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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“Under "PR". Under the sub-expenditure, there are "Conferences" and also "Official visits". So "Official visits" include other officials visiting the country, visits to foreign countries, and also attending conferences. That is what I thought. So what is expenditure under "Conferences"?”
“Sir, can I have a clarification from the Minister? Is the Minister saying that the expenditure under the item "Conferences" also includes the expenditure of officials who attend international conference?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head I of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code IA 2400. (In Mandarin) Sir, under the Administration Programme of the Ministry of Communications this year, the budget for public relations has gone up by 42.9%. Expenses on conferences are increased by some 221.7%. The budget for mass media expenses has also increased by a hefty 400%. I would like the Minister to explain to us why these expenditures are expanded by such a large magnitude and how these large sums of money are going to be used. For official visits, the budget is as high as $258,000. I would like to know what are these visits and why do they require such a lot of money.”
“Point of clarification, Sir. When will this loan be returned to the MND? Is there any specific period? An hon. Member: Seven years.”
“Just a very short one. Does the Minister agree that with the new ruling by his Ministry to set aside a higher percentage of S&C charges collected for contribution to the sinking fund, many Town Councils will incur a deficit in the operating account and, thus, they will be forced to increase their conservancy charges?”
“May I have a clarification, Sir? (1) Why is the budgeted amount this year for the capital grant to Town Councils reduced by $30 million compared to the 1992 budget that is meant for cyclical works? (2) Based on which year's price of calculation does the MND decide on the grant for cyclical works? (3) Would the Minister say that, with this new requirement to contribute to the sinking fund from the S&C charges the Town Councils collected, it would cause the Town Council inevitably to increase the S&C charges?”
“Sir, the Minister says that the purchase of Telecom shares will be exempted. I would like to know the rationale of the Ministry in deciding to exempt the purchase of Telecom shares from the normal restrictions of CPF investment rules which are supposed to safeguard the CPF savings. The second clarification is that when CPF members sell their Telecom shares in future, can they withdraw whatever they earn from the sale of their shares? If they make a loss, do they have to pay back to the CPF for the loss?”
“Can I clarify with the Minister, please? The first clarification is: Is the CPF Top-up Scheme announced by the Government recently to encourage Singaporeans to buy shares also subject to the restriction which the Minister has just mentioned? If the answer is yes, would the Minister tell this House how many Singaporeans, after their CPF has been topped up with $200 by the Government, will still not be able to use their CPF savings to buy shares?”
“Sir, can I have one clarification from the Minister? Would there be any capping on fees that autonomous schools can charge?”
“Sir, is the Minister's advice that the Town Councils should not do further improvement works in the precinct concerned but wait for the HDB's programme and their turn to be upgraded?”
“Certain Town Councils have upgraded their precincts, eg, improvement works like covered walkways, etc. When the HDB Upgrading Programme comes on stream, what are they going to do with these improvements? Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Sir, by and large, HDB encourages the Town Councils to have a master plan of what they want to do and to incorporate the improvements as part of this master plan. If they put in the linkways, they must appreciate that these linkways must fit in with the overall master plan of upgrading their precinct. If Town Councils should put in all these improvements in an ad hoc manner, then later on, when we look at the Upgrading Programme when it comes to their precinct, many of these may not fit in so well. We have always urged Town Councils that when they put in the improvements, be it linkways or void decks, they should do it in the context of the overall plan for their Town Council.”
“Point of clarification, Sir. I understand that the Upgrading Programme, divided into precincts, will make improvements to the blocks and space-adding. Could Town Councils concerned apply to MND to commence certain upgrading works first? For instance, improvements to the precinct before the upgrading work is due to be carried out in the blocks.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I clarify with the Prime Minister on a point? How would the Government ensure that the shares of so-called Singapore Inc. will not in time fall into the hands of the wealthy, because shares can be sold anyway you like?”
“Sir, would the Minister reveal the number of such centres run by private charitable organisations which enjoy the same status and are given the same rate as the PCF enjoys?”
“Are they on the same scale in terms of the number of centres used?”
“Are these charitable organisations, besides the PCF, being given also the same rate of rental?”
“Would the Minister say, besides the PAP Community Foundation, whether there is any other foundation being approved to use the premises of HDB on such a scale and scope?”
“The Minister mentioned about the profits of the Government-owned companies. What I would like to know is what is the amount of losses of the companies which the Minister mentioned.”
“Confirm the loss. You mentioned about the profits. What about the loss?”
“Sir, would the Minister confirm the amount of losses of the companies which the Minister mentioned just now?”
“Does the Minister agree that the refusal by PELU to grant the permit is designed to deny the Workers' Party leaders from making public speeches and to make it difficult for the Party to organise the dinner?”
“Does the Minister agree that the ground which the Minister has mentioned in refusing the permit is based on unreal imagination and is a manifestation of the paranoia of this Government?”
“Is the Minister saying that if the permit were given for this instance and there were speeches, it may pose a security threat to Singapore?”
“For the information of the Minister, there are 344 motor car parking lots in the vicinity and 106 motor-cycle parking lots. Why did PELU (Public Entertainments Licensing Unit) consider car parking facilities as a criterion for refusing to grant the licence?”
“The Minister mentioned just now that car parking facilities were one of the considerations. Does the Minister know the number of car park lots in the vicinity of the site?”
“Sir, have Democracy Day dinners of the Workers' Party in the past caused any public disorder? Please do not compare it with election rallies.”
“Does the Minister agree that the potential is something which is perceived? Prof. Jayakumar: It is not only perceived, but there have actually been cases, both during election periods and outside election periods, where there have been breaches of the peace, disorder, unruly behaviour and, therefore, there are very good reasons for the cautious approach taken by the Police.”
“Sir, the Minister mentioned about public disorder and mischief. Would the Minister explain or clarify whether the Workers' Party Democracy Day Dinners in the past 10 years have caused any public disorder or mischief?”
“Just now, the Minister mentioned about the suitability of the site and he said that it was a narrow strip of land. A wayang will also encourage crowd forming.”
“Sir, is the Minister aware that the site has been approved by MND as a wayang site?”
“First, is the Minister saying that Medifund will only be available to C class wards? Will it be available to B2 as well? Second, would the Minister or the Hospital Medifund committee spell out under what specific circumstances Medifund will be granted to applicants? Thirdly, would the Minister confirm what Dr John Chen said, ie, the Government is committed to providing a safety net for people who cannot pay their medical bills and he suggested that if the hospital is lacking in funds in future, he believes they can apply to the Minister and the Government will be obliged to provide the funds.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, under the Bill, it says that "hospital ... approved by the Minister". So it can be any hospital approved by the Minister. I would like the Minister to clarify the type of hospital. It could be a private hospital and there are some Members who suggested community hospitals for that matter. I am raising this as an example, and not that I am in favour of private hospitals using Medifund.”
“I was just asking the Minister for Health whether or not he will approve private hospitals, like Mount Elizabeth, to use Medifund. I am not in favour of private hospitals using the fund. So there is no suggestion whatsoever. This is my position. I think many Members have misunderstood me.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, will you allow me to clarify in regard to the speech made by Mr Choo?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support, in principle, providing a safety net for Singaporeans or those who cannot pay. But I would like the Minister to clarify the doubts that I have before I decide whether to support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I clarify with the Minister on a point? Is it true that the youth group leaders are asked to join the PAP if they wish to remain as leaders in the PA?”
“Does the Minister agree that encouraging medical check-up, especially rcommended by doctors for screening for cancer, if they are suspected of cancer, is also part of preventive medicine? Do not forget the Minister allows CPF to be used for hepatitis-B immunisation which also costs about $60. It is also cheap, but it is allowed. So I do not understand. I consider this as preventive. But why is it that it is not allowed to be used for screening for cancer?”
“Do patients who are recommended by a doctor for such a test be allowed to use CPF right now?”
“Does the Minister agree that, in view of cancer being the second highest killer disease in Singapore, by allowing CPF to be used for screening for cancer, there is a great chance that cancer could be detected at an early stage and thus save some of the patients' lives and it will also cut down medical costs?”
“Does the Minister agree that diseases like cancer cannot be detected at an early stage unless a proper medical screening is conducted, and by allowing CPF to be used for this purpose it will encourage Singaporeans to go for medical screening?”
“Clarification, Sir. Would the Minister say how much it will allocate to individual Edusave account holders?”
“My question is whether the top 25% of PSLE students would be encouraged, because of the scheme, to opt for independent schools.”
“Clarification, Sir. If that is the system, does the Minister agree that the top 25% of the students will opt for independent schools rather than other schools?”
“Clarification, Sir. Does the Minister agree that, from the criteria of award for scholarships, it appears that the award is not based on effort and result of the PSLE, but rather on the choice of students who want to be admitted to independent schools or other schools, because of the difference in amount of the scholarships?”
“If the Minister of State agrees to reduce the paid-up capital requirement, then I will try.”
“Sir, is the Minister of State aware that I wrote to the HDB requesting for community or rented premises to be set up, but the reply by the HDB was that there were sufficient premises and facilities in Hougang.”
“My question is whether it is arbitrary for HDB to decide whether or not the facilities are enough.”
“Sir, does the Minister agree that the conclusion arrived at by the HDB, as explained by the Minister of State just now, that there are sufficient educational and community-oriented services in Hougang Constituency is arbitrary? And is the Minister aware that there are a number of students who wish to enrol in the education centres in Hougang but they could not get in?”
“Sir, my question is whether the Minister of State will consider the requirement of paid-up capital by centres rather than a lump sum of $5 million because, obviously, it does not need the $5 million.”
“Sir, would the Minister consider working out a scale of paid-up capital required by a foundation intending to provide educational service based on the number of centres rather than a lump sum of $5 million?”