Lim Wee Kiak
Singapore
“" The point I want to make here is that given that we have one of the longest lifespans in the world now, and there is a correlation with an ageing population and chronic diseases, are there plans to explore and develop the emerging fields of regenerative medicine and healthy longevity?”
“Can I ask, in light of the fact that we have a smoking cessation clinic, is there a vaping cessation clinic, whereby the public can surrender themselves and say, "I have been vaping. I wish to have some help"? And how does the Ministry of Health (MOH) handle this?”
“May I ask how the Government decided on these targets, and what steps will Singapore take to achieve them? I would like to highlight, this year, the Government announced a 2035 climate target to reduce emissions to "between 45 and 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035". Are we on track to meet our 2030 target?”
“Building upon this progress, I encourage individuals with innovative ideas and a passion for contributing to this vital green industry to step forward.”
“While mandating sustainable aviation fuel for departing flights is a commendable way, what other strategic initiatives are planned across different sectors to leverage on our hub position? How will such initiatives affect Singapore's economic competitiveness as a travel hub?”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister of State for the reply. I would like to ask two supplementary questions. First is that, is the Government happy with the state of affairs of the current SFC utilisation? Is 50% of the of the population using SFC the target?”
The complete record
Every one of 673 lines we hold for Lim Wee Kiak, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 13 of 14.
“In the case of the Chernobyl disaster, many people died, a large number of people required treatment for radiation, and the area had to be evacuated and vacated for a long period after. The combined loss in human and economic terms is not something to be taken lightly. The US was not spared either. There was the Three Mile Long Island Nuclear Generating Station incident which was caused by a partial nuclear meltdown in 1979. This happened when the core of a nuclear reactor ceased to be properly controlled and cooled due to the failure of control or safety systems. Fortunately, in this accident, there was no loss of lives but it required a massive evacuation of people. These are reminders of the severity of the impact that any nuclear catastrophe can cause within a wide radius of the accident area. What is sometimes overlooked is the need to have proper maintenance and prevention to ensure that any nuclear accident can be prevented and, if they occur, there are adequate measures to respond effectively and swiftly. This would involve a whole gamut of experts, from the field response team to the experts to treat exposure to radioactive contamination. Is NEA equipped to handle nuclear contamination? Is NEA seeking technical assistance from other countries which have the know-how to assist us? What is the role of NEA in a "dirty bomb" incident? In Singapore, we may some day also be forced to look at nuclear alternative as the demand for energy rises, and so too the prices of fossil fuel. But, for now, for us, I believe we are better off exploiting biofuels as well as solar energy as alternative energy sources. 6.51 pm Assoc. Prof.”
“We need not look back very far to remind ourselves of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died within three weeks of being contaminated with alpha radiation from polonium-210, the most common isotope of the element polonium. Sir, it is also important if the Minister can share with the House how will the new amendment affect the current radiation control measures in medical institutions and research centres. Next, I would like to speak on nuclear energy in the broader context. Nuclear energy is certainly an attractive proposition, if only they are used for peaceful means. But the technology is like a knife, which can be used to save lives when it is in the hands of the surgeon, but it can maim and kill when it is in the clutches of a murderer. Likewise, there is no telling when and how the power of nuclear energy will be exploited for non-peaceful means. For example, Australia's Prime Minister John Howard has spoken in favour of the International Energy Agency's report on how to meet the country's energy needs. The report had said that the country could build as many as 25 reactors by 2050 and these could supply up to a third of the nation's energy needs. I am also deeply concerned about the nuclear safety issue, as our neighbouring countries, both Indonesia and Malaysia, are exploring to build nuclear power plants. In Singapore, we need to gather sufficient knowledge and expertise in this field, especially if our neighbouring countries are taking that route. The incident of the radioactive contamination of the atmosphere at Chernobyl in Ukraine in April 1986 is a prime example of what can happen when nuclear energy is not properly controlled.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the motion to amend the Radiation Protection Act. I am pleased that the roles and the authority on this important area are now clearly defined and centralised to one agency. The global political terrain is fraught with many challenges, and law-abiding civil societies may find themselves suddenly robbed of their peace and tranquility, and mayhem becomes the order of the day. The use of "dirty bombs" is an issue that we have to constantly keep at the back of our minds when we are handling radioactive materials, which can be easily exploited under the hands of fanatics and the misguided. Centralising to a single agency in National Environment Agency (NEA) to handle radiation materials and manage the environmental concerns brought about by such will streamline all processes for control and licensing. Radioactive materials are used across a broad platform of industries and medical institutions, including some research facilities. There have been incidents in the US where radioactive materials from research facilities have been stolen. This can culminate in dire consequences, not the least of which is environmental contamination. We need to have stricter controls to ensure public safety is protected. My key concern is: What is the relationship of this new agency, ie, NEA, with Health Sciences Authority? Will the Health Sciences Authority still play a role in providing advice on health issues? Can the agency deal effectively with the health issues concerned if there is no input from the medical experts from HSA?”
“And if, supposing as a result of the information, the less efficient models are weeded out of the market, then there is really no need for us to have a minimum energy performance standard. But we will keep an open option and we will study this as we go along, depending on how the market reacts. Ultimately, the behaviour is what is mentioned by Mdm Phua. We want the public to take a long-term view and buy products which are more energy-efficient and therefore more cost saving on their part. And suppliers will react to that and they will not bring in the less efficient products. So we will continue to monitor this and see whether there is a need for us to introduce minimum energy information. Dr Lim also mentioned about renewable solar panels. As you know, there is a committee now under the National Research Foundation which is looking into that. There is no prohibition against people putting in solar panels for their water heaters. It is really left to the consumers. But over the longer term, we will wait for the NRF work on clean energy. If it is viable and it is something that can be done, we will certainly consider that and encourage the public to adopt. Sir, I think I have addressed most of the concerns.”
“So the question that he raised as to why is it, after so many years of voluntary scheme, not many manufacturers are on board, perhaps it is just inertia. But now, making it mandatory, and after looking at it for the last three years, you realise that it is not that difficult. In fact, some of the models already come with the energy information from where they have been imported. We are quite open. We are not insisting that they all must be tested by a certain company in Singapore. We accept based upon whatever information they can deliver from the suppliers on their side. So we will make it as easy as possible. But we must be able to see a certificate which is internationally recognisable. The duration, as I mentioned earlier, is for three years and it is renewed after that. As for second-hand goods, I am not sure whether Dr Lim is privy to such thing. But I think the market for such goods is not that high. It is not cost-effective for you to do labelling for second-hand goods. It is more cost-effective to do it for new products. And what will happen is that the labelling has to be renewed every three years, not for that product, but for that model. Because three years later, for example, we may have more information and therefore, we have to renew that. We do not see a need for labeling of second-hand air-conditioners and refrigerators. I agree on public education and will start immediately after this. We have to go out and explain, not only to the suppliers but also to the consumers. But Dr Lim raised a very good point about minimum energy, which I thought was also mentioned by Mdm Cynthia Phua on energy consumption. Eventually, that is the way to go. But we will look at energy labelling first as a step and making that mandatory. We will study this.”
“PUB is currently promoting labelling some of the water appliances and is currently voluntary. I am impressed by her knowledge of notebook versus PC. We will not go down to that detailed level of information. What we are doing is labelling across the same type of products among, let us say, for example, refrigerators, what would be the efficiency level? Is it 1 tick or 2 ticks? But her other point about whether or not we want to extend this beyond, I think we will move slowly. As she has rightly pointed out, household energy consumption is about 18% to 20% and among that, refrigerators and air-conditioners are the guzzlers. So if we can help households to reduce their energy consumption for these two types of appliances which are quite pervasive in Singapore, then I think we would be able to achieve a lot. We will monitor this very closely. Eventually, if some products come to the market which are becoming more popular, then we will address that. For example, not many homes would have dryers, which are basically energy guzzlers. But once that becomes popular in Singapore - we will look into it and see whether we want to introduce energy labelling for that. I agree with the Member that we will not want the cost of registration to be excessive. In fact, we have worked out a cost which is quite reasonable. It is not the aim of NEA to profit from this. We will just cover cost, and the registration will be for three years. So I would like to assure the Member that we will continue to help the industry to make sure that we can do this without increasing the costs excessively. Dr Lim raised a valid question which I thought was also alluded to by Mdm Phua about the impact on households. Due to the popularity of some models, the unit cost for testing is actually quite low.”
“When will we be able to have everything in place for the energy labelling? We have given the suppliers six months. So from 1st January of next year, the two products - air-conditioners and refrigerators - in the market must be labelled. So there is enough time as far as the suppliers are concerned, in order to do their testing and display the information on their models. Mdm Ho also raised the question about rebates or incentives. What is more important for us is that we have been working with the suppliers. And since the voluntary labelling scheme has been in place in 2002, most suppliers are aware that they need to do something. And, in fact, we are giving them a six-month grace period. Really, there is no strong reason for us to incentivise the suppliers. On the construction noise, Mdm Ho has raised the question of whether or not we can work with the contractors, especially during periods such as the PSLE examinations. First of all, if you look carefully at the noise limit that we have amended, it is really to look into the construction sites which are within 150 metres of homes and residential buildings. So we have lowered it a bit to take this into account, but we cannot possibly have a blanket ban during such periods because it will not good for the industry. But I would like to assure her that NEA receives a lot of calls on noise complaints and will immediately investigate. And that is our responsibility. So I think it is not possible for us to have a blanket ban during such periods. Let me now move on to the points raised by Mdm Cynthia Phua on the issue of easy information. I have addressed that. She also raised the issue of water consumption which is not part of the Bill.”
“So the limits that we have reached is a good balance between the needs of the industry and the public. The Member also asked whether increasing fines is the only way to go. The number of complaints has gone up. And for those errant contractors or people who produce noise, they must also know that they have to play their part. So, the range of fines is to demonstrate to the public that we are concerned. As I mentioned earlier, we work very closely with the construction industry to make sure they understand the things that they can do. In fact, when we go in to check the noise limits within 150 metres of residential buildings or homes, we work together with the contractor to check the noise level. I assure the Member that NEA will not be very quick to fine the contractors. We will discuss with them and help them. Her final point is about the length of offences. The offences are not carried by the company. It is actually site specific. So, not to worry, the company will not be blacklisted. Mdm Ho was very supportive and had some questions about how we can help to educate the public. I agree with her that once we have passed this Bill, NEA will go out and, through the various VWOs which we are working together, help educate the public, in terms of selection of appliances. This is also in relation to questions raised by Mdm Cynthia Phua on how do we make the information available as easy as possible. I think the tick system is easily recognisable and it is already in place for many years since 2002. So people are quite familiar with that. When you go to a shop, you can see it is visibly displayed. So they know. It is easy to count - 1 tick, 2 ticks, 3 ticks and 4 ticks. It is quite easy for members of the public.”
“Everyone that is involved in the construction industry has been consulted, and they all agree that the limits that we have arrived at are actually workable. We have to do this primarily because the number of complaints has been increasing. So the balance that we have reached is quite good between the industry and also the demand from the public. Yet, at the same time, the Member's concern about exemption is a valid one. For some type of construction works, they would require an extended period in terms of the work. For example, as she rightly pointed out, when you have to concrete a large raft foundation, it will go beyond 12 hours or even 24 hours. We will examine the requests on a case-by-case basis. The manner in which we will implement these noise limits and the penalties will be very judicious, because we understand that we must also help the industry to adjust to these new noise limits. The Member suggested a task force on a waiver list. What we will do is that we will look at the waivers request on a case-by-case basis, and we will consult the industry, because we cannot assume that the NEA has the expert knowledge on the industry. So we will consult with our colleagues in the BCA and other agencies. The other point is that these noise limits will come into effect on 1st October 2007. So, for existing projects, they will not be affected. For the new projects, they can therefore factor in the new noise limits and the penalties into their budget. Hence, they can make some adjustments. If we look at the noise limits, it is only during the weekends and public holidays. There was a request for us to have a blanket freeze during such periods. We thought it was not the right thing to do as far as our construction industry is concerned.”
“It will perhaps be more appropriate at this moment for the Ministry to increase its efforts on publicity programmes now to create greater public awareness on choosing the energy-efficient label. This campaign should also educate the public on how to decide whether it is cheaper to repair an old appliance or just replace it completely with a new and more energy-efficient model. The Government should also promote renewable source of energy, such as solar energy for households as well as look into its wider application in public housing estates. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings on the business set down on the Order Paper for today be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 2. - [Mr Lim Swee Say]. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL Debate resumed. 6.26 pm Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the Members who have stood up to support this Bill. I am thankful for the support that they have given in their speeches, especially the strong support towards energy labelling. Let me address some of the questions raised by the Members. I will start with my fellow civil engineer, Ms Lee Bee Wah, on some concerns about whether or not with the tightening of noise limits and the penalties, we will therefore become too stringent with respect to the construction industry. I would like to inform the House and the hon. Member that before we started on this process, we consulted the industry widely. We went through a whole series of consultations with the Singapore Contractors Associations, the Real Estate Association, the Institute of Architects, the Institute of Engineers Singapore, and other bodies.”
“In fact, if the cost of labelling is marginal, I am surprised that there was reluctance by major appliance suppliers to voluntarily offer their products to the labelling scheme. Was cost a factor that restrained them from coming forward? Being a commercially-oriented enterprise, I am sure there is a marketing advantage for these suppliers if they got their products labelled promptly and to exploit the certification to their advantage. The next point I would like to raise is whether there is a duration of lifespan for this label. For example, an air-conditioning unit condenser which is 8-10 years old will not be as energy-efficient as when it was first bought. I believe appliances, like human beings, also go through mid-life crisis and they do need some form of reconfiguration. Therefore, should this label be subjected to automatic expiry date? My point is that there are many shops which buy and sell old appliances, and we should make it explicit to consumers that buying such appliances with labels does not imply the energy consumption as efficient as it was just as it came off the manufacturing line. Will the second-hand air-conditioner and refrigerator retailers be subjected to this Bill? If they are included, how is the Ministry going to mandate this group? Lastly, I would like to boldly propose that the Ministry take one more step further, which means why not go ahead to enforce only appliances with certain energy efficiency level to be allowed into our market. We need to bear in mind that as the population increases, as we propel our economy to the next level of growth, our energy consumption is definitely going to see an exponential increase. We need to do more to cap on our energy usage.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am pleased that there is a change in the name of the Environmental Pollution Control Act to the Environmental Protection and Management Act, and I rise in support of the Bill. The name change is timely and it will reflect the enlarged scope of the law which will extend beyond just controlling pollution to encompassing protection and management of the environment. It puts the Government on a more proactive mode when it comes to issues relating to the preservation and enhancement of the environment. I am entirely in agreement with the proposal to mandate energy labelling of appliances, especially refrigerators and air-conditioners. After all, they account for the highest energy consumption in the domestic sector. In fact, in today's modern homes, air-conditioners and refrigerators are becoming standard fixtures. We can all clearly see where Singapore is heading in the near future with our Government aggressively pushing towards realisation of a new global city that we aspire to be. The demand for electrical appliances will be tremendous; so will be the usage of electricity. Sir, my main concern on this Bill is how this is going to affect the ordinary man-in-the-street. I am referring, in particular, to the mandatory labelling of electrical appliances and its impact on households, especially for those in the lower-income bracket. What is the cost of this mandatory labelling of electrical appliances for the suppliers and distributors? Will the amendments result in cost increase for the consumers? Does the Ministry have in place a mechanism for keeping labelling cost to the minimum for suppliers, so that the suppliers cannot find an excuse to raise prices of appliances that carry the energy- saving label?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the protection of the environment is a shared responsibility between consumers as well as the retailers. I would like to ask the Minister: what is the contribution of the participating retailers now to this programme, as they seem to be the beneficiaries of the programme as they save on their plastic bags, while the consumers are made to contribute 10 cents voluntarily? Why not make the retailers encourage the consumers to bring their own plastic bags by offering incentives, like giving discounts or NTUC Linkpoints? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, we leave this to the retailers to decide. We believe in a persuasive approach, working together with the consumers and the retailers. Some are already doing their part. Rather than enforcing it through legislation, we think that it is best to leave it to the market. What we want to do is to promote a different sort of culture where we facilitate by making reusable bags available in the market.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with the mentioning of means testing for hospitalisation by the Minister, I was just wondering whether the need for subsidised beds will be reduced with the introduction of means testing. Can the Minister give us an update on the proposed means testing?”
“The process, as proposed by the Clarke Committee, must ensure transparency and accountability and, and as far as possible, the linking of pay to outcomes." Mr Speaker, Sir, does that not sound very similar to what we are discussing today? In conclusion, I support the Ministerial Statement on civil service salary revisions and give this Statement three cheers. I hope the Government will consider the suggestions of: (1) Setting up an independent civil service salary review committee for future salary revisions; and (2) In addition to GDP, include the CPI, inflation rate and other global indices for the assessment of variable bonus for MPs, senior civil servants and Ministers. 2.59 pm”
“Perhaps, I should end by sharing this with the House. Jamaica has a population of 2.7 million. A news report on what the Ministers were getting in 2002 disclosed that the Prime Minister's salary, in Jamaican dollars, rose from $2.4 million to $4.7 million; the Finance Minister from $1.95 million to $3.8 million; Cabinet ministers from $1.8 million to $3.5 million; House Speaker from $1.6 million to $3.3 million. The pay issue was the subject of the Oliver Clarke Committee on Parliamentary Salaries, an independent committee that looked into the pay of Ministers and parliamentarians. Let me just read you some extracts of what the Jamaica Observer said on this issue in its editorial: "We expect that there will be renewed debate over how MPs and members of the executive should be paid now that the Special Parliamentary Group (SPG) that was established to review the Clarke Report has tabled its report, and the matter is coming up again for debate in the House. Like the members of the committee that was headed by Mr Oliver Clarke, this newspaper does not believe that Jamaican parliamentarians are overpaid or adequately compensated. Many who sit in the legislature or accept posts in the Cabinet or the executive could do far better in their professions or the private sector. So we accept Prime Minister Patterson's proposition that parliamentarians should receive 'some reasonable compensation in line with what obtains in other areas of professional life'. But even as we support better salaries for those in the legislature - as one means of discouraging corruption - we want to be sure that taxpayers, going forward, receive an adequate return on their investments.”
“Look at Wimbledon tennis, where the organisers have to raise the prize money to more than a million pounds. If they had kept the prize money to just 30,000 pounds, do you think that you will get that same level of competitiveness and energy in the sports? The tennis greats, such as Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, would probably be better off taking up golf and jostle for a chance to be the next Tiger Woods. The one million pounds invested in prize money have generated many more hundred million pounds in the tennis industry and commerce in the end. The second cheer, I applaud the announcement of a larger portion of the remuneration adjustment to be paid as a variable component rather than a fixed salary. About half of this variable bonus will be based on the growth in our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the primary barometer of our economic health. However, we all know that a rise in GDP may not benefit all sectors of society equally and some may even lag behind. I would suggest that the Government consider using indicators that will directly impact on the livelihood of all Singaporeans, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or even the inflation rate. Keeping the CPI low will keep our cost of living affordable, and keeping our inflation rate low will protect our people's savings. My third cheer is the announcement linking 25% of remuneration to individual performance. It should not be an across-the-board standardised pay package for all who hold a ministerial post. Each Minister should be assessed, based on his contribution and its impact on improving the people's quality of life. This variable component should be subject to fluctuations, just like the variable component of the wages for all other workers in Singapore.”
“If the Government overpays the civil servants and the Ministers, it is not fair to the people. If the Government underpays the civil servants and the Ministers, it is not fair to the Government. The first cheer, I would applaud the announcement that the increase in Ministers' remuneration be rolled out on a graduated scale. Our current team of Ministers, whether they are doctors, lawyers or engineers by profession, is not about to resign just because they are not getting any pay rise. They are individuals who have committed to serve the people. They are individuals who made personal sacrifices to serve the country. Underpinning this need to pay top salaries to attract top brains is our concern how can we continue to attract top brains to go into Government service in future. If we do not take action to adjust the remunerations to the agreed benchmarks, we risk sending the wrong signal to the younger talents who are potential Ministers-to-be. We risk losing them to the private sector now and we risk being unable to attract enough good talents into politics in the future. So, adjust the salary we must, but we need not do it in one step. I believe the graduated increase approach will be more palatable to the people at large, and they will then know that we are doing this exercise more for the future than for the present. While some argued that there must be a spirit of altruism for those who venture into the path of civil service, we have to be realistic. Let me draw an analogy in sports. Every sports man or woman would have a great passion for their sport, be it tennis, F1 race or golf. But even then, organisers have to raise huge sums of prize money, if they are to compete and make sure that they are able to attract the best personalities to take up the sports.”
“Their remunerations should commensurate with their portfolios and responsibilities, and the real question is: how much should that be? Sir, the formula that has been put forth, based on the top eight earners of six professions, will always be open to questions. And, yes, there are many questions. One argument being bandied about is: why six? Why not average of 12 professions? Why these professions and not others? Why top 8 earners? Why not top 100 earners? Situation varies. Invariably, emotions set in, and the whole argument to pay or not to pay becomes clouded. Let us put emotions aside and focus on why we are here today to discuss on this topic again. What is our objective? Our aim is to look at the work of our Ministers as well as top civil servants and present a framework in which we can provide the necessary remuneration. The remuneration must be such that we can continue to attract the best talents to serve in the civil service. This House had spent many hours debating this issue in 1994 and 2000. The benchmarks were debated and accepted. I do not think we need to debate on the benchmarks again, as long as the benchmarks remain relevant today as they were in 1994 or 2000. I think our Government should just stick to and honour the benchmarks for remuneration. If the Government wants to or is willing to review this benchmark again, may I suggest that we commission an independent committee comprising well respected individuals independent of our civil service and Government in our country to study and put forth their recommendations. This was suggested by other hon. Members of this House, Mr Alvin Yeo and Mdm Ho Geok Choo, yesterday as well. It is really awkward for the Government to review and propose its own remuneration.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe I would not be far wrong to say this topic is certainly one of the most hotly debated issues now in the public, other than the recent debate on the GST hike. However, one good outcome this debate has brought about for Singapore and also fellow Singaporeans is the opportunity to showcase the commitment of this Government to transparency and good corporate governance. Ours is a Government that is not afraid to take issues onto the catwalk for everyone to give their views and opinions. We have read recently in the newspapers of how one country, after a coup, rewarded its top brass arbitrarily with a 30% rise in their pay without making any reference to the people. Coming back to the debate proper on the remuneration for our Ministers and the top echelons in the civil service, I call this a "Three Cheers!" announcement. The three cheers are: (1) The graduated approach to the salary adjustment; (2) The increase in the variable component of salary and linking it to GDP growth; (3) Setting aside up to 25% of annual remuneration as individual performance bonus. I fully support the motion that top civil servants and Government leaders should be paid a reasonable package. I feel that there is really no parallel to compare the responsibilities of our leaders in civil service and politics to those of the top CEOs in the corporate world. Given a choice, who should fill the ministerial cabinet posts? The people who helm these posts will have to lead, plan and execute policies that will have such far-reaching ramifications on the entire population of Singapore. I guess my choice is clear. It should be the most capable men and women that we can find on this island.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there was a recent report talking about Paris as well as Sydney which switched off the lights for a few minutes or hours - I am not sure about that. But does what we are trying to do now to save energy contradict our efforts to try to light up the city at the same time at night, since I understand that Ministries are also trying to encourage buildings in the downtown area to light up the city so that we will have a beautiful downtown area? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, we do not see this as a contradiction. In fact, NEA is working very closely with URA. If we do the right choice of lighting, we do not have to necessarily light up the entire building. But if we light up the correct spots - and here we need to engage lighting consultants - we can actually have a very beautiful downtown at night, with energy consumption not so high. So we will work closely with URA. Sir, if we do this well, it will complement Singapore's image as a buzzing and vibrant city. Sir, I think the lighting will be done judiciously together with the URA. TAXI SURCHARGE 10. Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport whether his Ministry will consider dispensing with the taxi surcharge and replacing it with other incentives to improve the availability of taxis during peak hours.”
“Sir, we will monitor the effectiveness of these actions, and continue to look into other measures which can significantly improve energy efficiency in Singapore.”
“These cost savings far exceed the higher upfront costs of a CFL over an incandescent bulb, which are less than $10. Furthermore, as CFLs can last up to 10 times as long as incandescent bulbs, the owner would not have to buy and replace light bulbs as frequently. For Singaporeans who prefer the warm lighting of incandescent light bulbs, CFLs that produce warm lighting are already available. However, Sir, to convince people to switch to CFLs, raising public awareness is an important initial first step. A decision to switch to CFLs based on the individual’s choice through public persuasion is more lasting than it being imposed. We need to raise consumer awareness of energy-efficient lamps in Singapore, and ensure that lamp manufacturers provide accurate information on their lamps. Sir, under the Climate Change Awareness Programme run by the Singapore Environment Council, one of the 10 energy-saving tips shared with the public is to switch from incandescent light bulbs to CFLs. The South West CDC recently launched an initiative at Hong Kah North in which a CFL was given free of charge to households using incandescent bulbs to encourage them to make the switch. In fact, it was a surprise to all that almost 80% of the households have already made the switch. Such community efforts by grassroots organisations can play a very effective part in raising consumer awareness. To help consumers make more informed choices, NEA is working with major lamp suppliers on consistent labelling of lamps. NEA will also study whether there is a need for Singapore to adopt minimum energy performance standards for lamps, which would remove energy-inefficient lamps from the market.”
“So if we are able to put in place the programmes that we have announced, I think we can do our part to bring down some of our emissions but, more importantly, we become more efficient in the way we use energy. At the same time, Sir, we will have to maintain our good air and water quality because it is good for Singapore and Singaporeans. Not only does it affect the health and quality of living, but it has, in fact, become an economic competitive advantage for us because, with the good air and water quality, we have been able to attract talent, businesses and tourists. At the same time, we will use this opportunity to grow the industry so that we can then get the industry to provide solutions to environmental challenges as well as create job opportunities. Sir, in the long run, we will do our part as a small country. But we recognise that we will need to get other big countries on board, and we hope that Dr Lim will support our initiative on the ground in terms of energy efficiency. BAN ON INCANDESCENT BULBS 9. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether his Ministry will consider a ban on incandescent bulbs, following a similar ban in Australia. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, moving away from the use of incandescent light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) is a highly effective way to conserve energy. CFLs, which can fit into the light sockets of most incandescent bulbs, use only about a quarter of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light. This translates into cost savings, for example, of about $110 over the lifetime of an 18-watt CFL, compared with that of a 75-watt incandescent bulb.”
“In fact, I would like to tell him that there is a model now by Honda which is below $80,000, which is a green vehicle, and I hope he will buy one. Sir, on the second question by Dr Lim on the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, I agree with Dr Lim that climate change is an important global challenge, and we in Singapore would have to do our part to reduce greenhouse gas emission and, of course, to maintain our good reputation as an environmentally conscious city. This point, Sir, has been raised by many MPs during the recent Budget debate and my Ministry fully agrees that the Government has a key role to play in raising awareness about global warming and to ensure that Singapore's long-term environmental sustainability is maintained. But I think we have to be mindful that we are a small country. So whatever that we do, if we do it alone, I do not think it will make a difference to global changes, such as climate change. But we must play our part as a responsible member of the international community. But if we do not have the big countries like the US, China and India on board, there will be no significant reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of what we do here in Singapore. Because of that, we also adopt a more balanced approach towards environmental sustainability. So we ratified the Kyoto Protocol and we have put in place measures to improve energy efficiency. I announced in Parliament that the way to go is really to look at our consumption of energy and how best we can optimise it. If we do this well, we can bring down our emissions, not absolute, but our emissions per GDP dollar or, what we call, carbon intensity. At the same time, this will not affect our economy, but, in fact, will render our economy more resource-efficient and more competitive.”
“Mr Speaker, one of the common complaints that has been given by the public is that they would like to drive a green vehicle. But the problem is that the importers are not bringing in enough models and even if the models are brought in, sometimes it is not appropriate for their economic status. It is no point bringing in a RX400 whereby most people cannot afford. So I am not sure whether by implementing a green category COE, it will help to further promote and force the importers to bring in such models to cater for the market that acts as a catalyst. I would also like to ask the Minister whether, especially with the release of the Fourth IPCC Report that was stated in the Straits Times on global warming, Singapore should adopt more measures now to encourage environmental sustainability and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, in fact, there is a selection of green vehicles available in the market - the Prius from Toyota, the Honda and, of course, the Lexus that Dr Lim mentioned. We feel that it is best we leave this to the market. In fact, the incentive schemes that we have put in place in 2001 have proven to be effective. Consumers are buying green vehicles despite the cost differential but with the upfront 40% OMV, which is the rebate, it has in fact caused a lot of people to cross over. We constantly work with the dealers to encourage them to bring in different types of models. And I agree with Dr Lim that this is a chicken-and-egg situation, ie, you have to provide more models and therefore people will be willing to buy. I recall that Mr Hri Kumar, during the debate, mentioned that he could not buy something below $80,000.”
“One of the other frequent complaints that I get from my residents is regarding the feeder service. It seems that the prices of feeder service have been escalating quite a lot in the last 10 years. I am not sure whether any steps have been taken to lower the feeder service prices or not. I am wondering whether LTA or the Ministry has any solutions to that.”
“Mr Chairman, the Minister mentioned about differential pricing. I would like to ask for differential pricing on the ERP. Currently, I am not sure whether we are maximising by using differential pricing to divert traffic. For example, instead of raising the price at CTE, could the LTA consider lowering the price of the alternative routes and encourage the motorists to use the other roads instead?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I think the word "affordable" fares has been mentioned in this House a few times in the Minister's reply as well as by hon. Members' questions. I would like to ask the Minister for his take on what is "affordable" fare. Currently, what percentage of the household income is spent on public transport for a Singaporean family without a car? My next question is whether the Ministry is exploring the use of a flexible lane system, such as those in other cities, as one of the possible options on our expressways.”
“He said that 10 years ago, the contractor used to have five persons with him to carry out the work which took about two days. As it progressed, and in the last year before he retired, the same contractor came alone and he drove a bigger vehicle with a lot of new equipment, and he completed the work in just two hours. I can see that there is a lot of improvement. Somehow, they are able to leverage on technology and equipment and increase productivity. Perhaps in that situation, if the contractor was given the same amount of cheap foreign labour, he would probably have used the same workers over and over again for the last 10 years, and would not have innovated. Hence, I would like to ask the Minister what measures the Ministry has in place to wean the industry off the addiction to cheap foreign labour and to promote innovation and increase productivity.”
“Sir, last weekend, as I drove through a two-way road that was closed on one lane because of some public works, the contractor deployed two foreign workers to guide traffic, one at each end. Each worker held a stop-and-go sign. The traffic was smooth. As I passed through the construction area, there were three foreign workers doing some digging. When I returned after a few hours to the same stretch of road, I saw the same workers holding the sign and the other three workers still working. Sir, I am sure that most Members of this House had a similar experience when they drove their cars and passed through a road undergoing repairs. The deployment of two foreign workers just to direct traffic is such a waste of manpower. I am sure the contractor could have easily collaborated with one of our ITEs or polytechnics and develop an electronic system that could be used to guide traffic, thus saving on the wages of two foreign workers whose duty is to use the stop-and-go sign to guide traffic the whole day. I presume that the cost of engaging two foreign workers is so much lower than the cost of developing such a system. There may be no incentive at all for the contractor to innovate as cheap foreign workers are easily available. I am very concerned that our industry may become too reliant and too dependent on cheap foreign workers, and it may hamper the industry's drive for innovation and to increase productivity. Sir, a few months ago, I met a retired SAF officer at Temasek Club. He recounted to me that over the last 10 years when he was with the SAF, they used to have exercises in Australia. At his HQ, they employed a contractor to attend to the grounds.”
“The two integrated resorts are expected to generate up to 30,000 jobs for our economy. I would like to know what percentage of these jobs belongs to the PMET category. How is the Ministry helping our PMETs to secure those jobs? I would also like to propose that the Ministry set up a direct agency to oversee and to ensure that the majority of these 30,000 jobs, especially the PMETs category, are to be given to Singaporeans and PRs.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, like hon. Member, Mrs Josephine Teo, I was just wondering why, despite the tightening of the labour market, the resident unemployment rate held steady at 3.6% since June 2006. It is estimated that 69,600 residents were unemployed in December 2006. Based on MOM's labour market report for third quarter 2006, 9,157 workers were retrenched and out of these, 46% belonged to this category called PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives as well as Technicians). It is heartening for Members in this House to learn from the Senior Parliamentary Secretary, MOM, Mr Hawazi Daipi, last month in his reply to one of the Questions that 83% of PMETs were re-employed nine months after retrenchment. During last night's block visit, I met one of them who was re-employed. He is a resident who is about 45 years old and he used to work as a manager in a small company, earning a near five-digit salary a month until he was retrenched. As he is in his mid-40s, he tried very hard to find a job. But, unfortunately, employment opportunities for him were quite limited, as he was explaining to me. He was unemployed for nearly a year. Finally, he gave up and became a taxi driver. So now, he is driving a taxi and he is taking back just slightly more than $1,000 a month. On the ground, we suspect that many of the PMETs are just like the resident that I met last night - they were under-employed and their pay is usually a fraction of what they used to get. As MPs, we do see them at our MPS requesting for additional help in finding employment and short-term assistance. Although there are numerous schemes targeting at helping PMETs available, I hope to see a more proactive approach by the Ministry to help the PMETs secure meaningful full employment. Many are simply under-employed.”
“Perhaps, one way of doing this is to have certain signages so that people are kept informed of the numbers to call just in case of an accident. I will ask PUB to study that.”
“Mr Chairman, two points of clarification. First of all, I would like to thank the Minister for highlighting that there is generally an improvement, in terms of the dust pollution problem in Sembawang Town through the tripartite efforts of the shipyard, the NEA as well as the grassroots organisations. The shipyard was there even before the flats were built. In fact, the shipyard is as old as I am. The shipyard has currently spent a lot of money in terms of putting measures in place. Will the Ministry assist the shipyard, in terms of providing some financial incentive as well as providing some form of funding, so that it could put in more measures to control the problem better? The second point of clarification is on the safety of our inland waters. Will the Ministry consider setting up stations with telephones, whereby someone could call the ranger if there are some problems. These facilities are not available in our reservoirs as well as in our parks. If something happens, we do not know how to call for help. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, Dr Lim is right. The shipyard has been there. They have been doing their activities. We control pollution at source. So we work with shipyard. If their emission exceeds the standard, we will penalise them. I do not think there is a case for us to incentivise them. We have to work together with them, and they have been more than cooperative in this particular instance. We have to make sure that they meet our standards. If they do not, we penalise them. We will continue with that modus operandi. On the issue of safety in our waterways, I agree with Dr Lim that this must be in place. Most of us have handphones. So it is very easy to call for help.”
“Opening up our waterways and water bodies will certainly enhance our living environment, but, at the same time, it will also increase the risk of water-related mishaps. I do not wish to see more losing their best friends through drowning. I do certainly hope that the Ministry will place more emphasis on ensuring public safety as we embark on this very exciting ABC programme. Mr Chairman, I am also deeply concerned about the safety of our water. I would like to ask the Minister what safety measures are in place today to ensure water safety at the inland water bodies. Will the Ministry step up these safety measures or introduce more safety measures in the near future as we roll out the ABC Waters Programme? At the same time, what measures are in place to ensure the safety of our precious inland water resources from contamination, both intentional, ie, act of terrorism, as well as unintentional, due to over-recreational use of our activities? Water Policy”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I am equally excited as our hon. Member, Dr Faishal, on hearing about the Active, Beautiful and Clean Water Programme by the Ministry, but, at the same time, I am also deeply concerned. Finally, our children can enjoy what we did 30 years ago - playing and fishing in the streams and the ponds. The programme will render our waterways as well as water bodies functional again and provide more water-based recreational activities. Opening up our waterways will also enhance our environment. The blue will certainly complement the green. I have a short story to tell. My best friend was an Indian boy by the name of Raja. I used to go out with him to fish, especially during the December holidays. That was from Primary One to Primary Four and I remember, in 1978, we went fishing just before Christmas at a pond and we had great times together. When school reopened in January 1979, he did not turn up for class. I was very sad on the first day of school to hear from my teacher that Raja attended a Christmas party and on the way back, there was a huge thunderstorm and he fell into a stream, and his body was found three days later, on his birthday. That was December 1978, and that particular December recorded the highest rainfall compared to the one that we just had recently. According to the Life Saving Society Annual Report 2005, there were 39 deaths by drowning in 2005, and the breakdown of cases was as follows: two in reservoirs; two in canals; three in rivers; 20 by the sea or by the shore; and three in swimming pools, and nine unspecified because they died in hospital, but they were classified as drowning.”
“I would like to compliment the efforts of the staff there who are working very hard as well as their dedication in our fight against dengue fever. However, their efforts cannot be alone. It is more useful for the EHI to work in collaboration with centres in our neighbouring countries now and provide us with a radar screen of the dengue subtypes, serotype shifts as well as the vector distribution in South East Asia, and that will provide us with an advance warning system of the change in viral serotypes before it actually hits our shores. I would like to ask the Minister what form of regional collaboration efforts have the EHI established and whether a cooperative agreement with our immediate neighbours is in the pipeline, so that we can actually better protect ourselves rather than just giving funds to Town Councils to help them. Dengue”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, you can rest assured that I am not asking for more money for the Town Council, but I am asking for more money to support research in terms of dengue. Dengue will remain endemic in South East Asia for many years to come. Much as we hope that it will go away, I do not think it will. In 2005, we witnessed one of the largest outbreaks we had with over 14,000 cases. Thanks to the efforts of all the agencies, including NEA, CDCs, Town Councils, grassroots volunteers, we overcame the problem and dengue cases decreased to 3,126 cases in 2006. However, we remain susceptible to dengue epidemics. There is a group of unsung heroes that I must say we have to acknowledge in this House. These are the men and women who work in the Environmental Health Institute (EHI). The EHI actually does research on vector as well as dengue virus, and maintains a very strict surveillance on mosquito population controls in various parts of the island. The EHI embarks on research on mosquito breeding habits as well as on the effectiveness of commercial insecticides or pesticides for mosquito control. As a result, they actually recommend to the Town Council's pest control what are the insecticides or pesticides to use. We understand that for dengue, it is a cyclical thing. In the 1980s, dengue actually hit Singapore once in a six-year cycle. And there are various serotypes in terms of dengue. There are four serotypes. In 1992, it was serotype 3; in 1998, it was serotype 2; and in the recent 2005, it was serotype 1. As a result, monitoring of serotype subtypes as well as monitoring of the shift itself may actually predict the risk of an epidemic early.”
“Sembawang Shipyard has, over the past two years, invested significantly on indoor blasting facilities and also introduced many measures, such as netting at source, to control the dust pollution. National Parks (NParks) had also planted 500 trees during the Clean and Green Week last year upon our request to create a green belt between the shipyard and the residential areas. Although these dust particles, as claimed by the health officials, are inert and may not result in significant respiratory and other health problems, they are still a source of concern for the residents who have to clean the black dust from their floors, windows and table tops daily. I would like to ask the Minister what measures are currently in place to mitigate the dust pollution and what are the future plans of the Ministry to further reduce the dust pollution. Littering”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, Singapore has been consistently ranked high on good ambient air quality by PERC (Political and Economic Risk Consultancy) as well as the ECA International. The Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) was reported to be in the good range for more than 85% of the year for the last three years. For that, I applaud the efforts of the Ministry. The period affected was mainly due to transboundary haze as a result of forest fires in our neighboring countries. I am also heartened to hear that the Ministry will work in achieving a good PM2.5 air quality. This can be achieved by further control of fuel pollutants released by the motor diesel vehicles on our roads by the introduction of Euro IV emission standards for diesel vehicles from October 2006 last year. While we are on the way to achieving good results in these areas and maintaining good air ambient quality for PSI, we still have some way to go for the control of dust particles that are of much larger in size. These dust particles are generated by heavy industries, such as sand blasting activities by the shipyards and some other heavy industries. Residential areas in the vicinity of these heavy industries, that is, within one kilometre, bear the brunt of the dust assault annually with the seasonal change of monsoon winds. This problem is particularly acute in some parts of Sembawang Town and has been reported in an article in Lianhe Zaobao dated 5th January this year. My question is: what are the planning guidelines when we sited residential areas near to an industrial area? Perhaps, there should be a light industry buffer area to buffer the residential area. This probably is a question to be answered better by MND, but perhaps the Minister could enlighten us a little bit.”
“They are still useful and in demand by the young and old. The wet markets and hawker centres are natural community focal points for our residents. They enhance community interactions and cohesion between all races and all strata of our society. The stallholders and hawkers usually develop a close and friendly relationship with their customers. There is much warmth and concern in the community among the stallholders and the residents. Many of these stallholders are actually key community leaders today as they have good knowledge of the area. The wet markets and hawker centres are important sources of entrepreneurial activities. They offer a low barrier to starting a business. Because of the low cost, they are also a source of cheap food. It is generally cheaper to eat in a hawker centre compared to an air-conditioned food court. This is one way of providing affordable living for our residents. In the recent HDB heartware public consultation sessions, there were many calls to bring back the wet market and hawker centres to HDB estates. While we plan and cater for the needs of the young, I think we must not ignore the needs of the older generation as well. I hope the Ministry would give these calls due consideration and respond to the suggestions favourably.”
“Mdm Chairman, I am glad the Minister mentioned in his speech earlier on that hawker food is still an option for our future 6.5 million people. The wet markets and our hawker centres have a unique position and a special place in every Singaporean's life. They are very much a part of our way of life and our culture in Singapore. They are among the commonest missed items for overseas Singaporeans. As our society progresses, there seems to be a preference by many, especially the young, for buying their groceries and raw food from air-conditioned supermarkets and dining at air-conditioned food courts. And the authorities argued that there is a general decline in demand for wet markets and hawker centres. The old wet markets and hawker centres are often deemed as dirty and unhygienic. They only function for half a day and are left vacant for the rest of the day and that seems to be a waste of our precious land resources. Because of these reasons, since 1997, there had been no new wet markets or hawker centres in the new HDB townships. Hence, the new towns like Sembawang, Punggol, Sengkang do not have wet markets and hawker centres. There is a new phenomenon of the elderly diaspora in the new HDB estates. The elderly who moved into the new HDB estates with their children, or on their own, find the environment foreign and unfamiliar. Many still prefer wet markets and hawker centres to air-conditioned supermarkets and food courts. The Government has managed to revive some of the older wet markets and hawker centres and has given them a new lease of life through upgrading programmes. The upgraded markets have proved to be successful and have increased business as well as interest. Mdm Chairman, I think the wet markets and hawker centres still have an important role to play.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister to elaborate or provide us some details on a recent unpleasant commotion that happened between the family members of a brain-dead patient as well as the authorities in one of our public hospitals a few weeks ago. I am wondering what measures will the Ministry be taking to prevent such an occurrence in the future.”
“It affirms the Government’s commitment to keep Singapore competitive and ready for the exciting opportunities that await us for the next 42 years, the next marathon, as we continue our marathon from the lower segment to the higher segment of the first-world economies as envisioned by Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. With that, I support the motion. 3.57 pm”
“Our fiscal policies do not do enough to reflect our determination to defend and fight the degeneration of the environment. We have already fired the first salvo with our signing of the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in April last year. Keep in mind, however, we should not get over our heads just by signing this particular Convention. As the saying goes, we cannot run before we learn how to walk. Therefore, we should start by instituting small measures in our policies, and focus on issues with larger scope later. Albeit the best thing that we can do now is to increase the rebates for the purchase of environmentally-friendly cars, which will help to keep prices competitive so as to increase the take-up rates, I mirror my colleague's point earlier on regarding the tax incentives and tax rebates to be given to such vehicles. Likewise, that will cut down our pollution as well. We should likewise provide incentives for petrol companies to introduce bio-diesel as a form of alternative fuel as well as for operators who convert their fleets to run on bio-diesel. This is only just the beginning. But it will send a very strong signal as to our resolve as well as demonstrate a sound example of our aspiration to become a global bio-diesel hub. But all said, I can only pray that our neighbours will also play their part during the dry months when El-Nino decides to visit Singapore instead of Galapagos by taking a commitment not to scorch their land at the expense of choking the entire region with haze. I hope that empty rhetoric will this year give way to substantive action so that a meaningful relationship can be developed within the framework of ASEAN regional cooperation. In conclusion, this Budget is a bold step forward.”
“As such, they should reap some rewards along with the working-class. Perhaps one way we can do this is to provide tax rebates for the working spouse that transfers part of their CPF funds from the Ordinary Account to the Special Account of these spouses to provide them with at least some retirement funds who are home managers. Another form of reward for these home managers that can be considered are incentives, which is not dissimilar to the ones provided to NSmen as a form of recognition for their service to the nation. It is an apt provision, given that non-working spouses perform a key role in the family unit, just as our NSmen perform a key role in protecting the sovereignty of our country. So the $100 that you provide will not make them rich but, at least, it is a form of recognition. Environment It has been dwelt on a lot in the Forum pages over the last few days, as well as by my former parliamentary colleagues here. The Budget did not dwell much on environment. Singapore needs to contribute to the world effort to restore and maintain nature’s equilibrium. Many of us have borne testament to the sheer might of the forces of nature last December in 2006 when Singapore experienced the wettest month in the last 30 years. We witnessed the flash floods and the resulting damage that was caused by the event. Such storms, as we have seen in the US, will only increase as there is a real danger of an environmental crisis evolving, due to the recent phenomenon of global warming. I read with interest in the media recently on Australia’s move to ban filament bulbs. It is a move in the right direction and I applaud the Australian government for their bold initiative.”
“Here, the PAP Foundation has done a commendable job of upgrading its teaching methods and its facilities without a corresponding rise in fees. In fact, some have maintained their fees, some raised it marginally, and a few even lowered their fees. The cost of bringing up a child in today’s context is one area where the Government should study carefully and review the tax relief for children. The current tax relief has not kept pace with the rise in the cost of living. Similarly, I hope the Government will increase the tax relief for children supporting their elderly parents. I hope a review will be carried out sooner than later, as part of our pro-family policy. (In English): Sir, I will continue my speech in English. Rewarding the stay-at-home spouses There is one job in Singapore that does not pay CPF, does not pay Medisave, and there is no leave, no public holidays and no medical leave entitlement. It is not entitled for Workfare bonus as well as wage supplements. This is the job description of the stay-at-home spouse. I would avoid the word, just using "mums", because there are some "dads" that stay at home as well. They play a crucial role in supporting the family but their contributions are not well recognised and appreciated. These individuals are an integral part of the family unit as they are responsible for the family’s well-being. They are akin to the supporting players in a marathon - they provide the water, they provide the direction, they help to give you the sponges when you are tired and support you through the race. Their task is not an easy one. They perform selflessly in their roles - of course, they do complain sometimes. I think most of us realise their importance in maintaining the family.”
“94 children born per woman, exceeded slightly by Ireland at 1.99. The US fertility rate is 2.0 children. On a lighter note, I am reminded of a recent New Paper report on 21st February of a photograph showing a young couple smooching, of all places, on a park bench at a Senior Citizens’ Corner at Bukit Batok. But in many European countries, according to the Washington Post, their park benches are filled with elderly residents. By contrast, in France, the parks are overflowed with boisterous children, making it an international model for countries struggling with the threat of zero population growth. Last year, officials from Japan, Thailand and Germany have reportedly travelled to France to study its reproductive secrets. While I do not expect the Government, certainly not our transport officials, to reduce transport fares, I hope we can look at implementing similar measures using France as an example and review areas that we can fine-tune our policies. For instance, the subsidy under the Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme has been increased to 90% for the lower-income families but there is no assistance provided to the middle income group. Perhaps the subsidy, but a lesser amount, could be extended to families of the middle income group. This would lighten the financial burden on parents with kindergarten-going children. It would also ensure that the children get a chance to participate in a proper pre-school programme which, according to studies by the RAND Corporation, has proven benefits. The child would benefit in academic achievement, behaviour, educational progression and attainment, and even in the prevention of delinquency and crime.”
“the need to encourage family responsibility and to maintain a healthy, cohesive family unit as it would provide a strong base and a balance between work and family life. I cannot but agree with the Prime Minister on the importance of the family unit. There is evidence to support the point that many delinquents and drop-outs are often the fallout from homes with a fragmented family unit. There are many studies that show that the intimate nature of primary relationships, families have significant impact on their children. While I do not encourage the Government to play nanny, I would think that it would be appropriate for the Government to consider the introduction of more programmes to encourage the growth and nurturing of strong family units. This could be done by further enhancing the current tax scheme for maintenance of aged parents. The Government could also consider special bonus schemes for aged parents who live with their grandchildren. On this topic of children, I would ask the Government to take a cue from France which experienced a growth in its fertility rate after the government implemented a slew of pro-family measures. These include a payout of US$960 to mothers who take one year unpaid leave from work after the birth of a third child. Large families also get shopping discounts and reduced fares on public transport. French fathers are also guaranteed paid paternity leave. Most of the subsidies are income-based, thus giving low-income families the most assistance. According to a report in the Washington Post, while birth rates are threatening to undermine economies and social stability across much of an ageing Europe, French fertility rates have gone up. France now has the second highest fertility rate in Europe, 1.”