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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“Already, with this approach, out of the 2,700 currently registered licences being issued, 900 licences would not need to be taken out. So we are reducing that straightaway. In addition to that, the current Act in fact also provides an exemption scheme. In other words, currently, the approach taken by Police is that if some other Act already covers you, for example, the Pawnbrokers Act, because the intent of the Pawnbrokers Act is also to include people who may leave goods there and these may be stolen goods too, you will not be covered under the Moneylenders Act. But Police tells me that in working out this new regime, what they intend to do is to look at the track record of the licensee. If he has a good track record, they are prepared to exempt him from the licensing requirement. In other words, he need not pay the licence fee, but he would be required to notify Police of the fact that he is in business and he would agree to submit information as and when required. We have tried the exemption approach for various other regimes like the massage parlour scheme where we want to be able to also reward good conduct. So those who already have a good track record need not be burdened with the regulatory scheme. That is the first point. Therefore, the question of business cost should be seen in this context. We are not there to increase business cost. In fact, we are very mindful of business cost. And that is why the fee regime will be retained. Currently, it is $150 for the whole year. It will be so. And in fact, if you look at the current Act, already the processes of transfer, renewal, and so forth, are there. So the current regime will stay.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I just wish to ask the Senior Minister of State whether it is intended for secondhand goods dealers like karung guni men who deal occasionally with the goods listed in the Schedule of the Bill to be registered under this Bill. If so, bearing in mind their low educational qualifications, whether any form of assistance would be given to them to enable them to comply with the licensing requirements under the Act. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I thank both Dr Teo Ho Pin and Mr Lim for their comments and, in particular, Dr Teo who has made some points which will enable me to explain how this Act will work out. First, of course, this is not a new Act. This is an Act which has been in place for some time, but too long and therefore we are replacing it. When we look at how to improve the workings of the Act, we look at what is happening on the ground, at any loopholes that need to be filled up and, yet, at the same time to maintain, like I have said, a business environment that is friendly. In other words, one key focus of this Act is really to enforce with a lighter touch. So let me reiterate what we have done which is essentially working with a positive list. This makes it very clear that only those goods which are of interest to Police, and if you look at the Schedule, there are nine of them, will be regulated. In fact, the old Act had items, such as gunny bags, sail cloths, canvas, kerosene tins, oil drums and other similar empty receptacles, wooden and tin lined boxes and cases, and so forth. These are probably some of the materials that the karung guni men will deal in. So to modernise it, we look at what goods ought to be covered. This is number one.”