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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“For example, it would be useful to reiterate the acts listed in the Second Schedule, specifying what constitutes unfair practices. We could also explain what an "injunction" means in layman's terms and to educate consumers to stay clear from deals which seem too good to be true. If this is not feasible as a nationwide campaign, then I would recommend at least for the Government to pay special attention to hotspots where numerous complaints have been received. Secondly, foreign workers and tourists seem to be target groups for errant companies. In 2014, Vietnamese and Chinese media picked up on these scams targeting foreign nationals, tainting Singapore's image as a trustworthy, tourist-friendly shopping hub. Can the Minister share what else is being done to protect this vulnerable group, as well as steps to assure prospective tourists that Singapore remains a safe shopping haven? Lastly, most people I have spoken to about this Bill simply label it as a Bill that will give us peace of mind when we shop. Madam, in the beginning of my speech, I said this is a Bill about trust. But it really is a Bill about trust lost in our society. Ultimately, we are strengthening legislation to strengthen trust in our society. While I support this Bill, I hope this is not the end goal. As I frequently mention in my speeches, legislation cannot be the end goal. We cannot legislate everything, and we cannot depend solely on legislation and enforcement of legislation for the moral progress of our nation. We have been called a "fine city", and I am afraid there is some truth in this label. When I speak to primary school kids and ask them why they should not litter, for example, almost every reply is that you cannot litter as you will get a fine or must "pay money if you get caught".”
“Madam, I stand in support of this Bill which essentially is a Bill about trust and about levelling the playing field in the marketplace. While Singapore strives to be a business-friendly hub for companies, we must also ensure that justice prevails in the marketplace, where no party is able to take advantage of another. I am sure many of us will recall the amount of public anger stirred up in 2014 by the high-profile cases of errant companies at Sim Lim Square. That year, Jover Chew became public enemy. Citizen vigilantes took over social media to reveal his identity. A crowdfunding campaign was set up to compensate the victim, and money continued to pour in until it raised 12 times the targeted amount. This was a display of collective public action in Singapore, an angry society stirred up by a clear case of a bully taking advantage of another person. A year later, we saw BreadTalk's soya milk saga. Once again, Singaporeans were up in arms. Madam, it is clear that the public does not tolerate a betrayal of the trust they hold towards companies. When a customer is made to pay more than he or she agreed to, or when a product is misrepresented, it is a form of injustice which hits the raw nerves of Singaporeans. In this regard, I stand in full support of this Bill to strengthen our laws to better protect consumers. However, I would like to raise a few concerns. Firstly, to help consumers understand the additional protection they are conferred under this new law, will the Ministry be releasing publicity materials? I note that after the Lemon Laws were enacted in 2012, CASE had published accessible public awareness materials to educate consumers about their rights. In the same way, we need education for consumers to reap the full benefits of this proposed law.”
“Mdm Speaker, while the Government is leading by example in the procurement of paper that the Minister has just mentioned, will the Ministry also consider the green procurement of palm oil products as well? Secondly, when we talk about the procurement of paper, are the papers certified under the Singapore Green Label Scheme? Will the Ministry also consider using other internationally recognised standards, such as the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) certification?”
“Madam, in line with what the Minister has mentioned about whether the children should stay at home to continue to look after the senior, could the Minister explain why we are just including the income of children who live with the seniors and not the children who are not living with the seniors? We seem to suggest that children should only look after their parents if they live with the parents. So, could the Minister clarify on this, please?”
“For example, the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee comprised of Members of Parliament, animal welfare groups, Town Council staff, veterinarians and the pet industry. This was a group of stakeholders with diverse views, who are not like-minded at times, but came together to argue, debate and find common ground. Sir, I reiterate my comments from my maiden speech in Parliament, calling for the setting up of more of such committees to enable robust consultations with a wider spectrum of people from society. I strongly believe that it is committees like these, with more devil's advocates, where we will get the best policies drafted and, in this case, the best technology created. In this regard, I would like to ask the Minister if the setting up of the new agencies, such as GovTech and also previously, IMDA, can be accompanied with committees comprising more people on the ground, from more diverse backgrounds. The robust debates among people with dissenting views will ensure that we truly understand what the ground concerns and the various ideas out there are, and the different solutions available. Because ultimately, I believe we do not have all the answers. These comments notwithstanding, Sir, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Sir, this Bill will catapult Singapore to worldwide leadership in applied technology and I stand in full support of it. It will pave the way for Singapore to go full speed ahead as a Smart Nation, providing top-class infrastructure for people and businesses to thrive. Minister Yaacob shared that this will encourage citizens to participate in the co-creation of public digital services, in line with our Smart Nation initiative to solicit participation from non-government stakeholders to contribute innovative ideas and solutions. I especially welcome this move towards co-creation with the community, as I believe the Government does not hold the monopoly on good ideas and innovations, especially not with the growing pool of exceptional talent among the youths. Furthermore, as interactions with Government services move increasingly to the digital realm, the move to streamline IT-related transactions can only serve Singaporeans better. Many of my older and less tech-savvy residents in Nee Soon East face challenges navigating the complex web of Government red tape when trying to apply for licences, grants, social welfare services, and so on. As such, I thank the Minister for the new whole-of-Government approach to cut down on administrative burdens in Government transactions. Sir, allow me to raise just one recommendation in this Bill in clause 36 on the Appointment of Committees to provide advice to the authority. This committee will further strengthen our move towards co-creation with the community. Page: 142 Based on my experience as part of the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee, which led to improvements in animal welfare policies and legislation, I have found great value in setting up committees which include parties with differing views.”
“In this regard, could the Minister clarify what further efforts will be put in place by the new agency with regard to the protection of personal data? Will the Minister step up outreach efforts to the public and provide details on the methods it will employ? Lastly, some of the functions of the agency include facilitating an adequate range of media services that serve the interest of the general public, ensuring that media services are provided at a high standard in all respects, particularly in respect of the quality, balance and range of subject matter of their content and ensuring that the content of media services is not against public interest, public order or national harmony, and does not offend against good taste or decency. In essence, the authority will decide on behalf of the public, amongst others, the range, quality and content of media services. Can the Minister clarify how the authority will make these decisions and whether more public consultations can be conducted to ensure we better understand the interest of the general public? Sir, these concerns notwithstanding, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Sir, I welcome this move to better regulate the infocomm media sector, spur growth in the sector and, ultimately, create a globally-competitive infocomm media ecosystem for Singapore. I am particularly keen on IMDA's mandate to strengthen safeguards for consumers, highlighted in clause 61, as ordinary users are exposed to greater risks with the increasing use of infocomm platforms. I recall 15 years ago, when Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) was first started, we bought a 56-kilobit dial-up modem and struggled to get connected to the Internet. Little did I anticipate that 15 years later, I can use a smartphone to take high definition videos and, within seconds, send it to anyone anywhere in the world. Indeed, it is an understatement that the Internet has transformed our lives for the better. However, technology is a double-edged sword and I hope that while the agency promotes the use of the Internet and e-commerce, it can be accompanied by an equal measure of education on the risks they present. It should inform consumers on the rise in phishing and malware attacks. A case emerged in June this year involving a phishing email which pretended to be sent from the Development Bank of Singapore. When the attached zip file was opened, the malware it contains would immediately infect the customer's computer or device and steal its login and authorisation details. For many Singaporeans, they may fall prey to this tactic. I have heard many stories from my residents who have been misled by fraudsters to share sensitive personal data or unwittingly clicked on links which downloaded malware. With the pervasive use of data, I welcome efforts to continue promoting and regulating data protection through PDPC.”
“As such, I would suggest stronger rules be put in place for the enforcement of tribunal orders and settlements: (a) making it a criminal offence to default on these orders; (b) if directors wind up companies and set up new ones, claimants should be allowed to return to the ECT to make directors, major shareholders and officers personally liable to fulfil the orders; (c) the ECT should hold the funds in escrow to be disbursed to the claimants as employers are less likely to default on payments to be made directly to the Court; and lastly, (d) for bankrupted companies experiencing genuine financial difficulties, a fund could be created to help workers, financed by corporate tax or the security bond paid by employers. One such model is Hong Kong's Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance. On access to grounds of decision which a previous Member has mentioned, clause 10 of the Bill provides for a registry to keep all records of the tribunal. However, unlike section 13 of the Small Claims Tribunal Act, it does not explicitly state that these records will be available to parties upon application. Can the Minister clarify if records will be made available? Page: 93 Access to grounds of decision is important to allow employees to make informed decisions on further action to take. Under the current Labour Court system, claimants have to pay $5 per page for these records. One charity has documented a case where a claimant had to pay almost $1,000 – a large sum for low-wage workers. Can the Minister clarify if this sum will be made more affordable? Sir, while I stand in full support of this Bill, I raise these points to ensure that the proposed ECT provides full protection for employees.”
“It was previously pointed out that Labour Court Commissioners have refused to accept material evidence, such as video recordings of employers confessing to non-payment of salary. Under clause 33(2) of the new Bill, Rules of Court provide for the summoning of witnesses and provision of evidence. It would be helpful if formal and clear rules can be put in place and publicised as to what types of evidence and testimonies are admitted. This would help claimants when preparing their cases. Fourthly, I would like to highlight the need for stronger enforcement of Court orders. According to charity workers, low-wage employees currently face difficulties when trying to enforce Labour Court orders or settlements obtained at the mediation stage. Although legal mechanisms, such as a Writ of Seizure and Sale, are available, these involve high costs and are usually out of reach of low-wage employees. In order to avoid payment, charities have reported that it is common for employers to declare bankruptcy and wind up their companies, only to set up a new company under a new name.”
“Sir, I welcome this progressive Bill which expedites the resolution of salary disputes, thereby ensuring that our labour laws continue to provide better protection of workers. However, allow me to highlight five areas of concern. Page: 92 My first concern is on representations in proceedings in clause 19(2)(e). While most parties are expected to act in person before the tribunal, the new Bill allows for certain individuals to be exceptions to this rule. Can the Minister clarify who these individuals will be? According to section 23 of the Small Claims Tribunal Act, certain parties need not act in person at Small Claims Tribunal proceedings. This includes low-wage elderly workers who have received little formal education and have a poor command of English. This group of vulnerable individuals should also be protected at the ECT. In such cases, there is usually a significant power differential between employees and employers, even if interpreters are provided. Allowing them representation or assistance by solicitors, agents or McKenzie friends will ensure fair outcomes are achieved. Secondly, the Second Schedule sets out the specific statutory dispute matters that can be heard by the tribunal. However, the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act has not been included. Can the Minister explain the rationale for its exclusion? Leaving out this Act would mean depriving migrant workers of protections offered to them for salary-related claims. Thirdly, on the rules of evidence, under the EA, there have been reports of inconsistent practices at the Labour Court as to the types of evidence and witness testimonies accepted.”
“As we shine the spotlight on adult learning, I urge that we continue our efforts to improve the mainstream education system, giving children space outside of the classroom to acquire soft skills and instilling a genuine desire for self-learning and discovery from a young age. These comments notwithstanding, Madam, this Bill can only serve the interests of Singapore's workforce, and I stand in support of it.”
“For example, if a Singaporean would like to pick up a course on film-making, there is currently only one SkillsFuture-approved institution and course available, although there are many similar courses available in the market. It is also the students themselves who can best testify if the courses are relevant to their needs. In light of clause 5(1)(i), to improve the quality of courses, can the Minister clarify if a mechanism will be put in place to measure the students' levels of satisfaction for the course and course provider? Secondly, clause 5(1)(f) refers to the need to instil enthusiasm for lifelong learning. I could not agree more with the importance of this function. This ensures that we do not miss the point that as we encourage adults to embark on self-improvement, we do not run the risk of turning adult learning into a mere paper chase. A certificate is not an end-all, and what this new agency must focus on is to instil a genuine curiosity for learning, a desire for self-improvement and the resolve to take ownership of one's career. These are the hallmarks of a motivated, robust and highly adaptable workforce, ready to take on the rapid changes in the 21st century workplace. Employability is measured by a complex matrix of attributes, including not just hard skills, but inherent behavioural attributes, such as resilience, creativity, risk-taking and curiosity – traits which are not often considered the core strengths of the Singaporean workforce. These are soft skills which can never be taught in a classroom, much like attempting to teach children moral values Page: 67 through textbooks.”
“Mdm Speaker, I recognise with enthusiasm the growing emphasis the Government is placing on lifelong learning. We started in 1979 with SDF as our first training initiative at the national level. Today, we are about to welcome a brand new agency to helm the national objective of continued learning. In this regard, I stand in full support of the Bill. The job market is changing in ways and at a speed not seen in the past. It is of utmost importance to ensure that the Singapore workforce continue to develop "skills for the future" and be well-prepared to predict and plan for medium- to long-term manpower needs. A culture of constant upskilling must be instilled among Singaporeans to help them stay ahead of changing workplace trends. Today's workforce is also different, as young people spend the earlier part of their career on a journey of self-discovery. SkillsFuture will provide them with a window to explore alternative skills and career tracks with little opportunity cost as they can pursue classes alongside their full-time jobs. Mdm Speaker, I would like to raise two points with regard to this Bill. Firstly, I would like to ask the Minister if there are provisions in place to ensure that the quality of private courses is upheld. Clause 5(1)(h) highlights accreditation of providers of adult education. Private institutions can quickly take advantage of the influx of Government funding for their courses, taking in more students at the expense of the quality of their courses. Will there also be checks in place to ensure that course providers do not inflate their course fees? How does the Government decide which private education courses enjoy accreditation and which do not?”
“This was not unexpected, as almost half of our workforce reported that they were working more than the MOM's recommended limit of 44 working hours per week. In a survey conducted last year, three in 10 Singapore employees were thinking of resigning, citing reasons, such as poor leadership and disinterest in their job. Meanwhile, this problem also seems to plague newer entrants into the job market – the millennials – of whom a high seven in 10 said they were willing to move overseas for the right job. In a country lauded for its great wealth and top-class quality of life, Singapore's disenchanted workforce is perhaps the white elephant in the room. This is something any new agency with a mandate to help our employees must take a serious look at. To remain competitive, we need to ensure that our workforce is not one which is simply productive, but also fulfilled and serve their roles with enthusiasm with collective achievement. There are many high-profile cases where a happy workforce can transform a company, and this can be applied to Singapore's economy. In this regard, I would like to ask the Minister if the new agency will look into how we can turn the tide of these negative survey results on workplace satisfaction. Madam, I have complete trust that the proposed WSG will thrive under MOM and will bring Singapore forward to a new era of strong productivity and economic growth.”
“Beyond job redesign, however, I would like to ask the Minister what else the Ministry will be doing to help businesses for which there is no or little substitute for human workers, to increase their productivity. We should also focus our efforts on fostering innovation. Innovative economies tend to have higher productivity growth, measured by indices, such as the intensity of research and development (R&D), patent activity and entrepreneurship. Singapore tends to do very well in both R&D and patent activity, but perhaps less well in entrepreneurship. Young Singaporeans, relative to their peers in countries, such as the United States, still lack the tenacity and boldness to leap into the riskier field of entrepreneurship, where many unknowns lurk. Without the necessary support, many potential Singaporean Mark Zuckerbergs would give up and too many brilliant ideas would go undiscovered. WSG will be in close contact with our workforce and companies, and while fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship is not the core focus of WSG, I hope that the two new agencies proposed to Page: 39 strengthen our workforce can also work with SPRING Singapore to look into how we can foster amongst our young a spirit of entrepreneurship, a generation daring enough to step out of their comfort zone and able to intuitively think out of the box. Lastly, I would like to raise a point regarding the link between workplace satisfaction and productivity. Surveys by Randstad consistently place Singaporeans as one of the least satisfied workforces in the Asia-Pacific. In a 2016 survey, two of the top attributes employees look for were a "good work-life balance" and a "pleasant atmosphere" – both of which Singapore employers scored relatively poorly on.”
“Mdm Speaker, I welcome the restructuring efforts for Government bodies to specialise in their respective roles, enabling Singapore to have a more targeted push to develop a stronger workforce. I commend the move to transfer WDA's previously held role in education and training to a new agency. I believe that having separate agencies with a more targeted focus will allow for more robust decision-making. I welcome the amendments, which enables the new agency to play a more extensive role in helping job-seekers find and keep jobs. In clauses 9 and 10, increasing workforce productivity is clearly stated as a key objective for the agency. In this current climate of slower employment growth and economic uncertainties, it is important for the Government to focus our efforts on boosting productivity and to set up more safeguards than ever to protect our local workforce. Reiterating what Minister Lim Swee Say said in the Budget debates this year, we need a new breakthrough in productivity growth, or low economic growth will become the new norm, as our international competitiveness will be at risk. While there have been strong efforts by the Government to increase automation to increase productivity, we must recognise that there are businesses for which there is no or little substitute for human workers. In particular, SMEs and companies in retail, hospitality, food and beverage and construction. Interestingly, it was mentioned earlier this year that it is precisely these same domestic sectors, such as retail and construction, which were the laggards in productivity growth. In this regard, I commend efforts to look beyond automation to increase productivity to areas, such as job re-design, as stated in clauses 9(c) and 10(c), to render work more fulfilling and meaningful.”
“In this age of social media, where flurries of spontaneous conversations fill the Internet, the layperson may not fully understand where the line is drawn and what he or she cannot say. Clause 3(1)(b) prohibits the publication of material which poses a "real risk" of prejudice or interference. Can the Minister provide a more detailed definition of what "real risk" entails? Clause 11 refers to "publication". Does this also include academic articles or a private Facebook post? And can the Minister also provide a more detailed description or definition of what is considered "fair criticism"? These are questions relevant to the public which we should have ready answers for. I also propose efforts to raise public awareness in order to help the layperson understand the boundaries of what is legally tolerated and not. Lastly, instead of a catch-all provision for penalties, it would be useful if penalties for each form of contempt could be spelt out so that there is better clarity for application. Madam, given the wide-reaching implications of this Bill, I am glad for the robust debate in this House and trust that a well-crafted and thoughtful law will find wide public acceptance and support.”
“Mdm Speaker, I welcome this Bill which seeks to protect our Judiciary and the integrity of legal proceedings. It is helpful to codify the law of contempt in order to give Singaporeans a better understanding of what actions tantamount to sub judice, disobeying Court orders and scandalising the Courts. The reality of today's society, where there is easy access to virtual soapboxes, is that there will always be individuals who will be irresponsible and hold extreme views. I support provisions in the Bill to manage media outlets and commentators, some of which are primarily motivated by sensationalism and scandal, rather than the search for the truth. I, however, would like to raise a few questions. Many Members have already spoken about clause 3(4) where the Government can make a statement, which if it deems is necessary in the public interest. While some illustrations are given, can the Minister provide more clarity on how the Government will decide on whether such a statement is necessary in the public interest and whether "public interest" can be defined more clearly in the Bill? While I understand the need to address inaccurate or incorrect public allegations, however, following the release of a Government statement, is it possible for exemptions to also be made when a member of the public provides a differing but factual description of events and circumstances? Can the Minister also provide further details on what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that judges are not influenced by the Government statement? Next, while the Bill seeks to provide clarity for lawyers, the text in its present form may expose the layperson to risks that they may not fully understand.”
“I mentioned previously that she has learnt to say the word "no", but I am afraid I have not learnt to say the word "no" to her, especially when she has now learnt the words, "Daddy, please". But I am sure she will eventually understand why she is putting coins in tins. Perhaps, the best way to teach is to show by example. As parents, we need to show that we share and we give. As a Government, we need to lead by example and show that we not just teach sharing and giving in our schools but that we practise what we preach. Mdm Speaker, I applaud the Government for this initiative to strengthen our spirit of sharing and giving at an international level and I stand in full support of this Bill. 4.55 pm”
“Crisis prevention is an international effort, and Singapore must act, contribute and help. A strong Singaporean response in a time like this can only signal our resolve to maintain global stability, placing Singapore at the forefront and as a leader. This act of global goodwill will also bode us well. For a trade-reliant country like ours, a stable and healthy global economy will only serve our interests. By contributing to IMF's war chest and bolstering emergency funds for weaker economies, we are, ultimately, building a firewall for ourselves. In these times of uncertainty, we must do all we can to ensure the global economic climate remains favourable to Singapore. But this is not just about the Singapore economy, Singapore's interest and dollars and cents. It is also about showing that, despite being a tiny red dot, we can be a shining example of a small country with a big impact, a small country of responsible global citizens and we can be a shining red dot. For me, this really is about sharing and giving – the lessons we teach our children in schools and the lessons I am currently teaching my daughter. When she is playing with other children and they want to play with the toy she is playing with, I tell her to share. Let others also have a chance to play. I am also teaching her to give and donate. I started passing her coins to put into donation tins in shops and explain to her why she is putting the coins in the tins. But I am afraid this has been a failed experiment so far. I doubt she understands why. But she does enjoy putting the coins in the tins and she now insists on putting coins in every donation tin we walk past.”
“Mdm Speaker, I stand in full support of this Bill, a Bill that is about the spirit of sharing and giving. The proposed amendments will provide MAS with additional powers to make grants, in order to enable MAS to participate in the IMF's initiative to strengthen the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) resources. These amendments will result in more financial assistance for lower income member countries. For a start, as the Minister mentioned, Singapore will be able to contribute our share of the IMF's gold sales profit, which will amount to a grant of US$20 million to the PRGT. This proposal for the contribution of the above sales profit is supported by 80% of IMF members and this is a timely move for Singapore to support this as well, in direct response to repeated calls by the IMF for the world to act together, urgently. In April this year, IMF chief, Christine Lagarde, warned that time was running out to revive the global economy. A few months before that, a report to G20 leaders called for strong policy Page: 58 responses at the national and multilateral levels to propel the global economy to a more prosperous path. It does not take an economist to realise that we are entering into a changing economic climate. The global economy is facing latent fissures in the form of falling oil prices and China's slowdown. Amid these economic threats, global powers are also struggling to cope with the refugee crisis, religious extremism and political unrest. We know that the IMF – as the global crisis lender – is not optimistic. After careful observations of global trends, they have cut their global growth forecast for the fourth time this year. The amendments allowing for increased contributions to the IMF will allow it to fight fires in the global economy.”
“Thank you, Madam. Can I ask if MAS has performed audits or reviews on the effectiveness of IT controls very specific to FAST, which stands for Fast and Secure Transfers? If so, how often? If not, is there a plan to do so? I understand that FAST is very similar to SWIFT, which was the software or network which was infiltrated by the hackers to steal the $81 million from the Bank of Bangladesh.”
“Based on statistics obtained from the Law Society of Singapore, as at 31 August 2015, there are only 423 middle category lawyers, as compared to 1,909 junior lawyers and 2,502 senior lawyers. It would appear that the proposed changes to the middle category of lawyers from five to 15 years, instead of the current seven to 12 years, will go some way towards evening out the numbers of lawyers within the various categories. Can the Senior Minister of State share the possible underlying causes which have resulted in the legal profession seeing a shrinking middle category of lawyers and whether sufficient steps are being taken to address this concern within the legal profession? Mdm Speaker, my request for the Government to clarify the above notwithstanding, I support the Bill.”
“Madam, I stand in support of this Bill. However, I have two brief clarifications to be made. Firstly, the proposed amendment to the Community Mediation Centres Act removes the requirement for the Director of a Community Mediation Centre (CMC) to prepare and submit to the Minister an annual report on the activities, operations and use of the CMC. Consequently, this removes the requirement for the Minister to lay that report before Parliament. Based on my house visits and Meet-the-People Sessions, I sense an increasing number of neighbourly disputes. As such, I value the work of the CMC, which provides a neutral platform for residents to resolve relational, social and community disputes amicably without resorting to litigation. Through community mediation, the CMC aims to cultivate a more harmonious, civil and gracious society. I also expect that the CMC will be facing an increasing amount of work. As such, I believe the report we are proposing to do away with, would be useful and crucial in allowing us to further detect issues in our community, detect trends, see what has worked and what has not and chart the way forward. Can the Senior Minister of State clarify why we are proposing this amendment and, if amended, will there be other forms of reports from the CMC and will these be made available to the public? Secondly, there are proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Act, which involves the recategorisation of junior, middle and senior categories of lawyers based on their number of years in practice. Currently, junior lawyers are practitioners with less than seven years of practice, middle category lawyers are those with between seven and 12 years of practice, and lawyers with more than 12 years of practice are senior lawyers.”
“And as recently published in a The Straits Times article, "Regret is an incurable ache". The time spent with our children is precious and should be cherished. The memories created will last forever and are priceless. Madam, we cannot buy time, and we cannot turn back time. We cannot get back the hours, the minutes and the seconds lost. But we can, every day, treasure and value the time we have with our children and our loved ones. Madam, this Bill is an important step forward for unwed mothers, for all fathers, mothers, children and employers. This is a journey we must all take together and the only regret one will have is that they did not participate in this journey. Let me end with a less known quote about parenthood by Jill Smokler, and it reads: "Being a parent is dirty and scary and beautiful and hard and miraculous and exhausting and thankless and joyful and frustrating all at once. It is everything." Madam, I wholeheartedly support this Bill.”
“These figures are clearly not encouraging. I sincerely hope that employers will not only grant the fathers their paternity leave but also actively encourage them to take it. My appeal for fathers, speaking up as a father, is that you will not regret spending time, quality time, with your children in this amazing journey called parenthood. This is a journey that changes your life, that makes you a better person, and this is a journey your children need you to play an active role in. This journey has changed my life. I have gone from being the biggest Linkin Park fan to now being the biggest Pororo Park fan. And quite embarrassingly, I can sing most of the songs you hear at Pororo Park in Marina Square. And I know that life has changed when I now subconsciously start singing Pororo songs. Life has also changed for me from having tea parties with the Prime Minister and the Ministers to now having weekly tea parties with my daughter. The tea parties are much less stressful now, but those imaginary cups of tea have made it much easier for me to understand my daughter. Lastly, life has certainly changed for me now as I am no longer the most stubborn person in my house. My daughter has learnt to say the word "no" and I never knew that someone could say the word "no" so many times in a day. I hope that she does not change and every guy that approaches her in the future, she will say "no". Madam, I am often asked in the media what special powers I wish I have, and my reply has always been that I wished I had 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, and always a wish that we could have spent more time with our loved ones.”
“The change in this policy is timely and I do hope that this does open the floodgates of help and support for single unwed mothers and the days of penalising them are history and they will finally get the same high level of support we give to our married mothers. But this Bill does not just talk about mothers. It also emphasises the important role fathers play. Research at the University of Bergen has shown that, and I quote, "A sensitive and attentive father has a positive influence on a child's development, but only if he spends a considerable amount of time with his child during his first year". This research is part of a major project at The Norwegian Centre for Child Behavioural Development. And the researcher's advice was simple, and I quote again, "Try to get leave from work in order to spend as much time as possible with your child during his first year. But, above all, make sure you spend high quality time with your child." The amendments in this Bill seek to provide this by allowing employers to claim reimbursement from the Government for the extra week of paternity leave. Subsequent amendments to this Act, as the Minister has mentioned, where the second week of paternity leave will be legislated, will further strengthen this. But I urge the Government to do more, to not just do more in providing financial grants, which is important, but also do more in helping to ensure that both fathers and mothers have the chance to spend more time with their children. The Government is now writing this next and brand-new chapter in this journey, and we now need employers and fathers to join us. Minister Tan had previously stated that in 2013, only 28% of fathers took up the Government-paid Paternity Leave; in 2014, the figure was 36%.”
“Madam, I stand in full support of this Bill, a Bill which starts a new chapter in our journey in parenthood and a Bill which brings about a fundamental change in our parenthood policies, a much-needed fundamental change. I also stand in full support of this Bill because it is not only about dollars and cents but also about the hours, the minutes and the seconds, the precious time we spend with our children. The amendments to section 3 bring about a stronger sense of inclusiveness. Single unwed mothers do not enjoy most of the benefits and support given to married mothers. You do not have to be a single parent to realise the difficulties they go through and face in bringing up their children. No matter what the circumstances are that led to them being single unwed mothers, we should still help and support them, especially their child or children who, like us, are fellow Singaporeans. As I mentioned during the Committee of Supply (COS) debates, to be a truly inclusive society, we need to accord equal rights to our single unwed mothers, and we should ensure that they do not feel alone in their journey. We must help and support them rather than penalise them. This is the right thing to do. So, I am extremely delighted that the proposed amendment to section 3 seeks to expand the categories of children who may be eligible under the Child Development Co-Savings Scheme. Children, other than children of married mothers, will now qualify for the scheme. Together with MSF, we have fought hard for this. I have joined 16 other Members of Parliament (MPs), Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) and Nominated MPs (NMPs) and the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) who, over the 12 years, spoke up for this.”
“And if the enquiry contains confidential information, they can email IRAS via myTax Mail for added security. With all these in place, is there a need for consultants to help provide advice and submit applications? I ask that this be reviewed also because I have met residents at my Meet-the-People Sessions who have been cheated by the consultants. Madam, the PIC scheme has benefited many and as I had shared during the Committee of Supply debates, I am concerned that we are ending it. However, I am more concerned that as we get closer and closer to the end date, more and more people will try to cash in. This Bill does help to strengthen the system. But I sincerely believe that we need to do more. Mdm Speaker, my request for the Government to review the above notwithstanding, I support the Bill. 3.12 pm”
“And will the Ministry consider giving out the grants in disbursements for innovation projects that need to show payoff, in terms of productivity gains and projection of sales? All of which requires information filing one year from implementation. Ultimately, we need to safeguard taxpayers' money. We also need to take a stronger stand when it comes to PIC consultants. A PIC consultant is a person or a business entity that provides advice or assistance to businesses on PIC matters for a fee. A PIC consultant is expected to be knowledgeable about the PIC scheme and be familiar with the correct procedures when submitting PIC cash payout claims for his clients. I am sure we have all seen their claims and guarantees of cashing in on the PIC scheme and I have met numerous residents telling me stories of how they have been approached by the consultants. We need to make changes to ensure that consultants are no longer able to cheat the Government and also the companies. The amendment in the Bill requiring the use of the electronic service is a step forward. It will help end the abuse of the system where companies sign blank PIC forms and pass them to the consultants. As we now streamline the application process, I question the need for PIC consultants to submit the application forms on behalf of their clients or applicants. Can the Ministry clarify why we continue to allow this and whether there are plans to phase this out? I appreciate that some companies need help for PIC matters. But can IRAS not handle these enquiries directly? IRAS already states on its website that companies can contact them for assistance or clarification on PIC matters. There are even separate phone numbers for companies and the self-employed.”
“But what alarms me more are the other figures published in a The Straits Times' article, and I quote, "IRAS has rejected or clawed back the sums paid out to about one in three cash payout claims filed by the self-employed as the claims were inaccurate or false. The sums not given out or recovered from these dubious claims amounted to about $358 million in the last five years." This means that IRAS is either spending a lot of resources weeding out inaccurate or false claims or spending a lot of resources trying to claw back funds already paid out. Either way, this $358 million figure points to a real need to strengthen the system. While we are phasing out the PIC scheme, I understand that, on the ground, PIC consultants are going all out, doing whatever it is possible to source for clients and make as many claims as possible and whilst stocks last. Quite understandably, they are doing this. This makes it even more important for us to strengthen the system and strengthen it in the right way. The fact is that many people are still trying their luck. We need to strengthen the system so that fewer people want to even try their luck. We need to strengthen the approval process and make sure people know that it is being strengthened. We need to urgently investigate and audit more claims. We need to send a deterrent message to companies that if they try to cheat the system, they will get caught and the penalties are severe. We need to increase the odds significantly and the current odds are in favour of the cheaters as there is only about a one in three chance of their claim being audited. Will the Ministry also consider cutting down on providing grants to low productivity yield projects like websites or app designs?”
“Madam, I stand in support of the Bill. I will focus my speech on the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) Scheme. The PIC scheme was introduced to encourage productivity and innovation activities in Singapore. It provides support to businesses that make investments to improve their productivity. There is no doubt that the PIC scheme has been a success. As stated by Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah in March, since its inception until January this year, 102,000 companies, or 70%, of all active companies in IRAS' records for the Year of Assessment 2014 have benefited in one way or another from the PIC scheme. This is a pretty impressive statistic. However, as with any scheme, there are bound to be loopholes and people are bound to try and exploit and abuse the scheme. As previously mentioned also by Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah, IRAS does conduct rigorous compliance programmes to review and audit PIC claims. However, only 30% of claims from years of assessment 2011 to 2015 have been investigated or audited and about 2.1% of these claims investigated required clawback. For years of assessment 2011 to 2014, IRAS has clawed back $11 million. While the percentage requiring clawback seems low, it does represent a significant number of people trying to cheat the system or submitting inaccurate claims, perhaps unintentionally, and $11 million does seem like a sizable amount of money. Quite clearly, if we investigate and audit the remaining 70% of claims, we will uncover even more cases and have to claw back even more funds.”
“Can the Minister clarify whether the EIA will be made available to the public and if local biologists and non-government organisations will be involved in doing the EIA surveys?”
“Sir, I appreciate that maybe now is not the time to review the extended childcare leave. But I hope that in the near future, it will be reviewed. It is really from feedback of residents who have about three kids, because the current two days of leave is really insufficient. And I will join Members and fellow fathers in this House to declare that I have also changed my fair share of nappies.”
“Madam, taking care of your child in Singapore is no easy task, coupled with the fact that many households in Singapore are dual income to keep up with the cost of living. As such, taking time off work is considered a luxury by most working parents. While the Government can encourage extended family closeness by giving out grants and building more 3-Gen flats, it is definitely also important for immediate family members to spend time together and for parents to look after their child when they are sick or in need of help. As the Government advocates working adults to have a better work-life balance, will PMO consider increasing the amount of extended childcare leave and pegging the amount of extended childcare leave to not only the age of the child, but also the number of children one has? Promoting Parenthood”
“Madam, with increased cost of living and added healthcare cost, I am concerned that the poor and vulnerable elders in Singapore will fall through the cracks. While MediShield Life is a good measure to cover all Singaporeans, it does not help with their living expenses when they are in recovery or out of the hospital. This is where ElderShield comes in. However, there are some improvements that I would like to suggest. The premium costs are high for the lower-income families and the process to file claims may be overly burdensome, especially for the elderly. Does the Ministry have plans to review the premiums and also simplify the claim process? Can the Ministry also tap on the PG Office (PGO) to reach out to the other 35% of the resident population who are currently not covered by ElderShield? Lastly, while the payout period has been extended to 72 months, will the Ministry consider extending the payout period for ElderShield to end of life instead, since there is no reason to assume that care needs would decrease after 72 months? Information Technology in Healthcare”
“Madam, I join Members of this House in urging MSF to review the support for single parents. There are some benefits that single parents currently do not enjoy, such as the full 16 weeks of maternity leave. Unwed parents also do not get perks, such as the Baby Bonus and parenthood tax rebates, and have to wait until they are 35 years old to buy a HDB flat under the singles scheme. Single parents have a difficult time bringing up their child or children single-handedly, compared to families with two parents. As an inclusive society, we should be providing equal rights to single parents and ensure they do not feel alone in their journey. We should help rather than penalise them. Will the Ministry, for a start, consider helping single parents by extending the length of maternity leave given to single mothers? Will the Ministry consider providing any other support for single parents? Supporting Singaporean Children”
“Two points of clarification. First is that with the smoking prohibition, does it also cover the parks and public housing estates that are managed by NParks and not just those by the Town Councils? The second clarification is still on ABC Waters. I think the projects you listed are in Nee Soon, but the two are actually not in Nee Soon East. So, I am still hoping the Senior Minister of State will consider Nee Soon East, followed by MacPherson.”
“Another 54 ABC Waters-certified projects were undertaken by private developers and other public agencies. Can the Ministry elaborate on the plans for the ABC Waters Programme in the next five to 10 years? And I have to add this: if possible, launch one in Nee Soon East. Page: 57 Creative Use of Canal Space”
“Madam, smoking prohibition in Singapore was first introduced in 1970 and has been progressively extended to cover virtually all indoor places and areas where the public congregate. This is to provide a clean, safe and healthy environment for the public and to safeguard their health against the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. The last extension of the smoking ban was in 2013. The long-term policy goal of the Ministry is to prohibit smoking at all public places, except designated smoking points or areas. NEA's goal is to move the policy from a prohibitive list to a positive list. While there are recent steps, such as the ban on display at point-of-sale, taken by the Ministry to reduce smoking rates in Singapore, does the Ministry intend to further expand the reach of the smoking ban to cover more places in order to safeguard the health of the public against the harmful and damaging effects of second-hand smoke? Expanding ABC Waters Programme The Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme has been well-received by members of the public. I was at the launch of the ABC Waters @ Siglap Canal in December last year. Having seen the old canal before the implementation of the programme, I can see the amazing transformation it has undergone and how it has turned the area into a community space, which is well-used. That is the goal of the ABC Waters Programme. "By integrating the drains, canals and reservoirs with the surrounding environment in a holistic way, the ABC Waters Programme aims to create beautiful and clean streams, rivers and lakes with postcard-pretty community spaces for all to enjoy." We are now in our 10th year of the programme and I understand that over the last 10 years, 32 ABC Waters projects have been completed across the island.”
“Madam, over the past few decades, we have seen increasingly frequent and more intense rain in Singapore. This has resulted in floods in several areas in Singapore and on numerous occasions. With the onset of climate change, we can expect to experience more unpredictable and intense rainfall. This will potentially result in more floods despite our recent efforts to mitigate flooding. Can the Ministry further elaborate on its plans to mitigate floods in the face of these challenges? Increasing Electronic Waste Recycling Madam, my next cut. Technological advances have led to affordable ownership of personal electronics and this has resulted in more electronic waste being generated by Singaporeans. According to the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, quite disappointingly, only less than 1% of our e-waste was recycled in 2015. Electronic and electrical waste, or e-waste, contains small amounts of hazardous substances, which pose health concerns if not disposed of properly. What are the Ministry's plans to ensure the continued safe recycling or disposal of our growing volume of e-waste in Singapore? iWaste and e-Waste”
“I would like to know where we are compared to other countries Page: 50 in terms of vehicular emissions. What are the Ministry's plans to better address vehicular pollution and to move towards our 2020 Air Quality Targets? On a related issue, in the past decade, there had been advancements in technology in the production of vehicles where some have arrived on our shores here in Singapore. Some claim to be better for the environment and lower the cost of fuel consumption. While these claims may have been scientifically proven, I would like to ask if the Ministry has conducted any studies to better understand the pollution caused by this new vehicle technology and types of engine, such as diesel engine, within our local context in Singapore. Dengue”
“We are also aware that there may be some publicly-traded companies in Singapore who might have a stake in or have played a role in the forest fires in this region. These fires and the resulting haze have not only destroyed the environment and wildlife, but have also resulted in health issues among Singaporeans and economic losses in Singapore. What measures has the Ministry taken to enhance the accountability of such companies and what measures will the Ministry further take to ensure that such companies are brought to task? Transboundary Haze The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social and Family Development and Acting Ministers for Education (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Mdm Chair, Singapore was affected by the longest episode of transboundary haze pollution in 2015. It had affected Singaporeans' lives and our economy. Minister Masagos mentioned that the haze in 2015 caused us an estimated $700 million of losses. Can the Minister update the House on the steps taken under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to prosecute and deter errant companies which contributed to the haze? As there is an increasing recognition that the root cause of the forest fires in Indonesia is commercially-driven, what measures has the Ministry taken to enhance the accountability of these companies? What more will the Ministry do to have more effect on these companies' actions that caused the haze? How can we Singaporeans be part of this process? Vehicular Emissions Madam, my next cut. The Ministry has set higher standards for air quality benchmarked against guidelines by the World Health Organization. I understand that vehicles are major domestic emitters of pollutants in Singapore.”
“Thank you, Madam. As a small city-state on an island, Singapore is not insulated from the impact of climate change. It has been reported that from 1972 to 2014, the annual mean temperature has increased from 26.6°C to 27.7°C. The mean sea level in Page: 49 the Straits of Singapore has also increased at the rate of 1.2 millimetre to 1.7 millimetre per year in the period 1975 to 2009. Rainfall has also become more intense in recent years. Singapore was supportive of the historic COP21 climate deal last year, declaring its intention to reduce Emissions Intensity by 36% from 2005 levels by 2030 and stabilise emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030. What specific steps will the Government be taking to ensure that we meet these goals? Will the Government be moving beyond its current strategy of improving energy efficiency, towards investments in renewable energy, or reducing our economic reliance on high carbon industries? Tackling Transboundary Haze – Companies Tackling Transboundary Haze – Mitigation Transboundary haze has been a problem in Southeast Asia for the past few decades. Year after year, we face the same problem despite all the efforts in the previous year to ensure that we wipe out this problem. This is also despite the signing of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. With the haze season drawing near and, in fact, we have already caught sight of the haze in the past few weeks, what are the regional and bilateral efforts that Singapore will participate in to mitigate the causes of the transboundary haze in our region? As Er Dr Lee Bee Wah has mentioned, there is increasing recognition that the root cause of forest fires in Indonesia is commercially-driven.”
“Wildlife trafficking pushes species towards extinction and also destroys the habitat these animals live in. There are now also reports of how wildlife trafficking funds the activities of some terrorist groups. In the past decade, there have already been several high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking in Singapore. Can the Ministry elaborate on its plans to tackle wildlife trafficking and similarly, clarify whether it has sufficient resources and manpower to respond in a timely manner and rapidly to such cases?”
“Sir, I first declare my interest as the Chief Executive of an animal welfare group. The current estimated populations of stray dogs, stray cats and wild monkeys are about 7,000, 60,000 and 1,900 respectively. Last year, AVA euthanised 942 dogs, 888 cats and 623 monkeys in an effort to manage the populations of these animals or in response to public feedback. AVA currently devotes significant resources into hiring for-profit companies to manage stray dogs, cats and wild monkeys. AVA is working with animal welfare groups (AWGs) to rehome the dogs and cats that were impounded but this does not address the root of the problem. AVA currently does not partner any AWGs to manage the monkey issues. Will AVA consider working more closely with and divert funding from the for-profit companies to the non-profit AWGs who are struggling to find funding and were already on the ground and helping to manage these issues? This is a win-win solution that will address both public safety and animal welfare concerns and result in a more humane and long-term approach. It might also result in cost savings for AVA. Increase Funding to Tackle Animal Crime Sir, in the past five years, the number of alleged animal cruelty cases investigated by AVA rose from 410 cases to 606 cases. With increased awareness on animal welfare, we can expect more reports from members of the public who are now more vigilant and concerned about this issue. This will result in an increased workload for AVA. Can the Ministry clarify whether it has sufficient resources and manpower to respond in a timely manner and rapidly to such cases? In addition, wildlife trafficking has been added into the list of transnational organised crimes in ASEAN.”
“Madam, one of the key initiatives started by MSO last year was the OneService app. In the past, members of the public might not know which agency to call and get bounced around by the different agencies before action is taken. The app was designed to make it more convenient for the public to report municipal issues in Singapore. In the follow-up to the OneService app, MSO mentioned that they will continue to fine tune and improve on the functionalities and performance of the app, taking into account public feedback and suggestions for improvements. MSO also plans to invite more agencies to participate in the app and include additional features in future versions. Can MSO now provide updates on how it will improve the app further, whether more agencies will be participating in it and what are any further plans for the OneService app going forward? MSO – Working Together to Deliver Better”
“Madam, keeping our HDB flats affordable is important to maintain the cost of living for Singaporeans. While home ownership rates have been traditionally high compared to other countries, there are still some Singaporeans who are unable to afford flats and count on HDB to provide rental housing. Most Singaporeans who need this rental housing have no other immediate alternatives and, as such, need the housing urgently. Some may be able to rent rooms in the open market in the short term but, with high rental rates, these further cripple their already dire financial situation. What are the Ministry's plans to ramp up the supply of HDB rental flats and therefore reduce the waiting time for low-income families who are in urgent need of these flats? Also, with the launch of the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, how many families are expected to benefit from this scheme and be able to own their own flats finally? Moving Singapore towards a Car-lite City Next, Madam, as a small country with limited land, the Government is rightly continuing our expansion of affordable and reliable public transportation. For example, by 2030, Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network will increase from 178 kilometres to 360 kilometres. However, beyond public transportation, I hope we can also focus on expanding our cycling track network in our efforts of becoming a car-lite city. In addition, how can we better support the use of bicycles for transportation between homes and MRT stations or bus interchanges, and between MRT stations or bus interchanges to workplaces? Will the Ministry consider the setting up of more bicycle rental stations near homes, MRT stations or bus interchanges and at various workplaces?”
“Sir, there is a significant population of migrant workers currently residing and working here in Singapore. To address the multifaceted problems they face, we need holistic and cross-disciplinary solutions. This may be a task too large for any one body to take up on its own. Our universities and members of civil society who have worked with migrant workers are sources of information and practical expertise that could be a brain trust for the Government. Will MOM consider the creation of a working group that includes representatives from the Ministries, the Universities and civil society to tackle migrant workers' labour issues, as the universities can provide comparative jurisdiction knowledge and technical knowhow, and non-government organisations (NGOs) can provide an on-the-ground perspective of how the system functions in reality? I believe that with greater collaboration among the different stakeholders in the sector, we can show that Singapore also cares for and about the workers who have contributed to our nation-building.”