Lina Chiam
Singapore
“But we must take into consideration the effects of real-time information. These days, both passengers and drivers have access to applications that can work out the balance between demand and supply. The most efficient way to match demand and supply in the short term is by allowing prices to surge.”
“The lapses in the management of tenancy contracts, procurement and engagement of external operators by PA form one such example. Moving forward, conducting regular training is something that the Ministry ought to be looking into to ensure procurement officers in public agencies understand procurement best practices.”
“An example would be the case that happened in May 2013. An employer, Lee Yew Nam, had caused public outrage last May after he was shown allegedly slapping his worker in an online video in his office. It was only after another colleague uploaded this video that MOM took notice.”
“One suggestion is to require companies or researchers to post all raw data and results to the Government website, even if the treatment being tested is never approved or if they cannot make it for scientific publishing. This promotes more vigorous scrutiny from MOH should there be any wilful suppression.”
“To what extent will national funds be committed in this multilateral development bank and will Parliament have the powers to check on this creature later on? Mdm Speaker, AIIB may boost our country's stand as a capital banking hub in Asia and, of course, our GDP growth.”
“For the safety of drivers and passengers, I would suggest the recommendation to legislate technology companies operating taxi booking apps to compulsorily provide taxis with a strong, adjustable holder and handphone solely dedicated for use on the apps system only.”
The complete record
Every one of 275 lines we hold for Lina Chiam, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 6.
“Is this still the working model for a new Singapore in the 2020s? 5.34 pm Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Madam, I stand in support of this Bill. This Fund is important and we must ensure its sustainability. Just a few clarifications to make. Firstly, I note the use of the CADF for infrastructure, physical works and planned developments. Can I ask how about ad hoc interventions which need to be put in place when certain needs arise and changes that need to be implemented quickly, for example, in handling situations with emerging infectious diseases, which can come about very suddenly Page: 86 and very quickly? We have seen some of these in the event of SARS and MERS-coronavirus not too long ago. There may, indeed, be some physical changes which need to be implemented quickly. Can these funds be mobilised or are there other sources of funding or a contingency budget that Changi Airport can tap on for these? Secondly, under section 25B, whereby it is stated that the funds can be used "for making grants or giving loans to others for any purpose referred to above", can I seek clarification on this? What kind of loans, in particular, and who does the word "others" refer to? In conclusion, Madam, Changi Airport has been a Singapore icon. Indeed, we must continue to keep up, upgrade, maintain, transform and retransform it, as relevant. With that, I support the Bill.”
“Mdm Speaker, CAAS has set up the Changi Airport Development Fund which is expected to receive an initial injection of $5 billion for the development of Terminal 5. It was reported sometime in November 2013 that Changi Airport Terminal 4 (T4) will be a test-bed for new concepts and technologies for the coming Terminal 5 and the three existing terminals. Currently, Terminals 2 and 3 have not even reached full capacity. In view of this, would it be prudent for the Government to do more feasibility studies, rather than just projections alone, before embarking on another major airport development, that is, Terminal 5? I am generally against the development of independent funds. Surely, there are other avenues to fund development of the infrastructure, such as the Ministry of Finance's (MOF's) Reinvestment Fund System. An officer in CAAS has access to the Reinvestment Fund System and can put up papers to MOF requesting development funding. After all, we have already invested as much in the Airport without the use of an independent fund. Are the Directors-General in CAAS worried about the amount of paper work for submitting multiple reinvestment funds? I see no good reason why we need a new flow of funds to construct infrastructure, such as runways and hangars. Will this eventually be a black box in the future? How can we ensure that future Members of Parliament remember this fund and can check out this fund? Allow me to remind hon Members that public money has funded and will continue funding the growth of the airport through the agency, CAAS. But the assets are then transferred to private hands, such as Changi Airport Group (CAG), without strong recourse. Can CAAS or MOT confiscate CAG's airport assets when the Government wants to?”
“But we must take into consideration the effects of real-time information. These days, both passengers and drivers have access to applications that can work out the balance between demand and supply. The most efficient way to match demand and supply in the short term is by allowing prices to surge. If we do not create a system that facilitates the change in price, we will create a black market. This is a bigger concern. Surge pricing is happening for Uber around the world. The Government's role should not be to micromanage the market. I think we need to think about expanding the fleet of taxis in Singapore. The common argument is that we have sufficient taxis and the bottleneck demand can never be met. Let the data do the talking. Conduct a study and compare the ratios of taxis per citizen. Let us adopt a lighter touch towards regulations. Finally, SPP would like to thank Mr Lui Tuck Yew for the hard work he has done on a very challenging portfolio as Minister for Transport. Mr Chiam and I wish Mr Lui all the best for the future.”
“Mdm Speaker, I welcome the new role of PTC. The new PTC's aim to undertake surveys obtaining public feedback will be an important platform for ensuring a more sustainable public transport system. On this note, I would like to propose that PTC be allowed to explore deregulation of our public transport service. I understand that the bus service is a tool to help control and regulate bus service quality. But there are merits for deregulations: we allow Singaporeans to create the most Page: 80 fitting solutions for their transport problems. Bearing in mind that our public transport infrastructure is waning, we must explore the opportunity to loosen our regulations and to ensure sector capacity can help service our citizens. I can imagine how unquenched public demand for transport can create private bus services. I can also imagine how our bottlenecks during peak hours can be solved. Moreover, it is a global trend for urban residents to solve their own problems related to scarcity of resources by means of sharing excess capacity. I think the trend is called "the sharing economy". Regarding the formation of the Public Transport Fund, my concern is the complexity of the entity. Surely, the public bus and rail operators are already making contributions to the Government. Why then would there be a need for another fund unless the intention is to create a few more jobs for civil servants that have already reached their Current Estimated Potential (CEP)? A new fund will require new expenses and will incur management fees. Unless we can see the incremental value of the fund, it may not be wise to create another financial entity. Surely, we have existing bodies to handle the payments. Lastly, I refer to the pricing policy of cab fares. I understand the rationale for consistency.”
“The lapses in the management of tenancy contracts, procurement and engagement of external operators by PA form one such example. Moving forward, conducting regular training is something that the Ministry ought to be looking into to ensure procurement officers in public agencies understand procurement best practices. Finally, would the Government consider centralising procurement activities in one agency to mitigate the financial risk borne by the Government in view of the fact that poor procurement practices seem to occur persistently within Statutory Boards? Mdm Speaker, when Statutory Boards have poor financial practices, the ones who bear the brunt are ultimately the citizens. While it is important to ensure that such lapses will be significantly reduced in subsequent financial years, it is also important for the relevant Ministry to account for such lapses that had occurred previously.”
“77 million and had waived competition without compelling reasons. Although NParks had cited tight timeline as the main reason for waiving the competition, AGO said it found "no evidence to show that the tight timeline was caused by unforeseen and urgent events". Second, failure to seek the requisite approval from an approving authority, or only doing so after the contractual commitment had been made. In some instances, approving authorities were not provided with complete or correct information on matters crucial for decision making. Third, related-party transactions were carried out. Fourth, poor management in the administration of grants. Many of the financial lapses have been noted by AGO to be a result of administrative expediency taking priority over financial prudence. Mdm Speaker, it is very worrying that these financial lapses highlighted are the same lapses that are still occurring today. Page: 119 This is a Government that prides itself as one that is accountable and able to provide good governance. The recurrence of similar financial regulations points to an inherent systemic weakness and a failure to put into place sufficiently rigorous mechanisms to rectify such irregularities. The Government has a duty to do so, especially when it involves significant sums of public funds. Clearly, we expect that our funds be put to good use, in ways that enhance and not compromise the welfare of the public. Putting in place a regulatory mechanism is not enough. Competent and regular training of officers involved in this process is necessary. From the AGO Report, it appears that there is a serious issue that officers involved are not sufficiently familiar with the relevant financial procedures and compliance process.”
“There is a reason to believe that financial lapses of a similar nature may be found in the other unaudited GROs. The worry, of course, is that the lapses flagged out by AGO are only the tip of the iceberg. Page: 118 Finally, it is clear that internal audits of GROs are severely lacking. It is not the case that PA comes up to be audited annually by AGO. In fact, this is the first time that PA has actually been audited by AGO. While PA has set up a Grassroots Finance Review Committee, the committee is, however, chaired by three grassroots leaders. This calls into question the independence of the Review Committee, and an independent body should be preferred instead. Also, an audit of the other GROs that have not yet been test-checked by AGO should be conducted. Mdm Speaker, I now turn my focus to the lapses of other Statutory Boards. There are two main points to be noted. First, that the irregularities found in PA are also a common occurrence across the various Statutory Boards test-checked by the AGO. Second, such lapses are not one-off incidents, but occur with an alarming regularity year after year. Time and time again, AGO has noted recurring financial lapses over the years. For instance, between FY2010 and FY2014, the following recurring lapses have been observed by AGO. First, lapses in procurement and tender contracts as a result of a failure to adhere to Government procurement rules, principles of transparency and open and fair competition. The relevant Statutory Boards, which were supposed to ensure a competitive bid for tender, had failed to do so and had waived competition on extremely weak grounds. For example, AGO found that National Parks Board (NParks) had awarded three consultancy contracts worth a total of $20.”
“AGO has also noted that PA did not provide any compelling reasons to justify direct purchases. This led AGO to question whether competitive procurement has been compromised in favour of expedient decision-making. Third, lapses in engagement of training operators, including the failure to call for competitive bids involving contracts worth over millions of dollars. Fourth, failures to manage conflict of interest involved in related-party transactions. The less than prudent manner in which funds were handled by GROs has severe implications, the most important being that such lapses have compromised the interests of residents. Mdm Speaker, many of the tenancy procurement and training operators' contracts have been awarded without competitive tenders. But without having to compete with other suppliers, how can residents be sure that the awards of such contracts are, indeed, the ones which can provide the best quality of services and products for the residents? There is, of course, a need to strike a balance between ensuring expedient decision-making and competitive tenders and procurement. However, it appears that too much balance is struck in the face of expedient decision-making. Even in the face of time pressures, procedural compliance still ought to be observed as much as possible. The purpose of procedures is to safeguard and protect the interest of relevant stakeholders – in this case, the residents. Further, procedure compliance provides a measure of transparency and accountability. Another point of concern is how pervasive such poor financial accounting and practices are across the 1,800 GROs. AGO has only test-checked a small sample of GROs, a mere 6.5%. Yet, the audit has already turned up significant lapses.”
“It is shocking that PA has continued to do so for such a long time and has failed to provide oversight of GRO's compliance with its Financial Rules, as noted by AGO. AGO itself highlighted that, and I quote, "the common lapses found in most of the GROs test-checked indicate that the GROs may not be familiar with PA's financial rules, even up till today." As a result, the lack of auditing of GRO funds before 2014 casts doubts on whether the funds have been used in accordance with the relevant financial rules during these years. In order to dispel such doubts, the Ministry overseeing PA needs to disclose the financial statements and records of the GROs and have them audited. While PA has started to provide the financial statements for FY2014, this is clearly belated and was what an accountable and responsible body should have done 10 years ago, and has the obligation to continue to do. Turning to the AGO report, AGO had noted many financial irregularities and lapses committed by PA. Several notable irregularities include: First, lapses in management of tenancy contracts and procurement. For example, 10 out of the 35 CCMCs test-checked did not obtain relevant approvals for the direct award of Page: 117 13 tenancy contracts totalling $3.67million without competition. According to AGO, a direct award of tenancy contracts without any competition can only be waived under exceptional circumstances. Second, common lapses in procurement: out of the nine GROs that were test-checked, five GROs had awarded contracts without obtaining approvals from the relevant authorities and the approval was backdated after the contract was awarded. Four of these GROs did not even seek approval when making 10 direct purchases from suppliers.”
“Mdm Speaker, it is noteworthy that this is the first time that AGO has, in fact, conducted an audit on PA and the GROs under its umbrella. What is, perhaps, more appalling is that it is only the second time, since Financial Year (FY) 2000/2001 that the GROs have had their Page: 116 financial statements audited. Although PA has its own independent auditor engaged for annual audits, PA has, however, failed to provide the financial statements of related GROs for audit for more than 10 years. The omissions have led the PA's own auditors to issue adverse opinions in FY2006 to FY2013. PA has previously responded to this adverse opinion on the basis that, and I quote, "The auditors had given an adverse opinion on the financial statements of PA for one reason: not including the accounts of the grassroots organisations in the PA accounts." However, this reply understates the significance of the failure to provide the necessary financial statements. As the PA's auditors noted in issuing the adverse opinion, the failure to provide GRO's financial statements meant that the PA's financial statements reflected in the annual audit do not accurately represent the financial state of affairs of the Association between the FY2006 and FY2013. It was only in FY2013/2014 that PA has provided the financial statements of the GROs to their own auditors. PA is expected to be responsible and accountable to its citizens as to how the taxpayer funds have been used by GROs. Citizens deserve to know the financial health of the GROs, not just moving forward, but also of the past 10 years. In any case, the failure to provide the GROs' financial statements for audit for more than 10 years is completely unacceptable.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak on this Adjournment Motion. I will take this opportunity to speak on the Auditor-General's Office (AGO)'s report that was released in July, its attendant issues and implications, as well as to provide some alternatives as to how this situation can be improved. Mdm Speaker, given the gravity of the financial lapses of Statutory Boards flagged by the AGO's report, the complete silence of the respective Ministries and Ministers beyond mere platitudes is of serious concern to the public. The most fundamental issue at hand is the lack of accountability by respective Ministries in exercising supervision over how taxpayers' monies have been used and misused. This calls into question the competency of the respective Ministry, and the soundness of current financial mechanisms and practices to prevent such lapses. Equally, questions arise as to whether the interests of the public have been compromised as a result of such financial lapses that involved up to millions of dollars. A deeper scrutiny of the related issues is, therefore, necessary and critically lacking. I begin, first, with the lapses of the People's Association (PA). The interwoven role of PA with the daily lives of citizens might explain why much attention has been focused on its lapses. For one, the role of the grassroots organisations (GROs) has been so closely integrated into the daily lives of citizens. Many citizens, for example, have attended events and lessons organised by the GROs at the community centres. It also signifies the importance with which citizens regard the PA and, in turn, the litany of financial lapses by PA deserves close attention.”
“One suggestion is to require companies or researchers to post all raw data and results to the Government website, even if the treatment being tested is never approved or if they cannot make it for scientific publishing. This promotes more vigorous scrutiny from MOH should there be any wilful suppression. When a lot of dollars, time and volunteers are potentially putting themselves in a risk situation, we need to be sure the results of that are finding their way into view of the public.”
“As each individual is unique in his genetic makeup, a human may respond differently to a treatment compared to another human. Rather than impose more "one-size-fits-all" restrictive rules that act as bans on using particular technologies, I suggest using "context-specific" regulations. For example, in this Third Schedule, implanting human neural cells into the brain of living great apes is strictly prohibited. However, if a living great ape research subject has responded favourably to a treatment mixture of human-synthetic nano-neural cells and if a scientist were to have strong evidence that it can help Parkinsons' but is prohibited to do so due to this Schedule, delays caused by bioethical regulations can lead to loss of life because potential treatments are withheld from patients. Reproducibility. Many researchers are under a lot of pressure to produce results and to publish their findings in renowned journals as part of their key performance indicators (KPIs). They may try to alter results to make it for scientific journal publications but when other peer Page: 113 researchers try to follow their protocol in their scientific papers, the results may vary by a lot. In the worst-case scenario, this scientist may publish fraud findings and innocent patients may be misled that they have cancer. It has happened in the USA, in Duke University by a cancer researcher Dr Anil Potti who fabricated his data and misled his patients. This is a clear waste of taxpayers' money and a breach of one's ethical duties. This Bill should address the harmful effects of wilful suppression of negative results and false declaration of results by scientists and list down the penalties as such.”
“Rather than ban them completely in the Third Schedule as Prohibited Human Biomedical Research, I am calling for a moratorium on such research until there is enough evidence to be proven relatively safe by IRBs. Page: 112 The future of biotechnologies is so difficult to accurately predict that policies based on these predictions will not effectively reduce risks. I might like to add that MOH should make it a point to debate this list of prohibited research again every year or so, so that the Act can be up to date with the fast moving research. Nanoethics and Synthetic Ethics and Third Schedule – Prohibited Human Biomedical Research. This Bill does not address nanotechnology and synthetic technologies in human biomedical research. Nanoparticles present possible dangers in human embryo or genome editing. Most of these are due to the high surface to volume ratio, which can make the particles very reactive or catalytic. They are also able to pass through cell membranes in organisms, and their interactions with biological systems are relatively unknown. With 3D Printing, it is also possible to synthesise artificial DNA and genes to be implanted inside an embryo or living adult. Similar to my previous argument on genome editing technologies, I am calling for a moratorium on such research until there is enough evidence to be proven relatively safe by IRB. Alternatively, I would propose nanotechnology and synthetic biology to be put under the Third Schedule first but with a light touch, and to only use this if it may not have a clear benefit to improve one's health. One stumbling block is that it can be difficult to assess the effectiveness of ethics regulations.”
“Perhaps MOH may even task Blood Bank to open up more channels so that people can also opt in to participate in experiments. Germline Embryo Modification and Human-Genome Editing to Eradicate Heritable Diseases. In the Third and Fourth Schedules, this Bill touched on human-animal combination embryos, human stem cells, hybrid embryos, induced pluripotent stem cells but is silent on germline embryo modification and human-genome editing in a human adult. MOH should take a standpoint on Germline Embryo Modification and Human-Genome Editing to eradicate human heritable diseases. But this Bill is silent on this issue. But if MOH fails to address this, it will lead to fear, hesitation and uncertainty among the scientist community and may be open for abuse among researchers and over-zealous kiasu parents if there is no clear legislation on this. Germline Embryo Modification is aimed at preventing the transmission of mitochondrial DNA mutations from mother to child. In the USA and the UK, the trend to use human-genome editing using a technique called CRISPR has put a moral and religious dilemma among their lawmakers as well because their technique has caused unintended mutations and the long-term effects have not been studied. I feel that in Singapore, as a secular nation, we should try to approve research techniques that aim to improve and eliminate heritable diseases, such as diabetes or asthma, regardless of religious objections. It is always human nature to want the best out of ourselves and that includes having a baby who is disease-free. But I am aware of that, since genome editing techniques in embryos and living adults still carry some risks.”
“By then, public confidence will be damaged and MOH will lose credibility. In the USA, there have been many complaints to the US Bioethics Committee about harassment from researchers who stalk and target human research subjects. Mdm Speaker, having this Human Biomedical Research Bill is a first step. But the law is meaningless if it is not effective in its application. I would like to ask the Minister for Health if there are similar plans to set up another Statutory Board to help administer this Human Biomedical Research Act, such as the Casino Regulatory Authority and the Council for Estate Agencies. Having an IRB that is from a Statutory Board with full-time commitment from the staff will ensure true independence from any RI that may unduly influence their deliberation process. Having a new Statutory Board allows research participants a good channel to lodge their complaints should there be a cause for investigation rather than go to an IRB committee Page: 111 in an RI. As new scientific knowledge is discovered every day, having a vigorous centralised training for full-time committed IRB staff will promote a fairer and consistent assessment of each research proposal submitted. In addition, many scientists and principal investigators need a lot of volunteers to conduct their clinical trials and research experiments. By setting up a new Statutory Board, perhaps it will be a good way to provide a one-stop service to allow scientists to publicise their needs for volunteers, just like how the Blood Bank of Singapore promotes their need for blood donation. Even Blood Bank opens their outlets in Woodlands, Jurong on weekends because people do see a need to donate blood.”
“Mdm Speaker, this Bill seeks to control and provide the regulatory framework to scientists as well as research subjects to ensure that the two parties on the opposing side know their boundaries. Page: 110 The Bill is a timely initiative by MOH to address scientific breakthroughs that may have ethical, legal and religious repercussions in controversial unproven research experiments. I would like to touch on a few points presented in this Bill. Under Part 4, sections 15 and 16 on Appointment of IRBs and by Multiple Research Institutions, one critical point to note is that, under this Bill, the IRB is vested with the power to approve its budget, experiment protocol and research programme. Currently, all research institutes have their own accredited IRBs, but that itself is not fully independent. Although this Bill addresses that all IRB members must declare conflicts of interest, one cannot expect an IRB to be fully independent when the IRB member is from the same research institution itself. In addition, since biomedical researchers are a closely-knit community in Singapore, many scientists who are also IRB members may also have relationship ties with other scientists who are submitting their research proposal to IRB. If a scientist gets a red light at one IRB committee, would there still be a scenario if the scientist were to shop around other IRBs in other RIs to green light their research? Having accredited IRBs in each RI may not be a way to promote good corporate governance. With too many research experiments being conducted, it will just take one or two major slip-ups to hurt Singapore's reputation as a healthcare research hub. There could one day be so many complaints by research subjects until MOH has to step in to micro-manage IRBs.”
“An example would be the case that happened in May 2013. An employer, Lee Yew Nam, had caused public outrage last May after he was shown allegedly slapping his worker in an online video in his office. It was only after another colleague uploaded this video that MOM took notice. Upon investigation by reporters, it was Page: 80 also revealed that former interns had abusive encounters with the same boss. This incident should not have happened if other bystanders had just lodged a report to MOM. But many of the former interns replied that they were afraid of losing their jobs, so they kept quiet. This incident highlights why it is important to have a security net for whistle-blowers to come forward without fear of losing their jobs.”
“MOM relies on written proof or some video recording on how these "donations" constitute unauthorised salary deduction to weed out these errant bosses. Some professional, managers, executives and techniques (PMETs) quit without a job because of employers' abusive leadership and a toxic working environment. They are jobless not because their profession is a sunset industry but because they encountered errant employers. I would propose that rather than give "wage subsidies" or ask them to go for retraining at e2i, MOM needs to take a proactive approach to intervene whenever PMETs go to them for help about work-related issues or unreasonable behaviour from their bosses before they are "forced" to quit without a job. Bad bosses should be shamed on Jobs Bank. When salaried workers encounter errant abusive bosses, MOM could only mediate salary disputes because they are figures which are objective. MOM could do more to go beyond the Employment Act to be more assertive in weeding out bad bosses to build that bridge between employees and employers. There are times when the allegations are borne from personal vendettas. But there are also genuine cases. How to determine? Perhaps, we could follow the example of the Police. If a complaint lodged by that person turns out to be untrue or he or she wilfully tries to lodge a false report, the complainant can be charged for lying. This would deter complainants from lodging false reports with MOM, and MOM officers can have the powers to arrest and charge people for wilful lying or false declaration. I would also propose that MOM should have a "witness" protection scheme which allows complainants to seek temporary job employment in the Civil Service should they lose their jobs due to these abusive bosses.”
“Their former employers may have found another replacement and the worker may not be able to get their old job back. They will then be forced to accept whatever terms and conditions offered to them. For example, if one were to view the terms and conditions only on Day 10 and found out that the job has a heavy monetary bond tied to it or has to work on weekends, should the job seeker just quit without a job or just bite the dust? Therefore, I would ask that this Bill remove the 14 days from section 95A and replace it with at least a two-week prior notice to allow workers to browse through their key employment terms. The reason why a two-week prior notice is needed is that most employers require a two-week notice from their resigning employee so that there is some time to find a replacement for their new hire. In other cases, some employers even require a month's prior notification for tendering their resignation. This is a reasonable standpoint which is justifiable for both employee and employer. Next, employers' obligation in relation to payslips. While this new section 96 is one step forward towards accountability, it may not be sufficient enough to stamp out abuses. Some Page: 79 employers use cashback "under-the-table" money to solicit money from their employees. A typical crafty boss would give out written itemised monthly payslips, but to punish employees for any mistake made in the line of work, the boss could, on the pretext, ask the employee to "donate" X number of dollars' fine to charity. At the end of the month, the employee would be coerced to donate quite a sum of money in cash for mistakes he has made. It is hard to report the boss' wrongdoings because of lack of evidence.”
“Mdm Speaker, over the years, we have encountered and read about workers being abused by bosses and employers, especially in the areas of salary arrears, unauthorised salary deductions and handling extra tasks which Page: 78 are not under the terms of their contract. However, because of their status as salaried employees, they are unable to speak out against their errant bosses. Some do not wish to speak out because they are afraid of losing their jobs or their bosses might give them bad references for future potential employers should they find a new job. Mdm Speaker, I am supportive of the purpose of this Bill which seeks to inject some provisions to protect Singaporean workers against common abuses brought about by their errant bosses. However, there are shortcomings that may affect the effectiveness of the proposed amendments to this Bill I and would like to propose the following. Key employment terms. Under section 95A(2), an employer must give each employee a written record of the key employment terms of the employee not later than 14 days after the day that the employee starts employment with the employer. One potential issue relates to the 14-day timeframe. If an employee gets to see the key employment terms only after Day 13, after he has started his employment and finds it very unfavourable, he is being forced to accept such unfavourable conditions stipulated in the contract or to quit without a job. Many employees holding on to current existing jobs would definitely prefer to read through the terms and conditions of their next job before they tender their resignation. What happens if they tender their resignation, only to be coerced to sign an unfavourable contract on Day 10 of their new workplace?”
“To what extent will national funds be committed in this multilateral development bank and will Parliament have the powers to check on this creature later on? Mdm Speaker, AIIB may boost our country's stand as a capital banking hub in Asia and, of course, our GDP growth. But, we need to assess whether it should come at the expense of our values as a nation. Mdm Speaker, I support this timely initiative and the Bill.”
“Mdm Speaker, Article 47 of this Bill on the AIIB provides immunity from search, requisition, confiscation, expropriation or any other form of taking or foreclosure by executive or legislative action. In Parliament this year and last year, we have debated and passed the Monetary Authority Singapore (Amendment) Act and the Accounting Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) Act. These two Acts serve to clamp down on money laundering and anti-terrorism funding. My concern is whether it is appropriate for the Singapore Government to grant such extensive immunity, given the risk of fraudulent activities in financial institutions. Furthermore, this is a relatively new organisation, compared to other international organisations. The Bill further seeks our approval on a waiver of tax. I understand this is also applied to other international organisations, such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank. Are we trying to set a precedent for all future international organisations dealing with money? The proposing Ministry owes Parliament a clearer explanation as to why we need to accord this organisation the same level of privilege. Do they provide employment for Singaporeans, or do they create a stronger financial ecosystem? Specifically, what additional benefits can this Chinese-originated entity provide for Singaporeans? I have concerns that national funds parked in a Chinese entity will become too tightly linked to an economic network. The Chinese economy has grown for decades with the use Page: 64 of loose credit. In public, the concerns cited by America about China has been a lack of clarity about the banks' governance and lack of track record and may fail to live up to the environmental, labour and procurement quality standards.”
“For the safety of drivers and passengers, I would suggest the recommendation to legislate technology companies operating taxi booking apps to compulsorily provide taxis with a strong, adjustable holder and handphone solely dedicated for use on the apps system only. Mdm Speaker, will the third-party booking apps be fazed by this new regulatory framework and stifle competition? In conclusion, there are pros and cons to a free market, and a regulated versus free market argument is one that has long been battled out and it is up to the active players in the market to react in the best interest of drivers and passengers. Could companies that have taken part in the innovation from the ground up face the biggest backlash arising from the new regulations that might have affected their lucrative taxi booking services and heavy investment outlay? 5.59 pm”
“Taxi drivers, especially those who provide limousine services, have been complaining about the presence of limousine driver facilities by third-party taxi booking service's private vehicle drivers. The wordings in the Bill for "taxi" describe a public service vehicle as defined in the Road Traffic Act and, therefore, seem to exclude third-party taxi booking services which facilitate booking of private car drivers by passengers from the Bill, and the necessity of being licensed by LTA. Mdm Speaker, let us not forget that National Trade Unions Congress (NTUC) has close connections with ComfortDelGro and that SMRT is owned 50% by Temasek Holdings. Under section 12(1), there should be an independent body, other than LTA, to vet the required conditions and the issuing of the certificate of registration. The penalty of up to $100,000 imposed on any providers which fail to comply with the conditions set by LTA is a good deterrent to errant operators but, on the flip side, would also Page: 103 deter small start-ups which might have issues dealing with administrative lapses that they might be penalised for. Section 20(1)(b), under regulatory sanctions, the authority without compensation under subsection 2 against a registered provider if the authority is satisfied that the registered provider has failed to provide a third-party booking service that is safe, reliable and efficient, I would like to ask the Minister: how does LTA define a booking service that is safe, reliable and efficient? This will be very intimidating for someone who intends to register as a provider as LTA does not give clear definitions.”
“This is because the booking service provided by each company only extended to taxis under their Page: 102 own company and the methodology of assigning bookings to taxi drivers were inefficient as taxi drivers also are reluctant to pick up immediate bookings. Taxi drivers get penalised if they refuse to ferry commuters to their destinations upon confirmation of booking by their taxi companies. While some taxi drivers "pick and choose passengers" for maximum revenue, many of the taxi drivers "pick and choose" because of the clash of schedule due to the location that the passengers would want to go to. The introduction of third-party booking services and its success in matching taxi drivers to passengers spurred taxi companies to allow passengers to specify where their destination is so as to improve the booking success rate of the taxi booking service that they provide. To the passengers, it is not unfair to them if taxi drivers do not pick up their booking but unfair to them if the taxi drivers on the street refuses to ferry them to their destination and that is already addressed in LTA's regulations. Although it is not apparent in the Bill that third-party taxi booking services would be required not to allow commuters to specify their destinations in their bookings, but LTA is empowered to impose such a condition under clause 17 of the Bill. Mdm Speaker, the Bill has a huge gaping flaw in its writing to deal with the matter it sought to do as it does not seem to address the issue of private taxi drivers, solely vetted by the company itself, working outside the main regulatory framework.”
“Commuters can use their discretion on which taxi services they want to book and pay more if they think they can get better and more efficient services with that particular taxi company provider to secure a booking. For this reason, I would recommend a capping of the booking fee of 10% more than the usual booking fee set for all companies. The intent to protect the interest of the taxi companies seems apparent because the taxi booking apps from the taxi companies are exempted from the Bill, apart from the point that they are exempted from the conditions of providing a taxi-booking service that is "safe, reliable and efficient". When LTA decides to give directions to third-party operators when availability of a taxi is an issue under the proposed Bill, taxi booking services by companies, such as ComfortDelGro and SMRT, are not affected and can still offer the booking service to passengers. From the available information in the public domain, we note that ComfortDelGro reported 35.6 million booking jobs in 2014. SMRT said that 40% of its taxi booking is through mobile app. A common feedback that the general public has on the Bill is the possibility that LTA will state that taxi booking service cannot require commuters to specify their destinations before they can make bookings. This could also impede operations and rule out the possibility completely. The term "picking and choosing passengers" is unfair to taxi drivers, commuters and the public. Before the emergence of third-party booking services, passengers found it hard to book taxis in Singapore despite the availability of free taxis driving around the island.”
“Under the proposed Bill, LTA is to issue licences to service providers and to impose penalties upon the licence based on the term, "a taxi booking service that is safe, reliable and efficient." I bring up the point about Singapore being a free market because what LTA should be concerned about is the safety of passengers who use the taxi booking apps. It should not be concerned with whether or not the company is able to financially sustain itself through its operations or whether taxi booking services are "reliable and efficient". Whether or not the services provided by the third-party taxi services are reliable and efficient should be left to users, such as the taxi-drivers and passengers, to decide. If the taxi-booking apps fail to be reliable and efficient, the users would choose not to use them and the company eventually will back out of the market. Even so, the condition for safety needs to be clearly set out in the Bill of what LTA determines as being "safe"; it seems to be giving LTA an arbitrary right to determine what is safe and not without clear terms of reference to the licence applicants. Page: 101 This Bill seems to pre-qualify licensees on conditions which it sets and it is unfair to the third-party booking providers to prove themselves in order to gain market support and provide service to app users, especially new start-ups, who wish to venture into the market. The Bill also seems to be protecting the interest of existing taxi companies by the conditions set within the Bill. Under one of its terms and conditions for application of the licence, the booking fees charged by third-party taxi booking services cannot exceed the booking fees charged by taxi companies, which runs contrary to a free market system and could impede operations.”
“Mdm Speaker, this Bill seeks to control and provide a regulatory framework for technological companies that operate third-party taxi booking app services for journeys within or partly within Singapore, in anticipation of the impact on the growing transport system in Singapore and ensure the safety of passengers who use third-party taxi booking services. Page: 100 Third-party taxi booking services have increasingly become a popular choice for commuters these days as they offer an alternative taxi booking service which allows commuters to book taxis from the different companies and facilitates a higher probability of booking a taxi. The Bill is a good initiative by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to safeguard commuters' safety and interest using third-party taxi booking services for transportation needs. A case of allegation of rape in Mumbai, India, and several other overcharging cases in Singapore were some of the issues brought about by the use of third-party taxi booking services. This Bill also ensures third-party taxi booking services manage their pool of registered drivers well to provide a safe experience for passengers who choose to use their taxi booking services to provide basic customer support which includes feedback, lost and found services, and to deter overcharging of passengers. After this Bill is passed in Parliament, third-party taxi booking apps will soon have to follow a set of regulations, as outlined by LTA. Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill. However, the Bill has raised some issues which may be of concern. To me, this Bill deviates from the idea of the concept of a free market, where the supply of services by companies is set by market demand.”
“Mdm Speaker, the introduction of this amendment Bill and its enhancements aligns Singapore with the international AML/CFT standards set by FATF. I support and welcome the introduction of more measures to counter money laundering and terrorism. Singapore has a legal system in place to apply targeted financial sanctions regarding terrorism financing. However, there are technical shortcomings which Page: 52 may affect the effectiveness of the proposed amendments to this Act. Financial institutions are first in the front-line to inform MAS of any suspicion but, at the same time, they are put in a difficult position of keeping their clients' confidentiality and meeting their own key performance indicators (KPIs) in the face of intense competition. While the Bill addresses anti-terrorism, I am afraid this Bill may not be effective in keeping financial institutions in check as they are put in a position of holding dual conflicting roles. This Bill also does not address extradition. Cross-border and international white collar crimes make it difficult to catch money laundering criminals. Countries should constructively and effectively execute extradition requests in relation to money laundering and terrorism financing without undue delay.”
“I would recommend to make it a statutory requirement for all HDB officers to wear a recording device before entering the premises, much like Police Officers who wear it nowadays for the prevention of disputes. With the proposed amendments to the Bill under sections 56A and 56B, authorised HDB officers are given Police-like powers to enter HDB flats which it suspects are flouting its rules. They have the power to make audio and video recordings, interrogate suspects and seize evidence. HDB officers are not Police and do not have the necessary training. Is this a clear Page: 73 case of a conflict of interest whereby the HDB is both investigator and judge as to whether the owner has breached its rules? It should be the Police to carry out such investigations. Mdm Speaker, despite the current problems with non-cooperative flat owners and breaches of HDB rules, the proposed amendments give too much power to the HDB with insufficient safeguards. How many residents will be aware of their rights and legal representation on HDB's new sweeping powers?”
“Under section 26B of the Bill, HDB is given sweeping powers when it confers one or more authorised officers and authorised persons to enter a premise with force if necessary to investigate and carry out urgent repairs or works to prevent or remove the danger if there is reasonable grounds to believe there is imminent threat to public safety or public health. Under this Bill, HDB need not compensate the flat owners for any mistakes or intrusion as long as it had acted in good faith and in accordance with its rules. Considering the costs which may be prohibitive for flat owners or occupiers who may have to rectify the forced entry into their premises and also the huge hurdles to take HDB to Court for any wrongdoing, perceived or real, will there be sufficient safeguards for flat owners? Will HDB be held accountable should the emergency not exist and is not caused by a problem in the flat for which forced entry has been obtained? For this, I would like to seek the Minister's clarification on what constitutes a reasonable ground to believe that there is an imminent danger in a premises which affects public safety or public health which warrants urgent repairs; and (a) the definition of urgent repairs; (b) the list of specific examples which warrant urgent "repairs", public safety and public health. HDB employs many estate managers in branch offices who are Arts, Science and Business graduates who may hold dual roles as customer service managers and technical officers and may not have the expertise to inspect the damages. The HDB officer who is assessing the damage to the neighbour should ideally be a trained Building Science graduate to assess if it warrants urgent repairs.”
“Mdm Speaker, the amendments in this Bill affect 87% of our citizens who live in HDB flats in Singapore. I welcome HDB's stance to take a more proactive approach to compel errant and stubborn residents fix the negative externalities of water seepage from ceilings, over-hoarding of goods and erecting permanent features that may cause structural damage to the building. I support the stricter penalties for flat owners who use non-HDB approved contractors which the amendments in this Bill propose and would also suggest that there should be stricter vetting of approved contractors for HDB flat dwellers. Mdm Speaker, it concerns me that the amendments in this Bill may present many ambiguous areas in the law leading to potential abuse. Under clause 3, section 26A, authorised officers or persons may enter any premises at any reasonable time by giving a 24-hour notice to investigate or carry out urgent repairs or works. A 24-hour notice period is too short. It is insufficient in cases where the owner of the flat may be away, hospitalised or living overseas. More effort should be made to contact him or her. The notice should include text messages, phone calls as well as written notices to their place of residence. Could the Minister give us a reason why such a short 24-hour notice period and not a longer period of one week, unless it is a life-threatening case? The Bill Page: 72 should allow flexible time for HDB officers to investigate and carry out urgent repairs or works after office hours and even on weekends until 10 pm to facilitate those who are working late.”
“Legal prosecution must strictly be reserved as the last resort as it may not necessarily resolve the root of the problem Page: 89 and may even escalate problems between neighbours, who, more often than not, will continue to live with each other. If we have the capability to build awe-inspiring structures like Project Jewel and Terminal 5, there is absolutely no doubt that we can build a good foundation for our neighbours by strengthening bonds and norms between neighbours. We have built a beautiful Singapore and now we can also forge stronger bonds between Singaporeans from the ground up. We can, we must, and we will. Mdm Speaker, this Bill leaves much to be desired in the way we deal with disputes between neighbours. I welcome the introduction of this Bill as nothing less than an avenue for the final resort in dealing with community disputes. 3.20 pm”
“At this juncture, I would like to go back to the words of our Minister for Law, who, as I have mentioned earlier, provided a three-step approach to the problem of community disputes. Firstly, strengthening the mediation process, where we get people to mediate their disputes and then get them to abide by the understanding that has been reached. Second approach is to try and develop norms of conduct between neighbours, which need to be specific enough to be meaningful, but also take into account the complexities of urban life and that includes proximity. Third, encourage the residents to abide by these norms, and introduce effective and properly calibrated sanctions if the norms are breached. According to Mr Shanmugam, besides strengthening the mediation process, the second approach is to try and develop norms of conduct between neighbours. I would like to know whether any agency is working on the development of such norms of conduct and, if so, how far along has such norms of conduct been developed and what are the plans to publicise the set of norms to the general public. It is rather disappointing that barely three years after the Minister for Law's suggestions were presented in this House, we are reverting to expedience by means of the sanctions provided for in this Bill. I am saddened to see this policy u-turn. In closing, I reiterate my argument that we should not enact these new laws unless we are convinced that we have maximised all efforts to promote mediation as the preferred remedy for community disputes. Mdm Speaker, we must retain the importance of mediation by improving the process and ensuring that it is exhausted before proceeding to the tribunal.”
“In 2009, there were 742 mediated cases; in 2013, to 525 mediated cases. From 2009 to 2015, the CMC saw a 30% decline in its caseload. This is not an encouraging sign. In comparison, the 2009 population was 4.987 million and the 2013 population was 5.399 million. What more can be done to encourage people to bring their disputes to CMC? Currently, CMC operates from two locations: premises at the State Courts and MinLaw premises at The Treasury. Both locations are in the CBD. I do not think either location is appealing or convenient to the general public. Could CMC consider having venues that are located at more accessible places, such as void decks, which have a higher population density? Mdm Speaker, I also note from the 2014 Annual Report that for 2013, 45% of its 525 cases were referrals for compulsory mediation from the Magistrates' Courts. Thus, a large proportion of the CMC's caseload is derived from the Courts. Are there ways to promote the rate of voluntary mediation? Can the MCCY, with its grassroots connections, not do more to enhance the CMC's attractiveness, usability and appeal to the general public? Page: 88 I am also intrigued by the MCCY's statement that "the CMC receives a total of about 1,500 applications each year. However, attendance is not mandated and the no-show rate is about 60%." Strangely, in none of the CMC Annual Reports have I seen any citation of no-show rate statistics or of any concern being expressed by CMC of the no-show rates. If the CMC has been concerned with the no-show rate, why did the CMC not raise this concern in any of its Annual Reports? More importantly, what efforts has CMC made to address the no-show rate? Does CMC make any effort to encourage reluctant or unresponsive respondents to attend mediations?”
“It is important to ensure that the Tribunal is only used as a last resort so as to uphold good neighbourliness, or as it is known in our vernacular tongue, "gotong royong". Insofar as it is possible to do so, disputes between neighbours should be settled through mediation. This would not only result in a mutually accepted win-win solution for both parties, but it would also help preserve relationships between neighbours. Page: 87 This is to be contrasted from a case before the Tribunal where the solution is not one that is mutually accepted but one that is meted out by the Judge which usually leads to a situation where one party gains and the other concedes. Therefore, in the interests of upholding the kampong spirit, I submit a dispute must only go before the Tribunal where other methods of dispute resolutions have been exhausted. I have misgivings that when the Bill becomes law, aggrieved parties will dispense with the trouble of seeking alternative remedies like exploring mediation and go straight to the Tribunal. Mdm Speaker, I am of the opinion that we should enact new laws only if we are convinced that we have maximised all efforts to enhance community mediation as the preferred remedy for community disputes. In analysing the question of whether CMC had exhausted all avenues to enhance mediation as the primary recourse for community disputes, I am heartened to note that in 2013, to enhance its attractiveness, CMC reviewed its processes to shorten the waiting period for a mediation session from 28 calendar days to seven working days. Are there no further ways to make community mediation more attractive and more effective? From 2009 to 2013, CMC's caseload has declined even as the population of Singapore increased.”
“MCCY has consistently emphasised in all its media statements leading up to this debate that, "The legal recourse established by this Bill is intended as a last resort for resolving difficult disputes between neighbours after all other efforts have failed." From the various statements, one can safely deduce that MCCY clearly intends for the Tribunal to be the last resort. However, to my surprise, I do not see any provision in the Bill which prevents anyone from filing a claim against his neighbour as a first recourse. Mdm Speaker, I am aware of section 30 of the Bill which empowers the Court to refer a claim commenced in a Tribunal to a CMC with or without the consent of the parties. But section 30 only kicks in after a claim has commenced in a Tribunal. On the other hand, section 20 of an earlier version of the Bill contains such a statutory prerequisite. In gist, section 20 of the draft Bill dictates that a claim must not be lodged unless the disputing parties have attended mediation at least once; or the respondent was given at least two invitations to attend mediation with the claimant but the respondent refused or failed to attend the mediation on both occasions. The aim of such a statutory pre-requisite is clearly is to disqualify claims which have not exhausted the preferred remedy of mediation. However, that provision was deleted in the Bill we now debate before the House. Mdm Speaker, this raises two questions. Firstly, why was section 20 of the draft Bill removed from the final version? Secondly, in the absence of such a provision, how can we ensure that the legal recourse to the Tribunal would be the last resort after all the efforts have failed?”
“Mdm Speaker, in a society where most of us live in close proximity to one another, community disputes are bound to happen. Some of these disputes will not be simple and straightforward. For such difficult cases, it may be tempting or even logical to call on the strong arm of the law to bring an end to such difficult cases. There is a limit and a place for the legal framework to come into play and I firmly believe that the legal framework must only kick in as a last resort. I would like to draw the attention of the House to the words of the hon Minister Shanmugan when he posed a question which read, "How should the law deal with such disputes? Should it deal with it at all?" He then added, "The trouble is the traditional legal framework may not always be the most appropriate or adequate. The legal process can be long drawn out. It's adversarial in nature and it's not easy to get amicable solutions. The proceedings may themselves not be the most cost-effective to deal with day-to-day disputes between neighbours." "If you want to think of an effective framework, it has to go beyond what is traditionally available in the law. I think one important component of our current framework is, of course, community mediation, where volunteers are trained as mediators. They try and bring parties Page: 86 together to reach a common understanding." I could not agree more. In fact, the Minister then proposed a three-stage process for dealing with such disputes. It would be important to note that even he, as our Law Minister, is of the opinion that the sanctions would only be imposed as a final resort.”
“Mdm Chair, this issue of baby drop boxes has been raised many times in this House. I am again raising this issue, hopefully to prevent infanticide, abandoned babies and vanishing mothers. It is time to reverse our mindset about baby drops for unwanted babies of anonymous mothers and the whole notion of motherhood in Singapore where population growth is declining. The Government rejected the idea on the basis that it would indirectly encourage or sanction child abandonment or promiscuity, should now think and reconsider again the idea of "baby repositories" at strategic and convenient places throughout the island to prevent unwanted babies being left in rubbish dumps and other unsafe places. The concept of baby drop boxes or hatches has worked well in countries like Germany, Italy, Hungary, Austria, South Africa, Russia and even Malaysia that have adopted it. One of the main reasons is the mother's anonymity being maintained. In Germany, mothers can Page: 10 drop their babies through a chute at a specially designated place where the baby drops onto a soft heated bed, triggering of an alarm at a nearby hospital. We should provide safeguards for the afflicted women who are desperately in need of care and understanding, and fear being prosecuted. A baby drop scheme will have the potential to save the lives of babies who would otherwise be left to die. Each child should be given the right to live and prove himself or herself to this world. Olivia Lum, CEO of Hyflux, is such a case. Social and Family Policy Matters”
“Rehabilitation stay in community hospitals usually takes months for elderly patients to recover and incur high costs. Medisave coverage is much higher in restructured hospitals than it is in approved community hospitals, which is limited to $5,000 only for the whole duration of the hospital stay. In approved community hospitals, there is no pension coverage for pensioners to offset their hospitalisation bills. Even with MediShield plans, the out-of-pocket hospitalisation bills can come up to a substantial amount costing thousands of dollars. I would like to urge the Minister to consider extending the Medisave withdrawal limit to $10,000. This will greatly help defray the out-of-pocket hospitalisation bills for pensioners and CPF members. I would like to seek a clarification from the Minister on whether pension coverage is now allowed to be used in approved community hospitals. Update on MediShield Life and Standard Integrated Plan Schedule”
“Thank you, Madam. Eczema is a chronic skin irritation that is seen more often in children and it greatly reduces the quality of life for many sufferers. Most of these children suffer intense discomfort because of intense itching. They are victims of bullies because of their appearances and become socially withdrawn due to discrimination. Doctors and parents should pay close attention to their children's emotional and psychological well-being. In France, the cost of the treatment for eczema is heavily subsidised under their national healthcare programme. In Singapore, caring for children with eczema is costly and cannot be Page: 94 claimed under the current insurance scheme. To a reply in Parliament, there is currently no plan to include eczema in the CDMP scheme in which Medisave can be used. Would the Minister reconsider including eczema as a claimable medical condition under the chronic disease subsidy scheme? Community Rehabilitation Hospitals”
“No stones should be left unturned to ensure a safe flight both for the passengers and flight crew. Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)”
“Mdm Chair, for the last four years, there were 1,500 pieces of unclaimed baggage left at Changi Airport. The number of passengers who do not board their flights after checking in was fewer than 20 out of 117,000 to 195,000 passengers that the airport handles daily, according to Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo in a Parliamentary reply. Some of the reasons include going to the wrong gate, arriving late at the gate holding room or being delayed by a previous connecting flight. According to standard operating procedures, every piece of luggage that has been checked in is subject to security screening before a passenger is issued a boarding pass. For passengers who have been issued a boarding pass and did not present himself for boarding, whatever baggage that has been checked in and had already gone into the aircraft will have to be removed after a search has been made to identify the baggage and returned to ground- Page: 100 handling agents I would like to make a suggestion with regard to safety concerns from checked-in baggage that has gone through security checks but where the passenger did not board the flight, even though the number of errant passengers is small. Such baggage should not be loaded onto the cargo cabin of the aircraft first, until all the passengers' boarding passes have been tallied and accounted for before the aircraft takes off. This will help ward off any potential danger from "tampered" luggage and also facilitate the easy removal of the luggage left by "no show" passengers. These "no show" passengers should be subjected to further questioning and their details scrutinised in regard to their history and background before releasing their baggage to them.”
“Thank you, Deputy Prime Minister. Yes, we will think about that. I will consider.”
“I would like to direct this question to the Deputy Prime Minister. It is about overseas voting. It is about the transparency of transporting the ballot boxes back to Singapore. Currently, there are only two MFA officers accompanying the boxes back. Could I suggest that a third neutral person be involved in accompanying the ballot boxes back to Singapore?”
“I would like to ask the Prime Minister, what is the number of Singaporeans who have come home to settle permanently since 2011, the progress it has made so far in encouraging Singaporeans to come back and how active has the Overseas Singaporeans unit been in keeping track of overseas Singaporeans. If there is one thing I would like to suggest that might cause overseas Singaporeans to reconsider returning, it would be a welcoming environment.”
“Mdm Chairman, much had been discussed in this house about maintaining a "Singaporean Core", during the debates on the Population White Paper. One of the points, we were told, is that if the Total Fertility Rate does not improve, we have to look to receiving new immigrants and integrating them, to maintain this core. Let us not forget our own Singaporeans who are residing overseas. Some of them may have, indeed, made a very conscious decision to remain and work overseas. Others want to return, but face difficulties and barriers in doing so. We should review the strict criteria to lift up barriers to allow all Singaporeans that have been away for more than 30 years, including self-political exiles and their families, to return home despite their different ideological positions. Their feelings for Singapore are intense and heartfelt, albeit ambivalent even after being so long away. A few years ago, the remains of lawyer Francis Khoo were returned to Singapore upon his request. As Singapore celebrates its 50 years' golden jubilee and moves to a new era of being a first-world country, our mindset must change to allow not only the norm Singaporeans but controversial political exiles and their families to return to their homeland if they so wish. Page: 68 This is also a way of bringing back talents to serve the country. I must commend the Overseas Singaporeans Unit at the PMO for their excellent job in organising Singapore Day over the past few years, in New York, London, Shanghai and Melbourne. But we must go further, beyond just maintaining the connection Singaporeans have with their place of birth. We must proactively ensure that the barriers which prevent Singaporeans from re-settling back here must go.”
“Separately, there is a need to have transparency in transporting the sealed boxes of uncounted votes back to Singapore by MFA officials. There should also be a need to have a third neutral person to accompany the sealed voting boxes back to Singapore. I would like to make a proposal to the Government to educate Singaporeans on the process involved when overseas votes are brought back to Singapore for counting and tallying during a General Election. Page: 65”
“Mdm Chair, catering to Singaporean voters overseas and ensuring that they can cast their vote as easily as possible is important for their democratic participation. It is also, after all, a civic duty that is mandatory in Singapore. Many Singaporeans are deprived of the chance to cast their vote at general elections or by-elections, because travelling to overseas polling stations could be very much a hassle that is impractical. I would like to ask what percentage of all eligible Singaporean voters do overseas voters make up and how many percent of eligible overseas voters actually cast their votes in the last general election and the subsequent two by-elections. I would like to propose for the Elections Department to come up with reasonable means for one to cast one's vote privately, without having to travel long distances or to forfeit one's right to vote. Would the Elections Department consider introducing postal ballot? As it stands, there are only 10 designated overseas polling stations for Singaporean voters – in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, London, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Canberra and Dubai. The overseas polling stations tend to be at our embassies or consulates in these cities. We certainly have many more embassies and consulates around the world than these 10. There should be ballot boxes in every representative state of a large country, such as Australia, where there tend to be many Singaporeans. There is a sizeable population of Singaporeans living in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, yet there are no polling stations there. Voters from Perth would have to travel over 3,000 kilometres to Canberra just to cast their votes. This is a feedback from some of the Singaporeans living there.”