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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“Secondly, clause 53 introduces new sections 126A and 126B to the Act. This allows the Commissioner to appoint an OM to manage the estate in instances where there is a refusal or inability of the MCST to carry out a duty when there is a health or safety concern. This is triggered by a written request comprising at least 20% of the aggregate share value of total lots or not less than 25% of the total number of SPs. Can the Minister clarify how this percentage threshold is derived? Has this been considered in light of the notoriously poor attendance rate during AGMs as reported in the media, which currently requires a quorum of 30% of the aggregate share value of total lots pursuant to paragraph 3, First Schedule of the Act? Presumably, if the 30% quorum can be formed, motions can be passed to resolve disputes and issues without requiring the need to invoke sections 126A and 126B. Hence, can the Minister clarify how a slightly lower threshold of 20% of the aggregate share value of total lots accompanying a written request serves to provide SPs with an additional remedy in such dire circumstances? If the rationale is to provide an interim remedy for MCSTs in deadlock facing situations involving health or safety concerns, perhaps the threshold criteria ought to be tweaked such that the Commissioner is provided with discretion and full powers to appoint an OM as long as it is satisfied that there is a health and safety concern. Also, as the other Members have raised, can the Minister also provide further clarifications on the definition of what "health and safety concerns" mean? Lastly, I want to commend the Ministry of National Development (MND) for the extensive public consultation it has carried out with regard to these amendments.”
“Sir, I stand in support of this Bill. Better governance and transparency are welcomed in light of the numerous cases brought to the STB and media on disputes involving SPs and MCSTs. The Bill enhances the self-regulating nature of BMSMA, enabling our citizens to better manage their estates, which can only be a step in the right direction. There are two clarifications I seek. Firstly, clause 15 amends section 18 of the Act. It now requires the developer to obtain approval from the Commissioner on the quantum of maintenance charges before the sale of any unit. This is a departure from the current provisions of section 18 read with section 16, where, in practice, see developers obtaining approval from the Commissioner just before TOP issuance. This amendment will provide some comfort to buyers who can better assess their affordability since the property maintenance cost will be more accurately reflected at time of sale. However, a balance has to be sought. In practice, the amendment means developers will have to project the maintenance charges payable years before property projects are completed. Can the Minister clarify what happens if the maintenance charges have to be increased due to inflation or other costs? In the long run, this will not benefit SPs, if the maintenance charges are insufficient to cover the costs of the MCST running the property or if, on the other hand, it is, in fact, excessive. Perhaps, the Minister can consider incorporating flexible provisions which allow the rate of maintenance charges, approved by the Commissioner, to be adjusted within a certain range based on market rate at the time of TOP. This means the charges can either be increased or reduced. This range can be provided to buyers in the Sale and Purchase Agreements as well.”
“Secondly, some of HDB's industrial properties are older and of lower land-use intensity. Is the Ministry able to share if there are plans to redevelop these properties, upon transfer to JTC, in order to maximise their plot ratio? I understand that some of these older properties are low-rise, single-storey buildings occupying plots in prime locations. Thirdly, some of the tenants are naturally concerned about JTC's divestment plans for the properties that will be transferred to them. Many are aware that JTC had previously divested a portfolio of properties to a private trust sponsored by Mapletree. Some of the comments I have received on Facebook said that the tenants' rental prices were increased when Mapletree took over. I appreciate that JTC has confirmed that there are no divestment plans currently. However, can I ask the Minister if there is a timeframe for this and whether this decision of not having a divestment plan will be reviewed annually or is one that is cast in stone? Sir, I believe that the business community will be better served with these clarifications. That said, I thank the Ministry for the much-awaited Bill as it streamlines our support for businesses, and I stand in support of it.”
“Sir, I am encouraged by this Bill which will help SMEs. These amendments were first announced last year and I understand that the discussion on consolidation has been going on between HDB and JTC for a few years now. JTC has done well over the past few decades to serve the needs of our business community. As a strategic developer, some recent successes include the setting up of innovative spaces like JTC Launchpad, and strategic clustering of specialised spaces for industries, such as cleantech and biomedicals. With a larger supply of industrial space in its arsenal, I believe it will be able to enhance its support for businesses. Businesses will also benefit administratively, as they would only need to contact one single agency to access public sector industrial facilities and spaces. Tenants transferred under JTC will also find it easier to expand to adjacent spaces, as there will be options available. Sir, notwithstanding the benefits brought about by this Bill, I would like to seek a few clarifications. Firstly, there has been some uncertainty from the business community about whether or not a change in landlord from HDB to JT) would result in any changes on the ground for tenants. Of primary concerns are changes in rental prices and tenancy renewal. I appreciate that JTC has confirmed that there will be no changes in rental prices under the current tenancies, which will continue under JTC. Can I ask the Minister if there are any tenants who will have their tenancy expiring soon and whether in negotiating their new tenancies under JTC, there will be an increase in their rental prices? Can I also ask if there will be any other changes the tenants will face following the transfer to JTC?”
“I think there is one more group we also need to reach out to, and I am wondering whether MOT will be working with the Ministry of Manpower to reach out to the foreign workers, many of whom actually do not have bank accounts.”
“In light of the increasing number of single-parent families in Singapore, the petitioners recommend that these families should be equally supported to meet this basic need and should not be discriminated against. Sir, on a personal note, as a parent to three young ones, I cannot imagine going through my parenthood journey alone and I can appreciate how difficult it must be for single parents. I sincerely hope we hear from the petitioners and respond positively to their call for equal support for single parents. The petitioners pray, and I quote: "One, amend section 47 of the Housing and Development Act by inserting, immediately after paragraph (b) of subsection (1), the following paragraph: (c) Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above shall not apply to any person who has legal custody of a child and who has been given care and control of that child, notwithstanding that: a. any other person may also have care and control of that child; or b. such person may have another child or children, in respect of whom he does not have care and control. Two, amend section 65 of the Housing and Development Act by inserting, immediately after subsection (2), the following subsection: (3) In exercising their powers under subsection (1) above, the Minister and the Board shall not discriminate against any person with legal custody of a child on the ground of such person's marital status. Three, refer the issue of access to public housing for single-parent families, and Singapore's conformity with its obligations under CRC as pertains to this issue, to a Select Committee for further consultation and deliberation." I will now hand the Petition to the Clerk. [(proc text) Petition handed to the Clerk at the Table. (proc text)]”
“Sir, I present to Parliament a Petition under Standing Order No 18. The Clerk has endorsed this Petition as being in accordance with the rules of Standing Order No 18(5). This Petition is presented on behalf of Quek Chee Kian, Lee Man Qi, Renemarlina Bte Osman, Jesvinder Kaur, Koh Xin Hui Christabel, Lim Sing Hwee and Saleha Binte Khamis, all of whom are single parents. There are seven signatories and they represent other single parents of like opinion facing difficulties securing their basic needs, in particular, with regard to public housing. Sir, the petitioners say that the current provisions on public housing are not inclusive. In a study conducted by the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), it was found that 95% of single mothers who sought public housing faced difficulties. Firstly, unmarried parents and their children are not recognised by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) as a family nucleus. Secondly, long debarment periods prevent divorced parents from accessing purchase and rental flats. The petitioners urge that such problems should not be addressed solely by discretionary case-by-case exceptions, but by having rules which are more inclusive. In addition, pursuant to Articles 2 and 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Singapore has obligations under this international convention to ensure the rights of the child without discrimination on the basis of their parents' marital status and to take appropriate measures to ensure every child's right to an adequate standard of living, in particular, with regard to housing.”
“We have all been through it and hope that future parents of preterm babies and/or births of multiples will get the additional help they so desperately need. Unfortunately, I definitely would not benefit from these changes, as my factory is closed. With three daughters, I am heavily outnumbered at home already and this factory is definitely permanently closed. Let me end with a quote as always. This one I really love. "Twins will make love stronger, Days shorter, nights longer, Bank account smaller, Home happier, Clothes shabbier, The past forgotten and The future worth living." Thank you, Madam. 5.23 pm”
“I cannot end this speech without thanking the amazing doctors, nurses, therapists, cleaners and all the staff members at the delivery suites, NICUs and High Dependency Units at SGH and all the other hospitals. "Thank you" for saving the lives of Katie and Poppy and countless other babies they have cared for. At times, it was surreal sitting at the NICU, doing kangaroo care with my baby, singing to her while watching the mayhem in NICU. Watching the staff handle a never-ending arrival of preterm babies and a never-ending chorus of alarm bells as babies stop breathing. The staff members handle each situation so professionally, so meticulously and with so much tender loving care. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all the other parents, thank you. I also wanted to highlight the efforts of the Facebook group "SG Parents of Twins and Triplets" which has been the only form of communal support for parents with multiples. And, Madam, through this journey, I also realised that I have married Wonder Woman. My wife had an emergency caesarean at night and, in the morning, she was up and about, going to see our twins already. It is not easy expressing breast milk for one baby, but my amazing wife has managed to express enough milk for two babies for five months now. She has also mastered the art of pumping breast milk while feeding both twins at the same time. I also have a photo to prove this but I know she will definitely kill me if I show it to you. Madam, many people have shared their preterm and/or birth of multiples journey with me and we all hope that, through our sharing of our painful experiences, others will benefit from the changes in policies we are calling for.”
“Beyond these, parents of preterm babies and multiple births also have much more medical appointments. In the past few months, Poppy alone has had repeated medical appointments with the ophthalmologist, cardiologist, speech and language therapist, physiotherapist and neonatologist. A lot of time has been spent back at the hospital. Again, as you can see from my eye bags, parents of twins need help. If you see my wife's eye bags, you know that we really, really need help. My recommendation is that we extend the parental leave for both fathers and mothers with births of multiples. Many countries already offer extended parental leave in cases of multiple births, some offering it since 1975. These countries include Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Israel, Turkey and, closer to home, China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Myanmar. In France, for example, maternity leave is extended by 18 weeks for twins, by 30 weeks for higher order multiple birth. Paternity leave is extended by seven days. In Myanmar, maternity leave is extended by four weeks for twin deliveries. Like preterm babies, this change in policy will not have a big overall impact. Out of 42,185 live births in Singapore in 2015, there were only 1,249 twin births and 21 sets of triplets born. Only 3%. Parents also cannot choose whether they have twins or triplets and, so, they cannot manipulate the system. Madam, I sincerely hope that the Government will consider my recommendations, study the positive examples in other countries, do public consultations and, ultimately, help provide parents of preterm babies and/or births of multiples with greater peace of mind and more precious time to bond with their babies.”
“It is worse when you finally calm one down and the other one starts crying. It does not end. But I have responded to Minister Ong Ye Kung's call to continually upgrade my skills and I have evolved to meet the changing needs. I have gone from feeding one twin at a time to feeding both at the same time, holding one milk bottle in each hand to last month, I have mastered the art of feeding both twins at the same time with just one hand. I have a photo to prove this. Just last week, I managed to feed one twin and burp the other twin at the same time. Now, I have to try and see if I can burp both of them at the same time. But I know my wife would be horrified if I tried it. But this is the reality each day. Parents of multiple births have to deal with greater challenges than parents of single births. Multiple birth parents are more likely to have less sleep because their babies can have different sleep-wake rhythms and express their needs at different times. Multiple birth parents have little chance to regain their strength and are more likely to remain tired for an extended period of time. A study in the United Kingdom showed that only 8% of multiple birth mothers had more than six hours of sleep each night during the first month, while 46% slept less than three to four hours. Parents of multiple births also have greater need for an extra pair of helping hands, such as from their partner, to help care for multiple babies at once. Thus, 93% of British multiple birth mothers wished that their partners had extended paternity leave to help care for their babies. Some studies also show that 20% of multiple birth mothers had suffered from postnatal depression, versus 10% of single birth mothers.”
“The next chapter of the journey could perhaps be summed up by one word, too, which is the word I started this speech within the opening paragraph "tired". On 22 April, Katie was discharged. On 1 May, Poppy was discharged. These two days were among the happiest days of my life. We were overjoyed to bring Katie and Poppy home. We were overjoyed to finally see them without any tubes stuck into them. We were overjoyed to finally introduce Katie and Poppy to Ella, our eldest daughter. For 10 weeks, she could only see them through a glass window and she really wanted to carry them. She has been the best big sister. This was also the time we realised that our two babies were, in fact, owls. They were full-fledged party owls and completely nocturnal and they partied through the night. And I rarely use the word sleep now as I cannot really remember what sleep is and what it feels like to sleep properly. In the first few months, the twins needed to be fed every two to three hours. It took about 30 minutes to feed each baby. My wife took about 30 minutes to express the breast milk. After feeding, it takes about 10 minutes to wash and sterilise all the bottles and pumping equipment. Not forgetting that their nappies have to be changed before each feed and that takes about five minutes. And it takes another five minutes to burp each baby. It might sound a bit gross but I now absolutely love the sound of burps. Hearing a burp means I can finally rest or sleep. It means the end of a cycle. But the problem is the end of the cycle is pretty close to the start of the next cycle and, if you can see where I am heading, sleep is a valuable commodity when you have twins. The problem is not when the twins cry at the same time. In fact, I feel it is better that they do.”
“For this first chapter of the journey, my recommendation is that we extend the parental leave for both fathers and mothers to at least cover the time the babies spend in NICU, if not the entire time the babies spent in both NICU and at the High Dependency Unit or Special Care Nursery. Several countries, such as Austria, Denmark, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Israel, Colombia, New Zealand and India already provide extended leave for mothers and/or fathers of preterm babies. I sincerely hope we can consider this. In New Zealand, for example, paid parental leave is extended by the period between actual and expected birth, for up to 13 weeks. This leave can also be transferred to the father. In Denmark, maternity leave is prolonged by the period the infant spends in the hospital for up to three months, if the infant is hospitalised during the first 46 weeks of childbirth. This change in policy while significant for parents of preterm babies, really would not be a significant change for employers who might be worried about the manpower shortage or the Government in terms of the additional financial resources for the paid leave. In 2015, out of 42,185 live births in Singapore, only 127 occurred at less than 28 weeks' gestation, which is only 0.3%. Babies born before 37 weeks are considered preterm but, unfortunately, I could not find data on the number of births before 37 weeks in Singapore. But it is usually babies who are born before 28 weeks who would require a longer stay at the hospital. It is also clearly verifiable with doctors when a baby needs to be in hospital, especially NICU. So, there need not be concerns about abusive leave applications. Madam, this first chapter could perhaps be summed up by one word "stress".”
“It has been found to have wide-ranging benefits for both infant and parents, including reducing infant mortality, increasing growth, raising likelihood and duration of breastfeeding, encouraging mother-infant bonding and increasing parental satisfaction. Madam, I am glad that some companies understand the difficulties faced by parents of preterm babies. Lee-Ling Chow, who has premature twins, told me she was glad that her company allowed her to take no-pay leave. Similarly, Anitha Narayanan was allowed to take all her annual leave and one month of no-pay leave. Mdm Sue, whose baby spent 174 days in hospital, said, "Work during this period is practically impossible for me. I exhausted my four months of maternity leave and had to apply for another three months of unpaid leave to take care of my baby." Rachel Lee's twins spent two months in the hospital before they came home. She said, "Luckily, my boss has allowed me to take another three to four months of unpaid leave to look after the girls until they were bigger and more stable. But what about other moms who didn't have understanding superiors like mine? They could have lost their jobs." And some do pay the price. Yongle had premature twins and took three months of hospitalisation leave and four months of maternity leave. She said, "I was lucky enough to keep my job but with pay freeze and a 50% cut to my year-end bonuses." I sincerely hope the Government can make sure parents of premature babies are not penalised. We have enough to worry about already.”
“She took only two months of maternity leave, as she wanted to save the remaining two months to spend with her baby when she is discharged. In her words, "The daily visits to hospital has taken a toll on my mental and physical health". And the time the baby spends in hospital is an important time for both fathers and mothers to be together rather than apart. The emotional stress is tremendous and both parents need to be there for their babies and for each other. Magdaline Lee, a mother of a preterm baby said, "I had to admit I had postnatal depression when I saw my two-kilogramme baby in NICU with tubes over him. The need to have a supporting husband during this period is crucial to the family. Having just two weeks of paternity leave wasn't enough for me, I needed to have someone to be there emotionally and mentally after going through an unexpected early delivery." Perhaps the most heart-wrenching story shared with me was that by May Leo who had premature twins but one twin caught an infection in her womb and could not be saved. The other twin stayed in hospital for about four months. She said, "My husband and I, especially me, had to manage losing a baby and running to and from the hospital during my confinement to be with my baby boy during his critical days. It was very tiring and sad at the same time". And it is important to be there for also the babies. Doing kangaroo care or skin-to-skin contact with the baby does help the baby grow better as well. Kangaroo care is commonly prescribed for preterm and low birth weight babies.”
“Having spent so much time in NICU, I can tell you that proper bonding is almost impossible there. Babies are often in incubators, making physical contact with them very difficult. Holding the babies is also difficult as most have several tubes attached to them and there is, of course, the risk of passing an infection to the babies, which could be deadly. My twins spent 10 weeks in hospital and it is little, compared to others. Cecilia Tan's premature son spent 101 days in KK Women and Children's Hospital before being discharged. Stephenie Tan's premature daughter spent 103 days in KK Women and Children's Hospital. She had no choice but to return to work three weeks after her baby came home. Eden Ang's premature daughter was in the hospital during her entire 16 weeks of maternity leave. I cannot imagine having to go back to work when your baby is discharged after spending 16 weeks in hospital. I doubt anyone can function properly at work in any case. Worse still is going back to work when your baby is still in the hospital. This was the case for Meiyan Carol who had premature twins. She said, "The twins are my first babies so after giving birth and seeing them with all the tubes and equipment really scared me and I couldn't stop worrying. Every day, I will visit them in NICU for those few short hours, I couldn't help but break down several times." One of her twins was discharged after three months, the other after seven months. She went back to work after taking her maternity leave and after her elder twin was discharged, she had no choice but to take two months of unpaid leave to take care of her. And this is the case now for Ng Hui Wen, whose premature daughter is currently warded in KK Women and Children's Hospital for over four months already.”
“" This was the same situation for Yeo See Yeong. He said, "Taking care of a preterm baby is already tough, let alone preterm multiples". Mothers feel the same, too. Pearlyn Ong, a mother of preterm twins said, "As I had a C-section, I really needed the help of my husband at home and to bring the twins to the polyclinic since I was recovering from my wound. However, he has no more leave left by the time both babies came home." It was the same for Gina Tan, whose husband ran out of paternity leave while her premature twins were still in hospital. And, worse still, for Agatha Kee who had one twin in hospital and one twin discharged. She had to take care of them in two different places. In her words, "It's mentally and physically straining". Clearly, two weeks of paternity leave are insufficient for us fathers if our babies are in NICU that entire time. And mothers face a similar dilemma. The 16 weeks of maternity leave are supposed to be to bond with your baby. This bonding is crucial, as stated by Mr Chan Chun Sing, then-Acting Minister for Social and Family Development, in his closing speech for the Child Development Co-Savings Bill in 2013. He said, "Maternity leave caters to the time required for the mother to physically recuperate from childbirth and nurse the infant before returning to work". Further, by introducing two weeks of mandatory paternity leave from 2017, MSF had recognised the importance for fathers to have the "opportunity to actively bond with their children from the time they are born" as it is a "critical infant period". Academic research indicates the same. The first few months with your baby are important few months. But these 16 weeks of bonding are clearly reduced for parents of preterm babies.”
“" Waiting for them to come out of the operating theatre was one of the most excruciating waits of my life. My twins were delivered successfully and spent about 10 weeks in hospital, at the SGH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and at the High Dependency Unit, also called the Special Care Nursery. It was a very difficult and painful 10 weeks. It was an absolute emotional roller coaster ride and it was physically draining. We were at the hospital every day, watching them progress and then deteriorate, progress and deteriorate, progress and deteriorate. It was painful watching them stop breathing, their heart rates plummet in front of my very eyes and, at times, their lips turning blue. Nothing can properly describe the feeling of watching your babies go through that repeatedly. It is an experience I wish no parent has to go through. And my babies were not the smallest, the most premature there. There were babies at the NICU who weighed only 800 grammes and I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of stress, pain and trauma their parents were going through. This first chapter of the journey was also perhaps the most difficult as I did not take my paternity leave. I could not, as I wanted to save the precious two weeks for when Katie and Poppy came home. Juggling work and family was near impossible. Every time my phone rang, my heart skipped a beat as it might be from the hospital with bad news. It was hard to concentrate on anything. The dilemma I faced would be the same dilemma all fathers of preterm babies face. Like Jeremy Chee, who also had preterm twins. In his own words, "Most of the time is spent shuttling between home and hospital and being a Uber milk delivery dad. By the time they were discharged, I had spent most, if not all, of my paternity leave.”
“Madam, last year, I shared with this House that my wife and I were expecting twins. In that speech, I said, "Just saying 'twins' makes me feel tired already." My twins were born in February this year, 10 weeks early and, honestly, the word "tired" does not even begin to describe our preterm twin parenthood journey over the past five months. It has been a tiring, exhausting, sleepless five months. My eye bags are now almost permanent and bigger than my eyes most of the time. But at the same time, in between the crying, the screaming, the burping, the poo and pee, the nappy leaks and the vomits, the past five months have bought us so much happiness, smiles, love and made me appreciate things a lot more. Madam, allow me to share this journey and how I hope our policies can change so that parents with preterm babies and/or birth of multiples can get more help, essentially for a start, more precious time with their babies. Madam, I will also share the journey of many, many other parents with preterm babies and/or birth of multiples who have shared their often very painful stories with me, in the hope as well that our policies can and will change. On 23 February, my wife called me telling me her water bag broke. I will never forget that call but, honestly, the rest of that day was a complete blur. I did rush home, picked her up and rushed to the hospital. That evening, they performed an emergency caesarean and Katie and Poppy were born, 10 weeks premature. I wanted to be in the operating theatre with my wife but the doctor did not allow it. He replied that "There will be a lot of doctors and nurses in there as they have to deliver twins and your twins might come out lifeless and will have to be resuscitated. It might be too traumatic for you to see this.”
“Can I propose that further amendments be introduced, specifically granting the Syariah Court jurisdiction in such cases? Madam, overall, the amendments that have been proposed in the Bill seeks to learn from the positive aspects introduced in other legislation. This is done while still having due regard to the beliefs and practices of our Muslim brothers and sisters. To this end, and the comments notwithstanding, Madam, this Bill can only improve the lives and interests of the Muslim community in Singapore and I stand in support of it.”
“In at least one area, dealing with the division of matrimonial property in Singapore, there is no similar provision in AMLA or the amendments proposed under the current Bill. In a recent case, the Syariah Courts have declined to exercise jurisdiction over such matters. In other words, where the divorce of a Muslim couple is finalised overseas, the Syariah Courts will not have jurisdiction to determine the division of matrimonial assets in Singapore. This becomes a problem when there is a divorce overseas and there are assets in Singapore which the overseas Court will not deal with. This issue came up before the Singapore Courts in TMO vs TMO [2017] SGCA 14. In TMO, the husband applied for and obtained a divorce in the Johore courts. This was done, apparently, without the knowledge of the wife. The wife, having discovered this, later applied to the Singapore Syariah Courts for ancillary relief. The Syariah Court granted certain relief as it found that it had the requisite jurisdiction. However, it refused to exercise jurisdiction over the division of matrimonial assets on the basis that the divorce was not concluded in the Syariah Court in Singapore. Ultimately, the issue relating to the division of the matrimonial assets would fall to the Family Courts who had jurisdiction to deal with the same, but would not apply Muslim law in determining the division. This oddity that would follow is that all other issues would be dealt with in accordance with Muslim law, save for the issue of division of matrimonial property. While the decision in TMO means that such a Muslim couple is not without recourse, the recourse provided may not be satisfactory from that couple's point of view.”
“However, the wording adopted for the conditions in the Family Justice Act 2014 and the proposed amendments in the current Bill differ. In the case of section 45(5) of the Family Justice Act 2014, a child representative there receives protection as long as the act (a) was done in good faith and (b) did not involve any fraud or wilful misconduct on the part of the child representative. However, in the case of the proposed amendments in the current Bill, clause 15(c) follows the language of the Family Justice Act 2014, but leaves out the words "on the part of the child representative" after the words "did not involve any fraud or wilful misconduct". Some lawyers have raised this issue with me and wanted clarifications on whether there is a distinction to be drawn between the protection to be given to a child representative under the Family Justice Act 2014 and AMLA? If no such distinction was intended, then the suggestion is that the wording of the Family Law Act 2014 be adopted. After all, there is much sense in lifting protection only where the fraud and misconduct are attributed to the child representative. I should also mention that the same disparity in wording is also present in relation to the protection offered to medical practitioners, psychologists, social workers or mental health professionals in section 45(6) of the Family Justice Act 2014 and clause 15(c) of the current Bill. Again, may I propose that the wording in the Family Justice Act 2014 be adopted? Next, similar to what fellow Member Saktiandi Supaat had mentioned earlier, sections 121A to 121G of the Women's Charter created jurisdiction for the Family Courts to deal with financial provisions consequential upon a divorce where the divorce was obtained overseas.”
“Madam, I stand in support of the Bill. I welcome these progressive and timely amendments to AMLA, especially in relation to the amendments that seek to offer greater protection to children and minors in attempting to address the growing rate of divorce amongst young Muslim couples. The Family Justice Act 2014 provides for the appointment of child representatives in the Family Courts. The amendment sought to be introduced by the current Bill seeks to follow this approach in the Syariah Courts. This is a timely change. Often, in disputes between parents, the children are put in a position where they are forced to take sides. This may not be in the best interest of the child. The child representative scheme provides a good support system to already available mechanisms to ensure that the child's best interest is foremost in mind. The Family Justice Act 2014 as well as the proposed amendments sought to be introduced by the current Bill do not set out the precise roles of the child representatives. In the context of the Family Justice Act, this is set out in the Family Justice Rules. Similarly, I trust that subsidiary legislation on the proposed amendments, if accepted, will deal with the roles of the child representative through similar subsidiary legislation. Can the Minister confirm if this is the case? I also want to add that it will be useful to learn from the experiences of the Family Court in this regard. Next, under section 45(5) of the Family Justice Act 2014, the child representative has some measure of protection from legal suits. Clause 15(c) of the Bill similarly seeks to offer some protection to the child representative from legal proceedings in the carrying out of their work. This is provided that the conditions set out therein are satisfied.”
“But I am most concerned about the impact to the individual student who applies to join NPCC or NCDCC and is subsequently told that the Minister says no. The stigma he or she subsequently faces will be significant and I am sure it will affect the student emotionally. As such, I hope the Senior Minister of State can provide some clarity on how applications by non-citizens and non-PRs will be considered. Lastly, as mentioned earlier, NPCC and NCDCC are CCAs which are rather sought-after. Will there be any plans to increase the number of spaces available to these two CCAs? Madam, I stand in support of the Bill. 5.34 pm”
“Madam, I commend the great work by NPCC and NCDCC in fostering a sense of national identity and civic consciousness in our students from a young age. I have met many young residents who have benefited from these programmes − both in self-development, developing skills, such as leadership and in building empathy to serve the community. I understand that these uniformed groups are a great avenue for our young to gain exposure in the Public Service and perhaps to spark their interest in this career when they are older. From what I gather from speaking to some students, NPCC and NCDCC are CCAs which are rather sought-after and have competitive entry. Thus, I take this opportunity to commend the good work done by MOE and the Home Team in taking these CCAs to great heights. I note that under clause 9, non-citizens and non-PRs are generally not able to enrol as cadets or officers, except with the approval of the Minister. Can the Senior Minister of State share under what circumstances will these applications be approved and whether there will be an appeal process? The feedback I receive about this is mixed. On one hand, there are foreign students in our schools and there is a need to promote diversity in the wider society. It would seem beneficial to exercise leniency in allowing for exceptions. By not allowing non-citizens and non-PRs to enrol as cadets or officers, we run the risk of teaching our students to see their foreign peers, from a young age, through the lens of "us" versus "them". On the other hand, some are uncomfortable with sharing sensitive information with foreigners about how our Home Team operates. Some are even more uncomfortable with them having a chance to learn about firing our weapons.”
“What criteria will the Minister be relying on to appoint a trustee of the Resolution Fund? How will the Authority determine the loan quantum to constitute the fund? For how many years after the dissolution of a Resolution Fund must the trustee keep proper accounts and records of transactions? Also, could an indication of urgency, for example, "as soon as practicable" be inserted into section 103(2), where any sum recovered from FIs under resolution must be paid into the Resolution Fund? And why is the trustee given the discretion for deciding which medium to use for publishing a general notice in relation to the levy at section 104? Next, as stated in the Explanatory Notes of the Bill, section 5 of the Act allows only for an increase in the Authority's paid-up capital with the approval of the Government. The amendment is not only about allowing for a reduction of paid-up capital. First, it results in requiring both the Government and the Board to agree. Second, the paid-up capital can be reduced and transferred to anywhere. In this regard, I would like to raise three queries. First, why is there now a need to allow for the paid-up capital to be reduced? Second, why is the Government's ability to approve and decide unilaterally replaced with the need for the Government to agree with the Board? Third, may I confirm that the proposed section 5(4) allows paid-up capital from MAS to be transferred to any entity? Madam, again, I congratulate the Minister for putting in place RRPs in the Act. This affirms the mindset change that we wish to see in FIs and also assures stakeholders that FIs in Singapore have plans in place when disasters strike. I, therefore, stand in support of the Bill.”
“Madam, I trust it is common ground among us that FIs have to be responsible for themselves and towards their stakeholders and in the larger scheme of things, our society. Performing bail-outs of FIs will not be a viable move for any responsible government. In this regard, I stand in support of the Bill, which ushers in the adoption of Recovery and Resolution Planning which is already in place in the US, the EU, as well as in Japan and Hong Kong. I support the ability of MAS to require a recovery plan from pertinent FIs and to instruct implementation of the recovery plan. Can the Minister clarify, when a recovery plan has been instructed to be implemented, which parties and persons, other than the relevant employees of the pertinent FIs, would be aware of the instruction to implement? Is there any timeline for FIs to develop and submit recovery plans and, if there are, how is the enforcement of the strict adherence to such timelines done? Further, in the event that the recovery plans do not result in the desired outcomes, are measures in place to ensure that the subsequent negative impact will not impair Singapore's financial system? Next, I support as well the introduction of a bail-in regime where a distressed FI is rescued not by the taxpayers. On this note, I hope to seek some clarifications. Can the Minister elaborate on the persons who may be appointed to perform an independent assessment stated in section 73(3) where instruments may be cancelled or modified under the bail-in regime? Would the Division 4A FIs be consulted on the said appointment and would the Division 4A FIs or the Authority be negotiating on the remuneration and expenses of these persons? In relation to the establishment of a Resolution Fund, I have several queries to make.”
“Sorry, Madam. Just one more question. Not just the subsidies, but also, is it possible to increase the number of cycles, at least for those between 36 and 40? I note the success rate does drop but I think the trend is that people are having children much later now.”
“Thank you, Madam. I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. Can I check with the Senior Minister of State if MOH is going to review the subsidies for ART treatments?”
“Question No 3. The Second Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Desmond Lee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mdm Speaker, please allow me to take the terrorism-related questions from Miss Cheng Li Hui, Mr Christopher de Souza and Mr Ang Wei Neng together.”
“Last Friday night, I had two meetings and this issue was brought up in our conversations in both meetings. At the first meeting, the consensus was to demolish. The second meeting, the consensus was not to demolish. They did not support demolishing the house as they felt we have so little heritage left in Singapore that we should preserve or conserve whatever heritage we have left. Ultimately, it is easy to understand why we should demolish. It was part of Mr Lee's will. It is perhaps harder to understand why we should not demolish, and can the Deputy Prime Minister take this opportunity to further explain and provide details on what exactly is the heritage value and why an option to preserve or conserve the house should be considered? In conclusion, Madam, whatever decision we make or options we list, the key is to continue to be transparent about it, and perhaps the most important part is to also be transparent about the process of making the decision or options. It really is not an easy issue to resolve and, as such, I hope, like many Members of this House have suggested, that we set up a Select Committee to look into this and find a way forward.”
“If the plan is to conserve the area, then, similarly, section 9 of the Planning Act states, "Where in the opinion of the Minister any area is of special architectural, historic, traditional or aesthetic interest, the Minister may approve under section 8 a proposal to amend the Master Plan to designate the area as a conservation area." There is no mention of the role of a Ministerial Committee here in this piece of legislation as well. Thirdly, as explained earlier, I understand the Committee is studying and listing options. But would not the factors this Committee is using, including public sentiments, change in the future? What then is the point of setting up this Committee now and making recommendations now? Things would definitely change in two to three decades. Family members' views might change as well. Fourth, can the Prime Minister clarify under what circumstances are Ministerial Committees convened? Are there written rules and procedures governing the setting up and functions of such committees? Lastly, can the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister clarify whether the same emphasis was placed on other important buildings like the National Library? There has been much talk on social media about this, and I suppose the question really is, how do we decide what to preserve or conserve and when do we set up Ministerial Committees for these decisions? Minister Lawrence Wong spoke about this earlier, but can I confirm if Ministerial Committees were set up for previous important buildings as well? Beyond all these questions, I appreciate that this is not an easy issue to resolve and definitely not one with straightforward answers. The community is divided in their views.”
“Madam, I thank the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for their statements, and I am heartened by the effort and time they have spent clarifying the issues, addressing concerns and erasing doubts people might have. Madam, allow me to seek further clarifications which I have gathered from my residents, civil society activists, as well as feedback on my Facebook page. Firstly, determining a testator's intent with regard to a property often follows a legal process. The Prime Minister did not challenge the will and it was granted probate from the Court. Many questioned what then is the role of the Ministerial Committee with regard to the will? According to Deputy Prime Minister Teo, and as he mentioned earlier, the Committee's interest in Mr Lee Kuan Yew's will is simply to help them understand his thoughts regarding the house. Many are confused as to what it is that requires further understanding, and does the Committee not accept the will as the official expression of Mr Lee's last wishes? Secondly, there may be a conflict between the role of the Ministerial Committee and the process and powers set out in section 11 of the Preservation of Monuments Act. Section 11 states that "the Minister may, after consulting the Board, make a preservation order to place any monument under the protection of the Board." The "Board" here refers to the National Heritage Board. There is no provision in this piece of legislation about taking advice from the Ministerial Committee. How will evidence gathered and decisions taken by the Committee influence the processes set out in section 11? Would the Minister and NHB be in any way bound by opinions or findings by the Committee? At this point, is NHB also concurrently studying about whether to preserve the house?”
“I suspect that a top GCE "A" level student passionate about family law may still choose to study at the more prestigious law school at NUS. Of course, this will take some time, but as the new SUSS receives additional support from MOE, what are its plans to boost its reputation and quality of education? For example, will it be reaching out to well-respected academics to join as faculty members? Sir, I am proud to see that Singapore's education industry continues to thrive. The addition of a new AU will better serve our younger population, adult learners and help Singapore to strengthen its position as an educational hub. As such, I stand in support of this Bill.”
“In the MOE press release, it did state, and I quote, that "The university will continue to offer the range of programmes that UniSIM had offered previously, targeted at both fresh school leavers and adult learners." However, in the same press release, it also stated that, and I quote, "At the same time, the university will continue to retain a limited offering in other areas, such as business and engineering, especially for adult learners." Can the Minister confirm whether there will changes in the programmes offered and, if so, what are the changes? If there are, indeed, changes, could I ask what are the factors in deciding to drop these programmes and whether there will be sufficient places at other universities for students intending to pursue them? Will there also be any staff members affected by the change? For example, are there plans to retain or transfer the staff members for degree programmes that are dropped, to other universities? Can the Minister clarify if there will be affected staff members and whether they have been offered assistance? Sir, I am excited about the new SUSS which will continue the current trajectory focusing on applied learning for adult learners interested in social work. I strongly support this move as Singapore's needs in the social sector continue to increase. However, as much as the new SUSS can differentiate itself through its niche course offerings and flexible course arrangements, universities are ultimately pitted side by side through global rankings, and this is how they "compete" for the best applicants. We know that UniSIM is not yet on par with NUS, NTU and SMU. Just looking at one well-recognised ranking, for example, QS World University Rankings, UniSIM does not feature on their list.”
“Sir, I am fully supportive of this Bill to provide recognition to UniSIM as Singapore's sixth AU, granting it the same status as the existing five. Last year, Singapore's third law school was set up at UniSIM. It has also been increasing the number of course offerings, both for undergraduates and lifelong learners. These are encouraging signs that since UniSIM's humble beginnings as a small private university, it has only been growing from strength to strength. This new Bill will give it a further boost, and the new SUSS will definitely benefit from additional funding from MOE. Sir, I have received feedback on Facebook about the name change for the university. Mr Toh said and I quote, "I am fine with its new name in English. As for its Chinese name, please use '新 加 坡 社 会 科 学 大 学 ', or '新 社 科 大 ' in short. '新 跃 社 会 科 学 大学 ' sounds odd although I think their intention is to keep the word '新 跃.'". I believe that while a name could seem like a trivial matter, it ultimately carries the identity of the school, especially as it aspires towards global ambitions. Thus, it is something we should give careful consideration to, and I hope that the Minister will consider this name change. Next, UniSIM currently offers a long list of degrees outside of the social sciences, including business, science and technology, as the Member has previously said. There is some feedback about the new English name of the university as well. Can the Minister clarify why it will be called the University of Social Sciences which seems to ignore the fact that it offers courses outside of social sciences? There is also some confusion on the ground. And can the Minister clarify if SUSS will continue to offer the same range of programmes UNISIM had offered?”
“Design laws are distinct from patent laws, and the focus should be on giving protection for each designer's aesthetic work, regardless of whether or not there is a utilitarian function. The IP Students' Association, comprising law students in both the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore Management University (SMU), also raised the concern that non-physical products under RDA could lead to some overlap with patent law, since the line between the design and the function of a non-physical product is less clear. This opens up the possibility of abuse, where a designer may register the design of his product after its patent protection period has expired, to extend the exclusivity of the product. Could the Minister clarify how the registered design regime will manage the potential overlap with the patent protection for a non-physical product? Using the example of the virtual keyboard in the Bill's explanatory notes, could a person who invents such a keyboard obtain patent protection and design protection at the same time? If so, what would be the scope of the protection under each regime? Next, the amended section 30(1) provides the designer with certain exclusive rights over any device for projecting a registered non-physical product. It is possible that a device may not be for the exclusive use of projecting a non-physical product whose design is registered, but may be able to project a range of non-physical products irrespective of design. Can the Minister clarify how the rights to the device will be allocated in such a situation? Madam, notwithstanding the above clarifications, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Madam, I stand in support of this Bill which brings registered design laws in Singapore closer to the level of protection accorded to designers in the EU. For example, extending the grace period from six months to 12 months matches that of the EU. Recognising colour as a protectable design feature and clarifying that ownership rests in designers rather than the commissioning parties are other examples of matching EU standards. While I am broadly supportive of these updates which reflect technological advances, as well as the swell in businesses dealing in artisanal and handcrafted products, I would like to raise a few points for clarification. The suggested definition for "non-physical product" includes a requirement that it has "an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not merely to portray the appearance of the thing or to convey information". Alvin Tay, a law student, wrote to me and helpfully highlighted to me that this seems to put designers of non-physical products at a relative disadvantage to their peers designing physical products. Hence, I would like to clarify the reason for the additional requirement of utility for non-physical products. Additionally, in the definition of "design", the words "article" and "non-physical product" are used interchangeably. As such, it is difficult to see why a higher hurdle is imposed for "non-physical products". If what we are protecting are really the shapes, configurations, colours, patterns or ornaments that give non-physical products their appearances, what is the rationale for the requirement of a utilitarian function? The utility of a product would be pertinent in patent law where protection should only be afforded if there is industrial application.”
“I also understand that the Police will work with industry partners to promote higher standards. Can the Parliamentary Secretary clarify if these standards have already been drafted? If not, when will they be ready, and also whether these standards will be published on the Police's website for transparency? This will be in line with the "fit and proper" criteria details which will be published on the Police's website. Can the Parliamentary Secretary also clarify if the eventual goal is to legislate these higher standards? With regard to the PE Appeal Board, can I clarify, in submitting an appeal, will the applicant or licensee be given the opportunity to face the Board and present their case, or, if needed, be allowed to have legal representation? Finally, is there a prescribed timeframe for this appeal process? I note that an appealable decision takes effect even though an appeal has been made to the Board, unless the Board determines otherwise. In this regard, an appellant appears to be required to make two appeals or two petitions − one to appeal against an appealable decision and, two, to request for the appealable decision to not take effect until the Board renders its decision. Can the Parliamentary Secretary clarify the process and procedure to request an appealable decision not to take effect? I believe this requires clarification as some subject matter of an appeal could be very time-sensitive. Madam, notwithstanding the above clarifications, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Madam, this Bill introduces positive changes to the PE and arts entertainment licensing framework in Singapore and I stand in support of it. I especially support the amendment to section 14 of the Act, which allows the suspension of a licence when proceeding in relation to offences listed in the proposed Second Schedule. We witnessed an active debate in Parliament recently on stamping out the use of drugs. The offences in the Second Schedule include drug offences, and I believe this is aligned with the move to make Singapore a drug-free society. Further, the Second Schedule includes matters in relation to prostitution and human trafficking. I am supportive of this in light of the criticisms levelled against Singapore for not doing enough to combat human trafficking and protect foreign workers in this dark side of society. This is testament to the Government's continued commitment to prevent trafficking. Madam, allow me to seek a few clarifications about this Bill and offer some suggestions. I note that a Licensing Officer may appoint a suitably trained individual as an authorised person. As many Members of this House have asked, can the Parliamentary Secretary clarify what is meant by "suitably trained", who these authorised persons will be, and also clarify why there is a need to appoint these authorised persons in the first place? Next, we are proposing to increase the maximum penalty for unlicensed PE and conducting PE while suspended from $10,000 to $20,000. I understand that it has been more than a decade since we have increased the penalties, and I am concerned whether this increase is sufficient and will be a sufficient deterrent. We need to consider that $20,000 might be the earnings in just one or a few nights in some cases.”
“Whilst strengthening our legislative framework, are we also doing enough to address security risks for facilities that hold dual-use materials which could be exploited or repurposed for terrorist usage? Although Singapore does not have significant nuclear material or facilities, it is relatively easy to weaponise chemical, biological, radiological or explosive materials. All cases of theft of nuclear materials that have occurred overseas where the circumstances of the theft are known were perpetrated either by insiders or with the help of insiders. As such, in addition to the physical security of facilities holding CBRNE materials, are there also measures in place to address insider threats which may arise from the radicalisation of personnel working in sensitive areas involving contact with CBRNE material? Madam, I welcome this move to combat nuclear terrorism and would further urge that stronger measures be taken to strengthen our CBRNE defence by putting hazardous materials beyond the hands of would-be terrorists.”
“Given the similar risk of the potentially lethal consequences, should we also make possession and manufacture an offence where the intention is to influence others to act in a certain way? Next, the proposed section 9 makes it an offence to demand another person to make available to the offender or to give the offender access to any radioactive material, Convention device, or nuclear facility. However, it is only an offence if the demand is made by the use of force or by threats. It is conceivable that these individuals may induce others to act through the promise of reward or gratification. Should the scope of the section be widened to cover such scenarios? I also note that section 11 outlines the extraterritorial nature of nuclear terrorism offences, stating that any person outside of Singapore committing an act which "if committed in Singapore, would constitute a nuclear terrorism offence", would be deemed to have contravened the law. I would like to ask if this is consistent with other terrorism offences as well. This Bill will help to bring our legislative regime in line with international law on nuclear terrorism. Nuclear terrorism is but one of the elements of CBRNE threats. In addressing other aspects of CBRNE threats, Singapore has signed and ratified the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Domestically, the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act, Biological Agents and Toxins Act, and Strategic Goods (Control) Act are some of the pieces of legislation passed to prevent access of non-state actors to CBRNE materials and to criminalise abuse of these hazardous materials.”
“Madam, as noted by Ms Karen Tan, our Permanent Representative to the UN, the threat of non-state actors gaining access to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons is becoming an increasingly real threat. This Bill strengthens Singapore's position alongside other countries in the international fight against terrorism, in particular, nuclear terrorism. I will be making some suggestions and raising two areas for clarification on the proposed provisions, as well as concerns on Singapore's efforts in combating terror threats involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) materials. Under section 6(1)(b)(iii) and section 7(1)(b)(iii), the use of radioactive material and Convention device, and the use or damage of a nuclear facility is an offence if a person does so to compel any person, international organisation or government to do or refrain from doing any act. However, this limb is missing from section 4(b) and section 5(b) on possession and manufacture and I would like to seek clarification on this. It is plausible that a person's intention in the possession or manufacture of these devices is not to cause death or injury to persons or damage to property or environment, but instead to compel individuals and governments to act in certain ways. For instance, in the October 2001 US anthrax attacks, letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to reporters and political figures. The intention of the senior scientist at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases who did so was not to kill or sicken anyone, but to enhance the profile of his anthrax work, to improve his own standing among colleagues and to stimulate funding for biodefense by inducing fear in the population and influencing government policy.”
“Madam, just one clarification. The Leader mentioned earlier that depending on the number of Questions and the amount of business for the day, these are the criteria used to extend Question Time. Could the Leader be more specific? Say, if there are more than 80 Parliamentary Questions (PQs) or less than three Bills, then Question Time will be extended? Can she maybe clarify the procedures?”
“These programmes do bring in family support at some stage of the rehabilitation process. However, the extent to which the family is brought into the rehabilitation process depends on the individual programmes. It also requires the ex-offenders taking the initiative to first enrol in these programmes. Will MHA consider spearheading a unified national approach towards a family-centric rehabilitation process? I believe we should draw inspiration from the Taskforce on Youth and Drugs in 2014, convened then by Mr Masagos Zulkifli. The Taskforce had recommended developing more targeted strategies to address youth drug abuse, such as toolkits for parents, educators, counsellors and NS commanders and introducing rehabilitation programmes for youths. This led to CNB developing a guide for parents of children recovering from drug abuse titled "Staying Drug-Free". A similar targeted national action plan should be drawn up towards rehabilitating all drug-offenders. Sir, our prison officers, our Captains of Lives, do amazing work and I have seen this first-hand when I visited our DRC last year. I must end this speech by saying that I completely understand how disappointing it must be for them when they see a drug offender return to prison again and be under their care repeatedly. It must not be easy for them and I sincerely hope we can help break this cycle, strengthen our rehabilitation process and strengthen family bonds. Sir, I support the Motion.”
“Can we also look into developing more counselling programmes for families of inmates even before their release from prison, to help their families to be better prepared to receive them upon their release and to support them in leading drug-free lifestyles? With regard to the family sessions conducted in prison, can we increase the number and duration of such family sessions? As I have suggested during the COS debates, can we consider introducing a programme where children get to spend a whole day behind bars with their parents? This is perhaps the most powerful rehabilitation tool. In my earlier speech, I said, and I quote, "I watched fathers in tears as they realised how much they missed their children and perhaps how their actions have hurt their children. I saw in the eyes of the fathers a resolve to be rehabilitated so that they can reunite with the children − not just for a day but for the rest of their lives. And I also saw what that one day meant for the children, as ultimately the children are indeed the real victims." Can we also be more proactive in reaching out to the families and children of inmates? I understand from the mother of five children whom I mentioned earlier that nobody reached out to her. Do we have the resources to ensure that we reach out to them during the first week of incarceration of their loved ones? That is the crucial period and the help we can provide will be essential. We already recognise the need for family support. There are, in fact, individual anti-addiction programmes for ex-offenders at halfway houses, such as HighPoint, Pertapis, Green Haven, just to name a few, and at hospitals, such as the Raffles Counselling Centre and the National Addictions Management Service.”
“I understand that one of the reasons for the higher recidivism rate for LT2 inmates is that they find it harder to reintegrate back into society. I am certain that one of the other factors is again the lack of family support. I completely understand how difficult it is for family bonds to be strengthened during the rehabilitation process, considering that these bonds would have been further damaged as a result of the incarceration. I completely understand how lost someone must feel when their loved ones are incarcerated. I have met many residents who come to my MPS, appealing for help after their loved ones were incarcerated. I recently met a mother of five who had to now single-handedly support the whole family while her husband is in the DRC. She was thrown into the deep end and this will not be an easy chapter in her life. I completely understand the immense guilt a drug offender must feel when he or she leaves their family behind to fend for themselves. We need to do more to strengthen our rehabilitation process and we need to view the rehabilitation process more holistically and focus on how we can rebuild the broken family bonds and focus on a more family-oriented rehabilitation process. As mentioned earlier, Singapore Prison Service is already providing workshops to help inmates better understand the impact of their crimes on their families and build their parenting and communication skills. However, can we do more workshops where it is attended by both the inmate and their spouse or loved ones? I appreciate the possible security and logistics concerns but I believe the pros outweigh the cons.”
“The grassroots-led Yellow Ribbon Community Project (YRCP) was established to help the families and children of inmates cope, by connecting them to the national social support networks. They have assisted more than 5,000 families. They recognised that family ties are vital to inmates' rehabilitation and family support is especially important after the inmates' release, and thus, the community's long-term involvement is vital to ensure continuity in these efforts." We are currently indeed emphasising the important role of family support in rehabilitation. But the statistics show that there is still a problem and there is always room for improvement. From 2014 to 2016, only about a third of DRC inmates received two family visits per month. I understand that additional requests for family visits by DRC inmates or their family members are rare. The lack of visits by family members is a tell-tale sign that there are problems. If the family bond is strong, then, surely, there will be more family visits. Drug consumption might be the symptom of the problem. So, while we focus our efforts on tackling the symptom of the problem, we also need to remember to tackle the root of the problem. The lack of strong family bonds might be the reason they consumed drugs in the first place. The other even more worrying statistic is that the more times we incarcerate someone for drug offences, the higher the chances he or she will be incarcerated again. In 2013, the recidivism rate for DRC inmates was 28.3% and for LT2 inmates, it was 42%. In 2014, the recidivism rate for DRC inmates was 30.1% and for LT2 inmates, it was 36.5%. It should be the other way around where the recidivism rate should be higher for someone incarcerated once as compared to someone incarcerated for the fourth time.”
“Sir, I rise in support of the Motion. In particular, I would like to focus on how we need to improve our rehabilitation process and how we need to strengthen our focus on family support during the rehabilitation process. While we strengthen our fight against drug consumption and ensure that people do not consume drugs in the first place, we must remember that almost 60% of drug abusers arrested are repeat offenders. That is almost two-thirds and, if we can improve our rehabilitation process, then we will effectively solve two-thirds of our problem. I raised this previously during the COS debates and I said that, and I quote, "A significant focus of the rehabilitation process is to ensure that inmates are able to secure a job when they are released. However, I feel that an equally important factor is whether they have family support when they are released." Parliamentary Secretary Amrin Amin replied that, and I quote, "Singapore Prison Service (SPS) partners with Fei Yue Family Services and Lakeside Family Services to provide structured family programmes for inmates − workshops to help better understand the impact of their crimes on their families and build their parenting and communication skills. The Prison Service also works with community partners like Salvation Army to conduct family sessions in prison. During these sessions, family members are allowed to enter prison to spend time with the inmates and they are designed to encourage bonding between inmates and their children and they serve as powerful reminders to inmates that they need to turn their lives around. These family sessions are also held during special occasions, such as Mother's Day, Father's Day and Children's Day. Other than helping inmates, Singapore Prison Service also helps their families.”
“And so, I am sure when my twins Katie and Poppy become bigger, it is going to be more dolls. Ken is already on standby in my drawer. The aspirations of Singapore women are clearly very important to me on a very personal note. I have three daughters and I hope that they will be able to fulfil their family and career aspirations and to be future-ready. But beyond these personal reasons, this is important to me quite simply because it is the right thing to do. Madam, I stand in full support of the Motion. 4.42 pm”