Low Thia Khiang
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, my question is for the Minister for Health. The official communication channel to the people who subscribe to the WhatsApp group quoted the Prime Minister saying that "Experts think that the Wuhan virus may be less deadlier than SARS". So, can we have some verification whether this is true so far?”
“In Mandarin, Sir. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] So, Member Mr Gan Thiam Poh meant to say that although the Minister has the decision-making power under this Bill, you can still go to Court to challenge the decision.”
“Mr Speaker, clarification in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I have stated clearly that the Government already has a lot of power under existing legislation. They can even shut down websites.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] First and foremost, you must follow the Minister's decision to take down the message, you cannot go to Court. According to this Bill, you must comply with the Minister's order. Otherwise, you will be charged.”
“In Mandarin, Sir. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our Secretary-General is in the Committee. He told us about the contents of the Committee's discussion, so we know what was discussed in the Committee.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] You assume that the Minister will not do this, but is your assumption correct? It may be correct now, but will it be correct in the future? Even the Minister cannot guarantee that, he said he cannot be sure that future governments will not abuse their power. Can you be sure?”
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“So, could HDB consider asking the developer of DBSS projects to extend the liability period for another year so that residents can be have more time to get the developer to rectify the problems? And also, there are certain problems. Some residents claim that because —”
“Madam, in response to Member Liang Eng Hwa's question, the Minister of State said that in the case of BTO, HDB takes responsibility in terms of complaints of defects. I am asking for DBSS. In the case of DBSS, does the HDB take the same responsibility like BTO projects to make sure that the defects are rectified? In his response to Mr Yee Jenn Jong's question, he said let us not trivialise the defects and complaints. Is he saying that the complaints by residents on the defects are trivial and not important? He also spoke about imperfection of works and the defects. Can he clarify what is imperfection and what is considered a defect? Hairline crack vis-a-vis a hole somewhere? I think that will make it clear so that residents can understand what is imperfection and what is a real defect. Madam, I understand that there is a CONQUAS score for DBSS flats. Would the Minister of State make public the CONQUAS score for DBSS flats and also for the cluster or development so that residents would know what is the CONQUAS score for DBSS and for the specific DBSS developments. It seems that the HDB takes the approach that for DBSS flats, it is between the resident and the developer. And thereby, the resident deals with developer, whether to take legal recourse. If the developer fails to follow up with the defect complaint or take certain action Page: 45 to rectify it, then, claim against the developer. But, Madam, it is not that simple. It concerns legal matters. It concerns legal costs. We would like to know specifically what role is HDB playing in terms of residents' complaints of defects. And, lastly, I understand that within the defect liability period, residents can make claims. But in actual fact, there are problems that residents cannot solve themselves.”
“Thank you, Madam. Madam, I welcome this new initiative by MOM to consider the Singaporean Core in the company. I would like to ask how MOM determines whether a company has a weak or strong Singaporean Core and how does the new factor or framework of Singaporean Core in a company work into the application for Employment Pass and in consideration of approval by MOM.”
“Madam, a clarification. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Singaporean Core in a company will now be a factor in considering applications for Employment Passes.”
“In the early years of nation-building, everyone hoped to maintain their advantages in this new country. How to manage the various conflicts of interests, unite people and build a national identity was a tremendous challenge. Countries with similar situations as we were in the early days are still facing social conflicts brought about by multiracialism and multiculturalism. Some even faced the danger of disintegration. Singapore today is united regardless of race, language or religion. This is an achievement that is not possible without Mr Lee. My deepest respect goes to founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew. [Applause.] 4.48 pm”
“In the process of political movement and fighting together, consensus was forged between the people and Mr Lee, as well as a common direction and mutual trust. This is the main reason why Singapore can leap from the Third World to the First World within one generation. The success arose not just from Mr Lee's extraordinary fighting spirit and tenacity, but also from his sincerity. However, I do not think that the political structure of PAP one-party rule is the key to Singapore's fast economic development, maintaining social cohesion and national unity. This is because many Singaporeans were sacrificed during the process of nation-building and in policy trade-offs, and our society has paid a price for it. Mr Lee is thus also a controversial Page: 21 figure in some people's eyes. He crafted policies based on the situation then and made rational judgement in the interests of the country. However, the choice and implementation of policies should not be just rational. It should also take into consideration humanity and sensitivity. Only by doing this can we avoid hurting people and creating resentment. If accumulated over a long time, the resentment could become a potential political crisis and affect people's unity and their sense of national identity. From my dealings with Mr Lee in Parliament, I do not think he was an autocrat who did not listen. If you have strong reasons, tight arguments and can win him over in the well thought-through policy debate, I think he will consider your views. I also know he was someone who hated empty talking because he thought time was precious and there were many more things to be done. Singapore is a multiracial society and every race has its own language and culture.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was an extraordinary political leader born out of that turbulent and uncertain era. Singapore at that time was a small island and an unnoticeable city. Economically, it relied on entreport trade; militarily, it relied on the protection from the British troops. When Singapore was forced to leave Malaysia, I do not think many would have believed that Singapore could survive on its own for long, not to mention to have imagined our achievements today. We all know that during that period, the country was to be rebuilt from scratch and there was high unemployment rate. Our neighbours were not particularly friendly either. To survive, we must have a global vision, attract foreign investment and link up with international market. However, this could put Singapore in danger of becoming a vassal of the big countries and a pawn in the international political arena, which can be sacrificed at any time. These internal and external challenges were a grave test for Mr Lee. With outstanding wisdom and courage, he traversed amongst the big countries and promoted Singapore's values to them and the potential benefit that Singapore can provide. He had won the respect of the leaders of these major powers. Without his efforts, our economy could not have been successful and Singapore could not have achieved its international status and possessed the political space today. For a small country, besides a strong military defence, the political space in international politics is the key to maintaining national interest and its survival. In Singapore, fighting for independence and the continuous political struggle awakened the Singaporeans' political awareness.”
“Also, what would IMH do in cases where patients or potential patients refuse treatment, or do not respond to home visits? Community Mental Health”
“Madam, in December last year, the state coroner concluded that a woman was found to be in a "profoundly unsound" state of mind when she killed her elderly mother before jumping out of her flat to her own death. Her teenage daughter was in the flat at the time while this tragedy unfolded. The state coroner also found that the woman had never been formally diagnosed with a mental illness while alive, although she told her family that she was hearing voices and was displaying signs of paranoia. 4.45 pm This tragedy illustrates how difficult a problem mental illness is in the community. Often, patients who suffer from mental illnesses or conditions refuse any efforts at intervention, medical or otherwise. Those who have been treated may also fail to follow up on their treatment or medication, resulting in their conditions relapsing or even worsening. Their family members may also find it difficult to know what needs to be done or even recognise that their loved one may be suffering from a mental health condition and need intervention. Fear of social stigma, together with the lack of awareness by both the patient and the family, Page: 115 only serves to make matters worse. In 2012, when I raised the same subject in this House, Minister of State assured us that MOH will take a whole-of-Government approach to meet the needs of persons with mental illness and their caregivers. In 2014, we were told that there have been measures put in place by IMH to track those receiving outpatient treatment. The Minister of State mentioned that IMH is enhancing its capacity in this area. Does this mean that IMH is now effectively tracking outpatients? If so, what is the frequency of contact with the patients?”
“Madam, the large number of patients who drop out of prescribed rehabilitation programmes after being discharged from hospitals has been an issue of concern. A study conducted between 2002 and 2005 found that one in three patients continued with supervised rehabilitation after being discharged. The problem seems to have worsened. It was reported last year that the number of patients who returned for supervised rehabilitation had dropped to one in five. Patients who do not go for regular rehabilitation, especially in the first three to six months after discharge, may not recover fully. They also risk deterioration of their physical functions and more frequent hospitalisation in the future. I would like to seek the view of MOH on the above situation. MOH has said that they have looked into providing home-based rehabilitation services, and subsidies have been given and made available from April 2014 to patients who wish to use these services. How many patients are currently utilising this home-based service? The lack of manpower and infrastructural capacity in our Intermediate and Long-term Care sectors are problems that have been with us for the past 10 years. The demand for rehabilitation services will only increase with a rapidly ageing population. I hope the Ministry will share its roadmap to meet the rising demand for rehabilitation services. In terms of manpower, it was reported in 2011 that Singapore would require at least 1,500 physiotherapists by 2015. Have we achieved this target? There were also plans to tap the pool of retirees and homemakers to train them as para-occupational therapists. Can the Minister give us an update on these plans? Are they effective in addressing manpower needs Page: 92 in the sector? Polyclinics”
“Madam, on women-only cabins, the Minister said that women-only cabins usually are more under-utilised. How much inefficiency will result by having women-only cabins? And how does inefficiency cost compare with protecting women from being molested? Is the Minister not concerned with the up-trend of the molestation on public transport? And lastly, that comes to a fundamental question: what is the trade-off between maximising the economic efficiency and commuter comfort and safety? 5.00 pm”
“Madam, Changi Airport T5 is a huge investment in aviation infrastructure. The initial injection of $3 billion for the Changi Airport Development Fund represents just a small fraction of the total cost upon completion. Already, a $1.1 billion contract has been awarded to clear the land and strengthen the soil before T5 and the third runway can be built. We need to ensure that the cost is managed well and does not become an unnecessary burden on our finances. How did the Government come up with the figure of $3 billion as the initial injection? Does the Government have an estimated cost at completion of T5? Page: 98 The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has a gateway process where projects above $500 million are subject to staged approvals for concept, design and implementation. Will the gateway process be adopted for the development of T5? I noted a media release by MOT on the formation of Changi 2036 Steering Committee, which also outlined the conceptual layout of T5. The concept plan was expected to be finalised by 2014. I would like to know whether the Ministry has further updates on the plan for T5. It was also stated that T5 will have the capacity of handling 50 million passenger movements per annum and, in total, Changi Airport will have the capacity to handle 135 million passengers per year. I understand the Government aims to keep up with the competition in the region in terms of airport capacity and to preserve Singapore's status as an international transport hub. Did the Government conduct a comprehensive study to ensure that T5 will be commercially viable in the long term? What happens if the expected growth rates in air passenger traffic in the next decade is not realised? Drones and Driverless Cars”
“Madam, over the years, LTA has tweaked the COE system to try to manage supply-demand mismatches and price fluctuations. LTA has moved from linking COE quotas to de-registrations in the past 12 months, then to forecasting of de-registrations in the current year, and then to de-registrations in the past six months and, currently, to de-registrations in the past three months. Page: 75 However, the problems of feast-and-famine patterns of supply and wild price fluctuations are still persisting. There are now renewed calls for LTA to make COE supply smooth by keeping COEs during bumper years in reserve for release in future dry spells. LTA said it was studying the proposal in August 2013 and the Minister himself acknowledged it is a good idea worthy of consideration earlier that year. I would like to know what is the status of the study and whether LTA is seriously considering implementing a new formula to temper the supply and price fluctuations. If so, when is LTA going to implement it? What will the new formula be and over what time period? How many COEs will be reserved and when will they be released? How will the new system ensure that the market mechanism of allocating COEs is preserved? If LTA is not considering implementation of such a system, then I would like to ask what are the reasons for not doing so and what other measures would be taken to temper the supply and price fluctuations of COEs? Rising Cost of Motorcycle Ownership”
“Madam, there is a growing trend of molestation on public transport. In 2014, there were 164 reports of molestation; whereas in 2011, there were only 114 reports. This is a 44% increase in three years. Although the numbers seem small, I believe the reports are only the tip of the iceberg, as it is very embarrassing for many women to cry out in a crowded train and claim in front of everyone that she was molested. Molesters get away with their crime most easily when Page: 51 trains are packed during peak hours, with people standing very close to one another. I doubt the current attempts at public education are working. The National Crime Prevention Council's posters in public transport showing a male attempting to molest a woman from behind and asking women to protect themselves may be backfiring. Internationally, such anti-crime campaigns and posters have been criticised for putting the onus on women to prevent the crime and promoting a culture of blaming the victim for the crime. I urge the Minister to mandate the MRT service providers to have prominent signs on the floor and doors, and within the cabins, to designate specific cabins as for women only. Many train stations now have wardens on duty to guide peak-hour traffic. The wardens could tell the men to move to other cabins. Japan and Taiwan have implemented women-only cabins with success. Although not all women will choose to take these cabins, at least, those who feel vulnerable or have had bad experiences will have the option of travelling to work and back home to their families with peace of mind. I believe that men will automatically respect the women-only cabin by refraining from entering the cabin during the peak hour. This is a sign of a mature society respecting the rights of women. Public Transport Security”
“At the same time, where the materials are non-sensitive, we have released them online and made them available. The materials that have been used by our broadcasters to produce PSB programmes, for example, the public can go to the Archives and make a request. We will make them available because, if they have been used for the broadcasts, they must be made available to the public because the materials are non-sensitive.”
“Madam, would the Government consider a process of automatic declassification of documents categorised as "Restricted" and "Confidential" kept by the National Archives? What is the point of making these documents as public documents after 35 years, but, yet, you need approval to view these documents? The Minister also said that these documents are used to produce publications and memory projects. Does he not agree that people would want to view the document first-hand, instead of reading it through abstracts from publications? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Madam, as I have mentioned in my reply, the public can come to the Archives and make a request for the materials that they would like to see. As the Member mentioned, after 25 years, they will become public archives and that is why Page: 46 they are open to the public. No archive in the world gives you free access to every material that they have, even if they are unclassified. After we have looked through the materials and if the materials are really non-sensitive, then we can release them. At the same time, every material that is being requested will have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis because there are concerns – national security, national defence. These concerns are not only shared by our Archives, but with the archives around the world, including in the US. Let us not pretend that when we have such an Act, everything can be released because there are concerns which every nation has to preserve, whether it relates to defence, security and even about diplomatic relations. We have to preserve that. As we ensure that we can meet those requirements that I have mentioned, we will release the materials as much as possible, depending on the needs of the public.”
“Madam, as Singapore celebrates 50 years of Independence, there is renewed interest in our shared past as we look back on the difficult early years of our Singapore Story. 12.15 pm Naturally, we want Singaporeans to be able to understand our history and how it has shaped our current and future national identity. It is, therefore, important that both researchers and members of the public must be able to access easily material that relate to our past. At the last Budget debate, I asked for declassification of Cabinet papers but was rejected by the Minister and he said that all Government records beyond a 25-year period are deemed as public archives. However, one of the current problems researchers have raised is that the researcher still needs to get approval from the relevant Ministry or agency to access the document. I acknowledge that there are certain situations where the release of documents may be denied for particular purposes but the existing process is inefficient and it is also unclear what the reasons are for the decisions made. One possibility to make the process more efficient would be to have a structured declassification system for materials. When documents are transferred to the National Archives after the 25-year period, can we have documents categorised as "Restricted" and "Confidential" to be automatically unclassified? At the same time, material marked as "Secret" will still be subject to requests and approval by the relevant Minister. Such secret material can also be subjected to extended closure. Secret material that is subject to extended closure should still be governed by clear guidelines that state the reasons to be considered, together with the period of extended closure. National Library”
“Sir, MCI announced in January this year that it is creating a new CSA on 1 April 2015 that will be tasked with providing dedicated and centralised oversight of national cybersecurity functions. This Agency will take over the functions of the Singapore Info-communications Technology Security Authority (SITSA) and some roles of IDA. I welcome the setting up of a centralised oversight agency. Threats to our national security are constantly evolving, and recent cyberattacks on both governments and large corporations have shown that cyberattacks have the ability to cause much damage. Therefore, it is important that we have the capability to protect ourselves against such threats by having and maintaining a robust cybersecurity system that is able to respond to new and sophisticated threats. Our heavy reliance on info-communications technology today means that an attack would shake public confidence in Singapore as a Smart Nation. Singapore's reputation as a financial centre, transport and logistics hub could also be badly Page: 166 affected. With this in mind, I would like to ask the Minister for an update on the transition to the CSA and how it plans to safeguard cybersecurity in Singapore, as well as how it proposes to train and nurture talent in the cybersecurity industry. I would also like to ask how the CSA would interact with the rest of our security framework, such as the National Security Coordination Secretariat, to ensure that our cyber defence systems are well-coordinated and threats do not slip through the cracks. Lastly, Sir, could the Minister tell us about how the $130 million National Cyber Security R&D Programme launched in October 2013 will complement the efforts in safeguarding cybersecurity?”
“Madam, I refer to the Senior Minister of State's speech just now. She said that MOM will take the employer to task for not following the Fair Consideration Framework. I would like to seek clarification from the Senior Minister of State. Firstly, in what way would employers be taken to task; and, secondly, how many employers have been taken to task thus far? The other clarification is on the Jobs Bank. I would like to know when a company has a job vacancy, if the company considers the vacancy as an internal transfer, does it need to follow the framework to advertise on the Jobs Bank? Because I understand that it has become like a loophole. If you consider it as an internal transfer, you just get a transfer from another branch in other country to fill the vacancy, instead of advertising on the Jobs Bank to allow Singaporeans to apply.”
“Thank you, Madam. First, on CPF LIFE. The CPF LIFE option is now to be exercised only at age 65 or whenever the member decides to draw down. That is according to the Minister. How about those who have committed their funds earlier from their Retirement Account to CPF LIFE? Are they disadvantaged, given the fact that now the Government pays a higher interest rate for the Retirement Account? Madam, next, on SkillsFuture, I believe that the employer is the key to the success of this SkillsFuture initiative. So, what plans does MOM have to reach out to all the employers in various sectors to actively participate in SkillsFuture? How does MOM monitor the progress in achieving the objectives of those specific schemes under SkillsFuture? Thirdly, for future leadership development initiatives, the Minister has cited some programmes under EDB and all that. What have those cited programmes achieved so far? How many Singaporeans are now in the pipeline of the corporate leadership, given that this programme Page: 132 has been running for some time? And how would SkillsFuture's new initiatives have added strength to that?”
“Quality Outcomes in SkillsFuture Courses Assoc Prof Randolph Tan (Nominated Member): Mdm Chair, I declare my interest as an employee of UniSIM, which has a large enrolment of working adults. SkillsFuture is a long-term initiative and the credits are an avenue for individuals to assume control of and chart their personal long-term endeavour. They also serve as an affirmation to workers of the importance of taking the initiative to undergo continuous upgrading. Together with the enhanced education and training subsidy for Singaporeans aged 40 and above announced in this Budget, the SkillsFuture Credit will reduce the opportunity costs of deferring further education. As a result, it could encourage more Singaporeans to gain work experience before pursuing higher education. This could gradually shift perceptions about the importance of being relevant to the needs of industry. Rather than discourage further education, this should enable those who embark upon it to make a mature decision based on labour market realities. Quality outcomes are critical to education. The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of quality assurance in his Budget Debate round-up speech. At the same time, there have been calls from some Members for flexibility in utilising the SkillsFuture Credit. Page: 44 My question, therefore, is whether such quality assurance will be achieved, especially in view of the calls for flexibility. Will quality assurance be implemented by stringent monitoring, to ensure that the appropriate standards are met at every stage of the learning process? Will determining appropriate standards of assessment be part of the monitoring regime? Supporting Mid-career Training”
“Madam, the SkillsFuture initiative has the potential to transform our human capital development, which will increasingly drive economic development at the national and individual levels. To achieve our objective, it will need to be properly implemented. I would like to know the roadmap for implementing the various programmes under the SkillsFuture initiative. I hope that the SkillsFuture Council will educate both local and foreign companies about how they can draw on Singaporean talent from our educational institutes using schemes like Earn and Learn, as well as the various benefits of hiring Singaporeans, such as 90% subsidy for training for employees above age 40. SkillsFuture Leadership Development is targeted at supporting career progression of PMETs. I understand that EDB currently has a programme on this. I would like to know how Page: 43 does the SkillsFuture initiative strengthen the programme or will there be new programmes. SkillsFuture, together with the MOM's Fair Consideration Framework, should ensure that Singaporeans face equal opportunities for hiring and career progression in all companies. We should also work with employers to identify any gaps in Singaporean employability and promotion-readiness and fix these issues in the education sector. Some commentators have said corporate leadership success requires qualities other than cognitive intelligence – such as communication skills, social skills, initiative, diversity of thought and confidence. We should ensure that our education and training landscape equip Singaporeans with the ability to compete for career progression on their own merits. There should be no glass ceilings for Singaporeans. Nor should we accept gaps in the employability or career-readiness of Singaporeans.”
“If the Government sees SAFVC as a way of getting first-generation Permanent Residents (PRs) and citizens to play a part in the military defence of Singapore, it is important that the Government pays attention to these issues. Page: 118 New Developments for ACCORD”
“Sir, the application for SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) opened on 13 October 2014. I would like to ask the Minister for an update on the number of applications received and accepted so far, and the estimated expenditure for SAFVC in its first year of operation. I would also like to know whether deploying volunteers alongside our NSF, NSmen and regulars pose security risks for SAF. Will the security vetting be sufficiently thorough, especially with regard to the period of time when the applicants were residing outside Singapore? Volunteers need only to do two weeks of BMT, seven days' qualification course training and are liable to be called up for seven days a year. Will the reduced training time be sufficient? Will it cause grievance for our NSmen? For example, the length of training that is required for a security trooper should be the same, regardless of whether it is performed by a volunteer or an NSmen. Otherwise, our NSmen will wonder why they need to spend more time training for the same role or whether every part of the training is really necessary. The issue of equity in treatment between volunteers and NSmen is especially important. Volunteers are subject to a different rank structure, and how they are treated in camp must commensurate with their training and experience. Our NSmen are not going to take lightly to a volunteer "legal specialist staff" being treated in camp as if he is a fully-trained SAF officer or a "medical trainer" who has not gone through the usual Medical Officers' Course being treated like any other MO (Medical Officer) in camp.”
“Madam, despite long-running talks about implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and even an agreement over a Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, there remains no binding arrangement to manage and reduce friction in East Asia's maritime domain. In fact, there seems to be Page: 99 persistent friction over the South China Sea. The issues have the potential to affect regional stability and Singapore's continued prosperity. Singapore needs to navigate carefully among the different positions of the US, China and our neighbours. MINDEF's defence diplomacy and outward engagement in conjunction with other agencies can have important consequences for Singapore's national security and interests. I would like to better understand how MINDEF's current and planned defence diplomacy efforts could bring concrete benefits to Singapore's national security. The Defence Minister spoke about the need to tackle the hard security challenges and to deliver concrete outcomes at last year's Shangri-La Dialogue. There, he also discussed the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting-Plus framework, and further highlighted a Bruneian plan for a government-to-government hotline and a Vietnamese proposal for a "no first use of force" agreement. Would the Minister provide an update on these proposals, how they concretely aid our national security, and how the Government has responded? Beyond these proposals, what other initiatives is MINDEF currently undertaking? How does MINDEF intend to reduce uncertainties, enhance understanding and improve coordination in the region and beyond through defence diplomacy, apart from conferences and meetings? Fight against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)”
“The ultimate aim is to build a prosperous and peaceful society where people can work happily. The Government should look after its people, only then will people feel secure and at home and develop a national identity. Through a fair tax system, building a good social safety net that ensures people's basic livelihood and implementing policies with Singaporeans' interests at its core, we can forge a new social compact and build an inclusive, tolerant and mutually understanding harmonious society, strengthen social cohesion and promote unity among Singaporeans. By doing this, we can truly build a prosperous Singapore for another 50 years. 12.16 pm”
“The Minister for Finance said that the SkillsFuture Leadership Development Scheme supports companies to groom Singaporeans so that they can assume responsibilities and roles as corporate leaders eventually. I fully agree and hope the Government can implement this scheme as soon as possible. The third challenge we face is income disparity and the increasing gap between the rich and the poor. As the economy becomes highly developed, with finer division of labour and technology advancement, workers will have to constantly learn new technologies and knowledge in order to stay relevant and meet job demands. However, there will inevitably be some Singaporeans who cannot keep up with economic development. Those who are left behind usually have lower income and may not have enough savings for retirement. In addition, inflation will push up the cost of living, regardless of income disparity. Furthermore, future inflation rates are unpredictable. If the Government does not help these low-income Singaporeans, the society would surely be divided. Hence, I can understand why Page: 15 it is necessary to introduce the Silver Support Scheme permanently. Although this Budget lays the foundation for future economic prosperity and development, the main policy framework of the Budget has always had long-term objectives in mind. The key lies in whether successive governments will have the financial capability and political will to continue with the same direction laid out in this Budget, strengthening future skills, developing targeted economic areas, namely, advanced manufacturing, applied health sciences, sustainable urban solutions, financial services, logistics and aerospace. The economy is important. However, let us not forget that economic development is only the means.”
“The various SkillsFuture training schemes announced in Page: 14 this Budget focus on talent development to improve the overall economic efficiency. Some people question whether it is worthwhile to invest such a large sum and whether it is financially prudent. I think it is a scheme that has to succeed, one that cannot fail. Whether Singapore can sustain development and prosperity in the next 50 years will depend on whether we can improve our citizen's quality and skills through SkillsFuture, and maintain our competitiveness in the high-end economic domain of the future. The second challenge is to ensure that Singaporeans play a primary role in the workplace, not a supporting role. Currently, at some large companies, because of our foreign talent policy, it seems that many Heads of Department or senior management are foreigners, whereas Singaporeans are merely middle managers. Many Singaporeans are stuck in the middle and feel that they should have the opportunity to move up, yet they cannot do anything about the situation. If this situation continues, it will become a time bomb and a major threat to Singapore's future development. This is because, if Singaporeans cannot assume leadership roles in companies on their native soil, it means that Singapore has lost its dominance to some extent. At the same time, we will not be able to develop the younger generation to take over and become leaders in various domains. We must have a comprehensive plan to develop local talents, and the ultimate aim is to replace foreigners with our own talents, just like how we welcome multinational corporations (MNCs) to invest in Singapore, with the purpose of promoting technology transfer.”
“Mdm Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, Budget 2015 is a Budget that focuses on the next 50 years. New schemes, such as SkillsFuture, the Silver Support Scheme and the development of Changi Airport, are all geared towards tackling the challenges faced by Singapore and planning for the country's future. As our economy enters a mature phase, our competitors are no longer developing countries but developed economies and the focus is on high tech, high productivity and high efficiency. Singapore is a small island with limited land space and our fertility rate is low. Relying on large imports of foreign labour to make up for the deficiencies in our economy is not enough to maintain our competitiveness. It is also not a sustainable strategy for economic development. This is the main challenge faced by Singapore if it wants to continue to prosper in the future. On the other hand, as China's economy takes off and the world economy undergoes transformation, the economic engine of the world is gradually shifting from the West to the East. For Singapore, this is a good opportunity, but it can also be a crisis. If we miss this economic train and our neighbouring countries develop better than us during this phase of economic transformation, surpassing us, our future will be bleak, our survival and development space will be limited. Hence, I believe our current strategy of increasing productivity and economic transformation is the correct path that serves the long-term interests of our nation. However, to increase productivity is by no means easy. It is not just about mechanisation, automation or computerisation or the use of robots, but concerns the development of human resources.”
“Madam, what is there to decide on whether they are overpaid? This is a public tender, they tendered at that rate. We have done due diligence to check around about the rate.”
“Madam, I will reiterate again. The Town Council paid the Managing Agent based on the contract sum agreed upon via a public tender. Why we did not decide to manage ourselves was because it was a very much larger GRC. And at that point in time, in the Hougang SMC, there were about 20-odd staff and we know we would need about a hundred staff to manage. At that point in time, we were very concerned about taking over a much larger GRC. If you manage it yourself, you will probably have a lot of other things that you have to look into. So, we thought it would be better that if the Town Council, the old Town Council's staff, I mean, they have the experience and are prepared to work with this company and are prepared to form a company or to manage the Town Council. They are prepared to do that.”
“To be fair, I think this is something which I have to respect; that is an individual company. Let us come back to the other question. Ms Lim has explained yesterday the circumstances under which CPG, I mean, we signed a deal with CPG to agree for the termination. They were not prepared to work for us. Whatever it is, you can question about why the company was set up. But the fact is that they were only given the transitional contract for one year, and there were two tenders subsequently called. So, there was no guarantee. If let us say, for instance, that I want to set up a company, go and find $1 million or $500,000 in capitalisation to do a specific job, there is no certainty that I will be able to continue to do the job. So, is there an incentive for them to do this, if there is intention for greed and money? There is no guarantee, because they will have to go through a public tender. That is why I said it would be easier if the public tender had more than one tenderer and the other tenderer shows a lower rate. And if we are not awarding to them, then I would have to answer here.”
“I am not privy to the company's accounts; that is a private account, so I do not know. [Interruptions] Whether or not I will do that, I — An hon Member: It is Singaporeans' money. How much money did your friends make?”
“Thank you, Madam. Madam, these rates were through an open tender and awarded. That is the rate that they tendered for and we awarded the contract. Do you award a contract based on a certain rate agreed and subsequently you say they overcharged and you want the money back? I do not understand the logic. Madam, would the Minister agree that it would make all this confusion clearer and easier if, in the public tender for Managing Agent contract, there are more than one tenderer? That would be easier. Then, we will have to answer today in Parliament, "Why are you not awarding the contract to the lowest tenderer?" I think it would be much, much easier and not to confuse as to why you give it to your friend and all that. But the fact is, unfortunately, the environment is such that there is no one tendering for the Managing Agent job. Nobody wants to work for me. That is a problem, Prime Minister. That is the environment we are in now.”
“Madam, we have explained yesterday and today the oversight mechanism of the Town Council, and that the Managing Agent contracts are tendered out. We tendered out the Managing Agent contract and this is the result of the tender. We have also done due diligence to look at the Managing Agent tender. So, this is what we have done. We have done our part. But, of course, we admit that the account is long overdue. We have accepted that and we accepted the AGO's finding, and we will look into the issue.”
“Yes, it had not been submitted. We admit that, and we explained why it was so. And we are here today and yesterday in this House to explain and to account for why we were in the situation as it is. We take the report of the AGO very seriously. We have shown that we have dealt with the problem and improvements have been made.”
“Mdm Speaker, I disagree. It will never be kept in the dark. You have to submit the audited accounts anyway. Yes, eventually, you will have to submit the accounts.”
“Thank you. So, it is the $12 million that ought to be put back into the Sinking Fund. The $12 million is in the operating fund account. [Interruption] But it is not missing from the Town Council.”
“Missing from the Sinking Fund – was it missing or lost from the Town Council?”
“Thank you, Madam. I have a clarification. I remember Minister mentioned that there was $12 million lost. May I clarify whether he meant $12 million lost from the Town Council's account? Does he mean that?”
“Mdm Speaker, as Mr Pritam Singh said, we will take collective responsibility as a team. I do not see any Member of Parliament should need to answer any individual questions.”
“Mdm Speaker, a supplementary question. From the Minister's reply, it seems to me that the fare needs to be increased, so that the operator remains profitable and, with that, they can thereby be more efficient. That is the logic, as I understand it. But on the converse, will it be that if the company or the operator is profitable and productive enough, they would have made enough profits and there is no need to increase the fares?”
“Well, it cannot be the same. There should be a difference. Page: 102”
“Finally, Madam, I would like to thank the residents living in the towns of Aljunied, Hougang and Punggol East and the public for their concern and support. Despite the challenging political climate, the Workers' Party will continue to serve you to the best of its ability. Thank you.”
“We are for transparency and accountability. We are not shy to support the Motion that is critical of us but we will address and remedy the issues raised by the AGO report. In fact, you will see from the speeches of my colleagues, we have already taken concrete steps to address and remedy many of the issues. We are fully aware that if we overlooked certain matters, the PAP Government will be the first to take us to account. We are not daunted by it, as this is what a First World Parliament should be – keep whoever is in charge on their toes, to do the job properly and be accountable to the people. AGO has taken a year to check the accounts of AHPETC for the Financial Year 2012/2013 and found lapses in several areas. It has not found the Town Council to be engaged in corrupt practices nor that any money had been lost or misappropriated after thousands of transactions were examined. We should put this episode in a proper perspective. Based on the Town Council Management Report, except for S&CC arrears management and corporate governance, AHPETC's performance in other aspects of town management is comparable to other Town Councils. We support the Motion to strengthen the legislative framework for Town Councils. As we relook the legislative framework, we need to look at the de-politicisation of the transitioning process and the professionalising of town management so that the incoming Town Councils can work to achieve good management and not be left stranded. Newly-elected Members of Parliament should not be tested on whether they can build up town Page: 65 management systems from scratch, putting residents' interests at risk in the process.”
“Direct management means newly elected Members of Parliament will have to start from scratch to recruit and train staff to be familiar with HDB estate management, to start taking over management of the town within 90 days as required under the Town Councils Act. And, at the same time, to look for accounting software to transfer the account into a new system and pray that the system will work. If we are not able to do all these at the same time, we will be labelled as "incompetent". Page: 64 Hence, Mdm Speaker, under our current system, it seems to me that any Opposition Party which aspires to be elected in a GRC will have to build a town management team to train hundreds of staff officers first. Then, taking the advice of the Minister for National Development, start shopping for an off-the-shelf accounting software. If an Opposition Party aspires to be the next government, perhaps it may need to build an army of civil servants first. This is a strange political situation for any functioning democracy to be in. The Workers' Party was fortunate to have a Managing Agent at least with the experience in managing the town of Hougang Single Member Constituency, and who was prepared to take the challenge of managing a much larger town, to enable us to take over the management of the Aljunied GRC town, without major disruption to the services affecting the lives of thousands of residents. We did also have a financial accounting system in place although it fell short of features and functions that managing a larger town requires. I think this is not the way forward for the good of the nation. If we consider residents' interests as most important, then the Government must also protect residents' interests in the transition of town management from one Party to another Party.”
“Mdm Speaker, the fact remains that it has been a challenge for the Workers' Party, being an Opposition Party, to attract Managing Agents. When the public tender was called in 2012, three companies collected the tender documents and only one company submitted the tender. In a more recent tender, only one company, the largest Managing Agent managing PAP Town Councils, collected the tender document but no one submitted any tender. What we learnt from this AGO audit is that we should have appointed a consultant to look at internal controls in compliance with the Town Councils Act while the elected Members of Parliament focused on taking over the management of the town to ensure that major services are not interrupted and residents' routine lives are not affected. This is something we will do if such a privilege should happen in future elections. But the problem of professional town management in compliance with financial rules will remain a real challenge if there are no established Managing Agents who are prepared to do the job. It will seem that Managing Agents serving PAP Town Councils are unwilling to serve as Managing Agents in non-PAP Town Councils, and that the reason appears to be political rather than professional. It looks like the only option for any Opposition Party to take over a Town Council will be direct management. I did this in Hougang SMC when I took over the Town Council in 1991. However, at that time, the HDB provided computer and EMSU services and the Town Council paid a fee per month for the services. The Council recruited staff directly to manage the town. Hougang SMC is a compact town. Currently, the only alternative Town Council financial accounting system was developed by Hougang SMC which had proven to be inadequate for a GRC town.”
“Mdm Speaker, the Workers' Party supports the Motion. We treated the AGO audit seriously. I understand that the Town Council had made all efforts to respond to AGO's queries to the extent of the need to prioritise the audit over some other works due to manpower resource constraints. The Chairman of the Town Council, Sylvia Lim, attended to AGO's audit personally. The staff employed by the Managing Agent working at the Town Council had undergone tremendous stress. They are overwhelmed by their workload amidst challenging conditions. I would like to thank them for putting in their best efforts. We take the findings of the AGO seriously and have responded to details of the findings in writing to AGO. The Chairman and Vice Chairmen of the Town Council as well as other Members of Parliament from the Workers' Party, elected Members, will deal with the various findings of the AGO report. I would like, first, to address the public misconception that the Managing Agent was given the contract without tender. Open public tenders were called in 2012 for the Managing Page: 63 Agent (MA) and EMSU contracts. The most recent tender for the MA contract was called in November 2014. However, tender was not called for the MA contract for the specific transition period between July 2011 and July 2012 and for the EMSU contract, the period between October 2011 and June 2012, due to the urgency to take over the management of the town and to ensure that major services were not disrupted to affect the lives of residents. The important point to note is that the Town Councils Act allows the Chairman of a Town Council to waive tender requirement under the circumstances.”
“Supplementary questions, Madam. I would like to ask the Second Minister: what is the internationally accepted protocol for such a reclamation project, and whether there is any agreement between Singapore and Malaysia with regard to such reclamation of land? I recall that Malaysia made a lot of noise when we did our reclamation. So, what was the agreement or understanding that we have forged with them?”
“Madam, I have a clarification for the Deputy Prime Minister. I recall the Deputy Prime Minister's answer which said that there were some Singaporeans in Syria. I would like to know how many Singaporeans are there. What is their background: are they new citizens and how many of them are Singapore Citizens and how many of them are PRs?”