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 5 of 14.
“In 2007, when the GST was raised from 5% to 7%, consumer price index (CPI) inflation rose to 2.6% in July 2007 from 1.3% in June, reflecting the 2% GST hike. How will the proposed GST increase from 7% to 9% affect Singapore’s competitiveness? Will the increase deter foreign direct investments into Singapore and hurt our tourism and the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry? How will the proposed GST increase impact our CPI and inflation when implemented? The appeal from the residents was to delay the GST increase as far as possible. If it is not 2021, is it possible to push it to 2025? Better still, have plans to grow the economy, grow the income of Singaporeans, grow the revenues and incomes of all businesses and also let the revenues of the country grow concurrently. So, if we can, we can deter the GST increase indefinitely. I support the Government's ambitious plan to develop a number of mega infrastructure projects and I support the financing framework proposed. I think it is fair. But the more we build, the more we need to maintain. Did the Government take into account the maintenance cost after the construction? And I am a little bit concerned whether our construction sector and manpower can handle so many infrastructure projects at the same time. We are worried about whether we have the resources to do so, not just about finance, but also the space and the manpower. Can we space all these developments a bit further apart? Next, I would like to move on to our environment, a topic that I have been following closely with every Budget for the last 12 years. Environmental issues are closely related to our sustainability and living standards. Hence, it is important for us to continue to review and improve policies regarding this aspect.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of this very balanced Budget, which invests in our people, businesses, infrastructures and environment. It clearly takes into account the need to keep up with rapid changes. From digitalisation to upskilling, to adoption of smart technologies. The pressure to make major changes within a short period of time is daunting. On top of that, talks of increased spending in various crucial areas like healthcare, enhanced social safety nets and massive infrastructural developments, as well as the possible Goods and Services (GST) hike, have got Singaporeans waiting for this year’s Budget with apprehension. Amidst a climate of uncertainty, the Minister for Finance has crafted a practical Budget that addresses all these challenges. He has outlined ways in which we can keep our economy innovative and vibrant, which means more opportunities for businesses and, in turn, a better future for all Singaporeans. Businesses will certainly appreciate the strong focus on the available support for pursuing innovation and increased digital capabilities. We will be making bigger steps towards our vision of a Smart City that is also green and liveable. A few days ago, Hong Kong announced their financial position as well. They have achieved a $28-billion surplus. In fact, one of the key focuses when I read up on it was how do they continue to invest in innovation? So, Singapore has our competition. At a dialogue session with my residents in Sembawang after the Budget Statement was released, one concern among the residents was naturally on the proposed future GST hike. The residents were asking whether this was going to make Singapore an even more expensive place for businesses and for us to stay and for tourism as well.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. I would like to clarify with the Senior Minister of State regarding the fee benchmarks which MOH will roll out soon. Do they include the total bill, with breakdown into the components, such as the doctors' fees and facility fees? Part of the public concerns have to do with the facility fees charged by the hospitals, which have been increasing quite a fair bit recently. The second clarification is on my last question asking whether these benchmarks will cause doctors who are charging lower fees now, to up their fees instead. So, we are worried that there could be a knee-jerk reaction.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for the reply. I would like to ask the Minister for his assessment on whether the current en bloc fever is sustainable, would that lead up to another bubble that is forming in our property market, and will the Government be considering more measures coming in to cool this market if there is a need.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State, for COE ownership, how many of the car owners now actually own more than one car? Will MOT consider leveraging an extra certain percentage if you buy a second COE under your own name?”
“Let me just thank the Senior Minister of State for the very long account that he has just given. I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State regarding the blood test he referred to for diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. What is the exact blood test he is referring to? Because, as far as I know, there is no specific blood test for Kawasaki disease in the first place. Last of all is that it is very common. I mean, for all parents here who have children, to find a child with fever, with a rash. Does it mean that every single child with rash and fever has to be sent for a cardiac scan in future? I think that is the fear that we have now. What is the impact of this verdict on current healthcare costs? Frequently, we hear complaints from our residents, from our patients that the investigation costs are going up − tests are very expensive. In fact, every single blood test, every single scan, every single MRI you do, is expensive. Every single headache could be a brain tumour. Are we going to investigate every single headache with a scan as well? I think these are the pertinent questions that we are asking. Is MOH monitoring whether there are signs of defensive medicine being practiced in Singapore? Currently, if you look at the outpatient bill, what proportion of the outpatient bill is investigation cost versus consultation and medication cost? Is the investigation cost portion increasing over the years? These are the things that I think MOH should be looking at as well.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask the Second Minister this: with so many intrusions and so many cyberattacks on our systems, what are the current measures or laws that protect MINDEF? Are we investigating and prosecuting some of them? With these intrusions, how many of these investigations lead to successful prosecution of the perpetrators?”
“On behalf of the Government Parliamentary Committee as well as the colleagues of this House, it remains for me to thank Minister Yaacob, Minister Chan Chun Sing as well as Minister Grace Fu and Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng for their very well-considered response to all our questions, and to all the staff of MCCY as well as related Statutory Boards for their hard work. This is the heartbeat of the nation. So, please continue to work hard. We will be there to support them as well. May I beg leave now to withdraw my amendment? [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,554,607,300 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $605,178,900 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“I enjoy "Japan Hour" which really whets our appetite by showing us mouth-watering Japanese food. It is through such projection of soft power that they subtly exert their influence and project their respective countries' interests. It showcases their culture, food and way of life. I think Singapore should learn from all these. We should have a "Singapore Hour" that showcases attractions, our multicultural festive celebrations, our huge diversity of food from the street, from our hawkers or the Michelin-starred restaurants, our sport events like Formula One (F1) Singapore Grand Prix as well as Dragon Boat Regatta. Wherever I travel and check into hotels, I will be on the lookout for Channel NewsAsia (CNA) on the hotel TV channels. I am always happy and feel connected back home just by tuning in to CNA, listening to our own local news. CNA is a good example that we should leverage and expand further to showcase and project Singapore culture. MCCY should explore and develop more ways and more channels for the projection of Singapore culture to the region and globally. This will not only further our national interests abroad but also rally Singaporeans to cherish and preserve our culture. In doing so, it will foster a more united and cohesive Singapore. Launchpad Premises for Local Artists”
“Madam, watching our local talents receive global recognition and put our little red dot on the world stage is certainly a euphoric feeling. Such moments really bring Singaporeans together. I believe this is not just due to the pride, but also the encouraging notion that one can achieve their dreams as Singaporean in every field, including sports and the arts. We have a small population, which means a smaller pool where we can select and groom our sports and arts talents from. We also have limited resources. Despite the odds, we are glad that our fellow Singaporeans have done us proud in arenas on the global stage. Currently, how much support is allocated to our local sports and arts heroes? How can we enable them to bring out their best? The past year has seen successes in international sports competitions and arts scene. Can MCCY further enhance the support system so that local sports and arts talents can continue to achieve their success? While the Government may not be able to continue to give more financial support to athletes and artists, more can be done to rally the community, the commercial and philanthropic sectors to provide resources needed for their training and competitions. I would suggest for MCCY to set up an organisation dedicated to fundraising and securing sponsorships to help our local talents so that they can concentrate on what they do best. Projecting Singapore Culture My second cut on projecting the Singapore culture. Chairman, Singaporeans learned a lot from documentaries and TV serials from Japan and South Korea. The Japanese pop (J-pop) and later the Korean pop (K-Pop) groups have significant followings not just among the young but amongst the seniors, too.”
“Madam, last year, our nation was very much impressed and inspired by the performance of Paralympics Gold Medallist Yip Pin Xiu. While the memories are still fresh, I hope the Ministry will strike while the iron is hot and expand on the Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) and keep growing inclusive spaces for people with disabilities. I would like to ask for an update on the 18 recommendations under DSMP that was proposed and accepted by the Government since last year. What is the take-up rate for DSMP as well as how many have benefited from this Master Plan? How many inclusive gyms are there in Singapore and what is the average usage? Is the Ministry actively working closely with persons with disabilities to ensure their regular participation and enjoyment of sports, arts and culture? The Government is doing a lot to support the likes of Yip Pin Xiu, but I hope non-competitive regular Singaporeans on the streets are also getting the help and push needed to participate in sports and also other cultural activities, to give persons with disabilities the opportunity to lead an active and enriching life. We should see more facilities enabling barrier-free accessibility at places, such as sports stadiums, art galleries, cultural institutions, museums and so on. Can the Government legislate as well as to ensure all sports, heritage, arts and culture developments have inclusive spaces in mind? Increasing Access to Sports Facilities”
“I would like to urge the Government on four points: (a) continue to deepen and broaden the partnerships between the people and the Government through programmes like SGCares, Our Singapore Fund, Youth Corps Singapore, Team Nila and through our culture and sports; (b) continue to grow our common spaces and values through our common experiences like National Service (NS) and the Outward Bound School (OBS), our arts and heritage and, in doing so, not forgetting those among us with disabilities; (c) strengthen and celebrate our national identity through heritage, our achievements and the Founders' Memorial; and last of all (d) I would like to suggest to have a dedicated TV and radio channel for all things Singaporean, such as Sports, Arts, Culture, Food, News, History and Fashion. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“The entire nation was frozen and holding our breath during those 50.39 seconds. Again, the nation celebrated the success, regardless of race, language or religion. Apart from sports that can bring Singaporeans together, there are many others. In March 2015, we all came together to mourn the passing of our beloved founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. More than 440,000 people queued for hours to pay their last respects at Parliament House and many others did that at the 18 community tribute sites. Although we are one of the youngest nations on earth, we have demonstrated and risen to the occasion to overcome our race, language and religion divides and come together as one people, one nation. We must not rest on our laurels. The proliferation of Internet culture has blurred the lines between truth and lies. It is very convenient now to spread falsehood, with the purpose of inciting chaos and hatred. Frequent exposure to inappropriate ideology, along with the climate of dissatisfaction, can lead to the breakdown of our social fabric. How does the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) intend to bring citizens closer together and strengthen that trust and the bridge that we have? What are the strategies to ensure that we remain united in the face of adversity?”
“Madam, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100." This is an era of globalisation. Yet, international political turmoil, terrorism, threats and social division worldwide are pulling nations apart. To win popular votes, we see politicians in other countries playing up a variety of issues from religion to racism and trade protectionism. This gives rise to riot, hate crimes and, even long after the political race is over, it leaves behind deep divisions among its people. According to a Cable News Network (CNN) report, eight in 10 Americans now believe their country is more divided on major issues compared to a few years ago. Apart from social differences, mistrust towards immigrants and fear of terrorism continue to plague and divide the likes of the US, Germany, France and so on. The troubles of other multicultural countries, some closer to our nation, must serve as a stark reminder to Singaporeans that we must not take peace and harmony for granted. Our leaders who led the racial harmony movement were far-sighted. Beyond tolerance, they urged us to understand and respect one another's background as well as religion. So, what brings Singaporeans together? I remember during the 1993 Malaysian Cup, the Singapore National Football Team played against Kedah and we won 2-0. Singaporeans gathered by the busloads in Kuala Lumpur to support our national team. Many were shouting their hearts out at home in front of their television (TVs). I remember the entire estate yelled. The whole town shouted. The entire nation rejoiced in one voice, regardless of race, language or religion. We had a similar reaction last year when Joseph Schooling won the first Olympic Gold Medal for Singapore.”
“Madam, on Monday, I had a resident who brought two bills to me. One was a medical bill and the other was a Central Provident Fund (CPF) statement of her 91-year-old parent. On the medical bill, it was stated $120 outstanding for payment in cash, after deducting MediSave claim. Then, she showed me the CPF statement of her 91-year-old parent. There was more than $10,000 in her CPF. She was asking me, "My parent is 91 years old. Why can the Government not allow her to deduct a bit more from her MediSave? We do have our MediSave, we can help her out, too, but why do you need us to still use cash to make payment?" I know that the Government has already introduced Flexi-MediSave for the elderly. Under this scheme, all patients aged 65 and above can deduct up to $200 per year per patient for outpatient medical treatment at Specialist Outpatient Clinics at the public hospitals or the national specialty centres, polyclinics and Participating Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) general practitioner (GP) clinics. It can also be used together with other outpatient MediSave limits, such as the MediSave400 limit. But this is a very small amount. I would like to appeal to the Government and MOH to review the MediSave claiming for the elderly, especially to increase the claim limit for the elderly, especially those with healthy MediSave balances so as to reduce their cash outlay for medical expenses. Can the Government further enhance this Flexi-MediSave for the elderly to allow for a further increase, perhaps a 20% increase, in claim limit for MediSave for hospitalisation, surgery and treatment? MediShield Life for Community Hospitals”
“Sir, I brought up this hot topic at last year's COS. I am glad the media picked up the topic and did an excellent documentary on the Sembawang hot spring, which attracted a lot of public attention. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), after the COS last April, has announced that it was prepared to return the land occupied by the hot spring to SLA, which will then transfer the land to NParks for further development. More recently, an open tender by NParks for multi-disciplinary consultancy services for the hot spring area to be developed into a park has sparked public interest and media interest as well. The Sembawang hot spring has a lot of potential as a recreational and educational spot. I share the sentiments of many Sembawang residents and fellow MPs that the place should not be too commercialised and, as far as possible, to maintain the rustic kampong atmosphere. I would like to ask for an update on the development and suggest that public opinion should be sought to find out how Singaporeans would like their one and only one hot spring to be developed. Quota System for Short-term Rentals”
“Chairman, I would like to seek a clarification from the Minister of State regarding the after-school care service that is school-based. He mentioned that the current supply itself actually meets demand. But why are we still seeing so many parents coming to us? What is the current vacancy or waiting time for the current school-based after-school services?”
“Chairman, current admissions to our IHLs are still primarily based on academic results. It is a transparent and objective system but too much stress is placed on our students and parents for these high-stake examinations. Aptitude-based admissions allow for a more holistic assessment of students and reduce the over-emphasis on academic results. It takes into consideration the level of passion and interest the students have for their choice of courses. However, a pure aptitude-based system may be too subjective as it is dependent on the assessors. I suggest MOE adopt a hybrid system, perhaps with 60% weight towards academic and 40% weight to aptitude. I am pleased to note the gradual expansion of the aptitude-based admissions to PSEIs, as announced by Minister Ong Ye Kung last year. I would like to ask if the Ministry intends to introduce further enhancements to the aptitude-based admissions and adopt a hybrid system which has both components. Aptitude-based Admissions in Post-Secondary Education Institutions”
“When can we see all our 190 primary schools have their student care centres? I hope MOE can ramp up the capacity and the number of SCCs to match MSF's rate of ramping up childcare centres. Learning of Regional Languages and Culture”
“Sir, today, more than 90% of Singaporean children aged between five and six are enrolled in a preschool. About 15,000 Singaporean children, or 45% of the cohort, were enrolled in a full-day preschool programme at Kindergarten (K)2 level in 2016. When these 15,000 children transit from full day preschool to Primary 1 this year, many would require after school care service as well. From the answer to a Parliamentary Question I filed last year to MOE, around 7,800 Primary 1 students are enrolled in Student Care Centres (SCCs) registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Among these students, 4,800 are enrolled in school-based SCCs whilst the rest are enrolled in community-based SCCs. This means that only slightly more than half of the 15,000 students who were previously in full day preschool at K2 managed to get a place in an after-school care centre. Although MOE has increased the number of school-based SCCs from less than 50 five years ago to 147 today, the overall enrolment has risen from 3,000 to more than 18,000. This is obviously still insufficient. I also note that MOE will continue to expand the places in each school-based SCC and expand the number of schools with SCCs. Many families with both working parents, put their children in full day kindergarten. When the child enrols in a primary school, after-school care services are essential for this group. There seems to be a huge mismatch between childcare and after-school care services. Can the Government do more to make sure that we have an accurate projection of the demand for after-school care services in each estate by the number of children in full-day kindergarten? Most parents prefer to put their children in SCCs that are in the same primary school as the children.”
“Sir, I and many Members of this House have spoken on the importance of early childhood education on the overall development of our children previously. We have appealed to the Government to put more resources to enhance early childhood education as it is an important social leveller. I have also proposed to the Government to build larger early childhood education centres similar to our primary schools instead of tucking them in void decks and to co-locate them with the primary schools as well. I am glad that the Government has responded by opening five larger capacity preschool childcare centres in each district and opened a kindergarten that is co-located within a primary school, that is, North Oaks Primary School in my division. Larger preschools will have economies of scale and also create better career prospects for our early childhood educators. Currently, there are 15 MOE-run kindergartens and there are 169 run by partner operators. What are the plans in place to expand the MOE network of early childhood education centres? We should continue to invest in the training of early childhood educators and the pedagogy. How can we attract and encourage more talents into this very important sector? I suggest MOE take the lead to ensure that our preschool educators are remunerated attractively and have a programme in place to retain the top talented educators in the public sector, instead of them being poached by the private tuition sector. We are dealing with the foundation years which are very important for our students and for our future. Singapore Overseas Schools”
“Sir, last year the Ministry said it would review the current affiliation priority in secondary school when it announced changes to the PSLE scoring system. Many parents are anxious to know if the current advantage given to affiliated pupils would be reduced. The entry scores for affiliated and non-affiliated pupils at some schools can vary by as much as 40 points. For example, in last year's exercise for entry into the Convent for the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) Secondary (Toa Payoh), affiliated pupils need only a T-score of 200 to get into the Express stream while non-affiliated pupils must score at least 247 and above to get a place in Express stream. Some had questioned whether giving affiliated pupils a 30- to 40-point advantage under the current system was too much. I suggest MOE gradually do away with the current affiliation priority scheme so that all students can be more accurately placed in schools that best suit them according to their abilities. Perhaps, the Minister can give an update on the review? Affiliation and Equal Opportunities”
“How can we provide more help for these parents to cope with these challenges? Infantcare and Childcare”
“Some do this because there is no vacancy in centres within a convenient location. Others do it because it is almost impossible to coordinate their work schedule with the centre's hours. Perhaps, the child has underlying conditions that make it difficult for him or her to spend long hours outside the home with a large group of children. We cannot dismiss the concerns of this group of parents. How can we help them find adequately-trained caregivers to care for the child in the comfort of a home? Can we tap on SkillsFuture Credit to attend such courses for the residents? The Government has already implemented a slew of measures to encourage flexible working hours that are meant for catering to a family-friendly model. While the public sector may have dutifully abided by these measures, not all private companies will follow suit. In fact, some consider it a hassle and are unable to cope with what they perceive as a manpower shortage. In fact, flexible work hours do not necessarily have anything to do with reducing working hours. It is to do with changing our work habits to improve productivity and work-life balance. What can be done to transform the employers' mindset and get more employers from the private sector on board? And while we are on the subject of working hours, some childcare centres only operate the same hours as a typical office employee's working hours. Many employees are unable to knock off on the dot, and even so, they cannot fully teleport themselves to the centre to pick up their child on time.”
“Mdm Chairman, with concerns of a difficult economy and job market, there will certainly be a negative impact on our population growth. It has become more pressing than ever, now that we are tackling the existing issues that are putting Singaporeans off raising children. Citing high costs of living and personal ambitions, there are more mothers who wish that they are able to continue their careers with minimal disruption. More women are returning to the workforce and, with the higher retirement age, even grandparents are giving up babysitting duties for jobs. All this spells good for our labour force, but it gives rise to the pressing need to build up our caregiving support system for infants and young children, allowing young parents to have a safe haven to deposit their children while they focus on bringing the bread home. The Government has done a lot to make childcare services more accessible for all parents. But there is always room for improvement. Lack of vacancies in some of the more populated estates is a common grouse. Sometimes, this is because of the mismatch between demand and supply. I have had parents coming to say that they have had to put their children on year-long waiting lists, sometimes even longer. Moreover, lately, some childcare centres have been in the headlines for improper handling of their young charges, and this can create a misconception about the state of childcare services in Singapore. I would like to ask the Government what are the plans to improve the availability and to ensure the quality of childcare support for our young parents. How does the Ministry gauge the demand before it begins building these childcare centres? On the other hand, some parents prefer to keep their young children at home for a variety of reasons.”
“We should explore student exchange programmes with Grandes Écoles in France, and also many other design and engineering institutions in Germany and Scandinavian universities which are also known for their innovation. In the INSEAD Global Innovation Index 2016, Switzerland was ranked first, Sweden was ranked second, the UK third, with the US fourth, Finland fifth and Singapore sixth. Currently, many university courses offer exchange programmes, but these programmes are often short term, with a focus on academics. I hope partnerships can be developed with the aim of helping students establish a longer-term residence and also obtaining residency in terms of internship programmes and job opportunities in their host country. Mr Deputy Speaker, the Budget reveals the Government's foresight and meticulous planning for the future. With these measures to guide us, I am confident that we can look forward to a brighter, cleaner, greener and more sustainable future. I support the Budget.”
“There is a lot of scope and potential for us now to tap on solar energy as the cost of solar panels has dropped over the years. Another positive outcome of implementing the carbon tax would be that it serves as a motivation for companies and businesses to innovate with cleaner, greener energy sources. I hope the Government can use the revenue collected under this carbon tax to help businesses with this endeavour and also promote green innovation. I think solar technology is something that we should tap on a larger scale. May I ask what is the Government doing to encourage and incentivise commercial, domestic and the public sector to harness the potential source of renewable energy so as to lower our carbon footprint? We should also look at how to help homeowners to use solar energy. And Town Councils should look at this as a source of energy for the future. My last point is learning from overseas globalisation. In a globalised society, it is important to be exposed to foreign countries, whether it is culture, education system, the job market and so forth. I note that the Budget presents a slew of measures under the Global Innovation Alliance to help businesses and employees to operate overseas. One such measure is helping students in Singapore universities getting work experience in foreign startups. I would like to propose to the Government to help local universities to establish tie-ups with universities in Europe. This is a region with huge cultural diversity. They are also accomplished in many important sectors, including technology, finance, medicine, the arts and so on.”
“Singapore ranks 123rd in emissions intensity out of 142 countries worldwide, but promised that the country will "continue to do more", to quote the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement. The introduction of a carbon tax in 2019 is a good move to stay in step with international standards on environmental conservation. We pledged to reduce emission intensity by 36% from 2005 levels by 2030 and stabilise emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030. It is still in the early days, but I would like to know what is the Government's take on how challenging it will be to meet this goal. I note that to encourage car buyers to switch to cleaner and environmentally-friendly models, the current Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS) will be replaced. There will be a new Vehicular Emissions Scheme. The new scheme considers four other pollutants, on top of carbon dioxide, so as to account more holistically for the health and environmental impact of vehicular emissions. The Budget states that the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme will run for two years, starting from 1 January next year and will be reviewed before it expires. In the interim, CEVS will be extended till 31 December this year. How bad are we performing or how good are we performing, in terms of the area of carbon emissions? How much more carbon have we emitted over the past two decades? Taking into account that we are a very small country with very limited potential to tap on renewable energy, what can we do to reduce our carbon emission? Is the Government considering the introduction of a Climate Bill in tackling this carbon tax? I feel that we should spend more resources to explore the use of solar energy.”
“Not just that, but many of the diesel vehicles are used for transporting and delivering goods, from wholesalers to retailers, from retailers to consumers, especially for online purchases as well. These are diesel vans that are used for various purposes, as handymen also use them for delivery for plumbing services, carpentry and electrical services, even delivery of liquified petroleum gas to homes and eateries. I am worried that we may see an uptick in their fees when they are called upon now to do minor repairs for our households. The knock-on effect would thus be across the board. I know the Budget is giving help to businesses to adjust by providing commercial diesel vehicles with a 100% road tax rebate for one year, and a partial road tax rebate for another two years. There is an additional cash rebate for operators for diesel buses ferrying school children. We should reduce the road tax for diesel vehicles further to be on par with petrol vehicles. What will the Government be doing to ensure that all these rebates will be filtered down to the consumers? Taken together, may I ask the Finance Minister what is the predicted inflationary effect of both the water price increase as well as the diesel duty implementation on the Singapore economy in the near and medium term? Next, carbon tax. I am deeply concerned about the impending carbon tax that has just been announced for 2019 which the Finance Minister mentioned. Although the proposed tax will generally apply upstream on power stations and other large direct emitters, it will have a knock-on effect on all electric users, both domestic and commercial. We signed the Paris Agreement on climate change at the United Nations last April and affirmed our support and commitment to the Agreement.”
“Each subsequent tier then commands a higher charge on excessive water usage that applies to luxuries like maintaining large gardens or swimming pools. China is a country with a multiple-tiered water pricing system. Like us, their price of water is state controlled. Water prices are low by international standards, but there is a problem for them, because their water per capita availability is low. By raising water prices, the authorities feared would intensify the income inequality, as water consumption represents a higher share of income for low-income households. The local governments experimented with multiple-tiered pricing systems for urban households and industrial users, charging higher prices for higher water consumption. And these reforms have found to achieve their desired outcomes and, as such, from 2015, all localities started to adopt the new water pricing system for China. However, the concern with a tiered water pricing system may not be of much help to low-income households with many, many family members. Certainly, no system is perfect. So, I hope the Government is continuously exploring ways to keep the cost of water affordable for low-income families, while discouraging excessive use of water. Next is the diesel tax. This is another inflationary impact on the people and on businesses as a whole. There are about 185,000 Singapore-registered diesel vehicles on the roads. They account for about 20% of the vehicle population in 2015. Most are trucks, vans and commercial vehicles, rather than passenger cars. What can we expect? Another round of price increases by transport operators, including school bus transport for school children? Many businesses use their vehicles to transport workers and equipment to and from worksites.”
“In fact, the rise in water price could have also pulled the rug from under the Town Council, as they would be facing higher operating cost now arising from the revision of the price of water. The inflationary effect may well negate the various rebates and other schemes that were spelt out in the Budget. I know it is a tough call for the Finance Minister but I hope at least there will be some explanation given to address the public concerns. The commonly heard complaint from residents is that the rebates are sort of one-off on a year-to-year basis, but the effects of the increase are long term and would stay long after the rebates have expired. But many had ignored the fact that the Minister had also announced a permanent increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST) Voucher and U-Save on top of the one-off GST Voucher special payment. May I ask if the price revision could have been considered to phase out in a longer period, such as increasing at 10% per year over the next three years? Or why not adopt an even more progressive water tariff to tax those with higher water consumption? Major cities in many countries, such as the US, France, Australia and China, have adopted the use of multiple-tiered water pricing, alternatively known as progressive water tariffs, or increasing the block tariffs. According to a research study by Stanford University's Water in the West Programme, tiered water pricing is a critical tool in incentivising water conservation. Under such a pricing system, the first block with the lowest pricing usually corresponds with the amount of water that a typical household requires for basic needs, such as bathing, domestic cleaning and cooking.”
“And thanks to public education efforts, in fact, many domestic households, on the whole, are quite streetwise with their water usage. In fact, the water usage trend has been trending downwards in terms of water usage per capita. However, based on feedback from my residents, many are still concerned that water consumption cost will make up a significant portion of their monthly expenditure with this increase. So, I hope the Government would dismiss that notion. Water, like fuel, is something which has a very strong knock-on impact on the community as a whole. We need water to drink, prepare food, cook and wash, sanitation, and it applies to all, including eateries and school canteen operators, not to mention hotels. We need water to maintain a certain standard of cleanliness in public areas, homes, hospitals and buildings, and in keeping our public transport vehicles clean. We need water for factory production processes and a whole gamut of various industrial activities that we see in our industrial parks. I dread to think about how this will impact the cost of living. This year, we started off by having to cope with the rise in electricity tariffs by an average of 5.7% or 1.07 cents per kilowatt hour for the period of January-March, compared to the previous quarter, as announced by power provider SP Services on 30 December 2016. This was due to the higher cost of natural gas for electricity generation, which increased by 10.6% compared to the previous quarter. The big question is, so, why does there seem to be such an urgency to raise the water price after 17 years? Why was the water price not raised in between? Why wait until 17 years later, especially now when Town Councils have already revised their service and conservancy charges on households?”
“These are important issues because environmental issues concern sustainability and our living standards in the long run. However, we should look at how, as we improve our environment, not to impose too much of a burden on our people. I would like to focus on three things in this particular Budget. First is the inflationary impact of the water as well as the diesel tax. Second is the future carbon tax which the Finance Minister mentioned. Third is about globalisation of our students as well as our workers. First, the inflationary impact of the water and diesel tax. Last week, as I was driving, I was listening to some of the talk shows talking about this water tax increase. Of course, there was a lot of public unhappiness about this water increase. Quite surprisingly, we heard one academic from one of the IHLs mentioning that the increase should be much more, that it should be more than 30%, that it should be 100%, to deliver a shock effect so that people will start to save water. I hope that is not the intent of the Government to deliver a shock effect. In fact, I think the Members of both sides of the House have helped to deliver this shock to everybody. And the Government is scrambling now trying to relieve this shock from everybody, to say that the impact is not that bad in the first place. I would like to ask the Government whether before they considered this 30% hike in the water price over the next two years, particularly for the man-on-the-street, did they do an impact study as to what is the real impact on the economy. For domestic households, what percentage of their monthly utility bills does water consumption constitute on average?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I concur with our hon Member Ms Chia Yong Yong and what she just mentioned about paradigm shift and mindset change. And the mindset change should not just be about the Civil Service. It should extend to all private sectors and all Singaporeans. If all Singaporeans have the mindset to do the best they can for themselves, the country, their families, I think Singapore will continue to be a shining red dot for many more centuries to come. Mr Deputy Speaker, let me just thank the Finance Minister for putting up this Budget at a time when there are so many unforeseen circumstances amidst this changing political landscape globally. Many Singaporeans had waited with much anticipation for this year's Budget because some feared that there would be austerity measures, while others were hopeful for goodies that can be given for this Budget. I stared long and hard at this Budget after the Finance Minister delivered this Budget last week. In fact, this is one Budget that I categorise as a caring Budget − a three "care" Budget - it cares for the future, it cares for the people and it cares for the environment. I am happy to note that this Budget has a very strong focus on business, especially on all the recommendations by CFE. It is about jobs, long-term viability and the growth of the economy. Of course, there is also much social support to help the needy to tide over, as they are the most vulnerable group during these difficult times. But this is not the first time that this Government has been doing it. This Government has been doing it all along. Last of all, I am very happy to note that this Budget has much more for the environment this time round, compared to the last two years.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to clarify with the Minister regarding the unemployment rates. On the ground, many of us have seen more residents coming forward to the Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) seeking help, especially for those who are above 40 years old. If they lose their jobs, it is very hard for them to find a job. Even if they find a job, usually the pay is very much lower than what they had previously. So, there is also this issue about underemployment. Sometimes, after a while, they have no choice but to take up any employment that they can find. I mean they are not choosy but, on the other hand, they do have a family to feed. Our hearts are with them and we want to know how we can help them further. The other question I want to ask the Minister is regarding the Place and Train and all the placement programmes. We have written letters to the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and all the agencies, including e2i, to help them. What is the current success rate? When we send a resident over, that is the success rate? How do you track the success rate of e2i as well as WDA in these placement programmes? After they have placed the residents, do you continue to follow up to make sure that there is continued employment? I have also heard from my residents complaining to me that some employers take them in for a while, just to take advantage of the Government's scheme. Within three months, they say "You are not suitable." The residents are being fired again, and they are back to square one.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of State, with 5% attrition or resignation rate after the bond ends, whether in analysing all these cases, is there any way that we can improve our selection process to make sure that at least the candidates that we choose to be admitted to this career are the ones that will truly stay on. Are there any ways, after you have analysed data from those who are leaving at the end of five years, whether we can improve the selection process?”
“Mdm Speaker, let me thank the Minister for his update on this. I would like to ask the Minister: how does the Ministry evaluate the request from the multinational coalition in terms of the involvement? Currently, we have been mainly involved in support services and, now, medical as well as informatics. If one day Singapore were to be asked to contribute directly to the strike force, either through the Air Force or through ground forces, what would the Ministry's response be?”
“Let me thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. Since the Senior Minister of State mentioned that they have been reviewing the companies as well as the names that have appeared in the Panama Papers, may I ask, in the current review, whether there are any suspicious activities. Is anybody under investigation? Is it all cleared or are they still under investigation?”
“Madam, I thank the Minister of State for the answer. With the Rio Olympics next month, we are a bit concerned whether the Zika virus will be brought back to the region by those who are participating in the Olympics or just going to attend the Olympics. What control measures do we now have to protect our athletes, as well as to make sure that when they come back, whether they will be screened to see if they have the Zika virus? My concern is that we do have the vector here. Once the Zika virus sets root in Singapore, it is very hard to get rid Page: 31 of it. The other supplementary question is whether there is any regional platform, for example, coordinating with our Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts, on the battle against Zika. Once it gets into the region, Singapore will not be spared.”
“Let me thank the Minister for his reply. Frequently, during block visits or even during coffeeshop walks itself, I always hear residents complaining to me that certain units may have been bought by certain residents. When they quote Permanent Residents who bought the units, but never stayed in the unit which has been rented off from day one, I am sure there have been some stories like that coming in, sort of complaints. How many of these cases have come to the Ministry of National Development (MND), and how many of them have been convicted, or, if they are caught, what are the consequences for these owners who flout this MOP ruling?”
“Madam, let me thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. I would like to ask one supplementary question regarding those who are rejected based on their failing the means test. What are the avenues for appeal, and can they appeal to Legal Aid for help and whether there are any other avenues that they can go to?”
“Yes, Mdm Chair. We have 47 cuts for MCCY and we have 31 Members who spoke passionately. Let me, on behalf of my Government Parliamentary Committee as well as the Members who spoke, thank Minister Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, as well as Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng for all their replies, as well as to thank all the men and women in MCCY and all the Statutory Boards for working hard to build a national identity. May I beg leave to withdraw my amendment? [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] Page: 53 [(proc text) The sum of $1,448,570,300 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $563,424,000 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)] Page: 54”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. I have two clarifications for the Minister. First, on Our Singapore Fund, the $25 million that was set aside for ground-up initiatives, is there a duration to the sum? When will it end? I hope that the Ministry can roll out more publicity materials as well as how to encourage more people from a more diverse walk of life to apply for Our Singapore Fund. The second clarification is on our art scene in terms of National Gallery and museum visits. The Minister mentioned that there are four million visits to our museums and 700,000 visits now to the National Gallery. I would like to know, out of this four million and 700,000, how many are locals and how many are foreigners? Is there going to be a programme in place, like what we are going to do with OBS? Are we going to have a programme with MOE to get all students to have a chance to visit our museums and galleries somewhere within the 12 years of their formal education?”
“Supporting Traditional Arts Raising the level of appreciation of our traditional arts can help Singaporeans better understand our roots, promote cross-cultural understanding and help make sense of "What does it mean to be Singaporean?" How can MCCY help more young Singaporeans to be exposed to and learn to appreciate traditional arts in schools and forge cross-cultural understanding? To support and promote Singapore traditional arts, we need to have greater focus or attention on the development of artistic and management capabilities, as well as to cultivate new audiences across different genres of traditional arts. We need to identify the training needs of the traditional arts scene, showcase homegrown talents, encourage active cultural and knowledge exchange and provide networking opportunities among artists, both locally and regionally. These initiatives will complement the existing total range of support provided for traditional arts groups, ranging from grants and arts house subsidies, to the national competitions to identify and nurture young talents in traditional arts and music. Can the Minister give an update on how the National Arts Council's (NAC's) traditional arts plan has helped to nurture and deepen traditional arts practice in Singapore and what are the plans ahead? In 2015, the Government announced that it would put some $25 million in funding for traditional arts over the next five years. These funds are used to foster audiences both at home and abroad and to improve research and documentation of traditional Asian art forms. Where are we now in promoting traditional arts in Singapore today? Can the Minister give the House an update on the progress? Interpreting Singapore's History”
“Chairman, in the past decade, we have seen many commendable infrastructure developments to boost our arts and culture scene for Singapore. We have over 40 galleries. There is an almost inexhaustible number of arts venues listed in the Singapore Art Gallery Guide. There are also more than 20 heritage centres and museums about history and culture. Our newly revamped museums with state-of-the-art technology and our National Gallery opened last year were all welcomed. These cultural infrastructures were significant investments by our Government. However, they need to be complemented and supported by programmes that can engage, enhance and excite our public. Otherwise, they will remain nothing more than just impressive infrastructures. I am not sure if we are getting the support from the ground that we are targeting. Are we getting more people involved and engaged in arts and culture or have we hit a plateau? But how do we measure the amount of arts activities in Singapore? How do we currently stand, compared to five years ago, for instance? And how do we stand, compared to other countries? Artnet, for example, has listed Oslo, Brussels and Mexico City as the best cities for the modern-day artist. What can we learn from these artistic countries to close the gap and make arts more accessible and pleasurable for Singaporeans? What does the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) see as the next step, in our efforts to develop our city centre as a lively arts and cultural belt that is distinctively Singaporean, and that Singaporeans can be proud of and enjoy?”
“Our Singapore Fund will support projects that build the spirit of caring and resilience, nurture our can-do spirit and promote unity and our sense of being Singaporean. The total fund size will be up to $25 million and will be set up by the second half of this year. Can the Minister shed more light and details on this new fund? Is this a continuation of the SG50 Celebratory Fund? What valuable lessons have we learnt from the SG50 Celebratory Fund that we can apply to Our Singapore Fund? Will the Government increase the fund size if there is an overwhelming demand? I am confident that the Our Singapore Fund will be welcome and well-utilised. I would like to quote Minister Heng Swee Keat in an interview that was published in December last year, "I hope that we will build on the Singapore spirit, stay united and... build an even more endearing home for every Singaporean." That summarises and captures the essence of Our Singapore Fund. Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Inspiring a Knowledgeable and Adaptable Malay/Muslim Community”
“It is a ground-up movement that celebrated the stories and values of Singaporeans surrounding local home-cooked food by building a community which shares, cooks and appreciates local home-cooked food. There was a series of food carnivals organised to bring people together. There is another project called "jiakSimi.sg", a website documenting recipes of top 50 local hawker dishes from the major races in Singapore, accompanied by a short write-up on each dish's origin, history and where we can find them. These celebrations led Singaporeans to appreciate the Pioneer Generation and the country's past and to reflect on how Singapore overcame the odds. The variety of activities touched the hearts of many and it helped to bring a sense of belonging and bonding to everyone. People were encouraged to come together and build the future together, to share their memories of the past and contribute ideas on what future they want. Many other pieces of feedback were given during dialogue sessions, young people shared their aspirations and these were subsequently captured in The Future of Us exhibition. Indeed, one important discussion dwelt on the need to build on the trust and confidence among different races in the light of challenges posed by religious extremists. The important point is: now that we have aroused so many good vibes, elicited so much feedback, thoughts and ideas, where do we go from here? How do we make good use of the goodwill and gems arising from the SG50 celebrations so that we do not miss out on the opportunities to grow and nurture them to take us into the next 50 years? I am glad and excited on the proposed Our Singapore Fund that was announced in this year's Budget.”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Last year, we witnessed the year-long SG50 celebrations which were held to mark the 50th anniversary of our Independence. More than 500 initiatives were organised to celebrate Singapore's 50th year of Independence, including the biggest National Day Parade and the Future of Us exhibition. What is heartening is that about 400 of the initiatives were started by ordinary Singaporeans. They were all ground-up. The SG50 celebration fund disbursed about $10 million to organisers of these ground-up projects. Each project was evaluated on its ability to raise awareness of our Singaporean identity, our sense of belonging to Singapore, outreach to engage the community; as well as to show potential in successful completion and execution according to plan. The ground-up initiatives saw many new innovative projects that rallied Singaporeans together and touched our hearts. There were many short films and documentaries produced by individuals and groups. One such documentary is "And So They Say", a documentary project showcasing an honest narrative on life's construct from interviews with 25 seniors, allowing an intimate glimpse into the legacy of Singapore's Pioneer Generation. Another is "Singapore, My Home". It is an effort to foster a sense of community and belonging. It features a video collection of stories from Singaporeans and people who have come to call Singapore home. With food being a favourite Singaporean past-time, there were also projects with a food theme, such as #SgEatWithUs.”
“Did the Government do any survey to find out why more couples decided to have children last year? Encouraging Families to have Children”
“Mdm Chair, one of the biggest challenges that Singapore will continue to face in the coming years is that of maintaining our population to prevent our population from shrinking. How do we grow our population so that there will always be the numbers to ensure that our Singapore identity, culture and beliefs form the nucleus of the next generation? Low birth rate is not a problem unique to Singapore alone. Many other developed countries, too, are confronted with this issue. Giving various cash incentives, or baby bonuses, or extended parental leave for parents may help somehow. But we still need more babies to replace ourselves. Thanks to the SG50 "rah rah" which brought on a feel-good factor, coupled with enhanced parental perks, 2015 ended with at least 33,793 new babies – the highest in 13 years! This even exceeded the 33,238 births in 2012, the auspicious Year of the Dragon. As a parent of three growing up children, I know what it is like starting a family and to juggle this responsibility with a career. To encourage young married couples to start a family, we need to adopt a holistic approach with coordinated efforts by a multi-Ministry task force. 4.45 pm Families with both parents working need caregiver assistance to help look after their children. Bringing up a child needs a lot of support and there are some that are fortunate who they can turn to their parents for help. But many do not have that luxury. I urge the Government to do more to assist young parents in childcare, especially in the first six years after birth. Can the Minister update the House on what is our Government's strategy towards creating a favourable environment for Singaporeans to start families and raise children? Is the offer of monetary incentives the best option?”