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.”
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“Whilst I understand the need to manage scarce resources, I do urge MND to allot more resources to build up more rental flats just to cater to this small group of single elderly. And indeed, we can also put in more resources to provide more housing options to divorcees with children and even to unmarried single parents who had made a mistake in their younger days. Otherwise, their children would suffer. Mdm Speaker, we are in a position of strength. We can set aside more resources to help the vulnerable have a better quality of life. Our society will be judged by the way in which we look after the weakest in our midst. Finally, allow me to speak on education. The other day, my colleague, the hon Member Mr Seah Kian Peng, suggested that PSLE is past its time. I respectfully disagree. The PSLE is a helpful tool to help schools allocate their resources to assist students achieve their best. Not all students develop at the same pace or have the same kind of aptitude towards academic studies. Thus, for the students who are late developers, it is important for them to be given more help to overcome some of their weaker subjects. For those who do not have an interest in academic subjects, it may be better to assess them earlier and allow them to choose a different path so that they can excel in a different manner. What is important is to ensure Page: 15 that there are many different upward pathways to success. So, if a student does not do well in PSLE, he must not think that it is the end of the world. With hard work, he can achieve better in secondary school. And we have many stories of students from the Normal stream who have moved on to the Polytechnic and then to University and who have achieved great success in their lives.”
“There is little civility, no efforts to be kind to others, no sense of mutual respect in some of these social media posts. Frequently, the comments are full of cynicism. Some may think it is in vogue to bash the Government or its policies. But one day, these cynical behaviour will come back to haunt us as our children who Page: 14 read these posts lose their sense of bearing as to what is right and what is wrong behaviour. If we want Singapore to be an endearing home, we need more efforts to promote a gracious and caring society. Perhaps, we can provide more funding to the Singapore Kindness Movement. Ask them to organise more programmes to constantly promote the need to inculcate right character values to encourage graciousness and care in our everyday lives, not just amongst students, but also for adults who must lead by example and who must want to impart the right values to our younger generation. This will make Singapore a more pleasant place for all of us. One area which I hope to see improvement is for the Government to do more to care and help the vulnerable and to look after the weakest living in our midst. Earlier this year, during the Committee of Supply debate, I had asked HDB to consider allowing elderly seniors who are either single, divorced or living alone to rent a 1-room rental flat. I argued that these seniors are on their own and do not have support from their spouse, ex-spouse or children. So, I urge HDB to allow an exception for this small group of seniors to rent a 1-room flat by themselves. These are just flats without any room, just a living hall. We should not insist that they co-share the flat with a total stranger at their age.”
“Perhaps, we can take a leaf from the French where the unions and the employers have come to an agreement to prohibit workers from replying to emails after leaving their office – sounds exciting. The Civil Service, as the largest employer, can take the lead in this respect and discourage staff from replying to emails after office hours, unless very urgent. Perhaps, even encourage staff to eat with their families not just once a year, but once every month. And this is a way in which we can support strong families. I hope Members of the Cabinet are looking at this enthusiastically. Next, Mdm Speaker, let me speak about values. The President spoke about having values like empathy, filial piety, respect and mutual help to be part of our lives. I would like to add on other important values like kindness, gratefulness, humility, respect for one another. We should encourage everyone to reflect upon their lives daily and see whether they have performed a kind deed each day. Have they been kind to their family members or to their colleagues, or to their domestic helpers, or even to the cleaners cleaning the void deck of their HDB flats? Or have they expressed gratefulness to someone who has helped them during the week? So, I am also glad that Prime Minister Lee spoke on why we should not flaunt our wealth or position. This is the need to be humble and the need to respect others, regardless of who they are. Unfortunately, values cannot just be taught in schools; they must be caught. As a society, if we do nothing to promote basic character values, our future generation will suffer because many of them are hooked up to the Internet and engaged in social media. I worry each time I read some of the postings on social media.”
“The desire of the 55-year-old worker who wants to withdraw all his CPF funds versus younger taxpayers who are concerned that, in future, they have to bear the financial costs of looking after retired Singaporeans who have withdrawn their CPF at 55 years and, unfortunately, lost their savings due to bad investment decisions. The challenge for the Government is how to strike the right balance. In the President's Address, he spoke about the Government's plans to address the concerns and aspirations of the people and to build a better future for all Singaporeans. I support the various proposals laid out by the President. In particular, allow me to speak about the need to support strong families and communities, and the need to inculcate the right character values amongst Singaporeans. Mdm Speaker, we live in a very competitive society and work so very hard. Frequently, we forget to pause to learn how to appreciate our lives. We forget to celebrate little Page: 13 successes as we strive for near perfection. We forget to give that little word of encouragement to our children or to our colleagues because we needed to rush to meet a deadline for a project or maybe finish a speech. In the process, the fabric of the family is weakened as family members spend less time bonding together. We are preoccupied with work even after office hours. It is a ridiculous situation. Our smart phones should be a technological tool for us and help us to become more productive and work smarter. It has, however, become a technological burden for many of us as we are on call even after office hours. So, I urge the Government to do more to encourage employers not to encroach upon the personal time of their employees.”
“As a nation, we have done well economically and we are the envy of many countries. Each time I meet legislators from other countries, they would compliment us on how successful Singapore is and they praise our political system. But I would be the first to acknowledge that we are not a perfect nation. Sometimes, things do not work the way we hoped they will. Policies which seem well thought through are sometimes poorly communicated or poorly implemented. I do not believe that we will ever have a perfect nation. But I am convinced that our Government leaders all have the heart to want to make Singapore a better country for all of us. When things do not work well, this Government will set out to put them right. When policies are wrong, this Government will work to change the policies. The Government does not shy away from making corrections mid-stream if the change will help improve Singaporeans' lives. Prime Minister Lee yesterday elaborated on several of the policies designed to help Singaporeans lead a better quality of life and to improve the social safety net for Singaporeans. My view is that the task of improving the lives of Singaporeans will always be "work in progress" as we try to find the right balance and the right trade-offs to balance the interests of different groups of Singaporeans. For example, we have to look after the interests of workers who want better pay; and we have employers who want lower cost workers who are willing to work harder. We have to balance the interest of the younger generation who want to buy their first home at a cheaper price versus the existing home owners who are concerned that their homes will depreciate in value.”
“Mdm Speaker, every time I return to Singapore from an overseas trip, I would look out from the plane window to try to catch a glimpse of the familiar bright lights of the HDB flats near Changi Airport. As the plane touches down on the airport runway, somehow, I feel this sense of comfort, this sense of happiness that I am returning back to Singapore – my home. It sets me thinking – what does "Home" mean to most Singaporeans? I acknowledge that "Home" probably means different things to different people. For me, it is a sense of familiarity. I know that when you step out from the plane, you will encounter clean toilets, the immigration queues will be short, you will be greeted by friendly immigration officers and smiling airport staff, the baggage will come out quickly and everything works efficiently. But home should be more than just an efficient system. To me, home is also a place where my family members, my relatives and all my friends are. Home is a place where you can move around safely; where the majority of Singaporeans whom you encounter speak Singlish and are honest and friendly. Where many of us have shared experiences like living in an HDB flat, have gone through a common education system, have eaten together in a hawker centre, and, for the men, have served NS and shared NS stories; home is where we can interact comfortably with people of different races and different religions. Some people have argued that they feel like strangers in their own country and some have said that they want to leave Singapore and not come back. I do not agree. It is really what a person chooses to see. There are so many things which a Singaporean can easily identify with as Home. Page: 12 Next year, Singapore celebrates its 50th year of Independence.”
“I thank the Minister for the answer. I just want to be sure that when the Minister said "randomly selected", it does not mean that the school nominates them? How are they actually selected when the Minister said "randomly selected"? Was it by computer?”
“Mdm Chairperson, just a couple of questions. First, for the Parliamentary Secretary. I have said in my speech that there are similar Page: 110 signal light traffic crossings along other busy roads like Lornie Road, Bendemeer Road, Victoria Street and Jalan Besar. Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that these traffic crossings along those roads would also significantly impede traffic? If that is the case, why would LTA allow traffic crossings there, but not at Mountbatten? I hope LTA can reconsider that. Next is a question for Minister of State Mrs Josephine Teo. In the 2012 reply to my appeal for no ERP at Nicoll Highway, I understand that the cordon concept is in respect of Orchard and Bugis. I suggested in my speech that we have separate ERP gantries around that area, so that we can then cordon off that area. Why do we have an ERP gantry at Nicoll Highway to prevent traffic from going that side? The removal of ERP gantry will allow traffic going down to Shenton Way, Chinatown as well as to the Marina Square area without having to pay for ERP. Why do we not just move the ERP gantry to the Bugis area as well as to the Orchard Road area? One last clarification, Madam, for the Ministry about Premium Bus Service (PBS), and about passengers being allowed to stand on PBS buses. The reply from MOT was that passengers are not allowed to stand on PBS buses. The feedback from the residents is that if they do not stand, they do not even get on board the bus; they do not even get to the place that they want to get to. They do not have other public transport options. Would MOT be prepared to consider allowing people to stand on PBS buses, otherwise would MOT provide more services?”
“Mdm Chair, within Tanjong Rhu estate, there are 1,528 households. Of these, about 1,260 residents are above 60 years of age. For many of them, they struggle to climb a three-storey high pedestrian overhead bridge just to reach the other side of Mountbatten Road where there are more amenities like supermarket, clinics, wet market or the Mountbatten MRT station. I had previously made several requests for a lift to be installed at the pedestrian overhead bridge, but to no avail. Instead, LTA decided to build a long ramp which I did not feel will solve the issue. I just want to invite LTA senior officers to come and witness a 60-year-old or 70-year-old elderly man or woman relying on walking stick to walk along the ramp. Hence, I am appealing to LTA to consider a signalised traffic crossing along Mountbatten Road so as to facilitate the travel patterns of the elderly residents who are unable to climb the high pedestrian overhead bridge. A signalised traffic crossing will bring about greater convenience and allow elderly residents to cross the road in a safe manner. I note that there are similar signalised traffic crossings along other busy roads like Lornie Road, Bendemeer Road, Victoria Street and Jalan Besar. I urge LTA to look at the profile of the estate. LTA should aim to allow elderly residents living in the area to have a better quality of life and to have access to more amenities. This would be in line with the Government's efforts to honour the Pioneer Generation and our elderly residents.”
“Mdm Chairperson, in private estates, many residents complain about non residents parking heavy commercial vehicles, lorries and big pick-ups just outside their homes. This has caused the residential nature of the estate to be affected as heavy commercial vehicles are practically using the roads as parking lots. Page: 68 The indiscriminate parking of such heavy commercial vehicles by the roadside has also caused congestion to the estate. There are also insufficient places for the owners to park their own cars. Some residents have resorted to using dustbins, flower pots or clothes racks to block a space for their cars and this has sometimes resulted in quarrels between neighbours which is unhealthy. I urge LTA to consider a ban to disallow heavy commercial vehicles from parking along residential roads. Owners of such vehicles should exercise consideration for others and find proper parking places for these vehicles at their factories or commercial premises instead of causing disamenities to other residents. Smartphone Applications for Taxi Service”
“Madam, in 2009 and 2012, I had asked LTA to review the need for ERP on Saturdays along Nicoll Highway. I am trying again this year. Each time I travel along Nicoll Highway on a Saturday afternoon, the road is relatively empty. It simply defies logic as to why motorists are required to pay ERP on Saturdays for a road which is not so congested. The road all the way to Marina Square, Shenton Way and Chinatown is clear. If there is a need to regulate traffic in the Bugis or Orchard Road areas, in order to ring-fence that area, surely LTA can adjust other ERP gantries to discourage vehicles from travelling towards those areas. Page: 66 In fact, I had previously argued that some congestion on Saturdays may be tolerable. And the situation may be similar to traffic conditions on Sundays where there is no ERP. Motorists live with whatever traffic is on the road on Sundays. I urge LTA to review the need for ERP on Saturdays along Nicoll Highway and, for that matter, whether ERP is required on Saturdays in parts of Singapore. Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE)”
“Madam, with the implementation of the BSEP last year, public transport services have improved. However, for residents living in private estates like Tanjong Rhu, Meyer Road and Haig Road, there is still a lack of public transport alternatives. There is currently only one public bus service, No 158, plying through Tanjong Rhu estate. And there are very limited Premium bus services travelling along Meyer Road to connect residents to the city during peak hours. I met transport representatives several months ago to ask for increased number of buses. But to date, there has been no improvement. Many of my residents living in the private estates tell me they will be willing to give up driving to work if they can find comfortable and convenient public transport to their workplace. The irony is that there are three MRT stations – Dakota, Mountbatten and Stadium MRT stations – all within a 10-minute bus journey to these private estates. However, none of the existing bus services provide that last mile connection to link the residents to these MRT stations. Thus, residents at Haig Road only need a bus service to link them about 1.4 km to reach the nearest Dakota MRT station. Residents at Tanjong Rhu and Meyer just need a feeder service to bring them to the nearest MRT station at Stadium MRT. MOT states on its website, "We endeavour to make our public transport system attractive, not just to existing users but also people who have access to cars so that they will embrace the bus or train as ‘my other car'". I call on MOT to introduce short feeder bus services to provide better public transport connectivity to the nearest MRT stations or to introduce more parallel bus services so that residents could take the environmentally friendly option and embrace public transport.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. I just want to ask Minister Grace Fu. I found the video on the throwing of cigarette butt quite interesting. May I ask the Minister whether NEA would be relying on CCTVs installed along lamp posts in private estates to take enforcement actions Page: 35 against litterbugs?”
“However, all the time which we spend here will be futile unless the residents can see improvements in their living environment. I also urge NEA to carry out more enforcement against litterbugs because that is the cause of the litter problem in the first place. Public Cleanliness”
“Sir, for the past few years, I have lamented about the unsatisfactory level of cleanliness within the private estates Page: 172 in Mountbatten. Last month, I made a house visit to the Tanjong Katong area and I have received feedback from residents that they do not see cleaners regularly clearing the litters at their drains or the common areas. Bottles, empty drink packets, plastic bags and even cat food were left uncleared for weeks. Just walk along any public drains and you will be able to see litter along the drains which have not been cleared. Sir, this is not acceptable. In fact, my residents asked me to come regularly so that I can witness for myself the debris that is on the roads. Just last month, we debated in Parliament on the need for cleaning companies to implement a progressive wage plan to pay their cleaners fair wages for their work. However, even as the cleaning companies pay their workers more, surely we expect the cleaning companies not to cut back on the number of cleaners. They must do more to keep the estates clean and to do so regularly. May I ask the Minister what plans the Government has to ensure that cleaning companies are more diligent in cleaning the private estates? Although the Government is already arranging accredited cleaning companies, how does the Department of Public Cleanliness monitor the performance of these accredited cleaning companies? Will there be any penalties imposed if the cleaning companies are found to have neglected their duties? How else can they motivate the cleaners to take pride in their work and to ensure that the area for which they are responsible, remain clean and free of litter? We may debate and argue in Parliament for more cleaning work to be done in the constituency.”
“Just want to ask the Minister of State Dr Maliki, whether he would agree that elderly singles who are unable to buy flats because they have no CPF or ability to pay loan instalments – for such people, they are really people with limited options – and whether the Minister of State would consider them as belonging to a vulnerable group. And if so, whether MND would be prepared to consider any application by elderly singles to rent a single flat on their own on a case-by-case basis because of the fact that they are elderly. Page: 155 There cannot be that many elderly singles who want to live in a single room flat by themselves. Just one more clarification, Mr Chairman, for the Minister of State Mr Desmond Lee – just wanted to ask whether it is likely that we will have water taxis along Kallang River and, if so, when.”
“To prevent abuse, we can restrict allowing singles to rent a 1-room flat only if they can prove that they have no family members to look after them. Food Security”
“Mdm Chair, taking care of the healthcare needs of our Pioneer Generation is an important step in acknowledging the contributions of our pioneers. However, besides their healthcare needs, the Government should also consider the housing plight of seniors who are either single, divorced or living alone. For this group, they are unable to find a home to stay in as they either do not have a spouse or children, or they are estranged from their spouse or children. In situations like these, they usually cannot find low-cost housing. They are unable to rent a flat from HDB as the current rules do not allow singles to rent a flat on their own. Hence, they either have to find a friend or they have to be paired with a total stranger. HDB would only allow them to rent a 1-room flat which means just a flat without bedroom. Madam, I feel that we can do better to look after this group of elderly singles. Like divorcees with children, I would submit that the elderly singles are also a vulnerable group. By asking two elderly single strangers to share a flat without even a bedroom, we may be making their living environment uncomfortable for them. At a certain age, many of them would have certain ingrained habits which make it difficult for them to adapt to living with another stranger. They have different standards of hygiene and there would also be frequent quarrels. I urge MND to consider allowing elderly singles to rent a 1-room HDB flat by themselves on a case-by-case basis. Whilst it may be costly to rent a heavily subsidised flat to such elderly singles, this Government can show that we also have a heart for elderly singles who are in need.”
“Mdm Chairman, on behalf of the GPC for Education and the many Members of this House who have spoken so passionately about education policies, allow me to thank the Minister, Senior Minister of State, Minister of State and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for sharing MOE's plans to bring out the best in every child and for their replies and clarifications. I also wish to take the opportunity to thank the Permanent Secretary and MOE staff for their diligence and hard work during this COS debate. Madam, I seek leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $10,598,000,000 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $888,000,000 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. Just some supplementary questions for MOE. First, for the Minister: PSLE is a stressful time for many parents because of the desire for the children to do well in the examination. Can the Minister share a bit what else we can do to get parents to buy into the concept that education is not just about academic grades, but the overall development of the child, so that the schools can bring out the best in the children and so the Minister can emphasise his "Every School is a Good School" concept to more parents? I am just wondering whether the PSG can do more to help communicate the message to the parents. The second supplementary question is, while I applaud the setting up of 40 more student care centres, how would this impact MOE's plans to have more primary schools go single sessions? The third question is on the teaching of values. The feedback I had was that many Singaporeans are concerned that there is not enough emphasis on the Page: 17 teaching of loyalty to the nation. They need to be patriotic; they need to care for the community. Can these areas be emphasised during the teaching of Character and Citizenship Education (CCE)? And, finally, for the Senior Minister of State Ms Indranee Rajah. The Senior Minister of State spoke about ASPIRE Committee considering the use of professional certification to recognise skills-based education. I wonder whether the Senior Minister of State is able to elaborate a little bit more about what kind of professional or technical certification is MOE considering and how do we ensure that such certification is recognised and valued by the industries?”
“— help students facing financial hardship cope with their studies? Page: 117 Every School a Good School”
“May I ask the Minister to give us an update about the work and recommendation of the ASPIRE Committee. How can we help our ITE and Polytechnic students improve upon their cognitive and emotional skills? We should prepare the students for the future. Can we encourage more entrepreneurs amongst our future generation? Can we use more technology to teach the students to deal with the new digital world? And, very importantly, how do we ensure that our students view that they have a stake in making Singapore a better place? What else can we do to prepare our students to be future-ready when these jobs have not even been invented yet? In many parts of the world, the youth unemployment figure is very high, even after graduation. What is Singapore doing to ensure that our youths will not end up in similar situation as that in other countries? Finally, I welcome the Budget announcement that there will be more bursaries at the IHLs for lower and middle income families. For these families, every dollar has to be stretched. I am glad that MOT had earlier this year, in response to many Members' feedback, agreed to a reduction in public transport fares for Polytechnic students. Could the Minister share more details of these bursaries and how they can ease the financial burden on the lower and middle-income families? How else can MOE help —”
“However, no matter how we promote the concept of good schools, the Government, as the country's largest employer, must also recognise that good academic grades alone are not the only way to measure a person's ability. Otherwise, all parents will only want their children to go to schools which help the students score good grades and get to University, because that is the best way to get employed. In a recent article in TODAY, Mr Thomas Friedman, quoting Google's hiring policy said, "Google had determined that Grade Point Averages (GPAs) are worthless as a criterion for hiring and test scores are worthless. We found that they do not predict anything. Hence, the proportion of people without any college education at Google has increased over time." I would not go as far as to say that educational qualifications are not relevant but I do urge MOE or Page: 116 Government agencies to review its hiring policies to consider not just a person's academic grades but other factors as well. Google says they look at general cognitive ability, emergent leadership, intellectual humility and ownership. The Government should consider likewise, so that people with different abilities are also recognised. Although we aim to have more students in University, it is really not possible for all our students to obtain a degree. It is critical that MOE works with MOM to ensure that all our students from ITE, Polytechnic and Universities are properly prepared to meet the future needs of the various industries. The skills which our students learn in our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) must be practical and relevant to the industries. As Google said, "Beware. Your degree is not a proxy for your ability to do any job".”
“I suggest that MOE sets up a taskforce to ascertain the reasons why good teachers leave MOE to become tuition teachers, and then find ways to keep such good teachers. Next, PSLE. My younger child took her PSLE last year. Like many parents, my wife and I were totally stressed out. We did whatever we could to equip her for PSLE. Although PSLE is supposed to be an assessment exam, which helps us to understand the strengths and weaknesses of our child, nevertheless, PSLE is perceived as a high-stake exam. Hence, many parents are anxious about the pending review of the PSLE. Could the Minister share more about the on-going review of PSLE? How will it affect the children preparing for PSLE next year or the year after? Would there be a less stressful way to assess the students, so that they do not have to chase every mark. One feedback was that we should not push our children to take such a major exam at a young age. Would MOE consider pushing PSLE to be taken at a later age when the student is more mature to handle major exams? Next, to ease the perception that a child's future is determined by the PSLE, I support MOE's policy to ensure that every school is a good school, and that every school is given adequate resources and allowed to develop its own niche and strength. I also support MOE's efforts to ensure that different pathways to higher education opportunities will remain open for all. Every school must continually monitor its weakest students to ensure that they receive sufficient help to improve and learn skills, which should be useful for the future. For students who are late developers, they must be assured that they still have the opportunity to further their studies at a later stage in life.”
“Madam, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head K of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Two months ago, I organised a dialogue to hear the views of my residents on the topic of education. During the dialogue, many parents spoke passionately on the issues which they are concerned about – stress in school due to Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and the need to have good teachers in our schools. One participant stood up – a Secondary 3 student from Chung Cheng High. He spoke about how his teachers taught them fundamental skills to prepare them for the future; how they constantly stressed to them the importance of having the right values in life, and how success in life should never be measured by academic grades alone. He and his classmates were taught never to allow the three-digit PSLE score to determine their future. Whatever their PSLE results, it is for them to make the best out of their Secondary education in school. Many other students at the dialogue nodded their heads in agreement. I was happy to hear the mature response from the students. Their teachers have taught them well on the importance of education and values, and making the best of their Secondary school education. This reflects well on the hard work and effort of the many dedicated teachers within MOE's workforce. To the many school teachers who have taught your students well, and given them a strong foundation, thank you for molding our future generation. I urge MOE to continue investing in the training of good teachers, including pre-school teachers who teach our younger children. Page: 115 MOE must find more ways to retain good teachers who have that passion for teaching, and who can inspire our students.”
“Page: 108 STB must play a more proactive role to protect the thousands of consumers from another failure of a travel agency before consumer confidence in the travel industry is eroded.”
“Mdm Chairperson, many Singaporeans see travelling as a form of education where they not only visit the tourist sights of another country, they also learn about the history and culture of that country. For the past three years, during the annual NATAS Fair, consumers had spent about $100 million each year on travel-related expenses. Each time they book a travel package, air tickets or hotel accommodation, they are required to pay deposits to the travel agencies. The recent closure of Five Stars Travel Pte Ltd has shocked many consumers. According to some media, about 6,000 consumers who had paid deposits to the said travel company were adversely affected as their travel arrangements were disrupted due to the closure of the travel agency. These consumers, being unsecured creditors, have lower priority in claiming refund of their deposits from liquidators of the travel company. In view of the huge amount of monies being transacted at travel fairs, this current arrangement is unsatisfactory. Consumers who have paid deposits to their travel agencies ought to have better protection for their payments, which, when added up, come to a large sum of money. Even lawyers are prohibited from holding conveyancing monies above $5,000 as they have to pay such deposits into a conveyancing account. I urge MTI to consider amending the law to ensure that deposits paid by consumers to travel agencies are protected when a travel agency is liquidated or suffers business failure. One option is for every travel agency to provide compulsory insurance against insolvency of travel agencies. Another option is to make each travel agency contribute towards a fund to compensate consumers affected by the liquidation of the said travel agency. This is akin to the Law Society's compensation fund.”
“I thank the Minister for the clarification. I just wanted to share with the Minister that I understand perfectly where he is coming from. Page: 119 But I think the dilemma that the Government has is that the man in the street feels that we are in the business of licensing illegal moneylenders and, therefore, it is a concern for all of us. So, I feel that it is my duty as a parliamentarian to raise this to the Minister's attention.”
“Thank you, Madam. Some of my residents who are indebted to licensed moneylenders see their interests accumulating on a day-by-day basis. I want to ask the Minister: when will the review on this cap of interests chargeable as well as the fees chargeable be done? Can it be done expeditiously so that borrowers have a greater sense of certainty as to how much interests they have to pay? The other query that I have for the Senior Minister of State is: what are the penalties being considered against licensed moneylenders if they behave like unlicensed moneylenders who use harassment techniques to collect back loans?”
“I call upon MinLaw to also restrict the number of moneylenders in a HDB estate so that borrowers would not be lured into thinking that credit is easily available just at their doorstep. Tougher action must also be taken against any moneylender that uses illegal methods to collect back their loans. Regulating Licensed Moneylenders”
“Madam, in the course of my Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS), I meet residents who have had to take short-term loans from licensed moneylenders to tide them over a period of time. To the surprise of these borrowers, the interest rates charged by these licensed moneylenders are very high – up to 20% effective interest rate if your annual income is up to $30,000. There is no limit on the interest rate that a licensed moneylender could charge for a person earning more than $30,000 per year. The moneylender is also allowed to collect various types of fees from the borrower. Due to the high profit margin, there is a proliferation of moneylenders in the HDB estates. Borrowers who take a loan from licensed moneylenders are usually in desperate situations. They are unlikely to be eligible for a loan from the financial institutions. When they have to turn to moneylenders, they find that the loans given to them come with exorbitant interest rates and all sorts of fees. However, many borrowers have no options but to accept whatever interest rates and fees imposed. I urge MinLaw to do more to protect residents who face temporary liquidity or need cash quickly for a short term. MAS regulates the financial institutions strictly; and MinLaw also regulates pawnbrokers by limiting interest charged by pawnbrokers. MinLaw should also step in to regulate the licensed moneylending industry more strictly and to reduce the maximum interest rate which the moneylender can charge. Can the Minister let us know whether there are plans for additional measures to protect borrowers and to curb borrowing costs from moneylenders?”
“Madam, over the last few months, I have met several Singaporeans appealing for their spouses to be granted Singapore citizenship. In most cases, the couples have been married many years and the spouses have obtained their Singapore Permanent Residency (SPR) years ago. Many of them also have children who are Singapore Citizens. However, due to their lack of educational qualification or their inability to find a well-paying job, these SPRs have not been successful in their application for citizenship. Financially, they are affected because a non-citizen has to pay more for school fees and medical fees. In contrast, I see some new couples who had stayed in Singapore for a much shorter period of time getting their Singapore citizenship in an easier manner probably because they are better qualified or earn a higher income. Madam, I feel that we ought to consider the many other contributions by some residents who have lived in Singapore for many years. Through their hard work, they have contributed to the success of Singapore; like many of those in the Pioneer Generation. Some of them have also played their part in having children who are Singaporeans. I urge the Government to review the criteria for granting Singapore citizenship. We should take into account the length of time that an SPR had resided in Singapore, the fact that the SPR has a Singaporean spouse or children and the fact that many of them had integrated well and had contributed to the success of Singapore over the past years that they were in Singapore. Long-Term Visit Pass”
“Yet, despite the huge amount of cost, the Government has decided to fund it in its entirety in a single financial year, by setting aside $8 billion in the Pioneer Generation Fund. It is the Government's way to assure the Pioneer Generation of its commitment to them and they do not have to worry about the Government changing policy due to changing economic circumstances. I believe that this is a prudent move and I support this move. I also urge the Government to do more to reach out to the eligible PGP seniors who may not be conversant in English and Mandarin so as to better explain the benefits of the PGP to this group of Singaporeans. Before I close, allow me to touch briefly on the increase in alcohol taxes. I understand the rationale for the Finance Minister's decision to raise taxes on alcohol. But I am disappointed that some retailers have taken advantage of the tax increase to raise the price of beer by more than double the price hike in some instances. In my view, as a consumer advocate, these retailers are taking advantage of the price increase to profit, and this is unfair to consumers. I urge the Competition Commission of Singapore to investigate if there are any coordinated price increases and whether the coordinated increases are anti- Page: 137 competitive. Madam, I support the Budget. 6.10 pm”
“Surely, this cannot be the intent of the Government. For many of these people, they want to stand on their own feet. They want to be independent, which is something that we encourage. But they face difficult, Page: 136 bureaucratic policies. So, I urge the Government to make adjustments to the policies for this particular group of people so that we can make a difference to their lives. Going back to the PGP, this group has been defined to be Singaporeans aged 65 years and above in 2014. They have obtained Singapore citizenship before 31 December 1968. However, there may be Singaporeans who obtained their citizenship after 1968, but who have stayed in Singapore for many years. They too have contributed to the growth of Singapore. I ask the Government to consider extending the benefits to any Singaporeans who are 65 years this year and have lived in Singapore for at least the past 40 years, since they would have also contributed to the growth of Singapore during our formative years. Finally, may I ask the Government whether there are other efforts made to cater to the other needs of the seniors. For example, we need more resources and support and more social workers to help families who have elderly Singaporeans suffering from mental incapacity or dementia. We will need more financial support for daycare centres for the elderly. Will the Government provide adequate funds for improvements to physical infrastructure facilities that cater to the growing number of the elderly? For example, more exercise equipment in the parks for the elderly, or perhaps more lifts at overhead bridges. Mdm Speaker, this Budget is special because of the huge amount of funds which the Government is spending for one particular programme and one particular group of citizens over their lifetime.”
“The Government will continue to keep a close tab on the cost of living to ensure that the middle income can live their aspirations. Next, the Government can help to moderate increases in the cost of living by monitoring the various fees charged by agencies and statutory boards. I made the request last year and I repeat my appeal to the Government to consider a moratorium on any increase in rental for Government properties, flats and hawker stalls. Any such increases in rental charges will affect cost of living and they are usually passed on to consumers who have limited choice. Hence, there is an urgent need to ensure that the benefits given by the Government in this Budget are not perceived as being taken away by increases in Government rental, charges or other related fees. Third, I urge the Government to allocate more resources and funds to Government Ministries to cater more to the disadvantaged segments of society who may be adversely affected by Government policies. For example, can we consider allowing elderly singles to rent a 1-room flat on their own? This may cost the Government more, but this allows some of these elderly residents a better quality of life. Can we also allow divorcees who have to sell their matrimonial property due to divorce to buy a flat quickly without imposing too many restrictions on them? How about unwed mothers who need a flat to live in with their children? Or can we adjust CPF policies to allow seniors who have reached 55 years of age to use their CPF to buy properties without tying up their funds in their Retirement Account? Otherwise, for these seniors who wish to buy a flat, they may have some CPF in their Retirement Account but they have no home. They are then forced to use their cash to pay for rental.”
“Persons with special needs are also not forgotten, with enhanced subsidies for EIPIC which caters to children with special needs as well as transport subsidies for the disabled community. I urge the Government to do more to share with Singaporeans how they will benefit from this year's Budget. It would not be a positive development if Singaporeans do not understand the many benefits which they will receive from the Budget because the debate has been focussed on the PGP. Mdm Speaker, allow me to raise a few concerns for the Government. First, cost of living. Even as we take care of the Pioneer Generation, the Government should also do its best to manage the increasing cost of living which affects the general public, especially the middle income. Residents who miss out or do not benefit from the PGP are still concerned about healthcare costs for themselves. They worry about the increase in food prices. They worry about high electricity and utilities bills, hikes in waste disposal fees, increased public transport fares, increase in Conservancy and Service Charges, increase in property prices, Page: 135 which would affect all other consumer prices eventually. Not everyone wishes to receive benefits from the Government. Many of the middle-income families whom I speak to tell me that they would prefer to support their families without the need to apply for any form of financial assistance. Their concern is that their income increases just will not match the increase in cost of living. This would then adversely affect their ability to provide for their families, allow their loved ones to indulge in a bit of luxuries and still save a bit for a rainy day. So, I urge the Government to assure this group that their quality of life will improve.”
“Madam, during last year's Budget debate, I shared with this House the concerns of many Singaporeans that they Page: 134 cannot afford the expensive healthcare when they are older in age or when they are seriously ill. I was thus happy that this year's Budget had generously provided the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP). The PGP seeks to honour those seniors who have contributed to the growth of Singapore and to provide assurance to these pioneers that their healthcare will be taken care of. More than anything else, this Budget reminds all of us that this is a Government that pays close attention to feedback and will design policies that place the interests of the people of Singapore first. It signals that the Government is compassionate and cares deeply for the people of Singapore. Much has been said about the PGP. In fact, over the past week, whenever I meet residents or grassroots leaders, and asked them for their views about the Budget, the main thing that was discussed was about the PGP. However, there is a lot more to this year's Budget than the PGP. There are several schemes which aim to help the SMEs adjust to the changing economic landscape. There are more bursaries for students in the institutes of higher learning. And this would ease the financial burden on the lower- and middle-income families. There will also be permanent subsidies for those lower- and middle-income families to help them pay for the premiums for MediShield Life. For the seniors who are not eligible for the PGP, they still get the Medisave top-up and additional GST Vouchers. For families living in HDB flats, they get U-Save special payment and rebates on their Town Council charges.”
“Mdm Speaker, I just wanted to ask the Minister how long is the ban to disallow such overstayers from coming back to Singapore and is there a timeframe after which overstayers can come back. I do have residents whose spouses have been banned and they want to know when their overstayer spouse can be allowed back in Singapore.”
“Across all industries, employers are looking for people who are inquisitive, prepared to learn, adaptable, creative and innovative." I totally agree with this approach. SIT will enable more Singaporeans to live the Singapore dream of pursuing their further studies to excel in their workplace and to maximise their potential. I look forward to even more publicly funded university degree places when Singapore has a sixth autonomous university. I support the Bill. Page: 118 7.04 pm”
“This means that polytechnic graduates who are already in the workforce will have the opportunity to upgrade themselves at SIT. This is reflective of the "many pathways to success" Page: 117 approach by MOE to allow people of different abilities to gradually achieve their potential by enrolling at university after some years of work experience. Thus, a student who may not have done well at PSLE will still have the opportunity to go for ITE training, upgrade to a polytechnic diploma, if they so choose, and then enrol for a degree programme at SIT. There are just a few clarifications which I wish to ask of the Minister. Firstly, the three new degree programmes issued by SIT for accountancy, infocomm technology and engineering – how do we ensure that these degrees are not seen or perceived to be weaker or inferior degrees as compared to the degrees issued by the other autonomous universities? Would these degrees be recognised internationally if graduates from SIT were to work overseas? Secondly, besides the three degrees currently issued by SIT this year, are there plans to issue other SIT degrees? How would this affect the collaboration with the other 11 overseas universities? Are there plans for SIT to issue its own degrees for all subjects eventually? Thirdly, how will SIT ensure that there is uniform standard in the training provided to its undergraduates at the university? Where would SIT employ its lecturers and tutors from? Fourthly, other than the usual applied studies relevant to the degree programme, how would moral values and other life skills be taught at this university? In 2011, Mr Lawrence Wong had said, and I quote, "The more we invest in good education for our people, the better we enable them to excel in the workplace and to maximise their potential.”
“According to SIT website for this year, they will also be offering an accounting degree, an infocomm technology degree and an engineering degree programme in their own name. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support this Bill for the following reasons. The Government has committed to increasing the publicly funded university cohort participation rate to 40%. SIT will provide 2,000 full-time university places in 2015. This is indeed good news as it will allow more of our students to achieve their aspirations of having a university degree at a publicly funded university instead of having to incur more costs and expenses, chasing a degree through the private educational institutions or having to travel overseas for their undergraduate studies. SIT will provide a niche education pathway by offering practice-oriented degree programmes with strong industry links. Hence, the degree programme will not be the same as that of NUS, NTU or SMU as the emphasis is on applied learning. According to then Minister of State for Education, Mr Lawrence Wong, SIT will be a "best in class" institution that is different in character but equal in status to the existing autonomous universities. It will augment the options available by offering a distinct degree education that caters to a wider spectrum of preferences and abilities. Very importantly, it will also produce a different type of graduate with industry oriented skills that will be valued by employers; SIT graduates will help to meet the diverse needs of the economy. SIT should also take in students from polytechnic, JC and IP track programmes. Other than these students, I understand that SIT will also take in polytechnic graduates with work experience.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. For the past many years, after the "A" level results are announced, I would receive appeals from students and their parents appealing for places in one of our local universities like NUS, NTU or SMU. If they are unable to secure a place in one of the local universities, many students would have to enrol in one of the private schools providing a foreign degree. For those who can afford the higher cost, they would travel to UK, Australia, USA or some other countries to pursue their dream of becoming a university graduate. I know that many families understand the value of attaining a university education. Parents have no qualms digging into their CPF funds to pay for the tertiary education of their children. For many children, getting a degree would help them secure a better paying job and this would in turn help provide a more favourable financial environment for the family. For this reason, there are many Page: 116 Singaporeans who are pursuing a foreign degree overseas. SIT was established in 2009. At that time, it collaborated with five established overseas universities like Technical University of Munich, the Newcastle University for naval architecture, offshore and marine engineering, the Digipen Institute of Technology, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for Hotel Administration and Culinary Institute of America. At that time, it offered eight new degree programmes and it provided more opportunities for our polytechnic students to obtain industry relevant qualifications. Today, SIT has 11 overseas universities partners and it offered 27 degree programmes.”
“Whilst the Government and the unions can continue to push for improvements to the productivity of the cleaners, I feel that, as a nation which has done well economically, we should do more to help our lower-skilled workers secure a better wage and to have improvements to their living standards. Asking the cleaning companies to implement a progressive wage plan for their cleaners and to ensure that the cleaners continue with upgrading courses is something to be strongly encouraged. Hence, I support this Part of the Bill as it will improve the wages and working conditions of our cleaners. There are many details which are not available yet as they are dependent on the recommendations of the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners. However, I do recall reading an article by Prof Tommy Koh in 2012 where he compared the wages of a cleaner in Denmark, Finland, Norway Page: 90 and Sweden where the wages of the cleaners in those countries are between $2,850 and $5,500. Would the Government be prepared to eventually push the wages of the low-wage cleaners and other low-wage workers to a higher level, not necessarily of that amount but to a higher level, so that there is eventually more equity in income distribution? This may, of course, mean higher taxes and higher costs of living for all Singaporeans. What is the Government's view on this?, May I seek just a minor clarification from the Minister – does this section apply to self-employed cleaning ladies who clean offices? What about self-employed cleaning ladies who carry out cleaning of residential households? There are quite a few such small businesses and many of them are wondering what is the impact to them and their livelihood once the new law is in place? Sir, I support the Bill.”
“And this is to cater for a situation whereby the offender may be financially unable to pay the fine. Would the Government also consider DNA testing of the "matter" or "thing" being thrown or discarded so as to identify the person who threw or discarded the "matter" or "thing"? Finally, Sir, for persons who are found to be suffering from some mental illness and who have littered, urinated or defecated in public, what would the Government do about such offenders? Whilst I am sympathetic towards their mental condition, sometimes, the Town Council is under great pressure to find a solution to provide an acceptable and pleasant environment for the rest of the residents. In respect of clause 5(4) of the Bill, may I ask the Minister whether this would also extend to owners or persons in charge of a heavy vehicle which leaves construction debris like sand or cement onto the roads? Can MEWR take stricter action against such heavy vehicles to deter such vehicles from leaving debris along the road which, in turn, causes danger to other road users? Next, Sir, moving to Part IXA of the Bill, I support the move by the Government to improve the wages of our cleaners. Very often, cleaners are low-skilled and not well educated residents. As a result, they do not get to enjoy the improvements to living standards which many Singaporeans take for granted. Regardless of how else they improve their skills, there is a limit to the increase in productivity which employers can ask from these workers. As a result, the wages of cleaners have remained generally low.”
“Clause 5(5) of the bill imposes an obligation on the flat owner or occupier of the flat to provide certain information required by the police to identify the person who was at the flat at the time of the offence. This will certainly help the police or NEA to identify an offender who deliberately throws litter down from the flat. With this amendment to the law, hopefully, we will be able to reduce the number of incidents whereby recalcitrant offenders can get away from being punished even though NEA knows clearly which flat is responsible for the litter. For those residents who are innocent of any littering offence, they do not have to worry because all they have to do is to provide the details of the person who was occupying the flat at the time of the offence. Hopefully, this law will enable Singapore to remain a clean and green country with a living environment which residents will be proud of. I have a few questions to ask the Minister regarding this part of the Bill. Under clause 5(6) of the Bill, what is the intended meaning of "without reasonable excuse"? Under what circumstances would the Minister accept as "reasonable excuse" from the owner or occupier of the flat unit? Next, in the event that the owner of the flat provides information that there is more than one person occupying the flat at the time of the offence, how would the police or NEA be able to identify the actual culprit who committed the littering offence? For the punishment under clause 5(6), other than doubling of the fine, would the Government also consider imposing a Corrective Work Order as punishment on the person who, without reasonable cause, failed to provide Page: 89 information required by the Police?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill. I walk around my HDB estate regularly to have a feel of the local environment of the constituency. Each time, when I see a large amount of litter around the estate, I feel a sense of disappointment. The presence of the litter is not due to the lack of effort by the Town Council cleaners. Instead, they are the result of inconsiderate actions of a small number of people who litter and who make the living environment unpleasant for the rest of the residents. I checked regularly to ensure that the Town Council cleaners carry out their work. However, despite all the hard work that they do, the estate can never be clean enough unless everyone does their part to keep the estate clean. During a recent "Clean the Town" exercise which my Town Council carried out, I had picked up the following items from the ground floor of some of the Page: 88 flats: cigarette butts, soiled tissue paper, bottle caps, empty cigarette packages, plastic bags, styrofoam boxes, straws and empty bottles. My cleaners and residents also feedback to me that they have seen sanitary pads, packets of unconsumed food and even human waste being thrown down onto the ground floor by inconsiderate upstairs residents. Unfortunately, NEA finds it difficult to track down the culprits as it requires 24 hours' surveillance of the suspected flats. Even with the high-rise CCTV, it is usually difficult to determine exactly which person in the flat unit is the actual offender who throws the waste litter from the flat. The latest amendment to the Act gives the NEA a boost to track down the offender and to take action against that litterbug.”
“Deputy and Assistant Registrars also play a key role in the Courts especially when they sit in a judicial capacity to decide on applications for summary judgments, for striking out of cases, for assessment of damages and so on. May I ask the Minister to consider instituting an internal Court guideline to ensure that Deputy or Assistant Registrars are suitably qualified and experienced before they are allowed to sit in a judicial capacity. On the renaming of the "Subordinate Courts" to "State Courts", my personal view is that it is not quite necessary. For many years, our judicial system has been well regarded and well ranked internationally, which Senior Minister of State had alluded to earlier in her speech. The many accolades referred to in the Subordinate Courts Annual Report 2012 from pages 52 to 58 say it all. Whether the Courts are renamed as "State Courts" or they remain as "Subordinate Courts", the main focus should really be on the many dedicated people running the judicial system. The new Bill even provides for a Presiding Judge of the State Courts to be someone who is either a High Court Judge or a Judicial Commissioner. Mr Deputy Speaker, I understand that the Chief Justice had felt the renaming necessary so as to raise the standing of the Subordinate Courts. Perhaps, the Minister could clarify how the renaming of the Subordinate Courts would raise the standing of the Courts, as compared to the costs implication of having to change the name of an institution which has been around for many years. 5.06 pm”
“It is, hence, important that we have qualified persons who are not too junior in age or in experience to be sitting in a judicial capacity to decide on the litigant's fate. One commonly expressed concern is whether the qualified persons have sufficient exposure in life's experiences and wisdom, without which, they may not appreciate the challenges that a litigant may face. This is especially so in the Small Claims Tribunal and the Magistrates' Courts. Mr Deputy Speaker, whilst raising the minimum statutory requirements of a District Judge and a Magistrate is a step in the right direction, I believe that more can be done. Hence, I would suggest that every new Judicial Officer be sent for an exposure stint at any Community Development Council (CDC) or a registered Volunteer Welfare Organisation (VWO) before their appointment. This is to allow each young or inexperienced Judicial Officer to better appreciate the daily challenges that an average citizen faces in life. Such a stint would allow our Magistrates and District Judges to see, firsthand, the struggles of families in dispute and how family background affects juvenile offenders. By allowing these officers to interact with applicants for social welfare, some of them may better appreciate the need sometimes for mercy whilst dispensing justice. And for officers working with a VWO involved in protecting women from violence, they may also gain better insight as to the pain suffered by victims of family violence. I note that whilst the minimum statutory requirements to be a Magistrate and a District Judge have been increased, the minimum qualifying criteria of a Page: 81 Registrar and Deputy Registrar under clause 12 of the Subordinate Courts Act have not been increased.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to declare my interest as a practising lawyer in speaking on this Bill. There are four key changes in this Bill: the renaming of the "Subordinate Courts" to the "State Courts"; the re-designation of the Chief District Judge as the Presiding Judge of the State Courts; third one is the amendment of the requirement for a District Judge to be a qualified person for not less than seven years, which is an increase from the present five years; and the fourth change is the amendment of the requirement for a Magistrate to be a qualified person for not less than three years, an increase from the present one year. I support the changes to increase the qualifying criteria for the appointment of a District Judge to seven years and for the appointment of a Magistrate to Page: 80 three years. District Judges and Magistrates play an important role in the administration of justice in our Courts. Amongst other things, they have to deal with criminal matters which involve the imposition of hefty fines and incarceration of offenders. They also have to adjudicate on civil disputes involving cases of up to $60,000 for Magistrates and $250,000 for District Judges. In the 2012 Annual Report of the Subordinate Courts, it was reported that the Subordinate Courts handled a total of 352,763 cases of which 254,959 cases came under the Criminal Justice Division. Thus, the bulk of most litigants who have to appear in Court to pay a fine, to be sentenced to jail or to have their disputes adjudicated upon, will have to face either a Magistrate or a District Judge. It is critical that each litigant who appears in Court be given assurance that their case would be heard fairly and justice is dispensed in an impartial manner by an appropriately qualified person.”
“Mdm Speaker, I want to thank the Minister for his answers. I am wondering if a traffic controller gives instructions to the bus captain or driver to slow down or even to wait at the bus stop, and then later on, the bus captain finds that he cannot catch up, how then does he deal with the stress of having to catch up, after having been asked to stop at the bus stop for two minutes or so? My concern is whether we would add undue stress and pressure on the bus captain because he faces a certain degree of unhappiness from his employer if he does not comply. For all that we say, that he should not drive recklessly, there would be a certain amount of pressure on him to try to adhere to the time limit. In the Minister's view, would this be something that we are trying to encourage?”