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?”
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“Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister: in hindsight, could more actions have been taken earlier on before it got to this stage? We do have a lot of other big projects that are under the PPP model and we do have critical assets, such as power plants, that are operated privately. In that sense, how do you monitor all these assets and make sure that they are financially okay? I was just wondering whether something could have been done in hindsight for this Hyflux case, rather than to wait until this stage.”
“Chairman, on behalf of the Government Parliamentary Committee as well as the 23 Members who have spoken in this discussion, I would like to thank the two Ministers, the two Senior Ministers of State as well as Minister of State and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their answers for the 47 cuts that we have put in. I would also like to thank the women and men in MCCY and the related Statutory Boards for the steadfast and good work they have done in promoting a caring and cohesive society. Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,670,579,200 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $396,490,600 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Mr Chairman, although we are a young country at 54 years old, we are not a cultural desert. We have our own artforms from the different ethnic groups and our fusion forms, which we should showcase and promote not only at home but also overseas. Our arts and culture reflect who we are and what we stand for as a nation to the rest of the world. It also brings us pride and recognition, as we showcase our cultural talents and capabilities to the world. The richness of our cultures from all races is something that we should be able to promote abroad to draw tourists to our country as well. Visitors come here to see modern buildings but also to soak in local arts and culture which are our strategic national resource. We should do more to project Singapore's soft power abroad. I would like to ask the Minister what are the plans the Ministry has to help boost the work of our artistic community and give our talents some exposure overseas? Can the Minister outline projects where we have made good strides to showcase our talents overseas, raise awareness and give exposure to our people? What has our National Arts Council (NAC) done to put some global spotlight on Singapore’s arts and culture?”
“I would like to also ask the Minister for an update on the SG Cares Community Network following its pilot projects in Bedok as well as Jurong East. Will the Minister extend and expand this to form more volunteer centres in Housing and Development Board (HDB) townships in the coming years?”
“Then how we went from self-government to Independence and the signing of the Separation Agreement and the Water Agreement, which is guaranteed by both the governments of Malaysia and Singapore. And how we aspire to safeguard our water security leading to our building of more water catchment areas, the venture into desalination and the birth of NEWater. I would like to ask the Minister to give us an update on the Founders’ Memorial development. What is the programme for this year’s Bicentennial celebrations? How are we focusing on promoting our values and history and how are we engaging Singaporeans and taking our shared values to the next stage of development? SG Cares – Volunteer Centres Today, we have SG Cares, which is a national movement to promote giving and kindness, and encourage a more caring society. This is good and we have seen how, through volunteering, neighbours get to know one another, friendships are cultivated among strangers from all walks of life and our society becomes more inclusive, and how we are able to muster support from various organisations, both from the public as well as private sectors, to be involved in this whole exercise. Many companies now embrace corporate social responsibility (CSR) as part of their culture. At the heartland estates, there are more ground-up activities. We see volunteers delivering porridge, free food to needy residents. We see volunteers giving haircuts to seniors. We see volunteers helping to spruce up the homes of the elderly and the needy. There are many volunteering opportunities but there is the lack of a centre to coordinate all these activities. I would like to propose the formation of volunteer centres at the community level to better coordinate volunteers and resources.”
“We must harness this energy to do good and support our youths in their endeavours. We have platforms like the Youth Corps to match volunteers with the causes, be it on an ad hoc or regular basis. May I ask the Minister what else is being done to equip youths with the right skills and resources so that they can continue to contribute effectively and actively? Some of these projects are undertaken as co-curricular activities at our IHLs. Can MCCY work with IHLs to further help and develop students through meaningful projects supporting social causes? How is MCCY supporting our youths in this aspect? Founders' Memorial Making our past known to our people is important if we are to help our people to understand the present. The interaction between society and the past cannot be delinked because it has an unending relationship. We have many great leaders who have written or shaped the history of this country. The history they wrote would teach us many lessons about our identity, our aspirations and about the warning signs that we have to heed. History, for example, has helped us to heed the warning signs of disharmony. Hence, we are able to navigate ourselves successfully thus far on issues relating to racial and religious harmony, having learnt the consequences from past events. This year, we are celebrating our Bicentennial year. It is important that we take this opportunity to share our rich history, the struggles, hardship and pain that our forefathers, our grandparents and parents went through. How did we overcome the challenges of the British pullout from Singapore which, in turn, later gave rise to the birth of our Armed Forces and National Service?”
“How do we further strengthen the fabric of our society and promote interfaith harmony and peace in Singapore? Crisis Preparedness The news media has continually highlighted events where the lives of the ordinary people are disrupted because of violent acts carried out by terrorist groups in other countries. We have been fortunate to thwart several attempts by radicalised individuals from putting their intentions into action, but we must not let down our guard. The main intention of such terrorist acts is to disrupt society, create chaos and distrust among the groups in our population. To address this, I know that MCCY has done several engagements and counterterrorism seminars for religious organisations in recent years. May I ask the Minister how prepared are our religious organisations in dealing with terrorist attacks? Are they equipped with the knowledge and resources to handle such contingencies? How does MCCY assess their readiness? If they are not ready, what is MCCY doing to help our religious organisations prepare for such attacks? Youth Corps and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) Singaporean youths are passionate about shaping and contributing to social causes. From the environment to animal welfare, to welfare for the needy and to the plight of refugees in other countries, our youths have a wide array of interests. Many have created their own community projects to support the causes they believe in, and they are also influencing their peers to do the same. It is good to see our youths being motivated and taking an active stand to make a difference to their community. This ground-up approach would ensure that young citizens play a key role in effectively identifying and addressing their concerns, while the Government takes a supportive role.”
“Mr Chairman, in recent times, around the world, we had seen disputes between people from different religions and races which resulted in major riots and conflicts that caused the loss of lives, casualties and much destruction. Race and religion are one area which is often targeted for exploitation by groups and individuals for their own agenda, sometimes political and at times personal. They promote their fanatical views, stir up emotions and capitalise on those who are ill-informed, gullible or just to those who are already harbouring ill thoughts against our society. The Singapore Government has done well as various agencies among the Ministries work together to address this matter collectively. But this is not something that we can take for granted because the seeds of discontent and the radicalisation of individuals can be carried out in the community through contacts online or face-to-face interaction. We have an inter-religious organisation where 10 different faiths come together, interact and engage with one another to promote inter-religious harmony in Singapore since its founding 70 years ago in 1949. There are many visits and events organised for their representatives and members to visit the various places of worship. All these promote better appreciation and understanding among the different religious faiths. But we are constantly bombarded by divisive elements which would deliberately misinterpret their religious teachings for their own ill intents. We are an open society. We have people with different religious beliefs coming here as visitors and workers, too. May I ask the Ministry what is the Ministry doing to address the challenges we face in today’s context?”
“Sir, can I take all my five cuts together?”
“Our population has always been and will always be our best resource, and with a more well-informed population, there will be more and better possibilities. As we face more complex issues, we will be able to tap on the collective wisdom and expertise of our citizenry. There is strength in numbers. As we build Singapore together, we can work towards creating the best Singapore that we can, one that all citizens have a stake in. I would like to ask how the Ministry will continue engaging citizens in nation-building. How can we raise the commitment levels towards building a Singaporean society where everyone can continue to be proud of our country and its achievements? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“However, some are unsure of the available avenues, or lack the capability to do so. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) has been taking the lead in ensuring that citizens are actively involved in our nation-building, in policy deliberation and design. Online feedback portals, community outreach events, facilitation of networking events for stakeholders and volunteers to come together are some examples of ways in which Singaporeans can engage in nation-building. Nevertheless, the majority of the engagement feels top-down, in the sense that citizens provide feedback and the Government works on it. We need to move away from a top-down approach to a less paternalistic approach. The Government needs to create more space, room and opportunities for Singaporeans to participate. For those who are ready to do more, particularly Singaporeans with leadership qualities, good ethics and are socially well-connected, they should have more opportunities to participate. They could create social projects and lead teams of volunteers. For those who are not ready, perhaps they lack comprehension of policies, or skills to articulate their aspirations and feedback, and we must help them to grow their capability. This can be done through giving them access to the necessary information, and the skills to participate. Many Singaporeans still find certain policies to be too complex to understand, and they do not get why certain policies have to be this way. If the Ministry could come up with more creative means to break down these policies for the layman, that would be helpful. It is prudent that all citizens in Singapore have a stake in nation-building, to ensure equality and for everyone’s interests to be cared for.”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100." Before I begin, let me wish all the ladies here "Happy Women's Day". Our Nation, Singapore, is a young country. We are celebrating our 54th National day this August. The task of nation-building is an endless one. It is one that needs all Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion, to come together, rally together as one united people and one nation. We come together to celebrate every success Singapore achieves, to celebrate our uniquely Singaporean culture, food, arts and sports. It only seems like not so long ago when young Singaporeans were thought to be politically and socially apathetic. Yet, today, we have an increasingly mature citizenry with a diverse array of views and hopes for their own future, and for the future of Singapore. These can be attributed to a society with growing literacy and affluence, where they are able to take the focus off from bread-and-butter issues to other matters and issues that affect their lives. The widespread use of social media certainly helps them and rallies them in expressing their views. And the Government needs to do more to engage and partner Singaporeans in the next exciting phase of nation-building. Our youths and our older Singaporeans who have found common ground have bandied together and created groups to promote their causes. They participate in forums and focus group discussions. They are vocal on social media, some are more sophisticated with their analyses and feedback, others less so. But it is evident that many Singaporeans would like to have an active role in nation-building and shaping the future. Some expressed their views through arts, music and culture.”
“Chairman, I would like to ask the Minister to provide the response that I had suggested, that is, whether the Ministry will be considering a Climate Change Bill.”
“Mr Chairman, the Early Admission Exercise (EAE) was introduced as part of our efforts to reduce the emphasis on grades and focus on a more rounded education. It was extended to the ITE last year, with no limits on the number of admissions by EAE. For polytechnics, the limit for intake was increased from 2.5% to 12.5% due to overwhelming response. It seems that students look on the EAE favourably. However, I would like to ask what is the MOE's experience with EAE? Has it really been effective in helping students in finding their niches and in realising their aspirations? Are EAE students able to cope with the demands of the course work? By this, I do not just mean academically, but do they find themselves enjoying it and wanting to learn more? Are there statistics on the number of EAE students who drop out or switch courses midway? The other concern is that aptitude testing usually produces outcomes that are not as clear as an examination script. With exams, a grade is a grade. But with aptitude testing, things like interviews, portfolios can be quite subjective. And students will find more reasons to appeal against unsuccessful applications. In fact, according to a report last year, with EAE, polytechnic principals have been receiving more appeals from students and parents than before. Has MOE done any survey on the challenges of implementing EAE? How can the fairness of EAE testing procedures and outcomes be ensured? What more can be done to recognise the students' interests and aspirations during admissions? Perhaps, one day, we can see aptitude testing replacing grade-based admission for our schools. Equity in School Application Process”
“Similar to the proposed caregiver allowance for seniors, can we look into a grandchildren caregiver allowance for seniors looking after their grandchildren? We face greater challenges with our limited pool of human resources to maintain a vibrant economy. How has the Government directed its population strategies to support an economy that will continue to grow? We rank 13 among countries best at attracting, developing and retaining talent in 2018, according to a report by Business Insider. If we cannot sustain our population by Singaporeans' natural births, then the only way to top up our population is through immigration. We will then face the issue of integration and challenges in forging a national identity and cohesion. What is the upper limit we set for immigration so as not to affect our social compact ? As a young nation, we continue to grapple with seeking our national identity. We do not have a shared history of struggles that binds us together. Our PG and MG can share their experience and be a valued resource to inspire the next. Perhaps, the Government can share its plans to foster a strong sense of national identity among Singaporeans, and yet maintain a healthy population profile.”
“Mr Chairman, despite a comprehensive strategy to encourage Singaporeans to marry and have children, our birth rates remain low as our population continues to age. In fact, this is a global trend among developed and developing economies around the world, and it will certainly take time to find sustainable solutions to alleviate the situation. What is our current concept? That a woman should have a career and also be a good mother; that a man should have a career and also be a good father. We give them good support with maternity leave, paternity leave, childcare leave, Baby Bonus and a whole suite of incentives. But things are not quite working out. Why? Difficulty in juggling office work and care for children, from tending to them when they are sick, to coaching them as they grow up. Have we looked into a more radical or new system whereby women with children may take three to six years off the workforce to bring up their children? This will also foster strong family ties and give our children a strong foundation, too. We can make laws where these women and men would not be discriminated against for the years out of the job market. In return, we can allow more qualified older people in our workforce to stay on to fill the vacant slots temporarily left behind by them. As we continue to implement baby-friendly policies as well as family-friendly policies, we must continue to identify and manage other problems stemming from an ageing population. We already have in place many strategies. We are encouraging senior citizens to stay healthy and active in the workforce through a lot of initiatives. Perhaps we can incentivise our senior citizens to look after their grandchildren.”
“Lastly, what is our plan to adopt the use of hybrid electric cars? I would like to encourage more drivers to use electric cars, but unfortunately, there are simply no charging points around. Will the Government take the lead to install more charging points around different parts of Singapore? Will the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) consider hardcoding this requirement in all buildings, including new HDB estates? Mr Speaker, Sir, young Singaporeans are getting more environmentally-conscious as it concerns their future. So, I hope the Government can develop more concrete measures to create a culture of environmental-consciousness in our country.”
“Even Malaysia has announced in December last year that they are drafting a Climate Change Act which will contain adaptation and mitigation plans to climate change. It would develop a list of comprehensive risk analytic simulating scenarios in the face of a rise in global temperatures of 2oC. Meanwhile, Scotland, too, acknowledged the warning of rising global temperatures and, last year, they sought advice to further enhance it. In fact, in Scotland, their ministers are legally required to seek expert advice on the earliest achievable date for a net-zero target at least every five years. But what about Singapore? Why do we not have a Climate Change Act? To show and enshrine our commitment to mitigate Climate Change, I propose we enact a Climate Change Act. Can the Government share what percentage of our energy used can be harnessed from renewable sources? Will the Government consider giving incentives to private property owners to install solar panels like many other countries do? Also, what percentage of recyclable waste that was collected for recycling actually get recycled? I noticed from a documentary recently that it was a dismal 50%, which means that the other 50% was disposed of as waste. How can we improve this percentage? Will the National Environment Agency (NEA) do more public education on this and teach residents to separate the different recyclable wastes rather than to treat the recycling bins as dustbins? Perhaps, we may have to review the current design of the recycling bin at the Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates, which has just one large opening, and looks almost like a normal trash bin. Why not have them designed with separate small openings for each type of recyclables, like the ones along Orchard Road?”
“Mr Speaker, I would also like to ask what is the difference in goals between a Progressive Wage, Minimum Wage or a Living Wage system, versus the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS). Neither encourages one to be unemployed. So, is the outcome not the same? There are many countries with a Minimum Wage but few countries with WIS. Why is that so? How comprehensive is WIS? Are there low-wage workers who did not benefit from WIS? My last topic will be on climate change. Mr Speaker, much has been said about our commitment to climate change. We have been educating our population on the greenhouse effect, carried out various campaigns, engaged transport operators, businesses and corporations and factories to get their buy-in. But we do not have a Climate Change Bill. In the United Kingdom (UK), before the Climate Change Act became law, the UK was struggling to meet its very unambitious emission reduction targets. The Act set a scientifically informed, long-term target of an 80% cut in emissions by 2050, which is legally binding. In other words, it aimed to increase ambition and to ensure that ambition was met. There are many countries, for example, Sweden, where the Climate Change Act contains provisions on the government's climate policy, what the work will be aimed at and how it should be conducted; Norway where the Climate Change Act offers a framework to promote the implementation of Norway’s climate targets as part of the transition to a low carbon society in Norway in 2050. In Asia, closer to home, Japan's Climate Change Adaptation Act aims at enhancing adaptation efforts in Japan. It enshrines into law the 2015 National Adaptation Plan and sets updated obligations.”
“Our needs are different. There is an important difference between a cohort-based scheme and a permanent scheme, that is, sustainability. A cohort-based scheme is financed by the current Government and does not burden our future generations. A permanent scheme will need additional recurrent funding which future governments may not be able to cope. In another five to 10 years, the new future government, if it is prudent and capable, may see an Independence Generation Package that will cater to our needs at that point in time. Next, investing for our future. Human resource is the only and most important resource Singapore has. Development of human resources through education and upskilling is the key. Currently, formal education – primary and secondary school education – is heavily subsidised. Hence, parents only pay monthly standard miscellaneous fees of $6.50 and $5 monthly school fees for secondary school. In contrast, a four-hour Ministry of Education (MOE) Kindergarten programme will cost parents $160 per month. The difference in fees is quite stark. Preschool education is currently not compulsory. Hence, it does not have the support given. All educators know the importance of early childhood education as it sets the foundation for the child. I hope the Government or the future government will make preschool or early childhood education compulsory and provide more resources so the school fees can be free, just like for primary school. Upskilling and upgrading all Singaporeans for the future is important. Will the Government consider putting more resources into SkillsFuture and top-up the accounts of Singaporeans who have utilised or exhausted their credits? After education and upskilling, it is important that wages have to be increased to improve their lives.”
“These 15 schemes are MediShield Life, CareShield Life, MediSave, Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), ElderShield, MediFund, subsidies for services and drugs at Public Healthcare Institutions, Enhanced Screen for Life, Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly, Foreign Domestic Worker (FWD) levy concession for persons with disabilities, Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund, Caregivers Training Grant, Elder Fund, Foreign Domestic Work Grant, and Subsidies for Government-funded intermediate and long-term care services. These are the 15 schemes there. Primary healthcare in polyclinics is heavily subsidised and they are not means-tested. Any Singaporean can enjoy subsidy there. Likewise, subsidised healthcare at public hospitals is also affordable to all Singaporeans. For those who are not able to afford, medical social workers are there to assist and there is always MediFund. So, no Singaporean will be deprived of the medical care they need. There are also some who asked whether the next generation that follows, that is, those who are currently 50 to 59 years old, will get a similar package when we reach 60, which is in 10 years' time. Many of us and I in this House belong to this generation, the Independence Generation. Our generation, in fact, has already received a much bigger and better package than the previous two generations. Those in our generation were given better education, better job opportunities, better housing, better healthcare, better transport and a better Singapore by PG and MG. Like the previous two generations, our generation have worked hard and contributed. We grew up in a more stable and prosperous Singapore, were able to save more for our retirement and medical needs compared to the preceding two generations.”
“Some in this House have asked whether cohort-based schemes like the PGP and MGP can be replaced by a more permanent universal system, a permanent system that automatically gives subsidy based on a certain age, like our transport concession for seniors. All seniors aged 60 and above can apply for a senior citizen concession card. In principle, if resources are available for the long haul, I can support a universal scheme that automatically distributes the benefits of the package to all above 60. But is it practical and realistic for the Government or for this House to propose and implement such a health scheme? Is it sustainable, given our ageing population and the growing numbers of people in this age group over the next few years? Cohort-based schemes like PGP and MGP are targeted at the needs of these cohorts. As explained during the launch of PGP, this cohort has contributed to our nation-building during difficult and challenging times. Many did not have proper education and good job opportunities. They worked hard to support their families and did not have sufficient savings for retirement and healthcare because Central Provident Fund (CPF) and MediSave schemes were not implemented yet. The package was tailored to their needs and targeted at the concerns they have. A universal scheme will be more blunt, broad-based and less targeted. We are not starting from zero. As it is today, we do have a universal health scheme. One may go to the Ministry of Health (MOH) website to enquire about the subsidies they can enjoy. If you key in 60 years old, which means your year of birth was 1959, and key in that you are Singaporean, the website will show 15 health schemes that you may get subsidy.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of Budget 2019. I support the broad principles highlighted by the Finance Minister which Budget 2019 was formulated upon. I would like to discuss three topics. First, universal support and cohort-based support schemes like the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) and Merdeka Generation Package (MGP); second, investing in our future; and third, why we should have a Climate Change Bill. First, like many of us in this House, my parents belong to the Pioneer Generation (PG). I have many relatives and friends who belong to the Merdeka Generation (MG). Both the PG and MG lived through turbulent times of our nation-building. They have worked hard and built this nation so that the subsequent generations that follow will have a much better future. I was born in 1968. So, I belong to the next cohort, which Mr Murali Pillai had referred to as the Majulah Generation. But we were coined the Post-Independence Generation when we first came into this House. The next cohort consists of those born in 1960 to 1969, which includes Mr Speaker yourself, too. I would like to call this cohort "the Independence Generation", because we are born plus and minus five years from Independence. I do agree with Assoc Prof Daniel Goh that the MG and PG have taught us independence. That is the reason why I think Independence Generation is a much better name than the Majulah Generation. We all are here because of them. We all want our PG and MG seniors to enjoy their golden years and age graciously and peacefully. I support the PGP and MGP.”
“Out of the 2,500 that MOH has contacted, has any of them been contacted and blackmailed? Was there any demand made on them in the first place? The Minister mentioned that there were a few of them that were given the link. When they were given the link, what was the demand? Under what circumstances? Why were they given the link?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me a chance to seek clarification. I would just like to ask the Senior Minister of State again: in the past, there have been precedents whereby DTs have thrown out certain cases but, in the end, upon appealing to the Ministers, the DT has to reopen the case again. In this case now, it is the direct opposite, which means that the DT has already decided, whether, currently, since there is a petition from both the public as well as from the medical fraternity to the Ministry, will the Minister now consider reopening this case?”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to declare my interest as a practising ophthalmologist. The medical fraternity currently has rallied, including with the public coming in, to raise a petition against this whole issue. Even for the public, they felt that this $100,000 fine is a little too excessive. Yes, I agree with the Senior Minister of State that it is self-regulatory, but self-regulatory does not mean no regulation at all. MOH should still have an oversight over SMC. My question then is: what is MOH's position and will this $100,000 fine be reviewed again rather than to leave it as it is? If we leave it as it is, then the medical fraternity will just say that there is no change in everything else, which means that we still could be fined $100,000. If we miss out just one side effect, we could be fined.”
“Mr Speaker, let me thank the Minister for the very, very long and elaborate explanation. I think we all agree that National Service is pivotal and essential to our national security. I would like to just seek a clarification from the Minister now. Currently, is there a rising trend in terms of application for deferment or disruption for NS with regard to sports excellence over the last few years? That is one. Two, if Ben Davis had given a date to say that he would return, would MINDEF consider his deferment?”
“Sir, 23 of my Parliamentary colleagues have spoken and there are 45 cuts. Let me just thank all our favourite Ministers – Minister Yaacob Ibrahim as well as Minister Grace Fu and Minister Chan Chun Sing and our favourite Senior Minister of State Sim Ann and favourite Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng for answering all the cuts.”
“Chairman, I am glad to hear about the dollar-to-dollar matching from the Parliamentary Secretary just now. I would like to seek a clarification from the Senior Minister of State on philanthropy. I have earlier on suggested in my response speech to the Budget that Singaporeans should be given an easy way to donate their SG Bonus to worthy causes. I would like to ask whether MCCY would also facilitate this donation to arts as well as sports causes and then by utilising the dollar-to-dollar matching that was just mentioned so that Singaporeans have an easy way to do it.”
“We can only expect more creative freelancers to enter the industry, whether by choice or by circumstances. What is the Government doing to increase support for freelancers within the arts industry?”
“More importantly, several of all these art pieces are commissioned to local artists, making public spaces an ideal platform to gain exposure. The various free guided trails deserve more awareness as they are perfect opportunities to instill knowledge on heritage and culture to Singaporeans. Can MCCY update on the Public Art Trust? Are there plans to bring arts to more spaces? Support for Arts Freelancers The rise of the "gig economy" brings about many exciting opportunities for freelancers who aspire to be their own boss, pick their own projects and work flexible hours. In reality, the situation is not always rosy for the majority. Aside from the lack of a stable income, freelancers grapple with a myriad of legal and administrative challenges. Last year’s results of the Graduate Employment Survey indicated that there is an increase in freelance and part-time jobs being evident among graduates from courses in the arts and humanities. This would largely be attributed to the nature of their work, which is mostly project-based and spans across a specific duration. The Government has introduced measures to help this group of freelancers. The Work Mentorship Programme by Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) aims to give junior creative freelancers a headstart through hands-on-training and mentorship with companies. This is a good scheme in principle. I would like to ask how the response has been from participants and what can be done to enhance the scheme. Last year, a free handbook was also launched to educate and inform creative freelancers about their legal rights. Thus far, how effective has it been in mitigating the problems that freelancers face from errant clients? The gig economy is fast becoming a global trend.”
“Sir, the local arts scene has grown much more robust and vibrant in the recent years. This is heartening. The 2016 statistics from the Ministry indicate that more Singaporeans are taking an active interest in arts and culture, enjoying museums, performing arts and visual arts activities. The keen interest can be seen in both ticketed, as well as free events. The number of arts and cultural companies and arts societies has also been increasing lately. The data from MCCY is a useful indicator that our arts scene is, indeed, growing but, certainly, there is more to it than numbers. I would like to ask the Minister for an update on how the arts scene has developed over the last few years, especially since in Budget 2014, MCCY has set aside an additional $20 million over five years to promote our artists, unique heritage, as well as cultural assets overseas. How effectively have these funds been utilised and how has this helped to develop our local arts creators? Moving forward, what strategies will be employed to further develop our arts scene? Can the Minister share the plans to enhance engagement and education in relation to arts, especially for youths and children? Public Art Trust Art enlivens our community, as well as outdoor spaces, and creates shared memories for Singapore. Displaying art in public brings it closer to the people, eradicating the notion that art is only for a specific group of people. From the heartlands, places of interest, business and shopping districts to the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations, it has become a common sight to see local artists and tourists whipping out their phones to take photographs, as well as people waiting by these art pieces which they have now embraced as landmarks.”
“Since the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's (MCCY's) inception in 2012, Singapore has made excellent progress in the sports, youth and community sectors. Active participation from Singaporeans in these areas have helped to foster a stronger sense of unity and pride. We must continue to encourage greater vibrancy and participation in these sectors to create shared experiences, ensuring that our society remains resilient and cohesive. The Government is planning to do more at the school level, but how about the older youths who are more inclined to feel disillusioned? We want a nation that all Singaporeans are proud to call home. What are MCCY's strategies to achieve this? How do we measure the strength of our social fabric? What more can we do to strengthen the Singapore spirit and identity? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“Chairman, Sir, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100." First, let me just wish all our lady colleagues within the Chamber a Happy Women's Day. It is said that if the country's economy is the lifeline of our country and infrastructure is the skeleton of our country, then arts and culture must be the soul of our country. It is the arts and cultures that define us. Through arts and culture, we forged a national identity that unites all of us as one people, one nation, one Singapore. As a multicultural and multi-religious society, we have done well to respect and appreciate one another's cultural differences to practise acceptance and compromise. Yet, the threat of social division and fragmentation can never be completely eliminated. Even as we observe the civil conflicts occurring around the world from afar, we cannot take our peace for granted and assume these problems will not happen in Singapore. This is especially so when there are strong external influences that can disrupt our social cohesion. There have been Singaporeans who were self-radicalised to embrace extremist beliefs and even wanted to head overseas to support armed conflict or conduct attacks here. Fortunately, in some cases, family and loved ones had stepped in to intervene. Meanwhile, concerns of social divide were sparked following a study that revealed a clear divide among social classes in Singapore. Rising living costs and other challenges give rise to problems that may estrange certain groups of people. The cumulative effect of segregation and dissatisfaction can result in an "us versus them" mentality, which will lead to larger cracks over time.”
“While there should be no expectation of rewards while doing kind deeds, I hope SG Cares will do more to embrace charitable causes from the ground and encouraging more Singaporeans to do so. Multi-disciplinary Approach”
“It also costs money to hire a professional data analyst or purchase tools to make sense of social media campaigns. The Government should look into reaching out to these charities and helping them with the technology expertise. Perhaps SG Cares could think of how to link up mobile apps and software developers with the charities in need. With the rising popularity of software developer jobs and careers, SG Cares may even wish to link up with Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) to match inspiring software developers to charities and build up their portfolio and skills. At the local level, there are many stakeholders. The grassroots organisations, the schools, social service organisations and community organisations are all working on a variety of excellent causes on the ground, from participating in environmental issues, helping animals, to befriending and caring for the less fortunate. In fact, I was looking through the SG Cares website and I was impressed to learn about many previously unheard and unique causes. I am sure there are more out there. I often hear stories or witness acts of kindness by residents or grassroots leaders that are really taken for granted. And it saddens me to hear of others criticising or being very cynical of these efforts. For example, there is a misconception that students are being forced to participate in activities like Flag Day and that they do so only for the Community Involvement Programme (CIP) points. It is demoralising, as I know many students and teachers who find meaning in such activities, and it would be terribly unfair for their good work to be misunderstood and tarnished.”
“Maybe the Government can explore if it can encourage these companies to make volunteerism a good activity for reporting in their annual report to all the stakeholders. This may help to boost more corporations to engage volunteerism for a good cause. Technology has the potential to reap huge economic benefits. Adopting the use of technology to support people in developing a caring and civic culture would be in line with our drive to be a Smart Nation. Thus far, we have platforms like Giving.sg to enable charitable causes to tap on convenience of online tools to gain exposure and collect funds. There is also SG Cares, which has a website and a mobile app, allowing users to make sense of available projects and causes and so on. Can we take this further? In fact, the SG Cares website as well as mobile app are wonderful tools, and I think the level of awareness, public awareness, is lacking. So, I hope the Government as well as the Ministry can help to push for awareness of SG Cares. An article in The Guardian shared statistics that implied a growing use of mobile apps to make donations in the United Kingdom (UK). I am sure a similar trend is happening in Singapore as well. The United Nation's (UN’s) World Food Programme released a mobile app called Share the Meal, and donors can easily make small payments by tapping on their phones. In an era where contactless payments and one-touch convenience have become a way of life, it is important for charities to keep up with the trends. Yet, while these apps would help to increase productivity and reduce reliance on manpower, charities, however, chronically fail to embrace them due to the lack of resources to tap on technology in the first place. It costs money to make an app.”
“Mr Chairman, the SG Cares movement was launched in Singapore in November two years back to bring together individuals, organisations and beneficiaries. Since then, it has enabled resources to be pooled together and appropriately channelled to those in need. The acts of kindness publicised on the platform also serve as a source of inspiration to many others. The movement has immense potential to create a strong and sustainable volunteering ecosystem so that Singapore may be a caring and inclusive home for all. In this year's Budget, the Finance Minister mentioned that there will be further plans for SG Cares. It is uplifting to note that the Government plans to play a bigger role, through enhanced partnerships with the community to support seniors and those in need. But the Government has already been working with the grassroots and the voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs). I would like to find out what are the changes and enhancements that we can expect from this area. The corporations in our country are key players to the field of volunteerism, for they possess ample resources and have the ability to be a significant influencer. In recent years, more social enterprises are stepping up and they have created many meaningful social projects. Corporations are different from social enterprises, but they can contribute to the community in a different way. 12.15 pm I think it is important to have a varied approach when it comes to fund-raising and volunteerism. Can the Minister share what is the progress in engaging corporations for philanthropic causes? Sustainability is made a mandatory requirement for all public-listed companies.”
“Sir, more universities around the world from the United States (US) to Australia and New Zealand are offering micro-credentials, which are like mini-degrees or certifications in a specific field. I am glad our autonomous universities (AUs) are following suit to keep up with the demand. These bite-sized courses are good for our busy individuals who are keen to upgrade and upskill themselves but do not have the time or resources for full-time postgraduate courses. The prestige and reputation of the AUs will give students further assurance of the effectiveness and legitimacy of the course materials and assessment methods. Nevertheless, while the main goal of these micro-credentials is to encourage and recognise the mastery of specific skills, many individuals still aspire to attain formal postgraduate qualifications. Will the Ministry expand the scheme and allow employees to eventually attain full qualifications from various micro-courses? For example, students who achieve sufficient micro-credentials in business administration topics could convert them into full credits and transfer them into a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. According to Converge, a digital magazine by the Centre for Digital Education, which is a national research and advisory institute specialising in higher education technology trends, policy and funding, these are what universities in America are working on. We are gearing away from over-emphasis on academic accomplishments, but formal qualifications are still greatly valued and can be a powerful source of motivation for Singaporeans to pursue skills upgrading and lifelong learning. Local Academic Core in Universities”
“Sir, The Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) is a good way to help students from the Secondary 4 Normal (Academic) stream to gain direct entry to our polytechnics. It gives hope and confidence to the students whose academic grades may otherwise be inadequate and inspires them to keep on pushing on with their dreams and aspirations. The exemplary performance of students from the pioneer batch who have graduated last year is an indication of the success of this programme. As such, I hope the Ministry will consider further expanding PFP beyond 800 students. I note from a Straits Times report that PFP has been beneficial in helping students adjust to life at polytechnic, with some graduates outperforming their "O" level peers as well. Perhaps the polytechnics may wish to offer the option to other students who may have qualified for admission to polytechnic but need extra help. Considering the overall performance of PFP's Pioneer Batch, I wish to ask what further plans does the Minister have to support the aspirations of the students who opt for this pathway. Common Entry Programmes at Polytechnics”
“Chairman, Sir, inflation is an inevitable and intractable global issue. I am concerned about the rising living costs, how they will impact our students from low socioeconomic families. In spite of the subsidies, bursaries, scholarships and grants, there are some students who will still fall through the cracks. The distractions of part-time work and social problems at home may prevent them from focusing on their studies. This results in a vicious cycle where the poor cannot do well in school and they are unable to break out of the poverty cycle. I would like to request the Minister to further enhance the current schemes available to support the aspirations of students from lower socioeconomic families. How are they given equal access to opportunities for all students regardless of their family and income backgrounds? How much resources are allocated to these schemes and how many beneficiaries are there per year? Social Mobility Indicators”
“From these examples, it is clear that cyber-related threats can severely affect and disrupt Singaporeans' way of life. My question to the Minister is how prevalent are such attacks, how vulnerable are we and what is MINDEF doing to protect Singapore from cyberattacks? Bug Bounty Programme”
“Sir, with the world so interconnected and our lives completely changed with the Internet and digitalisation, almost all electronic items can be remotely accessed and controlled, such as our transport, financial and security systems, our power plants and many more. It is a perfect cyber storm brewing. Imagine all our traffic light controls go haywire, with multiple accidents on the roads, our roads will become a logjam. Airplanes above our heads can become weapons of mass destruction, like the 9-11 scenario. Our stock market and financial systems can be brought to a complete halt and all electronic financial transactions going astray. Our communication devices could be hacked and paralysing the entire country, making any rescue and recovery services impossible. This is a doomsday scenario that we frequently see in a Hollywood movie. Can this reality be real one day? We read about many incidents of cyberattacks and breaches of security and cyber espionage around the world. How prevalent are such attacks against Singapore, and how vulnerable are we? What are we doing to protect Singapore from cyberattacks? In recent years, cyberattacks have grown to be a major security concern. In 2015, it was reported that the hackers had successfully compromised the information system of energy companies, leading to the temporary crippling of Ukraine's power grid. Ukraine was again targeted in June 2017 with ransomware disrupting Ukraine's financial, energy and government sectors. At home, our Government education institutions are known to be hit by cyberattacks. Last year, our businesses, including several shopping malls, were affected by the "WannaCry" worm. Fortunately, Singapore was less affected by the "WannaCry" worm, compared to some other countries.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for her very comprehensive answer which included part of my intended supplementary question. I would just like to ask a further question. Current promotions of local brands are important in my opinion because if we want to encourage our local brands to go regional, they first have to achieve a strong foothold in our own market. This is a good testbed. My question is, apart from Changi Airport, Orchard Road and some of the localities the Senior Minister of State just mentioned, will there be plans to push out more to the heartlands, to the heartland malls and so on? These locations are key to the local domestic market. I also wish that Singaporeans can support our local brands and things made in Singapore more. It is not a step towards protectionism, but it is a step for us to encourage our small and medium enterprises. And hopefully, more new ideas and innovations can prevail.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Second Minister for her reply. Let me just ask her one supplementary question regarding the top five industries that freelancers have ventured into. The Second Minister mentioned there are schemes to help them. How well are these schemes currently taken up? Can more be done to help them? I understand that this group is also not a permanent group; they are a transient group. Some of them will be freelancers for a while, and then they will find a full-time job, and then they may go back again. The issue now is how to help them to continue to upskill. We are also worried about them being stagnant in one position and miss out the entire innovativeness of the economy as the economy improves. Can the Second Minister update us as to how much the freelancers in these five industries utilise the schemes she just mentioned?”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary regarding our students' understanding of ASEAN. Is the Ministry now happy with the current level of awareness that our students have of ASEAN? What is the yardstick and what does the Ministry do in terms of measurements? Does the Ministry do surveys to see what is the current level of students' awareness? I am happy to hear of all the activities that have been organised. The question is whether these are effective and what more can be done. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, as I mentioned earlier, it depends on the age-appropriateness. At the different levels, we introduce the different sets of knowledge and discussions that we want our kids to have. At the curriculum development level, we have measurements to look at how our students have grasped what they have learnt. Nevertheless, as the Member can see, things are ever-changing, especially for this year, as we have assumed the Chairmanship of ASEAN. We want to take this opportunity to engage our students, see how they can discuss in class and work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see how they can get involved in the process.”
“Mr Speaker, the Budget reveals practical and forward-looking measures that guide us towards a future that is economically and environmentally sustainable. It also promises to shape a nation that is more compassionate and empathetic towards the less fortunate, with the Government taking the lead. I support the Budget.”
“I know the schools have encouraged students to donate an ang pow during the Chinese New Year period to the welfare fund so that needy students can benefit from the fund. In the same spirit of caring and giving, I would like to propose that the Government facilitate giving by providing an easy option for Singaporeans who are keen to donate their SG bonus ang pow to local charities like the Community Chest or even the President’s Challenge 2018. Maybe the Government can provide dollar-for-dollar matching to encourage the public to donate. Next, I am glad that the Government intends to extend WCS. The goal of the scheme is to encourage employers to give wage increases to their employees. However, I would like to know if any study has been done on the effectiveness of the scheme. How many employers are doling out salary increases because of the scheme? On the flip side, many employers are also concerned with raising salaries as this will permanently increase their manpower cost, whereas WCS is a temporary one. Most employers would prefer to share the company’s profits with the staff by special bonuses which are one-off and will not permanently increase their manpower cost. Does WCS include such one-off bonuses? Lastly, with all the talk about SkillsFuture and upgrading, there was disappointment felt by my residents that there were no enhancement and no top-up in SkillsFuture credits. There are Singaporeans who have utilised all their credits, and there are some, on the other hand, who are waiting for a perfect course to come by. They are afraid to waste their current credit on a course that may not benefit them. Why not top up their SkillsFuture credits since there is a Budget surplus? This is investing in our people.”
“So, perhaps a similar platform could help to generate awareness and interest. I hope the Government can consider subsidised or free energy consultation to encourage more buy-in from the public. The Government should also work closely with private developers and residents to facilitate convenient and affordable installation of solar panels for condominiums and other private residential apartments and commercial buildings. On a related note, from the middle of this year, Singaporean households will be able to choose which provider to buy their power from. They can tap on the e-commerce platform for electricity to pick their provider. So, now would be an appropriate time to step up on public education and encourage households to make more eco-friendly decisions. I note that many such clean energy projects are still in the testbed or pilot stage, and awareness and presence are lacking. Not many residents are aware that their homes are being powered by or will eventually be powered by solar panels on roof tops. How many are aware that they will soon have a choice to use renewable energy in their homes and plan to make the switch? More importantly, how many Singaporeans see this as a good thing? It is important to get Singaporeans excited about renewable energy, and this can only be achieved through greater transparency and public education, even for early-stage projects. My next topic is on encouraging acts of charity in Singapore. On behalf of my residents, I would like to thank the Government, and especially Mr Heng Swee Keat, for giving an early ang pow of $100 to $300 to all eligible Singaporeans aged 21 and above.”
“The carbon tax, scheduled for 2019, was announced last year, and this year's Budget revealed further details on it. The carbon tax will no doubt serve as a deterrent for big emitters of greenhouse gases. But we need to do more to push for more measures to help companies and households to reduce their energy usage and use renewable energy. Will the Government introduce incentive measures like grants for projects to help households as well as businesses to achieve lower carbon emissions? At last year’s Budget, I spoke about exploring the use of solar energy, and I am glad tangible progress has been made. It is heartening news that the private sector, Town Councils and various Government agencies have been major contributors to expand solar capacity in Singapore in recent years. The private sector accounts for 45.9% of total installed capacity, while Town Councils and Government agencies like HDB account for 44.7%. The residential sector, comprised primarily of private homes, accounts for 589 installations, but that is less than 5% of total installed capacity. The way forward is to keep the momentum and increase take-up rates. Understandably, space constraint remains a challenge. While smaller rooftop systems are less economical than larger ones, making them seem to be poor investments in the short term, increasing awareness on cost-saving abilities and installation procedures can help to generate more interest among private home owners. In the United Kingdom (UK), the National Network for Low-Carbon Open Homes, an initiative by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, provides a platform for people with energy-homes to share about the technology they use, their experiences and to answer questions. For Singaporeans, the use of renewable energy is still in its infancy stage.”