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.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,801 lines we hold for Louis Ng Kok Kwang, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 23 of 37.
“Sir, I do understand the cost implications. But I am just wondering whether we could start this with the delivery riders. Because at night, the bulk of the PMDs on our paths are the delivery riders when there is an increase in the number of food orders. A lot of the issues are with the delivery riders. So, maybe, we can start with them, where the food delivery companies will bear some of the cost of installing these laser lights. I understand the white light as well, but that can only be seen when you are facing the PMD. What I am suggesting is the laser light, which means that even if the PMD is behind you, you can actually see your path in front of you that there is a PMD about to approach. I actually experienced this in London, where it was very useful. All the time, I could see that there was going to be a bicycle that was approaching me and I can then take whatever necessary action to make sure that I do not get hit.”
“Lastly, the First Schedule of the Bill limits the compensation payable by an employer to the cost of medical treatment within one year of the date of the accident. However, it is plausible that bad employers may prevent or obstruct their employees from getting appropriate medical treatment in the first year after the accident. In such cases, can the Ministry clarify whether the employee’s only recourse will be to seek compensation via the common law route? Can the Ministry introduce exceptions to the one-year time bar where the employer has actively sought to prevent the employee from getting medical treatment? Sir, I hope the Ministry will provide the clarifications sought and consider my recommendations in subsidiary legislation and implementation of the Bill. I stand in support of what is an overall positive step in strengthening our work injury compensation regime.”
“Can MOM look into providing guidelines on what constitutes adequate food and acceptable housing? While this will differ from employer to employer, we are not asking every employer to meet the standards in the same exact way. These guidelines will provide a minimum standard to ensure that employers cannot abuse the ambiguity of adequate food and acceptable housing. Next, the Bill also proposes for the compensation to be assessed based on CI to expedite compensation for the employee. I understand that, in practice, when the injury is assessed is important because employers consider their responsibilities to be fully discharged upon assessment of incapacity. Can MOM clarify, where the assessment is based on CI, will the employer be responsible for the medical treatment after the assessment? For instance, is the employer responsible for the cost of a follow-up treatment and for therapy after the assessment? Can the Minister also clarify whether the Ministry’s intention is for migrant workers to be repatriated after assessment based on CI is done? My concern is that this will have the effect of denying migrant workers continuing care and rehabilitation that may be necessary until their condition fully stabilises. It is also proposed that employees be allowed to switch assessing doctors to address cases of inadequate care of overly conservative incapacity assessments. The Ministry has stated that the Commissioner may allow employees to switch the assessing doctor in certain cases. Can the Minister clarify under what circumstances the employee will be allowed to switch assessing doctors and whether the employee will be able to determine which doctor to consult?”
“The feedback from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is that this is a good practice, and some have suggested to me that we institutionalise this practice. This will also be of great assistance to insurers who can make more easily their payouts through bank transfers. As a matter of standard practice, when commencing a work injury claim, can the Ministry issue such a letter to a migrant worker who does not already have a bank account? Next, as insurers will now take over the processing of claims, the task of determining AME now falls on them. I understand that determining the AME can be a contentious issue and there are incidences of erroneous, missing and forged timecards and salary slips. This is a difficult enough problem for MOM with their statutory powers of investigation. Can the Minister share how the Ministry intends to address the possible difficulties that insurers may face in determining AME? Where a dispute over the AME goes to the Commissioner, the Bill empowers the Commissioner to compute compensation based on a multiple of the employee’s basic monthly salary if there are no other evidence available. Can the Minister share if it will issue guidelines for determining what this multiple should be or if the issue is left entirely up to the discretion of the Commissioner? Next, employers are currently required to provide adequate food and acceptable housing for migrant workers during the entire injury compensation process. However, it is not clear what adequate food and acceptable housing means. NGOs have shared with me horror stories where migrant workers are required to travel long distances to their work sites in order to get food when they should be resting, or where they are housed in accommodation with appalling conditions.”
“Will the employee be given the opportunity to challenge the details stated in the accident report and claim application where they are filed by the employer or automatically processed? Further, can MOM share how it intends to ensure that the accident report and claim application will reach the hands of a migrant worker whose address is likely to be the office address of their employer? Can the accident report and claim application be sent to the migrant worker through existing mobile applications? Alternatively, do employees have the right to obtain copies of these documents directly from MOM free of charge? Next, the Bill proposes for licensed insurers to process insured WICA claims. I hope this move will help to expedite the claims process and ensure timely payouts for employees. I have two points relating to processing of claims by insurers. First, can the licensing regime for insurers also include a requirement that insured employees be issued with insurance cards to facilitate faster processing of medical appointments and procedures? I understand that injured employees are sometimes caught in limbo where their employer has not paid for medical treatment and refuses to provide a Letter of Guarantee for the necessary medical procedures. Requiring that employees hold insurance cards not only benefits them, it will also take some of the burden off employers and reduce the amount of bad debt hospitals face due to unpaid medical bills by employers. Secondly, to facilitate the insurance payouts, can the Ministry assist injured migrant workers who do not have bank accounts in opening one? I understand that MOM can issue a letter to help migrant workers open a Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) payroll account at the Kaki Bukit branch.”
“However, I understand that there is a lot of confusion on the ground as to what constitutes light duties and when an injured employee can be prescribed light duties. The SMC Ethical Code and Guidelines require doctors to ensure that there are appropriate light duties available to the employee at their workplaces before prescribing light duties. In practice, I understand that many doctors prescribe light duties when, in fact, there are no light duties available at the workplace. This leads to confusion for both the employees and the employers. There are stories of employees who end up not working at all or employees who do heavy labour that is inappropriate for their physical conditions. I appreciate that this is an issue that will have to involve the Ministry of Health, SMC and doctors and return-to-work occupational therapists. Given that light duties are now more significant under the work injury compensation regime, will the Ministry work with the relevant stakeholders to shed more light on what constitutes light duties and when it can be prescribed? Next, the Ministry has also stated that employees will receive notice of accident reports after they have been submitted to the Ministry. The amendments will also introduce an automatic claim application system for fatal or serious injuries. The accident report and claim application state important details, such as the location of the accident, the nature of the injury, and the AME. These are key details that will affect the compensation assessment. Can MOM confirm that the employee will receive notice of the accident report and claim application in all cases?”
“Errant employers may influence medical practitioners to prescribe lesser days of medical leave and provide light duties in order to downplay the severity of an injury or to avoid reporting the accident. I previously asked the Ministry whether the requirement for reporting work-related or workplace accidents can include cases where the employee is placed on light duties. I understand that the reporting requirements for a workplace accident will be updated in Subsidiary Legislation. The criteria for reporting an injury will now be at least 24 hours of hospitalisation or any instance of medical leave or light duties. This will help address cases of doctors under-prescribing medical leave to employees so that employers can avoid reporting an accident. I thank the Ministry for taking this step. However, my concern is that doctors may now circumvent this requirement by not prescribing any medical leave or light duties at all. The Ministry has stated that the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) has mechanisms to take disciplinary action against doctors who do so. However, this requires a process of detection, investigation and enforcement. The employee who has suffered a work injury may be denied access to medical documentation, proper and timely medical treatment and compensation in the meantime. How will the Ministry monitor incidences of medical malpractices by doctors under the new reporting requirements? Further, will the Ministry consider implementing a dual reporting system by both doctors and employers in the future? Next, the Bill also extends compensation coverage to employees on light duties. This is welcome as it is now very common for injured employees to be prescribed light duties in lieu of medical leave.”
“Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. We have made great strides in prioritising WSH. Our WSH2028 strategy articulates a Vision Zero for all stakeholders to work towards preventing all forms of injury and ill-health at work. While we work towards the WSH2028 vision, the work injury compensation regime provides a safeguard for employees who, unfortunately, have suffered a workplace injury. In this distressing period, work injury compensation helps to alleviate some of the financial burden on employees and to ensure that they have access to the necessary medical treatment. The Bill proposes an overhaul of the existing work injury compensation regime which, on the whole, benefits both employees and employers by expanding WICA coverage, licensing WIC insurers, and simplifying and expediting work injury claims processes. I applaud the ambitions of the Bill. I have the following clarifications and recommendations on how the proposed amendments will be implemented in Subsidiary Legislation and operational policy. The problem of some doctors giving insufficient medical leave to migrant workers has been a recurring problem for several years. I would like to highlight two recent cases where doctors were suspended by the High Court for professional misconduct. In the first case, Dr Kevin Yip gave two days of medical leave and light duties thereafter to Mr Zhang, a construction worker, despite the latter having a serious fall that resulted in multiple injuries, such as a fractured collarbone and a few rib fractures. In the second case, Dr Wong Him Choon likewise gave two days of medical leave and light duties thereafter to Mr Fan, also a construction worker, despite the latter sustaining hand and forearm fractures that required surgery after a fall from height.”
“Could I at least ask whether we can do away with the plastic bottle? I mean, that is the first step. Two, we have this Clean and Green message that we issue almost throughout the year that people should bring their own reusable bottles but, all of a sudden at the NDP, that message disappears. So, I am just hoping for NDP 2020, we can do away with the plastic bottle. And, two, can we then issue the message out to urge people to bring their reusable bottles to NDP?”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. But could I ask, not the top three reasons of how they are borrowing but the top three reasons of why they are borrowing. I think there are some reports that say that they are borrowing because of family emergencies. I am just wondering how effective our new measures will be. If it is for family emergencies and we block them from LMLs, will we not then push them to the unlicensed moneylenders that will put them in a more difficult position, the FDWs and the employers as well? That is why, if we can study the reasons why they are borrowing, then we can address the root of the problem and then come up with policies to address it.”
“Sir, I think the problem is the surveillance cameras. So, I want to ask whether we are going to improve the surveillance cameras. I also want to share that where I stay, I do have a neighbour that was throwing cigarette butts almost every other day. NEA did deploy the surveillance camera there. But for that week, this resident could see there was a surveillance camera, so the person did not throw any cigarette butts. We could not catch anyone. The minute they removed the camera, the next day, the cigarette butts started to appear again. So, the problem might be our surveillance cameras are so big that the offenders can see them, they do not litter and that is why we do not catch anyone. We have limited cameras and they cannot be deployed all the time. So, the question is: can we improve the surveillance cameras? Make them smaller so that people cannot see them and then we might be able to catch more people and we do not need to wait for the resident to reach menopause.”
“Four, no longer state in letters that single unweds obtain housing based on special approvals on compassionate grounds. And five, have a scheme for single unweds under 35 years old and his or her child to buy a 2-room flexi flat from HDB. Let me end with a quote as always. Being a single parent is twice the work, twice the stress and twice the tears, but also twice the hugs, twice the love and twice the pride. I am here to stand up for single parents and salute them for all that they are doing for their children. I hope Members of this House will join me and us, and that our policies will continue to change. Sir, I am not the first Member to speak up about this, but I certainly hope that I will be the last Member who has to fight to level the playing field for single unwed parents. It is 2019; it is time to level this playing field.”
“Our policies should cater to the majority and we should not let the majority suffer because of what we feel the minority might do to game the system. At the end of the day, we need to remember that there are children involved here. There might be arguments about what the single unwed should or should not have done and how they should face up and bear the consequences of their actions. But the child is innocent and the child needs a roof over his or her head and the child needs a parent who is less stressed. Sir, I have spent the last four years speaking up for single parents, filing Parliamentary Questions, during Bill speeches, filing Budget cuts and filing a Parliamentary petition. Honestly, my wife is getting a bit worried as people now come up to me on the streets to ask if I am a single parent. At a recent meeting with a social worker to discuss about help for single parents, the social worker was so sure that I was a single parent since I spoke up so much about this issue. Let me assure everyone that I am happily married with three beautiful kids and I do not intend to become a single parent. But I do not need to be a single parent to understand the difficulties they face, the stigma they endure and the struggles they go through each and every day. Single unweds are not asking for more benefits. They are asking that they and their child, all of whom are Singaporeans, be treated equally. In conclusion, I hope that: One, we can publish the criteria under which a specific group of single unwed parents under 35 years old can get a rental flat. Two, specifically state on the HDB website that "Single unwed and his or her child" can apply for a rental flat. Three, update all our frontline officers that single unweds can apply for a rental flat.”
“The only time when an unwed parent feels the impact of the policy is when he or she has a child and is looking for a roof over their heads. The message that we are telling the single unweds is that they should get married. But do we want to force a couple to get married so that they can get a roof over their heads? What kind of a marriage would that be? Is this really in the best interest of the child? There is another way out for the single unwed, which is to get married and then file for a divorce subsequently and get sole care and control of the child. They would then qualify for HDB housing. This really does not make sense. In fact, the single unwed and his or her child who previously did not qualify for public housing will now not only qualify for public housing but might get priority to get a flat under the Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (ASSIST) scheme. I know the Government is also concerned that if more help is given to single unweds, we will have a sudden increase in the number of single unweds. But this has not been the case, since we provided the 16 weeks of maternity leave and the Child Development Account (CDA) to single unweds and their children, there has not been an increase in the number of single unweds. In fact, there has been a decrease. There was also no public uproar when we extended these benefits to single unweds and their children. Lastly, there might be concerns that people will have a baby just to get an HDB flat. Honestly, while there might be some who would do this, Members of this House will agree with me that the vast majority of people will not have a child out of wedlock just to get an HDB flat.”
“Instead, they tell them, like all other Singaporeans, they can apply if they meet the eligibility criteria stated on the website and HDB will assess their application like all other applications. Let us make sure they do not feel discriminated against. My fifth request is that we introduce a scheme for "Single unwed under 35 years old and his or her child" to buy a 2-room flexi flat from HDB similar to other schemes like the Orphans Scheme or Joint Singles Scheme where there is a set of criteria one has to fulfill to apply for a flat. In the past four years, there were 121 requests from single unwed parents under 35 years old to apply for purchase of a 2-room flexi flat. Only 28 requests were accepted. The other applicants were assessed to be able to stay with family members. Sir, if we told any other Singaporean that they were not allowed to buy an HDB flat as they could stay with their family members, I am quite sure there would be a huge public uproar. Why then do we do this to single unwed parents? Sir, I understand that MND is mindful "not to undermine the prevailing social norm of parenthood within marriage" when helping unmarried parents. But this current housing policy does not prevent children being born out of wedlock. I understand the intent of the policy, but we really need to question whether it works. I have met a lot of single unweds and many did not plan to have a child out of wedlock. It was the heat of the moment and they got pregnant. In the heat of the moment, just before they have sex, nobody would stop and think, "Wait if we do this and get pregnant and don't get married, we won't be able to get an HDB flat. Let's not have sex." All of us sitting here know that this will not happen. We have a policy that will not work.”
“As a Member had previously raised, I, too, question the logic where a divorcee with a child, a widower with a child and even two orphaned siblings can be considered as eligible to apply for a flat from the HDB, but not a single unwed parent with his or her child. Why? Sir, surely there is some set of objective standards by which we can say, "Yes, you qualify for a public rental flat." Is there really a case where an unwed parent with no income, no assets and no family support should not qualify for a public rental flat? And so, this is my first request: we should create and publish a set of eligibility criteria under which a specific group of single unwed parents under 35 years old can apply and get a rental flat without needing a case-by-case review or approval. Since 2014, 380 single unwed parents have been successful in their application for a rental flat. This means that HDB should have enough data to identify clusters of people like Mary and Ema who undeniably need rental housing. For other cases, we can still rely on a case-by-case review. But let us start by providing a sure "Yes" to those who we know definitely need our help. My second request is about the language we use. When single unwed parents do get approvals, I hope that HDB will no longer state that the decision was a "special approval" based on "compassionate grounds". Can we, like all other applications, simply state that their application has been approved? My third request is that we specifically state on the HDB website that a "Single unwed and his or her child" can apply, not guaranteed, but can apply for a rental flat. My fourth request is that our frontline officers be updated and no longer tell single unweds that they are ineligible for a rental flat.”
“At the age of 27, Ema had a child out of wedlock. Ema tried to apply for a rental flat and was told to see a Member of Parliament for help. She also got help from her social worker. Even her baby's doctor wrote a letter for her stating that, "As she (the baby) is currently staying in a shelter, she is frequently in contact with other residents who are unwell and hence predisposed to recurrent infection. As such, it will be greatly appreciated if the application for the HDB rental flat can be expedited." Ema did not shed a tear when she told me her story and I asked her why. She told me that she no longer had any tears left. She was not asking for sympathy. She was simply looking for a roof over her head and her baby's head. I appealed to HDB to allow her to rent a flat and I am glad the appeal was successful. HDB replied that, "We are pleased to inform you that we have obtained special approval for you to rent a 1-room flat with your daughter on compassionate grounds." I am glad the appeal was successful. But the whole process was extremely stressful for Ema who had a newborn, had no income, had no family members to help her, was living in a shelter, which made her baby sick frequently. And she had to seek help from three separate sources. Should cases like this not be a straightforward yes for a rental flat application rather than on a case-by-case basis? I think single unweds and their children will also face a strong stigma attached to them when they can only get a roof over their heads through special approvals on compassionate grounds.”
“But imagine the amount of anxiety a person desperate for a roof over their head faces when told that you are ineligible for a rental flat. I have sent HDB an appeal letter for her and I hope we will consider the appeal favourably. Sir, Mary is not alone. Only about a third of rental applications submitted by single unwed parents to HDB are approved. The Ministry of National Development (MND) had previously said that "In relation to meeting the housing needs of children with single parents, a range of Government agencies work together to ensure that no child is without adequate housing, regardless of whether his or her parents are single or married". I am glad that HDB has provided housing to single unweds under 35 years old and their children. But this is only on a case-by-case basis. Why? We all understand the rationale of a case-by-case review. We want to be careful. But what we are doing is adding stress for people who already feel they are at the end of the road. Let me share another story of a single unwed whose extreme struggles were worsened by the stress and uncertainty of our housing policy. I met Ema, not her real name, at my MPS last year. She is a single unwed mother. When I met her, her daughter was only two months old. They were both living in a shelter when they came to me for help. Ema is one of the most resilient persons I have met. She had to be. She is a living example of how housing has been a stress for all her life. From the age of five to 15, she grew up in a children’s home. She was returned to her father for a short time before he disappeared from her life. She managed to stay with some relatives but eventually had to move out because of tensions that come with staying in a home that does not belong to you.”
“In stark comparison, single unwed parents under 35 have a median salary of only $600 in 2017. Their median salary has hardly changed over the years. It was $500 in 2013, $600 in 2014, $700 in 2015 and $600 in 2016. We need to ask ourselves what options does a parent with a newborn and earning only $600 a month have? They clearly cannot afford alternative housing options and they are then left with one last option, which is to stay with their family members. I agree with that and we all wish that it happens. Last month, I filed a Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for National Development whether HDB will, deciding not just on a case-by-case basis and without receiving an appeal, allow a single parent and his/her child to get an HDB rental flat when the duo cannot afford alternative housing options and will otherwise have to share a bedroom with existing family members in the family's home or stay in the living room because there is no spare room available. The reply was yes, they qualify. I left Parliament elated that evening. Happy that single parents with no other available options could qualify for a rental flat. The happiness was short-lived. At my Meet-the-People Session (MPS) that evening, Mary, not her real name, came to see me. She is a single unwed with a five-year old child. Both her parents have passed on and she was staying with her daughter in the living room of her sister's flat. She was able to earn only about $300 a month as she had to look after her daughter. She called HDB. She was told she and her daughter do not form a family nucleus and as such she did not qualify for a rental flat. They did tell her that she can apply.”
“" What about housing for single unweds? Sir, 13 years ago, another Member already raised concerns stating that this policy of not allowing single unweds to rent Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats on their own is an outdated policy. Twenty-two years ago, another Member posed this question in this House, "Does it therefore become morally justifiable to deny an unwed mother and her child public housing, say, a rental flat? Unwed mothers are not criminals. If denied public rental flat, what is their choice? The problem really is that unlike, say, London or New York, there is no large stock of affordable private housing for those who are deemed ineligible to qualify for public housing. There is no real free market in the supply of public housing. We therefore have to really be careful when we turn people out and ask ourselves where they will live." Twenty-two years later, I am glad that things have improved significantly. The Government has listened and responded positively. Just like married mothers, unwed mothers now have the full 16 weeks of Government-paid maternity leave and their children also qualify for a Child Development Account (CDA). These are significant steps forward to level the playing field. But this playing field remains unlevelled as, amongst several other issues, we have not resolved the issue of housing. Single unweds and their children need a roof over their heads. We should look especially at single unwed parents under 35 years old. Those 35 years old or above can qualify for public housing under the Singles Scheme. So, we know they have a way out there. I also understand that in 2017, single unwed parents aged 35 have a median salary of $3,100, and those 36 and above have a median salary of $3,500.”
“Sir, for over 20 years, the voices of the single unwed parents have been heard in this House. Members have spoken with passion about the challenges facing single unwed parents and their children. Members shared their concerns about how it is the innocent children who would suffer from their continued exclusion from society by discriminating against single unwed parents. We all agree that intact families are ideal, but as Members have previously raised, we live in an imperfect world. The single unwed is very often a victim of circumstance. In examining the inequality faced by a single unwed parent, Members, including myself, are not advocating for any extra assistance above and beyond what a couple receives. We merely ask that we not discriminate against a single unwed and his or her child, and that we treat them equally and with dignity. Members have shared that a 2004 Cornell study concluded that children of single parents can do as well as children of dual parents, if the single parent is able to provide a sufficiently supportive environment. Withholding support from an unwed parent could end up disadvantaging the child. Eight years ago, a Member asked, and I quote, "Is the Government looking at the unintended negative consequences that result from the policies affecting single unwed parents? Are we examining the policies to see if there is an effect on the health, development and social mobility of the child? Are we looking to see if inter-generational poverty is more likely to result? Do we care more about a set of stated principles or do we care more about the effects on our citizens? If the Government wants to discourage the incidence of single unwed parents, there are much better ways that do not have such negative consequences.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply with regard to the child seat. I am a big fan of public consultation and trying to engineer a compromise. But in this case, it really is a safety issue. I am just wondering whether we should try to compromise when it comes to safety. If you are in a private car and your child is not in a car seat, for repeated offence, you could go to jail. We have such a heavy penalty because of safety. I am just wondering how does the safety disappear when that same car becomes a taxi. I recognise my colleague Mr Ang Hin Kee's point about the cost. We are on surge pricing now. For me to go home now is $27; for me to have a Grab car with a car seat is actually only $2 more. For a Grab car with a car seat for a child aged one to three is extra $5. So, it is not three times the price. If it is $27, and for a car seat, it becomes $60 or $80, of course, any reasonable person would say no. But in this case, if $2 more could save the life of your child, I am not sure what is holding us back.”
“Sir, notwithstanding my clarifications, I stand in support of this Bill.”
“We can make 24/7 emergency alarm service buttons, which are linked to local authorities, mandatory for all P2P passenger services. This could be a feature available to both drivers and passengers in the event they face a security threat. Will the Ministry consider piloting this feature for some street-hail and ride-hail services? I also recommend that we require both street-hail and ride-hail services to have child safety seats, as many Members have previously stated as well. It is currently illegal for private cars, including ride-hail services, to ferry children under 1.35 metres without a child restraint appropriate for the child's height and weight, a booster seat to supplement the seat belt, or an approved adjustable seat belt. Oddly, the street-hail services are exempt from this requirement. Sir, a Toyota Vios is a Toyota Vios, regardless of whether it is registered as a street-hail service or ride-hail service. This inconsistency in application of the law is not in the interest of the child. Why should there be a compromise on child safety for street-hail? From a safety perspective, there should be equal treatment across the board. Will the Ministry consider harmonising this requirement for both street-hail and ride-hail services? Lastly, while I agree that it is necessary for PTC to have oversight of prices, it is important not to overreach. The Bill gives PTC the discretion to set a pricing policy for fares charged by ride-hailing operators. I would like to clarify when and under what conditions PTC will step in to regulate. What are their considerations and guiding principles on how they will regulate ride-hail services? What are the limits to the powers of PTC in relation to ride-hail services?”
“Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. I welcome the proposed initiatives to level the playing field and make the industry more contestable. Both consumers and drivers stand to benefit from more clarity and uniformity in how the rules are applied for street-hail and ride-hail services. I would like to raise some clarifications and also some recommendations. I welcome the introduction of code of practices across the industry. Standardisation is welcomed as it levels the playing field. I would like to query about LTA’s process of drafting these codes of practices and to stress the importance of having an inclusive and consultative process. Can the Ministry shed light on the process of developing the codes of practice? While sections 30(2), 30(3) and 30(4) suggest some possible areas that the codes of practice might cover, we do not know how specific or prescriptive the codes will be. I hope that LTA will conduct thorough stakeholder consultation when drafting these codes. It is important to engage key stakeholders, such as industry partners, in the consultation process to ensure that the codes of practice do not hinder innovation and market forces. Next, in line with the aim of the Bill to safeguard consumer interest, I hope we can adopt international best practices of having an emergency alarm service button in the vehicle and tracking real-time locations. This is a feature that is already available for some ride-hail services through the mobile application. For instance, Grab riders are able to request assistance or notify up to three emergency contacts with an in-app Emergency button. Riders who tap on the button will receive a call from a security company and unanswered calls may be escalated to the Police. Leading ride-hailing platforms, such as Uber, also have them.”
“But some citizens were also surprised by the extensiveness of its systems. Because these street lamps will be able to identify faces in real time and because they might eventually be everywhere, this means that there is potentially no place in Singapore where you would not have data on your whereabouts stored in some Government database. Perhaps, most Singaporeans will take the angle that if you do nothing wrong, you have no need to fear. But if leaks of such pervasive, universal data ever happen, it could strongly undermine trust in our public institutions. I hope the Ministry will take proactive steps to prevent such breaches from ever happening. Sir, notwithstanding my clarifications and suggestions, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Every Singapore Citizen appreciates the centrality of public safety and security to our way of life. We are able to walk on the streets at night with ease because we know that we will be safe. At the same time, even as Singaporeans feel physically safe, they have also become uneasy at the risks involved with giving away their data. A spate of data leakages from the Government has exacerbated such fears. In its mission to keep Singapore safe, this new Agency will surely leverage heavy use of data. Second Minister Josephine Teo highlighted that the agency will make intensive usage of video analytics and surveillance in its crime deterrence and incident response. Given the potential intrusion on privacy that this represents, can the Ministry share the protocols and structures it plans to put in place to safeguard the data it collects? I have two specific recommendations to make on accountability mechanisms that can be implemented. First, will MHA publish annual reports on its data security measures to enhance public trust on this issue? Second, will MHA consider setting up a hotline for employees to whistleblow on lax data security measures? It is paramount that the Government takes active steps to demonstrate transparency, accountability and security with the great powers our people have entrusted it with. Take the example of the "smart lamp posts." ST Engineering won the tender last year and these lamps will hit the streets this year. The press release has highlighted its benefits to society. We will be able to better catch speeding motorists and personal mobility devices. Crime can be further deterred. In times of a transport breakdown and traffic congestion, authorities can proactively provide solutions.”
“Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. The nature of modern threats to national security are increasingly complex and must be tackled through the use of cutting-edge science and technology. That said, I have two points of clarifications to raise. My first is on membership. Section 11 of the Bill provides a list of four categories of individuals who are disqualified from serving as a member of this new Agency. This list is not unfamiliar to us. Indeed, in legislation that provides for the existence of other Statutory Boards, we see similar sections outlining these conditions for disqualification. However, this list is different from legislation providing for other Statutory Boards, such as the DSTA Act and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Act. These two Statutory Boards either deal with similar science and technology topics or exist under the same category in the Public Sector (Governance) Act. Yet, they disqualify members differently. Speaking generally, the A*STAR Act bars those with mental illness, undischarged bankruptcy and unpardoned dishonest offences. The DSTA Act adds to that list a fourth condition: unpardoned imprisonment of six months. This Bill we read today adds two new conditions: the individual cannot be a judge or judicial officer. The individual also cannot be disqualified from serving as a director or manager under the Companies Act. I raise two questions pertaining to this point. One, why have we added these two new conditions of disqualification? Why are these conditions relevant here and why are they not relevant to the other Statutory Boards? Two, does the Government have plans to harmonise these conditions of membership disqualification? My second point is about privacy, which fellow Member Rahayu Mahzam has raised as well.”
“I thank the Minister for the reply as well. But as I raised yesterday, we have seen recent fires of units that face external corridors, it did affect the neighbouring unit. The smoke did not just dissipate upwards and it was well-ventilated. So, I support Mr Patrick Tay's call to have fire-rated doors for all units. Second, can we at least offer it as an option during the Home Improvement Programme (HIP)? Because I think when we go to the HIP showroom, they only offer non fire-rated doors there. So, if we cannot supply, then can we at least provide it as an option for residents to choose to pay for the fire-rated doors if they want?”
“I also join Er Dr Lee Bee Wah to congratulate MEWR for the good work you are doing, but we are not saying to ban plastic bags or replace plastic bags. We are calling for the plastic bag charge so that we can reduce the use of plastic bags, so that we do not over-consume it. If we focus on this, then the "Say YES to Waste Less" campaign will go a lot faster. The Senior Minister of State mentioned about other countries. In the United Kingdom (UK), where they have introduced the plastic bag charge, it resulted in an over 80% decline in the use of plastic bags. So, it is not about replacing but about reducing.”
“Singapore and Singaporeans will miss her beautiful voice in our heartlands where she used to busk. She will be remembered for sharing her love for music with everyone and for nurturing the next generation of buskers. She will be remembered for her passion for music, for never giving up and for her fighting spirit. This speech is dedicated to her. Sir, buskers like Yu Xuan, Tristan, Joey, Firdaus, Jonathan, Edwin, Fadhil, Yong Kang, Benjamin and Marcus help make this world a better place and we should help make Singapore a better place for them, too. I hope we can make their wishes come true.”
“I will also walk the talk in terms of my support for busking. In addition to the current site at Yishun Park, I am planning to have two new busking sites in Nee Soon East: one at the Yishun Park Hawker Centre and the other at our brand-new Oasis Waterpark @ Nee Soon East. The area will also be a testbed for the balloting system for busking. This new association will work closely with my team to manage these new sites, ensure that it is well-run and look into any feedback and address any concerns from both buskers and residents. Sir, in conclusion, the buskers wish that: one, they can be allocated five busking areas instead of five busking sites; two, a busking app be created; three, we have a balloting system for certain busking hotspots; and four, we have specific busking sites for circus acts at specific times. Sir, in the words of William Wan, "A smile, a word of encouragement or, best of all, a contribution, will go a long way in creating a supportive environment for these buskers to continue living their passion while earning some money from it. They do enliven the streets of Singapore, providing wholesome entertainment, lifting up our spirits and lightening our moods. Busking provides the colours in an otherwise grey concrete jungle. Surely, such a simple but meaningful contribution to the arts is worthy of being treated as a "real job for those who go down that road less trodden?” Sir, one of the last songs that Yu Xuan sang was 海阔天空, a song alluding to one’s struggles to stay true to one’s ideals while facing the inevitable headwinds and storms in life. I guess it was apt that this was one of the last songs that she sang and this is perhaps symbolic of the struggles she faced and the struggles buskers face.”
“" He also shared that, "Busking also allows me to share my art with people who may not be able to afford shows in the theatre. When I busk, it allows them to be exposed to the arts and also pay how much they can afford or not pay at all and still enjoy the show. Busking allows me to make the world a better place and sometimes change someone's mood from bad to good because of my show." One main issue he faces as a circus act busker is that he has way fewer locations that he can use. Examples of circus acts are magicians, jugglers, acrobats and dance groups. They require a huge amount of space due to the nature of their shows and to ensure public safety. The issue of first come, first served also puts them at a huge disadvantage because many musicians or sidewalk performers come really early to perform and again "chope" the space. His kind of performances are usually only possible in the evenings. One thing he hopes for is for specific sites for circus acts at specific times. This will make it a little fairer and will allow for more diversity of performances. Sir, in the past five years, Jonathan also saw that buskers were not talking to one another, and he felt the need to connect the community of buskers. He started a Facebook group called Singapore Buskers, with the aim of making the busking community more closely knitted. He wants to take it one step further and I am delighted to share that Jonathon, together with fellow buskers Fadhil, Yong Kang, Benjamin, Fridaus and Marcus, will register a Buskers Association that will help take busking to the next level in Singapore. The association will work closely with NAC and will also be supported by Timbre. It is a beautiful collaboration among the people, public and private sectors and I am delighted to support this.”
“00 am to reserve the "best" spots and only start performing in the evening. Firdaus is concerned that the busking community will turn competitive and lose respect for one another. One suggestion he has is to have a ballot system for selected busking hotspots. This is done for Covent Garden in London, a world-renowned site for street performances. There are scheduled time slots for each performance area. Buskers who wish to play, put their names on a list and names are drawn to see who gets to choose the most desired time slots first. Names are drawn and slots are chosen until either nobody wants the leftover spots or all have been chosen. Having a balloting system means that everyone will have a fair chance to busk at these hotspots instead of just a few buskers, and the public will be able to see a range of performances instead of only the few who had "choped" the spots. I suggest we implement this for the busking sites in front of Ngee Ann City and at Clarke Quay for a start. We can also be fairer and have more diversity of performances in Singapore. Not all buskers are singers and I met Jonathan who, together with Edwin, are known as The Annoying Brothers. They started busking five years ago to push the boundaries of how a circus show can be presented in Singapore. Jonathan was a youth-at-risk. He started mixing with bad company when his parents were going through divorce. He shared with me that, "I was lucky as I met someone who introduced circus arts to me, which kept me at bay. If not, I would not have become who I am today and may have ended up in jail. Because of that, circus arts became a huge passion of mine and I aspire to become a circus artist, with the aims of developing this artform in Singapore.”
“It was especially difficult when Yu Xuan was in a wheelchair. They hope that instead of five busking sites, it can be five busking areas and, in each area, have a few busking sites. This means that buskers can move within an area to find an available site more easily. They also had an idea of an app that shows the buskers what sites are taken and what sites are available, so buskers can move to the locations that are not being occupied instead of travelling all the way there to find that it has been taken. The app can also be made available to the public and they can see where performances are taking place and this will help promote the busking scene in Singapore. I can understand the complexity of managing such an app. But I think it is an idea we should explore further. Sir, Firdaus shares the same concern as The ETC with regard to the difficulty of finding a place to busk. I met this young man who recently graduated from Engineering and has been busking for the past three years. In his own words and on his signboard when he busks, "I busk to make the world a better place". Busking means the world to him and it gave him a platform to perform and express himself. Through busking, he realised his love for performing on the streets and how every song he sings can make a big impact on a person's life. For him, it is the most heart-warming feeling ever. But Firdaus is concerned that the current limited busking sites will cause a problem. Due to the limited space, chances are buskers will be performing close to one another and most of them will not be happy about it. They may be arguments among the buskers about noise and "stealing" away the crowd. Due to it being first-come-first-serve, some buskers come as early as 11.”
“We spoke for hours and they were bursting with ideas and suggestions on how we can make things better not just for themselves but for everyone. Sir, buskers light up our lives and they help to make Singapore a more vibrant place to live in. Unfortunately, some still view buskers as beggars and, for some, busking is frowned upon. It is time to change this perception and recognise buskers as artistes and performers. It is time to fulfill the wishes of the buskers. Let me start with wishes from three groups of buskers. Sir, I never got to meet Yu Xuan again, but I met her band mates Tristan and Joey from The ETC. They became friends through music, with Tristan attending vocal lessons together with Joey and even taking lessons from Yu Xuan at one point. They started busking together in 2016 just to try it out. In their words, "We sing from our hearts. Singing is like telling a story. When we sing, we interpret the songs and share our meaning and feelings with the audience." They did face many difficulties and, in particular, Yu Xuan had to overcome many health constraints to continue to busk. But through busking, she found meaning in life. Despite problems with her eyesight, then her kidney, then a stubborn cough, which damaged her vocal cords, then her spine, then her hearing, she never gave up. The ETC busk because they want to make people believe in music and comfort and surprise them with this unexpected outdoor encounter. Sir, their wish is for the removal of the limit of only five busking sites to each successful applicant of a Busking Card. They shared with me how difficult it was for them to find a spot and, at times, they spent the night moving in taxis from one location to another with all their equipment.”
“Sir, in one of my earlier speeches in this House, I said that, "I'm often asked what special powers I wish I have. My reply has always been that I wish I have the power to turn back time. As much as I try to live a life without regrets, there will always be regrets, always a wish that we could have done things better, always a wish that we could have spent more time with our loved ones." Regret is truly an incurable ache. I found myself thinking about this wish again a few months back because I wished I had more time with Yu Xuan and got to know her better. There are some people whom you meet for the first time and you immediately know that they are nice people, genuinely nice. Yu Xuan is one of them. She is a local artist and busker and passed away on 10 March this year. I had just met her two days earlier at an event and was mesmerised by her beautiful voice and her big heart. She had concerns about and suggestions on how we can improve the busking scene. I told her that I will look into it and catch up with her another time to discuss this further. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet her again, but a promise is a promise and I fully intend to keep this promise. Sir, I spent the past few months meeting with buskers and listening to their concerns and wishes. I also met with the National Arts Council (NAC) as well and learnt about the amazing work they do. I have never been involved in the arts scene before. As someone with two left feet and who cannot sing, dance, draw or paint, and I can tell you that my little daughters do all the above much better than me, I found myself in love with arts after these meetings. I met with people so passionate about what they do, so devoted and selfless.”
“Third, can the Ministry consider implementing a reporting mechanism to ensure that third-party enforcement is being carried out in a fair and effective manner? What other safeguards would be put in place to keep these officers in check? Such checks and safeguards will be useful in ensuring that third-party officers are compliant with the provisions of this Act and carry out enforcement properly. Sir, notwithstanding these clarifications, I stand in support of the Bill, which will better protect our people from fires.”
“We recognise the effectiveness of fire-rated doors in slowing down the spread of fires and smoke. Why then do we not make this a requirement for all units? I understand that they will have cost implications. However, given that residential fires are a real risk, the dividends of our investment in fire-rated doors will come in the form of lives saved and injuries prevented, which are priceless. For the centralised fire alarm systems, I also appreciate that there might be concerns about false alarms and people tampering with the alarm systems. But again, in this case, the pros heavily outweigh the cons. Fire alarms in all units, a centralised fire alarm system and fire-rated doors, will all help to save lives. I hope MHA will consider my recommendations. Lastly, with regard to the appointment of third-party officers. The new section 8(F) provides for the appointment of "supplementary enforcement officers", or third parties to take charge of "routine fire safety enforcement checks and building inspections". The rationale behind this amendment is for SCDF to focus its resources on "more complex" enforcement matters instead. I would like to seek a few clarifications on this new provision. First, these third-party officers have very broad and diverse powers and tasks. Can the Ministry clarify how these officers will be selected and "suitably trained" to ensure they can understand and perform their responsibilities just as effectively as an SCDF officer? Second, I understand that these third-party officers will be subject to audits conducted by SCDF. Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary share more about the scope and frequency of these audits? Will the Senior Parliamentary Secretary or the Minister have oversight of the audit findings?”
“This is a commendable move as the alarm will provide early warning to the occupants of the affected unit, so that they can take immediate steps to evacuate or extinguish the fire. Moving forward, does the Ministry have plans to further require all other HDB units to install HFADs? We still have to remember that an HFAD will only alert the residents of an individual unit. Again, without a centralised fire alarm system, the only way of alerting other residents in the block of the fire is for our firemen, policemen or perhaps grassroots to go unit by unit, knocking on each and every door. This is incredibly inefficient, which possibly prolongs the exposure of residents to smoke which is well-known to be the most common cause of injury in fires. According to a study, it is the "inhalation of noxious gases rather than thermal injury" that leads to a fatality. I sincerely hope that MHA will consider mandating centralised fire alarm systems in every HDB block. Next, to make our HDB flats even safer, I hope that MHA mandates that every unit be fitted with a fire-rated door, even those facing an external corridor. I understand that the current thinking is that for flats, for units that face an external corridor, the smoke will dissipate outwards and away from the other units and, hence, SCDF's assessment is that there is no need for a fire-rated door to be installed for such units. But this was not the case for the fire that broke out in an Ang Mo Kio flat on 22 July that was raised earlier as well. SCDF said it rescued four people, including three children, from the neighbouring unit while the Police and SCDF personnel evacuated about 60 people from the affected blocks. This was an HDB unit facing an external corridor and the neighbouring units were affected.”
“Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. I have seen first-hand the amazing work our SCDF does and let me start by thanking them for keeping all of us safe and for risking their lives to save ours. I support the strengthening of SCDF's regulatory and enforcement powers and the increase in penalties for fire-related offences. The Bill will empower the Commissioner to mandate building owners to install critical fire safety upgrades, such as fire alarm systems. I strongly support this as the fire alarm system provides early warning to occupants and can potentially save lives. A lot of lives. My question is, if we agree that having a fire alarm system saves lives, why do we not have it for our HDB flats? It seems even stranger that we have fire alarm systems in our HDB multi-storey car parks where nobody lives and not in our HDB flats where hundreds of people live in? Why? I know the reply will be that "under our Fire Code, all residential units are designed as fire compartments, typically using fire-resistant walls and floors and fire-rated main entrance doors, to mitigate fire spread." But we know that this is not the case in recent fire incidences. Sir, the majority of fire injuries in 2018 were caused by fires in residential buildings. Worryingly, there was a massive 50% increase in the number of fire injuries from 60 injuries in 2017 to 90 in 2018. All four fatalities caused by fire in 2018 also occurred in HDB flats. Last year, I asked whether MHA will review the Fire Code and consider including in the Fire Code the installation of central fire alarm systems in HDB flats. Minister Shanmugam responded that all new residential units and residential units undergoing works which impact fire safety will be required to install HFADs.”
“The Ministry has not indicated a position on whether such a trial judge for a fast-track case can grant both interim and final relief. This question was also left open in the Final Report of the IP Dispute Resolution Committee. This is a crucial point that I hope the Ministry will eventually clarify. I would also like to highlight that if fast track judges are unable to make decisions on relief, they may have to pass the case to default track judges. This might lead to more time spent and increased costs if plaintiffs have to bring separate legal proceedings by the plaintiff to obtain the legal remedies sought. Third and lastly, I hope the Ministry will also clarify whether decisions from the fast track are appealable and, if so, how this will interact with the proposed two-day hearing cap. Sir, I stand in support of this Bill and hope the Ministry can take into consideration my recommendations in further developing the IP dispute resolution landscape in Singapore.”
“In the European Union, patent infringement issues are arbitrable but patent validity challenges are within the exclusive jurisdiction of State Courts and are not arbitrable. On the other end of the spectrum, Switzerland allows arbitral awards to constitute the basis for amendments to its patent registry. The new section 52F seems to suggest that patent validity is arbitrable. However, it would be useful for the Minister to further clarify whether it is intended that such arbitration award would only be valid as between parties or whether the award can serve as a basis for patent registry amendment. Finally, beyond the amendments proposed in the Bill, the Ministry has indicated that it intends to further introduce a fast track for lower value disputes or less well-resource litigants. I understand that details of this fast-track option is still being ironed out and will be fleshed out in subsidiary legislation. I would like to raise some points for clarification and consideration when drafting the subsidiary legislation. First, the Ministry has proposed a cap of two hearing days for cases on the fast track. Can the Minister clarify how the proposed cap of two hearing days was derived? Will the Ministry be further studying the optimal period for hearing cases on the fast track? I raise this because the consolidation of disputes in the High Court was motivated by the fact that the Ministry has stated that, “IP disputes often involve myriad technical details that are susceptible to repeated and extensive requests for particulars and discovery”. With this in mind, it is unclear whether a cap of two hearing days for a trial would be realistic for IP disputes. My second point is on the powers of the trial judge hearing cases on the fast track to order relief.”
“Fourth, while I understand that the costs for third party observations have not been determined and that accessibility would be the key concern, will the Ministry provide its assurance that costs for doing so will be kept as low as possible? For instance, the costs could be a nominal administration fee for the processing of their observations. Keeping the costs low will ensure that third parties keen to submit useful observations are not deterred by the prohibitive costs of doing so. Next, I have two points to raise on the amendments to clarify that IP disputes can be arbitrated in Singapore. My two points relate to the scope of IP disputes that can be arbitrated in Singapore. First, can the Minister clarify if IP rights found in employment contracts are arbitrable? It is common practice for employers to insert clauses relating to IP rights in employment contracts. However, there are some countries that deem employment disputes to be non-arbitrable because they relate to matters of public policy. Greece is one such country that considers employment disputes to be non-arbitrable. The position in Singapore on arbitrability of employment disputes has not been conclusively settled. If employment disputes are non-arbitrable, then IP disputes arising from employment contracts may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts. It would be useful for the Ministry to clarify the position on arbitrability of IP disputes arising out of employment contracts. Second, can the Minister clarify if the arbitral awards for patent validity disputes can serve as a basis for patent registry amendments? Internationally, countries have taken different positions on this.”
“Second, will the Ministry consider making the content of third-party observations and the applicant's response to the third-party observation available for public inspection? Public inspection could generate healthy debate on the validity of the specific patent, making the grant process more robust. On a broader level, this could increase awareness of the requirements of patent validity as a whole. This would increase the overall quality of registered patents in Singapore. Under the International Patent System administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization, observations and the applicant's responses are made available for public inspection. Third, will the Ministry consider setting out in subsidiary legislation or guidelines the grounds on which pre-grant third-party observations should be based? While the new section 32 on pre-grant observations states that third parties are to provide “reasons” for their observations, it does not define the term “reasons”. In contrast, the new section 38A on the post-grant process explicitly provides grounds for third parties to request a re-examination of patents. Setting out a list of possible “reasons” would increase the clarity of third-party submissions. Japan’s Patent Law prescribes specific grounds for third-party observations at the pre-grant stage, which are similar to the grounds under which patents can be invalidated post-grant. Likewise, the European Patent Convention specifies that pre-grant third-party observations on patentability must be based on the grounds of novelty, inventive step, clarity, sufficiency of disclosure and amendments that are not allowed.”
“Sir, I stand in support of the Bill which takes significant steps forward in positioning Singapore as a hub for international IP dispute resolution. The Bill addresses three broad areas of IP dispute resolution. First, it consolidates the majority of IP proceedings in the High Court. Second, it updates pre and post-grant patent procedures. Third, it clarifies that IP disputes are arbitrable. I have clarifications and recommendations for each of these three areas. I would like to acknowledge and thank the National University of Singapore (NUS) Law IP Student Association (IPSA) for their input. I would also like to commend MinLaw for the extensive public consultation process and outreach to stakeholder groups, such as IPSA. Sir, the proposed amendments introduce a formal procedure for submitting pre-grant third-party observations on the patentability of an invention. This move, which assists IPOS in evaluating patents at the pre-grants stage, will increase the overall quality of registered patents in Singapore. I would like to raise four points on the procedure for submitting third-party observations. First, will the Ministry consider allowing third-party observers the option of remaining anonymous and not revealing their identities to the patent applicant and the general public? This would encourage more third parties to submit observations without any fear of prejudice. The Japan Patent Office and the European Patent Office both permit third-party observations to be filed anonymously. To address the concern of frivolous observations being anonymously filed, the identity of third-party observers can be known by only IPOS who can take action against parties who abuse the observation process.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. But is there something that we can be more specific about? For example, for all other HDB rental flat applications, you have to have a household income of $1,500 and below. Does it apply for single parents, which means, if they have a household income of less than $1,500, then again they do qualify for a rental flat?”
“Do we consider whether the parents have a spare room to house the single parent or do we also consider whether their siblings have a spare room to house them as well?”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. Can I just clarify, when we say family members, are we just saying the parents or does it include their siblings as well, in terms of when HDB considers the application? Two, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned earlier about whether they can afford alternative housing. How does HDB ascertain whether they can afford it? Is there an income threshold in terms of their household income?”
“I just want to ask, moving forward, whether the Ministry of Manpower will consider including in the tripartite standard some guidelines on how employers can help employees who are facing domestic violence.”