiscriminate manner, resulting in ashes being blown towards their home.”
“Sir, recently, part of Mountbatten Road was flooded after a heavy downpour. Several of my residents were surprised as we understand that PUB has been taking several measures to improve the nation's drainage system to alleviate the flooding situation. PUB has also spent a large amount of money to manage the floods. Can the Minister share how have these efforts reduced the flood-prone areas in Mountbatten as well as for the rest of Singapore? I know we are having a dry spell during this period, as the hon Member Mr Seah said. In view of the erratic weather conditions which have affected many other parts of the world, what is the likelihood that we may see a repeat of the floods which affected Singapore a few years ago?”
“Has the "Return Your Tray" programme worked well in the hawker centres which have implemented the scheme? May I have the Government's assessment whether the "Return Your Tray" programme can be extended to all hawker centres? Control of Food Prices in Hawker Centres”
“There are a few hawker centres which were sold many years ago and their 20-year leases would be running out soon. One of them is located in Marine Parade Town under the Marine Parade Town Council. For the hawkers operating their stalls at the hawker centre, they feel that their future is uncertain and they are concerned whether their livelihood would be affected once their 20-year lease has expired. May I ask the Minister what are the plans for these sold hawker centres whose leases have expired or will be expiring? Does the Government intend to allow the premises to continue to be used as a hawker centre or are there plans to redevelop the place into some other use? If the Government intends to renew the leases, would the renewal be for the standard two-year term? I am concerned that if the Government does not renew the tenancy for the hawker stalls, then this may result in higher food prices, as hawker food can help stabilise food prices. The current hawkers operating their stalls should also be given enough time to decide on their future plans and whether to find alternative places to sell their food produce. I urge the Government to announce their plans earlier so that the hawkers will have greater certainty in planning for their future. Page: 130 6.00 pm I have also received frequent feedback that the cleaners at the hawker centres are not able to cope with the huge number of plates and utensils to clear during peak dining hours. Can NEA assist the hawker associations to engage more cleaners to maintain a reasonable level of hygiene at the hawker centres? I have received feedback that these hawker centres need help as they do not have the skills or management ability to manage the cleaning companies.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chairperson. I just wanted to ask Senior Minister of State Josephine about ERP on Saturdays. The Senior Minister of State has said that the speed range at Orchard Road remains below optimal. So, can I ask the Senior Minister of State what is the optimal speed range? How does LTA decide on that optimal speed range considering that this is a Saturday at the Orchard Road area? Is there a basis for coming to that speed range? And would LTA consider consulting businesses in the Orchard Road area because they are heavily impacted by having ERP in that cordon on a Saturday? The other point that I wanted to ask Senior Minister of State is that Senior Minister of State said that the Shenton Way area has no ERP on Saturdays. But, for my residents to get to the Shenton Way area, they have to cut through Nicoll Highway and pay ERP. It does impact them. So, would LTA consider shifting the gantry? If you really need to have ERP on a Saturday, would LTA consider shifting the ERP gantry to the Stamford Road area?”
“For the past few years, I had asked LTA to consider constructing lifts at pedestrian overhead bridges. And this is because a high pedestrian overhead bridge is a major obstacle for persons with disability as well as for elderly residents who are unable to climb the many steps up the overhead bridge. Simply put, these persons struggle to cross the road on a daily basis since they are unable to climb a high bridge. I have seen my elderly residents, many of them Pioneer Generation seniors, struggle step by step up the high stairs, one hand on the walking stick and sometimes carrying a heavy bag of marketing produce. I acknowledge that LTA had made some attempts to improve the situation by building ramps. However, the reality on the ground is that lifts at pedestrian overhead bridges are preferred by the elderly and persons with disability as they are clearly more convenient. We have incurred huge expenditure to upgrade our many HDB blocks with lifts on every floor under the Lift Upgrading Programme. The rationale for having lifts at pedestrian overhead bridges is the same rationale for having LUPs, which is to provide better access and greater convenience for persons with disability as well as for elderly residents. I would like to invite the Minister and senior officials from LTA to visit my constituency which has a high proportion of elderly residents so that LTA is better aware of the daily struggles faced by each such elderly resident. Public Transport for the Disabled”
“Mdm Chairperson, in 2007, after a review of the effectiveness of bus lanes, it was decided to cease bus lane operations on Saturday. I wish to make an appeal for a similar review of the effectiveness of ERP on Saturdays. ERP is meant to manage road congestion. However, many offices do not operate on Saturdays anymore and there is less traffic along Shenton Way and the Raffles Place area. For the shopping belt, I have received feedback from some shops in the Orchard Road area that there is less traffic because many consumers have moved to the suburban shopping areas like JEM, NEX and Tampines Mall. Where the road is not congested on Saturdays, like at Nicoll Highway, which is relatively clear all the way to Shenton Way, LTA should consider removing the ERP gantry. LTA should also review the relevance of ERP for the Orchard Road area since it is clear that they are struggling to remain relevant as a shopping destination for Singaporeans. Some congestion along the roads on Saturdays will not hurt the economy.”
“Mdm Chairperson, I still receive regular complaints from residents that bus services do not come regularly according to their published headway. There are also occasions when buses that arrive are already packed with commuters such that other commuters cannot board the bus. For residents who rely on these buses to take them to work on time every day, buses that fail to adhere to schedule or are so crowded that commuters are unable to board is a main source of frustration. The average bus commuter simply wants a bus service that is reliable and can take them to the next destination in a reasonably comfortable manner. Can the Minister explain what else can be done to improve the services of the bus companies? Has BSEP really improved the service standards of bus companies and the regularity of bus services? Page: 55 Next, I wish to appeal for better last mile connectivity. In my constituency, I have three MRT stations. Yet, there are so few feeder buses that will take residents from the private estates along Meyer Road, Amber Road and Haig Road to these MRT stations. If we can have mini-buses, similar to those buses in Hong Kong, to transport residents to the nearest MRT station, Singaporeans will see the benefit of using public transport instead of driving to work. Will LTA consider opening up such services to foreign operators for tender as well so that there is more competition? Bus Connectivity”
“Sir, in October last year, MND announced that they would slow down the supply of BTO flats by 25% this year. I would like to appeal to MND to Page: 163 consider diverting some of the resources to build more rental flats. I have received feedback that there are still many Singaporeans who cannot afford to buy a flat and, for some reason, are not eligible to rent a flat from HDB. Some of these Singaporeans would be elderly singles who, due to their age and behaviour, just cannot get along with another person in the same flat. Others would be Singaporeans who had married foreign spouses but cannot rent a flat due to the foreign nationality of their spouse. Then, there are also divorcees who have to sell the flat after the divorce and then cannot get a flat because they do not have custody of the children. In such cases, I urge HDB to allow singles to rent a flat by themselves on a case-by-case situation. HDB prides itself as an agency that provides Singaporeans with quality homes and living environments. I believe that we can show some compassion for these people and allow them the flexibility to rent a flat by themselves without having to share the flat with another person. This would be a sign of a caring and compassionate society. Affordable Rental and Basic Housing”
“Madam, about a year ago, a resident sought my assistance as he was being harassed by a licensed moneylender. His son had borrowed money from a licensed moneylender but failed to pay the loan on time. After his son ran away from home, my resident was left to face the wrath of the debt collector engaged by the licensed moneylender. I was surprised to hear about the tactics used by the debt collector. In my mind, there seems to be little difference between the debt collector engaged by a licensed moneylender and that of an illegal loan shark. Both debt collectors seem to be using harassing tactics to humiliate the resident into making payment or harassing them at odd hours in the middle of the night. There was also the reported case of a group of debt collectors who were at Funan Page: 104 Centre creating a nuisance when demanding repayment of a loan. Clearly, this is unacceptable. As there are more licensed moneylenders setting up business, especially in the HDB estates, I urge MinLaw to better regulate licensed moneylenders, including regulation of the tactics used by them or by their debt collector to chase for repayment of debt. There should also be better regulation as to the interest charged or admin or penalty fees that can be imposed by the licensed moneylenders. Can the Minister provide an update on the review of the moneylending regulatory regime? We can do more to protect our consumers from illegal harassing tactics of the debt collectors.”
“I urge MTI to amend the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act to introduce criminal sanctions against dishonest traders or contractors where the evidence is clear that they have been dishonest and fraudulent or that they have deceived consumers. Likewise, contractors who pretend to be HDB or Town Council officers and deceive elderly residents into paying for services which they do not need should also be prosecuted. The law should also be amended to make it an offence for a company to continue taking deposits when the company is clearly insolvent and has no means or intent to deliver its services. This way, company directors will think twice about taking deposits if the company is on the verge of ceasing operation. Another option is to rule that pre-payments or deposits exceeding a designated sum must be paid to a trust bank account or duly insured. I urge MTI to enhance the protection for consumers.”
“Mdm Chairperson, allow me to declare my interest in speaking on this topic as the President of the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE). Last year, there were several cases reported in the newspapers where consumers were either cheated or lost their deposits through no fault of theirs. For example, there were consumers who lost their deposits when a sports coach centre ceased business abruptly, leaving the students in the lurch. There were also travellers who lost their deposits when a travel agency went into liquidation. Last December, more than 100 consumers lost about S$3 million when the director of a car company went missing after taking deposits from customers. And many of us will recall the infamous case at Sim Lim Square where an Page: 16 unscrupulous trader openly bullied tourists and made consumers pay for phone insurance or unlocking fee when there was no such requirement. Hence, despite all the efforts to protect consumers, there are still limitations to the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act in protecting consumers from dishonest traders. Not every dispute is a civil dispute. Indeed, sometimes, civil action against such dishonest traders is of limited use because consumers find it costly to take legal action if their claims exceed the Small Claims Tribunal's jurisdiction. Further, the consequences of legal action or an injunction can easily be circumvented by a trader who has been sued. He simply shuts down his old business and sets up another business either in his spouse's name or his family member's name. I submit that it is timely to consider stiffer measures towards dishonest traders who cheat innocent consumers.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chairperson. Madam, allow me the opportunity to thank the Minister, the Senior Minister of State, the Minister of State and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their replies to our many questions and clarifications. On behalf of the Government Parliamentary Committee or GPC, I also want to take the opportunity to put on record our deep appreciation to MOE as well as the thousands of teachers and other educators involved in preparing our children for the future. Mdm Chairperson, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn (proc text)]. [(proc text) The sum of $11,400,000,000 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates (proc text)]. [(proc text) The sum of $700,000,000 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)] Page: 127”
“Thank you, Mdm Chairman. Let me thank the Minister for sharing MOE's key area of focus. I hope the concerns and suggestions that we have raised will be brought back to the Ministry of Education (MOE) for consideration, because many of us spoke on many topics like outdoor activities and arts. Minister spoke about going beyond grades. The reality is that in many schools, the emphasis on good grades is still very strong, which explains why there is such a strong tuition culture. We may talk about looking beyond grades but the schools do look at grades. The other point that I wanted to ask the Minister is that I had, in my speech, asked about bringing forward the enhanced subsidy for mid-career persons instead of beyond 40 to five years after work. I know the Minister for Finance had already spoken about it. I hope the Minister would bring it back, discuss with MOF to see whether we can consider bringing forward the enhanced subsidies for mid-career Singaporeans.”
“Minister, I wish to appeal that we allow them to seize the opportunities offered by our education system once they are ready instead of waiting until they are 40 years old. Page: 42 [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] SkillsFuture – Progression Opportunities”
“Some of them are so heavily reliant on tuition to achieve high scores that they may have lost the skill of self-directed learning. This will put them at a disadvantage when they enter the workforce as they may not develop problem-solving skills on their own whilst they were students. They will always have a safety net in their tuition teachers. Can we ask our schools to encourage students who are already performing well to reconsider whether they truly need tuition? Teachers can encourage their students to be bold and confident to develop the skill of self-learning without the need for tuition teachers to constantly hold their hands and check their work. If we take a small step in this direction, we will gradually be able to reduce students' over-dependence on tuition. This hopefully will gradually reduce stress as students should see that actual competence, application skills and lifelong learning skills are more important once they enter the workforce. Finally, I am excited to hear about the enhanced subsidies for mid-career Singaporeans. I feel that we can encourage Singaporeans to seek further development by pursuing either skills development or further education once they are clearer about their career goals. However, I wish to urge MOE to consider allowing the enhanced subsidies to be given to Singaporeans who have worked for at least five years and not wait until they are 40 years of age. I know of many young people who, after having worked for a few years, feel that it is timely for them to upgrade their skills and this is before it becomes more difficult for them to take time off to balance office work, family life and still continue their studies.”
“Will Singapore have the high youth unemployment rates that we see in South Korea, in China and in many parts of Europe? If we do, I am sure that there will be great frustration and deep resentment among these people. Last year, I urged the Government to ensure that all our students from ITEs, polytechnics and universities are properly prepared to meet the future needs of the various industries. We must ensure that the skills which our students learn in our Institutes of Higher Learning or IHLs must be practical and relevant to the industries. Hence, I am glad to hear the recent focus in the Budget Statement about the need to invest in our citizens to prepare them for the future. Page: 41 Much was said about SkillsFuture in the Budget Debate. I agree that we must help our citizens deepen and master skills relevant to their jobs because our people are our only natural resource. In this competitive world, Singaporeans cannot take full employment for granted. May I ask the Minister, how will SkillsFuture help Singaporeans understand better the need for lifelong learning to achieve deeper skills in their profession or work, and to remain relevant in the workforce? Just in today's The Straits Times, it was reported that fewer workers find their training useful. Can MOE ensure that courses and skills taught by education and training providers are useful and relevant? Can the Minister elaborate more about the SkillsFuture credit and how Singaporeans can upgrade themselves using the SkillsFuture credit? Next, allow me to speak briefly about tuition. Whilst I know that many students rely heavily on tuition, I am concerned that tuition will eventually become a crutch for these students.”
“Madam, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head K of the Estimates be reduced by $100". A recent article in The Straits Times caught my eye. In the article, it was reported that there were too many Koreans chasing after too few jobs. The report stated that the college entrance rate stands at 80%, up from 30% in the 1990s. South Korean parents were reported to spend up to 19 trillion won, or S$22.4 billion, on extra tuition. But many college graduates were unable to find jobs due to severe labour mismatch. The jobless rate for people aged 15 to 29 is 8% and government data from South Korea showed that there were more than three million graduates who were "economically inactive". In another BBC article last July, it was reported that a staggering 7.26 million will graduate from China's universities in 2014. In fact, the article was entitled "What do you do with millions of extra graduates?" Unemployment among these new graduates six months after leaving university is around 15%. Having read such depressing news, I wonder about our Singapore graduates. Like South Korea and China, Singaporeans place a high premium on education and many students aspire towards getting a tertiary education. This is evident from the fact that a recent household survey found that Singapore families spent a staggering $1.1 billion on tuition. I am concerned that more and more students see achieving a university degree as the ultimate objective in life and they will be assured of a bright future once they graduate. To me, there is nothing wrong in wanting to pursue further education. However, I worry about Singaporeans who, after spending so much time and money on attaining a higher education, are unable to secure well-paying jobs.”
“I do run at a few stadiums and, each time I go there, I notice that the car parks are actually quite empty. Would the Minister not consider it such a waste of resources that available car park space is there but people who could have driven there to exercise are not using it? Otherwise, the sports stadium only benefits people who live around the stadium. So, will the Ministry consider allowing free parking just for two hours so that there is still some limitation on the use of car parks?”
“Mdm Speaker, if I may just declare my interest in this matter as the President of CASE. May I ask the Minister of State: currently, the Police seem to be very reluctant to follow up on some of these complaints lodged by consumers or tourists to investigate. What happens now is that the Police refer all such complaints to CASE. As the Sim Lim Square saga has shown, some of the acts of the errant retailers are quite criminal in nature, in the sense that they charge for "unlocking fee" and "in-house insurance". Until the review is completed, can I ask the Minister of State what other actions can we undertake to protect consumers? What we do not want is a repeat of a similar situation like the Sim Lim Square saga. The Minister of State said that the review is likely to be completed at the end of the year. For the next 10 to 11 months, what kind of protection can be afforded to consumers or tourists alike?”
“Sir, I believe that talented Singaporeans would willingly answer the call of duty if they feel that there is a need for their skills and talents to serve the people of Singapore. A huge gratuity package, in itself, may not, and, in my humble view, should not be the only solution to keeping or attracting talent. This has always been my stand, not just in respect of judicial office, but also for individuals standing for political office as well. Page: 104 May I ask the Minister to clarify or confirm that individuals holding judicial office and already eligible for gratuities would not be eligible for pensions, as I cannot find the relevant orders which say that pensions for individuals holding judicial office have been abolished?”
“Whilst the overall compensation package may never and should not be commensurate with what a top lawyer in private practice may earn, there should not be too large a gap either. The current Bill does not specify what the gratuity amount would be. It merely refers to a "gratuity determined in accordance with a rate prescribed in regulations subject to such limit as may be prescribed in those regulations". I surmised from a reply to a Parliamentary Question by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in April 2013 that the Gratuity and a Long-term Retention package would be similar in value to the amount of pension forgone by newly-appointed judicial officers. I had said earlier in my speech that as a basic principle, we ought to pay judicial officers salaries which are befitting their responsibilities, powers and dignity of the office. However, I do wish to caution the Government that paying a high compensation package is not the only way to attract or retain legal talent. If a judicial officer is too highly compensated, it leads to cynicism and sometimes an erosion of respect for that office. Public opinion may be adverse if they perceive judicial officers as being out of touch if they are paid too high, compared to wages of the average man in the street. This may, in turn, cause talented legal brains to shun the call to join the judiciary as they may not wish to face the adverse public opinion. Hence, I urge the Government to consider a mix of incentives to attract good talent into the judiciary. Besides a fair monetary compensation, we should consider appealing to the person's sense of national service and sacrifice; appealing to the prestige and respect that come with such an appointment to judicial office.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, this Bill seeks to amend the Judges' Remuneration Act to provide for the payment of a gratuity to any individual who holds judicial office and who either retires from office at 65 years old or dies while holding judicial office. The gratuity is a new scheme meant for those appointed to any judicial office on or after the date of commencement of the Judges' Remuneration (Amendment) Bill as they would no longer be eligible for pension. As a basic principle, I am of the view that individuals who hold judicial office as Chief Justice, Judge of Appeal or Judge of the High Court ought to be paid salaries befitting their responsibilities, powers and the dignity of the office. It is always important that the judiciary is able to attract suitable talent to ensure that the quality of justice dispensed by our judicial officers is of the very best and that our judiciary remains uncorrupt. In 2006, the then-US Chief Justice John G Roberts Jr raised concerns that federal judges are leaving the Bench due to inadequate compensation. Other judges had also raised Page: 103 concerns that the Bench would not be able to attract the best lawyers in practice if their compensation falls too far below what other careers, like a law professor, would be able to offer. One highly respected judge of the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, Mr J Michael Luttig, reportedly resigned to join Boeing Company as its General Counsel and he cited the need for his obligation to his family, one of whom was approaching college age. Hence, if our judiciary wishes to attract some of our top legal brains to join the Bench, we cannot expect them to make too great a sacrifice of their legal careers.”
“We should be mindful about appointing foreign senior lawyers as International Judges of the Supreme Court without giving proper consideration as to whether any of our own local lawyers or retired Judges would be suitable. Perhaps Minister can also share some details as to what class of cases is likely to be heard and determined by such International Judges of the Supreme Court. I will speak more about the gratuity payable to judicial officers at the Second Reading of the Judges' Remuneration (Amendment) Bill. Subject to the above clarifications, I support the proposed amendments to the Constitution. 3.51 pm”
“Next, it is a fundamental principle of the Constitution that the Judiciary is independent so that the Government will not be able to influence any decision of the Judiciary. Clause 8 of the Bill amends Article 95 of the Constitution to provide for the appointment of a Judicial Commissioner, a Senior Judge and an International Judge of the Supreme Court. Article 95(5) provides that the Judicial Commissioner, a Senior Judge or an International Judge of the Supreme Court may be appointed for a specified period only. I would like to seek the assurance of the Minister as to the intent of such a provision. We should not depart from the fundamental principle that Judges should have security of tenure so that they can exercise their judicial independence without fear that their tenure of office will be affected. I acknowledge that in the appointment of a Senior Judge, the Prime Minister must consult the Chief Justice who will give his input as to the appointment. I also recognise that a Senior Judge is expected to be a person who had ceased to be a Judge of the Supreme Court. So, perhaps, the Minister could clarify as to the intent of the limited term of appointment. Finally, may I ask the Minister whether the usual qualifications of a Judge under Article 96 of the Constitution would apply to the appointment of an International Judge of the Supreme Court? Whilst I applaud the intent of MinLaw to promote Singapore as a leading Page: 63 venue for dispute resolution, I certainly hope that we will allow sufficient opportunity for our local senior lawyers, Senior Counsels, retired Judges to be also considered for appointment as an International Judge of the Supreme Court.”
“Mdm Speaker, the Constitution is the supreme law of our country. It contains various provisions delineating the powers and functions of the various Organs of State, including the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. The provisions of the Constitution may only be amended by the votes of two-thirds of the total number of elected Members of Parliament. Hence, any amendments to the Constitution should be scrutinised carefully to ensure that such amendments are, indeed, necessary and Page: 62 required. Looking at the Bill before the House today, I would like to seek the following clarifications from the Minister. The Attorney-General's Chambers recently announced some organisational changes to its own internal structure. There are now three divisions with different senior AGC officers appointed to helm the divisions. We have the Financial and Technology Crime Division, the Criminal Justice Division and the Legislation Division. In addition, we have, currently, the Solicitor-General, Mr Lionel Yee, who is a former Judicial Commissioner. If the AGC is able to organise itself internally, why is there a need to have the appointment of Deputy Attorney-General institutionalised into the Constitution? I recognise the Bill states the intent for the Deputy Attorney-General to perform such duties of the Attorney-General as may be assigned to him or her by the Attorney-General. But is there really a need for such an office to be specifically provided for and protected under the Constitution? Surely, the Attorney-General can appoint a Deputy Attorney-General within the ambit of the office of the AGC without the need to amend the Constitution. Perhaps, the Minister can clarify on the role of the Solicitor-General as well.”
“I have received feedback from teachers who said that, if they are asked to conduct such enrichment classes, they are concerned about how the school would manage the feedback. Because if students are unhappy with the way the teachers conduct their enrichment workshops, then the teacher does not want to have to face the publicity of adverse social media reports and face embarrassment of having to deal with the students. May I ask the Minister what better way can we encourage students to go back to the school to provide feedback instead of publicising it on social media platforms?”
“Currently, there seems to be a bias in favour of white collar kind of work. Parents generally want their children to work in offices and to shun work that would require them to wear a uniform or to work in non air-conditioned places. I would like to ask the Minister what else can the Government do to persuade our citizens to respect every job and to value every worker. Can we do more to acknowledge the contributions of the blue collar workers like our cleaners, our school attendants, our service staff at supermarkets or restaurants? They all play an important role in making Singapore a better place to live in. There is no reason why we should treat such people with less respect. Perhaps, the Government can explore ways in which skilled technicians or people with strong vocational skills or strong service skills can be better remunerated for their expertise. We can also consider redesigning some of these jobs so that they carry more responsibilities. For example, bus drivers are now Page: 42 called "bus captains" with more responsibilities for the passengers in their buses. Our cooks are now called chefs. Our bank tellers used to be called clerks, but they are all now capable of providing financial advice. The ASPIRE recommendations will have a long-term impact on Singaporeans. I support the recommendations. I look forward to the Government working with Members of Parliament and the people of Singapore to enable Singaporeans to realise their fullest potential, regardless of their starting point in life. 3.09 pm”
“Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Teo had stated in a reply to my Parliamentary Question that the Civil Service will provide more opportunities to support the aspirations of all our officers, graduates as well as non-graduates, and will continue to reward all officers who show good performance and readiness to take on larger roles. I am, indeed, glad to hear that position. As long as the Government continues to maintain a distinction between graduates and non-graduates, we will struggle to persuade Singaporeans that they can progress in society based on their skills, contributions and experience. I call on the Government to take the lead in changing the mindset of Singaporeans. This will be a long journey as we need students and parents to be convinced that a person can have multiple pathways to success regardless of their educational qualifications. The Government can take the lead by showing them that skills and experience are just as important as qualifications. Our civil servants should be given every opportunity to progress in their careers not based on whether they have a degree; but due consideration should also be given to how they perform in the delivery of their task. One good example is the appointment of Mrs Elaine Quek – this was reported in The Straits Times. She is a non-graduate and she was appointed as principal of Maha Bodhi School. I truly hope that we can have many more similar cases in the Civil Service, where employees are promoted based on their skills and experience. Finally, mindset change. The ASPIRE report talks about the need for a mindset change. One important change which is critical is the need for all of us to respect every job and value every individual for what they do.”
“However, not having a degree does not mean that there will be no progress. Would our young and their parents be persuaded that there are, indeed, multiple pathways to advance in their careers? How useful would postgraduate training be in helping them deepen their skills? What kind of certifications would be issued and would these certifications be recognised? More information and clarifications will help Singaporeans understand the ASPIRE recommendations better and buy into these recommendations. Next, the Government should take the lead to provide multiple pathways. Within the Civil Service, there is a clear difference between staff who are graduates and those who are non-graduates. I recall years ago when I graduated from University and I was considering a job with the Legal Service. The advertisement said, "Only those with First Class Honours or a good Second Upper will be considered." So, the type of Honours degree makes a difference. There is also a difference between graduates who are scholars and those who are non-scholars, commonly known as "farmers". The distinction is even more stark if one compares graduate scholars in the Civil Service and graduate scholars who are from the elite Administrative Service. Their progress or promotion depends on whether they are graduates or non-graduates, whether they are scholars from the Administrative Service. But this distinction is not real because, in the private sector, the employer looks at your skills, your Page: 41 experience and whether you can deliver results.”
“Our ITE and Polytechnic graduates must know that as long as they have the right attitude, the right competence, are willing to work hard and contribute to the organisation, with sufficient experience, they will be able to achieve the success which they have worked hard for. The recommendations by the ASPIRE Committee go a long way to assure our young people that the Government is committed to helping them achieve their fullest potential. Page: 40 For the ASPIRE report to have meaningful impact, we need to do more. First, we need to have a better explanation of ASPIRE and for greater buy-in from the young people and their parents. At a recent dialogue with residents and grassroots leaders, some of them had asked me: what is the message from the Government? Are they saying that it is not necessary to get a degree anymore? They pointed to newspaper articles which highlighted non-graduates who had performed well in their careers. Some residents had queried whether the Government intends to cut down more University places and, hence, are promoting ITE and Polytechnic education. Other residents had highlighted that, as a nation, we cannot have too many graduates; otherwise, there will be a glut of graduates who cannot find suitable jobs and this will eventually lead to greater resentment. Others had declared that they will definitely want their children to get a University degree because society see those without a degree as failures. Thus, there is some misunderstanding about the recommendations of the ASPIRE committee. I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State what are the plans of the Government to explain more about the ASPIRE recommendations. How can we better explain to parents and students that a degree is still useful as a training of the mind?”
“Some students may be more suited for technical studies; some may not be interested in academic pursuits and prefer to do "hands-on" kind of work; some may be very good in their work but somehow do not have the right techniques to score well in exams. For some of these young people, they may be better off developing their personal interest and pursuing their dreams. I know of many people who do not have University degrees but who have done exceedingly well in their careers because they have other lifeskills which are equally important in life. Yesterday, the hon Member Ms Denise Phua had named some prominent people who did not go to college but had done well in life. The Straits Times had recently highlighted several individuals who had done well in life, even though they do not have a degree. However, regardless of the number of success stories which we may share, many young people, whether from the ITEs or the Polytechnics still aspire for a University degree because they believe that it is the only path to success in Singapore. Very frankly, I think many parents share the same view. I am sure every parent in this House would also hope that their child can get to University. In fact, many of them would also have a bank account to provide for overseas university studies, in case their child cannot make it to the local Autonomous Universities. Thus, it is very important for the Government to assure our young people that, regardless of their educational qualifications, everyone will have opportunities to realise their potential and to progress in life. A degree, whilst important for the training of the mind, should not be the only way in which a person can attain success in life.”
“Mdm Speaker, the ASPIRE report has four basic recommendations. First, better choices: helping Polytechnic and ITE students make better choices for their education and careers, both in school and after graduation; Second, equipping students: this is to equip young Singaporeans with good skills foundation to face challenges and to seize opportunities; Third, deeper skills: creating more opportunities for Polytechnic and ITE graduates to deepen their skills and excel in their chosen field. Finally, multiple paths: building more paths for Polytechnic and ITE graduates to advance in their careers. The report has been well received. One key focus of this Motion is how can we ensure that all Singaporeans, regardless of their qualifications, enjoy full opportunities to upgrade and progress during their working lives. Madam, education has always been seen as the universal leveller. It allows someone from a poorer socio-economic background to secure a better job because he or she has better training and better educational qualifications and, hence, has a higher probability of success in life. In Singapore, many parents encourage their children to secure a degree in the belief that they can get a better job and secure better pay. Page: 39 You can see this each time any one of us visits a house. You will see, occupying the place of honour in the living room is probably a framed photo of the family with all the children dressed up in their convocation gowns, demonstrating that the children have graduated. However, I recognise that not everyone is academically inclined to go down the path of University education.”
“What if a reckless driver feels that he can play games on his tablet whilst driving, or he decides to read a book on his Kindle which he had downloaded earlier and which is not a communicative device? Page: 54 What about a driver who decides to send an SMS or email whilst the phone is not in his hand but fixed to a phone stand? He is not using the mobile communication device because he is not holding it in one hand. Nevertheless, he will be distracted from his primary task of concentrating on the roads. Could the Senior Minister of State clarify? Finally, on clause 20, I have received feedback that, sometimes, TP takes several weeks to issue a Notice of offence to owners of vehicles and this has made it difficult for the owners to recall who the driver of the vehicle was at the time of violation, especially if the vehicle is shared by several users. Could the Minister indicate what would be a reasonable time for TP to issue such notices of traffic violation? Otherwise, if such deadlines are passed, how would the owners of vehicles be expected to recall the driver at that time of the traffic violation? I hope the Senior Minister of State can clarify the concerns. With this, I support the Bill. 3.35 pm”
“Turning to the proposed Bill, I support the provisions contained in the Bill. I do have some queries for the Senior Minister of State. Firstly, let me thank the Senior Minister of State for elaborating on the intent of clause 4(a), which is the Safe Driving Course (SDC). But may I ask the Senior Minister of State what is the intended signal for TP? Would it not be better to make it legally compulsory to attend safety classes without offering any incentives? What if the offender had accumulated demerit points after an accident involving injuries to pedestrians? Would the TP still be minded to give a discount of the demerit points despite the injury even though the traffic violator had attended the SDC? Next, may I ask the Minister to clarify clause 8 – whether a holder of a foreign driving licence who is in Singapore but not working as a driver; is he allowed to occasionally drive a pick-up ferrying workers if he does not do so for hire or reward? Under this clause, it seems that such a driver with a foreign driving licence is allowed to ferry passengers or goods if he does not do so for hire or reward. If so, would it not circumvent the intent of the law to ensure that drivers who take on the task of ferrying passengers or goods are properly licensed to drive safely on Singapore roads? Clause 14 – I support the intent to make it an offence for drivers not to concentrate on the roads whilst driving. Drivers have no business trying to speak on the phone or sending SMS or emails whilst they are driving. These acts are inconsiderate and put other road users at risk. However, I would like to ask why the Ministry wishes to restrict the offence to using communication device with communicative functions.”
“If there is no TP on patrol, then you will see cyclists riding dangerously in the middle of the road, or you have motorists who try to cut across double white lines or motorists who refuse to observe lane discipline and then they try to cut into other driver's lane dangerously. To deter such flagrant violations of traffic rules, I would suggest the following. First, rely on more technology to deter drivers who speed. Install more traffic speed cameras; in that way, traffic officers stationed along pedestrian overhead bridges can then be re-deployed. Next, enlarge the TP department and deploy more TP officers on the roads to promote safe driving. Third, have stricter enforcement of traffic rules at school zones. Fourth, bring road safety campaigns to the heartlands and the community and do more educational outreach to the elderly who are vulnerable pedestrians. Page: 53 Fifth, conduct more road safety programmes for youngsters and students. Educate them that they have a shared responsibility for safety on the roads. Warn them of the danger of being distracted on the roads if they are pedestrians and they are talking on the phone, listening to music or watching videos and with earphones plugged into the ears. They may have the right of way but may still face the danger of being hit by careless drivers. Lastly, make it compulsory for drivers who have accumulated 12 demerit points to attend a road safety course. In other words, do not wait until the driver is due to be suspended before asking the driver to attend a safety course. Catch hold of the driver and counsel him early before he commits more traffic violations. We should do more to educate all road users on the importance of being socially responsible for road safety.”
“Mdm Speaker, road safety involves everyone using the road, regardless whether one is a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian. Page: 52 TP's Safer Roads Singapore tagline is – "every life matters". And, indeed, every life is precious, too. Hence, it is incumbent on everyone using the roads to ensure that they obey the traffic rules. One careless act by any user of the road may have tragic consequences to others and can cause loss of life or injuries to body or limbs. The TP website says that there has been an increase in the number of traffic violations from 316,214 violations in 2011. This has increased to 367,496 violations in 2013. This means that over the past two years, the number of traffic violations has gone up by more than 51,000 violations. This should be an area of grave concern as it suggests that motorists are disregarding safety whilst on the roads. One constant feedback which I receive from residents is the lack of TP presence on the roads. Many of my residents frequently complain about drivers of sports cars driving at reckless speeds along two-lane roads in residential areas like Tanjong Rhu Road and Meyer Road. They say that, despite many complaints to the Traffic Police about cars speeding along the roads on weekends, the speeding and the resultant noise continues unabated as if there is no enforcement. Thus, whenever Police presence is not felt, drivers tend to speed or drive recklessly, thinking that they can get away with it. My experience as a driver is that if one drives along roads with speed cameras or where there is a TP patrol car, you tend to see more road discipline amongst the drivers. Take, for example, the traffic along Nicoll Highway.”
“Mdm Speaker, every year, I have about 10 to 15 children all living within one kilometre of a school which are balloted out and they complain and say, "Well, look, I live near a school and I believe that the school is a good school. But yet, I can't get into the nearest school to my home. In contrast, they have parents who live further away, driving their children all the way to the school, also believing that that school Page: 27 is a good school." So, may I ask the Minister, what is MOE's stand to encourage children to study at a school near their home? Secondly, would MOE consider a policy to require parents to send their children to a school within, say, three to five kilometres of their home, so that their children do not have to travel very long distance, and that would give them adequate rest and sleep, and cut down on their travelling journey? Perhaps the Minister can clarify.”
“Madam, I just want to highlight to the Minister that the latest case involved a former Head of Character and Citizenship in a Secondary school. So, perhaps the Minister could extend it to beyond just trainee teachers to even senior teachers.”
“Madam, I want to thank the Minister for the assurance. I think the assurance is important to parents because we all want to be assured that when we send our children to school, they would be placed in a safe environment. The challenge is also that students are vulnerable and teachers are placed in a position of trust. Can I ask the Minister whether MOE would consider taking up engaging more parents to help them to look out for signs that their children are emotionally affected when they are in school? The Minister has highlighted the fact that he would appeal to parents to be involved as well. But as I understand it, there is no formal engagement of parents such that they, too, are alerted to signals that their children are emotionally involved. The other thing that I was wondering is whether MOE would consider implementing a buddy system where a group of teachers can look out for each other when they feel that one of them has succumbed to temptation through too close a contact with their students.”
“Whatever work the students need to do, they must finish the work within the official school hours. This will benefit not only the students who have more time at home, but it will also ease the workload of the teachers who can also spend more time with their families. Mdm Speaker, when Singaporeans from all walks of life come together to discuss and explore different ways to build a better, brighter Singapore, we can make the Singapore Dream happen. I support the Motion.”
“Education should really be a training of your mind never to accept that you are a failure and to learn how to persevere. And success should never be measured only by a person's wealth, educational qualifications or social status. We must broaden our perspective to respect everyone, regardless of whether they are rich or poor. There is, however, one area in our education system which I hope to see some change. Just like adults who work very hard and are very stressed, our young students in schools are also very stressed. Many parents whom I speak to ask, "Why do we give so much work to our children, especially at primary school level?" Sometimes, the child is given so much homework that he has to slog late into the night just to finish the work. So, parents fear that even as they find time, they set aside time for their children, it is their children who do not have time for them anymore. Many parents feel that at a young age, it is more important for the students to pick up character values than to stress them with constant assignments, assessments and tests. I am concerned that in our desire to develop our children holistically, we may inadvertently take away their childhood. Children should be allowed to explore on their own, to develop creativity in a less structured manner. In today's world, it is really more important to know how to learn rather than just accumulating knowledge. Whatever I do not know today, I would be able to find most of the answers through the Internet. So, I urge MOE to relook the curriculum of the primary and secondary schools. Let us consider a reduction of the curriculum by 20% to 30%. Make it a policy that every school should have at least two days in a week whereby the students will have no homework to do.”