Louis Ng Kok Kwang
Singapore
“It does not matter whether the report was made to the Police or the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary clarify whether an individual who reports an offence under the Bill to the Police will be similarly protected by the whistle-blowing protections under section 53?”
“In my Adjournment Motion six years ago, I shared the story of Emma, a single unwed parent who came to see me at my Meet-the-People Sessions, together with her two-month-old daughter. They were both living in a shelter. As I shared previously, when I asked why Emma did not shed a tear, she told me that she no longer had any tears left.”
“It is not just Nee Soon East cleaners who pay kickbacks. This, again, is a widespread problem that we have not done enough to detect and tackle. To tackle this more effectively, we need to treat kickbacks as seriously as corruption. We need our laws to have a more deterrent effect to have any chance of wiping out kickbacks.”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for answering my cut on second-hand smoke. And I am sure he expects me to clarify further. But I think the Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned that there is no current technology to catch someone smoking at home and, so, because of that we cannot legislate a ban.”
“Madam, for years, I have spoken up repeatedly in this House, calling for the Government to take action to protect the lives of fellow Singaporeans from second-hand smoke. I have spoken up so much that Senior Minister of State Amy Khor once said that she is immune to me already. But on a more serious note, this is a serious issue.”
“We should end the discrimination and allow them to qualify for the PPHS. Mandate Sterilisation of Pet Cats I have spent a good part of my life calling for HDB to allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats. Many have called for this and I am glad the Government has finally changed our policies and allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats.”
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“Thank you, Sir. I thank the Parliamentary Secretary on the reply on the IVF policies. There is quite a fair bit of good suggestions out there on IVF and that is why I filed so many cuts, Parliamentary Questions and Adjournment Motion. Could I ask whether MOH can consider setting up a citizen workgroup to really deep dive into this issue of IVF here in Singapore?”
“Rollover Excess IVF Co-funding Last month, I proposed extending co-funding to the seventh and eighth IVF cycles to support couples who need more cycles to conceive successfully. MOH responded that, "We also need to balance the need to meaningfully and responsibly allocate public funds on this." In this case, rather than provide additional funding after the sixth cycle, will MOH allow co-funding leftover from the first six subsidised IVF cycles to be rolled over into the seventh and eighth cycle? Can it also allow any co-funding leftover from the three subsidised fresh cycles to be used for the subsidised frozen cycles? These are funds the Government has already budgeted for. It is win-win solution as it allows couples to complete additional cycles using subsidies that we have already budgeted for without additional allocation needed. Maternal and Children Health”
“Sir, in 2013, the Government started allowing the use of MediSave for IVF, subject to a withdrawal limit per cycle and per patient. Recently, many couples have called for an increase in these limits to better meet IVF costs. MOH has said, "Couples who find themselves unable to cope with unexpectedly large bills, for instance, as a result of complications, even after co-funding, may appeal to use MediSave beyond the current limits" on a case-by-case basis. It has been over seven years since we reviewed these withdrawal limits. I hope we can conduct a review and consider increasing the limits on the use of MediSave for IVF and not just on a case-by-case basis. IVF is a costly procedure. It would be a pity for couples who are unable to afford it but have funds in their MediSave, to be denied the gift of parenthood. Use MediSave for IVF TCM Treatments In the dialogues I have organised on IVF, many couples told me that they have achieved better results from supplementing their IVF treatments with TCM. Some doctors recommend TCM treatment for certain patients as it may optimise results. TCM treatments such as acupuncture can act as a supplementary method for patients to increase their chances of success. My wife also, upon the advice of our doctor, did TCM during our IVF treatments. Some might say that TCM does not work, while others say it does, but we can all agree that it does help provide an ease of mind, that we have tried everything we can do to have a successful IVF cycle. TCM can be expensive. Couples I have spoken to end up spending around $500 to $1,000 a month, on top of already mounting IVF costs. Can we allow couples to use their MediSave which they are allowed to use for IVF and subject to the current withdrawal limits, for TCM treatments associated with IVF?”
“I thank the Minister for the reply. I have raised this issue in Parliament quite a number of times. I know the Minister is deeply concerned about the refugees as well. Like him, I have been to the refugee camps in Cox's Bazaar and it really is suffering at a scale that is unimaginable. I met many of the children there, many of whom have watched both fathers and mothers get killed. So, I really hope and I asked MFA to consider sending another consignment of humanitarian aid this year, and that will really help the refugees that are currently in Cox's Bazaar.”
“Thank you, Sir. I believe my cut on cat ownership in HDB flats was not answered but I assume the answer is still a "no" and, if it is still a "no", could I at least ask whether we can extend the current pilot in Chong Pang, where HDB residents are allowed to keep cats, to other constituencies? I would volunteer my own constituency of Nee Soon East and, maybe, the Member of Parliament for Kembangan/Chai Chee will volunteer as well.”
“I can only afford to buy a HDB flat if I go home as I can’t possibly afford private properties." I hope this year and at this COS, we will finally have the good news that we will allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats with specific conditions that will address any issues of disamenities. I should add that Speaker supports this change in policy as well.”
“Sir, I am glad that we have reformed our housing policies for single unwed parents. I thank HDB for providing the much needed helping hand to the single unweds. We can do more also for singles. Many of the lower income singles are in need of rental housing due to various circumstances and many are seniors. HDB does help under the Joint Singles Scheme (JSS), which requires single tenants to rent a flat together with a flat mate. As they are single, many are unable to find a flat mate and are in the end housed with a stranger. I am sure many Members in this House would have handled MPS cases of flat mates not getting along. I do understand HDB’s concerns that there may not be an ample supply of rental flats to cater for every single to rent a flat alone. However, I understand MND does allow a person to rent a flat alone on a case-by-case basis. Can MND review the JSS and consider publishing a set of specific criteria under which a person can rent a flat alone? Legalise Cat Ownership in HDB Flats I spent more than a quarter of my life speaking up about our policy of not allowing the keeping of cats in HDB flats. I last spoke up about this last year, providing various solutions to the concerns MND has. I hope we can change our policy to reflect what we already accept in reality – that HDB residents are allowed to keep cats, which can be removed if they are found to cause disamenities in the community. This is an issue that affects thousands who currently live in HDB flats and keep cats. It also affects Singaporeans overseas. Sallie wrote to me recently and said, "Thank you for raising this issue again. It is one of the reasons why I can’t come back to Singapore. I have two cats here in Bangkok and I have no place to keep them.”
“Sir, I thank all the Members for speaking up. I would like to take this opportunity to also thank the officeholders and the public servants at PMO, MOE, MND, MSE, MOT, MTI and the MSE Statutory Boards PUB, NEA and SFA for their hard work, both in front and behind the scenes. I thank you for the clean air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, for the clean environment we live in and for our healthy planet that we call home, for releasing the male mosquitoes to make sure that mosquitoes bite us less and on my pet topic of protecting us from second-hand smoke. But I believe we had one of the longest COS and I also believe MSE is one of the most loved Ministry because we focus on something that Singaporeans love – food. And I know the hawker fare is waiting for us. So, on that note, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,848,794,400 for Head L ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,113,534,200 for Head L ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Thank you, Madam. I was quite excited for a while when Senior Minister said we would reach half of our emissions by 2030 but then he burst my bubble. But I really hope that we can try to reach net zero emissions by 2050. If not, could I ask whether we can at least narrow the timeframe. So, instead of by the second half of the century, which could be 79 years' time, when I was hoping we can actually see net zero emissions within my lifetime. But if we can at least reduce here, maybe by 2060 or 2070. If not, can the Government at least consider to focus it on a per sector basis? So, something like what MOE has done which is that 20% of the schools will achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. The second question really is for MOE – when can we expect the other 80% of the schools to reach carbon neutrality? Third, Minister Tan mentioned about how we are planning to import hydro power from Lao PDR and that sounds environmentally friendly. But I just wonder whether we have also studied the environmental impact of building this hydro-electric power station, how destructive it is for the environment there and for the wildlife. I hope MTI can consider not just importing the renewable energy but making sure that it does not have that big an impact on the environment in other countries.”
“MSE announced that it will introduce mandatory food waste segregation requirements for large commercial and industrial premises. Beyond segregation, it is also important for companies to be aware of the amount of food waste they dispose of. Food waste represents a cost to companies. Data about food waste generated will help companies better manage their processes to reduce waste. This is both a win for sustainability and for the companies’ bottom lines. Will MSE consider requiring companies that have to segregate food waste for treatment to also report the amount of food waste segregated? Plastic and Styrofoam Materials”
“Can MSE share whether we are on track to meet this target? Can MSE also share its plans on how it will raise awareness on the EPR and make recycling e-waste convenient for all, so that we can all do our part to make the EPR a success? Reducing Consumption of Disposables Last year, I shared with the House about the Zero Waste Masterplan in Nee Soon East. I talked about how we had saved 39,792 disposables since the launch of our Zero Waste Masterplan in April 2019. COVID-19, unfortunately, threw a spanner in the works but we will restart the Zero Waste Masterplan once we can. I commend MSE for putting together a diverse Citizens' Workgroup to tackle this issue of excessive consumption of disposables. How will MSE incorporate the recommendations from the recently concluded Citizens' Workgroup into its plans to better manage disposables in Singapore? Will the public service take the lead by committing to end the use of all disposables at all public service events? The Ministry also announced that it will put in place a Deposit Refund Scheme for beverage containers by 2022 as the first phase of the EPR framework for packaging waste, including plastics. Can the MSE share more details on the progress on this? Tackling Food Waste Lastly, food waste is one of the biggest sources of waste in Singapore. In 2019, we generated over 700,000 tonnes of food waste. 10.45 am I am currently working on a Private Member’s Bill to tackle food waste and hope to introduce a Good Samaritan's Food Donation Bill. We have completed our first round of consultations and I am glad to have the strong support from civil society and industry players. I am also glad to see the Government taking active steps to address food waste.”
“Madam, I have asked several times in this House for the Government to disclose data on top emitters in Singapore. As I mentioned during the climate change Motion, Singaporeans increasingly live their lives in a sustainable way. They should be given more information with which to make their consumption decisions. The UK already requires all big companies to include emissions data in their annual reports, and the EU provides large amounts of emissions data on all facilities level across its member states. The German Institute of Economic Research has found that such company-level disclosures work, reducing emissions by 17% permanently. The Government has shared that company-level emissions may reveal confidential business performance. In this case, I propose that we publish a ranking of the top emitters without sharing their exact emissions level. This allows the public to make more informed consumption decisions without compromising the business confidentiality of our businesses. Will the Ministry consider this proposal? It strikes a fair balance between the trade-offs. Tackling E-waste As Singapore pursues its Smart Nation initiative, we must also be smart about how we manage our e-waste. We generate more than 60,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. This astounding amount of e-waste will only increase. If not handled properly, e-waste contains small amounts of harmful substances that can threaten our health and our environment. I am heartened that the Government has been building up its e-waste recycling facilities and capabilities. I have been raising this issue in Parliament since 2016 and I am glad that MSE announced that the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for e-waste will be implemented from July this year.”
“I agree with Senior Parliamentary Secretary that there is a cost concern, but I hope then it is not the third element where it is cost versus safety. I am speaking up for the private hire drivers as well. We make it compulsory for them, for PHCs that they have to be in car seats. Then again, it is a bit strange that for taxis, it is not. The rationale given is because taxis do street hails. But really, how many street hails are there nowadays, for the taxis? I think a lot of them are based on bookings as well. For parents with young children, I really doubt that in today's context, they would actually do street hail. They would also book the taxis rather than go down on the streets and try and flag one down.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. I am just concerned why we are looking at utilisation rate versus safety. We know that children are getting injured because they are not in child car seats during the accident. We know that being in a child car seat can reduce the incidents of death by over 50% if you are in a car seat. So, I urge MOH to look into this as more of a safety issue rather than how many people are going to use it. Secondly, I know there is a previous MOT reply that it is more practical for taxis to not carry the child car seats. Again, I hope we do not look at it as practicality versus safety. The practicality concerns are addressed already because nowadays, as I have showed the Senior Parliamentary Secretary, the child car seats are really compact; so, it does not take up much space. In fact, some of the booster seats can fit under the driver's seat. So, there is no issue of practicality and again, I hope we look at this at the safety angle. For private vehicles, if your child is not in a car seat, you could go to jail for it. But somehow, I find it strange that the same car, same model, when it becomes a taxi, the safety considerations just disappear. I hope the Senior Parliamentary Secretary can clarify why.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the reply. Could I ask if we are going to review the penalties under the tripartite guidelines? It sort of makes sense if you discriminate based on nationality, we curtail your work pass privileges. But if you discriminate based on gender, on family responsibility, then the penalties to curtail the work pass privileges sort of do not make sense. I know the Minister of State shared some of the other penalties earlier, but I am just wondering overall, we can review the penalty framework so that it is aligned with what the discrimination is about.”
“Thank you, Madam, and I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. Could I just ask whether there is a timeframe in terms of reviewing the effectiveness of the current surveillance cameras? I just did my home visits again and I still have the same feedback about the same debate that we had a few years ago, about how, when we put the surveillance camera there, it is good deterrence – people stopped littering or throwing out their cigarette butts. But the minute we remove the cameras, they start again. So, it is a cat-and-mouse game and it really is a waste of our current resources. Can NEA look into this; look into deploying smaller, more discreet cameras so that we can have more effective enforcement on the ground?”
“Also, many countries have emphasised the importance of a green recovery, even as the world continues to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the Public Service's own plans on environmental sustainability and how does it intend to decarbonise?”
“Madam, we are in a race to the bottom for climate change. Race to the bottom of the amount of carbon emitted. Several cities such as Hong Kong, Monaco, Delhi have pledged to work towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The European Union, Japan and the Republic of Korea, together with more than 110 other countries, have pledged carbon neutrality by 2050. Of course, commitments must be back by ambitious action and concrete plans. But setting a goal is invaluable in itself. First, it sends a clear signal to its industries, citizens and civil society on the direction and speed of policy change. The signal will have a trickle down effect in influencing decisions in boardrooms and individual action. Second, it provides a yardstick for measuring if we are taking bold enough actions to achieve our declared goals. Will Singapore also pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and what are our plans to achieve this goal? Reviewing PSTLES The Government introduced the Public Service Taking The Lead in Environmental Sustainability (PSTLES) initiative back in 2006. During Committee of Supply last year, PMO announced that it intends to raise its ambitions and for the next phase of the initiative. Can the Ministry share some of its plans and targets? Under current initiative, each Ministry is required to appoint a Sustainability Manager to set sustainability targets for FY2020 and to develop a resource management plan to meet its targets. In addition to the reporting in the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review, will the Government consider requiring Sustainability Managers to publicly report annually how well their Ministries have fared in achieving targets set for their Ministries?”
“For this Committee of Supply, my Government Parliamentary Committee colleagues, fellow Members of Parliament and I will be asking lots of questions and making numerous suggestions for sustainability and MSE's other portfolios. Let me get the ball rolling. Will MSE work with industry and civil society to strengthen the Green Plan? Will MSE shore up climate resilience by enhancing coastal protection and boosting flood resilience? Will MSE strengthen the resilience of our food supply and ensure food safety? Will MSE strengthen Singapore's water security by greening our water treatment processes and increasing water efficiency? Will MSE work towards a zero waste nation by closing the e-waste, packaging waste and food waste loop? Will MSE build a clean and endearing home for all by raising public health standards, transforming our environmental services industry and sustaining the hawker industry? There are lots more questions, and Madam, I look forward to a robust debate. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Net-zero Carbon Emissions by 2050”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head L of the Estimates be reduced by $100". MSE's portfolio is a broad but incredibly crucial one. As long as we breathe, eat and live in Singapore, MSE's policies touch all our lives and we have an important goal of ensuring sustainability at the heart of everything we do. Last month, my Government Parliamentary Committees (GPC) colleagues and I delivered the first ever Parliamentary Motion on climate change. This House declared climate change a global emergency. We committed to deepening and accelerating efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to embrace sustainability in our development. 6.00 pm I am heartened that we are making progress and have launched a Singapore Green Plan 2030. The goals and efforts in the green plan are ambitious but I hope that the green plan will set a minimum standard that we will far exceed. The Earth needs us to achieve and then go beyond the Green Plan. The Green Plan should be a living document that we can continuously review and update from now until 2030. [Deputy Speaker (Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo) in the Chair] We can afford to move the base line upwards and expect higher standards of our sustainability performance. We cannot afford to rest on our laurels once we meet the existing target. Ultimately, we need to remember that the goal is not to check off every target in the Green Plan. The goal is to slow down, stop and reverse if possible, Earth's path towards widespread and irreversible climate collapse. I hope our conversations about the Green Plan over the next decade will both be about how we can meet the targets and what higher targets we will be shedding for ourselves.”
“Thank you, Sir. I thank the Minister for sharing that MOE will review the appraisal system. But could I ask specifically whether as part of the review, we can look into removing the quotas and the punitive implications of the lower grades? I also thank the Minister for changing "sacred cows" into "sacred stones". That is much better because we do not need to slay the cows anymore.”
“360-degree Feedback for All Teachers MOE currently uses the 360-degree feedback tool more as a developmental tool for leaders to gather feedback rather than as an appraisal tool. To further strengthen this process, can MOE consider incorporating this into the appraisal process and specifically linked to performance grade? There is strong support for implementing a 360-degree feedback to assess the effectiveness of Reporting Officers at all substantive grades. Strengthening Education Pathways”
“Sir, in my Budget debate speech, I proposed to make our performance management system of stacked ranking more standardised, transparent, fair and formative for teachers. There is strong feedback from the ground that ranking is not the best way to appraise all job holders. There are differences in implementation across schools and there is a need for a more standardised system. There is also a need for more transparency. Many share that they do not feel the process of ranking has been made transparent to all teachers. We can also make the system more fair by removing the quotas for C-, D and E grades. Lastly, the appraisal system should be more formative than punitive. We should remove the punitive implications of getting the lower grades. We should create a more nurturing environment for our teachers. I look forward to working with MOE and the unions to improve the performance management system of stacked ranking. Giving Teachers Mid-term Feedback We all grow and learn from feedback. Our teachers are no different. School leaders must give teachers who receive the C- or D grade feedback to improve their performance. However, some teachers shared that this feedback only comes after the actual grade has been issued. Some say that little is done to help teachers improve in the course of the school year. Similar to how students have a mid-year exam to gauge whether they are on the right track, our teachers must also be given feedback prior to receiving their actual grade. There are guidelines in place for ROs to give intermittent feedback. We should ensure these are strictly followed. Will MOE strengthen processes for teachers to seek feedback on their performance?”
“I quote, “Salary histories appear to account for much of the persistence of residual wage gaps.” Has the Ministry reviewed these studies and whether the declaration of last drawn salary contributes to the gender wage gap here in Singapore? Will MOM consider banning questions on salary histories?”
“Sir, it has been more than nine years since we introduced parent-care leave in the Civil Service. We should legislate the same leave for all other workers. We need to remember that this is especially important for essential workers who are unable to work from home. We also need to remember we have an ageing population and more and more of us will need time to look after our parents. We are a family-friendly employer. Now we need to be a familyfriendly Government. We should introduce parent-care leave for all employees. Legislate the Right to Work from Home COVID-19 has shown that work from home is possible. Many employers I spoke to said that they are willing to allow employees to work from home if the Government legislates this. I am not asking for employees to be forced to work from home. I understand that it is not possible for some lines of work. Some employees may also not want to. Instead, I am asking for employees who can work at home to be allowed to work from home if they wish to. We should also allow employers to reject such requests for business related reasons. Will MOM look into legislating the right to work from home? Disallow Questions on Salary History Many employees feel they are paid lower than they deserve because their employer mandated them to disclose their salary history. Last year, I shared in this House that a ban on salary history disclosures has helped close the gender wage gap in California. Minister Josephine said that MOM would look at this study. I am happy to share that new research further supports that earlier study. In June 2020, researchers at Boston University found that salary history bans in the US led to employers increasing wages for all workers, but especially for women and some racial minorities.”
“Sir, about 32,000 full-time workers in Singapore currently take home less than $1,300. We must do more to help our lower wage workers and I am glad we are. We have been expanding the PWM to more sectors. I thank the Government for its latest move in expanding the PWM to the waste management sector. I also welcome the recent announcements that PWM will be rolled out to the food services, retail, strata management, pest management, and solar technology sectors. Workers within these sectors will welcome this news. But timing is also important for them. Can we roll out the implementation of PWMs within a shorter timeframe? With the expansion to these sectors, can MOM share whether all the 32,000 workers currently taking home less than $1,300 will be covered?”
“COVID-19 has shown that we need to relook how we regulate risks in dormitories. More importantly, this is not just the issue of managing risk but of ensuring that every migrant worker helping to build our homes also has a decent home to return to at the end of the work day. I hope that MOM will increase the coverage of FEDA. Job Advertisements for Migrant Workers”
“Sir, migrant workers help to build our nation. I thank them for helping to make Singapore the shining red dot we are today. Many of them invest a significant amount of money to come to Singapore. They have to pay agent fees to even secure a job here. This means when they first step foot on Singapore soil, they are already thousands of dollars in debt. It is not enough to say that these fees were not paid in Singapore. These agent fees affect how effective our labour laws are. It results in a huge power imbalance. When migrant workers are saddled with huge debts, they are less likely to speak up against errant employers who flout Singapore’s labour laws. Agent fees paid overseas undermine our labour laws. Will MOM look into this problem and study the possibility of establishing direct recruitment channels through its licensed Overseas Testing Centres to cut out the middlemen? Will MOM also increase penalties for companies who are found to collect such kickbacks? Increase Coverage of Foreign Employee Dormitories Act Next, this COVID-19 pandemic has shown that we need to do more for our migrant workers and I am glad we are. Currently, the Foreign Employees Dormitories Act (FEDA) covers only licensed dormitories housing more than a thousand workers. In 2017, I spoke up about the need to ensure that accommodation for migrant workers that fall outside FEDA are of equivalent standards to the larger dormitories. Surely, a dormitory housing 999 workers is no different from a dormitory housing more than a thousand workers. MOM responded that FEDA imposes additional conditions on larger dormitories because of higher concentration risks there. MOM also said that smaller accommodation types are still required to comply with comprehensive guidelines.”
“I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. I understand, as the Parliamentary Secretary mentioned, over 300 people enrolled for PGS but only about a hundred actually did PGS. So, could I ask MOH what are the main reasons why people did not proceed with PGS. And, two, what steps MOH is taking to increase the enrolment of PGS and decrease the the drop-out rate. And third, the feedback on the ground is that there is a cost issue. So, I hope MOH can look into this and fully subsidise this so that more people can participate in this trial and, hopefully, we can then nationalise it to benefit more people.”
“Thank you, Sir. I agree with the Minister that flexible work arrangement especially work-from-home is the way forward. But I think we need to remember that the essential workers cannot work from home. So, could I ask, one, whether the Minister is aware of any studies in Singapore that show that by increasing childcare leave, it would decrease the employability of a person? Two, could I ask whether PMO can study the usage of childcare sick leave amongst our public servants, and then use this study to decide on whether to extend it to everyone else?”
“Singapore’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is at a dismal 1.14 births. We have tackled this from a financial angle by various schemes to lower the cost of having children. However, in addition to financial constraints, time and stress are common concerns I hear from parents, especially those thinking about having a second child. While some of us have the luxury of working from home, COVID-19 has also shown us the limits of this for certain groups of essential workers. For them, childcare sick leave is critical for juggling the demands of work and parenthood. I have spoken up about this previously. It has been more than a decade since childcare leave provisions were increased. Will PMO consider having specific childcare sick leave and providing this on a per child basis? The Public Service already gives officers childcare sick leave and it is on a per child basis. If the Government feels that childcare sick leave is important for the people who work for us, then why is it not important for the people we serve? Let us level this playing field. COVID-19 Effects on Our Population”
“Thank you, Sir. Just two quick questions for Minister Desmond Lee. One, I think Minister mentioned about the BIA guidelines earlier. Could I just ask, whether these are just guidelines or are they mandatory for developers to follow? Two, I do hope we can codify the current EIA framework into law because I think that will send a strong signal that we take the protection of forests seriously here in Singapore.”
“He asked for the forced ranking system to be abolished, and instead adopt a criteria-based approach for ranking. Mr Sapari, Dr Intan and Ms Phua have been speaking about this since 2018. In a previous debate, Ms Phua said, "to run a race whereby only a few win the trophy might be a race that, I think, the Minister has been asking for us not to run. We should run races where as many as possible can make it to the finish line, and as many as possible can meet a good or great performance standard”. We all want what Ms Denise Phua is calling for but it is simply not possible under our current appraisal system. Let me end with a quote as always, "A teacher plants the seeds of knowledge, sprinkles them with love, and patiently nurtures their growth to produce tomorrow's dreams". Sir, as teachers work hard to create a nurturing environment for our children, let us also create a nurturing environment for them. Let us make our appraisal system more standardised, transparent, fair and formative. The surveys show that majority of teachers support this call. But Madam, I know our performance management system of stack ranking is a sacred cow. We have used this system for decades. But for once, I am not asking for a scared cow to be slaughtered. As a vegetarian, I very much prefer that. I am asking for us to look after this sacred cow better and for our appraisal system again to be more standardised, transparent, fair and formative. With a strong, engaged and empowered teaching workforce, we will continue to emerge stronger. [Applause.]”
“Its current CEO said he prefers "reviews that candidly tell an employee where they are not measuring up and what they need to do to improve, without rigidly adhering to certain percentages". General Electric has shifted to a system that emphasises continuous dialogue and shared accountability. I also propose that we remove the punitive measures for the C- grade. Seventy-five percent of teachers surveyed agreed with this. Performance management should be formative, not punitive. Teachers who have struggled should not be denied the full resources to grow or the full prospect of being rewarded. Three years with 0% chance of promotion is enough to make anyone lose interest in their profession. Why would we disincentivise hard work like that? What I hope for is that our teachers spend more time improving their own performance and aspire to become better teachers, instead of spending time worrying about how they are compared to others. Madam, I am not the first Member of Parliment to speak on this. This has been a long fight by Member of Parliament Denise Phua and former Members of Parliament Zainal Sapari and Intan Mokhtar. Dr Intan said previously that our "appraisal system is quite summative" and spoke about the need for a more formative approach to the appraisal. Member of Parliament Denise spoke about the negative aspects of forced ranking, speaking of instances when employees get pushed up in terms of their ranking because of very vocal supervisors who were able to speak up for them at ranking sessions. In the last few months, I have heard these exact concerns surfaced repeatedly by our teachers. Mr Sapari, a veteran in the education service, first as a teacher, then a school principal, then a cluster superintendent.”
“One teacher said that some department heads agreed to spread out the bad quota across departments by "pre-selecting" a few teachers from each department to get bad grades and then fulfilling the prophecy by assigning unimportant tasks to these teachers. The bad quota would not be so painful if the bad grades were, in fact, not that bad. Indeed, MOE has said the C- grade is not an adverse grade. But the reality is that those receiving C- grades and below, face a host of punitive measures, including ineligibility for promotion for three years and ineligibility for Professional Development Leave. Minister Lawrence Wong has said that schools have flexibility for assigning grades. However, in practice, virtually all schools had teachers with C-, D or E grades, as Minister later shared. This may be because of the additional paperwork, scrutiny and justifications needed to exercise that flexibility. I propose we remove the quotas. Let schools assign grades based on a standardised process, as I proposed earlier. Over 80% of teachers surveyed supported the removal of the quota. The risk of fiscal imprudence is limited, as each school is given a fixed quantum of monies for performance bonuses. Standardising the process as well as the existing practice of having a Cluster Superintendent advise each Ranking Panel are both powerful checks to guard against grade inflation. MOE would not be alone in this shift. Some of the most successful companies in the world have dropped relative ranking and moved towards more flexible performance management systems. Amazon announced in 2016 that it would drop its stack ranking system. Even General Electric, the American conglomerate where stack ranking was popularised in the 1980s, has dropped it.”
“We must make proper communication mandatory and enforce this. Third and finally, we can work with the teachers to strengthen MOE's communication policies. We can implement a whistleblowing mechanism for teachers to use when their schools are failing to abide by MOE's communication policies on appraisal. Of course, this mechanism must include measures to protect teachers from retaliation within their schools. Together, these measures will foster a more transparent system where our teachers will always know how to do better, and this means a better education system for our children. Third, I propose that we remove the quota for each grade. This means a teacher's grade will no longer be affected by the limited number of As, Bs, Cs and Ds. Close to 80% of teachers surveyed strongly agreed with this proposal. We can see how the quota system can distort incentives. Let me explain this from two directions. At the very top, each school can only give out a very small percentage of As and Bs every year. Let us call this the "good quota". This means it is not enough to be a terrific teacher; you have to be more terrific than everyone else. The good quota rewards you for being a big fish in a small pond. However, it is a disincentive for being in a school where there are people better than you, whom you can learn from. The quota also hurts those at the bottom. Five percent of each school’s teachers must be graded C-, D or E. Let us call this the "bad quota". This means that even if you are a good teacher in a school over-populated with super good teachers, the quota may still force you to receive a terrible grade. Again, the system discourages you from surrounding yourself with the best of the best. The quota system may also be applied in ways unrelated to a teacher’s performance.”
“Again, about three quarters of teachers surveyed agreed that appraisals should be based on standardised criteria. My second proposal is that MOE enforces a clearer and more consistent feedback policy for performance appraisals. Almost 80% of teachers surveyed did not feel that the process of ranking has been made transparent them. Teachers do not know how to improve if they do not understand how and why they got their grade. Transparency is crucial. Currently, the feedback policy that schools must follow when conducting their annual appraisal exercise are merely guidelines. These guidelines may not have been successful in helping teachers understand the ranking process. When we spoke to teachers to understand why they see the process as opaque, two main reasons cropped up. The first reason is because information was not proactively offered to some of them. One teacher said, I quote, "The grades were never explained to me for the years I joined service". The second reason is that even when some teachers asked about the process, they are given no explanation. One teacher sought to understand why they received that grade, but their RO said that there was no way to discuss the performance grade. There are many more stories like these. How can anyone do better if they do not know what they are doing wrong? I think we can all empathise with how frustrating it must be to be in a situation like this. Again, there is more we can do. MOE can implement a standard procedure for how schools respond when teachers request feedback and clarifications about their grade. Second, this standard procedure needs to be enforced. As the data shows, a large majority of teachers currently see the appraisal exercise as lacking in transparency.”
“However, the current process means that the outcome may not simply be a reflection of a teacher's performance and irrelevant considerations come into the picture. I understand the challenges of evaluating a teacher's work. I also understand that MOE has frameworks in place, such as Key Result Areas for each job level describing key competencies and qualities to achieve. But there is more that we can do to standardise the process. First, MOE can provide greater clarity to its guidelines and provide more granularity. For example, Key Result Areas currently tell teachers what "good" looks like. Just like the detailed marking rubrics used for students, these Key Result Areas should be broken down by grade so that teachers know what specific standards are required to achieve an A, B, C and so on. Clearer appraisal standards given to ROs and Ranking Panels make it harder for subjective and irrelevant considerations to enter into decision-making. Second, MOE should formalise its guidelines on teacher appraisal as requirements. Good guidelines are not so useful if they can be ignored or circumvented. Teachers and ROs alike said that the appraisal process varies sharply from school to school. Some schools have robust and objective processes in place. Other schools may have weaker processes which allow for more subjectivity. MOE has said that its policy on teacher appraisal seeks to balance between consistency across schools and discretionary judgement by the schools. The balance is currently tilted towards discretionary judgement. These stricter standards will move us towards consistency, limit biases and emphasise the performance of teachers. This is not just about what I think is right. It is what the vast majority of teachers think is right.”
“As MOE has shared, it provides guidelines and conducts training to advise on best practices. But the stories shared by teachers reveal that current guidelines and training are not robust enough to ensure that the appraisal is standardised. At the first stage of assessment by a RO, teachers report that subjective and irrelevant considerations are sometimes taken into account in the assessment. One teacher said that some ROs prefer yes-men, I quote, "If you are one who asks questions and give alternate suggestions, you are deemed to be uncooperative and calculating". Another teacher said that their RO favours staff who are his friends or used to work with him in other schools. It should worry us that some teachers feel this way. Madam, even if the RO thinks that a teacher is good and the teacher meets or exceeds his or her targets, this does not mean that the teacher will get a good grade. They have to fight for the teacher at the Ranking Panel. Many ROs, themselves, feel frustrated by the Ranking Panel. More than half of the ROs said that members of the Ranking Panel have an unequal say. They flag the roles of personalities and politics. One RO said that those on the panel tend to play up their own teachers while criticising others so that they themselves are ranked as being effective. Another RO fretted about retaliation, saying that to speak up for unfairly ranked teachers means to risk, I quote, "suffering the same fate". Again, we should be concerned that some ROs feel this way. Our teachers are doing their best for the students and many do want to receive constructive feedback so that they can take steps to improve.”
“The feedback that the teachers raised at these sessions were ultimately because they wanted to be better teachers for their students. But I also left with some worry. Large numbers of them expressed concerns about their appraisal system. Over 80% of teachers and 70% of Reporting Officers, or ROs, agreed that ranking is not the best way to appraise all job holders. Today, I will share four proposals to tweak and refine the appraisal system. These proposals reflect concerns on the ground, based on survey data by the union and personal anecdotes. I am not proposing to throw the baby out with the bath water. I am suggesting that we make the appraisal system more standardised, transparent, fair and formative. This will better support our teachers to do their best work. Let me take this opportunity to thank all civil servants for their essential work. My speech is about teachers because each of them influences tens and hundreds and thousands of young minds in their daily work. But it does not stop here. Starting from teachers, my hope is that the change in the appraisal system would flow through to the rest of the Public Service. My first proposal is to standardise the appraisal process and require schools to follow it. While about half of the teachers surveyed felt there was some objectivity in the system, about three quarters of teachers surveyed agreed that appraisals should be based on standardised criteria. Currently, teachers go through a two-step appraisal process. First, the teacher's RO assesses the teacher. Second, the RO takes this assessment to a Ranking Panel of senior staff members. The Ranking Panel then decides on the rank and grades of teachers in the school. How do all these people decide on what a teacher really deserves?”
“We have emerged stronger from this pandemic also because of our teachers. During the pandemic and the circuit breaker, they work doubly hard, teaching physically in classrooms and virtually. They were out there while we kept ourselves safe at home. There are things we can and should do to make their job a little better and this is what I would discuss today. So, Madam, let me also start by thanking MOE for its reforms in recent years, which have made education a more nurturing experience. We have stopped reminding students of how they are ranked in both class and level. We have stopped grouping them into classes based on academic abilities. We have stopped comparing students to their peers when grading the PSLE. The message to students has been clear: focus on your own learning; do not be distracted by how others are doing. As then Education Minister Ong Ye Kung put it, I quote, "Learning is not a competition, but a self-discipline you need to master for life." I agree. And indeed, we have done a lot to help our students get rid of the distractions and focus on their own learning. But I feel we have not done enough for our teachers. It seems contradictory to me that teachers tell their students that students are no longer ranked and compared relative to their peers while they themselves are ranked and compared relative to other teachers. Madam, in the past six months, I have spent time listening to what teachers have to say. The Singapore Teachers' Union surveyed about 1,200 teachers and organised a series of closed-door dialogues with teachers of all levels who spoke candidly about their experiences. I had the privilege to hear some of their conversations and experiences. I left with a renewed appreciation for the genuine passion our teachers have for teaching.”
“Madam, my daughter Ella started her Primary 1 journey last month. It has not been an easy transition for her. In her first week, she entered school every morning in tears. It was difficult saying goodbye to her at the gate. But it was comforting for us to know that the teachers were there. I was peeping through the fence, as we, parents, often do, and I saw the teachers holding Ella's hand, offering her a tissue to wipe her tears and showering her with love during this difficult period. I saw how this was not just about teaching, but it was a labour of love. Every morning, the principal and teachers were at the gate cheerfully saying good morning to the students as they arrived. We received phone calls from teachers updating us on Ella and we had Zoom calls with the teachers and other parents too. I thank the teachers for being there for our children, for providing much needed care and for their dedication. I thank them for being teachers. Madam, many people have asked me why my eyes are so red and about my eye bags. In fact, Minister Indranee was asking me about this during our break earlier and she said that I now look like a mad dinosaur. I have been called many things, but the first time, a mad dinosaur. But it has been a difficult Primary 1 journey for me too – waking up so early every morning to send Ella to school. Sometimes, it feels like I have just fallen asleep and it is time to wake up. I guess I had a glimpse of what it is like being a teacher, waking up so early every morning. But a glimpse also because I am sure teachers wake up much earlier than me. It has been said before, but it is not said enough: teachers have a tough job; and I thank them again for their loving role in nurturing our next generation.”
“Given that police investigations are fluid, how does the SPF ensure that use of the TraceTogether data is strictly confined to the seven categories of serious crimes? Second, the debate over the past month may have impacted actual use of the TraceTogether app. We already know from newspaper reports that some people are now choosing to turn off their TraceTogether app when meeting friends or when going out; we must measure the precise effect of such changes. Can the Minister share what specific data points does the TraceTogether team use to measure the impact of the Government's announcement on TraceTogether app’s actual usage? Let me take an example. If we look at daily active users or weekly active users, we might well notice no change in usage. But we might find, for example, that more people are actually turning on the TraceTogether application only once a day and turning it off for the rest of the day. We may also find that mobile devices with TraceTogether apps are, on average, pinging with fewer devices than before, suggesting that the app or Bluetooth functionality may have been turned off. Even if we mandate that the app is flashed at point of entry to a location, a user can subsequently turn off the app. As I have said, I agree with the Government that TraceTogether data should be used for very serious crimes. But we have to deal with the reality that some people may find ways around use of the TraceTogether app, compromising our public health efforts. For public health reasons, can the Minister share what specific data analysis is used to trace whether actual compliance rate with TraceTogether app requirements does not go down? Madam, notwithstanding my clarifications I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Madam, the use of TraceTogether data has generated much public debate. One month after this issue first arose in Parliament, we are now debating a piece of legislation introduced on a Certificate of Urgency to put in safeguards on the use of data. In the past few months, the Bills, which have been fast-tracked all relate to COVID-19 measures. I thank the Minister for acting just as quickly to address the public’s privacy concerns and data protection concerns. But this is not simply an issue of privacy and data protection, it is also a public health concern. Restoring the public’s trust in our national contact tracing infrastructure is important especially in these times. We read in the papers news of second and third waves in other countries. We need to be ready on all fronts to suppress any outbreaks as quickly as humanly possible. We cannot now handicap ourselves by weakening the public’s trust in our contract tracing system. I should also say that I understand the public safety and security needs to access TraceTogether data for certain serious crimes. As a parent, if my daughters’ safety was at risk because of a kidnapping for example, I know I would want access to all data possible to keep them safe. The question is not whether the data should be used, but what safeguards should be in place. I have two points to raise. First, can Minister explain what operational protocols are in place to ensure TraceTogether data used for serious crimes do not become used for investigations of less serious crimes? For example, the SPF may access TraceTogether data for a suspect involved in a murder investigation. In the course of investigations, the TraceTogether data links the suspect to a separate petty theft committed.”
“As part of his ask to include Climate Defence as a pillar of Total Defence, he argued that Singapore needs to take bold, unprecedented steps. There must be a new willingness, a new resolution by the Government to do things differently. I could not agree more with him. Sustainability must become a core part of our nation’s development. It will take time, but every corner of policy-making – and indeed way of life – must transform to match our aspiration towards sustainability. Sir, I thank all the Members who spoke up on this important issue. My heartfelt thanks also to the GPC for Sustainability and the Environment, the Young PAP's Climate Change Policy Team, my Climate Change Team, business leaders, researches, activists and fellow Singaporeans who all contributed to this Motion and the recommendations. Sir, the Government plays an important role to co-lead, to nurture, to protect our environment and to set policies and enforce legislation in this battle against climate change. Each one of us in this global community also plays an important role and by working together, this battle is strengthened and this fight for our planet becomes stronger. Sir, I often push for changes in this House but there is finally one change I am not pushing for and that is climate change. Let us make sure that climate change becomes a thing of the past, something our children learn about in this history lessons. Sir, the power is indeed ours. Let us change our mindset, our behaviours and our policies to move the needle on climate change. Let us focus on action and deepen and accelerate efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and to embrace sustainability in the development of Singapore. Thank you. [Applause.]”
“As I have shared in my opening speech, Prime Minister Lee has already stressed that climate change is "one of the gravest challenges facing humankind." This Government already recognises that the existential threat of climate change is an issue that nations cannot ignore. I believe all of us in this House are on the same page but, Sir, we drafted the Motion's statement that reflects actions. That is important. We have drafted it that way to focus on actions and how we can deepen and accelerate efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. That was my preference but I recognise the merits of the proposed amendments and I agree with the rationale. I thank Miss Chan for the proposed amendments of acknowledging that climate change is a global emergency and a threat to mankind. I believe this will reflect the climate change issue more holistically and focus again on action on how we all need to work together in this global community. I hope that all of us in this House will support the proposed amendments. Sir, I will also like to thank Minister Grace Fu for responding positively to our proposals and concerns and for her strong and continued commitment in ensuring that sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Indeed, sustainability has and always will be a part of Singapore’s DNA. I thank Minister for sharing about our strong Climate Action Plan today and most importantly the good news that we have a new Singapore Green Plan 2030. This whole-of-nation movement to advance the sustainability agenda in Singapore is an important one and I am glad that the plan is a multi-Ministry effort, and that it will be a major policy priority for this Government. That really is good news. To conclude, I would like to refer to a point Mr Seah Kian Peng made.”
“As I mentioned, many Members have been proactive in raising these trade-offs in their speeches and propose specific ideas on how to overcome them. There is no disagreement that a healthy economy and a healthy environment need to go hand in hand and I encourage Mr Leong to continue sharing his ideas on how to manage these trade-offs. Mr Leong said that forest protection and climate adaptation were not included in the Motion's 10 topics. I think Mr Leong will find that several Members today have raised proposals on both topics, myself included. The 10 topics are not an exhaustive list. Mr Leong also asked whether EVs would reduce emissions in Singapore's context. The answer to this is yes. The E-mobility Technology Roadmap published by the Energy Research Institute at NTU looked at the data and found that by 2050, EVs are expected to reduce emissions by up to 64% in Singapore. Sir, I thank Mr Dennis Tan and Miss Cheryl Chan for their proposed amendments. I agree with Mr Tan on the importance of civil society. I spent more than two decades of my life as a civil society activist. We have not just recognised the role of civil society but we have actively engaged them throughout the year long consultation. They have played a crucial role in this Motion and, as I mentioned, in my opening speech, this Motion responds to their call. The original Motion's statement focused on the three Ps that we are all familiar with – the public, private and people sector. Having said that, I support the inclusion of the word "civil society" into the Motion's statement. Sir, the Motion's statement today is also about actions rather than what climate change is. We already know what it is. There is no debate about that.”
“The third theme for today is incentives and regulations – in other words, carrots and sticks. All Members proposed solutions that would limit carbon intensive activities but they also made sure to suggest ways to soften the impact and spark the economy. Mr Don Wee discussed using carbon tax revenues to grow our industries and protect our households. Assoc Prof Jamus Lim similarly asked to give out a green dividend from our carbon tax revenues. Mr Gan Thiam Poh suggested sharing Government data to help the private sector figure out where to build electric vehicle charging points. Mr Gerald Giam asked to extend subsidies and support for petrochemical workers as the industry shrinks its global workforce. Mr Leon Perera proposed growing our green industry, particularly those dealing in professional services, like environmental impact consulting and carbon trading verification. Ms Poh Li San suggested a circular financing system to help the construction industry adapt to tougher Green Mark standards. Miss Cheryl Chan asked for increased support and a more generous timeline for SMEs to file ESG reports. Mr Louis Chua asked for greater reliance on solar energy and cited statistics to show how the clean energy sector can create good jobs for Singapore. Mr Henry Kwek pitched solutions like investments in geothermal solutions and carbon offsets to help the economy adjust to decarbonisation. Together, these balanced recommendations show that Members want Singapore to be both green and prosperous, not just one or the other. Sir, Mr Leong Mun Wai expressed broad support for our 10 topics. I thank him for that. He also raised some general concerns about trade-offs.”
“These 10 recommendations will help us meet and, I believe, exceed our commitment under the Paris Climate Agreement. Sir, many Members have stepped forward today. All of them delivered passionate speeches. I will not be able to do justice to everyone's speeches but let me summarise some themes of their proposals. The first theme is nature. Members stressed the importance of protecting our natural carbon sinks. Miss Rachel Ong shared the science about trees and alerted us that keeping existing trees is far more effective than planting new ones, though both are important steps. Mr Dennis Tan asked for additional legal protection for secondary forests. Ms Nadia Samdin, Prof Koh Lian Pin and Miss Rachel Ong rightly noted that our corals, our mangroves, and indeed, our forests powerfully trap carbon and help us fight climate change. The three Members also stressed the importance of helping Singaporeans learn and become more in touch with nature. This brings me to the second theme: education. Our youths are our future. For them, Ms Nadia Samdin discussed installing sustainability as a core pillar of our education system. Education should also involve vocational training. Miss Cheryl Chan suggested preparing young adults so they have the interest, skills, knowledge and connections needed for the green sector. But education is not just for the young. Mr Christopher de Souza discussed this, his exciting vision for Ulu Pandan as a nature surplus neighbourhood, with nature trails, community gardens and food composting sites. Ms Hany Soh painted a colourful portrait of her Woodgrove community and discussed how all Singaporeans could learn about sustainability through hands-on experience and convenient technologies.”
“I also remember one sentence, something Captain Planet said over and over again: "The power is yours." As I shared in my opening speech, Singaporeans, more than ever, believe in Captain Planet's message. They believe the power to protect the planet is theirs. So, they speak up and take action. This makes me optimistic. But our optimism must not take us away from our urgency. Greenhouse gas emissions reached a new high in 2019. The Paris Agreement aimed to cap this century’s temperature increase at 1.5-degree Celsius. But instead we are on track for three-degree Celsius change. We are hurtling towards extreme climate change and we must urgently change course. The Government must help by deepening and accelerating our efforts against climate change. Sir, in summary, the GPC for Sustainability and the Environment is calling for: One, post-COVID, increase the carbon tax quantum and regularise future reviews. Two, professionalise the carbon accounting and reporting industry. Three, incorporate sustainability into the Industry Transformation Map scheme or have an ITM for the sustainability sector. Four, enhance the Public Sector Taking the Lead in Environmental Sustainability initiative with higher and expanded standards. Five, introduce rules and incentives to promote the building of publicly accessible charging points by private developers. Six, revise the Green Mark scheme to increase standards on carbon intensiveness. Seven, expand climate education in school curricula. Eight, introduce data-sharing mechanisms on clean energy technologies and energy efficiency. Nine, increase public access to emissions data of top-emitting private companies and public entities. Ten, and lastly, add Climate Defence as a seventh pillar of Total Defence in Singapore.”